If you love authentic music--and I'm pretty sure you do or you wouldn't be reading this--you really need to check out The Roots Channel. This has been a labor of love for Michael Thomas Connolly, who gives you the pitch here. But here's the short form: for a monthly subscription of $8.99 (and the first month for $1.99) you get unlimited access to videos of authentic, roots-oriented music--performances, documentaries, lessons, stuff you won't find anywhere else. Every time I drill down I find gold, and I think you will too.

So for the price of a couple of lattes you can see and listen to music that's real--way better than watching House of Cards again--and help support the musicians that make it happen. Check it out.

PS. If you have any doubts about the quality of the sound and video, here's a sample of a concert at Empty Sea Studios. Misner & Smith performing Lovers Like Us.