“A Stern Bow to Steve Harwell, Late Singer in Smash Mouth”

It seems like there’s been a weird, conspicuous lack of chatter about Steve Harwell’s death (liver failure, per NPR), at 56, on social media today, so I thought I’d just whip up a little blurb in commemoration of him. Of course, the elephant in the room here is “All Star,” the band’s mega-hit from their … Read more“A Stern Bow to Steve Harwell, Late Singer in Smash Mouth”

“‘B.F.G.F.’: When Eve 6 Made a Kind-of Understandable Stab at a Radio Hit on a Comeback Album”

Now, I’m kind of a dunce for writing this article, since in general my typical mission is to praise this band and try to highlight all of their underrated tracks and strengths that go unheralded by a dourly callous media. These, by and large, centralize themselves within the band’s third album, It’s All in Your … Read more“‘B.F.G.F.’: When Eve 6 Made a Kind-of Understandable Stab at a Radio Hit on a Comeback Album”

“Nirvana Was a Pop Band. Stop Calling Them ‘Punk.’”

It seems like every year, there’s a whole new rash of simpletons mesmerized by the shiny object known as Nirvana’s music, them thereupon proceeding to act like they’re the only ones who truly “get” the band, and obsess over the infallible messiah known as Kurt Cobain and every available online picture of him. This is … Read more“Nirvana Was a Pop Band. Stop Calling Them ‘Punk.’”

“Why is Phish Playing So Many Indoor Shows This Summer?”

I suppose, in part, I’m writing to the millennials here, or the newer generation which seems to hold this staunchly utilitarian attitude to everything, being apparently completely oblivious to all right-brain satisfaction in life. This type would likely opine that it doesn’t matter whether you see a concert indoors or outdoors — the experience is … Read more“Why is Phish Playing So Many Indoor Shows This Summer?”

“Wouldn’t it Be Spooky if Holy Smokes Future Jokes Ended up Being Blitzen Trapper’s Swan Song?”

It all happened pretty fast, you’ve gotta admit. I remember the Pitchfork “Best New Music” placement for Wild Mountain Nation (2007), an album I could never seem to wrap my mind fully around. I recall how this energy bled into the succinct, near-perfect Furr (2008), and its killer energetic yin/yang of “Black River Killer” and … Read more“Wouldn’t it Be Spooky if Holy Smokes Future Jokes Ended up Being Blitzen Trapper’s Swan Song?”