Everyone's a Critic
Technique, writes pianist Kenny Werner in his liner notes, "clears all the brush, so to speak, between the player and his instrument." And I read that at first as "clears off the brush," but I …
Once you have seen enough live rock and roll, you learn that the best part of a set is the spontaneous moment all the players onstage click on something completely unplanned. Roger Waters's touring production …
Maren Parusel’s revamped synth-driven sound is revealed on her new album, Tightrope Walker.
After a repetitive electric organ intro, it's a relief when Jack White's voice chimes in on opening track "Missing Pieces." White knows that you can't stand the anticipation and it's a solace. The White Stripes …
I can't imagine John Gurley — the often stage-frightened frontman of Portugal. The Man — knew what he was getting into headlining the Jägermeister Music Tour. Strings of garden lights draped the stage in carnival …
With their seventh studio album, Spiritualized continue their legacy of ecstatic mourning, something divine and destructive, chaotic and focused. The album begins with lush string arrangements and then takes a sharp shift to lead single …
Unshackled by the name “Oasis” and the tacky label “Britpop,” Gallagher senior hits the road to promote his first solo outing. At a surprisingly less than full house, Gallagher opens with a lithe, acoustic-y version …
As a gift to the good people of San Diego, the reunited fIREHOSE crammed a Belly Up set between their two Coachella weekend appearances. The band walked onstage with little fanfare to set up some …
Blues-rock icon Bonnie Raitt's first studio album in seven years was worth the wait. In the album-cover photo of Raitt ascending stairs, she looks much younger than her senior-citizen status, and her voice and guitar …
Woe to you of earth and sea, for this time the devil sends the beast from Oakland with mitigated wraith! And the problem is Jesus’ twin, who perished at birth, is reincarnated into a time …
For the first time in four years, the Berkley-based psychobilly band Tiger Army added a San Diego date to their tour. The show was apparently much anticipated, as there was cheering between every recorded song …
Less than six months since their inaugural visit to San Diego, Rubblebucket returned as seasoned road warriors with a new album, Live in Chicago, and accompanying DVD. Appearing relaxed and joyous, the septet shredded the …
The Morning Benders recently decided to change their name to POP ETC; yes, caps lock on. As detailed in a lengthy post on the band’s old website, the cause of the change centered on their …
This is a new Shins, not the band that gave us the delicious acoustic-pop of Chutes to Narrow and Oh Inverted World. Nor the band that released Wincing the Night Away five years ago. The …
Following a compelling backstory as long as the song itself, Floridian emcee Bleubird launched into “Giehe 1977,” which chronicles a small Italian village and the home in which his great uncle was shot by Nazis. …
Serengeti has followed up one of 2011's most moving records, Family and Friends, with the absurdist tale of Kenny Dennis. Written from the perspective of Serengeti's 45-year-old alter ego, a bratwurst-gorging, sports-crazed Chicagoan, the Kenny …