For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for the annual event. With upwards of 1,500 artists and tens of thousands of attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, […]
Ryan Humbert of The Shootouts on Graphic Design, Streaming Radio, and Cliches
Ryan Humbert of country band The Shootouts talks about being in a band of foodies, selling their old tour vehicle, and lessons learned along the way.
Parker Gispert on an Early Rhyme and Being Present
Parker Gispert, solo artist and co-founder of Athens rock band The Whigs, talks about why he eats neither cheap nor healthy while on tour and shares the story behind his first song – an epic western tale.
Monday Morning Video – Al Green
It doesn’t happen often, but on occasion a cover version can rival the original version. Here’s one of my faves in that category – Al Green laying claim to the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”.
Greg Hall’s Hungry Heart – A Twangville Premiere
The cover song is a musical tradition. And sure, it’s fun to hear one artist cover a favorite song from another artist. The challenge, however, is that they generally tend to mirror the original. It’s immensely more interesting when an artist reimagines a song. The results can be transformational, bringing new emotion and impact to […]
Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar
One of the great characteristics of bluegrass and Americana music festivals is the impromptu jam sessions. Backstage, in the campground, at the hotel, on the tour bus, there’s a lot more great music that gets played than ever hits the stage. Not for the first time, those informal sessions have been the impetus for new […]
New Earth Farmers – The Good Ones Got Away
When I first became aware of musical duo Paul Knowles and Nicole Sarto, they were fronting a band, Mars Arizona, centered on a mythical place in the Southwest. They soon expanded their horizons and became New American Farmers, likewise expanding their musical style. They’ve broadened further, leaning more to rock than anything twangy, and have […]
Colin Blunstone of The Zombies on the Band’s First Gig and a Long Ago Day Job
Colin Blunstone, co-founder of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Zombies, explains the story behind the cover of the band’s new album and talks about one of the exciting and scary aspects of the music business.
Monday Morning Video – Plains
Plains – the duo Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) & Jess Williamson released one of my favorite 2022 albums. Here’s a stripped down acoustic performance by the duo which features a few songs from the album, including my fave of faves “Problem With It”.
Melissa Ruth – Bones
There’s no doubt writing songs can be cathartic for most musicians. Sometimes they take the form of a comment on current events, while other times they encapsulate a lifetime of emotional attachment. You can hear some of both in the latest album, Bones, from Oregonian Melissa Ruth. It features her husband (and partner in the […]