Category: Music
RIP Chuck Berry – The True King of Rock and Roll
It is impossible to calculate what the world would sound like without Chuck Berry. What would music be? What would a guitar solo...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP23: The One-Year Anniversary “Best Of” Episode
One year ago today, I launched the Department of Tangents Blog & Podcast, a place where I could write about my love of...... Read More
Kier Byrnes & Friends Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Blarney
March is always a busy month for Boston musician Kier Byrnes. He can’t remember exactly when it started, but he has been playing...... Read More
DoT Minicast: Son of the Velvet Rat’s Georg Altziebler Talks the Shimmering New Dorado
Welcome to a new Department of Tangents Minicast with Georg Altziebler, singer/songwriter behind Son of the Velvet Rat. In February, Son of the...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP22: Birds of Chicago on Touring and Love In Wartime, Plus New Comedy from Jenny Zigrino
This week on the Department of Tangents Podcast, a conversation with Allison Russell and JT Nero of Birds of Chicago, plus a preview...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP21: Twenty Years of “The State of the Industry” with Andy Kindler, Music from Birds of Chicago
For twenty years, Andy Kindler has been making hamburger of sacred cows with his State of the Industry Address at the Just For...... Read More
New Release Roundup: New Shades of Blue with Son Volt
Son Volt – Notes of Blue If there is one consistency throughout Jay Farrar’s career, from Uncle Tupelo to Son Volt to New...... Read More
Horror Anthology XX Offers A Quartet of Disturbing Films; Out Feb. 17
XX “Four Deadly Tales from Four Female Filmmakers” Directors: Jovanka Vuckovic, Annie Clark, Roxanne Benjamin, and Karyn Kusama Starring: Natalie Brown (“The Box”),...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP 20: Comedian Nick Vatterott on Being Strange, New Music from the Chandler Travis Philharmonic
Nick Vatterott doesn’t like being strange for the sake of being strange. He won the Andy Kaufman Award in 2011, but he’s uncomfortable...... Read More
Spotify Playlist of Department of Tangents Podcast Guests!
If you’re a Spotify person, I have created a playlist made up of musicians and comedians who have appeared on the Department of...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mortal Comedy from Joe DeRosa, Chandler Travis’s Strange Pop, Beach Slang’s Energetic Nostalgia
COMEDY 1. Joe DeRosa – You Let Me Down The funniest, most startling bit on Joe DeRosa’s new album, You Let Me Down,...... Read More
DoT Minicast: Glenn Mercer On The Feelies New Album
The Feelies are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year with the release of In Between, their sixth album, on February 24 (look for...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mega Bog, Frederick the Younger, Rose Cousins, and Duke Garwood
MUSIC 1. Mega Bog – Happy Together The third or fourth time I listened through Happy Together, Mega Bog’s first full-length album since...... Read More
Coming Up: Rosie Carney’s “Awake Me”
Rosie Carney writes haunting music, watery soundscapes with delicate vocals that fit the introspection of the lyrics. She has yet to release a...... Read More
DoT Podcast Ep19: All the Hyphens with Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller/Humorist Don White
I heard Don White on the radio long before I met him. He would tell these wonderful stories about his family, often followed...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Ty Segall’s Focused Freak-out, Tift Merritt’s Songs of Quiet Strength, John Craigie’s Joyful Jamboree
MUSIC 1. Ty Segall – Ty Segall Ty Segall has been rocking like it’s 1969 since 2008, releasing a torrent of albums thick...... Read More
Jason Isbell Joins Drive-By Truckers Onstage in Nashville
The Drive-By Truckers had a special guest last night at the Ryman Auditorium. The band is on tour supporting their hard-rocking, politically-charged new...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast: Tall Heights on Neptune, Busking, and 2017
Tim Harrington and Paul Wright, better known as Boston-based folk duo Tall Heights, are taking a little time to breathe to start off...... Read More
New Release Roundup: A Blast of Rock with Bash & Pop, Blues with David “Honeyboy” Edwards
MUSIC 1. Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen Tough to review a Bash & Pop album. Tommy Stinson already gave you all...... Read More
New Release Round-up: The Flaming Lips, The Molochs, and The Wood Brothers and comedy from Kelly MacFarland and Lachlan Patterson
MUSIC 1. The Flaming Lips – Oczy Mlody The way Wayne Coyne described the idea behind “Oczy Mlody,” it sounds like the concept...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Elemental Rock and Roll with The I Don’t Cares and Ray Mason
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: The Dean Ween Group’s Happy-Inducing Deaner Album
The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Roger Hoover Returns with Pastures
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Mavis Staples’ Livin’ On A High Note
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
Happy Funky New Year!
This is my sole New Year’s resolution for 2017. I give it about a week before I am forced to do something non-funky....... Read More
A Note on Insignificance for the New Year
This time of year has a way of making you feel a bit small. Looking back on things you didn’t get done, trying...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Childish Gambino’s Frank-Like Awaken, My Love!
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Guests Review Bowie, Nick Cave, Abbie Barrett, Guided By Voices, Tycho, and Train
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Joe Henry and Billy Bragg’s Record on the Rails
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More