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Marcus King Drops “Honky Tonk Hell” And Announces Return Of Family Reunion Festival

Eric Alper
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Marcus King Drops “Honky Tonk Hell” And Announces Return Of Family Reunion Festival

Today, the Marcus King Band unveils a first taste of new music with the track “Honky Tonk Hell” out now via American Records/Republic Records.

“‘Honky Tonk Hell’ is an anthem for anyone out there like myself who have struggled with the permanence of sobriety – those who fear the thought they will never again howl at the moon,” King says, “This song for me serves as a reminder to take it all one day at a time.”

The beloved Marcus King Band Family Reunion music festival will return for its ninth installment this summer, taking place in Charleston, SC for the first time ever. Over the course of two days—August 23 and 24—the festival will see performances by the Marcus King Band, Jamey Johnson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Molly Tuttle and more. Tickets and more information are HERE.

This year finds King hitting the road with Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Eric Church. Complete list of dates below. He will also be performing at CMA Fest in Nashville on June 6.

Greenville, South Carolina-born, Nashville-based Marcus King started performing alongside his blues guitarist father when he was just eight years old. He made his solo debut with El Dorado (2020), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The album was met with widespread acclaim, with the Associated Press calling it “a definite high point of 2020.” It went on to earn King his landmark Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

He followed up the success of El Dorado with Young Blood (2022), also produced by Auerbach. His sophomore album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Chart, describing it as a “staggeringly confident work.” Last year King returned with his third album, Mood Swings, produced by Rick Rubin, of which Rolling Stone describes, “he…goes for something much more daring, vulnerable, and openhearted.”

TOUR DATES
May 9—Grand Junction, CO—Avalon Theater
May 10—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
May 11—Wichita, KS—The Cotillion Ballroom
June 6—Nashville, TN—CMA Fest
June 12—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo
June 13—La Grange, KY—Showbarn Sessions
August 1—Mammoth Lakes, CA—Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza
August 14—Park City, UT—Park City Song Summit
August 15—West Valley City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre†
August 16—West Valley City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre†
August 23—Charleston, SC—Marcus King Band Family Reunion Festival
August 24—Charleston, SC—Marcus King Band Family Reunion Festival
August 31—Aspen, CO—Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival
September 5—Madison, IN—Unbroken Circle Festival At Bicentennial Park
September 12—Lincoln, NE—Pinnacle Bank Arena‡
September 15-21—Seattle, WA—Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea Alaska
September 25—Green Bay, WI—Resch Center§
September 26—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum§
September 27-28—St. Louis, MO—Evolution Festival
October 2—Detroit, MI—Little Caesars Arena§
October 3—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena§
October 9—Indianapolis, IN—Gainbridge Fieldhouse§
October 10—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena§
October 11—Cleveland, OH—Rocket Arena§
October 25—Birmingham, AL—Legacy Arena at The BJCC‡
*with Kaleo
†with Chris Stapleton
‡with Cody Johnson
§with Eric Church

Silverstein Announces New Album ‘Pink Moon,’ Drops Explosive Video For “Negative Space”

Eric Alper
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Silverstein Announces New Album ‘Pink Moon,’ Drops Explosive Video For “Negative Space”

Following the release of Antibloom, revered rock group Silverstein returns with Pink Moon: the second chapter in their ambitious 16-song double album, conceived and recorded during a transformative stretch in the high desert of Joshua Tree. The album, set to be released on September 12th via UNFD.

Along with the announcement comes lead single and music video “Negative Space”, offering fans their first glimpse into Pink Moon. Following the critically acclaimed Antibloom, this new track pushes everything further: the chaos, the emotion, the dynamic contrast. With its relentless pace, shifting moods, and massive hook, it captures the disorienting feeling of spiraling out, only to land in a crushing breakdown. The video, a surreal and unhinged sequel to the fan-favorite “Don’t Let Me Get Too Low”, was shot guerrilla-style across Las Vegas and delivers on every level. This is Silverstein at their most explosive and cinematic yet.

“I think the coolest thing about ‘Negative Space’ is how off-balance it makes me feel. It’s almost like it’s slightly too fast so it’s always trying to catch up to itself. That, combined with the fact that it’s always switching vibes and using contrasting tones makes for a really interesting 3 minutes,” shares guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau.

Adds front man Shane Told: “This song really has it all. Tons of energy, raw power, a big hook, and a massively heavy breakdown. I also love the lyrics and the photography imagery. On top of it, the video was super fun to make and I think might be our best video as well. So needless to say, I am SUPER excited for people to hear this one. The video is the companion piece and sequel to “Don’t Let Me Get Too Low”. The songs were written together over 2 days with our friend Jon Lundin (Point North) and it completes the story of myself playing a madman burying himself in the Las Vegas desert.”

Born from the same sessions as Antibloom, the songs on Pink Moon were sequenced with intention, offering a distinct yet complementary listening experience. Known for their meticulous attention to flow and emotional pacing, the band crafted both halves to stand on their own while also telling a broader, interconnected story, one that ebbs and crashes like the desert winds that shaped it.

Pink Moon features the only guest appearances on the project, with stunning contributions from Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker and Cassadee Pope – voices chosen mid-process when the band sensed the need to push certain songs into new sonic territory. The result is a bold and diverse body of work that expands Silverstein’s dynamic range while staying true to their emotional core. By releasing the project in two halves, the band has given every song the room to breathe, resonate, and evolve: a fitting strategy for a year packed with touring, celebration, and reflection. The moon has risen. The story continues.

This year, fans around the world are invited to join Silverstein in celebrating their “silver” anniversary with the 25 Years Of Noise Tour. These shows offer a discography-spanning performance and fans are able to vote for their favorite songs from each record to help decide the setlist. The band recently wrapped up the initial legs in North America and the UK / EU alongside Thursday, The Callous Daoboys, Arm’s Length, and Split Chain.

 

The Funeral Portrait Release “Skinny Lies,” Announce Deluxe Album & Major Tour With Ice Nine Kills

Eric Alper
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The Funeral Portrait Release “Skinny Lies,” Announce Deluxe Album & Major Tour With Ice Nine Kills

THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT keep making serious waves. The emo rock revivalists achieved the #1 spot last November on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay and Mediabase’s Active Rock radio charts with their smash single “Suffocate City (feat. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills)” and they’re again enjoying Top Ten success on the same charts with “Holy Water,” which features guest vocals by Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch.

The band—Lee Jennings (Vocals), Cody Weissinger (Guitar), Caleb Freihaut (Guitar/Auxiliary), Robert Weston (Bass), and Homer Umbanhowar (Drums)—is building on their growing success by today (April 25) releasing the lyric video for “Skinny Lies.” The track—sonically bracing and lyrically dark, highlighted by Jennings’ riveting vocal delivery—is one of three brand new songs from the forthcoming deluxe edition release of their critically acclaimed second album GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY, due out June 13 via Better Noise Music.

“‘Skinny Lies’ is about the cracks in a relationship finally breaking open—the little white lies we tell each other stacking up until there’s nowhere left to hide,” explains singer Lee Jennings. “It’s that moment when the truth is out, and you find yourself wishing you could go back to the comfort of not knowing. This song captures the tension, the regret, and the raw emotions that come with facing reality.”

In connection with the release of “Skinny Lies,” THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT is hosting a special giveaway for fans to win a trip to Atlanta for a “Hometown Rock Ritual” concert, with proceeds supporting The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ young people. The grand prize includes round-trip travel to Atlanta, a two-night hotel stay for two, and two VIP tickets to their hometown show with Ice Nine Kills at the Tabernacle on Wednesday, June 4, complete with an exclusive onstage experience. Fans can enter HERE.

Pre-orders for the digital, CD and vinyl copies of the deluxe edition of GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY are available here. The digital deluxe collection will include 24 songs, including “Holy Water” feat. Ivan Moody, songs from the CASSANOVA EP and the FROM BEYOND THE ABYSS EP, as well as the recently released versions of “Hearse for Two” feat. Lilith Czar and three brand new songs: “Skinny Lies,” “Evergreen,” and “Lost Boy.” The vinyl and CD two-disc deluxe packages feature 21 tracks, one of which is exclusive to the physical formats (“Friends Like These”).

GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY, released September 13, 2024 via Better Noise Music, consists of 14 tracks of theatrical, dramatic, unapologetic, full-throated flair with guest appearances from Bert McCracken of The Used, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills, Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, and Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire. Get a copy of GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY on CD or digital download now HERE.

In touring news, THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT has been bringing their message to the masses with an aggressive touring plan that continues throughout 2025. The band kicked off their own headlining tour April 18 with support from The Rasmus and Archers. THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT will follow these dates on a bill with Ice Nine Kills starting April 30, as well as appearances as part of the Vans Warped Tour, and other big festivals including Louder Than Life, Rocklahoma, Welcome To Rockville, and Rock Fest. Later this year, the band will head to Europe for shows with The Rasmus.

View their latest dates here:
With Ice Nine Kills:
Thu 4/30 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
Sat 5/3 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre (KUPD UFEST)
Tue 5/6 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
Fri 5/9 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
Sat 5/10 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple (FESTIVAL)
Tue 5/13 Minneapolis, MN The Fillmore Minneapolis
Sat 5/17 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome To Rockville (FESTIVAL)
Sun 5/18 Chicago, IL Riviera Theater
Tue 5/20 Grand Rapids, MI GLC at 20 Monroe
Sat 5/24 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
Thu 5/29 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theatre
** Fri 5/30 Dallas, TX RBC Deep Ellum
** Sat 5/31 Austin, TX Come And Take It Live
Sun 6/1 Houston, TX House of Blues
Wed 6/4 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
** Fri 6/6 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
** Sat 6/7 Destin, FL Club LA
Sun 6/8 New Orleans, LA The Fillmore (New Orleans)
** Tue 6/10 Birmingham, AL Saturn
Wed 6/11 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
** Headlining with The Word Alive and Melrose Avenue
Festivals:
Thu 7/17 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum (WHQG Radio Show)
Fri 7/18 Grand Rapids, MI Upheaval Festival
Sat 7/19 Cadott, WI Rock Fest
Sat 7/26 Long Beach, CA Warped Tour
Sun 7/27 Long Beach, CA Warped Tour
Sun 8/31 Pryor, OK Rocklahoma
Sat 9/20 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life
With The Rasmus:
11/11 Hamburg, Markthalle (DE)
11/12 Berlin, Metropol (DE)
11/13 Warsaw, Stodola (PL)
11/14 Brno, Sono Centrum (CZ)
11/15 Budapest, Barba Negra (HU)
11/16 Vienna, Simm City (AT)
11/17 Munich, Technikum (DE)
11/18 Milan, Alcatraz (IT)
11/20 Zurich, Komplex 457 (CH)
11/21 Karlsruhe, Substage (DE)
11/22 Saarbrucken, Garage (DE)
11/23 Frankfurt, Batschkapp (DE)
11/25 Cologne, Live Music Hall (DE)
11/26 Utrecht, Tivoli (NL)
11/27 Antwerp, Trix (BE)
11/28 Paris, La Cigale (FR)
11/30 Glasgow, SWG3 Galvanizers (GB)
12/1 Manchester, O2 Ritz (GB)
12/2 Cardiff, Great Hall (GB)
12/4 London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (GB)
12/5 Southampton, 1865 (GB)
12/6 Nottingham, Rock City (GB)

CORY MARKS Releases Rallying Cry To His Fans, “Are You With Me?” Along With Lyric Video For “Lit Up” From ‘Sorry For Nothing’ Album

Eric Alper
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CORY MARKS Releases Rallying Cry To His Fans, “Are You With Me?” Along With Lyric Video For “Lit Up” From ‘Sorry For Nothing’ Album

Canadian country rocker CORY MARKS was so musically inspired by his recent European tour, that he decided to release a brand-new song and lyric video to today (April 25), a musical rallying cry to his fans, “Are You With Me?” via Better Noise Music. MARKS also wanted to share the new lyric video for “Lit Up” from his SORRY FOR NOTHING album, which was released December 6, 2024 via Better Noise Music. The songs have just been released as a double-single on digital outlets HERE (“Are You With Me?”) and HERE (“Lit Up”).

“‘Are You With Me?’ is a song for my fans, for the people loving my music and loving this country rock sound,” exclaims CORY MARKS. “They’re the reason we do this and want to get out on the road and play live no matter how hard, long, tough and unfair smoke and mirrors this music industry can be. There’s nothing like playing live and watching the crowd sing a long and rock out with you. Are you with me?”

With over 350 million global streams to date, CORY has been captivating fans across the country and rock spectrum. Unafraid to stand out and stay true to himself, his third album SORRY FOR NOTHING is an unapologetic double-barreled blast of 13 songs produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Shania Twain, Papa Roach), plus Kile Odell (Nita Strauss, David Draiman), and Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Brantley Gilbert). The album comes as a follow-up to CORY’s successful debut, WHO I AM, which included the hit single “Outlaws & Outsiders.” The song made history as the first-ever Top 10 rock radio-charting single from a Canadian country act and over 230 million global streams to date. The single received Platinum certification in Canada and Gold in the U.S.

SORRY FOR NOTHING’s tracks range from Haggard-like country and virtual bluegrass to straight-up arena anthems and almost Pantera-like hard metal as well as mashing both styles in a single song. Guest appearances include Sully Erna of Godsmack, Travis Tritt and Mick Mars on the Top 20 Active Rock radio-charting single “(Make My) Country Rock” and DL of Bad Wolves on “Guilty.”

CrypticRock.com described the album as one that, “…showcases MARKS’ ability to navigate the deep waters of soulful country ballads and high-energy Rock anthems, creating a barrage of sound that verges on magic, once it permeates your anticipating ears…SORRY FOR NOTHING positions CORY MARKS as a trailblazer in modern Country Rock, a true force to be reckoned with on the international stage, and if he continues pushing boundaries while staying true to his roots, there is truly no stopping this young man. A must-listen..”

While Rocknloadmag.com declared, “MARKS returns with a banger of an album alongside some of the biggest names in the business for a whole host of killer collaborations. What you get is an album overflowing with stadium-sized anthems, banger after banger, that just grips you right from the off….From start to finish this is a great album, if you love your country-rock you’ll be in your element, Marks is a revelation and can only go on great things, 2025 could be his year!”

In touring news, MARKS is currently out in support of Dorothy as part of their “REDEMPTION” tour, which kicked off April 16 in Nashville, TN and lasts through May 2 in Albuquerque, NM. MARKS will then head back to his native Canada for more headlining shows on his “Sorry For Nothing Tour,” which has spanned North America, the U.K. and Europe!

Canadian Tour:
5/9 Sainte-thérèse, QC – Odyscène Cabaret BMO Sainte-Thérèse
5/10 Gatineau, QC – Salle Odyssée
5/11 Drummondville, QC – Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville
5/15 Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD
5/16 Saint-victor, QC – Salloon Desjardins
5/17 Ottawa, ON – Ink & Wheels Big Show
5/22 Oshawa, ON – The Biltmore Theatre (with Drew Taylor)
5/23 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern (with Dayna Reid, Drew Taylor)
5/24 Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware (with Drew Taylor)
5/25 St. Catharines, ON – Warehouse Concert Hall (with Drew Taylor)
6/13 Ayer’s Cliff, QC – Rodeo Ayer’s Clife 2025
7/11 Amos, QC – Festival H20 2025
7/19 Timmons, ON – Rock on the River 2025
7/31 Dolbeau-mistassini, QC – Festival Du Bleuet 2025

Katherine Yeske Taylor’s Book ‘She’s A Badass’ Celebrates 20 Women In Rock Who Redefined Feminism

Eric Alper
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Katherine Yeske Taylor’s Book ‘She’s A Badass’ Celebrates 20 Women In Rock Who Redefined Feminism

Feminism has always been a complex and controversial topic, as female rock musicians know especially well. When they’ve stayed true to their own vision, these artists have alternately been adored as role models or denounced as bad influences. Either way, they’re asked to cope with certain pressures that their male counterparts haven’t faced. With each successive feminism movement since the 1960s, women in rock have been prominent proponents of progress as they’ve increasingly taken control of their own music, message, and image. This, in its way, is just as revolutionary as any protest demonstration.

In She’s a Badass, music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor interviews twenty significant women in rock, devoting an entire chapter to each one, taking an in-depth look at the incredible talent, determination—and, often, humor—they needed to succeed in their careers (and life). Interviewees range from legendary artists through notable up-and-comers, including Ann Wilson (Heart), Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s), Suzanne Vega, Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Orianthi, Amanda Palmer, and more. Their experiences reveal the varied and unique challenges these women have faced, how they overcame them, and what they think still needs to be done to continue making progress on the equality front. Their stories prove that promoting feminism—either through activism or by living example—is undeniably badass.

The women interviewed for the 20 chapters are: Suzi Quatro, Ann Wilson (Heart), Exene Cervenka (X), Gina Schock (the Go-Go’s), Lydia Lunch, Suzanne Vega, Cherie Currie (the Runaways), Joan Osborne, Donita Sparks (L7), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, the Breeders, Belly), Paula Cole, Tobi Vail (Bikini Kill), Laura Veirs, Catherine Popper, Amanda Palmer, Bonnie Bloomgarden (Death Valley Girls), Orianthi, Fefe Dobson, and Sade Sanchez (L.A. Witch).

10 Ways to Grow Your Listeners and Beat Spotify’s 1,000-Stream Minimum

Eric Alper
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10 Ways to Grow Your Listeners and Beat Spotify’s 1,000-Stream Minimum

In 2024, Spotify dropped a cold hard truth on indie artists everywhere: songs must hit at least 1,000 streams annually before they generate royalties. For some, this felt like a digital death sentence. For the rest of us? It’s a wake-up call.

So what now?

Whether you’re just getting started or building back better, here’s how to turn your passion project into a repeat-listen magnet using modern methods that work—from someone who’s seen it all, and another who’s still pressing play every day.

1. Make Music Worth Sharing, Not Just Streaming
Spotify’s algorithm is a mysterious thing. But you know what it loves? Songs people send to friends. Write music that hits a nerve, tells a story, sparks a meme, or makes someone say “You have to hear this.” People don’t share background music—they share identity.

2. Build a “First 50” Street Team
Before chasing 1000, chase your first 50 champions. DM them. Text them. Thank them. Ask them to follow, share, and playlist your track. These fans become your foundation. If you don’t know 50 people who will play your track three times, your problem isn’t Spotify—it’s community.

3. Hack the Algorithm With Consistency
Post every week. New content, new clips, new singles—even alternate versions or 30-second voice memos. Spotify watches for activity, not just art. Consistency trains the algorithm and trains your audience to check back in.

4. Use Smart Links and Pre-Saves Like a Pro
Want people to stream your track? Stop sending them to random search pages. Use smart links (like ToneDen or Linkfire) to drive fans directly to Spotify. And pre-save campaigns? They’re like opening weekend for your song—everything rides on that initial spike.

5. Drop Vertical Videos and Reels with a Hook at 0:00
Spotify numbers are now downstream from TikTok and Instagram. Post short-form vertical content where the first second stops the scroll and the next 15 keeps them watching. Use your song. Use captions. Be weird. Be real. Just be there.

6. Make Playlists—Then Pitch to Them
Don’t just beg curators. Become one. Create a playlist that fits your genre, sprinkle your music in, and promote it like it’s a blog. Tag artists. Share it. Build from the inside out. Playlist culture is tribal—lead the tribe.

7. Focus on Listener Habits, Not Vanity Metrics
Spotify gives you data on skips, saves, replays, and sources. Use it. If your skip rate is high in the first 30 seconds, change your intro. If your saves are low, write something stickier. If your repeat rate is high, promote that track harder.

8. Build with Collaborations and Features
Every collaboration is a door to a new audience. Don’t just look for big names—look for artists at your level with passionate listeners. If each of you brings 500 monthly listeners, and you drop a duet or remix, you’ve just cross-pollinated into 1000 streams easy.

9. Email Isn’t Dead. Use It.
Start an email list. It’s your lifeline. No algorithm. No ads. Just you and the people who care enough to click. Share stories, process, and direct Spotify links. Think of it as your fan club. Your tiny label. Your indie empire.

10. Celebrate Every 100 Streams Like You Hit the Charts
People respond to momentum. Post thank-yous when you hit 100, 300, 500 streams. Screenshot your “most played in” cities. Make people feel like part of your win. Gratitude travels fast. And you’ll turn passive listeners into lifelong fans.

Spotify’s new rules may seem harsh—but they’re also an invitation. An invitation to stop waiting for discovery and start building it.

You don’t need a label. You need listeners who care. And they’re out there—scrolling, saving, streaming—waiting for someone like you to remind them why they fell in love with music in the first place. If you’re still looking for help, or have any questions, or looking for more information, email me, I’ll be happy to chat – Eric@ThatEricAlper.com and talk soon!

20 of the Grooviest Songs of All Time

Eric Alper
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20 of the Grooviest Songs of All Time

You can’t teach groove. You can’t bottle it. You just feel it—from the first bassline, the second snare hit, the way the rhythm finds your bones before your brain. Some songs are the party. Others start the party. All of these? They own the dance floor. Here are 20 of the grooviest songs ever released, alphabetized so nobody gets jealous.

“Back in Love Again” – L.T.D.
There’s a reason this ‘70s funk anthem still shows up in DJ sets: it’s all groove, no filler. Jeffery Osborne’s vocals soar over a silky rhythm section built for body movement.

“Brick House” – Commodores
The bassline. The brass. The attitude. “Brick House” isn’t just groovy—it’s practically a masterclass in how to make funk feel cool and effortless.

“Can You Feel It” – The Jacksons
This disco-funk explosion from the post-Motown Jacksons is pure groove architecture. That thumping beat and glittering production make it impossible to sit still.

“Cissy Strut” – The Meters
No vocals, no problem. This instrumental groove-fest delivers New Orleans funk straight to your soul. Zigaboo Modeliste’s drumming alone is a groove clinic.

“Dance to the Music” – Sly and the Family Stone
One of the earliest calls to funk unity, this track fuses rock, soul, and psychedelia into something fully physical. You don’t listen to this song—you join it.

“Fantastic Voyage” – Lakeside
Smooth vocals and spaceship funk combine in this slow-burn party starter. If you weren’t dancing at the beginning, you will be by the bridge.

“Flash Light” – Parliament
One of George Clinton’s finest intergalactic groove bombs. That synth-bassline (played by Bernie Worrell) is straight-up immortal.

“Get Down On It” – Kool & The Gang
A disco-funk motivational anthem that asks all the right questions: How you gonna do it if you really don’t wanna dance?

“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” – Parliament
Funk in its purest form. The chants. The groove. The attitude. A track that doesn’t just move the crowd—it rewires it.

“Groove Is in the Heart” – Deee-Lite
The ’90s called, and it brought the funk with it. Sampling Herbie Hancock and featuring Bootsy Collins, this dancefloor staple never stopped sparkling.

“I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” – Hall & Oates
Slick and stylish, this track blends blue-eyed soul and R&B with a drum machine groove that still feels way ahead of its time.

“I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown
James Brown practically invented groove as we know it. This might be his most famous, and still the most contagious.

“Jungle Boogie” – Kool & The Gang
Less polished, more primal. This one is all about the groove as force of nature. Horns, handclaps, growls—it’s chaos with a backbeat.

“Le Freak” – Chic
Nile Rodgers’ guitar alone is enough to qualify this as one of the grooviest. But combined with Bernard Edwards’ bass and those disco strings? Next level.

“Move On Up” – Curtis Mayfield
A groove built for uplift, Curtis Mayfield’s anthem pulses with brass, congas, and optimism. It’s motivational funk at its finest.

“Once in a Lifetime” – Talking Heads
You may ask yourself… how does this groove work? A brilliant blend of Afrobeat, art-rock, and existential dance vibes. Brian Eno at the boards doesn’t hurt.

“Outstanding” – The Gap Band
The title says it all. This slow jam groove melts into your bloodstream. Ideal for head-nodding, back-seat singing, and good times with good people.

“Rock with You” – Michael Jackson
MJ’s smoothest song? Maybe. Its groove is soft and subtle, yet hypnotic. A perfect blend of Quincy Jones magic and disco’s golden hour.

“September” – Earth, Wind & Fire
Joy in musical form. That rhythm guitar. Those horns. That falsetto. “September” doesn’t just have a groove—it is a groove.

“You Dropped a Bomb on Me” – The Gap Band
Funk meets synth warfare. A groove so explosive, it practically defined the early ‘80s dance floor.

lenny duncan’s ‘Psalms Of My People’ Treats Hip-Hop Lyrics As Sacred Texts In Bold Exploration Of Black Liberation

Eric Alper
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lenny duncan’s ‘Psalms Of My People’ Treats Hip-Hop Lyrics As Sacred Texts In Bold Exploration Of Black Liberation

If you want to understand the Black experience in the US, you have to understand hip-hop.

James Baldwin, in his famous talk “The Struggle for the Artist’s Integrity,” suggests that “the poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” And to understand the truth about the history of Black peoples in America, argues lenny duncan, we must look to the modern Black poet: the hip-hop artist.

In Psalms of My People,artist, scholar, and activist lenny duncan treats the work of hip-hop artists from the last several decades–from N.W.A, Tupac, and Biggie to Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar–like sacred scripture. Their songs and lyrics are given full exegetical treatment–a critical and contextual interpretation of text–and are beautifully illustrated, with a blend of ancient and modern art styles illuminating every page.

All the while, duncan traces the history of hip-hop, revealing it as a conduit to tell the modern story of Black liberation in this country, following the bloody trail from the end of the Civil Rights Era through the day George Floyd was sacrificed on the streets of America.

“Who else but the hip-hop artist,” asks Duncan, “has embodied the cries, pain, and secret concrete ? Whose art? Our art. Whose story is written in the book of life with crimson lines dipped in a well that is 400+ years deep? Whose story? Our story. For whom does God bring down empires? Us.”

‘Hardcore’ Book Offers Rare Look Behind Pulp’s ‘This Is Hardcore’ With Unseen Photos & Artist Tributes

Eric Alper
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‘Hardcore’ Book Offers Rare Look Behind Pulp’s ‘This Is Hardcore’ With Unseen Photos & Artist Tributes

A rich visual celebration of Pulp’s sixth album, This is Hardcore, featuring unseen photography and behind-the-scenes interviews.

From the mid- to late 1990s, Paul Burgess was invited by Jarvis Cocker to document the British band Pulp, taking photographs during video shoots, live gigs, and other events for what has become one of the landmark albums of the period, This Is Hardcore. Written and designed by Burgess and Louise Colbourne, Hardcore contains a candid selection of previously unseen images of the band, behind the scenes and on set, from the four main video shoots made to promote the album. Twenty-five years have passed since Pulp released this extraordinary album, and this book holds up a mirror to the ingenious creative processes and characters behind the seminal record.

With carefully curated images from Burgess’s archive, Hardcore also includes quotations and interviews from then and now by the video directors, band members, and other artists involved with the album. The book contains contributions from Doug Nichol, John Currin, Stephen Mallinder, Sergei Sviatchenko, John Stezaker, and Florian Habicht, all of whom have a connection to the album, the band, or the era. There are also visual responses from a selection of younger artists and designers, such as Alexa Vieira, who have been inspired by Burgess’s photographs and the band’s legacy.

New Book ‘NoMeansNo: From Obscurity To Oblivion’ By Jason Lamb Chronicles Punk Legends’ DIY Legacy

Eric Alper
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New Book ‘NoMeansNo: From Obscurity To Oblivion’ By Jason Lamb Chronicles Punk Legends’ DIY Legacy

They were unlike any other band in the punk scene they called home. NoMeansNo started in the basement of the family home of brothers Rob and John Wright in 1979. For the next three decades, they would add and then replace a guitar player, sign a record deal with Alternative Tentacles and tour the world. All along the way, they kept their integrity, saying “NO” to many mainstream opportunities. It was for this reason the band (intentionally) never became a household name, but earned the respect and love of thousands of fans around the world, including some who became big rock stars themselves. They were expertly skilled musicians playing a new kind of punk: intelligent, soulful, hilarious, and complex. They were also really nice Canadian dudes.

NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion by Jason Lamb is the fully authorized oral and visual history of this highly influential and enigmatic band which has never been told before now. Author Jason Lamb obtained exclusive access to all four former members and interviewed hundreds of people in their orbit, from managers and roadies to fellow musicians, friends, and family members. The result is their complete story, from the band’s inception in 1979 to their retirement in 2016, along with hundreds of photos, posters, and memorabilia, much of which has never been seen publicly before.

For established fans, this book serves as a “love letter” to their favorite group and provides many details previously unknown. For those curious about the story and influence of NoMeansNo, it reveals an eye-opening tale of how a punk band could be world class musicians while truly “doing it themselves.” Their impact and importance cannot be overstated, and NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion is the essential archive.

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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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