Live Review: James with Ed Harcourt at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, 9/22/10 For a band to remain relevant is a challenge these days. For the seven-piece Manchester band James, this seems to be a walk in the park. Granted, they have some of the most dedicated fans […]
Live Review: Crowded House at The House of Blues in Chicago, 9/5/10 Neil Finn has been one of the planet’s most talented singer-songwriters since 1980, when he brought his brother Tim’s band, Split Enz, into the mainstream with fine songs such as “I Got You,” and “One Step […]
Live show review: Arcade Fire and Spoon at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA, 8/11/10 Arcade Fire have been approaching BBITW status ever since their second album, Neon Bible, was released in 2007 (BBITW = Biggest Band In The World). When their new offering, The Suburbs, debuted at […]
Live Show Review: Crowded House at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, 8/1/10 Like the Phoenix that rose from the ashes, Crowded House has apparently returned for good. Their 2007 comeback (after a 14-year absence), Time on Earth, proved to be a more mature and deliberate accomplishment than Crowdies had […]
New Release: Amanda Palmer Plays the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele Dresden Dolls leader and Evelyn Evelyn member Amanda Palmer is celebrating her liberation from Roadrunner Records with a special EP of Radiohead covers. She claims to be a big fan and is going about […]
The first track on the self-titled debut from Atlanta’s Oryx and Crake transports the listener to a melancholy place with its cello, guitar, and plaintive vocals of leader Ryan Peoples. Then the guitar gets fuzzy, harmonies are layered in, and the clouds part on the beautiful “Fun Funeral.” […]
Live Review: Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chastain Park, 6/28/10 Gordon Sumner has been through many incarnations in his life. Before selling millions of records, he was labeled with the nickname “Sting” by his school buddies (for always wearing the same black and yellow striped sweater). But […]
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 […]
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