Magazine

By Simon Howell - A Listening Ear - 02/21/2008

It's not often you spot a triple bill in which you're well acquainted with all three groups. In this case, I'd heard two albums apiece by the opening acts, and the headliner was one of my all-time favorite bands. On my way to the venue, I thought about how odd the bill was and when I got there, it turned out I was right -- it was like attending three separate, entirely unconnected events.

By Josh Mocle - The Kids Are So-So - 02/03/2008

Normally when reviewing concerts, I discuss the bands in the order they performed. However, in the case of the Sick of It All headlining show at Le National on February 3^rd, I find it appropriate to start off with discussing the headliner and working in reverse since absolutely none of the bands on that relatively well put together tour would have existed in their current incarnation if it weren’t for Sick of It All.

By Simon Howell - A Listening Ear - 02/08/2008

"You'll have to keep walking, friend." 

By Simon Howell - A Listening Ear - 01/22/2008

About four years ago, when I was still ecstatic to have moved to a city in which great music was in abundance at a seemingly endless variety of used record stores, I picked up the Shalabi Effect's self-titled debut. Why? Principally because it had a shiny cover with a nebula on it, and it was a two-disc record for eight bucks, which seemed like an unbeatable bargain. Needless to say that seventeen-year-old me was inadequately prepared to process the two hours of drone-based recordings contained inside that inviting slipcase.