Kenneth Partridge's work has appeared in such publications as USA Today, the Village Voice and the Hartford Courant, as well as online at MTV Hive and HowAboutWe, among other sites. He's helped to edit two encyclopedias -- one on Latin music, the other on reggae -- and penned biographies about Louis Armstrong and the opera singer Marian Anderson. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his beloved wife and slightly less beloved record collection.
Kenneth Partridge
Social Distortion Bring Pulpy Punk to Brooklyn’s Warsaw [Exclusive Photos]
We all know Mike Ness is a connoisseur of vintage junk culture. The Social Distortion frontman is responsible for some of the pulpiest songs in the punk canon, and since 1988's 'Prison Bound,' he's written almost exclusively from the perspective of outlaws, sinners, gangsters, greaseball hoods and doomed film noir protagonists.
Slowriter, ‘Animated’ – Free MP3 Download
A man can only rage for so long. After two years of playing guitar with the math-y Atlanta post-hardcore outfit the Chariot, Bryan Taylor has pulled up a desk chair and parked himself at the computer. There, piecing together tracks for his Slowriter side project, he fits together beats, loops, textures and lyrics, emerging with a kind of spoke-sung electro-pop.
The Cannanes, ‘Zone (Dr. Version Remix)’ – Free MP3 Download
Stephen Hermann has at least one thing in common with Kurt Cobain, and that thing is a fondness for the Cannanes. Cobain wrote about the Aussie indie-pop duo in his journals, and Hermann has twice worked with the group, producing their most recent full-length in 2002 and returning for the 'Small Batch' EP, released earlier this year.
The Bynars, ‘All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun Tonight’ – Free MP3 Download
Limber up, indie fans. Maybe throw back a Red Bull, scarf a protein bar or consume whatever substance you use for sudden bursts of energy. (We're not judging.) The Bynars are about to make you dance for 12 minutes straight, and you'll need your stamina.
Chainwave, ‘Wrap Me Up’ – Free MP3 Download
Having played together in previous bands, singer-guitarist Ian Jacobs and drummer Michelle Feliciano came to Chainwave with a solid musical understanding. The Brooklyn band has only been around since the fall of 2012, but already, it's got a clear-cut sound -- one that's recognizable, sure, but potent all the same.
Mark Rose, ‘Georgiana’ – Free MP3 Download
Following the 2007 breakup of Spitalfield, the popular emo outfit he piloted for nearly a decade, Mark Rose did what many a suddenly-freed-up rocker has done before him: He went solo -- and took a quieter tact.
In 2011, the Chicago singer-songwriter dropped his solo debut, and earlier this year, he self-released the EP 'The Sound of a Turnaround...
Sugar Glyder, ‘Campfire’ – Free MP3 Download
A self-made 2011 EP and successful SXSW outing landed Sugar Glyder a deal with ORG Music, and now, the North Carolina foursome are hitting the road in support of their full-length debut, 'The Eyes: They See.'
Restorations, ‘Civil Inattention’ – Free MP3 Download
This ain't the first ride on the merry-go-round for the members of Restorations. Having previously played together in the band Jena Berlin, these genre-pushing Philly punks know all about cramming into vans and sleeping on floors, and while they had no intention of throwing themselves back into that lifestyle, here they are, signed to a well-known label (SideOneDummy) and prepping the release of t
Smashing Pumpkins Wrap SXSW 2013 at Red Bull Sound Select Showcase
As Prince blew minds and brought the funk at La Zona Rosa, the Smashing Pumpkins closed out SXSW 2013 with their own exclusive Austin showcase, performing at the Red Bull Sound Select Stage for a crowd of 350. As mxdwn.com reports, Billy Corgan and the gang turned in a career-spanning set, mixing such classics as 'Cherub Rock' (watch above) and 'Tonight, Tonight' with cuts from last year's 'Oceani
The Teen Age, ‘Second Youth’ – Free MP3 Download
While not the first band to romanticize those momentous years between middle school and college, the Teen Age gaze backwards on their own terms. On 'Second Youth,' these Brooklyn dudes sound positively spooked, delivering sweet, noisy guitar-pop with an unshakable air of dread. If you're turned on by the idea of Joy Division cutting the Foo Fighters' 'Everlong' for Slumberland Records, this one's
John Murry, ‘The Ballad of the Pajama Kid’ – Free MP3 Download
Most vagabond-troubadour alt-country types would kill for a backstory like John Murry's. Born in Tupelo, Miss., just like Elvis, he's a distant relative -- second-cousin, according to most accounts -- of literary hero William Faulkner. What's more, he's traveled the world, and amid stints in Oakland, San Francisco (where he overdosed) and England, he's amassed an enviable catalog of crazy-yet-true
Mad Season’s Barrett Martin Remembers Layne Staley [Exclusive Video]
Some bands are stable, built to last, destined for long and fruitful careers. Mad Season weren't one of 'em. The alt-rock (or grunge, if you wanna start some arguments) supergroup formed in 1994, when Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready met bassist John Baker Saunders at a Minneapolis rehab facility. The two became friends, and after moving back to Seattle, McCready tapped Alice in Chains frontman L