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One of the most talked about acts to play SXSW 2017 was Chicano Batman, a Latino psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles. I caught two of their sets—the best was at the Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center, where they played most of their new record, Freedom is Free, which has just been released on the ATO label. While their instrumentalism and stagecraft was practiced and ready for primetime, their original material had its weak moments. To be fair, their mix of tropical and Latin rhythms, swirling guitar, and organ parts is a challenging mix that's going to take awhile to master.…
Beautiful sound was the order of the day at Tone of Music Audio (1303 Castro Street, Suite D, San Francisco, CA 94114), as the small retailer, headquartered in the heart of San Francisco's Noe Valley, held the first of two spring open houses. Judging from what the 30 or so visitors heard at the first open house, on March 18, those who show up for the second listening session on Saturday, April 1, between noon and 5 pm (RSVP to info@toneofmusic.com), are in for a treat.
How proprietor Tim Nguyen (left, in photo, with Bea Lam, right, and Luke Manley, far right, of VTL) manages to fit…
For me, no South by Southwest is complete without seeing a couple of bands from the creative nexus of the north that is Scotland. This year I found Spinning Coin from Glasgow. Perhaps named after a John Mayall record of the same name, the quartet's dual front men, singer/guitarists Jack Mellin and Sean Armstrong, have chemistry that's obvious. While some of their music can get a bit too wall'o’fuzz guitars for me, they also have the same melodic thread running through their music that has made Scottish bands such fun to watch and listen to over the years.
Spinning Coin records for the…
Last week, at Seattle dealer Definitive Audio's 12th Music Matters, there were six different systems being demonstrated. With the inevitable craziness of such a well-attended event, I wasn't able to get enough footage for each room to have its own standalone minute. I therefore compiled shots from each room to give you a visual overview. For a complete breakdown of each system, please see Jason Victor Serinus's coverage of Music Matters 12 .
Thursday evening, March 23, at 6pm and 7:30pm, The Sound Environment (11021 Elm Street, Omaha, NE 68144) is presenting Wilson Audio's Peter McGrath and the Alexx loudspeakers. Peter McGrath will be playing some of his four-channel master recordings with Wilson Alexias used for the rear channels.
Space at the presentations will be very limited, so if you'd like to reserve a seat, please register by sending an email to eric@soundenvironment.com, including your full name and which presentation you'd like to attend, 6pm or 7:30pm. Peter will also be available Wednesday afternoon and Thursday…
On March 16, audio manufacturer Luxman Corporation, now in their 92nd year, announced the establishment of a new US subsidiary, Luxman America: the first time in 30 years that the Japanese tube-amp specialist has had a corporate-owned presence here.
The announcement was made at the Manhattan showroom of co-hosts Adirondack Audio & Video, a retail and distribution company based in Queensbury, New York. The event doubled as a launch party for two new Luxman products: their LX-380 tubed integrated amplifier ($7995) and D-380 tubed CD player ($5495). On hand were Luxman Vice President…
Bruckner: Symphony 9: Completed Version
Gerd Schaller, completion & conductor, Philharmonie Festiva
Profil PH16089 (2 CDs). 2016. Lutz Wildner, tonmeister; ambitus Musikproduktion, engs. DDD. TT: 84:37
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Gerd Schaller, completion & conductor, Philharmonie Festiva
Profil PH16089 (2 CDs). 2016. Lutz Wildner, tonmeister; ambitus Musikproduktion, engs. DDD. TT: 84:37
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Between 2007 and 2016, Gerd Schaller recorded all 11 of Bruckner's symphonies with the orchestra he founded, the Philharmonie Festiva. In the November 2011 issue I reviewed his 2010 recording of Symphony 9 with William Carragan's completion of the Finale, left incomplete (if perhaps not uncompleted) at Bruckner's death. Six years later, in…
Saturday March 25, 12–5pm, Value Electronics (35 Popham Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583) is presenting an advance preview of Technics' new "Grand Class" component series arriving this summer. Bill Voss, US Business Development Manager for Technics, will be demonstrating and discussing the new SU-G700 Digital Integrated Amplifier, the new SB-G90 floorstanding loudspeaker and the new, more affordable SL-1200GR turntable.
Value Electronics will be serving hors d' oeuvres, cheeses, fine wines, and assorted beverages. Space will be limited so please RSVP to rzohn@valueelectronics.com or by calling…
The 2017 Montreal Audio Fest starts tomorrow at its traditional venue, the Hotel Bonaventure Montréal (900 de la Gauchetière Ouest). In its current incarnation, this is the second year for the show after being "rescued" in 2016 by Michel Plante and Sarah Tremblay. Both had been long associated with the Canadian show before it was sold to the Chester Group in 2013.
Admission is free and Stereophile's Art Dudley and Robert Schryer will be wandering the Bonaventure's corridors, seeking out superb sound and reporting back on this site.
"Bonne Show!"
In 2016, the vinyl information and e-commerce site Discogs.com broke its own most-expensive LP-sale record twice. In March 2016, David Bowie's David Bowie went for $6826. That post-Bowie, death-related purchase was then topped when the next rock star fell. A month later, in April, a copy of Prince's Black Album, the grail of his catalog, went for $15,000. In recent days, however, the record was broken again when a test pressing of cult guitar hero Billy Yeager's 301 Jackson Street, one of just eight ever made, went for $18,000. The condition of the record was unclear from the listing.
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