Apple didn’t invent the mp3 player, the smart sphone, or the laptop computer – they just make them a cut above everyone else. Sleepy Sun is a band that produces a product in a similar fashion to Apple. They didn’t invent blues-based psychedelic rock, they are not the first band to incorporate multiple transitions within a song, and indeed reverb and…

Part I: Mash Up Anything

JaJunk funk, Tool & Jackson 5, Tribute to Lady Madonna, Bowie Here Comes the Mantis, Cemetery Walk This Way, Bathtub Gin & Juice, Jimmy Page Against the Machine, Ocean Billy Jean

The Stew Art, as well as Umphrey’s taste for live mash-ups since last year, seems to be a mutant maturing of their ADD style along with a Midwest-bred clusterfuck of influences, from Slayer and King Crimson to M…

It probably wouldn’t be a stretch to deem Model Stranger “rock n’ roll classicists.” Their first full-length release, Dreams & Bones, is recorded in what could be considered a very crisp manner, yet calling it clean would be a misnomer. It’s an album that takes on just enough of an antiquated manner of sound to accord for a distinct vitality – while being abl…

The performance commenced with great style. It’s not often that lights and audio begin prior to a band’s appearance, but that’s how Metric took to the stage at Chicago’s Vic Theater. As blue lights pulsed and white ones danced the members of Metric took the slow building hallucinogenic sounds that were already being played and transitioned it into their song “twilight galaxy.” This was a solid show starter that was p…

By Benji Feldheim

What comes first, the audience or the band?

If a band hasn’t totally succumbed to mutant raging ego trips a’la The Black Crowes or Oasis, then chances are on some level they appreciate their fans. As they should, and yet how far do bands really go to show gratitude? More specifically, how much will a band and crew inconvenience themselves to say thanks?

The first UM Bowl was a fan appreciation dream wher…

Reservoir is the newest full-length release from the Chicago band Great Divide. If one desired to generalize the their type of music it could be deemed ‘roots music’, because they seem to amalgamate blues, rock, soul, R & B and funk into something all their own.  The band consists of 7 musicians, so they have no lack of sonic potential. Yet this album’s sound is very crisp & clean, as they employ little effects o…

They formed in 1997 from the product of joining two local Minnesota bands. In 1998, they played their first live show. In the mid-2000’s, they released their first EP entitled Kids for America. In 2001, they received their first album review from PunkNews.com. In 2007, they were announced as having one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Now, in 2010, Motion City Soundtrack set out on a new, much needed, headlining tour starting in late March. The lineup behind them included bands such as Sing It Loud, A Rocket To The Moon and Fun.

I had a chance to interview John (JG) and Stephen Gomez (SG) from The Summer Set while they were in Columbus on May 7th for the AP Tour which is sponsored by Alternative Press Magazine. I was able to ask them about their views, their music and their past and future tour experiences.

Frank Reader’s soft vocals coupled with dreamy melodies and pop riffs can be heard on Trashcan Sinatras’ sixth album, In the Music, released April 27th. The album is a mixture of pop melodies and more grounded, pensive pieces, containing eight bonus tracks that were recorded on the Scottish band’s November UK tour, in addition to ten in-studio recordings.  The group started recording in New York City, but later mov…

Devastating earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, and Barber broke his wrist before spring tour!  Following the news in mid March of Disco Biscuits guitarist and front man Jon Gutwillig’s tour threatening injury it seemed as though the end was very nigh for spring plans of the faithful followers of the Philadelphia electro jam outfit the Disco Biscuits.  But fret not Chicken Little.  The sky is not falli…