Battle Born, Matthew Ryan (from the self-released Hustle Up Starling) I tend to judge the quality of a year in part based on the caliber of new music unleashed within them. In that light, any year that we get a new album from Matthew Ryan is well on its way to being a good one. […]
Slaid Cleaves – Ghost On the Car Radio
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 […]
Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers – Shanti’s Shadow
Some musicians like to master their genre. Â Some like to push the boundaries of a genre. Â Others thrive by crossing genres. Â You can count Phoebe Hunt in that last category. Â Her musical arc started with the Texas swing and big band-influenced country of The Belleville Outfit, swung across her fiddle and vocal prowess collaborations with […]
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€, […]
Monday Morning Video – The Suitcase Junket
Matt Lorenz, aka The Suitcase Junket, is one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters you’ll come across these days. A one-man band in the dumpster-diving tradition (his guitar was rescued from a dumpster; his kick-drum features his own re-purposed baby shoe), his songs veer from the beautiful ballads to battered blues. Layered on top are tasteful […]
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.
Malcolm Holcombe – Pretty Little Troubles
Many people would argue that Gillian Welch captures all the beauty of Appalachia in her songs and performance. Â You can hear the clear mountain streams and the fog draped valleys in the simple, haunting melodies she’s known for creating. Â If that’s the case, then Malcolm Holcombe is the stark reality of last century’s natural resource […]
Monday Morning Video – An Austin Lucas and Dan Blakeslee Show Preview
Twangville is proud to sponsor a special show this coming Thursday in Cambridge, MA. Austin Lucas and Dan Blakeslee will undoubtedly regale all those in attendance with stellar stories and songs. Do join us, won’t you? Get your tickets here. Below the show poster (a Blakeslee original) are a pair of videos from both performers […]