Did you know the Counting Crows are still making music? Probably not, right? Don’t you lie to me. After bursting on the scene in 1993 with August and Everything After, their popularity has gradually decreased, not surprising since their first album, fueled by “Mr. Jones” (yeah that song is over 20 years old now) sold…
Ryan Adams is back with his 14th solo album, this time a self -titled job, named after himself for no particular reason other than his inability to come up with anything better. His first solo album, Heartbreaker (named after a Mariah Carey poster), was released all the way back in 2000. Since then he’s averaged…
Two bands that I love. Two bands that I wrote about in a negative light within the past year. I was let down by The Gaslight Anthem’s Get Hurt for not meeting my admittedly high expectations while Against Me’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues, well, just wasn’t very good. But seeing them live wasn’t something that I…
I was going to keep writing about new albums, in this case Conor Oberst’s Upside Down Mountain, but part of the mission statement of Empty Bottle Evenings is bringing to our (imaginary) reader’s attention bands and albums that are underrated, overlooked, or just bitchin’ tunes. Don’t worry, I’m even more uncomfortable using that last phrase…
Summer is almost over so before we’re all forced into pretending we like Pumpkin flavored everything, I decided to do some listening to one of my favorite summer bands, the Rx Bandits. I think of them at this time of year partly due to personal experiences (seeing them live multiple times in the summer, listening…
Even though The Gaslight Anthem are my favorite band, I’ve never bothered to write about them. I know we’re supposed to give album recommendations here, but there needs to be some consideration for bias. And for having something to say. So let me get caught up. Their first album Sink or Swim was really good….
A bunch of old Southern California punks bands from Epitaph Records decided to rip it up like the old days. The Vandals, Pennywise, and the legends themselves, Bad Religion were slotted in as openers, while The Offspring used their headlining spot to play their mainstream breakthrough Smash in its entirety. A lot of true punk…
I have a girl crush on Jenny Lewis. No, that’s not right, I’m a guy. What’s the guy equivalent? A crush? That implies that I want her to have my babies. But this is a non sexual attraction. Although sometimes I would like to make love to her voice. Um, let’s just say I really…
Cassino rolls the dice on new sound. Finds winning combination on new album. Beats the odds to deliver a gem. New songs are coming up aces. Nick Torres and Tyler Odom go all in with Sounds of Salvation. Alright, now that we got that out of our system there will be no more stupid puns…
Being a hick is in my blood. Or a redneck. Or a hillbilly. I don’t know the exact variation of white trash but I know it’s within me. Maybe it’s my bad teeth, my dad’s mustache, or my deceased grandparents’ pet collection that included goats and raccoons. I’ve never examined my family tree but I…
