On Wednesday night June 13th I had the privilege of seeing Jonathan Richman for the first time in seven years and for the third time ever. Jonathan Richman is difficult to explain as he’s quite unique. I describe him as sort of a folky punk with a quirky sense of humor. This concert, was just …
Seattle-based songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist Rawb Middleton is back and has released two excellent EPs in the last year: Cracker From the Black Lagoon and The Cure for Tired Blood. I have always said that Rawb–he went by “Rob” back in the day and has updated his nom de guerre to distinguish himself from other …
Georgetown Orbits and the Skablins Celebrate A New Orbits CD With A Fun Night of Ska, by Holly Homan
Georgetown Orbits On Saturday May 12 I headed to Seattle’s south end to an intimate club called the Royal Room. Here Seattle’s ska masters The Georgetown Orbits were performing to promote their brand new CD, Solar Flares. I have been a fan of the Orbits since I first saw them open for the Slackers back …
Don’t care if you love this or hate this, it is amazing. The more you watch it… absolute genius. It’s f’ing brilliant. – Harper Hull
Rock ‘n’ roll has lost touch with the black voices that birthed the genre. Rock Artist Pete Wilde just debuted his single “Lucy” with a mission to make Rock & Roll black again. Lucy by Pete Wilde on VEVO. Is Pete Wilde the savior of rock ’n’ roll? Only time will tell. But he is …
Pacific NW! On May 14, 15 and 16 the motherf___ing Afghan Whigs are in your general vicinity. Dates here – looks like the first Seattle show is sold out but Portland tickets are still available as is the last night of the whole tour on the 2nd night in Seattle – do not miss this …
PSA, aka Archie Chandler, brings the heat with the release of “Ghost.” From start to finish this track radiates confidence and sass, aided by uncontainable horns and bass and the wisely brash delivery of lyrics. “Ghost” provides a blueprint for leaving behind an undeserving lover with no room for negative emotions. This (heads up, explicit) …
Lit AF in the Atlanta underground scene, Funk Manchu is now given the spotlight to showcase his affinity for seamless productions that combine a number of genres from tech-house to bass music. Titled ‘Bounce That B / Waif Boy,’ Manchu’s club bound double header delivers a heaping dose of creative synth licks, pulsating hi-hat, and …
I love this tune. Dig the guitar leads on the back end. Tents, a Portland band, claim to have shot this video in three days in their own backyard. I don’t know where the yard is, but by looking at the flat ground and the style of houses, my best guess is that this took …
Saturday night April 14 was the night of the 2018 Psychobilly Brawl. I’ve attended the Psychobilly Brawl many times but I think this one was the best attended in a long time. Psychobilly is not dead in Seattle. This event was headlined by Detroit’s Koffin Kats, but any of the eight bands who played could …
I saw Stuart Adamson and Big Country perform once, at Sacramento’s now-extinct Cattle Club. November 16, 1993, during their “Buffalo Skinners” tour. The Cattle Club wasn’t a huge venue, somewhere between Seattle’s Tractor Tavern and Showbox Theater in size. I was right up front in this packed room, and holey moley, ten years after their …
Because Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder used to be in the same band, when nobody outside the LA folk scene knew their name. Talent wise, that’s Lennon & McCartney, Tosh and Marley, Captain & Tennille, Elton & John. Taj Mahal is my favorite artist of all time. When Jessica Stenson told Taj I read his biography, Taj …
WELCOME TO MY LIBRARY: It’s time to go back and finish this book on The Staple Singers. This group was such a big influence on what I did with The Staquelettes, which Tracy Ferrara is translating into horn arrangements. The fact that so many everyday people aren’t really that aware nor all that hip to …
I always forget about Rufus Thomas. But he and his daughter were the one two punch that put Stax / Volt on the map. Rufus was one in one billion. He pulled off something few corny old Dad’s have ever done. He stayed stayed FRESH dressing like this. Super Fresh. He gave James Brown a …
Sandmoon is an indie-pop formation originating from Beirut, Lebanon which was initiated by singer/songwriter Sandra Arslanian. Their new mini-EP, Beirut-Berlin Session was released on March 8. “Shiny Star” is the first single from that release. Loaded with Levantine mystery and promise, Teutonic discipline, tantalizing vocals, brash guitar and the devil’s own chamber orchestra, “Shiny Star” …
Using original material, along with four tracks drawing from the folk and old time traditions, Lindberg and Zasloff ingeniously create a beautiful arc throughout Beneath The Open Sky which defines their own genre and world as they see it. Their message is clear from the album’s opening track and rousing call for universal equality “Bound …
Only day 2 here in Vietnam and we are already completely blown away by the amount of hospitality we’ve received! The local Hip Hop community is unbelievably talented and welcomed us right in with open arms. So much love here it’s crazy!! Big shout out to Francois Babelaere for linking us up with Cipherz Coffee Shop, Thái Bình Dương and …
Rozie is the hardest working singer/songwriter in Vancouver, BC (not Vancouver, Washington). She’s been working on this song for a long time and she has just decided that she’s ready to release it. “I really wanted my music to portray this sort of vibe that I constantly dream of,” says Rozie, “That vibe being soulful, …
So I am obsessing over Chicago, I will admit. This all started when I noticed that much of the XTC catalogue had been upgraded and issued in terrific blueray/CD editions. I got a few, and they do sound fantastic. Much of the praise centered on one Steve Wilson, who remixed and remastered the albums and …
Friday night March 23, I helped pack Seattle’s El Corazon club to see a double punk bill with the Dickies and the Queers. This is the second time I have seen these two punk bands headline a show together and I hope to see them do so again. The Dickies came on stage just as …
Last night, March 21, I ventured out to Chop Suey to see the female dominated SO Cal group the Regrettes. This power punk quartet oozes charm and sex appeal as well as outstanding showmanship. Front woman Lydia Knight knew just how to work her audience. Her platinum hair was in French braids and she wore …
Tuesday night March 20, I ventured out to the Funhouse to see a ska band calling themselves the Opskamatrists. With a name like that, I knew I had to check them out. I wasn’t disappointed either. This five-piece from Idaho Falls was non-stop fun. Though they hail from Idaho Falls, for some reason their front …
This is how stupid people are when they debate the complexities of music appropriation. People are questioning Bruno Mars for cultural appropriation based on race, when he is half Puerto Rican and was trained to destroy pop music with real instruments by his Puerto Rican father. I would love for one basic ass bitch of …
I’ve been eager for a classical work to come in over the indie music wire. Now one has, and “The Book of Arius – Act I” is a great one. I love it. TC Crosser has serious compositional skills and extraordinary self confidence to send his work out this way. Please give it a listen. …
When Ryan Cory and I work together it has always been FIRE. But now we have a project that is going to reach millions of people guaranteed. Anthony Red Rose is just going to press the button. But he needs the goods. The way I put today to Ryan at The Cloud Room today was this, as the first beautiful …
On March 6, 2018, Chicago’s fabled classic rock station, WLUP (97.9), announced it was being acquired by Educational Media Foundation (EMF). Since 2014 “The Loop” has been operated under a local agreement with Cumulus Media. However, as part of a bankruptcy filing last month, Cumulus withdrew plans to buy the station, and so the search …
This was last night’s last skit. I hope everyone caught it. I was amazed that with a simple, off-center concept they were able to get such a hearty laugh out of me, and I don’t laugh at much anymore. This tickles my weakness for the absurd while awakening nostalgia for good times and loud, dated …
I have found myself once again coming to understand what really happened in Jamaica, in this case, Port Antonio. Ignorance is a kind of reverse (but reversable) amnesia. I am realizing the significance of how I fell right into the heart of the Mento scene and met the ghost Errol Flynn. Well not really. But really. …
BJ DjSticky AKA Bluejay Hankins has been trying to get a new press release out of me for weeks. We polished one before I left for Jamaica but it was missing something. He needs a KILLER press release to the reach the estimated 1000 DJs that matter in the global Roots Reggae & Dancehall universe that …
On March 7 I had the esteemed privilege of seeing They Might Be Giants. It has been many years since I last saw them and only my third time seeing them. The first time was in 1988 and was one of the most entertaining shows I ever had the pleasure of attending. They did not …