I hope that everyone has been keeping up with Suzanne’s survey of Ryan Adams musical catalog (parts 1 and 2; stay tuned for part 3!). Adams recently appeared at a tribute to legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Bob Mould. Mould has provided us with legions of music from his tenures with Husker Du and Sugar […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Oct/Nov 2011, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Beauty, Wit & Speed, by Nathan Hamilton “Give me the mad ones, the sad ones, the ones who’ve got nothing to lose,” sings Hamilton in “Through Ether and Time” from his latest release. It is a telling comment and a great introduction to an album that deftly explores the search for […]
Monday Morning Video: Mike Farris and the Muscle Shoals Sound
A highlight from the recent Americana Music Conference was the tribute to Muscle Shoals soul sound. Starting at FAME Studios and continuing with the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Muscle Shoals became a rock and roll institution. Beyond defining an era in soul and R&B, it became a destination for artists ranging from the Rolling Stones […]
Barr Brothers
The Barr Brothers are causing a buzz in the Indie world. Their self-titled debut release is a mostly acoustic journey into the duality of human emotion. They explore the context of our true feelings, and the complex emotions that make us betray them. The Barr brothers are not new on the scene, they are the […]
Monday Morning Video: Gordon Gano + Lost Bayou Ramblers
I spent a day at the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans a few weeks back and happened upon a set by Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes playing with Lafayette, Louisiana’s Lost Bayou Ramblers. When they launched into the classic “Blister in the Sun,” the crowd erupted. I couldn’t find good footage from Voodoo, […]
Win Big: The Beach Boys “SMiLE Sessions”
SMiLE may be the most famous album never heard. After unleashing Pet Sounds, arguably one of the greatest albums ever recorded, Brian Wilson wanted to further explore the complex and innovative recording techniques of that release. Painstakingly recording an array of instruments and meticulously layering vocal harmonies, Wilson was on a quest for perfection. Forty-five […]
Monday Morning Video: The Frames
If you only know Glen Hansard from the Swell Season, then you’ve been missing out. For much of his career Hansard has led the Frames, a merry band of Irish musicians whose music radiates a powerful intensity. Here are two versions — one acoustic and one electric — of “Fake” from 2007’s The Cost.
Americana 2011: The Sounds
MUSCLE SHOALS TRIBUTE SHOW Detroit may have by Motown and the Funk Brothers, but Alabama had Muscle Shoals. Side-stepping which was the better musical factory, it is impossible to ignore the impact that Muscle Shoals has had on American music. This performance provided irrefutable evidence to the greatness of this legacy. The set was loose […]
Monday Morning Video: Richard Thompson
“This is a simple “boy meets girl” story, complicated somewhat by the presence of a motorcycle.” Enjoy this version of Richard Thompson’s classic “1952 Vincent Black Lightning.”
Americana 2011: The Scene
This year, Twangville made it’s first trek to Nashville for the annual Americana Music Conference and the 10th Annual Americana Music Awards. Over the next week I’ll be highlighting some the moments, musical and otherwise, from this year’s event. WHAT’S IN A NAME? The running joke all week was how to define Americana. The context […]