independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Saskatchewan-based singer/songwriter Andy Shauf, on tour supporting the release of his latest record, The Party, out in May via ANTI- Records, packed out The Basement in the Music City recently. Nashville's notoriously tough music listeners gladly crammed shoulder to shoulder into the cozy, intimate space (which literally is a basement under iconic Nashville record store... Continue Reading →
Omaha-based singer/songwriter Conor Oberst, touring in support of his new record, Ruminations, made a much-anticipated appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium recently. The former Bright Eyes frontman has become a cult icon in the indie music world, and still has the magic touch when it comes to crafting new and creatively fresh songs. Ruminations is a... Continue Reading →
To me, the historic Ryman Auditorium has, after 12 years of attending live performances within the confines of its hallowed sanctuary, a distinctly familiar smell; if someone blindfolded me and walked me into the concert hall, I would know exactly where I had landed. On this particular evening, the wood of the antique pews and... Continue Reading →
The crowd went absolutely wild when Los Angeles-based dreampop rockers Warpaint took the darkened 3rd & Lindsley stage. The fabulous female foursome began their set with “Bees”, from their first full length album, 2010’s The Fool, and moved swiftly into “Heads Up”, the ethereal groover and title track from their latest release, out in October.... Continue Reading →
Day two of the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Arts Festival felt like it was crafted especially for the Americana enthusiasts, like myself, and making it to all the shows I wanted to catch felt like quite a daunting task. Anderson East kicked off the day with a rip-roaring set on the main stage. The soulful, gospel-tinged rocker took... Continue Reading →
Pop rock trio Blue Healer brought their smooth synth-y vibes to The Basement recently, on tour supporting their self-titled album released in September via Nine Mile Records. Mixing shimmery guitar tones and synth melodies, their style is a breath of fresh air, and not typical of what you might imagine the Austin music scene might produce. Their... Continue Reading →
Though husband-wife duo JOHNNYSWIM is based in Los Angeles, they will always consider Nashville their home turf; the pair brought their signature style of energetic pop n’ roll to the historic Ryman Auditorium recently, and we are still reeling from the greatness of it all. Touring in support of their intensely vulnerable new album, Georgica Pond, Abner Ramirez and... Continue Reading →
Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Arts Festival returned for its second year in Franklin, Tennessee this September with a lineup packed with local Nashville bands and internationally-known heavy-hitters alike. For all those seasoned festival goers and uninitiated seekers alike, Pilgrimage is different than the average music-related outdoor gathering, and offers many other attractions to entertain the masses.... Continue Reading →
The Music City was fortunate enough to witness yet another powerful performance from blog favorite alt-folk outfit The Ballroom Thieves recently; they set up camp at The Basement for a pre-celebration of their release of their new album, Deadeye--the cozy atmosphere of the iconic venue ensured an intimate and friendly experience. The songs on Deadeye were, admittedly, a product of... Continue Reading →
To support the recent release of their fabulous new album Blindfaller, Mandolin Orange has hit the road to share the new tunes with eager listeners—I’ve fallen in love with these new songs and have had their Nashville show date circled on my calendar for weeks. The pair took the stage at the crowded Exit/In with... Continue Reading →
