Single of the Week: “Watermelon Manicure” by Sad13

I love a short song. The shorter and more chaotic, the better. So, when Sadie Dupuis (of Speedy Ortiz) decided to release a full album of 1 minutish songs, I was more than excited. The first single off that release is an uncomfortable, noisy affair called “Watermelon Manicure.” It’s amazing, and I’ve listened to it almost 15 times now, and I’ve found more layers to this than your average 15-minute prog opus. 

1331 is out July 10th! Preorder here! And our New England friends get the first chance to hear this brilliant record live: 

7/9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool w/ New Idea Society, Russian Baths

7/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s w/ Hurry, Dina Hashem

7/11 – Malden, MA @ FACES w/ New Idea Society, Real Beaut

7/17 – virtual @ Blue Stoop – Verse Chorus Voice, a lyrics & songwriting masterclass

7/24 – Somerville, MA @ NICE, a fest w/ Krill, Downtown Boys, Dari Bay, Mal Devisa

Show Review: Metric, Broken Social Scene, and Stars at The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) 06-16-2026

All The Feelings

Something that may not be entirely apparent, especially given the majority of shows I’ve covered, is that I like more than just metal music. Shocking, I’m sure, but true nonetheless, and as a kid who grew up through the 90s and very early 00s, the wave of Indie rock and indie pop was unavoidable. One thing I did have, however, was a bit of a discerning palate, but when a friend turned me on to Stars and then another to Metric in 2004, it was inevitable that I would go on a deep dive into a then-mostly unexplored genre for me, ultimately leading to a plethora of bands, but specifically to Broken Social Scene. So anyway, when I saw that not both Metric and Broken Social Scene not only had new albums coming out, but were to embark on a tour together, supported by Stars, well, I jumped at the opportunity.

Continue reading “Show Review: Metric, Broken Social Scene, and Stars at The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) 06-16-2026”

Show Review: Belle & Sebastian do “If You’re Feeling Sinister” at The Masonic, 6/11/26

There are certain venues that seem designed for spectacle, and then there are rooms that feel built for stories. The Masonic in San Francisco sits somewhere in between. Perched high on Nob Hill, its steep seating and excellent sightlines make even a sold out show feel intimate. I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years, and somehow the room always manages to make a performance feel personal. Continue reading “Show Review: Belle & Sebastian do “If You’re Feeling Sinister” at The Masonic, 6/11/26″

OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES THE DOLORES STAGE LINEUP

Five weeks until Outside Lands!!! FIVE WEEKS!!! Time to start picking out your outfits and figuring out which shoes are most comfortable!!! And today, they are gifting us with ANOTHER stage’s worth of acts! The Dolores Stage is a tribute to the queer events of San Francisco, with each day curated by a different local promoter. Friday is presented by the great Hot Goth GF. Saturday is brought to you by the legendary Oasis team. Sunday has been brought to you by Polyglamorous! 

They’ve also added “Dolores’ Courtyard,” featuring a glam bar, a barber, and cocktails! 

Full Line-Up below. Tickets are SOLD OUT! Get on the waitlist here! Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES THE DOLORES STAGE LINEUP”

Single of the Week: “Wink Wink” by Charli xcx

I’ve been following Charli xcx for almost two decades now. I consider her a true musical genius, and I’m glad that Brat, one of the greatest records of all time, moved her into arenas and made her a household name. The one thing that I have realized about her is that she’s yet to give us a truly *dirty* song. Well, she’s been holding a LOT back, because “Wink Wink” would make Peaches blush. 

“Wink Wink” is the third single off Charli’s upcoming album, Music Fashion Film, out July 24th. She’s also headlining Outside Lands and touring a TON this Fall. 

HEAVENS TO BETSY ARE BACK!!!!

OH SHIT! OH SHIT! OH SHIT!!!! Heavens to Betsy, the legendary Riot Grrl band that put out one genius record and three 7″s in the early 90s and then closed up shop just after both members became old enough to buy beer, is back together! They played their first show in 32 years last night in Portland, and are prepping for a fall tour! My 14-year-old self is overjoyed that I’ll FINALLY get to see them! Tour dates and a clip from that first show below: Continue reading “HEAVENS TO BETSY ARE BACK!!!!”

Show Review: Metric with Broken Social Scene at The Masonic, 6/21/26

I thought I’d be upset when I started seeing nostalgia package tours geared towards people in my age bracket. (I was born in late ‘79, which I think is an Xennial?) But when this “Monsters of 00’s Canadian Indie Rock” tour was announced with Metric, Broken Social Scene and Stars, I didn’t feel old. I was stoked. So excited that I didn’t connect at first that it was Father’s Day, and a meltdown at the mini golf course thwarted my mission, and I missed Stars’ opening set. But I still made it on time for Broken Social Scene’s perfect dad rock set. Upon entering the venue, I noticed a LOT of entire families, dads leading the pack, and realized that I was at home with my fellow fathers.

Continue reading “Show Review: Metric with Broken Social Scene at The Masonic, 6/21/26”

OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS ANNOUNCED!!!!

We are roughly six weeks out from Outside Lands 2026. Which means it’s time for news to start coming out again from the event organizers! I was literally just thinking about the night shows, and, sure enough, they’ve started rolling them out. Including the legendary Clipse playing the tiny Independent?!?! Also, Modest Mouse gracing the stage of the recently revitalized Castro Theater?!?! And so much more! OSL Ticket Holders can buy tickets starting tomorrow at 10 am. Tickets to the general public are on sale on Friday at 10 am from this link. Full lineup below! Outside Lands 2026 is mostly sold out, but you can get on the waitlist here if you slept on tickets.

Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS ANNOUNCED!!!!”

How Did Scott Simoneaux Get Here?

You can find the entire series of “How Did I Get Here”? here or on your favorite Podcast Application!

This is the story of Scott Simoneaux, the booker for ATG Live, an offshoot of ATG- the organization that brings touring productions of Broadway shows to big cities around the country. He’s bringing touring bands and one-off events to those theaters while they are dark. In the Bay Area, this includes the original stars of Airplane! hosting a Q+A this Friday, as well as Robert Plant and Art Garfunkel shows coming up. We talked about how he found himself starting this career by simply liking a band and wanting to help them, taking him from New Orleans to Los Angeles and all the way in between. We also both realized we had stumbled across this book about the Stooges by accident. 

Learn more about ATG Live here!

Film Review: “Disclosure Day”

Spielberg’s newest is summer cinema at its best

Margaret (Emily Blunt) and Daniel (Josh O’Connor) are on the run.

After spending some time ruminating on his past with the autobiographical The Fablemans, Steven Spielberg returns to summer blockbuster mode with Disclosure Day. Like E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and War of the Worlds before it, Disclosure Day mines Spielberg’s favorite topic: are we alone in the universe? But fear not: the new film is not so much a retread of old themes, but a fresh updating that’s more than a little relevant to our chaotic, uncertain times. With Disclosure Day, Spielberg has created the best kind of old-fashioned summer cinematic fare, giving us a film as action-packed as it is philosophical. Continue reading “Film Review: “Disclosure Day””