Al Schnier Reflects on 35 years of moe., New LP ‘Circle of Giants,’ Next Generation of Jam Bands, Touring Challenges & More (INTERVIEW)
When I speak with Al Schnier, he is on his way (to quote one of his band moe.’s most famous tunes) down to Mexico to join jam band peers The String Cheese Incident along with a slew of others for a few days of musical revelry on the beach. The shows will be among the […]
45 Years Ago Today – AC/DC Performs Last Show With Bon Scott
Manic Monday: Swans Were Truly Heavy Ahead Of Its Time – “A Screw” Live 1986
Pop quiz: who was the heaviest band of the 80s? If you’re tempted to respond to that question with some of the usual suspects from heavy metal or hardcore punk, please try again. In this writer’s (not particularly humble) opinion, the correct answer is Swans. Granted, music is often a highly subjective experience, and “heavy” […]
55 Years Later: Van Morrison Drops Jazz-Pop Triumph With ‘Moondance’ (RECAP)
Described as a classic by the artist, Van Morrison’s Moondance (released 1/27/70) is a sublime pleasure to rediscover, whether in its original 1970 form or the 2013 expanded edition. The relative simplicity of the material and arrangements thereof may very well generate multiple epiphanies from either source. Not the least of such revelations is how generally different is […]
Bright Eyes Provide Minimum Nostalgia With Rollicking Folk-Rock Performance at Portland, OR’s Crystal Ballroom (SHOW REVIEW)
In our current moment of marketable nostalgia and an almost relentless amount of tours with bands using the anniversary of a landmark album to drive ticket sales, one could easily assume that the band who released at least one of the most celebrated albums of the early aughts would do just that. This was certainly […]
55 Years Later: Chicago Mixes Jazz Rock With Diverse Arragements On Robust ‘Chicago II’
Having formally adopted Chicago as its band moniker with its sophomore album, Chicago Transit Authority also solidified the commercial breakthrough based on its debut. Unfortunately, the supervision of the project by manager/producer James William Guercio also nurtured the group’s pretensions. As a result, with the hindsight of five and a half decades, Chicago II (released 1/26/70) stands […]
The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn Anounces New Solo Album ‘Always Been’
Craig Finn has announced the release of his eagerly awaited new album, Always Been, arriving via Tamarac Recordings/Thirty Tigers on Friday, April 4. Pre-orders and pre-saves are available now. Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winner Adam Granduciel (The War On Drugs) at his studio in Burbank, CA and mixed by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Jonathan Low (Taylor […]
25 Years Later – Warren Zevon Said It All Too Perfectly On ‘Life’ll Kill Ya’
On the cover of Life’ll Kill Ya (released 1/25/00), a hirsute Warren Zevon flashes a wry grin fully in keeping with the wicked glint in his eyes. The facial expressions, however, belie the implicit confrontation of mortality that runs through this, his tenth studio album, and its immediate successors, My Ride’s Here and The Wind. As the songs often […]
LISTEN: Cat Ridgeway Releases Explosive Indie Rock Anthem With Enticing Songwriting On “Sprinter”
You can’t help but be excited when talking about Orlando singer/songwriter Cat Ridgeway. Her infectious energy and contagious enthusiasm for everything she creates are electric. Her passion and commitment to her music radiate through her fiery blend of indie rock and punk with hints of dream pop and folk. A skilled lyricist and melodist, Ridgeway […]
LISTEN: Rita Satch’s “Joyride” Is Jazzy Funk Bliss With Stunning Vocals and Deep Grooves
Rita Satch is a vocalist and songwriter whose music fuses soul, jazz, and cinematic orchestration into genre-defying soundscapes. Born in Uzbekistan and raised in Melbourne/Naarm, she has performed at Glastonbury and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Satch has collaborated with luminaries like Gary Bartz and Barny McAAll. Her debut album is set to be released in 2025 […]