Archive: 2016

[rating=8.00] Crossroads Revisited includes selections from the recorded appearances of various artists who’ve graced the various stages of  for Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013.  Those compiling the anthology do yeoman’s work in highlighting not just memorable moments at the events themselves, but revealing the evolution of the rosters involved as […]

[rating=9.00] Anyone who’s ever heard a single note from Melissa Etheridge during her multi-decade career can attest to the fact that she’s not only a tenacious and tempestuous performer possessed with grit and sass, but also an artist that stands apart in terms of her credibility and conviction. That’s something to be relished in these […]

The last time this reviewer was Dark Star Orchestra was for their amazing recreation of the last Europe ’72 show. That performance, which kicked off “Jerry Week” in style, was their first appearance at the Ford Amphitheater on Coney Island’s boardwalk. The Paramount, on the other hand, has become Dark Star’s second home during their […]

‘The Walking Dead’ seems unable, or unwilling to escape its own worst tendencies

Donnie Biggins, leader of Chicago’s The Shams Band and owner/promoter/head of Tonic Room, Harmonica Dunn and the annual Dunn Dunn Fest, will be dropping his solo debut, Profiles, on Tuesday, Nov 29. He will be celebrating the release with back to back shows at Tonic Room in Chicago on Dec 2 & 3. Glide is hosting an exclusive […]

‘Westworld’ starts tying its loose ends together as the first season draws to a close

Plus, Disney strikes box office gold with Moana.

Celebrating his 70th birthday last year, Clapton wrote a heartfelt note in the program that began “I swear this is it, no more…..I know I’ve been threatening retirement for the last fifty years, but I didn’t think I’d ever really want to stop. I love what I do and always have done, but over the […]

Lee Fields is living proof that doing what you love does not have an age limit. “I feel that every human being’s purpose is to do what their inner voice says to do,” Fields (65) said in a press release earlier this month. “And my inner voice, my driving force, wants me to put out […]

David Gray played with barely a pause over two hours Sunday night, racing from piano to acoustic guitar between songs at the Apollo Theater in New York, as he cycled through “a comprehensive retrospective” of his 25-year catalog. Big voices are best suited for small spaces, and the Apollo’s 1,500-seat venue afforded a warm, absorbing […]

Laura Marling has announced full details of her sixth album with the unveiling of new video “Soothing” (below). Semper Femina will be released March 10th, 2017 on Laura’s own label More Alarming Records via Kobalt Music Recordings. It was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Laura and US musician/producer Blake Mills (Alabama Shakes, Jim James). Alongside the announcement of Semper Femina, comes […]

So maybe you’re not an “audiophile”, or maybe you just don’t have time to comb Craigslist and ebay looking for that mint condition record player and stereo system. Or, maybe, you just want something easy and casual, you know, because maybe that’s how you listen to records. If you consider yourself part of any of […]

“If people see me as the godfather of indie rock, than I’m ok with that: clearly I’m not,” said a self deprecating Bruce Hornsby midway through his solo performance on Friday November 18th at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Hornsby was referring to a recent article in Rolling Stone which credits him as […]

Oregon native Sam Densmore has been a fixture in the Portland music scene for a handful of years now, playing in a slew of alternative bands throughout the ‘90s and embracing a defining era in the Pacific Northwest’s musical heritage. These days Densmore leans less on his rock band past and more on his folky future […]

Veteran Seattle alternative rock band Candlebox were joined by Peter RG and Staticland for a show at the Roseland Theater on Saturday, November 19th. Photos by Greg Homolka.

A heartwarming romance that builds on the Old Hollywood myths, Rules Don’t Apply is a absolute delight.

Bad Santa, minus the charm and heart, is just bad.

A muddled, tone-deaf, entirely unenjoyable WWII spy flick that is inexplicably filled with top-tier talent