Interviews

Canadian singer/songwriter Chad VanGaalen recently released his latest album, Diaper Island (Sub Pop), after recording for the first time at a home studio.  The results is an idiosyncratic, eclectic group of songs that represent VanGaalen’s total control of the album.  VanGaalen plays all of the instruments on Diaper Island and has also been working to create artwork and animations associated with his songs.  Glide spoke with VanGaalen about the inspiration for his album, his songwriting, and his upcoming international tour. 

Alex Skolnick is living a double life. On one end of the spectrum, he is an electrifying guitar player speeding up and down the heavy metal highway. At the other end, he is composing notes of sophistication and magnetism, sometimes calculating the next melody in a long drawn out verve of jazz patience. Which end of the musical hourglass he tips the most likely depends on which coast he is on. And this duality is just fine with him.

After the critical success of their first album, British quintet Foals are currently touring to promote their sophomore effort, Total Life Forever. The album marks a maturing from their relatively conventional sounding first album, Antidote, to a fully original collection of new compositions. While each song on the album has different textural and rhythmic qualities, lead singer Yannis Philippakis’ haunting voice and the tightness of the ensemble run throughout the entire album.  Just as the band is about to enter into a conventional chord progression or time signature, they introduces a new sonic quality or feel that keeps the album fresh and impossible to turn off.  Glide spoke with bassist Walter Gervers about “Total Life Forever” and Foal’s current tour.

With so many bands coming to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas for Wakarusa this week, it gets tough to get to know them all beforehand.  Lucky for you, we were able to grab a handful of bands and take them to the interrogation room for you

Luther Dickinson is a man who needs no introduction. He is a well-respected musician, known to many as being so naturally talented on guitar that he can blow anyone off the stage with the subtlest of notes.

The Austin band Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears have taken rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll to a new level with their contemporary take on these classic genres.   

In Doug Collette’s conversation with Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux. Lemieux’s enthusiasm is so highly infectious for his work in general and in specific about his current project Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings, that it only takes one statement or interrogatory for him to head off on another charged explication of the process behind that project, the general checklist for an archive title or the thought behind the genesis of complete Dead runs in the wake of Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings.

Glide Magazine is proud to announce the exclusive premiere of Brandi Carlile's latest music video for "The Story," from her new album Live At Benaroya Hall With The Seattle Symphony

The music legend Peter Murphy survived the breakup of goth group Bauhaus to carve out his own niche as a solo artist. Murphy finished up a promo tour across the United States for his new album dropping in June called Ninth. With a career that has lasted decades, this Bela Lugosi singer plans to live on forever.

Todd Kerns is having fun. The 6 foot, 4 inch bass player is running from one end of the stage to the other like there was nothing else in the world but rock & roll. And how could you blame him. He’s on a stage in Jacksonville, Florida, playing in Slash’s band, just tearing it up on the last night of their stint opening for Ozzy Osbourne. Tomorrow, they will leave for Australia, Asia and South America. But tonight, they are rocking out, feeling the high of a show that is kicking ass. And Todd Kerns is loving every minute of it.