If you’re looking for a new album to complement your collection on this Cinco de Mayo, let St. Vincent’s new Actor be just that album. Annie Clark, the driving force behind St. Vincent, has somehow outdone herself on her second LP. She combines her yearning vocals with complex and overwhelming…
Can’t get enough swine flu coverage? Thought maybe reading a music blog would offer you an opportunity to get away from the media blitz surrounding the fervor? Well, such is the nature of the beast that the swine flu has now affected concerts, forcing cancellations all across Mexico and even…
In what has to be the biggest music news since the band formed in 1995, Creed has reunited. All four members are back at it, including lead singer/public drunkard Scott Stapp, since they parted ways in 2004. But wait, the good news doesn’t stop there, Valley rock fans. That’s right,…
The lineup for the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival has been announced and it is teeming with top-notch talent. The Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band round out the top slots of Outside Lands Lollapalooza this year’s edition of the ACL, adding Kings of Leon, Theivery Corporation…
Bob Dylan, ever the people’s musician, has announced he will take on a summer tour of America’s prestigious minor league baseball stadiums to Glendale’s brand new Camelback Ranch Ballpark on August 11. He has also employed the services of über-American musicians John Cougar Mellenamp and Willie Nelson. At this point…
This weekend marks a big occasion for fans of outdoor music festivals and jam-ish bands: the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. The lineup boasts The Flaming Lips, Matisyahu and Michael Franti — a pretty solid lineup for such a festival (and I didn’t even include Hot Tuna). Those artists all lend…
The sound produced by Joy Electric ranges from kitschy 70’s synth beats to video game-worthy blips, complete with a rigid song structure. The production on the band’s albums is extraordinary, marking a high point for experimental electronic music. The vocals on each track are sincere, carrying with them a hint…
The sounds produced by Joy Electric range from kitschy, ’70s-style synth beats to video game-worthy blips — but with rigid song structures. The production on the band’s albums is extraordinary, marking a high point for experimental electronic music. The vocals on each track are sincere, with hints of boyish imagination…
Fresh off a weekend that found Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen and Morrissey all play one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the U.S. — in one day — we find ourselves, as a music-loving society, head over heels for live acts with a touch of gray. It doesn’t help…
After relaying the news of expected Lollapalooza headliners, I am glad to say that the festival announced its official lineup this morning, to much aplomb. The lineup is bolstered by big-name acts Depeche Mode, Tool, the Killers, Jane’s Addition, Beastie Boys, and Kings of Leon. Lollapalooza 2009 will take place…
Believe it or not, record stores still function in this digital day and age. On top of that, this Saturday is Record Store Day, or “Time to Give a Shit About Record Stores.” While record stores are a debatable topic, a day that celebrates music in an orderly fashion is…
Our friends from across the Atlantic have bestowed many a singer/songwriter upon us. There is a staggering number of skinny, charming Brits infiltrating U.S. radio airwaves with their sullen, heartfelt pop music. We usually reserve a soft spot for British singers, but their music is not something we are overly…
It takes balls (not to mention boundless energy) to play a dozen shows in three days at SxSW, but that’s exactly what the Black Lips did two years ago at the annual music showcase. Whether it was the ultimate display of DIY guts and determination or just a carefully crafted…
It is often commonplace for a band to land a big festival gig that brings it to regions previously unknown and gives those fans in such uncharted territories a chance to see the band perform live. Spring is rife with festivals, and New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem have booked themselves…
Our friends from across the Atlantic have bestowed many a singer/songwriter upon us. There is a staggering number of skinny, charming Brits infiltrating U.S. radio airwaves with their sullen, heartfelt pop music. We usually reserve a soft spot for British singers, but their music is not something we are overly…
Music Editor/Ambassador of the Funk Martin Cizmar got things kicking with his Friday picks for this year’s edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, so I figured I should divulge my picks for Sunday’s lineup. My sensibilities are different than most people’s. Last year’s Coachella lineup was my…
Well the long wait is over: those in power at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Goldenvoice) have released the set times for this weekend’s affair. An initial glance at things shows a pretty smooth flow for the weekend, with minimal conflict for fans of the same genres. Picking…
As we all eagerly await the set times to be announced for this weekend’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival announced its initial lineup. The headliners for the second edition of the festival, set to take place August 28-30, are the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam,…
This Saturday marks the 2009 installment of Arizona’s own Horns and Halos’ Zombie Ball. Knowing what Horns and Halos is capable of, this Saturday will be an epic event, sure to bring out the most devoted zombie fans and other fans of fetish/adult oriented entertainment. It’s remarkable to try and…
Conor Oberst is a man known to take on any and all musical ventures, starting when the 13-year-old Omaha singer-songwriter self-released an album, Water, recorded on his father’s four-track. Most know Oberst as lead man in Bright Eyes, his most popular project, which cemented its spot in the indie consciousness…
Armed with subtle yet snarky British vocals and a staggering amount of originality, Britain’s Mica Levi has assembled an album that stands as one of 2009’s best so far. I know I have already deemed Reintegration Time by Edmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out as my favorite of 2009 (and…
It makes sense these days for some older acts to get out on tour and start playing some shows. Just looking at this past weekend in the Valley, we saw Springsteen, Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen all unravel some shows well in the twilight of their respective careers. Paul Frederic…
