independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Sunday morning at Bonnaroo always brings a conflict of emotions--it’s when you realize that there is only one more day on The Farm and the real world is waiting on the other side. However, that feeling is quickly pushed aside by the realization that there are still hours of music to be heard, and this... Continue Reading →
After ending Friday night with the rocking spectacle of U2, I was ready to start Saturday with something a bit more mellow, and found what I was looking for on the Who Stage with Nashville rockicana artist Reuben Bidez. Leading with his acoustic guitar and soulful voice, Bidez ranged from melancholy to wistful while getting... Continue Reading →
Rising early on Friday morning, there was already an air of anticipation buzzing in the campsites. With a stellar Thursday of music still echoing in our heads, I carefully mapped out the schedule--even knowing that it was futile to plan too much at Bonnaroo. There's simply too much to see to be confined to a... Continue Reading →
At the risk of sounding cliché, the best word to describe Bonnaroo is “magical.” There are many ways people try to define what makes it so-- hugs, high-fives, and cool vibes are usually mentioned—but for factual proof, look no further than the hordes of people that flood The Farm each year in Manchester, Tennessee. The... Continue Reading →
Michael Kiwanuka has a powerful voice and an unmistakable sound; since the 2012 release of his breakthrough debut, Home Again, he has become one of the most prominent and inspirational singer/songwriters of the past decade. Home Again was a masterpiece of soulful folk blues, but since then, his sound has developed into a blend of... Continue Reading →
The night was cool, but the vibes were psychedelic and warm--the fractured alt-pop beats of Motopony carried the last show of their tour into history at The Goodfoot in Portland Sunday night. After three openers roused the intimate crowd and riled them up for their headliner, Daniel Blue and his eclectic group stole the night;... Continue Reading →
After two full days of music and exuberance, the final day of this year’s Shaky Knees Music Festival came, and it ended up being the hottest, as well as my favorite day of the three. We began our Sunday at the Piedmont Stage to catch Whitney, a band that wowed audiences and critics alike with... Continue Reading →
At the Main Stage on an overcast Saturday, Nashville southern soul revivalist Anderson East jumped straight into his melting sound of soul and kicked off our second day at Shaky Knees with a bang. The band got the crowd moving as East howled through every line, and literally gave me goosebumps with his combination of... Continue Reading →
Our Shaky Knees Music Festival adventure began with the wonderfully talented Margaret Glaspy, whose brilliant mix of jazz and rock, along with her edgy and empowering lyrics, please ears and raise plenty of applause. She played a remarkable set of her songs, mostly from her newest record Emotions and Math, a perfect start for the... Continue Reading →
Love is in season, and soulful siren Stelle Amor is an ambassador, doing her part to spread that love with her fiery brand of soul music. She kick-started her EP release show celebration with all the funky-pop vibes at one of Nashville’s favorite venues, Exit/In, and began her night speaking to the crowd. While she... Continue Reading →
