AltWeeklies Wire
Rise of the Synthnew
Shawn Foree had previously flirted with several different varieties of synth-based music—noisy synth-punk with electric guitar, and '80s British-inspired electro-pop—but on Warm Brother, he began using elements such as acoustic guitars and live drums, which he'd never used before, and which added a considerable amount of depth and variation.
Tucson Weekly |
Stephen Seigel |
05-25-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Baroness: Battered and Bruisednew
Baroness draws on old-world fables and romantic poetry to create its own brand of metal/indie rock.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-28-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Baroness, Blue Record
Darren Hoff: Country Via Rocknew
Former Weary Boy Darren Hoff is getting back into the music groove with the Hard Times.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-15-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Experimental rock-band Yeasayer is just trying to stay ahead of the curvenew
The Yeasayer sound is an amalgam of indie rock, electronica and glitchy pop, subtly touched by African, Middle Eastern and Asian influences, and—now on Odd Blood—unabashed dance music.One might wonder how the group can blend such diverse sounds without the results seeming contrived, but Yeasayer pull it off convincingly.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-08-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Shares His Dark Vision of America's Ruinationnew
Since heavy metal's inception 40 years ago, back when Black Sabbath's eponymous debut was released, the notorious genre has been politically aware and sensitive to the state's growing power at the expense of individual liberties.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
03-25-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Through Sixteen Years Quasi Has Endurednew
We could all learn a lesson in staying power from Portland band Quasi. When Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss formed the band 16 years ago, they were married. They aren't anymore, and haven't been for years. Coomes and Weiss have both been members of other, better-known bands that have long since broken up.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
03-17-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Changing Their Tune: The Low Anthem's Stylenew
The Low Anthem loves old instruments, new microphones and creating their own style.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
03-17-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Lords of Altamont Are All About the Rock 'n' Rollnew
When the Los Angeles band Lords of Altamont began about a decade ago, they set out to strike a balance between purist garage-rock traditions and a heavier hard-rock sound.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
03-03-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Former Jazz Students Strive for Distinctive, Unique Musicnew
It's by design that Midlake's new record weaves its spell from ancient days, conjuring that same sense of elemental, shrouded powers at play that drives fantasy art. The band worked to craft The Courage of Others into an escape, the type of music that suggests it might cast some magic on the listener.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
02-24-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Courage of Others, Midlake
Mark Growden Kicks Off a Monthly Concert Series at the Screening Roomnew
Mark Growden admits that he might never have started singing and writing songs had he not been ripped off. Growden was a jazz saxophonist and music teacher in his adopted hometown of San Francisco—until in 1997, when his instruments were stolen. So he started writing songs on accordion and singing. Soon, he was playing banjo, piano and guitar.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
01-13-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Mark Growden, Saint Judas
Exmortus' Blend of Neoclassical Melodicism and Brutal Thrashnew
Rare is the metal band that can shred your face clean off while using virtuoso techniques worthy of Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini — with all the sonic subtlety of a pissed-off Japanese giant monster. Which is why Whittier, CA's Exmortus tends to stand out amidst the current thrash-metal resurgence.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
01-06-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Candye Kane's More Than 20 Years of Blues, Country, Roots Rock and Jazznew
The singer's most recent challenge was the discovery that she had pancreatic cancer, an illness she has since overcome. The healing process inspired her to create her ninth album, Superhero, which was released earlier this year by Delta Groove Records.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
12-10-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Superhero, Candye Kane
Hawthorne Heights Brings Back Screamnew
Hawthorne Heights moves on from the death of Casey Calvert with a new record label.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
12-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Hawthorne Heights, Skeletons
Fanfarlo's Acoustic Alchemynew
The special blend leads to deeply textured and layered songs.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
12-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Generationals Like to Play Up the Oldnew
For the Generationals, reaching back in time to weave threads of different musical traditions together into their own new and exciting entity is exactly how the Crescent City has always functioned.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
11-18-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Con Law, Generationals
