Low Anthem The Central Presbyterian Church, one of the more interesting SXSW venues, was the perfect room for the majestic songs of the Low Anthem. The talented trio moved swiftly through a range of instruments during the course of their set. It was completely captivating, albeit a bit ironic to hear songs about Charles Darwin […]
Ryan Adams, How We’ve Missed You
From a recent Q&A with Ryan Adams in the UK newspaper the Guardian: What’s the frequency, Kenneth? I mean, seriously, who is Kenneth? The answer should be, “Hey Michael [Stipe] what would happen if you sat down and actually thought this shit out for 10 minutes?” I mean, no offence but there’s a slight difference […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2008, A Video Companion
We bolt right out of the gate this month with Butch Walker’s smokin’ video for “The Weight of Her” followed by the Right On’s blazing through a live performance of “Do Your Thing, Babe.” After that, you’ll want to catch your breath with live acoustic performances from Ben Nichols and David Garza. From there we’ve […]
The Hold Steady Rockin’ the House!
The gauntlet has been thrown, my friends. I’m just back from seeing the Hold Steady kick off their global domination 2008 tour in support of their forthcoming album Stay Positive. What does it say when the title track – a song that isn’t even the lead single – whips the crowd into an unbridled frenzy? […]
The Kennedys–Madison Square Park, New York City
The Madison Square Park Concert Series in New York City kicked of to a soggy start on Wednesday, June 18, but the passing thunderstorm didn’t deter eager folk enthusiasts from coming out (umbrellas and all) to the park’s lush Oval Lawn listen to the quirky, bohemian musical talents of Pete and Maura Kennedy, known on-stage […]
Listen Up: The Teenage Prayers’ “Everyone Thinks You’re the Best”
Imagine a soul band playing CBGB’s and you’ll have a sense of the Prayer’s sound. The Brooklyn-based group serves up a potent blend of soul and hard rock that will get you dancing until you collapse from exhaustion. Opener “I Like It†sets the tone with a smoldering intro that builds into an angst-ridden beat. […]