Visually stimulating and musically diverse, the 3rd annual K-Pop Night Out at South by Southwest, showcasing musical artists from South Korea, was made memorable by Hitchhiker – the man in the spacesuit , EE – the husband and wife led total art experience, and Crayon Pop – the 5 member […]
Live Music
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Despite being attacked by a bouncer on Thursday, London’s Palma Violets tore it up in their inimitable way at SXSW in Austin on Friday. This was the third (of the 4 times) I had a chance to chat with this band. The first one reveals just how quickly they were recognized as an exciting […]
The debut studio album from Big Data, “2.0”, features songs inspired by the likes of Snowden/NSA and the Facebook mood experiments sung by an impressive gaggle of guests like Rivers Cuomo, Jamie Lidell, Twin Shadow, and Joywave. In the studio, Big Data is Brooklyn-based producer Alan Wilkis (whom I spoke with at […]
Brazilian Girls traded making music for making babies for a while but they’re preparing to release their first new material since 2008. They played some of it at Highline Ballroom and I spoke with lead singer Sabina Sciubba backstage at the venue while she was getting ready to go on […]
Pop music is alive and well and living in New York City…Chelsea, actually where the 3 brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, collectively AJR, used the family living room to record the songs that evolved from busking around town. Their new release is appropriately called Living Room.
A delight to catch Midge Ure playing solo and acoustic at Iridium where the Ultravox frontman touched on every phase of his career. The Scot lives in England where, in his home studio, he created his first new album of original material in 13 years called Fragile. As 2015 marks the 30th anniversary […]
Great to have Dr. John rolling through the city tonight February 27, 2015 especially as his last scheduled show here in Central Park on August 2, 2014 was canceled at the last minute. The New Orleans music legend spoke to me recently about his latest album: Ske Dat De Dat – […]
When Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra went to Cuba in 2010, seeds were already being planted for the Jazz Across the Americas Latin America tour which begins on Friday February 27th and Saturday February 28th 2015 at Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. The multi Grammy winning Jazz […]
A fine how do you do! from British indie-rock band The Struts who played their first ever show in the U.S. at the John Varvatos store on the Bowery…better known as the old CBGB. The fellas promised they’d be back soon.
The last few projects from the wonderful jazz singer Allan Harris have been tributes to some of his idols like Nat King Cole, Billy Strayhorn & Tony Bennett. Harris credits Bennett especially as a mentor who, when they spent time together in the late nineties, helped him hone his vocal […]
Zach Williams’ first NYC gigs were at the Rockwood Music Hall and it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. He was the first guy to play Stage 2 when it opened and when it came time to record his band‘s debut album, they converted the venue into a studio […]
Most family projects involve clearing out a garage or attic. Not this one. When Teddy Thompson, who has lived in NYC for 15 years, thought it would be good to get the family together, he hatched a scheme for an album that came to fruition and was released in November. […]
Bettye Lavette made me cry more than once during the opening show of her run at The Carlyle. She is among the very highest echelon of vocalists – a masterful interpreter who fully inhabits each song she sings. The show Wednesday January the 28th served as an album release party […]
The Tragically Hip connected with their fans in New York City – as well as those close enough to get to The Beacon Theatre on Friday – for a satisfying, career-spanning concert. The fellas are featuring their 1992 album Fully Completely on this run of shows.
To open their self-titled second album released last spring, The Apache Relay recorded something of a masterpiece in the song “Katie Queen of Tennessee.” Singer/guitarist Michael Ford Jr. and Brett Moore (keys/guitar/mandolin) were quick to share credit with the string arranger Jimmy Haskee (who has an Emmy and three Grammys) and Johnathan […]
Put That Dream In Your Pipe And Smoke It is Mike Rimbaud’s new disc. The Bowery Electric was the venue for the New York singer-songwriter‘s latest release.
Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee of The Vaselines have carved out a place for themselves in the history of rock n roll. The Scottish alt-rock band plays selections from their latest release V For Vaselines in a rare New York appearance.
As part of the Winter Jazzfest (all over town and now in its 11th year) Robert Glasper played a gig at Le Poisson Rouge in the west village with Vicente Archer on bass and Damion Reid on drums. Those guys go way back including the Grammy winning artist‘s first couple […]
Patti Smith’s year end tradition of playing NYC shows to celebrate her birthday (her 68th in this case) along with the new year keeps getting better. Her friend Michael Stipe opened the show in, a couple of one-offs aside, his solo debut! I spoke with Patti in an expansive interview […]
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Bob Seger in NYC. It’s been eight years since his last album and tour. It’s been too long since The J. Geils Band worked their magic here as well so it was a twin-bill at Madison Square Garden not to be missed…
If you only listen to one record from 2014, make it the Most Messed Up one by Old 97’s! Flashback to their show in August and revel in songs from the numero uno el disco of the year…perfect warm-up for New Year’s Eve.
The fabulous Alynda Lee Segarra and Hurray For The Riff Raff snare the deuce with their album, Small Town Heroes. Get a taste of it with this performance footage shot in January along with remarks from the aforementioned Alynda.
Deer Tick is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a residency at Brooklyn Bowl that began last night and stretches through New Year’s Eve. Here’s John McCauley talking about the milestone while playing a wicked version of The Curtain solo on acoustic.
Darlene Love sounds great 12 months out of the year but when it’s Christmastime, Love is a must! Here’s the interview and performance I shot last year. She spoke about being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her amazing run on the Letterman show (because of David’s retirement […]
