ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Between the Moon and the Midwest by Austin Lucas Austin Lucas wears his heart on his sleeve. He writes from a personal place, revealing – if not quite reveling in – tales of his adventures in love and music. “I look around and at 35 all I’ve got are songs,” he […]
Front Country Debut – Three Of A Perfect Pair
It’s been two years since progressive string band Front Country parlayed their Best Band wins at Telluride and Rockygrass into their first album, the critically-acclaimed Sake Of The Sound. Â Since then they’ve been touring practically non-stop, playing everywhere from a cave in Tennessee to the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco. While that hasn’t given them […]
Dead Winter Carpenters – Washoe
For most travelers, the next stop out of Bakersfield is either the high desert and Las Vegas, or the sprawl of Los Angeles. Â Musically, Bakersfield leads to the honky tonk of rural California, or the alternative rock and roll sprouting out of the Mojave. Â There’s a third path, though, north to the mountains and the […]
Monday Morning Video – Courtney Barnett Pays Tribute to You Am I
Aussie singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett celebrates her fellow countrymen — and Twangville faves — You Am I by covering their brilliant song “Heavy Heart.” What’s not to like about a song with lines like “I’m like a waterlogged ball that no one wants to kick around anymore.” Sad, but certainly vivid. As a bonus, scroll down […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2016, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists by Nikki Hill We’re gonna call this the best 2015 album that slipped by me last year. Better late than never, right? Hill’s sophomore release, the aptly titled Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists, hits like a punch in the gut. While her sound is rooted in old-school R&B, […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2016
ALBUM OF THE MONTH You’re Dreaming by The Cactus Blossoms There was a time when brotherly harmonies dominated the musical airwaves. From the Everly Brothers in pop to the Louvin Brothers in country, it was a sound that was both soothing and satisfying. Despite the fact that this music was a touchstone for many artists […]
The Twangville 2016 Release Preview
There is already an impressive collection of releases on the docket for 2016, with plenty more sure to follow. Here are a handful that the Twangville crew are eagerly anticipating. What albums, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? CAYAMO SESSIONS AT SEA by BUDDY MILLER AND FRIENDS(29 January on […]
Jackie Greene – Back To Birth
I’ve always liked musicians who mix things up in a live show and aren’t afraid to dive into a new genre, comfortable their artistry and talent aren’t confined to a single style. Â Over the years, Joan Osborne has been a poster child for that, doing everything from 90’s pop ballads to covers of Motown classics […]
Mea Culpa! A Special Summer Playlist, Part 1
Mea culpa! So last year I made a commitment to myself to write a monthly playlist and publish it within the month for which it was named. I gave myself a hearty pat on the back when I met that goal. Thankfully, I didn’t set the same goal this year as I would have failed […]
Trampled By Turtles – Wild Animals
Perhaps as a side effect of a misspent youth where I had friends who leaned toward torn clothing, homemade piercings, and 5 minute rock songs played in under 2, I’ve always kind of liked really fast bluegrass. Â Several years ago I stumbled across Trampled By Turtles, who didn’t just speed up bluegrass songs, they wrote […]