Andrew Bird may not have set out to redefine modern music, but his eclectic fusion of jazz, rock, ragtime, and European folk morphs into a template that defies description. With his initial contributions to the zany Squirrel Nut Zippers, continuing with his own band Bowl of Fire, and with subsequent…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares observations, insights and updates relating to South Florida’s musical environs. This week: Jennings, Keller and other members of the folk faithful. I admit that I never really think of South Florida as a harbinger of folk music. Granted, there’s an active…
Although he declines to give many interviews and claims his personal life isn’t nearly as important as his music, Jack White’s stature grew since launching the White Stripes, an unlikely duo with ex-wife Meg White. Even then, his ego was obviously significant, given the fact that Meg’s dubious drumming skills…
There’s been a lot of ink about Ringo Starr in the last week or so, spurred on by yet another return engagement of Mr. Starkey’s All Starr Band. The opinions shared in these digital pages have been split. My colleague Rich Abdill recently gave the ex-Beatle some love relative to…
This year, I’ll be going to summer camp. Not just any summer camp, mind you. Rock ‘n’ Roll summer camp. No, this isn’t some kind of hokey day camp filled with hootenannies, hoedowns, and ad hoc jam sessions. I’m talking about a real camp-like experience — the kind you might…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman offers his insights, opinions, and observations about the local scene. This week: Building a scene in order to be heard.After our visit to Bonnaroo recently, we decided to spend a couple of days in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is our second home, of…
For a man whose career began innocuously enough, George Michael has managed to scale the heights of superstardom while also embroiling himself in enough controversy to last a lifetime. These were some of his own doing and some thrust upon him as a result of his success. George Michael was born…
Born Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper on June 22, 1953, Cyndi Lauper is best known as the kooky, squeaky-voiced singer with the multi-colored hair and a giddy onstage persona. Yet despite that flighty attitude, she made some serious impressions on the pop charts early on. In the mid ’80s she dominated…
Although he’s easily the most visionary American artist to emerge from the heady Southern California sun and surf scene of the early ’60s, Brian Wilson’s reputation for genius has often been tempered by his battles with severe depression and mental instability. Born on June 20, 1942 (two days after Paul…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares observations, insights, and updates relating to South Florida’s musical environs. This week, random thoughts about one of the greatest festivals ever. My first visit to Bonnaroo continues to resonate days after those final notes from Phish began fading away. The shows…
There’s little that can be said about Paul McCartney that hasn’t been uttered before. But as he turns 70 today, June 18, he continues to assert his status as one of music’s most revered individuals, an elder statesman who’s influenced practically every artist who’s followed in his footsteps, regardless of…
My first and most striking impression from Day Four at Bonnaroo involves Sarah Jarosz. She is impossibly young for someone who’s earned such acclaim. Playing fiddle at the helm of her ensemble, she dazzled the crowd in the Other Tent and happily returned their kudos. “This is one of the…
We soon discovered that being part of the media contingent at Bonnaroo has its perks. For starters, we got to enjoy a special unplugged performance by the Punch Brothers in the media tent. Standing in a circle, the bluegrass bunch played a rousing set, with leader Chris Thile yelling “Rotate!”…
It’s day two here at Bonnaroo. And I don’t feel like getting out of bed this morning… I’m already exhausted, but we have our first full day of Bonnaroo ahead of us. So we duly arise and head to the press tent for a basic introductory course on the dos…
Born Chester Arthur Burnett on June 10, 1910, the legendary blues singer better-known as Howlin’ Wolf is still considered one of the greatest musicians of that genre. With an intimidating growl voice and a foreboding physical presence, Burnett is still considered one of the greatest purveyors of electric blues. At…
They may be rock’s most prolific sisters, and indeed, Kelley Deal and her identical twin, Kim — both born June 10, 1961 — pursued parallel careers that often brought them in and near each other’s orbit. They began playing music together when they covered Hank Williams songs in local biker…
It was the best of times; it was the weirdest of times… The good vibes that accompany a visit to Bonnaroo are all a credit to the way this festival is run, not to mention the incredible diversity of its musical offerings. While any newcomer to Bonnaroo will likely find…
The artist once again known as Prince — and to his mother by his given name, Prince Rogers Nelson — is one of music’s most enigmatic figures, as wildly eccentric and unpredictable as Bowie, Neil Young, Dylan, or any of rock’s other well-known chameleons. However, with that reputation comes certain…
Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares observations, insights, and updates relating to South Florida’s musical environs. This week: birthday greetings and online affirmation. I had another birthday the other day, an occurrence that seems to take place with increasing frequency at this stage of my life. The…
One of the 20th Century’s most remarkable avant-garde musical artists, Laurie Anderson (born June 5, 1947) made a point of defying musical norms ever since the late ’60s, when she made her debut. A visionary of sorts, she plays violin, piano, and a variety of instruments of her own invention…
They may not have invented Americana music or even redefined it, for that matter, but the BoDeans were responsible for one of the genre’s rare mainstream hits, courtesy of the driving anthem called “Closer to Free.” Thrust into the top ten after being tapped as the theme song for the…
Elvis did it. John Lennon did it. Even Ringo did it. But by and large, few musicians have made as successful a segue way into films as Mark Wahlberg, the singer and rapper once known as Marky Mark. Wahlberg, born June 5, 1971, initially felt the heat of the spotlight at…
