We lost two great architects of rock and roll last week with the passing of Brian Wilson and Sly Stone. Each pursued a singular vision and leave behind tremendous musical legacies. Here is but a taste of their greatness. “God Only Knows” and “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” from Wilson and “Everyday People” […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2025, Part 1
The Van Pelt Parties, Patterson Hood (from the ATO Records release Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams) Patterson Hood has long been a master of Southern storytelling, and on his latest album, he delivers a collection of tales—some real, some imagined—that reflect the complexities of life in the Deep South, particularly his native Alabama. These aren’t […]
Rabbit Feet – a Premiere from Norma
I’ve written before about the richness of the Norwegian Americana scene, affectionately called Nordicana. The latest to emerge from those fertile grounds is Norma, a quartet delivering some mighty fine cosmic country. Their sound blends psychedelic shimmer, rock grit, and folk warmth, all wrapped in luminous three-part harmonies. Though still a relatively new band, they’ve […]
Monday Morning Video – Radney Foster
With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, it feels like the perfect time to share this song. One of the standout moments from last year’s AmericanaFest was seeing Radney Foster perform it during a songwriter round hosted by Sunny Sweeney. As the event was winding down, Sweeney asked Jack Ingram to close it out. Ingram […]
Monday Morning Video – Charles, Domino, and Lewis
What’s better than last week’s Fats Domino video? How about Domino teaming up with Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis for a rousing take on the Hank Williams classic “Jambalaya”. Look closely at the band and you’ll see Ron Wood and Paul Shaffer, among others. “Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the […]
“When the Dust Has Settled” – a Premiere from Session Americana
Music Business. While artists rightfully focus their attention on the first word, there’s no avoiding the second. Creating the art is hard enough—but getting it out into the world takes a rare kind of perseverance and grit. Since the music industry began its digital transformation, I’ve watched countless artists explore different strategies when releasing new […]
Monday Morning Video – Fats Domino
How about we go back – way back – for this week’s video. Inaugural member of the Rock Hall of Fame Fats Domino released his version of the classic “Blueberry Hill” back in 1956 and performed it on Austin City Limits back in 1987.
Monday Morning Video – David Garza’s Disco Ball World
Sometimes ya just wanna hear a great blast of rock and roll. David Garza delivers that and then some with this incendiary take on “Disco Ball World”, captured live in Austin back in the late aughts. Hard to go wrong when you’ve got two drummers throwing down a furious beat…
Twangville Rocks NYC on May 21st
We’re at it again, New York! Join us at Skinny Dennis in Brooklyn on May 21st for a great night of rock and roll, presented with our friends at the Northeast Country Coalition. We’re excited to bring you Nashville’s Sophie Gault and Brooklyn’s (by way of Texas) Robert Cody Maxwell. No advance tickets necessary – […]
Monday Morning Video – Jill Sobule (1959 – 2025)
Jill Sobule was a musician’s musician, a songwriter’s songwriter, revered by peers and fans alike for her singular blend of folk-pop melodies, sharp wit, and fearless social commentary. Sobule died in a tragic house fire on May 1st, leaving behind a remarkable musical legacy of songs that were as funny as they were unflinching, weaving […]