Los Buckalos Music 1 Year Anniversary Newsletter (2025-26)

Table of Contents:

1) Introduction

2) New Release

3) Gigs/Live

4) Recordings

5) Personal Info/Updates

6) Support Links/Contact

Introduction

With summertime right around the corner again, one whole year has already passed since the launch of Los Buckalos Music! We’ve certainly had a big year, full of musical excitement and productivity; an assortment of live performances and home recording projects, with plenty more on the horizon! Across this newsletter, we will be both looking back over the last year and looking forward to the future…

New Release

Matthew Buckley & Carly Davis

American Songs EP

Catalog #: LSBM001

Release Date: June 12, 2026

“Pretend Parade”
“(I’ve Got) The B.S. Blues”
“The Ole Party Formerly Known as Grand”
“Ringmaster’s Waltz”
“Goodnight, Joe”
“The Teflon Donald”

EP ORDER LINK: https://losbuckalosmusic.bandcamp.com/album/american-songs

Track-By-Track notes from the songwriters…

“Pretend Parade” (Matthew Buckley)

It is time to get in line for the parade! This song was written back in 2019 as a dedicated effort in social commentary, calling out “both sides” and maybe even the perceptive, receptive listener… The goal with this song was to keep it musically tight as possible and give it PUNCH. To that end, this song features the first guitar riff I have ever arranged for one of my own songs (and appropriately repurposed into the EP’s ending track)!

“(I’ve Got) The B.S. Blues” (Matthew Buckley)

This song is the oldest of all six on the EP, first drafted during the early months of 2016 (though it received some lyrical revisions in early 2020, originally name-checking former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan). In spite of the title’s connotations as a blues, the squealing harmonica is more reminiscent of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers than Sonny Boy Williamson; the powerful circle of assorted hand drums and varied vocals serves to invoke the setting of an outdoor rally/protest. Feel the Bern!

“The Ole Party Formerly Known as Grand” (Matthew Buckley)

The newest song included in the collection, written during the summer of 2024; inspired by outrage with the painfully delusional behavior of many conservatives and right-wingers in the years following the 2020 election. Perhaps the most ambitious song on the EP, musically speaking — certainly the most ambitious (busiest) bass playing I have arranged yet! Initial percussion arrangements by Party Marty form the backbone of a fun and lively instrumental track, fleshed out by further hand percussion from Teague Tiffany and toy piano overdubs from yours truly.

“Ringmaster’s Waltz” (Carly Davis)

This track was originally written as a poem after the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, working as a journalist and witnessing, firsthand, the GOP’s nomination of Donald Trump as the party’s candidate for the 2024 general election. The poem was subsequently printed in The Janesville Gazette; the song reflects on my upbringing in proximity to conservative values.

“Goodnight, Joe” (Matthew Buckley)

Another one of the newer songs written during the summer of 2024, this song was inspired by and written immediately following Joe Biden’s resignation from his 2024 presidential campaign. Layered feelings manifested as this satirical, yet genuine lullaby to former President Biden. Colored by shimmering glockenspiel, the highlight of this musically intimate track is a stupendous clarinet solo by Carly Davis (aurally illuminated by Justin Sundlin’s superb production techniques).

“The Teflon Donald” (Matthew Buckley)

And the party’s over, indeed. This song was initially written over a period of weeks in late 2016/early 2017, but recently received some lyrical revisions in late 2024 (completing a long-unfinished verse). With the swagger of a lead single, this song lays our feelings and attitudes down on the table, plain for all to see. Something of an anthemic mission statement, what more is there to say? Nothing sticks to our clown-in-chief… Maybe this guitar riff will (Compare and contrast to the “Pretend Parade” guitar riff)!

Gigs/Live

Upcoming Gig Schedule

06/12/2026 – Matthew Buckley Birthday Bash 2026 / American Songs EP Release Party @ Robot Fighter Records, Janesville, WI (1PM)

– Annual festivities hosted by Matthew Buckley to celebrate his birthday with food & drink, live music, and party games. The 2026 Birthday Bash will see the addition of a standup comedy performance to the program, and will also double as the release party for the American Songs EP. Opening performances by Simple (acoustic singer/songwriter), Jack Spangler (instrumental solo guitarist) and Melvar Key (stand-up comic).

06/19/2026 – Matthew Buckley @ The Ground Floor Stage, Summerfest 2026, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, WI (1:30PM)

– A return engagement from Summerfest 2025 at The Ground Floor Stage on the second day of the first weekend of the festival!

06/21/2026 – Make Music Beloit: Matthew Buckley @ truk’t, Beloit, WI (12PM)

– Matthew Buckley makes his Beloit, WI stage debut during lunch hour at truk’t – street tacos, tequila and whiskey as part of international Make Music Day!

06/21/2026 – Make Music Beloit: Matthew Buckley @ Downtown Den Tavern & Pizza, Beloit, WI (5:30PM)

– A second performance for Make Music Beloit at Downtown Den Tavern & Pizza during early evening dinner hour!

06/25/2026 – Matthew Buckley @ Tiki Hut Stage, Summerfest 2026, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, WI (2:50PM)

– Making another appearance at Summerfest 2026 on the first day of the second weekend of the festival at The Tiki Hut Stage!

08/08/2026 – Jerryvision: Matthew Buckley @ Delavan Lake Store & Lounge, Delavan, WI (7PM)

– Celebrating the life, legacy and music of Jerry Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) with an evening of Grateful Dead and solo Garcia songs.

10/17/2026 – Spookyvision: Matthew Buckley @ Delavan Lake Store & Lounge, Delavan, WI (7PM)

– A “spooky season” special, complete with themed costumery, decorations and song selection!

12/12/2026 – Live Music: Matthew Buckley @ Delavan Lake Store & Lounge, Delavan, WI (7PM)

Recent Notable Gigs

08/23/2025 – Zac Allen Graduation Party, Marvin Roth Community Pavilion, Courthouse Park, Janesville, WI

– An informal gathering featuring performances from four area musicians (Matthew Buckley, Goose McClusky, Simple, and Justin Sundlin) to celebrate Zac Allen’s graduation from UW-Whitewater.

07/04/2025 – Matthew Buckley @ The Ground Floor Stage, Summerfest 2025, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, WI

– Matthew Buckley’s Milwaukee, WI stage debut at Summerfest 2025 (a first-ever as a performer at any music festival).

06/13/2025 – Matthew Buckley Birthday Bash 2025 @ Robot Fighter Records, Janesville, WI

– The first public event held under the Los Buckalos Music banner, a birthday celebration with food & drink, live music from Matthew Buckley, Simple, and Jack Spangler, as well as party games. Buckley’s set concluded with the live debut of the songs from the as-yet-unreleased American Songs EP featuring special guest Carly Davis.

Recording Projects

Recording the American Songs EP

Recording basic tracks: The project began late in the afternoon on Inauguration Day 2025. Initially planning to record quickly as a duo, Buckley & Davis were joined by friends Teague Tiffany & Amber Parker for a casual recording session. By the end of the day, basic tracks had been laid down for all six songs, and multitrack recording had begun for two (“The Ole Party Formerly Known as Grand” and “Goodnight, Joe”).

Recording overdubs: Further recording commenced the very next day, tracking acoustic guitar and lead vocals for another three songs (“Pretend Parade,” “(I’ve Got) The B.S. Blues” and “Ringmaster’s Waltz”). After commencing multitrack recording for all six songs, the end of January and most of February was spent overdubbing background vocal, bass guitar, bongos, claves, electric guitar, handclaps, shaker, tambourine, and toy piano tracks. During the first week of March, progress came to a screeching halt due to poor health/illness. Most of the month therefore focused on recovery and preparation for pre-made travel plans at the month’s end. Work resumed quickly after returning home, with harmonica overdubs being tracked during the first week of April.

Looking for percussion: One of the biggest hurdles during the project’s recording was securing a reliable percussionist who could be ready for rehearsal and recording on call. Though lucky enough to have Tiffany present on bongos during initial basic tracking sessions, scheduling his participation for overdubs/multitrack recording proved to be significantly more difficult. In early April, Buckley reached out to area musician Party Marty for assistance, yielding overdubbed cajon and conga tracks. The following month however, Tiffany would once again become more actively involved in recording.

Recording more overdubs / preparing rough mixes: Through mid-May into early June, Buckley would record Tiffany for all new bongo tracks, replacing all previously recorded bongos. Followed by further overdubs on djembe, shaker, and triangle, recording sessions were deemed complete in early June. Buckley self-produced rough mixes during the second week of June, but concluded that the project demanded a more experienced ear and more professional touch.

Looking for a producer/engineer: With all tracks recorded and rough mixes prepared, the next task became finding a producer/mix engineer. Most of the summer was underscored by attempts at networking and reaching out to friends, colleagues and acquaintances that might have been someone or might have known someone who could fill the role. After weeks of dead-ends, in mid-July, Buckley reached out to fellow Janesville musician Justin Sundlin. While Sundlin was unavailable at the time, terms were discussed and a deal was struck.

Co-Producing: Sundlin began work on mixing/mastering in late October 2025, taking notes from Buckley who would review Sundlin’s mixes, and give him further notes for adjustments until achieving a final mix the two could agree upon. Stretching across the holiday season, mixing was completed by Sundlin and approved by Buckley on Valentine’s Day 2026.

???: Four months of simply mad preparation! Waiting, saving and spending money, designing and redesigning graphics, writing and rewriting essays and notes, making edit after edit after edit, placing merchandise orders, planning events, promoting EVERYTHING…

PROFIT!!!: The pre-order for the American Songs EP went live the morning of Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The rollout for the CD features merchandise including T-Shirts, can koozies, stickers, buttons, and full-color posters. Plus the first 25 orders include a limited edition handmade red/white/blue patch (handmade with love by Carly Davis!). And as if that weren’t enough, as further promotional materials are prepared, further merchandise shall be offered for sale!

“Pretend Parade” & “The Teflon Donald” promotional videos

No musical project is complete in the modern era without some sort of visual component to help hold the attention of a prospective audience. To that end, with the onset of spring 2026, preparation began for filming of promotional videos for two of the EP tracks. Extensive work was done collecting and collating appropriate creative commons/fair use footage and after weeks of set design, shooting will soon commence at home for reenactments of basement studio recording. This footage will be edited together with video captured in the streets of downtown Janesville for a blend of indoor “recording” footage, outdoor “performance” footage, and corresponding fair use footage. Promotional videos projected to premier in late 2026.

Simple – “Tycoon Buffoon”

During December 2025, Delavan-Darien area musician Simple reached out Buckley about beginning a recording project under his supervision. The initial demo session yielded recordings of three songs, “Tycoon Buffoon” (dating back to 2015), “Revelation 1” and “Mime Games.” At Simple’s request, Buckley penned new lyrics for an additional verse in “Tycoon Buffoon,” technically making it Buckley’s first legitimate songwriting collaboration. In January, the pair would record basic guitar and vocal tracks for “Tycoon Buffoon” and Buckley would begin arranging/recording further instrumental/vocal tracks for the song. These sessions have been on hold pending Simple’s continued involvement.

Garrate Hoalte demos

During spring 2026, Janesville guitarist Garrate Hoalte approached Buckley about songwriting collaboration. A pair of demo sessions yielded two pieces of music: a guitar/vocal track written by Hoalte, and a guitar duo instrumental composed in collaboration. Further rehearsals/recording in April yielded a third piece of music by Hoalte with bass arrangements by Buckley. Unfortunately, having consumed some amount of alcohol during the initial demo recording session, Buckley damaged his Vesta-Fire cassette multitracker due to careless operation. Therefore these sessions too have been placed on hold pending acquisition of new recording equipment.

Personal Info/Updates

Recently Attended Concerts

2/22/2026 – The Knee Hi’s + Ione + Ellie Jackson @ Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., Milwaukee, WI

– An evening of independent, women-led acts fronted by Chicago DIY garage/rock outfit The Knee-Hi’s and featuring fellow Chicago indie rock singer/songwriter Ione, and Milwaukee, WI singer/songwriter Ellie Jackson. Not only our first experience at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., but also a show for our (fourth!) anniversary! Jackson made use of her platform between songs to speak out against government overreach and the human rights violations of the current presidential administration. While neither of the other performers were as explicitly political in their stage banter, there was an undeniable sisterhood and solidarity on stage all night. The Knee Hi’s maintain a bubbly irreverence in performance and curate an aesthetic that is equal parts retro rock ‘n’ roller and riot grrrl. After the show, Devyn and Jamie of The Knee Hi’s were happy to autograph a vinyl copy of their album Razzle Dazzle (unfortunately, Alice had already left the building).

4/10/2026 – Snail Mail @ Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

– Our third time seeing east-coast guitarist/singer/songwriter Lindsey Jordan’s indie rock band Snail Mail together (Davis has seen Snail Mail once without Buckley’s company). This show was the first night of the tour promoting the group’s newest album ‘Ricochet’ (released the previous month) so energy and morale were clearly high between the band members. Performing in support of Snail Mail as the opening act was a young Chicago group called Sharp Pins. The group’ songs featured Beatle-esque harmonies (harmony vocals from the drummer, to boot!) and McCartney-inspired bass grooves, but with a much sharper edge to the playing. During Snail Mail’s set, Jordan introduced “Reverie” as “[her] favorite Snail Mail song.”

4/12/2026 – James Lee Stanley @ Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson, WI

– An intimate acoustic performance at the idiosyncratic Cafe Carpe (venue capacity: 65) from the nearly eighty-year-old Philadelphia, PA native. Two mini-sets: first solo acoustic, then joined on electric bass guitar for the second set. Self-described as a “freelance human being,” Stanley delivered a spirited performance and made charming, charismatic between-song raps ranging in subject from recollections of dearly departed friends to political rantings. Stanley was also happy to chat and share a photo after the show.

4/20/2026 – Jorma Kaukonen with John Hurlbut @ Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI

– A low-key acoustic performance at the historic Stoughton Opera House (capacity 475) by the legendary San Francisco guitarist, best known as a founding member of the 1960s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, along with Ohio singer-songwriter John Hurlbut. Buckley had seen Kaukonen seven years prior with his blues combo Hot Tuna (featuring fellow former Airplane bass guitarist Jack Casady) during their 2019 fiftieth anniversary tour at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI. The shows of this thirteen-date April tour were broken into two sections: first a solo acoustic set by Kaukonen, followed by a duo performance with Hurlbut on acoustic rhythm guitar and vocal accompanied by Kaukonen on lead acoustic guitar. The setlist featured classic Jefferson Airplane hits, traditional blues numbers, original tunes, and a selection of cover songs (including Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me”). After the show, Hurlbut was happy to speak and sign autographs by the merch table; even taking our CD of their collaborative album One More Lifetime and LP copy of Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane backstage for Kaukonen to autograph.

4/23/2026 – Jay Electronica: The Nineteen Day Reconnaissance Tour @ Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI

– A hip-hop hullabaloo featuring a total of four deejays and six emcees. Minneapolis turntablist Mr. Peter Parker kicked off the evening with a deejay set that sampled and mixed an assortment of classic hip-hop cuts, followed by three local Madison rappers: Fred Really, Soup the Fifth the Master Plan, and Still Cameron. Personalities balanced well between the trio on stage, with flashes of fierce braggadocio, cranked up bombast, and feelgood romping. Minneapolis rapper Muja took to the stage next, smoothly delivering a self-assured set dripping with swagger. Next to perform was Landon Wordswell from the St. Louis area, a charismatic, conscious rapper (supported by local deejay DTL JAMS) who spent a sizeable portion of his set among the audience in the general admission pit, at one point even using a folding chair as a “soap box” prop during one of his songs. Rounding out the opening performances was Termanology (from Lawrence, MA), supported by DJ Deadeye and featuring Springfield, MA rapper Fabeyon. Jay Electronica began his headlining set (with support from DJ Kelly Green) shortly before midnight, spending nearly his entire set among the audience in the general admission pit and performing most of his songs acapella. Clearly in high spirits, Electronica wore a sparkling smile and spread joviality among the devotees in the theatre; hand clasps and fist-bumps were shared freely and frequently. In spite of the high level of hype in the half-filled room, Jay disappeared as houselights put an end to the show which had already run past the city curfew.

5/2/2026 – Ancient Futures Fest 4 @ The Bur Oak, Madison, WI

– Organized and hosted by Jason Hartman of Madison, WI-based heavy psych rock/stoner metal band Vanishing Kids, an evening of music featuring performances from Gildir (solo keyboard with backing track), Mind Ox (hard rock four-piece), Flying Fuzz (Madison, WI metal four-piece), Vanishing Kids and Cardinals Folly (Helsinki, Finland doom metal three-piece). Gildir cultivated a cosmic and ethereal atmosphere; Mind Ox brought a healthy touch of irreverence to the stage (and their guitarist chatted with us outside the entire time Flying Fuzz played). Vanishing Kids put on the dreamy, fuzzed-out spectacle that brought us in the first place. Musical spellcasting and incantations from keyboardist/vocalist Nikki Drohomyreky; firey, psychedelic guitarwork from Jason Hartman; confident/charismatic swaggering from bassist Jerry Sofran; heavy-hitting dynamo drums from Nick Johnson (lead vocalist of Mind Ox)!

5/7/2026 – 5/9/2026 – Kindercore Expo 2026: 30 Years of Kindercore, 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

– A three-day festival celebrating the thirtieth anniversary Kindercore Records, held at the historic 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. Co-Founded by multi-instrumentalists Dan Geller and Ryan Lewis, Kindercore established itself in the early/mid nineties with indie rock/twee-pop releases often associated with the Elephant 6 Recording Co.
The first evening of the festival included gothic rock three-piece Viv + The Things, The Tammy Shine (solo project of Dressy Bressy frontwoman Tammy Ealom), indie rock four-piece Honeypuppy (led by mousey dynamo singer/songwriter Josie Callahan), dreamy rock five-piece Chimes (including Lewis’ wife Noelle Shuck on guitar/vocals), post-punk four-piece Go Public (recent signees with Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records), cosmic country/western four-piece The Pink Stones (our new favorite country band), expanded psychedelic ensemble Dog Person (a group that is surely a successor of the Elephant 6 aesthetic), instrumental electronica-influenced psychedelic jazz combo Japancakes, family band Grape Soda (Masha Lewis on keyboards/vocals, Ryan Lewis on drums, and Noelle Shuck on keyboards/vocals), and interstellar extravaganza Man or Astro-Man? to close out the evening.
The second night of the festival featured modern indie rock trio Critter Fritter, Kindercore veterans kincaid. (including Lewis on drums/vocals and Geller on guitar/vocals), free-form jazz from the John Kiran Fernandes / Arianna Petersen / Franklin Russell Trio, rough-around-the-edges indie rockers Joe Christmas, jazzy space-funk specialists Organically Programmed (led by keyboardist/vocalist Oliver Domingo and featuring John Kiran Fernandes on clarinet), synth-pop dance partygoers I am the World Trade Center (led by Dan Geller), multimedia bass/keyboard duo Sleepybeef, Denver, CO-based quartet Dressy Bessy, indie rock three piece The Dry Runs (including guitarist/vocalist Greg Harmelink and bass guitarist Patrick Valentine of kincaid.), and Elephant 6 icons Elf Power.
The third and final evening of the festival highlighted more heavy/hard rocking groups, such as classic punk/rock quartet Noise Mountain, irreverent indie rockers Gentleman Jesse, rapper Black Nerd Ninja, heavy psych rockers Vincas, hardcore punk/rock band Big Trouble (featuring guest vocalist Scott Kay, guitarist of Vincas), Hard rock/punk trio SHEHEHE (featuring Noelle Shuck on guitar/vocals), Nirvana cover band Molly’s Lips (featuring Ryan Lewis on guitar and Shuck on lead vocals), psychedelic doom/stoner metal band Insomniac, mod garage/punk band The Agenda! (featuring Geller on keyboards/vocals, Masha Lewis on drums and Ryan Lewis on guitar/vocals), and heavy psychedelic space rock band MASERATI.

5/11/2026 – Melody’s Echo Chamber @ Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL

– The second stop of a twelve-date US tour from psychedelic chanteuse Melody Prochet with her band Melody’s Echo Chamber — the group’s first US shows in nearly three full years — featuring support from Austin, TX psych rockers Strange Lot, who channeled the cool aesthetic of The Velvet Underground in their stage presence and performance. Prochet’s band included Reine Fiske of Swedish psych rock band Dungen on guitar/background vocals. While focusing on material from Unclouded, the newest Melody’s Echo Chamber album, the set featured songs from all of their previous releases (the rendition of “Crystallized” ended with an extended jam that segued directly into “Snowcapped Andes Crash”) as well as a song originally released as a digital-exclusive collaboration with New York psychedelic four-piece Crumb. Prochet made an appearance at the merch table after the show, and was gracious enough to chat, sign autographs and take pictures.

5/29/2026 – Stravinsky’s Firebird – Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra @ Bradley Symphony Center, Milwaukee, WI

– An evening of mostly modern classical music from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jader Bignamini, music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Though the event was billed as “Stravinsky’s Firebird,” the program opened with a violin concerto by classical/jazz crossover musician Wynton Marsalis, and also included a piece by Stravinsky’s mentor Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Marsalis’s “Violin Concerto in D” fused elements of not only jazz stylings, but also rhythm & blues swing with the classical form. Stretching upwards of forty minutes through five movements, the violin concerto comprised the entire first half of the program, and featured violin from special guest performer Giuseppe Gibboni, who also performed a short, but stunning violin solo piece prior to the intermission. The second musical portion of the evening began with a spirited, percussive performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio espagnol” from the 60+ piece orchestra. “Suite from The Firebird” (1919) was an appropriately epic showcase for the iconic composition. The “Infernal Dance” movement was genuinely breathtaking to see, and the “Finale” was a soul-stirring tear-jerker. From the wonder of seeing all the moving parts of the orchestra working in unison, to the sheer power of the sound in the room, to the emotional responses elicited, this concert was an all-timer.

5/31/2026 – Celebration of Life / Benefit for Darrell “Lefty” Broten @ Roxtar Bar, Janesville, WI

– An all-day memorial for Janesville musician Darrell Broten, known as guitarist/vocalist of rhythm & blues/rockabilly three-piece Gas Can Alley. Beloved for their frequent performances in downtown Janesville, Gas Can Alley were staples of the Janesville, WI music scene; Broten passed away in February 2026 after a struggle with brain cancer. Listed performers included The Andy Ellefson Trio, Damaged Goods, Party Marty & The Dirtbags, Rough Riders, Adrienne Goebel, Planet Roxx, Mark Archambault, The Wild Flamepoints, Scott Thomas, Slick and the Burnouts, Jack Bouzianne & Dale Robbins, as well as the surviving members of Gas Can Alley. Scheduled from 12PM through the evening and into the night, we elected to attend early so we could use the afternoon and evening for errands, so were only able to see Slick and the Burnouts.

6/3/2026 – Claypool Gold @ The Salt Shed Outdoors (Fairgrounds), Chicago, IL

– An exceptionally loaded evening of music led by iconic bass player/singer-songwriter Les Claypool. Featuring performances from three bands that each include Les Claypool: Primus, Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade, and The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Unfortunately, due to Chicago traffic, Buckley’s caravan was late to the show and missed the entire Frog Brigade set, and maybe half of the Claypool Lennon Delirium set, which closed with an explosive cover of “Astronomy Domine” by Pink Floyd. The Primus set was predictably a madhouse of ecstasy, and all members of each ensemble returned to the stage for an appropriately epic encore performance (during which Claypool himself wore a reflective mirror-ball helmet).

Media: Music/Movies

Music

(2/13) The Beach Boys…We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studios Years

– A long-awaited and hotly-desired archival boxed set documenting the mid-seventies recordings of The Beach Boys. Collected across the 3CD/3LP set are the 1977 studio album ‘The Beach Boys Love You‘ alongside corresponding outtakes, as well as the majority of the unreleased follow-up album Adult/Child (three songs are excluded from this release) coupled with select outtakes recorded from 1974-77, plus outtakes and alternate mixes from the group’s 1976 album 15 Big Ones, concluding with Brian Wilson’s original demos for the Love You project recorded direct to cassette prior to the album sessions. As a die-hard Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fan, there is plenty to love about this set. Gripes are generally minor (including the original mix of The Beach Boys Love You in lieu of a remix, abridged Adult/Child album, including only a partial remix of 15 Big Ones as opposed to a complete remix) and to these ears, the modern mixes sit comfortably beside included vintage mixes. Track highlights include “Marilyn Rovell” (Outtake), “Sherry She Needs Me” (Outtake), “Holy Man” (2025 Mix – Carl Wilson Vocal), “String Bass Song (Rainbows)” (2025 Mix), “Honeycomb” (Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford Vocal), “Just Once in My Life” (2025 Mix), “Chapel of Love” (2025 Mix), “TM Song” (2025 Backing Track Mix), “Had to Phone Ya” (2025 Deconstructed Mix), “Mona” (2025 Deconstructed Mix), “The Night Was So Young” (2025 Vocals Only Mix). Every one of the Adult/Child tracks is a highlight (especially “Everybody Wants to Live”) and the same can be said of the Brian Wilson Love You cassette demos (especially “I’ll Bet He’s Nice,” during which the listener can actually hear Mike Love reacting to the song with unyielding enthusiasm). Produced by James Sáez and Howie Edelson. Released via Brother Records/Capitol Records/UMe. 5/5 stars.

(2/13) Sloan Brothers…Love and Other Diagnoses

– The second studio album from Athens, GA recordist-turned-singer/songwriter R. Sloan Simpson, a concept album with a firmly-rooted theme that Simpson explores while straddling the line between playfulness and truthfulness. Dynamic arrangements, bright sounds, upbeat energy, fun rocking. The lyrics are often loaded with an abundance of classic rock references and meta notions about songs themselves. Creative and quirky as they may be, the lyrics are often immediately relatable. Sloan is credited with acoustic and electric guitars, handclaps, orchestration, piano, synthesizer, and vocals across the album. The guitar on “Kiss Bliss” is simply sizzling. Personal track highlights include “Everything Must Go”, “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend”, “IYKYK”, “Emily”, “Out of Town Girl”, and “The Same Same”. Produced by R. Sloan Simpson. Released via Science Project Records. 4/5 stars.

(2/20) The Tammy Shine…Ok Shine Ok

– The debut solo studio album from Tammy Ealom, songwriter and lead singer for Denver, CO indie rock band Dressy Bessy. Entirely self-recorded/produced, Ealom plays all instruments and sings all vocals on the record in addition to composing/arranging the songs and handling all photography, design and layout for the album packaging. These tracks all Tammy’s trademark charming rock ‘n’ roll bravado that colors her band’s catalog, but there are surprising musical diversions and excursions that Dressy Bessy would never take. Personal track highlights include “Junk Mail”, “Love Letter”, “Blue Jay”, “Prizefight”, and “Tic Tac”. Produced by Tammy Ealom. Released via Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records. 5/5 stars.

(2/27) Mitski…Nothing’s About to Happen to Me

– The eighth full-length studio album from New York-based indie singer/songwriter Mitsuki Miyawaki. Following her 2023 LP The Land is Inhospitable and So are We, this record does well to balance Mitski’s more dynamic art pop tendencies with her softer and more musically intimate sensibilities. Fuzzed-Out guitar work is present on tracks like “Where’s My Phone?” and “Lightning”, but by and large, the album maintains a slower and more mellow, if not necessarily laid-back vibe, though “That White Cat” in particular gives impressions of an electrified tribal stomp. With a reputation for songwriting that is often more melancholic than not, a surprisingly jovial sound is cultivated in “Rules” through use of horns/woodwinds. Personal track highlights include “Cats”, “I’ll Change for You”, “Rules”, and “Lightning”. Produced by Patrick Hyland. Released via Dead Oceans. 4/5 stars.

(3/20) Tedeschi Trucks Band…Future Soul

– The sixth full-length studio album from Jacksonville, FL-based ensemble. Following their ambitious and expansive quadruple album I am the Moon, released in 2022, Future Soul finds the Tedeschi Trucks Band carving singalong anthems out of feelgood jams. Susan Tedeschi’s vocals are as powerful and soul-shaking as ever. There are fewer extended instrumental guitar workouts than their previous outing, with no tracks exceeding five minutes in length. While there is an abundance of the classic swamp rock sound the band has cultivated over the years, there is a distinctly harder rocking edge present on tracks such as “Hero”; the title track has an incredibly enormous guitar sound. Mike Mattison takes a gravelly lead vocal on the delightfully funky “Under the Knife”. Personal track highlights include “I Got You”, “Who am I”, “Under the Knife”, “Shout Out”, and “Ride On”. Produced by Mike Elizondo and Derek Trucks. Released via Swamp Family Music/Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group. 4/5 stars.

(3/20) Frank Zappa / Captain Beefheart / The Mothers…Bongo Fury 50th Anniversary

– Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Bongo Fury album by idiosyncratic California musicians Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart (a year late, during the fifty-first anniversary of the 1975 album) with vinyl (expanded 2LP and limited color variants) and deluxe CD boxed set reissues. The Bongo Fury box includes the original album along with a selection of outtakes and extended edits of a pair of tracks that had to be shortened for the time constraints of the original vinyl release. Four of the five discs in the set cover both of the complete performances at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, TX on May 20 & 21, 1975 from which the majority of the original album was edited. Also included is a Blu-ray disc featuring a Dolby Atmos remix of the album alongside a bonus live excerpt and 1993 six-channel remixes of two tracks. Personal highlights include previously unreleased compositions (“Born to Suck” (Outtake) and “The Velvet Sunrise” (Live)) and live jams (“Pound for a Brown – Part II” and “Willie the Pimp”). Produced by Joe Travers. Released via Zappa Records/UMe. 5/5 stars.

(3/27) Snail Mail…Ricochet

– The third full-length studio album by east-coast guitarist/singer/songwriter Lindsey Jordan’s indie rock band Snail Mail. Following nearly five years after 2021’s Valentine, there is a superb balance of breezy pop charm and hard-rocking emotional bursts. In addition to guitar/vocal duties, Jordan is also credited with mellotron and piano on two tracks and collaboration with Rohan Chander on string arrangements across the entire album (most evocative arrangements to be found on “Light On Our Feet”, “Cruise”, and the title track). Personal track highlights include “Tractor Beam”, “Light On Our Feet”, “Nowhere”, “Ricochet”, and “Reverie”. Produced by Aron Kobayashi Ritch. Released via Matador Records. 4/5 stars.

(4/10) Ween…Brown Box

– A long overdue career-spanning boxed set of the recorded studio output of Pennsylvania alternative rock band Ween, collecting ten albums released between 1990 and 2007. With the majority of their catalog out-of-print (and some titles, such as The Mollusk reselling for upwards of $60 alone), a definitive collection of studio albums for a reasonable price is a home-run release. Complaints: a lack of significant liner notes or booklet of any kind, and some blurred/cropped/saturated album artworks. Original recordings produced by Andrew Weiss / Ween / Ben Vaughn / Christopher Shaw. Released by Elektra / Twin/Tone / Shimmy Disc / Sanctuary / Chocodog / Rounder/Schnitzel. Reissue released via Rhino Records. 4/5 stars.

(4/11) Night Eyez…Perfect Cemetery

– The second full-length studio album from Madison, WI area musician Jason Hartman’s hard rock/psych/electronica solo project, following just over four years after a self-titled debut album. Best known for playing guitar with heavy psych/stoner metal band Vanishing Kids, Hartman has side projects that lean into thrash metal (Old Spirit), classic metal (Diati), and electronica/heavy psych (Night Eyez). After an atmospheric introductory track, the album is packed with dynamic drum programming and stirring guitar work. Across the album, tracks will begin with a deep trance groove, soon joined by incendiary guitar work which builds to a soul-shaking intensity. Parts of this album are distinctly reminiscent of some of guitarist Buckethead’s more compelling work. Personal track highlights include “Deep Grave” and “House House”. Produced by Jason Hartman. Released via Bright as Night Records. 4/5 stars.

(4/18) RECORD STORE DAY 2026 TITLES:

-Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band / Lick My Decals Off Baby (Deluxe Edition)

– Deluxe 2LP reissue of Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band’s 1970 album, expanded to include a bonus LP of previously unreleased instrumental and alternate versions. A high quality, dynamic cut of an excellent and challenging record. Original album produced by Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart) and released via Bizarre/Straight Records / Reprise Records. Reissue produced by Jason Jones and released via Rhino Records. 4/5 stars.

-Mama Cass / Dream a Little Dream (Expanded Edition)

– Colored vinyl reissue of “Mama” Cass Elliot’s 1968 debut solo LP including two rare outtake tracks; the first domestic vinyl reissue of the album since 1974. Another high quality, dynamic cut of an excellent and stylistically diverse record. Original album produced by John Simon and released via ABC/Dunhill Records. Reissue released via Geffen Records. 4/5 stars.

-Brian Wilson / Imagination

– The first-ever vinyl release of Brian Wilson’s 1998 comeback album. Another high quality, dynamic cut of an excellent and uplifting record. Original album co-produced by Joe Thomas and Brian Wilson and released via Giant Records. Reissue released via Rhino Records. 4/5 stars.

-Brian Wilson / On Tour 1999-2007

– A newly produced posthumous album from the archives of Brian Wilson’s solo touring years. The second release to his name since Wilson’s death last summer, the set collects fourteen tracks recorded across nine performances in the US and UK. It is worth noting that none of the selections include Beach Boy hits, or even solo Brian Wilson hits for that matter. Instead, most tracks qualify as deep cuts, a couple in particular having never appeared on a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson album. Personal track highlights include “This Could Be the Night” (Chicago, IL 3/10/1999), “The Night Was So Young” (UCLA Royce Hall, Los Angeles, CA 10/6/2002), “Busy Doin’ Nothin’” (UCLA Royce Hall, Los Angeles, CA 10/6/2002), “Forever” (Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY 10/12/2004), “Meant for You”/”Friends” (UCLA Royce Hall, Los Angeles, CA 10/6/2002), “She’s Leaving Home” (Royal Festival Hall, London, UK 9/14/2007). Produced by Mark Linett. Released via Oglio Records. 5/5 stars.

(4/20) Blu & Exile…Time Heals Everything

– The fifth full-length album from Los Angeles, CA-based hip-hop duo Blu & Exile, given a rare Monday digital release followed by physical format pre-order launch the following Friday. There is a remarkable consistency in aesthetic and attitude between this and the pair’s previous outing, 2024’s Love (the) Ominous World. Across both records, Blu sounds serious without affecting solemnity. Personal track highlights include “Soul Unusual”, “Lazy Afternoon” (feat. Ahmad Anwar), “In My Window” (feat. Tobi), and “Time Heals Everything” (feat. Saba, Voices of Creation). Produced by Aleksander Manfredi (aka Exile). Released via Dirty Science Records. 5/5 stars.

(4/24) Friko…Something Worth Waiting For

– The second full-length studio album from Chicago, IL four-piece Friko, promoted with a small tour of independent record stores in the Midwest. Following only two years after their debut album Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here, this sophomore record is not only admirably ambitious, but also impressively executed. Dynamic arrangements for compelling compositions with fiery instrumentation and spellbinding vocals. An album loaded with songs that can swiftly and successfully shift between sublime delicacy and cathartic thrashing. After all the album’s twists and turns, there is something surreal and surprising about the way it all seems to fade away into the ether as “Dear Bicycle” drifts to its quiet conclusion. Personal track highlights include “Choo Choo”, “Hot Air Balloon”, “Seven Degrees”, and “Something Worth Waiting For”. Produced by John Congleton. Released via ATO Records. 4/5 stars.

(4/24) Ringo Starr…Long Long Road

– The twenty-second full-length solo studio album from British music legend Ringo Starr. Following just over a year after his previous album Look Up, both albums find Starr cultivating a modern country/western sound with guitarist/producer/songwriter T Bone Burnett and a slew of guest musicians including Sheryl Crow, Sarah Jarosz, St. Vincent, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle. We confess to not actually having gotten around to listening to this one yet, so no highlights and no rating. Produced by T Bone Burnett. Released via UMe.

(5/1) The Claypool Lennon Delirium…The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy

– The third full-length collaborative studio album from iconic bass guitarist Les Claypool and multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Sean Ono Lennon. Coming a full seven years after their previous release, 2019’s South of Reality, the new album clocks in as the duo’s longest album, boasting a runtime that stretches over an hour. After a short, atmospheric introductory track, the album launches into the lead single, and rarely loses steam for more than a few moments. Les Claypool brings a mad circus whimsy and blunt force trauma to Lennon’s contemplative, ethereal songs, and Lennon is the caliber of artist that can challenge Claypool to reach even higher heights. Presented as a concept album, both CD and vinyl editions of The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy include a twenty-four page comic book illustrated by Rich Ragsdale (who has also directed promotional videos for Claypool and Lennon in the past). While each track on the album is a collaborative composition between Claypool and Lennon, they each also distinctly lean towards the musical stylings and tendencies of one or the other, and the final track stretches to more than twice the length of any of the other songs, featuring psychedelic spoken-word passages and a short suite of musical movements. Personal track highlights include “WAP (What a Predicament)”, “Meat Machines”, “Heart of Chrome”, “Cliptron Scuttle”, and “Melody of Entropy”. Produced by Les Claypool and Sean Ono Lennon. Released via ATO Records. 4/5 stars.

(5/29) Paul McCartney…The Boys of Dungeon Lane

– The twentieth full-length solo studio album by legend-in-his-own-time Paul McCartney. Following nearly six years after his self-described “rockdown” album, 2020’s McCartney III, recording for The Boys of Dungeon Lane stretches back across four years from 2021-25. A surprisingly ambitious and diverse release, five of the fourteen tracks we written in collaboration between McCartney and album co-producer Andrew Watt (including the Ringo Starr duet “Home to Us”). Personal track highlights include “Mountain Top”, “Never Know”, “Home to Us”, “Life Can Be Hard”, and “First Star of the Night”. Produced by Paul McCartney and Andrew Watt. Released via Capitol Records. 3/5 stars.

Movies

(5/3) Power to the People: John & Yoko Live in NYC

– A newly restored presentation of the historic One-to-One concerts by John Lennon & Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY on August 30, 1972. Performed less than two months after the release of the couple’s then-recent double album Some Time in New York City, which included songs with lyrics that focused on a number of contentious and often political topics. Biggest gripes with the feature are the omissions: the lead single from the album, Lennon’s civil rights anthem “Woman is the Nigger of the World” has been erased from the program for understandable, if not agreeable reasons. To add insult to injury, Ono’s “Sisters, O Sisters” (originally released as the B-Side of the aforementioned single) has also been removed, the producers reasoning that it would have thrown off the balance of John-to-Yoko content in the feature. Each song was performed at both afternoon and evening shows, so as hardcore fans who appreciate and admire John & Yoko’s commitment to marrying art and activism, their omission is impossible to ignore. That being said, there is plenty to enjoy throughout the feature: spirited performances from John, Yoko and the often harshly criticized backing band Elephant’s Memory (featuring an expanded lineup including famed session drummer Jim Keltner), stunningly high quality film restoration, comprehensive split-screen presentation, several fun audience cutaways, and a star-studded celebrity guest ending. Directed by Simon Hilton. 4/5 stars.

(5/22) Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

– The newest installment in the Disney era of the STAR WARS franchise, following up the highly popular Dinsey+ STAR WARS spin-off show The Mandalorian (starring Pedro Pascal as the titular character). The fact of the matter is, we have not seen this movie yet. We will hopefully be able to take some time to see the film around Buckley’s birthday. No spoilers! Directed by John Favreau.

Travels

Athens, GA (May 4-11, 2026)

Our third pilgrimage to the one-of-a-kind artistic community that has been ground zero for some of the most stirring music in recent history. Planning to attend the Kindercore EXPO30 (May 7-9) music festival at the historic 40 Watt Club, we left home early afternoon May 4, driving south through Illinois and Indiana into Ohio. Roughly eight hours spent on the road, with only one extended stop around 2/3 of the way before arriving at our checkpoint in the outskirts of Cincinnati. Travel soundtracked by the music of Dick Dale & His Del-Tones, It’s a Beautiful Day, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Jackson 5 and a pair of Nickolas Ashford mix CDs featuring various artists (mostly Motown, heavy representation from Diana Ross). We hit the road again in the late morning, diverging from the path to visit the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. After which, we zipped through Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina on our way to Georgia over the course of roughly ten hours. Day two was soundtracked by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, more It’s a Beautiful Day and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Black Sabbath, a Tammy Wynette tribute CD and assorted albums associated with Athens, GA (The Elephant 6 Recording Co. Documentary Soundtrack plus albums by of Montreal and Great Lakes). We arrived at the home of our friend John Kiran Fernandes sometime between 10:15 and 10:30PM.
We scheduled our travels so that the next day, we would have some free time in the city of Athens before the festival. That day was spent visiting the University art museum, and historic Wuxtry Records downtown, intermittently joining Fernandes for vinyl listening sessions that included Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab and a marathon of Faust records. The next day, having been drafted by our friends Mathew Bell and Patrick Fleming to function as correspondents for the Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts podcast, covering the festival and speaking with various participants. To this end, we arrived early, meeting with festival organizer/Kindercore Records co-founder Ryan Lewis, and singer/songwriter Tammy Ealom of Dressy Bessy and The Tammy Shine. The music was excellent, and down time between performances was minimal as with two stages, each band would set up on one stage while another band played on the the other stage. Sometime after 1AM the music came to an electric end, and after saying our goodbyes, we returned to Fernandes’ home for some rest. The next day was much the same, although I did make a point of playing some original music for Fernandes before festival prep was truly underway. Once again, we were honorary podcast correspondents, and at the end of the night met a young man named Xander who had traveled to Athens with his mother from Sparta, WI for the festival (even farther than Carly and I!), so we spent a fair amount of time chatting with him, and with Jonathan Woods and Stephen Smith of Sleepybeef. The final day of the festival was a high-energy, heavy-hitting lineup, and there was much socializing and generous sharing of musical goods from Ryan Lewis. Another night of returning to the car around 2AM.
The next morning, we pushed back our scheduled departure time of 10AM to pay a visit to Jamey Huggins III, with whom we listened to musical works-in-progress, shared our soon-to-be-released works, and recorded and impromptu cover of “Jumping Fences” by The Olivia Tremor Control. Eventually getting on the road sometime after 1PM, we had a lengthy drive, with some degree of tension and stress bleeding through as the daylight slipped through our fingers. Our last day on the road was much more relaxed, and included a stop in Chicago to see Melody’s Echo Chamber perform at Thalia Hall. Our journey concluded with a return home sometime around 1AM.

Kansas City, MO (June 1-9, 2026)

For the second year in a row, Davis was flown out by the College Board to a luxurious midsize city to read and score essays written by high school AP Seminar students. While the days in Kansas City are spent staring at a monitor with amber-colored Hunter S. Thompson shades on, evenings are filled with visits to Josey’s Records, and live jazz at The Phoenix. There was even a special, early jam session of some bebop and blues at the historic Mutual Musician’s Foundation, as well as a trip to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum for their Alphonse Mucha exhibit. As of this writing, four days remain before Davis’s return.

Things to Look Forward To

Concerts

(6/18 – 7/4) Summerfest 2026:
(Weekend #1 – Alejandro Escovedo / Tash Sultana / Matthew Buckley / The Family Stone / Styx / Amyl & The Sniffers / AJ Croce / Substitute: Tales from The Who)
(Weekend #2 – Matthew Buckley / Party Marty / The Mountain Goats / The Roots / Kim Gordon / Tenley Sheldon / Sudan Archives / Little Feat)
(Weekend #3 – Florentine Opera Company / Living Colour / Tenley Sheldon / Stephen Marley / Spoon / Mindi Abair)

– The world’s largest music festival: nine days of live music over three weekends featuring hundreds of performing artists on over a dozen stages, plus plenty of promotions and concessions!

(7/7 & 7/8) Phish @ Kohl’s Centre, Madison, WI

– Our chance to see iconic Vermont jam band Phish for a second (and third!) time as they return to WI for Phish’s Summer 2026 tour. Surprised to see the show is at an indoor venue as opposed to their usual stomping grounds, Alpine Valley. But there will still surely be good times and great jams.

(7/12) Lucy Dacus @ The Sylvee, Madison, WI

– Our second opportunity to see Richmond, VA singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus together (Davis once saw Dacus perform with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers as boygenius at Re:SET Chicago 2023).

(7/20) Graham Nash @ Orpheum Theatre, Madison, WI

– Legendary British singer/songwriter Graham Nash, best known for his time with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young brings his 2026 tour to Madison for what could be our third time seeing him perform in a third city.

(7/22) LSD and the Search for God @ X-Ray Arcade, Milwaukee, WI

– A rare opportunity to see the psychedelic rock/shoegaze four-piece outside of their home of San Francisco, CA on a brief tour of the Midwest.

(8/16) The Beach Boys @ Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, WI

– The iconic surf/rock/pop band led by founding member and vocalist Mike Love comes to the Wisconsin State Fair as a part of their first tour following the departure of longtime keyboardist/vocalist Bruce Johnston (leaving Mike Love as the only band member from the band’s “classic” years).

(8/22) Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band @ The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL

– A return engagement from Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine after last year’s highly successful tour celebrating The Beach Boys Love You album.

(8/23) Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band @ Des Plaines Theatre, Des Plaines, IL

– A return engagement from Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine after last year’s highly successful tour celebrating The Beach Boys Love You album.

(9/12) Margaret Glaspy @ Vivarium, Milwaukee, WI

– Brooklyn, NY based singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy brings her tour supporting her forthcoming album I am Both to Milwaukee’s Vivarium.

(10/16) Friko @ Vivarium, Milwaukee, WI

– Chicago, IL based rock band Friko embark on a twenty-five date US tour promoting their recently released album Something Worth Waiting For.

(10/21) Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Landmark Credit Union Live, Milwaukee, WI

– The Jacksonville, FL based ensemble bring their Future Soul Tour to Milwaukee’s recently opened venue, Landmark Credit Union Live.

(11/11) Micky Dolenz: 60 Years of The Monkees @ The Pabst Theatre, Milwauee, WI

– The sole surviving member of iconic 1960s pop/rock TV group The Monkees comes to the historic Pabst Theatre for his tour celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Monkees premier.

Music

(6/5) Black Swan Network…The Early Music, Vol. 1

– An expanded reissue of the limited edition 7″ vinyl record from Athens, GA-based ambient music/music concrète ensemble Black Swan Network released as the tenth installment in the Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records Singles Club. Led by the late Will Cullen Hart along with Olivia Tremor Control and Circulatory System bandmates Peter Erchick, John Kiran Fernandes and Eric Harris, the group also features contributions from fellow Elephant 6 musicians Bill Doss, Julian Koster, Jeff Mangum, Roxanne Martin, and J. Kirk Pleasant. Currently awaiting arrival of pre-order. Original album produced by Black Swan Network and released via Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records. Reissue released via Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records / Elephant Six Recording Co.

(6/5) Modest Mouse…An Eraser and a Maze

– The eighth full-length studio album from Portland, OR-based alternative rock/post-punk six-piece Modest Mouse. Following a full five years after 2021’s The Golden Casket, the album marks the group’s first independent release after more than twenty years with Epic Records, as well as the first studio album to feature three new band members Damon Cox (drums since 2023), Keith Karman (keyboards since 2022) and Simon O’Connor (guitar since 2021). Produced by Isaac Brock, Jacknife Lee, Jutin Raisen, Jeremy Sherrer and Suzy Shinn. Released via Glacial Pace Records.

(6/5) of Montreal…aethermead

– The twentieth full-length studio album from Athens, GA indie rock/psych pop/dance band of Montreal. Following just over two years after their previous release, Lady On the Cusp, the album finds founder/front man/multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Kevin Barnes leading the group as a four-piece. Currently awaiting the arrival of pre-order. Produced by Kevin Barnes. Released via Polyvinyl Records.

(6/12) Sun Ra / Do the Impossible (Original Soundtrack to the Documentary)

– 2LP / 2CD soundtrack to the recently released PBS documentary about eccentric jazz bandleader Sun Ra, directed/produced by Christine Turner. Currently pre-ordered. Released via Modern Harmonic.

(6/19) Sun Ra / East Two + 7

– Archival LP / CD compiling rare/previously unreleased Sun Ra recordings from the early 1970s. Produced by Irwin Chusid. Released via Cosmic Myth Records.

(6/19) Azalia Snail / Gentle Mental

– The sixteenth full-length solo studio album from Los Angeles, CA based avant-garde singer/songwriter Azalia Snail. Following just over two years after her previous release, POWERLOVER. Currently awaiting pre-order launch. Released via Cloud Recordings.

(7/3) Grateful Dead / Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, July 3, 1966

– 3LP / 2CD archival live album documenting the Grateful Dead’s July 3, 1966 performance at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, CA, scheduled for release exactly 60 years to the day after its recording. Produced by David Lemiuex. Released via Rhino Records.

(7/10) The Rolling Stones / Foreign Tongues

– The twenty-fifth full-length studio album from The Rolling Stones, featuring guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood and Robert Smith, among others. Produced by Andrew Watt. Released via Polydor Records / Capitol Records.

(7/17) Lenny Kaye / Goin’ Local

– The debut full-length solo studio album from proto-punk/garage rock guitar legend, best known as guitarist for the Patti Smith Group. Currently pre-ordered. Produced by Lenny Kaye and Tony Shanahan. Released via Yep Roc Records.

(7/31) Cindy Blackman Santana / Coherence

– The eleventh full-length studio album led by jazz fusion drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, Released via Mack Avenue Records.

(8/1) Yoko Ono / Season of Glass 35th Anniversary

– Expanded LP / CD reissue of avant-garde singer/songwriter Yoko Ono’s fifth full-length solo studio album, originally released in summer 1981, six months after the murder of her husband John Lennon. Original album produced by Yoko Ono and Phil Spector. Released via Geffen Records. Reissue released via Chimera Records.

(8/7) Margaret Glaspy / I Am Both

– The fifth full-length solo studio album from Brooklyn, NY singer songwriter Margaret Glaspy. Currently pre-ordered. Released via ATO Records.

(8/14) The Womack Sisters / The Womack Sisters

– The debut full-length studio album from Los Angeles, CA based funk/R&B/soul trio The Womack Sisters. Produced by Bosco Mann. Released via Daptone Records.

Movies

(7/31) Spider-Man: Brand New Day

– The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe branch of the Spider-Man franchise, starring Tom Holland in the titular role. Following the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home, anticipation is incredibly high for this film. Directed by Destin Cretton.

(11/06) Godzilla: Minus Zero

– The 39th film in the Godzilla franchise, the highly anticipated sequel to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki.

Support Links

Citizenship/Immigration/Naturalization Aid

Center for New Americans: https://cnam.org/citizenship/

Citizenshipworks: https://www.citizenshipworks.org/

Immigrant Legal Resource Center: https://www.ilrc.org/

Immigration Advocates Network: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/

International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org/norcalimmigration

N-400 US Citizenship Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uscitizenshipwithugo/

National Immigrant Justice Center: https://immigrantjustice.org/

National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org/