From Love To Murder To UFOs, A Dark ‘Serenade’ To Kansas
Nashville-based songwriter Chuck Mead has stories for days about the home state he left behind. “Kansas can be scary sometimes,” he says.
Category: Music News
Dave Brockie, GWAR’s Oderus Urungus, Dies At 50
The mastermind behind metal’s most cartoonishly grotesque band brought a sense of levity to the genre when it was in danger of being overwhelmed by negativity and self-importance.
Ex-Gwar Member Jim Thomson Remembers Dave Brockie
Gwar frontman Dave Brockie was found dead in his home on Sunday, as first reported by Richmond’s Style Weekly. He…
Lost Album Gives Voice To A Johnny Cash In Recovery
Fresh out of rehab, Cash recorded an album in the early 1980s that his fans never got to hear.
For Kelis, Music Is Back On The Menu
The “Milkshake” singer has a new album, and recently gave her first U.S. performance in years.
Track Work: Outputmessage, ‘Minuscule’
Electronic-music producer Bernard Farley, a 30-year-old Dupont Circle resident, is something of a math whiz: A test developer at the…
Can Small Record Shops Keep Up With Record Store Day?
Record Store Day announced its complete slate of 2014 releases Thursday—all 438 of them. That’s a big increase from 2013,…
With 10 Songs Of Silence, Band Puts Free Tour On Spotify’s Tab
The band Vulfpeck has a new album called Sleepify. The 10-song set is absolutely silent. The Michigan-based funk group is using Spotify’s royalty-payment system to fund its upcoming tour.
At Last! Ex Hex Releases Its Debut Music Video
D.C. power-rock trio Ex Hex has two special deliveries for us today: the official release of its debut 7-inch and…
5 Dance Moves We Learned At SXSW 2014 In GIFs
We know you’re dying to try Future Islands’ Buck-Up Bronco and St. Vincent’s Minimalist Marionette.
Scott Asheton, Drummer For The Stooges, Dies At 64
Asheton was a founding member of the Michigan-based band, led by Iggy Pop, that helped to write the rules of punk almost a decade before the genre became a threat to households everywhere.
For Some D.C. Bands, SXSW Isn’t Worth The Trip
“Hi, we’re Ex Hex from Washington, D.C.” Last Thursday, local guitar virtuoso Mary Timony said those words to a full…
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You: The BeyHive
You don’t have to be a Beyoncé fan to be impressed by her success. But the depth of devotion shown by her most ardent supporters is just as stunning and intriguing as the singer’s own flawless image.
NPR Music At SXSW 2014: Saturday
On the final night of SXSW, with heavy hearts and ringing ears, we say goodbye to Austin. As a parting gift, music gives us the keys to the universe and a glimpse of the future. It’s a fair trade.
Lady Gaga At SXSW: ‘Don’t Sell Out. Sell In.’
In a keynote event at SXSW, the queen of pop transgression offered support for anyone struggling with self-definition and illustrated how hard it is to steer clear of the constraints of corporate pop.
NPR Music At SXSW 2014: Friday
On Friday in Austin, Texas, full-throttle music consumption and overwhelming crowds battled to a exhausting, exhilarating draw.
Israel’s Orthodox Ravers Are On A Holy Mission To Dance
Na Nach is an ultra-Orthodox sect of Judaism with a techno soundtrack. Na Nachs consider having fun a spiritual duty — whether at a wedding or a busy intersection.
NPR Music At SXSW 2014: Thursday
As things began to get back to normal at SXSW on Thursday, many audiences and bands shared emotionally heightened moments. Musicians offered comfort, release and catharsis.
NPR Music At SXSW 2014: Wednesday
Late Wednesday night in Austin, tragedy interrupted the music at SXSW when two people were killed and nearly two dozen injured after a car crashed through a barricade and into a crowd of pedestrians.
Hear Neil Young Explain His Pono Music Player At SXSW
Neil Young wants to start a revolution against the MP3. At SXSW, he debuted his biggest weapon, a high-quality digital audio player and music store he’s calling Pono.