Here we are again! Thanksgiving 2022, y’all! which means we’re celebrating 18 years of Twangville’s existence. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been writing a Thanksgiving toast each year to thank our contributors, our community, and the artists who give us something to listen to and write about. Without someone to make the music, we’d have nothing to share. Without you gracious readers, we’d have no one to share music discovery with. All to say, thank you a hundred times over for being a part of this community.
Last year, we continued the Twangville Thanksgiving (aka Twangsgiving) tradition by letting you get to know one of our contributors a little better by toasting the tireless, Mayer Danzig.
Mayer Danzig (right) with Matthew Ryan (left) and Brent Best (center) after a Twangville house concert in Dallas
This is the story that hasn’t been told. At least not in this way. Twangville’s origins circle back to the time Mayer and I met working at a fintech company in Boston’s Fort Point Channel. He hit me with a simple icebreaker, something simple like “Do you like music?” At that alone, I was listening. Some back and forth pursued and a Springsteen reference was dropped. Now he really had my attention. The conversation ended with a promise to share a CD mix of stuff he was into titled something like Mayer’s Picks.
I think the very next day he delivered with a full disc of music I had never heard before. Here I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about music. Not even close. Mayer hit me with the likes of early Drive-by Truckers, Will Hoge, Reckless Kelly, Matthew Ryan, Slobberbone, and Will Kimbrough just to name a few. And damn if I wasn’t hooked and thirsty for more. He would continue to deliver on just about a monthly basis with each just as good at the first, if not better. After a while, I offered to start designing covers for these as distribution expanded to other musically curious folks.
At some point the jig was up. I was let go and ended up moving out of state. While living in a spare bedroom of a friend, I was looking for something to do to pass the time. With an interest to learn WordPress I started blogging. It started mostly as a place to share my own playlists, much like Mayer had shown me. After some time, I connected back with Mayer to share back what he had been sharing with me. I don’t quite remember exactly how things went from there, but it wasn’t long before Mayer joined in to publish his Picks with me. Suddenly, Twangville was more than a one-man band.
As blogging platforms took off, we evolved to sharing music reviews and met some additional fine folks along the way with an equal penchant for what we’d been doing. Which leads us to the Twangville of today. Coincidentally, the site is the same age as my daughter who just started her freshman year of college. How have we carried on for so long? Simple. The tireless love of music instilled in Mayer Danzig. He’s the public face of Twangville. Countless music festivals and near nightly concerts with frequent shout outs from the stage. Those of us lucky enough to receive his “Tonight’s Entertainment” emails know exactly what this is about.
So, let’s raise a glass this Thanksgiving to the legendary, Mayer Danzig, who cemented my love for everything Springsteen and introduced me (and you) to the music of so, so many more amazing musicians from a tiny corporate kitchenette.
Interview with Mayer Danzig
[Twangville] First concert that you can remember?
[Mayer] The Beach Boys at the Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers Florida.
You’ve seen a lot, do you have a favorite venue?
I’ve got a bunch. The Continental Club in Austin is probably the top of the list. Toad and the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA are both intimate and wonderful. Also the legendary Club Passim there. When I’m in Dallas it’s all about the Granada Theater, a revitalized 1940’s movie theater, and Adairs Saloon when I’m in the mood for a great honky-tonk dive bar.
Shawn from Twangville once suggested that I check out the late, great Slims in San Francisco when I was there on a day job work trip. I didn’t consider the fact that it was April 20th (4/20). It was an interesting evening.
What’s something you wish you could change about the concert experience?
Talkers to the back or, even better, another room. I’m regularly amazed by people who pay a cover and then talk through the entire show. I remember seeing a not-to-be-named favorite singer-songwriter once have a group thrown out of the venue. They were standing towards the back of the room so you can imagine how loud they were for him to hear them on the stage and over the PA. And lucky me was standing next to them…
I suppose I’d also like crowds arranged by height but that’s a pipe dream… Several years back I went to the Boston Calling Festival to see the Replacements on their reunion tour. Right before the band hit the stage, a seven foot dude pushed his way in front of me. I reached up, tapped him on the shoulder, and shook my head. He moved.
The next day a friend sent me a picture from the Boston Globe that showed the audience at the show. Sure enough, there’s me and, standing next to me, the seven foot dude.
What are some favorite Say What quotes?
I started the Say What series several years ago at SXSW when I realized all the absurd stuff being said by both artists and attendees. It’s grown since then to the point that I’m now always listening – and sharing – the craziness that I hear at festivals and shows.
- “When I go to a show and someone says “sing along”, I say “fuck you, I paid to get in. You do it”.” — Cory Branan
- “I was dating a girl for a long time and she wondered why she didn’t have any songs about her. We broke up. Now she has songs.” — Garrett Owen
- “I was going out with an actress, that was my first mistake. She was going out with a musician, that was her first mistake.” — Antonio Lulic
- “This must be where I’m playing. There’s plenty of parking.” — Jon Byrd
- “If you enjoyed tonight’s show, we are Metalachi. If you didn’t, we are Nickleback.” — Vega De La Rockha of Metalachi
- “These lyrics are so sad they would make Morrissey cry. He’d cry and then eat a brisket.” — Sean Russell from Cut Throat Finches
- “I don’t play any happy songs. So if you were hoping for a happy Friday night, fuck you.” — Radical Face
- “This is a song about having a hard time living with someone. It was written by an ex-roommate of ours.” — Ben Knox Miller of the Low Anthem introducing the song “This God Damn House.”
- “I’m gonna play some songs from my new album because, let’s face it, if it’s not why you’re here, it’s certainly why I’m fucking here.” — Noel Gallagher at the Shaky Knees Festival
- “Some of you know what you want to hear, none of you know what you’re gonna hear.” — James McMurtry responding to some shouted requests
- “No “Freebird,” dude. “Wagon Wheel,” we’re Americana.” — Susan Cattaneo
- “There’s your free bird.” — Steve Earle, making a hand gesture to someone who requested said song
- “In your hands my cds are works of art, in my hands they’re just shit in my trunk that I try to move aside to get my gear in there.” — Jon Dee Graham
- “Everybody in my family has been a potato farmer for the last 150 years. Until now. Because everybody knows the real money is in folk music.” — Ellis Paul
- “You laugh, but finding a good band name is still the hardest fucking part, I hope you know that. I mean, Foo Fighters is the stupidest fucking name in the world.” — Dave Grohl during his SXSW keynote speech.
- “There is no greater performance than James Brown burning ass on the Rolling Stones at the TAMI show. I’m sorry, sorry my friends. And I fuckin’ love the Stones, but James Brown, boys and men. You were screwed. “I think I’ll go on after James Brown.” “Oh yeah, can you put me in the schedule somewhere after James Brown.” Fuck no! Get out, go home, save it, don’t waste it, man.” — Bruce Springsteen
Who are some favorite artists that you’ve interviewed?
Well, it’s hard to pick favorites from the 450 artists who’ve participated in our Why It Matters series. Kinda blown away that we’ve had that many participants, who range from up-and-comers to rock hall of famers.
Some top of mind memorable moments:
- Rock Hall of Famer Lloyd Price’s response to the question of what he wished he knew at the start of his career: “accounting”.
- Matthew Ryan going deep on life as a musician and the decisions that are made during the course of a career in music. And then watching other artists share and comment on it on social media.
- Ray Benson and Dale Watson both talking about the tour bus that Ray sold Dale and the song that they co-wrote about said bus. (Arlo Guthrie and A.J. Croce also spoke with us about the tour bus that Arlo sold A.J… and then bought back.)
- Swamp Dogg providing an audio file, rather than the requested email responses, with his answers to our questions. It was a pain to transcribe but it was cool to share an audio clip of him singing the first song that he ever wrote.
- Legendary artists like Rosie Flores, Bobby Rush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and George Porter Jr. reflecting on their careers and sharing lots of stories from their respective journeys.
- Steve Poltz and Todd Snider being, well, Steve Poltz and Todd Snider.
- Hearing about all the great names that artists have given their vans: Jean Claude Damn Van (Cory Branan, Amanda Shires), Vannah Montana (Vandoliers, Harvest Thieves), Vanna White (Sarah Borges, Fortunate Ones), Jennifer Vaniston (Carter Sampson), Vanderson Cooper (Murder By Death), Van Quixote (Brother Dege), Betty White Lightning (Parker Twomey), Maya Vangelou (Uncle Lucius), and Moby Juan Van Kanobe (the Nields), to name just a few.
- Oh, and the private comments from several acclaimed artists who remarked that they had never been asked these questions before and how much they enjoyed answering them.
What’s the best way to support musicians?
The underlying point of – and the genesis of the Why It Matters name – is why it is important to support artists in their creative endeavor. The stories that they’ve shared often have a humorous edge but speak to the real challenges of building a career in one of the toughest industries there is.
So if you enjoy their art then please support them in any way you can, whether it’s attending their shows, buying their merch, or simply spreading the word. I mean, my initial and ongoing commitment to Twangville is centered on driving awareness of the great music that I’ve encountered on this journey.
What artist would you consider a guilty pleasure?
I asked Justin Currie of Del Amitri this question once. His response was “If it’s pleasurable then there is no guilt”. I’m sticking with that.
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?
More stuffing. It’s kind of a thing in my family. My cousin and I used to hide it from one another to keep it for ourselves.
Best way to cook a turkey?
Let someone else do it.
Anything you’re thankful for this year?
This year and every year I’m thankful for Twangville. I’m amazed that, for more than 17 years, we’ve been able to showcase so many talented artists and so much incredible music.
As important, I’m incredibly grateful for the many friendships that I’ve made over these years – starting with the Twangville crew, of course, and extending to the many artists, PR people, bookers, other industry folk, and even some Twangville readers. Friends, music, and, well, Twangville. It’s a lot for which to be thankful.
Thank you, Mayer! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.