Artists
The last day of this festival began slowly with the contemplative music of Tony Vines. Visitors like me new to Rhythms on the Rio might not fully appreciate what they were hearing from this talented young man. A skilled guitarmaker and musician, Vines struggled with bipolar disorder for two decades, often diving deep into depression and near suicide. He sat on the stage on a cool Sunday morning in South Fork, Colorado, unmedicated for his disorder, healed by the power of his faith, singing songs of hope and belief.
It was a quiet night in Boulder when this suave duo from the late amazing band LCD Soundsystem came to Colorado’s favorite indoor venue, the Boulder Theater. This dj set by James Murphy, who did it all in their previous band (drums, vocals, programming, piano, synthesizer) and Pat Mahoney who played drums and percussion for them, was very anticipated.
Real Gone Music’s early fall releases, due out October 2, 2012, are highlighted by Dion’s The Complete Laurie Singles, featuring the multi-decade superstar’s most famous and influential solo recordings (both A and B sides), and 35 Years: The Definitive Shoes Collection 1977-2012, a 21-song chronicle of both indie and major label recordings by Midwest power-pop legends Shoes.
Domino Effect’s Music For My Soul is a rock-hard reggae album that shows its lineage throughout, sounding like a cross between Pepper and SOJA with classical roots to back it all up. As far as the mix, the vocal delivery is a dead ringer for Kaleo Wassman with emphasis (as the album title suggests) firmly rooted in the power of music as personal salvation.For the most part, the album remains conservative in keeping to core reggae beats and sounds.
Pretty Lights Music artist Gramatik is hitting the road again, just a short couple of weeks after his summer tour ends. He'll be embarking across the US in support of Bassnectar, hitting major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Detroit, New York, and many more.
Head over to Billboard.com to get an exclusive first listen of Jake Shimabukuro's newest song, "Island Fever Blues," which will be featured on his October release, "Grand Ukulele."Jake will be heading back to Japan this September.
An amazing array of all-star musicians join guitarist Lou Pallo in paying tribute to the legendary Les Paul with the September 11 release of a unique CD/DVD titled Thank You Les, produced by Showplace Music Productions in Dover, NJ, and distributed in the U.S. and Canada by the Allegro Corporation. The exciting new release plays as a love letter to the iconic guitar player and recording innovator from these artists who were influenced and inspired by his artistry and innovation. The music covers styles ranging from pop and jazz, to country, rock and blues.
Even with just one listen to Ruby Jane’s new album, Celebrity, it becomes immediately clear that the seventeen year old singer-songwriter is quite the talented musician. Boasting a mature vocal delivery and practiced instrumentals, the indie-folk record is solid throughout, with few weak points to detract from a complete collection of songs.As a folk record, Celebrity will satisfy most fans seeking a fresh young talent in the genre.
With a positive weather forecast and a backpack full of blankets, I wandered into Golden Gate Park for my second Outside Lands Festival. This was the first year in which all tickets sold out, so the park was filled to capacity. I didn't know what it would look like, but I was ready to experience it. The first day always has a kind of anxiety to it, whether it's dealing with Muni not being able to handle the amount of passengers on the bus or deciding which band to favor during a schedule conflict.
