tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56536032011-09-28T15:55:48.878-07:00Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comBlogger2221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-40667071842918129832010-12-29T23:26:00.000-08:002010-12-29T23:28:59.904-08:00

Upcoming shows: 1/29 Grand Tarantula at Soda Bar $5 Local power pop band http://www.myspace.com/grandtarantula 2/1 -- Vijay Iyer at The Loft $16-$26 The latest and greatest jazz piano young lion http://www.vijay-iyer.com/ 2/8 -- Eli "Paperboy" Reed Duo at The Casbah $12 Throw back soul http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=92130750&m=92983937 2/14 -- Ana

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-3982236389623985562010-12-01T15:15:00.000-08:002010-12-01T15:15:15.979-08:00

I'm checking out the estimable Mr. Aloe Blacc at The Casbah tonight. He's supporting this year's release of "Good Things" on Stones Throw Records, in my opinion one of the best soul albums of the year. Blacc has a style similar to John Legend, but he's got a bit more range in his pipes and better production on his tunes. "Good Things" has a nice '70s analog feel to it, full of the warm sound and

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-36950522045945495202009-02-03T12:19:00.000-08:002009-02-03T13:16:47.649-08:00

To give a little perspective to the Coachella lineup this year, let's take a quick look at two other big music festivals: Langerado and Bonnaroo.Scheduled for March 6-8 this year in Miami, the Langerado Music Festival announced today was "cancelled due to sluggish ticket sales." Co-Promoter Ethan Schwartz said: "Langerado has always put the fan experience first. Unfortunately, during these

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-23908475071472823762009-02-02T15:49:00.000-08:002009-02-02T15:49:34.297-08:00

Arrange the uppercase letters anyway you want: Devotchka, or DeVotchKa ... but more like ¡DEVOTCHKA! The band and their excellent label ANTI- prefer DeVotchKa, so we'll defer to them (despite the extra key strokes).The Denver-based quartet is coming to town for a show this Wednesday at the Belly Up, so I thought I'd get myself pumped by delving into their music a bit. I'll try to write a few

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-33225914472260073722009-01-30T02:32:00.000-08:002009-01-30T02:52:08.071-08:00

Coachella just announced the official lineup. The first thing that stands out: Paul McCartney? Another out of touch artist tries to use Coachella as a comeback kickoff, a la Madonna a few years ago. I would rather he show up and play an acoustic set in a tent rather than try to claim headliner status. Glad to see SD represented by the excellent Night Marchers. I'm intrigued by Patton & Rahzel,

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-22975765343759877072009-01-21T00:28:00.000-08:002009-01-21T00:35:42.880-08:00

Here are a couple of San Diego shows I'm looking forward to in the near future:Ozomatli with Chali 2naThree nights at the Belly Up Why it's important: Reuniting with MC Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) represents a much-needed return to this seminal SoCal rock en espanol band's roots.Show: Jan. 22-24 DevotchkaTotally rocked Street Scene last yearBelly UpWhy it's important: Great songwriting embedded in

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-50190783124063933182009-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:002009-01-19T14:40:34.619-08:00

Let's stay on the funk tip and hang with Mr. Maceo Parker for a while. This clip features "Shake Everything You Got," a Maceo staple recorded for a live DVD titled "My First Name is Maceo." This is a great clip with the original Horny Horns (James Brown's legendary horn section): Fred Wesley on trombone (giving an amazing solo that sounds like butter sliding off hot mashed potatoes), Pee Wee

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-58610587766106216752009-01-16T13:34:00.000-08:002009-01-16T13:59:34.374-08:00

I love this kitschy little clip of James hamming it up for the camera.Here's another JB clip I love:That's JB at the Olympia in Paris circa 1971. Bootsy Collins on bass, Bobby Byrd on organ, and that's a ripping trombone solo by Fred Wesley. The only thing that could make this better is a hot Maceo solo (but he wasn't on this date). Awesome, awesome band at their peak.

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-63532581291145926952008-08-26T03:01:00.000-07:002008-08-26T03:09:02.176-07:00

Tony Hawk brings his Huckjam to the QBy Chris NixonUNION-TRIBUNE August 21, 2008 After six years of touring the states and spreading the gospel of skateboarding to all corners of the country, Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huckjam continues to showcase the lighthearted side of skating, BMX and FMX (motocross) in a noncompetitive environment. But what is this Boom Boom Huckjam, and how did it get its

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-67442316538922768392008-08-20T02:42:00.000-07:002008-08-20T02:44:06.544-07:00

Twist of fate linked Marc Brueland, Tuomas Holopainen – and created a life-affirming friendship By Chris NixonMay 22, 2008 “Higher than hope my cure lies,” reads the gravestone of Marc Christopher Brueland, a San Diego DJ, artist and animator who passed away in 2003 after battling liver cancer for seven and a half years. In a strange twist of fate, three disparate elements have combined to create

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-75342429563902626532008-08-20T02:25:00.000-07:002008-08-20T02:34:16.342-07:00

Ska gets around, and Warped Tour's Aggrolites have followed its pathBy Chris NixonAugust 14, 2008The story of ska is a journey spanning continents, beginning with a percussive extension of American rhythm and blues that developed into a uniquely Jamaican style of music under the Caribbean sun.Mixing a punk ethos with reggae, The Aggrolites, a five-piece ska group, lands at Cricket Wireless

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-66233725717464834922008-08-20T02:22:00.000-07:002008-08-20T02:25:12.157-07:00

By Chris NixonJuly 24, 2008 Danger Mouse, aka Brian Joseph Burton, is in the midst of a personal dilemma. After working his way into the top echelon of music producers, the 30-year-old artist now has the resources to take time off and relax, but chances to work with Beck, The Black Keys and Damon Albarn don't come around often. DETAILS Gnarls Barkley When: Saturday, 2 p.m.Where: Del Mar

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-29530818741740525082008-08-20T01:57:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:59:44.373-07:00

Good music's a sure bet at Del Mar's 4 O'Clock FridaysBy Chris NixonJuly 17, 2008 Once upon a time, not too long ago, the sport of kings carried heavy baggage in the minds of anyone under the age of 40 – crusty old men reeking of cigar smoke donning fedoras and spending their paychecks on the ponies.The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, one of America's classic racetracks, has managed to reshape the

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-90895037171142131942008-08-20T01:51:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:54:44.115-07:00

Marriage rights celebration, 'D-List' celeb among celebration's highlightsBy Chris NixonJuly 17, 2008 Marriage rights celebration, 'D-List' celeb among celebration's highlightsAfter 34 years of celebrating diversity and rights for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community in San Diego, the local organization Pride San Diego is reaping the rewards of activism and education.Same-sex

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-23462657642708385202008-08-20T01:33:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:35:38.459-07:00

Bands from all over the country rev it up for Mayhem FestBy Chris NixonJuly 10, 2008 Listen up America: Your youth is talking to you. From the rolling cornfields of our rural small towns to the hard concrete streets of our cities, kids are sick of the pervading complacency, and that's reflected in the pop culture barometer known as music. Bubbling underneath the thin veneer of Midwestern family

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-37421388850029563002008-08-20T01:22:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:25:15.428-07:00

By Chris NixonJune 5, 2008 An invasion is headed our way. Some San Diegans may embrace the invaders with open arms. Others may want to join in the revelry, but will have to watch from afar. Still others may want to stay afar ... far, far away ... until the madness dies down. Hordes of golf fans will invade San Diego for the 109th annual United States Open, this year at Torrey Pines Golf Course,

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-24998399668103638312008-08-20T01:09:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:21:12.290-07:00

It's a tough road for bands wanting to perform in marathonBy Chris NixonMay 29, 2008 So you wanna be a rock 'n' roll band? As 20,000 runners, rollers and walkers converge on San Diego this weekend, 45 local bands and artists wait to perform on 26 stages situated at every mile along the course of the 11th annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. But for local musicians serving as the cheer squad along the

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1766816752320534652008-08-20T01:07:00.000-07:002008-08-20T01:09:13.760-07:00

By Chris NixonMay 15, 2008 After launching an album full of glistening new songs, musicians commonly hit the road to spread the gospel, promoting the record through many months, sometimes years, of touring. Not Dan Bejar. The primary songwriter and lead singer of the Vancouver band Destroyer doesn't dig the grinding schedules of long strings of shows.“We've never done that, (touring for long

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-8956334160422404322008-08-20T00:53:00.001-07:002008-08-20T00:54:22.310-07:00

By Chris NixonMay 9, 2008 No such thing as tomorrow, only one two three go! / Time, got the time tick-tick-tickin' in my head, chimes Joe Jackson on “Got the Time,” the parting shot on his stunning debut “Look Sharp!” The album is a classic of the New Wave era of the late '70s and early '80s. Jackson, along with Elvis Costello and Graham Parker, was once tabbed as one of rock's angry young men.

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-25491976451175885452008-08-20T00:44:00.000-07:002008-08-20T00:52:00.005-07:00

Kathleen Edwards took a break from the road to recharge and tend her 'Flowers'By Chris NixonMay 8, 2008 Musicians get caught in the same cycles as everyone else: You get up and go to work. Come home and go to bed. Wake up the next day and do it all over again. Before you know it, years float by. For singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards, her cycles – five years of churning out albums and touring –

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-53060064596581272692008-08-20T00:32:00.000-07:002008-08-20T00:33:53.569-07:00

By Chris NixonMay 1, 2008 Huddled around campfires and warm hearths, around dinner tables and family pianos, the people in this country have always created music to share, passing stories down through the generations to help create the American musical tradition. The bustling streets and cement sidewalks of Normal Heights might seem like a different planet from the back porches and parlors that

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-75540929012244697752008-08-20T00:23:00.000-07:002008-08-20T00:28:13.332-07:00

Cat Power is back on track, ready to take her rightful place on the 'Jukebox'By Chris NixonApril 10, 2008 Everybody loves a transcendent cover song: Familiar choruses and melodies co-exist with an artist's interpretation, shedding light on the tune's undiscovered nooks and crannies. But Chan Marshall might love them more than most. The 36-year-old vocalist seems to find solace in recreating and

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-35485799303980362472008-03-30T21:41:00.000-07:002008-03-30T21:43:47.201-07:00

Collaboration allows the grit-rock duo to 'mix it up a little bit'By Chris NixonUNION-TRIBUNE March 27, 2008 If you haven't heard, the Black Keys are set to invade your radios, iPods and all other forms of musical media. But drummer Patrick Carney isn't sensing the mayhem surrounding the duo's upcoming release “Attack & Release.” He's currently chilling in his hometown, oblivious to the buzz. “We

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-53053004137338077182008-03-18T13:51:00.001-07:002008-03-18T13:52:25.412-07:00

Explosions in the Sky extends post-rock genreBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneMarch 14, 2008The Texas-based quartet Explosions in the Sky is all about the guitar. Just guitars. No vocals. Some drums. Minimal keyboards. “These first four records have basically been guitars and drums playing live in a room,” admitted Explosions in the Sky drummer Chris Hrasky.Using the guitar as a centerpiece,

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1534113872904228092008-03-13T14:37:00.000-07:002008-03-13T14:38:48.324-07:00

Young Dubliners headline ShamRock festival for second year in a rowBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneMarch 13, 2008 Immigrating to the United States for Young Dubliners lead singer Keith Roberts turned out easier for him than for the Irish folks that came before him. Instead of surviving a long boat ride across the Atlantic, he simply hopped a jet. And rather than settling in a crowded, dirty

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-18552604926220114022008-03-11T20:38:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:49:33.638-07:00

Laswell's songwriting chops are gaining notice beyond the SouthlandChris NixonMarch 6, 2008 For the Union-TribuneDefections from the San Diego music scene are almost a cliché: an artist grows up in the local scene, reaches a plateau and then wanders to greener pastures for a larger slice of the music industry pie. While technology has made recording and distribution easier from our town tucked in

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-14836324947377063242008-02-07T16:18:00.000-08:002008-02-07T16:20:33.160-08:00

Showing 'authentic love' for roots of reggaeBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneFebruary 7, 2008 With its humble beginnings on Jamaica, the traditional song structure of reggae and ska – with its offbeat guitar pops and hummable choruses – never had the luxury of standing in one place. Jamaican musicians were forced to immigrate to England and the rest of the world in order to be heard. With each

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-22983330341079709042008-02-07T16:09:00.000-08:002008-02-07T16:18:21.854-08:00

I started writing for the Metro section of the Union-Tribune during the past month. I'm covering community features and news stories. It's good to write on different topics and stretch my legs a bit. Here a couple of stories published Jan. 24, 2008 in Our San Diego:Persian culture at center stageBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJanuary 24, 2008 UNIVERSITY CITY – Shahri Estakhry was looking for

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-17653256716662935782008-02-07T16:05:00.000-08:002008-02-07T16:09:08.719-08:00

Super Furry Animals skipped the 'homogenized' path to 'make a detour' into rocking performance artBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJanuary 31, 2008 In the Super Furry Animals' decade and a half of molding pop gems, the Welch band has demonstrated a willingness to color outside the lines of regular rock formulas and hop off the paths provided by the music industry. “The whole climate of the

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-41985908987169654192008-02-07T15:31:00.000-08:002008-02-07T16:04:44.148-08:00

I know. I know. It's been a long time. I'm sorry about that. I don't really have a good reason, besides maybe that I don't get paid for this and money-generating jobs always win out over a labor of love.So here it is: The four-month catch-up post with all the stories I've published since Sept. 27, 2007. Sorry it's taken so long.From Oct. 4, 2007:Natasha Khan: Teacher learns a few thingsBy Chris

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-17121041557406129172007-09-27T15:08:00.000-07:002007-09-27T15:42:09.675-07:00

The Metric piece came out today in the Union-Tribune. You can read a portion of the interview I did with Emily Haines in Q&A form in a previous post. This is the third time I've spoken with Haines. She wasn't her most articulate, sounding a bit distracted. Walking around New York City on a cell phone will do that to you. But she's obviously in touch with the art world, name dropping Olivier

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-7325162893344387642007-09-25T23:25:00.000-07:002007-09-25T23:31:40.588-07:00

I wanted to add a few more images from the Street Scene experience. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:Air: Louis XIV:

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-49376412879142396112007-09-25T14:42:00.000-07:002007-09-25T15:46:11.813-07:00

Here's a collection of images taken over the weekend at Street Scene:http://www.flickr.com/photos/12209388@N04/sets/72157602159960713/Also, here are a few favorites from SS'07....Clouds over Street Scene (day one):Social D by Greg Meier:Air by me:More Air by me:Spoon by me:Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:I should have more by the end of the day, and I'll share them with you as soon as their uploaded.

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-36150502157915442972007-09-24T01:29:00.000-07:002007-09-24T14:02:48.954-07:00

If you book the bands, they will come. And you know what, people did come on Sunday to Street Scene. Maybe it's not the 50,000 people a night during the festival's heyday, but it's not the doomsday graveyard crowd which shuffled around Coors Saturday either. I'd say a good 15,000-18,000 people attended on Sunday. When you get past all the corporate trappings of the Live Nation-era of Street Scene

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-6874652434935779332007-09-23T02:35:00.000-07:002007-09-23T03:06:30.358-07:00

When I spoke with Social Distortion's Mike Ness to help preview this year's version of Street Scene for the OC Register, Mike suggested that organizers just move the festival to Tijuana and let it live on streets again. I couldn't agree more. As their early Saturday set drew to a close, Honeycut's lead singer asked "So where's the streets? I thought this was Street Scene?" Exactly. Instead, this

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-20837347797094325872007-09-23T02:05:00.000-07:002007-09-23T02:35:51.461-07:00

I have to admit something: Before my editor at the U-T suggested I write about Ohio band Over the Rhine, I had very little exposure to the husband-wife team of Linford Detweiler and Karin Berquist. In doing research about the songwriting team, I discovered a huge catalogue of great songs, with adept execution on vocals by Berquist and Detweiler on piano and guitar. My wife Lisa and I haven't made

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-4100093570574991732007-09-22T02:01:00.000-07:002007-09-22T02:29:05.836-07:00

It's not the same festival five years ago or even last year, but San Diego's signature music festival is coming to Coors Amphitheatre this weekend. The lineup isn't as strong this year, and the only street is the one that will be choked with traffic leading to the outdoor amphitheatre in Chula Vista, but Street Scene is here. I wrote previews for both the Union-Tribune and the OC Register, along

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-69383284594704262902007-09-22T01:11:00.001-07:002007-09-22T01:59:35.317-07:00

I wrote a little piece on the real Return of The Rentals (also the name of the band's debut disc) for the U-T, who are in the midst of a comeback bid with a new EP and a new full-length on the way. The leader and former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp and I talked a few weeks ago. He spoke about cleaning out the cluttered tour van, his hiatus from the music industry and his days back in Weezer. The

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-28743152931676311682007-09-20T13:05:00.000-07:002007-09-20T13:32:48.540-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted, mostly due to a crazy hectic writing schedule and housesitting for a couple of friends. The fruits of all the hard work have started to be printed for public consumption, with three articles in today's Night&Day, an article in the OC Register, a blurb in the Phoenix New Times and numerous profiles for SignOnSanDiego.com. You'll be able to check out

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-89167392192158236952007-09-04T00:50:00.000-07:002007-09-05T02:12:01.431-07:00

I'd like to speak on the concept of free for a moment. I can't tell you how many times greed has gotten the better of my better judgement and I've blindly followed pronouncements declaring free items: free credit report, buy one get one free, free shot of tequila if you just step inside. Most "free" experiences end with an intern at the bank spending a half an hour trying to earn a commission, or

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-53154753857776663292007-09-01T03:10:00.000-07:002007-09-01T03:12:25.820-07:00

Shock rocker looks in the mirror and likes what he seesBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneAugust 23, 2007 Marilyn Manson's adventures in Wonderland led him from the depths of despair, through the looking glass and the surreal world of red carpet celebrity and into a newfound period of growth and self-realization. In the past five years, the singer-songwriter-producer-filmmaker survived a failed marriage

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-56314155557709064092007-08-31T04:04:00.000-07:002007-08-31T05:18:08.626-07:00

You have to plan out your schedule if you want to maximize your live music quotient when you visit festivals like the Warped Tour. Bathrooms, random puking teenagers, meandering shell-shocked parents, vendors, beer and BBQ can really slow you down. I usually try to have a vague plan when I enter the buzzsaw to your senses known as large music festivals. For this year's Warped Tour, I wanted to

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-50259739213743423352007-08-29T02:13:00.000-07:002007-08-29T02:14:07.446-07:00

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-48842756172111237512007-08-28T14:53:00.000-07:002007-08-29T01:40:56.696-07:00

Last Friday the Vans Warped Tour came through San Diego, making a stop on the sizzling asphalt of the Coors Amphitheatre parking lot. I had a few thoughts and photos I wanted to share. First, the thoughts: The venerable tour celebrates its 13th birthday in 2007, making it the longest currently running annual touring festival (and also making it older than half the audience at the show this year).

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-10719368038685416132007-08-27T01:46:00.000-07:002007-08-27T02:00:36.562-07:00

I have all sorts of spanking new stuff brewing on the site. Coming soon: I'll have a review of the Warped Tour along with photos (see the preview which came out in the Union-Tribune below), and I'll talk about the epic weekend of music in San Diego (Southern Comfort Music Experience, Zap Mama at the Belly Up). And also I'll publish another preview from the U-T on Marilyn Manson (I really wanted

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-26219497720888390292007-08-26T16:56:00.000-07:002007-08-26T17:01:29.607-07:00

North County trio to bring a special flavor to Vans Warped TourBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneAugust 23, 2007 Reggae, ska and punk will always be the natural soundtrack to an ideal San Diego day at the beach. The Hawaii-bred, North County-based trio Pepper knows this, bringing a perfect day at the beach to people all over the country and the world through its music. “San Diego is the perfect place

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-4568670011160160902007-08-24T23:25:00.000-07:002007-08-25T02:15:27.504-07:00

I've always been on the fence about 311. They're definitely good musicians and proficient technically on their respective instruments. Their music always felt pretty good as background music at parties, but on closer listen the one word that comes to mind is "Lite." Metal lite. Rap lite. Rock lite. Dub lite. But I went into last Saturday's show with an open mind, ready to give these Omaha

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-38346724104657336102007-08-24T23:10:00.000-07:002007-08-24T23:17:48.880-07:00

So I'm a bit behind in posting, but I have show reviews of 311 and the Warped Tour along with photos on the way. Here's the story on 311 which ran in U-T:The members of 311 found success playing 'all the types of music we like'By Chris NixonUnion-TribuneAug, 16, 2007 Reggae, rock, rap and funk: 311 boldly goes where a lot of other bands have gone before. They just do it all in one song. Since

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-48048509172110891782007-08-14T01:59:00.000-07:002007-08-14T02:05:45.891-07:00

After trying the solo route, reunited band is back together, and back in the spotlightBy Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneAugust 9, 2007 After performing to arena-sized audiences and selling millions of records in the 1980s and 1990s, the British pop band Squeeze returned this year to huge crowds and a growing legacy in popular music. But it hasn't been all flowers and champagne since the band's

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-80004190097406772592007-08-03T04:15:00.000-07:002007-08-03T04:19:41.443-07:00

Lemvo, following pioneers' footstepsBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneAugust 2, 2007 Open Ricardo Lemvo's latest CD, “Isabela.” Just inside the front cover, you'll find an old photo of a dapper-looking man with the inscription: “1900 photo of grandfather Dom Joao N'lemvo, 1867-1938.” This image gives Lemvo's listeners insight into his 2007 release, along with his musical direction for the past two

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-64369949818937677462007-08-03T04:10:00.000-07:002007-08-03T04:15:23.159-07:00

After dipping his toes into the water eight years ago, Chris Cornell returned to soloingBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneAugust 2, 2007 After 13 years in the seminal Seattle band Soundgarden and six more in the band of refugees called Audioslave, singer Chris Cornell finally has time to focus on the one aspect of his musical path he's yet to fully explore: a solo career. With its bombastic Black

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-83716460155660496772007-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:002007-08-03T04:07:17.722-07:00

When Linkin Park decided to 'write music that we feel like writing,' a new sound was born – and Projekt Revolution took a detourBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneJuly 26, 2007 After surviving the trials and tribulations of a decade in the music business, Linkin Park is edging away from hip-hop in favor of radio-friendly emo pop. So is the festival they created. Along with bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-61952351067178449892007-07-26T01:01:00.000-07:002007-07-26T01:06:21.597-07:00

This year's san diego lgbt pride celebration reaches out to 'our brothers and sisters' worldwideBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneJuly 19, 2007 After 33 years of celebrating diversity and rights for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community in San Diego, the local Pride festival is adopting a new attitude: think globally, act locally. By embracing this year's theme of “United for Equality

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-43107356288195260442007-07-26T00:59:00.000-07:002007-07-26T01:01:09.715-07:00

Soul aim: Spree shares a joyous energyBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneJuly 19, 2007 Joyous, rapturous, loud, boisterous. Add an indie rock mentality (sans snobbishness) to the zeal of a gospel choir and the musicality of a symphony orchestra, and you might come close to the experience of seeing the traveling caravan called The Polyphonic Spree live. Julie Doyle, a vocalist in the band's 10-piece choir

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-65575440606017126732007-07-26T00:57:00.001-07:002007-07-26T00:58:32.857-07:00

Femi Kuti picked up where his father left off – musically and politicallyBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneJuly 19, 2007 From father to son, the legacy of Afrobeat music continues to inspire a new generation of Africans fighting for their rights. Like the meaning of his middle name, Anikulapo – “the one who holds death in his pouch” – Fela Kuti's musical and political vision lives beyond his time on

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-81112653616468590292007-07-26T00:40:00.000-07:002007-07-26T00:42:35.656-07:00

Band of Horses meets challenges of creating an albumBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneJuly 5, 2007 A lot of people may not realize it, but writing and performing your own songs takes courage. It's kind of like reclining on the psychologist's couch on stage every night, exposing your emotional innards for the world to witness. Ask Ben Bridwell. He's doing well now with the whole situation, but it took

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-34354270808308228082007-07-03T00:01:00.000-07:002007-07-03T00:03:09.650-07:00

Review: Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour, wrapping up Saturday at the Greek Theatre, features some standout artists.By CHRIS NIXONSpecial to the RegisterSaturday, June 30, 2007Gone are the shocks of red and blue hair. Gone are the goofy videos with Captain Lou Albano. Gone are the squeaky voice and quirky persona. Who knew 20 years ago when Cyndi Lauper was a marginal and slightly annoying pop

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-71490112066065118142007-07-02T23:51:00.000-07:002007-07-03T00:00:37.508-07:00

Casbah's Anti-Monday League brings good music to our least-favorite slice of the weekBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJune 21, 2007 It's a Wednesday afternoon at the Casbah in Middletown. Sunlight spills through a propped open door, illuminating the usually dark interior of the legendary San Diego club as owner Tim Mays and DJ/talent booker Talkin' trash with The National's Bryce Dessner sit

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-92166579447755636282007-06-15T15:33:00.000-07:002007-06-15T15:39:38.769-07:00

Umphrey's McGee, a new breed of jam bandBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJune 14, 2007 For those living outside the communal world of improvisational bands, earning the label of “jam band” isn't always a good thing. The bands, it goes, are drug addicts and rebels. The songs, lengthy and meandering. The fans, unwashed and scruffy. Those stereotypes worked in the 1960s and 1970s when the Grateful

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-3211233290142668662007-05-31T12:40:00.000-07:002007-05-31T12:42:47.826-07:00

Elite Racing's Tim Murphy decided entertainment was the way to go, and a rockin' race was bornBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneMay 31, 2007 With more than 20,000 runners, rollers and walkers converging on San Diego this weekend, the 10th annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon continues to draw the conspicuously fit to America's Finest City in droves. But for local musicians serving as the cheer squad along the

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-88873741512106487542007-05-31T12:36:00.000-07:002007-05-31T12:39:27.643-07:00

Morrissey's career has been an emotional ride – what did you expect from Mr. Emo?By Chris NixonUnion-TribuneMay 31, 2007 In the hierarchy of British musical royalty, Morrissey has earned the titles of the first prince of emo darkness and the original king of pain. Long before Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst delved into his dark side or Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba wore his heart on his

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-89177891273650321542007-05-24T17:01:00.000-07:002007-05-24T17:02:36.230-07:00

Erykah Badu remains one-woman soul stormBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneMay 24, 2007 After the heyday of Otis Redding's 1960s and James Brown's 1970s, the advent of synthesizers and the commercialization of R&B left the 1980s short of soul music with substance. Boyz II Men, Bell Biv DeVoe, Color Me Badd, Janet Jackson – even singers with real pipes like Whitney Houston were given bland, formulaic

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-33187992221253141892007-05-17T17:24:00.000-07:002007-05-17T17:28:03.166-07:00

Doheny Blues Festival looks to youth for 'inspiration'By Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneMay 17, 2007 From the Delta to Chicago, from a beat-up old acoustic to a shiny Fender Strat, the blues historically has adapted and found a home at each stop in its long, storied past. But among the media din and pop culture obsessions of the 21st century, the blues faces a crisis: The number of young people

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-89380866156273669922007-05-10T15:35:00.000-07:002007-05-10T15:39:25.865-07:00

Modest Mouse expands the 'dialogue'By Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneMay 10, 2007 So, how's it going Isaac Brock? “It's going OK,” said the 31-year-old lead singer of Modest Mouse in his best deadpan voice, giving a little chuckle before settling into a mini-rant about his current state of affairs. “It's going as good as any day that you wake up next to an oil refinery in a parking lot next to

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-26159028063181203902007-05-04T02:03:00.000-07:002007-05-04T02:27:41.790-07:00

Sometimes I get the call from the editors at the Union-Tribune to write a last-minute sidebar to a wire story: obscure facts, local perspective or a selected discography of a band. The wire story in this case was a story by the Orange County Register's Ben Wener on Bright Eyes. Here's the sidebar I wrote for today's U-T.Bright Eyes on a Dark Page: a selected discographyFor the Union-TribuneMay 3,

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-36446665901851365112007-04-24T13:56:00.000-07:002007-04-24T13:58:48.769-07:00

Stefani peddles sweet escapismBy CHRIS NIXONSpecial to the RegisterTuesday, April 24, 2007Remember when Gwen Stefani railed against feminine stereotypes, singing "I'm just a girl in this world" on No Doubt's breakthrough album, "Tragic Kingdom"? It's almost ancient history now: 11-plus years, to be exact.Besides the drug-addled rants of Courtney Love, the '90s were extremely thin on strong

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-13915283638876589162007-04-16T14:04:00.000-07:002007-04-16T14:06:18.473-07:00

Deerhunter: Now with less fuzz!By Chris Nixon Phoenix New TimesPublished: April 12, 2007 Where:Modified ArtsDetails:scheduled to perform on Monday, April 16 Subject(s): The Ponys, Deerhunter Santa Cruz's Comets on Fire. D.C.'s Dead Meadow. Japan's Ghost. Add Atlanta's Deerhunter to the list. With the summer of '07 fast approaching, a new slew of bands is channeling the ghosts of the Summer of

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-32347355615030376172007-04-06T13:28:00.000-07:002007-04-06T13:34:36.043-07:00

A nice music fan from Bath, England wrote a comment on The Killers piece which ran in yesterday's Night&Day section and I wanted to share it with you. Feedback is good for my writing and I encourage everyone to tell me when I'm full of it. Thanks, cnAnonymous said...Hi Chris, I'm a British Killers fan tracking you down after reading your piece in SignOnSanDiego.Ironically its a warm sunny day

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-63111741236764918392007-04-06T13:11:00.000-07:002007-04-06T13:27:27.693-07:00

Can Killers regain form at UCSD? Stay tuned By Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneApril 5, 2007New Wave and the United Kingdom seem to go hand-in-hand.The Killers' sophomore album, "Sam's Town," sold well in the U.S. and overseas but falls flat compared to the band's debut, "Hot Fuss." The UK can be a gloomy, cold place, with a penchant for all things musical. New Wave, a synth-driven pop style

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-72764315121931039702007-04-06T13:05:00.000-07:002007-04-06T13:11:03.676-07:00

Thermals make music from a dark placeBy Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneApril 5, 2007God reached his hand down from the sky / He flooded the land then he set it afire, sings The Thermals lead singer Hutch Harris over the opening notes of the band's 2006 album “The Body, the Blood, the Machine.” The Thermals rail against the church, the state and the status quo. The band, whose latest CD is "The

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-11112881294931839752007-03-29T15:52:00.000-07:002007-03-29T15:54:55.444-07:00

This is my first piece for the Phoenix New Times, with more on the way:Serial poposityBy Chris Nixon Phoenix New TimesPublished: March 29, 2007Getting hotter: AmbuletteWhere: Modified ArtsDetails: Scheduled to perform on Friday, March 30Subject(s): The New Trust, Ambulette"Cold, remotely desolate, permanent." That's how Denali (the Richmond, Virginia-based band, not the Alaskan mountain)

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-68185124266261745402007-03-29T15:51:00.000-07:002007-03-29T15:52:43.028-07:00

TV ON THE RADIOHometown: New York City/BrooklynYear formed: 2001LINEUPTunde Adebimpe – vocals/loopsDavid Andrew Sitek – guitars/keyboards/loopsKyp Malone – vocals/guitars/loopsJaleel Bunton – drumsGerard Smith – bassA LOOK AT TV ON THE RADIO ON RECORD“Young Liars” (Touch & Go Records, 2003, EP): The first proper TV on the Radio album, setting the stage for later successes. Technically, the 18-

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-30852830060404423172007-03-23T15:14:00.000-07:002007-03-23T15:16:17.037-07:00

Intensity is the bond for Killswitch's metal, melodyBy Chris NixonUnion-TribuneMarch 23, 2007 Anchored by the tough, post-industrial cities of Springfield and Holyoke, Western Massachusetts served as a desperate stage for teens growing up in the area during the '80s. Kids raised in the Connecticut River Valley had long winters, rundown suburbs and crumbling inner cities as backdrops to their

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-4256345019461959142007-03-15T12:58:00.000-07:002007-03-15T13:00:58.303-07:00

Young Dubliners tips its hat to traditional Irish songs for a change; quintet headlines ShamRock fest SaturdayBy Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneMarch 15, 2007“I came over here 20 years ago,” said Young Dubliners lead singer Keith Roberts, recently reflecting on his journey from Ireland to America as a young man. “I probably got a much different reception than those that came before me. We have

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-5657265707412062382007-03-15T12:40:00.000-07:002007-03-15T12:42:50.825-07:00

Badly Drawn Boy proudly flying the Union JackBy Chris NixonSan Diego Union-TribuneMarch 15, 2007British artist Badly Drawn Boy – aka Damon Gough – engages in a self-dialogue on his latest album's opening track, “Swimming Pool,” pondering the meaning of home and country. It goes something like this:In the left speaker: “You think it matters where you were born?”In the right speaker: “No, not

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-18240980966479232382007-03-06T03:18:00.000-08:002007-03-06T03:36:17.448-08:00

It's not like old days, but rebuilt Who has plenty of powerBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneMarch 3, 2007 Pete Townshend windmills: 79. Trademark Roger Daltrey microphone twirls: 6. Townshend jumps (back-scratcher style): 4. The Who rock the ipayOne Center: Priceless.Celebrating his 63rd birthday Thursday night, The Who's Roger Daltrey (left) led partner Pete Townshend through nearly 30 tunes

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-26333261060639383822007-03-06T03:08:00.000-08:002007-03-06T03:16:03.586-08:00

And it's been a good one lately for Silversun PickupsBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneMarch 1, 2007Since the mid-1990s, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake – along with Echo Park to the south – serves as the epicenter of L.A.'s alternative music scene.Beck, Karen O, Eels, Jane's Addiction, Pavement and the late great Elliott Smith all called the 'hood home. Located east of Hollywood

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-5268466870294129192007-02-17T15:23:00.000-08:002007-02-17T15:27:47.278-08:00

Singer-songwriter is taking a 'completely different approach from what I've done'By Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneFebruary 15, 2007Pete Yorn's good looks and seemingly effortless ability to churn out engaging pop songs often lead people to take the young songwriter for granted.The New Jersey-bred, Southern California-based musician has sold records (his debut “Musicforthemorningafter” went gold

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-41496213252836044642007-02-17T15:20:00.000-08:002007-02-17T15:23:04.530-08:00

Lupe Fiasco's religious background puts backbone in his rhyme schemesBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneFebruary 8, 2007Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, chants Lupe Fiasco, his first words on the Chicago native's full-length debut “Food & Liquor.” It's Arabic, and it's the first words in the first chapter (the Al-Fatiha) of the Koran, the holy book of Islam. It means: “In the name of God, the Most

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1169758056256459622007-01-25T12:46:00.000-08:002007-01-25T12:47:36.260-08:00

Tips to create: Be 'confused and freaked out'By Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneJanuary 25, 2007 A cold dark winter in a small Oslo apartment might not fit neatly into most people's vacation plans, but for singer/multi-instrumentalist Kevin Barnes, the unpleasantness of Norway's stark, dark wintry landscape turned out to be a pleasant place to create art. Under the moniker Of Montreal, the 32-

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1169757848679370532007-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:002007-01-25T12:44:08.700-08:00

Everclear's Art Alexakis: He can see Everclearly nowBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJanuary 25, 2007 Everybody loves a rock star on the rise: young, rail-thin and good-looking with a guitar slung over the shoulder and an earnest look in the eyes. But rarely do you hear about the journey to the stage: a father skipping out on his family, poverty in the projects, a teenage brother dying of a

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1169155560861091632007-01-18T13:25:00.000-08:002007-01-18T13:26:00.866-08:00

Incubus came in from years on the road to unwind, reflect and energize itselfBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneJanuary 11, 2007 Give us time to shine / Even diamonds start as coal sings Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd on “Diamonds and Coal,” a track from the band's sixth full-length studio album, “Light Grenades.” Boyd uses the metaphor to describe a burgeoning romantic relationship (and learning

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1169155460544020742007-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:002007-01-18T13:24:20.560-08:00

Frank Lee Drennen takes another career twist with a new bandBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneJanuary 4, 2007 The early days with Christopher Hoffee in a duo called Homer Gunn (named after his grandpa); the gritty country rock of the Hatchet Brothers with friend Gregory Page during a lengthy residency at the Ould Sod; the visceral rock of his on-again, off-again band Loam ... from country

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1167331316459573802006-12-28T10:35:00.000-08:002006-12-28T10:44:59.336-08:00

The point of the Belly Up's new series? 'You want to catch them here before they're too big to play here'By Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneDecember 28, 2006 At first glance, the Belly Up Tavern's new music series Artists on the Edge evokes an obvious question: Is this just a marketing ploy or is it a music series with substance? After spending a few minutes with the club's director of marketing

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1167252089367323652006-12-27T12:35:00.000-08:002006-12-27T12:41:29.586-08:00

Joanna Newsom leads a pack of modern dreamers reinventing a genreBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneDecember 14, 2006 In pop music, three chords and a catchy chorus just doesn't cut it anymore. If you hadn't been paying attention to folk music these days, a group of musicians is breathing new life into the tired genre with fantastic imagery and an outsider mentality. Though coming at folk music

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1165534174749677202006-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:29:34.753-08:00

Obscurity to ubiquity: Panic! rides fast trackBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneDecember 7, 2006 Gothic bearded babes dancing between church pews, dancing men on stilts and a vaudeville master of ceremonies directing the festivities as a jaded groom discovers his newlywed bride is cheating on him. That's a lot of visual eye candy for a three-minute music video, courtesy of the Los Angeles freak

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1165534026006175752006-12-07T15:26:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:27:06.010-08:00

My Chemical Romance expands the repertoire, and blows past the criticsBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneDecember 7, 2006 From the opening beeps of a heart monitor on “The Black Parade's” opening track “The End,” My Chemical Romance's third studio album marks a creative pinnacle for the five guys from Jersey. With a tip of the cap to epic albums like Pink Floyd's “The Wall” and Queen's most

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1165533942716271892006-12-07T15:24:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:25:42.716-08:00

From sheltered life to hip-hop star, Mr. Lif's lifeBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 30, 2006 Back in the early 1990s in a dark dorm room on the campus of Colgate University in upstate New York, a man named Jeffrey Haynes freestyled with friends and got his hip-hop chops the old fashioned way. He earned them. Now, Haynes' conscious rhymes can be found pumping from speakers in dark dorm

Chris Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469743585834264867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653603.post-1165533874018609972006-12-07T15:23:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:24:34.020-08:00

Doughty finds himself in a 'good situation'By Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 30, 2006 When listening to singer-songwriter Mike Doughty in his music and his manner of speech, you get the sense he likes words. His ability to run rampant through the syllabic rhythms of the English language evokes a grin from even the most starchy collared professorial wordsmiths. Doughty seems to enjoy

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Just another band from OklahomaAll-American Rejects cash in a bit after paying some duesBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 30, 2006 The words “music” and “Oklahoma” don't find their way into one's vocabulary in the same sentence too often. Maybe if you've had musicals drilled into you at a young age, a few refrains from Rodgers and Hammerstein's score float through your head. Or, for the

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Mates of State meshes perfectly, on stage and at homeBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 23, 2006 'The first time we ever played together, we were so nervous,” recalled Jason Hammel, one of half of the husband-wife duo Mates of State. “We thought that if it didn't work out musically, maybe there was something wrong with the relationship. But luckily it worked out.” For Kori Gardner (organ

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He said, she said: Dark dance tunes at HOBBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 16, 2006 When you get down to it, there are several ways to craft a rock song: from a female perspective (Tori Amos), from the male angle (AC/DC) or via pure androgyne (Ziggy Stardust). Turn the dial to dark dance tunes and you'll often hear the intriguing pairing of Seattle's Pretty Girls Make Graves and Los

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Lady Sovereign goes with the flow, her ownBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 16, 2006 Make way for the S-O-Veeee, chimes English MC Lady Sovereign on her hip-hop anthem “Random.” Feisty and self-deprecating, the 5-foot, 1-inch white girl from London pushes aside stereotypes and delivers genre bouncing hip-hop. Despite the glut of rap artists strolling the streets of London and the UK,

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The Fray has kept its wits during rapid riseBy Chris NixonFor The Union-TribuneNovember 9, 2006 In four short years, The Fray has elevated from a regional band kicking around Denver to gold records, TV soundtracks and videos plastered all over MTV and VH-1. The reason why? The foursome crafts infectious pop songs with hummable choruses. It also doesn't hurt to make a few friends along the way. “

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Rise Against to make sure the torch of punk is passed onBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneOctober 26, 2006 Tim McIlrath, lead singer of Chicago-based hardcore quartet Rise Against, fears for the future of punk rock. “I'm just afraid that there won't be kids like us in the next generation,” said McIlrath recently from his home in Chicago. “I feel like the generation before us did such a good job

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Hawthorne Heights hits the road following a dreamBy Chris NixonFor the Union-TribuneOctober 26, 2006 I was born in a small town, and I can breathe in a small town, sang Ohio native John Mellencamp in his well-worn '80s hit song. But breathing don't pay the bills. In reality, Mellencamp had to leave his small town in order to attain fame and notoriety. So did Hawthorne Heights, the emo-pop

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Oldham warmed to challenges in IcelandBy Chris NixonFor The San Diego Union-TribuneOctober 19, 2006 Frigid temperatures and long, dark nights dominate Iceland's winter months. With just four hours of daylight during the holidays, cabin fever and bleak thoughts battle with hope and happiness in the human mind during the long, dark chill. Wrapped in the warmth of Valgier Sigurdsson's Reykjavik

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And the name fitsBreakestra's a combination of styles that worksBy Chris NixonFor The San Diego Union-TribuneSeptember 21, 2006Egon – general manager of the Los Angeles taste-making hip-hop/turntablist label Stones Throw Records – explains the etymology behind Breakestra's name: “Break: As in 'breakbeat,' that 10-second slice of percussive magic in the middle of a funk song that, when looped

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'We're just starting here'Popular in the U.K., Kasabian hopes to duplicate that success in the U.S.By Chris NixonFor The San Diego-UnionOctober 5, 2006 'A lot of the comparisons between us and Oasis are just lazy journalism,” said Kasabian guitarist and songwriter Serge Pizzorno, speaking via phone just before a gig in Montreal, Canada. “A lot of people get caught up in reading old interviews,

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Live shows prompted Ladytron to shift gearsBy Chris NixonFor the San Diego Union-TribuneOctober 12, 2006 Chuck Berry's cascading early rock riffs; Jimi Hendrix's wah-wah psychedelic haze; Eddie Van Halen's buzz-saw, million-notes-per-second solos; Robert Fripp's delay-drenched, intricately interwoven guitar lines. From the early days of rock 'n' roll, R&B and blues, the guitar remains the iconic

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