ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Meridian Rising by Paul Burch Paul Burch is a musician’s musician in the truest sense of the word. Admired by peers (who regularly lend their talents to his recordings), he is also ambitious with his musical exploration. Case in point – his latest release is a fictionalized take on the life […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2016, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists by Nikki Hill We’re gonna call this the best 2015 album that slipped by me last year. Better late than never, right? Hill’s sophomore release, the aptly titled Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists, hits like a punch in the gut. While her sound is rooted in old-school R&B, […]
Western Star Discuss the Difficulty in Finding a Great Drummer and the Joy of Working a Day Job Together As a Band
Max Jeffers of Western Star talks about cramming canned food into their van floorboards and the band debate over when they played their first gig.
Brother Nothing – All In My Mind
As Mick sings, “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you might find, you get what you need.” Â Turns out what I needed was Brother Nothing. Â I’ve been listening to a lot of bluegrass, old-timey, acoustic music lately. Then, a couple of weeks ago, the release from Austin-based Brother Nothing […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2016
ALBUM OF THE MONTH You’re Dreaming by The Cactus Blossoms There was a time when brotherly harmonies dominated the musical airwaves. From the Everly Brothers in pop to the Louvin Brothers in country, it was a sound that was both soothing and satisfying. Despite the fact that this music was a touchstone for many artists […]
Monday Morning Video – Ocean Carolina
Ocean Carolina, the musical outlet for singer-songwriter Michael Simone, have released a pair of enthralling albums. Maudlin Days, their most recent, made my list of favorite releases last year. As the title suggests, Simone excels at writing songs that conjure up cloudy days and melancholy daydreams. Here is “All I Can Do,” the leadoff track, […]
The Twangville 2016 Release Preview, Boston Edition
One of the great things about living in Boston is all the great music that emanates from the musicians that call that area home. Here is just a sampling of the great music expected out of Boston and New England this year. BOUND TO MEET THE DEVIL by JULIE RHODES(26 February) Rhodes makes a statement […]
Courtesy Tier on Recreating Blind Melon’s “No Rain” Video and Why They Only Worry About the Music
Omer Leibovitz of Courtesy Tier reveals how the band transformed their rehearsal space with a dorm room blanket and a first gig playing Blind Melon’s “No Rain,” complete with a dancing bee.
The Twangville 2016 Release Preview
There is already an impressive collection of releases on the docket for 2016, with plenty more sure to follow. Here are a handful that the Twangville crew are eagerly anticipating. What albums, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? CAYAMO SESSIONS AT SEA by BUDDY MILLER AND FRIENDS(29 January on […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2015
I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2015 back in July (here and here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this a continuation — the best songs from the second half of the year. Get Better, Frank Turner (from the Xtra Mile Records release Positive Songs […]