Music News
Soccer Mommy Goes on Tour in New 8-Bit Video for “crawling in my skin”: Watch
If you’re not aggressively baking bread in quarantine, chances are most of your time is spent online. That’s been the case for Soccer Mommy, who has adapted to the lockdown era by getting super creative about her digital presence. Not only did she throw a massive online concert on video game platform Club Penguin Rewritten (featuring more than 10,000 “attendees”), but she also recently released a set of her own Zoom background images. For her latest endeavor, the indie songwriter also known as Sophie Allison has found a way to go “on tour” without ever leaving her home. Enter her 8-bit music video series concept for “crawling in my skin”. Directed by Bella Clark, each clip follows Soccer Mommy as she “performs” in different North American cities alongside her fellow 8-bit band members. Alt...
Charli XCX Releases New Single “I Finally Understand”: Stream
Perhaps no one has been more productive in quarantine than Charli XCX: the pop singer is literally using the time to record a brand new album. In case you haven’t heard, it’s called How I’m Feeling Now and is due out next Friday — May 15th. So far, she’s unveiled two teaser singles in “Forever” and “Claws”. Now, she’s back with a third preview: a punchy electro-pop track called “I Finally Understand”. Take a listen below. Charli is working on How I’m Feeling Now with assistance from PC Music leader A. G. Cook and BJ Burton (Bon Iver). She’s been documenting the entire recording process on social media, and has gotten fans involved by letting them vote on artwork and other creative aspects of the project. How I’m Feeling Now marks the pop musician’s fourth album to date...
R.I.P. Brian Howe, Bad Company Singer Dies at 66
Brian Howe, the former lead vocalist of Bad Company, has died at the age of 66. Citing a family source, TMZ reports that Howe died Wednesday, May 6th, at his home in Florida from cardiac arrest. Howe is best known as the singer who replaced Paul Rodgers in Bad Company, though his first big break came in 1984 when he sang lead vocals on Ted Nugent’s album Penetrator. Two years later, he was hired by Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke to front Bad Company. He served that role for a decade, appearing on albums including Fame and Fortune, Dangerous Age, Holy Water, and Here Comes Trouble. During this time, the band also achieved five top 10 hits on the Billboard Rock charts, including “Shake It Up”, “No Smoke Without a Fire”, and “Holy Water”. Howe left Bad Company in 1994, citing creative disagreeme...
Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and Polo G Link Up on “3 Headed Goat”: Stream
Friday brings the release of Lil Durk’s latest album, Just Cause Y’all Waited 2, but he couldn’t wait to unveil one of the tracklist’s biggest collaborations. On the aptly titled “3 Headed Goat”, Durk links up with two of hip-hop’s most exciting names: Lil Baby and Polo G. Take a listen below. Spanning 15 tracks in all, Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 also boasts appearances from Gunna and G Herbo. He previously previewed the album with the lead single, “Viral Moment”. Lil Durk mostly recently popped up on G Herbo’s “Chiraq Demons”. Earlier this month, Lil Baby released a deluxe edition of his smash album, My Turn, and Polo G just dropped “DND” from his own upcoming album due out later this month. [embedded content]
Reignwolf Fights “Cabin Fever” with New Song Recorded in His Garage: Stream
Jordan Cook of Reignwolf has been isolating like the rest of us, and like the rest of us he’s going a bit crazy. He’s channeled those emotions into the new quarantine banger “Cabin Fever”. Cook recorded the song in his garage using one mic and a a 4-track recorder. He pounded out that violent drum beat himself, while attacking the guitar riffs with nervous, almost jittery fingers. The lyrics are urgent and wild. “I go insane! Insane! Insane! Insane!/ Wait for tomorrow to be yesterday.” In a statement, he explained how the song came together with “tension” baked in. “The song came together quickly and I didn’t want to wait to record it so I used what was available. I dusted off the 4-track, set up a single mic in the garage and went to work. It felt like old times when I used to r...
Not Even Journey Is Safe From the Coronavirus
Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” may have become the anthem for survivors of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the band itself isn’t immune to the consequences of the global pandemic. With the live music industry shuttered for the foreseeable future, the classic rockers have called off their upcoming summer upcoming jaunt with Pretenders. (It seems like playing shows only in Missouri wasn’t a viable option). “There is no greater thrill for us than playing for our incredibly devoted audience, but their safety must come first,” Journey said in a statement. “Having seen what the world has endured during the last 45 days, and not knowing what the rest of this year or 2021 will bring, we knew the right thing to do was to make sure our fans’ health was not put in jeopardy and to provide immediate...
R.I.P. Dave Greenfield, Stranglers Keyboardist and Vocalist Dies at 71
Dave Greenfield, the longtime keyboardist and vocalist for UK punk rock / new wave band The Stranglers has passed away at the age of 71. The veteran musician had been hospitalized for heart problems, but then contracted COVID-19 last week and succumbed to the virus on Monday, May 3rd. Greenfield joined The Stranglers in 1975, a year after the band’s formation. He remained in the group up until his death, playing keyboards and providing backing and occasional lead vocals. He appeared on all 17 of seminal punk band’s albums, and wrote the music for one of their best known hits, “Golden Brown”. That tune won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for songwriting. The news of Greenfield’s passing was announced on the band’s official website: “We are deeply and profoundly saddened to announce the u...
DJ Jazzy Jeff to Host Fresh Prince Virtual Block Party
Summer, summer, summertime is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air block party? In honor of the timeless TV show’s 30th anniversary, DJ Jazzy Jeff is hosting “Break the Monotony”, an all-day, star-studded virtual concert event via Instagram Live. Named after lyrics from Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “Summertime” smash, the virtual block party will honor “the music, style, and community of The Fresh Prince,” per a statement. The tunes will be provided by a long list of special DJs, including DJ Jazzy Jeff himself and the King of Instagram Live parties, DJ D-Nice. Also slated to spin one-hour sets are Just Blaze, DJ Clark Kent, Bryan-Michael Cox, Neil Armstrong, Crespo, Dede Lovelace, and Four Color Zack, among others. The “Break ...
#MetallicaMondays: Watch Metallica’s 2016 “House of Vans” London Show in Full
Metallica are back with another concert stream, continuing their weekly #MetallicaMondays series. Today’s offering is of the band’s 2016 “House of Vans” gig in London. The “House of Vans” show came on the same day (November 18th, 2016) that Metallica’s most recent album, Hardwired … To Self-Destruct, was released. The set featured 15 songs, including three from the new LP, among classics like “One”, “Master of Puppets”, and “Enter Sandman”. Metallica announced the free streaming series after postponing or canceling their spring shows due to the coronavirus pandemic. Their South American outing with Greta Van Fleet was rescheduled to December, and headlining festival slots at Epicenter and Welcome to Rockville were canceled. Metallica were also slated to headline the Louder Than Life Festiv...
The US is Getting Its First Drive-In Concert Tour
Regardless of what Missouri and Arkansas say, the prospect of live music in a confined venue setting seems implausible for the foreseeable future. Instead, musicians in countries like Denmark and Germany have gotten creative by staging “drive-in” concerts in which attendees watch from the safety of their vehicle. Now, electronic musician Marc Rebillet has announced the first drive-in concert tour in the US. Rebillet will embark on the seven-date drive-in tour beginning in June, with socially distant concerts scheduled in North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In lieu of opening acts, each show will screen short films. Additionally, attendees will be able to purchase merchandise, food, and more. Check out the full itinerary below (specific venue information is still forthcoming). Rebi...
Watsky Attempting to Break World Record with 33-Hour Freestyle: Watch
Bay Area rapper Watsky was looking forward to touring behind his latest album, Placement — that was, until the coronavirus derailed his plans. Now with nothing but time on his hands, the notable Def Poetry Jam alum has decided to spend his quarantine setting a world record for the longest freestyle. The MC born George Watsky is specifically aiming to rhyme for a mind-boggling 33 hours and 33 minutes straight. If he’s successful, he will break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Continuous Rap Performance, which is currently held by Pablo Alvarez’s nearly 26-hour triumph set in 2016. The 33-year-old Watsky kicked off his mission Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. PT and is hoping to make it to the finish line that’s set for Thursday, May 7th, 7:30 p.m. In true quarantine fashion, Watsk...
