There are plenty of musicians who were raised in a deeply religious environment, chose a different path, but maintained and built upon the musical foundation of the church. You can attribute that talent to all the time spent in choirs and gospel services–the 10,000 hour meme. Sometimes, though, you just sense it comes from somewhere […]
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2023 (So Far), the Songs
Suicide of Town, Ben de la Cour (from the Julian Records release Sweet Anhedonia) Amidst an album of dark and sobering ballads, de la Cour proves that he can rock with the best of ‘em. Simple Things, The Band of Heathens (from the BOH Records release Simple Things) Getting by on simple things, letting go […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring, Part 3
Broken Heart of Mine, William Prince (from the Six Shooter Records release Stand in the Joy) “Is the moon shining bright where you are? Is it even shining at all?,” asks William Prince at the start of the outstanding “When You Miss Someone”, the lead track from his latest album. The song wistfully chronicles the […]
Kam Franklin of The Suffers on A Freak Pressure Event and Working at an Investment Bank
Singer-songwriter Kam Franklin of The Suffers shares an early lyric and talks about the band’s new rehearsal space.
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2023, Part 2
Suicide of Town, Ben de la Cour (from the Julian Records release Sweet Anhedonia) There isn’t a lot of sunshine in Ben de la Cour’s music and Sweet Anhedonia is no exception. Heck, the album is titled after the condition of not being able to experience pleasure. But that’s part of the Nashville singer-songwriter’s magic […]
Monday Morning Video – Tina Turner
We lost another legend with the passing of Tina Turner last week. Turner didn’t just sing songs, she owned them. Need proof?
Vance Gilbert – The Mother of Trouble
When I got the press release for Philadelphia native Vance Gilbert’s upcoming album, The Mother of Trouble, it noted the project contained “4 bullies, 4 deaths (3 of them murders), 3 moms, 2 accidents, 2 Black people, 2 dogs, 1 dog ball, and one missed flight due to gas station sushi.” I mean, who’s not […]
Doghouse – a Premiere from Dev Wulf & the Midnight Howl
It’s one thing to host a song premiere, it’s quite another when that song is a debut single. In that vein, Twangville is thrilled to introduce you to Dev Wulf & the Midnight Howl. The group announce themselves with style – “Doghouse” is a ripping R&B jam, filled with swirling organ and tenacious electric guitar […]
Wilder Woods on Recording Band Rehearsals and Graduating to a Tour Bus
Bear Rinehart – aka Wilder Woods – talks about working as a jet ski technician, burning incense in his rehearsal space, and why hearing “no” doesn’t mean that you’re wrong.
Taj Mahal – Savoy
At 80, Taj Mahal is more than an elder statesman for the blues. Like his namesake is to India, he is a national treasure. With the old-timey Savoy, Mahal revisits his youth while continuing his lifelong habit of never being pigeonholed in a particular style. After a run with Ry Cooder in an underrated band […]