The best country songs tell great stories. Well, singer-songwriter Zach Schmidt has got a bunch of ’em. All the better, they are drawn from his own life experiences. The now Nashville-based Schmidt has lived a life of wanderlust, having bicycled across the US and worked on a Texas cattle ranch. No surprise to anyone, Schmidt […]
Amanda Shires- My Piece of Land
From the opening notes, I could already tell that this was going to be my favorite Amanda Shires record. There’s just something different about it. Shires is now married and has a beautiful baby, just like I do, so I felt a particular connection. She wrote these songs at the very end of her pregnancy, […]
In Memoriam – Buckwheat Zydeco
While New Orleans has played a significant role in two of America’s greatest musical forms, jazz and blues, when you say “Louisiana music” to most people they hear the style championed by Stanley Dural, Jr., aka Buckwheat Zydeco. Â Dural passed away this past weekend and it’s worth remembering the man who became the face of […]
The Handsome Family/Unseen
I first became aware of The Handsome Family sometime around 1997 or so when the drummer in my college band blasted the tune “Moving Furniture Around†from their 1994 debut Odessa. I went on to hear them on and off throughout the years on the local Americana radio show (Red Bank Bar & Grille show) […]
Reckless Kelly – Sunset Motel
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 […]