Every once in awhile, there is an artist whose album is so anticipated by everyone in the Twangville Posse that a few of us pile on for a team review. Put Sarah Borges’ “Radio Sweetheart” into that category. SUZANNE’S TAKE There’s one word to describe Sarah Borges: BADASS. When I was growing up, I always […]
Shane Sweeney’s Morning Drawings
For all the magical moments spent performing, I gotta imagine that life as a touring musician has plenty of shortcomings. Set aside the extended drives and junk food sustenance, there are undoubtedly hours of monotony and boredom. In those instances it pays to have a hobby to occupy the time. Two Cow Garage’s Shane Sweeney […]
Steve Dawson – Rattlesnake Cage
Canadian roots music master Steve Dawson’s Rattlesnake Cage showcases Dawson’s astonishing guitar skills as they should be – intimate and acoustic. Dawson, whose passion for roots music prompted him to found the Black Hen Music label in 1995, has been a force in the Canadian music scene and now, having relocated to Nashville, his star […]
Readers’ Pick: PARKER MILLSAP, Parker Millsap
You picked Parker Millsap’s self-titled album as your favorite for the week of February 4, 2014. Readers’ Top 10 (last 4 weeks) ROSANNE CASH, The River & The Thread (17) BLACKIE & THE RODEO KINGS, South (12) DAMIEN JURADO, Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (11) PARKER MILLSAP, Parker Millsap (9) DAVID CROSBY, Croz […]
Monday Morning Video: Chris Mills
I wrote about Mills’s latest release last week. Alexandria is one of those albums that gets better and better with each subsequent listen. Here’s a track that didn’t jupm out at me upon the first few listens but now floors me each time that I hear it.
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2014, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Alexandria, by Chris Mills “I have wandered in the wild places,” sings Mills in the opening track of his latest release. It is a fitting line for a musician whose music continues to evolve in exquisite fashion. Mills has always impressed on many levels. His songwriting has always had a romantic […]
Kathryn Caine And The Small Band
From the opening chords of the first song on Kathryn Caine’s latest album, Kathryn Caine And The Small Band, there’s a definite throwback feeling. Â That song, Beacon, has a rock feeling that’s rooted in the style of soaring vocals set to guitar ala the Wilson sisters in Heart or LInda Ronstadt when she was topping […]
Mark T. Small – Smokin’ Blues
New Englander Mark T. Small’s lightning fast guitar picking skills are on display on the all-acoustic Smokin’ Blues. Small, whose background includes a stint in the 1980s with the Indiana-based “newgrass” band called The Brown County Band and a dozen years as leader of Chicago-style electric blues band The Lonesome Strangers, has managed to fuse the extraordinary dexterity required […]
Readers’ Pick: DAVID CROSBY, Croz
You picked David Crosby’s “Croz†as your favorite album for the week of January 28, 2014. Readers’ Top 10 (last 4 weeks) ROSANNE CASH, The River & The Thread (17) BLACKIE & THE RODEO KINGS, South (12) DAMIEN JURADO, Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (11) DAVID CROSBY, Croz (9) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, High Hopes […]
More Video Fun from Sarah Borges, Amy Black and Girls Guns & Glory
Earlier today I wrote about Amy Black, Sarah Borges and Girls Guns & Glory, all of whom are about to host shows to celebrate their new releases. In addition to their own songs, all three of these artist’s are known to do some exceptional covers. Here’s the proof.