Sign Up For Soundbytes Music’s Newsletter
Get the latest music news right to your inbox! Check out Soundbytes’ daily music briefing for people who believe songs matter — and so do the stories behind them.
Get the latest music news right to your inbox! Check out Soundbytes’ daily music briefing for people who believe songs matter — and so do the stories behind them.
On stage, Fishbone performs like an aged fighter backed into a corner and down on points. At the High Noon Saloon in Madison on Friday night, the band reinforced their reputation as uncompromising musical pioneers and thick-headed stalwarts even as bar-band doom stares them in the face.
After years of self-imposed exile from music-making, Jeff Mangum and his underground-rock group Neutral Milk Hotel have seen cult-like audiences grow in their absence — one that sees the group as indie-rock messiahs. Their concert in Madison on Saturday night was a second coming that proved miracles really do happen.
Let’s face facts. When most people think of the Twin Cities, images of blizzard-like conditions and bitter, breathless cold crystallize in their minds as fast as a Minnesota quick-freeze.
Rock legend Elton John gave a Vegas-honed performance Thursday night in Madison that paraded some of the greatest pop-rock songs of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s in front of America’s Dairyland. And this without any assists from Cirque du Soleil.
Like the hobbled hero from some Hollywood movie, a clearly ailing Levon Helm rallied his strength during Tuesday night’s performance to give those who gathered at a downtown Milwaukee casino an enthralling lesson in American roots music.
Long stuck in the shadow of the metal titans Queens of the Stone Age, the Eagles of Death Metal have so primed their swaggering, rock ‘n’ roll engine that no one will mistake them for a hot-rod side project again. Their recent concert in Madison, Wis., demonstrates their groove-oriented tunes can shake hips as well as preconceptions.
Besides indie-rock hipsters, there was something else that filled Chicago’s Metro on Monday night for TV on the Radio’s sold-out concert: Doubt.
Kanye West has had an exciting past couple of weeks. He was on the cover of Time magazine, topped the Billboard album charts, and succeeded in stealing the show with his performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Oh, and he slammed President George W. Bush on live TV during a Hurricane Katrina charity-athon. Controversy aside, David weighs in on whether his new album merits the headlines. Continue reading
Once easily pigeonholed as diehard New Wave rawkers, Black Rebel Motorcycle have changed their tune on their record, “Howl,” wholeheartedly embracing folk-blues influences. In the process, the group dumped their drummer and had a high-profile falling out with their label. Soundbytes weighs in whether the drama makes for great listening. Continue reading
Soundbytes remembers Al Aronorwitz, the so-called “the godfather of rock journalism,” who played a critical role in the careers of many ’60s music legends. Continue reading
Soundbytes gives the rundown on new releases by the White Stripes and Nine Inch Nails, and comments on the two group’s differing strategies for repeating musical success. Continue reading
While U2’s latest record had them showing their age, young upstarts Coldplay’s new record, “X&Y,” demonstrates that this is a band in its creative ascendancy and ready to challenge rock’s stadium kings. Soundbytes gives you the lowdown. Continue reading
Almost 10 years after their breakthrough hit and their subsequent fade from the spotlight, roots-rockers the Wallflowers have returned with yet another new album designed to recapture the limelight. Soundbytes lets you know whether they’ve learned any new lessons. Continue reading
The Flaming Lips’ career is a story of artistic endurance. A new DVD, “The Fearless Freaks,” follows the psychedelic band’s 20-year, zig-zaging ascent from oddballs of the early ’80s hardcore punk scene to MTV-knighted, one-hit wonders to one of underground rock’s premier groups. Continue reading
Although a new album is headed to stores in a couple of weeks, hard rock supergroup Audioslave chose to mine their impressive back catalog for their current North American tour. Continue reading
Going solo is the escape hatch for every frontman frustrated by the confines of band life. But what do you do when your solo debut flops? Soundbytes weighs in whether the second solo albums by Ben Folds and former Toad The Wet Sprocket singer Glen Phillips are worth a second chance. Continue reading
After years of wallowing on the edge of obscurity, Minnesota trio Low is posed to claim a bigger slice of the indie rock pie with a new label and a new sound. Continue reading