Take a moment to learn more about some of the women of jazz who revolutionized instrumentation and performance during the height of the genre’s popularity. Mary Osborne Mary Osborne (1921-1992) is a celebrated guitarist who regularly performed and recorded with her fellow jazz greats of the era. She would go on to co-found the Osborne […]
“You may think I’m small but I have a universe inside my mind.” — Y.O. I have openly, blissfully, and shamelessly loved Yoko Ono for a while now — but it wasn’t always this way. It took years of personal growth and cultural deprogramming, followed by a yearlong deep dive into her work as part […]
I met Dan Sartain at the merch table after his November 8, 2004 show at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan. I bought two copies of Sartain Family Legacy 1981-1998 and we made small talk. He complimented me on the suit I was wearing (I’d come straight from my grandpa’s funeral) and me saying I […]
Article by Matt Kumma Neil Finn has been my king of rock n’ roll for nearly 35 years. He’s written some of the best songs I’ve ever heard, has several slots on my top-albums-of-all-time list, was invited to join one of the greatest rock bands ever, and always has good hair. I was a Split […]
The Oscar-winning 2013 documentary 20 Feet From Stardom shone a light on legendary backing vocalists such as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill, all of whom have collaborated with some of music’s biggest names. Another vocalist that could’ve easily been profiled in the film is Venetta Fields. Born in 1941, the Buffalo native spent […]
Take a moment to learn more about some of the women of punk who pioneered the style in the 1970s and ‘80s. Jayne County Jayne County (b. 1947) is a queer and trans punk trailblazer who is often considered the first openly transgender singer in rock. Although she is a rock legend, she is also […]
Take a moment to learn more about some of the important women who developed early electronic music in the 20th century and join the conversation on Instagram. Johanna Magdalena Beyer Johanna Magdalena Beyer (1888-1944) is the first female composer to create work for electronic instruments back in the 1930s. Although she did not reach notoriety […]
More people are familiar with the cover art from Daniel Johnston’s sixth album, the 1983 self-released Hi, How Are You, than they are with the singer-songwriter himself. The front image, a black-and-white line drawing of a frog-like creature with eyes on long stalks (known as “Jeremiah the Innocent”), was emblazoned on a T-shirt worn by […]
Pino Palladino was finishing up his bass parts on a Common album when a request came as a bolt from the blue: Could he join The Who this weekend? While in Philadelphia wrapping up work on the MC’s 2002 album Electric Circus, the bassist rang his wife, Maz, who informed him he probably wouldn’t be […]
King Gheedorah. The Supervillain. Viktor Vaughn. Metal Fingers. Daniel Dumile went by many names, but the biggest was MF DOOM (don’t forget the all-caps) and his secret identity has been hidden by an iconic metal mask since the late-1990s. While MF DOOM never quite slipped into the mainstream during his nearly three-decade-long career, he is […]
