Who’s the dumbass who brought their baby in the pit of a Taylor Swift concert?

Zappagram is the mother of all weekly music newsletters, covering the latest in music news, reviews, interviews, releases, discovery, history, and more.

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ON TOUR

Now through November 23rd one of my favorite bands, Local Natives, are on tour, gracing cities across the U.S. with their unique blend of what Flood Magazine calls “upbeat-yet-melancholy alt-pop.” Check tour dates here and stream their gorgeous new album, “But I’ll Wait For You” here.

PLAYLIST

Zappagram #108 featuring: SHAED, Billie Eilish, Georgia Parker, Strand Of Oaks, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Vision Video, Tyler Tradewell, The National, The Mavericks, OMA

Listen to Zappagram #108 on Spotify or Apple Music.

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

MUSIC NEWS

» Consequence is running a perfectly-titled article: “Who’s the Dumbass Who Brought Their Baby in the Pit of Taylor Swift’s Concert?” A baby photographed in the pit of Taylor Swift’s concert in Paris has drawn the ire of concerned parents across the internet. The photographs captured the baby lying on the floor of the Paris La Défense Arena on Friday night, surrounded by adults, beer cups, and bags of concert merchandise. #

» As if anyone needed further proof, there is now video footage to prove that Sean “Diddy” Combs is a violently abusive big hot steaming piece of fucking shit. Infuriatingly, he cannot be prosecuted for the crime because the statute of limitations has expired. There should be no statute of limitations on violent crimes. I can’t wait to report that he’s gone to jail for life for some of the many other things he’s currently under federal investigation for. #

» Ex-Journey frontman Steve Perry has signed to a new label and is contemplating a solo tour. #

» The New Pornographers and Neko Case have announced 2024 tour dates — albeit separately from each other. New Pornographers (sans Case based on the poster) will embark on a US run this summer, while Case has set a solo North American trek for this fall. #

» Sexual abuser and all-around detestable excuse for a human being Marilyn Manson has signed a new record deal and teases his first new music since being cancelled for being an utter piece of shit. Sorry, but I’ll never listen to him ever again. The label that signed him is Nuclear Blast, a German label who also deserves cancellation for signing this bastard. Fuck him and fuck them. #

» Five years after the first-ever authorized documentary about Led Zeppelin was first announced — and nearly three years after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival — the long-awaited film is finally preparing to take flight to the big screen after being acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. No release date has yet been scheduled. #

» John Lennon‘s fourth solo album, Mind Games, will be reissued and expanded this summer. Arriving July 12, Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection features the recording sessions from the Record Plant in New York City, where you can immerse yourself in-studio commentary, unreleased outtakes, mixes, and much more. The project was overseen by Sean and Yoko. #

» John Barbata, the drummer who played on classic recordings by the Turtles, Jefferson Starship, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died at the age of 79. #

» Smooth jazz saxophonist David Sanborn, who played on recordings by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Carly Simon and performed live with David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, died in Tarrytown, New York, after an extended battle with prostate cancer at the age of 78. #

» With a new solo album coming this fall, David Gilmour will return to the United States for a handful of shows for the first time in eight years. Luck and Strange will be released on Sept. 6, and Gilmour will perform at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 29 and 30 and at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4 and 5. A teaser clip for the tour includes Pink Floyd songs, ostensibly suggesting that Gilmour will indeed be playing songs from throughout his entire career. Tickets are on sale now. #

» Hardcore Neil Young fans will be happy to hear that more than a decade after mooting the project in his book Waging Heavy Peace, Neil Young has announced the release of Early Daze, an album of mostly unreleased recordings from the beginnings of Crazy Horse. The album is out June 28. #

» Tom Waits will star alongside Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, and Mayim Bialik in Jim Jarmusch’s new movie Father Mother Sister Brother. Jarmusch’s follow-up to The Dead Don’t Die is a “comedy interwoven with threads of melancholy,” told as a triptych, per its description. It will also have a musical component, Jarmusch has said. #

» A new documentary about Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will stream on Hulu and Disney+ in October. Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band follows Springsteen and his band as they rehearse and perform on their 2023-2024 world tour. It’ll also feature interviews with Springsteen and archival clips of the band. #

» Typically an action reserved for legacy artists, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has sold his entire catalog, both past and future, to Sony Music Publishing. The deal includes the entire Tame Impala discography as well as Parker’s increasingly substantial list of songwriting credits on pop songs from Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Travis Scott, and many more. #

» Queens of the Stone Age will be resurrecting their 1998 self-titled debut album with a new vinyl reissue, featuring all of the songs originally intended for the album arranged in the band’s chosen order. QOTSA first reissued their long-out-of-print debut album back in 2011, and later in 2022 alongside vinyl reissues of 2013’s …Like Clockwork and 2017’s Villains. Now, the band will restore Queens of the Stone Age as a double LP with several bonus tracks. The reissued album features the original cover artwork from Frank Kozik and will hit shelves on June 21st. #

» Willie Nelson was forced to quite smoking marijuana a few years back due to breathing issues. However, that doesn’t mean the country legend has cut down on his cannabis consumption; he still vapes and eats edibles. He’s also picked up more than a few cannabis recipes over the years, which he and his wife Annie have now collected in a new cookbook. #

B-SIDES

Feist reflects on her breakthrough debut album Let It Die, released 20 years ago this month. # Dead & Company rise again at Vegas Sphere residency kickoff. # Cake has confirmed new tour dates across the US starting next month and running through September. # According to the results of this year’s Drug Safety at Music Festival Study, 84% of 2024 festival attendees are planning to use drugs on festival grounds, a 10% increase from last year’s survey. # The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) sent Spotify a cease and desist letter alleging the streaming platform hosts “unlicensed lyrics, music videos, and podcasts.” # Eminem runs fake Slim Shady obituary in Detroit newspaper. # This summer, Sarah McLachlan will celebrate the 30th anniversary of her album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, by embarking on a North American tour for which tickets are already on sale. #

Z-REX

» For new or old fans alike, there is no better video to learn all about every Tom Waits album than this comprehensive guide by Oliver Kemp who runs Deep Cuts, one of my favorite YouTube channels.

NEW RELEASES

• 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

RELEASE RADAR

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

JUNE 7

• Bathe Alone: I Don’t Do Humidity
• Bonny Light Horseman: Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
• Eels: Eels Time!
• Jimmy Buffett: Living and Dying in 3/4 Time (Vinyl Reissue)
• The Mysterines: Afraid of Tomorrows
• Pedro the Lion: Santa Cruz
• Slow Joy: Mi Amigo Slow Joy EP
• Strand of Oaks: Miracle Focus

JUNE 14

• David Bowie: Rock ‘n’ Roll Star! (Box Set)
• The Decemberists: As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
• Hermanos Gutiérrez: Cósmico
• James Vincent McMorrow: Wide Open, Horses
• John Cale: Poptical Illusion
• Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs: Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits
• Moby: always centered at night
• Paul McCartney & Wings: One Hand Clapping
• Shaed: Rocket In The Sky

ON THIS DATE

MAY 20 // Joe Cocker was born in Sheffield, England. (1944) ♯ Jane Wiedlin of The Go Go’s was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. (1958) ♯ Dan Wilson of Semisonic was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. (1961) ♯ Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, died in Rosenheim, Germany, aged 74. (2013)

MAY 21 // Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. (1941) ♯ Marvin Gaye released his classic album What's Going On. (1971) ♯ The Notorious B.I.G. was born in Brooklyn, NY. (1972) ♯ Gotye was born in Bruges, Belgium. (1980) ♯ Joe Strummer of The Clash was arrested at a gig in Hamburg after smashing his guitar over an audience member’s head. (1980) ♯ David Bowie went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Let's Dance” featuring blues guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughan. (1983)

MAY 22 // Elton John's long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, was born in Lincolnshire, England. (1950) ♯ Morrissey was born in Manchester, England. (1959) ♯ The Beatles went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Ticket To Ride.” (1965) ♯ White Stripes drummer Meg White married Jackson Smith at ex-husband and bandmate Jack White's Nashville home. (2009)

MAY 23 // Robert Moog, inventor of the synthesizer, was born in Asheville, North Carolina. (1934) ♯ Radiohead drummer, Phil Selway, was born in Oxfordshire, England. (1967) ♯ Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their 117-show Darkness Tour in Buffalo, New York. (1978)

MAY 24 // Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota (1941) • Cynthia Dorothy Albritton, a.k.a. Cynthia ‘Plaster’ Caster was born in Chicago, Illinois (1947) • David Bowie released his eighth studio album, Diamond Dogs. (1974)

MAY 25 // Paul Weller was born in England (1958) • Jay Bennett, a former member of Wilco, who was suing the band over a royalties claim, died at his home in Illinois at the age of 45. (2009)

MAY 26 // Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois (1926) • Levon Helm was born in Elaine, Arkansas (1940) • Mick Ronson was born in England (1946) • Stevie Nicks was born in Phoenix, Arizona (1946) • Lenny Kravitz was born in NYC (1964) • Lauryn Hill was born in Newark, New Jersey (1975) • The Beatles recorded “Yellow Submarine” at Abbey Road studios in London. (1966) • John and Yoko began an eight-day “bed in” in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Canada, to promote world peace. (1969) • Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher died age 60. (2022)

CODA

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