REVIEW: HELLO DEATH – REMNANTS (2015)
“Sometimes all it takes to truly be great is that it’s not so bad as the last time that you tried.” Whether in an attempt to reassure themselves or downplay the record to come, Hello Death begins their sophomore release with what could almost have been written as an ode to follow-up a
REVIEW: MIKAL CRONIN – MCIII (2015)
For those of you who don’t know Mikal Cronin, you best educate yourself. With two incredible albums already under his belt (aptly MCI and MC II), it’s fair to say he knows what he’s doing by now. Having played in Ty Segall’s live band as a bassist, he’s certainly
REVIEW: GROUP OF THE ALTOS – R U PERSON OR NOT (2015)
Sometimes it is impossible not to be derivative in music. The Group of Altos, structurally and sonically, seems largely influenced by Canadian post-rock ensembles Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Do Make Say Think (all part of the terrific Constellation Records) with their large personnel, use of roa
REVIEW: RIVER CITY EXTENSION – DELIVERANCE (2015)
River City Extension knows how to win an unfamiliar crowd over. I’ve seen it. It was in August 2012. New Jersey’s River City Extension was touring as openers for enchanting Portland rockers Blind Pilot. I was covering the Milwaukee concert for Mezzic, primarily to review headliner Blin
REVIEW: FIELD GUIDES – BOO, FOREVER (2014)
On their debut album, Boo, Forever, Brooklyn-based Field Guides deliver a collection of songs that merge literary inspirations with charming pop likeability. The album was a decade in the making for Field Guides creator, Benedict Kupstas, and his revolving jam of contributing musician
REVIEW + PHOTOS: PEARL JAM AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER (ST PAUL, MN)
Pearl Jam (Seattle, WA)October 19th, 2014 (21st Anniversary of Vs.)Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN Pearl Jam made their long overdue return to Minnesota on Sunday night, eight years after their last trip through, opening for Tom Petty. Not having a notch in my PJ show belt yet, but a 20 year
REVIEW: PEAKING LIGHTS – COSMIC LOGIC (2014)
Peaking Lights is made of married couple Aaron Coynes and Indra Dunis. The pair used to be based in Madison and ran favorite local thrift store, Good Style Shop. The space was located near East Washington and the Capitol but has now moved to the Project Lodge’s old real estate on Johnson Street. B
REVIEW: INTERPOL – EL PINTOR (2014)
“All the Rage Back Home” the lead single off of Interpol’s fifth album, El Pintor, recalls an excitement, a fevered energy that hasn’t been notably prominent in the band’s most recent releases, especially the epic and atmospheric previous effort, 2010’s self-tilted Interpo
REVIEW: DOUBLE EWES – DOUBLE EWES (2014)
Double Ewes seem to be the stalwarts of the yearly Rock County Folk Symposium. The event has occurred for the past four years at the band’s front man Whilden Hughes’ family estate in Janesville. This year it has been moved to been to Camp Rotamer (still in Rock County), which features bathrooms