You don’y need to live in a pineapple under the sea to pull these off, but it probably helps the confidence. The Stan Smith Freizeit SpongeBob shoe from adidas takes Bikini Bottom energy and sends it to finishing school, wrapping SpongeBob’s famously goofy footwear vibe in glossy black patent leather with a clean Stan Smith silhouette. It is cartoon chaos dressed up for a fancy dinner, the kind of shoe that quietly says business casual while secretly screaming jellyfish jam inside your head.
Japan’s Open Reel Ensemble rethink what an instrument can be by building a performance entirely around reel-to-reel tape machines and the physical act of sound itself. With six decks linked by looping magnetic tape, the group generates rhythm and texture by striking, pulling, and agitating the tape as it moves across playback heads, turning motion into music. The result feels precise and unpredictable at the same time, a hands-on experiment where mechanics, timing, and listening all share equal weight.
That piercing screech in House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” has sparked arguments for decades, with many pointing the finger at Prince’s “Gett Off” as the source. Music breakdown channel Synthet sets the record straight, digging into the real origin of the sound and tracing its DNA alongside the similarly iconic screech in Cypress Hill’s “Insane In The Brain”. The result is a satisfying deep dive into hip hop production lore that proves some of the most famous moments in music come from places no one expected.
Bill McClintock delivers a heartfelt and playful tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne by weaving “Mama I’m Coming Home” into Daryl Hall and John Oates’ holiday classic “Jingle Bell Rock”. The unlikely pairing lands with warmth and wit, blending metal soul and seasonal sparkle into something strangely moving. It is a reminder that music bends time, genres, and expectations, and that even the Prince of Darkness can find a moment under the Christmas lights.
Jeremy Hunter, aka Ska Tune Network, flips the Inspector Gadget theme into a blast of brass, bounce, and pure restless energy, turning a childhood earworm into a full-body wake-up call. What starts as cartoon nostalgia quickly becomes a ska sprint, packed with punchy horns and forward motion that feels designed to shake off sleep and shake loose a little joy. It is playful, loud, and impossible to ignore, exactly the kind of musical detour that makes an ordinary day feel a bit more animated.
White Stripes fans have a new reason to celebrate with a 3.75 inch ReAction Figure two pack inspired by the striking cover art of ‘Get Behind Me Satan’. The set captures Jack and Meg White in classic red, white, and black style, with Jack sporting his iconic red suit and guitar while Meg stands ready with drumsticks in hand, quiet and commanding. Packaged on a special blistered cardback that mirrors the album’s bold minimalism, the release feels like a perfect crossover of rock history and collectible culture.
Joshua Woo takes Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and reframes it through the unmistakable lens of The Cure, delivering a transformation that feels both clever and deeply affectionate. From the emotive vocal phrasing inspired by Robert Smith to the atmospheric textures and melodic restraint that define the band’s sound, Woo captures the nuances with precision, creating a version that feels like an alternate universe classic rather than a novelty.
Trip hop classic “Glory Box” gets a bold new life as Brass Against strip the electronics away and rebuild it with blazing brass, strings, and pure atmosphere. The arrangement keeps the song’s hypnotic pull while adding cinematic weight, and Sophia Urista’s lead vocal rises with confidence and control, honoring the spirit Beth Gibbons brought to the original while making the performance unmistakably their own.
Illinois country rock bruiser Joe Hermes returns with the high-octane single and video “A Honky Tonk Feelin'”, out now and built for jukeboxes, tailgates, and long nights that get away from you. Shot in his hometown bar Six Strings Club, the video leans into grit, camaraderie, and that first drink that turns into a full-blown barroom blowout, with Hermes delivering his signature raspy vocals over driving guitars and hard-hitting rhythms. Rooted in blue-collar stories, faith, and heartland pride, “A Honky Tonk Feelin'” captures Hermes at his most unapologetic and confident, pushing his gunpowder country sound forward with real momentum.
Duff McKagan shares “Fallen Ones”, the latest highlight from his expansive live album and full-length concert film ‘LightHouse: Live From London’, out now. Recorded last October during his sold-out Lighthouse Tour ’24, the release captures McKagan and his band in peak form across a 19-track set filmed at London’s historic Islington Assembly Hall, with performances drawn from every chapter of his storied songwriting career.
The project first opened its doors with a striking live take on “Longfeather”, and the full performance builds from there, spotlighting songs from McKagan’s acclaimed solo catalogue including ‘Lighthouse’. Backed by Tim DiJulio, Jeff Fielder, Mike Squires, and Michael Musburger, with longtime collaborator Martin Feveyear handling live sound, the show carries both intimacy and force, the kind that only happens when a room and a band are fully locked in.
Alongside McKagan originals like “I Saw God on 10th St.”, “Lighthouse”, and “Chip Away”, the set moves effortlessly through inspired covers and career touchstones. Standouts include roaring versions of “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, “I Fought The Law”, and Guns N’ Roses’ “You’re Crazy”, plus unforgettable guest moments with Steve Jones on Johnny Thunders’ “Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” and David Bowie’s “Heroes”, sealing the night as a singular snapshot of connection, power, and rock history in motion.
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Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
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