Monday, February 26 2007
David Byrne
PopMatters' Lyra Pappin grills David Byrne in an attempt to understand why "I don't have to prove that I am creative!"
Thursday, February 22 2007
My Brightest Diamond
Shara Worden can sing with the best in the business. If only that's all there was to it...
Monday, February 19 2007
The Rapture
The Rapture are one of those bands that can be either energetic and tight or just plain flat and hokey. Just depends on who shows up...
Friday, February 9 2007
The World Famous Crackers?
Calling this an interactive fireworks display is simply not adequate. It's more like an evening-long apocalypse.
Wednesday, February 7 2007
The Curtains
A lesson in marketing: if you're planning to make a surprise jump from your successful rock band to focus your efforts on a side project, make sure its name doesn't augur the end of your musical career.
Monday, February 5 2007
Training Camp Hip-Hop Showcase
In martial-arts movies, victory only materialized after a soon-to-be champion demonstrated the five foundational disciplines of success: hard work, self-motivation, commitment, critical thinking, and structure. It's the same in hip-hop.
Friday, February 2 2007
Pillow Fight League, US Debut
Pillows pounding, legs tangle with arms and skirts slowly ride, inching forward as muscle strains against muscle. If that's not empowering, what is?
Wednesday, January 31 2007
Andrew Bird
Violin plucker and inspired indie songster Andrew Bird previews tunes from his upcoming Armchair Apocrypha LP.
Monday, January 29 2007
Mission of Burma + Oneida
When people ask me who my favorite band is, I usually say Oneida, except for when I say Mission of Burma...
Friday, January 26 2007
Jeff Tweedy + Glenn Kotche
Jeff Tweedy fetes a future in the stand-up comedy, as Kotche beats waves through the crowd.
Wednesday, January 24 2007
M. Ward + Holly Throsby
I went to the show reluctantly, expecting to see "serious" girls staring meaningfully into the singer’s eyes. Heck, they might even shed a few tears...
Monday, January 22 2007
Culver/Judge Inauguration 2007 feat. Reverend Al Green
Apparently, the good Rev had been waiting for a special invitation to come to Iowa. When he finally got one, it was from the governor’s office, no less.
Friday, January 19 2007
Mad Racket Feat. Jamie Lidell + Mad Racket DJs
Yep, you read right. This party went down in a bowling alley. And not the youth-oriented, ten-pin kind of bowling, either...
Wednesday, January 17 2007
The Lemonheads
Mumbling something about tequila, Evan Dando proceeds to sing “Happy Birthday” to no one in particular. This, you could say, is a bad omen.
Monday, January 15 2007
Art with a View
Through jazz, regional Cajun food, and a diverse stream of attendees, Art with a View evoked the charm, timelessness, and even the seasoned seediness for which New Orleans is famous.
Thursday, January 11 2007
Times New Viking
PopMatters' Brian Bartels tells a pre-emptive tale of Matador's (and maybe your) next big thing...
Tuesday, January 9 2007
Mary Mary + Take 6
Christmas can be a time for quiet reflection or loud partying. Of course, there's nothing wrong with doing both at once...
Monday, January 8 2007
Lou Reed performs “Berlin”
When I heard that Lou Reed would be spending four nights in Brooklyn performing his landmark 1973 album, Berlin, in its entirety, it seemed impossible to pass up. Of course, it seemed equally impossible that it’d be any good...
Friday, January 5 2007
Riffing With Wilco, A Journey: Part 2 [2006 Rewind]
"I guess I’m... the band's... front man," Tweedy says. "What is that? I’m not a... leading man. No. Maybe. Maybe I'm, I'm Nels Cline's leading man."
Riffing With Wilco, A Journey: Part 1 [2006 Rewind]
PopMatters' Brian Bartels escapes the hustle and bustle of NYC in an essential act of improv.
