Each night the lineup for SXSW gets richer and richer and I start getting poorer and pourer. Here’s some more previews from musicians and bands playing on Thursday night. Highlights include showcases by Undertow (Aaron Robinson, Caleb Engstrom, Magnolia Summer, Glossary, Monahans, Christian Kiefer, J. Tillman @ Habana Calle 6 Patio), NPR (The Whigs, Yo […]
SXSW 2008 Wednesday Night Preview
Its that time of year again. The ole SXSW Festival is right around the corner and if you’re like me, you’ve been checking out the songs posted by bands that will be in the great town of Austin, TX during the second week of March. I’ll be sharing some songs from bands that have made […]
Win Big: Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles
Our first give-away is a signed cd from Boston’s Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles. Diamonds in the Dark is a roots rock gem, showcasing the genre-defying talents of Borges and band. To win, simply leave a comment below. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Sunday, 2/17/08 at midnight […]
Widespread Panic + More, Releases 2/12/08
WIDESPREAD PANIC, Free Somehow Official Site | MySpace | Stream | MP3* | MP3** It seems like Athens-based Widespread Panic has been playing music forever (if you consider 20 years as being close to ‘forever’). Averaging a new record every two years, 2008 brings us their tenth studio album titled ‘Free Somehow’. This is another […]
Mando Saenz + More, Releases 2/5/08
MANDO SAENZ, Bucket (Carnival) Official Site | MySpace | Stream His first radio single “Pocket of Red” off of new album, ‘Bucket’, is co-written with Kim Richey and offers a flipside point of view of the lead off song “Wrong Guy” about a person admittedly difficult to be in a relationship with. From Texas to […]
Willie Nelson + More, Releases 1/29/08
WILLIE NELSON, Moment Of Forever (Lost Highway) Official Site | MySpace | Stream In a reminiscient of Johnny Cash’s remake of the Nine Inch Nails single “Hurt”, Willie Nelson has taken a crack at singing Dave Matthews’ “Gravedigger”. His latest album ‘Moment of Forever’ shows us that his bio-diesel fueled career in music has no […]
Drive-by Truckers + More, Releases 1/22/08
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West) Official Site | MySpace | Spinner Oh glory! The mother truckin’ Alabama hammers are back and they’ve got something to say. About 19 different things to say if you count the number of songs on their latest release ‘Brighter Than Creation’s Dark’. They may be without Jason […]
Mayer’s Picks for 2008
As 2007 fades from memory, there’s a wealth of great music on the horizon in 2008. I’ve listed a few of my most eagerly awaited arrivals below, ordered by expected release date. Most of the artists have preview tracks available via MySpace; click on the artist name to link there. Check the Twangville Release Calendar […]
Mayer’s Picks from 2007: The Songs
Dress Blues, Jason Isbell Potent in its simplicity, Isbell reflects on the loss of a high school friend in the Iraqi War. Even after hundreds of listens, I still get a chill in my spine when Isbell sings “You never planned on the bombs in the sand, or sleeping in your dress blues.” If I […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November/December, part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: The Scene of the Crime, by Bettye Lavette Detroit’s Bettye LaVette wastes no time in making a statement on her latest release. “I’ve been this way too long to change now,” she declares with a voice that leaves no room for negotiation, “you’re going to have to take me like I […]