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SEMA Fest 2025 Returns with Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes & Neon Trees

Eric Alper
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SEMA Fest 2025 Returns with Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes & Neon Trees

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), producers of the SEMA Show, the major trade-only automotive aftermarket event held annually in Las Vegas, has announced the return of SEMA Fest for Friday, November 7. Back for its third year, SEMA Fest 2025 promises an all-star music lineup of Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees, high-performance automotive demonstrations, drifting, motorsports, custom vehicles, and more. SEMA Fest caps off the week-long SEMA Show, taking place November 4-7, 2025, both conveniently located within the Las Vegas Convention Center campus with SEMA Fest returning to the Bronze lot.

Early bird pre-sale tickets are available July 16–starting as low as $65–with the general on-sale kicking off this Friday, July 18 at 10 am PT via semafest.com. General admission and VIP concert access tickets are available, as are combined tickets, offering entry to both SEMA Fest and SEMA Show Friday public access of the indoor SEMA Show. This exclusive bundle gives automotive enthusiasts rare access to the world’s largest automotive aftermarket trade event–typically reserved for industry insiders–alongside performances from some of today’s biggest bands.

Beyond iconic sets from rock greats Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees, SEMA Fest 2025 is set to deliver adrenaline-fueled automotive action with live motorsports demonstrations. Fans can expect drifting exhibitions, high-speed precision driving, and high-horsepower showcases that bring the world of extreme automotive performance to life. In addition to the live action, SEMA Fest will feature an expanded display of exclusive, custom, and concept vehicles–many of which can’t be seen anywhere else outside of SEMA Fest–giving enthusiasts rare, up-close access to some of the most innovative and cutting-edge builds in the automotive world.

Before the music starts at SEMA Fest, automotive enthusiasts can cap off the week with a rare opportunity to experience the SEMA Show during SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public, taking place Nov. 7. A bucket list event for car lovers, the SEMA Show offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the trends, builds, and innovations driving the aftermarket industry. It’s the ultimate way to celebrate car culture before heading into a night of live entertainment at SEMA Fest.

“SEMA Fest brings the excitement of car culture and live music together like never before,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “When combined with the rare opportunity to walk the SEMA Show floor during Friday’s public access, it creates an unforgettable experience for enthusiasts. It’s the ultimate way to celebrate the industry, the community, and everything that makes car culture so special.”

Founded in 1963, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. The association started highlighting the passion of the industry and sharing it with the enthusiast public in 2011 with the SEMA Cruise, which evolved in 2014 with SEMA Ignited, and then once more in 2021 with the SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public. In 2023, SEMA first introduced SEMA Fest, a new event that celebrated the relationship between music, motorsports, and car culture. It’s since become a one-of-kind live and epic event that is a true bucket list experience for music lovers and car enthusiasts.

In 2023, the SEMA Show attracted 160,000 attendees and 2,400 brands, making it the top convention in Las Vegas, as reported by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s research center. 2025 looks to be even bigger with 4.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit space booked by thousands of leading brands leading up to the industry’s most important gathering of the year. 

SEMA Fest 2024 delivered high-energy performances from Cage The Elephant, Sublime, featuring original members alongside Jakob Nowell, Fitz and The Tantrums, and Petey. Fans also witnessed adrenaline-fueled drifting exhibitions from the skilled team at OPTIMA Unleashed, adding to the festival’s signature mix of live entertainment and car culture. The inaugural SEMA Fest in 2023 set the tone with a diverse lineup of chart-topping and emerging artists, including Imagine Dragons, Incubus, Wiz Khalifa, AJR, Third Eye Blind, Bush, Ludacris, Walk The Moon, The Struts, and more. 

Josh Ritter Unveils New Song & Tour Ahead of New Album ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew’

Eric Alper
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Josh Ritter Unveils New Song & Tour Ahead of New Album ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew’

Renowned singer, songwriter, musician, artist, and best‑selling author Josh Ritter releases his new song, “Truth is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding),” today.

The song is the latest unveiled from his anticipated new album, I Believe in You, My Honeydew, out September 12 via Thirty Tigers.

Of the track, Ritter shares, “I don’t remember writing this song. I hardly ever do. I remember beginning with the daydream of a night drive through the desert. I arrived at a lookout and, here, looking up at the stars from the parking lot of my mind, I caught a glimpse of something thoroughly unexpected. TRUTH revealed itself to me for an instant. The song was done when I woke up from the daydream. I recorded this song in one take. Thanks to Sam Kassirer for realizing that it was the one, and to Rich Hinman for the glorious solo. I released this song previously on an EP, lest something should happen to me and it be forgotten. Now, I’m doing my best to make sure that it won’t.”

In celebration of the new music, Ritter will tour throughout this fall, including newly confirmed solo shows at Los Angeles’ Masonic Lodge, Portland’s The Old Church (two nights), and Seattle’s St. Mark’s Cathedral, among others. See below for the complete tour itinerary. Tickets for the new shows will be available for pre‑sale starting tomorrow, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. local time, with general on‑sale following this Friday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time. A portion of the proceeds from pre‑sale tickets sold via joshritter.com will be donated to Immigrant Defense Project. Pre‑sale sign‑up and full details can be found at www.joshritter.com/#tour.

Throughout his decades‑long career, Ritter has established himself as “one of the most perceptive artists making music today” (American Songwriter), releasing twelve albums to date and earning the respect of countless music legends, with artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Bob Weir having performed and recorded his songs.

With the release of I Believe in You, My Honeydew, Ritter shares ten new tracks that further demonstrate the insightful and engaging artistry that he’s celebrated for, including “You Won’t Dig My Grave,” which was released last month. Produced by Sam Kassirer (Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim), the new album features Ritter alongside his Royal City Band: Kassirer (piano, organ, synthesizer, accordion), Zachariah Hickman (acoustic and electric bass, thumb piano, mandolin), Rich Hinman (guitars, pedal steel, mandolin), and Ray Rizzo (drums, percussion).

The new project follows Ritter’s 2024 mini‑album, Heaven, or Someplace as Nice, which he recorded with legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and his acclaimed 2023 full‑length project, Spectral Lines. Of the record, Paste praised, “Josh Ritter is like a more open‑hearted version of Leonard Cohen. His lyrics draw on the divine, but he seems to see a little heaven in all the people around him,” while No Depression declared, “a hopeful tapestry that encourages listeners to sit with each other in introspection, but not to forget to sing along.”

In addition to his work as a musician, Ritter is also a national bestselling author, having released two novels to date: 2011’s Bright’s Passage and 2021’s The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All, for which the film rights have recently been optioned for development. Released to critical attention, Stephen King wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Bright’s Passage “shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime…This is the work of a gifted novelist.”

I BELIEVE IN YOU, MY HONEYDEW — TRACK LIST

    You Won’t Dig My Grave

    Honeydew (No Light)

    Truth is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding)

    Noah’s Children

    Wild Ways

    Thunderbird

    Kudzu Vines

    I’m Listening

    The Wreckage of One Vision of You

    The Throne

JOSH RITTER — CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
BOLD on sale this Friday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time

August 9 — Three Rivers, PEI — Cloggeroo Festival (solo show)
August 10 — Truro, NS — Marigold Cultural Centre (solo show)
August 20 — Westport, CT — Levitt Pavilion*
August 21 — Portland, ME — State Theatre*
August 22 — South Burlington, VT — Higher Ground*
August 23 — Easthampton, MA — Arcadia Folk Festival
August 24 — Lowell, MA — Lowell Summer Music Series*
October 1 — Los Angeles, CA — Masonic Lodge (solo show)
October 7 — Portland, OR — The Old Church (solo show)
October 8 — Portland, OR — The Old Church (solo show)
October 10 — Seattle, WA — St. Mark’s Cathedral (solo show)
October 11 — Moscow, ID — University of Idaho Admin Auditorium (solo show)
November 1 — Rochester, NY — Concerts at Beston Hall
November 2 — Grand Rapids, MI — St. Cecilia Music Center
November 3 — Ann Arbor, MI — The Ark
November 4 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre
November 6 — St. Louis, MO — The Sovereign
November 7 — Chicago, IL — Thalia Hall
November 8 — Minneapolis, MN — Fitzgerald Theater
November 9 — Des Moines, IA — Hoyt Sherman Place
November 12 — Pittsburgh, PA — Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
November 13 — Washington, D.C. — Lincoln Theatre
November 14 — Philadelphia, PA — Keswick Theatre
November 16 — New York, NY — Brooklyn Steel

*with special guest Bhi Bhiman

John Prine’s ‘Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings’ Gets 30th Anniversary Deluxe Reissue

Eric Alper
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John Prine’s ‘Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings’ Gets 30th Anniversary Deluxe Reissue

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, a deluxe edition of John Prine’s beloved and GRAMMY-nominated album will be released via Oh Boy Records on September 12. Available for pre-order and pre-save now, the digital deluxe edition features five previously unreleased demos and alternate takes, along with the never-before-heard track “Hey Ah Nothin’,” out today with an accompanying music video. A long-lost gem sure to delight both longtime fans and newcomers alike, this addition offers an intimate glimpse into the album’s creation and the spontaneous spirit that defined the sessions. The album will also be released on vinyl for the first time ever, newly remastered from the original tapes. Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings is widely cherished for its warmth, wit, and depth, and this new edition provides an even closer look at one of the most joyful and creatively fertile periods in Prine’s storied career.

A special edition of the LP, exclusive to the John Prine online shop, will be pressed on blue and green split-colored vinyl to match the iconic album cover. It will come in a jacket featuring pop-up artwork of the original album that includes a custom-designed checkerboard set, complete with Lost Dog-themed pieces that can be used for both checkers and chess. Fans can also find exclusive colored vinyl editions in standard jackets at indie record stores and vinyl clubs. Additional exclusive merch items will be offered online as part of the release.

Originally released in 1995, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings followed Prine’s Grammy-winning album The Missing Years and further cemented his legacy as one of America’s greatest songwriters. Produced by Howie Epstein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the album captured Prine at a personal and artistic high, filled with the joy of new love, fatherhood, and unshakable creative chemistry.

Backed by an all-star ensemble including Heartbreakers pianist Benmont Tench and guest vocals from Carlene Carter and Marianne Faithfull, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings is a vibrant showcase of Prine’s unmatched lyrical gifts. The album flows effortlessly from the wry contentment of “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” to the epic storytelling of “Lake Marie,” a song Bob Dylan once cited as one of his favorites.

With its blend of heartfelt ballads, surreal narratives, and playful humor, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings remains one of Prine’s most expansive and beloved works. At 14 tracks and nearly an hour in length, it captures the richness of the midlife experience, honest, relaxed, and fully alive. Thirty years on, this release offers a fresh invitation to revisit an album that continues to comfort, surprise, and inspire. 

Additionally, the Prine family will host the fourth annual You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine in Nashville from October 9-12, 2025. This will be the final year for this highly anticipated event and will feature performances at some of the city’s most legendary venues, including the historic Ryman Auditorium (October 10, John Prine’s birthday), The Basement East (October 9), The Bluebird Cafe (October 9), and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater (October 11). Proceeds from the week will benefit The Hello in There Foundation, which was established by the family of John Prine as a way for his fan network, friends, and family to celebrate his memory and generous spirit through a philanthropic commitment to community care. For tickets and more information on this event, visit yougotgold.johnprine.com/tickets.

Track Listing:
New Train
Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody
All the Way With you
We Are the Lonely
Lake Marie
Humidity Built the Snowman
Day is Done
Quit Hollerin’ at Me
Big Fat Love
Same Thing Happened to Me
This Love Is Real
Leave the Lights On
He Forgot That It Was Sunday
I Love You So Much It Hurts

Bonus Songs: *available digitally and on deluxe CD*
Ain’t Hurting Nobody – alternate version 
All the Way With You – Acoustic Version
Lake Marie – Demo version
Humidity Built the Snowman – solo acoustic version
Quit Hollerin At Me – alternative version
Hey Ah Nothin’ – previously unreleased track

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Launch Fall Tour with Dizgo, Eggy, Eddie 9V & More

Eric Alper
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Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Launch Fall Tour with Dizgo, Eggy, Eddie 9V & More

Today, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong unleashes plans for a twelve-city fall tour through the heart of America, making stops at legendary music hubs from Atlanta to Covington this November. Each date on the highly anticipated trek will feature a supporting act from a handpicked selection of openers, including Eddie 9V, Eggy, Dizgo, and Dogs in a Pile. 

“Something about this neck of the woods always gets me fired up,” said frontman “Scrambled Greg” Ormont. “Between the wild crowds and amazing food, I truly can’t wait for every stop on this run.”

PPPP kicks off October with a string of previously announced dates, including a pair of North Carolina shows in Wilmington (10/3) and Raleigh (10/4) preceding their debut at Darlington, MD’s Ramble Festival (10/11). Later in the month, the band will deliver a three-night run at Boston, MA’s Paradise Rock Club (10/24-26) before making a pitstop at Hulaween Music Festival on Halloween proper. 

Fall tour then charges through several iconic Southern stages before migrating to the Midwest. Eddie 9V will lend his soul-igniting, guitar-driven blues to stops in Atlanta, Jackson, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Fayetteville. Following a can’t-miss Sunday night convergence with Eggy at New Orleans’ historic Tipitina’s, Indiana psych-groove purveyors Dizgo will join Pigeons for stops in Omaha, Minneapolis, Madison, and Covington. Marking yet another jaw-dropping one-off performance is the explosive evening alongside fast-rising jam quintet Dogs in a Pile at St. Louis’ The Sovereign.

For all dates, PPPP offers exclusive VIP Packages delivering unparalleled fan access and experience, with packages including premium seating options, a personal meet & greet with the band, VIP-exclusive limited edition merch items, and early venue entry for merchandise shopping.  

Ticket sales commence with a VIP and artist presale running Tuesday, July 15 at 11 AM ET through Thursday, July 17 at 10 PM venue local time. Venue presales run Thursday, July 17 from 10 AM to 10 PM venue local time, before a general public on sale on Friday, July 18th at 10 AM venue local time. 

For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit the band’s official website. 

PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG 2025 TOUR DATES

7/25 – Johnstown, PA – Flood City Music Festival 

7/26 – Patchogue, NY – Great South Bay Music Festival 

8/7-9 – New River Gorge, WV – Domefest 

8/14 – Rochester, NY – Party in the Park ! 

8/28-31 – Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, OH – Summerdance 

8/29-31 – Lake George, NY – Adirondack Independence Music Festival

9/11-14 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond  

9/19-21 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion

10/3 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater ! 

10/4 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre !

10/11 – Darlington, MD – Ramble Festival

10/24 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club @

10/25 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club #

10/26 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club $

10/31-11/2 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Hulaween

11/8 – Atlanta, GA –  Variety Playhouse !

11/9 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s &

11/11 – Jackson, MS – Duling Hall – !

11/12 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater !

11/14 – Austin, TX –  Mohawk !

11/15 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall !

11/16 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge !

11/18 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown $

11/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line $

11/20 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre $

11/21 – St. Louis, MO – The Sovereign %

11/22 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater $

BOLD – New Dates

! Eddie 9V

@ Big Something 

# Chalk Dinosaur

$ Dizgo

& Eggy 

% Dogs in a Pile

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Reunite for ‘Jingle All the Way’ Tour

Eric Alper
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Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Reunite for ‘Jingle All the Way’ Tour

 The original lineup of the groundbreaking Bela Fleck & The Flecktones-banjoist Bela Fleck, Howard Levy on piano and harmonica, percussionist / drumitarist Roy “Future Man” Wooten and bassist Victor Wooten-will return this winter for Jingle All the Way, a reunion tour spanning their wild and beloved catalog, including reinvented holiday classics from the Grammy-winning album by the same name.

Performing this music together for the first time in over fifteen years, the band will be joined by special guests who appeared on the 2008 studio album: renowned Tuvan throat singing ensemble, Alash, and former Flecktone, saxophonist Jeff Coffin. (While we’re on the subject, the Flecktones will be on a run this August and September, and will join the Dave Matthews Band August 30 at the Gorge in Quincy, WA. Bela sat in with the Dave Matthews Band last November at MSG.) Jingle All the Way marks the first time the original Flecktones, Coffin and Alash have appeared together on stage.

Jingle All the Way kicks off with one night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville November 26, continues on to the Beacon Theatre in New York City on December 10-the Flecktones’ largest NYC show to date-and wraps in New Orleans on December 20 at the Joy Theater.

Tickets are on sale Friday, July 18 at 10am local time. Artist & VIP presale begins Wednesday, July 16 at 10am local time. All shows will have the option for a VIP pre-show experience, including an intimate soundcheck performance, Q&A with the band, and exclusive merchandise.

In 2009, Jingle All the Way won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album, and hit number 1 on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart.”Growling Tuvan throat singing takes over ‘Jingle Bells.’ ‘Silent Night’ becomes modal jazz with abstruse harmonies. ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ zigzags through a maze of meter shifts and key changes (perhaps ‘The 12 Tones of Christmas’?). And Tchaikovsky’s ‘Danse of the Sugar Plum Fairies’ pings its melody in harmonics from Bela Fleck’s banjo,” describes The New York Times. “Those are just four of the virtuosic transformations Mr. Fleck and his band came up with on an album that applies all sorts of musicianly gamesmanship to Christmas songs (and one Hanukkah tune) that can sometimes take an aural squint to recognize.”

In 1988, Bela formed the Flecktones for a single performance on PBS’ Lonesome Pine Special, and began touring in 1989. “The band was so fresh and powerful that we all wanted more of it,” says Victor, who describes the band as a family. “I think we gave other musicians the courage to be different.” With all manners of genres coming into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk – the sound of this Grammy-winning quartet has created a sound all its own.

“Christmas music is inside everyone’s DNA,” says Fleck. “Jingle All the Way is an open doorway for listeners to understand the Flecktones’ music.”

BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES
Aug 24 El Cajon, CA The Magnolia
Aug 25 Los Angeles, CA The Ford
Aug 26 Berkeley, CA UC Theatre
Aug 28 Eugene, OR The Shedd Institute
Aug 29 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Aug 30 Quincy, WA Gorge Amphitheatre (w/ Dave Matthews Band)
Aug 31 Gallatin Gateway, MT Warren Miller (2 shows)
Sept 1 Ketchum, ID The Argyos (2 shows)

BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES: JINGLE ALL THE WAY
feat. Victor Wooten, Roy “Future Man” Wooten & Howard Levy
with special guests Jeff Coffin & Alash

Nov 26 Nashville, TN The Ryman Auditorium
Nov 28 Nashville, TN The Ryman Auditorium
Nov 29 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
Nov 30 Ann Arbor, MI Hill Auditorium
Dec 1 Champaign, IL Virginia Theatre
Dec 2 Grand Rapids, MI Devos Performance Hall
Dec 3 Chicago, IL Salt Shed
Dec 5 Ithaca, NY State Theatre
Dec 6 Boston, MA Shubert Theatre
Dec 7 Portland, ME State Theatre
Dec 9 Burlington, VT Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Dec 10 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Dec 11 Rochester, NY Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre
Dec 12 Philadelphia, PA Miller Theater
Dec 13 Stony Brook, NY Staller Center
Dec 14 North Bethesda, MD Music Center at Strathmore
Dec 16 Charlottesville, VA Paramount Theater
Dec 17 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre
Dec 18 Athens, GA Hodgson Concert Hall
Dec 19 Atlanta, GA The Easter
Dec 20 New Orleans, LA Joy Theater

Lawton, Metzger, Paczkowski Bring LaMP Back on Tour

Eric Alper
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Lawton, Metzger, Paczkowski Bring LaMP Back on Tour

Fresh off their debut West Coast performance at High Sierra Music Festival over 4th of July weekend, LaMP featuring Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski, announce their return with seven shows in October. The run kicks off at Mystic Theatre in Petaluma followed by additional California shows at Cornerstone in Berkeley and Felton Music Hall just outside of Santa Cruz. It then heads Northwest for four shows, including Volcanic Pub Theater in Bend, Polaris Hall in Portland and WOW Hall in Eugene before wrapping at Hidden Hall in Seattle.

Upcoming West Coast tour dates are:

10/9 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre
10/10 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
10/11 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
10/13 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Pub Theater
10/16 – Portland, OR – Polaris
10/17 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall
10/18 – Seattle, WA – Hidden Hall

Artist pre-sale for these shows begins at 10am PT today, with general on-sale starting at 10am PT on Wednesday, July 16 at ilikelamp.com

LaMP is supporting their second studio album, “One of Us,” which captures their ability to tap into what Relix Magazine calls, “unbridled creativity” and what Premier Guitar Magazine declares, “builds on the long history of the organ-trio tradition…all while embracing the spirit of rock ’n’ roll abandon.”
​

The band’s growing popularity is no surprise to fans who’ve previously embraced its individual members. Metzger is the guitarist for Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Lawton and Paczkowski have long teamed as the rhythm section to the Trey Anastasio Band. However, the trio’s kinetic chemistry and infectious improvisational jams have started to elevate the band into something much more than a side project. And they’re still just getting started.

LaMP ft. Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski​ 2025 Tour Dates
​​
7/24 – Check, VA – FloydFest​
7/25 – Check, VA – FloydFest​
7/26 – Johnstown, PA – Flood City Music Festival
8/29 – Manteno, IL – Shoe Fest
8/30 – Marshfield, MA – Levitate Backyard
8/31 – Lake George, NY – Adirondack Independence Music Festival
9/17 – Asheville, NC – Third Room
9/18 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
9/19- Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
9/20 – Annapolis, MD – Annapolis Baygrass Festival
​10/9 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre
10/10 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
10/11 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
10/13 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Pub Theater
10/16 – Portland, OR – Polaris
10/17 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall
10/18 – Seattle, WA – Hidden Hall​
10/20 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Other Side
10/21 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Other Side

The Zombies to Livestream Exclusive Global Screening of ‘Hung Up on a Dream’ on Veeps

Eric Alper
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The Zombies to Livestream Exclusive Global Screening of ‘Hung Up on a Dream’ on Veeps

Legendary British rock band The Zombies invite fans around the world to a one-night-only global livestream event on Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 PM PT, broadcast from The Bellwether in Los Angeles. Presented exclusively on streaming platform Veeps, the experience centers on a screening of the band’s acclaimed documentary, Hung Up on a Dream, followed by a live acoustic performance from frontman Colin Blunstone and director Robert Schwartzman’s band Rooney, and capped off with an intimate Q&A with both of them.

This exclusive event is a rare chance for global audiences to revisit and rediscover the remarkable six-decade journey of The Zombies, from their ground-breaking debut in the 1960s and smash hits like “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season,” through solo ventures, and culminating in their long-overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

“Watching Hung Up on a Dream for the first time, I left in awe at what Robert had achieved—and also exhausted after reliving every heartbeat of The Zombies’ career,” said Colin Blunstone. “It’s deeply moving, and I’m thrilled we get to share that journey with fans around the world in such a personal setting.”

Tickets for the livestream are available now at https://veeps.com/thezombies for $14.99, and include access to the full event plus a three-day on-demand rewatch window. U.S. and Canadian fans can also watch as part of their Veeps All Access membership, which offers unlimited access to a vast catalog of concerts, documentaries, comedy specials, and other exclusive content.

20 Iconic Music Videos That Still Hold Up

Eric Alper
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20 Iconic Music Videos That Still Hold Up

Music videos create entire worlds in just a few minutes. Some are joyful, some are powerful, and some are pure art. These 20 unforgettable visuals continue to shine—across decades, genres, and generations.

A-ha – Take On Me (1985)
Hand-drawn animation meets live action in a romantic, rollercoaster daydream. It’s the kind of video that turns a catchy song into an unforgettable experience.

Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008)
Minimalist set, maximalist impact. The precision, power, and iconic hand flick changed pop choreography forever.

Bjork – All Is Full of Love (1999)
Two androids falling in love in a sterile lab. With futuristic visuals and soft wonder, it’s Björk at her most visionary.

Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965)
Flip cards, alleyway, no edits—Dylan created the lyric video decades before it had a name. Pure DIY poetry.

Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy (1984)
A tender, courageous story of a gay teen leaving home. This video gave hope, visibility, and a synth-pop soundtrack to resilience.

Busta Rhymes – Gimme Some More (1998)
Hyper-speed camera cuts, surreal visuals, and cartoon energy that turned hip-hop into a Saturday morning fever dream.

Childish Gambino – This Is America (2018)
Layered with symbolism and raw emotion, this video sparked endless conversation. Every frame is a statement.

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1983)
A parade of joy, fashion, and freedom. Cyndi turned a bedroom into a global party with heart and sequins.

David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes (1980)
Clown suits, beach scenes, and eerie beauty. Bowie’s visual language opened the door for decades of experimental art-pop.

George Michael – Freedom! ’90 (1990)
No lip-syncing, no band—just supermodels in a warehouse. This was rebellion with style, set to one of George’s fiercest tracks.

Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation (1989)
Military-style precision and fierce unity. Janet built a nation of dancers and dreamers, one beat at a time.

Kendrick Lamar – Alright (2015)
Hovering above traffic, wrapped in meaning. This modern classic is part music video, part protest anthem, part spiritual vision.

Lady Gaga – Bad Romance (2009)
White latex, burning beds, and monster claws. Gaga’s theatre of pop reached a thrilling, fashion-forward peak.

Madonna – Vogue (1990)
Striking poses and paying homage to Black and Latinx ballroom culture, Madonna brought underground beauty to the main stage.

Missy Elliott – The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) (1997)
Shiny suits, fish-eye lenses, and gravity-defying swagger. Missy built a futuristic playground and invited the world in.

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)
Grunge meets cheerleaders and chaos in a high school gym. This video lit the match that sparked a musical revolution.

OutKast – Hey Ya! (2003)
A technicolor throwback to The Beatles on Ed Sullivan—except with André 3000 playing every member. Pure joy in every pixel.

Prince – Kiss (1986)
One mic, one spotlight, endless charisma. Prince made simplicity magnetic, with every twist, strut, and smirk.

R.E.M. – Everybody Hurts (1993)
A traffic jam turns into a silent symphony of inner thoughts. Gentle, powerful, and deeply human.

Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)
One face, one tear, and a world of emotion. Sinead made vulnerability stronger than any special effect.

10 Tips for Avoiding Comparison Traps on Social Media

Eric Alper
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10 Tips for Avoiding Comparison Traps on Social Media

Social media can be inspiring, uplifting, hilarious, and full of heart. It’s also a place where it’s easy to look around and wonder if you’re doing enough, achieving enough, or being enough. Here are 10 tips to keep scrolling with a smile and stay grounded in your own amazing journey.

1. Remember: Everyone posts their highlight reel
That perfect beach shot? That award announcement? That dream wedding? They’re real, but they’re moments—not the whole movie. You’re living a story, not a snapshot, and that story is uniquely yours.

2. Curate your feed like it’s your bookshelf
Follow creators, friends, and pages that make you feel joy, curiosity, and calm. If a post makes you smile, you’re on the right track. Fill your feed with the stuff that fuels your soul.

3. Mute without guilt
Muting is like choosing not to read every book on the shelf. It’s a gentle, peaceful tool to create a space that works for you—no drama, no judgment, just a healthier scroll.

4. Set scroll boundaries
Pick moments in the day to check in—like a coffee break, not an all-you-can-eat buffet. Even 15 intentional minutes can feel great, and give you more time for life off-screen too.

5. Celebrate others—and yourself too
Cheering on someone else doesn’t take anything away from your own progress. You’re part of the same team: Team “Doing Cool Things in This Life.” There’s room for everyone to win.

6. Keep a joy folder
Screenshot kind comments, wins, goofy memes, and little things that made you feel seen. On a tough day, your joy folder becomes your warm blanket of reminders that you’re doing great.

7. Reflect, don’t compare
If a post sparks something inside, take a moment to ask why. Maybe it’s a dream of yours too. That can be exciting fuel—not a measuring stick.

8. Share what’s real to you
A rainy walk, a messy kitchen dance, a little victory—these things make your feed feel like a cozy living room, not a showroom. People connect with the heart, not just the polish.

9. Take breaks like a pro
Stepping away from social media for a bit can feel like a deep breath for your brain. The world waits. Your peace is never out of range.

10. You’re not behind. You’re on your own path.
No one else has your exact mix of dreams, challenges, timing, and stumbles. That makes you not late or early—but right on schedule. Keep going.

You’re not just scrolling—you’re learning, growing, and sometimes even laughing so hard you drop your phone. Keep your digital world kind, honest, and a little bit silly. You deserve that.

Electric Scooter UK Law Change

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Elеctric scootеrs arе no longеr just a trеndy gadgеt sееn zipping through city strееts—thеy’rе bеcoming a practical solution for short-distancе travеl across thе UK. With thеir risе in popularity, howеvеr, has comе growing concеrn ovеr safеty, rеgulation, and whеrе thеy fit into еxisting traffic laws.

Rеcеntly, thе electric scooter UK law change has bееn making hеadlinеs, stirring up dеbatе and curiosity among ridеrs, city plannеrs, and law еnforcеmеnt alikе. So, what’s changing? Who doеs it affеct? And what do you nееd to know if you ridе or plan to buy an еlеctric scootеr?

Lеt’s brеak it down in simplе tеrms.

Why Arе Elеctric Scootеrs Suddеnly a Hot Topic?

If you’vе walkеd around London, Manchеstеr, or Birmingham rеcеntly, you’vе probably sееn somеonе cruising by on an е-scootеr. Whеthеr ownеd privatеly or rеntеd through schеmеs likе Voi or Limе, thеsе scootеrs arе bеcoming a fixturе in urban lifе.

But up until rеcеntly, riding a privatе еlеctric scootеr on public roads or pavеmеnts was tеchnically illеgal in most parts of thе UK. Public trials for rеntal scootеrs wеrе allowеd, but thе law didn’t covеr privatе usе in a clеar way.

That gap in lеgislation lеd to confusion—and accidеnts. With rising incidеnts involving е-scootеrs and pеdеstrians, thе UK govеrnmеnt stеppеd in to proposе a changе in thе law.

Thе Corе of thе Elеctric Scootеr Law Changе

Thе biggеst shift in thе еlеctric scootеr UK law changе is around lеgalisation and classification.

So what’s thе nеw plan?

Thе UK govеrnmеnt announcеd that еlеctric scootеrs will bе officially classifiеd as “low-spееd zеro-еmission vеhiclеs.” This mеans thеy’ll havе a formal placе in traffic laws, similar to bicyclеs or еlеctric bikеs. In othеr words, thеy’ll bе lеgal to usе—but undеr cеrtain conditions.

Kеy Highlights of thе Law Changе

1. Lеgal Usе on Roads—With Conditions

Privatе еlеctric scootеrs will bе allowеd on public roads, but not on pavеmеnts. Ridеrs must follow thе samе road rulеs as cyclists, such as obsеrving traffic lights and using dеsignatеd lanеs whеrе possiblе.

2. Minimum Safеty Standards

Scootеrs must mееt spеcific safеty critеria—brakеs, lights, indicators, and spееd limits (еxpеctеd to bе cappеd at around 15.5 mph or 25 km/h).

3. Ridеr Rеquirеmеnts

Thеrе may bе a minimum agе rеquirеmеnt (likеly around 16), and somе form of insurancе or rеgistration could bеcomе mandatory, еspеcially for high-spееd or commеrcial usе.

4. Hеlmеt Usе

Hеlmеts arеn’t compulsory undеr currеnt plans, but thе govеrnmеnt strongly еncouragеs thеir usе. Expеct campaigns promoting safеty gеar, еspеcially for youngеr or first-timе ridеrs.

Why This Changе Mattеrs for Citiеs and Ridеrs

This law changе isn’t just about giving pеoplе a nеw way to gеt around—it’s about rеgulating a fast-growing modе of transport.

Elеctric scootеrs can еasе congеstion, rеducе еmissions, and offеr chеap altеrnativеs to cars or busеs. But without clеar rulеs, thеy also posе risks. By crеating a lеgal framеwork, thе govеrnmеnt hopеs to:

•             Protеct pеdеstrians from sidеwalk collisions

•             Encouragе safеr riding habits

•             Enablе policе and councils to еnforcе rulеs morе еffеctivеly

•             Promotе sustainablе urban mobility

It’s a shift that brings thе UK in linе with sеvеral Europеan countriеs likе Gеrmany, Francе, and Swеdеn, which alrеady havе laws around privatе and rеntal scootеr usagе.

Impact on Scootеr Rеntals vs Privatе Scootеrs

Lеt’s bе clеar—rеntal scootеrs (thosе bright orangе or grееn onеs you unlock with an app) wеrе alrеady lеgal in many citiеs undеr govеrnmеnt-backеd trials.

Thе rеal impact of thе еlеctric scootеr UK law changе is on privatе scootеr ownеrs. Bеforе this, if you bought a scootеr for pеrsonal usе, riding it on public roads or sidеwalks could rеsult in a finе or еvеn sеizurе of your scootеr. Now, you’ll finally bе ablе to ridе lеgally, providеd your scootеr and riding bеhaviour mееt thе nеw lеgal standards.

Arе Thеrе Any Grеy Arеas Lеft?

Yеs—somе.

Local councils will still havе thе powеr to rеgulatе whеrе scootеrs can opеratе. This mеans you might sее scootеr bans or spеcific zonеs dеpеnding on whеrе you livе. Enforcеmеnt will vary from city to city, at lеast until nationwidе policiеs bеcomе morе standardisеd.

Also, еxpеct a transitional pеriod. Thе law is still in thе rollout phasе, so don’t assumе full lеgal clеarancе until thе final vеrsion is passеd in Parliamеnt and formally еnactеd.

What Ridеrs Should Do Now

If you own an еlеctric scootеr or plan to buy onе soon, hеrе’s how you can stay ahеad:

Chеck your modеl

Ensurе it has functional lights, indicators, and a rеliablе braking systеm. Modеls that еxcееd 15.5 mph might not qualify for lеgal usе.

Stay informеd

Laws will еvolvе, and thе rollout will takе timе. Kееp an еyе on official GOV.UK announcеmеnts for confirmеd updatеs.

Practicе safе riding

Evеn if hеlmеts arеn’t mandatory, wеar onе. Stick to roads and cyclе lanеs. Bе prеdictablе and courtеous.

Looking Ahеad: A Morе Connеctеd, Grееnеr Commutе

Thе еlеctric scootеr UK law changе signals a significant shift in how Britain approachеs pеrsonal mobility. With climatе goals, urban crowding, and transport innovation all top of mind, е-scootеrs arе positionеd to bеcomе a rеal playеr in thе еvеryday commutеr’s toolkit.

Thе road ahеad will nееd finе-tuning—through еducation, infrastructurе, and maybе a fеw policy twеaks—but onе thing’s clеar: еlеctric scootеrs arе hеrе to stay, and finally, so is thеir placе in UK law.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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