Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
Episode 52: The Sisters of Mercy’s Guitarist Ben Christo Talks Band’s 2024 North American Tour and More -SLIS Podcast The Sisters of Mercy are one of the most iconic Goth groups of all time. Despite not releasing an album since 1990’s ‘Vision Thing,’ they retain a devoted fanbase, as evidenced by the rapturous acclaim of […]
Episode 51: Producer Danny Saber Talks New Michael Hutchence Release ‘One Way b/w Save My Life’ Join us for a special episode as we delve into the legacy of musical icon Michael Hutchence, whose career as the frontman for INXS skyrocketed him to fame in the 80s thanks to hit singles like What You Need, […]
Mark Burgess Talks The Chameleons’ Past, Present, and Future: post-punk frontman talks band’s new EP ‘Where are You?’, their upcoming first new album in 20 years, and ‘Strange Times’ Anniversary tour in new interview. Few bands have maintained a cult status as enduring as The Chameleons. Led by inimitable vocalist Mark Burgess, the band’s pioneering […]
Concert Review: Slowdive at ACL Live: shoegaze legends show offer cross-generational transcendence during Austin set, with Drab Majesty supporting. ★★★★★ Fans of a certain age (i.e., me) remember Slowdive as a band that never got their due, breaking up in 1995 amidst record label indifference and cynical album reviews from indie rock snobs. It was […]
Concert Review: Mr. Bungle at Emo’s, Austin: rock’s favorite oddballs return to ATX for the first time since 1999, with assistance from Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo. ★★★★★ It’s been over 24 years since Mr. Bungle, the weirdest band in rock, played Austin (I was at that show. Good times). Given that the band disbanded […]
Blushing ‘Sugarcoat’ Review: Austin quartet channels classic shoegaze and alt-rock through a modern prism on third album. ★★★★ Something interesting happens when American bands gain inspiration from British shoegaze. Groups like Garbage, The Veldt, True Widow, Deafheaven, and The Smashing Pumpkins borrow elements from My Bloody Valentine, Curve, Slowdive, Ride, et al, but with an […]
John Carpenter’s ‘Lost Themes IV: Noir’ Review: Carpenter and Sons take inspiration from classic Hollywood on new album of moody instrumentals. ★★★★★ John Carpenter is one of cinema’s most unique filmmakers. A director who scored most of his own films, he understands the importance of sonic architecture in conveying mood and atmosphere for his horror, […]
Australian post-rockers reach new heights on latest release. sleepmakeswaves may not be a household post-rock name like Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, or Explosions In The Sky, but that hasn’t stopped them from gaining a small but loyal fanbase in their native Australia (where they have been nominated for ARIA and AIR awards). […]
The Melvins ‘Tarantula Heart’ Review: experimental metal pioneers go back to double drumming while exploring new sonic pathways. The Melvins are the metal band that never sleeps. Since forming in the late 80s, the sludge icons have pumped out 27 studio albums, setting a high bar for quantity and quality. Ever the musical mad scientists, […]
The Church ‘Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars’ Review: companion piece expands on Aussie rockers 2023 concept album ‘The Hypnogogue’. Last year Aussie alternative psych rockers The Church released their 26th studio album The Hypnogogue. It was a hallmark for the band in two respects: it was their first album featuring only one original member […]
