Archive for the 'Reviews' Category
Walt Wilkins
Author: Butler Bad
Walt Wilkins is one of the finest singer/songwriters that you have never heard. You may have heard his songs on the radio sung by the likes of Pat Green, but chances are; you haven’t heard Walt. He is currently working a group of singer/songwriters dubbed “The Mystiqueros” Read the rest of this entry »
read comments (1)Coachella 2010
Author: Gabriel Barrio
Such was our discourse, a lengthy journey that would tear at our seams and restore our souls. It took 636 miles to reach this destination, this divine spot. Each mile counted was one in waiting, an eagerness accompanied each mile closer. The trek was arduous and most tiring, leaving with such little sleep and arriving at 3:40 in the morning to meet a line of cars entering the campgrounds. Bumper to bumper traffic more reminiscent of daytime gridlock in major metropolises than anything else. After many hours sitting in a line of cars as people of many ages imbibed spirits, beer, wine, and smoke we had arrived at our humble campground inebriated, the sun rising as we put up our tent. We had finally reached our destination, and this would be an indicator of the days to come. We had laid our weary heads down, we had arrived at Coachella. Read the rest of this entry »
1974's Todd (l) and 1981's Healing (r)
The grand folks at Rundgren Radio (the illustrious Doug Ford and iridescent “Cruiser Mel”) are doing it again, only this time, we’re on the inside, blogites!!! You’re going to get a regal preview to what is GUARANTEED to be as entertaining as previous Peter Gabriel tours (his latest being of little interest to me as I prefer Gabriel to rock and power through grandiose shows, not just him, a piano and orchestra, it does NOT top he and his daughter singing suspended upside down and being able to circle above the circular stage for his previous UP tour).
Rundgren and company will entertain the hell out of you for less than half the price of a Gabriel show OR EVEN LESS!
Jason Isbell (Formerly of Drive-By Truckers)
Author: Butler Bad
Jason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Alabama who was an integral part of the Drive-By Truckers for 6 years and three albums. He was with the Truckers from 2001 -2007 and released his first solo album “Sirens of the Ditch” in 2007.
Since his debut release, Jason formed a band that is comprised of Matt Pence of Centro-Matic and some other Alabama musicians. The band is dubbed “The 400 Unit” which is a reference to the psyche ward of an Alabama hospital. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit released a self title album in 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
Monsters of Folk
Author: Butler Bad
Monsters of Folk is the self titled debut album of the musical collaboration of Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), M. Ward, and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes). The album was released in 2009 but the group was percolating back in 2004 while in a mixture of stages of touring with their respective band or as a solo artist. Due to the diverse schedules and the artist’s core projects, it took almost five years to wrap up the album. Read the rest of this entry »
Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO)
Author: Butler Bad
Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) is the hippie, trippy, California band that brings the good time vibe to everything they play. The band was fashioned by high school buddies Zach Gill, Steve Adams, Dan Lebowitz. They all contribute to vocal responsibilities and play an array of instruments.
They grew into a nine-piece band featuring a brass section and dubbed themselves The Animal Liberation Orchestra and the Free Range Horns, they began receiving considerable attention in the Santa Barbara area with their exciting live shows. Read the rest of this entry »
Freewheelin’ with Dylan – A Sixties Memoir
Author: Bob Bembridge
Mention folk music today, and many Americans would think of the 2003 movie spoof, A Mighty Wind.
Yet the folk music revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s was a powerful influence on American youth. Folk music nourished college kids who rejected the mainstream pap offered by Frankie Avalon and Connie Francis. Read the rest of this entry »
BOSCH ARE MORE THAN GERMAN CAR PART MANUFACTURERS. MUCH MORE!
Author: Jeff Boule
BOSCH are (from l to r) Christopher Brown, Charles Greenleaf, and Kevin Sims. I dig `em daddy-o!
I find it hard to find new music I LIKE. Yeah, yeah, there are satellite channels, pay-radio, web-radio, TV “music” channels, friends, etc. But just because there are multiple sources of input does not necessarily yield categorical output.
I like BOSCH.
“Record Store Days”
Author: Beverly Paterson
“Record Store Days” by Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo (Sterling Publishing)
For better or worse, the digital revolution has certainly altered the way people listen to and purchase music. While there’s no denying modern tricks make music immediately accessible, the business, on a financial level and, depending on your personal point of view, artistically, has suffered greatly. Musicians no longer need to rely on labels to package and promote their wares. As time marches on, actual recordings are quickly becoming a thing of the past. A mere click of the mouse on the computer allows one to download any song or album they desire. Such practices, which once could have only occurred in a science fiction novel, are clearly responsible for the demise of countless labels and record stores. Read the rest of this entry »
MASK SETS A MATURE ROMANTIC MOOD FOR GOTHIC ROMANCE, ADULTS ONLY, PLEASE!
Author: Jeff Boule
For those of you not aware of this, I have the unique fortune of having two very good friends in some influential situations. The first person I met, then had the great fortune to re-connect with, is author, musician, promoter, and more, Billy James. The second of these unique folks is Doug Ford of RundgrenRadio.com.
But this blog isn’t about Rundgren (I’ll wait for the cheers to subside).
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This blog has been reposted due to a site malfunction.
How about a little fanfare, fans? Not only did we get a first look at Rundgren’s Johnson EP, how it’s doing sales wise and the Tour for it during our last blog, but this week we are privy to some dynamite EXCLUSIVE info about a NEW promotional tour. But the NEW tour is promoting OLD albums. Albums? Plural? Let’s look back to look ahead!
Bat For Lashes (Astralwerks)
Author: Gabriel Barrio
Pour a cup of coffee, walk into the den, dim early morning light trickles in through the bent blinds as my cat wraps himself around my leg. Pull a fresh new vinyl out of its sleeve, place it on the table, and pull the needle close, let it fall onto the grooves, pure energy releases and suddenly music fills the room. Ambient sounds at first, then synths accompanied with vocals ethereal. A beautiful female voice escapes through the speakers and bends your ear, reminiscent of Bjork as the hook does just that, reel you in. A beacon of light shining through the wash and tide of music mediocre. Read the rest of this entry »
Joe Purdy
Author: Butler Bad
Joe Purdy is an anomaly in the current music industry scene. He releases, writes, produces, and sings everything himself. Not signed to a major label, an indie label, or any label at all. His music is not sold in any record store. Purdy has been offered a major label contract on numerous occasions and he’s turned them down every time. With ten albums behind him, songs on several of TV shows (Lost, Grey’s Anatomy) and two commercials (Kia & Dawn) it would appear that his lack of a label has not hurt his ability to make a living or make incredible music. Read the rest of this entry »
Rundgren meets Robert Johnson and takes it to the bank! Photo courtesy RundgrenRadio.com / Doug Ford
I keep telling you people, and you just don’t listen to me. Well maybe now, you brave blogites are forging new paths, lighting out for new territories, peering into crevices where few have crept before. Rundgren has returned to his blues-oriented roots and revived 12 of Blues legend Robert Johnson’s (now royalty-free) songs, 3 of them in a downloadable EP, live and hopefully an album!
And according to Amazon Blues charts, Todd Rundgren is finally getting his due.
Bob Schneider
Author: Butler Bad
Bob Schneider is an Austin based singer/songwriter who has been in a smattering of bands before going solo in 1999. He began his solo career under the name “Lonelyland” which he dropped as a performer but used as the title of his major label debut.
Bob’s musical catalog includes nearly twenty albums, eight of which are solo albums and several with his various bands, all of which are legendary in the Austin music scene of the 90’s, The Scabs, Joe Rockhead and The Ugly Americans. Read the rest of this entry »
State Radio is Calling All Crows!
Author: Butler Bad
State Radio is a sociopolitical Boston based trio that has three full length albums, several EP’s, and a small number of live albums to their credit. Chad Urmston, formerly of Dispatch, is the singer and primary songwriter. If you are a fan of the Showtime comedy “Weeds”, you might be acquainted with their song “Keepsake”. It appeared in the season three finale. Read the rest of this entry »
Joseph Arthur
Author: Butler Bad
Joseph Arthur is the singing /songwriting protégée of former Genesis front man and current world music guru Peter Gabriel. Arthur was the first American recording artist singed to Gabriel’s Real World Records.
His 2000 release Come to Where I Am and the opening slot on tours with Ben Harper and Gomez helped Arthur attain a larger fan base. He also briefly toured Europe with R.E.M. in 2004. Read the rest of this entry »
Postmodern Masters
Author: Gabriel Barrio
There is a nagging suspicion that these recurring themes I hear in music lately are no accident, but play into
the hands of a generation without direction, nothing of its own but hopelessness. All these purported advances in musical style are not braving a new world but are borrowed from our most colorful decade the 80’s. The 80’s bred some sort of
strange postmodern musicianship that had previous generations scratching their heads. Read the rest of this entry »
Erin Ivey is Austin’s folk darling!
Author: Butler Bad
Erin Ivey hales from Austin, Texas and is one of the city’s beloved folk artists. She was voted one of the city’s top 4 unsigned artists in 2007.
Erin Ivey is a new artist for me as I just heard her for the first time on Dec. 20th when she opened for Joe Purdy. Her amazing voice, both haunting and angelic with a touch of sensuality, and quirky stage banter immediately endeared her to the sold out crowd. She played for about 45 minutes and immediately after the show, I bought all of her music.
Since 2007, Erin has independently released and toured behind her first full-length album (The 11th Floor) and two EPs (Austin Lullabies and the Sweet Little).
Her single “Chocolate” is an infectious little number that has her voice dripping over her guitar.
On Erin’s “Sweet Little” EP, she does an amazing cover of Radiohead’s “Climbing Up the Walls”.
Check out Erin Ivey at www.erinivey.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX7BqCWAKC8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMz201u8das
“Corn Flakes With John Lennon” by Robert Hilburn
Author: Beverly Paterson
“Corn Flakes With John Lennon” by Robert Hilburn (Rodale)
For more than thirty years, Robert Hilburn was not only the music critic and editor of “The Los Angeles Times,” but his interviews, reviews and artist profiles have also been featured in numerous other publications throughout world. Seduced by music at a very young age, Hilburn was particularly keen on the country and rhythm and blues sounds of the late forties and early fifties. He was a teenager when rock and roll came crashing through the gates, and was immediately drawn to this energetic new form of music. While Hilburn’s taste in music sways heavily towards the mainstream side of the dial, he approaches his subjects with an extra keen eye. He remains objective and his intelligent observations definitely provoke food for thought. Read the rest of this entry »