Pop Culture

“You know this job is just a stepping stone for you, don’t you?” said a psychic medium, one of the patients at a cancer hospital in Manchester where Kelly Lee Owens worked as a nurse at 18. According to her prediction, the now-world-renowned Welsh-born DJ, singer, and producer would move to London and become a

One thing we have learned from the 2024 US presidential race is that pop music is the new gold dust – sought, treasured, and valued for the excitement, voters, and appeals it can generate for a party’s political brand. The recent Democratic National Convention at times appeared more like a music festival than a gathering

Born in Dallas, Texas, Frank LoCrasto grew up far away from an ocean, yet throughout his life, he’s been fascinated by the Caribbean and soulful rhythms that wouldn’t be out of place in any local tiki bar. While LoCrasto has built a career as both a solo jazz artist and a go-to session player (having

Manchester’s Pale Waves have enjoyed success since bursting onto the scene with their debut, 2018’s My Mind Makes Noises. Their brand of pop-rock and pop-punk drew comparisons to early Avril Lavigne; the trend continued on their follow-up, 2021’s Who Am I? The following year, they released Unwanted, carving out a sharper, more vengeful sound, aligning more

At the 2024 Paralympic Closing Ceremony in Paris, the event producers wanted to continue celebrating all things French culture. Thus, performances from regional singers and an epic multi-DJ set under the guiding light of the legendary Jean-Michel Jarre were included. Yet partway through, two blind musicians from Mali took the stage, and Amadou & Mariam,

In 1967, the Moody Blues were struggling. The band from Birmingham, England, had changed its line-up after moderate success as an R&B act, but with the advent of rock’s psychedelic era, they could not find a new winning sound. They were about to be dropped by their record label, Decca Records, and worse, they owed

Bo Ramsey is an Iowa City legend. If there were a Mount Rushmore of Iowa musicians, his face would be on it (as they say in the Hawkeye vernacular). In the land of Slipknot, Andy Williams, and where Buddy Holly died, Ramsey’s positive reputation is as solid as the rock he plays. Ramsey is best

The World Is on Fire Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few Division 81 Records 18 October 2024 It’s a Saturday night in San Francisco here on 14th September, and there are a lot of choices in the regional music scene, as usual. The Black Cat Jazz Supper Club is one of the weekend’s hot spots,

The commercial success of the Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks version of Fleetwood Mac was so massive and meteoric that within just seven years, they became a greatest hits act. Yes, they produced new material. But they had amassed a group of songs they were expected to play each night, songs audiences expected to hear—enough to fill up a setlist. Even

Autonomy: Portrait of a Buzzcock Steve Diggle Omnibus Press August 2024 The release of Spiral Scratch, Buzzcocks’ debut EP, on 29 January 1977 was a watershed event in British punk rock and independent music. Recorded and mixed in about five hours at Manchester’s Indigo Sound Studios, the four-song EP epitomized early punk’s do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit.

For those who followed Wild Pink frontman John Ross’ cancer diagnosis in 2021, questions circulated about what direction his music would take. His band’s subsequent album, ILYSM (standing for “I love you so much”), was primarily shaped by his precarious experience, but it was also not expected to be taken literally. Sure, the songwriting had some sentimentality,

Drummer Zach Barocas might be best known for his work with punk scene legends Jawbox, but even though he credits that scene with lifelong friendships, he has always gravitated toward other genres as a listener. He is currently leading a supergroup of indie rock royalty, including Jawbox bandmate J. Robbins, Mark Cisneros of Hammered Hulls,

To express his grief for his wife, Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. So great was his love for his late wife that he holed himself up for a week after her death and forsook frivolity, flamboyant dress, and music for two years. To this day, the

I vividly remember when Arcade Fire’s debut album, Funeral, came out 20 years ago. My college buddy was doing an internship at a Fortune 500 company, and his colleague just happened to be a former member of a seminal indie band. What are the odds? This individual regularly chatted with my friend about music, and

After a rapturous Democratic National Convention, the veep will spend the next two and a half months going deeper on policy, playing more ball with the media, and saturating the airwaves with ads. “This campaign,” says one surrogate, “is about stringing together as many good f–king days as we possibly can.” By Chris Smith August

Image Credit: Getty Images for The Met Museum/ Hailey Bieber and Justin Bieber are officially parents! Three months after announcing her pregnancy, Hailey, 27, gave birth to her and Justin’s first child together – a baby boy — which they confirmed via Instagram on Friday, August 23. Justin, 30, shared a photo of their baby’s

Eleven years after she shared a video that touted conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has issued an apology. In a lengthy statement shared to X early Friday morning, Rousey said she’s regretted the post “every day of my life.” In January 2013, about a month after

The film’s Oscar-winning star trained for more than six months to play the legend Maria Callas. Her director, Pablo Larraín, details that exhausting, terrifying prep—and how it led to the most personal movie of his career. By David Canfield August 23, 2024

Image Credit: CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Jack Kennedy Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy and the son of Caroline Kennedy, was not surprised by his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to endorse Donald Trump after suspending his campaign. “Never been less surprised in my life. Been saying it for over a

Fast food giant Chick-fil-A has ruffled feathers over new reports claiming the company is working to expand its chicken sandwich and waffle fry empire into the entertainment space. Chick-fil-A is apparently moving quickly to create its very own streaming platform with a slate of original and licensed content, Variety and Deadline reported Wednesday. The service

The vice president hit on themes of “freedom” and “common sense” while painting Donald Trump’s allies as “out of their minds” for following him into the darkness. “The future is always worth fighting for,” she said. “We are not going back.” By Eric Lutz August 23, 2024

Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images Former president, Donald Trump is under heightened protection due to an ongoing threat against his life. The 78-year-old politician is being targeted by Ronald Lee Syrvud, a 66-year-old man who is reportedly “being sought as an investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate,” according to the Cochise

Every once in a while, you meet a friend that you won’t soon forget. For Canadian country singer Shania Twain, that friend happens to be a Newfoundland local she met on tour 40 years ago. While performing at the Churchill Park Music Festival in St. John’s, N.L., over the weekend, Twain called her friend Gloria

Though the Uncommitted movement is lobbying to get a Palestinian American on the main stage, the Harris campaign has not yet approved one. Will there be a change before Thursday—and does the Democratic party want that? By Ta-Nehisi Coates August 21, 2024

Image Credit: Getty Images Lil Jon energized the Democratic National Convention with a performance that had the entire crowd on their feet. The 53-year-old brought his signature energy to support Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, performing some of his biggest hits, including “Turn Down For What” and “Get Low.” He kicked off his upbeat performance

More than two years after their secretive Las Vegas wedding, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have called it quits on their decades-long love story. Lopez filed for divorce on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to legal documents. TMZ was first to report news of the celebrity couple’s divorce. The outlet claimed Affleck and Lopez

“I’ll crack it around 6:30,” Pritzker said. The governor is set to give a big speech tonight at the convention, speaking on the same night as a guy who worked his way up through Chicago politics and seized the presidency, Barack Obama. Back in January, Chicago Magazine foresaw a scenario eerily similar to what’s to

View gallery Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were one of the most iconic celebrity couples. Nearly two decades after first making headlines and earning the nickname “Bennifer,” the have made it official by getting married in Las Vegas followed by a celebration at Ben’s Riceboro, Georgia estate with friends and family in August 2022. But their love didn’t

Descrease article font size Increase article font size As political discourse reaches an all-time high this fall, Slice brings audiences the most trusted voices in political satire with The Daily Show. Beginning Monday, September 9 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning late-night staple will continue to expand and build on its legacy

In his fiery speech Monday, the president delivered a swan song, touting his historic record while passing the torch to his vice president. “Democracy has prevailed,” he said, “and now democracy must be preserved.” By Jon Skolnik and Katie Herchenroeder August 20, 2024