B-Sides

For those looking for a smaller more community based festival, aside from today’s 50,000+capacity events, Liberate offers 20+ live bands and electronic music until sunrise, two nights of free camping, yoga, healing arts,a children’s tent, bonfires, fire dancers, Artists Market, art demonstrations, organic food and local beer, Eco and Nutrition Workshops, nature trails, and more good stuff.   This year’s lineup includes: The New Deal (two sets), Ryan Montbleau Band, Orchard Lounge, Rubblebucket Orchestra, The Brew, Nate Wilson Group, Spiritual Rez, Ded Sessions, Roots of Creation, Twiddle, Strength in Numbers, Jeff Bujak, Greyspoke, DJ Monaco, WAGAN, The Human Canvas, and Band of Gypsies (the Jimi Hendrix Tribute. 

Most recently  Jennifer Hartswick has been playing as a member of Van Ghost,  the brainchild of Chicago indie promoter Mike Berg.  Self-described as “classic or folk rock,” the heart of Van Ghost’s songs lie in the interaction between Berg and Hartswick, as her powerful vocals and elastic trumpet phrasing leave the audience intrigued and captivated. In anticipation of a sparkling "Jennifer Hartswick" billed performance at Burlington Vermont’s Discover JazzFest, Glide caught up with Hartswick..

In case you haven’t heard ‘em yet, Rubblebucket Orchestra aren’t the straight-forward funk ensemble that their name might suggest. Instead they are a vivid ten-piece afrobeat/rock band led by trumpeter Alex Toth and fronted by the alluring vocals of Kalmia Traver; both members of reggae band John Brown's Body.

While other male/female duos like She & Him, have graced the covers of magazines, The Bird and the Bee, have made a fashionable statement while making sounds from the 60’s and 70’s sound contemporary.

The benefit concert for the LEP high school (appropriately named the "LEP Rocks Benefit Concert") readies a rolling list of esteemed guest appearances: Storm Large (best known for her appearance in Rock Star Supernova), Linda Hornbuckle, guests Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, Peter Buck of REM, Alex Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and The Dimes.

This article adds a new path for Glide Magazine: specifically, an effort to begin bridging the worlds of culture and sustainability. In truth, one is nothing without the other; if the planet is uninhabitable, music and art will die. Likewise, without a clear appreciation for the beauty and indeed, art that is nature, people fail to appreciate some of the most spectacular aspects of life: a light rain, dewdrops on a leaf, or a sunset over the mountains – things worth working to care for.

Many may remember Charley Orlando as the front-man for the psychedelic /folk groove acoustic duo Dexter Grove, who courageously played more than 250+ shows a year for almost ten years straight. After a five year well deserved break from the road, Orlando is back with his Charley Orlando Band.

Modern indie rock troubadours that sound weary, but not angst-ridden, and tender, but not twee are a rare breed, indeed, and that's probably why Matthew Houck has in the time since his 2000 debut as Fillup Shack ("Hipolit") become a connoisseur's choice in the genre.

Sound of Urchin ("SOU", "Urchin", "The Sound of MF Urchin") is a diverse "outsider arena-rock" band from Brooklyn NY and New Hope PA. SOU is known for their eclectic songs and unique line-up of a drummer who sings ("Tomato"), two lead guitarists ("B-ILL" and "Seahag"), and a bassist ("Michael Davidson"), and for their energetic, spontaneous live shows and heavy touring schedules.  Glide's newest columnist Melissa Brodeur recently tossed a few questions the way of Tomato.

Self-described “musical soul mates,” Karl Briedrick and Marie-Claire Balabanian of Speck Mountain prefer to call their music “ambient soul” which is fair enough, but they are leaving out the “subtle beauty” that protrudes.

With his insightful lyrics, quirky look, and unique sound, Brett Dennen has been enjoying a rapid rise to folky rock stardom. After being named one of Rolling Stone Magazine's top ten "Artists to Watch" in 2007, Dennen has kept the momentum going by opening for John Mayer on his summer tour, and then releasing a chart topping new album entitled Hope for the Hopeless. Currently on a nationwide tour following his album release, Dennen caught up with Glide from the road…

Just as with albums, 2008 wasn’t a bang up year for concert DVDs. Sure, there were plenty of good ones, but nothing that was mind blowing. Last year’s list featured plenty of multi-disc sets including Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s epic documentary/concert film Runnin’ Down A Dream, the amazing full-blown release of Nirvana’s Unplugged and AC/DC’s exhaustive Plug Me In box set, but this year we’ve got a bunch of single DVDs.  Let’s take a gander our list of the Best Concert DVDs of 2008…

Sonya Kitchell established herself as a breakout artist at age 15, when she recorded the album Words Came Back to Me and found herself performing on TV talk shows, notching respectable sales and collecting many a glowing review. Now 19 years old, the Massachusetts-bred singer/songwriter is back with This Storm, an accomplished effort that combines folk's searching sentiments with pure pop bliss.

The Shotgun is a monthly series of Shotgun CD reviews, by Glide contributor Eric Saeger

One of the great things about the Warped Tour is its desire to showcase activist and charitable organizations. Rock for Health is one such organization whose goals center around health care and advice for musicians who are frequently without any resources. Kristina Grossmann, president of Rock for Health, answered a few questions about the organization and its presence on the tour.

With a sophomore album, The '59 Sound out this month, a small stage appearance on Warped Tour, and a love for the Bronx, this Jersey punk outfit is making great strides in a short amount of time.  If you were one of the thousands who grabbed the leaked album online…you already knew that.

If there’s an underdog pick for album of the year so far – Plants and Animals’ Parc Avenue deserves consideration.  The Montreal band, originally an acoustic/instrumental roots band, has grown into an expansive rock pop engine of epic anthems and ballads, much like fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire.  We emailed wise guy drummer Matthew Woodley a few questions…just don’t call him “hippie.”

Glide correspondant Aurélie Montfrond recently got to spend a day with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds prior to their March performance at Dublin Castle. Below is her diary of the time she spent with Cave and Bad Seeds' multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey.

Circular Sounds is the fourth LP from San Francisco’s home recording auteur Kelley Stoltz. Its 14 songs are a stereophonic advance on the lo-fidelity psych-fuzz of Antique Glow (Beautiful Happiness, 2004) and the mid-fi piano-rock of Below the Branches (Sub Pop, 2006): two modest masterpieces which, by a curious coincidence, both made #24 in MOJO magazine’s “Best Albums” list for their respective years.

Glide contributor Travis Atria made his debut appearance at Bonnaroo this past weekend – not as a member of the pres but as musician. Atria's band Morningbell, was selected to play the Sonic Stage at the premier festival, a gig that he soon won't forget.