Neelys Band This group’s weekly gig at Nashville institution American Legion Post 82 was required attendance even before their AmericanaFest blowout. Their performance alone was a thrill. Then came the special guests: Margo Price delivering a rip-roaring “9 to 5,” Shakey Graves joining Price for an incredible duet of “Islands in the Stream,” and Duane […]
Now & Then: Margo Price’s Days Of Unrest and the reach of Van Lear Rose
Margo Price has never treated country music as neutral ground, and Days Of Unrest removes any remaining doubt. Released as a July 4 weekend protest mixtape, it puts her in conversation with the folk-protest tradition while keeping one boot in country music. The “Then” album is Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose, a 2004 record that made plainspoken country songwriting feel newly urgent.
Chip’s Best of 2025
As seems to be the case every year, selecting a top 25 was difficult task for 2025. There are so many good albums not on the list, that I liked almost as much as what was included. However, selecting the top album was not hard this year. Wednesday – Bleeds was an obvious choice to […]
Shawn’s Album Favorites: 25 From 25
1) Silverada – Texas 42. A love letter to the Lone Star State, from the title track to the drinking song to the closer with the armadillo. With some slight changes of lyrics it’s also a requiem for living just about anywhere in southern and/or western rural America. 2) I’m With Her – Wild And […]
The Twangville 2025 Album Preview-Side B
Here are some albums that we’re looking forward to hearing in the back half of 2025… Americana Radio by J. Isaiah Evans and the Boss Tweed (11 July) Evans and the Boss Tweed make a raucous entrance with their debut album. Evans pairs his booming voice with his fierce guitar for ten tracks of what […]
Chip’s Best of 2023
I had the same problem with my year end rankings as always. There were at least 35 albums worthy of the top 25. As you can see that math only works for congressmen and poker hustlers. I focused the top 25 on Americana and Roots music. To have included Indie and Alternative would have been […]
Readers’ Pick: Margo Price – Strays II
You picked Margo Price – Strays II as your favorite new release for the week of October 13, 2023.
SXSW 2023 – The Sounds, Part 4
SIR WOMAN Sir Woman celebrated their 2023 Austin Music Awards Band of the Year award by, well, playing all over town. I caught their last set – on Sunday afternoon – where singer-songwriter Kelsey Wilson led the group, including featured vocalists Spice and Roy Jr., through a wonderous and soulful performance. GOODNIGHT TEXAS Another band […]
Readers’ Pick: Margo Price – Strays
You picked Margo Price – Strays as your favorite new release for the week of January 13, 2023.
Monday Morning Video – A Long Monday Without John Prine
Gonna be a long MondaySittin’ all alone on a mountain by a river that has no endIt’s gonna be a long MondayStuck like the tick of a clock that’s come unwound again and again As we mourn the loss of the wit, wisdom, and humanity of John Prine, here’s a collection of artists paying tribute […]