When a major landmark or institution closes or is destroyed, it’s common for a mourning period to follow. The passing of monument will be an elegiac era of super size proportions which will break hearts and hard ons across the world…yes, early this morning, a fire gutted The Body Shop in Los Angeles. There are … More This Sex Was On Fire
Peter Beste is a very talented music photographer. His greatness lies in his ability to really immerse himself in the world of the subject, whether it be London grime, Houston hip hop, Southern strip joints or Norwegian metal. The result is vivid, arresting photos that juxtapose the subject with a surprising surrounding. Metal star in … More Peter Beste, Black Metal, & Spinal Crap
It’s been 14 years, seven months and twenty two days since Kurt Cobain died. Not that I’m counting. I always loved Nirvana but I wasn’t a crazed fan. I just knew that they blasted open a special place in music for millions of people and are one of the few bands of our era, the … More Smells Like Unclean Spirit
As a best selling British novelist once said, It’s been the best of times and the worst of times. I’ve been kicking ass up and down each coast of this big country…but it’s the country that has me worried. It seems like we’ve just done lost our collective minds. Sarah Palin? Really? Fuck. Los Angeles, … More The Rules Of Britannia – An American in London
It’s a bit difficult for someone with a hearing problem, such as myself, to try and explain my love of prog rock to others. Especially when the math rock co-title gets bandied about. Several high school tutors and a SAT prep teacher can attest to the fact that I sucked at math. My brain doesn’t … More Honest To Prog – The Secret Machines Go Dark.
Hey Baltimore: Feeling the sorrow of another year the O’s wont bring home the pennant? Ease your soul with the Noise in the Basement festival, featuringsome of the best in soul and hip hop, including Janelle Monae, Nappy Roots and One Block Radius, featuring my old frined MDA from my Music Plus TV hosting days. … More Feed Your Soul – Noise In The Basement Music Festival
Shame on you, newscasters. why does it take a stand up comedian to hold the bullshitters accountable? This isn’t American Idol. This is the freakin presidential election! For leader of the free world! Put on your thinking caps and put the boxing gloves on and do your job!!! Jon Stewart, will you marry me? You … More Is Jon Stewart the only sane man in America with a microphone?
I suppose I should preface all of this by admitting – I am emo for The Walkmen. By now, I’ve seen them play in every possible scenario: Large Los Angeles concert hall, cramped Austin 6th street bar, alongside the Queen Mary at the All Tomorrows Parties festival, at an all night warehouse rave somewhere in … More The Walkmen and Me, or How ‘You And Me’ turns me into an emo scribe
When bands on the road roll into town, they usually are looking for some hedonistic Hollywood fun and want to see the sights: The Capitol building. Lemmy’s barstool at the Rainbow. The Viper Room sidewalk where River died…the beach. Often times the cool indie rock chick in Los Angeles can fall into the role of … More AFTER THE GLITTER FADES – PASSENGER AND THE PAPARAZZI
Rock journalism isn’t for the faint of heart. Though my suburban relatives may think that my professional life is a playground filled with hedonistic delights, they’re only partly right. There is a part of The Rock Life that is seedy, dark and filled with tragic stories of squandered brilliance and the leeching and blood letting … More Caught Between Rock And A Hard Place – the pitfalls of an embedded rock journalist
ALI MacLEAN 