Author Archives: Natalie Tate

Few could anticipate the transformation of rock quintet O.A.R. from a local Ohio State frat band to a frequent and respected headliner across the country. O.A.R.’s moniker stands for “Of a Revolution,” which has so far turned out to be an apt description of the band’s success. Remarkably, O.A.R. expanded its fan base and achieved […]

Brooklyn-based rock quartet stellastarr* has heard critics link its music to everything remotely related to new-wave, from the Pixies to Talking Heads to The Cure and almost anything in between. But does anyone ever really confuse The Cure with the Pixies? How can one band be compared to multiple bands that have each crafted entirely […]

If a band has enjoyed both critical and popular success in the beginning stages of its career, switching up its lineup and reinventing its recording process for a new album could seem like a pretty risky move. Not so for the Seattle-based indie rockers who make up Death Cab For Cutie. Although they had already […]

For over three decades, the Louisiana-based Cajun band BeauSoleil has perfected a winning recipe for a unique style of music that’s just as appealing as any bowl of fresh New Orleans gumbo. In fact, BeauSoleil, which will play Tuesday at Royce Hall, melds so many genres of music, it has essentially created a flavor all […]

When Mark Carlson created the small chamber music ensemble Pacific Serenades, he never dreamed he’d still be performing with the group 22 years later. But somewhere along the line, Pacific Serenades found a niche in the Southern California classical music community. “There’s such immediacy to chamber music and such intimacy; it really feels like the […]

Not many students at UCLA can boast a résumé that includes several released albums. But Franklin Bruno, a philosophy graduate student currently finishing his dissertation, has also made a name for himself in the music industry. Bruno essentially belies the stereotype of the starving, Bohemian musician looking for a record deal. He has attended UCLA […]

Most major record labels could learn a thing or two from British singer Jem about how to make a great album and save quite a bit of money in the process. “I recorded all the vocals in my bedroom,” said Jem, who will be making her U.S. debut Saturday at the KCRW benefit concert, A […]