B-Sides

s the son of Crowded House’s Neil Finn, New Zealand’s Liam Finn has established himself by touring the world several times performing with Wilco, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam and The Black Keys, as well as at numerous festivals. His new album FOMO separates him from his famous family and shows how eclectic he can be courtesy of  complex melodies and wistful vocals.

“There are the things that haunt my mind: The blurred relationship of good vs. evil, ghosts, and the lessons and stories of history….. I’d like to think that this isn’t an exhaustive list,” says Montreal based artist Chris Velan on the vast inspiration of lyrical themes found in his songs.  His latest recording Fables For Fighters (NewSong Recordings/Fontana North) is influenced by a range of influences spanning David Byrne, Randy Newman, Neil Young, West African music and reggae that can be summed up best as “smart pop/folk song-smithing.”

Neil Finn, frontman for the group Crowded House, has a new project The Pajama Club, this time with wife Sharon.

Glide caught up withChappo drummer, Dave Feddock, to discuss their new EP, their unique fashion sense, and the background story of how they all met.

Austin via Baton Rouge Americana indie rockers Wheeler Brothers released their debut album Portraits on June 21 on Bismeaux RecordsEstablishing a loyal, local fanbase, Wheeler Brothers began 2011 with a sold out performance at Austin's esteemed venue The Parish.  Glide recently chatted with the band via email for a get to know the Wheeler Brothers session,

Upon hearing news of her death I was shocked to realize that she was two months shy of her 28th birthday, putting her squarely into the pantheon of The 27 Club, a grim collection of musicians who passed away at this way-too-soon age.

Vanessa Carlton walked “A Thousand Miles” into the public’s hearts with her Be Not Nobody record selling two million copies worldwide. Her fourth album Rabbits on the Run drops at the end of the month.

The eclectic band Ozomatli have traveled from Los Angeles to around the world winning with  their diverse sound. With a mix from rock to reggae to salsa this group doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. They are currently working on oZoKidZ for children, followed by a book, DVD, and tour. Glide went backstage before their recent show at the Congress to get the real story from Raul Pacheco about musical instruments,  “Gay Vatos” and electrocution.

Joan As Police Woman is ready to handcuff your ears with her unique soulful sound. Her history alone makes her worth listening to. Working with such creative artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters and Antony and the Johnsons in the past has brought her much deserved attention. Her new album The Deep Field dropped earlier in the month with Joan playing at Schubas at the end of April. Get to know Joan in this exclusive interview.

Kat Devlin, the petite, eloquent singer-songwriter from Minnesota has charmed California’s Central Coast with her country-inspired tales and Celtic trills.  She plays solo acoustic sets with a percussive loop station and delights audiences with stories inspired by a supportive and artistic four-year relationship.

When an annual musical event crosses over the “decade” line of yearly operations, it moves from to the status of a festival to the status as a summer music institution. The Northwest String Summit, which takes place at Horning’s Hideout near Portland Oregon from July 21st-24th, is about to cross that threshold to become an institution and solidify its’ status as a must see event for any fan of bluegrass music and a great time.

Indie rock band Gomez is gathering together to play live once again in Chicago. The group is from Southport, England and grew up playing music through the years. Their music can be described as a mix of styles from folk to blues. Lead singer and guitar player Ian Ball talked briefly before their appearance.

The Scottish indie band from Glasgow were formed by cousins James and Rab Allan in 2003. The band received critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas which was released in September 2008, reaching No. 2 in the UK Album Charts and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in September 2009.  Rab sat down before their gig at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago to discuss the new album Euphoric///Heartbreak\.

From iconic album covers, short form videos, full length concert films, video directorial/production, live concert photography and a plethora of musical portrait photography, Jay Blakesberg finds himself in the top percentile of rock music’s most  renowned photographers.  Glide recently had a chance to find out about his beginnings, photographing from the “pit,” and what it takes to make it as a music photographer.

Provo Utah's alterna-rockers Neon Trees  hit number one on the Aaternative chart with "Animal"  from 2010's Habits, following opening several dates for The Killers. We recently talked to front-man Tyler Green about all things 80's, music, religion and Glee.

Some people say that variety is the spice of life – doing the same thing over and over can get pretty boring after all. Maybe that’s why Paul Wright, lead singer of the reggae dance rock band Rootdown and someone who has had a lot of success in the Pacific Northwest with his solo work over the years, likes to run the gamut when searching for lyrical content for the band’s songs.

British singer Dan Black dances to the beat of his own drum. Recently when a white party hosted by EnV needed a singer they naturally thought of Black. Benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Dan the man sported a partly white ensemble and even took time out for a brief interview.

Glide recently spoke with Brandon Phillips, lead vocalist and guitar player of mid-western alternative rockers The Architects. The four member Kansas City band that includes three of the brothers Phillips recently wrapped up a tour with My Chemical Romance.

While the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival routinely boasts an incredible undercard, the event is largely remembered year to year by one aspect: the headliners.  The festival’s largest stage has been home to some of the biggest and most memorable shows our country has ever seen.  Here are our favorite ten headlining sets from Bonnaroos past, in chronological order.

Influenced by artists such as The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, Band of Horses and Arcade Fire, The Northstar Session develops their style based on the musical characteristics of old rock and roll bands and contemporary artists.  Although they have plenty of original material, they will sometimes break into a cover song.