If you’re looking for a new band to take over your playlists, look no further than Arrows in Action! Their latest album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before, is the perfect gateway into their musical world, so this is the ideal time to jump in! We were lucky enough to get to chat with Arrows in Action all about their newest album, past music, live shows, and so much more!
Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! To start us off, how would you describe your sound to someone who is tuning in for the first time? We’re an alternative pop-rock band! We’re a blend of everything we love, and we love a huge array of music.
I Think I’ve Been Here Before is less than a month away. What emotions are you guys feeling leading up to the release of this record? We’re feeling a mix of relief, excitement, and catharsis with the release of this album! We can’t wait for people to hear it all in its intentional order.
Out of the eleven songs on the record, only two are unreleased. What goes into the decision of what to release and what to hold back? We wanted to make sure to save the conclusion of the album for the day of release. We were very intentional with the track order on this record, and we wanted our fans to experience the album in its entirety together.
‘Hello Sunlight!’ is the oldest track on the record, having been released in May of last year. When this song came out, did you know it was part of a bigger project, or did that come with time? Though it was released far ahead of the album, ‘Hello Sunlight!’ is the track that started the writing process and was instrumental in guiding us towards the sounds that would make up Side A.
You’ve released this album in two parts, with Side A coming out earlier this year. How do you group the songs and figure out which song belongs on which side? In both subject matter and sonics, we accidentally curated two distinct vibes while writing this album. It could be the simplest thing, like the placement of a minor chord that guided a song toward side B, and in many cases, it was the lyrical perspective that placed the song.
With a new album comes the hope of live music! While crafting the album, which song off this album were you most looking forward to bringing to life on stage? Victor: ‘Cheekbones,’ Jesse: ‘Empty Canvas,’ Matt: ‘Empty Canvas.’
Your debut album, Be More, came out four years ago! When you look at the artists who released that record, and the artists who are about to release this record, what do you see as the biggest area of growth? Our biggest area of growth has been how much we collaborate! With years of touring and writing together, we know each other better than ever before, and we know how to expand on each other’s ideas.
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, what is one thing on the Arrows in Action bucket list as we close out 2025? A bucket list item we completed this year was headlining in Europe and the UK! A bucket list item we have that is yet unchecked is performing at Red Rocks in Colorado. Thanks for having us!
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of I Think I’ve Been Here Before by Arrows in Action? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!
The last time we saw Seattle-based band, The Home Team, was on the idobi Summer School Tour last year. Sunday, we finally got to see them again at The Belasco in Los Angeles on The Crucible of Life Tour. The Belasco isn’t a huge venue, so it’s a place where you can feel every cheer, clap, and scream.
Jay Flores for THPJay Flores for THP
When the lights dimmed, the crowd went wild! Opening with ‘Turn You Off,’ a song off the band’s most recent album, which shares the same name as the tour. The night had a natural rhythm, shifting between high-energy bursts with songs like ‘Hell’ and quieter, more reflective moments with songs like ‘Walk This World With Me.’
One of the most OMG moments we caught was when Brian paused to address the crowd: “This is the biggest headlining show of our entire tour.” To be a part of this monumental crowd for a band we have seen grow has brought so much joy to our lives. For the OG fans who have seen them grow in the last 12 years, it must be such a surreal feeling. We can only imagine what it feels like to be in the band!
The crowd carried the night from start to finish, helping sing every lyric to every song. And let us just say, we appreciate that THT kept some of those OG bangers on the setlist, as well! ‘Fashion Forward’? ‘She’s Quiet’? Keep those on there forever!!! Please!!!!
Jay Flores for THPJay Flores for THP
If you have the chance to see The Home Team on the rest of their tour, please make sure you do! You’re not going to want to miss this one!
Check out the full gallery below!
If you caught THT this tour or plan on seeing them soon, let us know in the comments, on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, where we’re always buzzing about something!
Abbie Kamin, the council member for District C, smiled as the cheers began to fade. Flanking her left and right were Laura Lee and Mark Speer, their guitars humming beneath the lights, while behind them Donald Johnson Jr. kept time to the steady pulse of August 10.
“Through their dedication to artistry, authenticity, and community, they continue to inspire musicians and fans worldwide while enhancing our city’s reputation as a global center for creativity and cultural exchange,” said the councilwoman, raising her voice above the murmurs of the packed crowd inside the Heights Theater. As her tone lifted, the band swelled with her, their rhythm pulsing in sync with her words.
Kamin’s speech built toward the moment everyone had been waiting for. Introducing herself and John Whitmire, she was met with a quick wave of boos at the mention of the Mayor before the crowd returned its focus. Then came the words that flipped the room from protest to pure celebration.
“We hereby proclaim November 6, 2025, as Khruangbin Day!”
The band played for a sold-out crowd at the heights theater Credit: Jennifer Lake
The cheers erupted as Houston’s own Khruangbin, the band that has carried the city’s sound across the world, did what they’ve always done best: play.
It’s been ten years since Khruangbin released The Universe Smiles Upon You, the debut album that introduced their airy mix of soul, funk, and global influences to the world. What began as quiet jam sessions inside a barn in Burton, Texas has evolved into one of the most distinct sounds in modern music.
The trio, made up of bassist Laura Lee, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson Jr., built their identity on texture and restraint. There are no flashy solos or sudden climaxes, only rhythm, space, and the kind of patience that lets a groove tell its own story. Their early work pulled from Thai funk and surf rock, but over time their palette expanded. Con Todo El Mundo brought in Middle Eastern melodies, Mordechai added vocals and color, and their most recent album A La Sala feels like a homecoming, blending everything they have learned into something simple and sincere.
No matter how far their tours have taken them, whether to Glastonbury, Red Rocks, or Japan, Houston remains stitched into the fabric of what they do. The way the bass and drums lock in feels like a slow Southern heartbeat, and the way Speer’s guitar floats on top feels like humid air over the Gulf. Their music moves like this city does, easy but full of purpose.
It was no different Thursday night as the Heights Theater welcomed the band to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their debut album. Performing singles like Two Fish and an Elephant, White Gloves, and People Everywhere (Still Alive) gave longtime fans a reminder of what first drew them in. But the trio also made sure to reach across their catalog, playing songs such as Maria También, August 12, and Balls and Pins that highlight how much their sound has evolved while keeping its signature warmth.
Credit: Jennifer Lake
“The butterflies are still jumping,” laughed Mark Speer as he looked out at the crowd. “It’s a very electric feeling in here tonight. I want to thank y’all for sticking with us the past ten years and helping us ring in this special occasion.”
The celebration of ten years of Khruangbin felt less like a concert and more like a homecoming. Every song carried a sense of ease, the kind that comes from a band fully comfortable in its own skin. The audience responded in kind, swaying, nodding, and cheering through each groove as if the music were something shared rather than performed.
Between songs, Lee flashed quiet smiles toward the front rows while Johnson held the rhythm steady, his subtle drum patterns gluing everything together. Speer’s guitar tone, warm and deliberate, filled the room like conversation. It was the sound of three people who trust each other completely, still finding joy in the simplicity of playing together.
For Houston, Khruangbin Day is more than a symbolic honor. It’s a reminder that the city’s creativity doesn’t always come wrapped in bright lights or loud noise. Sometimes it sounds like a quiet groove played with intention. Over the past decade, Khruangbin has carried Houston’s rhythm across the world, showing that its pulse can move through any genre or border. Ten years later, that rhythm still feels like home.
Setlist
Two Fish and an Elephant
August 12
Evan Finds the Third Room
August 10
Balls and Pins
Más y Más (“Josito y Maria” jam)
Morricone Interlude (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly theme)
People Everywhere (Still Alive)
White Gloves
Dern Kala
Mr. White
Maria También
A Tribute to Yellow Magic Orchestra (Firecracker / Rydeen medley)
Detroit didn’t just show up for GIVĒON; it dressed up! By the time doors opened at the Fox Theatre, the lobby looked like a red-carpet extension of heartbreak chic. Silk blouses, monochrome suits, and dress shoes glinted under the chandelier light. If heartbreak had a dress code, this was it, and Detroit understood the assignment!
And maybe that’s fitting. Detroit is, after all, the birthplace of Motown, a city that practically invented how soul and sorrow can dance in the same rhythm. From the days of Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, Detroit has always carried music with both elegance and ache. So when GIVĒON walked into the Fox with that deep, honey-soaked baritone, it felt like a homecoming. His sound, refined but raw, vulnerable but grounded, felt perfectly tuned to the city’s legacy of timeless emotion.
The Mood: Soul Meets Style
The stage matched the tone effortlessly. Layers of ivory drapery hung like clouds behind him, glowing with soft gold and lavender lights. The live band added depth; bass lines you could feel in your chest and piano chords that hit just a little too close to home. GIVĒON didn’t just perform; he lingered in each note, as if each lyric carried an unfinished memory.
Between songs, he shared small pieces of himself, his upbringing, his lessons, his humor, and suddenly, the grand Fox Theatre felt intimate. He wasn’t talking at the crowd; he was confiding in it. You could tell he cared about the words, not just the applause.
When The Crowd Became Part Of The Story
Midway through, the energy shifted. GIVĒON called a fan on stage for a “date night” role-play, and chaos (the good kind) unfolded. The crowd screamed like they were watching a rom-com unfold live; teasing, laughing, cheering. It’s a segment that’s become a staple of his shows, but in Detroit, it hit different. There was an easy warmth to it, the kind that makes you root for strangers you’ll never meet again.
Then came the inevitable…‘Heartbreak Anniversary.’ The moment those first few notes rang out, the crowd erupted, and you could see every phone light flicker up like little constellations. Couples held hands. Singles swayed. Everyone sang, almost defiantly, as if heartbreak could sound holy if enough people sang it together.
The Energy: Classy, Chill, And A Little Bit Painful
There’s a quiet confidence to the way GIVĒON moves through a setlist. No dancers. No distractions. Just him, the mic, and a voice that feels both centuries old and freshly wounded. His pacing mirrored the stages of heartbreak: denial (‘Still Your Best’), resentment (‘Lost Me’), longing (‘For Tonight’), and nostalgia (‘Heartbreak Anniversary’). Each transition was seamless, almost cinematic.
It’s rare to see an artist this young commit to restraint. The live band added richness without overcomplicating things, giving his baritone room to breathe. Every song was proof that simplicity, when done right, feels luxurious!
A Night That Felt Like A Letter
If Dear Beloved is GIVĒON’s letter to the people who broke him (and maybe to the ones he broke too), then Detroit got the signature edition: honest, classy, and painfully beautiful. When the final notes faded, fans didn’t rush to leave. They lingered, taking photos under the glowing Fox marquee, still humming, still holding on to the softness of the night.
GIVĒON doesn’t just sing about love; he autopsies it, dresses it in satin, and hands it back to you gently. And in Detroit, a city built on soul, that felt exactly right!
Image Source: Courtesy of Epic Records
Which city are you stopping by on the DEAR BELOVEDtour? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook 🐝
If you’re looking for a new supergroup to dive into, look no further than one of our most recent musical obsessions, CVCHE! If you’re just now tuning in, you’ve done it at the perfect time! CVCHE’s debut album, Get Fluffy is due later this year, and we’ve just gotten their newest offering from the record, ‘The Star.’ We were lucky to chat with CVHCE about their upcoming record, ‘The Star,’ and so much more!
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! To start us off, if someone is tuning in for the first time, how would you describe the kind of music CVCHE makes? No, thank YOU! We’d definitely describe ourselves as the pioneers of Rural Canadian Techno, since that genre did not previously exist – nor may it EVER exist – unless people want it to. You could also say “organic electronic jams that make you want to dance in your socks on a hardwood floor.”
Get Fluffy is due later this year! What has the process of crafting your first album together as a group been like? We set up four or five synths at one station for each of us. I would make a beat, then we’d all start dialing in sounds on our stations. Once we all had a good palette of sounds, someone would come up with a bass line or tonal starting point. Then we’d hit record and start laying in parts simultaneously, like a live jam, for about 20 minutes. We then edited the best parts into the final track. Some ended up tracking the record rather quickly, and on others, we spent a bit more time on arrangements.
How far into the creative process of ‘Get Fluffy’ did ‘The Star’ come to be? Were you still actively crafting the album? It all happened very quickly from inception to completion because of the process I outlined above. It’s a great way to work, and we just know each other so well that there was very little mucking around and/or throwing things out. We actually have a bunch more tracks we really like that aren’t coming out on the record. The chord progressions are more vocal-friendly, so we saved them to experiment with that at some point. We basically got into a great flow state and just made a whole bunch of stuff with no ‘demographic’ or all the other things you’re supposed to think about – where it fits, who will like it, etc. We just made music, and all this stuff is what came out, with no fidgeting around with expectations. It was fun. And still is!
When you’re in the midst of a jam session, and a song like ‘The Star’ starts to form, do you guys automatically realize you have something you want to dig into further and possibly release? We actually aren’t jamming in the typical sense. It’s more about coming up with a beat we all like, then a bassline, or riff, or chord progression. If we like where the early stages are going, we start dialing in sounds we like on all of our respective synth stations and all sorts of approve of them or not as we’re working them up. Once we have a big palette of sounds and the framework of the track, THEN we “jam” in a structured way for 20 – 30 minutes as every synth patched into ProTools is in record. We then edit it down with the sections we feel are gelling the most.
With CVCHE, when did the idea first spark to form this group? Were you all approached at once? Liam and Jimmy started jamming a bit after tracking a Metric record, and then I came in. We drank wine, pulled out more synths, and then decided to make a record after we’d already finished making it.
Each of you comes from different groups that we are sure have their own creative processes. How do you bring each of those into this new group, and what works best for what you want to be creating? I think all of our experience combined really helps in making navigating the technological aspect of things secondary to creativity, which can be a challenge for everyone. We know how to dial sounds up quickly, and we know how to get around our synth collections, arranging, mixing, etc., so it’s more about us playing off of each other rather than getting caught up in midi troubleshooting (which we’ve collectively probably spent 8 million hours doing). We all use Pro Tools, and it helps that Liam is a legit Pro Tools wizard.
And speaking of what you want to be creating, it’s been said that you guys want to “make releasing music as fun as creating it.” What aspect of creating music do you think is lost in the stress of releasing said music? Oh, wow, I could talk shit about algorithms all day! Making records is fun, spiritual, bonding, magical, and all the other feels, and then comes… algorithms, metadata, streaming companies, troubleshooting passwords, traffic light captchas. So romantic, isn’t it? So, we just said “fuck all this.” Yes, it has to be done, but what else can we do to keep it fun? That’s when we brought Jon Morris in as a member of CVCHE. He did Nine Inch Nails’ stage design, as well as designed for Lady Gaga and Metric, and has done loads of huge installations at Burning Man. Jon is the official-unofficial king of fun. He helped make an infinite scroller video game (it’s fun… check out www.heycvche.com), and we’re building out a super fun merch store. We’re planning a crazy, awesome live show as well. We tell more jokes on calls than we talk about business. We have no strategy to ‘beat the algorithms.’ We just have fun and, in between, fill out endless forms and upload to streamers and publishing info. Gotta keep it fun.
You recently released your single ‘Thumper.’ What inspired that song, and how did it come together? A super weird thumping sound that randomly started coming out of the MS-20… a ghost in the machine, as Sting would say. We made a track around the sound and then ended up muting it in the end — the track, as you hear it, remained.
While crafting this upcoming album, Get Fluffy, was there a song that felt like lightning in a bottle? That once it started, you guys knew it was going to be one of the ones that made the record? No, because we like all of them. We have more that aren’t on the record – more so because the chord progressions lend themselves to vocals – so we’re sitting on those for the right time.
We have to talk about the video game! Where did the inspiration come from to include this in the process of putting out music? Jon Morris brought that to the table, and his friend/coder, Sonny, dialed it all up. At the time of creating the game, with a new song release per level of the game… We are as certain as we can be that we were the first to do this in this way.
Once again, thank you guys so much for your time! Before we let you go, what can fans look forward to as we close out 2025? More sock jams that make you wanna dance in your socks on a hardwood floor, live shows from us at some point, and hopefully vacations in the Caribbean when it starts to get cold — for both us and fans alike. Who wants to make a plan!? We’re SO IN. ⚡️
We would love to hear from you! What do you think of our interview with CVCHE? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Em Beihold has been a mainstay on our playlists ever since her song ‘Numb Little Bug’ came out, so it is no surprise that her artistry is displayed in her newest song ‘Hot Goblin.’ We were lucky enough to chat with Em about ‘Hot Goblin,’ the thematic through lines of her recent music, ‘Numb Little Bug,’ and so much more!
Hi Em! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! To start us off, how would you describe your music to someone who is tuning in for the first time? Hello hello! Thanks for having me! I like to describe my music as quirky piano pop that talks about difficult things with a certain degree of levity. I’ve also been described as a popified Regina Spektor, and I really like that description.
‘Hot Goblin’ is your latest track! The lyric video felt like stepping into a fairy tale book. When crafting this track, was the inspiration immediately tied to that aesthetic? Not really! When I was writing the song, I was initially thinking more along the lines of the experience of being a woman and how fickle our relationship with confidence can be. The fairytale stuff came after and felt obvious once the concept was solidified.
Something that immediately drew us to ‘Hot Goblin’ was the vulnerability hidden within this musically upbeat pop track, the understanding of insecurities, but the ability to still find confidence in that. What do writing sessions look like for a song that presents vulnerability in this way? I think my co-writers Nick Lopez, Jason Suwito, and I had a lot of fun figuring out what the term “hot goblin” means. As a girl who definitely feels the pressure to constantly present as put-together, fashionable, hot, etc. (especially from social media), it felt freeing to put a name to the feeling of embracing your insecurities and messy parts while still loving yourself completely and not feeling less than. I also wanted the song to be about that feeling on top of the world one day and at the bottom the next, so ‘Hot Goblin’ became a way to give language to that cycle. Nick has been a close friend since we wrote ‘Numb Little Bug’ together, and Jason came into my life during a rough patch in my career, so there was already a lot of trust in the room. After we laughed about the phrase “hot goblin,” which I brought into the session (kind of as a joke), they both got it and locked in immediately. That balance of humor and honesty made the writing process really special. I write my favorite songs when I’m laughing.
‘Brutus’ is another recent release of yours! This track features some of our favorite visuals from you yet! Where did the creative vision for this video come from? And what was that on-set experience like? I was really inspired by the movie Amadeus, which my mom showed me when I was going through an intense, unforgiving period of depression, where I couldn’t stop comparing myself to other female artists who were creatively unblocked and more successful than me. I related to the character of Salieri and thought it would be fun to bring that rivalry with Mozart as a vignette alongside a few others to tell the story of what I was feeling. The on-set experience is one I will never forget because it was a day full of fun and laughter with friends, which felt SO full circle after a year of essentially crying every day and hating being in my skin. I was so happy to be me and felt so proud of the art that came out of such a hard time. I also checked off two big goals of mine, which were: one, working with my co-director, Ethan Frank, whom I’ve been a huge fan of for years, and two, fencing in a music video since I was a competitive fencer for many years.
With both ‘Hot Goblin’ and ‘Brutus,’ the themes around the visuals are locked into days of old, with fairy tales and gladiator times. Is there an intentional through line there? You know what; accidentally yes. It wasn’t intentional, but I think the whole album has puzzle-pieced itself together more than I planned for. It’s whimsical, it has hints of classical music, and instruments like the harpsichord! There’s definitely some fun “historical” stuff in there.
Egg in the Backseat came out three years ago! Is there a song on that record that, for you, has just gotten better with time? I would say ‘Goo,’ because my fans have really taken to that one at my live shows. It’s kind of a sleeper, dare I say!
We, of course, have to briefly touch on ‘Numb Little Bug!’ Now that you are three years separated from the release of the track, how has your relationship to this song changed as time has gone on? Oh my gosh! I wrote that song about my unfortunate experience with antidepressants, and now (after lots of trial and error), I’ve found one that has absolutely changed my life. It’s a cool marker of where I was then, and how much I’ve grown. I will always appreciate the response to that song and how much it changed my life.
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, what can fans look forward to as we close out 2025? My debut album is coming out very soon in 2026! It’s the proudest I’ve ever been of anything I’ve made. It’s about my journey through depression, experiencing complete loss of self, and how I have come out on the other side to be the happiest and most me I have ever been. It’s fun and pop and silly, and I’m ready for 2025 to be done so I can finally share this new music with my fans!
We would love to hear from you! What do you think of our interview with Em Beihold? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram!
If you’re looking for which artist is going to be the talk of the town before too long, look no further than Benjamin Steer! Benjamin Steer has just released his EP Figuring It Out, which showed us, clear as day, that we were looking at an artist who is going to have a long and prosperous career! We were lucky enough to chat with Benjamin all about the EP and so much more!
Hello Benjamin! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! To start us off, how would you describe your music to someone who is tuning in for the first time? It’s a pleasure, thank you! I would say my music is sort of a soundtrack to confusion in your 20s, a soundtrack to love, to heartbreak, and to figuring things out. I’d like to think it’s pretty cinematic but has some energy in it too!
Figuring It Out is your debut EP! What feelings accumulate as you get ready to put your first collection of songs out? It is weird. I always feel a bit of anxiety before release days, but then as soon as the project is out, the anxiety disappears. I don’t hold emotional attachment to the songs once they are out. It then becomes a case of how many people can get their ears on it. But certainly, I am really proud of these songs. I feel like it sort of marks the end of my first chapter in the music world. I feel like each song serves a different purpose; the whole thing feels pretty dynamic.
You described this record as “a hopeless romantic’s dream and downfall.” What is one lyric throughout the project that best represents the dream aspect, and on the other hand, what lyric would you say best represents the downfall? I think the dreamer line is definitely the chorus of ‘No One Wants To Die Alone,’ “Live Big Love Fast and not Die Alone.” It is sort of the payoff line in a song that lyrically is frustrated in many senses, and encapsulates the sort of desire of the EP. There are many downfall lines in the EP, so I’ll give you three: ‘Oh Darling,’ “Many nights I try to find you in other eyes… Am I blind to all that makes you you?” ’5%,’ “It’s the 5% that is in the spotlight and the 95 that hides behind my eyes – So I’ll keep it out of mind and out of sight.” ‘Sweat Off Our History,’ “I’ll thread the needle between who I am and what you want from me.” I think all of these lines sort of summarize the pressure that you have to appear complete and confident and put together… But in reality, you are still figuring things out – trying to find a purpose. And you often hide these insecurities and fears in actions and facades that are not favorable to yourself – just to appease others or numb yourself to vulnerability.
As we are writing this, the EP is officially out! What has the reaction to the record been like over the last few days? How are you feeling post-release? Honestly, I think it went as well as I had hoped. I think these things take a journey themselves when they are out. I think hopefully it has legs to continue to connect with people and make an impact. People have been so supportive and kind, and I feel very unworthy. I always say this, and it is very cliche, but I am just a dude who writes about life and love in his bedroom, so it’s surreal that it is connecting so well!
When you released ‘No One Wants To Die Alone’ last year, did you already know this track was going to be everyone’s first taste of this EP? Or was it added in as the creation of the EP went forward? No Idea. ‘NOWTDA’ always felt special. It was the first song that I wrote, and I was like, if this doesn’t become the biggest song, then I am not sure what will. It felt so right and felt so me. The EP was certainly not a manufactured Idea. It was sort of the collection of the best things I had written in the last 8 months, and it all felt rather cohesive. I think if I were to sit down with the intention of writing an ep, and with a certain goal and message, it would have almost felt like I wasn’t being authentic. That being said, ‘No One Wants To Die Alone’ was probably the first song I wrote out of the ones that made it on to the EP, so maybe in some way it did guide the sonic and messaging of the rest!
Hailing six songs, half of the record was previously released, and half of the songs were saved for release day. How do you go about deciding which songs you want to hold onto and let fans discover all at once? I think there is a feeling that you get when you have a single, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the non-single tracks are missing something. I feel like putting out a bigger body of work allows you to release songs that may never come out as a single, but you still want people to hear them. I think ‘Sweat off our History’ is a good example; this would never be a single, but that does not mean that it isn’t good. So I am glad I had the opportunity to release it.
We want to go back a bit and talk about ‘Muted Colors,’ This track changed a lot for you! When you look back, what does your relationship with that song look like now vs two years ago when it was released? I think ‘Muted Colors’ was the unexpectedly perfect first song to put out. It served its purpose in the time that it was written for me personally, but also to show an audience the type of music and messaging I wanted to pursue. I look back positively on it now for sure. It was the first stepping stone in a long journey to cross the river, and I’m so grateful that I could have even had the chance to start or embark on that journey. I think it worked because I was just honest, it was one of the first songs I had ever written and I did not really have a reference point as to what was ok and what was not. I think I do naturally cringe a little bit looking back to it now because I think my style and tone have changed a bit, but it certainly was a fantastic first step!
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, is there anything coming up that fans can look forward to? Any live shows? Hopefully got a lot of exciting stuff coming up! Going to hopefully do another London headline before the end of the year, and then a bit more of a fuller tour in early 2026! I’m also really excited to open for Arthur Hill on his UK tour in September!
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song from Benjamin Steer’s EP, Figuring It Out? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Fresh off releasing his new tension EP, Haiden Henderson brought his headline show to The Garage in London, and we definitely had a good time spending that evening with him!
Ola Dalek for The Honey Pop
Haiden’s stage presence was electric and the way he interacted with his fans in the audience, asking ‘OGs’ to sing along, made us all feel included. You could feel how proud the crowd was to share this journey with him since the beginning! He also stepped off the stage and into the crowd during his performance of ‘killed the kid.’ It was such an intimate and unforgettable interaction!
Ola Dalek for The Honey Pop
From bringing gifts to pulling off a whole fan project of showering him in roses during ‘Good TV,’ we made sure to make Haiden feel appreciated in return. The highlight was definitely him accepting a fake marriage proposal from a fan in the crowd!
Ola Dalek for The Honey Pop
After the venue closed, fans stayed for a short acoustic set in the park outside. What a unique ending to an already amazing night! It was incredible how quickly everyone got organised and stayed quiet so we could all hear Haiden sing with no mic. This was a truly magical moment, and it really showed the bond between Haiden and fans who support him. We have never experienced whisper-singing before, but we crossed it off our bucket list now!
Check out our photos from the show below!
Have you gotten the chance to listen to Haiden Henderson’s latest EP? Or maybe you have seen him play live? Let us know in the comments below, or drop us a line on our socials! You can find us @thehoneypop on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
On Saturday, Indie 102.3 celebrated the first-ever Indieverse with a stacked lineup at Levitt Pavilion.
The night included performances by local bands Pink Fuzz and Dead Pioneers, plus national acts Bartees Strange, DEHD and OK Go.
Dehd on stage at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.The Indie 102.3 team at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver. From left: Alisha Sweeney, Dana Meyers, Shawn Lucero, Willobee CArlan, Jason Thomas.Pink Fuzz’s John Demitro and Will Trafas (drums) at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Pink Fuzz’s Lulu Demitro at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dead Pioneers’ Greg Deal at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dead Pioneers’ Greg Deal, Abe Brennan and Josh Rivera, from left, at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in DenverDead Pioneers’ Shane Zweygardt at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dead Pioneers’ Gregg Deal and his daughter at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dana Meyers welcomes the crowd during Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Bartees Strange at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Bartees Strange drummer Cavon Brown at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Bartees Strange at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Indie 102.3’s Alisha Sweeney signs an Indieverse poster for an Indie Insider during a VIP backstage event, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dehd’s Emily Kempf at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Dehd’s Jason Balla at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Stormy skies threatened Indieverse at Levitt Pavillion Sept. 13, 2025, for a little while. Then the crowd was treated to a rainbow.Members of the Colorado Public Radio team at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion. From left: Willobee Carlan, Jessi Whitten, Shawn Lucero, Cayla Montoya-Manzo, Jason Thomas, Alisha Sweeney, Dana Meyers.Some of the light show at Indieverse at Levitt Pavilion, Sept. 13, 2025.OK Go at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.Confetti rains down on OK Go fans at Indieverse, Sept. 13, 2025, at Levitt Pavilion in Denver.
Who is Benson Boone, and why does that name ring a bell?
Well, he’s the guy from the internet who always does at least one backflip while belting out pop hits like “Mystical Magical.” If you’re still befuddled, we can break it down further: The 23-year-old singer-songwriter has a 1970s pornstache and is the voice behind the Billboard Hot 100 anthem “Beautiful Things.” In 2021, he made a brief appearance on American Idol, but withdrew from the competition after making the top 24 contestants.
Around the time of his Idol stint, Boone began garnering big-time attention from TikTok. He soon caught the eye of Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds, who signed Boone to his first label. In 2025, Boone received his first Grammy nom — for “Best New Artist” — and even performed on the show.
Boone can be a polarizing pop figure; middle-aged women seem to love him, while the younger generation either despises him or just can’t get enough. The haters criticize the Washington-born singer with the dreaded slur of “trying too hard” or call him a “wannabe Harry Styles.” On the (back)flipside, his fans find Boone absolutely charming, including this writer’s own mother. And his hits are undeniably hooky. (Editor’s note: We saw Alaska 5000 cover “Beautiful Things” live, and it hit!)
You can decide for yourself whether Benson Boone is your mixed bag of tricks when he arrives in the City Beautiful this week. Or maybe not, because this show is thoroughly sold out.
8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, Kia Center, 400 W. Church St., 800-745-3000, kiacenter.com, SOLD OUT.
Six free outdoor concerts are still on the schedule for D.C.’s Jazz in the Park concert series.
Summer is coming to an end, but you still have a few more opportunities to soak up the last of the sunshine at D.C.’s Jazz in the Park concert series.
The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation kicked off the series of pop-up jazz performances in early July hosted at various neighborhood green spaces across the city. The events run through the end of September.
All six of the remaining concerts will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
See the upcoming show dates and locations below:
Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the Hardy Recreation Center (4500 Q St. NW)
Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Hillcrest Recreation Center (3100 Denver St. SE)
Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the Palisades Community Center (5200 Sherier Pl. NW)
Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Randall Recreation Center (25 I St. SW)
Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th St. NE)
Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Mitchell Park Recreation Center (1801 23rd St. NW)
All shows are free to attend and open to the public. Remember to bring your own blanket or lawn chair to the concert.
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The musical icon performed with producer and Sun Rose creative director Adam Blackstone at the West Hollywood club
Stevie Wonder and Adam Blackstone Perform at The Sun Rose on SunsetPhoto: Courtesy Michele McPhee
Musical icon Stevie Wonder took the stage at The Sun Rose on the Sunset Strip Friday night to help his friend, producer Adam Blackstone, celebrate an album release with an intimate performance after he offered up some words of wisdom.
“Clearly we are in a spiritual war,” Wonder told the crowd. “I celebrate the blessing, the spirit, of God…God is a spirit of the blessing of goodness. I say it with love in my heart…Using love against the weapon of hate, at the end of the day that is the key.”
And then he launched into a rendition of his hit song “Higher Ground,” a song the 75-year-old singer wrote for his 1973 album “Innervisions,” to a jubilant crowd. Wonder was in attendance to celebrate the release of “Humble Magic,” the second album for the Sun Rose musical director Blackstone, who has worked with a slew of talent included Rihanna, Jill Scott, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Eminem, Janet Jackson and was the magic behind the Super Bowl LIV Halftime show with Shakira and J-Lo.
Blackstone is now the creative director for the sexy live performance space on the first floor of The Sun Rose hotel, a former Pendry property that flipped to the Sun Rose last month. The club had been the site for the House of Blues, and part of the deal for developers on the site is a requirement to maintain a live music venue. The Sun Rose with Blackstone – a wildly talented, multi-instrumentalist – is a welcome addition to Sunset Boulevard.
When we look at the bright new class of country music, one of the stars shining the brightest is undoubtedly Elizabeth Nichols! From her breakout hit ‘I Got A New One’ to her newest track ‘Daughter,’ we are getting to watch an artist fully come into her own, discover her sound, and get better with each song.
We were lucky enough to chat with Elizabeth Nichols all about her success so far, new music, and receiving the coveted Kelly Clarkson treatment.
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for chatting with us! To start us off, how would you describe your music to someone who is tuning in for the first time? I’d say probably clever and honest. Those are two elements that I see in all my favorite songs. I try to balance the two. I don’t want to be too clever that I’m not honest, or too straightforward that it kills the clever.
‘Tough Love’ is officially out! This acts as your debut multi-track project! What emotions have been going through your head as these seven tracks now live out in the world? I am so grateful. If you had told me one year ago that this is where I would be, I would have never believed you. The idea that some group of girls in another state is in the car with their friends, singing one of my songs, is the most surreal part of it all. Music is such a beautiful part of life, and I am honored to be given the opportunity to make it.
The video for ‘I Got A New One’ perfectly encapsulates each lyric of the track! Can you tell us a bit about that creative process and crafting the visuals? I grew up on Taylor Swift music videos. I love when a video really tells a story in the same way a song does, so it was important to me to really bring that visual side to life. We got to work with amazing creative directors, and it was so fulfilling to see the story turn from words on a page to a scene I got to be a part of.
What has it been like for you to see the way people have latched onto ‘I Got A New One’? Did you have any inkling that this song would be one that people took to? ‘I Got A New One’ was the first single I’d ever released, so I had no idea what to expect at all. I am so grateful that people like it and it’s connected the way that it has—that song truly changed my life.
We know that ‘Ain’t Country’ was your first jump into writing a country track. What changes about the songwriting process when you’re writing with a genre in mind? I was about 10 years old the last time I had written any kind of song, so ‘Ain’t Country’ was the first song I’ve written as an adult, and I think that country sound just kind of naturally came out of me because that’s what I grew up listening to. I also love storytelling and lyricism, and country music is a genre that really celebrates those things and makes space for that part of the craft.
Ahead of the release of Tough Love, was there a song you were most looking forward to seeing fans’ reactions to? I was most excited for fans to hear ‘Tough Love’ because it was the one song that I hadn’t teased at all before its release, so nobody had heard a single note of it. It was also the newest song out of the seven—I wrote it only a few weeks before the EP came out. There is something about how honest it is that I hoped fans would connect with.
We have to ask, ‘I Got A New One’ has officially received the Kelly Clarkson treatment! What was that like for you? I was and am extremely grateful. Kelly Clarkson is literally an American icon. She is so unbelievably talented, so the fact that she liked a song I wrote enough to cover it is a huge compliment—my family and I were so excited when it happened.
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, what can fans look forward to as we round out the last few months of 2025? Some more music! I have a new single coming out in August. I’m also playing some shows throughout the end of this year, which I’m really excited about. I love meeting people out on the road.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of Tough Love by Elizabeth Nichols? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Nov. 23 & 24 at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway — Watch Live or On Demand
SAN FRANCISCO, November 19, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– Fans of Sturgill Simpson, performing under the moniker Johnny Blue Skies, can celebrate the electrifying finale of his 2024 “Why Not” Tour with exclusive livestreams of his Nov. 23 and 24 performances at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Available only on nugs.net, the live-video broadcasts will bring these sold-out shows to audiences worldwide, offering a chance to experience Simpson’s groundbreaking artistry from the comfort of home.
Subscribers to nugs.net will have the option to watch the livestreams as they happen or access these highly anticipated performances on demand. The concerts will be captured by the Emmy-winning production company 7 Cinematics and broadcast live in 4K UHD. In addition, high-fidelity audio recordings from the “Why Not” Tour are available for streaming and download exclusively through nugs.net, allowing fans to relive the magic of the tour’s best moments or catch up on shows they missed.
The “Why Not” Tour, Simpson’s first major tour in over four years, has been lauded as a transformative moment in the Grammy-winning artist’s career. Featuring songs from his critically acclaimed album Passage Du Desir and a reimagined catalog of fan favorites, the tour highlights Simpson’s creative reinvention as Johnny Blue Skies.
Brad Serling, founder and CEO of nugs.net, shared his excitement for the livestreams. “From Sturgill’s debut livestream with us during the pandemic to these final shows of the ‘Why Not’ Tour, it’s been a privilege to partner with an artist of his caliber. These livestreams are the perfect way to celebrate the conclusion of an extraordinary tour, offering fans a front-row experience from anywhere in the world.”
In-person tickets for the Boston shows are sold out, but fans can still join the celebration by subscribing to nugs.net. New users to nugs can subscribe for $14.99 to get instant access to both shows plus nugs’ complete streaming catalogs of artist-official audio and videos.
About Sturgill Simpson
Respected, beloved and fiercely independent, Sturgill Simpson made his highly anticipated return to music this year with the release of the full-length album Passage Du Desir under a new name: Johnny Blue Skies. The eight-song album was produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson and recorded at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
Released to overwhelming acclaim, GQ calls the album “an instant classic,” while Pitchfork named it “Best New Music,” proclaiming, “expertly balances cosmic and outlaw country and reintroduces himself as the premier Nashville outsider.” Additionally, Rolling Stone declares, “a brilliant exploration of metamodern heartache,” and Paste asserts, “the album’s only imperfection is that it ends.”
Since his debut, Simpson has released five full-length studio albums — 2013’s High Top Mountain, 2014’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, 2016’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, 2019’s Sound & Fury and 2021’s The Ballad of Dood and Juanita — along with the 2020 projects Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Throughout his singular career, Simpson has relentlessly pushed against expectations, earning widespread acclaim and countless accolades, including a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Country Album and six Grammy nominations across four genres: country, rock, bluegrass and Americana.
Blotched with pink and white swirls, slapped with a plane sticker, or—if you’re one of those minimalist types—just a classic sky blue, what most would call ‘travel luggage,’ we true fans know as ‘concert time!’ It’s our one foolproof excuse to drop everything, pack up, and spend a few glorious days watching our faves flounce on stage. That’s why we become the frazzled Gollum upon collecting even more digital tickets, snarling “my precious” whenever we join the headache-inducing queue. Luckily for you, we’re about to give you even more chances to experience live music with a series called Soundcheck Recap! We’ll review the latest touring news each week, recount the best moments, and show you how to make your ticket list scroll for days.
Busted Vs. McFly
It’s the ultimate toss-up of the boy bands, or if you’re more of a lover than a fighter, you’re probably cheesing at seeing all of them on stage together. Just imagine the shenanigans! In a moment we captured, Busted and McFly announced that they would travel around Europe together late next year. The tour will begin in Birmingham and then wrap up in Belfast, and though the general sale kicked off on the 18th, the ticketing gods have still favored latecomers by having plenty still available.
We’ve been looking for a slice of paradise for a while now, and we can rely on Foster The People to give it to us with their North American-spanning Paradise State of Mind Tour! Like Busted and McFly, the general sale was on Friday, but we can never discount bliss, so make sure you’re seated.
Where thou art, Shawny boy? It turns out that despite the album release—that doesn’t take a liking to our nickname for him but just his first name itself—moving from October 18th to November 15th, it’s still rolling out with a bang. One that features an extreme screen, popcorn brewing until our fingers taste buttery. Shawn Mendes: For Friends And Family Only (A Live Concert Film) will appear at selected worldwide cinemas just one day before the album comes out, so November 14 for those who aren’t human calculators. The exact locations and ways to purchase tickets will shuffle out at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET on October 24.
‘Whenever, Wherever’ may just have to be the answer for American fans when it comes to Shakira’s shaking hips as she’s upgraded those dates to full-on stadiums! We should’ve known that was coming, as she’s been a titan lately, stealing Taylor Swift’s lucky number 13 and making it her own by selling out that amount of stadiums for her international leg in under two hours. Woah, wiping sweats off our brows and still not being able to think about anything as prestigious as we can do in that time frame. Next year is shaping up to be her year with the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour!
Las Vegas is the likely place to see someone slash their cheating exes tiers, so it’s a good fortune that Carrie Underwood has been there singing such sassy tunes for her REFLECTION residency. However, soon enough, they will have to find another singer to give them that pep talk as its final dates have been announced. The residency will wrap up on April 12th. Tickets for these final dates also went on sale on Friday, but as always, there are still a few to choose from, so it’s better to be late but not wholly late.
Well, now we’re just kicking our feet, wishing we were a Wells Fargo Autograph Credit holder. You’re one? That’s super lucky because Halsey’s doing an intimate event at San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom on November 21st, no doubt in celebration of their upcoming album, The Great Impersonator. Shuffle your fortune-telling cards and see if they decipher if you’ll land tickets in their remaining sale on October 24th at 10 a.m. PT.
Have you already purchased one of these gigs? Maybe it’s re-jogged your memory to get those tickets? Either way, we want to know everything! So do us a favor, spill every little fangirling detail, like what package type you got in our mentions over on Twitter, and then hit the follow button on our Facebook and Instagram so you can keep up to date with your faves until you see them.
Fans Can Listen to Official Concert Audio from the Highly Anticipated Tour – Available for Streaming and Download Exclusively on nugs.net
SAN FRANCISCO, September 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– nugs.net, the leading channel for live concert streaming, has announced that it is releasing official live concert recordings from Sturgill Simpson’s “Why Not?” Tour 2024, which is currently underway.
Performing under the moniker Johnny Blue Skies, Simpson’s return to the stage marks a new chapter for the Grammy-winning artist. Spanning 30 U.S. dates in 2024, the artist-official concert recordings from the tour will be made available for download on nugs.net and streaming exclusively in the app for subscribers. The “Why Not?” Tour continues into 2025, with 17 additional dates in Europe just announced.
In launching this collaboration, five concerts from the first week of the tour are available now on the live-music platform, and fans can expect nightly recordings to be available on nugs within 12 hours of each show.
Exclusive Access to Official Concert Audio
As part of this exclusive offering, fans will have the option to stream or download Simpson’s official concert recordings in standard and high-resolution formats. These high-fidelity soundboard recordings capture the energy and rawness of his live performances, allowing fans to experience the tour nightly as if they were front row.
“We first teamed up with Sturgill for a livestream event during the pandemic, a benefit concert streamed live to fans worldwide from an empty Ryman Auditorium. Fast forward four years, and we’re elated to have him back on nugs.net in this capacity; this is a special opportunity for fans,” said Brad Serling, founder and CEO of nugs.net. “This tour is a celebration of his return, and through nugs, we’re proud to be able to provide fans a piece of that live experience from home.”
The “Why Not?” Tour is Simpson’s first full tour in over four years and features his band—Kevin Black (bass), Robbie Crowell (keys), Laur Joamets (guitar) and Miles Miller (drums). Of a recent three-hour long concert, the Santa Barbara Independent praises, “In his long-awaited return to music, Sturgill Simpson … brought a mesmerizing sense of calm to the Santa Barbara Bowl,” while American Songwriter declares, “Not only does this prove Simpson’s creativity is otherworldly, but it also proves just how versatile of a musician he is.”
Sturgill Simpson’s “Why Not?” Tour – Full List of Dates:
September 14 – Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre
September 15 – Santa Barbara, CA—Santa Barbara Bowl
September 17 – West Valley City, UT—Maverik Center
September 19 – Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater
September 20 – George, WA—The Gorge Amphitheatre
September 22 – Missoula, MT—KettleHouse Amphitheater
September 24 – Moorhead, MN—Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater
September 25 – Minneapolis, MN—Roy Wilkins Auditorium
September 27 – Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena
September 28 – Detroit, MI—Fox Theatre
October 1 – Chicago, IL—Salt Shed
October 2 – Chicago, IL—Salt Shed
October 4 – Brandon, MS—The Brandon Amphitheater
October 4-6 – Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 8 – Oklahoma City, OK—Criterion
October 9 – Rogers, AR—Walmart AMP
October 11-13 – Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 15 – St. Louis, MO—Fabulous Fox Theatre
October 18 – Pittsburgh, PA—Petersen Events Center
October 19 – Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium
October 21 – Asheville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena
October 22 – Cary, NC—Koka Booth Amphitheatre
October 24 – Duluth, GA—Gas South Arena
October 25 – Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena
November 12 – Philadelphia, PA—The Met
November 15 – Hampton, VA—Hampton Coliseum*
November 18 – Washington, DC—The Anthem*
November 20 – Toronto, ON—Massey Hall
November 21 – Toronto, ON—Massey Hall
November 23 – Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway
February 23 – Belfast, UK— Limelight
February 24 – Dublin, IE—Vicar Street
February 26 – Glasgow, UK—Barrowland Ballroom
February 27 – Manchester, UK—Albert Hall
March 1 – London, UK— Eventim Apollo
March 2 – Bristol, UK—Beacon
March 4 – Amsterdam, NL—Paradiso
March 5 – Hamburg, DE —Markthalle
March 7 – Copenhagen, DK—KB Hallen
March 8 – Stockholm, SE—Annexet
March 10 – Oslo, NO—Sentrum Scene
March 14 – Helsinki, FI—House of Culture
March 15 – Tallinn, EE—Alexela Concert Hall
March 18 – Berlin, DE—Metropol
March 19 – Munich, DE—Muffathalle
March 21 – Brussels, BE—La Madeleine
March 22 – Paris, FR—Le Trianon
(Note: The audio for the September 14th Greek Theatre show will not be available. Europe audio is not confirmed yet to be available for streaming or order.)
With a free 7-day trial to the nugs.net app, fans can stream Sturgill Simpson’s ”Why Not?” Tour audio and unlock nugs’ expansive concert catalog, featuring official audio and video from last night’s show, and deep archives from the world’s most iconic artists.
About nugs.net Since 1997 nugs has been at the forefront of live music. Founded as a fan site for downloading concert audio, nugs.net has grown into the leading live music platform for the world’s largest touring artists and emerging acts. Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Phish, Dead & Company, Jack White and many others distribute official and professionally-mixed concert recordings exclusively through nugs, available for order and streaming with a subscription. nugs is also respected worldwide as the premiere site for livestreamed events, delivering unparalleled at-home concert experiences in stunning 4K and HD quality. nugs catalog of live music is available on the web, iOS, Android, AppleTV, CarPlay, Sonos, plus BluOS, and a free 7-day trial is available.
About Sturgill Simpson Respected, beloved and fiercely independent, Sturgill Simpson made his highly anticipated return to music this year with the release of the full-length album, Passage Du Desir, under a new name, Johnny Blue Skies. The eight-song album was produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson and recorded at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville, TN, and Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
Released to overwhelming acclaim, GQ calls the album, “an instant classic,” while Pitchfork named it “Best New Music,” proclaiming, “expertly balances cosmic and outlaw country and reintroduces himself as the premier Nashville outsider.” Additionally, Rolling Stone declares, “a brilliant exploration of metamodern heartache” and Paste asserts “the album’s only imperfection is that it ends.”
Since his debut, Simpson has released five full-length studio albums—2013’s High Top Mountain, 2014’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, 2016’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, 2019’s Sound & Fury and 2021’s The Ballad of Dood and Juanita—along with the 2020 projects, Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Throughout his singular career, Simpson has relentlessly pushed against expectations, earning widespread acclaim and countless accolades including a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Country Album and six Grammy nominations across four genres: country, rock, bluegrass and Americana.
Ypsilanti is known mainly for being home to Eastern Michigan University’s Infamous Ypsilanti Water Tower, which reminds you of something phallic. The City boasts two downtowns, museums, and the home of Elvis Fest,
New Concept In Concert Venues Is Coming
A music venue where paying customers can consume cannabis in Ypsilanti Township would be the first of its kind in the state.
New Venue Called Pipeline Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The venue will be called “Pipeline,” and the wizard behind the idea is Mike Ludtke, who also owns Inside 20 After 4 smoke shop in Ypsilanti.
What Can We Find At “Pipeline” Concert Venue?
The outdoor amphitheater can hold 650 people. A new concept is a concert venue that will also be a consumption venue.
The idea from Mike Ludtke has been a painstaking 3-year process in the making. As a fellow musician, Mike had always had the idea of putting a concert venue and consumption together for years.
Where Will Pipeline Concert Venue Be Located?
A nice plot of land was acquired: a 4-acre zoned industrial parcel off I-94 next to the water treatment plant in Ypsilanti Township. One area will be the outdoor venue, which will hold up to 650 patrons, and another indoor venue for another 200 plus.
The planning commission signed off. So, in reality, they could break ground at any time, but they hope to start sometime this month.
Venue To Play Host To Lots Of Area Music Styles
“DJs, electronic music and the local Detroit rap scene
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Conveniently located near Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, it will make for a great venue for everyone. Also, it is not too close to the neighbors, so maybe the music can be turned up a bit.
Years of hard work went into the planning stages of this new venture, including three years’ worth of sound studies, erosion studies, and other construction hurdles that had to be figured out.
“DJs, electronic music, the local Detroit rap scene, and more are coming hopefully by next Summer.
Check out all the information on Pipeline by CLICKING HERE.
3 Biggest Threats to a Lions Super Bowl
The Detroit Lions are a supremely talented NFL team in 2024. They were just named the favorite by Sports Illustrated to win the Super Bowl this year. As Lions fans we are in a unique situation for the first time in our franchise’s history. We now are looking at what could possibly prevent our Detroit Lions from making it to their first ever Super Bowl game. But what are the biggest threats to Detroit making the Super Bowl?
With the start of the NFL regular season right around the corner, there is a ton of hype surrounding our beloved Detroit Lions. The team is poised for great things. We are coming off a historic season where the team finished 12-5. Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s consistent play was a massive part of the team’s overall success.
Jared Goff finished the 2023 season with over 4500 Passing Yards, 30 Touchdowns to only 12 Interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.3, with the highest completion percentage of his NFL career. Not to mention his solid play in the playoffs, where it mattered most. Goff also had two solid games and a star-studded performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Anytime you finish a game with an 80% completion rate, you’ve played phenomenally at the Quarterback position. Jared Goff is our guy!
Detroit Has The Cast
While Jared Goff has been excellent in Detroit, he’s not the only star in the motor city. Lions Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has solidified himself as a top 5 receiver in the National Football League. Finishing in the top 4 in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2023, St. Brown is poised to jump from star to superstar this season. Detroit is lucky to have such unbelievable talent and a superb work ethic like Amon-Ra. Not since Megatron has the franchise had a receiver this good.
With other deadly offensive weapons like Sam Laporta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and the rock-solid gritty David Mongomery, this team has everything going for them. Our offense will be a tough matchup for any defense this season. Of course, we cannot forget about the offensive line. With some slight adjustments after the loss of Jonah Jackson, the O line has been revamped and retooled. They’re poised to be a top 5 group yet again, which will be pivotal to match the offensive potency we saw all of last season.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 24: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on in the first half while playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in a preseason game at Ford Field on August 24, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Lastly, the defense has seen significant upgrades at all levels. Multiple players have been added to the secondary, which has been bolstered with reinforcements from two draft picks, a trade, and free-agent signings. The defensive line had two great additions: Marcus Davenport and D.J. Reader. The team has seen some major development from guys like Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and even Derrick Barnes.
Lions Super Bowl
With James Houston healthy again and star edge Rusher Aidan Hutchinson doing his thing, this defense should be a much more fearsome unit this season. More pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz makes the job of the Lion’s secondary much easier. This will be key for Detroit as all these new additions must acclimate to playing alongside each other. With all of these fantastic things you’ve heard about our Detroit Lions, all signs point towards Detroit being a top 5 team again.
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 28: Amon-Ra St. Brown, #14 of the Detroit Lions, warms up before the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Finishing one game short of the Super Bowl this year means we aim bigger. Seemingly, everyone in the state of Michigan has been wanting a Lions Super Bowl for an eternity. What will stop the Detroit Lions? If they’re genuinely this good, nothing should stand in their way. Even still, only three things will prevent a Lions Super Bowl. Find out what those three things are below.
Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, “Chit!.” Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.
The rumors are true, we haven’t stopped listening to Amy Shark’s new album Sunday Sadness since our first listen-through. From songs like ‘Can I Shower At Yours,’ to ‘I’m Sorry,’ we are simply hooked. We were lucky enough to chat with Amy Shark about the in’s and out’s of this record, as well as her time coaching The Voice, her past work, and more! Let’s jump in!
Hi Amy! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us! To start us off, if someone was diving into your music for the first time, how would you describe your sound? I think I would describe it as honest, gritty, indie pop.
‘My Only Friend’ has just come out! What can you tell us about working with Tom DeLonge and how that partnership came about? The whole blink collaboration was never a part of the plan. They just happen to be my favourite band but I never in a million years did I think that I would be able to do a song with even one of them let alone all of them. Tom was the hardest to lockdown just because he’s so busy with other commitments, movies, aliens, etc but after I sent him the song he made it very easy. He loved the verse I wrote and he tracked his vocals in San Diego and sent them over to me. I worked on it with my producer and the rest is history. It’s one of the coolest songs I have in my entire catalog.
Upon listening to ‘My Only Friend’ we thought back to a track you released last month ‘Two Friends,’ to us, it seemed like ‘My Only Friend’ was ‘Two Friends’ softer counterpart, is there an intentional string between the two? I feel like I have unintentionally written an album about two friends haha. Every song can kinda hold hands with the next. It’s kinda cool.
As we are writing these questions Sunday Sadness comes out in twenty days, how are you feeling? What are the emotions leading up to your first album release since 2021? I’m quietly confident, but I’m still a little nervous. I really want people to love it as much as I do. But then again, it is my third album so by this time I really know what my fans love. They’re going to love this album and hopefully, it’s good enough to grab more Amy Shark fans along the way.
When talking about Sunday Sadness you said that this record was specifically written on Sundays, what do you think it is about Sundays that allows you to create so freely? And when did you realize that a creative pattern was forming? There was one specific Sunday where I was finishing a song, it was the last song on the album ‘Our Time Together.’ It’s a pretty emotional song full of memories. I think that’s when I realized that Sundays have always been the emotional day that I can’t escape. Even when I try and work on a Sunday by finishing songs the songs end up emotional.
We were lucky enough to be able to listen to Sunday Sadness a bit early to prep for this interview, and it’s incredible. What really struck us is the range of emotions that the listener is taken through with these tracks, it really feels like getting an inside look at your diary. With that range in mind, are there two lyrics on the record that you think perfectly represent two opposite ends of the emotional spectrum? Yeah, totally! I’m so glad you picked that up. I love the very opening line to the record in ‘Slide Down The Wall’,“ doesn’t matter what I do. I always get emotional with you”. But then you hear the line “tell everyone you’re dead to me” in the song ‘Gone’ and I love how this album feels like a series of mini-movies! So many ups and downs but a lot of love throughout.
For us, eleven tracks is such a sweet spot for an album, but we know that the number of songs that could have been on the record was probably a much higher number, was there a song that you wrote during the process of making Sunday Sadness, but that didn’t make the album that you hope still sees the light of day in some capacity? Yes, this always happens to me. It’s very sad. But it’s like sport. Only the strongest get picked for the team, unfortunately. But it doesn’t mean I don’t care about those on the bench.
We know that crafting an album takes a village, and there are so many thank you’s that could be said to the people involved, but something that is often hard for people to do is to pat themselves on the back. What is something that you accomplished during the process of crafting Sunday Sadness that you are proud of yourself for? I explored every single avenue for every single song on this record. I wasn’t lazy. I worked really hard to make sure every song could stand strong on its own. Even if I had to heavily compromise or lose a guitar riff that I was attached to. I did everything I could to make this album as strong as I believe it is. I’m proud of that.
We have to take a minute to ask about Australian Idol, was there a piece of advice that you were able to give a constant on that show that you wish someone would have given you when you were starting out? Music isn’t a sport, no one can tap you on the shoulder and tell you to retire because you’re not strong enough or fast enough. You can keep making art all day every day for the rest of your life! There’s no age to making music. So just because it’s a ‘no’ today. Just get up and get after it again tomorrow.
Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! Before we let you go, what is the rest of 2024 shaping up to look like for you once the record is out? I plan on promoting this album to every part of the world!
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of the new Amy Shark album Sunday Sadness? Let us know by commenting down below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Can you believe we’re already in the eighth month of 2024? We’re not quite yet at the end of the year, but it’s creeping up on us quickly! As summer concerts have come to a close, our post-concert depression has hit. If you’re experiencing the same thing, don’t worry. We’re here to help you cure your PCD with concerts like Def Leppard / Journey and Post Malone that will fill in the rest of your concert lineup.
Def Leppard / Journey: The Summer Stadium Tour
This tour has to be one of the most iconic tours ever! This past summer, Def Leppard and Journey teamed up on a stadium tour with openers Steve Miller Band and Cheap Trick. Attendees can expect five hours full of rock anthems, which, if you ask us, is a dream come true! The tour only has a few dates left so run, don’t walk for your chance to attend the remaining shows. Tickets are available for purchase, here.
If you’ve attended Coachella or Bonnaroo, Taking Back Sunday might sound familiar to you! Following the band’s performance at these festivals, they’ve kicked off the second leg of their North America Tour. If you’re into Pop Rock / Pop Punk, this tour will be a great time for you. If you can’t make one of these shows, you can also find them co-headlining with The Used this fall! Tickets for both tours are available for purchase, here.
Four Year Strong will be kicking off their fall headline tour on October 30th! This tour is the perfect fit for any fans of experimental pop punk music, their unique sound shines in ‘aftermath / afterthought’ and ‘uncooked.’ That same sound will undoubtedly be present in their new album analysis paralysis. The album is releasing on August 9th and is available for pre-save here. If you like what you hear, purchase tickets to the tour, here.
It’s no secret how much we love Post Malone here at the hive, so naturally, we had to mention his tour! He’s had a busy year, collaborating with Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, and more. We can’t wait to see what songs make the setlist and all the other fun things that come with touring! The tour will be kicking off on September 8th, and if you want to be there, tickets are available here.
Carrie Underwood’s Reflection: Las Vegas Residency
Carrie Underwood making history? We’re not surprised. She is the first-ever resident headliner at Resorts World Theatre and will have her next performance there on August 14th, running until October 26th. The chance to hear her hit songs like ‘Before He Cheats’ and ‘Blown Away’ is too much to resist. Can’t make these upcoming dates? No worries, you can also purchase tickets for March – April 2025 dates. If you’re like us and you need tickets, you can buy them here.
We could go on forever about all of the amazing upcoming tours but we won’t keep you. What’s your 2024 concert season looking like for the rest of the year? Will you be attending any of these shows? Tweet us @TheHoneyPop or find us buzzing on Facebook or Instagram to share your concert lineup!
