AltWeeklies Wire
The Tuba Exchange Makes Durham Something of an International Tuba Meccanew
The Tuba Exchange, which has specialized in tuba trade, repair and distribution for a quarter-century, is the only business of its kind in the country, specializing only in tubas and accepting trade-ins.
How Coldplay Became the First Band to Beat the Digital Deficitnew
Chris Martin and company can claim is that they're the first band to break the million mark in digital album sales. In other words, they're the Internet Music Kings.
Tags: Coldplay
It's Your Noise, Too: Merge Records Turns 20new
Instead of pursuing the cold, quick cash-in of some hot new trend, Merge has consistently sought out the songs and bands its owners loved.
'70s Commune Band YaHoWha 13 Opens the Fold With a Drag City Collectionnew
Magnificence offers nine vital tracks that touch on garagey psych-pop, ritualized jamming, improvised noise and frantic chanting. The band may follow its own logic, but it's a committed one, roughly like a spiritualized version of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.
INDY Week |
Marc Masters |
07-17-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
A Half-True History of Shelton Hank Williamsnew
Shelton Hank Williams -- known on stage as Hank III -- might only be the most recent generation of three Hank Williams boys to make his name in music, but, with or without the legacy, he's an absolute American original.
INDY Week |
Chris Parker |
07-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
If Your Love is Cheap, Windows Loves Your Bandnew
Microsoft's Sponsored Songs program is the latest in a series of variably successful attempts by large companies to use independent music to reach a new audience. If it is to be a long-term strategy, though, many say it must form a stronger bond between the bands and brands it links.
C'mon, Del, Give Us Something to Care Aboutnew
Del the Funky Homosapien—probably the first rapper to ever sport a nose ring and a lip ring—has long had a peculiar way of traversing the hip-hop world, and his latest effort isn't any different.
INDY Week |
Eric Tullis |
04-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Music Industry Isn't Done Harassing College Students Over File Sharing. Should It Be?new
Last December, the Recording Industry Association of America announced it would no longer continue its massive legal campaign against downloaders. But that doesn't mean you should grab that album off BitTorrent quite yet.
Tags: RIAA, illegal downloading
Mi Ami Weathers Touch & Go's (Mis)fortunenew
Mi Ami are a quintessential Touch & Go band, and as such are built low to the ground to weather bumps that destroy less hardy acts.
INDY Week |
Chris Parker |
03-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
A Wealth of Free Musicnew
Bigger crowds for bands, higher sales for bars, and cheaper nights for fans: So why aren't all shows free?
Tags: live music, economic issues
Otis Taylor Shines New Light on an Ancient Instrumentnew
With each record, Otis Taylor has blazed a trail, or at the very least carved a trailhead, moving from self-described "trance-blues" to special blends that draw on jazz and back-mountain country, on the internal and the universal. His current release, Recapturing the Banjo, brings Taylor and most of his collaborators on the project to Duke University.
INDY Week |
Rick Cornell |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Two Decades In, Lud Remains Lean, Mean and Laid-Backnew
V -- which encompasses vintage indie rock, classic rock, funk, punk, even Krautrock -- feels cozy, a little funky and very lived-in, too.
INDY Week |
Brian Howe |
11-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Dirty Little Heaters Live Better Through Rock 'n' Rollnew
This high-energy, high-emotion soul-punk-rock act comprises three rock 'n' roll lifers who committed to this band after tough bouts with life, love and other bands that didn't last.
INDY Week |
Grayson Currin |
11-13-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Former Miles Davis Saxophonist Bill Evans Blends Jazz, Bluegrassnew
Evans isn't your average young musician: The 50-year-old leads Soulgrass, a jazz/ funk/ bluegrass hybrid that, over the years, has featured some of the finest musicians in the world.
INDY Week |
Andrew Ritchey |
11-13-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Stephin Merritt Doesn't Care About Younew
"Most of my adult life has been constant work," Merritt admits, "which I enjoy, except the touring part."
INDY Week |
Rich Ivey |
10-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
