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Indie Songwriter Ally Evenson Channels The Yearning on “Crash My Car For You” Video

Eric Alper
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Indie Songwriter Ally Evenson Channels The Yearning on “Crash My Car For You” Video

A real-life crush gets the cinematic treatment on the latest from Ally Evenson. The indie singer-songwriter has dropped the official music video for “Crash My Car For You,” an emotionally poignant track from her sophomore album ‘Speed Kills,’ which is out now everywhere.

The song digs into the ache of an unreturned crush. “This song is about a real-life crush I had/have on someone,” Ally shares. “It hurts to have a crush sometimes.” That push and pull between longing and frustration runs right through the track, giving it its raw, confessional pull.

The album rollout came with a memorable event. Evenson celebrated the release of ‘Speed Kills’ with a sold-out premiere of the album’s complete visual counterpart at Brain Dead Studios in Los Angeles. The one-night-only show was featured in galleries by PEOPLE Magazine and E! News.

The evening leaned into the personal too. Ally enchanted the crowd with an acoustic set and sat down for a live Q&A with director and frequent collaborator Antony Muse, moderated by Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times. With ‘Speed Kills’ now out and its full visual world unveiled, “Crash My Car For You” lands as one of its most affecting moments.

Michigan Alt-Rockers 84 Tigers Honor a Fallen Friend on “Two Rivers” With Rocky Votolato

Eric Alper
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Michigan Alt-Rockers 84 Tigers Honor a Fallen Friend on “Two Rivers” With Rocky Votolato

Grief and remembrance sit at the heart of the latest from 84 Tigers. The Michigan alt-rock trio have unveiled the official music video for “Two Rivers,” featuring acclaimed singer-songwriter Rocky Votolato, who appears prominently throughout. The track is a centerpiece from the band’s latest album ‘Nothing Ends,’ released in October via Spartan Records.

The song stands as a heartfelt tribute to the late Travis Dopp of Small Brown Bike, weaving in lyrical nods to his work and honoring both his creative spirit and enduring influence. Votolato’s presence deepens the song’s sense of remembrance and connection, lending it real emotional gravity.

“‘Two Rivers’ is a tribute to our old friend and bandmate Travis. Some of his lyrics are quoted in the song,” says Mike Reed. “When Rocky and I realized that we had both written songs with the word ‘River’ in the title separately, it was cosmic fate that brought him into the song. I had no idea what it would become, but he took it to new heights and I still get choked up when I hear it.”

The video matched the song’s spirit. “Making this video was very special,” Reed continues. “Ben did all of the filming, drone work, and editing. It was all of us sitting in the woods by the river and a fire. It felt very Michigan and an awesome way to honor Travis.”

84 Tigers formed when brothers Mike and Ben Reed (Small Brown Bike) joined longtime friend Jono Diener (The Swellers). The trio first made waves in 2022 with ‘Time in the Lighthouse,’ earning acclaim for a widescreen blend of post-hardcore urgency, ’90s alternative grit, and sweeping melodic hooks.

The road to ‘Nothing Ends’ was shaped by profound loss. Travis Dopp’s sudden passing left the band reeling and uncertain about the future. “I questioned if losing a creative partner took the energy out of my process,” Reed recalls. “Songs started and stopped. I struggled. Then one day it broke, this mantra popped into my head: Tears in your eyes. Fist in the air. That became a path forward.”

Produced by Marc Jacob Hudson, ‘Nothing Ends’ turns grief into catharsis through a raw three-piece dynamic. From the aching “Two Rivers” to the hopeful “Only Light” and the rousing “Regeneration Days” (featuring Aaron Stauffer of Seaweed/Ghost Work), the album balances devastation with defiance, building toward its closing refrain: “Everything you love will hurt you someday.”

rank Turner Brings Lost Evenings IX to Dallas With a Stacked Bill

Eric Alper
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rank Turner Brings Lost Evenings IX to Dallas With a Stacked Bill

Frank Turner’s traveling festival is heading to Texas for its ninth edition. Lost Evenings IX lands in Dallas from September 24 to 27 at the South Side Ballroom, and the full main-stage bill is now locked in, along with four very different headline sets from Turner himself.

Opening night sees Frank and The Sleeping Souls dig into the First Ten Years, pulling from ‘Sleep Is For The Week’ through ‘Tape Deck Heart.’ Support comes from Pennsylvanian punk-rock five-piece The Menzingers, Florida punk rockers Hot Water Music, and Lost Evenings stalwarts Koo Koo.

Friday is the solo acoustic night, celebrating 20 years of debut EP ‘Campfire Punkrock’ and the early solo years, with support from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Kweller, Long Island singer Laura Stevenson, and longtime friend Beans On Toast. Saturday flips the script as Frank rejoins The Sleeping Souls for a Next Ten Years set spanning ‘Positive Songs For Negative People’ to ‘Undefeated,’ joined by influential emo rockers The Get Up Kids, Texan country punks Vandoliers, and political punks The Iron Roses.

Sunday closes things out with a Greatest Hits set alongside Texan alternative rock legends …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Oregon’s Larry And His Flask, and rock and roller Emily Wolfe. “Getting the line-up right for Lost Evenings each year is always a challenge and a joy,” Turner explains. “I feel like we’ve risen to it and surpassed ourselves this year.”

He continues: “I’m beyond excited to welcome old friends (The Menzingers, Hot Water Music, Beans On Toast, Larry & His Flask) and new (Ben Kweller, Laura Stevenson), musical legends (The Get Up Kids, …Trail Of Dead, Iron Roses) and thrilling new-comers (Vandoliers, Emily Wolfe). And of course my best buddies Koo Koo will be MCing the whole event as well as opening the main stage, as has now become tradition. There’s loads more to come. See you in Dallas!”

There’s plenty still to be revealed, including the full Nick Alexander Stage lineup of emerging acts hand-picked by Frank, plus the “Last Minutes” programme of pop-ups, open mic sessions, panels, masterclasses, workshops, and the annual Needles Flickering tattoo flash. A portion of proceeds from every ticket goes to The Ally Coalition, a non-profit that uses the power of music to support LGBTQ youth and has been part of the festival since 2019.

Built steadily since 2017, Lost Evenings has cemented its reputation as a festival with community and camaraderie at its core, moving from London’s Roundhouse to Boston, Berlin, Anaheim, Toronto, and most recently Edinburgh, selling out in advance every single year.

Country Newcomer Jet Jurgensmeyer Keeps It Personal on the “Nothing on You” Video

Eric Alper
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Country Newcomer Jet Jurgensmeyer Keeps It Personal on the “Nothing on You” Video

Sometimes the simplest approach lands hardest. Emerging country artist and actor Jet Jurgensmeyer has debuted the new video for his single “Nothing on You,” filmed close to home in Franklin, Tennessee, and directed by Randy Shaffer of Vibe Entertainment. The performance-driven clip leans into sincerity, mirroring the song’s emotional core for a personal, authentic connection.

Jurgensmeyer kept the shoot intimate by design. “It was so much fun filming close to home down in Franklin, TN. Randy is so easy to work with,” he shares. “We wanted to make it as personal as possible, just me singing to the camera.”

The song itself captures that timeless feeling of falling for someone who outshines everything else. Co-written by Jurgensmeyer, Grant Bias, and Hannah Dorothy Bristow, “Nothing on You” blends modern country with classic romance, painting a cinematic picture of love, the kind you can almost see playing out under neon lights and across wooden dance floors.

Recorded at Farmland Studio in Berry Hill and co-produced by Jurgensmeyer and Dan Frizsell, the track balances intimacy with radio-ready polish. Its heartfelt lyrics and warm, organic production mark another step in his evolution and help solidify his place among country’s most promising young voices.

The video follows the success of his single “Red,” which has surpassed a million streams worldwide. Filmed at Galloway Farms in Franklin and directed by the Riker Brothers, its cinematic visuals featured sweeping rural landscapes and symbols of American pride, with an acoustic version filmed at Hilson Studio. In 2024, Jurgensmeyer released his sophomore album ‘The Ride: Phase 2,’ a genre-blending collection with fan favourites like “Good Days,” “Coffee Bar,” and “Falling Too.”

A&E Documentary Reframes Country Icon Johnny Cash Through a Jamaican Home Invasion

Eric Alper
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A&E Documentary Reframes Country Icon Johnny Cash Through a Jamaican Home Invasion

A little-known chapter of Johnny Cash’s life is about to get its first full telling. A new A&E documentary, ‘Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around,’ profiles the Man in Black through his profound connection to the island of Jamaica. It comes from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dana Adam Shapiro, best known for ‘Murderball,’ and is slated to air later this year.

The film works as three things at once: an intimate family portrait, a true crime thriller, and a revelatory deconstruction of one of America’s most complex icons. At its center sits the 1981 Christmas Day home invasion, when masked gunmen held the Cash family hostage at their home in Cinnamon Hill.

That story gets told for the first time by Cash himself, drawn from never-before-heard audio recordings, alongside rare photos and home video. Interviews come from his son John Carter Cash, who was present during the robbery, plus family members Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter, and musicians and collaborators including Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, and Will Oldham.

The documentary reframes that harrowing night as a defining moment that deepened Cash’s humanist worldview. It traces a lifelong exploration of crime and punishment, salvation and sin, building toward a portrait of an artist who always spoke truth to power and grace for all.

‘Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around’ is written and directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and produced for A&E by Sandbox Studios, a joint venture with Sony Music Vision, and WW7 Entertainment, in association with APX Content Ventures and Alldayeveryday, with Rolling Stone Films serving as executive producer. John Carter Cash also serves as a producer. A+E Global Media holds worldwide distribution rights.

Joji Adds a Second Los Angeles Night to His Globe-Spanning “Solaris Tour”

Eric Alper
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Joji Adds a Second Los Angeles Night to His Globe-Spanning “Solaris Tour”

Demand has been strong enough to warrant a second night. Critically acclaimed singer and producer Joji has added a second Los Angeles date to his international “Solaris Tour,” with the new show landing at Intuit Dome on July 12, alongside the previously announced July 11 date.

The tour takes Joji to major arenas around the world, including Prudential Center, Barclays Center, Intuit Dome, The O2, and more, all promoted by Live Nation. The “Solaris Tour” introduces an all-new production built around an immersive experience that expands Joji’s world in ways fans haven’t seen before.

The setlist spans his catalogue and then some. It packs his biggest hits, from “Glimpse of Us” to “Slow Dancing in the Dark,” and marks the first-ever live performances of songs from his new album ‘Piss In The Wind,’ bringing this next chapter to the stage for the first time.

Support shifts by region. Nate Sib and Corbin open the North American leg, while Tommy Richman supports the European, Australian, and New Zealand stops.

‘Piss In The Wind,’ out now via Palace Creek, bridges Joji’s sonic past and present, balancing melancholic, brooding writing with gritty yet atmospheric production. The extensive 21-song tracklist and vivid creative direction build a fully realized record that lets Joji himself stay out of frame, amplified by collaborations with Giveon, 4batz, Yeat, and Don Toliver.

The numbers backed it up immediately. The album debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200, No. 1 on Indie Store Album Sales, and No. 1 on both Current Alternative Albums and Current Pop Albums in the US. It also hit new heights globally, with Top Ten debuts worldwide and his highest local chart debuts in France, Belgium, Italy, and more.

Philadelphia Rocker Wax Mekanix Strips It All Back on Raw New Single “Naked”

Eric Alper
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Philadelphia Rocker Wax Mekanix Strips It All Back on Raw New Single “Naked”

The armor comes off completely on the latest from Wax Mekanix. The Philadelphia artist has released “Naked,” a quiet, fearless meditation on exposure that finds him at his most honest and human. The sound is simple but powerful, guided by feeling rather than production.

The track was written during the same creative season as “Look At You Now,” from 2023’s ‘Psychotomimetic,’ and the two are closely linked. Where “Look At You Now” reflects on acceptance and growth, “Naked” steps forward into confrontation. One accepts what you see in the mirror, the other breaks it.

“‘Naked’ and ‘Look At You Now’ were written during the same time of questioning and renewal,” Wax explains. “‘Look At You Now’ accepts what you see in the mirror; ‘Naked’ breaks the mirror. It is about stripping away personal illusion and in our culture. Every song I have written, from Mobocracy to Naked, is part of that same conversation.”

Both songs trace a path from illusion to truth, but they sit at different points along it. “Look At You Now” carries a warm, steady rhythm and a sense of closure, while “Naked” is built on space and breath, offering honesty instead of comfort. In one, truth feels earned and fragile. In the other, it feels dangerous and alive.

The track also expands the range Wax has shown across cuts like “Saltwater Sisters,” “420,” and “Silver-Tongued Devil,” moving from bold and explosive to raw and reflective. It’s an artist comfortable exploring contrast: the roar and the whisper, the outside world and the inner voice. For fans of John Lennon, David Bowie, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, and Chris Cornell, “Naked” strips everything down to what’s real.

“Naked” was written by Wax Mekanix and produced and mixed by Wax Mekanix and Maxim “Lectriq” Laskavy, with engineering by Lectriq and Rob Devious. The track features Wax on lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, and percussion, with backing vocals from Lectriq, acoustic guitar from Wendell “PoPs” Sewell, and electric guitar from Rob Devious, recorded at Lectriq Studios in Philadelphia and The Shed in Fairless Hills, PA.

Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy Top the 2026 Mountain Music Festival

Eric Alper
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Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy Top the 2026 Mountain Music Festival

The Great Smoky Mountains are gearing up for three days of classic rock and roll. The Mountain Music Festival returns August 21 to 23 to the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Tennessee, with headliners Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Stephen Pearcy & Warren DeMartini leading a deep bill of rock and metal mainstays.

The lineup reads like a who’s who of arena and hair-metal history. Performances come from 38 Special, Night Ranger, Sebastian Bach, Warrant, Jackyl, Lynch Mob, Lita Ford, and more. The all-ages event spreads over 25 artists across three stages, mixing fan favourites and emerging acts, with more still to be announced.

There’s plenty happening beyond the music too. Fans get interactive events and activities, including photo opportunities with select bands and access to the Rock N’ Roll Marketplace, Rock N’ Roll Art Gallery, and Outdoor Patio Experience.

New for 2026 are Guitar Clinics hosted by three rock legends: Joel Hoekstra, Reb Beach, and George Lynch. These intimate sessions promise rare insight, hands-on guidance, and stories straight from the pros, available through the three-day GA pass plus Guitar Clinics package.

Returning as official hosts are Eddie Trunk and comedians Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, former hosts of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, alongside Bay Area pioneer radio DJ Nikki Blakk. Set against the backdrop of one of eastern Tennessee’s most inviting mountain towns, with dining, shops, and lodging all within walking distance of the convention center, it’s shaping up to be a full-on rock pilgrimage. Three-day and two-day general admission passes are on sale now.

Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays Lead 2026 Born & Raised Music Festival

Eric Alper
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Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays Lead 2026 Born & Raised Music Festival

Oklahoma’s red dirt country gathering is back for another fall run. The Born & Raised Music Festival returns September 17 to 19 at the Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor, Oklahoma, a scenic 45-minute drive from Tulsa, with headliners Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays leading the three-day bill.

For The Red Clay Strays, the booking is something of a homecoming. “Born & Raised was one of the first larger festivals to give us a slot back in 2023,” the band states. “It sure feels good to be getting back.”

The supporting lineup runs deep with red dirt and country favourites. Additional performers include Tracy Lawrence, Muscadine Bloodline, Randall King, Paul Cauthen, Josh Abbott Band, Mae Estes, and many others.

Things actually kick off the night before the main event. The Honky Tonk Kick-Off lands Wednesday, September 16, featuring Josh Weathers, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, and Jamie Lin Wilson, setting the tone for the weekend ahead. Tickets and VIP passes are on sale now.

Rhiannon Giddens Gathers Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for “American Tunes”

Eric Alper
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Rhiannon Giddens Gathers Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for “American Tunes”

A summer of American song is taking shape under open skies. Pulitzer and Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens has announced “American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” a five-night concert series that brings her together with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for a joyful celebration of songs that connect generations. The shows run between June 26 and August 2 at outdoor performing arts centers and amphitheatres.

Giddens conceived the series as an extension of her 2025 Juneteenth concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a gathering of banjo players called American Tunes that featured Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and Our Native Daughters, her supergroup with Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla. The summer run explores female and Black perspectives on folk music while reflecting on America turning 250 years old.

Each artist performs their own set, with one-time-only collaborations in store across the dates. Mavis Staples joins every show except the June 26 opener. It’s the kind of bill that doesn’t come around often, four distinct voices in conversation on the same stage.

Giddens has stayed in perpetual creative motion throughout 2026. Her headlining run with her band has already taken in Carnegie Hall, an evening in her hometown of Durham, NC at DPAC, and a March program with the Silkroad Ensemble, where she serves as Artistic Director, titled Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual. She’s also confirmed for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Biscuits & Banjos Presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community marked the first anniversary of the Biscuits & Banjos festival in Durham, featuring Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rissi Palmer, and Toshi Reagon.

There’s a screen project on the horizon too. Giddens was recently announced as the lead in the forthcoming feature film ‘An Ode To Mary Joe,’ starring alongside Ed Helms with a cast that includes Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Regina Taylor, and John Sayles, directed by Justin Liberman. Tickets for the summer series are on sale now.

American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing:

June 26 – Seattle, WA @ Venue TBA, with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

June 27 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

July 30 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

Aug 1 – Asheville, NC @ Hellbender by The Orange Peel, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

Aug 2 – Pelham, TN @ The Caverns Outdoor Amphitheater, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

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That Eric Alper

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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