Wednesday, May 20, 2026
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Author: Jason Shrum

FEATUREDLIVE REVIEWS
Jason Shrum

Toadies on tour with a New Album after Nearly a Decade

The current tour is built around a new album called The Charmer.  It was released on May 1, 2026, via Spaceflight Records, and it is their first full-length studio release in nearly a decade. Produced by the late Steve Albini in 2024, the 13-track album features a raw, fast-paced sound born from “pandemic-era introspection”.  Frontman Vaden Lewis had said in a statement, “This album has been a long time in the works, and it’s such a joy to see it come together, we went back to basics for this session: all analogue, live takes, high energy.” Drummer Mark Reznicek added, “I’ve been a fan of Steve Albini’s since I first heard the albums he recorded with the Pixies and PJ Harvey, so being able to record with him is really a dream come true. In fact, when we first signed with a major label, they asked us who we would like to work with and we all said “Albini!” Well, for whatever reason, the label didn’t go for it. And now 30 years later, it finally happened!” 

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B SidesLIVE REVIEWSMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Music City Madness, Dee’s Lounge & Everything Local | Vendors, musicians & community came together to create a space filled with harmony

 This month’s event was hosted by Dee’s Lounge in Madison, Tennessee. Owner, Amy Dee says of her place, “I couldn’t find a classic country venue around Nashville when I moved here, so I opened one”.  Since 2016 it has grown to so much more than just a hub for country music, as the venue host all types of genres with just three simple rules: Pay Your Tab, Don’t Be an Asshole and You Must be 21 to Enter. It remains a classic “dive-bar” with lovely locals and a fantastic staff that want to make your experience a great one.  The decor is straight out of the 1970’s (think Urban Cowboy) and you feel like you’vefound a second home when you walk through the doors.  Not only is there a space to play music inside with nice sound quality, but there is a space out back with a large stage and plenty of seating and room for dancing on those sunny days.  This was one of those days. 

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FEATUREDLIVE REVIEWS
Jason Shrum

Rock and Roll in East Nashville

If you are looking for some good old rock and roll music in Nashville, then The Cobra on the east side of town is definitely a spot that you’re going to want to check out. The Cobra is a great venue to hear anything from punk to country and everything in between. They have a kick ass staff, and the smaller space creates great sound and a stellar vibe. The show we are talking about now fell right into that classic sound with three artists lending something, each a little different. The bill on Thursday, April 30th, 2026, was Leilani Kilgore, Catchfire and Cordell Winter.

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ALBUM REVIEWSB SidesMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

The Weird Sisters Have a New Single Out

When you see them play live, it is a cavalcade of foot pedals and knobs turning, all while playing their instruments and singing melodic harmonies that match the tonality of lasers and humming spaceships.  They are wildly mesmerizing and talented as all get out.  So, when a new song comes from the depths of the minds from this dynamic duo, you know that the work has been put in and sonically it will be different from anything you typically hear in the mainstream.   

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FEATUREDLIVE REVIEWS
Jason Shrum

A Night at the Popera

An evening of beautiful music happened as The Vinyl Lounge played host to what was dubbed “A Night at the Popera”.  Four classically trained opera singers gathered for a genre-bending, theatrical live show.  Powerful women with formidable voices brought pop, folk, synth-pop, hyperpop, and pop-punk to the stage and mashed it up with definitive sounds that you don’t normally hear together. What happened was a gorgeous moment in time. Meghan Pulles, Arily Michelle, Sunshine Scott and Cassandra Pinataro electrified the space with a magnificent showcase of unbridled force.  Armed with their voices and the will to be heard these women grasped the attention of their onlookers to deliver messages of courage, femineity and individuality.  A Night at the Popera grew out of music but created and curated a likeminded community that thrived in the mantras of these fabulous musicians. 

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ALBUM REVIEWSFEATUREDMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Why You Should Be Listening to Mr. Dinkles

The group features Mac Rettig on vocals and guitar and Rocco Ramos on drums and doesn’t need much more of anything. In fact, I told my 13-year-old nephew, who is an aspiring drummer, to listen to Rocco and learn his technique which controls the tempo with simplistic approach.  Sometimes less is more and that is absolutely a good thing when it comes down to a band of two.  Mr. Dinkles has that feel of The White Stripes or Twenty One Pilots, but it’s a lot of their words that are making the underground headlines.  For such a young band they have their finger on the pulse of what going on and are not afraid to speak out about the atrocities that are framing our current society.  That’s what punk is.  And this old punk feels good.

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B SidesFEATUREDLISTSMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Record Store Day is here again

“Independent record stores are so important because you get the chance to immerse and surround yourself. I love collecting vinyl because nothing is better than sitting on your couch putting on a record and just listening to music like that. Not just staring at your phone and downloading something or listening to something on your phone, but to actually see all of this beautiful art around you. It inspires me.” – Bruno Mars, Record Store Day 2026 Ambassador 

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