Twangville


Soul

The Constellations – Southern Gothic

The Constellations

Down in the dirty, dirty south there’s a new band hitting the scene that’s about to change everything. Atlanta is probably one of the unlikeliest places you’ll hear this particular brand of freakadelia. The South has always had a sordid tale to tell and it’s been told many times over. This time around the storyteller [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Shippin’ Up to Boston: A Special Playlist

Bruce-Fenway

I’m fortunate to live in a city that appreciates and supports great music. Here are a few of my current favorites. Banks of the Mississippi, Jenee Hastead (from the self-released Hollow Bones) “Baby, if we could go to the banks of the Mississippi, watch out I’ll float your body out to sea,” sings Halstead in [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2010, Part 2

ALBUMS OF THE SEASON: Street Songs of Love, by Alejandro Escovedo Alejandro Escovedo is living proof that some things just get better with age. Street Songs of Love rocks with abandon and rolls with purpose. “Anchor” is a fitting opener, electric guitars kicks off a rocker that, although mid-tempo, still packs a forceful punch. “If [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

SXSW 2010: The Sounds, Part 2

Jon Dee Graham My SXSW show list is usually built around bands that I’ve never seen. Jon Dee Graham is the rare exception who makes the list every year. His gruff voice fits well with the bit of his lyrics, not to mention his razor-sharp guitar-playing. And his stories and between song banter, rich with [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

SXSW 2010: The Scene

BBQ and Beer

SXSW 2010 has come and gone. Over the next week I’ll be sharing a few highlights of my experience. All in good fun. Children By the Million Sing for Alex Chilton This year’s SXSW began and ended with the passing of Alex Chilton. The co-founder of Big Star was scheduled to participate in a panel [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Joe Koenig – Somethin’ Concrete

Mellow can often mean bland, but it can also be deceiving. The heartfelt sincerity of Somethin’ Concrete by Joe Koenig (Official / Myspace) comes through in a mellow flow that is soulful, not shallow. The Californian considers his folk-rock/country/gospel hybrid to be a Texan form of soul. Such a description is appropriate, as Koenig spent [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Graham Wilkinson – Yearbook

As usual, there have been many great albums come from artists that call Austin home. I recently enjoyed Tom Gillam’s latest, and am looking forward to Reckless Kelly’s soon to be released disc. A recent release that is easily one of the better “Austin albums” of the year is Graham Wilkinson’s Yearbook. This record is [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2009, Part 1

Man, I’ve got some catching up to do. A heavy travel schedule has kept me from my monthly playlist duties. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had the pleasure to visit some impressive places. Even better, I’ve had plenty of great new music to keep me company along the way. Well, its time to make up [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Rock Hall @ 25: Night Two

If Night One was about the late night party, night two was about the tributes. Most of the headliners – most notably Metallica and the Jeff Beck Band – mixed a healthy dose of covers into their sets, many with special guests along for the ride. Similar to Night One, the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Blind Boys of Alabama – Duets

Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Harper

Seventy years.  That’s right, this year marks the seventh decade the Blind Boys of Alabama have been performing.  Sure, the personnel have undergone some changes in that time, but one of the original members, Clarence Fountain, still tours with them as his health allows.  What’s more, they’ve never been as relevant to the current music [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

The Rock Hall @ 25: Night One (Part 2)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts, Night One 29 October 2009 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City Headliners: Crosby, Stills & Nash; Paul Simon; Simon & Garfunkel; Stevie Wonder; Bruce Springsteen Guests: Jerry Lee Lewis, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Dion DiMucci, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Smokey Robinson, John [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Slipping Through the Cracks 2009 (Round Up and Downloads)

All these records came out this year and have been piling up on my digital nightstand.  They’re all good too.  Enjoy the downloads, graciously provided by the artists/labels involved. Zach Seibert & the Red Wagon An Americana dream of atmospheric folk and country inspired rock and roll, Learning to Drown is Zach Seibert’s first real [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

The Swell Season – Strict Joy

I have always been beyond hesitant to call any of my posts “reviews”. For one, I’m not much of a writer, for two, I am basically just trying to tell you about a record that I really like, so I don’t feel the need to dress it up as anything more journalistic and formal than [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Lucero- 1372 Overton Park, GIVEAWAY!

Critics often throw around the title “best American rock band”, usually in relation to outfits like the Drive-By Truckers, My Morning Jacket, or Wilco.  Who am I to disappoint?  So I’ll say it, 1372 Overton Park is Lucero’s entrance into that league.  It’s a straight up American rock and roll classic and I dare you [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

An Interview With Joe Pug

A couple of months ago, I was driving somewhere with my twin brother.  He’s yammering on and on about this new songwriter that I have to listen to.  Now my brother has pretty good taste and has introduced me to many if not most of my favorite artists, but he’s still my brother–so I mostly [...] more »

by Eli Petersen