At some point in everyone’s life you learn to measure your hopes and desires against the reality of your situation. You have to still keep them separate in order to function daily, but each can inform the other. I think that heightened sense of self-awareness is the common thread in the songs from Virginian Kai […]
“We Are, We Are” – A Video Premiere from Willie Nile
Fresh off the release of his latest album, Willie Nile keeps the momentum rolling with the premiere of a new video for “We Are, We Are”—a full-throttle rock anthem that channels his signature mix of grit, heart, and unshakeable optimism. The song is classic Nile: a defiant, uplifting anthem built for raised fists and open […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2025, Part 2
True Believer, Jason Isbell (from the Southeastern Records release Foxes in the Snow) Foxes in the Snow finds Jason Isbell in a raw, reflective space, drawing from the emotional wreckage of heartbreak and the cautious hope of starting over. These songs live in the aftermath—where pain lingers, memories echo, and new love emerges slowly, shaped […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2025, Part 1
The Van Pelt Parties, Patterson Hood (from the ATO Records release Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams) Patterson Hood has long been a master of Southern storytelling, and on his latest album, he delivers a collection of tales—some real, some imagined—that reflect the complexities of life in the Deep South, particularly his native Alabama. These aren’t […]
Shelby Means – Shelby Means
I sometimes get surprised when a musician releases a debut album. Their industry stature and experience just led me to assume that along with all their other projects they’d somewhere along the line done a solo record. Such is the case with Charleston’s Shelby Means. With groundbreaking and Grammy-winning stints in Della Mae, and Molly […]
Rabbit Feet – a Premiere from Norma
I’ve written before about the richness of the Norwegian Americana scene, affectionately called Nordicana. The latest to emerge from those fertile grounds is Norma, a quartet delivering some mighty fine cosmic country. Their sound blends psychedelic shimmer, rock grit, and folk warmth, all wrapped in luminous three-part harmonies. Though still a relatively new band, they’ve […]
The Shootouts – Switchback
Some people collect old vinyl records. Some people collect autographs. As far as I can tell, Ryan Humbert and his bandmates in The Shootouts collect guest stars. They just released their 4th album, Switchback, and it includes appearances from Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, and Sam Bush, among others. Their previous records have featured Chuck Mead, […]
Alexis P. Suter Band – Just Stay High
Alexis P. Suter is a living embodiment of the Blues. She is a powerful voiced force, and her new album, Just Stay High, shows why she is among the leading vocalists on the Blues scene today – an heiress, along with Mavis Staples, Shemekia Copeland, Nora Jean Wallace and a select few others, to the […]
Song Premiere: Katie & The Honky Tonks – Women of Country Music
We at Twangville are excited to be premiering a song by Katie and the Honky Tonks. The song is off of their highly anticipated debut album, Ain’t No Shame, out June 27th. The title of the song is Women of Country Music and it will be released on June 6th. This track is pure Classic […]
“When the Dust Has Settled” – a Premiere from Session Americana
Music Business. While artists rightfully focus their attention on the first word, there’s no avoiding the second. Creating the art is hard enough—but getting it out into the world takes a rare kind of perseverance and grit. Since the music industry began its digital transformation, I’ve watched countless artists explore different strategies when releasing new […]