Sweet guitar chords roll down the Broadwalk with the breeze, beckoning passers-by to the open-air, stone-face tavern. Nautical knickknacks — ships’ wheels, fishing trophies — fill the low-ceilinged, dimly lit interior. And the place is packed, mostly with locals, people who’ve known and loved Nick’s on Hollywood Beach for years…
If Terence Trent D’Arby’s career offers one lesson, it’s this: record a top-notch album, be hailed as a quickly rising star, feed the press large doses of outlandish self-aggrandizement, fall headlong into the sophomore slump, bruise hard, hole up for four years, and finally re-emerge with another top-notch album. Followed…
The dictionary offers various definitions for the word “band.” The first: a company of persons acting or functioning together. I guess the bands these four guys emerged from skipped right over Webster’s and made up their own. Singer Eddie Gowan (formerly of Queen Anne’s Revenge), drummer Bobby Borg (formerly of…
Rotations 12 Dada Puzzle (I.R.S.) By Steve Almond There is nothing quite as kickass as a power trio that clicks, nothing that jangles the nerve centers so sweetly as three naked instruments — in sync. A trio means the bare minimum of sounds required to qualify as rock, with no…
Struggling musicians. By definition they haven’t reached the pinnacle of success they would like to reach A that maybe you’d like them to reach. It’s a plain fact. Whatever money they make from their live gigs doesn’t exactly put them on the A list for a visit from Robin Leach…
There are plenty of local bands and musicians we all agree should be national stars, major-label projects, MTV pinups. If any of them were half as good as Billy Yeager, we might be right. And I have just one request for every artist currently residing in pop music’s Top 40,…
Redefining the concept of jazz trios: piano with two tenor saxes. Redefining the concept of jazz venues: a health-food store/restaurant. Of course there’s an explanation for this unlikely pairing A an oft-neglected art form showcased in a setting that might seem more appropriate for some postpsychedelic, postelectric, return-to-the-earth musical accompaniment…
Dear Whitney, You’re among the planet’s most celebrated entertainers. You’re a peerless vocalist capable of rattling the rafters with your range and thrilling the very air with your passion. Fulfilled both in your career goals (chart-topping power, Hollywood cachet) and your personal life (superstar spouse, beautiful new baby), you continue…
It happens every summer. Things get slow. The clubs (the ones that survived) try to conserve cash. Local bands play at venues they might have been crowded out of by national acts a few months earlier. It’s a hot time for local music fans. Recognizing that tradition, we’ve compiled brief…
With all the complaints about bands that are all style and no substance, it’s nice to finally find one that’s all about substance. Even controlled substance. Take Basehead, for instance, the critically acclaimed alternative funk outfit that has hitched its wagon to the warped brain waves of 24-year-old ‘head honcho…
If there are troubles in the world, don’t blame Arlo Guthrie. He’s doing the best he can. The son of Woody is the father of Abe, a keyboardist for a Massachusetts-based thrash quintet called Xavier that also finds time to back Arlo. And he is a devotee of Ma Jaya…
I found out he didn’t even have a credit card, so I changed my mind about kicking Dan Murphy’s ass. For so long it’s been itching at me, a desire to jack Soul Asylum’s guitarist, carried over from an encounter five years ago when “the best live band in the…
A quarter of a century ago, Dr. Lonnie Smith was enjoying the attention of music notables such as John Hammond, Sr., (who signed him to a contract with Columbia and arranged his first appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival). Downbeat magazine was declaring him Organist of the Year. He was…
Once upon a time a not-so-sought-after Lyle Lovett went to Nashville’s Opryland to hawk his act at a talent-buyers showcase. Not yet the Grammy-getting, style-setting Hollywood property he’s become, he hoped to impress the promoter-packed audience. And he did. “Afterwards we heard someone say he felt sorry for that fella…
“Welcome to Club Bravo, home of…the extremely bright light that’s shining in my eyes. That was supposed to be a hint, bro.” Delfeayo (pronounced DEL-fee-yo) Marsalis is doing what he’s supposed to: charming the pants off this somewhat stodgy, tanned and blazered crowd of arts patrons, cable moguls, and assorted…
Plenty of artists know in their hearts that the driving force in their lives is musical expression. What they don’t always know is how to get the music industry A and thereby the masses A to sit up and take notice. Three states, a half-dozen band-name changes, two record companies,…
Can’t get enough of those classic hits? Keeping a vigil until every last member of AC/DC has gunned it down that Highway to Hell? Please take a moment from your obviously busy schedule to fill out our Klassic Hits Kwiztm. Please use a No. 2 pencil. Answers and scoring chart…
“Satisfaction” Rolling Stones, 1965 “Stairway to Heaven” Led Zeppelin, 1971 “Money” Pink Floyd, 1973 “Dream On” Aerosmith, 1973 “Hotel California” Eagles, 1976 “Cocaine” Eric Clapton, 1976 “Night Moves” Bob Seger, 1976 “More Than a Feeling” Boston, 1976 “Dust in the Wind” Kansas, 1977 “Renegade” Styx, 1978 Honorable mention: Anything else…
Schascle “Twinkle” Yochim is typical of so many unsigned talents, a tough-voiced belter of bluesy rock with tons of melodic skill. She writes big, memorable songs, captured neatly on a demo, and has been touring the club circuit from her Sarasota base for several years. Your standard dreamer who deserves…
He’s the self-proclaimed, mail-ordained (or disdained, as he puts it) minister of the First House of Polyester Worship. His powers are so great his followers, when commanded, gleefully pound the drum part to “Wipe-Out” on the walls where he performs, while he knocks honky-tonky hell out of his electric keyboards…
Though the Parliament/Funkadelic empire has been officially silent since 1983’s Trombipulation, true followers of George Clinton’s visionary menagerie haven’t exactly gone dry during the nominal drought. Every year or so, Clinton, first lieutenant Bootsy Collins, and assorted friends drop by at this or that recording session, turning otherwise minor P-flavored…
Jimmy Scott Lost and Found (Atlantic/Rhino) They’re a select group, a handful of singers that can pull up emotion and hurt so palpable that it’s almost painful to listen to, but you want to listen anyway: Billie Holiday, Neil Young, Otis Redding, come immediately to mind. Add to their number…
