In September of 2022, Preoccupations’ Monty Munro spoke with me over Zoom, where we dove deep into the mania behind their latest recording process, the bad luck streak of their 2018 tour, and most importantly: tons and tons of gear.
As a child, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree would spin the dial on his longwave radio and listen to exotic music from all corners of the world. On his debut solo album, Rowntree envisioned his songs as the type that someone might find while exploring the radio.
Shiner frontman, and Third Gear Scratch podcast host, Allen Epley discusses his first solo album, Everything, released 30 years into his career as well as the role the pandemic had on his creativity.
Having made a more permanent home for himself in France and with a Magnum Opus in the works, it seemed the perfect time to sit down with Paris Westburn and discuss the musical journey that brought him to where he is today, his recent musical creations and what the future holds.
After releasing 10 albums since 2004, Micah P. Hinson found himself at a critical juncture where stepping away from music seemed to be a viable option. With a new champion in his corner, a budding new relationship providing inspiration, and a move from Texas to Spain, Hinson’s now excited for the next chapter in his musical career.
Steve Conte discusses his remarkable career as a guitarist for New York Dolls and many others, as well as his thriving solo career
The Speedways frontman discusses the evolution of the band on their excellent new album ‘Talk Of The Town.’
“Paris is not an easy place to be a band, if only because of the extreme population density – it’s tough to get around with gear, there’s limited space to make loud noise, etc. Still, there are great things happening thanks to the hard work of some very dedicated people.” – Bryan Quinn
“When I discovered French punk I had to start listening with headphones under my blanket because they were saying bad words…. standard stuff for a middle class kid.” – Renaud Chauré
Life has been a whirlwind for The Backseat Lovers whose members are in their early 20s. Josh Harmon, Jonas Swanson and KJ Ward reflect on the year that saw the band release their sophomore album, play festival stages, and perform on multiple television talk shows.
JoobieSeaz, a duo from Lille, France has been self-releasing singles relentlessly the last couple years and are making their mark. You can hear all the singles on a recent collection entitled Pitch Black: [The Singles] dropped earlier this year. Hyponotic, gritty and determined.. JoobieSeaz will dance in your subconscious while you enter their groove and submit to their dark and witchy vibes. We had an opportunity to talk to the band about their history and current and future plans.
The Pelicans were a NYC quartet fronted by Ari Vais in the early 2000s. Years later Ari Vais became the frontman for The Campbell Apartment which started in NYC and ended up in the 2010’s in San Francisco. The Pelicans first resurfaced in the digital streaming era with a few tracks on “The Very Best Of Ari Vais and The Campbell Apartment” and soon after plans were made for the Pelicans full discography to be released. We caught up with Ari and asked him about the new collection by this class NYC power pop band.
The Chicago-based singer/songwriter discusses the latest Phil Yates & the Affiliates album, Illinois’ impressive power pop roots, and influences ranging from Elvis Costello to Guided By Voices.
In this in-depth interview, Bob Holmes, Pat Irwin, and Jonathan Gregg of SUSS share how they developed their ambient country sound and the thinking behind compiling four EPs for a new, self-titled double album.
Formed in the 80’s, LA MUERTE became one of the apologists of Belgium music in the 80’s. Long before Al Jourgensen and Ministry has started sound-experiments, LA MUERTE had already been edgy and aggressive, inventively pushing the boundaries. Over the course of their career, LA MUERTE didn’t lose this quality. The band’s newest LP, ‘Sortilegia’ came out this November via Consouling Sounds. The Big Takeover sat down with Didier Moens aka Dee-J, the founding member and guitarist of LA MUERTE.
NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk recently released their seventh album Zen Ghost via EA Recordings, their shadowy sound taking an even darker turn towards the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. Dark times make for dark songs.
Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist of Outpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascis and Lou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.
New York -based garage rock purveyor Dmitry Wild recently released his Electric Souls album, loaded with 11 tracks showcasing his trademark blend of 70’s vintage rock, garage rock and post-punk ethos. Truly passionate about the craft of songwriting, Dmitry Wild used the downtime of the great pandemic to complete the final writing for this solo album and gradually recording this material. Some earlier material is also included, dating back to when he was living in California.
On this album, Wild collaborated with Strange House Media, their main engineer, Byron Frayne mixing most of the songs included here, as well as mastering the full album
South Carolina -based Candy Coffins recently released their album Once Do It With Feeling, a 10-track collection considered to be their best work to date, as well as the new video for “Tangled Up In Teacups”, a superb single showcasing the third act crescendo of a relationship in a tailspin, produced and directed by The Pierson Collective. With Cure -esque textures and melody, as well as thematic elements and the visceral delivery of The Afghan Whigs, this record showcases solid songwriting, an approach and delivery that is confident and cohesive, as well as emotional and sonic saturation.
Let’s get to know vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jame Lathren, who formed Candy Coffins in 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina.
“The music being made in our area has typically been “weird” and often served along with an eagerness to both honor our roots and get out of town.” – Meriel Westermeyer
“We feel we’ve definitely pushed ourselves to become better musicians and songwriters overall over the years in writing these songs…” – Kelli Redding
“I will admit that when I started the band my main concern was choosing inclusive members for the band and mostly sought out female or female identifying folks.” – Rachel Thode
An interview with Rory Cameron and Joey Rubbish about The Whiffs’ impressive sophomore album, ‘Scratch ‘N’ Sniff.’ Plus the exclusive premiere of “Shot Thru,” the second single from the new album.
Singer/songwriter/actress Alison Sudol’s new album, Still Come the Night, addresses the emotions tied with love and loss and does so in an unflinching manner.
Formed in Sheffield, UK in the lockdowns, Amalgaband are an “accidental band” that formed as an outlet for the members’ irrepressible creativity. Coming up to the holiday season, they’ve released their holiday song and music video “Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio Xmas”.
Seattle-based psychedelic rock outfit Black Nite Crash recently released their album Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash via the Neon Sigh label, mixed by longtime collaborator Matt Brown (Trespassers William) and mastered by Adam Straney. Formed twenty years ago, Black Nite Crash has involved more than 30 members over the years, surrounding Jim Biggs, the last remaining original member. The band’s fifth full length in that time, this collection presents the most diverse set of songs the band has ever released, this album combines their trademark fuzzed out guitars with some newer flavours,
A name you are likely familiar with (and hopefully you also have the fortune of knowing their music) is The Persian Leaps. Formed by Drew Forsbert in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul in 2012, the band’s members have come and gone with Forsberg keeping the helm. Back with their trademark power pop / indie rock sound, the Leaps’ new Machines for Living EP is a stellar 5-track offering of 90s college rock-inspired compositions, their distinct sound built on a magnetic alternative rock foundation.
Get to know Brooklyn-based Dubliner Ronan Conroy, who just released the album The Slow Death of the LoveMyth. In development since 2013, this work reveals Conroy’s post-punk alter-ego, soaked in dark pop and dream wave richness, while drawing on ethereal and goth rock classics.
As they work towards their second album via a series of excellent singles, I sat down with The Burnt Pines, a truly international band, to find out about their past, make music when separated by an ocean and what the future holds.
Mike Patton of the ‘A Christmas Story’-themed band Ralphie’s Red Ryders and the ‘Snow In Southtown’ holiday podcast shares his five favorite Christmas albums.
Long-running genre-bending alternative rockers A Shoreline Dream has released their new Loveblind album via Latenight Weeknight Records. This sixth full-length record dives into recollections and past desires while looking forward in a wash of soundwaves pointing towards a blinding future.
Their first release since the Covid pandemic began, here we have 40 minutes of goth-laced progressive soundscapes. Produced by Ryan Policky and recorded over 10 months in the Barnum suburb of Denver, Colorado, this album features immense synth layers, the band’s signature guitar and symphonic vocals.
I had the opportunity to speak to A Shoreline Dream mastermind Ryan Policky.
World Party frontman Karl Wallinger discusses reissuing early albums – and previews the band’s upcoming release
The Washington D.C. trio deftly combines melodic hooks, jangly guitars and angular punk energy on their seventh album.
A wide-ranging interview with the frontman of The Rentals. He discusses his latest soundtrack project, his collaborations with Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, his timely track “Elon Musk Is Making Me Sad,” and more.
Kid Congo Powers (member of The Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Gun Club, etc.) discusses releasing his memoir and two new albums
Former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes discusses his latest solo album, Homosexual
Travis frontman Fran Healy discusses touring, new music on the way – and laundry
Though Samira Winter was just a toddler in the early ’90s, her newest album, What Kind of Blue Are You?, with shimmering guitars and dreamy vocals, sounds like the shoegazing movement led by My Bloody Valentine. Winter talks about her fascination with ’90s music, the impact of moving to L.A., and how producer Joo Joo Ashworth helped bring her vision to life.
It’s been a while since I spoke to The Nearly Deads, so with a run of four singles lined up and an album on the horizon, I sat down with Steven Tobi to catch up with everything that had been going on it their world.
Robyn Hitchcock discusses his surreal, witty new album, Shufflemania!
“I think my job is to make people cry or hold each other or laugh or feel something they were holding in and were afraid to feel,” Glen Phillips says. His new album, There Is So Much Here, accomplishes these goals and more. The on-again, off-again Toad the Wet Sprocket singer talks in-depth about his solo career and how he kept his songwriting sharp during the pandemic.
‘Hear In LA’ podcast host Tony Pierce shares his five favorite Los Angeles neighborhoods.
With a run of seasonal singles underway and a new album planned, it felt like the perfect time o sit down with Teni Rane and find out about her music, background and the fascinating journey which has got her to where she is today.
Belgium’s Brutus has returned with Unison Life, an album that incorporates Bjork-like vocals into the kind of post-rock music that often is presented as instrumentals. Drummer/vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts and bassist Peter Mulders discuss the album’s journey, teenage favorites, and the rare mistake on stage.
Author, musician and TV/film editor Eric Beetner shares his five favorite classic crime authors.
‘OUTOFBODY’ is a kaleidoscopic combination of sunny ’60s pop hooks and gritty ’90s alternative rock guitars that feels thoroughly modern.
a-ha guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savory reflects on the band’s 40-year-career, the overnight success of “Take On Me,” and the band’s newly-released eleventh album, True North.
Art pop band Elk City presents their new album ‘Above the Water’, opening a new chapter in the Montclair, New Jersey band’s evolutionary story. Vibrant, raw-edged and bold, it showcases a new guitar-rich lineup featuring members of Versus, Luna and the Psychedelic Furs side-project Feed.
Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) discusses her tenth solo album, If It All Goes South
Manchester -based art-rock quartet Weimar recently released their debut album Dancing On a Volcano via German Shepherd Records. Embracing a blend of post-punk, no-wave, cabaret, psychedelia, alternative folk and gothic rock, these 12 tracks (three years in the making) take the listener on an unpredictable excursion through the socio-political and personal challenges of our modern age.
With her 4th album, Austin to Houston out and a successful European tour behind her, I sat down with Marina Rocks to find out about her musical journey, what the new album is all about and where things go from here.
Songwriter Brooke Annibale talks about her mental wellbeing journey and how it influenced the songs on her fourth album, Better By Now.
LA-based collective Beauty In Chaos recently released the Behind The Veil LP in multiple formats via the label 33.3 Music Collective and a new video for the single “Afterlife”, a lush atmospheric track featuring angelic vocals by Tish Ciravolo.
Recorded, mixed, and produced by Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon, This all-female featured collection brings back three BIC alumni – Tish Ciravolo, Cinthya Hussey and Betsy Martin – as well as new family members Whitney Tai, Elena Alice Fossi and Pinky Turzo. Apart from six originals, this release features diverse reworkings by such renowned music visionaries as Tim Palmer, MGT, John Fryer, Statik, Tommy Hatz, Julian Shah-Tayler and Rozon himself.
Billy Duffy of The Cult checks in on the eve of the band’s new album, Under the Midnight Sun, to share his thoughts on his lengthy career, meeting audience expectations, the influence his band has had on music, and splitting time between L.A. and the UK.
