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I made it.  That was my first reaction upon finishing The Book Of Drugs, the memoir by singer-songwriter and former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty. It was no sure thing for awhile there; after the first 120 or so pages I was pretty sure this was the most infuriating book I’d ever read. The form alone irritated me—a faux-epistolary style where there’s no attempt at building any sort of narrative; one anecdote simply blurs into another for page after page after page. But what really drove me to distraction around page 100 was my strong desire to grab Doughty by…

Ian Anderson's name may not be on a lot of lips today, but his alter-ego in the form of the band Jethro Tull is a phenomenon dating back over 40 years whose work is recognized around the world. His songs are ubiquitous on American classic rock radio, and he’s still on the go at 64, staying busy touring both with Jethro Tull and as a solo artist. Back in 1972, flush with success from their groundbreaking release Aqualung, the band recorded a concept album consisting of a single 45-minute track titled Thick As A Brick. Concept albums were nothing new,…

Like a math problem I could never quite solve, my teenage years were filled with more variables than constants. Through the changes—and occasional outright chaos—one of the constants was my passion for music. And one of the constants I measured that passion by was Ronnie Montrose.Five years after it came out, that first eponymous album (Montrose, Warner Brothers, 1973) was a staple of my high school years, one of those rare albums that every single member of our group of compadres—Geoff, Tor, Neil, Jason C., Mike, Khal, Andy (RIP)—would always say yes to giving another spin. Songs like “Rock The…

The First Avenue Club in downtown Minneapolis is a legendary venue. There’s good food next door at the Depot which is connected to the club and you can get a breakfast burger (hamburger, cheese, bacon, fried egg) before the gig you see inside the venue. On the outside of the building, the bands that have played the venue are written within a white star. Metallica, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a bunch of others have played the place. Based upon Friday’s performance, I’d be hesitant to add Opeth to the aforementioned stars. Their show was mediocre at…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal readerMUSIC: Take It Or Leave It: A Tribute To The Runaways – Some people became aware of The Runaways in the 1970s as one of the first all-female rock bands. Others took note after founding members Joan Jett and Lita Ford launched successful solo careers. Others very recently when a bio-pic was released starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart. Any way you slice it, The Runaways were an influential band and among those paying tribute on Take It are The Dandy Warhols, The Donnas, Shonen Knife, and David Johansen of…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal readerMUSIC: Dredg – More than 15 years into their existence, California-based Dredg has not only survived since leaving major label Interscope, but they have thrived in doing so. Dredg's fifth full-length (the interestingly-titled Chuckles And Mr. Squeezy) is their second since going independent, as produced by the legendary Dan The Automator (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, Handsome Boy Modeling School). “Bug Eyes” from 2005's Catch Without Arms ought to be a great starting point for someone unfamiliar with Dredg, a band that tends to be simultaneously anthemic and sincere. (dredg.com) FILM: Rock…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:BOOK: Sammy Hagar / Red: My Life Uncensored In Rock – Sammy Hagar is arguably best known for fronting Van Halen. However, prior to joining Van Halen, he had millions of dollars in the bank thanks to a solo career and business start-ups. Oh, and even prior to that he sung for Montrose. The man has a lot of great stories and this book makes for a quick read. (redrocker.com) TOOL: Award Wallet – What Mint.com does for your financial accounts, Award Wallet does for your rewards programs. In other…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: Heidecker & Wood / Starting From Nowhere is the debut album from Tim Heidecker and Davin Wood, two folks best known for their work on “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” The album is largely inspired by 1970s soft-rock –- often referred to nowadays as “yacht rock” –- coming across as sound-alikes of artists like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Seals & Croft. Therefore, a subtler form of comedy than Heidecker is generally known for. (heideckerandwood.com) SHOW: The League – I stumbled across this series when browsing…

Here are some more quick pick for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: The Strokes / Angles – Believe it or not, it has been 10 years since The Strokes released their debut Is This It on RCA Records, and five years since the New York City-based quintet released First Impressions Of Earth. On Angles, the band goes back to the original lo-fi guitar-heavy approach, this time with all 5 members contributing to the writing. Strokes fans old and new ought to be delighted. (thestrokes.com) BOOK: Mark Di Vincenzo / Your Pinkie Is More Powerful Than Your Thumb – Although a veteran…

Here are some more quick picks for you, the loyal reader:MUSIC: If By Yes – Featuring members of That Dog, Cibo Matto and Cornelius, If By Yes is most likely a side project for its members. Even so, fans of Bird & The Bee and other lush, tropicalia-influenced pop artists ought to love If By Yes. Their debut album will soon be released on Chimera Music, a label operated by fan and friend Sean Lennon. (chimeramusic.com/ifbyyes.html) FILM: I Am Comic – A documentary made by former stand-up comic Jordan Brady, I Am Comic shows what it is like to be…