Stereogum

Jon Small, Drummer In Early Billy Joel Bands, Has Died

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 18:37:57 +0000

Jon Small, who played drums in Billy Joel's early bands the Hassles and Atilla and later became an accomplished director of music videos and concert films, has died. Joel announced his passing in a social media post today, and a death announcement circulating on social media notes he died Friday. His funeral will be held on Sept. 9 in Great Neck, New York. No cause of death has been listed.

The post Jon Small, Drummer In Early Billy Joel Bands, Has Died appeared first on Stereogum.

Macklemore Posts His “Free Palestine” Speech Amid Petition Calling For Ed Sheeran To Drop Him From Tour Over It

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 17:56:23 +0000

Macklemore has been loudly advocating for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza for years, but some Ed Sheeran fans are just now finding out about it. The Seattle rapper is currently opening for Sheeran on his North American stadium tour, and he's using it as a platform to advocate for a free Palestine among other causes. In response, a pro-Israel group has launched a petition to get him removed from the tour.

The post Macklemore Posts His “Free Palestine” Speech Amid Petition Calling For Ed Sheeran To Drop Him From Tour Over It appeared first on Stereogum.

Heavy Lifter – “Backyard”

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:07:45 +0000

We were into "Control," the recent single from Oakland "queer post-bubblegum slut grunge" crew Heavy Lifter, and I'd argue "Backyard" is even better. Out today via the great Cherub Dream label, the song begins with an eerie guitar line that reminds me of Metallica's "Fade To Black." But by the time Ren Forest's moonbeam voice is lighting the track, I'm hearing echoes of modern-day cult favorites like Forth Wanderers and Feeble Little Horse as well as a whole range of '90s touchstones from emo to shoegaze. It's got a basement show scrappiness to it, but at its climax, the song might as well be dive-bombing across the sky. Listen below.

The post Heavy Lifter – “Backyard” appeared first on Stereogum.

Cell Rot Announce New Album Paradise: Hear “Paradise/Parasite II”

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:43:32 +0000

The fast and nasty Oakland hardcore band Cell Rot put out an album called Parasite last year, the first half of a two-part project recorded with the iconic punk and metal producer Jack Shirley. Soon they'll drop the second half, Paradise. On opening track and lead single "Paradise/Parasite II," they hammer home the resemblance between those two words and the relationship between the concepts. "Paradise! Searchin' for your paradise!" growls vocalist Kyle. "Parasite! You're feedin' like a parasite!"

The post Cell Rot Announce New Album Paradise: Hear “Paradise/Parasite II” appeared first on Stereogum.

American Motors Announce New Album Functional Music: Hear “No Horses”

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:08:39 +0000

Lancaster, PA trio American Motors impressed us with their 2024 debut Content. Now they're back to announce another album of scraping, pounding, ominous underground rock music. For Functional Music, out in November, the band once again recorded with the legendary J Robbins at his Magpie Cage studio in Baltimore, so Alex Steward's drums thwack extra viscerally. Singer-guitarist Dustin White shared the following:

The post American Motors Announce New Album Functional Music: Hear “No Horses” appeared first on Stereogum.

Pulp Break Out Deep Cuts They Hadn’t Played In Decades At End Of The Road 2026

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:42:15 +0000

Pulp have been back at it for well over three years now, so it's probably too late to reflexively describe them as "the reunited Pulp" or "the resurgent Pulp." But if it's no longer novel for Jarvis Cocker and friends to be playing shows and releasing new music again, there are still ways for the band to surprise and delight their fans.

The post Pulp Break Out Deep Cuts They Hadn’t Played In Decades At End Of The Road 2026 appeared first on Stereogum.

The Alternative Number Ones: Sugar Ray’s “Fly”

Tom Breihan — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:32:23 +0000

The post The Alternative Number Ones: Sugar Ray’s “Fly” appeared first on Stereogum.

Wave Of Hospitalizations Follows Chainsmokers Show For The Second Time In Less Than A Month

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:41:16 +0000

Everyone knows it's dangerous to be in the presence of chainsmokers, but now it looks like it may be dangerous to be in the presence of the Chainsmokers. For the second time in less than a month, one of the DJ duo's shows sent a wave of people to the hospital.

The post Wave Of Hospitalizations Follows Chainsmokers Show For The Second Time In Less Than A Month appeared first on Stereogum.

A Fourth Stella Lefty Ripoff Accusation Has Hit The Internet

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:12:22 +0000

Stella Lefty may not have much style or substance as a songwriter, but at least she knows a good hook when she hears it. Lefty, the Groupon heiress born Stella Lefkofsky, scored one of this year's biggest hits with "Boston," a song that lifts its memorable melody from Noah Kahan's "Stick Season" — an accident, allegedly, even though she's covered "Stick Season" online repeatedly. After "Boston" made Lefty a star, people started to notice flickers of other well-known hits in her songs, including a bit of the Chicks' "There's Your Trouble" in "Summer You Were Mine" and a resemblance to Blake Shelton's "I'll Name The Dogs" in "Why Wouldn't We."

The post A Fourth Stella Lefty Ripoff Accusation Has Hit The Internet appeared first on Stereogum.

Radiohead Announce 2027 Shows In Australia & Japan

Chris DeVille — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:23:28 +0000

Ed O'Brien was telling the truth. Back when the Radiohead guitarist announced his solo album Blue Morpho, he revealed that his longtime bandmates had developed a plan for touring going forward. In 2025, Radiohead played their first shows in seven years, a series of multi-show residencies in European cities. O'Brien explained that they'd like to keep doing that every year starting in 2027, choosing a different continent each time. Now we know where they're headed next year.

The post Radiohead Announce 2027 Shows In Australia & Japan appeared first on Stereogum.

Jane Remover Drops Off M3F Fest Over “IDF Band” Temper City

Scott Lapatine — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:11:00 +0000

One month ago, Jane Remover issued an ultimatum to M3F Fest: Drop the Israeli alt-rock trio Temper City or they would no longer perform at next year’s event. “yo get that idf band off the lineup or I'm not playing,” the genre-blurring experimental pop artist posted on Instagram Stories on Aug. 5. Tonight, the Phoenix festival, which is scheduled for March 5 and 6, officially announced an updated 2027 lineup, and Jane Remover has been removed.

The post Jane Remover Drops Off M3F Fest Over “IDF Band” Temper City appeared first on Stereogum.

Alex Van Halen Gets Knighted, Reunites With David Lee Roth, Calls Sammy Hagar “A Complete Idiot”

Margaret Farrell — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:29:52 +0000

Van Halen had quite the summer. On Tuesday (Sept. 1), Alex Van Halen was knighted in the Netherlands. The Van Halen drummer was appointed a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, one of the country's highest civilian honors, during a ceremony in Nijmegen, the city where Alex and his brother Eddie spent much of their childhood before their family moved to the United States. Mayor Hubert Bruls presented Alex with the royal honor at the Berchmanianum, the academy building of Radboud University.

The post Alex Van Halen Gets Knighted, Reunites With David Lee Roth, Calls Sammy Hagar “A Complete Idiot” appeared first on Stereogum.

Andy Williams, Every Time I Die Guitarist And AEW Wrestler, Dead At 48

Margaret Farrell — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:49:42 +0000

It’s a sad day for metal and wrestling fans. Last night, professional wrestler and metal musician Andy Williams passed away following a medical emergency during a match at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. Williams was wrestling alongside his longtime tag-team partner, The Blade, under the banner of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He was 48.

The post Andy Williams, Every Time I Die Guitarist And AEW Wrestler, Dead At 48 appeared first on Stereogum.

Sloss City Festival Responds To Criticism From Birmingham EDM Community

Margaret Farrell — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:14:32 +0000

Some new EDM festival drama just dropped. This time, it’s in Birmingham, Alabama. This past January, Veritas Social announced Sloss City Festival, set to take place at the city’s historic Sloss Furnaces on September 18, 2026. The new festival is not to be confused with Sloss Fest, another diverse music festival that was held at the Furnaces before ending its four-year run in 2018.

The post Sloss City Festival Responds To Criticism From Birmingham EDM Community appeared first on Stereogum.

Spirit Of Talk Talk Celebrates 40 Years Of The Colour Of Spring In London

Margaret Farrell — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:42:31 +0000

Last night, at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London, a bunch of musicians gathered to celebrate the late Mark Hollis and the 40th anniversary of The Colour Of Spring, the third studio from British new wave group Talk Talk. The Spirit Of Talk Talk event featured original band members Simon Brenner, Phil Ramocon, and Ian Curnow. With the help of several special guests, they performed most of the classic LP plus tracks from across the band’s catalog.

The post Spirit Of Talk Talk Celebrates 40 Years Of The Colour Of Spring In London appeared first on Stereogum.

Phoebe Bridgers Earns Acclaim For Primetime, Contributes New Song To End Credits

Danielle Chelosky — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:59:12 +0000

Phoebe Bridgers has been busy. Last month, she shared her highly anticipated new album Lost Weekend and struggled to celebrate the release thanks to appendicitis. Now, she's making her acting debut in Lance Oppenheim's Primetime, which premiered Friday (Sept. 4) at the Venice Film Festival.

The post Phoebe Bridgers Earns Acclaim For Primetime, Contributes New Song To End Credits appeared first on Stereogum.

Burning Man Sees Fifth Death In Four Years, Festival Gate Closed Again Due To Weather

Danielle Chelosky — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:59:06 +0000

A Burning Man attendee has died, marking the festival's fourth death in four years. The man passed away on Friday (Sept. 4) after a medical emergency, and no foul play is suspected. UPDATE: On Saturday (Sept. 5) a second Burning Man attendee died. Craigh Mann, 60, was found dead in his camp around 3 p.m., the festival reported. No cause of death was released. Last year's homicide also remains unsolved.

The post Burning Man Sees Fifth Death In Four Years, Festival Gate Closed Again Due To Weather appeared first on Stereogum.

Yeat Drops Apparent Travis Scott Diss Track After Getting Removed From Slime Language 3

Danielle Chelosky — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:06:09 +0000

Earlier this week, fans were confused to find that Yeat's verse on YSL's compilation album Slime Language 3 had mysterious disappeared. There were rumors that another artist had given Young Thug an ultimatum to either remove Yeat's part or theirs. Now, a new diss track from Yeat seems to confirm it was Travis Scott.

The post Yeat Drops Apparent Travis Scott Diss Track After Getting Removed From Slime Language 3 appeared first on Stereogum.

fakemink – “Love Of The Game 3 .”

Danielle Chelosky — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:34:02 +0000

Earlier this year, fakemink unleashed his full-length debut Terrified ., which we named one of the best albums of the year so far. The prolific rapper and producer been sharing a handful of loosies since then, including the compelling "Love Is A Dog From Hell" last month. Now, he's back with another. This one's called "Love Of The Game 3 .," and it has a dreamy sound slithering underneath his signature deadpan rap and smoldering beat. Dive in below.

The post fakemink – “Love Of The Game 3 .” appeared first on Stereogum.

Nirosta Steel Shares Statement After Social Media Activity Raises Concerns

Chris DeVille — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:43:45 +0000

Steven Hall, the veteran musician and Arthur Russell collaborator known as Nirosta Steel, experienced breakout success this year with the release of My Skyscraper, an album comprising recordings from across the past four decades, on the boutique indie label ULYSSA. But increased attention has led to increased scrutiny.

The post Nirosta Steel Shares Statement After Social Media Activity Raises Concerns appeared first on Stereogum.

Quiet Light – “Hi, Society” (Ms* Gloom Cover)

Chris DeVille — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:26:49 +0000

Quiet Light's Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2 is easily one of this year's best albums, even if it was promoted as a mixtape. Today the performer known as Riya Mahesh has shined her hushed glow on another artist's track from last year. LA alt-pop singer Ms* Gloom's original recording of "Hi, Society" is a crystalline, beat-driven electro-pop track that reminds me of early Purity Ring. Mahesh has pared it down to a soft, sparse ballad. The chorus is giving "New Americana" if you ask me: "I don't smoke marijuana/ Drop the bass, Harry Potter/ Kurt Cobain, Nirvana/ Bless the shrimp, tap water." Hear both versions below.

The post Quiet Light – “Hi, Society” (Ms* Gloom Cover) appeared first on Stereogum.

Tara Lily – “Break The Motion”

Danielle Chelosky — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:05:17 +0000

Since releasing her debut album Speak In The Dark in 2024, Tara has opened for Raye in London and collaborated with King Krule. Today, the British-Bengali musician is back with a sprawling new song called "Break The Motion."

The post Tara Lily – “Break The Motion” appeared first on Stereogum.

2 Chainz, Cash Cobain, & Young Nudy – “Reign”

Chris DeVille — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:20:46 +0000

2 Chainz, Cash Cobain, and Young Nudy are three great tastes that taste great together. The Atlanta rap comedic genius, the NYC sexy drill pioneer, and the Atlanta trap iconoclast have joined forces on the new single "Reign." With its high-pitched soul sample and lush slo-mo beat, the vibe is reminiscent of the Kanye West/Twista/Jamie Foxx hit "Slow Jamz." It's a strip-club anthem that feels eminently listenable even without its strip-club music video. (I don't know if that's Atlanta's famed Magic City we're seeing, but Cash's chorus begins, "Magic City, I'm with Tity Boi," so probably.)

The post 2 Chainz, Cash Cobain, & Young Nudy – “Reign” appeared first on Stereogum.

Mike Watt Announces New Album With Thresher, New Supergroup With Mike Baggetta & John Herndon

Danielle Chelosky — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:57:09 +0000

Earlier this year, Mike Watt joined forces with J Mascis to cover each other's bands on a split. The Minutemen cofounder has stayed active since then; most recently, he announced a collaborative album with Ontario experimental noise rock band Thresher. It's called Beekeeper, and it arrives next week.

The post Mike Watt Announces New Album With Thresher, New Supergroup With Mike Baggetta & John Herndon appeared first on Stereogum.

The 5 Best Songs Of The Week

Stereogum — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:31:09 +0000

Every week the Stereogum staff chooses the five best new songs of the week. The eligibility period begins and ends Thursdays right before midnight. You can hear this week’s picks below and on Stereogum’s Favorite New Music Spotify playlist, which is updated weekly. (An expanded playlist of our new music picks is available to subscribers on Spotify and Apple Music, updated throughout the week.)

The post The 5 Best Songs Of The Week appeared first on Stereogum.

Elvis Costello Shares Previously Unreleased Original Version Of “I Turn Around” From My Aim Is True 49th Anniversary Edition

Danielle Chelosky — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:51:14 +0000

Last month, Elvis Costello announced a 49th anniversary edition of his debut album My Aim Is True, saying that the idea of a 50th anniversary edition struck him as "preposterous" and "made [his] teeth itch." The five-CD box set features 104 tracks, 52 of which are previously unreleased. He shared a bunch of versions of his 1977 single "Watching The Detectives," and now he's releasing the original version of "I Turn Around."

The post Elvis Costello Shares Previously Unreleased Original Version Of “I Turn Around” From My Aim Is True 49th Anniversary Edition appeared first on Stereogum.

Slow Pulp Debut New Songs “Yellow And Green” & “Slip Away” On The Adam Friedland Show

Danielle Chelosky — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:15:08 +0000

Slow Pulp's highly anticipated Yard followup Melodie comes out in exactly two weeks. So far the Chicago indie rock crew has shared "Better Man," "Not For Nothing," and "Spill," and today they're debuting two new tracks on The Adam Friedland Show.

The post Slow Pulp Debut New Songs “Yellow And Green” & “Slip Away” On The Adam Friedland Show appeared first on Stereogum.

Squeeze Cancel Virginia Show After Man Crushed To Death By Tour Bus

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:01:04 +0000

British new wave legends Squeeze are currently on a North American tour with fellow '80s veterans Adam Ant and Haircut 100, but they had to cancel last night's Vienna, Virginia show for tragic reasons. Before the show, a tour bus collapsed on a man, killing him.

The post Squeeze Cancel Virginia Show After Man Crushed To Death By Tour Bus appeared first on Stereogum.

Loraine James Shares Surprise New Album It’s Nothing Personal

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:48:41 +0000

Today is Bandcamp Friday, that blessed holiday in which previously unknown new records from underground artists seem to fall on our heads unbidden, like rain from the sky. Dig, if you will, the latest LP from London electronic producer Loraine James. Just a few months ago, James released Detached From The Rest Of You, an LP that included collaborations with Tirzah, Anysia Kym, and Low's Alan Sparhawk, and Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori. Today, James follows that one with a brand new Bandcamp-only surprise LP.

The post Loraine James Shares Surprise New Album It’s Nothing Personal appeared first on Stereogum.

DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ – “Junior Beat”

Margaret Farrell — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:46:03 +0000

Our favorite DJ named after a '90s TV show has returned with another phantasmical new track. The new single "Junior Beat" continues DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ's prolific streak as the follow-up to July's "Still Standing."

The post DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ – “Junior Beat” appeared first on Stereogum.

Downtown Boys, Flock Of Dimes, Pissed Jeans, & More Sub Pop Artists Cover Minnesota Musicians On New Benefit Comp Maximum MN

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:34:25 +0000

The state of Minnesota has a pretty incredible musical legacy, and that legacy is the focus of a new digital compilation from the people at Sub Pop. The label is using the term "mixtape" to refer to Maximum MN, but we already know that it's the kind of classic compilation that Sub Pop might've release decades ago. This particular release is a benefit for the International Institute Of Minnesota, an organization that aids immigrants and refugees, in the wake of ICE's murderous raids on the state.

The post Downtown Boys, Flock Of Dimes, Pissed Jeans, & More Sub Pop Artists Cover Minnesota Musicians On New Benefit Comp Maximum MN appeared first on Stereogum.

claire rousay & Martyna Basta Announce New Album hotel room: Hear “cool girls go to heaven”

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:11:32 +0000

The LA-based sonic impressionist claire rousay does a whole lot of collaborating, working with peers like more eaze, Grumpy, and William Tyler. Soon, she'll follow a little death, the solo album that she released last year, with hotel room, a full-length team-up with Polish ambient composer Martyna Basta.

The post claire rousay & Martyna Basta Announce New Album hotel room: Hear “cool girls go to heaven” appeared first on Stereogum.

Eliminators Release Shit-Stomping Debut Album E.F.F.E.

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:55:36 +0000

I got to know Ace Stallings a few years ago, when he was maybe the busiest hardcore promoter in Richmond. Stallings is an extremely cool presence, both welcoming and imposing, and he's about as passionate about hardcore as a person can be. He's been a great frontman for bands like Break Away, Mutually Assured Destruction, and Sentinel. These days, Stallings is living out in the Bay Area, where he books tons of shows and fronts the straight-edge hardcore punk crew Eliminators.

The post Eliminators Release Shit-Stomping Debut Album E.F.F.E. appeared first on Stereogum.

Steady Holiday Announces New Album It’s Your Trip: Hear “New Generation”

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:37:18 +0000

It's been a few years since Steady Holiday, the one-woman project from LA musician Dre Babinski, released the album Newfound Oxygen. Babinski followed that LP with last year's one-off single "Seasonal Optimism." Later this fall, she'll come out with It's Your Trip, a new album inspired by brain-altering experience of becoming a parent.

The post Steady Holiday Announces New Album It’s Your Trip: Hear “New Generation” appeared first on Stereogum.

Andy Boay Announces New Album Doomed: Hear “Child”

Chris DeVille — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:30:57 +0000

It was just last year when Tonstartssbandht dude Andy Boay (aka Andy White) released his album You Took That Walk For The Two Of Us, and he's already gone and made another one. Ominously, it's called Doomed. White tracked it on a Tascam 688 cassette recorder in two locations: the New York Center for Creativity and Dance in Manhattan's East Village and the Amelia Street House in the Orlando neighborhood Lake Eola Heights.

The post Andy Boay Announces New Album Doomed: Hear “Child” appeared first on Stereogum.

Katrina Ford Announces New Album To The Lighthouse: Hear “Winter Sun”

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:16:48 +0000

TV On The Radio's Return To Cookie Mountain just turned 20, and when I revisited it, I was struck all over again by how much Katrina Ford's backing vocals added to a bunch of those songs. Ford was a TVOTR associate from the very beginning. Before he produced the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Fever To Tell, Dave Sitek did his first-ever production job on Here Is Night, Brothers, Here The Birds Burn, the 2002 album from Ford's Baltimore art-punk band Love Life.

The post Katrina Ford Announces New Album To The Lighthouse: Hear “Winter Sun” appeared first on Stereogum.

Day Residue – “Gag Order” & “Hypothetical”

Margaret Farrell — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:14:45 +0000

Last year, Detroit's Day Residue released i love what you’ve done with the place, a ferocious EP that was diverse in its disgruntled punkiness. Since then, they shared the one-off "Lackey." Today, they've returned with two new singles "Gag Order" and "Hypothetical" that continue their stellar streak.

The post Day Residue – “Gag Order” & “Hypothetical” appeared first on Stereogum.

Bassvictim – “Jagódki (Blueberries)”

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:55:31 +0000

Over the past year or so, UK duo Bassvictim captured a lot of people's imaginations with their blown-out, hedonistic take on experimental bedroom-pop. We were really into their EP ?, which came out earlier this year. It appears that Bassvictim have settled any beef with their hyperpop peer and remix client daine, and they're about to head out on a North American tour, so it's a good time for a new single.

The post Bassvictim – “Jagódki (Blueberries)” appeared first on Stereogum.

Styrofoam Winos’ Lou Turner Announces New Album Strangels: Hear “Ants Underfoot”

Chris DeVille — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:39:12 +0000

You may know Lou Turner as 1/3 of the brilliant rootsy/folksy Nashville indie band Styrofoam Winos or as a regular in Ryan Davis' Roadhouse Band. She also has two solo albums to her name, and it's about to be three when Strangels drops this fall. The newly announced LP kicks off with "Ants Underfoot," which is out today as the lead single.

The post Styrofoam Winos’ Lou Turner Announces New Album Strangels: Hear “Ants Underfoot” appeared first on Stereogum.

Hayley Williams Gives Old Songs Their Live Debuts At Palm Beach Tour Opener

Tom Breihan — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:33:53 +0000

Earlier this year, Paramore leader Hayley Williams headed out on her first-ever solo tour. It went well. Williams brought out a bunch of special guests and built her live show around Ego Death At The Bachelorette Party, the triumphant LP that she released last year. I saw her at Kilby Block Party, and she kicked ass. Back in May, while that tour was still happening, Williams announced plans for a completely different tour, this one called "The Hayley Williams Show," promising "material across all three of the singer’s solo albums as well as some exciting surprises." Now that the tour is underway, we have a better idea what that means.

The post Hayley Williams Gives Old Songs Their Live Debuts At Palm Beach Tour Opener appeared first on Stereogum.