Archive: 2017

In 2016, Chicagoan Matt Smith formed Thompson Springs from a collection of backlogged songs about problems of the heart and near misses along the road. The songs are his personal version of reality and a vehicle for his ideas to become real.  Along with Jacob Bicknase (drums) and Andy Goitia (bass), the trio recorded their second EP, […]

Since their inception in 2010, the New Orleans sextet known as Naughty Professor have been blowing away live audiences and winning scores of new fans with their eclectic brand of funk-infused jazz. With two studio albums and one live recording under their collective belt, Naughty Professor recruited a host of talented collaborators for their new […]

Gary Clark Jr brought his guitar showmanship and A level chop to the Palace Theatre in St Paul, MN on 8/4/17. Photos by Billy Briggs.  

In the newest installment of Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle reviews Purgatory, the new album from Kentucky storyteller Tyler Childers, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):

In a way, Pickathon is the antithesis of the Bonnaroos and Coachellas of the world. The intimate festival takes place on a farm just outside of Portland, Oregon and plays host to a lineup that looks more like it was chosen by someone at NPR than by a team of corporate marketers. There are no […]

Glen Campbell, the iconic country western artist known by such songs as “Gentle on My Mind,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” died today at 81. Campbell had been fighting his well-documented battle with Alzheimer’s Disease which had him out on a lengthy farewell tour over the course of […]

Plus, David Letterman announces his return to TV.

JD McPherson is set to return with Undivided Heart & Soul on October 6th, 2017. The 11-song set was produced by McPherson and Dan Molad (Lucius, Tweedy), and was recorded at the Historic RCA Studio B™ in Nashville, TN. Undivided Heart & Soul is McPherson’s first studio album in three years and follows his critically […]

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul have announced details of their anticipated North American headline tour. The “Soulfire Tour 2017” begins September 23rd at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY and then travels North America through late October. The tour will be preceded by a very special co-headline appearance at the upcoming […]

On October 20th, Destroyer (Dan Bejar) returns with his 12th studio album ken. Bejar shared the following about his upcoming release: Sometime last year, I discovered that the original name for “The Wild Ones” (one of the great English-language ballads of the last 100 years or so) was “Ken.” I had an epiphany, I was physically struck by this […]

With her nuanced lyricism and shapeshifting vocals, Nashville-based singer/songwriter/pianist Jillette Johnson is the rare artist who needs little sonic accompaniment to make an indelible impact. Produced by Dave Cobb (the Grammy Award-winner known for his work with Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson), Johnson’s sophomore album All I Ever See in You Is Me (released July 28th via […]

The setlist for this mid-December (12/14/75 to be exact) performance by the Who at the Springfield Civic Center in Massachusetts may look like a bountiful roster of hits, but it didn’t exactly come off that way, laser light show aside. From the very start of “I Can’t Explain,” Pete Townshend looked like the last thing […]

Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker‘s inspired collaboration continues with a 2nd volume tunes titled SpiderBeetleBee. It’s been nearly two years since their much-admired 2015 debut, Land of Plenty (Whistler Records), and SpiderBeetleBee more than makes up for the long wait with a rich, resonant batch of performances that elevate the guitar duo’s sound into an ever-widening panorama of styles. Their first […]

Gov’t Mule along with Galactic ventured to Coca-Cola at Roxy on 8/6/17. It’s been a busy summer as usual for Mule as they’ve been touring in support of  their new LP Revolution Come … Revolution Go, released June 9. Photos by Ian Rawn.  

Austin, Texas today is more synonymous with condos, trendy eateries and tech bros than with the bustling live music scene that put it on the map in the first place. Yet, if you can look past the skyline you will still find cultural sparks flying at clubs along the city’s Red River Street. Formed just over […]

There are many useful rules to live by, but for Whitney Rose, there’s one that stands alone as a guiding principle for life as she knows it: Rule 62. The origin of the rule is best summed up by the poignant, pronoun-adjusted excerpt from Alcoholics Anonymous’ Tradition Four cited above, a treatise on how to […]

My Morning Jacket are going all out this year for New Years Eve and the two nights prior. The band will be hitting Broomfield, Colorado’s 1STBANK Center on 12/29, 12/30 and 12/31 with a mixed bag of openers each night. The 29th will have Prince’s former backing band The Revolution, the 30th has tUnE-yArDs, and the […]

The Growlers have announced the lineup for their new festival The Growlers 6 taking place at the scenic LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angles October 28-29, 2017. The genre defying event will feature multiple stages throughout the weekend and various attractions. The lineup sports one of the most inventive this side of Desert […]