Sir Paul McCartney took the SNL stage for the Season 51 finale as musical guest, delivering a live performance of “Help!” that became an instant highlight, and not just for the song. Will Ferrell, hosting the episode, joined in on cowbell, prompting McCartney to break into genuine laughter mid-performance, a moment that sent the internet into full meltdown. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith anchored the whole thing on drums, and the result was exactly the kind of unrepeatable live television that SNL was built for.
Video: How Tom Scholz Fooled the World With “More Than A Feeling”
In 1976, Boston released one of the most iconic debut singles in rock history, but Boston wasn’t really a band. As Music Mongoose breaks down in their viral video essay, “More Than A Feeling” was almost entirely the work of one man, MIT-educated engineer Tom Scholz, who spent five years building the track in his basement, played most of the instruments himself, and convinced Epic Records they were signing a full group. Brad Delp’s soaring vocals completed the illusion, and the result became one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history. It’s one of rock’s great origin stories.
GRAMMY Winners Tank and the Bangas Close the Balloon Trilogy With New Album ‘The Last Balloon’
The Last Balloon, the highly anticipated album from GRAMMY-award winners Tank and the Bangas is out today via Verve Forecast—listen HERE.
The album comes on the heels of singles, “Nighttime,” “No Invite,” and “Move,” which received praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, OkayPlayer, BET, Essence and more, further highlighting the band’s ever-growing musical palette. “We’re working with new people and cultivating new sounds, and it feels like we’re more open than we’ve ever been,” says Tarriona “Tank” Ball on the new album, which features collaborations with the likes of Lucky Daye, Austin Brown, Ledisi and more.
The Last Balloon follows acclaimed albums Green Balloon (2019) and Red Balloon (2022), and marks both the closing chapter of the trilogy. “I called the album The Last Balloon because I didn’t want anyone asking us, ‘When’s Purple Balloon coming?’” adds Tank. “It’s the end of the balloons; we’re moving into a new space now.”
Executive-produced by frequent collaborator Austin Brown and recorded primarily at The Complex Studios in Los Angeles, the band worked alongside a range of artists including the multi-faceted musician Iman Omari, pianist/producer Tane Runo and soul singer Jelly Joseph. The Last Balloon finds the band exploring news sounds while contemplating themes of frustration, resilience and self-realization. Moments of vulnerability are met with bursts of joyful energy, as the record balances emotional catharsis and communal uplift.
The band’s live shows served as a blueprint for the creation of the album, with their dynamic performances guiding the songs. “What we’ve learned over the years is that even though people can’t always categorize our sound, they’re always able to describe how the music makes them feel,” explains Tank. “So, we’re gonna keep on changing and evolving, but we’re always gonna give you that same feeling of joy.”
In 2024, Tank and the Bangas released their three-part spoken word project, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, which won the band a GRAMMY Award for “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.” Each chapter of the album found Tank working with a different producer: The Soul with Robert Glasper as well as Austin Brown and Brian London, The Heart with James Poyser and The Mind with Iman Omari. Listen to the complete project HERE.
New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas rose to prominence in 2017 following their unanimous NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest victory. Bringing their blend of poetry, R&B, gospel, and pop to a worldwide stage, Tank and the Bangas have been praised as one of the “best live bands in America” by NPR Music. In 2019, the band released their major label debut, Green Balloon, on Verve Forecast to widespread critical praise earning the band a Best New Artist nomination at that years GRAMMY Awards. Their latest third studio album Red Balloon received a nomination for “Best Progressive R&B Album” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Throughout their career the group has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Austin City Limits,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “The Today Show.” They have consistently sold-out venues both stateside and abroad, with festival appearances at Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and the Newport Jazz Festival.
Tank and the Bangas are Tarriona “Tank” Ball (lead), Norman Spence II (Multi- Instrumentalist) with new accompanying members, Deven Trusclair (Drummer), Kenaniah Turner (Bass), Rob Kellner (Keys), and Etienne Stoufflet (Saxophone).
TANK AND THE BANGAS — THE LAST BALLOON
1. Rest (feat. Shirazee)
2. Ain’t That Deep
3. Don’t Count Yourself Out (feat. Dawn Richard)
4. No Invite
5. Move (feat. Lucky Daye)
6. Go Your Own Way (feat. HaSizzle)
7. Is It Over?
8. Interlude
9. Whole World (feat. Ledisi)
10. Jealous (feat. Jelly Joseph)
11. Honeycomb (feat. Akeem Ali)
12. Oh Boy
13. Nighttime (feat. David Shaw & Austin Brown)
TOUR DATES—TANK AND THE BANGAS
May 15 /// New York City, NY /// Rough Trade Below
May 17 /// Cleveland, OH /// Courage and Poetry:
An Afternoon with Tank Ball
May 23 /// Columbus, OH /// Ohio Black Expo 2026
June 2 /// Charlotte, NC /// Visulite Theatre †
June 3 /// Asheville, NC /// The Grey Eagle †
June 5 /// Burlington, VT /// Waterfront Park
June 6 /// Brooklyn, NY /// Brooklyn Bowl †
June 7 /// Boston, MA /// The Sinclair †
June 10 /// Detroit, MI /// El Club †
June 12 /// Kalamazoo, MI /// Bell’s Eccentric
Cafe – Back Room †
June 13 /// Indianapolis, IN /// Rock the Ruins*
June 15 /// East Grand Rapids, MI /// Frederik
Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
June 16 /// Cleveland, OH /// Cain Park – Evans Amphitheater*
June 17 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall †
June 19 /// Washington, D.C. /// Lincoln Theatre
June 20 /// Carrboro, NC /// Cat’s Cradle Outdoors
July 2 /// Los Angeles, CA /// Skirball Cultural Center
July 4 /// Portland, OR /// Tom McCall Waterfront Park
September 25-27 /// Sandtown, South Africa /// Joy of Jazz 2026
October 15 /// Atlanta, GA /// Terminal West †
October 16 /// Atlanta, GA /// Terminal West †
October 17 /// Nashville, TN /// Brooklyn Bowl †
October 20 /// Madison, WI /// Majestic Theatre †
October 21 /// Iowa City, IA /// Club Hancher †
October 23 /// Minneapolis, MN /// Fine Line †
October 24 /// Chicago, IL /// Thalia Hall †
October 25 /// St. Louis, MO /// Off Broadway †
November 5 /// Kansas City, MO /// The Truman †
November 7 /// Denver, CO /// Gothic Theatre †
November 8 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// The Commonwealth †
November 10 /// Seattle, WA /// The Crocodile †
November 13 /// San Francisco, CA /// August Hall †
November 17 /// Phoenix, AZ /// Crescent Ballroom †
November 19 /// Austin, TX /// Antone’s †
November 20 /// Austin, TX /// Antone’s †
November 21 /// Houston, TX /// Heights Theater †
*w/ Trombone Shorty
†w/Ariel J
John Travolta Writes, Directs, and Narrates New Film “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” for Apple TV
John Travolta went all in. The two-time Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award winner wrote, directed, narrated, and produced “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” a new Apple Original Film premiering globally on Apple TV this Friday, May 29, 2026, following its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is set in the golden age of aviation and follows a young airplane enthusiast named Jeff, played by newcomer Clark Shotwell, and his mother, played by Kelly Eviston-Quinnett, as they set off on a one-way cross-country flight to Hollywood. What begins as a simple journey becomes something far larger, shaped by airline meals, unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers, and a tantalizing glimpse at first class.
Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu Travolta appears in the film as one of the flight attendants, alongside Olga Hoffmann. It’s a family project in the most literal sense, with Travolta shepherding the story from script to screen through his production company JTP Films, Inc., in partnership with Kids at Play. Jason Berger and Amy Laslett produce alongside Travolta.
The film carries a warmth and wide appeal that tracks with the premise. A cross-country flight seen through the eyes of a boy whose future is being quietly shaped by every detail of the journey is the kind of story that works for any audience, any age. Travolta built it that way deliberately.
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” arrives on a platform with serious creative credentials. Apple TV has accumulated 816 wins and 3,498 award nominations since launching in 2019, with titles including “CODA,” “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Studio,” and the Academy Award-winning “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time. Travolta’s film lands in strong company.
This is a side of Travolta that doesn’t get enough attention. The instinct to build a personal, generation-spanning story rooted in the romance of mid-century air travel, and then commit fully to directing and narrating it himself, speaks to a filmmaker with something specific and genuine to say. “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” premieres May 29 on Apple TV.
Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary Arrives on HBO This June
Questlove has turned his lens on one of the greatest bands in American music history. HBO’s original documentary EARTH, WIND & FIRE (TO BE CELESTIAL VS. THAT’S THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD) debuts Sunday, June 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streams on HBO Max. The film runs two hours and covers the full arc of a band that genuinely changed the culture.
Directed and produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Academy Award and GRAMMY winner behind “Summer of Soul,” the documentary traces Earth, Wind & Fire from their origins through the life and vision of late founding member Maurice White. Nine GRAMMY Awards. Decades of influence. One of the most theatrically ambitious live acts in the history of popular music. This film takes all of it seriously.
The documentary draws from the band’s visual, audio, and written archives, including never-before-seen footage, building what the release describes as “an experiential kaleidoscope of images, colors, and music.” Live performance footage anchors the film, transporting viewers into the electric atmosphere Earth, Wind & Fire built show after show across decades.
White’s story is the spine of the film. From the childhood experiences that shaped his worldview to his relentless drive to weave spiritual, metaphysical, and astrological ideas into genre-spanning songwriting and increasingly theatrical live production, the documentary examines what made him one of the most singular creative forces of the 20th century. It doesn’t look away from the personal costs that came with that drive.
The band’s musical evolution is tracked in full: jazz to soul, R&B, Afro-funk, disco, and well beyond. The film also examines the resurgence of Earth, Wind & Fire’s influence through hip-hop sampling and contemporary collaborations, tracing a direct line from Maurice White’s vision to the artists building on it today. Prince and Stevie Wonder are named among those shaped by the band’s reach.
The participant list reflects just how wide that reach goes. Band members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson appear alongside musicians, managers, authors, former members, and family. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama speak to the band’s cultural significance. Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, H.E.R., and Flea round out a lineup of voices that spans generations and genres.
Executive producers include Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Cheo Hodari Coker alongside Jon Kamen, Shawn Gee, and others. The film is produced by RadicalMedia, Two One Five Entertainment, Broken Halo Entertainment, and Word Is Bond in association with Sony Music Vision, presented by HBO Documentary Films from Fifth Season.
Earth, Wind & Fire built something that outlasted every trend they ever crossed paths with. This documentary is a proper accounting of how that happened. June 7 on HBO.
Samantha Fish Announces Fall Tour and First-Ever Live Album ‘Paper Doll Live’
Samantha Fish has a live album coming, a new tour announced, and absolutely nothing left to prove. The Kansas City-bred guitarist and songwriter has released details for ‘Paper Doll Live,’ her first official live album, due June 12 via Rounder Records, alongside a newly announced fall tour with UK power trio Zac Schulze Gang.
‘Paper Doll Live’ was recorded at Knoxville’s historic Bijou Theatre, capturing Fish and her band in front of a packed house with soaring harmonies from Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters woven throughout. Guitar Player called it “arguably Fish’s most authentic concert souvenir.” Creative Loafing Atlanta went further, calling her current live show “one of the most explosive blues shows this year.” Both assessments land.
Fish puts it plainly: “There’s a fire that comes across in live performance that doesn’t always translate in studio albums. The stage lays all of that bare.” ‘Paper Doll Live’ exists because that fire needed to be documented. It does exactly that.
The album follows ‘Paper Doll,’ the studio record it grew out of. Fish framed the relationship between the two directly: “If Paper Doll was a declaration of artistic power, Paper Doll Live is the sound of that power unleashed.” That’s not a boast. That’s a traceable arc across her catalog.
Fish’s live reputation has been built show by show, decade by decade. From cold-calling bars as a teenager in Kansas City to headlining the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the eighth time this year, she’s developed one of the most physically commanding, emotionally raw live shows in contemporary roots music. Critics have called it “wild, raunchy… an absolute must-see” and praised her “savage guitar work and commanding stage presence.” Those descriptions hold up.
A 2-time GRAMMY nominee and Kansas City Hall of Fame inductee, Fish has shared stages with Slash and The Rolling Stones and appeared at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. Her catalog includes ‘Runaway,’ ‘Wild Heart,’ ‘Chills & Fever,’ ‘Kill or Be Kind,’ ‘Faster,’ the chart-topping collaboration ‘Death Wish Blues’ with Jesse Dayton, and ‘Paper Doll.’ Every record has pushed her further into her own territory.
The fall tour features UK power trio Zac Schulze Gang as support, and they’re an ideal match for this run. Guitarist and vocalist Zac Schulze, drummer Ben Schulze, and bassist Ant Greenwell draw from Rory Gallagher and Dr. Feelgood to build a raw, high-voltage blues-rock sound that Classic Rock described as “armed with upbeat, 70s-ified blues rock with a few enticing twists and a roughened Rory Gallagher-esque edge.”
The Zac Schulze Gang sold out London’s The Garage, play more than 250 shows a year across the UK and Europe, and have appeared alongside Fish, Eddie 9V, and at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. Their debut album ‘Straight To It’ broke them through.
Toronto R&B Favorites Majid Jordan Deliver Summer-Ready New Single “Cold”
Majid Jordan are having a year, and “Cold” is the latest proof. The Toronto R&B duo dropped the new single on May 22, and it lands exactly where they’re most comfortable: smooth, dance-ready, and built for summer.
The track pairs Majid Al-Maskati’s vocals with Jordan Ullman’s production in the kind of seamless creative chemistry that has defined this duo since day one. “Cold” carries a propulsive beat and an earworm melody that doesn’t let go, and the additional lyrical support and vocals from Clementine Douglas (Calvin Harris) push the track even further into its lane.
Co-production from Alex Lustig (Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR) gives “Cold” a sonic polish that’s immediately familiar and immediately Majid Jordan. The fingerprints of the OVO world are all over this record, and that’s a very good thing.
2026 has been a strong year for the duo before this single even arrived. Their track “Life 2” earned them a JUNO Award Nomination for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year. An impromptu performance at Listening Room Toronto generated serious buzz, and a Subway Takes appearance pulled 5.8 million views. That’s the kind of momentum that makes a new single feel like an event.
Majid Jordan’s arc is worth remembering. Majid Al-Maskati and Jordan Ullman caught the attention of Noah “40” Shebib early in their career, signed to OVO Sound, and co-produced and co-wrote Drake’s 2013 Diamond-certified “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” They’ve been building and evolving their sound ever since, carving out a subgenre that belongs entirely to them.
“Cold” is exactly what it promises: quintessential Majid Jordan. The R&B hallmarks are intact, the production is sharp, and Al-Maskati’s vocals are as strong as ever. More is coming from this duo in 2026. “Cold” is out now on all platforms.
Larry David and President Obama Team Up for HBO’s Wildly Unexpected Limited Series
Nobody saw this one coming. HBO has released a new teaser and images for ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,’ a seven-episode limited sketch comedy series pairing Larry David with President and Mrs. Obama. It debuts Friday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streams on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly through the season finale on August 7.
The premise is exactly as absurd as it sounds. President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America’s 250th anniversary with a celebration of the nation’s unique history. Then Larry David called. The rest is television history in the making.
The series is written and executive produced by Larry David alongside co-creator Jeff Schaffer, who also directs. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama executive produce through their Higher Ground production company, joined by Ethan Lewis and Vinnie Malhotra.
The cast includes select “Curb Your Enthusiasm” veterans alongside noteworthy guest stars. Beyond that, details are being kept close to the vest, which only adds to the anticipation.
Higher Ground is no stranger to acclaimed work. The company has earned 3 Academy Award nominations (winning for ‘American Factory’), 12 Emmy nominations, and 3 Grammy nominations, with celebrated projects including ‘Leave the World Behind,’ ‘Rustin,’ and ‘American Symphony’ on its resume.
‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ is the kind of creative collision that only happens once. Seven episodes. Two of the most recognizable figures in American culture. One very uncomfortable premise. June 26 on HBO.
Carlos Santana Returns to House of Blues Las Vegas With New Fall 2026 Residency Dates
Fourteen years in and Carlos Santana still owns the House of Blues Las Vegas. The guitar legend has announced a new batch of September 2026 performances of “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live,” presented by SiriusXM at House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The newly added fall dates land on September 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, and 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now starting at $99.50, not including applicable fees, at HouseofBlues.com/Santana, MandalayBay.com, and Ticketmaster.com.
VIP packages are available with customizable experiences including limited edition photos and specialty food and beverage options with stage-side dining. They’re limited, so moving fast is the right call.
A portion of every ticket sold benefits The Milagro Foundation, the charitable organization Santana and his family founded in 1998 to support underrepresented children and youth in arts, education, and health. A second contribution goes to the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, which connects young people to music education and industry mentorship.
Santana is a 10-time GRAMMY and 3-time Latin GRAMMY winner, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a Kennedy Center Honoree, and sits at number 11 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. His 1999 album ‘Supernatural’ took home 9 GRAMMYs in a single night, including Album and Record of the Year.
His latest album ‘Sentient’ features collaborations with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Miles Davis, DMC, and Cindy Blackman Santana. The Tribeca-premiered documentary CARLOS is streaming globally now. This summer, Santana and The Doobie Brothers head out together on the Oneness Tour across North America.
The residency at House of Blues remains one of the most consistent live experiences in Las Vegas. Intimate room, five decades of catalog, one of rock’s all-time great guitarists. Tickets are available now.
Fall 2026 Residency Dates:
September 16, 2026
September 17, 2026
September 19, 2026
September 20, 2026
September 23, 2026
September 24, 2026
September 26, 2026
September 27, 2026