How Jay Bennett and Ed Burch managed to find the time to make a record together is a mystery. In fact, Bennett chose to amicably bow out of his spot in the ever-popular Wilco in order to pursue this collaboration. Burch, however, continued with at least three other acts–most likely to the benefit of this […]
Zach Hanner
Posted inArt
Without a Net
I have this dream fairly often. I’m standing atop a trapeze platform, clad in tights and bedecked with sequins. I survey the crowd below, noticing a particularly wheezy old man taking shots from his inhaler between bites of popcorn. I raise my arm, one hand on the trapeze and push off. But as I release […]
Posted inNews
Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
New Jersey DJ Tom Scharpling has to deal with all sorts of weirdo types on his call-in radio show. Lucky for him, most of the freaks all come from the head of Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster. The pair met in the early ’90s during a ‘Chunk gig and before long, Wurster was calling in to […]
Posted inMusic
Dust, Dreams and Reality
Midway through our phone conversation, the sound of a mournful train whistle interrupts Kurt Wagner. It’s easy to imagine Wagner on his cordless phone, sitting on the porch of his Nashville home, smoking a cigarette and taking in the ambience of his hometown: Music City, USA. In fact, it’s his voice, raspy from years of […]
Posted inNews
Three Torches
And now, a track-by-track review of Three Torches’ Infernal Machine.1. Solomon. Minor-key desperation with nicotine stained fingers. Fantastically hollow piano from the Sleepies’ Andy Magowan. 2. Had A Good Reason. Smells like Dapper Dan pomade. If the Stray Cats hadn’t been so damn derivative, they might have sounded like this. 3. Ignorant’s Remains. Is it […]
Posted inMusic
Oedipus Rising
The three members of Oedipus Dick met at Rock Star Academy. While studying such illuminating courses as “Load-Ins: Making A First Impression,” “Trouser Stuffing” and “Groupie Management 101,” Chip Steiner, Hank Marr and Tim Green realized that when they combined their various talents, the world of rock shuddered in fear. However, their studies began to […]
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Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash
Buck Owens put Bakersfield on the map in the ’50s with his distinct sound and Dwight Yoakum picked up the flag and continued marching the California-country sound on into the 21st century. But Bakersfield is a long drive from San Diego, home of the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. The genesis of acts like Blink […]
Posted inNews
Rodeo Boy
The Cape Fear River is a strange, meandering snake of water that slows to a halt in Wilmington prior to reaching its terminus in the Atlantic Ocean. Downtown is perched right on the river’s narrow banks, sometimes leaning over and looking right in to the murky water. Rodeo Boy is a river band. Carving their […]
Posted inNews
Wu-Tang Clan
When Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan released their debut, Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, hip hop suddenly found itself on its back, rubbing its jaw. Unfortunately, their subsequent discs evolved into double-sided, sprawling affairs with too much skim milk and not enough cream. The Wu collective assembled Iron Flag in less than a year–truly amazing when […]
Posted inMusic
So You Wanna Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star?
You’ve all seen Star Search, that cheesy show from the ’80s and ’90s where contestants like Rosie O’Donnell, Sawyer Brown and Sam Harris (anyone remember this mulleted crooner who had a ridiculous winning streak with his ear-piercing rendition of “Over The Rainbow”?) compete for a chance at superstardom, prize money and a recording contract. Thankfully, […]