Music

Out Of Industrial Wasteland, The English Beat Was Born

Credit Adrian Boot / Urbanimage.tv

The English Beat.

By Ed Ward

Originally published on Mon October 1, 2012 3:40 pm

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In 1978, it seemed that every kid in Britain wanted to be in a punk band. But in Birmingham, that blighted industrial scar in the middle of the island, there wasn't much punk to be seen. The oasis was a club called Barbarella's, and that's where Dave Wakeling and Andy Cox hung out.

12:13 pm

Mon October 1, 2012

In Memoir, Neil Young Wages 'Heavy Peace'

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Credit Pegi Young

Neil Young.

With the Stray Gators in the barn at Broken Arrow Ranch, 1971. Left to right: Tim Drummond, Jack Nitzsche, Neil Young, Kenny Buttrey, Ben Keith.

Credit Hannah Johnson / Courtesy of Hannah Johnson and Neil and Pegi Young

Neil Young's faithful guitar, Old Black, and his amps in 2012.

Credit © Joel Bernstein

Left to right: Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Neil Young, with Elliot Roberts in the background, backstage before a CSNY show in Denver, 1974.

Credit Courtesy Neil and Pegi Young

Neil Young's brother, Bob, holding a rifle, and Neil with a bow: Omemee, Ontario, 1955.

Credit Courtesy Neil and Pegi Young

Neil Young videotaping his children, Ben and Amber, on a trip to New Zealand in 1987.

Credit

Credit © Henry Diltz

With Crazy Horse, left to right: Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot, Frank "Poncho" Sampedro, Neil Young. On Malibu Beach, 1975.

Credit © Henry Diltz

Neil Young (right) with book art director and friend Gary Burden, on the beach in Malibu, 1975.

By editor

Originally published on Mon October 1, 2012 2:00 pm

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At age 66, Neil Young has taken the advice of his doctor and stopped smoking marijuana — though he's not "making any promises," he says.

The Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist has a new memoir titled Waging Heavy Peace, in which he talks about his music, family and medical conditions, including polio, epilepsy and a brain aneurysm. In the book, he describes a particularly painful procedure he went through, which has since been banished.

5:03 am

Mon October 1, 2012

Song Premiere: Black Moth Super Rainbow, 'Gangs In The Garden'

Credit The Seven Fields Of Apehlion

Tobacco (a.k.a. Tom Fec), frontman for Black Moth Super Rainbow, wants to show you something in the trunk.

By Robin Hilton

Originally published on Sat October 6, 2012 11:03 am

After raising more than $125,000 on Kickstarter, the synth-psych-rock group Black Moth Super Rainbow is set to self-release its fifth full-length record. The gritty, beat-heavy Cobra Juicy is due out on Oct. 23, but the band is giving fans an early taste now with the thick and dirty "Gangs in the Garden."

4:04 am

Sun September 30, 2012

Janis Martin, 'The Female Elvis,' Returns

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Credit GAB Archive / Redferns

A publicity photo of Janis Martin in the late 1950s or early '60s.

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Janis Martin (right) with Rosie Flores.

By NPR Staff

Originally published on Sun September 30, 2012 7:28 am

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Janis Martin was just a teenager from Virginia when she was christened "The Female Elvis." In the mid-1950s, she sold 750,000 copies of a song called "Will You, Willyum." She played the Grand Ole Opry, American Bandstand and The Tonight Show. But her fame was short-lived. Martin got married and had a baby, which didn't sit so well with the people managing her career. Her label dropped her, and she fell off the musical map.

10:03 am

Sat September 29, 2012

After A Dozen-Year Disappearance, Ben Folds Five Is Back

Credit Autumn de Wilde / Courtesy of the artist

Ben Folds Five (from left): Robert Sledge, Darren Jessee and Ben Folds.

By editor

Originally published on Sat September 29, 2012 5:05 pm

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In the early '90s, Ben Folds Five achieved underground success by playing the college circuit, selling out small clubs all across the country.

That all changed with the success of its 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen. Its hit single "Brick" went to No. 6 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks list, only the second single in the band's history to chart.

5:18 am

Sat September 29, 2012

Sallie Ford: New Songs From An Old Soul

Credit opbmusic.org

Sallie Ford performs for opbmusic.org.

By editor

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 9:59 am

We first saw Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside a few years back, opening for The Avett Brothers at Portland's Crystal Ballroom. What caught our attention then — the group's fresh approach to old country and rockabilly styles, as well as its disarming stage presence — has only gotten stronger through touring and the release of the band's first record, Dirty Radio, in 2011.

9:15 am

Fri September 28, 2012

Efterklang With Wordless Music Orchestra, Live In Concert

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Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

Efterklang performs with Wordless Music Orchestra at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

"Efterklang" translates to "remembrance" and/or "reverberation."

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

Efterklang's Mads Brauer and Casper Clausen celebrate at the end of the show.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

The performance featured arrangements by composers Missy Mazzoli (Kronos Quartet, Victoire), Karsten Fundal (Under Byen, Oh Land), and Daniel Bjarnason (Sigur Ros, Mum).

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

Efterklang performs with Wordless Music Orchestra at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sept. 22.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

The performance marked the American premiere of music from the band's new album Piramida.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

Inspired by a nine-day session spent gathering field recordings in the abandoned Russian mining settlement that gives the album its name — it's on an island situated between Norway and the North Pole — Piramida is full of strange and mysterious accumulated sounds.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

Guest conductor Matthew Coorey leads the sixteen-member Wordless Music Orchestra.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

For this special concert, Efterklang was also joined by Peter Broderick on piano, Katinka Fogh Vindelev on vocals, and special guest Budgie on drums.

Credit Ryan Muir for NPR

The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts music events throughout the year in their concert hall and gallery spaces.

By editor

Originally published on Thu October 4, 2012 11:00 am

The Danish art-rock trio Efterklang took the stage with the Wordless Music Orchestra at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Thursday for this, the American premiere of music from the band's album Piramida.

1:33 pm

Thu September 27, 2012

Mumford & Sons Preaches To Masses

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Mumford & Sons is led by singer Marcus Mumford (second from left). The band's second album, Babel, was released on Sept. 25 and is on pace to be the highest-selling debut of 2012.

By Ann Powers

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 5:24 pm

Marcus Mumford may not seem like the kind of guy who'd start a bar fight.

1:32 pm

Thu September 27, 2012

The dB's On Mountain Stage

Credit Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

The dB's.

By editor

Originally published on Sun March 10, 2013 6:45 am

The newly reunited power-pop pioneers in The dB's make their first appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live in Charleston, W.V. Often described as the band that filled the gap between Big Star and R.E.M. in the early '80s, The dB's helped change the course of guitar-driven power-pop for years to come.

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1:52 pm

Mon October 1, 2012