Events

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Thursday, July 9 2009

The Sadies + Jenny Lewis: 5 June 2009 - Chicago

By Rory O'Connor

Watching the Sadies live is like bearing witness to a tornado, a sort of freak of nature that pays no mind to its surroundings in forging a path.

Wednesday, July 8 2009

Willie Nelson: 2 June 2009 - Richmond, VA

By Sarah Moore

I hate to say it, but it seemed like he was just going through the motions. But for many people, that’s just fine.

Tuesday, July 7 2009

Elvis Perkins: 20 May 2009 - Brooklyn, NY

By Kirby Fields

I described Elvis Perkins as “part Andrew Bird, part Arcade Fire, part Rufus Wainwright, part Leonard Cohen, part Dylan, and all good”, but this catchall fails to account for his periodic spurts of beer-hall charm.

Monday, July 6 2009

Speakers Series: Karl Rove vs. James Carville: 26 May 2009 - New York

By Rachel Brodsky

As the debate wore on, the questions grew more prodding, the responses fiercer (complete with finger pointing), and the audience more aggravated than ever.

Friday, June 26 2009

Phish: 4 June 2009 / 6 June 2009 - Wantagh, NY and Mansfield, MA

By Chad Berndtson

It's good to have 'em back, warts and all.

Thursday, June 25 2009

Ben Folds: 20 May 2009 - Los Angeles

By Carole Ann Wright

Sometimes, you just need a safe bet.

Wednesday, June 24 2009

Black Moth Super Rainbow + School of Seven Bells: 20 May 2009 - Chicago

By Chris Catania

Love and pain, ecstasy and horror, joyful jubilation and perpetual elation -- it’s all in a night’s work for Black Moth Super Rainbow.

Tuesday, June 23 2009

Beirut: 6 May 2009 - Brussels, Belgium

By Kevin Pearson

Zach Condon and his cohorts approach these songs like they’re playing musical Risk, not just invading countries, but soaking in their sounds.

Monday, June 22 2009

The National: 29 May 2009 - Philadelphia

By Rachel Balik

The National’s performance, muted and uneasy as it was, still elicited rapt attention and glowing faces.

Friday, June 19 2009

Katie Melua: 12 May 2009 - Chicago

By Drew Fortune

At 25, Katie Melua has had a Dutch tulip named in her honor, met and played for Nelson Mandela, and set a Guinness World Record for deepest underwater concert

more Features

Friday, June 19 2009

Primavera Sound: On the Beach

By Ally Brown

Providing the perfect midway point between British and American festivals, Primavera Sound really is the best of both worlds.

Wednesday, June 17 2009

Dinosaur, Sr. or, Growing Old with (Prog) Rock and Roll

By Rob Kirkpatrick

As part of his own personal “See ‘em While They’re Still Standing” 2008-2009 Tour -- tracking how his old music heroes are aging -- one PopMatters writer checks in on Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood.

Tuesday, May 26 2009

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Born on the Bayou

By Anderson Heston

With 500 performances spread out over seven days, two weekends, and 14 stages, PopMatters’ reporter takes New Orleans’ Jazz Fest to task, but also asks: Where else on earth could this happen?

more Columns

Tuesday, February 3 2009

Concert Overload

By Ben Rubenstein

Free-for-all shows are like a "cool" parent trying to be your friend, instead of your authority figure. While it seems like a good situation at first -- no curfew, no rules -- you realize, eventually, that what it really needs is some structure.

(more Mixtape Confessions)