1) Brent Cobb – “Providence Canyon” There are a number of young artists carrying the Amercana torch into the future but Cobb is one of the best. 2) Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore – “Downey to Lubbock” This collaboration was at least a decade overdue. These two old friends finally got together and gave […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2018
Here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2018. Tenkiller Marie/Lepanto Out From Under
Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2018
Another year is winding down, which means that it is time for the ubiquitous best of year lists. Without further ado, here are my picks for the best albums of 2018. #10. KIRBY BROWN, Uncommon Prayer There’s a restlessness that permeates Uncommon Prayer, a point that Brown makes quite clearly in the opening track – […]
Monday Morning Video – An Introduction to Joshua Ray Walker
Get ready for Joshua Ray Walker. The singer-songwriter has been kicking around Dallas for many years but is poised to unleash Wish You Were Here, his solo debut, in early 2019. The album is steeped in classic country, from Walker’s soothing drawn (and occasional yodel) to stories that he tells with his songs. This video […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 1
Snow White Knuckles, Jaimee Harris (from the Ruby White Records release Red Rescue) Music can be a powerful thing. At its best, it not only meant to entertain, it strives to provoke an emotional reaction in the listener. Red Rescue, the debut album from Austin singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, is a welcome reminder of music’s potency. […]
Monday Morning Video – Travis Meadows
It’s always fascinating to get a peek behind the artistic curtain. In this video, Travis Meadows talks about being a professional songwriter in Nashville and working with a co-writer. The story precedes the wonderful “Unfinished Business” from 2013’s Old Ghosts & Unfinished Business. Meadows shares more stories in his recent interview with Twangville.
Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist
By Degrees, Mark Erelli & Friends (from the benefit single By Degrees) Several of Mark Erelli’s longtime friends and collaborators join him for a special song written in response to the tragic gun violence in America. While the artists are an impressive group – Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell, and Josh Ritter […]
Travis Meadows Recalls the First Song He Wrote and Explains Why He Avoids Day Jobs
Songwriter Travis Meadows talks about the benefit of left-overs while touring and why he’s never been good at projecting where his career will go.
Whitey Morgan Talks 2am Taco Bell Visits and Testing Out New Songs Live
Whitey Morgan on the value of throwing oneself into the fire, repairing the van in the Autozone parking lot, what he wishes he could remember from the early days of his career and cherishing time spent with family, friends and bandmates.
J. P. Harris – Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing
Look outside on a bright, sunny day. Â Now let the sun wash out the colors, the shadows enhance some of the details and the reflections make others a blank spot on the canvas. Â Add a soundtrack, maybe a song, but more likely a bird chirping or a tire screeching. Â Now layer in the scent of […]