William Carl Ferleman

Features

Ave Anna: Anna Nicole Smith and Celebrity Culture

By William Carl Ferleman

Lost in the media's sensationalizing of Anna Nicole Smith was any sense of the human being behind the myth. [28 March 2007]

Reviews

U2: 18 October 2009 - Norman, OK

By William Carl Ferleman

This is, to be sure, U2 at their touring highpoint. [12 November 2009]

Marilyn Manson: 21 July 2009 - Bonner Springs, KS

By William Carl Ferleman

It’s nice to know that Marilyn Manson doesn’t have to rely solely on his theatre and colorful wit [28 August 2009]

311: 13 June 2009 - Kansas City, MO

By William Carl Ferleman

311 put on a formidable live show, but by no means did this gig, ebullient and potent though it may have been, meet the band’s own high standard. [21 July 2009]

Nine Inch Nails

By William Carl Ferleman

A slew of low-level music-to-sleep-to cuts amid several high-powered and impeccably well-performed songs meant that Trent Reznor, the audience, and the set often morphed into inanimate tedium. [15 September 2008]

Foo Fighters

By William Carl Ferleman

Sure, it was Foo Fighters that played, but it was singer-guitarist Dave Grohl and his unyielding desire for attention, his wild and crazy antics, and his unkempt, 80s-era, glam-metal hairdo that became the predominant focus of the evening. [5 August 2008]

Rush

By William Carl Ferleman

At this point, it is doubtful that Rush will ever hold a farewell tour: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and the indomitable Neil Peart are all reveling in too much creative and technical excitement. [28 May 2008]

Linkin Park

By William Carl Ferleman

Linkin Park’s ostentatious crowd-kissing really was unwarranted because so much of the band’s music was compelling as well as lively in performance. The music stood out on its own; there was no need for band members to “keep it real” with the crowd. [4 April 2008]

Red Hot Chili Peppers [2007 Rewind]

By William Carl Ferleman

As John Frusciante belligerently chastised the crowd -- Peppers fans through and through -- for having little understanding of music outside of what’s played on MTV, one couldn't help but wonder: what the heck's happening here? [3 January 2008]

Modest Mouse

By William Carl Ferleman

Yes, faithful friends, Isaac Brock is human, however much he strives to achieve the persona of a deft, but thoroughly imbibed, alien. [14 December 2007]

Marilyn Manson

By William Carl Ferleman

If Eat Me, Drink Me is Manson’s most “personal” album, how precisely will its songs translate in front of a live audience? How will Manson function sans the mask of one of his numerous characters? And most importantly, is Marilyn Manson still relevant at all? [21 September 2007]

Albert Hammond, Jr.

By William Carl Ferleman

With the Strokes on (temporary?) hiatus, guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. pulls the garage door down and starts polishing his old-school pop. [19 June 2007]

Red Hot Chili Peppers

By William Carl Ferleman

As John Frusciante belligerently chastised the crowd -- Peppers fans through and through -- for having little understanding of music outside of what’s played on MTV, one couldn't help but wonder: what the heck's happening here? [6 April 2007]

Tool

By William Carl Ferleman

's new gimmicks are mildly amusing, they indicate that the band is trying to de-emphasize its personal peculiarity. Why the hell would it want to do that? [1 June 2006]

The Rolling Stones

By William Carl Ferleman

Omaha Rock City: Four decades later, the Stones remain strangely vital. [22 February 2006]