Features

Does Riot Fest Have The Best Lineup Of 2022?
11May By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Does Riot Fest Have The Best Lineup Of 2022?

The Riot Fest lineup is here and it's a doozy. They are heading into the 17th year of the annual event with an undeniably strong collection of artists. Punk, hip hop, indie rock, industrial and other genres are all well represented on the bill. My Chemical Romance will headline Friday. The Original Misfits are on top of the bill Saturday and Nine Inch Nails will close out Sunday. Yeah Yeah Yeahs will perform for the first time at Riot Fest. As far as reunions go, Yellowcard will be getting back together as is The Academy Is... and Midtown. Riot Fest maintains its independent spirit to this day. The three-day event will return to Douglass Park in Chicago this September. Tickets are officially on sale and are available in a variety of packages. Spread out over five stages, expect mor...
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‘Happening’ is a Searing Reminder of Life Before Roe v. Wade (Review)
10May By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

‘Happening’ is a Searing Reminder of Life Before Roe v. Wade (Review)

'Happening,' released by IFC Films from director Audrey Diwan, could have just been an emotionally charged look back at what life was like for women when abortion was illegal. This 1960's-set drama stands poised to be not just be a look back at the past. It's also a terrifying look into what the future may hold in America if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade. Louise Orry-Diquéro, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Luàna Bajrami in 'Happening' (IFC Films) Based on a True Story 'Happening' takes place in 1963-era France. Based on Annie Ernaux’s semi-autobiographical novel, Anamaria Vartolomei gives a César award-winning performance as Anne, a vibrant young Literature student. Her life becomes derailed after a one-night stand leads to pregnancy. Diwan divides the film up into...
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Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”
8May By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews, Music

Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”

Considering it has been almost exactly a year to the day since I first spoke with Just Connor about his music, I think it's only right to do this first issue of Breaking Waves about him... Especially since today is the day that the first Just Connor track of 2022 drops! Please go ahead and stream "Hyperstrike"-- I promise you, it will send you on a gorgeous sonic journey. It's what I've had on repeat all morning. By the time you reach the second drop, you will realize that no one does wave music quite like JC. That's what I realized a year ago, and have realized time and time again, on my "journey through wave". I say it like that because that's what this has felt like--a journey. Ever since that first conversation with JC, it has felt like I've been on a journey to discover wh...
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Hulu’s ‘Crush’ is a Charming Queer Rom-Com (Review)
6May By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

Hulu’s ‘Crush’ is a Charming Queer Rom-Com (Review)

Hulu's 'Crush' is part of a growing batch of films and television series that focus on young queer people finding love. Following Netflix's 'Heartstopper' series, which is one of the most charming love stories in recent years of any orientation, this heartfelt and comic debut feature from director Sammi Cohen follows a young artist named Paige (Rowan Blanchard) who would do anything to get close to the girl she has a crush on at school. Rowan Blanchard and Auli'i Cravalho star in 'Crush' (Photo by: Hulu) For Paige, being gay has just been a fact of life. She's been out at school for years and has an overly supportive mother (Megan Mullally) who tries to show her how much of a cool mom she is by gifting her vibrators and dental dams. The target of her affection is Gabriela (Is...
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Poll: Where Do You Discover New Music?
3May By Simon3 Comments
Features, Music

Poll: Where Do You Discover New Music?

Listening habits have evolved over the past few decades. Today, there are far more options when it comes to discovering new music. Take the MendoWerks poll below and let us know where you're finding tasty new jams. But first, let's look at some recently-released numbers for 2021. According to statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), recorded music revenue in the United State grew a whopping 23% percent to $15 billion last year (retail value). All major formats experienced growth with the exception of digital downloads. Paid subscriptions continued to be the largest driver of growth. RIAA research shows that 84 million people belonged to a subscription service in 2021, up from 75.5 million the previous year. The news wasn't so promising when it came to d...
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Michael Bay Returns With Action-Packed ‘Ambulance’ (Review)
3May By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

Michael Bay Returns With Action-Packed ‘Ambulance’ (Review)

The new film from maverick director Michael Bay will stand the test of time with audiences despite its lackluster showing at the box office. The action-packed thriller is a remake of a 2005 Dutch film called 'Ambulancen' about brothers who risk it all to pull off a bank robbery to cover some massive medical bills. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Will, an unemployed veteran with a newborn baby and a wife in need of a costly experimental surgery. He is struggling to find a job that will pay him enough to help his family when he gets a proposition from his half-brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal). Without much time to consider the implications of his decision, he agrees to join Danny and his nefarious crew to pull off a bank robbery that could solve all of his problems. As is of...
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AWOLNATION Tour Announced, Covers Album Drops Friday
2May By SimonNo Comments
Events, Features, Music

AWOLNATION Tour Announced, Covers Album Drops Friday

AWOLNATION is hitting the road and tickets go on sale Friday. Not-so-coincidentally, the highly anticipated covers and compilation album will be released the same day. My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me features appearances by Beck, Jewel, Brandon Boyd (Incubus), Taylor Hanson (yes, that Hanson), and many others. Photo Credit: Credit: Kari Rowe Joining AWOLNATION on tour are Badflower and The Mysterines. Dubbed the 'Falling Forward' tour, it'll kick off October 6th in Utah and run through November 18th in Seattle. Highlights include stops in New York City, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. Tickets are on sale to the general public Friday at 10 am local time and can be found here. There is a special pre-sale underway for members of the AWOLNATION fan club through Thursday. ...
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What to Watch: May 2022 Streaming Preview
29Apr By Matt Shiverdecker1 Comment
Features, Film

What to Watch: May 2022 Streaming Preview

If you're looking for something new on streaming in May, we've got you covered. Maybe you want to sit down with a brand new release to rent on VOD? If you'd rather check out something that has just hit a service you already subscribe to, we've got you covered there too. Check out some of our picks for what you should add to your watchlist! What are you most excited to see? Newly Available on VOD a-ha The Movie (May 10)Ambulance (PVOD available now to rent at $19.99 or buy at $24.99, regular price on June 14)Belle (May 3)Dual (May 20, also streaming on AMC+)The Great Freedom (May 20)Jane by Charlotte (May 6)The Lost City (May 10, also on Paramount+)Uncharted (PVOD now, regular price on May 10) Criterion Channel Directed by Richard Linklater - 18 film series including Slacker...
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James And The Cold Gun Drop Debut EP False Start
29Apr By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

James And The Cold Gun Drop Debut EP False Start

James and the Cold Gun are everything that's great about rock and roll. Soaring choruses meet edgy riffs and a little unpredictability on their debut EP False Start. It's been released on Venn Records in the UK and Loosegroove Records out of Seattle in the US. Loosegroove is owned by Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog) and Regan Hagar (Malfunkshun, Brad). False Start EP The band caught the Pearl Jam guitarists' attention after he heard "Long Way Home" getting airplay on KEXP last year. The False Start EP is just the beginning of this new partnership between the iconic indie label and James and the Cold Gun with Gossard stating, 'This new track, "It's Mutual" takes it to another level. Totally unhinged and letting it all hang out. Loosegroove Records is thrilled to be workin...
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Liam Gallagher Releases New Single “Better Days”
25Apr By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Liam Gallagher Releases New Single “Better Days”

The iconic Liam Gallagher has an eagerly awaited new solo album on the way. His new single "Better Days" just dropped and has the vibe and feel of an instant classic. Gallagher collaborated with Grammy-winning Andrew Wyatt and Michael Tighe on writing the track. Produced by Wyatt along with Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sir Paul McCartney), they spiced things up with Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs featured on guitar. The music video features Gallagher and band on top of the Midland Hotel in Manchester, England. The cinematic performance video gets increasingly psychadelic as the sky slowly starting to swirl. The video is a clear nod to the Beatles legendary Apple Corps show. Directed by Paul Dugdale, he's in good company having worked previously with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Adele, ...
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