Little Red Rider, Kathleen Edwards (from the Dualtone Records release Billionaire) The music world is a better place when Kathleen Edwards is writing and performing. It’s been said before, but Billionaire makes it worth repeating. Edwards has never been one to mince words. Her storytelling carries a truthfulness built on specific details and brutal honesty, […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall/Winter 2025, Part 1
Speechwriter, Joelton Mayfield (from the Bloodshot Records release Crowd Pleaser) Joelton Mayfield’s Crowd Pleaser announces itself with purpose: vivid storytelling wrapped in guitars that know when to whisper and when to scream. The dynamics shift constantly—bobbing, weaving, building tension that reverberates from somewhere in the distance before crashing into the present moment. “Pretty Linda” offers […]
Afton Wolfe – Ophiuchus
I’ve noted before that I’m a fan of concept albums. I have not seen anyone embrace it quite the way Nashville-by-way-of-Mississippi resident Afton Wolfe did on his newest record, Ophiuchus. Each of the 13 songs is associated with one of the 12 well-known signs of the zodiac, plus one for the lesser known Ophiuchus. Then, […]
Peace, Twang, and Turkey Grease: A 2025 Thanksgiving Toast to Kathleen Edwards (and Everyone)
The turkey’s in the oven, somebody’s hiding the good bourbon, and there’s at least one family member asking, “Wait, who is this?” every time a new song comes on. Meanwhile, here in Twangville, we’re doing what we always do: sharing recs, falling in love with new records, and giving thanks for the music that gets us through it all.
GA-20 – Orphans
About 12 years ago I caught a Charlie Musselwhite show at Blues Alley, DC’s great jazz club (that occasionally features blues artists lately). Musselwhite of course was great, but the young lead guitarist, Matthew Stubbs, piqued my intrest so much I sought out his early solo albums – Soul Bender and Medford & Main. What […]
Trish Plays Bass – Bluegrass Love Songs, Volume 1
To paraphrase a friend of mine, people go to a classical music performance to hear the composer’s music. They go to a bluegrass show to hear the performer’s music, whether written by themselves or someone else. So I found it intriguing to listen to Trish Imbrogno’s (aka Trish Plays Bass) debut EP. After 25 years […]
The Tasty Kings – The Kindness of Numbers
I’m not a lawyer, which undoubtedly enables a number of people to sleep better at night. So the difference between a band and a collective is partially lost on me. The one thing that does seem to be the case is that it enables an easier time of rotating musicians in and out of the […]
“I Don’t Like You” – a Premiere From Low Roller
Longtime readers know I love a good kiss-off song. “I Don’t Like You,” the title of Low Roller’s new single, seems prime for the list. It’s not — it’s actually the opposite. “Sometimes I don’t like you, but I love you anyway,” singer-songwriter Veronica Davila declares. The song recognizes that conflict can be healthy in a relationship […]
Gurf Morlix – Bristlecone
With Bristlecone, Gurf Morlix once again delivers an unmistakable work—painted in his palette of gothic imagery, sparse guitar, and hard-earned truth. This is the kind of album that feels like flying across Seven Mile Bridge at night in a hearse with the windows rolled down, narrowly escaping the Devil, yelling “Step On it Skinner!” It’s […]
John Francis O’Mara – Forbidden Hymns
The United States’ Bible Belt and the strongholds of American country music share a lot of geographical overlap. Virginian John Francis O’Mara, with his Theology degree and collaborations with Nashville’s finest, including Kenny Vaughn and John Carter Cash, likewise stands firmly planted in both camps. He has a new record out, his third full-length effort, […]