Category Archives: Music

Boiled in Lead’s Alloy2

Sol Foster penned this review. While Boiled in Lead’s fifteenth anniversary collection, Alloy, is equally accessible to the new listener and essential to the old, the companion Alloy2 is a 2 CD set that is aimed squarely at the diehard … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Boiled in Lead’s Alloy2

An Interview with Charles de Lint

Chuck Lipsig was the interviewer. I originally interviewed Charles de Lint in 1997 for a now-defunct on- line magazine called Sphere. Charles has had the interview on his Web site, in an altered form, since 1997. Two years later, there … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Music | Comments Off on An Interview with Charles de Lint

Darol Anger and the American Fiddle Ensemble’s Republic of Strings

American fiddler Darol Anger is just about guaranteed to stretch the boundaries of whatever style of music he takes on, and this project is no exception. He’s gathered a cross-generation and cross-genre bunch of acoustic players to explore many varieties … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Darol Anger and the American Fiddle Ensemble’s Republic of Strings

Eric Brace’s Cartes Postales

I’ve been reviewing the music of Eric Brace for perhaps 15 years now, and I didn’t think he could surprise me much. I’ve enjoyed him solo and in various permutations – with his band Last Train Home, with Peter Cooper … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Eric Brace’s Cartes Postales

George Frideric Handel’s Messiah

Handel’s Messiah is without doubt the most often-performed work from the baroque canon, to the extent that every December sees concerts organized by symphonies, choruses, churches, and even sing-alongs staged by volunteers. Think about it: it’s almost one word: Handelsmessiah. … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on George Frideric Handel’s Messiah

The Irish Rambling House

Mattie Lennon wrote this review of The Irish Rambling House back seventeen years ago. Their website is thisaway.  The Rick is thatched the fields are bare Long nights are here again. The year was fine, but now ’tis time To … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on The Irish Rambling House

Zahatar’s The Little Country

Of all of Charles de Lint’s novels that have music intrinsic to them, the one most infused with it is The Little Country, the story in part being of Janey Little, a Cornish smallpiper who admires Northumbrian smallpiper Billy Pigg. I won’t … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Zahatar’s The Little Country

Sivan Perwer’s Sivan Perwer

Like so many politically active Third World musicians, Sivan Perwer is an exile from his native Kurdistan, at last report residing in Sweden. He has the distinction of having had his music banned by not one, but three governments. And, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Sivan Perwer’s Sivan Perwer

Altan at Massey Hall

Altan were one of the first truly traditional groups I came to love, and they will always be one of my favorites! I hadn’t seen Altan in five years or so — last time was at the World Theater in … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Altan at Massey Hall

Dora Keoghs Irish Pub

You couldn’t ask for better hosts than John Maxwell and Dora Koegh, of Dora Keoghs Irish Pub in Toronto. Both John and Dora make community building seem effortless, and have built the relatively new (circa 1997) pub into a hub for … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Dora Keoghs Irish Pub