December 2010

Event Reviews

Ian Anderson

God of rock 'n' roll flute and leader of Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson, opens his US tour in Orlando. Carl F Gauze watches from the balcony and tries not to get too distracted by the aging fans and their frail bladders.

Andy Hull & Kevin Devine

Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra's Andy Hull have joined forces as the gorgeously poetic pop group Bad Books, but fill their recent tour setlists with songs from their collective catalogs. Jen Cray enjoys the music, but yearns for an espresso or two.

Gallagher

Watermelon-squashing comedian Gallagher returns to splatter the stage of the Plaza and the first eight or nine rows of seats. Carl F Gauze hides beneath a trash bag outside of the splash zone.

Social Distortion

Few things are as Rock 'n' Roll as 30-year punk rock veterans Social Distortion, as Jen Cray and a sold-out crowd at Orlando's House of Blues recently witnessed.

Suicidal Tendencies

Old school skateboarding thrash punks Suicidal Tendencies stopped by Orlando with Hed PE to wax political. It was a ruckus not to be missed -- and Eric Donath did not.

Voice of Addiction

As part of Chicago's Wrecking Ball Punk Festival, Voice of Addiction stood out in a sea of genre-defying punk rock. Chris Catania was wooed by their rowdy rhythms.

Features

I Love You, You Big Dummy

Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart has died of complications from MS at 69 -- now that's some Low Yo Yo stuff. James Mann recalls a genius.

Top 19 Dead People of 2010

Carl F Gauze reviews 19 movers and shakers we'll miss in the New Year.

Interviews

Terry Carleton

How do you attract a comedian's attention? For singer/songwriter Terry Carleton, you write a song about him. In this case, the celebrity is Pee-wee Herman, who Carleton has been trying to court with the Fab Five-fueled single, "Good Morning, Mr. Breakfast." Will Herman ever hear the track, or will The Playhouse Gang give it a thumbs down? Carleton speaks to Robert Sutton about his own "Big Adventure."

Music Reviews

Albare

After the Rain (Holy Cow Records). Review by Robert Sutton.

Bleu

Four (The Major Label). Review by Sean Slone.

Brookhaven

When the Chorus Walks (Expel Records). Review by James Mann.

Hello=Fire

Hello=Fire (Schnitzel Records). Review by Jen Cray.

Mermaids

Tropsicle (Pretty Ambitious Records). Review by Laura Pontillo.

Mr. G

Still Here (Rekids). Review by Carl F Gauze.

My Chemical Romance

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Reprise Records). Review by Jen Cray.

Slow Club

Christmas, Thanks For Nothing EP (Moshi Moshi ). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Stimulators

Loud Fast Rules (ROIR). Review by Scott Adams.

T. Rex (reissue!)

The Slider (Fat Possum). Review by Scott Adams.

The White Buffalo

Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruffshod Records / Nettwerk). Review by Al Pergande.

Twin Shadow

Forget (Terrible Records). Review by Jen Cray.

We Wish You a Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year

Various Artists (Armoury Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music B

Bambara

Dog Ear Days. Review by Matthew Moyer.

Black River

BlackNRoll (Armoury). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music F

Fistula

Goat (Crucial Blast). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music G

Guster

Easy Wonderful (Universal Republic). Review by Sean Slone.

Music H

Hillstomp

Darker the Night (In Music We Trust). Review by James Mann.

Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica

The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel (Exotica For Modern Living). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music I

Ima Robot

Another Man's Treasure (Echo Park). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music J

Jackass 3D

Soundtrack (Epitaph). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music L

The Legendary Pink Dots

Seconds Late for the Brighton Line (ROIR). Review by Robert Sutton.

Music M

Jesse McReynolds & Friends

Songs of the Grateful Dead (Woodstock). Review by James Mann.

Music O

Old 97's

The Grand Theatre, Vol. 1 (New West). Review by Sean Slone.

Music S

Simian Mobile Disco

Is Fixed (Wichita). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Slash

Slash [Deluxe Edition] (EMI). Review by Joe Frietze.

Suicidal Tendencies

No Mercy Fool/The Suicidal Family (Suicidal). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music T

Thompson Ward

Porch Funk (Jam Shack). Review by Robert Sutton.

Music W

Weezer

Pinkerton [Deluxe Edition] (Geffen). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Print Reviews

Motorhead in the Studio

How does one make a book about Motorhead, hard-drugging and hard-thrashing metal godfathers, boring? Read on...

Nina Simone: The Biography

The distance between Eunice Waymon and Nina Simone is explained and explored for Jessica Whittington in this somewhat dry biography.

Still on the Road: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1974-2006

James Mann feels this guy knows more about Bob Dylan than Robert Zimmerman. Is that a good thing?

Independence Days

The history of teeny, tiny labels that launched some really big bands. Before the out-crowd became the in-crowd.

Screen Reviews

Epiphany

Delerium brings its spacey warmth to the 9:30 Club in this 2008 concert film. Carl F. Gauze knew he was saving those glowsticks for something...

Final 24

Ever watched an E! True Hollywood Story and felt dirty for watching it? That's exactly how Tim Wardyn

In Session

Two legendary blues men swapping licks and telling tales. It's a shame it seems recorded at ten in the morning. James Mann let's the music do the talking.

Make Me Young: Youth Knows No Pain

Eternal youth is only a surgery away. Carl F Gauze is skeptical about the procedure, though.

The Best of Soul Train

Thirty-five years of Soul Train on three DVDs leaves Scott Adams with a serious '70s jones.