Dabke, one of Syria’s most beloved dance music traditions, is at the center of the country’s war and the social tensions that preceded conflict. Drawing on almost two decades of ethnographic, archival, and digital research, Shayna M. Silverstein shows how dabke dance music embodies the fraught dynamics of gender, class, ethnicity, and nationhood in an authoritarian state. The book situates dabke politically, economically, and historically in a broader account of expressive culture in Syria’s recent (and ongoing) turmoil. Silverstein shows how people imagine the Syrian nation through dabke, how the state has coopted it, how performances of masculinity reveal?and play with?the tensions and complexities of the broader social imaginary, how forces opposed to the state have used it resistively, and how migrants and refugees have reimagined it in their new homes in Europe and the United States. She offers deeply thoughtful reflections on the ethnographer’s ethical and political dilemmas on fieldwork in an authoritarian state. Silverstein’s study ultimately questions the limits of authoritarian power, considering the pleasure and play intrinsic to dabke circles as evidence for how performance cultures sustain social life and solidify group bonds while reproducing the societal divides endemic to Syrian authoritarianism.
40 Fingers Turn “Hey Jude” into a Joyful Singalong at Teatro Dal Verme
When 40 Fingers took the stage at Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, something magical happened. Their stunning acoustic cover of “Hey Jude” turned into a massive singalong, as the crowd carried the chorus in perfect harmony. The band paused, smiled, and let thousands of voices finish the song — a moment The Beatles themselves would’ve given their thumbs aloft.
Bootsy Collins Drops Funk-Fueled “Bubble Pop (Remix)” with Ice Cube and Mousse T — A Celebration of Groove and Legacy
Today, Bootsy Collins releases a high-energy remix of fan-favorite song “Bubble Pop” from his critically acclaimed record Album of the Year #1 Funkateer on Bootzilla Records / Roc Nation. The funk legend tapped chart-topping DJ and producer Mousse T. for a sped-up, even funkier version of the joyous track that also features Ice Cube, Fantaazma, and Brother Nature – listen here.
Speaking on the remix, Bootsy says “Mousse T & I go back to my WEA-Germany Warner Brothers dazes latter part of the 90’s! In my eye’s I saw him as a Artist 1st then saw his skills as a Producer in the studio. He was always professional & he could throw down at the Parties we attended as his moon lite gig was DJing. He was the 1st one I thought of to Remake/Remix “Bubble Pop” because he knows that Party crowd. So I buzzed him up & said Give up the Funk! We have that kind of relationship. Mousse T is an all around musical being that keeps up on the pulse of the people. He surrounds himself with Good Vibes. Bootsy Collins baby!!!”
Mousse T. adds, “Bootsy and I go waaaaaay back. I was privileged to work with Bootsy in my studio in Germany on his album „Fresh outta „P“ university and then executively produce his album „Play with Bootsy“. We´ve been in touch ever since and when Bootsy called for a remix, it was all engines go! Basically I like the original vibe a lot, so I just wanted to funk it up a bit. Sped up the tempo a bit and got some new beats going. Also Ice Cube being on the track gave me the idea to give it a bit of G-Spice.”
“Bubble Pop (Remix)” is Bootsy’s first new drop following the release of his 23rd studio LP, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, which has already received critical acclaim from GRAMMY.com, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Forbes, SPIN, Afropunk, Relix, FLOOD, and more. Even at his 73 year-old, funk legend, wise-elder status, he remains a deeply curious, experimental artist who is ever-evolving. This album finds Bootsy in the producer’s chair, with an A&R top hat and the funky bass still in his hands. He’s gathered talent established and new – including Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Wiz Khalifa, and Dave Stewart, as well as newcomers October London, Harry Mack, Baby Triggy, Fantaazma, and more.
“When I start on a project now, it’s about getting the energy from people around me,” says funk maestro Bootsy Collins. “Because the way I came up, with a band, I don’t ever want to lose that. It’s important to me to see who the universe brings for me, and I’ve been really blessed that every time I want to do a new record, I get these incredible musicians around me, right on time. And that’s what this album is about—hooking up with different musicians and artists, and mainly a lot of young people.”
The result is a genre-bending kaleidoscope of funk, punk, rock, r&b, pop, and even a little electronic futuristic vibes as Bootsy contemplates AI. He is letting his alter egos – Bootdullivan, Bootzilla, Caspar the funky ghost, and Bootronix among others – join the party, with seductive jams (“Pure Perfection”), futuristic exploratory musings (“I.Am.AI.”, “Ubiquitous” – a true jam), pure funk fun (“Bubble Pop”, “Fishnets”, “Chicken & Fries”) and unexpected rock-pop genius (“Satellite”).
Talking about his new Album of the Year #1 Funkateer leads Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Collins to revisit the most pivotal moment in his legendary career, when James Brown hired the Pacemakers—the band led by teenage Bootsy and his brother Catfish—to replace his backing group in 1970.
“I understand now why we were really important at that particular time for James Brown,” says Collins. “It wasn’t just the music. It was because we were lit up, and I understand that more now. With the young artists that are really on fire, I get lit up, and it reminds me that you don’t have to just stand around and not be feeling it, you can be absorbing all this fresh, new energy. I get off on that. I guess you can say that I moved from being a player and now I’m a coach. I want to be looked at as a help, a mentor, somebody they can look up to and trust. That’s my goal.”
In addition to working with young artists like Barbara Teleki (whose blazing guitar rips up “Barbie T & Me”) and the mysterious Bootdullivan, Collins brought in some other legendary contributors to help him mix things up on Album of the Year, including longtime friend Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.
“I asked Dave if he would be interested in collaborating,” says Collins, “and that sparked the first vibe of, yeah, I can stretch out—I can make some rock and funk and merge that together with some hip-hop. That’s what we did on the first single, ‘The Influencers.’”
“Then on ‘Satellite,’ I heard him playing acoustic guitar and that put me in the right mood,” he continues. “Okay, this can be, like, a real song from Bootsy. I usually don’t do real songs, I guess that’s part of my thing, but that one and ‘Alien Flytrap’ brought me back to why people do songs with a form and a structure and this time, I wanted to.”
The album also reunites Collins with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and tha Dogg Pound, all of whom helped keep the P-Funk flag flying by mutating the sound into the West Coast G-Funk era. “Even before we knew each other, we were drawn to each other,” says Collins. “They’ll never forget, and we’ll never forget them, because they kept the fire burning. It’s like we’re each other’s keeper. They can call me, I can call them, whatever you need, I’m there.”
FUNK NOT FIGHT & BOOTSY COLLINS NETWORK
In addition to the new album, Bootsy has many other endeavors including Bootsy’s peace-driven initiative Funk Not Fight, and the new Bootsy Collins Network, the ultimate destination for live entertainment and on-demand content. Dive into a world of electrifying live-streaming channels featuring Pay-Per-View events, exclusive video-on-demand content, and groundbreaking live product launches. Whether you’re tuning in for high-energy concerts, the latest in tech innovations, or intense e-sports action, the Bootsy Collins Network delivers an immersive experience like no other. Bootsy Collins network will be available across all major streaming services, including Apple iOS, Google Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV, ensuring you never miss a moment of the excitement. From legendary live performances to cutting-edge digital experiences, we bring you front-row access to the best in music, technology, and gaming—all in one place.
Track Listing for Album of the Year #1 Funkateer
01. Album of the Year #1 Funkateer feat. Myra Washington and Bootdullivan
02. The JB’s Tribute Pastor P feat. Harry Mack, Clyde Stubblefield, John “J’abo” Starks, Fred Wesley, and Daru Jones
03. Bootdullivan is Soopafly feat. Ouiwey Collins, Kokane, Daz Dillinger, and Soopafly
04. The InFluencers feat. Dave Stewart, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, WestCoast Stone, and Fantaazma
05. Bubble Pop feat. Ice Cube, Fantaazma, and Brother Nature
06. Fishnets feat. Myra Washington, Kurupt, Matthew Whitaker, and Daz Dillinger
07. Satellite feat. Dave Stewart and Brother Nature
08. Ubiquitous feat. Casper the Funked up Ghost and Kid Talk
09. Hundo P feat. Fantaazma and Snoop Dogg
10. Chicken & Fries feat. Soopafly, Myra Washington, Baby Triggy and Fantaazma
11. Pure Perfection feat. Fantaazma, Gilbert Driver and Bedroom Bootsy
12. Anybody Out There feat. Myra Washington and Brother Nature
13. BeWild feat. Isis Valentino, Alexandria Rosemond, and Brother Nature
14. Alien Flytrap feat. Dave Stewart and Bootdullivan
15. Reach the Zone feat. October London, Musiq Soulchild, and Bedroom Bootsy
16. 2Nite we Rise feat. DREION, Fantaazma, ZGM Precious Praisers, and Casper the Funked up Ghost
17. I.Am.AI. feat. Tobotius, I.AM, and Kid Talk
18. Barbie T & Me (Tribute To Buckethead) feat. Barbie T, Zillatron
Goose Announce Viva ‘El Gonzo 2026’ — A Three-Night Musical Paradise Returning to San José del Cabo
Goose have announced the second iteration of their annual destination festival, Viva El Gonzo, produced by 100x Hospitality and set for May 7-9, 2026 in San José del Cabo, Mexico. A three-day music and arts festival held in a sacred tropical oasis on the southern tip of the Baja California desert, Viva El Gonzo will see Goose playing all three nights, joined by an all-star assembly of special guests for an immersive musical experience like no other. A complete lineup will be announced soon. GA Festival Tickets, TED and Super TED VIP, and travel packages are available now. Payment plans are available with 5% down payment. For complete details and ticket information, please see www.vivaelgonzo.com.
This spring’s inaugural edition of Viva El Gonzo proved an unforgettable milestone in what is fast shaping up as Goose’s most momentous year thus far. The three-day event saw a vibrant array of powerhouse performances from Goose and their star-studded lineup of guests, all set on the Baja California coastline against the breathtaking backdrop of the Sea of Cortés. Goose showcased their awe-inspiring range and creative imagination over the course of seven completely unique sets, with countless highlights including surprising covers, expansive jams on beloved fan favorites, the debut of exhilarating new originals, and live renditions of every song from their acclaimed new album, Everything Must Go. All told, Viva El Gonzo represented a titanic moment for Goose, exceeding all expectations with its genre-blurring performances, groundbreaking approach towards programming, and inspired variety of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, setting an extraordinary bar for future iterations going forward.
The ”Everything Must Go Tour” celebrates the recent arrival of Goose’s new album, Everything Must Go, available everywhere now via No Coincidence Records. Goose’s fourth studio LP and first new studio collection in nearly three years following 2022’s critically acclaimed Dripfield, the album marks both a statement of intent for Goose as well as an arrival of sorts — a journey for fans and newcomers alike through the group’s past, present, and infinite future. The album was met with a great deal of excitement from the media upon release, with features appearing in the New York Times and Vulture and others, as well as a performance on CBS Saturday Morning alongside an interview with Anthony Mason.
Hailed by PopMatters as “superb…one of the best studio albums by a jam band to date,” the album includes such extraordinary new tracks as the propulsive fan favorite, “Thatch,” the searching “Lead Up,” the breezy, atmospheric “Your Direction,” and euphoric first single, “Give It Time,” the latter two accompanied by official music videos streaming now on YouTube. In addition, the LP’s deeply moving title track is joined by a visually arresting official music video directed and designed by award-winning animator Chris Hopewell (known for his distinctive work with Radiohead, The Killers, Run The Jewels, Father John Misty, and many more).
The White Stripes Celebrate 20 Years of Get Behind Me Satan with Limited Vinyl and New “Red Rain” Video
The White Stripes are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their GRAMMY Award-winning 2005 fifth studio album, Get Behind Me Satan, with today’s arrival of a limited-edition commemorative vinyl release. The 2LP edition – featuring one red and one clear disc, both with black wisps – is available now via Third Man Records.
Today also sees the premiere of a brand-new stop motion video for the Get Behind Me Satan standout track, “Red Rain,” streaming now on YouTube. The video, which took about 80 hours to create, is Executive produced by Audg Fenter and directed by Brooklyn, NY-based independent filmmaker Conor Callahan. The inventive animated visual utilized 5,980 miniature bricks “cemented” together using Royal Icing, a product commonly used for intricate cake and cookie decoration, as well as Super7’s recently released ReAction Figure 2-pack capturing Jack and Meg White in all their Get Behind Me Satan glory.
Recorded on the stairway of Jack White’s home in the Indian Village neighborhood of Detroit, Get Behind Me Satan sees The White Stripes at their most experimental, creative best, augmenting their traditional sound of guitar, drums, and piano with marimba, tympani, mandolin, bells, and more. Not commercially released on vinyl until 10 years after its initial 2005 release, the album made a Top 3 debut on album charts in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia and earned global acclaim thanks to its unique rhythmic approach and such classic singles as “Blue Orchid,” the GRAMMY® Award-nominated “My Doorbell,” and “The Denial Twist,” all three of which proved Top 10 hits on the UK’s Official Singles Chart. Hailed by Rolling Stone for “twisting a variety of American music styles to their own emotional purpose…the music is so wild, it could make you weep over how pitilessly the White Stripes keep crushing the other bands out there,” Get Behind Me Satan went on to earn RIAA Gold certification in the US, Platinum certification in the UK and Canada, and The White Stripes’ second consecutive GRAMMY Award for “Best Alternative Album.”
The White Stripes were recently named among the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The 6x GRAMMY Award-winning, 11x GRAMMY Award-nominated band join esteemed fellow 2025 inductees Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, and Soundgarden. The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA. The 2025 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the next day. For more information, please visit rockhall.com/inductees/white-stripes.
Tracklist:
SIDE A
Blue Orchid
The Nurse
My Doorbell
SIDE B
Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
As Ugly As I Seem
The Denial Twist
White Moon
SIDE C
Instinct Blues
Passive Manipulation
Take, Take, Take
SIDE D
Little Ghost
Red Rain
I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)
Jessie Murph Unveils “Heroin” and Releases Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’
Jessie Murph has released her new single “Heroin,” the latest taste off her sophomore album, Sex Hysteria, available now via Columbia Records. The ballad shows a new side of Jessie in the Sex Hysteria era, as Jessie croons over a beautiful piano and strings arrangement, singing about a toxic and addicting love that she can’t stay away from.
Additionally, Jessie has announced the tracklisting for Sex Hysteria, which will include her most recent hits, “Blue Strips” and “Touch Me Like A Gangster.” Both tracks continue to show massive growth and currently occupy #18 (having peaked at #15) and #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The 15-track album will include features from Gucci Mane on “Donuts” and Lil Baby on “Best Behavior.”
A bold departure from the introspective grit of her debut, That Ain’t No Man That’s The Devil, the album dives headfirst into uncharted territory: opening up about themes of sexuality, generational trauma, and self-discovery with a vulnerability and honesty that marks a new chapter in her artistic evolution.
Sex Hysteria is Jessie’s most thematically cohesive work to date, peeling back the layers of her story like never before as she transforms personal pain into cathartic, powerful music. Across 15 tracks, she reckons with the past, interrogates inherited trauma, and explores the emotional complexities of growing up in environments where feelings are buried deep. From confronting family wounds to reclaiming her body and desires, she pushes back against the shame and stigma that often silence women who dare to be loud, sexual, or emotionally honest. Sex Hysteria is both a provocation and a reclamation.
Visually, Jessie nods to ’60s femme fatales with a classic beehive on the album cover-a bold contrast to the raw, modern truths she delivers within. The album’s preview arrives with the seductive new single “Touch Me Like A Gangster,” out Friday, June 6th. Jessie debuted the track at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show in Miami, marking its first live appearance ahead of the upcoming album. Also featured is the explosive lead track “Blue Strips”, already lighting up streaming platforms with its unapologetic lyrics and bass-heavy production. On the album’s opener “Gucci Mane,” Murph’s storytelling takes center stage as she confronts her past, reflects on her journey, and voices complicated emotions with fearless honesty.
Indigo Syndicate Serve Up Sweet, Saucy Love on Their Irresistibly Cozy New Single “Ravioli”
Indigo Syndicate’s latest single, “Ravioli,” is a serotonin boost in song form – a love letter wrapped in comfort and pure vibey bliss. It’s quirky, it’s cozy, it’s head-over-heels, and it knows exactly what it’s doing.
From the opening line – “You could be my best friend, you could be my homie / We could chill and watch some Netflix making ravioli” – you know you’re not just hearing a love song. You’re being invited into a world where intimacy is found in the everyday, where affection is unpretentious and sweetly offbeat. The repetition of “I love you” in the chorus hits like a mantra, turning simplicity into sincerity – the kind that cuts through the noise of modern romance and plants itself firmly in your heart.
Sonically, “Ravioli” balances groove and warmth with a laid-back charisma that feels equally at home on a sun-drenched road trip or during a late-night kitchen dance. The production is buttery-smooth but playfully minimal, allowing the lyrics and vibe to shine without distraction.
There’s a confessional thread that weaves through the verses: “I confess / That you’ve been on my mind once or twice / I’m obsessed / I’ve been loving you my entire life.” It’s bold in its vulnerability, but softened by the breezy cadence and melodic swells. That juxtaposition – heartfelt declarations paired with lo-fi charm – is what makes the song unforgettable.
“Ravioli” proves that Indigo Syndicate isn’t afraid to be earnest, weird, and wildly lovable – often all at once. It’s a celebration of crushes and our favorite, carb-fueled connection. In a world that often takes itself too seriously, “Ravioli” reminds us: love can be light, playful, and still mean everything.
Lord Huron Reach for the Stars with “Bag of Bones” and New Album ‘The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1’
Lord Huron – the project of Los Angeles-based songwriter, musician and visual artist Ben Schneider – releases the new single/video, “Bag of Bones” from their new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, out now. It follows previous singles “Looking Back,” “Who Laughs Last,” and “Nothing I Need,” the latter of which has spent five weeks at #1 on Adult Alternative radio.
Celebrated Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard writes in the band’s new bio, “Lord Huron’s new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, is as full of evocative songs, as beautifully American as its predecessors. The difference, musically speaking, is that they don’t look as much to the past, thus adding force to the lyrics, which face two directions at once: backward, toward the ghosts of the past, and up, toward the emptiness of the universe. And if you stare up into the night sky, the feeling of utter insignificance is difficult to avoid.”
“It ought to crush us, for we are so obviously nothing, a microscopic anomaly of flesh and blood in an infinite, black and lifeless space, but it doesn’t crush us,” he continues. “It is terrifying, this black abyss with tiny pinpricks of light that we live at the edge of, but it is also beautiful.” Fitting remarks for today’s single where Schneider sings, “People die and planets turn / And empires rise and fall and burn / Nothing lasts and no one stays / It just spirals off into outer space / Never seen a sky so full of stars / Makes me wonder where we are.”
Regarding the accompanying video, Schneider says, “I first saw Matt McCreary’s work right around the time we were recording ‘Bag of Bones’ and it struck me as the perfect fit for the song – tumbling aimlessly yet somehow gracefully through life and all its twists and turns. Very grateful that he was up for collaborating on this clip.”
The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, Lord Huron’s fifth album, was written and co-produced by Schneider. Alongside Schneider are his band members Tom Renaud, Mark Barry and Miguel Brise-o, and a host of collaborators, including actress Kristen Stewart (on “Who Laughs Last”) and Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino (on “Fire Eternal”). The album title references the mysterious machine featured on the cover art. Schneider asks: “What if you could choose your fate like choosing a song on a jukebox? What if your finger slipped and you got the B-side instead? What if you misunderstood the meaning of the dang song to begin with?”
Long-praised for their “thrilling” (NPR Music) live performances, last month, Lord Huron wrapped up an entirely sold-out tour in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their beloved album Strange Trails, which included the band’s annual two-night stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. Next month, coinciding with The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1’s release, they will embark on their biggest headline tour to date, hitting landmark venues including Madison Square Garden in NYC and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Select performances featuring support from Waxahatchee, Feist, Kevin Morby and more. Of Lord Huron’s live shows, Pollstar says, “[Lord Huron] can command an audience’s attention in any setting.”
Fri. July 18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – SOLD OUT ^
Sat. July 19 – Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed – SOLD OUT ^
Sun. July 20 – Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed – SOLD OUT ^
Tue. July 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory – SOLD OUT %
Wed. July 23 @ Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre – SOLD OUT %
Fri. July 25 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle %
Sat. July 26 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle %
Sun. July 27 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park %
Tue. July 29 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion #
Wed. July 30 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden #
Fri. Aug. 1- Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavillion at The Mann %
Sun. Aug. 3 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway – SOLD OUT %
Tue. Aug. 5 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek %
Thu. Aug. 7 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors @
Fri. Aug. 8 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! Outdoor – SOLD OUT @
Sat. Aug. 9 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT @
Mon. Sept. 1 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg – Ronda &
Tue. Sept. 2 – Eindhoven, NL @ Effenaar &
Thu. Sept. 4 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene &
Fri. Sept. 5 – Stockholm, SE @ Annexet &
Sat. Sept. 6 – Copenhagen, DK @ Poolen &
Mon. Sept. 8 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom &
Tue. Sept. 9 – Warsaw, PL @ Stodola &
Wed. Sept. 10 – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer &
Thu. Sept. 11 – Zurich, CH @ Halle 622 &
Sat. Sept. 13 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia &
Sun. Sept. 14 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg – Ronda – SOLD OUT &
Mon. Sept. 15 – Cologne, DE @ E-Werk &
Tue. Sept. 16 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique &
Thu. Sept. 18 – Bristol, UK @ Bristol Beacon &
Fri. Sept. 19 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo – SOLD OUT &
Sat. Sept. 20 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow – SOLD OUT &
Sun. Sept. 21 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo Manchester &
Tue. Sept. 23 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall &
Wed. Sept. 24 – London, UK @ 02 Academy Brixton &
Wed. Oct. 15 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley !
Fri. Oct. 17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center !
Sat. Oct. 18 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena !
Sun. Oct. 19 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion !
Tue. Oct. 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center – SOLD OUT !
Thu. Oct. 23 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha – SOLD OUT !
Fri. Oct. 24 – St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena !
Sat. Oct. 15 – Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena !
Mon. Oct. 27 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory !
Wed. Oct. 29 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall !
Thu. Oct. 30 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center $
Sat. Nov. 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre – SOLD OUT $
Sun. Nov. 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum $
* with Molly Lewis
^ with Indigo De Souza
% with Lee Fields
# with Waxahatchee
@ with S.G. Goodman
& with Pillow Queens
! with Kevin Morby
$ with Feist
Nelly Marks 25 Years of ‘Country Grammar,’ the Diamond-Selling Classic That Redefined Midwest Hip-Hop
Nelly, the St. Louis-bred hip-hop juggernaut celebrates the 25th anniversary of the June 27, 2000 release of his stone-classic debut album Country Grammar featuring the omnipresent radio hits “Country Grammar,” “E.I.,” “Ride wit Me.”
Hailed upon release by Rolling Stone as “the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx,” by NME as the “album of the year so far,” and by People, who proclaimed that Nelly “marked his hometown of St. Louis as a major contender,” Country Grammar debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 and soon vaulted to No. 1. In 2016, the RIAA certified the album Diamond, selling more than 10 million copies to date, a feat which placed Nelly among rock superstars like Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Bruce Springsteen.
As a creative heavyweight from St. Louis during a time when most rappers were from the East Coast, the West Coast, or the South, Nelly’s breezy, twangy approach proved to be a breath of fresh air for the genre. When his debut single “Country Grammar (Hot Sh*t),” which was hung on the children’s clapping game “Down Down Baby,” was released in February 2000, became a smash hit and peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100, the foundation was laid for his blockbuster debut album to break into the mainstream. He continued his parade of hits with No. 1 hits like “Grillz,” “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” and Grammy-winning “Shake Ya Tailfeather”.
Whether revisited digitally or on wax, Country Grammar’s beloved hits, like “Ride Wit Me” (No. 3) and the airwaves-conquering title track have dominated global culture for more than two decades. The album was produced by Jason “Jay E” Epperson, who himself did a tremendous amount to craft the sound of 2000s Midwestern hip-hop.
Born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. in Austin, Texas, the rapper showed early promise, forming The St. Lunatics in 1993 with his childhood friends, MCs “Ali” Jones, Torhi “Murphy Lee” Harper, Lavell “City Spud” Webb, and Robert “Kyjuan” Cleveland. After Jay E workshopped the music with Nelly, they shopped for labels in New York and the rapper was signed to Universal Records in 1999. The pair drew deeply from the sounds that surrounded them in the Midwest – urban, country, hip-hop – and fused them into a fresh, infectious, unforgettably hooky whole.
Country Grammar’s evergreen appeal also stems from its astonishing array of guests, including Cedric the Entertainer on “Intro,” Lil Wayne on “For My,” The Teamsters on “Never Let ‘Em C U Sweat,” and most of all his trusty collaborators St. Lunatics on “Steal the Show,” “Thicky Thick Girl” and “Batter Up.” The album went on to sell more than 10 million copies, making it the ninth best-selling rap album of all time in the U.S Country Grammar was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards (along with its title track for Best Rap Solo Performance) and Nelly was crowned Best New Artist at the 2001 BET Awards.
Country Grammar – A mini-documentary was created for the 20th anniversary with animated clips, performance footage, and sees Nelly telling his story of the early beginnings as an artist with a unique style and sound, the creation of his Diamond-selling classic, Country Grammar, and how he put St. Louis on the hip-hop map.
X Ambassadors Celebrate 10 Years of ‘VHS’ with Reimagined Anniversary Album VHS(X)
Alt-rock group X Ambassadors have officially announced details for VHS(X), a reimagined version of the band’s hit debut album VHS. The new release, out now, sees the band reworking hit songs like “Jungle” and break-out single “Renegades” in celebration of the record’s 10th anniversary. Along with the news comes the brand new version of “Unsteady (Rerecorded)” and a new music video.
On VHS(X) and the newly released version of “Unsteady”, front man Sam Nelson Harris shares: “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about being an artist, I learned when writing this song. I had this great, simple hook written but I didn’t know what to do for the verses. I played it for Alex, our producer, and asked him what he thought I should try and write about. He thought for a second, then asked me what my relationship was like with my parents. “Um, I love them? They’re divorced? It’s complicated?” Write about that, he said. Why? I thought. It seemed so bizarre to me, so mundane. And honestly, my second thought was: who would care? Everyone’s parents get divorced. It’s not unique. Who’s going to care about me whining about how profoundly affected I was by it? And– here’s the key– I was embarrassed. But I wrote it anyway. And making the choice to say something out loud that I felt to be embarrassing, I later realized was making the choice to be vulnerable. Which is what it’s all about. Vulnerability.”
He continues: “Now, whenever I have a thought like: Oh God, I wouldn’t want anyone to know that about me, I know I have to try and write something about it and be vulnerable. Because guaranteed there’s someone out there who feels the same way too, and hearing me sing about it might make them feel a little less alone.”