MUSIC NEWS Archives - Page 6 of 9

I fell in love with Athens during my first visit in 1999 or so. Sure, it was initially fueled by the fact that I’m a huge R.E.M. fan and, as such, Athens is basically Mecca, but it quickly became more than that. Athens is an anomaly in the south: a quaint, college town with a rich history of art and music, surrounded by sprawling farmland, isolating it from neighboring Atlanta, making it a funny little island, where, for decades now, weirdos get to be weirdos, experimenting with sounds, words and visuals, free of judgement and expectations. Leaving Athens always stings a little, in that I find myself wishing I could spend more time there, or had lived there in my 20s.

B Sides FEATURED MUSIC NEWS

April 8, 2025 Jason Shrum

Record Store Day Returns in 2025

EXCLUSIVES: These titles are physically released only at indie record stores.
RSD FIRST: These titles are found first at indie record stores but may be released to other retailers or webstores at some point in the future.
SMALL RUN/REGIONAL TITLES: These titles are either regionally based and sold at specific stores, or are press runs under 1000, which means they may be much more difficult to find at record stores around the country.

Many of these RSD titles are in “limited” variety, so that usually means waking up early to secure your place in line. I usually tend to get up around 6am to be in line be 7am depending on the store and their hours. I strongly encourage contacting your local record store, or visiting their social media page or website, to see if they offer any guidance on how the queue will be operated. Most stores opt for a “first come, first served” basis and only allow a few people in the building at a time to cut down on the wildness of 1980’s Black Friday’s mayhem style.

FEATURED MUSIC NEWS

February 6, 2025 Jason Shrum

Chappell Roan Uses Her Voice

Roan brought the Grammys crowd to her “Pink Pony Club” with a fantasy inspired performance of horses and clowns. On theme with the night, Roan said of her love of Los Angeles, “‘Pink Pony Club’ is my love letter to L.A. I love this city. L.A. gave me the courage to be myself becauseh ultimately it is where I feel the most free.”

FEATURED MUSIC NEWS

January 31, 2025 Jason Shrum

FireAid Draws Music’s Biggest Stars

Three weeks after a violent series of historic wildfires killed 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures in the Los Angeles area, more than two dozen of music’s biggest names gathered for the Fire Aid Benefit Concert on Thursday, January 30th. Labeled as “an evening of music and solidarity,” organizers set out to raise money for affected residents and to “prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.” There were so many musicians wanting to help to the cause, that what was initially set as a single event turned into dual concerts at the newly opened Intuit Dome and local landmark Kia Forum, both of which were streamed for free on major streaming services, social media like YouTube and TikTok and broadcast stations. What we saw was absolutely spectacular.

FEATURED MUSIC NEWS

January 27, 2025 Jason Shrum

Host Malone

Post Malone will be the Record Store Day Ambassador of 2025 according to the organizers of the annual event. Record Store Day returns for its 18th year on April 12th, celebrating close to two decades of supporting physical media, independent artists, and brick-and-mortar record stores.

“What an honor, I can’t believe I was chosen to be Record Store Day’s Ambassador for 2025,” Malone said in a statement. “Record Store Day is so important and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive. We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road, seeing all the crazy artwork, the whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring. I feel at home.”

FEATURED LIVE REVIEWS MUSIC NEWS

January 14, 2025 Jason Shrum

Rachel Platten Brings Viewers, and Herself, to Tears

On Monday Night we were treated to a very special performance, and it wasn’t by the Minnesota Vikings as they were dominated by the Los Angeles Rams 27-9. It was in the cards that the Rams would win as all of LA, and most of the country, was supporting the team due to the devastation that was happening in their hometown via the wildfires. The true joy was what happened prior to the opening kickoff and that was cause by Rachel Platten.

MUSIC NEWS

January 11, 2025 Jason Shrum

A Benefit Concert Planned in LA

A benefit concert for victims of the ongoing California wildfires has been announced. The show is billed as ‘FireAid’ and will take place on January 30 at the LA Intuit Dome. The show’s exact lineup has yet to be announced. Proceeds for the event will go to a 501(c)(3) with the purpose of “rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced families, and advancing fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure LA is better prepared for fire emergencies,” according to a press release. A significant aspect of the relief efforts includes a $1 million pledge from the Recording Academy and MusiCares.