For nearly the last decade, Peaky Blinders has regaled Netflix subscribers with tales of 100-year-old gangs in Birmingham, England. The run is about to come to a close — sort of. Not really. As per Entertainment Weekly, the show may be about to bow its sixth and final season. But creator Steven Knight — whose work also, recently, includes the script for the Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer — has no plans of ending it outright.
Back in December, Knight gave EW an update that there were only now allowed to make public. Short version: He’s turning the show into one of those world-building franchises the kids love these days.
“I’m calling this the end of the beginning,” Knight said about the final season. “We’re going to end the series as it is at the moment, but we’re going to do the movie, which we’ll shoot in 18 months time, maybe a little bit longer.” But that’s not all. “After that, according to how the film structure falls into place, we’ll set in motion some spin-offs that will be part of the same universe.”
There’s no word on what those spin-offs will entail, what parts of the world they’ll focus on. Maybe they’ll bring back bygone characters. Who knows. But clearly if you were finding it hard to say goodbye to the Peaky Blinders-verse, know that that’s not necessary.
Scotch whisky pricing is a fickle thing. Ten dollars below this and we were still looking at entry-point 12-year-old expressions. Now, we’re into special releases and 15 to 18-year-old whiskies. Just like that, we’re into the interesting good stuff.
The ten bottles of Scotch whisky below are all whiskies I think are worth chasing down. I ranked these according to my tasting notes, but in the end, you can’t go wrong grabbing any one of these. I also tried to give you some variety with a few peated whiskies thrown in among the sweeter and fruitier whiskies.
My advice, read the tasting notes and pick one that speaks to you. Give those a shot and see if you vibe with them. I’m pretty sure you will. And if not, there are nine more on this list to try.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
This whisky from the Isle of Jura is a one-of-a-kind whiskies that highlights both expert barrel work and blending. The juice is aged in ex-bourbon for an undisclosed amount of years. The whisky is then re-casked in seven barrels: first-fill ex-bourbon from the U.S. and Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Tronçais, and Limousin barrels from France. The ripple here is that all of those French barrels were new (never held wine) when the whisky went in.
Tasting Notes:
This is shockingly un-woody. Instead, you get a burnt coffee note next to a dark chocolate bar cut with candied ginger and, maybe, a hint of strawberry. Black licorice arrives with a note of burnt orange peels and grilled peaches with a drop of honey next to a wisp of beach campfire smoke. The end lingers for just the right amount of time as the distant smoke fades, leaving a hint of sea spray, cacao, and burnt fruit.
Bottom Line:
If you can get your hands on anything from Jura, do it. If you’re uncertain of where to start, start with this nuanced and approachable whisky. The smoke is so far in the background, that it won’t scare you off the subtler fruits, spices, and sweetness at play.
This expression from Speyside’s Glenfiddich takes the idea of a beer cask finishing up a notch. The juice is aged in IPA casks that aged a brew made specifically to meld with this whisky. The result is a whisky that brings a sense of beer along for the ride.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is a full-on orchard with pears and apples hanging heavy from tree limbs next to florals just reminiscent of hops. There is orange zest and vanilla vibes to the body of the sip that eventually leans into the bright florals, with more pear and apple and a touch of bouquet garni (parsley, thyme, sage). The fruits sweeten as the florals dry on the short but distinct finish.
Bottom Line:
This is just an easy-drinking whisky that has a nice, herbal edge. It’s not quite “hops,” but it’s definitely something green and fresh that transfers into the whisky and it really helps amp up the flavor profile.
Chivas 18 is the brand’s signature high-end blend. The juice is built around a specially made Strathisla 18 single malt. That juice is supported by 20 other single malts from around Scotland with various casking processes.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a bar of bespoke dark chocolate from a really fancy-schmancy shop that’s been bespeckled with dried berries — blackberry, blueberry, raspberry — on the nose, plus a rich and very buttery toffee that draws you in closer. The palate holds onto that chocolate bar while adding in dry rose pedals with a slight singe, creating a whisper of sweet and fragrant smoke. The end builds on that floral and bitter chocolate note as it very slowly fades away while warming your soul.
Bottom Line:
This is a damn-fine dram of blended whisky. This really is the classic “on the rocks scotch” that you’ve already been looking for. It’s that fine and drinkable while still carrying deep flavor notes.
This peated malt ups the ante on the peatiness. The limited-edition juice is first aged in ex-bourbon barrels. That whisky is then transferred to second-fill bourbon barrels that are aged heavily peated whisky for a finishing maturation.
Tasting Notes:
The whisky’s nose sort of feels like someone dumped a handful of vanilla bean husks on a backyard campfire and then handed you an apple pie brimming with brown sugar, cinnamon, and drizzled with salted caramel. The taste keeps that pie filling vibe but the fruit mellows more towards a stonefruit as a hint of sea spray arrives on the back end of the smokiness. The finish really takes its time and leads you towards singed, dry moss and a final note of floral honey sweetness.
Bottom Line:
This is smoky, sure. But it’s so much more than that with those stewed and spicy orchard fruits, sea spray, and earthy notes. It’s complex, a great sipper on the rocks, and definitely a good addition to any bar cart.
This no-age-statement blend leans into that signature Walker marriage of Highland and Speyside whiskies with a small dose of Western Scottish juice for good measure. The lion’s share of the whisky involved in this bottle is Clynelish, a Highland whisky that adds a dash of fruity peat to the mix.
Tasting Notes:
Honey and oak greet you with a distant fruity nature and a little warmth. The fruit kicks up on the palate and becomes slightly tropical as a counterpoint of rich vanilla creaminess arrives. The end is subtle and long with the fruit and honey standing tall against a very distant echo of earthy peat.
Bottom Line:
This is an easy-going whisky that works just as well in a cocktail as it does on the rocks. If you’re looking for something that you don’t have to overthink while still enjoying, this is it.
This Highland malt has made a roaring comeback (the expression went on hiatus from 2015 to 2018). Revival 15 takes its sherried nature very seriously. The juice is aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks for 15 long years. Those casks are married and this whisky is brought down to a very easy-drinking 92 proof with that soft Highland water.
Tasting Notes:
Dark berry brambles with tart and sweet fruit, stems, thorns, and even a little black dirt draw you in on the nose with a hint of walnut shell and cherry pie. The palate is a creamy-yet-bitter dark chocolate orange that leads towards a semi-savory fig countered by ripe apricot. The chocolate comes back with cinnamon spice and more dark berries and walnut on the end.
Bottom Line:
This is where we’re getting into the “more, please” section of whiskies. This whisky is goddamn delightful while layering in plenty to enjoy in the flavor department. But it never feels overwhelming, just warming and nice. Add a rock and really take your time enjoying this one.
This dram from Glenmorangie is a much-loved Highland malt. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed number of years. The whisky is then transferred to French Sauternes barrels which held sweet dessert wines where it spends two more years finishing.
Tasting Notes:
This has that classic “shortbread cut with lemon and vanilla” vibe that makes some single malts so approachable. The sip has a buttery toffee nature that’s layered with subtle oak, mild brown spices, and more fruits tied into a creamy pudding body. The spice then leans a little towards ginger with that buttery shortbread as it slowly fades out.
Bottom Line:
This is pretty much the quintessential sweet Scotch whisky. It’s equal parts bold and subtle, sweet and spicy, soft and engaging. It’s hard to argue with any part of this whisky. Pour one and enjoy.
This expression from the tiny-yet-legendary Oban distillery is a highwater mark in whisky-making. The single malt is a blend of whisky matured in American and European oak barrels touched by sherry. The juice is then batched and instead of being vatted in a big tun, it’s re-barreled in small-format barrels for a final maturation before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
You’re greeted with a spicy, fruity, and nutty Christmas cake next to bright pops of red berries, pear, and apricot. The candied orange from the holiday cake rises to the surface on the taste, next to ripe pears and the feel and taste of salted dark chocolate just touched by mint. The finish is slow and so mild with that salted chocolate vibe carrying on towards a final touch of that holiday cake, used black tea, smoked honey, and dry figs.
Bottom Line:
You’d be forgiven for not noticing that this is a peated malt. This is a beautifully deeply hewn whisky that’s so lush and engaging. You don’t really need a rock or drop of water to enjoy it, but it will help this really bloom in the glass.
“Oog-a-dal!” This dram from Islay is a blend of old and young single malts aged in ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks. The final product is a single malt that’s deeply flavored yet still approachable.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a definite peat smoke on the nose but it’s kissed with sea brine and counterpointed by notes of holiday cake stuffed with candied orange, fatty nuts, dried fruit, and plenty of dark spice. Those spices marry to the smoke as the palate sweetens with toffee and becomes almost like silk with a rich choco-tobacco chew arriving late, bringing a buzz to the tongue. The end really embraces that chew as notes of toffee, dried fruit, and spice lurk behind the billows of briny smoke.
Bottom Line:
This is certainly peaty but not a peat monster. The smoke plays second fiddle to the nuances of spice, fruit, and sweetness at play with briny backbone. Pour this over some rocks and you’ll be in for a treat. And who knows, maybe this will be the peated Islay that gives you that “ah-ha!” moment about the style/region.
This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The juice is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose. Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts. The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as it slowly fades towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the oldest and most-famed peated malts out there. But again, we’re talking about a whisky that layers the peat into a much bigger and more refined whisky drinking experience. This is just a wonderfully velvety whisky that is as approachable as it is delicious.
Make sure to add a little water or a rock to really let this one bloom in the glass.
“The Simpsons” has been around for nearly 40 years, and amid the juvenile humor (cue the “eat my shorts” line), this show expertly weaves in some truly valuable life lessons.
For those who aren’t familiar with the show or its characters … First off, how is that possible? Second, Lisa Simpson is a young girl often ostracized for her intelligence and passion, both at school and at home. That is, until she meets substitute teacher Mr. Bergstrom.
Mr. Bergstrom offers innovative and fun learning methods, which challenge and inspire Lisa. And for the first time ever, this precocious child is appreciated for who she is, feeling a little less alone in her environment. It’s sort of easy to see how Lisa develops a bit of a crush.
This episode came out three decades ago, and yet still perfectly encapsulates the immense value that substitute teachers bring. Even though they grace the classroom for a brief time, they can make a huge difference in a student’s life. Whether they’re assigned to a school for a day or for a month, substitute teachers ensure quality education, having enough enthusiasm to ignite a love of learning in students they only just met. Or, in Lisa’s case, acknowledge and nurture gifts that are already there.
Like Mr. Bergstrom, who dons a cowboy costume to help with a history lesson, substitute teachers have to be creative in their lesson plans. Not to mention multitalented to handle a variety of subjects. As Mr. Bergstrom tells Lisa: “It’s the life of a substitute teacher. Today he might be wearing gym shorts. Tomorrow he’s speaking French. Or pretending to know how to run a band saw.”
And yet, all good things must come to an end. No matter the impact, all substitutes must eventually leave. As does Mr. Bergstrom, who is off to help kids in the projects of Capital City … those who “need it more.”
Devastated to lose her newfound mentor, Lisa chases Mr. Bergstrom to his departing train.
“Were you just gonna leave? Just like that? You’re the best teacher I’ll ever have,” she says through tears. You can hear the pain in her voice. She’s back to being all alone.
That’s when Mr. Bergstrom hands Lisa a piece of paper before bidding her farewell, telling her “whenever you feel like there’s nobody you can rely on, this is all you need to know.” And it’s the best parting gift he could have given.
The note has a simple, yet profound message.
“You are Lisa Simpson.”
Anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood or undervalued might spend their whole life trying to learn this—they are enough. The fact that it was taught by practically a stranger makes it all the more powerful.
There are so many Mr. Bergstroms out there, who support students and help them grow into their full potential, in ways both big and small. With a note, with a kind word, a meaningful teaching style or with simply being there. Though it’s heartbreaking to say goodbye, the connections substitute teachers create leave the world a better place. They are a gift.
Tate McRae is quickly becoming one of pop’s most exciting new voices, and her new single is already making waves. Tate released “She’s All I Wanna Be” a few weeks ago, following the insanely catchy pop anthem up with — what else? — a quirky dance video a few days later. But this kind of single is a gift that keeps on giving, and the rising pop star is going to get the most out of it. Today, in partnership with Vevo, she released a stripped-back, live performance of the song that showcases exactly how versatile McRae is.
One of her strengths has been the ability to make sad, downtempo pop songs that still resonate with listeners, and that’s exactly what today’s live performance turns “She’s All I Wanna Be” into. Then again, one of the reasons Tate’s latest song has been racking up streams is because it’s a lot bouncier and more upbeat than some of her past work, even if the lyrics are still a little (okay, a lot) on the sad side of things. One thing is for sure, as a live performer, Tate has an uncanny ability to command a stage. Check out the performance above to see for yourself.
It’s time to leave the average bottles of bourbon behind and dive into some unique releases. Bourbon whiskey under $70 tends to start leaning into barrel strength releases (more bang for your buck, so to speak) alongside single barrel picks, limited editions, and true craft drops. It’s a nice place to be, price-wise — you’re not spending a ridiculous amount of money on a bottle (yet) while still getting something well above average.
For this roundup, I’ve selected ten bottles of bourbon that I think are worth checking out at this price point. I’ve ranked those bottles and offered tasting notes, with the top picks being the ones I really think are worth seeking out. Prices are pulled from Total Wine’s online service in Louisville, Kentucky — so expect prices to vary slightly in your region.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This craft whiskey from Kentucky is made with a mash bill of 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye, and five percent malted barley. The barrels have aged a minimum of six years before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Butterscotch leads the nose on this sip as ginger snaps mingle with rich and sharp toffee candies next to a touch of vanilla, pepper, and cherry lurk underneath everything. The taste really amps up the creaminess of the vanilla and the butteriness of the toffee, as a slight marzipan flourish arrives with a thin layer of freshly cracked black pepper and salted black licorice. That pepper marries to the ginger as the heat levels off and fades out leading towards a finish with more of the vanilla and dry wood than anything else.
Bottom Line:
This whiskey is made by the titular “horse soldiers” who returned from The War in Afghanistan and started making whiskey. Overall, this might still be a slightly regional favorite that’s only starting to get national attention. All of that aside, this is a very accessible whiskey that pretty much anyone (from a beginner to an expert) will dig.
Chicken Cock has some serious bourbon history going back to 1856. It was also the bourbon of the infamous Cotton Club in Harlem during Prohibition. Fun fact, the hooch was smuggled into the club in tin cans that they cracked open tableside. The juice in this bottle is sourced from Kentucky. Today, the whiskey is being contract distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Tasting Notes:
Granny Smith apples and Red Hots jump out on the nose with a hint of black Necco Wafer, a touch of soft and wet oak, and hints of caramel. The palate leans into the buttery ends of toffee with burnt sugars leading toward dried fruits, fatty nuts, and holiday cake spices. The vanilla arrives late and is tied to the sweeter edges as a light dried tobacco leaf note leaves a little heat on the back end.
Bottom Line:
This is a great, classic bourbon. There are no bells or whistles but it also doesn’t need them. It’s just an easy-drinking bourbon on its own and a very solid cocktail base.
These bottles are part of an exclusive run of bourbon barrels that are “hand-picked” by Steve Beam out at Limestone Branch Distillery (from sourced barrels). Beam pulls these exceptional barrels in and releases them for special retailers, bar accounts, and collections. Each release is around 200 bottles and they tend to be rare finds.
Tasting Notes:
Sweet spice, stewed pears with saffron, and a chocolate cream pie nose greet you. The taste leans into vanilla hard candies with almond-encrusted toffees, soft cedar, and a hint of potting soil. Pears and soft apricot-laced tobacco leaves drive the mid-palate towards more pear and hint of that soil, tobacco, and nutty toffee.
Bottom Line:
This has those savory and earthy notes that’ll either hook you in or push you away. I really dig whiskeys that go in this direction, especially as sippers. That being said, the lower-proof versions of these barrel picks will lean more into classic bourbon notes.
This whiskey, from the much-beloved Bulleit, is a no-age-statement blend of five to eight-year-old barrels. Those whiskeys are hewn from a mash of 68 percent corn, 28 percent rye, and four percent malted barley. The blended barrels are then bottled at barrel strength to let them shine as-is.
Tasting Notes:
These will vary depending on which release you snag. Expect sweet woody notes next to oily vanilla and a big note of black pepper. The taste delivers ripe peaches next to more peppery spice and a hint of Christmas spices, with the vanilla taking a backseat and the oak really stepping in to shine. The end is spicy, hot, oaky, and peachy, with a hint of caramel corn.
Bottom Line:
These have yet to disappoint, especially if you’re already on the bandwagon for Bulleit. Overall, you’re getting a little more ABV — or that aforementioned “bang for your buck” — while still holding onto that signature Bulleit smoothness.
Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the best blenders/distillers in the game right now. Their Fusion Series #6 release marries 56 percent three-year-old high-ish rye bourbon with 30 percent eleven-year-old low-rye bourbon and 14 percent three-year-old low-rye bourbon to create this mix. Both three-year-olds are from Bardstown’s own still with the eleven-year-old being sourced juice.
Tasting Notes:
Honey really stands out on the nose next to tart apples leaning towards apple cores or seeds, supported by classic notes of vanilla pods, caramel, and light oak. That apple becomes slightly stewed and spicy with the caramel lending sweetness as a hint of walnuts arrive with a buttery crust vibe that’s very apple pie. The end is slightly oaky but sweet in the way that cherry-flavored pipe tobacco is.
Bottom Line:
These are unique releases that are worth tracking down (which might mean a trip to Kentucky to find). Still, these are masterful blends of whiskey that highlight the wonderful things happening over at Bardstown Bourbon Company right now.
This is a very old whiskey, all things considered. The juice is from single barrels, aged 15 years or more, and the proof varies accordingly (sometimes it’s cut with water, too). The whiskey showcases Dickel’s vast warehouses and the gems they have hidden deep on those ricks.
Tasting Notes:
This is all about the cherry pie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream next to a slight apple-tobacco vibe. It’s also light on the nose and on the palate with red berries leading towards a cherry-choco soda pop, more vanilla cream, and a light touch of bourbon-soaked oakiness. That woodiness leans into a musty corner of a cellar as a spicy cherry tobacco finish leaves you with a dry, almost chalky, yet sweet mouthfeel.
Bottom Line:
A 15-year-old whiskey for under $100, sign us up! Seriously, this whiskey could cost $100 or more easily and people wouldn’t think twice. This is an easy sipper that’s also available on the open market. Those are wins.
Belle Meade, the blending arm of Nashville’s Nelson Green Brier, sources some of the best barrels for their expressions — though they’re now contract distilling at Bardstown Bourbon Company. This whiskey is a hand-selected, marrying of high-rye (30 percent) seven to eleven-year-old bourbons that are bottled at nearly barrel strength (it’s just touched with water when needed), allowing the juice in the barrel to speak for itself.
Tasting Notes:
Cornmeal that’s been spiked with stewed and spicy peaches, caramel, softwood, and vanilla greet you. The sip really leans into the classic bourbon vibes on the palate with an apple pie with plenty of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg inside a buttery crust with hints of cedar, library leather, and tobacco chew. Hints of raisins and walnuts arrive late in that apple pie as the sip slowly fades, leaving you warmed and wanting more.
Bottom Line:
This remains a pure-bred classic bourbon from top to bottom. We’re getting into the territory of “If you find it, buy a case” because you’ll want this one to last longer than one bottle.
The juice in that bottle is a cask-strength blend of whiskeys from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This whiskey is all about the blending process that Stellum (part of Barrell Spirit Company) employs to make this special and award-winning juice. Basically, the process is a sort of hybrid reverse solera technique where the blend gets more juice to keep the proof high and the blend consistent in flavor as the batch is drained off.
It’s a delicate balance of mixing great whiskeys to make something better than the individual parts.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is a holiday cake with fatty nuts next to woody spice barks — think anise, clove, and cinnamon — with a nice dose of dried red fruits and honey-dipped over-ripe Granny Smith apples. The palate edges away from the spice towards a powdered sugar sweetness with a hint of dry vanilla. Then a counterpoint bursts onto the scene with a hit of spicy, dried chili pepper flakes next to blackberry pie with a nice dose of cinnamon and nutmeg. The end lingers for just the right amount of time as the spice fades back towards the honeyed sweetness and a final touch of vanilla tobacco buzz lands in the back of the throat.
Bottom Line:
This is a damn fine workhorse. It shines in the glass with a little water or on the rocks as a sipper. It also makes a mean cocktail, especially if you go simple like a Manhattan or old fashioned.
First introduced in 1997, the juice is hand-selected from barrels on the upper floors of Jack’s vast rickhouses. The whisky is bottled at a slightly higher proof to allow the nuance of the juice (and JD’s process of sugar maple filtration) to shine.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a mix of almost old cherries next to dry leather and a sticky firewood sap. There’s a light and sweet kettle caramel corn touch with a hint of vanilla and spicy toffee-covered apples that leads towards a hint of banana bread with walnuts and plenty of spice and butter. In the end, it’s really the fruit that shines the most in this dram with a stewed apple/pear vibe that ends up on a woody box full of chewy cherry tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is refined and deep. While it’s on the sweeter-fruity side (which turns some folks off), I find it comforting. Drink it neat or make a killer cocktail with it. Either way, you’ll be all set.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling takes its time for a true grain-to-glass experience. Their Small Batch Bourbon is crafted with a fairly low-rye mash bill and fermented with a sweet mash as opposed to a sour mash (that means they use 100 percent new grains, water, and yeast with each new batch instead of holding some of the mash over to start the next one like a sourdough starter). The barrels are then hand-selected for their taste and bottled completely un-messed with.
Tasting Notes:
Expect notes of blackberry next to worn leather, rich toffee, vanilla oils, and wet tobacco leaves. The taste holds onto the toffee and vanilla as the tobacco dries out and spices up, with touches of cedar bark and a few bitter espresso beans. The end is long, holds onto the vanilla and tobacco, and touches back on the berries as it fades through your senses.
Bottom Line:
This remains one of the best bourbons under $100. It’s a small craft with a truly deep history. Add in people who are innovative behind the stills, and you have a whiskey worth stocking up on and sipping.
Scarlett Johansson seemingly has a lot of time on her hands since she closed the book on her Black Widow character last year. She has been featured in Super Bowl ads, dropped out of an Apple+ movie, and also had a baby, which is a pretty hefty undertaking. Now, she is adding another venture to her plate by launching a skincare line called The Outset.
Johansson shared a collection of mysterious but appealing photos to The Outset’s Instagram account, with the expected launch date of March 1st. The brand’s tagline is “Clean and effective skincare to elevate your everyday.”
While details are a little sparse, the actress admitted last year she wanted to venture into a beauty brand at some point. She told Vogue Magazine that she wanted something to represent who she is. “I’ve been the face of several luxury brands throughout my career, and all of those experiences were really wonderful, I guess I always felt that I was sort of playing a character in those campaigns, and as I evolved, I wanted to create and represent a brand that was true to me. ”
The Outset has yet to announce their products (or their prices) but from the looks of their Instagram, there will be creams, lotions, and various items so that you, too, can look like a fresh-faced Scarlett Johansson.
John Mayer is currently touring behind his surprisingly great new album, Sob Rock (a sh*t-post, if you will), and since it’s a No. 2 album, the sh*t is obviously resonating. But fans at last night’s show at Madison Square Garden got an unexpected treat. At the last minute, Mayer’s touring drummer, Steve Ferrone was out with Covid and couldn’t play the show — so Mayer hit up his friend Questlove, who was supposed to attend the show, to see if he could fill in.
Here’s what Quest had to say about the experience:
Welp. I thought I was hangin with the crew tonight. the plan was seeing a kick ass band at @thegarden —-I came home from LA early to do @fallontonight then me & my guys @bsherman2222 @sugasteve (from @qls) & @rayangry headed to see @johnmayer & @greg_phillinganes_live & @pino_palladino_official_ & @drh3 & @sharkey335 @steve_ferrone & the rest of “the avengers of music”——-I got out my show clothes all exited & then I checked my phone: “Ferrone got covid, can you sit in?”
Truth be told I coulda played the whole show. I texted Jimmy earlier I felt like Don Henley in 1988 when last min he played drums for @gunsnroses at the @amas (weirdest version of #Patience ever) I was anxious, amped, timorous, excited, scared & hyped!!
Gotta say once onstage it was gravy. I haven’t played with this combo since the @rootspicnic in nyc 2013 w D’angelo & we haven’t lost a step. It was hella fun tonight!
This also marks the THIRD time a circumstance kept me from seeing my idol drum (Ferrone is literally WHY I drum—-first time Petty’s unfortunate passing prevented me from seeing him drum & then I went to the 8th floor at 30rock to watch him sit in on @latenightseth & of course 3/16/22 the world shut down so that was strike two——and now this lol—-ONE OF THESE NIGHTS imma see my hero play drums.
Thanks Y’all.
Mayer also had to chime in on the situation, explaining his side of things and appreciation for Quest. Mayer said that the night will “bond us forever.”
Tonight’s show was special in ways that I’m still processing. We send our love to @steve_ferrone and @made4good in hopes they traipse through Covid and return to the stage quickly.
My boundless appreciation goes out to the legendary @questlove, who stepped in on an hour’s notice to help end the show on such a powerful and definitive note.
The brilliant musicians in this band stepped up in ways that I will never forget, and will bond us forever.
Most importantly, I thank everyone in attendance whose enthusiasm and energy in the face of some disappointing news lifted us all to something far greater than I could have ever expected. It’s the honor of my life to share these nights of music with you. The next couple of tour stops will feature this format (minus the very otherwise-engaged @questlove) and I will devote every moment to making sure we bring you the best show we can. Thank you, NYC.
Not going to lie, a little jealous I didn’t get to witness this firsthand. Is there a supergroup project in the future?
Mark Lanegan, a central figure in both the grunge rock movement of the 80’s and 90s, and the desert rock rise of the early 00’s, has died at the age of 57. Born in Ellensburg, Washington and a staple in the Seattle scene, Lanegan passed away earlier today at his home in Killarney, Ireland.
“Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland. A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time. We ask Please respect the family privacy.”
Known for his deeply psychedelic vocals, Lanegan formed the Screaming Trees in 1984 and fronted the band across their eight albums. The 1992 single, “Nearly Lost You,” is undoubtedly one of the cardinal data points in the rise of the grunge rock era, which also featured contemporaries like Nirvana, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and others.
When Screaming Trees broke up in 2000, Lanegan found new life as a singer and songwriter with the Josh Homme-led desert rock band Queens Of The Stone Age. He appeared across a number of the band’s albums, from Rated R, to Like Clockwork… He also never stopped focusing on his solo work, which began with 1990’s chilling cult classic, The Winding Sheet on Sub Pop Records and culminated with 2020’s collision of genres, Straight Songs Of Sorrow on Heavenly Recordings.
Throughout his prolific career, he collaborated with acts like Nirvana, Mad Season, Afghan Whigs, Unkle, Martina Topley-Bird, Moby, Neko Case and more. He co-wrote the theme music to Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown with Homme and was never nothing short of a tireless creator.
The battle between Megan Thee Stallion and her label, Carl Crawford’s 1501 Certified Entertainment, had simmered down over the past two years after a judge granted the rapper an order allowing her to release music again, but today, hostilities flared up again as Megan sued the label over the classification of her most recent project. Complex reports Megan is upset that Something For Thee Hotties wasn’t counted as an “album” according to the terms of her contract, despite being 21 tracks and over 45 minutes long.
The point of contention here is that Meg’s contract with 1501 is for four albums and that despite releasing Tina Snow, Fever, Suga, Good News, and Something For Thee Hotties in the four-odd years since she signed the contract, only Good News was counted against that total. Obviously, she wants out of her original contract, and her popularity is such that she may never actually need to sign another one. But having her under contract is (ostensibly) a good thing for 1501, which gets a percentage of all her royalties, whether they come from “albums” or “mixtapes.”
Unfortunately, 1501 is operating from a well-established playbook — it’s actually common practice for labels to count projects as mixtapes to keep artists under contract for longer, a problematic legacy of hip-hop’s penchant for putting out unauthorized, unofficial, or surprise releases. However, by the strictest terms, anything 45 minutes or more should technically count as an album as they’ve been defined for the past 80 years or so (EPs are 22 minutes, leaving a lot of wiggle room between the two designations). That’s Meg’s argument here; her lawyers write in the suit, ” There are no other parameters or requirements under the contract for what can be deemed an ‘Album’ other than total run time of the album. As such, Something for Thee Hotties satisfies her ‘Minimum Recording Commitment’ for the second option period of the agreement.”
Incidentally, Megan showed her teeth earlier today after Crawford posted a headline boasting of a victory in their previously existing case; however, it seemed he had misunderstood which of the cases against him she’d dropped. The suit regarding fair royalty splits is still ongoing and now, Megan’s added another one to the collection in the hopes of no longer dealing with Crawford again.
Now that she’s free of The View, conservative commentator Meghan McCain has been leaning even harder into the reactionary bag of tricks in her new column for the Daily Mail, where she routinely spouts right-wing talking points and even hurls bombs at her old workplace. Recently, McCain blasted the new Sex and the City revival series, And Just Like That…, for being another victim of Hollywood “wokeness.” (Yup, she’s that predictable now.)
Here’s just one of the excerpts from McCain’s Daily Mail column:
The problem with the new series is the clumsy attempt to reformat the show into the woke and puritanical times we are living in. For example, Carrie now plays the part of the ‘cisgender woman’ on a podcast with younger co-hosts. One of them is — of course — queer and nonbinary. Because it’s so boring and un-evolved to be a straight white woman. I don’t know who to blame, the writers of the show or this particularly stupid and repressive time we are living in.
Over the weekend, the cast of And Just Like That… called into Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, where he asked them to respond to McCain’s criticism. (An interesting move considering Cohen and McCain are believed to be close friends.) Naturally, the cast had some thoughts, starting with Cynthia Nixon, who said the show has always “pushed every kind of boundary.” Nicole Ari Parker, however, went right at McCain
“Comments like that say more about the person saying them. … What’s too much? Maybe in your living room or when you step outside, it looks the same as inside, and you go to the grocery store and it’s the same,” she said, addressing McCain directly. “Maybe it is too much for you. For these characters in New York City, it’s not.”
After catching wind of the cast member’s response, McCain was uncharacteristically diplomatic and actually starstruck that they even talked about her.
“Honestly, I’m just entertained the cast of ‘and just like that’ took time to respond to my column,” McCain tweeted. “I continue to disagree and felt the reboot was a missed opportunity (as do many longtime fans) but that’s ok, and what’s so great about freedom of opinion in America!”
Honestly, I’m just entertained the cast of “and just like that” took time to respond to my column.
I continue to disagree and felt the reboot was a missed opportunity (as do many longtime fans) but that’s ok, and what’s so great about freedom of opinion in America! https://t.co/4XftgDfWz6
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