There are so many great songwriters criss-crossing the highways of Texas but Adam Carroll is among the elite. With a gentle and reserved style, he tells richly textured stories often filled with colorful characters. The tales are set to simple yet infectious melodies that he picks out on an acoustic guitar. Here are two gems […]
Monday Morning Video – Ruby Boots
My first encounter with Ruby Boots was an acoustic set when she opened for the Waifs. As much as I enjoyed that show, it did little to prepare me for the fire and fury when she fronts a band. It’s something to behold. Although the video quality is a bit rough, here’s Boots and company […]
Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist
By Degrees, Mark Erelli & Friends (from the benefit single By Degrees) Several of Mark Erelli’s longtime friends and collaborators join him for a special song written in response to the tragic gun violence in America. While the artists are an impressive group – Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell, and Josh Ritter […]
Monday Morning Video – A Larkin Poe Video Jukebox
Larkin Poe passed through Dallas last night and served up a fiery performance of blues-based rock and roll. The group is on the verge of releasing a new album – Venom & Faith – this Friday. They previewed several songs from said album along with some choice covers. And speaking of covers, the group has […]
Bonus Monday Video – A Dropkick Murphys Celebration
You can take the boy out of Boston but you can’t take Boston out of the boy… Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for a tremendous season and an epic World Series victory.
Monday Morning Video – Jon Dee Graham “Faithless”
This song seems sadly appropriate given the events of the past week – Jon Dee Graham’s “Faithless”. You need a strong heart, you need a true heart You need a heart like that in a world like this So you don’t get faithless
Monday Morning Video – Scrappy Jud Newcomb
Some may have recognized the guitarist who joined Slaid Cleaves on last week’s Monday Morning Video. Scrappy Jud Newcomb is something of an Austin institution, an impressive guitar-slinger who has played with countless Austin artists and bands. Left to his own devices, he is also an accomplished songwriter and solo artist. Can in point is […]
Introducing the “Why It Matters” Interview Series
Several years ago Twangville had a cousin blog that ran an artist interview series called “Why It Matters”. The interview questions were somewhat light-hearted but served a real purpose: to shine a light on the investments and sacrifices that artists make to build sustainable careers and why fan support matters. More than 80 artists participated […]
2 Shrinks & 3 Ex-Girlfriends Can’t Be Wrong – a Premiere from Leland Sundries
There are worse ways to start the week than with a drinking tune. Brooklyn-based Leland Sundries unleash a fun one with “If You’re Gonna Drive, I’m Gonna Drink” a digital single scheduled for release this Friday (with an equally entertaining cowboy folk song cover as the b-side). The song is a welcome addition to the […]
Monday Morning Video – Rod Picott and Slaid Cleaves
Rod Picott and Slaid Cleaves have one of the more enjoyable – and long-standing – partnerships in Americana. The two are childhood friends who grew up (and played in bands) together in Southern Maine. In the years since they’ve collaborated on some wonderful songs that capture the blue-collar life with both charm and honesty. It’s […]