We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends
In this issue: Leon Bridges, Broken Social Scene, Ozzy, Lana Del Rey, Garth Brooks, Spirit Of The Beehive, and more...
» PRELUDE
Crazy week, friends. So much is happening as we (finally) slide into fall.
Over the last week, I’ve taken part in dozens of conversations about how people are discovering new music, or more accurately, how many people struggle to discover new music. Some people think that there isn’t good music being made anymore and that is simply not true.
So, I wrote an in-depth piece with a ton of helpful tips on how any music lover can easily discover new music. Please check it out and leave a comment if I show you any new tricks you didn’t already know.
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this week’s newsletter, I just want to mention that I’m especially excited for the new Fantastic Negrito album Son Of A Broken Man that gets released two weeks from now on October 18th. Be sure to look out for my review on that as soon as it drops.
Oh, and this week’s Zappagram playlist (linked below) is incredible. Don’t miss it!
Okay, there’s a lot to get into in this issue, so without further delay…
Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on. This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
» HELPING HAND
In addition to using my platform for the purpose of sharing music and music-related content, I also want to use it to spread goodness, kindness, love, and support. Here are some ways we can help others this week:
» Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems. They have setup a fund to help those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. You can also donate to the GoFundMe for Hurricane Relief setup by GoFundMe.org. There are tons of people in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee who desperately need our help. ❖
» Check out the Spirit Of The Beehive GoFundMe to help the band recover from having their van and all of their uninsured gear stolen this past Friday night in Seattle. And get this: their van and all their gear was stolen, and then the police found it and impounded it but all their gear was gone, and then the van got stolen again out of impound! What kind of crazy shit is that? No working musicians should have to go through this kind of nightmare scenario. Needless to say, their tour is cancelled and now they all have to start over from scratch. Thieves can straight up burn in hell. ❖
» WEEKLY PLAYLIST
Zappagram #128 featuring: Leon Bridges, Megan Burtt, Yeemz, Rainbow Girls, Shannon & The Clams, CVC, Jacob Alon, Katie Pruitt, Patrick Hardy, The Smile, Thee Sacred Souls, Beach For Tiger, Stubai [Spotify | Apple Music]
Zappagram playlist (3+ years of featured music): [Spotify | Apple Music]
» MUSIC NEWS
» Dolly Parton, in partnership with Walmart, has donated over $5 million to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts, with Parton personally contributing $1 million and her businesses pledging an additional $1 million, while Walmart adds $4 million to its prior $6 million commitment. ❖
» Sturgill Simpson has announced a benefit concert on October 21st at Cary, North Carolina's Koka Booth Amphitheater, with all proceeds going to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, replacing his previously scheduled Asheville show, which was canceled due to Hurricane Helene. ❖
» Hiss Golden Messenger has released “Sanctuary Songs: Live in Omaha, NE, December 1, 2023” on Bandcamp, with all proceeds benefiting BeLoved Asheville, a non-profit organization providing essential aid to those affected in the way of distributing much-needed food, clothing, and shelter. The album, recorded during the band's Jump For Joy tour, features an 18-song set that includes original material and a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Eyes Of The World." ❖
» Record Store Day has revealed its full list of limited-edition vinyl exclusives for Black Friday 2024, featuring over 150 titles from a wide variety of artists, available on November 29 at independent record stores. To view the complete list of releases, visit RecordStoreDay.com. ❖
» Garth Brooks has denied allegations made in a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a former hairstylist and makeup artist, describing the claims as "extortion and defamation of character." The lawsuit accuses Brooks of rape and other misconduct during 2019, but Brooks maintains that the accusations are an attempt to extract "millions of dollars." He also confirmed filing a prior anonymous lawsuit to prevent the allegations from going public. ❖
» Ozzy Osbourne will be honored at the October 19th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony for his solo career, with a speech by Jack Black and an all-star tribute featuring Maynard James Keenan, Billy Idol, and Jelly Roll. This marks Ozzy's second induction, following his 2006 entry with Black Sabbath. The tribute band includes Rob Trujillo, Zakk Wylde, Wolfgang Van Halen, and more. The event will be broadcast live on Disney+ and later on ABC. ❖
» Explosions in the Sky have announced new US tour dates for spring 2025, focusing on the South, Midwest, and Northeastern regions. This follows the completion of their 2024 tour supporting End, their first album in seven years. ❖
» Pink Floyd has sold their catalog to Sony Music for $400 million, covering their recorded music rights and likeness but not publishing. This deal follows years of band tensions, with David Gilmour recently expressing his desire to finalize the sale amidst his rocky relationship with Roger Waters. The sale allows Sony to use the band's name, likeness, and explore merchandise and media projects. This acquisition follows Sony's other major deals with legacy artists, including Queen's catalog purchase earlier this year. ❖
» Broken Social Scene has announced It’s All Gonna Break, a documentary which chronicles the early years of the band's career and the creation of their first three albums. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, personal clips, live performances, and interviews with all members, including Feist and Emily Haines, the film premieres on October 16 at the Woodstock Film Festival. Watch the trailer here. ❖
» The Newport Folk Festival has launched the Newport Folk Stewardship Program, appointing Nathaniel Rateliff as its inaugural steward, the first artist in this role since Pete Seeger. Rateliff's three-year term will focus on artist advocacy, fellowship, and mentorship, with the final year involving advising the next appointee, continuing the festival's legacy. ❖
» Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is facing lawsuits from around 120 individuals, including 25 minors, accusing him of sexual abuse and assault. The cases involve both men and women, with some allegations dating back to when the victims were as young as nine years old. Also, Tupac Shakur's family has hired an attorney to investigate potential ties between Sean Combs and Tupac’s 1996 murder, following claims by Compton Crips gang member Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis that Combs offered $1 million for a hit on the rapper. Combs has denied involvement in the past, and Davis, recently charged with Shakur’s murder, is set to go to trial in March 2025. ❖
» Newlywed Lana Del Rey put a New Orleans paparazzi couple on blast for flying drones into her windows and stalking her and her new husband, Louisiana airboat captain Jeremy Dufrene, during their honeymoon. To be fair, it’s Louisiana so she could have easily mistaken the colossal mosquitos for drones. ❖
» B-SIDES
Kris Kristofferson Paid a Price for His Social Activism. He Didn’t Care.
"I'd be more marketable as a right-wing redneck," he once said, "but I got into this to tell the truth as I saw it." Kris was a man of integrity who always tried to do the right thing. His is a tremendous loss to the world of music, but also to the world at large. [RollingStone]
» Z-REX
BEST OF INSTAGRAM
Lost Canyons LA is one of my favorite Instagram follows, offering rare and never-before-seen timeless photos and stories about some of music’s biggest names who have called Laurel Canyon home over the years. Run by Los Angeles cultural historian Emmeline Summerton, @lostcanyonsla celebrates the history, music, art, and fashion of Laurel Canyon (and LA’s other iconic canyon communities.) Check it out and give Emmeline a follow!
BEST OF TIKTOK
Matt Pinfield is a legend in the world of music—former MTV VJ, TV host, DJ, music executive, podcaster—he does it all, and through his Threads account he takes us all along for the ride. Matt also happens to be one of the kindest humans you’ll ever meet, and he’s a huge inspiration to me on my sobriety journey.
BEST OF TIKTOK
Fuck Yr. Algorithm is a cool follow for music lovers on TikTok. Mick posts tons of rare videos, everything from performances to interviews, with icons like Bowie, The Cure, Ramones, Iggy, Henry Rollins, Prince, Kim Gordon, Nick Cave, and so many more.
» ALBUM SPOTLIGHT
ARTIST PROFILE
Texas native Leon Bridges has gained recognition for his modern R&B rooted in traditional soul, with a voice compared to the legendary Sam Cooke. His career highlights include Grammy nominations, a Grammy win for Best Traditional R&B Performance, and collaborations with artists like Kacey Musgraves, Khruangbin, Robert Glasper, Gary Clark Jr., Nick Waterhouse, The Avalanches, and Odesza.
ALBUM PROFILE
Leon was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it does not disappoint. Bridges has crafted a deeply soulful and beautiful album. Each of the 13 songs are emotionally rich, and that heartfelt fullness is further amplified by Leon’s smoky smooth vocals. This is a no-skip album, perfect for a chill Sunday afternoon (or any other time.) Favorite tracks include: all of them, but especially Laredo, Ain’t Got Nothing On You, Peaceful Place, Can’t Have It All, and Ivy.
FURTHER LISTENING
Check out the Khruangbin + Leon Bridges collaboration EPs Texas Sun & Texas Moon
LISTEN TO LEON
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Amazon | Tidal
RATING
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(5 out of 5)
» NEW RELEASES
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition) • Better Than Ezra: Friction, Baby (Vinyl Reissue) • Coldplay: Moon Music • Don Henley: Building the Perfect Beast (40th Anniversary Edition) • Finneas: For Cryin’ Out Loud! • Hazlett: Goodbye to the Valley • Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit: Live From the Ryman Vol. 2 • Joni Mitchell: Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) • Leon Bridges: Leon • Neil Young: Freedom (Vinyl Reissue) • Suede: Dog Man Star (30th Anniversary Edition)
» RELEASE RADAR
- OCT 11 -
Chat Pile: Cool World • Dawes: Oh Brother • The Linda Lindas: No Obligation • The Offspring: Supercharged
- OCT 18 -
Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session (Reissue) • Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked for the Holidays (Vinyl Reissue) • Fantastic Negrito: Son of a Broken Man • Japandroids: Fate & Alcohol • Jerry Cantrell (of Alice in Chains): I Want Blood • Joy Oladokun: Observations From a Crowded Room • Lizzie Weber: “Head Down” (single) • MC5: Heavy Lifting • Phantogram: Memory of a Day • Tim Heidecker: Slipping Away • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Long After Dark (Deluxe Edition)
- OCT 25 -
Amyl and the Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness • Bootsy Collins: Album of the Year # 1 Funkateer • Bryan Ferry: Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023 • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Live at Fillmore East, 1969 (2024 Mix) • Green Day: American Idiot (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) • Laura Marling: Patterns in Repeat • Lone Justice: Viva Lone Justice • Pixies: The Night the Zombies Came • Soccer Mommy: Evergreen • Tears For Fears: Songs for a Nervous Planet (Live)
- NOV 1 -
The Cure: Songs of a Lost World • Elvis Costello: King of America & Other Realms • Illiterate Light: Arches • Ivy: Long Distance (Vinyl Reissue) • Weezer: Weezer 30 (Anniversary Super Deluxe) • Willie Nelson: Last Leaf on the Tree
- NOV 8 -
Neil Young: On the Beach (Vinyl Reissue - 50th Anniversary Edition) • Orbital: A Beginner’s Guide • Primal Scream: Come Ahead • Talking Heads: Talking Heads: 77 (Vinyl Reissue - Super Deluxe Edition - 2024 Remaster) • The Tragically Hip: Up To Here (Box Set) • Violent Femmes: Hallowed Ground (Vinyl Reissue)
» ON THIS DATE
- OCT 7 -
Birthdays: Kevin Godley (1945) • John Mellencamp (1951) • Toni Braxton (1967) • Thom Yorke (1968) • Lewis Capaldi (1996) || John Lennon was awarded his green card—permanent residency status—at a hearing in New York which overturned previous efforts by the U.S. Government to deport him. (1976)
- OCT 8 -
Birthdays: Johnny Ramone (1948) • Teddy Riley of Blackstreet (1967) • Bruno Mars (1985) || U2 celebrated their first #1 hit in the UK with “Desire.” The Irish rockers’ 12th single appeared on the album Rattle and Hum, which featured both live and studio recordings. In addition to being a career landmark for U2, the high-energy track (built on a classic Bo Diddley beat), also broke chart records in the U.S., becoming the first song to top both Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. The following year, “Desire” earned a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. (1988)
- OCT 9 -
Birthdays: John Lennon (1940) • John Entwistle of The Who (1944) • Jackson Browne (1948) • PJ Harvey (1970) • Sean Ono Lennon (1975) || Marking what would have been John Lennon's 45th birthday, Yoko Ono formally opened the three and a half acre garden at the Strawberry Fields site in New York's Central Park. (1985)
- OCT 10 -
Birthdays: John Prine (1946) • Cyril Neville (1948) • Sharon Osbourne (1952) • Midge Ure (1953) • David Lee Roth (1955) • Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet (1961) || The real Eleanor Rigby died in her sleep of unknown causes at the age of 44. (1939)
- OCT 11 -
Birthday: Daryl Hall (1946) • Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms (1962) || Dave Grohl played his first gig with Nirvana when they appeared at the North Shore Surf Club in Olympia. (1990) • Rudolph Isley, of The Isley Brothers, died from an apparent heart attack at his home at the age of 84. (2023)
- OCT 12 -
Birthdays: Sam Moore (1935) • Pat Dinizio of The Smithereens (1955) • David Letts of The Damned (1956) • Martie Maguire of The Chicks (1969) || Blondie appeared at CBGB’s for the first time. (1974) • From the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, Sex Pistol bassist Sid Vicious called police to say someone stabbed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. He was arrested and charged with murder. Vicious died of a heroin overdose before the case went to trial. (1978)
- OCT 13 -
Birthdays: Paul Simon (1941) • Sammy Hagar (1947) || TV host Ed Sullivan died. (1974) • Bob Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the first songwriter to win the prestigious award. The 75-year-old rock legend received the prize "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." (2016)
» CODA
If you enjoy Zappagram, please consider backing me by upgrading to a paid subscription. For the price of a happy meal, you can become a patron, helping me feed my family, while supporting the cause of independent music journalism.
May your vinyl remain unwarped, unlike your sense of humor. 🤘🏻
I really don’t wanna believe Garth Brooks was a creep to someone :^( love ya, Chris.
Oh, and since it’s Kevin Godley’s birthday, everyone listen to “Group Life” by Godley and Creme and tell me it’s not pop genius.