Wednesday is apparently the national night for musical residencies. In KC you’ve got Walkenhorst while in Austin you can regularly catch Jon Dee Graham AND James McMurtry. I’m lucky to live in Boston where most Wednesday’s I can catch Dennis Brennan, usually with special guest former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf joining in for […]
Listen Up: The Teenage Prayers’ “Everyone Thinks You’re the Best”
Imagine a soul band playing CBGB’s and you’ll have a sense of the Prayer’s sound. The Brooklyn-based group serves up a potent blend of soul and hard rock that will get you dancing until you collapse from exhaustion. Opener “I Like It†sets the tone with a smoldering intro that builds into an angst-ridden beat. […]
Band of Heathens Giveaway Contest!!!
The Band of Heathens has been gracious enough to provide Twangville with a couple of copies of their soon to be released album to give away. Just leave a comment to this post about the Heathens. Refer to my previous post in which I reviewed the album. Then check back on 6-8 when we will […]
Listen Up: Nakia & His Southern Cousins
In a small room off the beaten path at this year’s SXSW I found a big voice. Austin singer-songwriter Nakia took possession of the room that night, his rich and brawny voice shifting effortlessly from a soulful ballad to a R&B rave-up. Ably backed by his top-notch band the Southern Cousins, it was a highlight […]
Josh Ritter – An Interview
Josh Ritter is on tour again, this time stopping in small towns and quirky venues all over this great nation (and a few in Canada, if I’m not mistaken). If you are lucky enough to be attending one of these shows, I envy you, but I also encourage you to take a pen and paper, […]
Wes Charlton – World on Fire
Every so often I encounter a new artist that really gets me fired up. Since I entered the blogosphere a little over a year ago, my opportunity to discover these upstart talents has been an unexpected benefit. Nashville’s Wes Charlton is one of those artists. All I can say is watch out. This kid is […]
800 CDs and Counting…
So you wanna be a rock and roll star? If only it were so simple. Songwriter and film-maker Chris Valenti learned the hard way. He recorded Emotional Wreck, his debut cd, manufactured 1,000 copies and, well, stacked 800 of ‘em in the corner of his apartment. What might have been a discouraging experience for some […]
THE ARTIST vs. THE CHARTIST
What is it about these damn vanilla bean lattes? I think if the warmth of a king-size duvet were a drink, it would be the vanilla bean latte. Or more likely, it is the beverage equivalent of a paycheck on payday. No wait, that’s actually the cost of a vanilla bean latte; my full paycheck. […]
SXSW 2008: Say What?
“More vocals? I’m glad you actually want to hear me. I wish my mother did.” ~ Elia of the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir Drunk guy: “Do you guys know where the bridge party is?” Non-drunk guys: “Well there’s a bridge but I don’t see a party.” ~ Overheard at 3am as I crossed the bridge […]
Q&A with the Wrinkle Neck Mules + a Monster Giveaway
**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.** One disc you may have overlooked in 2007 came from Richmond, VA based Wrinkle Neck Mules titled ‘The Wicks Have Met’. Rustically rooted in Old Dominion’s historic south, the Wrinkle Neck Mules deliver with their own special […]