The Mars Volta

Prog-rock poster boys The Mars Volta have released their most dynamic album to date with The Bedlam in Goliath. Author Tom Vale speaks with the band about its misconceptions, inspirations, live prowess, and recent personnel change.

Read The Mars Volta interview here.

DeVotchKa

When DeVotchKa landed a Grammy nomination for their contribution to the soundtrack of 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine, it was a welcome vindication. Author J. Poet speaks with the Denver-based bandleader Nick Urata (vocals, guitar, trumpet, piano, Theremin).

Read the DeVotchKa interview here.

Exploding Star Orchestra

Author Charlie Swanson speaks with Rob Mazurek who is regarded as a master cornetist and conductor working in avant-garde, free-jazz styles.

The Raveonettes

Swedish pop duo tells Kristine Capua about the freedom of going indie and completing their third LP. One listen to single “Aly Walk With Me,” you’ll be Lust, Lust, Lusting after them too.

Witch

ALARM was so excited by news of Witch’s second full-length, Paralyzed, that we couldn’t even wait for the Brattleboro VT four-piece to end production before we started harassing bassist Dave Sweetapple about it on the phone. Bye Bye Birdie, or Misery? You decide.

Horrorpops

Front woman for the LA by way of Denmark psychobilly outfit Patricia Day dishes with ALARM’s Waleed Rashidi about film noir culture, why the 80s revival is so lame, and the makings of the trio’s new record Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill.

Tinariwen

Guitarist/vocalist Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, whose father was killed by Malian fighters, fought for Tuareg independence in the 1970s and ‘80s. He co-founded Tinariwen in 1982 at a Tuareg military training camp, practicing guitar between military exercises. Author Mark Sanders profiles the band.

Illuminated Manuscript: Light Graffiti

Author Rihoko Ueno speaks with Evan Roth, co-founder of Graffiti Research Lab along with James Powderly who outfit graffiti artists with open-source technologies for urban communication.

Dominic McGill

Author Summer Block speaks with multi-media and performance artist Dominic McGill. “There is a vast gulf between artist and collectors. But artists can no longer think of themselves as independent of the system, they should consider themselves complicit. Art is the ultimate consumer item.”

Music Features

Mike Ladd
Tera Melos
Steven Bernstein
Bob Mould
Pink Mountain
Why?
Dianogah
Saviours
Eyvind Kang

Art, Books & DVDs

Danny Jauregui
Jonathon Keats
Sympathy For The Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967
Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century
$100 And A T-Shirt