Rocky Mountain Way : Colorado Vacation Day One – “It’s somethin’

I always seem short of breath in an airport. Maybe those behemoths of international travel and mile-long food courts are oxygen-deprived. They want you to struggle and freak out. They want to keep you in fight or flight from the moment you hit the concourse to the moment you’re crammed in too small of seats […]

Sml : Small Medium Large

The latest to come out of Chicago’s forward-thinking record label International Anthem is by Sml. Sml consists of the quintet of bassist Anna Butterss, synthesist Jeremiah Chiu, saxophonist Josh Johnson, percussionist Booker Stardrum, and guitarist Gregory Uhlmann. The project began as a series of long form improvisations at the beloved but now closed LA venue […]

Shameless Self Promotion Time

For the most part these hallowed pages here at Complex Distractions are meant to highlight musicians and bands that I find interesting. Artists that inspire me enough to talk about them and spread their word across these internet wastelands. As well as talking about music, movies, books, and other art-related stuff, I talk about me. […]

“Black Narcissus” : Discovering Joe Henderson’s ‘Power To The People’

Despite not knowing all that much about jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson, his debut 1963 album Page One was one of the first jazz records I bought. Sure, there were a couple CDs I bought in the mid-90s when I wanted to broaden my musical horizons; there was Thelonious Monk’s Monk’s Dream(that one stuck), as well […]

Whoa, We’re Halfway There : Favorite Albums Of The Year, Mid-Year Edition

Can you believe we’re into July already? Feels like it was just yesterday we were all huddled in the living room during that January Polar Vortex and wondering when the temps would make to at least single digits once again. Now? Well we just had 110 degrees with the heat index two weeks ago. Time […]

Double Weekend, Making Things, One Week Till Rocky Mountain Way

It was a weird last few days. I was off last Wednesday and Thursday, then went back to work on Friday, then off again for another two days. It was like a normal weekend, then compressed an entire work week into one day and BOOM….the weekend. I’m not complaining, though. I’ll gladly welcome any paid […]

Witchboard Readies New Album ‘Incidental Goth Club Music For Television and Film’, out 7/12; Listen To “Get Anxious”

Witchboard is the musical project of writer, producer, and director Glenn McQuaid. Known most notably for his debut film, 2008s I Sell The Dead, as well as his audio series Tales From Beyond The Pale(both with Larry Fessenden and Fessenden’s production company Glass Eye Pix.) McQuaid also directed a segment of the original anthology film […]

Fir Cone Children Return With Tenth Album ‘Jig Of Glee’, Out 7/12; Listen To Single “Malin”

Alexander Donat is a man creatively in bloom. With so many musical ideas he needs to spread them out amongst many different projects; Vlimmer, Fir Cone Children, Assassun, Feverdreamt, as well as music released under his own name all build a discography rich in sound, mood, intent, and with a through line that is Donat’s […]

Wilco : Hot Sun Cool Shroud

Wilco have established themselves as elder statesmen of American rock and roll by now. Their decade album run between 1996 and 2007 was enough alone to cement their reputation as icons. And of course Jeff Tweedy is one of our great songwriters, front men, and general righteous dudes. So they can be forgiven for spending […]

Live Shows, No Sleep, Road Trip, Vintage Toys : The Last Few Days

It’s Sunday morning. I cleaned up the dog’s little puke pile, took him for a poop walk, cleaned up the kitchen and dining room, and am now in my La-Z-Boy. Fresh cup of coffee next to me and writing. The process. So it’s been a busy last few days. Thursday afternoon after work I gassed […]