If you think you've heard everything, then you haven't heard Hayes Carll. Mix the speed-demon sound of Larry Williams-style R&B (as exemplified by The Beatles cover of Williams' "Slow Down") with the bi-polar sonic rock of Dylan circa Blonde on Blonde, a hearty helping of the upside-down-smile charm of Gram Parsons with the straight-ahead vindication of Steve Earle and you're getting close. Carll's just-released fourth LP, KMAG YOYO (Lost Highway), is as enjoyable a listen as we've heard this year. But the real fun will happen when Hayes brings his magic show to town April 10 in for a Sunday-night special at the Horseshoe.




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With the Blue Jays' season opening up Friday at the Dome against the Twins, it's also the beginning of a new season for The Baseball Project. The band have just released their second LP, Volume 2: High and Inside (Yep Roc), and are showing ...

One of nice perks of having the Junos back in town is JunoFest. Developed over the past decade as the Junos toured the country, the event gives the host city's music fans a full slate of gigs and personal appearances. It's a showcase of the bands that form our country's rich musical history, the emerging artists of the future as well as the current crop of hit-makers, and serves as the perfect ramp-up to the award-show broadcast on March 27 at the ACC.

The first batch of JunoFest shows were announced last week. Highlights include: Bedouin Soundclash at the Phoenix, March 26; New Group of the Year nominees Said the Whale at The Horseshoe, March 25; and the return of The Grapes of Wrath on the same night at the El Mocambo. The Grapes turned heads with a return to the stage last fall at the Horseshoe and guitarist Kevin ...