rawk Archive
01 Oct 2019
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Fun: the Men and the Journey of RPWL
German keyboardist/vocalist Yogi Lang first encountered guitarist Karlheinz “Kalle” Wallner in 1988 when the latter was playing in a band called Incubus. Eventually renamed Violet District, the group released its […]
28 Sep 2019
Single Review: The Embryos — Singles Club Volume 2
I was already predisposed toward liking this 45 before I heard it; The Embryos’ Open the Kimono (reviewed a few months back) is an instantly likable collection of chiming, catchy […]
23 Sep 2019
The Mule Comes Alive: A Conversation with Warren Haynes
Among many music fans, there exists an unshakable belief: No matter how good the musicians, no matter how sophisticated the recording gear, no matter how skilled the recording engineers, a […]
21 Sep 2019
Book Review: There Was a Light
I’m a voracious reader. My tastes run decidedly toward nonfiction, but I like a good narrative. And that’s been the case since I was very young. What I never could […]
20 Sep 2019
Hundred-word Reviews for September 2019, Part 2
More capsule reviews! New music! Vinyl titles are noted with the designation (LP). Fastball – The Help Machine If you’re a certain age, you remember “The Way.” If you were […]
19 Sep 2019
Hundred-word Reviews for September 2019, Part 1
Once again, it’s time for a passel of quick reviews. Twenty in all – ten today, as many tomorrow. All deserve a listen. Titles on vinyl are noted as such […]
17 Sep 2019
Played a Set for Everyone: CCR at Woodstock (Part Two)
Continued from Part One… The story that gained traction over the years is that the band’s performance was somehow wanting or otherwise subpar, but that’s not at all what I […]
16 Sep 2019
Played a Set for Everyone: CCR at Woodstock (Part One)
There’s a tired cliché that goes something like this: “If you remember the ’60s, you weren’t really there.” A half century later, an unfortunate reality is that if an event […]
14 Sep 2019
Andrew Reed: Putting Things in Order
In a world increasingly defined by fractiousness and divisiveness, the music and world view of Western North Carolina multi-instrumentalist Andrew Reed is a welcome restorative. Though Reed — who’s been […]
05 Sep 2019
Pet Benatar Still Hits You With Her Best Shot
Arguably the queen of 1980s rock, Pat Benatar has achieved a singular mix of success both critically and commercially. With record sales of more than 30 million units to her […]