Music | Profiles & Interviews | AAN.org

Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan Keeps the Gaslight Burningnew

How busy is Chuck Ragan? Let me count the ways.

Colorado Springs Independent | Chris Parker | 04-21-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Gaslight Anthem, Chuck Ragan, Hot Water Music, Revival Tour

Cloud Nothings' Dylan Baldi is Defiantly Self-Sufficientnew

The 20-year-old Clevelander behind the precocious power-pop outfit writes alone, plays all the instruments and, up until this year's self-titled full-length, out on Carpark, does his own producing.

NOW Magazine | Jason Keller | 04-19-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Cloud Nothings, Dylan Baldi

Destroyer’s Möbius Jukebox: Dan Bejar's Infinite Twist of Listening and Creationnew

Describing Destroyer is a Sisyphean task, challenging and futile. Even if one manages to gruntingly roll a boulder of labels up the mountain, a new Destroyer record waits at the crown to kick it away, sending it bouncing down the slope to collapse in a pile of rubble and good intentions. Besides, what use is an accounting of elements without knowing the force that binds them?

VUE Weekly | Mary Christa O'Keefe | 04-15-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Destroyer, Dan Bejar

The Decemberists Heat Upnew

A No. 1 record takes America's indie-folk heroes to the next level.

Colorado Springs Independent | Bill Forman | 04-15-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

A Triumphant Return for David K. Matthewsnew

The East Bay keyboardist gets back in the saddle.

East Bay Express | Andrew Gilbert | 04-13-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Etta James, Carlos Santana, David K. Matthews, Tower of Power

The Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood on Capote, Waits & a Brutal Murdernew

Patterson Hood is not afraid of the dark. In fact, the Drive-By Truckers leader is compelled to write songs that tell tales of violence, greed, and the abuse of power. On Go-Go Boots, their latest album, Hood and the gang turn down the amps and, once again, embrace their classic story-driven style.

Charleston City Paper | Jared Booth | 04-13-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Drive-By Truckers, Patterson Hood

The Mountain Goats' Steady Struggle and Conquestnew

"It's all about me creating a space out of inside of myself where we can all suffer together, and raise our middle finger to the world to say that we're going to live through whatever suffering we're enduring." -- John Darnielle

INDY Week | Grayson Currin | 04-07-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: indie rock, The Mountain Goats, John Darnielle

Fitz and the Tantrums Dig the Retro Vibenew

Michael Fitzpatrick is wowed by his indie rock 'n' soul band's whirlwind ascent from DIY upstarts in 2009 to SXSW's reigning fairy-tale royalty in 2011. If you haven't heard of L.A.'s Fitz and the Tantrums yet, you will. Judging by the retro-soul band's trajectory, mainstream success could be days away.

Charleston City Paper | Andrea Warner | 04-07-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Michael Fitzpatrick, Fitz and the Tantrums

Cut Copy Elevate the Cycle of Rock and Dancenew

If there's one thing music fans don't want to do anymore this decade, it's stand in a room and watch people play instruments. They want to dance. Thank the Australian electro-pop/whatever outfit Cut Copy.

Boston Phoenix | Luke O'Neil | 04-05-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: dance music, Cut Copy

Zevious Transitions from Acoustic Jazz to Electrified 'Punk Jazz'new

The New York City avant-garde jazz trio Zevious is barnstorming the country, bringing spiky, assertive electric jazz to listeners who are hungry for adventurous music.

Tucson Weekly | Gene Armstrong | 04-05-2011 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: jazz, Zevious