Black Potatoes

Since youth was youth and fashion was fashion, the dance floors of the Western world have periodically been swept by dance rages. Prior to World War I, Irene and Vernon Castle popularized a variety of dances, notably the Fox Trot and a number of animal dances. The 1920s saw huge popularity for the Charleston, Blackbottom, and Lindy, and in the late 1930s the rage began for wild jitterbugging to swing bands. But none of these dance crazes could match the early 1960s for their sheer variety of dance fads: there was a veritable explosion of all kinds of rock n roll and rhythm and blues dances and dance records, all emerging out of the popularity of the Twist. This survey covers some of the most distinctive and entertaining dances of that era up to the dance-crazed peak of 1962. Part of the History of Soul series, the accompanying illustrated booklet is written by Robert Pruter, acclaimed author of Chicago Soul, so get reading and get dancing!

Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger—out August 23, 2019 on Nonesuch Records—explores Ireland's Great Famine. Performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, the libretto draws from first-hand accounts by American humanitarian Asenath Nicholson. The Hunger "bears hearing and rehearing," said the Washington Post. "It is powerful, and it makes a statement."

Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger out August 23, 2019 on Nonesuch Records explores Ireland's Great Famine. Performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, the libretto draws from first-hand accounts by American humanitarian Asenath Nicholson. The Hunger "bears hearing and rehearing," said the Washington Post. "It is powerful, and it makes a statement."

Black Aces have done it again. Another meat-and-potatoes pub rock album that fans of Australian style rock will salivate over has been delivered. Some may say that too many bands sound far too much like AC/DC and lack originality. I fall in the camp of ‘who cares’? AC/DC were the biggest band in rock and roll, and are dead and gone forever now as we knew them. This has left a large black hole in the industry and I for one thank God that bands such as Black Aces continually crank out stellar albums and keep the sound alive. I just wish the major labels would wake up and realize there’s a whole new generation of horny, hung-up James Deans out there feeling isolated, out of it, frustrated and yearning for expression. Black Aces are playing their song.