See that behind the camera? That’s what we call a photographer. That’s someone who has dedicated time and money towards their craft. When someone contributes their artistry, we here at the Free Press value their work greatly. This month John Van did a great job photographing Blades for the October article. It was a lot of work and time on his part but unfortunately his efforts went uncredited for some inexplicable reason in the print version. We apologize for the omission. You can check out his photographic work here.* Oh and if you see this guy snapping shots around town ... Read More »

Instrumental rock has to get over a tough hurdle. If you take away the human voice within a rock context, you’ll find a lot of people keep a safe distance because instrumental music is considered by many to be cold and unapproachable. Thankfully, any performance by Pasadena’s Blades takes this notion head-on. The band’s decidedly unpretentious approach is a kick in the pants to anyone expecting music for chin-scratching intellectuals and last month’s performance at the Mink surely must have laid that notion to rest. That night Blades and their music careened with volume and force: bassist David Ibarra convulsed ... Read More »