#philly explosions

[munchymunchkin]

[cryobabyy]

Cooper Adams x Fem!Reader

Part (1/5)

oops my hand slipped and now I'm writing unhinged fanfiction for an M. Night Shyamalan movie.

He was peculiarly clean— too clean to be at a hardware store past midnight. No dirt on his jeans, or janitor's name patch, or construction vest. He smelt like most men— Irish spring, sandalwood, musk, bergamot, etc. In daylight hours, you wouldn't have thought anything about his tight and fawning smile, the gallon of industrial cleaning solution, and the seven yards of vinyl tarp he slides across the counter at the end of the month. He always smiles when he pays. You smile back despite your intuition advising against it. Something about the interaction feels cold. God, you sound like your fucking father.

OR

You work the graveyard shift at a hardware store with extended hours to put you through pre-med. You meet a DILF who is definitely not The Butcher.

Part 1/5

Glib (adjective)

1: Marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful; superficial, smooth, slippery.

Working the graveyard shift at an extended-hour hardware store wasn't your first choice, but the pay was decent, and it was the only option that wouldn't clash with your med school classes. It wasn't so bad after pounding 2 iced coffees and a shot of espresso. Customers were few and far between— mostly construction workers, hotel maintenance guys, and the occasional emergency plumber looking for the perfect thingamajig to help undo the 1 am explosion of some poor soul's toilet. It was quiet enough to study; you only had to sit there and ring up the same crowd of blue-collar night owls until 3 am. 

And then there was him.

The odd one out.

A handsome man, 40's, tall, neat looking, dark brown eyes, with a picture of his kids in his wallet. He was friendly. Aggressively friendly. If he was your neighbor, you would tell your friends about the 6'3 Dilf with 90's heartthrob hair next door. The type to smile and wave if you catch him mowing the lawn when you grab the morning mail.

He was peculiarly clean— too clean to be at a hardware store past midnight. No dirt on his jeans, or janitor's name patch, or construction vest. He smelt like most men— Irish spring, sandalwood, musk, bergamot, etc. In daylight hours, you wouldn't have thought anything about his tight and fawning smile, the gallon of industrial cleaning solution, and the seven yards of vinyl tarp he slides across the counter at the end of the month. He always smiles when he pays. You smile back despite your intuition advising against it. Something about the interaction feels cold. God, you sound like your fucking father.

There's a voice in the back of your head that sounds just like him, declaring the stranger to be a 'white picket fence bastard' and a 'smarmy wasp motherfucker’ in his thick Philly accent. If he were still alive, he would tell you to watch out for him– that he was a deep state operative, a gang member, a lizard person, and other paranoid schizophrenic-fueled delusions. Toward the end, when he blocked out the windows with newspaper and craft glue, and covered all the carbon monoxide detectors with tin foil and duct tape, he insisted you should be afraid of everyone. You were only afraid of him. 

Sure, you held your keys between your knuckles when you walked to your car after night classes, and covered your laptop webcam with a sticky note, but you weren't your father.

No one was following you. No one was watching you. No one was preying on you. And the middle-aged man with a picture of his freckle-faced, blonde, blue-eyed children in his wallet was not a serial killer. 

He even told you himself.

"Hell of a lineup, am I right?" He quips, offering a sheepish laugh. "I mean... a staple gun, drain cleaner, and tarp. I won't blame 'ya if you call the cops, but I promise it's not what it looks like."

You look up from the register to find a warm smile and upturned eyebrows– an almost embarrassed expression. An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air, the only sound between you two being a 24-hour soft rock radio station crackling through the ancient speakers. The stranger sighs, seemingly aware of his social misstep.

"My wife- I'm building her a Gardening shed. I'm putting up the insulation and drywall this week. And the Drano is for my kitchen sink. Keeps getting clogged. My son is fascinated by the garbage disposal for some odd reason. I don't even want to know what kind of shit he's been pouring down there." He rambles awkwardly. Guilt twists your heartstrings at the mention of the stranger's family. You may have inherited your father's suspicion, but you wouldn't let it control you.

"I've seen weirder." You lie with a smile. The stranger chuckles, broad shoulders relaxing a bit.

"Really? I could always go back and grab some bleach, duct tape, rubber gloves, the works." 

You can't help but laugh at his corny effort to diffuse the tension. It's surprisingly effective.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out, sweetheart. I'm sure you meet some weirdos working a night shift like this."

"Not really. Just you…" You trail off, squinting to read the embroidered name on his windbreaker. You notice the emblem right above it– Ardmore Fire Department. He's a firefighter.

"Cooper Adams. " He holds out a hand for you to shake. Your father's paranoia creeps into your mind. You freeze, meeting his dark brown gaze. Dad's gruff voice echoes in your head.

His smile doesn't reach his eyes.

He's plotting something.

Smarmy wasp motherfucker.

White picket fence bastard.

You swallow hard, shake his hand, smile back, and tell him your name– but only your first. You're not your father, but you're not a fucking idiot either.

"See? We're not strangers anymore. "  

"I guess not."

Cooper carts out his selection of items and waves goodbye, receipt caught between his two index fingers.

"Nice meeting you, sweetheart. Oh, and tell them to hire another cashier! You shouldn't be by yourself this late. God knows what kind of trouble is lurking around. Stay Safe!" He smiles again, his voice coated with the candor of a concerned neighbor. This time it reaches the glint of his eyes.

AO3

NEXT CHAPTER

[dec0ra-grl]

WHY I THINK DUTCH VAN DER LINDE GREW UP AMISH

[no that isnt a joke, this is a genuine theory my ASD cooked up]

[includes sources]

⊱ ─── {⋆⌘⋆} ─── ⊰

POINT 1; Origin

Dutch Van Der Linde is PA Dutch, “Dutch was born in 1855 to a woman of English descent named Greta and a father of Dutch ancestry somewhere near Philadelphia.”

a large majority of PA Dutch people live in Amish country, and Amish people tend to be PA Dutch. (most, not all. As a PA Dutch person, this is not a catch all statement)

Counties near Phillie include Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks. But Chester is widely considered the ‘small town’ of phillie, being located in its metropolitan area. So it's safe to assume he was from this county. (Also the other areas take much more time to get to Phillie in car, let alone on a horse and buggy) 

But what's also located in that area is Amish settlements.  Ones that have been around since the 1700s no less. Its possible given how he described his area of origin mixed with being PA Dutch that he lived in one of the settlements.

POINT 2; Childhood

Dutch describes his childhood as being strict,  “he left his home as he was a disobedient child and rarely got along with his mother”

Amish communities tend to have stricter and detached rules which could explain his desire to break the norm throughout the story. Just having a bit of a strict mom alone probably wouldn't cause such an explosive reaction on Dutch's side, but if his entire childhood was built off these values it could trigger a domino effect more similar to Dutch.

He left home at age 15-16, which is right around the age a child participates in Rumspringa. It's a tradition where the child gets to leave home for a year or two to participate in ‘forbidden’ activities and get to see the modern world. He didn't need to wait until he was older, it was the 1800s, but his desire to wait could point to him growing up in a community where Rumspringa was a tradition. (note that he also stated he left home, not runaway, despite being a child at the time. But this could just be a switch up of words)

POINT 3; Adulthood

In his adulthood, he seemed to completely cut ties with his family. Mentioning little about them in the game and even delaying the news of his mothers death. “his mother, who died in 1881 and was buried in Blackwater, although Dutch only found out several years later from an uncle of his.”

When someone leaves the Amish community, they go through shunning, meaning they will cut  contact with the community and family. The rules vary, and sometimes it's not complete isolation, but Dutch stated his dislike for his family multiple times which could explain his delay on learning of his mothers death and lack of mention of his family.

Going off the idea that he is shunned, his lack of supportive family could explain his desire for a found family. Amish communities are known for being tight-knit, which could also explain his experience with starting a sense of community.

THEORY FLAWS

One glaring flaw in this theory is his dad and his death. “His father fought for the Union in the American Civil War and died in a battle that occurred in Pennsylvania”

A big part of Amish beliefs is their pacifist views, which made them avoid the civil war. In fact, in PA they were exempt from the war. If they couldn't get exempt, there were fees they could pay to get exempted.

But it didn't make it impossible to end up on the battlefield. The Amish seemed to have mixed feelings about slavery, though a popular consensus was that it was bad and their religion did not agree with it.

Given how Dutch talked about his father in a better light than his mom, it's possible he got his mannerisms from his dad. And what's Dutch known for? His strong opinions and sense of justice. So if his dads anything like him, it would make sense for him to go into battle to fight for what he thinks goes against his beliefs, even if fighting contradicts his beliefs as well.

⊱ ─── {⋆⌘⋆} ─── ⊰

Thank you for listening to me be crazy, and thank you to the people who requested to hear my insanity ♥

[redfurrycat]

🤠🤵🥷🐓Spies & Secret Agents Fic Recs🐓🥷🤵🤠

Check the Top Gun Masterlist post for the latest updated version. 💕

Ao3 Authors: FlowersOnMyMind, Nimuetheseawitch, OfTheDirewolves, Whimsicule, Winterbucky.

Daily Heroes > Organised Crime > Vigilantes, Superheroes & Supervillains

Say you'll be my darling by FlowersOnMyMind {E}

Rooster and Hangman have to go undercover as a married couple in this Mission Impossible AU fic. Feelings happen.

as the daytime is stirring by whimsicule {M}

Goose will drive a hundred and forty miles north, back home to his wife and unborn child, and Pete will take his bike back to his impersonal, agency-issued apartment that’s not a home and never will be. Goose has his family, a lifetime of love and happiness waiting for him in Philly. Pete has his Kawasaki, blank walls, and the memory of a man he would, under any other circumstances, happily chase to the ends of the earth. or: it starts in berlin in the winter of 1986. but that's not where it ends.

coffee court dates by winterbucky {T}

An assignment in a coffee shop isn't what Special Agent Bradshaw dreamed about, but it's not half-bad. The only downside (aside from the mafia meetings that take place there) is a particular blonde mafia member who can't seem to take a hint that Bradley is not interested Though, it turns out, that maybe it's not all as it seems and it's Bradley who can't take a hint or coffee shop au with special agents and mafia (but not really) and stupid bradley who should really learn to read assignment files

Jake Seresin, 007 by nimuetheseawitch

A View to Kill {G}

“As you know, 007, we’ve had some rearrangement of the Q-division since you were last in London, but I am sure you will do your best to ingratiate yourself to the department, as you will be working quite closely with them over the next few months.” Jake turned his most winning smile to his disapproving superior. “M, you know I always do my best. I always return my gear to the Quartermaster fully field-tested with notes for improvement. Q always appreciated my feedback.” Despite himself, M seemed to be amused. “Right, well, I’m not sure our new Q will have the same appreciation for your feedback, so do try to make a good impression Seresin.”

Nobody Does It Better {T}

The first time really wasn’t Jake’s fault. He was explosively tossed from an oil rig, and whatever pieces remained of the cell phone, they now lived at the bottom of the ocean. Apparently, a concussive blast combined with full saltwater immersion also generally had the effect of disabling all of Q’s trackers except the one in the diving watch. And that he mailed to Q, shattered and nonfunctional, with a note asking him to look into making it a little more bulletproof. He was grateful, really – the watch had saved his life. After a lovely vacation on the island he’d washed ashore on, Jake came back to MI6 headquarters tanned and smiling. Q did not look happy to see him.

Lights, camera, bitch smile (even when you wanna die) by OfTheDirewolves {M}

Agents Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw and Jake "Hangman" Seresin are the best at what they do. Now they have to go undercover as couple to uncover a secret plot that could save millions of lives. The only problem? They haven't talked in 6 years. or Jake and Bradley have to go undercover with each other which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that they're still stupidly in love with each other and neither of them wants to admit it. Can they complete their mission and get out of this unscathed or will hearts be broken once more?

[saberswordseabass]

A Hidden Danger; Know your threat (3.5)

Soldiers began to bolt down a dark metal grated floor. The sturdy, metallic walls creak from a minor gravity difference. One of the soldiers shouted something unintelligible to the recording unit. The wall to their right begins to creak louder and warp from stress.

Blast doors begin to lower, trapping the two soldiers in the corridor as the wall bulges like it was hit by a freight train. The soldiers begin to obviously shake as they lower their helmets over their elongated fox like faces. They raise their laser rifles and steady it at the wall bulging.

After another moment, the wall explodes inward, but no explosive decompression followed. A bulky fox robot with stark white, like star-bleached armor, forced its way through. Lasers streak and sizz in the air as the soldiers begin to pelt the robot.

It seemed unfazed by the lasers, only focusing on them when one managed to shoot it in the optic sensor. The graviton ram of its right arm, hissed as it prepared to operate once again, while it raised its left arm, its fingers arcing with a green energy. The bot begins to march towards them intently.

The graviton ram began to glow with a green field as it launched forward with a wet squelch from the soldiers before the video seems to freeze as the recording device manages to show a soldier in horrible mixture of fused into the wall and crushed under a powerful gravitational force.

"So what are you thinking for lunch? I really want to try this Philly cheesesteak that the captive mentioned." A Ursidain spoke, gently scratching their belly as their unruly clothes suggested pirates.

"Eh, doesn't sound awful. You might have t-" The Taurian companion began to state before a warning light began to flash rapidly.

A warning began to echo from the P.A. system; "Prepare to be boarded! Don't recognize the ship, but it is probably the human savior team from the GC. Give them hell!" The P.A. warned as a few moments later, the ship violently shuttered as the boarding vessel rammed them.

The two pirates were caught off guard and had been knocked into the left side wall. "What the hell is wrong with them? Are they insane?!" The Taurian screamed as they grabbed their weapon. Right as they finish that thought, the wall to their right melts like butter. An intimated robot in height, having to lean down to fight in the hallway designed for Ursidains.

"Command: Give up human now, and your lives may be spared." The bot ordered as its stark white armored glistened in the dull, flickering florescent light. It held two massive clamp hands, like originally designed to carry around the cargo pods, but they were paired with some kind of unknown weapon, but the armored canister attached to it suggested a flame based weapon.

The pirates look at each other as the bot stares unmoving at the two, waiting for a reply. The Ursidain nodded to his Taurian companion before unslinging an old earth shotgun and firing a shot into the bot's ribcage area. "Eat ferrus insect!" The Ursidain roared as the bot stumbled back, its inner working exposed from the 'insect'.

"Hostile action has been taken." The bot spoke as its wide footing managed to stabilize. The bot's orange, almost yellow eyes, begun to rapidly shift color to a cool, icy blue. Its arms raise out, and frost began to coat its flamethrower like barrels. An icy stream connects with both organics. The Ursidain looks relatively unharmed but still affected by the flash freezing of his outer layer of fur and fat. His Taurian companion was not as lucky as half of her right side crystallized from the ice-thrower's very napalm; 'Neptunic Nictro'

The Ursidain rushes to close the gap, firing two more shots into the bot, which finally knocks the bot down onto its back. With another shot to it's fox like head makes the machine go limp.

From this device's recording, the screen begins to get hit with many white particulars, giving the recording a grainy resolution. A much smaller bot began to step through the hole left by its bigger cousin. Their rifle, which was glowing blue from an unknown source. Upon readying the gun at the Ursidain, who noticed it too late, the camera grows more grainy. The camera cuts out as the Ursidain attempts to rush the smaller bot, and a split frame of a blue pulse wave echos from its gun.

A deep-seated anger began to fill room, as all recording on each screen paused at a gruesome death. A dull grey fur inquistor sat at a desk in front of the screens. "I've spent 70 years making sure Octarus does not awaken. It is a massive threat to not just us, but all of the GC, if allowed, to get fully operational... again." Gloved hands gently rub the inquistor's face. "And if word gets out that we are the cause, that could cause an end to us, not just as an empire but also a species if what the GC did to the majority of humanity is to be noted."

"Get me on the line with Quilx." The old inquistor spoke to his help, who rushes off, only to return a moment later. "What's wrong?" The older inquistor asks as a worried frown fills his graying brow.

"Sir, Quilx has made a ground expedition to the planet where he believes Octarus' forces have been coming from." That made the old inquistor shoot up, only to grip his chest with a pained expersion. His body was old and failing as he was reaching a century in his Inquisitoral duties.

The help rushed to him before he shooed them away with another pained grunt. "Quilx will die if he steps foot on that planet! Warn him immediately to change his course of operations." The old inquistor gasped as his body forced him back down onto his padded chair.

"Maker, why?" The old inquistor gasped quietly to himself as he stared into space with horror of first-hand experience.

Decided to try another approach to this. I hope you enjoyed it! C&C is very much welcome and appreciated! Again, thank @wolven91 for creating this amazing universe to allow me to create this weird word soup :>

[wuxiaphoenix]

Worldbuilding: Take It To The Streets

What kinds of street food does your world have?

As long as there have been cities, there have been street vendors. Likely longer. We have ancient accounts of various street stalls and foodsellers from China, the Greek city-states, the Roman Empire, the Aztecs, and probably lots of other places I don’t know about. Honestly, I’d lay odds that as soon as we hit Neolithic-size settlements and people gathering for festivals there was somebody with a fire, portable cooking utensils, and a dream.

These days we see street food as a convenience, and sometimes an annoyance. Given the cultural pervasiveness of microwaves, gas or electric stones, and even wood cookstoves, I think a lot of people underestimate how much skill goes into not just cooking, but in keeping that cooking safe for the rest of the community. It’s as simple as one, two, three.

One: The vast majority of cooking involves applying high levels of heat.

Two: Whenever you apply heat, you leave an opening for things to catch on fire.

Three: The more people you have cooking, the more chances things have to go up in smoke.

This is a matter of combinatorial probabilities. Say the chance of one person slipping and starting a fire in a year is... oh, one in ten thousand (0.0001). This is a 99.99% chance of not having a fire. Any one person could go a whole lifetime without starting a fire.

Now make it one hundred people cooking. That’s 0.9999 to the 100th power, or 0.9900. Meaning your chances of not having a fire that year are now... 99 out of 100. Still not that bad, but....

Ten thousand people cooking? The chance of not having a fire drops to 36.79%. Or almost a two-thirds chance you will have a fire that year.

Conclusion: If at all possible, you do not want everyone cooking.

(If you think this is only a past problem, look up turkey fryer explosions. Carelessness and stupidity with burning things is a human constant.)

This is also likely to be a problem in the future on shipboard or space stations. Confined spaces make all kinds of accidents more likely. It’s in everyone’s best interests to encourage klutzes out of the kitchen, and to suggest more cooking be done by those willing to master the skills to do it properly. Meaning, in any sane setting, skilled people need to be able to make a profit at it. And we’re back to street food.

Though we should also be back there for tasty reasons as well. Most people can learn to cook, but not everyone has the time or inclination to master whole cuisines and a world full of neat recipes. And some recipes, while in theory simple enough for a layman to cook, in practice take a lot of time and dishes and are so much more cost-effective if you make them in bulk instead of a meal for one, or even a few people. Ever make Philly cheesesteaks with all the classic toppings? Yeah. You can do it at home, but....

With street food you get tasty options from a bunch of different specialists, all of whom have to know what they’re doing or go out of business. You get to try different things, pick up a meal when you’re rushed, tired, or hurting, and have a friendly public spot you can arrange a meeting at with someone you don’t know well. To say nothing of the story drama possibilities for a stakeout or observation post, or a contact to pass info or gear as needed....

The streets of any story’s settlement should be interesting, because they have people. Make sure they also have snacks!

[thesinglesjukebox]

THE KILLERS - "BRIGHT LIGHTS"

It's up to us now to turn on the bright lights...

[5.50]

Jonathan Bradley: Las Vegas, a mish-mash of anachronism and garish mythology. Wandering the Mojave Desert, Oedipus strikes upon the Luxor Casino, outside which stands a 106-foot high Sphinx. The monster threatens to devour our hero unless he answers a riddle. What goes as Simon Le Bon in the morning, Bruce Springsteen at noon, and Meat Loaf at night? Why it's Brandon Flowers, says Oedipus, and the beast is defeated. [6]

Alfred Soto: The Killers released an album in 2021. I didn't know -- until I remembered my review. When Brandon Flowers's got his dick stuck in his pants and he yells about highways of rebel diamonds and imploding mirages he sounds ridiculous and totally himself; when he insists on the midtempo plod and his doggerel is crisply sung he's another Las Vegas entertainer cracking his voice through "Born to Run." [5]

Jeffrey Brister: Yes, I am also familiar with the works of one Bruce Springsteen, and his compatriots, The E Street Band. One of the things that makes his music so good is not just the explosive wall of sound he and his band can generate (“Bright Lights” demonstrates this aspect to a serviceable degree), but also in his lyrics, which convey vivid emotions and a sense of place, history, context. They are specific. They don’t feel like placeholders or shortcuts to emotional resonance or easy references that confuse knowledge with pathos. They blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night! The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways like a vision! Adam raised a Cain! This particular point is even more important if you are attempting to mimic his vocal mannerisms and tone. All that does is make people who are familiar with and have a deep love of The Boss want to hear the real thing, which is actually pretty easy, given that Springsteen is experiencing a late-career runner of two good albums in 2019 and 2020. This aping felt cute in 2006, but now it just feels like cover-band-calibre stuff. [4]

Harlan Talib Ockey: It feels almost unfair to fault the Killers for sounding too much like Springsteen, since they've released countless Springsteen pastiches over the years, but this one is unusually shallow. While it's a competent Springsteen impression, it's unclear what the Killers have added to make this song worth listening to rather than, say, actual Springsteen. The lyrics are a half-formed scenario that seems to be missing a narrative, a plot twist, or a point. Incidentally, though, they describe a rock star retreating to familiar territory. [4]

Nortey Dowuona: Sheree Brown got one hit around 1981 that apparently Brandon Flowers heard on his way back from the hospital, thus her turning up to turn out this very good Meat Loaf hit in the bridge. Worth it.  [8]

Ian Mathers: You just know Brandon Flowers did one of these when he realized just how many manly men would get faraway looks in their eyes at "there are things I would change but it ain't worth going through," and I say that with tremendous affection for him and this song. America's greatest Vegas band has only become more endearing as Flowers continues to animorph into a Springsteen/Elvis hybrid; ramping up the sonic bombast to match (those backing singers!) is a smart move. This is not at all what I thought the Killers would one day sound like when I was blasting the synth hook of "Smile Like You Mean It" at max volume back in the day. But damn it, for a minute there when Flowers insists that he thinks it's gonna be awright tonight, he makes me believe that he's right. [10]

Taylor Alatorre: A [6] if I close my eyes and imagine I'm hearing the Gaslight Anthem at their most fame-hungry and least Catholic-coded; [4] once I glance at the cover art and implode the mirage. [4]

Mark Sinker: The specifics, basically, of space opera: it didn’t have to real to be evocative and to connect, and outside a narrow span of New Jersey streets you likely had no idea what Springsteen meant, or if it even meant anything. “Fuelie heads and a hurst on the floor,” or whatever the hell it was: this fine and silly Tolkien street-gibberish that could lock you deep into what was very often — for you if not for Bruce — the purest pretend. Wrapped in goofy palatial grandeur, it was just fun and funny to say, and that was such a beginning. I don’t want to begrudge The Killers looking to centre their version of the same trick around Las Vegas — there’s entertainment in the idea and the trying, and even in making it more trashy and plastic and see-thru — but I honestly have no idea what it is I’m meant to be locking into here. It feels quarter-finished.  [4]

Katherine St. Asaph: The Killers, despite what the nostalgia-account-industrial complex reposts at you, are not universally seen as iconic (as my boyfriend pointed out, bemused, after hearing "Mr. Brightside" at a wedding and being moved to nothing). I will summon Killers icon-nostalgia in apropos situations (e.g., post-tweenage headbanging breaking out at a wedding), but it's borrowed and not strong. So maybe I'm not the most sympathetic listener when I put this on and hear a band that sounds completely washed. The sequins have fallen to the floor, smudged by shoes, glam only in past. [3]

Scott Mildenhall: You can't have your soul sucked by AI if you're already your own malfunctioning LLM. This is actually what now happens when you prompt Brandon Flowers to "play the Brightside song". And if you're asking the question, you may well still be happy with the answer, and the next answer, and the one after that. No wiring has ever been harder or more existentially attached. The Killers know that everything is the same, and everything is different -- and that that's where the joy is. [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[popculturebuffet]

Philli and Della's Birthday Boatabration (Comission for WeirdKev27)

Early in June: (Phlli Ann Tropy, Della Duck and assorted friends, loved ones and others are on a boat out on lake duckberg) Donald: Ahhhh the peaceful calm of the sea Della: (blasts an airhorn right next to donald)In my defense you know better than to say that. Hey at least I waited till were were at cursing speed. Besides we had your nice quiet dinner. Now it's my turn. Loud, explosions, sharing it with a friend. Owlson: It was the only way I could convince her to have one Philli: That and you both told me this was a charity for people who lost their boats. Donald: That's not real? Owlson: Oh it is. It cost a sizeable donation, several days of hard work and the right non suspcious person as chairperson who loves both planning parties and boat insuerance paperwork. Huey: It's the second happiest i've been! Owlson: Your lucky child labor laws are surprisingly horifically lax in duckberg Scrooge: Bah! I worked for ten hours a day and I turned out five. Would've been 12. Stupid ma. Webby: I don't but dad says it's okay I put most of my energy into adventuering, daddy daughter time,friendship, lena, family and crochet. Speaking of which I wish we could've brought your gifts. Della: Webby it's nice neough you made lifesize statues of us out of felt and dreams. I couldn't have a better niece/cousin. (Toussles her hair) Owlson: Your family tree is confusing and scary. Philli: Which Is Hy my gift to you is this (unveils tarp revealing a massive family tree ) Della: Wow you got everyone. Webby did you help? Webby: Maybeee. It's based on my own prototype. Philli: I Also got your girlfriend a sunhat. . And added the crows nest. Penny: (Waves from the crows nest holding a rifle) Della: I Offered to let Beakley do security but she insisted. It's her happy place. That and bludgeonings. She really likes bludgeonings. ANd stabbing. (Sighs dreamily) Dewey: (Shouting from behind the boat as he waterskies) YOU DONE PICKED GOOD MOM Louie: (asleep in a conpartment) Done.. good Della: I done did. And for your present I got you this suit. (unveils a suit that looks like philli's normal one,) IT has a sword built into it. Your wife insisted I not ad the pink diamonds. PHilli: Her imupsle was correct. The sword's way better. Plus someone threw out my last one Owlson: You nearly cut yourself on the swords you ducktaped to that thing. AND Ijust threw out the duccktape. Not going to waste a good suit or sowrds. Philli: ... I can't stay mad at you

[hit-song-showdown]

Year-End Poll #24: 1973

[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: Tony Orlando and Dawn, Jim Croce, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Paul McCartney and Wings Kris Kristofferson, Elton John, Billy Preston, Carly Simon, Diana Ross. End description]

More information about this blog here

*Turns my chair around so I can sit in it backwards*

So. You were just caught trying to cover up a major break-in into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in order to cement your reelection.

As I alluded to last poll, one major historical event I need to mention is the Watergate scandal. The actual break-in took place the previous year, but the resulting investigations and trials won't start to take place until this year -- after Nixon's reelection. However, there aren't many songs about the incident from this time, or at least not in the charts. Most of the songs protesting Nixon tended to focus on the war.

Speaking of the Vietnam War, 1973 does not mark the end of the war, but it does mark the beginning of the United States' exit. To bring it back to the music, one of the 60's polls included the Monkees' Last Train to Clarksville, a song that wasn't explicitly written about the war, but had the war projected onto it because it's a song about someone leaving home and not knowing when they're coming back. It seems fitting that one of the songs on today's poll is Tony Orlando and Dawn's Tie a Yellow Ribbon[...], a song that wasn't explicitly written about the war, but had the war projected onto it because it's a song about someone coming home and not knowing what his welcome will look like.

Soul music is continuing to have one of its golden ages, with artists like Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye topping the charts. It's been a while since I talked about Billboard from the business side of things, but the explosion of this genre gives me a good excuse to do so. In 1973, the Billboard chart for R&B songs was changed from "Best Selling Soul Singles" to "Hot Soul Singles". This change may not sound that significant, but it becomes more notable when you see how often this title changes. This article goes more into depth about Billboard's complicated history when it comes to its representation of Black music.

Which reminds me, it's time to start talking about disco. It will reach the polls soon, I promise, but now feels like a good time to set the scene before we get to that point. As I mentioned in a previous poll, the disco scene really came out of soul. Especially Philly Soul, which had lush instrumentation that worked really well with the overall atmosphere of early disco. At this point in history, disco is still an underground subculture, and musically the line between it and soul music isn't that clear. Disco as its own genre of music that could be identified as such by the average listener will come later.

I don't usually talk about the formation of genres until they reach the charts, but I'm going to make an exception here. Because 2023 is the 50th anniversary of this genre, the genre has grown into a dominating musical force across the globe, and it's the only genre I actually studied in college.

In 1973, a Jamaican-American teenager named Clive Campbell (more widely known as DJ Kool Herc) and his sister, Cindy, started hosting parties out of their apartment in The Bronx, New York. These parties would play a lot of funk records, but he wouldn't just play them. Instead, he would play two copies of the same record on a turntable so he could extend the percussion section of the song, also called the break (which is where breakdancing comes from). This would lay the foundation for hip-hop, further expanded by artists like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa. All three of these men are still alive and I've linked interviews with some of them.

Hip-hop and rap are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Hip-hop exists both as a subculture and as a style of music. It incorporates art forms such as DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, beatboxing, rapping, and many other elements. That's why I said DJ Kool Herc helped set the foundation of hip-hop. Within early hip-hop culture, the MC was mostly there to bounce off of the DJ and keep the energy up. That isn't to discredit the difficult work of early MCs (trust me, if you were bad at it, the audience would let you know). Rap itself as an art from has a plethora of different artistic roots in Black culture, from scat singing in jazz, to various traditional West African storytelling techniques, to early 20th century gospel groups, to rhyme games, to Black radio DJs. The genre started to get more notice outside of the party scene as wordplay and flows started to expand further, especially as the first hip-hop groups started to form and the MCs became part of the "band". Like disco, hip-hop was still very much an underground subculture, but it would soon take over the nation.

It will be another 17 years before the first rap song reaches number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby). We won't see a rap song featured on these polls until 1995. But it's hip-hop's 50th birthday, and so much of modern American culture doesn't make sense without its involvement.

[daggerzine]

2nd Grade- Scheduled Explosions (Double Double Whammy)

This third album by Philly band 2nd Grade (basically the brainchild of one Peter Gill) is one hefty listen clocking in at 23 songs. Now most of those songs are barely over a minute and a half, but still, it's a lot to take in and most of Scheduled Explosions is definitely scratching some of my musical itches.  

Lyrically, on many of those songs, I'm not sure what Gill is on about and the fidelity goes from hi to lo depending on the song, but the guy can pick a wicked guitar hook out of a haystack and plant it smack dab in the middle of an already damn good song. 

"Uncontrollably Cool" is one of the finest and sunniest pop cuts on here (same with the even sunnier "Instant Nostalgia"), while "Out of the Hive" has hooks, too, but you have to find them under the thick bed of distortion. Then there's "Fashion Disease" with some of my favorite guitar playing as Gill is all over the fretboard. 

He's also pretty ace at naming songs like "Crybaby Semiconductor" (musically this one is pretty out there), "Ice Cream Social Acid Test," and "Sophomores in the Wild." 

I could say they remind me a little of a certain Dayton, OH band who have a million albums out, but that'd be cheating and I'm no cheater. Plan your own scheduled explosion by listening to this and tell me what you think. My email is at the top of the site. 

www.2ndgrade.bandcamp.com

[c0nnectdots]

( willa fitzgerald . cis woman . she / her ) ⸻  effie floyd , a thirty - three year old , has survived another day in red creek where they have lived for five years . the spitfire is known for being observant and outspoken and is often associated with string  connecting  on  the  corkboard  between  newspapers  new  and  old  and  people  around  hidden  in  the  recesses  of  the  mind  ,  speaking  first  and  asking  questions  later   /   words  are  a  fire  on  the  tongue  and  passion  a  flaw  and  a  reward  ,   strong  and  steady  hands  doesn't  mean   they  don't  shake  /  it's  just  hard  to  see  it  if  you're  not  looking . in a small town where they work as a journalist at the register word travels fast . it’s hard to keep a secret , and it looks like the boogeyman knows that [ THIS PAGE CANNOT BE FOUND ].

full name: effie lianne floyd. nickname(s): ef. age: thirty - three. zodiac sun sign: virgo. birth date: september 15th. gender & orientation: cis woman, she + her & bisexual. place of birth: philadelphia, pennsylvania. occupation: journalist for the register. familial ties: estranged from her family back in philly. has one younger brother. height: 5'5".

CHARACTER INSPOS : gale weathers ( scream ), shinya kogami ( psycho - pass ), aki hayakawa ( chainsaw man ).

FAST FACTS ⸻

left philly due to an explosive fight with her mother and discovering that she had been cheating on her father for years. she'd always felt there was something off about her mother's relationship with her father and almost became obsessive with uncovering her suspicions. at twenty-six, she discovered the truth after following her mother on one of her "girls' night out". due to the rift this formed in the house, effie decided to take her journalism degree and relocate. she's been on the move since this rift and keeps no contact with her family members. instead, she throws herself into work.

before settling in red creek, effie took up plenty of brief stays throughout different towns. her interest in stories and tales guiding her heart from place to place. she holds a keen eye and knack for sleuthing, often landing her either in trouble or an acclaimed column within papers or online journaling sites. in a way, maybe she is more comparable to a private investigator. however, she tries not to throw herself that deep into her interests. key word: tries.

her interest in red creek soared at the mention of the killings and the growing tension of potential resurgence. before her move here, she had began taking an interest in true crime and specifically cold cases and urban legends. she has a journal of things of note surrounding motives and rumors. a part of her thinks her mind is infallible and can be useful in areas seperate from recording daily lives and new trends within journalism.

her personality can be a bit stifling towards new people. direct, haughty and hypervigilant it's hard to feel like you're not being studied. she separates her friends and private life as best as she can, but effie is nothing but obsessive.

potential for more tba . .. ..

[screamingforyears]

IN A MINUTE:

A NEW MUSIC ROUND_UP…

@couch.slut are here w/ “THE DONKEY (ABRIDGED),” the second single from their forthcoming LP titled ‘You Could Do It Tonight’ (4/19 @brutalpandarecords) & it finds the NYC-based quintet of Dylan DiLella (guitar), Kevin Hall (bass/synth), Amy Mills (guitar/misc), Theo Nobel (drums/synth) & Megan Osztrosits (vocals) pig_fucking their way across 4 mins of visceral NoiseRawk.

“HORIZON LINE” is the final single in the run-up to @frailbodyil’s forthcoming LP titled ‘Artificial Bouquet’ (3/29 @deathwishinc) & it finds the Rockford-based trio of Lowell Shaffer (guitar/vox/keys), Nic Kuczynski (bass) & Nicholas Clemenson (drums) examining “a self-constructed pillar of shame” across 3 relentlessly lacerated mins.

“EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING CHANGED” is a choice cut from @lessercare’s highly anticipated forthcoming LP titled ‘Heel Turn’ (3/22) & it finds the EPTX-based duo of composer/lyricist/vocalist/guitarist Andres Chavez & drummer/percussionist/vocalist Zane Pacillas (w/ a special shoutout to bassist/guitarist Angel Yglecias) linking up w/ @softkillpdx’s Tobias Grave to bring a loaded 3:42 clip moodily lit, emotionally surged & Alt_rawking DreamPop.

“JSUK” is the lead single from @saturnalias6669’s forthcoming LP titled ‘Bugfest’ (5/10 @candlepin_records) & it finds Alex Tung’s Raleigh/Durham-based sonic art project bringing the explosively lo-fi goods across 4 blown out mins of dreamy AltGaze.

@so_totally are here w/ “DOZ ROSES,” the second single from their forthcoming LP titled ‘Double Your Relaxation’ (5/17 @tinyengines) & it finds the Philly-based quartet bringing their grunge_wedding vibes across a sub-4 min slice of six-string swirling & psych_poppin DreamGaze.

[thenationaltreasuregazette]

Occasional musings on Disney’s accidental masterpiece

Issue 1 | Issue 2

Timeline, Part 2

Last time, we discussed the timeline of National Treasure from the explosion of the Charlotte to the night of the gala. Our conclusion: Ben, Riley, and Abigail were probably all tired before the adventure even began.

Heist & Car Chase

Then of course we have the heist and subsequent car chase. The key word here is adrenaline.

It’s clear from Ben and Riley’s behavior heading into the heist that they’re both on edge about it. Ben cuts off Riley’s last attempt to talk him out of it as he gets out of the van, and can’t bring himself to talk over the earpiece for a moment, seemingly because if he does, this is really happening. He’s really going to attempt to steal the Declaration of Independence.

Then of course we have Ben’s iconically weird toast. While the rest of the movie doesn’t exactly suggest Benjamin Franklin Gates is a Super Normal Chill Guy™ on an average day, here he’s baaaaaarely keeping it together.

Abigail, for her part, doesn’t seem to be having a great time either. When we first see her before Ben shows up, she’s wandering around by herself looking around and holding her coat over her arms.

She even lets out an exasperated sigh. While not high stress in the same way as stealing a priceless, highly secure artifact, we can infer that she might not enjoy socializing in a big crowd like this. That in itself is draining. She’s also probably avoiding Dr. Herbert. This subplot is much more pronounced in the early script, but we’ll discuss that later.

And then there’s the shooting! Ben, Riley, and Abigail are all shot at in the span of maybe twenty minutes? Abigail is also kidnapped, held at gunpoint, and flung out on the door of a speeding van.

Then it’s the stop in the park and the drive to wherever in Virginia or Maryland Patrick lives. Ben and Riley know they’re being hunted by the FBI, and Abigail has been semi-kidnapped by (as far as she knows) a pair of unhinged theives-slash-conspiracy-theorists.

I would already need a nap is all I’m saying.

Patrick’s House

Before they process the Declaration, Ben says, “Dad, it’s really late. Why don’t you get some rest?”

Now, it’s unclear exactly how late it is, but assuming it was after 9pm when Ben and Riley arrived (people are still entering, but most of the guests seem to already be inside) it has to at least be a few hours later, perhaps 11 or 12 by the time they show up on Patrick’s doorstep.

Patrick seems like a night owl given how unfazed he seems by the hour, but it’s clearly late enough that Ben is at least able to use the hour as a plausible reason to shoo his father away, if not actually concerned about his father’s sleep schedule. And that’s before they find the cypher.

Acidifying, heating, and recording the numbers off of the Declaration isn’t a small project. When they pull up to the house, Ben guesses that they have “a couple of hours at least. I hope.”

Road to Philly

If it takes them an hour or two to fully reveal the Ottendorf cypher, that puts them on the road to Philadelphia no earlier than 1 or 2am. 

And to the three of them it probably feels much later. The adrenaline of the heist and the thrill of discovering the cypher both have to be coming down by now. Against the lull of the highway, the knowledge that they’re being chased by the FBI can probably compete less and less with the lure of sleep.

Riley, we know, at least dozes in the back seat. Ben and Abigail don’t seem to be considering sleep. Does Ben drive all the way there or does one of the others take over at some point? I’ve always assumed that Ben is exhausted but too on edge to consider taking a break. This was his heist based on his belief in the treasure. He’s responsible for whatever happens next, and I don’t see him being able to relinquish control of the drivers’ seat or anything else until well after the adventure is over. And the driving at least helps keep his mind occupied. (Have any fic recs set during this part? Send ‘em my way!)

The gang is seen arriving in Philadelphia in the early morning. Sunrise in was at 5:30am on June 19, 2004. (As discussed in part 1, this is likely the date the movie is set) It’s about a three hour drive from Washington DC to Philadelphia (give or take their exact starting and ending positions). If they arrive at 6am, half an hour after sunrise, they would have left Patrick’s closer to 3am.

If it is indeed later in the fall, as I tend to believe based on everyone’s clothing choices, sunrise would be closer to 6:45 or 7am, putting them on the road closer to 4am.

What were they doing all day?

There are currently two Urban Outfitters stores nearby the Franklin Institute, the earlier of which opens at 10am. Hard to say if this was the case twenty years ago, and while I find all of this digging incredibly fun, that’s a bit too far down the rabbit hole for me.

However, they clearly didn’t go straight there because, famously, it is “almost three” by the time Ben and Abigail are buying their clothes. This is necessitated by the narrative, because the time on the back of a $100 bill really is 2:22.

Or is it?

Some sources say the time is actually 4:10 (the inverse of 2:22 by switching the hour and minute hands).

That’s on the $100 bills in circulation at the time National Treasure was filmed, from 1996-2013. After the 2013 redesign, newer $100 bills show the time 10:30. Either way you read the 1996-2013 bill, the gang was going to have to wait until the afternoon to see the shadow.

But as I said, this isn’t about plot holes. This is about taking what the narrative gives us and examining what it means for the characters involved. (Y’all ever heard Harry Potter and the Sacred Text? Even (especially?) if you’re done with HP I really recommend it.)

So…what were they doing during those missing hours? Maybe they slept in the car for a little while, trading off who was on watch. I have to assume that at some point they went into a coffee shop or fast food restaurant for food and to use the bathroom. Of course, since at this point Ben and Abigail are still in their gala clothes, they probably weren’t out in public too much.

These quiet hours are one of my favorite not-seen-on-screen things to think about regarding this movie. I also tend to think they stopped at a 24 hour Burger King in the middle of the night, but that’s just a personal headcanon.

The Intrepid

While Ben is in FBI custody, Ian calls and tells him to meet on the deck on the USS Intrepid at “10 am tomorrow morning.”  That means that between the evening of the Philadelphia portion of the adventure and the next morning, all parties have to get to New York—that’s Ben and the FBI, Ian’s crew, and Abigail and Riley. Although they might have had to travel with Ian’s crew because they don’t have a car or much remaining money??

The meet at the Intrepid seems to be right on schedule. It had to be, both because the FBI wouldn’t dilly dally and put the Declaration at risk, and because Ian’s plan was pretty dependent on accurate timing.

Then it’s a 25 minute drive from Weehawken, New Jersey—which is what’s directly across from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum—and that’s assuming reasonable traffic.

I get that this was like a decade before Alexander Hamilton got cool, but we’re not gonna talk about how the movie goes from the place he was shot to the place he’s buried??

So let’s say by the time they get to the church, it has to be at least 11am.

Trinity Church

If we continue with our assumption that the National Archives gala was on a Friday night, then the Philadelphia leg happened on Saturday, and the New York stretch on Sunday. That poses an additional obstacle: now it’s Sunday and we’re doing light demolition in a clearly empty church.

At present, there are masses held at Trinity Church at 8am, 9am, and 11:15am. It’s likely that the schedule was similar in 2004. Between masses there would be people coming in and out preparing for the next service, so I suspect that if it is Sunday, the gang doesn’t enter until after the final service has cleared out.

If the gala was on Saturday, though this doesn’t explain why Ben was sure Abigail would be at work, it would place the New York leg on Monday. There are currently also daily services held at 12:05pm.

In either case Team Treasure wouldn’t be able to enter the church inconspicuously until after about 1pm, when the final service was over (The 11:15 Sunday service is a longer one that runs until 12:30.)

Trinity Church is open to the public daily from 8:30-6pm.

Finale

Since the rest of the adventure takes place underground, the next indicator we have of time is the light streaming into Trinity Church when Ben is turning himself and the treasure over to Agent Sadusky. The high cathedral windows make it hard to get a sense of when this might be happening.

In any case it is still clearly daytime. By the time the characters “go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb” and embark on the doomed walk down the staircase, the movie is playing out in more-or less real time. The whole sequence takes about twenty minutes, plus the time it would have taken them to gawk at the treasure for however long, then climb back up Riley’s precious second staircase. So it’s likely sometime in the afternoon.

 However, it is dark by the time Sadusky and Ben catch Ian in Boston.

It’s a 30 minute helicopter flight from New York to Boston, plus travel time to and from wherever they landed, etc. Sunset was at 8:30pm on June 19, 2004, so Ian’s arrest happens well into the evening.

If this is accurate, then it’s been about 48 hours since the adventure-proper began at the gala.

Conclusion

The conclusion here is that they’re tired. I’m talking bone-deep, don’t-remember-hitting-the-pillow, I-need-to-sleep-for-a-week-tired.

Yes they had a bit of downtime, but how much could they really have rested? Our three heroes have maybe gotten a few hours of fitful sleep between them. It’s the first time in a full forty-eight hours that they haven’t been running for their lives, and that is on top of the long week they’d already had.

There’s not really a point to all this other than 1. It’s fun, and 2. Every time I watch National Treasure now I’m struck by how exhausting this whole whirlwind must have been, and how tired they all must be. Relieved and excited and satisfied, yes, but t i r e d. Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the time on the $100 bill is debated and changes by edition, and that the Intrepid meeting takes place at 10am.

[popentertainmentconcertreviews]

Fall Out Boy, Bring Me the Horizon, Royal and the Serpent & Games We Play – BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ – August 6, 2023

Stardust and Spectacle: Fall Out Boy’s Unforgettable Night in Camden on the So Much for (Tour) Dust Finale.

Fall Out Boy brought an explosive performance to Camden, New Jersey on the final show of their So Much for (Tour) Dust. Under an 80-degree sun, the band delivered an almost sold-out spectacle at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, a venue in the New Jersey and Philly area, on Sunday, August 6th. With a set lasting an impressive 1 hour and 50 minutes, they played classics from the band's first days as well as tracks from their latest album. The band concluded their two-month-long US tour on a high note, heading next for Japan.

The evening commenced at 6:30pm with the first opening act, the Los Angeles-based band Games We Play. Their super fun and energetic show included three original songs, among them their latest release "All My Untalented Friends (ooo la la)," along with a cover of The Killers' "Mr. Brightside." Their performance ignited the audience and set the tone for an interactive and enjoyable evening.

Shortly after, at 7 pm, Royal and the Serpent took the stage for a 25-minute set, featuring some of their biggest hits like "Nation Underdogs" and "Overwhelmed." The band delivered a stunning rendition of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," showcasing the lead singer's and New Jersey native Ryan Santiago’s incredible vocals. They wrapped up their set by expressing that this had been the best summer of their lives, having the privilege to perform alongside some of their favorite bands.

Building on the success of Royal and the Serpent's performance, the British band Bring Me the Horizon took the stage, starting their set with "amEN!" and captivating the crowd with hits like "Happy Song," "Can You Feel My Heart," and "Drown." Lead singer Oliver Sykes even ventured into the audience during "Drown," making fans further from the stage feel included. The band expressed gratitude to Fall Out Boy for being one of their favorite bands and sharing the stage with them. Their electrifying set concluded with the hit "Throne."

At 9:10 pm, Fall Out Boy emerged on stage, delivering the highly anticipated and unforgettable show that everyone had been eagerly awaiting. Making their return to the Philly area after the 2021 Hella Mega Tour with Green Day and Weezer, Fall Out Boy gave Camden a night to remember. With pyrotechnics, dazzling light displays, stage changes, and fiery effects, they treated the Camden waterfront to a 1 hour and 50-minute spectacle.

The performance kicked off with an intro of "We Didn't Start the Fire," followed by the band playing the lead single from their latest album So Much (for) Stardust, titled "Love from the Other Side."

Their set list, consisting of 30 songs, included five tracks from their newest album released in March 2023, such as "Fake Out," "Baby Annihilation," and "Hold Me Like a Grudge," as well as timeless hits like "Dance, Dance" "Thnks fr th Mmrs," and "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark." Fall Out Boy enthralled the crowd with pyrotechnics, fire, smoke, magic tricks and surprises, such as inviting Ryan Santiago, Royal and the Serpent’s lead singer on stage to perform "Dead on Arrival,” which she then said was her favorite Fall Out Boy song.

The Chicago band also treated the audience to a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and a partial cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." In a delightful twist, they played two additional songs compared to the rest of the tour. Unexpected moments included a magic 8 ball on the screen, with Pete Wentz asking questions like "What song should we play next?” The highlight was the live debut of "Pavlove."

The lead singer also took to the piano to deliver a captivating performance of "Save Rock and Roll," and a medley of ‘’Jet Pack Blues / I’ve Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song) / Golden.” Concluding the night with "Saturday" from their second album, the band left the audience in awe. Amidst magical props, a giant dog head on stage, fire, bubbles, and smoke, Patrick Stump's remarkable vocals, Pete's exciting speeches, and the crowd's energy combined to create an unforgettable night. A mix of nostalgia, electricity, and enthusiasm filled the summer night at the Camden waterfront, marking the conclusion of the US leg of the So Much for (Tour) Dust.

Brenda Franco

Copyright ©2023 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: August 8, 2023.

Photos by Kaylee Marie © 2023. All rights reserved.

[thelensofyashunews]

Philly Phenom Lay Bankz Shares "Good Look" Music Video

Rising with her unique combination of velvety vocals and neck-snapping rhymes, Lay Bankz has racked up over 150 million streams since the start of 2024. Taking a moment to feel herself and send a warning to the competition, Lay Bankz shares the music video for "Good Look," her latest single. Produced by $aint Vincent, Albin Tengblad & Simon Jonasson, "Good Look" is powered by infectious flutes and Lay's radiant swag, as she leans into her inner Regina George and opens up her burn book: "How you ugly with no money? You just basic," she raps. In the video, directed by EMBRCETHESTRNGE, Lay pilots an old school Ford truck around her hometown of Philadelphia, as she heads from the studio to the stacks of her local library.

"Good Look" and its music video continue the momentum created by "Tell Ur Girlfriend," her nostalgic banger, which has already racked up over 20 million streams since its February release. The two new singles follow-up on an explosive 2023 that established Lay Bankz as one of the most exciting rising artists in music today. She kicked off the year with the frenetic club-rap anthem "Na Na Na," a viral smash that generated over 127k video creations on TikTok and over 44 million global streams. Lay tapped into the zeitgeist once again with her single "ICK!," a ferocious club-rap song about the moment sparks stop flying, which became one of the biggest viral hits of 2023, peaking at #8 on Billboard x TikTok's Viral Chart behind more than 1 million video creations, and generating over 89 million streams across platforms. Both "Na Na Na" and "ICK!" are highlights from Now You See Me, Lay's debut EP, which shows her range across 7 memorable tracks, and racked up over 139million streams. To close out 2023, Lay released "Sloppy Seconds (Ick Pt. 2)," the equally-cheeky follow-up single to "ICK!," generating 19million streams since its release in December.

Last month, Lay Bankz made her first appearance at Rolling Loud, when she shut it down on the main stage during Rolling Loud California 2024. Earlier this year, she was named one of Spotify's Most Necessary Artists To Watch for 2024, placed on Complex's list of Rappers To Watch in 2024 and YouTube's Fifty Deep Music Class of 2024, joined fellow club-influenced artist Skaiwater on "choosin u," and walked the Red Carpet at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

Lay Bankz is on a mission to bring Philly to the masses. Stay tuned for much more from the rapidly rising artist as the year continues.

[redemptioninchaos]

"Alright, ma'am. I've done as you've asked."

"You planted the explosive?... Good. Get back here."

"Yes, ma'am."

Colette would only notice the casually-dressed man with his headphones after she had gotten into her car - but it would be undeniable he had something to do with the explosion that took place a few seconds later. The parking lot where her car was was empty, Colette and her car aside. At least for now.

When Luceus flew towards her and her car, the last thing he expected was an explosion to happen. He did not freak out to hell and back; something told him Colette would manage to get out of this alive. But her car... He liked it a lot, and he knew she did, too. Oh she would be so pissed. And whoever the guy with the headphones was that he had seen leaving, he was knee-deep in trouble now. Luceus had overheard the stranger's conversation; this ma'am the man had talked to (he was far away but Luceus could hear him just fine) was probably his boss. Someone wanted to do Colette dirty. But who? Luceus frowned, thinking. No fucking way, ugh. Didn't we kill that weird fish guy? From back then, his opinion of Fíann had improved. But the same could not be said about Merrick...

Colette's BMW M850 prioritized speed, style, and luxury above everything else. It required more meticulous maintenance than what Colette actually gave it, but ever since she imported it from Philly, it hadn't had any issues.

Luceus and his brothers could fly. Heck, even Aurora could fly. Colette, despite having ties to an ancient wyvern spirit, couldn't fly, but her car was fast enough that it didn't matter.

Having been lulled into a false sense of security, Colette forgot to place any defensive runes on her car the one time, and it was the one time that led to disastrous results.

The car jumped up with the explosion, the sound enough to blow out car and building windows nearby and setting off car alarms. The doors blew clean off, four hunks of metal clanging onto the asphalt unceremoniously.

Shockingly, she step out of the car and the flames, only a few scorch marks on her clothes. She was otherwise fine, no signs of injury throughout her body; even her hair was unscathed. Her shoulders tensed up as she breathed heavily, her eyes glowing orange.

She could sense Luceus flying towards her, and she let out a bloodcurdling, two-toned scream, her own voice mixed with that of a primal chaos goddess as she turned towards him.

"WHO DID THIS?!"