The two surviving Beatles paid tribute to Aretha Franklin today following the news of the Queen of Soul’s death. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr issued separate statements, each praising the artist for her musical impact. “Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, …
Read More »Dave Grohl Unveils His One-Man Prog Rock Odyssey, 'Play'
In his ambitious two-part documentary, Play, Dave Grohl overdubs multiple instruments into a 23-minute, instrumental prog-rock odyssey. The project opens with the Foo Fighters leader reflecting on the sheer childlike joy of picking up an instrument. “To any musician, young or old, a beautiful studio full of instrumentslike a playground,” …
Read More »When in Doubt This Summer, Just Play the New Popcaan Album
We’ve all been there. It’s a summer party, in any of its myriad varieties: a house party, a roof party, a basement party, a pool party, a barbecue, a cookout, a kickback, a wedding reception, an engagement party, a baby shower; it doesn’t matter. You’re having fun, it’s nice outside, …
Read More »Metric Preview New Album With Gritty 'Dark Saturday' Video
Metric embark on a disjointed odyssey in the video for their new song, “Dark Saturday.” The track will appear on the group’s upcoming album that’s out September 21st via MMI/Crystal Math Music. Longtime Metric collaborator Justin Broadbent directed the video, which was shot entirely on an iPhone X and makes …
Read More »Watch Ed Sheeran, Anne-Marie Play Backstage '2002'
Anne-Marie recruited her “2002” co-writer Ed Sheeran to perform the pop hit in a backstage video. The duogiggle and smile throughout the laid-back clip. Sheeran plays a percussive, palm-muted acoustic guitar riff and sings in unison with Anne-Marie on the choruses. “Yo I love this mug,” Anne-Marie wrote in the …
Read More »Johnny Marr on 'Classically Smiths' Implosion: 'What a Farce'
FormerSmiths guitarist Johnny Marr slammed his former bandmates,bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, for participating in the since-canceled concert series called“Classically Smiths.” The shows would have paired the Smiths catalog with an orchestra(via Morrissey-Solo), but about six months ago, the project was called off. “What a farce,” Marr said …
Read More »Pantera Bassist Rex Brown on Vinnie Paul: 'Everybody Wanted to Play Like Him'
Pantera bassist Rex Brown remembered his longtime friend and bandmate, Vinnie Paul Abbott, as a game-changing drummerin a heartfelt tribute toRolling Stone. “He changed the game,” said Brown. “He was the original for his generation, a generation that’s still going. Everybody wanted to play like him. People always thought those …
Read More »Saudi Female Rapper Celebrates Lift of Driving Ban With New Video
A female rapper in Saudi Arabia made a huge splash in her native country after dropping a music video that celebrated the lifting on a ban that prohibited women from driving. Following the end of the decades-old ban on June 24th, rapper Leesa A hopped behind the wheel of a …
Read More »Hear Lil Uzi Vert Hop on 03 Greedo's 'Never Bend' Remix
03 Greedo, the critically acclaimed Watts rapper, just got a big boost in the form of an unexpected guest feature from genre-bending upstart star Lil Uzi Vert. “Never Bend” has been out since last year – it’s perhaps the best starting point if you’ve never listened to the perennially shapeshifting …
Read More »Metal Band Isis Will Reunite to Honor Late Cave In Bassist
The post-metal group Isis, which disbanded in 2010, will reunite under the name Celestial this fall to pay tribute to Caleb Scofield, the bassist for the band Cave In who died this past March. The benefit concert will also feature performances by Cave In, Pelican, Old Man Gloom (a group …
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