Critics often throw around the title “best American rock bandâ€, usually in relation to outfits like the Drive-By Truckers, My Morning Jacket, or Wilco.  Who am I to disappoint? So I’ll say it, 1372 Overton Park is Lucero’s entrance into that league. It’s a straight up American rock and roll classic and I dare you […]
Coming Soon: Matthew Ryan
Twangville fave Matthew Ryan is set to release Dear Lover, his latest DIY effort on October 27th. Initially available exclusively via digital channels, a physical version of the album is expected in 2010. We like what we hear but wonder, can we get a bit more reverb with that?
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
Can’t Hardly Wait for New Westerberg
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2009, a Video Companion
We’ll cut right to the chase with this live performance only edition of the Video Companion. The Drive-By Truckers burst out of the gate with Patterson Hood’s fiesty “The Righteous Path” followed by Austin’s (by way of Somerville) Porterdavis singing “Smack You Back.” We carry on with Ian Hunter, Delbert McClinton, Sam Baker, These United […]
Les Paul, 1915-2009
Les Paul could be called a legend merely for the 80-year recording and performing career that saw him playing regular weekly gigs nearly 12 years leading up to his passing today. When one considers his innovations — ranging from the “Les Paul” model electric guitar to multi-track recording techniques — and his legacy becomes nothing […]
The Restoration/Faulknerian chamber pop from Lexington, South Carolina
Mayer’s Playlist from July 2009, a Video Companion
So my quest for a Bottle Rockets video from the new release turned up empty. That won’t, however, stop us from watching the boys rock out with David Bowie’s “Suffragette City.” From there we run through a string of great live performances from Daddy (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack), Jones Street Station, Those Darlins, Ketch […]
Revisiting the Classics: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band classic “The Weight” is a standard closing number for musicians across the world (see Chris & Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes joining Levon Helm on it this past week here), but I’ve always been partial to “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Drummer Levon Helm’s impassioned vocals are downright spine-tingling as […]
1000 Posts and Counting…
It takes a fair amount of time to produce a thousand posts. Four years, six months and ten days to be exact. But this is it – the 1,000th post on Twangville.com. With thank to everyone who has contributed, commented or visited Twangville over the years, here’s a special treat: Willie Nile’s “Land of a […]