Alternative Music
Kanye West Continues Long Slide into Fascism by Wearing “White Lives Matter” Shirt
Kanye West wore a “White Lives Matter” sweater at a surprise Yeezy fashion show, Page Six reports, continuing his long and troubling flirtation with fascist politics. The slogan was shocking, if not exactly surprising. West put the Confederate Flag on his merch in 2013. His 2018 Trump White House visit embraced the language of the men’s rights movement. One of his publicists threatened a Georgia election worker in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election on Trump’s behalf. And during his own brief 2020 presidential campaign, he combined authoritarianism and religion, suggesting that abortion was an attempt by white people to commit Black genocide, coming out in support of mandating prayer in schools, and calling vaccines “the mark of the beast.” At this point, we can’t pretend that hi...
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Complete Comeback with Triumphant New York City Show: Review, Photos and Setlist
“We’re the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and we’re back!” So screamed Karen O at the start of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ hometown comeback concert at Queens’ Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, October 1st. There was unrestrained joy in her declaration, something the sold-out audience returned tenfold in screams of their own, both sides of the exchange clearly thrilled to have the New York band back on stage. It started the night’s energy at a triumphant 10, and it never lowered over the course of an 18-song setlist. Last month, I dug into my most-played records of the last 15 years, noting that YYYs’ It’s Blitz! struck me because “you could feel every bit of joy being pumped into” the songs. I’m happy to say that nine years after their last LP, that fact still holds. No matter that their new record, Cool It ...
Kim Kardashian Charged By SEC for Unlawfully Promoting Crypto Currency
Kim Kardashian has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for unlawful promotion of a crypto currency and agreed to pay a $1.26 million fine. According to the SEC, Kardashian used her social media to tout EMAX tokens, a crypto currency sold by EthereumMax, without disclosing the payment she received for the promotion. “This case is a reminder that, when celebrities or influencers endorse investment opportunities, including crypto asset securities, it doesn’t mean that those investment products are right for all investors,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a statement. Advertisement Related Video Kardashian neither admitted to nor denied the SEC’s findings, but “wanted to get this matter behind her to avoid a protracted dispute. The agreement she reached with the SEC allows he...
Bono Announces Book Tour
Bono will promote his upcoming memoir by embarking on a 14-city book tour this fall. Kicking off at at Beacon Theatre on November 2nd, Bono’s “Stories of SURRENDER” tour will then make stops in Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Nashville, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Berlin, Paris, Dublin, and Madrid. Check out the full itinerary below. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, October 7 at 10:00 a.m. local time and will be available via Ticketmaster. Each ticket purchased comes with a copy of SURRENDER. Related Video In a statement previewing the tour, Bono said: “I miss being on stage and the closeness of U2’s audience. In these shows I’ve got some stories to sing, and some songs to tell… Plus I want to have some fun presenting my ME-moir, SURRENDER, which is really more of...
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Trailer Reveals New Suits and Villains: Watch
We’re finally one step closer to returning to Wakanda: Marvel has unveiled the first full-length trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The preview arrives just under a month away from the sequel’s November 11th release, which comes four years after the smash original Black Panther. A first teaser for the film debuted at San Diego Comic-Con back in summer, but this new trailer gives us deeper looks at the cast. Amongst the returning characters are Shuri (Letitia Wright), Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and Ayo (Florence Kasumba). All of them are in mourning over the loss of T’Challa (the late, great Chadwick Boseman), but the death of their king and Black Panther protector has apparently opened them up to outside aggressors — particula...
Sacheen Littlefeather, Who Stood in for Marlon Brando at 1973 Oscars, Dead at 75
Sacheen Littlefeather, who endured racist mockery and threats of arrest and violence when she appeared on Marlon Brando’s behalf at the 1973 Oscars and declined his award for Best Actor, has died at the age of 75. According to Variety, Littlefeather passed away Sunday, October 2nd, following a battle with breast cancer. As president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, Littlefeather stood in for Brando to protest the mistreatment of American Indians in the film industry. Moments before she took the stage, ceremony producer Howard Koch told her that she would be arrested if she talked for longer than 60 seconds. During her speech, she was mocked with tomahawk chops and ululation, and John Wayne reportedly had to be restrained from charging the podium and attack...
The Avalanches Cancel Remaining 2022 Tour Dates Due to “Serious Illness”
The Avalanches have been forced to cancel the remainder of their 2022 North American tour as a result of an unspecified “serious illness.” The group broke the news on Saturday afternoon (October 1st) via Twitter, saying: “Unfortunately due to serious illness, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to cancel our remaining US and Canadian shows to return home. Thank you to everyone who has made this tour so joyous, and apologies to everyone who had tickets for the remaining shows. All ticket holders will be contacted directly with refund details. Thank you.” They were scheduled to headline in Chicago that night. The Australian duo’s 2022 outing was set to be their second American leg ever. It had already been postponed from February and March this year to September and October, which...
The 1975 Jam Out New Singles “Happiness” and “I’m in Love with You” on Jools Holland: Watch
The 1975 performed “Happiness” and “I’m in Love with You” from their upcoming fifth album Being Funny in a Foreign Language as the musical guests on BBC’s Later… with Jools Holland. The quartet was flanked by an expanded lineup that included saxophone and percussion, but Matty Healy commanded the stage for the opener, “Happiness,” with the frontman’s typical shades-and-suit outfit and demeanor once again perfectly straddling the line between dapper and loose. The funky number featured a guitar solo from Adam Hann and intermittent sax breaks, but it reached jammy greatness as Healy took to the keys and opened the floor to the full band’s groove. The group then switched it up for the upbeat ballad “I’m in Love with You,” with a relatively straightforward delivery that added to the song’s inh...
The Smiths’ Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke Reunite at New York City Show: Watch
Johnny Marr reunited with The Smiths bandmate Andy Rourke during an opening set for The Killers’ “Imploding the Mirage Tour” at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Friday night. It marked one of the rare on-stage reunions between the guitarist and bassist since a series of appearances together in 2013. The pair performed “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “How Soon Is Now?” from the brooding British band’s catalogue. Marr prefaced the former by saying, “This song goes exactly like this” as if to point out the audience’s distinction of hearing a rendition straight from The Smiths’ original musicians. He then took its “Take me out tonight” line to heart by playing the enthusiastic host, cheekily asking Rourke, “You okay, Andy?” in between takes and energetically insisting o...
SNL Kicks Off a New Era with Season 48 Premiere: Review
Saturday Night Live opened its 48th season with its biggest cast changes in decades. With eight cast members departing at various stages of their SNL tenure, and a ninth missing in action but supposedly returning later (Cecily Strong is doing a play in Los Angeles, and—unlike past temporary absences—wasn’t shown in the opening credits), the show is close to peak overhaul level (11 cast members left between seasons 20 and 21). Thee changeover was notable enough to warrant a cold-open sketch all about it, with Peyton Manning (host Miles Teller) and his brother Eli (Andrew Dismukes) offering live commentary on the season’s supposed kickoff: a self-consciously hacky sketch about Donald Trump (James Justin Johnson) and, well, whatever zany characters the writers decide to throw at him in an att...
Bruce Springsteen Crashes The Killers’ Concert at Madison Square Garden: Watch
The Killers’ “Imploding the Mirage Tour” touched down on Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, and the band received a guest assist from Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen and fellow E Street Band member Jake Clemons appeared during the encore, sitting in for performances of “Badlands” and “Born to Run,” as well as The Killers’ own “A Dustland Fairytale.” The Killers’ Brandon Flowers introduced Springsteen by saying: “Everybody gets a little nervous when their boss shows up for work, right? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but me and my friends have been sweating bullets up here all night, because The Boss is here. Ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen.” Advertisement Related Video Earlier this week, Springsteen announced his new album, Only the Strong Survive. Next year, he’ll reunite wit...
Kendrick Lamar Kicks Off SNL Season 48 in Style with Three-Song Performance: Watch
Kendrick Lamar took a break from “The Big Steppers Tour” to help kick off the 48th season of Saturday Night Live. In support of his latest album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, the Compton rapper made his third visit to Studio 8H. He performed “Rich Spirit,” “N95”, and “Father Time” with Sampha. Watch the replay below. “The Big Steppers Tour” resumes later this week in Europe. Check out the tour’s itinerary and on-sale ticket links below. Kendrick came through with the energy on the season premiere of SaturdayNightLive. What was up with earrings? He pulled the look off though. #SNLPremiere #snl #kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/7r9XEOKEfJ Advertisement Related Video — GoreJust Goth (@gorejustgoth) October 2, 2022 KENDRICK LAMAR x SAMPHA – FATHER TIMEpic.twitter.com/EF9NgWYMUc — Hiiipo...
