Author Archives: Charles Gray

Robyn Hitchcock has been composing alt-pop for decades, traversing soundscapes of sublime and accessible compositions with enlightened lyricism among several different musical ventures.

After initial critical acclaim with The Soft Boys, then later with his solo material and group success with The Egyptians, Robyn Hitchcock most recently has been working with longtime friends Peter Buck of R.E.M, Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, and Bill Rieflin of Ministry and R.E.M. Collectively known as Robyn Hitchcock and The Venus 3, the quartet have released three full-length albums of hook-heavy indie pop in the past 7 years.

We’ve got tickets to give away to see the cult pop icon with his talent-laden trio, The Venus 3, at the 9:30 Club. Getting ahold of them is WAY easier than writing a brilliant song.

Read More »

Though you might think most electronic bands from the ’80s would be subject to the styles of their contemporaries, jumping on the dance pop bandwagon roughly 30 years before it was cool pushed New Order to a path of success and wide influence.

Before they even go on sale, we’ve got tickets to see the old-school innovators at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 28 to give away, and getting ahold of them is as easier than busting a one-two step (because you won’t have to even get up).

Through the years, New Order has spread the seed of rhythmic pop music on nine albums, many world tours, and via a countless horde of imitators jumping on their unique take on New Wave. From early innovations mixing dance music with more typical rock and pop arrangements, New Order influenced a vast number of acts in the last quarter of the 20th century and spawned many covers, remixes, and even one really gothy remake of “Blue Monday” that was totally on TRL. (I’m looking at you, Orgy.)

Read More »

Sometimes funk is so stanky, you’d swear it was out of this world. For lovers of otherworldly electronic jam-funk, Galactic is the go-to name.

The collection of musicians has been touring up a storm in the wake of last year’s Carnivale Electricos. We’ve got tickets to see the funk fanatics at the 9:30 Club this Sunday, April 14 to give away. How can you get your hands on ‘em? The answer is as easy as funk is to spell.

The New Orleans staple has been rolling strong for a good dozen and a half years now. Though they started as a straight-up funk project, over the years they’ve picked up elements of hip hop, dance, jazz, and more.

Read More »