SO-SO mesmerized the audience with an awe-inspiring performance, showcasing his extraordinary beatboxing skills in a spectacular medley of Super Mario Bros. theme remixes.
Alt Rockers Feral Vices Capture Tumultuous Relationship Limbo With “Black As The Sea”
There’s nothing more torturous, and bittersweet, about being half in and half out of a relationship. Louisville, KY-based rockers Feral Vices capture that limbo with their dark, driving, metallic anthem “Black As The Sea.”
“Black As The Sea” chronicles a relationship that’s become soul-sucking, no matter how much the narrator also wishes he could stay:
You want to take it from me,
This hole’s as black as the sea
You want to take it from me,
But I would give it to you
“The song kind of rides the moment between the realization that you’re in a bad relationship but also still wanting to be with the other person,” Feral Vices explained. “It becomes this weird Purgatory-type place where you’re being pulled in two different directions, but inevitably are pulled into this place of resentment of not only the relationship, but everything.”
The writing of the track came from a personal place, and although it reads as an embittered love song, it was actually based on the loss of some meaningful friendships during a very difficult time. “It was about trying to come to terms with that,” the band said, “and if moving on was even the right thing to do.”
A two-piece alternative rock band out of Louisville, KY, Feral Vices has created a sound and vibe all their own. Drawing from influences ranging from Queens of the Stone Age to Refused to The Jesus Lizard and even The Dillinger Escape Plan, lead singer and guitarist Alexander Hoagland and drummer Justin Cottner bring a sensibility to the world of two-piece bands not yet well-tread.
Constantly touring and releasing new music, the prolific duo have earned spots on the stage with bands like Four Year Strong, Microwave, and Save Face. As well as having their song “Mass Produce Your Revolution” as the end credits to the Scott Adkins and Ray Stevenson film Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday, Feral Vices is a band to keep an eye on.
Carlos Thurler’s Single ‘Divided’ Showcases a Powerful Fusion of Grunge, Britpop and Stoner Rock Influences
Sometimes, it feels like everyone is on their own. When this happens, you can feel powerless to do anything to make your life better. However, the right call to action can motivate people to change things. Toronto-based rock artist Carlos Thurler rallies the people in his new single “Divided.”
The song opens with a steady blues rock riff that hooks the listener right before Thurler comes in with gravelly vocals. The first verse establishes the song’s grim tone as it discusses how people try to stay sane in a hopeless world. As the chorus comes in, Thurler sings of how it might take the world burning before people come together to make a change.
“Til it all goes up in flames
It’s so hard to stand a chance
It’s been this way since we became so divided
All goes down the drain
It’s so hard to make amends
And it’s a shame that we became so divided
So divided…”
According to Thurler himself, the song was inspired by the stark reality we’ve been living in. While discussing his debut solo album Divided, he states, “Our society has been growing more polarized and more than ever people aren’t getting along. On songs like Divided and New Inquisition touch on this subject more directly.”
Taking up the guitar at age 14, Thurler soon started forming bands with high school friends, and later cut his teeth at the tribute band scene in his native Brazil. Years later, having accumulated a good deal of experience onstage, he would then go on to write and perform original songs with bands and solo artists.
In 2008 Thurler recorded a full-length album in Brazil with local indie band Monovida, before moving to London, UK, dedicating to honing his craft has led him to actively collaborate with local songwriters, seizing every opportunity to gain invaluable experience. By working closely with fellow creatives in his community, he has been able to explore different perspectives, experiment with diverse musical styles, and cultivate a unique sound that resonates with audiences today.
Later on, he moved to Toronto and became determined to produce a solo album after experiencing the 2020 pandemic and realizing that his initial career in marketing wasn’t his true passion.
Divided reflects many of Thurler’s biggest influences: From grunge, hard rock and stoner rock to Britpop and indie rock. The debut single of the same name is a strong, emotional track that grabs the listener’s attention, making him one to watch out for.
Toronto-Based Psychedelic Folk Rocker Gary Edward Allen Reflects on Faith in Confusing Times in “Understood”
Sometimes when you’re in the heat and tumult of living, it’s hard to know exactly what a particular time of your life might mean. Toronto-based folk rocker Gary Edward Allen captures the beauty and confusion of youth in his warm, reflective new single “Understood.”
Featuring the very steel guitar used on Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” Allen’s “Understood” is jangly, melancholy, and journeying through the years. The song begins with a beautiful walk home, one that the narrator can still see vividly in his mind’s eye:
The trees they dance and sway
The traffic rolls by
We live in complicated times
From the floor of an old friends house
…pictures hanging upside down
When writing the lyrics, Allen flipped through his old diaries, settling on a time in 1993 when he had just moved to Halifax as a young man in his 20s.
“I still have a memory of walking those streets near my apartment, no street lights in a lot of the city so it’s very dark and lonely,” Allen recalls. “The lyric ‘the pictures hanging upside down, halfway from me to the ground…’ is also such a strong memory. It’s about arriving in Halifax and sleeping on a friend’s floor, staring up at the pictures on the wall. Feeling lost in the world, in a new city. Scared but excited.”
Never mind what you fear
The signs they are so clear
And I know what I know….
The seasons change and so do I
Still livin’ large behind these eyes
The song is philosophical, about the ways in which we change – and also don’t change – as human beings. “It’s about just watching time roll by and trying to remain true to what you believe in, in the things that bring you joy, in the things that make you YOU,” Allen muses. “That’s a constant thing in life, not just specific to that time. Ultimately, ‘Understood’ is about having faith in confusing times.”
Most of the song was recorded in one session with industry veteran Tim Bovaconti, who has worked with Burton Cummings, Leonard Cohen, Ron Sexsmith, and more. “Initially, it was just two tracks of acoustic guitar and me singing. Tim put some piano on after the first verse and then added a track of pedal steel guitar,” Allen explains. “Tim owns the actual pedal steel guitar used on Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’, played by Pee Wee Charles.”
It made for a very appropriate tribute. “Gordon Lightfoot passed away the week we were set to record ‘Understood,’ so it seemed fitting for Tim to use it,” Allen continued. “Tim is a pro. His pedal steel track is the first and only take he did. He just nailed it immediately and it really makes the song.” The track also features Mishka Gogitidze on bass and Andrea Ciacco on drums.
Allen started playing guitar at seven years old before falling in love with it as a teenager after listening to Queen and KISS. After a brief stint in a music class, he taught himself different guitar playing styles using his love of different music genres. By his early 20s, he gradually overcame his performance shyness by playing live in Ottawa at various clubs.
After moving to Vancouver in the mid ’90s, Allen took a hiatus from performing live, but never stopped playing the guitar and singing. When Allen entered his 40s, he decided to return to performing music after meeting indie artist Robb Hill. Not long afterwards, he would record his first songs with producer Doug Fury before meeting AJ Ottaway and Jake Broder and recording their debut album Ottaway Broder Allen. This would lead to a local tour in Vancouver as well as a second album, Invictus, that was made and released in 2015.
Sometime after Allen moved from Vancouver to Toronto and met his partner Tara (also from Ottawa, but as fate would have it, they didn’t meet while in the city), the band called it quits. By 2017, Allen would become a solo artist that collaborated with his former bandmate AJ mixing new songs and recording with producer Tim Bovaconti.
Tim McGraw Announces Standing Room Only Tour 2024
Live on stage earlier last week, from an intimate fans-only sneak preview concert at LA’s famed The Whisky a Go Go nightclub on the Sunset Strip, three-time Grammy Award winning superstar Tim McGraw announced his highly anticipated headlining 2024 Standing Room Only Tour.
Produced by Live Nation, the Standing Room Only Tour will hit arenas across 30+ cities starting March 14, 2024. Grammy® Award winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will join the Standing Room Only Tour on all dates as direct support.
“I always want to deliver the best possible concert I can for the fans,” said McGraw. “We’ve got some really special plans to make this the biggest and the best tour we’ve ever done.”
Long proven as a titan of touring across a career spanning more than three decades, the Standing Room Only Tour promises more unparalleled, high energy live shows from McGraw. Featuring a huge production, his biggest hits, and songs from his forthcoming 17th studio album Standing Room Only, the tour promises the most fun and memories of a lifetime.
All tickets – including VIP packages – for the Standing Room Only Tour will be on sale starting August 4 at 10am local time in each market. VIP packages and experiences will include a variety of offerings – from an exclusive gift item to meeting Tim – for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Fans are encouraged to visit www.timmcgraw.com and become part of MCGRAWONE for more information.
On August 25, McGraw will release his new album Standing Room Only via Big Machine Records and McGraw Music. The album’s title track, “Standing Room Only,” is currently top 15 at Country Radio and climbing the charts. It also marks McGraw’s 92nd career chart entry. An acoustic version of the song was released on July 14.
On Standing Room Only, fans can expect an album full of McGraw’s enduring Country sound, distinguished vocals and meaningful songs – as evidenced on previously released tracks “Hey Whiskey,” and, most recently, “Remember Me Well,” which was released on July 21. Standing Room Only marks McGraw’s first new record since 2020’s Here On Earth, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart.
Throughout his career, McGraw has amassed 68 Top 10s and holds the Mediabase record for the most weeks at No. 1 with all titles, totaling 73 weeks, and holds the record for second-most No. 1 albums in the U.S. just behind George Strait.
For Pearce, the Standing Room Only Tour announcement comes at an exciting time – she recently ushered in the next chapter of her musical career with her acclaimed new single “We Don’t Fight Anymore” (feat. Chris Stapleton). With four No. 1 hits and dozens of accolades already under her belt, the 2021 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and 2022 ACM Awards Female Artist of the Year is showing no signs of slowing down. With her latest release receiving high praise from fans and critics alike, she continues to resonate with her honest lyrics and timeless musicality.
Tim McGraw has sold more than 90 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 46 worldwide No. 1 singles and 19 worldwide No. 1 albums. He’s won 3 Grammy Awards, 21 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards. His iconic career achievements include being named BDS Radio’s Most Played Artist of the Decade for all music genres and having the Most Played Song of the Decade for all music genres. He is the most played country artist at radio since his debut in 1992, with two singles spending 10 weeks or more at No. 1. Known for his high energy concerts, he is one of the top touring artists of all time including the record-setting “Soul2Soul” tours with his wife, Faith Hill. An acclaimed actor, McGraw starred in and narrated the hit movie “The Shack” and co-wrote and performed the closing credit song for the Oscar winning documentary “Free Solo.” His other movie credits include blockbuster hits “Friday Night Lights” and “The Blind Side. McGraw starred beside Sam Elliott and his wife Faith Hill in the Yellowstone prequel and three-time Emmy nominated 1883. McGraw has co-authored two New York Times Best Selling books, Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest and the Music that Made a Nation with Jon Meacham and fitness book Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life. As part of the host committee, McGraw welcomed the largest outdoor crowd in Nashville history to his performance at the 2019 NFL Draft. He also appeared in the NFL Tailgate Party for Super Bowl LII and the College Football Playoffs 2020. His newest single, “Standing Room Only,” just launched with the most first-week streams of any track in McGraw’s career.
Tim McGraw – Standing Room Only Tour 2024 Dates:
March 14 Jacksonville, FL VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
March 15 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
March 16 Orlando, FL Amway Center
March 21 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
March 27 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
March 29 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
March 30 Eugene, OR University of Oregon – Matthew Knight Arena
April 4 Denver, CO Ball Arena
April 5 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
April 6 Boise, ID Boise State University – ExtraMile Arena
April 13 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
April 18 Indianapolis, IN Gainbridge Fieldhouse
April 19 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
April 20 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
April 25 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
April 26 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena
May 9 Belmont Park, NY UBS Arena
May 11 Wilkes-Barre, PA Mohegan Sun Arena
May 16 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
May 17 Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center
May 18 Charleston, WV Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
May 30 Toledo, OH Huntington Center
May 31 Chicago, IL United Center
June 1 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
June 6 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford Premier Center
June 7 Omaha, NE CHI Health Center
June 8 Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center
June 13 Biloxi, MS Mississippi Coast Coliseum
June 15 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center
June 20 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
June 21 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
June 22 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
June 27 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
About Tim McGraw
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Brooklyn Brewery Launching Limited Edition Brooklyn Lager Featuring Notorious B.I.G. in Celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary
Today, Brooklyn Brewery unveils an exciting, limited-edition Brooklyn Lager featuring Notorious B.I.G. in homage to his vibrant legacy and in celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary.
This limited release of Brooklyn Lager – which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year – delivers the same bold taste that has made it a favorite for three decades, but for a limited time will feature an iconic image of Brooklyn’s favorite son, capturing his larger-than-life persona and serving as a testament to his creative legacy and profound impact on the hip-hop community, as well as in fashion, style, photography, and more. The limited-edition artwork will be available across all packs and sizes, starting in August, while supplies last.
When Brooklyn Lager first launched, it revolutionized the beer scene with its award-winning taste, delivering a rich and flavorful profile. With bold grapefruit and smooth, toasty caramel notes, this iconic lager quickly became a symbol of quality and craftsmanship. Emerging from Brooklyn in the ‘90s, both achieved local acclaim before attaining global status. This pairing brings together his timeless artistry with the bold iconicity of the classic beer; a celebration of innovation and artistry in both music and brewing, honoring Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary.
Coinciding with the release, a special capsule collection of limited edition apparel and accessories will be on sale on August 4th, online and in the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting Room. The collection is available to preview now via: https://store.brooklynbrewery.com/notoriousbig.
In conjunction with the release of the limited-edition Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brewery has teamed up with Wax Poetics – the acclaimed music journal, who has long been recognized for their deep appreciation of music, culture, and art – for a 3 part series to celebrate Notorious B.I.G.’s enduring cultural legacy.
Karli Bainbridge, VP of Marketing for Brooklyn Brewery explains: “We are thrilled to bring this collaboration together in celebration of fifty years of hip-hop. We are also excited to team up with notable music journal Wax Poetics, along with Brooklyn-based establishments Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, and leading arts and media institution BRIC for a series of events that pay homage to Biggie’s extraordinary cultural impact.”
Guests can RSVP for free in advance of each event at WaxPoetics.com/BIG starting Wednesday, August 2nd; entry will be granted on a first come, first served basis, dependent on capacity. Brooklyn Brewery will be supplying delicious beers and surprise giveaways at each event as well.
Taking place across 3 nights in August and September, the events will include live performances by Masta Ace, Easy Mo Bee, MIKE and DJ sets by Niara Sterling, Monk-One, and more.
- Thursday, August 17th – In Conversation & DJ Set with Easy Mo Bee at Brooklyn Brewery’s Williamsburg Tasting Room
- Renowned producer Easy Mo Bee will join Wax Poetics Magazine’s Editor-At-Large Andrew “Monk-One” Mason to reflect on the early ’90s New York City milieu that gave birth to this musical phenomenon. Mo Bee will also break down some of his classic beats that powered Biggie’s legendary Ready To Die album and other unforgettable songs of the era. Following the talk, Mo Bee switches to DJ mode for a dance party, joined on the decks by Monk-One and more.
- Thursday, August 31st – B.I.G.: Lineage of a Legend Photography Exhibition Launch Party at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA)
- The Notorious B.I.G. has burned an indelible image, built of many personas into the minds of millions across the world. Whether it’s due to the infectious chatting of the West Indian rudeboy, the effortless lyricism of the Brooklyn native, or the vivid nature of his storytelling, one could argue that Christopher Wallace has one of the deepest and most cherished legacies in rap’s history. MoCADA in Brooklyn will host a photo exhibition exploring Biggie’s personas and their wider influence on hip-hop.
- Thursday, September 14th – Masta Ace with Marco Polo + MIKE Closing Series Party at BRIC
- The series concludes with a finale celebrating Brooklyn hip-hop in its fullest spectrum, old school to new, with a concert at BRIC in Brooklyn. Curated by Wax Poetics, the line-up is headlined by storytelling golden era MC Masta Ace and rising star MIKE who continues to shine the torch for quality homegrown hip-hop.
Foo Fighters With Alanis Morissette Pay Tribute To Sinéad O’Connor With Stirring “Mandinka”
The Foo Fighters with special guest Alanis Morissette pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor at the Fuji Rock Festival.
Warner Music Group & TikTok Announce First-Of-Its-Kind Expanded Agreement
Warner Music Group and TikTok today announced a wide-ranging, first-of-its-kind partnership that will benefit WMG’s artists and songwriters, and TikTok’s billion-plus users around the world. The multi-year, multi-product deal licenses the repertoire of Warner Recorded Music and Warner Chappell Music to TikTok, TikTok Music, CapCut, and TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.
The deal will expand the level of partnership, collaboration, and innovation between the two companies. It will create new revenue, marketing, and insights opportunities for WMG’s artists and songwriters, while deepening the engagement with TikTok’s huge audience of passionate music fans.
As part of the deal, WMG and TikTok will find new ways to harness TikTok’s revenue generation and promotional capabilities, as well as a wealth of insights. In addition, artists and songwriters will have access to new ways of working with TikTok’s vibrant brand partners, as well as to new fandom development and monetization features, like merchandise, ticketing, and digital goods and services, among other opportunities. Further, the deal will see the joint development of additional and alternative economic models.
Additionally, the companies have agreed to a licensing deal for TikTok Music, the premium subscription streaming service that recently launched in Indonesia and Brazil, with plans for further growth in other markets.
The deal also paves the way for WMG artists and songwriters to leverage the unique promotional capabilities and engage with the growing community of users on TikTok’s sister video-editing app, CapCut.
Robert Kyncl, CEO, WMG said: “We are happy and excited for our next chapter together with TikTok. Through this expanded and significantly improved partnership for both companies, we can jointly deliver greater value to WMG’s artists and songwriters and TikTok’s users.”
Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok, said: “We are very excited to partner with Warner Music Group to create a shared vision for the future in which artists, songwriters, music fans, and the industry can all benefit from the power of discovery on TikTok platforms.”
Doug MacNaughton Releases Compelling and Funky Third New Single ‘Nous’- This Time In French
Multi-instrumentalist and indie singer-songwriter Doug MacNaughton released his third single (and first in French!), “Nous,” out now. Following on the heels of previous releases “So Lost Without You” and “The Well of Friendship,” these songs and more will all be available on his upcoming album Old Enough To Know Better.
“The start of this piece came from a news article from RAD.CA, a Radio-Canada show on contemporary issues,” MacNaughton recalls. “The article was talking about how the biggest obstacle to tackling Climate Change was not technological but rather social and political . . . That started me thinking about the false binaries that surround us, and from there, the lyrics just came out.”
Building on the lyrical legacy of juxtaposition a la John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Prince’s “Controversy,” the (translated) lyrics include–
There’s no me, there’s no you
There’s no left, there’s no right
There’s no predator, there’s no prey
There’s only us
There’s no peace, there’s no war
There’s no Heaven, there’s no Hell
There’s no father, there’s no mother
There’s only us
Through his clever presentation of contrasting ideas and concepts, MacNaughton invites listeners to reflect on the arbitrary divisions that often separate us and highlights the urgent need to overcome these differences for the greater good. By presenting these opposing elements side by side, MacNaughton emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the shared responsibility we have in addressing global challenges like climate change.
“Ultimately,” says MacNaughton, “I want the overall message to be one of hope – I really do believe that if we can work together toward the common goal of saving the planet and halting Climate Change, we can do it! Convincing people to pull together in the same direction is the hardest part!”
Musically, “Nous” draws influence from various Quebecois artists, including Beau Dommage, Mitsou, Les Cowboys Fringants, and Corcoran, while incorporating a touch of Steely Dan’s eclectic sound. The results are nearly two and a half minutes of pure funk, grooving along the foundation set by MacNaughton’s fierce stylings on the jazz guitar.
Doug MacNaughton’s upcoming album, Old Enough To Know Better, slated for release in the Fall of 2023, showcases his artistic growth and diverse influences. Drawing from his extensive experience singing a Frank Zappa tribute concert with a Montréal-based electronic music ensemble, his time in Les Misérables, and his contributions to various stage productions, MacNaughton brings a wealth of musical expertise and storytelling prowess to his songwriting.