1) Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well She raised her game to a new level. The insight and emotion in some of the songs on this record really do make me think that cardinal was John Prine. I’m not sure there’s been a better song ever about growing up than the title track. 2) Billy Strings […]
Readers’ Pick: Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive
You picked Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive as your favorite new release for the week of February 23, 2024.
The Twangville Early 2024 Preview
Halfsies by Lizzie No (19 Jan) Brooklyn’s Lizzie No showcases the breadth of her talent on her forthcoming album. From folk to rock to pop – there’s a little bit of everything, all with an engaging indie vibe. Letting the Lions In by Dinty Child (19 Jan) Dinty Child is a mainstay of the Boston […]
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 […]
Monday Morning Video – Ronnie Spector
With the passing of Ronnie Spector, another rock and roll legend has been taken from us. Spector leaves behind a tremendous musical legacy, one that led to the Ronettes being inducted into the Hall of Fame (with an induction speech by Keith Richards). Below is that night’s performances of the group’s signature “Be My Baby”. […]
The Twangville Early 2022 Release Preview
Meet the new year. Same as the old? Not so much on the music front with a great batch of new music on the horizon. Here are some releases eagerly anticipated by the Twangville posse. Hell on Church Street by Punch Brothers (14 January) The virtuoso string quintet remind us yet again why they are […]
SXSW 2017 – 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 2,200 bands and more than 20,000 attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Feb/Mar 2014, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTHS English Oceans, by Drive-By Truckers I suppose that this review could be titled “Cooley Steps Out.” The band co-founder, who has historically contributed only a couple of songs per release, is credited with six songs on English Oceans. Ever better, they are some of his strongest songs in years. The opening […]
The Twangville 2014 Release Preview
If the releases below are any indication, 2014 is shaping up to be a musical embarrassment of riches. What releases, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? HARD WORKING AMERICANS by HARD WORKING AMERICANS(21 January on Melvin Records/Thirty Tigers Records) What happens when a group of musicians — Todd Snider, […]
Americana 2013, the Sounds, Part 2
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. LUCINDA WILLIAMS The Americana Conference instituted a new tradition this year: […]