The Ballad of Sissy & Porter, The Whitmore Sisters (from the Red House Records release Ghost Stories) There’s a throwback quality to the Whitmore Sisters’ Ghost Stories. Sure, sisters Eleanor and Bonnie have magical familial harmonies that recall The Everly Brothers. It’s the songs and arrangements, however, that hearken back to a bygone era when […]
Jackie Bristow on Honda Civics and Her SongCatcher Program for Kids
Singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow talks about the price of guitar strings in New Zealand and writing songs as a love-struck teenager.
Monday Morning Video – Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman was a songwriter’s songwriter whose compositions have been recorded by everyone from Jimmy Buffett to Willie Nelson. Here’s the master performing a few himself, including “Banana Republics” and “City of New Orleans”, the latter of which earned Goodman a posthumous Grammy when Nelson covered it in 1984.
Eliza Gilkyson on Recovering the “Football” and Shopping at the “Death Star”
Folk singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson talks about why survival is an art form on the road and why success is relative.
The Twangville Early 2022 Release Preview
Meet the new year. Same as the old? Not so much on the music front with a great batch of new music on the horizon. Here are some releases eagerly anticipated by the Twangville posse. Hell on Church Street by Punch Brothers (14 January) The virtuoso string quintet remind us yet again why they are […]
Todd’s Tops of 2021
1. James McMurtry/The Horses and theHounds2. Jose Gonzalez/Local Valley 3. Isla, Josh Rouse/The Mediterranean Gardner4. The War on Drugs/I Don’t Live Here Anymore5. Charley Crockett/10 For Slim6. Todd Snider/First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder7. The Hold Steady/Open Door Policy 8. Neil Young and Crazy Horse/Barn9. The Felice Brothers/From Dreams to Dust10. Nell Smith, The […]
Shawn’s Picks – 2021 Favorite Albums
For the second time in a row we’ve finished a year like no other. On the plus side, all that time at home seems to have upped everyone’s songwriting skills. I can’t remember the last time my first pass at the annual favorites list was so long. The first couple of picks were relatively easy. […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2021
Here, in no particular order, are more favorites from 2021.
Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2021, Part 2
I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2021 back in July (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. What’s The Matter/Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call, James McMurtry (from the New West Records release […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2021, Boston/Dallas Edition
I’m fortunate to be able to explore and enjoy the music scenes of two cities – Boston and Dallas. Artists from both metropolitan areas have released some exceptional music this year. Here are a few favorites. Love it local. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS Sunset Diner by Brandon Callies Callies chronicles a painful break-up […]