I regularly run into a diligent concert photographer who is a steadfast rock loyalist. After bemoaning the invariably diminished crowd sizes for his favorite form of music, our discussions shift to the general decline in the popularity of mainstream rock. My go-to line is “where’s the new Guns N’ Roses?” The next time I see my friend, I’ll be able to tell him that rock’s savior has finally arrived.
On its fourth album Vicious (July 27 street date), Halestorm shows it’s capable of kicking up fresh dust with the one foot rock has moldering in the grave. I’ve been on the Halestorm bandwagon for years, but the wholly accessible Vicious is the band’s first release that’s capable of crossing over to fans of classic rock, contemporary country and pop.
“Uncomfortable” is just one of several potential hits on Vicious. Fashionable bands like Deafheaven and Parquet Courts will get the lion’s share of breathless reviews. Halestorm is destined to pack arenas. It’s about time. Let the commercial revival of rock commence.
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I reviewed a concert by Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion and Brandon Lay at Arrowhead Stadium for The Kansas City Star.
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I reviewed a concert by Henrique Eisenmann and Ehud Ettun at the 1900 Building for Plastic Sax.
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I write weekly music previews for The Kansas City Star.
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Ponty Bone has died. Without Bone’s essential contributions, I probably wouldn’t have fallen in love with the first few Joe Ely albums. The accordion player is featured in grainy footage from 1980. (Tip via BGO.)
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The influential music journalist Roy Carr has died. (Tip via BGO.)
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Binker and Moses’ electrifying Alive in the East? lives up to the hype. Maybe London really is the new jazz capital of the world. That said, I could do without the annoying harp of Tori Handsley. RIYL: Courtney Pine, trendiness, Shabaka Hutchings.
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Beastmode 2 is fine, but I guess I’ve moved on from the Future/Zaytoven formula. It doesn’t move me much anymore.
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The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra is a new-school big band led by Russell Gunn. Get It How You Live is worthwhile, but RKJO is clearly an ensemble that’s best experienced live. RIYL: Snarky Puppy, progress, Dionne Farris.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
1 comment:
Why did the little emoji in my favorties bar change from a pen to the symbol for the Star, are you fully a minion of them?
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