In Which I Talk Shit About People Who Deserve It

PRELUDE

Hey everyone,

I never want to come across as negative and, generally speaking, I don’t like to speak negatively of others. I take the approach of if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Regardless of this being my stance most of the time, a lot of what I have to say this week is pretty negative. Sometimes a lot of atrocious things happen at once and this was one of those weeks so I feel compelled to speak on some of it.

Out of the gate, it’s a small stupid thing. Inconsequential, really. I don’t even know why I bring it up except maybe all this other negative stuff has irritated me to the point where I feel it necessary to mention, and because it’s small, I”ll get it out of the way first. There’s a silly little story making the rounds about Paul McCartney which I’ll cover in more depth below. My beef isn’t with Paul McCartney—who could have beef with Paul McCartney anyway? My beef is with people who refer to him as “Macca.” Dear sweet 12lb baby jesus stop doing this. It’s on par with being as obnoxious as when people refer to a cup of coffee as a “cuppa.” It sounds so stupid to me, and I have no idea why it gets on my nerves the way it does.

While we’re on the subject of things that irritate the ever-loving shit out of me, let’s talk about Amanda Shires. I just can’t with her. I’ve tried, god knows I have, and because she was (technically, still is for now) married to Jason Isbell, I really wanted to like her music, but that irritatingly mousy, shaky, warbly, bird call of a voice is excruciating and insufferable. It’s not nails on a chalkboard—it’s worse. I’ve felt this way for a while but finally decided to voice my opinion after something else that happened this past week which made me think even less of her as a person: she and long-time husband Jason Isbell are divorcing and that’s not news, but they had two concert dates scheduled together which they’ve gone on to do despite their breakup. Shires opened for Isbell this past week in Denver and when performing her song “Stupid Love” which starts with the line, “You were smiling so much you kissed me with your teeth,” she stopped her band and had them restart the song, so she could re-sing the line as “You were smiling so much you kissed me with your crooked teeth” a line clearly in reference to Isbell who, prior to having a cosmetic dentistry procedure last year, did have crooked teeth. If she wanted to come across as a petty asshole, she succeeded. Despite her classless dig at him, Isbell later took the stage and said, “I’ve seen a lot of Amanda Shires sets, but that was one of my very favorites. It was a real honor and a real pleasure to have her and her fantastic band out here.” I don’t know why they are divorcing—that’s none of anybody’s business—but if her grating voice wasn’t off-putting enough, this shameless, low-class, publicly humiliating dig at the father of her children and the headliner of the show was the final nail in the coffin for me. She also burst onstage singing “Single Ladies” and complaining about how hard it is to be a single parent which, no doubt, is indeed incredibly hard, but she has plenty of money to make that challenge a million times easier than it is for us normies. Somebody is taking care of her kids while she’s out on tour and I’m sure that’s not the only time she has help. So, miss me with that bullshit.

Then, there’s this whole ongoing rap battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. I will say that I’m fully Team Kendrick on this one. I couldn’t have a lower opinion of Drake if I tried. I think Drake makes music for people who wouldn’t know good music if it bit them in the ass, not to mention the fact that he stands accused of some absolutely heinous shit. Oh shit, am I part of the rap battle now? How Drake became so popular is beyond me, but nevertheless, Kendrick nailed him to the wall and then set the house on fire in (one of) his most recent diss tracks, “Meet The Grahams.” I think it’s high time Drake got knocked off that pedestal he’s undeservingly been on for too long now.

Since I’m on a roll, let’s talk about Morgan Wallen, country artist and mullet-wearing bozo who was rightly publicly shamed a couple of years ago for using racial slurs. It’s assumed his career would be over, but that was me underestimating the blatant racism of his fans who could apparently care less about the fact that he’s a terrible person. This is also the guy who flouted Covid precautions on more than one occasion, and in May 2020 while partying in Nashville, managed to get himself thrown out of Kid Rock’s bar. I’ll let that last sentence speak for itself because, really, that says it all. Not ony did he go to Kid Rock’s bar, he got thrown out of it. How classy. Most recently, last month the ignorant asshole was arrested in Nashville after having a temper tantrum and throwing a chair off the roof of a downtown bar which he’s damn lucky didn’t kill someone. I’ve been fortunate enough to never hear his music and I’m hopeful that lucky streak continues for me.

Alright, enough bitching about awful people. Let’s do this thing.

Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on. This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.

PLAYLIST

Zappagram #106 featuring: Leslie Stevens, Jacob Slade, Moon Veil, Little Monarch, Brie Stoner, David Gilmour, Richard Hawley, Pet Shop Boys, Nuns Of The Tundra, Skuff Micksun

Listen to Zappagram #106 on Spotify or Apple Music.

Zappagram master playlist (all music from past) on Spotify or Apple Music.

MUSIC NEWS

» Last week, the news broke that pioneering guitarist Duane Eddy, popular in the late 50s and early 60s, had died at the age of 86 years old and all I could think was, “Wait…I thought he died a long, long time ago.” This happens to me all the time. Does it happen to you, too? #

» Sam Ash, the family-run music equipment chain, announced that it’ll be closing all remaining stores, to which my response was the same as to the news of Duane Eddy’s death. Sam Ash stores were still a thing until just now? I’ll be damned. The more you know. #

» Ex-Pink Floyd frontman David Gilmour is releasing new music and performing six shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in October. Anytime he performs live he always plays some of the Floyd catalog so I’m onsanely jealous of anyone getting to see him live this coming fall. The first single from his new album is out now, while the full album drops September 6th. #

» Universal Music Group and TikTok have finalized a new licensing agreement, resolving a three-month standoff during which the world’s largest record label withdrew its extensive music catalog from the social media platform. Because I know this is the most important thing going on in the world right now. #

» Live Nation has announced Concert Week 2024, offering $25 all-inclusive tickets for over 5,000 shows to celebrate the arrival of the summer concert season. Just some of the artists taking part in this year’s Concert Week celebrations include: Vampire Weekend, Alanis Morissette, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Pixies with Modest Mouse, The National with The War on Drugs, Smashing Pumpkins, Maggie Rogers, Rob Zombie with Alice Cooper, Kings of Leon, Stone Temple Pilots with Live, The Marley Brothers and many, many others (including comedy shows, drag performances, music festivals, and more). Check out the full list of confirmed participating performers at this link. #

» Following their upcoming tour, Local Natives will bid farewell (for now, hopefully not forever) to founding member Kelcey Ayer, who has been a vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter with the band since they formed in California in 2008. This is one of my favorite bands so I’m really bummed about the news, and while I’m happy for Kelcey and I wish him all the success in the world, I’m still hopeful that he will return to the band at some point in the future. #

» Siouxsie Sioux and Iggy Pop have collaborated on a new Magnum ice cream advertisement, performing a duet of Iggy’s 1977 hit “The Passenger.” Back in the day, fans would accuse the artist of selling out, but I think now we all agree that in this day and age of late-stage capitalism, artists are gonna make money however they can and, in most cases, there’s usually nothing wrong with that. I say go get that paycheck. What say you? #

» Billie Eilish has announced "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" to promote her forthcoming third album of the same name. The expansive global tour begins in North America in September 2024 and continues into summer 2025, with performances across Australia, the UK, and Europe. I may not be what’s considered her target demographic, but I think she (and her brother Finneas) are musical geniuses and that everything they do is brilliant so I’m really looking forward to her new album which drops in just a couple more weeks. #

B-SIDES

David Gilmour says he found The Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ documentary “a hard watch” and he’s “surprised Paul McCartney allowed it.” Paul McCartney replies to fan Adrienne from Brooklyn – 60 years after she declared her love for him. I hope she’s still alive to see this. There are photos of Maynard smashing a piñata for the final show of the Sessanta Tour that A Pefect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus have been on together recently. Wanna see? Maynard may be 60 years old but he’s still kicking ass and taking names. He’s not only in 3 active bands, he’s a vineyard-owning wine-making madman, and he’s a black belt instructor in Brazilian ju-jitsu. It makes me tired just thinking about doing all of those things.

Z-REX

» You know who was a great fucking band? Toto. Check out this clip of them playing their mega-hit “Rosanna” recorded live at Montreux back in 1991. Steve Lukather was (and still is) a badass guitar player.

NEW RELEASES

• Better Than Ezra: Super Magick [listen]
• Frank Turner: Undefeated [listen]
• The Lemon Twigs: A Dream Is All We Know [listen]
• Mdou Moctar: Funeral for Justice [listen]

RELEASE RADAR

MAY 10

• Angus & Julia Stone: Cape Forestier
• Dehd: Poetry
• Incubus: Morning View XXIII
• Keane: Hopes and Fears (20th Anniversary Edition)
• Kings of Leon: Can We Please Have Fun
• Orville Peck: Stampede Vol. 1
• Rainbow Kitten Surprise: Love Hate Music Box
• Shannon and the Clams: The Moon is in the Wrong Place
• Victoria Bigelow: Songs For No One Vol. 2 EP

MAY 17

• Ani DiFranco: Unprecedented Sh!t
• The Avett Brothers: The Avett Brothers
• Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown
• Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
• Blitzen Trapper: 100’s of 1000’s, Millions of Billions
• The Mavericks: Moon & Stars
• Of Montreal: Lady on the Cusp
• Pink Floyd: Animals 2018 Dolby Atmos Remix

MAY 24

• Andrew Bird Trio: Sunday Morning Put-On
• Bess Atwell: Light Sleeper
• David Bowie: Diamond Dogs (Vinyl Reissue)
• Kim Richey: Every New Beginning
• Lenny Kravitz: Blue Electric Light

MAY 31

• Bat for Lashes: The Dream of Delphi
• Crowded House: Gravity Stairs
• The Marías: Submarine
• Maya Hawke: Chaos Angel
• Odesza: The Last Goodbye Tour Live
• Richard Hawley: In This City They Call You Love
• Willie Nelson: The Border

ON THIS DATE

MAY 6 // Birthdays: Bob Seger (1945) • Guitarist Davey Johnstone, best known for his work with Elton John (1951) • John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants (1960) • Chris Shiflett (1971) • Meek Mill (1987) • In their Clearwater, Florida hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards worked out the opening guitar riff of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” following Richard's purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box earlier that day. (1965)

MAY 7 // Birthdays: Jimmy Ruffin (1939) • Cornelius Bumpus (1945) • Jerry Nolan, drums, The New York Dolls & Bill Kreutzmann, drummer with Grateful Dead (1946) • Steve Diggle, guitarist from punk rock band Buzzcocks (1955) • Phil Campbell of Mötörhead (1961) • Eagle Eye Cherry (1969) • Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys (1986) • Flying back to the UK after a US tour after his last gig with the band Bluesology, keyboard player Reginald Dwight gave some thought for a stage name he could use for his burgeoning solo career. In the cabin, he came across the band's horn player Elton Dean and lead singer Long John Baldry, and asked them if he can appropriate their names to concoct a new one for himself. They agree, and Elton John was born. (1968)

MAY 8 // Birthdays: Robert Johnson (1911) • Danny Whitten of Crazy Horse (1943) • Chris Frantz, drummer of Talking Heads & Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire (1951) • Alex Van Halen (1953) • Dave Rowntree, drummer of Blur (1964) • Martha Wainwright (1976) • Joe Bonamassa (1977) • The Beatles twelfth and final album, Let It Be was released. (1970)

MAY 9 // Birthdays: Dave Prater, of Sam & Dave (1937) • Richie Furay (1944) • Billy Joel (1949) • Dave Gahan (1962) • The Doors played at the Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood, California auditioning for the position of the venue's house band. (1966) • Little Richard died of bone cancer at the age of 87. (2020)

MAY 10 // Birthdays: Donovan (1946) • Dave Mason (1947) • John Ritchie, a.k.a. Sid Vicious (1957) • Paul Hewson, a.k.a. Bono (1960) • Richard Patrick of NIN & Filter (1968) • The Rolling Stones recorded a version of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” at Chess Studios in Chicago, with Brian Jones on harmonica. The band re-recorded it two days later at RCA Studios in Hollywood, with a different beat. (1965)

MAY 11 // Birthdays: Irving Berlin (1888) • Eric Burdon (1941) • Butch Trucks (1947) • Christoph Schneider, drummer of Rammstein (1966) • The triple soundtrack album Woodstock was released in the US, going gold within two weeks. (1970) • Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley died aged 36. (1981) • Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding died at his home in Ireland aged 57. (2003)

MAY 12 // Birthdays: Burt Bacharach (1928) • Steve Winwood & bassist Ivan Král who played with Blondie, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop (1948) • Billy Squier (1950) • Keyboardist, Greg Phillinganes (1956) • The Rolling Stones released Exile on Main Street. (1972)

CODA

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-CZ 🤘🏻🖤