Kula Shaker — the Britpop anomaly, as they’ve called themselves — came up in the mid-nineties alongside bands like The Verve, Oasis, Blur, but they never quite fit into the media pigeonhole of that catchy label, and for good reason. Today, nearly eight studio albums into their career, they’re older, wiser and maybe a little more mature, but their philosophy remains the same as it’s always been: to create a much-needed escape, for one — and for the rest, you'll just have to listen.Kula Shaker released their latest single, “Be Merciful,” on Wednesday, and their next album, “Wormslayer,” comes out January 30th. And I recently had the privilege of speaking with frontman Crispian Mills, longtime keyboardist Jay Darlington and bassist Alonza Bevan when the band came to town last month.
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The Dandy Warhols
In their thirty years together as a band, The Dandy Warhols have lived an incredibly storied career, cultivating a distinct sonic identity and making friends along the way with the likes of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Pixies, David Bowie and just about anyone else they’ve come across — because you don’t stay a band that long without doing something right. Their 12th studio album, “Rockmaker,” came out just last year, and the next release is already in the works. More recently, the band wrapped up a US tour with Kula Shaker, and on Nov. 13, they will perform in their hometown of Portland, Oregon, alongside the Oregon Symphony. I was lucky to see them on their recent tour, and on the day of the show, founding member and guitarist Pete Holmstrom was kind enough to sit down with me and answer some questions about the current state of this legendary, enduring band.
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Joyer
You might have heard the expression “band of brothers” — and that’s exactly what Joyer is, although I don’t think that’s what Shakespeare had in mind when he coined the phrase. Today however, it’s often used to refer to any group of people who share a deep bond after enduring together through some hardship. And that also happens to be the story behind the latest album from brothers Nick and Shane Sullivan, who started the band some six years ago and lived apart for most of the time since. That album is called “On the Other End of the Line…,” it comes out Oct. 24, and they just embarked on a U.S. tour through mid-December, supporting bands like Rocket and Teethe — and I was fortunate enough to speak with this “band of brothers” about it all.
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The Chameleons
The Chameleons are widely regarded as unsung pioneers of the post punk variety, having influenced countless bands who are wildly successful to this day. But like many accomplished musicians who’ve been around the block more than a few times and continue to prove their instinctive need to create, lead singer and main songwriter Vox is fervently humble, and his processes have remained largely the same as they were some 40 years ago. On September 12, the band will release “Arctic Moon,” their first album in 24 years. Even after a full career in music, Vox was happy to entertain this interview.
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Radio Free Alice
Dissatisfied with what their home country had to offer, Radio Free Alice packed up and moved to the northern hemisphere. But leaving their home country wasn’t a choice for them — it was simply the necessary next step in becoming a global force. If you dig, you’ll find countless phenomenal Australian bands. But you have to dig. Radio Free Alice is taking your shovel away from you and saving you the work. Their third EP, “Empty Words,” came out Wednesday, and their debut album is already on the way. They’re also touring through Europe and North America through mid-October, but vocalist Noah Learmonth and guitarist Jules Paradiso managed to find some time before all that to have a chat with me first.
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