Single Of The Week: Tuesday Night by Fast Times

This week’s Single Of The Week, “Tuesday Night,” comes from Fast Times, a Bay Area rock supergroup comprised of leader Andrew St James, Duncan Nielsen of Doncat and Cody Rhodes of Geographer. It’s a fun, lofi number with a swing that’s reminiscent of The Strokes at their best, and is another Summer number perfect for helping keep the serotonin pumping while we remain stuck, not getting to see each other or commune together at a rock show. (Which I miss so much, I don’t care if the first version of the vaccine causes me to grow a third arm, I’m in as long as my attendance at a show doesn’t threaten anyone’s life) 

Speaking of needing to get to a show, Fast Times were going to do a single release party at Rickshaw Stop, but instead will be doing a livestream benefitting both Rickshaw Stop and it’s employees displaced by COVID-19, but also local charity Hip Hop For Change. The livestream will be Wednesday, July 15th, and can be viewed on both Rickshaw Stop‘s and Fast Times‘ Instagram pages.

Single Of The Week: Waiting For Me by Madame Gandhi

Madame Ghandi is the former drummer for Thievery Corporation and M.I.A. “Waiting For Me” is her major label debut, and it’s a bright number that explores the complex nature of how societal norms contribute to oppression. The video is a bold piece of filmmaking, feature a cast and crew made of entirely female identifying persons, including many queer and trans women. Oh, and it was shot entirely in India! 

“Waiting For Me” is available now in all the usual places. Madame Ghandi also has an amazing Tiny Desk Concert and TEDTalk to enjoy while waiting for the full length to drop! 

Single Of The Week: Si Te Portas Mal (Be Bad) by Loyal Lobos

Loyal Lobos is Andrea Silva, a Colombian-born / Los Angeles-based singer songwriter. “Si Te Portas Mal (Be Bad)” is a sexy little groove that hits the veins in all the right ways. It’s a song that understands that you are cooped up right now in your apartment with no hope in sight for getting back out into the freedom of the world, and is there for you to help you feel human again. It’s hard to feel “sexy” with the world on the brink of collapse. But Loyal Lobos has gifted us with the cure. 

“Si To Portas Mal (Be Bad)” can be streamed or downloaded from all the usual places. Their debut record, Everlasting, is due out August 7th from AWAL.

Film Review: Irresistible

Laughs outweigh flaws in Stewart’s smart political satire

Washington political strategists Faith (Rose Byrne) and Gary (Steve Carell) back opposing candidates in a mayoral election in a small Wisconsin town.

I try not to read reviews of any film I’m going to review so as not to be unconsciously influenced, but this week it was hard to miss the early review headlines in my social media feed for Irresistible, comedian Jon Stewart’s new picture. My fellow critics seemed to not just dislike the film, but to actively hate it. It has a 47 rating on MetaCritic right now. Ouch. I had to wonder if we all saw the same movie. Because you know what? I actually liked it. I finished watching my screener, and I assumed reviews would be positive. I was really surprised by the hostile reactions. The picture isn’t perfect, but it’s smart, relevant, and, most importantly, has some decent laughs. Am I the odd outlier here? Is my taste off? Or are my colleagues all wrong? All I can say is read on for my take, watch the picture, and then decide for yourself which camp you’re in.

Continue reading “Film Review: Irresistible“

Book Review: Natalie Murray’s Emmie and the Tudor King

“The reign of terror continued for nearly two decades, earning the Tudor king his famous epithet ‘Nicholas the Ironheart’.” Excerpt From Emmie and the Tudor King, Literary Crush Publishing, Copyright 2019 by Natalie Murray.

In a small town in Western Mass resides Emmie, a sensitive and inquisitive 17-year-old with lofty ambitions. The Laura Ingalls-esque young woman lives with her hardworking mother, Carol, who has taken her from London to San Diego to New England to chase after the unrequited love of her now ex-husband. Carol’s heartache and yearning for more is the aura she carries with her, a yearning that also resides in our hero. Emmie has her eyes set on an art school in London, and spends her time curating the piece of jewelry that she believes will be her ticket out of Hatfield. Continue reading “Book Review: Natalie Murray’s Emmie and the Tudor King“

Outside Lands 2021 Line Up HAS BEEN UNLEASHED

Like all of you out there in the world, I’ve been constantly checking Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, anywhere I can think of hoping to find any clue as to what was happening with Outside Lands this year. I was hopeful that measures like masks and social distancing would lead to true containment of COVID-19, and by late Summer the disease would be but a memory of a tough time we all lived through, but through strong leadership, a sense of global unity, and clear, concise directives, we succeeded in ending transmission of this wretched virus. 

I should’ve known better. Continue reading “Outside Lands 2021 Line Up HAS BEEN UNLEASHED”

Single Of The Week: SNIPERS by blackgirlsaremagic

This week’s Single of the Week is an intense one. It comes from Oakland’s very own blackgirlsaregood. The nom de plume of local multimedia artist and author Nick Lovett. The song is a dark, sweeping piece about police activity during the recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests. This one is specifically calling out the presence of snipers during peaceful marches. It’s a chilling, vital piece.

You can download this track from blackgirlsaregood’s Bandcamp page. And, since today is Juneteenth, Bandcamp is donating 100% of their portion of the proceeds to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. So buy a bunch of blackgirldaregood music, or any indie music you have been thinking of picking up. 

Film Review: 7500

Gordon-Levitt shines in smart airplane hijacking nail-biter

First Officer Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) attempts to stay calm after his plane is hijacked.

If you’ve been frustrated that you haven’t been able to fly anywhere for months now and have spent hours daydreaming about your next air travel jaunt, the new picture 7500 will snap you out of your reverie, and make you glad you’re stuck safely on the ground. The smart, taut thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a few problematic story elements, but mostly succeeds as a unique take on the typical Hollywood trouble-in-the-sky action pic.

Continue reading “Film Review: 7500“

Single Of The Week: Back For More by Kat Meoz

This week’s single of the week comes from Venezuelan-American Singer/Songwriter Kat Meoz. “Back For More” is an exhilarating blend pop beats with heavy as fuck guitars, calling to mind Sleigh Bells in many ways. Only she has more than a hint of dirty, bluesy swagger. Imagine if Jon Spencer Blues Explosion worked with an 808, and then upped the dirty/sexy thing by like 100 degrees. That’s what Kat Meoz is giving with this track, and it’s EXACTLY what I needed to hear this week. 

“Back For More” can be found in all the usual places. Expect to hear a lot more from her later this year!

A Reflection on PJ Harvey’s Dry

Twenty eight years ago PJ Harvey released her debut album. Dry is a vital part of the collective howl of early 90s feminist punk, a subgenre defined by women with loud  guitars who demanded a seat at the musical table. Bands like Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Hole, Babes in Toyland, Sleater-Kinney and L7 pushed against the erasure of women in punk and changed the landscape of popular music forever.  Continue reading “A Reflection on PJ Harvey’s Dry“