#SiriusXM Progress

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth are the worst version of men. But then again so is adjudicated rapist Donald Trump—which explains why he picked these two despicable, unqualified white men to be his Attorney General and Secretary of Defense. The red flags about Gaetz and Hegseth ranging from sexual misconduct to bigotry would deem them unfit to serve in any presidential administration--any administration except Trump’s that is. The reason being all Trump cares about is abject loyalty and both clearly have sworn allegiance to Trump--much in the same way Hitler required the members of the military swear allegiance to him above Germany. 

But the history of these two men and the agencies they are nominated to head could not be more of a dangerous fit for our nation. Let’s start with Matt Gaetz.  One of the most jarring descriptions of him I heard was from Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc)--who has worked with Gaetz for years in Congress. I interviewed Pocan on Thursday who stated point blank that Gaetz is a “sociopath.” Pocan wasn’t joking. As the Wisconsin Democrat stated, “I never have met, and I probably shouldn't say this because he'll be attorney general someday, and I'm going to wind up in jail. But you know, a bigger sociopath I've never served with in office.” When I asked Pocan if Gaetz was “dangerous,” he replied, “Oh, very much.” He added, “I hope that part of the investigation is putting holes in his backyard to see if there's any bodies, because it's only that kind of level of sociopathic that I sense out of him.” (You can watch my full interview with Rep Pocan below.)

[...]

Then there is Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth—who has also been accused of sexual misconduct. And as we just learned Saturday The from Washington Post, Hegseth paid “hush money” to the woman to silence her.  It’s alleged that in Oct. 2017, Hegseth—whose second wife a month earlier had filed for divorce after she learned he had an affair and fathered a child with a Fox News producer—attended the California Federation of Republican Women conference.

The accuser per the Washington Post was assigned by the organization to ensure Hegseth made it back to his room and get to the airport on time for his flight. The women—who was married with children—alleges that when she escorted Hegseth back to his room, Hegseth raped her. Hegseth denies the allegation—claiming not only was the sex was consensual but that the mother of small children was actually the “aggressor in the encounter.” The next day the woman went to the emergency room, where “she received a rape-kit examination that was positive for semen.” The woman then “filed a complaint with the police alleging she was sexually assaulted days after the Oct. 7, 2017, encounter in Monterey, California,” but the local district attorney did not bring charges. How can Hegseth be Secretary of Defense given the sexual assault scandals that have plagued our military in the past?!  And just last year, the Pentagon released data showing a significant increase in reports of sexual assault at America's military academies. Can any woman in the military have confidence they will be believed with a person like Hegseth heading the agency?! Yet this is who Trump wants to head the nearly three million strong military. Beyond the sexual assault allegations, Hegseth doesn’t believe women should serve in combat and views “diversity” in the military as a weakness.  

What a bunch of shitstains these toxic men are.

From the 11.15.2024 edition of SiriusXM Progress's The Dean Obeidallah Show:

[rocknroll2024]

If you love classic country check this one out!🤠🎧

[black-arcana]

LZZY HALE: New HALESTORM Music 'Will Be Worth The Wait'

During an appearance on the May 23 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale spoke about the progress of the writing and recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2022's "Back From The Dead" album. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): It's a strange year because instead of us taking three months off to do a record, or 'hey, now we're only focusing on touring' or 'we're only focusing on other avenues,' we're kind of doing everything all at once. So we've had a couple just kind of three-week sessions in the studio, and we're finishing up new music, which has been so exciting. We've been recording with [producer] Dave Cobb, of all people, and he's just amazing and, I think, exactly what the doctor ordered for where we're at in our life. And so we're really excited about new music. But then we're touring all over the States this year because we spent so much time in Europe last year. So, yeah, we kick it off with I PREVAIL in July. And then in the fall, we're going out with EVANESCENCE to Canada, for all the people up there. It's how we live. This is life. We just keep the train rolling down the hill. So it's all very exciting. And I can't wait for you to hear the music, and I can't wait to see everybody this summer at all the festivals. And yeah, we just have a a great year coming up."

Asked how fan along she and the rest of HALESTORM are on the new music, Lzzy said: "This has been an amazing experience because Dave Cobb, he's like half wise old oak and then half A.D.D. five-year-old in the sandbox, which works very well with our little camp in HALESTORM, because we're all perpetually 15 years old anyway. And so it's been a beautiful process.

"We've been doing all the things," she explained. "So I've been writing during our off time, but then also we're writing and recording in the studio, but kind of all at once. So as it's being created, we're getting the final takes. So, half of the record is done, and then there are some things that we have one more session to kind of go in, after our next tour, to kind of just kind of finish everything up, put the icing on the cake, if you will, and make sure we have everything there and then it should be kind of sewn up. But it's been really beautiful because we've been recording, actually, out in Savannah, Georgia. Dave Cobb has a house [there]. And if you can imagine, it's just the four of us staying in one house. No distractions, 'cause it's Savannah, Georgia — they love their tea and they love their food and that's about it. And unsupervised, so there's no managers, there's no crew, no tour and nothing going on. So, in a lot of ways, this record feels like our beginning, when we were all just kind of living with each other in the same apartment and every day is something new, everything is ready to record, ready to go. So whatever you do, as long as you're chasing what gets you excited, it's going to get down on tape. So, it's just been a great experience. And I'm looking forward to the finished product and being able to tease everybody with dates as to when we're gonna unleash it."

Speaking about Cobb's somewhat unorthodox recording approach, Lzzy said: "There've been a couple of songs where we'll have forgotten to put on the click track as a guide, and then that ends up being the take because we were all playing with each other and there was a different energy. Or [Dave] really understands the line between when you're excited about something and it's happening, and then that post, after that line when you're trying too hard to rock, or you're trying too hard to be a singer, or you've memorized it too many times. There's a fine line with performance and getting magic on tape, whereas a lot of people are… I mean, we all do it, but you shoot for perfection. But somewhere, if you're shooting too hard for that perfection, the human element gets lost. And then the magic is lost, or it just sounds like you're reading it, or it sounds like you've played it a million times and you're tired, or you're thinking about something else. So, for a band like us, it's really worked. And it was actually nerve-racking in the beginning because we went in, and you always have your bank of songs you've written or riffs for days and, like, 'Okay, what do we start with? And Dave was very adamant about not having a plan, which was nerve-racking. I'm, like, 'Wait. No, we have to have a plan or it's just gonna be chaos. What's happening? I don't know how to work like this.' And then, after a couple of days, I'm, like, this is actually really nice because every day we just get in the sandbox and we play, and, 'Oh, I brought a LEGO set, you brought a rocket. Let's see what we can do with this.' And so it's been really beautiful to see these things develop and almost the music telling you what to do, not the other way around. I'm so used to going into a studio where it's, 'Okay, we have our 15 songs that we know we want on the record, and we're just gonna do a song a day and get them all done and recorded.' This is completely different because he doesn't want to lose — again — that intangible magic that comes with the excitement of when things are new and you're creating. You don't have time to think; you've just gotta get it done. And so it's been beautiful to kind of. see all of that come together."

Asked if she thinks HALESTORM will release some new music this year or fans will have to wait until 2025 to get something fresh from the band, Lzzy said: "You know what? I've learned this — I can make all the promises in the world. I would love to do that. I'm hoping that we will at least have something to show before the end of the year, but I know how this goes — I end up promising dates, and then something happens and some recall from mastering or something doesn't work out with numbers or with whatever it is. So I'm not making promises, but I will tell you it'll be worth the wait."

HALESTORM is working with Cobb after making three records with Nick Raskulinecz.

Cobb has shared in nine Grammy wins, including four for "Best Americana Album" and three for "Best Country Album". He's also been named "Producer Of The Year" by the Country Music Awards, the Americana Music Association (twice) and the Music Row Awards, and has been a Grammy nominee in the category.

Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed HALESTORM in 1998 while in middle school. Guitarist Joe Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by bassist Josh Smith in 2004.

In May 2023, HALESTORM teamed up with country singer Ashley McBryde for a reimagined version of the band's song "Terrible Things", which was originally featured on HALESTORM's latest album, the aforementioned "Back From The Dead".

[detroitpedxing]

In Interviews, Kamala Harris Continues to Bob and Weave

Her media swing showed how she often responds to uncomfortable questions by acknowledging them, yet not fully answering them.

Running an abbreviated campaign in the final sprint before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris blitzed the media this week in a series of interviews to speak to voters who say they still don’t know enough about her.

One thing they learned: how she keeps answering the question she wants, not the one that was asked.

Politicians, and presidents in particular, have long treated the ability to bob and weave through uncomfortable questions while remaining on message as a skill to be mastered, like the precise footing required of a carpenter navigating a high-pitched roof.

Bill Clinton’s famous line, “I feel your pain,” was deployed to diffuse an activist’s plea for details on how to end the AIDS epidemic. George W. Bush sabotaged questions about climate change by treating facts as partisan assertions. Barack Obama took his message to social media and largely avoided interviews with White House beat reporters.

This week, Ms. Harris put her own stamp on the art of the dodge.

On “60 Minutes,” she declined to answer a question about whether she considered Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to be a close ally. She also refused to detail how she would pay for a $3 trillion economic plan.

When asked on ABC’s popular daytime show, “The View,” about accusations from Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida that she had only offered to help with a hurricane as a presidential candidate, she swiftly implicated the criticism as proof of his own partisanship. When Howard Stern asked her on his SiriusXM program later that afternoon if she would select Liz Cheney, the Republican former congresswoman, for her cabinet, Ms. Harris refused to be buttonholed. “I gotta win, Howard,” she said with an air of first-things-first. “I gotta win. I gotta win.”

Her media swing provided a glimpse into how she often responds to unpleasant questions without answering them, questions the very premise of questions she finds unfair and can take it upon herself to reword a query she considers unhelpful.

Ms. Harris, 59, can turn the typically defensive crouch of a non-answer into a bit of verbal jujitsu, as she did in declining the opportunity to identify Mr. Netanyahu as an ally. She can nimbly field a query and quickly lace her reply with trip wire for her opponent, as she did last month in her debate with former President Donald J. Trump.

A trained prosecutor, Ms. Harris is lawyerly, argumentative and fundamentally defensive. She often deflects or sidesteps. She can speak passionately about her values in a way that leaves listeners feeling as if the question had been acknowledged, even if the substance remained unaddressed. To avoid delineating her stance on some issues, she will instead focus on her dedication to progress and inclusion.

Her verbal acrobatics may be contributing to the impression that some voters have that they do not know her or her policy views very well. It has become a key weakness as she rushes to sway millions of undecided voters in the battleground states.

Her opponent is playing a different rhetorical game, maybe a different sport. Mr. Trump continues to shatter the norms of generally accepted practices of political communications. He is known for defending blatant lies. He rambles and reverts to nearly decade-old slogans to avoid answering a question. He regularly sheds a prodigious amount of exaggerations and falsehoods. After two presidential campaigns in which he took pride in ignoring fact-checkers, he has recently refused to participate in interviews or debates that include fact-checking.

The roughly three dozen interviews Mr. Trump has given in the past five weeks have been almost exclusively with conservative outlets or with hosts who are openly supportive of his White House bid. He has declined an invitation for a second debate with Ms. Harris, and canceled an interview he had previously agreed to with “60 Minutes.”

There is no fair way to assess Ms. Harris’s performance while sharing the spotlight with Mr. Trump, an opponent who, earlier this week, insisted he had visited the Gaza Strip, the site of a violent war he has claimed he would end within days of taking office, without any record of him setting foot in that part of the Middle East.

But voters’ lack of familiarity with Ms. Harris means she has little choice but to endure the inequity. In a New York Times/Siena College poll last month, one out of every four voters said they needed to learn more about Ms. Harris — compared with just one of every 10 who said the same about Mr. Trump.

Voters wanting more information about Ms. Harris were primarily young and Black or Hispanic, according to the poll. They typically did not identify with either political party and largely consumed news from social media or online outlets rather than newspapers or cable networks.

Of former President Donald J. Trump’s recent interviews, all but one have been with conservative outlets or with hosts who are openly supportive of his White House bid.

Ms. Harris’s schedule was essentially a media map of those specific demographics.

During her appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, a chatty entertainment program popular with Gen Z and millennial women, Ms. Harris took aim for the first time at comments made by Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice-presidential nominee. She called his remarks about “childless cat ladies” in positions of power “mean and mean spirited.”

It was the 65 minutes she spent with Mr. Stern that was the most personally revealing.

Within the first few minutes alone, she engaged in a debate over Prince’s best album (she said it was “1999,” while Mr. Stern maintained it was the “Batman” soundtrack) and drolly dismissed her husband, Doug Emhoff, as a Depeche Mode fan from her perch as a self-described “hip-hop girl.”

Oct. 2, 2024

David Axelrod, the former Obama strategist who had publicly urged Ms. Harris to engage more deliberately with the media, praised her performance this week.

“Most candidates hone those skills during primary campaigns,” Mr. Axelrod said of Ms. Harris’s truncated campaign. “She was thrown into the deep end of the deepest pool there is 90 days before a general election. And if she isn’t exactly Katie Ledecky yet, she seemed a lot more comfortable than she was a few weeks ago — and the sheer repetition of doing these will help.”

Her appearance on “60 Minutes,” the one traditional news program she agreed to this week, offered some of the clearest examples of her weaving talking points with hints of policy.

Bill Whitaker, the correspondent conducting the interview, asked how she would pay for her $3 trillion economic plan, and Ms. Harris responded by touting the potential benefits for the middle class. When he pressed her, she suggested raising taxes on the highest earners. When he doubted Congress would agree, she said, in not so many words, that she was trying to win an election — not a favorable score from the Congressional Budget Office.

“I cannot afford to be myopic in terms of how I think about strengthening America’s economy,” Ms. Harris said. “Let me tell you something: I am a devout public servant. You know that. I am also a capitalist. And I know the limitations of government.”

In one revealing exchange, she was repeatedly pressed on the war in Gaza and the wedge that conflict had driven between Washington and Jerusalem as Mr. Netanyahu has refused calls for a cease-fire and defied America’s appeals for restraint by invading Lebanon.

Asked if the United States had “no sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Ms. Harris described diplomatic relations with him as “an ongoing pursuit.”

Mr. Whitaker pushed back. Mr. Netanyahu “was not listening,” he said. Ms. Harris responded with a similar answer: The administration was “not going to stop pursuing” an end to the war.

Mr. Whitaker made a third attempt. This time, he asked bluntly whether she considered Mr. Netanyahu to be “a real close ally.” Ms. Harris seized control of the questions.

“With all due respect,” she began, “the better question is, ‘Do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people?’ And the answer to that question is yes.”

It was a move that at first blush appeared to be an audacious display of chutzpah over what was or was not a “better question.” Instead, it may stand as a historic marker in U.S. foreign policy: The potential 47th president of the United States deliberately declined the opportunity to call the Israeli prime minister an ally. And did so with an artful dodge.

[odinsblog]

Fox News only gets progressively worse and more racist. Don’t be fooled. They won’t ever change.

NEW YORK (AP) — Before ousting Tucker Carlson, Fox News had twice fired wildly popular hosts – and both times the network recovered better than the stars it cut loose.

Fox’s dismissals of Glenn Beck in 2011 and Bill O’Reilly in 2017 offer lessons in what the post-Carlson fallout might be. Carlson was let go on Monday, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million for airing bogus claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election.

Fox’s two most popular programs last year — Carlson’s being one of them — were the replacements for Beck and O’Reilly.

“It seems like the parts are interchangeable,” said SiriusXM and CNN personality Michael Smerconish. “They’ve built a machine over there that seems to function even when the pistons are replaced.”

👉🏿 https://apnews.com/article/carlson-fox-fired-hannity-ingraham-a86f831174be8478d01f162649a95830

[todayscroll]

Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow Had 'Progression of Distance' After OBX Exit

Chase Stokes as John B and Rudy Pankow as JJ Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix Chase Stokes made a rare comment about the way JJ’s death on Outer Banks affected his bond with now-former costar Rudy Pankow. During the Friday, January 24, episode of SiriusXM Hits 1 The Morning Mash Up, Stokes, 32, addressed Pankow’s shocking exit, saying, “When you spend five years with somebody doing a show like this,…

[metacriticc-news]

Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow had 'progression of distance' after OBX exit

Chase Stokes like John B and Rudy Pankow like JJ Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix Chase Stokes Make a rare comment on the way JJ’s death Outer banks affected his ribbon with now-past Costar Rudy panek. During Friday 24. January, the episode of Siriusxm hits 1 The Morning Mash Up, took Stokes, 32, Pankow’s shocking exit and said, “When you spend five years with someone holding a show like this, it’s the…

[ear-worthy]

Slate Podcasts: Sharp, Shrewd & Skillful

I am confessing upfront that I'm a fan and a member of Slate Plus. I admire Slate's journalism and its stable of podcasts. I also commend Slate's commitment to podcast purity in its shows. Its podcasts offer listeners a consistent theme and level of intellectual tonnage with few excursions into audience pandering and least-common-denominator programming.

Massive podcast networks like iHeart and SiriusXM always have those weird, baffling and disturbing contradictions, which the companies dismiss as balanced reporting.

For example, we get iHeart's Las Culturistas, a superb LGBTQ podcast in the same sandbox as The Ben Shapiro Show with his denigration of the LGBTQ lifestyle, stating that homosexuality should be listed as a mental illness and declaring it a sin. 

 Slate also offers my two favorite podcasts -- Hang Up And Listen, the best sports podcast in the industry, and the Political Gabfest, with its triad of outstanding political commentators, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz. In TV, print, and podcasting, John Dickerson, in my estimation, is the best political analyst in the business.  Like many other podcast networks, Slate offers a “Plus” service that can eliminate ads for some of its most popular podcasts, notably Slate’s Hit Parade podcast for music chart nerds, of which there is a large number, thanks to the redoubtable Chris Molanphy. What sets Slate apart from other podcast producers is that the company blends a vibrant podcast network with a wealth of outstanding digital journalism, with well-written articles that espouse a largely progressive cultural and political agenda. In many ways, Slate’s business strategy is more akin to Vox and The New York Times. Vox successfully manages its digital fingerprint via The Verge, SB Nation, Eater, Polygon for gamers, Intelligencer, Vulture, and more brands, while cultivating its print legacy brand with New York magazine and pushing carefully into video with its YouTube channel, and Explained on Netflix, among other video projects.

The New York Times has constructed a strong podcast network with an impressive following, yet it appears the company is implementing a paywall strategy and that's a shame.  

Here are a few Slate podcasts with their recent episodes:

Death, Sex & Money hosted by Anna Sale, who explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.

*NEW EPISODE*: Will He Still Love Me When I’m Off Ozempic?

In 2021, we released an episode called The Weight of Love, where listeners shared stories about weight, body size, and how those factors affect their romantic relationships. Fast-forward to 2024, and weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have complicated these issues even further. This week, listeners share stories and questions about dating, romance, sex, and self-love in the Ozempic era, and we’ve assembled a panel of experts to respond. 

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Amicus hosted by Dahlia Lithwick -- A show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America.

*NEW EPISODE*: Trump’s Back, This Time Without Guardrails.

We are, most of us, still very much in the post-election fog. It’s early days and while the fog persists, some of the shape of the future is very clear: despite his felonies, his lies, his promised mass deportations and threats of vengeance, President Donald J Trump will re-enter the White House in 2025 better organized, with a clearer mandate, and with the seal of approval of the popular vote. On this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin to discuss navigating the challenges that lie ahead for American democracy, as we collectively struggle to make sense of this pivotal moment and to emerge from the fog with a flicker of hope.

NOTE: Lithwick may be the best Supreme Court tea-leaf reader in the media business after Linda Greenhouse. 

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How To! hosted by Carvell Wallace and Courtney E. Martin

Slate’s practical advice podcast.

*NEW EPISODE*: How To Man Up About Male Birth Control Contraception is a huge burden for women and people with uteruses to bear. What would it look like—on a personal, cultural, and medical level—if more men took on that responsibility? Today on How To!, a conversation about gender equity for reproductive care, from changes in sexual education to more accessible vasectomies to the development of new contraception methods. Carvell Wallace welcomes two guests: Dr. Sarah Miller, a board-certified family physician and family planning specialist at Northeast Vasectomy and Family Planning, where she provides many vasectomies. And: Dr. Brian Nguyen, associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California, sub-investigator for a network of male-contraceptive clinical trials, and director of The EMERGE Lab. ********************************************

 What Next: TBD hosted by Lizzie O’Leary --A twice-weekly podcast about tech, power, and the future.

*NEW EPISODE*: The Manosphere That Delivered Trump Back to Power

Going on Joe Rogan’s podcast didn’t fit into Kamala Harris’s last month of campaigning, which consisted of a careful diet of traditional media and specifically selected appearances. It came up short against Donald Trump’s “get on mic with that guy and his big following” strategy

NOTE: Lizzie O'Leary is in contention for the most overlooked host in podcasting. She's a five-tool host -- smart, incisive, terrific interviewer, superb narrator, and funny.

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Slow Burn: The Rise of Fox News hosted by Josh Levin

How a cable news channel became a cultural and political force—and how a whole bunch of people rose up to try and stop it.

*BINGE THE FULL SEASON NOW!*

The full season of Slow Burn: The Rise of Fox News is now available! The finale, What Hath We Wrought?, covers the 2004 presidential race, the first fully Fox News election—a contest that was framed by Fox, and fought on its terms. But the fight over Fox News was about more than just partisan politics. It also launched covert ops against reporters and let loose a secret army of online trolls. And when a Fox producer made serious allegations against Bill O’Reilly, the network showed just how far it would go to defend its biggest star—no matter the cost.

For 24/7 Fox News watchers, you may have concluded that this podcast is a "hatchet job" on your favorite news channel. It's not. Learn the history of the channel. As Yogi Berra or FDR once said, "You can tell what something is without knowing where it came from."

Listen to the whole season here: slate.com/slowburn *************************************************

Outward hosted by Jules Gill-Peterson, Bryan Lowder, and Christina Cauterucci -- A whip-smart monthly salon in which hosts and guests deepen the audience’s understanding of queer culture and politics.

*NEW EPISODE*: Now What Do We Do? Mark Joseph Stern Answers Our Post-Election Questions

This week, Christina Cauterucci sits down with Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to tackle the mounting concerns facing the LGBTQ+ community as the Trump administration takes shape. In a candid conversation, they delve into the ripple effects this shift could have on issues like abortion rights, trans healthcare, and marriage equality, reflecting on the potential setbacks that may lie ahead- and what we can do to prepare ourselves and our community.

Ben Shapiro will hate this show. You will love it.

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 Check out Slate podcasts. Their roster of podcasts is impressive and its connective tissue is sagacity and sharp-witted insight.

[writer59january13]

As lobbyist for self...

I politely ask for uncontested support campaign contribution promoting me an aging sexagenarian baby boomer groveling by (and supporting the Frau royal highness, (heretofore known as the missus) solely courtesy social sic (an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "sic erat scriptum" - which means "thus was it written)" security disability which unearned and untaxed income divvied up to pay Consumer Cellular, Verizon FIOS, Hyundai Elantra auto loan to Ally Bank, PECO, Apple Cloud services, splurging on indulgences Netflix, SiriusXM for commercial free radio while we drive to and fro hither and yon, plus my own valuable worth the while to read (cover to cover) small number of reliable socially progressive publications such as TIME Magazine, The Week, The Nation, Smithsonian, and Mother Jones buzzfeeding yours

truly valuably indubitably reliable, and

currently, locally, and globally notable events to keep abreast of impossible mission characterizing changing mean drama (nail biting action) played out across the webbed, wide world stage

speculating how willing the average Tom, Dick, or Harry blithely gives money to the political candidate of their choice, but if I matter of factly asked for money (even a measly one dollar bill), a hooting and hollering

would ensue, nevertheless experiment prompted me to broadcast an honest to dog communiqué greatly beseeching an anonymous reader to support your local bummer, whose nest egg whipsawed by egregious thieving unscrupulous fraudsters posing as (fake) Apple technicians after hacking into my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) essentially hitting me with a double whammy initially locking access to become linkedin to stored data unless I called a toll free number only to unwittingly fork over a large sum of money after being blindsided that Citizen Bank imp ploy ease colluding to siphon every red cent constituting checking and saving accounts to this day approximately seventeen plus months after I got royally bilked, fleeced, scammed, et cetera, and no success after posting a blurb on Gofundme, an idea got hatched just today to adopt the guise of a political nowhere man shaking figurative tin cup on the cusp of holly days trying to elicit altruistic responsiveness from any pair of eyes that peruse the contents of my poetic plea gently plucking heartstrings to finance life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for one mortal male who shortchanged himself more'n his halflife ago socially withdrawn from the countless opportunities to risk saying hello to a pretty little thang, which painful shyness predated availability of powder milk biscuits made from whole wheat raised in the rich bottomlands of the Lake Wobegon river valley by Norwegian bachelor farmers; so you know they're not only good for you, but pure... mostly.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

Just about every conversation featuring legal experts in the media talking about Donald Trump's conduct includes the line: "If he were anyone else, he'd already be in jail." That tells you that Trump continues to receive special treatment. I don’t know about you, but I’m thoroughly disgusted with this special treatment for a man who attempted a coup, incited the Jan 6 attack, is charged with 88 felonies for a range of crimes including violating the Espionage Act and who is now attacking the family of the New York judge handling his criminal case there. It’s long, long past time this ends. And the way to do that is for the New York judge presiding over his election fraud case--where Trump faces 34 felonies--to order him held in custody for contempt until his April 15 trial begins.

Last week, the judge handling this case, Juan Merchan, imposed a gag order that prohibited Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and court staff--as well as their relatives. In response, Trump repeatedly attacked the Judge’s daughter by name as being biased for working for organizations tied to Democrats. Trump even posted a news article to his Truth Social platform that displayed two pictures of Ms. Merchan. In addition, Trump continued to repeat a lie that the judge’s wife had posted a photo online of Trump in prison. In reality, the social media account at issue—as Trump has been told in the past--had no connection to Merchan’s wife.

Those posts by Trump, while violating the spirit of the gag order, did not violate the express language because that prior order did not cover the family of the judge. But before we address the law, please understand that that there’s only one reason Trump is targeting the judge’s family: To incite threats and potentially violence against them by Trump supporters. Trump is attempting to intimidate the judge by saying if you rule against me on key issues, we know who your family is. It’s the same message Trump wants to send to potential witnesses and jurors in the case, namely, we may not be able to get to you, but we will come after your family. Former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi explained on my SiriusXM show Monday that Trump is using mob tactics to intimidate witnesses and others by inciting threats against their family.   Figliuzzi even shared that in one case he handled, a family member of a witness was killed.  

[...]

Getting back to this case, the Manhattan DA—in their pleading to expand the original gag order to protect Judge Marchan’s family—correctly noted, “There is no constitutional right to target the family of this Court.” The prosecutor then continued with a very accurate statement: “Defendant knows what he is doing, and everyone else does too.”

The DA is correct. We all know what Trump is doing: He is trying to intimidate the judge, witnesses, prosecutors and prospective witnesses.  That is exactly what Bragg’s team explained, writing: “We all know exactly what defendant intends because he has said for decades that it is part of his life philosophy to go after his perceived opponents ‘as viciously and as violently’ as he can.” The prosecutors added that Trump, “promised very recently that “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!’ He is carrying out that promise right now.” That led to Judge Marchan’s ruling Monday night expanding the original gag order to protect his own family from Trump. (Take that in for a moment.) The Judge wrote in his opinion that Trump’s  “pattern of attacking family members of presiding jurists and attorneys assigned to his cases serves no legitimate purpose.”  Rather, “It merely injects fear in those assigned or called to patriciate in the proceedings, that not only they, but their family members as well, are "fair game" for Defendant's vitriol.”

The judge then warned, “The average observer, must now, after hearing defendant’s recent attacks, draw the conclusion that if they become involved in these proceedings, even tangentially, they should worry not only for themselves, but for their loved ones as well.”  He added, “Such concerns will undoubtedly interfere with the fair administration of justice and constitutes a direct attack on the Rule of Law itself.” The judge later emphasized this very point, writing, “Again, all citizens, called upon to participate in these proceedings, whether as a juror, a witness, or in some other capacity, must now concern themselves not only with their own personal safety, but with the safety and the potential for personal attacks upon their loved ones.” The judge added, “That reality cannot be overstated.”

Dean Obeidallah is right. Donald Trump continues to get special treatment for committing crimes that would have seen a commoner be thrown in prison a long time ago. Trump should be in jail until at least his trial for repeatedly breaking gag orders.

From the 04.01.2024 edition of SiriusXM Progress's The Dean Obeidallah Show:

[concerthopperblog]

Jinjer North America 2024 w/ Harabie. & Born of Osiris Live at Buckhead Theatre

Earlier this summer, Jinjer announced on June 11th via their social media accounts their triumphant return to North America with a tour featuring Japan’s Hanabie. and metalcore/djent legends Born of Osiris. As a bonus for all the fans, Jinjer announced they would perform brand-new, unreleased songs from their upcoming fifth (5) studio album during the North America 2024 tour. As soon as the tickets went on sale, many dates sold out as die-hard fans of the band rushed online to secure their ticket(s) for this tour. For the Atlanta date, Jinjer chose the historic Buckhead Theatre off Roswell Road, which is the same place where they performed in 2021 while on tour in North America.

Jinjer is a metalcore/progressive metal/djent/groove metal band from Donetsk, Ukraine that has been active since 2008. Jinjer consists of Tatiana “Tati” Shmayluk (vocals), Vladislav “Vladi” Ulasevich (drums), Roman Ibramkhalilov (guitars), and Eugene Abdukhanov (bass). Jinjer has released four (4) LPs, three (3) EPs, and two (2) live records which includes their latest release, Live in Los Angeles (May 17th, 2024). You can still head over to the Napalm Records website and pick up this release on CD, or cassette, or pick between three color variants of this record. Also, stay tuned to both Jinjer’s social media accounts (Facebook/Instagram) and Napalm Records for future information regarding a release date for their upcoming fifth (5) studio album coming soon!

I first saw Jinjer performing live (December 11th, 2022) with my girlfriend during their USA 2022 Tour with opening support from P.O.D. and Malevolence at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. During that performance, Jinjer performed some essential fan-favorite songs: “Teacher, Teacher!”, “Judgement (& Punishment)”, “Vortex”, “Perennial”, and “Pisces”. I was eager to hear the brand-new, unreleased songs that Jinjer would debut on this North American tour for their fans. Before we get to Jinjer in more detail, let’s get to know Hanabie. and Born of Osiris some.

Born of Osiris is a progressive metalcore/djent/deathcore band from Palatine, Illinois that has been together since 2003. Born of Osiris has also toured as Diminished (2003-2004), Your Heart Engraved (2004-2006), and Rosecrance (2006-2007) before settling on their current namesake. Born of Osiris consists of Nick Rossi (bass/rhythm guitar/synthesizers), Cameron Losch (drums), Lee McKinney (lead guitar/backing vocals), and Ronnie Canizaro (lead vocals). They are signed with Sumerian Records and have released six (6) LPs, two (2) EPs, and several demos/singles in their vast discography.

I was ready to finally check out Born of Osiris live after hearing their music on heavy rotation on SiriusXM Liquid Metal. Starting the night, the dudes in Born of Osiris took the stage at the Buckhead Theatre to a rather vocal group of dedicated fans who made sure to come early and not miss the Boo Crue. Born of Osiris started the evening with “Open Arms to Damnation” and then followed up with “Bow Down”, I knew it was going to be a great set to start the evening at the Buckhead Theatre. I was happy that Born of Osiris included “Empires Erased”, “Abstract Art”, and “Machine” this evening on their setlist. It was nice to check Born of Osiris off my list of bands to check out, especially with this crushing performance as opening support for Jinjer’s North America 2024 tour.

You can check out Born of Osiris’ setlist from this evening below:

·         “Open Arms to Damnation”

·         “Bow Down”

·         “Elevate”

·         “Empires Erased”

·         “Abstract Art”

·         “Angel or Alien”

·         “A Mind Short Circuiting”

·         “In Desolation”

·         “Machine”

 Follow this link to read an exclusive review of Born of Osiris available at Conerthopper.com (reviewed by Richard Davenport): The Simulation Tour: Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, Make Them Suffer, and Kingdom of Giants. Show some support and subscribe to Born of Osiris' YouTube channel today! You can also check Born of Osiris out on their headlining tour at the following dates:

10.13. – TUSCON, AZ – The Rock

10.15. – TULSA, OK – The Shrine

10.16 – SPRINGFIELD, MO – The Regency Live

10.17. – DES MOINES, IA – Lefty’s

11.01. – LANSING, MI – Grewal Hall at 224

11.02. – SOUTH BEND, IN – Stockroom East

11.03. – COVINGTON, KY – Madison Theater **

11.04. – TOLDEO, OH – Frankie’s Inner City

12.20. – CUDAHY, WI – X-Ray Arcade

12.22. – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Black Circle

** Supporting Miss May I

 Hanabie. (stylized as Hanabie.) is a metalcore/nu metal/electronicore/hardcore punk band from Kichijoji, Tokyo, Japan that has performed since 2015. Hanabie. consists of Yukina (harsh vocals), Matsuri (guitar/clean vocals), Chika (drums), and Hettsu (bass/backing vocals). Hanabie. has released two (2) LPs, one (1) mini album, and several singles since becoming a band. Hanabie. is most notable for juxtaposing heavy metal music with Harajuku aesthetics to create a new style entitled “Harajuku-core”.

I was not familiar with Hanabie’s music until I started doing research for this tour. But like last year when I reviewed Babymetal while on tour with the mighty Dethklok (The Babyklok Tour Brings the Brutality to Coca-Cola Roxy (Atlanta)!), I am all for supporting metal bands that can help bridge the gap between the casual fan of the metal genre to help them find new bands or styles of metal that they might not be familiar with yet. It was finally time for Hanabie. to come out and show Atlanta what they were all about. From start to finish, I was impressed with the musicianship of each member of Hanabie. as they flawlessly performed a commanding and energetic set of some of the most savage tracks in their catalog. Hanabie. showed the crowd in attendance gratitude for their constant support throughout their set at the Buckhead Theatre. Here is Hanabie’s setlist from their performance this evening:

·         “Metamorphose!”

·         “Ware Amatou”

·         “Reiwa Matching-sedai”

·         “O TA KU Lovely Densetsu”

·         “NEET GAME”

·         “Kotoshi koso Gal-Shoka ver.”

·         “Tales of Villain”

·         “TOUSOU”

·         “Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu”

 Show some support and hit that subscribe button on Hanabie’s YouTube channel. Or check out their website and join their official Hanabie. fan club today.

Jinjer took the stage, and the crowd shouted a huge cheer as the band set up and started with “Just Another” and followed up with “Sit Stay Roll Over”. The energy that Jinjer gives while performing on stage is one of the reasons that I enjoy their brutal and dynamic sets. The crowd was having a wonderful time singing along with Tatiana as the riffs went on throughout the night. You could tell that Jinjer fed off this emotion from the crowd as they reciprocated some love and respect to their appreciative fans at the Buckhead Theatre. The new songs that debuted on this tour, “Rouge” and “Someone’s Daughter”, were mixed perfectly with older and newer songs from Jinjer’s discography. You can stream these two songs on all major streaming platforms. Stream these new songs on Amazon Music: “Someone’s Daughter” and “Rouge”.

Check out Jinjer’s setlist from their tour stop at the Buckhead Theatre below:

·         “Just Another”

·         “Sit Stay Roll Over”

·         “Ape”

·         “Retrospection”

·         “Someone’s Daughter”

·         “I Speak Astronomy”

·         “Wallflower”

·         “Fast Draw”

·         “Pit of Consciousness”

·         “Perennial”

·         “Rogue”

·         “On The Top”

·         “Call Me A Symbol”

·         “Dead Hands Feel No Pain”

Encore

·         “Vortex”

 Subscribe to Jinjer’s YouTube Channel and stay on top of the band’s live videos and various music videos. Head over to Jinjer’s official website to grab some of their latest merchandise: North America or Worldwide. Check out a previous review of Jinjer available exclusively at Concerthopper.com (reviewed by Richard Davenport): Jijner Comes to America and Makes a Stop in Atlanta! You still have a chance to catch Jinjer with Hanabie and Born of Osiris on their North America Tour 2024 on the following dates (Tickets: www.jinjer-metal.com):

10.07. - SAN ANTONIO, TX - The Aztec Theatre

10.09. - DENVER, CO - Ogden Theatre

10.11. - LAS VEGAS, NV - House of Blues

10.12. - SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Mayhem Festival

10.13. - SACRAMENTO, CA – Aftershock Festival

 Curious about Concerthopper? You can find more music-related articles, interviews, various photo galleries, indie music reviews, our ‘Bars & Bites’ section, our exclusive “She Said, She Said” column, or become a Concerthopper at www.concerthopper.com. Sign up for our monthly newsletter by following this link: The Setlist! Please ‘Like’ our page on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay up to date in 2023, on all music-related events/festivals such as King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Live at The Fox Theatre (Atlanta), Underoath “They’re Only Chasing Safety” 20th Anniversary Tour: Live at Buffalo Riverworks, Americana Music Association – AmericanaFest 2024 (Nashville), Seasons 21st Anniversary Tour – Sevendust Live at Water Street Music Hall (Rochester), The Deathless Tour Part 2: Set It Off Live at Sharkey’s Event Center (Liverpool), The Popular MonsTour II: World Domination – Falling In Reverse Live at Darien Lake Amphitheater (Darien Center), Real Friends Live at Town Ballroom (Buffalo),  Carnal Tour 2024: Nothing More Live at Buffalo RiverWorks (Buffalo), Knocked Loose: Live at Buffalo Riverworks,  North American Tour 2024: Opeth Live at Tabernacle (Atlanta), Klash of the Titans Tour: Testament and Kreator Live at Tabernacle (Atlanta), High on Fire & Weedeater: Live at The Masquerade (Atlanta), The Plot in You: Live at Buffalo Riverworks, Senses Fail & Saves The Day: Live at The Beacham (Orlando), Pierce The Veil Live at The Oncenter, Joywave: Live at Town Ballroom (Buffalo), North American Tour 2024: Slift Live at Terminal West (Atlanta), and The Jesus Lizard Live at Variety Playhouse (Atlanta) by following us on all social media formats: Concerthopper on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  You can also follow my concert hopping on Facebook and Instagram.

[black-arcana]

Watch: A Bat Lands On THE PRETTY RECKLESS Singer TAYLOR MOMSEN's Leg During Concert In Spain

According to Metal Journal, a bat landed on the left leg of THE PRETTY RECKLESS singer Taylor Momsen during her band's May 29 performance at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Spain as the support act for AC/DC.

After playing the fifth song of THE PRETTY RECKLESS's set, "Witches Burn", Taylor addressed the crowd, saying: "You guys are pointing at something, and I wanna know what you're saying." She then looked down at her leg and noticed the bat, after which she return to the microphone and exclaimed: "There's a fucking flying bat on my leg right now. Can someone help me, please? I must really be a witch."

A stage quickly hang came over a removed the bat, prompting Taylor to say: "Gracias. It's all right. And the bat's fine. He's gonna be my new friend," before adding, "Holy fuck."

Guitarist Ben Phillips then told the crowd: "Well, that hasn't happened before." Momsen went on to say: "I'm telling you. I'm a fucking witch. I attract the bats. Someone, bring out a black cat. It's gonna be great."

Phillips said to the audience, "Gracias for pointing it out," before Momsen added: "I thought you were pointing at my SOUNDGARDEN bracelet. And I was, like, 'Oh. Fucking they like SOUNDGARDEN. Awesome."

During an appearance on the May 6 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Taylor was asked about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for THE PRETTY RECKLESS's fifth album. She said: "I don't have [release] dates for you, but we booked — we've locked up the studio for eight months. It takes us a while to make a record. But it was going amazingly [before we paused the sessions in order to hit the road]. Hopefully when we pick back up in September, it'll be the same kind of flow and everything will just jell. But a lot of it's written. I'm sure that more will be written when these experiences happen and then new songs [arise] out of them. So I'm sure that there'll be some more songs coming. But I don't have dates. But it was going great, and we had just started; we really haven't started at all, but there's written stuff. So that's a start, I guess. But as far as recording, we hadn't really gotten into it yet."

This past January, THE PRETTY RECKLESS shared a photo of Taylor in the studio with Jonathan Wyman, who co-produced THE PRETTY RECKLESS's latest album, 2021's "Death By Rock And Roll", apparently confirming that Wyman has re-teamed with the group for the upcoming LP.

In a May 2023 interview with Ronni Hunter of the 99.7 The Blitz radio station, Momsen revealed that she and her THE PRETTY RECKLESS bandmates had commenced work on the follow-up to "Death By Rock And Roll".

"We're in a great headspace," she said. "We're just having fun with it, and wrapping up the tour cycle of 'Death By Rock And Roll'. And then new record — and it's next chapter. We've already kind of started it… We've gotten into a studio; we've stepped foot into a studio. So that's saying something for us."

THE PRETTY RECKLESS is supporting AC/DC on the legendary hard rock band's spring/summer 2024 European tour. Momsen and her bandmates also opened for THE ROLLING STONES on May 11 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In November 2022, THE PRETTY RECKLESS released a new collection of music, "Other Worlds", via Fearless Records. The effort saw the group delivering its first proper acoustic recordings, unexpected covers and other reimaginings.

"Death By Rock And Roll" was made available in February 2021 via Fearless Records in the U.S. and Century Media Records in the rest of the world.

Upon release, "Death By Rock And Roll" topped multiple sales charts — including Billboard's Top Albums, Rock, Hard Music, and Digital charts. The record also yielded three back-to-back No. 1 singles — "Death By Rock And Roll", "And So It Went" (featuring Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and "Only Love Can Save Me Now" (featuring Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron of SOUNDGARDEN). The band has tallied seven No. 1 singles at the rock format throughout its career.

"Death By Rock And Roll" was THE PRETTY RECKLESS's first album to be made without longtime producer Kato Khandwala, who died in April 2018 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS formed in 2009 and consists of Momsen, Phillips, bassist Mark Damon and drummer Jamie Perkins.

In 2021, Momsen — who rose to fame portraying the character of edgy little sister Jenny Humphrey on The CW's "Gossip Girl" — described "Death By Rock And Roll" in an interview with ABC Audio as a "battle cry for life and for hope."

"I think that that's something that we can all use a little bit more of, especially right now," she said. "We could always use a little more hope, and we could always use a little more rock and roll."

[thevitalportal]

Listening to Zerlina Maxwell regarding the Veep pick.

[influencermagazineuk]

Selena Gomez Reveals She 'Got Really Used to' Being Single for Five Years

Image: Instagram In a recent interview with TIME, Selena Gomez opened up about her five-year period of being single before finding love with her current boyfriend, Benny Blanco. The 31-year-old singer and actress reflected on this transformative time, emphasizing how it helped her grow and become comfortable with herself. “A lot of people are afraid of being alone,” Gomez shared. “I was alone for five years, and I got really used to it. I probably tortured myself in my head for like two years being alone, and then I kind of accepted it.” During this period, she focused on self-reflection and personal growth. She revealed that she had even made a plan to adopt by the age of 35 if she hadn’t met anyone by then. Her time alone allowed Gomez to develop a deeper understanding of herself and what she wanted in life. This period of introspection proved beneficial when she eventually started dating Benny Blanco, whom she had known for years as a friend and collaborator. The “Only Murders in the Building” star mentioned that she once even asked Blanco to help her find a match before they realized their own romantic potential. Selena’s relationship with Benny, who is 36, blossomed unexpectedly. She noted, “It just happens when you least expect it.” Their transition from friends to lovers was a natural progression, and Gomez expressed her happiness and contentment with her current relationship. “I just cherish every moment with him,” she told TIME. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that he’s not going anywhere any time soon.” Benny Blanco also shared his feelings about their relationship in an interview with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show. He expressed his desire to start a family, saying, “I wanna have kids, that’s my next goal. I have a lot of godkids; I got a ton of nephews. I love being around kids.” Blanco agreed with Stern that marriage is likely in their future, though he admitted he doesn’t have a proposal date set yet, jokingly saying, “I gotta get my act together.” Image: Instagram Selena and Benny went public with their romance in December 2023 after dating since mid-year. Their relationship became known to fans when Gomez addressed her relationship status online, sharing sweet photos of them together. Read the full article

[ironstarlightgiver]

I love Dean and listen to his program on Progress at 5 CST SiriusXM ch 127

That's bullshit

[independentartistbuzz]

AUDIEN & CODEKO TEAM UP TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE “ANTIDOTE” FEATURING JT ROACH

GRAMMY-nominated dance music icon Audien, popularly known for songs like the Billboard Top 40 hit “Something Better” with Lady Antebellum and his GRAMMY-nominated remix of Bastille’s “Pompeii,” has teamed up with London-based classically trained musician turned electronic producerCodeko  to release his first song of 2023, “Antidote.” The uplifting progressive house anthem features Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-producer JT Roach and is available now on all DSPs and streaming services.

Listen in HERE

The positive tone of this progressive house record “speaks of being a source of peace in a world of chaos and toxicity” according to JT Roach. The collaboration between Audien, Codeko and JT Roach brings encouraging lyrics and an uplifting beat that is sure to lift listeners spirits and deter any negative energy. JT Roach’s unique voice fills the room with joy and thirst for life as he swings on the captivated melody.

“Antidote is my first record with Ed, [Codeko]. During the PHND tour, we played a lot of shows together and I truly realized how alike we were. We truly have the same ear for things and I think our heart is in the music similarly. JT was the absolute perfect singer for this as well. The song is about staying centered around commitment, being that person for someone you love. In many ways the music I’m making today is that commitment to myself. Staying true to what speaks to me.” - Audien

Known for his production prowess and uplifting melodies, Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Audien has established himself as an icon in the dance community. A staple in the progressive house genre, he garnered the support of industry veterans such as Tiësto, Above & Beyond and Armin van Buuren through an extensive discography that includes collaborations with the likes of ARTY, MAX and Echosmith, and official remixes of songs by Coldplay, Halsey, Nile Rodgers, Jess Glynne and Calvin Harris. Following three releases in 2022 as part of his Progressive House Never Died movement, concertgoers can look forward to seeing him perform this year at EDC Mexico, Beyond Wonderland, Miami Music Week, Sunset Music Festival, and more.

“Antidote was written when Audien and I were on his tour together towards the end of last year. Our music taste has always been pretty similar and so when he suggested we write something together, it couldn’t have gone much more smoothly. We worked on it traveling between shows in hotels & airports, and within a few days we were already playing it out live. A few weeks later JT tracked the vocals and it was finished!” - Codeko

UK Native Codeko is a classically trained musician turned electronic producer from London. With over 100 million streams to date, Codeko has delivered timeless music through releases on some of the biggest record labels in dance music and has achieved unique accolades such as SiriusXM’s BPM Breaker of The Year and has even delivered an official Electric Zoo Anthem. Codeko has toured with Gryffin, Audien, Matoma, Two Friends and performed on the stages of Tomorrowland, Electric Zoo, Lost In Dreams, Beyond Wonderland, EDC Orlando, and more.

“The theme of "Antidote" resonates with me as it speaks of being a source of peace in a world of chaos and toxicity, which many of us definitely can relate to. As many people find their peace alongside sports or hobbies, I found mine across my friends & colleagues who always were there when I needed them the most. Having a strong & supportive community in Los Angeles has helped me make it through the hard times and has become my “Antidote” in my life.” -JT Roach

American singer-songwriter-producer JT Roach has been recognized on an international scale as the winner of NBC’s Songland season 1 finale with his song “Somebody To Love” which was placed with One Republic and is the only song that Ryan Tedder has ever cut while not being the writer. As a writer, JT has penned numerous hits including “Wherever You Go” by Jonas Blue, “Intruders” by Jessie Reyez, and “Potions” by SLANDER & Said The Sky. Other notable cuts include work with Seven Lions, Don Diablo, Nicky Romero, French Montana, and more.