Post-hardcore Brooklyn four-piece The Forms are announced a national tour this Fall in support of their self-titled sophomore record, which just came October 23 on the band's own label, Threespheres/The Rebel Group. The tour kicks off today, October 30th with a record release party at New York's Cake Shop, and wraps up November 20 at Portland’s Tonic Lounge. Those from the Golden State are particularly in luck as the tour also includes five California stops. You can check out The...
Right from the very outset of their November 24, 1981 performance in Montreal (later hailed as the last concert, along with the encore performance the next night, to showcase Queen ‘raw’), Queen stepped onstage with something to prove, which shows in their inclusion of the loud-fast version of “We Will Rock You” that opened the set. It’s just that simple; every choreographed mic stand toss, every piano flourish and every molten instrumental break are for the express purpose of giving...
From all I can tell, Paul Oakenfold just up and decided one day that he wanted to be a DJ, and shortly thereafter, planned to be the most popular DJ in the world. Whether or not he trumps all of the other disc jockeys in existence is up for debate, but with the release of his Greatest Hits and Remixes album this month, he makes a hefty statement regarding the breath of his influence. Although I never thought about it...
Coachella came and went. Some of us missed the unprecedented Jesus and Mary Chain reunion (read: ME), and the buzz has long been gone. And as exciting as a reunion can be, they can come and go like the 200 dollars you may have paid to see it (read: The Police…thanks for not coming back later guys). Thankfully, this is not the case for the brothers Reid & co. who decided to turn the reunion into a full tour, and...
In his sophomore effort at a solo career, Dave Gahan provides yet another hint to why Depeche Mode has become so popular in its nearly three-decade spot within global popular music. Hourglass is a synthetic whirlwind culminating everything from the ethereal voice of Gahan down to the instrumentals, maintaining a clear backing to the sonic palate of yet another 1980s product from across the pond. Throughout the album, you get the same pounding drum beat, keeping metronomic time to nearly...
When I think of Atlanta, I think “Dirty South.” I think of the word “crunk.” I think of a city that has changed the face of hip-hop and R&B for the past two decades. By breeding such legends as Outkast, Lil’ Jon, Ludacris, Usher, Da Brat, Toni Braxton, TLC, T.I. and Goodie Mobb, the A-T-L has become a stalwart in the lexicon of rap music. To describe this city, my man Jermaine Dupri once said, “big beats hit streets, see...
Things looked grim for those who failed to buy tickets in advance to the Fillmore on Friday night, as people endured the cold air of San Francisco in hopes of finding their way into the venue. The Silversun Pickups had come to town and as expected, sold out the historic concert hall. Inside, those who were lucky enough to get in to see their indie/hipster heroes, watched as The Happy Hollows surprised the crowd with deep ability. Next, Midnight Movies...
The Mars Volta's ever-rotating cast of players settled down for long enough this spring to put together a new album which will hit streets in the zero-eight, January 29th to be exact. Produced by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, The Bedlam in Goliath is a concept album based around a story that was attached to a gift that Rodriguez-Lopez got for co-founder Cedric Bixler-Zavala while traveling. Confused? Well, as usual, the tracklist will do nothing to alleviate that: 1. Aberinkula2. Metatron3. Ilyena4. Wax...
The Start Line’s latest release, Direction, is in stores now and has been receiving rave reviews. Furthermore, the band’s video for the first single “Island” has been added to MTV, and began regular rotation October 22. But these punk-popeteers aren’t happy enough with all that, and have recently announced that they will be embarking on a rather extensive US tour through the end of 2007. The band will be playing with a number of bands including, Paramore, Set Your Goals,...