ARTS Pick: Lee Ann Womack

Hardly a lavish wedding goes by where Lee Ann Womack’s 2000 crossover hit, “I Hope You Dance,” isn’t played to the delight of a tearful aunt or grandma. The Grammy-winning country music singer has earned a pile of country music awards (CMAs, ACMAs and CMTs), and her latest record, The Way I’m Livin’, followed suit […]

Jonathan Teeter takes us back to KNDRGRDN

During a recent KNDRGRDN gig at Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, frontman Jonathan Teeter looked up from his guitar mid-song. Bodies were packed in tightly, close to the stage, and he could see people bobbing up and down and singing along to “Your Shadow.” “Your shadow is coming in / Coming into my room / Your […]

ARTS Pick: Wrinkle Neck Mules

There’s no need to smuggle a taping rig into this Wrinkle Neck Mules show because WarHen Records is capturing the tracks live for an upcoming vinyl release. The recording by Warren Parker’s indie label offers die-hard fans a collector’s item and a chance to enjoy the intimate gig without fumbling with gear and bumping into […]

Living Picks: To-do this week

Nonprofit Friends of the Library book sale Leaf through thousands of books and other media at the 51st annual spring book sale to benefit the special programs and projects of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Saturday, April 2-Sunday, April 10. Free, 10am-7pm. Gordon Avenue Library. 1500 Gordon Ave. 977-8467. Health & Wellness Charlottesville Marathon Dubbed “one of the top […]

ARTS Pick: Nora Jane Struthers

Roots rock musician Nora Jane Struthers’ Wake is perhaps her most mature album to date. Described as lyrics “set to a soundtrack that resonates with the warm uplift of the first day of spring,” the record is a coming-of-age project from the former Virginia girl, who sings about falling in love, lessons learned and entering […]

ARTS Pick: Gogol Bordello

Gypsy-punk-dub band Gogol Bordello’s sixth album, Pura Vida Conspiracy, continues the group’s intentional trailblazing. “The message of this record is the quest for self-knowledge beyond borders and nationalities,” says frontman Eugene Hütz. “Every culture is a useful mask, but it is just a mask. To get to know your actual human self, you have to […]

Dropping in: Parachute aims for the top of the pop chart

Will Anderson says his Parachute bandmates like cool music. Him? Not so much. “I’m so fascinated with pop music,” Anderson says. “It’s always been my obsession. I’m sure people get tired of it—my poor friends always have to hear about it. And I’m talking about like ’NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.” And so it goes […]

ARTS Pick: Yo La Tengo

Original indie-rock act Yo La Tengo has managed to stay fresh and relevant over 30 years of touring and recording. Playing off the successful mix implemented on 1990’s Fakebook, the Jersey trio’s latest release, Stuff Like That There, lists covers of The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Cure and Hank Williams, along with new versions of the […]

ARTS Pick: Idiot Glee

Solo artist James Friley’s compositions are a modern tribute to the art rock of the ’60s and ’70s. Performing under the name Idiot Glee, Friley melds his spacecraft pop by blending the influences of electronic pioneers Brian Eno, John Cale and Brian Wilson (among others) with classically trained keyboard chops, rock god guitar work and […]

Slow and steady: After 25 years, Tortoise still follows its own logic

Back in 1994, Chicago Tribune rock critic Greg Kot reviewed the self-titled debut album by Tortoise. Even for Chicago, a town noted for musicians who tease at and push the boundaries of rock and jazz, the group was difficult to pin down. “The group’s dynamic is to layer textures and construct atmospheres rather than write […]