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This Music May Contain Hope, el último álbum de la cantante británica Raye, exige mucho a su público. La mayoría de las canciones de este proyecto de 17 temas parecen sacadas de la banda sonora de una película épica, y hay un momento en la última canción que se desarrolla como si fueran los créditos finales. Raye agradece a todos los que ayudaron a crear el LP, poniendo fin a una experiencia auditiva gloriosamente desorientadora.

Durante la mayor parte del álbum, Raye le pide al oyente que la acompañe mientras lucha y reza en medio de la desesperación y la autocrítica para mantener viva la esperanza. A veces, esa batalla se filtra a través de canciones que suenan como temas de musicales o himnos de góspel. En el caso de ‘Click Clack Symphony’, van creciendo hasta convertirse en una vertiginosa composición de Hans Zimmer. Hay un nivel de paciencia que el álbum exige a sus oyentes: a la vez confrontativo y confesional, This Music May Contain Hope no está pensado para una escucha distraida y pasajera, y es uno de varios lanzamientos que muestran cómo las estrellas del pop están creando proyectos sorprendentemente ambiciosos y abrumadoramente íntimos que fomentan una participación intencional.

El año pasado, Hayley Williams lanzó Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party como 17 sencillos individuales, invitando a los fans a ordenar el disco como este les hiciera sentir. Unos meses después, Rosalía lanzó Lux, un cautivador álbum de 18 temas interpretados en 13 idiomas. Comparte la complejidad musical de This Music May Contain Hope y el espíritu cuestionador del reciente álbum debut de Hemlocke Springs, The Apple Tree Under the Sea. Estos proyectos abordan temas como la angustia mental, la fe y la religión, y la implosión interna e interpersonal.

Raye incluye las voces de sus abuelos al comienzo de la canción ‘Life Boat’: “Estoy vivo, no me rindo”, se escucha decir a su abuelo, grabado apenas unos días antes de su muerte. Más voces se suman a lo largo de los siguientes cuatro minutos. Todas repiten alguna variante de “No me rindo, todavía“, algunas con más desesperación que otras. “Dilo“, dice Raye, severa y directa. “Digan: ‘Aún no me rindo‘”. Hay algo trascendente en los contornos de su voz.

Ese tipo de poder vocal es algo de lo que Rosalía habla a menudo: el “duende”, un término flamenco que se refiere a la emoción que despierta una interpretación vocal especialmente evocadora. No se trata de destreza técnica ni de precisión, hace que la experiencia auditiva se sienta específica y personal, y es especialmente llamativo en Lux. La música se desarrolla de una manera que trasciende el lenguaje. Rosalía lo presentó con el primer sencillo, ‘Berghain’, que se fragmenta entre el alemán, el español y el inglés. Cuando la voz de Yves Tumor irrumpe en el outro de la canción, la repetición de “Te voy a follar hasta que me ames” resulta áspera y abrasiva en comparación con los momentos musicales que la preceden. Rosalía persigue esa fricción a lo largo de Lux, que cuenta con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Londres, el coro Escolania de Montserrat y arreglos que van de lo errático a lo hipnótico. Pone a prueba al oyente con existencialismo y reflexiones sobre la vida después de la muerte. Puede que esto aleje a algunos fans, pero los que se quedan son recompensados.

La mayor parte del LP se inspiró en santos, como Teresa de Ávila o Juana de Arco. Su historia añade una tercera capa a la profundidad de Lux; Hemlocke Springs, de manera similar, se centra en motivos religiosos en The Apple Tree Under the Sea. Ella entreteje cuentos medievales y aventuras impulsivas dignas de un libro de cuentos. Al posicionarse como un personaje de sus historias fantásticas, le brinda a su público alguien a quien apoyar, al tiempo que crea una distancia entre la ficción y la realidad.

En ese sentido, The Apple Tree Under the Sea comparte una teatralidad con This Music May Contain Hope. Las historias con moraleja de Raye sobre los hombres traicioneros del sur de Londres forman parte del mismo espectáculo que ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Ankles’ y ‘Moses’ de Springs. Springs añade un preludio hacia el final en el que se escucha a un hombre predicando en la lejanía sobre el pecado y el juicio final. Se hace más difícil oírlo cuando irrumpen los sonidos de caballos al galope, y el suspenso se intensifica hasta convertirse en un outro orquestal.

Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, de Williams, también sumerge a los oyentes en una realidad dolorosamente vívida. El momento más honesto es ‘Good ’Ol Days’, cuenta con la aparición de su abuelo, quien le dice, a mitad de la canción: “Tenía que llamarte primero con mi nuevo teléfono / Te quiero, diviértanse todos, adiós“. El interludio enfatiza la interioridad del LP, compuesto por momentos, personas y sentimientos reales.

Todos estos proyectos, por muy diferentes que sean, cuestionan la idea arraigada en la música pop de que la mejor manera de conectar con el gran público es mantener un enfoque amplio, y de que las generalizaciones vagas son más fáciles de entender. Sin embargo, la hiperespecificidad y la confrontación presentes en estos álbumes crean una conexión auténtica, dando la sensación de que se le confían al oyente los secretos y las luchas de alguien, y de aceptar los propios también.

Así mismo, hay una sensación de valentía en cómo estos artistas se dejan llevar por sus convicciones. Piden paciencia mientras recuerdan a los oyentes que es admirable arriesgarse. Algunas personas no acuden a la música buscando esto; no es fácil tener a un artista en tus oídos diciéndote que abordes tus emociones y recuerdos más devastadores. Pero estos parecen ser el tipo de discos que tienen el poder de perdurar en el tiempo.

The post Álbumes de pop más ambiciosos, ¿podrá el público seguir el ritmo? appeared first on Rolling Stone en Español.

Rush‘s Fifty Something reunion tour has hit yet another snag. Just hours before they were slated to take the stage a Dixies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, the beloved Canadian prog rockers announced on Tuesday (June 30) that they would need to push back that night’s gig as well as a show on Thursday (July 2) at the same arena due to 72-year-old singer/bassist Geddy Lee’s health.

“We are deeply sorry to share that we must postpone our June 30 and July 2 shows.
Geddy has been diagnosed with laryngitis and bronchitis. After being evaluated by his doctors, he has been advised that he needs additional time to rest and recover before returning to the stage,” read a statement from the group on Facebook.

“This is incredibly disappointing for all of us. We know many of you have made travel plans and have been counting down the days to these shows. Please know this decision was not made lightly. After more than 50 years of touring, we’ve always believed that if we’re going to step on stage, we owe you the very best performance we can give — and right now, that simply isn’t possible.”

As a result, the show originally scheduled for Tuesday night has been pushed back to July 11, while Thursday night’s (July 2) gig will now take place on July 13, with tickets for both shows to be honored on the new dates; fans who cannot attend the rescheduled shows can get refunds at point of purchase.

“Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for always standing with us,” the band added. “We look forward to seeing you in just a couple of weeks and appreciate your continued support while Geddy makes a full recovery.”

It’s the latest setback for the tour that kicked off on June 7 in Inglewood, Calif. with the first of four shows at the Kia Forum, before moving on to a pair of gigs at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on June 18 and 20. The band, which also features co-founder guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Anika Nilles — who has taken over the drum seat formerly held by the power trio’s legendary longtime drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who died in Jan. 2020 at age 67 — had to push back the originally scheduled first night in Fort Worth on June 24 due to what they described at the time as “travel and border-related delays”; that show was rescheduled for July 2, then pushed again due to Lee’s illness.

Following next week’s rescheduled Fort Worth shows, the group is slated to move on to a four-night stand at the United Center in Chicago on July 16, 18, 20 and 22. The reunion tour is currently scheduled to wrap up with an April 10, 2027 gig in Helsinki, Finland.


Rush Forced to Postpone Two Texas Shows As Singer Geddy Lee Battles Laryngitis/Bronchitis

At Sunday’s 2026 BET Awards, there were a lot of highlights, including Janet Jackson presenting Teyana Taylor with the Icon of the Year award, a jam-session tribute to late neo-soul star D’Angelo, and Cardi B’s motorcycle-riding victory lap. But the show-ending celebration of Living Legend Icon award recipient Lauryn Hill stood out as something truly special.

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On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are discussing the overwhelmingly positive response to Sunday’s show and what other awards shows might be able to learn from it. The biggest takeaway seems to be the welcome return of Lauryn Hill, who enthusiastically enjoyed performances of her songs by Doja Cat, SZA, Lizzo, Doechii, Queen Latifah, Nas and more, as well as three of her children: Selah, YG and Zion Marley. Hill also gave a beautiful speech and performed two songs — “Ex-Factor” and “Everything Is Everything” — to wrap up the loving tribute.

Listen to our full conversation about what the BET Awards got right below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Ella Langley two-steps her way back to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with “Choosin’ Texas,” how the top three on the Hot 100 are all country songs by women — for the first time ever — and how the Toy Story 5 soundtrack debuts on the Billboard 200 this week, becoming the highest-charting Toy Story soundtrack yet.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

BRISBANE, Australia — Harvey Lister, president and CEO for the Asia Pacific and Middle East region, is calling time on a career in live entertainment that clocks in at more than a half century.

Lister will continue to support the company over the next 12 months in a senior advisor role, according to a statement issued this week by Legends Global, a role that sees him support the transition of the business and focus on several “major pipeline projects.”

With his decision, Lister frees up precious time to dedicate to his wife Margie, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease. Lister’s official departure date is June 30, 2027.

“The APAC region is performing strongly, delivering some of our best financial and operational results we’ve ever achieved which reflects what we are seeing right across the Legends Global group,” explains Lister in a corporate release. “It’s a good time to transition out of the business when it is at the absolute top, with a strong pipeline of projects into the future. I’m looking forward to assisting the transition of the business into safe hands with Peter Loxton and our long-term leadership team.”

At the same time, long-serving APAC/MENA COO Peter Loxton leads the region, effective July 1, reporting to Legends Global CEO, Dan Levy. Meanwhile, Paul Sergeant continues to lead the group’s activities across the Middle East and Asian regions as executive VP.

“I am honoured to be leading Legends Global (APAC) from today,” writes Loxton in a LinkedIn post. “Harvey didn’t hire me, he took a chance and backed me into a joint venture in 2011, we won a project and when that finished, offered me a job. Since then we, and the APAC team, have grown the business, faced many challenges and made a difference. My best wishes to Harvey and his family and I look forward to his guidance into the bright future ahead.”

Lister has been saluted on several occasions in recognition of his service to the arts, tourism, sport and to the venue management and events industries. One of the finest came five years ago, when Lister was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours list. Just last year, he was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

From its regional headquarters in Brisbane, Australia, Legends Global books, operates and manages a
network of venues that includes Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; Kai Tak Sports Park Main Stadium, Hong Kong; and 50% ownership of VenuesLive, the operator of Optus Stadium, Perth, plus arenas, theaters and convention centers across the region.

Lister cut his teeth as a store announcer at retailer Myer before a pivot into PR for two shopping centers. During a stint with 4IP radio, he created the Queensland Rock Music Awards. Then, in 1975, Lister launched a concert and event management business, working closely with promoters to tour live bands such as Sherbet, Skyhooks and AC/DC’s first ever tour.  

Years later, and after a series of mergers, Lister secured management for Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Cairns Convention Centre, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium (now known as Accor Stadium), a network of cultural centers and live theaters in Perth, Brisbane’s 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium and the Darwin Convention Centre. 

Lister was a key figure in the 2019 merger of AEG Facilities and SMG, two of the world’s leading venue management and services companies, in a “game changer” deal for the live industry, he remarked at that time.

“Harvey is a ‘once in a generation’ visionary, and I was lucky enough to meet him in the early days of commercial radio in Brisbane in the early 1970s,” explains decades-long business partner Rod Pilbeam. “We shared a joint love of live entertainment and since then an amazing career, business, and lifelong friendship.”

Legends Global CEO Levy hailed Lister “for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the industry globally. “

As many can attest, he continues, “Harvey is never short on stories and he is held in the highest regard around the world in the live entertainment industry. Through hard work, commercial acumen, and sheer determination, he has created countless opportunities for artists, promoters, major government and venue owners, and business partners throughout his incredible 50-year journey.

“One of Harvey’s greatest legacies is a strong team of capable leaders and the successful business he has built across APAC and MENA. I look forward to developing that further with Peter Loxton and his leaders.”

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Millions of viewers from Latin America are expected to be glued to their TV sets tonight, as Mexico takes on Ecuador in a Round of 32 matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match takes place live from Mexico City Stadium with a kickoff time of 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. Current weather conditions are cloudy in Mexico City with a chance of rain, no doubt adding to the already tense atmosphere for the knockout game.

How to Watch Mexico vs. Ecuador World Cup Match on TV

You can watch the Mexico vs. Ecuador soccer game on TV on FOX or on Telemundo for a Spanish-language feed.

How to Watch Mexico vs. Ecuador World Cup Game Online Free

Don’t have cable? There are also ways to find a live feed of the Mexico vs. Ecuador game online, including ways to livestream the Round of 32 match for free.

Mexico vs. Ecuador World Cup Livestream: Watch the Knockout Round Soccer Match Online Free

TOP PICK

DirecTV (Free)

We like DirecTV, which is a live TV streaming service that offers a free trial for new users. DirecTV carries a live feed of FOX as part of its “MySports Genre Pack” package. Regularly $69.99, get FOX and more than 20 other live TV channels to stream online for just $49.99 right now as part of a limited-time World Cup deal


Your MySports Genre Pack subscription also includes free access to ESPN and ESPN Unlimited for post-game analysis, highlights and more live sporting events. Not ready to commit? Test out DirecTV with a five-day free trial here and use it to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador live online free.

directv spanish

ALSO CONSIDER

DirecTV Spanish Feed (Free)

If you want to watch tonight’s Mexico vs. Ecuador soccer match in Spanish, DirecTV offers the “MiEspañol Genre Pack” for $32.99 per month for the first two months of service ($37.99 per month afterward).


The package includes Spanish-language channels like Telemundo and Universo, that you can watch online without needing cable. Use this free trial to watch the World Cup match on Telemundo in Spanish for free.

fubo

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Fubo (Free)

I watch all my World Cup games using Fubo, another live TV streaming service that carries FOX, Telemundo and 200 other channels as part of its “Core” plan ($62.99/month).


Fubo comes with a five-day free trial, so you can try out the service before you commit to a monthly plan and livestream Mexico vs. Ecuador without paying. Fubo’s free trial includes free DVR so you can record tonight’s game to watch all your favorite moments back on-demand.

fox one

OFFICIAL STREAMER

Fox One

Fox One is the official streaming home of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and it will let you watch all the soccer matches online without needing cable.


Pricing starts at $19.99/month but new users can get a three-day free trial here through Amazon Prime Video.

All of the above streaming services have been vetted and approved by our editors, and they all let you watch the Mexico vs. Ecuador soccer game on your computer, phone, tablet or TV.

Mexico vs. Ecuador Odds, Favorites

Mexico is currently ranked ninth in the latest FIFA rankings and El Tri are favored to win over the 24th-ranked Ecuadorians. Mexico advanced to the knockout rounds by winning Group A, while Ecuador placed third in Group E.

Watch tonight’s World Cup match online free with DirecTV here.

When the Rodgers family began restoring Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla. — roughly eight months after purchasing the dilapidated 1924 building and business — they found handfuls of ticket stubs that read “dime-a-dance.” The tickets dated back to when venue founder Madison Cain opened the space as Cain’s Dance Academy in the 1930s, during which men who lived off Tulsa’s booming oil and gas business would spend 10 cents for a dance lesson taught by a man named Howard Turner.

“Turner would hold these dances where he would have women…there to provide dances for men who would buy a 10-cent ticket and come in,” says Chad Rodgers, who currently co-owns Cain’s Ballroom alongside his brother Hunter Rodgers. “Then [he] and the venue would split the proceeds with the women.”

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More than 100 years later, the venue still has a painted sign inside advertising dancing at Cain’s on various nights of the week — and it’s not the only relic that remains. The log cabin-patterned dance floor still bounces as it did in the 1930s on what was rumored to be truck springs under the floorboards. The ballroom walls also boast large sepia-toned portraits of folks like Oliver Wheeler “O.W.” Mayo — who managed Bob Wills, known as the founder of Western swing — and Turner, as well as other luminaries who helped make the honky tonk a historic spot off the iconic Route 66. They include Wills and Gene Autry, along with Pat Breene, the queen of Western disc jockeys, and big band leader Spade Cooley, whose life took a dark turn when he was convicted of murdering his second wife in 1961.

“When we took over in 2002, it was like, ‘Should [these portraits] still be there?’ It gives the building and the performance area such a cool historic thing,” says Chad. “A lot of the artists on stage will say it’s so cool to look out there and see all these famous people, or people from the past that have [put] a stamp on either music history or just history.”

For the Rodgers family, their hefty investment in Cain’s was always about preserving its history for the city of Tulsa, not replacing it. In the 1930s, Cain’s became a literal beacon of culture, broadcasting live radio shows hosted by Wills and his brother, Johnny Lee Wills, that “popularized Western swing,” says Julie Watson, Cain’s Centennial coordinator. (Cain’s still flies a banner over the stage that reads, “The Home of Bob Wills.”)

This golden era ended by the 1960s, when Cain’s fell out of popularity. It wasn’t until 1976 that its fortunes began to change: That year, Cain’s was taken over by promoter Larry Shaeffer, who brought such stars as U2, Van Halen, Tom Petty, Metallica, Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello to the venue.

“There’s some good pictures of Van Halen in the Cain’s office when they played here. They weren’t even the headliner,” says Chad. “They were opening for Montrose, and they got paid like $500. I think it was ‘82.”

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“Shaeffer was just taking anything he could get,” Hunter Rodgers tells Billboard. “He says it was lucky for him to get these acts. He didn’t really know what he was doing at the time, I don’t think.”

That openness to book even the most chaotic of bands led to Cain’s becoming part of punk rock history. In 1978, the Sex Pistols scheduled a run of nine U.S. tour dates (only ever completing seven), including a Jan. 11 show at Cain’s.

“Sex Pistols [were booked because] Shaeffer got a phone call and they said, ‘We’re gonna route this tour, do you want a date?’ And he was like, ‘Sure,’” Chad says.

After the Pistols finished their rowdy set at Cain’s, an angry Sid Vicious punched a hole in the wall. The piece of drywall with the hole is now framed in the venue’s office.

“The looks of it aren’t great, but it’s the centerpiece of our office. Everyone wants to see it,” says Chad. “I took a picture of Bono putting his fist up to it.”

Despite bringing the venue back to prominence, Shaeffer’s legacy was marred by some of his bad business practices, which reportedly left him broke by the 1990s. “It was a different time then,” says Chad. “We have people all the time that say, ‘I remember when people had cocaine on the tables, and there’d be beer bottles getting smashed and people dancing on the tables.’”

After more than 20 years, Shaeffer sold Cain’s in 1999 to new owners who did not last long. By 2002, Chad and Hunter’s parents, James and Alice Rodgers, saw that the iconic venue was for sale. The next morning, James called his son Chad and said, “Let’s go down and look at Cain’s.” With the revitalization of downtown Tulsa at the time, including an upcoming arena (now the BOK Center), the nearly 80-year-old Cain’s seemed like a good prospect.

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“There was dust all over everything. There were chains on the doors. There had never been central heat and air. There were buckets collecting water coming through the roof,” says Chad. “Most people couldn’t have seen through what luckily our father and mother saw.”

James and Alice purchased Cain’s and subsequently handed the keys to Chad and Hunter, the latter of whom was studying audio engineering in Florida at the time. The family knew that if they were going to make Cain’s a legitimate business again, they would have to renovate the venue and its reputation.

“When the news came out that we were going to [restore it], we got a lot of letters,” says Chad. “People were really concerned that we were going to take away from the history and the authenticity of what Cain’s was.”

In May 2003, the Rodgers family temporarily closed Cain’s to work on a full restoration that included the venue’s first-ever fire sprinkler system and air-conditioning unit. They also redid all the electrical and plumbing and put in new bathrooms, replaced the roof, removed the drop-down ceilings, updated the bar and concessions area, and added a small mezzanine. At a certain point, they also had to decide what to do with the “spring-loaded” floors.

“At the end of the life of that old floor, you could stand at the back of the room, and a four-foot person may be able to dunk on a 10-foot basketball hoop,” jokes Chad of the floor, which was springy not because of actual springs but because it hadn’t been properly reinforced. “We were very insistent that when we redid it, that it had to flex. It had to still have the same feel because of that rumor of the spring-loaded was there for so long.”

“Since then, we have replaced it twice,” Hunter says. “Now, it is basically concrete, but it does still flex because there’s some neoprene pads throughout the floor.”

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By October 2003, the venue’s initial renovation was complete, allowing Cain’s to open its doors to the community with a show by Dwight Yoakam.

“The Rodgers family, when they bought it, put a lot of money in to renovate it, but they kept all of that feel that makes it completely unique,” says Watson. The family didn’t have much experience running a music venue, however; Chad’s only experience in live music at the time was running a sports bar that occasionally hosted a local band.

“We took our lumps until we renovated and even for a little bit, for about a year afterwards. It took a lot of campaigning getting agents to realize that Cain’s is back,” says Chad. “We also had to patch up some wounds because there was an owner that we bought the business from, and they had burnt a bridge with Willie Nelson and his agent.”

Nelson and his team agreed to return to the venue on the condition that they get a cut of the bar sales. To get more artists through the door, Chad took to cold-calling booking agents.

“I felt like for a long time they were taking advantage of me. It was like, ‘This guy needs shows. He’s going to pay. Just quote him something,’” he says. “Initially, we were blood in the water and sharks just circled us.”

Cain’s was inadvertently making amends for past owners who didn’t handle deals correctly or had gone back on their word. For a time, the Rodgers overpaid for certain acts, spending portions of their own cut to cover everything on the artists’ riders.

“The first time we brought [Bone Thugs N Harmony], I booked 12 [hotel] rooms for them and spent like $1,000 at that time when I really didn’t have to. Then they trashed the rooms, and I had to pay all the damages,” says Chad, who admits the show was still amazing. “I didn’t realize the contract and riders for every artist are pretty much the same, regardless [of whether] they’re playing a 400-cap room or an arena, other than their sound and lighting stuff. I’d get a contract that’s like, ‘We want 16 single rooms and we want a limo or a van and all these things,’ and at that time I didn’t realize that this is [a] negotiation.”

The Rodgers wised up and got a lawyer to help hammer out the details. They also discovered folders of old offer sheets and budgets from previous owners that they used to determine what to spend on advertising and deal breakdowns. Slowly, they began to put Cain’s back on the map.

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“I realized that we were doing the right thing when Bob [Dylan] wanted to come play,” says Chad. Dylan took the stage in 2024, and things have “kept flourishing” ever since, he says.

Under the Rodgers family, Cain’s has hosted artists that run the gamut, including Snoop Dogg, Jason Isbell, Chappell Roan, Turnpike Troubadours, Beck, The Strokes, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Wilco, Brittany Howard, Mavis Staples, The Descendants, Colter Wall, Flogging Molly, Iron and Wine and Tech N9ne.

Jack White, who first played Cain’s in 2010 with supergroup The Dead Weather, came to love the venue and Tulsa so much that he later purchased property in the city. In 2019, White’s band The Raconteurs became the first act to play Cain’s three nights in a row. Later that year, the band released the live recordings as a special vinyl package. In a press statement announcing the release, White wrote of the venue, “This is my favorite place to play in the world.”

In 2021, Green Day performed a surprise show just days before the band’s stadium concert at the 40,000-capacity Global Life Field. And this past April, GWAR performed and brought the owners a framed poster from when they played Cain’s 30 years ago. Teaming up with the local Woody Guthrie Center and the Bob Dylan Center, the venue has also put on once-in-a-lifetime events, including an acoustic set with Bono and The Edge in 2025, marking the band’s return to the venue for the first time since 1982. “They said the first time they were at Cain’s, only one person in the band was legal age and could get any alcohol. So, this time when they went on stage, they said, ‘Well, now we can get served,’” says Chad.

Since purchasing Cain’s in 2002, the Rodgers family has felt the weight of being the custodians of such a historic venue — yet that remains a driving force for them. Says Chad, “We like the challenge of trying to stay relevant.”


Rush Forced to Postpone Two Texas Shows As Singer Geddy Lee Battles Laryngitis/Bronchitis

Over the weekend, Lupe Fiasco appeared on former battle rapper Breezy Nice’s YouTube page KoalaTeaReacts to discuss issues they’ve had in the past, when the discussion pivoted into a conversation about Kendrick Lamar.

The Chicago rapper has shared his opinion in the past about Lamar — opinions he thinks have been blown out of proportion by fans and the media — one of which is that he thinks he’s the better rapper.

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“I find it crazy that you can’t even say that you think that you are a better rapper than Kendrick Lamar,” he said in astonishment before conceding that the Compton rapper is better in other areas.

“I’m not talking about album, I’m not talking about making songs, I’m not talking about being an artist. All the things that I’ve said all these years: He’s a better artist than me, he makes better albums, he has a better team, he has better beat selection, he has better production, right? He has all these better things, right? When it comes down to lyricism, when it comes down to these lyrics and putting these bar-for-bar-for-bar? No. Everything else? For sure. 100 percent.”

However, what’s been causing chatter in rap social media circles is that he said he can name “hundreds” of rappers better than Dot. This is because Lupe has said that battle rappers are better lyricists than mainstream rappers and can name a bunch that are better than most, including Kendrick. “I said it was hundreds and I’ll name ’em, and we could list them,” he doubled down. “We gonna just start listing n—as and then let’s see how long that list get before we start naming one n—a with a record deal? As the better rapper? Stop.”

Back in 2014, he made headlines after he claimed King Los, Logic and Cassidy were better rappers than Kendrick during an appearance on Hot 97. Fast forward to 2018, Fiasco took to Twitter and criticized the “Control” verse. “The only issue that the world thinks I have with K. Dot and I actually do is that I think his ‘Control’ verse was wack and super overhyped to be a verse claiming you are the best rapper,” he quote-tweeted a troll at the time who suggested Kendrick’s “Look Out for Detox” is better than every Lupe song ever. “It was very weird. I was told it was just bait, but still.”

He later apologized a couple of months later and said he’ll never talk about someone else’s career again. “Maybe I should have just left it alone. Even though my impetus was the ‘Control’ verse,” he said. “I mean you put yourself out there like that. So, you opened yourself up to critique, but even that still, I should have just shut my f—ing mouth. I apologize for even engaging and talking about n—as’ careers, I’ll never do that sh– again.”

You can watch the full convo below.

A jury has ruled that Chris Brown should pay nearly $13 million to a woman who was mauled by the R&B star’s 200-pound dog while working as a housekeeper at his California home.

Jurors determined on Tuesday (June 30) that Brown and his company Black Pyramid LLC owe $12.9 million in damages to Maria Avila for negligence, according to Michael C. Murphy Jr., an attorney representing the victim’s sister, Patricia Avila. Patricia, who was working alongside her sister on the day of the attack, was separately awarded $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband Oscar Olivo won another $50,000 in the verdict, Murphy said.

The incident occurred in 2020, when Maria was emptying trash outside Brown’s Tarzana, Calif., home. She was attacked out of nowhere by Hades, the singer’s Caucasian shepherd — a massive, aggressive dog breed notorious for their use as guard dogs at Russian prisons. Maria claims Hades ripped off “large chunks of her skin,” ultimately leading to permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss and nerve damage.

Maria sued over the incident in 2021, and a two-week trial was held in June. Brown accepted some liability for negligence ahead of the trial, but he disputed the extent of Maria’s injuries and argued that she was partially at fault for the incident. Brown testified on June 18 that he personally warned both Maria and Patricia that multiple dogs on the property were “absolutely not” friendly, and that they shouldn’t go outside unless accompanied by security staff.

The star also testified that Hades was not his personal pet. Rather, he said the dog was purchased and looked after by his security guards to help protect the house from break-ins. “I get a lot of stalker-type situations,” he told the jury.

Murphy, Patricia’s lawyer, told Billboard following Tuesday’s verdict, “After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia.”

“We are so happy for her and her family after everything they went through on that horrible day,” added Murphy. “It was an honor to represent her.”

Reps for Maria, Olivo and Brown did not immediately return requests for comment on the verdict. Brown is currently on the road co-headlining his Raymond & Brown Tour with Usher.

As anticipation continues to build for Madonna’s Confessions II album, fans will be able to check it out sooner than expected.

The project is getting an early spotlight through a new partnership with iHeartRadio and TikTok, who are teaming up for an exclusive preview event ahead of the album’s Friday drop.

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The “iHeartRadio and TikTok LIVE Premiere With Madonna” will air Thursday, giving audiences a global first listen one day before the album’s official release date. Fans will be able to follow along via @tiktok, @madonna and @iheartradio, while more than 200 iHeartRadio stations across the U.S. broadcast the experience.

According to a press release, the hour long stream will have Madonna, Bob the Drag Queen, longtime collaborator Stuart Price — who served as musical director and co-producer for the album, as well as the original Confessions project — and her daughter Lola Leon, who appears on the new track “The Test.” Instead of a standard interview setup, the format will use TikTok’s live tools, where viewers can engage with polls, custom reactions, Q&As and real-time audience prompts, turning the event into an interactive listening session.

Confessions II is Madonna’s 15th studio album and includes 16 songs, including collaborations with Sabrina Carpenter, Feid, Martin Garrix, Lola and Stromae. 

In April, Madonna released “I Feel So Free” as the first taste of the project. The song cemented the singer’s return to multiple Billboard charts, including Digital Song Sales, Hot Dance/Pop Songs and Dance/Mix Show Airplay, where it also reached No. 1 on Dance Digital Song Sales. Lead single “Bring Your Love” with Carpenter hit the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the top 10 of Hot Dance/Pop Songs, so far peaking at No. 7.

Earlier this month, Madonna offered an early glimpse at the project’s track list during the Tribeca Festival, where Confessions II —The Film debuted with six songs tied to the album: “I Feel So Free,” “Good for the Soul,” “One Step Away,” “Bring Your Love,” “Danceteria” and “Read My Lips.” The film is also now available on YouTube.

The “iHeartRadio and TikTok LIVE Premiere With Madonna” will air Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

Political satire, but make it jazzy. Randy Rainbow is once again using the power of song to tear into Donald Trump, this time reimagining Cole Porter‘s classic “It’s De-Lovely” to say that he thinks the president is anything but.

The parody posted Tuesday (June 30) opens with the musical comedian portraying a news correspondent, editing clips of Trump from real interviews to make it look like the pair are having a conversation. After questioning the twice-impeached POTUS about his widely opposed handling of the Iran war, the setting shifts into a jazz club as Rainbow, wearing a retro tux, breaks into a song titled “He’s De-Mented.”

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“This dumbf–k tyrant seems to be the tyrant-ithesis of sanity,” he croons to the tune of Porter’s famous melody. “His screws are loose, his tangents roam/ The lights are on but no one’s home/He’s defective, he’s destructive, he’s demented.”

Rainbow — who’s made countless viral song parodies making fun of the president — goes on to change the original song’s lyrics to take aim at Trump’s old age and “decrepit” appearance. “It’s clear that Grandpa’s off his pills,” the Internet personality sings. “He can hear that bipartisan fear/ They’re united left and right: He’s in decline/ Time to resign.”

The video comes after the politician’s approval rating for the second-to-last week of June was calculated at just 34%, according to Reuters. Many of Trump’s past supporters in the conservative commentary landscape have turned against him, taking issue specifically with his approach to the conflict in Iran. Two months ago, Trump threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to agree to a ceasefire deal; at press time, the U.S. is still in slowly progressing peace talks with Iran.

Watch Rainbow’s new parody above.


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