Twangville

A music blog featuring Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock, Folk & Blues. Est. 2005.

J. P. Harris – Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing

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Look outside on a bright, sunny day.  Now let the sun wash out the colors, the shadows enhance some of the details and the reflections make others a blank spot on the canvas.  Add a soundtrack, maybe a song, but more likely a bird chirping or a tire screeching.  Now layer in the scent of […]

Americana 2018: Chip’s Picks

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When trying to outline the highlights of the week of AmericanaFest the easy path would have me simply say you had to be there… then go get a beer. However, I will choose a more descriptive path. The venues are disparate and scattered across the Metro Nashville area, which is what is so cool. So […]

Ray Bonneville – At King Electric

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Listening to Ray Bonneville’s spartan lyrics evokes images of freight yards, open prairies and empty dwellings. His masterful, moody songs on At King Electric  embody the spirit of the North American continent he has wandered for decades. Born in Quebec, Bonneville learned English when his family moved to Boston when he was twelve. Though his […]

Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2018 (So Far), the Songs

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Here are some of my favorite songs this year. An eclectic lot to be sure. The Fold, Brent Cowles (from the Dine Alone Records release How To Be OK Alone) Easily my favorite song so far this year. Cowles confronts anxiety and self-doubt with a determined and uplifting anthem. Tough Folks, American Aquarium (from the […]

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Live at Songbirds

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At one point early in his set Ray Wylie Hubbard borrowed a line form one of his songs and said, “Any day my gratitude is above my expectations is a good day. Today has been a good day”. It was indeed a good night. The event took place at Songbirds in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Songbirds is […]

Ry Cooder – The Prodigal Son

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In a somber chat between Jesus Christ and Woody Guthrie, Jesus cautions Woody that the “engine of hate” that fueled Woody’s struggles last century was back again and “you good people better get together or you ain’t got a chance anymore.” That sums up how Ry Cooder paints today’s world in “Jesus and Woody,” one […]

2018 Old Settler’s Music Festival

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For me, one of the surest indicators of spring is when I leave for my annual trip to Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Now in its 31st year, and having moved into new digs near Lockhart, Texas, OSMF epitomizes the perfect festival mix of hot, new acts; crowd-pleasing old favorites; and a crowd size that lets […]

John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness

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If John Prine’s music seduced you back in the 1970s, you probably get it, and you’ll love The Tree of Forgiveness, his first album in 13 years presenting any new original music. He has released a collaboration with Mac Wiseman (Standard Songs for Average People), a couple of compilations of early music (including The Singing Mailman […]