It's been about nine years since I waxed on my affinity for Local H in this space. TLDR: I've followed them since college; they were one of my (if not the) first in-person interviews I did; I've probably seen them more than any other band - save for The Afghan Whigs/Greg Dulli-related projects - and... Continue Reading →
Two Months Late: 42 Top Songs from 2024
Last year, it was three months into the new year when I finally posted my Top Songs of 2023. This year, only two months have passed. It's all about progress they say, right? Now, if you haven't noticed, I've always tried to cram as many songs into one of these playlists under the guise of... Continue Reading →
Making Ted Demme Laugh 20 Years Ago, When ‘Blow’ Joined a Long Line of Drug-Smuggling Classics
I've got a bit of a special place in my heart for movies by the late director Ted Demme. His 1996 film Beautiful Girls was already one of my all-time rewatchables by the spring of 2001 when I was invited to attend a college press junket in New York City for his new movie Blow.... Continue Reading →
Live streamed concerts and music events mixed bag so far
Back in February Afghan Whigs leader Greg Dulli released Random Desire, his eagerly anticipated first official solo album. Reviews were off the charts and a tour from one of the most enigmatic frontmen to break out of the grunge era with a unique spin on rock and soul next lined up a tour which was... Continue Reading →
Seven Artists That Should be Huge (Part of V7: The Vanyaland 7th Anniversary Celebration)
Yesterday marked the 7th anniversary of the online magazine Vanyaland, which I've been a part of since it launched back in 2013. To celebrate the milestone, the core team behind the site were asked to contribute something personal to them involving the topics about which they typically write. It's always boggled my mind over the... Continue Reading →
‘There’s No Ending When We Die’
It was 1994 and the majority of my musical diet consisted of mostly everything my grandparents wouldn't be into. If it didn't involve a pit, encouragement to jump on and launch myself off a stage in a concert setting, I was likely spinning it less regularly. The songs that would emanate from my upstairs bedroom... Continue Reading →
69 to 99 Moving Finds: Part Five
I've never really had a nice car. Well, maybe that one '85 Camaro Z28 for a few weeks until I took it out for an accelerated spin down a winding road after a rainstorm and ended up flipping it, narrowly avoiding death...but that's a story for another post. But no, having had ten cars (ten!)... Continue Reading →