music
Elvis Costello’s Aim Remains Remarkably True on Hey Clockface: Review
The Lowdown: English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has about three dozen studio LPs under his belt (including collaborations), yet he’s never lost his inimitable knack for crafting scornful witticisms, tender ballads, catchy-as-hell rockers, and everything in-between. Likewise, his skill at working within multiple genres while both modernizing his sound and staying true to his distinguishing DNA is virtually unmatched by his peers or proteges. In other words, he’s always staked out his own path within the realm of popular music, and with Hey Clockface, he continues that legacy. It doesn’t rival his greatest LPs — not that anyone expects it to — but it’s a surprisingly wide-ranging and substantial venture that reveals how much creative spark and ability is still there after all these yea...
Moog Brings Back Budget-Friendly Werkstatt-01 Modular Synthesizer
Moog is bringing back its “most affordable” modular synthesizer, the Werkstatt-01, just in time for the holidays with a new low price. If you plan on spending less money and more time making music, it’s the perfect way to begin dabbling in Moog’s ever-growing world of modular synths. The Werkstatt-01 now goes for $199 (versus its original price of $379), and its simplicity and customization make it entry-level accessible for those who’ve never owned such an instrument. As Moog states in the press release, the Werkstatt can be used for “musical exploration and experimental education” as a standalone instrument or a workshop for patching and interconnectivity with other gear. It was designed specifically for the curious owner to open it up and tweak away, all while literally learning the ins...
Watch Lady Gaga Sing ‘Shallow’ And ‘You And I’ At Pennsylvania Biden Rally
“I’m gonna keep this very simple,” Lady Gaga said from the podium, addressing the crowd at a drive-in rally for former Vice President Joe Biden in Pittsburgh on Monday night (November 2). “If you believe in Joe Biden and you haven’t already voted, make a plan to get to the polls tomorrow.” “Right now, it’s time for action, it’s time to muster all of our energy, every ounce of us, every ounce of hope and optimism and enthusiasm, every ounce of fear and frustration and discouragement,” she continued. “Now is the time to show up and vote like this country depends on it, because it does!” It was a simple message, but delivered by one of the world’s biggest pop stars, it felt big. And just a short time later, Gaga too...
Alter Bridge Unleash Hard-Hitting New Song “Last Rites”: Stream
Alter Bridge have unleashed a new song called “Last Rites”, which serves as the latest preview of their upcoming Walk the Sky 2.0 EP. The lyric video features a smoky, dimly lit aesthetic with a crystal ball making a prediction based on the song’s foreboding lyrics: “I’ve seen the future/ Yeah the writing’s on the wall/ And it don’t look that good to me,” Myles Kennedy sings in the opening verse The idea for “Last Rites” began during the recording sessions for Alter Bridge’s 2019 album Walk the Sky, but the band finished writing and recording the song during the pandemic. “We just felt like it wasn’t going to be something that fit the overall vibe of Walk the Sky, as far as what we were trying to attempt to do with that record,” Kennedy told Heavy Consequence of the song. “So, when al...
King Crimson’s Robert Fripp Performs Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” as Wife Toyah Sings and Dances Behind Bars: Watch
This year has seen its fair share of unexpected and bizarre phenomena, and King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox have come to embrace it. The musical duo have spent quarantine making performance art videos, but their latest idea for Halloween might be their most absurd yet. Donned in henna-like tattoos that cover his face and arms, Fripp starts playing Black Sabbath’s iconic song “Paranoid” on his Les Paul. Behind him, Willcox is locked behind bars — in what’s either an old prison cell or an underground bank vault — and starts dancing when the songs begins. When it comes time for the verses, she starts singing the metal classic The effect of the video is pretty uncomfortable but morbidly entertaining. Perhaps the use of “Paranoid” and dancing in a cage is...
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” Featured in Joe Biden Campaign Ad: Watch
Eminem (photo by Natalie Somekh) and Joe Biden (photo by Phil Roeder, via the National Archives and Records Administration) In the final days of the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden has decided to tug at the millennial heartstrings and use Eminem’s legendary hype song “Lose Yourself” in an official campaign ad. Titled “One Opportunity”, the 45-second clip utilizes the classic Slim Shady track to soundtrack black and white footage of people dramatically. . .being people. There’re shots of everyday folks running, skateboarding, playing basketball, spending time with family members, masking up for work, and waiting in line to vote. Eventually, some slow-motion clips of Joe Biden walking and a big “VOTE” message enter the fray, but the majority of the video feels more like a Nike commerci...
Three Crucial Issues at Stake for Musicians in the 2020 US Election
In less than 36 hours, we’ll reach the end of the strangest, sickest, most contentious election season in modern American memory. Many people reading this will have already cast their vote for the next President of the United States; data from the US Elections Project indicates that more than 95 million Americans have taken advantage of early voting options this year, just one more way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the traditional sprint to Election Day. That said, there are still plenty of voters planning to cast ballots in person on Election Day (November 3rd). For those folks, we’ve put together a quick overview of where the two candidates for President stand on three major policy areas affecting the arts in 2020 and beyond: the economic impact of the pandemic on music venu...
Lady Gaga Stumps for Joe Biden at Election Eve Rally: Watch
Lady Gaga came out swinging to support Joe Biden on Monday night during his final campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The blockbuster singer continued to urge her fans to vote before performing two of her hits: “Shallow” and “You and I”. “I know I believe in Joe Biden,” Gaga told the crowd. “You probably already believe he’s the right choice over Donald Trump. You don’t need me to tell you why. Because, like me, you’ve experienced the last four years and have all the evidence you need to look at this choice and know in your heart, without any doubt, that Joe Biden is the right choice.” “Vote like your life depends on it, or vote like your children’s lives depend on it,” she continued. “Because they do. And to all the women, and all the men with daughters, and sisters, and mothers, ...
Tracy Chapman Makes Rare TV Appearance to Perform “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” on Seth Meyers: Watch
Tracy Chapman very rarely makes TV appearances, but she did so Monday night to remind viewers to vote on Election Day. The 56-year-old songwriter delivered her urgent message via a stirring performance of “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” on Seth Meyers. Watch below. “This is the most important election of our lifetime. It is imperative that everyone vote to restore our democracy,” Chapman remarked prior to the televised broadcast, her first since 2015. In his own statement about Chapman’s performance, Meyers said, “I’ve always thought Tracy Chapman’s music skips your ears and goes straight to your heart. I’m so honored and excited to have her on the show. She’s living proof you can be a great artist while also speaking out for what you believe in.” Editors’ Picks Although Chap...
GWAR’s Livestream Concert Turns Scumdogs of the Universe into a Virtual Bloodbath: Review
Setting the Stage: Not even a global pandemic can stop the band, the myth, the legend that is GWAR. The intergalactic barbarians just released a remastered 30th anniversary edition of their seminal Scumdogs of the Universe album, and what better way to commemorate this momentous event than a streaming concert on Halloween eve? For those not keeping up with the GWAR universe, following the tragic death of Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) in 2014, Blöthar the Berserker (Michael Bishop) took over lead vocals. Many fans originally know Bishop as the man behind bassist Beefcake the Mighty from 1988-1994 but this time around he returned from Scumdoggia as Blöthar to keep the GWAR machine ticking. While there’s no denying Oderus’ iconic status as GWAR’s frontman, the metal act has always had a rotat...
From Reggaetón SpongeBob To Pop Smashes, Tainy Is ‘Going To Keep Pushing The Envelope’
By Lucas Villa Think of your favorite reggaetón track. Whether it’s a Wisin & Yandel cut from the genre’s 2000s breakthrough, like “Abusadora,” or a contemporary hit, like “Yo Perreo Sola” or “Callaíta,” Tainy has likely had a hand in it. When reggaetón was first rising up, the Puerto Rican producer was working under Luny Tunes, the duo du jour behind the song that lit the fuse for reggaetón, Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina.” In the 15 years since, he’s become the go-to hitmaker for artists like J Balvin, Bad Bunny, and Anuel AA. Last month, on Billboard‘s Latin Producers chart, which ranks the producers with the biggest hits of the week, Tainy had sat at No. 1 for over 50 weeks. Recently, he was awarded Producer of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards for his ...
Lady Gaga Is ‘So Excited’ To Sing For You From A Biden/Harris Rally Stage
Election Day is less than 24 hours away, and Lady Gaga is hitting the campaign trail. Tonight (November 2) at 7 p.m. ET, the Chromatica queen will take the stage in Pittsburgh on behalf of former Vice President Joe Biden, complete with a performance sure to rally voters. “Good morning PENNSYLVANIA! I’m so excited to see you today and SING for you!!!!!!!” she wrote on social media. “I believe in 🎶 YOU & I!!!! Let’s talk about what America looks like with a KINDER President. WE NEED EVERY VOTE❤️ I’m with @JoeBiden —Lets go 24 hrs!!!!! PUSH!!!!!” Gaga and Biden go way back to his tenure as vice president under Barack Obama, when he introduced her performance of “Til It Happens to You” at the Oscars in 2016. Gaga’s appearance ...
