Spectrum Culture: Record Review: Jason Marsalis, In a World of Mallets

New on Spectrum Culture, I review jazz drummer Jason Marsalis' new record In a World of Mallets. He plays vibes on this one: 

The vibraphone is sort of a bastard child of jazz. Technically, it’s a percussion instrument, so young jazz drummers are often encouraged to practice it along with the set. Given its impressionistic, gentle timbre, many youngsters quickly abandon it for the more aggressive sound of drums. Since few aspire to become masters of the vibraphone, the instrument has a paucity of innovative artists to its name. Once one gets beyond Lionel Hampton, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson and Gary Burton, the list is rather sparse.

Click here to read more.

Spectrum Culture: Mount Moriah @ Schubas

New on Spectrum Culture, I review the North Carolina alt-country/indie-rock outfit Mount Moriah at Chicago's Schubas. 

The Monday night crowd at Schubas might not have been huge, but they were certainly vocal about their love of Mount Moriah’s music. The North Carolina-based alt-country/Americana/rock outfit had just come from South by Southwest and looked a little road-weary at first. Any fatigue from the intensity of Austin didn’t stop them from delivering a stellar set, one drawn primarily from their recent LP Miracle Temple, with some tunes thrown in for good measure from their 2011 self-titled debut, the record that put them on the map.

Click here to read more. 

Spectrum Culture: Concert Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra/Foxygen/Wampire

New at Spectrum Culture, my review of the Unknown Mortal Orchestra/Foxygen/Wampire show at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.

It’s a rare feeling to walk into a triple-bill rock show excited about all three acts. I’ve trudged through plenty of lackluster opening sets only to get to the band I actually wanted to hear. The Unknown Mortal Orchestra/Foxygen/Wampire show at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall was a notable exception. There’s a consistency between the sonic aesthetics of the three groups, even though they are at different stages in their respective careers.

Click here to read more.