Gail Worley gets the definitive interview out of Secret Machines’ feisty drummer Josh Garza. She calls them a grunge Be Bop Deluxe, but in a good way.

One of America’s best live bands, Wilco , try not to overextend themselves as they work out the kinks on the first date of their current U.S. tour. Sean Slone caught the beginning of the long, hot trek in Cincinnati.

Dark Days/Light Years (Rough Trade Records). Review by Tim Wardyn.

The English Beat refuses to die with the ’80s. Ink 19’s Robert M. Sutton chats with The Beat’s Dave Wakeling about the early days of the 2-Tone ska revival in England and the challenge of taking the past back into the future.

Lynn Wallace talks to Miniature Tigers front man Charlie Brand about the band’s first full-length album, touring, and its recent rise to fame.

Replica Sun Machine (Wall of Sound). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

Saving America. Review by Robert M. Sutton.

The Bright Orange Years (Merge Records). Review by Scott Adams.

Apple. Review by Michael Sutton.

Don’t mind the cheap seats, people. When legendary performers like Elton John and Billy Joel take the stage together, memorable moments happen all around you. Christopher Long caught the opening date of the 2009 Face 2 Face Tour to soak up the sweet music.

Dr. Dog’s recent concert at Orlando’s Social conjures up both Frampton Comes Alive and Flavor of Love for S D Green. Believe it or not, this is a good thing.

Cosmo’s Factory / Pendulum (Fantasy/Concord Records). Review by Christopher Long.

William Weikart , the mastermind behind the band Obscured by Clouds , is one literate and surprising person. Tim Wardyn unveils Weikart’s impressive cast of influences (including Chris Cornell and Baroque music), how ex-girlfriends contributed to one of the best songs on their album Psycheclectic, and how his bandmate Thee Slayer Hippy got his name.

Matthew Moyer swoons over the voices inside the heads of The Legendary Pink Dots.

With a stage show more akin to performance art than rock concert, Of Montreal is anything but subtle. Jen Cray did not wear a pink leotard or face paint to the Orlando show, but she enjoyed it all the same.

Jen Cray is thoroughly rocked by a triple bill of Rise Against, Thrice, and Alkaline Trio. All killer, no filler? The point can be argued…

Matt Parish looks into the eyes of soul at a recent Leon Russell show.

When Gothic godfather (oh stop it) Peter Murphy swept into Jacksonville on the 4th of July with a bag full of hits and Bauhaus classics, Matthew Moyer dropped his bottle rockets and went to check out the REAL fiireworks.

After an unusual Orlando set, Portugal. The Man’s talented John Baldwin Gourley stepped outside for a chat with Jen Cray.

A Little Mess/The Dance EP (Hybris). Review by Aaron Shaul.