UK music festivals Reading and Leeds are confident that they'll be able to go ahead with their 2021 editions - and have already sold out their respective dates ... Could this be a sign we could see US Festivals happening this summer / fall? 

Concert promoter Live Nation seems to think so - on an earnings call on Thursday (2/25), CEO Michael Rapino sounded confident of a midsummer to resume business: 

"Every day we seem to have a new state or country talking about when they’ll open up, so we’re feeling more optimistic than we were a month ago...Lots of artists are calling, looking at how we start up in July, August, September. So for right now, we still believe we’ll have enough open in the U.K., Australia, Canada and the U.S. to keep what we have on the books in amphitheaters booked for now. We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets. So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern U.S. we can go all the way into November."

Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted that we might see live music return this fall if vaccine distribution and herd immunity are  successful.

So far -  Boston Calling and Hangout festivals  have  canceled for 2021, while  Firefly, Bonaroo, Governors Ball, Summerfest, and New Orleans Jazzfest, still have their shifted fall dates on the books.  

Natalie Bergman may be best known for her work along side her brother Elliot in the reggae/funk/ska/pop fusion band Wild Belle.  

But one phone call in 2019 changed her musical direction.  

Wild Belle were about to take the stage for one of, arguably, the biggest shows of their career - headlining New York's Radio City Music Hall - when they received a phone call no one ever wants - a coroner delivering news that their father and stepmother had been killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. 

With music and faith a centerpiece of the Bergman family, and rather than fall into a dark depression, Natalie decided to spend time reflecting at a monastery in New Mexico's Chama Valley. This was just the cathartic experience she needed to begin writing and producing her first solo album - Mercy (due out May 7 via Jack White's Third Man Records) 

Photo by Elliot Bergman

The final product finds finds Bergman putting 'a psychedelic spin on vintage gospel-soul'.  The music 'is steeped in mystic melodies, time-bending tones of psychedelic rock, soul and a spiritual healing that’s much-needed in the wake of 2020' 

 Natalie adds: 

“My faith and my music are crucial to my existence. I sing a lot about home on this record. My Paradiso, my Heaven. Believing in that place has been my greatest consolation. I had an urgency and desperation to know that my father was there. His sudden death was a whirling chaos that assaulted my mind. Gospel music gives me hope. It is the good news. It’s exemplary. It can bring you truth. It can keep you alive. This album provided me with my only hope for coming back to life myself.” 

Photo by Alan Ortiz via Natalie Bergman's Instagram

"'Shine Your Light On Me' is a love song. It's a prayer.  A heartbroken melody hoping for sunshine. I had the privilege of working alongside my favorite artists and musicians on this film. I built my dream set design with Hanrui Wang and we played with mirrors and shadows. Light and darkness. I was inspired by Diana Ross & The Supremes' 1967 performance of 'Reflections.' I imagined this song would be accompanied by visuals that might remind you of a late '60s television performance i.e. The Ed Sullivan Show."

Natalie Bergman - "Shine Your Light On Me"

Natalie Bergman - "Talk To The Lord"

While we wait for the full album's release (May 7 via Third Man Records) we can take a moment and enjoy these songs and realize just how powerful and cathartic music can be. 

On April 23rd, The Who will release a massive reissue of their third album - The Who Sell Out.  And we mean MASSIVE - the new Super Deluxe Edition of the reissue features 112 tracks, 46 of which were previously unreleased, an 80-page, hard-back, full-color book, including rare period photos, memorabilia, track-by-track annotation and new sleeve notes.  

Oh - it also includes replicas of the 20" x 30" original Adrian George album poster, a gig poster from The City Hall, Newcastle, a Saville Theatre show 8-page program, a business card for the Bag o' Nails club, Kingly Street, a Who fan club photo of group, a flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who, a crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London, Keith Moon's Speakeasy Club membership card and a Who Fan Club newsletter

You can preorder the albums HERE and preview the Pete Townshend demos of "Pictures of Lily," "Kids! Do You Want Kids" and "Odorono" below: 

Pictures Of Lily (Pete Townshend Demo / New 2018 Mix)

Kids! Do You Want Kids (Pete Townshend Demo)

Odorono (Pete Townshend Demo)

The Who Sell Out was initially released in December 1967 and described latterly by Rolling Stone as "THE WHO's finest album"

We all seem to have a favorite dish at our favorite Annapolis restaurant ... Maybe it's the Chicken Pot Pie at Julep  ... or the Brussels Sprouts at Level: A Small Plate Lounge  ... 

Well now, thanks to a new cookbook titled Dine Out In Annapolis While Eating In (pre-orders available here) from Danielle Lundberg - an Edgewater based food photographer and blogger - you can now make the signature dishes from some of your favorite Annapolis restaurants - at home.  

Yes - some of the town's best chefs have pulled the curtain back and shared their secret recipes for this project - and it's for a great cause.  Proceeds from the cookbook will benefit the amazing charity - Feed Anne Arundel - that is distributing financial dotations to local restaurants so they can prepare and distribute meals to those in need.  

More than 30 local restaurants contributed recipes to the book, including  Level: A Small Plates Lounge, Soul, Julep Southern Kitchen, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Vin 909, Annapolis Market House, Luna Blu, Stan and Joe’s, Black Wall Hitch, In Grano, Park Tavern, Caliente Grill, Preserve, Pussers, and Broadneck Grille. 

The cookbook will be shipping in March - but you can pre-order your copy HERE 

New Wave and punk pioneers Blondie are set to appear in their own graphic novel.  

Blondie: Against the Odds is touted as an imaginative take on an oral history of the band, interspersed with artistic interpretations of 10 songs from their catalog, BLONDIE: AGAINST THE ODDS captures the friction of NYC as the band fought their way to prominence, as well as the power and energy contained within the songs that fueled their rise to legendary status.

One would assume the songs will be X-Offender (76) Fade Away And Radiate (78) Hanging On The Telephone (78) One Way or Another (78) Heart of Glass (78) Dreaming (79) Atomic (79) Call Me (80) Rapture (80) Island of Lost Souls (82) based on the post cards included in the super deluxe version - details below 

 

 

 

 

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Blondie: Against the Odds was written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, who are credited with bringing Harley Quinn back to prominence with their 2013 DC Comics series.  

It will be available this fall via  Z2 Comics (preorders available here) as a: standard soft cover, standard hard cover, a deluxe edition (with limited edition silver ink cover by Amanda Conner [180 pages], a slipcase designed by Jason "Stuntkid" Levesque, an exclusive Blondie 12" Vinyl  and (3) exclusive Blondie song-inspired art prints) and a super deluxe version that includes an oversized hard cover edition of the graphic novel with limited edition silver ink cover by Amanda Conner [180 pages], the  Jason "Stuntkid" Levesque slipcase, a Blondie music bundle (to be announced), a set of (10) exclusive Blondie song-inspired art prints and a set of ten art prints and postcards e inspired by the following classic Blondie songs: X-Offender (76) Fade Away And Radiate (78) Hanging On The Telephone (78) One Way or Another (78) Heart of Glass (78) Dreaming (79) Atomic (79) Call Me (80) Rapture (80) Island of Lost Souls (82)

Days after Jeep debuted their Super Bowl ad that starred Bruce Springsteen, who has notoriously avoided commercial appearances for decades, it was revealed that the Boss had been arrested and charged with three misdemeanors back in November after a park ranger saw him drinking in an NJ State Park. 

Today in (virtual) court, the prosecutors have dropped the DWI and reckless driving charges against Bruce (his BAC was 0.02 — below New Jersey’s legal limit while driving of .08) – but he did plead guilty to consuming alcohol in a closed area -  having “ two small shots of tequila” with fans at a New Jersey park …  

The resolution was enough for Jeep - who have decided to unpause the ad - which calls for a Re-United States 

Jeep - The Middle Super Bowl LV Ad ft. Bruce Springsteen

In a statement - the brand said: "As we stated previously, we paused the commercial until the facts were established. Now, that the matter has been resolved, we are unpausing the film,"  

The 10-year-old rock and roll tour de force  known as  Nandi Bushell dropped her latest cover this week — putting her spin on  Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 1991 hit “Under the Bridge” - on which she plays guitar, bass, drums, and sings.  

“I LOVE the @chilipeppers,” she wrote in an Instagram post promoting the cover. “‘Under the Bridge’ is one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands! Awesome band and awesome musicians.”

Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

And it's not just us (and of course Dave Grohl)  who are loving her work - RHCP bassist Flea gave his stamp of approval - tweeting “always love to Nandi!”

always love to Nandi! https://t.co/hT3ZuyCBd5

— Flea (@flea333) February 21, 2021

ICYMI - Nandi shot to fame last year - after her videos caught the eye of Dave Grohl - who engaged in an online drum of with the young phenom 

Last fall, since we missed the live tour - Billie Eilish did the next best thing - and gave fans an incredible live performance during her 'Where Do We Go' streaming  event. 

This week - Apple TV will debut Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry - a documentary exploring Eilish's to super stardom as a teenager, life on the road and the creation of her When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? album. 

Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry — Official Trailer #2

But fans will want to set a reminder for 9 p.m. ET this Thursday (Feb. 25) - because that is when Billie will be going live for a stripped down performance and conversation - just before the film's debut.  

The event can be can streamed via Eilish's YouTube channel or on Apple TV and the Apple Music app.  

This past weekend - Green Day unveiled a new single - Here Comes The Shock - during an NHL Hockey broadcast.  

Sure the two-and-a-half-minute track is fun and full of anthemic hooks - sure to be a hit when Billy, Tre and Mike are  able to hit the road again (this summer?)  - but it's the “punk rock aerobics” video by Hilken Mancini and Punk Rock Aerobics that we love ... cause our Billy Blanks tapes are getting stale.

Green Day - Here Comes The Shock (Official Video)

Founded in 2000 by Hilken Mancini Maura Jasperm PRA is the 'The Original DIY' workout and it looks super fun - and you can take a class with the every Tuesday for just $12! 

Green Day is set to retry their Hella Mega Tour with Weezer and Fall Out Boy this summer - and will hopefully be in DC on August 8 

Long time friends Bruce Springsteen and former President Barack Obama have launched a new eight-part podcast in which they discuss a wide range of topics including “race, fatherhood, marriage, and the state of America.”   

In  the first episode, Obama says,

“In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys trying to understand this country that’s given us both so much. Trying to chronicle the stories of its people. Looking for a way to connect our own individual searches for meaning and truth and community with the larger story of America.”

You can hear the first two episodes from Obamas’ Higher Ground production company below: 

Renegades: Born in the USA is a series of conversations between President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen about their lives, music, and enduring love of America—despite all its challenges is available via Spotify

By now you might have heard that after watching HBO's documentary on the Bee Gees - they decided to cover the disco groups song You Should Be Dancing for  Jo Whiley's Sofa Session show on BBC Radio 2 

Well - we asked for it and the internet delivered - there's now a fan made video for the song ... José Hurtado has spliced together some classic shots of Dave Grohl dancing and put it to the track.  And it is amazing ... 

BTW - is that Dave dancing at the DC rock club The Black Cat we spy?? 

Foo Fighters - You Should Be Dancing

When asked if the Foo Fighters will be going down a falsetto, disco-inspired path in the future ... Dave responded  "Just so you know, there is a plan" 

For the first time since 2018 - we have new music from Lord Huron (!) 

The song, “Not Dead Yet,” is accompanied by a music video of the four-piece performing in Whispering Pines studio - where they have been running  their four-part live stream series, Alive From Whispering Pines from.  

The song continues the psychedelic sound that 2018's Vide Noir had with a little bit of glam mixed in ... leaving us excited to hear the rest of the record.

Lord Huron - Not Dead Yet (Official Video)

Lord Huron will also perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday (2/23).

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim aka the band HAIM have been pals with Taylor Swift for a while and recently they have begun collaborating together musically.  

Late last year- the sisters helped Swift on her evermore track “No Body, No Crime”. And now Swift has leant her tallets to HAIM for a remix of their track “Gasoline” - from their Grammy nominated album Women in Music Pt. III .

 

 

 

 

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On the remix - HAIM remarks - 

"since we released wimpiii in june, taylor had always told us that gasoline was her favorite. so when we were thinking about ways to reimagine some of the tracks from the record, we immediately thought of her. she brought such amazing ideas and new imagery to the song and truly gave it a new life. thank you @taylorswift for adding your incredible voice and spirit to a track that means so much to us."

Haim - Gasoline (Audio) ft. Taylor Swift

The expanded tracklist also includes a remix of “3AM” from Thundercat.

It's got to be getting hard for Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters to come up with something new and outrageous to do at this point - but somehow they just keep doing them! 

Sure - you may have heard the band do some covers over their 25 year existence ... maybe you've seen it once or twice too - like when Taylor Hawkins swapped places with Dave to sing Under Pressure while Dave played drums 

Well look out - the band has unleashed a cover like no other - giving us their rendition of  the Bee Gees’ classic You Should Be Dancing.

The back story - the band were slated to record a cover for Jo Wiley’s BBC Radio 2 Sofa Session.  And one day in the studio  - the project came up on the to-do list.  

Dave explained: 

“And while we were having this conversation somebody said, ?‘Hey, have you seen that Bee Gees documentary?’ And I was like the last person on earth – the only person that hadn’t seen it! So I was like, ?‘Why don’t we just do a Bee Gees song?’ And someone was just like, ?‘Okay… how do you wanna do it?!’ And I said: ?‘Well, let’s do it like the Bee Gees.’

 

We started recording the instrumental track, and then I thought, ?‘Okay, well I’m gonna go out and sing it…’ and let me tell you: I have never, ever in my life sung like that, but it was the easiest song I have ever sung in my entire life!” the frontman jokes. ?“I sang the song, and it was like six minutes and I was done. I should have been singing like this for the last 25 years!”

The result is absolutely amazing  ... hear a sample below or keep scrolling for a link to the full session

In case you missed it, Foos caught up with @jowhiley on @BBCRadio2 and premiered the 'Dee Gees.' ???? Check out the cover now on @BBCSounds: https://t.co/RuhWFbKtKh pic.twitter.com/6QZ994Af2o

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) February 18, 2021

The only thing that could top this .... is if they made an old school FF video to accompany the track! 

You can hear the full version HERE 

In 2005 - Nigel Godrich began a web series called From the Basement - featuring band performances.  The show went on to feature Radiohead, The Shins, Fleet Foxes, PJ Harvey, and many more.  But the show's first episode featured The White Stripes - fresh off the release of Get Behind Me Satan. 

And now - for our pleasure - Godrich has begun uploading the performances, including Jack and Meg's, to his YouTube channel.  You can stream the performance that Jack claims is 'beautifully filmed and the sound quality makes a performance on a regular TV show sound like a wax cylinder recording'  below.  

The  set is heavy on  tracks from Get Behind Me Satan, including “Blue Orchid,” “Forever for Her (Is Over for Me),” “As Ugly As I Seem,” Little Ghost,” and “Red Rain”. There's  also a pretty sweet cover of Captain Beefheart’s “Party of Special Things to Do.”

Nigel Godrich had this to say about the episode: 

“The dream of From the Basement is to capture great performances with the most direct and beautiful coverage possible, both sonically and visually  ... We were so fortunate early on to have the support of Jack and Meg who instinctively understood the concept of the show and so came to be part of it. As a result, we have this amazing snapshot of their fantastic energy and style. It’s an intimate and direct performance, something magic, powerful and special. A day I will not forget."

Director Sophie Muller recalls: 

“Everything fell into place very quickly, and because of Meg and Jack’s ease and natural chemistry with each other I could just shoot what I saw.  Whatever it was between them made it very simple, but so, so special and it was an honor to be there. I just love this electrifying performance.”

The White Stripes - From the Basement (Official Performance)

Check out more sets From the Basement HERE

So you got your hands on a pair of the limited edition Vans a few year ago and you've been looking for the perfect accessory for them? 

Fret not - Happy Socks has you and your feet covered!

The sock maker has just launched their official David Bowie line of 8 pairs of footies - six of them are based  the Starman's different iconic performances, characters and outfits.

• "Ziggy Stardust": tiger stripe design is based on one of Bowie's most iconic jumpsuits
• "Flashy Bowie": featuring the lightning bolt ripped straight from Bowie's fact to your feet
• "Aladdin Sane": the flames on these were inspired by Bowie's Aladdin Sane jumpsuit
• "Big Bowie": the iconic lightning flash symbol here is paired with Happy Socks' Big Dots
• "Electric Tiger": the giant cats here were inspired by another Ziggy-era jumpsuit
• "Tokyo Pop": this pair are based on Mirai Yamamoto's flared body suit designs

The other two pairs include the  "Silver Lining" socks - wrapped in silver foil and based the silver zebra outfit from Station To Station and the the Ziggy Special sock,  that comes as one sock and two ankle bangles.

The socks that are available individually as well as in sets of three and six HERE 

Things have been a little crazy lately - but this weekend - they are just getting plain nuts!

Turns out that Mr. Peanut and his NUTmobile are in town and have no plans and need some suggestions ... 

Celebrating a birthday this weekend? Big anniversary you might have forgotten about?  Just feel like meeting Mr Peanut and his nutty team of Peanutters?  You can request a personal meet and greet HERE 

You know you're career is on the right trajectory when you get invited to perform live from New York on a Saturday night... and that's just what happened to a one Mr Nathaniel Rateliff  - who was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this past weekend (Feb.13) 

Rateliff brought along his long time band the Night Sweats to perform two songs - one new and one old .

The new track titled Redemption - which he discussed on Friday with Bob Waugh on Friday  - was written for Justin Timberlake's latest film, Palmer, which premiered on Apple TV+ in January. 

Nathaniel Rateliff: Redemption (Live) - SNL

Nathaniel Rateliff: A Little Honey (Live) - SNL

Ironically - the last time Nathaniel was in New York City - was almost one year ago - when he played his last show to an audience before the pandemic shut down concerts

Over the weekend - Manchester Orchestra premiered A Black Mile To The Surface: The Global Concert Film,  a film in which they perform their 2017 album  A Black Mile to the Surface --  from start to finish at Echo Mountain Recording Studios  in Asheville, NC - where they originally  recorded the album.  

The band sounds great ... the visuals are amazing  ... and they even flash a cryptic message - "The Million Mask of God" - throughout the performance ...

Manchester Orchestra Presents: A Black Mile To The Surface (The Concert Film)

If you go to THEMILLIONMASKSOFGOD.COM, and if you go to that URL, there's a countdown clock that ends on February 18 and some videos that show a whole lot of pictures of the band in the studio 

I guess we'll see what the news is on Thursday ! 

This week, Foo Fighters were among the 16 nominees to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2021 class.  

Assuming they are inducted in their first year of eligibility - band members have already been speculating as to who they would like to give their induction speech.  

Guitarist Pat Smear has weighed in with his choice- Dave Grohl's mother Virginia.  

But Dave has someone else in mind- former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. 

Why Stewart? The Foo frontman explained this week on the Howard Stern show- 

“This band started with this demo tape that I did ages ago… went to the studio for five days, I played all the instruments, I recorded 13 or 14 songs just for fun, I made cassettes. And I called it Foo Fighters because I didn’t really want everyone to know it was me.

 

One of the reasons why I did that is because when I was young, someone gave me a record by an artist named Klark Kent,” the frontman continues. ?“It was this kinda weird, like, fringe thing – ?‘Klark Kent? Who’s Klark Kent?’ It sounded a lot like The Police… because it was actually Stewart Copeland. The drummer of The Police made this record under the name Klark Kent; he didn’t put his name on the record… You were like, ?‘Wow, who’s Klark Kent? This is kinda rad.’ And then someone’s like, ‘(Whispers) That’s Stewart Copeland.’ ”

 

Dave also added that besides being an inspiration - Copeland “can make a fuckin’ speech – the guy can talk”.

You can cast your vote for the Foos and four other nominees HERE until April 30.

What would you do if one day you received a box full of your uncle's bones - who died 20 years ago?  

Well - if you're metal head Prince Midnight - you'd pay tribute to your metal-loving late uncle and turnthe skeleton into an actual working guitar. 

Seriously.  

OK - so there's a little more to the story -

Prince's uncle Filip died in a car accident two decades ago and his bones were medically prepared and rendered (at his request) and then donated to a local college for educational purposes.

Twenty years later - when the school no longer had use for the bones - Mr Midnight (who we might mention is a Florida Man) filed, re-filed, and re-re-filed paperwork with the Greek authorities to acquire the remains - and he finally got them.  

But now what to do with them? 

“I got the box of bones from Greece and didn’t know what to do at first..Bury them? Cremate them? Put them in the attic? All seemed like poor ways to memorialize someone who got me into heavy metal. So, I decided to turn Uncle Filip into a guitar, which proved to be challenging. I did a lot of research and no-one has ever made a guitar out of a skeleton. So, I did it.”

And yes - the guitar “plays perfect and sounds awesome” 

I wonder if Prince would do a metal version of The Human Bones song? 

This time last year - we were gearing up to see Liz Phair perform at the Lincoln Theatre in DC ... and at Merriwaether with Alanis Morrisette  ... and while we wait to see if that show gets rescheduled- we can at least enjoy the first new music from her in two years.

The song - “Hey Lou” - comes from her new album Soberish, which will be Phair’s first album with new material since 2010’s Funstyle.

The song dives into Phair’s fascination with the relationship between Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson and sees the two - plus Andy Warhol get puppetized. 

Phair said about the track:

Have you ever wondered what love looks like for your favorite celebrity couple behind closed doors? “Hey Lou” imagines a day in the life of two music legends, whose union was an inspiration for rock bands and a source of curiosity for die hard romantics.

Liz Phair - Hey Lou (Official Music Video)

Here's to hoping we get to see one if not both of her area shows this year! 

Bruce Springsteen wasn't the only musician to make an audio cameo in a  Super Bowl ad on Sunday  ... 

Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

If you recognized the voice singing the John Denver classic "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for the new CBS series, CLARICE as Brandi Carlile's - you have a good ear! 

Check out the haunting cover below 

Brandi Carlile - Take Me Home, Country Roads

Clarice premieres on CBS this Thursday (Feb. 11)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has revealed their 2021 nominees and its the most gender-inclusive ballot in the HOF's history! 

On this year's ballot:  Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Foo Fighters, The Go-Go's, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Todd Rundgren, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick 

Seven of those 16 acts feature women! 

Foo Fighters and Jay Z make the list on their first year of eligibility  ... Dave Grohl is already a member of the Rock Hall via Nirvana  - so is Tina Tuner via Ike & Tina as well as Carole King as a song writer. 

Who do you think should make the  Hall?  Fan can cast their votes at RockHall.com now

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has revealed their 2021 nominees and its the most gender-inclusive ballot in the HOF's history! 

On this year's ballot:  Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Foo Fighters, The Go-Go's, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Todd Rundgren, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick 

Seven of those 16 acts feature women! 

Foo Fighters and Jay Z make the list on their first year of eligibility  ... Dave Grohl is already a member of the Rock Hall via Nirvana  - so is Tina Tuner via Ike & Tina as well as Carole King as a song writer. 

Who do you think should make the  Hall?  Fan can cast their votes at RockHall.com now

 Dave Grohl  may be the son of a public school teacher, but he will be the first to admit he's the last one you want teaching you (or his kids) .. unless its music education. 

In a recent interview on the BBC Breakfast program - Dave explained - 

“My kids know who I am, okay? I’ve read my report cards to my kids before, so they’re not necessarily going to come to me for anything academic – they just don’t. I could be a cheerleader, I could make you a great breakfast and I could make you smile before you start your day, but you don’t necessarily want me in your history lessons, you don’t necessarily want me helping you with trigonometry.”

 

He went on to drop a little musical education knowledge - giving three albums parents should introduce their kids to : The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (“That album still connects the way it did the day it came out”), AC/DC?’s Back In Black (“That is rock’n’roll drumming 101!”) and Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees (“I like myself a little party every now and then…”).

Hear the entire video below: 

Foo Fighters founder, Dave Grohl told #BBCBreakfast which three albums he would recommend children listen to as a music home schooling lesson ????????

More here: https://t.co/ijVFErHxYB pic.twitter.com/1EUblfZHI5

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) February 8, 2021

Foo Fighters also just released a new video for the track No Son Of Mine, from their latest album - Medicine at Midnight 

On the song - Dave says: 

“This is the kind of song that just resides in all of us and if it makes sense at the time, we let it out.  Lyrically it’s meant to poke at the hypocrisy of self righteous leaders, people that are guilty of committing the crimes they’re supposedly against…”

We're just gonna go out and say  - we'd go back to school in a minute to have Mr. Grohl teach us trig ... LOL 

Oliver Francois - Chief Marketing Officer for Fiat Automobiles  - has  landed some of the biggest names in show business for his company's ads  from Clint Eastwood  to Bill Murray.  But his white whale was still out there - Bruce Springsteen, who has notoriously avoided commercial appearances for decades.

But exec was finally able to land the boss for Jeep’s two-minute Super Bowl ad called “The Middle,”

Maybe Bruce agreed to the ad because of overtly plugging a new Jeep, the ad  had a deeper message: “To the ReUnited States of America.”

Phoebe Bridgers made her Saturday Night Live debut last night (February 6) on the Dan Levy hosted episode.  The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter performed “Kyoto” and “I Know the End” from her album Punisher.  

She ended the show by smashing her guitar against her stage monitor after performing “I Know the End” - a rock and roll act that won the heart of the internet: 

Phoebe Bridgers with some big guitar smashing screaming pandemic energy. #snl pic.twitter.com/7ELKzp7Pfr

— curlybecs (@curlybecs) February 7, 2021

Check out her performances below 

Phoebe Bridgers: Kyoto (Live) - SNL

Phoebe Bridgers: I Know The End (Live) - SNL

Rock and Roll ! 

Vampire Weekend have released a new EP but they aren't the band performing on the record.  

The band enlisted jazz artist Sam Gendel and Connecticut jam band Goose for two reinterpretations of their Father of the Bride highlight “2021”  ... Each rendition is 20 minutes and 21 seconds long, hence the title of the EP is 40:42.

You can check out both Gendel and Goose’s renditions below.

Vampire Weekend presents Sam Gendel - 2021 (in the space between two pieces of wood)

Vampire Weekend presents Goose - 2021 (January 5th, to be exact)

This isn't the only reworking of 2021 recently - the punk podcast 155 released some ‘punk’ versions of track via Bandcamp late in 2020

A lot of news this week in the Nashville Country Music scene ... we're not even going to cover the knucklehead who's 30 minutes of fame only lasted 15 - and instead we are going to focus on the positive story about Deale, MD native - T.J. Osborne. 

T.J. made waves this week - a publicly came out as gay in a Time magazine article on Wednesday

 

 

 

 

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He had his reservations about revealing the news, - which his family and friends already knew, being a prominent figure in an industry that leans conservative: 

"I'm very comfortable being gay.  I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don't have a problem with. That feels so strange...

"People will ask, 'Why does this even need to be talked about?' and personally, I agree with that," he later added. "But for me to show up at an awards show with a man would be jaw-dropping to people. It wouldn't be like, 'Oh, cool!'"

T.J. went on the Ellen show to discuss his decision to reveal this news to the world

“Even though I was coming out, it still felt really odd to say it then.  I think that’s the beautiful thing about this for me: I’ve never really come out to very many people, mainly because I just find it really awkward and uncomfortable. And so it’s been a really wild experience to have come out to very few people — although a lot of my friends and family knew already — and then to come out publicly in one big fell swoop. In some ways, it’s nice, but it’s made for a very emotional day.”

As of now, T.J. is the first and only openly gay man signed to a major country label and has received an outpouring of support from fans and industry members in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville, he’s “interested” to see how shows the Brothers Osborne play in more rural areas go.

We love a good cover. And a good collaboration - so a good collaboration of two of our favorite bands that's an amazing cover - we're in! 

So when we heard Black Pumas had linked up with Lucius for a cover of The Kinks‘ “Strangers” - we were sold before hearing it! But you can stream it for yourself below :)

What's even cooler - is the  song is featured in the trailer for the YouTube Original Life In A Day 2020, which will air on CBS during  the Super Bowl on February 7!

Black Pumas singer Eric Burton said of the cover 

To me, ‘Strangers’ has a really interesting way of cutting through straight to the soul,” which . “I had such a good time inhabiting this honest reflection on love lost and the triumph that is a resilient human spirit.”

Black Pumas guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada adds:

“I think this is one of the most thoughtful records I have ever done ... We wanted to show the original ‘Strangers’ its due respect. We really tried to honor the song and its timeless lyrics. The Lucius vocals gave the song another dimension, and I only wish we could have recorded with them in person.”

The Kinks first released the song in 1970 on the album  Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One album

In 2018 and 2019 , actress Evan Rachel Wood testified to the House Judiciary Committee and the California Senate - advocating for the passage of the  Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Act and the Phoenix Act.  In both testimonies she disclosed her personal  experiences as a survivor of sexual assault.  

At the time - she did not name her abuser - but this week - she did via an Instagram post:

The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson.
He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. 

 

 

 

 

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And in the days since, the fallout has been swfit - Manson has been dropped by his label, removed from TV shows he appeared on, and accused by more women.  

But some passages from the shock rockers 1998 autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell have raised some eyebrows as well -  in particular one where Manson recounts an alleged incident from the '90s where he claimed Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor physically and sexually assaulted an inebriated girl.

Reznor has reacted to the claims - telling  Pitchfork that the passage in question "a complete fabrication."

In a statement, Reznor wrote: 

"I have been vocal over the years about my dislike of Manson as a person and cut ties with him nearly 25 years ago.  As I said at the time, the passage from Manson’s memoir is a complete fabrication. I was infuriated and offended back when it came out and remain so today."

Pitchfork also notes the passage from the book in question is supposedly from a 1995 interview conducted by an Empyrean Magazine writer, but the magazine never did was printed due to “content objections on the part of Empyrean’s publisher, Centaur Enterprises, which believed that the magazine had followed unethical interview procedures in order to extract information from Mr. Manson.”

The 2021 award season is here - and the nominees for this year's Golden Globes have been revealed.  We had plenty of time this past year to check out most of these shows - so we know who WE are rooting for and who got snubbed ... how about you? 

The 2021 Golden Globes air live Sunday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.

Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy

Emily in Paris

The Flight Attendant

The Great

Schitt's Creek

Ted Lasso

Best Television Series—Drama

The Crown

Lovecraft Country

The Mandalorian

Ozark

Ratched

Best Actor in a Television Series—Drama

Jason Bateman, Ozark

John O'Connor, The Crown

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason

Al Pacino, Hunters

Best Actress in a Television Series—Comedy

Lily Collins, Emily in Paris

Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant

Elle Fanning, The Great

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek

Jane Levy, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Best Limited Series or TV Movie

Normal People

The Queen's Gambit

The Undoing

Small Axe

Unorthodox

Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie

Bryan Cranston, Your Honor

Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule

Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird

Hugh Grant, The Undoing

Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit

Shira Haas, Unorthodox

Nicole Kidman, The Undoing

Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series or TV Movie

John Boyega, Small Axe

Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule

Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek

Jim Parsons, Hollywood

Donald Sutherland, The Undoing

Best Motion Picture—Drama

Nomadland

Mank

The Father

Promising Young Woman

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Hamilton

Music

Palm Springs

The Prom

Best Director—Motion Picture

Emerald Fennel, Promising Young Woman

David Fincher, Mank

Regina King, One Night in Miami

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of Chicago 7

Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Gary Oldman, Mank

Tahar Ramin, The Mauritanian

Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Kate Hudson, Music

Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit

Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot

Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Jared Leto, The Little Things

Bill Murray, On the Rocks

Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman, The Father

Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian

Amana Seyfried, Mank

Helena Zengel, News of the World

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky

Ludwig Göransson, Tenet

James Newton Howard, News of the World

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Soul

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Mank

The 2021 Golden Globes air live Sunday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.

25 years ago this September (!) - Weezer released their second album Pinkerton.  The band says their follow up to the Blue Album  "was supposed to be  magnum opus and it just got destroyed” 

Many 'die hard' Weezer fans will be excited to hear that the band's singer - Rivers Cuomo - is interested in revisiting the album (!) - saying he'd like to reworking the songs in the style that they recorded their latest album - OK Human - with no electric guitars and an orchestra accompaniment.  

Cuomo told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe - 

“Those are the most complex songs and they’re the most emotional songs ... And yet, the way we recorded is so raw, four-piece rock noise. I’d be really interested to hear that with an orchestra.”

Weezer: ‘OK Human’ and Complexity of ‘Pinkerton’

Despite being considered a flop that was 'almost game over for the band' , Cuomo said that he still loves ‘Pinkerton’ – especially his vocals.

“Especially, I love the sound of my voice ... It’s very low in the mix. I’d love to hear a remix of the vocal louder, but there’s just so much pain and vulnerability in my voice.  I don’t know if this is disillusioning at all, but I think some of the pain you hear in my voice [on ‘Pinkerton’] is actually physical." 

We have nothing to lose in hoping this happens ... in fact - we think it'd be El Scorcho 

After a successful set of shows in January the Flaming Lips have decided to sanitize their spheres and have another run of socially distanced 'bubble concerts'

The shows will once again take place in the band's hometown of  Oklahoma City - at the Criterion - on March 12-13.  

There's only 100 bubbles available - but each bubble holds up to 3 people 

Lips frontman Wayne Coyne said:

 “Your ticket purchase is ONE space bubble…your friends are free. It can just be YOU in there.. or.. YOU and a friend (that hopefully doesn’t have Covid19) for just the price of the space bubble.. or YOU and 2 friends.. it does not cost any more.”

 

The new shows come after a successful run of shows in January 

Tickets go on sale February 3 HERE 

Back in December - the MoMA Film Benefit took place – honoring the life and philanthropy of George Clooney.  But it was Brittany Howard's (the Alabama Shakes  singer-turned-solo artist) performance that stole the show for us.  

Brittany was dripping head to toe in Chanel that night -  a nod to the event’s luxury sponsor?

You can check out the just released pro-shot performance of  “Stay High” - from her self-titled album  Jaime below

Brittany Howard - "Stay High" (MoMA Film Benefit Honoring George Clooney presented by Chanel)