In the opening sequence of Scorsese's Taxi Driver, Travis Bickle drives through torrential Manhattan in restless circles as his windshield wipers flap away at the deceptions of his blurry, neon world. The accompanying score is jazz—ominous and persuasive—slinking through the credits and catching in Bickle's cagey glances at the rearview mirror. Like many musicians, Charles Mingus was writing and performing in New York City in 1963 when he composed his paradoxical six-part jazz ballet, "The Black Saint and the Sinner...
First there was Jimi Hendrix. Then Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl followed suit proving that the wild and cold winds that blow into Seattle off the northern Pacific Ocean foster the growth of intense and intelligent musicians. So tonight I anticipated greatness in hearing the much hyped, loved and praised band Minus The Bear at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Oh, and The Fillmore is the quintessential music venue in San Francisco. If you haven't been there before,...
I saw The Who this past spring. It was a great show, they can still rock hard. Yet I walked out of the show a bit disappointed. It wasn't a general disappointment, they had lived up to all my expectations. It wasn't any sense of "they're getting too old to do this" or anything like that. No, I had a very specific complaint about their show, one which actually applies to a number of concerts I see these days. One...
I saw The Who this past spring. It was a great show, they can still rock hard. Yet I walked out of the show a bit disappointed. It wasn't a general disappointment, they had lived up to all my expectations. It wasn't any sense of "they're getting too old to do this" or anything like that. No, I had a very specific complaint about their show, one which actually applies to a number of concerts I see these days. One...
The New York City trio, Secret Machines, have recently headed into the studio to record their third full-length album to be released on Reprise Records in 2008. The band is said to be continuing with their indie-rock meets art-rock sound, with legendary producer/engineer Brandon Mason (David Bowie and VHS or BETA) returning to helm the mixing board. Secret Machines has slightly changed shape since we last heard from them on Ten Silver Drops back in 2006. After the amicable exit...
It’s almost absurd to have to try to explain what happened at The Echo in L.A. last Thursday night. First, I personally couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a packed house for the first of three bands. Shows like this don’t get much attention in L.A. for some odd reason. The city is so damn big, so there’s gotta be at least a few dudes and chicks who’d like to get treated to some good ol’ heavy music, right?...
There is only one thing to say about the concert that I saw tonight. Claudio Sanchez. CLAUDIO SANCHEZ. CLAUDIO (EFFING HOLY OF HOLIES) SANCHEZ! I don't care about anything that has ever happened in my life before now that I have seen a live performance by the living, breathing freaking master of all minions of this world and the underworld, Claudio Sanchez of Coheed & Cambria. Is he a magical troll, or an omniscient ogre, or a giant of mythological...
Keep Your Wits Sharp – Director Matt Bigland, Co-Director/Producer Matt Maude Hello, my name is Matthew Maude. I’m a music video director and documentary producer from Halifax, UK. I will be gracing you with my day in the life of a certain Saturday in March 2007. I’m writing about producing and directing a music video for a band from Leeds, a city in the north of England. Saturday March 24th, 2007. 5AM I lift my eyes to the pain of...
We all remember when only a short three years we were gabbing left and right, telling our friends about this song they have got to absolutely hear. “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” may not have been LCD Soundsystem’s first single—because “Losing My Edge” was—but it was what put them up there as hot-blooded new comers ready to show the scene what they’ve got. Nearly three years later, we see that’s exactly what they did. With two studio releases,...
As the third consecutive show in the city of Los Angeles (the prior two nights having quickly sold out in advance), you’d think that the kids might have been exhausted or apathetic. However, the attendance once again prevailed with the energy of an umpteenth level. After all, this should be expected, as this night is the final chance on this tour for the fans of Thrice’s home (the neighboring Orange County to the south) to show their allegiance and make...