Review: All about the Cape—Ghostland Observatory Haunts Mezzanine, S.F., 4/17*

By Luke Pimentel
2008.4

I gave up my clubbing days a while back, owing to the fact that I was rapidly and inevitably approaching the dreaded Three-Ought, and was therefore no longer allowed to do any “real” partying. So, as I ventured into the claustrophobic confines of San Francisco’s Mezzanine on April 17th, milking a watered-down vodka tonic, I was more than a little self-conscious about the state of my rapidly-decaying youth.

[Read more]

Book Review:‘Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time’ by Rob Sheffield*

By Jennifer B. Kaufman
2008.04

Just what is love? Philosophers, poets and song writers have been asking that question since the beginning of time. To music journalist Rob Sheffield, love is a mix tape. The author has chronicled the cross section of music and love in his newest book called Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time.

Long before people downloaded music into iPods or burned a CD filled with their favorite music, they made mix tapes. Mix tapes were very personal. Not only did they reveal some of our favorite songs, they also revealed our hopes, desires and thoughts. Mix tapes were therapy on a magnetic strip.
[Read more]

Launching Music Lovers: Langerado Festival Follow-up and Photo Album*

By Landin King (words) and Jonathan Marx (photos)
2008.4

With springtime, sunshine, the Lollapalooza lineup announcement, and the Coachella festival a few days away, we all know that Festival Season 2008 has kicked off again. But the season’s serious genesis came last month, even before the fabled SXSW shindig down in Texas.

A Spring Break tradition for the last few years, Langerado officially launched music lovers into the lively mood to jam—with 15,000 in pursuit of aural bliss. Florida’s claim to fame in the festival world, the 2008 lineup featured such artist as R.E.M., The Beastie Boys, Thievery Corporation, and 311—drawing a different crowd nightly to this al fresco musical mosaic.
[Read more]

Review: REMinding Us of Greatness—Accelerated Parables of the Deconstruction*

By Andrew William Smith, Editor
2008.2

Michael Stipe is no stranger to singing about the end of the world, but for the last few years, these testaments tended towards contemplative elegies rather than shake, rattle, and rolling with energy. With the release of the band’s fourteenth studio album Accelerate, R.E.M has finally silenced the naysayers who had prematurely predicted the end of his band’s career. Taking tips from The Edge, the band hired producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee (U2, The Editors, Snow Patrol) to return to the ferocious familiarity of guitar-driven, fist-waving power pop.

[Read more]

The African Well Fund Wants U 2 Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday*

By Kimberly Egolf, Editor
2008.04

Could you balance a 40-pound tub of water on your head and walk 4 miles? Over half of Africa’s population has to make this journey each day, but the African Well Fund wants to change this. One well at a time.

On March 17th the non-profit organization launched its annual drive to Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday. This drive aims to collect donations, no matter how large or small, from anyone who is “inspired by Bono’s tireless activism on behalf of Africa.”

[Read more]

Next Page »