Heading into the homestretch of the season, Saturday Night Live welcomed Keegan Michael Key with musical guest Olivia Rodrigo. Led by a cold open with Dr. Fauci (Kate McKinnon) reviewing scenarios related CDC mask regulations being lifted, the evening also featured The Muppets return to SNL.
Rodrigo got her start on the Disney Channel, and is the lead in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. She released her first song (unrelated to the show), “Driver’s License,” in January where it debuted at #1 and stayed there for eight weeks. The inescapable breakup ballad about co-star Joshua Bassett has a mix of Lorde, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish.
Beginning the song sitting atop a grand piano, she moved about the Studio 8H stage, slowly revealing the full band spread around the perimeter of the state. With a light up floor, Olivia Rodrigo poured her heart into her breakout hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBik0MjXeMs
The second performance featured “Good 4 U,” a breakup song with an old-school Paramore vibe, released this past Friday, May 14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiaCdUACJp8
Saturday Night Live‘s 46th season will come to a close on Saturday, May 22 with host Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) and musical guest Lil Nas X.
From the post-industrial hellscape of Syracuse, New York comes Trauma Cat, who have delivered to the world their first full length LP entitled Prepare to Apologize which was released in April 2021. This irreverent and ecclectic gem that was co-produced by the band and the elusive St. Julian P. Dingusand, sports 15 tracks (3 tracks including “Joshua,” “Fire in the Jail,” and “Freaks with Wings” are re-issued singles) that span rock genres that include pop, alternative, electronica, and prog rock.
The band has cheekily branded their special brand of musicial gumbo on their website, “Though critics speculate on the band’s true origin and the meaning of their existence, Trauma Cat are widely credited as the founders of “cuck rock,” an indeterminate school of music indebted to incessant apology and shameless cross-genre appropriation. Others have described Trauma Cat’s sound as “uncomfortable art rock,” and their politics as “alt-wrong.”
The Trauma Cat roster is comprised of the musically talented and fashion forward Ralph Kojig (guitar and vocals), Roman Pando (bass and vocals), and Rutger DiBoyere (drums). Together they comprise a wonderfully creative power trio that has been successful in creating a personau that is reminicent of a combination of punk pioneers Devo and Saturday morning cartoon favorites Josie and the Pussycats. The glorious result of this concoction is the band’s demonstrable irreverance and hilarious comedic take on the music biz, and yet despite this silliness, they have created an enjoyable record and that is fun, fresh and creative.
Trauma Cat has released the following “documentary” to introduce listener’s to their own distinct brand of “Cuck Rock” and to “apologize for their new LP.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7DSttG7mx8
The record starts off with title track “Prepare to Apologize,” which is initially a short verbal rant between members Kojig and Pando, that leads into a short but sonically pleasing acapella number. The track seamlessly transitions into the second song on the LP “Indivisible,” reminiscent in musical style to a mash up of Rage Against the Machine and Tool. Heavy on bass and sporting great vocals that are both provided by Kojig, “Indivisible” illustrates why Trauma Cat won the 2021 Syracuse Area Music Award for Best New Artist.
Prepare to Apologize’s third track is “Trauma Cat.” This is a fun and upbeat tune that has all the makings of the band’s offical theme song if they ever decide to create their own must see reality TV series (look out Kardashians). Kojig provides just the right amount of heavy guitar and along with DiBoyere percussion this track will get the listener’s blood pumping.
Another highlight on the record is fourth track “Joshua”, which was originally released as a single by the band back in November of 2020. Trauma Cat deftly released a remarkably professional music video for “Joshua” that was animated and directed by El Salvadorian sensation Lincktendo back in January 2021. Lyrically the song describes a daliance into bisexuality that ends up in a bad breakup which then ultimately ruins a friendship. “Joshua” is a strong tune with loads of pop sensibility which makes it ideal for radio play. It features songwriter Kojig’s hypnotic chorus, “It came over me like a wave”, which is a catchy and memorable hook that will stay with listeners.
“Fire In The Jail” is the eleventh song on Prepare To Apologize. This anti-social anthem promtoes dissent against the world’s demanding vapid conformity. Breaking out of the prision of these imposed expectations. Kojig sings, “I just can’t believe that these people…content to live like sheep following the crowd.” Living on your own terms without worrying about other people’s perceptions an expectations is the core message of this rebellious song, which utilizes a good amount of vibrato on guitar and reverb on Pando’s vocal to evoke a distopian landscape.
Although this trio of self-depricating muscians does not take itself too seriously, the musical craftsmanship and production value of Trauma Cat’s debute LP shows passion and commitment that these Jester’s of “Cuck Rock” have for their craft. Prepare To Apologize is a great album that hopefully will be the first of many that these denzians of musicial mayhem produce for an ever increasingly bleak world that is crying out for more mirth and humor.
Key Tracks: Joshua, Trauma Cat, Lob A Grenade, Fire In The Jail
Firefly festival is back. The unparalleled East Coast music festival, nestled in Delaware’s picturesque Woodlands, has announced its return over September 23-26, 2021. The 2021 Firefly Festival, in conjunction with AEG Presents, will features a lineup that includes headlining sets from Billie Eilish, The Killers, Tame Impala, and Lizzo.
As the largest East Coast camping festival, Firefly has earned its reputation as one of the country’s rite-of-passage destinations for music lovers across the U.S. With a similar approach to bringing fans the larger than life experiences that helped establish the likes of Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds as must-attend events, Firefly has grown into one of the biggest, most-beloved music weekends in America.
Firefly’s return in 2021 will be exactly what fans needed from the live setting they’ve been missing for over a year — incredible sets from iconic artists; the best food and beverage offerings within the Delaware Valley; unique, festival-exclusive moments that only Firefly could provide; and so much more.
Sign up for exclusive presale access at fireflyfestival.com for your chance to secure weekend passes at the lowest price possible. Presale begins Friday, May 14th at 10 am ET. Pass Prices Start At $299 for Weekend GA and $699 for Weekend VIP.
With many camping packages and amenities to choose from, there is something for every fan. Camping packages include access to daily yoga, a beach club, silent discos, intramural sports, and permanent showers as well as a farmers’ market and general store. Ranger Stations throughout the campgrounds act as a community resource where festival-goers can access information, find support, and engage in other activities throughout the weekend. Camping Rangers are thoughtful, friendly, caring and informed staff whose sole focus is to ensure a positive festival experience for everyone.
Firefly Music Festival is conveniently located within driving distance from major metropolitan areas on the East Coast, including Philadelphia (under two hours), Baltimore (under two hours), Washington D.C (under two hours) and New York City (three hours). Fans can also take advantage of Amtrak service to Wilmington, Delaware as well as SEPTA and Greyhound bus line service.
Visit FireflyFestival.com for more information.
The 2021 Firefly Festival line up (in ABC order):
Almost Monday Aluna Anna of the North Arlo Parks Atlas Genius Badflower Band of Horses Big Wild Billie Eilish Binki Blackbear Blossom Cage The Elephant Cannons Caribou Carolesdaughter Cassy Chris Lake Claud Clever Clozee Deep Sea Diver Denzel Curry Des Rocs Diplo Dominic Fike Duckwrth Duke Dumont Elohim Flo Milli GG Magree and Mija girl in red Glass Animals Gracie Abrams Grandson iann dior Jordy Judah and the Lion JXDN Kenny Mason Kennyhoopla Khruangbin The Killers Kim Petras Laundry Day Lizzo Lost Frequencies Lovelytheband LP Giobbi Machine Gun Kelly Madds Madeon Marc Rebillet Maria Isabel Megan Thee Stallion Michigander Middle Kids Missio Mt. joy Nelly Noga Erez Oliver Tree ONR Orion Sun Peach Pit Phoebe Bridgers Portugal. the Man Positive Movement Drumline redveil Remi Wolf REZZ Ritt Momney Roddy Ricch Role Model Royal & The Serpent Rossy Rozet Serena Isioma Slander $NOT Sofi Tukker St. Panther Still Woozy Sub Urban Surf Mesa Sylvan Esso Taking Back Sunday Tame Impala Tate McRae Trevor Daniel Turnstile White Reaper Wiz Khalifa
SNL returned for the final three episodes of the season, with host Elon Musk and musical guest Miley Cyrus, who saved the episode with three musical appearances, beginning with a cold open featuring cast members and their moms.
Cyrus sang godmother Dolly Parton’s 1977 hit “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Miley was then joined on stage by her mom Tish, the cast and moms, to collectively open the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlEXNWjm1f8
This marked Cyrus’ seventh time on Saturday Night Live, and sixth as musical guest. Cyrus also appeared later in SNL show in “The Astronaut,” one of three pre-recorded sketches in the otherwise lackluster episode.
For her second musical appearance of the night Miley was joined by The Kid LAROI for “Without You,” marking the broadcast premiere of the single the pair released last month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nbXBeYY1Po
“Plastic Hearts” was the third and final performance of the night from Cyrus, singing the title track of her recently released album. The highest energy number of the night featured a backing horn section and Cyrus in a flowing, feathery pink dress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLLKzis7NfQ
Joining the show for a cameo appearance during a Wario courtroom sketch, musician Grimes played Princess Peach, with husband Elon Musk on the stand as Wario, on trial for killing Mario.
The penultimate episode of Season 46 of Saturday Night Live airs on Saturday, May 14 at 1130pm ET/PT. Keegan-Michael Key will host with musical guest Olivia Rodrigo.
Toronto pop artist Dani Doucette today brings forth the captivating, neon-hued single “Craved,” fusing elements of R&B, disco, and pop setting the scene for Doucette’s velvety vocals.
The narrative of “Crave” describes an entrancing feeling in a club when you lock eyes with someone across the room who may not be suitable for you, yet you gravitate towards them overwhelmed with mystery. With confidence, power, and sensuality, Dani Doucette displays how being craved is a superpower. The lyrics describe losing yourself to love but only enough to leave a craving for more, pairing with a vibrant backing track accompanying Doucette’s voice.
Doucette fell in love with music at the young age of four when her father brought to their Toronto home a baby grand piano spending days practicing in her family’s sun-soaked music room. Aside from being an artist, she is an accomplished model, adding the glamour and excitement of her world-traveling experiences to her music. An aspiring humanitarian, Doucette also uses her platform to work with young people on their journey of self-discovery.
Applying her own struggles with confidence and feeling unfulfilled in the modeling world as her inspiration, she hosts self-esteem and confidence-boosting workshops for young women. Consistent with her goal of bringing about positive change in the world, Doucette strives to help people overcome adversity by sharing her own life experiences openly.
Charged with an ethereal vision, Dani has developed an individual pop sound, with captivating songs that feature a strong autobiographical and rebellious quality. Doucette arrived on the scene in August 2020 with “GO,” and the R&B pop song “Selfish” in January 2021.
Co-written with Thomas McKay, Dani channeled some of her favorite pop idols and a sci-fi energy, bringing the ambiance of an interstellar party.
While writing this song and working on harmonies we had MJ and Britney vibes that we were feeling. I remember Thomas and I just knew we had made something special.
If you’re a fan of pop-trap melodies with hard-hitting production, then “No Breaks” might be your song of the Summer. With pop being one of the most overcrowded, oversaturated genres, it’s easy for artists to be lost in the jumble of three-chord, autotuned melodies. Noah XO is making sure to be an exception, showing up to the game with quick, catchy melodic tunes that are sure to inspire listeners to join along in the chaotic mood swing of a ride that is Noah XO’s music.
“No Brakes is a special song for me, I wrote the chorus within 15 minutes of downloading the beat and the rest was history,” said Noah XO about his new song “No Brakes.”
Hailing from Saratoga Springs, Noah XO (real name Patrick Hayes) came up in the metal and hard rock scene, spending time in three distinct metal bands throughout Upstate New York. Hayes first started making melodic pop trap tunes under the name of Young Cobain, however, he soon changed his stage name to Noah XO to avoid controversy.
“I felt changing my name was the best way to turn a new leaf for me and my career,” says Hayes.
Throughout his musical career, Hayes’ tastes gradually shifted and progressed to a more melancholic pop-driven sound in the vein of crossover artists such as Post Malone and Juice WRLD.
This isn’t to say that Hayes lost his touch for the edge and immersive styles of alternative and metal. While listening to Noah XOs new song, “No Brakes”, you can expect to hear verses sprinkled with metallic undertones and punchy, catchy pop-punk-inspired hooks.
Founders Entertainment has announced the lineup for the 2021 edition of Governors Ball Music Festival. The NYC-based festival celebrates its 10th Anniversary and is set to take place Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26 at the Citi Field complex in Queens.
Working in close consultation with the City of New York, the festival will follow all state and federal guidelines mandated at the time of the event. The festival will mark the milestone with an incredible lineup of 60+ performing artists including Billie Eilish, Post Malone, A$AP ROCKY, J Balvin, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Ellie Goulding, Leon Bridges, 21 Savage, Young Thug, Portugal. The Man., Burna Boy, Future Islands, Phoebe Bridgers, Jamie XX, Carly Rae Jepsen, Big Thief, Bleachers, and many more.
The 2021 Governors Ball Music Festival will celebrate the return of live music, and 2021 also marks the 10th anniversary of the festival, a major milestone for an event that originated as a shared pipe-dream between New Yorkers in their early 20s who wanted to see their city play host to a music festival on par with the world’s best live music events.
As more New Yorkers become vaccinated by the day, we’re proud to support arts and culture and welcome back Governors Ball and their fantastic lineup, including New York City’s own Princess Nokia, A$AP Rocky, and King Princess, among others
Bill de Blasio, Mayor
In 2021 Governors Ball will be moving to the Citi Field complex in Queens, NY, a site with incredible accessibility via multiple transportation options, including the MTA’s 7 train line, the LIRR, and limited parking for attendees who choose to drive to the event. The festival venue will be modeled upon the one of a kind 360° layout featured at the fan favorite and also Founders Entertainment produced The Meadows Music and Arts Festival
Three-day and single day General Admission and VIP tickets will be available to All Ages via GovBall.com beginning Thursday, May 6 at 12:00 PM ET.
Multi-GRAMMY Award and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning producer/artist Kabir Sehgal collaborates with leading BIPOC and women artists on his latest EP, Threshold, set for release on Tiger Turn on Friday, August 27, 2021.
Sehgal is an Indian American producer with more than 70 album credits to his name, Kabir Sehgal has released four singles leading up to “Threshold” with each showcasing the complexities of finding love and discovering one’s individual identity.
One of the singles, “Somewhere Between 5th and Madison”, has a uniquely New York centric approach to song writing – the song also features pop sensation Sonna Rele. Emotive vocals meet multi-synth arrangements for a DJ-ready track for NYC’s bars and clubs.
Alyssa Raghu – a Top 8 contestant on American Idol – teams up with U.S. immigrant and DACA recipient Caliph on Wasted Pages. Sehgal remixes Emilio Solla’s Llegara, Llegara, Llegara from the Latin GRAMMY-winning album “Puertos” with special guest vocalists Manu Manzo and Danay Suarez. “Threshold” closes with a Pop/EDM track What’s Your Name? highlighting GRAMMY Award-nominated singer Thana Alexa.
Sehgal remixed a beautiful, soulful jazz classic with pop sounds, without ripping it of its essence. I’m very grateful he thought of me to sing on this amazing song that brought me back to my jazz roots
Emilio Solla, Artist
As one of today’s leading producers, Sehgal’s award-winning recording catalog reflects a career spotlighting political and social issues voiced through the mediums of big band jazz and working with soul/R&B stars such as Jon Batiste (featured on Sehgal’s 2020 production, Swing States: Harmony in the Battleground). He has also made four albums as an artist with meditation pioneer Deepak Chopra, including Spiritual Warrior.
Los Angeles based artist, Jake Miller, announces his tour “hi, i missed you” and releases his new single, “I Hope I Die First” from his upcoming album.
Photo Credit: Zack Caspary
Miller is an independent artist who has gained a following over the years from his music and social media presence. He has over 200 million streams and headlined eight tours throughout the country. Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and Fifth Harmony are some of the talents that Miller has shared the stage with.
In 2019 he wrote and produced his six song EP Based on a True Story in his bedroom and received 15 million streams. His single “Wait for You” off the EP made it to Billboard Top 40. Miller became a hit on Tiktok with his viral series “Quarantunes”. Throughout 2020, he released eight singles displaying his craft with different sounds.
Miller’s “hi, i missed you” tour comes after last year’s releases and is the beginning of his journey for 2021. The tour consists of 33 dates and will be stopping in major cities across the nation including New York, Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles. The stop in New York City will be at Le Poisson Rouge on September 30. Indie pop duo, Fly By Midnight, and the triplet pop group, Just Seconds Apart, is joining Jake Miller on tour. Tickets for the “hi i missed you” tour are currently on sale on Miller’s website, with meet and greet packages included.
Along with the announcement of the tour, Miller also released his newest single titled “I Hope I Die First”. The song was written before the pandemic with the help of five of his best friends. It touches on the feeling of having someone that you love by your side and not wanting to live without them. For Miller, the ballad means that even when the world seems crazy, having someone special with you makes things better. The single is available on all streaming platforms through The Orchard.
Buffalo based four-piece rock group, Grosh, is locked and loaded for their release of Not Down for Long. The group, consisting of Grace Lougen (guitar), Josh English (drums), Megan Brown (vocals), and Dylan Hund (bass) are some of the area’s most talented musicians.
Grosh is a high energy rock band that regularly sells out shows in Buffalo, showcasing their heavy-hitting style of hard rock. Recorded and mastered at GCR studio in Buffalo, Not Down for Long is Grosh’s second full-length album. The album offers tunes reminiscent of bands like Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam. But overall, it has a clear Grosh stamp on it.
The band never abandons their fast-paced energy throughout the album, with hard hitters like “The Fight” offering a great idea of what Grosh brings to the table. The band isn’t afraid to break out of the hard rock element, and sprinkle in some dirty funk in the second track, “Not Down for Long”. Lougen’s guitar riffage is absolutely spot on, chugging the song along and breaking into face-melting solos that soar over Hund’s thick bass line and the ever-climaxing drum beat.
Relentless, this album grabs the listener and holds them throughout the long jams, and even pop melodies in songs like “Mr. Rogers.” Brown’s vocals hold their place among a luscious instrumentation, with the lyrics featuring a trade-off between her vocals and male vocals. The conversation-like feeling of the song yields a nice story as well. The horn section shows an alternate side of the band’s heavier sound earlier in the album.
The band has a soft side too, as they show their ability to create a beautiful dynamic arc in “Don’t Forget Me.” The acoustic track feels like a musical number, with yearning vocals and a wonderful transition to the final song, “Tread the Wave.” Here, the band rounds out the release by offering another harder song with some prog-rock influence. English’s work on the hi-hat is stuff of gold, and a master-class in how drums, when played this well, can give a song rhythmic layering.
Lucky for listeners and supporters, Not Down for Long is set to be released on May 1. You can find the album streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. You can keep up with the band on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The group also has a YouTube page with official videos and quarantine recordings. Keep a look out for the group to be playing live as things continue to clear up and venues open at some capacity.
Key Tracks: Mr. Rogers, The Fight, Don’t Forget Me
