Chris Simmons lives with his wife and sons in Spokane, Washington, where he is a fair carpenter, a lousy fisherman and a fledgling mandolin player. He's also an avid reader and, his wife says, an overenthusiastic collector of bluegrass, classic and "alternative" country, blues and rock 'n' roll CDs.

Chris would live a happy life if acts like the Del McCoury Band and Altan would play in eastern Washington more often, and if Faith Hill and Tim McGraw would stay home.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw fans can send hate mail here.

Stories by Chris include:

Blue Highway
• Still Climbing Mountains

Steve Earle & the Del McCoury Band
• The Mountain

James King
• Thirty Years of Farming

Jim Lauderdale
• The Other Sessions

The McKrells
• Better Days

Don Rigsby
• Empty Old Mailbox

IIIrd Tyme Out
• John & Mary

Doc Watson
• Foundation: The Doc Watson Guitar Instrumental Collection, 1964-1998

Kelly Willis
• What I Deserve

James Lee Burke
• Heartwood

Tim Powers
• Declare

Merle Haggard (performance review)

Still Crazy (film)