AltWeeklies Wire
A Jazz Keyboardist Finds New Inspiration in a Dour 19th-Century Composernew
Although he didn't really have the chops to be a classical pianist, Michael Coleman found a way to bring his new love interest to the public. Last summer, he formed a new jazz combo called Schumann's Humanns, whose first assignment was to reinterpret Schumann's Kinderszenen in a jazz template.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
05-13-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Carrie Rodriguez Balances Melody and Dissonancenew
Live in Louisville is marked by Carrie Rodriguez' impassioned delivery and the explosive performance of her band.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
05-07-2009 |
Reviews
Eco Folk-Pop Trio Bowerbirds Grow Their Music Career and Their Gardennew

Raleigh, N.C.'s Bowerbirds find their off-the-grid, back-to-the-land lifestyle at odds with their rising indie-folk career.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
05-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Extra Golden Is a Gigantic, Festive Burst of Soundnew
After Ian Eagleston traveled over to Africa to document the Benga music of Kenya, the musician returned home with something more than his doctoral thesis: a new group called Extra Golden.
Monterey County Weekly |
Stuart Thornton |
05-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ian Svenonius Reinvents Himself Againnew
Down with Liberty...Up With Chains finds D.C. humorist/antagonist Ian Svenonius exploring muffled and slow punk/soul grooves that evoke genius in subversive ways.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
05-06-2009 |
Reviews
Kings of Leon Fine Tunes the Vibes and Takes Risksnew

Over the course of recording their latest album, the Kings of Leon worked from a new blueprint. And the end result allowed them to transcend the indie-rock underground to the top of the rock charts with great success -- and they did it on their own artistic terms.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-06-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Meet Detroiter Bobby Murray, a Guitar Hero You've Never Heard Ofnew

Murray has been playing guitar and touring alongside the incomparable Etta James for 22 years. He's also recorded three solo albums and before joining James' band, he backed a small galaxy of blues, R&B and soul legends.
Metro Times |
Don Waller |
05-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
After Playing a Supporting Role for Years, Elin Palmer Has Moved to the Forefrontnew
Elin Palmer has spent a great deal of her career playing a supporting role, adding majestic violin textures to the music of some Denver's most critically revered acts. Now, with the impending of release of her self-titled debut, the multi-instrumentalist is poised to take center stage.
Westword |
Dave Herrera |
05-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Elin Palmer, folk music
The Guys Behind Spinal Tap Return, Unwigged and Unpluggednew

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer are launching "Unwigged and Unplugged," in which they perform the Tap's oeuvre -- as well as Folksmen offerings -- acoustically for the first time since the songs were written nearly 30 years ago.
Dallas Observer |
Robert Wilonsky |
05-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Slow Roosevelt Joins the Reunion Trendnew
It's been five years now since Slow Roosevelt decided to end its run as Dallas' perennial Next Big Thing that never quite was. But a few months back, like so many other Dallas bands of that same era, Slow Roosevelt decided that it couldn't stay away, that it wanted just one more go-round in the spotlight.
Dallas Observer |
Pete Freedman |
05-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Slow Roosevelt, rock
VIDEO: Kalri$$ian -- The Interviewnew
Bay Area rap comedy group Kalri$$ian get nasty with the East Bay Express.
East Bay Express |
Jonathan Mann |
05-01-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Monks' Beat Goes on with a Pair of Unsettling but Fascinating Reissuesnew
For many years, the Monks and their music have been barely more than legends. But this month the Monks' first and only studio album, Black Monk Time, along with an additional album of demos and singles, has been resurrected and reissued for mass consumption.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
04-30-2009 |
Music
Black Mamba Craft a Mellow Indie Sound That's Dark and Perfect for Making Outnew
With just three songs on their MySpace page, the band has already played to hundreds of people. Black Mamba's chemistry is palpable in every slow-tripping, shoegazing note.
San Diego CityBeat |
AnnaMaria Stephens |
04-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mac Daddy: Dr. John's Renaissancenew

Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack almost literally sneaked into the New Orleans music scene at a young age, hanging around Cosimo Matassa's J&M recording studios at age 15 and listening to music at the Dew Drop Inn.
Gambit |
Michael Patrick Welch |
04-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Queensryche Deploys a New Concept Album for the Troopsnew

Geoff Tate interviewed soldiers who served in most every military conflict since World War II. Their stories became fodder for American Soldier, a CD that explores what it means to be in combat from the perspectives of the fighters themselves.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
04-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews