Author: Matthew Barlow

Ride Tomorrow’s Shores Wichita  Away back in the early 90s, Ride burst onto the scene on the back of three celebrated eps, two of which were collected on the long-player, Smile, the third of which was tacked onto the end of the band’s proper début, Nowhere.  They were at the vanguard of the so-called shoegazer scene of the era, but like My Bloody Valentine, were louder and heavier.  Their live show was an avalanche of guitars and the dreamy vocals of co-frontmen Andy Bell and Mark Gardener.  I wore out three cassette versions of Nowhere between 1991 and when I bought it on...

Camp Cope How to Socialize & Make Friends Run For Cover Records In an interview in The Guardian the other week, Kim Deal said that ‘misogyny is the actual backbone of the music industry, and without misogyny the music industry would crumble.’  No kidding.  Back in 2016, Camp Cope dropped their wickedly amazing début album on the world.  It got a lot of love and adulation, and deservedly so.  But, some couldn’t leave well enough alone, and pointed out that frontwoman Georgia Maq is the daughter of the late Hugh McDonald, who was Aussie rock’n’roll royalty.  And therefore, Camp Cope were...

The Sheepdogs hail from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  S’toon, as it is also known, is often overshadowed by the provincial capital, Regina, the Paris of the Prairies.  This is unfortunate.  Anytime I’ve found myself in Saskatoon, I’ve had a hell of a time.  It has a vibrant arts scene, beautiful scenery, and a pleasant vibe  It is also from whence Joni Mitchell hails. Back in 2011, five years after forming, The Sheepdogs won a contest between 16 unsigned bands to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone.  Over 1.5 million votes were cast, and the ‘boogie rock revivalists’ from S’toon won....

Eric Bolander The Wind Independent The Wind is Eric Bolander’s second solo album (following 2016’s Postcards to Myself).  He’s a veteran of the Lexington, KY, music scene, first in local legends Modern Day Relic, and now in Alcatraz Shakedown.   The Wind kicks off with the mid-tempo rocker, ‘Closer To That Flame’; the driving beat conjures up images of Sturgill Simpson’s recent output. For an acoustic singer/songwriter, Bolander is incredibly versatile.  Aside from the opener, the music varies from traditional country and Americana to rock, to perhaps the most intriguing track, a cover of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain.’  Long a staple of...