Seattle’s alternative “grunge” rock was a punk/metal hybrid sound made famous by bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden that seized pop culture in the early ’90s. Among the musicians who came to define the scene, white men dominated, and women were few. And Black women? If the most common version of history is to be believed, there were none. But that version is wrong. Bam Bam, formed in 1983 by husband-and-wife duo Tommy Martin and Tina Bell, has largely been erased from the annals of the...

Purple Hearts is an enemies-to-lovers romance about a liberal musician and a conservative marine. When Cassie, a singer-songwriter, finds out that her insurance doesn’t cover the insulin that she needs as a type 1 diabetic, she asks her marine best friend to marry her for the military spouse benefits. He can’t oblige because of his girlfriend, but his roommate, Luke overhears the conversation and realizes that marrying Cassie will afford him enough extra pay while serving to pay off his debts to his old drug dealer....

For those of us languishing in the mid-summer heat, Los Angeles-based band Hot As Sun brings a refreshing new song to cool us off. The band’s latest single "It Was Bananas” is the summer sound tonic we’ve been waiting for. Evocative of early eighties sounds like ESG or Bush Tetras, we love the animated video created by artist Patricia Luna (Beck, Stuntdriver, Freidberg). The single also features Justin Meldal-Johnsen on bass of (Beck, St. Vincent, and Nine Inch Nails),  Hot As Sun began in 2010 with vocalist, songwriter/composer...

Known for over five decades as the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan has sold over 70 million albums worldwide with her irresistible vocal blend of R&B, soul, pop, and disco. Think you know why everyone’s always talkin’ about Chaka? Then take the quiz! 1. Chaka was born on March 23, 1953, in ___________. a. Brooklyn, NY       b. Ventura, CA c. Chicago, IL           d. Gary, IN   2. Which of the following is also a name Chaka has used when not going by Chaka Khan? a. Yvette Marie Stevens b. Chaka Adunne Aduffe c. Yemoja Hodarhi...

We are living in an age where every word counts. Whether it’s in a movie, TV show, Instagram post, or tweet, the way in which we use language to convey our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs is being thoroughly questioned and analyzed daily. Editing ourselves in real-time, both online and in real life has become the norm for politicians, social media influencers, actors, actresses, and more. Singers are no exception to this rule, and this was recently proven when Beyoncé and Lizzo made headlines for removing...

Diamanda Galás is the living definition of what it means to be avant-garde. An extraordinary and genre-bending vocalist, composer, pianist, performance artist, and activist, she has been creating uncompromising work that cries out against injustice for over  40 years. Her 12 studio albums include the classic 1986 collection “The Divine Punishment”—a masterwork created in response to the AIDS crisis—that was just remastered and re-released in June. And her brand new album “Broken Gargoyles,” inspired by the isolation of maimed WWI veterans, is coming out August...

BRITTANY DAVIS I Choose to Live (Loosegroove Records) Seattle’s Brittany Davis delivers a manifesto of heart and inclusivity on their rap, electronic, and R&B-infused debut EP, I Choose to Live. Davis, a protégé of Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard, packs an amount of reflective and groove-worthy content into six songs that is nothing short of remarkable. The opening title track is a beacon, giving shoutouts to frontline workers and vital nods of reconciliation: “To my Asian brothers and sisters I extend my heart/Because I refuse to let the past keep...

If you’re heading to Outside Lands: https://www.sfoutsidelands.com/ this year, check out some of the BUSTy artists we think you would love. We’ve linked their set times and stages below.   SZA 8/5 8:45 PM - 9:55 PM Lands End  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5IQ70V7l-XpHW40HwaGsw   PHOEBE BRIDGERS 8/5 8:35 PM - 9:50 PM Twin Peaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh4PO1W9tVmHujIPZnfK8TQ   THE MARÍAS 8/5 6:55 PM - 7:45 PM Twin Peaks  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmZkdugBmAP_zpyzayv6VQ   SAMPA THE GREAT 8/5 4:35 PM - 5:15 PM Panhandle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHPHV1vMBvc-hce4Z5xP88A   HIATUS KAIYOTE 8/5 4:10 PM - 5:00 PM Lands End https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD8TDgJxofPfxA8GTpaCCQ   ASHE 8/5 3:45 PM - 4:35 PM Twin Peaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYx21h__0wVW2wBWX7sQP1A  LIDO PIMIENTA 8/5 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM Panhandle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPfz16ao-2v68HDN3weu9Jg   FAYE WEBSTER 8/5 2:40 PM...

Director Jordan Peele’s new science fiction thriller, Nope, tells the story of two siblings, Emerald (Keke Palmer) and Otis “OJ” Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya), continuing their father’s legacy of handling horses for television. Their family history has been intertwined with Hollywood and horses for generations.  The first motion picture ever made was an 11-frame clip of a Black man riding a horse. Emerald and OJ are his descendants. The Haywood story spirals out from there as Emerald and OJ work to maintain their family’s legacy while grappling...

Kate Beacom and Louis Legge's Rehab Cabin is Misery for the Lindsey Lohan generation. Best friends Chloe and Dominic are at odds when Dominic decides to return to college after deferring for a year to hang out with Chloe, the immature, manipulative, and often insufferable antihero of the story. As Dominic starts to pull away, Chloe is grasping at straws to keep him home with her.  When the pair are helping Chloe’s dad out by driving for his limo service,  their favorite former child star and...