The Wailers’ Dwayne Anglin spoke eloquently before a show at The Apollo Theater about reggae’s message and its meaning when faced with the Ferguson reality; mentioning Marcus Garvey and Dr. Martin Luther King in context of protests on 125th Street in Harlem.
Yearly Archives: 2014
126 posts
I asked Itzhak Perlman about all the awards he has – including but hardly limited to a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts, a Medal of Liberty […]
Robert Randolph & The Family Band were back at it last night at the Brooklyn Bowl. Their annual residency is up there with turkey and pumpkin pie in the delights of late November. Here’s a look at Randolph wailing on pedal steel and a flashback to our conversation from last […]
Ace Frehley, who is touring behind his new disc Space Invader showed off his old tricks – and a few new ones – to the delight of a packed house at BB Kings.
Stephin Merritt topped an impressive lineup at Le Poisson Rouge in the West Village and offered a handful of Magnetic Fields’ faves to celebrate the release of the third issue of Radio Silence, a San Francisco based magazine whose stock in trade is the cross-fertilization of authors and musicians. It’s […]
When The Wytches’ Kristian Bell tested his microphone before this interview and session for WFUV’s The Alternate Side in The Bronx, he said “We Have Assumed Control!” Evidently this is KB’s preferred phrase for checking levels because he applauded me as the first person who recognized that he was referencing the […]
Here’s a peek at ex-Grateful Dead veteran Phil Lesh and his musical Friends doing their thing at The Capitol Theatre! This weekend the lineup is John Kadlecik, Keller Williams, Jason Crosby and Joe Russo. Next Weekend (the 28th and 29th) it’ll be Anders Osborne, Marco Benevento, Stu Allen, Joe Russo and special […]
What a showman – What a band! Gedeon Luke and The People really killed it at Brooklyn Bowl on Friday night.
The 8 night residency of Seu Jorge is a testament to the enduring appeal of the tasteful and tuneful Brazilian musician who spoke to me about his David Bowie covers and – despite singing in Portuguese in a New York room – transcended any language barriers with his captivating performance.
Eric Johnson & Mike Stern are, of course, tremendous guitar players with chops of doom – but they are also great listeners and intuitive partners – who are thrilled to be teaming up on stage and on their rewarding new album Eclectic.
The wildly talented Angelique Kidjo spoke about what a great inspiration Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa – is to her …
QQ rocks the mic a little, talks about the serious burning of the candle at both ends he did while establishing himself as Jamaica’s youngest dancehall reggae star, and reveals how he came up with Stukie and One Drop.
Remy Ma gave out her new mixtape I’m Around for Halloween. Here’s what the Grammy-nominated rapper had to say about being on the inside and where her head is now…
The Allman Brothers played their last show this week – at The Beacon – after 45 years of kicking ass. It was a three set tour de force that ended well after 1 AM. Here’s what Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks had to say about their beginnings in the group […]
Blues singer and guitarist Jr. Mack resides at Terra Blues in the West Village when not frying bigger fish.
While raising dough for Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit music education charity, Cheap Trick, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Alice Cooper lead an astonishing parade of artists singing the songs of Joan Jett – sometimes with JJ herself.
Gary Wright has really had an extraordinary ride – from child actor on Broadway to Spooky Tooth then his mid 1970’s smashes. It’s all in his new book Dream Weaver: Music, Meditation, and My Friendship with George Harrison which highlights his friendship with George Harrison. Gary spoke to me about it at […]
The Orwells are as young, intense, and exciting a rock band as you’ll find. I spoke with singer Mario Cuomo (no relation to the former governor) and guitarist Matt O’Keefe about the album Disgraceland and how they approach live shows.
Carlene Carter is American music royalty. The roots of country music are in her blood. Now, for the first time, the ‘rockingest country girl in the universe‘ breathes her unique life into a full album of the songs of her family: Carter Girl. Get a taste of the in-studio performance […]
The Kooks have a new drummer, Alexis Nunez, who has brought a dance-a-bility factor. That’s according to Luke Pritchard, the very naturalistic rock star who sings and writes the songs. The band‘s fourth record Listen is dramatically different than its three brothers. Peek at their show at The Paramount in Huntington on […]
Cat Power headlined the Modern Sky Festival NYC in Central Park on Sunday. The festival in Central Park was the first American version of China’s Modern Sky Festival. Also featured were The Both composed of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo as well as Stars. Sets were short as it was an all-day hootenanny and […]
Neil Diamond played Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn for a surprise homecoming show – his first ever in the borough. I got turned on to Neil Diamond via my dad through albums like the Robbie Robertson produced Beautiful Noise and the one I really loved Hot August Night. Neil […]
Golden God Robert Plant played a deuce at BAM as part of the 50th anniversary of Nonesuch Records and John Mayer was part of an event in Times Square announcing Rock in Rio setting up in Las Vegas. Les Tambours du Bronx who aren’t from the Bronx but who are […]
Matthew Caws recalls how things came together for one of NYC’s most essential bands – Nada Surf, who played their only show of the year at Rough Trade in Williamsburg to celebrate the new digital release of B-Sides and mark the start of sessions for a new album.
Careful what you carry ’cause the man is wise! Steely Dan did it again at The Capitol Theatre not far from where Walter Becker grew up. The 3 shows at The Capital Theatre cap the jazz rock band‘s Jamalot Ever After Tour.