David Cantwell
@cantkill
Music critic. Husband. Dog Lover. Author of “The Running Kind: Listening to Merle Haggard.” Cofounder No Fences Review. Midwesterner
They're from right here in KC, so I'd heard and loved their records, but I had never seen 9-piece soul collective The Freedom Affair, fronted by the Freedom Threedom, until this weekend at St. Louis' Twangfest 27. Amazing! Heart-swelling, mind-freeing and ass-moving performance... 1/2
Just heard this and thought, “Oh, these guys should totally be the subject of the next Questlove doc! Would love to read a critical bio of the Isleys too. A Top 5 All-Time American band, sez me
If you’re looking for a last minute Father’s Day gift for a country music loving dad—The Running Kind listens closely, and talks back, to one of the genre’s defining singer-songwriters. Available at all the usual places…
Either our basset Conway is trying to befriend a young fox or a young fox is glamouring our basset. Last night, Conway spun around and whispered, “You’re seeing this, right?!”
I guess my longstanding sense that “nightmare” is a not at all surprising possibility that’s just built into “cruise” helps explain why I’ve never been on a cruise…
May 5 is the birthdate of the late Tammy Wynette. That's as good an excuse as any to remind that the book to read on her career and aesthetic is Why Tammy Wynette Matters by Steacy Easton. I stand by my original blurb: Their book is "Some of the finest country music criticism ever written."
This reminded me of Barzun’s actually very helpful use of > and <, and his book rec asides, in From Dawn to Decadence. He is tired of people not using his books the right way!
Totally recommend Mehr's piece catching up with D. Boon's old comrades. Hearing Hurley and Watt talk about Boon always tears me up. Reminded me of this 2017 bit from Alex Scordelis' "The Believer" interview with Watt...
Eric is right X 10 about Star Time. There is no real country equivalent but this one comes close
I hear it’s National Puppy Day? Here’s a chill pic then for chilling times: Our good basset boy Conway (who’ll turn five this summer) the day we brought him home at 10 wks!
Malo and the Mavs on the cover of New Country, 1994. (Feature inside written by the late great Nashville critic Jim Ridley)
Lending a hand w/ the timeline cleanse (and also playing catch up on National Basset Hound Day, a thing I didn’t even know existed that apparently the rest of you celebrated Wednesday)
D. Boon died this date in 1985... I saw Minutemen play a few shows in college and met him. I was so NOT a punk kid but was a budding lefty. He quizzed ME: What do you think of...? Have you read...? When I learned he'd died, I surprised myself and sobbed. Boy could we use him now... Rest in Power
Small Wonder, 1985, about an engineer who creates and adopts a robot daughter. (Also in the running for worst series I recall viewing)
Hey all, I contributed this entry to editor Josh Glenn's month-long ska tribute, "Skank Your Enthusiasm," at HiLoBrow. www.hilobrow.com/2025/11/15/s...
From @jamellebouie.net and, hopefully, more of this from everyone else too
The Supreme Court, devoted only to balls and strikes and the president’s feelings
This piece advising citizens to shut up rather than express their political views, written by a member I believe of the Kansas City Star's editorial board, gives me zero confidence that this major press outlet will even feign to champion its readers free speech rights
At this late date, NYT’s continued insistence on both-siding the rise of authoritarianism amounts to collaboration
FFS. We're fighting people whose statements make very clear that, no, they do not think we are going to have to live with each other, and worse, whose actions and policies are intent on making certain they won't have to
This film, released as I was beginning my senior year in high school, made such an impression on me: Its music, casting, tone and performances. Still one of my favorites. R.I.P. Robert Redford
@jamellebouie.net quote from Manning's "What This Cruel War Was Over" reminded me of this from Morrison's "Beloved." Slavery was horrific.
Post one of the most haunting shots in movie history from a film made before the year 2000
My first double feature at the movie theater I just inherited… SUNRISE and THE AWFUL TRUTH
@sterlewine.bsky.social blurbed it for MOJO but yes I'll message you the contact info