The best new-to-me act I saw a couple of weeks ago in Nashville at AmericanaFest was East Nashvillian India Ramey. Her music is a throwback combination of Bakersfield twang, New Jersey attitude, and Appalachian harmony. She threw in a little spaghetti-western flair and two-step rhythm on her recently released album, Baptized By the Blaze. The […]
Wayne Graham/Bastion
“We Could’ve Been Friends” (hauntingly similar to the Dandy Warhol’s “We Used to Be Friends”) begins the new release, Bastion, from Kentucky’s Wayne Graham, an album that I’ve listened to no less than 15 times the last couple of weeks. The Dandy influence doesn’t end there, but on the remainder of the album it’s sprinkled […]
ZZ Ward on Tour Bus Appliances and Working at a Candy Store
Singer-songwriter ZZ Ward talks about playing her first gig, at a pizza parlor in Portland, Oregon, and the time that her tour bus got stuck in the snow.
Joy Clark on Avocados, Wireless Microphones, and Her Musical Journey
New Orleans musician Joy Clark talks about how it felt to write her first song and writing her new album in her home office (and her cat’s reaction to it).
The Next Twangville Dallas House Concert (20 October)
Twangville invites you to join us for the next edition of our Sunday Social backyard concert series in Dallas, TX! The show takes place on Sunday, October 20th. Doors open at 3:30pm and the show starts at 4pm. RSVP for the address and full show details. RSVP We’ve got an incredible line-up of artists who […]
Monday Morning Video – Fruition
Here’s a gem from Fruition – an incredible blend of song, performance, and setting. The band just wrapped up an East Coast tour celebrating How to Make Mistakes but don’t worry, there are plenty more tour dates ahead. Their performances are high energy and captivating, spontaneous yet with a road-hardened presence. And with three singer-songwriters […]
Americana 2024, Say What?!
One of my favorite things about attending music conferences and festivals are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from this year’s Americana Festival. Do people clap at your job when you mess up? Iron & Wine It was a big hit for me in Texas and […]
Americana 2024, Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
LYDIA LOVELESS Loveless played two shows to celebrate a new album, Something Else, a reimagined version of her 2014 release Somewhere Else. The new release is nearly entirely Loveless solo on piano and was the focus of a stunning Thursday appearance at Todd Snider’s Purple Building. The next afternoon Loveless and John Calvin Abney brought […]
Americana 2024, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances from […]
American Equator – a Premiere from Pete Mancini
I’m a sucker for a good power pop song. The best of ’em pull you in with catchy melodies even as/when the lyrics are less than uplifting. Such is the case with Pete Mancini’s new single “American Equator”. The song finds Mancini contemplating the political dissonance of the past several years, lamenting its continued escalation. […]