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Pretty “Please”: Detroit’s Billy The Kid & Your Funeral Show They Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

Eric Alper
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Pretty “Please”: Detroit’s Billy The Kid & Your Funeral Show They Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

There’s needy, and then there’s just honest. And you can always count on the recording artist known as Billy the Kid to be honest. On her new single, “Fall in Love with Me, Please” — her second as part of the trio Billy the Kid & Your Funeral — the straight-shooting Billy Pettinger places a bid for affection that’s as plainspoken as it is heartbreaking.

Making her own unique contribution to the “where is my man?” school of lonely hearts club songcraft, the Vancouver-born, Detroit-based Billy establishes that she, too, has been around the world and can’t find her baby—“the world” in this context extending from the neighborhood bar to the faces of past partners she now worries might have included the proverbial one that got away. It’s on the chorus, though, that the depths of her desperation truly become known:

I made a shirt
That said “Fall In Love With Me”
I took an ad out in the obituaries
Just in case you like to frequent
Places as sad as some of the nights I’ve had

It’s a bracing sentiment, all right, and the music doesn’t obscure it one iota. The sparse, folkified pop-rock laid down by Billy and her bandmates Atom Willard (Angels & Airwaves, Alkaline Trio) and Marc Jacob Hudson (Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers) graciously hangs back so every syllable of the gently pleading vocal can tug at your sleeve and your heartstrings.

Oh, and that bit about the obituaries? It’s no mere melodrama. The Valentine’s Day 2024 release of “Fall in Love with Me, Please” came almost nine years to the day Pettinger woke up in a hospital bed after swallowing the entire contents of her medicine cabinet over seemingly insurmountable pressures—including green-card troubles and a lack of support from her then-label. Fortunately, she not only survived but thrived, thanks to the support of fans on crowdfunding platforms like Patreon and her own indomitable work ethic.

A genuinely prolific artist, Pettinger has released numerous albums over the past two decades under a variety of monikers: her real name, Billy the Kid, Billy and the Lost Boys, Billy the Kid & the South Side Boys and now Billy the Kid & Your Funeral. She’s also a big fan of “31 songs in 31 days” writing and recording challenges, including one that yielded the material for her 2021 album, There Is Only Right Now.

The new single, in fact, dropped just two weeks after the release of the new band’s debut track, “Fallout.” At the same time, Pettinger has been busy making videos, including a clip for “Fall in Love with Me, Please” that uses the adorable canine PizzaFox AnkleSox to sell its message that in matters of the heart, it’s better to adopt than shop.

Billy and the boys have a full-length album coming in October whose title, I Have to Do This, neatly sums up her seemingly endless appetite for self-direction. Maybe getting a second chance at life renews your focus, but truth be told, she never had much of an “off” switch to begin with. She’s working hard to make you love her, so maybe it’s time to just give in. “Please.”

 

“Survivorman” Les Stroud Teases Vinyl Re-Release With A Love Letter To His “Arctic Mistress”

Eric Alper
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“Survivorman” Les Stroud Teases Vinyl Re-Release With A Love Letter To His “Arctic Mistress”

Welcome to the tundra. Environmentalist/adventurer Les Stroud is once again singing the praises of his “Arctic Mistress,” a track from the forthcoming remastered and expanded vinyl edition of his 2019 album, Mother Earth.

An artifact of one of Stroud’s innumerable forays into the ancient wilderness, the seven-minute track begins with a lengthy throat-sung prelude influenced by the Inuit musicians of Canada’s Pond Inlet. That segues into a mesmerizing prog-pop number that exhorts us to “breathe the arctic air.” It’s a sentiment near and dear to the heart of Stroud, who has built up a sterling international reputation as an advocate for the natural world through his decades as a survival expert, filmmaker, composer, singer-songwriter and all-around champion of the wonders around us.

“I wanted to connect the listener to the arctic, to the land, to nature,” he says. The finished tune, co-conceived with Bryan Potvin of the Northern Pikes, is Stroud’s idea of “a love song to the arctic. I wanted to picture the arctic as a mistress, a lover. And so it became.”

That intimate relationship is cemented in the accompanying music video, which relies on some truly stunning time-lapse footage of an expedition to the frozen north. Then again, breathtaking travelogues are de rigueur for Stroud, a highly accomplished environmentalist/adventurer who created the “survival TV” genre with the hit program Survivorman. The footage from the “Arctic Mistress” video stems from an episode of his 2010 offshoot series, Beyond Survival.

Music has been a surprising but essential parallel career, in which the upcoming vinyl rerelease of Mother Earth is merely the latest chapter. Expanded from the original seven tracks to 10, the record was produced by the legendary Mike Clink, best known for his groundbreaking work with Guns N’ Roses. GNR’s Slash shows up on “One Giant Farm,” and virtuoso Steve Vai contributes to the title track—to name but two of the immensely talented musicians who have joined Stroud in his multimedia mission to preach respect and protection of the world’s precious resources.

The new edition of Mother Earth arrives June 14, gliding on the wind that’s been put in Stroud’s sails by some recent high-profile honors. His “Gypsy Soul” was nominated for Best Country/Bluegrass Song in the 2024 International Acoustic Music Awards; that followed his strong showing in the 2023 competition, in which “Arctic Mistress” had been a finalist for Best Song and Les Stroud and the Pikes, his collaborative project with Potvin’s Northern Pikes, reached the finals for Best Group/Duo. The same year, the Canadian Screen Awards nominated Stroud in the categories of Best Direction, Lifestyle or Information and Best Original Music, Factual, Lifestyle, Reality, or Entertainment (with partners Kevin Kossowan and David Bateman).

Stroud promises that “hundreds of pieces of music” are coming in the next few years, swelling his already mighty repertoire of rock, world, prog, folk, blues and balladry. With plans that ambitious, he’s clearly well on the way to becoming a natural resource himself.

The Rockin’ Krolik Confesses the Joys and Pangs of Middle Age on Raw, Relatable ‘Shedding Skin’ EP

Eric Alper
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The Rockin’ Krolik Confesses the Joys and Pangs of Middle Age on Raw, Relatable ‘Shedding Skin’ EP

Nearly three years in the making, Shedding Skin, the new six-song EP by Ajax, ON-based The Rockin’ Krolik (a.k.a. J.F. Perotin) is a raw examination of past relationships, personal growth, loss of loved ones, and addiction. It’s the kind of album you make when you’ve turned 52, as Perotin did this year, and you have some of the hard-earned wisdom and maturity to formulate something deeply meaningful – and relatable.

“I wrote songs letting go of filters, self-judgment, Imposter Syndrome, and all that BS,” Perotin says of Shedding Skin, which he began writing back in 2022.

With its mellow rockin’ groove, “W.Y.K.Y.K.” (“When You Know, You Know”) pays tribute to emotional intelligence and listening to one’s gut to get the right answers. “In short, it’s being tuned in to the energy of the universe and what you perceive when interacting with people – it’s all magnetism,” Perotin muses. “Ebbs and flows, tension and release.” And then the song brings in the strings for an epic, purifying ending.

It’s difficult to reach middle age without at some point contemplating your own mortality. On the jangly, moody “Tie Me Up,” Perotin contemplates the constant ticking of the clock. “It’s about coming to a point in your life where you know there is no stopping it or slowing it down,” he explains.

“Say It” examines those moments in life when we can’t find the courage to say the things we want to say. It’s about missed opportunities and lost loves and the little wistful pangs inside the heart of anyone who’s lived for a while. A choir breathes extra life and soaring poignance into the track, turning it into a tearjerker.

The soulful, percussive “Numb in the Rain” contemplates addiction and numbing escape. “We all have our demons, and all have stuff going on in our lives that we think we can’t cope with,” Perotin acknowledges. “There is a way out, although the song doesn’t give that sense of hope – on purpose.” The song brings back the tension of the album’s opener “WYKYK,” urging the listener to embark on some of their own soul searching.

Written in half a day, “I Need A Change” captures the restlessness of feeling stuck or tied up in chains, a common sentiment for any artist. “Really drives me mad to feel I’m being held back,” Perotin admits. “I support myself and my family with a 9-to-5 job but my heart is with my art 98 percent of the time.” The song’s urgency and honesty is its own catharsis, falling into a gliding groove that morphs frustration into motivation.

Shimmering with a naked bravery reminiscent of James Taylor, “The Sand On My Toes” is a song Perotin always gets emotional singing. “Yeah, I know I’m weird crying to my own song, eh?,” he says, chuckling. But it’s a deeply personal piece, infused with conflicting feelings of love and resentment for his father, who passed. “Because he’s gone, although some questions are left unanswered there’s acceptance of the discomfort and ultimately no denying he lives in me somehow.”

The Rockin’ Krolik is a French-born Canadian singer/songwriter. Pearl Jam, The Cranberries, Alanis Morrisette, and Tracy Chapman are among the artists who inspired him to pick up a guitar and start his musical journey in his twenties. He always wears his heart on his sleeve, whether he writes or performs live. He strives for meaningful connections with people by leaving a piece of himself in every song he crafts, with personal and vulnerable lyrics.

In 2021, The Rockin’ Krolik was nominated by the OMAs for “Singer-Songwriter of the Year” for his song “More Than Enough” inspired by Gwen Tuinman’s novel We Are Enough.

Diljit Dosanjh Announces 2024 Dil-Luminati Tour Across North America

Eric Alper
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Diljit Dosanjh Announces 2024 Dil-Luminati Tour Across North America

Today, Punjabi music mogul Diljit Dosanjh announced his Dil-Luminati Tour, taking him to stadiums and arenas across North America this year. Produced by Live Nation, the 13-date tour kicks off on Saturday, April 27 in Vancouver, BC with a massive stadium performance at BC Place. The tour continues Friday, May 3 in Winnipeg, MB at Canada Life Centre, with additional stops in Edmonton, AB. Oakland, CA, Dallas, TX, Newark, NJ, and more before wrapping up with another historical stadium performance at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON on Saturday, July 13.

Diljit will make history as the first Punjabi artist to headline both Canadian stadiums, BC Place and Rogers Centre. The Vancouver show is also expected to be the largest Punjabi performance outside of India, with BC Place having a building capacity of more than 54,000.

With a magnetic presence that transcends geographical borders, Diljit Dosanjh stands as an emblem of excellence in the realm of Punjabi music on the world stage. Hailing from the vibrant state of Punjab, India, Diljit has risen to become a global sensation, a shining star captivating audiences with his enchanting voice, soulful music, and power-packed performances. His repertoire of chart-topping singles includes “G.O.A.T” (236 million views), “Lover” (123 million views), and “Proper Patola” (364 million), to name a few.

Beyond the realm of music, Diljit’s talents extend to the silver screen, where he commands a legion of fans with his captivating performances. With a massive social media following and a stellar presence in Indian cinema, Diljit effortlessly juggles the roles of actor, entertainer, and influencer, captivating audiences with his undeniable charm.

Diljit Dosanjh has created an array of historic milestones, starting with being the first Indian-born artist to perform at the prestigious Coachella festival in 2023. He has become the most loved Indian artist when it comes to touring, generating more than $10 million in ticket sales from his “Born to Shine Australia Tour” in 2023, which is HUGE for an Indian artist. He became the first-ever Indian artist to perform and sell out at Rogers Arena Center in Vancouver, Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, and became the highest-selling Indian artist at the Brisbane Entertainment Center, Australia. His show in Melbourne sold out 14,000 tickets in less than 72 hours! Diljit is poised to make history once again by becoming the first Indian artist to perform at a sold-out stadium show at BC Place in Vancouver (27th April 2024) and Rogers Centre in Toronto (13th July 2024).

His music not only attracts the Asian diaspora worldwide but also has drawn the attention of international music icons like Diplo and Sia. Collaborations such as “Hass Hass” with Sia have garnered millions of views, showcasing Diljit’s ability to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western musical sensibilities.

Partnering with touring industry giants, Diljit Dosanjh is spearheading a revolution in global touring culture for Indian artists. His association with these powerhouse companies signifies a shift in perception towards Indian music on the global stage, paving the way for future generations of artists to follow in his footsteps. Diljit Dosanjh’s journey is not just about music; it’s a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the ability to break barriers. As he continues to conquer hearts and transcend boundaries, his story serves as an inspiration to music lovers and dreamers worldwide, redefining the very essence of global music culture.

DIL-LUMINATI TOUR 2024 DATES:
Sat Apr 27 — Vancouver, BC — BC Place
Fri May 03 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre
Mon May 06 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
Wed May 08 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
Sat May 11 — Oakland, CA — Oakland Arena
Wed May 15 — Chicago, IL — Allstate Arena
Fri May 17 — Duluth, GA — Gas South Arena
Tue May 21 — Orlando, FL — Kia Center
Fri May 24 — Dallas, TX — American Airlines Center
Tue May 28 — Washington DC — Capital One Arena
Thu May 30 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center
Wed Jul 10 — Los Angeles, CA — Crypto Arena
Sat Jul 13 — Toronto, ON — Rogers Centre

Conan O’Brien Reveals He Was Scared Of A 16-Year-Old Billie Eilish When Watching ‘The World’s A Little Blurry’ Doc

Eric Alper
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Conan O’Brien Reveals He Was Scared Of A 16-Year-Old Billie Eilish When Watching ‘The World’s A Little Blurry’ Doc

Conan was super intimidated by 16-year-old Billie Eilish after watching her documentary, “The World’s a Little Blurry.”

How Owen Wilson Lost His Lifetime Access To Rolling Stones Gigs

Eric Alper
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How Owen Wilson Lost His Lifetime Access To Rolling Stones Gigs

Owen Wilson, an ardent Rolling Stones enthusiast, was granted an extraordinary lifetime, all-access pass to attend Rolling Stones concerts worldwide. However, due to a regrettable mishap, he was required to return the pass.

Brian May Reacts To Being Named The Greatest Rock Guitarist Ever

Eric Alper
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Brian May Reacts To Being Named The Greatest Rock Guitarist Ever

Queen guitarist Brian May reacts to Howard Stern telling him this, and which musicians he considered to be the best guitar players of all time.

Watch David Bowie Perform “Life on Mars” and “Ashes to Ashes” on The Tonight Show in 1980

Eric Alper
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Watch David Bowie Perform “Life on Mars” and “Ashes to Ashes” on The Tonight Show in 1980

David Bowie’s live performance on The Tonight Show on September 5, 1980 stands as a significant moment in music history, showcasing the iconic artist’s enduring charisma and talent. Bowie graced the stage of The Tonight Show, captivating audiences with his magnetic presence and innovative musical style. Performing tracks from his album “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps),” including the hit single “Ashes to Ashes,” Bowie mesmerized viewers with his eclectic blend of rock, pop, and avant-garde influences

Photo Gallery: Avenged Sevenfold with Sullivan King at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena

Eric Alper
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Photo Gallery: Avenged Sevenfold with Sullivan King at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X

Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Sullivan King
Sullivan King
Avenged Sevenfold

Vinyl VS. CDs: Is There A Difference?

Eric Alper
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0
Vinyl VS. CDs: Is There A Difference?

In the age of digital streaming and downloads, the debate between vinyl records and CDs continues to spark discussions among music enthusiasts. Both formats offer unique listening experiences, but their differences lie in their distinct characteristics and sonic qualities.

Vinyl records, revered by audiophiles for their warm, analog sound, have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. The tactile experience of handling a vinyl record, carefully placing it on a turntable, and dropping the needle creates a nostalgic connection to the music that many fans cherish. Additionally, vinyl’s large album artwork and physical presence add to the overall immersive experience of listening to music, who doesn’t love reading liner notes?

On the other hand, CDs, introduced in the 1980s as a digital alternative to vinyl, offer convenience and portability. With their compact size and durability, CDs became the dominant format for music consumption in the late 20th century. While CDs may lack the tactile appeal of vinyl, they boast superior sound quality and fidelity, free from the crackles and pops often associated with vinyl playback.

Despite their differences, both vinyl records and CDs have their devoted followers. Vinyl enthusiasts appreciate the ritualistic nature of playing records and the nostalgic charm they evoke, while CD aficionados value the pristine sound quality and convenience of digital playback. Ultimately, the choice between vinyl and CDs comes down to personal preference, with each format offering its own unique listening experience tailored to the individual tastes of music lovers.

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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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