Comedian Paul Scheer covered SXSW for VH1’s “Best Week Ever” this year, and while he was there he came up with a great game. The premise is this: stop fans on the street and present them with a name, and let them guess whether it is the name of a SXSW band or a Lifetime […]
Let the Music Play: The 2006 SXSW Recap
Another SXSW has come and gone. This year’s event brought over 1,000 bands to Austin for five days of music, cheap beer and great barbeque. Sounds pretty good to me. Although this year’s event was light on new discoveries, it was filled with old favorites. And now for the highlights: The New Orleans Social Club: […]
Adrienne Young & Little Sadie at SXSW
I was lucky enough to attend the University of Florida at same time as Adrienne Young. Back then she was the lead singer of one of the best bands on campus known as the Big White Undies. She’s got her own thing going on now backed up by band Little Sadie and doing unbelievably well. […]
The Drive-by Truckers at SXSW
I’d be out of my mind if I didn’t say the Drive-by Truckers are the Alt-Country act to catch at this years SXSW festival. In fact, this could be the best all around show to see. With a highly anticipated album due in April, these guys are sure to impregnate Austin. Here’s “Lookout Mountain” from […]
The Greencards at SXSW
I’ve already mentioned my Blues pick for the upcoming SXSW festival. Moving on to Bluegrass, I recommend checking out Nashville-based trio, The Greencards, at Momo’s on Thursday, March 16 at 11pm. Loyal Twangvillers might remember them from my Best Songs of 2005 playlist. In fact, they’ve posted that very song on their profile. Check out […]
Pickin’ through the Blues…
I started picking through some of the posted songs for the upcoming SXSW festival. As always (or at least since Mayer introduced me to the festival), I start with some of the smaller genres like Blues and Bluegrass and then make my way over to Alt Country, Singer-songwriters and Rock. Last year my Blues pick […]
Best Alternative Songs of 2005
While my taste in music has gone decidedly Americana, I still consider Alternative the root of my interest in song. That being said, I’m not going to go into detail on why I like these but I did want to list some of my favorite alternative songs from 2005. (listed in no particular order) Playlist […]
Best Albums of 2005 (Tom’s Picks)
My Top 10 Albums of 2005 listed in order. 1. Back to Me, Kathleen Edwards An impressive follow-up to 2003’s Failer, for me Back to Me was the album to beat all year. I’ve listened to songs from this album all year long. Her tales of absence and heartache delivered by smokey yet smooth vocals […]
Mayer’s 2005 Picks: The Songs
Here, in no particular order, are my favorite songs from 2005. Washed by the Water, Will Hoge (available for download at Hoge’s web site) In a song as inspiring as it is inspired, Will Hoge leads a gospel revival for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. “Down here we are washed by the water, the […]
Mayer’s 2005 Picks: The Albums (pt. 2)
The countdown to the #1 album of 2005 continues… 7. Mr. Hollywood, Jr., 1947, Michael Penn It’s hard to decide which is more impressive, Michael Penn’s intelligent lyrics or his pop music sensibilities. On his first album in five years, Penn leaves little doubt that both are in peak form and that the combination is […]