On a dimly-lit stage in the Baekyang Concert Hall at Yonsei University in Seoul, American singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata charmed hundreds of fans with her captivating vocals and witty jokes on Friday night.As the concert was focused on a “live acoustic” sound, the stage featured only a piano and a simple instrumental set occupied by Yamagata’s accompanying musician and one-man-band Michael Chaves.Opening with a performance by New York-based, pop-jazz artist Emi Meyer, Yamagata’s concert was

Power trio to return with new music this year

Classical musicAndras Schiff recital: Virtuoso pianist, pedagogue and lecturer Andras Schiff will hold a recital on March 25 at Seoul Arts Center. Although he is known here for his interpretations of the music of Beethoven and Bach, the Hungarian-born musician’s repertoire also covers Mozart, Schubert and Schumann. At the Seoul concert, he will play works by two Romantic Era composers, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For details, call (02) 541-3184.  “Shos

CN Blue shows maturity on ‘Can’t Stop’CN Blue“Can’t Stop”(CJ E&M)Equipped with a more mature and polished sound, Korean boy band CN Blue has made a strong return to the music scene with its fifth EP, “Can’t Stop.” And indeed, it is difficult to stop listening to the new album.Featuring six tracks written and composed by the group’s leader and vocalist Jung Yong-hwa and guitarist Lee Jong-hyun, “Can’t Stop” is filled with eloquent vocals and impressive instrumentals, overcoming the comparatively

New York-based singer-songwriter Diane Birch will stage a live concert in Seoul this month, returning to South Korea for the first time in four years. Birch was raised by conservative missionary parents in Zimbabwe and Australia, where she was exposed to only classical and church music. After moving to the United States at 13, Birch began listening to English rock bands such as Joy Divison, The Cure and The Beatles and preparing for a career as a musician.  The singer-songwriter was noticed by P

One of Hollywood’s most famous rock-and-roll landmarks is displaying a guitar owned by a South Korean rock musician, the artist said Thursday.Kim Se-hwang, a 42-year-old guitarist with South Korean rock band “N.E.X.T.,” said his treasured electric guitar has recently become one of the memorabilia items displayed in the flagship Guitar Center store’s front windows in the heart of Hollywood.The music store hosts Hollywood’s RockWalk, a hall of fame honoring musical artists. Kim is the first Korean

(OSEN)Girls’ Generation’s latest music video became the first K-pop video this year to hit 10 million views on YouTube.The video of “Mr. Mr.,” the title song of the group’s fourth EP of the same title, topped the 10 million viewer mark Wednesday night, 13 days after it was uploaded on the video sharing site.No other K-pop music video has surpassed the milestone this year.The track has been well received on iTunes and local online music services since it was released online on Feb. 25. “Mr. Mr.”

South By Southwest and the surrounding unaffiliated hoopla have slipped into hyperdrive as the music portion of the annual conference and festival opens this week. Kanye West and Jay Z have announced they’re headed to Austin, Texas, the cherry on top of a gloriously all-over-the-place gathering that also will feature Lady Gaga as a keynote speaker, Lil Wayne as an interview subject and 2,000 other acts vying for attention in the midst of the frenzy. And there are still more surprises to come. Tr

Up-and-coming gypsy jazz band La Vie est Belle is scheduled to perform live at Olympus Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul on March 21.Titled “Gypsy World,” the concert will feature a variety of songs ranging from upbeat, groovy compositions to gypsy-influenced tunes from the band’s recently released album “Gypsy Mood.”The gypsy band La Vie est Belle ― a French phrase for “life is beautiful” ― was formed under the influence of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli by five acc

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― Rapper Lil Boosie says serving time in a Louisiana prison on drug charges was life changing, has made him a better person and ultimately, he hopes, a better artist. “I feel like I’ve got more stories to tell,” Lil Boosie said during a press event Monday in New Orleans. “I’ve got a lot to say about my life, about what I went through in prison and about what my family went through. “I’m a much better person. I’m much stronger. I know who my real friends are and I know who ain’t.

In a popular cartoon on the Internet, a man in his early 40s holds a floppy disk and asks a young boy, “Have you seen one of these before?” to which the boy exclaims, “Wow, you made a 3-D model of the save icon!”Poking fun at the generational gap between the youth of today and the middle-aged, the cartoon is a reminder of the inevitable differences in culture and shared memories between different generations.However, at a small bar-club in Hongdae ― decorated with shelves full of old LP records,

Nell delivers quality sounds on ‘Newton’s Apple’Nell“Newton’s Apple”(LOEN Entertainment)It seems that Nell never disappoints. Once again proving its musical finesse and sensibilities, Korea’s signature rock band Nell has returned strong with its sixth studio album, “Newton’s Apple,” equipped with original instrumentals and Kim Jong-wan’s yearning vocals.Nell has also completed its “Gravity” trilogy series with the new album featuring two CDs -- the first holding 11 new tracks and the other featu