Father John Misty back with his fourth studio album
May 9, 2019
"God’s Favorite Customer" is the fourth album by indie singer/songwriter Father John Misty. Released in 2018, it was received well by critics and fans alike but wasn’t nominated for any big awards. I was a little shocked that this release came as quickly as it did. His previous release, "Pure Comedy...
Kickin’ it with Dropkick Murphys
April 24, 2019
It’s the Friday evening of St. Patrick’s day weekend and my boyfriend and I are headed to Boston, Massachusetts to celebrate the best way we know how: by going to a Dropkick Murphys concert. I, being a frequent Boston adventurer, knew better than to drive to the venue (The Boston House of Blues)...
“Turn Blue” with the Black Keys
April 4, 2019
The Black Keys album, “Turn Blue” was released in 2014 to positive reviews from most music critics and was listed as third on Rolling Stone’s top albums of 2014 list. It was nominated for best rock album at the Grammys and their single “Fever” received several nominations. This marked the...
An a-maiz-ing performance with an Afro-Carribean twist
April 4, 2019
On March 26, Burlington-based Afro-Latino band Mal Maiz rocked NVU- Johnson’s Stearns Performance Space. I attended with a few of my friends who were also intrigued by the Creative Audience posters posted around campus. It looked like a funky, alternative jazz show of sorts, but what it ended up being...
Grande’s new album, “thank you, next” a success
March 21, 2019
Move over ladies in the spotlight, Ariana Grande has done it again. For those of you who thought that Ariana Grande’s reign ended in 2016 with her album “Dangerous Woman,” you might want to take a seat. Grande got her start in Hollywood on the Nickelodeon TV show “Victorious,” where she...
Courtney Barnett: perfectly imperfect
March 21, 2019
“Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit” by Courtney Barnett appeared on the indie-alternative scene in 2015 and has become a must-listen for fans of her music. It was received well from critics and fans alike, and was considered one of the top albums of the year. Barnett herself was...
Still channeling Led Zeppelin
February 21, 2019
Greta Van Fleet’s new album “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” is the band’s first full-length album. It has earned new fans with this release, but a lot of controversy as well. Hailing from a small town in Michigan, Greta Van Fleet band consists of three brothers doing vocals, bass, and electric...
Tame Impala shines bright with “Currents”
February 8, 2019
Tame Impala’s most recent album, “Currents,” is a staple of the modern indie scene that has listeners coming back to it time and time again three years after its release. To start off this album review, let’s start with the band that created this album. The band isn’t a group of musicians....
Spotify wraps up the year
December 14, 2018
So the other day, I was running out of my apartment late for a class, had some weird brown crud on my chin, and I had totally forgotten to do some homework assignment for that day. I had my headphones on and opened up the Spotify app to play some music when I saw that 2018 Wrapped in front of my scree...
Soulphonics lay it down with hot tunes on a cold night
December 6, 2018
Those willing to brave the elements on the 13th were met by a warm atmosphere in Dibden Theater at NVU-J. Ruby Velle and The Soulphonics, a stax-style southern soul band from Atlanta, rocked the house with their upbeat, groovy tunes, despite various technical difficulties. Overall, the show was a succ...
Fourth chapter in The Story So Far
December 6, 2018
The Story So Far released its fourth album on Sept. 21 of this year through Pure Noise Records. The Walnut Creek, California pop punk band is comprised of lead vocalist Parker Cannon, bassist Kelen Capener, lead guitar and keyboardist, Kevin Geyer, drummer and percussionist, Ryan Torf, and rhythm guitar...
Madalia’s less-than-inspiring show
September 18, 2018
On Sept. 5, Northern Vermont University- Johnson’s Dibden Center for the Arts witnessed the slightly less than mediocre band that was “Madaila.” “Madaila” is a psych-pop band from Burlington, Vermont composed of five members, Mark Daly, Willoughby Morse, Eric B Maier, Dan Ryan and Jer Coons. The...
“Lotta Sea Lice,” give it a try
April 26, 2018
“Lotta Sea Lice” by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile is the first album that they have released as a duo. This album was released in 2017 on Milk! Records, Barnett’s label, and Matador Records, Vile’s label. For those who don’t know, Barnett and Vile are indie rock artists known worldwide...
Father John Misty’s got the world by the balls in “Pure Comedy”
March 15, 2018
“Pure Comedy,” the third album released by Father John Misty, is his best since his departure from Fleet Foxes. This album, produced by Misty and released in April of 2017, peaked at the number one spot for rock and alternative music on Billboard. It takes a hard look into themes like religion, humanity...
Red Baraat blends Latino melodies with Arabic chords
Photo and story by Adriana Eldred
March 15, 2018
Red Baraat graced the Dibden theater on Wednesday, Feb. 21, with its extraordinarily unique sound. About a third of the auditorium was occupied; many didn’t know what to expect, including myself, as there are many bands that have performed for Creative Audience events that have varied greatly in style...
Pierce the Veil offers listeners red and orange hues of a West Coast sunset
March 23, 2017
Few artists have parlayed their collective frustration and vision into rich songwriting quite like Pierce the Veil has with its fourth full-length album, “Misadventures.” After six years of nonstop touring around the world, the San Diego-bred post-hardcore quartet had a breakthrough moment in...
Steady as she goes
March 9, 2017
I like to think of the Steady Betty concert from March 2 in Dibden as a two-layered cake. The icing was not smooth and well decorated, but both layers of cake were moist and satisfying, and the icing melted in the mouth. The bottom layer of the cake was a rich chocolate flavor and arguably the most important...
A look back at Coheed and Cambria’s first album
February 2, 2017
It begins with a rustling and a soft twang. The anticipation builds in those few seconds, just before the soft, eerie strings enter. Then the percussion clashes, and the piano player plucks out a melody which will become a motif as the album dives into its rock-metal hybrid epic. This is how “The Second...
2016’s top 6 albums: diverse new music from veteran artists
December 8, 2016
The year 2016 will be remembered more for its political discord than it will be for a diverse selection of new music. Through all of the static, the unnecessary noise of political punditry and the derision elicited from those in high office, newsrooms and living rooms, 2016 managed to produce a rich...
Bands plug in solar style on Earth Day
May 8, 2014
Extracurricular student bands helped keep the excitement high for the Johnson Earth Day celebration Thursday, March 24. With music on the quad during the day and a bonfire concert at Lowpo in the afternoon Johnson students were able to take full advantage of the solar power provided by the Solar Bus...
College alumnus brings Nashville to WJSC
March 15, 2014
Rooted in the Country is the best of traditional country music, rockabilly, bluegrass, gospel, and Vermont artist,” said Corey Ryder, a Johnson State College alumnus whose radio show “Rooted in the Country” has brought nationally renown artist to WJSC 90.7 Ryder is a self-proclaimed historian...
Kat Wright bares her soul band at Radio Bean
March 15, 2014
What does the word indomitable mean anyway? Big, loud, full of energy, perhaps? At Burlington’s Radio Bean on Thursday nights, something truly big is going on. Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band presides every Thursday evening at 11:30. Vocalist Kat Wright is backed by a band with a sound...
Eco-Band keeps the dead alive
March 15, 2014
An African-American woman dragged herself across the stage. Years weighed her down. She started by thanking Goddard College. Audience members looked at each other. Someone yelled, “This is Johnson State College!” The speaker didn’t understand. The someone repeated, “This is Johnson State...
Beyonce’s Declaration of Independence
February 6, 2014
Many celebrated as Beyoncé Knowles became Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and I, like many others, rejoiced when the two superstars had a child together. They deserve a break, they are busy with baby Blue. No one expects a new wife and mother to create the best work of her career. Beyoncé fans were pro...
Waka Flocka Flame lights up B-Town
February 6, 2014
Energetic hip/hop star Waka Flocka Flame passed through Burlington on Jan. 25, bringing his effective hype crew with him and an arsenal of fun beats to rap and scream over, offering a show that was one hell of a good time. Waka Flocka Flame has earned success and mainstream attention after the release...
Springsteen ‘75 re-materializes, says: “I’ve seen some shit”
February 6, 2014
Even those who are simply aware of Bruce Springsteen’s continued existence probably remember his album “The Rising.” It came out just after 9/11, when we were searching for landmarks of American identity, it reunited Springsteen with his legendary E Street Band, with which he hadn’t laid down...
Stearns hosts Vermont Bluegrass legends
November 27, 2013
Stearns Performance Space was home to an interesting night of Bluegrass originals and traditional music Wednesday, Nov. 13. Opening the show, Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing mixed their distinctly northern Bluegrass with traditional southern Bluegrass music to create a sound that proved to be both...
Kanye’s “Yeezus” tour heals author’s vertigo
Tom Benton, Surrogate Jimmy Stewart
November 19, 2013
Kanye West is in the middle of his "Yeezus Tour," his first tour in five years (the last one supported his 2008 album "808s and Heartbreak," his devastation record; this one supports "Yeezus," his ego record, w...
“Artpop,” Lady Gaga’s turn-on
November 14, 2013
I resisted “The Fame,” Lady Gaga’s first album, with ease (“Bad Romance” felt too shticky, “Just Dance” my ass), then accepted her second album, “Born This Way,” because not only didn’t she disappear, like I thought she would, she came back trying. Her new album...
Rough Francis: not rough at all
October 15, 2013
I’ve been listening to a lot of earthy girl-rock lately, ‘90’s stuff: Jonatha Brooke, Bic Runga, the Sundays, the usual suspects. Rough Francis, the 3/5 black punk group that played Dibden on Oct. 2, reminded me what I was missing. They injected a strengthening shot of masculine thrust into my...
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