The Flaming Lips have changed dates for their forthcoming tour due to multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd’s recent and unexplained hospitalization. Dates affected include three Florida shows this month, which have all
Mick Jones’ last three albums with the Clash were genre-mixing explorations that pushed the limits, not only of punk, but of rock and pop as a whole. With the exception of London Calling, these efforts were both uneven as well as underrated. Big Audio Dynamite not only continued that tradition, but also expanded on it. Considering that such a broad palette would be considered commonplace in the next decade, This Is Big Audio Dynamite doesn’t get its due for for the part it played in laying out the landscape for many of the alt rock bands that exploded into the 90s.
While one might pinpoint The Slackers' signature sound somewhere between the Jamaican essence of The Maytals and the English beat of The Specials, it would only prove futile to casually categorize this band. Since 1991 The Slackers have done more than marry ska's upbeat shuffle with its sluggish reggae counterpart. And they still possess the power to push even the biggest prude to dance in public.
Widespread Panic have ruled the roost at Raleigh’s Walnut Creek Amphitheater for almost two decades, and the addition of Jimmy Herring’s guitar work has given the veteran band a much-needed shot of adrenaline for the last couple of years. But judging from the attendance at the band’s traditional late April shows in Raleigh, interest in WSP is on the wane. Whether the culprit is sluggish concert ticket sales as a whole or dwindling interest in the band, the reality of the situation was sobering. WSP isn’t quite the power it used to be.
