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Coachella Postponed Until 2021 [Updated]
Coachella was one of the first large-scale gatherings impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, organizers had postponed the two-weekend music festival from April to October with the hope that live music would be back up and running by the fall. Now, though, Billboard reports that Goldenvoice, the production company behind Coachella, has ditched plans for an October event and is instead looking ahead to spring 2021. But even that may be wishful thinking. Update: Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser has signed an order canceling the October 2020 stagings of Coachella and its sister festival, Stagecoach, according to KESQ. “I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Kaiser said in a statement. “In addition, events like Coachel...
Metallica Concert to Kick Off New “OffStage With DWP” Streaming Series
Festival promoter Danny Wimmer Presents has been hit hard this year, forced to cancel the majority of its popular rock festivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the company is taking its business online, launching a new streaming series that will kick off with a full Metallica concert. Over the past couple of months, Danny Wimmer Presents has canceled the spring U.S. rock fests Welcome to Rockville, Epicenter, and Sonic Temple, as well as the fall fests Louder Than Life, Boubon & Beyond, and Hometown Rising. As of now, the only festival still on DWP’s schedule for 2020 is Aftershock, set for October in Sacramento, California. The new series, dubbed “Offstage with DWP”, combines footage from the promoter’s past festivals, with newly recorded acoustic performances and interviews. Meta...
Lynn Shelton Livestream Tribute to Feature Marc Maron, Reese Witherspoon, Ben Gibbard, and More
Acclaimed indie filmmaker Lynn Shelton suddenly passed away last month at the age of 54. Now, her friends and colleagues are coming together for a special tribute event in her honor. “Her Effortless Brilliance: A Celebration of Lynn Shelton Through Film and Music” will be livestreamed tonight, June 10th beginning at 9 p.m. ET at the YouTube link below. As its title suggests, folks from all over the entertainment world will take part in the virtual memorial. Appearing alongside Shelton’s partner, Marc Maron, will be Reese Witherspoon, Mark and Jay Duplass, Emily Blunt, and Rosemarie DeWitt. Also scheduled are Kaitlyn Dever, Jeff Garlin, Joshua Leonard, Sean Nelson, and Michaela Watkins. Musical performances, meanwhile, are coming from Maron, Andrew Bird, Death Cab for Cutie frontm...
J.K. Rowling Pens Essay Defending Her Stance on Transgender People
J.K. Rowling, photo via Facebook J.K. Rowling is making headlines again for her views on transgender individuals and issues. After some of her actions on Twitter sparked backlash in December, she again drew claims of transphobia over the weekend when she tweeted that “erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.” Daniel Radcliff, star of the Harry Potter franchise based on the author’s best-selling book series, denounced the remarks in an essay published on The Trevor Project. Earlier today, Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne also distanced himself from Rowling’s views, stating, “As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s c...
Keanu Reeves Previews The Matrix 4: It’s a “Really Special Story”
Almost two decades later, Keanu Reeves is set to reprise his role as Neo in the upcoming film The Matrix 4. While franchise actors sometimes stick around due to nostalgia or a fat paycheck, these weren’t Reeves’ reasons to return for the upcoming sequel. In a new interview, he said it was the script’s “wonderful story” that convinced him to join the Warner Bros. reboot. “Lana Wachowski wrote a beautiful script and a wonderful story that resonated with me,” Reeves explained to Empire. “That’s the only reason to do it. To work with her again is just amazing.” The 55-year-old actor also suggested The Matrix 4 plot could provide “meaningful” modern-day lessons to fans. “It’s been really special, and the story has, I think, some meaningful things to say, and that we can take some nourishm...
R.I.P. Robert Northern, Jazz Artist Also Known as Brother Ah, Dead at 86
Accomplished jazz artist Robert Northern, also known as Brother Ah, has died at the age of 86. He passed away on May 31st in Washington, DC after battling a respiratory illness, as reported by the New York Times. Northern was born in 1934 in Kinston, North Carolina, but was raised primarily in the South Bronx area of New York City. The first few decades of his lengthy music career saw the French horn master serve as a session musician for jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Gil Evans, Quincy Jones, and McCoy Tyner. He notably appeared on records like Monk’s The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall from 1959 and Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini released in 1964. Around this same era, Northern played as part of Sun Ra’s cosmic, ever-e...
The State Cast to Reunite for Charity Livestream
This Wednesday, the cast of MTV’s cult-favorite show The State will reunite over Zoom to raise money for the NAACP and the California Immigrant Resilience Fund. It’s the second time the ‘90s sketch comedy crew will reunite virtually in recent months, as they recreated “Porcupine Racetrack” this April to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary. The event, aptly titled “Zoom with The State”, will see The State’s cast — Kevin Allison, Michael Ian Black, Ben Garant, Todd Holoubek, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter, and David Wain — reading beloved sketches as well as never-before-seen scripts. Additionally, they will auction off memorabilia and hold a special Q&A with fans. “Zoom with The State” will take place June 10th ...
Daniel Radcliffe Addresses J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Comments in New Essay
Twice in recent months, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has decided to tarnish her legacy by spouting transphobic comments on social media. The latest instance came over the weekend, when Rowling seemingly dismissed the existence of non-binary people and gender-nonconforming people. “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased,” Rowling tweeted. “I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.” Now, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, is speaking out in support of the trans community in a new essay published to The Trevor Project. Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular character in all eight Harr...
R.I.P. Bonnie Pointer, Founding Member of The Pointer Sisters Dies at 69
Bonnie Pointer, of the Grammy Award-winning vocal group The Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69. In a statement to TMZ, Anita Pointer confirmed her sister’s passing. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of The Pointer Sisters that my sister, Bonnie died this morning. Our family is devastated, on behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, we ask for your prayers at this time.” The Pointer Sisters’ origins date back to 1969 when Bonnie and sister June began performing in night clubs under the name Pointers, a Pair. They soon rebranded themselves as The Pointer Sisters and expanded from a duo to a quartet with the addition of their other sisters Anita and Ruth. Following a short stint with Atlanta Records, the group found their stride after sign...
Village People Ask Trump to Stop Playing “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.” at Rallies
The Village People have asked Donald Trump to stop using their music at rallies, particularly legendary gay anthems “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man”, following his public threats to shoot protestors and looters. Earlier this week, the band’s longtime leader, Victor Willis, released a statement saying the President’s recent comments have pushed him to his breaking point, reports Stereogum. “If Trump orders the U.S. military to fire on his own citizens (on U.S. soil), Americans will rise up in such numbers outside of the White House that he might be forced out of office prior to the election. Don’t do it Mr. President!” Willis wrote on his personal Facebook. “And I ask that you no longer use any of my music at your rallies especially “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man.” Sorry, but I can no longer look the ...
Inter Arma Unveil Cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “March of the Pigs”: Stream
Inter Arma recently announced a covers EP titled Garbers Days Revisited, and now they’ve unveiled the second single from the forthcoming release: a metallic version of the Nine Inch Nails classic “March of the Pigs”. In a press release, Inter Arma acknowledged that it could be construed that the timing of the single is tied to the current unrest across the nation, where protests have broken out following the death of George Floyd in police custody. In fact, the band actually quietly released the song last week, but didn’t announce it until today. “We released our cover of Nine Inch Nails’ ‘March of the Pigs’ this past Tuesday, but felt it would have been inappropriate to latch onto the outrage we’re all experiencing to promote a cover album, even if by happenstance,” stated the band. ...
#MetallicaMondays: Watch Metallica’s Rain-Soaked 2019 Manchester Show
Metallica’s weekly streaming series #MetallicaMondays continues with the band’s full June 2019 concert at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England. The show was played in the pouring rain, as the band and fans braved the weather for 18 songs, including five from “The Black Album” and four from their latest LP, Hardwired … To Self-Destruct. As they did throughout the tour, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Rob Trujillo paid tribute to a local act, this time performing a portion of The Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored”. Like all bands, Metallica are currently off the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they may start work on a follow-up to Hardwired … To Self-Destruct. During a recent online video chat, drummer Lars Ulrich said that if the concert industry ends up being shut down for six...
