Live reviews
LIVE: SAVING ABEL – October 1, 2021
Venue: The Machine Shop City: Flint, MI Date: October 1, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) Saving Abel is a band that hit my radar quickly years ago with their rock vibe wrapped in crunchy riffs and great vocals. After some personnel changes, the band kept touring and playing for the fans, […]
LIVE: DAVID SANBORN – September 30, 2021
Venue: Sound Board Theater City: Detroit, MI Date: September 30, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) So many great shows were cancelled and many more were postponed, some more than once. Jazz saxophonist David Sanborn’s show in Detroit was one of the latter and he was finally able to satisfy the want […]
LIVE: NEEDTOBREATHE – September 26, 2021
Venue: TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park City: Indianapolis, IN Date: September 26, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Jeffrey Everett (http://www.jeffrey-everett.com) Needtobreathe (NTB) came to Indy in support of their new album Into the Mystery. The band comes out of the pandemic with new material and an excitement to get back to performing to a live […]
Interviews
A Dirty Dozen with WADE MacNEIL from DOOMS CHILDREN – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Music has long been the basis of Wade MacNeil’s life. Since co-founding pioneering post-hardcore outfit Alexisonfire in the early 2000s, the Canadian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and composer has lent his talents to numerous influential and impactful projects. He founded gritty punk outfit Black Lungs, fronts U.K. hardcore heroes Gallows, put fingerprints […]
A Dirty Dozen with CHRIS MARDINI – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “At just 19-years-old, Chris Mardini belongs to the rare breed of artists born to give voice to our most complex emotions. The singer/songwriter has mastered the art of merging intense self-reflection with poetic social commentary—a dynamic made all the more potent by his innate talent for crafting spellbinding melodies. […]
INTERVIEW: JOHN CORABI – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Journeyman vocalist John Corabi had already been cutting his teeth in the hard rock world for nearly a decade when he landed the high-profile gig of replacing Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil in 1992. Although his tenure with the group proved to be a brief one, Corabi earned a reputation as a go-to frontman and […]
Music reviews
MUSIC REVIEW: LILY ROSE – Stronger Than I Am EP
Label: Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music and Republic Records Release Date: October 1, 2021 Rating: 100% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur It has been a week of work, shows, and new music and happy to be closing it out with the EP release from Lily Rose, who dropped seven awesome tracks that are all killer and […]
MUSIC REVIEW: TAYLOR RAE – Mad Twenties
Label: Independent Release Date: October 1, 2021 Rating: 94% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur A press release denoting an artist that has a sizzling folk, jazz and blues hybrid style crossed my path recently and there something in the music spoke to me and demanded I give it a listen, and am I glad I did. While […]
MUSIC REVIEW: TREMONTI – Marching In Time
Label: Napalm Records Release Date: September 24, 2021 Rating: 100% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Mark Tremonti has a diverse catalog that showcases his many talents as a guitarist, songwriter, and singer… especially with his latest twelve tracks on the September 24th release Marching In Time. Disc opener “A World Away” comes at you with heavy bottom end […]
Book reviews
BOOK REVIEW: There’s a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers
BOOK REVIEW: There’s a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers Harper Collins October 2021 Hardcover, $29.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Picture Book / Mixed Media / Pantomime 85% Rocking A captivating new picture book with interactive transparent pages, from world-renowned artist Oliver Jeffers. Hello, come in. Maybe you can help me? A young girl […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon and Phil Lesnie
BOOK REVIEW: The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon and Phil Lesnie Lothian Children’s Books September 2021 Hardcover, $26.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Books / Diversity 78% Rocking A lyrical and moving story inspired by the people who see the world differently, from the award-winning author of The Bone Sparrow and Wisp. With the […]
BOOK REVIEW: Where’s Wally? Santa Spotlight Search by Martin Handford
BOOK REVIEW: Where’s Wally? Santa Spotlight Search by Martin Handford Walker Books September 2021 Hardcover, $24.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Books / Classic Collection / Picture Search 70% Rocking The spotlight search is back with a fabulous festive edition! Use the paper spotlight-searcher as a magic torch to illuminate six scenes buzzing with […]
Movie & Theatre reviews
THEATRE REVIEW: EVERY BRILLIANT THING
THEATRE REVIEW: EVERY BRILLIANT THING Black Swan Theatre, Perth, Western Australia – 25th August, 2021 Written by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe Starring Luke Hewitt By Shane Pinnegar We cried true tears last night – equally from laughter, compassion and respect – as we experienced Luke Hewitt performing the one-handed play Every Brilliant Thing in […]
MOVIE REVIEW: BOSS LEVEL
MOVIE REVIEW: BOSS LEVEL Written by Chris & Eddie Borey, Joe Carnahan Directed by Joe Carnahan Starring Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 72% Frank Grillo oozes charisma and cool as retired special forces officer Roy Pulver in this assassin-Groundhog Day action-fest. Waking up each day on the exact same day […]
MOVIE REVIEW: KING KONG (2005)
MOVIE REVIEW: KING KONG (2005) Image: Wikimedia Hollywood is going through a phase of revisiting old properties of late. And just as recent years have brought us a reimagined take on an iconic Batman villain in 2019’s Joker, or a deeper look into the Alien franchise in Memory (which was reviewed here), we’re soon to […]
News
JANET DEVLIN RELEASES SPELLBINDING COVER OF PRINCE’S CLASSIC “KISS” AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING EP IT’S NOT THAT DEEP
Following the acclaim of her 2020 album Confessional, Janet Devlin releases a spellbinding cover of Prince’s classic “Kiss“. Following the same unapologetic honesty that defined her previous single “Place Called Home,” “Kiss” is the second release from her much-anticipated forthcoming EP It’s Not That Deep. Janet chose to cover this track as she was initially drawn to the charisma and […]
UPDATE ON RICHIE FAULKNER:
We have an update on Richie – see below in Richie’s own words…. Maniacs… I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities I’ve been presented with. I’ve always considered myself THE most fortunate man ever – to be able to play my favourite music – with my favourite band – to my favourite people around the […]
**PREMIER** Taylor Rae – “Never Gonna Do”
Powered by insightful, poetic and deeply personal lyrics, Taylor Rae’s music is propelled by a voice that, while wholly unique, could best be described as a sizzling folk, jazz and blues hybrid of Norah Jones and Grace Potter. The singer calls her musical style soul and roll: “It’s not really soul music; it’s […]
More
A Dirty Dozen with THE SPIDER ACCOMPLICE – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Los Angeles rock duo, THE SPIDER ACCOMPLICE, released their new single “Clinging to Your Skin” via DI Records. The single was written by VK Lynne & Arno Nurmisto, mixed by Colin McGeoch at Matte Black Audio and mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering. This Los Angeles- based duo has racked up 12 LA Music Critics’ Awards over the last 5 years, making them LAMC’s most-awarded band in […]
A Dirty Dozen with TRAVIS LOWELL from MAMMOTHOR – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Boston heavy rockers MAMMOTHOR drop a brand new single “TAKE THE WORLD” fresh off their latest full-length album, The Silence of Ecstasy… The Agony of Dreams, available now in CD format through retailer Bull Moose and later, on all major streaming platforms. “TAKE THE WORLD” is the second single to be launched worldwide with new members […]
Almost A Dirty Dozen with DUSTIN TREINEN from THE MAN FROM ALPHABET – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Picking up and re-imagining a piece of iconic punk rock or horror is always a bold move, but THE MAN FROM ALPHABET has served up a delicious scoop of both with their tight cover and hilariously nostalgic music video of legendary American punk rockers THE DICKIES’ 1988 “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”! Originally […]
A Dirty Dozen with SEBASTIAN BRUNA from OCULTUM – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “OCULTUM started on 2009, since then the band has been solving different line-up changes, redefining their sound and musical approach. During 2013, OCULTUM decided to enter the studio to record their debut album entitled, Ceremonia Oculta Primitiva, this material was reworked and after many hours, it was finally self […]
INTERVIEW: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – OCTOBER 2021
According to a recent press release: “Using the down time from his normally relentless touring activity due to the worldwide pandemic, renowned vocalist Jeff Scott Soto decided to create a very special album which pays tribute to some of the classic songs he has recorded over the course of his storied career. But, rather than […]
Almost A Dirty Dozen with EDDIE BERMAN – October 2021
According to a recent press release: “Portland-based folk artist Eddie Berman has just announced Broken English, a new album of campfire-worthy, cosmic folk rock, out January 21st via Nettwerk Records. Presciently written before the pandemic, the 11-song suite explores the precarious state of a world sinking deeper into isolation, and its tumultuous effects on our relationship to work, […]
A Dirty Dozen with THOMAS THUNDER – September 2021
According to a recent press release: “The impressive debut album The Pharaoh’s Temple written by 14 year-old prodigious songwriter and drummer Thomas Thunder is an epic Progressive Metal/Rock album composed of nine powerful songs. Guest musicians include Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo, ex-Dream Theater), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Sons of Apollo, ex Guns n Roses) and Tony Franklin (The Firm, Jimmy Page). Thomas began his […]
BOOK REVIEW: Wandi by Favel Parrett
BOOK REVIEW: Wandi by Favel Parrett Lothian Children’s Books September 2021 Hardcover, $19.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Australian Animal / Children’s Fiction / True Stories 90% Rocking A young cub is snatched from his family and home by a giant eagle, then dropped, injured and alone, in a suburban garden. This is where he meets […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly
BOOK REVIEW: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly Lothian Children’s Books September 2021 Hardcover, $32.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Young Reader Encyclopaedia / Non-Fiction / Animal Art / Natural History 85% Rocking Come along for another fresh take on the animal kingdom from bestselling author and illustrator, Sami Bayly. Discover […]
A Dirty Dozen with CHERISH ALEXANDER – September 2021
According to a recent press release: “A songwriter whose history runs long and deep, Cherish has been active within the music industry, having played lead guitar with Cyndi Lauper and Josie Cotton among others, collaborated with John Shanks (Goo Goo Dolls, Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette), Gregg Alexander (New Radicals) and Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Demi Lovato), […]
