Kristi Kates | Author

California Mesmerizes Wolf Alice

Dec. 8, 2018

London indie-rock band Wolf Alice has been named the 2018 Mercury Music Prize winner for its second album effort, the critically and fan-acclaimed Visions of a Life. The band recorded the album throughout 2017, having transplanted themselves temporarily to Los An... Read More >>

Mumford and Sons – Delta – Glassnote

Dec. 1, 2018

Of course critics are going to be stomping around about Mumford and crew’s latest: How dare an established, successful band attempt to evolve? But thankfully, the band deftly does its own thing here, combining its earlier acoustic sensibilities and third album’s pop turn for a... Read More >>

Charli XCX Pops Into a Rockumentary

Dec. 1, 2018

Charlotte Aitchison, aka Charli XCX, is the latest singer featured in a new radio rock documentary from the BBC. The doc follows Charli on both her own recent tour, Pop 2, and went along with her as she served as opening act for Taylor Swift’s Reput... Read More >>

Ben Poole – Anytime You Need Me – Manhaton

Nov. 24, 2018

 

Poole’s latest is a somewhat short effort, with only eight songs, but the tracks themselves have enough depth that you’ll find this worth repeated listens. “Take It No More” is a tune that’s actually over a year old, and while good, it also sho... Read More >>

Avril Lavigne Returns

Nov. 24, 2018

After five years away from the music scene while she struggled with Lyme disease, Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne is back with the first single from her upcoming sixth album (title TBA). The track “Head Above Water” is an emotional and personal power ... Read More >>

Ready, Set, Shop!

Nov. 17, 2018

Looking to put some local gifts under your tree this year? Look no further: We've scoured the shops of northern Michigan to find a mix Up North classics and out-of-the-box surprises — at all price points — that'll excite everyone on your list. Behold: Our 2018 picks for 2... Read More >>

Macy Gray – Ruby– Artistry

Nov. 17, 2018

Gray, best known for her '90s hit “I Try,” a slice of unhurried soulful blues-pop imbued with regret and a catchy refrain, is back with more on her latest set. Album opener “Buddha,” featuring attentive guitar work from Gary Clark Jr., shows off Gray’s abilit... Read More >>

DG - Elbow - Ben Howard - Capital Cities

Nov. 10, 2018

Bad Moves–Tell No One – DG
Washington, D.C. outfit Bad Moves puts plenty of secrets into this power-pop outing – their debut full-length – and one that well shows off the interplay between the bandmates. By turns just punky enough to stay in t... Read More >>

Petoskey Native Stevens Teams Up With Gallant

Nov. 10, 2018

He might be a Brooklyn, NY kinda guy now, but indie-rock multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Sufjan Stevens has roots in Petoskey, even though he departed for bigger locales to kick-start his music career. Currently, Stevens has teamed up with Grammy-nominated musician Gallantto ... Read More >>

Richard Reed Parry – Quiet River of Dust – Anti/Epitaph

Nov. 3, 2018

Parry’s spent plenty of time working with his main musical project, the Canadian Grammy-winning indie-rock outfit Arcade Fire. But on his solo work, he’s more ’60s avant-garde than current-day dance-tronica. On his own, he shows an even deeper passion for layered harmoni... Read More >>

Muse Is Back With a Brand New Theory

Nov. 3, 2018

British modern rock band Muse is returning with its eighth studio album, Simulation Theory, produced in collaboration with Rich Costey, Shellback, Mike Elizondo, and Timbaland. Several singles ha... Read More >>

Silversun Pickups– Swoon – Dangerbird

Oct. 27, 2018

At times you might think you’ve stumbled across some long-hidden Billy Corgan/Smashing Pumpkins track — but it’s just Silversun Pickups bringing that grungy, distorted-guitars ’90s sound into the modern age. With Dave Cooley again behind the boards, opener “T... Read More >>

Deep Thoughts With Lynch and Badalamenti

Oct. 27, 2018

Fresh from the “unexpected bands” category: a team-up of Twin Peaks’ co-creator David Lynch and composer Angelo Badalamenti, which resulted in a little known musical duo named Thought Gang. Turns out, that duo recorded a... Read More >>

Hawkwind – Road to Utopia – Cherry Red

Oct. 20, 2018

Dave Brock, Mr. Dibs, Haz Wheaton, Magnus Martin, and Richard Chadwick make up the current incarnation of Hawkwind, now (remarkably) on its 31st album. The band brought along conductor and writer Mike Batt to add some orchestral elements to reboots of a selection of their tracks; it&rsquo... Read More >>

Supper with a Side of Ghost Hunting

Oct. 20, 2018

Want some acorn squash with those apparitions? Pasta with phantoms? White wine with wraiths? You never know whom you might be sitting down to dinner with at Petoskey’s Haunted Halloween Feast.

Always scheduled for the last Friday in October and always downtown, the Hallo... Read More >>

Who Knew Ben Stiller Had a Band?

Oct. 20, 2018

You may or may not have heard of the post-punk band Capital Punishment — but chances are you’ve heard of its drummer: actor and stealth musician Ben Stiller. Stiller' first album with the band, Roadkill, was recorded waaaay back in 19... Read More >>

Get Scared

Oct. 20, 2018

 

Looking to get frightened, fooled, spooked, or scared? Or just looking for a place to show off your awesome costume and enjoy some Halloween treats? We’ve got the scoop on some neat happenings around northern Michigan this Halloween.
 
SCREAMS I... Read More >>

Halloween for All!

Oct. 20, 2018

During Halloween week, you might see a dramatically-styled witch dancing with a knight in full armor; a head-to-toe pumpkin boogying along next to a cowgirl; or a crew of misfits from Alice in Wonderland enjoying some music and punch together.
      &nbs... Read More >>

Thrift-O-Rama!

Oct. 13, 2018

Thrift stores, consignment boutiques, and resale shops, while always useful, seem to cycle around as far as popularity or trendiness is concerned. Generally, in tough times, they thrive: There are more buyers looking for cheaper goods and more sellers hoping to offload what they have for ... Read More >>

Colin James – Miles to Go – Stony Plain Records

Oct. 13, 2018

Canadian bluesman James dug pretty deep for this collection, stretching his own songwriting abilities on several new originals, and also going well beyond clichés to point a spotlight at some much-lesser known blues covers by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Willie Johnson... Read More >>