06 Jul 2004

Artists Take an Acoustic Approach to Summer Releases

By John James
• Perfectly timed for a cool breeze through the warm summer air, three new CDs are taking the acoustic route. The implosion of this summer's Lollapalooza tour was a big disappointment for me, as I was really looking forward to seeing Michael Franti & Spearhead, a smart political voice in the dialogue on race and our common humanity since his days fronting the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.
29 Jun 2004

'80s Band Gets Its Due on DVD

By Administrator
• A new DVD released last week raises the bar in honoring Galaxie 500, one of the most beloved and influential bands of the late 1980s. With videos, live footage, and two "bootlegged" concerts from 1990, the two-DVD set from Plexifilm is pure slow-motion, dreamy, jangle-pop joy.
22 Jun 2004

Punk Gets a New Masterpiece from Authority Zero

By John James
• The brightest promise for the future of punk rock, Authority Zero, releases a sophomore masterpiece this coming Tuesday, with wicked cover art lampooning Norman Rockwell's classic "No Swimming" image - painting the three summer lads in gas masks, liberty spikes, and the American flag.
15 Jun 2004

Lollapalooza Gears Up for Ninth Year

By John James
• With the first dates only a month away, it's not too early to make plans to attend this summer's Lollapalooza tour. Celebrating its ninth year, the festival run by Perry Farrell has a new twist for the wandering tribe, as each city stop will be a two-day affair, showcasing twice the stars and up-and-coming acts.
08 Jun 2004

Cheap Trick Brings Tokyo to You

By John James
• Anyone who's thrilled to Cheap Trick's juggernaut power pop will delight this coming Tuesday, as the band releases a terrific DVD documenting last year's tour of Japan. Instead of going for the straight live-concert approach, From Tokyo to You is just as playfully nutty as the band, blending concert performances with hilarious documentary-style interviews with all four members.
01 Jun 2004

Sons of Surf Release Two Stellar Albums

By John James
• Two fantastic new albums from sons of the surf have me lost in their music and cool waves. Formerly the frontman for sonic surf demons 40 Watt Domain, Andrew Heilprin has a new solo moniker - Blue-Eyed Son - and his West of Lincoln album on Eenie Meenie Records.
25 May 2004

Obscure Soundtracks Pack the Goods

By John James
• Two cool new soundtracks are flying low under the commercial radar but are worthy of finding. The Zero to One Records imprint has just released Eric Holland's soundtrack to Dopamine, recently the winner of the 2003 Alfred P.
18 May 2004

Funky Clinton Administration Lands on Planet Earth

By John James
• My pick of the week is this Tuesday's funky touchdown by The Clinton Administration, and I don't mean Ray Ban-ed Willie mugging with his saxophone on Arsenio Hall. A new mothership has landed, my brothers, with space pimp afterburners smoking up the joint, blistering in the hazy jam of its "take me to your leader" funk.
11 May 2004

New Book Details Censored Songs

By John James
• Sex, drugs, and murder. Back it up with an infectious beat and you're sure to cause people's neck hair to rise up along with their blood pressure. Author Peter Blecha has tackled this subject in a new well-researched book, Taboo Tunes: A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs, on the Backbeat Books imprint.
04 May 2004

Clapton Lines Up the Stars for Festival

By John James
• Eric Clapton has created the Crossroads Guitar Festival, a one-time music festival this summer that sounds like a wet dream for guitar fanatics. To be held June 4 through 6 in Dallas, Texas, the festival features not only great live performances but also many intimate acoustic- and electric-guitar clinics held in the fest's Guitar Center Village.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Music Calendars

Submit your event listings to calendar@rcreader.com