It’s been a solid year of music so far in 2009. We’ve had the requisite releases from the marquee names like Springsteen and U2, but we’ve also seen stellar releases from the cherished and emerging artists that are the life-blood of Twangville. Below, then, are the 2009 favorites from the Twangville posse. What were yours? […]
SXSW 2009: The Video Companion
For more Twangville SXSW coverage click here.
Justin Townes Earle on Justin Townes Earle
Our friends at Vimby were kind enough to share this video interview with Twangville favorite Justin Townes Earle. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see Earle live in concert, this is a good introduction to his down-home style and the sharp wit that he inherited from his father. VIMBY – Justin Townes Earle
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2009, a Video Companion
We book-end this month’s video playlist with Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys), opening with a rocking take on “My Last Mistake” and closing with a special acoustic performance of “Trouble Weighs a Ton.” In between we’ve got live performances from Alex Dezen (The Damnwells), Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Justin Townes Earle, Sam […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2009, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, by Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit There’s something satisfying about watching a performer mature before your eyes. Though Jason Isbell has long been a Twangville favorite, his latest showcases his tremendous growth as a songwriter and performer. Exhibit A is “Soldiers Get Strange,” the […]
Nine for ’09
I can’t speak for the economy, but 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for music. Pay particular attention to March. It seems that every year the stars align on a single day and we get an embarrassment of riches. This year that day is March 3rd. Here are some of the incredible […]
Best Albums of 2008, Mayer’s Picks
#1. MATTHEW RYAN, Matthew Ryan Vs. the Silver State (00:02:59) Whether he’s performing a ballad or a rock song, Ryan’s intelligence and intensity course through this release. (Twangville review, mp3s and video here.) #2. THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) They rock, they roll and then they rock some more. The Hold Steady may very […]
Your Favorites in 2008… So Far
The residents of Twangville have spoken! Here are some of your favorites from the first half of the year. The Band of Heathens, The Band of Heathens Hayes Carll, Trouble In Mind Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life Kathleen Edwards, Asking for Flowers Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid Eleven Hundred […]
Listen Up: Justin Townes Earle’s “The Good Life”
Justin Townes Earle’s The Good Life is really two albums intertwined. First you get some vintage honky-tonk and backwoods country; second you get some gorgeous/breathtaking acoustic ballads. Album opener “Hard Livin†is a prime example of the former, a fine honky-tonk rave-up that showcases the tremendous group of players in the band. Some mighty fine […]
SXSW 2008: The Sounds Part 1
X Legendary Los Angeles punk band X authoritatively declared that they could still rock hard after 31 years together. I caught them twice and the band pounded through both shows without a set list. The band merely called out out songs that captured their mood and responded to audience requests. Their influence on modern rock […]