By Phin Upham It was 1995 when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame first opened its doors to the public. Though the foundation started in New York City, the museum itself was based in Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland. The Hall was started as a method to educate fans and scholars on the history…
Article by Phin Upham Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From his humble beginnings in New Jersey, Springsteen is still a consistent high-caliber performer playing sold-out shows. Early Life Springsteen was born to working class parents in a New Jersey neighborhood. His father was…
Article by Phin Upham Who can hear “Preacher Man” without thinking of that famous scene in Pulp Fiction? Indeed, many movies have created memorable scenes built around songs. Here are just a few cinematic selections with their accompanying tracks. Full Metal Jacket – These Boots Were Made for Walkin The gritty realism of Full Metal…
Article by Phin Upham John Anthony Gillis was born in Detroit Michigan in 1975, the son of working class Catholic parents and the youngest of ten children. The man who would become Jack White fondly recalls his connection to the Diocese of Chicago: “I feel strongly connected to God,” an intense and ongoing connection…
By Phin Upham Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood, but it’s also the home town of many of music’s greatest acts. The list of bands that hail from Los Angeles is encyclopedic, but here is a short review of some fan favorites from different eras. Bad Religion Bad Religion is headed by Greg Graffin,…
By Phin Upham The Queens of the Stone Age might be rock music’s greatest hope for the future. Tracing their roots back to ’98, the Queens are one of the few bands who can still sell out an arena. Counting themselves among great acts like the Foo Fighters, Rolling Stones and Black Keys, the Queens…
Weren’t the 80’s awesome? by Phin Upham The news out of U2 has been confusing as of late. They may or may not be releasing an album this year, it may be punk but rumors say Danger Mouse is producing tracks for the band. With a glimpse of “Ordinary Love” from the soundtrack to the…
By Phin Upham Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been working on a unique collaboration with an ensemble of Malian musicians. Dubbed “Africa Express Presents: Maison Des Jeunes,” the album has been released digitally through the Transgressive label. A physical version is due out in 2014. The album…
By Phin Upham In memory of the late Lou Reed, the former frontman of The Smiths has released a cover of Reed’s “Satellite of Love” on December 2nd. The release will come in a seven-inch picture disc or a 12-inch vinyl version, along with the digital versions available through iTunes and Amazon. The vinyl version…
By Phin Upham Rock ‘n roll super hero Dave Grohl has been hard at work on a new documentary called Sound City that explores a storied L.A. recording studio of the same name. The project put him in touch with an extensive list of rock stars for interviews in the film, and music for the…