Alternative Music
Kraftwerk Kick Off North American “3D Tour” with Mesmerizing Concert in St. Louis: Review
The sheer diversity of the concertgoers who descended upon Kraftwerk’s tour kickoff at The Pageant in St. Louis is a testament to the genre-spanning influence of the German electronic music pioneers. Punks, goths, metalheads, record nerds, businessmen, hipsters young and old: The near-capacity audience was a true smattering of personalities that transcended age and scene. More than a few attendees were even sporting the band’s iconic red-polo-black-tie Man-Machine-era look. And they were all there to witness Kraftwerk’s “3D Tour” — an illustrious audio-visual experience commemorating the group’s 50th anniversary (get tickets here). Upon entering the venue, everyone was handed a pair of white Kraftwerk-branded 3D glasses. On the stage stood the band’s four iconic keyboard pedestals, cutting...
Jack White Calls for “New Rules” Following Uvalde Shooting
Jack White has joined a chorus of renewed calls for gun control following the shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead. In a statement posted to Instagram, the artist called for “new rules” that “save lives and protect us from serious harm.” “As we tour in Texas these past few days, I can’t help but to feel saddened in so many ways about the latest in a long line of mass shootings, but mostly I’m exhausted,” White began his statement. “Exhausted with the ignorant excuses about the inability to fix this problem, exhausted with people clinging to their political party or their ‘side’ instead of looking at the issue. Exhausted with people whining about their ‘freedom’ being more important than rules that help save lives.” The musician continued...
Boston Calling 2022: Nine Inch Nails Deliver Blistering Headline Set in Place of Foo Fighters: Recap, Photos + Setlist
For the second time in a week, Nine Inch Nails played a festival headline slot that was initially intended for Foo Fighters. At both last weekend’s Welcome to Rockville and Friday’s Boston Calling kick off, Trent Reznor and co. served as last-minute replacements after the tragic loss of Foo drummer Taylor Hawkins. Festivals being forced to find fill-ins for canceled acts isn’t the rarest of things, but the circumstances around NIN adding these dates to their first tour in four years comes from uniquely sad circumstances. About an hour into their Boston Calling set, Reznor addressed the situation in a heartfelt statement from the stage. “We’re very happy to be here with you tonight and share this time with you,” he said. “And we’re very sorry for the conditions that led to us being here, wi...
Nine Inch Nails to Headline Boston Calling for Second Night After Member of The Strokes Tests Positive for COVID
Nine Inch Nails will headline Boston Calling for a second night in a row after a member of The Strokes tested positive for COVID-19. Trent Reznor and co. were previously tapped by Boston Calling to play as a last-minute replacement for Foo Fighters following the passing of their drummer, Taylor Hawkins. They delivered with a blistering 21-song set on Friday night that included performances of “Somewhat Damaged,” “Perfect Drug,” “Even Deeper,” and “Only,” as well as a cover of David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans.” “We’re very sorry for the conditions that led to us being here. With our friends Foo Fighters, our hearts go out to them,” Reznor said prior to NIN’s performance of “Even Deeper.” Advertisement Related Video “I was sitting backstage, and I was started to freak myself out. We’re...
KISS’ Gene Simmons: Donald Trump “Allowed” People to Be “Publicly Racist” and “Conspiracy Theorists”
KISS founder Gene Simmons was once a contestant on Donald Trump’s network TV program The Celebrity Apprentice and was friendly with the former president long before he took office. Now, Simmons has come out to blast Trump’s presidency for normalizing racism and conspiracy theories. In a new interview with SPIN, Simmons discussed the cause-and-effect of Trump’s behavior and policies. As is typical with Simmons, there were no minced words. “I know the previous [US] president,” Simmons said. “I knew him before he entered politics. Look what that gentleman did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top. Once upon a time, you were embarrassed to be publicly racist and out there with conspiracy theories. Now it’s all out in the open because he allowed it.” ...
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea Has an Important Role in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi
Tatooine, show your teeth. Leia’s a princess, Flea’s the thief. Okay, so Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea’s role in the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series is actually a bounty hunter, but it didn’t fit the rhyme scheme. In the weeks prior to the Disney+ shows premiere, rumors circulated that the musician/actor would be making an appearance in Kenboi. With the first two episodes of the series now streaming, we can confirm that Flea is indeed officially part of the Star Wars universe. If you haven’t watched the episodes yet, we’re going to leave a spoiler warning here. If just knowing Flea is a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away isn’t enough for you and you want to know how he’s tied to Obi-Wan, read on. Advertisement Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up 10 years after the events Star Wars:&...
Stranger Things Adds Disclaimer to Season 4 After Uvalde School Shooting
Netflix has added a disclaimer to Season 4 of Stranger Things following the horrifying school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead. “We filmed this season of Stranger Things a year ago,” the warning states before the series recap. “But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.” The first seven episodes of Season 4 premiered on Netflix today, May 27th, with the final two episodes due out on July 1st. The description of this latest chapter has also been edited to include, “Warning: Contains graphic violence involving children.” Advertisement Last Friday, Netfl...
There Would Be No Depeche Mode Without Andy Fletcher
Throughout his time with Depeche Mode, Andy “Fletch” Fletcher became accustomed to one question more than others. “What exactly is it that you do?” It was a fair query. Fletcher — who passed away Thursday (May 26th) at the age of 60 — was an enigma amidst bandmates with clearly-defined roles. Dave Gahan holds forth as lead singer. Martin Gore is the band’s primary instrumentalist and prolific composer. Even former members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder had delineated responsibilities in the group’s operation. Fletcher, however, was content to be “the guy that stands in the back.” Tall. Unassuming. Genial, even. Onstage he stood behind a keyboard but could appear as if he’d just happened to wander onto the set. He was the only band member with no songwriting credits, and at a certain point hi...
NRA Forced to Cancel Concert as Lee Greenwood Joins Mass Exodus
The National Rifle Association has been forced to cancel its “Grand Ole Night of Freedom” concert after the event became free of talent. Mr. “God Bless the USA” himself, fervent Trump supporter Lee Greenwood, has joined a mass exodus of musicians trying to distance themselves from the NRA in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. As Greenwood explained on Fox and Friends (via The Daily Beast), he felt that performing at the concert would be an endorsement of the AR-15, which was used to murder 19 children and two teachers. “For me to go and play at the NRA just days after the shooting would be an endorsement, and people would then deem that as [me saying] ‘I like this weapon.’ Obviously, that weapon killed kids. I just couldn’t go.” He becomes the latest ar...
Song of the Week: Calvin Harris Concocts the Perfect “Potion” with Dua Lipa and Young Thug
Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist. For our favorite new songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Calvin Harris gives us a first look at his upcoming Funk Wav. Bounces Vol 2, with some help from Dua Lipa and Young Thug. Five years ago, Calvin Harris orchestrated a well-needed left turn from his wildly popular, occasionally cheesy EDM — just when summer was on the horizon, the Scottish producer teamed up with Frank Ocean and Migos for “Slide,” a deeply funky, specific and rewarding track for an artist that often worked in a more general sphere. “Slide,” and its accompanying album, Funk Wav. Bounces Vol 1, co...
Harry Styles Pledges Over $1 Million to Everytown for Gun Safety
Harry Styles and Live Nation have pledged over $1 million to the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. In light of the recent string of mass shootings across the US, including the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, Texas this week, Styles is donating proceeds from his upcoming “Love On Tour,” with Live Nation matching, equaling over $1 million in total. The donation will support the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. “Along with all of you, I have been absolutely devastated by the recent string of mass shootings in America, culminating at Robb Elementary School in Texas,” Styles said. “On our North American tour, we will be partnering with Everytown who work to end gun violence, donating to support...
Harry Styles Makes “Daylight” Music Video for $300 with James Corden: Watch
Harry Styles stopped by The Late Late Show with James Corden recently for the ultimate artistic challenge: to make a music video for his new song “Daylight” directed by James Corden in just three hours. And it wasn’t a music video filmed on a fancy set in Hollywood. No, the former boy bander had to find a real-life apartment in New York City to shoot on location with a budget of just $300. After getting turned down by a couple of Brooklyn baby boomers, Corden and Styles lucked into an apartment of four millennial girls more than happy to welcome them in. Hilariously, a tour of the apartment proved that one of the girls happened to be a Styles superfan, with Corden hurriedly hiding the Harry Styles-as-Harry Potter artwork and other assorted One Direction paraphernalia before the pop star co...
