Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue on Late Night with David Letterman, June 22, 2010 It was a dream realized when I snagged passes to see Letterman. He had been my most-watched late night show since college. I was to be in New York City and the planets had […]
In 2007, Crowded House fans got an unexpected reunion of their favorite band. After a 13-year hiatus which showed no signs of ending, mainly due to drummer Paul Hester’s suicide in 2005, the band regrouped with a new drummer, a new album, and a sold-out tour. Now CH […]
Live Review: Free Energy, Jukebox the Ghost, & Miniature Tigers at the Star Bar in Atlanta, 6/3/10 As drummer Nick Shuminsky took the stage in his vintage Styx t-shirt, the room was transported to the 1970s with little chance of returning. Free Energy, the Philadelphia rock band (transplanted […]
New York’s Setting Sun have brought us a beautiful sound that combines several genres. Chief architect of songs Gary Levitt merges indie rock, folk, and maybe a dash of chamber pop in his creations. At times, listeners may think they’re hearing Crosby, Stills, and Nash outtakes. Levitt’s layered […]
Live review: One eskimO at Smith’s Olde Bar, 5/26/10 Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta was host to the ambient pop magic of One eskimO. The London, England foursome, led by singer Kristian Leontiou, is touring in support of their self-titled debut released last September on Shangri-La Records. Leontiou […]
Live Review: Shelby Lynne & Findlay Brown at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, 5/15/10 The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta was home to a bluesy evening of entertainment. Shelby Lynne, on tour promoting her new release, Tears, Lies, and Alibis (Everso Records). She emoted her twang-laden song creations to […]
For their third release, Sparks, Britain’s Fiction Plane has woven a tighter and more accessible web of tunes. The first single, “Push Me Around” has more hooks than a fishing tournament. Singer/bassist Joe Sumner (son of Sting) sings “I used to think I was something / I used […]
NEW RELEASE: Solex Vs. Cristina Martinez + Jon Spencer Amsterdam Throwdown, King Street Showdown! (Bronze Rat Records) Listening to this first ever collaboration among these three, one can only think of that line from St. Elmo’s Fire: “A metaphysical precision collision.” The Dutch goddess of electronic, Elisabeth Esselink […]
Live Review: Beach House with Washed Out atThe EARL in Atlanta, 4/29/10 Baltimore duo Beach House brought their dream pop/indie rock grooviness to Atlanta recently at a sold out EARL. Riding the wave of success from their third studio album Teen Dream (Sub Pop), Baltimore native Alex Scally […]
“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” is a beautiful tune with the feel of the islands in the underlying groove. It is such a special song, in fact, that Peter Gabriel himself has done a cover of it.