Hey everyone,
I want to wish everyone a Happy Pride Month! As an LGBTQ+ ally, I celebrate and stand in solidarity with my beautiful friends who are part of that incredible community.
This week’s edition is so jam-packed that I’m running up against size limits for this email which may already be too long for some of your email clients to properly render. So, without adding more heft to an already hefty dispatch, let’s just jump right into what’s happening in the world of music. (Hint: it’s a lot!)
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This music newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
“Art is about building a new foundation, not just laying something on top of what's already there.”
—Prince
ROCK THE VOTE
:: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
WEEKLY PLAYLIST #60
:: NEW MUSIC EVERY WEEK
Featuring: Butch Bastard, Bluhm, Wye Oak, Pearl Earl, Beach Fossils, Allegra Miles, Goose, Peter Gabriel, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Blue Monday, Zola Jesus, Amy Winehouse, Cannons, Myles Smith, Thee Sacred Souls, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Bruce Springsteen, Band of Skulls, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters
ZAPPAGRAM #60
ZAPPAGRAM PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
:: WHAT’S GOING ON
Ethel Cain Collapses Onstage at Sydney Opera House
On Saturday night, Ethel Cain’s performance at the Sydney Opera House ended abruptly after the singer collapsed onstage [Pitchfork]
The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds Re-Released With New Dolby Atmos Mix
Producer Giles Martin oversaw the remixing of the 1966 classic album [Pitchfork]
Chuck D To Narrate Audible Series Exploring Hip-Hop’s South Bronx Origins
‘Can You Dig It?’ examines how a gang truce paved the way for the birth of the genre in 1973 [Spin]
Gorillaz Announce September 2023 U.S. Concerts
The four-stop tour of the United States this September, with shows in Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, and Boston [Pitchfork]
Cynthia Weil, Storied Songwriter With Decades of Hits, Dead at 82
With her husband/creative partner Barry Mann, Weil wrote classics like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "Somewhere Out There," and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" [RollingStone]
Replacements Photos Removed From University Of Minnesota Building
A university librarian was told that the photos were removed due to student complaints [Stereogum]
Coldplay’s Eco-Friendly Tour Reduced Their Carbon Emissions by Nearly Half
The band describe the new figures as a "good start" but say more work is to be done [NME]
Ben Folds Reveals New Album, 2023 Tour Dates
What Matters Most, is his first studio album in eight years. The project is out now and to support the release, Folds has mapped out an extensive U.S. tour [Consequence]
OK Go and Post Settle Lawsuit Over Same-Name Cereal
The indie-pop band and breakfast titan reach a confidential agreement on the matter of "OK Go!" just-add-water cereal cups [RollingStone]
Bruce Springsteen Celebrates 45th Anniversary Of Darkness On The Edge Of Town With Rare Live Tracks, Photos
A playlist of rare live versions of every track from the album was released today (June 2) and includes 10 additional songs from the period, which were recorded at legendary stops on the Boss’ 1978 tour [Spin]
Z-REX
:: ZAPPA’S RECOMMENDATIONS
+ I love TikTok. There are some amazing creators there making fascinating music-related videos. From my friend Cat (who I’ll soon be collaborating with) who runs a TikTok all about Led Zeppelin, to my friend Nick who deep-dives into classic albums as they age, or as he puts it he “throws birthday parties for my record collection.” I’ll be highlighting more of my TikTok music pals in coming weeks.
+ Ben Myers wrote a piece titled “There Goes My Hero” about Joey Ramone, arguing that he was the ultimate punk, and perhaps the greatest frontman the world has ever known. He wasn’t confident and capable like Bowie, nimble and untamed like Iggy, articulate like John Lydon, or as pretty as Jim Morrison, but he was real. He was believable. He was the underdog, the loser, the dysfunctional weirdo.
+ In honor of Pride Month, Loudwire published a piece titled 29 LGBTQIA+ Icons in Rock + Metal which is an amazing list full of incredible performers, however, they left one icon who is near and dear to my heart out of that list, and that is one of my favorite artists of all time, the inimitable Rufus Wainwright. Rufus just released a new album this week, but I wanted to include two live performances—one from the 90s where he does one of my favorite songs, “Poses,” and one from a couple of years ago where he does one of my other favorite songs, “Go Or Go Ahead.” Back in the day when someone was an amazing singer, we’d say, “I could listen to them sing the phone book” but since phone books aren’t a thing anymore, I don’t know what the modern-day equivalent would be…but I’d listen to Rufus Wainwright sing anything, anytime, anywhere. His 2003 album, Want One, is a flawless, no-skip masterpiece in case you’re looking for a good place to start.
NEW RELEASES
:: RECENTLY DROPPED MUSIC
Ben Folds: What Matters Most [listen]
Ben Harper: Wide Open Light [listen]
Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom [listen]
Bully: Lucky For You [listen]
Cowboy Junkies: Such Ferocious Beauty [listen]
Foo Fighters: But Here We Are [listen]
Half Moon Run: Salt [listen]
Louise Post (of Veruca Salt): Sleepwalker [listen]
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: What If I EP [listen]
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Council Skies [listen]
Rancid: Tomorrow Never Comes [listen]
Rufus Wainwright: Folkocracy [listen]
RELEASE RADAR
:: UPCOMING RELEASES
- JUN 9 -
The Boo Radleys: Eight
Christine and the Queens: Paranoia, Angels, True Love
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit: Weathervanes
Jenny Lewis: Joy’All
Love and Rockets: My Sweet Twin
My Morning Jacket: MMJ Live Vol. 3: Bonnaroo 2004
Youth Lagoon: Heaven Is a Junkyard
- JUN 13 -
Spoon: Memory Dust EP
- JUN 16 -
Balmorhea: Pendant World
Drive-By Truckers: The Complete Dirty South
The Flaming Lips: Hypnotist EP
Hand Habits: Sugar the Bruise EP
John Mellencamp: Orpheus Descending
Mötörhead: Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival ’07
Queens Of The Stone Age: In Times New Roman…
Son Volt: Day of the Doug
The Teskey Brothers: The Winding Way
- JUN 23 -
Albert Hammond Jr: Melodies on Hiatus
Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson: Loving You
Candlebox: Live at the Neptune
Lloyd Cole: On Pain
M. Ward: Supernatural Thing
Portugal. the Man: Chris Black Changed My Life
Sleepy Gonzales: Mercy Kill EP
Wye Oak: Every Day Like the Last
- JUN 30 -
Charlie Watts: Anthology
Frank Zappa: Funky Nothingness
Grateful Dead: Here Comes Sunshine 1973
The Jins: It’s A Life
Lucinda Williams: Stories From a Rock n Roll Heart
- JUL 7 -
ANOHNI and the Johnsons: My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross
Local Natives: Time Will Wait for No One
PJ Harvey: I Inside the Old Year Dying
Taylor Swift: Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
ON THIS DATE
:: MUSICAL HAPPENINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
- JUN 5 -
Michael Davis, bassist for MC5 was born in Detroit, MI (1943) • Freddie Stone, guitarist of Sly and the Family Stone was born in Vallejo, CA & Avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson was born in Glen Ellyn, IL (1947) • Nicko McBrain, drummer of Iron Maiden was born in London (1952) • Richard Butler, singer with English rock band The Psychedelic Furs was born in London & Kenneth Bruce "Kenny G" Gorelick was born in Seattle, WA (1956) • Pete Wentz, bassist of Fall Out Boy was born in Wilmette, IL (1979) • Robert Zimmerman, a.k.a. Bob Dylan, graduated from high school in Hibbing, MN, where he was known as a greaser to classmates in the remote rural community, because of his long sideburns and leather jacket. (1959) • Dee Dee Ramone died, aged 49, at his Hollywood apartment of a heroin overdose. (2002)
- JUN 6 -
Bassist Tony Levin was born in Boston, MA (1946) • Guitarist Steve Vai was born in Carle Place, NY (1960) • Tom Araya, bassist of Slayer, was born in Chile (1960) • James Shaffer, a.k.a. Munky, bassist for Korn was born in Rosedale, CA (1970) • Jeremy Gara, drummer for Arcade Fire, was born in Ottawa, ON & Carl Barat, singer of The Libertines, was born in Hampshire, England (1978) • Ross MacDonald, bassist of The 1975 was born in Manchester, England (1989) • The first Beatles recording session during which they recorded “Love Me Do” took place at Abbey Road studios. (1962) • The Rolling Stones released “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in the U.S. (1965) • John & Yoko jammed live on stage with Frank Zappa at The Fillmore East in New York. (1971) • RCA Records released “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton. (1974) • Dr. John, known for music combining blues, pop, jazz, boogie woogie, and rock and roll, died in New Orleans at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack. (2019) • Jim Seals, of Seals and Crofts, died in Nashville at the age of 80. (2022)
- JUN 7 -
American singer/actor/comedian/producer, Dean Martin, a.k.a. "King Of Cool" was born in Steubenville, OH (1917) • Welsh singer, Tom Jones, was born in Treforest, Wales (1940) • Prince Rogers Nelson, a.k.a. Prince, was born in Minneapolis, MN (1958) • Eric Kretz, drummer of Stone Temple Pilots, was born in San Jose, CA (1966) • Dave Navarro, guitarist of Jane’s Addiction was born in Santa Monica, CA (1967) • Dave Bayley, singer of Glass Animals, was born in Oxford, England (1989) • David Bowie played a concert in West Berlin in front of the Reichstag with speakers pointing towards the Berlin Wall where thousands of young East Berliners stood and listened. (1987) • Bob Welch, an early member of Fleetwood Mac who enjoyed a successful solo career with hits such as “Ebony Eyes,” was found dead of an apparent suicide at his home in Nashville. (2012)
- JUN 8 -
Nancy Sinatra was born in Jersey City, NJ (1940) • Chuck Negron, American singer-songwriter with Three Dog Night was born in NYC (1942) • Boz Scaggs was born in Canton, OH (1944) • Bonnie Tyler was born in Wales (1953) • Mick Hucknall of Simply Red was born in Manchester (1960) • Nick Rhodes, keyboards, Duran Duran was born in Birmingham, England (1962) • Tears For Fears started a two-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” (1985)
- JUN 9 -
Cole Porter was born in Peru, IN (1891) • Les Paul was born in Waukesha, WI (1915) • Soul singer Jackie Wilson was born in Detroit, MI (1934) • During an evening session, Bob Dylan recorded “Mr. Tambourine Man” at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. (1964)
- JUN 10 -
Blues god Chester Burnett, a.k.a. Howlin Wolf, was born in White Station, MS (1910) • Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids, MN (1922) • Kim Deal, bassist of Pixies and The Breeders, was born in Dayton, OH (1961) • Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was born in Joliet, IL (1964) • Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago was born in Manila, Philippines (1965) • The Eagles released their fourth studio album One of These Nights which became the Eagles' first No.1 album on Billboard's chart. The album produced three top 10 singles 'One of These Nights', 'Lyin' Eyes' and 'Take It to the Limit'. (1975) • Joe Strummer and Nicky Headon from The Clash were each fined £5 by a London court for spray-painting “The Clash” on a wall. (1977) • Ray Charles died aged 73 at his home in Beverly Hills, CA. (2004)
- JUN 11 -
Frank Beard, American drummer with ZZ Top was born in Frankston, TX (1949) • Steven Drozd, drummer for The Flaming Lips was born in Houston, TX (1969) • The Rolling Stones started a two-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Paint It Black.” (1966)
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CZ 🤘🏻
Zappagram #60: Rufus Wainwright is my homeboy