Music Blurbs, Vol. 24

Rod Stewart
With his distinctive raspy voice, London-born Sir Rod Stewart is one of the most popular vocalists of all time. In his early years as a musician, he showed great promise, working with some of England’s greatest talents including Long John Baldry, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and future members of Fleetwood Mac. His big break came when he joined the Jeff Beck Group, an outfit that arguably bested early Led Zeppelin. The band didn’t hold together long, though, and Stewart forged ahead with a solo career. He scored an impressive string of critically acclaimed and best-selling records, maintaining a concurrent career as front man for the Faces. In the wake of tracks like the worldwide smash “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” critical and popular opinion began to diverge; critics felt he was wasting his prodigious talents, but the records sold in greater and greater numbers. Beginning in the ‘80s, Stewart moved in a less rock, more pop mode, leaning in the direction of vocal interpreter and entertainer. He continues as a popular performer.

Wolfmother
Guitarist, singer and songwriter Andrew Stockdale launched Wolfmother in 2004. The band’s proudly retro musical character is built on a foundation of 1960s and early ‘70s acts, most noticeably Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath; that style earned Wolfmother a legion of fans. Perhaps less expected was the response of critics: often a most discerning lot, music critics have heaped praise on Wolfmother, citing the band’s attention to classic hard rock values paired with original songwriting. The band’s 2005 self-titled debut was a juggernaut, going 5X Platinum in their native Australia, and charting well in nine other countries (including #22 in the U.S.). Stockdale is the band’s only constant; Wolfmother is currently on its seventh bassist and ninth drummer (six keyboardists and three second guitarists have come and gone), but – with apologies to Led Zeppelin – the sound remains the same. The band’s albums haven’t charted since 2016’s Victorious, but Stockdale and his current band mates still rock with passion and commitment. 2021’s aptly named Rock Out is Wolfmother’s latest; critics likened it to classic rockers like Motörhead, Kiss, Foreigner and Ozzy Osbourne.

Josh Groban
After graduating from the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, singer Josh Groban stepped into the spotlight when he served as a stand-in for Andrea Bocelli at a Grammy Awards rehearsal. He began college at Carnegie Mellon, but four months in he was offered a record deal. His self-titled debut album was released in 2001; an immediate smash, it charted in nine countries and earned him a 4X Platinum record in the U.S. His next ten albums all went Gold or better. Throughout his career, Groban has received many award nominations in music, television and theatre. A frequent fixture on TV, Groban made his Broadway debut in 2016, starring in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. His most recent album release is 2026’s Cinematic, a tribute to film music featuring Groban’s readings of beloved songs from the soundtracks of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Casablanca, The Godfather, The Lion King, Stand By Me and more.

Kaleo
Iceland is perhaps not the first country that comes to mind with regard to music. But the North Atlantic island country has a rich and vibrant musical scene. Björk was making a mark on Icelandic music charts as early as 1977, when she was only 11 years old. She found worldwide success with the Sugarcubes and an intriguing solo career that continues to this day. Equally boundary-pushing and edgy in their own way are Sigur Rós, recipients of countless awards and nominations since their start in 1994. A relatively recent addition to the Icelandic rock and rock-adjacent scene, Kaleo debuted their blues-flavored music with a self-titled 2013 album. Kaleo went Platinum in Iceland, and it’s followup, 2016’s A/B went Platinum there as well as in the U.S., France and Canada. That album’s breakout single, “Way Down We Go” charted in nine countries, establishing the band as an international success. The band relocated to the U.S. in 2016 and ramped up its touring calendar. Kaleo’s Icelandic-meets-American blues style has earned the group a loyal following. The band’s most recent release is 2025’s Mixed Emotions.

Avett Brothers
When brothers Scott and Seth Avett launched the Avett Brothers with Bob Crawford in 2000, the Concord, North Carolina group sported a sound and style that combined the most compelling elements of punk and folk. The resulting stylistic mix won the Avett Brothers an Emerging Artists of the Year award I n2007 from the Americana Music Honors. It would be the first of much recognition to come: a signal of the group’s stature that same organization awarded the Avett Brothers a Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance in 2023. With 11 studio albums, four live sets, five EPs to their credit, the group has blurred any perceived lines between Americana and rock, making music that often pleases fans of both styles. A measure of the Avett Brothers’ ambition can be found in Swept Away, a stage musical (based on a lurid and real-life historical tale) that ran on Broadway in 2024. Swept Away’s book drew from songs across the band’s two-decade-spanning body of work. The group’s latest release is a critically-favored 2024 self-titled album produced by Rick Rubin.