Local jam band Indecision still rocking under the radar

Could Indecision have been DMB? Could the names Evans and Ibbeken have been synonymous with the C’ville music scene, instead of Dave Matthews? Could “Take It All In” have been “Ants Marching”? Probably not, admits Indecision’s David Ibbeken. But the band, which made its debut in Charlottesville in 1984, was by most accounts a stroke […]

ARTS Pick: Rebecca Rego and The Trainmen

Stories often become more profound when coupled with the upbeat mix of dueling guitars—at least that’s the case with the music of Rebecca Rego and The Trainmen. Borrowing from country and folk, the Wisconsin band relates unique experiences through song, sharing intimate moments. Whether it’s a ballad about the bars in Chicago or the changing […]

Interview: Fitz and the Tantrums look to reclaim early success

Fitz and the Tantrums just seem to have a way of finding the spotlight. Remember that video where they were all on those treadmills? Oh, that wasn’t them? My bad. But who could forget when they played on that one rooftop that one time? Oh, right. That was every band other than them. What about […]

ARTS Pick: Jeremy Messersmith

Since The Alcatraz Kid was released independently in 2006, Jeremy Messersmith has been praised for his elegant and literate songwriting style. While love songs and lullabies are not new territories for the emo/indie genre, Messersmith manages to create a unique sound by combining subtle lyrics and attention to instrumental detail. His latest record, Heart Murmurs, has […]

Melanie Martinez hopes to sidestep the reality competition label

 I was convinced that Taylor Hicks would not only win the 2006 season of “American Idol,” but would also become wildly successful as a recording artist. I was so convinced of his ability to appeal to a range of audiences, that I told anyone who would listen he’d be the most popular “Idol” of all time. […]

ARTS Pick: Vampire Weekend

With it’s recent Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, Vampire Weekend bites into a variety of styles with inspiration from Afro-pop and rock music of the past. Formed in New York City in 2006, and taking its name from a failed film project, the band rose to the top of the music world with […]

ARTS Pick: Miss Brown to You

The Oklahoma duo Miss Brown to You featuring Mary Reynolds and Louise Goldberg plays a mix of jazz and folk in songs that are endearing and serene. Both musicians employ their classical training, performing original music on a range of instruments, while Reynolds sings from the heart with what the Tulsa World calls “the most […]