FEATURES

Boys of Summer: Allison Johnelle Boron shoots the curl with the Beach Boys, whose 50-year ride has gone from bitchin’ to gnarly, and is now back to rad

What Color is Your Soul? Christine Ohlman, a blonde soul sister herself, points out some outstanding soulsters with blue eyes

DEPARTMENTS

Letter from a veteran: Photographer Paul Natkin has seen bands come and go. He’s seen them stay, too, and makes his predictions about longevity

Opening Act: Festivals worth the journey (including two where you’ll need a passport), shows to revisit, snippets and things to ponder

Kickin’ in Your Stall: There are good bands, bad bands and—according to Carl Gustafson—a select few that merit the death penalty

Influences: Sitting down with icons Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones after their book release and before their Rock Hall induction, the two talk about their shared influences and shoot the breeze. Listen in on the fun

On the Record: Outlaw/bad boy Willie Nelson, in his late-70s, decided Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die might be an inappropriate title for his latest release; let’s hope so. Dr. John called it Locked Down, but we disagree; Paul Thorn asked What the Hell is Goin On? despite the fact he’s got it goin’ on; Tedeschi Trucks band knows Everybody’s Talkin’, and who can blame them? Béla Fleck goes Across the Imaginary Divide to join the Marcus Roberts Trio, and good thing he did

Re.Issues: Part deux of the Jethro Tull saga and the unending genius of Ian Anderson. The Ventures with a Vol. 2 collection (expect to hear more later), and, from a different reality, David Axelrod’s rockified Messiah

Pet Sounds: Where are they now? They’re here! Ali Green assesses Jack White, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Neil Young’s latest efforts, and finds their magic as compelling as ever

What’d I Say: Jim Hynes revisits Chi-town and says the new music is as good as the old, and sometimes the two overlap

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: Managing Editor and In-House Ninja John Kuroski combines his jobs and finds Lou Ragland a quirky, determined I-can-do-it-all kind of guy out there, doing it all

Also Appearing: Jack White and an estrogen-rich band rock Roseland Ballroom. Chuck Berry still duckwalks at 85. Two out-of-the-box instruments had ’em going—the Punch Brothers, where Chris Thile’s mandolin blew out Town Hall, and Jake Shimabukuro’s ukulele made its usual outsized impact at Rhythm N’ Blooms. Buddy Guy’s bio in print and the Grateful Dead—in keeping with their endless sets—on 14 DVDs, oh my!

Collecting: Golden-voiced Steve Marriott started out with Charles Dickens Oliver!, reportedly stormed off stage at a New Year’s Eve Small Faces gig, then formed Humble Pie. Arnie Goodman names Marriott’s records to hear and own

Get to Know 20 List: GPS Edition – Artist or location?

This Month’s Trivia