LIVE REVIEWS Archives

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!”

B Sides LIVE REVIEWS MUSIC NEWS

May 6, 2026 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.

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS

May 2, 2026 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.

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS

April 25, 2026 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.

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS MUSIC NEWS

April 16, 2026 Melinoe Macaria Mourningstar

Popville Masquerade Ball- A Night with Jean Saint Lazarus, Kate Cosentino and Kelley Cole!

Welcome Ghouls, Demons and Fellow Wyrd Ones! I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to
Popville Music’s “Masquerade Ball- A Night with Jean Saint Lazarus, Kate Cosentino and Kelley Cole!”
It was a lovely Spring Nashville Evening. I had never been to the East Room before. Or not knowingly. I
have driven by The Cobra a thousand times. I have stopped by the Alternative and Occult Shop “Hail” a
handful of times. This can go to show, how directionally challenged I am. Or how often I Passenger
Princess my way through Life at the hands of my Beloved. Or maybe it highlights what a nightmare
Gallatin Ave truly manifests to be. I will digress. As I finally secured a free (rare) parking spot, I began my
Final Candle Vendor Evening and my First Rock Oracle Drop in with Popville Music.

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS

April 10, 2026 Melinoe Macaria Mourningstar

Emperor & Blood Incantation: The Emperial Wrath Tour

I found myself hosting a new Orb of Energy. Based on Astrological timing, there was a connection from the Root to the Crown, bursting through a barricade of the Throat Chakra. While this may be personal to me, I would be curious to understand the impact on a collective scale. As my beloved and I were granted with Capricorn Mercuries at birth, I find these sequence of events to be a necessary phase of evolution, healing and transformation for us. Especially as Emperor and Blood Incantation began their performance as the Moon shifted from Sagittarius into Capricorn. Leading the way into the final conclusionary release of the Last Quarter Capricorn Moon of this Aries Season.

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.