spoken word Archive
22 Jan 2026
Rainbow Redux: A Lost Classic Returns (Part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part One… A portion of this feature appeared previously on The Tonearm. Tell me about your role in bringing the anniversary concert to release. Chaim Obrien-Blumenthal: I didn’t […]
21 Jan 2026
Rainbow Redux: A Lost Classic Returns (Part 1 of 2)
A portion of this feature appeared previously on The Tonearm. The late 1960s brought an anything-goes approach to art and popular culture. Creative concepts that would have seemed ludicrous even […]
14 Aug 2025
The Polymathematics of David J
Calling David J (Haskins) a bassist is technically correct, but doing so ignores his myriad other artistic pursuits. Singer, songwriter, playwright, film scorer, director, poet, author and spoken-word artist are […]
05 Oct 2024
Album Review: Famous Monsters Speak
American pop culture has taken some wacky and unexpected turns over the years. The 1950s saw the rise of science fiction in film; creatures from outer space seemed to be […]
05 Apr 2024
Album Review: Allen Ginsberg – Material Wealth
I will admit right up front that I approached this album with some trepidation. Strictly speaking, Allen Ginsberg was a poet, not a musician. And where his work did cross […]
28 Jan 2024
Album Review: David Greenberger & the Huckleberries – Universal Preservation
David Greenberger is a most singular artist. His music features his spoken-word vocals, backed by spare, tuneful instrumentation. This set is based on conversations Greenberger had with residents of two […]
29 Nov 2023
Pussy Riot: There’s (Still) a Riot Goin’ On
Guerrilla performance art collective Pussy Riot has gained at least as much notice for its activism as for the music it makes. Originally based in Russia, the feminist protest group […]
15 Sep 2023
30 Days Out, September 2023 #2: Damien Jurado, Durand Jones, Henry Rollins, Margaret Glaspy
Asheville has a stellar array of musical artists based here. And I would encourage you to support them as enthusiastically and often as possible; they’re worth it, and their music […]
10 Sep 2022
Album Review: Keith Lamar and Albert Marques – Freedom First
A visceral, moving and thought-provoking project, Freedom First is unlike most anything else you’re likely to hear in 2022. Against a varied backdrop of jazz improvisation (and sometimes more structured […]
14 Feb 2020
Bartender-Author Sandlin Gaither on Tequila, Dog Hair and Chainsaw Fights — STORY MOVED
This story has been MOVED to billkopp.com.