Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. Austin’s Asleep at the Wheel has a lengthy résumé that includes nine Grammys, tours with Bob Dylan, and a recent well-lauded collaboration with Willie Nelson—Willie and the Wheel. The members of Asleep at the Wheel are practitioners of Western Swing, and, according to their Web site, they have “kept a buzz on a …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. Convention is an entertaining look at the nuts and bolts of the 2008 Denver National Democratic Convention that nominated Barrack Obama for president. It does not focus on the minutiae, like the number of chicken wings consumed or number of plastic blue bracelets exchanged for bodily fluids, nor does it deconstruct the nominating …
Perviously published at the Washington DC City Paper. John Stirratt joined legendary alternative country pioneers Uncle Tupelo as a bass player in 1993 for their final release, Anondyne. After Uncle Tupelo’s ugly divorce, Jeff Tweedy was awarded custody of Stirratt and they went on to form the much-lauded Wilco. In a band that used to have a reputation for shedding members, Stirratt has …
Perviously published at the Washington DC City Paper. On Monday night, TV on the Radio exorcised any demons lingering after February’s uncharacteristic misstep on Saturday Night Live with a triumphant sold out show at the 9:30 Club. They opened the cage on the postmodern menagerie of sounds harnessed in the masterful Dear Science while keeping the layered electronic howl respectfully danceable. Front man Tunde Adebimpe conducted TVotR’s …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. In advance of today’s show at the 9:30 Club with Gregory Isaacs, I spoke with Easy Star All Stars co-founder Michael Goldwasser [pictured above, seated]. Goldwasser, as producer, musical director, arranger and guitarist, has been the driving force behind the Easy Star All Star tribute efforts. Those releases have included Radiohead and Pink Floyd tributes, and their recent Beatles tribute, Easy Star’s …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. Multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse is one of those musicians whose skill and easygoing manner keeps him in high demand. He started playing in bands in 1977 (on banjo), eventually landing with the Grievous Angles in the 90’s. He’s recorded and played live with Calexioco and the Waco Brothers and even dabbled live with the Boxmasters prior to …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. In advance of their appearance on Friday at the Rock N Roll Hotel, I caught up with the bass player for Tapes ‘n Tapes by phone. Erik [pictured, far left] was kind enough to field questions while on a much deserved break from touring. BPB: 2008 was a good year for …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. The Sundance Film festival is as much a showcase for documentaries as it is a venue for edgy independent fare. Hoop Dreams, Supersize Me, and An Inconvenient Truth all captured initial buzz from the mountain town festival. The director of Oscar winning Truth, Davis Guggenheim, brought a new film to this year’s festival. It Might Get Loud chronicles …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. The full-on rock spectacle that is Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band was on display last night at the 9:30 Club. For me, the transition from quirky Americana to Oberst’s special brand of theatrical rock was “Road to Joy’s” proclamation “Let’s fuck it up boys…make some noise!” from 2004’s I’m …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. Liz Phair began the live rendition of her 1993 debut, Exile in Guyville, by thanking the 9:30 Club’s sold out crowd for its enthusiasm, which continued through the night. The 9:30’s DJ had warmed the crowd with hits from Guyville contemporaries like Urge Overkill’s “Positive Bleeding” and the Afghan Whigs’ “Gentlemen,” and expectations were high. I’d …
Previously published at the Washington DC City Paper. Arrived in time to see Cat Power open the festival. Had yet to hear her cover Creedence’s “Fortunate Son”, which ably captured the fury of the original. The Dirty Delta Blues Band (consisting of briefly-in-D.C. group the Delta 72’s guitarist Gregg Foreman) backed Ms. Marshall well, sounding like a groovier Drive-By Truckers. Gogol Bordello did not disappoint by …
