Built to SpillThere Is No EnemyWarner Brothers By Al Kaufman The good news is that Built to Spill, the godfathers of the indie rock scene, are back in fighting form after a few meandering missteps. The bad news is that few seem to care. It's been about 10 years since Built to Spill put out […]
Erin McKeownHundreds of LionsRighteous Babe By Al Kaufman "You can't deny me my kingdom" asserts Erin McKeown on "You, Sailor," a hushed ballad that recalls early Suzanne Vega. And while the song deals in more of a maritime theme, one can't help think that the line serves as a metaphor for McKeown's musical career; as […]
By Al Kaufman; photo by Greg Gold Sharon Robinson is best known as a collaborator with Canadian poet, folk singer, and cultural icon, Leonard Cohen. She has co-written some of his most popular songs, including "Everybody Knows" and "Waiting for a Miracle," and produced and co-written all of the songs on his 2001 album, Ten […]
We're very sad to have to announce, as many of you have already heard, that Y-O-U's show at Smith's Olde Bar this Saturday will be their last. Here's a message from the band: We have decided to retire Y O U as a performing and recording group. It has been our focus since we moved […]
There’s an episode in season three of the legendary 1980’s TV show Cheers called “The Executive’s Executioner” in which the character Norm gets a new position at his accounting firm that entails him being the person who does all the firing. During his first few attempts at firing the people to whom he was assigned, you […]
Popster Jessie James has canceled her entire tour. That includes her Atlanta show at The Loft on October 27. Tickets will be refunded in the next 24 hours, or take your tickets back to point of purchase if you got them from an outlet.
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown Merge By Scott Roberts Don’t let the urgency of “Sharing,” the opening cut on Lou Barlow’s new solo CD Goodnight Unknown, fool you. This track’s incessant beat, provided by The Melvins’ drummer Dale Crover, and Barlow’s washed-out and tension-filled vocals may lead you to believe that you, my naïve listener, are […]
The Inner Banks Songs from the Disko Bay DAG! Records By Beverly Bryan Pretty but warped in places like a tape left outside on a hot day, The Inner Banks’ second album Songs from the Disko Bay takes indie music back to some of its most beautiful and thoughtful moments from around the turn of […]
Joe Stickley's Blue PrintSmoke Leaves TownPeola Records By Al Kaufman Joe Stickley examines this American life as only a Midwesterner can. Backed by a group that can hold together a rag-tag melody like great Americana bands such as Wilco and The Gourds can, Stickley examines love, loss, and life in subtle, graceful ways.
Heather Greene Sweet OtherwisePaved Earth Music By Al Kaufman Alcohol and music have successfully co-mingled since the invention of both but never in a way as they do with Heather Greene. The fledgling singer/songwriter decided to move to Scotland to work on her music and explore her heritage. What she found was whisky. She discovered […]
HockeyMind ChaosCapitol By Eileen Tilson Attention Attention, all ye New Wave kids! There is a new band in town that will seriously start making dance night at MJQ intensely aerobic. Hockey, the four piece hailing from a basement in Portland, Ore., are only interested in making music that will help you channel your inner Reverend […]
The Kentucky HeadhuntersLive/Agora Ballroom — Cleveland, Ohio — May 13, 1990Mercury By Al Kaufman With all these terms out, such as "outlaw country," "renegade country," or the tamer "Americana," to describe country artists too original to be played on the ultra conservative (in format as well as politics) country radio stations, it's easy to forget […]
By Eileen Tilson If you haven’t heard of Alberta Cross yet, you will. Having recently played with Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and John Paul Jones) at Austin City Limits, the band is just at the start of their tour in support of their debut album, Broken Side of Time (which we reviewed […]
By Scott Roberts It’s not that often that you can truthfully tout a concert as a “Rare Event,” but tomorrow night’s performance by Jon Auer and Matt Brown at Eddie’s Attic actually deserves to be called just that. As half of the singing/songwriting members (along with Ken Stringfellow) of Seattle’s preeminent popsters The Posies, Auer […]
Jer CoonsSpeak By Al Kaufman Jer Coons missed his chance at becoming a national star when he slept through his audition for American Idol. But who knows how far he would have gone? After all, people with actual talent and songwriting skills don't generally win on that show. Jer Coons, at the tender age of […]
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