There are some guitarists who play the instrument.And then there are the rare few who become it. Terry Kath was one of those rare few. Long before Chicago became a household name for soft rock ballads and prom night slow dances, it was a wild, gritty, horn-blasting rock band—and Terry Kath was its thundering heart. His guitar tone? Raw, roaring, full of chaos and beauty. His voice? Soulful, deep, and […]
If the universe had a house band, Bootsy Collins would be its frontman — wearing star-shaped sunglasses, a glitter cape, and boots that could kick open a wormhole. Born in the groove-laden labs of Cincinnati and raised on a diet of bass licks, chaos, and pure uncut funk, Bootsy didn’t just play the bass — he weaponized it. First with James Brown’s band (ever heard of a little ditty called […]
In a music world obsessed with speed and spectacle, Natural Information Society (NIS) invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and get lost in repetition. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Joshua Abrams, this Chicago-based collective creates mesmerizing soundscapes that feel less like songs and more like sonic environments — rich, meditative, and alive. At the heart of NIS’s sound is the guimbri, a three-stringed bass lute traditionally used in Gnawa […]
When most people hear the name Yoko Ono, their first thought is often “the woman who broke up the Beatles.” It's an oversimplification that has clung to her name for decades, obscuring a rich and radical career in avant-garde art, experimental music, and activism. In truth, Yoko Ono is one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. To reduce her to a footnote […]
If rock music were a dusty thrift store full of forgotten gems, broken radios, velvet jackets, and acid-stained notebooks, then The Brian Jonestown Massacre would be the slightly unhinged shopkeeper handing you a tambourine and inviting you to a séance behind the curtain. Founded in the early ‘90s by the infamous Anton Newcombe, BJM didn’t just form a band — they summoned a swirling, psychotropic entity. The name alone is […]
Step aside, Beethoven. Take a seat, Duke Ellington. Today we’re talking about Moondog — the blind, self-fashioned Viking who pounded the streets of Manhattan with a staff, a beard like a Norse god, and a mind full of music that defied every tidy label and genre box the 20th century tried to impose. Born Louis Thomas Hardin in 1916, Moondog was a composer, poet, street performer, and proto-minimalist who saw […]
Let’s talk about the sound of scaffolding kissing the ground at high speed. The groan of steel as it remembers it used to be something else. The whisper of wire under tension. Yes, friend, I’m talking about Einstürzende Neubauten—Germany’s most elegantly destructive export since Nietzsche’s mustache. In a world where bands cling to guitars like emotional support animals, Neubauten looked around and said, “Screw that—hand me the jackhammer.” Formed in […]
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary music, few artists have demonstrated the fearless innovation and versatility of Ava Mendoza. Born in 1983 in Miami, Florida, and now based in Brooklyn, Mendoza has carved a unique niche as a guitarist, composer, and bandleader, seamlessly blending genres and pushing the boundaries of sonic expression. A Journey Through Sound Mendoza's musical journey began with classical training, but her insatiable curiosity led her to […]
In the pantheon of punk rock, few bands have managed to maintain both relevance and irreverence quite like NOFX. For over four decades, this quartet of musical misfits has carved out a unique space where technical proficiency meets juvenile humor, political commentary meshes with self-deprecation, and DIY ethics coexist with commercial success. Founded in 1983 in Los Angeles by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike (Mike Burkett), guitarist Eric Melvin, and drummer Erik […]
If Salvador Dalí played jazz, he might’ve sounded a bit like Patricia Brennan. In the wobbly, woozy dreamscape of modern improvised music, Patricia Brennan is less a player and more a conjurer—bending metal bars and wooden blocks into whispers, howls, and glimmering labyrinths of sound. Her weapon of choice? The vibraphone—a percussive instrument often thought of as jazz’s background shimmer. But in Brennan’s hands, it becomes a sentient creature, spitting […]
Sign up for the latest electronic news and special deals
EMAIL ADDRESS*
By signing up, you understand and agree that your data will be collected and used subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
