What was the first album you ever bought with your own money? [QOTW, 2/2/25]

February 2, 2025 — Leave a comment

I decided to change the title format for these posts. Anyone reading, feel free to leave your answer in my comments!!! Not all the questions will be catered to bands/artists.

  • “Underoath: They’re Only Chasing Safety.” – Seethe
  • “Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe.” – TJ, K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
  • “Mine was a cassette. T-Rex: The Collection. It had a cool photo of Marc Bolan on the cover!” – Richard, RJ Archer and the Painful Memories
  • “Mariah Carey: One Sweet Day. Guilty as charged.” – Martin, Naked Sunday
  • “First CD purchase was two. Bought both Slipknot’s and Flaw’s debut albums.” – Encircled Throne
  • “Foreigner: 4, in 4th or 5th grade.” – A/V Cult
  • “Mötley Crüe: Decade of Decadence.” – Deadly Vices
  • “Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet, when I was in the 3rd grade.” – Mandatory Affect
  • “Sum 41: All Killer, No Filler.” – The Welcoming
  • “Europe: The Final Countdown, when I had just turned 9.” – Xavi, The Lürxx
  • “Megadeth: Countdown to Extinction on cassette.” – Marco, After the Apocalypse
  • “The first album I bought was KISS on vinyl.” – Scot, Road to Ruin
  • “My first two records, I got them together, were Toto’s Through the Looking Glass and Dream Theater’s Scenes From a Memory.” – Kyle, AV/drum tech, ex-Edge of Destiny

Capstan: The Cult Tour 2025

February 1, 2025 — Leave a comment

Progressive post-hardcore outfit Capstan will be touring this spring, performing a career spanning set that includes acoustic songs they’ve never played live. Joining them on the road will be Colorblind, True North, and Not Enough Space. Tickets and VIP are available at capstanband.com!

  • 3/21 – Jacksonville, FL – Underbelly*
  • 3/22 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar*
  • 3/23 – Pensacola, FL – Handlebar*
  • 3/25 – Dallas, TX – RBC Deep Ellum
  • 3/26 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage
  • 3/28 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
  • 3/29 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
  • 3/30 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
  • 3/31 – Las Vegas, NV – Sinwave
  • 4/1 – Fresno, CA – Strummer’s
  • 4/2 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
  • 4/4 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
  • 4/5 – Portland, OR – Dante’s
  • 4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
  • 4/9 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
  • 4/11 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar
  • 4/12 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
  • 4/13 – Ferndale, MI – The Loving Touch
  • 4/14 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck Bar
  • 4/16 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s
  • 4/17 – Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall
  • 4/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
  • 4/19 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
  • 4/20 – Brooklyn, NY – The Brooklyn Monarch
  • 4/22 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
  • 4/23 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club
  • 4/24 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
  • 4/25 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
  • 4/26 – Orlando, FL – The Abbey

* No True North

The Mostly Music 2025 Playlist, Pt. 1 (Updated 1/31/25)

January 31, 2025 — Leave a comment

This is the second, and final, playlist update for January. I have already begun compiling my Top 50 of 2025 – I think this year is going to be difficult to narrow down… (I say that every year, but I already have 6 contenders and it’s not even February. If that happens every month, my life is going to be a challenge come December. Ha ha!)

Here are the tracks that have been added to the playlist since January 14th. You can view the list in its entirety here.

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2025 [Updated 1/30/25]

January 30, 2025 — Leave a comment

January has been a slow month, but I still read six books! (The number isn’t my best; in my defense, it took a while to get through Watership Down and The Hobbit.)

Here are the novels I finished and my rating of each.

The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath)

Rating: 4/5

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas (Jacqueline Frost)

Rating: 5/5

Watership Down (Richard Adams)

Rating: 3.5/5

Horror Movie (Paul Tremblay)

Rating: 4/5

The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Rating: 4/5

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)

Rating: 4/5

***

I am currently reading The Murder of Sleepy Hollow (Michele Pariza Wacek) and Unholy Magic (Stacia Kane).

Progress: 6/50

Attila: America’s Rejects Tour 2025

January 29, 2025 — Leave a comment

Attila is setting out alongside Butcher Babies, Ded, Dealer, and Nathan James for the America’s Rejects Tour! The spring run of 23 shows will kick off March 4th in Destin, Florida. Tickets are on sale now at attilaband.com!

  • 3/4 – Destin, FL – Club LA
  • 3/6 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
  • 3/7 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Studio
  • 3/8 – Dallas, TX – Trees
  • 3/10 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
  • 3/11 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
  • 3/13 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
  • 3/14 – Eaglewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
  • 3/15 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
  • 3/18 – Iowa City, IA – Wildwood Saloon
  • 3/19 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe
  • 3/20 – West Chicago, IL – The WC Social Club
  • 3/21 – Lansing, MI – Grewal Hall at 224
  • 3/22 – Covington, KY – Madison Theatre
  • 3/25 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
  • 3/26 – Amityville, NY – Amityville Music Hall
  • 3/27 – Scranton, PA – Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center
  • 3/28 – Brooklyn, NY – The Brooklyn Monarch
  • 3/29 – Reading, PA – Reverb
  • 3/31 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
  • 4/1 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
  • 4/2 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
  • 4/4 – West Palm Beach, FL – The Banyan Live
  • 4/5 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum

Red: Of Beauty and Rage 10th Anniversary Tour

January 28, 2025 — Leave a comment

Red has announced a run of dates in April celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their fifth album, Of Beauty and Rage. The tour features special guests Adelitas Way, Nerv, and Kingdom Collapse! Tickets are available at red.komi.io.

  • 4/11 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge*
  • 4/12 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater
  • 4/13 – Asbury Park, NJ – House of Independents*
  • 4/15 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
  • 4/16 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
  • 4/17 – Savannah, GA – Victory North
  • 4/18 – Fort Myers, FL – The Ranch*
  • 4/19 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
  • 4/22 – Destin, FL – Club LA
  • 4/24 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
  • 4/25 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
  • 4/27 – Dallas, TX – Trees*

* No Kingdom Collapse

Question of the Week [Jan. 26, 2025]

January 26, 2025 — Leave a comment

Hello, all! I have started a new feature for this blog. Each Monday, I will be posting a question to my socials for bands/artists to answer, then I will compile them and share the responses here on Sundays.

I shared the first one this past Monday, the 20th, and it has gotten quite a reaction! As you’ll see, some bands specified who was answering and their roles, while others didn’t. Check it out.

Who are your biggest influences? (You personally, not the band as a whole.)

  • “Dio, Def Leppard, KISS, Elvis.” – Joe (vocals), Freaky Things
  • “Black Sabbath, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Motörhead.” – Michael Jahrling (vocals/bass), Rail Rage
  • “Descendents, NOFX, Blink-182, The Ataris.” – Brad (vocals/guitar), Frick
  • “Mainly Creedence [Clearwater Revival], Slade, Status Quo, and The Donnas.” – Richard (vocals/guitar), RJ Archer & the Painful Memories
  • “Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Maynard James Keenan, Jonathan Davis, and Seether.” – Adam (vocals/writing), EverFelt
  • “Tool, A Perfect Circle, Cave In, Periphery, Thrice, Coheed and Cambria.” – The Welcoming
  • “Lyrically, I am inspired by Jonathan Davis [Korn], but also heavily influenced by bands like Project Pitchfork, Skinny Puppy, and Spahn Ranch!” – TJ (vocals/et. al), K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
  • “Black Sabbath, Deep Purple/Rainbow, Judas Priest, Metallica, Rush, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Voivoid, Death, Godflesh, Brutal Truth… I could go on.” – Ritchie (guitars), Gravehuffer
  • “I pull influences from everywhere, mostly heavy stuff but [also] pop all the way to country, on rare occasions.  My faves, though, are Chelsea Grin, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Bring Me The Horizon.” – Joseph, Encircled Throne
  • “Bob Dylan remains my greatest influence/inspiration, as far as songwriting. As far as musicians… Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa, and Herbie Hancock.” – Bruce Nielsen  (songwriter/guitar/harmonica/bass), The Immaculate Crows
  • “Phil Collins, Taylor Hawkins, Tony Fernandez, John Bonham, and Chad Smith.” – Alex (drums), Neon Society
  • “Lzzy Hale, Tim [Rise Against], and Peter Steele [Type O Negative].” – Nico (vocals), Little Evil
  • “Maynard [Tool, APC, etc.], Noah [Bad Omens], Poppy, and Devin [Honey Revenge].” – Allie Riot
  • “Trey Anastasio [Phish], Jerry Garcia,  and Jimmy Buffet.” – Vesper (vocals), Til Fauna
  • “Wes Borland, Jerome Dillon, Tim Skold, Andy LaPlegua [Icon of Coil/Combichrist], Marilyn Manson, Richard Patrick [Filter], and Trent Reznor.” – Mike Novo (drums), Kendall Cage
  • “John Lennon has been my biggest influence. Noel Gallagher [Oasis], in terms of songwriting.” – Izzy (vocals), Lazy Ghouls
  • “I’m pretty predictable when it comes to this. Metallica was the ultimate for me. Aside from that… Nirvana, Alice in Chains, STP. And the classics: AC/DC, Eagles, CCR, Ozzy. I went through a country/blues phase, so Robert Johnson, Son House, Muddy Waters, Fred McDowell. Newer stuff? I dig Unpeople, Post Profit, The Funeral Portrait, Ayron Jones.” – Anthony (guitar/songwriting), Deadly Vices
  • “Sparks, Trio [aka ZAM], Iron Maiden, Japanther, CRASS, and Darkthrone.” – Buzz (songwriting/recording), Buzz N’ Bangs
  • “I’m old-school. Geezer Butler, Steve Harris. A few modern players like Alex Webster and John Myung.” – Mike (bass), Welcome Eternity
  • “DJ Ashba and Jeff Beck.” – Sabú, The Lürxx
  • “On guitar, Izzy Stradlin, late 60s/early 70s Keith Richards. On vocals, Roger Daltrey, Steve Marriott [Humble Pie/Small Faces], and Jon LeSte.” Xavi, The Lürxx
  • “Frank Zappa.” – Acting Human
  • “Gene Simmons and Angus Young.” – Wayne, Element 117
  • “Korn, Linkin Park, NIN, and lots of 90s pop, especially Savage Garden.” – ruin the mind
  • “Pearl Jam, The Cult, Foo Fighters.” – Winter in May
  • “Dissection, Megadeth, Halfway to Gone, Cradle of Filth, Queens of the Stone Age, Alice in Chains.” – Marco (guitars), After the Apocalypse
  • “Classic rock artists like The Beatles, Aerosmith, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin.” – Steven, Tin Zelkova
  • “BRMC, The BJM, The Pixies, Idles, Fontaines DC, Amyl and the Sniffers.” – Televised Mind
  • “Thrice, Killswitch Engage, Coheed and Cambria, Deftones, Tom Petty, Smashing Pumpkins, Jimi Hendrix, The Warning, Pennywise, RHCP, Metallica, Velvet Revolver.” – Mandatory Affect