Monthly Mondays

Our rotating Monday columns zero in on rarely-covered angles in music journalism, from drug culture to breakfast with Brooklyn favorites.

HIGH NOTESCan Music Calm Your Nerves Before Surgery?

I was a week away from getting LASIK to correct my near-sightedness when I caught wind of a recent study on the use of calming music before medical procedures. The University of Pennsylvania researchers found that soothing music was just as effective as sedative medication to reduce patients'...

Annie White

PET POLITICSChatting with Pittie Parent and Longtime Vegan Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz

Sadie Dupuis is a shredder with a cause. An artist through-and-through, Sadie is a prolific songwriter, poet, and visual artist. She’s the imagination and voice behind the innovative and ever-evolving rock group Speedy Ortiz, who are fresh off a tour with Interpol. Sadie also releases solo work as...

Natalie Kirch

HIGH NOTES7 Reasons Panic! At the Disco Are Unsung Psychedelic Rock Icons

Having analyzed how LSD influenced The Beatles, my understanding of psychedelic rock music may appear sophisticated. But I have a confession to make: my favorite psychedelic rock band is actually Panic! At the Disco. Yes, you heard me right. I just called Panic! At the Disco a psychedelic rock...

Annie White

PET POLITICSEliza Black of Gesserit Talks Turtles, Cats, and Solo Songwriting

Eliza and Lazer (all photos courtesy of Eliza Black unless otherwise noted). Eliza Black has the haunting, resounding voice of a fallen angel. With her low, slow, speaking voice - not quite a drawl but dripping a bit of Texas, her large, melancholy eyes, endearing gap-toothed grin, thick waves,...

Natalie Kirch

HIGH NOTESHealing With Sound and Cacao

Two weeks ago, I was checking out a yoga class in Ubud, Bali when the sole other student observed that I kept tripping on steps. "Not a good step day for you, huh?" he asked. We got to talking, and I asked what he did. "I help people find their life purpose." "Sounds like something I could use."...

Annie White

HIGH NOTESThe Sound of Iboga

“This life is just a dream. It’ll be over in the blink of an eye. Remember who you are. Remember what you are.” Omkara’s “Remember” filled the dimly lit, sand-colored living room of my Venice Beach apartment. I was on the cusp of a discovery, or perhaps a rediscovery. The following day, I’d hop on...

Annie White

PET POLITICSAna Becker gets CATTY with Bruce Kittowitz and a New Band

Ana Asnes Becker has been a staple in the Brooklyn music scene for quite some time now. Like many of our interviewees, Ana is quite Renaissance woman: beauty, brains, a big personality, and loads of talent. A few years ago, she left her job at The Wall Street Journal to pursue her music career full...

Natalie Kirch

HIGH NOTESHow to Return to Your Life After a Wild Festival Weekend

A weekend of partying at a music festival may leave you feeling like the human equivalent of these overflowing Glastonbury trash cans. Most people don’t spend music festivals worrying about how they’ll feel after all the shouting, head-banging, and (if you're into that sort of thing) drug use is...

Annie White

PET POLITICSTwo Lovebirds and a Little Honey Form the Core of Synthpop Band The Values

This month, I got to hear from Evan Zwisler and Mason Taub, founders of Brooklyn’s electro-indie-pop group The Values. Mason and Evan take the forefront as a duo—Mason working her deep and vibrant vocals along with the keys and Evan grooving on guitar and backing vocals—to pay homage to timeless...

Natalie Kirch

HIGH NOTESWhy Drug Testing Works — and Why More Festivals Don't Do It

An at-home drug testing kit available via DanceSafe If you grew up in the US, you probably heard “say no to drugs” in middle school health class, but you probably didn’t learn how to reduce harm if you did use drugs. And, chances are, you didn’t follow DARE’s advice. The majority of American adults...

Annie White

CHECK THE SPREADSHEETDocumenting A DIY Tour with Tips From Steven Anselm

Touring is eventful and exciting, but the days eventually begin to blend together. Venues and bands blur, and people’s names are the last thing that will stick in your mind. It’s best to appoint a member of the band to take photos and/or journal your time on the road, or even bring along a tour...

Tarra Thiessen

PET POLITICSMeet Sundance Kidd, Brooklyn's Rock 'n' Roll Cat Sitter

Sundance Kidd shreds on guitar, bass, and the mic. Ze never misses a note on guitar and seems to automatically learn any song by ear. You may have seen them in a whole slew of Brooklyn’s rock bands as of late, such as Gesserit and Darkwing. Ze has also made numerous guest pop-up guest appearances...

Natalie Kirch