independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
“Our mother enrolled us in classical violin lessons when I was four and Rebecca was three, and God bless her, can you imagine a three year old playing a violin? It must’ve been horrendous,” laughs Megan Lovell, who, along with her sister Rebecca, comprise rock duo Larkin Poe. The classically-trained pair got a good dose... Continue Reading →
In September, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats returned to Nashville for a sold-out show at the Ryman, and we were lucky enough to be there. I worked my way through the new and ridiculous TSA-like security at the entrance of the mother church, and there was a palpable feeling of excitement in the air. As the... Continue Reading →
Last night alt-rock outfit Switchfoot played to a packed-out Ryman Auditorium, a stop on their Looking For America Tour with Relient K. The band, who is on the road supporting their latest album, Where The Light Shines Through, dazzled the Nashville crowd with a mix of new songs and old favorites. If you missed the festivities, we... Continue Reading →
Veteran alt-rockers Silversun Pickups graced The Ryman stage last week, with Foals and Joywave providing opening support. The crowd bestowed a warm Nashville welcome upon the headliner as they took the stage without fanfare, beginning the set with “Cradle (Better Nature)” the first track on their latest album, 2015’s Better Nature. SSPU began the... Continue Reading →
“We get labeled as a retro band, and though we draw a lot of influence from older music, I feel like the way we put things together is very different,” says Lech Wierzynski, frontman for soulful rhythm and blues-y collective The California Honeydrops. The golden-voiced Wierzynski, who also plays guitar and trumpet, was born in Poland... Continue Reading →
Scott McMicken,Toby Leaman, Zach Miller, Eric Slick, Frank McElroy, and Dimitri Manos took the darkened Ryman stage without fanfare, and began their set. I had seen them at almost a year ago to the day at the same venue in 2015, and as I pondered what to write about this performance, I realized that I... Continue Reading →
Alt-rocker Candice Martello, who performs under the moniker Hemming, made her debut appearance at the Ryman Auditorium recently, providing opening support for Chris Cornell on his nationwide acoustic Higher Truth Tour. The Ryman was packed; the rumble of the crowd quietened as the unassuming Hemming took the stage. Dressed in black with her long dark... Continue Reading →
Formidable folk quartet Darlingside will be performing at The High Watt in Nashville this Thursday, December 10th. The band released their latest album, the critically acclaimed Birds Say, in September; I had the chance to catch up with band vocalist and banjo maestro Don Mitchell right after Thanksgiving, and we began our chat by discussing our... Continue Reading →
Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Candice Martello started playing guitar at age 9, and wrote her first song at age 13; "It was probably about hating the popular kids in middle school, some angsty punk song about feeling awkward." She'd made her way through a succession of bands in various genres--indie, experimental, punk--when she got a call that... Continue Reading →
Tash Neal and Chris St. Hilaire, a.k.a. The London Souls, a Brooklyn-based rock n' roll duo possessing explosive talent and envy-inducing hair, are currently on tour playing sold out shows to sold out crowds. Their sophomore album, Here Come The Girls, is tangible proof that this hard-working pair won't let anything stop them from doing what they're... Continue Reading →
