AltWeeklies Wire
'Hey, Soul Sister' propels Train to the topnew

There's something dainty and delicate about California band Train's style. With a tight rhythm section behind Pat Monahan's high-tones, however, they sound like well-seasoned cats with warm chops and a firm handle on songcraft. Check the latest, Save Me, San Francisco, for comfirmation.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
08-23-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Wedding Present's Bizarro resurfacesnew

With an odd but potent lyrical mix of love, angst, lust, and jealousy (plus loads of nervous musical energy), The Wedding Present established itself in the early '90s as one of the U.K.'s top standouts. These days, their vibrant guitar-pop style sounds as fresh and excitable as ever.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
08-17-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Wedding Present, Bizarro
Miami grooving with The Spam Allstarsnew

Fortunately, the Spam Allstars don't need gimmicks to be memorable. Their highly danceable sound incorporates dub, funk, and hip hop with a heavy dose of Latin rhythms.
Charleston City Paper |
Stratton Lawrence |
08-17-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Interpol's Sam Fogarino sees a bright futurenew

With a new lineup in place, Interpol hit the road last month to showcase the new material on a forthcoming album — a self-titled studio collection due on Sept. 7 on Matador Records.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
08-16-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
George Porter Jr. and the Runnin' Pardners Lock in the Funknew

New Orleans bassist and vocalist George Porter, Jr. has conducted a brilliant musical career over the last four decades.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
08-16-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Andrew Bird Has Many Talents, but Have You Heard Him Whistle?new
Bird's whistling is the shining diamond embedded in the gold band of song he's been developing since he played a sideman's role for the Squirrel Nut Zippers in the '90s.
Charleston City Paper |
Bryan Reed |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
St. Vincent Embraces the Excitementnew
Her alter ego may have plenty of hipster, too-cool-for-school fans, but behind the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter St. Vincent is Annie Clark, a charmingly unassuming young woman who conducts phone interviews from her mom's mini-van.
Charleston City Paper |
Andrea Warner |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Drivin' N Cryin' Release Their First Studio Album in 12 Yearsnew
"We're really enjoying the fact that people are excited that there's a new record out, and we're really excited that we get to do this again. We don't have any plans to write or record anything in the future. We're just enjoying this moment for what it is."
Charleston City Paper |
Doug Walters |
09-30-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Singer/Guitarist Eric Lindell Makes Space for Soulnew
Gulf Coast Highway finds Lindell reaching new musical ground. As passionate as ever, he sounds as strong on the mic and through the guitar amp as he did on previous albums. But there's a fine layer and extra polish on this new batch.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
09-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Eric Lindell, Gulf Coast Highway
Groundation Jams on More Than Just Reggaenew
For over 10 years, frontman Harrison Stafford has led his spiritualized reggae ensemble from their earliest days in the northern California scene through a world-wide musical journey that continues to aim far.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
09-09-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
O.A.R. Tries to Keep Things Interestingnew
Well before landing a major record label deal, the band aimed for major commercial success, worked hard on the road and on the web, and eventually earned it.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
08-19-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Kings of Leon Fine Tunes the Vibes and Takes Risksnew

Over the course of recording their latest album, the Kings of Leon worked from a new blueprint. And the end result allowed them to transcend the indie-rock underground to the top of the rock charts with great success -- and they did it on their own artistic terms.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-06-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Gaslight Street Unleashes Their Smooth But Dirty Southern Rocknew
No member of Gaslight Street has ever smoked salvia divinorum. None claim to be influenced by the music of Widespread Panic. Give a listen to "Black and Blue Salvia" on their brand-new full-length album, Blue Skies for Fools, and you might wonder otherwise.
Charleston City Paper |
Stratton Lawrence |
01-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Georgia Blues of Mudcat's Music Go Deepnew
Singer, guitarist, and bandleader Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck is revered for his raw and edgy guitar playing and singing in his hometown of Atlanta. He's a man comfortable with playing complicated slide guitar and belting out a few rhymes about bad love, booze, and life's hard experiences.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
12-10-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Duncan Sheik Jumps from Rock to Broadway and Backnew
Sheik is touring on the heels of winning a Grammy and two Tony Awards for writing the musical score for the recent hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening. He collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater and composed the original score.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
11-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews