Fans of performer Josh Rouse will not be able to see him in concert at MSU this weekend as previously planned. Because of low ticket sales due to the upcoming basketball games, the singer/songwriter's show with Amy Correia on Saturday has been canceled.
Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at MSU, stood at a small black music stand in front of a handful of students gathered in the Music Practice Building on Monday evening.
There comes a point in every musician's career when he or she faces a crucial decision: Should I try something new?
The blended sounds of flute, bassoon, piano and vocal harmonies filled the basement of the Music Practice Building on Wednesday morning as Michelle Knechtges guided a group of students through a song. "I wrote it," she said, grinning and pointing at her name on the top of the sheet music. The 49-year-old Mason resident held a microphone near her mouth and sang alto harmonies to the tune, titled "I Am Happy," for which she penned the lyrics, chord progressions and melodies for all instrument and vocal parts. Wednesday's practice session was in preparation for Knechtges' upcoming performance in the "Celebrate Abilities" recital this Friday on campus.
There often is a very thin line between genius and crazy. One particular New Jersey hip-hop trio is definitely walking this line with its newest album, a disc that teeters dangerously between cutting-edge brilliance and absolute insanity. "Absence" is the third studio album for hip-hop group Dälek, pronounced "dialect." The album already is being hailed by some critics as a daring step into new musical territory, a mind-blowing masterpiece following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Public Enemy and KRS-One.
It's hard to recognize Emma Bunton these days without those baby doll dresses, pigtails and the nickname Baby Spice.
Just because it's not the weekend yet doesn't mean you can't still rock out. There's plenty of live local music happening in the area this week to tide you over until Friday and Saturday night.
When you've got almost a 10-year legacy of politically charged, reggae-infused ska/punk behind you, sending listeners on a genre roller coaster is a dangerous move. In Goldfinger's latest release, "Disconnection Notice," the band does just that.
Hip contemporary jazz artist Russell Gunn will bring his unique sound to Wharton Center tonight. Gunn began making waves as a young musician about a decade ago, collaborating with artists such as Maxwell, D'Angelo and Lou Reed.
Whether you're into hip-hop, folk, jazz or rock, there's plenty of fresh ear candy out there to whet your musical palate.
Lansing's own Pink Floyd tribute group, The Surrogate Band, will perform Saturday at the International Center.
Missy Higgins. Missy Higgins. Missy Higgins. Sorry - just trying to acclimate you to the name you'll be hearing over and over in the coming months. The Australian singer/songwriter, already a smash hit in her native country, has decided to try her luck here in the ol' U.S.
On the back cover of Olivia The Band's self-titled debut release, the four perfectly tanned band members flash pearly smiles while the sun glints serenely off the ocean behind them. It's an image that's just as cheesy and unoriginal as the music within. Hailing from the sunny shores of Oahu, Hawaii, Olivia The Band is more than just your average, run-of-the-mill, sell-out, wannabe-punk, pop group.
Those who have been following Ani DiFranco's career will probably not be surprised that the prolific singer/songwriter/guitarist has released yet another album.
Any new rapper would jump at the chance to hook up with leading rappers of today's industry. But just because you work with these moneymakers, doesn't mean you know how to create innovative music. Case in point: The Game's debut album, "The Documentary." In it, The Game brings together a number of big-name rappers - 50 Cent, Eminem and Mary J.
A band that names itself...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead has a lot to live up to. Indeed, fans have come to expect great things from these Austin, Texas rockers - the group is known for its violent, instrument-smashing live shows and its decible-busting studio albums. But with "Worlds Apart," the group's second major-label recording, Trail of Dead has finally proven it is worthy of such a weighty moniker. Trail of Dead has always produced emotional, original, energetic tunes.
The only thing better than going out for a great meal is being able to relive the experience by savoring the refrigerated leftovers later as a midnight snack. Such seems to be the premise for the joint rerelease of Mike Doughty's two solo studio albums, "Skittish" and "Rockity Roll," which his label packaged together and put on record store shelves last month.
Usually, you expect films like "In Good Company" to gather an audience similar to typical "chick flicks," a stereotype that includes women and the reluctant men that are dragged there. The Friday afternoon screening of this movie, however, contained a diverse group of men and women, both young and old - a testament to the applicability of this film.
If you're an Esthero fan, chances are you've been holding your breath in anticipation to a follow-up of the vocalist's addictive first album, "Breath From Another." Well, you can finally breathe easy. Like a smart hostess who dishes up a few appetizers to her guests to tide them over until dinner is served, Esthero has released a short, but successful EP, with a handful of tasty tracks that will appear among other songs on her forthcoming full-length album "Wikked Lil' Grrrls." It's been six years since Esthero first hit the airwaves with "Breath From Another." The disc was a smart, sassy debut for the Toronto-based singer, whose smooth vocals blended perfectly with the trip-hop beats and quirky sampling of her then-recording partner Martin McKinney.
In the music world, time is pretty relative. Few pop bands stick around for more than the given 15 minutes of fame; most never even make it past one-minute wonder status.