Posts by Shawn Donohue

The many levels contained within Toubab Krewe’s self-titled album, surround and reward the ear upon multiple listens. The polyrhythmic spider webs entangle; meshing scurrying string romps with the pulsing of low end, the result is sense of community formed with the musical world as a whole, and a great rookie release from the Krewe.

World Leader Pretend creates a sound that is hard to pin down, and I am sure that is just the way they like it. It

The tunes can stir something deep, but that passion comes from a dirty section of your mind.

Nothing seems to get the Mr. Slamka that worked up or that depressed, he simply floats along a Prozac river, like Self Help Serenade as a whole, like the space between waking and dreaming.

Baby runs short and swift, bringing back a simpler sound from a simpler era, yet the rollicking good times on “Everybody’s Going Wild” can’t be ignored. The Cobras want to swing their favorite songs around and around like long flapper pearls, while they keep the bar open past last call.

The Moistboys latest release is simply titled IV. While the title calls to mind another album that has the IV label, the Zeppelin comparisons should end right there.

As the flooding continues across the eastern seaboard, so does the music. On Wednesday night at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan a twin bill of bare bones rock and rollers took the stage. The Detroit Cobras with openers Reigning Sound hit the Big Apple only a few shows into their national tour. While the rains fell outside, the brew and tunes swam inside.

Reason #1,459 why New York City is great. A Monday night benefit for the Red Cross, that manages to showcase two NYC Hardcore Metal crowd pleasers, while raising $2,000 at the same time. Yes sir, I think that is a winning combo for a Monday.

New York and New Orleans share a special bond and the least the Big Apple could do was play doctor to a friend in need.

I have read reviews of critics claiming that the Stones create a rock and roll environment in which an arena feels like a club, Horseshit. They take a 75,000 seat football stadium and make it feel like 300,000 people are rocking along to “Jumping Jack Flash.”

On the Eastern rim of the Adirondacks, the scenic gem of Saratoga Performing Arts Center was sold out and loaded with the dedicated fans of two nationally respected touring acts; neither of which has released an album of new material in over 3 years.

David Byrne, with some musical friends in tow, camped themselves on the Summer Stage in Ramsey Playfield to deliver a concert to the soaking yet faithful crowd.

Scarecrow Collection has put together a sampling of styles that runs the gamut.

This is the first book written by a band member that deals directly with the Grateful Dead and the inner workings of this American Institution.

For those unfamiliar with Built to Spill, the band has been playing together since 1993 in various incarnations constantly evolving through the years. The boys from Idaho had traveled East to NYC for the first time since September 2003 and Internet postings were abuzz about a new album that is currently due out in the fall, so the live dates were an obvious next step.

Recently, a pair of legends rolled into a city that has seen some pretty hard times, and is trying to redo its image. The most beautiful day so far of 2005, with an 80-degree evening, lent itself to some adventure, so after a short train ride from the Big Apple I entered Newark, NJ and headed for the magnificent NJPAC.