Gear Reviews
noncomMUSIC Alliance – Strengthening Public Radio Music in a Streaming World
Some of you have had the chance to run a traditional commercial radio campaign and you’ll probably understand this more than most. While it’s thrilling to hear your song as the well-known DJ is saying your band’s name on the “real” radio station, the reality is that...
PreSonus Studio One 4 Review
Back in August 2015, we reviewed PreSonus’s Studio One 3. Since that time our review team has used it as a go-to platform for some of our other review items, from studio mics and preamps to DAW plug-ins, with no issues. Now, PreSonus has rolled out Studio One 4, and...
5 Tips for U.S. Musicians Applying for U.K. Visas
International artists are finding it increasingly difficult to secure visas to perform in the UK, but as immigration expert Anne Morris explains, there are ways to improve prospects of making a successful application to the British Home Office. The reality is, visas...
How To
Dear Bands, Here’s How to Write a Damn Press Release
As part of my job as a music journalist, I sift through anywhere from 50 to way-too-many press releases daily, separating the wheat from the chaff and trying to find something that fits into the holy trifecta of interesting, relevant, and newsworthy. By now, I've seen...
PHOTO GALLERY: We Are Scientists Live in Boston
Highly sarcastic, cautiously biting, and always endearing, We Are Scientists once again brought their two-bit comedy routine to Boston this past Wednesday to The Sinclair. As their first stop on their ten day tour with Surfer Blood, the boys were in high spirits while...
How to Make Money From Your Band’s YouTube Spins
SESAC Acquires Rumblefish: Monetizing Your Band’s Video Spins Just Got Easier I've long said, "Where there is video, there is music." With CD and download sales all but obliterated, abysmal streaming rates, and pressure on live ticket sales, video monetization will be...
Buying Guide
Travelcaster Deluxe Review
Performer takes a hands-on look at the Travelcaster Deluxe from Traveler Guitar. Do good things really come in small packages? Read on for more... Traveling with an instrument is difficult at best, even when it’s in a lightweight gig bag. There are travel-sized...
Enter to win the New Mackie FreePlay LIVE Personal PA
We're looking for one lucky artist to win and demo the new FreePlay LIVE from Mackie. FreePlay LIVE is the ultra-portable, personal PA of your dreams. With tons of power, crystal clear sound, and up to 15 hours of battery life, FreePlay LIVE is perfect for live gigs,...
Review: Graph Tech Tusq Guitar Picks
It’s hard to believe that the standard guitar pick has evolved just as much as guitars and amps, but even the little things make big differences. Graph Tech has found an interesting way to change the tone, but not the feel in a guitar pick....
Industry News
4 Techniques to Break Through Your Songwriting Block
It happens to every writer, the dreaded “writer’s block.” Writer’s block is that horrible feeling that paralyzes you while staring at a blank word doc or notebook to the point of being incapable of knowing where the hell to start, much less what to actually write. It...
Algiers’ new single “Cleveland” pays tribute to Tamir Rice
Algiers have released their new single,”Cleveland," taken from their forthcoming second album, The Underside Of Power, out June 23rd on Matador Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDDCxodgIs&feature=youtu.be As a reference and tribute to Tamir Rice, the...
LIVE REVIEW: Everclear bask in the ‘afterglow’ at Boston’s House of Blues
As Everclear feasted their eyes on an enthusiastic Boston crowd this past Wednesday at House of Blues, their energy—which came off as slightly offputting—was unexpectedly wondrous. This tour, one that marked the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album So Much For...