Radiohead Announces First Leg of US Tour
We’ve finally got some confirmed dates for the first leg of Radiohead’s upcoming North American tour, as well as a list of cities they will hit on the second leg. The most anticipated tour of 2008 starts with a two-week Amphitheater run in West Palm Beach on May 5. Thom Yorke and the boys return […]
The Voltron Prophecies: The Bluegrass All-Stars
Scanning through the endless list of super groups, jam bands, hip hop acts and comedians slated to perform at this summer’s Bonnaroo, one act jumped off the page for me: the Bluegrass All Stars (Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Luke Bulla, and Bryan Sutton). Upon first glance, it’s probably easy to overlook this as this group as a highlight given that they join forces in so many shapes and sizes every summer.
The thing is though, this is a complete performance of the best and brightest musicians, and they have a whole show to play together. The bluegrass fest thing is usually snippets of collaboration involving standards and covers, but rarely do we see a cohesive setlist. With this show, we’re getting a more organized affair that might just go down history with Strength in Numbers or the New Grass Revival…
Instead of just sitting here slobbering, I’d rather just highlight some of the endless flexibility that is joining forces here. Read on for a diverse concoction of the collaborations to which the different members of the Bluegrass All Stars have contributed…
Better Than Noodling: Nada Surf
If you obsessively watched MTV anytime during the mid ‘90s there is a good chance you were familiar with Nada Surf and their quirky, spoken word-esque tome to dating and high school life: Popular.
You know, the one that kind of sounded like Weezer’s Sweater Song. Ringing a bell now? Well it was the kind of song that had many thinking they’d just be another one-hit wonder destined to be featured as the punch line on countless VH1 retro shows. Heck their own label even thought that, and dropped them because they didn’t think their follow-up album had another hit song like Popular.
End of story, right? Well not exactly. Nada Surf might have fallen off the collective mainstream music radar for a few years, but they were still hard at work crafting a new sound and recording. It was one of those records – 2003’s critically acclaimed Let Go – that my old roommate insisted I listen to. I instantly latched onto its lush, dreamy indie-pop, and it became the number one album I pushed on friends to make sure they heard too. Keep reading so I can convert you into a fan as well…
Maceo Parker – Orange Peel, Asheville, NC 2/10/08
Photos by David Oppenheimer of Maceo Parker at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on 2/10/08.
New Monsoon: V
Though they thrive on stage, the members of New Monsoon also know how to put together reliable studio albums, as evidenced by Hydrophonic (2001) and The Sound (2005). On V, they continue to demonstrate a fine ear for balanced, precise playing, creating a bright blend of sunny California rock, down-home, dirty blues and jazzy, world-music rhythms.
Philadelphia’s The Brakes Sign With HYNEA Records
The Brakes, a Philadelphia-based band intent on staking a claim to the lineage of American rock and roll music, have signed with HYENA Records. They’ll release their debut full-length album, Tale Of Two Cities, on May 6th. The 12-track collection was recorded live during a dual city residency in the spring of 2007. The band […]
KEXP & Radio New York Join Up for Radio Liberation
KEXP, Seattle’s listener-supported radio station, and Radio New York 91.5 FM, the city’s public radio station, announced today that they are joining forces to create Radio Liberation, an unprecedented partnership dedicated to listeners and independent music. Beginning on March 24, 2008, Radio Liberation will air KEXP-produced programming Monday through Friday on Radio New York 91.5 […]
Sonic Youth Gearing Up For New Album
Sonic Youth is preparing to write a brand new album, which the band aim to release early next year. The band performed two songs songs ‘Jams Run Free’ and ‘Cool Thing’ during the Marc Jacobs runway show at the Armory on Lexington Ave on Friday night, and speaking after the show, Thurston Moore said they’re […]
Sasquatch! Music Festival Announces 2008 Dates, Expands to Three Days
The Sasquatch! Music Festival has announced its dates for 2008. The annual event, which will take place at the Gorge Amphitheatre along the canyons of the Columbia River in Washington State, has expanded to three days for the first time this year. It will take place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. The festival’s complete lineup […]
Blind Melon Plans Five Month U.S. Tour
In recent years, the tale of Blind Melon has taken a dramatic turn – from an abrupt and tragic end, to a rebirth and reconnection with their legion of fans. No matter how you slice it, the group was responsible for some of the most memorable and pure-sounding rock music of the ‘90s. And with […]