#and the weezer one followed suit

[ashoss]

u just gottttt weeezeredddd (and beatled?)

[tibbythetiger]

Hello friendsssss! We have an official tag on AO3, we’ve all grown so much in just a few days. Amazing work all around! 

I’m just dishing out some general HCs today! Hopefully, I can actually get the time to turn my main DreamTheory meeting as coworkers at Sparky’s into a real fic soon! 

Both of them enjoy their height difference greatly. Mike usually hates feeling smaller or shorter than people, but he’s never met someone as genuine and nice as Ness so it doesn’t bother him, and makes him feel kinda safe. Ness just loves his pocket-sized boyfriend. 

I know someone else has already said this, but Ness with freckles!!!! Ness with freckles is so very important to me. I think they’re super light during most of the winter, but once it gets warmer and the sun comes out they’re fairly noticeable. Mike likes to kiss each one he can find, it always makes Ness laugh. 

I know we all agree that Ness is Conspiracy Boyfriend, and I agree! I think he particularly loves those paranormal ghost-hunting shows that were super popular back in 00’s, and he’s a HUGE Unsolved Mysteries fan. When he’s looking to get the same thrill but looking for more fictional media, he loves the Twilight Zone. 

Mike makes a mean grilled cheese and tomato soup, this is in part because it’s Abby’s favorite food and he decided if he had to make anything really well it would be this. Ness actually doesn’t like grilled cheese, but Abby talked it up so much he gave it a try and he ended up really liking it. It is one of Mike’s proudest moments. 

I think Ness is really good with kids, he seems to me the type that was the oldest cousin at parties. (This is just projection), so he’s used to having younger kids following him around and having to keep them entertained. While he’s used to it, he’s really genuine and loves doing it. He’s always overjoyed to hang out with Abby, and she adores him because of it. 

Ness and Mike cannot draw to save their lives! They are horrible at it, Abby likes to hold “drawing classes” where she tries to show them how she makes her masterpieces. Ness always tries hard, but it’s just not his strong suit. 

They are the couple that slow dances in the kitchen or living room. Mike is always reluctant about it, he’s fairly paranoid at romantic gestures, and he’s always scared someone will see them, but he always enjoys it when Ness convinces him it’s okay. Abby thinks it’s the most magical thing, so she draws the two of them as princes when they dance during a Disney movie night.  

Ness absolutely tells Mike and Abby stories to help them sleep. They both think he has the most soothing voice, Ness just loves being able to help them, sometimes he’ll even sing to them, but he’s still really shy about it. 

I think Ness really loves listening to musical soundtracks, but he’s also a pop girly through and through, like, he loves Kelly Clarkson, Paris Hilton, and Brittany Spears. Meanwhile, Mike doesn’t listen to music super often, he usually lets Abby or Ness pick. Otherwise, I feel like he’s really into grunge or early rock. He listens to Nirvana sure, but also Radio Head. (I also think he’s a very big Weezer fan) 

I think Mike is a big writer, he started journaling to help him take note of his dreams/memories of Garrett, then really leaned into it once his parents were out of the picture since he didn’t really have anyone else to turn to to vent. Sometimes he can be a little poetic, and he’ll write lil notes to Ness and leave them in his apron or pockets for him to find later. 

Ness thinks this is simply the cutest thing he’s ever seen actually, and attempts to do the same thing. He’s a little cheesier, and are usually filled with lil hearts and things doodled around them, but he sticks them on the mirror or on Mike’s alarm clock. Mike saves everyone he finds and slowly they start to cover the walls in his bedroom. 

The three of them cannot have board game nights. They are all waaaay too competitive, and the last time they played Uno and Ness won, Mike pouted so much and Abby locked herself in her room. They settle for movie nights or puzzles when they’re doing things the three of them. 

When Abby first starts dabbling in painting her nails, she practices on Ness and Mike. Eventually Ness and Abby usually just have matching nails, Ness doesn’t let the looks he gets bother him any. 

Abby absolutely knows they’re dating, Mike tries not to keep secrets from her, especially after the debacle of Freddy’s, and what happened with the Aunt. She’s too young, so she doesn’t get why people are weird about it, but she understands enough that she can’t tell anyone that Mike and Ness are dating. When she does talk about them, most people assume Ness is a girl, just because of his name. Abby just stops correcting people, the only person outside of them who knows is Abby’s therapist(?), but she supports Mike so it’s not really an issue. 

Ness loves stealing Mike’s sweaters and coats, they’re so much bulkier than the ones that Ness buys himself, so they’re so comfortable. In the winter, he’ll steal them and wear them to work or around the house. Mike grumbles and pretends he cares, but he thinks Ness looks cute in them. 

Ness has the worst road rage, Mike is both horribly amused and terrified of this when it occurs. Ness always apologizes afterward usually followed up by an “If people could just learn how to drive, I swear to GOD”  

Mike and Abby will go into Sparky’s when Ness is working just to get desert and to see him. Most of the employees at Sparky’s know there’s something going on between Ness and Mike, but they all let it remain unspoken. It seems like everyone is taking good care of each other, so no one decides to interfere.  

Well, that’s all I have for now! I’m really loving seeing everything everyone is putting out, and getting to read everyone’s work and see their art is amazing!

[ijustreallylikepirates]

So my Alenick fanfic kinda blew up a bit so I decided I was going to do a small continuation of it 👍🏻

So this is a little different from the first part. Just to warn yall: there’s a little more making out and swearing, but also subtle smut. Not too much, but if that’s not the kind of thing you read just scroll. Anyways I hope you enjoy this, thanks for reading and ily all!!! <3

So. My first date with Nick.

It was great, there was nothing I would change about it. We went out to dinner at this nice fancy restaurant. Nick paid. It was very expensive but he’s such a gentleman (and a rich kid) that he didn’t complain.

We were talking and laughing all night. Nick even threw a couple of dirty jokes my way and I maybe might have told him one or two myself.

But what blew me away about this night was seeing Nick in that dashing suit and tie he was wearing. I was just wearing a simple t-shirt with a cardigan pulled over it and my nicest pair of jeans I had.

When he first picked me up and I first saw him in that suit, I just froze and thought to myself, ‘Wow, he’s really hot.’

But enough about his suit. (But like the suit…) After dinner, I stupidly asked if he was going to drive me home or if I was gonna have to hoof it home.

He just laughed and said, “Why don’t you come back to my place and we can watch some movies together on my couch?”

I just smirked and said, “Sounds wonderful. Wasn’t really ready to end the night anyways, I was just afraid to ask for more of your time.”

Nick chuckled and opened the passenger side door of his blue ass car for me. “You’ll never take up too much of my time, Passenger Princess. Hop in.”

I sat my old ass on the car seat and he shut the car door, then he rounded around the car and got into the drivers seat. We drove home listening to old hits from the 90s, including old bands like Wham!, R.E.M, and Weezer. And trust me, you do not want to hear Nick when he listens to Say It Ain’t So.

When we got back to his house, he opened the car door for me like I was royalty. I mean, I was the passenger princess wasn’t I?

He unlocked the front door and gestured for me to go in. “Hot old men first.”

I rolled my eyes and said, “I’m literally 4 years older than you. I’m not that old.”

“You’re literally 30, old man,” he said, giggling as I walked through the door. He discreetly shut the door behind us.

I looked around his house. For a rich white man his house wasn’t very extravagant. It’s cozy and warm, which is the kind of house I like. I’m not looking for a rich man anyways. Just someone who will treat me right. Like Nick.

I walked over to his couch. I didn’t even notice he was following me until he came up behind me and slapped my ass.

I jumped and laughed. “Stop! Oh my God!” I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss, then threw him onto the couch.

The couch creaked loudly and he laughed. I threw myself on top of him and kissed him again. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me harder.

Then I pushed off of him and said, “Let’s actually watch movies like we said we were and not make out again. We can save that for the library bathroom.”

Nick chuckled, then sat up. “You’re a dork.” He grabbed the TV remote and turned the TV on. “What do you wanna watch?”

I snatched the TV remote out of his hand and said, “Are you sure you want to let me pick the movie?”

Nick gave me a side eye and said, “Whatever you want, sexyback.”

I clicked a couple buttons on the remote and put on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I put the remote down on the couch, then looked over at Nick.

He was giving me a bored look.

I giggled and said, “What? I told you that you shouldn’t have let me pick the movie.”

Nick just laughed and said, “I’ll make it work.”

Nick stood up and walked behind the couch and opened a door, then disappeared inside the room. He came back out with a blue fleece blanket.

He sat back down next to me on the couch and draped the blanket over our legs. He pulled the ottoman over and pat the spot in front of me with his hand, then propped his feet up. I propped mine up next to his.

I turned my head to him and asked with a smile on my face, “Why are you treating me like royalty?”

He smirked and said, “Because you deserve it, my Prince. Wait, actually…” He blushed a little, wrapped his arms around my waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder. “My King.”

Now I was blushing! I smiled and kissed the top of his head. I turned my head back to the TV and wrapped my arm around his waist.

He turned his head back to the TV as well and laid his head on my shoulder. I kissed the top of his head again and laid my head on top of his.

We sat and watched the movie for a while, up until the part where Harry got to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. I was convinced Nick had fallen asleep for a long time. He had his eyes closed but that theory was immediately debunked when Nick’s eyes shot open, just for him to squeeze my ass, call me sexyback, and go back to watching the movie. I swear, sometimes this man is too much.

A little more into the movie when Harry had arrived at Platform 9 3/4, Nick stared me down until I finally turned my head to look at him. He looked around suspiciously and asked me, “So… wanna make out a little more?”

I blushed and smirked. “Sure, why not British boy?” Before he could say a word, I threw my hands on his neck and shoved my lips onto his.

He quickly wrapped his arms around my waist.

After that long kiss, he pulled away from me. I leaned in for another kiss but he shoved his finger on my lips. “Wait a second.” He turned his body to the side again, then hoisted his leg over my waist and made himself comfortable on my lap, coming face-to-face with me. “Now you can kiss me.”

I smirked and said, “You’re a daredevil.” I put my hands around his waist. “I like that in a man.”

He wrapped his arms around my body as I kissed him. His lips were so warm, his hands so soft as they made their way under my shirt and up my back.

I grabbed his shirt in my hands and kissed him harder. He moved his hand up my back and to my neck, then into my hair.

But he slowly untangled himself from me. He put his hands on my shoulders and smirked before asking me, “So, uh… wanna take this to my bedroom?”

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. This man was the Devil himself! I raised an eyebrow at him and said, “Lead me there.”

He winked, then got up off my lap and grabbed my hand. He dragged me up off the couch, then off to the room where he had retrieved the blue fleece blanket from.

As soon as he shoved the door closed, he took me by my shoulders and shoved me against the door, then pressed his lips on mine.

I quickly grabbed his waist and pulled him closer to me. He kissed me harder, his hands traveling up my shirt.

We made out at the door for a while, then he brought his hands back to my chest and pulled away from me. He pulled my cardigan off, then the t-shirt under it.

I quickly mirrored his actions and started to unbutton his suit vest. Once I pulled the vest off, I untied his tie and threw it on the ground. He pressed another kiss on my lips as I unbuttoned his white button-down and slipped it off his arms.

As our clothes lay in a heap on the floor, he went to grab at my belt. I pushed him back and asked, “What are we doing?”

He raised his eyebrow, his hand still held out, and asked me, “What do you mean? I thought we were gonna…” He spun his hand around in circles, meaning exactly what you think it means.

I raised my eyebrow back and said, “Yeah, but at the door?”

He laughed, then placed his hands on my waist and said, “We can take this to my bed.” He put his lips up against mine, just barely enough space to let out a shaky breath. “If you want.” As the whisper escaped his mouth, I could feel his hot breath on my chin.

I sneaked a quick kiss from him, then took his arms and wrapped them around my neck. “That would be easier,” I said. “But I’m gonna be the top.” I poked his chest for emphasis.

He rolled his eyes and said, “Whatever, sexyback.”

I winked at him, then continued to pick him up off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me.”

He quickly did so, and I grabbed him under his thighs to keep him up. I walked over to his bed and threw him down on the mattress. Then I quickly hopped on the bed, right on top of him.

He stared at me with a sly grin on his face. I gave him one back. We both grabbed at each other’s belts at the same time and well… things went on from there.

~

As I woke up the next morning in Nick’s bed, I looked over to my right and saw he wasn’t there next to me. I looked to the front and saw the bedroom door wide open, the smell of bacon wafting through my nose. He must be making us breakfast. What a gentleman.

I looked over to my left and saw he had left me a clean folded white towel on the nightstand next to me. I smiled, then took the towel and got out of his bed.

I quickly wrapped the towel around my waist, just in case Nick decided he wanted to stare at me through the door. Sneaky Brit.

I walked across the room and quietly opened the bathroom door in his bedroom. I snuck inside and closed it just as quietly as I had opened it.

I turned his shower on, took off my glasses, and put my hair down, then hopped in.

As I cleansed myself of what we, uh… did… last night, I could hear Nick belting out Billy Joel in the kitchen…

And he could not sing!

But I knew this song…

So I started singing the lyrics along with Nick. “Sing us a song, you’re the piano man / sing us a song tonight / we’ll, we’re all in the mood for a melody / and you’ve got us feelin’ alright”

Nick paused in the kitchen. I paused mid way through shampooing my hair as he switched the music off.

I heard his footsteps and then: “Am I really that bad of a singer?”

I laughed. “You shouldn’t quit your day job.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. I get to spend many hours of my day with you when I’m at work.”

I didn’t say anything back, I just blushed.

I heard the floorboards creak as he started walking back to the kitchen. “You have really nice voice.”

I couldn’t say anything before he walked away.

I just finished my shower, blushing wildly. Once I got out, I quickly started to get dressed.

Nick had turned the music back on and the song Movin’ Out was now playing. I hummed along with the music as I pulled on my pair of jeans that I wore last night back on. I didn’t have any other pants, I guess I’ll just put a different pair on when I get home later.

As I strapped my belt through the belt loops, my phone vibrated on the bathroom counter. I picked it up and I saw a text from Nick: ‘Don’t leave the bathroom. My girlfriend just got home. Be really quiet and don’t respond to this text.’

My heart started to race. He told me he didn’t love his girlfriend anymore. He failed to mention he didn’t ever break up with her.

As I stopped my humming, I heard Nick in the other room talking to a woman: his not-so-ex-girlfriend. I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

As his girlfriend walked into the bedroom, I threw my hand over my mouth to muffle my breathing and stood as far away from the bathroom door as I could go.

Silence. Then: “Nick!”

Nick came into the room. “Yeah?”

“Would you mind telling me what this is?” she asked him in an angered tone.

Uh oh. I don’t recall leaving anything behind that could’ve given away the fact that Nick was cheating on her. Right?

“What do you mean?” Nick had that tone in his voice that obviously meant he knew what she meant.

“Why did I happen to find a lock of brown hair on your bed? Your hair is blonde and so is mine! Whose hair is this?”

My hair! Of course a piece of my hair had to fall out onto the bed!

“I…uh…” Nick started.

“Yes!? What girl did you sleep with while I was gone?”

“Hey, it wasn’t even a girl, okay!?” Nick shouted.

Nice move, Nick. I almost smacked my forehead, but then remembered I couldn’t make any sound.

It must feel great to find out your boyfriend tried out men while you were gone. ‘Surprise, I’m gay now!’ Love it.

“It’s a guy,” Nick said, as if it wasn’t obvious.

A beat.

“Why did you do it, Nick?”

“I’m sorry, I just… I just don’t love you anymore. I’m sorry I kept that from you for so long. This wouldn’t have happened.”

More silence.

“Why didn’t you just tell me that earlier?” she asked. “I would’ve understood.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

“Well, I do understand. We can… end our relationship if that’s what you want.”

A small silence, then from Nick: “Yeah… yeah, okay.”

I took my hand off my mouth slowly.

Then, Nick said, “He’s actually still in the bathroom right now! Wanna meet him?”

Fuck!

I might have to kick Nick’s ass when I get out of this bathroom.

“Sure?” Nick’s now-ex-girlfriend said skeptically.

I stayed silent in my position.

I heard footsteps getting closer to the door. “Alec, you can come out now,” Nick said softly. He sounded a little seductive but maybe that’s just my Nick-infused brain working overtime.

I sighed, then said, “Hold on.”

If I was to go out and meet Nick’s ex, I definitely wanted to do it with a shirt on. I slipped on my t-shirt and cardigan, then squeezed out my hair with the towel and tied it into ponytail. I cleaned my glasses before propping them up on my nose. Then I took a deep breath and turned the doorknob.

Standing there next to Nick was a blind woman in a white casual business suit. Her face was dotted with freckles.

I awkwardly waved and stood in the doorway. Then Nick walked forward and grabbed my arm, then pulled me into the bedroom to stand next to him.

“Alec, this is Lennie.” Nick gestured to his ex. “Lennie, this is Alec.”

I waved again, and she waved back.

An awkward silence filled the air for a moment.

“So I guess you’ll want me to move out now,” Lennie said, crossing her arms.

Nick’s face washed over with panic. “What!? No! You bought the house. You should have it! I’ll find somewhere else to live!”

I looked from Lennie, to Nick, then back to Lennie. “Yeah, he can live with me in my house!”

Nick blushed but Lennie said, “No, I’ll move out. I wanted to get a different house anyway. Now I have a reason for a new house.”

Without another word, she left the bedroom.

Nick and me just stood in silence. Then Nick said, “So the house is gonna be pretty empty without Lennie around-“

“You want me to move in, don’t you?”

Nick laughed. “Maybe. If you want.”

I gave him a peck on the cheek. “Sure. I need some company anyway.”

Later on, Nick drove me home.

Once Lennie moved bought a new house and moved out, I packed my bags and moved in. It was gonna be a… different experience living in the same house as Nick but hey! I know the experiences we do share will be great!

Anyways I hope yall enjoyed this!! Again, if this wasn’t your type of thing, don’t come at me please 🙏🏻 anyways ily all, have a good day and love alenick 🔥🔥🔥

[lrportfolio]

TV/FILM/MUSIC/ART Inspiration Collages! All made on Shuffles, using images from users and my own research.

My taste in media varies across everything, I love children’s cartoons, horror movies, angry songs about women in the world, Anime, indie movies, bright art and scratchy sketchbook pages. I love everything and anything, but I do have some favourites.

I love music that tells a story, such as Ethel Cains work, where you can follow a narrative and really feel what the singer is trying to get across. I love artists who use muted and mottled colours, creating a visually moody environment with their work. I love tv shows that start with hope and end in despair and I love films where nothing really happens, just a retelling of normal life.

I think a person takes inspiration from everything in their life and I’m a true believer of that everybody is just a conglomerate of their favourite things, with a personal spin on it. I’m a collage of everything and everybody surrounding me, everything has an influence and takes effect on what I do. With my art, everything I do is intentional, whether it’s using a different brush type, changing colours or adding text and backgrounds. Nothing I do artistically isn’t thought about before it goes onto the page, there’s always a thought process behind minute details.

Image One, MUSIC: Phoebe Bridgers, Paramore, TV girl, Bjork, My Chemical Romance, Kate Bush, Lucy Dacus, Amyl and The Sniffers, Fiona Apple, The Front Bottoms, Modern Baseball, Halsey, Car Seat Headrest, Kimya Dawson, Crywank, Alex G, James Marriott, Ethel Cain, Fall Out Boy, Mitski, Chappell Roan, Boygenius, Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Tyler, The Creator and Radiohead.

Image Two, ARTISTS: Tatsuki Fujimoto, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoshitomo Nara, Yayoi Kusama, Lid Thom, Grace Toscano, SAIAKUNANA, Bobbie teethmeat (instagram), Rabbits Foot (instagram), Cute Loot Suit, ElevenHaze (instagram), Inika SoupandCats, Libby Frame, Micky CatMunches (instagram), J.E Paeth, Rode Novak, The Angel Incarnate, HeartSl0b (Tumblr), Visrupto (instagram), Niimun (instagram), Diabelmleczny (instagram), Wandering Ghosts (instagram), Nícoly Kadbvceii, Emma HolyEmpresse, Rome Rankck, MEATGIRL (instagram), Keith Technolegital, Angel Eris, Fruitgravy (instagram), Cal Igmaera, 00Madz (instagram), YUBISAKA, Vic Plasticlamb (instagram).

Image Three, FILM: Perfect Blue, Donnie Darko, Scream, Do Revenge, I Saw The TV Glow, Jennifers Body, Gone Girl, Across The Spider-Verse, Into The Spider-Verse, Big Hero Six, Ponyo, The Boy and The Heron, Spirited Away, Dinner In America, Do The Right Thing, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Alien, Aliens, Bones and All, Juno, Brokeback Mountain, Lisa Frankenstein, The Lost Boys, Promising Young Woman, But I’m A Cheerleader, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Bottoms, Submarine, Nimona, Fantastic Mr.Fox, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Coraline, Wendell Vs. Wild, Black Swan.

Image Four, TV: Bojack Horseman, Miffy and Friends, Adventure Time, Arcane, Hannibal, Bee and Puppycat, Stranger Things, Killing Eve, Carmilla, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Cub, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hello Kitty’s Paradise, Akuma No Riddle, Haikyuu!!, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Heartstopper, The End Of The Fucking World, Delicious in Dungeon, Chainsaw Man.

[themovieblogonline]

"Being Mary Tyler Moore:" Documentary Screens at SXSW 2023

Director James Adolphus, who helmed the documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” was asked about his exposure to Mary Tyler Moore before he undertook to make this extraordinarily intimate 2- hour film about her life. He admitted that he had never watched any of her shows, that she was more of a figure that his mother knew about. (“I knew her from the lyric in the Weezer song.”) He then said, “It’s odd to make a film about someone you don’t know and to fall in love with someone after the fact. She felt like my cousin, my sister. She had to fight back against the patriarchy.” The documentary is an attempt to reconcile the insecure woman who looked so proud and regal with the real woman who was not that way at all. It was an attempt to show the real person beneath the veneer. With the help of many clips from “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and various interviews, it more than succeeds. One week after the 18-year-old MTM graduated from high school, she got a job portraying Happy Hotpoint in television ads. The problem was that the young Mary had married Richard Meeker in 1954, at age eighteen. She soon turned up pregnant, giving birth to her only child, Richard, and losing the Happy Hotpoint job in the process. Later in the film, we learn that Moore’s own mother would give birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, at age 40, only a few months after Richard’s birth, giving Mary a younger sister, as well as a brother, John, who was 7 years younger. There were references to Mary’s mother’s alcoholism, but they were married for more than 50 years. Her mother eventually sobered up and even took on the duties of caring for the two youngsters, Elizabeth and Richard, who were so close in age. Mary’s marriage to Meeker did not last; she would marry again, in 1962, barely a month out of her first marriage, to Grant Tinker, to whom she would remain married for 18 years. Her career, in 1959, included a stint as Sexy Sam, the faceless voice on “Richard Diamond, Private Investigator.” When she asked for a raise from her $85 per episode salary, she was fired. Enter Carl Reiner, a comic mentor who envisioned her as the character Laurie Petrie, the wife in a 1960 pilot dubbed “Head of the Family,” which eventually morphed into “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” When David Susskind suggested, in a somewhat offensive interview, that women should not work, Mary retorted, “I could waste a lot more energy sitting around chatting with other gals all day.” She became exactly what the network was horrified by: a contemporary woman. She also insisted on wearing pants, which broke new ground. (As a former junior high school teacher who insisted on wearing pants suits in 1969 at a time when they were banned, I could relate.) Throughout the documentary, we learn just how groundbreaking Mary Tyler Moore would become. This was just the beginning. In interviews, Mary referred to the period as “An unenlightened time. I believe in figuring out a way to contribute.” At the end of the 5-year run of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” Mary was a hot property who charmed men without antagonizing their wives. She had a comic flair that no less an expert than Lucille Ball recognized and applauded. She was offered a picture deal with Universal and---unusual for the time---had the right to refuse to do pictures that she did not think would benefit her image. However, in order to be given permission to star in a musical version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on Broadway, Mary would give up that right of refusal. Following the Broadway bomb the show became, she would end up in films like “Change of Habit” (1969) opposite Elvis. In 1968, when she was 32, a miscarriage led to her diagnosis of a diabetes. With a blood sugar level of 700, she was fortunate to have been discovered to have the disease, which would end her life at the age of 80 in 2017. Broadway having bombed, CBS offered her her own show, and Mary and Grant Tinker, her then-husband, jumped at the chance. Tinker saw that forming their own company would be beneficial and Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises was born. Tinker ran the business and Mary Tyler Moore was the figurehead and the talent. At one time, MTM Enterprises had 6 shows on the air at once. Meanwhile, Tinker hired Jim Brooks and Allan Burns to write Mary's show, which would place Mary Tyler Moore in Minneapolis as a woman making it on her own at the age of thirty as an independent entity. I remember how groundbreaking it was for the goal to be not just to marry ASA{. but to be independent and live on one’s own. My own mother had lived the life accepted by today's women in 1927, so, for me, Mary was embodying the idea of utilizing female talent for more than just making babies and cleaning the house. Ironically, at this point, in her real-life Mary Tyler Moore had never been on her own; she had been married since she was 18 years old. The entire idea of pushing young women into marriage was covered in 1979’s “Kramer versus Kramer,” where Meryl Streep articulated this “never been on my own” status all the way to 5 Oscars. Mary Tyler Moore lived the fifties ideal of marriage after school "as soon as possible," but, personally, she remained mired in marital bliss until she was 44 years old when she and Tinker divorced and she moved to New York City. The show that Mary Tyler Moore launched, about a thirtyish woman making it on her own in the Midwest at a small TV station, was a risk. It was almost killed by a terrible time slot, until Fred Silverman took over the network, axed a lot of comedies like “Green Acres’ and moved “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” into the best time slot on television. It was, as Rosie O’Donnell termed it, “Appointment TV” and placed her show on the same night as “All in the Family” and alongside Bob Newhart’s show on Saturday nights. The rest is history, as the talented cast garnered multiple awards and still has one of the best endings of any series sitcom on television, past or present. Mary Tyler Moore won 7 Emmies, and 3 Golden Globes, and earned an Oscar nomination (for “Ordinary People”). And, as the documentary terms it, “As Mary Tyle Moore goes, so goes the nation,” which also meant welcoming the 1973 Supreme Court decision to allow women the right to decide whether or not to have an abortion. In 1980, immediately after her divorce from Tinker, Mary conquered Broadway with her performance replacing Tony-winner Tom Conti in the play “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?” Meanwhile, she described herself as “going through adolescence” in New York City, as she was said to be involved with Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the director of the play. She was socializing after years of marriage. However, she was drinking more than she should have been, and, as he noted, sometimes that could lead to belligerence on her part. She would curb this possibly inherited tendency towards alcoholism through a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic. In 1980, Mary Tyler Moore was nominated as Best Actress for her role as Beth in “Ordinary People” opposite Donald Sutherland and Timothy Hutton. Director Robert Redford said he had always been fascinated by the possibility of a dark side to MTM, who might have been brittle inside, harboring a pensiveness, anger, hurt, and confusion over such issues as her inability to connect meaningfully with her son Richard. In 1980 Richard, then aged 24, would die of a gunshot wound. The documentary says he had a gun collection, was inherently clumsy, and it was an accident. Three weeks after his death, MTM would be nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress for her role in “Ordinary People.” She would also lost her younger sister, Elizabeth, age 21, to suicide and her younger brother John would die of kidney cancer as she held his hand. Mary met Dr. Robert Levine, her third husband when he cared for her ailing mother in 1982. The line from the documentary is that “She fell in love for the first time in her life,” (which seems debatable.) However, the 14-years-younger Levine would remain her husband till the end. Her friends say that he may have kept her alive for an additional ten years, as she was hospitalized numerous times. The couple was devoted to one another and lived a bucolic life in rural Connecticut. The now 73-year-old Levine reached out to Lena Waithe (“Ready Player One,” “Master of None”) after reading an interview in “Vanity Fair,” in which she expressed an interest in doing a documentary about Mary Tyler Moore’s life. When asked about his decision to share his private film of Mary with Producer/Director/Writer Waite, Dr.Levine said, to laughter, “To have a Black queer girl from the South side of Chicago want to tell her story. Are you kidding me?” Dr. Levine was asked what surprised him after seeing the film, and he responded, “I had never seen the bridal shower footage with Betty White. It was simple and natural. She talked about me making her a tuna fish sandwich in the middle of the night. Things like that had the most impact. In life, it is the simple kindnesses that really have the most impact. The journey of her life was the journey of women in this country.  As a human being, she felt the need to keep going forward.  I didn’t want a derivative feeling. A new voice coming forward (Lena Waithe) was interesting to me.” Waithe added, “I wanted to give a real sense of how she was as a person." The decision to use voice-over(s) rather than the talking head documentary approach was said to be Waithe’s. The documentary is long, at 2 hours, but it is very good.  I would highly recommend it if you were or are a fan of Mary Tyler Moore’s work. She helped raise over $2 billion for Juvenile Diabetes and gave many other working women a model that remains groundbreaking. Credits: Venue: SXSW Film Festival (Documentary Spotlight) Distributor: HBO Production companies: HBO Documentary Films, Fifth Season, Hillman Grad, The Mission Entertainment, Good Trouble Studios Director: James Adolphus Producers: Ben Selkow, James Adolphus, Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, Debra Martin Chase, Andrew C. Coles, Laura Gardner Executive producers: S. Robert Levine, Michael Bernstein, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller Cinematography: James Adolphus Editor: Mariah Rehmet Archival Producer: Libby Kreutz Music: Theodosia Roussos 2 hour Read the full article

[howtolistentomusic]

He once complained that the scene sleeps on him so here's a deep dive

2008 was memorable year for local music. At the time the historic Woolworth space in downtown Oxnard housed the Experimental Café, and it was the place to see live music in Ventura County. There was Delaney Gibson and her classically-trained brilliance. There was the Volume Knockers and their charmingly goofy, School of Rock-esque traditionalism. There was the Ashtray Life and his busker chic. And so many more, including End Transmission.

Consisting of Hunter Cook on drums, Jordan Brunner on the guitar and Zeke Berkley on the keyboard and lead vocals, End Transmission was a power pop band with shades of Weezer, Blink-182 and local brethren Army of Freshmen. The closest comparison is probably Ozma, an underrated band that Zeke has cited as a huge influence.

Start Transmission

I saw End Transmission play many times at the Experimental Café and it was always a blast. Songs like "Fences Make Good Neighbors" and "Make Like a Tree and Get Outta Here" were catchy as hell, and Zeke and Jordan would often banter between songs, playfully antagonizing each other & quipping back and forth in a way that was often as entertaining as the tunes themselves.

In 2009 End Transmission released Devour, their debut full-length album. It's so good that it instantly dated the band's previous tracks. Granted, the Head Over Heels EP did a poor job of recreating their contagiously joyful live energy (the slog they turned "Fences Make Good Neighbors" into is particularly frustrating). Still, Devour finds End Transmission leveling up by leaps and bounds.

Album opener "Talking in Circles" goes through two distinct sections before vocals kick in. Mutations like this find their way onto many tracks on Devour; it's a welcome tendency as the band excels at extended instrumental passages. "Wow, Really?" displays a newfound grittiness, and it's a sound that suits them extremely well. “Outer Space, Inner Sinner” unfurls with patience and confidence but still manages to rock. "Right Side of the Bed" is Axis of Awesome fodder but there's a reason why that formula endures. 

Devour is one of my favorite albums of all time, locally-based or otherwise. It's fantastic.

***

In 2013, End Transmission drummer Hunter Cook passed away. Jordan and Zeke decided to discontinue the band, and End Transmission was no more. Zeke would eventually rebrand as a solo artist, pivoting from rock to something more akin to bedroom pop.

Berkley I arrived in 2013 and its follow-up, Berkley II, was released in 2016.  "Garbage/Ears" is a fucking journey. The song evokes marching band drum lines, the Fright Night soundtrack, Lana Del Rey, and a million other ingredients to effectively produce a profound sense of sadness. I love that song. "Calling Your Name" is little more than the titular phrase and a bassline but it's extremely catchy. "HBT (Hatred Burning Through)" ends with an amazing and complex piano section.

These are some of the highlights of Zeke Berkley's solo output. For the most part, however, both Berkley I & II underwhelm. As a solo artist, Zeke is more cerebral, more concerned with the little details than End Transmission ever was. "You're a musician's musician," our old pal Chris Jay said of Zeke when he was a guest on episode 63 of the Fresh Talk podcast. Translation: dude got boring.

On There's No Time to Explain with Brain Parra, another local podcast, Zeke said:

"On my first record everybody said ‘oh man, it's really cool but, couple things,’ and they'd always hit me with a couple criticisms and one of them that I heard consistently was 'all the songs sound the same.' And so I was like, 'ok.' And for me that's a personal challenge.

[...]

“When multiple people tell me that, that means I have to listen. So what I start doing is thinking about, okay, how can I really really make this a versatile record where I show my range so people know what I'm capable of here?"

Now the songs on Berkley I definitely blur together, though I'd argue that this has more to do with a general lack of adrenaline than it does with instrumental monotony. But the haters have to be proven wrong, so on Berkley II Zeke makes a conscious effort to expand his sound. He largely succeeds. The album is indeed interesting and unique in terms of sonic texture. But other elements of his craft fall by the wayside. His vocals are particularly bad. Berkley II finds Zeke developing an unfortunate tendency to stretch his syllables beyond their breaking points. After a great intro that sounds like deceased rock gods creating a thunderstorm from their perches in heaven, the vocals for opening track "Clouds" begin like this:

Cloooooouuuuuds aaaaaabooooooove theeeeeeey liiiingeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer Traaaaaace theeeeeem wiiiiiith yooooouuuur fiiiiingeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer

"Nightshade" finds Zeke hilariously devoting 4 entire bars, at 97 beats per minute, to the mere two syllables of the titular word before he bothers with any sort of storytelling. What about the nightshade, Zeke? What about the nightshade?!

And then there's "Better Than You". Jesus fucking Christ, this stupid song.

***

An important note about Zeke Berkley: he's full of himself. Don't worry; he freely admits as much. "I think I'm probably one of the most egotistical people," he said on Fresh Talk. It's a statement that comes in the midst of an epic rant against the evils of the local music scene. It began innocently enough. Prefacing the podcast's premiere of "Better than You", Zeke said:

"It's a caricature of a personality type that I believe exists amongst music scenes particularly across the United States but more specifically in this general area. I feel like there's this attitude that exists, and I've certainly embodied it myself, and in fact I am embodying it by even writing a song about it, but you know, I think everybody thinks they're better than everyone else and everybody thinks that they have this thing that no one else does or this hidden knowledge of what actually is real and what constitutes being a band and it's kind of disgusting but it hits everybody I think."

Ok, sure. Fair enough. But as Zeke continues, he becomes angrier, more impassioned: 

"What people fail to realize particularly about me is I think some people fucking sleep on me because I've been writing songs for about 12 years now seriously and I’ve been playing just about every instrument on my own stuff for quite a while and so it's just kind of disgusting when I hear someone think that they're better than me."

Caricature clearly doesn't do his feelings on the matter justice. "I'll probably alienate myself hugely here but the truth is I'm not really interested in playing a show with anybody here," the future replacement bassist for Anchor & Bear said. He continued:

“You have this Mumford feeling seeping into this and you get these folk people who realize the fifth folk revival's happening again and it allows them to dictate it and become these people dressed as farm workers or something and I don't get it. I dress like an average person. When you hear my music you're actually hearing what my voice sounds like when I talk. You're not hearing some accent or some impression of anyone else and that's particularly what this song is about. I hear these people do impressions of their favorite singers in these songs.”

It’s certainly true that the range of notes the human voice can hit varies among individuals, and a common issue with aspiring singers is that they imitate other vocalists that they like and never learn to calibrate to what they’re actually capable of. But Zeke conflates this with other criticisms so general that they scan as grudges against the very concepts of genre and style, which is absurd. It’s also a rather disingenuous argument to make after the specific schemas he embraced as a member of End Transmission lost their power to benefit him. Aging! It sucks.

***

"Better Than You" is a terrible song about how supposedly terrible the rest of the local scene is. It begins with drum fills that sound like that boring thing a band does live when the vocalist needs to take a breather. Then Zeke sings:

You think you're better than me You think you're a staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Well you're not better than me Cause I know exactly who you aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrre

There's that elongation thing again. Zeke gives us all this time to anticipate his next move only to reward us with nursery-rhyme-level craft, forcing us to dwell in his predictability. And he has the audacity to do this while calling out other bands for weak songwriting. "And I know every rhyme / that you're about to use", he later sings in the song's first prechorus. Welcome to the club, dude. I saved you a spot.

Speaking of that prechorus, the preceding lines go like this:

And I know the type of thing you compromise on I've heard your shitty rock band

"Band" lands hard, on a one beat, the king of the rhythmic hierarchy because it bears the weight of keeping our ears properly oriented. Important things happen therein, but Zeke pivots away into a distinct vocal section before giving us the closure or resolution the word demands, leaving the listener unsatisfied. And Zeke doesn’t bother to work out a proper outro for the song, merely offering a modified take on its main refrain that misplaces its syllabic emphasis and ending with an unresolved “you,” imbuing the titular phrase with uncertainty when the entire point should be its brashness.

"Better Than You" pits Zeke's ego against his sense of quality control and the latter loses big time. It is, however, one of the few songs on Berkley II that’s convincingly about something. According to Zeke and Brian Parra, heart-on-sleeve songwriting is played out. On There’s No Time to Explain, they have this exchange:

Zeke: “It’s something to be personal and that's definitely a style of songwriting but I think another style of songwriting is being ancillary. Get secondary and then find how to inject yourself into it instead of saying, ‘this is what's going on with my life.’

[...]

“So make yourself about the other thing as opposed to just like, ‘this is me baring my soul’ ‘cause everyone has already done that.”

Brian: “But that gets boring!”

Zeke: ”It Is!”

Brian: “It's like, alright, how many times -”

Zeke: “‘Another soul?!’”

Brian: “Yeah! Right!”

On Fresh Talk, Zeke further explained his approach:

Zeke: “Lyrics are different on this record than my previous stuff.”

Chris: “Is it personal stuff or is it more-”

Zeke: “I’d say my last record was more personal whereas this record was more, I wanna say words and phrases that I like and that sound natural and that I enjoy hearing more than sharing a piece of myself like I did on my first record.”

Chris: “So you let the music dictate the words more?”

Zeke: “That’s exactly right, Chris.”

Of course, any decent musician should be singing phrases that sound good within their musical contexts whether they’re baring their soul or not. Zeke is creating a false dichotomy borne of his deep-rooted desire to separate himself from his peers. That said, his outside-in approach to songwriting isn't necessarily a bad one, and Berkley II’s “Sink” is proof. It’s damn good. But Zeke’s eagerness to justify its existence is telling. Discussing the song on There’s No Time to Explain, he said:

Zeke: “It’s a jaunt. And you’re absolutely right it’s ragtimey because I was thinking, you want me to be versatile? You’re telling me I need to be more versatile? Who the fuck has a ragtime old time black and white movie train tracks rescue, you know what I mean?”

Brian: “It is a little like that, yeah!”

Zeke: “Who’s gonna have that?”

Tough one! Regis, how many lifelines do I have left?

Aping a style of music that peaked in popularity a century ago is a distinctly Zeke-ian take on versatility. Surely even the butterfly Scott Joplin was reincarnated as has Taylor Swift set to repeat by now. Don't get me wrong; to reiterate, "Sink" is great, ragtime intro and all. But it also exemplifies Zeke's performative, try-hard posturing, striking me as an anti-gimmick gimmick that conveniently allows him a certain peace of mind regarding his continued efforts to carve a space for himself as a musician by creating distance from the grind of trend chasing and the attention economy as a shortcut to originality. 

Of course, you're currently reading How to Listen to Music, sworn enemy of originality.

Wait. Shit.

***

“Music is exclusively a challenge to me. I approach it in the same way that I would approach basketball or I would approach your golf swing or something like that and I think for a lot of people it's like ‘oh yeah, music’s life’ and all this stuff and no, music’s work. It's supposed be hard work. You're supposed to work really hard on it and you're supposed to get better at it every time you do it.”

Zeke said this on There's No Time to Explain with Brian Parra. It's bullshit, of course. There are no laws dictating how every person on the planet needs to approach the art and craft of creating music. Nonetheless, it's a quote that has stuck with me.

Zeke Berkley may be the most narcissistic musician in Ventura County. But his public battle with the contradiction between creativity and community is fascinating, his palpable disdain for mediocrity admirable and refreshing. I may not like Berkley I or II all that much but I’m glad they exist.

*quotes edited for length & clarity

[sinceileftyoublog]

The Hella Mega Tour Review: 8/15, Wrigley Field, Chicago

BY JORDAN MAINZER

The lights went out, and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” played, followed by The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”, as the trademark “person in a pink bunny suit” pretending to be drunk pumped up the crowd. Perhaps no two songs, nor the aforementioned image, encapsulate Green Day’s career any better. The East Bay punks eventually turned into rock opera scribes, all the while maintaining their sense of irreverence. But what separates Green Day’s live performance is a sense of togetherness, even in the face of songs about impending political revolution or the threat of debilitating apathy. As Billie Joe Armstrong and company launched into the title track of American Idiot, the first of a breakneck 21-song set, they had a sold out Wrigley Field chanting every word back to them. Each of their songs feel born from a specific time and place, but if they have anything, its generational staying power, and not just because songs about the evils of the Bush administration have proved still relevant given recent news.

At this point, Green Day can play a seamless, pitch-perfect set in their sleep. Armstrong’s voice is smooth when it needs to be on “Wake Me Up When September Ends”, delving into bratty screams for maximum impact on “Brain Stew”. Bassist Mike Dirnt’s playing is limber and heavy, introducing “Longview” with confidence and ease, while drummer Tré Cool breaks down and builds back up “Welcome to Paradise” the same way you remember when you first heard it. Their addition of touring musicians--guitarist and vocalist Jason White, long-time multi-instrumentalist Jason Freese, and newcomer Kevin Preston--gives their more rounded out songs a depth to add beneath their otherwise jagged edges. And of course, Armstrong’s a man of the people. He’s found a way to bring fans on stage in the era of COVID, making sure those who come on to help them cover Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge” stay far from their bubble and can keep the guitar afterwards. In a more subtle way, when he could have easily addressed the crowd as “Chicago,” he also included neighboring states and the entire Midwest, recognizing that this show was the tour’s only one in flyover country. (Don’t worry, Wrigley fans; he did “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during “Minority”, correctly singing, “Root for the Cubbies.”)

Yeah, I could pick a couple bones with the set, like no “Jaded” immediately after “Brain Stew”, and the mere existence of buzzkill “21 Guns” in the setlist. For the most part, though, this is a band who knows exactly what it’s doing and is very good at it, giving the crowd only 2 songs written after 2010.

If nostalgia sells, then Weezer’s set was for you, from their Jazz cup color scheme to Rivers Cuomo’s mullet-and-mustache look. I mean, their second 2021 album is called Van Weezer, for goodness sakes. Their Halen tributes start with entering the stage to “Jump” and peak at Cuomo’s two-handed tapping riff on “The End of the Game”, but they’re referenced in performances of classics, like the riffing on the outro of “My Name is Jonas”. Like Green Day, Weezer have always balanced angst with tongue-in-cheek humor, but with little room for politics, they’re all fun and games. Recent tunes like “Hero”, “Fees Like Summer”, and “All My Favorite Songs” are catchy, appropriately thoughtless ear candy, as is their cover of Toto’s “Africa”. And Weezer, too, knows why their fans are there, to hear “El Scorcho” and “Say It Ain’t So” and be drowned in purple and turquoise confetti during “Buddy Holly”.

To me, Green Day and Weezer’s embrace of absurdity is why the inclusion of Fall Out Boy on this tour--especially sandwiched in between the other two--felt off. I’ll be the first to admit it: They’re not my cup of tea, so I might not be the best judge of their set, and a packed stadium faithfully holding up phone lights during all the slow songs probably proves me wrong. But aside from the genuine coolness of a Wilmette band getting to play once again at the ballpark they grew up going to, the whole concept of their set felt at once overcooked and over-earnest. A video intro and outro from, uh, Ron Livingston, and multiple set changes fit a narrative about as structured as something from the mind of latter-day Billy Corgan. Their blowtorch guitars and piano lasted multiple songs, dulling their effect, while Patrick Stump belted “Save Rock and Roll” and “The Least of the Real Ones”. They sounded best when their songs had little fanfare, on classics like “Sugar, We’re Going Down”, “Dance, Dance”, and the stomping “I Don’t Care”. And if they could spend on fireworks during “Centuries”, they could surely have gotten a horn section for “Irresistible” instead of relying on samples.

Speaking of horns, if you’re looking for a band that made the most of their allotted time and opportunity, that would probably be L.A. ska punk band The Interrupters, who blasted through a fun, raw 8-song set while much of the crowd was still walking in. They played pretty evenly from their three studio albums, plus a cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”. The throaty delivery of singer Aimee Allen (aka Aimee Interrupter) was the perfect complement to the literal band of brothers, guitarist Kevin Bivona and bassist and drummer Justin and Jesse. It was a set both well-played and curated by the bookers, one that should generate some crossover fandom with the other established bands and that fit the celebratory, somewhat sardonic tone of Green Day and Weezer. I mean, if you’re gonna call it the Hella Mega Tour, you want bands that can take a joke.

[carlosgabrielruiz]

PINKERTON - 33 1/3 Proposal Part 6

CHAPTER 4 Many Rivers to Cross:A Brief History of Rivers Cuomo

For most people, Weezer begins and ends with Rivers Cuomo. Period. Point blank. Rivers Cuomo is undoubtedly the brains and heart behind the band – without him, there would simply be no Weezer. Rivers is the primary songwriter, lyricist, band director, and de facto Great Leader (although it should be noted that in the early days he shared some of those songwriting duties and credits with Matt Sharp and original guitarist Jason Cropper). 

Rivers was born in Manhattan on June 13, 1970. He grew up in upstate New York in the Buddhist Zen Center where his father was a farmer. In 1975, his father left the family and Rivers moved to Connecticut with his mother and brothers to live in Yogaville on an ashram farm.(1) He grew up as a quiet and shy child only later to become a metalhead with an outgoing love for Kiss and Van Halen.

When he turned 18 Rivers moved to L.A. and started to officially make a go of it in music. He got a job at Tower Records and was introduced to drummer Pat Wilson. (2) They became friends and formed a band called Fuzz. Rivers moved into Pat’s apartment which he shared with Matt Sharp, who was a talented multi-intrumentalist. Matt soon decided to join them and they embarked on an odyssey that would eventually make musical history. 

Valentine’s Day of 1992 was a momentous occasion for the newly formed, yet still-unnamed, new band because that was the day that Rivers Cuomo (lead guitar), Matt Sharp (bass), Jason Cropper (guitar), and Pat Wilson (drums) first gathered together to rehearse and record their sessions. The band “got together at T.K. rehearsal studios, in West LA, and rehearsed for either 3 or 4 days straight.”(3) The demo tape that was made during the session featured a list of all the potential band names they were toying with at the time including the initial band name “Fuzz”, as well as “Meathead”, “Outhouse”, “Hummingbird”, “the Big Jones” and “This Niblet”.

Things moved quickly for the band from there. A little over a year after their first official rehearsal, the band - now officially named Weezer - signed a major label record deal with Geffen Records. The band had hoped to self-produce their debut, but the suits at Geffen were not going to let that happen. Eventually, the band picked Cars’ frontman, Ric Ocasek, to handle production on the record. According to Rivers Cuomo, “The record company was really pushing us to work with a producer, so we figured that if we had to have somebody in the studio with us, it might as well just be someone who writes good songs – and the Cars’ first record just rules.” (4) 

The band went to Electric Ladyland studios in New York to work on their record. Everything was going great up until it wasn’t. There were internal problems with the guitarist Jason Cropper that led to Rivers firing him from the band. According to Ric Ocasek, “He (Rivers) called me when the record was finished, the day before we were supposed to start mixing, and said, ‘Listen, I just fired the guitar player.’ So I said, ‘What are you gonna do now?’ He’s like, ‘I want all of his parts off the record.’” Luerssen (2004)

With two days before mixing was due to begin in New York, Sharp and Cuomo called Brian Bell.5 He auditioned on tape and was hired to replace Jason. But it was too late to in the game to fly him out to re-record all of Jason’s guitar parts. Under the gun, and with only a day of studio time left before mixing was slated to begin, Rivers re-recorded all of the guitar parts himself (even though Brian is credited on the record).

The Blue Album was released on May 10th, 1994. The 10-track LP provided a “new roadmap for alt-rock following the death of Kurt Cobain and the conclusion of grunge’s first era.”(5) The catchy power-pop record with hook-laden choruses and kitschy Spike Jonze directed videos was an overwhelming success. It would invade the mainstream and go on to sell over 3 million records in the U.S. alone. The band went on a seemingly never-ending tour to promote the record. 

Rivers struggled with the newly found fame and success that the Blue Album had brought the band. He was “frustrated by the limitations of rock and the lifestyle of touring around on a bus and playing the same songs over and over.” Cohen (2015). So he did what most people in his position would do, he put the band on a hiatus and enrolled in Harvard to study classical music. 

But before the semester started, Rivers decided to fix his right leg, which was two inches shorter than his left leg. The surgery on his right leg left him in agonizing pain. It would be a long recovery. During his first year at Harvard Rivers’ right leg was encased in a metal frame that would require him to adjust and tighten the screws daily in order to elongate the bone.(6) He became hooked on painkillers and opioids while trying to manage the pain.

As he told The New York Times. “I grew a long beard and walked around with a cane… The only time I could write songs was when my frozen dinner was in the microwave.” Rockland (2006) “Where I was emotionally … I went to a more serious and dark place.” Runtagh (2019). 

Alone and in pain, Rivers was listening to a lot of classical music and he kept coming back to the opera Madame Butterfly by Puccini. “One of my favorite operas by him was Madama Butterfly, specifically when the role was played by Maria Callas,” he recalled to Pitchfork. “On tour, I would listen to her every night after the show and be so moved by the depth of emotion and sadness and tragedy. It really was calling to me, like, “Come on, Rivers. You can go there. You can go much further with your music than ‘The Sweater Song’ or ‘Buddy Holly’.” Cohen (2015)

His deeply personal and emotional lyrics were raw, to say the least. He opened himself up to a level of honesty, anger, pain, and emotional truth that was only hinted at within the Blue Album’s casual, ironic detachment. But make no mistake, that anger and honestly was always there just below the surface, only it was wrapped around a bouncy hook with a singalong chorus. 

With a dozen or more new songs ready to record, Weezer decided to head to the studio. Only this time, they would self produce the new record themselves. They wanted a feel that was similar to their live shows that would better capture the power and energy of their new songs. The resulting record was a “grittier, slightly darker sound that was more Pixies than the polished power-pop Ric Ocasek had helped the band realize on the Blue Album.” (7)

A few months before the album was slated for release, Rivers Cuomo “issued a precarious warning to the band’s fan club about his mental state during the writing process:” Braun (2016).

There are some lyrics on the album that you might think are mean or sexist. I will feel genuinely bad if anyone feels hurt by my lyrics but I really wanted these songs to be an exploration of my ‘dark side’ – all the parts of myself that I was either afraid or embarrassed to think about before. So there’s some pretty nasty stuff on there. 

You may be more willing to forgive the lyrics if you see them as passing low points in a larger story. And this album really is a story: the story of the last two years of my life. And as you’re probably well aware, these have been two very weird years.

But the worst was yet to come... TO BE CONTINUED IN THE 33 1/3 BOOK PINKERTON 

1 - Weezerpedia. Rivers Cuomo. https://www.weezerpedia.com/wiki/Rivers_Cuomo.

2 - Cohen, Ian. (2015, February 9). Rivers Cuomo. Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/9590-rivers-cuomo/.

3 - The Weezer Recording History. (2006, February). Weezer.com. http://www.weezer.com/info/recording/WeezRecHist3.htm.

4 - Luerssen, John D. (2004, August 1). River’s Edge: The Weezer Story. Toronto. ECW Press.

5 - Runtagh, Jordan. (2019, May 10). Weezer’s Blue Album: 10 Things You Didn’t Know. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/weezer-blue- album-rivers-cuomo-things-you-didnt-know-822881/.

6 - Rockland, Kate. (2006, February 16). At School with Rivers Cuomo: Student with a Past. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/garden/16weezer.html.

7 - Braun, Laura Marie. (2016, September 23). How Weezer’s ‘Pinkerton’ Went from Embarassing to Essential. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music- features/how-weezers-pinkerton-went-from-embarrassing-to-essential-105567/.

[alittlelessalone]

In honor of Black Suits Day (and because I don’t know if I’ll finish enough of the fanfic I’m writing to get it posted by eod today), here are my (post end of the musical) Black Suits headcanons!

Nato and Brandon

While in college, Nato takes a music history class because he misses Brandon and the class makes him think of him

Meanwhile Brandon takes an animal-sci class for his science because he misses Nato and the class makes him think of him

neither tell the other one until they see each other again in person because they are embarrassed

this is the spark that causes them to realize they love each other and start dating

Chris and John

John sees a Weezer record at Empire Records one day and buys it for Chris

Chris is so touched for this he starts crying and hugging the record and John acts like he’s annoyed, but then starts buying more records for Chris

Chris eventually decides to get rid of his dad’s old records and start a new collection from the ones John has given him

The pair end up burning the old records together (and Chris cries and John comforts him)

John and his uncle get in a fight and John ends up with a black eye

he tries to play it off, but Chris forces the truth out of him and convinces him mom to let John move in with them

John agrees for a reduced rent from his uncle’s rate in exchange for doing work around the house (and promising not to burn anything)

Doing the housework makes John realize he likes fixing things and he ends up getting a job at a mechanic (which he likes way more than Taco Bell)

Lisa

At the start of her senior year (I think she’s the same age as Chris), Lisa sees a poster for yearbook, but is scared of the commitment and can’t decide if she should join

Eventually Chris finds out she’s interested tells Mrs. Werring who immediately contacts Lisa and demands she follow her passions and join

Lisa does and loves it

And falls for one of the other girls there

They eventually start dating

I’ve been working on a series of vignettes of these and if I get enough written, I’ll try posting it today. Otherwise look out for more Black Suits fanfic coming your way!

[vanchlo]

Sweet & Sour / Part 1

**There is now a Part 2, check it out here! 

Blurb Synopsis: You're not sure why you walk into the same bar after the concert, just like you had last year. But when Harry walks in through that door again, and your eyes meet, you find your reason for doing this all over again.

Genre: 2015 Harry, fluff, romance, angst, and mentions of smut.

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol and drinking as well as one night stands, and references to smut.

Word Count:  5.7k words

Pairing: Harry x Reader 

Music Inspo:  Affair Across a Crowded Room by Murray Head (click to listen bc this so feels like a song Harry would love) 

*

Your senses were bombarded with the sounds of cars honking, street lights flashing, and the ringing of your ears. When your hand meets the grimy wood of the door, you push it open to be met with the smells and sounds of a bar. With the beads of sweat dripping down your skin, the air-conditioned room greets it with a smile. Familiar faces meet your eyes and nods pass between the two of you. The cool metal of the bar stool surprises your bottom clad in jean shorts, even after the countless number of nights you’ve spent in these four walls. 

“Just a Malibu Coke,” you murmur to Sandy, the bartender, when she comes to take your order. 

A group of older men clad in professional suits sit in a corner, their laughter gracing your ears. Blink 182 trickles from the speakers hidden around the room, although you can’t place the song for the life of you. It bothers you and insults the label of ‘music nerd’ you have invisibly tattooed on your forehead. The buzzing between the confines of your skull and the glass she sets in front of you causes you to forget about the song. When your eyes catch the tall figure walk in through the door, the untraceable lyrics of the song are the last thing on your mind. 

The past shoulder-length curls framing his face make you second guess yourself for a few seconds. When he walks by an ancient neon Coors Light bar sign on the wall, it lights his features and clicks with that of the face that’s never left your mind. Not to mention, your dreams. Well, neither that of your eyes either about forty minutes ago, albeit hundreds of feet away. Doubt and insecurity coat your thoughts within moments, and your attention falls back to your drink. The icy glass is slippery between your fingers, but you blame that on the person who just walked back into your deep thoughts, and the few Budweisers you consumed earlier. He steals your thoughts away from you when his footsteps trail to another part of the room, bringing your eyes back to the screen of your phone. 

Texts crowd your screen, and as you draw shapes in your glass with your straw, you avoid them by looking through friends’ snapchats. Scenes from the night you spent together appear in front of your eyes before you close out of them when you get a new text. The question filling your mind is whisked away by the very one that fills your ears to the left of you. Trying to ignore it, you flip your cascading hair over your shoulder. Nights like tonight make you itch to cut it to your shoulders, and never have to worry again about the summer nights making it damp with sweat. 

“Well, aren’t you predictable?” somebody hums with a lilt to their voice. It takes you a tick to locate the voice inside of your mind, bringing your head up and over to them. 

“I live here, so I get to be,” you retaliate, sarcasm dripping from your voice. 

The tanned color of his cheeks creases with a smile he tries to hold back. Soon, it covers his face as the hint of a laugh accompanies it. Lost moments pass between the two of you, and you find yourself admiring his curling locks that cover the collar of his button up. The very ones that around this time last year your fingers could run through comfortably. Unsolicited, a thought appears in your head wondering how different it would feel to run your hands through them now, although you hardly remember the sensation. 

“Did ya go t’ tha concert tonight?” he wonders aloud, cocking his head past the door and towards the stadium a couple blocks away. His olive-colored eyes break from yours for a moment to thank Sandy when she sets a whiskey sour in front of him. 

You let your glance fall to your drink in front of you, notes of the coconut from the rum meeting your nose. Bringing the black straw to your lips, you take a long drag, making him wait. You wish you could make him wait longer than you can manage, but the bubbly excitement growing in your gut takes hold of your actions. Compromising, you only nod your head with a mumble passing your lips. Crossing your long sun-kissed legs, your red Chuck Taylors nose at the edge of the wooden bar. 

“Again, predictable,” he titters softly, raking his fingers through his hair from the corner of your eye. “What’d ya think then?” he queries, the clanking of the ice against his glass following his accented voice. One you sometimes can’t believe the words you had heard whispered into your ear by it. 

Harry.

Your Harry.

“I think last year’s was better, I’m mad you didn’t sing my favorite this year,” you quip, shrugging your shoulders. Returning the straw to your lips, you quiet your lips with another drink. The molasses taste of the carbonated soda is lined with the tropical yet steely taste of the alcohol. 

You hear him tsking his tongue at you first before an audible exhales leaves him. “Yer gonna get it fer that,” he retorts, a hint of banter heard in his voice. Your mind continues working in overdrive, suddenly wondering if anybody else could detect that. Or is it just because of the night you spent with him in between your sheets much after a scene like this? “Here, take one. And I won’t take no fer an answer, cos ‘s notta choice.”

Finally, you let yourself look over at him, again. A twinkle sits in his eye when he holds out a shot of pink liquor to you, raspberries wafting from the glass. Taking it from him, your fingers brush against each others, causing you to wonder if you imagined it was for a few seconds too long. 

“Cheers,” he smirks, clinking his glass with yours before throwing back the identical contents of that which sit in yours. Your eyes stay locked when the frosty liquid passes your lips, the delightful taste only fleeting until the harsh burn coats your throat. 

“I see you haven’t changed a bit,” you comment with a croaky voice, coughing. You wash it down the burn with another, less sharp, burn. 

“Neither have you, love.”

The voices of Weezer sit in the space between you now, but as you marinate with thoughts buzzing around in your head, the sharp yet sweet smell of his cologne tickles at your nose. The very same smell that lulled you asleep with him beside you, and the very one that ghosted your sheets the subsequent morning you woke alone. 

“I think Fool’s Gold is my new favorite,” you comment shyly, watching how the dark Coke swirls around in the glass, the ice chips almost shining under the light. Your bottom lip comes between your teeth, biting back the truth you want to speak. The thoughts that have consumed you at times return, wondering how certain titles like Change Your Ticket or Night Changes fit your feelings so exactly. Perhaps even his, too. 

“Yeah, I like that one too. ‘s ratha beautiful,” he remarks, a squeaking signaling him taking a seat beside you. The almost undetectable brush of his leg against yours causes a breath to hitch in your throat. “What, did ya forget how t’ talk ova tha last year?” Harry wisecracks, pulling your eyes over to his. 

Caught between his thumb and forefinger, he plays with his bottom lip. The light shines off of its slippery surface, leading to unwanted thoughts blooming between your ears. The trademark dimples have caved into his cheeks, and you’re reminded of how adorable his slightly crooked bottom teeth are as he smiles at you. 

“No, I’ll remember once I have a few drinks in me.”

“Then lemme help,” he replies, calling over the bartender to order a couple more shots. 

Your lips curl with a conflicted smile, but once the shots of Fireball, Tequila, and a Lemon Drop are tickling your throat, you start to let go. 

“Wait, holy shit, is your hair longer than mine now?” you exclaim, words falling short with a laugh. Moving closer to him, your hand grabs a section of your hair to compare side by side to his. 

His eyes fall from the foamy white topping of his golden drink. His lips part, little bubbles sticking to them, “I dunno, looks like ‘s gettin’ there. Not quite, tho’,” he answers, his eyebrows knitting together over his focused eyes. 

“Oooo, I bet I could braid it,” you note excitedly after dropping your hair that somehow doesn’t feel as buttery smooth as his. Soon, your fingers are holding onto a section of his tangled curls, breaking it up into three sections. 

“Hey, watch tha hair, would ya? Tha girls love me hair, can’t have anythin’ bad happenin’ t’ it now.”

“Damn, thanks for the confidence in me, Mr. Self-Absored Rockstar,” you reply curtly, banter clinging to your words. To rile him up, you drop his long brunette lock, turning back to your drink. Away from him. 

“Heeeeey now, I am not and y’know it,” he pouts. From the corner of your eye, you can just make out him looking over at you - brows knitted, lips pressed together, and begging in his eyes. You don’t give in, and instead you lose yourself in the questionably empty glass in your hands. 

“Sandy, can I have another?” you call out, avoiding his question and his sulking, but not when his knee bumps yours. 

“‘m talkin’ t’ you, y’know. ‘m not self-absorbed,” Harry repeats before taking a pull from his drink, a rather long one. You can only wonder why. 

A smile tempts at the corners of your lips, enjoying how you’re making him squirm. Because you always thought he was the king of being able to make somebody do that, not you. A memory plays before your eyes, reminding you of how much he made you squirm when you were sitting at this very bar, last year. Alcohol in both of your veins, and goosebumps covering your flesh. Especially when he pressed that first kiss to your lips. 

Pushing it away, you clear your throat before thanking Sandy when she sets another drink in front of you. With your lips wrapped around the straw, they part, “Sure, keep telling yourself that, bud. You’re not gonna get me with that pout, so don’t even try it on me.”

“Hmmph, that’s not whatcha said befo’,” he whines, turning back to the drink he nurses. 

Yeah, we said and did a lot of things the last time. 

I really wish you hadn’t said that, or done anything in the realm of reminding me of the last time, because I don’t need you reminding me when I can’t stop remembering. 

The thoughts racing through your head almost make you want to leave right then and there, but something stops you. His hand. It touches you arm and when you look over, he smiles at you goofily with white foam covering his top lip. Like a mustache, or like Santa Claus. Your lips dissolve into a laugh, and those thoughts fall to the recesses of your mind. Not gone, but still there, like they’ve been for the last year. His rose-colored lips echo your own laugh, the two sounds mixing together and creating your favorite song in the entire world. One that you thought you had forgotten the sound of. 

Perhaps not after all. 

You watch how his lips move effortlessly when he orders a couple of more shots for the two of you, and another whiskey sour. Your insides shrink at the sight of his lips when his tongue passes over them, and then at the way the light shines on them. You observe how they move with every word that he speaks to you, although embarrassingly because you have to ask him to repeat himself. You don’t mind, though. 

“I ordered us sum more shots,” he tells you with a little nod, carding a hand through his hair to restyle it. Your fingers ball into a fist in your lap, wanting nothing more than to be touching those curls again. The very ones that fell over your face so intimately and tickled the insides of your thighs once long ago. Glancing away from him, that night seems like it was a lifetime ago. With him sitting next to you, so close that you could touch him, you think perhaps now it doesn’t feel so long ago. Then again, the few inches of distance between you detest that, feeling instead like miles. 

“Thanks,” you mutter, picking at your chipped red nail polish. 

“I like it, it suits you.”

Lifting your head, you find one corner of his mouth quirked into a partial smile. He does that thing again where he nods to what he’s talking about. This time it’s your lap, and more specifically, your anxious hands accented with the nail polish. Another ‘thank you’ exits from your lips before you busy them with your painfully cold drink. The second you set it down on the red and white patterned coaster, he places a red and blue layered shot beside it. The alcohol in it seems to defy the laws of gravity with the blue layer sitting atop the red layer undisturbed. 

“Cheers t’ reunions,” Harry mumbles, a hint of lemon flowing from his words to meet your cheek. 

“Cheers,” you agree, picking up the shot. 

Turning to your left, you find him there waiting with a smile. It gleams in his eyes that are beginning to change from the liquor. You notice this when your glasses meet with a ding! Throwing back the shot you remember is called a Pornstar, you hope the alcohol laced with notes of oranges and berries will make you forget. But they don’t make you forget the smile that claimed his face that night as he made love to you. Or the same one that you saw on his lips when he spoke his first words to you tonight. 

“Ya still at tha U ova there?” he questions, bringing a giggle from your lips when he tries to nod to where the college would be. It’s obvious he doesn’t know what direction it’s in, even if the stadium you saw him perform in tonight was on the campus, unbeknownst to him. 

“No, I didn’t go back this fall.”

“Hmm, how come? I thought ya were likin’ tha nursin’ program ya were in,” he inquires, causing feelings to bloom inside of you. Ones you’d rather not feel because of the fact that he remembered. Amidst all of the alcohol from that night, as well as tonight’s. 

“I found out I didn’t like it, and I couldn’t see myself spending my life doing it, either,” you explain, trying to douse your thoughts in more rum from your mixed drink, but you’re still only at a buzz. There’s a long way to go until you’re drunk, and you’re uncertain if you want to go that far. 

“Mmmm, ya couldn’t see yerself wipin’ old people’s asses, could ya?” he quips, glancing over at you. A smirk plays on his lips in the background, his lips hidden behind his full coupe glass. 

“No, I tried when I worked at the nursing home, and I found out quickly it wasn’t for me.” 

His laugh tickles at your ears, reminding you quickly of all of the times you missed it, as well as how good it was to hear it earlier tonight. It’s only made better when your eyes flit to him, and you find him biting the flesh of a cherry from its stem. You’re itching to continue sharing, but there’s not enough alcohol in your system to do that, quite yet. 

“I bet ya I can tie it into a knot again,” Harry murmurs, words masked by the maraschino cherry between his lips. 

You remain silent, and the only acknowledgement he receives is the moving of your head. The words are slowly getting to you, sneaking in past the defense of alcohol you try to build to ward them off. 

Before. 

Again. 

Last time. 

“I bet you can’t,” you finally argue, resolve in your voice.

“Do ya now? Whatcha gonna bet then, love?”

“Hmmm, I bet you twenty bucks you can’t after all of the drinks you’ve had,” you counter, your chin finding your palm to rest in, your eyes locked on his.

“Oh ye o’ li’l faith,” Harry scoffs, brows pointed down into a V, his curls tickling his chest. Playing with his bottom lip, he squints an accusatory eye at you, adjusting the striped white and black button down revealing his sun kissed chest. 

The heaviness in his voice finds your Achilles heel, stirring feelings in your gut that you’d wish would remain silent. 

“I bet I can, I even betta kiss from you,” he giggles, pink appearing on his cheeks as he chews on the tip of the red stem. 

Your breath hitches in your throat when his proposition hits the air. It’s nearly impossible to hide away the happiness budging at your lips, especially as you watch it unfold on his face. That face with the devilish grin and shining eyes. Drowsiness tugs at the corner of them, and you wonder if only you can see it there. 

“Deal’s a deal,” you announce, removing your hand from your lap to hold out to him. His large hand adorned with rings and black ink wraps around yours. You could melt right there and plant your lips on his that very second, you’re sure of it. Somehow, his firm yet sweet handshake wants to make you believe he’d like that, especially when he doesn’t let go. 

Slipping the stem between his excited lips, new goosebumps prickle on the back of your neck. You just hope that he doesn’t notice them growing on your arms, and that they aren’t covering your hand that’s enveloped in his. That he doesn’t feel them under the pad of his thumb that he brushes along the back of your hand. Few thoughts live in your mind at the moment, his eyes staring into yours as your joined hands sit on his thigh clad in holey black jeans. A few titters escape his concentrated lips and his eyes jump to the ceiling, meanwhile his lips move as he tries to tie it in a knot. All while your insides mimic the same shape as you’re reminded of the saying about people who can tie a cherry stem into a knot with their tongue. 

“Come on, Styles,” you mumble, raising your eyebrows at him. He rewards you with a laugh, and his thumb stills against your hand, his face screwing up in concentration. 

A few seconds later, he squeezes your hand and a smile covers his face. Wiggling his eyebrows now, one corner of his mouth reaches his ear. His lips part, and he sticks out the stem, adorned with a knot in the middle. 

“Can’t believe ya didn’t believe in me, love. ‘m hurt,” he pouts, a fake cry sounding from his frowning lips. Kicking your foot against his under the table, he chuckles as he sets it down next to his drink. “Alright, betta pucker up, angel.”

Biting your lip, you watch his adam’s apple bob when his drink meets his lips. Setting it down, he rubs his hand across yours, the same shade of red donning his cheeks as yours. 

“Fine, let’s get it over with,” you groan, trying to remember the last time you put chapstick on. You just hope your lips don’t taste like beer by now. 

He winks at you before leaning in and catching your chin between his two fingers. Pulling you forward, you let your eyes fall shut, and soon you feel his breath on your face. The brash smell of alcohol sweetened with lemon, and a hint of cherries. You taste the sweet, and then the sour when his lips touch yours. His top lip is soft between yours, and prickly from the stubble smattered across his skin. He smiles into the kiss, moving his lips with yours as he laces his fingers with your own, his rings cold against your skin. Then you taste it at the back of your throat, the sweet and then the sour. 

Breaking the kiss, you pull away, unsure of if you can do this again. If you can try to detach yourself from your head for another night, only to have it eat away at you for the next year- who knows how fucking long. 

“Nah, come back ‘ere,” Harry whispers quickly, his fingers crawling to your cheek, and then the back of your head. 

He pushes at the back of it, smashing his lips against yours once more, and you let him. Melting into a puddle in front of him, because that’s what you do best. That’s what you’ve done all these years yearning for him over his pictures and his songs. Then from the crowd at his concert last year, swearing he made contact with you once while singing your favorite, Happily. Once again, just earlier tonight when you stood in the sea of people at another concert of his, feeling yourself fall all over again, and now you know you are. 

You should stop it right here and right now, but you try to ignore the convincing hurt that will follow if you just let yourself enjoy the moment. As well as the moments that follow. 

His fingers find a home in your hair as you savor his lips between yours, pillowy soft and sopping with sweetness. Tasting of lost time, forgotten kisses, and the bittersweetness that you know another night with him will bring. Ignoring it, you kiss him back, your hands climbing his thigh until your thumb collides with his crotch. Giggling against his lips, you stop there, but wish you didn’t have to. A titter leaves his lips, followed by his tongue edging at your bottom lip. Somebody slurs ‘get a room’ with a laugh, and your lips soon part. 

A chuckle hugs his lips now, no longer yours, much to your disappointment. You find comfort in your drink, although after a few gulps, you find yourself missing the taste of him. As well as his smell, much like vanilla and spice, quickly reminding you of the saying in Powerpuff Girls. 

Recalling it, you guess at notes of warm nutmeg, tobacco, and hints of vanilla bean clinging to him. Just like the last time, but somehow it surrounds you, almost taking the breath away from you. You had tried so hard to remember just how he smelled, always wishing you knew the name of the cologne he wore. It’s too late when you realize it, but you’re smiling into your drink. You’re unsure if you ever want to stop, you ponder, suddenly remembering the tautness of his upper thigh beneath your hand. 

Your hands.

“Can we getta check, please?” Harry murmurs next to you, his fingers moving between yours slowly. More goosebumps rise along your body at his words that come rushing from his mouth. 

Sandy walks over to you, braid bouncing on her shoulders. She sets the check down and thanks you both for coming. Harry plucks the check from the table, before it’s even had time to lay flat on the tabletop. Grinning, he looks at it as he holds it away from you in his left hand. 

“No, you don’t get to do this again!” you exclaim, lips melting into bubbly laughter. 

“Do what, love?” he questions dumbfoundedly, giving you a funny look that only makes you laugh harder. 

“Pay the bill! Let me do it this time,” you argue, trying to reach past him, but he uses his long arm to his advantage. “Ugh, why do you do this?”

“I haven’t done anythin’,” he disagrees, placing the receipt between his fingers as he reaches behind him, still facing you. Watching, he grabs his leather wallet from his back pocket, all while holding the receipt and not letting go of your hand. His name drops from your mouth, and he acts as if he didn’t hear it, but his lips tell you otherwise. 

“Shhh,” he tells you, in the middle of a giggle. “I pay, that’s jus’ how it goes, so stop arguin’, cuz ‘s not gonna change me mind.”

Glancing over to you, he meets your searching eyes and cocks one eyebrow. His glistening lips do something to you, and you think he knows it, because he drags your joined hands to the hardness between his legs. Winking, he softly tosses his credit card and the receipt to the table. Picking up his drink, your eyes follow his tongue as he scoops up the ivory bubbles at the top, all while looking at you. Certain you’re blushing, you turn away and pick up your drink, quickly downing the rest as he gulps loudly beside you. 

The lukewarm summer air welcomes your skin when you step out onto the sidewalk. Busying your hands with the cloth strap of your purse, you walk beside Harry who taps away on his phone. Soon, you reach a stoplight and unsure of where you’re going, or more like where each of you are going, you come to a stop. Lips poised and ready with a question, you’re about to ask him what the plan is. He beats you to it and presses the button to wake the crosswalk, sliding his phone into his tight jeans. 

“Ya still make those ‘outta this world’ cinnamon rolls?” Harry wonders aloud as you stare ahead. The lights of the metro flash in front of your eyes, and the sounds of cars and people trickle past you. 

“Yeah. You’re lucky, I made a batch this morning and I have a few left over.”

“Great. Ya think I could stop by t’ have one?” Harry requests. Words pause between your lips, and he steals them away from you when he intertwines his hand with yours. “Let’s hurry befo’ it stops,” he blurts out, walking forward and pulling on your hand to follow him across the blinking crosswalk, just as you hum an ‘mmmhmm’. 

You can’t remember what you talked about on the way to your apartment, because all you could focus on was his hand in yours. Something he didn’t even do the last time, and you start to wonder why, before you stop yourself. Words pass between the two of you during the short walk, but the songs of the city do most of the talking. 

Soon, you’re turning on the lights in your apartment, calling out for your roommate. It takes you a minute to remember past your alcohol buzz that at the concert she said she was staying somewhere else tonight. Toeing off your shoes, you watch Harry discard his to the mat by the door. 

“Aha, there they are!” Harry cheers, padding over to the kitchen. He finds the round baking dish full of them, peeling back the wrapping to pluck one from the dish. “I swear ya make tha best cinnamon rolls ‘ve eva had, angel,” he murmurs, locking eyes with you as he takes a bite. Closing his eyes with a smile adorning his lips, he moans from the taste. 

Giggling, you take off your purse and hang it on a chair sat at the other side of the counter where you often eat your meals. Seeing as it’s a tiny apartment and just the two of you, you and your roommate opted out of buying a table to eat at. The old pet name bounces around inside of your head, and drags your eyes over to Harry. Lifting his own from the large cinnamon roll, it astonishes you how it shrinks in comparison to his massive hand. He looks back at you while licking the sugary frosting from his lips, a smile tugging at them. A knowing smile. 

“Wann’a bite?” he volunteers, holding it out to you where you stand across the counter from him. He tempts you alright, but the only thing you want to taste on your lips is his coated in frosting. 

“Sure.”

Padding over to him, his thumb ventures between his lips, licking the frosting from them. He really knows what he’s doing, doesn’t he? you groan inwardly, wishing you could spew the words out loud. You know they’d jumpstart something, and you don’t think you can wait for it any longer. Your footsteps stop in front of him, and he holds out the half eaten pastry to you. Although from this morning, the silky bread still melts on your tongue, decorated with the flavors of cinnamon and sugar. 

“Wait, ya got some frosting on yer nose,” Harry smiles. Soon, his thumb brushes against your nose, wiping it away. You don’t let him stop there, grabbing his wrist and bringing his digit between your lips. 

Observing the changing expression on his face, you suck the frosting from his thumb. Letting go of his thumb slowly, he looks like he’s slowly losing his mind in front of you. Join the club, bud. 

“Yer givin’ me a run fo’ me money tonight, aren’t ya, angel?” he rasps, bopping your nose with his finger before he takes another bite. You nod unabashedly, licking your lips before you turn to walk away. His sigh is just a whisper, but your ears pick it up as you make your way to the bathroom, leaving him to squirm once again. 

After splashing cold water on your face and freshening up, you find him at home on your tan sectional. Looking at something on his phone, he hears your return and soon his sparkling eyes find yours. 

“You look tired,” you smile, breaking eye contact to check your watch. “It’s almost one, Harry. You must be tired after tonight.”

“Not really, I think ‘s tha jetlag,” he lies, leaning back into the plush cushions of the couch, letting his eyes fall closed after all. Settling down beside him, you stretch out, looking around the room hurriedly to check for any messes. Luckily, you and your roommate had left your apartment rather neat this afternoon before leaving for the concert. Just a few discarded clothes on the floor and hanging off of chairs. 

“You’re such a liar. Do you wanna call an Uber or somebody to bring you to your hotel? I’d drive you, but I probably shouldn’t after those drinks,” you comment, your eyes falling over him. The light catches the silver cross necklace hanging around his neck, and how it moves with his chest that lifts slowly with his every breath. 

“‘m not tired, jus’ thinkin’,” he insists, opening his eyes and turning his head towards you. You can’t help it, your fingers dive into his hair, pushing it back. He smiles dopily up at you, a faint mewling dropping from his lips at the sensation. 

“I don’t believe you. Do you want to go to sleep? You can have my bed,” you offer, your fingernails lightly scratching against his scalp. With your eyes on each other, you know that you have him in the palm of your hand now, and you don’t want him to go anywhere. 

He remains silent, his eyes closing again as you play with his hair, unaware this was something he enjoys. You didn’t really have the chance to explore this as much last time, although you were dying to. His name leaves your lips in a question, wondering aloud if he’s fallen asleep. His head goes from side to side and he opens his eyes, blinking hard at you. 

“No, don’t wanna go t’ sleep. There’s sumthin’ else I wanna do instead.”

“What’s that?” you ask, his lemony breath ghosting over your face. His lips curl up towards his eyes, dimples collapsing into his cheeks. 

“You,” he smirks, sitting up. Your eyes roll so hard into the back of your head at his dad joke that you don’t see him slip his arms under your thighs, hoisting you over his shoulder in one swift move. 

“Harry!” you almost scream, losing your breath when your chest meets his back in a surprising turn of events. “What are you doing?” you groan, your face coming to meet his ass almost, not that you’re complaining. 

“You’ll see soon enough, angel,” he murmurs in response, and he begins to walk. 

You can’t play the annoyed card anymore, because excitement shivers through your body quickly. Inside your chest, underneath your One Direction shirt and the layers of your body, your heart goes wild. It hasn’t been able to stop ever since his fingers touched yours earlier tonight. It only dances harder inside of you as his footsteps near your bedroom, one he seemingly remembers the route to well. Feeling spunky and sick of it teasing you, being right there and all, your hand hits his ass with a satisfying clap. 

“Heeeey!” Harry titters as you squeeze his soft bum, seconds before he throws you forward. Leaving his arms, your back soon hits the springy surface of your bed. “I guess ya can do what ya want with me tonight, cuz ‘m all yers, baby. Again,” Harry coos from above you, crawling onto the bed to kneel over you with his hands planted on either side of your head. 

At a loss for words, you just stare up at him, your mouth permanently curving upwards. Moonlight pours in from the window, his skin glowing underneath it. 

“I thought ya rememba’d how t’ talk afta we had those shots,” he winks, his eyes dancing along your face as his hand comes to cup your cheek. Your own are tempted to roam his body, and the very interesting area between his legs. You just shrug your shoulders at him, and his grin widens. “Maybe ‘ll hafta remind those lips how t’ work then.”

[softbiker]

Hey everyone!! As some of you know, I passed 900 followers a little over a week ago, and I’m so amazed! To everyone who follows me, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I’m so happy you’re here!

I turn 25 in one month (April 14), and I’m brainstorming a list of 25 goals for my 25th year and I thought...what better time to announce a writing challenge! Here are a few lists I made (in no particular order) of movies and songs and things that have brought me joy so far in my life - use them as inspiration! This is my first writing challenge ever and I’m so excited to host. Let’s get started!

Rules:

 - Send an ask to request your prompt.

- Can be written for any Marvel character!

 - Limit of 2 prompts per person.

 - Due date: August 1, 2020. Tag me in your work and please tag #25 things challenge so that I can read and reblog it! 

 - No underage smut, incest or non-con. Other sexual content is allowed, but you must be 18+.

 - Use appropriate warnings.

 - No word limit, but please use the ‘read more’ if your piece is over 500 words.

Prompts are below the cut!!

Prompts

25 Movies:

 1. The Princess Bride - @thestorydetective​

 2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

 3. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

 4. Cinderella (2015) - @blue-like-barnes​

 5. Room

 6. The Exorcist

 7. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 

 8. Mamma Mia

 9. Suite Française

 10. Baby Driver

 11. Mad Max: Fury Road

 12. Black Swan

 13. Little Miss Sunshine 

 14. LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring - @a-really-bi-girl​ with Bucky

 15. Meet Me in St. Louis

 16. Kill Bill

 17. Clueless

 18. Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

 19. Braveheart

 20. The Producers

 21. Jojo Rabbit

 22. Knives Out

 23. Rear Window

 24. How to Marry a Millionaire

 25. Moulin Rouge - @firefly-in-darkness​

25 songs:

1. “Heroes” - David Bowie - @nekoannie-chan​

2. Still - Seinabo Say

3. Cold Arms - Mumford and Sons

4. Les Fleurs - Minnie Riperton

5. Say It Ain’t So - Weezer

6. Space Age Love Song - A Flock of Seagulls

7. Shine - Collective Soul

8. Glory - Dermot Kennedy

9. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer

10. Bad Ones (feat. Tegan and Sarah)- Matthew Dear

11. There She Goes - The La’s

12. Milk & Honey - Jessarae

13. Young Dumb & Broke - Khalid - @littledarlinwrites​ with Bucky 

14. The Passenger - Siouxsie and the Banshees

15. Sing - Travis

16. Surrender - Cheap Trick

17. Oceans Away - ARIZONA

18. Let You Love Me - Rita Ora - @whistlingwillows​

19. Just What I Needed - The Cars

20. Cool Again - Shoffy

21. Baba O’Riley - The Who

22. Friday I’m in Love - The Cure

23. Your Song - Elton John - @hidden-behind-the-fourth-wall​ with Steve

24. Sunflower - Post Malone - @imagine-all-the-imagines​ with Sam

25. Spirits - The Strumbellas

25 Things I Love:

1. The first cup of coffee of the day - @idjitmonkey​ with Clint

2. Watching the world go by in an airport - @justkending​ with Steve 

3. Holding a baby - @that-damn-girl​ Rhodey x reader

4. The smell of honeysuckle - @buckyreaderrecs​ Bucky x reader

5. Driving with the windows down - @fanfictionaries​ with Bucky 

6. Water rushing over your feet at the beach - @bluehenley​ 

7. A fireplace on a winter day - @justkending​ with Steve 

8. Waking up early - then realizing you can go back to sleep

9. The anticipation of starting a new book

10. Putting on a comforting movie when you’re sick

11. Dipping strawberries in chocolate - @mareli-carter​

12. The glow of candles on a birthday cake - @elizabethren​ with Bucky

13. The weight of your blankets when you settle into bed

14. Fireflies on a summer night - @xoxabs88xox​ 

15. Freckles across the bridge of a nose - @bluehenley​

16. Coming home to an eager puppy - @anika-ann​

17. Seeing a new city for the first time - @jbbuckybarnes​

18. The smell of your favorite meal cooking

19. Taking your shoes off after a long day at work

20. Hearing your favorite song come on the radio - @your-persephone-writes​ with Bucky

21. Getting a hug from a close friend - @thatdrunkaries​ with Bruce

22. Laughing until your stomach hurts - then forgetting the reason why

23. Mixing up batter and then licking the bowl - @hqwkeyes​ with Bucky

24. Wearing someone else’s jacket and noticing how nice they smell - @imanuglywombat​ with Bucky

25. Putting on your favorite outfit and feeling confident

Tagging some friends and cool people who may be interested and help spread the word!

@nacho-bucky​ @bitsandbobsandstuff​ @heli0s-writes​ @jbbuckybarnes​ @kentuckybarnes​ @invisibleanonymousmonsters​ @ussgallifreyfics​ @evanstarff​ @interestedbystanderwrites​ @captain-kelli​ @sassy-pelican​ 

[chaunceyandchumleysdad]

Riot Fest 2018 – Day 1 – Friday

With a great forecast for the three day event, I was pumped to attend Riot Fest and left early on Friday, arriving shortly after the gates opened. These are the bands I saw (photos starting at top are Direct Hit!, Liz Phair, Pussy Riot, The Aquabats, K.Flay and The Bombpops):

Speedy Ortiz (Roots Stage) I was so excited about going to Riot Fest on the first day that I was in the gate and on the grounds a good half-hour before the first band started. I grabbed a draft beer and sat down in the shade to pass the time. The first band of the festival was Speedy Ortiz. They are a band I’ve seen twice before. I swore them off after the last time I saw them at Riot Fest because of a an incident on stage that was very unprofessional. However, as they kicked off the festival with no other competing bands, I could clearly heea there set from where I was sitting. I have to admit they sounded good and I enjoyed listening to their brand of Alternative Rock. I have not listened to their music since their first release in 2013, so I may go back and give it another shot.

Direct Hit! (Riot Stage) From Milwaukee, this fun band played good fast-paced Punk.  They were a great way to kick off Riot Fest.

Liz Phair (Roots Stage) This is who I came to see on Day 1. I am a huge fan of her music, particularly her first three albums. She now lives in L.A., but grew up in the Chicago area and released her seminal Indie album Exile In Guyville while living in Wicker Park. She played 10 songs and I mostly enjoyed it because I was close to the stage, and most of the songs were from he fist three albums, so I had fun signing along. On the down side, too much reverberated bass drowned out her vocals. Her voice was really buried in the backdrop of the booming bass drum and guitar. Maybe if I was a bit further back, the sound would have evened out. I don’t know. It almost seemed like Liz was trying to hide behind the reverb instead of using her voice as an instrument. (If she were to read this, she would probably tell me to fuck off. And I’m OK with that.) Anyway, only the second time I’ve seen Liz live and despite the sound issues, I treasured the moment.

Pussy Riot (Radicals Stage) There was a huge crowd for this show as Pussy Riot has received a lot of press for their activism in their native Russia. They are really more of an activist group than an actual band, with the membership being rather fluid. They were led today by the Nadya Tolokonnikova, the leader and one of the founders of the band. She was one of the band members imprisoned for performing in a protest video inside a Moscow cathedral. (In her case, she spent 15 months in prison.)  Just four days earlier, another band member, Peter Verzilov, was hospitalized for a suspected poisoning, a tactic frequently used as of late to silence Putin foes. Verizilov was one of the Pussy Riot protestors who ran on the soccer field in Russia during the World Cup final match as Putin sat up high in a luxury suite. So it’s not surprising that retaliation is being sought. Nadya did the singing (rapping) and a male member played an electronic backing track and did a little singing. Several other members, heads covered by their signature ski masks, came on stage and danced at various times. (My guess is they recruited locals for the back up. I doubt that they flew that many people half-way around the world for a 30 minute set.) It was interesting, but I bailed after 20 minutes, as I felt like I had gotten their point of view, I was struggling to understand Nadya with her thick Russian accent, and I was getting hungry.

The Aquabats (Rise Stage) Having left Pussy Riot in search of food, I walked past the Rise Stage. As I approached the area, I realized the band I was hearing was The Aquabats. I had almost forgotten about them and they immediately put a smile on my face. This was a 180 degree turn from Pussy Riot, going from protesting the politics of oligarchs and fascism to what is basically a comedy band. I got my food and sat down on the hill to hear the rest of their set. They were a lot of fun! Donned in their would-be super hero costumes, they spent more time doing comedy bits than actually playing songs.  They did a couple of food songs, one about pizza and one about burgers. During the pizza song, they sent inflatable faux pizza slices out to audience to play with and crowd surf on, and then did the same with inflatable hamburgers which everyone used like beach balls. They are very kid friendly, and  at one point, brought a couple of kids on stage and talked with them for a minute. After the kids left, one of the band members quipped, “Your parents are going to have to fill out some paperwork now.” I was familiar with this band because my older son David listened to them back in his middle school days, so it was a very the enjoyable to see their act.

K.Flay (Roots Stage) Following The Aquabats, I was a bit late for K.Flay but caught about two-thirds of her show. Her music is rooted in Hip Hop, but crosses over into other genres, so she is considered more to be Alternative Hip Hop. She is quite an entertainer. Very energetic and really got the crowd going. K.Flay (real name Kristine Flaherty) is from the Chicago area. It was interesting to see her doing Hip Hop on stage because she doesn’t fit the Hip Hop profile. She looks like a typical Chicago Irish girl. ( I mean that as a compliment since I am a Chicago Irish guy.) All-in-all, an excellent performance and an artist I would love to see again.

The Bombpops (Rebel Stage)  I finally made my way over to the remote Rebel stage and had a chance to see Bombpops. Led by Jen Razavi and Poli van Dam, they played some hard driving Pop Punk. They were engaging with the audience and had good personalities. Excellent energetic Punk

Digible Planet (Radicals Stage)  I caught just a few minutes of this Hip Hop trio. I listened to one of their albums prior to Riot Fest and liked it. It’s Hip Hop set to Jazz or Down Tempo music. Hopefully I can catch them another time.

Taking Back Sunday (Rise Stage) This band is a Riot Fest regular, but I don’t think I’ve seen them before. They were very good and a lot of fun on stage. They were a replacement after Blink-182 had to cancel. Singer Adam Lazzara said, “We weren’t supposed to be here today. I was recently sitting on my back porch and I got a call. The person on the line said, ‘So you want to play Riot Fest?’ I said, ‘Sure, you mean like next year?’ And he said, “No, I mean next Friday!”  It was apparent that they were happy to be on stage at Riot Fest and the crowd was really into their music.

Young The Giant (Roots Stage) I left Taking Back Sunday a little early because I wanted to sample some of Young The Giant, and also be closer to the twin Rise stage for Weezer’s set. I’m not too familiar with this band. They were OK. Sounded good and had some fine guitar riffs, but I could not get into their songs. I’ll have to listen to an album or two to see if I like them any better. However, seeing their show kind of made me regret not staying for all of Taking Back Sunday.

Weezer (Riot Stage) The Friday headliner, they were also one of the Blink-182 replacements. They played a very good show. I like Weezer, but they are not a band I have listened to a lot. I’ve probably only tracked two or three of their albums in their entirety and it has been several years since I’ve listened to a Weezer album. However, when they started playing, I was amazed at how many of their songs I actually knew. I think that is due in part to the fact that back in the days before streaming music, their music got a lot of airplay on radio stations. I also remember my son David listening to Weezer quite a bit and I remember frequently hearing My Name Is Jonas when my two sons played Guitar Hero. At Riot Fest 2014, I skipped Weezer in favor of The Cure and last year, while in Milwaukee, I passed on seeing them at The Rave/Eagles Club because the secondary market ticket prices were two steep. So after two near misses, I was glad to finally catch their act.

[mitjalovse]

We continue to root for Weezer despite all the problems we have with some records that followed Pinkerton and their debut, i.e. their milestones. However, they seem to be aware of this, so they bring the ingredients of one of these two. An important element, for instance, was probably Ric Ocasek, whose expertise made Blue and Green a success. Thus, Everything Will Be Alright In The End serves as their final collaboration with him, though they were willing to take more risks than usual on this one, which transforms this LP into a triumph. I mean, they actually concluded the disc with their attempt at a progressive rock suite, where you can hear their inherent geekiness. Hm, the piece actually made me wish they would've done their own version of a progressive rock platter.

[sarahmaybank]

tagged by @reggies-eyeliner  💗

1. Nickname: Lee, Lina

2. Gender: i am a strong independent acid snake in the skin suit of a strong independent woman 

3. Star sign: taurus

4. Height: 5′6″

5. Time: 3:22pm

6. Birthday: may 6

7. Favorite Bands: uhh my head hurts i dont wanna do this uh rhcp, matchbox twenty, eagles, wallows, our lady peace, the beaches are pretty cool, machineheart, weezer, linkin park + rise against are old faves, london grammar, fleetwood mac is nice, the tragically hip are (haha) hip. a bunch more but thinking is hard. ok some of these are my faves but i do listen to them often. honourable mention julie and the phantoms and sunset curve lmao

8. Favorite Solo artists: alanis morissette is my #1, shania twain is fun to jam to, katelyn tarver is so nice to listen to, harry styles is always in my heart tho he’s not my fave fave. dua lipa when i have enough serotonin. i swear i know more but they’re not coming to me. apparently i listen to a lot of canadian artists lmao shocker

9. Song stuck in my head: hundred by katelyn tarver

10. Last movie: the princess switch (again?? or whatever its called. there’s 3 of them now. it’s a mess)

11. Last Show: it was either bly manor or knight squad and then jatp. lol

12. When did I create this blog: dark ages. dont remember

13. What do I post: maybe fics, reblogs, gifsets, me being me

14. Last thing googled: the weather/temp in my city 

15. Other blogs: juuust this one bc i’ve tried having sideblogs and it just does not work for me lol

16. Do I get asks: si

17. Why I chose my url: i love alex and owen. im a simple woman. also alex doesnt have a last name so i used owen’s. it’s a win-win

18. Following: 356? apparently

19. Followers: 1917

20. Average hours of sleep: lol okay it ranges from 3-7-10

21. Lucky number: do not have

22. Instruments: guitar + piano

23. What am I wearing: cardigan + goonies tee + leggings

24. Dream job: musician

25. Dream trip: everywhere

26. Favorite food: idk whatever is easy to eat + dessert

27. Nationality: canadian/romanian

28. Favorite song: i have manys but i love hotel california by eagles, you oughtta know by alanis morissette, bright lights by matchbox twenty and now or never by sunset curve lmao + finally free by jatp obviously

29. Last book read: uhhhhh, well, im trying, but it’s hard concentrate. murder in time by julie mcelwain

30. Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Julie and the Phantoms, man idk my head hurts. camp half blood would be cool, i have suddenly forgotten every fandom i’ve ever been a part of, star wars, harry potter? his dark materials?? atla would be cool idk 

tagging: my mutuals + anyone who wants to do this

[parkerbombshell]

Addictions and other Vices 583 - ReverbNation Top 10 Countdown

Addictions and Other Vices Podcast *Special ReverbNation Top 10 Countdown! Today 8am-10am EST 8pm-10pm EST and Saturday 10am-12pm EST bombshellradio.com #Top10Countdown #DJ #AddictionsPodcast #Indierock #indiepop #Rock #NewMusic #Alternative #Radio #Countdown #BombshellRadio #ReverbNation #Contest We recently ran a contest with ReverbNation and had close to 2500 entries. From this list we have narrowed down to our Top 10 finalists for our Bombshell Radio Top 10 Countdown our top choice will receive an #interview w/Alex Green and a #magazine write up on Stereo Embers Magazine, We hope you enjoy! Addictions and Other Vices Podcast Stereo Embers Magazine ReverbNation #alternativeradio, #rock , #indie , #alternative, #contest #Reverbnation #alternativerock #radio #radioshow , #DJ , #RockNRoll, #NewMusic , #Itunes, #AddictionsPodcast, #googleplay Tonight it’s our Bombshell Radio Top 10 Countdown for July . This time I had the assistance of 5 Presenters who also air their show on Bombshell Radio. Alex Green ( The Heart Goes Boom, Stereo Embers) Brandon Charles Alternate Universe (Alternate Universe ) Jazzamatazz Retro Dj mixes of many groovy styles of music (Jazzamatazz) and Skipthedj Radio Hootenanny & Ska Party Radio) and Special Guest judge returning this month Bernard Frazer of Church of Trees & Taxi Below In the comments section I will include insights and reviews of our Top 10 from Bernard. All of these artists stood out to us and deserve to be recognized. As usual on the show we’ll check artists Facebook profiles and try to enlighten ourselves and our listeners with any background of our chosen 10. We’re looking for likes, interests, and influences. Then as a way of saying thank-you to the artist we will let their favourites dictate our playlist tonight by playing one of their choices This is Addictions and Other Vices 583 - Bombshell Radio Top 10 Countdown. We hope you enjoy! Looking After Number One / Boomtown Rats Out Of The Blue / ARCAVES Sunshine (Way That You Move ) / Wojo Abuse Me / Silverchair Let Me Drive / 4 Alarm For You / Viennie V in Waves / Neon Cities Positively Lost Me / The Rave-Ups Aeroplane / Leon of Athens Yet Again / Grizzly Bear Say That You Love Me / Single By Sunday This Ain't A Scene Its An Arms Race / Fall Out Boy Panic / The Smiths Pieces / Sum 41 Monkey Wrench / Foo Fighters All From Nothing/ Space All the Small Things / Blink 182 Under My Skin / December Fades In My Place / Coldplay Mambo No 6 / Sad High And Dry / Radiohead All You Have To Say / Ian Ash Undone (The Sweater Song) / Weezer Butterflies / Chaylyn OneRepublic - Counting Stars One / U2 10 . Sunshine (Way That You Move) by Wojo Wojo's bio says that he is “rooted in alternative rock, dipped in coffee-shop acoustic, a dash of grunge with a smooth melodic finish”. Well, the coffee-shop acoustic and smooth melodic references certainly hold true in his song Sunshine. It is a slickly produced pop track that may have more Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieiber about it than alt-rock and grunge. Regardless, it is a fun and cleverly-crafted track that is bound to crop up on pop playlists everywhere. Nicely done. 9. Let Me Drive / 4 Alarm Known as Southern California's premier dance/party band, “4 Alarm” is led by singer Viennie V, who is already a known commodity as a solo artist! Her tracks “How Could You” and “For You” reached 29 and 47 respectively on the Billboard charts! I am certain that Let Me Drive will follow suit. It is a crazy-fun upbeat hook-filled pop banger that left me wanting more! 8. in Waves by Neon Cities Neon Cities is a Synthwave/Nu-Disco duo from Denver, Colorado, who say that they unapologetically draw on musical nostalgia. And their track “in Waves” does just that. The track is an 80's synth pop retro-infused viber, but I admit that it caught me a little off guard. Unlike most synthpop songs, the vocals don't start until 1 minute in. And, they don't hang around long. Before you know it, you're dipped back into a great swath of instrumental synthwave, which gives you lots of time to slowly sway on the dance floor. As their bio notes, this is a track that could “fit right into the credits rolling on a John Hughes film.” Agreed! 7. Aeroplane / Leon of Athens You can't deny the delightfully soft European influences in the music of Greek indie-pop star, Leon of Athens. As Britain's The Guardian newspaper says, his tracks are “brainy pop inspired by Bernardo Bertolucci, inflected with electronic, folk and other flavours”. Brainy but beautiful, these songs have turned him into a huge star in Greece and the rest of Europe. It is only a matter of time before North America catches on! 6. Say That You Love Me / Single By Sunday The Glasgow boy-band Single By Sunday have the distinction of being crowned Scotland's Best Unsigned Band, and for good reason. Their single “Say That You Love Me” charges out of the gate with sizzling hooky guitar licks and raw power! It is an upbeat pop-punk-esque song that is reminiscent of Blink 182 and Treble Charger. I'm hooked! More please! 5. Space by All From Nothing Hailing from Emporia Kansas, All From Nothing is a kick-butt 4 piece Alt-rock outfit, whose killer single-note guitar licks, pile-driver pop-punk chordal guitar, and glorious plaintive vocals had me from note one. The track “Space” is a perfect platform for lead singer Jeff Kitselman to parade his raw, emotive vocals and showcase the band's prowess. Loved it! 4. Under My Skin by December Fades “Under My Skin” is a delicious, ultra cool, moody, downtempo groove by California's “December Fades”. Musically, it reminds me of another wonderfully mercurial Calfornia band, “Of Verona”. December Fades is actually multi-instrumentalist, Kevin Rogers, who has a knack for designing dark, ethereal soundscapes fused with heartfelt, poetic lyrics and memorable melodies. This is definitely my kind of track! 3. Mambo No 6 / SAD Not to be confused with the Lou Bega's 1999 song, Sad's Mambo Number 6 is a quirky, contemporary, fun track with bright, punchy Panic At The Disco-esque vocals. It is an excellent fusion of fun guitar licks, swirling synths, solid hooks, and witty lyrics. It is fresh, hip and on repeat! 2. All You Have To Say / Ian Ash Okay, I'll come clean. “All You Have to Say” put a permanent smile on my face. This beautifully cratfed Weezer homage by Wisconsin's Ian Ash, ticked every box. From the exceptional sonic references and clever lyrics to the sheer overall fun of the song. All I have to say is I wish I'd written it! 1. Butterflies by Chaylyn Butterflies by Chaylyn starts as a simple, sweet melody over guitar and cello, which always gets me. Enter some delicious sparse piano to help the vocal float through the ether, and this pretty little number completely captivated me with its simplicity and innocence. From Rockville, Indiana, the faith-based singer-songwriter, Chaylyn says "Music is meant to be felt; it is therapy.” She says she hopes to use her past of abuse and shame to create music that reaches and inspires others. Though I'm not normally a fan of Christian music, this track is fresh, upbeat and engaging, without any preachiness. Superb work! Bombshell Top Ten By Bernard Frazer of Church of Trees The latest Church of Trees album "The Dark & The Light" is available on Bandcamp, as well as Spotify, Apple Music and most other streaming services Read the full article

[longlistshort]

Toothless- Sisyphus

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (6/22-6/25/17)-

Thursday

Bombay Bicycle Club's Ed Nash has a new project- Toothless- and they are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Minnow

Tonight at These Days gallery, artist Tanner Goldbeck is having a walk through of his show Never Say Never and a conversation afterwards with friend and artist Gronk Nicandro, followed by a screening of the 1953 film War of the Worlds

For The Jumpsuit Project: Hollywood, taking place in front of L.A.C.E. tonight and tomorrow, artist Sherrill Roland will be sharing his personal story and engaging in conversations with passersby about incarceration while wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Santa Monica Pier's free concert series starts this week with Khalid and Bibi Bourelly

Tennis System are playing at The Hi Hat with Kid Bloom and Low Speech

Aldous Harding is playing at The Echo with Midnight Sister and Annie Hardy opening

Or you could check out !!! (Chk Chk Chk) with Honus Honus and Sego next door at the Echoplex

Friday

Black Lips are playing at The Regent Theater with Timmy's Organism opening

YACHT and Zach Cowie are both DJ'ing at Zebulon

The Egyptian Theatre is showing E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial at 7:30pm and The Dark Crystal at 10pm as part of their celebration of 1982

Saturday

Samuel Freeman gallery is hosting an exclusive screening of Bight of the Twin, a documentary that "tells the story of cultural engineer Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and the Los Angeles-based artist and filmmaker Hazel Hill McCarthy III‘s journey to Ouidah in Benin to explore the origins of the Vodoun (Voodoo) religion". The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with Liz Warner, host of Alternate Take at Dub Lab.

Walter Etc., Peach Kelli Pop and DINERS are playing at The Echo

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is performing Suite for Ma Dukes, an homage to J Dilla's work through orchestral interpretation, and new originals,  for Grand Performances  (free)

The first of the Summer Happenings at The Broad is Warhol Icon, a night of performances inspired by Nico, with Jenny Hval, Kembra Pfahler, Tiny Vipers, Geneva Jacuzzi, Vaginal Davis, and Nao Bustamante ($25 advance/ $30 at the door)

Self Help Graphics & Art are having their annual Print Fair and Exhibition

La Luz are playing at The Getty for their free music series Off the 405

Arroyo Seco Weekend has a big two day lineup that includes Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Alabama Shakes, and Broken Social Scene on Saturday, Mumford & Sons, Weezer, and The Shins on Sunday ($125 one day/ $225 weekend pass)

Sunday

Brazilian actor and musician Seu Jorge is performing The Life Aquatic: A Tribute to David Bowie with an orchestra at The Hollywood Bowl

Machine Project presents The Four Fiscal Quarters, an anti-capitalist opera, free in Pan Pacific Park (also Saturday)

AIR are playing at The Greek Theatre with Lo Moon

Artist Peter Shire will be in conversation with MOCA assistant curator Anna Katz at the City of West Hollywood Council Chambers (free)

Ham & Eggs Tavern has a night of free music that includes bands Mind Monogram and Todavia

*Thursday- Sunday*

BET Experience returns to L.A. Live with performers that include Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Migos, Gucci Mane, Jhene Aiko as well as other events that happen throughout the weekend

The Angel City Games , one of the largest adaptive sports events on the West Coast, is at UCLA and this time will including 5 Paralympic sports