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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
