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Gary Clark Jr.: passionately demure
Gary Clark Jr. stays hidden in the deep red shadows like Dr. Frankenstein’s beautiful monster. Dark grays and husky purples illuminate his silhouette only slightly. His face is turned to the side in musical meditation and humility, his eyes never quite finding the audience. A smooth, buttery falsetto rings through the crowd, parting the masses ...
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Beats Antique: world fair revelers turn gypsy chic
Have you ever been trapped inside an oddly fashioned funhouse? Only…you didn’t want to escape? It’s as though you’d been entranced with the surrounding. So much so, you weren’t terrified at all but left in awe of the terror that being trapped inside a funhouse normally evokes? Just weeks ago I had some such experience. ...
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Lissie: ever the breath of fresh air
Rolling stones and their n’er gathered moss. Those that lend a piece of their world travels to the sedentary lifestyles of the work-a-day masses. It’s refreshing, hearing of ones travels and exposure to culture outside of our own. It’s romantic to think that the song you’re listening to on vinyl was written by someone who ...
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Amos Lee: our favorite folk soul brother
A schoolyard nearby is out to recess. The yelps and screams of adolescence drift over walls and echo in the ivy-laced courtyard. Voices and a language I’m not acclimated to just yet. All the same, these sounds are those of vibrance. Not a care in the world. Youth and its attributes. Something we, as adults, ...
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Moonface: in the pale light of day
It was nearly sleet. Driving water fell sideways and the wind, it howled. Something felt off about that night, hazy recollections ensued. Within confines, warmth was granted. The Chopin Theatre allowed a retreat. As we sat in the very first seats we came upon we found we were stage center, steps away from the mahogany ...
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Wrekmeister Harmonies: melancholia on high
A quick lead-in. Tattooed fingers grasp at frets engaging them into solemn and mystical chords. A shadow, an echo, a chant, can all be discerned within this entrancing set. Captivated by the melodic nature the sensation conjures. Out from the subtle sound come whispers from a well, humble and distant vocals invoke aching and longing ...
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Nicole Wray: vivacious lady in wait
Funkadelic soul sister, Nicole Wray, is blending classic jukebox blues, hip-hop, and contemporary soul to create an ethereal, multi-genre, sound that packs quite the wallop. Her guttural and gritty vocals soar high and bite low. She’s celebrating the new vibe as she tours worldwide in support of her most recent self-titled album, Lady. Having started her ...
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Cameron McGill: local fortune hunter
Cameron McGill stands a full two heads taller than me (I’m a humble five foot seven, on a good day). He shakes my hand warmly, and catches me off guard with his cheery, approachable demeanor. Oddly handsome, almost shy, the keys attached to his belt jangle pleasantly. He’s, “hipster,” in the most un-hipster way possible. ...
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Lucius: twice bitten, never quite shy
Without any amount of surprise I’ve discovered that the pop genre is one of my favorites. It’s much more complex than the bubblegum junk that’s mass produced and force fed to the public. Lucius is a prime example. Their songs possess a toe-tapping, harmonious zest, atop a mouthwatering indie-pop hook. Prior to their set I ...