I can count only a handful of times where I’ve seen an artist silence a room with a song. My first time seeing Mike Errico was one such occasion. And it wasn’t just any room, it was a NYC club filled with an audience that managed to chat through every other performer on the bill […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2008, A Video Companion
We bolt right out of the gate this month with Butch Walker’s smokin’ video for “The Weight of Her” followed by the Right On’s blazing through a live performance of “Do Your Thing, Babe.” After that, you’ll want to catch your breath with live acoustic performances from Ben Nichols and David Garza. From there we’ve […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2008, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Sycamore Meadows, by Butch Walker Are you familiar with the old adage of giving an artist the hook? It usually signifies the need to drag a talentless performer from the stage. For Butch Walker, however, it carries a whole different meaning. Walker has established a reputation for sharing his hooks with […]
Twangville Recommends: Paul Kelly in Song
A tour through Paul Kelly’s catalog is a musical journey filled with sharp themes, clever lyrics and engaging melodies. Here are a few choice selections. Everything is Turning to White (from 1989’s So Much Water So Close to Home) A woman’s spine-tingling tale of her husband finding a young woman’s brutally murdered body on a […]
Twangville Recommends: Paul Kelly
“I’m a legend not a star,†sang Australia’s Paul Kelly on 1998’s Words and Music. It is an apt description for one of the world’s most distinctive songwriters. With a career that dates back to the late 1970’s, Kelly displays a songwriting capacity that crosses numerous boundaries. His base is pop and rock but he […]
Alejandro Escovedo at the “O”
Alejandro Escovedo keeps on rolling this week with the release of Live Animal. The live ep features songs from Real As An Animal, his late spring 2008 release. Those in the DC area can experience the real thing this Sunday. Escovedo is doing a special private concert that will be filmed for potential future release. […]
Graham Lindsey – We Are All Alone in This Together
The Banjo seems to be making a comeback. Don’t get me wrong, I know that the fine instrument has been living a healthy and vibrant life inside the world of Bluegrass for many years now. The comeback I am referring to is the one that is being made on the backs of young and decidedly […]
Mayer’s Playlist for October 2008, A Video Companion
October’s video companion kicks off with live performances from Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts and Matt Mays & El Torpedo, two of our featured artists. Then we settle into a nice groove with live performances from Dar Williams, Sometymes Why, Gretel, Dan Baird, Backyard Tire Fire, Brandi Carlile, Jesse Malin, Paul Weller and the […]
Mayer’s Playlist for October 2008, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Waylon Forever, by Waylon Jennings “You can take my life of luxury,” sings Waylon Jennings on the opening track of this posthumous release, “but you cannot take my soul today.” Backed by his son Shooter’s band the .357s, Jennings tackles heartfelt ballads and raucous rockers with equal aplomb. “Outlaw Sh*t” is […]
Mayer’s Playlist for October 2008, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Temporary People, by Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts Apparently Joseph Arthur still has a few things left to say this year. After releasing four EPs this spring and summer, Arthur serves up a proper full-length release just in time for fall. The album has a loose an energetic feel to […]