Concert Review: Nneka at the Double Door, 2/14
A show by Nneka isn’t just an introduction to her heartfelt brand of soul music. It’s also a crash course in world affairs, the realities of living in an oil-rich nation, and in Nigerian politics.
Album Review: Brandi Carlile, “XOBC EP”
Don’t let this EP’s status as a Valentine’s Day release fool you into think that it is some sappy collection of love tunes to which Brandi Carlile just happened to lend her voice. That’s not the case at all; sure, the songs have a bit of a lovey bent, but they’re pure Brandi Carlile, country roots and all.
Wow, That’s a Good Song: Nneka, “Heartbeat”
Check out Nneka in Chicago this Sunday at the Double Door. Local artist Jerome Holloway opens. I’m digging out my credit card to buy my tickets as we speak.
Preservation, an Album Benefiting Preservation Hall and its Music Outreach Program
Take a bunch of artists from all different schools of music — country, blues, indie rock, gospel, folk and that strange place in music that can only be occupied by Tom Waits — and set them to covering some classic New Orleans songs, backed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and what do you have? […]
Wow, That’s a Good Song: Elizabeth & the Catapult, “Everybody Knows”
This is probably music blasphemy, but I like Leonard Cohen’s songs when they’re sung by someone other than Leonard Cohen. Â I know, it’s in the same category as disliking Bob Dylan or something, but I just can’t get into Cohen’s singing. I can, however, get into this cover of “Everybody Knows.” And everybody knows that […]