Show Review: Aftershock Festival 2022
Aftershock 2022 was a fantastic memory that will be hungered to repeat next year. Allowing over 40,000+ people each day to chill during a sweltering 99 degrees (Fahrenheit) with large mist blowers and delicious (health or comfort) eats choices were plentiful. The stage layouts were designed with both mainstages almost back to back with alternating performances with viewing screens of each other’s performance. Then the 3 smaller stages rotated with incredible talent that are under the mass media radar. As with all great experiences, I will always be missing something; thus, I did miss the first day of all my personal favorite bands. In addition, I am sure I missed out on others on the days I attended. Yet, the ones mentioned were phenomenal, and hope to see comments on your experiences. Continue reading “Show Review: Aftershock Festival 2022”
Single of the Week: “After I Go” by Roanoke
It’s a downright intimidating new release day. New Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift and Arctic Monkeys and a-ha (Did you know a-ha are still together?) and Archers Of Loaf (even more surprising?!?) and I’m kinda drowning so much that I almost MISSED giving you a single of the week this week. So here is some blissful, Fleetwood Mac-inspired country from Roanoke. The band, not the city. This song is the perfect antidote to the epic amount of stress that has been burning through the world. “After I Go” is, simply put, pleasant. And, yes, I know it’s uncool to enjoy pleasant things, but sometimes it’s nice to just have something nice.
“After I Go” is the lead single from Wolf Motel, coming to you November 11th on… (checks notes) Kill Rock Stars Nashville? Yes. The legendary Olympia punk label now has a Nashville imprint.
Film Review: “The Good Nurse”
A bad nurse rising: Horrifying true story becomes chilling thriller
Anyone who has ever spent any significant time in a hospital knows how much blind faith patients put in the medical staff. You’re sick or injured and helpless and scared: you not only trust the doctors and nurses caring for you, but you’re beyond grateful to them for helping you get healthy and back to your life. But what if a nurse didn’t have your best interest at heart, but the exact opposite? Suddenly the hospital would no longer be a safe space of healing and comfort, but a house of horrors. Such is the chilling premise of the terrific new film The Good Nurse.
Film Review: “Tár”
Blanchett delivers award-worthy performance in imperfect classical music drama
Cate Blanchett can play icy cool confidence like nobody’s business (see Carol and Nightmare Alley), but she won an Oscar for having an emotional breakdown in Blue Jasmine. That skill at playing a woman on the edge of madness just may yield her another trophy for her stellar work in writer/director Todd Field’s problematic new film Tár.
Single Of The Week: “Flip It” by Bleached
I am ALWAYS ready for a new Bleached track. This one is a big, classic power-pop number. Heavy in the riffage, and colors of Bangles-esque minor key harmonies… A catchy, optimistic number from a band from Jennifer Clavin, a songwriter that, somehow, always knows exactly what I need right when I need it.
You can buy/stream “Flip It” in all the usual places. Bleached are also playing a handful of dates this November, including a 5th Anniversary show for the Lodge Room in LA on November 9th and a 10th Anniversary show for The Chapel on November 15th. They put on a fantastic show. So get your Omicron booster and party with us!
Picks Six: Six Defining Tracks from 5RC Records
The pandemic has put is knee-deep into MySpace-era nostalgia. Bands like My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit, and The Strokes play bigger venues than in their heyday. So, obviously, it’s time for the weirdest of the 00’s to get a chance to return, too! Kill Rock Stars have resurrected 5RC (5 Rue Christine), a home for more experimental works. The video above is their first release of the 2020’s, “Glass from Sand” by MV Carbon + Charlemagne Palestine (Full Length out Nov 4th)/ I spent A LOT of time with 5RC bands in the early ’00s, as I wanted desperately to be welcomed by the noise community.
Continue reading “Picks Six: Six Defining Tracks from 5RC Records”
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2022 Journal
At the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival, you may arrive as an orphan, but you will leave with a close adopted family of one million. Hosted within the iconic Golden Gate Park, an all-inclusive backyard.
Each stage appeared to have a theme of strict bluegrass, Americana, funk, rock, or soul. It didn’t matter where you were all the stages hosted extremely talented artists with bookshelves of Grammy awards. Even when Marcus Mumford was introducing his guests and missed one; the trust was evident. If you were playing at Hardly Strictly, your talent is recognized, and you are welcome to collaborate. Wondering with discovery was encouraged. My least favorite part of the festival was making decisions, and my favorite was all decisions were good decisions. Continue reading “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2022 Journal”
Single of the Week: “Loving You (Demo)” by Wet Leg
Wet Leg are arguably one of the few bands to have a “really good pandemic.” They broke through with amazing videos and the right hooks to rise above the misery. And they have been excellent at giving back when they can, sort of thanking the world for their success. In 2021, they donated merch money to Afghan Refugee women. And now they are donating the original demo of “Loving You,” one of the most beautiful and serious tracks off their debut album, to The Brigid Alliance, an organization that helps connect women with abortion services.
“Loving You (Demo)” is the first track from Good Music To Ensure Safe Abortion Access For All, a digital compilation available TODAY and only TODAY from Bandcamp! It’s chock full of exclusive tracks from Sleater-Kinney, Bully, Ty Segall, and many more. There are also a slew of alternate takes and live versions of tracks, including a re-recording of David Byrne’s “Empire” with help from Devo, a much desired Thao & tUnE-yArDs collaboration on “Meticulous Bird,” and, really, too much more to name. Oh, and 100% of the proceeds will go to The Brigid Alliance and Noise For Now! Full tracklisting after the jump! Continue reading “Single of the Week: “Loving You (Demo)” by Wet Leg”
Single of the Week: “This Is Why” by Paramore
It’s been about five years since Paramore has graced our eardrums. Normally arena-level acts get bypassed in this column, but holy fucking Gang Of 4 groove punk shit?!?! In a time when MySpace-era emo is having a bit of a resurgence, the third part of the My Chemical Romance / Fall Out Boy holy trinity of this scene came back with a post-punk gem that would’ve been perfectly at home on 4AD in the late 80’s. Like, I almost used the word “angular” here and not in a 00’s disco punk way.
“This Is Why” is the title track of their forthcoming record due out February 10th, 2023. You can get reserve this perfect Valentine’s Day gift here!