Review: Connie Converse – How Sad, How Lovely

Review: Connie Converse – How Sad, How Lovely
By

Connie Converse = Sara Carter + Harry McClintock + Susan Reed  … read more

Review: Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves – Canyons

Review: Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves – Canyons
By

Rollicking blues-thumping rock n’ roll bleeds out of these guys. Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves are a full-throttle rock band with a full, rich sound that is as colorful and as it is raw. Wollard, who’s also in Hot Water Music, takes several steps closer to a more roots-influenced rock sound than he’s done in the past. His song writing, always at a high level, seems to have gone even higher, probably due to the fact that he’s the clearly at the helm of these Ship Thieves, and Canyons is very much his vision. … read more

Review: Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight

Review: Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight
By

It’s amazing to me that Chuck Ragan has become as good as he is. A punk guy playing folk rock seems like it might just be interesting, in the sort-term, because of the juxtaposition of it, but here we are with a fourth full-length and he’s only gotten better.
  … read more

Review: C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo

Review: C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo
By

C.W. Stoneking = The Pinehill Haints + Screamin’ Jay Hawkins + T-Model Ford … read more

Review: Brent Amaker and the Rodeo – Year of the Dragon

Review: Brent Amaker and the Rodeo – Year of the...
By

When it comes to strange and different bands, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo is at the top of my list. I feel like there’s something I just don’t get. … read more

Review: Bad Religion – Christmas Songs

Review: Bad Religion – Christmas Songs
By

Although I can’t say exactly what I was expecting from this record, I have to say, other than its oddball appeal, the jovial seasonal tunes didn’t really scratch the itch I got when I first heard about this project.  … read more

The Honky Tonk Journeyman: An interview with J.P. Harris

The Honky Tonk Journeyman: An interview with J.P. Harris
By

J.P. sees himself as a tradesman and approaches his music career the same way he approached working as a carpenter. He works hard and gives his work all that he has. … read more

Reverend Horton Heat @the Depot 2.15 w/ Voodoo Glow Skulls and the Delta Bombers

Reverend Horton Heat @the Depot 2.15 w/ Voodoo Glow Skulls...
By

Over the years I’ve realized that a band or an artist can change and grow and seeing that evolution can be amazing and astonishing.  … read more

The Music of Mayhem and Murder: Pioneer Theatre Company’s Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The Music of Mayhem and Murder: Pioneer Theatre Company’s Sweeney...
By

The perfect way to celebrate the fall season as we transition from summer’s roaring blaze to the last few dying embers of the year is seeing a morbidly, macabre musical that contains as much black humor as it does red blood. Pioneer Theatre Company has pulled out every stop for this production, that runs through Nov. 10, and it is not to missed. … read more

Larry and His Flask @ The State Room 10.14 w/ Austin Lucas and Chris Rios

Larry and His Flask @ The State Room 10.14 w/...
By

Headlining the evening’s events, Larry and His Flask are a folk-punk explosion of melody. These five Oregon boys are an off-the-rails freight train—except while the manic energy and movement coming at you is wild and all over the place—their actual playing is studio tight. … read more