May 2009

Event Reviews

Amanda Palmer

Precocious Dresden Dolls singer Amanda Palmer entertained faithful fans in St. Petersburg with a solo show that was as bewitching as it was uneven, not that Bob Pomeroy, or anyone else attending, seemed to mind.

The Faint

Two similar and familiar bands collided as The Faint and Ladytron shared a co-headlining bill that included a pair of sold-out stops in New York City. With more black attire and keyboards than one could count, the two acts offered career-spanning setlists filled with their distinctive synth-pop, post-punk and new-wave sounds. Kiran Aditham witnessed night two of the dark, dancefloor delights for himself.

New Kids on the Block

Fifteen years after New Kids on the Block (or NKOTB, if you please) attempted their premature comeback following their late '80s fame, they're back on tour with a new album to push. This time the fans, and even Jen Cray, have shown up.

Riverboat Gamblers

Packing enough punk 'n' roll to wake up a sleepy Florida Friday afternoon, Riverboat Gamblers plowed through a matinee set at The Social that left Jen Cray sweaty and smiling.

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren's "Arena" tour passes through Orlando. The small show is so cozy, our own Carl F Gauze feels like he's visiting a long lost friend.

These Arms Are Snakes

Skin, spit, and sweat were on board for a recent These Arms Are Snakes show that Jen Cray soaked up in Orlando.

The Ting Tings

Jen Cray thinks that this latest Next Big Thing from the UK just might live up to the hype.

Valient Thorr

The ever mighty Valient Thorr returns to Orlando to slay the crowd, Jen Cray included, once more.

The Fabulous Wailers & The Ventures - 50th Anniversary Concert

A mind-boggler - not one, but two bands from Tacoma have been performing almost as long as rock 'n' roll has been on the radio. Is Pacific Northwest drinking water a fountain of youth? Steve Stav ponders such longevity in his review of the Fabulous Wailers and the Ventures.

Butch Walker

The salacious details of pop messiah Butch Walker's recent sold-out Orlando concert, as told by willing follower Christopher Long.

Features

Susan Boyle, Folk Hero

After a week of YouTube mania, Steve Stav assesses the far-reaching ramifications of the Susan Boyle phenomenon in his essay on the Scottish singer.

Interviews

Pepper

Lynn Wallace talks to Pepper drummer Yesod Williams about touring with Pennywise, the band's new live album, Kona Gold, and what keeps the band going strong.

tUnE-yArDs

Merrill Garbus's enigmatic musical experiments are released under the odd moniker tUnE-yArDs. Ink 19 caught up with tUnE-yArDs to dish on her new album, BiRd BrAiNs, out now on vinyl.

Music Reviews

Music B

Bat For Lashes

Two Suns (Astralwerks). Review by Jen Cray.

Michael Behm

Saving America. Review by Robert M. Sutton.

Blackout Beach

Skin of Evil (Soft Abuse). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Broken Spindles

Kiss/Kick (blank.wav). Review by Kiran Aditham.

The Broken West

Now or Heaven (Merge). Review by Andrew Coulon.

Bubblegum Lemonade

Doubleplusgood (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music C

Petula Clark

Open Your Heart / Portrait of Petula Clark (Collectors' Choice). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music D

The Dark Romantics

Heartbreaker (Lujo). Review by Carl F Gauze.

The Decemberists

The Hazards of Love (Capitol). Review by Matt Parish.

The Donkeys

Living On The Other Side (Dead Oceans). Review by Andrew Coulon.

Music E

Eulogies

Here Anonymous (Dangerbird). Review by Jen Cray.

Music F

Benjy Ferree

Come Back To The Five And Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee (Domino). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Tomo Fujita

Right Place, Right Time. Review by Robert M. Sutton.

Music G

Great Northern

Remind Me Where the Light Is (Eenie Meenie). Review by Jen Cray.

Gregor Samsa

Over Air (The Kora Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

The Guild League

Speak Up (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music H

Harpoon

Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide (Interloper). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Heartless Bastards

The Mountain (Fat Possum). Review by Jen Cray.

Hi Red Center

Assemble (Joyful Noise). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Music I

Iceberg Slim

Reflections (Uproar). Review by Scott Adams.

Kenneth Ishak

Silver Lightning from a Black Sky (Division). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Music J

Chris Joss

Sticks (ESL). Review by Carl F Gauze.

Music K

Kreator

Hordes of Chaos (SPV). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music M

Metric

Fantasies (Metric Music International). Review by Jen Cray.

The Michael Smith Band

Days of Wonder . Review by Robert M. Sutton.

Music N

Nadja

Desire In Uneasiness (Crucial Blast). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music S

Superchunk

Leaves in the Gutter (Merge). Review by Laura Pontillo.

Music W

Wavves

Wavvves (Fat Possum). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music X

Xasthur

A Gate Through Bloodstained Mirrors (Hydra Head). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Print Reviews

Bill Bruford: The Autobiography

Legendary drummer Bill Bruford recounts his life with Yes, King Crimson, and the Progressive Rock movement.

Black Diamond

Beware the wrath of a KISS superfan scorned! Christopher Long reviews the 10th anniversary edition of Dale Sherman's biography of the Creatures of the Night.

Modern Masters Volume 18: John Romita Jr.

Twomorrows gives the Modern Masters treatment to John Romita Jr., who is doing a fine job in living up to his father's rich artistic legacy at Marvel Comics.

Noise: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth

Peter Wild and a group of authors take on the challenge of making literature out of Sonic Youth's noisy, chaotic, shimmering music. S D Green has some warnings for fans of Sonic Youth who may be intrigued.

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Kirby Five-Oh: Celebrating Fifty Years of the King of Comics

All hail the King! Matthew Moyer finds Jack Kirby's comics legacy well-preserved in this pair of retrospectives from Twomorrows Press.