Posts by Shawn Donohue

[rating=7.00] Ruby Amanfu has been around the Nashville music scene since she could sing but getting noticed is never easy. Releasing some quality songs with Sam Brooker as Sam & Ruby and competing on The Sing-Off gave her a little exposure, however it was playing the foil to Jack White on the emotional “Love Interruption” […]

[rating=8.00] The four piece Seattle based La Luz specialize once again in their unique haunting brand of Surf-Noir on their sophomore release, expertly titled Weirdo Shrine. Produced this time by Ty Segall the group adds layers of dread to sunny surf pop creating a winner. From the opening notes of the spacey western tinged “Sleep […]

[rating=8.00] Americana painted with a dance heavy vibe is what greets you on Imaginary People’s first full length album, cleverly titled Dead Letterbox. The NYC based five piece pulses with an urgent energy, propelled by a dynamic rhythm section as dark guitars and sunny synths push and pull, all dancing between soaring vocals. The two openers […]

Warren Haynes split up his record release show for his new fantastic album Ashes & Dust in predictable manner. The first set focused on the current tunes and second would be “songs you know” in his words. The beautiful thing was the new selections were just as invigorating as old standards. Joined by the dynamic […]

[rating=7.00] Galactic is a live machine, but they take it slow releasing studio albums which have been hit and miss in the past – most likely because their live shows deliver the goods. However, their last two studio offerings Ya-Ka-May and Carnivale Electricos  were concept albums dedicated to expanding the current New Orleans sound out […]

[rating=7.00] It’s been a long time since Jim O’Rourke has released a solo album, 2009’s The Visitor to be exact, and even longer since he released one with vocals, for that you need to go all the way back to 2001’s Insignificance. Titling this new effort Simple Songs is loaded as anyone familiar with this […]

Two of the current elite songwriters working today made their way to the historically gorgeous Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY as Craig Finn and Jason Isbell held court. Both have new albums about to be released but took different approaches to their sets on this night. Finn was up first and decided to showcase […]

Yearly the hardcore-metal world focuses on 11th st between 3rd and 4th avenues in NYC for the Black N’ Blue Bowl at Webster Hall (formerly the Superbowl of Hardcore). The nightly dance club transforms into a tattooed, black band t-shirted melay of flying limbs, riffs and unfortunately, increasingly receding hairlines. Big band reunions are commonplace […]

[rating=9.00] When any album is this instantly catchy and flowing, a quick double check is needed. The proprietor of said album? Bop English aka James Petralli, the frontman of the Austin based experimental rock band White Demin who is releasing his first solo record (which has been in the works for over a decade). The […]

[rating=6.00] There is a ramshackle shagginess that wafts off of Banditos self titled debut album where electric boogie, folk picking and the blues all are warped through their distinct southern barroom lens. The band is fronted by by three voices (Corey Parsons-singer/guitarist, Stephen Pierce-singer/banjo and Mary Beth Richardson-vocals) who aren’t afraid to harmonize the group […]

A wide ranging variety of musical styles were on display at the Brooklyn Bowl, often times within the same song, as a trio of bands took to the venues stage. Opening things the Brooklyn based Shinobi Ninja performed a blender approach to genres, immediately evident as everything from hip-hop to reggae to metal were on […]

[rating=7.–] The hardworking Americana/Roots performer Pokey LaFarge is back with his seventh full length release and his first on Rounder Records titled Something In The Water. The disk continues LaFarge’s throwback sound, coming straight out of the early 20th century with everything from barroom pianos, deep tubas and washboards coloring the tracks. The title tune […]

[rating=7.00] Radium Death is William Elliott Whitmore’s eigth studio album and a departure of sorts for the Iowa based roots/folk musician. On his last offering 2011’s Field Songs, Whitmore went as sparse as possible using sometimes just his distinct voice to get his rustic yearning tunes across. Now the man with the dirt laden (in […]

[rating=9.00] On Rose Mountain the Screaming Females explore new terrain (for them) as the New Jersey based trio go cleaner, focusing on verse-chorus-verse song structure and melody. In moving towards more “accessible” rock they have shockingly added a new and exciting dimension to their sound. The band (Marissa Paternoster, Jared Dougherty, Mike Abbate) have actually […]

Jack White is one of the few rock stars doing it right these days and on a freezing Friday night in the heart of the Big Apple he displayed his chops but also paid homage to New York City Hip Hop. It started with the opening act, as Run The Jewels were asked to perform […]

[rating=7.00] Over the past few years Dr. Dog has morphed from a shaggy bunch of road warriors into a must see live act who are known to throw down 25+ song set lists, fluctuating between wild abandon and laser precision. Their fan base has expanded primarily on the backs of these infectious shows and Live […]

[rating=7.00] Catching fire last year across the pond, Catfish and the Bottlemen release The Balcony in the US early in 2015 hoping to take the country by storm via its power pop rock. Equipped with an album cover that says pretty much everything (without words) regarding the teen angst-y tunes the band plays once the […]

[rating=7.00] The power-pop, punk icons the Buzzcocks are back with their first album in over eight years titled The Way, showing that the band still possess the talent which saw them churn out some of the catchiest 70’s punk tunes. The two original members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle split the songwriting, guitar playing and […]

[rating=8.00] The 19 tracks come fast and furious (surprisingly ending up the shortest of all their past albums) touching on all of Rancid’s past influences. There is ska, blistering punk, political screeds, roots reggae and festival ready shout-a-longs that long time fans will instantly recognize and young newbies will devotedly latch onto. After the powerful […]

Maybe it was his recent appearances on Portlandia, late night TV appearances or just his excellent new release Tied to a Star on Sub Pop, but whatever the reason J Mascis sold out the Bowery Ballroom Friday night to a wide range of fans. All ages genders and races were in attendance to see the […]