Although much of Lollapalooza‘s three-day, 130-band festival was as forgettable as Crystal Pepsi, Day 2 brought perks in the form of Muse (guitarist Matthew Bellamy shown left), Patti Smith, Roky Erickson and The Explosives, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Marco Benevento: Live at Tonic
Before famed New York club Tonic had to close its doors in April, keyboardist/organist Marco Benevento, one half of jam/groove outfit Benevento Russo Duo, spent an entire month in the venue collaborating with a wealth of musical talent.
Lollapalooza Recap: Day 1
Despite a relatively tame lineup, the first day of this year’s Lollapalooza had some legitimate highlights — the heavy grooves of afrobeat star Femi Kuti, the gorgeous orchestration of The Polyphonic Spree, and the marvelous light show of Daft Punk.
Casket Lottery + Small Brown Bike = Able Baker Fox
Long-distance relationships — not to mention incestuous ones — generally are a bad idea. But somehow the rules don’t apply for Able Baker Fox, the latest indie rock offering from guitarist Nathan Ellis of The Casket Lottery and three key members of Small Brown Bike.
Boston Hosts Opening of Scion Installation Art Tour 4
Scion’s Installation Art Tour returns tonight for its fourth installment, opening in Boston at Rhys Gallery from 6-9 pm. Painter Jeff Soto (work shown left) is just among the diverse mix of forty contemporary artists within four different mediums — drawing, painting, collage, and photography — who interpreted this year’s theme, “It’s a Beautiful World.”
Weekly Burlesque: Strummin’ and Strippin’ Across Canada
Take one guitar wonder kid and one international burlesque star, throw the two together, and you get a rock-out road show hitting a Canadian city near you. Real-life couple Alistair Christl and Tanya Cheex have put together a winning combination of tunes and tease.
The Brunettes: Structure & Cosmetics
The Brunettes are cute — almost obnoxiously so. Given the New Zealand outfit’s boy/girl twee pop sound, childlike group cheers of “Stereo! Stereo!” and a songwriting duo with a romantic history, it’s difficult not to be put off by their preciousness.
Animal Collective Prepare for Tour, Release Single
Chances are you’ve already heard the leaked material from Animal Collective‘s upcoming album, Strawberry Jam. Though your impatience should be punished, it’ll be rewarded instead with Peacebone, the first single from the ever-nearing September release, and a little tour to ring in the new album. Lucky you.
Taraf de Haidouks Return With Long-Awaited Album
The troupe of Roma musicians known as Taraf de Haidouks, or Band of Outlaws, is set to release its first new studio recording in six years. The band returns with Maskarada, a collection of enlivening reinterpretations of pieces by classical composers.
High On Fire Burns Up Wicker Park
Despite the fact that High on Fire and Don Caballero were set to play for free at Chicago’s Wicker Park Festival the next day, neighborhood venue Subterranean was packed for both bands last Saturday night. Somehow, it didn’t seem fitting for a group as dark as High on Fire to play when there was even a trace of sunlight left on the horizon.
Culver City Dub Collective: Dos
Expectations are dangerous, particularly when one is called upon to listen with a fair and objective ear, and many may not be prepared for the leisurely, tropical vibe of Dos, the new release from Culver City Dub Collective.
Jason Webley Tours North America in a Tomato
Do you like accordion music? Theatrics? A vocal delivery reminiscent of both Tom Waits and Andy Kaufman? General debauchery and unruliness? Outkast covers? If you’re in North America this summer, you’ve got the chance to see all these things rolled into one. That’s right — Jason Webley is on tour.