I was singing the praises of Ian Hunter to a friend a few weekends ago. This song is from his outstanding 2009 release Man Overboard and was one of my favorites from that year. The anger and indignation of the lyrics is somehow inspiring — it is a song so good that I had to […]
Photos that ROCK! Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit With Special Guest Amanda Shires Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, DC: May 20, 2011 Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography) It was a balmy evening in Washington, DC when I headed out to see my current favorite band, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. Since I […]
Win Big: The V-Roys!
There are some bands that were destined for greatness but somehow got derailed along the way. Unfortunately for all of us, Knoxville, Tennessee’s V-Roys fall into that category. Formed in 1994, the band released a scant three albums before bidding farewell in epic fashion with a show on New Year’s Eve, 1999. Fast forward twelve […]
Day 2 – Sunday Life is Good Festival
Day 2 – Sunday Life is Good Festival After a full day of food, fun and fantastic tunes, I got up only to do it again. But this time, the big names were coming out to play. When it comes to virtuoso guitarists these days, you’d be hard pressed to find a more […]
Day 1 – Saturday Life is Good Festival
I walked into the Life is Good festival and noticed that it really is good there. Even on a humid September day in New England, the sprawling Prowse Farm was the perfect venue for music, food and activities galore. And by activities, I mean the fun stuff. Whiffle ball, cornhole, football toss, and watermelon seed […]
Monday Morning Video: Los Lobos
So the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced last week. Lots of interesting artists were on the list, but not the one artist that I was looking to see. That band? Los Lobos. I have to imagine that there will be a line of artists volunteering to induct the band when the […]
Grace Potter Sharpie(s) It Pink
Grace Potter has been everywhere recently. Besides singing in the commercial for the new network TV show Pan AM, she’s even making me like Kenny Chesney. But more importantly, Potter and her Nocturnals are continuing their already impressive track record in supporting some pretty worthy charities. Potter has announced that she’s collaborating with City of […]
Mayer’s Playlist for September 2011
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Old Mad Joy, by The Gourds The Gourds latest is a bit deceiving. The band has built a reputation as a bluegrass and backporch country band, but things aren’t always what they seem. The album open as one would expect. “I Want You So Bad” is built around an accordion and […]
Readers’ Pick: John Hiatt, “Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymnsâ€
READERS PICK: AUGUST 2011 Twangville readers picked Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns by the John Hiatt as their favorite album of July 2011. Two things ring true about John Hiatt’s 20th solo album, Dirty Jeans And Mudslide Hymns… 1) he makes a less than perfect world lovable and 2) he’s still a badass – no […]
Monday Morning Video (and Download): Jabe
The Boston Americana scene took a hit when singer-songwriter Jabe Beyer relocated to Nashville. Whether leading his own band, performing with roots-bluegrass outfit The Benders, or bending his guitar strings for artists ranging from Todd Thibaud to Bow Thayer, Beyer had firmly established himself as a rising talent. While Beyer hasn’t released any new music […]