Click, whirrr.  Click, whirrr.  Like some aural Polaroid the recently released third album from upstate New York band Eastbound Jesus spits out snapshots of life in northern rural America that quickly take on the patina of nostalgia even when they’re new.  Northern Rock is as much about stories set to music as it is songwriting. [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

 Shawn Nelson and The Good Buds – Enough Back in 2011 I reviewed San Juan Street from Shawn Nelson and was enamored of the protagonist perspective in many of his songs along with the variety of musical influences.  So I was happy to see he has an EP out with his band, now known as [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Kevin Russell is an enigma.  As lead singer and songwriter for The Gourds, he led one of the biggest party bands in Texas history.  Just try to find someone in central Texas who doesn’t know the words to Gin & Juice (written by Snoop Dogg: a good example of why you shouldn’t get locked into [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

In the middle of April, a few weeks after the madness of SXSW, one of the more under appreciated events on the Austin music scene happens about 30 miles southwest of town; The Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Here are some of the highlights from this year’s festivities. Who Was That Band? Festivals like this always [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Here’s a question for you.  Who’s the female John Hiatt, or Randy Newman, or Willie Nelson?  All are people who were super well-known in the music business for the quality of their songs long before they hit the public eye.  I’ll be the first to admit that  it’s maybe pointless to discuss the sex of [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

My first listen to the latest release from Sons Of Fathers, Burning Days, and I was tempted to just label it sophomore slump and be done with it.  I so liked their first release, though, that I had to go back and listen again and I realized it was my pre-conceived notions at fault and [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Mars, Arizona.  Wind and sun the primary elements of nature, the tumbleweeds rolling through town, red sand whipped into dust devils with nothing but cactus to impede their motion.  Like so many small towns in America, the burden of providing for its citizens outweighing a rapidly diminishing tax base until there’s no choice but to [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Son Volt released their latest album, Honky Tonk, earlier this week.  Eli and I both are liking it, so we’re going to offer you two reviews for the price of one.  First, here are Eli’s thoughts. “There is a world of wisdom inside a fiddle tune”- Jay Farrar, Down the Highway Honky Tonk is a [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

In general I have to say I’m really not one of those people who believe in reincarnation.  Yet when I listen to Raul Malo out in front of The Mavericks I feel like I”m channeling some lonely young woman socialite in pre-revolutionary Havana.  Malo’s voice is just so….dreamy.  And the band’s sound is just so….timeless. [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Here it is Friday afternoon before a long weekend for most, and spring break for many (or Ski Week, as it’s called here on the left coast).  For lots of people that means a road trip of some kind, and I can’t think of anything better for a long drive than some bluegrass.  Fortunately the [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

I do love me a good murder ballad sometimes.  Cocaine Blues, popularized by Johnny Cash and later George Thorogood, is maybe my favorite.  I’m pretty enamored now, though, with a cut off the new Reed Turner release, Ghosts In the Attic.  The song, Killed That Girl (‘Cause She Was Killing Me) has just the right [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

“Why are you drinkin’ like the night is young?”  From the opening words of the opening song on Holly Williams’ latest album, The Highway, she provides ammunition to anyone arguing that good songwriting can draw from one’s genes.  Less like her father and half-brother, who seem to reflect the hard living and partying aspect of [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

I’ll get straight to the point here.  Carrie Rodriguez has finally captured the energy, or spirit, or je ne sais quoi, or whatever you want to call it, of seeing her live, on a record.  I’ve enjoyed Carrie’s previous records.  But they tended to be sort of introspective.  Go to a live show, though, and [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

I got a chance to see some great live music this year, so while we’re all posting our favorite albums of the past year I thought I’d add my 2 cents on the favorite shows I saw.  The World Famous Headliners  OK, admittedly, my ranking here is actually based on two sets I saw them [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Unlike Eli, I struggled to pick my top choices for music last year.  Any one of my top 4 or 5 might have won out at a different time.  That’s an indicator that it was a good year for music though, with a good mix of long-time Twangville and chart favorites as well as some [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood