Musicians. They’re just like the rest of us. Some of them you hit it off with immediately—you get them, and they try their best to understand you. With others, you just don’t see eye-to-eye. Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck is the type of guy it would be hard not to see eye-to-eye with. An Alabama native who […]
Musicians. They’re just like the rest of us. Some of them you hit it off with immediately—you get them, and they try their best to understand you. With others, you just don’t see eye-to-eye. Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck is the type of guy it would be hard not to see eye-to-eye with. An Alabama native who […]
When she’s not teaching composition at UMass Amherst, Sadie Dupuis moonlights as the lead singer for rock troupe Speedy Ortiz. Originated as Dupuis’ passion project, Speedy Ortiz’s composed garage rock is flighty, while anchored in distorted, klaxon guitars. The punk angst is softened by punchy, cryptic songwriting that captures themes of unrequited relationships and self-deprecation in […]
Hard rock never lost its appeal for fans of the Maryland-based band Clutch. Even after scaling back the long jams on its tenth studio album, Earth Rocker, the fret-shredding foursome still reigns as an unapologetic homage to the founders of heavy metal. Trading on clever lyrics emitted with a growl and pushing the limit on […]
The title of singer Cate Le Bon’s latest release, Mug Museum, conveys a simple whimsy, along with the special offer of a handcrafted mug accessory, but fans know of the brooding complexity that lies beneath its quirky exterior. Often compared to the dark folk songstress Nico, Le Bon’s music is moody, captivating, and infused with […]
The Richmond-based rock duo Boxwave features John Mustachio on bass and Brad Ellsworth on percussion in a minimal act that strives to invigorate the often ignored rhythm section. Spartan and unassuming, Ellsworth provides enthusiastic backing to Mustachio’s gritty playing in a guerrilla rock attack that fuses funk and jazz into extravagant, melodic flights. The pair appears […]
Passafire’s Ted Bowne says he has nothing but respect for his peers in reggae, but there’s one figure in the modern game he doesn’t like—Snoop Lion, formerly Snoop Dogg. “I thought the transformation was well-intended, but if someone starts coming around your house and wearing your clothes and talking like you, it is weird,” Bowne […]
Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2002, The Whigs have grown into a seasoned rock band. While teething, the group played with rock stalwarts Kings of Leon and The Black Keys before maturing a sound that is explosive and heavy, but not without infectious hooks. The Whigs’ newest album, Enjoy the Company, plays around with a […]
Dig into your closet for your best throwback attire, and rehearse your Fresh Prince rap. Magnus Music and Wild Boyz Entertainment kick off 2014 with a hip-hop and go-go celebration of local musician Blacko Da Rappa’s 32nd birthday. A cash prize will be awarded to the best retro look, so don’t be afraid to get […]
Local blues prodigy Eli Cook and genre melders Ian Gilliam & The Fire Kings revive one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most revered guitarists in Bold As Love, a tribute to the psychedelic blues rock of Jimi Hendrix. Cook has mastered an exhaustive repertoire of flawless note-for-note covers of Hendrix’s iconic hits and deep cuts. The double bill, […]
The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble’s Three Notch’d Road celebrates the revelry of Twelfth Night with spiritual and secular songs from the 18th century. The program includes familiar songs like the pastoral “Greensleeves,” and Michel Corrette’s French carol “A Noel Symphony.” Giovanni Antonio Guido explores sounds of crunching ice in “Winter,” and Biber’s “Nativity” sonata unfolds as […]