From the Queen-esque stomp (see: We Will Rock You) of the first track, (It’s also the title track.) “Dust and Bones”, Charleston, South Carolina’s Cary Ann Hearst shows she’s kicking up her boots and is here to have a good time. Or is it Queen-esque? Maybe Hearst and company are channeling the recent Black Rebel […]
Low Stars, On the Radar
Harmony, harmony, harmony. Apparently, its back in style and it sounds great. Witness foursome Low Stars with their debut album. I know what you are thinking… these guys are a CSN ripoff. You’d be right, but they don’t hide from this. In fact, they embrace it. “We wanted to make an authentic-sounding record that was […]
Looking Back at SXSW 2007
My first SXSW experience ended abruptly on Friday, but that doesn’t mean that a good time was not had. Chaperoned by some of the foremost Southby experts around, Mayer Danzig and John Anderson, my week starting on Saturday the 10th and ending on Friday the 16th was absolutely incredible. Highlights included Tuesday Night at the […]
Ted Leo & More, Album Previews
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Living With the Living (Touch & Go Records) If I’m telling the full truth, Jesse Malin would have been my pick of the week if I could locate a full album stream. The good news is that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are more than second best. Fans of Spoon […]
Bob Forrest, Mike Martt and Gypsy Trash Live April 12 in Long Beach, CA
Bob Forrest of Thelonius Monster plays a rare solo show and he’s paired on this bill by Mike Martt of Thelonius Monster and Tex and the Horseheads fame. Opening is Gypsy Trash, featuring DD Wood and Robbie Allen. This is a show with lots of LA roots rock history and is not one to miss. […]
JJ Grey & Mofro Poster – Free To Good Home
So here’s the deal, kiddies. I happen to have gotten my grubby little hands on two copies of the promo poster for the newest album from JJ Grey & Mofro, “Country Ghetto”. One went straight to my wall. The other, however, is currently homeless. I figured the best way to find a deserving person to […]
Luke Doucet – Broken (And Other Rogue States)
In this album, Doucet takes the listener on a ride through the waning emotions of a relationship and into the pain of ending it, recovering, and moving on. One critic said something along the lines of, “Doucet makes a broken heart and a bottle of whiskey sound new again.” Truer words could not have been […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February: A Video Companion
This companion to the February Playlist includes videos from: the Apples in Stereo, the Teenage Prayers, the Cat Empire, the Resentments, the Low Stars, the Silos, JJ Grey & Mofro, the Good the Bad and The Queen, and Will Hoge. I believe that this month may set the Twangville record for the number of band […]
SXSW 2007 Saturday Night Preview
Saturday night, perhaps the biggest night of the week for SXSW due to it being the last night. I’ll be hosting my own personal Fight Club for missing an opportunity to see Peter Case. Also, don’t forget about the AmericanaRoots.com Showcase at the Waterloo Ice House. Here are some artists familiar to me that will […]
SXSW 2007 Friday Night Preview
More great acts to check out on Friday night. Here’s a few that I’m familiar with. Unfortunately, I leave town on Friday night (what an idiot I am). Look for Mayer, the unofficial Sheriff of Twangville, to represent. The Mooney Suzuki – 99% [audio:http://audio.sxsw.com/2007/mp3/The_Mooney_Suzuki-99%25.mp3] The Redwalls – Memories [audio:http://audio.sxsw.com/2007/mp3/The_Redwalls-Memories.mp3] Thomas Dybdahl – A Lovestory [audio:http://audio.sxsw.com/2007/mp3/Thomas_Dybdahl-A_Lovestory.mp3] […]