Back in 1998 while touring in support of Only Son, Judith Edelman offered some advice to aspiring songwriters that they should write a song every day. Some would not be very good, but some would be surprisingly good. And as proof of the latter she offered up her song, Library Card, about, literally, her library […]
From Texas to Nashville: Seth James & Amanda Shires
A couple of recent releases have provided great examples of records that were made by Texan artists in Music City. People often mistakenly – and lazily – equate any country music made in Nashville to the slick pop style that is featured on Top 40 Country radio. For those paying attention, these two albums should […]
Reader’s Pick: The Bear by Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers
Twangville readers picked ‘The Bear’ by Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers as their favorite release for week of September 8, 2009. With their fifth full release the SK6ERS solidify what they’ve always done well… plain-and-simple rock-n-roll! Chock full of layered instrumentation and pop hooks The Bear should be a recipe for how to produce a […]
Kieran Kane – Somewhere Beyond the Roses
An album doesn’t have to have great lyrics for me to connect with it. A good song doesn’t need to possess deep meaning for me to enjoy it. In fact there is nothing more formulaic and boring than a guy with an acoustic guitar pretending to hold the meaning of life. However, when I come […]
Live Recap – Red Dirt Round-Up (Ft. Worth, TX)
This past Sunday, I had the privilege of attending the 4th annual Red Dirt Round-Up hosted by Cross Canadian Ragweed in the Ft. Worth Stockyards (right next to Billy Bob’s). It was a fantastic time, and as usual, it made for some great people watching. Below are some thoughts: Sorry, I have tried. I just […]
Readers’ Pick: The Fine Print by Drive-by Truckers
Twangville readers picked ‘The Fine Print’ by the Drive-by Truckers as their favorite release for week of September 1, 2009. ‘The Fine Print’ is subtitled as ‘A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008’ and it is just that. A collection of previously unreleased tunes from an especially fruitful time in DBT history. The smattering of […]
The Belleville Outfit – Live at Yoshi’s
One of the signs I look for in really good musicians is their ability to play to the audience, both the crowd that particular night as well as the nuances of a venue. The Belleville Outfit played Yoshi’s jazz club in San Francisco Monday night and became my poster child for just how to execute […]
Drive-By Truckers/The Fine Print
The Fine Print is an unreleased (until now) collection of Drive-By Truckers tunes recorded over the last few years and mostly culled from the Dirty South era. While it is not as strong as that record, or Decoration Day, I”m guessing the die hard Trucker fan will snatch up these “b-sides” and cover tunes. For […]
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2009, part 2
Showerhead, Rachelle Van Zanten (from the RZV Records release Where Your Garden Grows) Canada’s Van Zanten sure can play a mean guitar. What really caught my ear, however, was the confidence and brawn in this track. Mix the rawness of a Lucinda Williams tune with the slide guitar chops of Bonnie Raitt and a touch […]
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2009, part 1
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Late Music, by Dennis Diken with the Bell Sound Who knew? After nearly 30 years sitting behind the drums with the Smithereens Dennis Diken emerges as a pop maestro. Diken and collaborator Pete DiBella shine with an album that brims with echoes of the Beach Boys and the Who, circa the […]