Welcome to The Mostly Music 2024 Playlist, Part 4, which will include singles released in July and August (and maybe a couple from the very end of June). You can follow the playlist here. Be sure to check out the other installments as well!
English peers Deep Purple and Yes are touring North America together this summer in honor of 50 years of the former’s infamous track “Smoke on the Water.” (Don’t do the math. Haha!) The 1 More Time Tour will visit 19 cities with stops in Florida, Ontario, and several places in between. Tickets are available at deeppurple.com and yesworld.com! Deep Purple is also offering VIP experiences.
8/14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
8/15 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
8/17 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/18 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Casino, Grand Theatre**
8/19 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
8/21 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
8/22 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
8/23 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
8/25 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8/27 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
8/28 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
8/30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
8/31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
9/1 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Fozzy is celebrating 25 years as a band! If you’re like me, you weren’t properly introduced to these hard rockers until they were fronted by pro wrestler Chris Jericho; however, the band was actually formed back in 1999 by lead guitarist Rich Ward and drummer Frank Fontsere.
The 25th Anniversary Tour kicks off in October and features special guests The Nocturnal Affair and Clozure. You can snag tickets and VIP now at fozzyrock.com!
Slipknot is celebrating 25 years since they roared onto the scene with the release of their self-titled debut album. In honor of this anniversary, the metal outfit is bringing their Here Comes the Pain Tour to North America this summer and fall. Joining them on the road will be hardcore punk band Knocked Loose, as well as special guests Orbit Culture for the first leg and Vended on the second leg.
You can get your tickets and VIP experiences at slipknot1.com!
8/6 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center*
8/7 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake*
8/9 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena*
8/10 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion*
8/12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*
8/14 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion*
8/15 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center*
8/17 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*
9/1 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma 2024^
9/7 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre+
9/8 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater+
9/11 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater+
9/13 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome+
9/14 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome+
9/15 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre+
There have been several albums released so far in 2024, and I decided to compile them in a post separate from the EPs. Much as with the other list, I am sure I’ve missed a few, so if there are any you know of that are not shared here, feel free to tell me in the comments!
Be sure to check out my list of EPs that have dropped over the past 6 months, as well!
There have been quite a few EPs released so far this year, and I decided to put a list together at the halfway point (June). I’m sure I’ve missed several, but these are the ones I have found. Please keep in mind that my focus is the lesser known indie community. If you have an EP to add to this list, feel free to drop a comment!
Note: I will be doing a separate post for the full-length albums released within the same time frame.
I read nine – nine – books this month! I’m smashing the challenge this year and will probably raise my goal soon, given that I only have five books to go before I reach it and it’s only June.
Here are the books I’ve finished since the last update with a brief review of each!
Circus of the Dead: Book 1 (Kimberly Loth)
Rating: 4/5
I enjoyed this introduction to the world of the circus, but I don’t have much to say about it as I felt that’s mostly all the book was – an introduction. Loth has given readers a rundown of the circus and its major players, and how Callie gets stuck there. I believe the true tale will begin in book 2, so I’m gonna check it out! I would recommend giving this series a try, though, if you like creepy circuses, scary clowns, murderous (yet attractive) ghosts, and other such things.
Winterset Hollow (Jonathan Edward Durham)
Rating: 5/5
I loved Winterset Hollow. First off, it was so well-written, and the plot was at least semi-original. I mean, it’s been done before, but not with any frequency. The characters were given so much depth; we were even granted glimpses into those who weren’t the main protagonists…or antagonists. I almost hate to use the word “antagonist” here, because the bad guys had understandable reason for their actions and were as sympathetic as Eamon, Caroline, and Mark. This novel is horrific, but not in the usual way. It is the story of discovering that a story you used to navigate the world, that taught you about love and bravery and friendship, actually stemmed from violence and cruelty. It is the story of having to re-evaluate all you ever thought you knew. It is also a story of triumph, of friendship and courage and discovering that you are a force to be reckoned with in the real world. I definitely recommend that you add Winterset Hollow to your TBR pile!
Ghoul You Be My Valentine? (Olivia Jaymes)
Rating: 4/5
I am entranced with Ravenmist and all its quirky inhabitants, including the spirits. This is another series that I’m praising because it’s cute and funny. The books are easy reads, so if you’re looking for a paranormal cozy mystery you can curl up with and breeze through with a number of laughs, the Ravenmist Whodunits are right up your alley.
Hidden Pictures (Jason Rekulak)
Rating: 4/5
Hidden Pictures was not what I was expecting. I was prepared for the pictures to tell a story that led to a murderer being found. However, this book had quite a few twists and turns, and I didn’t see the ending coming. I don’t want to say too much or include any spoilers, but you should read this book.
Puzzle House (Duncan Ralston)
Rating: 3/5
The concept of Puzzle House was an intriguing one, but the execution and the ending kinda turned me off. The characters were basically put into a series of escape rooms and had to find their way out. What they didn’t know, but soon learned, is that each puzzle required a sacrifice. I’m not going to explain the ultimate goal of the puzzles and sacrifices. Just…it got weird. Lol. If you like movies such as Saw and Cabin in the Woods, you should probably check out this book.
Legendary (Stephanie Garber)
Rating: 4.5/5
I actually enjoyed Legendary more than Caraval. I liked that we were given more background into Tella and Scarlett’s history. Plus, it is revealed why Tella was involved in Caraval the first time. I liked the inclusion of the Fates and, of course, finally learning Legend’s identity! I can’t wait to read Finale!
FantasticLand (Mike Bockoven)
Rating: 2/5
I wasn’t all that impressed with FantasticLand. First, I hoped it would be told as it was happening. I don’t necessarily care for gore and such, but I went in to this book with the expectation of violence, bloodshed, and more! (Oh my!) Second, I didn’t necessarily care for the stories being told in the style of interviews. And last, it all happened so fast, and I just couldn’t get lost in it because there was a distinct lack of believability, from the first death to the formation of tribes within 24-48 hours of them leaving the shelter.
All These Bodies (Kendare Blake)
Rating: 4/5
All These Bodies is the story of a string of unexplainable murders that culminates in a young girl covered in blood being found at the final scene. The sheriff’s son, Michael, dreams of becoming a journalist, and the biggest story of the year falls right into his lap – the girl, Marie, agrees to tell her story, but only to Michael.
I devoured this book in only three days. It was very interesting, well-written, and kept me guessing about what was real and what wasn’t. I only gave it a four because I wanted the ending to answer at least one of my questions and it didn’t.
Ghosts, Lies, and Videotape (Olivia Jaymes)
Rating: 4/5
Another murder mystery in Ravenmist. The quaint town in which nothing ever happens has quite a bit happening lately, including spirits with enough energy to almost seem alive. Inn owner Tedi, her mother, best friend Missy, and an eclectic cast of characters have learned the explanation for the sudden energy surge, and it’s a doozy. Now, Sheriff Jackson Garrett has to solve the two murders, grudgingly accepting help from Tedi, who is also busy trying to find the – spoiler alert! – demon that has come to their tiny corner of Illinois.
***
I am currently reading Christmas Presents (Lisa Unger) and the fourth installment of the Ravenmist series, Grandma Got Run Over By a Demon (Olivia Jaymes).
