Archive: 2014

Photos of Interpol from First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN on 11/14/14. Photos by Billy Briggs.

[rating=6.00] As her career progresses, Zola Jesus continues to turn pop structures topsy turvy. Her early releases, The Spoils, Stridulum, and the darkly drifting 6 track meetup, LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus EP, were certainly deeper, more progressive affairs, showcasing Nika Danilova’s affection for bottom of the trench synths and gothic overtones. These albums, often commanding and occasionally brutal, […]

Memphis country punk-rockers Lucero are gearing up to co-headline an unforgettable spring tour with Ryan Bingham, kicking off on Feb 17th in Ashville, NC. Tour dates run through March, and presale tickets will be available this Wednesday here for Fan Club Members. “Each person makes Lucero their own thing,” says front man Ben Nichols. “Everyone […]

Hiss Golden Messenger performed Lateness of Dancers highlight “Southern Grammar” as a nine-piece on The Late Show with David Letterman last night (11/18) A live version of the song opens the forthcoming Southern Grammar EP, to be released worldwide February 3, 2015, on Merge. Frontman M.C. Taylor on the EP: This three-song collection that we’re […]

Rhiannon Giddens, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, makes her solo recording debut with Tomorrow Is My Turn, due out February 10 on Nonesuch Records (vinyl to come March 3). The album was produced by T Bone Burnett and is available to pre-order with an instant download of the […]

[rating=6.00] Listening to any of Ariel Pink’s work requires serious patience. He’s an indie rock oddball, and one of the genre’s most polarizing figures, indeed. On his latest record pom pom, the candy pink colored cover glaring like a big fat warning, he’s toying with a retro, throwback sound. 60s and 80s-inspired, sugary mouthfuls of […]

[rating=9.00] Eight years after his last studio album, 9, Damien Rice returns with a short but powerful collection of emotional folk. Though much has changed in the meantime – everything from musical collaborators to location – all of the core elements that make up a Damien Rice album are present in My Favourite Faded Fantasy, […]

Here on the “west coast of New England,” Burlington, Vermont knows a thing or two about live music.  It was no surprise that The String Cheese Incident sold out Memorial Auditorium well in advance for the band’s tour-closing show Saturday night.  Making their first appearance in the Queen City since a performance at University of […]

Entering the Marquee, an energetic crowd was packed up against the stage and filling about half of the whole area at 8pm, while around and behind the sound booth, people milled around talking. There was a DJ downstage right, behind a laptop, promoting his song choices with wild gestures and dancing more to his chosen […]

Photos of FKA Twigs at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, MN on 11/14/14. Photos by Billy Briggs.

The Foo Fighters are following up the release of its most recent album Sonic Highways with its biggest ever North American tour to date. In the wake of Sonic Highways’ climb into the top 3 of charts worldwide and the announcement of the band’s first ever U.S. stadium dates, Foo Fighters have now unveiled a […]

Celebrated soulful ensemble JJ Grey & Mofro will release their newest recording Ol’ Glory on March 3rd.  This album marks their debut on Provogue Records, which is part of the Mascot Label Group.  Ol’ Glory contains 12 new songs that feature the deep, soulful blend of blues, rock, folk, funk, gospel, gritty R&B and personal, […]

“Maybe we stayed around so long we outlasted all the bullshit,” Scott Ian philosophizes near the end of his new autobiography, I’m The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax. “We outlasted everything, and now we were considered a legendary band – members of the Big 4.” No one is a bigger fan of […]

This Thanksgiving, VH1 is airingan exclusive special titled,“A Very Bonnaroo Thanksgiving” on Thursday, November 27th at 9PM ET/PT. The concert special will feature live performances from some of the biggest names in music, includingPaul McCartney, Arcade Fire, Elton John, Metallica, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mumford & Sons, Pearl Jam, Jack White, and many more. Bonnaroo 2015 ticket pre-sales begin […]

This last year New York has offered a premium taste of music in the heavy metal corner. Whether it be in the form of long awaited live shows, a fresh and emerging band, or an institution that continues to build on a grind of a career; metal and the like has recently been a hotbed […]

On paper, Hard Working Americans is a band that is very much a mutual admiration society. The band is comprised of Todd Snider on lead vocals, Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools on bass, Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s Neal Casal on guitar, Great American Taxi’s Chad Staehly on keys, Jesse Aycock on lap steel and electric guitars, and […]

Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) has spent the better part of the last thirty years cultivating a catalog of idiosyncratic works that speak to the listener in a particular, sharp voice. Grant Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) on the other hand is a songwriter who speaks from an evocative baritone/tenor to wide, open landscapes. The decision […]

Damien Rice has announced his largest U.S. tour in nearly a decade—including stops at the Beacon Theater in New York City, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. A limited number of advance tickets will be available to mailing list subscribers via www.damienrice.com. A 48-hour pre-sale window will begin on […]

The Decemberists will launch their first North American tour in over three years on March 21, 2015 in their hometown of Portland, Oregon. Tickets for the 16-date run go on sale to the general public on November 21, with a fan pre-sale beginning on November 19 at thedecemberists.com. The tour is in support of the […]