Here’s a collection of videos featuring artists who will be appearing at the Twangville Music Festival on Friday night, June 28th at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. Session Americana — performing “Raking Through the Ashes” from 2012′s Love and Dirt and “The Coal Burner” from 2009′s Diving For Gold Kevin Gordon — playing “Don’t [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

In last week’s Twangville team review of Jason Isbell’s Southeastern, several of us wrote about “Elephant.” The emotional song describes a man watching a friend die from cancer. Here’s Isbell, with his new wife Amanda Shires, performing the song a few weeks ago in New York City. The song will undoubtedly leave you slack-jawed and [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Every once in awhile, there is an artist whose album is so anticipated by everyone in the Twangville Posse that we all pile on for a team review. Put Jason Isbell’s Southeastern in that category. SUZANNE’S TAKE Sobriety looks good on Jason Isbell. Sounds good, too. I remember watching him in May of 2011, chugging [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Twangville Posse – we’ve got writers across the United States – like to get together from time to time to, well, talk music. This year we’re gathering near Boston and you’re invited to the party! Twangville will be taking over the Lizard Lounge on June 28th and 29th for an incredible weekend of music. [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Our Monday Morning Video, Memorial Day edition, arrives courtesy of Jason Isbell. Here’s the emotional story behind the song, written for a high school friend of Isbell’s. more »

by Mayer Danzig

Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band House of Blues Boston, May 18 2013 It’s clear that Josh Ritter has a special place in his heart for Boston. This was a hometown show for band members Zack Hickman, Austin Nevins, and Sam Kassirer. Ritter brought his A-game and gave the Boston fans a lot to [...] more »

by Suzanne McMahon

It occurred to me that we haven’t written much, at least lately, about John Prine. Well, I went searching for a good song to share and stumbled across this incredible video. It features Kris Kristofferson and Joan Baez singing alongside Prine on the his classic “Hello In There.” ‘Ya gotta love Baez’s comment as she [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

This week’s video finds Twangville faves Barnstar! in the studio recording their bluegrass cover of the Traveling Wilbury’s “Handle With Care.” The song appeared on their spirited 2011 release C’mon!. As a special bonus, here’s Barnstar! taking on the Dawes gem “When My Time Comes.” An enchanting performance of a magical song. more »

by Mayer Danzig

It is hard to describe songs that leave you speechless. The breathtaking tracks on “American Kid” mesmerize from beginning to end. This is Patty Griffin’s first album of original material in six years. Since then she has recorded an album of Gospel songs and hymns, “Downtown Church”, and toured with Robert Plant’s Band of Joy. [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Other Life, by Shooter Jennings I’ll admit that I haven’t spent much time with Shooter’s previous releases. No real explanation, his music just never made it into my rotation. My bad. His latest is one of the most refreshing country records that I’ve heard in quite some time. Shooter and [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Here is part two of our Reader’s Pick series, the up-and-coming artists that you told us about as part of our Joe Pug give-away. This week’s video playlist includes: Communist Daughter Rayland Baxter Ryan Bonner Drew Holcomb Cat Beach Gaslight Anthem more »

by Mayer Danzig

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Beast In Its Tracks, by Josh Ritter It’s easy to be angry after a break-up. You want to grab a bottle of whisky and crank some classic angry Bob Mould songs (Black Sheets of Rain, anyone?). I suppose that Josh Ritter had a few of those moments when his marriage [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Last month we asked you to tell us about your favorite up-and-coming artists. Well, you didn’t disappoint, sharing an impressive array of artists. For the next two weeks, we will highlight the bands that you told us were the ones that we should be watching, er, listening to, in the years to come. This week’s [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

This week and next week I’ll be featuring some videos from SXSW. We’ll start with a mostly acoustic set, featuring: Steve Earle performing “Someday” The Waterboys performing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” Billy Bragg performing “Handyman Blues” Chuck Ragan and friends performing “Revival Road” Frank Turner covering Blink 182′s “Dammit” Josh Ritter and Emmylou Harris [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

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