I usually pride myself on going to only the highest quality shows. Unfortunately my radar recently let me down in a big way. It did, however, inspire some ramblings on what makes a successful live performance. Tip 1: Don't Overstay Your Welcome If you're the opening band, keep your set to 30 minutes, tops. [...]
More >
Live Performance Tips
Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
First off, I’d like to start by saying that many of my recent reviews have been lacking in what many would call twang. Having said that, this specific review will follow suit. For any sort of twangy, countrified needs you may have, please check-out these relatively-recent-releases…now, moving on. It has been said over [...]
More >
Win Big! A Dar Williams Give-Away
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
Dar Williams cranks it up a notch on Promised Land, her latest release. Returning from a three year recording hiatus Williams transforms her folk roots into a more pop-oriented sound. Lead-off track "It's Alright" is a great example: a happy-go-lucky melody highlighted by William's bright lyrics and gentle voice. As if to [...]
More >
Todd Snider’s Gift to You
-
Artist:
One need look no further than the title of his latest release to realize that Todd Snider has an eccentric personality. Peace Queer combines Snider's outspoken politics with his quirky sense of humor. His stark take on John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" takes the song's anger to a deeper level. "As an International Peace Queer, [...]
More >
Zack Hickman’s House of Ill Repute
-
Artist:Zack Hickman
Every once in awhile you come across a show that simultaneously offers the highest and lowest of expectations. My first visit to Zack Hickman's House of Ill Repute, a month-long residency in Cambridge's Lizard Lounge was that kind of show. Hickman, the mustachioed bassist for Twangville fave Josh Ritter and several others, has [...]
More >
The Book Report Part 1: Sing Me Back Home - Dana Jennings
Dana Jennings shares through his personal experience why traditional Country music endures and has meant so much to so many generations. He also reflects on how it has changed, and conjectures as to why modern country music has changed its tune. The primary factor is socio-economic and demographic. Histtory teaches us that after the great [...]
More >
MySpace Secret Shows Hit Boston
-
Artist:
After a long wait, the MySpace Secret Shows finally hit Boston last week. In earlier editions, New York got Neil Diamond at the small but legendary Bitter End while Eagle Rock California got Rilo Kiley at a bowling alley. Heck, even Billings Montana got the Hold Steady. Boston got… Chicago punk band [...]
More >
Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain
-
Artist:
-
Album:
With the release of his 3rd studio album, Ray Lamontagne has broadened the concept of what we have come to know as a "Ray Lamontagne Album". Gossip in the Grain (Oct. 14 -RCA) seamlessly blends multiple moods, tempos and even a sense of humor into a complete work that shows dexterity and growth in [...]
More >
Bob Dylan, Tell Tale Signs
John Leland once called Dylan a trickster in his book Hip: The History. He saw Dylan as one of those enigmatic people who we are unable to capture, unable to get a real grasp of. A sense of understanding of Dylan, according to Leland, bestows us with a sense of hipness, even though in silence [...]
More >
Live in Twangville: Grateful Dead Give-Away
-
Artist:The Grateful Dead
In my mind, there is no denying that The Grateful Dead is a classic, iconic American band. In my opinion, the Dead represented a true alternative to mainstream rock of the 60's and 70's and were in the forefront of blending rock, country, funk and even jazz into a concoction that few people knew what [...]
More >
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, 2008 Version
First a note that with 70 acts over 5 stages in basically 2 days (plus a short warm-up schedule Friday afternoon), any Hardly Strictly Bluegrass review is going to be partial. I’ve discovered that with careful scheduling and a knowledge of some shortcuts between stages in Golden Gate Park, I can absorb about a dozen [...]
More >
The New Frontiers - Mending
Dallas Texas doesn’t get near the acclaim or pub that its more trendy neighbor to the south gets in Austin. In fact, Denton Texas seems to get more love than Dallas, thanks to the emergence of indie faves Doug Burr, St. Vincent & Midlake. The New Frontiers are a band that will surely [...]
More >
Martin Sexton’s Crib
-
Artist:
It's not often that my day job and Twangville collide. But when it does I can't help but get a little giddy. Martin Sexton recently asked for a little help regarding social media so our talented marketing and design teams helped to set him up on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, iLike and Flickr including some updates [...]
More >
