Merge’s reissue reinforces the strength of Suburban Light
For about six years, Alasdair MacLean has been writing a novel. “Occasionally I’ll send a draft of that to my agent and have it thoroughly rejected,” MacLean laughed when reached […]
What do punk rockers and craft brewers have in common?
It all started with a punk kid’s tweet. Alterna-rockers Against Me! had heard about friends in NOFX working with C’ville-based Champion Brewing Company on a collaboration beer. Guitarist James Bowman, […]
ARTS Pick: Shrek: The Musical
Grab some torches and pitchforks and prepare for Shrek: The Musical, when an ogre-turned-hero braves dragon fire and a tiny king to save his beloved Fiona. As Shrek adventures with his […]
ARTS Pick: Scars on 45
British crooners Scars on 45 inspire soul-searching with tunes driven by hope and longing and grounded by piano and mellow guitar. Led by the soothing voices of Danny Bembrose and Aimee Driver, […]
ARTS Pick: Martina McBride
Country music’s electric star Martina McBride is known for refusing trends and conventions, and with the release of Everlasting, the first album on her own label, she expands beyond country sounds. The Kansas-born […]
ARTS Pick: Shear Madness
Tight improvisation, audience participation, and sharp-tongued hair dressers deliver new twists every night in Shear Madness, the longest running nonmusical theater production in U.S. history. Set in a unisex salon right […]
Melvins’ guitarist goes acoustic
His wife answers the phone. And it takes a bit for Buzz Osborne, the Melvins’ frontman, to pick up at his California home. No rush. A dog’s sporadically barking the […]
Chris Smither looks back at a 50-year career
Chris Smither has maintained a steady presence as an underground folk icon for the past five decades. His unassuming delivery offers rustic comfort, as he sings in a relaxed, weathered […]
Antics aside, Eugene Hütz’s Gogol Bordello is no joke
Eugene Hütz is a poet in any language. Speaking in his heavily accented English, his words pop. They have weight. They hit you like distorted riffs. Ask Hütz if his […]
ARTS Pick: Sara Bareilles
Don’t ask her for a love song. Grammy-nominated piano pop superstar Sara Bareilles’ upbeat confessionals have sold out shows nationwide for over a decade. Born and raised in California, she […]