Month: June 2022

It’s already been an insane year for Wet Leg. The forceful Isle of Wight indie rock duo of Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale put out one of the year’s best indie albums in their self-titled debut. They’ve been one of the buzziest bands of the year (Dave Grohl is a fan) playing multiple headlining tour dates, with more to come as well as a run of support slots for Florence and The Machine. They’ve been all over late-night talk show performances and heck, even Harry Styles (who they’ll be opening for in 2023) has covered one of their songs?! The hype is real, y’all.

So last weekend, at their hometown Isle Of Wight music festival (which qualifies as much more than just a hometown fest), the pair gave an interview to Absolute Radio and indicated that the follow-up to their splendid debut is already recorded and completed. “It’s in the bag,” Chambers said. “[We’ve] completed it. All done.” Teasdale joked that it’s heading towards a “death metal” path (hello Sasami!), but that fans can expect, “A lot of double kick drum.” But before you get too excited, they also indicated that the album won’t be out anytime soon. Which seems expected given the loads of headline and support touring that they have on deck.

Either way, it’s amazing to consider how they’ve had time to lock into the studio and record a whole new album. But it’s this kind of work ethic that makes them stars and just maybe justifies all the hype.

On June 13, 2020, Donald Trump gave a speech to the graduating cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point. When it was over, he walk down a ramp—very poorly—and ignited a string of jokes and memes, as well as some discussion over the physical wellness of the then-president.

Weeks later, Trump was still defending his submission to The Ministry of Silly Walks. Among the many factors he blamed for his seeming unsteadiness? The sun. A lack of railing. Leather-bottomed shoes. He even described it as a “ice skating rink,” and repeatedly bragged about how he “ran” the last 10 steps.

One year later, he was still talking about it!

Now, here we are—more than two years removed from the event—and Sean Hannity, former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump are still defending Trump’s big ol’ whoopsie down the ramp.

On Monday night, these three nincompoops actually spent time comparing Joe Biden’s recent bike accident to Trump’s ramp fail. McEnany quoted the former president, claiming that he had a “slight hydroplane” on the ramp, which she concurred was “absolutely” the truth. “I’ve walked on some of those ramps at rallies, they’re very slippery,” McEnany said, as if a ramp was a rarely seen walkway that most people haven’t traversed without falling.

McEnany and Hannity both then added that there wasn’t a railing for the railing-needing president to lean on. Hannity seemed to think that the whole idea that he would be able to manage that ramp without an issue while wearing dress shoes was ridiculous. “If he had sneakers on, you might have a case to make,” Hannity conceded, to which McEnany excitedly agreed: “Right!”

It’s illuminating conversations like these that put the “News” in Fox News.

Meanwhile, Trump already shared his own video mocking the current president—the one who beat him bigly in the 2020 election. In it, Trump is seen hitting a golf ball that then knocks Biden off his bike. Which is just the kind of maturity one would expect from the former leader of the free world.

After topping charts thanks to an emotional Stranger Things 4 scene, the Kate Bush resurgence almost showed up in another highly anticipated piece of pop culture: Thor: Love and Thunder. While promoting his villainous role as Gorr the God Butcher, Christian Bale opened up about making his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he didn’t even know was a thing. (‘The MCU?’ I had to ask what that was.”)

According to Bale, he did his research into Gorr, including reading the Jason Aaron comics that introduced the god-butchering character. However, he also turned to music videos to get a feel for where he and director Taika Waititi wanted to go with the live-action portrayal. That musical research almost resulted in a dance scene set to Kate Bush, who again, is all the rage right now. Via Total Film:

“There’s obviously sort of a Nosferatu slight attitude. Taika and I wanted to do a whole dance, which we didn’t get to do, but we had all this sort of Kate Bush stuff that we worked at. But I think he just realised he was never going to be allowed to put that in the final film. I would say that the most common thing I was staring at was the Aphex Twin video of ‘Come To Daddy’. But I don’t even know if that will be in the final film.”

Just to head off any accusations of Love and Thunder glomming onto the recent Kate Bush hype train, “Running Up That Hill” only started blowing up at the end of May when Stranger Things 4 premiered. Bale and Waititi would’ve been brainstorming Gorr scenes at least a year earlier, if not two when you factor in the pandemic. The simple explanation is Kate Rush is awesome, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when she pops up as an inspiration.

Thor: Love and Thunder rocks into theaters on July 8.

(Via Total Film)

After edging us for months, “Herogasm” has almost come.

Amazon Prime Video has released a teaser for Friday’s much-anticipated episode of The Boys, featuring a long list of content warnings. “WARNING: this episode depicts a massive supe orgy, airborne penetration, dildo-based maiming, extra strength lube, icicle phalluses, and cursing,” it reads (not cursing!). “It is not suitable for any audience.”

You can watch it below.

“Herogasm” is based on a notoriously raunchy six-issue arc of The Boys comic series, and according to showrunner Eric Kripke, the TV adaptation won’t disappoint fans.

“Those dailies are insane,” he said. “Like, if we showed everything we saw in the dailies, we for sure would be rated X. I can’t even get my head around what we’ve filmed. We’ll make sure that we’re walking the right line and that we’re outrageous… But anyone who is a fan of the books and that particular volume of ‘Herogasm,’ I can just tell you, you’re definitely going to get the full ‘Herogasm’ experience. There’s just no question.”

The episode, directed by Nelson Cragg and written by Jessica Chou (and caused this reaction from Kripke), even comes with an emoji that Twitter didn’t approve of.

Let the “sploogefest” commence.

Stormzy has accomplished a lot in a relatively short amount of time. In addition to rising to the forefront of the UK rap scene, winning Best Grime Act MOBO Awards in back-to-back years, earning the first UK Albums Chart No. 1 for a grime album in 2017 with his debut album Gang Signs & Prayer, winning British Album of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards, and headlining Glastonbury in 2019, Stormzy has just reached an even rarer height, receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter recognizing his “outstanding achievements in the field of higher education philanthropy and widening participation”.

Stormzy has been an advocate for change in Great Britain since the beginning of his career, pushing against racial injustice and engaging in philanthropy and activism, funding the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students at the University Of Cambridge.

At the ceremony where he was awarded his honorary doctorate and addressed the graduating class, Stormzy said:

“The journey I took to get to this moment has been considerably different to yours. You guys have the guts and the grit and the dedication that it takes to study for years and to finish your degree…whereas I got my AS results in my first year of college and said yeah, see you later. I didn’t have the same minerals that you guys have. A year later I took another swing at my A levels at a different college…until I sat down for my English exam in January and walked out after 10 minutes.

It took a hell of a lot for you to get here today. Your journeys to get to this moment were hard-fought. The road you took was not easy. And this is coming from someone who tried to walk that exact same road and failed. So from the bottom of my heart I say congratulations, well done and you should all be so proud of yourselves, what you have achieved is incredible. Don’t let anybody downplay it and don’t let anybody undermine it. If you are sat in this room today you are worthy and you are brilliant.”

You can watch Stormzy’s speech in the recorded ceremony above, at around 1:10:00.

If there’s one event that embodies the epitome of summer fun, it’s Splash House. Held bi-annually in Palm Springs, California — where sweltering temperatures in the desert sun + alcohol + legal weed = an abundance of fun — the pool party-music festival crossover offers an oasis of renowned music performances, festival vibes, and bikinis and boardshorts galore.

It’s basically the adult version of your favorite summer pool parties growing up.

Splash House just hosted its first event of the year, on June 10 through 12, where thousands of party-goers gathered for all-star acts like Diplo, Hayden James, Manila Killa, Chet Porter, Yung Bae, Duke Dumont, and Kyle Walker, among others. Between the stellar DJ sets, rowdy crowd, and non-stop partying in the sunshine, it was a good time, to say the least.

If you’re ready to kick summer off the right way, scroll through the photos from Splash House below. They’re sure to get you pumped for the season.

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On the heels of her latest EP, 3000°, Ambre has dropped a new visual for “Wild Life…” In the video, she and her lover embark on a queer journey as they ride through Ambre’s hometown of New Orleans.

The video, directed by Child (Doja Cat, HER, and Janelle Monae) contains vintage clips of people partaking in New Orleans traditions, including Mardi Gras, parades, and marching bands. Throughout the video, she and her lover embrace a beautiful level of closeness, as Ambre shares her world with the young woman.

Ambre’s latest effort takes inspiration from her fellow New Orleans idols, including rapper Juvenile, whose breakthrough album is titled 400 Degreez, and Lil Wayne, whose third album is titled 500 Degreez. On 3000°, Ambre shares anecdotes of her New Orleans upbringing through soft vocals and vivid lyrics.

“This body of work means so much to me because it reflects how I view myself, where I come from, and my loved ones…This is a love story set in the most magical city,” said Ambre in a statement. “New Orleans made me who I am; make no mistake about it. Hopefully, my fans and new listeners will also feel the heart of it and become immersed in the world I have created in this EP,”

Check out “Wild Life…” above.

3000°is out now via Roc Nation. Stream it here.

Janelle Monae is a Warner Music Artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got new music from Bartees Strange, Perfume Genius, Claud, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Bartees Strange — Farm To Table

Since the release of his 2020 debut album Live Forever, Bartees Strange has skyrocketed to center stage — and his ambitious new album Farm To Table shows why. The concise 10-track effort runs through an eclectic blend of musical genres from his hip-hop-inspired flow on “Cosigns” to pop-punk inspired guitar chords on tracks like “Mulholland Dr.”

Perfume Genius — Ugly Season

Perfume Genius returned with the dazzling album Ugly Season this week, which was written just weeks following his 2020 LP Set My Heart On Fire Immediately. One of his most collaborative works to date, which also includes an accompanying dance film Pygmalion’s Ugly Season, Mike Hadras created intoxicating atmospheres to layer his fluttering vocals over on tracks like “Pop Song!” It also includes several woozy mostly instrumental numbers that show off his experimental side.

Nova Twins — Supernova

UK duo Nova Twins, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South, dropped their anticipated stadium rock LP Supernova. Named “the best band you’ve never heard of” by Tom Morello, Nova Twins prove their hype is well-deserved with 11 electrifying tracks featuring ripping electric guitars, distorted bass, and confident, in-your-face lyrics.

Caregiver — Bathing In Yesterday’s Fire

Sacramento songwriter Caregiver breaks through her confines with sophomore album Bathing In Yesterday’s Fire. Blanketed in lush storytelling and heart-tugging reflections on identity and relationships, the album is a cathartic folk-rock exploration of womanhood and the modern condition.

Claud — “Go Home!”

After making a name for themselves with their buzzy debut album Super Monster, Claud shares the energetic “Go Home!” as their first single of the year. Featuring cascading chords and their earnest lyrical delivery, “Go Home!” is a sunny ballad arriving just in time for summer. “‘Go Home!’ is about falling into that hole of feeling awkward and uncomfortable in your own skin that all you crave is going home and sliding into whatever is familiar,” Claud said of the single.

The Beths — “Silence Is Golden”

Rolling out a new era of music around their recently announced project Expert In A Dying Field, New Zealand band The Beths share their propulsive track “Silence Is Golden.” One of their most ripping tracks to date, “Silence Is Golden” combines arousing hooks and fast-paced riffs, showing off the band’s refined songwriting.

MICHELLE — “Sea Shanty”

NYC-based collective MICHELLE released their project After Dinner We Talk Dreams earlier this year, but that wasn’t the end of new music from the band. Now sharing new music ahead of an upcoming tour, MICHELLE release the endlessly dreamy tune “Sea Shanty.” Featuring ethereal synths and a crawling beat, the song is described by the band as “a daydream, or a nightmare, the song soundtracks the calm before the storm – the moment before a journey, the moment after a sobering realization.”

Preoccupations — “Ricochet”

Announcing their fourth studio album Arrangements, post-punk group Preoccupations drop the discordant “Ricochet.” The song’s dark, new wave-inspired chords are mirrored by equally gloomy lines about destruction. It’s bleak lyrics have a point, though, as vocalist Matthew Flegel explains the track is about “the world blowing up and no one giving a sh*t.”

Julia Jacklin — “I Was Neon”

Continuing to previous her upcoming LP Pre Pleasure, Julia Jacklin shares the melodic and lulling track “I Was Neon.” Featuring a driving guitar, the song opens up space for Jacklin’s unique voice to shine through. “I first wrote ‘I Was Neon’ for a band called Rattlesnack, a short-lived much loved 2019 side project that I played drums in,” she said in a statement. “I rewrote it for my album in Montreal, during a time when I was desperately longing for a version of myself that I feared was gone forever.”

Dry Cleaning — “Don’t Press Me”

UK group Dry Cleaning put out one of our favorite albums of 2021, and they’re already preparing for their next release. Announcing the upcoming project Stumpwork, which is due out in the fall, Dry Cleaning fire off the new track “Don’t Press Me.” Laced with jangly chords and lead singer Florence Shaw’s deadpan delivery, the song is embedded with an understandable amount of existential despair.

Black Midi — “Men Eat Men”

Prolific and experimental UK trio Black Midi are back with another heady track, the rock and flamenco-infused single “Men Eat Men,” which arrives on next month’s Hellfire LP. The song, like most of Black Midi’s music, is highly conceptual — it tells the story of couple’s quest to overcome a militaristic mine captain over a slew of anxious instruments.

Whitney — “Real Love”

After dropping their wistful third album Candid in 2020, Whitey is back with a new, shimmering sound. With crystal clear production and quietly skittering synths, “Real Love” is Whitney’s bid for a move to more pop-leaning sounds. The song points to their upcoming album Spark and was written last summer as they experienced the anxiety and euphoria of the world re-opening.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Charles Barkley loves himself some playoff hockey. The Hall of Fame basketball player and current TNT basketball analyst has regularly declared that playoff hockey is far superior to playoff basketball, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that on Monday night he popped up at Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Lightning and Avalanche in Tampa.

Barkley joined the ESPN studio crew for the first intermission report, where Steve Levy had Chuck break down a Lightning goal by Ondrej Palat off an Avalanche turnover, which naturally set Barkley up for a joke about Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.

Chuck is referencing the more than 100 turnovers the Celtics star had in the playoffs, setting a new all-time record for turnovers by a player in a single postseason. Those turnovers from Tatum (and Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart and really the entire Boston team) became the most important metric for the Celtics success in the playoffs, as they lost every single game they turned the ball over more than 16 times. The Warriors defense took advantage of that, pressuring the Celtics ball handlers and jumping passing lanes to take advantage of sloppy play en route to a six-game Finals win.

With ESPN having the NBA Finals, Chuck wasn’t able to get off any jokes or takes about the Celtics play on TV so he couldn’t help himself when the opportunity arose on his guest spot on the NHL broadcast.

Young Thug’s currently incarcerated but if he never gets the chance to release another rap record, his impact on hip-hop will likely reverberate throughout the genre for the rest of his life and beyond. He’s influenced an entire generation — a generation that includes controversial Florida rapper and social media personality Bhad Bhabie of “catch me outside” fame, who called him the GOAT rapper in a new episode of Complex’s Goat Talk. The Florida rapper also gave her picks for sneakers, reality shows, movies, and more.

Pulling cards that asked for her GOAT in multiple categories, she enthusiastically used Thugger’s full government name when she came to the GOAT rapper card, leaning back to show off how she “got his f*cking lyrics tatted on the back of my leg.” “I’ll fight about it all day,” she vows. In addition, when the GOAT album card came up, she continued the Thug love fest, taking a moment to think about it before deciding. “I was gonna give it to Barter 6,” she admits, citing the 2015 mixtape named in homage to Lil Wayne. “But I have to give it to Slime Season 3, just because of ‘Worth It.’” Released the year after Barter 6, Slime Season 3 debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, which of course featured the fan-favorite Valentine’s Day anthem, “Worth It.”

You can watch the full episode above.

Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.