As the world fights a pandemic, we’ve been reaching out to some of our favorite artists with three questions about these unprecedented times. Here’s what Henry Rollins — who’s launched a new KCRW internet-radio show called The Cool Quarantine and recently put out the record-collecting ode Stay Fanatic!!! Vol. 1 …
Read More »Watch Midland Sing Joe Exotic's 'I Saw a Tiger' From 'Tiger King'
Along with seven hours of big cat intrigue, alleged murder, accidental shootings, and unsolved arson, Netflix‘s docuseries Tiger King has gifted us with some outrageously cheesy country songs, all sung (or at least performed) by zookeeping country wannabe Joe Exotic. “Here Kitty Kitty” is a swampy murder ballad and “My …
Read More »Butch Walker Previews New Rock Opera With Wry Ballad 'Pretty Crazy'
“I love you!” a girl giggles at the beginning of Butch Walker‘s new song “Pretty Crazy,” to which Walker deadpans, “Oh, cool.” It’s a lightning-flash exchange that nonetheless sums up the superficiality of today’s culture — are anyone’s words ever really sincere? Walker tackles all sorts of words and viewpoints …
Read More »U.S. Indicts Venezuelan President on Drug-Trafficking Charges
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and 14 other current and former government and intelligence officials with an array of charges Thursday, including drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and corruption. Per a statement from the DOJ, the indictment accuses Maduro of being involved in the Cartel de Los …
Read More »Jewel Raises Over $550k for Homeless Youth With Livestream Concert
This past weekend, Jewel raised more than $550,000 for at-risk and homeless youth through her Live From San Quarantine: A Livestream Concert, in partnership with her Never Broken charity program. Never Broken, a part of the Inspiring Children Foundation, was originally scheduled to host a concert fundraiser this summer with …
Read More »Hear Our Podcast on the Music Biz's Week From COV-19 Hell
Few industries are less suited for an era of social distancing than the concert business, built as it is around masses of people gathering shoulder-to-shoulder. So in mid-March, as the United States began to realize how widely the coronavirus was spreading domestically, scheduled concerts and festivals flew off the calendar, …
Read More »Watch Orville Peck Honor Kenny Rogers With 'Islands in the Stream' Cover
Orville Peck saluted the late Kenny Rogers on Monday with a solo acoustic version of “Islands in the Stream,” the latter’s 1983 hit with Dolly Parton. The acoustic cover arrived midway through the masked country artist’s livestreamed, at-home concert, which marked the one-year anniversary of his debut LP, Pony. “This …
Read More »Flashback: Joni Mitchell Plays a Warm 'For Free' in 1970
On September 3rd, 1970, Joni Mitchell stopped by the BBC’s Television Centre in London to perform for the premiere of their In Concert series. She would play songs from previous albums, including “Cactus Tree” from her 1968 David Crosby–produced debut and “Chelsea Morning” from Clouds, but the majority of her …
Read More »See Pabllo Vittar and Thalía Go Wild in New 'Tímida' Video
Brazilian drag superstar Pabllo Vittar teams up with Mexican pop icon Thalía in the brazen new video for “Tímida,” which translates to “Shy.” Sung in Spanish and English, “Tímida” is the lead single off Vittar’s upcoming 111 2 EP — the second installment of her 111 EP series. The Gustavo …
Read More »Charli XCX Will Host Daily 'Self-Isolation' Livestream With Special Guests
With the live-music industry in shambles thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, more and more artists are turning to livestreaming and other virtual options for performing their music and connecting with fans in these trying times. On Wednesday, Charli XCX became the latest, announcing her own daily “Self-Isolation IG Livestream.” The …
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