Everyone's a Critic
A shaky figure swathed in dingy fabric limps through a crowd of Memorial Day revelers and passionate devotees. Mirroring his disappointing late ’70s experience, the entrance proves premature — turns out Science Fiction has finagled …
Susan Boyle's victory is Revenge of the Nerds writ large. Writ gloriously large. If you've ever been ditched by your "best friend" on a cold, rainy night with no easy way to get home; ever …
San Diego’s ’70s rock icons Glory and a number of other local acts reunited and united for the California Music Project, a program that raises money to keep music in our schools. Fans arrived hoping …
The Drive-By Truckers' tenth release explores territory familiar to the Athens-based band, which continues to mine the vein of ’08's Brighter Than Creation's Dark, with more tales of losers, juicers, a low-budget hooker, and a …
In 1970, Carole King and James Taylor first performed together in a small nightclub in West Hollywood called the Troubadour. Thirty-six years and a lot of music history later, they returned with the same back …
Sly, spry octogenarian bluesman Mose Allison is the ultimate hipster. Along with Carlsbad bassist Gunnar Biggs, the pianist-singer delivered what his audience expected, judging by the raucous applause between numbers. Mr. Allison has been doing …
I almost feel 17 and angsty again as Bellingham mathcore dudes Dog Shredder bobble around Bar Pink. All elements are present: drummer in Dillinger Escape Plan tee with Band-Aid under eye as if he just …
Boston transplant Jimmy Powers's debut is a workman's album, workman rap from a musician who has a day job. That perspective lends Powers’s music honesty, humility. This is apparent in personal songs such "Janice Marie," …
The John Butler Trio brought a little bit of North County to the downtown Abbey for a KPRI private listener's concert a day before their sold-out House of Blues show. The Australian rocker with roots …
Big brass heralds the triumphant return of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings on opener "The Game Gets Old." The sultry, soulful Jones laments, "So many times I've played the game of love/ But it …
Richard Strauss's musical description of an adventurous day in the Alps and Igor Stravinsky's turbulent tonal depiction of spring make an apt pairing for an afternoon at the symphony. Written in the same period, they …
It's Sunday night. Little more than wind whips around the remains of the Festival of the Arts: a few drunks and strung-out vagabonds; porta-potties; ungainly street sweepers. A guy's yelling across the street as I …
Bonnie “Prince” Billy's latest pairs Will Oldham's backwoods bark and Cairo Gang frontman Emmet Kelly's streaming folk and blues guitar. The result is stripped-down folk songs with flourishes of classic-country melodies and gospel harmonies. Oldham's …
Usher may have been the headliner at this eight-artist concert, but Justin Bieber was the reason Cricket Wireless was sold out. Everywhere I looked, pre-pubescent girls were giggling and hopping around in nervous excitement as …
The fifth studio release from Brooklyn-based the Hold Steady marks a transition for the quartet. With the defection of keyboardist Franz Nicolay, their sound is now tighter, more guitar-driven. Lead singer Craig Finn, who years …
The roller coaster of on, off, and in-between following the 1994 departure of yang element Al Anderson, along with the '09 passing of seminal member Steve Ferguson, have been intense bubble busters. After rejoicing at …