Author: Mike Katzif

‘…And Star Power’ Captures Foxygen’s Wild Dark Night Of The Soul

Foxygens ...And Star Power is out now. (Photo credit: Cara Robbins/Courtesy of the artist)
Foxygen's '...And Star Power' is out now. (Photo credit: Cara Robbins/Courtesy of the artist)

It’s safe to say that few bands have had roller-coaster trajectories quite like Foxygen. Fronted by the classic rock record collection-loving duo that is longtime friends Sam France and Jonathan Rado, the Los Angeles band found success with its delightful 2013 album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, which won over fans with playful melodies and producer Richard Swift’s trademark Technicolor flourishes that transparently captured the breezy pop psychedelia of mid-1960’s bands like The Zombies and The Kinks. But amid considerable hype and high-pressure expectations, Foxygen almost immediately began showing signs of unravelling.

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Those Darlins: Magnetic And Hair-Raising

Those Darlins' album, Blur the Line, is out now.
Those Darlins’ album, Blur the Line, is out now.

I first caught Those Darlins in 2012, opening for Best Coast at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. I had never heard the band before but I was immediately drawn in and blown away by its killer songs and captivating singers. Despite its namesake, Those Darlins’ songs are far more sinister than sweet. The Murfreesboro-turned-Nashville band makes scorching hot country-fried, punked-up rockers, and its fantastic 2013 album, Blur The Line, oozes with lip-curling charisma and hair-raising guitar lines, and choruses that can get a crowd swaying, whiskey in hand.

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Photo Gallery: Jeff Goldblum, On Soundcheck

Had the bizarre pleasure to take photos of Jeff Goldblum — you know, of movies like Jurassic Park, The Fly, The Big Chill, Independence Day, various Wes Anderson films, and so much more. He came to the Soundcheck studio with his jazz ensemble, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, play some piano, and generally be delightful. Weird day, but a fun day.

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U2 Surprises With Free ‘Songs’ On iTunes

U2's Songs Of Innocence
U2’s Songs Of Innocence

Did Bono just pull a Beyonce? Kinda. In an event on Sept. 9, in Cupertino, California, Apple unveiled the latest iPhone models and the eagerly anticipated Apple Watch. Yet, the biggest surprise of the day came from U2, who not only announced its first new LP in five years, but that it was already available and waiting for us to download for free exclusively on iTunes. The album, Songs Of Innocence, was immediately offered via iTunes to over 500 million customers, across 119 countries worldwide. The band also performed the first track, “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)” for the live audience and viewers streaming the event.

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Bryan Lee O’Malley’s ‘Seconds’ Mulls Life Choices, Parallel Universes

Once, years back, when I was living in D.C., I walked out of a movie theater, and instead of heading home, I decided on a whim to go stop by a bookstore. It was a bookstore that I rarely ever went to, one sorta out of my way — and so I took a train I rarely ride on. When I got to my stop, I literally — physically — bumped into an old friend of my sister’s while getting off the train. This occasionally can happen, sure, but in this case, she did not live in D.C. at the time. Yet in that moment, she not only happened to be in town, but apparently in the same metro station, and entering the same train car I was exiting. At the exact same time. Weird.

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Photo Gallery: Idina Menzel, On Soundcheck

Idina Menzel might be the biggest star I’ve been around in awhile, thanks to a giant body of work on Broadway, appearances in Glee, and this little animated movie you may have seen called Frozen. Oh yeah, and that whole Adele Dazeem thing from the Oscars. Menzel dropped by the Soundcheck studio to sing selections from her latest production, If/Then. I filmed it and shot photos and sorta just tried not to get in the way.

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Weezer’s Going ‘Back To The Shack’ Like It’s ’94

Weezer's new album, Everything Will Be Alright In The End, is out now.
Weezer’s new album, Everything Will Be Alright In The End, is out now.

Ask anyone who grew up listening to those first Weezer albums, and they’ll tell you that news of a new record comes attached with some trepidation. It’s a fair reaction, especially for fans who felt a little burned by a string of, um, not-so-good, seemingly tossed-off efforts — I’m looking at you, Raditude! Now it’s been four years since the band’s previous record, 2010’s Hurley, and honestly, it’s been even longer since a great Weezer album.

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NPR First Listen: Phish, ‘Fuego’

Phish's 'Fuego' is out now.
Phish’s ‘Fuego’ is out now.

This was originally written for NPR Music’s First Listen series. Read the rest over at NPR Music or Soundcheck.

Whether you know its work or just its reputation, you’ve probably already made up your mind about Phish. Maybe you love the band and its music, maybe you can’t stand them, or maybe you liked them and have since moved on to other things. Phish is one of the most dynamic and celebrated live acts in all of music, with a loyal community any artist would envy, but it’s also divisive. This is a band that inspires passion with its multipart compositions, meandering improvisations, playful (often nonsensical) lyrics and unwavering positivity. For the same reasons, it also courts punchlines from its fervent detractors.