independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Last Friday night added up to the perfect storm for an unforgettable concert experience. A dynamic band with an impeccable history of mesmerizing live performances? Taken care of by the Louisville rockers of My Morning Jacket. Amazing sound quality in an open air setting? Taken care of by Ascend Amphitheater, which I might argue... Continue Reading →
When I was asked to review The Daybreaks, I did what anyone does before they commit to seeing a band perform live - I checked them out on Spotify. It only took 20 seconds of listening to the first song, “The Machine,” to make me an instant fan, and for the next week I listened... Continue Reading →
It was a sultry night last Saturday, as the temps climbed into the upper 90s, unusual for those of us here in Portland, Oregon--but unbeknownst to the passersby, the Doug Fir Lounge was hot inside as well – not for lack of A/C, but because Seattle’s Pickwick played a show that set us all on... 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 →
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 →
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 →
A loss for words. That's a hard thing for me to say, and an even rarer phenomenon, but Knox Hamilton at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland made it happen. They burst on to the stage with a confident stride, grinning and whipping us into a frenzy with rhythmic drums and vocal melodies I am... Continue Reading →
“We love you Portland…you’re actually our favorite Portland”… as a native New Englander, I wanted to protest this statement for my beloved Mainers. However, shortly after Atlas Genius played their first song this past Tuesday at the beautiful Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon, I was actually fine with it. This Australian sensation wooed us like... Continue Reading →
