If you were a scientist and tried to go into your laboratory to create Orange Goblin , you would probably need equal parts whiskey, doom metal, classic rock, beer, stoner rock, and the Incredible Hulk to begin to replicate their enormous sound. Since 1995, they have been bringing their Sabbathesque brand of heavy metal to the masses, through albums and a relentless, yet mostly European touring schedule. Orange Goblin has finally returned to America, hitting the road with the road warriors of rock, Maryland's Clutch (our review of the Baltimore, MD show is [...]
"I'm around six years old when I have my first experience with vinyl. It's a sunny afternoon in the school summer holidays. The sun is blazing in through the burnt orange curtains behind the record player as if signifying a moment of enlightenment. What I'm listening to, I don't know, it doesn't matter. All I know is that I'm choosing to put a record on for the first time—and I love it." "I've got the sofa bed pulled out (a grey red and black '80s number to complement the orange and green carpet of course) [...]
Many bands play the songs of James Brown, but very few play the music. The fine folks from the Perrier Lounge will be celebrating the 80th birthday of the inimitable Godfather of Soul with a tribute show at the Maple Leaf Bar . The set starts at 2 AM after Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes. The musical entertainment will be the New Orleans Soul Stars . This super group features some of the funkiest musicians in the Crescent City including Tony Hall on vocals and guitar, Renard Poche on guitar [...]
Electro duo Death Rattle impressed us with their last EP "HE&l" which channeled the energy of Sleigh Bells and Zola Jesus. However, with their second EP "Fortress," the band have taken a side step into the darker corner of the genre creating majestic soundscapes and haunting electro-pop melodies. Each track weaves and blends into one another with Helen's haunting vocals entwined within the ambient melodies. "White Ropes" is a calm start and feels more like a comedown track rather than a triumphant start to an EP. However, before [...]
If you were hoping that Iggy and the Stooges’ new record Ready to Die, which features the unlikely return of James Williamson on guitar, would somehow match the heights of Raw Power, you’re in for a little bit of disappointment. But taken on its own, the LP does include a few nice moments. It also has its share of problems. Maybe the best thing about Ready to Die is that it holds a few surprises that actually expose the limitations of its intentions. In rock ‘n’ roll, it’s particularly [...]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has just released their seventh studio album titled Specter at the Feast. They recorded the majority of the album at Dave Grohl's studio in Los Angeles on the same console which is featured in Grohl's Sound City, the documentary that explores LA's legendary recording studio of the same name, Sound City. The new record comes three years to the month since Beat the Devil’s Tattoo . The band wasn’t planning on taking a break, but they were left with an uncertain future following a devastating [...]
The UK invasion into American consciousness continues with singer-songwriter Jessie Ware . Unlike the pop-infused British balladeers that have preceded her, Ware finds her niche in the old-school-R&B-meets-electroni c-beats scene. Beginning with Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, Jessie Ware has been immersed in music ever since she was a young girl. Though her dream of becoming a musician encountered a momentary pause to pursue a career in journalism, Ware soon resumed the pursuit with the help of friend, Jack Peñate. Ware quickly became a hit in the UK with her rich, soulful voice accompanied by dance-worthy, catchy [...]
If Jeff Spicoli was an actual person, in between partying and catching tasty waves, he would most definitely be listening to Fu Manchu. The California stoner rock outfit has been laying down heavy grooves since 1990, and Monday, 4/22 at the Black Cat, Fu Manchu took us back 16 years, playing all of 1997′s The Action Is Go album. Local support for the night was handled by DC’s Borracho. By the time they took the stage, the small room was already gathering a decent crowd. With singer Noah Greenburg going on [...]
“I write quite a bit,” Josh Rouse mentions casually as we begin our trans-Atlantic phone conversation. No exaggeration there, as his output has been remarkably prolific over the last decade or so. Encompassing solo albums, band recordings and a fascinating side project with Spanish singer Paz Suay dubbed She’s Spanish, I’m American, Rouse’s work ethic is enviable. An expatriate living in Spain with his Suay (now his wife) and their two young children, Rouse reflected on his new album, The Happiness Waltz , his time in Nashville, and his vinyl past. [...]
"When I was 12 years old I bought my first 7 inch record; Blutonic by The Bluetones. Prior to this I had a shitty transistor radio which only picked up long wave radio before upgrading to a double tape and radio. I had owned a few tapes (most notably a Classic Rock collection I begged my dad to buy with his ESSO tokens featuring my then favourite, "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty) and some copied albums from school friends. The only ones I remember were Nevermind by Nirvana and Definitely Maybe by Oasis, both [...]
Sam Thomas released "I'm Gonna Be A Witch" this month along with a debut video to accompany the track. He's the son of an opera singer, but also takes influences from the likes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and My Bloody Valentine. Sam Thomas' single "I'm Gonna Be A Witch" is majestic and beautiful and you can hear where his influences have really taken hold—in the slow build up, the crescendo, and the fade out. There's almost no start or end to the song, with a dreamy essence underneath the melody. [...]
Press Play is our Monday morning recap of the new tracks received last week—provided here to inform your vinyl purchasing power. We post, you right-click. Chris Hickey - June Fifth K-Woody - Ones And Twos (feat. Granata) Lo-Fang - The One That I Want Survival - Tragedy of the Mind City Society - Riot Bloom Statistics - Nineteen Ninety Nine Firehorse - Good [...]
Greetings from Laurel Canyon! Home from an absolutely gorgeous weekend in the desert, I've tried to settle back into my LA routine—a life of constant music business insanity. Honestly, it's been an uphill battle. While I used to work in my cozy Canyon reconditioned garage, I now work in an office building. It's not the environment I pictured myself habituating—I live my days inside the walls of a corporation. Well, "life ain't so bad." I guess that's what most of the animals packed in the LA County Zoo say when [...]
Monument Music and Arts Festival is back once again with a cool band and a great cause that will benefit from the concert’s proceeds. This time they’re hosting the New Jersey-born eight-member band The Everymen . Also featured is the youthful Maryland band The Sea Life , at Beats . For $12, you can get tickets to see these bands live, and 100% of the proceeds go to the DC chapter of Back on My Feet , a national non-profit organization that helps those experiencing homelessness gain self-sufficiency by providing [...]
If you ever wanted to attend a taping of the Late Show with David Letterman or Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, look no further than Artisphere in Arlington, Virginia this Saturday evening for a live, "big" version of the talk show, You Me Them Everybody hosted by the multi-talented Brandon Wetherbee. Wetherbee, much like Superman, is a journalist during the day as an assistant editor at the Huffington Post , and talk show host by night. No need for getting out your binoculars, Wetherbee will fill your Saturday night [...]
There are many ways to label Jay Brannan : Singer-songwriter. YouTube sensation. Gay troubadour. "The male Joni Mitchell." None of those quite do justice to the multifaceted musician. Raised in a conservative, religious family in Texas, Brannan found his own truth in the arts early on. Songwriting came about after a turn as an actor. He landed a role in the experimental film, Shortbus, but "Soda Shop," a tune he wrote for the soundtrack, became a smash on YouTube and launched an unexpected songwriting career that's spanned four EPs, two LPs, and [...]
Remember—it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Here’s another favorite Jazz Fest aphorism—Jazz Fest happens during the day, so be the early. Here are my picks for Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. The full schedule is here . SATURDAY | One of my fellow pundits was wondering a few weeks ago why Alex McMurray always seems to be scheduled early in the day since he’s a late night kind of guy, and so are his fans. See above, and see you at the Gentilly stage at 11:25 [...]
Woodenbox are a curious beast; this Scottish alt-folk sextet make music that sounds wonderfully vintage without that horrid "retro" tag—which means you're basically about to listen to something your Dad would've bopped to in the '60s (nothing wrong with '60s music by the way, but I take it those reading will understand what I mean.) Woodenbox have the perfect balance of sing-a-long loveliness with a nod to times of old. This is the first official single taken from their forthcoming second album End Game. They've already released the free track "Roll For Me" [...]
Apparently Lawrence Hayward’s whole plan was to release ten LPs and ten singles in ten years. Through growth and perseverance he pulled it off in the ‘80s via the band Felt. Their later albums are the ones most talked about these days, but that doesn’t mean the discerning post-punk/indie pop fan should neglect the early stuff. If interested in hearing the whole story, than Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty is the place to start. Back in the day the proto-punk club was a pretty exclusive joint. A person could count the most important members on [...]
We're back with part two of our Austin Psych Fest Preview . The festival gets bigger and better as the weekend goes on. Saturday packs a full day of music and film screenings from 1pm all the way into the wee hours of the morning. Sunday's lineup starts a bit later (allowing some hangover time) with the first acts going on at 3pm. As promised, here are some of the acts you won't want to miss on these last two days of psych fest. SATURDAY | This is the longest day of the [...]
The Vinyl District
R.F.T.W.E. pt.2
DANCE BITCH DANCE: disclosure - when a fire starts to burn
Marlon Hoffstadt - Skin And Bone (feat. HRRSN)
Euro Chart 25 maggio 2013: primi i Daft Punk con Get Lucky
