Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (Photo courtesy Sacks & Co.)
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, the Oakland-based band fronted by singer and songwriter Thao Nguyen, recently released Temple, the band’s fifth studio album on Ribbon Music.
The band then shared a video for the single “Phenom.”
Morgan James (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Soul singer Morgan James livestreams her next concert via StageIt on Saturday, Aug. 22!
Morgan promises originals and requests for the show, which comes not too long after the release of her third solo album, Memphis Magnetic, released earlier this year via Hedonist Records.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) appears in front of Brooklyn Independent Venue Baby’s All Right with Elsewhere’s Druv Chopra, NIVA Executive Director Rev Moose, Baby’s All RIght’s Billy Jones, and Independent Artist Sean McVerry. (Photo courtesy NIVA)
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer yesterday announced at a press conference that he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation aimed at providing relief to independent live venues, promoters and festivals across the nation. Since the pandemic shutdowns began in March, music venues, comedy clubs, and festivals have been shuttered with no revenue, high overhead and no timeline for when they can fully reopen. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) said that if the shutdown lasts six months or longer and there’s no meaningful federal assistance, 90 percent of its members would be forced to fold forever.
Roosevelt (Photo by Joseph Strauch)
After causing a stir in June with “Sign,” his first new studio recording since 2018 which Stereogum called “a thumping house-pop jam with an emotional ballad at its gooey center,” acclaimed artist and producer Marius Lauber AKA Roosevelt today shares the follow-up single “Echoes.”
Keller Williams (Photo by Taylor Crothers)
Keller Williams released his 25th studio album, Speed, last year, and it was his third collaboration with flatpicker Larry Keel and bassist Jenny Keel, following 2006’s Grass and 2012’s Thief.
Since then, Keller has embraced live-streaming in our pandemic times, and he has a show on Wednesday, Aug. 19 via StageIt that’s sure to touch on his collaborations with The Keels and more!
Shinedown (Photo by Sanjay Parikh)
Multi-platinum band Shinedown has broken the record for the most No. 1s ever in the 39-year history of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs Chart, scoring their 16th No. 1 hit this week with “Atlas Falls.”
The Screws (Photo courtesy DC9)
Venerable DC punk band The Screws perform live at DC9 on Tuesday, Aug. 18! And you can watch live via a special YouTube link or you can watch the show on a screen at the venue, safely socially distanced on the roof of DC9.
Foreign Air (Photo courtesy Shore Fire Media)
Foreign Air — the DC/LA-based duo known for their “transcendent indie-rock-meets-electronica,” “forceful guitars,” and “haunting vocals” (Billboard) — announce their debut album Good Morning Stranger, out Oct. 16.
To accompany the announcement, Foreign Air share “I Believe,” their new song co-written with Gabe Simon (Dua Lipa, Jai Wolf, MAX).
GWAR (Photo courtesy Freeman Promotions)
Been stuck at home in your mom’s basement since March? Tired of watching the same old shit on Netflix and Hulu? Have you had enough of Ancient Aliens, and the Tiger King? Ready to throttle that no-neck Danzig twin Big Ed from 90 Day Fiancé?
GWAR has the solution! Your Lords and Masters are launching a brand new monthly variety show from their frozen fortress to warm the cockles of your cold dead hearts!
“Undead From Antarctica” premieres Sunday, Aug. 19, at 9pm ET, on GWAR’s YouTube Channel with special guest Lzzy Hale!
Creative writing! (Photo courtesy Microbiz Mag, www.microbizmag.co.uk)
Required Reading is Parklife DC’s essay series on music appreciation.
When I was just starting to write concert reviews, my editor advised me to find the story and tell it. That turned out to be great advice. A concert review should be more than just what happened. It should be unified, it should have a through-line. This is true for any narrative, fiction or non. In learning to tell the stories of concerts, I’ve become a better writer, not just of concert reviews, but of fiction.
