Single Of The Week: “HIND’S HALL” by Macklemore

I was looking for a good single-of-the-week contender, and there have been quite a few. But I wanted to check out the new Hinds before committing to something. When I went to search for it, this track came up. I rarely give Macklemore much time, although I always appreciate him. That being said, I wasn’t expecting THIS. Of all the major traumas in this world, folks are struggling to make any big, bold statements about the treatment of the Palestinian people. “HIND’S HALL” is that. I have yet to hear such a bold, heartfelt, earnest track. This song needs to be everywhere. We will be studying these lyrics for generations to come. 

“HIND’S HALL” can be streamed in all the usual places. The single’s proceeds are being donated to UNRWA, so stream often. 

 

 

Single of the Week: “Going Blue” by Victoria Bigelow

I put this track on and was immediately entranced by this voice. I hear the phrase “honey-soaked” used rather liberally, but Victoria Bigelow sounds like sonic honey. But within the sweetness is rich, emotionally dense delivery. And the lyrics? “Going Blue” is such a vivid autobiographical tale of addiction that is both personal and widely relatable. This one is a stunner. I expect tears when I finally get to see her live. 

“Going Blue” is a track off Bigelow’s upcoming release, Songs For No One, Vol 2out May 10th! 

Single of the Week: “Like I Say (I runaway) by Nilüfer Yanya

Many years ago, there was a Saturday Night Live sketch about a DJ who refused to let the beat drop. It was presented as a bad thing, but I kept imagining a song where the tension continuously builds without release and thought- “YES!” And Nilüfer Yanya does it on “Like I Say (I runaway),” and it’s better than I could imagine. 

This also means that Nilüfer Yanya is active again, and I can’t WAIT for the rest of the album, a tour, and everything else. For now, you can enjoy “Like I Say (I runaway)” in all the usual places. 

CSS and Getting A Second Chance

There’s a LOT of music out there. I try to take as much of it as possible and be present with whatever is going on right now. BUT- sometimes you miss something. I really loved the dance-punk movement of the ’00s and saw Peaches and Gossip and Lovemakers many times over, like my fellow Xennials did during the Bush years. However, with all my nights logged at Popscene, I never actually sunk into the joys of Brazil’s CSS. And I certainly never got to see them live. Luckily, I can finally live my 20s the way I wish I did and get to see CSS live. North American tour dates begin a week from today in Washington, DC! And, yes, I will see you at The Independent on May 14th—tickets for all dates at cssmusic.club.

Please remember to wear sensible shoes and drink plenty of water. 

OUTSIDE LANDS 2024 LINE UP DROP!!!!

My initial “hot take” on the Outside Lands 2024 lineup? It’s by far and away the most interesting and diverse of the 2024 “big fests.” First, the top line… Not only do we have Tyler, The Creator, one of the most intriguing acts in all of hip hop, as well as modern New Wave hitmakers, The Killers, we’ve got Sturgill Simpson, a leader of the modern Outlaw Country movement, and an all-around unexpected twist. He also hasn’t done a headlining tour since the plague broke out! Below him? Well, an All-Country set from Post Malone, a very rare performance by the legendary Grace Jones, and the folks behind SubPop’s selling record, The Postal Service. What else am I excited about? Well, there’s the Regina George herself, Renee Rapp. Shoegaze innovators Slowdive. Killer Mike. Tyla, of course, will help us remember to hydrate. Punkers Men I Trust will be there despite the fact that there aren’t any. Australian punks Amyl & The Sniffers for a little danger element. SP favorites K. Flay and Corinne Bailey Rae are both hot off the best records of their storied careers. And for those who need some UK Twee with a side of UK goth, there’s The Last Dinner Party. And, most importantly, if you need someone to throw your underwear at, Idris Elba is, indeed, DJ’ing the SOMA Stage, which has been moved outside because, for those who went last year, we really did blow the roof off the sucker. 

Tickets are on sale 4/24 at 10 am for GA, GA+, VIP, and, of course, the super swank Golden Gate Club, which I SWEAR I’ll visit someday. More fest details here, and the lineup is below the jump: Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS 2024 LINE UP DROP!!!!”

Single of the Week: “The Kill” by Maggie Rogers

OK. I’m not entirely sure if this is an actual “single,” but she played it on The Late Show, so I will pretend it is one. Anyway, I LOVE the new Maggie Rogers. I am very late to jump on this ship, but everyone to experience something for the first time? I was captivated by her set at Outside Lands last year, but this song is just a warm joy of an earworm. It’s firmly rooted in the Fleetwood Mac school of earnest soft rock, and there is no shame in that. Sometimes, you need something that’s just unapologetically nice and optimistic. 

“The Kill” is a track off Maggie Rogers’s recently released Don’t Forget Me, which is available in all the usual places NOW! She’s also playing ARENAS!! Tour dates are here, and she’s even doing a fancy thing where the first allotment of tickets is being sold ONLY IN PERSON. For my fellow Bay Area folks, the Chase Center date on November 1st will have a special, box office-only sale THIS SATURDAY, April 20th, from 10 am – 1 pm. Yes, that is Record Store Day, so you gotta make some hard choices. Or find a store that opens at 8 am. 

Interview: Louisa Hall and Annie Nardolilli of Griefcat

Griefcat is a music/comedy duo from just outside of Washington, DC. Although they are political by nature, they are definitely way more relevant than, say, The Capitol Steps. They just released a new video to their song “Carbon Footprint,” which can be enjoyed just above this paragraph. They are releasing a new album on April 19th called Late Stage Capitalism, which can be presaved here. Yes, that is the same day as the new Taylor Swift. 

Anyway, I had a lovely chat with Louisa Hall and Annie Nardolilli of Griefcat, which includes some Taylor Swift talk because that happens sometimes? You can read all that RIGHT NOW: Continue reading “Interview: Louisa Hall and Annie Nardolilli of Griefcat”

Single Of The Week: “AA BOUQUET FOR YOUR 180 FACE” by Saya Gray

Normally, the Single Of The Week is a new release for that very same week. BUT- I missed this one. And now I can’t go more than a few hours without listening to it repeatedly. Saya Gray is clearly the living definition of being “post-genre.” In many ways, she’s a descendant of Bjork- eccentric yet accessible. She is unafraid to experiment and unworried about alienating people because creativity seems to ooze from her. “AA BOUQET FOR YOUR 180 FACE” is the first single off her latest release, QWERTY II. The whole thing is one lovely journey that spans genres and emotions the human brain has never before conjured. 

QWERTY II is out now and ready for its place in your 2024 Top 10 lists. 

Mosswood Meltdown Daily Lineups!

Our good friends at Mosswood Meltdown have gifted us with their daily lineups for Mosswood Meltdown 2024! Coming to you July 6th & 7th, and featuring a headlining set by The legendary B-52’s, the return of The Mummies (who in the past have made their entrance on the toy motorbikes, riding on top of a vintage ambulance, and even after setting up on the mainstage, tricked everyone by playing in the middle of a grove of trees instead!), a very rare appearance from Pure Hell, an even MORE rare appearance by Go Sailor!, and even more rare appearance from the Bush Tetras, to name a few. 

2 – Day and single-day tickets are available here—daily breakdowns below the jump. 

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2024 DAILY LINEUPS
SATURDAY JULY 6TH
The B-52s
Redd Kross
Hunx & His Punx
Peaches Christ Drag Show
Pansy Division
Go Sailor
Wifey
Trap Girl
Hot Laundry

SUNDAY JULY 7TH
The Mummies
Pure Hell
Big Freedia
Egyptian Lover
Gibby Haynes & the Paul Green Rock Academy
Bush Tetras
Die Spitz
Space Lady
Gumby’s Junk

GOLDEN GATE PARK CONCERT SET FOR WEEKEND AFTER OUTSIDE LANDS

While we patiently await the Outside Lands lineup to be presented to our eager eyeballs, the good folks at Another Planet have treated us to probably the most insane single-day lineup of heavy music I could imagine. We’ve got Australian goth duo VOWWS, Swedish punk troublemakers Viagra Boys, and the legendary The Mars Volta. Coheadlining are Sac’s finest exports, Deftones and System Of A Down, playing one of only two shows in 2024!

Tickets are on sale Friday, April 12th at 10 am RIGHT HERE! Continue reading “GOLDEN GATE PARK CONCERT SET FOR WEEKEND AFTER OUTSIDE LANDS”