Chris Willman

Why Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Matters: Breaking Down a Tour That’s the Ultimate Tonic for 2025 Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball is worth repeat visits if you can get 'em, as our critic explains in a commentary on what makes the tour so fun and vital.

I wrote about why I enjoy this Lady Gaga tour so much... Why Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Matters: Breaking Down a Tour That’s the Ultimate Tonic for 2025

Kalie Shorr on Her Evolution From Country to Alt-Pop, Coming Out as Queer, Worshipping Michelle Branch, and Why She Laid Low Before Coming Back With ‘My Type’ EP Country-turned-alt-pop singer Kalie Shorr talks about her new EP, 'My Type,' and why she laid low for four years before coming back with a bang.

Glad to catch up again with @kalieshorr.bsky.social and talk about her fun new EP, coming out, the underrated legacy of Michelle Branch, wondering if you've gotten *too* good at social media, and other related topics. variety.com/2025/music/n...

Warren Zevon to Be Saluted in L.A. Tribute Show Featuring Jackson Browne, Marshall Crenshaw and Other Guests (EXCLUSIVE) A tribute show with music of the late Warren Zevon will be produced by Wild Honey and feature Jackson Browne, Marshall Crenshaw and other guests.

A can't-miss concert coming up in October.

Kaitlin Butts Has a Live One With ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die (to Be Dead to Me),’ Her Irresistible TikTok Country Crossover Sensation Country singer Kaitlin Butts talks about 'You Ain't Gotta Die (to Be Dead to Me)' going viral with TikTok fans from Bettheny Frankel to Ella Langley.

I enjoyed talking with Kaitlin Butts about her newfound viral success, and was also happy to discuss her album's interesting "Oklahoma!" connections... variety.com/2025/music/n...

Amanda Shires Will Break Post-Split Silence With ‘Nobody’s Girl’ Album; First Single, ‘A Way It Goes,’ Focuses on ‘What’s Beautiful About Going Through Hard Things’ Amanda Shires released a single, 'A Way It Goes,' in advance of 'Nobody's Girl,' an album addressing her journey since the breakup of her marriage.

Shared some moments with Amanda Shires about her new single and forthcoming album. We have a more extensive story set for when the album comes out in October...

Wet Leg Is Back to Save Rock With ‘Moisturizer,’ as Rhian Teasdale Undergirds the Guitars With ‘Soppy Love Songs’: ‘Queer Love Is So Interesting to Me Right Now’ Wet Leg's 'Moisturizer' is getting rock fans revved up. Singer Rhian Teasdale talks about the album and how a relationship inspired 'soppy love songs.'

I talked with Wet Leg's frontwoman about the group's very fine new album... Wet Leg Is Back to Save Rock With ‘Moisturizer,’ as Rhian Teasdale Undergirds the Guitars With ‘Soppy Love Songs’: ‘Queer Love Is So Interesting to Me Right Now’ variety.com/2025/music/n...

At L.A.’s Disney Hall, Paul Simon’s Triumphant Comeback Tour Proves Quietly Unretiring Was the Right Move: Concert Review Paul Simon made the right move in doing a 2025 tour after previously saying he was done, as seen in a five-night stand at L.A.'s Disney Concert Hall.

I reviewed the first night of Paul Simon's five-night stand in L.A. variety.com/2025/music/c...

Composer Alexandre Desplat on a Summer That Includes ‘Jurassic World,’ ‘Phoenician Scheme’ and His First Hollywood Bowl Show: ‘It’s a Dream I’ve Had Since I Was a Kid’ Alexandre Desplat talks about his doing his first Hollywood Bowl show and his scores for 'Jurassic World,' 'Phoenician Scheme' and 'Frankenstein.'

Glad to talk with the film composer whose work I most look forward to... Composer Alexandre Desplat on a Summer That Includes ‘Jurassic World,’ ‘Phoenician Scheme’ and His First Hollywood Bowl Show: ‘It’s a Dream I’ve Had Since I Was a Kid’ variety.com/2025/music/n...

Halsey Delivers the Ultimate Fan-Service Show With Unscripted, Emotional Tour Finale at Yaamava’ Theater: Concert Review Halsey closed out her 2025 tour with a special show in southern California built around obscurities, new songs, surprises and emotional moments.

I reviewed a special one-off Halsey show out at the Yaamava, one of the best, most memorable gigs I've seen lately. She's such an underrated artist (at least underrated by my peers), and this show proved to me I haven't been wrong in elevating her to my personal top tier. variety.com/2025/music/c...

Important to note that the "Cindy Steinberg" account on Twitter(now suspended) that prompted Grok's "Hitler is good" replies was a fake account created by nazis to seed posts they could shriek at. It matters b/c nearly all the anti-SJW stuff a decade ago was based on posts created using this tactic.

The Best Concerts of 2025 (So Far) A look at the best concerts and tours of the first half of 2025.

I picked about 20 of my favorite shows so far this year for Variety's roundup (not nearly all the shows I've loved). I hope you've all been able to get out and see something this year that moved you... The Best Concerts of 2025 (So Far) variety.com/lists/best-c...

Zak Starkey on His New Supergroup, and Moving on After Being Fired Twice by the ‘F—ing Crazy’ Who: ‘I’m the Most Famous Drummer on Welfare’ Zak Starkey talks about being 'fired twice' by the Who, getting support from dad Ringo Starr, and his supergroup with Sean Ryder, Mantra of the Cosmos.

I sure enjoyed getting to talk with the raconteur that is Zak Starkey, about the comedy of errors with the effin' 'oo, of course, along with the project that Daltrey/Townshend claimed he was too busy with, Mantra of the Cosmos, which Zak sees as "a 21st century Hawkwind." variety.com/2025/music/n...

Ex-Country Star Chely Wright on What’s Changed for Gay People in the 15 Years Since She Came Out, and Why She’s Made the Surprising Leap From Artist to Corporate VP Ex-country star Chely Wright is now a VP for a corporation, ISS. She talks about still upholding the ideals she's espoused since coming out as gay.

So happy to talk again with old friend Chely Wright, about her new role doing a lot of good things in the business world as a corporate VP, while of course harking back to her 2010 coming-out and its aftermath for her and for country music. variety.com/2025/music/n...

Parker McCollum on Achieving Country Stardom While Honoring His Iconoclastic Texas Heroes: ‘I Was Never Gonna Go Write Pickup Truck and Beer Songs’ Country star Parker McCollum has a self-titled new album out. He talks about how he has topped the charts without abandoning his Texas influences.

I had a good sit-down with country star Parker McCollum about the self-titled album he released today, and where he does and doesn't fit into the country firmament when Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark and George Strait are his heroes. variety.com/2025/music/n...

Even the losers get lucky... Grateful to have been named Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the SoCal Journalism Awards, and to pick up awards for best magazine columnist, a cover story on the Eras Tour, and a piece on Randy Newman's "Faust." Thanks to @lapressclub.bsky.social and @variety.com.

No relation to the Donakd Ladies

Still reeling from how phenomenally good the Our Native Daughters reunion was at the Hollywood Bowl this week.

Michael Penn on Brightening Up a New ‘Sweet Relief’ Charity Album With Songs From the Great Depression: ‘It’s a Mirror Image of Where We Are Now’ Singer-songwriter Michael Penn talks about covering two anthems from the Great Depression for the charity album 'Sweet Relief — We Can Help.'

I talked with Michael Penn about covering "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" and "Hallelujah! I'm a Bum" for a new Sweet Relief charity album. (And if you're curious, I did ask if there might ever be another Michael Penn album, after all these years... and he had an answer.) variety.com/2025/music/n...

it is funny how many people affiliated with the secret police have had to say "stop making fun of the secret police, the guy in the tac vest that covers him like a training bra is a hero, he tracked down and subdued two hospice orderlies using only the W-2 forms they file annually"

I ration my uses of “Orwellian” but I’m only flesh and blood

Rhiannon Giddens’ All-Star Roots Revue at the Bowl Has Steve Martin, Our Native Daughters and Others Covering the Full Banjo Spectrum, From Black Consciousness to Comedy: Concert Review Rhiannon Giddens led a mostly Black, mostly banjo-driven night at the Hollywood Bowl that included Steve Martin and an Our Native Daughters reunion.

Recap of an unforgettable night at the Hollywood Bowl led by @rhiannongiddens.bsky.social ... Rhiannon Giddens’ All-Star Roots Revue at the Bowl Has Steve Martin, Our Native Daughters and Others Covering the Full Banjo Spectrum, From Black Consciousness to Comedy: Concert Review

In ‘American Heart,’ Benson Boone’s Music Still Isn’t Half as Much Fun as His Image: Album Review Benson Boone's 'American Heart' album has vocal prowess but comes up short in the song department, with an abundance of mawkish lyrics.

variety.com/2025/music/a...

Haim Takes a Rocky Path to Romantic Resignation in ‘I Quit’: Album Review In Haim's fourth album, 'I Quit,' the band moves toward a more minimalistic, live-sounding rock feel as they explore ditching hopeless relationships.

I dived into the new Haim record, out tonight... variety.com/2025/music/a...

This is unfathomably shameful. How do we even have to debate this? Why would anyone ever again be so foolish as to trust or help the United States if this is how we treat people who risk their lives on our behalf?

Nezza Speaks Out on Defying Dodgers’ Rules by Singing National Anthem in Spanish: ‘I Think God Entered My Body at That Moment’ (EXCLUSIVE) In a Variety Q&A, Nezza talks about why she went against the Dodgers' wishes and sing "The Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, and the polarized response.

I spoke today with the singer Nezza about what went on before and after she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, to considerable acclaim and derision... variety.com/2025/music/n...

Shooter Jennings Previews Trove of Unreleased Material by His Dad, Waylon, at L.A. Father’s Day Party With Charley Crockett and Other Friends Shooter Jennings held a birthday party for Waylon Jennings at the Viper Room, previewing an unreleased album and performing with Charley Crockett.

Recap of a memorable night at the Viper Room celebrating the Jennings family... Shooter Jennings Previews Trove of Unreleased Material by His Dad, Waylon, at L.A. Father’s Day Party With Charley Crockett, Ashley Monroe and Other Friends variety.com/2025/music/n... via @variety

Was Someone Trolling Trump by Playing Creedence’s Draft-Dodger-Slamming ‘Fortunate Son’ at His Military Parade? Or Is It Just the Further Death of Irony? The use of Creedence's draft-dodger-mocking 'Fortunate Son' while soldiers marched past Trump at his military parade struck some as possible trolling.

A few words to ponder the possibility that the No Kings movement is actually programming the president's music... Was Someone Trolling Trump by Playing Creedence’s Draft-Dodger-Slamming ‘Fortunate Son’ at His Military Parade? Or Is It Just the (Further) Death of Irony? variety.com/2025/music/c...

A Salute to Brian Wilson: Darian Sahanaja on Growing Up on Brian, Then Basking in His Musical Inner Circle for a Quarter-Century Darian Sahanaja, a crucial part of Brian Wilson's band since 1999, shares his thoughts about the late Beach Boy's brilliant legacy and last years.

What a delight to get Darian Sahanaja to write something for us about his experience as right-hand man to Brian Wilson for the last 25 years, and of course growing up on his music before that. variety.com/2025/music/n...

You're so vain, I bet you this country's about you

It feels kind of like Coachella... Coachella 2020