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. […]
Tim Barry- 28th and Stonewall
“It’s Not What You Make or Do, It’s How You’re Living†Tim Barry is one of those guys. In the spirit of Ben Nichols, Chuck Ragan, Micah Schnabel, and Michael Dean Damron, he can climb on stage and belt it out armed with only an acoustic guitar and sincerity. His songs are true, both to […]
John Prine – In Person & On Stage
One of my favorite John Prine songs, Dear Abby, has a line in the chorus that “you are what you are, and you ain’t what you ain’t.” Â That simple but astute observation does a pretty good job of describing Prine’s music and musical sensibility. Â Think about it: when you tell a friend about a musician […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2010, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE SEASON: Midnight Souvenirs, by Peter Wolf Graceful is the first word that jumps to mind upon hearing Peter Wolf’s latest. That and “what the hell took you so long.” It has been eight years since his last solo album, and Wolf makes up for lost time with an impressive song collection. Although […]
Kiss This! Kissaway Trail GIVEAWAY!
The Kissaway Interview – NYC from Ryan & Rob on Vimeo. Hailing from Denmark, the guys of The Kissaway Trail , have put together an insanely rocking record that is catchy without sacrificing substance. Recently released here in the U.S., Sleep Mountain, contains gems that burst with an energy that will likely bring to mind […]
Caleb Caudle and the Bayonets- Snake River Canyon
Caleb Caudle blew me away with his debut record Red Bank Road. That record was a calm exertion, a seamless acoustic record of classic Americana. Supplemented by occasional pedal steel flourishes, the record was largely just Caleb and an acoustic guitar. Red Bank Road lived in my car stereo for months. The songs, penned by a […]
Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away & Live at the 9:30 Club
As a music fan, I have always felt that recorded music and the live show are the yin and yang of an artist. You simply can’t have one without the other (okay I’ll give you the Beatles & Nick Drake, but they are the exception). But with a true music artist, both parts of the […]
John Hiatt Has a Secret: An Exclusive Live Performance
Our friends at New West Records sent along this great video of John Hiatt talking about “Fireball Roberts,” a track from his latest release. The slow bluesy number finds Hiatt drawing a parallel between the late race-car driver’s professional career and a failed relationship. The video includes a special live performance by Hiatt and his […]
Screen Door Porch
Todd Snider once advocated a life where you could “pack everything you own in 15 minutes and move on” as a way to collect the stories needed to be a good singer-songwriter. Â That philosophy has certainly given Todd plenty of good material. Â The duo of Seador Rose and Aaron Davis, in their persona as Screen […]
Merle Haggard – I Am What I Am
Looking back 25 or 30 years ago, here are some things I never thought I’d see or hear; Kris Kristofferson winning an Academy Award, Bocephus still alive (much less a Hank III), Merle Haggard as a country pop crooner. Â Yet, here they are, the latter of that list a nod to portions of Merle’s latest […]