Archive: 2024

Just as he did for his widely acclaimed Blood Brothers with Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito convened with guitar greats Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith for this solo effort, Life Is Hard. To say that this was a cathartic release for Zito would be a vast understatement given that he recorded the album just months after […]

Las Vegas has hosted some of the most iconic rock’n’roll acts through its storied history of concert residencies. These residencies have enriched the city’s vibrant nightlife and allowed fans to experience their favorite bands in a more intimate setting. Las Vegas has seen everything from legendary groups that defined generations to modern rockers who continue […]

For the better part of 25 years, Marco Benevento has been honing his keyboard and producing skills and his penchant for joyful, energetic performances. This live music magic was on full display on Sunday, February 18th when Benevento took the stage at Portland, Oregon’s The Get Down as part of the city’s Biamp Jazz Festival. […]

Summer takes on a whole new meaning when you enter adulthood. While it does feel nice to walk out into the warm sun after a long day at work, the longer days seem to fly by just as fast as the shorter, colder ones. As a kid, summer meant freedom, a lack of responsibilities, and […]

Riot Fest has just unveiled its first headliner for their 2024 flagship festival – a Midwest exclusive performance by metal stalwarts, Slayer. While many more bands are still to be announced for the 3-day event slated for September 20-22, this reunion is sure to excite both longtime fans who will get the chance to revel […]

Diversity is one of the most important tools in an artist’s arsenal. A musician’s ability to morph into something out of their comfort zone is key to displaying the wide range of emotions art can portray. Some artists force it but when it comes naturally, it is one of the most mesmerizing listening experiences you’ll […]

Imagine in front of you is a massive encyclopedia that documents every major era of modern music. Now flip that book open and point your finger to a random decade, whether it is the reggae that influenced modern U.K. music or the sentimental soul of early Motown, Bailey tapped into it on his new album. […]

Handsome Jack, the gritty rock trio hailing from Lockport, NY, will be releasing their latest studio album, A Good Thing, on March 1st (PRE-ORDER). These 11 tracks embody the band’s evolution over the last 10 years and showcases their distinctive blend of swampy blues, boogie-infused rock, and deep soul, evoking the golden age of rock-n-roll […]

Boone Johnson and Michael Swanson met while doing trail work in Eugene, Oregon. The two quickly bonded over music, realizing they were both guitarists, and proceeded to write their first song together shortly after. The song was called “Moon and Bike” – a play on both of their names. Twenty-five years and a variety of […]

Possibly the most outright bizarre film of the 1970s (or any era, for that matter) Fantastic Planet has consistently been blowing people’s minds since it was released way back in 1973.  Essentially one long, strange, bad trip about humans (aka Oms) being pets to a giant/superior blue alien species (aka The Traag…who are kind of […]

East Nashville-based singer-songwriter Amelia White has now released three noteworthy albums in the past five years yet only two, including presumably this one, Love I Swore, get much attention.  Yet, while her ‘pandemic’ album, 2022’s Rocket Rearview is the unheralded one, this recent effort is arguably the outlier. That’s because Dave Coleman produced Rocket Rearview […]

British Columbia-based singer/songwriter Zada was born in Ethiopia and spent many of her formative years in the mountains of Canada where she became a proficient skier and horseback rider. She calls herself a “mountain girl” for that reason and brings a lot of her love for the natural world into her work, particularly through her […]

Smack Up by the Art Pepper Quintet is a timeless jazz album that showcases the extraordinary talent and emotional depth of saxophonist Art Pepper. Released in 1960, the album is a masterclass in post-bop jazz, featuring Pepper’s exceptional alto saxophone skills alongside a stellar ensemble. Pepper is joined by an outstanding lineup, including the brilliant […]

Canada’s favorite cowboy, Corb Lund, is back with his first album of all original music in almost five years. El Viejo is a stunning character study of gamblers and loners moving from card game to card game, perfectly bridging modern Americana with the likes of Jerry Reed, Del McCoury and Marty Robbins with a Springsteen-like […]

Crafting the sonic equivalent of a rolling storm cloud, Ol’ Burger Beats combines dusty nostalgia with modern tones via an amalgamation of influences and experiences. “Black Sabbath” features a subtle piano melody that adds vivid movement to the melancholy mood of this single, with two of the best emcees working today billy woods and Tha God Fahim laying down poetic narratives via […]

In the year since their last release, 2022’s MAD, Shady Oaks has had the chance to calm down a little, to process the angst and anger that permeated that EP, and focus on looking inward. Shady Oaks’ “Best Thing” has a runtime of 3:28 and you will be dancing for even longer after the groovy twang […]

For her first solo album in almost 15 years, Mary Timoney worked through the pain of losing both parents and the ending of a long-term relationship, conjuring a mix of freak folk, art rock, and a touch of pop on the excellently mysterious Untame The Tiger.  Timoney’s successful outings with Ex Hex and Wild Flag […]

Goldenvoice has announced a new one-day festival celebrating veteran punk bands tilted NO VALUES taking place on Saturday, June 8th at the Pomona Fairplex. For one day only, many of the greatest punk bands of all time will perform in one place, on four stages. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 23 at 11AM […]

About 20 minutes after the opening notes of Everyone Orchestra’s Saturday, February 17th performance at Portland, Oregon’s Alberta Rose Theater, conductor Matt Butler took a moment to address the crowd. He said that backstage before the show, he told the assembled group of musicians that the first set of the night would be a mellow, […]