We review your creations and keep it real. reviews on the real Oct 20, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Heartbreak Radio by Glitter Litter Heartbreak Radio has an irresistible singalong chorus and more. Read More Oct 3, 2026 October Rundown: New Music Alert Something for everyone this month. Read More Oct 1, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Nothing Short of Silver EP by Doctor Nez Nothing Short of Silver is a fearless departure from the norm. Read More Sep 5, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Lolux is Reimagining Rock Music Repetitive Things by Lolux is pure adrenaline in a song. Read More Jul 25, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Music Picks for the end of July Each song brings a vibe you can’t ignore. Read More Jul 17, 2026 Reviews on the Real: violent pink ultra teal by HolleeStar HolleeStar is rewriting the playbook on what Louisiana music should sound like. Read More Jul 14, 2026 Reviews on the Real: I’m a Decadent by The Kyle December I’m a Decadent is an album focused on personal storytelling and narrative. Read More Jul 7, 2026 Reviews on the Real: We Can Hang by FOND We Can Hang is a four-track whirlwind of hooks, riffs, and storytelling. Read More Jul 1, 2026 Reviews on the Real: DC’s Burden’s Landing Bring Dreamy, Layered Vibes With New Releases You’ll hear punk energy and hooks you can’t ignore! Read More Jun 30, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Music Picks for July 2026 Fresh indie albums and singles you'll want on repeat. Read More May 19, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Shape by Cinder Shape builds in intensity, with many layers that mesh so well. Read More May 12, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Main Attraction by Glitter Litter Main Attraction feels like a cinematic trip through nostalgia. Read More Apr 10, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Panic by XIII Minutes Panic is a song full of twists and turns. Read More Jan 21, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Frankenstein Mind by Shades of Wisteria Frankenstein Mind is a song that gets under your skin. Read More Dec 22, 2025 Reviews on the Real: BetweenLoveandHate BetweenLoveandHate is an amalgamation of styles and textures. Read More Dec 21, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Let the Moonshine by Chris Pryor featuring Amber Lynn If you want a good song to get the mood going at your next party, ‘Let the Moonshine’ is it! Read More Dec 15, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Everfelt’s Stirring to Wake Stirring to Wake is a seamless journey using frequency to open the mind. Read More Nov 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Megahera This four-piece powerhouse is taking nostalgia to new heights in the thrash metal scene. Read More Oct 31, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Echoes by Caustic Waves Echoes captures the energy of its influences while firmly standing in the present. Read More Oct 14, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Cinder’s Vows to Boscobel EP Vows to Boscobel is a masterclass in atmosphere, emotion, and intent. Read More Sep 25, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Stockholm Syndrome by Fishbone Stockholm Syndrome is a mental exercise that challenges you to think critically. Read More Sep 15, 2025 Reviews on the Real: 3AM 666 by Antania From start to finish, 3AM 666 offers a dynamic experience best described as a horror movie rock opera. Read More Sep 13, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Who Told You by XIII Minutes Reimagined If you’re looking for a catchy sing-along chorus, this song delivers. Read More Sep 13, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Tides by What Will Be Tides moves like moonlight across an endless sea, with melodies rising and falling gently. Read More Sep 10, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Speak for a Minute by Hawthorne Oachs Hawthorne Oachs isn't merely singing; she is opening a door to something greater, and the world is ready to follow her through it. Read More Sep 9, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Escape Your Fate by Caustic Waves Escape Your Fate blends alt-rock energy with undeniable conviction. Read More Aug 28, 2025 Reviews on the Real: The Wrestlers The Wrestlers are a three-piece thrash metal powerhouse with nostalgic sounds. Read More Aug 20, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Vudu Sister The latest from Vudu Sister leaves a memory as vivid as a whispered confession. Read More Aug 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Trailer Park by Mayrunner Trailer Park is a song that resonates in all the right ways. Read More Aug 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Compromised by Caustic Waves Compromised is empowering and full of expressive lyrics. Read More Jul 25, 2025 Revisiting the Roots: The Fremonts Release Remastered Classics The Fremonts blend elements of folk, country, blues, and rock in a way that feels both familiar and enduring. Read More Jul 23, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Exploring Trust Devoured by pMad Trust Devoured offers a bold, cathartic journey that demands attention and rewards you with depth and intensity. Read More Jul 18, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Breathing by Cinder Cinder’s new song blurs the lines between shoegaze, industrial, and grunge. Read More Jul 14, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Exploring Peregrine Stanzas by Andy Connolly Peregrine Stanzas showcases heavy basslines complemented by crispy vocals and exceptional guitar. Read More Jun 30, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Brett Carlisle Haunts the Heart with New EP Ghost Ghost is an EP filled with raw emotion. Read More Jun 30, 2025 Reviews on the Real: From Misery to Malice Bids Farewell with Ferocity on Aeternum Vale EP Aeternum Vale is heavy, ruthless, and unapologetically Southern. Read More Jun 8, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Must’ve Been the Wind by Hawthorne Oachs The latest from Hawthorne Oachs is another song full of depth and honesty. Read More Jun 6, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Quicksand by Caustic Waves Quicksand kicks off with an immediate jam, diving straight into a perfect balance of heaviness. Read More May 12, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Serenity by Nicki Needham ‘Serenity’ possesses a surreal and atmospheric quality that takes you on a soothing journey. Read More May 5, 2025 Reviews on the Real: My Therapy by Aaron J Burke ‘My Therapy’ speaks from the heart, conveying the truth and emotion of how music serves as therapy and can heal. Read More Apr 29, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Cinder Embraces Fleeting Time in Haunting New Single ‘Impermanence’ ‘Impermanence’ has all the qualities of a great song. Read More Apr 17, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend by Glitter Litter Johnny’s Got a Girlfriend combines a unique, catchy sound with just enough pop sensibility. Read More Apr 14, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Shoot Out the Satellites by The BIG Reveal Shoot Out the Satellites is a captivating 39-minute journey of pure, unfiltered alternative rock. 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Heartbreak Radio has an irresistible singalong chorus and more. < Back Reviews on the Real: Heartbreak Radio by Glitter Litter Nicole Brice Oct 20, 2026 Share Heartbreak Radio has an irresistible singalong chorus and more. Imagine a radio station created exclusively for those nursing a broken heart—a place you could tune into at any hour, where every song echoes your feelings as you navigate the stormy seas of heartbreak. Sweden’s Glitter Litter has captured this very idea with their latest single, “ Heartbreak Radio ,” released on October 16, 2026 . This visionary track overflows with crisp imagery and fun sing-along choruses, spinning a captivating story about Timmy and Daisy, two souls united by their shared devotion to the station lovingly known as “ Heartbreak Radio .” Released October 16, 2026 Here at Mixed Alt Mag , we’ve been following Glitter Litter’s musical journey since 2024 —and "obsessed" is an understatement. Their music isn’t just something you hear; it’s something you see and feel . Glitter Litter offers a dazzling escape from the monotony of everyday playlists, inviting you to close your eyes and be swept away by the stories unfolding in each track. I’ve often told Andreas , in our casual chats, that his songs are so theatrical, they deserve to be brought to life on stage. I can vividly imagine actors and actresses performing these electrifying tunes with confidence and flair. What truly sets “ Heartbreak Radio ”—and every Glitter Litter song—apart is the irresistible blend of upbeat, catchy bubblegum pop, a punky edge, and a touch of glam. Each track is pure, unadulterated fun. Let’s return to “ Heartbreak Radio .” The irresistible chorus— “R-A-D-I-O … Heartbreak R-A-D-I-O”—will have you singing along before you know it. This energetic anthem is a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever felt defeated by heartbreak, reminding us that we’re never truly alone in our struggles. If you need a pick-me-up, press play on any Glitter Litter track and let yourself dance freely. “ Heartbreak Radio ” is available now on all streaming platforms—go experience it for yourself. To learn more about Glitter Litter: 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 Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Better Off Gone: Behind the Alabama Heathens Latest Video Shoot Click to read more Headcannon: Supercharged Music for a New Generation Click to read more Through the Lens of Justin Hammer: Acid Bath and Ministry at Red Rocks Click to read more ART WITH HEART OFF THE CHARTS WAY BACK WHEN Video premieres Check this out! All Categories Play Video Play Video 04:06 Lolux - Repetitive Things [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] Repetitive Things • Director: Heather Alexis Director of Photography: Aubrey Wang Costume: Tracy Dizon Editor: Heather Alexis Performed By: ALEX COE, LUKE DESIERVO, EVREN KAYA AND BRIAN FERNANDEZ • Location Thanks to: Wild Thing Manor Play Video Play Video 02:50 Alfred Banks - Window (Official Music Video) "Window" Performed by Alfred Banks & Luther Vandals from the Album, "YesterMonth". Hear Full Album Now: https://album.link/mmvtj6cf2vvjb Full website: Www.UnderDogCentral.Com Play Video Play Video 04:45 Kaleidoscope Crux - DM for Address (Official Video) From the upcoming EP, 'An Opening to the Unknown Realms' on Royal Defect Records Video: Justin Ditch Mixing: Alex Newport Mastering: Last Watch Mastering Engineering: Jonathan Romein and Justin Ditch Play Video Play Video 04:40 RobenX - Murals (Official Music Video) Connect with RobenX https://mobile.twitter.com/therobenx https://www.instagram.com/therobenx/ https://www.facebook.com/Teamrobenx/ https://www.teamrobenx.com/ Lyrics: It’s me and me spent half of my life living like I’m dmt the blood splatters painted picture which more don just mural me curtains pulled prepare yourself for a tragic go comedy my stab wounds go so deep you need a knife to just summon me Imma Back seat driver to my life See the whole world through my hindsight Abandoned by dream since I lost my kin in that high rise motivation all seem stuck feel no connection to the things I love Bank account in fog Smoke and mirrors none of this shit add up I ain’t got no heart I killed my courage home went up in the wind This road full of Cobblestone stained with piss it showed me how alone I is And The moment The doors close just me and my inhibitions walking this tight rope with feline disposition My steps close at most tend to rely on my 7 senses when faced with my ancestors who put me in this position Salvage me or punish me aspirations for conquering micheal the arch angel pulling triggers with puppet strings at a lost They say give everything you love away Maybe if it belongs to you It’ll come again I wait and I wait I wait tell I waste away They say give everything you love away Maybe if it belongs to you It’ll come again I spend so long in my head at night I can’t sleep my thoughts in the streets gargoyle in me come to life when the sun goes down and down and down it goes Diving out the window to reach my soul will I ever catch it I just don’t know Been at this music shit for like 12 years someone get me a napkin I don cried real tears sung my fears dumfounded ain’t none happen Thinking bout hanging my name up I really could’ve fucked this game up All the kids I wanted to save with all pain Until my brains bust Gave my breath and they took my lungs gave hand they took my arm Maybe I should give up all I love I lost They say give everything you love away Maybe if it belongs to you It’ll come again I wait and I wait I wait tell I waste away They say give everything you love away Maybe if it belongs to you It’ll come again I live my life in hell It’s hard to be myself tryna build me wealth my wealth Find your peace by sunrise you stand at the front line cant be moved by gunfire Sunrise gunfire Find your peace by sunrise you stand at the front line cant be moved by gunfire They say give everything you love away Maybe if it belongs to you It’ll come again Directed/produced: j. Austin Dellamano Audio edited by: Sean Callahan Music by: RobenX Music produced and mixed by: Skidd Mills Music mastered by: Joel Wanasek Executive Producer: Ryan McMahan/Oath Management Starring: RobenX Featuring: Skidd Mills, Dayton Leach, Tre Deaton, Landon Siebens Play Video Play Video 04:00 Blank Page by Burden's Landing (Official Music Video) DIY *** linktr.ee/burdenslanding Play Video Play Video 02:00 Alfred Banks - Step Up Music video by Alfred Banks performing Step Up.Alfred Banks Play Video Play Video 02:12 Goodbye Academy - DM Me 4 My PayPal (Official Video) Listen to DM Me 4 My PayPal here or wherever you listen to music! Thanks so much for supporting us. Filming / Editing: Goodbye Academy: @GoodbyeAcademy Original Mixing/Mastering: Nick Maggio: https://www.instagram.com/nizzletonmaggizzle/ Subscribe for Alt/Emo music from your boys!! 🎸 Bandcamp: https://goodbyeacademy.bandcamp.com/ 🖥️ Website: https://goodbyeacademy.com/ 👚 Merch: https://goodbye-academy-merch-store.square.site/s/shop 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbyeacademy/ 🦅 Twitter: https://x.com/GoodbyeAcademy 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodbyeacademy Play Video Play Video 03:51 Goodbye Academy - Drywall (Official Video) Listen to Drywall here or wherever you listen to music! Thanks so much for supporting us. Filming / Editing: Goodbye Academy: @GoodbyeAcademy Original Mixing/Mastering: Nick Maggio: https://www.instagram.com/nizzletonmaggizzle/ Subscribe for Alt/Emo music from your boys!! 🎸 Bandcamp: https://goodbyeacademy.bandcamp.com/ 🖥️ Website: https://goodbyeacademy.com/ 👚 Merch: https://goodbye-academy-merch-store.square.site/s/shop 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbyeacademy/ 🦅 Twitter: https://x.com/GoodbyeAcademy 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodbyeacademy ___ __ _ Lyrics: I can see the claw marks left by Hairy, flying rodents eating out the Drywall And you say that they are cute so I Guess that they can stay, but they are wearing out their welcome No matter how you cut it we are running Round in circles and you don't seem to see the problem There's a little perfume bottle dyed black Just the color With a little hint of sweat drops And I, I, I feel left behind And I, I, I, really shouldn't mind And I, I, I feel left behind And I really shouldn't mind Guess I could think it a hundred times But it comes out, comes out and it's not what I had thought of But we are artists, we interpret I was losing creativity and I just think you caught on Blue and orange are supposed to be Complimentary, but to me mixed they look like mud Remember that time you explained to me what Bisexual Lighting was? And why it's important To the film industry To put those colored lights on the screen But listen you me I wouldn't see I couldn't tell you a Goddamn thing about Why, why, why do I feel left behind? And I, I, I really shouldn't mind I, I, Why do I feel left behind? You don't mind You don't mind Why don't you mind? Why don't you mind? Most of the time I can't interpret you Most of the time it's not just me and you Most of the time you got me feeling blue Most of my time looking at the Drywall

Stuff you should be streaming on your nearest streaming service. Stream This Aug 29, 2023 Historical Fiction and Fantasy Series to Binge During this content drought, get lost in these epic historical fiction and fantasy series! Read More Jun 15, 2023 Cherry & The Crowded Room: Tom Holland in Two Roles You Must See Holland ditches his superhero cape for dark, gritty psychological dramas Read More Jun 12, 2023 The Righteous Gemstones Returns for Season 3 The absurdist megachurch comedy is back with more shenanigans Read More Apr 26, 2023 Belles, Balls, and British Accents: Bridgerton Spinoff Arrives in May Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Read More Apr 18, 2023 Hills, Hollers, and Hoodlums: Raylan Givens Returns in Justified Sequel City Primeval: High noon approaches Read More Mar 16, 2023 The Last Kingdom Finally Gets a Sequel Seven Kings Must Die Read More Feb 17, 2023 Funny, Filthy, and Full of Superpowers Extraordinary Read More Oct 20, 2022 Welcome to Flatch They Deserve Some Damn Attention Read More Oct 13, 2022 See: The Final Chapter Jason Momoa as a Blind Warrior? I'm in! Read More Oct 4, 2022 Halloween with a Horror Master: Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities Stream this NOW! Read More

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Looking for something to do? Look no further! southern happenings Apr 12, 2026 Let the Good Times Boil: Burning Crawfish Festival Returns This May Show up on May 30, 2026, in Henderson, Louisiana. Read More Aug 13, 2024 Southern Happenings: Rad Fest 2024 Louisiana's Radfest is back for its third installment in September. Read More Jun 7, 2024 Southern Happenings: Meet The Gosh Darn Dangs The Gosh Darn Dangs bring the Hammond community together with their soulful tunes. Read More Apr 24, 2024 Southern Happenings: Kriss Russ, JAYD3D!, and Coma Nights at the Howlin Wolf New Orleans, LA April 20, 2024 Read More Mar 29, 2024 Eclipse Fest: A Convergence of Creativity Eclipse Fest will take place on June 15, 2024, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Read More Jan 30, 2024 Eric Johanson: A Distinctive Blues Musician with an Intoxicating Sound NOLA blues musician Eric Johanson takes his distinctive, intoxicating sound on the road, kicking off his “Don’t Hold Back” tour in North Alabama. Read More Jan 25, 2024 Chill Fest 2024 Music and Arts Festival Chill Fest 2024 unquestionably lives up to its name and is an incredible opportunity to hear local music and support the community’s young musicians. Read More Oct 27, 2023 Originally Huntsville: Monthly Music Event Originally Huntsville celebrates live music by showcasing local North Alabama talent in a monthly music concert series with a benevolent cause. Read More Oct 24, 2023 Throttle Fest 2023: Southern Happenings Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. Read More Jul 11, 2023 RAD Fest: A Lafayette Festival for Those Who Rock Get ready to rock around Downtown Lafayette on August 19, 2023 Read More May 18, 2023 Festival of Litha Returns to Downtown Florence in June Coming together to celebrate the summer solstice Read More May 8, 2023 Asheville Keeps it Weird with the Return of ABSFest Leave your inhibitions at the door Read More Feb 25, 2023 Punk Music Festival to Benefit Local Non-Profits that Work with At-Risk Youth and Children of Child Abuse/Neglect P.A.C.A. Read More

Indie authors and writers you should check out NOW! The Book Nook Aug 4, 2026 Book Review: Arkham Asylum A Serious House on Serious Earth is a mythos turned nightmare Read More May 21, 2026 The Book Nook: Rockstar Echoes by Zach Taylor Rockstar Echoes leaves us asking who the Rockstar is. Read More Mar 12, 2025 Book Review: Playboys, Celebrities, and Me by Dianne Dorman It’s intriguing, it’s glamorous, and it’s full of nostalgia. Read More Mar 8, 2025 The Book Nook: We'll Try and Get That on For You Joe Burns has an innate ability to make you laugh out loud in this non-stop ride of hilarity. Read More Oct 25, 2024 Book Review: Brothers by Alex Van Halen Brothers is a Compelling Story about Rock Royalty Read More Mar 25, 2024 Everything’s Poetic: David Donihue The Enigma of Depression Through a Rose-colored Lens Read More Dec 13, 2023 Blood Machines: Book Review “Blood Machines is a highly creative vampire novel that subverts tropes and cliches, using the creatures to explore the concept of a surveillance state. Read More Nov 14, 2023 Lowdown Road: Book Review Scott Von Doviak's newest book Lowdown Road mixes hick cinema, blaxploitation, and 70's cinematic archetypes into one hell of a crime-thrilling story. Read More Sep 20, 2023 Sidetracks Music Hall by Bud Gambrell: Book Review Bud Gambrell has compiled a journey through music in “Sidetracks Music Hall”—a memoir rich with local history Read More Jan 9, 2023 Tyler Harrison An Undercover Talent on the Rise Read More Dec 5, 2022 Ezekiel Kincaid The Pastor of Horror Read More

Movies you just have to, oh my gosh, see. The Film Spot Mar 12, 2026 Film Review: Iron Lung Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. Read More Dec 11, 2023 Godzilla: Minus One: Film Review Godzilla: Minus One deftly balances social commentary with eye-popping monster action amid personal trauma, drama, and guilt. Read More Nov 20, 2023 Blow Up My Life: Film Review Blow Up My Life is a cinematic unicorn in the thriller-comedy genre with undeniable humor and thrills with a capital T. Read More Oct 31, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 4: Film Analysis Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. Read More Oct 25, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 3: Film Analysis Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. Read More Oct 23, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 2: Film Analysis Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. Read More Oct 19, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 1: Film Analysis The philosophy of the Saw franchise and its iconic serial killer mastermind John Kramer cuts deep beneath the surface into the realm of Nietzschean nihilism. Read More Oct 16, 2023 Unwelcome: Film Review Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. Read More Aug 16, 2023 Asteroid City: Film Review Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones Read More Aug 9, 2023 Sisu: Film Review Sisu is an enjoyable homage to Rambo but with much more badassery Read More Aug 7, 2023 Barbie: Film Review Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere Read More Jul 27, 2023 Chilly Scenes of Winter: The Cult Classic Returns from Obscurity Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection Read More Jul 25, 2023 Film Review: Oppenheimer Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date Read More Jun 27, 2023 Review: Old Friends, A Dogumentary One documentary every dog lover should see Read More Apr 25, 2023 Evil Dead Rise is Balls-to-the-Wall Blood, Guts, and Terror Buckle up for the most horrific installment of the Evil Dead universe Read More Apr 21, 2023 Infinity Pool Unnervingly Taps into Fear of Humanity and Poses Serious Question Would you commit a crime if you knew you could get off scot-free? Read More Apr 20, 2023 Chillin’ Out, Maxin’, Relaxin’, All Cool: Celebrating Cannabis Culture with Cinema Select Stoner Movies in Honor of 420 Read More Apr 3, 2023 Shudder’s New Queer Horror Thriller Will Have You Rethinking Your Relationship Anxieties Attachment Read More Mar 9, 2023 Cole Hauser and Morgan Freeman Team Up to Take Down Evil The Ritual Killer Read More Mar 3, 2023 More Adaptations from THE Horror Master Stephen King Movies Releasing in 2023 Read More Jan 11, 2023 One of the Best Indie Sci-Fi Movies You Should Absolutely See Vesper Read More Dec 8, 2022 Dead Pit The Underrated 80s Horror Movie You've Probably Forgotten About Read More Nov 29, 2022 Merry Christmas: The Shitter's Full New Blood-Soaked Holiday Releases Read More Nov 22, 2022 Peter Dinklage Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent Read More Nov 16, 2022 Giggle 'Til Your Heart's Content Non-Holiday Comedy Recommendations to Keep You Laughing During the Break Read More Nov 2, 2022 The Great Entertainment Debate Go to the Theater or Stay Home and Stream? Read More

Our favorite former intern's spot to write about whatever he wants. Nick's Corner Jul 28, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: What Have I Won by Spiller What Have I Won harnesses a raw energy that only a punk band can achieve when they are unapologetically themselves. Read More Jul 23, 2025 Barking at the Muse: How Ozzy Osbourne Inspired My Musical Journey Ozzy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he influenced and inspired. Read More Jul 17, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: Live on Long Island by Bad Mary Live on Long Island is electrifying from start to finish, immersing you in Bad Mary’s vibrant live sound. Read More Jul 4, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: Playing with Fire by Caustic Waves The combination of riffs, vocals, lyrics, and rhythm creates a storm of energy that resonates throughout. Read More Jun 14, 2025 Finding the Middle Ground: Striking Balance in Louisiana’s Evolving Music Scene Change operates as a cyclical force of nature, and it’s time for another cycle. Read More May 31, 2025 Bayou Harmony: The Rise of Louisiana’s Collaborative Alternative Music Scene Creation, Passion, and Collaboration are forming a New Era in Louisiana Music Read More Apr 21, 2025 Nick's Corner: Double Knockout Single Review 'The Rain' captures a vibe of understanding, new beginnings, and solace. Read More Apr 2, 2025 The Revival of Alternative Rock in Louisiana: A New Wave of Sound in the Bayou State Alternative music has a unique blend of passion and rage. Read More Jan 7, 2025 Nick's Corner: January 2025 Recs Alternative music will have a huge impact on 2025. Read More Nov 26, 2024 Nick’s Corner: From the Swamps to Concert Halls, the Legacy of Acid Bath Acid Bath are Louisiana cult icons of sludge and southern metal. Read More Nov 22, 2024 Nick’s Corner: Playlist Picks for November 2024 Tunes to expand your sonic palette. Read More Oct 4, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for October Some Spooky Season Picks Read More Aug 23, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for August 23rd Old favorites mixed with the new. Read More Jul 22, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for July 22nd Playlist picks to awaken the senses. Read More Jun 24, 2024 Glitter Litter Awakens Listeners with a Bold New Sonic Journey Shocks to Sleeping Beauties is a daring mix of electric energy and lyrical depth. Read More Jun 7, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for June 7th New music sure to get your pulse going! Read More

Musicians on the local scene currently that you need to hear and know about. On the Scene Oct 7, 2026 Headcannon: Supercharged Music for a New Generation Adjacent punks making noise. Read More Sep 9, 2026 Natty’s Common Roots: A Music Collective Making Waves A conversation about East Tennessee and more. Read More Sep 3, 2026 Punk Is Not Dead: How Knifetwister Records Is Keeping New York Loud Knifetwister Records is more than just music. Read More Aug 31, 2026 Kaleidoscope Crux: A Distorted Complexity of Sounds A DIY aesthetic mixed with a little shoegaze and more Read More Aug 4, 2026 Word of Mouth: A Surprise Conversation with Samuel Isaac Penn Samuel is claiming his place in the Alabama music scene. Read More Aug 3, 2026 On the Scene: Hope MacGregor Hope is a natural storyteller both in song and conversation. Read More Jul 27, 2026 Blacktop Mojo Proves Rock Still Has a Pulse The Rock Revival We Need Read More May 26, 2026 Inside Leaning Studios: The Studio Amplifying Louisiana’s Alternative Voices Leaning Studios is a budget-friendly premium recording studio. Read More Mar 24, 2026 From Misery to Malice: Louisiana’s Rising Force in Deathcore From Misery to Malice is turning passion into progress in the Louisiana music scene. Read More Mar 1, 2026 The Many Musical Chapters of Leif Meche Leif Meche is no stranger to the stage. Read More Feb 26, 2026 Keeping the Vinyl Spinning: Dana Labat and the Heart of Capital City Records Capital City Records has a vibe all its own. Read More Feb 11, 2026 Reunited and Loud: Black Market Halos Mark 13 Years with a Comeback Show A special night of Louisiana metal on March 7, 2026. Read More Dec 3, 2025 Subliminal Landmines: Detonating Their Return to Louisiana’s Punk Scene Subliminal Landmines are back with a new, harder-edged sound. Read More Jun 13, 2025 Who On Earth: Bringing the Thunder Back to Modern Hard Rock Who On Earth is blending a classic rock vibe with modern twists and turns. Read More Jun 2, 2025 Biff Swenson: An Architect of Asbury Park’s Indie Scene Biff Swenson is helping to foster a community of independent creatives. Read More May 7, 2025 Inner Anguish Brings Raw Power and Southern Grit to Louisiana’s Metal Scene With heavy riffs and unfiltered emotion, Inner Anguish is carving out a distinct voice in the regional metal underground. Read More Apr 21, 2025 HolleeStar Shines Bright: Louisiana’s Alternative Scene Gets a New Sound HolleeStar's music is an organic fusion of sounds. Read More Feb 19, 2025 Don’t Lose Your Head: The Unstoppable Return of Daemon Grimm Daemon Grimm is drawing their influence from more than just metal. Read More Oct 1, 2024 CBGB Spirit Revived: A Night of Punk Rock Nostalgia at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 50 Years Of CBGB! Read More Sep 18, 2024 Hammond’s Hottest Musicians Unite for a Showstopping Night, Powered by Feel Alive Media The Green Room brings together local musicians for a night of fun and music. Read More Aug 8, 2024 On the Scene: Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live June 6th, 2024 The Harmonic Stew showcase is a vibrant celebration of emerging talent. Read More Mar 13, 2024 SÖŪP: A Rich Tapestry of Musical Expression SÖŪP’s music is a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences, serving as a bridge between the past and the present. Read More Mar 2, 2024 The Dynamic Sound of the New Jersey Band Spyne Spyne!’s music is raw unfiltered rock with a nod to the classics. Read More Jan 18, 2024 Steve Mignano: A Man with a Lust for Movement and Change How Steve Mignano found his way to music, New Orleans, and soundscape success with musical projects Drab and Garguts. Read More Jan 17, 2024 Moon Tree: Reflecting the Sounds of the Cosmos Moon Tree is a down-to-earth musical odyssey intertwining jazz, blues, country, and rock to create art built of timeless stories. Read More Dec 6, 2023 Perry A: Just Two Guys Making Music Indie-rock duo Perry A releases two singles from upcoming EP “OK Wait” boasting a dark sound and heavy political inspiration. Read More Nov 30, 2023 Shane Webb: A Drumming Odyssey Rock drummer Shane Webb continues his vibrant course of success, maintaining an emblazoned passion for his art. Read More Nov 27, 2023 Rothstein Beatz: Worth the Gamble Rothstein Beatz is one of the hottest producers on Clubhouse whose beats are dominating the music industry. Read More Nov 14, 2023 Neon Rayon: Redefining Electronic Rock Neon Rayon’s music is full of infectious grooves, electrifying synths, and heavy danceable beats. Read More Nov 9, 2023 Unveiling Small Town SINdrome: The Band, The Name, and The Music STS infuses their music with a down-to-earth sensibility, blending the raw power of classic punk rock with intricate pop melodies and compelling lyrics. Read More Sep 14, 2023 Hollow Heroes: Rising Against the Trends Towards a Cohesive Sound Hollow Heroes music is a melodic masterpiece Read More Jun 7, 2023 Rickey Mitchell: Composer of Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtracks His ethereal music makes for one magical, introspective ride Read More May 24, 2023 Justin Holder: North Alabama's Self-Proclaimed Drummer Ho One studio drummer who's tearin' it up Read More May 16, 2023 Electric Age: Reinventing Sludge Rock with No Rules Drawing inspiration from Southern roots Read More May 2, 2023 FIREKID: Living and Making Music on Their Own Terms Life on Merry Hill Read More May 1, 2023 Of The Roses: Austin's Moody & Mysterious Indie Art Rock/Pop Band Ripe with fuzz, psychedelia, and haunting rhythms Read More Apr 28, 2023 Vinnie La Bella An intimate conversation Read More Apr 18, 2023 Easy, Breezy Sounds: The Music of Tommy Thibodaux Mellow & Smooth Read More Mar 21, 2023 When Metal and Rock Collide: 4 Mag Nitrous A Soundtrack for Navigating Hell Read More Mar 2, 2023 An Ugly/Beautiful Dichotomy: The Music of Morbid Orchid Presenting Grunge-Gaze Read More

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Recaps of all your fave live events! Weekend Rock Sep 24, 2026 Rifting on the Shore: Jet at The Stone Pony Jet Brings the Noise to Asbury Park Read More Sep 12, 2026 Harrison Gordon Leaves His Mark on the Stone Pony with Electrifying Performances It felt like one big family. Read More Sep 8, 2026 Punk Rock Never Dies: Social Distortion at the Stone Pony Summer Stage Social Distortion proves the old songs still hit hard. Read More Aug 31, 2026 Weekend Rock: Fetty Wap Sets the Stone Pony Summer Stage on Fire Nights like this are what live music is all about. Read More Aug 21, 2026 How to Save a Summer: The Fray Return to Asbury Park Their latest tour is proof that the Fray’s music still resonates. Read More Jun 28, 2026 Where Nostalgia Meets a New Generation: Jimmy Eat World at Stone Pony Summer Stage A Night That Belonged to Every Generation Read More May 31, 2026 Weekend Rock: Dance Gavin Dance at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park Old Fans, New Faces, One Incredible Night! Read More Apr 4, 2026 Pop Evil Delivers Old and New at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on April 2 It was a set of perfectly balanced fresh material. Read More Feb 4, 2025 Weekend Rock: Smile Empty Soul at the Freetown Boom Boom Room in Lafayette, Louisiana It was a night of unfiltered rock music to remember. Read More Oct 16, 2024 Weekend Rock: The Used Ignites House of Blues with an Explosive Night of Nostalgia and New Energy A Night of Raw Emotion and Fan Favorites Read More Oct 8, 2024 Collision of Sound: Sleeping with Sirens, Teenage Joans, and Holding Absence Ignite the Stage with Powerful Performances It was a night of dynamic performances and captivating energy. Read More Sep 6, 2024 Weekend Rock: Open Up The PIT The PIT is Louisiana’s Bold New Stage for Live Music Read More May 10, 2024 Judas Priest: Probst Arena at Von Braun Center Judas Priest roll into Huntsville, AL with the Invincible Shield Tour. Read More Apr 30, 2024 Weekend Rock: Branded for Exile Branded for Exile ignited the night with their authentic sound at Cajun Daiquiris in St. Amant, Louisiana on April 26, 2024. Read More Jan 17, 2024 Saxkixave: Igniting the Stage with Electrifying Hip-Hop and Jazz Fusion Baton Rouge, Louisiana January 13, 2024 Read More

Artists we think you should check out. art with heart Sep 30, 2026 More Than Comics: Finding Community at Stronghold Collectibles Celebrating Comics and the Art Community Read More Sep 23, 2026 From Cigar Boxes to Community: The Art of the Cigar Box Guitar Inside Huntsville’s Cigar Box Guitar Culture Read More Apr 22, 2026 A Force for Change: Presenting Deanz Deanz is a deep soul channeling the complexities of human existence into art. Read More Aug 1, 2023 Taryn Chase Jackson: Mixed Media Creative Unique analog collage displays manifesting as one collective dreamscape Read More Apr 13, 2023 Be Still My Beating Heart Charlton Fine Art Read More Feb 13, 2023 Raw, Unapologetic Artistry Jill Mulkey Art Read More Nov 28, 2022 Color, Form, and Texture with a Modern Twist Chris Bond Read More Nov 6, 2022 Brilliance for a New Era: Lori Bequette A Fresh Approach to Pop Art & Surrealism Read More Oct 29, 2022 Flowers, Glitter, and Resin, Oh My! Christina Binns Read More Oct 4, 2022 A Bright Visualist: Robin Masterman Merging Styles Read More

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

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

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

One artist, writer, or musician you need to turn your attention to NOW. Focus On Oct 8, 2026 Through the Lens of Justin Hammer: Acid Bath and Ministry at Red Rocks A Photographic Perspective Read More Jul 6, 2026 Bay Simpson Is Writing Muscle Shoals’ Next Chapter The Muscle Shoals artist on songwriting, artistic identity, and why songs are everything. Read More Jun 29, 2026 The Alabama Heathens Load the Merch and Drive Anyway A young Southern rock band on songs, touring, Huntsville, and the faith to keep going. Read More Oct 2, 2025 Neurons and Notes: The Musical Mind of Joseph LeDoux From the bayous of Louisiana to the amygdala and the amplifier – Joseph LeDoux rocks them all. Read More Aug 4, 2025 The Creative Life of Ryan S Leavitt Ryan S. Leavitt is an accomplished author overflowing with creativity. Read More Jul 5, 2025 Unfiltered and Unleashed: The Dodies Redefine Raw Power as a Dynamic Duo The Dodies’ music blends powerful riffs with fearless creativity. Read More Oct 3, 2024 Them Guys: A Deep Dive into Louisiana’s Musical Treasures Them Guys have a sound embodying Louisiana music's rich, genre-bending spirit. Read More Nov 30, 2023 tmdistant: Music Beyond Boundaries tmdistant takes us on an expedition through sound with his new track “grow into the blossoms”. Read More Nov 9, 2023 Cecily: Soulful Music With Ambient Affirmations Cecily’s music is insightful and pleasing to the ear, a breath of fresh air with the motivation to spread her positivity through her art. Read More Oct 20, 2023 Okay Kenedi: A Casual Introduction Is Hard to Come By Okay Kenedi’s debut album is more than just okay. It’s a wonderful ride of alt-pop that is superb, loaded with fun and introspection, and a heartfelt reminder that we’re all okay. Read More Sep 27, 2023 Shawn Williams: Sulking in Love “Sulking in Love” features powerful ballads as gateways to the darkness that lurks beneath personal distress. Read More Jul 12, 2023 No Sleep for Deep Sleep Atlantic An interview with Travis Marc Read More Apr 24, 2023 Born to Rock: Adam and the Metal Hawks Bringin' back the classic rock vibe Read More Mar 9, 2023 Born to Perform: Dr. Joe Burns Not a Rock and Roll Loser Read More Feb 22, 2023 Dark, Moody, Mysterious, and Daring The Adventures of Pecos Hank Read More Jan 18, 2023 SaxKixAve: Much More Better Trust Them 'Cuz They're Young, Talented, and Handsome Read More Jan 5, 2023 Tank and the Bangas Bangin' Out the Hits Read More Dec 7, 2022 Nothing But Heart and Soul Roger Ricks Read More Nov 30, 2022 The Nine Lives of Paul Sanchez You Never Know Read More Nov 17, 2022 When You Need a Party Thrown, Call Mike Bone From America's Got Talent to the Hit Show Reservation Dogs Read More Nov 4, 2022 The Importance of Self Care Pacifico Read More Oct 25, 2022 For a Good Time, Call Big in the 90s Read More Oct 22, 2022 Rockin 4 Jesus: The Next Great Band You Haven't Heard Yet Empowered Read More Oct 19, 2022 Laid-Back Louisiana Southern Rock Dale Harris Music Read More Oct 18, 2022 What Do a Musician, an Indie Label, and a Video Game Have in Common? Jrago Read More Oct 3, 2022 Big, Easy, Body-Melting Vibes Charles Brooks, D.M.A. Read More

The Greatest of All Time - The GOAT - vets of the biz still rockin' it! The G.O.A.T. Nov 15, 2025 Finding the Song in Everyone: Conversations with Dash Rip Rock Exploring the stories and southern spirit that shaped Dash Rip Rock’s newest chapter. Read More Jul 10, 2025 Self-Made Genius: Tracing the Musical Legacy of Matt Mahaffey Matt Mahaffey is Just Being HimsElf Read More Apr 27, 2025 Acid Bath’s Triumphant Return: A Night 28 Years in the Making The Sludge Metal Legends Reunite for a Long-Awaited and Historic Performance. Read More Mar 28, 2025 Boiler Room’s Revival: A Resurgent Force in Metal Boiler Room are on a mission to make a significant impact in the world of metal. Read More Sep 2, 2024 Blacklite District: Building a Digital Era Legacy Kyle Pfeiffer is a visionary creating a culture of acceptance for future generations of fans. Read More May 15, 2023 Sick of It All: Pioneers of the Hardcore Punk Scene Still kicking ass and taking names Read More

Highlighting THE films for you to watch on the weekends! Feast Upon This Sep 20, 2026 A Life Reassembled: Bil Richardson Tells a Survival Story in Stock Footage Ephemera is the product of creativity beyond boundaries. Read More Jul 22, 2024 Top 5 Movies That Rock There is always time to catch a classic movie. Read More Nov 13, 2023 Reasons to See Napoleon: Feast Upon This If you're on the fence about it, check out these top 5 reasons to see "Napoleon". Read More Oct 22, 2023 20+ Halloween Films to Watch This Season: Feast Upon This With Halloween 2023 right around the corner, Mixed Alternative got together to recommend some of our favorite Halloween movies! Read More Oct 18, 2023 28 Days Later: Feast Upon This 28 Days Later is one of the best zombie movies ever made, having popularized the fast zombie craze of modern-day cinema and terrified moviegoers around the world with its horrific scenario. Read More Oct 13, 2023 Strays: Feast Upon This Strays is a sweet, hysterical, raunchy comedy featuring potty-mouthed dogs in one of the best animal movies ever made. Read More Sep 28, 2023 Clay Pigeons: Feast Upon This Clay Pigeons is a cult-classic dark comedy about small-town appearances, serial killers, and sexual betrayal that is just as funny as it is grim. Read More

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

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

The heart of music - the beats that inspire and more. The beat Aug 14, 2026 Built in the Rocket City: The Legacy of Dizzy D Dizzy D is shaping Huntsville's music scene one fan at a time. Read More Apr 5, 2025 Floating Above the Bayou: Brax is Elevating Southern Cloud Rap to New Heights Brax isn’t afraid to experiment with new textures and sounds. Read More Dec 11, 2023 Jonathan Machen aka Profit: Finding Refuge in Music Jonathan Machen aka Profit is a lyrical prophet of rock and hip-hop subgenres fueled by the deepest levels of pain and enlightenment. Read More Nov 13, 2023 Miles Nxbxdy: Revolutionizing Hip-Hop Miles Nxbxdy pushes the boundaries of hip-hop by challenging expectations and broadening horizons. Read More Oct 20, 2023 Gino V.: Redefining the Music Scene with Rhythm and Soul Gino V’s unique ability to infuse his compositions with emotion, technical proficiency, and soul will shape and inspire generations of musicians to come. Read More Oct 2, 2023 Shawn Franklin: Music Producer Extraordinaire Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. Read More May 22, 2023 Alfred Banks: A Blessing from the Crescent City Insightful, brilliant, and talented Read More Apr 7, 2023 DJ Skillspinz: A Classically Trained Master of Combining Textures and Beats Tony Biggs Read More Jan 11, 2023 The OG’s of Rap and Rock Fusion are Back Stone Deep Read More

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

A focus on musicians and artists from the Alabama area. Off the Charts Aug 4, 2026 Off The Charts: A Lifetime as a Music Lover Part Two With so much technology, never forget where music began. Read More Jul 31, 2026 Off The Charts: A Lifetime as a Music Lover The love of music paired with the love of photography found a home within me. Read More Apr 30, 2025 Off the Charts: Brett Carlisle Brett Carlisle is an award-winning songwriter paving his way with family, faith, and a new record. Read More Apr 18, 2025 The Alabama Heathens: Southern Grit Meets Raw Rock Energy The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! Read More Apr 11, 2025 Off the Charts: Local Rock ‘n Roll Takes Over Mars Music Hall Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions Read More Apr 7, 2025 Unveiling The BIG Reveal: Alabama’s Rising Alternative Rock Band The BIG Reveal are Off the Charts Read More Mar 25, 2025 Off the Charts: Otis Walker Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album Read More Oct 21, 2024 Off The Charts: How Today’s Youth Are Reviving Rock Music Huntsville’s International Musical Youth Movement Invades the Camp Read More Sep 10, 2024 Off the Charts: Keyton Keyton's music is delivering emotional songwriting with energetic delivery as he prepares to embark on a mini tour. Read More Aug 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Alabama Smoke Show Alabama Smoke Show proves that the future of music in Huntsville is bright! Read More Jul 11, 2024 Off the Charts: Brandon Elder Strumming Through Struggles to Stardom Read More May 22, 2024 Off the Charts: Jimmy Speed Jimmy Speed's music is a unique blend of fast, hard, and heavy rock. Read More May 13, 2024 Off the Charts: Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series The Jim Parker Songwriter Series is a monthly event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Read More May 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Grits & Greens Grits & Greens are on a mission to spread their signature sound in support of their new album. Read More Mar 17, 2023 Off the Charts Coming Soon! Read More

Bands that are on the up and up. Check them out NOW! Sep 13, 2026 Better Off Gone: Behind the Alabama Heathens Latest Video Shoot Making Music, Making Art, and Making Sandwiches Read More Sep 12, 2026 Seven Year Witch is the Real Deal in Rock It’s just really good music. Read More Jan 30, 2026 Owls & Aliens Embrace Transformation on Powerful New Single Shape Shifting combines the power of thrash metal with the intensity of punk rock. Read More Feb 13, 2025 Grey Areas: A Louisiana Metal Band Looking to Inspire Hope in a World Filled with Chaos Grey Areas isn’t just a band; they are a movement. Read More Nov 4, 2024 The LA Phantoms: A Louisiana Punk Band with a Rich History The LA Phantoms have the strength and will to create music that resonates. Read More Oct 31, 2024 Goodbye Academy: Bringing Pop-Grunge to the Masses Goodbye Academy is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. Read More Oct 28, 2024 Herakleion: The New Orleans Metal Band Forging a Fierce New Sound Welcome to the Necroverse Read More Sep 3, 2024 Straight from the Bayou: Few Blue’s Vibrant Sound Redefines New Orleans Music Few Blue has the rhythm that will bring you to your knees. Read More Aug 26, 2024 Phantum Sun: An Immersive Journey Through Sound Phantum Sun’s music blends the ethereal with the visceral in a lush atmospheric fusion. Read More May 8, 2024 On the Rise: RobenX RobenX is promising a legacy of influence that transcends music alone. Read More Apr 11, 2024 The Enigma of XEMNAS: Turning Pain into Art The music of XEMNAS is a transcendent journey through sound. Read More Mar 22, 2024 Jean Claude Seagal: A New Journey through Alternative Rock The music of Jean Claude Seagal captures the complexities of life and relationships with melodic hooks and gritty rock sensibilities. Read More Feb 20, 2024 Separatr: Making Innovative Noise Pop Waves from Asbury Park Separatr’s music delves into the depths of human emotions, providing an introspective and relatable experience with poetic lyrics. Read More Dec 11, 2023 Branded for Exile: A Force in Louisiana Metal “Born in the Flames” by Branded for Exile is a non-stop ride of aggressive guitars, tight production, and loud ferocious metal sure to get your pulse going. Read More Nov 29, 2023 She Might Be a Beast: An Enigma of Youth, Retro Vibes, and Energy She Might Be a Beast unleashes the raw power of Neo-Grunge with their latest album, “Art Class” Read More Jul 31, 2023 Baquenne: Soothing, Ethereal Music The music of Baquenne is diverse and intricately constructed Read More Jun 9, 2023 Everfelt: A Harmonic Driving Force on the Rise Everfelt's mix of genres and sounds will leave you wanting more Read More May 8, 2023 Cyberattack Rearranges the Electronic Music Scene A New York Musician taking the World by Storm Read More Mar 31, 2023 NITE: Revamping New Wave A New Era of Synths Read More Mar 22, 2023 New Orleans Band Deep Sleep Atlantic Announce Debut Single A Hypnotic Pulse Read More Mar 21, 2023 They Bring the Party: Von Mons A Classic Sound and Vibe Read More Mar 21, 2023 Melodic and Atmospheric Hailing from Manchester: What Will Be A Nod to the 90's Read More Mar 17, 2023 Authentic, Heartfelt, Soulful, and Deep The Music of Tyler Underwood Read More Feb 27, 2023 A Melodic Rock Offering: Caustic Waves Solid Alternative Rock Read More Feb 22, 2023 A Wave of Nostalgia: The Clifftones Reviving Britpop Read More Feb 17, 2023 When Punk Turns Acoustic: William Edward Thompson Beyond Secret Smoker and Heavy Mantle Read More Feb 7, 2023 Unparalleled Talent and Personality: Subliminal Landmines A Nonconformist Sound Read More On the rise

Something for everyone this month. < Back October Rundown: New Music Alert Nicole Brice Oct 3, 2026 Share Something for everyone this month. We get so many review requests, so to give you new music to check out from just about every genre, here's our October rundown. Some of these were just released, and some are a few months old, but all are new tunes for your ears. We’ll have more for you later this month, too. So much good music is being released in October, and even more for us to go through in our e-mails. Release Date: August 14, 2026 / Genre: Country & Rock Chris Pryor - Nothing Without You Released August 14, 2026 Chris Pryor is a Louisiana musician who’s spent years fronting a well-known party band, but lately, he and his band, The Main Event , have really been leveling up. They were recently nominated for a Josie Music Award in Nashville , which shows how much their music is resonating beyond Louisiana . What sets Chris Pryor and The Main Event apart is how they keep crafting a sound that’s truly original and totally their own—mixing country and rock in a way that feels fresh but still familiar. Their latest release, “ Nothing Without You ,” comes right after their hit “ Let the Moonshine ,” and it’s a heartfelt, stripped-down acoustic track that tugs at your heartstrings. Take a few minutes to really listen to the lyrics and let the song sink in. It's out on all streaming platforms now, and it’s honestly worth a listen if you’re looking for something genuine and different. Release Date: September 28, 2026 / Genre: Alternative Spiller - Queen of May Released September 28, 2026 A steady punk groove kicks off “ Queen of May ,” by the Boston band Spiller , with a heavy bass line lurking in the background and the energy ramping up as the drums join in. It’s a fun, upbeat, and light-hearted tune that’ll have you bouncing in your seat from the first note. Alongside this single, Spiller has dropped “ Valentine ,” which is just as catchy and full of heart as “ Queen of May .” Both tracks really show off Spiller’s knack for blending good-hearted punk and alternative vibes, keeping things fresh while still feeling totally authentic. Boston’s Spiller makes music that’s perfect for blasting in the car or soundtracking a night out with friends. If you’re looking for something new and energetic, give these songs a spin—you won’t be disappointed. Release Date: September 30, 2026 / Genre: Industrial Metal Frank Fear - Frank Fear Released September 30, 2026 Frank Fear , an Italian-German artist, just dropped a new album via The Triad Rec packed with 12 synth-driven, heavy-hitting tracks. This record is a wild ride—a haunting, thrashing symphony of distorted sounds and deep groove. The industrial metal vibes are fearless , with pounding rhythms and vocals that absolutely soar. Seriously , the vocals are NEXT level; you can really feel the emotion as they shift from a quiet whisper to a full-on howl, pulling you right into each song’s atmosphere. What’s cool is that no two tracks sound the same—each one stands out, but they all flow together so smoothly that it's easy to listen to the whole album in one go. If you’re into music that hits hard and keeps you hooked, you’ll want to stream this today. You'll definitely get lost in this album. It's exquisite . Release Date: October 2, 2026 / Genre: Metal & Hard Rock Roben X - Odium October 2, 2026 We absolutely love Roben X , and his new song " Odium " bursts with energy, driven by a heavy beat and an even heavier chorus. Roben delivers each line with Eminem-like conviction and fearlessness, channeling repressed anger into powerful, truthful vocals . His innate ability to rhyme just about anything, paired with a seamless flow, invites you to get lost in the groove. It's poetry. Plain and simple, what Roben does is pure poetry and art, and it is remarkable. The strength and honesty in Roben’s voice make " Odium " a compelling and unforgettable track. Go stream it now. We'll have more recommendations for you later this month, but for now, discover something new. 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

< 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? 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‘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