Barsuk Records is excited to announce the release of the new Nada Surf record, The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy, on January 24, 2012. NPR debuted the first track, "When
This album may be a bit too accessible and/or soft for fans of the harder edged rock-leaning work from his mid-career, but Ashes & Fire reaffirms Ryan Adams as a leader among singer-songwriters, and after the turmoil of the past few years it’s delightful to see him back on top of his game.
While the lyrics and background vocals leave much to be desired, with this album Kasabian are clearly taking steps to improve as a band and release a collection of songs illuminating their goals and plans for the future.
Widespread Panic will go off on a hiatus after their first all-acoustic tour.
Hustlers team up with Metzger, Electric Forest announces 2012 dates and more stories from the ‘nets.
Jane’s Addiction and Amos Lee are among the musical acts on the boob tube this week.
The Grateful Dead will focus on full shows once again with the start of the Dave’s Picks series of live archival releases.
Neil Young performs Helpless with Arcade Fire at the Bridge School Benefit.
The co-headling Dawes/Blitzen Trapper bill made for a quintessential first week gig at Phoenix’s new Crescent Ballroom. The Ballroom offers excellent sight lines along with small bleacher section, good beer, no douche-bag staff – allowing the venue to appear it was built from a indie record store war-room strategy – “how to build a kick-ass music room.” And here were two bands that have experience playing both big and small stages and who play with an experimental folk side that are influenced by Jackson Browne to the Flaming Lips.
Welch and Rawlings’ show at the Fillmore yet again showed why they’re leaders of the Americana and bluegrass world. Their songs have an enchanting solemnity, gravity of earthly knowledge and simple chords and instruments that manage to convey a vast spread of emotions and rhythms.
