Archive: 2025

Poker scenes in heist movies excel at introducing or highlighting character traits. For example, in Ocean’s Eleven, the introductory poker game featuring Brad Pitt’s character, Rusty Ryan, and a group of celebrities demonstrates Rusty’s sharp wit and deep understanding of human behavior. This scene serves as entertainment and provides an early look at the kind […]

Some folks deal with heartbreak better than others. On the one hand, it can conjure up a lot of raw, angry emotions, which may or may not lead you to write a bitter and spiteful 12+ minute goth-rock opus about it (see yesterday’s Manic Monday for example). But on the opposite end of the spectrum, […]

Throughout his career, Jimmy Vivino has worn several hats – as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, stints in the Levon Helm Band, leading the Beatles tribute band Fab Faux, and recently as a member of Canned Heat, not to mention films, Broadway, and countless other endeavors. At heart, though, he’s always favored blues and soul, so it’s not […]

The Portland, Oregon-based The Delines return with their fourth record, Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom, in their well-established aesthetic, as consistent as four records as any band has made, incrementally better each time. This is due to acclaimed novelist and songwriter  Willy Vlautin’s gripping tales of those that have fallen through the cracks, the unique, world-worn […]

Squid has announced a spring North American tour in support of their new album, Cowards. Following the band’s UK and EU tour which kicks off next week, Squid will return to North America for their first tour since last year’s run in support of O Monolith. Squid have long been praised for their expansive must-see live show. Those lucky enough to […]

During those long school bus rides in Franklin County, Tennessee, Mike Farris entered a different planet. It was the world of radio.  The bus driver fixed the dial to WCDT (1340 AM). From country to rock and roll to Motown and soul, from Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, to the Staples Singers and Al Green, […]

Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Them Coulee Boys craft a brand of Americana that blends folk, punk, bluegrass, and rock and roll. They sing their conversational songs in four-part harmony, often with a banjo stomp and rhythm section punch that drives the audience onto the dance floor and into community. Their trusty van has propelled them thousands […]

Nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow graced the stage for the Umbrella Concert Series in partnership with Salt Lick Sessions on February 7th, headlining a sold-out concert that shimmered with star power and celebrated the future of music. The event, presented in partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, wasn’t just about Crow’s legendary hits; it was […]

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s officially that special time of the year filled with flowers, heart-shaped everything, and a generally simplistic/romanticized celebration of “love” everywhere you go. But as most folks eventually find out one way or another, love can be a complicated, fleeting thing, often ending in disappointment, heartbreak, and sorrow (Happy Monday, […]

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country mothership docked at Portland, Oregon’s Wonder Ballroom on Friday, February 7th for just the second date on their extensive 2025 winter tour.  There was a palpable excitement in the air in anticipation of seeing and hearing the young guitar slinger and his able band (Nathan Aronowitz on keyboards, Will McGee on […]

Released fifty-five years ago, the Doors’ Morrison Hotel was primarily seen as a return to form for the band after using brass and string arrangements recommended by producer Paul A. Rothchild on their previous album, The Soft Parade. The fact of the matter is that, the irony of ironies, both records have but a small handful of memorable […]

Have you ever wondered how cannabis can provide relief from anxiety in ways that feel genuinely personalized? What if you could find varieties offering a unique experience tailored to your needs? Whether you’ve tried cannabis before or are just beginning your journey, exotic options might be the key to a unique approach to stress relief. […]

With their latest record, Norther, in tow, Shane Smith & The Saints have continued their tour in support of the new album into 2025. The Austin country crew recently stopped in Michigan, playing to a packed, energetic house at Royal Oak Music Theatre. Here are five moments that stood out from the show:  A Dramatic Entrance  Taking […]

In February of 2000, 25 years ago, an undeniable shift hit hip-hop in the same way terrible news hits your heart. At the time, Wu-Tang was one of the most prominent groups in modern. After dominating the late 90s with classic pieces of Hip-hop, group leader RZA decided it was time for each artist to […]

After an eight-year absence, critically acclaimed, 4x GRAMMY® winners Alabama Shakes return, announcing summer tour dates and promising fans that new songs are also on the way. Kicking off July 16 in Chicago at The Salt Shed-Fairgrounds, the North American headline run will include shows at such historic venues as Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (July 20), the Greek Theatre […]

The first week of February is coming to a close, and the second month of the year is coming in swinging. While January was brimming with new releases that shocked and amazed, the first seven days of the short month delivered equally mesmerizing releases to get lost in. February is a weird month; you have […]

Slide into the debut single, “Never In My Life,” from Nashville-based indie artist Ferguson. The track catches us immediately with clever synth color and pulsing low-end design, as Ferguson’s voice is soothing and welcoming, a potent combination of pop forces at play. Ferguson is a perceived perfectionist in all the most comforting ways, as clearly […]

The group of friends who make up the band Travis has been around, as lead singer Fran Healey shared, for 34 years – a remarkable feat. Rising in the early 1990s, the band led the post-Britpop wave, arguably setting the stage for bands such as Radiohead and Coldplay. In a career spanning 10 albums, the […]

Over the last few years, the Dublin, Ireland-based Inhaler has been touring the world, opening for some heavy hitters like Harry Styles, Arctic Monkeys, Pearl Jam, and Kings of Leon. Now, with their third album, Wide Open, the band seems to have taken successful aspects of all of those acts and filtered them into their arena-ready, pop-rock sound, crafting their strongest record […]