It helps that all five members contribute songs, taking the stress off one songwriter. The band takes the term “folk” seriously, sticking to tunes that could have been culled from the Appalachians in the 19th century or earlier. Thankfully, the production isn’t rustic. The songs sport a sprightly, well-produced sheen landing just short of being […]
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What a Drag
As it heads to the South by Southwest music conference, the heavy psych band from Iowa plays at 9 p.m. The group has supported The Black Keys and Sleepy Sun in the past. Royal Thunder and local rockers The Pretty Black Chains are also on the bill. Tickets for the all-ages show are $7. For […]
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West to north
“Where do we go from here?” was the question Oklahoma City (by way of Northern California) rock band Somerset West faced as it released its debut album, “The Golden Land.” A full-length disc had always been a goal; it had been since the earliest days when bandleader and guitarist Kyle Lynch lost his brother — […]
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Irish springs
When you’re a rock band with an Irish lead singer and a knack for blending punk with Celtic music, you’re in big demand for St. Patrick’s Day. That’s certainly the experience of Flogging Molly, a group renowned for getting its Irish up during spirited live shows. But the group can’t be everywhere on St. Paddy’s. […]
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The mod couple
Kevin and Anita Robinson definitely fall into the “so cute it makes you sick” couples category. They’ve been married for more than 10 years, after meeting in their native Alabama. They were introduced through mutual friends at a small music club, then fostered a relationship by exchanging mixtapes. They decided to start playing music with […]
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Watt’s happening
After more than 30 years of playing music, renowned punk bassist Mike Watt might be indulged if he rested on his laurels. But with ongoing involvement in bands that includes the legendary Stooges and his own trio, The Missingmen, he shows no apparent interest in slowing down. His new album, “Hyphenated-Man,” is his musical meditation […]
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To the point
Being two smart guys who studied at Rutgers, James Dean Wells and Quinn English are perfectly aware of how they come across as rock duo The Gay Blades, often labeled and described as sarcastic and sardonic. But that doesn’t make it right. “It’s a matter of framing. When you name your band The Gay Blades […]
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Iron & Wine — Kiss Each Other Clean
But those who remember that the same man who wrote “The Trapeze Swinger,” “Naked as We Came” and “Love and Some Verses” is now composing international/ funky/indie/other songs will pretty much hate it. The beautiful piano and acoustic guitar of “Godless Brother in Love” — the tune from “Kiss Each Other Clean” that most resembles […]
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Mark Growden — Lose Me in the Sand
His 2011 release, “Lose Me in the Sand,” sees him reinventing himself as a desert troubadour, but he’s a little less successful there. It’s a good album, but it doesn’t excel, as his previous incarnation did. “Lose Me in the Sand” is written primarily on banjo, and Growden uses it in pieces frantic (“John Hardy”), […]
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Harry Connick Jr. — In Concert on Broadway
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, “Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway” needs to be in your collection. It’s exactly what it sounds like: Connick sings show tunes from the good ol’ days on Broadway (he extols “Guys and Dolls” as a perfect musical before belting out “My Time of […]