Alabama Shakes @ Saltair 03.08

Alabama Shakes @ Saltair 03.08
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I’ve been a fan of Alabama Shakes for shy of a year and even though I love their album, I was expecting a canned performance, appealing to a broad audience, sticking only to their album and no jam seasons. I was wrong. The Alabama Shakes have one of the tightest rhythm sections I’ve seen in quite some time—without their quick stops and interplay, the vocals of Brittany Howard would not have a platform to launch from. … read more

Matt & Kim @ The Complex with Passion Pit

Matt & Kim @ The Complex with Passion Pit
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Matt & Kim pounded onto the stage to “Harlem Shake” as the horde of witnesses released a guttural snarl, and commenced grinding their asses on the floor. Matt Johnson flailed a water bottle into the the scuffle while he and Kim Schifino (his “partner in crime and in sex”) thrashed their appendages to and fro. … read more

Joey Arias and Kristian Hoffman @ Urban Lounge 02.28 with the Bad Kids

Joey Arias and Kristian Hoffman @ Urban Lounge 02.28 with...
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Called the “demigod of the demimonde” by Time Out New York, Joey Arias has made a career out of following the twists and turns of drag and performance culture since 1976, when he drove from L.A. to New York with dreams of performing. … read more

Youth Lagoon @ Kilby Court 02.28 with Night Sweats

Youth Lagoon @ Kilby Court 02.28 with Night Sweats
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When I first saw Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon play, it was last year at the Urban Lounge. At the time, he was a quiet performer with only his drum machine and keyboard and one guitarist. That was a beautiful performance. … read more

Review: Continents – Idle Hands

Review: Continents – Idle Hands

Continents = The Plot In You + The Ghost Inside … read more

Review: Burnt Books – Self-titled

Review: Burnt Books – Self-titled
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Burnt Books = His Hero is Gone + Fuck The Facts + Kazu Makino … read more

National Music Reviews 3/13

National Music Reviews 3/13

New and recent releases from Baptists, The Cave Singers, Gliss, The Growlers, Off With Their Heads, Portal, Psychic Ills, Rotting Christ, Suuns, This Town Needs Guns and many, many more are reviewed. … read more

Toro y Moi @ Urban Lounge 02.24 with Dog Bite, Sinkane

Toro y Moi @ Urban Lounge 02.24 with Dog Bite,...
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I have wanted to see Chaz Bundick aka Toro Y Moi perform for a long time, and I must say, my expectations were fully met.  … read more

Mariachi El Bronx: A Cleverly Disguised Rock Band

Mariachi El Bronx: A Cleverly Disguised Rock Band
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When it comes to long-running bands, side projects are an inevitability. But sometimes, a side project can take on a life of its own. Such is the case with Mariachi El Bronx. The offshoot of the LA punk band, The Bronx, initially began when the group was asked to perform a song acoustically for a TV appearance. Rather than taking the easy route, they came up with a mariachi arrangement of the song and unwittingly began the next chapter of the band’s existence. … read more