Top Ten Albums of 2019

CHIRP Radio has published my Top 10 Albums of the 2019 (as well as around 40 other honorable mentions). I like the excitement, exchange, and conversation that CHIRP's "Best of" list generates as an extension of a community radio station, so I'm running my year-end list on their blog. This was a pretty great year in music and if I had more time on my hands, this list would have been longer. I stand by my top 10 (and beyond) and encourage you to check them all out. Link below.

Best Albums of 2019

What were your top 10 albums of the year? What albums did I miss? Let me know.

Show Review: Lingua Ignota @ Thalia Hall 12/21/2019

Image courtesy of the artist

I was able to stop in on Lingua Ignota's set at Thalia Hall this past Saturday. Her album Caligula was one of the more arresting listening experiences in 2019 and her set on the ground level of this historic theater more than met my expectations. The Holidays aren't always a lot of fun for everyone. It was very cathartic to Caligula live this time of year. My review is over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Review of Lingua Ignota @ Thalia Hall

Don't let people treat you like sh*t. Ever.

Interview: The Arrivals

Image from The Arrivals

Chicago pop-punk institution The Arrivals are giving us the gift of music and mirth this Holiday Season. Climbing to the stage at Reggies to kick out some jams and beat back the Holiday Blues their show with Sass Dragons and Canadian Rifle will be an ideal final chapter to 2019. I was able to score a chat with Dave Marriman, guitarist of the Arrivals, ahead of their set this weekend and the interview is now up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. We talked about the band's legacy, secrets hidden in their cover art, and the class struggles that inform the political slant of their music. This is easily one of my favorite interviews to date. Link below.

Interview with Dave Marriman of the Arrivals

Seasons greetings and solidarity, forever.

Album Review: Lord Mantis - Universal Death Church

Chicago metal monsignor Lord Mantis has clawed their way out of hell to give us the gift of inner ear damage in the form of their latest album, Universal Death Church. I was really blown away by this album and you can read my thoughts over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Review of Lord Mantis' Universal Death Church

Horns up for Bill Bumgardner. 

Album Review: Fucking Violence - Ingratidão

When I started writing regular album review I never thought I'd have a chance to cover anything related to São Paulo's Worst, but here we are, 2019 and it's freaking happening! Thiago Seirra's new project, Fucking Violence is a thorough ass-kicking and you can check out my write up of Ingratidão over at InEffect Hardcore. Link below.

Review of Fucking Violence's Ingratidão

Fucking Violence is exactly what it says on the package. RIYL: beatdown hardcore, international hardcore, inner ear damage.

Album Review: Red Death - Sickness Divine

Red Death are back with a sick new album. I really thought crossover thrash had peaked but then I heard Sickness Divine. The band continues to refine their sound, release after release, and become more fierce and deadly with each iteration. My thoughts on Red Death's new LP are up over at Post Trash. Direct link below.

Review of Red Death's Sickness Divine

Be sure to rest your neck between spins.

Interview: Surfer Blood

Image provided by artist

My conversation with the down right adorable John Paul & Co. of Surfer Blood is now on the airwaves thanks to CHIRP Radio! I was able to catch up with the band at Riot Fest 2019 and they were nice enough to answer my questions about past and upcoming albums, as well as the inspirations behind some of their most beloved songs. Thanks for Sarah Brooks and Amanda Mayo for scheduling the interview, and a very big high five to Robert Patterson for the spit and polish production work. You make me sound great man! Direct link to the interview below.

Interview with Surfer Blood for the CHIRP Radio Podcast

CHIRP and Surfer Blood.... there is a Trashmen pun in there somewhere

Show Review: Forever Deaf Fest 2019

Matianak

The second year of the all local death and doom metal fest. Forever Deaf Fest was this past weekend at the Cobra Lounge and Beat Kitchen, and I was there for Chicago Crowd Surfer to snag some pics and soak up the brutal majesty of it all. I can honestly say that I have a new appreciation for scene mainstays Broken Hope and the Sword, as well as up and beastly upstarts Matianak, Snow Burial, and Huntsmen. Check out my coverage at the link below and enjoy some additional images that didn't make it into the article.

Show Recap of  Forever Deaf Fest 2019

Everything Must Die

Inner Decay

Gloryhole Guillotine

Matianak

Broken Hope

The Skull

Huntsmen

Huntsmen

Huntsmen

Now if you excuse me I need to talk to a specialist about a cochlear implant.

All photos by me. 

Album Review: Child Bite - Blow Off the Omens

Detroit’s Child Bite have just released their fifth album, Blow Off the Omens on Housecore Records. It’s another brash dose of atonal guitar jabs, lurching percussion, and cryptic misanthropic themes. The record was produced by Steve Albini in Chicago. Usually this fact doesn’t impress me, and isn’t worth mentioning, but his recording style works well to accentuate Child Bite's idiosyncrasies. As a result, I think this is one of the better sounding releases he’s worked on in years. Lead singer Shawn Knight’s typical Jello Biafra recovering from throat surgery impress sounds suitably unhinged, while Jeremy Waun’s guitar work unnervingly slashes at the listener’s eardrum like a tiger’s paw made out of aluminum and acid; meanwhile Sean Clancy holds things down in the bass department, faithfully laying down sub-tonal backing for his bandmates, while quietly plotting his revenge upon the world. Despite forming in 2005, the band continue to have a pre-hardcore feel to them, invoking the weird, sorted psychotic rage of Fear, early Dead Kennedys, and The Flesh Eaters, with more than a hint of calculating, post-hardcore, jazz-punk animus ala NoMeansNo. Highlights worth mentioning include the desperate, churning peel of “Mock Ecstasy,” the explosive convulsions of “They All Look Away,” the bucking riffs and downward spiral of “Become An Animal,” the nettled, psycho-billy tinged wilt of “The Wrong Ones Breed,” and the fiery social meltdown of “Blow Off the Omens.” If you’re having a bad night, week, or year, then Blow Off the Omens should be in your rotation.

Grab a copy of Blow Off the Omens on vinyl here

Album Review: Marijannah - Istanah

Marijannah are a Singapore stoner metal band who wants to transport you to space, where they will roll you up and smoke you like fat pinch of ganja. Formed in 2016 as a collaboration between guitarist Rasyid Juraimi of gutter dwelling, grindcore filth mongers Wormrot, and guitarist Nicholas Wong, of the significantly less grimy, pop-punk band The Caulfield Cult (Wong plays drums in Marijannah, no word on whether this is his preferred instrument though). Their first album Till Marijannah impressed critics with its slow resin lined chords and dank wizzardy vibe. Istanah (which means palace) is a direct sequel to its predecessor, and not much has changed between the two. However, Marijannah don't need to progress much stylistically in order to stay engaging. Things kick off promisingly with the gargantuan grooves and crisscrossing meteor shower riffs of the foggy floating vampire castle “Bloodsucker.” The next track “1966” has a a grainy grindhouse theater texture and a big, nasty, thumping beat familiar to fans of Hire on Fire. For me though, the best cut on the album is the speedy and psychedelic “Spiderwalk With Me” with straining chords, rumbling double-time percussion, and space warping reverb.

Pick up a copy of Istanah from Cursed Tongue Records here

Album Review: Obsequiae - The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings

Looking to storm a keep or entertain a party of wood nymphs in the near future? Look no further than The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings, the third album from Minneapolis “castle” metal ensemble, Obsequiae. On this latest album, the band seems ready to ascend and take their rightful place on the thrown of folk metal. Sure, they sound like a renaissance fair gearing up to storm the county fair across the freeway and plunder all their funnel cake, but if anything is going to make your respect a crowd of LARPers, it’s sacking a place where White Snake is supposed to headline just after happy hour. Inspired? Sure. Nerdy? Oh hell yeah, in the most badass way possible. A little Dragonslayer and a little Fire and Ice with a dash of Solomon Cane (the comic books, not that god awful movie). You’d be tempted to frame it as medieval, especially with all of the classic instruments and balladry (see the instrumental opener “L'autrier m'en aloie” for a taste of that ye olde dark ages charm), but they venture into all manner of folklore throughout the western canon, and not just the stuff from the black plague years either. An example of this is “Ceres in Emerald Streams” which recounts the Greek goddess Ceres’ search for her kidnapped daughter Persephone after she had been dragged down to the underworld. To be more specific about Obsequiae's sound you’d have to acknowledge that at their core, this is a black metal band. A black metal band with heavy folk influences in the vein of Enslaved. However, not even those Norwegian trailblazers managed to integrate the modern elements of their sound with the classical to quite the degree that Obsequiae has here. It’s really hard to pin down just how epic this album can be in parts. You have to experience the lofty bright leads and ethereal harmonies of the title track “The Palms of Sorrowed Kings” and the tremolo anchored sure-footed tribute to the Celtic war-goddesses on “Morrígan” first hand to fully appreciate their grandeur. With so many grim and dark metal albums released each year, it’s stupendous to see an album in the black metal lane that aims to inspire more than just dread in the listener. 

Obsequiae's The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings is out now on 20 Buck Spin

Get your chain mail, we've got some castle crashing to do.

Album Review: Black Dahlia Murder - Nightbringers

Black Dahlia Murder really isn’t a band that needs an introduction. The Michigan based melodic death metal band is one of the most widely successful extreme metal bands in the United States, and their eighth LP Nightbringers peaked at 35 on Billboard’s top 200 making it the top-selling album in Metal Blade’s history upon release. Despite this, and my general love of death metal, I am just now discovering them. I'm starting with their latest release and going backwards (probably a bad idea, but it's something I decided to do and I'm nothing if not stubborn). The good news is even though I’m late to the game I can still read the score. Black Dahlia Murder are the reigning champs of this generation of melodic death. To clear any doubts, Nightbringers is a tornado of fire and fury, scorching expectations in its path with the band’s brutal combination of beastly melodic Swedish death metal and British grindcore delivered with transgressive punk attitude. The album begins promisingly with the eerie grooves and barreling charge of the appropriately named “Widowmaker” and progresses through the melodic death-grind furrow of “Matriarch,” culminating in the deathly hollow-eyed waltz of title track “Nightbringers.” Other highlights include the barbarous aural conflagration, of the medieval-meets-urban warfare “Kings of the Nightworld,” and the spry and nimble guitar work of the epic blackend death descent of “As Good as Dead.” I’m really feeling these guys and can’t wait to check out their later releases.

Grab a copy of Black Dahlia Murder's Nightbringers from Metal Blade Records.

Album Review: Sacred Reich - Awakening

It’s always annoying when people say that metal is apolitical. Almost like metal has nothing to say about the world, politics don't affect people's daily life in any meaningful way, or that you can just opt out of the decisions made for you by those in power. That’s one of the reasons why I appreciate Phoenix, AZ thrash icons Sacred Reich. They’re whole thing is being political. SR was is the product of lead singer and guitarist Phil Rind’s desire to start a socially conscious speed metal band back in 1985. However, by the time they released their first LP Ignorance in 1987, the group had transitioned to a full-on thrash band to keep pace with the more muscular sound of their contemporaries, namely Death Angel and Testament. Awakening is the band’s first album since 1996’s Heal. The band had previously been on hiatus, but reunited and started gigging again in 2007. Awakening is the band’s response to the contemporary state of affairs and sees them sounding pissed off, revved up, and ready to unleash mayhem in the name of change. The album opens with “Awakening” a straight banger with scorching leads and a concrete ripping biker-rock groove. Next up is “Salvation,” a dose of double-time doom and gloom with a cloud parting chorus. Later, “Killing Machine” puts a mean pit igniting groove to service in dismantling the logical of military adventurism, while “Death Valley” is a grungy, hard-liquor quenched, fist-pumping march through the desert heat. On Awakening, SR don’t sound like they’ve missed a beat since 1989. They sound every bit as determined and forceful today as they did during their ostensible heyday. It’s a great reminder of what a banging party an old school thrash album can sound like. I’m happy to recommend it to any headbanger looking to wax nostalgic about the second wave of American thrash or who is looking for some inspiration to make the Man choke on his tie as it's jammed down his throat (or both… or just the latter).

Grab a copy of Sacred Reich's Awakening. Out now on Metal Blade. 

Album Review: Knocked Loose - A Different Shade of Blue

I'm very excited to announce that my review of the phenomenal new record from Kentucky's Knocked Loose is up over at Post-Trash (link below). It's a beatifically harsh and powerfully refined album that pulls the best of late '90s punk into the forefront of today. I can't recommend it enough!

Knocked Loose - A Different Shade of Blue

Post-Trash is one of my favorite indie music blogs and I'm pleased like a dog with it's jaws around a t-bone stake to continue to have my work published there. Be sure to check out what else they have cooking after reading my review.

Interview: Nick Fury of Forever Deaf Fest 2019

Did a quick and painless interview with the lead organizer of Forever Deaf Fest, Nick Fury. FDF relatively new metal fest in Chicago, headed into its second year in 2019. My conversation with Mr. Fury is up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer (link below). I'm pretty stoked for this festival and you should be too! All midwest! All brutal! All dang weekend! Links to where you can buy tickets in the underground. See you in the pit!

Interview with Nick Fury of Forever Deaf Fest 

Spoiler alert, he doesn't tell why he received the nickname "Fury." You'll have to find him at the bar and buy him a drink in order to unlock that particular trade secret. 

Stay tuned for my forthcoming review of FDF '19! 

Album Review: disappear. - momentum.

Welcome to December bozos! How better to deal with this chilling turn in the season then some brutal and bleak metalcore from semi-locals disappear. and their incredible debut LP momentum. It's a kick in the head and a welcome one at that. You can read my review over at In Effect Hardcore now (link below). If coffee just isn't doing it for you today, this high octane beat just might do the trick.

disappear. by momentum. over at In Effect Hardcore

Show Review: Exhumed and Gatecreeper at the Empty Bottle November 20, 2019

My review of the death metal masterclass that went down over at the The Empty Bottle before Thanksgiving is now up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer (link below). Missed Exhumed and Gatecreeper tearing the world part one riff at a time, or do you want to relive the brutality with the help of my mangled prose? Either way CCS has you covered. Link in the underground.

Exhumed and Gatecreeper @ The Empty Bottle - November 20, 2019

Thanks to Alexi D. Front of Scorched Tundra for organizing another fantastic show. When I say he's a wizard, I mean it!

Interview: Ganser

Image provided by Ganser

Hey! Your ears deserves a treat, right? Well today is a luck day for your hungry little ear-holes. Ganser graciously sat down with me during this year's Riot Fest to talk about their upcoming EP, the conceptual overlap between their music and music videos, and how we can change the narrative around aural art (link below). Thanks to Sarah Brooks and Amanda Roscoe Mayo for setting up the interview, Robert Patterson for making me sound semi-professional no mater how closely I talk into the recorder, and Ganser for being great sports.

Ganser interview brought to you by the CHIRP Radio Podcast

Need more Ganser? My pal Kyle wrote a review of their new EP You Must Be New Here over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Check it out here.

Interview: Mat Kerekes

Photo provided by Mat Kerekes

If you couldn't tell from the temperature outside, Chicago's festival season is far behind us. That doesn't mean that we still can't bask in its after glow though! This year at Riot Fest I had the pleasure of speaking with Mat Kerekes of Citizen as he prepared to tour in support of his new album, Ruby. We talked about his influences, '90s nostalgia, and ways to unwind when not on tour. Check out the full interview by clicking the link below. Thanks to CHIRP Radio for running the interview, Sarah Brooks for scheduling our convo, and Robert Patterson for doing a boss job with the production.

CHIRP Radio Podcast Interview with Mat Kerekes 

Mat is a very chill dude. An inspiration to all those who aspire to chillness. 

Interview: Elk Walking

Photo provided by band

I am head over heals to announce the world premier of the new Elk Walking singe "Over the Hills" breaking at the one and only Chicago Crowd Surfer. Listen along to the spooky new single and read my interview with their captivating and thoughtful frontwoman, Savanna Dickhurt as we discuss her inspirations and insights. Link below.

Single premier and interview with Elk Walking's Savanna Dickhurt

It's a bummer that we couldn't get another Elk Walking show before the end of the year, but fear not, they'll be back in 2020. Also, Savanna had been cooking up some new tunes with Burr Oak, meaning that we've got plenty of folky goodness to indulge us in the interim. 

Album Review: Gatecreeper - Deserted

With the festival of spirits almost upon us, I figured it was as good a time as any to share my review of Deserted the new album from phenomenal Arizonian death metallers Gatecreeper. Gatecreeper have a highly engaging and surprisingly fresh take on the OG Swedish death metal sound, with heavy punk influences, and thoroughly adapted for the arid landscape which they call home. Deserted is a real treat for fans of all things gruesome and grisly this All Hallows Eve. Thanks to Dan Goldin of Post-Trash for publishing my thoughts on the album. Link to article below.

Review of Gatecreeper's Deserted at Post-Trash

Deadly dry mouth.

Album Review: Cloud Rat - Pollinator

I'm extremely proud to share my review of the latest from punk/grind heathens Cloud Rat. Their latest effort Pollinator is a stripped back album compared to their previous studio releases, and yet their sound remains disarmingly fierce. I don't know if there is much more to say about this one other than I am completely blown away. It's completely awesome and is easily going to make my top 10 list of the year. Thanks to Chicago Crowd Surfer for publishing my obtuse reactions once again. Kyle and Laura, you're the best as always. Link below.

Review of Cloud Rat's Pollinator at Chicago Crowd Surfer

There is something in the air.

Interview: Generationals

Provided by the artist

I had a conversation with the guys from Generationals before their recent show at Lincoln Hall for a CHIRP. They talked to me about their new album Reader as Detective and go in depth with my on the origins of their sound.

Listen to my conversation with Generationals on the CHIRP Radio Podcast

The full interview lasted about an hour and had some serious hot takes on everything from the meaninglessness of "indie cred" and their real feelings on some prominent music critics. I didn't do the production on this one so the most interesting parts of our conversation (imho) didn't make the final cut. Maybe I'll release the full interview some day. IDK. We'll see what happens.

Album Review: Snow Burial - Ostrava

Local winter warriors Snow Burial just dropped their second album via Prosthetic Records and you can read all about it over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. I found it to be a dark and complex album, a maze of twilight lit twists and turns, combining elements of death metal, post-metal, black metal and post-hardcore into a churlish but contemplative encounter that I will likely find myself returning to often as we slip into parky subdue of fall. Link below.

Review of Snow Burial's Ostrava at Chicago Crowd Surfer

Keep warm out there.

Album Review: Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence

Discover your inner power with Chelsea Wolfe's moody and fatalistic ode to the American west, Birth of Violence. My review is up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Thanks to Kyle and Laura for publishing my thoughts on this phenomenal album. Link below.

Review of Chelsea Wolfe's Birth of Violence at Chicago Crowd Surfer

There is no place like home. And no home like the open road.

Show Review: Riot Fest 2019

So I went to Riot Fest this past weekend, and... oh boy, do I have some thoughts and feels about it. You can read my recap at the link below. Thanks to Chicago Crowd Surfer for publishing brain farts on this incredibly historic seasonal event. 

Click here for Riot Fest 2019 recap 

It was the best of times... It was the worst of times... 

Photo by me. 

Album Review: Halshug - Drøm

Because I love terrible inscrutable things and not because I hate everything else (promise), I reviewed the new LP Drøm from Danish dark hardcore crew Halshug for Dan over at the always informative and intriguing Post-Trash. Click through the link below for my review.

Review of Halshug's Drøm only on Post-Trash

Dream a little dream for me...

Show Review: Scorched Tundra XI

Wondering why there was a blaze in the sky above the Empty Bottle this past weekend? Now is your chance to read about what you missed (or relive the burn if you were there). Scorched Tundra XI blew the doors off the Bottle and I have a full write-up for you over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Recap of Scorched Tundra XI ready to burn a whole through your browser window over at CCS

'Cause you're as hot as ice... wait, how does that song go again?

Interview: Alexi Front of Scorched Tundra

Photo from Alexi Front

Need a sneak peek at this weekend's Scorched Tundra? Check out my interview with founder/organizer Alexi Front over on Chicago Crowd Surfer! (link below) Dude has a vision that only he is qualified to explain, and this year's ST is shaping up to be an epic end to this summer's concert season.

Interview with Alexi Front and preview of Scorched Tundra XI at CCS

Pour yourself a brew and click on through for the goods!

Album Review: BJ the Chicago Kid - 1123

I’m keeping my groove this week with the classic cool vibes of Second City native, BJ the Chicago Kid. BJ is an always-on hype man, who has worked behind the scenes to propel the careers of Kenya West, Chance the Rapper, and countless others. Despite his ubiquity in the local hip-hop scene, BJ has very few releases to call his own. His studio release this year, 1123, is only his second LP. Thankfully, it’s usually worth the wait with BJ, and 1123 sees the influencer sticking to what he knows and does best, translating the mood and flow of classic R’nB into the clubs of today. A talent he shares with the likes of D’Angelo and other enigmatic MCs. The album opens nice and easy with the smooth bass and wiggly beat of “Feel the Vibe” featuring Anderson .Paak, this is followed by the glossy, luxurious, and Chic flavored R’nB of ‘Champagne.” Other hits include the juicy bumping slow jam “Playa’s Ball” featuring Rick Ross, and the ‘00s soul throwback “Too Good.” However, the absolute, show-stopping highlight is the damp trap slapper “Worryin Bout Me,” a too hot to touch banger about minding your own damn business.

Pick up a copy of 1123 from Motown records.

Interview: Of Montreal

Photo thanks to Kevin Barnes

Of all the podcasts you could listen to this week, I think you should give my interview with Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal a try! I had a great conversation with Barnes at his most recent Chicago stop, supporting his latest album White Is Relic / Irrealis Mood. We talked about his creative process, connecting with fans, building community, and his summer reading list. It's two parter, so get ready! Thanks for CHIRP Radio 107.1FM for the opportunity to talk to such a phenomenal musician. Links below.

Part 1: Conversation with Kevin Barnes @ CHIRP Radio Podcast
Part 2: Conversation with Kevin Barnes @ CHIRP Radio Podcast

Grab a copy of White Is Relic / Irrealis Mood over at Polyvinyl

Album Review: Friendship - Undercurrent

My review of of the latest album from Japanese hardcore and grind golems, Friendship has just been published over on Post-Trash. The band has taken a bit of a left turn with their sound, but the results are no less affecting and unruly. Worth a spin if you are a fan of Harm's Way and Nails. Link below.

Review of Friendship's Undercurrent only at Post-Trash

I made the mistake of buying that other Friendship (PA)'s Shock Out of Season while doing research for this one. Here is my review of that album as well: It sucks.

Album Review: Lowest Creature - Sacrilegious Pain

My review of the new crossover thrash and hardcore album from Scandinavians Lowest Creature is up over at InEffect Hardcore. f you like Power Trip, Red Death, and Iron Age, this brutal onslaught of an album was conjured with you in mind. A punishing party album for the end of the world, and I dug every fire-breathing second of it. Link below.

Review of Lowest Creature's Sacrilegious Pain over at legendary InEffect Hardcore

I'm really loving the cover art for this album. If you know who did it, let me know in the comments. 

Album Review: Thy Art is Murder - Human Target

New stuff from deathcore heavy weights Thy Art is Murder. Human Target is not their best work but it still slays. Check out my review over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Review of Thy Art is Murder's Human Target

We're all soft targets.

Album Review: Sanction - Broken in Refraction

Everyone wants to talk about Knocked Loose, but their album one be out for a couple more months. There not even the only metallic-hardcore band making waves out there either. Like Jesus Piece? How about Year of the Knife? Then feast your ears on the purling fury of Sanction. You can read my review of their new LP over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Review of Sanction's Broken in Refraction

Break it all. Start over. Leave no regrets.

Album Review: De Lorians - De Lorians

Checked out the debut by Japaneses psychedelic jazz ensemble De Loraians. I really dug it and you can read my review over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. 

Review of De Lorians's S/T over at CCS

I have seen the future and it is trippy. 

Album Review: All Out War - Crawl Among the Filth

Got to cover a band who inspired some of my all time favorites. Check out my review of All Out War's Crawl Among the Filth over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Take a bite out of the new album by All out War 

It's good to have another album from these guys.

Show Review: Anderson .Paak @ House of Vans Chicago

Image provided by the artist

I got to see Anderson .Paak be a boss at a house party he threw at Vans' place this past Thursday. It was pretty wild. Want to know what I thunk? Click below

Recap of Anderson .Paak laying it down over at Chicago Crowd Surfer

All the pictures featured in the article were taken on my cell phone. Judge if you want but I think they came out fine.

Interview: The Drums

Photo courtesy of Jonny Pierce

Not to beat my own drum, but my interview with Jonny Pierce of The Drums is up on CHIRP Radio's web doodily. Our conversation hit a good rhythm and Johnny was a delight to chat with; shedding light on his fascination with architecture, qualifying his legacy as an indie rock pioneer, and sharing how he really feels about Bjork (spoilers: he likes her, like, a lot). Thanks to Sarah Brooks and Amanda Roscoe Mayo for making this fabulous exchange possible.

Conversation with Jonny of the Drums on the Chirp Radio Podcast

Such a nice young man. 

Album Review: Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance

Checked out the latest from forward-thinking death metal fiend's Tomb Mold's latest cosmic aggression pact Planetary Clairvoyance. Tl:dr its rules. Need more? Read my full review over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Review of Tomb Mold's Planetary Clairvoyance

Expand your mind with celestial chaos.