FOREWORD: It’s a downright shame when fine bands like the Bigger Lovers breakup and go away. But that’s just what happened a year or so after this interview took place. Anyone who experienced them live or on record will recall their greatness and enjoy this trip back.

Alongside Burning Brides, Marah, and Capitol Years, the Bigger Lovers rank as one of Philadelphia’s best contemporary bands. Less rockin’ than Brit-influenced Capitol Years, louder than sleepy-eyed depressives Marah, and less visceral than…

FOREWORD: When you look at the politicians ruining America at the time, it seemed obvious to run quirky mod folkie, Dan Bern, for prez in ’04? Bush turned out to be a dopey joke while Democrat loser, John Kerry, fibbed about his military credentials then couldn’t quash his embarrassing ski stumble. Bern turned out to have informed, witty, and controversial opinions on many national subjects. And he ain’t bad live, either, as his October ’04 Bowery Ballroom show proved. He’s

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FOREWORD: If there’s one so-called World Music Artist I truly admire, it’s multi-ethnic Belgium-reared England-based lass, Natacha Atlas. She ably incorporates her Arabic heritage into British techno and trance styles, gaining initial attention as lead singer/ belly dancer for vibrant troupe, Transglobal Underground, before breaking out on her own. Since this ’99 interview, Atlas has released ‘03s Something Dangerous, ‘06s Mish Maoul, and ‘08s acoustic-based knockout, Ana Hina.

Arabic vocalist, exotic dancer, and Transglobal Underground member, Natacha Atlas, explores her…

FORWARD: I got to know rascal-y white rap suburbanite, Paul Barman, pretty well over the years. I’ve taken his wife and kid, Felix (one-year old in 2005), out for dinner near their Manhattan apartment. And we’ve attended a couple shows together. I’ve even unintentionally angered his mom with some asinine, ridiculous remarks made while helping Barman move his junk to the Big Apple from Ridgewood, New Jersey. I don’t know who’s more of a character, him or me, but I

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INTRODUCTION: Apples In Stereo was the brainchild of eclectic pop-lovin’ music freak, Robert Schneider. He continues to release great stuff, such as ‘07s wonderful New Magnetic Wonder. Since this 2000 interview, he divorced drumming wife Hilarie Sidney, whose ensuing band, High Water Marks (with new husband, Per Ole Bratset), released a few brilliant low-key pop gems such as ‘07s Polar and ‘09s Arivar Sullimer. This article appeared in HITS magazine and the earlier  ’99 interview at Maxwells that follows originally appeared

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INTRODUCTION: This interview with Bare Jr. took place just months before Manhattan club, Wetlands, got hit with debris from 9-11 and forced the hippie-ish venue to close down a few weeks earlier then expected. But while Wetlands couldn’t last as a friendly bohemian retreat (with good beer selection), Bobby Bare Jr. continues to put up the good fight. I saw him a few years hence at Maxwells in Hoboken and he still kicked raw arse.

As I stand drink in…

FORWARD: Talked to Anti-Flag frontman Justin Sane via phone in ’03. His band slowly built up a solid activist punk following after their ’96 debut, Die For The Government, took hold. But I admit losing touch with these political music pundits thereafter, missing out on ’06s For Blood And Empire and ’08s The Bright Lights Of America. Ironically, these last two titles were put out by RCA Records, a dismal major label that I’d bet never fully supported Anti-Flag’s righteous…

FOREWORD: After a show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, I hung out with Ambulance Ltd. in my van. While leader Marcus Congleton (who, according to Wikipedia, worked with Velvet Underground icon John Cale on an ’08 album) was a cool dude, his ex-guitarist Benji Lysaght, tried unsuccessfully to sabotage my tape deck and kept drunkenly telling us the Lakers were gonna be basketball champs – not! Along for the ride were two Britney Spears lookalike groupies. One wasn’t wearing undies and I saw…

FORWARD: I got to hang out with Eric Ambel, best known as leader of punky ’80s alt-country progenitors the Del Lords, at his tiny Lower East Side pub, Lakeside Lounge, in 2004. He had long since gone solo after playing backup for sundry indie bands. Though often overlooked, the hard-driving rockers he composed for the Del Lords indirectly informed Whiskeytown, the Jayhawks, and Uncle Tupelo.

Getting settled in the Big Apple could be a daunting task for a genuinely honest…

FORWARD: Though Alice Donut obviously never garnered the aboveground attention they deserved, these heady Big Apple bohos certainly caught the attention of rabid dadaist punk-metal fans. In 2004, they returned from the grave with “Three Sisters,” a winning collection that inspired a full-scale subterranean comeback punctuated by ’06s “Fuzz.” After a live set at former Lower East Side club, Brownies, a few members begged me to drive them home to Brooklyn after imbibing bong hits. And I think another one…

FOREWORD: This article originally ran in Cover Magazine, a local Manhattan arts paper owned and operated by Jeff Wright. Unfortunately, months after the piece ran, Acetone bassist-vocalist Richie Lee commited suicide at age 34, July ’01. Formed in 1993, Acetone’s soft-toned folk-psych tranquility nicely countered the prevalent grunge scene’s nervy distortion-laced dislocation.

Meeting at a California art school several years back, guitarist/ vocalist Mark Lightcap and bassist/ backup vocalist Richie Lee originally gained exposure as part of San Diego’s high…