With all three members behind synthesizers, as Merriweather’s trippy cover art lined the stage’s background while a hanging, giant white orb projected thoughtful images, Portner (aka Avey Tare), Lennox (Panda Bear) and Weitz (Geologist) resembled dance club DJs at Tuesday’s sold-out show at the Riverside Theater.

As a proud graduate of the Mary J. Blige School of Empowerment and Resiliency, the last thing Keyshia Cole wants is unsolicited relationship advice, but nonetheless she should probably DTMFA. Cole's perspective on love hasn't brightened any since her dispiriting 2005 hit "I Should Have Cheated," where she unloaded on her domineering partner, "As much as you accused me of cheatin', I should have cheated," and her...

Neko Case's voice is an instrument of such magnificent power that it's sometimes hard not to suspect that it might be, at least in part, a construct of the same studio magic that glosses her albums to a reverb-soaked sheen. In concert, though, Case puts those doubts to rest, summoning that same honey-coated, steel-plated wail from her tiny frame. That a voice this remarkable should also belong to such a singular songwriter is one of music's happiest coincidences.

Much has been made about Alejandro Escovedo's battle with hepatitis C and how the disease almost took his life in 2003. In fact, it seems that the singer-songwriter's bout with illness often threatens to overshadow his work, as fans and music critics alike seem intent on viewing his body of work through the spectrum of sickness. It is quite difficult to argue with such...

It’s a stretch to call what the Brooklyn electronic duo Telepathe does in concert “performing.” “Existing,” perhaps. Or maybe “standing.” They definitely stood on stage, so that’s something. But performing? At least at their appearance at the Turner Hall Ballroom last night, there was no performance to speak of.

There is something timeless about a D.I.Y. punk show. As the world seemingly falls apart all around us, I take some comfort in the fact that kids are still wearing studded leather jackets and Minor Threat T-shirts, turning out to support touring hardcore punk bands and wearing their musical influences on their sleeves. In many ways, the time...

As a tape loop played recordings of people saying "I love you," Eat the Mystery began walking around hugging audience members. "That's right, Eat the Mystery loves you folks … but we don't love Bush," said Paul Setser, the band's singer and keyboard player. A modest crowd had shown up, eager to celebrate the last day of "W." Part perform...

Nice to see that Lil Wayne invested some of his Tha Carter III profits into his live show. Wayne's concert Saturday night at Chicago's United Center was a pyrotechnical spectacle that owed more to Genesis' vintage, high-concept AV presentations than the typical low-budget, drive-by rap show. Ushered onstage by explosive...