This was a tough year to rank best albums. The sheer volume of good releases made it difficult. This is especially true in the Americana genre with it’s ever expanding boundaries. All the same, I gave it my best shot. 1)Yola- “Walk Through Fire” Released early in the year, from my first listen I knew […]
EP Gems: The Family Band & Kailey Nicole
Before I fall into the end-of-year routine I wanted to highlight a couple of EP’s that struck me particularly well. One’s been out a couple of months and the other releases next month. I’ll start with the one that’s not out just yet, Kailey Nicole’s self-titled release. Raised in southern California, Nicole started her artistic […]
Triggers And Slips – The Stranger
Like a 5-year-old watching the parade as the circus comes to town, I just sat there mesmerized as the latest from Triggers And Slips, The Stranger, passed by. Equal parts classic rock and country, front man and leader Morgan Snow has captured a musical style that transports you back in time if you lived through […]
Monday Morning Video – Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street
Happy 50th Anniversary, Sesame Street! The legendary children’s television show has become an educational institution, helping to shape countless minds while never shying away from important social topics. It has also hosted some of the biggest names in music history. Their performances include both parodies and straight up takes on their greatest hits, plus some […]
Stoney LaRue – Onward
Sometimes things sneak up on you. I’ve heard Stoney RaRue a few times over the years, but it wasn’t until I listened to his latest album, Onward, that I realized he’s been around 20 years. It was a bit of the same thing with the record, produced by Gary Nicholson who also co-wrote most of […]
Reverend Peyton on Being Robbed, Eating Right, and Playing Live
Reverend Peyton hints at his secret way of stringing guitars and talks about life on the road.
Scott Walker – The Rock House Project
Back in the day I had the (mis)fortune of having to make many long drives across various parts of the south central U.S. This was before satellite radio or iPods and rental cars didn’t have tape decks. So you listened to the radio; mostly country music, and in more than a few of those DJ’s […]
Dallas After Midnight – A Special Twangville Playlist
Glass Bottles, Ottoman Turks (from the State Fair Records release Ottoman Turks) Ottoman Turks, the album, is a debut release that was 10 years in the making. The band’s back story is simultaneously typical and refreshing – four long-time friends who bonded over a love of music. That shared enthusiasm and exaltation resonates across the […]
Dallas Moore on the Soup of the Day and Getting Advice from Willie Nelson
Mike and the Moonpies On Riding Harleys in Arizona and Taking Risks (and Being Rewarded)
Mike Harmeier of Mike & the Moonpies talks about soundcheck rehearsals and an autobiographical song about his first gig.