The glass bottom boat of the cultural press
At first, the Mercury Program remind me of a more rockin’ and less minimalistic Slint. The music is driven by a snare drum, and includes rhythmic bass, playful, unconventional guitar, and spoken vocals. Of the bands influenced by Slint, this is one of the more original and by far better ones out there. Never sounding contrived or forced.
Boxcar Records, P.O. Box 1141, Melbourne, FL 32902; http://www.boxcarrecords.com
Small-town Grand Junction, Colorado, comes out in droves to Slamming Bricks 2023, as our beloved queer community event eclipses its beginnings to command its largest audience yet. Liz Weiss reviews the performance, a bittersweet farewell both to and from the Grand Valley’s most mouthy rebel organizer, Caleb Ferganchick.
Carl F. Gauze reviews Dreamers Never Die, the loving documentary on the career of rocker extraordinaire Ronnie James Dio.
The iconic rock and roll magazine from the 1960s is back and just as relevant and snotty as ever.
This week, Christopher Long nearly fights a famed rock star in defense of his 1970s pin-up princess. To prove his point, Chris goes into his own garage and digs out his musty vinyl copy of the self-titled 1972 alt. country classic from Linda Ronstadt.
A former convict returns to London to avenge his former enemies and save his daughter. Carl F. Gauze reviews the Theater West End production of Sweeney Todd.
This week, cuddly curmudgeon Christopher Long finds himself feeling even older as he hobbles through a Florida flea market in pursuit of vinyl copies of the four infamous KISS solo albums — just in time to commemorate the set’s milestone 45th anniversary.
Starting with small-time jobs, two gangsters take over all the crime in Marseilles in this well-paced and entertaining French film. Carl F. Gauze reviews the freshly released Arrow Video Blu-ray edition of Borsalino (1970).