The Foxfires are a four-piece band of immensely handsome and mischievous gents from New York. They describe their sound as Seagaze, a neologism they coined to explain their upbeat combination of indie rock, pop, shoegaze, folk, and surf rock. The mix forms a fresh, wind-driven soundscape you’d want to hear on summer beaches or while …
Heather O’Neill is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Her first showbiz job was passing out flyers for an English band in Liverpool when she was 16. “I’ve had my share of interesting day jobs,” she says. “A barista in New York City, an extra in L.A., a record store employee in Chicago. Remember those?” Lately …
This is a powerful tune. Tia P. is Lit AF. She is Woke AF. She’s not kidding around AF, and neither am I. Give this song a listen. With clarity and resolve, the message is clear, “Revolution” is for the NOW, where matters such as race inequality, police brutality, sexual abuse against women and children …
Drones of Jamaica: This is my first music video with drones. We actually had to move down the road from our ideal location because the drone’s wifi was disabled being closer to an airport than we realized. Mario, pictured on the left mentioned that they once didn’t realize they were flying too close to the …
My Jamaican number is 876.498.4012. Let’s see if I can keep this number till I return, given the rat maze it takes to keep your number from returning to the Great Digital Spirit in the corporate sky. If I go online once a month and purchase 100 Jamaican dollars of credit every month, my number …
Tonight I entered the Lair of The Cowboy. I promised folks like Lee Gillette that I would find the heart of Country music in Jamaica. As fate would have it, a new friend of mine wanted me to meet The Cowboy, Kingston’s very own Country singer. It’s pronounced Coe Boy, like Seattle guitarist Andy Coe. …
Want to join me behind the scenes on a BBC TV program? Today I met BBC presenter David Rodigan and Beanie Man, as Anthony Red Rose introduced me and the news of our ‘Free Your Mind’ to the Big Yard. I also got to see a stripped down and poignant performance from a deserved darling …
With lilt-echoes of Kate Bush at the upper register — and more than enough grandeur-crescendo for a chick-flick credits theme — Stefanie Black’s new single, “Winter Of My Soul” is pleasant, yet pedestrian fare. On lyrical and arrangement levels, a good, but uninspired tune. However, the 19-year-old singing sensation’s powerful pipes are the sort that …
I am trying to upload the greatest video clip from Nine Mile. But how about me hanging out with Prince Allah right now? We are having a nice long chat, but I had two minutes left on my phone. Legends everywhere. You wake up and legends chillin’. Time to level up. Owen Baddie liked my …
I have a good story about my first radio interview with Anthony Red Rose. We were at KLAS Sports Radio in Kingston with DeeJay Cat. I was still pretty exhausted from the trip to Nine Mile and I had a lot of weighing on my mind at that moment, but I had to bring that A game. I …
Rode to Nine Mile on a bus full of Bob’s old friends. Ska era Wailers blasting. The sky was still black. Once I get on Wi-Fi, I have some pretty incredible video to show you from the sun rising and drums and voices raging at Nine Mile. Lenni I-Music and I had to be at Chinna’s …
I have so much to tell you about Trench Town. Let me just start by telling you I showed the kids of 3rd street my songs and they were singing along to the hooks and improvising guitar solos I challenges them to take one out for a rip. And it was actually a really nice …
The month of February always brings the much looked forward to Toasters to Seattle. After some stellar openers, the band came on stage and the horn section (Gilbert Covarrubius on trombone and Nate Koch on sax) immediately riled up the packed house by thrusting their fists in the air and getting them to copy the …
I have so much to tell you about Trench Town. Let me just start by telling you I showed the kids of 3rd street my songs and they were singing along to the hooks and improvising guitar solos I challenges them to take one out for a rip. And it was actually a really nice …
Confession: my plan is to be a local musician, all over the world. It seems pretty obvious but it is a major shift. One of the positives of the internet among many disastrous developments is that I can be a positive grass roots influence on scenes and people in great music towns like Brighton and …
Most of the music reviews come at year’s end. Great. That’s when most people are desperate to catch up on everything they missed in the previous year. I’m fine with that, sitting here with a large stack of unopened vinyl waiting to be heard. But between work life and real life – in the ‘in-between …
The Father, the musician, the former stand out prep shooting guard Ethan Anderson headlines Neumos this Friday, Feb. 2 with Cody Beebe’s Rust on the Rails. His band Massy Ferguson has been a mainstay of this Seattle scene for the last decade and with the help of Brighton label At The Helm Records, his band …
JAMAICA UPDATE: Man I just got a call from Lenni I-Music in Jamaica. Send this dude some friend requests. This is a friend that I want to be rolling around Kingdston with. He’s such a SOLID dude and damn good singer and songwriter. This ain’t no side kick talk. I am lucky to be his …
So Portland has a grammy-winning artist now. Portugal. The Man won folk/pop duo/group performance for “Feel It Still.” Portugal. The Man locks down pop/duo performance Portugal. The Man at Grammys 2018: ‘We’re All About Hard Work’
“I’m fortunate that I have a job that allows me to travel around our country and to meet people from all walks of life. Through those journeys, I have heard stories big and small, hopeful and heartbreaking, funny and frightening. The people behind these stories represent all corners of our country – Manhattan power-players, line …
On the 23rd of January I had the pleasure of seeing Vic Ruggiero play a solo show for the second time. Vic Ruggiero is the keyboard player and primary vocalist for the NY ska band the Slackers. This guy is classic New York Italian and very charming. He created an intimacy with his audience immediately …
The Fall were never quite my favorite band (okay, maybe during the last six months of 1988, in the wake of the glorious one-two LP punch of THE FRENZ EXPERIMENT and I AM KURIOUS ORANJ!), but their obstreperous uniqueness, unfathomable longevity, truly remarkable consistency, and unshakable integrity grew more admirable and undeniable with each passing …
In the past I have called a number of bands my favourite – Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Pixies – but right now I am giving that small accolade to an American folk/country/rock duo based in Charleston, South Carolina called Shovels and Rope. They are literally the only act I have traveled to …
I just sent Bluejay Hankins my Anthony Red Rose-produced single ‘Free Your Mind’ to have Reggaeville premier. This is biggest raggae website, this song features Sly & Robbie and Lenky Marsden, the man behind Sean Paul’s ‘Get Busy’. I have spent the last year working with Anthony Red Rose as he crafted one of my …
Quickly making a name for herself with her soulful voice and authentic songwriting, Kassi Ashton shares, “This is the song I always knew I wanted to write. It’s an intro in to everything I am.” In the deeply personal song, Kassi digs into her experience as a self-described black sheep, ridiculed for her individuality and …
“Let Me Down”, the new song from Jorja Smith f. Stormzy, dropped last week with an overwhelmingly positive response from critics and fans. Today, she shares the official video, directed by Hector Dockrill, who did previous videos for Jorja’s “On My Mind” and “Beautiful Little Fools”. Filmed in Kiev, we see Jorja taking on the …
Australian prog oozes charm and confidence, tenderness and power. Take a listen to “The Middle,” a comeback tune for Sydney progressive rock trio Cog. The band has been around since 1998– with some time off– and this is their first new music since 2008. www.cog.com.au www.facebook.com/COG-12878803369 www.instagram.com/cog101
Burning Spear is that rare performer whose real name, Winston Rodney, was better– or at least as good— than his incendiary stage name. I would give my left nut to be named Winston Rodney today. Take a listen to this 1977 Spear tune recorded for Social Living. The rhythm section is one for the ages. …
When asked about my time in Seattle in the bad old days, I smile and say, “If you can remember the 90s, you weren’t there,” which is true. No lessons stand out to relate to you today. “Manifest Seattle Destiny” was the brightest and loudest and sharpest shared delusion of its time, which doesn’t mean …
Hippo Campus’ meteoric career trajectory continues to steadily ascend, playing to packed, over-capacity crowds of joy-filled and enraptured fans at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza last summer, and headlining the Minnesota State Fair (the best of all 50 state fairs) in their hometown. Now that the holidays are past, the band is hitting the road again for …