The first domino to fall in the coronavirus shutdown was South-by-Southwest. The fest was canceled a few weeks ahead of its mid-March launch date and was a harbinger of things to come. For 2021, however, the festival is going online. The event will feature conference keynotes and sessions, screenings, showcases, networking, and exhibitions and will take place […]
Patti Smith, Michael Stipe and More Join Forces for 'People Have the Power'
Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Michael Stipe, Cyndi Lauper, Stella McCartney, Tony Hawk, and Micah Nelson — along with dozens of artists and activists worldwide — recorded a socially distant version of “People Have the Power” to honor the sixth anniversary of non-profit group Pathway to Paris. The organization, co-founded by Smith’s daughter Jesse Paris Smith and […]
New Music: KXNG CROOKED, Joell Ortiz “Hands Up (Outlaws)”
Everybody hands go up. KXNG Crooked and Joell Ortiz are rap’s most wanted outlaws on their latest collaboration. Over a cinematic beat by King Teach, the two bandits flex their lyrical muscle along with references to arm robberies and jack moves. The track is off the pair’s forthcoming Welcome To Sudden Death. Last May, the […]
Bon Iver and Eaux Claires Fest Offer 'A Visit With Vernon' as Part of Voting Initiative
A contest to meet Bon Iver singer Justin Vernon has been announced as part of the “For Wisconsin” voting initiative. For each round of the “A Visit With Vernon” contest, two people will be brought to a secret meeting with the frontman to discuss voting — and perhaps hear a song as well. “I try not to […]
The Goodbye Party – "No Reason"
In a couple weeks, Michael Cantor’s Philadelphia power-pop project the Goodbye Party is releasing a new album, Beautiful Motors. We’ve heard two tracks from it already, “Unlucky Stars” and “December Boys,” and today we’re getting a third, “No Reason,” a sweetly sentimental duet with Strawberry Runners’ Emi Night, who we haven’t heard from since her […]
Julia Bardo – "Only Over You" (Fleetwood Mac Cover)
Italian-born, Manchester-based Julia Bardo is about to follow up this year’s Phase EP with another short collection called The Raw. Ahead of its release this Friday, she has shared a cover of “Only Over You” from Mirage, Fleetwood Mac’s soft-rocking follow-up to the more rambunctious Tusk. Bardo’s version is, fittingly, rawer and more hard-hitting than […]
My Morning Jacket to Release 'Bring the Power Back Home' Vinyl Single
My Morning Jacket was one of the many contributors to the massive Good Music To Avert The Collapse Of American Democracy compilation that was released on Bandcamp for just one day earlier this month. That collection also featured R.E.M., Hayley Williams and Phoebe Bridgers, among many others. MMJ shared the previously unknown”Bring The Power Back Home” as part […]
Wallows Offer Unreleased 'Bad Remake' Cut As Part of Voter Registration Program
Wallows are encouraging fans to get ready to vote by offering a download of the unreleased song “Bad Remake” as part of their “Are You Registered Yet?” campaign with the HeadCount organization. The tune is the final never-before-heard track from Wallows’ Nothing Happens sessions, and is only available today (Sept. 22) for National Voter Registration […]
Weyes Blood & Tim Heidecker – “Oh How We Drift Away”
Later this week, the actor and comedian Tim Heidecker will release his new album Fear Of Death. Heidecker has been making vaguely satirical singer-songwriter music for a while now, and Fear Of Death seems like a more sincere embrace of the form. He recorded the album with a backing band that includes Drew Erickson, the […]
Yo La Tengo – "Bleeding"
Indie rock living legends Yo La Tengo have been mighty productive this year despite living on lockdown, or maybe because of it. Back in July they started dropping one formless improvisational track per day for a week, which turned out to be a new EP called We Have Amnesia Sometimes. A couple weeks later they […]