Oakland – “I want to be a pop idol.” That is Oscar Wilde’s first and only line in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine, director Todd Haynes’ love letter to the glam rock phenomenon that took London by storm, during the 1970s. In the film, Wilde is found on a doorstep, affixed with a precious jewel that is meant
Chicago – Last Friday night, Austin guitar wizard Gary Clark Jr. performed a sold-out show in Chicago, at the Riviera Theatre, in support of his second studio LP, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. I’ve been stumped as to what to say about this show. The show was brilliant. Stunning. Breathtaking. Phenomenal. Extraordinary. But there are
San Francisco – Usually, crowded shows are not my cup of tea. As someone who likes to hang in the back of the venue, a sold out show does not offer the same sort of space than that of a less populated one, even when hugging the wall along the side or leaning against a pillar towards
Los Angeles - After original lead singer Daniel Blumberg left Yuck in 2013, many speculated that his departure would cause the band to fold. Instead, the remaining members trudged on to release Glow & Behold in 2013. While it was not poorly received, critics found the energy from the band’s self-titled debut did not carry over with the loss
San Fransisco – “Life is beautiful.” This is a sentiment that floods the minds and hearts of bright-eyed optimists all over the world. Everything is relative, obviously, so there isn’t really any objective way to assess the quality of consciousness and existence. There are many who would probably argue that life is, in fact, far from beautiful: the
Los Angeles – Much like the very “search engine unfriendly” name would suggest, Quilt crafts a warm, comforting tapestry of music. Pulling influence from psychedelic rock, krautrock, dream pop, and typical guitar-driven indie rock, the group’s songs sprawl out in all directions, creating a blanket of sound. Despite the fact that Quilt is just now making major
London – Four-piece alternative rock band Race the Flux, from Galway in the Republic of Ireland, first came to the attention of Best New Bands when the band’s entry to the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition found its way onto your judge’s spreadsheet. The band was duly selected as one of three acts to go forward to the next stage.
Los Angeles – In the vast range of artists’ popularity (your local garage band being the low point and U2 being the high point), there is a sweet spot right in the middle that bands like The Rubens occupy. These groups are popular enough to bring a dedicated following to every show, giving each performance an exhilarating feeling
Chicago – Last Thursday, fans began lining up outside the Vic Theatre, in the Lakeview neighborhood, starting at six in the morning, to see rising pop star Melanie Martinez. By six that evening, the line stretched far down Sheffield Avenue, filled with kids, teenagers, and twenty-somethings, most of whom were dressed to the nines. Pigtails were
Austin – The number of Austin-area music fanatics multiplied this week as SXSW 2016 kicked into high gear. Thrill-seeking audiophiles paraded through the city and bounced between venues to search for the sounds they craved. City streets were blocked off, the lines grew longer by the minute, and coffee was the only thing keeping people