According to a study commissioned by the World Health Organization, the chance of getting or giving COVID-19 is “three percent with a mask compared with 17 percent without a mask.” It might not sound like much, but that’s a huge difference that could save millions of lives. But if math isn’t your thing (it seems to not be a lot of people’s thing these days), listen to Tom Hanks: “There’s really only three things we can do in order to get to tomorrow: Wear a mask, social distance, wash our hands… Those things are so simple, so easy, if anybody cannot find it in themselves to practice those three basic things, I just think shame on you. Don’t be a p*ssy, get on with it, do your part.”
We should all listen to America’s Dad, and Bill Nye as well. The Science Guy appeared in a recent TikTok video, where he explained why the “scientific community” supports wearing a mask in public. “Please, consider the following: Face masks prevent particles from my respiratory system from getting in the air and into your respiratory system,” he said before trying to blow out a candle wearing a mask — no dice. “If you’re wearing one of these, you’re protecting yourself and everyone around you,” he added.
Nye then unloaded on anyone who chooses to not wear a mask:
“The reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect you, sure, but the main reason we want you to wear a mask is to PROTECT ME FROM YOU and the particles from YOUR respiratory system into getting into MY respiratory system. Everybody, this is a matter of literally life and death, and when I use the word ‘literally,’ I mean ‘literally’ of life and death. So when you’re out in public, please, wear a mask.”
Take it from Tom Hanks, Bill Nye, and every doctor ever: wear a mask.
It would seem the band then known as Lady Antebellum had good intentions a month ago, when they announced they would be changing their name to Lady A. The shift was to rid their moniker of the word “antebellum,” which has ties to a period of history defined by slavery. However, it turned out a Black blues singer, Anita White, was already using the name, so she wasn’t pleased with the country group’s new identity.
After that controversy, the two parties had a discussion, and the band said they were “moving forward with positive solutions and common ground,” adding, “The hurt is turning into hope.” Now, though, it looks like that hope has turned into something else: The band is suing the singer over the name.
The suit was filed on July 8 in a Nashville court, and the band is asking for the right to the trademark of the name. The lawsuit says that the singer can keep using the name, but the band wants the trademark after the singer demanded the band give her $10 million.
The suit says the band previously registered “Lady A” as a trademark in 2010, and received no opposition at that time. The group says in a statement:
“Today we are sad to share that our sincere hope to join together with Anita White in unity and common purpose has ended. She and her team have demanded a $10 million payment, so reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that we need to ask a court to affirm our right to continue to use the name Lady A, a trademark we have held for many years. […] We are sad to share that our sincere hope to join together with Anita White in unity and common purpose has ended. We can do so much more together than in this dispute.”
In an interview after the name-change announce, the singer said, “They’re using the name because of a Black Lives Matter incident that, for them, is just a moment in time. If it mattered, it would have mattered to them before. It shouldn’t have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it. It’s an opportunity for them to pretend they’re not racist or pretend this means something to them.”
This week we’ve got a jam-packed SNX DLX for you with more brand diversity than we’ve ever managed to curate in a single week’s list. On the sneaker end, the top five is shared between Jordan Brand, Adidas, Vans and New Balance, with new apparel drops from skate-brand powerhouses Supreme, and PLEASURES, and a few small releases from the LA-based labels RipnRpr and Chinatown Market.
Now that we’re in full-on summer, we’re ditching pants and jackets for short-sleeves and shorts, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on pieces that’ll be more fitting for the fall and winter. In fact, we recommend you scoop up some jackets now while they’re filling up sales racks.
Here are all the best sneaker and apparel releases of the week.
Air Jordan 11 Concord Sketch
Nike
This variation on a classic Jordan colorway will have sneakerheads of all stripes salivating at the thought of copping a pair. Inspired by an early concept model done by Tinker Hatfield before solidifying the look of the 11 Concords, the Concord Sketch features a low-top profile and a blue mudguard over a white patent leather upper and sits atop an icy blue gum.
Altogether, this sneaker looks like it should be in a museum, so copping a pair makes your feet traveling works of art. Which is dope, unless you don’t want people staring at your feet all day. If that’s the case, bright blue shoes aren’t for you.
The Air Jordan 11 Concord Sketch is set to drop on July 10th for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 MNVN Bone
Yeezy Supply
Kanye should do two things: 1). NOT run for President. The dude has almost no knowledge of history, and while definitely a visionary, would make an awful president for reasons that are deserving of their own article. 2). NOT make music, when your best songs on your newest projects don’t even hold a candle to the worst moments on your best, it’s time to call it a day, only popping up occasionally for weird vanity projects every 11 years.
That leaves Kanye with one thing to do that he’s actually still really good at: Design sneakers.
The YEEZY 700 MNVN Bone is not the greatest YEEZY sneaker out there, but it’s solid, especially if you’re a fan of Ye’s alien future-leaning sneaker silhouettes. Like many YEEZY colorways, this will probably sell out. With cultural capital at an all-time low in his career, people aren’t buying YEEZYs anymore because they’re made by Kanye West, they’re buying them because they like the way they look.
The Adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 MNVN Bone is set to drop on July 11th for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair through YEEZY Supply.
Maha Amsterdam x Vans Vault Style 36
Maha Amsterdam
Vans is probably the biggest shoe brand that we actively ignore each week here on SNX, but it’s not because we don’t love the brand. It’s just because Vans doesn’t do much to alter its tried and true formula. That’s not the case this week though — Vans Vault has linked up with Maha Amsterdam for an Orange Tompouce-inspired colorway of the Style 36 silhouette, with alternating Jazz stripes against Vans’ iconic checkerboard pattern.
This sneaker screams “summer” in a way few other colorways have this season, and its vibrant makeup makes us long for summer pool parties (which we won’t be attending this year, for good reason). If the design is a little out there for you, Supreme is dropping their take on the Sk8-Hi Pros, and Slip-On Pros on July 9th, which didn’t feel notable enough to make the top five this week.
The Vans Vault Style 36 is set to drop on July 11th for a retail price of $105. Pick up a pair through Maha Amsterdam’s online store, or various Vans Vault retailers.
Maha Amsterdam
Air Jordan 1 Smoke Grey
Nike
The Air Jordan 1 Smoke Grey slams together two classic Jordan looks and the result isn’t a chaotic mess like you’d expect. The Smoke Grey features a suede upper in place of the sneaker’s usual leather construction, dressed in a cool combination of light grey and off-white, with a black wraparound swoosh and a splash of color by way of the BRED-style collar. We’d like to see more spins on classic Jordan colorways from the brand rather than rehashing former glory by re-releasing classic colorways endlessly.
The Air Jordan Smoke Grey is set to drop on July 11th for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.
NikeNike
New Balance 327 July Collection
New Balance
This three-color collection of New Balance’s 327 sneaker is heavy on the crunchy hippie vibes, thanks in large part to the combination of fuzzy suede panels over a canvas upper. Each sneaker in the collection utilizes a three-color design with white New Balance branding, with our favorite being the red, blue, and grey colorway with the black, grey, and blue coming in as a close second.
The New Balance 327 July Collection is set to drop on July 11th for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at Japanese retailer Mita.
MitaMita
PLEASURES Summer 2020 Collection
Pleasures
Los Angeles-based PLEASURES has just dropped their summer 2020 collection, which consists of season-appropriate button-downs, long sleeves, polos, shorts, and a few light jackets for those cooler summer nights. Visuals in the collection were handled by a variety of outside talent, like Hong Kong-based artist DJ Healthy, and French Illustrator Regards Coupables, providing a collection of t-shirts sporting vibrant and eye-catching art, which reaches slightly above the usual graphic t-shirt fair from brands that don’t have PLEASURES art school eye.
Supreme continues their summer drops this week with the 19th release of their Spring/Summer 2020 collection, which consists of some fresh caps, accessories, and season un-appropriate Terry short-sleeved shirts. Those sound a little too warm for the summer but come fall and winter, the Terry-cloth shirt is sure to be a great addition to your wardrobe, especially in the regal purple colorway. Rounding out the collection is a truly disgusting American-flag patterned rayon button-up, and the previously mentioned Vans Sk8-Hi and Slip-On Pros.
The latest Supreme drop will arrive on July 9th at 11 a.m. ET and is stoppable at the Supreme online store.
SupremeSupremeSupreme
RipnRpr
Koreatown, Los Angeles-based brand RipnRpr have just dropped this graphic t-shirt that subtly digs on America’s obsession with guns. Reading “Full of Western Promise” the t-shirt includes a gathering of hands armed with all of America’s iconic guns, from automatic assault weapons to tiny revolvers.
RipnRpr also dropped a few other provocative t-shirts over the last month, including this “No More Happy endings” t-shirt, and another that makes reference to the 92 LA riots.
Chinatown Market is dropping a refresh of its popular Rainbow Rhinestone t-shirt in either black or white. There isn’t much to it, it’s just a t-shirt that says Chinatown in, you guessed it, rainbow rhinestones. But it’s one of the brand’s most sought after t-shirts, so we figured it was deserving of a quick shoutout.
After the initial round of COVID-19 testing, things didn’t look good for the NBA as it prepared to head to Orlando. A total of 26 players tested positive among those who were ostensibly headed to the bubble at Disney World, raising new concerns about whether the safety protocols put in place would be sufficient to protect the scores of players and league personnel involved.
With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant both still out with injuries, and Wilson Chandler skipping of the trip due to concerns for his family’s safety, the Nets roster has been decimated. In an effort to bolster that depleted roster, news emerged on Wednesday that they were adding Jamal Crawford, which was followed closely by a report from Shams Charania that Michael Beasley was likewise nearing a deal to join Brooklyn.
Michael Beasley is moving toward a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA@Stadium.
At 30-34 on the season, the Nets currently hold the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings. However, they’ll find themselves in a gritty three-way fight with the Magic and Wizards and for the final two playoff seeds when the eight-game regular-season slate kicks off on July 31.
Beasley has not played in the NBA since the Lakers traded him to the Clippers at the February deadline, where he was subsequently waived. He signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers soon after that but has been trying to work his way back into the league ever since.
Seen in its most positive light, A24’s First Cow (from festival titan Kelly Reichardt and writer Jonathan Raymond) is a work of 19th-century hobo food porn, a combination of words I never knew could exist, let alone be something I wanted.
John Magaro and Orion Lee play Cookie Figowitz and King Lu, respectively, two penniless drifters who’ve made their way to the still mostly unspoiled Oregon Territory seeking their fortune. With a meet-cute involving murderous Russians and grouchy beaver trappers, the two become fast friends and eventually hit on a scheme to sell primitive funnel cakes using poached milk (as you may have surmised from the title, the territory has recently welcomed its first cow, owned by a rich guy in a top hat played by Toby Jones). (*Eddie Vedder voice* “I don’t miiind, stealin’ miiiilk, from the moooouths of decadeee-eeence…”)
Reichardt, clearly from the Terrence Malick memorial tone poem school of cinematic impressionism, is at her best when filming the two pals frying up their “oilycakes” for Fort Tilicum’s rogue’s gallery of filthy roustabouts. The entire sequence (shot, like the rest of the movie, in a squarish aspect ratio that positively screams “hey check it out, we got creative with the aspect ratio”) is a stirring tribute to the power of food and made me immensely hungry.
Cookie and King have an adorable relationship and the mortal danger they’re in just for wheezing a little milk under the stars belies the otherwise droll exercise that is this movie (“at its heart, it’s really a critique of the American Frontier”). Cookie even occasionally tells jokes, like “do you know what side of a tree has the most branches? ….The outside.”
It’s unfortunate, though, that it never gets much beyond adorableness. First Cow has a tendency to feel more like a This American Life vignette than a film, shot with the same timid sensibility that makes you wonder if they were trying not to wake a sleeping baby in the next room. The cinematography is sensual and impressionistic, yes, and at its best when dealing with the food, for which sensuality and impressionism are well suited. But it’s also a touch navel-gaze-y, and I’m still of the opinion that being able to get more information from a film’s written synopsis than from the film itself is a bad thing.
It also seems intended as a beautiful portrait of friendship, and I suppose I can believe that a caring, platonic, mutually beneficial friendship between two men is possible, especially in a gold/beaver rush territory without many women. But it also feels chaste to the point of denial, like acknowledging the existence of sex as more than something you read about in The New Yorker would somehow sully a nice gentle movie like this. For two former indentured servants making their living off funnel cakes made from stolen milk, King and Cookie are almost meticulously un-rascally. These two make Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn look like British football hooligans at a punk show by comparison. Would it have killed them to let these guys have a little fun? Maybe drink and swear and smoke on occasion? They don’t, presumably because this is a movie by and for bookworms (that is, bookworms in personality, not in proclivity).
A largely uneventful lullaby of a movie like First Cow is a departure from dumbed-down multiplex fare, but it also feels like such a reaction to it as to almost be beholden. Doing the exact opposite of what a Marvel movie would do isn’t a good thing 100% of the time.
Those oilycakes sure did look good though. There’s a lot of beauty in First Cow, I just wish I could turn the volume up.
‘First Cow’ hits digital platforms July 10th, from A24. Vince Mancini is onTwitter. You can access his archive of reviewshere.
The film and TV industry has been for the most part shut down for almost four months now, and given California’s recent spikes in cases that’s likely to remain so for a while still. But some talent has thought outside the box. Rian Johnson was able to direct a Pokemon Go commercial remotely. And, as per Deadline, the creator of Euphoria secretly made a movie with Zendaya and John David Washington, all while the pandemic raged.
It’s called Malcolm & Marie, and it doesn’t sound all that escapist. In fact, while its plot has not been revealed, Deadline claims it’s not unlike Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach’s harrowing divorce saga starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. It was, in fact, Zendaya’s idea: The actress reportedly phoned her Euphoria creator, Sam Levinson, in mid-March, asking him to write a movie about the quarantine. Six days later he had it.
Most surprising of all: They didn’t film it at home, each actor staring into their webcam. The film was shot between June 17 and July 2 at the environmentally conscious, all-glass Caterpillar House in Carmel, CA, all while complying to WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA approvals and COVID-19 safety protocol. Cast and crew “were tested for COVID before working, wore protective gear, and stayed on a separate property to maintain the healthiest working environment possible.” What’s more:
Once cleared, production began with no more than 12 people on set at any given moment. Some of the precautions taken included temperature checks at the beginning and end of every day. Extra time was always allowed for the crew to sanitize the set and gear. No crew member could be in close contact with the actors without the proper personal protective equipment. Sets were pre-dressed well in advance to limit crews, and the director would check in on a video call in advance.
The full and extensive list of rules for shooting a movie during a pandemic can be read at Deadline. Meanwhile, what are the odds you’ll see Malcolm & Marie before you see another John David Washington movie, Tenet?
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina — the dark take on the Archie comic book series that also inspired a lighter ’90s series starring Melissa Joan Hart — has been cancelled, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It lasted four “parts,” rather than seasons, with the final batch of episodes still due at as-yet-revealed date later this year. (Part Three dropped earlier this year.)
The show, which bowed in October of 2018, starred Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka a half-human, half-witch attending a high school. It was imagined as a kind of companion series to Riverdale, which took Archie itself and made it serious (and sexy). Where the earlier screen iteration, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which ran from 1996 through 2003, was a straight-up sitcom (and even originated on ABC before moving to The WB), Shipka’s incarnation went to some dark places, including her wrestling with being the daughter of Satan.
As usual with Netflix, no reason was given for the cancellation. They don’t release data, unless said data is (they claim) off the charts, as with Bird Box and various Adam Sandler joints. In the meantime, at least fans suddenly won’t have any future Chilling Adventures in their lives; Part Four is still due at some time this calendar year. After that, pour one out.
The MLS Is Back Tournament began at Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Wednesday night with a game between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami, following the NWSL as the second team sports league to return to action in the United States.
While there’s concern about how well the proverbial bubble is doing at keeping players from contracting the virus after FC Dallas had to withdraw from the tournament and Nashville SC’s first game was postponed and their fate remains in question after nine positive tests, the tournament is moving forward as planned as of now. Prior to the first match, players from teams across the MLS joined Orlando SC and Inter Miami on the pitch for a Black Lives Matter demonstration, as Black players from around the league stood, fist raised, around the field as the players from the two squads getting set to play kneeled on the center circle.
MLS players from across the league stood together for a Black Lives Matter demonstration prior to Orlando City vs. Inter Miami. pic.twitter.com/4wszNbCUG3
On the video board behind the action, a graphic that simply read “#MLSIsBlack” was posted, turning their official slogan for the return of the league into a message about the importance of their Black players. It was a strong statement for the league to open with out of the gate and follows leagues from around the world that have held various demonstrations prior to games as sports have returned.
Of course, more important than a strong visual is that there are strong actions that follow, but it was a powerful statement that will hopefully lead to continued efforts by MLS.
The players that were a part of the demonstration represented the coalition Black Players for Change, which is partnered with the NFL’s Players Coalition in pushing for social change through humanitarian and educational efforts.
The MLS players originally announced their new effort on Juneteenth of this year. Their mission focuses not only on human rights and racial equality, but to eliminate racism from the game of soccer, which has been – and in many ways continues to be – plagued with systematic inequality around the world. The group has already secured $75,000 in charitable contribution commitments from MSLPA in support of the organization.
“We’re excited to formalize and announce our partnership with Players Coalition,” said Quincy Amarikwa, a co-founder of the newly-launched effort of MLS players. “Through this partnership, we see an opportunity to create a path that brings all players across all sports leagues together in our fight to overcome and move past the racial and discriminatory practices within our world..”
The group hopes to use their platform and voice to bring attention to issues of racism in the sport and beyond, and used Monday night’s opener on ESPN to make their strong statement.
Much like the NBA, the WNBA is preparing for an abbreviated season later this month at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The WNBA season was originally supposed to begin in mid-May, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it indefinitely. In what’s affectionately being called the “Wubble,” players will embark on their shortened season with strict safety guidelines in hopes of preventing the spread of the disease that has infected more than 3 million people in the U.S.
Back in May, when there were no pro sports on television for the first time in many people’s lifetimes, ESPN got the novel idea to air an NBA 2K tournament featuring stars from around the league. On Wednesday, Aerial Powers of the Washington Mystics announced she was putting together her own NBA 2K tournament, Powerz Up, featuring several stars from around the WNBA.
“It’s an all female 2K tournament,” Powers said. “I have WNBA players in it, some pro 2K players in it, and of course, you know I gotta have the fans.”
Powers announced that the tournament will feature WNBA stars like Diamond DeShields and Brittney Griner, among others, as well as pro 2K players Chiquita Evans and Hazel Childress.
Powers has been streaming almost daily on Twitch and has been using the quarantine time to sharpen her skills and increase her presence in the gaming universe. In the video, she also hinted at a tournament that may take place while players are inside the Wubble in Florida.
The time has finally come for the Frotcast to finally discuss Hamilton, a play Matt has seen and loved and thus far failed to convince me to watch. That is… until now! So, is Hamilton the defining theatrical achievement of our times or some cheesy overhyped schoolhouse rock bullshit? You’ll have to listen to find out. No refunds.
Joining us in our discussion this week, we have Francesca Fiorentini, host of the Bitchuation Room, founder of Newsbroke on AJ+, and frequent guest on The Young Turks, who once, along with Matt once forced me to listen to the Hamilton soundtrack on our way to the Russian River in the back of Matt’s Honda Civic; and Andrew Law, aka IllyBocean on Twitter and cohost of the BoontaVista Podcast, who, like me, was a skeptical Hamilton virgin, only in his case has the added hurdle of being an Australian who wasn’t forcefed the Founding Fathers and Constitutional Convention in school. Will this make him love Hamilton more or less?
It’s a spirited discussion, and naturally, Matt turns in many analingus puns for his Hamilton parody about eating butt, Lumilton.
Hey, we’ve got lots of amazing bonus content, especially these past few weeks, including me and Matt reviewing The King Of Staten Island. Hear them right now by signing up to our Patreon, Patreon.com/Frotcast. You will absolutely love it. Your hair will grow back, your dog will come home, and your kids will start calling again. And again, no refunds.
EMAIL us at [email protected], leave us a voicemail at 415-275-0030.
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