Being recognized as a top singer for two years running by American Idol seems like it should be a high point in a vocalist’s career. For Auroran Devan Blake Jones, the experience was more painful than if he had never tried in the first place. But he credits his time…
After a few years of songwriting collaboration with Max Creek’s Scott Murawski, Mike Gordon’s latest effort is finally ready for consumption with the release of his new album, Overstep. Over the years, the man also known as the bassist of Phish has released numerous albums with his own band, each…
Formed in 1982, Skinny Puppy (due tonight, February 24, at the Ogden Theatre) is a pioneer of electronic industrial music. The band’s dark aesthetic and its visionary amalgamation of rhythm, texture and tone cast an indelible shadow on virtually all industrial music that followed in its wake. Throughout its career,…
The Lawrence Arms (due Saturday, February 22, at The Summit Music Hall) started in 1999 when former members of the Broadways, Brendan Kelly and Chris McCaughan, decided to do a more melodic punk band focused on often startlingly detailed and personal but emotionally vibrant music that didn’t wax into the…
Somebody has listed a pair of Beats Pro headphones on eBay that is allegedly one of the pairs that was gifted to the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl week. According to the listing, only 108 were manufactured, and 54 were given to each team. The headphones are diamond gemmed, according…
It was evident early on that New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton had tremendous trumpet chops. After a stint with legendary drummer Elvin Jones, Payton inked a deal with Verve at the age of twenty and went on to release seven discs for the imprint, as well as a number of…
Back again here with another fresh batch of homegrown hip-hop. This week we’ve got a new club anthem from Myrical, a genre-blending gem from Hwood, a new cut from Trev Rich and sweet serenade from Boozilla with some help from Dae Dai. Continue on to see what’s good this week…
Superhumanoids (due this Friday, February 21, at the Ogden Theatre) formed in Los Angeles in 2009, when friends and multi-instrumentalists Cameron Parkins, Sarah Chernoff and Max St. John came together over a mutual interest in R&B and ’80s pop music. Though much has been made of the group’s connection to…
While Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Mel Torme made singing jazz standards part of their repertoire, some consider them to be more from the crooners school. Here we’ve put together a list of the ten of the best male singers who excelled in jazz, whether it be…
The Wild Feathers (due at the Bluebird Theater this Friday, February 21) don’t hide their love for classic folk, rock and country. The Nashville quartet has made a kind of musical mission statement out of paying tribute to giants like Neil Young, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. The act’s…
Since its inception in 2003, Man Man (due Monday, February 17, at the Fox Theatre) has made music that defied easy categorization; if anything, it suggests that the bandmembers have listened to a whole lot of Captain Beefheart. The act’s album titles, often seemingly surrealistic, make interesting and creative cultural…
Even though metal has smoked and drank its entire life, it will never die. This year, metal embarks on another era opening up the swinging saloon doors for new inebriated metal degenerates to steal the show. Below the radar, most of these metal bands have what it takes to break…
Deafheaven (due this Sunday, February 16, at the Marquis Theater) formed in San Francisco in 2010. Starting modestly, writing its earliest demos on acoustic guitar, the outfit has since made its mark with a unique sounding hybrid blend of black metal, shoegaze and post-rock. The band’s expansive songs deal unflinchingly…
When metal outsiders think of the massively influential Swedish death metal scene, Dark Tranquillity co-founder and vocalist Mikael Stanne is probably not be the type of person they’d expect. Stanne is not intimidating,abrasive or angry. Instead, he has a very positive attitude, which is difficult to reconcile with the stereotype…
When Richard Reinhardt auditioned to become a member of the Ramones in 1983, few knew what an asset he would be to the legendary punk outfit. Not only could Richie Ramone play the hell out of the drums, he could also sing and write songs. With Richie aboard, The Ramones…
Over the years, Christian metal bands have played in a variety of styles, from death metal to metalcore to ’80s metal. Some artists in this realm often wish that critics and fans would focus less on the religious aspect — claiming it detracts from the music — while others embrace…
The Pixies (due this Thursday, February 13, at the Fillmore Auditorium) formed in 1986, and by the time the landmark album Surfer Rosa was released, in 1988, they had become one of the most important and influential bands of the alt-rock era. Though credit for the loud-quiet-loud dynamic the foursome…
Pixies (due at the Fillmore Auditorium on Thursday, February 13) formed in 1986, and within two years, the act became one of the most important and influential of the bands of the alt-rock era. Though credit for the loud-quiet-loud dynamic the Pixies made famous more properly belongs to another Boston…
Having been characterized as a “jam band” for so many years, Lotus took a different approach with its latest album and delved into the world of hip-hop. Calling on a specific group of MCs and styles, the band dropped a great collaborative album that showed the instrumental talents that have…
Attention serious sax players: Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 8. You won’t want to miss Everything Sax. The folks from Jazz@Jack’s have organized a free day-long saxophone event of clinics, discussions, career opportunities and more. A number of noted professors, including John Gunther, Art Bouton and Peter Sommer, will…
John Denver had a hit with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert’s song “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado.” The tune was actually inspired by banjo master Dick Weissman, who’s back in Denver after a decade living in Oregon. He produced Danoff and Nivert’s album Reincarnation and a number of…
Over the next few weeks, we will be following Project Aspect (Jay Jaramillo) and Unlimited Gravity (Ronnie Weberg) as they tour around the country on their first national tour. The pair have grown together collectively in the scene as the Mile High Sound Movement. The two will crisscross the country…
