There’s something special about hearing songs in their truest form. Kevin Gordon’s recent release of the demos from his 2000 release Down to the Well is a fine case in point. Sure, it’s nice to hear Lucinda Williams adding her voice to the album version of the title track. The original demo, however, bristles with […]
Wood & Wire – No Matter Where It Goes From Here
Polish is an under-appreciated art form. For a few years of my misspent youth I was enamored with old cars. As part of that I learned that while the most beautiful paint job was just a combination of wax, pigment & resin, the right artist could create a depth and dimensionality that belied the simplicity […]
Chuck Prophet – The Land That Time Forgot
Maybe it’s just me, but 2 guitars, bass, and drums is like the instrumental equivalent of a meat and three. There may be a lot of variations, but it’s all comfort food. That’s a little bit how I think of Chuck Prophet. You can get pickled okra to go with your marshmallow yams and douse […]
Under the Radar: Drayton Farley “Sweet Southern Sadness” Interview
One of the things we love to do at Twangville is introduce our readers to artists that are just starting out. These under the radar artists are a big part of why I joined the Twangville posse. This week I was able to sit down and interview Drayton Farley about his new EP “Sweet Southern […]
When the Lawn Gets Dark – a Premiere from Jackson Emmer
You can hear lots of musical touchpoints in Jackson Emmer’s music. There’s the lyrical perceptiveness of Jackson Browne, the melodic air of fellow Colorado artist John Denver, and the occasional flash of wit reminiscent of Todd Snider. It all comes together quite nicely on Alpine Coda, Emmer’s forthcoming new album (arriving 2 Oct). “When the […]
Billy Bright of Wood & Wire on Sacrifice, Propaganda, and Distorted Silence
Billy Bright of Wood & Wire talks about an elephant’s birthday party and the ancient traveling techniques of the early minstrels and cowboys
Kenny Roby on His Bukowski Phase and Rose Colored Glasses
Singer-songwriter Kenny Roby recalls the childhood composition that his siblings still sing to him and his first gigs (opening for Corrosion of Confirmity and Suicidal Tendencies).
Tawny Ellis – Love Life
On pretty much any night of the week on network television, you can find a show featuring contestants with incredible vocal talents. What most of them are missing is soul. Not literally like soul music, but spiritually like the non-physical essence of someone. If you don’t know what that sounds like, you can hear it […]
The Jayhawks Talk About Avoiding Rehearsal Space Rush Hour and Missing the Road
Marc Perlman and Gary Louris of the Jayhawks chat about terrible eating habits on the road and recall their first gigs.
Peter Himmelman on Tour Cooking and Writing in Optimistic Font
Singer-songwriter Peter Himmelman talks about the tortoise and the duck in his rehearsal space and recalls the lesson that he learned at his first gig.