Month: December 2023

It appears Britney Spears’ father Jamie has been in poor health in recent times, and reportedly, he recently had one of his legs amputated.

According to TMZ, “sources with direct knowledge” told them that Jamie had a major infection in one of his legs, which landed him in the hospital for weeks. After five unsuccessful surgeries attempting to contain the infection, doctors decided the best stop forward was amputation.

There is at least some good news for Jamie, though, as TMZ also reports “there is hope” for a reconciliation between him and Britney. The publication notes, “Our sources say Britney has softened toward her dad recently. There have been times when she’s said she misses her dad, and once even talked about sending him money to help him out. As for Jamie, our sources say there’s nothing he’d rather have than a reconciliation with his daughter, and harbors no ill will.”

This comes shortly after Britney was spotted cuddling with her mother Lynne at Britney’s 42nd birthday party; Britney’s birthday was on December 2.

Of course, Britney has famously had a contentious relationship with her parents due to the conservatorship. In September 2022, Britney wrote, “It’s extremely hard for me to accept the fact that my family did that to me … it will be hard for me for the rest of my life … as for my Mom and Dad who sat back and hid coffee from me at the house to wake me up from feeling dead and scared like an old lady … and threw me away … I will say it loud and proud … I pray you both burn in hell.”

Since then, though, it appears the Spears family is on far better terms.

There are two words that can describe R&B in 2023: recognition and elevation. The two worked hand in hand over the course of 12 months to place the genre in a brighter light compared to previous years. SZA is the epitome of this recognition as her sophomore album SOS and highlight songs like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze” had their presence felt on the charts throughout the year. It all played a role in a year that Spotify said produced a 25% stream increase of R&B music.

There are other notable and extremely talented contributors to this increase. There’s Victoria Monét and her dazzling Jaguar II album which is also home to the infectious “On My Mama,” a record that quickly became Monét’s most popular track. We also have Janelle Monáe’s splendid fifth album The Age Of Pleasure which made a joyous splash in the industry during this year’s summer months. Daniel Caesar, Sampha, and Jorja Smith made long-awaited returns with their respective albums, Never Enough, Lahai, and Falling Or Flying.

The veterans of R&B thrived in 2023, but so did the newcomers. Look no further than Leon Thomas III’s debut Electric Dusk, Fridayy’s delf-titled debut, and Khamari’s A Brief Nirvana. Artists new and old within the traditional, contemporary, and alternative R&B genres thrived in 2023 and helped bring the genre to a new level, and now, it’s time to celebrate their work.

Here are the 25 best R&B projects of 2023 in alphabetical order.

6lack — Since I Have A Lover

It’s always beautiful to see musicians continuously find new ways to bring their artistry to life with each project they release. That’s undoubtedly been the case for 6lack who finally delivered his third album Since I Have A Lover. Unlike his previous two albums, 6lack combines pop references with his trademark alternative R&B for a body of work that is both freeing and diverse. Through success in love, 6lack finds himself to be a new man with a new outlook on life, all of which is detailed through records that display his loyalty (“Fatal Attraction”), patience (“B4L”), commitment (“Temporary”), and more. Whether he’s rapping or singing, 6lack gets his message across in an effortless and impressive manner. – Wongo Okon

Baby Rose — Through And Through

It’d been a little while since Baby Rose released a full-length project, but that period finally came to an end with her sophomore album Through And Through. The project is a refreshing addition to the musical landscape and Rose’s savory croons and heavy, soulful spirit guide the album that details the various fires she escaped her life. We meet a determined Baby Rose on Through And Through who isn’t afraid to put her hand out for a new foray into love (“Dance With Me” & “Love Bomb”), overcome heartbreak (“Stop The Bleeding”), and show that there are more sides to her than a hopeless romantic (“I Won’t Tell”). Through its 11 songs, Baby Rose offers an elegant and enchanting showcase of her undeniable talents with Though And Through. – W.O.

BJ The Chicago Kid — Gravy

There’s no conversation of modern-day soul music that can be had without mention of BJ The Chicago Kid. The singer has delivered impressive bodies of work for over a decade and that continues with his fourth album Gravy. Made in collaboration with producer Yeti Beats, Gravy soaks itself in 1970s soul with Al Green as its inspiration. With BJ The Chicago Kid in the driver’s seat, Gravy expands into a symphony of sweet trumpets and ear-pleasing strings that accompany his passionate vocals that rest like gravy over the production. Gravy stands in a room of its own among R&B in 2023, and with it, BJ The Chicago Kid continues his streak of top-notch albums – W.O.

Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life

Brent Faiyaz’s career has reached new heights after he dropped his second album Wasteland. A year removed from that project came Larger Than Life, which in short, is a celebratory toast to the good life. Faiyaz leans heavily into the perks of his stardom on the 14-track album while paying homage to his DMV home. This toast and moment of gratitude to those who came before him — Timbaland and Missy Elliott, for example — is just a piece of the pie on Larger Than Life. It’s also where up-and-coming DMV artists like Cruddy Murda, TTM Dawg, and Tommy Richman were given the floor to show their talents. Some artists get big and lose touch with how they got there. That’s not the case with Brent whose Larger Than Life is still in touch with his roots, himself, and his supporters. – W.O.

CARRTOONS — Saturday Night

CARRTOONS was an artist that was entirely unknown to me when I hit play on their new project Saturday Night on a whim. One song — really, the first 20 seconds of that first song — was all it took for the New York producer’s funky, instrumental take on retrofuturistic R&B to burrow deep into my brain and take up residence. Saturday Night quickly gentrified parts of my brain that hadn’t been receptive to new music for at least a decade, in part thanks to guest appearances from underground vocalists like Reuben James, Topaz Jones, and Haile Supreme, but also because of the undeniable, endlessly danceable grooves from the producer themselves. – Aaron Williams

Chlöe — In Pieces

There are many impressive aspects of Chlöe’s debut album In Pieces. First, is the fact that the singer even arrived at a point in her career to release. Her solo career was criticized for more reasons than it wasn’t, but none of that seemed to hinder the body of work that is In Pieces. Actually, it only strengthened it. The critiques and doubts became the backbone of the album which also detailed her recovery from heartbreak. Between the uptempo and bouncy “Body Do” and the captivating “Make It Look Easy,” Chlöe showcased her versatility, her writing, and her evolving vision on her debut album. Though the sky is the limit for her, Chlöe is well on her way to reaching it. – W.O.

Daniel Caesar — Never Enough

If there was any doubt that Daniel Caesar could replicate the glory days of his past, the Toronto singer put them all to rest with his euphoric third album Never Enough. It’s with this album that he took on a bigger producer role as he placed himself in a small town that’s hours outside of Toronto to make the beats that became the landscape of Never Enough. He grapples with wanting love (“Do You Like Me?”) and seeing that it’s run its course (“Let Me Go”) while finding time to shade those who believed they moved on from him to better (“Homiesexual”). Never Enough excellently captures the rollercoaster ride of love and the constant search for perfection, if that even exists. – W.O.

Dende – ’95 Civic

Dende, if not a name you recognize, is a face you may have seen this year. This Houston earned himself a viral moment in 2023 with an impassioned performance of “Nightmares” complete with special effects that gave him bodily injuries as brutal as a car accident. Months later came his album ’95 Civic, which used a journey in the Honda vehicle to represent the rise and crushing fall of a relationship. Dende does an excellent job of portraying the devastation and eventual pain caused by this unexpected loss, and what comes from it is a project that’s emotionally vulnerable and captivating. A relationship’s end can be as unexpected and devastating as a car accident, especially when so much is invested into it. While what happens next remains to be seen, Dende’s story on ’95 Civic is beautiful enough to hear over and over again for the time being. – W.O.

Fridayy — Fridayy

Much of the music world’s introduction to Philly singer Fridayy came through his bellowing hook on DJ Khaled’s “God Did” record with Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z. Though we received his debut project Lost In Melodyy in 2022, the singer’s debut self-titled album is the proper introduction. Fridayy arrives as a glorious and epic account of the faith he had in reaching this moment he dreamed of. Fridayy switches between his accounts of faith in God and faith in the relationships as much as he transitions in and out of traditional R&B, afrobeats, and contemporary R&B records. With Fridayy, the Philly singer proved that he’s worthy of everything he’s been blessed with, as well as your attention, going forward. – W.O.

Janelle Monáe — The Age Of Pleasure

Janelle Monáe is always worth the wait. The Age Of Pleasure is their fourth album, and their first in five years, and with this record, Monáe is on a higher spiritual plane than ever before. Indulging in hedonistic pleasures, Monáe revels in queer sensuality, embracing intimacy and touch on songs like “Lipstick Lover.” They also celebrate many a win on “Champagne Sh*t,” and embrace their own body as a work of art on the luxurious “Haute.” Through smooth transitions between tracks, The Age Of Pleasure paints a continuous portrait of opulence and sexual liberation within an unapologetically queer, genderfluid world created via Monáe’s multidimensional lens. – Alex Gonzalez

Jordan Ward — Forward

Jordan Ward has long had the potential to crack through the underground ceiling and stand a bit closer to the mainstream world since he released “Lalaland” back in 2017. The success of that record pales in comparison to that of “White Crocs,” his breakout hit with Ryan Trey, but it does show how long the St. Louis native has been working on his craft. “White Crocs” would eventually find its home on his fourth project Forward which is by far Ward’s most polished work to date. If “White Crocs” isn’t your jam, then “IDC” with Joony, “311” with Gwenn Bunn,” “Sidekick” with Joyce Wrice, or one of the other 10 records will certainly provide something you like. That’s just how good and versatile Jordan Ward is. – W.O.

Jorja Smith — Fighting Or Flying

On her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Falling Or Flying, Jorja Smith soars. Categorically, the body of work is labeled R&B, but the sonics explored on Falling Or Flying are boundless. Singles “Little Things” and the title track are just samplers of how far the branches of the entire tracklist reach. Though the album was written solely as a healing exercise for Smith, somehow, fans come out on the opposite side as a better version of themselves, having experienced life through her eyes. – Flisadam Pointer

Kali Uchis — Red Moon In Venus

Kali Uchis’ third album Red Moon In Venus is without question her best album to date. Maybe it’s because she’s more in touch with herself than ever or maybe it’s because she’s more at peace than ever. The result of either, or maybe both of those observations, is a 15-track body of work that captures Uchis majestically and graceful float through elements of R&B and pop, while also tapping into her Spanish roots, to make what sounds like Uchis’ idea of paradise. Whether it’s “Fantasy” with Don Toliver, “Deserve Me” with Summer Walker, or solo efforts like “All Mine” and “Moonlight,” Kali Uchis’ Red Moon In Venus has plenty of music to get lost in and find your own paradise. – W.O.

Khamari – A Brief Nirvana

The lone newcomer on this list is singer Khamari, who delivered his debut project A Brief Nirvana to kick off the unofficial start to summer. The 11-track project is a sweet combination of nostalgia and a fresh breath from a new artist to the game, and his sampling of Al Green’s “Love And Happiness” on “On My Way” for an honest tale about loneliness is a perfect example of that. Even when through completely original compositions like “Doctor, My Eyes,” Khamari’s artistry shines through vivid lyricism that’s aided by emotive production. The Boston-born singer has earned comparisons to Frank Ocean and his A Brief Nirvana debut is a great start to hopefully one day reaching the status of the celebrated singer. – W.O.

Kiana Ledé — Grudges

Kiana Ledé returned as a woman frustrated with the recent occurrences in her love life for her second album Grudges. While some write about heartbreak from the perspective of pain, Ledé uses the 17 songs on Grudges as a venting session during the journey of recovery. Whether it singing “I don’t trust you and I don’t trust these hoes” on “Jealous,” grappling with an insufficient lover on “Focus” and “Damage,” or struggling to have hope with love on “Same Type,” Kiana Ledé tackles it all to make an album that every hopeful romantic can relate to thanks to honest songwriting, elegant production, and a voice that stands out in today’s R&B landscape. – W.O.

Leon Thomas — Electric Dusk

Leon Thomas III is the mastermind behind some of music’s biggest hits, including SZA’s fan-favorite trackSnooze.” Now that he’s ready for the spotlight, others should be on high alert. On his debut studio album, Electric Dusk, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ longest-running drive-thru movie theater, Thomas puts all of the creative parts of himself that he’s lent out to other artists on full display. When his mentor and label head, Ty Dolla Sign, said that listening made him want to redo his own work, it wasn’t an exaggeration. Across the album, Thomas provides men with an emotionally safe space to display vulnerability, make mistakes, and grow within romantic relationships while trying to find a footing in their careers. Although the project might’ve been snubbed during the 2024 Grammy nominations, its impact will surely ripple throughout the genre for years to come. – F.P.

Mahalia — IRL

Four years removed from her debut album, British singer Mahalia is back for round two with sophomore effort IRL (In Real Life). Its 13 tracks portray a woman, now 25 years old, who is more courageous and firm in her beliefs than ever. Though IRL may be a bit broad of a title, but its songs are anything but that. She avoids and calls out manipulation in love on records like “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and celebrates breaking free from a relationship that no longer serves her on “Wassup Wassup.” Mahalia isn’t always the tough girl she is on “Terms And Conditions,” as “Lose Lose” portrays, but in the end, all that matters is the mere attempt day in and day out to be that strong. IRL is empowering and motivating as it is vulnerable and honest, a mix we could use more of in music. – W.O.

Masego — Masego

Masego’s magnum opus arrived more than a decade into his career and it’s fitting that it’s for his self-titled sophomore album. The project’s 14 songs are a masterful combination of the elements that make Masego an artist we’ve come to love. The tropical side of his discography comes alive through “Say You Want Me” while his jazz and funk roots are wrapped around records like “You Never Visit Me.” With Masego, the singer proves that the music will never be a concern for himself. Since day one, he’s impressed fans repeatedly with his talents, and now with his second album, Masego perfectly combined those talents for a body of work that couldn’t be more representative of himself. – W.O.

Phabo — Don’t Get Too Cozy

Before 2023, you’d have a hard time pointing out a bad song from Los Angeles singer Phabo and that’s still the case with just weeks left in the year. Don’t Get Too Cozy, the singer’s second project, lives within the pursuit of love as its title alludes to staying on your toes and never relaxing even when romance is found. What amounts from that is bulletproof confidence and a tunnel-visioned focus that Phabo not only presents through this album, but in his career as well. Calls for a woman to “Swing My Way” are followed by the discovery of an enthralling summer love on the other side of the country on “Stay.” The pursuit continues in the bedroom through “Luv Songs (Unruly)” and “Express Yourself,” and by the end of it all, there’s no doubt that the mission is successful. Don’t Get Too Cozy is equal parts charismatic and intimate, and a recipe that places Phabo in an appealing light. – W.O.

Raahiim — BUT IF iiM HONEST

Of the many artists to come out of Toronto’s talented R&B landscape, Raahiim is one to take note of. His second project BUT IF iiM HONEST, which recently received the deluxe treatment, is the epitome of honesty and transparency — for better or for worse. His tender voice cascades over moody and timid production that delivers accounts of a real situation Raahiim faced — or was too afraid to face — in his life. Between questioning a partner’s sudden change in behavior on “Famous (Lost To LA),” detailing the flaws in a partner’s contribution to a relationship on “Friend Zone,” and struggling with the absence of love on “Lonely,” Raahiim lives up to the album title on BUT IF iiM HONEST and its the type of authenticity we can appreciate. – W.O.

Rory — I Thought It’d Be Different

If you ever needed proof that R&B is alive and well, aside from the numerous impressive solo albums that arrived in the genre this year, look no further than Rory’s compilation project I Thought It’d Be Different. The 13-track release takes some very talented names in the alternative and traditional R&B world — Ari Lennox, DRAM, Alex Isley, dvsn, Raahiim, Shantal May, Pink Sweat$, Sinead Harnett, and THEY., just to name a few — and pairs them together with knowledge of how each artist caters to another. What comes next are records that touch on romance, heartbreak, and the many other possibilities that exist between those two realms. Rory excellently steers the ship that is I Thought It’d Be Different, and what comes from it is a well-crafted body of work that shines a light on alternative R&B and delivers a sweet gift to those who love the genre. –W.O.

Sampha — Lahai

At long last, 2023 was the year that Sampha emerged from his humble abode to release his sophomore album Lahai, the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s Process. Where Process was drowned in feelings of loss and grief, Lahai finds Sampha on the other side of the wall, filled with hope, optimism, and acceptance. He grapples with time from start to finish on the album, but the most important takeaway with Sampha’s second album is that the London singer remains as good as ever, and arguably better, in the time that has passed since his debut. Evidence of that lives within “Only,” “Can’t Go Back,” “Spirit 2.0,” and much more. – W.O.

SZA — SOS

Yes, this album came out in 2022, but with most of its success taking place in 2023 and the fact that it came after our 2022 lists, it’s only right that SZA’s SOS makes the cut here. Five years removed from her debut album, SZA returns to a world riddled with troubled waters that people from all over hoped to survive and swim out of. Through the album’s expansive 23 songs, SZA guides us on a journey of surviving life’s elements, the lessons learned along the way, and what it looks like to make it to shore. The ups and downs of life, growing pains, and artistic struggles are all present on this album, and it’s even more impressive that she made its 23 songs not feel like an absolute drag. It was a long time coming for SZA, but boy did she arrive. – W.O.

THEY. — Nu Moon

THEY. — the duo comprised of singer Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — entered a new era with the release of their third album Nü Moon. The project is the duo’s first independent album, and the freedom to create as one pleases that comes with this independence is hard to ignore through the project’s 14 songs. With Nü Moon, Drew and Dante give us another take of their trademark alternative R&B style and it’s one that seems to live under the night sky. With records like “In The Mood,” “Riptide,” and “Wait On Me” which features the incomparable Kacey Musgraves, THEY. present no sign of sunlight while proving that even in the darkest moments, love can still exist. Searching for it, having it, and losing it; it’s the theme of THEY’s Nü Moon which strikes as their best and most complete body of work to date. – W.O.

Victoria Monét — Jaguar II

After years of working behind the scenes as a songwriter of many pop hits, Victoria Monét finally got to shine on her own this year. This past summer saw Monét release her debut album, Jaguar II, on which her hitmaking prowess continues to hold up. While the album maintains its cohesiveness throughout its 11 tracks, nearly all of them can be a single — including the kiss-off “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Sh*t),” the surprisingly pleasant break-up ballad “Good Bye,” and of course, the dirty south tribute, “On My Mama.” – A.G.

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

The Yellowstone phenomenon has transformed from one lonely cowboy soap opera to an expanding roster of Taylor Sheridan shows like Lawmen: Bass Reeves, which is racking up massive ratings on Paramount+. Most of Sheridan’s shows do stream on that service (with most surfacing eventually on Paramount Network), although Yellowstone proper has been dominating Peacock. That hasn’t stopped the original series from doing well while the first season began filling holes on CBS’ fall schedule while Hollywood recovers from those strikes.

Heck, the show has even been faring well with a network edit that adds up to less swearing and watered down sex stuff. People can’t stop watching the show in between NFL airtimes, and suddenly, the fact that Kevin Costner probably will not be in the final half of Season 5 doesn’t matter all that much because CBS has found that people will simply watch the old episodes.

And that has led to CBS deciding to move onto Yellowstone Season 3 with their network voyage for the Dutton ranch. That sun will rise, via The Wrap, on January 14, 2024 at 8:00pm EST.

In other words, the cowboy soap opera lives on despite the soap operatics involving getting the cast gathered up to film the final episodes. Giddy up, y’all.

(Via The Wrap)

Dua Lipa‘s third album remains a mystery. We know the first single is “Houdini” and… that’s about it. There’s no release date or even a title. But on Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show, the “Dance The Night” singer did at least reveal the album’s genre (it ain’t disco).

“I’m going for more of, like, psychedelic-pop vibe,” Lipa told host Jimmy Fallon. “I’m still trying to find the language to talk about the album without talking about the album.”

She continued, “With this new record, I made it with my friends Kevin Parker [of Tame Impala], Tobias Jesso Jr., Danny Harle, and Caroline Ailin, and it was kind of made like a band. Well, for the most part. Most of the songs we did together. And I just wanted to have that kind of really organic element that I had while I was on tour. Because when I was touring for a whole year, I just started to fall in love with the songs and the live element, and I was like, ‘I just want to bring all of that into this new record.’ So I’m very excited.”

You can watch Lipa’s Tonight Show interview above.

Dua Lipa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most successful video games ever: It’s No. 2 on the list of all-time best selling games, edged out only by the ubiquitous Minecraft. So, yesterday’s reveal of the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer was a huge deal. As of this post, the video has been viewed over 62 million times in the 13 hours since it was uploaded, and that number’s probably a lot higher by the time you read this. Now that the dust has started to settle, fans might be wondering about the music used in the trailer.

What’s the song in the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer?

For the first look at GTA 6 (which is set for release in 2025), Rockstar Games decided to go with a true rockstar, using Tom Petty’s “Love Is A Long Road,” from 1989’s Full Moon Fever, Petty’s iconic first solo album.

It’s a relatively obscure pick: The song was never released as a single. When Uproxx’s Steven Hyden ranked Petty’s 100 best songs, “Love Is A Long Road” made the list, but it wasn’t very high up. Hyden noted, though, “This is a point about Full Moon Fever I’m going to end up belaboring by the end of this list but so be it: ‘Love Is A Long Road’ was not a single. On pretty much on any other Tom Petty album, it would have been the first single. But Full Moon Fever was the ’90s Chicago Bulls of Tom Petty albums, so ‘Love Is A Long Road’ had to ride the bench.”

Petty’s song is a perfect fit for the GTA 6 trailer, and not just because it’s a great tune: Petty is a native Floridian, and the new game is set in the fictional Vice City, which is inspired by Florida.

Tom Petty Easter egg in the GTA 6 trailer

Meanwhile, some eagle-eyed fans noticed a Petty Easter egg in the trailer: At one point in the video, on a door is a sticker that reads “Petty Forever,” with a background that uses the distinct color scheme from the Full Moon Fever album cover art.

Check out the GTA 6 trailer below.

Under The Big Sky Music Festival, outdoor extravaganza will return for the fifth year in 2024. Music festival season has an abundance of programming for hip-hop, rock, pop, R&B, and jazz fans. But this multi-day event is solely for country lovers. Yesterday (December 4), the organizer announced Miranda Lambert as its 2024 headliner. Also, Billy Strings and Turnpike Troubadours are set to return to the multiple-purpose event between July 12 and 14, 2024.

A few dozen miles outside the Canadian border, in Whitefish, Montana, recording artists in Americana, Outlaw country, rock, indie-folk, and bluegrass will descend onto the Big Mountain Ranch grounds. Other notable performers scheduled to perform at the 2024 Under The Big Sky Music Festival include City and Colour, Mt. Joy, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne, Sierra Ferrell, The Revivalists, Paul Cauthen, and Charles Wesley Godwin.

In addition to the musical wing of the festival, attendees can enjoy rodeo showups and other roundups. Also, as a bonus, Under The Big Sky’s partnership with Save Farmland will aid in the protection and promotion of small farms in Montana via the proceeds raised by on-site merchandise sales across the weekend.

Ticket sales will begin on December 8 at noon MT. Under The Big Sky Music Festival is open for all ages (children under six are granted free entry). Find more information here.

Pop-jazz fusion singer Laufey has won over music lover’s hearts with her songs “From The Start,” “Christmas Dreaming,” and the Beabadoobee collaboration “A Night To Remember.” Last week, Laufey teased that she had something up her sleeve for fans. Yesterday (December 4), she shared that she would travel worldwide to share her sophomore album, Bewitched, with supporters across the United States and the United Kingdom.

The 41-date commitment includes appearances at several music festivals, including Ottawa and Montreal International Jazz festivals. In February 2024, Laufey will kick off the massive run with a string of sold-out performances in Dublin, Ireland. Her Bewitched: The Goddess Tour will make stops in all major markets from New York City and London to Toronto. View the full tour schedule below. So far, Laufey has not announced any supporting acts joining her on the road. However, she will perform alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

The presale for Laufey’s Bewitched: The Goddess Tour starts on December 6 at 10 a.m. local time. The general sale will begin on December 8 at 10 a.m. local time. Find more information here.

Bewitched: The Goddess Tour schedule

02/10/2024 — Dublin, IE @ The Academy (Matinee)
02/10/2024 — Dublin, IE @ The Academy (Evening)
02/11/2024 — Glasgow, GB @ SWG3 Galvanizers
02/14/2024 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
02/15/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/16/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/17/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/20/2024 — Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
02/21/2024 — Brussels, BE @ La Madeleine
02/23/2024 — Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36
02/25/2024 — Stockholm, SE @ Nalen
02/26/2024 — Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
02/27/2024 — Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus
02/29/2024 — Milan, IT @ Magazzini Generali
03/03/2024 — Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
03/05/2024 — Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
03/06/2024 — Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
03/09/2024 — Reykjavík, IS @ Eldborg Harpa
03/10/2024 — Reykjavík, IS @ Eldborg Harpa
03/13/2024 — London, UK @ Roundhouse
04/08/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
04/09/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
04/12/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Masonic Theatre
04/13/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Masonic Theatre
04/15/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
04/18/2024 — Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House
04/19/2024 — Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
04/20/2024 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
04/22/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
04/23/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
04/25/2024 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
04/28/2024 — Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
04/30/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
05/03/2024 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
05/06/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
05/07/2024 — Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre
05/16/2024 — London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
06/25/2024 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts*
06/28/2024 — Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Jazz Festival
06/29/2024 —Montreal, QC @ Montreal International Jazz Festival
08/07/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

* with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Tacko Fall has found a basketball home in China. After spending the start of his professional career bouncing back and forth between the NBA and the G League, Fall made the decision to head overseas and play in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2022. And after one year with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Fall opted to change teams this offseason and join the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings.

One thing that Fall is especially good at is using his size to impose himself on basketball games, and thanks to a clip that is making its way around the internet from a game last week, we got a glimpse of that. Fall went up against a Shanghai Sharks team that features a number of ex-NBA players recently, and early on in the game, Fall set a screen, dove to the rim, and had only one 6’2 player standing between him and a bucket. For reasons that I do not understand, the opposing player decided to test the 7’6 Fall at the rim, and You’ll Never Believe What Happened Next*.

(* — you will 100 percent believe what happened next)

It is nothing short of remarkable that any guard would try to slow Fall down at the rim, but this is about what you’d expect to happen here. Anyway, fortune favors the brave, and while the dunk and subsequent poster went against the Sharks, they went on to win the game, 98-95.

Over the weekend, hard rock music legends KISS concluded their The End Of The Road Tour at Madison Square Garden. The series of sold-out New York City shows marked their final live performance, as we know. Yes, that’s right, KISS is set to retire from touring. Instead of the group pushing their bodies to the limits on the road, they’re launching digital avatars to do the heavy lifting for them. So, what are the KISS digital avatars?

The KISS digital avatars are elevated motion-captured visuals of the band in all their glory. AP said the initiative was birthed through a partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group (co-owned by Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus) and George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic.

In a statement provided to the outlet, Pophouse Entertainment’s CEO Per Sundin preached that the innovation will allow KISS to further their live show legacy without physical limitation. “Kiss could have a concert in three cities on the same night across three different continents,” said Sundin. “That’s what you could do with this.”

KISS frontman Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons spoke about the decision behind developing the digital avatars in the video documentary A New Era Begins.

“What we’ve accomplished has been amazing, but it’s not enough,” said Stanley. “The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are. It’s exciting for us to go the next step and see Kiss immortalized.”

Simmons added, “We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamed of before. The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he’s ever done before.”

As KISS enjoys their retirement from performing, their digital avatars will pick up where they left off.

Next weekend sees the release of Wonka, a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (or, as the 1971 film version was called it, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) that offers an origin story for children’s lit’s most popular chocolatier. Both that and Tim Burton’s 2005 version Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were movie musicals. So what’s the deal with Wonka?

The answer is, yep, it sure is a musical. Timothée Chalamet is no professional singer, and yet there is, warbling up a storm as the young Wonka. (Then again, neither Gene Wilder nor Johnny Depp, Chalamet’s Wonka predecessors, were crooners either, and they did just fine.) The film’s director, Paul King, thinks he’s got pipes. He even compared him to no less than Bing Crosby.

As for Wonka’s bona fides as a musical, Variety’s Owen Gleiberman says it’s so old-fashioned it “may be the squarest big-scale Hollywood musical in decades.” He added:

How square is it? In an era that has given us such visionary next-level musicals as “La La Land,” “Moulin Rouge!,” and the shockingly underrated “The Greatest Showman,” as well as such hip and vibrant Broadway adaptations as “Chicago,” “Hairspray,” “In the Heights,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Les Misérables,” and “Rent,” “Wonka,” as directed and co-written by Paul King (who made the “Paddington” films), plays like a more visually limber version of some singing-and-dancing relic from the late-studio-system era of “Oliver!” (1968) and “Scrooge” (1970). It’s so square it makes “Mary Poppins Returns” look edgy.

So there you go. Wonka isn’t just a musical. It’s a square musical. With a guy who hasn’t sung onscreen before. But if Chalamet really is like Bing Crosby, wait till you hear him sing like Bob Dylan.