In 1996, the Telecommunications Act marked a significant shift in American telecommunications policy, ushering in a new era of deregulation. While this overhaul was intended to modernize the industry and accommodate the burgeoning internet, its unintended consequences rippled through the music world, particularly the indie rock scene. With the removal of caps on nationwide radio station ownership and the deregulation of broadcast markets, a small number of corporations seized the opportunity to consolidate power and homogenize playlists. This consolidation led to a dramatic shift in the landsc ..read more

In the realm of rock music, certain figures become synonymous with their genres, and Josh Homme undeniably occupies this space. Emerging as a central figure in the Palm Desert Scene, Homme’s influence spans from his early days with Kyuss to his leadership role in Queens of the Stone Age. His signature heavy, groove-laden sound is a cornerstone of stoner rock and stoner metal, shaped by his experiences in the desert music scene. While Homme’s music often draws comparisons to metal acts, particularly given its slow tempos, heavy distortion, and de-tuned guitars, he and former Kyuss vocalist John ..read more

Pink Floyd’s iconic album, Dark Side of the Moon, continues to defy time, reemerging on the charts with a newfound vigor. The album, celebrated as one of the most commercially successful in history, has once again captured the imagination of music lovers, propelling it to new heights on Billboard’s rankings. This resurgence comes amidst a wave of renewed interest in the album, driven in part by its timeless appeal and perhaps coincidentally, the recent eclipse. While there may not be a direct correlation between the celestial event and the album’s resurgence, some have drawn connections, addin ..read more

In January of 1997, David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday in grand style, hosting an unforgettable bash at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden. This wasn’t your typical birthday affair; instead, it was a star-studded extravaganza featuring performances from Bowie himself, alongside a lineup of musical luminaries including Robert Smith, Frank Black, Billy Corgan, Kim Gordon, and Lou Reed. Among the performers that night were the Foo Fighters, still a relatively young band at the time. For bassist Nate Mendel, it was a milestone event that left a lasting impression. Reflecting on that his ..read more

In the 1990s, with the explosion of alternative rock, many bands with unconventional approaches to songwriting and a quirky sound had their chance at mainstream success. This was the decade where acts like Primus, Faith No More, and The Presidents of the United States of America all had their time to shine, with music that was out-of-the-box and often just plain weird. While nu metal continued to propel strange acts in the vein of System of a Down or Mudvayne to success well into the 2000s, mainstream rock switched to safer grounds with the rise of the post-punk and garage rock revivals. The p ..read more

After 18 years programming the Kitchener Blues Festival, Claude Cloutier is used to discordant sounds. Not from the musicians he books, an eclectic lineup of pure blues acts and rock survivors from the ‘70s and ‘80s who never miss a note. From festgoers who complain that the largest free blues festival in Canada isn’t living up to their lofty expectations. “I get crucified on Facebook by the Blues Police,” laughs the easygoing artistic director, whose booking of nostalgic rock acts rubs purists the wrong way. “There’s only five or six (rock acts). The rest are primarily blues and folk, folk ro ..read more

An act of God can leave you cowering before nature — but not every storm cometh the same. During a camping trip in Tennessee last month, 40-mile-per-hour gusts of wind had the walls of my family’s tent expanding and contracting in such disconcerting fashion that we began to imagine those videos of bounce houses flying away. Our attempt to retreat to a hotel was thwarted when the only road out of our campground was blocked by a fallen tree, so we rode out the night in the parking lot as other trees fell nearby — including one directly atop a campervan at a campsite right next to ours. A week la ..read more

Deftones played a deep cut for the first time since 2011 this past weekend at the Coachella festival, and also confirmed that a new album is coming. During Deftones’ 12-song set at the festival in Indio, Calif. on April 12, they played the song “Combat” from their 2006 album Saturday Night Wrist. It was the second time they ever played the track live, with their first performance of the song taking place in 2011 A New Deftones Album Is in the Works In an interview with KROQ ahead of the performance, the band discussed that a new album is in the works. READ MORE: System of a Down + Deftones Ann ..read more

Joining the ranks of canceled major events across the nation, the Caloundra Music Festival, an annual Sunshine Coast staple, has been forced to take a hiatus this year due to the overwhelming burden of cost of living pressures. Organizers confirmed the festival’s postponement just four months ahead of its scheduled October dates at Kings Beach. Rising expenses and the economic strain on ticket sales were cited as primary factors behind the decision. “CMF, like many festivals, has faced escalating operational costs, including infrastructure, production, security, policing, labor, travel, accomm ..read more

“Queen Rock Montreal” is set to make its global streaming debut on Disney+ on May 15, featuring Imax Enhanced sound by DTS, marking a groundbreaking moment for concert films. Originally released in theaters in January, the remastered 1981 concert became Imax’s most significant exclusive engagement. Now, it will join Disney+’s lineup alongside 18 Marvel films, all offering Imax Enhanced sound on supported devices. Bruce Markoe, Imax’s senior VP and head of Imax post and image capture, made the announcement during a panel at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The legendary concerts, starring Freddie Mer ..read more