For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for SXSW. With upwards of 2,200 bands and 19,000 attendees, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, it is one heck of […]
Mayer’s Playlist from February 2012, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Go Fly a Kite, by Ben Kweller Kweller’s last outing was a more moody affair, however that comment can’t be made of his latest release.While there are some acoustic moments, Kweller has brought the rock. And damn it sounds good. “Time Will Save the Day” is the song Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo […]
Davy Jones, 1945-2012
It was another tough week for rock and roll with the passing of Davy Jones of the legendary Monkees. Whether one caught the tv series on its initial run in the 1960’s or the re-runs that followed for decades, it was hard not to smile at the group’s antics and enthusiasm. That was especially true […]
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 […]
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 […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2012
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Live At Lincoln Hall, by Joe Pug Since arriving on the singer-songwriter scene in 2008, it didn’t take long for Joe Pug to establish himself as a rising star. This live album, recorded in Chicago last spring and comprising songs from his one full-length album and two eps, is a spectacular […]
Win Big: Elvis!
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t know Elvis? From the early Sun Studio years to the Vegas spectacles, he blazed a distinctive trail. Dig beneath the out-sized legacy, however, and you’ll find the heart of a musician. Over the course of his career, Elvis wrapped his voice around everything from gospel to country to […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Songs of 2011
I posted a best songs list for the first half of 2011 back in July (here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this the addendum — the best songs from the second half of the year. When My Time Comes, Barnstar! (from the self-released C’Mon!) I somehow missed this song […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best EPs of 2011
Many of my favorite releases from this year were 5-6 song eps rather than 8-10+ song full-length releases. It is, perhaps, a statement on modern music industry that, with one exception, all of these were self-released. As John Lennon said, “Power to the people.” Here, in no particular order, are a few favorite EPs from […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2011
#1. JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest (Lightning Rod) I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t hoping for a full-on rock assault from Isbell and crew. What I got was something better — a nuanced musical tour of his home state of Alabama. From the back porch acoustic sway of […]