Jason Shrum, Author at Rock Oracle

April 17, 2026 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.

B Sides FEATURED LISTS MUSIC NEWS

April 12, 2026 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

ALBUM REVIEWS FEATURED

April 8, 2026 Jason Shrum

What Is The Meaning of Life?

“’meaning of life” is about giving depression company,” meg shares. “It’s being fucking tired, stuck in self-sabotage and procrastination, feeling nothing and living vicariously through other people instead. It’s a pretty goddamn selfish song.”

She further explains, “It’s also about ruining normal, sweet moments with nihilistic thoughts, like what happens when I die while I’m trying to find that a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon.There’s no reason to it. And if there’s no reason to it, then maybe there’s no reason to me. It’s about the freedom and relief in realizing that maybe it’s not about everything being meaningless, but about how hard it is to find meaning when there’s no reason to it.”

ALBUM REVIEWS B Sides FEATURED MUSIC NEWS

April 3, 2026 Jason Shrum

Hussy Fit Wants You To Listen

To engage with Hussy Fit is to mix all your favorite cereals together. They are dynamic in flavor. The band pulls from genres past and present and keeps their personal style at the focal point. The band consists of Cordie Nicole adding synth flare to her vocal prowess, Izzy Cring – bass, vocals, Nick Doukas – guitar, Saige Cordero – guitar, backing vocals, and Jackson Tsukahara – drums. For this single they brought Seth Lake in for multiple guitar parts and let producer Lonny Cagle chime in on those gang vocals for the track.

B Sides FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS

March 31, 2026 Jason Shrum

House of the Setting Sun

The night was curated to flawlessness. As I exited, I hugged people that I had only met a few hours before. We need more interactions like these. Stop with all the divisive behavior and come together over commonality. We have limited time on this floating space orb, and we should be sharing in its beauty, rather than fighting for control. Find your community. Find your space. It is then that you will find your peace.

ALBUM REVIEWS FEATURED

March 20, 2026 Jason Shrum

Moon Mother Drops Sophomore Record with “Meadowlands”

The record is a gorgeous jaunt through a woodland of feverish sentiment. There is some absolve from hurt that happens with the recognition of trauma. The message is quite clear that lessons can be learned, and that growth is possible if you choose to accept that things can get better. “Meadowlands is without a doubt the most powerful thing we have ever created. It is a world for itself and we have undergone a kind of inner revolution in the making of this record. A death and a rebirth, I think it can be felt throughout the journey of listening to this album. Meadowlands – the place outside, the place within.” says Mehner.

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS MUSIC NEWS

March 16, 2026 Jason Shrum

Nosey Flynn @ McNamara’s Irish Pub & Restaurant- St Patty’s Day Extravaganza Done Early

The Glorious McNamara Pub was founded in 2010 by musician Sean McNamara, his Wife Paula McNamara and partners Kirk Orndorff, and Francis Gyebi. McNamara’s Irish Pub is located in Nashville’s Donelson neighborhood. This Restaurant and Live Music Venue blends Authentic Irish Hospitality with a Passionate commitment to live traditional music. The founders have come together to combine over 50 years of expertise and knowledge in opening McNamara’s. Known for its house band Nosey Flynn, and visiting Celtic artists, the venue has become one of the city’s primary homes for Irish folk performance. With traditional pub fare, whiskey selections, and a cozy multi- room interior modeled after neighborhood pubs in Ireland, McNamara’s functions as both a restaurant and a cultural gathering space for Nashville’s Celtic music community.