The Austin 100: Twain

By Stephen Thompson

Published March 1, 2018 at 6:00 AM EST

Hometown:Franklin County, Virginia

Genre:Americana

Why We're Excited:Twain's vast, searching music conjures the cosmic folk of Tim Buckley: A welcoming, wandering rumination on life, the afterlife, loneliness and "the beauties of this earthly world," "Solar Pilgrim" feels at once human and otherworldly. The latest project to feature singer Mt. Davidson — he's worked with The Low Anthem, Spirit Family Reunion and others — Twain makes the kind of music that, had it been made 50 years ago, would be a cherished cult item today.

SXSW Schedule:

March 14: Barracuda (611 E. 7th St.)

March 17: Lambert's (401 W. 2nd St.)

Tags

Music News from NPR

Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a writer, editor and reviewer for NPR Music, where he speaks into any microphone that will have him and appears as a frequent panelist on All Songs Considered. Since 2010, Thompson has been a fixture on the NPR roundtable podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, which he created and developed with NPR correspondent Linda Holmes. In 2008, he and Bob Boilen created the NPR Music video series Tiny Desk Concerts, in which musicians perform at Boilen's desk. (To be more specific, Thompson had the idea, which took seconds, while Boilen created the series, which took years. Thompson will insist upon equal billing until the day he dies.)

See stories by Stephen Thompson

Orcas are hunting whale sharks, the largest fish species on Earth

Lauren Sommer

A new study reveals how a group of killer whales is able to hunt whale sharks, adding to a growing body of research showing how the whales use intelligence and coordination in impressive ways.
Advocates renew a push for states to enact voting protections

Hansi Lo Wang

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.
How crocodiles get their scale patterns (Hint: It's unlike other animals)

Jonathan Lambert

Many animals get their external marking--like, feathers, hair or scales-from genetics. But it turns out, the crocodile gets its head patterns differently.