James Lipton, the longtime host of the acclaimed interview series Inside the Actors Studio, died Monday, The New York Times reports. He was 93. Lipton’s wife, Kedakai Mercedes Lipton, confirmed his death and said the cause was bladder cancer. Lipton created and launched Inside the Actors Studio in 1994 and …

It’s been a banner week or so for North Carolina indie-rock. First, on February 20th, the Archers of Loaf — one of the Nineties’ finest bands in any genre — released their first new song in 22 years, “Raleigh Days.” It’s a loving evocation of their local scene back in …

When the city of New York decided to initiate a new campaign to prevent trucks and buses from idling, it knew it wasn’t exactly the sexiest or most-pressing issue New Yorkers face. A new program unveiled Thursday encourages city residents to take cellphone footage of any idling vehicles and report …

While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has begun to rock the global live music scene, causing tour and festival postpones around the world, all is still steady — mostly — for South by Southwest, which will commence in Austin in March. That’s not without a few minor hiccups; SXSW has seen …

In 2005, Korn founding member Brian “Head” Welch was in a dark place. He was worn out from years of touring, and struggling with addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts. He left the band and went through a long period of recovery, which was featured in the Showtime documentary Loud Krazy …

I didn’t expect to still be listening to Lil Yachty in 2020. In fairness, it has less to do with him than me: too much of my early career as a music writer was consumed defending the crimson-haired Atlanta rapper from traditionalist critics like Joe Budden in the early era …

Every country songwriter needs a great story-song, and Hailey Whitters found hers in “Janice at the Hotel Bar.” Co-written by the Iowa native with Lori McKenna (Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”), the gentle ballad not only tells the titular woman’s real-life tale, but imparts her hard-won advice on how to …

MSNBC host Chris Matthews is taking heat for comparing Bernie Sanders’ win in Nevada on Saturday to the 1940 Nazi invasion of France. After being asked about his take on Sanders’ win, Matthews said, “I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940. And …

Flogging Molly have recruited punk brethren Descendents, Bad Religion and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes for the band’s upcoming Salty Dog Cruise, a four-day festival-at-sea. The Devil Makes Three, Broilers, Mongol Horde featuring Frank Turner, Cherry Coke$ and Authority Zero are also among that acts that will perform aboard …

John Prine has canceled a number of overseas shows in the U.K. and Australia to deal with a nagging injury. According to a post on the singer-songwriter’s Instagram, Prine will be “taking a break from touring, as being on the road has aggravated a hip injury.” The message directs fans …