Brian Q. Newcomb 
Mavis Staples Live In London ANTI- [2019] Album Review: At 79 years old, Mavis Staples is an R&B institution who has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame, but she’s not sitting back on her laurels in a rocking chair at the living legends nursing home. … Read more
St. Paul & The Broken Bones; Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, February 22, 2019 Paul Janaway, lead vocalist and focus of attention in St. Paul & The Broken Bones, may have started his adult life as a preacher, but on Thursday night his only spoken message was quite brief: “alright, Cincinnati, it’s time to … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. This Land Warner Bros. [2019] Fire Note Says: “Guitar Man,” Gary Clark Jr. shows that he can do it all on his third major label album, This Land, from the traditional blues to rock & roll, pop, R&B, hip-hop and soul. Album Review: Near the end of Gary Clark Jr.’s latest album, … Read more
Three Merry Widows I Was The Moon Self-Released [2019] Fire Note Says: St. Louis folk rock band, Three Merry Widows reunites after 28 years to produce their sophomore album, a collection of mature folk rock songs that will leave you wanting more. Album Review: Once upon a time, the early 90’s to be exact, in … Read more
Bob Mould Sunshine Rock Merge Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Mould has always been one of alternative music’s bright shining stars. Album Review: Bob Mould makes a determined effort on his 14th solo studio album to turn from the darkness toward the light of Sunshine Rock. It’s a burst of positivity that he spells out … Read more
Jeff Johnson & Phil Keaggy Cappadocia Ark Music [2019] Fire Note Says: Johnson’s keyboards and Keaggy’s guitars find inspiration in the dramatic terrain and musical palette of the Middle East, resulting in mysterious, lush instrumentals. Album Review: Last year, new age instrumental artist Jeff Johnson released another of his wonderful collaborations with Irish flutist Brian … Read more
Smoking Popes Into The Agony Asian Man Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Chicago punk/pop Smoking Popes return with original line-up, and nod their heads as much to Judy Garland as they do to Jesus. Album Review: One of the albums that got lost in the shuffle of new releases late in the fall that’s worthy … Read more
Pedro The Lion Phoenix Polyvinyl Records [2019] Fire Note Says: It is the nature of the “Phoenix,” to rise up, lift off, and take flight – that is what David Bazan accomplishes on the return of Pedro the Lion. Album Review: It’s always a curious thing when an artist who is the dominant artistic driver … Read more
Midnight Oil Armistice Day: Live At The Domain, Sydney Sony Music [2018] Fire Note Says: The “Power And the Passion” lives on with this new burning live set from Midnight Oil. Album Review: One of the best bits of news early in 2017, was that Midnight Oil had reformed, and was planning a global tour, … Read more
Muse Simulation Theory Warner Bros. Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On their 8th album, Muse loosens the concept formula enough for more humanity to shine through their larger-than-life arena rock anthems. Album Review: Muse’s 8th album in their nearly 20 year career, starts off with a rhythmic drum beat that could easily have been designed … Read more
Jeff Tweedy WARM dBpm Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jeff Tweedy, of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, delivers a singer/songwriter solo turn that touches base with his roots rock/alt country origins. Album Review: One of the factors that attracts us to a certain writer, artist or musician is an ineffable sense that they have something in … Read more
The 1975 A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships Interscope Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Third album from The 1975 delivers more great pop melodies, with an undercurrent of loneliness and addiction… so it’s a party! Album Review: The 1975’s lead singer Matt Healy gets right to the point in “Give Yourself a Try,” the opening … Read more
Amanda Shires To The Sunset Silver Knife [2018] Fire Note Says: Amanda Shires’ may be best known as Jason Isbell’s wife and violinist in The 400 Unit, but on her 7th solo album she expresses her own poetic voice. Album Review: In her version of a “getting dumped” song, Amanda Shires’s heroine realizes that she’s … Read more
Fleet Foxes First Collection 2006-2009 Sub Pop Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On the 10th anniversary of Seatle’s Fleet Foxes eponymously-titled debut, the band has released a box set on vinyl and CD containing that breakout album, plus two early EPs along with some B-sides, rareties and demos, 30 tracks in all. Album Review: Listening … Read more
Peter Holsapple Game Day Omnivore Recordings [2018] Fire Note Says: Game Day is a fine current day collection of songs from Peter Holsapple, a welcome continuation of his long and storied career with the dB’s, a testament to the value of keeping on keeping on. Album Review: Peter Holsapple has had a long and prestigious … Read more
The Smashing Pumpkins Shiny And Oh So Bright Vol. 1/LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. Napalm Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Billy Corgan reunites with James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain, plus producer Rick Rubin, in an attempt to make up for lost ground… and it’s a nice start toward recovery. Album Review: Billy Corgan’s … Read more
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Live From The Ryman Southeastern Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jason Isbell and his fine band, The 400 Unit, deliver up the best of his last three albums recorded at sold-out shows at Nashvilles “Mother Church,” The Ryman Auditorium. Album Review: Jason Isbell has had a pretty good year, … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band Tour; Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH – Friday, November 9, 2018 On Friday night the big band led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks took the stage at the Palace Theatre for two solid sets that would lead anyone with good ears and an awareness of the roots music of American experience to … Read more
Billy F Gibbons & the BFG’s Big Bad Blues Concord Music [2018] Fire Note Says: ZZ Top guitarist goes back to explore his blues roots on his sophomore solo outing. Album Review: Okay, this no doubt shows my age, but there was a time before ZZ Top was best known for “Sharp Dressed Man” – … Read more
Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers Bought To Rot Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Laura Jane Grace steps away from Against Me! for a more personal, intimate and immediate album backed with her rhythm section, The Devouring Mothers. Album Review: When Laura Jane Grace sang Transgender Dysphoria Blues with her band Against Me!, … Read more
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Young Sick Camellia RECORDS/Sony Music [2018] Fire Note Says: St. Paul & The Broken Bones maintain their soulful energy. Album Review: With their third album in six years, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, no longer satisfied with being appreciated for their status as a world class retro-soul act … Read more
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Look Now Concord Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Elvis Costello returns for his second album in the 2010’s, echoing and growing on his previous collaboration with Burt Bacharach, so it turns out that sophisticated pop rock is this year’s model. Album Review: In the 2010’s, Elvis Costello, the iconic punk … Read more
John Hiatt The Eclipse Sessions New West Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 23rd album, The Eclipse Sessions, continues putting the stories of our lives, loves and families in accessible roots rock Americana. Album Review: In the opening lines of the opening song of John Hiatt’s 23rd album may tell the tale of the … Read more
MC50 “Kick Out The Jams” The 50th Anniversary Tour w/ The Detroit Cobras & Lift The Medium; Bogarts, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, October 25, 2018 Thursday night’s MC50 concert was a chance for some to revisit history, as the band’s original guitarist, Wayne Kramer, returned with an all-star supporting cast to relive the music of … Read more
Foxing Nearer My God Triple Crown [2018] Fire Note Says: St. Louis band Foxing makes bold, cinematic music, that both invites and withholds, marked by lush instrumentation, with passionate, at times paranoid, stacked vocals. Album Review: The third album from St. Louis band, Foxing, arrives in your speakers with an expected sense of presence and … Read more