Midnight to Stevens – The Clash Pay Tribute to an Original
I’m about a quarter of the way through Marcus Gray’s Route 19 Revisited: The Clash and London Calling. It’s a meticulously detailed account of absolutely everything having to do with the landmark 1979 album. Gray also wrote one of the…
Titus Andronicus and the Snarl of Lonely Boy
Titus Andronicus has a brand new album, a 90 minute rock opera called The Most Lamentable Tragedy. While I haven’t had time yet to wrap my head around the entire album – its five acts and twenty-nine songs serving as…
New Titus Andronicus: ‘Local Business’
High expectations – they’re dangerous. I first heard Titus Andronicus on a jog around the neighborhood in March 2011, a few months after they released their 2nd full length, The Monitor. Halfway through the opener, “A More Perfect Union,” I was…
New Gaslight Anthem: “45”
I’ll be honest, The Gaslight Anthem‘s last record, American Slang, didn’t do a whole lot for me. After being knocked out by their preceding album, 2008’s The ’59 Sound (the title track and “Here’s Looking At You, Kid” being two…
The Modfather’s Mid-Life Renaissance
For me, music begins with John Lennon. The very first step after that is Paul Weller. And it’s always been that way. Ever since I heard Sound Affects by The Jam back in 1981, Paul Weller has taken me on…
It’s Good to Leave Home
If you find yourself with an extra half hour today, you should really listen to the Ramones 2nd album, 1977’s Leave Home. I’ve been getting back in the swing of things after more than two weeks of vacation, and yesterday,…
Recap: Titus Andronicus at the Rhythm Room
It was a modest but passionate crowd that showed up at the Rhythm Room Monday night for New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus. The passion manifested itself early, as the group launched into “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future”. When…
Remembering Joe Strummer / Live Clash from Jamaica
Today marks the seventh anniversary of Joe Strummer‘s untimely death at the age of 50 (due to a heart defect). To mark the occasion, and to celebrate the legend – born John Graham Mellor in Ankara, Turkey – here’s a…
Ick’s Pick: Laughin’ and Cryin’ with the Reverend Horton Heat
Jim Heath and his power psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat are like the damn Energizer bunnies of rock & roll – they keep on a goin’. It wouldn’t surprise if they’re out on the road 300 days out of the…