Posted by Leilani Polk on Jun. 5, 2009, at 2:14 pm
Several days ago, while watching Marco Benevento fire up his piano on a YouTube video, I got to thinking — who are some of the best keyboardists around right now, the ones who truly bring chops to the table, either via instrumental compositions, or songwriting, or both? I’ve tried to go less obvious — no one’s questioning the skills of Gregg Allman, or Keith Emerson, or Count Basie, or Richard Wright, or George Duke, or Dr. John, or interchangeable piano men Billy Joel and Elton John, or even the wondrous Stevie Wonder. We all already know those dudes are at the top. But what about some of the less obvious, but no less great? In the vein of Ivan’s Top 5 Bass Players Ever — except that, despite the title of my post, I’m not really claiming these are the best key players ever, just my favorites — I’ve put together the following list, in no particular order, and with video.
Marco Benevento
He’s among the most talented keyboardists around right now, in my humble opinion. He’s pretty hip to current technology and usually incorporates it into his compositions. I’ve seen him play in his main band with drummer Joe Russo, the Benevento/Russo Duo, I’ve seen him perform as part of a Led Zeppelin tribute, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, I’ve seen him tear it up with Russo, Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio during the GRAB tour, and I’ve seen him in his solo project, a trio with badass bassist Reed Mathis and drummer Matt Chamberlain. The following video Marco with his trio playing “Twin Killers” from a May 13 show in Philly.
Deerhunter plays at Czar to packed house. Photo by MatthewParke
With arrival of folksy revivalists like Iron and Wine, Devendra Banhart and Bon Iver, it would seem that the charge of the minimal guitar is relentless. Deerhunter is proving wrong those that believe loud guitars are on the fritz. An ambient, post-punk band with a scotch of garage finesse took over Czar’s stage late Monday night.
Their album is tame compared the show the audience received that night. Ambient garage punk with melody, and it was loud. Whenever drummer Moses Archuleta hit bass drum on his set, the whole audience felt its thud. “Is this amp too loud? Is my guitar to loud?” asked vocalist, guitarist and band front man Branford Cox. Halfway through the set, Moses had busted through his bass drum. Opening band Summerbirds in the Cellar’s bass drum fearfully took its place. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Leilani Polk on Dec. 18, 2008, at 7:35 pm
U2 announces the release date (March 3, 2009) and the title of (No Line on the Horizon) their forthcoming 12th album.
AllMusic.com releases part two of its list of “Favorite Indie Rock Albums of 2008.” Among the selected albums: Sea Lion by The Ruby Sons (which didn’t quite make my own top ten, but was still quite a nice work); M83’s Saturdays=Youth (pretty great shoegaze but haven’t gotten to listen to it enough to really rate it); No Age’s Nouns (didn’t really dig it); and Chemical Chords by Stereolab (good, but not too different from the past three Stereolab albums).
Peter Jackson hires on Brian Eno to score his latest film, The Lovely Bones, an adaptation of Alice Sebold’s novel about a teenage girl who is viciously raped and murdered, and watches from heaven as her family and friends deal with their grief.
who are some of the best keyboardists around right now, the ones who truly bring chops to the table, either via instrumental compositions, or songwriting, or both? I’ve tried to go less obvious — no one’s questioning the skills of Gregg Allman, or Keith Emerson, or Count Basie, or Richard Wright, or George Duke, or Dr. John, or interchangeable piano men Billy Joel and Elton John, or even the wondrous Stevie Wonder. We all already know those dudes are at the top. But what about some of the less obvious, but no less great? In the vein of Ivan’s Top 5 Bass Players Ever — except that, despite the title of my post, I’m not really claiming these are the best key players ever, just my favorites — I’ve put together the following list, in no particular order, and with video.
