Archive: 2025

The smiling visage of the late Richard Manuel that adorns the dust cover of Stephen T. Lewis’ biography belies the sorrowful tragedy of the musician’s life. And intentionally or not, the author’s narrative follows the ups and downs of the man’s troubled existence.  As a result, the clear-eyed insights Lewis offers are worth the effort […]

Onstage, a giant snake hovers over a drum with the words “FUCK ICE” plastered on it with washi tape. Distorted tinfoil trees sway with trunks like giant fingers. It isn’t an acid trip- it’s Briston Maroney.  On June 14th, artist Briston Maroney and his band took over Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, accompanied by the […]

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country is set to release their highly-anticipated third LP, Horizons, on August 22nd (Retrace Music). Led by acclaimed singer/songwriter and guitar virtuoso Daniel Donato, Horizons finds the group injecting a bolt of lightning into a wealth of American music with their signature brand of cosmic country and fearless musical explorations. The album is steeped in […]

Cass McCombs has announced his new album, Interior Live Oak, out August 15th via Domino, and releases a new single/video, “Peace.” Interior Live Oak is Cass’s most personal album to date, and, more than any previous record, shows Cass’ vast range as a lyricist and musician. It draws from everything Cass has created over two decades of experimentation to cut through with a […]

Gov’t Mule has announced the Back In The Saddle Tour. The late summer and fall dates – the band’s first big tour run since February 2024 – will make its way throughout the East Coast and Midwest from August 27th through October 28th. The renowned quartet will stop in 18 cities, including Milwaukee, Columbus, Buffalo (featuring Big Sugar opening), Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, […]

Colorado-based Alt-Country and Rock band The Gasoline Lollipops released their new album, Kill The Architect, on June 13th. It was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, recorded at Dockside Studios in Louisiana, and made possible by a massively successful Kickstarter campaign. If all these things sound very positive, you’re right, and add to that the fact […]

The Western Kentucky singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman may be the best writer of Southern Gothic songs since Lucinda Williams first brought her genius to the forefront in the ‘90s. Goodman’s distinctive Kentucky drawl also gives us one of those singular voices. Few write and sing with the combination of vivid detail, empathy, and relativity. Planting By Signs is Goodman’s […]

Welcome back, James McMurtry. It’s been four years since 2021’s The Horses and The Hounds.  We’ve missed his wit, political insights, and unparalleled storytelling. These new songs on The Black Dog and The Wandering Boy are memories from his family’s past, an old poem by a family friend, confronting old age, outlaw sagas, and both blatant […]

Reflecting on Brian Wilson’s life, especially in light of his recent passing, brings into sharp focus the complex genius behind so much timeless music. He was a brilliant innovator whose gift was sometimes eclipsed by profound struggles with mental health. On this Manic Monday, it’s fitting to revisit one of the most revealing interviews from […]

It’s been said for decades that the internet has turned the world into a global village where people can connect with other people and businesses no matter where they are. But even with this, some of us still make the mistake of only engaging with entities that are in our immediate environment. This means shopping […]

Gaming technology has undergone a remarkable transformation in 2025, pushing boundaries we once thought impossible. From next-generation hardware to AI-powered experiences, the gaming landscape has evolved dramatically. Let’s explore the cutting-edge technologies reshaping how we play and experience games this year. Next-Gen Hardware: The New Standard Console gaming has reached unprecedented heights with Sony and […]

With Early Waves, Chicago drummer and composer Peter Manheim emerges not just as a sideman with range, but as a sonic architect capable of designing entire musical ecosystems. A follow-up to 2023’s In Time EP, this debut full-length expands his vision into something vast yet intimate, drawing from his roots in jazz and global percussion […]

The heat of Summer is crashing through our windows with the fury of an intruder, and the humidity of a bustling kitchen. The sun beats down strongly on this New Music Friday, and what a cacophony of fresh releases we have for you this week. Think of this Caustic as a bouquet of roses. When […]

The new documentary Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible is a thoughtful, kinetic chronicle of a band that’s often been simplified to stadium anthems and one massive John Hughes sync. But under Joss Crowley’s direction, the film resists nostalgia baiting in favor of something more expansive, resulting in a layered portrait of restless ambition, reinvention, and […]

Twenty-five years since the live collaboration that shook Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre to its foundations, a brand-new short film brings together Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes to revisit the making of their iconic live album, Live At The Greek, on its 25th anniversary. Titled The Making of Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes Live At The […]

For their newest release Bo Dollis Jr. & The Wild Magnolias went upriver to inject some Memphis blues and soul into their New Orleans second line sound. Chip Off The Old Block finds Bo Dollis Jr. The Wild Magnolias continue cultural traditions passed down from Bo’s father, while also expanding in exciting ways.     The group […]

Connie Roses is an artist largely inspired by Taoist spiritualism and hypnotic abstract raps from the likes of Billy Woods, Earl Sweatshirt, and Open Mike Eagle. The goal of his music is simple: be as honest as possible and put as much emotion and genuine feeling into it as you can. From this method and […]

Fieldress refuses to be boxed in. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes psychedelic indie pop—sometimes jazz? The Oakland-based project shapeshifts between genres, crafting dynamic, melancholic songs woven with haunting harmonies. Founded in 2018 by Sasha Reynolds and Zach Farhney, Fieldress began as a two-piece band, with both musicians intertwining delicate yet expressive guitar lines to create rich, textured […]