March 2012
5 posts
Just back from D.C., where I watched Sleigh Bells whip a thousand or so young fans into a genuine rock & roll frenzy. More on that later! In the meantime, short takes on two great new singles by Nas and Bobby Womack.
My quick take on a couple of the new songs Radiohead has been playing live. I love how “Skirting on the Surface” has evolved from Thom Yorke’s solo piano version a few years back. Radiohead’s public revision process has always been fun for us fans – who knows which forgotten one-off live cut they’ll revive next?
Among many reasons I’m psyched for Coachella this year, the chance to run into Noel Gallagher “prancing around the site, acting all self-important” is a major one. (Also: Jeff Mangum is opening for Radiohead!!)
Any little shadows of doubts I still had about how the E Street Band would work without Clarence Clemons were erased last night at the Apollo Theater, their first full performance since the Big Man left us last summer. It’s not that the very capable five-man horn section led by Clarence’s nephew Jake replaced him – no one could do that. But the band sounded sweet and strong, even with...
Short takes on new singles by Santigold, Norah Jones and Rita Ora, plus John Mulaney’s new stand-up album – it’s very funny.
