It’s been a great year of music in Boston. I’ve been fortunate to see lots of great local favorites live, from Todd Thibaud to Old Jack to Dennis Brennan to the Rationales. It was also a great year for new Boston music, as evidenced by the fine, fine releases below. SESSION AMERICANA, Love and Dirt […]
Bonus Morning Video: Paul Kelly’s “How To Make Gravy”
This video would be worthy of posting based on the song’s merit alone. Paul Kelly’s melancholy ode to Christmas is a masterpiece. Hearing Kelly tell the story behind the song is a bonus worthy of sharing. “I’ve got a Christmas song, but it doesn’t have a chorus and it’s set in prison.”
Monday Morning Video: The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
I looked around to find a good cover of this song but finally came to my senses. There’s no replacing the original. Here’s Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues performing “Fairytale of New York.”
Mayer’s Picks: Best EPs of 2012
Several of my favorite releases from this year were 5-6 song sets rather than 8-10+ song full-length releases. Here, in no particular order, are a few favorite EPs from 2012. THE VANSADERS, The Vansaders If you like your rock-and-roll raucous and whiskey-soaked, you’ll be hard-pressed to find music better than the Vansaders. I’ll take mine […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2012
Most years there is one record that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Things were different this year as three albums vied for the top of my favorites list. I gave up trying to pick one – I’m declaring it a tie. #1 (tie). BRANDI CARLILE, Bear Creek Carlile recorded her latest release in […]
Monday Morning Video: An All-Star Performance of Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”
Now here’s an impressive line-up: Steve Earle, Loudon Wainwright III, Mike Scott of the Waterboys and host John Wesley Harding leading a cover of Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere.” The performance was captured at Harding’s eclectic “Cabinet of Wonders” series in New York City last month.
Monday Morning Video: Guy Clark
This One’s For Him , the all-star tribute to Guy Clark, continues to garner recognition. Fresh from its Album of the Year award at the Americana Music Awards, the collection has just been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Folk Album category. Here’s Clark performing the strikingly beautiful “My Favorite Picture of You.” The […]
Mayer’s Playlist for December 2012
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Love and Dirt, by Session Americana A cocktail table provides the key to understanding Session Americana. It is so much a part of the band’s experience that they typically travel with it when they tour. The table is a centerpiece, of sorts, around which the musicians gather. Sitting there, they often […]
Monday Morning Video: Punch Brothers
Twangville was in the house when the Punch Brothers played a short set at CMT Studios during the Americana Music Conference this past September. A pretty darned impressive performance.
Monday Morning Video: Matthew Ryan and Jon Dee Graham
Have you ever wondered what happens when two musicians play “rock, paper, scissors?” Well wonder no more.