Part of the fun of moving to a new city is exploring new venues. It’s certainly been that way for me in NYC. One of my fave finds is the 11th St Bar in the East Village. The bar has a storied musical history, counting Ryan Adams and Justin Townes Earle, among others, as patrons […]
Monday Morning Video – Abraham, Martin, and John
Originally recorded by Dion in 1968, this song has taken on a life of its own. Here are some classic performances, courtesy of Ray Charles, Emmylou Harris, and Dion.
The Twangville Early 2023 Release Preview
Out of the Heart of Darkness by L.A. Edwards (6 January) L.A. Edwards kick of the year with an often brooding but always engaging song collection. Although the group hails from California, they make a mighty fine heartland rock sound. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying by Whitehorse (13 January) The Canadian duo of Melissa McClelland […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2022, Part 2
I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2022 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. Paranoid Heart, John Fullbright (from the Blue Dirt Records release The Liar) “Well maybe […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2022, 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. LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER (BOSTON YOU’RE MY HOME) Crackdown by GA-20 Two guitars and a set […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2022, the Albums
10. When I Go I Ghost by Cory Branan Branan has never been known to pull his punches and he lives up to that reputation on When I Go I Ghost. From the opening rock blast of “When In Rome, When In Memphis” to the brooding closer “Of Two Minds”, Branan unleashes songs filled with […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022, Part 3
Let You Down, Bird Streets (from the Sparkle Plenty/Deko Records release Lagoon) John Brodeur – aka Bird Streets – is a master of the power pop craft. To be sure, these aren’t pop songs of the three chord variety. Rather, they have an inspired complexity – accessible yet filled with melodic and lyrical twists along […]
Adeem the Artist on the Ghost of Janis Joplin and Why Songwriting is a Strange Kind of Magic
Adeem the Artist talks about why music beats painting houses and developing the songwriting craft by reading books and watching movies.
Monday Morning Video – Doc Dailey
It has been a decade since Alabama’s Doc Dailey released a pair of incredible albums but I still periodically check to see if there is something new. Even if it’s a new-ish acoustic performance of an older song, I’ll take it. Here’s the sad but outstanding “Let Me Down” from 2010’s Victims, Enemies & Old […]
Monday Morning Video – Ever More Nest
There’s something special about art inspiring art. Truth in point – New Orleans’s Ever More Nest’s “What’s Gone Is Gone”. Says singer-songwriter Kelcy Mae about the song: “Some New Orleans musicians took a page from the Bushwick Book Club and invited songwriters to read Margaret Atwood’s The Heart Goes Last, write a song inspired by it, and […]