Hailing from the small, waterfront town of Anacortes, Washington, The Lonely Forest is a four-piece outfit that specializes in a quirky brand of power pop that is not much different from that of another band from that same region: Death Cab for Cutie. As a matter of fact, Death Cab’s…

At 65, singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III is, perhaps, the elder statesmen of musicians who were tagged as “The Next Bob Dylan” in the early 1970s. But Wainwright’s cynicism and humor have always set his songs a part from the typical coffee house troubadour. Sadly, in some ways, Wainwright is probably…

Although The Bangles started out as an indie pop band associated with Los Angeles’ Paisley Underground scene in the early 1980’s, it didn’t take the band long to make major commercial inroads. By the mid 80’s, the band had released two huge singles, Prince’s “Manic Monday” and the almost novelty…

As much of a performance art group as a regular rock band, San Francisco’s Beats Antique began as backing musicians on an album of belly dancing music. So impressed was lead dancer Zoe Jakes that she decided to assemble a band around multi-instrumentalist David Santori and percussionist Tommy Cappel. Augmented…

Very few bands come close to boasting a story like Los Angeles’ White Arrows claims. Formed in 2008 by Mickey Schiff, a talented multi-instrumentalist who happens to have been born legally blind (he gained his sight back at age 11), the band plays a marvelous amalgam of alternative music, electronic…

For over four decades, England’s Judas Priest has been making one hell of a heavy metal racket. Formed in 1969, the band didn’t find widespread success until the late ’70s and early ’80s. But classic metal songs such as “Living After Midnight” and “Breaking the Law” (both off the seminal…

Detroit’s Electric Six is all about one Dick Valentine. Also known as Tyler Spencer, Valentine has led some form of his band since 1996. And he’s been largely successful: The band has become renowned for its chaotic live shows and interesting mixture of punk, funk and alternative rock. Electric Six…

Although originally conceived as a pop-punk outfit, Chicago’s Plain White T’s have evolved into a more mainstream, alternative rock band. Having a number one hit will do that to you. 2007’s “Hey There Delilah” was the single that exposed the band to the world. Light, sentimental and catchy, the song…

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Kevin Devine is such an avid fan of the New York Mets that he named his first band Miracle of 86 in honor of that baseball club’s surprising victory overthe Boston Red Sox in that year’s World Series.But Devine is far more than a fan of The Great…

Being the opening act for a megastar like Taylor Swift can be both a blessing and a curse. Let’s face it: Stadium crowds are not known for their patience when it comes to waiting for the headliner; still, the chance for some big-time exposure is just too much for most…

Minneapolis’ After the Burial plays a brand of progressive metal that is technically impressive and catastrophically heavy. They’re somewhat self-destructive, too: The band has been around for seven years, and they are already on their third singer and drummer. Such turmoil would certainly tear apart most bands, but guitarist Trent…

Talking to Skot Alexander of the Los Angeles-based punk act 400 Blows is like conversing with your drunken uncle. It can be pretty funny, but also a little frustrating: One moment, the guy expresses a well thought out opinion about the sterilization of punk rock; the next moment, the guy can’t…

BRAIDS’ members are young — all four members are in their (very) early 20s — but the Canadian band is already earning quite a bit of critical buzz for their cool and collected, and heavily influenced by Animal Collective, brand of experimental pop. Led by the talented Raphaelle Standell-Preston, BRAIDS…

For nearly 15 years, California’s Thrice has been one of the more intriguing alternative rock bands going. With an attitude of constant growth, the four-piece has incorporated elements of punk, metal and electronica into their heady and literate stew. Thrice’s highwater mark would have to be The Alchemy Index Volumes…

Hailing from Stillwater, Oklahoma, one might assume that Colourmusic might dabble in alt-country or Southern rock. Such couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, this intriguing five-piece plays alternative rock with the emphasis on the alternative. Calling what they do “Oklahoma Sex Rock,” the guys in Colourmusic actually claim the…

For 17 years now, Richard Buckner has been one of the most unique singer-songwriters going. Eschewing choruses, Buckner writes in a stream of consciousness matter that resembles free verse poetry set to a fascinating musical backing. Although Buckner was erroneously marketed as a hunky country good old boy in the…