Elvis Costello

PHOTOS, PLAYLIST: Riot Fest Chicago Lineup Unveiled

Posted 05.15.2012

With the unveiling of the first wave of the eighth annual Riot Fest's 2012 lineup, the Chicago summer festival scene officially welcomes yet another i...

Gil Evans' Centennial Tribute, Plus a Conversation With John Pizzarelli and Jon Cleary's Video Exclusive

Mike Ragogna | Posted 05.14.2012

Mike Ragogna

John Pizzarelli: Favorite album of all time? ... Abbey Road is pretty close to the top of the list. It's funny. You could say Abbey Road or you could say In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, because they're the types of records you put on and say, 'Oh, I'll just listen to one or two tracks.'

This Weekend's Kindiefest Plus Conversations With Curtis Stigers and Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Paul O'Neill

Mike Ragogna | Posted 04.25.2012

Mike Ragogna

Family music has changed much in recent years, with groups representing every possible musical genre (folk, rock, bluegrass, jazz, Latin, Americana, hip-hop, etc) only under the sub-genre of Kindie Rock.

"Add It Up": A Playlist From If 6 Was 9 by David Klein

David Wild | Posted 05.07.2012

David Wild

Just to be safe, I will only pick some of my favorite number songs from the book up to #9 -- since when we get to double digits, that old math anxiety begins to kick back in.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Briefly Comes To The Factory Valleys

Randy Fox | Posted 05.05.2012

Randy Fox

Today, Hollywood is alive again in the cities and valleys of Western PA and its surrounding areas.

Tammy Takes Nico to Nihilist Nirvana

Michael Sigman | Posted 04.25.2012

Michael Sigman

I never thought Nico would make me feel 14 again. That's exactly what happened last week when I caught Tammy Lang's performance of Chelsea Madchen, a fabulous show in which she eerily reincarnates the Warhol superstar Nico.

30 Days of Bob Dylan in American Songwriter

Ruth Gerson | Posted 04.14.2012

Ruth Gerson

I've only seen Bob Dylan play live 11 or 12 times. My best friend laughs at me -- he's seen him over a hundred. Bob Dylan's singing and performing shaped my mind and what I believe in. He has influenced anything I've ever sung.

Cat Power Cancels Israel Show Over Conflict With Palestineans

AP | Posted 02.10.2012

JERUSALEM -- American musician Cat Power has canceled her show in Israel, joining a list of artists shunning the country over its conflict with the Pa...

'Chimes of Freedom' Celebrates the Power of Music and Activism

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 04.01.2012

Marcia G. Yerman

Amnesty International's Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan is not the first time they've tapped into the music community to raise funds and bring awareness to human rights issues.

"American Idiot": What Should Be Stephen Colbert's Campaign Song?

David Wild | Posted 03.14.2012

David Wild

I think I speak for all Americans -- okay, for literally dozens of them -- when I say the prospect of Stephen Colbert formally entering the Republican race makes it feels a lot like the day before it's morning in America again.

Best Opening Quote Ever for a Book -- What's Your Pick?

Steve Kettmann | Posted 03.04.2012

Steve Kettmann

Does anyone -- in this age of delusional frenzies of time stress -- even bother to read, really to read and consider, the quotes with which authors open their books?

"This Will Be Our Year": An Upbeat Playlist For New Year's Eve

David Wild | Posted 02.28.2012

David Wild

Instead of making any promises to myself that I might not live up to, here's my best shot at the ultimate, mostly uplifting playlist for all of our New Year's Eve parties.

"Blame It On Cain": A Playlist for Herman and Ginger

David Wild | Posted 01.28.2012

David Wild

I do not know if Herman Cain ever cheated with Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White. But this much I do know: the worse the personal behavior, the better the song.

Nights On Earth: Conversations with Vince Mendoza and Elf's Matthew Sklar

Mike Ragogna | Posted 01.25.2012

Mike Ragogna

According to Vince Mendoza, the idea of his latest record was partly to embrace the various musicians that he's met over the years and to invite his old friends to participate in his music.

Interview: Vince Mendoza (Jazz Composer Extraordinaire)

Joseph Vella | Posted 01.23.2012

Joseph Vella

In the modern era of jazz, finding a true composer to follow is not the easiest thing to do. Especially if the composer can actually write beautifully melodic and emotionally deep music. Vince Mendoza does this and more.

Michael Jackson's "The Immortal Megamix," Plus Chatting With Chris Isaak and Phil Manzanera

Mike Ragogna | Posted 01.03.2012

Mike Ragogna

"I've made a lot of records because that's what I do, and I've listened to a lot of records, and I have to tell you the truth--it wouldn't have mattered if The Beatles had recorded "A Hard Day's Night" on Silly Putty. It would have sounded good."

WATCH: Elvis Costello & Elmo Duet

Posted 12.19.2011

It's been over three decades since Elvis Costello released his debut record "My Aim is True," which Pitchfork calls the 80th best album of all time. B...

From Woody Guthrie to Little Nut Tree: Chatting With Rob Wasserman and Dan Zanes

Mike Ragogna | Posted 11.18.2011

Mike Ragogna

On Woody Guthrie: "in a short life he saw so much, but he was really present and there with people. I think he's just really vital, not just in his vision, but as a spokesman for America."

Let Them Talk: Chatting With House's Hugh Laurie, Dar Williams and The Axis of Awesome, Plus Cal Ecker's "Time After Time" Premiere

Mike Ragogna | Posted 11.08.2011

Mike Ragogna

Hugh Laurie has a new album, Let Them Talk, which is New Orleans blues based. Here he discusses how he came up with that idea.

"Less Than Zero": Playlist for a Painful August Jobs Report

David Wild | Posted 11.02.2011

David Wild

Here's a playlist sent out in hopes the president goes bold with his upcoming jobs speech, and that the federal government that we all employ gets out of the business of assured mutual self-destruction.

Play That Fast Thing 1,000 More Times: Rockpile-Live From Montreux

Sal Nunziato | Posted 10.22.2011

Sal Nunziato

This relentless new release from Eagle Rock took my breath away... literally. I tried typing out my review while listening, but Della Street I'm not. The band kicked my ass and took my name.

On the Culture Front: Newport Folk Festival

Chris Kompanek | Posted 10.03.2011

Chris Kompanek

There's an aura around the Newport Folk Festival that intrigues me -- this is the place after all where Bob Dylan was booed off the stage for going electric -- so I decided to check it out this year.

Hymns, Harrows, Harvests & More: Chatting with John Hiatt, Gillian Welch and Umphrey's McGee's Joel Cummins

Mike Ragogna | Posted 10.02.2011

Mike Ragogna

John Hiatt's new album Dirty Jeans And Mudslide Hymns kicks off with a pretty universally themed song, "Damn This Town." It's true, no matter what town you grow up in, every kid can't wait to get out of it.

Scars On 45's New Video and Download, Plus Chatting with Vanessa Carlton, Dan Bern and David Bromberg

Mike Ragogna | Posted 09.25.2011

Mike Ragogna

Here's the latest video by the Chop Shop Records' act Scars On 45, the title track to their Give Me Something EP.

Review: My Morning Jacket "Unstaged," Plus Chatting with Erykah Badu and James Tormé

Mike Ragogna | Posted 08.03.2011

Mike Ragogna

Louisville rocked on the cutting edge Tuesday, May 31st, when hometown heroes My Morning Jacket took the stage at The Palace Theater for a three hour performance for Unstaged: An Original Series From American Express.