ARTS Pick: American Aquarium

North Carolina six-piece American Aquarium revives its raw roots rock with a new level of honesty in the lyrics. After years of barely scraping by with the devotion of a niche audience, frontman BJ Barham and his frequently rotating backup were ready to throw in the towel before a sudden burst of success kept the […]

ARTS Pick: Aurelio Voltaire

When national gothic icon Aurelio Voltaire isn’t penning one of his popular graphic novels or teaching at the School of Visual Arts in New York, he’s on the road playing his unique brand of “dark cabaret” symphonic rock. He is currently on a 30-city tour with special guest Ego Likeness, so if you’re in the […]

ARTS Pick: Ryan Adams

It may sound strange to call Ryan Adams a music veteran, but it’s been more than 20 years since his first release with the revered alt-country band Whiskeytown. Solo since 2000, the prolific North Carolina singer-songwriter continues to make an impression on critics and celebrity gossip columnists. Adams’ recently released self-titled album has been lauded […]

ARTS Pick: Up the Chain

While Up the Chain has existed in various forms with a rotating cast of Philadelphia’s finest young hired guns since 2009, the one constant at the band’s core has been founder, frontman and lyricist Reed Kendall. And while the self-described purveyors of “neighbor rock” don’t offer explanation of the style, one can surmise that it […]

ARTS Pick: Langhorne Slim

After breaking into Rolling Stone magazine’s top 10 editor’s picks for 2004 with his song “Electric Love Letter,” Langhorne Slim went on to build a solid fanbase through relentless touring with a top-notch backing band (The Law), record an average of one new album per year and earn multiple television and film credits. The heartache is just […]

ARTS Pick: John Lilly

Long lauded as a lighthearted Hank Williams, award-winning singer-songwriter John Lilly strums original country compositions on acoustic guitar and mandolin that would satisfy any folk lover’s Americana thirst. Chicago-born and West Virginia-based, Lilly has six albums under his belt and tours internationally both solo and with the band Blue Yonder. This intimate concert with Lorie […]

Precious time: Jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel rides the imagination

Webster’s dictionary defines jazz guitarist as a virtuoso strings player who refuses to make a decent buck on his or her talents. O.K. not really. But consider the case of Stephane Wrembel. The Frenchman started playing the piano when he was 4 years old. He studied under a renowned classical pianist and began dabbling in […]

ARTS Pick: Lotus

Wrapping up the spring leg of its Gilded Age tour with two C’ville shows, jamtronica five-piece group Lotus pairs classic rock sounds in the vein of The Allman Brothers Band and The Grateful Dead with modern dance beats. The Indiana-based band has built a vast underground following since its formation in 1999, becoming known for […]

ARTS Pick: Anyone’s Guess

Power rock trio Anyone’s Guess is currently based in Florida, but it’s a C’ville connection that shapes the band’s intensity. Frontwoman and former Bosnian refugee Sanja Jovanovic attended Charlottesville High School after assistance from the International Rescue Committee made it possible for her to come to America in 2002. Jovanovic made use of the local […]