Email Author Mark Keresman

2006 Stories by Mark Keresman

• The subtle arithmetic of My Morning Jacket

  published December 27, 2006

  Imagine leaving an iconic-during-its-heyday band — jazz pianist McCoy Tyner did exactly that, departing the John Coltrane Quartet in... More >>

• Vinyl's grooves and Alexis Gideon's nerd-hop

  published December 20, 2006

  While the Bay Area incubates much distinctive musical talent, it tends to lose a portion of the gifted to New York City. Take guitarist ... More >>

• Border crossing with Calexico

  published December 6, 2006

  When Dinosaur Jr. emerged in the 1980s, it catalyzed a new era in indie rock. Whereas The Guitar Solo was virtually anathema to the class of '77,... More >>

• Laurie Anderson goes for the jugular

  published November 22, 2006

  Exploring lush drone rock that nods to Obscured by Clouds/Meddle-era Pink Floyd, U2 circa An Unforgettable Fire, and... More >>

• John Lee Hooker

  published November 22, 2006

  There's this blues song, "The Blues Had a Baby, and They Called It Rock & Roll," and paternity tests reveal the late Bay Area resident John Lee... More >>

• Ben Goldberg Group|Ukelele night|Peter Walker|Ladyhawk

  published November 15, 2006

  Bloomington, Ind., label Jagjaguwar hosts an impressive roster of rootsy, Neil Young-indebted indie rock. Followers of the Black Mountain/Pink... More >>

• New York's OG glam punks saunter up to the mic once again

  published November 8, 2006

  The Lights prove that there's still juice in certain over-familiar post-punk maneuvers. The Seattle trio's new Diamonds and Dirt CD... More >>

• Indie Rock

  published October 18, 2006

  I 'm of two minds re: Yo La Tengo, one of the most popular indie bands of the past decade. On one hand, mainstays Ira Kaplan and Georgia... More >>

• Sufjan Stevens and the Pacific Mozart Ensemble sing for the states

  published October 4, 2006

  Aside from Elvis Costello, there are few performers as all-inclusive as Bill Frisell. A jazz musician and electric guitarist, at 55 Frisell... More >>

• Mojave 3|Lambchop and Alejandro Escovedo|Supersystem

  published September 27, 2006

  Fans of Mojave 3 who've bemoaned bassist-vocalist Rachel Goswell's gradually diminishing role (particularly when it comes to her angelic... More >>

• Centro-matic|The Leather Uppers|Husky Rescue|Wayne Hancock

  published September 6, 2006

  God damn the humorless alt. country zealots for casting Centro-Matic as a blue-collar indie hero; it takes a hot second in the audience of... More >>

• Parlez-Vous Faux Français?

  published August 16, 2006

  Denver's DeVotchKa, a self-described "Eastern bloc indie-rock" quartet, is similar to the likes of Gogol Bordello and even Firewater —... More >>

• 16 Brash Bitches

  published August 9, 2006

  The Curtains were Chris Cohen's band back when he was just a fan of Deerhoof. Now that he's done his civic duty as guitarist for the... More >>

• Love Was Here and Now You're Gone

  published August 9, 2006

  Synchronicity? Early July saw the passing of Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett. On August 4, Arthur Lee, perhaps Barrett's closest American... More >>

• If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap!

  published July 19, 2006

  Famous Scots actor Sean Connery once damned his cinematic alter ego James Bond. "I'd like to kill him," said Commander Connery, as his work as an... More >>

• Tenacious Trainwrecks and punk rock Spit-wads

  published July 12, 2006

  Seattle-via-Michigan punks the Spits have long been considered the Northwest's blue-collar DIY darlings. Lead by the wry Wood brothers... More >>

• Unfold those arms, indie snobs!

  published June 28, 2006

  Arms-folding hipsters beware: Apollo Sunshine is too giddy to sit still to. The band performs like a loose-limbed Muppet parade, pulling... More >>

• It's a big fucking deal all over again

  published June 7, 2006

  You can't really call this season we're in "summer" until the city's major radio stations host an outdoor audio orgy to kick things off in style.... More >>

• Alejandro Escovedo

  published June 7, 2006

  Alejandro Escovedo hasn't had it easy — his first wife committed suicide; his excellent, critically praised discs haven't set any charts... More >>

• The devil and death-metalheads

  published May 31, 2006

  Once there was a time when (pick one) punk/new wave/indie rock meant songs purged of anything suggesting proficiency, non-DIY, or classic album... More >>

• Vetiver

  published May 24, 2006

  Some consider local ensemble Vetiver part of the "new folk underground" that includes Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Faun Fables. Yes and no... More >>

• R. Kelly and the Fall of the rock empire

  published May 10, 2006

  Long before David Byrne and Paul Simon got Saturday Night Live spots for their cross-cultural ambassadorship, there was (as usual) someone... More >>

• The Court & Spark

  published May 10, 2006

  Local act the Court & Spark seems intent upon wresting the crown of thorns from the hometown duke of despondency, American Music Club. The first... More >>

• Indie Dim Sum

  published May 10, 2006

  A decade after its founding, the annual Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival is back to blow your senses, featuring a mix of mediums that includes... More >>

• Birdmonster

  published April 19, 2006

  Most rock bands will open an album with a blustery, attention-grabbing tune that to an extent sets the tone for what lies ahead. But San... More >>