While working intensely on its fourth record, the darkly whimsical folk band Bombadil prepares a new limited edition 7" record to support its Music in the Gardens show at Duke Performances. Jordan Lawrence dropped by their new digs in Durham to get the scoop from drummer James Phillips.
Page Auditorium granted a warm natural reverb to the understated swells of M. Ward’s music. Had his set carried on in the same relaxed manner, it would have been a fine yet unmemorable gig. But then Ward’s bandmates left the stage and he picked up his acoustic guitar, alone.
On the day before he opened Page Auditorium for M. Ward, veteran Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo led his band through a showcase of his new songs in a free, up-close-and-personal appearance at Bull City Records. Jordan Lawrence was there with his notepad and camera to provide this "shocking" report.
On April 28, Iran’s greatest classical singer, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, brought his phenomenal Shahnaz Ensemble to the Durham Performing Arts Center. For once, we’ll forgo burying the lead to build suspense: the concert was, quite simply, magnificent. Read on for a review and a video.
M. Ward discusses how the themes of creativity, inspiration, and suffering inform his new album, A Wasteland Companion, which has more to do with T.S. Eliot than Garrison Keillor. Ward, who performs at Page Auditorium on May 15, also offers some advice on playing vintage without playing retro.
