Music
Hurray for the Riff Raff, My Dearest Darkest Neighbor (Mod Mobilian Records / This Is American Music)
Call it the deep breath before the plunge. As Hurray for the Riff Raff prepares to dive into the major label pool with ATO (home of Alabama Shakes), the alt-country […]
Tin Men, Avocado Woo Woo (Threadhead Records)
Set aside for a moment the fact that the guitar is amplified, also that the plucky instigator who wields said axe is slinging M.F.A.-yearning narratives at the mic. Disregard too […]
Star & Dagger, Tomorrowland Blues (Cauldron 333)
It’s hard not to have expectations around the first full release (following a limited EP) from Star & Dagger—the new band featuring a pair of lady-rock heavyweights, White Zombie powerhouse […]
Aaron Lopez-Barrantes, ALB. (Independent)
Unequal parts adult-alternative singer-songwriter, twee folkie, and amateur acoustic bluesman, Aaron Lopez-Barrantes could have been just another sensitive college kid from Chapel Hill who decided to transplant himself to New […]
Joshua Polk, Beauty School Dropouts (Exploding God Heads)
First cut straight out of the gate, I’m thinking, “My God, this is where Calvin Johnson escaped to!” ’Cause that first cut sounds exactly like the former Beat Happening frontman’s […]
Creole George Guesnon, Plays Sings & Reminisces (American Music)
Guesnon was best known for his powerful banjo playing in the best bands of classic New Orleans jazz: Papa Celestine’s Tuxedo Jazz Band, Sam Morgan’s band, George Lewis’ band, etc. […]
Ben Bell and the Stardust Boys, The Matador (Independent)
As the band’s very name indicates, Ben Bell and the Stardust Boys features a cowboy outfit backing a wry singer-songwriter, one who’s done time in bars from Alabama and Austin. […]
Billy Iuso, Naked (Independent)
Brooklyn-born Billy Iuso, like so many musicians of his generation, moved to New Orleans in search of a musical grail. A guitarist by trade, he became part of the neo-funk […]
The Rides, Can’t Get Enough (429 Records)
You expect to see Stephen Stills as part of a trio, but not this trio: The Rides are Stills, Barry Goldberg (ex-Electric Flag keyboardist), and co-lead guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd. […]
George Lewis, The Best of George Lewis 1943 – 1965 (GHB Records)
George Lewis was working as a stevedore when he was plucked from obscurity in 1942 to back trumpeter Bunk Johnson. Johnson’s “re-discovery” is often credited with jumpstarting the revival of […]
