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Welcome to the 3rd edition of what’s intended to be a bi-weekly column.  A 9-day trip to Japan alongside Mike Viola and The Major Labels has left me jet-lagged and off-schedule, yet no less in awe of new quality entertainment.  But if you feel I’m missing something that’s worthwhile and deserving of column space, please reach out with an e-mail: darren.paltrowitz@gmail.com. Here are 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: The Changes / Today Is Tonight – As I was visiting the New York office of Kobalt Music Publishing, I heard some great music playing off a desktop and…

There can be no doubt -- the concert bill headlined by Trivium on Monday, October 6, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was tailored to a select few. Those who like the music that echoed through Hawkeye Downs like their music heavy, loud, and fast. While the small crowd was vocal during the actual music, it was quiet between when a band quit playing a song and started the next one. And that's not a complaint. The roar of guitars and drums and bass and keyboards and screaming -- yes, lots of screaming -- needed to cease every so often to…

[Editor's note: Cover images of albums previously reviewed on the DV have been linked to the review.] "She Sells Sanctuary" – The Cult There's nothing cynical about this one. It's a straight-up rock ‘n’ roll love song anchored by a soaring guitar hook and Ian Astbury's sturdy English yowl. When you were a week old, we took a family trip to the diner. You still weren't nursing, or sleeping, or smiling. You were a scowling, spiky-haired bundle of complications. That night, when you started kvetching in your baby seat, I picked you up and paced around the table, bouncing in time…

Among its many distinctions, Golden Smog is the only band I know whose name is a take-off of an obscure character from The Flintstones that was itself a parody (the Flintstones character the Golden Fog was based on Mel "The Velvet Fog" Torme).  It is also, technically speaking, an alt-country-rock, or Americana, or whatever “supergroup.”  Of course, being the iconoclasts that they are, the Smog’s own members immediately reject this label. Yes, the group is made up of members of Soul Asylum (Dan Murphy), the Jayhawks (Gary Louris, Marc Perlman), Run Westy Run (Kraig Johnson) and Wilco (Jeff Tweedy), and…

There are at least two tiers in concerts these days. On one tier, you have established bands like Rush that use traditional rock show elements like giant video screens, laser lights, and pyro to compliment their music. On the other tier, you have less-established bands like the three I saw on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL. The headliner, Buckcherry, did not have a giant video screen, laser lights, or pyro to compliment their music. Instead, Buckcherry’s Josh Todd used his charismatic approach to singing to win over the crowd. Todd is a mixture of…

Welcome to the second edition of what's become a bi-weekly column.  While the weather has begun to get a little colder, entertainment and online media have not cooled off.  But should I be missing anything worthwhile and deserving of column space, please feel free to reach out to me with an e-mail: darren.paltrowitz@gmail.com. Here are 5 quick picks for you, the loyal reader: L.E.O. / Alpacas Orgling - Admittedly, I missed the boat on this gem of an album.  Essentially, L.E.O. is a one-off led by renowned singer-songwriter Bleu.  Wearing his E.L.O. influences on his sleeve, Bleu and friends (including…

Newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, YouTube, blogs, RSS feeds, viral marketing campaigns...it's nearly impossible to stay current nowadays. As soon as you think you're caught up on your reading and streaming, your phone is bound to start ringing. And your inbox fills up again. Without a doubt, we are living in an age where information is the currency. This column isn't meant to tell you everything that's going on everywhere. Instead, it intends to clue you in about some media (e.g. music, film, books, websites) that its author has recently discovered. These discoveries may not be cutting-edge, but they will be…

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine sucks. It used to be called Irvine Meadows. Been there a few times to see various other acts and every time is a letdown. Don’t get me wrong; it’s never the performer’s fault. It’s the outdoor theater’s fault. It seats uncomfortably about 15,000 people. Just like most other outdoor theaters, the acoustics are god-awful…extraordinarily bad. So bad it often makes it hard to enjoy the music, or rather, always makes it hard to enjoy the music. Last Friday’s Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers show was no exception. But there were other factors that made for…

[Editor's note: Cover images of albums previously reviewed on the DV have been linked to the review.] "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" Led Zeppelin Sweet and a little sad with a weaving skiffle beat, this is no Immigrant Song or Kashmir’s churning beats and relentless drumming; instead, there’s a lovely innocence in this ode to Plant’s blue-eyed Merle dog , while Page’s melodic guitar lines weaving through hand-clap accented verses add a catchy lightness not immediately associated with Zeppelin. "Something In The Way" – Nirvana Propelled to the masses by the heart-pounding, dynamism of singles “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium,” 1991’s Nevermind…

Having lived in Southern California my entire life, I should probably be a little more beach-friendly. Still, even though I burn to a crisp pretty much instantly, there’s still a romanticism to the ocean I can’t help but adore: the churn of the waves, the scent of saltwater that clings to your skin, that wonderful sense of sun-soaked laziness. From rollicking, upbeat songs to wispier, more downbeat cuts, this mix is meant to recall those bright, blissful summer days, whether it’s through sun-soaked harmonies, crashing, surf-like instrumentation, or just by virtue of sea-themed titles. So, dive in! (Just don’t forget…