Michael O’Connor Marotta

The inaugural Dream A Better World Fest launches two weeks from today, Sunday, August 24, at Warehouse XI, delivering a new social justice music festival to Somerville.

⚡ rubygrovemusic.com/dreamabetter...

Live Review + Photo Gallery: Pantera flex an older display of power The Texas groove metal miscreants, now rounded out by Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, brought the heat to Mansfield's XFinity Center.

Live Review + Photo Gallery: Texas groove metal miscreants Pantera, now rounded out by Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, brought the heat, literally and figuratively, to Mansfield's Xfinity Center over the weekend.

vanyaland.com/2025/08/05/l...

@michaelchristopher.bsky.social
@michaeloc.bsky.social

A week from Friday (08.15), The Ringer Soundtrack tug on the relationship heartstrings with 'In Real Time', a seismic and emotive new single from the Boston alt-pop trio that was produced by The Arcitype and recorded at The Bridge Sound and Stage.

⚡ knyvet.substack.com/p/the-ringer...

The V List: Five of our favorite national tracks from June 2025 The month was soundtracked by new and notable efforts from Suede, MFK, Isabella&Sebastian, King Princess, and Weakened Friends.

The V List: The month was soundtracked by new and notable efforts from Suede, MFK, Isabella&Sebastian, King Princess, and Weakened Friends.

vanyaland.com/2025/08/04/t...

@suedehq.bsky.social
@weakenedfriends.bsky.social
@michaeloc.bsky.social

Three weeks from today (8.24), join us at Dream A Better World Fest at Warehouse XI in Somerville, a response to the current times with musicians, artists, activists, and organizations sharing ideas and music, organized by Melissa Nilles of Ruby Grove.

⚡ www.eventbrite.com/e/dream-a-be...

It was the best of times, it was the Worcester times.

My entire existence is dominated by dramatic AI cat family videos.

I feel like this new Wet Leg album is the second Elastica record we all hoped for in the late ‘90s.

I really need to stay off Threads.

I for one would like to see your fireworks video.

Half-Year in ReView: Vanyaland's 10 favorite national songs of 2025 (so far) We're hitting the halfway mark of 2025 with standout jams from SpiritWorld, Boy Deluxe, Wet Leg, The Beaches, Fontaines D.C., and more.

Half-Year in ReView: Vanyaland’s 10 favorite national songs of 2025 (so far)

🔗 vanyaland.com/2025/07/03/h...

We have entered the We'll Just Get To It Next Week portion of this short holiday week.

Robert Ellis Orrall is live on GBH’s The Culture Show talking his new live album, this weekend’s release party in Marblehead, and helping launch Taylor Swift’s career.

www.wgbh.org/shows/the-cu...

@robertellisorrall.bsky.social
@thecultureshowgbh.bsky.social

WEATHER UPDATE: Due to the expected rain on Saturday, The New England Americana Festival will now take place on its scheduled rain date: Sunday, June 29, from 1 to 8 p.m. That's the only change and everything else is going on as planned. Thanks and see you on Sunday.

⚡ bellforge.org/event/new-en...

YouTube video by Oh, Hello Boston The return of the New England Americana Festival | Interview with Kier Byrnes

Ahoy! The New England Americana Festival is this Saturday at Bellforge Arts Center, and Kier Byrnes chatted with Sooz at Oh, Hello Boston about its history, highlights over the past 15+ years, and what to expect this weekend at the 14-band, 2-stage, all ages celebration.

@kierbyrnes.bsky.social

Happy birthday, Glenn Danzig: These are his 70 greatest songs The iconic frontman turns 70 today, so to celebrate we find the best tracks from his extensive catalog, from Misfits to Elvis.

Happy birthday, Glenn Danzig: These are his 70 greatest songs, from Misfits to Elvis

🔗 vanyaland.com/2025/06/23/h...

@michaeloc.bsky.social
@michaelchristopher.bsky.social
#danzig #musicsky

Mark the date on your calendars... June 28th (rain date June 29). Fourteen of the area's top Americana bands. It all takes place at the Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield Ma, 1-8pm.

Sin Some / Lose Some by Soft Skies Inc Stream and Save Sin Some / Lose Some - Distributed by DistroKid

🚨 New Music Tuesday 🚨

SOFT SKIES INC, 'Sin Some / Lose Some'

⚡ distrokid.com/hyperfollow/...

For many of us, home is a feeling, one that provides emotional gravity, wherever we may be in the world, available and willing to help steer our course to the safety we crave.

YouTube video by CBS Boston The Road to Boston Calling Music Special

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7rq...

AUK’s Monthly EP Round-Up – May 2025 Firstly, may I start by thanking my esteemed colleague Fred Arnold for picking up the baton and doing such a sterling job with last month’s EP Round-Up while I took a much-needed holiday. Now…

Wonderful review live today @americanauk.bsky.social on Derek Smith's new EP -- "Musically, the sound draws from a broad palette from the seventies pop rock of 10cc to the more modern indie rock of Bon Iver. Everything here is an absolute joy to lose yourself in."

⚡ americana-uk.com/auks-monthly...

The best vibes, the best city, the best fest.

Nate Perry & Ragged Company 🖤 Boston Calling Music Festival

⚡ www.instagram.com/p/DKGSBuKsrEi/

I love late May, when the Carolina Hurricanes are downgraded to a tropical depression.

How this chiptune band went from ‘dumpster fire’ to first-ever Boston Calling Despite dealing with some heavy criticism, Battlemode has proceed to make a name for itself in Boston's chiptune scene.

In a new feature on MassLive, Battlemode discuss their humble origins, making chiptune, and playing Boston Calling ahead of festival weekend. We got 'Dumpster fire' in a headline, and that's a first.

⚡ www.masslive.com/boston/2025/...

@masslive.bsky.social
@battlemode.bsky.social

Fest Intentions: Grub, Sweat, and Beers 9 is a beast of Boston heaviness This year's Grub, Sweat, and Beers goes down July 26 and 27 with a sweltering smorgasbord lineup of metal, hard rock, psych, and more.

Fest Intentions: Grub, Sweat, and Beers 9 is a beast of Boston heaviness

🔗 vanyaland.com/2025/05/22/f...

This year's weekend BBQ at O'Brien's Pub goes down July 26 and 27 with a sweltering smorgasbord of metal, hard rock, psych, and more. 📸 Bruce Bettis

@michaeloc.bsky.social

Awesome time yesterday on-site early at Boston Calling with Nate Perry & Ragged company filming a segment for Chronicle.

Boston Calling V List: 5 underrated bops to soundtrack the festival This weekend at the Harvard Athletic Complex we're vibing out to Sofia Isella, Sam Austins, Mo Lowda & the Humble, Megan From Work, and IDKHow.

Boston Calling V List: 5 underrated bops to soundtrack the festival --

🔗 vanyaland.com/2025/05/20/b...

This weekend at the Harvard Athletic Complex we're vibing out to SOFIA ISELLA, Sam Austins, Mo Lowda & the Humble, Megan From Work, and I Dont Know How but They Found Me.

@michaeloc.bsky.social

Temporary Circus: Act 1 Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures · EP · 2025 · 5 songs

🎡 New Music Friday 🎡

Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures weave a melodic cautionary tale with today’s 'Temporary Circus: Act 1' EP. The prolific Boston singer-songwriter offers an enchanting reflection on societal illusions, manipulations & spectacles.

⚡ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/2AkpkN...

Game Over by Battlemode Stream and Save Game Over - Distributed by DistroKid

🕹 New Music Friday
🕹 @battlemode.bsky.social
🕹 'Game Over'

Ahead of an appearance at Boston Calling next week & fresh off throwing a three-day, five-venue, 50-artist chiptune festival in March, Battlemode deliver a breakup bop at the basement rave with "Game Over."

⚡: distrokid.com/hyperfollow/...

Joe Don Baker, Rugged Character Actor From 'Walking Tall' and James Bond Films, Dead at 89 Joe Don Baker, the prolific character actor who appeared in 'Walking Tall,' 'Junior Bonner' and three James Bond movies, has died at the age of 89.

RIP Joe Don Baker. Tonight I'm drinking my Scotch by the quart.

www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

Interview: Mallrat shines a 'Light' through an ethereal pop ethos Grace Shaw chats about the art of shuffling verses, touring with Kylie Minogue, and childhood brushes with Irish music and all-girls schools.

Interview: Mallrat shines a ‘Light’ through an ethereal pop ethos --

🔗 vanyaland.com/2025/05/09/i...

Ahead of her Allston show, Grace Shaw chats about the art of shuffling verses, touring with Kylie Minogue, and childhood brushes with Irish music and all-girls schools.

@vickiwasylak.bsky.social