“It’s something of a dream machine,” said Peter Gabriel in 1983, staring down the future of music. On BBC’s RPM, Gabriel and futurist Ray Hammond talked synths, imagination, and the rise of home music-making. One saw endless creative potential. The other saw the end of the session drummer. Either way, they both saw a revolution coming.
Indie Rock Vets We Are Scientists Lean Into Power Ballad Glory on ‘I Could Do Much Worse’
We Are Scientists – comprising founding members Keith Murray and Chris Cain – unveil “I Could Do Much Worse,” the second single from their forthcoming album Qualifying Miles. A melancholic power ballad, the track begins with shimmering, propulsive guitar work that crescendos into an anthemic chorus and soaring solo. The release marks a rare moment where the band leans fully into a minor-key ballad. Lyrically it explores the lingering weight of life’s missteps and the power of emotional reckoning.
Speaking on the track, Keith offers: “Remember when rock bands made all their money and bought all of their houses and helicopters and ski-doos off the back of their smash-hit power ballads? Our public-facing band persona is so founded in high-energy party vibes that we’re never really given the stylistic leeway to publicly lean into our own power ballads. We’ve always been writing them – I’d argue there’s at least one PB on every last We Are Scientists record, and we in the band always vote that they ought to be singles. It’s nice to finally be giving one of their ilk a little time in the spotlight to tan its wan little face.
“While I was writing ‘I Could Do Much Worse,’ I initially thought it was a morose number. It’s mid-tempo, minor key, kinda emo. The longer I’ve lived with it, though, the more I’m learning that the swelling emotion that drives it is a sort of epistemic wave – you can surf it, or just kinda get tossed underneath it and end up with a face full of coral and shrimp.
“I guess I originally read ‘I Could Do Much Worse’ as a lament, but sometimes when you look back on mistakes that you’ve made, you clock how much you’ve actually learned from those foibles and come to realize that sometimes the most egregious of errors can be the greatest of skeleton keys. You know what they say: you can’t make an omelet without getting egg all over your face.”
Rick Wakeman Releases 15-Disc ‘Official Broadcast Collection’ Showcasing Decades of Live Brilliance
Rick Wakeman’s The Official Broadcast Collection is a remarkable anthology that captures the virtuosity and creativity of one of progressive rock’s most iconic keyboardists.
This collection features a curated selection of live performances and broadcasts spanning Wakeman’s illustrious career, showcasing his unparalleled skill on the piano, synthesizers, and other keyboards. From his early days with YES to his solo projects, these live recordings highlight his ability to blend classical influences with rock innovation, creating a unique and timeless sound.
Fans are treated to a mix of well-known pieces and rare performances, offering an extremely comprehensive look at Wakeman’s evolution as an artist. Each track reflects his flair for dramatic storytelling through music, often accompanied by elaborate arrangements and intricate solos.
This 15-disc set, a mixture of TV and Radio broadcasts, captures his mind-blowing talent, his engaging stage presence and humor, which have endeared him to audiences worldwide for decades.
Track Listings
Disc 1:
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Live in Nottingham 1990 – CD1
Disc 2:
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Live in Nottingham 1990 – CD2
Disc 3:
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Live in Nottingham 1990 – DVD
Disc 4:
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Live in Brazil 2001 – CD1
Disc 5:
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Live in Brazil 2001 – CD2
Disc 6:
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Live in Brazil 2001 – DVD
Disc 7:
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The RW Experience London – CD1
Disc 8:
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The RW Experience London – CD2
Disc 9:
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Live in Swansea 1989 – CD
Disc 10:
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Live in Swansea 1989 – DVD
Disc 11:
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Live in Sweden 1980 – CD
Disc 12:
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Live in Sweden 1980 – DVD
Disc 13:
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Live in Argentina 2024 – DVD
Disc 14:
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Live in Argentina 2024 – CD1
Disc 15:
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Live in Argentina 2024 – CD2
Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke Launch “Tall Tales” Coin Hunt With Short Film Reveal
Over recent weeks, fans of Mark Pritchard, Thom Yorke and visual collaborator Jonathan Zawada discovered an Instagram profile for a mysterious metalsmith going by the name of Marien Marcel. The account showed development sketches for the visual world of Tall Tales – the new album from Pritchard and Yorke, released on Friday, 9th May – leading to speculation that this account was run by someone inside the project. The account also seemed to show the process of the melting down of fake works of art, purchased on eBay, and the subsequent forging of coins from the molten bronze. Fans have now started to discover these coins appearing in the real world.
Today, Mark Pritchard, Thom Yorke and Jonathan Zawada unveil Tall Tales: The Coins (Forge, Reforge, Forgery), a short film documenting the crafting of these coins. It forms part of the third element to the ”Tall Tales” project, following the album released last week, and the film premiered in cinemas on Thursday, 8th May.
Acting as breadcrumbs, leading the curious and willing to the stories, influences and layers of meaning embedded in the world of ”Tall Tales”, there are 400 hand-finished and individually numbered coins dispersed around the world and being hidden by a growing band of accomplices, so far including The Gallows Pole author Benjamin Myers and numerous record stores.
Lucky fans who find a coin can register their discovery coins and 71 have already been found all around the world in locations such as cemeteries, historic landmarks, nature reserves, and more.
“Tall Tales”, the new album from Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke is now available in a standard black vinyl 2LP gatefold edition and as a limited special black vinyl 2LP edition including a 36-page booklet featuring a wealth of images from the project and lyrics to all the tracks, carefully designed by Jonathan Zawada. Order HERE.
Sinsaenum Return With Blistering New Single “In Devastation” Honoring Joey Jordison
Extreme metal supergroup Sinsaenum have announced their long-awaited return with the release of their crushing new single, “In Devastation,” the title track of their forthcoming third studio album, due out later this year via earMUSIC.
The release marks the band’s first new material since the tragic passing of legendary drummer Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Murderdolls) in 2021. Both the single and album serve as a cathartic tribute to Jordison and to guitarist and founder Frederic Leclercq’s late father, whose deaths profoundly shaped the emotional and creative direction of the project.
“I was devastated, hence the title of this album,” Leclercq explains. “But we knew we had to carry on. This record is our tribute to my father, to Joey, and to anyone who’s ever had to find strength in their darkest moments.”
In Devastation is a 10-track tour de force of blackened death metal infused with Sinsaenum’s signature melodic ferocity and experimental edge. Produced and mixed by acclaimed German audio engineer Lasse Lammert, the album explores new sonic territory for the band, blending intricate progressive elements, clean vocals, and even cello – without ever compromising their brutal core.
Joining Leclercq on this latest chapter are returning members Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Sean Zatorsky (Daath), Stephane Buriez (Loudblast), and Heimoth (Seth). Stepping in behind the kit is Andre Joyzi, formerly Jordison’s tech and a trusted member of the band’s touring family – chosen not only for his skills, but for the emotional connection he brings to continuing Jordison’s legacy.
Tracks like “Obsolete and Broken” and “The Last Goodbye” showcase the band’s musical and emotional evolution, from raw aggression to haunting reflection. Leclercq describes the latter as “the most personal we’ve done,” while songs like “Shades of Black” and “Over the Red Wall” push the band into new anthemic and speed-driven territory.
Following the critically acclaimed Echoes of the Tortured (2016) and Repulsion for Humanity (2018), In Devastation cements Sinsaenum’s place at the vanguard of modern metal – a band forged in grief but fueled by defiance.
Steve Miller to Receive Les Paul Spirit Award at Gibson Garage Ceremony
The Les Paul Foundation, whose mission is to honor and share the life, spirit and legacy of Les Paul through generations has announced the annual Les Paul Spirit Award in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson. The prestigious award will be presented to legendary musical artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steve Miller on Monday, June 9, 2024 at 6:30pm CT at a private ticketed event held at the Gibson Garage Nashville located at 209 10th Ave S, Suite 209 in downtown Nashville, TN.
The event will take place on what would have been Les Paul’s 110th birthday, and marks the fourth anniversary of the Gibson Garage Nashville. The Les Paul Spirit Award was created by the Les Paul Foundation in honor of the music innovator.
The annual award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late, great Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation will be made in the honoree’s name to the charity of his choice. Like Les Paul, Steve Miller personifies the spirit of excellence through musicianship and industry recognition.
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be honored with the Les Paul Spirit Award than Steve Miller. Not only is he an extraordinary talent and a wonderful friend of the Les Paul Foundation, Steve holds the very distinct title of being Les’ godson. They had a very unique relationship which Les cherished. If anyone understands the “spirit” of Les Paul, it’s Steve,” says Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of The Les Paul Foundation. “If Les were still alive today, Steve and he would be jamming at his house regularly. I am personally thrilled to be able to present Steve with this award because I know he exemplifies everything Les was about and wanted to accomplish. I want to also thank the Gibson Gives Foundation for partnering with us on this exciting annual award and for everything they do to keep Les’ name alive.”
“At Gibson Gives, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible contributions of Les Paul and partner with the Les Paul Foundation to bring awareness to Les Paul’s legacy as he continues to inspire musicians across generations and genres.” –Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer at Gibson
“Steve Miller personifies the spirit of excellence through his musicianship and industry recognition. Gibson Gives is proud to partner with the Les Paul Foundation to present the prestigious Les Paul Spirit Award to this legendary artist who not only embodies the innovative spirit of Les Paul himself and his landmark contributions to music but continues to entertain and inspire us through his music and talent.” –Erica Krusen, Global Executive Director at Gibson Gives
Steve Miller has been a monumental presence on the American music scene for over half a century and his releases have sold tens of millions of records and been streamed billions of times. Miller’s Greatest Hits (1974-1978) received the RIAA Diamond Award with sales of over 15 million copies. It is among the 25 top best-selling albums of all time. If one would run through Miller’s music catalog they would quickly recognize his influences – his parents were jazz aficionados and personal friends of Les Paul and Mary Ford. As a budding guitarist, Steve absorbed every lesson or piece of advice Les Paul gave him. Miller played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, James Cotton and Paul Butterfield, all of whom inform his music to this day.
Miller’s hits include “The Joker,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Abracadabra,” “Rock’n Me,” “Jet Airliner,” “Swingtown,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” and others. The album “Fly Like an Eagle” was recently inducted to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. To this day these songs are instantly recognizable and impossible not to sing along with.
Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2016) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2022) and is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Department of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and is a member of the Board of Directors at Jazz at Lincoln Center. On last year’s Steve Miller Band tour he played to three quarters of a million fans and returned to the top of the charts with his hit “Abracadabra” via the prominent feature in “Eminem’s” hit single “Houdini.”
Steve’s relationship with Les Paul was deeply personal and formative. Les Paul was not only a family friend but also became Miller’s godfather as noted above. Their connection began in Miller’s early childhood in Milwaukee, where his parents frequently attended Les Paul and Mary Ford’s performances. A young Steve Miller was introduced to Les Paul who gave him his first informal guitar lessons and taught him his first three chords. Miller has often recalled how these early experiences watching Les Paul perform and receiving personal instruction were pivotal in inspiring his own musical journey. To understand how close the two families were, Steve’s father “Sonny” was even the best man at Les Paul’s wedding. Miller joined Les Paul on stage at his 90th birthday concert in New York city highlighting their enduring bond. Steve continues to enthrall his audiences with stories like these at his performances.
The exclusive, physical Les Paul Spirit Award for Steve Miller is made from actual hand-carved acoustic boards built by Les Paul that he used in his home studio. Les Paul designed and created the memorabilia during his life. The acoustic wood piece is a unique presentation and supported by Les’ personal story. No two Les Paul Spirit Awards are exactly the same given the unique nature of the studio pieces which are being used to create them and their intrinsic value as authentic Les Paul memorabilia. Past recipients of the award have included Bob Weir (founding member of The Grateful Dead), producer and musician Nile Rodgers, U2’s the Edge and Peter Frampton.
Minus the Bear Celebrate 20 Years of ‘Menos el Oso’ With Deluxe Reissue Featuring Unreleased Demos
To celebrate two decades of their genre-defying sophomore album, Minus the Bear and Suicide Squeeze Records proudly present: Menos el Oso: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition featuring Los Archivos del Oso.
This deluxe reissue honors the legacy of Menos el Oso and pulls back the curtain on the band’s creative process with unreleased demos—raw yet fully realized—and a 24-page archival photo journal featuring images from the band’s personal collection.
Originally released in 2005, Menos el Oso marked a turning point—swerving from traditional guitar rock into something emotionally electric: staccato loops, club-influenced rhythms, synth textures, and lyrics tracing the blur between elation and aimlessness on their first overseas tour. ORDER HERE.
20 years later, it still sounds like a map to the outer edges of indie rock.
Product Details
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Original 11-track album, untouched and timeless
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5 unreleased demos, mastered by Ed Brooks (Pearl Jam, Fleet Foxes)
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24-page archival photo journal titled Los Archivos del Oso
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Side D etching designed by bassist Cory Murchy
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2xLP first pressing available in multiple limited edition variants
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Gatefold jacket featuring updated artwork with matte finish, UV gloss, printed inner sleeves, and a download card
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Vinyl cut by Bernie Grundman (Prince, Steely Dan, Outkast)
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CD edition includes 5 bonus tracks and both 12-page and 24-page booklets
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Instant download of “Hooray” (demo) included
Pressing Details
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Pressed at Furnace Record Pressing
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Autographed test pressing (with 24-page booklet) on black vinyl, limited to 350 copies
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Label exclusive on hand-poured blood orange vinyl, limited to 400 copies
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Artist exclusive on transparent yellow with black splatter vinyl, limited to 750 copies
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Silkscreened jacket exclusive on opaque silver metallic vinyl, hand-numbered and limited to 1,000 copies, printed in Seattle by Broken Press
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BrooklynVegan exclusive on coke bottle green vinyl, limited to 500 copies
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Retail variant on transparent magenta vinyl, limited to 2,000 copies
Track-listing:
- The Game Needed Me
- Memphis & 53rd
- Drilling
- The Fix
- El Torrente
- Pachuca Sunrise
- Michio’s Death Drive
- Hooray
- Fulfill the Dream
- The Pig War
- This Ain’t A Surfin’ Movie
- Hooray (Demo)
- Drilling (Demo)
- The Pig War (Demo)
- Michio’s Death Drive (Demo)
- I’m Totally Not Down With Rob’s Alien (Demo)
Minus The Bear — 2025 Tour Dates:
10/04/25 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater (SOLD OUT)
10/06/25 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades (SOLD OUT)
10/07/25 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
10/08/25 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)
10/10/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Best Friends Forever Festival
10/11/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco (SOLD OUT)
10/12/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco (SOLD OUT)
10/14/25 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
10/16/25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin (SOLD OUT)
10/17/25 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater (SOLD OUT)
10/18/25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin (SOLD OUT)
10/21/25 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham (SOLD OUT)
10/22/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (SOLD OUT)
10/24/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore (SOLD OUT)
10/25/25 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
11/04/25 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
11/05/25 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club (SOLD OUT)
11/07/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel (SOLD OUT)
11/08/25 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT)
11/09/25 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/11/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre
11/12/25 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
11/14/25 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre (SOLD OUT)
11/15/25 – Chicago, IL @ Metro (SOLD OUT)
11/16/25 – Chicago, IL @ Metro (SOLD OUT)
11/18/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/19/25 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
11/21/25 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
11/22/25 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
11/23/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
11/26/25 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
11/28/25 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox (SOLD OUT)
11/29/25 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox (SOLD OUT)
Blood Incantation Launch North American “Absolute Elsetour” With Special Guests and Immersive Shows
Blood Incantation announce performances across North America this Summer in continuation of their Absolute Elsetour. The run kicks off with a unique experiential show at the world-renowned subterranean venue, The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.
From there the band cross the East Coast to the Midwest, playing Chicago’s Bohemian National Cemetery, followed by two performances at this year’s Fire in the Mountains Festival in Montana. The tour runs down the Pacific Northwest and concludes with a headlining show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Steve Roach, Cynic, Pallbearer and Krallice will join as special guests. Blood Incantation will perform selections from across their catalog including their recent highly lauded album, Absolute Elsewhere.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 23 at 10 AM, Local here. See below for a full rundown and more information.
North America Tour:
Jul 12: Pelham, TN – The Caverns ^>
Jul 14: Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
Jul 15: Lakewood, OH – The Roxy
Jul 17: Chicago, IL – Bohemian National Cemetery >
Jul 18: Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe
Jul 19: Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit
Jul 21: St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
Jul 22: Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
Jul 23: Minneapolis, MN – The Varsity Theater
Jul 26: Black Feet Nation, MT – Fire In The Mountains *
Jul 27: Black Feet Nation, MT – Fire In The Mountains *+
Jul 29: Edmonton, AB – Union Hall
Ju 30: Calgary, AB – The Palace Theater
Aug 01: Tacoma, WA – Temple Theatre Ballroom +
Aug 02: Tacoma, WA – Temple Theatre
Aug 03: Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Aug 06: San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom
Aug 07: Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern %
* Festival
+ Timewave Zero Set
> No Krallice
% w/ Steve Roach & Cynic
^ w/ Pallbearer
Janet Jackson Celebrates Viral Revival of “Someone to Call My Lover” in New Vevo Footnotes
Vevo and Janet Jackson premiered a new episode of Footnotes celebrating her beloved hit “Someone to Call My Lover,” the second single from her seventh studio album, All For You. The episode arrives amid the song’s viral resurgence and ahead of Jackson being honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards.
The episode gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the track and the creative choices that shaped its timeless sound, which blends two iconic samples: the guitar riff from America’s 1972 classic “Ventura Highway” and a sped-up melody from Erik Satie’s “Gymnopedie No.1.”
Initially, Janet didn’t recognize “Ventura Highway” when producer Jimmy Jam played it in the studio. However, she recalled hearing “Gymnopedie No.1” in a commercial during her childhood. The episode also reveals that her son now loves the song and sometimes falls asleep to it. Janet first sang the vocal melody over the phone to Jimmy Jam. Reflecting on the lyrics, Jackson says the song is “really about the next person you want to be with and call yours.”
More than two decades after its release, “Someone to Call My Lover” has found new life online, leading to a 600% surge in daily streams and earning a spot in the encore section of her 2024 tour, marking a rare return of the track to her live set.
Suwannee Roots Revival Returns With Oteil & Friends, Yonder Mountain String Band, and More
The 9th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 9 through Sunday, October 12 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. Fostering the longtime tradition of hosting some of the most prominent names in American roots music and beyond, this four-day camping family-friendly music festival includes camping, music workshops, kids’ activities, arts & crafts, and daily yoga.
Nestled in 800 acres of gorgeous Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River in northern Florida, Suwannee Roots Revival celebrates community-based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and the joy you get from making memories with friends old and new.
The festival has announced the 2025 lineup, which includes Oteil & Friends (featuring Melvin Seals, Steve Kimock, Jason Crosby, Johnny Kimock, Tom Guarna & Lamar Williams Jr.), Yonder Mountain String Band, Donna the Buffalo (all 4 days), Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band, Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, Della Mae, Seth Walker, Henhouse Prowlers, Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly, Ain’t Sisters, Jon Stickley Trio, The Lee Boys, John Mailander’s Forecast (as well as Mailander being Artist at Large), and more!
Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established and emerging roots musicians throughout the weekend. The lineup includes performers with long histories of epic Suwannee performances along with a history of showcasing some surprise one-of-a-kind collaborations—you never know who will give a surprise sit-in on stage (or in the campgrounds for that matter). There is an open call to play in the many campground pickin’ party sites throughout the weekend, including at Slopryland, hosted by Sloppy Joe, and the Bill Monroe Shrine, hosted by Quartermoon.
With many acts playing multiple times, music will be staged in a variety of areas, including the newly renamed Big Cosmo’s Amphitheater, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and the Music Farmers Stage at The Back Porch.
Big Cosmo’s Amphitheater is nestled in a tree-filled natural amphitheater, adding to the magic through the beautiful setting. The Dance Tent is a fantastic spot to immerse yourself in the music and, new to this year, has been relocated a bit closer to the Vendor Village for added convenience! The Music Hall remains an excellent spot for special indoor listening experiences with stage lighting, air conditioning, and a cafe.
Suwannee Roots Revival is excited about the new Music Farmers Stage at The Back Porch—a “VIP section for everyone.” This new music area debuted at Roots’s sister festival, Suwannee Spring Reunion, which takes place in March. The Back Porch (formerly backstage of The Porch Stage) will be open from the start of the music until the end of each night’s performances, providing plenty of seating options for relaxation, food from delicious vendors nearby, and live video feeds from Big Cosmo’s Amphitheater to ensure you don’t miss any of the action. It will have a full bar set up, and many interesting vending selections nearby.
Special performances will take place at The Back Porch during the evening. The Music Farmers Stage’s new location inside the former Porch Stage building, is a bigger and more comfortable location to host a wide range of hand-on workshops.
The Vendor Village will feature a diverse range of arts and crafts, as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent. The park itself is a place where children of all ages can rediscover (or discover for the first time) why they fell in love with the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park’s magical mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that make for a weekend of paradise.
Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday-Sunday nights. Military and Student discounts are available. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For complete ticket information, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.