Search Results for: JOHN

BUILT TO SPILL ISSUE ‘ANCIENT MELODIES OF THE FUTURE’

Interviews,

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FOREWORD: There’s been a lot of indie rock guitarists who’ve tried emulating then reconfiguring Neil Young’s wiry electrical tone. One of the best and most efficient is Doug Martsch, head honcho of Built To Spill. Perfect From Now On (done in its entirety during an ’08 tour) became their certified masterpiece and the band has toured relentlessly since then, slowed down only temporarily in ’06 due to drummer Andy Capps untimely death. After a folk-blues-styled ’02 solo debut, Now You

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STOP TWO-PARTY INSANITY, DAN BERN FOR PRESIDENT!

Interviews

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FOREWORD: When you look at the politicians ruining America at the time, it seemed obvious to run quirky mod folkie, Dan Bern, for prez in ’04? Bush turned out to be a dopey joke while Democrat loser, John Kerry, fibbed about his military credentials then couldn’t quash his embarrassing ski stumble. Bern turned out to have informed, witty, and controversial opinions on many national subjects. And he ain’t bad live, either, as his October ’04 Bowery Ballroom show proved. He’s

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NATACHA ATLAS SPICILY ENTICES UNDERGROUND WITH ‘GEDIDA’

Interviews

FOREWORD: If there’s one so-called World Music Artist I truly admire, it’s multi-ethnic Belgium-reared England-based lass, Natacha Atlas. She ably incorporates her Arabic heritage into British techno and trance styles, gaining initial attention as lead singer/ belly dancer for vibrant troupe, Transglobal Underground, before breaking out on her own. Since this ’99 interview, Atlas has released ‘03s Something Dangerous, ‘06s Mish Maoul, and ‘08s acoustic-based knockout, Ana Hina. This article originally ran in Washington DC’s Brutarian.

Arabic vocalist, exotic dancer, …

AL ARONOWITZ: LEGENDARY ‘BLACKLISTED JOURNALIST’

Journalist, ,

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FORWARD: In his last year prior to dying of cancer, I got to know Al Aronowitz, the highly respected and much-maligned journalist responsible for introducing the Beatles to Bob Dylan (possibly the greatest cultural meeting of white musicians in music history). He actually confided in me and felt compelled to call one afternoon to tell me he had terminal cancer. That was difficult. I felt privileged to have met his acquaintance.

But Aronowitz was a stubborn man who despised magazine …

APPLES IN STEREO INCREASE ‘VELOCITY OF SOUND’

Interviews,

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INTRODUCTION: Apples In Stereo was the brainchild of eclectic pop-lovin’ music freak, Robert Schneider. He continues to release great stuff, such as ‘07s wonderful New Magnetic Wonder. Since this 2000 interview, he divorced drumming wife Hilarie Sidney, whose ensuing band, High Water Marks (with new husband, Per Ole Bratset), released a few brilliant low-key pop gems such as ‘07s Polar and ‘09s Arivar Sullimer. This article appeared in HITS magazine and the earlier  ’99 interview at Maxwells that follows originally

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BARE JR.’S ‘BRAINWASHER’ TURNS HEADS

Interviews

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INTRODUCTION: This interview with Bare Jr. took place just months before Manhattan club, Wetlands, got hit with debris from 9-11 and forced the hippie-ish venue to close down a few weeks earlier then expected. But while Wetlands couldn’t last as a friendly bohemian retreat (with good beer selection), Bobby Bare Jr. continues to put up the good fight. I saw him a few years hence at Maxwells in Hoboken and he still kicked raw arse.

As I stand drink in …

ANTI-FLAG WARN PROLETERIAT OF “THE TERROR STATE”

Interviews

FORWARD: Talked to Anti-Flag frontman Justin Sane via phone in ’03. His band slowly built up a solid activist punk following after their ’96 debut, Die For The Government, took hold. But I admit losing touch with these political music pundits thereafter, missing out on ’06s For Blood And Empire and ’08s The Bright Lights Of America. Ironically, these last two titles were put out by RCA Records, a dismal major label that I’d bet never fully supported Anti-Flag’s righteous …

AMBULANCE LTD. “LP” NO GENERIC PUSHOVER

Interviews

FOREWORD: After a show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, I hung out with Ambulance Ltd. in my van. While leader Marcus Congleton (who, according to Wikipedia, worked with Velvet Underground icon John Cale on an ’08 album) was a cool dude, his ex-guitarist Benji Lysaght, tried unsuccessfully to sabotage my tape deck and kept drunkenly telling us the Lakers were gonna be basketball champs – not! Along for the ride were two Britney Spears lookalike groupies. One wasn’t wearing undies and …

ERIC AMBEL CLEANS OUT CLOSET FOR ‘KNUCKLEHEAD’

Interviews,

FORWARD: I got to hang out with Eric Ambel, best known as leader of punky ’80s alt-country progenitors the Del Lords, at his tiny Lower East Side pub, Lakeside Lounge, in 2004. He had long since gone solo after playing backup for sundry indie bands. Though often overlooked, the hard-driving rockers he composed for the Del Lords indirectly informed Whiskeytown, the Jayhawks, and Uncle Tupelo.

Getting settled in the Big Apple could be a daunting task for a genuinely honest …

ACETONE CRUISE THRU ‘YORK BLVD’

Interviews

FOREWORD: This article originally ran in Cover Magazine, a local Manhattan arts paper owned and operated by Jeff Wright. Unfortunately, months after the piece ran, Acetone bassist-vocalist Richie Lee commited suicide at age 34, July ’01. Formed in 1993, Acetone’s soft-toned folk-psych tranquility nicely countered the prevalent grunge scene’s nervy distortion-laced dislocation.

Meeting at a California art school several years back, guitarist/ vocalist Mark Lightcap and bassist/ backup vocalist Richie Lee originally gained exposure as part of San Diego’s high …