Going straight from high school to working in the stock market is an unlikely jump, especially for a musician. But this is what happened to composer Tyler Bates, who’s had a wildly interesting career. [...] read more

Lightning Bolt, a bass-and-drums duo from Providence, Rhode Island, is known for their unhinged live shows. They made their name performing in the pit, on the floor, and amidst the mayhem. They stand, along [...] read more

Much has been written about New York City’s late-’70s punk scene. The term “punk” was coined by critics and applied to a disparate collection of artists working at CBGB, a grimy hole-in-the-wall on the [...] read more

In the late 1960s, prominent rock musicians were primarily men. Aside from a few notable exceptions—like prolific and highly influential “Wrecking Crew” session bassist Carol Kaye—female musicians weren’t given a whole lot of mainstream [...] read more

Türk halk müziği—Turkish folk music—is an ancient blend of odd meters, microtonal scales, and unique timbres. To informed ears, it resembles other Balkan and Mediterranean folk styles, Sufi devotional music, and the classical music [...] read more

A strained, hoarse cry—or “yawp,” for those guitarists who spaced out during SAT prep—provides an appropriate nom de plume for the Yawpers, a band whose energy embodies that raucous ideal. They started as a power trio [...] read more

Chai is a quartet hailing from Japan that sounds like a cross between infectious bubblegum pop and the Gang of Four. At first glance, their Alvin-and-the-Chipmunks-style vocals, choreographed dance moves, matching stage costumes, and [...] read more

It’s been almost a decade since Gary Clark Jr.’s breakout performance at the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival. Technical issues marred his set—not that you could tell. If anything, those problems conspired to make his showcase even [...] read more