REVIEW: ALT-J – AN AWESOME WAVE (2012)
I’m all for shortcuts, be it that they make life much easier. Once you get them down, you can tear through complicated things in no time at all. Isn’t it ironic that one shortcut is making the music world grind to a halt to bask in its spacious, calculated scores? Alt-J, or ∆ as it is [&helli
Concert Review: Slapstick at Riot Fest (Chicago, IL)
Slapstick (Elgin, IL)September 15th, 2012Riot Fest in Chicago, IL “Brendan, I still got it!” “This next song is really, really good.” “If this was Alkaline Trio, someone would be tying my shoes.” Nostalgia shifted into high gear in the Windy City this Saturday as Slapstick
REVIEW: FIELD REPORT – FIELD REPORT (2012)
The depth of the Midwest is astounding. From the hidden gem of a waterfall in the Twin Cities to the abrupt “the region is only flat” contradiction that is southwestern Wisconsin when you head towards Iowa down 151, those who explore will be surprised by a subtle treasure. To limit this to geogr
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROCK COUNTY FOLK SYMPOSIUM 2012
Samantha Glass (Madison, WI), Cains & Abels (Chicago, IL), Golden Donna (Madison, WI), Control (Madison, WI), Finite, Pioneer (Madison, WI), Sleepy Lesbos (Madison, WI), Count This Penny (Madison, WI), Austin Hays, Crane Your Swan Neck (Madison, WI), Chants (Madison, WI), Dou
CONCERT REVIEW: Y LA BAMBA AT THE CEDAR (MINNEAPOLIS, MN)
Y La Bamba (Portland, OR) and Buffalo Moon (Minneapolis, MN)September 5th, 2012The Cedar in Minneapolis, MN Y La Bamba made it out of Clear Lake, Iowa. Doesn’t make much sense, eh? A raging storm rolled across the Midwest, producing Back to the Future-esque lightning in Madison
Interview: Yan Wagner (Paris)
The photo above is a bit calculated, reminiscent of still life art. Yet Forty Eight Hours is far from inanimate. Following “Recession Song” featured on Kitsuné Parisien and a June EP, this dance floor crooner is prepping his debut album (out October 1st on Pschent) by a teasing stint in A
INTERVIEW: ALT-J (CAMBRIDGE)
Back at one of the [PIAS] Nites here in Paris, Alt-J was sold out. Every disc. They weren’t even performing. Nor there. Sold out. All of them. Since the video of “Breezeblocks” began circulating, the Leeds/Cambridge group’s album An Awesome Wave has been the talk of F
REVIEW: PURITY RING – SHRINES (2012)
The best music often comes via word-of-mouth. This one was as clear as crystal when, in mid-winter, Jeremiah Nelson, one of the Midwest’s hidden music gems, stopped me by mentioning this one band. They were the first of many recommendations I would receive from him, and proved to be the one t
INTERVIEW: THE TRIBE & BIG CATS! (MINNEAPOLIS)
The Tribe & Big Cats! also known as, TTxBC may only be two people on stage, but in their words, “We’re like 15 people, and a couple jungle cats.” The Minneapolis hip-hop duo, and sometimes more made a splash at this years Soundset Festival. We caught up with them behind the scenes after