Her Town Now, Mark Erelli (from the self-released Blindsided) A song of the year nomination at last year’s Americana Music Awards put Mark Erelli on a stage that he has long deserved. Over twelve albums, Erelli has honed his songwriting craft and become one of Americana’s leading, if until recently under-appreciated, songwriters. Blindsided, his latest […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 3
FEATURED ALBUM I’m Learning How to Tell Myself the Truth, John Moreland (from the Old Omens/Thirty Tigers release LP5) John Moreland is still searching for that which eludes him. I wouldn’t call it happiness, but rather contentment. It’s a quest to find understanding, if not meaning, in the world. Much of his latest release centers […]
Socially Single – A Special Twangville Playlist
It is times like these where we most need artists. And they are rising to the occasion. Many a music fan has watched some of the flood of online streaming shows that have – and continue – to occur. While these events are a crucial source of income to artists in an era where most […]
….All Others Pay Cash – a Premiere from Ben de la Cour
Nashville-based Ben de la Cour may have ventured north to Canada to record the forthcoming Shadow Land, but the album is steeped in the Southern gothic storytelling tradition. De la Cour’s songs are filled with troubled souls, sometimes the result of their environs and other times the consequence of questionable decisions. While the lyrics – […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 2
FEATURED ALBUM I Was Hurt Today But I’m Alright Now, Robert Vincent (from the self-released In This Town You’re Owned) Robert Vincent has a few things to say. In This Town You’re Owned is an expansive meditation that finds the Liverpool-based songwriter reflecting on religion, war, relationships, and struggles in a way that is both […]
Newski Tells It Straight: A Twangville Premiere
One of the joys of Twangville is having a somewhat front row seat to watch the arc of an artist’s career. We’ve been fans of Brett Newski and his music for many years now. We’ve watched him transition from a solo musical nomad, touring relentlessly with acoustic guitar in hand, to a more seasoned road […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 1
FEATURED ALBUM Trouble Don’t Follow Me, Christopher Paul Stelling (from the Anti- Records release Best of Luck) Christopher Paul Stelling has never been much of a conformist. While many artists are expressing anxiety and frustration with the state of the world, Stelling has decided to celebrate harmony and contentment. It’s all the more noteworthy for […]
Texicana Share a “Little Bit of Love” – A Twangville Premiere
It’s time like these when music can really soothe the soul. All the better when it’s from an artist that you’ve probably never heard – or even heard about – before. Meet Texicana, purveyors of a fresh new rock sound emerging from Dallas, Texas. Like many a good band, the group came together at a […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2019, Part 2
I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2019 back in July (here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this a continuation — the best songs from the second half of the year. Have You Seen My Girl, Todd May (from the self-released Let’s Go Get Lost) […]
You, The Dog and Johnny Cash: A Premiere from Goodnight Texas
It’s always a treat when a favorite artist surprises you with new music. All the better if it’s for a good cause, but more on that in a bit. Goodnight, Texas, the group anchored by songwriters Avi Vinocur and Patrick Dyer Wolf, follow up the July release of The Senseless Age with a rollicking new […]