I first saw Slaid Cleaves back in the 90’s at the Cactus Cafe in Austin.  That’s back when Grif was still booking the acts and it was a live music institution going back to Dylan and Baez in the 60’s.  I remember being blown away by the richness of the stories Slaid sang about.  Not just the […]
Monday Morning Video – Sean Rowe
I’ve heard some of Sean Rowe’s songs over the years but never had the opportunity to see him live, something which I corrected last week. Now I’m not sure whether to regret what I’ve previously missed or look forward to the next time I can see him perform. I’m going with the latter. Anyone who […]
Rachel Baiman – Shame
Woody Guthrie famously wrote “This Machine Kills Fascists” on his guitar. He and his protege, Pete Seeger, composed and sang protest songs that wore their emotions on their sleeve. Â There’s not much confusion about Woody’s views in This Land Is Your Land. Â And don’t get me started about Old Man Trump. Â The other kind of […]
Back in the Saddle Again – a Special Twangville Playlist
It’s time to get back in the playlist game. After a not-so-brief hiatus during which I opened the Twangville office in Dallas, I’m ready to get back to the playlists. And, given that the last one appeared in August of last year(!), let’s just say that I’ve got some catching up to do. To that […]
Monday Morning Video – Jameson Elder
I wish I could remember where I stumbled across Jameson Elder. Although the Nashville by way of Atlanta singer-songwriter sings with tremendous confidence there is a vulnerability and melancholy that runs deep in his lyrics. “I swear this house is haunted,” he sings in this gem from Prodigals & Thieves, his most recent release. In […]
Monday Morning Video – Gregg Allman (1947-2017)
It’s shaping up to be another tough year in the world of music. We’ve just lost another rock icon with the passing of Gregg Allman. Not only was he the writer of songs that have become touchstones in the rock canon, he was – and continues to be – an inspiration to musicians and fans […]
John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
After gaining much acclaim on his previous release, “High on Tulsa Heatâ€, John Moreland has released a new album of tunes that raises an already high bar even further. This time around he eschewed the solitary acoustic Folk style of previous work that put full focus on the lyrics. His new effort, “Big Bad Luvâ€, […]
The Steel Wheels – Wild As We Came Here
A really good stew is hard to describe. Â I mean, on the surface, it’s easy. Â Some meat, some vegetables, in a broth, cooked for a while. Â But it is so much more than that. Â Think of the difference between a Louisiana gumbo, a California cioppino, and a New England chowder. Â They all have seafood, and […]
Monday Morning Video – Matthew Logan Vasquez and Nathaniel Rateliff
Here’s a fun one to start the week. Matthew Logan Vasquez and Nathaniel Rateliff and friends hanging out singing a song. The song is “Redfish,” from Vasquez’s new album Does What He Wants. It looks like at least a few wine bottles were harmed, or at least emptied, during the making of this video.
Don Merckle – Follow Me Boys
Here’s a video from my longtime friend, and once collaborator, Don Merckle.  It’s from his recently released EP, The Ballad of Lincoln Wray, a concept record telling the story of his grandfather’s war exploits.  You can pick up the EP here.