Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Dinosaur Jr. There Near Review: Thirteen albums in, noise-rock power trio still roars. On There Near (August 28th via Jagjaguwar), the band’s 13th full-length album and their first collection of new material since 2021’s Sweep It Into Space, J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph return with an album that is both unmistakably Dinosaur Jr. and […]
John Carpenter’s ‘Cathedral’ Review: The Horror Master gives his synthwave sound a metal makeover on graphic novel soundtrack. John Carpenter is more than just a filmmaker behind some of the most iconic and influential horror and sci-fi films ever made. His creativity has never been confined to the director’s chair. He’s a filmmaker, composer, musician, […]
Hair Metal Veterans Turn Up the Heat in Central Texas Leander’s Haute Spot lived up to its name this week, with soaring temperatures making for a sweaty evening under the Texas sky. Fortunately, the scorching weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of fans who packed the venue for a double bill featuring West Coast […]
The Church honor their 45th anniversary with The Singles Tour, a career-spanning set at Austin’s Long Center. Aussie psychedelic act The Church are best known for their dreamy single “Under the Milky Way”. But to die-hard fans, they’re equally revered for deep cuts from their entire catalogue. This makes the group’s current Singles Tour (1980-2025) […]
The Black Queen celebrate debut album Fever Daydream’s 10-year anniversary with moody, musical at set at Elysium, Austin. Greg Puciato has built one of the most eclectic careers in modern heavy music. Best known for the unhinged chaos of The Dillinger Escape Plan, he has also fronted the supergroups Killer Be Killed and Better Lovers, […]
Guitarist/producer of The Butthole Surfers talks long awaited album, band doc, and group’s turbulent history on our latest podcast episode. In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Leary, guitarist, producer, and founding member of legendary Texas alt-rockers the Butthole Surfers, to discuss the long-awaited release of the band’s “lost” album, After the Astronaut. Originally recorded […]
Toadies ‘The Charmer’ Review: Texas alt-rockers get vulnerable and atmospheric on long-awaited release produced by the late Steve Albini. The setup alone tells you this isn’t just another legacy-band release. Toadies finally got into a room with the late producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey). not decades ago, when it might’ve made obvious commercial sense, […]
Influential alt-rockers conquer demons and shake up their signature sound on eclectics new album. Three decades after first warping the boundaries of alternative rock, Failure remain a band defined by instability in the best possible sense. Their music has always lived in a tenuous nexus where melody and dissonance coexist, resulting in a beautiful tension […]
Concert Review: Puscifer keep Austin weird during intense, spirited set, performing new album in full, interspersed with fan favorites. Puscifer has always walked a tightrope between satire and sincerity. The multimedia project, fronted by Maynard James Keenan alongside co-vocalist Carina Round, builds soundscapes spiked with absurdist lyrics that provoke and entertain. This approach has proven […]
Album Review: Puscifer – Normal Isn’tFeb 6/Puscifer Entertainment / Alchemy Recordings / BMG More than two decades into its existence, and closer to a quarter-century if you trace its earliest incarnations, Puscifer has quietly become Maynard James Keenan’s most prolific and responsive creative outlet. Where Tool moves with tectonic patience and A Perfect Circle operates […]
