Interviews

Ever since Tift Merritt debuted with Bramble Rose in 2002, critics and journalists have attempted to align her with specific musical trends or fellow artists, such as Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams or Caitlin Cary, but by doing so, they missed the mark.

For those of us who were footloose and fancy free in the late 70's and early 80's when The Cars were the kings of the music world, the release of Move Like This has been a blessing too long in coming. And recently, Glide had the good fortune to spend a few moments with Cars electrifying guitar player Elliot Easton.

With LA based outfit Dawes about to release their second album, Nothing is Wrong on June 7th I was able to catch up with bassist Wylie Gelber while the band was in Georgia supporting Brett Dennen on a national swing.

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.

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.”