The Ridges on Daytrotter
Musically, one of my favorite things about 2011 was getting into Ohio’s own beautiful chamber folk rock group, the Ridges. Their evocative music still makes me happy when I hear it, and I’m even happier that this talented crew was able to realize a great ambition when they travelled to Rock Island, Illinois to … Read more
Video: Lovely, by Christine Leakey
After fourteen years of struggle, Christine Leakey is releasing her first solo record, Tapping Trees in a Trinket Box of Treasure, in January 2012. The video below is for one of the first songs on the record. It is called Lovely, and it is accurately named. Happy New Year, everyone!
2011: A Year In Pictures, Pt. 4 – October – December
Love Crushed Velvet, The Norwood, October 2011 The Tower & The Fool, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011 Eric Nally, Foxy Shazam, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011 Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco) and the lucky bra, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011 Foxy Shazam, Starland Ballroom, November 2011 Patrick Stump, … Read more
2011: A Year in Pictures, Pt. 3 – July – September
You Won’t, Scyamore, July 2011 The Maples, Sycamore, July 2011 The Dead Ex’s, Bowery Electric, July 2011 Gin Blossoms, BB Kings, July 2011 The New York Dolls, Camden, NJ, July 2011 Bret Michaels (Poison), Camden, NJ, July 2011 Motley Crue, Camden, NJ, July 2011 Crazy Band, The Smell, Los Angeles, July 2011 Audacity, The Smell, … Read more
Saturday Matinee: Just before Elvis Costello was banned from SNL
On December 17, 1977, Elvis Costello and the Attractions performed on Saturday Night Live, filling in for the Sex Pistols, who were having visa issues. I’d always wondered what the deal was with Costello stopping mid-verse and launching into a different song. From Dangerous Minds: Costello’s record label, Columbia, wanted him to perform “Less Than … Read more
Joe Strummer: “I wake up and thank God for punk rock every day.”
Even after writing the date again and again, I somehow forgot that yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the death of NTSIB patron saint Joe Strummer. As I said to a friend, some days it seems like more, some days it seems like a lot less. Here’s some treats I gathered in remembrance: extra interview … Read more
Rebirth of the Cool: Searchin’
The album cover, with it’s eye-searing blue-on-red pattern of a repeated image of the group, is a lesson in bad design, but the vinyl platter inside was a masterclass on making music to appeal across divisions. This best of Coasters’ album from my mother’s collection is one of the small group of things that reside … Read more
2011: A Year In Pictures – Pt. 2, April – June
The Architects, T5, April 2011 Neon Trees, T5, April 2011 Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance, T5, April 2011 Whitesnake, Irving Plaza, May 2011 The Dig, Bowery Ballroom, May 2011 Glasvegas, Bowery Ballroom, May 2011 The Felice Brothers, the bell house, May 2011 Foxy Shazam, T5, May 2011 fun., T5, May 2011 Spencer Smith, Panic! at … Read more
2011: A Year In Pictures Pt. 1 – January to March
Bobby Bare, Jr., Brooklyn, January 2011 Carey Kotsionis, Brooklyn, January 2011 Carey Kotsionis, City Winery, January 2011 Bobby Bare, Jr., City Winery, January 2011 Rhett Miller, City Winery, January 2011 Black Bells and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January 2011 The Zambonis and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January … Read more
Lighting a Signal Fire: Phantom Planet Is Back!
Early in November, a new Twitter profile appeared. The Internet said, All right, but is this real? Yes, quoth the band. ‘Tis us and none other. And then today, the following did appear: TIME TO DO THE HAPPY DANCE, Y’ALL, THEY’RE BACK!!!! So far details are thin, but, should you want to be … Read more