Given that friends and colleagues always ask upon my return from Austin who were my absolute favorites of the new bands I saw at SXSW each year, I’m going to focus my attentions entirely on the new-to-me bands that I left Austin wishing most fervently that I could see play again right now. As it […]
SXSW 2011: The Scene, Part 2
DAY PARTIES EVERYWHERE Unofficial day parties have exploded in the past several years to the point that they now outnumber the official showcases. By my count there were over 120 day parties taking place on Saturday and I know that my list wasn’t complete. With that many shows it takes some creativity to stand out, […]
SXSW 2011: The Scene, Part 1
For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for SXSW. With upwards of 2,000 bands and 13,000 attendees, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, it is one heck of […]
Dave Alvin Visits Harlan County, KY
I dub this a good day, since any day that we get new music from Dave Alvin is a good day to me. Alvin wrote and recorded the track for the FX series “Justified.” Alvin will also appear in the episode, which is based in the fictional town of Harlan County, KY. For those of […]
Coming Soon: 2011 Release Preview, Part 2
Without fail, there are always two random days each year that overflow with impressive new releases. Mark February 15th on your calendar for a bounty of musical delight. And if you are still catching up on 2010, you’ll find our Best Of 2010 lists here. KASEY ANDERSON, Heart of a Dog (Release date 15 February […]
Giving Thanks, a Special Twangsgiving Toast
Marking our 5th year in existence, it’s that time again when we say thanks to all those who have made Twangville possible. Our mission has always been to share our love for music you don’t often hear in the mainstream – Alt-country, Americana, Folk, Rock & Blues. We’ll soon start sharing our favorites of the […]
Drive-By Truckers Put On Their Boots
Go-Go Boots by The Drive-By Truckers, coming 15 February 2011.
Solomon Burke, 1940-2010
The music world lost one of the great ones today with the passing of Solomon Burke. Here are two classic Burke performances to celebrate the life of the man referred to as the King of Rock and Soul. The first, a duet with Patty Griffin on her moving — and fitting — song “Up On […]
Let the Day Begin: A Tribute to Michael Been
We lost one of the good ones last week. Michael Been, former front-man for the Call passed away. The Call were one of those impressive bands that married intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics with fervent rock anthems. It was a potent combination, reflective of Been’s passion as the band’s singer and primary songwriter. Although the Call […]
Will Hoge For Nashville: Washed By the Water
From tragedy comes inspiration. The recent floods in Nashville reached deep into the heart of one of America’s finest musical cities, taking lives and destroying property throughout Nashville and the surrounding communities. Twangville favorite and Nashville native Will Hoge originally wrote and recorded “Washed By The Water†about New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. […]