I banked a bunch of live reviews for Diffuser down in Austin for SXSW, but I also had a few chats. Interviewed Avid Dancer’s Jacob Summers about the marines, drumming, and Christian rock. Spoke to the men of Mew about their long hiatus and new LP. And talked to Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel about his new band Lieutenant, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Dave Grohl.
Every few weeks, I visit NPR member station KPCC to talk about new music on Take Two. This time I covered fresh folksy releases from Sufjan Stevens (Carrie & Lowell), and Laura Marling (Short Movie). Shout out Steve Hochman. Shout out stalkers. Listen in here:
Went down to Austin with Diffuser to eat heaping piles of sweet meat and watch folks with guitars rip it up (not the meat—that was already shredded). In what came as no surprise to anyone, axe-wielding women owned SXSW 2015. Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, Laura Marling, Screaming Females… It just happens that the best photo I got was of a guy—Steve Gunn hitting the Miller Highlife—but you can read about all of those sets and more (plus food and ping-pong), via links below. Peep the Instagram for photos from each gig I caught. Continue reading
My food journalism quest takes me to Cerritos in search of the Doritos chilaquiles, mole tots, and MexiCoke-glazed pork belly of Tacos y Amor. I profiled chef Tommy Ortega and his suburban outpost for Crave, and kickstarted my food-modeling career in the process. Eat this.
We’re back with “Tuesday Reviewsday” for KPCC’s Take Two. My usual crit-friend Shirley Halperin joins and my picks are damn solid: Will Butler’s Policy, and Matthew E. White’s Fresh Blood. The former is a member of Arcade Fire. The latter named his album after boners. True story.
READ IT AT BILLBOARD (in print too)
As part of their “Double Threats” cover story, Billboard had me chat with Jack Black. It’s only a shame they couldn’t run the whole transcript. I mean, he told me how to cure cancer, end war, and beat all video games by stroking a guitar, but I guess that doesn’t transfer to the page.
READ IT AT BILLBOARD (in print too)
Music is weird. Prince Royce is a huge star in the Spanish-language market now eyeing crossover success with English-speaking audiences. The thing is, he was born in New York. Spanish is his second language. English is Royce’s mother tongue, but career-wise, he’s starting from scratch. Well, unless you count that Snoop Dogg collaboration and the army of label handlers stressing over his every move. Somehow, they let me go to vocal lessons with the guy.
Every few weeks I hit KPCC’s Take Two show to jaw-jack about new music for the “Tuesday Reviewsday.” Here’s me talking about two left-of-center albums deserving your ears: Slutever’s Almost Famous, and the Amazing’s Picture You. Stream the talk (with Shirley Halperin) right here:
READ IT ON LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE (in print too)
I’m a coffee geek and a cheerleader for Los Angeles, so I nearly spit out my brew when I realized I’ve been favoring beans roasted by out-of-towners—Verve, Blue Bottle, Heart, Stumptown, Four Barrel. So began my quest to find out the truth about L.A.’s caffeine scene. Is there a homegrown roaster who can finally put my town on the map? Yes. No. Well, sort of. Let me explain…
It’s fun to peruse this list now that we’ve actually heard LPs like Kendrick Lamar’s powerful To Pimp a Butterfly and Björk’s vulnerable Vulnicura. Neither disappoints. Your move, Justin Bieber.
Chris Writes Things 