Waiting For a Sign, M. Lockwood Porter (from the Black Mesa Records release Communion in the Ashes) M. Lockwood Porter is on a quest, longing to step beyond the anguish and misery he sees around him in hopes of finding a better place, personally and for everyone. The opening – and title – track freely […]
Greg Felden – Made Of Strings
Greg Felden may have grown up in the Pacific Northwest, and then spent time on the East Coast. But his new album could be a metaphor for a California coast summer day. It starts with some gray and fog that can limit your visibility, like the first 3-4 songs on the record. So true to […]
In Memoriam – Leon Redbone
Since you’re a Twangville reader, you probably heard Leon Redbone passed away this week. Chances are good you heard that from a friend or a post in your group; mainstream media never really discovered Leon. He was a performer rooted in 100-year-old entertainer traditions and his music pushed boundaries even as it sounded sort of […]
My Mind Must Be Back in Boston – A Special Playlist
Reckless Heart, Todd Thibaud (from the self-released Hill West) Singer-songwriter Todd Thibaud decamped to rural Vermont to craft his latest album. He returned to Boston with a collection of songs somber and introspective, no doubt reflective of the environment in which it was born. Stark but nuanced arrangements play into the pensive nature of the […]
John Paul White – The Hurting Kind
Three years after the release of his first post Civil Wars album, John Paul White is giving us “The Hurting Kindâ€. His previous release “Beulah†was a dark although very beautiful record. This new release is more sonically diverse and expansive, drawing upon a talented cast of contributors. Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes joined White […]
SXSW 2019 – The Sounds, Part 1
BALTO I was sold on Balto as soon as I heard the blistering slide on “Black Snake, Mojave Blues”, the sample track that they shared on their SXSW profile page. Seeing them live provided an exclamation point – I caught two exceptional raucous and greasy outdoor sets in the afternoon sun. The LA-based quartet were […]
Son Volt – Union
The previous two Son Volt albums explored leader Jay Farrar’s musical groundings in country and blues with Honky Tonk and Notes Of Blue respectively. Â On his latest record, Farrar and his bandmates are showing some of their folk roots. Â That’s not to say Union is a folk record: far from it, this is a return […]
Steve Poltz Shares a Dirty Little Secret and Explains What “Eff” Means
Steve Poltz, troubadour, talks about being an opportunivore, touring like a millennial and why goats don’t play guitar.
The Way Down Wanderers – Illusions
There’s a fine line between disappointment and disillusionment. Â I think some of it has to do with permanence, but whatever the definition the boys in The Way Down Wanderers do a good job of staying on the fleeting side of pessimism on their latest album, Illusions. Â In general, they accomplish that with upbeat instrumental support, […]
Monday Morning Video – Carter Sampson
There are inevitably a few albums that slip by my radar each year. Carter Sampson’s 2018 release Lucky fits into that category. The album is filled with songs that sit on the cusp of folk and country, often determined solely by the arrangements. She passed through Dallas several weeks ago and treated to two shows, […]