The Voodoo Music Experience celebrated its 10th anniversary in New Orleans with its most ambitious lineup ever and crowds from all over the country. Mixing a tableaux of both international touring bands with local acts that embody the New Orleans indie/alternative/traditional culture, the 3-day weekend continued proudly once again in its City Park homestead which had been underwater during Hurricane Katrina. (more…)

Photo by Kevin J. Bradley

Chicago’s own Riot Fest made its return this year, once again kicking down doors to several venues for the annual punk rock festivities. Things started in high gear on Friday, October 12 at the House of Blues with the lineup of The Frankl Project, Das Kapital, Shot Baker, The Bouncing Souls, and The Lawrence Arms. (more…)

Drone, Drugs, and Harmony, the self-released debut by Kanas City, Missouri’s I Love You is unlikely to inspire the (unwarranted) hand-wringing,  post-colonial guilt in which critics indulged over Vampire Weekend this last year, but both groups are equally indebted to past masters of African pop. (more…)

Since their formation in 1994, Stockholm’s The Hellacopters have run a stylistic rock gauntlet from early days of garage-punk drawing from the likes of The MC5 and Motorhead to their recently more accessible mix of classic rock and power pop. In the process, they have become one of Scandinavia’s most prolific and noteworthy rock bands of all time. (more…)

While many bands clamor to get attention from record labels, Sacramento’s Trash Talk decided they were better off on their own. After recording with Steve Albini earlier this year, this fall found the hardcore quartet releasing their stark, magnificently abrasive self-titled second album on their own Trash Talk Collective label. (more…)

“The Hysterical Festival is a celebration of fearless female humor launching in New York City in Fall 2008. Showcasing the wide range of ways in which women are hilarious, we aim to both entertain and break new ground for women in the comedic arts.” (more…)

Chicago’s Catfish Haven pride themselves in living in the past; 2006’s Tell Me was overrun with a soul sensibility ala Joe Cocker fronting an instrumental Phil Spector band circa 1958-1966, while the lovable-via-trashy personaes of George Hunter (vocals/guitar), Miguel Castillo (bass), and Ryan Farnham (drums) coupled with the music perfectly.
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This week, ALARM guest columnist Sean-Michael Yoder reviews new albums by internationally renowned DJ Behrouz, Glasgow-based legendary producer Howie B. on record with rock/funk group Casino Royale, San Francisco four-piece Tussle, Italian actress turned electroclash artist Asia Argento, and Texas DJ D:Fuse. (more…)

Like many great concerts, the true highlight of the Broken Social Scene set at Chicago’s The Vic on Thursday, October 9 was the closing number. Kevin Drew, hunkered down firmly front and center, elevated the evening’s balance of fan favorites and new gems by closing the set with “It’s All Gonna Break.” (more…)

Photo by Jo Weldon

I have been flat on my back with a horrendous flu since I got back from Tease-O-Rama, and this is the first chance I’ve had to post some photos. Although I got a lot of sharp sort of journalistic photos, at the moment I’m in love with my grainier, more impressionistic stuff. So I hope you enjoy a few of those. (more…)