It happens every spring, pitchers and catchers start to report to spring training and America shifts its attention from thousands of other things to the National Pastime. You’ll see kids heading to little league, folks filling out their fantasy rosters, and – all over the country – people who have never visited New York will […]
The powers-that-be did their best to prevent this year’s Major League Baseball season from happening, but, alas, we’re back. By we, I mean the annual SPIN baseball preview. As usual, everyone (or almost everyone) is optimistic about their team’s chances in 2022. In 2021, a good chunk of the season was played with minimal fans […]
Skull-cracking elbow drops and ground-trembling suplex slams are only part of what makes WrestleMania great. The WWE’s biggest annual event — considered the pinnacle of “sports entertainment” by its creators (aka “Showcase of the Immortals,” “Grandest stage of ‘em all”) — happens at the intersection of athleticism and theatrics. Equally as thrilling as the high-flying […]
Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of the most consistently popular bands in the world for most of their 39 years together, but it hasn’t always been an easy ride. Frontman Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea have been the only constants throughout the band’s history. Over the years, they’ve recorded albums with five different […]
The rock world is mourning Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who was found dead at the age of 50 on Friday in Colombia. Hawkins joined the band in 1997 after playing in Alanis Morissette’s band during the Jagged Little Pill tour. Coincidentally, the Foo Fighters opened a string of dates during that run. Dave Grohl, […]
Guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo and bassist Kim Gordon founded Sonic Youth in New York City in 1981, bringing Michigan-born drummer Steve Shelley on board to fill out the classic lineup in 1985. And for the next three decades, Sonic Youth ruled as one of alternative rock’s most influential bands, bringing alternate guitar tunings […]
Neil Percival Young grew up in Winnipeg, but he moved to America in the ‘60s to become the greatest rock star Canada has ever produced. For over 50 years, he’s remained restlessly creative and committed to his political ideals, an influential guitarist as adept at heartbreaking ballads as fiery protest songs. While other classic rockers […]
While emo music might be most associated with sadness and heartbreak, those lovelorn artists couldn’t have written such songs without experiencing some serious romantic highs. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, we wanted to focus on the good parts of love more than the bad — although there’s still some unhappiness and resentment mixed in. (I mean, […]
Football movies are problematic because they are largely as predictable as Tom Brady is on Super Bowl Sunday. (Well, except for this year.) In the end, the long shot squad of misfits almost always tops the team of super-jocks and the washed-up quarterback always seems to be able – against all odds – to muster […]
Since debuting as the hyperliterate, bespectacled nerd prince of the new wave era on 1977’s My Aim Is True, British singer/songwriter Declan MacManus has worn many musical guises, but always under his gaudy stage name Elvis Costello. Over half of his albums have been with the core backing trio of pianist Steve Nieve, drummer Pete […]