Columns

If you want to understand what hip-hop learned from the 1990s, and what the 1990s meant musically from that point onward, hip-hop or not, ‘Ill Communication’ is a good place to start — and to return.

James Stevenson: you know him. You really do. You just may not recognize his name upon first glance. He’s played guitar in some really cool bands, starting with Chelsea, then with Billy Idol in Generation X, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Alarm, Kim Wilde, the International Swingers. He’s currently the go-to extra live guitar player, as […]

There is a location proven to permeate a plethora of benevolent vibes – a festival in Bridgeport, Connecticut called Gathering of the Vibes. Steeped out of the Grateful Dead tradition, people with strong values and good souls will gather to share love and the enjoyment of music at the 19th annual festival located just 1.5 […]

When you create a film that loses in viewership to a sultry scene between reptile and footwear or the private endeavors of a lonely primate, you’ve chosen the wrong career.

When Ian Anderson called to talk with Glide about his latest solo album, he was in the middle of playing, as he called it, “little tour events” in the UK. A few days off and then he’d be back performing in Romania and Switzerland. Although our conversation was brief, we kept the primary focus on […]

Next week, Aerosmith will start their latest sojourn across the United States, hitting sheds in the summer heat, Slash and his erstwhile Conspirators in tow. If this was 1977, it would be a no holds barred rock & raunch three ring circus. But times have changed and Aerosmith are no longer young lions in red […]

Doug Collette looks back on a high-profile live show with Jeff Beck and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra in the spring of 1975.

Howling Bells just released their fourth album Heartstrings on Birthday Records. The UK-based band brought in Catherine J. Marks (PJ Harvey, Foals) and the renowned Alan Moulder (The Killers, Depeche Mode, Arctic Monkeys) to record and produce the album. Together, they’ve created an album that balances shoegaze, 90’s alternative rock and late 80’s synth-pop, all the […]

Organizers made the announcement a few weeks back that the fourth annual Electric Forest Electronic festival set to take place at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, MI this weekend is now sold out.  The announcement comes just two days after the festival released its final round of artists for the 2014 lineup that already included  […]

A long time ago in a Hollywood full of poofy hair and big dreams, the sidewalks were a carnival of sins with guitar picks. The bands that flocked to the aging yet regenerating section of Los Angeles were getting signed by labels and putting out songs that wallpapered MTV screens morning-noon-&-night. It was a hallowed […]

Daniel Couch re-examines Centro-Matic’s ‘Redo the Stacks,’ an album that radiates with the manic fervor of youth.

In light of the (most) recent Led Zeppelin plagiarism lawsuit, Scott Elingburg examines both sides of this delicate and complicated issue.

Some people think that guitar shredding is a young man’s forte. With agile fingers and intense unwavering concentration, the sky can be the limit conjuring notes at warp speed.  Guitar players such as Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert and Yngwie Malmsteen brought power playing to the forefront via Shrapnel Records and the genre is alive and […]

‘Gigli’ is a glimpse into an alternate dimension where Ben Affleck is cool, J-Lo is talented, and jokes about the mentally-handicapped are funny.

Last month, the Counting Crows eased back into the illuminated spotlight to perform on Seth Meyers’ late-night show, singing two of their biggest hits, “Round Here” and “Hanginaround,” prepping themselves and their fans for a big summer tour, which kicks off on Wednesday, June 11, in Florida. Despite not having released an album of original […]

“What you see him do with GNR is just a fraction of his ability on the guitar,” proclaimed Terry, a fan and guitar player from Los Angeles, in Vegas for the iconic band’s second Vegas residency. “He’s a true technician.” Truer words could not have been spoken. Growing up in New York with an early […]

The 10th annual Mountain Jam festival is just a day way when it kicks off Thursday at Hunter Mountain, New York at 2 pm on the West Stage. The eclectic 40-band lineup at the four-day music festival represents a little of everything musically, but we picked out some that will make this one worth the ride […]

It’s not uncommon for a musician in a popular band to record a solo record. It’s a great way for them to stir up their creative juices and explore tantalizingly fresh spheres of the musical hemisphere. Unfortunately, more often than not, these trysts into new worlds are overlooked by the mainstream and quietly lay in […]

Will Bernard/Just Like Downtown (Posi-Tone): Will Bernard may never impress with his guitar flash, but in a world overstocked with self-appointed heroes of the instrument, his approach is as much of a blessing as his deceptively sophisticated skill. And it’s in keeping with his skill as much as confidence that he enters to make a […]

“Get ready for Bas-Fest!” Always a tornado of excitable energy, Sebastian Bach is more than ready to talk about his new solo album, Give ‘Em Hell. In fact, Bach is excited to talk about everything. To remain this positive, this downright happy, is somewhat quizzical after going through a life like his in the music […]