Nick Lowe took advantage of an off night while touring with Elvis Costello (“Elvis has a more leisurely work ethic”, he quipped) to play a small club in Queens, New York City. Backed by the mysterious Los Straightjackets, Lowe reminded why he is a revered pop songwriter. The set list included lots of Lowe classics, […]
Readers’ Pick: John Calvin Abney – Tourist
You picked John Calvin Abney – Tourist as your favorite new release for the week of August 5, 2022. Poll Results New Releases Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2022 Tami Neilson – Kingmaker (28 votes) The Sadies – Colder Streams (26) Parker Twomey – All This Life (24) The Deslondes – Ways & Means (19) […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2022
Clean Getaway, Caroline Spence (from the Rounder Records release True North) Caroline Spence looks at relationships from a myriad of perspectives on her wonderous new True North. “Blue Sky Rain” and “Clean Getaway” focus on their failure with a thoughtful clarity. “You never see it coming, only see it pass,” she sings on “Blue Sky […]
Laura Benitez and the Heartache – California Centuries
Saturday night in rural America. Just saying that, you can practically hear the pickup tires on the gravel road. Whether it’s the Grange Hall in California’s Central Valley, the dance hall in Texas Hill Country, or the Legion Post in eastern Tennessee, the scene is similar. The same loud-but-ineffective air conditioner, plenty of ice cold […]
Newport Folk 2022 – the Twangville Recap
The fog seemed to foreshadow Joni Mitchell as it rolled in, surrounding the peninsula housing the War of 1812-era Fort Adams that makes up the venue of the Newport Folk Festival, after a weekend of intense sun and heat. There had been whispers all weekend about special guests; rumors of Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy […]
Wade Bowen on His Uncle Bob’s Restaurant and Why He Started Playing Guitar
Texas singer-songwriter Wade Bowen talks about avoiding carbs, touring in an extended cab pickup truck, and taking time to smell the roses.
Monday Morning Video – Don Covay
The video quality may be less than stellar but the performance is spectacular. Here’s legendary R&B singer Don Covay, with Ron Wood on guitar, performing “Somebody”.
Readers’ Pick: Amanda Shires – Take It Like a Man
You picked Amanda Shires – Take It Like a Man as your favorite new release for the week of July 29, 2022. Poll Results New Releases Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2022 Tami Neilson – Kingmaker (28 votes) The Sadies – Colder Streams (26) Parker Twomey – All This Life (24) The Deslondes – Ways […]
Brittany Collins – Things I Tell My Therapist
While out hiking in the woods in her native Pacific Northwest, Brittany Collins started composing a tune telling someone how she was coming to terms with a childhood best left behind. She was determined to forge her own path and not be defined by her family. On further reflection it became obvious that little ditty […]
Caroline Spence on Her “Sweet Old Ride” and Achieving Career Goals
Singer-songwriter Caroline Spence talks about her home writing space, recordings of songs she wrote when she was six, and unlearning things learned early in her career.