On the cover: The Drive-By Truckers, photograph by Shawn Rocco. Song lyric from "Heathens" by Patterson Hood.

FRONT PORCH
Hello Stranger; Box Full Of Letters; Field Reportings; Farther Along (June Carter Cash, Felice Bryant).

Mark Zingarelli's Lunch Counter Diaries

MIKED
Live reviews
White Stripes, Loretta Lynn in New York City, NY; Dixie Chicks in St. Louis, MO; Neko Case, Lisa Marr Experiment in Los Angeles, CA; Kathleen Edwards in Portland, OR; Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Christy McWilson in Seattle, WA; Marah in Hoboken, NJ; David Ball in Spartanburg, SC; 13th Floor Elevators Tribute in Galveston, TX.

TOWN & COUNTRY
Brief regional features
Big Al Downing (Leicester, MA); Minibar (Los Angeles, CA); Audrey Auld (New South Wales, Australia); Gordon Downie (Toronto, ON); Claire Holley (Greensboro, NC); Todd Steed (Knoxville, TN); Maurice Mattei (Cincinnati, OH); Courtney Lee Adams Jr. (New York City, NY).

A PLACE TO BE
Regional portrait
Memphis, Tennessee (by David Cantwell).

DON’T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS
Q&A
Scott Miller (by Barry Mazor).

THE LONG WAY AROUND
Extended features
Kimmie Rhodes (by John T. Davis)
Jon Langford (by Lloyd Sachs)
Steve Wynn (by Neal Weiss)
Drive-By Truckers (by Grant Alden)
Chris Smither (by Bill Friskics-Warren)

SITTIN’ & THINKIN’
Essay
The relation between traditional country and pop music (by Rich Kienzle).

NOT FADE AWAY
Reissues
Rank And File; Jayhawks; Rosanne Cash; Kentucky Mountain Music; Daniel Johnston; Roscoe Holcomb; Mance Lipscomb; Buck Ramsey; Joe Callicott; Mississippi Fred McDowell; James Luther Dickinson; Molly Hatchet/Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen.

WAXED
Reviews
Gillian Welch; George Jones; Joe Ely; John Mellencamp; Blue Rodeo; Pernice Brothers; Grand Drive; Clem Snide; New Pornographers; Hangdogs; Greg Trooper; Ray Benson/Suzy Bogguss; Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys; Tom Russell; Chris Whitley; Laura Veirs; Damien Rice; Mary Lee’s Corvette; Stacey Earle/Mark Stuart; Jim Lauderdale with Donna The Buffalo; John Eddie; Kim Wilson; Otis Taylor; Sid Selvidge; Bruce Cockburn; James Monroe; Bucky Lindsey; Reckless Kelly; Avett Brothers; Benders; Go-Betweens; Mayday; Deanna Varagona Trio; Megan Reilly; Ed Pettersen; Matt The Electrician; Magnolia Summer; Indicators; Tim Grimm/David England; Resophonics; Fred’s Variety Group; Big Medicine; Matt Munisteri & Brock Mumford; Brooks Williams; Dennis Jay; Ben Winship & David Thompson. OVER THERE: Eliza Carthy; Gentleman Reg. LIVE WIRES: Earl Scruggs/Doc Watson/Ricky Skaggs; Allison Moorer; Charlie Robison; Todd Snider; Luka Bloom. COMP LIST: A Country West Of Nashville; Hank Williams Jr. tribute; Styx tribute. BOUND: Dixie Hummingbirds; “Amazing Grace”; Southwest Shuffle. FILM AT 11: Merlefest; Doc Watson; Merle Travis; Devil Got My Woman; Byrds; Meat Puppets; Shane MacGowan; David Allan Coe; Asleep At The Wheel; At Town Hall Party.

THE NO DEPRESSION TOP 40
A retail chart for March-April 2003.

SCREEN DOOR
Stuff we like.
Madison Smartt Bell & Wyn Cooper (by David Menconi).