I expect that most of us have been inspired by a song lyric at one time or another. From the Beatles’ “and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make” to the Lumineers’ “the opposite of love is indifference,” these lyrics offer distinct perspectives on the lives that we […]
Readers’ Pick: Best Album of 2012: I See Hawks In L.A., “New Kind of Lonely”
Congratulations to I See Hawks in L.A. for winning the annual Twangville Readers’ Pick award for 2012. This always turns out to be a bit of a popularity contest which is fine by us and why we follow up with our Editors’ Picks so that everyone gets a fair shot. The nominees this year were […]
Monday Morning Video: Kingsley Flood
Along with the download that I posted in my January playlist last week, the fine folks from Kingsley Flood shared this video of the song “Strongman” from their recent cd release party in Washington D.C. If nothing else, watch at the 2:00 minute mark as drummer Travis Richter attempts to atomize his drums. Now THIS […]
Bill Mallonee – Amber Waves
Bill Mallonee’s 50th release (that is not a typo by the way) is one of his most impassioned. I realize that is a bold statement when the referenced artist has such a large body of work. The lyrics on “Amber Waves” are full of pain and loss. However, there is an underlying hope in these […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2013
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Battles, by Kingsley Flood Battles is the sound of a band hitting stride. Kingsley Flood have always delivered rock solid songs and performances. Their latest release, however, packages their most potent songwriting to date with some equally powerful arrangements. There’s a real edge to the songs across this release. The title […]
Holly Williams – The Highway
“Why are you drinkin’ like the night is young?” Â From the opening words of the opening song on Holly Williams’ latest album, The Highway, she provides ammunition to anyone arguing that good songwriting can draw from one’s genes. Â Less like her father and half-brother, who seem to reflect the hard living and partying aspect of […]
Who Will Win the Americana Grammy (plus a Paul Kelly give-away!)
With the Grammy Awards scheduled to take place on Sunday 10 February, this seems a good time to see who the Twangville community would like to see win the Americana Award. To sweeten the pot, everyone who comments will be eligible to win a special prize package. So who do you think should win? Post […]
Monday Morning Video: The Gourds with Rhett Miller
Did everyone hear that David Bowie has a new album coming out this year? Well, this ain’t him. It’s Austin’s favorite sons the Gourds (joined by Rhett Miller) performing the Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes.”
Bill Mallonee – Live House Concert
To say that Bill Mallonee is prolific in his songwriting is an understatement. Between traditional releases and online releases, he has recorded 50 albums. Based in Athens, he came on the scene in the late 80’s as the front man for the Vigilantes of Love, but has primarily been a solo-act for the better part […]
Skinny Molly – Haywire Riot
Welcome to 1978. Hardworking, hard rocking Skinny Molly’s new release, Haywire Riot, is an unabashed throwback in the tradition of southern rock bands Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Led by frontman Mike Estes, a member of latter-day iterations of Lynyrd Skynyrd since the mid-1990s, the band was intended as a fun diversion but Estes said it became his […]