Belle and Sebastian have never offered easy answers, instead they just write challenging lyrics that ask the listener to follow closely and make assumptions. Write About Love is no different, another success in a long line of great musical accomplishments.
For every “All Along the Watchtower” moments of perfection, the flip side, such as Zac Brown covering “Oh My Sweet Carolina” leaves you looking for the nearest pair of earplugs and questioning why more stringent copyright laws don’t exist. Fortunately for listeners, John Legend and The Roots have hooked up and fall into the former category by collaborating on a series of 12 funk-soul covers that pack a punch and take you back to 1972, both musically and thematically.
Those at the Great American Music Hall who truly knew the full history of this band called Tom Tom Club knew they were in for a rare treat on this night, as live Tom Tom Club shows these days are few and far between. The band has pretty much always functioned as a side project for its married rhythm section Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, whether it was as a creative outlet from their other band in the 80's (you know, that one), or for sporadic reunions throughout the 2000's.
Anyone lucky enough to see Jackie Greene while he fronted Phil Lesh & Friends in 2007 and 2008 had to wonder if the young Californian could command the stage with his own band and exude the same charisma. Greene’s October 7th appearance at Higher Ground answered the question…and emphatically.
More akin to Crosby Stills and Nash then the recent Monsters of Folk, Fistful Of Mercy play with light and airy textures minus CSN’s political bent. Songs about love dominate as do violins and ultra repetitive choruses that allow the trio to mesh harmonically but never say anything lasting.
73 years into this life, Charles Lloyd is truly the master of soul-fired saxophone – and the ability to infuse an ensemble with that same vibe. With Mirror, the first studio effort from Lloyd’s present band (their recorded debut was 2008’s live Rabo de Nube), the music is rich and full; both easily digestible and as deep as you want it to be at the same time.
It’s one thing for a band to look like they are having fun on a concert stage; it’s something else when they actually are. And that is exactly what happened when The Goo Goo Dolls burst onto the stage at the Hard Rock in Biloxi. With smiles and guitars blazing, you knew immediately that a fun show was heading your way. “Come on everybody”, coaxed vocalist Johnny Rzeznik. “This is our night together”.
Railroad Earth's fifth and self titled studio release will paint a totally new picture of this New Jersey souped up string band. On Railroad Earth you will notice it is much different from their previous affectionate themed album, Amen Corner
Penny Sparkle's release date is perfectly timed, because in many ways this album is a perfectly reflective album for the transition to fall and winter; it is an album by which to contemplate things of heady nature over a glass of something dark and swirling, a fire in the background, the wind howling outside. It is an album that pushes the listener to find a mechanism for uplift in sonically-downbeat mining of the human experience.
I can’t believe they came to Albuquerque!” exclaimed the young girl in the printed sundress. But I don’t think she was referencing President Obama and his entourage’s visit to the Duke City earlier that day. Rather, as we were standing in the upstairs bathroom of The Historic El Rey Theatre in downtown Albuquerque, she must have been talking about the true reason New Mexicans from all walks of life came together this night: Umphrey’s McGee was in town!
