Monday, May 9 2011
There Is Nothing to Grieve: An Argument Against a Neutral Milk Hotel Reunion
On 4 December 2010, Jeff Mangum, indie rock's most reclusive star, performed a full acoustic set, the first in at least a decade. But does that make the possibility of a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion a good idea?
Thursday, April 28 2011
On Truth and Lies and the Full Frame Film Festival 2011
What is the connection between cloned puppies and a 32-year-old sex in chains story? This and other questions raised at this year’s Full Frame Film Festival.
Tuesday, April 19 2011
Coachella 2011, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Heatstroke
I wouldn’t change a thing about Coachella. Even the stuff that irritated me.
Friday, April 15 2011
Record Store Day: A Celebration of Independence and Music Fandom
In the midst of continuing uncertainty in the music business, do independent record stores and artists offer the direction for the industry’s future?
Can’t Stop the Serenity: Taking Fan Activism to the Next Level
A member of Whedonites United, a Tennessee group associated with the Can't Stop the Serenity movement, explains how a group of fans of Joss Whedon and the film Serenity takes fan activism to a new level by actively trying to make the world a more humane and just place.
Wednesday, April 13 2011
The Roads to New Cross: The London Small Press Expo
With convention season in the US rapidly becoming a yearlong calendar event, the London Comics Small Press Expo still makes those small, personal connections between reader, newbie creator, and established pro.
Monday, April 4 2011
The Unlimited Possibilites of SXSW: A Rookie Looks Back
SXSW is about exposure: to the elements, to the limits of your own sanity, but most importantly, to musical acts that many fans in your hometown could only dream of seeing.
Monday, March 28 2011
National Theatre Live Shocks ‘Frankenstein’ Back to Life
Why did you create me? The plaintive question adorning National Theatre Live posters may echo critics’ question about the need for yet another in a long line of Frankensteins. Previous Frankensteins and monsters have been entertaining but less socially relevant. The National Theatre’s production, as directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, to use a cliché, is Alive!
Tuesday, March 1 2011
Sneak Peek at ‘The Book of Mormon’
South Park creators and societal scab-pickers Trey Parker and Matt Stone are fascinated by Mormonism. A few weeks before official previews were set to begin, the creators of The Book of Mormon opened the doors to their rehearsal space and gave writers a sneak peek. Here's what we saw.
Monday, February 14 2011
Oh, We’re Supposed to Give Awards, Too?: The 2011 Grammy Awards
Amidst all the tributes, over-the-top performances, and CBS-centric presenters, the Grammy ceremony only occasionally remembered to hand out an award or two. But when it did, the results were often surprising ...
Tuesday, November 2 2010
At the Rally to Restore Sanity, We Were ‘It’
PopMatters' Kirby Fields travels to Washington -- with two-year-olds wearing matching Colonial Boy and Colonial Girl outfits in tow -- to find sanity amidst the massive event that was 'The Rally to Restore Sanity'.
Friday, October 29 2010
We Were Digging for Something: Matador @ 21
Matador 21, the three-day celebration of Matador Records' 21st anniversary, could be seen as part of the year's trend towards '90s nostalgia, but at the time it felt like something different.
Thursday, October 28 2010
An Interactive Medium: The 48th Annual New York Film Festival
This year's organizers offered a reinvigorated idea of what the New York Film Festival can be: elite and cerebral, topically, tonally, and globally diverse, and eager to foster a dialogue with its community.
Wednesday, October 6 2010
The Three Creators: PopMatters at the “Chicago Women in Comics” Panel
This past week Columbia College hosted the Chicago Women in Comics but rather than unearth a discourse of marginalization, the event showcased a deep wellspring of talent and widescale commercial success.
Thursday, September 2 2010
Anarchy and the Arts: Sex, Wales and Anarchy 3 Sets the Stage for Change
“SWA is a festival of talent born in dissatisfaction, anger and desperation. But, hopefully, over the years to come it will continue to generate opportunity, confidence, realisation of potential and a cleansing of the soul.”
Thursday, August 19 2010
Of Guffaws and GDPs: PopMatters Talks to Yoram Bauman, Standup Economist
For stand-up economist Yoram Bauman, getting laughs out of the financial situation is his business. Even during these hard times, business is good.
Friday, August 13 2010
Is Free the Future of Music?
A Los Angeles concert promoter is attempting to make money by making his concerts free, and he thinks the rest of the industry should do it too.
Wednesday, August 4 2010
Lollapalooza 2010: Opportunity Knocks, Part One
Lollapalooza is one of the biggest music festivals of the summer, but with 100-plus acts on the lineup, not everyone hitting the stage has the name-recognition of a Green Day or a Lady Gaga. In this two-part feature, PopMatters follows one band as it prepares for its first gig at an event that is expected to draw almost 100,000 excited music fans.
Wednesday, July 14 2010
The Inagural Nateva: A Magnificent Success
An ideal location, perfect weather, wonderful people, and everything you could want in a festival experience.
Friday, July 2 2010
Bonnaroo 2010: A Rock Smorgasbord for the Ages
No other festival can touch Bonnaroo for its eclectic mix of first-rate artists from a staggering cross-section of genres. In fact, Bonnaroo, in the festival's ninth year, offered more incredible live music than you can possibly stand to take in.
