May 27Help! The Pandemic is Lifting and I Can’t Stop Going To Shows!I semi-sincerely apologize to anyone who thought this image was a real upcoming event. To be fair, this fantasy concert kinda/sorta happened for me with just a couple months’ wait between bands. (Just like your standard metal show. So many bass drums and full stacks.) Shannon and the Clams w/…Acid Jazz5 min read
Apr 19Śmigus-dyngus!! Today, April 12th, is Dyngus Day. Prepare Thy Pussy Willow Switches!Dyngus day is a Polish tradition celebrated on the day after Easter Sunday. Men dump water on women or dunk them in a river. The women retaliate by hitting them with pussy willow switches, throwing crockery at them, or least interesting of all, giving them gifts of hard boiled eggs…Polish Food2 min read
Apr 12An Interview with Sound Engineer Paul Smith (The Roots/Marah/Steve Earle)Paul Smith cut his teeth mixing front-of-the-house sound for the holy trinity of Philly clubs: The Theater of the Living Arts, The Trocadero (RIP), and the Electric Factory. …Sound Engineering9 min read
Apr 1You decide! Which Religion Produces the Best Musicians?Mormonism Representative: The Osmond Brothers Band Song: Crazy Horses Check out a young, presumably uncaffeinated Donny Osmond crushing it on keys! All his brothers look like recessive prototypes of him, just like with me and my older brothers. Islam Representative: Mdou Moctar Song: Afrique Victime They don’t call this…Satanism3 min read
Mar 3Weird, Obscure, Strange, and Overlooked Bass Lines that Shred.Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels Weird and obscure bass lines that you may have missed. Infectious Grooves-Violent and Funky. Not sure of what ever became of bass player Robert Trujillo but I hope he is still able to eek out a living with music. XTC- Helicopter “Hey man…Bass Guitar2 min read
Feb 11A Sure Fire Hack that Makes Everyone Want to Jam With You.Don’t Worry. This method has nothing to do with scale, modes, or time signatures. Technically, It doesn’t even really have to do with making music. But I guarantee, if you just follow these two simple steps, your jam card will always be full. Your bandmates will love you, and so…Recording3 min read
Jan 13Chinn and Chapman: Two Guys You Never Heard of Who Wrote Your Favorite Songs.One part London rich kid, another part Australian waiter, songwriting duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman’s songs have more hooks than a pirate convention, scoring number one hits on both sides of the Atlantic. Helping to define glam rock by writing for bands like The Sweet, Mud, and Suzi Quatro…Classic Rock2 min read
Dec 15, 2021The Science is in: Every Cover of “Alone Again Or” is Awesome.According to a 2021 independent study hosted by Next in Line Labs*, there are no terrible versions of the Love classic Alone Again Or. The lab has many theories as to why this is. …Classic Rock2 min read
Dec 6, 2021Swap Liam For Dave: An Open Letter to Oasis and the Kinks.Sibling rivalry has been around since Cain smashed Abel’s head in and those two never ever climbed in a tour van together. There is only one thing sadder than when brothers stop talking: when they stop singing together. Sadder than that? When it’s Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis. And…Britpop2 min read
Oct 23, 2021Stalls for All: Let’s Close the Door on the Bathroom Debackle.“Complaining about a problem without posing a solution is called whining.” ― Teddy Roosevelt The bathroom is an odd place for a battlefield. From segregation, handicapped rights, to the trans movement, restrooms somehow make their way to the front and center of every social argument. Hell, the first Roman bathrooms were for men only, so that says something. …Gender Equality3 min read
