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Blueprints for a Breakdown is one of those EPs you can listen to repeatedly without growing tired of it. < Back Reviews on the Real: Blueprints for a Breakdown by T Mason & The Bricklayers Nicole Brice Apr 9, 2025 Share Blueprints for a Breakdown is one of those EPs you can listen to repeatedly without growing tired of it. The members of T. Mason & the Bricklayers , based in Baton Rouge , Louisiana are well-versed in creating music that resonates with audiences. Each member has been involved in various projects over the years, but they have now come together to make an impact in the reemerging pop-punk scene. Their latest release, Blueprints for a Breakdown , is a classic punk EP filled with catchy hooks, heavy basslines, and feel-good music reminiscent of the early 2000s. It truly captures the sound of my youth. Released March 9, 2025 Travis Mason 's vocal delivery is strikingly similar to Fat Mike from NOFX , making the comparison quite remarkable. He could easily cover a NOFX song. Joshua Selser is a powerhouse on the bass, and that's no exaggeration. He takes center stage with his playing, and the tone he adds to each song by T. Mason & The Bricklayers is undeniable. Andy Clancy ’s guitar playing is precise, creating a remarkable sound that ties the Bricklayers' overall sound together. Credit: Gary Governale Released March 9, 2025 , Blueprints for a Breakdown is one of those EPs you can listen to repeatedly without growing tired of it. Each time you hear it, the music feels even fresher than the last. After reading this review, I encourage you to check out the band's music. They have released quite a bit over the years. Let’s get into the tracks, shall we? Busy Signal – no lead-up – jumps right out of the gate – a solid track. Another Friday Night begins with that heavy bassline that I love. Travis then comes in on the drums, and Andy’s guitar parts are tight and energetic. Turn this one up loud! Shabang! A thunderous rolling of the instruments begins this track, which just starts going and never lets up. It's another solid tune. Sour Candy is my favorite track on the EP; however, all the songs are amazing. Everything about this song feels just right. The guitar parts at the beginning perfectly match the song's slower pace. I also really like the lyrics. ‘Sour Candy’ has a more alternative sound vs the pop punk sound heard on previous tracks. Stand on My Shoulders is another pop punk banger. It’s upbeat, poetic, and embodies the sound of T. Mason & The Bricklayers . Blueprints for a Breakdown is an enjoyable EP that is best listened to in the car with the windows down. This way, you can fully appreciate all the sounds it has to offer. The EP is now available on all streaming platforms, so add some local Baton Rouge punk rock to your playlist today. To learn more about T. Mason & The Bricklayers: YouTube: brick vs. window - YouTube Bandcamp: Blueprints for a Breakdown | T. Mason and the Bricklayers Facebook: Facebook Instagram: T. Mason & The Bricklayers (@t.mason_and_thebricklayers) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify: T. Mason & The Bricklayers | Spotify Apple Music: ‎T. Mason & The Bricklayers - Apple Music *Additional photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Highlighting THE films for you to watch on the weekends! Feast Upon This Jul 22, 2024 Top 5 Movies That Rock There is always time to catch a classic movie. Read More Nov 13, 2023 Reasons to See Napoleon: Feast Upon This If you're on the fence about it, check out these top 5 reasons to see "Napoleon". Read More Oct 22, 2023 20+ Halloween Films to Watch This Season: Feast Upon This With Halloween 2023 right around the corner, Mixed Alternative got together to recommend some of our favorite Halloween movies! Read More Oct 18, 2023 28 Days Later: Feast Upon This 28 Days Later is one of the best zombie movies ever made, having popularized the fast zombie craze of modern-day cinema and terrified moviegoers around the world with its horrific scenario. Read More Oct 13, 2023 Strays: Feast Upon This Strays is a sweet, hysterical, raunchy comedy featuring potty-mouthed dogs in one of the best animal movies ever made. Read More Sep 28, 2023 Clay Pigeons: Feast Upon This Clay Pigeons is a cult-classic dark comedy about small-town appearances, serial killers, and sexual betrayal that is just as funny as it is grim. Read More

Spotlight on women who are doing awesome things in the industry and beyond. femmes Forward Nov 20, 2025 Conversations with an Indie Filmmaker: DeOndria Michelle Deondria is a visionary with a remarkable natural talent. Read More Oct 9, 2025 Woven with Feeling: The Artistry of Teen Idle Teen Idle’s music is a rich tapestry with heart and soul. Read More Oct 23, 2024 Elle H: Louisiana’s Own Songstress Making Waves in the Music Scene Elle's impressive discography, with its lyrics of love, self-discovery, and resilience, is a testament to her growth in sound and lyrical depth. Read More Mar 12, 2024 Mi’Kael Chalyce: A Soulful Vibe of Reflection and Relatability Mi’Kael Chalyce is a soulful vibe of reflection and relatability whose voice eloquently captures the emotional evolution of the human condition. Read More Nov 29, 2023 The Bellas: Re-envisioning the Power of Female Punk Rock The Bellas are pure 80’s glam metal, capturing the essence of rebellion and discontent with a raw sound amplifying the voices of the unheard. Read More Aug 25, 2023 Anna Byars: A True Musical Luminary Anna Byars is an inspiration for future generations of female musicians Read More Aug 7, 2023 Candace Schur: Rock’s Next Big Female Powerhouse A little bit Riot Grrrl mixed with female sensitivity Read More Aug 7, 2023 Women Who Rock: Wanda Wesolowski The power of authentic expression Read More Jul 31, 2023 Mindy Scurto and Captive Frame: Reigniting Shoegaze 90’s alt rock with dark and dreamy layered vocals Read More Jul 5, 2023 Behind the Screens with Kelly Mills An insider’s perspective on the Louisiana film industry Read More May 23, 2023 Lauren “Madame Onça” O’Leary: A Mind for Art, Business, and Entertainment A woman who knows what she wants Read More Jan 30, 2023 Ripe with Nostalgic Talent Thrice Sovereign Read More Nov 14, 2022 The Most Creative Eye in North Alabama Amanda Chapman, Photographer & Special Effects Artist Read More Oct 29, 2022 Team Gwen: Erica is the Next Voice You Need to Win! More Than a Petty Betty Read More

Your only source for what's new in Rap, Hip-hop, and R&B as well as a look back at those who pioneered the Game. The beat Apr 5, 2025 Floating Above the Bayou: Brax is Elevating Southern Cloud Rap to New Heights Brax isn’t afraid to experiment with new textures and sounds. Read More Dec 11, 2023 Jonathan Machen aka Profit: Finding Refuge in Music Jonathan Machen aka Profit is a lyrical prophet of rock and hip-hop subgenres fueled by the deepest levels of pain and enlightenment. Read More Nov 13, 2023 Miles Nxbxdy: Revolutionizing Hip-Hop Miles Nxbxdy pushes the boundaries of hip-hop by challenging expectations and broadening horizons. Read More Oct 20, 2023 Gino V.: Redefining the Music Scene with Rhythm and Soul Gino V’s unique ability to infuse his compositions with emotion, technical proficiency, and soul will shape and inspire generations of musicians to come. Read More Oct 2, 2023 Shawn Franklin: Music Producer Extraordinaire Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. Read More May 22, 2023 Alfred Banks: A Blessing from the Crescent City Insightful, brilliant, and talented Read More Apr 7, 2023 DJ Skillspinz: A Classically Trained Master of Combining Textures and Beats Tony Biggs Read More Jan 11, 2023 The OG’s of Rap and Rock Fusion are Back Stone Deep Read More

A focus on musicians and artists from the Alabama area. Off the Charts Apr 30, 2025 Off the Charts: Brett Carlisle Brett Carlisle is an award-winning songwriter paving his way with family, faith, and a new record. Read More Apr 18, 2025 The Alabama Heathens: Southern Grit Meets Raw Rock Energy The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! Read More Apr 11, 2025 Off the Charts: Local Rock ‘n Roll Takes Over Mars Music Hall Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions Read More Apr 7, 2025 Unveiling The BIG Reveal: Alabama’s Rising Alternative Rock Band The BIG Reveal are Off the Charts Read More Mar 25, 2025 Off the Charts: Otis Walker Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album Read More Oct 21, 2024 Off The Charts: How Today’s Youth Are Reviving Rock Music Huntsville’s International Musical Youth Movement Invades the Camp Read More Sep 10, 2024 Off the Charts: Keyton Keyton's music is delivering emotional songwriting with energetic delivery as he prepares to embark on a mini tour. Read More Aug 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Alabama Smoke Show Alabama Smoke Show proves that the future of music in Huntsville is bright! Read More Jul 11, 2024 Off the Charts: Brandon Elder Strumming Through Struggles to Stardom Read More May 22, 2024 Off the Charts: Jimmy Speed Jimmy Speed's music is a unique blend of fast, hard, and heavy rock. Read More May 13, 2024 Off the Charts: Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series The Jim Parker Songwriter Series is a monthly event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Read More May 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Grits & Greens Grits & Greens are on a mission to spread their signature sound in support of their new album. Read More Mar 17, 2023 Off the Charts Coming Soon! Read More

Do you remember the good ole days? We sure do, too. Way Back When Jul 31, 2025 A Birthday Tribute to Joey Fox: Forever in Our Hearts A Life That Still Shines Bright Read More Apr 7, 2025 April Playlist Picks: Way Back When New year, new music! Read More Mar 3, 2025 Way Back When: March Playlist Picks 2025 It's all green to me! Read More Feb 4, 2025 Way Back When: The Love Month Playlist Picks No love songs this month! Read More Jan 6, 2025 Way Back When: January Picks Got Nostalgia? Read More Dec 1, 2024 Way Back When: Holiday Tunage Picks for December 2024 Read More Nov 2, 2024 Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for Your Playlist November Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for November 2024 Read More Oct 1, 2024 Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for your Playlist October Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for October 2024 Read More Apr 25, 2024 Britney Spears: A Stifled Talent It's time for her to be heard! Read More Mar 18, 2024 Auto-Tune: The Great Debate on Perfection’s Place in Music While Auto-Tune may have a permanent place in the industry, it is the authentic voices that endure and stand the test of time. Read More Nov 10, 2022 Metal: The Killer of Trends Truly a Time to Let Your Soul Fly Free Read More Oct 3, 2022 No Doubt About It: Gwen Stefani Is A Legend NOT Just a Girl Read More

All of the information you need on the bands playing Eclipse Fest and RAD Fest in Louisiana. Rad Fest and Eclipse fest Jan 16, 2026 Eclipse Fest 3 Returns to Lafayette: A May 2026 Gathering at Feed N Seed Eclipse Fest is a celebration of community and music, inspired by hope and bold optimism. Read More Dec 3, 2024 Eclipse Fest: A Pillar of the Louisiana Alternative Scene Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 Read More Aug 23, 2023 Disjunct: Technically Gifted Musicians Who Push Boundaries Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation Read More Aug 23, 2023 Zizzi: A Rock ‘N Roll Force to Be Reckoned With Zizzi’s music is an innovative approach to storytelling with a nod to the classic rock masters before them Read More Aug 18, 2023 Ventruss: An Orchestration of Dedication, Creativity, and Passion Ventruss creates a sound that defies categorization Read More Aug 15, 2023 Life Øn Mars: Unleashing Musical Brilliance Life Øn Mars is a beacon of creativity and musicianship Read More Aug 14, 2023 Mayrunner: Thrashing Guitars for a Solid Rock Offering Mayrunner’s music is a melting pot of styles and genres Read More Aug 8, 2023 Stella Vir: A Modern Ambient Rock Abyss Stella Vir are progressive-infused sounds full of spatial concepts Read More Jul 31, 2023 Endure the Affliction: Music to Empower Mind, Body, and Soul Lafayette’s progressive metal and metalcore band delivers heavy sounds with spicy lyrics Read More Jul 9, 2023 VOID: Lafayette’s Answer to the Modern Thrash Metal Scene Pure energy, speed, and catchy lyrics Read More

All the stuff you need to watch NOW! Bingeworthy Oct 10, 2023 Star Trek Lower Decks: Bingeworthy Lower Decks is arguably the best show of Star Trek’s modern era and is a love letter to the franchise that reminds fans not to take it too seriously. Read More Sep 25, 2023 Sons of Anarchy: Bingeworthy Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. Read More

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Artists we think you should check out. art with heart Apr 22, 2026 A Force for Change: Presenting Deanz Deanz is a deep soul channeling the complexities of human existence into art. Read More Aug 1, 2023 Taryn Chase Jackson: Mixed Media Creative Unique analog collage displays manifesting as one collective dreamscape Read More Apr 13, 2023 Be Still My Beating Heart Charlton Fine Art Read More Feb 13, 2023 Raw, Unapologetic Artistry Jill Mulkey Art Read More Nov 28, 2022 Color, Form, and Texture with a Modern Twist Chris Bond Read More Nov 6, 2022 Brilliance for a New Era: Lori Bequette A Fresh Approach to Pop Art & Surrealism Read More Oct 29, 2022 Flowers, Glitter, and Resin, Oh My! Christina Binns Read More Oct 4, 2022 A Bright Visualist: Robin Masterman Merging Styles Read More

A look at life through the lens of Louisiana-based photographer Rian Nickels. Rian's Den Jul 11, 2025 Awake and Alive: How Mod Sun Shifted My Outlook Just Look Up and Let Go Read More Jun 17, 2025 Her Riot Ignites Mid City: A Fierce Celebration of Women in Music Her Riot! proved that when you give women the stage, they tear down walls. Read More Apr 11, 2025 Rian's Den: From Vision to Reality The Journey of Making Dreams Come True Read More Mar 3, 2025 Death and Glory Tour: Palaye Royale & Johnnie Guilbert at The Joy Theater in New Orleans The Death and Glory Tour was a testament to music's power to unite us. Read More Oct 9, 2024 Rian's Den: A Night to Remember with Sleeping with Sirens Never give up on your dreams. Read More

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This is THE space where we discuss the observations of something strange and unusual that we just watched with humor and personality. What the hell did I just watch? Jan 25, 2024 Masked Mutilator Masked Mutilator combines horror and wrestling, making for the ultimate B-movie experience. Read More Nov 28, 2023 Death Toilet: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Death Toilet is a fun concept but is ultimately just a horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques and really bad storytelling. Read More Sep 25, 2023 Dear God No!: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Dear God No! nails it and takes us back to the days of true grindhouse and 70’s exploitation. Read More Aug 28, 2023 Nude Nuns with Big Guns: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Nude Nuns with Big Guns accurately captures the grindhouse feel but is riddled with lazy filmmaking Read More Aug 14, 2023 What the Hell Did I Just Watch: Sharktopus vs Whalewolf Sharktopus vs Whalewolf has its moments but is ultimately a flop Read More Aug 2, 2023 What the Hell Did I Just Watch: Alien Shark An entertaining movie with poor effects and multiple random plots Read More Jul 26, 2023 What the Hell Did I Just Watch: The Howling: New Moon Rising A werewolf movie so bad, you have to see it to believe it Read More Jul 10, 2023 What the Hell Did I Just Watch: Nekrotronic Nekrotronic is a fantastic sci-fi/horror mashup that fans of B movies will love Read More Mar 17, 2023 What the Hell Did I Just Watch: The Suckling Review This B-horror movie is so bad, it's B-movie gold Read More

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Bangin' Out the Hits < Back Tank and the Bangas C.G. Smith Jan 5, 2023 Share Bangin' Out the Hits In the fall of 2015, my wife and I had been living in New Orleans for nearly six months. A co-worker had been talking up this band to me for a while, so we made the trek across town to The Maple Leaf bar on Oak St. to catch the show. The band was New Orleans’ own Tank and the Bangas. Their high-energy, infectious performance and wonderfully arranged music changed our idea of what a local band could be. From that point on we were fans and made it out to every Tank and the Bangas performance we could. These days the ticket prices are a little more expensive than in those earlier days, the stages are usually much bigger, and their music has evolved a bit from those early club performances, but the group is still just as grounded as they ever have been. credit: Jacob Walker I had the good fortune to be able to sit down with the group at the Uptown New Orleans restaurant Molly’s Rise and Shine after business hours and talk about their beginnings, their evolution over the years, and what the future holds for the now twice Grammy-nominated band. MaM : First off, I want to thank y’all so much for being here. I also wanted to thank Lauren and Mason of Molly’s Rise and Shine for letting us use this unique space. We are very grateful. Is this the first time you’ve been here? Tank : Yes. Norman : Yeah, I’ve never been here before. MaM : The chicken biscuit is fire. Tank : That’s good to know. (playfully) What? You think we just like chicken or something? Albert : What about the vegan options? Tank : What? You think we’re vegan or somethin’? Norman : The chickens were vegan. They only fed them grain. [laughter] MaM : Your hard work has led to so much success. It really shows – how much you all enjoy performing for an audience. How did y’all deal with the pandemic? Not being able to tour, did it help or hurt the band? I know "Friend Goals" came out of it, but overall, with the pandemic, how did it affect you? Tank : I think both, right? The only hurting I would say is because it’s hard to get back into the specific rhythm of touring. The world still is a bit scared, so the numbers aren’t exactly the same as they were pre-Covid. I would say that is the only hurting, but the helping, I mean, we got "Friend Goals." It’s such a good little EP. We had fun making it. Before that we were on tour so much. It was a nice little break at the perfect time. We needed it. We was [sic] like, ‘Oh my gosh, people cook regular food and sleep up in their regular beds, and go for regular walks?’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxeKuEm8gio Norman : After being off schedule for like weeks, and weeks, and weeks, it was like every day at eleven o’clock, ‘What y’all doin’? Y’all still up?’ Yeah, we wide awake, doin’ nothin’. Tank : I watched Paternity Court a lot. I ate a lot of crawfish. Norman : I really got to sit with myself. I was like, ‘Wow, this is how I am? Okay, gotta change some stuff.’ Some of it’s cool, but I got to know me a little bit during Covid. Albert : Oh yeah. Tank : Yeah, we all had those little moments. You know I was cool while we was [sic] on break, then the next shit came around and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, what’s goin’ on with the schedule? Wait a minute now, wait a minute! What you mean we are cancelling again?' ‘Cause you know, of course, we had to survive. We thought of creative ways to do it. We had a lot of little shows with virtual performances, which is cool and lame all at the same time. (imitates interacting with a virtual crowd) ‘Throw your hands up!’ Albert : Only the ends of songs are lame because you finish with a big finish and there’s just crickets. Tank : And there’s nothin’. Just a bunch of hearts and thumbs up and, ‘Love you guys!’ Norman : But we appreciated such silent love! Albert : You just hear hard breathing like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ contestants. Tank : (imitates hard breathing at the end of a performance) ‘Thank y’all, thank y’all!!’ Norman : It means y’all were sittin’ there watchin’ this happen, so it was definitely appreciated for real. The band used to have the occasional parties in the backyard of Tank’s Auntie Tee Tee’s house in the Lower 9th Ward back before their breakthrough with NPR’s Tiny D esk concert. MaM : The backyard parties at the Yum Yum were so much fun. My wife and I went to at least two or three of them. Any plans to do anything like that in the future, or is that just off the table now? credit: Shambala Festival 2022 Tank : Oh, no. We definitely want to do that in the future. We miss it. Every time we go in the backyard, we’re like, ‘We gotta get one of these goin’ again.’ We just never know when Auntie’s gonna feel like doing it, honestly! We all have to be in the mood at the same time, so that lets you know how beautiful – how everything had to be lined up so perfectly and feel like doing one. It takes a lot of work. Albert : Big, big picture though, Norm and Ta talk a lot about, ‘What if we did a festival? What if there was [some]thing that was a hub, a Bangaville thing? The idea of community … especially performance community is always going around. Norman : Bangafest. Tank : Bangafest sounds dope. MaM : I’d go! Tank : I know you would! Norman : We don’t even have to travel for that! MaM : From Tank’s run with SNO, to those early open mics, to playing major festivals on the biggest stages in the world, can you tell us about some of your best and not so great moments? Tank : Whoa, mmm. Let me see ... best definitely was um, .... all the time! We have a good time! The best memorable moments: Coachella, Jimmy Fallon, The Apollo, Glastonbury was beautiful. Norman : Yo, I got a bad one. We were in Germany, and we didn’t have our luggage ... Josh : We didn’t have our clothes! Norman : We had to perform in our pajamas. Tank : We was [sic] in a barn. Norman : The gear was all wrong. I had a Motif instead of a Cronos. Oh man, that was a day. Tank : Yeah, that was a crazy one. Norman : We were still in another country playing music, doing something we love. [Tank talking about the mural where we did the photo shoot:] Tank : That [mural] was painted by an artist, not just done online? MaM : Yeah, hand painted for the restaurant by an artist named Ken Cox. Albert : The process of breakfast on acid. Tank : That’s some crazy color right there. Albert : The cost of your eggs. MaM : Your version of “What the World Needs Now,” I was blown away by it when it first came out and I just heard it again on shuffle the other day. How did that track come about? Any stories from that recording? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tm5oSdEFvU Tank : It was supposed to be bigger, something different than it was. Josh : It was on some heal-the-world, Quincy Jones-type stuff. It was a lot of fun to be able to call friends, people we cared about, and family members as well to help us create that entire New Orleans ordeal. It was such a great thing to be a part of and find all those voices in the right spots. Norman : It came out beautiful. Josh : And we had to do it in like one day or something! Albert : We had people come in on schedules, that had to come in for 45 minutes. Oh, we gotta stop and do this trumpet part! Okay, get outta’ here, come on! Thank you, man! Alright, see ya!” Josh : David Shaw came in so late at night. Tank : I love David on that. I just wish we would have [sic] got him recorded singing on it. I loved him on it. I loved everybody on it. Especially since we were just getting people that we wouldn’t even normally day to day work with, but we knew in the community. I loved what everybody added to it. It was perfect. Josh’s nephew, my niece--we were crying when Sunny was doing her poem and the children was [sic] singing. I think that was the last time we was [sic] all together. It was just so special. It really was what the world needs now. MaM : For the time we were all in, it was perfect. Tank : I know. It really felt awesome. Josh : That was a fire question. No one ever asks that. MaM : You’ve already worked on projects with some amazing artists. Who are some of your dream collaborators, past or present? Tank : Present – we’ve done with Layla, that was a dream for sure. Alex Isley is a dream, and Robert Glasper ... people that we just put out there that we can’t believe that we was [sic] able to make music with later on. Josh : That Blue Note whole thing was fire. Tank : Blue Note was amazing. Josh : That’s a whole list of people that was special. Tank : Juno is a future collaborator for sure. Kendrick Lamar and Stevie Wonder. credit: Jacob Walker Norman : Amahd Jamal, I’m waiting on that. Albert : Can we go to the past? Do they have to be living? Roy Hargrove, you know he passed, but man, that’s music that I grew up with and really stuff that shaped me and made me seek out sounds like this band. Norman : Same, yo. You talkin’ ‘bout ‘Like Water for Chocolate,' that’s Roy. That’s a Common album that D’Angelo, Roy, Questlove, all of them did, RH Factor. All that shit. Albert : The ‘Straight Ahead’ album. His Cuban album? He’s so good. Josh : All right – Kirk Franklin. Take that. I wanna work with him. Norman : Listen, I really want to work with Warryn Campbell. If you [sic] out there, [if] you hear this, somebody send it to him. If you know him, if he’s your cousin, tell him Tank and the Bangas want to work with him. I ain’t jokin’. Tank : For some reason I don’t feel like that’s very far away, even though we don’t know him. I feel like it’s a degree of separation. MaM : I know faith and family are important to you. With all the touring and recording y’all have been doing, how hard is it for you to find time away from the band for family, etc.? Is it easier to get that time now that you’ve had some success? Norman : I try to take some intentional time to focus on the family. MaM : Wasn’t it in your rider that you had Sundays off so you could play at church? Norman : That was back when I was playing at church more, but that isn’t really my focus anymore. Kids though? Got ballet comin’ up, art class comin’ up, we skatin’ … tryin’ to keep them out the Matrix, man. I’m tryin’ to give some real people time, you know what I mean? I didn’t get a lot of people-time growin’ up, so I figured out a lot on my own. I don’t want them to have to do that. Aside from that, God is everything; church ain’t. credit: Jacob Walker MaM : What are some of your favorite things about being a ‘Banga’? Josh : Easy. The best part about it is it’s me. I don’t have to be nothin’ else or put on to be nothin’ because it’s literally … me. Just like she don’t [sic] really gotta do nothin’ [sic] to be Tank, that’s just who she is as a person. I really like watching how other people interpret what a Banga is to them. I really enjoy that part, but I don’t know; I just be myself. Being a Banga is just kinda who we are as us. Albert : I think the best part of being a Banga is getting to make and participate in making, for me, the music you dreamed of making as a child. Josh : Big facts. Norman : I realized over the years [that] we are therapists, we are healers. We bring in vibrations, which water responds to, and 75% of that is standing in the audience. When we was [sic] first starting, people would come to the shows over and over and I was like, ‘What the hell? What is wrong with these people? We just seen you last week! This is the same show, goofy; what you doin’?’ Tank : It is not the same show though, never! Josh : It’s not the same show though. MaM : My wife and I were one of those crazy people at every show we could get to, especially that 2015 - 2018 time period. We were obsessed. “Themeparks” was one of our wedding songs. Tank : That’s sweet! Norman : Didn’t we write that on Golden Drive in Chalmette? Tank : I think so. Norman : We wrote that in my living room! Tank : I had a relationship, and I just wanted to talk about all of the good parts of it, and the fun parts of it, you know? That’s what it was for. Some people really are just muses. MaM : Josh, as musical director, what has changed as far as how you’re presenting those older songs these days? Josh : Boredom. It’s ten years of playing a certain song and you want to try it different. She (Tank) really gets creative at moments, and she can get bored too, so two people who can get very whimsical and creative and want to change things on the fly. credit: Jacob Walker Norman : At the last minute. Josh : I just said on the fly! Tank : Aren’t you in my brain? Aren’t you in my spirit? Josh : Even in those times it’s a lot of fun. I think a lot of times we’re really just trying out different things because we get to. We can. We have the capability. The truth is, the more we push ourselves to do more stuff, the better we get at it. Norman : We’re free. The reality is the melodies fall out the sky sometimes; we just catch ‘em. We sat in rehearsals, and we had to take a little break and wrote like 3 songs in 6 minutes the other day. Stuff just happens. We stay open. Tank : Growth is real. Ain’t [sic] nobody in this band in their fresh beginning 20’s anymore. We don’t even jump up and down as much as we used to. [laughter] MaM : I remember a show y’all did at the Ogden when you broke it all down. I heard your songs presented in a whole different light. Tank : We love to calm it down. People don’t think that we know how to calm it down because we’re such a big sound, but it’s our most favorite thing to do—at least it’s definitely mine. You hear the lyrics, you hear the music, the intention. It’s quiet, it’s soft, it’s beautiful, it’s heard, it’s felt. I love those type of shows. That’s how we started out. That’s why Tiny Desk was really nothing for us. I was nervous, but as far as calming it down, it’s nothing for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKzobTCIRDw Norman : I didn’t know nothing [sic] about it (Tiny Desk). All I saw was T-Pain do it with a keyboard player. I thought, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be easy.’ I didn’t grow up listening to NPR. I was like, ‘Cool, it’s an open mic; that’s how we started.’ MaM : Josh, as musical director, how do you decide – do you just naturally stretch your legs on a song, or do you say here, we’re gonna arrange it this way? Josh : A little bit of both. Sometimes we stretch out naturally, sometimes I say let’s try this. We’ll try stuff in rehearsal to see if it sticks. If it don’t [sic], we’ll leave it alone, if it do [sic], we’ll push it.” MaM : You ever just throw shit at them live? Josh : Yep, yeah, they good [sic] enough to handle that. They superbad. The fun part is, if we fall on our face, we’re good enough to carry ourselves so nobody even knows it happened. We’re creating a chord progression as we go sometimes. We’re having fun. Tank : Their ears are so crazy. Sometimes they even hear what I don’t hear. Josh : I think that part makes it very easy for us to be able to ‘float.’ Norman : Growing up in church too, you know, anybody [can] get up and sing in any key, talking about praise and testimony ceremony ... Josh : Most of the time, it’s the wrong key! Norman : ... If you doing [sic] it right and they change key and you don’t follow them, then it’s your fault. If they start in the right key, you learn to move with them, you learn to just flow. Yeah, church got me ready for it.” MaM : Do you guys approach performances today any differently than you did in those early days? credit: Ruthie Herman, WOUB Albert : Carefully. From behind. [laughter] Norman : Prayerfully. We always pray; we always rehearse. Tank : It feels more intentional now, to me, if anything. More mature. You want to get it right, you know? It just feels a little more intentional, but I still have my moments of freedom that I do love. You know, Josh tries to reel it in a lot, which is a good and a bad thing to me. You know, like, let me be who I am, [and he’ll be] like, ‘Don’t stay there too long!’ I’m like, ‘Shut up!’ [laughter] The band recently performed its very first residency at the famous Blue Note venue in New York City in November of 2022. MaM : How was Blue Note? Josh : It was amazing. Norman : It was an honor to be in that room. The artists that we had come and join us—Keyon Harrold, Isaiah Sharkey … Norah Jones. Josh : Man, the type of people that came through, not even just the artists. Norman : Yeah, the people that came through just to kick it with us, the stage was so dope. Josh : Yeah, all of that was just wild. Norman : Y’all thought enough about us to come through; thank you. MaM : I have to ask this question, Tank, since my dad is such a huge Norah Jones fan: How did you become friends with Norah? Tank : It’s so crazy. All of it was kind of magical, even things I didn’t even know until a couple of years ago … how things was [sic] working out for us to meet. Jelly (singer Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph) was doing a session with her husband, and she invited him to the show (at One-Eyed Jacks). I don’t know if she knew that Norah was his wife or not. They ended up going to the show, Norah was pregnant, and she was hearing me do all these little crazy voices. Someone told me that she was in the house. Then she text [sic] me one morning when I was at Waffle House and she wanted me to do a video with her, a really silly song. Of course, I said yes. I didn’t know what it was about. It was a silly song. It was really silly about men who don’t think that women take a shit. L to R: C.G. Smith with Albert, Tank, Josh, and Norman MaM : I still remember how cool it was when she came out during your second performance of your Alice in Wonderland at the Music Box here in town. Tank : Mmmmmm, the purple piano. It was really special. Anybody that was a part of those shows just knows it was so special. It takes a lot to do a Music Box. Hats off to the people who do it and run it. It’s hard to explain, too, when people ask what it is. Josh : Shout out to Danny Elfman, because he sure helped with the ideas in that space too, like the orchestra. MaM : It’s just such a cool space. Tank : Yeah, it’s crazy. Hard to explain. You be [sic] like, ‘It’s a musical space where they use pieces, materials of old houses and they make instruments. You can’t explain it. You have to go there; it’s an experience. MaM : So, the hardest question for artists to answer, how do you describe the Tank-and-the-Bangas sound? Tank : (repeats) You have to go there; it’s an experience. Norman : (repeating an answer Albert came up with before) It’s genre-fluid. Josh : It’s a struggle to explain it to ourselves, but according to the Grammys, it’s one of those ‘progressive R&B albums.’ [laughter] Tank : That’s funny! They did the best they could to categorize us. I think just the fact that you’re Black, they already want to put R&B on you. They like [sic], ‘Well, it ain’t [sic] just that, so let’s go ahead and put it in progressive.’ I don’t mind, especially with this album. It’s where it needs to be at [sic] with this album, that’s cool. I love it, I’m happy to be nominated. Josh : I mean, [for] some artists it’s easy and [for other] artists it’s very, very hard to do. Tank : You can describe the song which is at hand, but to put them all in a thing? To literally say that the same band that made ‘Outside’ made ‘Heavy,’ or the same band that made ‘Heavy’ made ‘Brady’s,’ or the same band that made ‘Brady’s’ made ‘Eggs Over Easy,’ or ‘Eggs Over Easy’ - that’s the same band that made ‘Easy Goes It,’ or ‘Anxiety.’ ‘Mr. Lion’? That same girl, she did ‘Dope Girl Magic.’ So, it’s really hard. It’s whatever we was [sic] feeling at the time. Josh : This entire same band has done a lot of these songs with an orchestra, so maybe they’re a classical band. Tank : It’s all over the place. MaM : I always loved “Drummers." That’s a different kind of song. Tank : We love that one. That one never got recorded and it has so much more to it, too. It’s really cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE5tHVbWNJA MaM : Were there any moments where you were working on, writing a song, and just astonished yourselves, like, “This is gonna be good!?” Josh : ‘Ants.’ Tank : ‘Stolen Fruit.’ Norman : ‘Rhythm of Life.’ Albert : ‘Stolen Fruit,’ and ‘Black Folk.’ Tank : Yeah, anybody comin’ in the studio, you need to hear this! This is so special. Albert : So much so, that it slowed down progress. Like any new visitor, after we had gotten like a rough for ‘Stolen Fruit,’ anybody came in, Tank would be like, ‘Turn down the lights.’ Tank : Turn down the lights, light a candle, and play this for them. Norman : (imitating Tank) ‘Shhhh. (dramatic pause) Play that one.’ Albert : It was like a whole afternoon of that, it was great. Then we did ‘Black Folk' and [it] was, like, a live take. A bunch of us were playing in the room, and the take you hear from Tank, that’s just her on a 58 (Shure 58 live microphone). Everybody was playing in the same room. We tried to do the vocals in isolation, tried to do other takes, but it just didn’t have that … it didn’t have that thing. Man, that was a magical moment. I remember when we were playing that and I was like, ‘This is great!’ Norman : We should do an unplanned live album. Just press record and start playing. Albert : Directly to vinyl. You can do that. You can press it directly to vinyl. Tank : I’ve done that. I did that with ‘Eggs Over Easy.’ It was a freestyle. MaM : So, we are an entertainment magazine. What are some shows y’all are watching lately? Tank : I feel like we’re never watching the same thing. We talk about it more when we’re on the road, ‘What are you watchin’ right now?’ Albert knows that I have to eat and watch somethin’ from Netflix. Norman : I know how to make this cool: Say one show you think the other person is watching right now. Tank : (to Norman) Oh lord, a documentary? A Christmas show? Norman : I’m watchin’ the Nature Channel. Josh : (to Tank) Wednesday ? Albert : (to Josh) Anime, or, I don’t know, big, high-budget crime, like action-y? Josh : You know what? You’re kind of in the space, ‘cause I saw something like that. Knives Out on Netflix; the [sequel just] came out. Tank : (to Albert) You watchin’ some type of cartoon in the morning with your girlfriend. Albert : I’ve been watching season 6 of Rick and Morty and it’s stellar. It’s a return to form. It’s some of the best stuff they’ve had going on over the past few seasons. Highly recommended. Josh : (to Tank) Just say Wednesday already and get it over with. Tank : We ain’t done with Wednesday , so no. Norman : 432 playlist on Spotify. 432 hertz. Yo, why when I play it on the speaker, I can actually feel the highs, the lows, and the mids. It’s in your chakras. It’s like we really do resonate at that frequency or somethin’ because you can feel it through the speakers. I don’t get it. Tank : 432 Hertz? That’s the playlist? Norman : Do that, then type playlist. They got a bunch of different genres. Get ya [sic] chakras right. Josh : I be [sic] watchin’ Forged in Fire . I had to think about what I’ve been watching. I be [sic] watchin’ people making beaucoup swords and all that stuff. Norman : Then they try to see which one’s stronger. Josh : Then they be [sic] choppin’ beaucoup stuff with it. Man, these cats are wild. MaM : They make a Hattori Hanzo blade? Josh : They probably have done one at this point, but they be [sic] doin’ all kinds of fantasy weapons as well. Norman : Based on historic, like the way they would build them at this time or that time in history. MaM : What are some creature comforts on tour, anything that connects you with back home? Albert : A nice bowl of ramen. Norman : Coffee and good greenery, I’m good to go. Facetime with the baby. Tank : My phone so I can watch TV. Albert : An eye mask. Tank : Headphones. Gotta have them headphones. Gotta zone inside them headphones. credit: Jacob Walker Norman : Drum machine, that MPC one. Josh : I’ve been without my phone on a whole tour before. I lost my phone, like, the top of the tour, and I didn’t have my phone for, like, six weeks. It was weird as hell. Norman : That’s gotta feel good! You ever leave your phone at home and be way across town and be like, ‘Oh well.’ That shit feels so good. Josh : I was on the other side of the world. It was not the same. Tank : First of all, I would never do it because where the hell ... how am I gonna get home? I need that GPS. Momma gonna call me, you know what I’m sayin’? Now you need to stay in touch, AND I gotta listen to the regular radio? Oh no, I need to plug in, so I got my own radio. Norman : Turn that radio off and listen to the radio in your head. Tank : That’s too much [sic] thoughts! Josh : Being over there, there was no radio, and there was barely television. I wanna play drums. I hope they don’t have a bad drum set with some bad cymbals. That is a real horrible thing. Tank : That was not a good answer though; he’s talkin’ about something that you don’t feel at home with(out). You hit drums every day. Josh : I’m telling you, no, no, no, on TOUR. Tank : Josh needs some wings with barbeque sauce. Josh : No, listen, wait ... Norman : You gotta hear this man out about them [sic] drums. Because if those drums ain’t [sic] Yamaha special just like Josh needs ... [laughter] Tank : We about to get a DIVA! Josh : Look at this, you see this? (shows me the palms of his hands) This happened to my hands years ago, playing the wrong kit with the wrong sticks. My entire hand turned purple, and I couldn’t close it. So, I was playing drums like this, (Josh shows me half-open hands, as if he is delicately holding sticks with his fingers) but my hands were really like ... Norman : I wish y’all could see through this mic. [laughter] Josh : (wrapping up his defense of saying drums are a comfort on tour) A good drum set, an amazing drum set, and amazing cymbals, and amazing sticks. I can make tour with that and good vibes. Tank and the rest of the group continue having fun teasing Josh. Albert begins calling out to Tavia, "Ta! Ta!" to have her stop the insanity. Albert : (to me, as the hilarity wanes, feeling sympathy for me having to try and make sense of all the talking over each other) You just write this out, right? You transcribe this, right? A lot of it will be just asterisks - inaudible, asterisks - inaudible. MaM : Ok, Tavia says ten minutes left. I gotta get to the Grammy nod. Grammy nod number two. I’m sure that first one was an incredible experience. Tank, are you as nervous? Will you have a speech ready this time if you win? Tank : I think we could write a speech. I’m not as nervous this time. Norman : You gonna write it? I’m gonna wing it. Albert : The best things in life are wung [sic]. Tank : Then it goes, (imitates the music cue to get off stage) [to] get us off that stage. Albert : There’s four of us! That’s bullshit! We EACH get the allotted time! Josh : It’s the allotted time times four. Tank : Yeah, you use your privilege, see how far that gets you! Norman : They will never call us back! Tank : Albert said, ‘Excuse me, white man speaking! That’s not fair.’ Albert : Hey, if La La Land can take an Oscar, we can do this. Josh : Boy, you stupid! Tank : It’s exciting, definitely less nervous-y. It’s more exciting for sure, because [the] first time is very cool, but this time, it’s for the work, so that just feels just really dope. Josh : The entire body of work. [The first Grammy nomination] was us being really good coming out to them. That’s awesome, but this one is very awesome because it’s for everything that we’ve put in. Norman : Real talk, real talk. Tank : I would really like to win it. credit: Jamelle Tate, courtesy of the artist Josh : Not just one song, not one video; it’s the entire thing. Norman : The first one, all the other artists had radio hits. We didn’t have any hits on the radio, and they still had to say our name. Y’all had to put songs on the radio to win. Tank : You know how you say, ‘Since you guys made it,’ ‘Since your big success,’ ‘Since your breakout,’ you know how you keep saying that? We don’t feel that way. Y’all don’t feel that way, right (Tank asks the Bangas)? Like we’re some breakout stars, like we’re up there? Norman and Josh : No! Albert : Oh God, no. Josh : I feel like we’re new to somebody every day. I feel like because we’re new to at least one new person every day, that’s eventually gonna happen. MaM : So since she got y’all on the clock, is Tavia the special sauce for this whole thing? Josh : Facts. Albert : Oh yeah. Josh : She’s working right now. If you look right there, you can see her answering emails as we speak. Norman : We wouldn’t have gotten Tiny Desk without Ta, ‘Think Tank’ would have never happened without Ta, ‘RandoMe’ would have never happened without Ta ... Coachella, none of that. Tank : (looks to Tavia) Ta, I’ve been doing this. Norman : Shit, you was [sic] on the sofa. She picked you up off the sofa. Tank : Who was on the sofa? Norman : Tank Ball. That’s why I say you better understand! Tank : Boy, I’ve been doing this … My friend know [sic] she met me while I was on my journey. Norman : Ta said, ‘Come on, get in the studio, girl; you want to do a CD, come on.’ Tavia : I nurtured her journey. I think both Tank and I may have tapped into something that was deeper for both of us that we didn’t know was there. Granted, I met her doing poetry, which is what she wanted to do. She wanted to travel with her poetry book. She did not want to do a poetry show unless she had an album. Gus Bennett was put in my ear and he said, ‘I’m only telling you that I did a spot with Raj Smoove.’ I don’t know why Gus thought that I was the person. Tank : I don’t know why anybody thought you was [sic] the person to tell! Tavia : I know! Tank : No, I mean in my own self. Norman : Because you was [sic]! Tavia : One of Tank’s mentors pulled me to the side, spoke to me, and said I should really pursue this. They saw something in us that we didn’t see ourselves. We both just went full-fledged into it. When I met Tank, she had just quit her job and I was working two jobs and going to school. I thought I was really gonna be in an office job at the USDA or something. Other people were trying to get Tank to do things, but they were trying to get her to do what they wanted her to do, and not what she wanted to do. I was like, 'Let’s do what you doin’. I’m down for the poetry, like, let’s make this poetry album.' Everybody else was tryin’ to get her to do jazz songs and stuff, but she wasn’t feelin’ that.” credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images [laughter] MaM : Y’all been together what, a decade now? Tank : Over a decade. Tavia : Twelve years with Tank and the Bangas, 13 years of friendship between me and Tank. MaM : So much great music. What’s the future hold? Josh : I don’t know – more stuff. Whole [sic] lot more stuff. Tank : We would love to get our book together. Norman : It’s comin’. Tank : We want to create an affirmation book for adults like us, and kids, and teenagers, because we have a lot of quotes that we live by and that we share with each other. We would love to do that. We would love to get more into big soundtracks for great movies; we’ve been offered those opportunities before. The world actually believes that we put on one of the best shows in America, [so to] have that stage and those things offered to us to make it what it’s supposed to be. Be more disciplined, more consistent. Just falling in love every day with what we doing. It’s not always easy, especially for myself. Definitely this year I’m going to make some resolutions, which I haven’t done in a while, honestly. Norman : Will you make a resolution? Whoop whoop! Tank : I feel made fun of. I thought this was a safe space. Norman : First of all, it’s a safe space. That was Kirk Franklin. I don’t know if you don’t know.” [laughter] Tank : Tavia, I’m not feeling safe. Let’s go. Norman : You need to self-care more. Your pants say self-care. If you want some self-care pants, they on TankAndTheBangas.com . Tank : Oh my lord. Norman : ... and they on Tank right now! Albert : More good music, Tank and the Bangas 2022 and beyond – for the kids! Whoooo!” For more on information on the outstanding talent that is Tank and the Bangas, their albums, their shows, and all, well, all things bangin', visit them online at https://www.TankandtheBangas.com . *Cover photo from taken from artist website. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? E-mail us mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Dear God No!: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Ezekiel Kincaid Share Sep 25, 2023 Dear God No! nails it and takes us back to the days of true grindhouse and 70’s exploitation. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kool-Aid pitchers full of fake blood Welcome back, boys and girls, to another column from your dear ole Uncle Zeke. This is the place where I subject myself to the absolute worst cinema has to offer, and this week’s review is no different. Today, I want to talk to you about a little action-horror gem from 2011 called Dear God No!. There are three things you need to know about Dear God No! First, it's one of those movies that is so bad, it’s good. Second, don’t expect an intricate plot or for things to make sense; they won’t. I review B movies, remember? And third, Dear God No! is a grindhouse/exploitation film extraordinaire . A few words of caution for sensitive viewers, though: While the violence is totally unrealistic, it is rather brutal and not for everyone . Expect some nudity and a few rape scenes–-one of which involves a pregnant lady. I’ll spare any details, but I digress. Let’s kick this off by talking about Dear God No ’s extremely complicated plot. Basically, what we have is a creature feature, biker gang, and mad scientist movie all rolled into one. A bigfoot-like creature is on the prowl, an unsuspecting biker gang pulls a home invasion on a psychotic, Nazi anthropologist and his family, then all hell breaks loose … and that’s it. That’s the plot in its entirety–-nothing tied together, just random shit going down. I hope you were able to keep up and all this complication isn’t going over your head. This fine piece of filmmaking was directed by James Bickert , whose name should be familiar to all you B-movie enthusiasts. He directed deep, philosophical masterpieces such as Frankenstein Created Bikers (2016) and Amazon Hot Box (2018). Oscar contenders they were not. Dear God No! stars Jett Bryant ( Frankenstein Created Bikers) as Jett, who plays the lead biker. You can tell a lot of effort went into coming up with the character's name. He actually looks a lot like me if I had a longer beard, so right off the bat, Dear God No! automatically gets an extra star for that. Director James Bickert stars in Dear God No! as well, playing the part of Jimbo, aka Rusty Stache, one of the gang members. Our mad Nazi scientist, Dr. Marco, is played by Paul McComiskey, who was also in … anyone want to guess? Yep, Frankenstein Created Bikers . The lead female roles are played by Madeline Brumby ( Frankenstein Created Bikers , where she plays the same character) as Edna Marco, daughter of the psychotic Dr. Marco, then there’s Olivia Croix ( Dear God No! is her only film) starring as the other daughter, Evelyn Marco. Finally, Rachelle Lynn ( The Taken ) plays Laura, our unfortunately assaulted pregnant victim. Let’s now proceed to my thoughts about this film, shall we? If you look up Dear God No! on IMDb, you’ll see that it is rated a whopping 3.9 out of 10 stars. If you read the reviews, you’ll find that they are somewhat divided. Many of the bad reviews chide this film for not being “true grindhouse,” whatever that means. Yet, after viewing this film, I have to sit and wonder, have these folks ever watched a real grindhouse movie at all? Dear God No! NAILS it when it comes to taking us back to the days of true grindhouse and 70’s exploitation movies: bad acting, stupid plot, terrible dialogue, jump cuts, monster suits, and awful special effects. Don’t go into this expecting Machete or Planet Terror . In Dear God No! , the blood is watered down so much that it looks like red Kool-Aid at times, and the blood flow from several of the victims leaks out nowhere near the wound. The film is also shot on 16mm film so all the effects are practical, meaning no CGI in this one, which is a huge plus in my book. What makes Dear God No! different from most of the throwback grindhouse films out there? Simple: It is pure, unadulterated ugliness . It is a bad seed, totally from another planet, and is in a league all by itself. Literally everything about this movie is brutal and mean-spirited and features no redeeming qualities in the characters of the biker gang. They aren’t heroes, and they aren’t villains. They are a category of vileness all to themselves. They are filthy-mouthed murderers and rapists, plain and simple. Don’t believe me? Wait until you see what they do to the pregnant lady. With all this being said, Dear God No! Is the closest thing out there in modern film that truly captures the grindhouse feel of the 1970s. If you’re a connoisseur of trashy B movies, this one is definitely for you. Dear God No! Is currently streaming on Tubi, Vudu, Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, YouTube Premium, and Apple TV . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77goxvLwKVk Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Amanda Chapman, Photographer & Special Effects Artist < Back The Most Creative Eye in North Alabama Keeley Brooks Nov 14, 2022 Share Amanda Chapman, Photographer & Special Effects Artist Here at Mixed Alternative, we think all artists are pretty awesome, especially the self-taught ones. Kind of like this creative gem of a photographer and special effects make-up artist in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Amanda Chapman is completely self-taught in her craft, and her work is utterly breathtaking. Her photography has been featured on Shutterbug, and her special effects make-up has been featured on Yahoo! , Buzzfeed, marie claire, POPSUGAR, and Alabama.com . Yes, she’s THAT good. And she has a kind, creative, super-fun personality to match. Amanda’s love for photography developed in 2006 after her husband gave her her first camera for Christmas. After reading the manual and teaching herself about the art of photography, she started taking pictures of her daughter and soon learned she loved portrait photography. By March 2007, Chapman opened her photography business and hasn’t looked back. Later that year, she started shooting weddings and expanded her repertoire. What makes her photos so unique is that she doesn’t just shoot an image; she creates a work of art in and around her subjects that leaves people so happy, they often can’t find the words to express it. That was the case with a local author, who wished to remain anonymous, who hired Amanda to shoot the cover of her book. “I get really nervous taking pictures,” the author said. “Amanda’s personality put me at complete ease, and she was so creative in her vision that it was the best photo shoot I’ve ever had, and I left elated. When I got the pictures back, they were gorgeous. My publisher and I loved them and had a hard time choosing 'the one'.” By 2012, Amanda’s journey expanded to include special effects makeup and photography. “I grew up in a haunted house, and I honestly don’t remember a time where I didn’t love Halloween and all the spooky things. I always love watching scary movies and dressing up, even when it wasn’t Halloween,” says Chapman. Inspired by well-known YouTube make-up artist Kandee Johnson after she saw Johnson do an Edward Scissorhands makeup, Amanda picked up some tips from her and decided to give her hand a try at her own Edward Scissorhands makeup. “I felt such a deep connection to this character that I wanted to walk a day in his shoes, so to speak. I’ve always loved that movie.” (And I can say to all you Scissorhands fans to stay tuned for a very special Edward transformation coming very soon!) The application process takes many hours, she says, and if she’s making prosthetics, that usually takes two to three days, depending on what she’s making. Creating these types of characters led her to embark on learning to make prosthetics and test other materials for the effects process. When she creates prosthetics, she first does a clay sculpt on a face cast. Next, she creates a plaster mold and pours latex into the mold. After it sets, she removes the latex prosthetic and paints it, then applies it. In addition to Edward, Amanda has recreated other popular characters like Beetlejuice, Michael Meyers, E.T., The Maitlands ( Beetlejuice ), Pennywise, Jigsaw, Mrs. Bates, Vecna (from Stranger Things ), Large Marge (from PeeWee’s Big Adventure ), and Jason Voorhees, to name a few. “My favorite characters to recreate are, of course, Edward Scissorhands, the Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Creature from the Black Lagoon, just for a few,” says Chapman. “I’m a huge [Johnny] Depp / [Tim] Burton fan, so many of their collaborations are favorites of mine to recreate.” She also enjoys doing zombie makeups and even went to The Walking Dead conventions in Nashville and Atlanta in 2016. Her makeup was so good that it caught the attention of other fx artists in Atlanta, and she even got to meet Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Glenn Rhee, and Norman Reedus--something Amanda says she'll never forget. Her favorite part of the transformation process, she says, is the moment when she first sees the character coming together, which often reminds her to trust the process … and herself. As she creates her characters, Amanda then designs an entire set in which to photograph them. “I love creating sets and choosing lighting to complement each character. It helps being my own photographer to capture each portrait in a certain artistic light,” she says. Ever since 2017, Amanda has done a “31 Days of Halloween” project where she creates characters and sets and posts photos of a different character over the entire month of October. This year she featured Billy Butcherson from Hocus Pocus , Large Marge, and Jason Voorhees, among many others. Amanda says she enjoys the whimsical makeups, especially if they’re Tim-Burton inspired. “It all starts with being inspired by a new character to create. Then my brain is consumed with every single detail to make it happen. If it's a recreation of a character, then I obsess over getting everything as close to the original as possible. I consider the backdrop and lighting to help highlight the makeup as well.” Recently, Chapman entered the 2022 Faces of Horror contest—the first of its kind. She received a ton of votes and is so talented, she made it all the way to the semi-finals and came in 2nd. “I believe this was the first year for this contest to be held, and I was fortunate enough to advance as far as I did,” Amanda says. And she’ll tell you it was, “100% because of all the amazing votes from family, friends, and online followers,” for whom she says she is very, very grateful, but it was also because of her talent and ability to creatively capture each character and their emotion in the way she envisioned and intended. Chapman says for many past characters she’s created prosthetics and masks that she would love to introduce on TikTok and YouTube, and she even has “many more characters” up her sleeve for 2023. When asked what’s next for her, Amanda responded, “I have plans to start a series of original characters, and I have always flirted with the idea of doing fx-themed horror photo shoots for my clients who are brave enough, haha.” She’s got one person right here who’s not only brave enough but also happily willing and ready any time she wants! Whether you’re looking for portraits, wedding photos, couple pics, a bitchin band photo for your album or book cover, a fun themed shoot—it doesn’t matter. You’re gonna want to call Amanda. She is, hands down, one of the best photographers we’ve ever come across. We know you’ll love her as much as we do. To view Amanda’s work and book her for any of her mad skills, you can find her online at www.AmandaChapman.net and on Facebook @AmandaDChapman. *photos provided by Amanda Chapman www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

From America's Got Talent to the Hit Show Reservation Dogs < Back When You Need a Party Thrown, Call Mike Bone Keeley Brooks Nov 17, 2022 Share From America's Got Talent to the Hit Show Reservation Dogs If you’ve been watching the hit sitcom Reservation Dogs on FX and Hulu, holla! Sorry. I mean if you’ve been watching the show, you should recognize this musical duo. Or, if you’re a loyal watcher of America’s Got Talent , chances are you recognize them from a stint on the show in 2013. Meet Mike Bone, Native American rapper brothers Lil Mike and Funny Bone, perhaps better known as Mose and Mekko from the show. Reservation Dogs is a breakthrough in indigenous representation on television, both in front of and behind the camera. The show has accomplished something few others have: it has successfully introduced a mainstream audience to a Native American culture without leaning on reductionist stereotypes. It’s is a teen comedy drama series that follows the exploits of four indigenous teenagers on a reservation in rural Oklahoma as they rob, steal, and save in order to get to California. The guys are the show’s version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, rollin’ through on bicycles every now and then, offering the perfect hint of comedic rap gold in perfect timing when needed. But they’re not just rappers; they’re also songwriters, actors, motivational speakers with hearts of gold, and all-around awesomely cool, entertaining guys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imocDoeQtUo Mike Bone made their national appearance in 2013 on America’s Got Talent and were well-received. They’ve had a successful career of winning contests, being on live television in the U.S. and Canada, hosting parties, DJ’ing night clubs, and opening for big names like Jacob Latimore, Wine-O, Lil Troy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bobby Valentino, and T-Bone, to name a few. They’ve even performed in penitentiaries. The guys were seeing a ton of success … right up until Covid slammed into the world and shut life down. But something positive came out of the halt for these two: a chance to audition for a new television show from hit filmmakers Taika Watiti and Sterlin Harjo. And the rest is history. I had the awesome opportunity to talk face to face (virtually) with Lil Mike and Funny Bone, and we had such a great time, it’s best you read their replies, mostly unedited, for yourselves. KB : So, guys, thank you both so much for doing this interview. You’re widely known as Lil Mike & Funny Bone, Mike Bone, or Mose and Mekko. But tell us what your actual names are. LM : Yeah, so both of our names are Jesus. But I’m oldest. FB : And we have a younger brother named Jesus as well. LM : (laughs) It’s what happens when Native Americans name children. Our father had the choice of naming us and he wasn’t, I guess, thinking straight when he thought it would be a good idea to name [us] all the same name. KB : Thus, the nicknames. LM : Our nicknames reflect who we are. I became little Mike because I love to dance and [always used to dance around] to Michael Jackson. FB : Well, you know, in the 90s, Bone Thugs [-N-Harmony] was big and doin’ their thang. We were trying to build our brand, and I needed a name when I joined [Mike] onstage at the age of 12. They just kind of took my characteristic, because my thing was going out on stage while [Mike] was switching out songs, and I would tell a joke or do something funny and make the crowd laugh, so we took that, added the bone—funny bone—and I created an acronym for it that stands for Fully United New Nourished Young Brotha of Noble Essense. Just means I’m new and nourished as a believer of God and I’m of nobility because [he’s my father]. KB : Let’s talk about your height. You’re 52” tall. On your website, you describe yourselves as, “shorter than everyone else but too tall to be midgets.” Do you guys ever experience size discrimination and if so, can you tell us how you dealt with it? FB : Once we went on tour with Extreme Midget Wrestling. Of course, now it’s known as Extreme Micro Wrestling because of, you know, cancel culture. But yeah, we were the halftime show. Everybody called us “fake midgets.” LM : You know, if you allow certain things to offend you, then you’re allowing those people that are trying to offend you to have power over your emotions. FB : You give away your energy. LM : And that’s something that we do different. It’s like yo, you can call us all kinds of stuff out the book, but you can’t offend me because I’m not easily offended, because I don’t accept what you have to say. FB : I think that’s just natural as indigenous people … you learn to grow up like that and then embrace and laugh at what people say about us. Like when [Howard] Stern was trying to clown around on us about girls and Mike just said to him, “Get me a chair. I’ll be alright.” LM : You shouldn’t let things get to you so easily and so fast because not everybody will have the right approach from their minds in certain areas, whether it be judging someone based off this or that], you shouldn’t be so judgmental because there’s always gonna be somebody … FB : … hate does not change your value, and that’s something we stand on and push really hard. Same with no smoking and no drinking. We sing about it in our songs. We go to schools and talk about it. KB : And do you experience any clap back on that platform? LM : We get laughed at like, “What’s wrong with y’all?” Ain’t nothing wrong with us. We like to have a clear mind in what we do. We don’t need a fake substance to find satisfaction. FB : We also abstain from sex. LM : We would rather know someone more emotionally than physically, and I’ve never wanted to be trapped by an addiction. FB : You gotta be careful with all that stuff, because there [are] consequences. LM : We lived in the city, goin’ to parties, seein’ all these different people doin’ all these kinds of stuff, and we’d be like, “Don’t do that.” It made us see we wanted the dancing and the loud music, not the drinking and the smoking. FB : We learn from others’ mistakes. That’s the main thing and that’s something we push: learn from others’ mistakes; you don’t gotta make them. LM : We’re from the hood, so we’re on alert [at parties and events] already. FB : How we do it without drugs & alcohol, this is just us. We love it. We’re just having a good time. We’re too short to get high. You just got to joke around and have fun with life. LM : We base our performances off the type of crowd and event. If it’s an indigenous event, we sing songs that relate to those issues, but if it’s something churchy, we change it up and do a little more faith-based performance. KB : Mike, I read on ChoctawNation.com that when you were 12, you tried out for a talent show with a performance of your poetry about a friend dying of gang violence … to a jazz beat. How’d the idea to use a jazz beat come to you? LM : I don’t remember if it was HBO or BET, but they’d have these poets go on T.V. and they would do their thing … say a poem or whatever, and it seemed to me like the ones with the music captured me more, so I said to myself okay, I’m gonna do a jazz beat to my poem in front of the school to encourage people not to get into gang violence and whatnot, and it just, I guess it captured people in a good way. Afterwards, a kid came up saying he liked my rap, I was like oh snack! I should try to rap! There’s probably a VHS recording out there somewhere at an Oklahoman Jefferson Middle School. Somebody has to have it. I made that mix off cassette tapes too. I’m dancing like Michael Jackson but in a transforming style on stage, so I’m having to change clothes on stage. So, I start out as Jackson 5 – bell bottoms, afro—then I spin around and rip my bottoms off and I’m doing older Michael Jackson, then I spin around again and rip the afro off and take my loud jacket off … “the hippie one” … and I’m dancing to “Beat It” and “Billie Jean,” and I take off the black jacket (laughs) and I take that off and I have the silver pads on (laughs), and I take another layer of pants off and I have silver pants on and I’m doing “Black or White” and just dancing and everyone’s like, “Yo! He just wardrobe changed four different times on stage!” KB : Nice! Let’s talk about the show for a moment. How’d you guys wind up on Reservation Dogs ? FB : Well, we were riding the America’s Got Talent wave, then Covid hit and we had to shut down touring. We were broke for the next two years creating merch online, trying to sell to our fanbase and make money to pay the bills, and it wasn’t enough. A manager came at us with an opportunity for acting, and it was local and paying so we went to audition. They wanted two eleven-year-old twins in the casting call and so, we kind of look like we’re eleven and … LM : (laughs) … we gave it a shot and they called back and said, “We could work with y’all.” FB : And we were like cool ! LM : Yeah, we did not think they were gonna pick us up because not only were we not eleven-year-old twins, but we also changed the script. There were cuss words and we took those out, and I think we even changed up the jokes. FB : Yeah, we changed the jokes too. LM : And they still loved it and were like, “Yooo! There’s something here.” FB : The cool part is while we were on set, the cast and crew were saying how good of a job we did and how much we stand out, and how much they could see a spinoff of us. KB : Who came up with the idea for y’all to ride around on bikes? FB : It was the writers. LM : The writers … I think because eleven-year-olds don’t own a car. FB : Originally when we read the script, we didn’t think about the characters being 11. We thought it was gonna be us. The script read that Mose and Mekko pull up on the scene on set, and we [were] thinking on we were gonna get to drive a car. LM : Yeah, we thought we was gonna get to roll up in some wheels. (laughs) FB : (laughs) So we got to the scene and they had the bikes, and that kind of threw us off. LM : Yeah, that threw us way off because man, it’s been years since we rode a bike. I fell two times. FB : (laughs) We hadn’t used those muscles in a while. [The bikes] were old school Schwinn [bikes] with no cushion. But it was a fun experience. Major actors were on there and we got to work with them, and that was really cool. KB : There are so many fantastic aspects to the show, from it being the first Native sitcom to its creators, Taika Watiti and Sterlin Harjo, on to the cast of teens and supporting roles—even this love for fried catfish. What’s the best part about the show to you guys? And speaking of catfish, is that true? Do Natives have a thing for catfish? LM : (smiles) I think it’s just Oklahomans in general … different [reservations]. FB : We love some grilled catfish with Cajun spices, not the fried stuff. LM : My favorite part about the show is the accents. Not every Native American has the same accent, and not every Native American looks the same. You have the light-skinned ones and the dark-skinned ones, the ones with facial hair and without, so it’s just cool they’re incorporating that [into the show]. FB : We even had a character in season 2 who was afro-indigenous, and a lot of people, I think, are gonna be surprised at next season because now they’re expanding outside of Oklahoma to California, and hopefully we’ll get to experience some Native Americans out there and they’ll jump between the two states to see what the Indian Mafia has done with Mose and Mekko vs. what the Reservation Dogs are doing in Cali. Cool thing is, we grew up in the city in public schools, homie. That’s why we don’t have a typical native accent. KB : You guys are Pawnee tribe members. The word skoden is used a lot in the show. What does it mean? FB : We are. Loud and proud. [Skoden] i s native slang for let’s go then . It’s something they say on Reservation Dogs and people are picking it up and running with it. We actually wrote a song about it—it’s a single. It’s streaming everywhere. It’s called “SKODEN.” KB : How do you guys get away with holding it together while filming? There’s so much that’s hilarious and enlightening but also heartbreaking. You never know what you’re going to get. LM : I caught myself crying this season and afterwards, there was a joke and I’m laughing through tears. FB : Something I like is that the show touches on deep issues Indigenous communities face and it relates to a lot of other cultures and communities, so it’s humanizing Indigenous communities. (Both guys acknowledged knowing words have power. Bone says, “That’s why we write the way we do. Every word has meaning.”) KB : Let’s talk about your music. You guys have a slew of songs out there on multiple albums, with each album featuring 20 songs or more. Where do you find so much inspiration? FB : I think growing up dealing with what we did has helped us. We’ve seen a lot and been in the middle of a lot, and me and Mike are the only ones sitting there praying over someone dying while everyone else is screaming and running. LM : You know, music can hurt or harm you, depending on the content, which is why we encourage people to listen to [positive music] … FB : … to plug similar artists like us. LM : If you really listen to our songs, you’ll notice the change between songs. We don’t sound the same on every song. FB : You guys support all these other artists that put 10 or so songs on their albums. We put 20 or more. We had to convince people to buy the albums, so we needed a lot of songs influenced by life circumstances. Other stuff just comes to us out the blue and it just piles up and next thing we know we got 20 songs and are like, “Whoa, we should probably release this.” LM : [Our song] “Wifey” is rapped in the style of Pretty Ricky (the reason a lot of 90s kids got pregnant), so we wrote a song in that style that talks about saving yourself for marriage. We made a song about celibacy to the beat of the song about sex. FB : Yeah, and “Pop Pop,” (famously featured in Reservation Dogs ). If you don’t know what you’re singing about, it sounds like we’re talking about shooting stuff, right? But if you listen deeply, that song is about shooting down evil spirits and negative energy, and that’s something we live by. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpiGV2W8pk LM : We also have “316,” which is a song about missing someone you love and being up thinking about that person at 3:16 in the morning. But a lot of people think we’re talking about the Bible verse John 3:16. On one end, its about missing your relationship with God and on the other end, it’s about missing someone you love. FB : “Fists in the Air” is our song about raising awareness for the missing and murdered indigenous people. We wanted to use our platform to raise awareness and make an anthem for that. LM : It’s a west-coast feel with a bounce to it … a little west-coast gangsta rap. FB : “After Party” is a song dedicated to people who’ve passed on. We had lost so many people and we were like, “Yo, we should make a song that’s happy instead of something that draws you down.” You gotta remember a person in a good light and the time you had with them, and that they’re no longer in pain or dealing with the troubles of this world. They’re in the after world ... the after party. LM : The closest song I can think of that didn’t drag me down was “Crossroads” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. In my opinion, there will be a big family reunion when it’s your time, and we all get to go and hang out and [reminisce]. It’s just our way of bringing light and joy back to peoples’ lives. FB : We’re believers, not traditional Christians. We believe in a lot of stuff—Christ, aliens, crystals, spirit guides and spiritual gifts, healers. We believe in the powers of the moon and the water and the fire. LM : Don’t let someone else’s actions push you away from Creator because of their evil intent. If you feel torn between the church and traditional ways, Creator gave us our traditional ways before someone gave us a book, you know? Smudging, medicines … the same way creator gave Moses knowledge, Creator came to us in different forms and gave us the knowledge we needed to care for this place. But we haven’t been taking care of it like we should. KB : Any albums in progress or upcoming releases? LM : Girrrrl! Reservation Dogs had us rap some songs we wrote way back in the day. So, like “Pop Pop” was 2005/6, then we have a song called “Problems” we wrote and rapped on the bikes [on the show] … and then I was like, “Yo! We should remake ‘Problems’ and remake ‘Pop Pop’ and put it on an album with better beats and better recording quality!” Because those two songs, when we recorded [them], were not recorded in a legit studio … FB : (laughs) It was, uh, at-home productions. LM : And so, I [said] yeah, we workin’ on that—bringin’ back some oldies—and then the “Problems” song isn’t as churchy and wild as it was, but it matches what we did on the show. We’re taking our time with it because we don’t want to … FB : … we don’t want to just throw something out there. LM : We critique ourselves to the max, and we don’t wanna just write any old thing and put it out there. FB : And plus, putting out music now is way different than it has been in the past because of [the internet]. You can put out singles now, and then put out the whole album, and that’s what we’re starting to do. LM : This high-speed generation has put out music too fast to where some of the songs people are listening to could’ve been done better. KB : Or it all just sounds the same. FB : Yeah, we don’t listen to mainstream music because of that. It’s either terrible, or it all sounds the same. LM : I feel like take time, listen to it. Don’t enjoy it just because you want it. Something we do different is we’ll record a song, let it sit for a day, then come back and listen as if it weren’t our song. That way I can be like I should sing it this way instead of that or we should change these lyrics. It is more expensive doing it that way, but at the end it’ll be so much more worth it. FB : Plus, the producers have ideas that [takes the song] to a whole other level. We want to work on some rock, and we wanna do a remix of “Rain Dance” ... do a rock-n-roll version. (“Rain Dance” was Mike Bone’s hit from America’s Got Talent . You can view it below, and you’re gonna want to, trust me. It’s a great song.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQKxgFbhpjo FB : We’ve recorded [the song] three different ways. I wrote it in high school – just me with a mixed-tape beat, and people loved that so much, we had to have our producer make an original beat and we added Mike, and America’s Got Talent picked us up with that. We released a dubstep remix, and that’s on the Rain Dance album, and we wanna work on a rap version … [and] we have a song out now about police brutality. It’s called “That’s Enough,” and it talks about all this mess police get away with, and then when they get caught, [all they get] is just paid leave. It endorses more of that kind of behavior. And we’re like, “That’s enough.” Enough of this, enough of that. We need consequences for these folks. FB : We’re also working on being in some different film projects. A movie. Next year we start filming for a movie called Brave , and I’m hoping it’s gonna be big because there’s a lot of big producers and actors on it. We aren’t the main characters, which is a good thing because we get to focus on our music and touring and stuff. KB : All of this is so fantastic. Do you have a message for readers and listeners out there? FB : (smiles) If you need a party thrown, call Mike Bone! (laughs) That’s our motto. And stay original. LM : (smiles) I would say that with everything that you do, treat each other sacred, because as a human species we only have each other to lean on, and causing other people trauma or pain in any form is only gonna hurt you in the long run, because it makes you look like the evil person and it leaves the legacy that you are the evil person. It all starts with you and your actions, so treat each other sacred. And there you have it, fellow entertainment lovers. A talented duo who are an open book with quite a message. You’ll definitely want to visit their website at www.MikeBoneMedia.com . Be sure to check out their AUDIO page for all their singles, albums, and mix tapes, and their VIDEOS page for all kinds of viewing content. After that, visit their STORE and buy some merch in support of these worthy independent artists just tryin’ to make it doin’ what they love. You can also find links to all of their social media directly on their home page. Listen and watch away, entertainment lovers. *photos provided by Mike Bone Media www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Goodbye Academy is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. < Back Goodbye Academy: Bringing Pop-Grunge to the Masses Nicole Brice Oct 31, 2024 Share Goodbye Academy is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. As a teenager from 1994 to 2000, I know a lot about music from that period. Music back then had a certain artistry to it. It was inspiring instead of being spiteful. It was playful yet powerful, but all in all, it had heart. An emerging Louisiana talent named Goodbye Academy is bridging the gap between current music and the favorites of the past with their conceptual and innovative tracks that take risks regarding different sounds and textures. Credit: Gary Governale How would I describe Goodbye Academy ’s sound? It’s a unique blend of pop-grunge with a hint of punk, yet in the grand scheme of things, they are truly alternative. Their sound would have resonated well in the early to mid-90s, and with the younger generations embracing the 90s culture, they are set to leave a lasting impression on the music scene. Goodbye Academy , a Baton Rouge-based group, is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. Their technical proficiency is evident in every note, and their music is a testament to their passion and dedication. With well-thought-out song titles that showcase their personality, reminiscent of the comedic antics of They Might Be Giants , Goodbye Academy is ready to make a significant impact on the music industry. Originating in the Hammond, LA area, but now claiming Baton Rouge as their home base, Goodbye Academy is comprised of Kris Ballard (guitar/vocals), Jake Shaver (bass/vocals), and Chase Chabaud (drums/vocals). The vocal styling reminds me of Jeremy Palaszewski from No Motiv meets Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees . Credit: Gary Governale Having recently released their self-titled debut album , Goodbye Academy has crafted an album with no filler tracks and nothing but killer . Each song is more unique than the last. The album opens with a well-known phrase from a famous British comedy troupe that I adore: “ And now for something completely different .” Note: When I sat down to interview the guys, this was one of my first questions, and then we went around the table quoting the favorite famous British comedy troupe in our best British accents. There are heavy basslines throughout, too, and I’m a sucker for a heavy bassline. Jake is the classic tale of the need for a bass player turning into a guitar player taking up bass, but he’s pretty good at it and carves out a prominent and dominant sound in Goodbye Academy ’s music. I love it when a bass player stands out, too, like Craig Setari from Sick of it All . I always know a song by Sick of It All when it first begins because of Craig ’s bass playing. I have a feeling that as Jake refines his bass skills, he, too, will be one of those exceptional bass players who will stand out amongst the rest. Jake and Kris met while attending college at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017 and have been inseparable ever since. You could say it was a meeting with destiny, in a sense. Chase is a humble and talented percussionist who combines rhythm into the packaged Goodbye Academy sound. With clever marketing and original graphics drawn by Kris Ballard , Jake developed the band’s brand identity through a unified, visually stunning website with a cohesive theme of nostalgia . Read on below. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Tell us a little about how you came together. A little band origin, if you will. Kris : Well, Jake and I met in 2017 at Southeastern’s Welcome Week / Orientation, and we became best friends instantly. We were hanging out and living in an apartment for a bit. It was horrible. Jake : It was like a 1-bedroom apartment with four people living there. Kris : Yeah, but like 20 people were there every day. (laughter) Kris : God forbid that only four people are in the apartment. (laughter) Kris : I played guitar and dabbled in stuff, but we didn’t really do anything musically for a while. We were messing around with making a song called, ‘ Two Worlds ’, back then, and after a couple years of knowing each other, I ended up writing ‘ Drywall ’ after going through a pretty bad breakup in my room at like 3 o’clock in the morning, with a headset microphone. I put this headset microphone up to the guitar and was playing it. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Hey, whatever you have to do, right? (laughter) Kris : The first version was so bad, and I put it on YouTube . We then started talking about it, so I did a second version, and it was at that point we decided we should actually make music and be a band. Originally, we were going to be an acoustic duo called Up N' Atoms , and we were playing together, for how long? Jake : Two years Kris : We made a couple of EPs, and Jake ended up meeting Chase at his work. He was like, ‘I met this guy at work, and he’s a drummer. We should go play with him.’ I was so nervous, too, when I went to Chase ’s house that I didn’t talk for over two hours. (laughter) Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s a great introduction. I want to play music with you, but I’m not going to talk to you. (laughter) Kris : I was terrified. There were microphones in the room, and every time I would talk, my voice would reverberate. (laughter) MaM : So, you guys share vocal duties. Generally, when it comes to singing the song, how do you decide that? Kris : It’s generally who writes it. MaM : What is more important, in your opinion, lyrics or sound? Kris : We might all have a different opinion on this. Jake : When listening to music, I tend to listen compositionally forward more than lyrically, but when I write, it’s lyrically forward with the composition on the back end. Kris : We’ll often write lyrics before he gets any instrumentation done. Chase : I’m the biggest metal head, so for me, I find the screams are an instrument of sorts , and they’re very valuable to the music. In execution, though, it all must sound right, so I would have to say the sound of the song matters more than the lyrics. Kris : When I write music, all the songs I wrote lyrics for have meaning. They have to mean something personally to me. Obviously, if I don’t like the way something sounds, I just drop the song, in general. I hyper-analyze and dissect all the lyrics first, though. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : I do that with every song. I get it. How would you describe the Goodbye Academy sound for someone who has never heard your music? Chase : This is actually a great segway into that. I’ve gotten a comparison to a genre I was unfamiliar with, called Midwest emo , and Rian stamped us as the genesis of a new genre called Southeast emo . MaM : But I don’t think ya’ll are emo. Chase : Midwest emo carries a similar style, and there are some bands like Hot Mulligan and Mom Jeans that carry the Midwest emo moniker, but it’s funny that we have been dubbed that. I don’t know if I would necessarily embrace the emo narrative either, but I think we carry more pop-punk and grunge elements, but I don’t want to limit what we do either. There is more to explore. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s what I love about your band, though, because you don’t sound like any other band around here. That’s also what I love about Jean Claude Seagal , too. Their sound is refreshing, and that gives you an advantage. Keep the formula. Chase : I see similarities between how we approach music and Weezer . MaM : Love Weezer! That’s a good comparison. See, I would say They Might Be Giants . Have you heard of them? Goodbye Academy : Yes! Chase : They famously wrote the theme song to The Daily Show . I also think we have a lot of influence from Blink 182 with the way I play drums. There is also contrast in our vocalists because of the two different styles they bring. Jake : Someone recently actually described us as sounding like Hüsker Dü . Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s an excellent comparison! What do you guys listen to daily? Jake : I grew up on classic rock. Aerosmith , Led Zeppelin , AC/DC , Pink Floyd , etc. I started branching off into punk , though, and then actually fell into emo and prog. I ran into My Chemical Romance and Coheed and Cambria . Those two influences made me want to scream in my music with introspective lyrics. Get the anger out that I don’t normally express. It helps. Kris : My dad loves 90s music and some early 2000s, too, but bands like Barenaked Ladies , Blink 182 , Papa Roach , Weezer … that whole sphere …all of that was what I grew up listening to and what pushed me. I even loved Simple Plan , too. Jake : Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco , too. Chase : I can’t end this interview without mentioning Meriwether . Meriwether and the bands of The Caterie were huge influences on me. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What is your ultimate goal for this band? Kris : I guess it’s changed over time. The band has always been an outlet for me because I can write down what I want to say better in songs. MaM : That sounds like me when I write my books. Kris : Right? As we’ve come together and have played shows, I’ve decided I would like to do this as a career. I really want to pursue it. I want to go on tour. Jake : I just want to play power chords. (laughter) Kris : I just want to take this moment to apologize to every sound guy that has ever had to check us. (laughter) Kris : Because we take so long. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Where do you say your greatest strengths and weaknesses lie as musicians? Kris : Chase’s weakness is that he’s extremely talented and thinks he’s god-awful garbage. (laughter) MaM : You’ve gotta give yourself more credit. Kris : My biggest weakness is probably the fact that I’ve fooled them into thinking I can play guitar. (laughter) Kris : I will practice the same song repeatedly. I don’t know a lot of chords. I know some scales. I don’t know what key I am playing ever … and then repeat it. My strength, I guess, is that I enjoy writing melodies and lyrics … and it’s in a key, but I have no idea what it is. (laughter) Credit: Gary Governale MaM : My brother – the riff from Blink 182’s ‘ Damnit ’ – dude … over and over … (laughter) Jake : I think my strengths are probably my ear because that’s how I play mostly. I can read music, but it’s not a strength. You’re good to go with your ear as long as you're adaptable. My rhythm hand, too, is a strength. My biggest weakness … I could go into so much … (laughter) Jake : I could pick myself apart. I have to work with the ADHD struggle of not always being able to rely on your ability. Sometimes it’s trying to recreate something you did, but not being able to. I do tend to do that quite a bit. Kris : (to Chase) So, if your biggest weakness is that you hate yourself, what’s your biggest strength? (laughter) Chase : I can combine different genres and musicians with my playing. I turn it into my own unique thing. When this band was a duo, they were melodious folk, and I wanted to make it more rock and roll. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Final question: Where do you see yourself in the next five years, or where would you like to be? Kris : I would like to be in the Midwest … no … (laughter) Kris : As much as I like having a stable income and a place to work that is nice and cares about me, I would like to play in a band as a job. Whether or not that can happen is something that I have low expectations for. (laughter) MaM : No, you need to stay positive. Kris : Yes, we manifest. MaM : Exactly. Jake : Next year, I’m hoping we can play some festivals and see if we can cross state lines to expand our reach. As our kids get older, I feel it will get easier. Chase : I want to accomplish the same as these guys, but I want to get what we have now recorded. MaM : Capture the magic. Chase : We already have the second album, and it's pretty much done. I know we’re approaching it fast, but I want to return to the studio with Nick . Nick Maggio is a phenomenal person. MaM : Yes, he is amazing! Kris : Even beyond his talent, he’s just incredible. MaM : He’s just a good person. Kris : He understands the sound and vibe we want. He connects with the music, too. Chase : I want to get in with Nick before anything is lost or goes further down the line. That’s one of my primary drives. I’ve wanted to be in a band my entire life making music, but I don’t want to sit on what we have. Let’s get this out and on record. More than just a band, Goodbye Academy is a group of best friends united by their love for music and their desire to share their art with the world. Their friendship and camaraderie are palpable in their music, making them more than just a band-they are a community of like-minded individuals looking to bring their art to the masses. Stay tuned for great things from these guys. To learn more about Goodbye Academy : www.goodbyeacademy.com *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

'The Rain' captures a vibe of understanding, new beginnings, and solace. < Back Nick's Corner: Double Knockout Single Review Nick Cline Apr 21, 2025 Share 'The Rain' captures a vibe of understanding, new beginnings, and solace. Double Knockout? I bet you’re wondering, ‘Who is Double Knockout ?’ Double Knockout is a powerhouse alternative , hard rock , and indie band out of Lafayette, Louisiana . Consisting of members Micah, Sean, and Britney , they are creating a landscape of killer tracks that are sure to awe-inspire. This talented group of musicians was undoubtedly brought together for a reason, and their latest release, ‘ The Rain ’, is a testament to the direction and ideas that make Double Knockout an up-and-coming force in the alternative music scene. Released April 11, 2025 ' The Rain ' starts strong right from the beginning , evoking the essence of classic alternative and hard rock with an anthemic quality . The powerful guitar chords open the song and blend seamlessly with an eclectic mix of rhythms and melodies . The result is a sound that defies categorization. This combination of melodic nostalgia and driving alternative beats showcases the undeniable impact of Double Knockout. The major highlight of this song is the production . The production creates a fine line between artist and sound . The distorted guitars sit great in the mix to the point that they add flavor to the track without taking too much away from the bass and drums. The rhythm section becomes one unique entity throughout the track. The production makes them feel like a wall of foundation layer under the melodies and guitar work . One notable aspect of the production is the mixing of the vocals . This vocal mixing has allowed Micah's voice to shine through, even amidst the chaos. The melodies are easy to recognize without much effort. Credit: Kirstyn Whitaker The mixing qualities of ‘ The Rain ’ make it a great listening experience. The only minor detail I would point out is that I wish the last part of the song had been more explosive. While the bridge was a nice addition, it could have been slightly extended to build into the powerful chorus again. This is more of a personal preference based on the style of the song, but it’s nothing more than a minor critique . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zpd1cBxyGQ 'The Rain' by Double Knockout The song nails everything they were striving for in a style that calls back to some greats ( Hum , Superheaven , My Bloody Valentine , and many others), while keeping the truly unique presence that makes up their band. ‘ The Rain ’ is a worthy addition to anyone's playlist. It captures a vibe of understanding, new beginnings, and solace. Go stream it now! Watch Double Knockout, as they consistently deliver great tracks and live experiences. *Band Photo by Kirstyn Whitaker Kirstyn Whitaker (@kewviews) • Instagram photos and videos To learn more about Double Knockout: Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Double Knockout (@doubleknockoutband) • Instagram photos and videos TikTok: TikTok - Make Your Day Linktree: Double Knockout | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 < Back Eclipse Fest: A Pillar of the Louisiana Alternative Scene Nick Cline Dec 3, 2024 Share Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 What is Eclipse Fest ? This question has been thrown around a lot since its first incarnation at the beginning of 2024, and that only escalated once the show happened on June 15th, 2024 . Well, who better to answer the question? Hello, my name is Nick Cline , and I am the mastermind behind Eclipse Fest . Click to go to the Facebook page for Eclipse Fest 2025 Eclipse Fest is my brainchild, which I concocted in January 2024. It started as a statement of ability and love for the scene but became something I did not expect. It became more than a statement of ability. It became a statement for a unified scene across all the genres that desperately need light shined on them. I started Eclipse Fest because I genuinely love music. I love the community music makes regardless of who you are. Music truly binds us together as a people. That is the energy I put into the tireless hours I pour into the festival. The statement and mission I bring are an extension of my love of music, community, media, and everything in between. The craziest part of Eclipse Fest is that I have, for the most part, handled most of the planning stages by myself. Before Eclipse Fest 2024 , I had zero experience planning events, marketing on a big scale, or anything like that. I was solely working on my band, Phantum Sun . That changed once I took the mantle of running and concocting Eclipse Fest . I took the vision in my head and threw it into the wild. The event brought a lot of shine to the scene through unorthodox booking styles, genres that on paper shouldn't work together, and whatever other plans I had that would give a typical event planner a reason for a thousand-second glance. I'm shocked that it turned out as good as it did, but the help I had leading up to it, the connections I made going through the process, and the bands were a tremendous part of the success. I aim to make Eclipse Fest 2025 an even bigger statement for the overall scene. It will be a statement of the great original music that Louisiana can provide from one side of the state to the other. Finally, it will be a statement of community. Announcements will start rolling out on the first Friday of January ! Stay tuned because you won't want to miss this one! We have an amazing line-up of talent, and some of these bands are going to blow your mind. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Seven Kings Must Die < Back The Last Kingdom Finally Gets a Sequel Keeley Brooks Mar 16, 2023 Share Seven Kings Must Die I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a movie enthusiast who LOVES to watch anything that has bloody good ass-whooping in it, whether it be John Wick with his “I’m not f**king around” gun fights and bone breaking, Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh flying around with their beautiful but deadly martial arts, or Rocky and Ivan Drago duking it out with some hefty punches right to the kisser. Ask the one person who knows me best, and my husband will tell you I get most excited watching depictions of the ancient brutal fighting styles of early tribes like the Vikings, the Danes, the Saxons, and the Gauls—any historical fighting styles prior to the 12th century, really … the kind featuring bad-ass sword fighting, as well as a host of other deadly weapons like fists, teeth, feet, elbows, heads, knees, bow and arrow, axes, knives, spears, and shields, not guns. What can I say? I love blood and gore, and I love the artistic style behind intelligent fighting (and, yes, the savagery). It’s not only entertaining to watch but it's also full of such visceral, raw emotion that a viewer can’t help but feel its effect through familiarity, at least in emotion. If there’s a movie or series featuring early tribes, you can bet I’m watching it. Multiple times. In fact, as I write this article, I’m rewatching all five seasons of The Last Kingdom , and you should, too. Netflix is dropping a sequel to the series next month, so now’s the time to catch up. When Vikings slammed into the History channel, I was glued to every episode, as I’m sure the rest of America was. I was sad when it ended in 2020, but luckily, I had a chance to remain in that era with the final season of The Last Kingdom , which aired on Netflix shortly thereafter in 2021. I missed this series when it hit the streaming giant in 2015, but I was beyond elated to have found it by 2019. In case you haven’t seen it, don’t worry. I’m about to drop some knowledge on you. The Last Kingdom is a fantastic heartwrenching British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novel of the same name. Cornwell is an English-American historical fiction author with the penchant for writing historical fiction, besides Philippa Gregory, but her focus is different. It’s the first novel in Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories” series (2004), which tells how the nation of England began under King Alfred the Great. While the series is spectacular, if I do say so myself, it does not follow the books true to form, and that’s due to things like production value and time. Cromwell’s story introduces us to Uhtred of Bebbanburg (aka Uhtred Uhtredsson and/or Uhtred Ragnarsson), who, as an adult, is played by the very delicious Alexander Dreymon ( American Horror Story ), a German-born actor with yummy, good, womanizing looks. As a young Saxon noble, Uhtred is kidnapped by Danish Vikings and raised as a Dane in Ragnar Ragnarsson’s kingdom, but it’s not the same Ragnar you’re thinking. Different time periods. While in captivity, Uhtred is woven into Danish culture, language, and religion for years before a series of events places him in the service of King Alfred of Wessex, played by the very talented David Dawson, whom you may remember from Peaky Blinders . credit: Netflix And don’t worry if you can’t necessarily understand, remember, or pronounce character names throughout the series. I couldn’t either until I put the captions on, and according to interviews Dreymon did with Collider , Winter is Coming , and YouTube , he and most of the cast couldn’t either! While watching, think of season one as a long preface to everything unraveling between seasons two and five and now, beyond. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxPApTGWwas As a side note, if you’re a Succession fan, Shiv’s husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) is in the first half of episode one as Uhtred’s father, Uhtred the Elder and Earl of Bebbanburg. So, that’s fun. Uhtred’s entire journey through life is spent fighting to reclaim his ancestral home of Bebbanburg in the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria (today known as Bamburgh on the Northumberland coastline in England), which leads him into and through the unwavering depths of human emotion as he grapples with his persistently split loyalties between his many oaths, his conflicting cultural identities, and his quest for retribution. credit: Netflix credit: Netflix I won’t spoil everything on the off chance you haven’t seen the series, but by season five, Uhtred and King Edward (Alfred’s son) are at odds with King Constantin of Alba (Scotland), a discerning leader who enjoys rocking the boat that is Northumbria. And while the finale finally does bring Uhtred home, it remains blatantly obvious he has much more to do before laying down his sword and trying to enjoy the rest of his life as a free nobleman. In late October 2021, Netflix announced a sequel to the series. Seven Kings Must Die is a two-hour standalone film set to portray events from Cornwell’s last three “Saxon Stories” novels. Let me be clear here, though: The movie will not cover everything from the last three books, but I suspect it’ll give us the gist of what all goes down. Expect it to pick a few events from the books to emphasize as we follow Uhtred in his attempts to unite England after King Edward’s death, so we’ll see him embroiled in a huge, albeit violent and bloody battle for the crown. “Rival heirs and invaders compete for power,” the film’s official synopsis reads. “And when an alliance comes seeking Uhtred’s help in their plans, Uhtred faces a choice between those he cares for most and the dream of forming a united England.” In the newly released trailer, a character is heard saying, “You know the prophecy, Uhtred? Seven kings die. All of Britain will be united.” So, that explains the title. One thing I can tell you about this film, though, is that there will be blood … lots and lots of blood and a big ole battle full of savagery. Sweet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqCYw_o5lng While the film is not drawn from the final book in Cornwell’s “Saxon Stories” saga, it is drawn from one of the earlier novels, the sixth book “Death of Kings.” It includes a section where a prophetess predicts a relentlessly gloomy future for Uhtred and King Alfred’s dream of a united England. Says Aelfadell, "Seven kings will die, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, seven kings and the women you love. That is your fate. And Alfred's son will not rule, and Wessex will die, and the Saxon will kill what he loves, and the Danes will gain everything, and all will change, and all will be the same as ever it was and ever will be." The scene was cut from the television series, and according to Den of Geek , that particular passage is framed more as a Danish attempt to unnerve Uhtred than a legit prophecy. But, if you’ve seen The Last Kingdom or read any of the books, you know there are aspects of truth in there. Throughout The Last Kingdom , Uhtred’s lovers often do die, and we’ve seen plenty of kings as well. There’s a good bit of speculation about who, exactly, the seven kings are, but the trailer offers up some hints, as does Reddit . Among those battling for the crown are the late King’s son Aethelstan and the discriminating King Constantin, played by Rod Hallet from Ant Man and The Hitman's Bodyguard . from The Last Kingdom's official Twitter page Netflix also released a first look at a new character making his debut in the movie. Danish leader Ingilmundr is joining the war; he makes his first appearance in “War of the Wolf,” the 11th of Cornwell’s books. He has major influence and will have a big hand in the tragic events that affect Uhtred’s family. There’s a hot chance we’ll all wind up hating him before the story concludes, but one thing’s for sure: He will have a crucially important role. from The Last Kingdom's official Twitter page Now is the perfect time to catch up on the series, regardless of whether you have or haven’t seen it. It’s an incredibly fascinating journey with some very memorable characters, like Brida, Uhtred’s childhood friend in captivity and first love; Father Beocca, a Saxon priest who has known Uhtred since he was a boy and knows his true birthright; and Finan, a lovably fierce Irish warrior sworn to Uhtred. There’s also lots of drama, emotion, love, and savagery. Seven Kings Must Die releases April 14, 2023, on Netflix. After the movie, if you’re craving more historical fiction to watch, I highly recommend getting into Britannia on Epix and Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla and Barbarians. Vikings: Valhalla is a sequel to the original Vikings series, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi4YnwFT7Gk and Barbarians is about a Roman officer’s conflicted allegiances that lead to an epic historical clash and the rebellion of the Germanic tribes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cA7kwBSUaU Britannia originally started out as an Amazon Prime series in 2018 but was acquired by Epix in 2020. It is set in A.D. 43 when the Romans invaded Britain led by General Aulus Plautius, who is determined to succeed where Julius Caesar failed and conquer this mythical land at the very end of the Roman Empire. In it you’ll see Yellowstone favorite Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), Mackenzie Crook from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (you’ll love his character; he’s captivating!), and The Walking Dead Governor from season three David Morrissey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhDAFAbv9e0 Alright, entertainment enthusiasts, get to entertaining yourself with some ancient historical fiction adaptations and be sure to let your voice mail pick up any calls. You’ll thank me later. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches. Even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for November 2024 < Back Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for Your Playlist November Nicole Brice Nov 2, 2024 Share Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for November 2024 This month’s tracks have no themes. There is no rhyme or reason to these tunes. I simply hit “shuffle” on my iPod and typed up these tracks for you! 1. The Specials – Little Bitch I became obsessed with this band in high school when I discovered them. This song and ‘ Concrete Jungle ’ will forever be my favorites. This is just a fun song to listen to. 1979 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohvZczJ6BUI 2. Joy Division – Heart and Soul It’s Joy Division ! ‘Nuff said! 1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0asSzzf6HPw 3. The Animals – House of the Rising Sun I have been obsessed with this song since I was a child. It has this eerie and creepy feeling to it. 1964 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4bFqW_eu2I 4. Bratmobile – I’m in the Band It's one of THE songs that defined my early 20s. Bratmobile is one of those bands that do not get the recognition or credit they deserve. 2002 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjarVoYsovM 5. The Strokes – Hard to Explain College – this song reminds me of college. One of those early 2000s gems. 2001 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkm6h6uq0k Hey, if you don't like these, cool. If you've never heard them, check them out! Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

They Deserve ALL the Damn Attention < Back Holmes Holmes Keeley Brooks Dec 12, 2022 Share They Deserve ALL the Damn Attention I watch a lot of content. A whole lot of content. Someone has to, right? Otherwise, how would you people know what good stuff and quality talent is out there, especially in these days of everything-overload? And I love comedy, whether it be stand-up, movies, sitcoms, friends making me laugh—it doesn’t matter. I just love to laugh, often at myself, and that’s precisely what drew me into to the authentically talented and very down-to-Earth, candid queer comedian, improviser, actor, and writer Holmes Holmes (sometimes billed as just Holmes ), the hysterically funny star (and I do mean STAR) of FOX’s new mockumentary sitcom Welcome to Flatch . When Holmes and I spoke, we bonded over toes … broken toes. No, really—I’m serious. We hopped on Zoom to rap about who they are underneath the comedy and talent, their thoughts and opinions on life as it is today, the projects they’re working on, and, of course, the show, but the first place we went was to swapping toe stories, because they were home nursing a broken pinky. “I broke it literally waking up out of my bed, and then I just walked into a weight that was in my room. I have these 10-pound weights that I try to keep … in my room because then when I pass them, I’ll do a rep, because that’s how my brain works, and I just ran into them with my pinky toe and, like, broke her,” Holmes says, right before asking me if I’d ever broken a toe, to which I was honest and said yes. Two of 'em. After hearing about how I embarrassingly broke one of my toes, Holmes started giggling and said I had to include our stories in the article, and because I admire and respect them so much, this Dude shall abide. “I broke it as a teenager at the beach," I started. "I had on this hot little bikini number, and I’d gotten up to try that Baywatch-style run into the water when my foot planted deep in the sand and got stuck, I tripped, and my body went one way and my toes--a particular toe--went the other." It was an epic embarrassment. We laughed and talked more toes before getting back to the interview. Holmes were born in Texas , then lived in Florida , mostly grew up in Omaha , then went back to Florida for college, then (as an adult) Chicago until the pandemic, then on to Kansas City to be with family, and now they’re out in Los Angeles for work. Photo provided by Holmes “[T]he pandemic was horrible and obviously I would never choose for it to happen, but something positive that came out of it was people realizing they can live in different places and still work remotely,” they said. “This industry is also so look-based and shallow, and I’m not like that … it’s not that I hate what I look like … but I like to think about it the least of everything about me. I’d rather spend time thinking about my actions or what I’m creating so I definitely think that living somewhere else will be helpful with that because … you hear so many look-based things when you’re in this city.” As star of the new FOX mockumentary sitcom Welcome to Flatch , which also airs on Hulu and stars Seann William Scott ( American Pie ) and Jaime Pressly ( My Name is Earl ), Holmes plays the lead role of Kelly Mallet . The show follows a documentary crew exploring the lives, dreams, and concerns of residents with eccentric personalities in the small (fictional) American town of Flatch, Ohio . The crew finds more-than-worthy subjects in cousins and best friends Kelly Mallet and Lloyd “Shrub” Mallet , played by the very talented and handsome Sam Straley ( The Dropout ). Ironically enough, Straley’s character’s last name on The Dropout was Holmes , so I find it magically fitting that his co-star in Flatch is literally named Holmes ; they were absolutely meant to be. Kelly and Shrub spend their days hatching schemes and being themselves, and that’s the best part of the show: watching their organic shenanigans unfold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl8jKFZa-ps Season 1 Recap: Welcome to Flatch Don’t get me wrong—the entire show and its cast are hilariously funny and worth multiple watches, but there’s something special about the energy oscillating between Kelly and Shrub that just sucks you right in as a viewer. Flatch is Holmes’s first acting role , which is probably shocking to those who watch the show, because they operate with such a high level of comedic talent, you feel like you’re watching a veteran artist, minus the delightfully fresh and youthful appearance. Holmes isn’t just gifted in acting but also has some of the best, most organic improv skills on today’s scene. Not too much trips them up, short of a certain hot-tub scene with her co-stars Sam Straley and Jaime Pressly , and they’re constantly flowing within their own energy and being themselves. Watching them perform is like peering through a glass window into a family home full of hijinks. And love. They. Are. Genius. And everything coming out of their mouth is effortless—so effortless, in fact, it’s easy for a viewer to forget they’re watching a TV show. While Flatch itself is scripted, Holmes says they are allowed some room for improvisation but, honestly, everything Holmes does in the show makes it seem like all of their lines are improvised. That’s how much of a natural they are. And it doesn’t hurt that co-star Sam Straley (Shrub Mallet) is just as golden with comedic timing as Holmes is, so watching them together, feeding off of each other, is pure, unadulterated gut-bursting magic. Courtesy of Fox “I feel so grateful to work with Sam,” Holmes said, “because we both will let ourselves play, and we’re so tired at certain points and we get to places where we play, and I just wouldn’t want there to be anyone else to work with … yeah.” They continued, “It took us a second, [but] now we’re really close. He’s one of my best friends in the whole world. I love him so much. When we first met, I think there was a learning curve for both of us, because I came from improv and it was my second audition, and he came from the acting world very intensely, [and] he did have some improv experience, but all the actor stuff had just sort of really hammered a different style into him.” When asked what filming with Sam is like, they replied, “At first, I was adding lines left and right, and he was like, ‘Whoa,’ and I’d go, ‘Whoa,’ and I was like, ‘Why do you hate me? I’m funny!’ (laughs). But then, we’re both good communicators and we talked about it, and then what happened is that he’s made me a much better actor and he was already a good improviser, but I inspired him to remember he can play [around with improv because] Flatch isn’t like most shows. It’s a place where you can play. And now I really love him. He’s one of my best friends in the world.” Courtesy of Fox They didn’t stop there with their love for Sam: “He’s the best actor I know. He’s so talented. He can play Shrub so well, but it’s wild. When I do self-tapes with him, he can do anything … he can be scary, he can be a hot dick, and then he goes into Shrub, and it’s amazing.” Don’t let Holmes’s humility fool you, though; they are just as amazing to watch and equally as talented, especially for the kind of turn-around time on which the show operates. Holmes says they switch directors every couple of episodes and they film so fast (3-3.5 days/episode), they are constantly learning lines at all times, and that can get intense. But there is room for their improv. “We always get a script … and I’ll always give a take that is the script, but then I go back and add in some Holmes. If they say to take it back, I will, but sometimes they don’t say anything, so I keep doing it that way. Sam and I try to improvise and change it quite a bit.” There’s a fantastic scene in Episode 3 that showcases Holmes’s improv skills, and it’s so hysterically funny, one can’t help but develop an appreciation for their talent and how it carries the rest of the show. If you watch it, it’s the scene where Kelly is making a pitch to Barb (Jaime Pressly) to hire her as an assistant in Barb’s real estate business. Courtesy of Fox The show just aired its second season , which somehow was even funnier than the first, so I had to know how Holmes holds it together on set with Shrub when filming and if people are always breaking character and, respectively, losing their shit. “Well, we don’t hold it together great,” Holmes said through laughter. “I don’t make Sam break. I’ve probably only made him break twice, ever. [Episode 7] was the hardest in the whole entire time of working on the show not to break. When we were in the hot tub and stuff … I’m the worst at breaking of everyone. Sam does not break, really, whereas I really can’t struggle a lot. [In that scene], we were so tired at that point [during filming], and I could barely get through [one take in the hot tub]. I kept laughing because of Shrub’s persona with Barb. Every time I’d talk to him, he’s, like, kissing her ear or something and [that would make me break.]” Holmes went on to tell me a little about what they think is so cool about the show, aside from their co-workers. “I think one of the coolest parts of the entire experience is that all of the camera people are all women, so that is unheard of. It has to do with [Show Creator] Jenny Bicks and [Executive Producer] Paul [Feig] in a lot of ways. He really does care about having things be more equal in the industry than they are.” I have to say it was refreshing to hear that some out there in the industry are fighting for equal rights because they see the importance in it. Holmes landed their role on the show after being discovered on Twitter a few years back. They posted a video that Paul Feig ’s assistant saw and from that, Feig’s people reached out to a place where Holmes used to improv in Chicago and asked them to audition. It was only Holmes’s second audition ever. While we aren't certain which video the assistant saw, Holmes's Instagram page has a ton of reels that'll have you closing your eyes from laughing so hard. You're gonna want to bring a bucket of popcorn for your stay. “I was just doing improv every night and working a normal day job … at a gym selling memberships. I think it’s one of those things where it’s easy to get caught up in the life and find new things to get upset about, because that’s just how life works, but, I mean, I definitely really try to always remember how fortunate and lucky I am and how hard I worked to get to this place so I could be creative for my job,” they said. Something most may not know about Holmes is that they operate daily with both A.D.D. and Anxiety , and they’re very open about it, which is very courageous and inspiring, because more people out there who struggle should feel safe enough to voice their thoughts and feelings. It’s how we heal … one way, at least. “I think it makes me good at my job. I can hyper-focus, and now that I’ve learned about it, for me, moving outside and walking is helpful in controlling my A.D.D. It’s easier for me to think. I like to be moving. And now, because of my toe and not being able to walk, I’ve noticed a lot of my energy ruminating on negative thoughts. Now that I have this knowledge about [my issues], I’m able to realize I’m not in that bad of a place and this is only temporary.” Photo provided by Holmes Anxiety can make doing anything in life tough for anybody, even with basic functions like getting out of bed each morning or going out in public, let alone doing improv in front of a room full of people or playing a character on screen. I had to know how Holmes’s anxiety affected them in their career. “When I first started doing stand-up, because I was alone up there, I’d feel scared for a while [before I’d go on]. In the beginning of anything, I get nervous when I’d first start with art, but I don’t really have that now. I feel my anxiety is the worst within interpersonal relationships in my life. So, if I’m romantically interested in someone, or if I think a friend is mad at me, or I think I’ve disappointed someone close to me, that’s where my anxiety lies, whereas with performing in front of 300 people [who are] strangers, I kind of don’t feel scared. That’s where I love A.D.D.,” they said. “At first, having A.D.D. and Anxiety together was really hard, because they both fight each other. And because we live under capitalism, they cared about the A.D.D. first. So, when I was first getting mental health help, they addressed the A.D.D. and put me on medicine … that makes your heart rate high, and so I’m having these heart palpitations and panic attacks because they were trying to make me focus with the anxiety untreated.” When Holmes got to a stable place with their anxiety, they started looking at their A.D.D. from a different perspective, from someone who wasn’t trying to medicate them for it but instead was trying to teach them about it, and Holmes that really changed their life. “Now I’m able to understand my hyper-focus is a skill, and with A.D.D. specifically, I almost need the anxiety sometimes. I need the pressure to come alive. … For me, to write new material, I normally sign myself up for a bunch of shows or reach out to people, because then I know I have the show coming, so now I have to get it done, so I use A.D.D. and Anxiety together [now], where [before] it used to be a thing I felt so paralyzed by both that I couldn’t do anything.” Holmes has a solid network of support around them though, from friends, to family, to co-workers, to fellow comedians, and though Holmes loves acting, their heart lies deep in improvisation, and they credit long-form improv with saving their life. “Being able to be so free with my energy for years on stage in Chicago allowed me to release feelings through characters, and that saved me,” they said. “Laughter saves my life … and I feel ok right now, because I think I have such an amazing community [with comedians] and not just actors. I think if it was just actors all the time, it would feel harder, and it’s not their fault, because they’re getting self-taped in ways that describe them that aren’t true. I say no to a lot of self-tapes, because I’d rather spend time creating stuff, because it’s hard knowing you can create amazing and do amazing, but they see you in this box. That’s why I’m grateful to be a comedian, you know, because my comedian community doesn’t do that. It feels like we’re all making each other laugh and supporting each other.” Photo provided by Holmes Some of their favorite comedians and influences include Kate Berlant and John Early . Holmes recalls seeing their videos in college and remembering they were some of the first people they saw who made Holmes feel like they could make their weirdness mainstream. They’re also “super-inspired” by Issa Rae . “Not only is she so funny, but she’s groundbreaking,” Holmes said. “She changed TV for Black people completely. I look up to her both as a comedic influence and an icon.” Then there’s Maria Banford . “I look up to her because she talked about mental health so much in such a hilarious way, that I remember seeing when I was younger that meant the world to me. I really recommend her special on Netflix called The Special Special Special. She does it just for her parents. It’s just so weird and funny, and she’s so honest about it.” Michaela Coel also made a huge impression on Holmes . Coel made the show I May Destroy You on HBO . Holmes says she’s such an influence on them, because she takes time away from the public eye between projects and encourages others to make self-care a priority and do the same. “She has two shows: Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, and both of them she took a break between and went offline, then came back with the best product ever and … she encouraged people not to be afraid to take time away. I just love her. I need to remember that because on purpose, this industry just wants to make money all the time, and every industry in America wants you to keep making money for them, so they don’t care about the quality of the art, and I just need to have people I can remember saying [that self-care is important].” Holmes also credits her friend Molly Kearney with being a favorite and an influence. You might best recognize Kearney as the newest cast member on Saturday Night Live and the first openly nonbinary cast member . Woohoo! And, like Holmes , she is brilliantly fun to watch. In discussing gender identity and commenting on seeing the world in terms of gray vs. black and white, and in terms of identifying as only male or female or this way or that, Holmes had this to say: “I feel like every day is a different energy I try to listen to, and it’s also a good reminder because before you have words for things, you can’t explain them, and that doesn’t mean they don’t exist, and so for me, as I get older, I want to be cautious and conscious about learning new stuff younger people are telling me about because I don’t want to be fighting change.” Photo provided by Holmes They continued, “I just feel so fortunate to be a comedian. Some days I feel funny, and some days I want to create other types of art, so I see myself as an artist more than a comedian but being a comedian does save my life because of the community. When I’m not in the mood to do stand-up, I’ll continue having it as part of my career, always, because of the community and because of getting to be around people multiple times a week, who are just the funniest people alive right now. I’m part of an alternative scene, so I do get to be around queer people [and] I get to be around people who aren’t just the nightmares in stand-up. I get to be around the boys in stand-up. … Life is just so dark in many ways, and I think getting to be around funny people is just so healing.” As far as what the role of Kelly Mallet means to them, Holmes paused then offered, “My siblings say that Kelly [has] always lived inside of me. I … had similarities to [her] in middle school, but [she] is a lot more confident than me, [but] it’s really nice to play her because she’s more masculine and more easily satisfied, and her resilience amazes me because she bounces back really fast.” Photo courtesy of Fox Holmes said playing Kelly is really fun and really freeing, but they noted there are differences. “… I think I knew who she was at [my] core, so that’s how I was able to play her for auditions and improvise with her … I wish more people were like her, honestly. She totally changed my life … and she’ll always be a part of me.” Holmes added they are truly grateful for FOX and Hulu and the show’s creators, as well as fellow mega co-stars Seann William Scott and Jaime Pressly , who’ve both given great industry advice when it was most needed. Photo courtesy of Fox Currently, the naturally gifted improv genius just wrapped up a benefit show in Kansas City with dear friend and improv collaborator Caleb Hearon to raise money for Kansas City residents who are unhoused. Holmes is also working on another KC-based project with Caleb , Jax Media , and Our Lady J , and they’re also working on an hour-long stand-up special for a tour. Wherever you can find Holmes online, on TV, in a club, or randomly doing humble, cool shit to help those in need, I strongly encourage you to sit still and engage in soaking up their talent and positive energy. It’s genuinely one of the funniest, most natural, and relatable experiences you’ll ever have. This comedic badass is one worth noting, following, madly supporting, and telling all your friends to watch. I know it sounds like I’m totally crushing on them and, I’ll be honest, I kind of am, but you will, too, as soon as you watch their stand-up, TikTok videos, Instagram videos, movie shorts, and, of course, Welcome to Flatch , then get sucked into what they’re doing simply because they’re just being who they are. And that, my friends, is genuine talent that is beyond refreshing. So, come with me and jump all up on their bandwagon. The party’s just getting started. For more information on Holmes: Website: www.holmeshome.me HOLMES All the info you could possibly want and need about Chicago-based comedian, actress, and writer Holmes Holmes. Instagram @_holmes_holmes TikTok @_holmes_holmes And if you haven’t seen Welcome to Flatch , you can catch that on FOX, Hulu, Spectrum TV, Vudu, Prime Video, or Apple TV. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones < Back Asteroid City: Film Review Shaun Corley Aug 16, 2023 Share Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones Acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson returns in a grand fashion with his latest offering, Asteroid City . After the fair-to-middling Isle of Dogs (2018) and The French Dispatch (2021), Anderson has found his verve once again with Asteroid City . The film is his first foray into the realm of science-fiction and while it contains all of his trademark idiosyncrasies and quirks, it is also one of his most melancholic efforts. Asteroid City is, without a doubt, a fine addition to the Wes Anderson canon. Wes Anderson exploded onto the scene with 1996’s Bottle Rocket and followed it up two years later with Rushmore (1998) before achieving mainstream recognition with 2001’s superlative The Royal Tenenbaums . This film earned Anderson his first Oscar nomination and remains a favorite among fans. Three years later, Anderson delivered the divisive The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou . While a commercial success, the film received mixed reviews from critics. After 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited , Anderson stretched his creative muscles on 2009’s classic stop-motion feature The Fantastic Mister Fox . Later films of Anderson’s have included Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and the Oscar-nominated The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). After Budapest , Anderson entered something of a creative lull. Isle of Dogs attempted to recreate the magic of Fantastic Mister Fox , and while an entertaining movie, it fell flat; the same can be said of 2020’s The French Dispatch , which saw Anderson stuck in a holding pattern. However, Asteroid City breaks this cycle and reasserts the formalist director as one of America’s greatest living filmmakers. Asteroid City can be best described as a “play within a movie.” The play, written by playwright Conrad Earp (Edward Norton) is about a group of children attending an astronomy convention in the town of Asteroid City. 3000 years prior, a giant asteroid hit the area, leaving behind a small fragment. Set in an alternate 1955, the convention is rocked when an alien steals the meteor fragment, leading to a government cover-up, which fails when the same youths who came for the astronomy convention help expose what is going on in Asteroid City. Meanwhile, interspersed throughout are stories of the play’s actors and crew and how their lives outside of the play start bleeding into it. If this sounds like an incredibly dark premise for a Wes Anderson movie, it is. However, Anderson employs his trademark style to soften the edges of the narrative. The kids attending the astronomy convention are typical, precocious Anderson youths, who in some ways are hipper to the world around them than their parents. They do not rely on a major news outlet such as The New York Times to get the story out, instead going with one of the kids’ school newspapers. Likewise, while the military is doing something morally questionable, they are depicted as buffoonish and, in the case of General Gibson (Jeffrey Wright), purely unhinged, spouting off seemingly random babble during a speech. Asteroid City does not just mine its drama from politics and conspiracy theories—there is a very real human element present in the story. Perhaps no one character better embodies this than photographer Augie Steenbeck, played by Anderson regular Jason Schwartzman . Schwartzman has been in many of Anderson’s movies, and here the director gets what might be one of Schwartzman’s best performances. Augie has been a distant father to his children, and when their mother dies, he finds himself suddenly saddled with four kids and no real clue as to what he is doing. Augie bonds with actress Midge Campbell, played by Scarlett Johansson , but this relationship brings no real solace. Augie is truly alone, and Schwartzman perfectly captures his melancholic nature. Schwartzman & Johansson as Augie & Midge Schwartzman is joined by a host of stars from Anderson’s seemingly growing stable of actors. Wes Anderson’s movies are always huge ensemble pieces, and Asteroid City is no different. Anderson regulars Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Wright, and Adrien Brody are joined by several newcomers to Anderson’s world, including Maya Hawke, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Steve Carrell, Stephen Park, and Scarlett Johansson. Johansson in particular stands out as the aforementioned Midge Campbell; as Midge, Johansson channels Marilyn Monroe, right down to her voice and mannerisms. Science fiction is new ground for Anderson, and here he manages to employ tropes of the genre to tell a great story. The movie is steeped in the UFO lore of the 1950s, and Anderson successfully recreates this era, giving viewers an idealized version of 1955, with jet packs and disintegrator rays. Asteroid City downplays the Cold War paranoia that gripped the United States at the time, opting instead to focus more on the political than the personal. Now, 27 years into his career, Wes Anderson has firmly established himself as an American filmmaking institution. He has a distinct style unlike any other director working in America, and in Asteroid City he uses his trademark style to tell a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones. Asteroid City is currently available to stream exclusively on Peacock and to rent or buy on Video On Demand and Apple Movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXCSXuGTF4 Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

During this content drought, get lost in these epic historical fiction and fantasy series! < Back Historical Fiction and Fantasy Series to Binge Keeley Brooks Aug 29, 2023 Share During this content drought, get lost in these epic historical fiction and fantasy series! So, who’s feeling the effects of this continuing writers’ strike and subsequent content drought? Because I know it’s not just me. When the line was drawn in the sand in Hollywood months ago, I held out hope that studios would do the right thing; good thing I’m not holding my breath. Summer is a time of year when we are usually inundated with new streaming content, but this season offered slim pickins. If you find yourself flying through your queue content, now looking for something to get into while you await the next big series release, you’re in luck. Here are some of my favorite historical fiction and fantasy series sure to keep you entertained, worth a really good binge . BARBARIANS Created by: Barbara Eder, Stefan Ruzowitzky, Steve Saint Leger, & Lennart Ruff Where to binge it: Netflix Barbarians is a high budget German historical war drama that dropped on Netfix in 2020 right when we were all confined to our homes during COVID. That’s probably the reason this series soared in popularity: Everyone was home to see it. If you’ve yet to indulge, now’s your chance. Barbarians tells the story of what happened during the Roman Empire’s occupation of Germania—namely the resulting rebellion of the Germanic tribes during the Battle of Teutoburg Forest around 9 A.D. The Battle of Teutoburg was pivotal during this time because it was under the cover of darkness when an alliance of Germanic tribes targeted their oppressors. The result? Destruction of three Roman legions. Boom. Barbarians tells the story of three friends whose fates are intertwined in fighting for their freedom and dealing with the drama of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Barbarians is full of action, heavy on the bloodshed, and loaded with high production value, solid acting, and some pretty sweet camera work and effects. Currently there are two seasons around the Battle of Teutoburg, and while it’s yet to be announced, it’s assumed that season three will focus on the aftermath of conflict. Bring it on, Netflix! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cA7kwBSUaU BRITANNIA Created by: Jez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth, James Richardson, & Terry Cafolla Where to binge it: Prime Video, MGM+, Fubo, Sky & Now, Apple TV Swords, sorcery, swears, and sassiness … and Romans and Druids—that’s the good time Britannia presents to us all wrapped up in a nice little bow. The series landed on Prime Video in 2018 then was picked up by EPIX in 2020 for Seasons 2 and 3. Sadly, and disappointingly, EPIX scrapped Season 4 (booo), a decision that left all of us fans on the edge of our seats craving closure to this fantastic drama series. They blamed it on COVID. Set during the primitive and mystical times of 43 A.D., Britannia follows the Roman army in their quest to conquer Britain after Caesar’s failed attempt 90 years prior. This mystical land, as we learn right off the bat, is home to some pretty tough, wild, and mouthy female warriors and powerful Druids, who have the unique ability to channel the mysterious forces of the Underworld. Britannia is an enthralling tale of extreme power struggles and clashing cultures in a gripping narrative that breathes life into this robust selection of characters, each with their own abilities, motives, and loyalties. Britannia stars Kelly Reilly ( Yellowstone ) as a powerful Celtic warrior and David Morrissey ( The Walking Dead ) as Roman General Aulus Plautius, who went on to become the first governor of this newly conquered land. It also stars MacKenzie Crook , whom you may best remember as the dude who kept losing his eyeball in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. While both Reilly and Morrissey richly embody the characters they portray, Crook is the one who steals the spotlight in every single episode he appears. MacKenzie Crook as Veran, the powerful Druid leader Britannia focuses on Rome’s effort to crush the Celtic tribes, who just so happen to be divided and at war amongst themselves. At the same time, it also follows a great prophecy that exists and rolls off tongues from tribe to tribe: A “Chosen One” will save her war-torn land from the Romans. However, that prophecy falls into jeopardy with the arrival of “The Dead Man” (also played by Crook), which sets into motion a battle amongst the Druids, risking their demise. Britannia attracted a multitude of critical acclaim for its vivid portrayal of Rome’s invasion of Britain. It is one hell of a bloody, brooding series with an excellent plot, fascinating narratives, gorgeous visuals, even better plot twists, impeccable battle sequences, and a healthy mix of history and fantasy, not to mention superb acting, tribal tattoos, and costumes. Britannia is fun, active, engaging, and highly entertaining as opposed to historically accurate, and it promises a thrilling escape into a fantastical world where magic, swearing, brutality, levity, and a taste of the ancient past collide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhDAFAbv9e0 CAMELOT Created by: Chris Chibnall & Michael Hirst Where to binge it: Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV Camelot ’s one and only season saw much success when it debuted in 2011, but scheduling conflicts between cast members prevented a second season … allegedly. Regardless, Camelot is a must-see one-season series, especially for fans of the King Arthur legend. While there are many adaptations, this one is created by screenwriter Michael Hirst , who is responsible for the unforgettable historical series Vikings and The Tudors ; he is, in my opinion, the king when it comes to creating the most fantastic and memorable historical drama series. Hirst’s interpretation of the King Arthur legend breathes a very adult twist into the tale with its focus on sibling rivalry, passion, and romance. After King Uther dies in Camelot , Britain sits in chaos. Merlin (Joseph Fiennes, of The Handmaid’s Tale ) begins searching for an heir and winds up finding an impetuous young man named Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower, of Stranger Things ). Arthur is Uther’s unknown son who has been raised as a commoner. Camelot revolves around the intense battle for the throne between Arthur and his evil half-sister, Morgan (Eva Green, of Penny Dreadful ), who is determined to fight her brother to the bitter end, even summoning unnatural forces to help her claim the crown. Arthur’s journey to unite a kingdom shredded by war becomes a series of profound moral tests and difficult challenges that make for a riveting watch . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYZImCVvbVU The Last Kingdom Created by: Nick Murphy Where to binge it: Netflix The Last Kingdom is one of my absolute favorite historical fiction series on the planet. It’s a heart-wrenching British television series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novel of the same name . In case you’re unaware, Cornwell is an English-American historical fiction author with the penchant for writing some of the most dramatic, engaging historical tales, besides Philippa Gregory, but her focus is different. “The Last Kingdom” is the first novel in Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories” series (2004), which tells the story of how England began under King Alfred the Great . While the series is spectacular, it doesn’t follow Cornwell’s books true to form, so if you’ve read them, don’t get lost in expectations. The Last Kingdom centers on Uhtred of Bebbanburg (aka Uhtred Uhtredsson and/or Uhtred Ragnarsson), who is played by American Horror Story ’s Alexander Dreymon . Born a young Saxon noble, Uhtred is kidnapped by Danish Vikings during an invasion and raised as a Dane in Ragnar Ragnarsson’s kingdom, but it’s not the same Ragnar you’re thinking—different time periods. While in captivity, Uhtred is woven into Danish culture, language, and religion for years before he finds himself in the service of King Alfred of Wessex, played by David Dawson , whom you may remember from Peaky Blinders . The Last Kingdom delves into the turbulent backdrop of King Alfred’s desire to unite the separate kingdoms while exploring Uhtred’s loyalties between his love for and loyalty to both Saxons and Danes. The series is a whole package replete with an engaging, dynamic storyline and is a must-see for anyone looking to get lost in an epic and thrilling historical drama. What you can expect: gorgeous cinematography, multi-dimensional characters, exciting battle sequences, and copious amount of blood, brutality, emotion, entertainment, and top-notch storytelling and acting . I do recommend watching with subtitles, though, because it’s often difficult to understand some of the accents. The Last Kingdom ended its five-season run in 2022 and wrapped up Cornwell’s “Saxon Stories” adventure with a movie in Summer 2023, Seven Kings Must Die . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxPApTGWwas Norsemen Created by: Jon Iver Helgaker & Jonas Torgersen Where to binge it: Netflix Norsemen injects a different, comedic perspective into the Viking saga. This Norwegian series (also filmed in English) will have you laughing your butt off at a group of Vikings living in the village of Norheim. The series follows the life of these villagers and their day-to-day happenings full of strife and shenanigans, silliness and stupidity. Norsemen is unique and different with awkwardly hilarious moments , making it one of the most watchable and enjoyable medieval shows to dive into, especially now while new content is sparse. It serves up a highly entertaining take on the Viking Age and presents the challenges faced by a small Viking village; it also portrays quite a funny but childish rivalry between the chieftan and his little brother. In three seasons, we’re taken into silly disputes with neighboring villages, including a rival tribe led by a ruthless Viking and the efforts of a Roman slave to modernize Norheim’s culture, resulting in persistent ongoing conflicts. One character you’ll fall in love with is the sword-wielding, no-nonsense wife of the chieftan, Hildur . She’s a force to be reckoned with and is the most grounded, level-headed warrior amongst all the Viking men. Norsemen is good for three seasons of hearty laughs and offers a tongue-in-cheek take on the whole Viking craze . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpMvIZRUPf4 Penny Dreadful Created by: John Logan Where to binge it: Showtime, Paramount+, Fubo, Sky Penny Dreadful (2014) is set in the 19th Century’s dark recesses of Victorian Gothic London. This psychological thriller series masterfully weaves together classic literary figures with a chilling narrative that keeps viewers craving more, exploring specifically the origin stories of Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. Season 1 begins in 1891 when avid explorer Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton, of Doom Patrol ) and his seductive clairvoyant Vanessa Ives (Eva Green, of Camelot ) hire an American gunman and roadshow artist (Josh Hartnett, of Lucky Number Slevin ) to help locate and rescue Sir Malcolm’s daughter from a mysterious vampire, among other supernatural forces. They receive help from a young doctor named Victor Frankenstein, who is hunted (and haunted) by an undead man of Frankenstein’s creation, who is masterfully played by Rory Kinnear ( No Time to Die, Our Flag Means Death ). Season 2 of Penny Dreadful introduces some wild witchcraft within a coven of witches who answer to Lucifer and are on the hunt to bring Miss Ives to their master. Meanwhile, Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway, of Mr. Mercedes ) is forced to make his creature a bride, which is a story and process that clenches at your heart strings as you watch in moments of horror and awe. And in Season 3, our main characters encounter more supernatural events as they find themselves split up and placed all over the world, but when Count Dracula appears in London, the battle for Vanessa’s soul begins. With its ensemble cast led by the enigmatic Eva Green , Penny Dreadful delves into the supernatural world, unearthing creatures and legends that lurk in the shadows. It garnered critical acclaim for its superb acting, atmospheric cinematography, and rich storytelling , earning several awards and nominations throughout its three-season run. Effortlessly weaving together psychological drama with visceral horror, Penny Dreadful offers a psychologically immersive experience that lingers long after the credits roll. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFXHfEqMcis Rome Created by: Bruno Heller, William J. MacDonald, & John Milius Where to binge it: HBO & Max, Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, BritBox, Apple TV If you know who Ray Stevenson ( King Arthur, 2004) is, you don’t want to miss out on seeing him in Rome . A furiously crass British historical drama following the turbulent transition of the Roman Republic to an autocratic empire, Rome portrays both the aristocratic viewpoint of Julius Caesar and his allies, as well as the politically naive viewpoint of ordinary Romans like Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd, of Grey’s Anatomy ) and Titus Pullo (Stevenson). It's a raw account of the lives and deeds of the rich, powerful, and historically significant as they navigate politics, war, and family dynamics in pursuit of a stable Roman Empire. Stevenson and McKidd as Pullo and Vorenus Rome Season 1 is all about Julius Caesar’s civil war of 49 B.C. against the traditionalist conservative faction in the Roman Senate. It focuses on his rise to dictatorship, followed by his subsequent fail, right on down to his assassination on the Ides of March 44 B.C. We also see the early years of the young Octavian, who is destined to become the first emperor of Rome. Season 2 is set around the power struggle between Octavian and Mark Antony following Caesar’s assassination and covers the time period from Caesar’s death to Antony and Cleopatra’s suicide in 30 B.C. High production values cancelled Rome ’s Season 3, but don’t let that deter you from checking it out. Rome is an exciting exploration of the complexities of the Roman Empire and its eventual rise to power . Featuring over-the-top production values—especially for 2005—as well as elaborate sets and costumes with intriguing storylines full of explosive drama and action, Rome is certainly one historical series you shouldn’t pass on watching. In addition to Stevenson and McKidd, Rome also features James Purefoy ( Pennyworth ), Tobias Menzies ( Outlander ), Polly Walker ( Bridgerton ), and Indira Varma ( Game of Thrones ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtUQqiIa0oI Spartacus Created by: Steven S. DeKnight Where to binge it: Starz, Roku Channel, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, Lionsgate+ Spartacus: Blood and Sand was one of the best shows on cable in 2010 —historically speaking, at least. The epic series received high acclaim for its extreme production value, mouth-watering narratives, tremendous combat sequences, and its lead actor, Andy Whitfield , who sadly left this physical plane in 2011 when he succumbed to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He, indeed, left behind a huge mark on the industry not just for who he was but also for his efforts and success in bringing the character of Spartacus to such radical life. Andy Whitfield as Spartacus Spartacus: Blood and Sand tells the story of the Thracian gladiator Spartacus who, from 73 to 71 B.C., led a major slave rebellion against the Roman Republic departing from Capua. When he is torn from his homeland, and thusly separated from his wife, Spartacus is forced into slavery and is condemned to fight in the excessively violent gladiator’s arena in Rome. As he navigates the violent, brutal world, Spartacus comes to realize that not all battles are fought in an arena, as he must overcome lies, treachery, and temptation if he wants to survive. Executive producers Steven S. DeKnight ( Pacific Rim: Uprising ) and Robert Tapert ( Evil Dead, Evil Dead Rise ) focused on structuring the events of Spartacus’ obscure early life leading right up to the beginning of historical records, but after completing Season 1, they chose to delay Season 2 due to Whitfield’s illness. In the interim, Starz produced a six-episode prequel miniseries entitled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena , which is one of the best miniseries—let alone prequel miniseries—that exists. It features incredibly visceral gladiator games in a style reminiscent of a Zack Snyder film, and everything about it screams BADASS : characters, attitudes, training, brutality, loyalty, heart, and tolerance. When Season 2, Spartacus: Vengeance , finally released, actor Liam McIntyre ( The Flash TV series) took on the titular role of Spartacus, which ultimately ended with Season 3, Spartacus: War of the Damned . Spartacus is a seductively thrilling action-drama series rampant with blood, violence, drama, and lots of sex that brings to life the Roman Republic and its depravity. Through Spartacus’ struggle for vengeance, we accompany him on his heroic journey to free himself and his people from slavery. With epic arena battles, intense gladiator training, political intrigue, excellent effects, and passionate romances, Spartacus is a series that will, no doubt, captivate you from beginning to end. There’s no room for insecurity of any kind in this series, which’ll have you attempting to binge as much of it in one sitting as you can. Spartacus’ gripping story and outstanding performances make it one of the best medieval TV shows ever made . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHxn8mTpAJU The Tudors Created by: Michael Hirst Where to binge it: Prime Video, Paramount+, Showtime, Fubo, Apple TV, Google Play, Sky When I discovered The Tudors (2007), I’ll admit I was obsessed. I’ve always loved the tale of Henry VIII, his court politics, his wives, and his crumbling sanity, and this series blew me (and most everyone else who watched it) completely away. Another hit historical series from Michael Hirst , The Tudors is set primarily in 16th-century England at King Henry VIII’s court . The show lured in audiences with its political intrigue, elaborate costumes and sets, intricate storylines, and emotionally charged performances—namely from Jonathan Rhys Meyers ( Vikings ), who plays King Henry. The Tudors is an enthralling and dynamic drama that brings to life the power struggles, romances, and political machinations of Henry VIII’s court while exposing us to his passionate, often volatile relationships with his six wives … and his power. It showcases one of the most tumultuous periods in English history , replete with treachery, ambition, lust, and greed. Henry is a shrewd, charming, passionate leader hell-bent on leaving his mark on the world, and we get a front-row seat as he impulsively navigates his way through love, war, and politics in an effort to secure England’s future. Jonathan Rhys Meyers brings so much emotional likeness to his character, it’s as though he truly channeled the sovereign while filming The Tudors . We as viewers are but flies on the wall in King Henry’s court watching his sanity unravel woman by woman, wife by wife. He. Is. Divine. Remember when Heath Ledger took on the role of the Joker and it was said he lived the role as though there were no separation between himself and it? Yeah, I’m pretty sure he was inspired by Rhys Meyers’ stellar portrayal of the legendary King Henry VIII. The Tudors is one series you’ll watch over and over and possibly over again— it’s that good . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNf9dxnQrM Vikings Created by: Michael Hirst Where to binge it: Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Apple TV, Google Play Annnnd in yet another slam dunk from screenwriter Michael Hirst, we have Vikings . I feel like it needs no introduction, but just in case, it’s a beast of a historical fiction masterpiece that’s loaded with bad-ass shield maidens, ravenous Viking warriors packed in emotional depth, and raw tribal violence wrapped in near-perfect narratives garnished with drama, suspense, and mythology. Vikings is one of the rarest shows on earth that is never, ever dull and whole-heartedly entertaining in plot, action, cinematography, soundtrack, and acting. Vikings follows the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok (Traves Fimmel, of Raised by Wolves ), who claims to be a direct descendant of the god Odin. He and his band of Norse warriors explore, pillage, and conquer new lands in all their brutal glory. Along the way, we’re introduced to all of Ragnar’s family and descendants, and the paths each of their lives take. Frustrated by the policies of Earl Haraldson, who only sends raiders to the east to Baltic states and Russia, Ragnar seeks to secure his legacy as a leader of men through epic battles and political alliances by forging west to the new world. On his journey, he must deal with betrayals, unexpected turns of fate, and the growing power of his enemies. His family and allies experience a mix of adventure and tragedy as they struggle to survive in the treacherous world of Dark Age Scandinavia . Vikings consists of six action-packed seasons chocked full of love, drama, war, brotherhood, community, and brutality and captures the gritty, savage reality of the Viking Age in a captivating and awe-inspiring manner, perfect for a binge-worthy medieval TV show . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GgxinPwAGc And, though it is good but does not live up to its predecessor, you might as well continue the fantasy and follow up with Vikings: Valhalla —it’s the sequel series to Vikings . Created by Jeb Stuart ( Die Hard, The Fugitive ), Vikings: Valhalla is set 100 years after Vikings events and chronicles the beginning of the end of the Viking Age. It explores the adventures of Leif Erikson, Freydis (daughter of Erik the Red), Norweigan King Harald Hardrada, and the Norman King William the Conquerer in an action-packed drama that grows on you as it works to present traditional Viking stories with a twist. You can find Vikings: Valhalla streaming on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi4YnwFT7Gk Every one of these series is a must-see worth making time to watch for the first time ever or to revisit for a whole new experience. With each viewing, you’ll fall deeper and deeper into their respective narratives and begin noticing varying degrees of beauty, art, and storytelling in places you didn’t see the first go-round. If you’re still looking for more historical fiction and fantasy series to binge after these, check out the following: The White Princess and The White Queen (Starz, Prime Video), The Serpent Queen (Starz), Merlin (Peacock, Prime Video, Apple TV), Marco Polo (Netflix), Kingdom (Netflix), Game of Thrones (HBO & Max), House of Dragons (HBO & Max), Outlander (Starz), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video), Reign (Prime Video), The Spanish Princess (Starz, Hulu), The Great (Hulu), Pillars of the Earth (Prime Video, Vudu, Roku), Medici (Netflix), The Borgias (Hulu, Disney+ ), and Black Sails (Starz). Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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The Jim Parker Songwriter Series is a monthly event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. < Back Off the Charts: Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series Bud Gambrell May 13, 2024 Share The Jim Parker Songwriter Series is a monthly event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Hello all! Welcome back to Off The Charts! The Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL, hosts a monthly music event called Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series . Jim Parker, a Huntsville favorite, hosts this exclusive event. May’s edition of the Songwriter Series saw the event moving from its usual location of the VBC Playhouse to Mars Music Hall, also located in the VBC. I saw this as a unique opportunity to introduce you, the reader, to this intimate listening room-type event and maybe a couple of songwriters you may not be familiar with. For those unfamiliar with Jim Parker , Jim came to the North Alabama area from Nashville, Tennessee, and has been a songwriter for over 50 years. Having co-written songs with many award-winning artists, Jim's journey is the heart of the Songwriter Series. He began the Series in 1985, showcasing hit songwriters from Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Canada, and other surrounding areas. My journey with Jim Parker began in 1985 while working at a local television station. Jim would often drop by for interviews to promote the Songwriter Series. Over the years, our paths have crossed numerous times, and I have even had the honor of photographing the series on two occasions. This personal connection has allowed me to understand the event and its significance better. Before this most recent May 10, 2024, showcase, I pulled Jim aside and got some insight into this entertaining event. Take a moment to read more below. OTC : Jim, tell me about the origins of the songwriter series. JP : Well, I came from Nashville. I moved to Nashville in 1975, played all the listening rooms there, and wrote songs with Jon Anderson and other fine songwriters. Then, after getting off the road with Dave and Sugar , I moved here because we were raising the family, and I wanted to get off the road. So, my wife got me into real estate in Nashville. I got my license in 1979. We started having babies, and she was out there selling real estate with the baby on her chest, and it wasn't working out too well. So, I just had to take over, thinking that was a trick. I think she tricked me. After being in Madison, AL, from 85 to 87, I was standing before my beautiful wife, weeping like a child because I was not fulfilled by what I was doing. It was a business. And it is emotional, but it's not that creative. I can write a creative contract, but that's not like writing a creative song. She said, well, take some time off. I took two months off and regurgitated everything that was built up, and I told her that I would start my songwriting career here in beautiful Alabama. Then I was playing at the Bluebird in Nashville, and it just happened that Steve Maples, who runs this complex, was there with his son-in-law, who was also a songwriter. And I mentioned I'm looking for a home in Madison, AL. He approached me and said you ought to come and check me out. Let's talk about bringing it to the Von Braun Center. It took me a few days to get around to it because every day you take off from real estate, you're behind two or three days. So, I caught up with him, and he said, bring it here. That was 19 years ago, and we're still doing it. And we're very pleased with what's happening. I have some of the most exceptional songwriters in the world and some of the best songs you could ever hear on the radio. They're just too good! Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Why do you do it? JP : Well, it's a genetic disorder, and it's terminal. Creativity is a weird thing. You do it because you cannot keep from doing it, and it's a constant conflict because you may be having a conversation, and somebody says something, and you want to write it down, so you have to excuse yourself. I had a furniture guy who was trying to sell me a sofa. I said, “Man, that's expensive. You wouldn't cheat me, would you?” He said “No, man, I'll cheat you right.” I say, “Excuse me a minute.” I had to go write that down. So that's kind of how it happens. And I do it because the only cure for this disease is more of it. I can't visualize my life without music. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What are you trying to accomplish? JP : I've already accomplished everything. I've recorded with an orchestra, I've got a song cut by Mark O'Connor, who's brilliant, and I have a bunch of cuts by Billy Droze. We're doing a country record for him now, and I can't tell you who's producing it, but it's a big producer. I've accomplished everything and written hundreds and hundreds of great songs, which've been cut by many great people. John Anderson cut Chicken Truck in 1980. I’ve been writing to him, and we wrote to him about two months ago. So, it's just a process. I must keep doing it. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Tell me about tonight. JP : We're here at the Mars Music Hall. I've got Brent Moyer, Tim Styles, and Bob Tobin. I met them down at the Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival. I've been doing that for about 15 years, and I just picked the guys I like to sit with who write good songs and tell good stories. In addition to chatting with Jim Parker, I was able to chat with one of the performers of the showase, Tim Styles , too. Check out our conversation below. OTC : Tell me a little bit about who Tim Styles is. TS : Well, I'm a singer-songwriter from New Mexico, but I've lived all over the country. The first time I went to Nashville, I was 14 years old, and so I've been running the roads ever since. I never did grow up. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What does something like this, a singer-songwriter series, mean to you? TS : It means to me that people want to listen. I've spent so much of my time fighting crowds at bars. They don't want to listen, which is OK too. I know everyone wants to have a good time. But when songwriting is really my passion and when people are willing to sit and listen to stories, I get to delve into that part of myself. That's nice. It's the other side of being just an entertainer. You can be a storyteller. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : So, you consider yourself a modern-day troubadour. For someone who doesn't know what that means, tell me what you consider a modern-day Troubadour. TS : I'm a performing songwriter, another way to say it. I don't just write songs and sing. I like to perform my original music—like a Kristofferson kind of thing, you know. I can also perform my own music and put my own spin on it. OTC : So, you mentioned Kris Kristofferson . I'm assuming he's an influence on you. What are some of your other influences? TS : All the great singer-songwriters like Townes Van Zandt , Guy Clark , and even rock guys like Warren Zevon have been a huge influence on me. Just all the music you pick up along the way, but I always find myself returning to the singer-songwriters. To make the night special for the songwriters, Jim had local artist Don Howard design a caricature of each performer. The caricature of future performers may be produced and sold at shows. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Jim, can you give me a sneak peek into future series? JP : Yeah, I'm doing a Trop rock show on August the 2nd, bringing in Bill Whyte , Darrell Clanton , and Brooke Graham . She's #4 on the Texas Rock Charts, so it's always great people. And in November, Billy Droze and Kentucky Blue will be here with me with his bluegrass band. He'll take the whole stage. OTC : Any other plans in the future for the songwriter series? JP : Sure, 2025, man! I'm working on it now. Yeah, we have dates. Y'all come and see us. You will not be disappointed, and it's a cheap date. Credit: Bud Gambrell If you enjoy the listening room-type experience where you hear the stories behind the songs, I highly recommend you stop by for any future Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series. Like Jim said, you will not be disappointed. Send me an email. Let me know what you think. Also, tell me about any performers you would like to see in future editions. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Jim Parker Music Brent Moyer : https://brent-moyer.com/ Tim Styles : https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tim-styles/267070949 Bob Tobin : www.bobtobinmusic.com To reach Bud: Email : the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com Bud's sites : bgambrellphotography.com Bud Gambrell Photography Bud Gambrell Photography is a locally owned and operated photography business in North Alabama. Call or email us today for an appointment. www.facebook.com Log in or sign up to view See posts, photos and more on Facebook. Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere < Back Barbie: Film Review C.G. Smith Aug 7, 2023 Share Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere Rating: 3.5 out of 5 duck lips of approval My wife and I don’t usually go out to see movies anymore, but she had been hearing about the Barbie movie from co-workers for a few days, so we bought tickets and went to the Broad Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana, to see it. The Saturday matinee was nearly full of adults of all ages, and a few families with young girls. The trailers rolled, and I finished my hot dog as a few latecomers filed into the last seats near the front of the theater. The movie began with a nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey for the intro sequence, and it was a grin-worthy moment for me. I was quickly pulled into the Kool-Aid as an oversized Margot Robbie ( Suicide Squad ), dressed as the original Barbie, towered above little girls playing with their ordinary dolls. Director Greta Gerwig ( Lady Bird ) showed right away that she was going to have fun with the film as little girls destroyed their baby dolls in homage to this new doll, Barbie. There were enjoyably wonderful supporting performances, and it was amusing to see some amazing actors having a good time with the roles they landed. Will Ferrell ( Old School ) as the Mattel CEO was silly, his presence perhaps a statement on how even a complete man-child can rise to the top of a company in a patriarchy, and Rhea Perlman ( Cheers ) as Barbie creator Ruth Handler was a high point for me. Michael Cera ( Superbad ) gave the discontinued Allan doll some life and a bit of comedic relief as the bony best friend of Barbie’s buff male counterparts, and Kate McKinnon ( Office Christmas Party ) was fabulous as Weird Barbie. Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie The plot centers on Barbie suddenly facing an existential crisis because of how someone in the real world is imagining her. We learn Weird Barbie is weird because she’s been played with too “hard,” and now Stereotypical Barbie’s perfect existence is suddenly threatened by flat feet, celluloid, and thoughts of impending death. Weird Barbie tells Stereotypical Barbie that to fix the situation, she must travel to the real world and find the person who is causing these changes in her. In the process, a stowaway Ken is introduced to the patriarchy, which he quickly adopts, albeit a bit clumsily, as he has always felt like he had no purpose without Barbie. I felt the whole Real World vs Barbie Land plot was an unexpected but overused way to tell the story. It was never really fleshed out as to how these two places could co-exist but nonetheless gave a way to merge the make-believe world with the reality of today. My favorite scene was when America Ferrera ( Superstore ) goes off about how impossible it is to be a woman in society in a monologue on the double standards of being a woman. This unlocks the answer the Barbies have been searching for to regain control of Barbie Land from the Kens, who have taken it over. Ryan Gosling ( La La Land ) does a great job as Ken, and the film doesn't make it a foregone conclusion that he and Barbie belong together, but rather that they should learn to know and love themselves without the confines of any pre-conceived gender roles or biases. Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken I will say that my wife, who was the catalyst for this outing, was not as impressed with the movie as I was. I find that often when something is talked about, and then built up in our minds, it's very hard to actually shine once it is experienced. Stephen King's The Stand (2020), for instance, has and probably never will live up to the movie I have created in my head. Overall, I felt Barbie was a fun, interesting movie and, although skewed towards adults, was not vulgar or too grown up for maturing children. Barbie seems to have a good time with the franchise while also projecting the power of finding and being yourself for Barbies and Kens alike. I doubt you'll not enjoy your time with this one if you go in with an open mind. Barbie also stars Issa Rae ( Insecure ), Kingsley Ben-Adir ( Secret Invasion ), John Cena ( Peacemaker ), and Simu Liu ( Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBk4NYhWNMM www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

A woman who knows what she wants < Back Lauren “Madame Onça” O’Leary: A Mind for Art, Business, and Entertainment Tim W. Jackson May 23, 2023 Share A woman who knows what she wants Her website is HardestWorkingWomanInShowBusiness.com , and that’s an apt description for Lauren “Madame Onça” O’Leary. She’s an artist, entertainer, and businesswoman—and under each category is an entire sublist. Originally from Gloucester, Massachusetts, the town from the hit 2000 movie The Perfect Storm , Onça’s life has been somewhat of a perfect storm of activities and interests while striving for some sort of work-life balance. She’s spent much of her adult life further south, namely in Asheville, North Carolina, and now in Richmond, Virginia, and has frequently worked in Europe. But while in Gloucester, she says the region was richly supplied with famous artists. “Walker Hancock, who made the giant angel that is in the Philadelphia train station, was one of the monument men,” Onça says. ”My mom grew up with his kid. I used to model in their studio. Leon Kroll was a famous painter. Weirdly, there was this very powerful arts community there in the older generation. So, I grew up just thinking it was normal to go in and out of people's art studios to see old people hard at work on art that was gonna end up in museums. There is a really good literary tradition there, too.” Onça went to a liberal arts school that deepened her interest in the arts and normalized that world for her. “As a rising eighth grader, there was a girl with short hair carrying a cello across the campus. It was normal. They weren't gonna get beat up, you know?” Her parents also played a major role in her development but from two very different perspectives. Her father was a musician. Her mother was a master sign painter and an outstanding self-trained artist. “I grew up with a lot of art in a very art-rich area,” Onça says. “Even though I had a working-class upbringing, there was a lot of art in the environment. So, it was natural to me to always express through art.” credit: Boo It was the very different work ethics of her parents, though, that Madame Onça still tried to reconcile. “My dad ended his life living in a car because he was like, ‘I don't wanna work hard,’” Onca says. “My life has been a continuous course correction between these two very artistic people—one of whom worked herself to death, basically, and the other one who just slipped away because he didn't want to engage in the rat race. And because of that, his voice was largely unheard. So, for me, it's always been a matter of trying to figure out how to embody the best of my mom's work ethic without becoming a servant to it.” When you have as many talents and interests as Onça does, keeping a work-life balance is a constant challenge. She has staged more than 40 weekend-long festivals over the course of her career. One of the most famous, the Asheville Burlesque and Sideshow Festival , also known as ABSFest, makes its return this Memorial Day weekend after a brief pandemic-related hiatus. She and husband Paolo Garbanzo (also a festival producer and one who will perform at ABSFest) have run a number of events in Europe, too, and have more on the schedule. credit: Parrish Photography Her foray into this eclectic career began in Asheville. “I never saw myself being a performer,” Onça says, “although I always had a big energy.” She started taking Capoeira (a Brazilian sport that combines dance as well as fighting elements) classes in Asheville. “Brazilian foot fighting is actually the thing that gave me my start,” she says with a laugh. “That's where my name comes from, Onça; it's actually Brazilian. And then in order to play Capoeira, in order to do Capoeira, you have to sing and train and fight and build your own musical instruments. It's so immersive that I feel like the time I spent doing Capoeira prepared me for everything else. And then I ran a folk-art studio in Asheville for many years, the Future Traditions Center for Folkloric Arts.” About the Center, Onça explains that it had different cultural artists and fine artists all under one roof. “It really gave me the opportunity to bloom in all directions,” she says. “I grew up in a musical and artsy household, but it never occurred to me that I could do it for a living. Just walking into the right class at the right time opened all the doors for me. I started taking belly dancing classes in Asheville above the co-op, and it changed my life. I needed something to do, and it set me on a path.” Onça works in other art forms, too. “I paint and sculpt and do print art,” she says. Years ago under her real name, Lauren O’Leary, she co-authored The World Spirit Tarot and illustrated it entirely with 79 original color block-prints. credit: Isaac Harrell “I mostly have written tarot-related articles and texts,” she explains, “and I was a touring belly dancer, so I've written lots of articles in that industry. I've always pretty much just written in my fields, but abundantly.” Onça, also a lover of witchy things and most everything non-mainstream, certainly stays busy but she has learned some key tips for survival over the years. “If I was trying to do all of the things every day, there wouldn't be enough time in a day to practice singing, practice piano, practice ukulele, organize an event, teach a tarot class, make a piece of art, organize a tour,” she says. “I couldn't put all of that in a day and still take care of my family.” She likens her work schedule to the agricultural year. “It’s a seasonal thing,” she says. “I've moved out of the winter season when you're in more of an introspective space anyway. That's when I get to turn inward: make music, practice instruments, do more visual art. Now we're coming to the season where I'm gonna be out and about doing events with people, travel, all that stuff. There's a rhythm to the agricultural year. You can't say, ‘Today I want to harvest because there's nothing to harvest in January. And that's how it is for me, with the creative process, you just have to understand there are times when you're creating, there are times when you're workshopping things and it's messy. There are times when you're polishing things so that other people can enjoy them. There are times when, frankly, 50% of being a professional creative is office work.” Her system obviously has been successful. She has an ability to create a magical atmosphere on stage and connect with her audience in a powerful and mesmerizing way but she's also a teacher and mentor to many young performers, helping them hone their skills and develop their own unique style. She's known for her generosity and kindness, always willing to lend an ear or offer advice to those in need. “I think one of the big challenges, particularly for women, is that if you don't grow up in the business background, then the challenge is you come into the arts filled with love and passion for art but no idea how to keep art alive, honest, and collaborative,” Onça explains. “I see women coming into business, self-made women, struggle a lot with ‘This was fun, so why does it now feel competitive? Why is there drama?’ I feel like a lot of that drama comes up because you come to something with love and passion and then are surprised if you don't have an infrastructure of how budgets work and how spreadsheets work and how contracts work. If I had a piece of advice for somebody, I would say if you're artistically inclined, study business so that you can make a living as an artist.” Another key to success, she says, is finding your tribe and getting the proper support. “I'm very lucky,” she adds. “I feel very well supported. They may not even be artistic in the same way that you are, but just finding other people in your life who understand what it is to be a maker or a doer or whatever your thing is. Are you a person who just really wants to have goats or you're a person who really just wants to hike? Are you a person who wants to go to music festivals? Whatever your thing is, finding other people who can understand the merit of making some space in your life for your passion, I feel like, is a huge part of mental health.” As part of that nod toward mental health, Onça warns about the cult of busyness that glorifies the hustle. “The hustle is not the point,” Onça says. “Being busy isn't the point. Making the art, relationships, or life that you want is the point. I had a therapist once say, ‘You have permission to not always do the hardest thing.’ Treat yourself as kindly as you would anyone else who came to you for advice.” Onça's impact on the burlesque world can't be overstated. Her impact in so many areas and on so many people cannot be measured. Through it all, she's remained true to her vision and her art, and her influence can be seen in the work of countless performers around the world. credit: Isaac Harrell Madame Onça is a true artist who has dedicated her life to her many talents and to sharing those talents with others. Long into the future, she’ll be known as a trailblazer, a mentor, and a friend to many. For more on Madame Onça, visit https://HardestWorkingWomanInShowbusiness.com . Questions or comments? Are you an artist looking for some feature love? Hit us up at the_keeleybrooks@mixedaltmag.com . Tim Jackson is a seasoned journalist and author with a penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister. He lives in Tuscumbia, Ala., with his artist wife and their remote-chewing dog, Maple. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Ryan S. Leavitt is an accomplished author overflowing with creativity. < Back The Creative Life of Ryan S Leavitt Nicole Brice Aug 4, 2025 Share Ryan S. Leavitt is an accomplished author overflowing with creativity. Ryan S. Leavitt is an accomplished author known for his work in fiction , thrillers , and science fiction . He is also a musician who has appeared on a reality sitcom . His bands, Allision and The Every Year , remain active and continue to produce new music. So, how did we come to know about him? We receive numerous submissions daily, but occasionally, a multi-talented individual crosses our path with a remarkable story that deserves more than just a simple review of their work. Ryan S. Leavitt is a perfect example of this. At just 34 years old , Ryan has achieved so much and continues to thrive. While thrillers and science fiction are the primary subjects of his books, he presents them with a distinctive flair. Originally from Massachusetts , Ryan's creativity and curiosity led him to New Orleans , where he has resided for the past ten years . His humor and wit are charming, and his true character shines through in all he does. He is brilliant, philosophical, and overflowing with creativity. Read on to learn more about him. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : It says in your bio on your website that you appeared on the reality sitcom, Quiet Desperation . What was that about? Tell us more. Ryan : That goes way back. That was in a time when YouTube was in a semi-embryonic state. I grew up in Massachusetts, and I used to listen to the local rock radio. One day, I just heard something I had never heard before, when this shock jock came on and was like, ‘I’m gonna spin my song today’, and he played this bizarre satirical song called ‘ I Put a Baby in You ’. (laughter) Ryan : I started following him from that point on, and he was doing a bunch of weird YouTube videos, just making weird outsider music, and he started making what was kind of like The Office , except it was with Boston creative types. MaM : That’s awesome! Ryan : So, it was a bunch of stand-up comedians and musicians in the area, and they coalesced with the storylines and stuff like that. I just ended up getting in touch with them after I had turned 18 and was able to be on for an episode. I did this Fight Club parody. Instead of soap and lye, it was like Gatorade and fruit punch or something, and the suffering was being creative and never making any money. (laughter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsC5rDQnSOU Quiet Desperation via YouTube MaM : Dude, that’s the struggle for all of us. Ryan : Yeah. It was cool. We did a bunch of stuff, and he got it on local access TV for a while, too, so this little thing that started on YouTube ended up being on television briefly. MaM : You mentioned The Office, and there’s this other show, if you haven’t seen it, and it’s based loosely on The Office, but it’s called PBC . It’s about accountants, though. It’s an office show about accountants, and you can only watch it on YouTube. It is so freakin hilarious. If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out. Ok, back to the interview. (laughter) MaM : You mentioned you grew up in Massachusetts, so how did you end up here in Louisiana? Ryan : I had this creativity in me flourishing because of the music scene in Boston . I used to go up to Boston often, but there was usually so much traffic. It was such a big scene—a big city. There was an advantage to all of that, though, because the music there was always good. One thing I didn’t like was how massive and inaccessible everything was, but another thing I didn’t like was how cold it was up there. I’m not a big person, and the cold would always get me. I was looking for different places where the cold would not be a factor, and I happened to have visited New Orleans . I perceived it as this mecca for creative types, but not just now in the time we’re living, but just over the decades … the 1920s, 1930s, and so on … it was sort of the edge of the world, and there they were honing and working on their arts, so that appealed to me. I’ve lived here for the past ten years, and it’s worked out well for me. The first couple of years here felt like a crash course, but after that, everything I wanted to do started to fall into place. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : You’re in two bands – Allision and The Every Year . Tell us a little more about that. Ryan : Allision is just original alt rock , sort of just a bunch of different influences that I liked growing up, like 90s alt rock and the whole MySpace era and things of the 90s . We try to make each song sound different every time. Just a pastiche of different eras, or as an homage to a particular band we liked a whole lot. The Every Year is a little more loosey-goosey, and it encompasses, like, well, when I do Allision , I want it to be very kick you in the teeth, a lot of frenetic high-energy for gigs, but then I have more acoustic singer-songwriter stuff. It’s kind of what doesn’t go into one bucket goes into the other—that kind of thing. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : How many books have you published total, and what made you want to become an author? Tell us a little more about Swiftopia , too. That’s your newest book, correct? Ryan : I’ve got about ten or so books published between the Kindle E-book format and paperback. Swiftopia is the first audiobook , and it’s kind of old. I first published it in 2016 , but the audiobook is new. The reading of it was done this year, and what had happened with that one was that I had these ten books, and then I wrote that one as sort of a big joke, and then it was the one that ended up selling the most. Because of that, I could justify getting an audiobook produced because I had sold so many copies. That one is about Taylor Swift creating an album so hypnotic that the entire world turns into zombies. It’s a book about how pop music today is sort of like a zombie apocalypse. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Dude, it is!!! Ryan : You can’t escape it, and then if you get exposed to a song too many times, it’s like, ‘I don’t like this song, but now I can’t get it out of my head.’ You walk around like that – like a zombie. MaM : Do you have a favorite book you’ve written, and if so, which one? Ryan : I would say my sci-fi series is my biggest project and has taken up the most time. I’ve been working on a third project, which explores what would happen if all the wealthy, elite, and billionaire types got their way and left the planet. However, the story doesn’t follow them. It follows their children, who don’t have any context on how megalomaniacal these billionaire people are, so they go through the courses and learn how divorced they are from actual humanity. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What role do you take in your bands, and are you currently working on anything new? Ryan : I’m the line leader in everything. MaM : Are you the one-man band? (laughter) Ryan : Yeah, I have my bassist and drummer, and then I have a friend who helps me out. She does lovely lady vocals singing, and stuff like that, but for Allision , we have a split EP that we’re doing with this other band, Collections , which we found a savory and intriguing prospect because we don’t see a lot of people, at least in the New Orleans music scene that are collaborating on that level. It’s going to be that we have two songs on it, and then they have two songs on it, and then we kind of each have contributed parts to each of the songs. His guitarist came and played guitar for one of our songs, and vice versa. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : With you being a New Orleans musician, what are some of your favorite venues down there to play? Ryan : I think Siberia is wonderful. Siberia is located on this St. Claude stretch where a lot of people walk by – tourists and stuff. The Fred Hampton Free Store is particularly intriguing because it’s a desecrated former Family Dollar store with no electricity, yet they host various events there. We’ve played there a couple of times. There’s no air conditioning, but it’s so DIY and lively. I remember the last time we played there; it was a diverse crowd in a good way. MaM : I saw you have some books written under a pen name, and I wanted to know why you chose to do that. Ryan : I started as Ryan Starbloak for a couple of the E-books I published. I was coming at it from an angle of satire, and after I had done four or five books that were humor-heavy, I felt limited. I wanted to be a genuine storyteller, so I wrote a darker psychological thriller. Then, I moved on to science fiction. When I went to record Swiftopia for the audiobook, I wrapped everything up. There are a couple of things from the satire days that I’ve been just trying to unfold into one name. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What inspires you to create either in music or writing? Ryan : You know, at first, when I got the idea to do all of this stuff, and when I was a teenager, I didn’t have quite the same skill level I do now, but I wanted to produce and things like that. It was a concept from Friedrich Nietzsche , where he said art is the conversion of suffering into beauty . I probably labored under this illusion for what seemed like eight years, and I knew I had to do this because it makes me feel better after something bad has happened. I turn this depressive muck into something that I can utilize. That kind of oppressive atmosphere didn’t work and created emotional isolation, so now I’m just motivated by the premise of being myself for a living. Being able to transmit and communicate ideas. Make people snicker, smile, or think. The depression stuff has gone away, but it was interesting to think it all worked under that model for a long time, and then one day it didn’t, and I was just a lot happier. (laughter) Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Back to the music - What band or musician would you say has most influenced you with your music? Ryan : I’d have to go back to that guy with whom I did the YouTube show . His music career – I wouldn’t call it illustrious, but it was very productive. He did a lot of comedy albums in the beginning. He did thirteen comedy albums , and then the fourteenth one, it was more sincere and vulnerable, and he did an Americana sort of Johnny Cash thing. His name is Rob Potylo , and he remains active in the comedy scene. He’s been in a couple of TV shows, and I love how, at first, he was this very satirical Boston man, and then he shed that off and did something different. When that was over, he did a Bob Dylan thing, and everything since then has been closer and closer to his authentic self. He's been my biggest inspiration. When we did that Fight Club parody, it felt like an initiation into a creative life. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : If you could share the stage with anyone in the future musically, who would it be and why? Ryan : This one feels implausible on a couple of different levels, but this band from Spain called Dover , which had been active in the late 90s . They came out right after Kurt Cobain had passed, and they were the biggest thing in Spain during that time. They disbanded in like 2015 , I believe. I would want to play with them more than anyone else. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Professionally, where would you like to see yourself in the next five years? Ryan : I’m hoping to do the full-time author thing, and I’m working on this sci-fi series, and book three will be the closing of this trilogy cycle, which will open up a lot of marketing opportunities for me. I don’t aspire to much more beyond that, other than being able to be myself for a living. To learn more about Ryan S. Leavitt: Website: Home | Ryan S. Leavitt *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

From the bayous of Louisiana to the amygdala and the amplifier – Joseph LeDoux rocks them all. < Back Neurons and Notes: The Musical Mind of Joseph LeDoux Nicole Brice Oct 2, 2025 Share From the bayous of Louisiana to the amygdala and the amplifier – Joseph LeDoux rocks them all. Joseph LeDoux is Professor Emeritus at New York University . He is also the author of the best-selling book “ The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life ”, as well as numerous other influential writings. With decades of research experience, LeDoux is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on the mind and brain. Credit: Richard Barone In addition to his academic contributions, LeDoux is a prolific musician and recording artist. He has collaborated with artists such as Rosanne Cash and performed with his band, The Amygdaloids , alongside musicians like Rufus Wainwright , Lenny Kaye , and Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate . He has also written scores for programs and documentaries. What has this man not done? Although he is renowned worldwide as a neuroscientist, LeDoux is fundamentally a gifted musician hailing from Eunice, Louisiana . He is a humble, kind-spirited individual who radiates positivity, and we encourage you to check out his music. The Amygdaloids , his band, is somewhat reminiscent of Devo due to their intelligent subject matter and the fact that the band is comprised of scientists. Their songs are quirky, thoughtful, unique, and extraordinary . The band’s music has been playfully described as "heavy mental”, and coincidentally, that is the name of their first album, which features a blend of classic and experimental sounds, with tracks that evoke the sound of Tom Petty meets Elvis Costello . The standout guitar work, characterized by clean tones, is only one profound layer to The Amygdaloids' music . It can be mellow yet soulful , but then completely take a turn into something more rockin'. With lyrics that delve into the complexities of the mind, you find yourself thinking as well as listening. Credit: Joseph LeDoux The Amygdaloids’ second album, Theory of My Mind , leans toward a more upbeat and rock-oriented sound, with each song distinctly unique. The compositions are intricate, showcasing a tight-knit group of musicians. If I could create a genre for this band’s music, I would have to title it Brain Rock . One standout track for me on The Amygdaloids’ second album is ‘ Brainstorm ’, which begins with a beautifully fuzzy guitar that howls gently , highlighting the talent of a truly gifted guitarist. In addition to two full-length albums, the band has also released a few EPs along the way, too. So, how did I come to learn about Joseph LeDoux ? My journey into the realm of Joseph began with a delightful twist of fate, sparked by my friendship with fellow musician Paul Sanchez when he introduced us. After that introduction, I had the incredible opportunity to engage in an enjoyable conversation with Joseph, delving into the nuances of his music and more. We left no stone unturned. Read on below. MaM : You were born and raised in Eunice, Louisiana, but now reside in New York. How much do you miss things down here? When you come to visit, do you ever think you’ll stick around this time? What drew you to New York initially? JL : Well, I grew up in Eunice , and the year that I graduated from high school, a junior college version of LSU opened up in Eunice , and my parents wanted me to stay and go to the junior college because it would be cheaper, even though LSU wasn’t that much. I told them “No” and that I wanted to go to LSU , and so we went back and forth, and they finally said, “Well, if you promise to be a banker after studying business, then we’ll allow it. We’ll do it.” I attended LSU for four years, studying Business Administration , and subsequently earned a master's degree in marketing. During this process, I also took several psychology courses. It was the late 1960s to early 1970s, and it wasn’t very cool to be in Marketing. MaM : (laughter) Right? JL : So, I’m looking for something else to do, and I fell in love with Psychology . I took a course called Learning and Motivation , expecting it to be relevant – I was working on consumer protection for my thesis, and it turned out the class was taught by a researcher studying rat brains and memory at LSU . He was the professor, and that was his class. I had no idea you could study the brain, let alone rat brains. I worked in his lab for a little while, and I mainly observed what was going on. I didn’t really know how to do anything. I decided, though, that I wanted that to be my career. Study the brain. He said to me that I didn’t have a chance and asked how I was going to get into graduate school with no qualifications. (laughter) I said, “Well, I’m gonna give it a shot.” So, I wrote twelve or so applications, and Stony Brook University , located on Long Island in New York, accepted me because there was someone there who knew the professor who wrote the letter on my behalf, and thus I was given a chance. Four years later, I had a PhD in consciousness and was studying patients with epilepsy, and a book that had come out with my thesis work, so it was like I was on speed dial or something. (laughter) Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : So, you had no choice but to move up there? Destiny decided it for you. JL : I could have left and come back, but I really always had a fascination with New York City because of the Yankees . I was a big Yankees fan as a kid. I also loved all the noir movies I watched as a kid … 50s black-and-white films with murder and all kinds of things happening in New York . I just had a feeling I was meant to live there, and I ended up leaving Stony Brook and moving to Manhattan, where I worked at Cornell Medical School for over ten years. I then moved to New York University , where I have been ever since, and I have just retired, by the way. MaM : That’s amazing. What a life. What was it like growing up in Eunice in those days? With our magazine, we’ve done a few photo shoots out there just because of the architecture and small-town vibe. Did it still have that country-where-everybody-knows-everyone type of feel? JL : Exactly. It was a perfect place to grow up, and I really enjoyed it. Just this past weekend, I was in New Orleans for a conference and some other work, but I also arranged a lecture and performance for the people of Eunice . It was advertised in the Eunice news – a big picture of me playing my guitar on stage. We had a good audience – approximately 45 to 50 people attended. Many of them I went to school with and hadn’t seen in a long time. I just lost touch with the whole community, and so I decided if not now, then when. It was the most pleasant and loving audience I have ever spoken to or played music for. It was quite amazing. They loved it so much that they want it to become an annual event. I was deeply touched and felt like I was truly back in the small community where I grew up. Even though I don’t live there, I now feel I have a stronger connection to it than I thought I did. Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : That’s amazing. The vibe and sense of community are what I love so much. I love that town. I saw that you were a DJ in high school. I was a DJ in college. Wasn’t that the best experience being a DJ? JL : It was. The highlight of my DJ’ing occurred when the radio station would bring in acts to play in town at the National Guard armory. Every Saturday night, there’d be an event. They’d book Little Bob and The Lollipops all the time. They were the go-to band. I think Little Bob is still around, but one of the things I did was host Percy Sledge . When it was time for him to go out, he pulled a flask of whiskey out of his back pocket and gave it to me for a swig. That was a highlight of my life, man. Drinking with Percy Sledge. MaM : What a story. I love your music, and nothing is cooler than the fact that your band is a bunch of scientists. What is it about music that makes you passionate and makes you want to continue to pursue it, especially today? JL : So, I actually put music down when I started becoming a scientist and got married. There just wasn’t enough time for everything. In 2005 , our son died from a heroin overdose, and so that’s what brought me back to music because music is a great healer, and I started hanging out with a biologist at NYU , and we were playing songs that had some science-based themes. I then thought I could write a few songs, so we did, and we got a gig in Brooklyn . The newspaper wrote a comment about ‘heavy mental’ and used that to describe our music, so that became the title of our first album and the genre. I think we’re the only band with that particular genre, and if there’s ever an award at the Grammys in that category, we definitely got it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBW6ZfDAP6E The Amygdaloids first show in Brooklyn, New York 2006 MaM : That would actually be a clever name for a band. When you do sit down to write, what is the process like for coming up with a song? JL : I guess there are two ways you can do it. Pick up a guitar, start strumming, and hope something comes out. The other way is to start with an idea or theme. The thing with having a genre-specific catalog of music is that a lot of what I did was start with a particular theme about the mind. Anything you could think of with the mind. Many of our songs are love songs about mind, brain, and mental disorders, but you could pretty much say any song is about mind, brain, and mental disorders. It’s front and center to what we do. MaM : Now, I know we all listen to different types of music, and we all enjoy the catalogs of our favorite musicians, but do you have a favorite song of all time that you love? Or a favorite musician? JL : I think for me, it would be ‘ She Loves You ’ by The Beatles. MaM : Ok, that’s a great one. That’s a timeless song. JL : I remember when I first heard The Beatles , I was young and had a transistor radio and was taking a bath listening to the music. Just soaking it all in. I must have been 15-16 years old at the time, but on comes this song ‘ I Wanna Hold Your Hand ’, and nothing sounded like it before. That was something different. I think The Beatles are just amazing. I’m writing a memoir right now, and the title of it is ‘Just Like Starting Over’. John Lennon and Yoko felt that every time they were together, it was just like starting over. My memoir is about all of the ways I have started over in my life. Eunice to Baton Rouge to Stony Brook to science. Lots of starting over. As a young kid, I was more interested in Paul than John , but over time, I developed an attachment to John and his sincerity. He had a tough life, and he really turned it all into wonderful music. I mean, Paul did, too, but there was something edgy about John that I came to love. Also in this book, I sort of used the Billboard Top 100 for every year of my life, starting with when I was five years old, to trigger memories from that time. If I wanted to try to drag up memories from when I was ten, I would pull up the songs that really lit the lightbulb in my head, and just by playing those songs, it would trigger more memories. It was a good strategy. Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : So, when is this memoir coming out? I'll be sure to check it out. JL : It’s at the publisher now, so it’ll take at least a year to come out. MaM : Your last music release was in 2017, correct? Any new music coming? JL : I guess that was the last one because everything went digital. I make music at home, creating albums, but what I have been doing since 2017 is collecting songs with two themes. One is songs of love, and the other is songs of life. I envision this as a vinyl A-side with songs of love and a B-side with songs of life. Credit: Noah Hutton MaM : I love that. How do you rate today’s music, and are there any up-and-coming musicians you like currently? JL : I’m not too hip on really present music. I don’t resonate with it as much as the old stuff I like. I am definitely stuck on a bunch of 60s artists, but bands that I like are really not current. Son Volt is one, and I like a lot of Americana country rock. I love Wilco . He apparently has just released a three-record album. It’s all acoustic and mellow. Just very mild. It’s nice. MaM : I love singer-songwriter material. I love the vibe. JL: I’ve been writing this thing, and I don’t know what it’s going to be on, but it goes like this: "I grew up in French Louisiana, in the area known as Acadiana, where it’s hot and humid most of the year; you fix that up with boudin and beer. Penguin nuns made me a pet. First communion came, I began to sweat. Watching the father, son, and the ghost, I choked on the host, and that made me toast. I had a hankering for the music called pop. When The Beatles came their pop was rock with two guitars, bass, and the drums. We had our own rockin fun …” and on and on. (laughter) MaM : I love that!!! JL : It’s going to be a long Bob Dylan-type rant. MaM : That’s what is missing in music. We really don’t have too many Bob Dylan types these days, or if we do, they aren’t in the mainstream with poetic lyrics like that. They’re more obscure. For listeners who are discovering your music for the first time, how would you describe it, and what do you hope they’ll take away from it? JL : Well, they are mostly love songs about the mind and the brain, and one in particular, ‘ Map of Your Mind ’, everyone seems to like. They’re songs about connection. Take our conversation for example, I have to get into your mind, and you have to get into mine. So, the song is about the relationship between a man and woman, my wife and I in particular, and how you have to float into the other person’s mind because sometimes, if you’re having an argument, you have to understand the other person’s perspective. Still, sometimes the hormones and the argument override that and you have to come back to it the next day and apologize. It’s more about the good part of love. Sailing deep inside and trying to find the heat of the person’s heart, keeping yourself warm. Credit: Alexi Gambis MaM : If within the next five years you could accomplish anything musically, what would it be? JL : I’m good friends with Rosanne Cash , and she has sung back-up vocals on one of my albums, and she and her husband are an amazing power couple. If I could do something with them, that would be amazing. Neil Young , too. I have a house in upstate New York , and it’s ten minutes away from the original site of the Woodstock festival. They created a big outdoor venue there, and I just saw Neil there recently. Great show. Dylan plays there, too, sometimes. Bob or Neil . Either of those. As Joseph LeDoux continues his journey, one thing is certain: we can expect more music in the future. In the meantime, be sure to check out his other releases with his band, The Amygdaloids and stay tuned for his memoir dropping in 2026 . To learn more about Joseph LeDoux and The Amygdaloids: Website: Joseph E. Ledoux Band Website: The Band – The Amygdaloids | Neuroscience meets Rock & Roll YouTube: The Amygdaloids Channel - YouTube Spotify: The Amygdaloids | Spotify Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-amygdaloids/265644607 *Cover photo credit: Richard Barone, Tape Op Tape Op - Music Production Magazine, Recording, Audio, Technology www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Drop us a line at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Creation, Passion, and Collaboration are forming a New Era in Louisiana Music < Back Bayou Harmony: The Rise of Louisiana’s Collaborative Alternative Music Scene Nick Cline May 31, 2025 Share Creation, Passion, and Collaboration are forming a New Era in Louisiana Music Let’s face it, the music scene in general has been very strange and bizarre for quite a while, and although I wasn’t even born yet, the '90s truly are the period of music I most identify with. Alternative music in the ‘90s was so raw, artistic, and full of creativity. You had average-looking folks up there performing, and it wasn’t polished at all. It was authentic and real. The alternative music scene in Louisiana these days exemplifies perseverance in the face of judgment, it truly does. When I first started Phantum Sun , I found there was no true alternative music scene for the type of music I wanted to play, so I set out on a quest of sorts to try and build the scene I wanted. Think like a Monty Python quest, but no one has lost a leg or arm yet. Building a genre and its accompanying community is never an easy task, but despite the hardships and challenges, Louisiana is experiencing a surge of artistic creation currently, and I am happy to be a part of it. It’s starting to feel like a family. Recently, the alternative scene here in Louisiana reached a pivotal moment. The artists have all collectively decided they are ready to make a significant impact both in Louisiana and nationwide. Bands are forming a community that pours every ounce of passion and creativity into their work, and the community is evident both on social media and at local shows. The rules set by traditional norms no longer confine this emerging community. Instead, they are forging their own path—one that is filled with possibilities, inclusivity, and opportunities for progress, and it’s awesome. The recognition of this new community I’m referencing began with the ideas established at Eclipse Fest 2025 . Eclipse Fest is a festival I started last year, and this year, the camaraderie and community came together in an even bigger way. The line-up was killer with bands that included Phantum Sun , HolleeStar , Pink Tooth/JAYD3D! , Jean Claude Seagal , Grey Areas , Kris Russ , Double Knockout , Goodbye Academy , She Might Be a Beast , WE ARE THE VIRUS , and Voice of the Enemy . Many of the bands mentioned above are dedicated to creating a new era of Louisiana music, just as I am. Every day, they lay the groundwork for events and collaborations, encouraging more bands to join this mission. I see them all working together, and this collective is expanding with each passing moment. As announcements are made, the collaborations between these groups grow stronger, with each band carving out its own identity while embracing a wide range of genres. This stands in stark contrast to the existing scene I walked into, which was characterized by gatekeeping and ego clashes, which are now behind us, because we stand for unity through music and only want to uplift others. We are on the verge of a new era defined by inclusion, passion, and artistic expression with music, I believe. Things have been stale for far too long. The alternative scene here, which has never been a staple of the state, has recently ignited into a wildfire that is slowly spreading across Louisiana , and we need to embrace that and build it. The state of mind in alternative music has always been unpredictable yet beautiful, welcoming anyone willing to collaborate and accept good people, regardless of their genre. This community we are building truly makes me proud. The electric energy, work ethic, and creativity of this burgeoning scene are genuinely remarkable. Louisiana—and indeed the entire country—may not be prepared for this powerful wave of artistic expression, but I know that we are all ready to take it to the next level by bridging the gap through various other successful scenes, such as the one in Asbury Park, New Jersey , which is where I plan to move soon . As the days continue to go by, let’s return to our roots of just good music, no matter the genre. Life is too short. Listen to good music. Thank you for reading my thoughts. -Nick- *cover photo by Elise Hanks Photography by Elise Marie www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The power of authentic expression < Back Women Who Rock: Wanda Wesolowski Tim W. Jackson Aug 7, 2023 Share The power of authentic expression Wanda Wesolowski doesn’t particularly sound like a rock star name. The bespectacled, coveralls-wearing, unadorned young woman, still in her 20s, doesn’t necessarily look like a rock star, either. But the North Alabama southern pop rock singer/songwriter/musician is becoming well-known as a talented force in the area’s rich music scene, leading Wanda Band to release its second full-length album, “Only Feeling” , on August 11. As that album prepares to drop, Wanda shared a bit about her success, her sobriety, and her sexuality in a beautifully unassuming and authentic way. Wanda grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, with supportive and musically gifted parents. She explains that her father, Chuck, plays guitar and bass while her stepmother, Jill, is a classical pianist. “We had a music room when I was a kid,” she says. “Guitars on the walls and a drum set and a grand piano. So, I just kind of grew up around that.” She started playing drums and took drum lessons at age 10. “I played snare in marching band and vibraphone, xylophone—all the phones,” she says. Wanda started playing the ukulele and then playing guitar and singing. By the time she was 14, she was gigging every week. Credit: Malachi Byrd “My dad would take me to my gigs, and he would stay the whole time and walk around and listen and kind of let me know what people were saying and give me tips and pointers.” She says that while her parents have always been very invested in what she does, it’s somewhat of a blessing and a curse, “because on the one hand, they're like, ‘Hey, what are you doing today for your music career to happen?’ I'm like, sometimes I'm doing nothing and that's okay,” she says with a laugh. Early on, Wanda was performing covers and even jingles because they were quicker to learn. Eventually she started going to an open mic night in Huntsville that required acts to play originals because the venue didn’t pay its PRO (performing rights organizations) fees. “That was really how I became a songwriter,” she says, “because I wanted to play and I was like, ‘I guess I have to write my own songs if I want to play at this open mic night.’” That was The Foyer, which, as Wanda remembers, “was kind of a golden age in Huntsville that a lot of people still talk about, ‘Remember The Foyer days?’ It was a coffee shop open until two in the morning and was a great hangout for musicians and college students.” In fact, it was at an open mic event in Huntsville where she first met its host, Andrew Sharpe. Wanda explains, “He said, ‘Hey, you're really good. You need a band. I wanna be in your band.’ And then I went in the next week, and he was like, ‘Hey, I got a band together for you. We rehearse on Monday.’ So, I was like, ‘All right, cool.’” And that’s how the Wanda Band was born. A few folks came and went but ultimately the band became a trio with Wanda on guitar and vocals, Andrew on bass, and Nick Recio (Black Jacket Symphony, the Artisnals, and Great Peacock) on drums. Credit: Andrea Belk “We have a lot of laughs and make fun music and it's good,” she says. After its initial album, “ One-Hit” , which was released in late 2020, Wanda Band signed this year with Single Lock Records out of Florence, Alabama, and has released a series of singles leading up to its release of the new album “Only Feeling.” Image Provided by Artist, Album Artwork by Gaby Wolodarski One of those singles, “Reggae Song”, was released in June as part of Pride Month. I want a woman to touch my thighs Who loves to sing and only smokes to get high I want a woman to scream my name She could be anybody, she just has to be gay In this song, Wanda is more explicit about her sexuality, although she says, “I guess a lot of my songs are about queer heartache and that experience and some of my frustrations with living down in the South and being a queer person. I think it's important for me as a woman, a queer artist, to be out and to show that there can be queer joy, there can be queer heartache, and just kind of giving a voice to those who feel the same way and maybe have experienced the same things.” She goes on to say with a laugh, “I definitely think that whether anybody wants it to be or not, all Wanda Band shows are a pride event .” Wanda says she’s been pleased with the reception of “Reggae Song” and the three other singles that have been released ahead of the full album. “I like the idea of giving everybody a little taste pretty relentlessly, like once a month, of our music,” she says. “And then we'll just give them all 12 (songs) for the full release and that will be fun. I'm really excited for everyone to hear the whole thing as a cohesive album.” As for the album, it was recorded with producer and musician Jay Burgess (The Pollies) at his studio in Greenhill, Alabama, which also happens to be the hometown of Jason Isbell . “Once it was done,” Wanda says, “Jay showed it to Ben (Tanner of Single Lock Records in nearby Florence) and Jay asked if Ben could put some stuff on it. So once Ben put all his keys on it, he was like, ‘I really want to pitch this to Single Lock and see if they want to put it out.’ So, they came to us and that was really special to me because it meant that they actually wanted to be involved with it. Using their resources has been extremely helpful and we're really thankful for their support in that way.” It probably doesn’t hurt that Wanda was a student of John Paul White ’s in the music department at the University of North Alabama. White, a noted singer/songwriter in his own right, is a co-owner along with Tanner and others of Single Lock Records. Wanda’s Shoals-area connections paid off in landing her a spot in the 2022 version of ShoalsFest, a musical weekend event brought to the area by Jason Isbell and his team. That was a dream come true,” Wanda says. “When I first moved to Florence, I worked ShoalsFest. I tore down the stage. I stood up on that stage and looked out and I was just like, ‘Now imagine yourself being here next year.’ So just being connected in the Shoals really has helped our career skyrocket in a way that it wouldn't have been able to just sitting in Huntsville.” In addition to the album release, another important date is looming for Wanda. She’s closing in on five years of sobriety. “I just was like ‘I guess if I'm an artist, I need to be troubled,’” she says about her early days of drinking. “As soon as I got out of high school, I just started drinking and smoking and doing a bunch of things I shouldn't be doing because I thought, ‘Oh, this is what it means to be young. This is what it means to be a brooding artist.’ And I took it a little too far and realized after about four years of regular heavy drinking that it wasn't helping me. It was kind of making me hate myself for not pursuing my dreams in the real meaningful way that I wanted to because I was so concerned with drinking and partying and being an artist in that way—and not really focusing on my art.” Credit: Tim W. Jackson She realized, “Some people can casually have a drink or two. I was not one of those people. It was like, as soon as I have a drink I'm blacking out. It was not good and not healthy. So, I finally made that decision (to choose sobriety) and started The Wanda Band like six months later and just really poured myself into my art and my music. In a way, maybe I traded one addiction for another— just being addicted to working on the band. But it was a healthy outlet for me, and it helped me pass the time and gave me a creative outlet that I didn't have when I was drinking all the time.” The focus on music has definitely paid off. The band has gotten more notoriety, and not just because of what has become their trademark coveralls. “I just got a pair of coveralls one day and thought, ‘Hey, I look pretty good.’ And then the boys were like, ‘I wanna wear some coveralls.’ So, our first album release show we got matching coveralls for the event, and we never looked back. We were just like, ‘I guess we're a coveralls band.’ “It's so funny,” she continues. “With the coveralls, I don't have to think about (what to wear). I'm just like, what color do I want to wear today? Sometimes I forget to tell the boys what color to wear and they'll show up to the gig with all of their coveralls in the back of their truck. I like that they're into it. They both work in construction, so it kind of just goes with their aesthetic.” Catch the “coveralls band” in a handful of album release shows in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, and give the album a listen on your streaming service of choice. And keep your eye on this rising star who stands as a testament to the profound impact of music when it emerges from the heart and soul of a genuine artist and storyteller. Wanda’s dedication to her craft and ability to connect with audiences will ensure her indelible mark on the world of music, reminding us all of the power of authentic expression. For more on Wanda Wesolowski and Wanda Band, visit her below at any of the following links: www.TheWandaBand.com Instagram @TheWandaBand Facebook @TheWandaBand YouTube @WandaBand Spotify @TheWandaBand *Cover photo by Andrea Belk Tim Jackson is a seasoned journalist and author with a penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister. He lives in Tuscumbia, Alabama, with his artist wife and their remote-chewing dog, Maple. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Journey of Making Dreams Come True < Back Rian's Den: From Vision to Reality Rian Nickels Apr 11, 2025 Share The Journey of Making Dreams Come True This may end up being too long, and who knows if anyone will read it, but if my story inspires even one person to pursue what they want to do in life, then I suppose I should share it, so here goes nothing. Around this time last year (2024) , I found myself craving more out of music photography. I got a few paid gigs for local Louisiana alternative bands in my inner circle of friends. Still, I knew I wasn't spending enough time doing what I was passionate about – taking photos of live music performances. I wondered if my work was good or interesting enough for me to join a music publication. I live in a small Louisiana town , so I never really considered that there might be something I could contribute to locally, so I looked around the good old World Wide Web to find some publications that could take me on. I sent out a lot of cold emails with my portfolio (which was really lacking, if I'm being honest) to different alternative music pubs, and unsurprisingly, I didn't get a single reply because most of them required you to also be a writer, which I had no confidence. Eventually, the idea faded from the forefront of my mind. Still, one day, as I was scrolling through the socials, I saw that my friends from Jean Claude Seagal had interviewed with an online magazine, Mixed Alternative Magazine , and decided to read it. After looking over the site, I couldn't believe what I found out! Mixed Alternative Magazine was run by a woman based in Louisiana , not only in my state but in a small town near Walker! Knowing someone in my town cared about the local music scene brought me joy, so I decided to reach out and try my shot at being a contributing photographer. To my surprise, Nicole Brice , editor-in-chief and founder of Mixed Alternative Magazine , reached out to me, loved my work, and graciously took me in with open arms! Unlike other publications, I loved working with Nicole because she didn't require or force me to write. However, she did encourage me to try it out and see how I felt about it. I didn't know what to expect, but I was excited to step deeper into the Louisiana music scene and be a part of a group of talented people passionate about capturing and documenting the growth of our local alternative community. For my first assignment as a contributing photographer, I captured Feel Alive Media and Events' first step back into the scene after a five-year hiatus. It was JAYD3D! 's release for their debut album Outstanding Gentlemen , at The Howlin' Wolf in New Orleans in April 2024 . This was a perfect place to start for me because not only is JAYD3D! my fiancé, but I am also co-founder of Feel Alive Media , so this was right in my comfort zone. Around this time, I had been dealing with a lot of social anxiety after being away from the scene for so long, and it was my first time back in New Orleans in years, but I was excited to embark on a new adventure. I went on to have a great night, make core memories, meet new friends like Kris Russ , and reinforce a connection with Coma Nights , whom I photographed a few months back at Phil Brady's in Baton Rouge . Since the gig turned out so well, I decided to try my hand at writing a show review, and it turns out people seemed to like my writing. The article had good traction, and people were kind enough to let me know they were excited to see what would come from me. Southern Happenings: Kriss Russ, JAYD3D!, and Coma Nights at the Howlin Wolf In May 2024 , I followed my good friend Michael Spoon 's band, The Gosh Darn Dangs, around for a night of Busking in Hammond, Louisiana . Documenting this meant a lot to me because I was able to work with people with whom I've had long-standing friendships and grow new ones. I loved strolling through my old stomping grounds. The best part was giving a glimpse of what a night in the quaint little downtown of Hammond was like. Southern Happenings: Meet The Gosh Darn Dangs By June 2024 , I got to take pictures at a well-loved venue in Baton Rouge , Chelsea's Live , for the first time. My friends at Goodbye Academy were releasing their new EP Last Minute Homework that they were set to perform at the local music showcase ' Harmonic Stew ' and asked me if I'd want to capture it for them. I mean, how could I refuse? Goodbye Academy is one of my favorite local bands, and just the thought of taking photos in Chelsea's Live stoked me. That night, I got to photograph GBA , Dale Harris Band , and a popular Louisiana band Hey Thanks! I'd have to say that this was one of my favorite gigs; it was so cool to see my friends perform on a proper stage, I loved the Louisiana-esque sound that Dale Harris brought to the stage, getting to photograph Hey Thanks! was a neat opportunity. Chelsea's Live was the perfect place to test the waters of bigger production concerts. On the Scene: Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live June 6th, 2024 In July 2024 , I got to cover another Feel Alive Media event, this time at another place I once frequented: The Green Room in Covington . On the line-up for that night were JAYD3D!, The Gosh Darn Dangs, and Jean Claude Seagal . This night was one for the books because, between the performers and the attendees, all my friends in my innermost circle were there to make memories and listen to good tunes. Hammond's Hottest Musicians Unite for a Showstopping Night, Powered by Feel Alive Media September 2024 was super busy, but you don't achieve goals without being somewhat busy. Two of my main goals were photographing a gig in a Theatre and covering a festival. I was hired on to photograph an event that was being put on by the Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre Department , 50 Years Of CBGB , at The Colombia Theatre in Hammond, LA . This would be my first time photographing from a stage and working around multiple photographers and a bigger crowd. I also got to photograph and reconnect with music friends from before my photography hiatus and, overall, was blessed to see that Hammond 's music scene was still breathing. I believe this night set some foundations for my growth in the professionalism side of music photography and gave me the confidence and experience I needed to attempt more significant events. By this point in my journey, my anxieties around crowds, my skills, and just life in general started to ease. I no longer felt on the edge of panic when on the way to events, but instead felt excitement. CBGB Spirit Revived: A Night of Punk Rock Nostalgia at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond Next up on the agenda for September (literally the day after CBGB) was my first time capturing a music festival. I got to attend Rock Around Downtown Fest , RAD Fest for short, with our very own Mixed Alternative founder, Nicole Brice . This was the first time Nicole , and I got to know each other. I even met Justin Hammer , a photographer I had looked up to for at least a decade. Justin had been doing concert photography for a while, but before that, he was taking photos of my friends at Dreamland Skatepark in Hammond , and I was excited to be on the same team as him! I was excited to be allowed back on the stage again but was even more eager to see what I could do when poor lighting wasn't an issue. Most of the shows before this one were all indoors at night, but RAD Fest was outside during the day on a beautiful afternoon in Lafayette, Louisiana . I got to take photos of many alternative bands from the South ; every single one brought rockstar energy to the stage. This day was so inspiring and exhilarating that it showed me that I could really thrive in the Music Festival setting. RAD FEST 2024 Video by Sixto6 Productions October 2024 was the busiest month by far, but launched me so much farther into the life of a Music Photographer . To Nicole and me, it was a complete surprise that Mixed Alternative Magazine and I were approved for our first press pass with a bigger venue and artist this month! After months of hard work and dedication, we were about to see some of those tireless nights pay off, and we were in disbelief that we were approved to cover Sleeping With Sirens at The House Of Blues in New Orleans . This was huge!! The last time I saw Sleeping With Sirens perform, I remember thinking, "I'm gonna do whatever it takes to photograph them one day," that day was here! It meant the absolute world to capture one of my favorite bands, and I've honestly never felt cooler in my life. This event was a real test of my progress with my anxiety; the show was sold out, so that meant I couldn't bring anyone along. I can't begin to tell you how incredibly nervous I was to take the journey to and through New Orleans alone, but I knew I couldn't dare miss the opportunity. Luckily, I met up with another one of my photographer role models, Whitney from WhitnessThis Photography , and even ended up running into an old friend. This reminded me that it's important to pursue things that, at the surface, scare the crap out of you; because the universe might just be looking out for you sometimes. Collision of Sound: Sleeping with Sirens, Teenage Joans, and Holding Absence Ignite the Stage with Powerful Performances Rian's Den: A Night to Remember with Sleeping with Sirens Only two days later, I found myself back in New Orleans at The House of Blues – with my best friend, I might add – to cover The Used and Plain White T's ! This show showed me what a photographer can pull off when given the right lights, stage presence, and opportunities. Weekend Rock: The Used Ignites House of Blues with an Explosive Night of Nostalgia and New Energy After that, I spent the rest of October photographing weddings, Halloween shoots, and spooky parties, and the holidays started to ramp up. I also did various music events for friends and gigs, but unfortunately, I didn't get the time to write any articles, or review shows from late October until late February . Now that most of the holidays were survived, Louisiana was looking forward to Mardi Gras , but I was ready for concert season to ramp up again. To kick off the season in February of 2025 , I got to photograph Johnnie Guilbert's first tour with a full band on the Death and Glory tour with Palaye Royale , artists who quickly made it to my top artists on Spotify . This show was just what I needed to get back into the groove of things after a long holiday season. Death and Glory Tour: Palaye Royale & Johnnie Guilbert at The Joy Theater in New Orleans It's April of 2025 now, and I've only done that one show, but I'm excited for what awaits this year with Mixed Alternative Magazine . I eagerly await my Her Riot Femme Voices Showcase on April 18th in Baton Rouge at Mid-City Ballroom and Eclipse Fest on May 10th at Feed' N' Seed in Lafayette . As far as goals for this year go, I'm hoping to get more involved in interviewing and photographing more local bands that I haven't had the chance to see, and I'd love to write more articles about past shows I've been to that deserve some recognition. My point with this article is to tell you to go for that thing you've been wanting to do because, to your surprise, it may turn out exactly how it should. You might be good at it, and others might also think so. You could meet some new friends who are into the same things you are and have similar goals as you, and y'all might help each other to be able to do the things you love. You might end up exactly where you need to be. Mixed Alternative Magazine has offered a space for a community to grow and thrive. They are bringing attention to talent hiding in Louisiana's nooks and crannies and bringing it to the forefront. They offer something different from your average music publications, allowing space for creativity, emotions, and passion to flow. A place where you can reject the mainstream, forge your own path, and make your own rules. (Jk Nicole makes the rules) :P www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions for comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Southern-based Indie Magazine for Music & the Arts with a 90s flair. We bringin’ it back, yo! FAQS Answers to All Your Questions WELCOME! We are a collective of music and entertainment lovers who are passionate about sharing what we like. If you've stumbled upon our little family, then we're happy to have you. HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH you? Just drop us a line via social media or email us! mixedalternativemag@gmail.com Mail how do you decide on what to cover? We comb the interwebs and local scenes for what catches our eyes and ears, and voila! As for anything not music, it's just what we like and think is cool. HOW DO I SUBMIT A PITCH? Got something you'd like to see in the mag? Email us! Mail

Our mission statement at Mixed Alt Mag and what we do. A BIT ABOUT US *NO ADS ... JUST PERSONALITY & ENTERTAINMENT* Mixed Alternative Magazine is an online publication created to provide you, the reader, with a wide range of high-quality, balanced articles and stories covering various genres of music and different facets of art and entertainment. Our focus is on providing a non-discriminatory platform for independent talent of all kinds to introduce themselves and showcase their mad skills to the world, without getting lost in corporate advertising. Our sights are on content, not sales. We pride ourselves on our humor, knowledge, experience, and love (ok, obsession) for all things entertainment and music, while adding our special editorial touch and our commitment to keeping it real. And we do just that by ditching the rules and regulations. We simply love what we do, and we figured you guys might too. And here at Mixed Alt Mag , we like to think of ourselves as the signal standing out from the noise of the rest of the media landscape. With so much mass-produced content out there, we want to be the ones who stand apart from the crap. By using a different approach and outlook, we will always strive to bring you the most entertaining, highest-quality content we can, and we proudly do so by rejecting the mainstream and forging our own way. We just do what we want. No hard news. No religion. No politics. No rules. No red tape. No censorship. Just sheer entertainment, passion, and personality.

Kyle Pfeiffer is a visionary creating a culture of acceptance for future generations of fans. < Back Blacklite District: Building a Digital Era Legacy Nicole Brice Sep 2, 2024 Share Kyle Pfeiffer is a visionary creating a culture of acceptance for future generations of fans. From the depths of personal tragedy to the triumphs of renewal, Blacklite District , aka Kyle Pfeiffer, is on a path to becoming the Trent Reznor of his generation with his one-man approach to making music. Since the early 2010s, Kyle has crafted a well-known brand with a loyal fanbase on social media and YouTube because of his impactful music videos referencing gaming culture, mainly Minecraft . Most known for the songs ‘ Cold as Ice ,’ ‘ Living in a Nightmare ,’ and ‘ Goodbye ,’ Blacklite District has had four Billboard Top 40 hits and is currently averaging over 242k monthly listeners on Spotify and over 65 million views on YouTube and has been granted a Grammy nomination in 2025 for Best Alternative Performance . For those who have never listened to Blacklite District’s music, it is a bit of hip-hop mixed with alt-rock and a little pop at times. It has a little something for every taste but remains dark and heavy at its core, just as Kyle Pfeiffer always intended. A visionary creating a culture of acceptance for future generations of fans , Kyle hopes his music will continue to be the soundtrack for kids who need uplifting positivity to feel like they matter and belong. Devoted to making his shows accessible for all, Pfeiffer has become known for offering earlier start times, and because of this, entire families sometimes travel many hours to catch a live performance. Set to embark on a new tour this fall, dubbed The Red Carpet Tour , in support of his latest album titled ‘ You Can Do Better ,’ we were able to catch up with Kyle Pfeiffer of Blacklite District recently as he gets ready to hit the road. Read on to learn more about this musical creative and the legacy he is creating. Kyle Pfeiffer of Blacklite District MaM : You have an impressive career, and I want to discuss your legacy so far. I read that you started in 2002. Is that correct? KP : 2011-12 was when I started getting attention, but 2002 or so was when I started jamming in my garage with friends. I was only 12 years old. I even started a band in 5th grade, too. All these years later, and here we are. MaM : So, what was the official year Blacklite District formed as a “band”? Take us through a bit of band history. KP : There’s been so much stuff over the years. It’s just been my project since the first day. It’s my brainchild. MaM : Like Trent Reznor with Nine Inch Nails ? KP : Exactly. I’ve had different members over the years, but then there have been shows where it has just been me on stage. My guitarist is Justin Sundlin . He’s been with me for almost three years now. My bass player is a guy named Clinton Cunanan . He’s also on my management team. Been working with him for a long time. We’re having fun. MaM : That’s awesome. So, do you have a drummer right now? KP : In an official sense, we don’t have a permanent member who is the drummer, but Chance Jones from No Resolve comes out and plays often for us. Blacklite District MaM : The new album was just released on May 3rd. How’s that going so far? KP : I love it. I’m happy with it. If the fan base likes it, then I’m good. The response we have been getting has been incredible. We’re about to release the second animated video, which we do these Minecraft videos , and it should be in the next couple of weeks. The momentum is just considerable, and streaming has doubled this week alone since the announcement of the new video. I think something has occurred with me as an artist, though I’m 34 now – I’ve been doing this consistently for the past decade or so, but something about this last project makes me feel so complete that I’m in a different headspace. It’s cool, though. The thing I love about music is that the journey can take you through many places, emotionally and even physically. It’s cool to see the growth and to feel that evolution through all of this. MaM : Yeah, just the creative journey. I’ve had a similar journey, so I get it. I’ve read that you’ve shifted genres a bit here and there. Have you noticed any differences in how your music was perceived when doing that? KP : You know, not really. It’s hard to say. I never came out and said I was changing my style to pop. When COVID happened, and the year before that, there was a slight switch in styles, but it was that it just didn’t have as heavy of guitars and was more beat-driven, but the melodies and vibes of the songs have always been dark. Even if there isn’t a guitar in the music, I still find heaviness. In 2021, I went to rehab and got into this new era of life where I wanted to return to my rock roots by having a full live band. Having some minor success with rock radio and then seeing these younger kids start blowing up with hip-hop and stuff made me have, I guess, like an identity crisis, and then all this hardcore stuff started happening to me personally, so coming out the other end was almost like I didn’t care anymore about being the next big thing. I decided I just wanted to make music that I’ve always loved, which has been rock music. That’s kind of where I’m at now. MaM : I’ve read that Ozzy Osbourne has been one of your biggest musical influences. I’m a huge Black Sabbath and Ozzy fan, but tell us more about that. KP : I actually have the tattoo right here, and the song ‘ No More Tears ’ just did it for me. MaM : Yes! I love that song! Even today, the beginning of ‘ No More Tears ’ gets me so pumped. I crank it up in the car. Do you think that song was the key factor in pursuing the type of music you play, or were there other things? KP : I always go back to the period when my mom passed away because it wasn’t just the music in the song but the message of no more tears and trying to move on. It was what I needed as a ten-year-old kid to feel strong. The second I heard it, I was hooked and asked my uncle to play the song again after it finished. That song made me know that any music I played had to be rock and roll because of how the music made me feel strong as a small kid going through so much. That’s the beauty of music. MaM : What do you think it is about music that makes you feel so passionate? KP : I always try to think about this, and it’s hard, but as a young kid who was afraid and shy growing up, it was a way I could say the things I wanted about people without actually saying it directly to them. If I wasn’t around and people wanted to know things about me, it’s all in the music. MaM : How are you approaching writing new songs these days? KP : It can be many ways. Sometimes, I’ll hum a tune and put it in my voice notes to save it. The title of this new album, ‘ You Can Do Better ,’ is a simple melody that popped into my head. My guitar player came up with some chords, and then eight months later, we started working on it after stumbling upon the voice notes. The ones that stick with me months later are the ones we tend to work on. That’s a good sign to me that something is there. Or, sometimes, we’ll write a song in ten minutes, and it’ll be great. It just all depends. MaM : Tell us a little about The Red Carpet Tour you have this fall. I heard that you’re doing some unique things for the fans. KP : We are! My audience includes many young YouTube kids who come out as families to see our shows, for which I am so grateful. These kids are so passionate about my music. It’s crazy that they are also discovering my music in different ways, like YouTube, but we’re doing these shows differently for this tour. We’re starting the shows at 6 p.m. to get the families out there. We’re making it more intimate for the fans. We’re also booking smaller venues, so it’s perfect. The Red Carpet Tour kicks off September 6, 2024 in Des Moines, IA. MaM : That’s incredible! That’s your audience, and you’re embracing it. I love it. Do you have a favorite song to perform these days? KP : Well, I have so many, and the cliché saying is they’re like my kids, and I love all of them, but ‘ Cold as Ice ’ is one of my most famous songs, and we’re looking to have it certified platinum because it has well over the number of streams. I look at that song as one that has changed my career. Another song of mine, ‘ The Struggle ,’ is my second most popular song and resonates well with fans. They’re also fun to play. Video for Cold As Ice by Blacklite District MaM : You know how to connect with your audience, which is excellent. Tell us about your best and worst performance so far. (laughter) KP : I love that. Well, there have been some bad ones over the years. I'm not going to lie about that, but one time … this was back when I was in my early 20s; we would play in this town called Deadwood . On the night of the show, it looked like it wouldn’t be a good show because we didn’t sell that many tickets, but about twenty minutes before we were set to go on, my bass player and I decided it was a good idea to start chugging beers and smoking a little. We got messed up in a short amount of time. So, we went to go back in, and the venue ended up being packed, and we did not have the experience to play drunk, and it just turned into a shitshow. (laughter) In terms of the best, it’s been these smaller shows I’ve been doing because of the audience's passion. I spent so many years playing where I was the opener, and no one would come to see us, so now, when I see a line of kids out the door to see us play, it’s remarkable. It’s like a dream come true. That vibe is what I’m so grateful for. Video for The Struggle by Blacklite District MaM : Over the years, have you ever received a good piece of advice from a fellow musician that you’ve carried with you? KP : You know, that’s a great question, and over the years, I’ve tried to sponge up anything I could. On my first tour, I opened for Saving Abel , and I remember being in awe of being on tour with bands I had heard on the radio. I remember the singer of Art of Dying telling me they could be opening for me a year from now, and I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. They ingrained in me that you never know whom you will encounter on the way up and how the roles may be changed or reversed quickly. MaM : Any plans or aspirations for collaborations in the future? KP : I always wanted to collaborate with Ozzy , but he’s not doing his best. I also want to collaborate with Jelly Roll , but it hasn’t happened yet. I would love to do something with Post Malone , too. I love how Post Malone is doing this sort of country thing, and even Jelly Roll has shifted to that, too. It’s almost as if hip-hop culture is shifting to more of a country culture right now. MaM : Outlaw country in a way. KP : This shift could lead to more guitar-driven stuff. It could be great for the rock stuff in the future. MaM : I agree. Last question for you. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? KP : That’s a great question. I have a decade’s worth of music now and several hits that the fans love online, so I am just focused on growing with these tours and doubling and tripling the ticket sales. I would like to see in the next five years that I can keep the momentum going, continue expanding on the fanbase, and build that real core audience that connects with me and the music, just as I’ve always done. I hope you and I can talk five years from now and be on different levels, just doing our thing, because I genuinely believe that the vibe and work you put out there is how you get there. Insightful, charismatic, and driven with many years of success and many more to come, Blacklite District hits the road on September 6 in Des Moines, IA, and wraps its tour on November 2 in Atlanta, GA. Be sure to catch a date if it comes near you. In the meantime, check out the latest, ' You Can Do Better ,' on all streaming platforms. To learn more about Blacklite District: www.blacklitedistrict.net Blacklite District Home page of Blacklite District, a rock artist from Black Hills, SD. Official Blacklite District website! The story of Kyle Pfeiffer, new music, photos, bio, and more. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Exploring the stories and southern spirit that shaped Dash Rip Rock’s newest chapter. < Back Finding the Song in Everyone: Conversations with Dash Rip Rock Gary Governale Nov 15, 2025 Share Exploring the stories and southern spirit that shaped Dash Rip Rock’s newest chapter. Legendary Louisiana cowpunk band Dash Rip Rock is finishing up their set with a powerful cover of an old Minutemen song. Bassist Izzy Grisoli bounces and grooves to the beat, while drummer Wade Hymel pounds out the rhythm. Meanwhile, band founder and leader Bill Davis sits quietly in the corner, shredding on guitar like only he can. This isn’t the end of a beer-soaked set at an edge-of-town roadhouse; it’s actually Izzy’s living room in the Broadmoor area of New Orleans . It marks the last song of a more than two-hour rehearsal as Dash prepares to close out 2025 with a series of shows, culminating in the release of a brand-new album. Credit: Gary Governale It’s been a long and winding journey for Davis . He started the band in the mid-1980s while attending Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge , using it as a way to earn some extra money on the side. Let’s dive into who Dash Rip Rock is today and where they are headed. Bill : I love Punk Rock and New Wave, and there weren't that many punk rock and new wave bands in Baton Rouge . But the LSU fraternities were hiring punk and new wave to play their fraternity parties. So, I kind of just put the band together to make a little extra side money and then to write songs and start doing kind of a creative punk thing. The guys in the band were just sort of like newbie musicians, just like me, and we were mostly in school. We were at school at LSU , going to classes, and then we formed a band in the summertime, and it just took off. Yeah, we instantly started doing really well and drawing crowds, and then transferred over into New Orleans , and then it just took off from there. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Did you intend on going into “Cowpunk” necessarily, or was it more punk at first? Bill : It wasn't called “ Cowpunk ”, but you know, we were calling it “ Country Punk ”. There were bands like Rank and File , The Long Ryders , Jason and the Scorchers , The Beat Farmers …They all came through Baton Rouge . It was kind of a good stop off for touring bands. And so, you had a great college radio station there, KLSU , and so all these bands stopped in, and when they did, I instantly went out there and made buddies, made friends with them, got drunk with them, brought them to the house, and made a gumbo. We just befriended all these cool Cowpunk bands. But it wasn't really called “ Cowpunk ”; it was “ Country Punk .” MaM : But it stuck, and you obviously embraced it. Bill : Yeah, I mean, I've embraced it because it's fun. It's just a fun thing to say, like, “ Yacht Rock ”, you know? It's “ Cowpunk !" Like Mojo Nixon used to say, “There are more bands than fans in Cowpunk. Everybody loves playing Cowpunk, but nobody goes to see it!” You know, it's like empty audiences. (laughs) Izzy : And it's not really true. They do turn up. Bill : Like outlaw country , the cruise and the radio station have all sorts of lifted Cowpunk up recently, but it has been a rough slog. But it's been fun because Cowpunk is a blast. It's a blast to play. It's fast, and it’s country! Credit: Gary Governale In fact, the current lineup of Dash Rip Rock seems determined to stretch beyond Cowpunk . The band, at heart, has always embraced its Southern roots. Influenced by Georgia bands like R.E.M. and Guadalcanal Diary , Dash followed in their footsteps: finding inspiration in Southern Gothic literature, poetry, and atmosphere. Creating fresh new music isn’t always easy for long-established bands, but Davis has found the solution: creating the most collaborative and creative version of Dash Rip Rock yet. Releasing January 30, 2026 via Dial Back Sound Bill : I would say this band is beyond Cowpunk . I mean, we made a record called “ Cowpunk ” several years ago. But this band is something else, right? The record label has been sort of digging around for something else to call us, because as much as we love playing Punk Rock and Country, this is just a different band. It's something else. It's better, you know? A million times better. Really, you're not going to pigeonhole this band by saying we're Cowpunk, because we are. But we're looser and more fun… like the members in this band, Wade, Bill, and Izzy, we have something that extends past Cowpunk. Wade : Yeah, it is a melting pot. MaM : You have a lot of different influences that go into it and a lot of various kinds of vibes that I guess you bring to the band. Bill : Absolutely. I've had several people pass through the ranks of Dash Rip Rock , as you know. I had a lot of cool guys come through and play in the band, but this one has been the one that seems more creative, most creative, most outgoing, and ambitious. We try a lot of different stuff that the old guys would not have done. So, we're more experimental. The rehearsal we just had, you know, we were messing around and a lot of stuff came to be… I was saying, “No, that's too much, we can't do it!”. And they were like, "Let's try it… it’s practice!” And then all of a sudden, it happened, and it was just brilliant. So, it's good. Everybody's chipping in. Credit: Gary Governale Izzy : Yeah, it's supposed to be like rootsy, rock, and punk… let's try it. And Wade's like, “Jam! Let's try it!” And then it just comes together in this power trio kind of way where we can achieve these fucking prog rock feats. Bill : Wade brings Jam and Prog to the project, and then Izzy brings a lot of punk , and then me, whatever I've been doing my whole life, which is Country and Punk . Yeah, it just blends really well, and we enjo y playing together. It's always an adventure and really, really fun. Wade : It is. It is. We have a lot of natural chemistry , and we also practice a lot. We're pretty diligent about getting together regularly for rehearsal when we can. So, the combination of those two things makes it really potent. Izzy : But everybody listens really well to each other while we play. That's why we're so tight. We’re constantly listening to each other, looking at each other. I fit in pretty easily because everybody’s so focused on the song, and so am I. So, it just works. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : I think part of the magic of Dash was always a certain level of improvisation, too. I mean, there's a lot of that. Bill : A lot of that. Yeah. And that's the adventure part because it's fun. You know, we could play our songs backwards and forwards perfectly, but we enjoy getting there and just messing them up, you know? Taking the puzzle pieces and throwing them in the air, and then they all come back down differently. Taking all those ideas and influences, the band has poured plenty of energy and excitement into their upcoming new album, A Song in Everyone . Recorded in Water Valley, Mississippi , with Matt Patton of Drive-By Truckers , the new album features the expected rockin’ riffs and humor that make Dash a Southern institution. But the album also expands on and builds the trio’s efforts to broaden the sound, creating something fresh and interesting. Bill : Matt Patton , who's the bass player for Drive-By Truckers , bought the old Fat Possum studio. The minute he asked us to make this record, I was like, "Fat Possum, say no more!” Because I would love to cut anything up in that old studio. There’s a lot of great music that came out of there. You already picture how it's gonna sound. So, we jumped at the chance and we're basically on his record label. It's just a bunch of really cool rock songs, and we're very excited about it. These guys get to sing a couple, and it's a real team effort. It's an amazing record. MaM : Would you say that's the most team effort you've had as far as crafting an album? Bill : Yeah, I would say that. You know, in the history of Dash Rip Rock , it's always been sort of just me putting all the albums and records together. And it's better ever since Wade joined. He's been a good partner in recording and getting studio stuff done … just more imagination, you know. Dash used to be “just stick to your style, stick to your genre.” Now it’s “let's just go outer space with it”. And we do, and it's a freaking awesome one. It's great. Credit: Gary Governale MAM : How many songs are you going to have on it? Bill : Ten. MAM : All brand-new original music? Bill : We’re doing a cover of ' Mean Mister Mustard ' by the Beatles . And it's a New Orleans style Huey Smith intro, and Wade plays piano on it. So, it's a New Orleans, James Booker , Huey Smith , Fats Domino version of ' Mean Mister Mustard .' It's really awesome. And then the rest are just songs that we've all written and cowritten. Izzy : It was cool to get to play on the new record, you know. Since joining the band, I didn't know whether I'd get to play on the record. Bill told me that not all the bass players play on the record; sometimes they stay in Baton Rouge . Bill : I played bass on a lot of Dash records! I mean, we had interesting people working with us. We had Henry Barbe . His dad is Dave Barbe , and he recorded all the Drive-By Truckers . He teaches music at the University of Georgia, and he was in the band Sugar with Bob Mould from Hüsker Dü . So, Dave Barbe's son engineered our first session, and then Clay Jones came, and he worked with Modest Mouse and R.L. Burnside . He was a monster. And then Jim Diamond , mastered it. He worked on a bunch really cool garage music, like the White Stripes . Izzy : We trusted him (producer Matt Patton ) a lot on this record. We really trusted his say. Wade : He’s so warm and relatable. He jumps into the stream, and you can follow his vision. He's just very easy to work with. And so, we fell into a natural chemistry. Bill : Matt just feels it . It's not like he's even listening. He feels it. He's using some spiritual guidance to make things happen. And then he would pop in and make these suggestions that were out in left field, and we would go, “Really?” And then we'd do it and we'd go, "Fuck, yeah, that was great!” Izzy : Dudes got the coolest vibe and coolest accent, and he'd be like, “I don't know, man. That one, if you don't say something about Rush Limbaugh , you ain't got no hair on your nuts or something.” (laughter) Wade : Well, yeah, that's the other thing… Even with his criticism, he's very gentle. My favorite thing would be like, if I had an idea and I came in and tried to play something, he'd go, “It's too intelligent” . Which was his way of saying, “Take most of those notes out. You’ve got a good idea but simplify it.” Izzy : Yeah, and he hates pedals. Bill : Yeah, he has a lot of vintage gear, and everything goes direct. And you never use a guitar pedal. If I say anything else about the record, I want to say that. Wade : It gives the record a really classic, timeless sound . Bill : Well, they have an incredible way of engineering and producing things there, and it's almost like it's a secret. I can't even tell you what they do, but it's insane. And when they did it, I go, "Are you serious? Are you really gonna do that to the music?” And they're like, "Yeah, we do this on every record”. And they did it. Holy shit, that sounds awesome! I can't even tell you what they did. I mean, this would be a whole different interview about their production techniques, but it just made the record sound a million times better. Experiencing a live Dash Rip Rock show is always a whiskey-fueled celebration. The concert features classic hits from the band, such as ' DMZ ,' ' Bumf**Egypt ,' ' Shake That Girl ,' and ' Pack Your Bags ,' as well as memorable covers of Dead Kennedys and ZZ Top songs. Even now, the band continues to introduce fresh music into their setlist, including Bill's current favorite, ' Pain Pills Never Expire ,' which is playing on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country station. Like much of Dash's discography, the new songs are characterized by barroom swagger , Southern storytelling , and the band's signature humor . The new album from Dash Rip Rock, A Song in Everyone , was recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi , and will be released January 30, 2026 , on the Dial Back Sound record label. Be sure to add it to your list of upcoming releases to check out. Track Listing: 1. Taking You On II 2. Dangerous Ways 3. 2 Much 2 Do 4. I Don’t Want to be a Whore 5. Shakin’ Out The Days 6. Pain Pills Never Expire 7. Mean Mr Mustard 8. Water Valley Throwdown 9. River 10. Hell & Back *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.dashriprock.net Dash Rip Rock Home page of Dash Rip Rock, a group from New Orleans, LA www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Jill Mulkey Art < Back Raw, Unapologetic Artistry Keeley Brooks Feb 13, 2023 Share Jill Mulkey Art During my years living in the heart of Baton Rouge , La., straight fumbling my life thing after college, I ran across some very talented artists of all kinds nurturing their individual crafts in a most pure, non-conformist way. It was awesome because back then, the city vibrated with electricity emanating from the super-cool types of art being created; the 2000s were quite a colorful time on the BR entertainment scene , if I do say so myself! Nowadays, the city isn't just vibrating; it seems to be exploding with all sorts of art, and now that I no longer live there, it's kind of up to chance when it comes to noticing more of its artists, whether it be through recommendation or random happenstance online. And that’s how Jill Mulkey filtered into my gaze: She randomly popped up in my social media feed one day, and her distinctive abstract style caught my eye … okay, it caught both of them. I zoomed in on several of her pictures and noticed some wonderful, subtle textures and shapes full of artistic nuance, and I was intrigued. Her art appealed to me because it said, in a sense, real talk. It screamed honest, real shit like I'm here and I'm colorful and I'm loud, but at the same time I'm also full of depth and exposure because I live, I breathe, I experience, and I create as a result--not for you, for me. There were no distractions. It wasn't all neat and tidy in a perfect, little, expected bow--no. It was loud and vivid and raw and messy in the best of possible ways. It was connectable ... proud ... unapologetically human, purely exposed artistry ... and that's what I loved about it: its humanity. I felt the emotion behind every piece I ogled and believe me; I spent way too many hours on both her social media sites clicking through images and getting lost in them. Mulkey is a mixed-media abstract artist, photographer, and fashionista out of Baton Rouge playing with different textures of shape and color to express herself, her messages, her feelings, and the world around her. In fact, her expressive patterns of repeating tiny squares and circles have become very popular in her shows and largely draw in the commission requests. Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Having always had the artistic talent deep within her, Jill spent her time after high school doing hair and nails by day and painting by night. The more she painted and showcased, the more attention she garnered for herself. Over the past decade, she has done and continues to do some really cool work, like reproducing different Rock album covers, for example. During a time when she was experimenting with multiple new techniques, she took some pictures of some famous people and portraits of rock stars and worked them through her own interpretations. Art by Jill Mulkey While her early paintings included a lot of portraits and closeups of faces and different city scenes, her style evolved and delved deeper into the abstract world. Some of her works incorporate printmaking techniques, like doing portraits by repeatedly stamping ink on the canvas in high and lesser concentrations to affect lines and shading, and she isn’t shy about collage work. Her images incorporate paint and print materials to illicit interpretations. One of her earlier works, a popular choice depicted below, “Pisces Girl" started out with a compilation that included a girl, a guitar, and a pear, but as the woman’s arm began to take shape, Mulkey's focus shifted from the objects to the woman. You can see how gently and effortlessly she and the guitar are beautifully entwined, both revealed with the implied sexiness of the distinct hourglass shape--the neck of the guitar ever so slightly separated from the woman's to partially hide her face just enough to illicit intrigue and admiration while conveying a union between worlds ... ah! What sweet, emotional depth it displays. It showcases beautifully sequenced artistic style. And, to tie in the title, Mulkey added water elements and a fishbowl to represent the zodiac. Art by Jill Mulkey Canvas isn’t her only medium, though. Early in her career, she used to paint on bottles and even tinkered with unconventional canvases, like paintings on doors and other found pieces. She also paints on … waaait for iiit … JEANS! I’m not kidding. And they look pretty badass, if I do say so myself. Her jeans became so eye-catching, that she now stages fashion shows in various locations. Jeans by Jill Mulkey Jeans by Jill Mulkey “I paint really fast,” Jill says. “I work really fast with my hands,” which explains how she’s able to generate so much in so little time. This challenge of mixing multi-media efforts into one cohesive piece for visual pleasure has been seemingly effortless for Jill, who is constantly scoping out new outlets. “I continue to paint and participate in many art shows all over Baton Rouge. … When I [began to focus] on my art career full time, I painted pretty much every day and sold a lot through social media, mostly on Facebook. I still have a large client base there,” she says. Mulkey has also been featured in several art galleries over the years, including Gallery N , owned by Mark Nikoff , and Williamson Howard Fine Art . It wasn’t long before she realized the gallery display opportunities held more than just a place to display; they became places to grow. “One of my proudest [shows] was in Downtown Baton Rouge at The Shaw Center in the LSU Art Museum,” she says. “I had an art and fashion show inside and a local DJ outside that I worked with on many shows. He was playing music and above him was a huge, white parachute floating in the air off the building on the 4th floor with images of my art, photography, and fashion flashing across this monstrous screen all night. It was so amazing. I haven’t seen anyone do anything like that since, but I’d love to make it happen again!” Over time, Mulkey has become an art dealer of sorts, curating shows at different galleries in and around the Baton Rouge area and promoting new, young talented artists, as well as making sales for herself and the new talent. In 2010 , she curated a show in Los Angeles at the Thompson Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard that amped up her abilities. “Somewhere in there, I began painting live—something I never thought I would do years before,” she gleans. “I became a regular in Battle of the Brushes, a monthly live art battle I did in New Orleans with Alex Harvie and TJ Black (and other chosen artists) on Magazine Street.” It seems more and more people these days find a deeper connection with live painting, and why wouldn’t they? It’s personal, exciting, and curious--utterly fascinating to watch, sober or not. There’s so much mystery around what is being created, that for just a tiny moment, we as viewers often forget there’s even someone there working their ass off to convey to you what they are seeing, hearing, and/or feeling in that specific moment. Then, when an image begins to emerge, a peek of the artist is seen just long enough for the question of why the artist is doing what he/she/they is/are doing to seep in, and once an artist's awareness of that happens, it oftentimes can create an intense palpable pressure. But Mulkey doesn’t seem to mind that one bit. She doesn't even notice, really, because she's a badass who paints right through it as though it doesn't even exist. For those of you wondering, this is what we call "the zone." Jill Mulkey “When I paint live, I sometimes start … by writing with paint in cursive across the entire canvas: first line forward, next line backwards, then forward again, and backwards every other line. I’ve become quite good at writing backwards because of this. It’s fun to see people react when they realize what I’m doing,” she explains. “It’s a great touch in the end, even though it’s just a technique for texture and getting an idea of where I’m to go with the painting. It makes for good live painting, too, because no one knows what the painting is going to be until the very end.” She adds, “People always comment on my process, saying they never know what’s going to happen next or what the painting is going to end up being. The funny thing is, I didn’t want to paint live in the beginning, so it worked out well!” Today Jill stays between Baton Rouge and Minnesota , where her other studio is. She’s currently working on collections and several commissioned pieces. Her zodiac collection , which instantly drew me in even deeper than I already was, involves characters with traits and symbols from each house of the zodiac . She tells me started years ago with “Pisces Girl” and has since completed the signs Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Virgo, and Sagittarius. As a Taurus, I personally connect to her representation of Taurean nature: still, yet loud, messy, confusing to some, and organically earthbound ... refusing to conform; I love it. Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Mulkey says she loves all the interesting aspects of each sign, and there’s so much to include in each piece that the process has been nothing short of enlightening and entertaining for her. Work on the zodiac series continues, although she’s had to put it on hold, “to complete various commission work, including this Boba Fett piece, which has compelled me to start a ‘Star Wars’ collection. Once I posted the finished Boba Fett piece [online], I got two commissions from it. I grew up on ‘Star Wars’ and love it, and I’ve always wanted to do some art based on the early movies, so that is in the works.” Art by Jill Mulkey Other commissions she’s been working on involve religious themes taken from a statue of Mary and the baby Jesus , as well as her popular bikes. Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey She also works on layering in lyrics and parts of songs into her art. “I’ll start with the very first songs I remember as a kid and make art out of them. There’s [sic] so many eras of music that I love. … [I] could have a different theme forever. … [E]veryone loves to see their favorite songs in art and connect [with them].” Speaking of music, Mulkey talks of switching between listening to metal, 90s or Pop music when she paints, depending on her mood, and when she isn't listening to music, she works with a podcast rolling--either true crime or haunted stories, or "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend," "Jeff Lewis Has Issues," or "Smartless," to be exact. When she isn't painting and is indulging in some well earned chill-out time, she's probably on Netflix, Hulu, or Tubi. "My latest guilty pleasure has been the Netflix series 'You.' ... [And] for some reason, I've been hooked on 80s cult movies lately ... and Conan O'Brien," she adds with a laugh. When asked what about this world inspires her most to paint and create, she says she wants to be able to see the things visualized in her mind emerge into tangible form. That's the magic. "I'm also very into pop culture, and that is very influential on things that I paint," she adds, noting that her absolute favorite mediums to work with are charcoal and acrylic, but she also loves spray paint and enjoys experimenting with all mediums. Mulkey currently is focused on completing her commissioned pieces, as well as her zodiac collection, and she says she's also looking forward to working with local Baton Rouge gallery owner Mark Nikoff , who is planning future art openings starting in March 2023 . It's no doubt her arsenal is full of an expansive variety of creations on a multitude of subjects with a myriad of focused perspectives and messages, but if you ask her what her favorite thing in the whole world to paint is, she'll smile and tell you it's her faces, which are nothing short of worthy of your admiration and exploration. So, just for you, art lovers, I leave you with a mini gallery of some faces and other selections from her digital portfolio I found interesting. Enjoy, my friends. Be sure to find, follow, and support Jill Mulkey Art online to stay plugged into her latest pieces, any current and upcoming shows, and updates to any of her unique collections. https://www.facebook.com/JILLMULKEYART https://www.instagram.com/jillmulkeyart/ *Images courtesy of Jill Mulkey Art Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey Art by Jill Mulkey www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Chris Bond < Back Color, Form, and Texture with a Modern Twist Nicole Brice Nov 28, 2022 Share Chris Bond Color, form, and texture are the words that come to mind when I think of this artist, I am about to introduce you to. Color truly is everything. It doesn’t matter which medium is used because if something has a pop of color and catches my eye, I am hooked, and the stunning use of color and imagery used in these pieces is no exception. Let me introduce you to work of Chris Bond . Art by Chris Bond Chris is a Baton Rouge -based artist using texture and form to create colorful visual masterpieces reminiscent of a style made famous by Vincent Van Gogh . Each piece is unique and different and makes you stop to think and admire all the beauty in the world that serves as inspiration for those who create. Art by Chris Bond He likes to manipulate acrylics to make them look like oils. In fact, had he not told me that he prefers acrylics, I would have thought he was using oil paint all along. Chris credits William Whistler as an inspiration because “he was the father of modern art, right?”, says Bond . Although he prefers working with acrylics, he will utilize any medium to achieve the results he is looking for, because to him, the surface one uses to create is just as important as the materials. No truer words have been spoken. Art by Chris Bond Crediting his grandmother, Claudia , as his true inspiration, he has been creating ever since he could walk and pick up a crayon to color, and at 55 years old, this artist’s work is something to take note of and be inspired by. Art by Chris Bond For more information about this stunning artist’s pieces and to see his work, you can visit him on social media at: Chris Bond | Facebook If you are interested in purchasing pieces from him, he can be reached at: 430davidbond@gmail.com www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Still kicking ass and taking names < Back Sick of It All: Pioneers of the Hardcore Punk Scene Nicole Brice May 15, 2023 Share Still kicking ass and taking names For our first band to be featured in our G.O.A.T. section (greatest of all time), I don’t even know where to begin. This band has influenced me so much, I don’t even know what to say. Pioneers of the hardcore punk scene, the men of Sick of It All paved the way for many bands that came after them, and through the years when I’ve needed some inspiration to be tough and get myself into a certain headspace, their music has been my soundtrack. I was in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2001-2009, and each summer we would travel to various locations around my state and beyond for our annual training—AT, as we called it. I still remember being on a bus or in the back of an LMTV with all my fellow troops as we embarked on the journey to our summer destinations—my earphones firmly in place and my turquoise iPod mini blaring the sweet tunage of Sick of It All . Their music has always inspired me with potent lyrics, thundering bass, crunching guitar, and crisp vocals. If there is one thing I can say about this band, it’s that even though they started out with a likeness reminiscent of other hardcore bands of the day, they have managed to evolve and refine their sound, making it one all their own. Anytime I hear a song by them, I instantly know it is them because of the distinct bass and the remarkable vocal stylings of the man himself, Mr. Lou Koller . Throw in an iconic logo of a dragon that was even used by another well-known music group and you have the unparalleled styling that can only be known as Sick of It All . Credit: Ken Salerno - The band in the early years For those not familiar with the band, allow me. Sick of It All was formed in 1986 with brothers Lou and Pete Koller . The Koller brothers grew up in Queens , N.Y., in a middle-class family where they would often hop on subway trains to the various indie record shops nearby and indulge themselves in all the iconic metal, punk, and hardcore albums they could devour. Their love of music turned into forming the band, with the Koller brothers being the solidifying force to bring it all together. After a couple of line-up changes through the years, the band has remained true to its roots and is currently comprised of Lou Koller on vocals, Pete Koller on guitar, Craig Setari on bass, and Armand Majidi on the kit. credit: Jeff Crespi - Armand Majidi Known for their high-energy shows, the band has never allowed themselves to be pigeonholed into one specific genre and has often played shows and toured with bands outside of the hardcore scene. When one thinks of a hardcore punk band, they think of the tough guys … the guys you don’t want to mess with— the real OGs . While the guys in Sick of it All are no strangers to kicking someone’s ass, they truly are just a nice bunch of guys who enjoy making music they love. credit: Jeff Crespi - Pete Koller With 11 albums to their credit and a book released in 2020 called “ The Blood and the Sweat: The Story of Sick of It All’s Koller Brothers ”, these guys show no sign of slowing down and are currently all over with Lou and Pete even recently being tour guides at the newly opened Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas . With such an iconic sound, the music of Sick of it All proves that time is no test for such an influential band, and they continue to bring their music to new crowds of fans all over the world. Publisher: Post Hill Press (August 4, 2020) Currently taking a break from their highly successful 2023 tour with Life of Agony, which is set to resume in the U.S. in August, I was able to speak with the vox of this incomparable band, Lou Koller , to discuss everything from what the future holds to what they think of the crowds at their shows in the current day. MaM : Thank you so much for talking with me today. You have no idea what this means to me. I was so nervous about calling you that I told my friend I was about to throw up. (laughs) LK : No problem. No problem at all. MaM : Love your music and I feel like I’ve been listening to you forever. My favorite albums are Death to Tyrants , Call to Arms , and Yours Truly , but I have so many favorite songs of yours that if I were to list them, we would be here forever. (laughs) So, your last album was released in 2018 and I know you guys have been playing shows like crazy, but are there any plans for new music coming out? LK : Well, during the pandemic, we were writing mostly—well, my brother, Pete , he ended up writing over 27 songs , but we’ve been trying to convince the other members of the band we should get together and work on them and record, but we just never could get it together. It all happened when unemployment ran out and we all got jobs and that was a factor that delayed it. Also, too, our drummer Armand seems to be on vacation every other week. (laughs) Once the pandemic ended, we all felt it was time to get back on the road, but we still have these songs, so it’s on the way. After we get back from Europe and the other leg of the Life of Agony tour , we will have the fall to get together and we plan to meet two weeks every month to write, so we’ll see how that goes. We’re working on it. It’s on its way. credit: Jeff Crespi - Lou Koller MaM : So, as far as the writing and recording process, do you feel technology has changed how you approach that? LK : It does because of necessity. Again, with the pandemic, we didn’t really get together to write. … Pete would write, but he lives in Florida , so he wrote down there. Armand lives in upstate New York, Craig bounces from Queens to upstate New York , and I live in New Jersey now. It used to be we had our own rehearsal studio in Brooklyn , and we would all just meet there three times a week and jam and have fun, but you know when Pete moved to Florida, it all became corresponding through emails and stuff like that. I think the technology helps in a way, but it’s also kind of a pain in the ass for me. I like getting together at the studio, not just for the writing but for the camaraderie. MaM : Right, the vibe. LK : Yeah, exactly. It works, but there’s some aspects of it that we need to learn just to keep up with the times, and some of it makes it convenient or easier in some ways, but I think because of the way we all grew up, you feel like something is missing. I still have a hard time discovering new music through a digital platform. Some of the suggestions through Spotify I don’t get. I could sit there and listen to old metal and hardcore and punk, and suddenly, they’ll say, ‘Suggested for you is the new Justin Bieber album.’ Why? Why would you suggest that for me? I have nothing to do with that. Nothing I listen to is remotely close to that. (laughs) credit: Jeff Crespi - Lou Koller MaM : I agree. I use digital platforms, too, but I miss the old ways of discovering new music. I used to just go to the music store and wander around looking for any cover art that spoke to me. Often, I would purchase albums based solely on cover art, and then I would go home to listen to see whether I dug the music or not. So, who would you say has influenced you the most when it comes to your vocal styling? LK : It’s a combination. When I first started, I really didn’t know how to do anything, but I wanted to sound as hard and as rough as the singer, John Brandon , from Negative Approach and also Chris , the singer of Crumbsuckers because he also sounded like John Brandon . But now, for the last 10 years or so, I still try to emulate that, but I try to have a bit more range. One of my favorites is Lemmy from Motorhead because he had such a rough voice, but he had this melody, too. He could hit the notes but was just a great vocalist. I know a lot of people think that’s crazy, but I just love that he had such a rough sound. Chuck from Hot Water Music , too, has such a rough voice, but it’s also so melodic. He just does it great. He’s another one I would like to sing like. credit: Jeff Crespi - Lou Koller MaM : But your voice is so amazing! How do you keep it in shape for singing the type of music you guys play? LK : I’ve been to some professional coaches; Melissa Cross is probably the most famous one. When I went to her, she told me, ‘Sing how you sing,’ but [then she said], ‘I could give you a couple of pointers, but you do what you do very well.’ The way I sing, it’s more using the muscles around my vocal cords and all that, so like any muscle, when we’re not on tour, I really should be going to the studio twice a week to keep it in shape, but it’s not fun going to the studio by yourself screaming to your phone going through the PA. So, I got lazy, and usually before a tour, I’m like, ‘Ah man, I’ve gotta go in,’ and my voice usually sounds like garbage for a week and then it kicks in. credit: Jeff Crespi - Lou and Pete Koller MaM : So, let me ask, you guys are definitely the voice of a generation and I credit you with being very instrumental in launching that second wave of punk rock and hardcore. I consider the first wave to be late 70s/early 80s and then we had a reemergence of it in the late 90s/early 2000s, so with the crowds, especially since you just came off tour, have you noticed any differences or changes in the scene or just any differences in how people treat each other at shows in general? LK : It’s weird … Our tours in the 90s, we would take the upcoming hardcore bands like Strife and Snapcase and we would take the upcoming West Coast bands (what they called hardcore but we would call punk, like AFI and Good Riddance ) and … combine those bands into tours and we loved it. Now, it’s so separated; you can’t take a more melodic punk band out with a newer heavier hardcore band because a Terror crowd would not appreciate a Good Riddance and a Good Riddance crowd might not appreciate when a band like Incendiary plays. They would be like, ‘That’s way too heavy,’ but I think 1999 was the peak for that. We did a tour, and it’s one of our favorite tours we ever did, but it was us, AFI , Hot Water Music , and Indecision , and it was so good that almost every night every band had such a great reaction, and I think one of the proudest moments for us was on that tour in L.A. seeing kids with Blink 182 shirts going absolutely wild to Indecision , who were the forerunners of what bands like Knocked Loose are doing now, and to see kids going absolutely crazy to something that’s totally opposite to what they usually listen to and then do the same thing for Hot Water Music and AFI and then with us, that was great. Nowadays, like I said, when you try to mix it up, it doesn’t work as well. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s and so I remember when there was no separation. It was all together. If you liked hardcore, you liked punk. If you liked punk, you liked pop-punk and so on. I feel like back then there was more cohesiveness and now, like you said, it’s more divided. LK : I think on a smaller scale, it might be coming back. Luckily, I have a friend who used to work for us. He’s about 10 years younger than me, and he’s always sending me texts with, ‘Hey, check this band out,’ and he’ll send me music like Drain or Incendiary . … Not really new, but to me they’re new … like super heavy, and then he’ll be like, ‘Check out this band from England , The Chisel .’ And they became one of my new favorites. They’re a good combination of old skool, just English hardcore punk … leading towards Oi music , but I would love to see them with any hardcore band because it’s such a good mix. On the smaller scale with smaller tours, you can still see that good mix. MaM : Did you notice any regional differences on this latest tour with how the crowds received your music? LK : The Life of Agony tour was good for us because they took us to parts where we have never played. They took us to Michigan and usually we only play in Detroit when we go there, but this time they took us to Flint, Mich. , and we played in front of, which seemed to us, like a totally new crowd. There were guys there that were 50 years old going, ‘I’ve never heard of you guys. I’ve never seen you.’ That’s insane! … But they loved it, and they bought merch and records, so it was great. It surprised the hell out of us. (laughs) It’s also that Life of Agony has that bigger metal following and they were embraced by the whole world for decades, and those people don’t see a mixed tour very often. Life of Agony could have taken a younger, more prominent act as their opener, but they wanted to thank us for influencing them when they were younger. And when they went to Europe , they took Prong and Madball with them, which I think is a great thing. They wanted to repay bands like us and to mix the bill, which I thought was good. credit: Jeff Crespi - Lou Koller MaM : So, as far as the current crowds, do you feel the younger generations are embracing your music more or do you find that it’s the older crowd, like me, who are loving your shows these days? LK : It’s weird for us because being around so long, we used to get a good mix … we had our fans from the beginning, and we had younger kids coming. Now, it’s like the 16-to-25-year-olds who have their own stuff. We’ve had experiences where we’ve taken a younger band out that was heavily influenced by us and they’re the hot hardcore band. And they’ll be on stage, and they’ll say, ‘You know, we wouldn’t be a band if it wasn’t for Sick of it All ,’ and when they finish their set, their fans will just leave. They don’t care. They don’t stick around. It’s strange. Now, what I’ve seen, like in Europe , … it has been constant … where you have the older fans and generations still coming. But in the U.S., if we play an all-ages show, it’s usually our older fans who bring their kids and make them watch us, so sometimes it works. (laughs) credit: Jeff Crespi - Pete Koller MaM : Let me ask you as far as continuing to make music, how long do you plan on continuing? Do you just want to do it until you can’t anymore? LK : Yeah, that’s why I’m itching to make a new record. I’m very nervous when we do it, and I love the songs in demo mode, but I’m always worried no one is going to like it and then once the finished product comes out, I go, ‘Oh, I was scared for no reason.’ We always say we’re going to do it until it’s not fun anymore, but we’re always having fun, which is good. What’s good for us is that we all love playing live. It’s just a fact that we’ve always presented a very high-energy live show. If I ever physically can’t do it, I don’t want to just be standing around. (laughs) Zack from Rage Against the Machine tore his Achilles tendon and he had to do the tour sitting down. You could see in his face that he hated it. Same thing with Barney from Napalm Death . We did a run with Municipal Waste and Napalm Death and Barney had hurt his ankle. We all said he should go to a doctor, and he didn’t want to go. It turned out his ankle was broken. He didn’t know it and kept standing on it and destroyed [it]. He’s still having problems to this day. He had to finish that tour with us in a chair. Then, last year, he was doing a U.S. run and, sure enough, same ankle, completely destroyed. He had to finish the tour sitting in a chair and now, who knows if he’s gonna ever be able to stand on that damn ankle again. I don’t know if I could just sit there in a chair for the fans. It’s not Sick of it All if I’m sitting in a freakin chair, you know. credit: Jeff Crespi - Craig Setari MaM : Yeah, no kidding. It ruins the whole live experience. So, do you have any crazy stories from over the years with being on the road that you could share? LK : I mean, there’s so many. You know with the book they did about me and my brother, ‘ The Blood and the Sweat: The Story of Sick of it All’s Koller Brothers ,’ there’s a story in there that everyone asks us if it’s true. The story about when we were playing in Pennsylvania at a club called The Sonic Temple and after the show, we were packing up the van when these kids came up to us and said, ‘Yo, there’s a guy over there and he’s got a gun and he says he has a head in a bag,’ and, sure enough, he had something stuck in his waist, and we could see it wasn’t a gun, and he comes over and he’s talking all crazy saying he's going to kill everybody and we’re all, ‘Yeah yeah yeah,’ and he opens up the bag and there was a head. … It could have been a mannequin head, I don’t know, and we all hop in the van and as we’re driving away from the parking lot, all of a sudden there’s, like, 15 cop cars and we’re just like, ‘What just happened?’ MaM : (laughs) Wow. I wonder if he decapitated someone. (laughs) LK : Well, we don’t know. (laughs) We’ve always tried to look it up online and we can’t find anything, but it was awesome. MaM : So, one question that I am dying to know the answer to involves your logo. It is iconic and is immediately associated with you guys, but how did the Sick of it All dragon come about? LK : The very first idea for it was when we saw it on a flash sheet by the famous tattoo artist Greg Irons . He had a similar version of it. It was when one of our friends was joining the Marines , and he was, like, 17 or 18, and we all decided to get a tattoo together because we had this crew who always hung out together. I think it was Pete who redesigned the dragon for us, and it just happened to be in the photo of our first seven inch. It was a photo of my tattoo of it and then it just got associated with us from then on, then it became very iconic. The iconic Sick of It All dragon It’s funny, too, because decades later, we had a good friend who worked in the record industry and she was working in the hip-hop world and she’s walking through the office one day and she sees a co-worker with a big poster behind his desk and it had a picture of the earth burning with the Sick of it All dragon and she goes, ‘Is that a new Sick of it All record?’ And he goes, ‘Sick of it All? No, this is the new Mobb Deep album cover,’ and she goes, ‘You better check where that logo is from.’ It was very funny. MaM : Wow. LK : They said they got it from a tattoo parlor, which maybe they could have because they’re from Queens and we’re from Queens, but most likely… they would go hang out with this Queens group called The Beatnuts , who were hip-hop DJ guys … and on their apartment door was a bunch of stickers and one of the stickers right in the center was a Sick of it All sticker with the dragon. So, you know they saw that dragon with our name on it and used it. We made a deal with them, though: They were not allowed to use it on their album covers because it was associated with Sick of it All. We actually have a fan who owns two or three pizza places in Berlin, Germany , and on his pizza boxes, he has the Sick of it All dragon, but he asked us if it was ok to do it and we said sure. Now, though, on his pizza box, he still has the dragon, but he puts our Instagram handle with it, too. MaM : Approaching a tour these days vs approaching a tour then—is there anything you do differently when preparing for a tour? LK : For me, personally, I must get my voice in shape. It’s not like it used to be where we would jump in the van and hang out and yell and scream all day, then get on stage and play. I have to rest my voice and I have to work into it. As far as the whole band, it’s kind of gone back to the beginning where, especially in the U.S., where touring in vans again, Armand will plot the tour out with our booking agent and the rest of us will do other aspects for the tour, like I do all the social media for the tour, and then we all have to deal with the merchandise again. MaM : So, you guys have your hands in everything when preparing for a tour. LK : Well, we have to. Personally, I am the lazy one in the band. I liked it in the mid-90s to the late-2000s when we had people doing everything for us. It was great. Back then, we could call up our manager and be like, ‘I have this idea,’ and he would be like, ‘Alright, give me two days,’ and then he would either get it done or he would say it can’t be done. MaM : As a veteran musician, what is one piece of advice you could give the up-and-coming musicians who want to be seen and heard so they can establish a legacy like you? LK : The best advice I could give is play what you love. I mean, it’s fine to emulate your heroes, but eventually you’re gonna find your own sound, but make sure you love it. Also, too, and I know this is going to sound weird, but what stops a lot of other bands is a lot of infighting about money and we, Sick of It All from day one, have always divided everything equally. Everybody inputs as much as you can, but for the first two albums, it was 90% me and Pete writing everything and Armand contributed, too, but at the time Armand was in two other bands, but by ‘ Scratch the Surface ,’ when Craig had joined the band, it was all four of us working together and Armand writing and he and I splitting the lyrical writing; then, the music was split between Armand, Pete, and Craig. Now, it’s good, because I think that everybody contributes to everything. Especially like with the last album, Pete would come in with songs and have 90% of the lyrics written for each song. Craig and I would then sit down and change some of the lines or redo them or Armand would re-write with me or Craig , and it’s so much more of a unit. Love what you do and, I know it sucks, but I didn’t join a band to fill out paperwork. Learn the business so you don’t get f**ked over. MaM : Last question: What’s on the agenda for Sick of it All for the remainder of 2023? LK : We’re trying to keep busy. We’re writing and we have the Life of Agony tour coming back up in August again. We’re going back to Europe in June and July , and I’m going to be a tour guide at The Punk Rock Museum , which Pete just did it, too, but we have quite a bit coming up. Stay tuned. Be sure to catch Sick of it All live before their tour wraps up on August 27, 2023, in their hometown of Queens, N.Y. To learn more about Sick of It All: Sick Of It All – NYHC Sick Of It All | Facebook Sick Of It All (@SOIANYC) / Twitter Sick Of It All - YouTube SICK OF IT ALL (@sickofitallnyc) on Instagram Sick Of It All | Spotify Sick of It All Tickets, 2023 Concert Tour Dates | Ticketmaster *Cover photo courtesy of Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nicole Brice is a lifelong lover of punk and hardcore. She may look like a wuss, but we assure you she has military training, is a badass with an M-16A2 rifle, and her music collection is stocked with all the heavy hitters you can handle. Reach her at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Deanz is a deep soul channeling the complexities of human existence into art. < Back A Force for Change: Presenting Deanz Nicole Brice Apr 22, 2026 Share Deanz is a deep soul channeling the complexities of human existence into art. Joseph Dean Black, known artistically as Deanz , is an emerging creative force from the Lafayette, Louisiana area. His visual language carries the manic urgency of Jean-Michel Basquiat — raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically human. But Deanz isn’t an echo of influence. He’s a frequency all his own. Somewhat elusive by design, Deanz also produces an underground zine alongside his portrait work, cultivating a mystique that only deepens the impact of his art. Artwork by Deanz I first encountered his work through the cover art he created for the Louisiana band Mayrunner . The image didn’t sit still. It pulsed. It felt like something torn straight from the subconscious and pinned to paper before it could disappear. Over time, our conversations unfolded slowly, carefully — and I realized the mystery surrounding Deanz isn’t marketing. It’s protection. What he creates is intimate. It bleeds. In the months that followed, we began exchanging messages, and I found myself drawn not only to his work but to the presence behind it. There’s a veil of secrecy surrounding Deanz — a deliberate distance between the art and the man — yet what comes through is undeniable. He is more than a creator; he is a deeply introspective soul expressing himself on a frequency few dare to explore. Though he identifies first and foremost as a writer , his visual artistry speaks just as powerfully. Channeling severe childhood trauma and lived experience into his work, Deanz creates pieces layered with emotional depth and complexity. His writing and imagery move beyond surface aesthetics, confronting the human condition with honesty and intention. In a world oversaturated with noise and spectacle, his creations offer something increasingly rare: substance and authenticity. Credit: Elise Marie Mixed Alt Mag was granted an exclusive interview with the mind behind the zine and the art — and the conversation was anything but ordinary. Dive in below. MaM : I am honored you decided to speak with me today. Let’s just jump right in. Tell me a little more about yourself. Deanz : I’ve been writing for about 14 years, and this is the first time someone is writing about me. I am the ripe age of 25. MaM : Take me through all of your writing and the things you’ve done so far. How did the name Deanz come about? Deanz : Well, my name is Joseph Dean Black , and I had a bunch of stuff at work, my doodles and literature that people would touch, and I would say, “Hey! That’s Deanz shit”, and then I made a zine, met a lot of cool people, and the rest is here now. I am all literature. I started writing when I went into foster care in Baton Rouge . From there, I took everything I’ve learned, from all of the darkness in the world, and I kind of found myself in a place that’s still okay. So, I’ve just been writing. I have published and unpublished four anthologies. I’ve got a little over 800 short stories and poems . A lot of imagery, really. I don’t know what my writing style is, but I’m gonna just keep doing what I do, which is writing. Credit: Elise Marie MaM : So, you write from experience. The pain of existing. Unfortunately, they say pain makes the best art. Deanz : There are a lot of prefaces to it, too, like what I write. If you’re not ready to understand that about me or about someone else, and you read it, and you’re not in the right headspace, you can fuck yourself up with the content. I actually have a book titled “Why Joe Black” because that wasn’t the name I was born with. I changed my name when I got out of foster care, and the preface of the book states that I’ve been beaten, raped, starved, homeless, neglected, and left to the state of Louisiana. I always tell people, I promise you – everything is going to be okay. I pinky promise you. My plot twist – your dreams come true. Just stick with it. I kind of write just based on the current emotion, and I don’t rhyme. I like imagery. If I can get it on paper, I no longer have to live with it in my head. MaM : I can resonate with that. I have a journal that I just keep random quotes, bits of nothing, etc., in, but sometimes those quotes and notes fit later on when I sit down to write. Deanz : It’s so crazy that all of this is happening now, because when I got started, I had a family of five, and art wasn’t really going anywhere. I was just helping people. Now, it’s starting to get noticed. I’m not really an artist. I doodle so people will learn. I want people to be entranced by something visual because they use their visual sense before their common sense, so I’ll draw something, they'll turn it around and possibly learn something about themselves. That’s how we get better. Artwork by Deanz and Gabrielle Sonnier MaM : You’ve said a few times that you’re not an artist, but I don’t think you realize the impact your drawings have. Your art is very reminiscent of the late 70s/early 80s art scene in NYC – it’s very Basquiat-inspired, but then you release it under Deanz, and no one knows who you are, so it has this level of intrigue. Deanz : I don’t like my face to be on the internet. I’m okay with being around people, and being introduced to others in public to see people’s faces, but I don’t see a lot of value in putting yourself out there too much. Like with social media, we have to do what needs to be done. Sadly, we have to give in a little. MaM : It’s all a role. A role in society. Deanz : I understand that the foundation we have now will not carry with the generations to come. It’s not going to carry with my generation, and I understand that everything I try to put my hand in, it may be small now, but that’s the forefront. That is the basis of it. Everything that will be built will be based on this, and it will carry the next generations because we are in a renaissance. Credit: Elise Marie MaM : Yep, agreed. Deanz : All of these art forms are becoming new again. Physical media. If you don’t grab it, it’s going to grab you, and it’ll be too late. We are so much more than we have been taught to be. I tell all the youngsters all the time, they undersell us because they plan to underpay us. MaM : What all do you plan to work on in the future? What’s the trajectory look like? Deanz : I plan to start a new magazine called Humane , because we are the blue beams, we are the star people. I’m trying to remind people that first, you must be human. You are born a human, but then we are taught to be people through society, and that strips things away, or better yet, it covers it up with things they deem to be useful. If you let those things go and sit in it all, you can shed them and become human again. That’s the goal. Credit: Elise Marie MaM : How do you see yourself in the grand scheme of this renaissance? Deanz : I have a dream, and if my dream comes to fruition, I will die early. I will give my community what they need, and if I need to die, then I will. I understand that I am incredibly young to understand and feel what I am feeling, but I am so ready to give my life to ensure we remain as genuine as we can. We’re almost gone. We’re almost robots. We have a phone in our hands, and we’ve brought them into our homes, so we’ve brought society into our heads and homes. Everything we do is based on what someone is going to feel about it. I need to find a new question to ask people. I can’t tell people what to think, and I can’t tell them answers, but I can ask them questions to make them think. I understand pain that most will never. I do free art. I don’t charge anything. I don’t care to be in people’s wallets. I care to be in their minds. In my dreams, all of our dreams come true. Keep dreaming. Don’t give up on yourself. Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme. What you write doesn’t have to do be coherent. What you do doesn’t have to make sense. As long as you do it and are honest with yourself, people will get it. They will feel something. Artwork by Deanz MaM : I have a feeling you are going to change the face of art in the new era, and your work will become part of the next urban art movement. You say you aren’t an artist, but your work speaks volumes. Deanz : I don’t believe that I am an artist, and I say that to be as humble as I can, but there is a style of art now called Deanz because it is Dean’s style. I need people to feel, and if you don’t feel, then you are dead, and why are you here? Deanz isn’t building a legacy the traditional way – and that’s the point. In a city like Lafayette, where art has always lived as much in back rooms and on street corners as in formal spaces, his work carves out its own lane. It rejects polish, refuses permission, and thrives. Long after trends shift and scenes evolve, what will remain of Deanz is the residue of his presence – the life he led, the voices he amplified, and the quiet revolution of creating on his own terms. To learn more about Deanz and his work: Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Deanz (@deanzzine) • Instagram photos and videos All photos by Elise Marie Photography by Elise Marie www.photosbyelisemarie.com Photography by Elise Marie www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com mixedalternativemag@gmail.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Get ready to rock around Downtown Lafayette on August 19, 2023 < Back RAD Fest: A Lafayette Festival for Those Who Rock Nicole Brice Jul 11, 2023 Share Get ready to rock around Downtown Lafayette on August 19, 2023 What is RAD Fest? I bet that’s the question creeping into your brain right about now, so allow me to shine a little light on that. RAD Fest is the brainchild of Grant Duhon, lead vox for the rockin’ Lafayette-based punk band Subliminal Landmines . It’s a hard rock festival that got its start in 2022 and is forging ahead this year with bands set to take the stage from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Parc International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 19, 2023. Featuring talent from in and around the area, RAD Fest is a showcase for those making buzz on the local scene, allowing them to bring their mad talents to larger crowds in a festival atmosphere. Festival organizer and founder Grant Duhon says of the festival’s origins, “I love spreading music and I love sharing music, and I feel one of the reasons I was put on this earth was to spread peace, love, happiness, and inspiration through music. I wanted to create a festival that shared the local music, not just Lafayette musicians, and obviously it all started in Lafayette, but we have some bands from other areas in Louisiana as well.” He continues, “Ventruss is from Baton Rouge and Zizzi is from New Iberia. I just want to spread the sound and the music from this area in a festival-style environment. At first, it was going to be called Punk in the Park, but I found out that name is already taken. Also, too, the festival doesn’t just cover punk music; it covers all rock music. So, that’s where Rock Around Downtown (RAD Fest) came from.” This year’s line-up includes the heavy hitters: Zizzi, Chump, Ventruss, Disjunct, Mayrunner, Life On Mars, Subliminal Landmines, Night Revival, Stella Vir, Endure the Affliction, and VOID. With such a stellar line-up, the festival looks to provide a memorable day of entertainment, fun, and awesome tunage, not to mention the food they have lined up for the festival just makes our mouths water thinking about it. Food vendors include Twerk City Tacos, Saucay’BawBQ, and The Munchie Wagon. T-shirts and merchandise will be available for purchase, and if you have last year’s t-shirt and you wear it, you can gain admission to the festival for FREE this year. The plan is to continue this tradition going forward, too. This is an all ages event, so bring the family, and pre-sell tickets are still available for purchase, so check out their social media for more details on RAD Fest 2023! Facebook Rock Around Downtown Fest (@rad_fest) | Instagram www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

P.A.C.A. < Back Punk Music Festival to Benefit Local Non-Profits that Work with At-Risk Youth and Children of Child Abuse/Neglect Nicole Brice Feb 25, 2023 Share P.A.C.A. P.A.C.A. or Punks Against Child Abuse was formed in a living room late one night in early January 2023 with the purpose being to showcase a music festival from September 15-17, 2023 in Catoosa, TN that includes other vendors to use the funds raised in supporting non-profits that work with children and youth that are impacted from abuse/neglect. The organizations chosen to be supported are a vital resource to the state of Tennessee, especially in rural counties like Jamestown, Cookeville and Crossville. The non-profits are CHANCE Girls Youth Home, UC Foster Closet and STARS Nashville. The UC Foster Closet works hard to support families by hosting and providing special events, establish community support through Foster Friendly Partners, and provide opportunities for fellowship with other foster/kinship families with “Connecting Families.” CHANCE provides a safe, highly structured, therapeutic environment where each youth knows their value, and with compassion and perseverance, relationships can be restored; providing an opportunity to change these kids lives to where they can discover their strengths and gain the confidence needed to lead healthy, harmonious, and productive lives when given a second chance. This facility serves youth, ages 12 – 18, and their families, primarily from the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee. STARS Nashville helps all young people pursue their unlimited potential. STARS has served some of the most disenfranchised populations by providing school-based prevention and intervention services, as well as intensive outpatient treatment services for adolescents with substance use and co-occurring disorders. According to Kids Count 2020, Tennessee had over 67,000 cases of child abuse. CACTN also reported that in one year alone, over 4,000 cases of child abuse were reported in the state of Tennessee. According to Kids Count, youth in Tennessee experience two or more ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and this is higher than the national average and one in ten are living in poverty. The plan is to bring in bands, craft and food vendors at Catoosa, TN for a two-and-a-half-day charity festival that will be an all-ages event where alcohol will not be served. There will be a wrestling match on site sponsored by the wrestling group in Crossville also. In addition to music and wrestling, there will be goat yoga and/or goat cuddling and a balloon vendor that offers face paint for the children. The current band list is comprised of different types of punk bands that include punk rock; hardcore punk; skate punk; folk punk and more. Most of the bands are from Tennessee but some are coming from Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, and even New York. There will be a wide variety of food offerings from coffee to pizza to Germanic/Hispanic food and day and weekend passes will be available for the event. More than forty bands, craft vendors and food vendors have signed on to participate thus far. Since this festival is at Catoosa, there will be 180 acres of land which will allow the patrons to camp on site if needed. PACA is currently seeking donations and sponsors for this incredible event and there are three levels of sponsorships available. For more information about sponsorships, contact Kassandra Morgan at 931-704-2919 or you can e-mail pacafestival@gmail.com . To learn more about the event, visit www.pacafestival.com or visit them on social media at: Punks Against Child Abuse | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

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Louisiana's Radfest is back for its third installment in September. < Back Southern Happenings: Rad Fest 2024 Nicole Brice Aug 13, 2024 Share Louisiana's Radfest is back for its third installment in September. Lafayette’s Radfest returns in September for the third year and promises to be better than ever with a stellar line-up and a new two-day format. The festival begins on September 20, 2024, at Feed N Seed in Lafayette , at 106 N. Grant Street, where four bands will take the stage for the night starting at 7:00 p.m. The second day of the festival will be on September 21, 2024 at Parc International in downtown Lafayette, and the music will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Held in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, Rad Fest was created in 2022 by Grant Duhon, lead vox for the Lafayette-based punk band Subliminal Landmines . It features talent from in and around the area and is a showcase for those making buzz on the local scene, allowing them to bring their mad talents to larger crowds in a festival atmosphere. The line-up for the first day includes: Garguts (7-7:30) Genre : Sludge Metal/ Death ‘n’ Roll She Might Be A Beast (7:45-8:15) Genre : Neo-Grunge From Misery to Malice (8:30-9) Genre : Death Metal / Deathcore S wamp Stank (9:15-10) Genre : Metal The line-up for the second day includes: Subliminal Landmines (2:30-3) Genre : Punk Dogma (3:15-3:45) Genre : Metal Sick at Heart (4-4:30) Genre : Alternative / Hard Rock Apex Fallen (4:45-5:15) Genre : Metal Life On Mars (5:30-6) Genre : Metalcore First Street Hooligans (6:15-6:45) Genre : Rock Ultrasound (7-7:30) Genre : Metal We All Perish (7:45-8:15) Genre : Alternative/Metal/Rock Inner Anguish (8:30-9) Genre : Hard Rock Endure the Affliction (9:15-10) Genre : Metal Pre-sell tickets are still available, so check out social media for more details. Facebook Rock Around Downtown Fest (@rad_fest) | Instagram www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

Merging Styles < Back A Bright Visualist: Robin Masterman Nicole Brice Oct 4, 2022 Share Merging Styles Robin Masterman is a Louisiana-based visual artist whose style resonates in multiple categories from the finest of art to facets of everyday life and right on down to the circumstances existing all around us. Art by Robin Masterman Currently living in the city where he grew up, Prairieville , he spends his time focusing on making art that not only catches your attention but also makes you stop and think about things that probably never occurred to you. His pieces use bright, vibrant colors with an extensive range of creative depth that spans from on-the-surface interpretations to subjects that cannot be seen at first glance with the naked eye. Art by Robin Masterman Masterman comes by his artistic gene honestly. His father is a sculptor, and his grandmother was a painter. It was she who introduced him the medium as a child and always kept him painting, encouraging his abilities. Because of that, he pulls a lot of his inspiration from her, as well as from his mother and father, to create works so deeply personal one cannot help but feel the energy behind his intention. But family isn’t his only source of inspiration. Art by Robin Masterman “Emotions, thoughts, losses, wins—it all depends on the day. Now, graffiti? That’s a different story because of the adrenaline bursts of wondering whether the cops are going to bust ya when [you’re] putting up a piece,” Robin replies when asked what other sources light up his creative spark. While he is, no doubt, a man of multi-faceted talents, he makes sure each piece he does is unique to itself to ensure no two pieces are the same. And while he uses a host of many mediums, Robin prefers marker and spray paint over anything else but says he will do some acrylic, “on occasion.” Art by Robin Masterman Mirroring the styles of famed pioneer fashion artist Stephen Sprouse and Neo-expressionist icon Basquiat , Robin’s talent is one to remember strictly because of the impression it leaves. He started drawing at the age of nine. It wasn’t until the late 90’s, when he was working at tattoo shops, that he truly got into making art. It started with canvas art in 2002 and he says of the time with a laugh, “It was acrylic ninja masks and arrows; it was bad.” Art by Robin Masterman But Masterman evolved well past his artistic beginnings and, at one time, worked under numerous well-known street artists. Says Robin , “I learned spray paint and acrylics from other graffiti artists, which also led to a strange fascination with painting numbers at times.” When asked of a famous artist he would like to spend the day with, living or dead, he responded, “Renoir. For the experience, conversation, and models. I respect his way of self-preservation and profit, while still doing what you love.” The artist at work Jackson Pollock is another one of his inspirations, specifically “his work with Benton pre-drip craze … [it]was amazing!” says Masterman. As for where Robin sees himself in the future, “Just trying surrealism a bit, and maybe traveling. Who knows?” Robin’s work can be purchased directly from the man himself by either reaching out via social media or e-mailing RobinMastermanArt@gmail.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterobinnola/ Art by Robin Masterman www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

New Orleans, LA April 20, 2024 < Back Southern Happenings: Kriss Russ, JAYD3D!, and Coma Nights at the Howlin Wolf Rian Nickels Apr 24, 2024 Share New Orleans, LA April 20, 2024 On April 20th, 2024, The Howlin' Wolf —named after legendary bluesman Chester Burnett—hosted an unforgettable night of music featuring Louisiana artists Kris Russ , JAYD3D! , and Coma Nights . The evening's weather was just right, creating a comfortable setting that complemented the venue's cozy and intimate atmosphere. With its open layout and small stage, The Howlin' Wolf provided a space where the audience could feel a close connection to the performers. This iconic venue has a rich history, known for hosting an impressive array of blues and jazz musicians over the years. Alongside those greats, The Howlin' Wolf has also welcomed crowd favorites like Mac Miller, Chance the Rapper, and Twenty One Pilots, making it a staple in the New Orleans music scene. The combination of historical significance and contemporary talent made this night a true celebration of the spirit of music. Credit: Rian Nickels The first musician to hit the stage was solo act Kris Russ from Kenner, Louisiana. Kris has a voice with range that floated through the crowd and echoed from The Den room into the bar room of the Howlin’ Wolf. His angelic vocals brought an intimate, almost ethereal quality to the venue, captivating everyone in attendance. His dexterity of the guitar is unmistakable, with each chord he strums resonating deep within the hearts of the audience. His songs, filled with themes of getting older, love, and saving the world, carried a raw emotional depth that drew listeners into his world. In-between singing he gave us emotional monologues that pulled at our heart strings with backstory to his music, such as with his songs “If we knew then what we know now” and “ It’s too dangerous to go alone so take me ” proving that Kris Russ is more than just a performer—he's a storyteller with a gift for connecting on a deeply personal level. Kris placed us in the atmosphere of emotional healing and gave us the feeling of being understood. After his twelve song setlist, the audience was left awe-inspired and he gave a warming introduction to the next band, Coma Nights . Credit: Rian Nickels The four-piece, Coma Nights , burst onto the stage with an energy that transformed the venue from a mellow acoustic set into a lively full band performance. Their dynamic entrance immediately awoke the crowd, bringing everyone to their feet and into motion. The lead vocalist’s notes soared above the beating rhythm of the drums and the melodic riffs of the guitar and bass, showcasing a vocal range that commanded attention. The band played with remarkable synchronization, each member seamlessly aligned with the others, as if they were of one mind. As they launched into their hits like "Weekend Neighbors," "Paint," and "Storm," the audience was swept up in the pulsating beats, dancing and jumping along with infectious enthusiasm. Coma Nights demonstrated that a great band isn't just about individual talent—it's about the synergy of musicians in harmony. As they played their 10 song setlist they warmed up the audience for JAYD3D! to perform his debut album, “ Outstanding Gentlemen ”. Credit: Rian Nickels JAYD3D! took the stage with a vibe that defied categorization. His sound—a fusion of hip hop, pop punk, rap, and alternative—drew an intimate crowd eager to experience his debut album, " Outstanding Gentlemen ." As he started his set, the lighting shifted dramatically from moody and subtle to lively flashes of strobes and color, thanks to our buddy Justin, from the band Jean Claude Segal , who took over the light board on a whim and may have discovered some of his own hidden talent. JAYD3D! , along with his drummer Ty, delivered a high-energy performance that resonated with the crowd's spirit. They had the crowd going through the motions of singing, jumping, and even slow dancing. Together, they brought The Den to life and everyone together with upbeat odes to transitioning into adulthood, falling in love, and melancholic optimism. The 14 song setlist was a perfect mix of originals and his own twist on nostalgic covers. JAYD3D! played pop hits like "If It Makes You Happy" and "Bubbly," adding his signature moody pop punk twist that infused the familiar tunes with a raw, energetic edge. Along with his unique covers, JAYD3D! sang songs from “ Outstanding Gentlemen ” such as, “Three Hour Walks” and “Outstanding Fighter”. The audience, a mix of close friends, fellow musicians, and curious newcomers, were captivated by his seamless transitions and genre-blending artistry. JAYD3D! 's performance proved that music isn't about fitting into a box—it's about breaking free of the mainstream conformity and creating something new and exciting. With his vibrant stage presence and innovative sound, he turned The Den into a dynamic celebration of music, creativity, and did not fail to make us feel alive. Credit: Rian Nickels Overall, this night at The Howlin' Wolf demonstrated the venue's versatility and its ability to bring together a wide range of musical talents. It was a celebration of Louisiana's rich music scene and a testament to the power of live performance in connecting artists and audiences. *All photos by Rian Nickels www.rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or Comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next