LITM Rock Picks tunes featuring George Collins Band, Blind Man’s Daughter and Robin James Hurt!
George Collins Band – “Black and White World”
For years, George Collins has been the quiet craftsman of the roots-rock world - the guy who can make a song feel both intimate and stadium-ready without ever breaking a sweat. But "Black and White World"? That's him throwing the cardigan off and strutting straight into the spotlight.
Gone are the cozy, fireside tones of "By the Time" or "New Way." Here, Collins leans into a sharp, staccato groove - electric guitars flicker like neon signs, brass punches in like punctuation, and the rhythm section practically grins as it drives the track forward. You can almost hear the joy of a band in full swing, playing for the sheer thrill of it.
Lyrically, however, Collins gets philosophical, reminding us life is not a question of black versus white, but all nuance, smudges, and shades of in-between. The track becomes both groove-heavy bop and clever commentary on how oversimplified thinking divides us. Smart rock music that dances as it preaches, with a little of Tom Petty's swagger, Elvis Costello's bite, and a whole lot of George Collins's wisdom.
2. Blind Man’s Daughter – “Harbor Boulevard”
The heart and soul behind Blind Man's Daughter, Ashley Wolfe, is a special talent, and this is exceptionally realized with "Harbor Boulevard." It's not just a song — it's a letter, a memory, and a love that refuses to fade.
For her father, who lives with Alzheimer's, Wolfe is painting her childhood street - the first house, the laughter, the echoes of life - in soft brushstrokes of guitar, piano, and heart. Cinematic yet delicate in its production, it offers textures that shimmer in all the ways an old photograph might do. Her voice is right at the center, perfectly positioned among the grief and grace, carrying the kind of emotional honesty that stills a room in an instant.
Fans of Kacey Musgraves or early Taylor Swift will find themselves in familiar and comfortable territory, but the storytelling of Wolfe has a quiet fire unto itself. It's beautiful and devastating when the chorus swells, much like the sun dipping low over the boulevard. "Harbor Boulevard" doesn't just honor a memory; it breathes life back into it.
This is songwriting at its purest-personal, vulnerable, and unforgettable.
3. Robin James Hurt – “Hey Mary (Play a Song for Me)”
If ever there were a love letter to Dublin's soul, Robin James Hurt just wrote it. "Hey Mary (Play a Song for Me)" isn't just about a person; it's about a place, a mood, and a whole way of life. With its inspiration from Máire Begley, the street performer who made Grafton Street an open-air concert hall, Hurt serves up a tune that's as vibrant, cheeky, and alive as the city itself. The guitars sparkle, that 12-string shimmer pure magic; the drums bounce with Police-esque precision; and the melody just refuses to sit still-it's folk, it's pop, it's street-corner rock 'n' roll. Tony Floyd Kenna's lyrics strike the perfect balance between homage and celebration; never heavy-handed, just full of admiration. And as for Hurt's delivery? Effortless. You can practically feel the smile behind each and every line. But "Hey Mary" plays like a jam session caught in motion -- communal, fleeting, and full of joy. The kind of song that makes you wish you were there on Grafton Street, pint in hand, nodding along as Dublin sings back.
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