The ‘soft opening’ of Ventura Music Hall, with G. Love

If the inside looks familiar, that’s probably because you’ve visited the building in its past life as a fusion bowling alley/small(er) music venue, formerly known as Discovery Ventura. While the bowling lanes have been replaced in favor of additional high-top seating, the large horseshoe bar, booth seating area and notable Quonset hut-style, wood-paneled ceiling all […]

In memoriam of reggae legend, Ras Denroy Morgan

Beloved patriarch, zealous Rastafarian, global activist, musical prodigy and father of reggae dynasty Morgan Heritage, Ras Denroy Morgan was a man among men. The father of 30, grandfather of 104 and great-grandfather of 15 devoted his life to his legacy and his faith, all through his passion for music. Morgan is widely regarded as a […]

Artikal Sound System sues Dua Lipa over copyright infringement

Imagine toiling over a piece of art you’re creating. You’ve given everything you have to finish it and make it perfect. Now, imagine someone copies that piece of art. They gain notoriety, accrue accolades and make a boatload of cash off your work. Uncool and unethical, right? According to documents filed with the Los Angeles […]

Fortunate Youth drops ‘Good Times (Roll On)’ full-length LP

POV: You’re at your first Halloween party since COVID ruined everyone’s life and the vibe is kinda off… (who isn’t suffering from quarantine-induced social anxiety and awkwardness?). The host frantically asks you to “put on something everyone will want to dance to”. What do you do? You throw on Fortunate Youth’s newest album, obviously. Their […]

How new ‘Castles’ album hoists The Elovaters sky-high

A month to the day after this Boston-based sextet dropped their third studio album titled Castles, I hit The Elovaters’ Nick Asta and Matty Link’s recents and chatted them up, regarding the many aspects that make Castles unique and, well, for lack of a better phrase, utterly addicting. From their multifaceted collaboration styles to their […]

SOJA teams with Rebelution & UB40 in “The Day You Came” single

Unreciprocated love… it can happen to even the most beautiful, desirable and luckiest-in-love of us. It’s the sucker punch that keeps on punching; wanting someone who doesn’t want you back is not only unfathomably disappointing and soul-shattering, it can be downright embarrassing (not you driving an hour to see someone who doesn’t always text you […]

In memoriam of hip hop legend, Zumbi of Zion I

“… Always in my life, till the day that I die,” raps Zumbi of Zion I, to conclude one of his most poignant verses in “Bird’s Eye View”. Yet, not a single person ever expected for those words to come to fruition so abruptly. Born Stephen Gaines, his family has confirmed the prolific MC’s untimely […]

Rebelution relishes life ‘In The Moment’

What does it mean to be ‘in the moment’? Is it appreciating life as it comes? Is it focusing on only the here and now? Is it being grateful for everything that’s happened or will happen? According to Rebelution’s new album, In The Moment, it’s all the above.  Created remotely in the thick of quarantine […]

J.Lately releases spin-worthy “Rotate” single with Dizzy Wright

The Bay Area sure knows how to raise some unique talent. Hailing from Sebastopol, by way of Oakland, emcee J.Lately separates himself from the city noise through his soulful rhythm and laidback style — both abundantly apparent in his recent collaboration “Rotate”, with West Coast Trey and Dizzy Wright. This bouncy, inspirational summer hit has […]

Bayfest set to return to San Diego’s waterfront July 2021

What do Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, Fortunate Youth, The Aggrolites, KBong and DENM all have in common? Besides the fact they’re all from SoCal and make the music we love, if you guessed they’re all on the lineup for Bayfest San Diego 2021, you’d be correct! This one-day festival is returning July 10th to […]