What’s the Headline? Journalists Aren’t the Only Ones Who Constantly Contend with This Question
Originally published in Seattle Weekly “Who is the headliner?” is a question that lurks at the heart of the music business, one that booking agents and managers are hired to answer, or at least to fight over until no one is… » More inside
Seattleites Play Songs; They Just Play Their Instruments
Originally published in Seattle Weekly On a Sunday night off in Nashville a few years back, my bandmates and I took a field trip down to the Station Inn, a legendary roadhouse and country-music venue, to check out the Bluegrass Jam… » More inside
Myths About Drugs and Booze In the Creative Process Have Been Perpetuated By People Who Should Know Better
Originally published in Seattle Weekly Let’s be honest: Drinking alcohol and taking drugs is fun. Unfortunately, in America there’s a culturally ingrained fear of mentioning this obvious fact, and that obscures and garbles every attempt at rational conversation on the topic…. » More inside
Seattle’s 4 Most Conspicuous Rock Crowds
Originally published in Seattle Weekly Going out to a rock concert in Seattle can often feel like a foreign-exchange program. I’m not talking about the musicians, but about the concertgoers from Seattle’s other walks of life whom you might not otherwise… » More inside
Mt. Desolation debut album out now
Earlier this year, John Roderick took a break from recording the new Long Winters album in order to join a group of Brits who have been working under the moniker of Mt. Desolation. The internet is already afloat with stories,… » More inside
Superfans: They Love You First. They Book You Shows. It Gets Complicated
Originally published in Seattle Weekly I got a letter the other day from a friend and self-professed “superfan” asking my advice in navigating some indie-rock politics. A local band that she loved dearly was being courted by major labels, and though… » More inside