The Dreaming (Stabbing Westward Reunion Show) @ The Vinyl, Las Vegas 11.15

At 11:45 p.m. I found myself pushing past the crowd at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. NIN had just ended their two-hour show (review here) and thanks to social media, Christopher Hall, the man behind The Dreaming and former Stabbing Westward frontman, informed the world that this is the first time Stabbing Westward has ever had NIN open for them. … read more

Ring Rats Anonymous: UCW-Zero TV Taping @ UCW Arena 11.16

Having been basically manhandled by Bravo in the past, James wasted no time getting some great hits in on Bravo early on. Per usual, Bravo went with his hormones and started flirting with Sierra Rose who promptly smacked the tar out of him. The brawl between Bravo and James continued outside of the ring where Bravo resorted to using a crowbar he’d stashed underneath. … read more

Julianna Barwick @ Kilby Court 11.18 with Grizzly Prospector and Silver Antlers

Julianna Barwick poses at the beach

From where I’m standing, Julianna Barwick is a perfect silhouette. A projection of a slow moving video of white forests and breaking ocean waves frames her figure in the background, and the 50 or so people in the audience are in a trance, strewn out across the floor, some lying, some sitting, some standing, as her voice builds and reaches crescendo like a gothic one-woman choir.  … read more

Bill Callahan @ The State Room 11.23 with Judson Claiborne

Bill Callahan seems like the minimalist indie songwriter par excellence, letting his lyrics, often more spoken than sung, work their dry yet poetic magic, but on stage with a full band, you realize that they are capable of a much more deep and uncanny array of tricks. They surprised from the get-go, opening with a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “White Light/White Heat,” in tribute of the recently departed Lou Reed. Callahan is perhaps the only singer who could deliver the lines more dryly than Reed. … read more

Blondes Have More Fun: Lissie Sets The Bar High with Back To Forever

Lissie took a different approach and recorded this album with her band, rather than as a solo artist. Lissie originally played with studio musicians, but she says, “I have really honed a sound together through touring the last few years, so it was important to me and just natural that they be on Back to Forever.” It’s not always easy to bring the same attitude to an album that exists during a live performance, but “… the attitude and rock we bring live is present on this album” she says.  … read more