Reckless Kelly is releasing their ninth album, “Sunset Motelâ€, on September 23rd. Even more significant, they are doing so as they log their 20th year as a band. It is a rare achievement for any band to make it this far. For Reckless Kelly it is even more significant given the transition of the industry […]
Chatham County Line – Autumn
This band has seemingly moved more and more toward a gentler acoustic singer/songwriter sound through the years and this record is no different. Many tunes are downtempo and highlight Dave Wilson’s vocals and songwriting. They have an overal easygoing character, highlighted by the banjo and mandolin picking on “Bon Ton Roulet.” Wilson’s almost solo acoustic […]
Shakin’ with Session Americana
Every once in awhile, there is an artist whose album is so anticipated by the Twangville Posse that a couple of us pile on for a team review. Session Americana, who has just released a new album called Great Shakes sits firmly in that category. MAYER’S TAKE Session Americana stretch out on their latest album. […]
Missed the Boat to Newport Folk Fest 2016: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
While I try to stay on top of the newest music that falls under the large umbrella of Americana, I definitely missed something this year. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats blew me away. While the beginning of their set started off with Rateliff’s passionate vocals (and a curious audience), by the end it seemed […]
Mayer’s Playlist for July/August 2016, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Stay Gold by Butch Walker The opening guitar riff of the lead-off track sets the tone right out of the gate: Butch Walker is ready to rock. His last album, 2015’s Afraid of Ghosts, was a somber and moving reflection on the loss of his father. After the catharsis that came […]
New England Festy – Preview
After an amazing experience at the Newport Folk Festival in 2016, I wasn’t sure how to finish up my 2016 summer season. As a recent appreciator of bluegrass, when I heard about New England Festy, I knew Twangville had to be there. This festival is not purely a bluegrass festival, but one that includes a genre-hopping […]
Mayer’s Playlist for July/August 2016, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Real by Lydia Loveless Lydia Loveless is accomplishing a feat that is all too rare in music today – markedly evolving her art while maintaining her musical identity. Give it some thought and I suspect you’ll agree that it occurs less often than one would think. Before talking about what has […]
Donovan Woods – Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled
The long, native grasses seem to find a way to root in no more than a half inch of soil, deposited by the never-ending wind in every crack and crevice. Â Concrete crumbles and slowly resembles the sky in the many months of winter. Â Steel, on the other hand, turns a reddish-brown that’s indistinguishable from the […]
Boo Ray – Sea Of Lights
After listening for the first time to Boo Ray’s latest record, Sea Of Lights, I went to his web site. Â He compared his approach to making a record to like being on a dirt track race team. Â Damn. Â To anyone who’s ever done that, it says all that needs to be said about a work […]
Jonah Tolchin – Thousand Mile Night
Jonah Tolchin has taken another step forward on his new release “Thousand Mile Nightâ€. The production of the album guides Tolchin to utilize a slightly different style on each song in order to evoke the mood that supports the lyrics. The album was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. However, it has only […]