A new collection from Real Gone Music reminds us of the depth and impact of Steppenwol. The ABC/Dunhill Singles Collection includes largely mono recordings of the band’s output for the label, plus all of John Kay’s solo singles.
Class of ’82: Marshall Crenshaw and Tommy Keene
In 1982, two promising young talents released debut albums. Marshall Crenshaw’s self-titled record drew considerable attention, fueled by airplay of “Someday Someway.” Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Tommy Keene released Strange Alliance, largely unnoticed until his breakthrough EP Places That Are Gone two years later.
At long last: ZZ Top live in La Grange
Legendary Texas blues-rock trio ZZ Top made a little history over Labor Day weekend. On Saturday, September 5, after more than four decades of touring and performing, the band played its first-ever show in La Grange, the south-central Texas town that lent its name to one of the band’s biggest hits.
Review: Gretchen Peters and Barry Walsh in Houston
Gretchen Peters and Barry Walsh, her husband and musical partner, rewarded the crowd at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck with an excellent performance that drew heavily from her most recent album, Blackbirds, but also included older material, a few covers and even a solo turn by Walsh.