Reviews

[rating=8.00] Campfires and the cosmos feel like they share something fundamental at their core. Mysterious and elemental, they can conjure great loneliness and deep belonging; an eternal catharsis lying in the beauty of their steadfast indifference to the affairs of humans. One often burning in futile defiance beneath its colossal heavenly cousins, the two join […]

[rating=8.00] Riding the success of last year’s critically acclaimed Chris Hillman’s Bidin’ My Time (produced by Tom Petty), Omnivore Records now weighs in with their 20-track compilation of Hillman’s first two solo albums from the mid- ‘70s. This, of course, was after Hillman had made his mark with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, and […]

[rating=9.00] Nina Simone is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April. Hardly a rock ‘n roller, Simone’s influence stretches across multiple genres and awareness of her work is probably as strong today as it ever was given some recent highly acclaimed documentaries. For this occasion, and to mark the 6oth […]

[rating=6.00] There’s no denying the 1990s were an especially great decade for guitar-centric rock music. So great, in fact, that many of today’s young, up and coming rockers are reverting back to these not so distant golden years as a source of inspiration. Windang, Australia’s Hockey Dad is one of these bands. Zack Stephenson (guitar/vocals) […]

[rating=8.00] James Hunter has been a staple on the UK Soul scene since the mid-80’s and even while singing backups/touring the world with Van Morrison in the mid-90’s it seems that he is just now hitting his career heights in the late-2010’s. He has recently had songs featured on NBC’s Superstore and now The James […]

Worcester’s honorary Black Label Family o’ Doom and fellow Berzerkers united for an explosive evening with the shred king that is Zakk Wylde and his band on February 1st. Black Label Society includes the talented backline of John DeServio (bass), Jeff Fabb (drums) and Dario Lorina (guitar). Anticipation for the start of BLS’ show was […]

In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle takes a look back, Hard Love, the 2017 album from Strand of Oaks, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):

When I first heard Dolly Parton sing as a little girl, it was a heartbreaking ballad about a dead child. When I first heard Loretta Lynn, she was singing about coal mines and honky tonk angels; Tammy Wynette was lonely in Apartment #9; and Reba McEntire was pining for a straying husband in New England. […]

On Friday and Saturday, February 2nd and 3rd, Phil Lesh and The Terrapin Family Band celebrated the 50th anniversary (down to the very day!) of the Grateful Dead’s historic “Quick and The Dead” shows at Portland, Oregon’s Crystal Ballroom. The 1968 event was a two-night double-bill, featuring the Grateful Dead and The QuickSilver Messenger Service. […]

To misquote Morrissey, “August spawned a monster.” Metalcore titans August Burns Red teamed up with technical death metallers Born of Osiris for this tour for August Burns Red’s latest record, Phantom Anthem, and they just so happened to land at Emo’s in Austin, Texas, the night of Super Bowl Sunday, February 4. It’s typically not […]