With his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt and well-worn tweed jacket, Nicholas Altobelli looks like a man without a style. Perhaps that’s just the way he wants it. Sitting in Opening Bell Coffee on a sunny afternoon, Altobelli muses about what he does and why he does it. And like…
Junius used to be a band from Boston. That’s where they formed almost a decade ago. But then leader Joseph Martinez wanted to start a family, so he decided to go back to where he grew up. So for the past three years, Junius has been a Dallas band. Well,…
Besides learning that “begravningsplats” is Swedish for graveyard, talking to Axel Sjöberg, drummer for the Swedish rock band of the same name, was both fascinating and a bit unnerving. Not only does the guy sound exactly like Dirk Nowitzki, but just when I thought the language issue was going to…
Although the music of Ra Ra Riot has been described as baroque pop, it’s not nearly as pretentious as that might imply. Hailing from Brooklyn (by way of Syracuse), this intriguing five-piece has been making classically-tinged indie rock for the better part of seven years. And with each successive release,…
The kilts, whistles, accordions and other assorted Celtic crap were in abundance Saturday night at House of Blues, as Flogging Molly and a couple of nice opening acts brought the spirit of Ireland to the cramped confines of the House of Blues. Dave King and the rest of Flogging Molly…
No one sounds as taken aback by the success of the xx than the band’s guitarist, Romy Madley-Croft. Even though she helped co-found the band in 2005, Madley-Croft remains skeptical of her own playing, but somewhat reluctantly admits that her band is evolving for the better. Speaking from a tour…
It’s pretty rare for a band to wait nearly three decades to release its best album, but that’s exactly what Testament did. Last summer saw the release of Dark Roots of Earth, Testaments tenth and most accomplished work. Melding the old school fire of the band’s previous efforts with a…
There was absolutely nothing ordinary about the two shows The Residents put on at the Kessler this past Friday and Saturday night. Out of all the rock and roll weirdoes that have come and gone, The Residents may indeed be the oddest ducks of them all. Celebrating 40 years together,…
At 67, Homer Flynn is a cool, calm and rather coy customer. Over the past four decades, Flynn has consistently denied being a member of one of rock’s truly unique outfits: San Francisco’s The Residents. Even with many musical sleuths claiming otherwise, Flynn has always stuck to his story that…
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, the garage rock trio known as The Whigs has been plying their craft for over a decade. In that time, they have released four amazing records including last years’ Enjoy the Company. Speaking from a tour stop in Los Angeles and in anticipation of Friday’s show…
Speaking from his home in Austin, Matthew Hines, comes across as one of those likeable nerds everyone knew in high school. As leader of the indie rock outfit The Eastern Sea, Hines has turned that nerdy charm into three compelling albums, especially 2012’s Plague. In anticipation of Friday night’s show…
Whether it is with Red House Painters or Sun Kil Moon, the work of Mark Kozelek has always been marked by quiet desperation and a dry, dark sense of humor. A singer/songwriter of immeasurable skill, Kozelek is right at home twisting AC/DC into introspective folk songs. We spoke to Kozelek…
Over the course of 14 albums and countless cassette-only releases, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats has become one of the best (and busiest) singer/songwriters around. While his songs can be depressing and dark, Darnielle’s sense of exploration is simply remarkable. Whether it’s writing about meth addiction or child abuse,…
Back in 2006, The Long Winters released Putting the Days to Bed, one of that year’s best efforts, but various personal issues resulted in frontman John Roderick taking an extended leave of absence. Since then, he’s appeared as a sideman on efforts by Death Cab for Cutie and Nada Surf,…
Even though it’s not located in the trendiest of areas and the staff can lean a bit on the eccentric side, CD Source is still one hell of a music store. Case in point: The store’s annual Black Friday celebration once again features a killer lineup of local talent performing…
Grant Lee Buffalo was one of those ’90s bands that seemed to be perpetually flirting with the big time. Each of their four releases was heralded by the critics, but mainstream success was always just out of reach. The enigmatic Grant-Lee Phillips decided to end the band in 1998 and…
Whether it’s the mind-blowing progressive rock of Yes or the slicker pop stylings of Asia, guitarist Steve Howe has always been a team player. At 65, he’s been bending strings with the best of them for the better part of four decades. And although he became a legendary guitarist with…
Best Album Best Solo Act Best Female Vocalist The Body Wins, Sarah Jaffe Sarah Jaffe continues to be on the lips of North Texas music lovers in 2012, with her second LP, The Body Wins, revealing a tougher, darker side to longtime fans, and certainly gaining some new ones in…
At 50, Everclear’s Art Alexakis has just about seen it all. The guy has beat a drug addiction, formed a band, and was even elected a delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Oh, he’s also toured Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. Maybe he really has seen it all. Speaking from…
One listen to King Tuff’s eponymous sophomore effort and you will be hooked. Whether it’s the glam-inspired “Anthem” or the painfully catchy “Alone and Stoned,” the 12 cuts vary wildly, but are linked by an intensity that is as disarming as it is unique. Speaking from a tour stop in…
Since 1976, John “Eddie” Edwards has been playing drums for The Vibrators, one of England’s original punk acts. Nearly four decades later, he finds himself the sole original member, as the band continues to release albums and tour steadily. From a van driving through Ohio and in anticipation of Saturday…
For a band that has only been around a couple of years, Milo Greene has already garnered some positive press and some cool touring partners. You may have caught the band last month when they opened for the Walkmen at the Granada; now the band is back for a headlining…
