Live reviews
LIVE: SISTER HAZEL – April 15, 2021
Venue: Florida Cracker Company City: Brooksville, FL Date: April 15, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) In celebration of the Florida Cracker Company’s 8th Birthday, they hosted a huge party behind the original location in Brooksville and the house band for the evenings festivities was none other than Sister Hazel. After an […]
LIVE: MINDI ABAIR – April 3, 2021
Venue: Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre City: Clearwater, FL Date: April 3, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) With a greatest hits release that dropped the day before, Mindi Abair and her band were ready to rock the night away with a sold out and socially distanced crowd at Clearwater’s Bilheimer […]
LIVE: COLT FORD – March 26, 2021
Venue: The Stockyard City: Holiday, FL Date: March 26, 2021 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) Slowly but surely, the world is allowing touring to resume, even if just for occasional shows here and there on the calendar. A favorite of mine had a show scheduled near me and I did everything I […]
Interviews
A Dirty Dozen with TREVOR SMITH of KISS KISS BANG – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Bowling Green, KY Rock Band KISS KISS BANG has released the official music video for the lead single off of their upcoming, sophomore EP, Hungry, High, & Seeing Things, available now on the band’s BandCamp and will be available on all platforms March 26. “High Price (for Peace of Mind)” was shot […]
A Dirty Dozen with MISFIRE – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “In 2004 at the age of 13 and 14 drummer James Nicademus and Guitarist/Vocalist Jay Johnson formed what ended up becoming the thrash metal band Diamond Plate. In 2007 Jay left that band and has since released multiple solo projects. Diamond Plate went on to be signed to Earache […]
A Dirty Dozen with ENRICO “H.” DI LORENZO from HIDEOUS DIVINITY – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Italian technical death metal band HIDEOUS DIVINITY releases their second brutal single and visualizer video “Chestburst.” The track is off their forthcoming EP LV-426, which is set for release via Century Media Records on April 23rd. “That persistent beat in James Horner’s ‘Face Huggers’ theme from the movie score… it all starts there. If “Acheron […]
Music reviews
MUSIC REVIEW: PALE WAVES – Who Am I?
Label: Dirty Hit / Interscope Records Release Date: February 12, 2021 Rating: 96% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur I have been going around writing a review for this disc and to be honest, I am not sure why. This one has stuck with me since first listen. I was trying to wrap my head around all the […]
MUSIC REVIEW: DIAMANTE – American Dream
Label: Independent Release Date: May 7, 2021 Rating: 92% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur There is a lot of music being released this year ahead of HOPEFULLY a summer and fall full of tour dates. With some albums in preproduction prior to the pandemic and said pandemic giving a lot of artists unexpected free time, there was […]
MUSIC REVIEW: ARIELLE – Analog Girl In A Digital World
Label: Independent Release Date: May 7, 2021 Rating: 91% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Arielle is another artist in a long line of great ones my friend Steve has introduced me to over the years. After the first couple spins, I knew a review was inevitable, as I found myself going back to the songs time […]
Book reviews
BOOK REVIEW: FRIDAY ON MY MIND by Jeff Apter
BOOK REVIEW: FRIDAY ON MY MIND by Jeff Apter Allen & Unwin August 2020 Paperback, $29.99 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar Biography 90% Oz rock biographer Jeff Apter takes a deep dive into the life of George Young, who might arguably be the most influential and pivotal Australian music industry figure of the twentieth century. Not […]
BOOK REVIEW: WILD AND CRAZY GUYS by Nick De Semlyen
BOOK REVIEW: WILD AND CRAZY GUYS by Nick De Semlyen Picador June 2019 Paperback, $32.99 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar Non fiction, movie, comedy 79% Nick De Semlyn catalogs the leap from Saturday Night Live’s iconic TV comedy stage to film stardom for many of its major players in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. John Belushi, […]
BOOK REVIEW: FACE IT by Debbie Harry
BOOK REVIEW: FACE IT by Debbie Harry Harper Collins Australia October 2019 Hardback, $45 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar Autobiography 79% Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry delivers a fascinating memoir with Face It, but somehow, in all the retelling of her life and times, she still manages to retain her privacy and mystique. She’s an enigmatic figure, […]
Movie & Theatre reviews
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 […]
MOVIE REVIEW: Peninsula (2020)
MOVIE REVIEW: Peninsula (2020) Directed by Yeon Sang-ho Starring Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, and Lee Re 7/10 Zombies have always had a unique place in modern culture. In fact, the horror sub-genre has established itself well beyond the realm of film and television. Zombie games such as Dying Light have been quite popular over the […]
News
AUSTRALIAN TOUR NEWS ROUNDUP – KEITH URBAN with BIRDS OF TOKYO, TINA ARENA, BAT OUT OF HELL, GUNS N’ ROSES, STEVE HACKETT, BOB EVANS and THE SCREAMING JETS
AUSTRALIAN TOUR NEWS ROUNDUP – KEITH URBAN with BIRDS OF TOKYO, TINA ARENA, BAT OUT OF HELL, GUNS N’ ROSES, STEVE HACKETT, BOB EVANS and THE SCREAMING JETS KEITH URBAN ANNOUNCES BIRDS OF TOKYO AS SPECIAL GUEST ON ‘THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR 2021’ Four time Grammy and ARIA award winning global superstar, Keith […]
THE TREWS RELEASE YOUR NEW FAVOURITE SONG – I WANNA PLAY
THE TREWS RELEASE YOUR NEW FAVOURITE SONG – I WANNA PLAY By Shane Pinnegar If there’s one thing that every single music fan and musician knows after a year of rolling lockdowns and restrictions and cancelled tours, it’s that we need a bloody good rock and roll show, no matter where we are in the […]
A Dirty Dozen with KATE COLEMAN from RUN KATIE RUN – April 2021
According to a recent press release: “Atlanta-based Americana-leaning quintet Run Katie Run is set to release a new EP, Running on Love, on April 16, 2021. Composed of Kate Coleman (lead vocals), Corey Coleman (guitar), Adam Pendlington (guitar, banjo), Stephen Quinn (bass), and Ian Pendlington (drums), Run Katie Run is one of the few new bands in recent memory that can rock multiple genres, […]
More
A Dirty Dozen with VANESSA PETERS – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Texas-and-Italy-based singer-songwriter Vanessa Peters is set to release a new album, Modern Age, on April 23, 2021 via Idol Records. It’s easy to casually lump Peters into a generic Americana category; in reality, her albums have actually run the gamut from indie-pop to alt-country to experimental folk to ’70s-era throwback singer/songwriter rock. With Modern Age, her second […]
A Dirty Dozen with ERIN GIBNEY – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Nashville-based pop-country singer-songwriter Erin Gibney has released a new single today (April 16, 2021) called “Easy Like That” via Rock Ridge Music. Written by Gibney, the song was produced by Marshall Altman (Amy Grant, Eric Paslay, Frankie Ballard, Colin Elmore, Josh Abbott Band, Raelynn) and recorded at Altman’s studio, Galt Line, in […]
A Dirty Dozen with JUNA N JOEY – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Following their recent success coming in runners up on Nickelodeon’s America’s Most Musical Family, brother and sister singer/songwriter duo Juna N Joey are following up with a new single “Something Good To Miss.” The song will be the first release of Juna N Joey’s self-titled EP produced by Ken […]
A Dirty Dozen with SCOTT MARTIN from BULLETPROOF MESSENGER – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Bulletproof Messenger released their brand new single “The Divide” to all digital outlets! This will not only mark their first release in over a decade, but a return of the explosive, energetic, and hard hitting rock music fans have come to love from them, coupled with a newfound maturity as a result of […]
A Dirty Dozen with JAMES DIGIROLAMO – May 2021
According to a recent press release: “Nashville-based singer-songwriter James DiGirolamo has extensive experience as a session musician and touring sideman. As a keyboard player, he’s worked with Mindy Smith, Holly Williams, Peter Bradley Adams, Alice Peacock, Robby Hecht, Fognode, The Bittersweets, Judson Spence, and many others. DiGirolamo’s latest solo work draws on a wide […]
INTERVIEW: MAT FERGUSON (GRAPHIC FICTION HEROES, THE DATE and many more)
INTERVIEW: MAT FERGUSON (GRAPHIC FICTION HEROES, THE DATE and many more) By Shane Pinnegar Mat Ferguson needs little introduction in the Perth music scene. He’s played with a dizzying array of acts and remains a full time professional musician, a drummer and percussionist adept in rock, reggae, pop, jazz and just about any other style […]
A Dirty Dozen with DEAD ROMANTIC – April 2021
According to a recent press release: “British rock band DEAD ROMANTIC has announced the release of their debut single “Yesterday.” Dead Romantic’s full-length debut studio album will be globally released on June 25, 2021. Although the modern rock crew are only freshly formed, they have already amassed a dedicated fanbase. Expressing a sound that draws from the heaviest riffs […]
A Dirty Dozen with JOSEPH AZZOPARDI from UPPER LIP – April 2021
According to a recent press release: “German heavy metal/hard rock label PRIDE & JOY MUSIC is happy to announce the signing of the Maltese hard rock group UPPER LIP! Hailing from Gozo (the land of the Megalithic Temples in the heart of the Maltese Archipelago Islands), UPPER LIP spurs nostalgic, groovy hard rock music with a passion to its genre! […]
A Dirty Dozen with BLOOD OF THE PHOENIX – April 2021
According to a recent press release: “Indie metal band Blood of the Phoenix rises to the top of the ranks with their shocking dynamic vocal style, powerful storytelling and robust instrumentation. Drawing inspiration from early 2000s Metalcore, the band has created their niche pocket in the hardcore genre. This five-piece ensemble consists of Jess Escobar as lead vocalist, Bradley Hart & Manny Marwaha on guitar, Jade Weekes on bass, and Nolan Moore on the drums. […]
A Dirty Dozen with JESSICA ELIZABETH from STRICTLY ELIZABETH – April 2021
According to a recent press release: “Strictly Elizabeth confirmed today the release of her new album Contemporary Construction set for release on Friday May 28 digitally with vinyl to follow. It will be distributed via DashGo on Data Water Records. Recorded at Misphonia Studios, Contemporary Construction is a collaboration between Strictly Elizabeth and producer/musician Shane Soloski (Brian Wilson, Five For Fighting). It’s a deeply personal album made […]
