There are guitar-drum duos who sound like guitar-drum duos. And there are those that do something special. Cold Chocolate are firmly in the latter category. The Boston duo blend folk, rock, funk and bluegrass into something that honors tradition while kicking up a ruckus with scruffy guitar and driving rhythms. They don’t limit themselves to […]
Monday Morning Video – Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of L.A.
Warren Zevon has finally been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—a long overdue honor that artists and fans have advocated for over the years. Among those championing his legacy is Shooter Jennings, who periodically performs selections from the Zevon catalog with a band he’s dubbed The Werewolves of Los Angeles. In 2023, […]
Monday Morning Video – David Garza “Butterflies”
David Garza rarely tours, so stumbling into his Dallas show late last year felt like finding money in an old coat pocket. I’ve been a fan of his music for years, but “Butterflies” from 2004’s A Strange Mess of Flowers had somehow slipped through the cracks until now. The song’s gentle melody masks the raw […]
Matt Charette Shares One for a Friend and One for the Fight
There’s a certain style of DIY rock and roll that thrives in cities and towns across the country—gruff, edgy, and deeply heartfelt. No pretense in the songs, no bullshit in the attitude. And often, some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Two artists who embody that spirit – and represent its geographic reach – […]
Monday Morning Video – Melanie MacLaren
We’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Nashville-by-way-of-NYC songwriter Melanie MacLaren over the past year—even hosting her at our Spring 2025 Twangville Sunday Social in Dallas. Her songs mesmerize, her performances captivate, and this video shows exactly why. Joined here by guitarist Jack Schneider, she performs the evocative “Graveyard Shift” from her debut EP—a […]
Monday Morning Video – Bob Weir
2026 is unfortunately picking up right where 2025 left off, taking another musical legend from us. It’s near impossible to overstate Bob Weir’s impact as a founding member of the Grateful Dead and through an incredible array of collaborations and solo projects that followed. No surprise, the outpouring of memories has been overwhelming. The key […]
The Twangville Early 2026 Preview
The Dreamin’ Kind by Langhorne Slim (16 Jan) Langhorne Slim cranks up the electric guitars on his newest release. Yet while the sound may be different, the songs remain the same – brilliant sing-along anthems that don’t shy away from the darker side of humanity. From start to finish, he wears his heart on his […]
Monday Morning Video – Other Brother Darryl
Let’s kick off this year with a song that kicked off last year. Boston Americana outfit Other Brother Darryl was founded by singer-songwriters Dan Nicklin, Nate Leavitt, and the late Dave Mirabella—veterans of Boston’s club scene who bonded over a shared love of the Laurel Canyon sound of CSNY and modern Americana torchbearers like Wilco […]
Mayer’s Picks, More 2025 Favorites
Here, in no particular order, are more favorites from 2025.
Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2025, Part 2
I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2025 back in July (here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this a continuation — the best songs from the second half of 2025. Permission, Alex Wong featuring MILCK (from the Shamus Records release Permission) “Permission” is a defiant sing-along anthem that […]