AltWeeklies Wire
Three Brothers, Two Bands, One Writer, and a Reunion Show That Hits Homenew
Neither Anne Be Davis nor Harry Chronic Jr. played into local Detroit scenesterism — nobody would take kids from Grosse Pointe seriously, after all … except Meg White, and you see where that's gotten her.
Metro Times |
Hobey Echlin |
08-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Fear and Loathing in Camp Bisconew
Philadelphia's improvisational electro Disco Biscuits have curated the Camp Bisco music festival for eight years, bringing together three days of A-list acts and mud-caked shenanigans.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Brian McManus |
08-03-2009 |
Concerts
The Passion of David Bazannew
At the Cornerstone Christian rock festival, a fallen evangelical returns to sing about why he broke up with God.
Chicago Reader |
Jessica Hopper |
08-03-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
In Search of the iTunes Killernew
There's something about Apple -- probably its nearly monopolistic control of certain markets or its disproportionate influence on the zeitgeist -- that brings out the bloodlust in new-media commentators and gadget bloggers.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
08-03-2009 |
Music
Is Phil Lee the Best Songwriter in Nashville? If Not, You Tell Himnew
Long before he ever threw his first knife, Phil Lee was no stranger to sharp points and edges. He writes songs full of them: character studies that sidle up to folks we'd normally shy away from, pretty ballads that turn staggeringly bleak, ambiguous odes to rough living too laugh-out-loud funny to be considered cautionary tales.
Nashville Scene |
Jim Ridley |
07-31-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Down in the Dumps With the Trashcan Sinatrasnew
Scotland also has a more pastoral pop tradition. From '80s bands to more recent groups, these ambassadors can, in fact, be a pretty mopey bunch. And the Trashcan Sinatras are really no exception.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
07-30-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
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
The Brash and Ballsy MC Amanda Blank is Here to Take What's Hersnew
With equal connection to Philly's electronic music and hip-hop worlds, Blank is an anomaly: Laurie Anderson with a dirty mouth and better dance steps, Karen Finley without the yams.
Philadelphia City Paper |
A.D. Amorosi |
07-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bad Things Happen When Fans Get Behind the Cameranew
Digital democratization of the means of film production has brought us to the point where every subculture on the planet seems to have generated its own documentary. Formlessness and boosterism afflict all of these films to some damaging degree, but Until the Light Takes Us is in a class of its own for wasted cinematic potential.
Chicago Reader |
Cliff Doerksen |
07-27-2009 |
Reviews
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.
The Metal Shakespeare Company Brings the Ax Down on the Bardnew
Jason Simms is quick to point out that the metal the Metal Shakespeare Company invokes is neither death nor thrash, since "methinks our death-metal-and-thrash cousin wouldst suit perhaps another poet."
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
07-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Proposal to Ban 18+ Shows Could Kill the Minneapolis Music Scenenew
The City Council is exploring restrictions on 18+ events, due to concerns that binge drinking is a problem among minors. If the ordinance passes, it leaves two options: dry shows for the all-ages crowd or 21+ shows where the booze flows freely.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Jen Boyles |
07-22-2009 |
Music
Sonic Youth Grows Older, but the Music Never Grows Oldnew
Together since 1981, Sonic Youth has been admired, emulated, studied and chronicled. They played an integral part in the early 80s East Coast "no wave" movement, in which the trajectories of art, music and performance collided.
Boise Weekly |
Amy Atkins |
07-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
What Happens to Ticket Prices When Live Nation & Ticketmaster Merge?new
This is a story about fat cats agreeing to merge with rivals rather than outperform each other and getting one over on the consumer. Enjoy the rest of the summer concert season -- it might be the last you can afford.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Brian McManus |
07-21-2009 |
Music
The Stark Folk of Tiny Vipers is Not for Everyonenew
Jesy Fortino writes dark, contemplative songs that require serious focus from a listener. Actually, these songs (which she records under the moniker Tiny Vipers) don't require focus so much as they slowly entangle the listener like tentacles, pulling you in tight 'til you're left with no choice but to pay close attention.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian J. Barr |
07-20-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
