BALTO I was sold on Balto as soon as I heard the blistering slide on “Black Snake, Mojave Blues”, the sample track that they shared on their SXSW profile page. Seeing them live provided an exclamation point – I caught two exceptional raucous and greasy outdoor sets in the afternoon sun. The LA-based quartet were […]
Elise Davis on Chick-Fil-A and Her Approach to Social Media
Singer-songwriter Elise Davis shares the story behind her first song, an exhilarating first gig and a spectrum of day jobs.
Michael McDermott On the Spinal Tap Stonehenge Set and a Career’s Worth of Tour Vehicles
Singer-songwriter Michael McDermott talks about the improvised guitar strap at his first gig and his secret for eating well while on tour.
Steve Poltz Shares a Dirty Little Secret and Explains What “Eff” Means
Steve Poltz, troubadour, talks about being an opportunivore, touring like a millennial and why goats don’t play guitar.
Mary Bragg on Changing the Oil and Being True to Herself
Singer-songwriter Mary Bragg discusses her approach to rehearsals, touring with a French press and why she listens closely to her guitar strings.
Dallas Days and Fort Worth Nights – A Special Dallas Playlist
Burn It, Joshua Ray Walker (from the State Fair Records release Wish You Were Here) Texas has a rich tradition of extraordinary storytellers. Writers who weave exceptional stories filled with colorful characters that find themselves in situations both trying and humorous. With Wish You Were Here, his debut release, Joshua Ray Walker firmly establishes himself […]
Monday Morning Video – Carter Sampson
There are inevitably a few albums that slip by my radar each year. Carter Sampson’s 2018 release Lucky fits into that category. The album is filled with songs that sit on the cusp of folk and country, often determined solely by the arrangements. She passed through Dallas several weeks ago and treated to two shows, […]
The Twangville Early 2019 Release Preview
If the albums scheduled for release over the next few months are any indication, there’s a great year of music ahead of us. Here are just a few forthcoming long-players that we are eagerly anticipating in 2019. WHAT WILL YOU DO by LULA WILES(25 January on Smithsonian Folkways)The Boston trio have taken their time […]
Todd’s Tops of 2018
1. Damien Jurado/The Horizon Just Laughed – After the Maraqopa trilogy with Richard Swift, Jurado self-produces the personal The Horizon Just Laughed. It’s vintage Jurado with biting lyrics and observations that leave plenty open to interpretation. 2. Michael Flynn/Pretend Like – A beautifully done album with strings-a-plenty and gorgeous images. 3. BRMC/Wrong Creatures – They […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2018
Here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2018. Tenkiller Marie/Lepanto Out From Under