Diamond Rugs hung out in NYC a bit recently for a David Letterman appearance and a gig opening last Sunday June 24th for Alabama Shakes at Central Park on Summerstage. On Tuesday, I met the Rugs at WFUV where they performed five tracks from the album and chatted with me […]
Eric Holland
708 posts
The Heavy and The Hives have some things in common. Both gave hard driving, sweaty performances and interacted with their audiences in a way that fed their energy while working fans into a lather at sold out venues – The Heavy at The Mercury Lounge on Monday, June 18th, 2012 […]
On Tuesday, May 22nd I was lucky enough to find myself with a scorching hot ticket which granted me admission to the Roseland Ballroom for the Alabama Shakes and Jack White. The Shakes’ singer, Brittany Howard has more Janis Joplin in her than anybody I’ve ever seen. She’s a powerhouse […]
I recently traveled to the home of Columbia Records in the Sony Building on Madison avenue to visit with Patti Smith. The hallways there are filled with beautiful framed photographs of legendary Columbia artists like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Adjacent to the door of the room where we met […]
I don’t remember ever having heard the 1979 classic Cruel to be Kind in concert before last month but I heard it twice in the span of a couple of weeks. The first was at the Nick Lowe show at Town Hall on April 25th. The 63 year old Lowe […]
I’m all about Dr. John and enjoyed him wildly recently in New Orleans and at Prospect Park so I was relishing the chance to see him in a venue with acoustics as opposed to outside. The circumstances were special – a three week residency (consecutive Thursday through Saturday engagements) at […]
In a seven day stretch that started with Van Halen at Mohegan Sun and included They Might Be Giants at Terminal 5, (not to mention Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall) Soulive at Brooklyn Bowl was not only my favorite show of the week but is the show to beat […]
Jonathan Meiburg is a fascinating guy and a wildly talented singer. He and the touring lineup of Shearwater favored me with four songs from their latest Animal Joy in WFUV’s Studio A this past Friday (2/24/12) before a show with Sharon Van Etten who, JM explained to me after the […]
As I told Dan Zanes, Warren Zanes, and Woody Giessmann in Studio A on February 9, 2012 – Boston, Mass was a…nay THE defining album in my high school experience so to have them roll into the Bronx after not playing for 20 years was astonishing and a little surreal. […]
Recently I had the chance to interview Umphrey’s McGee – the Chicago stalwarts and ballsy newcomers Howler. It was the same day – Friday, January 20, 2012 and UM turned up in the late morning before the first of their two gigs at Best Buy Theater. Unlike the usual sessions, these guys […]
Right! Another year in the books and the time to go on the record (pun intended) about what recordings offered the most moving, cathartic, revolutionary, kick-ass, and/or ones with a good beat that you can dance too music. First, in case you missed it, my top ten of this year: […]
Top Ten Albums of 2011 1. Paul Simon; So Beautiful or So What 2. Tom Waits; Bad as Me 3. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi: Rome 4. Wilco; The Whole Love 5. Wild Flag; Wild Flag 6. Feist; Metals 7. Real Estate; Days 8. Girls; Father, Son, Holy Ghost 9. […]
Steve Earle and the Dukes (and the Duchesses) shined during a generous 2 and a half hour, 2-set evening at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this past Wednesday, September 14th which was also simulcast on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country. The eclectic set borrowed heavily from his latest album, I’ll Never Get […]
After seeing the first ever Horrible Crowes show at the Bowery Ballroom on Thursday evening, I was fortunate enough to host a session with them Friday. They were fantastic on both occasions and a bunch of good eggs. Brian Fallon (in the plain white T-shirt), whose established himself as a […]
For your amusement – A very enjoyable Whole Wide World show last night: Back Door Man – Howlin’ Wolf I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters I’m a Man – Yardbirds I’m a Man – Spenser Davis Group It’s A Man’s World – James Brown Piano Man – Billy […]
Video Review of Geils/Aerosmith Show Last Summer Print Review of Terrence Blanchard & Dr. John from last year’s Jazzfest
This was, of course, a fun show… Iggy Pop: Avenue B Bob Dylan: Talkin’ NY & Spanish Harlem Incident Avett Brothers: I and Love and You Garland Jeffries: Rollercoaster Town Cat Power: New York Ray LaMontagne: NY Is Killing Me Gil Scot Heron: NYC’s Killing Me Jim Croce: NYs Not […]
Providence’s Deer Tick led but John McCauley played a phenomenal Nirvana tribute show at the Brooklyn Bowl …