To say that Blue October has taken a rocky road to stardom would be a bit of an understatement. Inarguably Blue’s most notable song, “Hate Me,” was written as an apology for the hardships lead singer Justin Furstenfeld put his mother through while addicted to drugs. Blue October’s two latest albums were both spawned by Furstenfeld’s nasty divorce and subsequent custody battle. There is no simple life, though, which is perhaps what draws so many people to Blue’s music.  

Some musicians get jaded and cynical when they become mostly known for only a handful of songs that aren’t even necessarily the best examples of their work. When this happens, bands sometimes fall entirely on their most popular songs and use them as a crutch. Or they shy away from playing them at all. 
Alison Krauss and Union Station may have earned their biggest media coverage and adde...  

Remember when every single song played on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy suddenly became a hit? That’s how nearly everyone (stateside, at least) became infatuated with Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.”
The Irish/Scottish band might have formed 12 years earlier, but it took “Chasing Cars” to earn them some well-deserved hype in the U.S. Pop/Rock scene. Since finding their niche, they’ve received numerous accolades, including a slew of Meteor Music Awards.   

Don't stay in and watch NCIS tonight. Head to Covington's Molly Malone’s and check out David Wax Museum. The Museum is accurately self-described as “Mexo-Americana.” They draw much of their musical stylings from Mexican Son music. Son, which translates to “sound,” ...  

 Bluegrass’s sweetheart Alison Krauss and her band of pickin’, strumming and bowing minstrels, Union Station, return this week to the Taft Theater. Krauss has been on the music scene for more than 25 years. She drew a flurry of attention when she was featured on the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? and again when she released an album of duets with Robert Plant. Krauss is more than just a pretty face and enchanting voice. She’s also a champion fiddle player.  

Twice a year the huddled masses gather at their favorite watering holes and bond over their shared ethnicity. Whether your ancestors came over in the Mayflower, through Ellis Island or in the back of a pick-up doesn’t matter. In March, everyone is Irish and, in May, we’re all Mexican.   

When Cinco De Mayo rolls around and we’re all throwing back Cuervo, perhaps we’ll offe...  

Sublime fans know: Everything changed in 1996. That was the year the band’s frontman Bradley Nowell died. Since séances all over the states haven’t succeeded in bringing Nowell back, fans can turn to Badfish. Badfish sounds a lot like the real thing, too; they’re just lacking the creepy voice-clone guy at the mic. Badfish’s added bonus: Their tickets are about half the price.  

Long before Hank Williams Jr. was banned from Monday Night Football, Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift and the Dixie Chicks ticked off the entire Republican party, one musician has continually spoken out against the unfair, the unquestioned and the un-American. That man is Charlie Daniels.  

There are concerts that are fun and there are concerts that kick your ass. If you were at the sold-out U.S. Bank Arena Friday night for the opening date of The Black Keys first headlining arena tour, you probably got your ass kicked.
 
First up, Arctic Monkeys caused a ruckus on the floor. Most (but not all) of the folks in the seats wandered around aimlessly or sat there, watching list...  

As you know, the Bengals aren’t the only celebrities that have been busted for illegal activities. Actors and actresses have certainly had their share of run-ins with the po-po, too. No one, though, is more ballsy about their lives of crime than those in the music industry. They also enjoy broadcasting their vices. While most of the smack is centered around drugs, they’ve also done their fair ...