SXSW 2022: Best Bands

SXSW made its cautious, yet triumphant return earlier in March after its abrupt cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The city of Austin took a safe approach to this year’s festival by opening many onsite testing facilities, as well as administering a digital pass for all vaccinated festival-goers. Even with safeguards in place, the […]

Dancing in confetti with The Flaming Lips in St. Louis

The Flaming Lips recently made a stop in St. Louis for their American Head Tour. The sold-out show at The Pageant featured a theatrical mixture of blow-up robots, rainbows and, of course, confetti. Opening the show was a rock band from Cincinnati called the Heartless Bastards, led by songwriter and front-woman Erika Wennerstrom. The band’s […]

Eclectic Soundtrax Podcast, Ep. 68: Luke Reyvn

In this episode of Eclectic Soundtrax, hosts Skunk Manhattan and Victor Ramos chat with up-and-coming pop rock artist, Luke Reyvn. Luke began his musical career young in Hawaii, playing in punk rock bands and recording demos with friends. During that time, he also participated in school theater and choir, exhibiting early aspirations of becoming a […]

Joywave thrills Nashville’s Mercy Lounge

It seems to be a recurring theme that whenever I attend a concert these days in Nashville, the weather seems to be inclement. The last couple of shows I have attended have all come with either a snowstorm or some type of heavy rain. This Wednesday was no exception, as a tornado warning was called […]

Billie Eilish takes Happier Than Ever Tour to Sacramento

On the evening of Thursday, March 31st, thousands of fans descended upon Golden 1 Center in Sacramento to see Top 40’s brightest star — Billie Eilish. This show actually sold out in 2021, but was subsequently moved to 2022 due to COVID-19 protection measures. That did not deter the excitement, though, as the entry line nearly wrapped […]

Napa ready to uncork the next BottleRock for 2022

Wine meets music at the 8th Annual BottleRock Fest in Napa, California this May 27th through 29th! The three-day fest will include headliners Metallica, P!nk and Twenty One Pilots, with support from Luke Combs, The Black Crowes, Kygo, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Mount Westmore, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, CHVRCHES, Banks, Bleachers, Alessia Cara, Vance Joy, Silversun […]

Peach Pit sells out Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl

The Canadian indie pop band Peach Pit sold out Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl on a Monday night! Fans lined up early and wrapped around the street corner for a chance to be close to the front. The night started off with opener Haley Blais, serenading the audience with an acoustic performance, followed by an introduction of […]

A Trainwreck with Kyle Gass hootenanny in San Diego

It was a rainy Monday night in San Diego on March 28th — the kind that scares SoCalians into little balls on the couch with sweatpants and Thai food. Yet, before this epic storm, I had heard that one half of the majestic comedic rock band, Tenacious D, was to be performing in my town […]

alt-J & Portugal. The Man transfix San Diego

The Pechanga Arena in San Diego was lined up at all entrances on Friday, March 25th for a mashup made in heaven starring two of the biggest names in alternative rock — alt-J and Portugal. The Man. Both bands have made their stake on the radio, on festival bills and, now, on a co-headlining arena […]

Daughtry’s intense, yet inspiring show in Los Angeles

On March 21st, Daughtry brought some heavy rock to Los Angeles, supporting his fresh release, Dearly Beloved, which came out in September. Tremonti was the opening act. Since November, both bands have been traveling all around the country, with plenty of dates left on tour! A nice dark stage setting, virtuoso guitar, drum solos and […]

Slam Dunk Fest set for Leeds & Hatfield for summer 2022

The annual Slam Dunk Festival returns to the United Kingdom this summer! The North installation of the festival takes place on Friday, June 3rd at Temple Newsam in Leeds, followed by the South installation on Saturday, June 4th at Hatfield Park in Hatfield. Slam Dunk is a one-day festival taking place in two different cities […]

My Forte Artist Spotlight: Mobley

How does one describe a phenom consistently setting the bar ever higher in creativity, sound and musicianship? Singer-songwriter, ‘Curator of the Creative’, pitch-perfect (figuratively and literally), multi-instrumentalist, genre-defying performance perfection? Those are but a few of the many impressions Mobley leaves on anyone lucky enough to cross his path. One of Austin’s best and brightest, […]

Oliver Tree steers Cowboy Tears World Tour into Nashville

Fans of all ages filled the sold out Oliver Tree show at Marathon Music Works on a rainy Tuesday night in Nashville, Tennessee on March 22nd. His two openers, 347aidan and Sueco, prepped the crowd for a whimsical evening with Oliver, playing their TikTok hit songs “Dancing in My Room” and “fast”, respectively. The Nashville […]

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 […]