December 2007

Aesop Rock

Despite the obvious pitfalls of playing on a giant Transformer in a "backyard", Aesop Rocks this block party-esque show at Orlando's Anti-Pop Music Festival. S D Green was there to drink the $2.50 PBRs.

Against Me!

The Orlando date of the Against Me! tour was scheduled in competition with the annual Anti Pop Fest, but the band's loyal followers could not be deterred. Jen Cray skipped out on the multitude of alternate shows happening downtown to spend another evening with these Gainesville boys.

Between the Buried & Me

Progressive metalcore masters Between the Buried & Me surprised everyone when their Orlando show sold out in advance, leaving many fans scrambling the streets begging for tickets. Jen Cray squeezed inside for a surprisingly friendly evening of new metal.

Big D and the Kids Table

It was another night of dirty, rowdy punk rock as Big D and the Kids Table brought their Steady Riot Tour to Orlando. Jen Cray got knocked around in the pit, but still managed to make her way out and report back.

Boys Like Girls

While most were trying to push their way closer to get a glimpse of Boys Like Girls, Brittany Sturges found herself trying to make a "great escape" to the back of the venue.

Brand New

The two-night stint of Brand New and Thrice at Orlando's House of Blues sold out days in advance. Jen Cray managed to get inside on the closing night.

David Gray

Despite an unpredictable set played on borrowed instruments, and at times, almost drowned out by the screams of adoring devotees, David Gray made a fan of Chris Catania one night in Chicago.

Dinosaur Jr

The freshly reunited Dinosaur Jr. prove that you don't have to create a big PR circus to get people excited about your comeback. The numbers may have been modest, but those who made it out to the band's Orlando show at The Club@Firestone -- Jen Cray among them -- had a Sunday night to remember.

Down

What began as a side project for Pantera members Phillip Anselmo and Rex Brown has since become a supergroup within the metal world. Down brought their metal alumni to Orlando, and Jen Cray got herself an invite.

HIM

Finland's finest export, HIM, filled up Orlando's Hard Rock Live with hordes of gothcentric metal fans... and Jen Cray.

I Am the Avalanche

I Am the Avalanche brought a slew of mediocrity on tour with them to Orlando. Jen Cray was there to witness the disaster.

Jens Lekman

Jens Lekman came all the way from Gothenburg, Sweden to Tallahassee, FL to play some songs and laugh at our warm Florida Novembers. Omar DeLaRosa wore a sweater to the show, anyway.

Jimmy Eat World/Silverchair

O-Rock 105.9 may have really dropped the ball on this year's annual No Snow Show by splitting it into two separate shows, but at least they scored Jimmy Eat World and Silverchair to co-headline the second night of the event. Jen Cray was amongst the masses at Orlando's House of Blues trying to convince themselves that the pair was enough to justify the pricey ticket.

Peanut Butter Wolf

Chris Catania files a report from the Chicago stop of the hip-hoptastic Bounce Tour, featuring N.W.A. alumni and pop culture junkies-turned-rappers- like Madlib- alike. And of course, tour headliner and organizer, dj Peanut Butter Wolf.

Chuck Ragan

A fast departure from Brand New's show at the House of Blues brought me to the much more laid back vibe at The Social for the Chuck Ragan gig. The Hot Water Music frontman was not the only famous frontman who decided to leave his band at home and go it alone for an acoustic evening. Jen Cray was in for a quadruple bill of talent!

She Wants Revenge

RJ Bowen knows that She Wants Revenge is a dish best served cold at the Club@Firestone in Orlando. Wait, that makes no sense whatsoever...

The Spill Canvas

Brittany Sturges attempts to decipher all the hype surrounding South Dakota's own, The Spill Canvas during an eventful Philly gig.

Tori Amos

When Tori Amos comes to town, Orlando in this case, it's an event - one which Jen Cray had no intention of missing.

Features

Oscar Peterson

Jazz luminary Oscar Peterson has died at age 82 in Toronto. James Mann looks at the legendary pianist.

Interviews

Wooden Shjips

An interview with Erik Johnson, the humble and brilliant front man for the San Francisco-based psychedelic band Wooden Shjips.

Music Reviews

The Wannabe Has Beens

Former Trans Future Vol. 1 (The Wannabe Has Beens). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music A

A. Rex

Moving Backwards (A. Rex Music). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Laurie Anderson

Big Science (Nonesuch Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Andre 3000

Class of 3000: Music Volume One (La Face Records / Cartoon Network). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Army of Flying Robots

Life is Cheap (Superfi Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Arwin

Bright Outside (Self-released). Review by Chris Catania.

Music B

Bevel

Phoenician Terrane (Contraphonic). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Birgit

True Stories I Made Up (Zip). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Black Bonzo

Sound of the Apocalypse (B&B Records). Review by Crystal Lee.

Bliminal

Bliminal (Interchill). Review by Carl F Gauze.

The Blue Van

Dear Independence (Tvt). Review by Jen Cray.

Buck-O-Nine

Sustain (Asian Man Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Nebojsa Buhin

Guitar Language (Dallas Records). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music C

Child Bite

Gold Thriller (Joyful Noise). Review by Nora Richardson.

Rob Crow

Up (Temporary Residence). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Nels Cline, Wally Shoup, and Chris Corsano

Immolation/Immersion (Strange Attractors). Review by Bob Ham.

Music D

D-Lee

Da Connect (Trump Tight Entertainment). Review by Chris Catania.

Defamation League

League of the Living Dead (self-released). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Dдlek

Deadverse Massive Vol 1: Dдlek Rarities 1999 – 2006 (Hydra Head Records). Review by S D Green.

Music E

Everything, Now!

Police, Police! (Standard Recording Co.). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music F

Flunk

Personal Stereo (Beatservice). Review by Aaron Shaul.

The Forms

The Forms (Threespheres). Review by Jen Cray.

Music G

Great Kat

Wagner's War (Blood and Guts Music). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Guitar Wolf

Golden Black (Narnack). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music H

High Tension Wires

Midnight Cashier (Dirtnap). Review by Jen Cray.

Music J

Jakob

Solace (Graveface). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Jinn

Jinn (Superfi Records, Right To Refuse Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Jonny Manak and the Depressives

Rebound Town (Reach Around). Review by Jen Cray.

Music K

Amiina

Kurr (Ever). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Karate High School

The League of Tomorrow (Evo Recordings). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Chris Kenner

Land of 1000 Dances (Collector's Choice Music). Review by Carl F Gauze.

King of Prussia

Save the Scene (Kindercore). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Kraak & Smaak

The Remix Sessions (Quango). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music L

Little Wings

Soft Pow'r (RAD). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music M

Madlib/Peanut Butter Wolf

The Other Side of Los Angeles (Deaf, Dumb & Blind). Review by Chris Catania.

The Matinee Hit Parade

The Matinee Hit Parade (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Melody Club

At Your Service (Virgin). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Mountain

Masters of War (Big Rack Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music N

Naked Eyes

Fumbling With the Covers (Oglio Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

The New Loud

Me (secrets) You (I Heard You Wanna Fight Me). Review by Matthew Moyer.

New Model Army

High (Attack Attack). Review by Sean Slone.

Norma

1 (Novoton). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music O

Oblio Joes

Let's Decompose and Enjoy Assembling! (Twisted Knife). Review by Al Pergande.

Music P

The Perishers

Victorious (Nettwerk). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music Q

Quodia

The Arrow (7D Media). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music R

The Radishes

Good Machine (Self-Released). Review by Jen Cray.

The Rascals

Freedom Suite (Collector's Choice Music). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Red Cell

245t (CdBaby). Review by Matthew Moyer.

The Redwalls

The Redwalls (Mad Dragon). Review by Jen Cray.

Rooney

Calling the World (Geffen). Review by Sean Slone.

Music S

Mishka Shubaly

How to Make a Bad Situation Worse? (In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.

The Staple Singers

The 25th Day of December (Riverside Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

STNNNG

Fake Fake (Modern Radio Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Swan Lake

Beast Moans (Jagjaguwar). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music V

Sonny Vincent

P.I.N.S. (NDN Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music W

White Blue Yellow & Clouds

Introducing (I and Ear). Review by Jen Cray.

Ann Wilson

Hope and Glory (Zoe / Rounder Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Print Reviews

Flash Gordon, Vol. 7

Matthew Moyer swoons like Dale Arden over this latest volume of vintage Flash Gordon reprints from the fine people at Checker Books.

Matecumbe: The Lost Florida Novel

James Michener's first posthumous publication is revived after thirty years of sleeping with the fishes. Rosalie Petralia grinds it up for chum.

Punk 365

Matthew Moyer is glad that Holly George-Warren and the other compilers of this coffeetable-riffic collection of punk photos fetishize image as much as he does.

PJ Harvey's Rid of Me: A Story

Carl F Gauze enjoys the short story Kate Schatz spins out of PJ Harvey's monumental Rid Of Me album, the newest addition to the 33 1/3 line of books on classic albums.

The Anti-Matter Anthology

Matthew Moyer gets a crash course in hardcore history and a masterclass in interviewing bands from reading this collection of Norman Brannon's Anti-Matter zine.

The Zinester's Guide to Portland

Portland, ho! Matthew Moyer finds the Zinester's Guide to be a heartfelt, if somewhat flawed, love letter to stick in your jacket pocket the next time you visit "the city that works."