(Source: newyorker.com)

An Unusual Heavy-Metal Love Story…

Beth Winegarner talks to Sherine Amr of the band Massive Scar Era, and looks at the growing number of female heavy-metal musicians in the West: http://nyr.kr/Z0cKm2

Photograph: Courtesy Massive Scar Era.

Ben Greenman on They Might Be Giants, back in the land of adults with their latest album, “Nanobots”: http://nyr.kr/ZlI6W7 

(Source: newyorker.com)

Thanks to pioneers like Shankar, our ears are open to a diversity of sounds unimaginable to listeners sixty years ago…

Taylor Ho Bynum on the influence and legacy of Ravi Shankar, who died yesterday at age ninety-two: http://nyr.kr/SRqakK

Photograph by Bruce Fleming/AP.

A preview of this year’s New Yorker Festival, including events with Patti Smith, Christian Louboutin, Norah Jones and more: http://nyr.kr/RHXQ0g

“Justin Bieber was born with the Superman powers,” Braun said. “He could sing, he could dance, he could play instruments. I wasn’t born with those gifts, so I had to become a different kind of superhero.” Braun studied the careers of influential behind-the-scenes guys, especially David Geffen, who moved from the William Morris mailroom to the music business and eventually co-founded DreamWorks. “David Geffen was a Bruce Wayne to me,” Braun said. “He was extraordinary, but at the same time his talents were something that I could dream of and could fathom. I’m a normal Joe. But, with a lot of effort, I’ve got a shot at being Bruce Wayne.”

In this week’s issue, Lizzie Widdicombe profiles Scooter Braun, the manager of such pop mega-stars as Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen, the Canadian singer behind this summer’s chart-topper “Call Me Maybe”: http://nyr.kr/OcTMVf

Last year, it was limericks. The year before, haikus. You sent us your prettiest poetry, and some of you won New Yorker Festival tickets. But this year, we are upping our game—and yours.

We are looking for three up-and-coming acoustic bands or singer-songwriters to play at the Heineken Bandgarten, a hang-out at Joe’s Pub, in the East Village, where Festival-goers will be able to relax between events over food and drinks. Who supplies the music? You do!

To throw your hat into the ring, send a video of up to three minutes of you or your band (current members only) playing an original song to festivalbands@newyorker.com by Wednesday, August 22nd. 

For more information and the complete contest rules: http://nyr.kr/NLetJB

Bruce Springsteen: The Stories Behind the Photographs.

In this week’s issue, David Remnick profiles Bruce Springsteen. Click-through for a selection of photographs of Springsteen from over four decades, with words from the photographers who captured him: http://nyr.kr/MWTvFj

In 2010, Andreas Laszlo Konrath began photographing Jake and Jamin Orrall, two brothers who form the band JEFF the Brotherhood, chronicling their experiences onstage, on the road, and in their free time. Click-through for a selection of photographs, followed by a brief Q. & A. with Konrath and audio of four of his favorite JEFF the Brotherhood songs: http://nyr.kr/SFon1o