GLEN HANSARD Hansard delivered what was easily the best set of the week. He brought a full band, including strings and horns, to showcase songs both new and old. Josh Ritter joined for a couple of choice covers, including songs by Jason Molina (Magnolia Electric Company), Bruce Springsteen and Leonard Cohen. THE BOTTLE ROCKETS At […]
Mayer’s Picks: The Best of 2015 (So Far) the Songs Part 2
Everybody Talkin’ ’bout the All American, JD McPherson (from the Rounder Records release Let The Good Times Roll) Let’s just call this the dance hit of the year. One listen and you’ll know what I mean. You Got To Me, James McMurtry (from the Complicated Game Records release Complicated Game) On a given day I’d […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2015 (So Far), the Albums
Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite releases from the first half of 2015. COMPLICATED GAME by JAMES MCMURTRY As he celebrates the release of his first album in six years, there’s a part of me that wishes that McMurtry was more prolific. Then I remember that it takes time to craft […]
Monday Morning Video – James McMurtry “These Things I’ve Come to Know”
James McMurtry’s Complicated Game is one of this year’s standout albums. His way with both words and melody is as strong as ever. Here is a clip of McMurtry performing a track from the album in the basement of New York’s Mercury Lounge.
Readers’ Pick: Best of Winter 2015
JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game beats out STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES, Terraplane by 8 votes as your favorite for the Winter of 2015. Readers’ Official Top 25 – Winter 2015 JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game (26) STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES, Terraplane (18) JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Absent Fathers (17) JOE PUG, Windfall (14) THE DECEMBERISTS, What […]
Readers’ Pick: Complicated Game by James McMurtry
JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game beats out JJ GREY & MOFRO, Ol’ Glory as your favorite for the week of February 28, 2015. Poll Results Readers’ Top 25 – Winter 2015 JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game (26) STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES, Terraplane (18) JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Absent Fathers (17) THE DECEMBERISTS, What a Terrible World, […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2015
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Complicated Game, by James McMurtry Six years. That’s how long it has been since we last heard new music from McMurtry. While he hasn’t been missing during this time – he could always be found on the touring circuit – many of us were anxiously awaiting some new music. Well, that […]
James McMurtry Shares His Rules for Eating While Touring and Building a Career In Music
James McMurtry talks tour van strategies, the difference between Ford and Chevy vans and the sources of artist income, yesterday and today.
The Twangville 2015 Release Preview
There is already an impressive collection of releases on the docket for 2015, with plenty more sure to follow. Here are a handful that the Twangville crew are eagerly anticipating. What albums, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? ABSENT FATHERS by JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE(13 January on Vagrant Records) Earle […]
MilkDrive – Waves
Daydreaming. Â I had trouble getting this review of the latest release from MilkDrive, Waves, together because every time I would start writing I put the album on to play and next thing I knew I was staring out the window, mind completely lost in other thoughts. Â They paint such immersive pictures it’s as if you’re […]