FEATURED Archives - Page 7 of 19

August 25, 2025 Jason Shrum

Bully Packs A Punch at The Blue Room

I was back at The Blue Room again in Nashville to cover the Bully show with Jawdropped supporting on the second evening of a two-show engagement. You know you spend a lot of time at a venue when you walk up to the ticket person and they say, “Oh, it’s you again”. I laughed. Live music venues are my happy place, so I was certainly glad to be there again. This would be my third time seeing Alicia Bognanno and her band. “Bully” refers to her “inner bully” or the “inner demons” she confronts in her music and life. The name Bully also represents the initial band she fronted a decade ago but later became synonymous with Bognanno herself as the sole member.

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August 22, 2025 Jason Shrum

Arts Fishing Club Drops Lines in Blue Room Waters

Their sound is hard to root down and that’s why I am excited about their future. You can say they are this or that, but their ability to play just about anything is evident in their music. At the core, Arts Fishing Club is branded as an indie-folk rock band, but I am not sure that’s the best descriptor of what they are about, although I am not sure how I would list them if I had to. The music is fun. The band plays tight. It’s fast when it needs to be but slows down with all the right accents tapping directly into all the listeners emotions. They keep it light between songs too, letting the audience know just how much fun they are having. On this Thursday, in the dimly lit architectural aqua-bowl of a room, our guiding light was AFC.

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August 13, 2025 Jason Shrum

The Staggering Expanse of Man

The song’s beginning challenges the impact of our global footprint with its prose. The band is screaming for us to listen and take heed, but our consumption may be drowning those cries out. So, there is a musical shift that happens and the song structure slows as if to appeal to us with another approach. This is one of those many layers that the trio brings to the forefront of their efforts. With tightknit precision and playing, the group captures their audience in mystical undertones that float beneath rough and metallic surfaces. It is absolutely gorgeous to listen to the transition from heavy to soft without losing the engagement of the audience. It might have been three separate songs if conceptualized differently, but it works as one opus and only for a few seconds are we fluttering in this softened sonic status before being hurled back into a deeper sound. And for all this, we are just :40 seconds into our journey.

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August 5, 2025 Larry Fulford

The Weakerthans: Left & Leaving, 25th Anniversary

If you’ve never heard of The Weakerthans, don’t worry, neither have most people I’ve met for the past twenty-five years. I only found out about them when a buddy of mine loaned me their debut CD, Fallow (1997), probably in early 2000, telling me I could keep it if I liked it, that he wasn’t that into it.

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July 22, 2025 Jason Shrum

Top 10 Ozzy Moments

Today we mourn the loss of a metal giant and the man known as the Prince of Darkness to his fans. Ozzy Osbourne will be remembered eternally… that I have no doubt about. Ozzy was one of the greatest frontmen of all-time and he gave us some of the grandest bangers in Rock and Roll history. He was also well known for his crazy antics both on and off the stage. Ozzy has passed over on this, July 22nd 2025 and his legend is etched in the annuals of music history. His family has graced us with this note:

“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the statement read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

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July 15, 2025 Jason Shrum

Juke Box Jam II at The Basement East

The Basement East in Nashville was transformed into an old juke-joint/ sock hop with soul on Saturday night. The room was electric as people poured in, some donned in 1950’s and 60’s attire to watch a spectacular evening of beautiful music from the yesteryears. The stage was set with glittery streamers laced in a gold and red background, paper records looped around the venue, as a disco ball illuminated both floor and ceiling. There was an enchanting feeling that made me sense Michael J. Fox was about to blow up this “Under the Sea” monikered prom by ripping his cherry red Gibson ES-345 guitar and showing us the future of music.

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July 7, 2025 Jason Shrum

Matt Cameron is Leaving Pearl Jam

After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, one filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter. I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.