Oakland – This past Monday, ambitious garage rocker John Barrett’s project Bass Drum of Death played a raucous set at the stylishly small Club Leo’s in Oakland. Bass Drum of Death’s set was preluded by sets by local bands War Cloud and Pookie & the Poodlez, but the stars of the show were definitely the
Brooklyn – I’ve known Lucas Nathan, the human body inhabited by the spiritual entity called Jerry Paper, since he was making sci-fi-influenced instrumental ambient music under his birth name. He’s come a very long way since then, evolving into an alternate universe Tom Jones, a sweaty lounge act in the outer space equivalent of Las
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
New York – Quarterbacks are based in New Paltz, New York, a cute little college town an hour and a half north of New York City. It’s even smaller than comparable college towns with lively music scenes like Olympia, Washington or Northampton, Massachusetts, but has still managed to support two independent record stores for more
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
New York – In support of his full-length debut album Chaos And The Calm [Republic Records] out March 24 (pre-order here), James Bay will embark on a North American headline tour this spring. The tour starts April 27 at Mod Club in Toronto, ON Canada, plays major markets across the country, and concludes May 14 at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. (Ed. Read
Nashville – With their latest self-titled release (via Burger Records), Cotillon once again shines with an ethereal follow up to their breezy 2013 White Roses EP. Led by the visionary singer-songwriter Jordan Corso, and known for their warm, floral sound that evokes the glory days of California surf pop, it seems that the band is
Chicago – Live albums can often be hit or miss. The ones that make the mark transport you to the venue, bringing a concert to life. Ty Segall Band’s Live In San Francisco (Castle Face Records) does just that, but with an extra dose of who gives a f**k and a side of brilliance! The