Shane Handler

1 month ago | glidemagazine.com | Shane Handler

Talking about a festival’s weather is about as cliché as it gets—something we’ve read a thousand times and probably could do without. But when a city goes nine months without significant rain, and then a storm rolls in during a festival weekend, maybe that’s worth mentioning. Such was the case at the M3F Festival in downtown Phoenix at Indian Steele Park on March 7-8, 2025.

Oct 22, 2024 | glidemagazine.com | Shane Handler

The life of a touring musician can be tumultuous and troubling. Being on the road for long stretches of time tests a band’s genuine relationship, and some just aren’t cut out for it. On the other hand, some thrive and cherish being slammed into a van and popping up at venues, saving every ounce of energy for their time on stage. We have witnessed tours change a band’s perspective and, thus, change the music they release.

Oct 7, 2024 | glidemagazine.com | Shane Handler

It’s a continually on-again message that certain records need repeated listens to earn the full reward of an artist’s creative intentions. There is so much it’s not even worth mentioning, but we already just did, so here goes another one…On Mariam The Believer’s new album, Breathing Techniques, which was released October 4th, a spacious hypnotic vocal passage sounds like Radiohead Kid—experimentalism joined at the hip of Nick Cave at his imploring.

Sep 23, 2024 | glidemagazine.com | Shane Handler

There is an expression “if you know, you know.” In the case of Phoenix’s The Dirty Drummer, for those who know, this venue has quickly become one of the most respected venues in America and one of the most genuine Phoenix bars/eating places: both past and present. Resting ordinarily in a stucco plaza near a commercially infused box store area of east central Phoenix, The Dirty Drummer is easy to drive by miss. However, the outside mundane environs dissipate when you walk through the doors.

Mar 7, 2024 | glidemagazine.com | Shane Handler

While just the words “steel pan ensemble” might conjure a “hard pass” from most wisecrackers, perhaps a few things to consider about Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band: They do a mean cover of “Nuthin But A G Thang,”  and they are from Germany, where there are no sunny escapist tropicales that might influence a Caribbean act.