“Crazy Logic” by PinkFloyd47 and Artie Fufkin is an electrifying mashup that seamlessly weaves together the infectious melodies of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” the nostalgic vibes of Supertramp’s “The Logical Song,” and the eerie allure of Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” and the anthemic “See Me Feel Me/Listening to You” by The Who and cleverly incorporates footage from Pink Floyd’s iconic album “The Wall.”
The Tragically Hip Announce Deluxe Boxset Of ‘Up To Here’ Available November 8
Today, The Tragically Hip announce a commemorative boxset of their Diamond-certified debut album Up To Here, the latest installment of special deluxe packages, set to release on November 8. Up To Here was originally released September 5, 1989, as The Tragically Hip’s first full-length studio album, an introduction that brought them breakthrough success, including two Canadian rock radio #1 singles, “Blow at High Dough” and “New Orleans is Sinking” as well earning the band a JUNO Award for “Most Promising Artist” in 1990. Fans can pre-order the boxset today here.
The expanded reissue of Up To Here is a must-have for collectors, presented as four LP set on 180g vinyl, alongside a book documenting the history of the debut album era. The reissue includes a 2024 remastering of the original album, there are four previously unreleased songs that didn’t make it on the original Up To Here album – “She’s Got What It Takes,” “Get Back Again,” “Rain, Hearts And Fire” and “Wait So Long” – that are also shared as part of this expanded package, remastered and mixed in Atmos. A recording of Live at Misty Moon, the special filmed for MuchMusic in 1990 from the Misty Moon Cabaret in Halifax, with an accompanying 1 hour concert film on Blu-ray. The package also includes demos from 1988 recorded prior to the Up To Here recording session. The package will be available as a three-disc CD format.
Today, as a sneak peak, The Tragically Hip officially release “Get Back Again,” considered by fans as the holy grail of unreleased tracks from the band. The track was recorded prior to signing to their first major record deal with MCA (now Universal Music Canada), produced by Chris Wardman in November 1988, before the Up To Here sessions, now recently remixed and mastered to today’s standards. The band performed “Get Back Again” as part of the Live At Misty Moon set, which has been the only recorded version of the track from the band until now, making this a meaningful release for the band and their fans. A brand-new official music video for “Get Back Again”- directed by Cleveland Henderson, son of Pete Henderson who had previously directed many videos of the band including the award winning “Locked In The Trunk Of A Car” and “Courage (For Hugh MacLennan),” will premiere tonight at 7:00PM on The Tragically Hip’s YouTube.
Established in 1984, this year marks 40 Years of The Tragically Hip – a milestone for the beloved band. 2024 sees The Tragically Hip break open the archives; reminiscing with fans on four decades of music, friendship and philanthropy. The band’s legacy will be honoured with a yearlong celebration, which started with the designation of the Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors, later the launch of a four-part Amazon Prime Documentary titled No Dress Rehearsal and on October 1 the release of a deluxe, hand-crafted book titled This Is Our Life, the band’s story as told in their own words and features more than 300 pages of unseen rarities pulled from the band’s personal collections. The Up To Here boxset celebrates the early days of The Tragically Hip and is the latest installment of a series of reissues released over the last few years honouring the band’s extensive catalogue – Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe Boxset (2021), Fully Completely Vinyl Release (2022), Phantom Power 25th Anniversary Deluxe Boxset (2023).
Up To Here Commemorative Boxset (4LP _ Blu-ray Audio):
LP 1 – Up To Here (2024 remaster of the original album)
Side One
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
Side Two
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
LP 2+3 – Live At The Misty Moon + Previously Unreleased Studio Tracks
Side One
1. Crack My Spine Like A Whip (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. She Didn’t Know (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Highway Girl (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. Just As Well (Live At The Misty Moon)
5. Boots Or Hearts (Live At The Misty Moon)
6. Trickle Down (Live At The Misty Moon)
Side Two
1. Get Back Again (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. Three Pistols (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Fight (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. 38 Years Old (Live At The Misty Moon)
Side Three
1. Blow At High Dough (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. On The Verge (Live At The Misty Moon)
Side Four
1. She’s Got What It Takes
2. Get Back Again
3. Rain, Hearts And Fire
4. Wait So Long
LP 4 – How We Got Here – The 1988 Demos
Side One
1. Hailstone Hands Of God (1988 Demo)
2. When The Weight Comes Down (1988 Demo)
3. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (1988 Demo)
4. New Orleans Is Sinking (1988 Demo)
5. Rain, Hearts And Fire (1988 Demo)
Side Two
1. She Didn’t Know (1988 Demo)
2. Blow At High Dough (1988 Demo)
3. Boots Or Hearts (1988 Demo)
4. Everytime You Go (1988 Demo)
5. Just Another Midnight (1988 Demo)
Disc 4 Atmos Blu-ray
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
12. She’s Got What It Takes
13. Get Back Again
14. Rain, Hearts And Fire
15. Wait So Long
*The Blu-ray also includes the full 1hr concert film of the Misty Moon show. Tracklisting of the show on the video is:
1. Crack My Spine Like A Whip (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. She Didn’t Know (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Highway Girl (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. Just As Well (Live At The Misty Moon)
5. Boots Or Hearts (Live At The Misty Moon)
6. Trickle Down (Live At The Misty Moon)
7. Get Back Again (Live At The Misty Moon)
8. Three Pistols (Live At The Misty Moon)
9. Fight (Live At The Misty Moon)
10. 38 Years Old (Live At The Misty Moon)
11. Blow At High Dough (Live At The Misty Moon)
12. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (Live At The Misty Moon)
13. New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Misty Moon)
14. On The Verge (Live At The Misty Moon)
3 CD + Blu-ray Audio
Disc 1 – Up To Here (2024 remaster of the original album)
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
Disc 2 – Live At The Misty Moon + Previously Unreleased Studio Tracks
1. Crack My Spine Like A Whip (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. She Didn’t Know (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Highway Girl (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. Just As Well (Live At The Misty Moon)
5. Boots Or Hearts (Live At The Misty Moon)
6. Trickle Down (Live At The Misty Moon)
7. Get Back Again (Live At The Misty Moon)
8. Three Pistols (Live At The Misty Moon)
9. Fight (Live At The Misty Moon)
10. 38 Years Old (Live At The Misty Moon)
11. Blow At High Dough (Live At The Misty Moon)
12. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (Live At The Misty Moon)
13. New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Misty Moon)
14. On The Verge (Live At The Misty Moon)
15. She’s Got What It Takes
16. Get Back Again
17. Rain, Hearts And Fire
18. Wait So Long
Disc 3 – How We Got Here – The 1988 Demos
1. Hailstone Hands Of God (1988 Demo)
2. When The Weight Comes Down (1988 Demo)
3. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (1988 Demo)
4. New Orleans Is Sinking (1988 Demo)
5. Rain, Hearts And Fire (1988 Demo)
6. She Didn’t Know (1988 Demo)
7. Blow At High Dough (1988 Demo)
8. Boots Or Hearts (1988 Demo)
9. Everytime You Go (1988 Demo)
10. Just Another Midnight (1988 Demo)
Disc 4 Atmos Blu-ray
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
12. She’s Got What It Takes
13. Get Back Again
14. Rain, Hearts And Fire
15. Wait So Long
*The Blu-ray also includes the full 1hr concert film of the Misty Moon show. Tracklisting of the show on the video is:
1. Crack My Spine Like A Whip (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. She Didn’t Know (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Highway Girl (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. Just As Well (Live At The Misty Moon)
5. Boots Or Hearts (Live At The Misty Moon)
6. Trickle Down (Live At The Misty Moon)
7. Get Back Again (Live At The Misty Moon)
8. Three Pistols (Live At The Misty Moon)
9. Fight (Live At The Misty Moon)
10. 38 Years Old (Live At The Misty Moon)
11. Blow At High Dough (Live At The Misty Moon)
12. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (Live At The Misty Moon)
13. New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Misty Moon)
14. On The Verge (Live At The Misty Moon)
Digital
Up To Here (2024 remaster of the original album) + Previously Unreleased Studio Tracks;
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
12. She’s Got What It Takes
13. Get Back Again
14. Rain, Hearts And Fire
15. Wait So Long
Live At The Misty Moon;
1. Crack My Spine Like A Whip (Live At The Misty Moon)
2. She Didn’t Know (Live At The Misty Moon)
3. Highway Girl (Live At The Misty Moon)
4. Just As Well (Live At The Misty Moon)
5. Boots Or Hearts (Live At The Misty Moon)
6. Trickle Down (Live At The Misty Moon)
7. Get Back Again (Live At The Misty Moon)
8. Three Pistols (Live At The Misty Moon)
9. Fight (Live At The Misty Moon)
10. 38 Years Old (Live At The Misty Moon)
11. Blow At High Dough (Live At The Misty Moon)
12. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (Live At The Misty Moon)
13. New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Misty Moon)
14. On The Verge (Live At The Misty Moon)
How We Got Here – The 1988 Demos;
1. Hailstone Hands Of God (1988 Demo)
2. When The Weight Comes Down (1988 Demo)
3. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight) (1988 Demo)
4. New Orleans Is Sinking (1988 Demo)
5. Rain, Hearts And Fire (1988 Demo)
6. She Didn’t Know (1988 Demo)
7. Blow At High Dough (1988 Demo)
8. Boots Or Hearts (1988 Demo)
9. Everytime You Go (1988 Demo)
10. Just Another Midnight (1988 Demo)
Atmos
1. Blow At High Dough
2. I’ll Believe In You (Or I’ll Be Leaving You Tonight)
3. New Orleans Is Sinking
4. 38 Years Old
5. She Didn’t Know
6. Boots Or Hearts
7. Everytime You Go
8. When The Weight Comes Down
9. Trickle Down
10. Another Midnight
11. Opiated
12. She’s Got What It Takes
13. Get Back Again
14. Rain, Hearts And Fire
15. Wait So Long
Canada Black Music Archives Celebrates Music Month with Special Showcase In June 2024
Join the Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) on June 21st in celebration of Black Music Month. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has proclaimed June 2024 as Black Music Month, acknowledging the role it has played in shaping Toronto’s music identity. In partnership with the City of Toronto’s Music Office, SOCAN, TD Bank, the City of Toronto Archives, and Ontario Creates, the CBMA has curated a special showcase event in celebration of Black music and culture, with a focus on Toronto’s Little Jamaica community.
The Black Music Month Showcase will be held at the City of Toronto Archives on June 21st with doors opening at 5:30pm and the program running from 6:00pm-8:00pm. This free event offers performances from renowned Canadian artists including Reggae Queen Nana McLean with Eddie Bullen, Maurice Gordon, and Henry Gomez aka King Cosmos. McLean brings her Jamaican roots and smooth vocals while Gomez and Gordon provide a unique Caribbean folk music experience. Also featured are photographs, album covers and other artifacts from the Little Jamaica community on Eglinton Avenue West. The exhibition will include a behind-the-scenes peak of community greats like Leroy Sibbles, Everton Cooper aka King Culture, and more. These displays will be available for the remainder of June at the City of Toronto Archives.
The CBMA continues to celebrate Black music all summer-long with the end of June bringing the opening of The Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour. Beginning on Thursday June 27th, the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour takes participants on an exploration of the Eglinton Ave. West community that has brought Caribbean music, culture, and history to the city for decades. The tours will continue for the rest of the summer twice a month until September.
Join the CBMA in continuing the celebration of Black music history.
For more details on the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour or to book your tour, please visit here.
You can register for the Black Music Month Showcase here. For news on upcoming events signup for their newsletter here.
Spinal Slap: Singer Songwriter Danny Lamb’s “Champion” Shows Real Backbone
We all have the power to reach into ourselves and find what it takes to be our own biggest hero. But every now and then, we need the encouragement of someone who’s had to do the same thing. Enter Canadian singer/songwriter, teacher and musical philanthropist Danny Lamb, whose “Champion” distills his own triumphs over highly specific challenges into a call to action that could steel anybody’s resolve:
With all your love
Be someone the world will call a champion
Don’t be afraid
You will overcome
And the world will call you a champion
Like much of Lamb’s work, the song was inspired by his experiences with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, both of which he lives with on a daily basis. He’s even been an ambassador of Hydrocephalus Canada since he was 18 years old. But the fortifying sentiments of the tune are broad enough, and its musical strokes bold enough, that it could have a million other applications—from personal affirmations to nonprofit initiatives to sporting events and even commercial ad campaigns. It’s a stirring, immensely commercial showstopper that’s made all the more compelling by a rapped bridge from Canadian spoken-word poet, motivational speaker and hip-hop artist Chris Tse, who offers moral support to all the “rebel kids” who wear their battle scars like a “badge of honor.”
And the kids are listening. “Champion” was adopted as the official theme of the recent “Take Action” summer camp, which was geared towards developing the leadership skills of young people, deepening their awareness of issues they care about locally and globally, and empowering them to create action plans for positive, equitable change.
“Champion” is typical of the six tracks on Lamb’s new Evolve EP, which emphasizes march-tempo earworms that are mostly uplifting and motivational—and sound so even on those occasions when the words dip into the more melancholy. A winning follow up to his previous EP, Change (yes, we’re detecting a pattern here), Evolve was produced by Andre Kaden Black and mixed and mastered by Tal Vaisman, both of whom also had a hand in the writing. The lyrical thrust, though, remains highly personal—a natural byproduct of Lamb’s move from his small hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake to a new life in the big city of Toronto. The songs, he says, were sparked by the stimulating input of new people, a new community and the resulting realization there was more he could do to make music a tool for social justice and cohesion. He even reflects on some of the privileges he himself enjoys, even as he leans into the themes of accessibility and disability rights. The record’s June release was timed to coincide with Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Awareness Month in Canada.
One passion project of Lamb’s is “A Song, A City,” a “small music movement” he co-founded as a vehicle to amplify the voices, stories and abilities of people who live with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Along with the rest of his life and work, the project has been featured by the BBC, Global TV, CTV, Canadian Musician Magazine and CHCH, as well as being spotlighted in a second edition “Business Communications” college textbook. The relevant passage explains the genesis of “A Song, A City” and the way in which the undertaking crowd-sourced its first-ever tour across the UK and Europe.
A polished live performer in his own right, Lamb has shared the stage with artists like Marianas Trench, Mother Mother, Fefe Dobson, Faber Drive, Honeymoon Suite and David Wilcox. Most recently, his busy schedule has included June shows in Niagara and his new home of Toronto; later in the month, he’ll be the keynote speaker at a gathering of the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Southern Alberta, being held June 19 to 22 in Calgary, Alberta. He’ll be putting on a special show for the spina bifida and hydrocephalus community while he’s there.
What a fabulous opportunity for his fellow music fans to welcome their new champion.
(SPOILER: It’s themselves.)
Feez Da Popstar Explores the “Friendzone” with New Hip-Hop Single “M T F (More Than Friends)”
Navigating the complex space between friendship and romance, often referred to as the “friendzone,” is the focus of Feez Da Popstar’s new song, “M T F (More Than Friends).” This track delves into the emotions of being caught in a “situationship” where one person desires more than friendship. Hailing from New York, Feez Da Popstar has already garnered thousands of streams on digital platforms and returns with this Hip-Hop banger to resonate with anyone facing unreciprocated feelings.
The lyrics of the song cleverly reflect the concerns of a person who is emotionally engaged with someone else, but is not completely clear about the other’s feelings or intentions:
“MTF means more than friends,
Not how it begins but how it ends.
Am I the one it all depends,
Am I the one you’re gonna defend.”
Feez Da Popstar adds: “Have you ever had a good friend that you just click with vibe love to be around? And the more you are friends with them the more you realize you want to be more than just friends with them. I’m sure we all have.”
Without a doubt, the song portrays the most romantic version of Feez Da Popstar, opening completely and letting his true emotions and thoughts come out. All of this in the hope that the other person will be willing to take their relationship beyond friendship. The artist further explains, “This song is me saying that person what I’ve been holding in for a long time.”
Now based between the vibrant state of North Carolina and the incredible Honolulu in Hawaii, Feez Da Popstar emerges as the alter-ego of the renowned DJ Jay Faire. As a multi-faceted artist, Feez Da Popstar evolved from just mixing to singing, writing, and producing as well.
Up to date, the artist’s top streamed song is “Hard Candy” which sits at 450k streams on Spotify, and one of his most recent singles “All I need Is” is quickly growing as well with over 330k streams. In addition, Feez Da Popstar’s career is full of bright highlights related to the track “Down For You (Party Get Lit)”. This thrilling high energy party anthem has over one million streams on Spotify. In addition, the track gained Radio rotations in stations such as 98.7 WRVZ the Beat in Charleston WV, Power 101.7 WZEB Maryland, KPAT Santa Monica, WWKX Providence, Now FM Las Vegas and KPST 103.5 Palm Springs.
This great evolution will continue to manifest in his upcoming collaborations that feature relevant names in the Hip-Hop scene such as Casely or New Boyz.
Mixing vintage Hip-Hop music influences with fresh and actual sounds, Feez Da Popstar is sure to be one of US’s up-and-coming stars with an incredible power to captivate audiences.
He Sells Sanctuary: Roots Rocker James Leclaire Invites Us To “Come On In”
As Bob Dylan figured out long ago, sooner or later we all need shelter from the storm. And that’s exactly what we get on “Come On In,” the highly comforting new single from Manotick, ON roots-rocker James Leclaire.
Singing in the grizzled, relatable voice of somebody who’s been there, Leclaire throws open a metaphorical door for us, reassuring us that what lies within is a sanctuary where we can recharge our batteries until we have the strength to make another run at life.
Warm yourself from the cold
Shield yourself from the wind
Dry yourself off from the rain, my friend
Oh, it’s time to come on in
Don’t feel shame
Don’t feel sorrow
When the sun sets, life will restart tomorrow
When you’re strong, you can try again
Come on in
Beginning with just Leclaire’s vocal over a stark establishing procession of eighth notes played on the guitar, the track gradually flourishes into a lightly swinging anthem that feels like being pulled around the dance floor by a partner who’s well and truly got you.
“‘Come On In’ depicts a person helping someone close to them who has hit rock bottom,” the singer-songwriter confirms. “They are inviting them into their home to heal, refresh and recharge. It’s uplifting, hopeful and encouraging, yet painful and relatable. We all need a person who can talk us off that ledge and breathe life into us when we feel as though we are on our last breath.
“The only thing here is that I wrote it in a time when everything was fine. Therefore, for it to help others but when I came to record it, I was in a difficult spot and in turn my own words helped me.” You don’t have to hold an advanced degree in armchair psychology to deduce that Leclaire is singing both about and to himself here. “Come On In” was recorded during a fraught period that saw the sudden end of his 23-year marriage—and affected an unexpected sea change in his approach to writing.
“My sorrowful songs were always written from a fictional place, or as a witness to others’ pain,” the Renfrew-born artist says. “Now it was my sorrow, my pain, my wound, and it caused my pen to bleed ink and my guitar to cry chords.”
It was a flurry of activity that resulted in a hefty backlog of songs: 68 in total. Leclaire has been releasing one per month over the past 10 months, with the release of “Come On In” supplying the final piece in the puzzle of his first album in nine years and his fourth overall.
The new material was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Phillip Victor Bova at his Bova Sound in Ottawa, with a stellar supporting cast of guest musicians that included guitarist Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), harmonicist Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan/Neil Young/Chris Stapleton), JUNO-nominated guitarist/pianist John Fraser Findlay and his longtime friend drummer/guitarist/vocalist Michael Hunter.
The title track augments Leclaire’s vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica with electric guitar from Findlay, drums and harmonies by Hunter and bass laid down by Bova himself.
To say they’ve been a busy bunch is to put it mildly. Of that aforementioned 68 new songs, a full 38 were captured for posterity between January 2020 and the end of 2023. And the rest are fully written and ready to go. Now that we’ve all been invited to “Come On In,” we may never want to leave.
Albuquerque Rockers GREY STAR GHOST Capture Awkwardness In Shimmery New Single “The Party”
The quest to find “your people” can be a difficult one, and Albuquerque, NM-based Grey Star Ghost manages to capture the awkwardness and loneliness in that search with their new single “The Party” – available now.
The song’s sound, however, is bright, peppy, and shimmery – full of glorious harmonies, driving guitars, and head-bopping beats – and it fully reflects, well, a party.
“The music is fun, upbeat, and energetic while the lyrics speak to social anxiety, dread, and feeling out of place,” explains frontman Jacob Tucker. “This juxtaposition reflects me at The Party – appearing to be having fun on the outside while just looking for an escape on the inside.”
The inspiration behind the song came when Tucker attended a work event in hopes of getting to know his coworkers and maybe even making a few friends. It didn’t take him long to realize that these were just not his people.
I’m at the party
Talking about routes to work
Discussing all our grocery stores
Touching upon nothing at all
And I can’t stand it
I’m here because I think they’ll care
Here because for some reason
I think they’ll notice if I’m not
“The lyrics of the first verse speak to the topics of conversation that were happening around me and my motivation for being there,” Tucker recalls. “The second verse speaks to the façade I was putting on while just wanting to leave but feeling obligated to stay so that nobody thought there was something wrong with me.”
And then, there’s the chorus we’ve all been able to relate to at some point: Who will save me from this good time? Sometimes, an experience like this can tap into to a greater existential crisis beyond the party at hand. “It speaks to the deeper angst of asking questions like, ‘Who are my people?’ ‘Where is my community?’,” Tucker explains.
“Finding your people is not an easy task and along the way you sometimes have to experience those who are not going to be your people to realize your values, interests, and priorities,” he continues. “We all just want to find our people. Sometimes we do that through music. This song is about a key moment in that process for me.”
Grey Star Ghost is the musical project of singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Tucker. Tucker originally formed the emotive indie alt rock outfit in Denton, Texas in 2018 and is now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Grey because very little in life is black and white, Star because stars are infinite, and Ghost because we all have things in our past that were once alive and haunt us today. At times atmospheric and contemplative, at times fierce and with an edge, their music has been described as haunting, having a vulnerability that makes it powerful, absolutely beautiful and completely heartbreaking.
The band’s lineup features Sean Umstead on drums, percussion, and backing vocals; Ken Easton on lead guitar and backing vocals; Angel Cruz on bass; and Jacob Tucker on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, music, and lyrics.
Grey Star Ghost are set to release a series of singles in the Summer of 2024 in advance of their third full-length album, Angels Leaving, to be released in September 2024.
My Next Read: “The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture (1955–1979)” by Jon Savage
A monumental history of the LGBTQ influence on popular culture, from the award-winning, Sunday Times-bestselling author.
An electrifying look at key moments in music and entertainment history between 1955 and 1979, which helped move gay culture from the margins to the mainstream and changed the face of pop forever – from the ambiguous sexuality of stars such as Little Richard in the 1950s through to David Bowie, glam rock and Sylvester’s ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’.
The Secret Public is a searching examination of the fortitude and resilience of the gay community through the lens of popular music and culture; it reflects on the freedom found in divergence from the norm and reminds us of the need to be vigilant against those seeking to roll back the rights of marginalised groups.
Iconic Comedian Ellen Degeneres Announces ‘Final Tour: Ellen’s Last Stand… Up’
Renowned comedian and entertainment pioneer, Ellen DeGeneres, has announced her highly anticipated farewell tour, Ellen’s Last Stand… Up. This summer, she will grace stages across North America for the last time, delivering her iconic and hilarious performances. This will be the last opportunity for fans to witness a comedy legend in her final curtain call.
Produced by Live Nation, the 27-date tour heralds Ellen’s long-awaited comeback to stand-up comedy. She is poised to reintroduce her trademark wit and laughter-inducing anecdotes back to the spotlight, promising audiences the quintessential Ellen comedy performance.
As a beloved television icon and entertainment pioneer, Ellen DeGeneres’ distinctive comedic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearance through her work today on television, in film, and in the literary world.
Ellen DeGeneres made a home for herself in daytime with her hit syndicated talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which ended in 2022 after an incredible nineteen seasons. As one of the longest running daytime television shows, it earned 64 Daytime Emmy® Awards, including 12 for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show, crowning it the record holder in this category. DeGeneres has also won 12 Teen Choice Awards, five Kids’ Choice Awards, and 24 People’s Choice Awards, making her the most decorated individual in the franchise’s 45-year history.
DeGeneres continues to shine as a powerhouse in the digital space. She has an impressive reach of over 300 million social followers, with over 20 million new followers and 4 billion views in the past year. Ellen’s games business continues to impress and grow with properties like Head’s Up. The game, with over 70 million downloads, has been played over 2 billion times and has been Apple’s top-paid App for 7 consecutive years, the longest-running in its history.
In November 2016, DeGeneres was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The prestigious award is the nation’s highest civilian honor bestowed on DeGeneres by President Obama for her extraordinary contributions to notable change and progress in the United States. Most recently, DeGeneres received the Carol Burnett Award at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in 2020, the second recipient to be honored with the accolade following its namesake, Carol Burnett. She was also presented with the 15th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in October 2012.
DeGeneres had the honor of hosting the highly rated 79th Annual Academy Awards® in 2007, securing her a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination in the Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program category. In 2014, DeGeneres hosted the 86th Annual Academy Awards, drawing the telecast’s largest audience in 14 years, and most famously broke the Internet with her star-studded selfie.
DeGeneres also received critical success for her HBO stand-up specials: “The Beginning,” earning two Primetime Emmy nominations in 2001, and “Here and Now,” nominated for two Primetime Emmys in 2004. In 2018, DeGeneres returned to her stand-up comedy roots after a 15-year hiatus with a critically acclaimed Netflix comedy special, “Relatable,” which secured her a 2020 Grammy Award nomination.
DeGeneres’ production company, A Very Good Production (AVGP), has produced a wide range of television including several unscripted series on NBC such as fan-favorite game show, “Ellen’s Game of Games,” and holiday special, “Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways” – both hosted by DeGeneres – and the hit series “Little Big Shots.” AVGP also produced the Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Green Eggs and Ham” for Netflix, “Wildlife Warriors” for Discovery Channel, and many more. In September 2019, DeGeneres announced HBO Max ordered four original series, including “Ellen’s Next Great Designer,” “First Dates Hotel,” “Little Ellen,” and “Finding Einstein” docu-series.
In a recent deal with Discovery, DeGeneres produced two projects that included the documentary, Endangered, which aired in April 2021 and Saving the Gorillas: Ellen’s Next Adventure which aired in September 2023.
DeGeneres has found success in feature films, scoring an unprecedented popular and critical response to her character Dory in the blockbuster animated feature “Finding Nemo.” The highly anticipated sequel, “Finding Dory,” was released in June 2016 and set the record for the highest-grossing animated film debut at the domestic box office and surpassed the billion-dollar global box office mark.
An accomplished best-selling author, DeGeneres released her first home design book, “HOME,” in Fall 2015. Additionally, DeGeneres has had three best-selling books: “Seriously…I’m Kidding,” which includes a compilation of comedic observations, quotes, and stories from her life, “The Funny Thing Is…,” and “My Point…And I Do Have One.” “The Funny Thing Is…” and “Seriously…I’m Kidding” both secured DeGeneres a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 and 2012.
DeGeneres’ career began as an emcee at a local comedy club in her hometown of New Orleans. Her acting career in television includes several successful sitcoms before being offered apart in “These Friends of Mine” by ABC, later renamed “Ellen” following the first season. Running from 1994 to 1998, the show garnered record ratings with DeGeneres receiving PrimetimeEmmy nominations each season in the Best Actress category. In 1997, DeGeneres was the recipient of the coveted Peabody Award and earned a Primetime Emmy Award for writing the criticall yacclaimed “Puppy Episode” where her character came out as a gay woman to a record 46 million viewers.
Both on and off-screen, DeGeneres’ humanitarian efforts take center stage. In 2018, DeGeneres established The Ellen Fund, which supports global conservation efforts for critically endangered species. The first initiative of the fund was The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund which finally opened in February 2022 outside Volcanoes NationalPark in Rwanda. Ellen and her show gave away almost half a billion dollars to various causes and people in need over the course of its 19 years on the air.
TOUR DATES:
Wed Jun 19 | San Diego, CA | Balboa Theatre^ – SOLD OUTThu Jun 20 | San Diego, CA | Balboa Theatre^
Sun Jun 23 | Spokane, WA | The Fox^ – SOLD OUTMon Jun 24 | Spokane, WA | The Fox^ – SOLD OUT
Tue Jun 25 | Portland, OR | Newmark Theatre^ – SOLD OUT
Wed Jun 26 | Portland, OR | Newmark Theatre^ – SOLD OUT
Fri Jun 28 | Eugene, OR | Hult Center for the Performing Arts^ – SOLD OUT
Sun Jun 30 | Santa Rosa, CA | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts^ – SOLD OUT
Mon Jul 01 | Santa Rosa, CA | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts^ – SOLD OUT
Tue Jul 02 | Santa Rosa, CA | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts^
Mon Jul 08 | Denver, CO | Paramount Theatre
Wed Jul 10 | Dallas, TX | Music Hall at Fair Park
Fri Jul 12 | San Antonio, TX | Majestic Theatre
Sat Jul 13 | Austin, TX | ACL Live – Moody Theater
Sat Jul 20 | San Francisco, CA | The Masonic
Mon Jul 22 | Seattle, WA | Benaroya Hall
Mon Jul 29 | Boston, MA | Boch Center Wang Theatre
Tue Jul 30 | Washington, DC | DAR Constitution Hall
Wed Jul 31 | Philadelphia, PA | Academy of Music
Thu Aug 01 | New York, NY | Radio City Music Hall
Mon Aug 05 | Toronto, ON | Meridian Hall
Wed Aug 07 | Durham, NC | DPAC
Thu Aug 08 | Charlotte, NC | Ovens Auditorium
Sat Aug 10 | Chicago, IL | Chicago Theatre
Tue Aug 13 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium
Fri Aug 16 | Minneapolis, MN | Orpheum Theatre – SPECIAL TAPING
Sat Aug 17 | Minneapolis, MN | Orpheum Theatre – SPECIAL TAPING
Marco Antonio Solís Announces “Eternamente Agradecido World Tour” In The United States
Mexican music icon Marco Antonio Solís announces the arrival of his acclaimed “Eternamente Agradecido World Tour” to the United States this summer. The highly anticipated show will tour cities across North America, including Los Angeles, Austin, Houston, Boston, New York, Chicago and many more, where “El Buki” will delight fans of all ages in large arenas and iconic theaters.
With the ‘Eternamente Agradecido World Tour,’ Marco Antonio Solís is embarking on a mission to reciprocate the love he’s received over his illustrious four-decade career. This unique tour will bring his unmatched talent and musical enchantment to cities he’s never visited before, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience his music live. The tour will commence on August 9 in Portland, Oregon.
Marco Antonio Solís is set to make history as the first Latin artist to grace the stage of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This monumental event, scheduled for August 18, will mark the venue’s opening weekend with a bang.
Marco Antonio Solís continues to be unstoppable in 2024, where he made multiple presentations in Mexico earlier this year. In addition, the artist kicked off his Las Vegas residency with Los Bukis, making Latin music history as the first all-Spanish residency on the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Originally from Michoacán, Marco Antonio Solís, better known as “El Buki”, has captured the hearts of millions with his hits such as “Si No Te Hubieras Ido”, “Más Que Tu Amigo”, “Mi Eterno Amor Secreto”, among many others. His prolific career includes more than 300 songs of his authorship, some of which have been performed by a variety of great artists. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious title of Person of the Year from the Latin Recording Academy in 2022 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2005, consolidating his position as an undisputed reference in Latin music.
TOUR DATES:
Aug 09 Portland, OR Moda Center
Aug 10 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
Aug 18 Los Angeles, CA Intuit Dome
Aug 23 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug 24 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
Aug 31 Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center
Sep 01 Durant, OK Choctaw Grand Theater*
Sep 06 Hidalgo, TX Payne Arena
Sep 08 Austin, TX Moody Center
Sep 27 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Sep 28 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Oct 04 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
Oct 05 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
Oct 12 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
Oct 13 Reading, PA Santander Arena
Oct 18 Belmont Park, NY UBS Arena
Oct 20 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Oct 25 Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre
Nov 01 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena*
Nov 03 Chicago, IL United Center
Nov 08 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
Nov 09 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena