Journal
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Congratulations to Hurray for the Riff Raff (aka Alynda Segarra), who has been nominated for the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards' Album of the Year for their new album, The Past Is Still Alive. The ceremony will be held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on September 18.
Journal Topics: Artist News
- Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Black Keys have a few weeks off from their North American tour before hitting the road for several weeks with the Kings of Leon in September. A recent home-state performance "brought the audience to a fist-pumping fever," reports the Columbus Dispatch, which says the band's new album, Brothers, "casts its essence in musical gold." The band shares the secret of their success in a new CNN interview: "Turn everything up really loud."
Tuesday, August 17, 2010Ben Folds has announced the first two fan interviewers in his series of live online video interviews leading up to the release of his collaboration with Nick Hornby, Lonely Avenue: Josh Sondock and Lauren Gardier, who will interview Ben Wednesday, August 18. The following day, Ben will speak with the inimitable Mr. Bob Saget. Lonely Avenue is available for pre-order now.
Journal Topics: Artist News, WebMonday, August 16, 2010The Times of London has published a profile of Philip Selway, calling his forthcoming album, Familial, "remarkably assured." The Word says: "The whole thing is rather beautiful." MOJO and MusicOMH give the album four stars, the latter calling it "incredibly folky and intimate" and proclaiming: "Selway can sing." Q concurs, saying Selway is "blessed with a warm and gentle voice"; Uncut calls Familial "moving and accomplished."
Journal Topics: Artist News, ReviewsMonday, August 16, 2010Natalie Merchant's US summer tour came to California last week for a number of concerts, including stops at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles and the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego over the weekend. Merchant had previously performed in the Bay Area and stopped by 826 Valencia, Dave Eggers' writing program for students. The San Francisco Chronicle described the event as "a kind of 'master class' for high school kids."
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist NewsMonday, August 16, 2010Timothy Andres has announced a number of dates for his 2010–2011 season, including a Carnegie Hall concert with Brad Mehldau featuring selections from his piece Shy and Mighty. Fanfare says Andres "conjures up a wonderful 'world of ideas'" on the piece and album. "The music is consistently imaginative, clever, and expressive." The reviewer declares the album "strongly recommended" and "can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this fine music."
Monday, August 16, 2010Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday has been celebrated in many ways, including concerts with renowned interpreters of the composer's music, like Bernadette Peters, who taks to the Sunday New York Times about her new role in A Little Night Music. Times critic Anthony Tommasini offers own birthday wishes to the composer in a video featuring the writer at the piano performing and discussing some of his favorite Sondheim musical moments. After one such piece, he says: "It's that kind of detail that makes Stephen Sondheim so important to musicians and composers, but it is also what makes the show so rich and meaningful, and why he is so beloved by so many people, including me."
Journal Topics: Artist NewsFriday, August 13, 2010Adams's El Niño opens the Edinburgh International Festival ... The Black Keys return to Ohio ... Toumani Diabaté's in residence at Yoshi's ... Glass’ Cello Concerto closes the Cabrillo Festival ... Kronos Quartet plays free show at Lincoln Center Out of Doors ... The Low Anthem tour Europe ... Natalie Merchant heads to Southern California ... Punch Brothers play festivals out West ... Sara Watkins tours with Garrison Keillor ... Wilco throws its first festival ... and more ....
Journal Topics: On Tour, Weekend EventsFriday, August 13, 2010Kronos Quartet performs a free outdoor concert at New York's Damrosch Park for the Lincoln Center Out of Doors series, featuring the world premiere of Christine Southworth's Super Collider, performed with Gamelan Galak Tika on the new Gamelan Elektrika, plus works by Steve Reich, Café Tacuba, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and Raz Mesinai. Prior to the concert, Gamelan Galak Tika will lead a free workshop on the kecak, Bali's famed "Monkey Chant."
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist NewsThursday, August 12, 2010Lonely Avenue, the new album from Ben Folds and Nick Hornby, is now available for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store with an exclusive, limited-edition Folds/Hornby-penned manuscript score from the album track "Picture Window," a number of which will be signed by the artists. The record, due out September 28, is available for pre-order on CD, vinyl, and in a deluxe edition that includes the CD, four short stories by Hornby, and photos by Joel Meyerowitz in a hardbound, 152-page book.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist NewsThursday, August 12, 2010The Black Keys will make their debut in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, and Wii on August 17. The Black Keys Pack 01 will feature “Strange Times” and “I Got Mine,” off 2008's Attack & Release, and “Your Touch” off the band's Nonesuch debut album, Magic Potion.
Journal Topics: Artist News, WebWednesday, August 11, 2010As Natalie Merchant and her band perform songs from Leave Your Sleep in California this week, new shows have just been added in the Northeast this fall featuring a full symphony orchestra. LA Weekly calls Leave Your Sleep "the most sonically adventurous project of her career." The Atlantic, reviewing the Seattle show, says it "worked—in wondrous ways," calling it "a tour de force ... an artist's creative and courageous venture into new territory altogether."
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist News, ReviewsWednesday, August 11, 2010Sara Watkins has begun the month-long Summer Love Tour with Garrison Keillor and the cast of A Prairie Home Companion. She tells the Grand Rapids Press: "One of the things I'm looking forward to is getting to hear [Garrison] tell stories every night." Watkins will also perform on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on September 2 and has been nominated as Artist of the Year in the San Diego Music Awards.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist News