Nov 17, 2016 By Joshua M. Miller Issue #58 - The Protest Issue

Relationships often can be strained for members of internationally touring bands. But for Melbourne, Australia, four-piece Terry, it’s not a concern. That’s because the band consists of two sets of couples-Amy Hill and Al Montfort and Xanthe Waite and Zephyr Pavey.

Nov 15, 2016 By Joshua M. Miller Issue #58 - The Protest Issue

“We had gone through quite a bit of darkness.” That’s how Local Natives guitarist Taylor Rice describes the writing of the band’s 2013 album Hummingbird. The mood was largely dour, as the band members were going through difficult times in their lives, resulting in what Rice calls a “very cathartic record.”

Nov 10, 2016 By Matt Fink The Mynabirds

There’s a quote—now considered apocryphal—from legendary film critic Pauline Kael that for years stood as damning evidence of the extent to which people could exist in their own cultural and social bubbles.

Nov 09, 2016 By Austin Trunick Alton Brown

Long before he was the host of Food Network staples like Cutthroat Kitchen and Iron Chef America, and long before he’d taken his culinary variety show on tour or authored a shelf’s worth of books, Alton Brown was an aspiring filmmaker. Fresh out of college, the young Brown cut his teeth as a camera man and cinematographer, shooting the music video for “The One I Love” for fellow Georgians R.E.M., and landing steady work on commercials. By the mid-1990s he was overcome by the desire to do something more. Going off a hunch that food-related TV programming was on the brink of exploding, Brown walked away from his comfortable career directing commercials and enrolled in culinary school. Good Eats was born of Brown’s dual loves for cooking and for visual storytelling. His seminal, award-winning food program—which ran for fourteen seasons, starting in 1999—helped countless viewers get over their fear of the kitchen by serving up the science and history of food preparation with a generous side of humor (and more than a few puppets.)

Nov 08, 2016 By Matt Fink Web Exclusive

Though it’s difficult to remember, now that indie rockers are performing at Hillary Clinton rallies and recording anti-Trump songs, it wasn’t that long ago that the Democratic nominee was routinely vilified as a Wall Street-approved neocon by nearly everyone of an anti-establishment bent.

Nov 07, 2016 By Matt Fink Billy Bragg

On July 11th, Billy Bragg took advantage of a brief break in the London rain to take his dog for a walk. By the time he got back home that afternoon, Great Britain had a new prime minister. That’s how suddenly change happened in the days following the country’s vote to leave the European Union, and, as arguably Britain’s greatest protest singer, Bragg suddenly found himself in the spotlight.

Nov 04, 2016 By Matt Fink Issue #58 - The Protest Issue

When Andrew W.K. announced the formation of The Party Party in April, it was easy to dismiss as little more than an inspired pun by someone who never turns down an opportunity to spread his life-is-a-party performance art to every available venue.

Nov 03, 2016 By Matt Fink Deerhoof

On July 11, 2016, Democratic nominee for president Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, thereby ending one of the unlikeliest campaigns in American political history. It had been a remarkable run for the 74-year-old Vermont senator, going from barely registering in national polls to running neck and neck with Clinton throughout much of the primary. And, if public statements and Twitter endorsements are to be believed, the world of indie rock stood almost unanimously in their support for him. Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear-all performed for Sanders at his rallies. Killer Mike of Run the Jewels filmed interviews with Sanders to help spread his message.

Nov 01, 2016 By Matt Fink Issue #58 - The Protest Issue

In the middle of April, the members of Viet Cong found themselves in an unusual position. It was a little over a year since their self-titled debut had established them as a post-punk buzz band, but they already had their sophomore album exactly how they wanted it: completely mixed, mastered, and its song titles chosen.