Auyon Mukharji of folk quartet Darlingside talks about the virtue of renting a tour van and the band’s first gig, where they opened for a puppet parade.
Monday Morning Video – Devil’s Sooty Brother
Dallas musicians Joshua Ray Walker and Nathan Mongol Wells – aka Devil’s Sooty Brother – sure do like to perform. The two originally joined forces as part of Ottoman Turks, a loud and rowdy quartet. When that wasn’t enough, they started a monthly residency as Devil’s Sooty Brother, mixing originals into sets filled with classic […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2020, Part 5
The Contractor, John Calvin Abney (from the Black Mesa Records release Familiar Ground) Familiar Ground, like John Calvin Abney’s previous albums, possesses a beautiful spirituality that is comforting and uplifting. Case in point – he opens this latest release with the heartening “When This Blows Over”, a song that serves as a quiet anthem for the […]
Nora Jean Wallace – Blueswoman
From her first utterances on Blueswoman, it is clear that Nora Jean Wallace is in charge. Her big Chicago-style vocals dominate this new release reminiscent of post-war leading ladies like Big Mama Thornton and Koko Taylor. Wallace is no stranger to the blues world, having broken out in 2004 (as Nora Jean Bruso) with the […]
Dave Alvin on Keeping a Low Overhead and Going Where the Love Is
Dave Alvin talks about working as a fry cook and the most important night of his life.
Ben Roberts of Carolina Story on Gifted Guitar Strings and the Long, Hard Road of Music
Ben Roberts of duo Carolina Story talks about performing at his 13th birthday party, working at a private school, and following in Johnny Cash’s footsteps.
Monday Morning Video – George Porter, Jr.
Let’s start the week with George Porter Jr. performing “Sailin’ Shoes” by Little Feat and “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley” by Allen Toussaint on the Green Vibes stage at Gathering of the Vibes Music and Art Festival 2012.
“The Somerville Lights” – A Twangville Premiere from Dan Blakeslee
Christmasland Jubilee is a dream fulfilled for Dan Blakeslee. As he tells it, he started recording Christmas songs on his meager home recording gear in 2006 to share with his family as gifts. Those humble beginnings sparked his desire to record a full Christmas album with his band the Calabash Club. That process began in 2019 […]
Song Premiere – Brian Callihan
Back in the 60’s and 70’s it wasn’t uncommon for a musician to take a job in Nashville writing songs for other people while they polished their performance skills. A couple of guys you might have heard of, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, started their careers that way. As the industry evolved, the pendulum swung […]
Patterson Hood on Worn Out Tour Vans and Investing in Longevity
Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers talks about “them pretty road cases”, his favorite “straight” day job, and why he feels rich.