A Reflection on Solid Sound 2011

With so many summer festivals already well established, is there room for more at the table? The second annual Solid Sound Festival ended last weekend in the same year that The Village Voice’s popular Siren Music Festival called it quits after a 10 year run. So how did Solid Sound fair in its second year? The music was once again spectacular but this year provided more to find fault with…. continue reading

Solid Sound Festival in Photos

In it’s second year, Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival has grown both in size and in variety. Hosting a small number of diverse bands, and incorporating the museum environment, Solid Sound is finding great success among patrons from all over the country, and even abroad. I, as one of those patrons, hope to see it continue long into the future. Sarah Lee and Johnny Wilco’s very own Lagunitas brew, only available… continue reading

Jun 20 2011

The Big Man

Any number of hardcore Springsteen fans (many of whom are related to me) will tell you that The Boss is but one important piece of the Springsteen sound. For the whole thing to come together, the E Street Band that accompanies Bruce Springsteen is equally important. Bruce has gone back and forth throughout his career, both touring and recording intermittently with the E Street Band. But especially in recent years,… continue reading

Jun 13 2011

This is Not a Playlist

Ok so I’m kind of jumping on the bandwagon. Everyone over here at Tastemakers (read: Alyssa and Katie) have been giving you their picks for summer driving playlists. I typically drive a lot in summer and music selection is very important, but I actually hate playlists. I never make any of my own. Jumping around from artist to artist is something I do when I’m bored and can’t find anything… continue reading

Jun 09 2011

Inner City Blues: A Playlist

I grew up about fifteen minutes from Long Island’s Jones Beach, and once it gets warm, the only thing I want to do is speed down Ocean Parkway in my little red pickup truck with the windows down and the speakers pumping. Obviously each summer had its own soundtrack, but it was always something upbeat and easy to sing along to during the day and something a little more mellow… continue reading

Bonnaroo 2011 Top Artists to See

Who: Iron and Wine When: 4:30 PM, Sunday Where: Which Stage Iron and Wine is one of our most anticipated shows of the whole Bonnaroo festival. The band, fronted by singer/guitarist Sam Beam, recently released its latest album, Kiss Each Other Clean, which has been quite well-received. Beam’s pure voice is sure to amaze amid the wide open Tennessee skies and will be a fantastic set to see. Who: Wiz… continue reading

Various Artists – Nigeria 70

Moldy | Stale | Edible | Fresh | Tasty!

There is nothing I love more than an essential summer album. It takes a certain amount of energy and texture for an album to be one that you won’t get sick of over an entire season. The compilation box set Nigeria 70 is quite possibly the quintessential mix of songs perfect the ultimate summer grooving. First introduced to me one hazy summer night while barreling down the dark highways of… continue reading

Goo Goo for Who?

After Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated second Saturday Night Live appearance, I have a bit I want to get off my chest about America’s premiere pop artist. Gaga’s SNL appearance came on the heels of the fourth single from her upcoming album Born This Way. She had her moments in the episode, but her more memorable contributions came during comedy sketches rather than in her musical performances. Like in her first… continue reading

To DIY or not to DIY?

Note: Names have been changed to insure privacy to the operators of the aforementioned venue. It is 5PM on a Saturday afternoon and Dan Itasor is extremely stressed out. His fingertips move hastily over the screen of an iPhone that is not his own, sending yet another text message to a band that should’ve been present and accounted for two hours ago. ‘I don’t think Dirty Beaches is coming,’ he… continue reading

An Interview with Tokyo Police Club

With their uptempo riffing and wild post-punk energy, Tokyo Police Club are a band you definitely don’t want to miss live. Lucky for you, the endlessly-touring Canadians are playing AfterHours on Wednesday (4/6). But before you get a chance to check out their animated live show and find yourself crowd surfing to their dynamic indie rock, we caught up with Tokyo Police Club keyboardist Graham Wright to get the lowdown… continue reading