Brian Eno once famously claimed that the Velvet Underground had originally sold only 30,000 copies of their debut album, but everybody who bought one went out and formed a band.Only a few dozen souls braved frigid November night to see guitarist Chris Forsyth and his Solar Motel band at the Empty Bottle. Curiously, despite the...

By: Alex WoodAfter a straightforward and surprisingly normal acoustic set and interview at the MCA, Of Montreals Kevin Barnes showed his true colors during his solo performance at Schubas.The singers oddball sense of humor was intact for the entire show, but came out immediately as the singer compiled a Thanksgiving-themed list of things Im...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodFor a short tour, David Grisman and Del McCoury are celebrating a friendship and musical partnership lasting more than 50 years. The City Winery performance felt informal, as though two friends were looking back at the wild ride their bluegrass careers had taken them on, sharing stories and jokes while running through...

Photos & Reporting: Heidi PetersAn excited Friday night crowd was met by Metro owner Joe Shanahan, who came onstage to introduce the band -- celebrating the fact the Peter Hook first appeared with New Order at The Metro (then Cabaret Metro) in 1983, within the first year of Metro opening its doors.Metro is a venue...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodDespite his tendency to play small venues and living rooms, David Bazan appears to be at a comfortable point in his career. With a diehard fan base and a gigantic arsenal of well-crafted songs, his decision to record and tour with the Passenger String Quartet feels natural and almost inevitable.Choosing...

For October, we've got 14 capsule reviews from Alex and four "Editor's Choice" summaries from me below. A key track from each release is included in the embedded Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page.Flying Lotus- Youre Dead! [10/7]Flying Lotuss music has never been simple, and Youre Dead! is no exception. Busting through 19 songs...

By: Alex WoodWill Oldham, AKA Bonnie Prince Billy, is as enigmatic a songwriter as there is, his dedicated fan base hanging on to every release of his prolific, twenty-year discography.The stage at Thalia Hall was completely empty with the exception of a floor lamp, a small table and a single microphone. Oldham walked out...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodIt amazes me that the jam-band scene never embraced the Meat Puppets.Known primarily for their heavy influence on post-punk and alternative rock in the 80s, the bands music sounds no less revolutionary when performed today. Their music simply cant go out of style with age.Though fans will hate me...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodLucius built a fan base by making music as unpredictable as their live show, with each song and performance full of surprises. Their show at the Metro was no exception, notably featuring guests Jeff and Spencer Tweedy.For those unfamiliar, Luciuss set-up isnt that of your typical indie band.Two female...

In the 19 years since Jerry left us, the benchmark for primo, psychedelic, improv-heavy, Grateful Dead interpretations had been held by the Phil Lesh Quintet.  While other of Phil's ensembles, including Furthur, have reached for those deep lysergic spaces, none have done it with the consistency or audacity of the Q.So it was ironic...