What’s Rocking Right Now: Here are two fantastic NEW spots to hit up this weekend AND a sneak peak into a hot spot that will be here soon.
Brian & Lou 09.15.17
What Ya Missed, Ask Alexa, Hangover Cures, Eat Travel Rock and Jay Pharoah in studio
Brian & Lou 09.14.17
What Ya Missed, What did you steal from work, Fake Outrage over hot cops, Week 2 of Football Picks and Lou finally saw IT
Who you should see at Riot Fest based on your Zodiac
The list of amazing artists at Riot Fest can be a little overwhelming. To help you narrow it down, here’s what the astrology gods told us you should see this weekend:
Aries – Prophets of Rage
Ruled by the god of War, this sign is not afraid to fight for what’s right. The politically active band is perfect for Aries – they will enjoy screaming “MAKE AMERICA RAGE AGAIN!” while watching Tom Morello shred on guitar.
Taurus – Nine Inch Nails
Known for finishing what they start, Trent Reznor is the quintessential Taurus. Whether it’s a movie soundtrack, a collaboration with another artist, or a set with one of his bands, he always knocks it out of the park. Fellow Tauruses (Taurii?) will stay through the entire NIN set, because they aren’t flaky.
Gemini – Death From Above
According to their Wiki page, the DFA duo “sometimes jokingly claims to have met in prison, on a pirate ship, or in a gay bar, leading some journalists and fans to believe these stories.” Classic trickster Gemini behavior, amiright?
Cancer – Taking Back Sunday
Because they feel things so intensely, Cancers are particularly drawn to the original emo bands. No one can truly understand their pain, but Taking Back Sunday comes close.
Leo – Queens of The Stone Age
Leos are ruled by the Sun, so obviously “My God is The Sun” is a perfect anthem for them. Fingers crossed QOTSA play it on Saturday.
Virgo – Black Pistol Fire
Virgos are often thought of as logical and mild-mannered…which is why Riot Fest is the perfect escape for them. Listening to the dirty rock of Black Pistol Fire will help them forget about the color-coordinated google calendar they probably created for the weekend.
Libra – Minus the Bear
Libras = Balance. They will love Minus the Bear because the band is equal parts relaxed and aggressive. Additionally, this balance means their sign has the best odds of holding 3 drinks at once without dropping one (feel free to tell that to your Libra friend in the hopes they will bring you back a beer).
Scorpio – Paramore
Hayley Williams isn’t a Scorpio, but she seems like she totally could be one. They are known for being very kind – unless you provoke them. Then they will take you down and laugh when you cry. Best not to mess with a Scorpio.
Sagittarius – The Orwells
The sign most prone to get bored easily, a Sagittarian craves change and adventure. The Orwells are the anti-boredom band, which is why they’re so fun to watch live. Never a dull moment.
Capricorn – Vic Mensa
The symbol for Capricorn is a mountain goat, which can climb to great heights without losing it’s footing. Vic Mensa has steadily been gaining acclaim, but he hasn’t forgotten his Chicago roots (he regularly references his friends and family in his music). Capricorns will dig the hometown rapper.
Aquarius – TV On The Radio
Aquarius signs can appreciate the synergetic nature of TV On The Radio (they’ve collaborated with an incredible roster of artists, including Bowie). Since this sign is one of the friendliest in the zodiac, they’ll feel right at home singing “Wolf Like Me” with the stranger next to them.
Pisces – Dirty Heads
Known as the daydreamers of the zodiac, Pieces will love swaying to the Dirty Heads’ reggae beats. They are also the sign most likely to sneak in a joint. Probably a good idea to make friends with one.
All signs – Whoever they want
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with any of the artists at Riot Fest. Just go.
Watch the Offspring’s EXCLUSIVE set from the LOUNGE
The Offspring came to the LOUNGE for an exclusive acoustic session giving an acoustic treatment to three of their signature songs prior to their show at the First Merit Bank Pavilion
Watch them perform the following songs plus an interview with Brian and Lou finding out about Dexter Holland becoming a doctor and the story of Noodle’s precious family heirloom in a ukulele which plays a big part into the shocking moment that concludes their session here.
- ‘The Kids are Alright’
- ‘Come Out and Play’
- ‘Self-Esteem’
Watch Woody Harrelson help the Killers debut a new song ‘The Calling’
The Killers continue to throw coal in the hype train on their way to releasing the new album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’ due out September 22nd, and a surprising collaborator has joined them. Actor Woody Harrelson who killed zombies in ‘Zombieland’ and wore an odd wig in ‘the Hunger Games’, contributed a dramatic monologue reading prior to the band’s live debut of a brand new song ‘the Calling’. The video of it all comes from a show this week in the U.K. at Brixton Academy.
- ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE THE KILLERS PLAY THE UNITED CENTER JANUARY 19TH
- WATCH THE KILLERS NAIL THIS COVER OF DAVID BOWIE’S ‘FAME’
Minutes before they tore it up at Lolla, Lauren caught this exclusive interview with Brandon Flowers of the Killers backstage at Grant Park
This UK show played in a smaller-than-expected venue considering the Killers are fresh off performing to thousands at Lollapalooza and London’s Hyde Park. The show featured several rarities the Nevada band has not played since 2009 including the ‘Hot Fuss’ deep cut ‘Andy You’re a Star’ and ‘Sweet Talk’ off the ‘Swadust’ album.
This should serve as a real tempting teasing for their United Center show in January, it’s makes my head bob and my shoulders shimmy as I typp…type this. Sorry it’s hard to type and dance in your chair at the same time. According to NME, this was the setlist for the show so you get an idea of what to expect.
The Killers setlist was:
The Man
Run for Cover
Somebody Told Me
Spaceman
The Way It Was
Smile Like You Mean It
Andy, You’re a Star
Shadowplay (Joy Division cover)
Miss Atomic Bomb
Human
For Reasons Unknown
A Dustland Fairytale
Read My Mind
Runaways
All These Things That I’ve Done
Mr. Brightside
Encore:
The Calling (with Woody Harrelson)
Sweet Talk
Watch The Killers pay tribute to David Bowie
Well, it must be a great day for great bands to cover songs by other great bands. Earlier today our interweb tubes were blessed with the Foo Fighters covering AC/DC, and not to be outdone the Killers brought their Nevada swagger to the funky David Bowie gem ‘Fame’ for a recent BBC session.
- ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE THE KILLERS AT THE UNITED CENTER ON JANUARY 19TH
- BRANDON FLOWERS TALKS ABOUT THE LASTING POWER OF ‘MR. BRIGHTSIDE’
The song is a choice selection by Brandon Flowers and company that feels like a spiritual brother to Killers songs like the recent smash hit ‘The Man’ off their upcoming album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’ which comes out September 22nd.
The performance here is also layered with a sweet group of female singers. The guitar riff from struts out of the speakers into your head and all of the vocal weirdness in the bridge is preserved here.
The track was first released by David Bowie in 1975 for the album ‘Young Americans’. The Killers are not the only active band to show a musical tribute to the grandfather of alternative music Bowie, as 30 Seconds to Mars did their own take on a song from the Thin White Duke in a separate session that you can see here.
Check out more throwback fun every Sunday morning on 101WKQX with Brian 10a-12pm for Alt_Backspace featuring a journey down the memorylane of alternative from the 80s, 90’s, and beyond. Check out the podcast here.
Watch the Foo Fighters kill it with this AC/DC cover
With the Foo Fighters in full hype mode for this Friday’s release of their hotly anticipated new album ‘Concrete & Gold’, they gave us another glorious morsel of musical deliciousness today in the form of this rousing AC/DC cover of ‘Let There Be Rock’ from a recent BBC Session.
The performance shows off Grohl and company’s dedication to rock’s roots at a time, when some Rock & Roll Hall of Famers claim it’s “dead”. This particular cover is foot stomper they included in their marathon Lollpalooza after show this past August at Chicago’s Metro. That 3 hour plus set also included covers of Queen, the Faces, Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and a special rendition of Jane’s Addiction’s ‘Mountain Song’ with Lolla founder Perry Farrell guesting on vocals. Watch our FB live videos from that memorable show here.
This same BBC session also included live performances of their new single ‘The Sky is a Neighborhood’ with backup singers and ‘Best of You’
Apple Announced Emojis You Control With Your Face
Larry David Reveals He Hates Animals and People on Jimmy Kimmel
Larry David returns to HBO with another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm October 1st.
Tuesday night he was in rare form. First Larry confronts Jimmy about not coming to say hello to him in his dressing room before the show.
Then Larry talked about the return of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and he reveals his best and worst qualities.
If all of that weren’t enough Larry later said that he hates animals almost as much as humans and explains why he doesn’t let people come to his house.
Brian & Lou 09.13.17
What Ya Missed, Guys that gave up porn, Awful MNF announcer, We Need To Talk and J9 calls Lou out about the dishwasher
James Franco: ‘I Don’t Watch Porn’ Anymore
James Franco stars in the new HBO drama The Deuce, which is about the rise of the porn industry in New York City in the 70s. However, he’s claiming that he doesn’t watch porn in real life anymore.
“I don’t know if you believe me or not. I watched it in my day. I certainly watched it as research for this show. [But] I don’t watch porn. I have no moralistic stand against it by any means, but in unregulated capitalism, I think that’s one of the main points of our show,” he continued. “There’s always these people, a select few who sort of come out on top and the rest are just thrown under the bus.”
He’s not watching because he doesn’t need to and can get action anytime he wants, right?
Kid Rock is running for the US Senate in Michigan
There’s a thin line between politics and entertainment. In school, a lot of student government debates end up being popularity contests where most of the candidates know nothing about the positions they are running for and thus will ultimately never fulfill the promises they make. But that is school. That is an election with literal children. This is the real world with real, full grown adults taking real lives into their real hands. Politics is fast becoming Prom and our leaders are just entertaining celebrities with no training or credentials.
I do like that he’s claiming to fight for the working class and that he’ll be actively getting people to register to vote at his concerts, I don’t like that Kid Rock isn’t even using his real, legal name!
Check out his website here: https://www.kidrockforsenate.com/
Goats Don’t Know The Meaning Of The Word Quit At O’Hare
(from dnainfo.com)
I enjoy goats and all they bring to the table. Goat milk + goat cheese and giving men fashion sense to shave facial hairs into goatees isn’t where their helpful insights end. Goats can also save you money on lawn maintenance. At least that’s what these goats have been doing to the thicketry at O’Hare Airport. (MORE HERE)
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers on the lasting power of ‘Mr. Brightside’
^ WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BRANDON FLOWERS OF THE KILLERS revealing the secrets of behind ‘the MAN’
The Killers fresh off a spectacular run around the world festival circuit including a memorable night under the Chicago skyline with an epic set. They now ready the release of a new album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’ (due out this Friday) and a huge arena tour that brings them to the United Center on January 19th (ENTER TO WIN TICKETS HERE).
So revving up the hype machine with Rolling Stone, Killers front man Brandon Flowers dished dirt on whether or not there was a political influence on the new record, crying at U2 shows, and the lasting impact of ‘Mr. Brightside’. The song was a massive smash off their breakthrough debut ‘Hot Fuss’ in 2004, and still retains emotional weight in the alternative music universe. Just pull the song up on Youtube, it’s video has been viewed over 237 million times. Yeah, that does’nt ‘open up your eagle eyes’ to it’s success, than what will?
When asked about the song’s long afterlife, he said the following: ” I hope it doesn’t eclipse anything else we’re doing. It just keeps snowballing and getting bigger. That said, anybody that’s ever started a band envisions something like that happening to them. It’s incredible. I can’t complain.”
Let’s just hope Flowers stays healthy on his mountain bikle and is ready for January at the UC.
When mtn biking down hill, don't squeeze left brake. pic.twitter.com/XKLmBKjTZU
— The Killers (@thekillers) September 6, 2017
The Offspring – Self Esteem
