I caught these guys for the first time in New Orleans last fall. Led by singer-songwriter Luke Spurr, the group features a number of talented New Orleans musicians. Visit the band’s web site to learn more, but first check out this entertaining live performance.
This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark
This One’s for Him is a tribute to one of America’s greatest songwriters, Guy Clark. It was one of my favorite records released last year, though I am just now getting around to a review. It contains, by far, the strongest songwriting of any record released last year. But to be fair, no one else […]
Win (Really) Big: Paul Kelly Box Set
If ever there was a Twangville give-away that I would want to win, this would be it. Several years ago Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly began playing multi-night shows during which he performed songs from his catalog in alphabetical order. The shows begat plans for a box set; the planned box set begat a book. Although […]
Monday Morning Video: Steve Earle Covers the Beatles
I really do believe that when this song was originally recorded that this is what Paul McCartney had in mind. Steve Earle, with the Bluegrass Dukes.
Photos that ROCK! The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers  Life is Good Festival in Canton, MA: September 2011 Before the Life is Good festival, I was a very casual Avett Brothers fan. I really enjoyed the album “I and Love and You” but hadn’t heard much else. It was very exciting to be standing in front of the barricade, right up […]
Kiss Off: A Special Twangville Playlist, Part 5
A few years back I put together a series of special playlists featuring my favorite kiss off songs. Despite what my family may think, I’m really not that cynical. Rather, I just appreciate how some songwriters can tackle the topic with humor and bite. Over the past year I’ve come across a few more to […]
Ruthie Foster – Let It Burn
Ever since Ray Charles earned the wrath of the righteous back in the 50’s with his corruption of “church music”, musicians have been stealing that mix of old fashioned gospel, rhythm and blues, and soul. Â Rarely, though, has it come together as well as on the latest Ruthie Foster project, Let It Burn. Â Listening to […]
Reader’s Pick: Micah Schnabel, “I’m Dead, Serious”
I’m Dead, Serious is the second solo record from Two Cow Garage frontman Micah Schnabel. It follows 2010’s acoustic bombshell, When The Stage Lights Go Dim. In between the two, Two Cow Garage put out their fifth record Sweet Saint Me. So, dude’s been busy. His lyrics, as always, are phenomenal, opening with a chorus […]
Monday Morning Video: Willie Nile and Bruce Springsteen
Here are two artists whose love of music clearly knows no boundaries. And what a thrill for the rest of us to join them in their musical celebrations. All the better when they jam on this Nile classic.
Mud, Blood, and Beer- Gone for Good
If you want to get a Twangville reviewer’s attention, mentions of beer, whiskey, or other spirits will usually go a long way. When songwriter and guitarist Jess Hoefner floated me a bottle of bourbon the other week, I knew I had to fulfill my long put off promise of reviewing his band’s latest EP, Gone […]