Latest Posts
Play Me: “Nail Polish” by BAMBARA
BAMBARA's approach to punk rock is like an everything bagel -- Keep throwing more and more stuff into the recipe and see what sticks once its cooked. The noise on a track like "Nail Polish" is relentless. There's the unhinged guitar screech and industrial clatter of A Place to Bury Strangers and the mad professor array of electronics used by the likes of Parts and Labor. The drums are big and booming and played at a breakneck pac... Read More
Your Cleveland Concert Calendar for May
Thursday, May 2nd: Palma Violets, Guards, Herzog @ Grog Shop. Friday, May 3rd: Ra Ra Riot, Lighthouse and the Whaler @ Beachland Ballroom. Ra Ra Riot in-store at Music Saves. Saturday, May 4th: The Barry Bash with Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites, Dave Pearce & The Sonic Tonsil, Brent Kirby, Jack Charleston, Kristine Jackson, Walkin' Cane. $99 and proceeds go to ALS research. Nights, Relaxer, Pleasure Leftists @ Happy Dog. ... Read More
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The Rockometer: English Little League by Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices English Little League Rockathon Records Nostalgia has its limits. While the past ten years has seen practically every big name alternative rock and indie rock band round up the mates for another go at it, there has been a gathering sense of late that '90s nostalgia rock is nearing its end. Everyone seems to have a tenth or twentieth anniversary to celebrate. Or, in the case of the Dan... Read More
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The Rockometer: Floating Coffin by Thee Oh Sees
Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Records Did you find The Flaming Lips' latest album, The Terror, lacking the the kind of wonderfully weird vibes Wayne Coyne and company had built their career upon? Yes? Well read on, because the San Francisco garage rock outfit, Thee Oh Sees have a dandy of a record for you. Featuring the same over-sized... Read More
Play Me: “It’s In You It’s In Me” by Sloan
The last time the long-running, Canadian power pop act, Sloan, came through Cleveland, they were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1992 album, Twice Removed with a two set show which included the album from front-to-back and a second set of their greatest hits. Inspired by how well the anniversary tour was going, they mentioned how they'd record a new album and then do a similar event for the follow-up to Twice Removed, O... Read More
Top Jam: “I’ll Be Gone” by Oblivians
Rolling Stone says its been over 15 years. Pitchfork says 16. Pitchfork likes to be exact. Either way, it's been a long fuckin' time since the Oblivians released their last studio album, Play 9 Songs with Mr Quintron, a rough-edged set of punked up southern soul, gospel, and rhythm and blues music which should be required listening for any rock artist who thinks they have soul. Nobody, neither an established act like the Black Ke... Read More
Jam Packed Wednesday with The National, Laura Marling, Hebronix (ex-Yuck), and Pure X
As of this afternoon, approximately 712,000 people have listened to The National's new single, "Demons," on Youtube. I was not one of them. I may have sampled a few seconds here and a few seconds there, but I never really settled in with it. The National need your time, like that. "Demons," from their forthcoming album, Trouble Will Find Me (4AD on 5.12), like much of their best work, isn't the type of track to awe on a sample or ev... Read More
Do It: Record Store Day in Cleveland, Saturday, April 20th
Tomorrow is Record Store Day and as in past years, Music Saves, This Way Out, The Beachland and Blue Arrow Records are teaming together to bring you afternoon of free entertainment. Between 4:30 and 7:30, artists will alternate between the Beachland Tavern stage and the Blue Arrow Records stage with Chin Soda, Extra Medium Pony and GoldMINES at the Beachland and Cheap Clone, John Kalman and Joey Beltram over at Blue Arrow. Those w... Read More
Watch Me: “Shut Up” by Savages
Post-punk is not dead, it's just been resting for the past 10 years, waiting for Interpol to put out a decent follow-up, leaving those who like their punk rock dark and danceable (when surrounded by other people wearing black), in an unenviable position. They could continue listening to the same records by The Cure and Joy Division. Wait for Interpol. Or, and here's where things get novel, get hip to this new British four-piece, ... Read More
Watch Me: “Better” by Odonis Odonis
Remember when "Indie Rock is Too White" was a thing? I try not to. Nor do I try to think much about the opposite discussion, how dare those white indie kids take inspiration from non-white music. Yes, they contradict each other and yet, internet people who considered themselves to be subject matter experts got caught up in both of these debates. Still, those two internet discussions found their way to the top of my mind when I... Read More
Play Me: “The Sound of Law” by Daughn Gibson
How could one not be impressed with All Hell, the 2012 debut record by Daughn Gibson? With an unlikely combination of downtempo-electro, hip-hop, country and western, and trucker music, the man practically invented a genre all his own. And as if the vision wasn't impressive enough, there was the voice -- A strong and foreboding baritone which recalled the legendary man in black, himself. "The Sound of Law," is the first taste ... Read More
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