Page 195 – That Eric Alper

20 Songs That Light Up a Road Trip

Eric Alper

-

Feb 21, 2026

Windows down. Volume up. Snacks within reach. The highway stretches out like a promise and someone yells, “Play something good.” A great road trip playlist turns miles into memories and traffic into a dance floor. These 20 songs bring the energy, the singalongs, and the kind of choruses that feel bigger than the open road.

“Shut Up and Drive” – Rihanna
Punchy guitars and a pedal-to-the-floor hook. This one hits like merging onto the highway with perfect timing. Instant acceleration.

“Life Is a Highway” – Tom Cochrane
Built for long stretches of asphalt and skyline horizons. That chorus feels like it was engineered for shouting into the wind.

“Mr. Brightside” – The Killers
Windows down, everyone singing, nobody hitting the right notes. Pure road trip electricity.

“Go Your Own Way” – Fleetwood Mac
Sharp guitars and forward motion. It sounds like independence in motion.

“Levitating” – Dua Lipa
Disco-pop propulsion that makes even a gas station stop feel glamorous. Cruise control never sounded this good.

“Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
Small town energy, big sky payoff. That final chorus turns any car into a stadium.

“American Girl” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Jangly freedom and endless horizon vibes. A song that feels like summer in motion.

“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
The groove snaps instantly. Perfect for turning a straight highway into a rolling dance floor.

“Send Me On My Way” – Rusted Root
Whistle-ready and sun-soaked. It practically demands scenic detours.

“Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
Motorcycle attitude without leaving your seat. The ultimate open-road anthem.

“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
Zero stress, maximum bounce. It turns traffic jams into choreography breaks.

“Take It Easy” – Eagles
Easygoing rhythm with desert highway spirit. The soundtrack to golden-hour driving.

“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
Neon pulse and late-night momentum. Ideal for city lights rushing past the windshield.

“On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson
Simple, direct, timeless. A reminder that the journey itself is the headline.

“September” – Earth, Wind and Fire
Bright horns and unstoppable joy. It turns the backseat into a party.

“Ride” – Twenty One Pilots
Atmospheric and steady. A soundtrack for long stretches of thought between exits.

“I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
Built for group vocals and spontaneous memories. The night begins before you even arrive.

“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
Reflective and cinematic. Some road trip moments call for quiet miles and big feelings.

“Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
High-speed piano and pure momentum. It feels like the road is cheering you on.

“Good as Hell” – Lizzo
Confident, bold, unstoppable. The kind of anthem that makes every arrival feel triumphant.

Katseye Announce Manon Hiatus After Grammy Breakthrough

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 21, 2026

0

Katseye Announce Manon Hiatus After Grammy Breakthrough

Global girl group Katseye have announced that Manon Bannerman will take a temporary hiatus to focus on her health and wellbeing. The 23-year-old Swiss singer shared a message with fans, confirming she is healthy and taking time to care for herself. The decision follows open and thoughtful conversations within the group and their team.

The announcement arrives just weeks after Katseye stepped onto the Grammy Awards stage in Los Angeles. The six-member act earned nominations for best new artist and best pop duo or group performance for “Gabriela.” Their rapid rise from reality competition origins to global awards recognition has moved at striking speed.

In a statement shared through their fan community, the group affirmed full support for Bannerman’s decision. Scheduled performances will continue during her absence. The message to their EYEKONS was direct and unified. Katseye remain committed to one another and to the audience that has fueled their ascent.

Formed in 2023 through The Debut: Dream Academy, Katseye have built momentum with the EPs ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ and ‘Beautiful Chaos.’ Singles including “Gnarly” and “Gabriela” marked major chart milestones. The support for Manon has been immediate and global, a powerful reflection of the bond between artist and audience.

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 21, 2026

0

Eric Dane, the actor known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died at 53, nearly one year after publicly sharing his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family confirmed he passed away surrounded by loved ones, including his daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine.

In the days following his death, friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses and support the future needs of his two daughters. The fundraiser notes that Dane remained committed to raising awareness about ALS even as his health declined.

Shortly before his passing, Netflix released Dane’s episode of the documentary series Famous Last Words. The program features interviews recorded with the understanding they will only air after the subject’s death. In his conversation, Dane reflected on his life, career, struggles with addiction and his ALS diagnosis. He also recorded a direct message to his daughters, encouraging them to live fully, pursue their passions, value friendship and face hardship with dignity.

Dane’s ALS advocacy continued after his diagnosis, including efforts to support research and expand access to care. Organizations dedicated to ALS awareness have shared footage and statements highlighting his commitment to advancing treatment and funding initiatives.

He is survived by his daughters and his former spouse, Rebecca Gayheart.

Death Metal Titans Arch Enemy Unleash “To The Last Breath” Featuring New Vocalist Lauren Hart

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Death Metal Titans Arch Enemy Unleash “To The Last Breath” Featuring New Vocalist Lauren Hart

Arch Enemy surge forward with “To The Last Breath,” the first new music following their ‘Blood Dynasty’ album cycle and the opening strike of a bold new era. The track introduces Lauren Hart, formerly of Once Human, as the band’s new vocalist, marking a significant shift while reinforcing the group’s ferocious identity. This is Arch Enemy in full attack mode, sharpened and recharged.

Guitarist and founder Michael Amott describes connecting with Hart as an important step in his journey, praising her remarkable voice, dedication and professionalism. After months of speculation across the metal community about who would take the microphone, the band remained silent until now. “To The Last Breath” answers that anticipation with force, delivering a statement that blends legacy and evolution in equal measure.

Amott calls the song a reckoning, musically aligned with his original vision for the band and instantly recognizable to longtime fans. Lyrically, it confronts deception and the collapse of false control, capturing the clarity that comes when illusion shatters and resistance becomes the only option. Once that moment arrives, there is no retreat. It is do or die.

Welsh Alt.Rock Heroes The Joy Formidable Launch First U.S. Tour In Two Years

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Welsh Alt.Rock Heroes The Joy Formidable Launch First U.S. Tour In Two Years

Welsh alt.rock band The Joy Formidable kick off their first U.S. tour in two years, bringing an intimate run of shows to cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago before heading east in May for dates in Milwaukee, Washington, DC, New York City and Minneapolis. These performances are designed as close-up evenings of songs and stories, reconnecting face-to-face in smaller rooms and setting the tone for the band’s next chapter arriving later in 2026. Tickets are on sale now, with select dates already sold out.

In addition to the band’s set, Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd will spotlight their solo projects, Shy Western and Rhydian Dafydd, offering audiences a glimpse into parallel creative worlds running alongside The Joy Formidable. The tour blends nostalgia, evolution and renewed connection as the trio step back onto U.S. stages with fresh momentum.

TOUR DATES:
February 19 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
February 20 – Seattle, WA @ Fremont Abbey Arts Center (SOLD OUT)
February 21 – Portland, OR @ The Old Church Concert Hall
February 23 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
February 28 – Chicago, IL @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
May 10 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
May 11 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
May 13 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall
May 14 – Somerville, MA @ The Center for Arts at The Armory
May 16 – Washington, DC @ Miracle Theatre
May 18 – New York, NY @ (le) poisson rouge
May 21 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Parkway Theater

Amsterdam Rock and Roll Firebrands Savage Beat Charge Ahead With ‘Bright Lights, Tall Shadows’

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Amsterdam Rock and Roll Firebrands Savage Beat Charge Ahead With ‘Bright Lights, Tall Shadows’

Dubbed the Amsterdam ambassadors of high-energy rock and roll, Savage Beat return with their explosive new full-length ‘Bright Lights, Tall Shadows,’ landing March 6, 2026 via Wap Shoo Wap Records. Since forming in 2016, the band have carved out a reputation for their self-described street boogie, a riff-heavy collision of late 70s punk, high-octane rock and Oi attitude. A decade of touring across the USA and Europe, major festival appearances including Zwarte Cross, Scumbash, Helldorado, Revolution Calling and Sjock, plus shared stages with The Damned, Cock Sparrer, Angelic Upstarts and The Exploited have cemented their status as full-throttle torchbearers.

On ‘Bright Lights, Tall Shadows,’ Savage Beat amplify everything that defines them: towering riffs, punchy hooks and anthems built for packed clubs and festival chaos. Standouts include the instrumental “Street Boogie Confidential,” the ferocious “Cut to the Chase” and the relentless single “Unhinged.” The record balances celebratory defiance with sharper reflections on modern tension while keeping its boot firmly on the gas.

LIVE DATES:
14 March – Album Release Show @ Skatecafe, Amsterdam (NL)
5 April – Festerfest @ Baroeg, Rotterdam (NL)
5 April – Vege op Pasen @ Hamont (BE)
15 May – Slachthuis, Haarlem (NL)
16 May – Rock Cafe Ozzy, Apeldoorn (NL)

Psychedelic London Trio The Stingrays Drift And Detonate On “Summer of You”

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Psychedelic London Trio The Stingrays Drift And Detonate On “Summer of You”

Psychedelic London trio The Stingrays return with “Summer of You,” a track that captures their off-kilter charm and sharp musicianship in one sweeping move. Formed by Hector Delicious, George van den Broek and Milo Goldsmith, the band build a multi-dimensional world through pinpoint sonics and a distinctly British sense of humour, mocking and celebrating the quaint, the brash and the gentle all at once.

“Summer of You” opens as a relaxed groover before erupting into a breakneck guitar solo that tears through the final stretch. The band describe it as a meditation on heartbreak and new beginnings, the melancholy of letting go of a season that once felt endless. Summer may be warm and bright, but it gives way to something new, and that shift is inevitable.

The chemistry powering those dynamic shifts comes from a decade of shared history. The trio toured globally from their mid-teens under George van den Broek’s Yellow Days moniker before forging The Stingrays. A sold-out Brick Lane residency and a standout set at Live At Leeds sharpened their live edge, and “Summer of You” underscores a band fully in control of their psychedelic sprawl.

Foy Vance Announces Expansive “The Wake World Tour” Across Europe and North America

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Foy Vance Announces Expansive “The Wake World Tour” Across Europe and North America

Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Foy Vance announces The Wake World Tour, a sweeping 60-date run across Europe, the UK, the United States and Canada in support of his new album ‘The Wake,’ out March 13 via Rounder Records. The tour opens September 3 in Zurich and stretches through May 1, 2027 in Boston, marking Vance’s most extensive schedule to date. Highlights include Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, Dublin and two nights at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, alongside major North American stops in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, Chicago, Washington, DC and New York City. Artist presale begins February 24 at 10am local time, with general onsale from February 27 at 10am local time.

‘The Wake’ serves as the final chapter in a seven-album journey Vance began following the death of his father in 1999. Produced by Ethan Johns, the 13-track collection draws from folk, soul and Southern blues while reflecting on mourning, renewal and hard-earned clarity. Ahead of the full tour, Vance plays a run of record store appearances and intimate album launch shows in March, many already sold out, and returns home for A Celebration of Life with Foy Vance at Custom House Square in Belfast this August.

Over the years, Vance has built a reputation for emotionally direct songwriting rooted in folk and soul tradition, with albums including ‘Joy of Nothing,’ ‘From Muscle Shoals,’ ‘Signs of Life’ and ‘To Memphis’ earning wide acclaim. The Wake World Tour underscores both his consistency and evolution, bringing deeply personal material to stages across two continents.

TOUR DATES:

**Record store events
+Sold-out album release shows

Mumford and Sons Launch ‘Prizefighter’ With Massive North American Tour

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Mumford and Sons Launch ‘Prizefighter’ With Massive North American Tour

Mumford and Sons release their new album ‘Prizefighter’ and immediately raise the stakes with a sweeping North American tour that hits arenas, amphitheaters and landmark stadiums. The Live Nation promoted run launches June 2 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and rolls through major stops including Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Folsom Field in Boulder, Wrigley Field in Chicago, Fenway Park in Boston, Madison Square Garden in New York and wraps October 6 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood. International dates across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United Kingdom are also locked in, alongside festival appearances at Innings Festival, Hinterland Music Festival and Bourbon and Beyond Festival.

Support across select dates includes Dylan Gossett, Caamp, Lord Huron, Sierra Ferrell, The War on Drugs, Medium Build and Marcus King Band. AGORA members gain presale access beginning February 24 at 10 a.m. local time, with general onsale opening February 27 at 10 a.m. local time. Select markets will offer limited student priced tickets available at the box office on February 27 while supplies last. VIP packages include premium tickets, access to the preshow Prizefighter Club and exclusive merchandise.

The announcement caps a dominant 2025 for the trio, who grossed over 60 million dollars across 53 global shows, including a standout night at the Hollywood Bowl. With ‘Prizefighter’ now out and a tour that spans continents and iconic venues, Mumford and Sons move into 2026 with scale, momentum and a routing built for massive singalongs.

TOUR DATES:

Feb. 20 — Tempe, AZ — Innings Festival
April 24 — Melbourne, Australia — Rod Laver Arena
April 25 — Melbourne, Australia — Rod Laver Arena
April 28 — Brisbane, Australia — Entertainment Centre
April 29 — Sydney, Australia — Qudos Bank Arena
May 2 — Auckland, New Zealand — Spark Arena
June 2 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena ||
June 4 — Bozeman, MT — Bobcat Stadium ||
June 6 — Boulder, CO — Folsom Field †
June 8 — Fort Worth, TX — Dickies Arena ‡
June 9 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP ‡
June 11 — Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field #
June 13 — Toronto, ON — Rogers Stadium #
June 14 — Pittsburgh, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake ‡
June 16 — Bangor, ME — Maine Savings Amphitheater ‡
June 18 — Syracuse, NY — Empower FCU Amphitheater ‡
June 19 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live ‡
June 20 — Hershey, PA — Hersheypark Stadium +
June 22 — Boston, MA — Fenway Park +
July 1 — Groningen, Netherlands — Stadspark
July 2 — Werchter, Belgium — Rock Werchter Festival
July 4 — London, U.K. — BST Hyde Park ^
July 5 — Dublin, Ireland — Marlay Park
July 7 — Rome, Italy — Rock in Roma
July 9 — Berlin, Germany — Waldbuhne
July 31 — Minneapolis, MN — Mystic Lake Amphitheater ~
August 1 — St. Charles, IA — Hinterland Music Festival
August 2 — Kansas City, MO — Morton Amphitheater ~
August 4 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena ~
August 6 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ~
August 7 — Tampa, FL — Benchmark International Arena ~
August 9 — Charlotte, NC — Spectrum Center ~
August 11 — New York, NY — Madison Square Garden ~
August 15 — Gilford, NH — BankNH Pavilion ~
August 16 — Montreal, QC — Lasso Festival
September 12 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Rock in Rio
September 20 — Charlottesville, VA — John Paul Jones Arena %
September 22 — Grand Rapids, MI — Acrisure Amphitheater %
September 23 — Madison, WI — Kohl Center %
September 25 — Louisville, KY — Bourbon and Beyond Festival
September 29 — Birmingham, AL — Coca-Cola Amphitheater %
October 1 — The Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion %
October 3 — Albuquerque, NM — First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater ||
October 6 — Los Angeles, CA — Kia Forum ||

|| with special guest Sierra Ferrell
† with special guests Sierra Ferrell and Dylan Gossett
‡ with special guest Dylan Gossett

Parker Barrow Return To The UK With “Glass Eyes Cryin’”

Music

Eric Alper

-

Feb 20, 2026

0

Parker Barrow Return To The UK With “Glass Eyes Cryin’”

Nashville-based Southern rockers Parker Barrow release a new lyric video for “Glass Eyes Cryin’” as they announce a return to the UK this July for five intimate club shows and a slot at Steelhouse Festival. The track, lifted from their ‘Hold The Mash’ EP, marks a turning point for the band. “Glass Eyes Cryin’ was the first song we wrote and recorded for Hold The Mash,” says drummer Dylan Turner. “We felt it was the perfect song to kickstart a musical shift to what the band has become since our previous record.”

Led by husband-and-wife duo Megan Kane and Dylan Turner, with guitarist and musical director Alex Bender rounding out the lineup, Parker Barrow channel a groove-heavy, gospel-tinged swagger on the track. Turner describes it as laid-back yet powerful, driven by a vocal that confronts emotional manipulation head-on and underscores the idea that actions speak louder than words. The band name itself nods to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, signaling rebellion and edge from the outset.

Since forming after a chance meeting in 2019, Parker Barrow have built momentum through relentless touring and a vintage rock sound shaped by influences like The Rolling Stones, Blackberry Smoke and Led Zeppelin. Their debut ‘Jukebox Gypsies’ earned global praise, while 2025’s ‘Hold The Mash’ produced singles including “Make It,” which landed on Planet Rock’s main playlist. With a reputation for explosive live performances packed with groove, grit and spontaneous jams, the band head back across the Atlantic ready to turn up the heat.

TOUR DATES:
Friday 17 July 2026 – Frome, Treehouse
Saturday 18 July 2026 – Stowmarket, John Peel Centre
Tuesday 21 July 2026 – Glasgow, Audio
Wednesday 22 July 2026 – Sheffield, Greystones
Thursday 23 July 2026 – Leek, Foxlowe Arts Centre
Friday 24 July 2026 – Steelhouse Festival