Steve Earle and The Dukes perform the gloriously brooding Invisible from their new release The Low Highway.
Category Archives: Texas
Slaid Cleaves’ New Release ‘Still Fighting The War’ to Benefit Returning Soldiers
Slaid Cleaves’ new song, Still Fighting the War, was inspired in part by Denver Post photographer Craig F. Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo essay about a soldier trying to reconnect with civilian life as he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Cleaves said he began the song before seeing Walker’s work, but “when I came across the photo essay, it helped me feel closer to the experience of what a vet goes through when he comes home. I don’t have anybody in my family who served, but I used that photo essay to find out what it was like for those people.”
Still Fighting the War, co-written by Ron Coy and featuring the legendary Jimmy LaFave on harmony, is the title song for the acclaimed Texas singer/songwriter’s forthcoming album. Cleaves tells USA Today “As I was putting together all these songs that I had recorded, this song was one of the strongest, and I saw a little bit of a theme,” Cleaves says. “They’re songs about perseverance and holding your head up through hard times, so I decided to use it as the title.”
Cleaves has is using the song as a vehicle to help raise money for Operation Homefront, an organization that provides emergency financial relief for service members and their families.
“Operation Homefront raises funds for people, whether they’re in need of car repair, help with their rent or help getting to their job,” Cleaves says. “It’s a very personal, easy-to-understand way to help people.
“I had a song that speaks to an issue of the day, and I’m thrilled when my songs connect with people. That’s the main reason I write songs. But with this one, I could go a step further and do some good with it, use it to get more attention to this cause.”
Head to Cleaves’ website and donate a minimum of 99 cents for the single. 100% of proceeds from the download will go to Operation Homefront.
Still Fighting the War, produced by Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Lloyd Maines and Mark Hallman, is out June 18 on Music Road Records.
Visit Operation Homefront for more information.
Outside Lands Announces Lineup – Willie Nelson, Dawes, Camper Van Beethoven, The Lone Bellow To Perform
Outside Lands has revealed the lineup for this year’s festival, taking place place August 9th-11th in my back yard at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA.
Notable country and roots artists performing are Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses, Camper Van Beethoven, The Head and The Heart, The Mother Hips, Dawes, Gary Clark Jr., Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Easy Leaves and The Lone Bellow.
Also topping the bill is Paul McCartney, Nine Inch Nails and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Advanced three-day and VIP tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 18th at Noon PDT through the festival’s website.
Country Music Is Not Dead
If you were one of the 15.4 million viewers of last Sunday’s 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards show you might have been, like me, wondering “When’s the country going to start?” I’ve never been branded a purists , but I prefer my country on the Lefty Frizzell / Buck Owens / Willie Nelson side of the fence rather than the Fleetwood Mac / Jack Johnson/ Def Leppard style that’s in vogue right now
Music City continues to chase the money by burying it’s legacy as it has since nearly it’s start. Fortunately for us that honor songs over celebrity we have a safe haven, Americana music. Below are a few performers that are keeping heartfelt and real. Post your suggestions in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJt3oHYmKcQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcJml72K1HQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrqdhA1_C5U
Twang Nation Podcast Episode 12 – Amanda Shires, Shinyribs, Sturgill Simpson, Markus Rill
The Easter Day podcast (aka episode 12) is now hot off the presses straight Casa Twang.
there are some great cuts here, from rootsy-waltz of Amanda Shires’ Bulletproof, the Lone-Star groove of Shinyribs (aka Gourd’s Kevin Russell) the hybrid Bluegrass of the David Mayfield Parade and the sweet Americana-meets-Japan sounds of Pirate’s Canoe, and much more for your listening pleasure.
We close out the selection with a great Hank Williams cut, perfect for Easter Day, from their classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken which is celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary Edition this year.
I hope you like this episode of the Twang Nation Podcast. if you do tell a friend and let me know here at my site, Google+, Twitter or my Facebook.
And thanks to all of you for supporting great music!
Opening Song – “Mr. D.J†– by Dale Watson
1.Sturgill Simpson – Song: “Railroad of Sin”- Album: “High Top Mountain” (Self released)
2. Amanda Shires – “Bulletproof” – Album: “?”
3. David Mayfield – Song: “Human Cannonball” – Album: “Good Man Down” ( Beautywood Records)
4. Amy Speace – Song: “The Fortunate Ones” – Album: “‘How To Sleep in a Stormy Boat” ( Wind Bone Records)
5. Sons of Fathers – Song: “Almost There” – Album: “Burning Days” (River Music)
6. Pirates Canoe – Song: “Ballerina Meena Jane” Album: “Sailing Home” (On the Corner Records)
7. Shinyribs Song: “Limpia Hotel (Chihuahua Desert)” Album: “‘Gulf Coast Museum” (Nine Mile Records)
8. Sara Petite – Song: “Movin’ On” Album: “‘Circus Comes to Town ” (Sweet P Reords – April 16th)
9. Markus Rill & The Troublemakers – Song: “One Fix Or Another” Album: “My Rocket Ship ” (Blue Rose Records)
10. Dale Watson & His Lone Stars Song: “Smokey Old Bar” Album: “El Rancho Azul ” (Red House Records)
11. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Roy Acuff – Song: “I Saw the Light” Album: “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” (Capitol)
Listen up! Amanda Shires Single Premier – “Bulletproof”
With her newly released single, Bulletproof, Amanda Shires continues to explore a variety of musical influences – folk, blues and jazz -she began in her last release “Carrying Lightening.”
The song sets Shires warm-honey vibrato and fine fiddling against a Tom Waits-like junkyard orchestral accompaniment. The song details potential supernatural impenetrability against a litany of physical and emotional armaments. Like a whimsical protective talisman set to a cha-cha beat
No word on an upcoming album title or release date came with the press release. but when I know , you’ll know
Bulletproof was released to coincide with Shires showcases at South-By-Southwest. Catch her at one of the performances below:
THURS MARCH 14 @ 11 PM
St. David’s Episcopal Church
Historic Sanctuary
hosted by Utne and Thirty Tigers
official SXSW showcase!
FRI MARCH 15 @ 7 PM
Wyndam Garden Hotel
on the patio @ the bar area!
3401 IH 35 Austin, TX 78741
free! open to the public!!
SAT MARCH 16th 6 PM
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto & 8th Street
lobby lounge located @ the atrium!
free! open to the public!!
The Sin City Social Club Annual SXSW 2013 Bash
Twang Nation is proud to announce sponsorship of The Sin City Social Club Annual Bash, the premier South-By-Southwest roots and Americana music showcase.
Now celebrating it’s 11th Anniversary, Sin City Social Club knows how to put on a party. This is one of thier best line ups and you won’t want to miss it! And make sure to try the great food at Maria’s Taco Xpress
The Sin City Social Club Annual Bash
Maria’s Taco Xpress in Austin, Texas
Fri, March 15, 12pm – 9pm
Free! No badges or wrist bands needed. All ages.
Lineup:
12:00 * The Mercy Brothers (S. Louisiana)
12:40 * So Long Problems (Austin)
1:20 * Rod Melancon (Los Angeles)
2:00 * Chelle Rose (Nashville)
2:40 * Israel Nash Gripka (Austin)
3:20 * Deadman (Austin)
3:45 * Deadstring Brothers (Detroit)
4:25 * Shurman (Austin)
5:05 * Out of Our Tree (Feat. Tim Easton & Megan Palmer)
5:45 * Elijah Ford & The Bloom (Austin)
6:20 * Mike Stinson (Houston)
6:55 * Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils (Seattle)
7:40 * Jesse Dayton (Austin)
8:30 * Two Hoots & A Holler (Austin)
Brought to you by: Sin City Social Club * Rootsy Records * Twang Nation * Chris Kro Art Design * Lone Star Beer * Lone Star Music * Mojave Audio * Little Brother Music * Maria’s Taco Xpress
Other great SXSW Americana showcases:
Official SXSW Little Brother Showcase Tuesday, March 12 – 8:00pm until 2:00am
Guitartown/Conqueroo Block Party Kickoff – Wednesday, March 13 – 11:00am until 9:00pm
Grand Ole Austin SXSW Showcase – Thursday, March 14 – 11:00am until 9:00pm
Hillgrass Bluebilly Records presents: X-SXSW 6 Unofficial Showcase – Open to the Public – $10 Fri. 03/15 | 6:00PM
Watch Out! Lincoln Durham: “Ballad of a Prodigal Son” [VIDEO]
Texas roots/Blues one-man-band Lincoln Durham has a new video taht alludes to a new release with the hashtag #theEXODUSisCOMING – –
Watch Out – The Wild Feathers: “The Ceiling” and “Backwoods Company”[VIDEO]
Sometimes hype is deserved. Nashville by way of Austin band The Wild Feathers have been all over my Facebook feed for the last few weeks and for that reason I’ve avoided them like a friend s request from Blake Shelton. Then people I respect started to “like ” them. I folded and gave ’em a listen. I’m glade I did.
Ricky Young, Joel King, Taylor Burns and Preston Wimberly fuse their influences –
Petty, Dylan, Cash, The Band, Allman Bros, Neil Young and Willie Nelson – into a taunt and furious sound. This has been galvanized by a heavy touring scheduled that has landed them alongside Delta Spirit, Surfer Blood and The Heavy, and even an opening spot on Paul Simon’s 2011 fall tour.
the videos, both directed by Gus Black, prove the broad range of the band. “Backwoods Company” proves the band’s live heat and offers a menacing Southern outlaw theme reminiscent of early Drive-By Truckers.
“The Ceiling” has a mellower, front-porch ramble that swells into a Mumford & Sons-style song-a-long chorus tailor made for audience participation.
If they stay consistent the The Wild Feathers could be Americana and roots music’s next breakout band. We’ll know more when their Interscope comes out later this year.
SXSW goers check out the band at the Nikon Warner Sound Showcase at SXSW on March 14.
Pick up both cuts for an email address at thewildfeathers.com
Happy Texas Independence Day Y’all!
No my native state of Texas hasn’t seceded from the rest of the U.S (yet!)
Texas Independence Day celebrates the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 officially breaking from Mexico to create the Republic of Texas.
That independent spirit is nowhere better proven then in the music and musicians that come from, or are drawn to, the Lone Star State. Here are a few of my favorite Texas roots and Americana artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dXR5Dk8YNw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ydFQiSHa9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL8xnVbj5Ts