An in-depth look at the work of an musical artist, be they band, duo, solo artist, or composer. The flagship of the Spotlight series run by Group Therapy.
Luke Royalty is pop, well, royalty in the making. Luke’s first single ‘I Could Get Used To This’ was supported by Jack Saunders on Radio 1, his second single ‘I Do’ was made BBC Introducing track of the week & … Continue reading Artist Interview – Luke Royalty
London born and Newcastle raised, singer/songwriter Lizzie Esau is…well, one to watch and then some. Here, give this a listen- How good was that? There’s the melodious flow of Dessa with the growling indie guitar of Wolf Alice or She … Continue reading Artist Interview – Lizzie Esau
Part 1, covering my introduction and the Innocent Eyes era. TW: Cancer treatment for the first half of this article. I’ve had trouble writing this intro and getting all of the facts, to the point where it was delaying the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Delta Goodrem, part 2: Exploring Authenticity
After teasing this column for literal years and it sitting in my drafts half-written, I’ve decided to release it in parts—inspired by testiclesofdoom‘s series on Aerosmith. Enjoy. What does authenticity mean in music? It’s a fine resource and a delicate … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Delta Goodrem, part 1: The Power of Authenticity
Occasionally, a band becomes so aggravated with a personality within their ranks, they all plan a mutiny and regroup. Sometimes, over the years, a band’s turnover is so high that over the years their discarded musician pile is large enough … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Son of Sam (or; To Walk the Night Again, Like We Did Last Summer)
I have this friend from Venezuela, and he is the most reliable person I know when it comes to music suggestions. Toward the end of 2017, he recommended this band to me, and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since. … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Ex People (or; How Two Ladies and Two Gents Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Doom)
What do you do when you start a band, but everyone you start a band with sucks? You just go without. Hailing from Portland, OR, guitarist and vocalist Max Dameron had met up with drummer and vocalist Sam Ford. The … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Wizard Rifle (or; Purveyors of Art F_ck Scrap Metal and Psychic Trash)
There isn’t a lot on this band out there, back in the wild west of the internet there were more interviews and things, but it seems they’ve all been nuked. This will be short, but this band should have a … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Dessau (or; The Post-Punk/Industrial Band That Never Made It)
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. When we last checked in with the band, Joe Perry was on his way to try and make amends with Steven Tyler… Done with Mirrors (1985) Former and … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 5 of 5]
Like the Tokyo Olympics, the Fifth Annual Terrible Artist Spotlight Challenge is back, one year after it was originally scheduled. This year’s installation — following previous entries covering Soulja Boy, Dogstar, BrokeNCYDE, and Train (band) — brings us the story … Continue reading Chris Gaines is Fake, but so is Garth Brooks: 5th Annual Terrible Artist Spotlight
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. When last we left the bad boys from Boston, guitarist Joe Perry had struck out on his own after years of drug abuse and he and singer Steven Tyler being at … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 4 of 5]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Last week, Aerosmith had finally achieved commercial and critical success that had avoided them… Draw the Line (1977) After the release of Rocks, Aerosmith was riding high… on drugs, fame, money, and sometimes even … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 3 of 5]
In writing these pieces, usually the artists fall into one of three categories. The first ones are groups that are marginally popular in a cult way, that flirt with mainstream success, but that they are culturally important in their influence, … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Course of Empire (or; We’re Doomed, But the Show Must Go On)
Part 1 here. Last week, Aerosmith released their debut album to little notice at all… Get Your Wings (1974) In October 1973, Aerosmith continued their nearly non-stop touring by opening for Mott the Hoople on a US tour. While the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 2 of 5]
Where does one start? How about with the guy The Times of London called a “glamourous stick insect”, Steven Tyler. Steven Tyler (Tallarico) was born in Harlem in 1948. Tyler’s grandparents immigrated from Italy in the late 1880’s and were … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith 1973-1993 (or; A Field Guide on How to Squander Goodwill) [Part 1 of 5]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Part 5 here. Part 6 here. In Excelsis EP (2010) / Absolute Dissent (2010) After bassist Paul Raven left the band, he joined up with Ministry (he had … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 7 of 7]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Part 5 here. Killing Joke (2003) In 2002, guitarist Geordie Walker and vocalist/keyboardist Jaz Coleman came back together to reform Killing Joke once again. Coleman cited the Invasion … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 6 of 7]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. Part 4 here. Laugh? I Nearly Bought One! (1992) Because there are so many compilations, I’m largely ignoring them, but this one has an important place in the band’s history. Guitarist … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 5 of 7]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Part 3 here. The Courtald Talks (1989) When last we left Killing Joke, they were still broken up, for the second time. The Courtald Talks isn’t really a real Killing Joke album, there’s no … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 4 of 7]
Part 1 here. Part 2 here. “Birds of a Feather” (1982) / Ha! EP (1982) After the return to the UK of vocalist/keyboardist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker, the duo was set to put Killing Joke back together. Drummer … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 3 of 7]
Part 1 here. What’s THIS for…! (1981) Six months after the release of Killing Joke, the band showed up at the studio to record the follow up. Singer/keyboardist Jaz Coleman, drummer Paul Ferguson, guitarist Geordie Walker, and Walker’s guitar cabinet … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Killing Joke (or; How to Compose the Soundtrack to Every Apocalypse) [Part 2 of 7]
