With the increasing popularity of the various genres of music loosely grouped under the label “Americanaâ€, there has been a proportionate increase in the number of Honky-Tonk and traditional Country bands. The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash are best described by the former. Although Honk-Tonk music is on the rise, the true Country bar is […]
Photos that ROCK! Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds The Sinclair, Cambridge MA: December 2013 My friend Josh Myers started playing bass in a band that I had recently started hearing buzz about and he informed me that they were playing near by. I showed up at The Sinclair in Cambridge on a Friday night not knowing what […]
Still Love That Dirty Water: A Boston Playlist
FEATURED ALBUM Common Courtesy, by Rusty Belle I don’t often quote artist bios, but this was too good not to share: They were raised on the Beatles and the Band, went to high school with Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, dated Miles Davis and Tom Waits in college and keep a Lightnin’ Hopkins, Kinks or […]
Hear It First – Susan Cattaneo’s “Lies Between Lovers”
After several years of writing songs to be sung by others, Susan Cattaneo decided to write for herself. The result is an album that has a classic feel, filled with songs that sound like timeless standards yet are infused with a contemporary freshness. From the heart-wrenching “Done Better†to the country swagger of “Worth the […]
Bonus Monday Video: Bill Janovitz with Session Americana
High on the list of Twangville highlights this year was the June music festival that we held in Cambridge, MA. Newly crowned Boston Music Award winners Session Americana anchored the Friday show, joined by a some very special guests. Bill Janovitz, one of the performers that night, stopped by a recent Session Americana performance and […]
Three Recent Gems
Sometimes records find their way to my inbox that I really enjoy, but for some reason I don’t get a review written up.  It could be  they’re an EP and short of material for a full review.  Or they showed up at the same time as a bunch of other good material.  Occasionally it’s the […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2013, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE SEASON Stay Reckless, by Austin Lucas Some may disagree with my classification, but this is my kind of country. It starts with Lucas’s voice, which has just the right amount of relaxed drawl. When he sings, “I don’t want to be alone in Memphis, I don’t want to be alone in New […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2013, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE SEASON The Death of the Self-Preservation Society, by Two Cow Garage Two Cow Garage have a well-earned reputation as road warriors who put on ferocious live performances. Their shows are always intense, sweaty and raucous, the way rock is meant to be enjoyed. What sets these guys apart, however, is the strength […]
Macy Blackman & The Mighty Fines – I Didn’t Want To Do It
Macy Blackman’s piano playing is a treat for those who enjoy swampy, down home boogie-woogie. His new album, I Didn’t Want To Do It, takes a page from Dr. John’s playbook, featuring spirited New Orleans style boogie-woogie piano – but without the trippier side of the Dr. John experience. Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Blackman did […]
Throwback Tuesday: The Bottle Rockets
Jeff McMahon (Original Album) Brian Henneman has really been all over the place in the alt-country world. He’s worked with Uncle Tupelo and they have worked with him. He played lead guitar on Wilco’s debut A.M. (definitely the most out and out country album of theirs). But from the first note of his songs, he […]