Alejandro Escovedo pays tribute to Ian Hunter by inviting Hunter’s band to perform a trio of legendary Mott the Hoople songs: “All the Way From Memphis”, “Drivin’ Sister”, and “I Wish I Was Your Mother”. This is some serious classic rock and roll.
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2024
So Glad You Made It, Fantastic Cat (from the Missing Piece Group Records release Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat) Fantastic Cat showcase their humor by maintaining a countdown clock until they’re eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, prominently displayed at their shows. Yet, it’s not entirely a joke – if […]
SXSW 2024: The Sounds, Part 2
Alejandro Escovedo I’d like to say that Escovedo is the elder statesman of SXSW, which he undoubtedly is, but it really doesn’t do him justice. He rocked SXSW as hard, arguably harder, than musicians a fraction of his age. I caught him three times through the week, each appearance unique. The stand-out was a small […]
Monday Morning Video – Alejandro Escovedo
The legendary Alejandro Escovedo was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame last year and celebrated with a pretty epic performance of “Put You Down”, from 1996’s With These Hands.
SXSW 2022 – The Scene
For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for SXSW. With upwards of 1,000 artists and more than 20,000 attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even […]
Monday Morning Video – More True Believers
Last week’s True Believers blast of rock and roll just wasn’t enough for me. Here’s a set from a band reunion at SXSW back in 2013. You better believe I was there in person to revel in the glorious wash of electric guitar. Well, make that guitars. I’ve queued it up for “Who Calls My […]
Monday Morning Video – True Believers
The feels like a week that calls out for rock and roll. One of the great shoulda been huge rock purveyors were Austin, Texas’s True Believers. Three singer-songwriters, three guitars, and a pounding rhythm section – it doesn’t get much better. Here’s a vintage clip of the group performing “The Rain Won’t Help You When […]
The Twangville 2018 Release Preview, Summer/Fall Edition
We’ve already been treated to a number of great new albums in 2018. Read on for some releases expected in the back half of the year. What albums, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? TILT AND SHINE by KEVIN GORDON(27 July on Crowville Media) Gordon returns with another scruffy […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2016
Here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2016. Midnight MotelJack Ingram Rangers & ValentinesTrapper Schoepp Teens of DenialCar Seat Headrest Burn Something BeautifulAlejandro Escovedo Kicked Out of EdenJavier Escovedo My Way HomeEli ‘Paperboy’ Reed Cold SnapAnthony D’Amato LakesideEric Ambel Eric BachmannEric Bachmann The RevealerJesse Dayton BlindfallerMandolin Orange RockinghamBJ Barham American BandDrive-By […]
Monday Morning Video – Alejandro Escovedo “Sister Lost Soul”
Alejandro Escovedo (rock band edition) just passed through Boston for a post-Thanksgiving extravaganza. In the midst of an otherwise rocking set that leaned heavily on the just-released Burn Something Beautiful, Escovedo took a solemn moment to reflect on the many musicians that we’ve lost this year. He celebrated their memory with a moving version of […]