Weird Al Yankovic in the video for "Africa" by Weezer. If there’s ever a band that has made serious business out of acting juvenile, it would be Weezer. From the opening, upside-down shot of “Undone - The Sweater Song,” their 1993 debut single and video, to the Weird Al parody treatment in their video for “Africa,” released on Monday (Sept. 24), Weezer have eschewed the tormented anguish of their alt-rock predecessors for a more adolescent, self-deprecating pain. When the “Un

Today, I got acquainted with The Mutiny Hotel, the early 80s cocaine-fueled Miami hotspot where the CIA partied side by side with notorious drug traffickers, celebrities and politicians. In 1969, The Mutiny Hotel opened its doors on Coconut Grove as the neighbourhood was fast becoming a mecca for cocaine kingpins. By its peak in the late seventies, the hotel was selling more Dom Pérignon than any other venue in America– even if much of it was being poured into hot tubs. The 1

At issue: The satellite radio giant's opposition to a portion of the Music Modernization Act. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, some 150 artists and executives, including Paul McCartney, Don Henley, Carole King, Katy Perry, U2’s The Edge, Pink, Sia and hitmaker Max Martin, have signed a letter addressed to the board members of Liberty Media, corporate parent to SiriusXM. At issue: The satellite radio giant’s opposition to Music Modernization Act, which is thisclose to p

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The bill, now renamed after Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, now heads back to the House, where its changes will need approval. The long road to copyright revision is nearing its end as the U.S. Senate passed the Music Modernization Act by unanimous consent Tuesday (Sept. 18). The move mimics the House's unilateral support, previously passing the bill by a vote of 415-0 back in April. With the Senate's move, the legislation has been rena

You asked, and you shall receive, Sonicbids blog readers. Per multiple requests, here's my guide to, "When the hell do I start turning these knobs, and where do they go?" But before we begin, I offer you the fine print: These references are general ideas for where to begin to look for sonic issues with particular sounds, instruments, and voices. I'm not going to tell you "always notch this 9 dB here and add 3 dB here with a wide boost and, voila, perfect sound!" because it's

You’re not ready for a music manager. But how about an accountability team? Okay, I don’t know for a fact that you’re not ready for a manager. I needed a catchy headline. But most musicians aren’t ready; that IS a fact. A manager gets paid 10-20% of what you make in your music career. So even if you’re paying the bills with your music income, will a manager be able to pay THEIR bills on a small percentage of your earnings? If not, what’s their incentive? Why would they want t