It was a mutual fondness for obscure artists like Randy Newman and Ry Cooder that originally sparked drummer Louie Pérez and guitarist David Hidalgo’s musical relationship in 1973. But it wasn’t until the ’80s that the massive soundtrack cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” catapulted them into the mainstream. More than 40 years, and 20 […]
It was a mutual fondness for obscure artists like Randy Newman and Ry Cooder that originally sparked drummer Louie Pérez and guitarist David Hidalgo’s musical relationship in 1973. But it wasn’t until the ’80s that the massive soundtrack cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” catapulted them into the mainstream. More than 40 years, and 20 […]
Jeff Daniels has a deep resumé on screen. His acting work dates back to the early ’80s when he broke out in films like Terms of Endearment and extends to his recent Emmy Award-winning lead role in the HBO series “The Newsroom,” which ended late last year after three seasons. Lesser known, though, is Daniels’ […]
Ashley McMillen was born in West Virginia. Now, she’s a resident of Nashville. But somewhere in between, Charlottesville helped launch the country musician’s accelerating career. A rising star on the singer-songwriter circuit in Music City, McMillen will play a homecoming of sorts when she graces the stage of the Dogwood in Palmyra on May 16. […]
Scene veteran William Walter’s songwriting and stagemanship has matured over his near 20-year career through relentless touring in the U.S., Europe and South America, and the singer-songwriter has acquired fans everywhere. But it’s no secret or surprise that his big smile and tender lyrics capture the hearts (and bottoms?) of his female fans, so much […]
For a band that writes nothing but fun, catchy power-pop songs about the national pastime, The Baseball Project hasn’t exactly replaced “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the ballpark. The reverent “Past Time,” from Frozen Ropes & Dying Quails, the band’s debut, gets some play at Twins home games, but “They’re not going […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sam Bush wanted to take what was cool about The Garage, the improbably small music venue in downtown Charlottesville for which he books acts, and smear it all over the city. He wanted to take the great bands he was attracting, and make something in addition to the quirky little concerts they were playing to […]
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 […]