Month: September 2021

Despite portraying lovable-yet-bumbling accountant Kevin Malone on the hit NBC comedy series The Office, actor Brian Baumgartner is proving he’s anything but bad with money. While some of us picked up knitting during the pandemic, Baumgartner is one the many celebrities who turned to cameo as a fun way to pass the time, spread some joy to his fans, and earn a bit of money. However, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis has revealed that what started as Baumgartner “just giving it a try” quickly catapulted him to being one of the app’s top-grossing performers.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, just last year Baumgartner earned “over $1 million” making appearances and taking fan requests on Cameo. Considering the star charges $195 per message (and Cameo takes a hefty 25% of each commission) this means Baumgartner delivered at least 6,500 messages to his fans last year — a pretty staggering feat if you ask me. While it might seem shocking to hear Baumgartner top the list when so many A-list celebrities and major sports stars are heavily featured on Cameo’s front page, there’s no underestimating just how much folks adore The Office.

Despite his success, however, Baumgartner has remained endearingly humble about it all. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Baumgartner “credits his success to the staying power of the show and the fact that during the pandemic ‘people wanted to make a connection.’” He then added his success is “not really about [him],” he’s just “the person who gets two people together.”

Canadian jazz ensemble BadBadNotGood announced earlier this summer that they’d be returning shortly with Talk Memory, their first new album in five years. Following up on the exciting news, the trio now share another preview of the effort with “Bedside April.”

Much like the rest of their catalog, BadBadNotGood’s “Bedside April” is a swirling instrumental number. It combines the trio’s jazz background with dizzying chords to create a full-on psychedelic fever dream.

In a statement alongside the “Bedside April” video, director Camille Summers-Valli shared their experience working with horses:

“There was really special energy around this video. The band wanted to do something with horses and equestrians. That’s where this begun. Funnily enough, I am petrified of horses. But it felt like a good way to overcome my fears. Subconsciously through a process of reading, finding references and discussing with my team, I started to piece together the puzzle of what this video could be. We shot this in Georgia; where the casting was incredible. The horse also was wonderful. So strong and majestic, we just wanted to do this beautiful creature justice. The magic aligned, so many great hard working people pulled this video together.”

Watch BadBadNotGood’s “Bedside April” video above and find their 2021/2022 tour dates below.

12/08/2021 — Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theatre
12/09/2021 — Edmonton, AB @ Midway
12/10/2021 — Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
12/12/2021 — Victoria, BC @ Capitol Ballroom
12/13/2021 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
12/17/2021 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
12/18/2021 — Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre
12/19/2021 — Quebec City, QC @ Imperial Bell
12/22/2021 — Toronto, ON @ History
03/07/2022 — Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
03/08/2022 — Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
03/10/2022 — Chicago, IL @ Metro
03/11/2022 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
03/12/2022 — Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
03/14/2022 — Boston, MA @ Royale
03/16/2022 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
03/18/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
03/19/2022 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/22/2022 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
03/24/2022 — Austin, TX @ Emo’s
03/25/2022 — Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
03/26/2022 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/18/2022 — Dublin, IE @ Olympia
11/19/2022 — Stockholm, SE @ Nalen
11/21/2022 — Oslo, NO @ Vulkan
11/22/2022 — Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA
11/24/2022 — Hamburg, DE @ Markthalle
11/25/2022 — Berlin, DE @ Huxleys
11/28/2022 — Vienna, AT @ Ottakringer Brauerei
11/29/2022 — Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
11/30/2022 — Zurich, CH @ X–Tra
12/02/2022 — Utrecht, NL @ Ronda
12/03/2022 — Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
12/04/2022 — Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
12/06/2022 — London, UK @ Brixton Academy
12/07/2022 — Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
12/09/2022 — Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
12/10/2022 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
12/11/2022 — Bristol, UK @ Academy 1
12/13/2022 — Glasgow, UK @ QMU

Talk Memory is out 10/8 via XL. Pre-order it here.

Actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his apartment in Brooklyn earlier this week. Williams, who was 54, earned praise for his work in numerous films and television shows, but as evidenced by the number of tributes that poured in in the aftermath of his passing, his most beloved work came as Omar Little on The Wire.

Williams starred on the HBO program from 2002-08, portraying a hold-up man who is frequently cited in conversations of the greatest characters in television history. The show was famously based out of Baltimore, and during a game played by the city’s Major League Baseball team on Tuesday, one of the Orioles’ broadcasters used a moment to nod towards Williams’ performance.

Austin Hayes stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third inning for the O’s and hit a two-run homer. While he was rounding the bases, Orioles announcer Kevin Brown stated Omar’s most famous line: “You come at the king, you best not miss.”

Baltimore would go on to win the game, 7-3, with Hayes’ 16th dinger of the season playing a big role in propelling them to the win. As for Brown, kudos to him for being able to slide this subtle but pretty great tribute to Williams into his call of the game.

Welcome to SNX DLX, our weekly roundup of the best sneaker drops to hit the market. We are no longer in the summer sneaker season and… what’s this? A week that finally isn’t dominated by Nike? This year, that’s been virtually unheard of — Nike has been consistently killing it week after week — but this time they struggled to even make our list. Great news for fans of sneakers that don’t have a big Swoosh on them.

This week brings some footwear more geared towards the chill months of fall, like a new Crocs collaboration with Tokyo-based label BEAMS or Supreme’s linkup with Clarks Originals. But if you love more traditional fits, we’ve still got you covered thanks to some dope drops from New Balance, Adidas, and Joe Freshgoods. If you’re missing the Nike love, we’re sure the brand will be back in full force by next week.

For now, let’s dive into this week’s best.

Crocs x BEAMS Classic Clog

I can’t tell if this piece of footwear is a genuine Outdoor iteration of Crocs omnipresent clogs, or if this is some kind of joke. This team-up with BEAMS sees the rubber clog retrofitted with a water-resistant nylon upper, adjustable comfort strap, and pouches, and sits atop a Croslite insole and a rugged outsole designed for comfort across all terrains.

But who is wearing this thing to the hiking trail? It looks like an easy way to get your toe severed by a sharp falling rock. The BEAMS Classic Clog features three different colorways, an army olive colorway, a more industrial black, and grey makeup, or a traditional khaki and gray design.

The Crocs x BEAMS All-Terrain Classic Clogs are out now for a retail price of $89 in a full-size run. Pick up a pair exclusively at Size?.

Supreme x Clarks Originals Wallabee

If you want to tell somebody that we’re no longer in the summer season without saying a word, show them a picture of Supreme and Clarks Originals Wallabee, because this shit wouldn’t fly in the summer. Dropping in four colorways that include salmon, lime green, black, and beige, this Supreme branded Wallabee features a premium suede upper with a woven pattern design and leather lining atop a crepe sole.

Our first instinct is to call this thing ugly but in a world where everyone is wearing Crocs, there is something more dignified about this design.

The Supreme x Clarks Originals Wallabee is set to drop on September 9th for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at the Supreme webstore.

Levi’s x New Balance 990v3

Levi’s and New Balance have linked up once again this week for a double sneaker drop of the Made in USA 990v3. This collaboration features two colorways — Mallard Blue and Elephant Skin — that combine cow and hairy suede with Levi’s premium denim detailing atop a comfort-focused ENCAP midsole. It’s a new American classic!

The Levi’s x New Balance 990v3 is set to drop on September 9th for a retail price of $219. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 990v3 Outside Clothes

Not feeling the understated design of that Levi’s collaboration? New Balance has still got you! The same silhouette, the 990v3, is also getting the Joe Freshgood’s treatment this week with the Made in USA 990v3 Outside Clothes.

Inspired by Joe’s childhood memories of playing tag in the summer and being told by his mother that he smelled like “outside,” the Outside Clothes features comfortable cushioning, meant for long days outdoors, cotton laces, the words “Outside” and “Clothes” embroidered on each sneaker’s heel and subtle reflective detailing.

It’s yet another playful and fun design from Freshgoods, who always delivers.

The New Balance x Joe Freshgoods Outside Clothes is set to drop on September 10th for a retail price of $219. Pick up a pair exclusively at the New Balance webstore.

Adidas x Size? Campus 80s Fight Club

Sneaker retailer Size? has a dope tradition of releasing sneaker’s inspired by their favorite ‘90s films. Last year we got a Superstar that paid homage to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and now this year we’re getting a sneaker that breaks the one rule of Fight Club — talking about Fight Club. I mean it says “Fight Club” right under the translucent sole, that wasn’t an explicit rule in the movie, but we’re pretty sure that’s not allowed.

The Fight Club utilizes Adidas’ Campus ’80 silhouette and features an asymmetric design which is a nod to the split personality of the movie’s protagonist. The right shoe reps Pitt’s Tyler Durden, borrowing the character’s distinctive shirt pattern while the left shoe features a more bookish and nerdy styling, a reference to Norton’s Narrator character. It’s a dope release whether you’re a fan of the movie or not and features a full-size run.

The Adidas x Size? Fight Club Campus ’80 is set to drop on Friday, September 10th for a retail price of $137. Pick up a pair exclusively at Size?.

Marc Jacobs x Dr. Martens 1460 Heaven

Nothing else exudes ‘90s grittiness quite like a pair of Dr. Martens, but if that stock design isn’t quite enough for you, Dr. Martens has linked up with Marc Jacobs this week for a high fashion iteration of the Dr. Martens boot that looks straight out of a NiN music video and comes accompanied by an apparel collection simply dubbed “Heaven.”

Featuring a Crocodile leather upper with an extra glossy sheen, an extra chunky sole, and daisy-shaped eyelets, the Marc Jacobs Dr. Marten comes equipped with a double-headed teddy lace charm and that iconic Dr. Martens yellow stitching. The boot drops in a high-top, mid-rise, and low-rise style.

The Marc Jacobs x Dr. Martens 1460 Heaven is set to drop on September 9th for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair at the Dr. Martens or Marc Jacobs webstore.

Yeezy QNTM Onyx

I’d like to believe that the Onyx Yeezy QNTM was intended to drop alongside Ye’s latest album DONDA considering its all-black design matches the album cover, but it’s hard to make sense of anything Kanye does these days. Maybe this was meant to be a companion piece to DONDA or maybe it’s just a coincidence… who knows?

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter because if you like Triple Black colorways and love all things Yeezy you’re probably going to go more nuts for this all-black iteration on the QNTM than you did for DONDA.

The Yeezy QNTM Onyx is set to drop on September 10th for a retail price of $250. Pick up a pair at the Adidas webstore,Yeezy Supply, or aftermarket sites like GOAT or Flight Club.

Air Max 90 Sanddrift

If you’re looking for proof of the end of summer, look no further than this muted take on the Air Max 90. A colorway this understated and earthy never would’ve been offered up in the brighter summer months but that doesn’t mean this design is something you should sleep on.

Featuring a suede and leather upper with TPU accents, stitched overlays, and a waffle outsole, the Sanddrift combines Hemp, Summit White, and Sandrift for an iteration of the Air Max 90 that will pair brilliantly with your fall fits.

The Air Max 90 Sanddrift is set to drop on September 10th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

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Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Lorde has been one of pop’s most revered figures of the past decade, but the way she sees it, she’s not really “built for the pop star life.”

She established and explained that stance in a new Vogue feature, in which she says:

“I’m great at my job, but I’m not sure I’m the man for the job. I’m a highly sensitive person. I’m not built for pop star life. To have a public-facing existence is something I find really intense and is something I’m not good at. That natural charisma is not what I have. I have the brain in the jar. But for whatever reason, people have allowed me to say, ‘Okay, I’m going to come and do the thing — do the shoot, do the red carpet, speak to the journalists, put the music out,’ and when I’ve done it to the point of total exhaustion, when I have completely quenched that thirst, I’m going to go home, and you’re not going to see me for two or three or four years. I’ll be doing the other thing, which is being there for every single birthday and dinner party and cooking every single meal and going on every single walk and taking every single bath. And when I’ve done that, and I’m like, all right, that’s enough of that for a little while, I’ll come back again.”

Ophelia Mikkelson Jones, a friend of Lorde and the photographer who snapped the Solar Power album art photo, shared her thoughts on that assessment, saying, “I totally agree and disagree with Ella that she’s not suited for celebrity. She’s a shy and reserved woman, but she has this incredible intelligence. She’s so alert, always awake and watching, and she has the most insane memory. I’m stoked by the idea that someone in her position would have these qualities, and they also make her a great friend.”

Find the full profile here.

The downfall of disgraced, fake-deep-voiced Theranos ex-CEO Elizabeth Holmes culminates this week in her fraud trial, which began on Tuesday. She faces over a dozen federal charges (including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud), all tied to false claims about Theranos’ blood testing lab services that were (allegedly) known by Holmes to likely provide inaccurate results.

If convicted, Holmes (who was, at age 30, the head of a company valued at upwards of $9 billion) could face up to 20 years in prison, yet her whole public persona has been such a charade that it’s unclear exactly what has been happening outside a California courthouse in San Jose. This was definitely not happening inside the building.

As Law 360 reporter Dorothy Atkins wrote, though, when Holmes arrived, she was swarmed by cameras. Not only that, but “[t]hree of her fans tr[ied] to catch a glimpse without losing their spot in line.”

The natural question here is this: does Elizabeth Holmes really have a fandom? Also are these paid… fans? Uh, are these.. cosplayers?

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they’re cosplayers or admirers or whatever, since Holmes’ carefully crafted image did make for an easy Halloween costume a few years ago.

Also, this:

Chicago trio Dehd has a big week month of them. Not only is the band slated to perform at Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend, but shortly thereafter, the band is set to debut their Flower Of Devotion Remixed album. Giving fans another taste of the upcoming project, Dehd tap fellow indie rock outfit Protomartyr to rework their 2020 track “Loner.”

For their version of the song, Protomartyr takes vocalist Emily Kempf’s lyrics and subdues them under a blanket of hypnotic chords. It’s the third remix that Dehd has shared ahead of their album’s debut, following Lala Lala’s remix of “Desire” and Physical Medium’s remix of “Flying.”

Dehd’s guitarist Jason Balla praised Protomartyr’s “badass” work in a statement alongside the new track:

“I have a suspicion that this is the most badass a Dehd song will ever sound simply because Protomartyr are so badass. They have a way of making gloomy optimism and ‘Loner’ is swimming in it. I got to tour with them a few years back and their live performances have really left an impression on me. I think it was also on this fated tour that our tour manager introduced me to the music of Detroit house producer Moodymann, which has been a big inspiration to me and to the idea of making this remix record.”

Listen to “Loner (Protomartyr Remix)” above.

Flower Of Devotion Remixed is out 9/17 via Fire Talk. Pre-order it here.

I’ll be upfront and say I didn’t watch the original Blues Clues (and its updated version), but the cultural import of it certainly seems to rival the Barney’s, Mister Rogers’, and Sesame Streets of previous generations. That’s evident from the response to the return of original host, Steve Burns, in a clip that warmed hearts (and sparked snark) yesterday to celebrate the show’s 25 year anniversary. But while the nostalgia feels propelled that success, separate and apart from that was the upbeat content and tone of the message where Steve meditated on our collective bloom into adulthood with a kind of wonder that we often forget because it’s so easy to just drown in stress and regret of it all. This got me thinking: adults deserve their own Blues Clues.

Remember the sensation of watching low-stakes kid’s shows with next to no complexity? They were mildly educational romps and adventures with larger-than-life characters and a highly positive imprint. And yeah, sure, it was lowkey moralized propaganda, but I miss it. A little. And you could say, “go watch a Marvel movie,” and sure, to an extent that’s right, but there’s always talk of global catastrophe and mass extinction. Literally, every superhero movie starts with the main characters living their lives while surrounded by loved ones. And then, like a financial earthquake, health scare, or sudden loss, they’re thrown into a fight against some kind of outsized villain or invading force who wants to wipe away their control and, by extension, their dreams.

People say stories need conflict and heroes and villains, anti-heroes and action. Sure. And we live for layered storytelling where characters navigate complex situations while primarily or secondarily commenting on the state of things. Even comedies. F*ck, I love it when Hacks talks about ageism and generation gaps, Mythic Quest explores workplace dynamics, and The Other Two goes in on social media culture and the weight of internal pressures to live up to our peers and our preprogrammed goals! But we’re also living in a moment where millions derive entertainment from Twitch streams where people passively watch others play video games, YouTube vids where people meander through an unboxing or some TV or film theory, and uncomplicated gags on TikTok reach millions. Is it possible the tenets of narrative storytelling aren’t always a perfect fit for a culture where plenty of people are content to watch cool sh*t without the ever-present weightiness or existential dread?

For a large part of the pandemic, I have spent my Saturday mornings huddled on Twitch watching old Saturday morning cartoons with friends curated by a retronaut buddy. Again, nostalgia has played a role, but the disconnect from more complex times and the embrace of innocence, overly simplistic and predictable storytelling, and silliness has been the real draw.

I get it. I’m not suggesting we all dive headlong into old episodes of Muppet Babies or Rugrats while hiding from the world all day every day. Adults, including myself, can’t unhook in totality. Why would we want to? I don’t want to be talked down to all the time, but I also don’t want to always feel like the world is on fire (even if it factually is), denying the necessary and restorative moments of awe and reflection that get drowned out by real life, the flood of hard news, true crime, grown-up drama, and heavy dramedies.

Here’s the ask: just give us 30 minutes, every week, where Steve and a dopey blue cartoon dog solve adult-relevant puzzles that double as calm, colorful, and easy-to-digest explainers on NFTs and debt consolidation… I don’t care. Just have Steve, with his soothing voice, tell us how amazing it is that we drive cars, have checking accounts, and that we’re less fat than we think we are. Remind us that 12-year-old us would probably be pretty jazzed by some of the things we get to do. Ease our pain through affirmation that feels like counter-programming by telling us that all the trying and stress is seen and that we’re doing okay, even if it’s scripted and general. Even when we aren’t. Call it an experiment and watch as we see an uptick in our self-esteem while cutting 30 minutes off our doom-scroll time. Call it a public service if nothing else.

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is made for mixing. Sure, you can sip it on the rocks but this really is a mixing blend — that’s where it shines the brightest. Add a little high-quality fizzy water, ice, and a squeeze of lime and you’re set — perfect highball dram.

As a brand, Monkey Shoulder aligns with having a good time while mixing up good drinks. Case in point, they just launched a sweepstake wherein their new brand champion, Joel McHale, will crash your first date — for real.

Thanks to that promo (and the fact that I have an awesome job), I got to chat with McHale about Monkey Shoulder for the latest episode of my IGTV show, Expression Session. We planned on chatting about the whisky for about ten minutes but McHale was nice enough to stay on well over our allotted time, mostly because as two guys from Seattle, we ended up shooting the shit about the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle’s music scene. Turns out we were both at the same Nirvana concert in January 1994.

You can find the whole review/chat on our Instagram channel and at the end of this review. If you want to enter to win a chance for Joel McHale to crash your date, the entry form is found here.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of 2021

• A Blind Ranking Of Affordable Blended Scotch Whiskies
• Our Favorite Scotch Whisky At Every Price Point From $30 To $500
• We Blind Tested Blended Scotches In The $40 Range And A Clear Winner Emerged
• The Best Bottles Of Scotch Whisky Between $50-$60
• Blind Scotch Taste Test — Which 12-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky Is Best?

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $36

The Whisky:

This Speyside blend is crafted as a workhorse whisky. The juice is drawn from the William Grant & Sons distilleries, focusing on Kininvie, Glenfiddich, and The Balvenie. The juice is then rested for up to six months after blending to let it mellow even more before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a nice welcoming note of creamy vanilla that almost becomes cream soda, next to hints of zesty orange marmalade, malts, and dark spices. The taste delivers on those notes by amping the spices up to Christmas cake territory with a slight tart berry edge next to that cream soda sweetness. The end is short and sweet with a nice lightness that really makes this very drinkable.

McHale’s succinct note: “There’s a hint of peat with a butter smoothness.”

The Bottle:

Interestingly, the bottle is the same one that Balcones uses down in Waco, Texas. It’s a sort of old-school port bottle that feels like it’d stack well under the deck of a pirate ship. The bottle is adorned with three iron monkeys and a solid cork. The label is simple and keeps to the old-school theme with a sort of old hand-written bill of sale vibe giving you just enough information to know what you’re drinking.

Bottom Line:

We often call this out as one of our favorite mixing scotches and we stand by that. It’s a very accessible and available blended malt that delivers on what it promises — to be a great mixer.

Ranking:

90/100. As a blended malt made for mixing, this is a home run.

Check out our full tasting with Joel McHale below!

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

In October, Los Angeles DIY project Illuminati Hotties will release their forthcoming new album, Let Me Do One More. Since the initial announcement, they’ve released album tracks “Pool Hopping,” “Mmmoooaaaaayaya,” and “Uvvp,” the latter featuring Big Thief’s Buck Meek. Now, Illuminati Hotties are back with the mild-mannered “Threatening Each Other Re: Capitalism,” which plays out much more chill than its title suggests.

“‘Threatening Each Other re: Capitalism’ makes haste of a machine by which we’ve all been fooled as well as the people who have fooled themselves into thinking they’ve not participated in it,” Tudzin said in a press release. Likewise, Tudzin recently told Rolling Stone about leaning into writing pop hooks on Let Me Do One More, saying, “I have an undying poptimism — I want to write a hook, and I want the song to feel really good when it’s on full volume in the car… And there’s also a forever emo girl inside of me that’s in my high-school bedroom, listening to Bright Eyes and writing in a diary.”

Illuminati Hotties are also about to go on tour supporting Death Cab For Cutie‘s West Coast dates in mid-September. The day after the album drops, on October 2, the Hotties will headline Zebulon in Los Angeles.

Watch the lyric video for “Threatening Each Other re: Capitalism” above and revisit our 2018 interview with Tudzin here.

Let Me Do One More is out 10/1 via Snack Shack Tracks/Hopeless Records. Pre-order it here.