— Leading off this week’s issue in print–and online over here– Brian J. Barr goes long on KBCS’s balancing act: creating programming that will retain audiences for more than a couple hours at a time, and engaging those listeners who were particularly fond of the shorter, niche programming that has gone off the air.– When Julian Casablancas’ bandmates in The Strokes decided to extend their hiatus for a series of solo detours, the songwriter and expecting father found himself with time and songs on his hands. He plays The Showbox on Saturday.– Hannah Levin chats up mr. Gnomoe–yes, with a little “m”–and gets to the bottom of the band’s sound that draws on influences like Tool, Portishead and Bjork.– Rocket Queen: In her weekly column, Levin discusses Jeff McNulty’s heavy new band, Android Hero, and remembering Ben Hills.– Duff McKagan: And wrapping up the issue, we pulled in Duff’s Reverb column on the term “supergroup” and why Them Crooked Vultures are a band not to be missed.