Nearly 50 years after they helped usher in the era of progressive rock, King Crimson is continuing to evolve — exploring new musical boundaries, adding new members. At a concert Sunday night in Milwaukee, the band demonstrated just how this combo continues to thrive. Continue reading
George Clinton and the latest lineup of Parliament-Funkadelic headlined Friday night’s beginning of Madison’s annual Brat Fest celebration, demonstrating to those who attended why Clinton and his merry band of funkateers are both beloved and essential in the evolution of pop music despite offering a truly conflicting, confusing performance. Continue reading
At the precipice of a new year, there’s only ever one important question to be asked at this moment in December: What will we remember? Continue reading
After a 30-year absence, Elvis Costello returned to Madison on Thursday night for a performance that seemed designed to prove a single theory: He’s just gotten better over the years. Continue reading
A new reissue of “Superunknown,” the best album recorded by grunge godfathers Soundgarden seeks to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the record’s arrival and to resurrect its reputation among fans when so much as happened in the years since then. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
The latest installment of Bob Dylan’s archival release, “The Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-71),” seeks to reverse opinions on one of the most reviled periods in Dylan’s creative life. Unfortunately, Dylan’s assistants obscure the true treasures of this period. Continue reading
At a tour stop in Chicago on Friday night, a troupe of all-star performers including Bob Dylan, Wilco and My Morning Jacket captured much of that old folkie spirit of hootenanny collaboration and musical joie de vivre to an arena of fans. And rarely has such a six-hour musical lecture left such an impression. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 