Michael St. James

IK Multimedia announces AmpliTube X-GEAR digital effects pedals

New boutique pedals with matching AmpliTube software offer unrivaled tone and flexibility for stage and studio IK Multimedia announces AmpliTube X-GEAR pedals. Each high-performance pedal features 16 different effects, drawn from the most popular AmpliTube models and...

How to Choose the Best USB Audio Interface

What makes the best USB audio interface for my needs? It’s a common question, and Yamaha and...

Performer Gives Away Two Sets of Simmons SD2000 Electronic Drum Kits

Performer has selected its two winners in our recent Simmons SD2000 Electronic Drum Kit Giveaway....

GEAR TEST FINAL REVIEW: Galaxy Audio GPS-8 Personal Monitor PA System

Absence of Ocean Puts the Galaxy Audio GPS-8 Personal Monitor PA System Through its Paces in Their...

Record Review: Cass McCombs

by Noelle Janka | Feb 29, 2012 | Folk & Singer/Songwriter, Reviews

Cass McCombs Humor Risk San Francisco, CA “Indie-folk’s favorite mercurial mystery man strikes again” Halfway between a troubadour and a magician, Cass McCombs churns out albums that are always...

Record Review: Black Bananas

by Ari Goldberg | Feb 29, 2012 | Hip-Hop & Electronic, Indie Rock, Reviews

Black Bananas Rad Times Xpress IV Washington, D.C. “A beautiful haze of acid drenched noise” It wouldn’t be fair to call Black Banana’s sound a melting pot. It’s a junkyard. On Rad Times Xpress...

Record Review: Animals As Leaders

by Derek Burns | Feb 29, 2012 | Metal, Reviews

Animals As Leaders Weightless Washington, D.C. “Chimera of emotive shred, finger-style jazz & electronica” Animals As Leaders’ tendency to plunge from lofty, circling jazz chords into ice-capped...

Record Review: Alert New London

by Gail Fountain | Feb 29, 2012 | Reviews

Alert New London Youth Columbus, OH “Dreamy music with meaning” Ambient music and lovely vocals are currently popular musical stylings. However, many bands won’t conquer the techniques that keep...

Maximize Facebook Marketing to Build Your Fan Base

by Pamela Ricci | Feb 8, 2012 | Music Promotion

Most musicians know that social media is an essential tool for building and maintaining a fan base. What many do not know is how to really take advantage of those tools to create measurable...

THEFT PREVENTION: Keep Your Gear Safe From Criminal Hands

by Chris Devine | Feb 8, 2012 | Band Management, Live Sound

Don't advertise; get rid of all the bumper stickers on your car that relate to a piece of musical gear you own. It's like saying, “This car contains any of the following: Ampeg, Fender, Mesa/Boogie,...

Bob Ludwig’s Tips for Home Recorders

by Benjamin Ricci | Feb 3, 2012 | Interviews and Features, Music Production, Music Recording Plugins & Apps

Bob Ludwig, while technically needing no introduction, will still get one here. Why? Because the man deserves it for all the amazing work he’s done in the field of mastering. As one of the top...

Live Review: Pillage & Plunder

by Gail Fountain | Jan 31, 2012 | Concerts & Festivals, Reviews

Where: The Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA Highlight: Three-piece rock magic with an arty twist. Do plaids and stripes go together? They do...

Live Review: Coyote Kolb, Abbie Barrett, and Kristen Ford

by Ashley Amaru | Jan 31, 2012 | Concerts & Festivals, Reviews

Where: Lizard Lounge - Cambridge, MA Highlight: Passionate local music, spearheaded by an amazing performance by Kristen Ford. Dark and intimate, the Lizard Lounge was packed to capacity. The red...