Musicians have a long tradition of giving. Sure, they give to all of us with the music that they share. Yet they also have a penchant for supporting meaningful causes. Over the next few weeks we will highlight several releases that demonstrate this giving spirit. Bruce Springsteen has long supported food banks and hunger charities […]
Duct Tape Saves Lives: Thoughts and Opinions From 3 Southerners on Dwight Yoakam’s 3 Pears
Ok Twangville readers, this will hopefully be a recurring feature that switches up our normal review protocol. It was inspired by frequent long email chains over the years between myself, fellow Twangviller Todd Mathis, and my twin brother Kyle Petersen. Though to be fair, the conversation below is a bit cleaner and more serious than […]
James McMurtry at Johnny D’s
From the first few notes his 12-string, I could tell that this would be a treat. A seasoned performer with over 20 years on the road, McMurtry had the kind of stage presence that you can’t get after a few years. And he had the kind of storytelling chops that an English Professor mother and […]
Craig Chaquico – Fire Red Moon
Craig Chaquico has made the transition from ethereal to earthy in his first blues album, Fire Red Moon. Chaquico has successfully joined the legion of ex-rockers-turned blues musicians with his latest effort. But he may be the only one whose path to the blues led through new age music after having spent almost two decades churning out […]
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2012
As probably all Twangville readers know by now, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is an Americana music festival held the first weekend in October every year in San Francisco. Â Here’s my review, followed by Chip’s. Shawn: This year there were 88 bands, on 6 stages, for 3 days, all for free, courtesy of the late Warren Hellman. […]
John Hiatt- Mystic Pinball
Mystic Pinball is an awesome name for a record. Just sayin’. Anyway, this is John Hiatt’s third album in as many years following The Open Road (2010) and Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns (2011). But since those records found Hiatt in late career resurgence, it’s not that surprising that the 2012 edition of Mr. Hiatt […]
American Aquarium- Burn. Flickr. Die.
“you’re a two pack habit with a southern accent/ I’m a pearl snap poet with bad tattoos”- BJ Barham Burn. Flickr. Die. opens up with a gnarly southern blues guitar tone ringing out over a persistent rhythm section. Frontman BJ Barham’s first lines are “I was born in the valley of the Cape Fear River, […]
Cary Hudson – Mississippi Moon
After some 47 years, Cary Hudson is above all a dyed-in the wool Mississippi man. He grew up in the small town of Sumrall. His songs show a true southern authenticity that many Americana artists can only dream about. The bluesy nature of the songs show something that few guitarists in rock, blues or country […]
Americana 2012: Say What?!
One of my favorite things about attending music conferences and festivals is the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections. I’m always impressed, and so is my accountant, when someone is able to translate my music. Richard Thompson on other artists covering his songs. He wrote a song […]
Americana 2012: The Sounds, Part Two
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members and artists together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Songs of Big Star As soon as Richard Thompson finished his official showcase, […]