ALLISON RUSSELL Seeing Allison Russell was a transcendental experience. Her songs and performance were glorious in their intensity and emotion. While she brought out the clarinet and banjo for a few songs, she mostly relied on the talented trio of musicians to support her on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and cello. Simply magical. BER One […]
SXSW 2022 – The Sounds, Part 1
DOLLY PARTON What can be said about seeing Dolly Parton for the first time? The hits, the stories, the people weeping with joy around me – it was spectacular. And playing “9 to 5” twice – the second time so the audience could sing it – was tremendous. LEE BAINS III & THE GLORY FIRES […]
Monday Morning Video – Eli Paperboy Reed
R&B master Eli Paperboy Reed and his band cram themselves onto a small stage and set fire to the folk gospel classic “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”.
Willie D & the Hip Pockets – Rock, Rhythm & Jazz
For the last decade Willie D, aka William Martin Daniel, Jr., has been injecting his jazz-influenced, soulful saxophone sound into a variety of Austin musical venues and styles. He apparently came by at least some of his artistry via heritage–his dad played sax in several 40’s and 50’s style jazzy dance bands. The culmination of […]
The Sully Band – Let’s Straighten It Out
I hit play on the new record from San Diego’s The Sully Band and it was like stepping into the way back machine. It must have been about 1975 or 1976, and I discovered KAAY in Little Rock and its after-midnight programming. Sitting on a tailgate on a sweltering summer night, pulling surreptitiously from a […]
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 […]
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 of 2021, the Albums
10. Obviously by Lake Street Dive Glorious smooth and silken pop, a mix of songs earnest and spirited – Obviously is another gem from Lake Street Dive. Key Tracks: Hypotheticals, Hush Money, Same Old News, Nobody’s Stopping You Now, Anymore 9. Vessel by The Accidentals Sav Buist and Katie Larson shift away from their folk […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2021, Part 2
Cityview, The Accidentals (from the self-released Vessels) With the addition of drummer Michael Dause the Accidentals have expanded their musical palette into full-on rock territory. Songs like opener “Count the Rings”, “Rollercoaster” and “Slow and Steady” bristle with an electric guitar and bass fueled energy. That said, the group also mine familiar acoustic cello and […]