Chicago – Yo New York, I’ma let you finish but you ain’t got nothing on Chicago when it comes to blizzards! Twenty inches of snow? Check. Below freezing temps? Check. Letting winter disrupt our lives? No dice! Monday night was proof Chicagoans refuse to let frigid temperatures and a little bit of snow stop the
Austin – It was a minor tragedy when, sometime between ’05 and ’08, emo was scorned into early retirement. The label was nebulous in the first place, applied to any rock music with enough juvenile male pathos. On that basis the critics were mostly unfair—exceptions granted only for anyone who questioned the scene’s under-recognized privilege
Los Angeles – On Friday night at The Forum bluesy folk-rock musician George Ezra opened for pop sensation Sam Smith. While both artists are from England (Ezra from Hertford, Smith from London), their musical styles are enormously different. Smith gave an expected larger than life performance to a massive crowd. However, at just the age
Brooklyn – It’s natural to be skeptical by default of ‘90s revival bands. We tend to dismiss new bands that claim Nirvana (for example) as an influence as pandering or dull (I admit this is probably unfair). Too many bands mimic the past without adding their own personality or particular twist on history. Why should
San Francisco – Ty Segall returned to his hometown last week to play a couple of shows at some of the City by the Bay’s most revered venues. His show at the well-known Great American Music Hall was one for the history books, as he played an energetic, illustrious set that matched his very persona:
Chicago – It was a homecoming of sorts for Islander this past Sunday. The South Carolina nu-metal band was in Chicago, home to their label Victory Records. Swarms of label employees came to see the band they’ve been praising as “the next big thing,” in alternative metal anyway. Seeing as the foursome was hand-picked by
Brooklyn – “So many beautiful people here tonight,” Weyes Blood (aka Natalie Mering) observed from the stage during her set on Saturday night. She had the best vantage point to ogle everyone, but it was true from where I stood, too: It seemed like Southside Williamsburg’s handsomest longhaired men and their cute septum-pierced girlfriends had
Nashville – Brooklyn-based super-duo Hank & Cupcakes rocked a blowout performance at the High Watt the other night. Comprised of wife Ariel Scherbacovsky and husband Sagit Shir, The Tel Aviv natives delivered a mind-blowing set packed with pure energy and a hearty serving of the band’s characteristic quirkiness. Their positively unique spin on upbeat electro-pop
Los Angeles – On Friday night the audience at the illustrious Roxy had the utmost pleasure to experience one of the most exhilarating acts of 2015, Night Terrors of 1927. With an abundance of roses on stage as well as two crosses made of flowers, the duo, consisting of guitarist Blake Sennett and vocalist Jarrod
Nashville – Electro-pop duo Generationals answered the call of expectant fans at Cannery Row’s the High Watt—a sister venue to the legendary Mercy Lounge. Best New Bands reviewed Alix, their latest studio album (via Polyvinyl) in September, and the band stopped by Nashville in order to promote this most recent release. Although they remained faithful