Hawk and Steel - "Danger Road"

"In the title track of the band's first full-length album Danger Road (released November 2012), Hawk and Steel create a quiet calm through the music they play, arranging delicate melodies around lyrics that whisper."

Published by 1146miles.com on December 27, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/hawk-and-steel-danger-road/

Band to Watch: Vasa Debuts with Powerful Instrumental Rock EP

"If you like the complex layering and musical buildup of bands like Explosions in the Sky, you'll love these guys."

Published by 1146miles.com on December 21, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/band-to-watch-vasa-debuts-with-powerful-instrumental-rock-ep/

Lifehouse Teams Up with Peter Frampton in "Right Back Home"

"The guys are working to update their identity in the ever-changing music world, but at the end of the day they still have the sweet combination of underlying guitar harmonies and singer Jason Wade's spot-on vocals."

Published by 1146miles.com on December 18, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/lifehouse-teams-up-with-peter-frampton-in-right-back-home/

Dead Feather Moon Interview

San Diego Music Award winners Dead Feather Moon gave me a few minutes of their time at their Vista, California practice space to answer questions about the new material they're working on and their upcoming "end of the world" concert at the Belly Up Tavern on December 21.

Published on the Belly Up Tavern's venue website for the December 21, 2012 event listing.

Read the full interview below:

Battle Born, by the Killers

"Battle Born is a progressive next step for the Killers, reflective and mature even as it retains the grand flourishes and heavy synth trademarks the band is known for."

Review of the Killers' 2012 album Battle Born.
Published by the San Diego Reader on December 14, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/dec/14/cd-embattle-bornem-killers/

In Memoriam: Ravi Shankar

A tribute to the legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar.

Published by 1146miles.com on December 12, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/in-memoriam-ravi-shankar/

Wrex the Halls: San Diego's 91X Turns Up the Volume

2012's 91x Wrex the Halls featured performances by the Killers, Imagine Dragons, Passion Pit, M83, Tegan and Sara, Youngblood Hawke, the Joy Formidable and Audio Addiction.

Review of 91x's annual Wrex the Halls concert on December 7, 2012.
Published by 1146miles.com on December 11, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/featured/wrex-the-halls-san-diegos-91x-turns-up-the-volume/

Tarantino Film Features Blues Artist Brother Dege

"Too Old to Die Young," a rootsy recording that represents the modern Delta Blues genre well, was released nearly three years ago on Brother Dege's album Folk Songs of the American Longhair; like the album's other tracks, "Too Old" recalls the past in a way that is special to the blues genre, and its lyrics make it timeless."

Published by 1146miles.com on November 30, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/tarantino-film-features-blues-artist-brother-dege/

The Weepies Keep the World Goin' Round

"Some songs come and go, others stick around for the long haul. "World Spins Madly On" is a tune off the folk duo the Weepies' 2005 album Say I Am You that isn't going anywhere - at least not for a while."

Published by 1146miles.com on November 27, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/the-weepies-keep-the-world-goin-round/

Bear Colony Sets an Ear Trap with "Flask Retort"

"Flask Retort" is an indie-electro-pop piece that mixes dream-like soundscapes with slightly eerie "ooh"-ing vocals that immediately grab the listener's attention (and apparently don't let go until the hypnosis has been formally addressed)."

Published by 1146miles.com on November 17, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/bear-colony-sets-an-ear-trap-with-flask-retort/

Windsor Drive - "Sleepwalking"

"After fueling their early years of touring with little other than motivation, Windsor Drive caught several breaks over the last couple years through opportunities to open for Imagine Dragons, Kris Allen and He Is We, to name a few."

Published by 1146miles.com on November 13, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/windsor-drive-sleepwalking/

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Cover the 1967 Jefferson Airplane Classic "White Rabbit"

On Halloween night, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals took the stage at the House of Blues in San Diego, California. Decked out in spacesuit costumes, the band performed tracks from their latest record The Lion the Beast the Beat, a few fan favorites from past years and even a mesmerizing rendition of the hallowed "White Rabbit."

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at San Diego's House of Blues on October 31, 2012.
Published on 1146miles.com on November 5, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/music/grace-potter-the-nocturnals-cover-the-1967-jefferson-airplane-classic-white-rabbit/

The Sheepdogs Rock the Casbah

Fourteen months after becoming the first unsigned band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, the Sheepdogs traveled to San Diego, California to perform a set at the Casbah. A couple hours before the show, I sat down with lead singer Ewan Currie to hear his take on the band's sudden rise to fame.

Published by 1146miles.com on October 29, 2012.
Read the full interview here: http://1146miles.com/music/the-sheepdogs-rock-the-casbah/

Rich - "Alone"

"If you have a road trip coming up and are working on a playlist for the drive, Rich Michalowski's "Alone" should definitely be on it."

Published by 1146miles.com on October 24, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/rich-alone/

The Temper Trap - "Fader"

"Fader" is the third song on Conditions, the album's second official single and a constant concert staple. It has a catchy beat, a fun chorus and the lyrics are surprisingly deep and thought-provoking for such an up-tempo song."

Published by 1146miles.com on October 18, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/the-temper-trap-fader/

The Musical Vision of Impossible Bird

The Seattle-based acoustic duo Impossible Bird spoke with me in an exclusive phone interview to discuss their unique outdoor concerts, the recording process for their debut EP and the queries they always get from journalists about the Stroh violin.

Published by 1146miles.com on October 15, 2012.
Read the full interview here: http://1146miles.com/featured/the-musical-vision-of-impossible-bird/

Wrabel - "Office Lights"

"Wrabel's style is reminiscent of Mat Kearney's City of Black & White collection, but where Kearney went for comprehensive production to back up his vocals, Wrabel breaks it down, depending primarily on a simple piano track to soar alongside his voice."

Published by 1146miles.com on October 8, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/wrabel-office-lights/

Kickin' It at the Viper Room - The Tyler Bryant Interview

The emerging guitar prodigy Tyler Bryant took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his musical background and the upcoming release of his band's debut album Wild Child. Later that night, I watched the band of four take the stage at Los Angeles' iconic Viper Room and play as if their lives depended on it.

Published by 1146miles.com on October 1, 2012.
Read the full interview here: http://1146miles.com/music/kickin-it-at-the-viper-room-the-tyler-bryant-interview/

New Hands - "Whichever Way You'll Have It"

"Whichever Way You'll Have It" combines elements of electro-pop and techno - it echoes with wave after wave of catchy beats beneath lyrics that outline a relationship in limbo."

Published by 1146miles.com on September 25, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/new-hands-whichever-way-youll-have-it/

Mumford & Sons: Babel Review

"The band's sophomore album Babel arrives as the result of a hectic touring schedule and the band's desire to create a record that retains the authentic sound fans have grown infatuated with at a tempo that resembles their energetic performances."

Review of Mumford & Sons' 2013 album Babel.
Read the full review below:

Rival Sons Return with Explosive New Album

"Say it with me: Rival Sons. Get used to the name, because odds are good you'll be hearing it often in the coming years."

Review of Rival Sons' 2012 album Head Down.
Published by 1146miles.com on September 19, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/music/rival-sons-return-with-explosive-new-album/

Big Chocolate's "Blue Milk"

"If you're looking for something to kick off your next dance party, here is a song that passes my little sister test."

Published by 1146miles.com on September 18, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/big-chocolates-blue-milk/

Torches - "I Want Something"

"With a ringing opening riff that echoes on to the end, "I Want Something" is sweet and soothing the whole way through, the kind of fun summer song that is likely to spark memories of driving by the beach with the top down and the sun shining infinitely against a cloudless blue sky."

Published by 1146miles.com on September 13, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/torches-i-want-something/

The Sheepdogs

"First on the radar for engrossing September releases is the Sheepdogs, a band that's bringing the boogie back through their feel-good contributions to Southern rock."

Review of the Sheepdogs' self-titled 2012 album.
Published by the San Diego Reader on September 6, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/sep/06/sheepdogs/

The Sheepdogs - "I Need Help"

"Though the band hails from the large Saskatchewan city Saskatoon, their music is reminiscent of prominent Southern rock groups that endured extensive fame and fortune in the 1970s."

Published by 1146miles.com on September 6, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/the-sheepdogs-i-need-help/

Video Flashback - Straylight Run

"While some bands use film as a way to bring new stories to life with the featured song functioning merely as an inconsequential soundtrack, Straylight Run makes very literal use of their lyrics from start to finish."

Published by 1146miles.com on September 4, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/video/video-flashback-straylight-run/

Band of Horses - "Knock Knock"

"With folksy-alternative roots, ["Knock Knock"] is in the same vein as songs like "The Funeral" from [Band of Horses'] 2006 debut Everything All the Time and the more recent "The General Specific" off Cease to Begin. It just makes for a very unique music video."

Published by 1146miles.com on August 29, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/band-of-horses-knock-knock/

Steve Vai - The Story of Light

"Genre infusions, guest appearances and Vai's trademark talent all surround an exquisite musical and lyrical narrative, the breadth of which will remain a mystery until Vai unveils his third and final album in the series at some point in the future."

Review of Steve Vai's 2012 album The Story of Light.
Published by 1146miles.com on August 21, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/music/steve-vai-the-story-of-light/

Music as Sublime: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Music has a way of unveiling its power at unexpected times in unexpected places. I certainly did not expect to learn about my environmental science professor's deep connection to the blues - yet one day, he decided to share with the class a story "of how music had overwhelmed him to the point of emotional and spiritual transformation."

Published by 1146miles.com on August 15, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/music-as-sublime-tedeschi-trucks-band/

Mumford & Sons - "I Will Wait"

"Our folksy friends Mumford & Sons are back, and their latest single "I Will Wait" does not disappoint."

Published by 1146miles.com on August 12, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/mumford-sons-i-will-wait/

A Silent Film - "Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well"

"Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well" is an alternative pop anthem by A Silent Film, an English band that released their sophomore album Sand & Snow earlier this summer and have a follow-up EP that came out August 5."

Published by 1146miles.com on August 7, 2012.
Read the feature in full here: http://1146miles.com/music/a-silent-film-danny-dakota-the-wishing-well/

The Barr Brothers – “Beggar in the Morning”

"From the gentle lead-in to the majestic chorus, "Beggar in the Morning" captures that special early-morning moment of peace and contentment."

Read the feature in full below:

Ponderosa - Pool Party

"Genre classification is a very tricky thing in music - with a seemingly endless supply of genres and sub-genres available to help mold our interpretations of albums and singles, it's no wonder so many bands resist being pigeonholed into such narrow categories. Enter Ponderosa."

Review of Ponderosa's 2012 album Pool Party.
Published by 1146miles.com on August 1, 2012.
Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/music/ponderosa-pool-party/

Rising Star: Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown

"Get ready to clear a path through today's sludge of auto-tuned vocals and repetitive refrains. There's an emerging guitar god in our midst, and it's just a matter of time before he flips the rock 'n roll switch back on."

Review of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown's 2011 EP From the Sandcastle.

Published by 1146miles.com on July 28, 2012.

Read the full review here: http://1146miles.com/music/tyler-bryant-the-shakedown/