“Brian wasn’t like everybody else.” The Damned’s guitarist Captain Sensible remembers first meeting his late bandmate and founding member Brian James toward the end of 1975. At the time, the then 19-year-old (whose real name is Raymond Ian Burns) was working as a janitor at a theater in Croydon, South London, before getting recruited by […]
Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson strides back and forth on a bare stage: no backdrop, no instruments, no visuals. He’s wearing his “at home” clothes, his hands planted on his hips or behind his back in his version of a runway pose. He shouts into the microphone like he’s possessed, like he’s struggling with severe mental […]
“Anybody could be ‘Ballgame,’ says Tyler Ballgame. “You could be ‘Charles Ballgame.’” The singer-songwriter is referring to baseball great Ted Williams, who earned the nickname “Teddy Ballgame” for his unparalleled talent and unrelenting passion for the sport; a figure Ballgame admires and ultimately took inspiration from. Ballgame is in Brooklyn for a show at the […]
Death Cab for Cutie have signed with ANTI- Records following the fulfillment of their two decade run at major-label Atlantic, for which the Ben Gibbard-led band released six albums (two of which sold more than 1 million copies). Death Cab has also confirmed a summer tour with support from Jay Som, Japanese Breakfast and Nation […]
Sia, Hayley Williams, My Morning Jacket’s Jim Janes, Maggie Rogers, and Thundercat have joined the lineup of performers for the Resonator Awards, which recognize artists, producers and engineers. The event will be held Jan. 27 at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles and will be hosted by Fred Armisen. Chappell Roan will receive the Harmonizer Award […]
It looks like Chan Marshall gets the last laugh. Pitchfork’s oft-dismissive review of her 2006 album The Greatest doesn’t even talk about the music until its third paragraph. Instead, it begins with the artist’s mental health struggles, calling her “Beautifully Tortured.” But as we arrive at the 20th anniversary of that album’s release, Marshall will […]
Name Poppy Best known for Smiling at the internet while it whispers its secrets to me. Current city Brisbane, AUS. Really want to be in Tokyo. Or inside a dream I can’t wake from. Excited about My new album Empty Hands (Jan 23rd). My current music collection has a lot of Instrumental music. And a little bit of Ambient. Preferred format Vinyl: decoration, ritual, […]
The National Independent Venue Association began publishing its annual Live List in 2023, a poll of independent venues and promoters, curated by NIVA’s membership to select the most exciting up-and-coming live performers on independent stages across America. With the NIVA’s 2026 Live List on the way soon, here’s a look back at a few of […]
Each week, SPIN digs into the catalogs of great artists and highlights songs you might not know for our Deep Cut Friday series. Few artists veered as wildly from one style to another as David Bowie. In between recording the Philly soul experiment Young Americans and the icy Berlin art rock opus Low, he made […]
Hope things are moving and grooving in your world. Last week’s signal boost set the tone. Building on that, here is part two: World Building → The New Moat Artists aren’t just releasing music; they’re building universes to create new touch points. Look at Dua Lipa’s Service95, Kid Cudi’s fine art show, and Diplo’s Run […]