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The Eagles Add Final Dates to Historic SPHERE Residency in Las Vegas

Eric Alper
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The Eagles Add Final Dates to Historic SPHERE Residency in Las Vegas

The Eagles have added the final 2025 shows to the band’s residency at SPHERE in Las Vegas this fall, Friday, Oct. 3; Saturday, Oct. 4; Friday, Oct. 10; Saturday, Oct. 11; Friday, Oct. 31; Saturday, Nov. 1; Friday, Nov. 7; and Saturday, Nov. 8.

The Sphere residency, now featuring a total of 44 shows from Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, through Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, offers fans the ultimate connection to the band’s legendary catalog in an immersive experience that only Sphere can provide.

The general on-sale for the new shows will begin Friday, April 18 at 10:00 AM PT. To assist in getting tickets directly into the hands of fans, advance Artist presale registration is available now at https://eagles.com, powered by Seated, and begins Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 AM PT. Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and Sphere presales begin Wednesday, April 16 at 10:00 AM PT.

Tickets start at $175 and reflect all-in pricing, meaning the ticket price listed is inclusive of taxes and fees.

25 of the Best Opening Lyrics in Music

Eric Alper
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25 of the Best Opening Lyrics in Music

The first line in a song is the invitation. It sets the tone, turns the page, hits the nerve. From folk prophets to punk poets, glam rebels to soul survivors, these 25 opening lyrics became more than just a beginning—they became history.

“I am stretched on your grave and will lie there forever.”
Sinéad O’Connor begins “I Am Stretched on Your Grave” with a declaration that merges love, mourning, and obsession. A traditional Irish poem reborn through raw vocals and hip-hop beats, it is grief made mythic, grief made modern.

“I was born by the river in a little tent, oh, and just like the river, I have been running ever since.”
Sam Cooke sings the beginning of “A Change Is Gonna Come” like a spiritual rooted in survival, hope, and history.

“I read the news today, oh boy.”
The Beatles opened “A Day in the Life” with a newspaper headline and built a masterpiece of melancholy and surrealism from there.

“Please allow me to introduce myself, I am a man of wealth and taste.”
The Rolling Stones bring danger to the dance floor on “Sympathy for the Devil,” where evil wears a smile and sings backup.

“I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known.”
Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” begins with solitude and stomps toward stadium-sized catharsis.

“I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar.”
Morrissey opened The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” with drama, sadness, and a poetry that still stings.

“Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years.”
LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” punched its way in with one of hip-hop’s most iconic opening shots.

“I am a man of constant sorrow, I have seen trouble all my days.”
The Stanley Brothers brought Appalachian truth to “Man of Constant Sorrow,” a line that carries more weight than melody.

“It’s a God-awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair.”
David Bowie began “Life on Mars?” like a fairytale for the bored, the beautiful, and the broken.

“The screen door slams, Mary’s dress swaysLike a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays”
Bruce Springsteen begins “Thunder Road” like a movie you are already halfway into. One line and you are in the car.

“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.”
Patti Smith starts “Gloria” with a challenge, a manifesto, and a prayer all at once—no apologies, no compromises.

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.”
Laurie Anderson samples Ginsberg’s Howl in “O Superman,” turning the avant-garde into pop prophecy.

“We do not need no education, we do not need no thought control.”
Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” opens like a revolution in homeroom, where every student becomes a soldier of resistance.

“You are my friend, I never knew it ’til then.”
Patti LaBelle turns a revelation into a rescue in “You Are My Friend,” celebrating bonds deeper than romance.

“I am not a woman, I am not a man, I am something that you will never understand.”
Prince redefines self from the very first second of “I Would Die 4 U,” inviting us into a space beyond gender and genre.

“Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me.”
India.Arie begins “Video” with self-love loud enough to silence a century of beauty standards.

“It is nine o’clock on a Saturday, the regular crowd shuffles in.”
Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” paints an entire bar in one line—familiar faces, sad smiles, and stories waiting to be sung.

“They told him do not you ever come around here, do not wanna see your face, you better disappear.”
Michael Jackson turns confrontation into choreography in “Beat It,” starting with a warning and ending with an anthem.

“You can hear it in the silence, silence, you can feel it on the way home.”
Taylor Swift’s “You Are In Love” does not shout—she whispers the truth and lets your heart fill in the rest.

“I come from the mountain.”
PJ Harvey kicks off “Rid of Me” with rawness and ritual, leading us down a dark trail with nothing but urgency.

“You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar when I met you.”
The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” turns ordinary life into high drama and synth-pop perfection.

“I am gonna fight ‘em off, a seven nation army could not hold me back.”
Jack White opens “Seven Nation Army” like a soldier in a one-man war—iconic, relentless, unforgettable.

“People say I am the life of the party ‘cause I tell a joke or two.”
Smokey Robinson’s “The Tracks of My Tears” opens with a mask so perfect it barely hides the heartbreak behind it.

“I heard church bells ringing, I heard a choir singing.”
Etta James begins “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” like a cinematic daydream gone wrong—romance turned bittersweet.

“I am America, I am the part you will not recognize.”
Muhammad Ali’s spoken-word intro to Gil Scott-Heron’s “Winter in America” is defiant, poetic, and still too real.

5 Surprising Facts About The Velvet Underground’s ‘Loaded’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About The Velvet Underground’s ‘Loaded’

The Velvet Underground’s Loaded arrived in 1970 with the strange whiff of finality and ambition—equal parts sweet surrender and sharp-edged reinvention. Atlantic Records wanted hits. Lou Reed wanted out. Doug Yule wanted a shot. What they ended up with was a streetwise, swaggering swan song that flirted with mainstream polish but kept its soul in the gutter. You know Sweet Jane. You know Rock & Roll. But here are five lesser-known facts about the album that tried to storm the radio while still preaching the gospel of New York art-punk grit.

1. The Subway Station on the Cover Has a Typo—And That’s Just the Beginning
The iconic album cover shows a sketch of the Times Square–42nd Street subway entrance, a piece of New York that’s as gritty as Lou’s guitar tone. But take a closer look: “Downtown” is spelled “DOWTOWN.” Was it an oversight, or the perfect Freudian slip for a band descending into chaos? Designed by Stanislaw Zagorski, the art hinted at the band’s fractured momentum—still plugged into the city, but slipping sideways into something else entirely.

2. Sweet Jane’s Most Poetic Verse Was Chopped for Radio Dreams
Lou Reed’s lyrics had more punch than most poets could muster, and “Sweet Jane” had a bridge that floated like “heavenly wine and roses.” That bridge? Cut. Edited out in the name of radio length, radio hooks, and radio gods. It returned years later in live performances and box sets, but its absence from the original release is a haunting reminder of what happens when commerce walks into the studio.

3. Most of the Drumming Wasn’t Done by Maureen Tucker
Her primal, thudding rhythm was the VU’s pulse. But Maureen Tucker was pregnant during the Loaded sessions. So who held the sticks? Doug Yule stepped up. So did Yule’s brother Billy, and even recording engineer Adrian Barber. It was a patchwork rhythm section, held together with ambition and tape. The beat rolled on, but the band’s heart had one foot out the door.

4. Doug Yule Played More Instruments Than Anyone Else on the Record
Don’t sleep on Doug Yule. While Reed and Morrison split time between the studio and other obligations, Yule became the de facto backbone of Loaded. Lead vocals on four songs. Bass. Piano. Organ. Lead guitar solos on “Cool It Down,” “Head Held High,” “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’.” If Loaded was a gamble to break into the mainstream, Yule was the one doing most of the heavy lifting behind the curtain.

5. “Rock & Roll” Was Autobiographical, Whether Lou Admitted It or Not
The story of Jenny, whose “life was saved by rock and roll,” sounds like myth-making—but it was Lou’s. Reed later admitted that the track was his story, not some abstract tale. If not for late-night radio stations pumping out Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, Reed feared he’d die in the suburbs without knowing the world had color. Loaded was Reed’s origin story, even as he walked away from the band that birthed him.

Loaded is many things: a breakup letter, a sellout play, a masterpiece in disguise. Lou Reed exited stage left. Maureen Tucker was absent. Sterling Morrison was halfway out the door. Doug Yule took the wheel. And yet, somehow, it’s still the Velvet Underground. Sweet Jane still sings. Rock and Roll still saves. And 55 years later, the album remains a time capsule of a band trying to go big without giving it all away.

5 Surprising Facts About Kraftwerk’s ‘Trans Europe Express’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Kraftwerk’s ‘Trans Europe Express’

Kraftwerk’s Trans-Europe Express arrived in 1977 like a sleek silver bullet of sound. It chugged across musical borders, bridged the mechanical with the human, and laid the foundation for synth-pop, techno, electro, and hip-hop. While critics and fans have rightfully celebrated its legacy, the album still holds secrets beneath its tracks. Here are five under-the-radar facts about this landmark album that reshaped music right on time.

1. The Train Recordings Needed Reinvention to Groove
Kraftwerk recorded actual train sounds beneath railway bridges to inspire the title track. The group discovered the natural rhythms of the Trans Europ Express required musical interpretation. Rather than rely on pure realism, they crafted a rhythm that felt mechanical yet hypnotic. The final version moved with elegance and purpose, like a dancefloor designed by an engineer.

2. David Bowie and Iggy Pop Appeared as Inspirations and Characters
The lyrics of “Trans-Europe Express” referenced Station to Station and personal meetings with David Bowie and Iggy Pop. These connections ran deep. Bowie admired Kraftwerk’s approach to sonic architecture, and Ralf Hütter admired Bowie’s collaboration with Iggy Pop, especially the visceral spirit of The Stooges. Their creative exchange left fingerprints across the Berlin Trilogy and the German electronic movement alike.

3. A Custom Sequencer Brought Machine Precision to Human Emotion
The band used a one-of-a-kind machine—the Synthanorma Sequenzer—created exclusively for them by Matten & Wiechers. This 32-step, 16-channel analog sequencer allowed intricate patterns that moved with hypnotic control. Tracks like “Franz Schubert” and “Endless Endless” showcased its potential. The machine added depth, consistency, and a kind of breathless tension that carried across the entire record.

4. The Album Title Shifted the Vision of the Record
Kraftwerk originally planned to name the album Europe Endless, emphasizing continental unity and forward-thinking ideals. French journalist Paul Alessandrini suggested a theme based on the Trans Europ Express railway. That spark ignited a stronger metaphor—movement through nations, cultures, and time itself. The album took shape around steel rails, rhythmic tracks, and shifting landscapes of modern Europe.

5. The Track “Trans-Europe Express” Became the Spark of Hip-Hop’s Sonic Revolution
The influence of the song reached far beyond Düsseldorf. Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker used its melody to construct “Planet Rock,” a cornerstone of electro and hip-hop’s global breakthrough. The beat merged Kraftwerk’s frosty synths with Bronx energy, becoming a transatlantic handshake between genres. From there, everyone from Paul Oakenfold to LCD Soundsystem drew inspiration from that same pulse.

Trans-Europe Express remains one of the most visionary and influential albums in electronic music history. Kraftwerk embraced elegance, rhythm, and identity, building tracks that continue to shape sound culture around the world. The train keeps rolling, the wheels keep spinning, and the future still sounds like Kraftwerk.

Mat Kearney Releases ‘Deluxe Album (still drowning in nostalgia)’ And Hits the Road With 2025 Tour

Eric Alper
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Mat Kearney Releases ‘Deluxe Album (still drowning in nostalgia)’ And Hits the Road With 2025 Tour

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Mat Kearney recently has released his self-titled Deluxe Album (still drowning in nostalgia) that is out now on all platforms. In support his new music Mat will be touring the rest of the year.

It took Mat Kearney nearly a half a dozen albums to title a record with his own name. But sometime in early 2023, as he sat with the exceptionally warm and true songs comprising his seventh studio release, the Nashville-based artist realized that this was the album to make the cut.

The independence was largely a product of Mat having spent ten years tightening his recording game a this own Black Barn home studio, now a well-worn creative hub “with an old piano, dusty cables running into the garage, like a chia pet that keeps on growing,” he says. “It’s like an old friend, where you know their strengths and weaknesses, and you work within their limitations.” At the end of 2022, when the arrival of a third daughter brought the need for a bigger home, Mat leaned in for a last dance with Black Barn, using it to record and produce the bulk of the 12 songs on Mat Kearney. “I’d been growing as a producer for years, working more and more on each record, and on this one, I decided to make the leap,” he says. “To trust my own gut and abilities enough not to pull in someone from the bench at the last minute.”

Tour Dates:
April 29 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
May 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Jones Assembly
May 2 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live
May 5 – San Antonio, TX – Stable Hall
May 7 – Baton Rouge, LA – Manship Theatre
May 9 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
May 10 – Clearwater, FL – Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol
May 12 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Parker
May 13 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
May 15 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
May 16 – Wilmington, NC- Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
May 17 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
July 21 – Madison, WI – The Orpheum Theatre
July 23 – Interlochen, MI – Interlochen Center for Arts
July 25 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
July 26 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheatre at White River
July 29 – Nantucket, MA – The Chicken Box
July 30 – Nantucket, MA – The Chicken Box
August 1 – North Stonington, CT – Jonathan Edwards Winery
August 2 – Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
September 3 – Bellingham, WA – Mount Baker Theatre
September 5 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center for Performing Arts-Silva Concert Hall
September 6 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion
September 9 – Monterey, CCA – Golden State Theatre
September 13 – Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
September 15 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium
September 16 – Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre
September 17 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse
September 19 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater
September 20 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
September 21- Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
September 27 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling Festival
November 13 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Willi Carlisle Announces New Album Winged Victory and 42-Date U.S. Tour

Eric Alper
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Willi Carlisle Announces New Album Winged Victory and 42-Date U.S. Tour

Missouri​-based folksinger Willi Carlisle has announced his highly anticipated self-produced fourth studio album, Winged Victory, set to release on June 27 via Signature Sounds. The upcoming album sees Carlisle return with his signature blend of traditionally-rooted folk music and kaleidoscope of oddball characters to confer with his core tenets in even more overt and provocative ways. Carlile has shared the first single from the 11-track set, “Work is Work,” one of many songs on the upcoming album that invites listeners to pause and consider the state of things. “Did you heed the call? Were you led astray? / Work is work, or it wouldn’t pay,” he sings, as he imagines grace free from the haints of meaningless production and profit.

Of the new song, Carlisle offers, “With ‘Work is Work,’ I wanted to write a bluegrass tune, and I wanted to try to make a direct address of my own [à la the album’s opening cover of ‘We Have Fed You All For 1000 Years’ written by an anonymous Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) worker]. I believe that after a certain point of creature comfort and stability, money doesn’t make you happier. So what are we doing with our precious time? I wrote it in a motel room along the Mississippi River. The room was full of bedbugs, and I’d just left New Orleans, a city that seems to be thriving even as it falls into the ocean. I finished the song in about an hour. I want people to know that they aren’t free from the terrible things that work does to people, from the awful transmutation of labor into money, but that the sacrifice isn’t meaningless.”

In celebration of the release, Carlisle will tour extensively across the United States this fall with 42 new headlining shows announced today. He is also touring in the UK and Netherlands this summer and appearing at multiple upcoming Folk Festivals, including FreshGrass, Winnipeg, Mariposa, Calgary, Canmore, Blue Ox, and more, in addition to an opening slot for multi-GRAMMY Award-winning folk artist Sierra Ferrell in Edmonton. Please see below for full tour details.

Winged Victory Tracklist:
We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
Wildflowers Growin’
Winged Victory
The Cottonwood Tree
Cryin’ these Cocksucking Tears
The Cottonwood Polka
Work is Work
Sound and Fury
Beeswing
Big Butt Billy
Old Bill Pickett

Willi Carlisle On Tour:
April 8 — Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
April 9 — Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
April 11-13 — Saint Augustine Shores, FL @ Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
April 13 — Tampa, FL @ New World Music Hall
May 16 — Bentonville, AR @ FreshGrass
May 31 — Thetford, UK @ Red Rooster Festival
June 1 — Forest Row, UK @ Hop Yard Brewing Co.
June 2 — Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana
June 3 — Manchester, UK @ Night & Day Cafe
June 4 — Chester, UK @ St. Mary’s Creative Space
June 5 — Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ The Cluny
June 6 — Brighton and Hove, UK @ Alphabet
June 7 — London, UK @ The Lexington
June 8 — Arnhem, Netherlands @ Luxor Live
June 11 — Haarlem, Netherlands @ Patronaat
June 12 — Middelburg, Netherlands @ De Spot
June 13 — Groningen, Netherlands @ Aa
June 14 — Utrecht, Netherlands @ TivoliVredenburg
June 28 — Eau Claire, WI @ Blue Ox Music Festival
July 5-6 — Orillia, ON @ Mariposa Folk Festival
July 10-13 — Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
July 22 — Edmonton, AB @ Winspear Centre*
July 24-27 — Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival
July 27 — Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival
August 2-4 — Canmore, AB @ Canmore Folk Fest
August 23 — La Crosse, WI @ Great River Folk Festival
September 4 — Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
September 5 — Little Rock, AR @ The White Water Tavern
September 6 — Little Rock, AR @ The White Water Tavern
September 12 — Washington, DC @ Union Stage
September 13 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry at The Fillmore
September 15 — New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
September 17 — Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
September 18 — South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
September 19 — Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
September 20 — Saratoga Springs, NY @ Caffe Lena
September 22 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café and Music Hall
September 23 — Rochester, NY @ Flour City Station
September 24 — Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
September 26 — Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
September 27 — Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
September 28 — Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
September 29 — Wisconsin Dells, WI @ Showboat Saloon
September 30 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
October 2 — Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
October 3 — St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
October 16 — Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
October 17 — Laramie, WY @ Gryphon Theatre
October 18 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
October 21 — Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club
October 23 — Spokane, WA @ District Bar
October 24 — Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
October 25 — Vancouver, BC, Canada @ Fox Cabaret
October 28 — Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
October 30 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
October 31 — Mariposa, CA @ The Grove House
November 1 — West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
November 2 — Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s
November 3 — Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
November 5 — Arenas Valley, NM @ Whiskey Creek Zocalo
November 6 — Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
November 8 — Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
November 9 — Austin, TX @ Antone’s Nightclub
November 18 — Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
November 19 — Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
November 20 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
November 21 — Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall
November 22 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
*with Sierra Ferrell

BC Camplight Announces ‘A Sober Conversation’ Album And Shares “Two Legged Dog” Duet with The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris

Eric Alper
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BC Camplight Announces ‘A Sober Conversation’ Album And Shares “Two Legged Dog” Duet with The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris

Today, BC Camplight announces his new album A Sober Conversation out 27th June via Bella Union and available to preorder here. To accompany the announcement BC Camplight has shared lead single “Two Legged Dog”, an instant classic duet which features Abigail Morris from The Last Dinner Party. The song is a classic example of Brian Christinzio’s sumptuous songwriting, juxtaposing raw Rundgren-esque piano punching against moments of sophisticated classical grandeur.

Commenting on the track Abigail Morris says: “I was so thrilled when Brian reached out and asked if I would feature on this track. I will never forget the first time I heard BC Camplight – my band was driving from London to Brighton, I was astonishingly hungover and sunken eyed in the back seat when ‘I Only Drink When I’m Drunk’ came on my Discover Weekly. I had it on repeat for the rest of the journey and spent the next week exclusively listening to the rest of his discography. This track was a joy to sing, and I felt so honoured to be involved in such a powerful and personal song. Thank you, Brian – you are the GOAT.”

Additionally, BC Camplight has announced news of an extensive Autumn UK/EU tour featuring his biggest headline shows to date including performances at the Roundhouse in London and the O2 Apollo in Manchester. All dates are listed below.

Every BC Camplight album has a backstory every bit as compelling as its music. A Sober Conversation is no different, as virtuoso songwriter and pianist Brian Christinzio documents the last two years of his life, finally confronting a shocking childhood trauma while embracing sobriety, to create his bravest and most revealing record. It’s an enthralling, sometimes haunting quasi-concept record marked by ruthless tragic-comedic purging and sublime, intricate melody, knitting lyrical screenplays to dazzling arrangements. It is BC Camplight at the height of his remarkable powers.

A Sober Conversation follows Christinzio’s 2023 album, the critically celebrated The Last Rotation Of Earth (his first Top 40 album), a record centred around the agonising break-up of his long-term relationship. It received the most ecstatic reviews of his career – “A masterpiece” (Sunday Times), “Masterful” (Uncut), “An extraordinary record” (MOJO) – and his biggest headline shows up to that point at London Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Manchester’s Albert Hall. But even increased recognition for the man’s considerable talent cannot compensate for the man’s long history of depression, and Christinzio admits it’s been a hard-fought battle to reach this point in life.

“Around the time of The Last Rotation… I realised I was living in this perpetual childhood, messed up all the time, trying to free myself from responsibility and all the bad thoughts I had. It led to a kind of existential crisis… I was craving meaning, thinking about having kids… I’ve been running away from stuff for a long time. You can either try and achieve milestones in life or chase a dime bag – you can’t do both. And I’ve decided not to let myself be defeated anymore.”

In part, Christinzio’s new-found clarity led him back to childhood, to summer camp in New Jersey when he was abused by an adult counsellor. Previous BC Camplight records have referred to it obliquely, but it’s now front and centre of A Sober Conversation. “I had spent 30 years being terrified to open that door, and afraid of the price I’d pay once I had. I’ve opened the door. To some extent this album is what was on the other side. I hope it helps me but this album is also for everyone that is having trouble finding their bravery, finding themselves” he says.

As album intro ‘The Tent’ evolves from an ominous crescendo of synths and footsteps into a pensive country-tinged piano ballad into a passage of increasing tonal violence and euphoric choral harmonies, Christinzio sets the scene of the crime. Later on in the album, stunning magnum opus ‘Rock Gently To Disorder’ underlines how the struggle continues. “I might be owning my life, but it doesn’t mean it’s not going to hurt,” he affirms. “It’s always going to hurt.”

Hurt, alongside its good friends Confusion and Anger, have shaped every BC Camplight record, from his 2005 debut, when he was backed by musicians who would eventually join The War On Drugs. But by 2010, after he released a second album, Christinzio knew he had to leave Philly. “If I’d stayed,” he once mused, “I’d be dead. Period.” So he took a friend’s advice to escape his circumstances and moved to, of all places, Manchester. He found his way to Bella Union, when he began again, releasing the album How To Die In The North. Just days before it was released in 2014, Christinzio was deported back to Philly. He got back to the UK via an Italian passport and made Deportation Blues – but just days before its release in 2016, his father died, triggering the breakdown that inspired Shortly After Takeoff, the last part of what Christinzio calls his Manchester Trilogy.

The Last Rotation Of Earth followed, and Christinzio got through the break-up, started therapy, buried his addictions, and made his new masterwork A Sober Conversation. The album is self-played except drums (shared between Sidonie Hand-Halford and Adam Dawson, who plays in Christinzio’s live band), plus backing singer Jessica Branney. Live band members Jolan Lewis and Thom Bellini make cameos. Christinzio believes that his sobriety, “really comes out in the music. It’s more meaningful because it’s coming from a place of clarity.”

The BC Camplight live show is considered to be among the very best there is – a powerful and breathtaking affair. This year’s touring features a bunch of solo instore shows around the album’s launch and a full band UK tour in November, including London’s Roundhouse and Manchester Apollo. Upcoming live info below. All shows are full band unless listed as solo:

Saturday 17th May – Sheffield – Get Together Festival
Friday 13th June – Penzance – Minack Theatre (solo)
Saturday 5th July – York – Museum Gardens
Sunday 3rd August – Edinburgh – La Belle Angele
Saturday 30th August – Birmingham – Moseley Folk Festival
Friday 12th September – Lille – Aéronef (solo)
Saturday 13th September – Paris – Le Point Ephemere (solo)
Sunday 14th September – Antwerp – Venue TBC (solo)
Tuesday 16th September – Germany, Jena – TRAFO (solo)
Wednesday 17th September – Germany, Berlin – Kantine am Berghain (solo)
Thursday 18th September – Germany, Hamburg – Reeperbahn Festival (solo)
Friday 19th September – Denmark, Copenhagen – Hotel Cecil (solo)
Sunday 21st September – Germany, Cologne – Jaki (solo)
Monday 22nd September – The Netherlands, Amsterdam – Paradiso (solo)
Thursday 30th October – Bristol – SWX
Saturday 1st November – Leeds – Project House
Tuesday 4th November – Norwich – Norwich Arts Centre
Wednesday 5th November – London – Roundhouse
Thursday 6th November – Cardiff – Tramshed
Friday 7th November – Exeter – Phoenix
Saturday 8th November – Southampton – The 1865
Wednesday 12th November – Newcastle – Boiler Shop
Thursday 13th November – Glasgow – Queen Margaret Union
Friday 14th November – Manchester – O2 Apollo
Sunday 16th November – Nottingham – Rock City
Tuesday 18th November – Dublin – Button Factory
Wednesday 19th November – Belfast – Mandela Hall
Thursday 20th November – Galway – Roisin Duhb
Friday 21st November – Limerick City – Dolan’s

Tracklist:
1. The Tent
2. Two Legged Dog
3. A Sober Conversation
4. When I Make My First Million
5. Where You Taking My Baby?
6. Bubbles In The Gasoline
7. Rock Gently In Disorder
8. Drunk Talk
9. Leaving Camp Four Oaks

25 Short Form Video Music Promotion Ideas That Work for Indie Artists

Eric Alper
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25 Short Form Video Music Promotion Ideas That Work for Indie Artists

In today’s music world, a song lives on people’s screens. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become essential tools for artists who want to break through the noise and build real, lasting connections with fans. And the good news? You don’t need flashy budgets or a viral gimmick. You just need smart ideas, consistency, and a little creative spirit. Here are 25 short form video ideas designed to promote your music, boost engagement, and have a little fun while you’re at it.

1. Show the story behind the song
Talk about what inspired your latest track. People love to know the “why” behind the music.

2. Studio sneak peeks
Show quick clips from recording sessions — whether you’re laying down vocals or fiddling with production.

3. Countdown to release day
Build hype by counting down the days with a new clip or teaser each day leading up to the drop.

4. Lyric spotlight
Take one standout lyric and turn it into a moody, aesthetic visual — text on screen, performance or animation.

5. “You won’t believe what this song is about…”
Hook your audience in with a bold intro, then drop a killer 10-second teaser.

6. “Before vs. After” demo clips
Show the demo version of your song next to the final release — people love the creative transformation.

7. Live reaction clips
Film your reaction to hearing your own song on the radio, in a store, or for the first time fully mastered.

8. Behind-the-scenes gig moments
Quick snippets of loading gear, soundcheck, green room chats. Raw is real.

9. Duet with fans
If someone uses your song in a TikTok, duet or stitch it with your reaction. Celebrate them.

10. The hook challenge
Invite followers to sing, dance, or riff to your chorus — make it easy, catchy, and loopable.

11. Flashback to your first gig
Pull out old clips or photos and narrate them. Share the awkwardness and the wins.

12. Song in different genres
Reimagine your track as a punk song, EDM drop, or country ballad. It shows range and grabs new listeners.

13. Collaborator shoutouts
Tag and thank the people who helped bring your song to life — producers, writers, engineers, even pets.

14. Fan-made content
Repost fan covers, dances, or art using your track. It builds community and shows you’re paying attention.

15. “This line almost didn’t make it…”
Reveal the cutting room floor decisions. It sparks curiosity and shows how thoughtful your songwriting is.

16. Soundcheck covers
Film a 10-second cover of a classic song during soundcheck. It lets fans see you as a fan, too.

17. Music video mini-trailer
Before dropping the full video, release a mini trailer or a cool behind-the-scenes shot from the shoot.

18. Mashups and remixes
Combine your song with a trending sound or mash it up with another artist’s vibe — bonus if it’s unexpected.

19. On-location vibes
Film yourself playing or singing the song in a cool, unique setting — the top of a hill, your local diner, anywhere with character.

20. Fan lyric guesses
Ask fans to guess the next lyric or what a certain line means to them. Engage them in the story.

21. “If you like [Artist], you might like this…”
Draw connections to better-known artists to help fans find you through shared vibes or genres.

22. First listen reactions from friends or strangers
Capture a friend, bandmate, or barista hearing your song for the first time and their honest reaction.

23. What this song really sounds like
Compare your song to something playful or unexpected — “What if Bon Iver and Paramore made a baby?”

24. Time-lapse of your writing process
Speed up the footage of you writing lyrics, producing, or layering harmonies.

25. Your pet reacts to your new single
Okay, hear me out — pets reacting to music always win. It’s cute, lighthearted, and universally loved.

Short-form video isn’t about chasing the next viral trend — it’s about consistently showing up, offering value, and letting your personality and music shine through. Whether you’re dropping your first single or your tenth album, these ideas can help you create engaging, shareable content that actually connects with people. The tools are in your hands. Now hit record. 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!

ERP Development Cost: What You Need to Know in 2025

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software has become an essential tool for groups seeking to optimize their operations, centralize records, and enhance decision-making. Whether you are a startup scaling rapidly or an established employer managing complex workflows, a custom ERP answer can appreciably boost performance. But one of the first and most crucial questions enterprise leaders ask is: What is the ERP software improvement price?

In this  guide, we ruin down what goes into ERP software development cost, the important thing: fee drivers, average fee ranges, and hints to optimize your investment in 2025.

What is ERP Software?

ERP software is a gadget that integrates diverse business feature inclusive of accounting, HR, stock, procurement, income, and client control right into a centralized platform. It lets in special departments to get right of entry to actual-time information and streamline collaboration throughout the organization.

You can select between:

  • Off-the-shelf ERP answers (like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite)
  • Custom ERP development, which is adapted particularly to your business enterprise’s desires

While off-the-shelf software may be quicker to enforce, custom ERP development gives more flexibility, scalability, and control. Naturally, that degree of customization comes with a value.

What Determines ERP Software Development Cost?

The general ERP Software Development Cost can vary widely, depending on several key factors. Let’s ruin them down:

1. Business Size and Complexity

The scale of your business enterprise plays a big function. A small commercial enterprise with primary accounting and HR desires will spend a ways less than a multinational company with complicated deliver chains and compliance necessities.

More customers, greater roles, and extra departments usually imply extra functions, more integrations, and a higher rate.

2. Number of Modules Required

ERP systems are modular via layout. You can select which modules to encompass, including:

  • Finance and Accounting
  • Human Resources
  • Inventory and Warehouse Management
  • CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
  • Procurement
  • Manufacturing and Production
  • Project Management
  • Sales and Marketing

More modules mean greater development time and higher expenses. If you’re simply getting started, you may launch with a middle set of functions and scale over the years.

3. Custom Features and Workflow Logic

A custom ERP software program is constructed to match your exact inner workflows. If you have particular methods or require automation that popular ERP systems don’t aid, assume the value to move up. This includes complex enterprise regulations, approval chains, multi-stage permissions, or real-time reporting dashboards.

4. UI/UX Design

A user-friendly, intuitive interface can improve adoption and decrease education time. But a splendid UI/UX layout adds to the improvement fee. Still, investing in true design will pay off by growing productiveness and minimizing personal mistakes.

5. Integration with Other Systems

Do you need your ERP to connect to your existing CRM, eCommerce platform, payroll system, or legacy databases? Integrations, particularly with gear can booh the time and price of ERP software development cost.

6. Development Team Location

Where your improvement crew is primarily based affects the overall fee drastically:

  • USA / Canada / Western Europe: $80 – $200 per hour
  • Eastern Europe: $30 – $80 per hour
  • India / Southeast Asia: $20 – $50 per hour

Outsourcing to professional improvement teams in cost-effective areas can dramatically lessen your ERP software program development price while retaining high excellence.

7. Ongoing Maintenance and Support

Post-deployment support includes worm fixes, updates, server maintenance, protection patches, and destiny upgrades. Many improvement corporations offer this as a monthly or yearly service, and it needs to be blanketed for your price range making plans.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

When budgeting for ERP software development, don’t forget to account for the following:

  • Infrastructure charges (in case you’re hosting on-premises)
  • Training for staff
  • Data migration and cleanup
  • Licensing
  • Change management and adoption techniques

These charges can add up quickly if not deliberate from the outset.

How to Reduce ERP Development Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

While ERP development cost systems can be expensive, clever planning can help maintain fees under manipulation. Here’s how:

1. Start Small with an MVP

Focus on developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with only essential features. Launch faster, get personal comments, and after which, build out extra modules.

2. Prioritize Features

Don’t try to automate everything without delay. Prioritize functions that deliver the maximum business cost or resolve your biggest ache factors first.

3. Leverage Open-Source Tools

Using reliable open-supply frameworks can keep hundreds on licensing and decrease the want for proprietary improvement.

4. Work With Experienced Teams

A skilled improvement accomplice can expect demanding situations, reduce development time, and offer reusable components to cut expenses.

6. Use Agile Methodology

Agile development allows you to paint in sprints, take a look at it as you pass, and make adjustments without scrapping large elements of the mission.

Is ERP Software Worth the Investment?

While the ERP software program improvement cost can appear excessive prematurely, the long-term fee is difficult to ignore. A well-implemented ERP system can:

  • Increase operational efficiency
  • Reduce mistakes and guide data access
  • Improve reporting and choice-making
  • Enhance collaboration across departments
  • Enable better customer support and satisfaction

Over time, these advantages translate into better sales, reduced charges, and a more potent aggressive function.

Conclusion

ERP software program is a effective asset for companies looking to scale and streamline operations but it’s now not a one-length-suits-all solution. Understanding the ERP software program improvement fee enables you propose extra correctly and make smarter funding selections.

Whether you’re building a small ERP system to your startup or a full-fledged enterprise solution, the secret’s to align your ERP capabilities together with your enterprise goals and boom strategy.

Thinking about building your own ERP machine? Let’s talk about your requirements—I assist you to estimate your costs and advise the fine approach.

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

Elle Belle Releases Hypnotic New Single “Train to Kyoto”

Eric Alper
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Elle Belle Releases Hypnotic New Single “Train to Kyoto”

Elle Belle, the indie rock band led by award-winning composer and songwriter Christopher Pappas, is excited to announce the release of their latest single, “Train to Kyoto,” available now on all digital platforms through Little Record Company.

On the track, Christopher Pappas shares, “‘Train to Kyoto’ is a nearly lyric-less song I wrote while on, well, a train to Kyoto. I recorded a scratch vocal that started with the only lyric I had at the time: ‘I took the train to Kyoto and I never woke up.’ I improvised the rest of the vocals, intending it to be a placeholder until I could record the ‘real’ vocals. But as I listened back, I found the performance, and the way it interacted with the vocal effects, compelling. So, I kept it as is, despite it being mostly lyric-less. The outro features Jack Lawless on drums and my friends 2BAD (Chrissy Polcino, Ra’id Al-Amin).”

“Train to Kyoto” follows Elle Belle’s recent singles, “Me, Timbers” and “Mozart Was Buried in a Pauper’s Grave,” which was released last month.

Pappas explains, “There’s no easy way to explain this song without sounding like a self-righteous a-hole, so apologies in advance. Or maybe you’ll relate? Do you ever feel like you’re at the party at the end of the world, putting coasters under drinks? Do you think ‘separating the art from the artist’ is a morally bankrupt philosophy that led to a trash TV star becoming president? If so, my apologies-you’re stuck talking to me at the party. What do you wanna talk about? Want to hear about the D&D campaign I’m running?”

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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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