Busting out of Oklahoma, The Turnpike Troubadours are here to breathe new life into what is too often a stale environment in the world of Red Dirt music. Sure, this quintet does their fair share of rocking out, why wouldn’t they? It’s the added country (shocking!) dimensions of their tunes that lend the album, and […]
Michael Quinn & the Bourbon Kings – Whiskey Rebellion
Irreverence can have many forms. There’s the quiet humor in the face of strict authority. The passive-aggressiveness of simply ignoring a direct order from a superior. And then there’s the kind Michael Quinn & the Bourbon Kings sing about in their latest release, Whiskey Rebellion. Having had one more toke for the road, they tell […]
Drive-By Truckers Put On Their Boots
Go-Go Boots by The Drive-By Truckers, coming 15 February 2011.
Nicole Atkins Digs Bonnie and the Beard
In October I stumbled upon a righteous crew called Bonnie and the Beard at the Larimer Lounge in Denver. Tip your bartender, because if you’re in Denver and love music, you’ll be here again and again. They do it right. Rising star Bonnie and the Beard opened for risen star Nicole Atkins and the Sea—the […]
6 Day Bender – E’ville Fuzz
If you’ve been reading Twangville for more than a couple of weeks, chances are you have your favorite roots/southern/alt-country rock band. It might be Drive By Truckers, The Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, whatever. Regardless of who your favorite is, you’re going to hear some of them in the latest release from 6 Day Bender, E’ville […]
You Pick It: Springsteen’s “Atlantic City”
What is it about Bruce Springsteen songs? Judging from these performances, they are as much fun for the artists to perform as they are for the audience to enjoy. Here’s a collection of artists taking on the stark “Atlantic City.” I’m partial to Levon Helm — who makes the song his own. I also like […]
Monday Morning Video: Julie Peel, Jim Boggia, Bleu and Michael Jackson
Just back from two weeks in Europe for the day gig. Lots of running around, but you didn’t think that would get in the way of a few shows now, did you? First up was Julie Peel playing a small club off the beaten path in Paris. Her quiet acoustic performance captivated the crowd, including […]
Pat Anderson – Magnolia Road
To re-arrange a Bruce Springsteen hit for inclusion on your first record requires either courage and talent, or stupidity and narcissism. Fortunately, Pat Anderson exhibits the former on his debut album, Magnolia Road. He turns an anthemic tale of defiance into a story of resignation and anguish. Accompanied by a sparse banjo from virtuoso Will […]
Jesse Malin & St. Marks Social – Love It to Life
It seems like everything written about Jesse Malin refers to his punk years in the band D Generation. If not about that, it’s all about the Bruce Springsteen or Ryan Adams comparisons drawing from his solo career. For far too long, I’ve ignored the chit-chat. I wanted to like Malin’s music as much as everyone […]
Mike Farris – The Night Cumberland Came Alive
I’m not sure why the May floods that hit Nashville in May of this year did not seem to grasp the nation’s attention like other recent natural disasters did. There was a lot of press attention, but it seems that the lack of hurricane force winds made the story less captivating. However, the people who […]