Chad Berndtson, Author at Glide Magazine

Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch (INTERVIEW)

Chad Berndtson July 1, 2007 No Comments

Jason Isbell is untethered and seems to be enjoying his new direction away from the Drive by Truckers. A solo album we've been hearing about for a while,Sirens of the Ditch, finally drops from New West on July 10, and he will also kick off a tour with a new group, the 400 Unit, the day before. The group, which includes Isbell's Muscle Shoals pals Jimbo Hart, Ryan Tillery, and Browan Lollar, will hit major U.S. markets through the end of August, wrapping up in Chattanooga on August 31.

ALO – Recreating the Script

Chad Berndtson May 20, 2007 No Comments

For its new studio album Roses & Clover, ALO decided to shake things up. For most bands, that might mean a lineup change, a new genre direction, or even a complete songwriting overhaul. For ALO, it meant changing none of those internal workings, but instead focusing on the powers of the studio album–and surprise.

Bobby Bare Jr.: Humming to Myself

Chad Berndtson March 13, 2007 No Comments

Listen to enough Bobby Bare Jr., and you start craving the stuff whenever you're in need of a little peace of mind. It's not that he makes music that's necessarily peaceful, just that he's arrived at a cross section of pie-eyed quirk, country musicianship, rocker dynamics and loveably dirty, unburnished romance that's particularly agreeable on any kind of day.

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam: Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, NC 12/16/06

Chad Berndtson December 20, 2006 No Comments

Warren Haynes' Christmas Jam has been around for 18 years, but was a strictly provincial affair up until the late 90’s. WarrenBase, the side project section of the indispensable MuleBase, reveals that it was still a loose gathering of acoustic and electric sets, local bands, and the appearance of only one or two major acts before it began to mushroom. Later it moved to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and finally the main arena in the Asheville Civic Center, where it'll presumably stay.

The New Deal: A New Frontier

Chad Berndtson December 19, 2006 No Comments

The New Deal remains the sophisticate's choice in livetronica almost in spite of the genre's popularity spike. As much as some newer, greener crews oversaturate the markets in hopes of rising above the pack, the Canadian trio has scaled back its operation since returning from a touring hiatus in 2004.

Pixies: Acoustic: Live in Newport

Chad Berndtson November 29, 2006 No Comments

There's been a windfall of Pixies DVDs in the past year or two, but Acoustic: Live In Newport takes the cake for odd and wonderful resonance. What's even more fascinating than this concert document of the Pixies at the 2005 Newport Folk Festival is the behind-the-scenes material, where we quickly see that the the reconstituted band not so much eases into the idea of an acoustic set as it gets ready to shoehorn itself in.

Robert Randolph and The Family Band: Colorblind

Chad Berndtson November 22, 2006 No Comments

It’s easy to enjoy Colorblind, but in the end, it will have you searching for a copy of his stellar debut Live at the Wetlands. That's the rub with Robert Randolph, as years ago, the more his sets grew repetitive and his jams predictable, the more we craved stronger, more varied songs. But does the quest for songs mean no more goofy, sloppy fun?

Yo La Tengo: Genre Overload (James McNew Interview)

Chad Berndtson September 24, 2006 No Comments

Twenty-two years into their career, Yo La Tengo are still at the top of their game. Their genre spanning latest – I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass might be the best "mix" CD of the year

John Ginty Band: Fireside Live

Chad Berndtson September 13, 2006 No Comments

Fireside Live is loads of fun, as if Joey DeFrancesco or Jimmy Scott traded in the more academic jazz aesthetic (but retained same chops and improvisational proclivities) to front a boozy gospel-rock outfit Ginty’s taken to calling “outlaw gospel.”

Particle: Transformations Live: For The People

Chad Berndtson September 5, 2006 No Comments

Transformations is the first release by the new Particle, or was, until RANA vet Scott Metzger announced his joining the band as a co-lead-guitarist would in fact be only temporary. These things happen, though, and Metzger’s departure doesn’t really lose ground for the transitional Particle, per se. With only eight months under their belt as fulltime members, Metzger and Ben Combe were/are only in the break-in phase of the band.

Chad Berndtson

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