Otis Taylor and Corey Harris may be the most creative blues musicians active today. And with Harris spending much of his time exploring other musical avenues, that leaves Taylor pretty much in a class by himself as an avant-garde bluesman. His moody, atmospheric yet beautiful recordings are a welcome change from the many younger musicians trying […]
Monday Morning Video: Lydia Loveless and the Mooncussers
To help us get in the mood for the upcoming Twangville showcase, here are videos from two of our featured artists: Lydia Loveless and the Mooncussers. Loveless and the Mooncussers will be joined by Kasey Anderson and American Gun for this special night of music on 10 March 2012 at the New Brookland Tavern in […]
Heartless Bastards – Arrow
There’s something unexplainably exhilarating about a rapid and dramatic change in temperature. Â In Russia and Scandinavia they go from a hot sauna to a leap into freezing cold water. Â Where I grew up in the Midwest, we’d go from a hot, sweaty mosh pit in a club with ear-ringing decibels to the subzero outdoor environs […]
You’re Invited to a Badass Twangville Showcase!
Monday Morning Video: Paul Kelly’s “Deeper Water”
There are still two more days to enter our Paul Kelly box set give-away. Click here for more details. Here’s a personal favorite from the Kelly catalog and yet another example of his songwriting prowess.
Monday Morning Video: Happy Talk Band
I caught these guys for the first time in New Orleans last fall. Led by singer-songwriter Luke Spurr, the group features a number of talented New Orleans musicians. Visit the band’s web site to learn more, but first check out this entertaining live performance.
Win (Really) Big: Paul Kelly Box Set
If ever there was a Twangville give-away that I would want to win, this would be it. Several years ago Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly began playing multi-night shows during which he performed songs from his catalog in alphabetical order. The shows begat plans for a box set; the planned box set begat a book. Although […]
Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full Eyes
Craig Finn has always had a reputation as an accomplished lyricist. In fact, he is as much of a poet as he is a Rock and Roll musician. His lyrics invoke an emotional connection that is evident as the crowd sings along at Hold Steady gigs. After all, this is the man who weaved the […]
Monday Morning Video: Steve Earle Covers the Beatles
I really do believe that when this song was originally recorded that this is what Paul McCartney had in mind. Steve Earle, with the Bluegrass Dukes.
Kiss Off: A Special Twangville Playlist, Part 5
A few years back I put together a series of special playlists featuring my favorite kiss off songs. Despite what my family may think, I’m really not that cynical. Rather, I just appreciate how some songwriters can tackle the topic with humor and bite. Over the past year I’ve come across a few more to […]