JD McPherson Live from The Newport Folk Festival by Stephen Thompson July 28, 2013 the current live performances JD McPherson performs at the 2013 Newport Folk Festival. (Adam Kissick for NPR) JD McPherson provides a refreshing reminder that retro roots music isn't timid: His debut album, Signs & Signifiers, synthesizes blues and rockabilly and old-school rock 'n' roll with an unmistakable punk spirit. Throughout the record, he finds the delicate balance between a classic, traditionalist sound and the understanding that the styles he's emulating are rooted in rebellion, menace and even danger. McPherson, who recorded Signs & Signifiers on old analog equipment, really brings home his raw aesthetic on the live stage. On this page, he performs as part of the 2013 Newport Folk Festival, recorded live on Friday, July 26 in Newport, R.I. Set List "Dimes For Nickels" "Further On Up The Road" (Bobby 'Blue' Bland cover) "Country Boy" "I Can't Complain" "Signs & Signifiers" "Fire Bug" "Abigail Blue" "A Gentle Awakening" "North Side Gal" "Wolf Teeth" Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. Related Stories JD McPherson performs in The Current studio The third time proves to be the charm as JD McPherson returns to The Current for his third in-studio performance of the year! JD McPherson performs at the Minnesota State Fair Rockabilly artist JD McPherson stopped by the MPR booth to talk with Mary Lucia and play some tunes for the crowd. JD McPherson performs in The Current studios "Signs and Signifiers," the debut record from bluesy, rockabilly artist JD McPherson, was rereleased by Rounder Records earlier this year. The wider release gives music fans a second chance to discover a quickly rising talent in McPherson. Tweet