Culture
Concerts, Video Games, and More Come to SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream Next Week
So far, this week on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream has been pretty good. We had an acoustic set from Lewis Del Mar last night, an epic 3-hour performance from Lotus on Monday, and some other good times. If you missed them, you can still catch them on Twitch for another week or so before they move to our YouTube page, but we’ve also got another set of streams ready for next week (after today’s performance by Xanthe Alexis). We’ll be starting the week off with sets from the Happy Fits and NYC-based rapper Akinyemi, keep it going strong through the midweek thanks to the Foxies and Irontom, and then close things out with some tunes and Rocket League live from Sweden with the hard rockers in Solence. It’s as globe-spanning and genre-bending a week as we’ve had in quite ...
Lotus, Peach Tree Rascals & More Headline Next Week on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream
This week on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream featured live sets and Q&As from the likes of Eivør and Zeke Thomas (which you can still watch on Twitch for another week or two before they move to YouTube, but we’re already gearing up to bring some more new and exciting live video content to you next week. After kicking things off with a performance and fan Q&A from Lotus, we’ve got some can’t-miss sets from artists like Peach Tree Rascals and Lewis Del Mar and a Mario Kart-fueled hangout session with Paper Jackets to get you through the week. It’s a little bit of something for everyone, because we could all use some variety in our lives these days. For those of you who are new here, you’ll want to check out both Twitter and Instagram fo...
Jonah Ray: To All the Bands I’ve Had Before….
I started playing drums in the fourth grade. All I wanted to be at the time was the drummer for Metallica. Just to be clear, I didn’t want to be Lars. I just had this fantasy leading up to my first-ever Metallica concert that Lars [Ulrich] would somehow see me on the upper lodge of the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu and go “YOU!” Everybody would stop down. James [Hetfield] would shield his eyes from the stage lights to see who Lars was pointing at. Kirk [Hammett] would smile knowingly, because he too must’ve seen me and just “knew maaaaan.” The whole crowd would turn up to see me, the 11-year-old kid flanked by his brother and older cousin Kalani (our chaperone for the night). The 11-year-old boy sitting directly behind the bored Japanese businessmen who hadn’t headbanged ONCE during the show...
Marvel’s Avengers Puts Gamers in the Shoes, Capes, and Mechanized Suits of Their Favorite Heroes
If you pay attention to video games and/or superheroes, you’ve probably seen at least one headline that the new Marvel’s Avengers game is “surprisingly good.” Considering the gaming community’s love of hating on “live service” games (titles which are based around ongoing content updates rather than a single comprehensive experience at launch) and criticism of anything related to a property as large as Marvel (like the idiotic puddle-based debate ahead of Marvel’s Spider-Man), it’s no surprise that much of the discourse surrounding Avengers is about how it’s significantly better than certain pockets of the internet expected. Truthfully, the team at Crystal Dynamics are in the midst of a wildly uphill battle to live up to fans’ ridiculous expectations and put forth the first proper Avengers ...
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Remaster Brings New Energy to Classic Games
With the remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 set to release on PC, PlayStation and Xbox on Sept. 4, skateboarding fans young and old are preparing to pick up the sticks once again to return to the iconic series. What was once considered a bit of a holy grail when it came to desired remasters — and an unlikely one due to how many songs would need to be licensed to replace the legendary soundtrack — is mere days away from reality after being in the works for years, and it’s no mere high definition re-skin of the 20-year-old classics. Filled with new skateboarders and features, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is more of a brand new game built around the core of the originals than a cheap glossy makeover (the latter of which already happened once with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD back in 2012)....
Nigerians embrace British Council digital library
As part of efforts to restore and encourage a reading culture among Nigerians, the UK embassy’s British Council in Nigeria has launched a globally renowned digital library following temporary closure of its physical libraries. The newly launched digital library is to facilitate self-paced convenient learning, make educational and entertainment resources available and also provide access to numerous IELTS preparation content to support a large number of Nigerian youth and test takers. According to the British Council Country Director, Nigeria and West Africa Lead, Lucy Pearson, for many years, the British Council has been renowned all over the world for its libraries and the closure of its physical libraries in Nigeria was a sad one. Lucy said she is delighted to see the launch of the new B...
Every Time I Die, American Authors, and Baker Grace Lead This Week’s Schedule for SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream
This week’s schedule for SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream might be the best (and most diverse) yet. Sure, last week was pretty cool with Hinder closing things out on Friday after shows from artists like M.A.G.S. and the Milwaukees — all of which you can still see on Twitch for now before they get moved to YouTube. We’re starting the week off in just a few hours with something we’ve never done before, as Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die will be giving out download codes and vinyls for the soundtrack of the brand new No Straight Roads. There’ll be at least a handful of each available, so don’t miss them this afternoon. From there, things will swap over to some more unforgettable live performances from artists like American Authors, Baker Grace, and more before hittin...
Hinder Headlines This Week on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream
If you haven’t been paying attention to SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream recently, you’ve missed out on some real good times. Last week, we went all the way to Australia to hang out with Hockey Dad, dropped the live premiere of the new Dangerous Hippies single, interviewed Deadmau5 and Carl Cox, and much more. You can still see the videos on Twitch for another week or so before they eventually get moved to YouTube, but it’s not quite the same as witnessing them all live in real time. As for this week, we’re welcoming one of your favorite acts from the 2000s with an acoustic performance from the guys in Hinder, getting an up-close look at the music and daily life of M.A.G.S. and witnessing live sets from both Betcha and New Jersey’s favorite locals in the Milwaukees. Since things are...
The Philo Streaming Network Adds TV One To Its Channel Lineup
Source: Philo / Philo An emerging streaming app is about deliver even more Black excellence to its viewers. A new partnership is set to give our culture a bigger platform to shine. This week Philo and TV One announced a distribution agreement, adding the channel to Philo‘s lineup of 60+ channels for $20 per month. This marks TV One’s first vMVPD distribution deal. Philo subscribers can watch a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming on TV One, including classic series, movies, and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers, including popular original series Unsung, Uncensored, ATL Homicide, and Fatal Attraction. The addition of TV One will align with Philo‘s lineup that includes recentl...
Pixel Ripped 1995 Transports VR Players Into Immersive ’90s Childhood Nostalgia
For those who grew up playing video games in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, the virtual reality adventures in the Pixel Ripped series will likely feel like a serious blast of nostalgia — presented in the most modern way possible. The second (and latest) entry in the series, Pixel Ripped 1995, flawlessly channels the experience of being a “‘90s kid” playing their favorite Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis titles. But while you might be focused on battling the baddies on the vintage screen in front of you, your dear old mom is always lurking just around the corner hoping not to catch you playing games while you should be busy with more productive activities. The immersive experience leads to a game-within-a-game feeling that blends multiple levels of reality in ways that can only be witnessed through ...
Hockey Dad, Dangerous Hippies and More Headline This Week of SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream
SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream has had some pretty damn good weeks recently. This past one featured everything from gaming with Origami Angel to live performances from people like Kevin Nichols and GIRL SKIN. If you missed any of it, the videos will still be on Twitch for another week or so before they eventually get moved to our YouTube channel. This week, it’s pretty much a nonstop barrage of badass musical performances, so you won’t want to miss it. In addition to an exclusive hangout with our favorite Aussie surf rockers in Hockey Dad, you won’t want to miss the rockstars in Dangerous Hippies or what we’ve got in store from Mabes, Okey Dokey, or the Pharell-approved glvsshouse. Oh, and we’ve got a very special edition of Kat Calls coming through this Saturday, but more on...
Squanch Games Brings Rick and Morty Co-Creator’s Humor to Virtual Reality
When Justin Roiland announced the launch of Squanch Games (originally proposed as Squanchtendo) in 2016, it wasn’t immediately clear how the co-creator and primary voice actor of Rick and Morty was going to transition into video games. After all, his unique brand of humor and writing style could clearly draw a pretty rabid fan base, but his only previous experience in the video game industry was voicing iconic characters like Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith, and Adventure Time’s Earl of Lemongrab. That’s where CEO and co-founder Tanya Watson comes in. After working a variety of roles for gaming giants like Microsoft and Epic (on a small project called Fortnite), Watson had all of the industry know-how Roiland was missing. The duo put together a small team to put out the predictably-inappropriate...
