**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.** You could say that Mindy Smith was born to sing Christmas songs. The adopted daughter of a pastor and his wife who raised her in Long Island, NY. No doubt her Christian upbringing played into her interest […]
Will Hoge + More, Album Previews
Will Hoge, ‘Draw the Curtains’ (Full CD) [MySpace.com] It’s that time of year again when we here at Twangville go Hogin’. With a new 10 song LP titled Draw the Curtains, Will Hoge packages live show favorites such as “Dirty Little War” and “Washed By The Water” as well as new songs “These Were The […]
Bruce Springsteen + More, Album Previews
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Magic’ (Full CD) Not even a Bob Dylan release can distract me from the mounted anticipation of Bruce Springsteen‘s new release Magic. He’s back with the E Street Band for this record which means the hootenanny is over at least temporarily. I’ve learned to like anything that Springsteen has made over the years, […]
Joe Henry + More, Album Previews
Joe Henry, ‘Civilians’ (Full CD) Joe Henry has produced records for Ani DiFranco, Aimee Mann, Bettye LaVette, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint and the forthcoming Mary Gauthier album. His production credits also include a Grammy for producing Solomon Burke’s “Don’t Give Up On Meâ€. Civilians marks his tenth album and second with Anti Records. File […]
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, by Josh Ritter Josh Ritter bounces back from his label’s bankruptcy in fine fashion. Quickly (and smartly) picked up by Victor/Sony, Ritter releases his second masterpiece in as many years. Historical Conquests may not have the lyrical gravity of last year’s breathtaking Animal Years, […]
Live Shots: Josh Ritter @ The Box
Josh Ritter has always come across as a polished live performer, but his enthusiasm couldn’t be contained within the theater walls at a low profile cd release performance on August 22nd in New York. “It is amazing to be here, awesome, awesome,” he exclaimed a few songs into the show. Much of the set focused […]
Live Shots: Kay Hanley @ Lizard Lounge
Having re-located to Los Angeles, Boston native former Letters to Cleo singer Kay Hanley returns home twice annually for the Hot Stove, Cool Music shows. Invariably Hanley and crew fit in a club gig to stretch their legs a bit, as was the case at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA on August 17th. Perhaps […]
Bad to the Bone, 25 Years Later
I had forgotten how good George Thorogood and the Destroyers are. The commercial success of the song “Bad to the Bone” and several of the songs on the album of the same name numbed my perspective of their talent. We’ve heard songs like “Bad to the Bone”, “Nobody But Me” and “No Particular Place to […]
Earl Pickens & Peter Karp in Rotation
Here’s a sampling of some stuff I’ve been listening to lately. Earl Pickens Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Country / Acoustic / Country [audio:http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/2/343660/01%20Can%20I%20Turn%20On%20The%20Radio_.mp3] Download: Turn On The Radio (MP3)* Notes: Rooted in punk, enlightened by country making for a nice combination of influences. Primarily country but with nice pop and alternative undertones. Official Site | Profile | […]
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals “This is Somewhere”, Reviewed
“Stop the bus and turn the radio up high!” wails Grace Potter on the second track of the band’s third full length album titled This is Somewhere. This is exactly what you’ll want to do when you hear this song playing in whatever your version of a bus is. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals hail […]