Threads
New Folk, 2025
9/10
The Minnesota artist Paul “Mayo” Mayasich, aka PK Mayo, blends Americana, roots, and blues into 8 authentic songs across this 2016 release.
“High Time” starts with Mayo’s dense guitar and soulful pipes alongside Joe Luoma’s thumping drums for the warm blues rock, and “Vidalia, Georgia” follows with Kurt Jorgensen and Brianna Tagg’s well timed backing vocals alongside Lisi Wright’s elegant fiddle in the dreamy climate.
“Skipping To Moon” and “Hannah” land in the middle. The former builds into a busy and dynamic burst of thick guitar, swift fiddle and an animated rhythm section, while the latter touches on folk ideas via Al Oikari’s cozy keys and heartfelt singing from John Wright.
Landing near the end, “Window” benefits from soft guitar and expressive vocals that unfold with a harmonic spirit, and “Who Do You Love” exits with a darker mood thanks to Okari’s lap steel, Mayo’s meticulous guitar and Wright’s skilled bass.
Mayo has earned inductions into both the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame and it’s clear just why; the guy can write a tune in the area of American roots that you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Jimi “Prime Time” Smith- It’s My Time; Nolen Sellwood- Cadence To A Flame