“We were living the rock-star, devil may care lifestyle. But as it turns out, my lungs had been compromised by years of breathing second-hand smoke,” says Joe Maniscalco, for whom there is a benefit concert Sunday.

“There is not a band around here like us. Tag. We’re it. We’re Tidewater,” said Billy England, the band’s wiry, excitable bass player.

Beach House doesn’t seem to know how good they are. The Baltimore band, which opened for Grizzly Bear last night at the Norva, is Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. They are, as they say, on the verge.

(continued from Part 1)
OK, back to the topic of hip hop. What do you think about what’s on the radio now?
Battle: I think the music industry has been slacking for such a long time, you know. All the people who have paved the way for artists today, their music has been kind of drowned out. [...]

Jarrell Williams sits down with two members of the 757-based hip hop collective Rebel E; Gabe Niles and Justin Battle. Conversation on fashion, inspiration, radio rap, and whether or not “hip hop is dead” ensues.

Get to know the indie/dance/electro outfit from Atlanta, Georgia. Seven questions and one bad-ass video after the jump.

Ten songs. Don’t overthink it. No taking out a notebook and honing it. Just the first ten you think of and what they mean to you.

An illuminating Q&A with Def Leppard’s one-armed drummer Rick Allen and wife Lauren Monroe reveals that it’s not all rock anthems and–ahem–pouring some sugar on you. It’s about pure human spirit.

Known for his editorial cartoons, featured weekly in The Virginian-Pilot, Walt Taylor is an elusive Hampton Roads local whose illustrations capture the essence of the area’s cultural beauty.

But Moutheater is more than just primal intensity and volume or I wouldn’t be pecking away at this keyboard for their sake. Moutheater is also a diligent and determined band with a work ethic to match their sound – fast and forceful. The local trio of Andrew Aircraft (guitars, vocals), Tim Gault (drums) and Aaron Fishaw (bass, backing vocals) haven’t been together quite two years yet and they’ve already debuted the Lot Lizard 7-inch with the legendary Steve Albini at the helm, inked a deal with Nashville-based Thrashed Records, released an insanely popular split 7-inch with German band Vegas and have amassed lots and lots of touring under they’re undoubtedly studded belts. Their full length, Ornament, is slated for a May 2009 release and an American tour is sure to follow.