Feb 23, 2010 By Findlay Brown Web Exclusive

British singer/songwriter Findlay Brown has just finished a west coast tour in support of his second album, Love Will Find You (Verve). Brown chronicled the short tour, which included opening slots for Nouvelle Vague, for this tour diary. Be prepared for bed bugs, ‘80s covers, gang fights, and much more!

Feb 16, 2010 By Leo Chadburn (aka Simon Bookish) Web Exclusive

Leo Chadburn is a classically-trained composer, vocalist, arranger, who goes under the name Simon Bookish and whose most recent album is 2008’s Everything / Everything. Here he writes about one of his favorite albums of the last decade.

Oct 10, 2009 By Stacie Leonard Blitzen Trapper

This was my eighth ACL (Austin City Limits) Festival to attend (the idea was born in ‘02) and although I’m not one for reading festival “recap” posts, for those that missed this year’s festivities here’s a little summary of the day’s events. Includes coverage of The Dead Weather, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, Phoenix, Girl Talk, Pearl Jam, The Dodos, The Walkmen, Passion Pit, Here We Go Magic, The B-52’s, Ghostland Observatory, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Daniel Johnston, Blitzen Trapper, School of Seven Bells, and more.

Sep 19, 2009 By Aaron Passman The Beatles

The Beatles: Rock Band and the concurrent reissuing of the Fab Four’s entire catalog is worth celebrating, but it also introduces the band to a new generation in a way that makes the music secondary to the medium.

Sep 10, 2009 By Dungen Web Exclusive

The Swedish psych-rock band Dungen just finished touring the US of A. Earlier in their tour we posted the first part of band’s tour blog, written and photographed by Dungen exclusively for Under the Radar. Dungen started their tour playing with Fleet Foxes and Woods opened for them. Check out our review of their Philadelphia show. Here’s part 2 of Dungen’s tour blog.

Aug 28, 2009 By Aaron Passman Weezer

Having once been declared Kansas City’s biggest Weezer fan (no bullshit!), it gives me great pain to write the following: Weezer, please break up. I know, it hurts to hear it from someone you love, but I mean it this time. I used to hate those people that said “I only like old Weezer” the way some people say “I prefer old Modest Mouse” or “The Cure haven’t done anything good since the ‘80s.” But I can only be an apologist for so long.

Aug 14, 2009 By Dungen Web Exclusive

The Swedish psych-rock band Dungen is currently touring the US of A. The tour started with some dates with Fleet Foxes. Dungen will be providing text and photo updates exclusively for Under the Radar’s readers along the way. Here is part one of Dungen’s tour diary. Visit the band’s website for details of the rest of their tour dates.

Aug 07, 2009 By Aaron Passman John Hughes

The sudden death of John Hughes today—after suffering a heart attack during a morning walk in Manhattan—creates a void not unlike that left upon the deaths of Elvis Presley, John Lennon or James Dean. Even if his best work was long behind him, he redefined for American culture what it meant to be a teenager.

Jul 21, 2009 By Frank Valish Cheap Trick

Where am I and why am I here? This was how I was feeling as I was walking the much-longer-than-anticipated distance between my car and the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA. Add to this hike the fact that it was raining and unseasonably cold for June, and I was second-guessing myself already.