Today's Music Pulse
Drake Nears Record‑Breaking Billboard 200 Streak
Drake is closing in on Morgan Wallen’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to The Source. Forbes adds that this also matches Adele’s historic tally of debut‑at‑number‑one singles.
Here’s How Phish Outdid Themselves With Their Nine-Night, No-Repeats Sphere Run
Phish wrapped a nine‑night residency at Las Vegas’s Sphere with a flawless no‑repeat setlist, delivering 161 distinct songs across roughly 27 hours of performance. The band leveraged the venue’s massive LED screen and 167,000‑speaker spatial audio system to turn the building into an instrument, blending live music with real‑time visual narratives. Debuts such as the acoustic “Brief Time” and the 20‑minute “Dark Puddle” jam highlighted the creative risks taken. Their achievement eclipsed Dead & Company’s previous Sphere record and inspired peers like Metallica to explore similar setlist strategies.
Of Montreal Shares Video for New Song “Already Dreaming” Directed by Kevin Barnes’ Daughter
Indie pop collective Of Montreal announced its ninth studio album, aethermead, slated for release on June 5 through Polyvinyl. The band unveiled the second single, “Already Dreaming,” accompanied by a music video directed by Kevin Barnes’ film‑school daughter, Beatrice Barnes. Barnes...
Sabrina Carpenter Sang With Stevie Nicks at the Met Gala
At Monday night’s Met Gala, pop singer Sabrina Carpenter performed two of her hits before joining Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks for a surprise duet. The pair sang “Landslide” and later returned for a joint rendition of “Don’t Stop,” while...
DEVIN TOWNSEND To Tour Europe This Coming September And October
Canadian prog‑metal icon Devin Townsend will embark on a 23‑date European tour from September 1 to October 6, coinciding with the May 29 release of his concept album *The Moth*. The itinerary spans ten countries, including the UK, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Switzerland,...
Andy Martin – Tierra De Nahuales
Mexican producer Andy Martin releases the concept‑driven EP *Tierra de Nahuales*, inspired by the shapeshifting nahual of pre‑colonial mythology. The record juxtaposes heavy, earthbound bass with airy, celestial synths, most notably on the evolving track “Pleiadian Sound Clash.” Other cuts...
The Offspring’s ‘White Guy’ Video Star, Now a Political Livestreamer, Is Still Pretty Fly
Guy Cohen, the actor who played the “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” character in The Offspring’s 1998 video, has rejoined the band onstage at recent shows including the Kia Forum, When We Were Young Festival, and BeachLife. Beyond music,...
Austin City Limits Announces 2026 Lineup for Landmark 25th Year
Austin City Limits marks its 25th anniversary with a two‑weekend festival on Oct. 2‑4 and Oct. 9‑11 at Zilker Park. The 2026 lineup blends pop megastars like Charli XCX and Lorde with indie heavyweights such as The xx and electronic acts like...
ACL Fest 2026 Lineup
Austin City Limits Festival announced its 2026 lineup, featuring headliners The XX, Turnstile, Lorde and Blood Orange. Organizers and fans note that this set of headliners is among the weakest the festival has offered in recent years. The bill is bolstered by...
Silo ‘Haze’ | Track By Track
British post‑hardcore band Silo released their debut album Haze, recorded in just seven days at The Ranch Production House in Southampton. Front‑man Kriss Maguire describes the record as a love‑hate expression of internal aggression, crafted for the band’s own pride...
La Securite Drop Deny Video
La Sécurité has released a new single that reviewers describe as a thumping, dance‑ready indie rock groove. The track features a rolling bass line, spoken‑word interjections, and sharp guitar accents that lock listeners into a natural, bobbing vibe. The band announced...
Empire Child’s Music Could Heal the World
Ruth Rothwell, performing as Empire Child, has released her debut album The Empire Child on Fine Roots Recordings. The record fuses soul, jazz, electronic, and reggae textures while drawing on Rothwell’s South‑African, Indo‑Jamaican and British heritage. Lyrically, the songs confront imperialism,...
ASIAN DOPE BOYS, Ziúr and More to Play at Kuboraum’s Venice Biennale Takeover
Kuboraum is staging a four‑day "We Travel to Know Our Own Geography" program at the Venice Art Biennale from May 6‑9, hosted at the historic Pier Fortunato Calvi State Secondary School. The lineup blends performance art, music, and multidisciplinary collaborations, featuring...
Stevie Nicks and Sabrina Carpenter Sing 'Landslide' At Met Gala
Stevie Nicks made her Met Gala debut on May 5, 2026, sharing the stage with pop star Sabrina Carpenter for duets of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” and “Don’t Stop.” Nicks’ four‑song set also featured “Gypsy” and her solo anthem “Edge of Seventeen,” while Carpenter performed...
How Lifeson Convinced Emmett to Bring His 'Fat Bastard' On Tour
Canadian rock veterans Triumph have resumed touring with their "Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded" trek, featuring guitarist Rik Emmett wielding a white double‑neck Gibson after a nudge from Rush’s Alex Lifeson. The tour, running from April 10 to early June with a makeup...
Watch Stevie Nicks and Pop Superstar Sabrina Carpenter Duet on Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide at at the Met Gala
Stevie Nicks made her first Met Gala appearance on May 4, sharing the stage with pop star Sabrina Carpenter for a duet of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” Nicks then performed “Gypsy,” “Edge of Seventeen,” and closed with “Don’t Stop” backed by a 12‑piece choir and Carpenter’s...
Croz Boyce Share “Steven’s Sunshine Rejected” Video Ahead of Friday’s Debut Album
Croz Boyce, the new instrumental duo of Animal Collective’s Avey Tare and Geologist, released their second single “Steven’s Sunshine Rejected” ahead of their self‑titled debut album dropping on May 8 via Domino. The track is paired with an underwater river video...
Finn Wolfhard Announces North American Headline Tour
Actor‑musician Finn Wolfhard announced a North American headline tour to promote his upcoming second album, Fire From The Hip, slated for release on July 10, 2026. The tour launches on July 17 in Washington, DC, and will travel across the United States...
✘ How Many People Does It Take to Change a Band?
The article examines how lineup changes affect a band’s identity and longevity, citing examples from Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Steely Dan, The Fall, and the Velvet Underground. It argues that a band can survive, reinvent, or collapse depending on whether a core creative vision...
3 Reasons Kellie Pickler's 'American Idol' Return Was So Special
Kellie Pickler, 39, returned to the national stage on May 4, 2024, performing “A Broken Wing” with Hannah Harper on American Idol. The duet was part of a 20‑year class‑reunion episode that culminated in a Top 3 reveal. It marks Pickler’s first...
Melanie C Offers a Brilliant Club-Ready Mixtape
Melanie C released her ninth solo album, "Sweat," a 40‑minute, club‑ready mixtape aimed at both dancefloors and gym playlists. The record leans on 1990s dance nostalgia, sampling Diana Ross and echoing Daft Punk‑style disco while weaving house, reggaeton and piano‑house textures. It marks...
DE’WAYNE to Join Joel Madden on Ep. 164 of Artist Friendly
DE’WAYNE is slated to appear on episode 164 of the Artist Friendly podcast alongside Joel Madden, with the episode dropping on streaming platforms this Wednesday. The series, which has featured guests such as Ziggy Marley, Michael Bingham and Melissa Etheridge,...
See You at Carnegie | May 13-19
Daniel Zinn’s Substack post offers a curated lineup of concerts and performances scheduled for May 13‑19, 2026, spotlighting marquee acts such as pianist Evgeny Kissin, the NYC Ballet, the Handel and Haydn Society, Curtis at 92NY, and a production of Turandot. The...
New Synth Pop Groove From MASKS
MASKS, the anonymous project of sFox, has dropped a new synth‑pop single titled “Everybody Ever.” The track mixes airy, dreamy production with a nostalgic nod to early‑2000s indie pop acts like The Postal Service and Stars. It serves as the...
Zoh Amba Shares Title Track and Video for “Eyes Full,” (+ UK & European Tour Dates)
Zoh Amba released the title track and video for "Eyes Full," the second preview from their Matador debut slated for June 5. Directed by Grace Bader Conrad, the video moves from a gym boxing scene to a pickup basketball game, mirroring...
“Can’t Stop Singing About Jesus”: Exploring the “Devotional” Tag
The article surveys the niche "devotional" tag on Bandcamp, highlighting a handful of obscure Christian‑focused releases that exist only as self‑issued or private‑press records. It centers on Gary Fink’s 1979 album *Can’t Stop Singing About Jesus*, which was rescued from...
Wesenyeleh Mebreku, “Resonance of Time (የጊዜ ቃና)”
Ethiopian educator‑musician Wesenyeleh Mebreku’s 1986 album *Resonance of Time* has been reissued by Incidental Music, the sister label of Portland’s Tone Poem. Recorded on a Casio Casiotone CT‑201 during Ethiopia’s cassette‑tape boom, the eight‑track set reimagines folk melodies with lo‑fi synth riffs....
Kiki Cavazos Says ‘Goodbye Blues’ and Keeps on Travelin’
Montana‑born singer‑songwriter Kiki Cavazos has issued her debut album, Goodbye Blues, a collection that fuses folk, country, and blues with stark fingerpicking and a resonant double‑bass foundation. The record’s ten tracks weave personal narratives of wandering, heartbreak, and the search...
Pussycat Dolls Among String of Tour Cancellations
The Pussycat Dolls have scrapped 32 of their 53‑date world tour, leaving only one North American show at Los Angeles’ Outloud festival while the European leg proceeds as planned. Zayn Malik’s Konnakol Tour lost nearly two dozen dates for health...
Go Public Prep Debut LP
Atlanta‑based band Go Public is set to drop its debut LP "You Are Traffic" on July 24 through indie label HHBTM. The record blends dance‑punk energy with art‑rock sensibilities reminiscent of Talking Heads and Orange Juice, featuring dual vocalists and...
Langhorne Slim on Big Macs, Playing Hard Softly, and His Touring Dream
Langhorne Slim sat down for a tour Q&A, revealing his evolution from cramming a Toyota Camry with a bass and gear to traveling in a rented Sprinter van. He discussed how his diet shifted from beef‑free Big Macs to healthier...
Karol G Sells 2 Million Tickets in Four Days, Sets Latin Music Record
Karol G’s Viajando Por El Mundo tour moved 2 million tickets in the first four days after tickets went on sale, making her the first Latina artist to headline a stadium tour globally. The rapid sell‑out underscores her growing influence in...
OM Announce Reissues of First Two Albums
Chicago label Drag City announced it will reissue OM’s first two albums, Variations On A Theme (2005) and Conference Of The Birds (2006), in CD, vinyl and cassette formats on 29 May 2026. The records originally appeared on the Holy...
Today in Hip-Hop History: GangStarr’s Third LP ‘Daily Operation’ Dropped 34 Years Ago
Gang Starr’s third studio album *Daily Operation* turns 34, having debuted in 1992 during hip‑hop’s gritty East Coast boom‑bap era. The record blends Guru’s street‑level storytelling with DJ Premier’s jazz‑infused, head‑nodding production, delivering classics like “Ex Girl to Next Girl” and...
Black Country New Road, Ye Vagabonds, Perfume Genius, Lisa Hannigan's SIRENS and More for The National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall in Dublin unveiled a slate of concerts running from September 2026 to March 2027, covering its Perspectives contemporary‑music series, the annual Tradition Now festival, and several one‑off events. Highlights include Ye Vagabonds performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, Black...
The Milk Carton Kids' Top 5 Songs Right Now
Los Angeles‑based folk duo The Milk Carton Kids released their seventh album, Lost Cause Lover Fool, on April 24 through Far Cry/Thirty Tigers, and participated in No Depression’s new “Top 5” series. In the interview, they shared the five songs currently...
Kevin J.B. O’Connor Shares New Single
Kentucky‑based indie songwriter Kevin J.B. O’Connor has released a new single that showcases his signature delicate pop‑ballad style. Critics compare the track’s acoustic texture to a Galaxie 500 LP, noting its layered arrangement and restrained melody. The song is now available...
Converge Unleash Blisteringly Raw Single ‘Doom In Bloom’
Converge is releasing a second 2026 album, “Hum Of Hurt,” on June 5 via Epitaph Records, following February’s “Love Is Not Enough.” The band dropped the jagged single “Doom In Bloom,” the second preview from the upcoming record. Vocalist Jacob Bannon...
Over 2m Tickets Sold for Karol G’s Global Stadium Run
Colombian star Karol G’s upcoming Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour has sold over 2 million tickets in just four days, prompting an expansion from the originally announced 39 dates to 63 shows across North America, Europe and Latin America. The tour,...
The Complicated Relationship Between Hit Songs and Longevity
Keith Jopling’s "Riding the Rollercoaster" explores why longevity remains the holy grail of the music business and how a hit record can be both a shortcut and a trap. He outlines five routes to a lasting career, with the first—scoring...
The Bond That Riley Green + Ella Langley Share Can't Be Broken
Riley Green and rising star Ella Langley have cemented a hitmaking partnership, scoring two No. 1 duets and earning Artist‑Songwriter of the Year nominations at the 2026 ACM Awards. Their friendship was highlighted in an exclusive interview where Green praised Langley's...
Red Vanilla’s Where I Should Be: A Gritty New EP
Scottish alt‑rock trio Red Vanilla will self‑release their second EP, Where I Should Be, on May 8 2026. The seven‑track record builds on their 2024 debut Days of Grey, adding electronic textures, acoustic moments and heavier stoner‑rock passages. Lead single “Ask Her...
Batu and Donato Dozzy Reveal Collaborative LP, ‘Exhale’
Turkish producer Omar McCutcheon (Batu) and Italian ambient pioneer Donato Dozzy have released their first joint album, Exhale, on June 30, 2026. The eight‑track record follows a back‑to‑back DJ set at the 2023 Draaimolen festival and stems from ideas first...
‘Léve Léve Vol. 2’ Highlights Lusophone Coalition
Swiss label Bongo Joe has issued Léve Léve Vol. 2, a curated compilation of São Tomé and Príncipe popular music from the 1970s‑80s. The collection spotlights the puxa genre, a hybrid sound drawing on Haitian, Congolese, Angolan, Cape Verdean and Brazilian influences, and...
Thursday Cancel Appearance At 2000trees Festival
Post‑hardcore veterans Thursday have withdrawn from their slated July performance at the 2000trees Festival in Cheltenham, citing a need for several members to be home. The band confirmed that eight U.S. dates scheduled for June through October remain on the...
Upcoming Metal Releases: 5/3/26 – 5/9/26
The week of May 3‑9 2026 brings a wave of new metal releases across grindcore, black, death, and avant‑garde subgenres. Swedish grindcore act Gadget returns with *Coerced*, its first material since 2021, featuring new vocalist Emilia Henriksson. Veteran Norwegian band Darkthrone drops...
JPEGMAFIA, NAV, Madonna, Lizzo | Weekly Track Roundup: 5/3/26
Anthony Fantano’s weekly track roundup spotlights a mix of standout and disappointing releases, from JPEGMAFIA’s “Baby Girl” and Madonna’s “Bring Your Love” to the under‑whelming NAV/Quavo “MUTT.” The roundup highlights genre‑blending experiments such as Kaátaìra’s acoustic black‑metal‑Brazilian fusion and Nia...
The Rolling Stones Bring Three Nights of Satisfaction to "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" This Month
The Rolling Stones will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon across three episodes in May 2026. Mick Jagger is slated for May 6, Keith Richards for May 7, and Ronnie Wood for May 13. This marks Richards’ third, and Jagger’s and Wood’s second, appearances...
Everybody Is OBSESSED With Masayoshi Takanaka
Masayoshi Takanaka, a Japanese guitar virtuoso from the 1970s‑80s city‑pop era, has experienced an unexpected resurgence in 2025. After a 40‑year hiatus, he sold out back‑to‑back shows in New York and his world tour is fully booked, while streaming platforms...
Floating Point Shares New Song, ‘Falling To Earth’
British electronic producer Floating Points released "Falling To Earth," an excerpt from his debut ballet score for "Mere Mortals" recorded with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. The track blends modular synthesis with orchestral textures and debuted with the ballet in...
Namasenda – Limbo | Album Review
Swedish hyperpop artist Namasenda drops her long‑awaited debut album *Limbo* on May 8, 2026, marking a decade of underground development and a partnership with PC Music founder A.G. Cook. The record opens with the club‑ready “Love Island” and traverses a spectrum from 80s‑inspired synths...