Words / Photos: Alex WoodWoods headlining show at the Subterranean was a sort of psychedelic extravaganza, a night full of flangers, phasers, reverb and guitar effects.Local opener Bike Cop sounded as many young psych bands do, using barre-chords to churn out simplistic garage-rock riffs, songs stretching out horizontally for minutes without changing.The four-piece played...

Words: Justin & Alex WoodPhotos: Justin WoodThough typically known for his affiliation with Stax Records and the M.G.s, Booker T Jones show at City Winery covered the artists entire career.Focusing as much on collaborations and influences as on original songs, the set was full of surprises.Backed by a three-piece band, Booker...

"Jambands are dead! Long live jambands!" That's a bit of wordplay that my friends and I have been tossing around since sometime in the early 2000s.There is a roughly 15 year stretch -- from "Touch Of Grey" being released as a single in 1987 to the inaugural Bonnaroo in 2002 -- that represents the last era ofpeak...

Backyard Tire Fires music felt like everything a rock band should be, the songs sounding like they were written through collaboration, its three members working through the songs together with guitars cranked up to 11.At the center of the Tire Fire universe stood Edward David Anderson, the always-productive singer-songwriter lending melodies and lyrics that came...

Words / Photos: Alex WoodJohn Darnielle has released music as The Mountain Goats since 1991, developing his unique brand of songwriting, and with it, a devout fan base. Mountain Goats fans see Darnielle as more than simply the author of the songs they love, the songwriters amiable stage persona and endlessly prolific output sets him up as...

Words: Alex WoodIts easy to recall the days when The National werent so overwhelmingly popular. Even 2010s High Violet tour, a mere four years back, wouldnt have sold out four nights at The Chicago Theatre.So what changed, exactly?One could argue that The Nationals music has been a constant progression leading to last years...

Words: @312mrgPhotos: PhilamonjaroSharon Jones: A Soulful SacrificeWe all have a friend that we look up to for the way they handle tough situations and adversity. They have the uncanny ability to see through the haze and fog and not only lift themselves up, but also those around them. They are infectious and draw the attention...

It seems unlikely, but the sound of the fiddle just seems to fit right with Widespread Panic's improv-heavy southern rock sound.Inspired by a few recent sit-ins, I put together this list of notable jams featuring the violin throughout their history.1. There is no other fiddler that this list could possibly have started with than...

The Hardest Part Of Leaving is evidence that Pert Near Sandstone understand the traditions of the bluegrass genre -- they channel old-time bluegrass traditions into a record both modern and timeless.Unlike the work of Minneapolis bluegrass contemporaries Trampled By Turtles, the tracks remain relatively short and centered around the vocalist, recorded with a distinct...

Words / Photos: Alex WoodThe garage and punk rock genres have seen a massive influx of talent in recent years, and The Mens show at The Empty Bottle felt like a celebration of the music scenes embrace.Both openers were local and put on tremendous shows, full of energy and attitude, as though they represented the...