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Features


Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues

Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment

Small venues pack a big punch when it comes to supporting live music. They are important for audiences and essential for musicians. Nicky Crewe examines one of the best, Cafe No. 9 in Nether Edge in Sheffield.


Chris Hludzik

Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories

In 'Vinyl Stories' Northeastern Pennsylvanian singer-songwriter Chris Hludzik talks to Dave Goodwin about his work in a recording studio led to his obsession with vinyl.


Pete Berwick

Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:

In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem enjoys fellow Midwesterner Pete Berwick’s biker band tribute book, 'Too Wild to Tame: The Story of the Boyzz'.


Pennyblackmusic

Pennyblackmusic - Writers' Albums of the Year 2023

Our writera provide their albums of the year for 2023.


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - On Learning Not to Walk Past Suffering

Steve Miles talks in his 'In Dreams Begin Responsibilities' column to Illinois musician and former Beauty Shop frontman John Hoeffleur about the empathy behind the songs that he has started publishing on Bandcamp under the moniker of Green Boots.


Best of Vinyl 2023

Best of Vinyl 2023 - Vinyl Stories

Rounding up what Pennyblack contributors have been spinning on the turntable this year, Dave Goodwin brings us his own list and commentary on a eclectic selection of vinyl purchases


Rock Against Racism

Rock Against Racism - Those Were The Days

In our new series ‘Those Were the Days’ our writers will be writing about a gig which they wish they could attend again. In the first in the series, Andrew Twambley recollects attending a Rock Against Racism gig with The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Tom Robinson Band and Steel Pulse in Victoria Park in London in April 1978.


Luke Haines

Luke Haines - Freaks Out!: Weirdos, Misfits and Deviants – The Rise and Fall of Righteous Rock ’n’ Roll

In ‘Raging Pages’ guest reviewer Eoghan Lyng enjoys The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder Luke Haines’ satirical overview of pop in his first book in a decade, ‘Freaks Out!: Weirdos, Misfits and Deviants – The Rise and Fall of Righteous Rock ’n’ Roll'.


Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan 1962 to 1970 : Every Album, Every Song

For her 'Raging Pages' column, Lisa Torem gives ‘Bob Dylan 1962 to 1970 : Every Album, Every Song’, Opher Goodwin’s new book on Dylan’s studio work high marks.


Beck

Beck - Every Album, Every Song

Kimberly Bright finds Sonicbond’s new book on Beck to be beautifully researched and totally compelling.


Beat, General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals

Beat, General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals - General Public and The Fine Young Cannibals

Fiona Hutchings reflects on a new book from Sonicbond on The Beat and also General Public and The Fine Young Cannibals, which featured many of the same members.


Is Vinyl Too Expensive?

Is Vinyl Too Expensive? - Vinyl Stories

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' dives headfirst into a debate about the cost of new records, via a detour on the number 52 bus


Graham Nash

Graham Nash - Wild Tales

In her ‘Raging Pages’ book column Lisa Torem assesses legendary singer-songwriter Graham Nash’s 2014 memoir ‘Wild Tales’.


Spirit

Spirit - Every album, every song

Meticulously researched, the On Track series connects us to the bands we know and love. In ‘Raging Pages’ guest reviewer Nicky Crewe finds this exploration and celebration of the music of Spirit is a reminder of just how innovative and influential they were .


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Heaven Is Whenever We Can Get Together 3 - ‘Certain songs, they get so scratched into our souls.’

In the third part of his four part series, Steve Miles continues his interview with Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, putting his writing process under the spotlight, and looking at how focus on mental health plays a key role in the band’s bond with the audience.


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Heaven Is Whenever We Can Get Together 4 – ‘When you look a little closer, you learn a lot more.’

In the fourth and final part of his series on music and mental health, Steve Miles talks to Heavenly’s Amelia Fletcher, on the band and the tragic death of her brother in 1997.


Suede

Suede - Discography Hagiography

In the our series ‘Discography Hagiography’, in which we provide a disc-by-disc evolution of music’s greats, Cila Warncke reflects on the career of Suede.


Chris Bade

Chris Bade - Vinyl Stories

Dave Goodwin in ‘Vinyl Stories’ talks to New Jersey music fanatic about his discovery of a long-lost acetate of the 1967 only album by New York Latin band The Nitty Gritty Sextet.


Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman - In the 1970's

Author Geoffrey Feakes takes a deep dive into the 1970s, when keyboardist/composer Rick Wakeman was at the height of his creative career, in the Sonicbond DECADES series. Lisa Torem in her 'Raging Pages' book column examines it


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Heaven Is Whenever We Can Get Together 1 - ‘A small flame that burns very, very hot.’

In this special article spread over four parts, Steve Miles discusses the role of intimacy and belonging in music. He begins by remembering encounters with Joy Division and New Order, and starts to conduct an extensive and wide-ranging interview with The Hold Steady frontman, Craig Finn.


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Heaven Is Whenever We Can Get Together: 2 - ‘The best advice that I've gotten’

In the second part of this four part article Steve Miles examines the links between religion and fandom with The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, and ponders the effect of gigs by The Smiths, The Libertines and The Dandy Warhols as he continues to find an answer to the question of why and how music matters so much.


David Bowie

David Bowie - Discography Hagiography Part 2

In the second in our series ‘Discography Hagiography’, in which we will be providing a disc-by-disc evolution of music’s greats, Mark Rowland begins by reflecting upon the post 1970’s career of David Bowie,


Bill Wellwood

Bill Wellwood - Vinyl Stories

In 'Vinyl Stories' Dave Goodwin chronicles the start of a beautiful friendship based on a love of vinyl records.


Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro - Raging Pages

In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem leafs through a new and fascinating biography of rock pioneer Suzi Quatro


Is Bandcamp's Videos Any Good?

Is Bandcamp's Videos Any Good? - Bandcamp Explorer

In ‘Bandcamp Explorer’ Mark Rowland looks at the best of video game music on Bandcamp.


Roy Bond

Roy Bond - Vinyl Stories

In his ‘Vinyl Stories’ column Dave Goodwin chats to acclaimed close up magician and Las Vegas performer Roy Bond about the records that have shaped his life


Do Bandcamp's Artists Know What THey're Talking About?

Do Bandcamp's Artists Know What THey're Talking About? - Bandcamp Explorer

Mark Rowland tries out Bandcamp’s ‘artist recommended’ function in ‘Bandcamp Explorer’.


Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra - The Voice

In her ‘Raging Pages’ book column Lisa Torem examines James Kaplan’s book ‘Frank: The Voice’, which explores the first forty years of Frank Sinatra’s complicated life


Harry Styles

Harry Styles - Comment

Nick Dent-Robinson reflects upon the meteoric rise of former One Direction star Harry Styles.


Cila Warncke

Cila Warncke - A Life in Music

Over the last two years Cila Warncke in her 'A Life in Music' column has talked to her fellow contributors at Penny Black about their musical tastes, background and aspirations. Now in what is the last one in the series Nick Dent-Robinson talks to Cila about her 'Life in Music'.


David Bowie

David Bowie - Discography Hagiography Part One

In the first in our new series ‘Discography Hagiography’, in which we will be providing a disc-by-disc evolution of music’s greats, Mark Rowland begins by reflecting upon the 1960’s and 1970’s career of David Bowie,


Tom Verlaine

Tom Verlaine - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...

In ‘Ten Songs That Made Me Love…’ Mark Rowland reflects on his favourite ten songs by Tom Verlaine with Television and in his solo work.


Richard Barone

Richard Barone - Raging Pages

In her ‘Raging Pages’ book column Lisa Torem enjoys the depth and precision of Richard Barone’s latest book, ‘Music & Revolution: Greenwich Village in the 1960s.’


It's Time for a Jazz Odyssey

It's Time for a Jazz Odyssey - Bandcamp Explorer

Leading recording artists, such as Takuro Okada, have discovered that there are many iterations within the genre of jazz. Mark Rowland looks at some of them in his 'Bandcamp Explorer' column.


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Music and Mental Health - Searching for Harmony. A special interview with debutant Marlody on her new album.

In 'In Dreams Begin Responsibilities' Steve Miles assesses and talks to Marlody about her extraordinary debut album. ''I'm Not Sure At All'.


Beatles

Beatles - 1963

In 'Raging Pages' guest reviewer Eoghan Lyng contends that author Dafydd Rees ‘apes the lexicon of the era’ when focusing on the Beatles history in his new book ' The Beatles 1963: A Year in the Life'.


Pennyblackmusic

Pennyblackmusic - Writers' and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2022

Our writers and photographers reveal their albums of the year for 2022.


Vinyl Stories

Vinyl Stories - 2022 Vinyl

In his 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin talks to several members of the Pennyblack team about their vinyl purchases of 2022 and some of the issues associated with it.


Christmas Crackers?

Christmas Crackers? - Bandcamp Explorer

In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland examines some of the best Christmas songs available through Bandcamp.


Donovan

Donovan - In the 1960's

Lisa Torem finds Jeff Fitzgerald’s new book about Donovan’s work in the 1960s an enjoyable read.


John Clarkson

John Clarkson - A Life in Music

In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to Editor John Clarkson.


Living The Dream Pop

Living The Dream Pop - Bandcamp Explorer

In his 'Bandcamp Explorer' column Mark Rowland examines the best of dream pop and shoegaze currently available on Bandcamp.


Jay Bergen

Jay Bergen - Raging Pages

In her 'Raging Pages' book column, Lisa Torem examines Jay Bergen's new memoir 'Lennon, the Mobster and the Lawyer', which tells of his experiences representing John Lennon against Morris Levy, the Mafia-connected owner of Roulette Records, for the rights to his 1975 LP, Rock ‘n’ Roll’.


Steve Miles

Steve Miles - A Life in Music

In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to Steve Miles.


In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - Music and Mental Health:  Don't Talk To Me About Work

‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’ Steve Miles looks at the world of work, and with reference to Lou Reed, The Ramones, The Fall, Generation X, 999 and Patrik Fitzgerald, asks why so few songs have otherwise been written about it.


Sheffield

Sheffield - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Fiona Hutchings pays tribute to her hometown with ten of the best from the Steel City


Liverpool

Liverpool - Ten Gigs That Made Me Love...

Andrew Twambley and Nick Pinto recall ten of the gigs that most inspired them especially at the infamous Eric's during their student years in the late 1970s in Liverpool.


Is Pop Punk Good Now?

Is Pop Punk Good Now? - Bandcamp Explorer

Mark Rowland examines in his 'Bandcamp Explorer' column the best of the much maligned pop punk genre.


Jimmy Webb

Jimmy Webb  - Raging Pages

In her ‘Raging Pages’ book column Lisa Torem examines Jimmy Webb’s 2017 memoir ‘The Cake and the Rain'.


Nick Dent-Robinson

Nick Dent-Robinson - A Life in Music

In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to Nick Dent-Robinson.


Evidently Spencertown

Evidently Spencertown - Firestarter RIP

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column Spencer Robertshaw pays tribute to a friend who has recently passed away.


Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk - The Image That Made Me Weep

In our column 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which our writers write about the impact of a particular photo or image on them, Tommy Gunnarsson writes of a rare photo that finds Kraftwerk smiling.


It's Summertime, Let's Have Some Pop

It's Summertime, Let's Have Some Pop - Bandcamp Explorer

In ‘Bandcamp Explorer’ Mark Rowland looks at some of the best music on Bandcamp that puts you in a summer mood.


George Harrison

George Harrison - In the 1970's

George Harrison surpassed expectations as a songwriter after initially being regarded as "the quiet Beatle". In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem discovers that Eoghan Lyng's new book explores many facets of the British songwriter's career.


Felix Cavaliere

Felix Cavaliere - From Pelham, NY to Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

In 'Raging Pages' Lisa Torem finds that The Rascals' Felix Cavaliere shares insights regarding the American band's hits and challenges, as well as his spiritual growth in his new autobiography, 'Memoir of a Rascal'.


Evidently Spencertown

Evidently Spencertown - Get Some of This in Your Life

In his regular 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column Spencer Robertshaw writes of Pennyblackmusic's latest recruit, his new dog Norman.


Tommy Gunnarsson

Tommy Gunnarsson - A Life in Music

In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to our Swedish writer Tommy Gunnarsson.







Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors