Archive for February, 2012
Various Artists “Revolution!”
Author: Beverly Paterson
Various Artists “Revolution! Teen Time In Corpus Christi 1965-1970” (Cicadelic Records)
During the sixties, Corpus Christi, Texas was one heck of a hotbed of music, and here’s a collection presenting some of the acts responsible for making the scene so fertile and fantastic. Joining the cool sounds permeating “Revolution! Teen Time In Corpus Christi 1965-1970,” is a sixteen page booklet featuring interviews with band members, radio surveys, newspaper articles and rare photos. A host of previously unreleased material additionally completes the set.
Exploding with vim, vigor and vinegar, the Liberty Bell spits, snarls and pummels their way through pulsating garage punk nuggets like “I Can See” and “That’s How it Will Be,” while a smoking cover of “The Nazz Are Blue” is practically on par with the original version by the Yardbirds. Equipped with a nagging melody and a curtain of breezy choruses, “For What You Lack” stands as a paralyzing pop rocker, and then there’s “Reality Is The Only Answer,” which trembles and shakes with brain-bending momentum. Read the rest of this entry »
read comments (1)Concerto for Bass Drum and Orchestra
Author: Andre Veloux
The concert at the Richardson Auditorium on Feb. 9 was advertised as a first-ever performance of the 1936 dramatization of Pushkin’s masterpiece Eugene Onegin, with incidental music by Prokofiev, performed by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and Princeton University. It was quite a surprise then, that after the intermission the audience were treated to the Symphony Orchestra and British percussion maestro Joby Burgess performing a bass drum concerto. A quite remarkable composition as a bass drum concerto is not something you come across every day.
Dubstep Hysteria: A Love/Hate Relationship
Author: Henry Faust
Editor’s note: this article was submitted by Henry Faust, a reporter for the The Redwood Bark, a National Pacemaker Award-winning high school paper based in Marin County – 15 miles north of San Francisco. We are always happy to help promote students work in the music industry and are pleased he chose us to publish this article :)
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Businessmen adorned with suitcases and pea coats bustled up and down the damp boulevard. On that foggy Friday night, San Francisco felt suspiciously normal. A large mob of Occupy Wall Street protestors aimlessly paraded through Market Street, while blocking traffic and blasting music from the Wu-Tang-Clan. They began chanting, “F**k the police, we are the 99%,” I considered this to be routine.
In seconds, dozens of police encircled the protestors like ravenous hawks. As wailing sirens fused together with red and blue flashes, I couldn’t help but admire the light shows that the policemen so kindly put on. Observing this cat and mouse scenario between the police and Occupy Wall Street protestors was simply just a warm up for what would happen that night.
On Friday, February 10th, Excision was headlining at the Warfield Theatre, with opening acts by Liquid Stranger and Lucky Date. After I walked past hundreds of anxious and outrageously dressed fans waiting in line to enter the concert, I began to feel déjà vu rush through my veins – it had tricked me. Looking back to previous dubstep concerts that I’ve attended; such as Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, and Nero, among others, they all seemed tame in comparison to the experience of having Excision melt your face with the filthiest bass God has ever been lucky enough to provide humans with. Read the rest of this entry »
DESPITE THE RUMOURS, JON ANDERSON SAYS NO TO YES, AND YES TO A SOLO TOUR.
Author: Jeff Boule
Jon Anderson, bringing Wondrous Stories to a city near you! Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon
There has been much speculation regarding the lead vocalist position with the band YES. Let’s get the story straight. In case you had not heard, original replacement singer Benoit David has left the group. Before the official announcement that Glass Hammer vocalist Jon Daivison would replace original replacement David, rumors were circulating that founding vocalist Jon Anderson was asked by founding bassist Chris Squire to rejoin. As stated in the pres release below issued by Anderson’s publicity company Glass Onyon, these rumors were completely unfounded. Here is the press release:
Town Hall Cover “Always On Time,” Release Debut EP
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Love folk music, Ja Rule, and guys that look like Harry Potter? How do you feel about girls with breathy voices and dramatic cover songs? If you’re into it all and ready to burst with adoration in this love season, check out modern folk trio Town Hall as they cover Ja Rule and Ashanti’s memorable hit, “Always On Time,” below. Read the rest of this entry »
FALLING OUT OF LOVE OVER TORI AMOS AT THE BEACON THEATER, 12-3-11
Author: Jeff Boule
Aging with grace, Tori Amos hides behind a bazillion megawatt floor spotlight. Good luck seeing her face at all… Photo by Amanda Collins
Now that my recording studio consignment obligation is over, it’s time to get back to blogging!!!
Maybe there needs to be some clarification with regard to that headline. I have been head over heels with Tori Amos since I first heard her tracks on the Little Earthquakes LP. While I was curious about this petite red headed stick of dynamite playing in frigid water in her “China” video, her looks were irrelevant because she won me over with the music. As she progressed (some would say ‘grew’) as an artist, she repeatedly proved herself to fans, critics, etc. While some would say albums like Strange Little Girls and The Beekeeper were sub-par for her, I hung in there. She hadn’t lost me yet.
However, when she released Midwinter Graces, I thought, “hey, everybody should experiment a little.” Not being a cold weather/winter holiday fan, I figured it just wasn’t for me. But I hadn’t lost faith in her. Yet. Then she released Night Of Hunters.
I researched the origin of this album, and it appears that the iconic label Deutsche Gramophone had commissioned Amos to write and record a pop symphony. Amos recruited her daughter and niece to record vocals on the piece. This is a common occurrence in pop music today, Kate Bush has her son on her latest release, Peter Gabriel has taken his daughter Melanie on tour and through his Real World Records, was able to release her solo EP.
Mwahaha Share the “Love”
Author: Kerri O'Malley
The candy’s on the shelves. The commercials are on TV. Pink is everywhere. The first of February has launched the pre-Valentine’s Day hype and hawking. Whether you’re stuck in a love haze or just trippin’ out, California’s hallucinogenic foursome with a killer name, Mwahaha, have all the psyched-out love you can handle this holiday.
The band recently released a collaged time capsule of a music video for a single off of their recent self-titled debut album, “Love.” ”Love” looks like it would’ve felt right at home in the middle of Roger Corman’s classic acid movie, The Trip, in 1967 (which, by the way, you can now watch in full on youtube — mind the warning).
Get caught up in the feeling and check out Mwahaha’s “Love” video below. Read the rest of this entry »