It’s intriguing, it’s glamorous, and it’s full of nostalgia. < Back Book Review: Playboys, Celebrities, and Me by Dianne Dorman Nicole Brice Mar 12, 2025 Share It’s intriguing, it’s glamorous, and it’s full of nostalgia. For those who know me, it’s no secret that I have always had an obsession with Playboy magazine and Hugh Hefner . The obsession stems more around trying to figure out who the man truly was vs who he projected to those closest to him, but this book review is not about that. After doing a random search online for more books containing anything Playboy -related, I instantly found Dianne 's book and ordered it because I’ve been down the rabbit hole on that for quite a while. The book starts a little slow, but around the chapter titled The Candy Store , the pace picks up significantly, and from there, it’s a whirlwind of events, from a passionate romance with one of baseball’s greats to hanging out at the Beverly Hills Hotel and more. Click to purchase Name-dropping abounds with a who’s who of the celebrity world in the 1970s and 1980s. This book truly is an insider’s look at some of the private affairs of the Hollywood elite. Dianne does a great job of explaining the superficial reasoning behind who made “it” back then via slimy casting agents, which still applies today, and through that, she makes you realize how fake it all truly is and how we are merely actors performing in our plays. It's all there, from modeling for Playboy , Linda Lovelace adventures, and an awkward first meeting experience with the legendary Telly Savalas . Dianne ’s narrative speaks of self-confidence, love and loss, and finding oneself amid all the chaos. A blonde beauty who attracted the attention of many men, Dianne ’s career involved modeling and acting, sometimes in entertaining situations. It involved some of Hollywood ’s finest men, and most interestingly, Dianne Dorman even once dated the “ Winchester Cigarette Guy .” Notable career moments include being considered for Farrah Fawcett ’s replacement on Charlie’s Angels and being asked to be Katherine Hepburn ’s double on the film Stagecoach . Dianne also tells the tale of being chosen for a spot as a reindeer girl for Bob Hope ’s Christmas Special in the late '70s. Ladies, there is even a chapter titled The Grotto . I’ll let you figure out what that one is about. It includes a steamy narrative with Ronnie Caan , brother of the legendary James Caan , and it is sure to get your pulse going. Google what he looks like. Not bad. Dianne vividly describes the Playboy Mansion , where you feel like you were there, and I wish I could have been just once in my life. It’s sad to think that what once was is no more. Beyond the bad times I’ve read more about, which occurred at the mansion, Dianne ’s book is more positive and keeps the original spirit of what I think Hugh wanted the mansion to have. Overall, Playboys, Celebrities, and Me is a very engaging book. I recommend you check it out. To purchase your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bFzpjb5 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

Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. < Back Sons of Anarchy: Bingeworthy Keeley Brooks Sep 25, 2023 Share Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. Welcome to Bingeworthy, the place where we’ll tell you all about some of our favorite shows out there that are totally worth your undivided attention and that cozy imprint of your backside on your couch. Sometimes our binge-worthy recommendations will be new series, sometimes they’ll be older series, but one thing’s for sure: They’ll always be bitchin’ series worth every second of your precious little time. First up on our binge-worthy list is one of the best gritty action crime dramas to ever grace our TV screens (and one of my personal favorites), the adrenalized outlaw motorcycle club drama Sons of Anarchy . I’ll admit, the biker world has always captivated me, ever since 2000 when I first heard, then saw, then rode a Harley; after that, I was hooked and forever changed. That was well before Sons of Anarchy, back when the hit reality TV series American Chopper was infiltrating the airwaves. And while American Chopper was responsible for generating biker-enthusiast interest amongst the general public, it was really Sons of Anarchy that satiated our desire for that juicy insider perspective, even if it was fictional. Sons of Anarchy roared into our lives on their Hogs with their leathers in 2008, forever changing the FX Network and catching the undivided attention of millions of viewers. The series is created, written, produced, and directed by Kurt Sutter , who also stars in as tortured incarcerated club member Otto Delaney. Sutter is also responsible for the creation of Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. , and—fun fact—in real life, he is married to actress Katey Sagal ( Married with Children ), who in Sons of Anarchy plays club matriarch Gemma Teller Morrow. Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter The widow of former club president and original founding member John Teller, Gemma is now married to the current Sons of Anarchy president, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman, of Hellboy ). As Clay's old lady, she's smart, mouthy, tough, and loyal, but she’s also a bully—the kind who doesn’t think twice about using a skateboard to bitch-smack a chick across the face. Gemma is the kind of woman who can give and take a beating like a champ and she's fiercely protective of her family; she's also intensely maternal to the members of SAMCRO as well as the citizens of Charming. As Queen Mother of the club, she’s a master manipulator, constantly having to scheme to keep her secrets hidden and ensure her power continues to grow. While she is loyal to her family and the Sons of Anarchy, she’s most loyal to herself. But then I suppose as a woman wrapped high up in an outlaw motorcycle club, she kind of has to be, right? Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman as Gemma and Clay Morrow Sons of Anarchy is a no-bullshit motorcycle drama with darkly comedic undertones about a club built on hopes, dreams, loyalty, and brotherhood that becomes tainted with lies, secrets, and betrayals when guns, drugs, and violence infiltrate the core of the Sons’ foundation. The series uses its narratives to explore the brutal realities of vigilantism, government corruption, and racism through a plot that depicts an outlaw motorcycle club as a visceral analogy for human transformation , and that is where the show hooks and draws you in. Sons of Anarchy follows the heart-wrenching story of Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam, of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword ), club vice president and Gemma’s son with the late John Teller, as he struggles to find balance between fatherhood and honoring his personal relationships while remaining loyal to his club, which is slowly unraveling from the inside out. Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller In Season 1, Jax finds and begins reading his father’s memoirs, which focus on John’s vision for the club and its future, which never included running guns and drugs. Jax comes across a specific passage that reads, “A true outlaw finds the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind. The outcome is the balance of might and right.” This defines Jax’s dilemma throughout the entire series. Jax grew up around the M.C. and at his core is just a boy who lost his father to madness after the death of his first son (and Jax’s brother), Thomas. As good writing tends to do, Sons of Anarchy revisits this theme in Jax’s adulthood when he faces a harrowing situation with his first-born son, Abel. There's some heavy drama around the birth of Jax’s son, around his on-again/off-again relationship with his high school sweetheart (and future wife and baby mama) Tara (Maggie Siff, of Billions ), and around the crumbling sanity of everyone involved as they sink deeper and deeper into the very things that the original founding members prided themselves on avoiding. Also known as SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original) and Sam Crow (the personification of the acronym, the Sons of Anarchy are an extremely loyal, tight-knit club operating both legal and illegal businesses in the quaint, fictional town of Charming, located in the Central California valley. Here, the Sons work together in their own ways with local law enforcement and other area clubs and local VIPs to keep Charming safe and to ensure the Sons’ control of that safety. L to R: Tig, Opie, Chibs, Juice, Bobby, Tara, Jax, Clay, and Gemma Legally, SAMCRO owns and operates Teller-Morrow Automotive Repair Shop and has a stake in the local porn and escort industries. Illegally, they run guns for the Irish—yep, the Irish are involved … both the IRA and the Belfast charter of the Sons of Anarchy . The drama unfolding here (and believe me, there’s a ton) establishes the first three seasons, indicating that some major action goes down revolving around (and exposing) some secret history between SAMCRO and the Irish. This ultimately becomes the catalyst for everything that plays out through the remaining four seasons. Sons of Anarchy doesn’t just introduce us to SAMCRO, though; it also gives us a taste of other clubs and crime syndicates in the area: the Mayans M.C., Latinos controlling North Cali, Nevada, and Vegas with a charter in Oakland; the Pirelli Crime Family, an Italian-American Mafia family; the Nordics, a white supremacist drug-dealing gang with ties to the Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang and crime syndicate; the Grim Bastards, a mostly Black club based in Lodi who are allies with the Sons of Anarchy; and the One-Niners (“the Niners”), an all-Black, drug-dealing, gun-buying street gang in Oakland. Oh, the Russian mafia is also involved, as are the A.T.F., the D.E.A., and the Asst. District Attorney for the U.S. Government, who is soft-spoken, pun-appreciating, and unnerving all at once. They’re all sniffing around like packs of wild dogs salivating over a piece of bloody meat. So, there’s that conflict to contend with as well. Speaking of conflict, Sons of Anarchy features some pretty volatile beefs inter-politically, racially, within SAMCRO, between SAMCRO and other clubs, between SAMCRO and law enforcement, between SAMCRO and some of its own charters, amongst and between law enforcement, and between individual characters. Then there are the bits of drama silently brewing that viewers don’t even know about until Sutter throws it in your face and leaves you wondering what the hell just happened. Expect a lot of smack talk, fist fights, shoot-outs in the street, high-speed motorcycle chases, and gruesome acts of violence, retribution, and war in addition to chick fights, biker parties, weddings, funerals, betrayals, and insider shenanigans. All of this is awesome, yes, but it isn’t the reason Sons of Anarchy is such a heart-stealer: Its intricate narrative woven together by emotionally deep characters operating under the tenet of undying brotherhood and loyalty is ... its exposure of human transformation. The only question is who that undying loyalty is to: themselves, their town, or their club. And I can assure you that just when you think you know the answer, Sutter proves you wrong and again leaves you sitting in disbelief. On the surface, Sons of Anarchy is just a show about a biker club. Beneath that, it’s the raw story of a blended family (Jax’s family with Tara, which consists of his child with another woman and his child with Tara) within the story of a blended family (the Teller-Morrows) within the story of a blended family (SAMCRO). Sons of Anarchy is rife with fascinating subplots that twist and turn with precision to present a very specific message played out by interesting characters whose dilemmas do a number on your heart strings. You see, everyone in Charming has a backstory (and an army of secrets), and they’re all working together and behind each other’s backs to secure one thing: safety … safety of the club, of themselves, and of Charming, which is quite ironic when you think about it: A town called Charming, full of people who’d put their life on the line to keep it safe, is anything but. As each season rolls on, and there are seven of them, you’ll find yourself falling deeper in love not just with the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club but also with its individual members, like Juice (Theo Rossi, of Army of the Dead ), Chibs (Tommy Flanagan, of Power Book IV: Force ), Tig (Kim Coates, of Bad Blood ), Sheriff Wayne Unser (Dayton Callie, of Fear the Walking Dead ), and Opie (Ryan Hurst, of The Walking Dead ), to name a few. You’ll love them, laugh with them and at them, cry with them and for them, hurt with them and for them, support them in their quests for retribution, and share their foundation of family and brotherhood … loyalty with no questions asked. Even though these guys are outlaws, they have their own private sense of morality and their own very real, very human, loving, meaningful relationships. Sons of Anarchy crescendos with tender, genuine, heartfelt moments laced with chaos and fear, and it shows us what anyone is capable of when threatened with exposure, destruction, and/or death. In the case of SAMCRO, they all have good hearts; they just can’t deny their outlaw nature, and that’s where who they truly are gets misconstrued. There’s a great scene where Gemma tells someone who is admitting they pre-judged the club that, “Most people just have an impression of who bikers are corrupted by opinions of others without ever having any sort of true idea who they ever really are.” This statement applies to more than just bikers, especially today, and one thing Sons of Anarchy indelibly teaches us is that books cannot and must not be judged by their covers. And for all the effort to do good that happens in the beginning of Sons of Anarchy , by Season 4, the narrative grows much darker and much more evil, with the bonds of love, family, and brotherhood morphing into fear and greed as old secrets come to light, shady new alliances form that align the club with the Mexican drug cartel--something the original founding members never wanted to happen--and the arrival of a whole new level of law enforcement ready and willing to throw their manhood around loud and proud whenever they feel it’s necessary. The Mexican drug cartel, the Galindos, are also featured in Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. Seasons 5, 6, and 7 are full of adrenaline and shockingly tense moments, as this narrative takes some wild, unexpected twists and turns that will have you all over the emotional scale. The reason Sons of Anarchy works so well is because it's not a show about souping up Harleys or anything like that. Sutter was very careful to be true to those who live the life in the way that any smart creator would: by ensuring he treated the respective subject matter with appropriate respect, and he did. Something most viewers didn’t know at the time Sons of Anarchy aired is that the show features some real-life Hell’s Angels bikers . David Labrava, who plays Happy Lowman—the club’s assassin—is a recurring character and he also served as the show’s technical advisor. Rusty Coones and Chuck Zito were also Hell’s Angels members who appeared as part of the Nomads charter and came onto the show in later seasons to, quite frankly, stir shit up. And, the infamous Hell’s Angels most feared leader, Sonny Barger, also makes several appearances. Barger was the founding member of the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels and was instrumental in unifying varying disparate Hell’s Angels chapters. He had the club incorporated in 1966. L to R: Chuck Zito, David. Labrava, Sonny Barger, Rusty Coones Additionally, Sons of Anarchy features a host of other guest appearances, such as Joel McHale ( Community) , Jimmy Smits ( Dexter ), Donal Logue ( Gotham ), Dave Navarro (of Jane’s Addiction and Ink Master ), Peter Weller ( Longmire ), Danny Trejo ( Machete ), Walton Goggins ( Justified ), CCH Pounder ( NCIS: New Orleans ), Robert Patrick ( Terminator series), Drea De Matteo ( The Sopranos ), Kim Dickens ( Fear the Walking Dead ), and horror author Stephen King. They all show up as interesting characters, each with their own secrets and quirks, further driving our curiosity (and obsession) with this binge-worthy series that can best be described as a mix of The Sopranos and Hamlet with motorcycles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paBZJJXUEtg Is More of the SoA Universe on the Way? Sutter set off chatter on Twitter during COVID lockdown that he had plans for a sequel to Sons of Anarchy entitled Sam Crow , a show that would center on Jax's son, Abel. "I had this revelation between [ Sons of Anarchy ] and Mayans that the SoA mythology would be four shows: Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., First Nine, and Sam Crow. First Nine would be a limited series. Nine episodes. It would end before we began to tread on the history we created in Sons [i.e. a prequel]. Sam Crow would be the fate of Wendi (Drea De Matteo), Nero (Jimmy Smits), Abel, and Thomas." Both Charlie Hunnam and Theo Rossi seemed to confirm rumors of a possible new Sons of Anarchy project. Speaking at Liverpool Comic Con in May 2022, Hunnam told the audience, "There's something in that universe that doesn't involve Jax Teller but does involve me that we're sort of cooking up," hinting he could "possibly" appear in a follow-up series. "I have an idea that I''m exploring in its infancy where that could be a possibility." In March 2023 while speaking with Deadline , Theo Rossi teased an "insane" new Sons of Anarchy project: "There might be something coming up where we're all back together, which is insane. If it happens, it's wild." When asked if this might be an idea for a Sons of Anarchy movie, Rossi smiled cryptically and said, "It's totally different. It's really cool." While nothing has officially been confirmed, I'd say it's safe to remain hopeful that we'll see some sort of Sons of Anarchy return in one way or another. Now, if you've seen the series, you might be wondering how that'd be possible given the fates of some of the characters. In my best The Big Lebowski 's Walter Sobchak voice, "There are ways, dude. Believe me, there are ways." Sons of Anarchy is currently streaming on Hulu, or you can rent or purchase on Google Play, Prime Video, Roku, and Vudu. 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

Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation < Back Disjunct: Technically Gifted Musicians Who Push Boundaries Nicole Brice Aug 23, 2023 Share Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation In a society where music has become synonymous with formulaic beats and predictable melodies, occasionally a band emerges to challenge the status quo. Disjunct, an up-and-coming experimental band that formed in 2021 as a jam project in Freetown, Louisiana, became more serious about their craft in April 2022 and began seriously writing and playing more live shows. The band consists of Brock Bonin (guitarist), Tony Struhldreher (drums), and Trent Hebert (bass). These guys recently played Rad Fest 2023 in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, and their set was nothing short of remarkable. As we watched guitarist Brock Bonin play last Saturday, MaM Lead Photographer Gary Governale and I both remarked, “Damn, that guy is good!” Credit: Gary Governale Disjunct is a band unafraid to experiment and push boundaries. Blending elements of psychedelia, progressive rock, djent, and jazz, their music defies categorization. Their ability to seamlessly merge different styles and genres results in a truly original sound that leaves a lasting impression on listeners. Disjunct refuses to be boxed in, constantly striving to transcend musical expectations, and with band influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Primus to Chon, the end result “is a culmination of our preferences that mesh together to form a new and unique sound,” says founding member Brock Bonin. Credit: Gary Governale When it comes to live performances, Disjunct draws the line in the sand. The band’s synergy cannot be missed because, like a fine-oiled machine, each member brings their unique flair. The passion with which Disjunct performs is an unforgettable experience. If you missed their set at Rad Fest, bummer—but rest assured these guys have much more on the horizon for the remainder of 2023 and beyond, and we’ve got a small snippet of their performance for you below. We were able to ask Brock a few questions about Disjunct, so check out a little Q & A and then stay tuned for more from these guys! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_d92ed01f39994c248c47df31396eb27c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : I can’t seem to find any music for you on Bandcamp or Spotify. Where can I find your music? BB : We are actively working on putting together recorded music for our listeners. There is an EP dropping this fall, with new single releases to follow shortly after. MaM : Are there any notable shows you guys have played yet besides Rad Fest? BB : Disjunct preformed Marsfest as well as the Festival International after a party hosted by Artmosphere. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Who or what influences you to write music? BB : A large part of our writing process comes from the general idea that we want to stay original. Most of the music has been written from the ground up based on ideas that presented themselves organically during jam sessions. MaM : Where do you see the band headed in the future? BB : We have plans to grow together as a group and mature our music into a more cohesive sound. Things to look forward to are a heavier ambiance, extended-range guitars, and more technical proficiency all around. Disjunct is a band that is challenging conventions, turning heads, and offering a breath of fresh air to the local music scene. To learn more about Disjunct, visit them on social media via one of the links below. Instagram : Disjunct (@disjunctband) • Instagram photos and videos *Cover Photo - Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Nicole Brice just loves music. It doesn’t matter the type. Do you have something you think she should hear? Hit her up at mixedalternativemag@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

Slow Down by Manchester-based band What Will Be serves as an alt-rock anthem for post-pandemic healing and is a testament to the beauty of human creativity. < Back What Will Be: Slow Down Erica Machen Nov 3, 2023 Share Slow Down by Manchester-based band What Will Be serves as an alt-rock anthem for post-pandemic healing and is a testament to the beauty of human creativity. In the world of alternative rock, where raw emotion and edginess often take center stage, ' Slow Down ' by five-piece UK-based band What Will Be —due for release November 3rd —stands out as a refreshing departure. Strongly influenced by the sound of the 90s, ' Slow Down ' evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of bands like Incubus and Hoobastank . For those who turn to alternative rock and grunge-era music as a source of solace, ' Slow Down ' not only captures the essence of the past but infuses it with positive vibes that resonate deeply and makes it a must-listen in challenging times. Released November 3, 2023 What Will Be is made up of Bram (guitar/vocals), Jonny (guitar), James (bass/vocals), JK (drums/vocals), and Chris (keyboard/piano). Bram doubles down his talent by being the band’s primary songwriter with lyrics inspired by his own life and observations. With his acoustic guitar in hand, Bram became a vessel for inspiration in weaving early lyrics and melodies together for ' Slow Down '. Upon bringing it to the rest of the guys at their purpose-built studio in Manchester , the true awakening happened. Organically, JK and James worked up the rhythm section, Bram added more layers with the guitar, and Chris wove in his piano melodies and strings. What they so naturally produced with ' Slow Down ' is a testament to the beauty of human creativity. Credit: Photo provided by band ' Slow Down ' has profound relevance in our post-pandemic world, where feelings of isolation have become all too common. While it was originally penned to convey the struggle against illness and the missed opportunities to connect with loved ones, its message touches the hearts of anyone who has felt the burden of isolation. The song invites you to embrace your support networks and acknowledge those who stood by you during your most vulnerable moments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQD9Tu0cG8U The official music video for 'Slow Down' by What Will Be One of the noteworthy characteristics of ' Slow Down ' is its compelling vocal performance . Bram pours raw emotion into his lyrics, highlighting the authenticity and heartfelt journey through pain, healing, and ultimately, resilience. The lyrics, with the recurring phrase " feel time slow down ," carry a powerful message. This line resonates with anyone who has experienced moments when life seems to come to a standstill, and yet, it also celebrates the rare instances when time aligns remarkably with our needs . With ' Slow Down ', What Will Be has achieved a fantastic ability to address complex emotions and responses to life's challenges while offering listeners a sense of understanding and shared experience— a must-listen in challenging times. In a world still struck with the aftermath of the global pandemic, What Will Be’s ' Slow Down ' serves as a poignant reminder that there's strength to be found in our connections and resilience in the face of life's challenges . The song's fusion of raw emotions, energy and positivity offers a ray of hope, and underscores the enduring spirit of the human experience. ' Slow Down ' is more than just a song; it's a testament to the healing power of music and a call to embrace the journey of resilience, no matter where you are in life. In capturing the essence of the past alongside deep human emotion, ' Slow Down ' showcases the boundless wellspring of talent within What Will Be and surely makes it a must-listen track. To learn more about What Will Be: Facebook: Facebook - What Will Be Twitter: Profile / Twitter Spotify: Slow Down - Spotify - What Will Be Apple Music: Apple Music - Slow Down - What Will Be YouTube: YouTube - What Will Be Instagram: Instagram - What Will Be 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 southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage < Back Comedian Junior Cook: Uncensored, Unapologetic, and Gay, Gay, Gay Keeley Brooks Jun 8, 2023 Share A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage If there's anything I love more than watching movies and series, it's having a good laugh at some quality stand-up comedy. And right now, more than ever, this entire world is in need of good, hearty laughs from quality comedians who are proud to be authentic. There's nothing better than coming home after a long day and stumbling across some good standup by accident, and that's how I found unapologetic Alabama-based comedian Junior Cook. A loud and proud gay comedian tearin' it up across the South, Cook is full of life and personality with tons of material, but perhaps the best thing about him is the fact he has no shame when it comes to being himself, and that, my friends, is beyond refreshing in a world of likeness and conformity. He's kind and humble, and he isn't afraid to tackle sensitive subjects with charm and ease, which he embodies effortlessly. He's mindful of presenting jokes wrapped in such sweet southern swagger, you can't help but feel like you're sitting on your porch hanging out with Junior over a tall glass of sweet tea. I reached out to Junior to have a chat, and I'm glad I did. He is one funny dude doing exactly what he's meant to be doing, and if he keeps plugging away like he is, he's got one bright future ahead of him. In fact, when I did reach out to him, he had just been selected as the chosen performer for Season 13 of Kenan Presents: The Live Performance Showcase at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre in Huntsville, Alabama. The show was hosted by Alton Walker, the creator of The NextIN Line Network, and featured special guest Lamar Pullom, a radio personality known as "The Ant-Man of Comedy" on 105.1 The Block. courtesy of Junior Cook social media I couldn't wait to dig in and learn more about Cook and his life, so check out our conversation below, then be sure to follow him on social media so you can catch him performing live and laugh until your face hurts. MaM : Junior, thank you so much for hanging out with us. It's a pleasure to feature you in our Comedic Relief section. Tell us where you're from and where you're currently located. JC : Thank you for having me! I grew up in a very small town in Alabama called Haleyville, but I currently live in Birmingham, Alabama. MaM : What were you like as a child? Were you the one always entertaining everybody else with laughs? JC : As a child I was cautious, shy, and curious. I knew who I was at a very young age, but I also knew the world was not ready for me. (laughs) MaM : Has comedy always been a part of your life? JC : Comedy has always been a part of my life, yes-especially through TV sitcoms and variety shows. I was always looking for the weird and the funny. MaM : When were you first introduced to comedy? JC : My first introduction to stand-up comedy was watching Whoopi Goldberg's HBO comedy special as a child. I was with my family at the beach. I was burnt from too much sun, so I stayed inside and was just taken aback by her characters and skits. She was amazing ... still is! That is probably the reason why I am so excited to see female comedians. MaM : Whoopi is hysterical. I remember her specials as a child, too. I thought she was the funniest woman I'd ever seen at the time. So daring and bold. When did you know you wanted to be a comedian? JC : I have always enjoyed making people laugh. My mother tried to get me to pursue stand-up comedy right out of high school but, yet again, I knew the world was not ready for me. Also, I saw making money and exploring who I was and meeting others just like me as being more important at the time. One day at work, I had a client tell me that I should try out for one of the comedy clubs' open mic nights. I knew there was more to it than just getting out there and running your mouth, so I looked into the open mic and saw that they offered many writing classes. After I finished the classes and did my first stand-up gig, I was hooked. MaM : What does comedy mean to you/do for you and your life? JC : Comedy means everything to me. Working with words and improv has helped me expand as a person, and comedy also gives me the pleasure of making people happy and lifting their spirits, [even if it is for] just one evening. MaM : Tell us about the first time you were on stage doing standup. What was that like for you? courtesy of Junior Cook JC : The first time I was ever on a stage in front of people probably was the scariest time I've ever felt. It felt like [I was about to] bungee jump off a 10-story building with no safety net. Yet, even with what little laughs I got, I was happy and [it] helped me discover that [standup] was for me. MaM : Ha, I've bungeed before and it's terrifying ... until you actually jump! So, I understand your fear and how it compelled you to move forward. That's really cool. Who are some of your comedic influences? JC : My comedy influences have always been women in comedy. Even today, it's the women who make me laugh [the most]. Watching The Golden Girls with my grandmother on the weekends was the highlight of my week growing up. A lot of the jokes went straight over my head becuase I was so young, but watching my grandmother laugh so hard made me laugh even harder. Sitcoms, The Carol Burnett Show, and female stand-up comedians like Joan Rivers have made a huge impact on my life. MaM : Who was the first comedian you ever saw live? JC : I think the first comedian I ever saw live was Lisa Lampanelli. She was crude, rude, and everything good! She told it like it was but in a really funny way. She will always be in my top ten list of comedians I love. MaM : Who's your current favorite comedian? JC : My current favorite comedian has to be Wanda Sykes, hands down. She works so hard, but she makes it look effortless. I admire that about her. MaM : Dude, huge congratulations on the Live Performance Showcase ! That's so awesome! You must have been elated from the time you got the news clean through after you finished your set. Tell us how all of that came about, then what the experience was like for you. JC : I was chosen to be part of Demi TV's Demi Gods of Comedy. I was so excited that I was going to be filmed and placed on their network. I was chosen by a large group of people that work at Demi TV. The experience has been very positive. Getting noticed in this industry can be hard, and it's so rewarding to know that someone sees you and sees the potential you have. MaM : Who were some of the other performers at the showcase? JC : Some of the other comedians that were featured on this special were Scott Eason and my good friend Kimberly Wilson. I consider her my comedy wife. Ha ha. MaM : Tell us about your comedy style in your own words. JC : My comedy style is a mixture of dark comedy, everyday situations, and things that we all have to deal with. And most importantly, my comedy style is about me: uncensored, unapologetic, and gay, gay, gay, which is something I could not have done when I was younger. [Now, I'm able to] be my authentic self on stage. Living in the South, I do get some uncomfortable mixed feelings from people, but that is just who I am - a southern man who happens to be gay. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_dd8f3cf98eb046d2b3eb1a54b5888122/360p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : Well, we happen to love your gayness and we're proud to flaunt you! So, what can people expect from a Junior Cook show? JC : People can always expect me to be me unapologetically, physically, and sometimes unexpectedly. MaM : Are you currently touring? Where do you perform? JC : I'm a performer all around the Southeast and at any comedy festival around the country. I'm hoping to get beyond that soon. MaM : What does the future hold for you? JC : I don't think we ever really know what the future holds for us, but I see myself expanding more with comedy wherever it takes me. MaM : If you could share the stage with any comedian, who would it be and why? JC : If I could share the stage with any comedian, it would have to be Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, or any female comedian today. They just make me laugh so hard. I don't think that women really get thir praise for being the best at comedy. MaM : Junior, thanks so much for taking some time and allowing us to get to know you. It's been a pleasure. But before I let you go, since we are an entertainment magazine, inquiring minds want to know what are you currently watching? JC : I am currently watching old sitcoms, believe it or not (laughs). Even though I've seen so many of them so many times, I still find little hidden gems tucked away that I never noticed, and that gives me such joy. And there you have it, folks. Be sure and follow Junior Cook on Facebook and Instagram @JrCookComedy to stay up to date on his latest shows and appearances. This is one hilariously authentic, proud gay man spreading the love one laugh at a time. To learn more about Junior Cook: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jrcookcomedy Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jrcookcomedy/ 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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Who is Fish? < Back Messing Up Quests and Putting Things to the Test Nicole Brice Feb 15, 2023 Share Who is Fish? One day as I was doing my daily scroll on social media, I came across a YouTube video a friend had shared, and it was titled Stuck Inside a Video Game . I was like, “Hmmm, what could this be?” as I pressed play, not sure of what I was about to watch. For the next five minutes and 42 seconds , I was snickering like a goober while watching this cinematic masterpiece in all its humorous glory. The creator of the video I had just watched was a guy named Fish . After that moment, I shared the video because it was awesome and because most can relate to anything pertaining to video games. Little did I know that a few months later, while looking for talent to scout and write about, I would happen upon the Instagram page of the same artist/musician responsible for the epic YouTube video I had seen and gobbled up like a goober. For those who have not seen the jewel that is Stuck Inside a Video Game , it is a clever song and music video of a guy on a couch playing The Legend of Zelda , showing different scenarios and scenes of the main character being sucked into the actual game, complete with witty commentary, sexy women back-up dancers/singers, and much hilarity. In fact, before you finish this article, you must watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCLgVeQtDnE Stuck Inside a Video Game by Fish So, who is the guy behind this glorious gem? Well, folks, his name is Sam Fishman , a.k.a. Fish . I bet you’re probably asking, “ Who is Fish? ” So please, allow me. Not only is Fish a producer, a drummer, a video game enthusiast, and a kick-ass human , BUT he is also extremely witty, very intelligent, and super talented. When he’s not making amazingly awesome YouTube videos with clever concepts, he spends his time spinning the sticks as the drummer of the New York-based Americana/Folk rock band, Driftwood … truly an entertaining man. Keep reading to learn more! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Good Morning! Thank you for speaking with me today. So, let’s preface this by saying how wonderful it is to be speaking with the creator of “Stuck Inside a Video Game.” I saw it a few months back and instantly fell in love with it. Fish : You saw that? (laughs) That’s fortuitous. MaM : Yes, I saw it before I knew who you were and instantly thought, “This dude is awesome!”. Fish : Oh wow! (laughs) Yeah, that’s so funny. The universe is pointing in the right direction. MaM : So, not only are you making incredibly creative videos, but you are also the drummer in the band Driftwood, correct? Tell us a little more about that. Fish : So, I had been living in Brooklyn for about seven months when the pandemic hit and then, at that point, I said, ‘Alright, I’m gonna move out of the city.’ So, I left Brooklyn , moved back home with my folks for a little bit to figure out what the next move was, and then I felt like moving to Ithaca, N.Y. I felt like that was the best move for me. I have some familiarity with New York State, so I said, ‘Let me try Ithaca out,’ and I moved there. The first year that I’m there, it’s like [the] pandemic. Everything was closed. Nothing was happening. I started getting situated and reaching out to people, and through a mutual friend, I connected with Joey Arcuri . Joey is the bass player for Driftwood , and we connected, and so I said, ‘Joey, we should jam sometime,’ and we both know Chris . Chris is our mutual friend, and Joey said, ‘Yeah, that’d be great, man. Let’s keep in touch.’ A couple months go by, and I reach back out to Joey, and he gets back to me the next day and tells me their drummer had just left and then asked me if I’d like to audition for the band. The timing worked out, and because Joey and I had that mutual friend, we made the connection, and there ya go. MaM : Wow, that is incredible! You obviously have a background in music, so at what age did you start playing drums, and who are your musical influences and inspirations? Fish : I started playing drums in 3rd grade. MaM : Wow, 3rd grade? Just the fact that you can even remember back that far is awesome. I don’t even remember what I was doing at that age. Fish : Yeah, I had begged my parents for, like, two years to get me a drum set, and then they did. As far as influences, I have so many drummers I am into. That’s a really good question. It kind of taps into, like, there is stuff you can enjoy and then there are things you can kind of listen to cerebrally to get that music, and it makes sense in your brain; but, then there is music that hits your body and makes you feel things, and I guess for me, there are times when I love listening to hard rock and metal, and that sort of hits more intellectual [sic] for me because I’m understanding it in a way, but when I want to feel stuff, I really love listening to music with a groove and a laid-back vibe. For example, I’ve been listening to Madison Cunningham lately. It’s more Americana vibes. Very singer/songwriter … female vocals, relaxing … not gonna put me on edge. MaM : Do you prefer more singer/songwriter type of music? What’s your favorite type of music? Fish : Oh man, it’s very seasonal for me. I couldn’t tell you what my favorite is. For instance, I’m into these well-crafted songs kind of things and lush orchestrations, really just in the groove, in the pocket, but there may come a time in the summer where all I want to listen to is some heavy stuff. For instance, what’s the band from Chicago? I’m blanking out. The guy who does the “Oo-wa-ah-ah-ah!”? MaM : Disturbed? (laughs) Fish : (laughs) Yeah, Disturbed . I’ll maybe put on a little Disturbed . MaM : Get down with the sickness! (laughs) Fish : Yep yep! (laughs) … and I love Britney Spears ! I was listening to [her] the other day. MaM : Me too!!! One of my guilty pleasures! Fish : Yeah, Britney Spears , so good. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : So, tell us a little more about this video. I need to know all the details, because that thing is badass! Fish : (laughs) Yeah, that is so insane! There are a lot of layers to that video. On the surface, it’s this really wacky, like, surreal video. I mean, I’m stuck in a video game. I’m stuck in ‘ The Legend of Zelda .’ It’s actually a reflective piece, and for a while, in my, like, late-20s or, well, even when I was, like, 31 [or] 32—which, I’m 36 now, or, rather, I’ll be 36 this coming Sunday. Even into my early 30s, I found myself playing games a little too much, and I wasn’t really living. The music video was a big, cathartic release for me. I wrote this rap song about being stuck in a game, and I wrote it the way I knew how, and then I said, Screw it! I’m gonna go all in. I’m gonna fly out to Los Angeles. I’m gonna get this thing legit.’ I found a video crew, Blurred Pictures , Rosco – he’s this great director out there. His mind moves a mile a minute, and we just got a team and I said, ‘I’m gonna produce this thing,’ and we really did it. I wanted to share my experiences in a way other people would relate. I feel like there’s a lot of guys out there that are stuck in this video game world, and they don’t even realize it. The video is a fun way to show the lines can be blurred if you play too many games. Is your life the game? Is the game your life? That whole back-and-forth dilemma. MaM : I can totally relate to that because my husband is a gamer, but he never let it consume him 100%. Now, my best friend, her boyfriend is so consumed by video games that he completely ignores her, and she is a total babe! I can definitely identify with your video. Fish : See? That’s what I mean. It’s relatable! Another part of it was that the women in the video are from ‘ The Legend of Zelda ,’ too … the three goddesses of the Tri Force … but they also take on a different meaning because they’re very sexy in the video, and because of that, if you’re attracted to women, women could become a distraction if you’re a little too focused on the game. You must find that balance. This is not my life’s purpose. My life has a greater purpose. The takeaway from this video is battling your shortcomings, getting out of your comfort zone, [and] really trying to better yourself. MaM : What is your favorite video game? Fish : Zelda … but then, which Zelda , right? I have some games that are definitely in the top 10, but simply because of the symbolism in the hero’s journey, Zelda is probably going to take the cake. I’m going to have to go with ‘ Ocarina of Time ’ as the best or as my favorite, with my second favorite Zelda game being ‘ Link’s Awakening .’ MaM : That’s awesome. I wanted to ask you, prior to Driftwood, were you playing in any other bands? Give us a brief history of your music career. Fish : So, if you thought the video was crazy, this is even crazier. Before I got into Driftwood , I was touring around the country and even got to go to Japan with my former band. I was playing with this group called Madison Rising , a political band, and it was a great opportunity for me to travel, and I learned a lot. I ended up leaving the band, though, to focus on other endeavors. The takeaway from that is that I learned a lot about the music industry, and I got to open up for Lynyrd Skynyrd , Aerosmith , and Weezer . We had a good run. I started with them in 2011 and left in 2018 . [I] spent seven years with them and learned some incredible things. Great learning experience. MaM : Steppingstones, though, to get to where you are today. Fish : Absolutely. Had I not experienced those situations with that band, then I would not have learned about what it means to be a professional musician. MaM : I want to learn more about these videos on Instagram and more about your production work. You have such an interesting story to tell. Fish : Appreciate that. The production stuff you mentioned is kind of inspired by art. Like, here’s a drumming solo; here’s me drumming to this; [and] here’s my friend doing a piano piece. I’m starting to sort of play in both worlds. The music video, for instance, plays on some surrealism there. I have a video I will be posting soon of me just roaming around a recording studio while my friend, Andrew Klein , makes scary sounds on metallic percussion instruments. MaM : (laughs) That’s so awesome! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia Fish : There is one where I am going to be dancing behind the drummer, Andrew Klein , while he plays drums. (laughs) I want it to be fun. Trying to just do some silly stuff that is different. Trying to lighten up this whole ‘I’m a serious artist’ business. That’s where I’m at. I love being in the production role. I like seeing visions of mine come to life. I have good organizational skills, and being a good producer, to me, is having good organizational skills. MaM : Do you own your own studio? I’m curious as to where you are recording. Fish : I’ve been investing in myself, and I like going to different studios, as opposed to trying to set up my own studio. I’m not into that. Maybe if I had a ton of money, I could make my own studio. There is something about working in someone else’s space that forces me to be more creative … working within the limitations … let’s adapt. For example, Wilburland Recording Studio is a place I go back to quite a bit. It’s a place where the latest Instagram clip was filmed. It’s a great open space, and I like working with Will a lot, and it’s close to where I live. I like trying different things. I don’t want to get locked into the same pattern. I have another bit coming up that I recorded. Mikaela Davis is a prominent harp player in New York state, and I’m bringing her to Wilburland , and she’s going to perform the great fairy fountain music from ‘The Legend of Zelda.’ MaM : Love it! If you lived here in Louisiana, we’d be hanging out! Fish : I feel that, too, just based upon our conversation. You’re just good energy. MaM : I’m such a nerd. I read and I meditate, and I like science. Are you currently based in New York, still? Fish : I live in Ithaca, New York. MaM : You know, every time I hear the name Ithaca, I think of the movie, “Road Trip!” Fish : Yes! (laughs) You are so on point! Yes! MaM : That’s what I instantly think of with Ithaca. So, with your extensive background in the industry, I just must ask you what you think the music industry is lacking these days? Fish : That’s a great question. To me, what’s lacking is education, and what I mean by that is that the local artists, they don’t fully understand what it means to run your band as a business. Any local artists who are complaining, and I get this in Ithaca through friends, like they are really making forward progress and are passionate about what they’re doing, but they don’t understand that if your band is going to progress, then there needs to be an awareness that if your band is not run like a business, then don’t have any expectations of moving forward. If you want to move forward, you must do all the work on the business side to help you establish a plan. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : I completely can identify with that because you are building your band as a brand. You must brand yourself to stand out so that people take notice. What are you working on currently? Fish : One of the upcoming things is a screenplay for a movie. I just finished the first draft. It’s called ‘ Cicada Madness .’ It’s based on an audio project that is already completed, and I just decided to take it to the next level, but I’m certain I will be doing a crowdsourcing fund for the movie, because I want to have a big budget. When you think of the film, though, it’s a B-movie … sorority girls, cicadas flying around just exploding… (laughs) . MaM : So, is it like Hitchcock’s The Birds but with cicadas? Fish : Yeah, but funny. Not meant to scare you. Just total fun. Driftwood is currently recording an album, and we plan to release it in the fall. This is their most mature album to date. It’s going to defy expectations and has a lot of variety. Those are the main things. I have a video that is supposed to be finished by the end of February where I teamed up with a community music school to put on a performance of Claude Bolling’s ‘Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano ,’ and it brings me back to my roots of reading music and performing. I imagine I’ll be posting some clips from it in early March. I love doing different things where maybe you’ll get Jazz & Classical one day and then you’ll get crazy silly skit the next day. I have a lot of different things I want to do. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Ok, so big question. Who is Fish? Fish : Well, right now he’s the drummer of Driftwood the band; he does session work; and he produces and collaborates. But, yeah, Fish is ever evolving. That is the safe answer. Fish wants to inspire others. Fish wants to collaborate. That’s the key word. Fish is someone who wants to work with a lot of different people. Fish is a leader. Fish wants to bring out the best in other creative people. I love going to a keyboard player that I see potential in or that I think is phenomenal and I’ll say, ‘Hey, man! Let me get your number. We’re gonna work together.’ I just get right down to it. If I want to work with someone, I let them know. Fish really wants to bring out a vision and be part of a team. To learn more about Fish, check out all his links below and enjoy! Website: Who Is Fish? - Sam Fishman | Drummer, Composer, Creator Instagram: Who Is Fish? (@whoisfishig) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube: Who Is Fish? - YouTube Facebook: Who Is Fish? | Facebook 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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HolleeStar is rewriting the playbook on what Louisiana music should sound like. < Back Reviews on the Real: violent pink ultra teal by HolleeStar Nicole Brice Jul 17, 2026 Share HolleeStar is rewriting the playbook on what Louisiana music should sound like. So, imagine this: an original industrial band popping up just outside Lafayette, Louisiana . Not exactly what you’d expect, right? In a state that’s famous for metal, zydeco, country, and a million cover bands , HolleeStar is something entirely different. They’re a duo , but they sound like a full-on revolution —and their latest album, violent pink ultra teal , is proof. This isn’t just another record you shuffle through. Nope! You’ve got to hit play, throw on your headphones, and let the album take you on a wild ride, start to finish. Trust me, it’s worth every second. If you want to learn more about HolleeStar, you can check out this article we wrote on them a while back here . Halfway through this album, you’re hit with the band’s take on Depeche Mode’s “ Never Let Me Down Again .” Now, I’m a Depeche Mode superfan , so I’m always skeptical of covers. But HolleeStar doesn’t just cover the song—they completely reinvent it. It’s heavier, grittier, and somehow even more intense, but it still pays respect to the original. That’s the magic of HolleeStar: they honor their influences, but they’re never imitators. Their sound stands out in a state where tradition usually rules the day, making them a truly rare find in Louisiana’s music scene . Released July 17, 2026 The album opens explosively, literally, with the first song title being “ explode ”. This track does not let up – it’s straight intensity in ten cities, and it’s loud and melodic. As that song ends, the next one fades in, called “ outta my mind ” – which is another banger. What really makes HolleeStar stand out is how fearless they are in experimenting with sounds and textures. Every track feels like it’s from a different universe—nothing ever sounds recycled or predictable. They’ll switch up tempos, change vocal styles (especially when Brennan jumps in with his unmistakable voice), and layer in all sorts of unexpected elements. But the one thing that never changes? The heart. You can feel the energy and passion pulsing through every note. Truth be told, this entire album deserves a listen. We could sit here and break down each track for you, but just know you’ll be intrigued and blown away by what these guys have cooked up as each song fades and morphs into the next. My favorite songs on this album: Never Let Me Down Again chemical bomb hellfire In a state where so many acts stick to what’s tried and true, HolleeStar refuses to play it safe. They’re not just another Louisiana band—they’re rewriting the playbook for what music from this place can sound like. Go stream violent pink ultra teal today! To learn more about HolleeStar: YouTube: HolleeStar - YouTube Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Holleestar (@holleestar_official) • Instagram photos and videos Linktree: HolleeStar - Electronic Rock Duo (Eunice, LA) | Linktree Spotify: Holleestar | Spotify Apple Music: ‎Holleestar - Apple Music www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Each song brings a vibe you can’t ignore. < Back Reviews on the Real: Music Picks for the end of July Nicole Brice Jul 25, 2026 Share Each song brings a vibe you can’t ignore. As July comes to a close, we’ve been listening to a ton of new music, and a few standout tracks have really grabbed our attention, so we want to bring them to you to check out for yourself. Each one brings something unique—whether it’s catchy hooks, powerful lyrics, or just a vibe you can’t ignore. You’ll definitely want to give these songs a spin and see which ones become your new favorites. Check them out below and don’t forget to add them to your playlists! Double Knockout – Damnselless The first time I heard this new single from Lafayette-based duo Double Knockout, I just thought, "Wow, this is so refreshing." Double Knockout—made up of Micah Gill and Brittany Migues —has pulled off a sound that’s thick and full of depth, and honestly, you can’t help but stop and listen. Their latest track, ' Damnselless ', dropped on July 24, 2026 , and it’s packed with fuzzy guitars and sing-along lyrics, especially once that chorus kicks in. “Somebody save me, I’m naked and bleeding. I don’t think I’ll make it on my own.” Damnselless just hits different—especially when that breakdown at the end starts. Seriously, it’s perfect. If you haven’t listened to Double Knockout yet, here’s how I’d describe their music: it’s alternative, loaded with heavy guitars, and the lyrics really hit you in the feels. Relatable is probably the best word for their songwriting—every track connects in its own way. Go stream ' Damnselless ' today. Released July 24, 2026 Cussing – Lungs New Jersey-based Cussing (formerly known as Separatr ) just dropped their latest single, ' Lungs ,' and honestly, it’s pure noise pop magic . From the very first second, you’re hit with shimmering guitars and a driving beat that makes it impossible not to move. The production is ridiculously tight . Stephanie’s vocals are absolutely on point—her voice soars over the mix with a kind of effortless cool. I adore her vocal stylings because they ooze this badass female energy that can't be denied. That same energy runs through the whole song, and it’s impossible not to feel it, too. ' Lungs ' isn’t just fun—it’s proof that Cussing keeps leveling up with every release. If you haven’t listened yet, you’re missing out on one of the best noise pop tracks of the summer. Released July 24, 2026 Message From Mercury - Is This What You Wanted The only thing I could say when I heard Message From Mercury ’s new track, ' Is This What You Wanted ,' was wow. The layers in this song just blend together perfectly. Seriously, you’ve got to give it a listen—I can’t recommend it enough. Message From Mercury is a five-piece rock / alternative band that got together in 2023 , thanks to Florida’s Christopher Martinez (lead guitar) and Louisiana’s Ash Morgan (lead vocals). Their sound is honestly tough to pin down. Sure, you get these powerful choruses, thumping basslines, and sharp guitar riffs, but at the end of the day, it’s just music that hits you right in the feels because of the lyrics. Pay attention to the lyrics. Definitely check out ' Is This What You Wanted ' if you haven’t yet. It’s streaming now. Released July 25, 2026 Everstatic – Fever Dream EP We’ve been chatting about singles, but here’s something a little different—a three-track EP from Lafayette, Louisiana’s own Everstatic (you might remember them as Phantum Sun ). Everstatic is all about that alternative and grunge vibe, and since 2023 , they’ve been tearing up stages all over the Louisiana music scene and beyond. Leading the charge is Nick Cline , who just brings so much energy to everything he does. Their EP, Fever Dream , kicks off with ' House of Glass ,' which starts with this killer bluesy riff and then explodes into a wall of bass that’ll shake your whole body. When Nick belts out, “ Take me away. Take me away from here ,” you can’t help but nod along and get totally lost in the groove. Next up is ' Coven ,' which comes in with so much fuzzy distortion you’ll feel like you’re swimming in a haze of pure grunge. It’s got a little punk in there too, and honestly, it just rocks. The final track, ' Feast on my Brain ,' ties everything together with a steady, driving drumbeat that never lets up. Everstatic really nailed it with these three songs—they’ve found a fresh sound and direction, and it totally works. Seriously, go stream Fever Dream —you won’t regret it. Released July 10, 2026 Go add some new tunage to your playlists today! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.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

Branded for Exile ignited the night with their authentic sound at Cajun Daiquiris in St. Amant, Louisiana on April 26, 2024. < Back Weekend Rock: Branded for Exile Nicole Brice Apr 30, 2024 Share Branded for Exile ignited the night with their authentic sound at Cajun Daiquiris in St. Amant, Louisiana on April 26, 2024. Explosive – that’s the only word I can think of to describe the dynamic set from Branded for Exile on Friday, April 26th at Cajun Daiquiris in St. Amant, Louisiana where the guys played to a packed house. With an exceptional set in celebration of their debut release, Born in the Flames , which was released in late 2023, the band blew through their eight-song set like a bunch of seasoned veterans on a mission to give the best show ever. With support from two other incredibly talented local bands, Drab and This Beating Heart , Branded for Exile took to the stage with pure energy, tight musicianship, and one mission – to blow the roof off Cajun Daiquiris by playing loud and authentic Louisiana metal. Credit: Gary Governale As Branded for Exile started into the first few notes of their set, vocalist Shannon Guillot said in his flawless half-scream, “We are Branded for Exile! Here we go, motherfuckers!” as they launched into the heavy and monstrous beginning of their song ' Silver Tongue '. This is one of my favorites off their debut release, ' Born in the Flames ', and it does not let up the entire song. The rest of the set was just as eruptive as the beginning, and to be honest, I was super excited to hear my favorite song, ' Branded for Exile ' live. Shannon’s lyrics on this track resonate with me on so many levels, and if you haven’t heard it, then you MUST ! I insist! Go now! When Shannon starts singing the part of the chorus that goes, " I'm alive, I am free, don't need you condemning me. I'm just playing the cards I've been handed. I'm awake, I am strong, I will never walk alone. I'm just living a life being branded...Branded for Exile! " - that is it for me. The power in those potent lyrics are enough to get anyone thinking in a more positive way, and to be honest, all of the lyrics on this album are like that. The words are carefully orchestrated with so much meaning that one can't help but be inspired. Credit: Gary Governale Cajun Daiquiris was the perfect setting for this night of music, too, because I forgot how much I love smaller venues with an intimate feel. There was no hate on this night either. Nothing but unity through music where I heard several people say, "Damn, these guys are good!" Credit: Gary Governale Other notable moments – Drab ’s flawless cover of Motorhead ’s ' The Ace of Spades '. This was my first time seeing Drab live, and they are gifted musicians. I really enjoyed their set. I had never heard of This Beating Heart before this show, and I truly enjoyed their cover of Sevendust ’s “ Black ”, too. As Branded for Exile rounded out the night with their potent last song, ' Born in the Flames ', they solidified themselves as a real up-and-coming force in the genre of metal. Mark my words, you’ll be hearing more about these boys real soon from other people besides me. To experience Branded for Exile's "Born in the Flames" for yourself, just hit the link below: brandedforexile.bandcamp.com Born In The Flames, by Branded For Exile 8 track album *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? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! < Back The Alabama Heathens: Southern Grit Meets Raw Rock Energy Bud Gambrell Apr 18, 2025 Share The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! Could there ever be a better way to begin an interview than with tacos ? That’s right, tacos . The only thing that could have made it any better would have been beer , but none of us were day-drinking, so the beer will have to wait another time. When I contacted Jude Roberts of The Alabama Heathens and asked about an interview, he picked the location for lunch. He chose a local restaurant, and away I went for a talk with Jude and The Heathens' lead singer, Dylan Johnson. It’s unusual for an interview to begin with a video, but in this instance, I feel it may be necessary to tempt your musical taste buds. Take my word for it. Turn this up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrO3XsywlzU The Alabama Heathens - Here for the Whiskey I have known these two young men for a couple of years now. If memory serves me correctly, I met them both while shooting a video for Jude’s father, Mike Roberts . That was the second music video for 5ive O’clock Charlie , Mike’s band , for which I had shot a drone video. Jude brings up a funny story about the shoot later in the interview. Stay tuned. Mike Roberts is a musical staple in the Huntsville music scene. Our story goes back several years. I met Mike several times and saw him play with 5ive O’clock Charlie and Travis McCready . Around 2021 , our friendship just seemed to bloom. Mike has become one of my favorite people to run into, either by accident or a planned lunch. He is genuinely a good soul! That day was also the first time I saw the now Alabama Heathens play. At that time, they were playing together under a different band name. I was working, so I didn’t get to listen closely, but from what I can remember, they were very good. If you know Mike , you know he always wears a smile and has wonderful things to say. Much is the same way with Jude . The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in this case. Dylan and I have gotten to know each other better, too. He is also always a pleasure to work with and become friends with. Unfortunately, I do not know his father. They say your children are a reflection of you. If that is the case, his father is a wonderful man. Fast-forward to July 2024 . The Alabama Heathens performed in The Alabama Smoke Show , if you remember the article I wrote for that event. Seeing those guys play on that big stage at such a young age was impressive. I have seen them since, and they keep getting better. During our lunch, we spoke at length about many things. I couldn’t tell you much about our discussion, as I was not recording that part. The banter and laughs did not stop. The parts I recorded are in the sections you are about to read. My first question was for Dylan . Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Dylan, tell me, who are the Alabama Heathens? Dylan Johnson : The Alabama Heathens are a southern rock band out of North Alabama. On lead guitar , we have Jude Roberts . On drums , we have Ethan Chandler . On bass guitar, we have William O’Rear . And I'm on lead vocals. We pride ourselves on authenticity. I think we bring an old soul to our original music. OTC : What's the story behind the band's name? Dylan : It comes from a song I wrote two years ago called ' Alabama Heathens .' I wrote it about my buddies I grew up with. I felt like we were, you know, hometown heathens, I guess you could say. I can't really remember who mentioned it as the band name. I was initially against it, but maybe Jonathan said we should be The Alabama Heathens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjEJIiVTTw The Alabama Heathens EP OTC : What got you into music? Jude Roberts : Well, my first instrument was the tuba in 6th grade, and by the end of 6th grade, I got braces. I didn't want to play because, you know, braces suck when you're trying to play a brass instrument. Michael Cline said, ‘Hey, you should play bass instead.’ So, Michael Cline got me playing bass. I've been into music since before I came out of the womb. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography I would like to give you a side note: Michael Cline plays bass for Mike Roberts’ band, Five O’clock Charlie . OTC : Why is that? Jude : My dad was reading a music theory book in the lobby while I was being born. I remember crawling on stage at an early age, maybe two or three, with headphones on while everybody played loud guitar amps and drums. And I've always just been around music, you know. I took my dad's CDs to go show the kindergarten class or the pre-school class. But I didn't really get into playing music on my own until Michael Cline got me playing bass, and until I heard The Clash's London Calling album. The entire album is golden! Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Dylan. what got you into music? Dylan : Well, I think listening to records at such a young age. And the earliest I can remember, I feel like it was the radio, too. Driving to school and riding in the car seat are the earliest I can remember. It was Johnny Cash . I guess it was the voice that I loved the most. I think it was ' Ring of Fire .' That was my favorite song. Kiss was another band that I loved as a kid. I would bang my head on my car seat. OTC : Were these your parents' records? Dylan : Well, some of these came from the radio, you know, from 95.1 The Rocket . My dad's records got me into wanting to play music. I just grew up listening to Bob Dylan , and Steely Dan was always on the record player. So much so that I would turn the record player off because I kept hearing the same song repeatedly. And then what got me into wanting to play was when I was 12, my dad took me to my first concert, ZZ Top . The production, the lights, the sound, the interaction of the crowd, you know, watching people cheer and laugh and cry, and seeing what music could do to somebody. It just hit me right away! I feel like I was born into it. Bud Gambrell with Jude and Dylan from The Alabama Heathens OTC : What are your main influences? Dylan : Ohh, man. I mean, musically, I would have to say one of my biggest influences would probably be Neil Young . As a songwriter, he has his sound; nobody else sounds like him or writes like Neil Young . Bob Dylan is the same way. Maybe it's because I was named after Bob. It's the reason that I'm so into him. But I just grew up on that music. OTC : Jude, what are your influences? Jude : My most significant influence is my father . You can't escape the DNA. That DNA influence , I guess, is a weird way to put it. I've always heard him playing, and he was my first reference for an electric guitar player and what an electric guitar player should be. That was my first taste of hearing music, and I love Jimi Hendrix . I'm a big Duane Allman and Derek Trucks fan on slide guitar . I'm a big Rory Gallagher fan, too. I like Paul Kossoff from Free and Mick Ralphs from Bad Company . For the longest time, I said my three significant influences were Mike Roberts , Jimi Hendrix , and B.B. King . I've added Rory Gallagher and Duane Allman to that list, making it five . Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Now you guys just did some dates in Florida. Tell me how that went for you. Jude : Oh, that was great! That was fun! We played Docie’s Dock in Fort Walton Beach , which you can't see, but I'm wearing a hat they so kindly allowed me to keep. It was a warm reception for our first time playing in Florida . The crowd had their attention on us, which you can't say for some venues. We just had a great old time! OTC : Dylan, tell me some things the Alabama Heathens have coming up for this spring and summer. Dylan : Tomorrow, we'll open up for a band called The Skeeters in Fort Payne, Alabama. That should be a massive gig for us! We're looking forward to that! I know the Alabama Smoke Show is coming back on July 19, 2025 . I'm not exactly sure who is all on the bill for that, but I'm looking forward to playing Mars Music Hall again. That's a staple of Huntsville , so I'm very grateful to be a part of that. Hopefully, we will visit Minnesota to play some shows around August or September . We're getting that worked up for about five days or something. We will try to sneak our way from Tennessee to Kentucky and Minnesota . I think it would be cool if we could get that done. We want to try to get some real touring going on. I mean, that's our main thing. Plus, we've been in the studio. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Speaking of that, I’ve seen pictures of you in the studio. Can we expect some more new material coming soon? Dylan : Absolutely! Hopefully, by mid-summer, our song ' Throw the Dog a Bone ' should be coming out. We've already been in the studio and cut it. We're excited to put some new music out! I think we're just going to do singles for the next couple of months and see where that takes us, and hopefully be prepared, you know, by next year to do a full 12-song album . OTC : Speaking of singles, the latest one is ' Here for the Whiskey ' . I've heard it, and I’ve watched the video multiple times. I love this song! Jude, tell me a little about how the initial idea and the song's recording came about. Jude : Well. ' Here for the Whiskey ' was written by Dylan Johnson, James LeBlanc, and Jonathan Moody. They had a recording sent to me when I first joined the band with all of the original songs to learn. So, you know, I joined the band not long ago compared to these guys. And I just figured out how to add slide guitar to the songs. Playing in a band with two guitar players is pretty hard to figure out where you're supposed to fit. We had a pretty good idea of what we were doing, but Jeremy Stephens at Clearwave Studios helped us orchestrate and arrange it to be more professional. OTC : I think the slide stands out on a great song. You mentioned Duane Allman . Where do you get your slight guitar influence from? Jude : Again, my dad was my first slide influence. The first riff I ever learned was ' Whole Lotta Love ' by Led Zeppelin , and he showed me how to do the slide part. I've been playing the slide technically since I first started playing guitar, but I didn't get into it until I heard Derek Trucks playing slide . Derek Trucks is probably one of the greatest guitar players ever to walk the earth. So that led me back to Duane Allman . I've been listening to Elmore James . Warren Haynes is a huge slide influence on me. Warren plays slide in the standard tuning instead of an open tuning like Duane or Derek. We play many songs, and it's easier for me to go ahead and play in standard tuning. I don't want to have to switch guitars if I want to play slide. I just put my slide on my finger. George Harrison is also a considerable influence. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Have you gotten any feedback from the new song yet? Dylan : We posted it on Facebook , and I've received a lot of great feedback from friends, family, and fans. We also put out a music video for it, which was super cool! It has almost 1000 views. I'm not sure what the streaming aspect of it looks like, but I think it's done pretty well so far. OTC : We have worked together a couple of times. We’ve done photo sessions together, but I think the first time I met you, Dylan, and Jude may have been the first time I met Jude. We were in the field on a rainy day, shooting ' Fast Country ' for your dad's band, 5ive O’clock Charlie . Do you remember that? Jude : Oh, I remember that like it was yesterday. OTC : I think y'all were still called the Debriefers at the time. Now, that's an interesting name. Tell me about the name Debriefers. Jude : Before I do that, I will say the biggest thing I remember about that day is Bud Gambrell dropping a smoke bomb on us! I looked back at my drummer, who's also named Dylan. Dylan Hurley. He is a wonderful human being! Seeing the expression of terror on his face as he got engulfed by smoke , and then slowly but surely, the entire band got engulfed. I watched the video. We all just looked panicked and confused! Then we're just engulfed by smoke, and you see Bud leaving the crime scene. (laughter) I add a little smoke to everything he remembers about that day. Well, it was supposed to be a “little”. The smoke would make the video more visually appealing, right? Somebody back me up here. Mike? Duane? Dylan? Anyone? If one smoke bomb was good, two smoke bombs would be great. Anyway, it was funny, a little? Here is the video . You be the judge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvcDRB_2MF4 Fast Country by 5ive O'Clock Charlie Jude continues to explain the name of his previous band. Jude : The Debriefers is a spin-off of the Panty Droppers , a beautiful name. Dylan Johnson came up with that. We tried for a good month or two to figure out a name. Band names are hard. Man, it's just like a song title. You must find the right one but can't use any old name. So, I decided to do some Grissom academics and make it Debriefers . So, we were able to be school-friendly. OTC : Dylan, surely, there's something else you remember better about that day than the smoke. Dylan : Well, there was a damn downpour. I remember that. Yeah, I remember it rained like crazy! We were on a trailer. We were on a gooseneck trailer set up with a great sound system. And we had a crowd we were playing for. We played ' Whipping Post .' It was a bit rocky, but we had a good time that day. I remember it coming down in a downpour out of nowhere and packing up all that PA equipment in the rain. We were in Duane Walker's cow pasture. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Duane Walker also plays in 5ive O’clock Charlie. I met Duane at a Blackberry Smoke concert before I knew he was joining 5ive O’clock Charlie. We started a conversation and became friends, as if we’d known each other for a long time. OTC : What are your long-term goals for the band, and what are you most excited about in the future of your music? Dylan : To go on tour. I mean to live that tour life and play music. We could have shows like we do back home, but out on the road. The main goal is to play our music to people who want to listen to original music. Make them dance. You know, make them cry. It's a compliment to make somebody cry with your song because it means they're living it. You know what I mean? I'm not afraid to listen to music and cry. Because, I mean, that shows its authenticity. You know what I mean? For the long term, man, I'd love to get an album, a couple of albums under our belt, and eventually be headlining shows instead of opening them. Our brand can sell, make people happy, and have a promising career. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : The headline shows are going to come. Trust me, it's coming. How do you define success as a musician? Jude : Playing something new every night that makes you happy. And if it gets you off, then great. If it gets the crowd off, too, then that’s what you're looking for. Being a musician, you're never going to be satisfied because you're always going to be working to be better or working to do something differently. So, having shows and getting paid for what you're doing is the goal: I'm happy if I can pay my bills by playing my guitar. But if I can be creative and expand my knowledge as a human being and musician, that's what you want. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : What's the most important thing you want people to take away from your music? Jude : I want people to know who I am and what I've been through by listening to my notes, lyrics, and everything I put forward. I want people to feel like I did when I heard Jimi Hendrix or Derek Trucks for the first time. I want people to have an excitement for life that drugs can't give you. The enthusiasm that only music and God can give you. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Dylan : I want somebody to be able to listen to our music and relate to the hurt, the heartache, and even the good times of it. You know what I mean? I would hope that when people hear us, they don't think that we're just some other, you know, local band that's trying to do it. I mean, this is our full-time gig. This is full-time for me, and it is for Jude. I know that we put our heart and soul into this: traveling, playing, and riding. The writing is about things that we know. We're not trying to be somebody we're not, which happens often in this business because you get offered all this stuff, and then you buy into it. But I don't think we've ever settled for mediocrity either. I don't ever want to do that. And I want people to know that and keep on listening. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : If you could perform anywhere worldwide, where would it be and why? Dylan : Veterans Park in Priceville, AL. (laughs) Dylan : My first thought was the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville . The history there! I got to see Jason Isbell for my first show ever at the Ryman. He's one of my all-time favorites. Who wouldn't want to play at Red Rocks ? I guess it would be the Ryman , just because it's the Mother Church! Everyone sits on church pews , and all eyes are on you. Jude : Well, it would not be Veterans Park in Priceville, Alabama. (laughter) Jude : I also want to say the Ryman because my father has played there , and I feel I owe it to myself to have two Roberts play at the Ryman instead of just one. That would be cool! I would also love to play at one of the Fillmores or the Apollo Theater in New York . I’m a big fan of old R&B , blues , and soul music . Man, the Apollo is where all those guys were at. B.B. King , James Brown , and you know all those greats. So, that'd be cool to play that room. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : What's a fun fact about yourself that your fans may not know? Jude : Musically or not, musically? OTC : It can be either—just a fun fact about yourself. Jude : I've pissed on an Irish castle, and I found out later that it's a felony. I don't know if you can publish that, but you can. I'll give you permission. (laughter) OTC : As long as we don't say which one, they can't press charges, right? Jude : I reckon. I'll tell you which one. OTC : Let’s not invite the law into this. Jude : I was walking around, and I, you know, I had to go. It's really beautiful in Ireland ! It's beautiful with a lot of places to go to take a piss. (laughter) Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Dylan : I used to be on a pool team. I love to shoot pool. I love playing golf when I'm not working. I have several hobbies. I love the gym. I try to eat clean. I don't eat the best, but I like physically caring for myself. I do kickboxing and boxing and run and all that. I enjoy that kind of stuff. I don't know if that's a fun fact. But that's what I'm doing when I’m not playing music. I'm either shooting pool, playing golf, or boxing. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC: One last question. If you had the chance to meet your favorite rock star and ask him or her one question. Who would you want to meet, and what would you ask them? Jude : I have two answers. Do I only have to give one? OTC : Two will be fine. Jude : My first one is Jimi Hendrix . He was always creating and on the forefront of just new shit and pushing everything to its boundary and to its edge and making new boundaries. And how did you do that? That'd be my question. How did you consistently break boundaries? OTC : Ok, number two? Jude : The second would be Gregg Allman . I would like to ask Gregg Allman what microphone he used on Eat a Peach . I've been wondering about that for the past month. Dylan : I mean, if I can meet anybody and ask anything, it would probably be Neil Young , honestly. How did you produce an album like Harvest ? You know, where does that sound come from? Who writes that? It's kind of the same with Bob Dylan . How does somebody write that kind of music and continue to write that kind of music in their late 70s? I would ask how they have made it this far. Being on the road and not losing their minds. I'm sure they're crazy, but you must be crazy to do what we're doing anyway. OTC : Do you have anything else to add for your fans, listeners, and new potential fans? Dylan : Man, come out and see us! Come talk to us. Buy a T-shirt and ask for a sticker. We'll give you a sticker. Follow us and like our music. We love y'all! We want to meet y'all and create a family, you know, that wants to support us. And we want to hear from you. You know what I mean? Just let us know if there's a certain song or anything you want to hear. Jude : Rock 'n' Roll isn’t dead, so come out and fucking rock with us! You heard Jude! Get up and get to a show to rock with this band. By all means, catch them between sets or after the show and introduce yourself. You will not meet a more sociable bunch of young men. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! *All photos by Bud Gambrell Photography www.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. Where to find Bud: Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book: Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find the Alabama Heathens: YouTube: Alabama Heathens - Topic - YouTube Facebook: Facebook Instagram: The Alabama Heathens (@thealabamaheathens) • Instagram photos and videos Where to find Dylan Johnson: Facebook: Facebook X: Dylan Johnson (@D_JohnsonMusic) / X Where to find Jude Roberts: Facebook: Facebook D o you have something that Bud should check out? Email him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Death Toilet: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Ezekiel Kincaid Share Nov 28, 2023 Death Toilet is a fun concept but is ultimately just a horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques and really bad storytelling. Rating: 1.5 out 5 toilet bowl stains Like many of the people who read these reviews, my sense of humor never graduated elementary school. As such, you can imagine my delight when I came across a movie called Death Toilet (2018) on Tubi. And speaking of Tubi, allow me to note that it is one of the best free streaming services for horrible movies. Take Death Toilet , for example. Any streaming service offering this movie obviously has no real standard … and I’m more than okay with that. It makes my job so much easier. I’ll start off by saying this: There are crappy movies, and then there is Death Toilet (see what I did there?). This film is on a level of awfulness all on its own. And if that’s not bad enough, the filmmaker thought it was a good idea to make four more of these movies. I’m not kidding. Now, I warn you, my faithful readers, this movie is bad. Like, really bad . It is so bad, I don’t know if there is a word in the English language to express this type of horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques. The acting is worse than an elementary church musical; the special effects look like they came from the quarter machine at a grocery store; the props look like they came from Dollar General; and the script sounds like it was a class project for a bunch of third graders. That's me being nice. Death Toilet is directed by Evan Jacobs ( Insect, The Toll Collector ) and written by Mike Hartsfield. Hartsfield plays the main character in all the Toilet movies and is the one who came up with this original plot. So, from the get-go, at least it has that going for it. Death Toilet focuses on Brett Baxter (Hartsfield), a Vietnam vet. who comes home to take care of his dead brother’s affairs. Brett soon discovers the toilet in his brother’s house is not normal, and believes it might have something to do with his death. And Brett is right. Death Toilet opens with Brett’s brother getting stabbed in the crotch by the demon-possessed toilet and, goodness gracious, the crappy special effects start here. I’m certain the fake blood is nothing more than chocolate syrup because there’s a quick scene in the movie where viewers can clearly see a bottle of syrup sitting on the bathroom sink—a glaring accident that should've been caught during filming and if not then, at least in post-production. When the demon manifests in the toilet, a knife blade comes out of the seat. I have to say, this was pretty cool, but what ruined the effect for me was the dime-store-looking eyes floating around in the toilet bowl, and then the water turning red with a little food dye to indicate blood. After Brett moves in, it doesn’t take long for the toilet to start acting up. When he begins hearing laughing sounds coming from the bowl, Brett calls a plumber, but he can’t find anything wrong with it. As the film (and I use that word loosely) progresses, Brett suspects the toilet is possessed or haunted. So, what do you do if you think you have a haunted or possessed crapper in your house? Call a priest, of course! The man sent for the job is—and I kid you not—Father Dingleberry (Isaac Golub, who has directed a few music videos, and sadly passed away this past April). At first, our illustrious priest thinks this is all a joke. Then, the demon manifests in the toilet, and a less-than-lackluster battle between good and evil ensues. I won’t give away the ending, just in case any of you readers decide to subject yourself to it. All in all, Death Toilet was a huge letdown for me. With a runtime of around 54 minutes, I can honestly say it was still too long. About ten minutes into the movie, I was seriously questioning my life choices. About fifteen minutes in, I was debating turning it off. By twenty minutes, I was wondering if I could make it through to the end. Then, I thought about you. My readers. How could I let you down? It was time for me, the one who prides himself on being able to endure such trash, to pony up. So, I did. I made it through Death Toilet in its entirety. All for you, folks. My tolerance has now leveled up in a big way, and I am proud of myself. Where most would have faltered and turned it off (like my fiancé did, who was watching it with me over video chat), I endured. Don’t ever say Zeke didn’t do anything for you! In my mind, what needs to happen with these movies is this: A studio with a bigger budget should snatch this up. The idea is great and would be an epic B movie with better acting and better special effects. Someone out there, please do this, because I'd love to see a remake done right! I can’t believe I am suggesting this, but if any of y’all want me to watch the rest of the Death Toilet "franchise" and review it, I will. All you need to do is send us an email with "For Zeke!" as the subject and I'll get it. And I’m sure, like other choices I’ve made in life, I’ll end up regretting it, but hey, this is what I do and I love it. Where to watch: Tubi. If you actually want to pay for it: YouTube Premium and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7G2UwBME8 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

‘Pitiful’ sets a new direction for the music of XIII Minutes. < Back Reviews on the Real: XIII Minutes ‘Pitiful’ is a Hard-Hitting Reflection on Overcoming Adversity Nicole Brice Oct 30, 2024 Share ‘Pitiful’ sets a new direction for the music of XIII Minutes. Releasing November 1, 2024 , ' Pitiful ' by XIII Minutes is a powerful anthem and is THE perfect song to set a new direction for the band’s music. It's a sound that's hard to compare, and it's a sound that I can't wait to hear more of. We’ll see more of this band in the press in 2025. Just watch. 'Pitiful' releases everywhere November 1, 2024 ' Pitiful ' kicks off with a distant chorus of voices, setting the stage for a unique sound that will pique your curiosity. The song then builds to a thematic climax in the introduction, jamming right out the gate. Melodic lyrics start taking hold when your head nods as the pre-chorus starts in. Crunching guitars, precision drumming that will leave you in awe, and a solid chorus make this song one that you’ll be listening to on repeat in no time. “‘Pitiful’ tackles the topic of addiction (of any form) and shows it for what it is – a trap. There’s something very human about the desire to escape from life’s pain. It’s a relatable feeling, but our goal is to inspire listeners to engage in life in a much deeper and raw way. There is hope in the journey, and we can only begin to understand that hope when we tackle our pain head-on and sober.” I previously reviewed ‘ Cult Leader ,’ which has an entirely different sound than ‘ Pitiful .’ The production on ‘ Pitiful ’ is tight, and the entire song ends with you still wanting more. While the song's brevity leaves you craving more, it also adds to its charm, and is a testament to its quality. “We understand that not everything can be wrapped up in a 3–4-minute song, but despite tackling darker subject matter, we always want to sprinkle seeds of hope in our songs.” XIII Minutes has been around for a while, consistently delivering high-quality melodic rock throughout the years. However, they didn’t come onto my radar until earlier this year. Since then, they've quickly become one of my new favorite bands, especially after their previous release, Cult Leader . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGHBBX65MAo ‘ Pitiful ’ is a perfectly orchestrated song with textures, rhythm, and soaring vocals. The song will stick with you long after it has finished and resonate with anyone who likes a solid, melodic rock song. “One can never discount what an amazing producer can do to bring ideas to life and help a band funnel them in creating a focused output. In the writing of ‘ Pitiful ,’ we worked with producer extraordinaire Kevin Gates at Reach Audio , who, among others, has produced music by Afroman . Kevin brought out the best in us, and I think this song reflects just how amazing he is.” I’ve listened to ‘ Pitiful ’ five times, and it gets even better each time. If you truly want to enjoy It, might I suggest an excellent pair of headphones? They will make your listening experience much better. Stream ‘ Pitiful ’ everywhere on November 1st . For more information on XIII Minutes : Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org XIII Minutes - Wikipedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xiiiminutesofficial/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/170qLAyfpGyLLTCu1QcDhL Rottweiler Records: www.rottweilerrecords.com XIII Minutes | Rottweiler Records Bandcamp: thirteenminutes.bandcamp.com XIII Minutes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xiiiminutesband/ Reverb Nation: YouTube: www.youtube.com XIII Minutes Band After a few years of silence, XIII Minutes is back — reforged as their strongest, hardest-hitting iteration yet. The hard rock band made a name for themselves with their album Obsessed, released in 2019 via Rottweiler Records. The album spawned the track “Who Told You,” which topped Christian rock charts. But life seasons changed, and the band went dark. Until now. “I think the focus on the culture and collective goals is what sets this era apart,” reflects Jamie Kucinski, band founder and drummer. “Through every step and experience, clarity has presented itself. Even during the hiatus, I began to better understand what I wanted to accomplish.” That steady focusing in led Kucinski to recruiting a new lineup in 2023, a lineup united under the common purpose of the band’s culture: a culture defined by hope, community and fun. 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 mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 50 Years Of CBGB! < Back CBGB Spirit Revived: A Night of Punk Rock Nostalgia at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond Rian Nickels Oct 1, 2024 Share Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 50 Years Of CBGB! What a night it was at the Hey! Ho! Let’s go! 50 Years of CBGB benefit concert! On September 20th, 2024, the members of the band Splendid Failure and talented musicians of Louisiana came together to throw a benefit event in honor of the legendary punk rock music venue that was in New York City, CBGB , also known as Country, Bluegrass, & Blues. The show was held at the Columbia Theatre in good old downtown Hammond, America (Louisiana). This concert was also put together so that they could raise money for The Kay Butler Performing Arts Project at Swamplight Theater in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The Kay Butler Project does workshops for many things: acting, dancing, singing, to name a few. Alongside Splendid Failure were many talented local musicians and bands such as Talking Pictures, Byron & The Five Dead Dogs , Tim Weaver, J Rees , Callie Hines, DD Drott, Joe Burns , Dave Ensminger, Jason Kareores, Ava Greichguaer, and Harmony Wood. The doors opened at 7 PM, and my first quest as a concert photographer for the night was to find Ralph J. Wood, Drummer from Splendid Failure , and have him show me around because this was my first time at The Columbia Theater . The theater was beautifully architected with high ceilings, a superb second-floor balcony for a larger and more personal view, a large stage with all the bells and whistles needed for a proper punk rock gig and adorned with many different types of instruments. After I learned my whereabouts, my partner and I met up with some good friends, found some seats close to the front, and eagerly but patiently waited for the show to begin. Credit: Rian Nickels By 7:30 PM, the lights began to dim, and the fog machines started to gear up; it was show time! Jim Winter , artistic director at The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, came out on stage to tell us about himself, the history of CBGB, The Kay Butler Project, to thank everyone who was involved with making the show happen, but most importantly he said this, " Right here is for general admission, luckily all of you have general admission tickets " while pointing at the floor in front of the stage. He then kindly demanded that we all get off our butts and come to the floor to enjoy the concert the way that all the punks do, on our feet and so close to the stage that you can feel the music bouncing through your body. Most of the audience stood and rushed to get a good spot while still being mindful and respectful of each other's space and safety. Once we were all settled and ready to move our bodies Jim welcomed Splendid Failure onto the stage. Credit: Rian Nickels Splendid Failure is a four-piece made up of drummer Ralph Wood , his wife Angie Wood , and Bill Robison, sharing the role of bassist, guitarist, and vocalist, and Scott Furtwengler on guitar. They got it right, too, with a smooth start. What better way to begin a night of rock and roll than the iconic late 70s track ‘ Sheena Is a Punk Rocker ’ by The Ramones ? This was especially fitting because of the event's slogan, “ Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! ” inspired by the song. My krewe and I squeezed our way right to the front of the stage so that we could be front and center (Well, front and to the right a little bit). Immediately you could feel the fierce energy coming from the crowd because they didn't waste any time and jumped on their feet. They played hit songs like ‘ Search and Destroy ’ by The Stooges and the award-winning Talking Heads track ‘ Psycho Killer .’ You could hear that the band members had years of experience and dedication to their talents as they could pull off these well-known and beloved songs with ease. Before welcoming the band Talking Pictures onto the stage, Splendid Failure was joined by Southeastern Louisiana University communications professor Dr. Joe Burns to help on vocals and guitar for the song ‘ What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding ’ By Elvis Costello & The Attractions . After an incredible set from Splendid Failure, the stage was taken over by the energetic Talking Pictures, a band of younger folks who are quickly making a name for themselves in Tangipahoa Parish. They are made up of five members: the frontman and lead vocalist Ethan Price , Ethan Lauricella on the drums, Matthew Perez and Aiden Dixon on the guitar, and Bradyn Finn on the bass. They confidently performed covers of the songs ‘ Juicebox ’ and ‘ Reptilla ’ by The Strokes . Talking Pictures only played two songs, but that was enough for anyone to become a fan of their sound. Splendid Failure returned to the stage for a second set and was joined by several other talented individuals. First up for the second set is Dave Ensminger for ‘ God Save The Queen ’ by the Sex Pistols . A notable moment was when DD Drott , vocalist of Hammond's local band Stone Mother , joined them for hit songs ‘ I Put a Spell on You ’ by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and ‘ I Hate Myself for Loving You ’ by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts . DD has a voice that echoes through the theater, and the show's attendees were undoubtedly excited to see her perform. Another highlight was when the daughter of Ralph and Angie Wood, Harmony Wood, and her best friend Ava Greichguaer joined Splendid Failure for The Go-Go’s track ‘ Our Lips Are Sealed ’. They both had such angelic voices, which seemed to unite the whole audience. Splendid Failure finished their second set with ‘ Turn on The News ’ by Husker Du before a brief intermission so that attendees could get some refreshments from the lobby or take a picture at the photo booth, a replica of The CBGB Venue’s bathroom , created by the Southeastern Louisiana University’s theater technology crew. Many people sent in decals and stickers to contribute to giving the full effect of the legendary punky bathroom. After the 15-minute intermission, it was time for the other half of the event! I was super eager for what was to come because many musicians I’ve worked with or have just been in my inner circle were due to perform. Starting with J Rees and Callie Hines from the band Jupiter Flood . I was so excited about this because J Rees is the bassist of one of my all-time favorite local bands, The Gosh Darn Dangs. I had no idea that they also did vocals, and I couldn’t wait to hear their voice. I also photographed Callie Hines in 2019 for a songwriters’ night at Low Road Brewing in Hammond , and I was curious to see how Callie and I had grown in our art forms since then. Together, they performed the classic song (and one of my favorites) ‘ Iris ’ by The Goo Goo Dolls . To say they blew me away would be an understatement. With Callie playing guitar and sharing vocals with J, their voices blended and harmonized together beautifully to pull off the perfect cover for the song. J and Callie were joined again by Splendid Failure to perform ‘ I Melt with You ’ by Modern English . One of my favorite moments of the show was when J Rees and Splendid Failure performed ‘ Seven Nation Army ’ by The White Stripes . You could feel the iconic bass line in your heart as it traveled through the floorboards. Splendid Failure didn’t miss a beat, and J had the perfect voice with just the right amount of “Jazzy” rasp and could easily hit the high notes. J Rees and the band showed us no less riotous energy for Bikini Kill ’s iconic track ‘ Rebel Girl .’ To finish their set, Splendid Failure was joined by Jason Kareores, Callie Hines, and Byron Daniel for more popular 70s-90s songs before welcoming Byron Daniel & The Five Dead Dogs to the stage. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_c1b4b5fceda249a3ada2b057679f4fd3/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Another performance I was super excited to see was Byron & The Five Dead Dogs . They are a four-piece of vocalist and guitarist Byron Daniels , their drummer Christian Colonna , Andrew Ates on the guitar, and Monroe White playing the bass. Back in 2018-2019, I took photos of Byron and Andrew in a band together called The Dirty Spoons (The first era of The Gosh Darn Dangs), and I was super excited to see what they’ve been up to since. These guys looked like absolute rock stars as they played ‘ Nearly Lost You ’ by Screaming Trees and ‘ Sonic Reducer ’ by Dead Boys . They were supposed to be joined by Mike Spoon for the Misfits song ‘ Hollywood Babylon ’ and ‘ Thunder Kiss ‘65 ’ by White Zombie ; however, the universe had other plans. Byron explained to the crowd that Mike Spoon couldn’t be there because his daughter decided early that she was ready for the world. Byron then asked everyone to support Mike, and the audience went wild. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_105aef9087a84b67a3ec5dbe45dd5e4a/720p/mp4/file.mp4 I don’t know if the Columbia Theaters’ walls had ever heard something so loud. Everyone excitedly clapped, cheered, yelled, and stomped their feet to congratulate Mike. Showing that even in the chaos of a punk show, family and community always come first. The band's bassist, Monroe, stepped forward to fill in for ‘ Hollywood Babylon ,’ followed by Tim Weaver to perform White Zombie’s ‘ Thunder Kiss 65 ’, and they did not disappoint. With Tim Weaver’s riotous voice and energetic punk stage presence, he was the perfect person to substitute. Splendid Failure came out to rock the stage for a final time to perform ‘ I Wanna Destroy You ’ by Uncle Tupelo and was accompanied by Monroe once again . Joe Burns then joined them for ‘ Gloria ’ by Patti Smith Group . Splendid Failure and friends welcomed everyone to the stage to perform ‘ People Who Died ’ by Jim Carroll Band . Now, when I say everyone, I mean everyone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard anything like it! With two drummers, a handful of vocalists, bassists, and guitarists, they came together to create an unforgettable experience. It was so memorable not only because of the outstanding talent of everyone involved but also because you could see that, more importantly than anything, they were having a fantastic time. The stage transformed into a chaotic, joyful mess, with musicians from across the night uniting for one final blowout. Guitars wailed, voices soared, and as the crowd screamed along, it felt like we were all part of something larger—a fitting end to a night that captured the essence of punk: community, rebellion, and raw, unfiltered emotion. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_3180e7d91c4a4b4b829b20f658c5e05a/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 The producers of 50 Years of CBGB successfully gave us an amazing night of music that made us feel like we were at a 70s-90s Punk Rock gig. They also succeeded in bringing together Tangipahoa Parish’s musicians and giving them a place to let their talents shine. The Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 50 Years of CBGB benefit concert was a remarkable celebration of music, community, and the enduring spirit of punk rock. The event not only honored the legendary CBGB, a cornerstone of punk history but also showcased the talent and passion of Louisiana’s musicians. Splendid Failure and the many artists who joined them delivered electrifying performances, blending iconic punk anthems with heartfelt tributes. More than just a cover concert, it was a gathering of local music lovers who came together for a cause—supporting The Kay Butler Performing Arts Project and a tribute to the roots of punk music. From the raucous sing-alongs to the heartfelt moments, it was a night that left everyone buzzing with the energy of the music, the camaraderie of the scene, and a deep appreciation for the power of live performance. The legacy of CBGB was alive and well in Hammond, Louisiana, and for those in attendance, it was a night to remember. *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels - to see more, check out Rian's site below. rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Got a show you'd like Rian to cover? Reach out to us at: mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Nicholas Johnson’s music is soulful and nostalgic < Back Nicholas Johnson: The Shape of Americana to Come Nicole Brice & Chris Pryor May 30, 2023 Share Nicholas Johnson’s music is soulful and nostalgic Americana, what is it exactly? A sound? A feeling? A moment? For singer/songwriter Nicholas Johnson, based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, it is a masterfully crafted album that showcases his songwriting and vocal talents. Released March 3, 2023, Johnson’s “Shady Pines Vol. 2” picks up where “Shady Pines Vol. 1” left off with country-tinged folk songs that tell stories of love, loss, and redemption. Released March 3, 2023, Johnson’s “Shady Pines Vol. 2” On “Shady Pines Vol. 2,” Nicholas Johnson’s songwriting is more mature and nuanced than ever before. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, painting vivid pictures of the characters and settings in the songs. His vocals are powerful and expressive, and he delivers the songs with a sense of conviction and emotion. Johnson always had the goal in mind to craft a recording that matched the intensity of his live shows, and the result is a brand of rock that manages to sound familiar and original with hints of nostalgia thrown in. Mixed with great modern production, thanks to superstar Dayton producer Patrick Himes , this album is sure to resonate for years to come. Feeling as if you're on a steam locomotive shredding across the wild west with the eerie style harmonies of "On the Avenue" is an exhilarating experience, and the lyrics fall right in place with the backdrop that the arrangement paints. One might even say his music could fit in perfectly with the show Yellowstone , and the ghostly sound of the guitar solo in “Dark And Bloody Ground” is killer and a masterpiece. It’s one of our favorite tracks on the album. With seven songs coming in at a little under 30 minutes of listening, the tunes evoke a sound reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen if he teamed up with Toad the Wet Sprocket—pure, enjoyable American rock. Photo provided by artist Nicholas Johnson is extremely talented, and why we are not hearing his music on radio stations across the nation is beyond me. There is an audience for him anywhere and everywhere. “Shady Pines Vol. 2” is a must-listen for fans of country music, folk music, and singer-songwriters. This album will stay with you long after you have listened to it. We reached out to Nicholas so we could learn more about him and his craft, so be sure to check out his music after you finish reading this interview. We guarantee you’ll love it as much as we do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPMAMgnHEtE MaM : Nicholas, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. Your music is so soulful and full of nostalgia. How did you get linked up with Patrick Himes to do both albums? NJ : Well, it was a weird set of circumstances and very serendipitous. I got kicked out of Italy, which was crazy because it was on my birthday. It was the weirdest thing ever. Honestly, there were little moments leading up to it, but I think the Italian motto should be like, ‘It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok,’ but it’s not ok. It’s never ok. I had sold my house, car, everything, and so when I got kicked out of Italy, I was couch-surfing between Louisville, Kentucky, and friends in Dayton, Ohio. When I was in Dayton, I was around fellow musicians and was showing them this group of songs, and they’re like ‘Dude, you gotta record these.’ I’d had some bad experiences in the studio, and so I was apprehensive about going back in, but then I found out that the producer who had worked on one of my favorite albums actually had a studio in Dayton and through a series of very fortunate circumstances, I was able to work with him, but we only had two or three days to knock out all of the songs. It was really quick and [was] an awesome experience. It made me fall in love with the studio all over again just by working with him. MaM : Wow, that is incredible. NJ : Yeah, it was, it was so quick and that was part one. I ended up telling him that I had such a great experience that I wanted to come back and record more. That’s why I labeled the first [album] Volume 1 just to have an excuse to come back. MaM : That was smart thinking. As far as the recording process, how do you approach going into the studio? Do you do anything to prepare first? NJ : Well, I think with Patrick, we have learned how to work with each other and honestly, every time I go to the studio now, I feel it’s an evolutionary step because I went from being super green to a little apprehensive, and then when I went back for this new album, I had formulated this plan. I knew exactly who to use for drums and who else to work with. I definitely had a bit more of a plan going into Volume 2. Photo provided by artist MaM : Tell us a little more about your backing band, The Same Old Strangers. NJ : Yeah, I call it the ‘same old strangers’ because I never know who is going to be in it. (laughs) MaM : That’s awesome. Not just a clever name! NJ : It’s the curse of knowing all these super-talented people, but they’re always busy. I’m used to doing things solo, but I’m also glad I get to have these guys on the road to do something, and it feels like every time I am on the road, it’s a different experience and a different group of people. The cool part of that is I get to hear my songs played in different ways because I give the musicians free reign on how they play the songs. I want to hear their personality come through on the instruments. Whether it changes the tone and makes the songs appear more bluegrass, punk, or funk, then so be it. When I was in Italy, I had a traditional Irish folk violinist in the band and a punk drummer, so it’s crazy. We sounded like Flogging Molly for a minute. It had this whole Guinness rock-type feel. MaM : I see you are currently residing in Ohio. What brought you to Ohio from Kentucky? NJ : After college, I worked two jobs. One was working the night shift at a mammoth cave hotel there in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. I was sleeping behind the desk, and then I’d wake up in the morning and I would go to an Australian-themed animal park called Kentucky Down Under where I worked with kangaroos and wallabies. I was working 16 hours a day and not really making much money, so my buddy, who worked in pipeline construction, said he would help me. I had this English degree I wasn’t using from Western Kentucky, so he asked me to come and be his helper. He was a welder. He then took me on the road and so I was able to quit my other two jobs. I ended up going from New Mexico to Wyoming and eventually wound up in Indianapolis and Champagne, Illinois. I would work from six in the morning till four or five in the afternoon and then play in the bars until two in the morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkRnsQQeg8Q MaM: That is pure insanity! (laughs) So, I read you started off as a drummer in your high school pep band but now, of course, you play guitar. How was the transition going from percussion to guitar? NJ : Oh, man … I just beat the hell out of it! (laughs) I’ve broken a lot of strings and I’ve really had to learn over time that it’s not a percussion instrument. MaM : Right. You gotta treat it gently, man! NJ : Right, but I’m a hard learner. The percussive element is there, and the rhythmic element is there, but I’m learning how to craft it into a different kind of sound where you’re doing the picking and hammer on/off and all that stuff. MaM: Do you have a favorite guitar to play as far as sound? NJ : Yeah, it’s just a matter of affording them. I’ve had a Takamine Santa Fe since 2001, so it’s been my workhorse. It’s been everywhere with me and is kind of my safety blanket. I love the way it sounds and know every inch of it. I know how it’s going to react to certain things, and it travels well. Even when I try to switch to a different guitar, I always gravitate back towards it. MaM : You just came off tour in March. What were the crowds like? Were they receptive to your new material? NJ : Oh absolutely! I was pleasantly surprised since this was the first big tour I’ve done. I did a little East Coast thing last year, but this one was over 20-something straight days. I was on tour with The Pinkerton Raid, so some folks are familiar with them, and some were familiar with me depending on where we were. I think the Midwest is where we’ve planted our flag now and it was great. Hopefully we’ll go back there. MaM : Do you have any plans to tour more this year? NJ : Actually, I’m going on an East Coast tour in August. [I’m] headed up to Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, and New England and all that. A big chunk of August will be that. In September, I have Americana Fest in Nashville, and in October, I’m going to go back overseas for the first time since COVID. I’ll be doing Ireland, UK, and Italy. Photo provided by artist MaM : Right on! I want to ask you about your vocal influences. I love your style. Who do you cite as influencing you vocally? I hear hints of Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Toad the Wet Sprocket, among others. NJ : Well, Springsteen and Petty are at the top of my list. Petty, for sure, he’s kind of my musical hero. When you’re growing up in Kentucky and going over the hills and the curves there in the backwoods, that’s who you have blaring with the windows down, and it’s such an honor to hear someone say [his name] in relation to my music. Toad the Wet Sprocket, too. They’re a representation of that alternative movement and my favorite from that movement is Oasis, but Adam Duritz is a big influence of mine, too; I don’t know about vocally but, for sure, lyrically. The way he’s able to paint a picture with every lyric … [there’s just] not a wasted word. Not one. MaM : All of your songs tell a story. What inspires your lyrics and what goes into the songwriting process? NJ : Well, you know sometimes, you’re just drunk and stumbling, and I’m a visual person. I’m not able to paint, so I use my words. Take, for example, [the lyrics] on ‘Lost and Found,’: ‘green glass on the sidewalk, shimmers like stars.’ … I was drunk in Milan at 2 a.m. and I saw this green bottle. And from one image to the next, some of it is observational and some of it you pepper in yourself and [add] your own experiences. Sometimes, it just starts with being drunk and seeing an image, and sometimes it’s just hanging out and watching a situation. I’m a barfly—a pub guy—and sometimes you just hang out there and see certain situations play out and that becomes a story. I don’t like to be completely blatant and biographical. MaM : One of my favorite song titles on your new album is “Binghamton, Ny Is a Portal to Hell.” (laughter) Can I get a backstory on that one? NJ : (laughs) I’ve got family up there. They have the second most gray days besides Seattle, and you wake up and the morning looks like 4 p.m. (laughs) Time gets lost up there. It’s funny, too; Rod Sterling from The Twilight Zone , he’s from there, and I feel like things are just weird there. We had a series of unfortunate things happen there, like family’s health, and our dogs passed away when we were up there one time, too, so there’s just this series of unfortunate events and things. It just became this thing where Rod Sterling knew what he was talking about. This is definitely the twilight zone. (laughter) Honestly, I may have upset some people with that title. (laughs) It wasn’t intentional, and it all started as a joke. It was a punk song at first. Patrick was like, ‘That works, man; [just] slow it down,’ and it happened. It almost didn’t get recorded because it did start as a joke. MaM : Nice. Okay, last questions: What are your future aspirations? Where do you see yourself headed? NJ : Well, I’m all in. This is what I want to do. It’s been a long and winding road to figure out that this is what I should be doing. I just want to keep producing, getting better, and writing good songs. It would be fun to do a project where I didn’t have my name on it. Maybe a little side project. I would love to tour with a bigger act or cool band. I’ve always wanted to open for Wilco or something like that. I’m going to keep plugging away and see what we can produce and hopefully keep doing albums with Patrick. - To experience the music of Nicholas Johnson yourself, hit one of the links below and indulge! Nicholas Johnson | Spotify nicholas johnson (nicholasjohnsonmusic.com) ‎Nicholas Johnson on Apple Music Nicholas Johnson (@nicholasjohnsonmusic) | Instagram Nicholas Johnson | Cincinnati OH | Facebook 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

Making Music, Making Art, and Making Sandwiches < Back Better Off Gone: Behind the Alabama Heathens Latest Video Shoot Bud Gambrell & Zach Taylor Sep 13, 2026 Share Making Music, Making Art, and Making Sandwiches It was a September day in North Alabama , but not a crisp one. Although it was September , the summer heat still lingered, with a heat index between 105 and 109 degrees. The Alabama Heathens kept going despite the heat—there was a video to shoot for a new single called “ Better Off Gone ”. My other half on the Alabama "dream team ," Zach Taylor reminded me to visit the gin for the video shoot that day. By gin , he meant the 1910 Gin and Moonpie John's . By video, he referred to The Alabama Heathens shoot for " Better Off Gone ". Naturally, I eagerly accepted. I grabbed my camera and headed out on that strenuous one-mile trek down the road to 1910 Gin . I drive by there nearly every day on my way home. This day combines two things I dearly enjoy. It’s no secret that I thoroughly enjoy taking pictures of The Alabama Heathens . I also very much enjoy going to Moonpie John’s . It’s time for a shameless plug. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by and see Jeff and Corey at Moonpie John’s . It’s a wonderful place to grab a bite to eat and a cold drink on Saturday and Sunday . For now, I will step aside and let Zach do what he does best: write . Well, he talks too, but for the sake of this article, he excels at writing. Zach writes, and I take pictures . That combo works really well. Did I mention it was hot that day? It almost felt like we were shooting the video on the surface of the sun. The best part was that everyone was having such a good time that the heat didn't deter us. So, be on the lookout for the new video for “ Better Off Gone ” coming soon! Credit: Bud Gambrell And now, some words from Zach. A few weeks ago, Dylan Johnson , lead singer for The Alabama Heathens , texted me looking for locations for the music video for their new single, “Better Off Gone.” He wanted to use the 1910 Gin, but he needed a few other locations too. Specifically , a house. I’m not going to spoil the how or why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GW0fpcoz6Q Studio Video for "Better Off Gone" - not the OFFICIAL video, yet ... Early last week, the two of us went for a drive around Hump, Alabama , home of the Quick Airplane and a good portion of my family. First, a little background on my relatively short history with The Heathens . I started working with Bud Gambrell after meeting him this spring as a fellow indie author . Somewhere along the way, Bud hatched a plan for me to start writing for Mixed Alternative Magazine . Sure. Apparently, I needed another hobby. My first interview was with The Alabama Heathens at Moonpie John’s , named after my great-grandfather , J.H. “Moonpie John” Taylor . My uncle, Jeff Taylor , owns the store and the 1910 Gin . Before that interview, I’d only listened to The Heathens on Spotify . Looking back, I don’t think the interview was particularly good . Not because of them, but because I didn’t know how to interview yet. I was asking questions, but I wasn’t really getting to know them or their sound. That changed a few weeks later when I saw them play at Mars Music Hall . My wife and I were invited backstage to hang out, and the show was incredible . That was the night I realized: These guys really have something. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten to know them and many of the other artists in their orbit. I’ve seen them play several times. When Dylan asked if I could help with the video, I was delighted to do whatever I could. Some of that help was artistic. I showed him the Hump Creek swimming hole . We talked about shooting with the JH Taylor Bridge in the background. We talked through the opening, where Dylan’s fictional woman throws his suitcase and guitar out of the house before he runs away with the band in a getaway car. That created another problem. They needed a getaway car. I graciously offered either my 2004 Pontiac GTO or my 2013 ZL1 Camaro convertible . A few days later, Dylan told me he’d found something else. I remember thinking: What could be cooler than a 580-plus-horsepower, blacked-out convertible? Well... Credit: Bud Gambrell The answer eventually showed up as a fully restored 1971 Mach 1 Mustang connected to the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever . That’ll do it . The Gin is exactly what its name suggests. A gin. Big. Steel. Tin. And very much without central HVAC . It quickly became clear we needed cold water. I asked if they needed anything else. “Smokes.” “Beer.” I raised an eyebrow. None of them smoke. And it was a little early for beer. Even for me. They laughed. Props. Right. Credit: Bud Gambrell I ran up to Dollar General and, while I was there, realized nobody had considered another fairly important part of spending an entire day filming: lunch . So, I bought sandwich meat, bread, chips, water, and whatever else looked useful . As I told them, nobody goes hungry around me. It’s just one of my quirks. Behind the Scenes by Bud Gambrell Tye Brown directed the shoot, while Uncle Jeff and I helped wherever we were needed, from load-in through sound. Mostly Jeff handled sound. My responsibility was much more prestigious. I was in charge of starting and stopping “Better Off Gone.” I took this responsibility very seriously. Over the next several hours, we shot around the Gin , including a really cool getaway sequence from Uncle Jeff’s front porch , before heading to the swimming hole . I drove my truck while Tye filmed from the bed. SUPER COOL. That’s where one of my favorite moments happened. When we pulled up, people were already swimming. The band looked at me. Apparently, this was my problem. So, I walked over, explained that we were shooting a music video, and asked if they wanted to be part of it or would mind clearing out for a few minutes. Then I told them who the band was. They went crazy . They already knew The Alabama Heathens . That was pretty damn cool . But the most interesting part of the day had almost nothing to do with the video. I’ve spent a fair amount of time around Dylan, Jude, Tim, and Will over the last few months, but most of it has been at shows, interviews, or events. We haven’t had many chances to really sit down and talk. Dylan is naturally reserved. I think back to that first interview when I met him. As a novice, I expected the frontman to dominate the conversation . He didn’t. I’d ask a question. He’d give me a short answer. So, I was a little surprised when he started asking me about being an author. You should have seen the shock on my face. Naturally, I started with my mistakes. That’s who I am. You’ve heard most of them already, so I won’t torture you with them again. But eventually the conversation turned to growth. Suddenly, Dylan opened up to me as if we’d known each other for years. It felt incredibly natural, and I don’t think the conversation’s significance really hit me until hours later , when I was telling my wife how much fun I’d had being everybody’s gopher. I started telling her about my conversation with Dylan , then stopped. “Wow. I didn’t realize how in-depth and personal that conversation got.” Credit: Bud Gambrell Dylan talked about how much the band’s sound has changed, especially since adding Jude Roberts . I’ve been waiting for a band to use slide guitar as more than decoration. I love the way Dean DeLeo uses it in some Stone Temple Pilots songs, but it often feels like another color in the arrangement. With The Heathens , Jude’s playing has increasingly become part of the sound's backbone. And I love it. Credit: Bud Gambrell From there, we started talking about writing. His. Mine. And about how difficult it is to create something in a vacuum. How much pressure that brings. But also, how terrifying collaboration can be, because it requires vulnerability. You have to hand somebody something that came out of your head and say: Tell me what’s wrong with it. I told Dylan I could hear his growth from their five-song EP to “Better Off Gone.” That’s when I learned he’d started co-writing with other people some time ago, including Bay Simpson , whom I’ve interviewed as well. That led us to a really interesting question: When you collaborate, does the finished work become more you or less you? Someone reads your words. Changes one word. Moves another. Alters the cadence. Cuts something you loved. And somehow the result can become sharper and more honest than what you started with. Even when the answer is simply: Write less. Say more. Trust your audience. That’s been a huge lesson for me, too. Credit: Bud Gambrell Eventually, we ended up talking about something every new artist seems to confront: What happens when you make something you genuinely believe is good... and almost nobody notices? For them, it was an EP and an endless string of gigs. For me, it was releasing my book and then discovering just how far you can push an award-winning novel that has still sold fewer than 500 copies. We found a lot of common ground there. Marketing. Social media. Deciding whether to spend money you don’t really have. Wondering whether the right person might eventually hear the song, read the book, or see the show and suddenly open a door. We’re both still waiting for that moment. We laughed about it. Dylan told me that being a songwriter sometimes feels like writing a thousand songs to find one . I talked about how indie authors have to build a backlist. Persistence. Sometimes for the sake of persistence. And that’s hard because you sometimes have to write the song that doesn’t work. Sometimes you have to write the chapter you eventually delete. Sometimes you have to finish something only to realize what you should have made instead. But you have to keep making things. Then we talked about something maybe even harder: looking backward. Something you made a few years ago may have felt like the absolute best thing you were capable of creating. Then you get better. Suddenly, you’re looking at the thing you once loved and seeing your artistic infancy. Will you still be proud of it twenty years from now? Will you appreciate how much you’ve grown? Will you hate it? Dylan is in his early twenties. I told him that’s an advantage I don’t have. He has time. We talked about Stephen King and the work that existed before anyone noticed it. How artists sharpen their craft by doing it over and over and over again. And I told him some of the best advice I’ve received since becoming an author: Accept that failure will be most of the job. What impressed me most was hearing Dylan talk about how he’s started reading specifically to become a better writer. That opened another rabbit hole. Books I’ve read. Podcasts I listen to. Research I’ve done while writing. I told him about Mark Lanegan’s Sing Backwards and Weep and some other books that helped me understand artists, bands, addiction, touring, and the music business from perspectives I simply didn’t have. Those books have made me better at writing about fictional musicians. Sometimes they’ve apparently made me a better fake band manager, too, because we somehow ended up discussing merchandise. Credit: Bud Gambrell At The Heathens’ recent show at the Trash Pandas stadium , they ran out of larges and extra-larges even though they still had plenty of smalls and mediums. I told Dylan I’d researched and written almost this exact problem for one of my fictional band managers. He asked what she did with the leftover shirts. “Bandanas.” He loved it. We laughed. That led to another thing I’ve come to really appreciate: our local music scene, especially the younger artists. They support one another. A recent show at Voodoo Lounge made that obvious. It’s a tiny room, and at one point I realized I might have been the only person there who wasn’t another musician, somebody’s girlfriend, or somebody’s family. At this point, they pretty much treat me like family, too. I told Dylan about the book events where I’ve sold zero copies. And the “good” events where I sell fifteen books and still don’t cover expenses. But I met people. I talked about the book. I put the product in front of someone new. He talked about playing shows where hardly anyone came. Same lesson. Keep going. Keep putting the thing in front of people. Especially when you know the product is good . Especially when you know it’s getting better . Eventually, we started talking about recording the album and possible release dates, which somehow led both of us to realize: They need an album-release show. Not: “That would be nice.” It HAS to happen. By the time Dylan and I finished talking, we’d probably been standing there for thirty minutes . I had the strange feeling I’d just been talking to a younger version of myself, which doesn’t make much sense. I don’t play music. He doesn’t write novels. We’re separated by roughly twenty years. But the things underneath? The fear. The ambition. The need to get better. The frustration of creating something you believe in and wondering why more people haven’t found it yet. The hope that the next song, the next book, the next show, the next conversation might move the needle. That part felt remarkably familiar. I can’t speak for Dylan , but I walked away from that conversation feeling encouraged . Empowered , even. I hope I gave him a little of that. And if not? At least I made the sandwiches. Until next time... ENJOY THE SHOW! The new video for " Better Off Gone " will be out SOON ! *All photos by Bud Gambrell www.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. To learn more about The Alabama Heathens: HOME | Thealabamaheathens Where to find Zach Taylor: Website: https://sites.google.com/view/zach-taylor-author/home TikTok: zach taylor, author (@zachtaylorbooks) | TikTok Facebook: Zach Taylor Books Facebook Where to find Bud: Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Previous Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Next

The Ritual Killer < Back Cole Hauser and Morgan Freeman Team Up to Take Down Evil Keeley Brooks Mar 9, 2023 Share The Ritual Killer Buckle up, film fans, and fret no longer, Cole Hauser fans. Just because Yellowstone isn’t giving us our weekly Rip fix at the moment does not mean you can’t get it elsewhere. (wink) Today’s your lucky day because Hauser has a new movie dropping in select theaters and On Demand this week, and he’s still not taking any bullshit as he stares down the face of evil in a mystical crime action-thriller called The Ritual Killer . The official trailer (below) released in February 2023 by Screen Media, and as you can see, it has a very ominous True Detective kind of vibe. Hauser is a detective on the brink of retirement and a father grieving the death of his daughter. He’s on the hunt for a serial killer who has already claimed the lives of two innocent girls, and with no leads to go on, he approaches anthropology professor and African Studies expert in ancient cultures and their rituals Professor Mackles, played by the legendary Morgan Freeman. Together they work to find this mysterious murderer practicing the ancient magic of Muti by using ancient rituals to kill people and thereby gain power. But he isn’t just killing people in the United States; he’s also claiming victims across Europe, which makes him an international criminal—an extremely agile, swift, and calculated one at that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz-dDAxCr5Y The film explores the dark and sinister world of said serial killer, as well as the secrets of the anthropology professor. In addition to its star leads, the flick also features Peter Stormare ( Fargo ), former NFL player Vernon Davis ( Chariot ), Franco-American actress Murielle Hilaire, Brian Kurlander ( Dopesick ), and Luke Stratte-McClure ( Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse ). Directed by George Gallo, who scripted Bad Boys and The Whole Ten Yards , the story dances the line between reality and madness, sanity and insanity, as Detective Boyd is forced to step inside the mind of the killer to outsmart him and take him down. ScreenRant acquired an exclusive clip from The Ritual Killer , which I have lovingly included here for all of you. In it, we see Det. Boyd chatting with his partner Det. Maria Kersch (Hilaire), who has her own questions for him about a recent arrest gone wrong. However, before she can probe too deeply into how Boyd handled himself in that situation, the pair get called out to a horrific crime scene. As Boyd views the cut-up body of a young teenage girl, it’s clear he’ll stop at nothing to take down the monster who committed such a gruesome, evil act. But he won’t be able to do it alone, and that’s where Morgan Freeman comes in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjU6Zn9NgI0 And because I'm just awesome and love doing this stuff, I found another clip to share with you, which features some action as Detective Boyd is out hunting, then chasing the killer (Vernon Davis), who is pretty damn quick with a knife in a fight as he takes out a few cops before escaping Boyd’s grasp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSexrt2_XYo For the deets on Freeman’s character and the down-low on all his secrets, you’ll have to watch the movie. The Ritual Killer hits theaters and Video On Demand on March 10, 2023. *Side note: Also releasing in theaters the same day is the highly anticipated sixth installment of Scream , which I absolutely love. Even the crappy installments. I'm just a Ghostface fan, I suppose, but not in the murderous way. Critics are already calling it the best installment in the series with heart-pounding thrills and horrific Ghostface shenanigans. I know I can’t wait. Enjoy your weekend, my friends. 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

Holland ditches his superhero cape for dark, gritty psychological dramas < Back Cherry & The Crowded Room: Tom Holland in Two Roles You Must See Keeley Brooks Jun 15, 2023 Share Holland ditches his superhero cape for dark, gritty psychological dramas Who doesn’t love the doe-eyed actor that is Tom Holland? I know I sure do, especially because he is the Spider-Man I’ve connected to the most aside from Andrew Garfield. Even then, Holland is still my favorite because of the charm and innocence he brings to the character. Lately, it seems he has taken a liking to Apple TV+ productions, as he’s had two big premieres on the platform in the past two-and-a-half years alone, and you’re gonna want to see him in these gritty roles. Here’s a little bit of info on the film Cherry and his new series The Crowded Room . I highly recommend adding both to your must-watch list immediately. In March 2021, Holland starred in Apple TV’s epic saga Cherry , which recounts an unnamed narrator’s experience with college, love, war, mental health, drugs, felony crime, and redemption. Apple Original Films The film is based on the 2018 debut novel by author Nico Walker , who served as a medic on more than 250 missions in Iraq. As a result, he came home traumatized and battled Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which subsequently led him down a very dark path that landed him in prison serving an 11-year sentence. While there, he wrote his novel over the course of several years, and days after it published, Marvel filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, through their studio AGBO, bought the production rights then signed on to direct and produce the story from a screenplay written by writer/producer/director Jessica Goldberg ( The Path ). The film serves as a work of autofiction, which is a form of fictionalized autobiography combining two mutually inconsistent narrative forms. Holland stars as Cherry --the only name we know him as, a disenfranchised young man from Ohio who meets the love of his life in community college, only to risk losing her through a series of very bad decisions resulting from the madness that PTSD tends to create in trauma survivors. When he tells Emily (Ciara Bravo, of To the Bone ) he loves her, she balks in fear and breaks up with him to attend school in Montreal. Cherry is heartbroken and directionless, so he impulsively enlists in the Army. When Emily returns saying she decided not to go to Canada and wants to stay with him, Cherry can’t get out of his two-year service commitment and winds up doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat medic. Seeing this experience through the boyish innocence Holland evokes in such a unique way instills empathy and compassion. The combined efforts of his portrayal and the cinematography allow for a realistic first-hand account of everything this young boy, who is forced to become a man in the blink of an eye, sees, hears, thinks, and feels in his own way. And it's in that way the film becomes very relatable in terms of how we face and digest real-life human struggles. When Cherry returns home, he begins suffering from some horrid PTSD that leads him to a doctor-prescribed Oxycontin dependency, which then turns into a full-blown heroin addiction. When he and Emily reunite, she, too, becomes addicted, and in order to get the money needed to support their rapidly spinning out-of-control habit, Cherry resorts to robbing banks by walking into them and calmly sliding the cashier a one-dollar bill with the words “I HAVE A GUN” written in bold red letters on one side and the words “THIS IS A ROBBERY” written on the other. He enters these banks wearing sometimes just sunglasses and other times a zip-up hoodie or jacket, maybe with a beanie, and he never actually carries a gun; however, that doesn’t mean there are never any casualties. There always are in any type of war, internal or external. Cherry successfully manages to rob 10 banks before getting caught in April 2011 and sentenced to eleven years in federal prison. Apple Original Films This story is heart-wrenching and full of adrenaline, but what captivated me the most was Holland’s performance as he transitioned between child-like innocence and young love to soldier, war veteran, mental health sufferer, drug addict, thief, and federal criminal. He’s a ferociously compact presence throughout the film, which he narrates himself. The most compelling traits of his acting, besides the purity of emotion emanating from his eyes, are his perennially working jaw muscles, which indicate the psychological intensity driving his desperate decisions. The movie is divided into seven epic chapters that include a powerful prologue and epilogue but really it’s split into two parts: war and postwar. Cherry’s life is one of continuous trauma, continuous stress, continuous disorder, and continuous effects. While I won’t spoil it for you and reveal the ending, I will say it does offer some salvation to the titular character while granting him hope and the promise of a new beginning. Holland superbly portrays the psychological toll that war and trauma can take on a person, as he encapsulates every hint of fear, desperation, confusion, and acceptance so effortlessly, you forget you’re watching an actor on screen. Cherry is currently streaming on Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5bH6O0bErk As if that wasn’t enough of a psychological exploration for the young actor, now Holland is back in Apple TV’s latest series, a psych-thriller drama series called The Crowded Room , which he not only stars in but also produced. He plays a young man accused of a crime, but the driving question behind this mystery is did he really do it? This adaptation is also loosely based on a true story about a man who was arrested in 1979 for a series of crimes he claims not to have committed. But is that really the truth? Holland plays Danny Sullivan, an introverted teen living with his doing-her-best mess of a mother (Emmy Rossum, of Shameless ) and asshole of a stepfather (Will Chase, of Dopesick ), who never misses an opportunity to corner, harass, threaten, and abuse Danny when his mother isn’t around and sometimes even when she is. Apple TV+ Original At school, Danny has two friends: a jock and a budding magician. He also has a crush on the most popular girl in school, Annabelle (Emma Laird, of Mayor of Kingstown ), but she only likes him back when her friends aren’t around. When Danny realizes this, the heartbreak in his eyes is so palpable, we as viewers feel his deflation, embarrassment, and sadness. Still, it doesn’t stop him from engaging with her when she interacts with him, and it certainly doesn’t scare him off when Annabelle’s jerkoff boyfriend threatens him. Danny is willing to risk anything to share a quiet moment with Annabelle, and he pretty much does just that by seeking weed from a dangerous drug dealer to satisfy her urge to smoke a J together. Right off the bat, Danny is presented as a shy, nerdy teen struggling desperately to find his place in a world of cruelty and bullies. So, what’s the crime? In the pilot episode, Danny is arrested for a shooting that occurs at Rockefeller Center in New York City. We see him holding the gun but freezing when he sees the face of the man he is supposed to shoot. As a result, Danny’s accomplice Ariana (Sasha Lane, of Loki ) grabs the gun and shoots at the intended victim as he scurries away. She winds up shooting several other people in the process, then seemingly disappears into thin air. The cops catch up to Danny and bring him in for questioning, but they begin to suspect that they can't find his accomplice because maybe he killed her, so they bring in Special Investigator Rya Goodman (Amanda Seyfried, of The Dropout ) to interrogate him. What ensues is an unfolding of past and present events through a suspenseful series of carefully deconstructed answers Danny gives to Goodman. It’s here we begin to realize there’s a lot more to him than meets our naked eye , and as the story deepens and exposes more memories, the mystery slowly starts to unravel. Apple TV+ Original The Crowded Room is inspired by the case of Billy Milligan and the book “The Minds of Billy Milligan” by Daniel Keyes. The non-fiction novel recounts Milligan’s case after he was arrested for a series of rapes across an Ohio university campus. Clearly, screenwriter Jessica Goldman took some creative liberties and changed up some key details, but I won’t reveal any more spoilers beyond what I already have! In a recent interview with Extra , Holland said he’s taking the next year off from acting following The Crowded Room ’s strenuous production. “It was a tough time, for sure,” he told Extra. “We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day problems that come with any film set, just added that extra level of pressure.” Holland went on to say he loved the learning curve of becoming a producer but juggling two roles on one production while playing a character in a severe mental health state pushed him past his breaking point. “… Then again, the show did break me. There did come a time where I needed a break and disappeared … for a week. … I’m now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was. I feel like our hard work wasn’t in vain. … I was seeing myself in Danny, but in my personal life. I remember having a bit of a meltdown at home,” he said. He then further commented on mental health. “Learning about mental health and the power of it, and speaking to psychiatrists about Danny’s and Billy’s struggles, has been something that has been so informative to my own life,” he said, noting he is now able to “recognize triggers” like social media that stress him out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w1xZA7pX2c Apple TV dropped the series June 9 with a three-episode premiere, which, if you missed them, you can read their full recaps here . The fourth episode premieres Friday, June 16 with subsequent episodes airing every Friday through July 28. So don’t delay: Add Cherry and The Crowded Room to your must-watch list today and experience the star actor like you’ve never seen him before in these two beautifully crafted heavy psychological dramas, currently streaming on Apple TV+. Keeley Brooks is a big ole film and television nerd who watches way too much content, then blabs about it. 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

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

Runaway Bunny is an epic tale of strength and resilience. < Back Exploring Escapism: Hawthorne Oachs’ New Single is a Compelling Tale of Freedom Nicole Brice Jun 17, 2024 Share Runaway Bunny is an epic tale of strength and resilience. It’s rare and special when an artist’s music resonates with me on a deeply personal level. I can honestly say that it's been a while since I've been genuinely moved by a piece of music. However, last year, a young artist, musician, and actress captured my attention with her soul-stirring song, ' A Single Flower , ' and I have been a massive fan of hers ever since. Credit: Artist website At just 15 years old, Hawthorne Oachs is a free spirit unafraid to explore the depths of the human experience. Her advocacy for mental health is a testament to her courage and empathy, and her willingness to be raw and vulnerable in her music is truly inspiring. Her transparent, honest, and authentic lyrics have the power to make you think and cry, creating a unique and powerful dynamic in music. With wisdom exuding that of an old soul, Hawthorne’s latest song, released on June 6, 2024, “ Runaway Bunny ”, begins with an 80’s new wave synth vibe that transports you into a dreamlike sequence with angelic and haunting vocals. As the song progresses, the intensity builds, and at 1:48, when the twinkling synths come in, it builds even further until it ends so abruptly that you want more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnrd0bbJ9fE This is, without a doubt, my favorite song from Hawthorne Oachs yet, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us in the future. Add this to your list of songs to check out NOW! I recommend going down that rabbit hole if you have never experienced Hawthorne’s music. This is only the beginning for this remarkable young artist. Click the picture to experience "Runaway Bunny". Hawthorne Oachs can be found on: Website : https://www.hawthorneoachs.com Linktree : https://linktr.ee/hawthorneoachs Spotify : Hawthorne Oachs | Spotify YouTube : https://youtu.be/Cnrd0bbJ9fE?si=MJEYDUrrhLcBruOP 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

Huntsville’s International Musical Youth Movement Invades the Camp < Back Off The Charts: How Today’s Youth Are Reviving Rock Music Bud Gambrell Oct 21, 2024 Share Huntsville’s International Musical Youth Movement Invades the Camp When I first had the idea for this article, I didn’t realize how much fun it would be. The idea came to me as I was watching a podcast . This podcast is a favorite in Huntsville as it showcases local talent, much like the article you are reading now. Pickletato is the name of the podcast. Don’t ask me about the name. Ask founder and interviewer Bill Neal . Bill and I first met in August at The Alabama Smoke Show . I hope you read my article on The Smoke Show in the August edition. Pickletato was also in attendance. On September 15th, Pickletato released an edition featuring this guitarist, who happened to be 13 years old, you read that right, 13! As I watched the podcast, I felt the urge to know more about this young phenom, Carson Merritt . See the entire Pickletato podcast here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcIJFjT3dN8 Since Bill had a connection with Carson’s parents, I reached out to see if he could arrange an introduction. Shortly after I asked, I received the phone number of Carson’s father Rod . I put in a call to Rod Merritt . We had an outstanding conversation. Within this conversation, I saw the layers of this story start to unfold. The main headline is that we are talking about a barely 13-year-old guitar player. He doesn’t just play guitar. He is good! In my opinion, he plays way beyond his years. Credit: Bud Gambrell The next layer of the story showed itself as an exchange student from Germany. It just so happens that Henri Schröder also plays guitar—and he is also very good! What are the chances? I then learned that Carson takes lessons from Preston Black . I have heard of Preston for several years. His reputation precedes him. Preston is also an excellent guitar player. By excellent, I mean EXCELLENT ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhYwpA-LMzA Ok, now I’ve got enough to go with to write a story. Then, I discovered Carson would play live with Preston ’s band Buck’d Up on Saturday, October 12th . Not only was Carson joining Buck’d Up on stage, but so was Henri ! You don’t have to ask me twice to have a good time! Credit: Bud Gambrell I arrived at The Camp around 5 pm. I will call it 5ish because when you work in this environment, you must be used to “musician time.” Walking up to the stage area, I had to decide who to talk to first. Again, there are a few layers to this story. In the natural order of things, I decided to talk to my good friend Bill Neal from the podcast Pickletato . He had previously interviewed Carson and was somewhat familiar with the talent on hand. OTC : Bill, I must credit you because if it hadn't been for Pickletato , I'd never have heard of Carson. Tell me how it came to be that Carson was on your podcast. Bill : I had Buck’d Up on the podcast, and they talked about Carson , and this kid is amazing. So, after that podcast, I went and watched videos of him. I was like, man, I got to get this kid on my podcast. I asked Preston if he could reach out to his parents to see if I could have him on Pickletato and Preston asked if I could wait a little bit because he didn't want to have one of his students above the other. So, I waited a few months and contacted his dad personally instead of asking Preston . I didn’t want to put him out since I consider him a good friend. That was one of our first live performances on one of our podcasts. We've always wanted to do it. We didn't have the equipment and everything ready at the time to have bands on there, so Carson agreed to do a little live performance there. He was fanatic about it. I mean, he was so excited! It was the first podcast that he's ever done. He was super excited, and it made us feel good that he was excited to do it! Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What is your impression of Carson? Bill : He's well above anybody I've seen at that age, and you know we're talking, he just turned 13, so he's been this good for a couple of years. I asked him how he got so good as a raw talent. He said, ‘Well, I'll spend 6 hours on 30 seconds of a song.’ He's just in it! Credit: Bud Gambrell As I talked to Bill , I noticed a man standing near the stage with a big smile after sound check. We spoke on the phone but haven’t met yet. I know a proud parent when I see one. This had to be Rod Merritt , Carson’s dad. As I approached Rod , it was as if we had met before. We exchanged greetings, and then I had questions about his son Carson . OTC : Tell me your story of Carson’s guitar-playing journey. Rod : It kind of just started randomly, watching it. We watched a show, and he said, 'Man, I like this music.' And so, he decided to pick up a guitar. We figured it was going to be a phase. We realized within a few months that it wasn’t a phase. He took it seriously. He taught himself for the first eight months, and then after about eight months, we're like, ok, this kid potentially has something, and he's taking it to where it is now. OTC : How long has Carson been playing the guitar? Rod : Two and a half years! OTC : Is that in people years or dog years? (laughs) Rod : (laughs) No, people years. It's been a short amount of time, and you know you must have some natural talent. I know I'm biased in saying that because it's my son. But at the same time, I mean, he does have a natural talent for it. He also has a work ethic, and he's very fortunate that he's been surrounded by the guys who are Buck’d Up or even his first guitar teacher, Pat Bryant . He is a U.S. Navy veteran, and was in the Navy's band for over 20 years. Carson has been surrounded by good musicians and people who lift him and encourage him. I think it's brought him up several levels, and he's had a passion for it. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : I’m sure that you took him. What was Carson’s first concert? Rod : It was just this year. We went to see Metallica in September up in Chicago . So yeah, he got to see the mighty Metallica . It was Metallica , Ice Nine Kills , and Five Finger Death Punch . And he loved it! And then, just a couple of weeks ago, we went to see Megadeth and Mudvayne up in Nashville . So, he's gotten to see big shows. Earlier in this article, I mentioned that the Merritts are hosting an exchange student from Germany. What are the chances that a family with a son who is a guitar wiz is hosting an exchange student who is also a guitar wiz? Henri Schröder is an exchange student. I pulled him aside after sound check to have a conversation. Before I get into the questions, I will say that Henri was such a wonderful young man. Just picture him smiling while you’re reading his responses. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Henri, how long have you been playing guitar? Henri : I've been playing the guitar for eight years, but I started playing the guitar passionately about four years ago. Before, it was more noodling around. OTC : What made you want to be a guitarist? Henri : Since I was young, I have wanted to play the drums, and my parents always tell me, oh, that's too big. And then I looked for the next instrument in my coolest instrumentalist, and it was the guitar. So I started playing guitar. It's just an amazing instrument, which is not easy to play. OTC : How did you happen to be an exchange student in a household with a family member who played guitar? Henri : That was not a coincidence. I wrote an application, and a few more months after I sent it to my agency, they told me that they had found a family that was also really interested in music and that their son was playing the guitar. And I was pleased about that. As soon as I got to know Carson , I knew I wanted to go to that family. That's how it happened. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What is it about music that makes you feel passionate? Henri : Music can help you out in every situation. If you are sad or happy, you can always have music. Even if the times are not that good, music can help you out of that. That's what music has meant to me. OTC : I noticed during soundcheck that you and Carson have some chemistry while playing. Henri : Definitely! I’ve known Carson for two months and Preston for around two weeks. Both of them are very loving and just amazing people. It's like we are in our bubble and really like each other! Preston Black is the guitarist in the band Buck’d Up . He has played in the Huntsville area for many years and taught guitar for 21 years. The other members of Buck’d Up are Alex Mercieca , who is on bass and lead vocals, and drummer Rob Buck . This band gets my respect for being a badass power trio and for sharing the stage with these young men. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Preston, at some point, Carson's dad brought in a prospective new student named Carson Merritt. What did you think when this student came in and sat down and played for the first time? Preston : Well, I was blown away! Because he was only 11 years old when he first started and was already good! He had already been playing for around a year, a year and a half, maybe two years, or something like that, but he was already good at that age, and it just blew me away! So we got him up on stage maybe six months ago, something like that after he first started lessons, and he blew everybody away! That was here at the camp also. I think he was, by that point, maybe 12 years old. He's a natural! Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : This makes me think of the videos on YouTube of a young Derek Trucks at the age of 13 playing with the Allman Brothers . His playing was far advanced for his age. How is this even possible? Preston : It's amazing! I've been teaching full-time since 2003. It's weird to say, but in all those years, I've only had a handful of younger students who were naturals when it came to guitar. But Carson is the youngest, especially in lead guitar playing. All that stuff is natural for him, and he works hard! It's not just that he can naturally play. He works hard! As an instructor, I am more of a guide than anything else because he does all the work and figures out a lot of stuff on his own. So that in itself is impressive, especially for an 11-year-old! Now he's 13, but he's a very mature, brilliant kid. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : As a teacher, you've taught people of all skill levels. What does it mean as a teacher to have somebody so determined to practice like he does? It's like he is driven to play this guitar and improve. Preston : It makes my job easy. All I do is, you know, steer him one way or the other. I like to focus on the things that interest him because he will work the hardest on those things. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Rob, as the drummer for the band, what were your thoughts when Preston presented the idea of having a 12-year-old play onstage with Buck’d Up? Rob : I'm all about it, man! I started playing when I was three, so I've been in this my whole life. To see fresh talent, good talent, and God-given talent come in, I couldn't ask for any better. Yeah, bring him home. Let's go! Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Alex, before you got to play with him, had you heard him play yet? Have you seen him play before? Alex : Preston had talked to me about it and told me how good he was, but then I was blown away when he got up there and started shredding away! He didn't miss a beat. It’s like we had practiced with him for months. But everything just fell into place. Perfect! My comparison between Carson and Derek Trucks wasn’t about their playing styles. These two have opposite playing styles. That comparison was regarding their age. It also had to do with their demeanor onstage. Both have excellent control over their emotions while playing. I asked Bill Neal if he had noticed that, too. OTC : Bill, you've seen Carson play before, and this kid's barely thirteen years old. What's your impression of his stage presence? He doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all. Bill : That's one of the things I asked him on the podcast. I asked him, 'I’ve seen you play up with Buck’d Up .' I'm like, 'You don't even seem fazed. Are you nervous at all?' 'Well. No, not really.' It doesn't make sense because I'm sure you're the same way. We picture ourselves at that age, and there's no way I would be able to do that. Maybe if I had the talent, but I've never been able to do anything like that, so he's well above anybody I've seen at that age. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_0a2f4a5e5c9c4828bc34c15864edf72e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 I enjoyed my time with Buck’d Up so much that I asked them a thought-provoking question to get a deeper look into who they are. OTC : If you could collaborate with one artist or band right now, who would it be? Preston : I’ve never thought about that. I guess it would be somebody like Steve Vai because I listened to his music yesterday. It had been a while since I had listened. I used to listen to it all the time when I was younger. I'm just blown away and amazed by how he composes. He's a good guitar player, but compared to his guitar playing, the composition of the music he writes is way more complicated and musical. He's a better composer than a guitar player, so I would like to pick his mind and brain and work with him. That would be fun! Rob : I already get to collaborate with some of the best dudes right here! But, if he were alive, I would say Dimebag Darrell of Pantera . I'd love to sit and play with him for a day. Alex : I'm going to take Rob’s approach to this answer. I’d love to collaborate with Victor Wooten , sit down with him, and learn some writing skills. In the past, I thought it would be really cool to sit down with Cliff Burton and get some things going with him, even during his years. He is better than what I was expecting to see. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What first got you into music? Carson : So there was this show I watched called Cobra Kai , and one of the characters, Miguel , sets his ringtones to Round and Round by Ratt . I love the guitar on that song. So, I wanted to get a guitar to learn that, and then I expanded into different genres, and it's been enjoyable! OTC : What inspires you to pick up your guitar and practice? Carson : I want to be amazing and join a band someday. You know, I want to make it my career. If I practice, I can work further towards that. OTC : Do you enjoy practicing? Carson : Absolutely! Check out this video of Carson practicing here: www.facebook.com This was a bucket list solo for Carson. Two years and a half ago when he first started learning to play the guitar, we had no idea that at 13 years old... | By Angel | Facebook This was a bucket list solo for Carson. Two years and a half ago when he first started learning to play the guitar, we had no idea that at 13 years old... OTC : What do you enjoy about practicing and learning new things? Carson : It's just super fun! Honestly, it's beyond anything I can explain. You know, just that feeling of a pinch harmonic or a harmony. It’s just beautiful! It's just a beautiful instrument! OTC : What is the best piece of advice that another musician has given you? Carson : My guitar teacher, Preston , once taught me that you might have to work four hours for a three-second part of the song, and even though talent is a part of it, it's mostly work ethic. OTC : As a guitar player, you have a favorite guitarist. Who is your favorite guitarist? Carson : Kirk Hammett of Metallica . OTC : Shouldn’t your answer be Preston Black tonight? (laughs) Carson : (laughs) I didn’t know we were doing that. I also like Dan Sugarman of Ice Nine Kills . OTC : So, tonight you're playing with Buck’d Up , but could you get up there and play with any band right now? Who would you play with? Carson : Ice Nine Kills . They're my favorite band. OTC : What strengths do you think make you a great musician? Carson : Determination and work ethic. If that last answer is insufficient to blow you away, you haven’t been paying attention. Carson Merritt is barely 13 years old. When I was 13, I was unsure if I understood what those words meant. Carson not only has raw talent, but he also has the drive and determination that will carry him far. As I sign off this edition of Off the Charts, I will say one last thing. Rod and Kelly have done an outstanding job with this young man. Not only does he play guitar beyond his years, but he is also very polite and respectful. Those are a few qualities that I wish more people possessed these days. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Where to find Bud: 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. Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell Pickletato www.youtube.com Pickletato All the good names were taken https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8DviNRyjlHA4AaxxmLs5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555703570599 Preston Black www.prestonblackguitar.net Home Facebook: www.facebook.com/BuckdUp Instagram: www.instagram.com/pressed_in_black/ YouTube: www.youtube.com Preston Black Instagram for Buck'd Up: www.instagram.com/buckdupband/ Alex Mercieca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amercieca78/?hl=en TikTok: Mercieca (@alexandermercieca) | TikTok Rob Buck Facebook: www.facebook.com/rob.buck.71 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 mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Kevin’s music is a hybrid of blues, rock, and pure Americana < Back Kevin Dorin: A Soulful Traveling Renaissance Man Nicole Brice & Chris Pryor Jun 2, 2023 Share Kevin’s music is a hybrid of blues, rock, and pure Americana Who is Kevin Dorin? That was the question that popped into our brains when he first came onto our radar. Although not well known here in the United States, Kevin has been making music for almost his entire life starting out in his home country of Canada as part of the rock band Bigger Fish Than Guns. Bigger Fish Than Guns was a band out of Calgary in the Canadian province of Alberta who saw great success in the late 2000s to early 2010s until they broke up in 2012. “We had a meteoric rise after recording our first EP, and our single “Texas T” won us $25,000 in a radio station contest in Calgary. The song was added to stations across Canada and the NE U.S. and charted the Top 30 alt rock up in the great white north. Sound-wise, we rode the coattails of bands like The Black Keys and regularly beat out Young the Giant for radio placements”, says Dorin. “We even got an awesome opening gig for AWOLNATION, and just as we were offered an opportunity to audition for a Live Nation booking agent, the band dissolved.” After the dissolution of Bigger Fish Than Guns, Dorin continued making music and working in the industry that shaped him. With a history rooted in Entertainment Business Management, thanks to his certification from The Metalworks Institute in Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, Kevin managed to make his way to the U.S. He currently lives in Idaho and consults for a venue in Sandpoint called The Hive. Being no stranger to the background workings of the biz, in the past Kevin managed the band Frankie McQueen and has had the opportunity to tour as a musician and as technical support for the indie band Sidney York. Photo provided by artist In addition to touring, making music, running things on the business side, and helping young artists with his songwriting competition, the Sandpoint Songwriting Competition , Dorin made a documentary in 2013 called What is Canadian Music? A true Renaissance man, Kevin Dorin is multi-talented and multi-faceted, and on April 7, 2023, he released a new single called “I Am Not Afraid” via all streaming platforms. The song is funky, soulful, and sounds like good, classic southern rock. The song fits our political landscape of today and we love the tones used with the music. The flow of the vocals is bluesy and merges well with the overall tone, which presents a powerful and evocative message about struggle, suffering, and resilience. The repetition of the phrase “I am not afraid” reinforces a sense of determination and courage in the face of adversity. The use of imagery like “body rotten bloody scene” and “sowing reaping feeding me” creates a dark and intense atmosphere that emphasizes the challenges faced today. The use of repetition and rhyming in the pre-chorus and chorus creates a strong sense of rhythm and adds emphasis to the message of the lyrics. Additionally, the use of metaphor like “the devil is the distance between our choices” adds depth and complexity to the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzN87MxSkZY Overall, the lyrics present a complex and nuanced exploration of the themes of struggle, love, and resilience, and according to Kevin, “It's a song, it's a mantra, it's the Zeitgeist written to be a tool to give people HOPE in the ongoing chaos that is our world. Risk four minutes and it may just make you feel better.” “I Am Not Afraid” is a song to take note of and we were so intrigued by Kevin’s history and backstory that we reached out to him to ask a few questions. Kevin Dorin’s talent is one to be heard and seen, so after you read this interview, we encourage you to go check out his entire back catalog. He is sure to impress you with his talent, energy, and passion, which comes through in his music. MaM : Kevin, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. We love your song "I Am Not Afraid.” It's soulful, it's funky, and it's pure southern soulful rock. What was the inspiration behind the subject matter and lyrical content? KD : The song was inspired seven years ago by immigrating to the U.S. from Canada. I couldn’t work until my green card was approved and so I found myself watching more American news than ever before. At that time, Canadian news had much more integrity—not so much so nowadays, though. [At the time], I wasn’t used to the sensationalism and fear mongering. I took the feeling of how the American media made me feel and turned it into the lyrics for this song. I’ve been performing it ever since in the U.S. whenever things get especially weird and scary here. My fans tell me that they use the ‘I Am Not Afraid’ mantra in their own lives, and first-time listeners as well as fans sing it with me when I play the song live. MaM : Did you record and produce the song yourself? The production sounds great. KD : The song was recorded over a period of years, and I never felt like it was quite right, so I sent it out to a friend and mentor I'd worked for, Producer Trey Mills. He put the finishing touches on it. I sat on that recording for another 18 months and finally the chaos of the world got so insane, I figured the world could use the song. Photo provided by artist MaM : When did you start playing music and what inspires you to create? KD : I'm 36 and I've been in the music business my whole adult life. I was in a successful Canadian Alt Rock band called Bigger Fish Than Guns in my early 20s, but just as that band was peaking, we broke up and I moved to Idaho to get married. Since moving to the U.S., I've been getting deep into Americana styles of music and playing hundreds of shows a year so I can develop my skills to entertain at the highest level. As far as inspiration is concerned, if I live a strong life and maximize the potential of every day, I am always inspired to create. The adventure of life and the dynamic of pushing through the highs and lows provides me with endless emotion and stories to draw from. MaM : Are you currently playing shows? If so, where do you showcase your talents? KD : I consult for a gorgeous world-class venue in Sandpoint, Idaho called The Hive and I'll be recording my next show June 3rd on video and high-quality audio. We will be releasing a live video recording from that set of ‘I Am Not Afraid’ in mid-June, so follow my YouTube channel! Then I plan to get back on the road and play as many dates in 2023 and 2024 as possible to share the positive messages in my new music with the world. Photo provided by artist MaM : I see you put out an album in 2010 and then another in 2018. Tell us a little more about your past endeavors. Why was there a gap in releases? KD : My last album ‘Invisible Lines’ is one of my proudest achievements. It was recorded as a one-take, one-two microphone-style project through a mostly vintage analog recording process. It was a bit of a departure from my alt rock roots after living in the U.S. for a while and absorbing Americana. The goal was to be able to capture moments in the recordings like the quality of the heroes of old. I've studied the recording processes of music quite deeply and the records that make the most impact in my life are always recorded by musicians who have worked hard to be able to track a record live off the floor. As far as why I leave so much time between releases, all my favorite artists usually only release major projects every four to six years. This seems to be a time-tested recipe to achieving quality control and amassing songs that are worthy of something notable that can really make an impression on people’s lives. Most great songs are timeless, so you should be able to sit on them for years until the time is right to respect the art and release it in a way that achieves the full potential of the songs. ‘I Am Not Afraid’ is a return to more of my alt rock sound developed in my band Bigger Fish Than Guns, and I have many more songs I'll be releasing as singles over the next 12 months that are a similar vibe. We just re-released our Bigger Fish Than Guns album ‘Through the Green Door’ after taking it off streaming services for about eight years. It's an awesome album. I’m excited for new people to discover it. MaM : Where do you see yourself headed in the future musically? KD : I've been storing a stack of songs over the last five years and working to become the best performer possible, so you'll be seeing a steady stream of music released from me and I'll be playing it all over North America. - To experience the music of Kevin Dorin, head on over to all of his social media pages and his YouTube. His music and talent are unmatched. Kevin Dorin | Facebook Kevin Dorin (@kevindorin) • Instagram photos and videos Kevin Dorin - YouTube Kevin Dorin | Spotify ‎Kevin Dorin on Apple Music 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 New York Musician taking the World by Storm < Back Cyberattack Rearranges the Electronic Music Scene Nicole Brice May 8, 2023 Share A New York Musician taking the World by Storm Cyberattack is a talented and innovative New York-based musician who is quickly making a name for himself in the electronic music scene. With music that is glitchy and emotionally complex, Cyberattack is the performance name of NYC-based guitarist/songwriter/singer/YouTuber Ivan Anderson. With the use of bright vivid imagery, he makes these incredible music videos that reel you right in, showcasing an imaginary landscape of nostalgia and charm. His latest video, out today May 8, 2023, is for his rendition of the Tom Petty classic “Listen to Her Heart”. Cyberattack has continued to churn out quality content since launching his YouTube channel in 2017 and he shows no sign of slowing down. The new music video for “Listen to Her Heart” is made to look like Ivan has been absorbed into an old-school graphing calculator, with a lot of painstakingly designed lo-fi special effects that must be seen to be believed. The song itself is lovingly hostile to the original Tom Petty source material. The basic idea behind Ivan’s very glitchy treatment of it is that sometimes when you listen to your heart, the message is mystifying and bizarre. The song and the video end up devolving into noisy, nonverbal chaos like a brute-force introduction to the Cyberattack aesthetic and approach to music: glitched out, unapologetic, and, underneath it all, extremely romantic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINdLqmcYH0 His previous music video " Fantasy Killer " won Best Music Video in the Bowery Film Festival and was a finalist in the New York Cinematography Awards, New York Movie Awards, Jersey Shore Film Festival, and the Artists Forum of the Moving Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q145O-EkxSM In addition to Cyberattack, Ivan Anderson has performed, co-written, appeared on records, made videos, or otherwise collaborated with Tim Lefevbre (bassist for David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band, etc.), Rhett Shull, Emily Hopkins, Knobs, Fusilier, SWEET FIX, Mobile Steam Unit, and preston.outatime (aka Preston Parris). Ivan Anderson is a busy dude. Released in 2020, his full-length debut Cyberattack album “Hard Feelings” was produced by Geoff Stanfield (Portugal.The Man, Sun Kil Moon) and is currently available on all streaming platforms. We took a moment to chat with Ivan about his creativity and flair for all things visual. in addition to discussing music in general. Are you looking for an amazing new artist to discover? Look no further. Here’s what Anderson had to say. MaM : Hey Ivan! It is Ivan, right? Not Evan? For some reason, I want to pronounce your name like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV . It was what automatically popped into my brain. (laughs) IA : I love Rocky IV and the character Ivan Drago, so I can tell this conversation is off to a great start. It is pronounced Ivan, though. MaM : Give us a brief background about yourself. I read somewhere that you are from Englewood, NJ. Tell us a little more about that. IA : So, I’m not actually from Englewood, but I am from a town very close to there called Leonia. It’s only a mile or so away from Englewood. Leonia is a very small town. I feel like I grew up in the suburbs of New York, but on the New Jersey side. Those who grew up in New York would have some different feelings about whether that counts or not. I’ve been making music professionally for as long as I can remember. I graduated from college in 2009, and at that time, I was in a band called Sweet Fix and we were a New York band. I had formed the band in college, but after graduation I was just trying to make that band happen, but I still had a day job, too. And, along the way I ended up interning for a music studio and I started doing a bit of session guitar playing, too, along with collaborating with other people, and so I was starting to round out my resume as a professional musician. In 2015, my band broke up, and I was a little freaked out because I had big dreams for that band, so when [we] broke up, I was like, ‘What now”? I was still trying to do the “guitar player for hire” stuff, too, around this time, so I decided to just start my own project—my own band—which I ended up naming Cyberattack. I do have collaborators for the records and other people I use for them, but they’re all hired guys. Cyberattack is truly an Ivan Anderson solo project. Photo from artist social media MaM : Tell us a little more about your YouTube channel. I see you have over 15.7k subscribers. IA : I started the YouTube channel around 2016, along with securing the name for Instagram, etc. I started out by putting some music videos on there that I did. ‘Fantasy Killer’ was one of those early videos. I was still figuring out the look and vibe I wanted, though … like the visual kind of energy of what Cyberattack would be. I love all those weird old video games and the whole retro thing. It’s just insane with all the colors, so I wanted to emulate that. I was sort of figuring out what I wanted as I made the videos and a collaborator friend of mine, John, helped me achieve that. Also, too, during lockdown for COVID, nothing was going on, so I decided to start adding videos to my channel about the guitar pedals I had. I just made a demo video about some of the equipment I had lying around. Those started to catch on better than my music videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmHWap1T-E MaM : Your music videos are works of art, man. I’m not going to lie. I went down a rabbit hole on your YouTube channel checking everything out. The videos remind me of playing my old Sega Master System back in the day at my parents’ house. See, I was never the Nintendo chick. My dad got us the Sega because he said it had better graphics. IA : There was like a team identity to all of that. I feel like it was rare for any adult to have any knowledge of anything video game related. That’s awesome that your dad picked the Sega because of better graphics. photo from video for Fantasy Killer MaM : With you being multi-talented, what is your preferred instrument to play? IA : I’m the best at guitar. That’s my high card. MaM : I saw you playing an SG—is that your preferred type? IA : I do like Gibson SG’s, although I feel like there’s just something about my SG. The instrument means a lot to me and is my main recording guitar. I think all SG’s look cool because of the devil horns on them. They’re not trying too hard to be evil looking but have this kind of low-key evil vibe look. I just love the way my SG sounds, though. I really like how it sounds recorded. It just has a basic good tone where when you hear it, you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’ll go with that.’ MaM : Do you own any other guitars? IA : Oh, I have a few. I have a Fender Strat, which I find has a much more specific sound to it, but it’s a sound I like. I also have a custom guitar that was built for me by a guy out in Orangeburg, New York. It’s pretty cool. The shape and design are a little more in your face. It’s got curves and points. It’s definitely a little more out there. It was built by a guy named Alex Glasser with Iron Horse Instruments. The idea was to design Ivan’s dream guitar. It was made after I recorded the first Cyberattack album. It’s become my main guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVGkkxFkws MaM : So, as far as musical influences go, who do you cite in driving you to create? IA : I only vaguely remember this, but my dad used to play the music of Jimi Hendrix all the time. He was a big Jimi Hendrix fan. I connected with his music right away and he just seemed like he was the coolest guy ever. It definitely had a huge impact on me as a kid. His guitar was cool. His approach to music was cool. I just knew that I liked it. As the years went by, though, I started to learn more about music, and I started branching out with what I was listening to. As a teenager was when I started trying to write lyrics and sing. I sort of took on a new approach to caring about music, too, and just sound. MaM : That’s awesome. So, as far as your favorite type of music is concerned, do you have one? What do you listen to in the car when you’re driving around? Do you even need a car to live in New York? IA : I actually do have a car. For gigs and stuff, it comes in handy. I grew up in the suburbs and used to love to drive and it was a huge part of life. Driving in Manhattan is the worst driving experience ever. There are stop lights everywhere and all you do is stop and go constantly … oh, and parallel parking is everywhere. As far as my music taste goes, it’s geared more towards classic rock. You can’t go wrong with the early Van Halen albums featuring David Lee Roth. I love early Metallica. I like a lot of guitar players and classic rock stuff. I’ve liked the same types of music since I was 14 years old, and it has never changed. I feel like that’s how my identity was formed. Photo from artist social media MaM : Tell us a little more about your new music video for “Listen to Her Heart”. IA : Well, that’s the fanciest video we have done yet, and I felt we had to build up to that with the previous videos. I like my videos to capture you for three or four minutes while watching them, but how do you go about that really? I don’t have a lot of money to get these crane shots over a bridge or anything like that, but my buddy John went to film school and he’s the guy who can set up the lights how they need to be and knows all the technical stuff. We usually just rent a studio that has a green screen and then go from there. Photo from the new video for Listen to Her Heart MaM : What made you decide to cover Tom Petty? IA : I picked it mainly just because I like the music of Tom Petty. ‘Free Falling’ was everywhere when I was a kid. You could not go anywhere without hearing that song, including the mall. I was always drawn to what he did vocally, though. I just like the way he sings. He is an incredible lyricist. Photo from the new video for Listen to Her Heart MaM : When you are writing your own song lyrics, where do you draw inspiration from? IA : Lyrics, for me, are by far the hardest thing. I can come up with ideas and melody, but the process of writing lyrics takes a bit. There’s, like, a million voice memos on my phone of me just singing little melodies that I think are good. I put enormous pressure on myself to have the lyrics be what I think are good enough, which makes it that much harder. MaM : So, what’s going on with the new music? Have you even started the writing process? IA : I’m gonna start recording the next Cyberattack album at the end of this year, but before I do, I want to finish making music videos for every song on the first album. And there’s only two left. One is the Tom Petty cover. After that, I will be officially done with the first album cycle, and I can start the recording process for the second album, so stay tuned! - Want to stimulate your eyeballs? Head on over to Ivan’s Cyberattack YouTube channel to experience his creativity in all its colorful glory. Also, be sure to like and follow him on social media to stay up to date on albums and releases. Be sure to check out his brand spanking new video for "Listen to Her Heart" - out NOW ! cyberattack (@cyberattack_world) • Instagram photos and videos Cyberattack - YouTube Cyberattack | Spotify Hard Feelings | Cyberattack (bandcamp.com) Cyberattack | Facebook Cyberattack | creating glitchy music and videos | Patreon 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 huge nerd. She loves listening to new music and checking out cool stuff. Want her to check out your creations? Email her at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Next

“Sulking in Love” features powerful ballads as gateways to the darkness that lurks beneath personal distress. < Back Shawn Williams: Sulking in Love Ryne Hancock Sep 27, 2023 Share “Sulking in Love” features powerful ballads as gateways to the darkness that lurks beneath personal distress. New Orleans native and singer/songwriter Shawn Williams loves the nighttime. “The nighttime is when we are mostly alone by ourselves, stuck with whatever’s going on, whether it’s sadness or happiness,” she once wrote on her website when describing the inspiration behind most of her songs. For 13 years, Williams worked as a radio personality and program director at various stations in Atlanta, New York, and New Orleans before she decided to strike out on her own in 2017. As a hauntingly soulful singer/songwriter with a throaty rasp and sardonic lyrics , Shawn brought forth her brand of Americana, which, according to her, is a mixture of alt-rock, country, and serial killer blues , with her first album “Shadow.” Her next album, “Motel Livin,’” which garnered favorable reviews from local music outlets like OffBeat Magazine , released in 2018. Since breaking out on the New Orleans music scene six years ago, Williams has been a mainstay on the popular local WHIV-FM country music show “NOLA Country Radio.” She has also been featured in the aforementioned OffBeat Magazine , Ireland’s Lonesome Highway , and Europe’s Country People Magazine and was nominated for three “Best of the Beat” awards last year. credit: Christopher Bryson Recently, Williams released her third album in four years and fifth album overall with “Sulking in Love,” which was produced with assistance from Mark Howard, who was at the helm on albums such as the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon” and Peter Gabriel’s “Us.” “Sulking in Love” is layered and textured in sound and is like a cross between Lucinda Williams and PJ Harvey but reads more like the tale of a woman ready to move on from a relationship than anything else, hence the title of the album. “Sulking in Love” showcases “cut-throat guitar melodies fused with pure muscle jazz” as Williams’ powerful ballads build on danger, tension, and the Crescent City after dark. Her powerhouse vocals matched with her Cajun folk twang creates a sultry atmosphere for listeners to experience. “Sulking in Love” is full of surprise moments like, for example, the big solo on “Givin’ Up,” which features the guitar framed by what sounds like a vintage Mellotron, which is pretty cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKUiTJ-StVE A few weeks ago, Shawn took time from her busy tour schedule to talk with me about her music, the Americana scene in the Crescent City, and the trials and tribulations of being a working musician in New Orleans. MaM : You worked as a radio programmer before hitting it on the road as a singer/songwriter. With the way radio is set up now, most notably in the country genre, what positives or negatives have you seen in terms of radio play for americana/country? Shawn : I've been writing songs since I was 10 and playing guitar since I was 14. In any genre, it's hard for artists to get mainstream/commercial radio airplay unless you're backed by the big labels and big money. What's great about New Orleans is that people support their local, independent radio stations, like WTUL, WWOZ, and WHIV because they play local artists … artists like Lucinda Williams or Ryan Adams who don't get mainstream support but are still big. MaM : Two years before the pandemic, you had two albums out. After we all went on lockdown, you then released your third album, "The Fear of Living, The Fear of Loving." Would you say the pandemic was the fuel behind your creative input now that you have released three albums in four years? Shawn : That third overall album was fueled by a breakup, drinking (because what else was there to do at that time?), dark times, and by the song "Change . " I first wrote "Change" and I was like, “What the hell? What else am I going to do? Let me record a whole album on my phone," which I never wanted to do because of the quality, but I went for it for fun. I wrote all of the songs within a week , played all of the instruments—some of which I've never played before—and made my album how I wanted it to sound in every aspect. I actually had a Kickstarter going at the end of 2019 to record a third album in a real studio, but when the shutdown happened, that idea got nixed. When things picked back up, I started recording the fourth overall album in 2021 and released it in the summer of 2022, and then a few months later I started recording my fifth overall album and released it a few months later. MaM : In the short time I've followed your career, you've been traveling over to Pensacola, Fla., mostly to do shows. Is it due to the pay for gigs there as opposed to gigs here in New Orleans, or the Americana scene here in the city? credit: Jessica Moody Shawn : It's due to pay and the change of the music scene in New Orleans since the shutdown; although, leading up to it, the [NOLA] scene was already beginning to derail. All the clubs on Frenchmen Street other than Checkpoint Charlie (which rarely has music anymore), unfortunately want the same sound, the same five cover songs, and that's just not me. They rip off musicians. I don't want to have my players put up with working their butts off for no money and no respect. Now I'm just playing select venues and shows, places in the city that I want to play and that respect the music and the musicians, and spending the rest of my time on the road. MaM : On your album you have a song called "Society." From what I've gathered , you've never been big on political songs. What inspired you to write that one? Shawn : Yeah, I don't think I really have any politically driven songs, other than a few lines in some songs. Last summer, I was living in my RV on a farm and staying in Pensacola for the summer while touring and doing some shows on the coast and up north. Prices doubled in places to rent in New Orleans, and I couldn't afford anything. I was pissed that I couldn't go back to the place that I was born because of gentrification and the mayor killing our city and culture. And that's how the song began, as you can tell in the first couple of lines. It also touches on the city’s crime, but how crime begins at the top and with our leaders. I also have some lines in there about the pumps, Sewerage and Water Board, and the 5G towers all around the French Quarter. MaM : One of the members of the famous Neville family, Omari, is featured on "Sulking in Love." What was it like working with New Orleans music royalty? Shawn : It was killer!!! And I've never felt so fortunate to get to work with some badasses. It was my first time meeting Omari Neville , who plays on percussion and drums on this album, Daryl Johnson, who’s worked with The Neville Brothers, Emmylou Harris , and the Meters, who plays bass and percussion plus provides backing vocals, as well as Michael Chaves, who is on the guitar, keyboards, harmonica, and tambourine. L to R: Michael Chavez, Mark Howard, Shawn Williams, Daryl Johnson, Omari Neville (from artist website) It was important to have some New Orleans musicians on the album because the city is important to me and [is] a part of my sound and myself. They were all fun and easy to work with … [we] definitely vibed quickly. I’m thankful to have Omari as part of my band and live shows now! MaM : What do you expect your listeners to get out of this new album? Also , are there any upcoming shows in New Orleans on the horizon? Shawn : Like I hope for with all of my albums, I hope they get rawness, vulnerability, and are able to connect with the album. Plus, appreciation to the guys and how incredible they did on the album! On October 1, we'll be playing at Toulouse Theatre with our friends Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue opening up! "Sulking in Love" is currently available on most streaming outlets. For more on Shawn Williams, her music, and her tour schedule , visit her online at www.ShawnWilliamsMusic.com or at any of the below-listed links! Facebook: @ShawnWilliamsMusic Bandcamp: shawnwilliamsmusic.bandcamp.com *cover image by Shannon Moon 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

Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. < Back Throttle Fest 2023: Southern Happenings Bud Gambrell Oct 24, 2023 Share Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. The announcement of Throttle Fest 2023 indicated the return of a huge music event that, since 2020, has brought joy to many people. Originally held at Sidetracks Music Hall in Huntsville, Ala., Throttle Fest is the brainchild of booking agent Shane Bickel. While Throttle Fest continued in 2021, the music event did not return in 2022 due to Sidetracks’ unfortunate closing. Luckily, opportunity struck this past summer when Bickel announced to adoring fans all across the South that Throttle Fest would be returning this October to Huntsville, now taking place at Rocket Republic . The lineup for Throttle Fest 2023 featured some of Southern rock's brightest rising stars —six bands originating from six different states. Hailing from Biloxi, Miss., newly formed hard rock band The Heavy Strides kicked off the event on Friday, Oct. 13, with their unique, signature sound known for marrying deep rhythmic grooves with searing guitars under the guidance of soulful lead vocals. The Heavy Strides promise an electric fusion of classic influences , including the likes of Led Zeppelin to Soundgarden, all wrapped up with a temporary edge. The Heavy Strides are Drew Fulton on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Josh Estes on bass, Cedric Feazell keepin' the beat on the drums, and Tyler Storms on loead guitar. Cedric Feazell of The Heavy Strides (credit: Bud Gambrell) Next up were The Josephines out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. These guys are always a crowd pleaser with their raw, rough-around-the-edges rock and roll that’s sure to have you dancing while you shed a tear or two. The Josephines—consisting of Brad Tabor (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin), Zach Lindsey (lead guitar, vocals), Alex Lindey (lead guitar, pedal steel, lap steel, vocals), and David Page (drums, percussion)—arrived with a different lineup this year, which included special guest guitarist Kyle Daniel. Kyle Daniel with The Josephines (credit: Bud Gambrell) Mixed Alternative Magazine was there and had a chance to talk to The Josephines’ lead singer Brad Tabor about how it feels to play Throttle Fest again. Says Brad, “It was awesome! We got to play with some new guys. We had a couple of players with us who don't normally go out with us, and they ripped it! And then, you know, the set sounded good to me, so people had fun and that's kind of the goal. I'm glad to be here for that reason. People got to enjoy themselves.” Brad Tabor of The Josephines (credit: Bud Gambrell) Closing out the first night was Them Dirty Roses from Gadsden, Alabama. This Southern rock band knows how to bend a string and break a heart Skynyrd-style. From the Alabama clay to Europe to festivals all across the United States, Them Dirty Roses are used to bringing the fireworks in their headlining abilities. The Throttle Fest crowd was treated to a bass solo from Ben Crain, a lead guitar solo from Andrew Davis, and a rousing drum solo from Frank Ford. Andrew Davis of Them Dirty Roses (credit: Bud Gambrell) After that set, Mixed Alternative pulled Them Dirty Roses lead singer James Ford aside to get his thoughts about Throttle Fest and being able to play in Huntsville again. “It does really feel good [to be back in Huntsville playing Throttle Fest],” Ford says, “because it [was] scary when Sidetracks went away. It was kind of like, ‘Damn, where are we gonna play now?’ We just didn't have a home in Huntsville anymore. And we've been doing it since 2018. So, I'm hoping this is the new place that's our new home in Huntsville. And I thought [the set] went great! … The crowd seemed to be into it.” Them Dirty Roses (credit: Bud Gambrell) Kicking the music off on Saturday, Oct. 14, was Southern soul/rock ‘n roll band One For The Road , who came straight out of “a small building back in the woods of Resaca,” in North Georgia. I have been hearing about this band from my good friend Todd Dean , an outstanding musician photographer who sat in with OFTR to sing Marshall Tucker’s “Can’t You See” . If you enjoy totally unadulterated Southern rock music , you have to look into this band. One For The Road features frontman and lead singer Zach Crumley, drummer Chris Webb, organ/piano player Joe Morgan, and bassist Jaithan Neal. Zach Crumley of One For The Road (credit: Bud Gambrell) Up next, and straight out of Little Rock, Ark., deFrance ’s rock ‘n roll style did a slammin’ job of setting the table for the classic rock sounds of Jive Mother Mary , from Burlington, N.C., who closed out the night. deFrance is cut straight from the roots of the best in Southern music , blending elements of true folk and country music with the classic songwriting styles of Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Ryan Adams into a fresh take on rock ‘n roll. I should also mention that deFrance travels in a church van. I think band leader Drew deFrance enjoys the reaction when the church bus pulls in to play at a rock club. Drew deFrance of deFrance (credit: Bud Gambrell) Jive Mother Mary, who headlined the second night, put on a damn good set, with several attendees mentioning that their Throttle Fest 2023 performance may have been the best JMM set they’ve seen. It comes down to this: Mason Keck and JMM never cease to amaze me at just how good of musicians they are. The word stunning comes to mind. When it was announced that they were coming back to Throttle Fest, I saw it as an opportunity to sit down and talk to Jive Mother Mary lead singer Mason Keck . In response to what Throttle Fest means to Keck as a performer, he says, “Man, Throttle Fest just kind of feels like a family reunion . Huntsville is a really cool little market for us. You know, we're from North Carolina originally and we kind of just had a core group of folks that really were supporting us strongly down in Huntsville. We played at Sidetracks a couple of times, then the first couple of Throttle Fests were there, and Huntsville was always a spot we could kind of count on as a good mood lifter, you know what I mean? The people that were going to be there were there to see [us] and that was an important part of it—always getting to see the folks that [come] out time and time again.” Jive Mother Mary (credit: Bud Gambrell) (In my best infomercial pitchman voice): But wait there’s more! Prior to Day 2 kicking off, Mixed Alternative also had the chance to talk to Throttle Fest organizer supreme , mastermind, genius, and promoter extraordinaire Shane Bickel . (If you can’t tell, we love Shane in Huntsville.) When asked what Throttle Fest means to him, Bickel replies, "It’s hardcore love for Southern rock music … just bringing a bunch of familiar faces together with some new faces and just creating a family atmosphere. All of the bands and the fans just get along so well. It's just, I don't know, something about it I like. It's a small version of a festival, but more like a family reunion with live music." In 2022, Throttle Fest didn’t happen due to the closing of Sidetracks Music Hall. This year, it was out of the blue when Bickel announced Throttle Fest 2023. We wanted to know what his plan was behind that, so we asked. "I miss y’all!" Bickel laughs. How else can we get everybody who used to support Sidetracks for most of the shows together? How can we get them all back in one room? Because so many people come from out of town, out of state. You have to put six of these bands together so you can get all different parts of the South to show up. And so far, we've done that: I think we had eight or nine different states show up [the first day]. So, it's pretty impressive that people still care about these bands and follow them . Most of these bands we won't be able to [accommodate] in a smaller setting or hopefully, they'll honor me with doing … Throttle Fest whenever we need to do it. " He continues, "It's like a family reunion, but these guys are going to move on to bigger and better stages. I mean, [we have to] enjoy it and embrace it while we can because a lot of these bands are going to be too big for us soon. [Everything has gone] really well. Everybody enjoys the new venue, so that is really comforting to hear positive feedback on that. So, all in all, [Throttle Fest 2023] has been a home run! " And I'd have to agree, especially when taking note of the festival's main theme, in addition to showcasing Southern music: family . Take it from someone who attended all three Throttle Fests: This is truly like a family reunion . There was also a phrase I heard repeated many times throughout the two-night event. I heard so many people tell someone else that they loved them, and in this day and age, where there is so much hate in the world, it was quite refreshing to see and hear. It is a shame that more people are not able to attend and share a loving, family-like experience one gets with Throttle Fest. For more information on Throttle Fest or any of the bands, follow their links and be sure to browse the gallery of images below! Throttle Fest Official Website The Josephines Official Website Them Dirty Roses Official Website Jive Mother Mary Official Website One For The Road Official Website The Heavy Strides Official Facebook deFrance Official Facebook 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

They Deserve Some Damn Attention < Back Welcome to Flatch Keeley Brooks Oct 20, 2022 Share They Deserve Some Damn Attention With so many new sitcom titles dropping on TV and streaming platforms these days, it can be a challenge to try and catch them all. And while I do miss many new titles, I was lucky enough not to miss this one, and I’m glad I didn’t because it has become one of my new favorites, and I now find myself waiting for Thursdays just to watch the latest episode. Welcome to Flatch is a mockumentary sitcom directed by Paul Feig ( The Office , Freaks and Geeks ) and written and executive produced by Emmy Award-winner Jenny Bicks ( Sex in the City , Men in Trees ). It’s based on her British version of the show, The Country , and premiered on Fox in March 2022 . By May , it was renewed for a second season, which kicked off September 29 . When a documentary crew sets out to explore the lives, dreams, and concerns of residents in a small American town, it stumbles upon the tiny Midwestern town of Flatch, Ohio , where they discover many eccentric personalities and find more than worthy subjects in cousins and best friends Kelly Mallet and Lloyd “Shrub” Mallet , who aren’t at all shy about letting the crew in on their lives and local events. Each episode opens much like Letterkenny , with an introduction of the town and population: “ Recent studies show that Americans long for a simpler life in small towns. To explore these communities, Fox sent a documentary crew to spend time with the citizens of Flatch, Ohio—population 1,526. ” Then, we are introduced to a whole slew of characters to laugh at …or with ... either way. For starters, Stifler from American Pie , also known as Seann William Scott , plays the town minister, who is nothing like Stifler at all. He’s calm, soft-spoken, sincere, naïve … kind of a pushover, if you will, and he’s the one who attempts to guide Kelly and Shrub , who seem to refuse to grow up. And that’s funny. Courtesy of Fox It’s one thing to watch Seann William Scott as Stifler or even as E.L . in Road Trip , but it’s entirely different and funnier to watch him as this humble, pushover minister of a small town. Father Joe , as he’s known, moved to Flatch with his former girlfriend, Cheryl , who is an award-winning journalist and the editor of the local newspaper ... and quite quirky. Other Flatch residents include Kelly’s frenemy Nadine (Taylor Ortega, Succession ), who runs the Flatch Historical Society ; Mickey St. Jean (Justin Linville), who relentlessly attempts to become Shrub’s best friend; and no-nonsense favorite Mandy (Krystal Smith), a magnetic force of nature who lives life on her own terms. In the pilot, she asserts with force, “We are an upstandin’ town and we deserve some damn attention. We got two restaurants—one with menus, and last year somebody gave birth to twins, so now we got young people all over the place.” Then we meet Kelly and Shrub , who are a magnificent comedic duo to watch. Both are extremely talented, funny actors who play off of each other’s timing. Chelsea Holmes , often billed as just Holmes , is a hilariously talented American comedian, actor, and writer, and is also a stand-up comic and improvisational actor. She's definitely one to watch; I adore everything about her. Both she and Shrub are townies who spend their days hatching schemes. Courtesy of Fox And speaking of Shrub , played by the charming Sam Straley ( The Kids are Alright , The Dropout ), we learn from him and Kelly in the pilot just how he got his name. “So, his real name is Lloyd,” says Kelly. “Yeah, after my dad,” adds Shrub. “Yeah, his dad drank a lot of Busch beer, so they started calling him Bush …” and then Shrub chimes in, “Yeah, so they started calling me Shrub for, like, a little bush,” and after a brief pause where Kelly looks at Shrub as he’s looking off in the distance, he adds, “But, like, he left when I was a baby.” They both nod their heads and say, “Yeah,” and then Kelly adds, “But he probably still drinks beer.” Essentially, all Kelly and Shrub have are each other. Kelly’s father is around but has a new wife and baby daughter, so Kelly is virtually non-existent to him until he needs something. But Kelly doesn’t let this phase her trying efforts one bit. She defends him and tries to cozy up to him with no shame whatsoever. And the duo's interaction with the camera is priceless. Much like The Office … the looks, the expressions, the faces, the implications. In an interview with Cincinnati Magazine , Straley talks about the characters he and co-star Holmes play. “I’d say they’re kind of a classic duo, almost like husband and wife in a way. They’re partners for life, they’re best friends, and they want the best, but they also see what’s wrong in the other person and get so frustrated with each other sometimes, but we kind of always come together, because we’re each other’s support system.” He continued, “They’re in their early 20s … sort of at the point in their lives where they should have things together, and everyone around them is getting married and they’re still, I think, clinging on to moments in their lives that brought them acceptance. And they’re really excited about this new documentary crew and having ‘the movie people’ around and feeling seen.” When asked about his and Holmes’s individual characters, he added, “Shrub is, I’d say, more of the feminine to Kelly’s masculinity, which I think isn’t seen a lot on TV. Shrub is sort of the sensitive, artistic, detail-oriented control freak, and Kelly is the no-idea-is-a-bad-idea, throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks one. And I think their dynamic is very much that they love each other but fight a lot. They cover each other’s gray spots in all the right ways, and they are desperately, desperately trying to find connection and a place where they fit. They’re absolute underdogs, and they’re always looking out for each other.” Underdogs, indeed. Each and every one of ‘em. AND Jaime Pressly ( My Name is Earl ) has joined season two as realtor and OG Flatch native, Barb Flatch . SHE is nothing short of hysterical and is the perfect addition to this little gem of a sitcom, which I hope has many more seasons to come. Courtesy of FOX So, I recommend adding some Flatch to your weekly musings. Yeah, there might be some cheesy jokes or moments that lag, but if you’re not wound too tight, you just might find yourself giggling at every little thing. Like we do at my house. Welcome to Flatch, everybody! Episodes drop Thursdays on Hulu and air the same night on Fox at 8 PM EST. 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

Charming Disaster Conjures New Album < Back A Musical Cabinet of Macabre Curiosities Tim W. Jackson Feb 24, 2023 Share Charming Disaster Conjures New Album The song titles let you know this album ain’t from Taylor Swift or Harry Styles: “Mold and the Metals,” “Grimoire,” Manta Rays,” “Bat Song,” and “Disembodied Head,” for example. These tracks plus five more come from the fifth album by Brooklyn-based indie goth-folk duo Charming Disaster . They’re unusual, spooky, wickedly talented, and completely unafraid to delve deep into the underworld in exploration of all things lurking in the dark. Their new album Super Natural History releases on CD, as a 12-inch colored vinyl LP, and on all digital platforms on March 3, 2023, and is self-described as, “a musical cabinet of curiosities … [uniting] the worlds of magic and science with songs that explore subjects like witchcraft, monsters, and the underworld, alongside bats, plants, poisons, and parasites.” In short, it presents alternate ways of seeing the world and considering its mysteries. I can’t recall whether I stumbled across the Charming Disaster video for their song “Blacksnake” or if someone who knew my penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister sent it to me, but I do remember immediately loving it. That was about a year ago, and I quickly discovered that the duo had just released an album called Our Lady of Radium . Then, I watched the video for “Radium Girls ,” which again, was superb, and off I went down the Charming Disaster rabbit hole. A year later, and with the duo on the verge of birthing a new album, I was eager to hear the new music and pass along my thoughts to you, the beloved readers of Mixed Alternative. But first, a wee bit of background on this wonderfully weird pairing that is Ellia Bisker (ukulele and vocals) and Jeff Morris (guitar and vocals). With song topics dabbling in the mythical and macabre, nature and science, Charming Disaster blends those motifs in an amalgamation of folk, cabaret, and even musical theater to produce eclectic songs rooted in their own particular interests. credit: Shervin Lainez Some of the songs on Super Natural History were first recorded as early as 2021. Four tracks were recorded that year at Figure 8 in Brooklyn, NY, engineered by Hillary Johnson with bassist Bob Smith and drummer Rob Garcia joining Bisker and Morris. Five songs were recorded more recently at Tonal Park in Takoma Park, MD, with Don Godwin contributing bass, drums, and horns as well as engineering and mixing. The final track was a home recording, so, even their recording methods are eclectic! As you dig into the album, a familiar theme of the paranormal pops up in the lead track, “Monsters”: Can’t help what we hunger for With appetites of carnivores Teeth and talons, horns and fur We are grotesque and powerful This song is a wonderful opener to the album and sets the stage for the odd journey that lies ahead as the listener proceeds to hear a collection of songs far from the overproduced pop or country tunes that rule the radio. In fact, you won’t hear “Monsters” or any of the other nine songs on this album on mainstream radio, and that’s probably a good sign. In fact, we think that's definitely a good sign. Bisker and Morris say they find their inspiration “in the gothic humor of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, the murder ballads of the American Folk tradition, and the dramatic flair of the cabaret.” I can attest those influences hold true on this new album. In a departure for the duo, the ninth track, “Manta Rays,” is a spoken collection of information about, well, manta rays. Factual and fun, weird and wonderful, it feels like it could have roots in Pee Wee’s Playhouse . Another song that is somewhat a departure from the usual for Charming Disaster is “Bat Song,” which is a slower, beautiful melody with stripped-down instrumentation and higher-octave vocals. After some initial indecision, I finally concluded that “Disembodied Head” is my favorite song on the album. Bisker and Morris mentioned it has the vibe of something from Mark Mothersbaugh and Devo, but I’m hearing a bit of B-52s or even Southern Culture on the Skids in this tune that is the definition of an earworm. You might be tempted to think Charming Disaster is some sort of novelty act, and in some ways, I suppose that’s true. But their song “Monsters,” for instance, is a long way from “The Monster Mash” or any of those one-hit, quirky novelty tunes. (Looking at you Rick Dees and “Disco Duck.” ) With subject matter that almost always strays from the mainstream, Charming Disaster uses makeup, fashion, and theatrical techniques in its live shows to create a certain vibe that has been developed over the past decade. Seeing them adds to your overall narrative regarding what Charming Disaster is all about. But as this album proves, the music stands on its own as an enjoyable listen, even without the optics. credit: Krys Fox Ultimately, Bisker and Morris are talented storytellers, and they prove that you can have interesting songs about topics other than love and lust, yearning and loss. They also have a knack for making the macabre fun. Super Natural History is certainly worth checking out, which we urge you to do. And looking into my crystal ball, I predict you’ll find yourself listening to their previous four albums as well. I spent some time talking with this dynamic duo to uncover who they are as individuals underneath all the chills, thrills, and frills. So, let’s get personal. Enjoy the conversation, music lovers. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_e70267d137634f19b3f2c0715311cfb6/720p/mp4/file.mp4 *cover photo credit: Krys Fox 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

Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent < Back Peter Dinklage Keeley Brooks Nov 22, 2022 Share Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent I’m not ashamed to say that most of my nights and weekends are spent watching movies and streaming series. And sometimes, because I’m a grown up, I play video games. From new titles and old titles to titles I come across by chance and those that come recommended, I love diving in deep to get lost. And what most of society labels as being “lazy” and “unmotivated” is something, for me, that is quite the opposite. In my world, things like this are exciting, enthralling, rewarding, and challenging because I thoroughly enjoy digging into and dissecting the cinematic arts. Why is that lazy or unmotivated? Consider all the aspects that go into one story: theme, characters, setting, plot, metaphors, foreshadowing, twists and turns, cinematography, special effects, costume designs, voice-overs, edits, music, actors, etc. All of these are what ignite my intellect. There’s nothing I love more (other than my lil family o’ dummies) than getting lost in a story and finding meaning in something I’m watching, and I love observing from different points of view: how real does what I’m watching seem? Is it truly believable, and why or why not? Does a story and its parts have what it takes not just to hold my attention but also to be so believable that I have to remind myself it’s just a movie? And, I won’t lie, I’m a bit of a snob in the sense that I do look for things missed in post-production and for continuity between cut frames in the same scene. I also love analyzing the work of art as a whole and discovering its effect on me. That , to me, is exciting, and I’d much rather spend my time doing that and being with my people rather than being out in the madness of the world. By no means am I a recluse; I just am who I am, and I won’t apologize for it. I also can’t hear those who call this content lover as “lazy” and “unmotivated” for engaging in what she loves, and that’s super-good news for those of you out there who are looking for recommendations on what to watch. That’s what I’m here for ... just ask my family and friends. I also enjoy following different actors through their careers. One I have loved and followed since 2005 is Peter Dinklage, whom you might best know as Tyrion Lannister from HBO’s Game of Thrones . He’s just awesome, with eyes full of meaning and emotion that speak to the hearts of viewers everywhere. He’s an intensely humble and marvelous actor to watch, and he brings such a captivating emotional depth and range to every title he’s in and character he plays that you just can’t help but love him, feel what his characters feel, and want to follow his career. I was first introduced to him in 2005 when a friend who shared my affinity for film introduced me to The Station Agent , which is an independent psychological comedy-drama by Tom McCarthy ( The Visitor , Win Win , Spotlight ) starring Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams. It’s a sweet and quirky but also deeply heartfelt movie about an improbable group of lonely people in a small town who find their paths continuously crossing and are forced to befriend one another. It stars Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams and follows the life of train aficionado and downcast little person Finbar McBride (Dinklage), whose life takes an unexpected turn when his boss dies and leaves him a railroad depot in small-town New Jersey. Fin moves in to the depot and keeps to himself and his love and respect for trains, until his space is comically invaded by a very talkative and carefree food truck vendor, played by Bobby Cannavale. Then, an unhappy, reclusive artist/wife (Patricia Clarkson) shows up, and the trio’s unlikely interactions deepen as some eccentric conversations, relationships, and outcomes ensue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031TV29V3e0 Dinklage’s performance will melt your heart, and the culmination of this movie will leave you with chills, forcing you to appreciate the good friends you have in your life and let them know you love them. I highly, highly, highly recommend this movie. One of his more recent works I recently saw is a 2018 independent flick called I Think We’re Alone Now , starring Dinklage, Elle Fanning, and Paul Giamatti, and directed by Reed Morano, who has directed and executive produced the pilot and some episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale and the movies Frozen River (2008) and Lemonade (2016). This movie is about two survivors who learn to co-exist and live together after a worldwide pandemic wipes out Earth’s population. Dinklage is on his own and has been for some time, going house to house in his city, clearing them of the dead and burying bodies, as well as “cleaning” houses for items he needs and can use to survive. One day, out of nowhere, a vehicle crashes into a nearby pole and inside he finds a girl (Elle Fanning) inside, bleeding and passed out with a head wound. Thinking he was the only survivor left in the world, he's hesitant of her but ultimately decides to help her and bandages her up. They then very cautiously begin to learn about one another, slowly building trust and a little openness into their individual worlds … right up until Paul Giamatti shows up and brings a twist that really amps things up, and Dinklage finds himself on a quest across the country alone to rescue the very person he helped then shunned after learning of her secret. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPrnb_BYsdA It’s not your typical post-apocalyptic film but it's a very good flick with some fantastic acting, a great storyline, and some very well-done directing and camera work. I Think We’re Alone Now is a slow-burn of intensity building up to a shocking revelation that’ll leave you thinking about post-apocalyptic depictions, scenarios, and expectations in an entirely new light, while revealing the beauty of trusting, letting go, and opening up your world to other people. I just as highly recommend this movie, too. Dinklage has a slew of good movies, including the Will Ferrell Christmas hit Elf . You can check out his full repertoire on IMDB.com . Enjoy, my fellow movie lovers! 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

Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. < Back Shawn Franklin: Music Producer Extraordinaire Nicole Brice Oct 2, 2023 Share Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. Often in music entertainment, we heavily focus on those in the foreground— the artists and musicians —but we don’t focus on the talent behind the scenes delicately tweaking and fine-tuning songs and albums, making sure everything is perfect. In the dynamic world of music production, some individuals stand out because of their sheer talent, versatility, and ability to add a distinct touch to all they lay their eyes, ears, and hands on. Shawn Franklin is one of those people who stand out in the music production crowd. With artistry that spans many mediums, Shawn has solidified his place among the production elite with various projects spanning well over a decade. With over 23 years of experience in sound engineering and performing with his band, The Scallions, Shawn’s true specialty is audio restoration and re-mastering new and classic material. Photo provided by artist Franklin has worked on music for Anthrax , Stone Deep , Public Enemy , Chuck D , Chuck Mosley , Daddy O , Dirty Rotten Imbeciles , Prophets of Rage , Renaldo & the Loaf , The Residents , The Mentors , and many others. What started as pure love and enthusiasm for the music that inspired him as a kid became an innate understanding of the intricacies of music, allowing him to turn a lifelong dream into a reality, and he currently shows no signs of slowing down. Shawn Franklin has an uncanny ability to focus on sounds to determine how and where they need to be tweaked for a crisp, clean restoration. Born and raised in a musically inclined family, Shawn developed an affinity for music at a young age, eventually learning to play the drums. “My brother is four years older than me … and he played guitar. I wanted to play the drums, and before I got a drum kit, I would play on coffee cans. I’d play with pencils as my sticks and then for cymbals, I’d have the coffee cans upside down for the tin part. I would fill the center part with pennies for the snare,” he recalls. A young Shawn Franklin - photo provided by artist His upbringing laid the foundation for his future success, as he immersed himself in a vast range of musical styles from metal to hip-hop and everywhere in between. After discovering Kiss’ album Hotter than Hell , Franklin’s passion for music grew exponentially, and during his teenage years, he was led to explore the makings of what goes into a spectacular recording. “My brother heard ‘Calling Dr. Love’ from Kiss on the radio in ’76 … I think I was four years old … and then I heard it and we both loved the song. We got the 45 and had no clue what they looked like or anything like that. Just hearing that song and loving that song and then discovering everything they did image-wise, … I mean, that was just like icing on the cake.” As Shawn’s music tastes began to expand, so did his record collection, and once he discovered the band The Residents , he was hooked. The Residents would play a huge part in Shawn’s life later, so this discovery was fortuitous. With many other bands and musicians influencing him, such as The Beach Boys , Jefferson Starship , and The Beatles , Franklin was eventually led into the world of hip-hop when he discovered breakdancing . Shawn Franklin getting an autograph from Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys - circa 1998 - photo provided by artist “It was the summer of 1984,” says Shawn, “my friend started [dancing] doing the worm one day, and I had no clue what it was. I rented Breakin’ and I thought the movie was horrible but cool because it got me into the music. It had this street element … this energy.” Franklin’s love for hip-hop would continue to grow, and over the years, he would go on to discover many influential artists from the time, such as Kurtis Blow , Boogie Down Productions , The Beastie Boys , Public Enemy , and KRS-One . “I heard ‘ South Bronx ’ by Boogie Down Productions in 1986 and I had never heard anything like it. The little horn stabs and everything just blew my mind.” Franklin’s career with music would soon take a dramatic turn—one that would start to shape his destiny. In 1990 , Shawn and his brother Mike began making music as The Scallions . Described as “ Avant-Garde Power Pop ” and influenced by San Francisco cult giants The Residents , Mike and Shawn started shaping their sound. Mike and Shawn Franklin aka The Scallions - photo provided by artist In 1999 , the band began shopping material around when they hooked up with Tom Timony , a former owner of The Residents label, Ralph Records . In the year 2000, they put out their first commercially released album, Mud Pie , and following its release the album was promoted with interviews, reviews, and radio play. In 2001 , Tom’s label closed and left Shawn and Mike looking for a new home for their music. It was around this time Franklin reached out to Chuck D from Public Enemy via e-mail after obtaining his e-mail address on an online message board. After e-mailing him, Shawn met him in person at a lecture held on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. where Chuck acknowledged he had received the copy of ' Gladys ' that Shawn had sent over. "He listened to the song and really liked it and that was it.” The Scallions In 2002 , the band signed with Chuck D’s label, SLAMjamz , and was asked to open for a few shows with Public Enemy in Massachusetts. “He told me, ‘You guys are different’, and that was that.” The year 2006 saw The Scallions release their album Agony Through Ceremony as part of a CD/DVD combo on Chuck D’s label. From there, Shawn Franklin and Chuck D would spark a professional friendship that led to various other projects outside of his band that continues to this day, with Franklin currently producing daily segments for Chuck D’s RAPstation radio network called “ This Day in Hip Hop History ”. Chuck D and Shawn Franklin - photo provided by artist One of the significant factors that sets Shawn Franklin apart is his remarkable versatility and after discovering he had a knack for restoring audio in a complex way , he began to experiment and push creative boundaries resulting in captivating and refreshing sounds. Of his early remastering days, Franklin says, “In the early 2000’s, I had been collecting bootlegs forever, and I was always zoning in on certain aspects of the recordings: ‘This one has got a lot of noise,’ and ‘This one could use a tweak here,’ and I remember thinking, ‘I wish I could clean this stuff up and restore these.’ The technology was not there yet, but I had a friend turn me on to some software that was incredible for the time. It was like a nuclear bomb went off over my head.” After discovering his secret weapon software, which he did not disclose the name of because it is his secret weapon, Shawn was able to start playing with audio. “I really started cutting my teeth, fixing these bootlegs,” Franklin said. “I really got into it … but I didn’t have any ambitions to be doing audio professionally.” Those first moments of tweaking audio for bootlegs began to set the stage for what was to come. “So, I became friends with Renaldo from Renaldo and the Loaf, and so, as the story progresses … around 2014, Brian, who is Renaldo, was taking a trip out to the United States where he had plans to stay at my house. There was this album, ‘Title in Limbo’ by The Residents, in collaboration with Renaldo and the Loaf. When the album was released on CD, some of the songs faded in, and it was horrible. Prior to Brian coming here, I was telling him about it, and he was like, ‘I have a mix down.’ He’s like, ‘Maybe you can fix it up and restore this album.’ So, I did and matched everything up EQ-wise and he flipped out over it.” That project then led to Shawn doing restoration professionally because the restored album was released worldwide. Title in Limbo by The Residents and Renaldo & The Loaf “Public Enemy is one of my favorite rap bands worldwide. Two friends and I, who coincidentally worked for Chuck, had this idea of making a comprehensive cohesive product of every single A side and B side from all their seven-inch, 12-inch, and CD singles. So, we did this whole thing and we presented it to the Public Enemy squad in 2014. Chuck, at this point, was like, ‘You know, you guys really should start a production team,’ and we were all like, ‘Hmmm … let’s do it. Let’s do this professionally.’” They decided to call their production team TDX , which stands for The Definitive Xperience. “We had all these plans of doing all kinds of reissues from bands,” says Franklin . From there, Shawn and his team embarked on a whirlwind career of numerous opportunities. Shawn Franklin’s reputation for excellence and his exceptional skills have attracted some of the most prominent names in the music industry and his collaborative works have earned him the trust and respect of many established artists such as thrash metal pioneers Anthrax . “I had the idea to reach out to Charlie from Anthrax since Public Enemy had collaborated with them,” Franklin explains. “I ended up sending Charlie [Benante] a tweet because I wasn’t friends with him. I told him, ‘Hey, listen. I’ve been a huge fan of Anthrax since ’86 and I did a really fat remaster of Spreading the Disease . I really want you to hear it and I work for Chuck D.’ He got back to me and said he would love to hear it, so I sent him what I did, and he loved it.” From there, Franklin spoke on the phone with Charlie , developing a professional friendship that led to numerous collaborations. Shawn Franklin with Charlie Benante from Anthrax - photo provided by artist “He said, ‘I’m going to send you some songs that I love and I’m not going to tell you what I don’t like about them audio-wise, and I want to see what you would do.’ I’m thinking, ‘Well, I’m just gonna trust my ears and see what I come up with.’ So, I did that and sent him samples of before and after. I didn’t hear anything for a while until one day, I was playing drums and my phone started blowing up. I look down at my phone to see Charlie messaging me and telling me that I ‘killed it.’” After successfully re-mastering those first few tracks, Shawn Franklin was sent more material that eventually led to him editing, assembling, and sequencing the Spreading the Disease 30th Anniversary album and the State of Euphoria deluxe album for Universal/Megaforce Records . Those projects then led to numerous other projects and collaborations with Anthrax and the professional relationship continues to this day. Remastered by Shawn Franklin Beyond his individual accomplishments, Shawn Franklin has had a transformative impact on the music production landscape by recognizing the importance of embracing technological advancements and utilizing innovative techniques to shape and enhance the soundscape of his creative projects. When asked about some of his other projects outside of Public Enemy and Anthrax, he said, “Working with Chuck Mosley from Faith No More, God rest his soul, was just incredible. I think that me being a fan of the music helps in my situation because knowing the catalog and the work makes it more personal.” He goes on to say, “It’s like saying, ‘Hey, this guy loves our stuff but can also deliver the goods audio-wise,’ you know?” In 2016 , Franklin was asked to master three songs for DJ Lord for the 2016 Make America Rage Again tour and says of the experience, “Chuck had an assistant named Kate. She came to me one day and said, ‘DJ Lord needs three songs mastered … instrumental versions.’ So, I didn’t even think anything of it and told them, ‘Let’s go!’” Credit: Green Left From there, Shawn went on to do the tracks with no problems and recalled the moment he got to experience his work firsthand live. “I’m at Mohegan Sun Arena watching the Prophets of Rage show and it’s going along, and ‘Bring the Noise’ starts when it dawns on me that this was what I had mastered for them. I look around the arena and it’s sold out. It’s packed. I’m watching people lose their minds to the music and I’m thinking, ‘I worked on this.’” As the music industry continues to evolve, Shawn Franklin remains relentless in his pursuit of excellence. While continuing to collaborate with renowned artists, Franklin strives to inspire others to follow their dreams and explore their creative potential. His journey from humble beginnings to working for Chuck D is a testament to his unwavering passion, exceptional talent, and commitment to musical quality. Through his versatility and groundbreaking production style, Franklin has redefined the music production landscape and left an indelible mark on the industry. As the music world eagerly awaits his next move, there is no doubt that Shawn Franklin’s influence will continue to shape the future of music production for years to come. To learn more about Shawn and his work, visit one of the sites below: Website: TDX: The Definitive Xperience (defexperience.com) The Scallions: The Scallions | blocGLOBAL Independent Record Label | Buy, download and listen to music online (blocsonic.com) Facebook (The Scallions): The Scallions (facebook.com) Rapstation Radio: Rapstation - Home 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

Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions < Back Off the Charts: Local Rock ‘n Roll Takes Over Mars Music Hall Bud Gambrell Apr 11, 2025 Share Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions Is it possible to go to a party and not realize it is a party until you get there? I would say that is a tremendous yes! That is precisely what happened this past Saturday Night. This story begins on March 10, 2025 . I was surfing social media, searching for funny memes, when I came across a friend of mine, Mike Slaten ’s page. He had just announced that his production company had assembled a local concert at Mars Music Hall , part of the Von Braun Center . If your first guess is that I reached out to inquire whether they needed a photographer, you would be spot on. You think you’re getting to know me a little, huh? We can now fast forward to April 5, 2025 . It’s the day of the concert, and like most other shows I photograph, I arrive early. It was almost straightaway that I noticed that the atmosphere was very comfortable. It had the feeling that everyone there was friends. That impression was accurate. I learned from chatting with the musicians that many of them have worked together before, which adds great chemistry to the evening! Some had not, but everyone was fast friends when showtime came around. Also, everyone’s friend Bill Neal was in attendance backstage. Bill and his son Tracer (that name is a secret identity) produce a podcast called Pickletato . They were present to broadcast live teasers for the concert throughout the afternoon. You will soon learn more about Pickletato . First, we'll have a chance to catch up with Bill a little later in this article, so stay tuned! Second, I'm excited to share that I'll join the podcast Pickletato for a recording next week! I can't wait to dive into some fun discussions and explore new topics together. Stay tuned for that also. I plan to write an entertaining article about them and share their goals on their podcast. I can't wait to dive into their story! Tonight’s concert is named Rocket City Night of Rock N’ Roll , presented by Mike Slaten Productions . The show would consist of four local bands . Opening the night would be The Shoals' own Blind the Sky . Second on the stage will be a Huntsville favorite, Angry Native . The third act will be Mike Slaten’s band Tres Locos . I know. I thought the same thing. Mike organized the show, and his band didn’t headline. More on that later. Our headliner is New Atomic . Get ready because this night is chock-full of talent! Before I dive in, I want to give a massive shoutout to all the fantastic members of the four bands for making me feel so welcome. You all are awesome! You are all exceptional musicians, and even more importantly, you are outstanding individuals! Entertainment Booking & Event Manager, Craig Maples , and Mike Slaten of Mike Slaten Productions co-organized the Rocket City Night of Rock' N 'Roll concert. I spoke with the VBC and Mike to learn about this show. VBC’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations , Samantha Nielsen , gave me the venue's perspective. SN : The VBC focuses on bringing national touring acts to Mars Music Hall ; however, when we have open weekend dates, we love taking those opportunities to support our community’s local artists! Mars is a fantastic venue that is plug-and-play with our audio and visual setup, so the local acts have a unique experience to not only perform on the same stage as some of their favorite touring bands, but they also receive the complete rock-star treatment with tour-quality lighting and sound, as well as utilizing the backstage area and dressing rooms. In my discussion with Mike Slaten , he informed me of how it came to be from his side. MS : Last month, the VBC hosted a local show called the Anti Valentine's Day show with five local bands . Basically, Craig and the guys at Mars and the VBC said they were tired of the venue sitting empty in between when big national touring acts are coming through. They wanted to try to get people into the venue. It's a great venue! It doesn't need to sit here, taking up space and trying to generate revenue. So, they held that concert, and I think 400 or 500 people showed up. It was an excellent turnout. Everybody involved, you know, benefited from it. Samantha with the VBC went on to tell me. SN : For us, these local shows are a win-win all around. They’re great for the artists, get people inside the venue on what would otherwise be off nights, and allow us to host amazing shows for the community that are often free and for all ages. OTC : Mike, where did it all begin for you? MS : I've been talking to many VBC guys for years. Whenever any big show comes through, I ask, “Hey, you need an opener?” The answer is usually "no." When I learned about last month’s local show, I got back in touch and said, I'd like to put on a show here. When the first show went well, they hit me up and said they had a date available. I tried to pick out some of the best bands. Of course, I didn't get all of them. Hopefully, tons of great bands are on the list for future shows. We put together what I think is a very unique, diverse show of great local rock bands. And then everybody just started promoting and sharing, and the response has been excellent so far. So we're hoping for a good turnout. To give you a little background, I have been working with the VBC for the last few years as one of their pool of event photographers. I talk to Samantha often as she handles our bookings. The entire VBC staff is fantastic to work with! Unsurprisingly, they are opening the doors to our city’s wonderfully talented musicians! OTC : Mike, how did you decide on which bands to have for tonight? MS : So, it's bands that we have played with before and are friends with. There are a lot of other bands that we're friends with and have played with, but these are some of the bands that were available on this particular date, and you know, bands that we've built a good friendship with. I thought these bands would help bring in a good crowd and put on a great show. These are bands that I think deserve to be on a big stage in front of a good crowd and get to have an opportunity like this. OTC : Have you played at Mars before? MS : Once, Tres Locos played here. I think it was 2021 . They were doing local bands only during the pandemic. It was tables six feet apart and all that kind of stuff. You know, trying to get some people in during that time, and of course, it was still in the pandemic, so few people showed up. OTC : So, you played here once. I would guess there were a lot of nerves playing this stage for the first time. Now, you're coming back for a second time. Do you feel more relaxed so you can get out there and kick it up a notch? MS : Yeah, I think so. I mean, for me personally, I think there's always a little bit of nerves, especially if you're on a bigger stage or you have a really big crowd. Years ago, I learned from teachers and other people with more experience that nervousness is good if it's a nervous energy . It's good to direct that positively instead of letting it debilitate you to the point where you can't get up, perform, sing, or whatever. So yeah, there's always a little bit of nerves, but really just excitement. OTC : I'm familiar with your band, Tres Locos. I have also seen Angry Native before. I know what to expect from those two bands. It's going to be good! Now, I'm not familiar with the other two. Please tell me what I can expect from those other two bands playing tonight. MS : Alright, so Blind the Sky is from the Shoals area. If you know anything about musicians, bands, and people from there, it seems there’s something in the water. Every musician or band we've played with is from that area; there is something different about them. They are a two-piece band. They don't have a live drummer. They have drums programmed into their pedal boards, and it's incredible! They're phenomenal musicians! They are two guys who sometimes sound like a five or six-piece band. They've got keyboards programmed in the pedals. The bass player will play something that sounds like he's playing the piano. Epic, epic music, great songwriting. That's about the best way I can describe them. Then, New Atomic . They're the headliner. I think they started in 2020 , if I'm not mistaken. They've built a pretty substantial following in Huntsville . They play Furniture Factory , The Lone Goose , and Back 40 . You know, a lot of those places draw a vast crowd . They're fun! They're younger guys, so they attract a younger crowd, a younger audience. They're mostly playing originals, but they play a lot of stuff from the '90s at many of their bar gigs around town. They play Jimmy Eat World , Incubus , and Foo Fighters . They're really good and really fun. They play with a lot of energy, and many people around here like them. OTC : So, if I'm getting this right, you picked the bands, but your band is not the headliner. MS : Correct. I picked New Atomic to headline because I feel like they have a bigger local draw. The band will bring the most significant portion of the crowd. I think they should. They should headline the show. OTC : So, you were playing the odds. MS : Yep! As I mentioned earlier, Bill Neal from the podcast Pickletato was in attendance. I first met Bill at The Alabama Smoke Show in 2024 . That show was also at Mars Music Hall and highlighted some excellent local bands. Bills’ podcast does a fantastic job of highlighting local bands on a personal level. The podcast has grown to include live performances of the bands during their interviews. We will cover this a lot closer in an upcoming article. Of course, since Bill was in attendance, I had to ask him for his input on the concert we were attending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Z1LMbh4NM The Pickletato Podcast OTC : Bill, tell me what brings Pickletato here tonight. BN : Mike Slaten invited me. The reason he invited me is that Mike and I are good friends, and he wanted to know if I could help him, you know, promote the event and be able to do the interviews like I did earlier. I'm just trying to get the word out as much as possible so we can do this in the future. I think the outcome of what happens tonight, although we have some possible lousy weather coming in, will probably not be as good as we thought it would be. Maybe, maybe not. I might be wrong, but I think this weather coming in might be an issue. But I think the outcome is going to lead him to being able to bring local musicians into these types of venues again. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Are you familiar with the four bands playing tonight? BN : The only one I’m unfamiliar with is Blind the Sky . I think they're out of Muscle Shoals . Mike introduced me to them. When he said they would be on, I listened to some of their songs because I hadn't heard them. I really like their stuff! Hopefully, I can get those guys on our podcast in the future. We're pretty booked up for a good three months, but we will try to get those guys on there in the future. I'm very familiar with Tres Locos and Angry Native . I’ve known Flip and those guys for quite a while now. New Atomic . I just had those guys on the podcast, which hasn’t been released yet. It should be out here in the next week or so. Great group of guys! Sitting in with those guys was like watching brothers talk to each other, and seeing that many people in a band love each other so much was cool! You know, some bands barely even look at each other. But you can tell that those guys are tight. I think one of the reasons is that, as they said in an interview, they didn't really want to do this to get big or anything. They just wanted to be with friends and have a good time! I think that it shows with their music when they're playing. OTC : What do you think we're in store for tonight? Do you think there should be more people here tonight? BN : Oh, absolutely! More people should be here. I mean, this place should be packed! I wish this whole thing were being recorded. It's hard for a two-person team to record something this big, but it would be nice to have something like this recorded so people can see the quality of musicians that these guys are and the show they will be missing. A lot of these guys have their original songs. In my opinion, it should be at the top of the charts. They have some really good original songs that you know they’ll be playing tonight, so everybody and their brother should be here! This article has so much visual content that I can show you. I can show you the concert flyers, the stage, and how good they looked on stage. I can even show you backstage, where most people rarely get to see. The one thing I can’t show you, and I’m not sure I can precisely describe to you, is the camaraderie . Backstage is not where I often hang out but tonight was one of those nights when I did. I have seen bands use different green rooms, but I have noticed that they stay separate. The bands at The Rocket City Night of Rock N’ Roll were a fun mix of different styles, making every performance a unique experience! There is one thing that I have always enjoyed about a band playing live. That one thing is being able to tell that they enjoy what they do. I love seeing musicians enjoy what they are doing. I observed so much of that at this show. That enjoyment was backstage as well as on stage. Well done, guys! Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Where to find Bud: Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book: Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find Mike Slaten Productions and Tres Locos: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1a5sMDVmAr/ https://www.facebook.com/share/1MSQ3QuxVh/ Where to find Blind the Sky: Facebook: Facebook Website; Blind The Sky | Rock Band Muscle Shoals Where to find Angry Native: Facebook: Facebook Where to find New Atomic: Facebook: Facebook Where to find Pickletato: YouTube: Pickletato - YouTube Facebook: Facebook *All photos by Bud Gambrell Photography www.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.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Do you have something you'd like Bud to cover? Reach out to him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.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

‘Serenity’ possesses a surreal and atmospheric quality that takes you on a soothing journey. < Back Reviews on the Real: Serenity by Nicki Needham Nicole Brice May 12, 2025 Share ‘Serenity’ possesses a surreal and atmospheric quality that takes you on a soothing journey. Today, we’re exploring the latest release from Louisiana-based singer-songwriter Nicki Needham . She has become a prominent figure in the local music scene, thanks to her remarkable talent, unwavering drive, and exceptional work ethic. Nicki is frequently performing and has taken the stage at numerous music festivals throughout the state, including Festival Internationale and Fête du Void . Released May 8, 2025 Released on May 8, 2025 , ‘ Serenity ’ possesses a surreal and atmospheric quality that takes you on a soothing journey. I always listen to new songs with headphones to fully immerse myself in the rich textures and layers of the music, and this release was no different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvgaZplXxJw The official music video for 'Serenity' by Nicki Needham. The opening of ' Serenity ' is hauntingly beautiful, filled with soul and depth. It leads into one of the most soothing and captivating voices I've ever heard, giving me chills from start to finish. Nicki’s voice reminds me of American singer-songwriter Anna Nalick , whose music was the soundtrack to my endless drives to and from Hammond during college. The mixing of this track is flawless, and the production quality is exceptional. Nicki’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone searching for themselves amidst the world's chaos. She encourages listeners to take time for self-reflection and to discover their own serenity. The spoken word segment at the end of the song is particularly noteworthy; I closed my eyes and felt myself slipping into a semi-meditative state. As ' Serenity ' concludes, it erupts into a powerful chorus filled with emotion. It truly is a rollercoaster of a song! The track ends on such a high note that it leaves you wanting more. No joke—go stream ‘ Serenity ’ now, and you can thank me later. Look for a full EP release from Nicki Needham in the fall of 2025, too. To learn more about Nicki Needham: YouTube: Nicki Needham - YouTube Website: www.nickineedhammusic.com Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Nicki Needham (@nickineedhammusic) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify: Nicki Needham | Spotify Apple Music: ‎Nicki Needham - Apple Music 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

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

Never give up on your dreams. < Back Rian's Den: A Night to Remember with Sleeping with Sirens Rian Nickels Oct 9, 2024 Share Never give up on your dreams. I typically write concert reviews, but let's be honest – almost everyone knows who Sleeping with Sirens is, and if you don't, all the info about the band members, their accomplishments, and their rise in their career can be found on their Wikipedia page. If you want to know what they sound like LIVE, I promise you that thousands of videos are available. I'm trying to say they are popular in the post-hardcore - emo - alternative scene. At this point, they've transcended generations, rising to fame with Millennials and Gen Z and resurfacing amongst younger folks from Gen Z and older folks from Gen Alpha due to apps like TikTok . So, What I'm here to tell you instead is the story of how Sleeping with Sirens impacted me to find and follow my dreams. It's just me! The year is 2012, and you're an angsty & edgy teenager still trying to become who you are, trying to find your musical taste, your place in the world, and the words for the thousands of intense feelings you have. In your coming-of-age journey, you're sitting in your high school cafeteria. Your friend starts talking about a beautiful man with the voice of an angel, Kellin Quinn – they see the look of confusion on your face and demand that you go home and search for Sleeping with Sirens on YouTube . Upon doing so, you come upon songs that will later be anthems of multiple generations, ' King for A Day ' featuring Pierce the Veil and ' If You Can't Hang '– your friend was right; he's beautiful, and he truly has what I would consider the voice of an angel. With his impressive vocal range, he can go from singing high-pitched notes and lovely harmonies to low screams that add more raw emotion to the songs. While you might have already been into bands like Mayday Parade and Hawthorne Heights , this day will shape your musical taste. It will be the first step to an over a decade-long journey. Credit: Rian Nickels The thing about Sleeping with Sirens is that the lyrics make you feel understood as a teenager and even as an adult. The songs put feelings into words that you didn't have yet. Tracks like " Tally Up, Settle the Score , " a song about being motivated to prove the people who doubted you wrong, encouraged you to push beyond your peers' hate and doubt. Songs like ' Who Are You Now ' ask the question of who you became after the world tried to change you. When you didn't have the words to describe the intense feelings of wanting to love and be loved, you had ' If I'm James Dean & You're Aubrey Hepburn .’ When you were left wondering how a parent could go without caring about you, you had ' A Trophy Father's Trophy Son .' You could scream the lyrics " Is this what you call a family ?" to the rooftops. If you had a partner who cheated on you, you had ' If You Can't Hang ' to sing along to. Sleeping with Sirens has a song for every hardship, every milestone, and every feeling you come across. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_9fb74e0ccb5c460e9f6def7c28bd190d/480p/mp4/file.mp4 The year is 2014; you're still just as ever, an angsty and emotional teen. You're going to Warped Tour with your friends to see bands like Attila , Mayday Parade , Breathe Carolina , and Sleeping with Sirens . If you were anything like me, you were a reserved and anxious teen who had never done anything significant. This was the most people you've ever been around and the most bands you'd ever seen on the same day. You notice that other people on Warped Tours are crowd-surfing, so think, "Oh, I could never do that." But when Sleeping with Sirens plays ' Do it Now Remember it Later ,' you think, "Well, why COULDN'T I?", so you find a trusting spot in the crowd and ride the wave of hands launching you forward at your chance to see the band up close if even only for a second. This is only the beginning of you coming out of your shell. It's the first time you genuinely feel accepted and realize other people are just like you. People with neon-colored hair, piercings, dark clothes, but most importantly, people who feel the way you have . A young me crowdsurfing at a Sleeping with Sirens show. In the years after the Warped Tour 2014 , Sleeping with Sirens continued to be there for us, motivate us forward, and ultimately explode in popularity. I didn't find my niche as a photographer until 2023. I had done small concerts before and knew I loved it, but I needed to be more dedicated. I didn't have the drive or the energy to accomplish it. But in 2023, I attended the So What Music Festival . On the first day, Sleeping with Sirens headlined the fest. Throughout the day, I saw various concert photographers running around taking photos, and I couldn't help but be jealous. I wanted to be them SO BAD. Just a pic of me from back in the day. When Sleeping with Sirens went on, they played such a fantastic performance that set in stone for me what I wanted to do with my life - Be a concert photographer. They cemented it even further by telling the crowd, "No dream is too big; you just have to push yourself in the right direction to get there," before telling us how they used to be a bunch of guys with a dream, too. I knew then that I would spend whatever time it took and do whatever it took to achieve my goals. The first step was making a goal. I looked at my partner during SWS and told them with my entire chest, "I promise you I will take their photos next year; I don't know how I'll do it, but I will." This feeling only solidified after seeing bands like Pierce the Veil and Neck Deep – all-time favorites of mine. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_416b479a053943d1a2037563467d3fb0/720p/mp4/file.mp4 Upon going home from the fest, I uploaded all the work I deemed worthy from previous music photo gigs to Instagram. By January 2024, my musician friends were starting to hit me up and ask me to photograph their performances. Even though I hadn't been taking photos for years. I pushed myself forward to doing it and, within a couple of months of feeling comfortable, found an alternative music publication based in my state! Mixed Alternative Magazine interviewed a local band I'd previously taken photos of. Reaching out, showing my portfolio, and trying to join the team would be good. Mixed Alt was thrilled about me wanting to join and drilled it into my head that I was talented in what I was doing. It felt good to be a part of something bigger than just myself. Throughout the year, I'd pick up all the gigs of my friends that I could. I grew my talent, got better equipment, and returned to my love of writing thanks to the woman behind all the magic at Mixed Alt Mag – Nicole Brice . When I saw that Sleeping with Sirens was coming to the House of Blues in New Orleans , I knew I would probably not get it, but I asked Nicole if we could try anyway. She allowed me to try, and we waited and waited and waited for what seemed like forever. Thirty hours before the show, I got an email saying I had been approved. I remember losing my mind. "OH, FUCK OH FUCK NO WAY NO WAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT OMG," I said. I couldn't believe I was accepted ! After over a year of sweat, tears, and dedication, I was meeting my massive goal of photographing one of my favorite bands. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_722c67b858d84024a6ae672ad46a756d/720p/mp4/file.mp4 When I found myself in the photo pit of The House of Blues, taking photos of them performing ' Do It Now Remember It Later ,' it brought me back to that 16-year-old girl who was trying to find her place in the world, crowd-surfing to that same song at Warped tour 12 years ago. It brought me back to the 27-year-old woman I had grown to become just a year before screaming the lyrics to her partner and starting a dream in that field. It reminded me of all the past friends, lovers, adults, and press managers who said I couldn't do it. It showed me that every single step I had taken since I was 16 years old brought me to this moment – standing directly in front of Kellin Quinn and his fellow bandmates, capturing the magic through my lens, from my own eyes—the adrenaline from being so close and feeling so proud of myself pumped through my veins. Credit: Rian Nickels I guess my purpose of this alternate article was to tell you – just like Sleeping with Sirens would – to never give up on your dreams. As sappy as it is, dreams can come true, and you can achieve anything if you truly set your heart and mind to it. *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels - to see more, check out Rian's site below. rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth 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 . 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A Nod to the 90's < Back Melodic and Atmospheric Hailing from Manchester: What Will Be Nicole Brice Mar 21, 2023 Share A Nod to the 90's When one thinks of the music of Manchester , many bands come to mind, such as The Stone Roses , Oasis , and The Smiths , or, if you like more of the punk vibe, then the Buzzcocks will come to mind. If there is one thing that is certain, though, no two bands from Manchester sound alike, and this next band definitely continues this tradition. Hailing from Manchester, UK is What Will Be . These guys came onto the music scene in 2019 and wrote and self-released their self-titled EP , which debuted in September 2022. Credit: Hannah Reeves Their new single ' Something More ' was released earlier this month and is currently available on all streaming platforms. The newest single is an enjoyable mix of melodic rock with an outstanding mix of larger-than-life guitars, sing-along melodies, and atmospheric synth chords and is a truly solid offering from this five-piece Alternative Rock band. What Will Be is Bram (guitar/vocals), Jonny (guitar), James (bass/vocals), JK (drums/vocals), and Chris (keyboard/piano). Upon discovering their music, because we dig it so much, we had a few questions for them, so let us share with you a little more on this pretty bad-ass band from the UK with an uncommonly catchy sound. Credit: Hannah Reeves MaM : With a strong nod to 90’s alternative, who would you cite as your influences to make music? What Will Be : In terms of bands from the 90s, we’d say Incubus and Deftones would be two of our main influences. However, we’re also inspired by newer bands, such as Alter Bridge , City and Colour , and Alexisonfire . Credit: Hannah Reeves MaM : Vocals – your vocals are very different, and I can hear a tinge of David Byron from Uriah Heep within them. Who are your vocal inspirations, and why? What Will Be : Vocal-wise, our main influences would be Brandon Boyd of Incubus and Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge . In terms of why it would come down to the bands you listen to most would be the inspiration, I think in terms of vocally, their range is like what I can do with my voice. While these bands might be heavier musically, their vocal stylings are what inspire us with the music we create, even if it’s not as ‘heavy.’ Credit: Hannah Reeves MaM : What type of guitars are the band’s preferred ones to play and why? What Will Be : Bram uses Chapman and PRS guitars . Jonny uses Fender and Gibson guitars. Dual humbucker coil tapped, on occasion … hollow body and solid body guitars. We like guitars with a thicker, higher output sound. MaM: What pedals / gear was used in the recording of the newest material? The guitar sound is incendiary and distinctive. What Will Be: Live we use Mooer Shimverb Pro , Marshall modulation pedal , Maxon OD 808 and a Boss delay . Recording we use the above but Marshall/ Blackstar plugins. These give us our unique guitar tone, which seems to separate us from other bands in sound. Credit: Hannah Reeves MaM : You have an interesting band name. Where did the inspiration behind the band name come from? What Will Be : We’re a little bit older in terms of life experience than most ‘new’ bands. Lots of different names were in consideration; however, as it's probably our last stab at ‘trying to make it,’ the name reflects a certain type of fate. We just uttered the famous line, ‘What will be, will be,’ and that’s how it came about. Credit: Hannah Reeves MaM : What led to the formation of the band? Give us a little more history on the beginnings. What Will Be : We’ve been in bands together for years from the ages of 16 onwards, then over the years bands come and go, but we all remained friends. A few years ago in James’s back garden, we jammed a few acoustic ideas Bram had, and things snowballed from there until 2019 when we added a different dynamic with Chris our keyboardist. Since then, we became an alternative unique five-piece band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaLX9fpKZC0 Something More by What Will Be Experiencing What Will Be is a must for any music lover and appreciator. Be sure to visit their links below and explore all you can about these guys. Then, hit ‘em up with some love and support, no matter where in the world you are. To learn more about What Will Be: Instagram: What Will Be (@ whatwillbe.band ) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: Profile / Twitter Facebook: What Will Be | Manchester ( facebook.com ) Spotify: What Will Be - Single by What Will Be | Spotify 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 Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Next

< Back What the Hell Did I Just Watch: The Howling: New Moon Rising Ezekiel Kincaid Share Jul 26, 2023 A werewolf movie so bad, you have to see it to believe it Gather ‘round, aspiring movie directors and scriptwriters! It’s time for you to take notes on how to successfully kill a franchise in this edition of What the Hell Did I Just Watch . I want y’all to get acquainted with The Howling: New Moon Rising , also released as Howling: New Moon Rising and Howling VII: Mystery Woman . Never heard of it? Good! Let me remedy that for you. For some unknown reason, my high school self bought this movie years ago on VHS. I was going through my collection the other day when I saw it and said, “Hmm, I don’t remember ever watching this one.” So, I popped it into the VCR and hit “Play” … then the suppressed memories came flooding back. Twenty minutes in, I remembered why I’d suppressed them in the first place. Now, I might be wrong, but I have a conspiracy theory as to why this movie sucks so badly. I think there was a challenge made, or a wager, where someone said, “Hey, I bet no one out there can make The Howling sequels even worse.” Directors Clive Turner and Roger Nall heard about the challenge and said, “Here, hold our beers.” Don’t believe me? Well, that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. I just don’t think it is possible to make a movie this bad unless there is some intentionality behind it. Surely these filmmakers couldn’t have been taking this movie seriously, could they? Or maybe they were … and that thought is scarier than anything in this low budget sewerfest. Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. The film is the seventh in the series and is a direct-to-video movie made in 1995—four years after the previous entry, The Howling VI: The Freaks . Turner and Nall should have ended the torture and stopped there, but they couldn’t leave well enough alone. Neither had ever directed a movie before, and they both made their debut with The Howling VII: New Moon Rising . The plot is simple: A lone, red-haired drifter from Australia strolls in and settles in a small town. When he does, strange murders begin to happen, all of which trace back to him. Our lone cowboy, Ted Smith, is played by none other than Clive Turner himself, who also stars in The Howling V: The Rebirth . Clive Turner as Ted Smith All the other (and I use the term loosely) actors in this movie go by their real-life first names, and the only recognizable face is Mary Lou ( Elizabeth Shé ), who was the main character in The Howling V and The Howling VI . Elizabeth Shé as Mary Lou She has some scenes in The Howling: New Moon Rising that end up linking all three sequels together. And that is the only redeemable thing in this movie. To start off, there’s lots of line dancing. Most of the movie is set in a country western bar. All the people in this town do all day is drink beer and line dance. At first, I thought, “Okay, cool, a line-dancing scene,” thinking it was just one. Yet there continues to be scene after scene after scene of pointless line dancing that adds nothing to the story. I think ole Turner and Nall were just proud of everyone’s skill and wanted to show it off a hundred times. That’s the only thing that makes sense in my mind as to why there is so much of it in the movie. And gore? Those visceral kills we all love to see in werewolf movies? There are none. None! You never get to see the werewolf kill anyone. You see TWO dead bodies the entire movie, and it's after the fact. Even then, all the dead bodies have on them are a few gashes. You never get the satisfaction of seeing a bloody kill, dismemberment, decapitation, or disembowelment. The only cool scenes are the flashbacks from the previous installments. Now, let’s talk werewolf transformations . Maybe they were saving the big payoff for this? That’s what I was hoping anyway. If that’s what you’re hoping, too, prepare to be disappointed. The transformation scene is a huge letdown. All we see are some cheap camera tricks on whatever camcorder they filmed the movie and then boom, a person dressed in a rubber werewolf mask shows up on screen. You’re in luck here, because in place of a movie trailer, all that seem to exist online are various scenes from the film, and it just so happens the werewolf transformation is one of them. So, for your viewing pleasure … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLGTQEHwOyU Jump back to 2021 for a second. Did you happen to see Werewolves Within —the who-done-it werewolf movie? If not, you can find it on Apple TV, Vudu, Roku, Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. The Howling: New Moon Rising tries to do some clever plot twists to keep you guessing who the real werewolf is, like Werewolves Within did, but it fails miserably. It is so outlandish, stupid, and confusing at times, and weird plot shit just keeps coming out of left field. I wish I could say, “Great writing job, fellas!” but I can’t. Should you watch this movie? Yes, you should. Why? Because it is THAT BAD and you have to see it to believe it. Besides, if I had to sit through it, so should you. Misery loves company. The Howling: New Moon Rising got a whopping 1.8/10 stars on IMDb. Me? I give this movie one 1 of 5 drunken line dancers. You can find The Howling: New Moon Rising streaming on Amazon Prime, Screambox, Freevee, and Tubi. You’re welcome. 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

Leave your inhibitions at the door < Back Asheville Keeps it Weird with the Return of ABSFest Tim W. Jackson May 8, 2023 Share Leave your inhibitions at the door To all of our alternatively weird and perfect friends here in the South, this one’s for you! Long an annual staple of the Asheville, North Carolina scene, the Asheville Burlesque and Sideshow Festival , also known as ABSFest, makes its glorious return after a brief hiatus. Festivalgoers are in for a wild ride over Memorial Day weekend as ABSFest rolls into town for its 14th year. Coming up May 25-27, 2023, ABSFest events will be hosted by Asheville Raven & Crone, The Grey Eagle, and The Orange Peel, and promises to bring together provocative performers from far and wide. It's a celebration of the strange, the unconventional, and the sometimes bizarre—but all in a super fun way with lots of love in the room. The event is the creation of Madame Onça, aka Lauren O'Leary, an entertainer, touring performer, author, artist, and—obviously—an event producer. credit: TheDancersEye.com ABSFest was a natural outgrowth of her life at the time as co-founder and director of the Future of Tradition Center for Folkloric Arts from 1999 to 2006 in Asheville. It was home to the fire, circus, and world dance arts, all of which were growing in popularity. Now living in Virginia, Onça is happy to bring the festival back after a COVID hiatus. “I was quite surprised to be—as everyone was—thrown from the organizational horse,” Onça says about having to cancel this and other festivals during the initial pandemic shutdown. “We haven't had it until this year because, from the point of view of long-term planning, there's a lot of people in the village artistically and administratively that make the festival happen.” Onça says it seemed they were maybe in stasis forever, just waiting for the right time to return. “This year, once everybody had made their decisions about how they were gonna handle their relationship with vaccinations and so forth and the venues went back to a more standard situation, we felt like we could plan. So, we're on.” To ease back into this first year, though, Onça says she’s made it an invitation-only festival rather than by application. “Usually we invite a few headliners, and then we invite artists to apply from all over the country. But because we knew we were coming out of a period of absolute uncertainty and into a period of still wild uncertainty, I was like, ‘Why don't we just work with folks who have done the festival with us before?’” Nonetheless, Onça and her crew have brought a world-class collection of performers for this first year back. Just a small selection includes “The Cocoa Barbie” May Hemmer (featured on cover image), “Queen of Subtle-Tease” Talloolah Love, death-defying jester Paolo Garbanzo, comedian and “professional pickpocket” Les S. Moore, belly dancer Sarah Joy, sideshow performer Opal Lechmanski, and Vaudevillian Carmel Clavin. death-defying jester Paolo Garbanzo (credit: Dave Parrish) sideshow performer Opal Lechmanski (credit: Isaac Harrell) Musical guests are friends of Mixed Alternative Magazine , Charming Disaster ! credit: Charming Disaster Charming Disaster will perform Friday, May 26 for the Speakeasy Séance, which ExploreAsheville.com says is, “like an acoustic rock opera with ghosts and pasties!” You certainly won't want to miss their performance ... or any of the performances, really. The event is all about pushing boundaries and celebrating the wonderfully weird, with workshops such as songwriting, burlesque, and making events welcome to marginalized performers who are also part of the festival. It also includes an array of vendors and a raffle, as the festival’s charity partner this year is Asheville’s feral kitten rescue, Sister Kitten. ABSfest is all about breaking down barriers and having a good time, but perhaps the most exciting thing about the event is the sense of community that it creates. This is a festival for people who might not fit into the mainstream. It's a place where you can be yourself, no matter how strange or unconventional that might be. “I’m so looking forward to being together with these wonderful people again, “Onça says, “and just feeling the energy and vibrancy of this event again.” So, if you're ready to explore the edgier side of life, if you're ready to push your boundaries and embrace the alternative, then ABSFest 2023 is the event for you. Just be prepared to leave your inhibitions at the door. Here’s a look at the array of events: World Spirit Tarot with Madame Onça Thursday, May 25, 2023 Asheville Raven & Crone 640 Merrimon Ave., Suite 207, Asheville NC 5 p.m. courtesy Madame Onça ABSFest Speakeasy Burlesque & Live Music Show Friday, May 26, 2023 Grey Eagle Music Hall 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC 7 p.m. - VIP Doors Open 7:30 pm - General Admission Doors Open 8 p.m. - Burlesque Murder Mystery with all live music played by New York City’s goth folk duo Charming Disaster ABSFest Workshops Saturday, May 27, through the day The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC ABSFest offers burlesque, circus, and business workshops. Train with artists from around the country in the ABSFest Sexy Seminary in stagecraft, circus arts, fire performance, burlesque, and more. Open to all levels. ABSFest’s Big Night – Saturday Spectacular Saturday, May 27, 2023 The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 7 p.m. - VIP Doors Open 7:30 p.m. - General Admission Doors Open 8 p.m. - Saturday Spectacular, hosted by Washington, DC’s sorceress of stand-up, Violet Gray For further information, visit www.ABSFest.com . Want your festival to be featured in this magazine? Email the editor 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 . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

Roger Ricks < Back Nothing But Heart and Soul Nicole Brice Dec 7, 2022 Share Roger Ricks If Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits had a band baby, it would be Roger Ricks. No lie. Roger is a singer / songwriter based out of Zurich, Switzerland, but that’s not all he does. He also produces his own music and builds his own guitars, as well as markets himself AND giving the proceeds of his music sales back to charity. Wow, this man is incredible. I first stumbled upon Roger’s music via Instagram, which by the way, is an excellent way to discover new talent because of the visual aspect the medium allows. I often find myself scrolling through bands and artists and liking them, then following them, where I indulge in all they showcase on their profiles. The profiles then lead me to iTunes where I buy their music for my collection. With smooth, clear vocals and crisp, clean guitar work, Roger’s music inspires me. Truly, it does. Because I admire what Roger is doing so much, I decided to reach out to him to get to know a little more about what he makes him tick and guides his stance. With a new single releasing on December 9, 2022 via all streaming platforms, this is one artist you need to check out if you haven’t already. I threw Roger a few questions so I could learn more and was very delighted with his answers. Check it out and then go check out his music! MaM : Wow. I am very impressed with you. Your website is solid, too. Let me ask you, what led you to start producing your own music in lieu of having someone else do it? RR : I started recording my songs when I was about 12. At that time with two old tape recorders and much later with the computer. For me, music production is not a purely technical task, but part of the creative process of creating a song. Since I don't do music full-time and I also have a family, producing on my own allows me to work on my songs whenever I can and want to. Usually this is late at night when everyone else is already asleep and I can really dive into my creative flow. Roger's home studio setup MaM : So, you mentioned you have new music coming out. Tell us a little about the new single you are releasing. RR : The single is called "Lost,” and the lyrics were written by the wonderful Emme Pierre. Originally it was planned that she would sing the song and I would write the music but unfortunately, she lost her voice permanently before the recording due to health reasons, and we decided to record the song with my voice anyway. The song is about how people are willing to exploit others and take advantage for their own profit. This is a topic that always concerns me and is also a well-known phenomenon in show business. There is something energizing and intoxicating about striving for success, but you can also get lost in it and become too distracted from the essentials of life. MaM : Wow, what an amazing topic to tackle via songwriting. I can’t wait to listen to it. What music or things around you are inspiring you to create these days? RR : Musically, I am influenced by the older guitar gods like Slash, Eric Clapton, and Joe Perry. Of course, there are other virtuoso guitarists who can do technically amazing things with the guitar, too, but I'm more fascinated by catchy licks and melodic solos that you can also sing and that release emotions in me. Emotions of everyday life are also what inspire my music. My music is a diary of my feelings over the years. When something is bothering me, I process my thoughts into music and make them audible. Therefore, every song of mine in a way fits to a special event or a period of my life. MaM : I noticed on your website that you play a custom-built guitar. I want to know more about your custom guitars. Was it a particular sound you were looking for and that’s why you decided to build your own? Also, too, what type of guitar inspired the ones you build? RR : I am a typical Les Paul guitarist. I love the full sound. A few years ago, I was thinking about buying a flamed top Les Paul, but my budget didn't allow it. So, I had the crazy idea to build it myself. I always liked craftsmanship and so I watched YouTube videos of Luthiers for hours until I had the feeling that it could really work. I ordered the woods and parts and just started, and it grew from there. I had a lot of fun; it was like a meditation of sorts to grind the woods and in the end, I had a nice flamed top guitar resembling a Les Paul in my hands. Of course, it sounded a little different than if I had bought it but just different, not worse. This only further awakened my passion and since then the tones of my own guitars are an important part of my music. One of Roger's custom guitars MaM : I know that charity work is very near and dear to your heart. Can you tell us a little more about that and what you do? RR : Music has always been a very important part of my life. It has carried me through some really difficult times, and I don't know where I would be without the power of music. For me, music can build bridges, to connect people who otherwise would not communicate with each other and to make a positive difference in the world. I decided to set the goal of dedicating my music to a meaningful cause because 20 years ago, a school friend started an aid project in Ghana to help street children and to really make a difference through local education instead of just transferring money. Honestly, the money often doesn't get to where it's supposed to go or doesn't have a lasting effect, but through "Chance For Children" ( www.chance-for-children.org ), the children are given the opportunity to work out a long-term perspective for themselves. All my proceeds from my music goes 1:1 into this foundation. The idea is that people can donate money just by listening to music. You don't have to open your wallet, just spend a few minutes of your time listening to music to make a positive difference. This makes my music more meaningful and motivates me to put even more energy into it. I really hope that with time, more listeners will stream my music and I will be able to support more projects. For more information about Roger, visit his website at: Songwriter | Roger Ricks Music | Zürich On Social Media, he can be found at: Roger Ricks | Facebook Roger Ricks | Zürich | Facebook Roger Ricks (@roger_ricks_music) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube Roger Ricks - Topic - YouTube Spotify Roger Ricks | Spotify iTunes ‎Roger Ricks on Apple Music 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

< 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

Alternative music has a unique blend of passion and rage. < Back The Revival of Alternative Rock in Louisiana: A New Wave of Sound in the Bayou State Nick Cline Apr 2, 2025 Share Alternative music has a unique blend of passion and rage. Alternative music , with its unique blend of passion and rage, is gaining momentum in Lafayette . The local scene, led by Gen Z , is a distinct expression of voices filled with angst, nihilism, and empowerment . This unique blend of fresh influences merging with the raw emotion of rock music— the towering amplifiers, deafening riffs, and screams of pain —is driving the culture and uniting the community in a way that is distinct to Lafayette . As culture evolves from one generation to the next, scenes and aligned communities emerge and fade away. Since the early 90s, alternative music has toggled between the background and the forefront , marked by the rise of grunge , shoegaze , and indie rock . It has been an ever-expanding community that has shaped pop culture landmarks not only in Louisiana but around the world. Despite its historical presence, alternative music was put on the back burner in the mid-to-late 2000s and almost completely faded away in the 2010s . During that decade, various scenes emerged in hip-hop , country , R&B , hardcore , and more, showcasing diverse musical avenues. As time progressed, alternative music evolved into something that felt more like a gimmick than a genuine movement. The raw passion and rage rooted in nihilism, angst, sadness, and self-discovery were overshadowed by homogenized sounds . The genre became a label, which diluted the cultural identity initially established by early alternative communities. Now, as the scene begins its next evolution, newer generations are rallying to rediscover alternative music . Inspired by the sounds of the past and the traumas stemming from our contemporary world, they navigate the complexities of identity as they grow. This is evident in the rise of alternative bands such as Phantum Sun , JAYD3D! , Goodbye Academy , Dairy Free , Kris Russ , Silvercapbaby , and many others. These bands are forging a path for the scene in Lafayette , offering a collective voice through their expressions and influences . I have a firsthand account of the culmination and rise of alternative music in Lafayette . I founded Eclipse Fest , a festival that aims to bring alternative music to the forefront of the local scene. Last year marked the inaugural edition of the festival, attracting 150 attendees who came to see a lineup of bands representing various musical styles. The festival marked a significant milestone in the resurgence of alternative music in Lafayette , serving as a platform for local bands to showcase their talent and for the community to come together in celebration of their shared love for the genre. This year’s Eclipse Fest built upon that milestone, fueled by the hard work that initially drew me into the scene, and it is cultivating a new space for alternative music. It has also demonstrated that alternative music has a rightful place in Lafayette , and this presence is growing daily with each effort put toward it. The resurgence of alternative communities began in mid-2024 and has intensified rapidly in recent months, primarily due to the support and enthusiasm of the local community. It is the passion and dedication of the audience that is driving the resurgence of alternative music in Lafayette. Musical shifts have emerged from a range of genres, including emo , indie , pop , and soul , as well as everything in between. The rise of the internet has empowered Gen Z and future generations to find their music. Unlike in the pre-streaming era, when music lovers relied on word of mouth, radio, and television , the internet now offers nearly unlimited access to a diverse range of musical styles. This access has opened new avenues for the alternative community to share and grow its purpose. Alternative music is a place for everyone, and that sense of community is a necessity that will carry Lafayette and Louisiana into an exciting future filled with talent, expression, and new musical avenues. Thank you for listening, Nick 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

Panic is a song full of twists and turns. < Back Reviews on the Real: Panic by XIII Minutes Nicole Brice Apr 10, 2026 Share Panic is a song full of twists and turns. Sometimes we hit a creative slump, but as luck would have it, a song can come along to pull us out of our funk and remind us why we started this journey in the first place. Enter the latest track from XIII Minutes called ‘ Panic ’. This band came onto my radar a few years ago, and since then, every single song they've released has been excellent. This band isn't new; since forming in 2015 , they have been steadily making progress, touring, and spreading their sound. Released April 10, 2026 For those not familiar, XIII Minutes is an alternative metal/metalcore band originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma , and in 2023 , they made a powerful comeback with Jerrod Cunningham joining as vocalist. If you haven't experienced Jerrod’s incredible vocal talents, you definitely should. Go now. This guy has a voice from heaven. No lie. The current line-up of XIII Minutes is: Jerrod Cunningham (Lead Vocals), John Watson (Lead Guitar, Back Up Vocals), and Jamie Kucinski (Drums). Released on April 10, 2026 , ‘ Panic ’ is the latest in a series of killer songs that XIII Minutes continues to produce. The song starts slowly but then gradually builds and intensifies. Boy, does it build. While ‘ Pitiful ’ remains my favorite XIII Minutes track to date, ‘ Panic ’ is a close second. The beat and haunting lyrics set the tone for a song full of twists and turns. As the guitar kicks in, the song grows more intense, leading to an explosive chorus: “ My head is caving in – overcome by the panic. ” Boom. And there it is. The song maintains a steady groove, features excellent breakdowns, and has just the right amount of heaviness. However, the real highlight of this song is the lyrics! Lyrically, XIII Minutes delivers solid material every time. Songs that make you think. Songs that make you feel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKrNrgf0UU0 Panic lyric video by XIII Minutes Go stream ‘ Panic ’ now! It’s out everywhere. Also, be sure to catch XIII Minutes live this spring and summer. They have quite a bit going on. To learn more about XIII Minutes: Wikipedia: XIII Minutes - Wikipedia Facebook: Facebook Instagram: XIII Minutes (@xiiiminutesband) • Instagram photos and videos www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? 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

Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection < Back Chilly Scenes of Winter: The Cult Classic Returns from Obscurity Shaun Corley Jul 27, 2023 Share Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection Chilly Scenes of Winter , directed by Joan Micklin Silver , is a romantic comedy—of sorts. On the surface, it has all the trappings of a rom-com: Man meets woman and quickly falls in love with her; the woman does not return the affections, leading the man to try and win her over. This plot has been done to death in movies, but Chilly Scenes of Winter elevates itself above the crowd by subverting tropes every step of the way. Hard to come by, the film has been released in a gorgeous new edition from the esteemed Criterion Collection. Chilly Scenes of Winter , based on the Ann Beattie novel of the same name, focuses on love, marriage, and 1970’s lifestyles. The film had a somewhat checkered production history. As recounted on one of the disc’s splendid special features, producers and actors Mark Metcalf ( National Lampoon’s Animal House ), Amy Robinson ( Julie & Julia ), and Griffin Dunne ( This Is Us ) purchased the film rights to the novel. Micklin, who had read the novel and heard the trio had procured the film rights, asked to direct, and they said yes. Released initially through United Artists in 1979 under the less-than-creative title Head Over Heels , the film was a commercial flop. Part of this can be attributed to United Artist’s indifference to the film, as well as meddling from studio executives. United Artists also were not sure how to market the film, running an ad campaign that portrayed it as a zany romance story—and it is anything but. However, in 1982, United Artists—through their new United Artists Classics line—decided to give Chilly Scenes of Winter another try. The film’s original producers, as well as Micklin, were given the chance to make the movie they wanted but were unable to in 1979, and all they had to do was cut the original ending. This new version of the movie was much more successful with critics and has become a cult film. Boutique label Twilight Time released a Blu-ray edition in 2017, which is now out of print; the film has never streamed on any major services either. Thankfully, the Criterion Collection has come to the rescue, saving Chilly Scenes of Winter from obscurity by giving it the loving treatment it deserves. On the back of the package, Criterion calls Chilly Scenes of Winter an “anti-romantic comedy,” and that is an apt description. Charles (John Heard, of Big and Home Alone ), is a civil servant living in Salt Lake City. He meets Laura (Mary Beth Hurt, of Lady in the Water ) while at work and becomes smitten with her, as she is temporarily separated from her husband. Over the next few weeks, Charles and Laura develop a relationship that comes to an end when Laura decides to return to her husband Ox, played by producer Mark Metcalf. Charles cannot accept the relationship is over, or that it was even much to start with, and becomes obsessed with her to a point modern audiences may find a little uneasy to accept. It is a testament to Heard’s acting that viewers can still find a shred of sympathy for Charles, even when he is clearly in the wrong. Part of Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s appeal is that practically everyone has been in a situation where they were in love with someone who did not reciprocate. Charles is in love with Laura; Laura, on the other hand, is still uncertain about her place in the world after leaving her husband. Laura is confused, as is Charles—he cannot see their relationship is doomed from the start. Mary Beth Hurt plays Laura perfectly and viewers can see, even in their most loving and passionate moments, a spark of uncertainty about her, as if she is not 100 percent into this relationship. The film’s original ending skewed this ambiguity, opting for something more palatable to mainstream audiences. When Chilly Scenes of Winter was re-released in 1982, the original ending was cut, giving the film a still somehow more satisfying conclusion. Criterion has included the original ending as part of its supplementary features, allowing viewers to make up their own minds on which one is better. Other supplements on the disc include new interviews with Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s production team, as well as a 2005 interview with Mecklin. The two features complement each other well and are a joy to watch, as the creative teams behind the movie share their tragedies and triumphs working on it. The film was clearly a labor of love on the part of everyone in front and behind the camera, and it shows both in the finished product and the disc’s supplemental features. Forty-four years after its first release, Chilly Scenes of Winter continues to resonate with audiences. Its themes are universal, and they continually topple tropes of the romantic comedy genre. Its DNA can be found in movies such as High Fidelity, Her , and many other subversive romantic comedies. Long hard to find, the Criterion Collection has brought it back into print in an amazing new edition, which you can find here . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wjmt0vWsQ 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

Voice of the Enemy is back with an EP full of head-nodding rhythms. < Back Reviews on the Real: Voice of the Enemy’s Mannequin of Misery: Volume 1 EP Nicole Brice Dec 14, 2024 Share Voice of the Enemy is back with an EP full of head-nodding rhythms. Groove metal is currently alive and well in south Louisiana. This latest release from Louisiana’s own Voice of the Enemy is full of rhythms that will have your head nodding non-stop. Released on December 14, 2024 , Mannequin of Misery: Volume 1 marks a striking return for a band that has been on hiatus for a few years. Released December 14, 2024 The first single, ‘ Combustion ,’ was released on November 29, 2024, and was an excellent teaser for this monstrous masterpiece of an EP that was forthcoming. With vocals reminiscent of Rob Halford , ‘ Combustion ’ is a song with so many layers and textures that you can’t help but be intrigued to hear more, and that’s exactly what it did for me leading up to the release of the full EP. Mannequin of Misery: Volume 1 opens with ‘ Redemption Song ’ – a track that starts with a groove in the melody from the get-go with a faint build to a thematic opening. The guitar in the beginning part is so clean. The production of this song is so clean. Holy crap. Head nodding right off the bat. After the killer opening track is ‘ Intentional ’ – a song that begins with a powerful scream that sets the tone for a fast-paced head-nodding extravaganza . Voice of the Enemy truly brings the “groove” to groove metal with this track. While the band bio describes their music as thrash , this EP proves they have evolved past that. Up next is ‘ Time in Hell ’, which is a bit of a departure from the deep grooves shown in the prior tracks. It begins with an instrumental opening that is so intense you are waiting in anticipation for what’s next. When the vocals start, it intensifies until the chorus hits you with a gut punch—an enjoyable track. Ending the EP is ‘ Execution ’ – a hard-hitting, thunderous, fast-paced ride of aggression. Reminds me of old Judas Priest . It's a fun song. While Volume 1 doesn’t shy away from the expected heavy metal influences—such as breakdowns, chugging guitar riffs, and fierce drumming—the infusion of some more progressive sounds truly sets the EP apart and shows that Voice of the Enemy is indeed back and ready to take on the scene. Stream Mannequin of Misery: Volume 1 now on your favorite streaming platform and be sure to catch Voice of the Enemy LIVE in January. Check their social media for more information and dates. For more info on Voice of the Enemy : Facebook Voice Of The Enemy | ReverbNation Voice Of The Enemy (@voiceoftheenemyband) • Instagram photos and videos Stream Voice Of The Enemy music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud YouTube 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

Ozzy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he influenced and inspired. < Back Barking at the Muse: How Ozzy Osbourne Inspired My Musical Journey Nick Cline Jul 23, 2025 Share Ozzy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he influenced and inspired. Ozzy Osbourne—The Prince of Darkness. Whatever name you call him, one thing is for sure: he was a legend among the people. He was more than just a man; he created a legacy that resonates with us all. This is the beautiful sentiment that Ozzy has left behind. He was unapologetically human, a masterclass in staying true to oneself and demonstrating how passion, character, mistakes, triumphs, and humanity can lead to greatness. At one point, Ozzy was a lone outcast in the industrial plains of Birmingham, England . Little did he know that, almost 60 years later, he would have a career that would have a significant impact on the world. The fascinating aspect of Ozzy and his career is that it has transformed into a sort of mythos within the metal and rock world. While myths in literature typically surround figures like the Greek gods— Zeus , Poseidon , Hades —in the realm of rock and metal, we have Ozzy Osbourne : a creature of passion wrapped in the flesh of an ordinary man. From the dawn of Black Sabbath until his passing on July 22, 2025 , he was a figure with a profound humanity . To the everyday person, stories surrounding him ranged from Satanism and metal legends to reality TV and the creation of one of the most successful music festivals, Ozzfest . The list of his accomplishments could go on. It is truly astounding that one man could be part of so much creation and success throughout his life. I could delve into the history and retrospectives of Ozzy , but as I mentioned, his story has become intertwined with myths across the entertainment world. Few people have not heard his name. I believe the true monument to Ozzy Osbourne lies in the legacy that has touched the lives of countless people. My journey and connection to Black Sabbath and Ozzy began when I was very young. I was born in the early 2000s , and by then, Ozzy was already in his 60s , with his legacy at its peak. Yet his name had become a household symbol for me. My father, born in the early '70s , had a deep connection with Ozzy long before I was born. The Black Sabbath and Ozzy records that filled his music library were introduced to me from the moment I was in the womb to this very day. After 23 years, those songs still feel incredibly fresh. From the first time I heard ' War Pigs ' and ' Crazy Train ' to the day I learned of Ozzy's passing, his music has entranced me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVovq9TGBw0 Official video for 'Crazy Train' Listening to Ozzy's catalog has always made me feel understood and recognized for my humanity. I have had a profound connection to each note, each lyric, and every rhythm. This connection was the true magic of his music during my upbringing. I felt the raw power of his sound. Black Sabbath produced haunting and powerful anthems that spoke against war, bigotry, and everything in between, while also addressing how to find hope and meaning in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoT9Pcor8OA 'War Pigs' by Black Sabbath To me, Ozzy's solo career has always shone even brighter. Not only did he make one of the most remarkable comebacks in rock history, but he did so with flair. I am continually amazed by how Ozzy surrounded himself with true greatness. The legends of Black Sabbath were joined by exceptional talents such as Randy Rhoads , Jake E. Lee , Zakk Wylde , and many other amazing guitarists, drummers, and bassists. Randy Rhoads remains the only guitarist who could rival Eddie Van Halen . The visceral and beautiful melodies of Ozzy’s first two albums are masterpieces of songwriting. In true Ozzy fashion, he faced disaster and still persevered, releasing album after album that amazed audiences with each new hit. He brought us countless classics, from the '60s to the present. Zakk Wylde and Randy Rhoads were the reasons I picked up a guitar. Since childhood, I have been inspired and captivated by their talent. I have only scratched the surface of understanding what made them extraordinary. These two legends would likely have never crossed my path if not for the exquisite ears of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne —a true spectacle of taste and craftsmanship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CprfjfN5PRs Official video for 'No More Tears' Years have passed, yet I still find lessons in Ozzy's life, both in the real world and the music world. When I referred to him as a "creature of passion wrapped in the flesh of man," I meant that he embodied humanity in all its forms. He was messy, loved, passionate, and sometimes a disaster. This complexity is what made him so relatable to the masses. He continued to move forward, facing challenges from his youth until his death. Not a single day passed that Ozzy wasn’t unapologetically himself, and that has always inspired me. Like many, I believed he was immortal—capable of outlasting me and perhaps even the world. Sadly, Ozzy Osbourne , the Prince of Darkness , was outlived by the very entity he helped create. While he may not be immortal in a literal sense, he will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he influenced and inspired. 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 . 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Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend combines a unique, catchy sound with just enough pop sensibility. < Back Reviews on the Real: Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend by Glitter Litter Nicole Brice Apr 17, 2025 Share Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend combines a unique, catchy sound with just enough pop sensibility. Glam rock meets punk rock in the latest track from Sweden’s own Glitter Litter . Released April 17, 2025 , ‘ Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend ’ is a solid release full of nostalgia. This song is definitely worth a listen because of its heavy guitars, distorted vocals, and throbbing basslines. Our very own Nick Cline wrote a review in 2024 about Glitter Litter , and since then, they have remained on our radar. Released April 17, 2025 ‘ Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend ’ has an '80s hair metal vibe. It combines a unique and catchy sound with just enough pop sensibility to avoid being overly pop . It makes perfect sense in my mind! The chorus is infectious and makes me want to nod in rhythm. How would I describe this song exactly? It’s pop-punk infused with '80s hair metal and a touch of glam rock . This could be a great party anthem—it's very upbeat! The single " Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend " is the first release from Glitter Litter’s upcoming new album , which will be released in two parts and eventually compiled into a full-length album. Glitter Litter is a solo project from Sweden featuring Andreas (ex- Sugar Shock ). It is inspired by glam, comics, bubblegum, and '80s happy metal. The project began two years ago, and three EPs have been released under the moniker. Andreas had this to say on the new song, “One day it struck me that two of my favorite songs (by Heart Throb Mob and The Ultras ) both began with the phrase: Johnny’s got/had a girlfriend . Then, naturally, I wanted to write a song with that title, too, as a tribute to those songs. Suddenly, I was struck with the ‘Johnny-syndrome’ and heard and saw Johnny’s everywhere! Thus, the single’s lyrics are also inspired by ‘ Out With the Boys ’ by White Lion (another Johnny song) and the movie, The Outsiders . Musically, I would describe it as bubblegrum glam/punk with touches of happy 80s metal. ” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH7BfJEMC2k Johnny's Got a Girlfriend by Glitter Litter Go add some new music to your playlists today and stream ‘ Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend .’ It’s worth it because it’s so good. Enjoy! To learn more about Glitter Litter: Website: Glitter Litter - bubblegum glam/punk 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

tmdistant takes us on an expedition through sound with his new track “grow into the blossoms”. < Back tmdistant: Music Beyond Boundaries Erica Machen Nov 30, 2023 Share tmdistant takes us on an expedition through sound with his new track “grow into the blossoms”. Combustive —that's the first word that comes to mind when contemplating the musical stylings of tmdistant . As a young twenty-something British black man, what you see isn't what you get … or what you expect. And that's precisely what he aims to deliver to his listeners: the unexpected. With his newest track, “ grow into the blossoms ”, tmdistant soars well past delivering the unexpected. In taking a first listen to "grow into the blossoms", I'd like to declare: Mission accomplished! This shoegaze track exudes not only alt-rock and electronica vibes but also manages to incorporate subtle R&B influences. For those unfamiliar with the genre of shoegaze, it's a fusion of obscured vocals, guitar distortion, effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. The convergence of deeply emotional lyrics and vocals, coupled with genre-bending tones and stylings, beckons the listener to close their eyes and absorb the song's message. With lyrics like "Finally, I'll leave" and "Did I make a big difference", listeners quickly realize "grow into blossoms" isn't as sublime as assumed. This listen undoubtedly evokes curiosity and emotion throughout the journey. An artist recognized for seamlessly blending indie, pop, alternative, hyperpop, electronic, and rock, tmdistant has earned praise from outlets and tastemakers like AFROPUNK, Wonderland, EARMILK, and more. He has also received editorial support on various Spotify playlists, showcasing the expansiveness of his musical influence. Releasing today, November 30, 2023, tmdistant's newest single marks the beginning of a new era for him as he delves into the realms of shoegaze. After exploring the interview of the mind behind the music, you won't want to miss the fantastic aural experience that is "grow into blossoms." MaM : Thanks so much for talking with me today! Give us a brief intro and tell us how you came to be known as tmdistant. t : Hey, my name is tmdistant, I am an artist from Essex UK, but I originally grew up just outside of North West London. Growing up in London, a lot of people had code names. Mine was T for a long time. Then I added the M, because that’s also a part of my first name. It stands for “trust minimal”, which says a lot about me and my music. The distant came over time, because I started to realize that's who and what I am. MaM : Your music has been described as a unique blend of genres, including indie, pop, alternative, hyperpop, electronic, and rock. Can you take us back to the beginning of your journey and share what initially drew you to explore such a diverse range of sounds? t : When I first started releasing music in 2020, my manager created playlists to inspire my music. He would show me so much music that I’ve never heard of and so many different genres that I never listened to or even tried to learn from. So, that, in turn, made me think of music differently and start to try different things. Then, it made me take pieces from different genres and styles and mesh them together, therefore creating my own genre of music. I used melodies from slower folk music and R&B music, putting them on indie, indie-pop, folk, rock, indie-rock, alternative rock, hyperpop, and all sorts of shoegaze beats. MaM : "grow into the blossoms" is the first single from your upcoming EP, "vivid memories of dreams I've never had". It seems like a departure from your previous work, with a shift towards shoegaze and alternative music. What inspired this evolution in your sound, and how has the process been for you? t : ‘grow into the blossoms’ is the start of a new era for me, and it wasn’t even a move that I made purposely. I wanted to try something new and step into a new realm, and then that song came out amazing. So, I decided to make more music geared in that lane, and that’s when the EP was born. I’ve always loved alternative music, and I’ve been on it for a second. So, I thought … why not delve deeper, dig deeper, and go for something darker and more interesting for a black man like me, who also looks the way I do. I like shocking people. Being who I am, I get judged before they even see or know what I am about. So, I wanted to give people something they don’t think I can do. MaM : Your single "I don't need a therapist" spent an impressive nine months on the Apple Music playlist “Glitch”. Can you share some insights into how that track came together and on the significance of it finding a home in such a notable playlist for such an extended period? t : ‘I don’t need a therapist’ was such a different song for me at the time, and I loved it. That song made me go into the rock side of music more, and it is beautiful. The song connected with so many people, and the editors at Apple seemed to connect with it as well, so it stayed in their playlist, Glitch, for such a long period of time. It was a perfect fit. It was such a big moment for me to even be added there, because it was still so early in my career. I still think about it 'til this day. It was written in a difficult time in my life, where I needed to talk to someone about what I had going on, but I didn’t feel like I could talk to anyone. I just wrote all my thoughts into a song talking about how “I don’t need a therapist to save me, I'll put my heart in a song”. That’s how I coped with most of my problems, and people felt that too and related to that. MaM : You've gained support from various Spotify playlists, including “Our Generation”, “New Music Friday UK”, and “Alt. Pop”. How does it feel to receive such recognition, and do you think these placements have played a role in shaping your audience and musical direction? t : The recognition I have garnered over the last year has been so surreal, and I can’t even explain how much it has made me and the team feel appreciated for all the hard work we’ve been putting in, grinding to make things work, and they did very well, and they continue to. I wouldn’t say these placements changed anything for me other than realizing who my audience is. So, I have to keep that in mind, which is super important. It has let me and my team know what we’ve been doing is working. It gives us hope for the future and helps us plan ahead. MaM : It's fascinating that you're actively involved in the London club scene and perform live weekly. How does your interaction with a live audience influence your music, and what kind of energy or experience do you aim to create for your listeners during your performances? t : Performing is my second favorite part about being an artist, other than creating the music. I am trying to perform at every chance I can, whether it's weekly or monthly. This year, it was a couple of times. Sometimes when I’m making a song, I'll be thinking about how it will make people feel when I perform it or how well it will sound when I perform the song. So, I tailor it to fit that on some occasions. I want to make people feel something when they’re in the room with me. In life, we all are so desensitized to everything. When I am singing, I want people to feel more than they usually do in their day-to-day life. That’s the experience I tend to create in my performances. MaM : Planning a small tour in Ireland and London early next year and making it free to reach new potential fans is a bold and interesting move. Can you tell us more about your decision to take this approach and what you hope to achieve by connecting with your audience in this way? t : My manager had the brilliant idea to do this tour as a way of meeting new people and making new fans. So, it is perfect as I step into a new lane, creating a new fan base to add to the one I already have. As well, this being my first tour, we wanted to take advantage of gaining experience and venturing to places we haven't been before. MaM : Your upcoming music video for "grow into the blossoms" has us intrigued. Without giving away too much, can you share any insights into the creative process behind the video and how it complements the overall theme of the song and the EP? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvjYhlL1QjU t : This video was meant to be DIY and homegrown, just like the song. I shot and edited everything myself, just like the song. I mixed the song myself. So, I wanted to try and do everything else to the best of my ability. I shot it in an abandoned train station. The song needed a video that would match the vibe. The train station got the vibe perfectly because it gave me a sense of loneliness and solitude. MaM : What is next on the horizon for you? What should we look for soon? t : The next thing is to keep working on my craft and getting better in every aspect of the meaning: more shows, better music, improved performances, and a bigger presence on social media. I want to make friends with all of my fans and supporters. I want everyone to feel welcome when they come to my shows and listen to my music. I want my music to be a safe space for everyone that relates to it or finds comfort in the words and instruments. Don’t forget, “ grow into blossoms ” is out today. Go ahead and check it out in its entirety. We promise you won't be disappointed. Stay up to date on all things tmdistant by visiting any of his below-listed links. tmdistant | Spotify tmdistant | Instagram tmdistant | Facebook tmdistant | TikTok tmdistant | YouTube *all photos courtesy of tmdistant Erica Machen is a beast when it comes to consuming, writing about, and reviewing music. 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 Nonconformist Sound < Back Unparalleled Talent and Personality: Subliminal Landmines Nicole Brice Feb 7, 2023 Share A Nonconformist Sound All musicians and bands draw inspiration from others, and often you will find hints of those influences scattered throughout their music. For Subliminal Landmines , though, their new sound hints at nonconformity and is one that is uniquely their own. If you like good, loud, punk rock, this band is for you. Taking a cue from Green Day , who are just one of their influences, these guys have solidified a solid line-up and continue to evolve as musicians and friends. Initially possessing a sound reminiscent of the Riddlin Kids , complete with catchy hooks and choruses, the sound of their new material takes on a harder edge with more of a skate/punk vibe . I was lucky enough to hear some of the new material, and I cannot wait until everyone else can check it out, too, because it is killer. Credit: Gary Governale Fronted by Grant Duhon on guitar with Chris Hayes on bass and Casey Bateman on drums, the men of Subliminal Landmines prove they are more than just another punk band. Each member brings an interesting dynamic and personality to the mix for a truly well-rounded listening experience best heard with the volume turned all the way up. The release of 2020’s Gibberish saw Subliminal Landmines forging their way into an over-saturated market during the height of COVID-19 but, truth be told, this album is distinct and unlike anything else out there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBTKzw76z6M Official video for 'Where's My Coke' by Subliminal Landmines If I had to pick one vocalist to compare Grant’s sound with, I just can’t. Truly. In fact, the writer in me wants to bring you these snazzy descriptive words for him, but they escape me. His voice is smooth and edgy and just what you’d expect to hear in a punk band, but yet, does not sound like anyone else. He possesses a style all his own. Credit: Gary Governale Chris has more of the classic punk vibe going for him, complete with a bad-ass wardrobe and an even more idiosyncratic personality. He exemplifies what it means to be punk rock and, in his other life, owns Leviathan Studios, a tattoo shop in Baton Rouge, La., where he has inked more people than I have purses and shoes. With a flair for art and individuality, Chris possesses a strong stage presence and an even larger-than-life persona. Credit: Gary Governale Casey rounds out the band on drums, and this dude hits those drums so hard, you feel their vibrations through your clothes clean into your soul. He’s really good and oozes talent, not to mention he is a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Props, my dude. Credit: Gary Governale I had the pleasure of hanging with these guys recently to talk about everything from music, influences, and sound to why Chris owns Twilight on DVD but refuses to watch it, and everywhere in between. A bad-ass, eccentric mix of classic punk rock is how I would describe Subliminal Landmines. Be sure to find their music and jam out as soon as you finish reading this article. You’ll thank me later. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, you guys formed in 2017, but you (looks at Chris) were NOT a part of that. Chris : Yes, formed in 2017, but the band has been around for a long time … We’re trying to push what we are doing now, and there have been several changes, but this is the core group now. MaM : Chris, I know you personally from working with you back in the day but give me a brief background on you for our readers. What’s your age? Chris : Do I have to give my real one? MaM : It would be nice, ideally. (laughs) Chris : I mean, I identify as, like 26, but … MaM : Well, you’re a couple years younger than me, and I’m 41, so … Chris : I’m, uh, 37. I’m a baby, remember? I’m a tattoo artist professionally, and I play bass in the band. Grant and I both sing. Hell, Casey sings now, too. It’s really a three-way entourage going on. MaM : Chris, who do you cite as your influence with your playing? Please don’t say Sid Vicious. (laughs) Chris : No, uh, singing-wise, yeah, we’re in the same range vocally. (laughs) It’s kind of a funny thing. A lot of the way I play, if you talk about it, like how I play bass … I started out getting into a lot of basslines from, like, Tool and then some more funky basslines like Gap Band and stuff like that, but that’s not how I play in this band. I bring more technical melodies to this band but more in that punk vein. I’d say as far as that vein of influences, it’d be more Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio, and I don’t really know. MaM : Ok, let’s talk gear. What’s your favorite bass to play and what type of gear do you use? Chris : I’m a big fan of neck-through basses. That’s always been a thing for me. I always end up going back to an old 90s Peavey Unity neck-through body. I’ve had that since, like, the 6th grade, so over 20+ years. I’ve stripped it down, rebuilt it, and made it all my own. Most gear I try to customize it and make it my own. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Ok, so now, Grant, tell the readers a little about yourself. Grant : So, I’m Grant. I’m 27, and I’m unemployed. (laughs) Got fired on the 2nd day of this year, so I got to start my new year without a job. (laughs) MaM : Well, what were you doing before you got fired? Grant : I was managing a smoothie place in Carencro, La., and I had been working for them since college, but I did that for about four or five years, did the band, got married, and had two kids. I have a son who is two, and a daughter who is about to be one. MaM : So, you’re only 27? Chris : Oh yeah, I got a kid, too. MaM : I know you have a kid. (laughs) Chris : Well, I feel like an asshole if I don’t mention it since he mentioned his. (laughs) Grant : Yeah, so the world is kind of just open with opportunity right now, and I’m just trying to decide what I want to do. I kind of want to be more in the kitchen if I do something, like maybe be a chef or manage a kitchen or something like that. MaM : Go to school for that. Grant : Yeah, exactly. Culinary school. I just want to find something short term, though, to bridge the gap, but I’ve been playing guitar since I was eight years old. Self-taught, no lessons or anything. One of our main influences for me—and you can hear it in our music—is Green Day. Writing style, performance … [I] kind of just took some of that from them. ‘American Idiot’ is one of the first albums I heard by them when I was eight. MaM : Oh my gosh, that makes me feel old. Grant : I ended up, though, going back to listen to some of their older stuff, like ‘Dookie’ and ‘Nimrod’, but out of all of those that influenced me, it would be ‘Dookie,’ ‘Nimrod,’ and ‘Insomniac.’ Each of those albums has a distinct sound for the era they were in. I did listen to a lot of Hoobastank growing up, too, and my mom listened to a lot of Creed. MaM : Chris just made a funny face. Chris : I’m making all the freakin’ faces at Grant talking. Like, stop talking. (laughs) Grant : Just kind of saying what was around me as a child (looks at Chris ), but as I’ve gotten older, my choices have changed. MaM : Hey, we all went through a Creed phase. No judgement. (laughs) Don’t knock ‘em! Grant : I started writing my own songs at nine and even played in front of my 5th grade class with one of my friends, who played the drums. MaM : Wait, what did you guys play? Grant : So, we played some original songs I had written. Did that. As I turned 17, I was focused on college and didn’t play for a couple of years, but when I dropped out of college, I picked the guitar back up and then got the band started, which, 2017 is when the band really got started with me and my friend, Zack, who is now in the Marines, and I told him, ‘Dude, I really want to get a band going,’ and we walked around Lafayette and put up signs looking for a drummer and bassist and eventually, we found some people [and] time passed. [P]eople come and people go, and now we have the line-up we have currently. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What type of guitar do you prefer playing? Grant : I have a guitar that was a Christmas present—my first guitar when I was eight. It’s a knock-off Fender guitar that you buy from Guitar Center for $199. It has the white pick guard with the tan to black(ish) fade like a lot of the original Fenders have, and it has stickers plastered all over it. Chris : Cherry sunburst? Grant : Yeah, whatever color you’re looking for. That’s the one I used to play with, and it still works to this day, but what I’m playing with right now is an Ibanez that I took apart and kind of pieced together and made my own. It’s dark blue … new knobs, new bridge, got some locking tuners put on it. I would say it’s a Frankenstein guitar, but it’s new besides the body, so it’s not a bunch of used parts. That’s what I play with. Amp-wise I have a 4 x 12 Orange Cab I play with, and I have the Orange Crush Pro head for it. I don’t really use any pedals; I use a distortion Senders pedal and a tuning pedal. Keep it simple. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, (looks at Casey), tell me a little more about you. Casey : So, I am Casey Bateman. I’m 32. Grew up in St. Amant. Started playing music around the house because of my dad. I got my own drum kit when I was 12, which is the one I’m playing on today. I started percussion in middle school [and] played in the marching band, but when I got out of high school, [I] went into the Marine Corps and played in the Marine Corps band—played in that for four years. That’s where I learned drum set, percussion, and random things. Chris : Scalping? Casey : Yeah, scalping, too. (laughs) Sure. MaM : Much respect for your service, thank you. Casey : After that, I was in a bunch of random bands—cover bands. I guess the biggest one I was in was in Denver. It was a reggae band, which is really cool, because it was the only band I was able to play shows with in other states. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What would you say your musical influences are, as far as genre? Casey : Genre? Growing up I was into metal and rap. Eventually, I got my drum set and discovered Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance. I still love those bands, too. I was super into Travis Barker back in the day. MaM : (Us, too, Casey.) Too bad he had to marry a Kardashian, right?! Chris : They’ll be divorced soon. Only a matter of time. Casey : Like him, though, I try to be choppy, and I was inspired by that. I’m really into metal. Like the Acacia Strain and Hatebreed. I think I bring a Hatebreed-type of aggressiveness to my playing. Credit: Gary Governale Chris : I feel you bring a bit of the Creed and Hoobastank vibe into the band. Casey : (laughs) Yeah, I also play jazz drums. I play that around town and I’m actually in a jazz band called Florida Street Blowhards . They’re a bunch of old jazz heads and we just play some music every now and then, and I don’t exactly use those chops here with this band, but it’s fun. When I was in Denver, I actually played in the Denver Nuggets drumline for a while, and it was really fun. I did that for about three years and that inspired me to get back into music, [so] I started my music education degree, and I’m at LSU now, about to finish. I graduate this fall and will be finished by the end of the year. Chris : Wait, so Denver has a team called the Nuggets? Casey : Yeah, it used to be the Golden Nuggets. Not what you’re meaning. Chris : I mean, Colorado is, like, the top state for legalizing weed, so how appropriate they would name their team the Nuggets. (laughter) Casey : Their mascot was this, like, miner. Chris : Now it’s like a hippie? Looks like Jerry Garcia? (laughter) Casey : It’s quite convenient how that worked out. MaM : So, do you feel your fans have been receptive to your sound so far and with what you are trying to accomplish? Grant : I definitely feel that this past year they have been. The energy that Casey brings to the band is new, and then Chris and I are really finding our niche playing together. All three of us [are] synching up. The way crowds have reacted to us this past year has been way different than previous years. We’re more involved with them, but they’re more receptive with wanting to hear us play, and it’s a good feeling. Chris : You know what I just realized? Every single show we’ve had for the past year, like the past five or six shows, we’ve had the entire crowd go, ‘Uhhhh!’ (makes moaning noise). (laughs) MaM : Uh huh, and how did you manage that? Chris : We literally paused the song and hit the crowd with a, ‘Can I get a uhhhh?!’. (laughs) Grant : They usually all do it back. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : How would you describe your sound? I made a note about your music and that it sounds like Blink 182 with an edge. Would you agree with that? Chris : The last album we put out, I could agree with that, but with the new stuff we are doing, we’re moving away from that sound. MaM : So, what would you say you’re evolving towards with your current sound? Chris : I really couldn’t give you something to compare it to, off hand, but it’s just progressed more into an aggressive style. It’s got a heavier edge than before. We’re pushing faster, heavier, and more technical. MaM : So, you don’t want to be as poppy as before? Grant : We’re moving away from the pop punk. Chris : Yeah, we’re pushing away from the older music and moving towards the newer stuff we’re doing. MaM : If you could give me one band that your new stuff compares to, who would it be? Chris : It’s more in the vein of the skate/punk vibe or more traditional punk, like Pennywise . MaM : So, do you guys have any aspirations for the future? Do you want to do this full time, or do you want to keep it as more of a hobby? Chris : I’ve always looked at it as if you’re gonna play in a band, you need to approach it professionally, but we’re not making money at this. Any money earned is put back into the band. You know you can throw us some more risky questions, just saying. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Ok, so, what was this you said earlier about you being a movie buff who owns “Twilight” on DVD, yet you will NOT watch it? Why even spend the money? (laughs) Chris : ‘Cause it’s a movie and I collect movies, but people don’t buy DVDs anymore. Very few. They’re actually losing money on that. I’m buying it for the studios so they’ll keep making movies, but they just can’t keep making THAT movie. (laughs) MaM : Ok, well that leads me to … name one guilty pleasure band or artist that is in your music collection. Chris : Oingo Boingo. MaM : That’s not a terrible band. That’s actually a really good band. Chris : Oh, you mean that I don’t listen to? MaM : No, that you don’t want people to know you listen to. Like, if they saw it, you would be like, “That’s not mine. Someone put that there.” Chris : Honestly, I wouldn’t be ashamed of any of the music I listen to. I listen to weird shit. (laughs) I do have a lot of stuff that people would be surprised of, but nothing to be embarrassed of. I have shit like Patsy Cline and stuff. Grant : I kind of feel the same way, but I can’t pinpoint it to an exact artist. Chris : It’s easier for you because you own the newer Green Day albums. (laughs) Grant : I guess the later Green Day I can’t really get behind. (laughs) I do listen to it, though, but I don’t exactly enjoy it. (laughs) I guess, though, if I had to pinpoint an artist, then it would probably be NBA Youngboy. MaM : Can’t say I have any of that in my music collection. Grant : Like, I enjoy some of the stuff he has put out, but I can’t say that I listen to rap these days. MaM : Well, any closing words? Chris : You know how there is pull-apart monkey bread with the cinnamon on it? MaM : Yeah … Chris : Why don’t we just call it Simian rolls? (laughs) To check out all that is Subliminal Landmines , head on over to their various pages and listen NOW! New material coming soon, as they guys are currently mixing the new stuff. Stay tuned! Subliminal Landmines | Facebook Subliminal Landmines (@subliminallandmines) • Instagram photos and videos (195) Subliminal Landmines - YouTube Spotify – Subliminal Landmines Music | Subliminal Landmines (bandcamp.com) ‎Subliminal Landmines on Apple Music 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 Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Next

XIII Minutes delves into the dynamics of power and influence on their latest offering. < Back Exploring XIII Minutes’ Bold New Track: ‘Cult Leader’ Nicole Brice Jun 26, 2024 Share XIII Minutes delves into the dynamics of power and influence on their latest offering. Sometimes, a song comes across my radar and instantly hooks me. “Cult Leader” by Tulsa-based XIII Minutes has done just that. Released June 23, 2024, and currently available via Bandcamp, “Cult Leader” is a gripping mix of hard-hitting lyrics and compelling instrumentation with a solid four minutes of sound to get your pulse and adrenaline pumping. The mix sounds great—the vocals have a pop-punk vibe, and the chorus is a powerful standout. XIII Minutes continues to push boundaries with a track that is both sonically aggressive and lyrically profound. The song is structured around dynamic shifts between explosive verses and a chorus that is both anthemic and chilling, with the soundscape being chaotic yet controlled. Overall, ‘Cult Leader’ is a solid and enjoyable track that cleverly weaves hints of early 2000s rock with the high energy of pop punk, creating a unique and intriguing sound that will surely get you going. Click to experience 'Cult Leader' for yourself! Written by Jamie Kucinski (drums), Thomas Wheat (guitars), Jerrod Cunningham (vocals), and Preston Bell (bass), ‘Cult Leader’ starts jamming as soon as the song begins and does not let up the entire time. This song has it all, and I highly recommend you listen to it today. To learn more about XIII Minutes: xiiiminutesofficial | 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 . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. < Back Film Review: Iron Lung Nick Cline Mar 12, 2026 Share Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. 2026 is looking to be a stellar year for horror fans. We are only three months in, and the realm of mainstream and indie horror is making a big name for itself. With that being said, the film Iron Lung has become a favorite so far this year. Iron Lung is a passion project from multifaceted YouTube personality Mark Fischbauch. He is better known by his YouTube handle, Markiplier . This was a film without any mainstream production company, distribution, or anything of the sort. It was self-funded, self-written, self-directed, and self-advised. It was a project fueled by passion, love for the work, and the artistic endeavor to push the story forward. Iron Lung 2026 The film is based on the 2022 game of the same name. The game explores a desolate moon where a prisoner, confined to a submarine, navigates a sea of blood as a “prison sentence”. The world and lore of the game came into pocket-sized fragments that would unearth the situation. The film takes the bare bones lore and elevates it into a 127-minute film. I describe Iron Lung as a Cosmic Horror project with a deep sense of dialogue, existential angst, and passion for the unfolding unknown. From start to finish, this is a film that brings the audience right into the situation. It starts with a recounting of the end of days. All life has been wiped out of existence by something called the silent rapture. The only things left are the remnants of mankind and the memories of times past. This bombshell of a monologue transitions to an opening shot of our main character, Simon . He is a prisoner locked away in a submarine that is being used to explore the sea of blood on an unknown moon. He is forced into a situation where he must explore the blood ocean in the hope of being set free from his prison sentence. This is the beginning of a continuous story, driven by a high-stakes series of events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8E8Ryx49so Iron Lung Official Trailer As the film progresses, the intentions, ideals, horrors, and everything in between come to life. Over time, the stakes of the situation are felt in a slow but high-stakes chain of events. It starts off with Simon finding the bones of a giant alien-like creature, “something” bashing into his submarine, and the eventual dance of delusion and oxygen loss. The next stages of this review will be dancing the line between spoilers and non-spoilers. I want to offer a breakdown of the project's scope, ripping the magic out of its reveals before you even get to see it. I will try my best because this is a movie that deserves to be watched, not read. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaEtA56pd_w Iron Lung Final Trailer The story progresses till the point of “no return”. The conflict and climax merge into one center of action. It's an unusual way for a film to find its footing, but, overall, it is executed well. Simon finds himself in a pit of self-realization, existential angst, and anxiety of finding clarity and resolution in the situation. A creature stalks Simon as he slowly “loses” his mind. What is real? What is part of the radiated frenzy of reality? These are the two questions that haunt the narrative from the midpoint of the film until the rolling of the credits. This locking point in the film kickstarts some of the best visuals and creature design I've seen in a long time. It is baffling that this was a film made for only 3 million dollars, given its size and scope. I could go on and on about the direction this film takes, but that would reveal too much. This film deserves support and viewing. It is a passion project that would get any cosmic horror fan excited. The monsters, lore, existential dread, twists, twists of reality, visuals, sound design, and so much more make this a good watch for anyone who's a fan of cosmic horror, Markiplier , or story-driven horror. The only downside I could find is the slow-paced start, but that is something that usually comes with the film's style. Other than that, I had very few complaints as a viewer. It is a unique watch that sucks you into the world if you give it the chance. I couldn't recommend Iron Lung more. Do yourself a favor and give this a watch! Overall rating: 8.5/10 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