Tony Bennett
Sincerity. That’s Tony Bennett’s gift. read more
Joanna Newsom
Though it’s unfair to reduce an artist to a few superficial descriptors, Joanna Newsom has undeniably emerged as a candidate for such caricature... read more
2,305 Words On “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
This article is about the song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. read more
Sonic Youth To Release B-Sides Album Dec. 12
Any Sonic Youth news is great news, especially if they’re bringing out a compilation of B-Sides titled The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities, according to Filter.com. The tracks were selected by Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo. Tracklisting: 1. Fire Engine Dream - Sonic Nurse outtake, previously unreleased 2. Fauxhemians - All Tomorrow's Parties 1.1 3. Is It My Body? - Alice Cooper Tribute 4. Razor Blade - Bull in the Heather B-side 5. Blink - Pola X soundtrack 6. Campfire - At Home With the Groovebox 7. Loop Cat - You Can Never Go Fast Enough 8. Kim's Chords -... read more
Third Amtrak Tour In Works For Scott Miller
Americana singer/songwriter Scott Miller will reprise his 2004 Mule Train tour this fall and early winter, once again hopping on board an Amtrak train to raise awareness about the crumbling infrastructure and dwindling funds of one of the country’s few remaining long-distance passenger train lines. “As sure as the sun will rise the morning after Election Day, so will gas prices,” Miller said in a statement. He hopes his tour will raise awareness about the floundering Amtrak lines as well as encourage his listeners to pursue alternative transportation options in general. “We're not done with $3 gallon gas. Most... read more
'Awake My Soul' Sheds Light On Sacred Harp Singing
One of the oldest forms of American music will finally get its due in a documentary to be released this fall. Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp chronicles the tradition of shape note singing, which stretches over two centuries but has largely been hidden away in the pockets of the deep South. Taking its name from the Sacred Harp hymnal, which has preserved the art for over 160 years, the documentary tracks both the history of shape note singing as well as the lives of the ‘Lost Tonal Tribe,’ the people who have kept it alive over... read more
Damien Rice To Tour In Support Of '9'
Damien Rice is scheduled to hit the road in December in support of his sophomore release, 9, due out November 14th, 2006. Recorded throughout the last two years, 9 follows Rice’s 2003 debut, O, which garnered critical praise as well as commercial success, going Gold in the U.S. and Platinum in the U.K. Early reviews of 9 hail it as a fitting follow-up. After appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on November 9th and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” on November 17th, Rice will take a few weeks off before hitting the road with the same band with... read more
Jamie Lidell Announces U.S. Tour
British soulman and acclaimed crooner Jamie Lidell has announced a slew of U.S. tour dates in support of his breakthrough 2005 album, Multiply. Lidell will also make his television debut tonight on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, performing with his full band. Lidell started his musical career as one half of the experimental electronica duo Super_Collider with producer Cristian Vogel before beginning his own blue-eyed soul solo project. November 1 – Safari Sam's, Los Angeles, CA 2 – Bimbo's, San Francisco, CA 3 – Berbati's Pan, Portland, OR 4 – Neumos, Seattle, WA 7 – Urban Lounge, Salt... read more
John Mayer Announces U.S. Tour
Fresh from his co-headlining tour with Sheryl Crow, blue-eyed folk auteur John Mayer has announced U.S. tour dates in support of his new album, CONTIUUM, released last September. The singer-songwriter will appear on the digital entertainment program Control Room on November 1, the American Music Awards on November 21 and The Late Show with David Letterman on Thanksgiving. CONTINUUM has gained recognition as a marked departure from Mayer’s pop styling, emphasizing the blues and rhythm elements alluded to in musicians work in the John Mayer Trio. January 25 - Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL 26 – BankUnited Center, Coral Gables,... read more
Josh Ritter Runs NYC Marathon
Folk-pop maestro Josh Ritter will join the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5 to benefit public radio station WFUV at Fordham University. After running the 26-mile trek, Ritter will play an exclusive set for pledging members of the station. To contribute, WFUV will be on air taking contributions throughout the week. Ritter is expected to pass through at the Delimart at No 7th St. & Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m (there will be a WFUV banner on the building). Ritter’s latest studio album, The Animal Years, was released this year on V2.... read more
Jeremy Enigk Joins Cursive For Fall Tour
Former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman Jeremy Enigk will join Cursive for a fall tour, as well as headlining a tour in support of his newly released album, World Waits. Enigk co-produced the album with Josh Myers, who has arranged strings for artists ranging from indie songwriter Rosie Thomas to pop singer Mandy Moore. Tour dates: November 1 - Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ 3 - The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO 4 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO ** 7 - Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA ** 9 - Sokol Auditorium, Omaha, NE 11 - The Blue Note, Columbia, MO 12... read more
The Impenetrable Beck Hansen
Four mysterious figures in identical black shirts stand behind a draped box as the house lights at the Shepherds Bush Empire in West London go down. When the spotlights flash on, Beck Hansen—dressed in a waistcoat, with a farmer’s hat over his lank hair—storms out from stage right as the instantly recognizable opening chords of his mid-’90s breakthrough hit “Loser” ring out. The curtain over the aforementioned box is suddenly lifted, revealing a miniature theatre. Turns out the four unknowns aren’t covert agents, backup singers or even stagehands—they’re puppeteers. On the tiny stage beneath them, six-inch-tall marionette replicas of the... read more
Merlefest Announces 2007 Lineup
Merlefest, the annual bluegrass/Americana music festival honoring finger-picking prodigy Eddie Merle Watson, has announced a 2007 lineup including Elvis Costello, Donna The Buffalo, The Duhks, Bela Fleck and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band among many others. In addition, Merle’s father and acclaimed folk/country musician Doc Watson will play with his grandson Richard. The event, which is now in its 20th year, will take place at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC on April 26-29, 2007. Named the best finger-picking guitarist in folk, blues or country music in 1985 by Frets magazine, Merle Watson is remembered for his monumental... read more
Concert.TV Celebrates Singer/Songwriters
Remember that one time where you saw Bob Dylan back in ’66? Well, some of you may have, but there are many people who missed out. But hey, there’s always next time — if you have Concert.TV on OnDemand digital cable. The independent network, which dedicates to live music performances and documentaries, announced its star-laden lineup for the channel. Highlights: Bob Dylan 1966 World Tour: Home Movies Through the Camera of Drummer Mickey Jones Musician turned actor Mickey Jones chronicles the 1966 Bob Dylan World Tour through recently discovered home movies. Joni Mitchell Painting With Words And Music: "Big Yellow... read more
Beck makes surprise appearance at Paste Party
Thanks to everyone who joined Paste in New York and Atlanta last night to celebrate the release of issue #26, featuring Beck. The New York party featured performances by Hem and Hymns, and a 50-minute, full-band surprise performance by Beck himself. ?uestlove of The Roots served as DJ for the night. The party turned into a gathering of musicians by the end of the evening, with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlessinger (Fountains of Wayne), Ben Kweller, the Benevento Russo Duo, Sam Cohen (Apollo Sunshine), Willie Nile, Matt Mays & El Torpedo and Matisyahu all in attendence. The Atlanta party... read more
UMe To Release CDs With All Recyclable Packaging
Finally, people are warming up to the idea of fighting global warming and the depletion of our planet’s forests. Universal Music Enterprises, a unit of Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, will release its next wave of The Millennium Collection CDs in completely paper-recyclable packaging. One small step for a record company, but one giant leap towards helping our struggling environment. The traditional jewel case is replaced with recycled paperboard sleeves and the plastic tray with trays from PaperFoam®, a new packaging technology from Shorewood Packaging. The materials are paper-recyclable and biodegradable. Among the artists whose Millennium Collection... read more
Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller
Disarmingly modest outing from former wunderkind... read more
Snowden - Anti-Anti
Snowden saves its insubstantial ideas from ignominy with heavy dose of style... read more
Vegoose 2006 Proves Halloween Still Rocks
This weekend (October 28 and 29), a pulsing mass of costume-clad music lovers will once again engulf the Nevada desert when Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium plays host to the second annual Vegoose Music Festival. Sporting a killer lineup and complete with all the festive diversions you’d expect from the Halloween-themed, wild west cousin of Manchester, Tenn.’s Bonnaroo, Vegoose aims to combine the spooky kitsch of Hallowens past with the communal vibe of a music festival. The festival will feature, amongst other diversions, an on-site costume shop and hair salon (rendering void any excuses made for not arriving in costume).... read more
Bloc Party's Second Full-Length Set For Release
Bloc Party’s second full-length album, A Weekend in the City , is set for release on Vice Records February 6 of next year. The band’s debut, Silent Alarm , was critically hailed, putting the band into the global spotlight. Afterwards, it went on to play hundreds of sold-out shows in support of the record. Weekend in the City addresses the postmodern angst that accompanies life in a booming metropolis – the currents of traffic, lines of people, quiet moments of peace, and everything in between. Produced by Jackknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol), and recorded in Dublin, Ireland, the album is... read more
