Daniel Massoglia

Virginian – and national – politics are in something of a bind. The major parties – Republican and Democrat – can’t seem to agree on much of anything, putting the United States government, and, importantly, its credit rating, at serious risk. This is nothing new, of course, but in recent months it has become more and more troubling. This fighting –amongst the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House –places the country, and the state of Virginia, at an impasse.Read more...

Modern music owes its allegiance to many things. Trailblazing acts like Chuck Berry, The Beatles, and Public Enemy paved the way for the music we hear today, and likewise the tireless efforts of industry figures like Quincy Jones, Ahmet Ertegun and Rick Rubin led to the distribution and promotion structures that dominate today’s landscape. Looming above all, however, is not an artist or executive but an entity – the Internet. Disregarding genres, no force has played a larger role in music during the past 10 years than the World Wide Web.Read more...

The Boston based David Wax Museum is an interesting little band. Anchored by David Wax and Suz Slezak, who have spent time studying textiles around the world on a Watson Fellowship, studying at Harvard University, Wellesley College, Deep Springs College/Cattle Ranch, and playing music in rural Mexico, they have received attention recently from NPR and The New Yorker. What emerged from their travels is a unique brand of Mexican-Americana folk country not unlike – though certainly not identical to – the punky folk first popularized by The Avett Brothers, whose tour they opened in 2008.Read more...

Angus MacLachlan is a playwright and screenwriter who calls Winston-Salem home and whose recent work includes 2010’s Burning Coal, a play, and the 2005 movie Junebug, which starred Amy Adams and 2001 U.Va. grad Ben McKenzie. The Dec caught up with him last Friday on the eve of the release of his newest movie, Stone, which comes out October 8th.

The Dec: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today.

Angus MacLachlan: SureRead more...

Five bands. One cavernous stage. One winner. The 2010 UPC Battle of the Bands did not disappoint, showcasing everything from hard rock to hip hop fusion over the three and a half hours of live music. More than 200 people looked on as Pompadour, a four member group with a great female drummer, took home the crown in front of a largely tepid crowd, who remained motionless even through funky grooves played out over a great system. Judges included Jacob Wolf of Nailgun Media, Zack Peters of Red Light Management, Andrew Cedermark of C-Ville Feedback, Michael Bishop, a U.Va.Read more...