AltWeeklies Wire
Old Soul Never Dies: A Quirky, Historical Cleveland Record Label Gets New Lifenew
History is written by the victors. That's why you've heard of Motown or Stax Records and not Cleveland's own soul upstart, Way Out Records. Housed in a storefront on East 55th St. between Euclid and Chester, the label grew out of an odd-couple partnership between a hustler and a cop.
Cleveland Scene |
Chris Parker |
07-23-2014 |
Music
An Evolving Mixnew
Cleveland's own Live Mixtapes is on the forefront as distinction between mixtapes and albums disappear in digital world.
Cleveland Scene |
Chris Parker |
01-03-2013 |
Music
Tags: Mixtapes
The Axe Mannew
Why rock stars love Jon Hill's custom guitars
Cleveland Scene |
Jeff Niesel |
08-16-2012 |
Music
The Fall and Rise of Machine Gun Kellynew
From sex to booze to homelessness ... and now salvation and stardom.
Cleveland Scene |
Jordan Zirm |
10-19-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Cleveland Rap, Machine Gun Kelly
Three Erstwhile Punks Are Once Again Packing Houses Across Americanew
In a way, The Cleveland Confidential Book Tour is just like the old days, when Pagans frontman Mike Hudson, Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome, and Human Switchboard frontman Bob Pfeifer would pile into a van, drive across the country, and convince occasionally indifferent audiences to listen to them. They're even calling the readings "gigs" -- gigs with less equipment, as Pfeifer says.
Cleveland Scene |
Michael Gallucci |
04-06-2011 |
Music
Mr. Gnome Makes a Big Noise on its Debut Albumnew
Most fans think Mr. Gnome's music rocks; some find it downright erotic. Credit singer-guitarist Nicole Barille's hot-and-bothered vocals, which bring to mind that diner scene in When Harry Met Sally, where Meg Ryan showed off her fake-orgasm skills.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
06-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Mr. Gnome, Deliver This Creature
Is Hipster Metal for Assholes?new
Lately, like scores of other music critics, I've been getting into some "hipster-metal bands," so named because guys like us listen to them. Real metal dudes hate people like me. And that certainly includes D.X. Ferris, my co-worker and author of a new book about Slayer's Reign in Blood, which is apparently some sort of classic metal album.
Cleveland Scene |
Michael Gallucci and D.X. Ferris |
06-20-2008 |
Music
Has Robert Smith Brought the Cure Back to Life?new
If you believe the reports, the Cure is putting on a half-decent live show for the first time in 20 years. On their current tour, the perennial goth-rockers are playing three-hour sets featuring some of their best tunes and are actually putting a little effort into it.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
06-13-2008 |
Concerts
White Rabbits Conquers the Underground One Book at a Timenew
Despite his lack of formal education, White Rabbits bass player Adam Russell has long led a literary lifestyle. He dropped out of high school when he was 16 because he was frustrated with teachers who regularly kicked him out of class for reading stuff like Moby-Dick, physics texts, and Nietzsche when he was supposed to be paying attention to them.
Cleveland Scene |
Ben Westhoff |
05-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Fort Nightly, White Rabbits
Mushroomhead's Old Frontman Returns with a New Bandnew
Jason Popson split from Cleveland's reigning rock kings in 2004, and his new group, Pitch Black Forecast, marks a return to the spotlight.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
05-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Returning Band Members Renew Testamentnew
Depending on how you want to score it, Testament ranks as either the No. 5 or 6 all-time-greatest thrash band -- the riff-roaring kings of the junior varsity, trailing behind Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
05-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Kickdrums May be Hip-hop's Next Big Beatmakersnew
And they work out of a closet in Avon, Ohio.
Cleveland Scene |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
04-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: hip-hop, beatmakers, 50 Cent, M.O.P., Alex Fitts, Matt Penttila, Ray Cash, The Kickdrums, Verbal, Young Wazzie
Re-Making the Band in Clevelandnew
Mix 150 musicians, lots of Pabst, and a sports-like draft, and what happens? We're about to find out.
Cleveland Scene |
Denise Grollmus |
03-28-2008 |
Music
Hot Rails Makes Its Own Heatnew
On its full-length debut, rip-roarin' Hot Rails plays the kind of punky, country-fried, bluesy rock that takes root so easily in the Cleveland's cloudy climate.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
03-21-2008 |
Reviews
From Grrly Grrl to Girly Girlynew
Avril Lavigne has had a bitch of a year, but she hopes a new tour will bring back the fun.
Cleveland Scene |
Ben Westhoff |
03-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Avril Lavigne, The Best Damn Thing
