AltWeeklies Wire
Thao Nguyen's Third Record with Her Two Bandmates is Better and Fasternew
It's been almost two years since the release of We Brave Bee Stings and All, and their new record, Know Better Learn Faster, burns even more brightly.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
11-11-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Former Green on Red Guitarist Chuck Prophet Returns with a New Albumnew
Ever since he joined Green on Red 25 years ago, I've wanted to ask singer-songwriter and guitarist Chuck Prophet if he was born with that last name. He set the record straight in an interview last week. "Would I make that up?" he said, in mock offense.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
11-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tom Russell Eschews Modern Indie Rock's Emasculated Songwritingnew
"(Indie-rock) voices have become wimpy, and so has the songwriting," says Russell, 56, matter-of-factly, prompted by my first question: Where have all the real men singer/songwriters gone, and why doesn't indie rock offer any?
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Why? Wades Through the Strange 'Eskimo Snow'new
Started as a pet project by Yoni Wolf, whose deadpan raps and quirky musical tastes (culled from hip-hop, rock and folk influences) made for strange bedfellows, Why? soon swelled into a full-fledged band with Yoni's brother, Josiah, and friend Doug McDiarmid joining.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
10-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Eskimo Snow, Why?
Toubab Krewe Branches Out with New Instruments and Geographic Influencesnew
In some ways, Toubab Krewe may actually come closer to giving us a sense of West African music than any Putumayo production. In fact, you could say they're the real deal, were it not for what some ethnology snobs might consider a cultural-appropriation problem: The band hails from Asheville, N.C.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Former Ghosts Have a Long-Distance Relationshipnew
This trio makes beautiful music together, even though they all live in different places.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Fleurs, Former Ghosts
Pink Martini Seeks to Meld World Influences With the Beauty of Old-School American Culturenew
Of his 12-piece band Pink Martini, Thomas M. Lauderdale likes to say, "If the United Nations had a band in 1962, we would be that band."
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
09-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are Becoming an Indie Sensationnew
When the band's self-titled debut LP was released in February, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart had the attention of tastemakers from The New York Times to Pitchfork and Stereogum, but Kip Berman says it was hardly an overnight turn.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Fishtank Ensemble Keeps it Extremely Old-Schoolnew
The band combines traditional gypsy music and varied other styles into a gloriously eclectic mixture.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Obituary: In the Pocketnew
The death-metal pioneers are content to crush eardrums at medium speed.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
09-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Darkest Day, Obituary
Cara Gives New Life to Lost Songsnew
The quintet infuses Irish-inspired music with modern influences to create both traditional and contemporary music.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Eric D. Johnson Returns to the Fruit Batsnew
In the four years that have passed since the last Fruit Bats album, singer-songwriter-guitarist Eric D. Johnson has toured and recorded with the Shins and Vetiver, projects that encouraged him to open up to more collaboration in his own band.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Los Campesinos! Refine and Conquernew
Set to embark on another globetrotting tour, Los Campesinos! barely blinked while losing a member, endlessly recording and making themselves available to fans.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-12-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bowerbirds' Natural Soundsnew
Bowerbirds get inspiration from the wilds for their acoustic, spare arrangements.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
08-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Upper Air, Bowerbirds
The English Beat Continues to Hone its Reggae/Punk Blendnew
The English Beat may have become a beloved footnote in the history of college music if a funny thing hadn't happened in the United States in the '90s: An entirely new generation of kids became enamored with the 2 Tone sound and started forming bands of their own.
Tucson Weekly |
Stephen Seigel |
07-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
