Short Tracks: Killbilly Hill – Southern Pacific (1988)

Southern Pacific’s Killbilly Hill is a vibrant and dynamic blend of country rock that perfectly showcases the band’s tight musicianship and knack for crafting infectious melodies. Released in 1986, this album builds on the group’s signature sound, combining traditional country influences with rock energy, making it an essential listen for fans of both genres. The […]

Short Tracks: ‘Waves 4’ by Fernando Perdomo

The fourth installment of Fernando Perdomo’s all-instrumental progressive rock series doesn’t yield any musical surprises. That is a good thing, as the quality of this fascinating twelve-album series has been consistently strong. ‘Waves 4’, out now ( https://fernandoperdomo.bandcamp.com/album/waves-4 ), does not disappoint. The album opener, “Pulled In,” is a sonic masterpiece, creating the feel of […]

Short Tracks: ‘Tremendo Caché’ by Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco (2025 reissue)

Out now on Craft Recordings is Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco’s album Tremendo Caché, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, having been released in 1975.  The premium 180-gram vinyl edition celebrated the classic collaboration between the Queen of Salsa and the co-founder of Fania Records and remains a landmark in Afro-Caribbean music. It blends […]

Short Tracks: 10 Years of Toto XIV

The last genuinely new Toto album was released on March 20th, 2015. I’ll admit it left me a little underwhelmed upon its initial release. Upon a recent relisten, that opinion hasn’t changed too much. I received an email from a reader of my book, “ Toto: The Band, Not The Dog,” stating that I was […]

Slang Of Ages Interview: Tom Welch discusses his band Wendel (2025)

Preston : How did the band start? Tom Welch:The band as I guess many have as a project at the start of lockdown during Covid. Billy and I had been in bands together for years playing more Rocky stuff but always had a love for the more 60/70s sounding melodic stuff, of course being big […]

George Ajjan discussed the ajjancy album: to be arranged and his upcoming projects 

I’m doing great. Thank you so much for all that you do, not just for having this chat with me but for all the independent artists that you feature. It’s appreciated to have somebody who takes the time to listen Thoughtfully and ask questions and discuss, and it’s really building the community, and we it’s really

Appreciate it.

Toto bassist Shem von Schroeck

Bassist Shem von Schroeck had already had an impressive career with gigs with with Kenny Loggins, Don Felder, Steve Perry, Gary Wright and Ambrosia, among many others.