The connection between the Oath Keepers militia and the Proud Boys has been a subject of fascination for anyone trying to puzzle together the events of Jan. 6, 2021. The two far-right groups were instrumental in storming the Capitol. Their leaders were both hit with seditious conspiracy charges. But were …
Read More »Dave Grohl and Daughter Violet Cover Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen'
Dave Grohl was joined by his daughter Violet for the fourth night ofHanukkah Sessions, along with collaborator and keyboardist Greg Kurstin. Sitting on a stool in front of a live audience at the Largo in Los Angeles, Violet sang Janis Ian’s iconic song, “At Seventeen.” The 1975 hit is described …
Read More »Kasi Lemmons' Battle to Make the Whitney Houston Biopic 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody'
Kasi Lemmons had quite a few reservations prior to boarding the biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. For starters, she’d run in similar circles to the iconic musician in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, back when Lemmons was acting in films like School Daze and The Silence of …
Read More »'No Bears' Is a Funny, Angry Work of Protest Art — and a Masterpiece
For most filmmakers, picking up a camera is a form of expression. For Jafar Panahi, it’s an act of political resistance. Having been arrested several times (as recently as July of this year), prohibited from traveling and officially banned from filmmaking since 2010 by the Iranian government, the Tehran-based director …
Read More »The Year Everyone Realized They Were Wrong About Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West
What do you recall about the feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift? Maybe something about a misogynistic lyric in West’s 2016 song “Famous,” or Swift’s subtle-but-scathing swipe at the line at that year’s Grammys — or, later, Kim Kardashian’s claims that the track had Swift’s prior approval. Surely the …
Read More »MrBeast as Twitter CEO? Elon Musk Isn't Ruling Him Out
MrBeast is just asking some questions. After Elon Musk pinky-promised that he’d “resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job,” the YouTuber known for his elaborate giveaways put his name in the hat for Musk’s replacement. “Can I be the new Twitter CEO?” …
Read More »Rob Sheffield's Top 20 Albums of 2022
What a year for music—any of my top half-dozen or so could have been Number One some other year. But these are my faves, with pop idols, guitar bangers, rap poets, disco visionaries. All these albums keep giving up new surprises for me. The double-digit years are always pivotal for …
Read More »See Yo La Tengo Cover the Ramones With Marky Ramone at Hanukkah Show
Yo La Tengo celebrated the fourth night of Hanukkah — and the midpoint of their annual Bowery Ballroom residency marking the Festival of Lights — with an encore entirely dedicated to the Ramones, featuring the punk legends’ longtime drummer Marky Ramone. The indie rock trio hinted at what was to …
Read More »An Island Christmas! Dinah Jane Welcomes Common Kings, Sammy Johnson for Holiday Special
Dinah Jane, Common Kings, and Sammy Johnson make it easier to imagine a holiday season in the tropics. On Thursday, the former Fifth Harmony star welcomed her fellow Polynesian musicians for a mash-up performance of “He Still Loves Me” by Beyoncé and Walter Williams and the holiday classic “This Christmas.” …
Read More »Florida Dominatrix Demands Taxpayer-Funded Dungeon for Spanking
Dressed head to toe in black leather, and flanked by two silent associates with reflective headgear, a Florida dominatrix addressed the Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners on Tuesday evening, curtly demanding the construction of a BDSM dungeon in Broward County. “Good evening, councilpeoples,” she began. “You may call me Mistress.” While …
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