• Artist Spotlight

    Diving into the Depths of Door Girl, An Interview with Shilpa Ray

    One of my all time favorite albums is Quadrophenia by The Who. I love it because it is a complete album, it tells a story that engages the listener. The individual songs are good but fitted together in sequence, they are a masterpiece. Shilpa Ray managed to create that high quality of art with her new album, Door Girl. On a chilly November night, Shilpa Ray and her touring band played Cincinnati’s best kept secret, Junker’s Tavern. Shilpa Ray and I chatted before her set about the creation of Door Girl and the story that goes along with it. “I knew I was going to write this record. When you…

  • Artist Spotlight

    Terra Naomi on How to Spread Love in a World Threatened by Hate

    A month ago, I was beyond touched by the release of “Machine Age” by Terra Naomi. The extremely well-written and thoughtful political song made me a huge fan of the songwriter and I wanted to know more about her. Terra Naomi became well known after releasing “Say It’s Possible” on YouTube in 2006. Now, she focuses on the release of a new album due out in September. Izzi Krombholz: Tell me about how it felt to become famous after releasing “Say It’s Possible.” How long had you been making music prior to that? Terra Naomi: I wouldn’t say I became “famous” — it was more like I had a bunch of…

  • Artist Spotlight

    An Interview with the Main Horsehead, Texacala Jones

    Texacala Jones of Tex & the Horseheads was an LA punk during the prime. Together with Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they had interests outside of just punk music. Inspired by the scene around them but drawing on country music, Tex & the Horseheads developed a deathrock aesthetic with a cowpunk sound. Texacala Jones was kind enough to answer some questions about her musical history and the creation of the band. Izzi Krombholz: Tell me about your start playing music. Texacala Jones: Los Angeles was my hometown and I grew up with music as many of my friends did.  My first musical experience was playing a toy piano on the balcony. IK:…

  • Song of the Moment

    “Machine Age” by Terra Naomi

    Wow, talk about haunting; this song will change you. “Machine Age” by Terra Naomi is the voice that all women need right now. This amazingly thoughtful song was written as a year reflection on the election of Donald Trump. Listening to this hit me the way people must have been hit by hearing Joan Baez or Bob Dylan for the first time. If I’m going to be honest, I cried through the entire thing. I truly believe this song will affect lives, it is the voice of pain and resistance. “I believe in love more than I want to hate” is the message we all need to get across in…

  • Song of the Moment

    “Sha La La” by Selene Vigil

    Selene Vigil, lead singer of 7 Year Bitch, released an ep at the end of 2017 aptly named Tough Dance. “Sha La La,” the opening track literally can’t be described as anything other than a tough dance. Vigil’s vocals are raw and ready, driving and heavy; to put it simply, they are tough. As the guitars pick up, the song picks up into a funkier feel perfect for dancing. This is definitely the “radio hit” of the ep. Tough Dance takes emotional pulls through the songs whether they are more upbeat like “Sha La La” or slower and more reflective like the closing track, “Soul in Traction.” I used to be pissed…

  • Artist Spotlight

    Liza Colby on the Evolution of The Liza Colby Sound

    Liza Colby of The Liza Colby Sound was born to be a musician. “Both of my parents are professional musicians… They met because my dad was trying out for my mom’s band and he didn’t make it in,” Liza laughs. However, a few years later her mom, Beverly Rohlehr, was ready to do something new and asked John Colby to produce it. “They’ve been together ever since. I have a younger brother who’s also a musician.” Liza grew up in Connecticut but visited New York City regularly with her dad when she was little. “My dad would take me out of school to go to his sessions. I knew I would…

  • Song of the Moment

    “Aloha” by Elettrodomestico

    There’s a brand new band out that you need to check out. They’re called Elettrodomestico and it features Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s and Pietro Straccia. The duo released their debut album, If You’re A Boy Or A Girl at the end of October. The great thing about the band as portrayed in “Aloha” is their perfect mix of rock and electronic music. You get a slight electronic vibe in “Aloha” but it isn’t overpowering which makes the song a super catchy alt rock number. Wiedlin and Straccia met in Oakland, CA back in 2014 and formed the band after the Go-Go’s retired in 2016. It certainly didn’t take them long…

  • Song of the Moment

    “EMT Police and the Fire Department” by Shilpa Ray

    I’ve been a huge fan of Shilpa Ray since the Teenage and Torture days. I borrowed my sister’s ID so I could see her before I was of age and then I saw her every possible chance when she was in the Midwest. Although, I must be honest, I think her albums after Teenage and Torture are good but they’ve never moved me in the way that the original album did. With the news that Shilpa Ray is playing at my favorite bar in Cincinnati (Junker’s) on Tuesday, November 7th, I decided to give her new album, Door Girl, a try. I think it’s safe to say that Shilpa Ray has…

  • Artist Spotlight

    The Bassist That’s Done It All, An Interview with Janis Tanaka

    In the 1980s, a band called Sugar Babydoll was formed by Courtney Love (Hole) and Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland); two of grunge’s greatest women in rock. The band was also joined by Jennifer Finch of L7. I wrote about this band awhile ago for Dangerous Minds but what was left out was the story of Janis Tanaka. The band relocated to San Francisco and changed their name to Pagan Babies joined by Deirdre Schletter on drums and Janis Tanaka on bass. Here is an interview with Janis who’s gone on to play with many legendary musicians. It seems like the projects you’ve played in have always been heavier. What…