My 2009 Bonnaroo adventure began over 5 years ago. My cousin, 22 at the time, was diagnosed with a rare lung condition called Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histioctosis. Connie would struggle with both the disease and obtaining insurance in the ensuing 4 years. In June of last year, she received a double lung transplant. The transplant […]
Sarah Jarosz – Song Up In Her Head
Five years ago a skinny 13-year-old in black high tops took the stage at Old Settler’s Music Fest in Austin and proceeded to leave me, and most of the crowd, slack-jawed at her mandolin skills and innate stage presence. Fast forward to today and Sarah Jarosz has performed with some of the biggest names in […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May 2009, a Video Companion
We’re back with another fine video playlist of nearly all live performances. We kick things off with John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives performing at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis. Other live showcases include Tim Easton (who rocks a bluesy number on his acoustic), Slaid Cleaves, Tift Merritt, These United States, John […]
Reed KD – In Case The Comet Comes
The new album from California’s Reed KD, In Case The Comet Comes is quite the find for those of us who like our our folk to bounce to a peppier tempo than your standard “storytelling folk” likes to typically. The album’s opening tracks, “This is It” and “If the Tide Swings” display some pretty gnarly […]
Mayer’s Playlist from May 2009, Part 1
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Spills and Thrills, by John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives Last month we highlighted ex-V-Roy Scott Miller’s latest release, this month it is his former band-mate John Paul Keith’s turn. Keith’s latest is a rockabilly romp, heavy on Southern boogie and down-home fun. The party gets started with the […]
Rhett Miller sings Rhett Miller
Rhett Miller has become quite the interesting figure. He is an adored and much lusted after front-man for the Old 97’s, along with being a big enough star to share the stage with Moby, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle and many others on last week’s 30 Rock finale. Given this level of accomplishment […]
Bombadil – Tarpits & Canyonlands
While many buzzed-about-blog-bands are typically the laptop-toting, electronic, shoe-gazers, or the hipper-than-thou indie act that may or may not have hints of The Band in their sound, the occasional rootsy, folk driven band eeks through and creates a stir. The Avett Brothers (who were at Ramseur Records before going with Rick Rubin for their upcoming […]
Old Settler’s Music Festival Highlights
While my colleagues have regaled you with tales and reviews of the annual over-indulgence in Austin known as South by Southwest, I’ve found myself over the past few years gravitating to the far, far less heralded (and far, far less crowded) Old Settler’s Music Festival a couple of weeks later in the month. Beating out […]
Ronnie Fauss – New Songs for the Old Frontier: Vol. 1
SXSW 2009: The Video Companion
For more Twangville SXSW coverage click here.