Archive: 2018

Blood Harmony. Whether it’s The Beach Boys, Bee Gees or First Aid Kit, that sibling vocal blend is the secret sauce in some of the most spine-tingling moments in popular music. The Cactus Blossoms – Minneapolis-based brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey – offer compelling evidence that this tradition is alive and well, with a […]

On December 1st and 2nd, the doors of Portland, Oregon’s Revolution Hall became the mouth of the rabbit hole through which one entered the aural world of Chris Robinson Brotherhood. For two nights, Chris Robinson (lead vocals, guitar), Neal Casal (guitar), Adam MacDougall (keys), Jeff Hill (bass) and Tony Leone (drums) took fans on exploratory […]

King Crimson who going big on their 50th anniversary (with Robert Fripp as the only original member) for a 2019 tour that includes three just-announced US dates: LA’s Greek Theatre on 9/3, Chicago’s Roosevelt University on 9/10, and NYC’s Radio City Music Hall on 9/21. The regular public on-sale for NYC starts Friday, December 14 at 10 AM. General ticket info appears […]

Thom Yorke nor Radiohead had visited Minnesota in 21 years – quite a wait considering the North Star state has plenty of fans of that band from Oxford. Yorke didn’t disappoint as his show on December 6th at Northrop Auditorium which featured longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich as his only bandmate as they covered the […]

One of the true standout records of the year, Soccer Mommy’s Clean is angst at its refined best. Polished, airtight melodies and Sophie Allison’s delicate coo make for an obsession-worthy collection of songs that will no doubt land on many a best-of list by the end of this year. Performing two nights in a row […]

British rockers The Struts, led by the glam theatrics of frontman Luke Spiller, brought their powerful live show to Bogarts in Cincinnati on 12/5/18. Photos by Tara Pitts

“Metallica family is alive and welcome to everyone,” growled James Hetfield to thousands of fans old and young. This fact alone is fairly remarkable considering that the thrash metal legends have spent 37 years playing music that is heavy, fast and intense. Yet besides some greying hair, Metallica were sharp and agile when they came […]

[rating=8.00] Van Morrison’s been unusually prolific the past couple years, alternating album releases between the Sony Legacy and Caroline International labels (the latter the source of his latest). But The Belfast Cowboy was getting dangerously close to pure formula until he collaborated with Joey DeFrancesco and his band on You’re Driving Me Crazy, released earlier […]

Comprised of excerpts from 1987 concerts at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles and the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band’s  Almost Acoustic deserves its newly-ready availability, whether on compact disc (identical to the previously-released item, right down to the packaging with its scholarly, informative insert) or the colored vinyl version […]

[rating=8.00] The name Gil Evans recalls, among other things, those classic collaborations with Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Miles Ahead, Sketches of Spain, Porgy and Bess and Quiet Nights, not to mention the fine work he did leading his own projects. In his time, pianist Gil Evans was considered THE big band arranger and […]

Following three European tours, four full-length albums, and a tour schedule packed with more festivals and venues than ever before, Alabama-born and Nashville-bred band The Vegabonds are forging into their second decade spreading the gospel alternative Southern rock. The quintet joins LA-based Blue Elan Records with the first album deal of their career. The new […]

DelFest, a production of McCoury Music and High Sierra Music, is pleased to announce the initial lineup for the 12th annual festival which takes place Memorial Day weekend (May 23-26) in Cumberland, MD. Previously announced The String Cheese Incident will be joined by The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, Trampled by Turtles, Railroad Earth, […]

The ’60s may have been a time when girls searched for clues in his kiss and pondered whether sweet-talkin’ guys would still love them tomorrow, but it was also the decade when they started questioning the status quo; by the time the ’70s dawned, they knew what they wanted: r-e-s-p-e-c-t, in the house, the House […]

[rating=8.00] The Ric and Ron record labels are as indigenous and vital to the music of New Orleans as Stax is to Memphis. It’s where Irma Thomas and Johnny Adams debuted, not to mention their many singles from such Crescent City stars as Eddie Bo, Professor Longhair and others. Craft Recordings, who brought us that […]

[rating=8.00] Multi-Grammy winner Eddie Palmieri is releasing his second salsa album of the year, Mi Luz Mayor. Special guests include salsa iconic vocalists  Gilberto Santa Rosa and Herman Olivera as well as guitarist Carlos Santana. The latter plays on only one track, “Mi Congo.” Including Palmieri and guests, there are 32 musicians credited on the […]

In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle offers his illustrated commentary on Master Volume, the new album from Canadian rockers Dirty Nil, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):

Luke Sital-Singh released his debut single ‘Fail For You’ in 2012, introducing the world his deft ability to craft songs with a mesmerizing, piercing emotional quality. The song went on to be featured in numerous TV shows including ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. At the end of 2013, Sital-Singh was featured in the BBC’s Sound of 2014 list […]