🎧 Downbeat.fm Vol. 6 Track 5

This month’s playlist features Blush, SOAK, Pool Kids, Gustaf, and more!

Mike Rastiello

Mike Rastiello

— 2 min read
Rilo Kiley playing on stage in Phoenix, Arizona
Rilo Kiley playing on stage in Phoenix, Arizona

In May I saw a concert that has been on my wishlist for years, but I was never sure if I'd ever get the chance to see. I got into the band Rilo Kiley shortly before they broke up - a common story for me. After about 15 years later, they reunited for a tour.

They hadn't announced any Austin dates in the first wave of shows, so I bought a ticket to see them in Phoenix and Ali and I took a long weekend trip to the Valley of the Sun. Though we didn't really explore much, Phoenix was a lovely city with really cool and unique architecture.

A man and woman take a photo in front of a stage in a music venue.
My wife and I in front of the stage at The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ.

The show, however was amazing. The band looked like they were having so much fun on stage, and hopefully this is the start of some new stuff from Rilo Kiley.

After this show, I decided to get off my ass and build website for a project that has been kicking around in my head for a few years, and I'm happy to announce the launch of A Moment in Rock. One show, one photo. These are gritty, raw photos taken from the crowd on an iPhone, trying to capture the emotion of the shared experience of live music. I hope you'll check it out.

May's Playlist

This month’s playlist features Blush, SOAK, Pool Kids, Gustaf, and more!

Listen to this month’s playlist on

Apple Music
Spotify

Earlier this month Bruce Springsteen spoke out against Trump multiple times. Here's an edit of a few of his comments. As always, fuck Donald Trump.

A woman cosplaying as the woman from the cover of the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album. She is wearing a blue dress with yellow trim, and a red cape on one shoulder. She is shown from the waist up, coming out of a large yellow star. She is on a blue background with smaller stars behind her.
Awesome cosplay of the cover of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The former home of Wax Trax! Records has been designated as a Chicago landmark.

Pearl Jam playing on stage
On the anniverary of Chris Cornell's passing, Pearl Jam played Temple of the Dog's Hunger Strike with the audience filling in for Chris' parts. Chills. Click through for the video.

I've been a life long Billy Joel fan, and was very sad to hear that he was diagnosed with a brain disorder.

Taylor Swift bought her back catalog of her first six albums.

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