Twangville


Roots

Hayshaker

I have to admit bias on this one. When a band can have lyrics like, “Second thoughts have occurred. I feel like a gigantic turd. Walking barefoot like a hooker at 3 in the morning,” I can’t give it a bad review. The truth is these boys from Georgia have unleashed a great album. The [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Mayer’s Playlist for June & July 2010, Part 1

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: See You On the Moon, by Tift Merritt I suppose that Merritt could sing the alphabet and I’d listen. There is such a genuine quality to her voice, an infectious spirit. It is a spirit that shines through her music despite the dark overtones of her latest release. “Engine to Turn” [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Beauties – The Beauties

Beauties Cover

Every now and then a song just seems to encapsulate a time or a place. It’s usually different for each individual, but there are a few songs that do it for a broad spectrum of people. Think American Pie or Hotel California. Well, the first song on The Beauties self-titled first album, Fashion Blues, kind [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Shinyribs – Well After Awhile

Shinyribs Cover

“I’m a little bit crazy, but I ain’t no fool.”  Although that’s the chorus for Country Cool, off the Shinyribs debut, Well After Awhile, one suspects it’s a little bit of an autobiographical statement by the driving force of the Shinyribs, Kevin Russell.  Russell is more known as the front man for The Gourds, one [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Angie Mattson – Skeleton Arm

skeletonarmcoverfinalsm2

The latest effort from Angie Mattson, an EP entitled Skeleton Arm, starts with the sound of insects and jungle drums.  That first song, Bravery, equates the sacrifices needed for love with bravery and sets a kind of “always hunting” mentality that exists throughout the project.  At the same time, there’s an undercurrent of the caged [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2010, Part 3

ALBUMS OF THE SEASON: Love on the Dial, by Stone River Boys From the depths of tragedy springs a new beginning. When Chris Gaffney, one half of the Hacienda Brothers, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2008, brother Dave Gonzalez led a tour to raise funds for his close friend. Among those who joined for [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Warren Hood – Live at Amnesia

Warren Hood Amnesia

As a preview to an upcoming mini tour, Warren Hood played an unannounced show last week at Amnesia Bar in San Francisco.  Featuring his new band, the Goods, the brief-but-very-enjoyable show covered a wider range of material than Warren’s background might otherwise indicate.  Covering everything from Stevie Wonder to neo-Balkan indie music to a song [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Screen Door Porch

Screen Door Porch

Todd Snider once advocated a life where you could “pack everything you own in 15 minutes and move on” as a way to collect the stories needed to be a good singer-songwriter.  That philosophy has certainly given Todd plenty of good material.  The duo of Seador Rose and Aaron Davis, in their persona as Screen [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Old Settler’s Music Festival – 2010

Bearfoot At the Campground

As the first night of this year’s Old Settler’s Music Festival was just swinging into high gear, the Infamous Stringdusters took the stage.  Andy Falco marched up to the microphone and said, “Wow, feels like we’ve been cooped up all winter”.  That pretty well captured the moment.  They then launched into a version of the [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Mayer’s Playlist from February 2010

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Wings, by Will Kimbrough Nashville’s Will Kimbrough has long been a musical journeyman, lending his [immense] talents to artists ranging from Jimmy Buffett to Rodney Crowell. Yet, despite this heavy schedule, he still finds time to create some striking music of his own. Wings, his latest release, has a gentle and [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Austin Collins – Wrong Control

Austin Collins is an artist on the rise. His previous release Roses are Black received a lot of critical praise. With the release of Wrong Control on March 2nd, music fans will no doubt take notice. Along with his band the Rainbirds, Collins is delivering a more rocking twist to accompany his excellent songwriting. The [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Kara Suzanne – Parlor Walls

Kara Suzanne-Gojo Hearts

I like a record that grows throughout its playlist.  Like a fine wine that starts with a mouthful of fruit, but then spices and oak and earthiness build across the palate for a wonderfully complex flavor.  The latest album from Kara Suzanne and her band, the Gojo Hearts, is kind of like that.  It starts [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

The .357 String Band – Lightning From The North

Musical fads are a double-edged sword…or are they a blessing and a curse? Either way, with each new “movement”, whether it be Texas/Red Dirt or Freak-Folk or whatever, we see an influx of artists that, thanks to the artists who initially drew the attention of the masses to a certain trendy style, get to bask [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

New Texas Tornados!

I can’t think of a better way to end this week than to help spread the news on a new release from none other than the Texas Tornados. You will be hard pressed to come up with a band that is more representative of what many consider to be true “Texas Music”. Esta Bueno (Bismeaux [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

The Texas Sapphires – As He Wanders

For a guy from Dallas, I will admit to feeling pretty lucky about the great music I have available to me throughout the Dallas, Ft. Worth and Denton area, no doubt. I will also admit that I sometimes get twinges of jealousy of the music lovers in my state’s capitol. Austin is obviously home to [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore