Single of the Week: “Mushroom Punch” by Zella Day

I feel like I’ve slept on Zella Day. Or maybe it was the right time for me to find her. “Mushroom Punch” is my first introduction to her, despite her name floating around for ages, and this song is great. It’s a part of a bigger trend of singer/songwriters turning pop songs into dramatic journeys while still keeping concise (see Ashe, Mitski) This song is either about a lover that experiments with psychedelics, or it’s comparing the stress of a relationship to that of psychedelic drugs. Either way, this song is “heady.” (God, I hate that word because it makes me think of someone that smells like patchouli and is wearing flip-flops and is trying to convince my vaccines are the government controlling our brains.) 

I digress… “Mushroom Punch” is Zella Day’s latest single off her forthcoming record Sunday In Heaven, in stores and on your favorite DSP on October 14th! 

Show Review: The Killers with Johnny Marr at Chase Center, San Francisco, 8/23/2022

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a music festival in Spain where The Killers were one of the headliners. Top-billed along with Metallica, Muse, Florence & the Machine, and Jack White, they were by far the highlight of the 5-day affair, their set becoming a joyous singalong among tens of thousands of fans. I’ll admit to being a bit concerned about the contrasting fanbases. Is Chase Center even able to become the joyous sing-along venue? Continue reading “Show Review: The Killers with Johnny Marr at Chase Center, San Francisco, 8/23/2022”

Single Of The Week: “Tres Hermanos” by Hermanos Gutierrez (featuring Dan Auerbach)

This one is specifically for my fellow Latinxes whose parents were born in the 50’s and made sure that the music of Santo & Johnny was always in rotation at home. I forgot how much my soul needed some lazy Sunday morning, reverb drenched guitar instrumentals. Enter Hermanos Gutierrez! This track, produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, is the exact soundtrack for making pancakes and staying in your pajamas until 2pm. 

“Tres Hermanos” is the lead single off their upcoming full-length El Buen y El Malo. It’s coming your way on October 28th, the day after my birthday, and you can preorder/presave here! 

Show Review: Stern Grove Festival – Taj Malah and Monophonics -A Legend is Present

Taj Malah concerts are legendary and, for me, a soulful, personal connection to self. The anticipation for this concert was huge, as he has many Grammys, a large following, and relatable lyrics. Preparation was beyond the normal process of selecting a close location to the stage and gathering friends and snacks. It was a trip and opportunity to recharge life with positive wonders yet to be seen. This audience was tight – a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. Yet, as I roamed the venue, there was always space for one more. Continue reading “Show Review: Stern Grove Festival — Taj Malah and Monophonics -A Legend is Present”

Film Review: “Mack & Rita”

Keaton rises above sophomoric material in body-swap comedy

Never a good idea: Mack (Elizabeth Lail) tries out a regression pod in Palm Springs.

You have to hand it to Diane Keaton. At 76, she’s not afraid to embrace screwball comedy, pratfalls and all. What’s a shame, though, is that she doesn’t have a better vehicle for her comedic talents than the embarrassingly bad new picture Mack & Rita.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Mack & Rita””

Outside Lands 2022: 20 Instant Gig Reviews

My last Outside Lands was in 2019. I’ve gone nearly every year up until that point, only missing the third year. I had tickets for 2021. Lizzo, The Strokes, and Hinds are all on my “never miss” list, but by October, Delta was rearing its ugly head, and I just couldn’t do it. This year, I was still on the fence until the week beforehand. With BA.5, the virus has become more contagious, and outdoor transmission is more prevalent. However, with wastewater tracking showing a downward trend, toddler vaccines FINALLY seeing the light of day, and studies seem to indicate that N95s and a good breeze are still very effective at thwarting the virus, I decided to give it a go. I packed like ten masks, two packs of antibacterial wipes (which made me the most popular guy at the festival at times. One woman actually proposed marriage when I gave her the end of one of my packs!), an empty water bottle, and several layers of clothing, and decided to make a solid go of it.  Continue reading “Outside Lands 2022: 20 Instant Gig Reviews”

Film Review: “Thirteen Lives”

Howard successfully dramatizes extraordinary rescue story 

Diver Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen) is skeptical that the underwater cave rescue will succeed.

Last year, for the first time ever, I selected a documentary as my number one film of the year. That doc, The Rescue, plays out like a thrilling Hollywood screenplay as it recounts the inspiring true tale of the rescue of 12 members of a boys’ soccer team and their coach after 18 days trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Now art imitates life as that story that so captivated the world back in 2018 gets the high-powered Hollywood treatment. Directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard, Thirteen Lives proves itself an equally thrilling and moving dramatization. 

Continue reading “Film Review: “Thirteen Lives””

Film Review: “Bullet Train”

Welcome to late-stage Brad

Balletic Fighting
Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny star in Bullet Train.

Fading assassins looking to complete the latest job. Low-level criminals looking for a clean exit from the life. Under-loved princesses looking to deal with daddy once and for all. Others looking for nothing more than cold, hard revenge. And in the middle of it all is bucket-hat Brad Pitt. In his latest, Bullet Train (or: Bucket-Hat Brad with a Bullet), Pitt romps, skips, hops, twirls, guffaws, and even sings his way through an overly-complicated, needlessly-sprawling, yet more than semi-entertaining roller coaster. Continue reading “Film Review: “Bullet Train””

Single Of The Week: “atonement” by Winter featuring Hatchie

One of the craziest things about kids these days is how much they seem to LOVE classic 4AD releases and early 90’s shoegaze in general. “atonement” is the latest single from Samira Winter, who performs under her last name, Winter. Which is also the PERFECT name for a shoegaze artist. For this track she teamed up with Hatchie, another modern shoegaze artist. So, yeah, if you need some slow and loud, here’s some excellent slow and loud. 

“atonement” is the lead track from Winter’s upcoming full length, What Kind Of Blue Are You?, which will be spreading joy to your eardrums on October 14th. 

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