Interviews

Michael Franti has been many things since he began his musical career in 1986 as part of the industrial punk band The Beatnigs. He’s been a composer, musician, poet, activist, healer and most recently a yoga retreat owner, all the while conveying his message of hope and unity all around the world.

With the upcoming release of her new live album, Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony,  Brandi Carlile opened up about all aspects of her career, ranging from beginning in Seattle up to the new studio album she’s already recorded. In the meantime, we also touched upon her strong bond with the Indigo Girls, her love for recreating synth-based 80s music and why she’s carrying on Dolly Parton’s well-deserved diva flame.

There are some who speculate David Bowie himself may have either approved of the leak of Toy or is so engaged in his post-iconic, house-husbandly duties that he hasn’t had a chance to look up from piles of dirty dishes to comment. In a recent Mojo article, David Buckley offers the possibility that Bowie’s “then record label, Virgin, had a listen and didn't consider an album featuring 11 retreads of obscure tracks to be the right sort of new product at a time when Bowie was still having hit singles.“ Obviously the silence is open to myriad interpretations. However now that, in the words of Torrent Freak, “Toy is out of the box and never going back,“ should officialdom’s imprimatur matter?

Radiohead may have more commercial success and critical accolades; Sigur Ros might write prettier, more easily recognizable tunes. But if you told me Mogwai is the most influential band on the face of the planet, I wouldn't argue.

She is probably rock’s most talented undiscovered gem. This woman with the confident voice, pin-point lyrics and effortless guitar playing has actually been around for years. Yet, if you ask the average music fan, they look at you with a sort of blank expression. And this is a shame because Shannon McNally can rock your socks off at the same time she is hitting you over the head with words that actually make sense.

Frank Heiss, electronic musician composer and teacher, began playing drums as a very young child. After three-plus decades of experience that included a stint in the 9-to-5 world of information technology, he has come full circle and returned to his first love.

John Popper, the iconoclastic frontman of Blues Traveler has once again re-invented himself with The Duskray Troubadours.  His month-long recording sessions in the mountains of New Mexico were much less a solo endeavor, and more or less a collaboration anchored by the strong musical bond between Popper and Jono Manson – bandmates from days of yore.  Popper put it best as, “A liberating, scrappy roots-rock alter ego of Blues Traveler.” 

Glide's Chris Calarco was able to catch up with Marc Brownstein, bass player for The Disco Biscuits and Conspirator when Conspirator played Portland, Oregon on Wednesday February 9th. After some BBQ Korean Tacos Calarco sat down with Marc, one of the most enthusiastic and accessible musicians you will ever meet.

Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter Brooke Annibale certainly knows a thing or two about getting help from her friends. Her fourth and latest release, the phenomenal Silence Worth Breaking, might not even exist were it not for the support she received from a Kickstarter.com campaign last fall.

Cold War Kids' recorded mission since the beginning has been to "match what they've done on-stage." With their latest album, Mine is Yours (their third full-length), the goal was to finally realize that vision, taking a little more time in the studio to craft a long-lasting sonic monument, one that would stack up to their peers like TV on the Radio and Arcade Fire, who, according to Willett, "sound very labored with so many layers of tracks." Working in Nashville with big-name producer Jacquire King (well-known for his contributions to Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse albums), Cold War Kids wanted to go the next step in their journey, achieving a "eureeka" moment that could serve as a fresh start.