On a chilly night in March, I ventured out to what I thought was the “Rose Garden Coffeehouse” in Mansfield, MA. Little did I know that the term “coffeehouse” had been reappropriated. After a lovely sushi dinner out in the burbs, my wife and I got to the show only to find out that the [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

The True Believers Austin’s The True Believers were high on, if not at the top of, my list of bands to see at SXSW. Nearly thirty years ago they established a reputation as a powerhouse rock and roll band. Given that I wasn’t attending many rock shows thirty years ago so I was downright giddy [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The new Shooter Jennings album ”The Other Life” is a conversation starter. Specifically it is a catalyst for two related reflections. The first is family. The second is the current state of the Country Music industry. With Nashville as a hub, these two conversations create a coherent theme. With respect to family, we see Jennings [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

The Cash Box Kings are the real deal. These Chicago musicians have dedicated themselves to playing in the tradition of 1950s Chicago blues.  From the first guitar licks on Black Toppin’, the band’s sixth offering and second for Blind Pig Records, it feels as though you could be listening in on a studio session at Chess Records, with the [...] more »

by Bill Wilcox

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

Southern Hospitality has served up a southern fried delicacy with its debut album, East Livin’.  Produced by Louisiana blues guitar-slinger Tab Benoit, ”SOHO” members J.P. Soars, Damon Fowler and Victor Wainwright, have followed a swampy gumbo recipe reminiscent of classic southern rockers Little Feat (during the Lowell George years) with a selection ranging from soul-inflected blues, to country, to [...] more »

by Bill Wilcox

Upon learning that the “Rev.” Jimmie Bratcher is an ordained minister, those of us who prefer our entertainment to be taken separately from our religion might become a little skeptical.  But Bratcher’s Secretly Famous provides straight-forward blues-rock with some inspired guitar, keeping the preaching down to a bare minimum and letting the music instead do the talking. [...] more »

by Bill Wilcox

It’s rare for influential records to bring together an artists’ sound quite so well. In our phone conversation, Tom’s first two of the albeit clichéd interview question were Willie Nelson – Stardust and Stevie Wonder – Musiquarium. These two records bring together Tom’s best elements.  He mentioned “Whiter Shade of Pale Color” in particular. A [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

This was suppose to be an elegant review of the excellent new album from Caitlin Rose. Unfortunately, one of the Twangville posse (me) fell down on the job. So instead you get a video from the artist who caused me to lose all sense of time and place this week. Meet Holly Williams.     more »

by Eli Petersen

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

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH On My Mind, In My Heart, by Jesse Dee Who’d have thought that a kid from Arlington Massachusetts could so brilliantly channel Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Al Green? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jesse Dee. Over the course of 11 tracks, Dee rocks, rolls, reels and strolls as if he was [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Here is another entry in the recurring feature that demolishes the normal review protocol in favor of cheap jokes, extended digressions, and an occasional interesting thought or two. Duck Tape Saves Lives is inspired by long back and forth emails between myself, fellow Twangviller Todd Mathis, and my twin brother Kyle Petersen. We only intend [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

After many years experimenting with roots music styles from reggae to ragtime, Corey Harris has emerged as a master.  Fulton Blues, a self-produced collection of mainly acoustic blues, represents a return to Harris’ musical roots. As a musical adventurer, Harris can be compared with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.  He first gained notice with a pure Delta blues [...] more »

by Bill Wilcox

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Rickenbacker Girls, by Todd May This is a real rock record. Now I don’t mean that it is filled with wailing guitars and pounding drums, although both certainly happen on this record. Rather I am referring to its authenticity: real instruments, real songs, real stories and real emotions. It starts with [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

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