rawk Archive
01 Aug 2019
Book Review: Begin the Begin: R.E.M.’s Early Years
Considering the influence which the group exerted on popular music – most notably in the category once known as “college rock” – it’s remarkable how much little of consequence has […]
31 Jul 2019
A Look Back at Pink Floyd’s ‘More’ Soundtrack (Part 2)
Continued from Part One… A very brief instrumental, the unimaginatively named “Party Sequence” features Nick Mason on several overdubbed bongo drums, with wife Lindy trilling along on penny whistle. Side […]
30 Jul 2019
A Look Back at Pink Floyd’s ‘More’ Soundtrack (Part 1)
As 1969 began, decisive changes were underway for Pink Floyd. After making two albums and a number of singles with Norman Smith in the control room, Pink Floyd began to […]
28 Jul 2019
Another Enchanted Evening: Blue Öyster Cult is Still Burnin’ for You
Blue Öyster Cult is best-known for its smash hit, 1976’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” A winning combination of catchy riffage, hard rock arrangement and borderline-progressive rock composition style, the standout […]
26 Jul 2019
Can’t Stop Running: Todd Rundgren’s ‘Nearly Human’ at 30
Being a serious fan of Todd Rundgren isn’t always an easy path, but it’s a rewarding one. The wunderkind from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania started his musical career out in relatively […]
24 Jul 2019
For Caleb Johnson, The Second and Third Times are the Charm
Note: Caleb Johnson is a “local boy makes good” hometown success story here in Asheville. I wrote this feature on the eve of his current tour. This version is an […]
19 Jul 2019
Still a Livin’ Thing: Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Serving up some good-timing musical nostalgia that hearkens back to a simpler time, Jeff Lynne’s ELO is currently on a major tour of the U.S. An international phenomenon of the […]
16 Jul 2019
Carlos Santana: From Woodstock to ‘Supernatural’ to ‘Africa Speaks,’ Making Music with Intention (Part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part One… Day of Celebration Though Santana has scored numerous awards on his own and with his band – ten Grammys, three Latin Grammys – and sold more […]
15 Jul 2019
Carlos Santana: From Woodstock to ‘Supernatural’ to ‘Africa Speaks,’ Making Music with Intention (Part 1 of 2)
The venue is packed. The crowd is pumped. They’re here to see and hear guitarist Carlos Santana and his band. As the house lights dim, a giant projection screen at […]
12 Jul 2019
Eric Gales: Beyond the Blues
A respected electric blues guitarist who first made a name for himself almost three decades ago, Eric Gales has cultivated a career that pushes well past the boundaries of the […]