Bill Kopp

Robert Callender Reimagines His 1968 Psychedelic Landmark Robert Callender's debut 'Rainbow' merged jazz, poetry, and Indian classical music in 1968, then largely disappeared. Archivist Chaim O'Brien-Blumenthal explains how a 2023 concert recording became the start of the artist's rediscovery.

Robert Callender's 'Rainbow' merged jazz, poetry, and Indian classical music, then largely disappeared. Archivist Chaim O'Brien-Blumenthal explains how a 2023 concert recording became the start of the artist's rediscovery.

Robert Callender Reimagines His 1968 Psychedelic Landmark for Modern Ears:

High Concept — Bill Kopp Tackles the Big Idea Music writer Bill Kopp's new book 'What's the Big Idea' examines 30 concept albums across six decades, from Frank Zappa to Apples In Stereo, William Shatner to Ghostface Killah, arguing that the format remains vital in an era of streaming and shortened attention spans.

Writer Bill Kopp's book 'What's the Big Idea' examines concept albums across six decades, from Frank Zappa to Apples In Stereo, William Shatner to Ghostface Killah, arguing that the format remains vital in an era of streaming and short attention spans.

High Concept — Bill Kopp Tackles the Big Idea:

huh?

Today on Musoscribe: My interview with Dave Meniketti of long-running hard rock/heavy metal band Y&T. He talks about the band's history, and the challenges of building a set list. “There are only so many minutes in a set," he says. "And we have a lot of classics.” blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Album Review: Sun Ra – Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank As acclaimed music journalist and critic J.D. Considine emphasizes in his liner notes for Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank, “people were more likely to have heard of [Sun Ra] that they wer...

One can never get enough SUN RA. Today on Musoscribe, I take a look at 'Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank,' a new archival release from the man from Saturn.

Dream Theater’s Third Act Commences with ‘Parasomnia’ With founding drummer back in the fold, progressive metal heroes return for 16th studio album One of prog-metal’s most acclaimed groups has returned to its roots – and its most celebrated lineup – fo...

My interview with Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess, discussing the band's new album 'Parasomnia' and the return of drummer Mike Portnoy. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Album Review: The Elephant 6 Recording Co. Launched in Louisiana and with connections to Memphis, the Elephant 6 Collective is thought of as a kind of follow-on from the Athens, Georgia musical community that brought forth the B-52’s, R.E.M., ...

My review of a great new VINYL-ONLY release, a compilation/soundtrack album of music from the recent documentary "The Elephant 6 Recording Co." Lots of great previously-unheard music within, including songs from the never-finished third Olivia Tremor Control album blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Los Tigres del Norte Represent in Words and Music Los Tigres del Norte are about more than music. “We represent all the paisanos who came along into the U.S.,” says guitarist Luis Hernández.

My current feature in this week's @metrosiliconvalley.bsky.social : a conversation with norteño heroes Los Tigres del Norte. Bajo sexto player Luis Hernández on the band's tradition of speaking out against anti-immigrant rhetoric by people like you-know-who www.metrosiliconvalley.com/los-tigres-d...

Dirty Logic: Reelin' in the Classics The recent interest in so-called “yacht rock” – brought about thanks to a new HBO documentary on the subject – has brought the names of several bands from the ‘70s back into the public consciousness. ...

My recent feature/interview with Asheville NC-based Steely Dan tribute band Dirty Logic. What they do, why they do it, why you should see and hear 'em. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Book Review: Down on the Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music Busking has a long, storied and often proud history. The practice of performing music in public spaces – ostensibly for free, presumably for tips – has been part of the fabric of music since time imme...

Fantastic book exploring busking, by Cary Baker. Here's my review blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

The Music of Mary Lattimore: 'Not Just for Doing Yoga' Outside of classical and Celtic music, the harp isn’t widely heard. But in the hands of Asheville native Mary Lattimore, the massive, stringed acoustic instrument has become the centerpiece of a body ...

My recent feature/interview with innovative avant-garde harpist (and Asheville native) Mary Lattimore. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Clearly I don't know how to do the GIF thing, but... Orson Welles.

Musoscribe’s Best of 2024: New Releases Everybody has their favorite new releases of each year; here are mine. This year I reviewed nearly 120 new releases. As per usual, the list reflects my particular interests, so you won’t find any main...

My 2024 best-of list, new release division. Music from Kula Shaker, Sykofant, Blake Jones & the Trike Shop, Half/Cubes, Jon Anderson and the Band of Geeks, Trees Speak. Happy Holidays. Reviews of all via the link. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Musoscribe's Best of 2024: Reissue/archival From my perspective, 2024 has been another great year for reissues and archival releases. I've reviewed nearly 60 of 'em since January 1. Among those, there are five titles that stand out above the re...

My Best of 2024 List, Reissue/archival titles: UFO, Badfinger's Pete Ham, Chick Corea, King Crimson, and one you probably haven't heard of: The Brat. Details at link. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

The Avett Brothers and ‘Swept Away’ – Banjos on Broadway or, Quite a Concept to Digest (Part 1 of 2) A lightly edited version of this feature – with a different title – appeared previously in SPIN. In the 1880s, a yacht sank off South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The few survivors resorted to canniba...

My two-part Avett Brothers feature -- about the recent Broadway musical 'Swept Away,' based on their concept album 'Mignonette' -- is online now. blog.musoscribe.com/index.php/20...

Album Review: Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks – True Let’s start with the bad, getting it out of the way since there’s very little of it. The cover art for Jon Anderson's latest album is at best uninspired. And as amazingly talented as they are, his ban...

Jon Anderson parted ways with YES in 2004. But listen to his new album "True,"and it feels like they're all still together. Here's my review.

Great movie. Have you seen the sorta-remake series on Netflix? Even darker, and beautifully filmed.

Edge of the World: Let’s Active at 40 (Part 3 of 3) Continued from Part Two... Easter initially liked what he knew of the I.R.S. business model. “I liked it from a practical standpoint,” he says. “But I had a very cavalier attitude about it.” He says ...

Here's the third and final part of my big Let's Active feature/interview. Once again, big thanks to Mitchell Blake Easter, Tammy Easter and DD Thornton Kenny as well. I will always treasure memories of that 2021 celebration.

Edge of the World: Let’s Active at 40 (Part 2 of 3) Continued from Part One... Easter looks back at that period – now thought of as the dawn of “college rock” or alternative rock – as a musically freewheeling time when the possibilities were open-ende...

Legendary producer Mitch Easter may be best known for his work with R.E.M., but his band with Sara Romweber and Faye Hunter was an important and beloved part of the indie rock of the 1980s. And he tells that story in this feature/interview. Here's part 2 of 3.

Edge of the World: Let’s Active at 40 (Part 1 of 3) NOTE: This feature was originally commissioned by a print magazine in 2022, never to appear. After three years on that merry-go-round I've decided instead to publish it here on Musoscribe. Sincere tha...

Three years ago, Mitch Easter and friends mounted a Let's Active celebration, honoring departed members Sara Romweber and Faye Hunter. On that occasion I interviewed Mitch, and wrote a feature about the group. After a ridiculous delay, I present that story, in three parts. Here's the first. Enjoy!

...which could explain why it spoke to me at age five. :D

My World and Welcome to It, starring William Windom and based on writings by James Thurber. One season in 1969.

Album Review: Canned Heat – Finyl Vinyl Canned Heat began as a group in 1965. The Los Angeles-based blues band quickly became renowned for its deep, encyclopedic understanding of (and appreciation for) the blues. Alan Wilson and Bob “The Be...

Canned Heat has been making music since the mid '60s. Their latest album is titled 'Finyl Vinyl.' Does that portend the end of their run? I don't know the answer, but if so, this album would see them going out on a strong note, one that takes stock of their history. Here's my review.

Album Review: David Gilmour -- Luck and Strange Releasing his first studio album in nearly nine years, guitarist David Gilmour continues his creatively fruitful journey beyond Pink Floyd. While Gilmour made his name as a member of that group – effe...

In 2018 I wrote my first book, about Pink Floyd's early years. Not long ago I had the pleasure of interviewing @davidgilmour.com.web.brid.gy for SPIN. Very recently I had the thrill of seeing him in concert at MSG (review coming soon). Today I share my review of 'Luck and Strange,' his new album.

30 Days Out, Nov. 2024 #2: Jim Lauderdale, Rock N Roll Rewind, John Doyle & Mick McAuley, Patterson Hood Some beloved sons of the South populate the musical landscape in Asheville over the coming 30 days. An adopted local (via Ireland) and some Asheville-based acts upholding the rock ‘n’ roll tradition r...

Twice monthly (for five-plus years now on the 1st & 15th) I publish "30 Days Out," a quick preview of notable upcoming live music in and around Asheville NC (my adopted hometown). In this roundup: Jim Lauderdale, Rock N Roll Rewind, John Doyle & Mick McAuley, Patterson Hood. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC.

An American in London: The Shel Talmy Interview, Part One In the history of rock and pop, it's rare that a producer becomes a “rock star.” Certain names have become prominent fixtures in the audio part of pop culture: Phil Spector and George Martin are among...

Shel Talmy made quite a mark on music during his time on this planet. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to interview him.

Judas Priest’s Ian Hill: Bassist for the High Priests of Metal (Part 2 of 2) Continued from Part One... Some bands find success with an album and spend the rest of their careers making that record over and over again. Judas Priest has been consistent; you always seemed to be ...

You might say that I've got another thing comin': Part Two of my interview with Judas Priest's Ian Hill. "Back then in the late ‘60s, the thought of somebody jigging about on stage at 72? 'No, people die when they’re 72!'”

Judas Priest’s Ian Hill: Bassist for the High Priests of Metal (Part 1 of 2) Judas Priest roared out of industrial Birmingham, England in the early 1970s. Once the group found its footing – bringing on powerful, operatic and charismatic lead singer Rob Halford – Judas Priest’s...

Starting over from scratch here. I'm an author, speaker and full time music journalist. I post 365 days a year at blog.musoscribe.com. Today's post is Part 1 of my Q&A with bassist Ian Hill of Judas Priest.