No Guilty Pleasures: Talking with alt-country chanteuse Lydia Loveless

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Lydia Loveless (Patrick Crawford/Blackletter)

I spoke with the great singer-songwriter (and Ke$ha song-improver) Lydia Loveless for the Washington City Paper's Arts Desk in advance of her show at the 9:30 Club Saturday night in support of Old 97's, (sic) one of my favorite bands. Read a gently edited transcript here.

When the 97's last came through town, in October 2012, I had a really good talk with their frontman, Rhett Miller. In 2008 I talked to their second singer-songwriter, Murry Hammond, too.

There Is No Dignified Way to say "Christmas Unicorn": Sufjan Stevens at the 9:30 Club

My review of Sufjan Stevens' "Christmess Sing-a-Long" -- or to use its full, formal designation, the Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice -- at the 9:30 Club Saturday night appears  in today's Washington Post.

I'm a big admirer of Stevens' giddy, reverent, odd Christmas EPs, installments 6-10 of which have just been released in the Silver & Gold boxed set. I tried to talk to him for my yulemix essay that ran in the paper yesterday. I've used some of his songs on the mix every year. Alas, his label told me he isn't giving interviews. Humbug.

She Couldn't Blame Us: Cat Power at the 9:30 Club, reviewed.

I'm sorry to say that Cat Power's concert at the 9:30 Club last night was another heart-rending chapter in her sad history as a panicky, fragmented performer. It's always agonizing to watch someone on stage who clearly doesn't want to be there. I hope she'll get the help she needs. The club was sold out, so clearly her fans haven't abandoned her. Last night's audience struck me as uncommonly respectful, sympathetic and forgiving.

I reviewed the show for the Washington Post.