Monthly Archives: January 2012

Live review: Colliding cultures propel Dengue Fever’s east meets west soundscapes

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Dengue Fever, Crescent Ballroom Thursday, January 26 The setting was the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, but given the atmosphere and exotic sounds emanating from the stage, it may as well have been Cambodia circa mid-1970s. Eyes closed, it hardly mattered, … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Turbid North’s heavy Alaskan “Mountain Metal” vibe to fill Tempe’s Club Red

This gallery contains 1 photo.

With song titles such as “Kodiak,” ”Hunter,” “Wolves,” and “Between the Glacier and the Sea,” Turbid North‘s connection to Alaska remains strong, even if the band currently resides in Texas. The “mountain metal” band started in North Pole, Alaska (yes, a … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Lijadu Sisters’ “Mother Africa” a beautiful time capsule of 1970s Nigerian musical innovation

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The Lijadu Sisters Mother Africa (Knitting Factory) At a time when male artists dominated Nigeria’s music industry, The Lijadu Sisters were an anomaly, releasing a series of self-penned albums in the mid-1970s. Like many African bands of the era, these … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Dengue Fever: “It Doesn’t Matter…They Don’t Know What the Hell We’re Saying Anyway”

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Imagine wild organ swirls, rolling surf licks and jazzy party horns coupled with angular and decidedly eastern melodies, plus a sultry singer who shifts between English and her native Cambodian dialect. That’s just a fraction of what shapes Dengue Fever‘s … Continue reading

More Galleries | 1 Comment

Vintage ska band The Toasters pop up in Scottsdale

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Go to an online search engine and enter Toasters. The first thing that comes up is “Toasters. Lowest prices on all home appliances.” Oh, well. Search a little harder, and The Toasters, America’s first ska band (though their leader is … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Brooklyn band has plenty of Energy, little substance

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The Energy Streets on In-Between (Ignition Wavelength) My wife is mad at me. Though she usually overlooks my musical indulgences—the occasional need to sometimes play on song over and over, or having to listen to a wide variety of music … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Beauty and grace fill latest Kathleen Edwards release

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Kathleen Edwards Voyageur (Zoe/Rounder) As someone firmly entrenched in the singer-songwriter realm, Kathleen Edwards has avoided being pigeonholed. Voyageur, released today, serves as solid proof as the album shifts from rock to pop, folk to blues, with varying degrees of twang oscillating … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

The Fray’s new album follows familiar path…yawn!

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The Fray Scars & Stories (Epic) When The Fray’s latest album, Scars & Stories, ended, it took a few minutes before I realized I had been listening to anything at all. The Colorado band’s music had the same affect on … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Pat Travers still kicking ass, and liking it

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Pat Travers can kick ass in more ways than one. First, the Canadian guitarist is a black belt in Isshin Ryu Karate. And while he won’t demonstrate any martial arts moves on stage, Travers hard-hitting music is still a kick … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Jane’s Addiction’s latest disc strong, but no masterpiece

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Jane’s Addiction The Great Escape Artist (Capitol) It seems every few years Jane’s Addiction reemerges with another album or tour. With the release of The Great Escape Artist we get both. If a choice had to be made for one … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Wailers promoting, playing Bob Marley’s original vision tonight at Compound Grill

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Though but one original member remains from the original Wailers, a band formed to back a fast-rising vocal trio consisting of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailers, the music remains true to the roots of those reggae pioneers. Though … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Twitter post announces return of Texas post-punkers At The Drive-In

This gallery contains 2 photos.

“ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence. THIS STATION IS …. NOW ….OPERATIONAL.” So reads the posting of El Paso, Texas post-punk hardcore act At The Drive-In announcing via its … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Feedback, intensity drive self-reflective Cowboy Junkies CD

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Cowboy Junkies Sing in My Meadows (Latent) In concert, the familiar country leanings of the Cowboy Junkies often veer into feedback-driven distorted interludes that build with startling intensity before collapsing back on themselves. Such exuberance is found scattered across the … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Dub Trio sprinkles reggae vibe with sonic metal flakes

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Dub Trio IV (ROIR) After two years touring behind Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom and Hassidic reggae artist Matisyahu, Dub Trio’s amassed personal musical energy needed to be released. Heavy is the optimal word. Album starter “En Passant” throws open the … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment

John Doe’s latest, full of grit and determination, is a real “Keeper”

This gallery contains 1 photo.

John Doe Keeper (Yep Roc) Not all musicians age well. John Doe is an exception, and his rugged, if not slightly worn good looks fit his music — which can be described with the same words. There’s a dust-soiled country … Continue reading

More Galleries | Leave a comment