New Found Glory celebrated 20 years of their 2004 album Catalyst on Thursday in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to the full album, the band had the crowd singing along to several Disney covers including “Part of Your World” from the Little Mermaid and “Let It Go” from Frozen. Their high energy performance was topped off with their hit “My Friends Over You,” complete with a shower of confetti. Check out photos from the outstanding performance below.
To quote Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin from the Amazon TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty, “Last summer felt like a dream.” Or in this case, “August 13, 2024 felt like a dream.”
Not just for me, but for the fans who were anxiously and excitedly waiting to see Joshua Bassett at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s not Joshua’s first time in the city as he performed at The Underground last year on his Complicated tour. As per usual, Joshua never disappoints when it comes to his performances. He returned to the city where it was not only a night about fun and excitement on his tour The Golden Years but also about peace and forgiveness. Though Bassett returned to Charlotte with a different theme and mood of his performance, he still brought joy, happiness, and passion to his music.
Opening for Bassett was the energetic Thomas Day, who was also a contestant on Season 15 of America’s Got Talent. Appearing on stage before us like lightning, Day performed his heart out. After seeing how incredibly talented he was, I can honestly wholeheartedly say, Thomas Day will definitely be an artist that I will be adding to my playlists on Spotify!
About a few minutes later, Bassett appeared beaming with so much energy as he sweetly greeted fans throughout his entire performance. With his songs like “The Golden Years,” “Secret,” “Biting My Tongue,” “Life Line,” “She Said He Said She Said,” and more, every fan was either dancing or singing his lyrics back to him. Throughout his set, he even made a few small trips around the venue, greeting and meeting his fans. Another highlight of the night included Basset even bringing back Thomas Day to the stage to sing a cover of a Beatles song, “Yesterday.“
Bassett and his fans took turns in teaching each other something new. Though he gave us insight into his life, struggles, and life advice, at one instance and in return, his fans gave him dance lessons. While performing “Circles,” two fans taught him line dancing, which he happily partook in.
Bassett was even transparent with his fans of his struggles. A common theme I have noticed in his performances and in his music is reflection, typically healing, being grateful for certain lifelines in our lives, and surrounding yourself with amazing people. Though these are certainly great lessons for us to learn, he even threw in another one: forgiveness, and how it is always important to learn from our past mistakes and perhaps our golden years, and continue to move forward.
Overall, it was a night that I nor the fans will never forget. I especially enjoy how open and honest Bassett always is about his struggles as a means to reassure his fans that they are not alone. His songs and performances always seem to give them comfort and a safe place, myself included. I hope to look forward to more animated performances by Bassett the next time he comes back to the Queen City!
The Golden Years Album Review:
Since it has his album release, even on the car rides home, I continuously listened to The Golden Years. The album was released on July 26, a few days before Bassett kicked off his headlining tour with the same name. At first I somewhat struggled to find the words to describe this album, but now I definitely found them: Emotionally mature, honest, relief, and reflection.
Since its release I could not help but wonder: where was this album when I needed it most?
Bassett reflects on the past few years of his life, the good, the bad, the happy, the sad. In the album, he not only reflects on the golden years of his life but also on certain heartbreak, with some regret, which is something that I know most of us do. He even channels the roller coaster being fine one minute, but not fine the next. Through song, he exemplifies what healing is like realistically.
In the past, Bassett has been open and honest with his fans with his struggles, and always finding the good in every situation. Though he channels his feelings and honesty into song, notably past songs like “different” and “would you love me now,” the songs on The Golden Years now constructs those feelings and creates such a heartfelt and honest album. It is an album that I believe most people can either relate to or even find solace in.
Overall, The Golden Years not only reflects on the highs and lows of the past few years of Bassett’s life but also his achievements and his personal growth as an artist and as a person.
The album presents itself with such emotional maturity, a deep sigh of relief, letting go, and looking forward to what’s to come.
Pink kicked off the North American leg of her Summer Carnival tour on August 10th to upwards of 50,000 fans at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. She had initially announced her Summer Carnival tour in 2022, and to the ecstatic delight of all St. Louisans, she extended her tour into 2024 and included Missouri on the list.
Ask anybody who has been to one of Pink’s concerts and you’ll know that her shows are always worth seeing. The energy, the songs you know and love, the incredible acrobatics, the pyrotechnics, and the dancers all add up to an unforgettable performance that you’ll be unable to look away from. But it’s not entirely a showy circus – Pink finds the perfect balance of awe-inspiring feats and personal connection during more toned-down songs, leaving you with no doubts about her prowess as a vocalist, athlete, and performer while being a genuinely uplifting human.
Pink opened her show with aerial acrobatic stunts while singing “Get the Party Started,” which, of course, did get the two hour long party going with lots of excitement and dancing. Every song that followed was one that everybody knew the words to, and even if you didn’t listen to much of Pink’s extensive discography prior to the show, you were still guaranteed a great time as she played hit after hit after hit.
One of the sweetest aspects of the show was seeing how much of a family everybody involved with the tour is. Pink would joke with and tease the musicians and crew, and the lighthearted banter added to the overall positivity and warmth that emanated from the stage and filled the arena. Other touching moments included when Pink covered Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” and couples kissed to cheers when they saw themselves on the stage screens, as well as when Pink told us she had her niece and nephew in the crowd before she sang the emotional song “When I Get There” honoring her late father.
At the end of the night, Pink made her way around the dome via the flying contraption that launched her around the massive space, allowing fans up in the upper terraces to see her up close as she sang and waved and flipped before returning smoothly to the ground and waving goodbye.
Pink will continue her tour through the next few months with a variety of acts, including Sheryl Crow and The Script who both played in St. Louis ahead of Pink (coverage still to come.) Take a look through more photos of the night and relive the excitement!
As summer is starting to come to a close, the love that I personally have for music and concerts are definitely not. Especially for music that is all of the following: for dancing, beyond relatable, upbeat, and some that incorporates a ukulele. Luckily for me, mxmtoon’s show at the Underground in Charlotte, North Carolina had all three.
Before mxmtoon took the stage on July 29, singer Emma Harner opened for her show, where she not only dazzled us with her talent but also continuously made several references to the animated TV show, Voltron. Harner’s music and presence on stage was both charming and hilarious as she cracked jokes with the audience in between the songs that she was performing.
Harner was not the only one that has captured my attention. As mxmtoon began her set, she was beyond ready to perform and share her music and art with the audience. The audience, in turn, was ready to celebrate her music through either singing to her lyrics, wearing cowboy hats, or both. Throughout her performance, dances were danced and stories were exchanged — tales of crushes, break-ups that make you want to move out of the state that you are living in, and the trauma and love of proudly coming out.
If anything, mxmtoon’s Summer Show at The Underground was a chaotic yet laid back night that I was overall happy to attend. With the performances by both Harner and mxmtoon, the venue that night became a place that was both fun yet comforting.
The start of summer solstice brought indie rock veterans Vampire Weekend to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle — delivering a captivating performance that spanned their genre-bending discography. Kicking off the night with original members Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, and Chris Tomson performing “Hold You Now” from 2019’s Father of the Bride, the trio filled the arena with excitement as they jammed beneath the glimmer of their spotlights, and a black curtain emblazoned with “Vampire Weekend” served as their backdrop.
Together, the three performed “Cousins” and “Holiday” from 2010’s Contra before transitioning to newer release “Ice Cream Piano” from the tour’s namesake album Only God Was Above Us. Reaching mid-song triggered the release of their curtain to reveal a gray and sepia-toned backdrop of a large futuristic cavern, matching the band’s monochromatic outfits. Joining them were additional touring members on keys, guitar, saxophone, strings and percussion, as well as an interpretive dancer to complement the ensemble.
Playing fan-favorites like “Step,” “M79,” “Campus,” “Oxford Comma,” “Diane Young,” “A-Punk,” and concluding with “Hope,” the band returned to the stage for an encore and took audience requests for any non-Vampire Weekend songs to attempt. In what was warned as either “the best or worst part of the show” by Koenig, the results were chaotic and hilarious partial covers of Radiohead’s “Creep,” The Cure’s “Just like Heaven,” The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” and a rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — cut short by Koenig, who didn’t want to butcher the beloved song in front of the latter band’s hometown. Vampire Weekend’s energy was infectious and effervescent, with Koenig’s witty banter and charming stage presence winning over the entire crowd.
As the show came to a close, the arena was drenched with hues of blue and gold as the band ended the night with a grand finale of “Walcott,” culminating a night filled with beautiful soundscapes, and a spectacular welcome to the summer season.
Fans across North America can catch Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us tour as it continues through October. More information on tickets and the rest of tour dates can be found on the band’s website.
Kentucky-based rock band Cage The Elephant brought their energetic performance to RV Style Resorts Inn Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA on June 23. The night started off with a stellar supporting lineup consisting of Willow Avalon, Bakar and Young the Giant.
Kickstarting the night with a lively performance of “Broken Boy,” the energy was vibrant from the get-go as soon as the headliner took the stage. Known for their raw energy and blues-infused sound, Cage The Elephant treated the Portland-area crowd to a soulful and compelling show filled with production that featured stunning pyrotechnics, lasers, visuals and a set list that spanned their entire discography. They performed a blend of new and old songs from their latest album Neon Pill including the track “Rainbow” as well as fan favorites “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” “Trouble,” and “Cigarette Daydreams.” The crowd illuminated the amphitheater with lights during the encore, and Cage The Elephant ended the night with their classic hit “Come a Little Closer.”
The band’s energy was electric, and frontman Matt Shultz’s magnetic stage presence wasn’t complete without several of his signature stage jumps — captivating the crowd deeper with each engaging song.
Fans across North America can catch the Neon Pill tour as it continues through the fall. More information on tickets and the rest of tour can be found on their website.
On Saturday June 29th, The Used performed at TempleLive in Cleveland Ohio. The Used is an emo/screamo band active since 2000 that significantly shaped emo music in the early 2000s with their self-titled album (2002) and wildly successful album In Love and Death (2004). Their set consisted of many deeply loved songs spanning their extensive career with fans screaming along to major hits such as “The Taste of Ink.” The Used’s newest album MEDZ was recently released. Check out photos from their set below.
The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles was filled with the warm comfort of a campfire under the stars this May when Nashville group Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors performed to a welcoming LA crowd.
While onstage, Drew Holcomb shared his admiration of the City of Los Angeles for all that it is, good and gritty. Audience members were treated to an impromptu untitled song which Drew wrote just before taking the stage, speaking about a girl from LA who had a certain magic to her but longed for change in her life. Drew constantly addressed and connected with the crowd, sharing personal stories and overall making himself feel like a friend to all. The band performed songs from their recent release Strangers No More, which they performed the night prior on Jimmy Kimmel Live as a part of their tour. The band’s Americana sound shines brightest on “Find Your People,” and as the name suggests, the crowd was filled with friendly folks that all came together to sing along and jam on that Saturday night.
Find the full photo gallery here:
The first weekend of May in Redondo Beach was full of sunshine, good music, and just a bit of wind for good measure. This year’s BeachLife Festival was the 6th iteration, boasting a 3-day lineup blending reggae, rock, latin, alternative, soul, and folk together across 4 stages. Luckily this year, I was able to catch all of the action and attend BeachLife Festival 2024!
Many brand names were on display at interactive booths, such as The Los Angeles Kings, Jack Daniel’s, Kona Big Wave, Gray Whale Gin, BodyGlove Apparel, Grillo’s Pickles, IKON Pass, Cutwater, LaMarca Prosecco, Gelato Pure Water, Golden Road Brewing Co., and Sketchers VIP Booth, with several other food and beverage brands offered throughout the festival grounds, including free merch!
I was very excited to see what BeachLife was all about. Below is a rundown of all of the performances I saw over that weekend:
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FRIDAY, MAY 3rd
Seal
One of the ultimate stage personas in music, Seal took the HighTide (main) stage for an iconic sunset performance. Coming out to a cover of T. Rex’s hard-rocking “20th Century Boy,” Seal commanded the stage with his strong performance and blazing all-white outfit. His cadence towards the BeachLife audience was compassionate and human, choosing to perform several songs from within the crowd, and speaking about how important connection and love is to “the human experience,” making direct eye contact with members of the crowd. Once the crowd had enough time to digest his evocative monologue, Seal gave his performance of the world-famous “Kiss From A Rose” as the California sun shimmered through the palm trees and cascaded down into night time.
Dirty Heads
Few bands embody the California spirit like Dirty Heads. Blending elements of rock, reggae, and hip-hop, the SoCal-native group displayed quite the ensemble onstage at LowTide (second stage), with electric/acoustic guitars, drums, synthesizers, trumpets, and trombones all coming together for their set. Vocalists Jared “Dirty J” Watson and Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell traded off verses and choruses for most of the set, combining each individual’s unique sound. They began their set with “Heavy Water” and transitioned into the bass-heavy banger “Medusa” to get the crowd bouncing. Their setlist also included fan-favorites “Oxygen,” “Vacation,” and “Lay Me Down,” but did not include my personal favorite “Stand Tall.”
Surfer Blood
Overlapping with Dirty Heads, I was able to catch the last half of Surfer Blood’s set over at Riptide (Tito’s) stage. Surfer Blood is a surf-rock group from West Palm Beach, Florida, and claim that they are “the cleanest and nicest band in existence” according to their website–and honestly after watching their set, I believe it. The intimate stage layout allowed lead vocalist/guitarst John Paul Pitts to interact with the crowd in a casual way, giving their whole show a local garage show-feel. My standout song was their closer “Swim” which feels like the soundtrack to your favorite summer memory at the beach.
SATURDAY, MAY 4th
Steel Pulse
For true reggae fans, this set was the perfect way to start Day 2. Steel Pulse is a roots reggae band hailing from across the pond in England, due to members Basil Gabbidon’s (guitarist/vocalist) and David Hinds’s (lead vocals/guitar) heavy influence from Bob Marley & The Wailers. Steel Pulse is a group rooted in music history, initially forming in 1975 during the UK’s growing punk rock scene, finding a common ground in their shared views on racial injustice, human freedom, and unification for all. Steel Pulse shared several songs from their 2019 release Mass Manipulation, such as “Rize” and spoke directly to the crowd in hopes to spread the band’s message of “bettering mankind through music” and “halting the disarray of humanity by rejecting false ideals and breaking down the walls of systemic greed.” Their soulful grooves, poignant political lyricism, and unforgettable stage outfits made them a “can’t miss” show for Saturday’s slate.
Pepper
Fan-favorite Hawaiian reggae band Pepper has been rocking in the music scene since 1996. Bringing all of that good energy from Hawaii to San Diego where the band is currently located, the three-piece group features lead singer/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams. The band opened with rock/reggae blend “Back Home” which got the crowd on the feet from the beginning. The rest of their set was full of surprises, including their hits “B.O.O.T.,” “Stone Love,” and “Ashes,” new songs such as “Tides” from their 2024 album Makai, and even closing their set with a cover of the 80s ballad “Careless Whisper” by George Michael– Pepper style. The band also made a nod to the date of their show landing on May The 4th [the colloquial Star Wars holiday] and led into their song “Stormtrooper.”
Santigold
The multi-genre Santigold has found her way in a variety of lineups, finding a home with almost any crowd due to her hypnotic melodies and one-of-a-kind stage presence. While Saturday’s weather began cloudy and overcast, even the sunshine couldn’t resist catching Santigold’s performance, and decided to shine through during her set. Santi White, known by her artist name, mentioned that she had been battling a bad cold during the show, but knew that the show must go on as she delivered a high-energy performance, with the help of her backing band and performance dancers that got the crowd involved– literally. There was never a down-time for Santigold’s set as she began with “L.E.S. Artistes” and and effortlessly transitioned to her many hits like “GO!,” “Run the Road,” “Lights Out,” and “Chasing Shadows.” She then brought out many fans from the crowd to dance along to “Creator,” even bringing her children out on stage to participate in the jamboree. Lastly, she electrified the crowd by closing with her well-known indie anthem “Disparate Youth.”
Local Natives
Hailing from next door over in Orange County, CA, Local Natives embraced the SoCal crowd with their wonderful harmonies and striking guitar tones. Indie fans joined in and sang along to songs as the band began with “I Saw You Close Your Eyes” and “Megaton Mile.” Lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Rice kept the vibe going with a variety of songs from their albums over the years, including “Coins,” “NYE” and “Wide Eyes” before reintroducing BeachLife Festival-featured artist Jordana back to the stage for the smooth “Dark Days.” Local Natives’s set was the perfect mix of great melodies and mellow mood that allowed people in the crowd to dance and sing, and others to chill out and lay on the grass to enjoy some rest. The band finished with their anthem “When Am I Gonna Lose You.”
Incubus
While walking around the BeachLife grounds, I spotted countless Incubus merch items, whether they were purchased at the fest or were from fans’ personal closets (I was guilty of purchasing a hoodie myself.) The buzz ahead of their set was palpable; as the sun set for Day 2, the anticipation for their set to begin gravitated everyone towards HighTide stage as a large crowd loomed 30 minutes before the band took the stage. Finally, Incubus took the stage to “Quicksand,” a deeper cut that hypnotized the crowd leading into their next song “Nice To Know You” which felt like a seismic shift in tone that emulated the rocking waves of the ocean on a stormy night.
Throughout the set, Incubus oscillated back-and-forth in tone, casting a whirlwind of rock energy over the audience for some of their hits like “Pardon Me,” “Anna Molly,” “Vitamin,” “Circles,” and “Stellar,” and then slowing it down to a swaying melody with songs like “I Miss You,” and their iconic hit “Drive.” The band also left room for several interesting covers, including the Beatles’s “Come Together,” Portishead’s “Glory Box,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” and “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors which transitioned Incubus’s own into “Are You In?” perfectly. Lead singer Brandon Boyd shared his love for growing up in Southern California and how much it has meant for him and the band to still be playing shows like this now. The band recently revisited one of their most iconic albums and rerecorded it, producing Morning View XXIII with fresh ears and a more matured perspective. After a monumental show, the band contrasted their closing songs, with heavy hitter “Wish You Were Here” leading into “Aqueous Transmission” to close the night and “zen out” the crowd before sending them home for Day 3.
SUNDAY, MAY 5th
Atlas Genius
Australia’s own Atlas Genius began Day 3 for a noon show on the HighTide stage, waking the crowd up with infectious indie rock hooks. Vocalist/guitarist Keith Jeffrey from Adelaide, Australia pulled from a variety of upbeat songs such as “If So” and “Molecules” before giving the audience a taste of his new upcoming record by playing a track titled “63 Days.” In line with the unspoken common theme of BeachLife Festival, Atlas Genius also featured a few 80s covers like “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League and “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive. Lastly, he ended with his hit “Trojans.” After his set, I was able to sit down with Keith and discuss the new album, playing in the United States, changes in music culture, and what it’s like to have TWO songs featured in the illustrious FIFA video game soundtrack, so more on that is soon to come!
Update May 18, 2024: You can read the interview with Atlas Genius’s Keith Jeffery here!
Sugar Ray
BeachLife Festival veterans Sugar Ray have played every single lineup since the festival’s debut in 2019, and the group still can’t seem to get enough! Lead singer Mark McGrath dished out jokes as easily as their beach party hits, wasting no opportunities to crack a joke and connect with the crowd in between songs. Fans came to expect their hits like “Someday,” “Into Yesterday,” “Fly” and “Every Morning,” but I did not expect Mark’s genuine remarks of gratitude to the crowd, thanking his fans for sticking with him through the 90s mirage of frosted tips and radio hits alike. The Newport Beach native also payed homage to true Ska roots, performing a cover of “What’s Gone Wrong” by local legends The Untouchables.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Perhaps one of the top vocal performance I’ve seen in person, vocalist Paul Janeway of St. Paul & The Broken Bones absolutely blew me away. Bringing the soul of Birmingham, Alabama to Southern California, the crowd at BeachLife Festival couldn’t help but stare in awe of Janeway’s incredible range, along with the band’s full harmonious and multi-instrumental sound. Songs like “Call Me” and “Apollo” displayed their full blend of funk, soul, and blues. Many fans left their set as new fans of St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
Tito Puente Jr.
From Puerto Rico to Redondo Beach, Tito Puente Jr. honored the legacy of his late father by making the crowd sing and dance to his Caribbean grooves. Fittingly on the Tito’s stage, lead percussionist Tito Puente Jr. spread joy with songs like “Salsa Na’Ma”, as well as borrowing from his father’s hits with “Oye Como Va.” With Tito’s music playing and a drink in hand, you might as well be dancing in the streets of old San Juan.
Courtney Barnett
New age rock icon Courtney Barnett brought folk and blues to the HighTide stage among engaged fans. A product of Melbourne, Australia, Barnett has been featured in some of the biggest music festival lineups across the globe over the past decade. Her enthralling mix of easy going folk rock and punchy garage rock always keeps fans on their toes. Her true stardom shone through on songs like “Avant Gardener,” “History Eraser,” “Nameless, Faceless,” and her closing track “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party.” Her head-banging guitar breaks told the crowd that she feels at home onstage.
ZZ Top
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, rock legends ZZ Top need no sort of introduction. Their rock/blues tone is absolutely irreplaceable, and with people filling up the entire LowTide stage, the crowd was ready to rock. The onstage band consisted of drummer Frank Beard and lead singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons since 1969, adding bassist Elwood Francis to fill in for member Dusty Hill, who passed away in 2021.Their setlist contained many monumental hits, including ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’, ‘Just Got Paid’, ‘Jesus Just Left Chicago’, ‘Legs’, and ‘Sharp Dressed Man’, and opting to tease the crowd by only playing the first few notes of ‘La Grange’ before the BeachLife Festival team made a shocking announcement.
Unfortunately, this is where BeachLife Festival 2024 ended. Due to high winds monitored by the event team, an announcement was made for festival-goers to exit the grounds for everyone’s safety immediately. They declared the festival would wait one hour to reassess conditions with hopes that the wind would die down, but later stated that the conditions were still unsafe to continue and officially closed the festival, missing out on remaining acts such as Fleet Foxes, Trey Anastasio, Classic Tab, and My Morning Jacket. The BeachLife Festival team apologized for the inconvenience, and assured that this was in the best interest and safety of everybody attending.
While this marked a bummer for the end of the individual day, this mishap did not cast a shadow over my experience that weekend. I learned that BeachLife Festival is a very homegrown experience and celebrates the South Bay communities of Redondo, Manhattan, and Hermosa Beach by coming together to celebrate together for a weekend. That grassroots effect is felt throughout the festival, from the vendors to the attendees to the artists. I got the chance to meet several friendly strangers, hear some awesome music, and enjoy the many accommodations that BeachLife Festival promised and delivered on. Being a first-time BeachLifer, I can guarantee I’ll have my eyes on next year’s lineup announcement.
Fans of the pop rock space may know the name Hardcastle from a few of their well-known hits. In 2019, the Nashville-based band was gaining heavy traction, joining The Band Camino on a sold-out national tour. Unfortunately, COVID impacted the world shortly after the tour concluded, and subsequently, the band. With the group going their separate ways, singer and guitarist Graham Laderman decided to realign with his artistic vision and set his sights on beginning anew in Los Angeles.
Since then, Graham has assembled a surrounding team, including managers, producers, and new bandmates, to venture into new musical territory. With a few upcoming shows and new music locked and loaded, Hardcastle is gearing up for a righteous return to the stage (and headphones). I got a chance to interview Graham at his recent Los Angeles show at Paramount LA and asked him a few questions about his musical journey.
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So before we get into it, you have to tell me what happened with your hand here.
Without going into too much detail, a car hit another car at an intersection, and I was sort of caught in the mess. I looked up, and there was just a car flying at me, and then everything went black. I didn’t lose consciousness, but I closed my eyes and sort of tensed up–when I opened my eyes the world slowly came back into focus and there was a ringing in my ear. I started checking my head after and was just thinking “Oh my god, I’m alive,” and I looked down at my hand and just saw a lot of blood. I had to get 11 stitches in my thumb and it kind of looks like Frankenstein. It’s very visceral when I talk about it, to be honest.
Wow, that’s insane. I’m happy that you’re okay cause that sounds like it could have been a lot worse for you. Obviously, you were dealing with a lot of shock, and then went to the hospital I assume, but how long after the initial hit did you think “Oh shit, I have shows coming up?”
Immediately. It was the next thing I thought about after realizing I was alive and that my head wasn’t bleeding. Still, despite the stitches and the arm brace, I’m just happy to be here.
How is it affecting the string of shows you have coming up?
Well, I definitely can’t play guitar, which is going to feel so different. I’ve played since middle school and I’ve always been so connected to it ever since I started. I’ve been building out my pedal board and started getting into a lot of capabilities for live shows, and it was feeling like a big culmination of a lot of years, especially now working with a five-piece band and really getting close to how things sound on the record. Now, it’s opened my perception to “Who am I without a guitar?” I have to really tap into a new area as a singer. A week ago I was thinking that I’d never put my guitar down, but I’m excited to get in touch with my power as a frontman and see where it goes. It’s a growing experience, for sure.
Right, I like your optimism there. Let’s hope that your next artistic change doesn’t come at the hands of an accident like this again though, yeah?
Haha, definitely. I like to think of it this way– you have this energy, and you can spend it in a lot of different ways. I’ve just been trying to spend that energy looking into what the opportunity is here.
I want to hear about being raised up in the Nashville music scene from a stylistic influence perspective, how does that experience carry on with you still?
So I moved to Nashville from Atlanta in 2016. In high school [in Atlanta] I was kind of playing this ‘Foo Fighters meets southern rock’, and I was just having fun and didn’t know anything about anything. I’d write half a song, and book shows and just make up the rest onstage, because I just wanted to play so badly.
When I made it to Nashville, I got into the songwriting program at Belmont for a year and a half before I dropped out, but I realized that writing lyrics was amazing, and that songwriting could be the center of gravity for the things that I wanted to do. I just started collaborating with a lot of people and co-writing with my bandmates at the time [Val Hoyt, Noah Christian, and Miles Laderman, Graham’s brother], and some early stuff with Old Sea Brigade [Ben Cramer]. I was such a hardcore The 1975 fan and got exposed to more pop music, whereas back in Atlanta I was kind of more anti-pop in a way haha. It just really helped to expand my sound and led to songs like “Back To You” and “Mundane.” We started to work with The Band Camino on those tours and show trades, and they’ve always been great at making those anthemic pop-rock songs, so getting to tour with them was a big influence. Somewhere in there though, I started to lose myself a bit, because I was trying to be so many things.
Yeah, being in a big music market like Nashville, there are so many different avenues a person can go. With Nashville especially, it goes a lot further than just country music, which is where people often stop at. I liked your term of anthemic pop rock to describe it, but there’s a lot going on over there. On to your LA move, how do you carry that experience over here?
The first thing that comes to mind is the power and process of collaboration and co-writing. When it came to writing the songs on the new record, I had some great help in my corner and narrowed the album down from a ton of songs. I also was just able to find myself again, which has been great. I was always the kid daydreaming in class about being out here in LA.
Is it what you thought it would be?
So far, it feels like I’m living that dream I’d think about when I should have been paying attention in class. A few months ago, I was in the studio recording a song that’s on the new record called “Down,” and I got to work with Rob Cavallo who’s produced for some of my favorite albums of all time, and I’m holding his guitar–if you listen to “Iris” or “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” it’s THAT guitar. We mic’d the guitar and muted the placeholder electric we had on the track, and I was literally living what I would be daydreaming about. I’m getting chills talking about it right now! It’s just all unreal.
Bring me up to speed with yourself, and with Hardcastle now– what are you excited about, and what has changed/felt new?
Over a year ago, I connected with Rob and Lisa Cavallo with Done Deal Management. Lisa has just been truly a life-changing mentor, and from the first moment I sat across from her at the table, I felt seen and encouraged to be myself wherever that takes me. I would start having A&R meetings with Rob which was crazy, and HE encouraged me to be myself too, even if it’s left of center. I was also in a place where I was ready and open to receive that kind of advice. Then I got back into the songwriting part and reconnected with the stuff that first turned me on to music, like back when I was a kid in the back of my dad’s car. I guess for a while, I had lost the connection to that ‘spark’–but fast forward to now after being in the studio, I have this record that’s everything I’ve ever wanted and that represents me and all of the people I’ve worked with for Hardcastle, whatever that entity is. I feel completely represented.
What would you like to tell Hardcastle fans about this new phase?
Overall I think it will be different, but it’s a return to center for me. You’ll hear it when you hear it!
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Through this band transition, Graham has kept busy under the Hardcastle moniker. He released the track ‘Malibu’ in 2023. Before that, Hardcastle collaborated with LA-based singer/songwriter Lorelei Marcell on a single called “Flashbacks,” releasing both a studio-recorded version, as well as a stripped-down acoustic version. 2022 brought fans 2 EPs– Hundred Million Seconds released in October, as well as One More in June. In between the EP releases, September 2022 brought listeners two additional singles “Holding on to You” and “Murphy’s Law”. While Graham’s strong songwriting and instrumental arrangement is present in all of his work, he leans heavier into the bedroom pop/pop rock genres.
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Currently, ‘Mundane’ and ‘Back To You’ are both around 5M plays on Spotify. Did either of those songs feel different during creation, and what are your thoughts on them now being a few years out?
When I wrote those songs, they both came as ideas while I was writing in my room on this $50 piano that I was borrowing from Val. Mikey Reaves, Val Hoyt, and Ben Cramer were collaborators that helped me fully realize ‘Mundane’. Owen Lewis, too, was a big part of the production. And then Madelyne Morris was my co-writer on ‘Back To You’. Although, it initially felt like those melodies just started coming out of me, kind of spiritually.
So you felt it right off the bat that they were special?
Yeah, and when all of those were popping off, it was everything. I just kept thinking about how lucky I was. After a while during that ‘lost’ period for me, the meaning and impact of those songs were sort of lost on me, too, but now that I got this going I look back on those songs with the same fondness and admiration.
I mean, that’s how I’m here right now! I remember I was put onto “Mundane” around 2020, and then have been sort of following you guys from then on. When I saw the show billing for Hardcastle @ Paramount LA I knew I could have an opportunity to do this chat here. It’s cool that those songs are part of the reason we’re talking now.
Exactly! That’s why those songs are amazing. I’m glad that they had an impact on people.
If you could tell past Graham anything, what would it be?
It’s clichè for a reason, but just keep going. Open your mind to new possibilities and give yourself some grace, and that’s really it. It’s a long journey, and you really don’t know how it’s all going to go. Earlier on, I thought I knew how it would all go, and that kind of poisoned the well a bit for me.
What about future Graham? What would you say to him?
Probably just to stay connected to joy. Trust that that’s a worthy investment, even if it’s something you can’t quantify or qualify.
Just to wrap it up here, and kind of a fun one to end on–who was your first concert, and best concert?
Oh, man! My first concert was Wilco with my family in Atlanta. I was raised on that band, and we saw them a couple of times in Atlanta. Every second of every day was Wilco, haha.
The one that jumped out at me when you said “best concert”–I remember Val and I camped out early in the morning to see Foo Fighters at Centennial Olympic Park. I remember the doors opened and we sprinted up to the barricade and got way up close. Actually, we tried to throw our demo CD at [Dave Grohl.]
That’s hilarious! How old were you?
I think I was a sophomore in high school. I remember thinking this could be our moment, like “Put us on stage right now!”
Amazing. Any other thoughts you had before we call it a wrap?
If anyone wants to bring us on tour, we’re looking to do that!
You heard it here first, everyone! Hardcastle is ready! Thank you for your time, Graham.
This was so fun, thank you!
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Hardcastle gave fans incredible onstage energy, thanks to Noah Christian (bass), Raul “Perro” Murillo (guitar), Aram Behshid (drums), Zeph Park (keys, guitar), and frontman/singer and interview guest Graham Laderman. Hardcastle has always had their roots in rock, but opts for an edgier sound that feels like it fits in your favorite 2000s alternative rock playlist on your iPod. The band performed fan-favorite “Mundane,” but left the rest of the setlist for their new and unreleased tracks, in addition to Perro surprising fans with a cover of the popular Spanish pop rock song “Lamento Boliviano.” Fans can expect Hardcastle’s new sound slated for release in May of this year, with the full record expected in early Fall 2024.
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