Tag Archives: Jake Kussmaul

In 1981, Culture Club created a sound unifying the exotic and contemporary. Their presentation of reggae, blue-eyed soul, and dance elements, along with the visceral androgyny of front man Boy George, catapulted them to stardom just a year after forming. International chart toppers such as “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” “Time …

Summertime is now officially in full swing. Every now and then, a piece of music comes around and opportunely fits that particular solstice. Finding summer-based music is far from difficult. There are many releases that represent summer from a lyrical standpoint, or are eponymously named. However, when listeners seek something …

For over two decades, Norwegian metal veteran Jorn Lande has sustained a reputation with his soaring vocal abilities. Whether adeptly showcased through formative tenures (the promising Vagabond, the global-reaching Masterplan) or his extensive solo output with the eponymous Jorn band, ultimately, the sound remains the same. Anything featuring Lande has …

In the late 70s, a teenaged Mark Gemini Thwaite immersed himself into England’s two era-defining musical realms: heavy metal and punk rock—the latter of which peaked in popularity. But come the early to mid 80s, Thwaite, by then a prominent multi-genre guitarist, catalyzed a career overseeing the very best of …

New York City’s Pseudo/Sentai has returned with their signature musical arsenal; chock full of flare, off-beat humor and over-the-top nostalgia. Such a feat has been epitomized via the dual efforts of firearm-bearing Scott Baker (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and axeman Greg Murphy (backing vocals, lead guitar). The band’s concept is …

Maths and the Moon continue to hone a stylistic ambiguity that fills myriad alternative fans with joy. Over half a decade in existence, their style is rooted in a mass of crunchy, space-wide psychedelia, all the while kept inventive and free from stringent interpretation. Night Train Daydream, the Southampton trio’s …

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington is nothing short of prolific, not only in the face of jazz, but of modern music as we know it. A pianist, composer and bandleader, Duke’s output encompasses multiple band ventures and thousands of compositions and recordings over a 50-year span. His most popular works include …

Australian progressive rockers Forecast Tomorrow have been shaking Sydney’s independent music scene since 2009. Each member has a solid credibility and distinction that firmly establishes the quartet’s identity. Founder Ryan “Fizz” Fitz-Henry integrates vapory reverb pads to enhance his piercing chord arrangements. Added to the mix is the precise rhythm …

In late 2011, three friends—Andy Clarke (vocals, guitar), Alex Body (vocals, bass, synthesizers) and Alex Dunbar (drums)—formed Habu out of mutual respect for challenging yet accessible music. Eventually, Habu’s visibility in the UK progressive rock scene earned them slots alongside legends Uli Jon Roth, Elena Bonham and Arthur Brown. And …

Toronto, Ontario has quite a history of breeding bands that keep to their values amidst success. For alternative quartet Bleeker (formerly Bleeker Ridge), the pursuit of music is a joyride—a consistent streak of high times, monster performances, and artistic progression that isn’t bound to end anytime soon. Regarding their career …

Vaudeville Etiquette puts a refreshingly Northwestern spin on rock and roll, offering something beyond its contemporary strum-by-numbers permutation. The self-described psych-folk/americana quintet’s home atmosphere of Seattle, Washington has indeed worked in their favor. While the city has long garnered an unusual reputation for its lack of proximity, its rain tendencies …

26-year old guitarist/producer Remi Gallego has become fast-known for his innovative electro sound: the best of progressive metal based in all-out computer frenzy. Under the name the Algorithm, Gallego earned a heaping of credibility by way of festival performance (United Kingdom’s Download and Australia’s Big Day Out), and through numerous …