Los Angeles – Despite being released on riff-worshiping Exploding in Sound and kicking off with a Nevermind-worthy opening riff, the latest release from Los Angeles’s-by-way-of-Boston band Dirty Dishes is not just 40+ minutes of sheer aggression. Instead, Dirty Dishes follow in the footsteps of a variety of influences throughout Guilty. Of course, like a great
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
London – With a band name inspired by writer Daphne du Maurier’s affair with actress Gertrude Lawrence, British female duo Eyes For Gertrude bring with it the promise that all might not be quite what it seems. Band mates Hannah Dean and Chantelle Pike appear respectively as ambivalent bride and groom on the cover of
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
Chicago – What is it about Iceland? With a total population of only 300,000+, the Nordic island cranks out über talented musicians left and right, from Björk to Sigur Rós and now Asgeir. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter, born Ásgeir Trausti Einarsson, effortlessly creates stunning, melodic folk. After releasing his premiere LP Dýrð í dauðaþögn in 2012,
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
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:
Nashville – New York-based artist Sarah Lipstate, who records her instrumental arrangements under the title Noveller, has completed yet another impressive array of her characteristic eerie compositions. Fantastic Planet (via Fire Records) follows 2011’s Glacial Glow, which garnered a slew of favorable reviews. Nearly four years later, Lipstate has managed to maintain that same deft