Interviews

Alex Lifeson’s life has been relatively quiet the past six years. Since Rush’s final performance at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 1st, 2015, the lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band has spent time focusing on his hobbies and passions such as golf and painting, with little to no discussion on when, if at all, new music would be coming down the pipeline.

Luke Miller, aka Luke the Knife, known primarily for his vital role with Lotus, a multi-genre jamband, took the stage for his debut album release party at Club Vinyl last Saturday. The newly released album, titled Disco Nap, was produced solely by Luke Miller to set a perfect comprehensive sonic journey and ambiance for the club scene. It also allows listeners to dive deeper into the more tranquil and groovy tracks that are showcased throughout the album.

Colorado songwriter Jackson Melnick honors his acoustic roots, his interest in activism, and his abiding faith in humanity throughout his debut album, Abilene (Releasing 09.24.21). Although the arrangements draw on traditional bluegrass, Abilene is at heart a songwriter’s record. Across these 10 tracks, Melnick combines his reverence for bluegrass with a lyrical point of view that is both mystical and topical.

At home at a nightclub or backyard in the California canyons, Gone Gone Beyond has stripped down from the laser shows and pyrotechnics to encapsulate it all inside the music. The new album 2030 asks the question, “Will I see you in the year 2030?” meandering to an answer about what is going on around us these days. Having faith in nature, the cycle has brought together these 4 diverse musicians to create a sound greater than the sum of its parts.

In a year defined by anticipation as much as anything else, the NYC power pop duo Porter Block has returned with an album all about the urgency of waiting and ache of isolation. While ‘Clean Up The Living Room’ was written during COVID lockdowns, it’s far more than a quarantine record, tapping into timeless truths about the human condition as it reaches out for connection and understanding in the face of loneliness and detachment.

Amy Helm’s silken voice weaves together her third solo album, What the Flood Leaves Behind. The lyrics reflect pain, truth, and beauty and asks questions that don’t always have an answer. Recorded at Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, What the Flood Leaves Behind is a shining example of Amy’s spirit of collaboration.

After over a full year of staying indoors, watching virtual events and trying to convince ourselves that it was even remotely close to the real deal, Bryant Park is welcoming picnic goers to enjoy an entire summer full of over 20 musicians and arts organizations through June, July, and September. The Grateful Web sat down with Dan Fishman, Bryant Park’s lead programmer, to talk about what summer in the park will look like after a long and grueling hiatus from live events… and having fun.

Singer/songwriter Lisa St. Lou has just released a scathing new video for “Ain’t No Good Man,” the title track off her debut full-length album, out now.

A magician and endless beacon of improvisational talent, Marcus Rezek is far from your average guitarist. If he’s not on tour with one of his numerous bands like Shred is Dead, he’s probably sitting in at your local music festival or concocting his next move to unleash his exceptional multi-layered sounds into the musical universe.

Hamish Anderson is a young singer/songwriter striving to keep the blues music genre alive and well. The talented guitarist produces music in the vein of some of the best 60's/70’s Blues rockers like Cream, The Rolling Stones, and even with a nod to Blues-rock legend T Rex. The Australian musician has already wracked an enviable career in the world of American blues music. We recently chatted about his bright career, the pandemic challenge to live performances, and his plans for the future.

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