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There aren’t many artists that I would choose to see on a nightly basis but after a phenomenal set by Matthew Perryman Jones Sunday at City Winery, I had to see him again Monday when he performed an intimate set at Rockwood Music Hall. Onstage alone with acoustic guitar, his whispered vocals and heartfelt lyrics captivated everyone in the room. I’ve had his music on repeat all week long, this song in particular.

Watch Matthew Perryman Jones perform “Save You” live below and be on the lookout for a new album from him in the Spring.

Hunter Hayes’ latest single, “Storm Warning” has been stuck in my head all week long. Maybe it’s partly because the weather in New York has been less than stellar the past few days, but there is no argument that this country artist’s latest release is catchy. Watch the music video below.

The music world lost quite a songstress yesterday. Etta James, perhaps best known for her rendition of Glenn Miller’s song “At Last,” died yesterday after complications of leukemia. For more on her life and legacy, read The New York Times article here.  Watch her perform “At Last” below.

Just over two years ago I caught SafetySuit’s impressive set at Bowery Ballroom and quickly became a fan. Their powerful live show had me wondering why I never heard of the talented Nashville-based act before. Last week, the band released their sophomore album, These Times. They enlisted the help of fans for the music video and title track and the album.

Of “These Times,” frontman Doug Brown says it was written out of a social need.

“As a band, we were talking a lot about the songs on the record, and obviously, a lot of songs are gonna be about relationships, love and loss; that’s the most common emotion people have. But as we were looking at the track, we felt like something was missing: what the pulse of the nation is right now,” he said. “When we started thinking and talking about that, ‘These Times’ sprang out of that. The chorus goes, ‘Sitting alone here in my bed/Waiting for an answer I don’t know that I’ll get/I cannot stand to look in the mirror I’m failing.’ You just get tired of being on the short end of the stick; I think a lot of people feel that way.

“There’s a lot of people out there who would kill to just have a job so they can provide for their families. It’s tough, man—it’s tough for people, and that sucks. But we didn’t want to leave it at that, so we wrote, ‘These times are hard/But they will pass,’ and that’s important to remind people of. We’ve made it out of bad times before, and we’ll make it out again.”

Watch the poignant video below and for more on the band visit their Website.

Last night, I witnessed Elizabeth and the Catapult live at Mercury Lounge for a phenomenal set. Having seen the band perform several times throughout New York, I’m always thoroughly impressed. Whether frontwoman Elizabeth Ziman is playing her own material or covering LCD Soundsystem and Dawes, she makes each track her own.

With captivating vocals that hushed the crowd, Elizabeth and the Catapult performed a powerful cover of Dawes’ poignant track, “When My Time Comes,” all the while reminding me how much I love the song. Watch Dawes’ version below.

Mariah Carey’s timeless classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is my all time favorite Christmas song. This is the one I never tire of hearing, whether it’s the day after Thanksgiving or the middle of July.

While Justin Bieber and countless other musicians have put their own spin on Carey’s hit, the original will never go out of style.

Watch the music video below and to listen to my 90s holiday mix, click here. Merry Christmas!

As the colder weather kicks in and holiday tunes are everywhere, it’s refreshing to hear a new song this season. Dublin-based Steafan Hanvey’s track, “Hundred Days of Snow” is just that: a welcomed addition to our seasonal repertoire.

Compared to Ray Lamontagne and Jeff Buckley, Hanvey’s soothing yet raspy vocals captivate the listener. With delicate guitar and percussion accompaniment, it’s the perfect track to add to your holidays.

To listen and download “Hundred Days of Snow” click below. For more on Steafan Hanvey, visit his Website. Stay tuned for the release of his sophomore album Nuclear Family, due out 2012.