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Chicago’s very own hometown math rock heroes Maps & Atlases played the Metro on Saturday the 18th. They played as part of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, which is touted as Chicago’s premiere multi venue winter festival with over 20 different artists across 8 venues. It’s frankly an impressive feat of organization and scheduling but this festival has been ongoing since 2015 so there’s a track record of success with this format.  Retirement Party That being said, Saturday night there was a banger of a two band line up with Retirement Party opening for Maps & Atlases. Retirement Party is a local indie rock band fronted by singer Avery Springer whose vocals are reminiscent of Fiona Apple with a little more edge. The band itself had the crowd moving, playing a solid lineup of songs from their two albums and a handful of EPs discography. By the end of their rockin' set the crowd was absolutely hyped and ready for what was to come next.  Now that the crowd was properly warmed up, it was time for Maps & Atlases. To understand what makes them fantastic is to explain math rock itself. Math Rock is similar to prog rock or post-rock but is generally defined by its complicated rhythmic structures, varying patterns and time signatures all layered on top of each other. This means that a slow song can still have a mosaic of other instruments playing at a quicker pace than the rest of the song. It’s a fascinating thing to watch layered over themselves and that’s what initially drew me to the band.  Secondarily, to achieve this sound the band tends to play a lot of their songs by tapping instead of full strumming. This allows for a lot of quick notes to be played to create beautifully intricate songs over the tenure of their 17 year musical career. There’s a lot to their playing style and it all transferred fantastically to a live show and worth it to witness their insane musical talent in person. Especially when it comes to some of their more complex songs like Every Place Is A House or The Ongoing Horrible which was played solo on an acoustic guitar by singer front man Shiraz Dada.  Their show was punctuated by light up bird cages that adorned the stage and would light up in time with the songs the band played. They played an amazing hour and a half set that included songs from every corner of their catalog. The crowd packed the Metro and sang along to their favorite lyrics. If you haven’t heard of this band, I’d recommend giving them a listen, or even take in one of their live shows, if only to see the guitar  mastery they convey in their live shows. The Tomorrow Never Knows festival went from January 15th to 19th and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on next year's line up as well.

Game releases come at us fast and furious as the new year begins, culminating in a slew of high profile games around the holiday season. Blink and you’ll miss another interesting, inventive or remastered game. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a “casual” gamer or someone who wants to pour hundreds of hours into something to “git gud.” We asked the Culture Combine crew what their favorite games of 2024 were, and put together this list of the games that we enjoyed the most this past year. See what you think of our picks, and don’t forget to comment with any picks from last year you think should’ve made the list. Screenshot: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Indiana Jones and the Great Circle I love high adventure. Once I discovered things like Star Wars, and Indiana Jones (and Harrison Ford, of course) I was obsessed.. This is just as true with games as it is in films, with one of my most beloved game series of all time being Tomb Raider. Who wouldn’t want to jetset, explore amazing archaeological sites, jetski, and be terrified to death by giant statues of Shiva coming to life? Not this girl. Unfortunately, the latest installments in the Indiana Jones film series just haven’t held that same feeling for me. Sure, they’re Indiana Jones movies, and sure, I enjoyed at least parts of them on some level out of pure nostalgia, but they never had that epic, campy shine. Luckily for us, Team 17 got it right with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle . Just like the original films, it pushes the limits. It’s graphically gorgeous, with a cinematic eye turned to every small detail. Golden light filters down through dusty dig sites, and NPCs wander through elaborate recreations of historic cities. The story’s well fleshed out too, and Indiana Jones is exactly who you remember him as - an adventurer, but at heart an archaeologist who thinks everything belongs in a museum. Snarky, grumpy and quippy, but also impulsive (seriously, are we really gonna try replacing a statue with something similarly weighted again?) Gameplay looks and feels great, and the cinematic nature of the game doesn’t take you out of the action for the sake of a cutscene. In fact, finishing up The Great Circle felt exactly like coming out of Raiders of the Lost Ark - smiling, full of popcorn, and feeling like you’ve taken a fun ride through another world. That’s why it makes my list. Screenshot: Mouthwashing Mouthwashing “I Hope It Hurts” That’s the opening phrase to Mouthwashing , and after playing through its roughly two hour story, I can confirm that it did in fact hurt. Here we are playing as the crew from the Tulpar, a freighter spaceship stranded after someone sabotaged the ship to crash into a meteorite. Considering there are only 5 members of the ship, things really spiral downhill into an endless sea of despair, paranoia, and delusions of grandeur.  Adding to the confusing nature of the story is that it is told out of order, so we see a lot of major events but not the instigating events until later. That allows for a build up to a psychedelic and mind altering crescendo of heartbreak, and reveals that will make you question what exactly you witnessed. Mouthwashing is one that I still think about from time to time, both in a disturbing but thought provoking way. Especially when it comes to the nature of taking responsibility for your actions and whether you are a sum of your worst decisions. To discuss the game in detail is to ruin the experience, you really just gotta play it.  Screenshot: Another Crab's Treasure Another Crab’s Treasure I’m a sucker for a good souls like, and that genre has exploded over the last couple years. Now we get a new entry from developers Aggro Crab and it couldn’t come at a better time. Like most other souls likes, Another Crab’s Treasure has tough but fair combat, and upon death you lose all your upgrade currency with a chance to recover it. Outside of that, Aggro Crab switches up the formula by adding a shell system.  Like any real crab, you can find shells in the environment, each with their own stats and speciality abilities. This is a clever way to incorporate the theme within the gameplay. There’s also a skill tree for further customization. Where it shines most is its charm. Specifically focusing on the harm pollution has had on the sealife, in this instance, bosses are massive monstrous sea creatures with different trash as weaponry. The same goes with the crabs shells you can collect, different pieces of trash that can be used to help defensively. All of this beautiful and charming gameplay is put together in a brightly colored cartoonish atmosphere. While From Software may have defined the genre, I love when an outlier comes in and steals a little of that spotlight. This is one of those.   Screenshot: Indika Indika I played a lot of games in 2024, and there were none that stuck with me quite like Indika . It tells its bleak story in a way that can only be conveyed accurately as a video game. In so doing, it makes commentary both on organized religion and video games. While it doesn’t break any ground gameplay-wise, it does a phenomenal job of using video game logic as a vehicle for its extremely well made point of the futility of faith, especially those in institutions that are so obviously failing to provide anything but the most absurd and grisly of ends to its faithful. Most of the gameplay in Indika sees you walking around while accruing fake, worthless XP and other points while Indika goes about her compulsory religious actions. There are a few stand out puzzles, but Indika’s strength is its storytelling. Both in the story it tells through the world, and its exploration of faith. It takes place in an alternate Russia that helps sell its over-the-top absurdity and drive home its often poignant human message. Screenshot: Metal Slug: Tactics Metal Slug Tactics The art style of Metal Slug is iconic.I remember being blown away by the detailed pixel art and animations when I was a little kid–and its still some of the best pixel art that exists today. Metal Slug might not be the monolith it was at one point, long ago, but it has a great visual style that translates perfectly into Tactics'  isometric perspective. But more than that: The original Metal Slug series is known for its “run and gun” style gameplay, and developer Dotemu has pulled off a Herculean feat by translating that aspect into a turn based strategy game.  While some tactics games may punish movement, resulting in matches that feel more defensive than dynamic– Metal Slug Tactics encourages movement by adding a defensive component to moving. In other words: the more you move, the less damage you can potentially take.. That means battles are based on movement, and are therefore very fun–and that, to me, is lots better than setting up defensive positions in hopes that enemies fling themselves at them.  There are also lots of different characters, each with a set of their own load-outs that drastically change the way they play. It was one of those games I kept coming back to through the year, making it easily one of my favorites of 2024. Screenshot: Children of the Sun Children of the Sun You were raised in a cult, they killed your family, and now it’s time to get your revenge. That’s the premise of Children of the Sun , a tactical sniper game where you are the bullet. You only have one shot per level, but that’s okay, because each time you hit a target you can redirect the shot to a new target. Eventually, you gain even greater control over the bullet as you seek revenge against THE CULT as you eventually seek to eliminate THE LEADER.  It’s stylish, fun, and was the first game of last year to go on my “best of the year” list. Children of the Sun isn’t exactly a shooting game, but more of a puzzle game where timing and positioning matter if you want to get the highest combo for a personal best or to try to top the leaderboard.  Combined with its great art style, Children of the Sun delivers a video game package unlike anything I’ve played in a really long time. Screenshot: Deadlock Deadlock This is probably not the first time I’m going to put this game on a “best of the year” list. I was originally going to have it as an honorable mention–but with how much of my life it has sucked up, I think it deserves a spot on this list. While only officially announced after its popularity exploded on Steam at the end of the summer last year, Deadlock’s  success was underscored by the very public downfall of $400000 dollar Concord –the epic hero shooter that was DOA. I can’t say that Deadlock killed Concord , but their history is inextricably linked. Now Deadlock has been overshadowed vastly by Marvel Rivals, but  Deadlock managed to make me finally play a MOBA (even if its a hybrid) and it's absolutely oozing with potential. Development will probably be on Valve time, but if something is already this fun to play it’s hard to complain. Since Deadlock is still invite only, and only just barely announced by Valve, there is still plenty of room for it to expand and improve. But it also has an extremely compelling world that is dripping with environmental clues, full of unique characters that buck a lot of the current established trends. It’s trying something different, not afraid to be unique, and because of that it will most likely end up being something special.  So, what'd you think? Let us know what your favorites from last year were in the comments!

New year, new releases! Welcome back to Let's Get Physical, where I urge you to actually own your movies and TV shows instead of relying on streaming services where the earliest film is from 1973 (seriously Netlfix?) This month is a pretty big one and with only 4 release days its pretty chock full of great 4Ks and Blu-rays. Se7en 4k - January 7 This one's an interesting case. From all accounts, this is a worthy upgrade for those seeking a better copy of David Fincher's Se7en (it astoundingly funny that a movie this good does the ole number-as-a-letter marketing trick), but there are a few quirks in the mix. Fincher is known perfectionist and he has gone ahead an done some AI tweaking on the film. While I abhor lazy AI, it seems like Fincher was very meticulous with its use, perhaps a bit too meticulous. There are reports of strange, almost unneeded changes being made to the film which for a preservationist like myself feels not good. This feels closer to the Sam Raimi use of re-doing a film than Geroge Lucas, but I'm not a fan of either. I'm interested in seeing just how strange these additions are Rumours - January 21 I missed this when it was in theaters, so I'm eagerly anticipating seeing Guy Maddin's closest forray into a.... normal movie? Not really, but with a cast full of recognizable actors and co-directors Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson likely helping ease the more outlandish of Maddin's visions, Rumours feels like a perfect addition to my physical media library. Kill Bill Vol 1 4K, Kill Bill Vol 2 4K, and Jackie Brown 4k - January 21 These are simply must haves for any film fan. I know Tarantino's brand of stealing smart/sampling of other creators work feels a little off to many a movie watcher, but I maintain that his lifts are more often than not transformative at best and obvious homages at worst. The Kill Bill movies are truly indebted to kung-fu movies of yesteryear and it shows. Jackie Brown on the other hand is way more subtle with its influences, letting the core of who Tarantino is as a director shine. What results is a mature, measured, and satisfying film. The elegant base of Elmore Leonard's Rum Punch also helps keep the story focused and entertaining. It's honestly my favorite Tarantino film. Links above go to the regular editions, but Lionsgate does have some incredible steelbooks for each one of the available as well, so you have options! MORE RELEASES TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR! Let's Get Lost   is a documentary on the life of jazz great Chet Baker, a personal favorite of mine. January 7 Another Tarantino release?! Here's hoping this 4K of Inglourious Basterds is better than the not so special edition that is currently on the market January 14 Is Reindeer Games a good movie? No. But boy is it ridiculous enough to enjoy!  January 21 The darker of the two John Cusack and Stephen Frears collaborations, The Grifters is an incredible film full of uncomfortable toxicity that will keep you glued to your seat  January 21 Tarsem Singh has made some visually beautiful films and The Cell is no exception. Sure aspects of it have been butchered by the studio, but it's still a worthy 4K for your collection! January 21 Terror Vision is consistently releasing incredible movies and this double feature of Yellow Dragon's Village/Visitors sounds like a doozy! January 28

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-empty-cinema-7991486/ It's time for lists! While we're trying to settle back in to regular life after the holidays, why not look back at the year that was for a little bit of comfort? "Art is balm for the brain, especially in moments of decision" after all. For us, it'll take a lot of balm to get over last year, so we're gonna dwell in the past this little moment longer to talk about our favorite films of 2024. And when we say we, that means we've coerced everyone at Culture Combine to come up with at least two movies they really loved this year. Settle in for a satisfying scroll and a good ol' game of "What did they miss that makes this article an absolute travesty?" To kick it off, let's start with Julian Ramirez's picks: Dune: Part Two The trend of needlessly splitting a book into two movies has been an epidemic worthy of ridicule, but rarely has the method been so necessary and expertly done as director/writer Denis Villenue and co-writer Jon Spaihts have with Dune The story feels surprisingly fit for it as the first film showcased the fall of the house Atreides and Dune: Part Two focuses on Paul Atraides' rise to power on the spice planet.  Everything that made the first film great is somehow improved with the sequel. The beautiful cinematography feels all the more epic which lends itself to the more action oriented film. There is powerful acting from everyone involved (even if Christopher Walken is a bit distracting) especially from Timothee Chalamet as he transforms from a young and naive soldier into a begrudging leader who seemingly knows exactly how bad things are going to get with or without him.  At 166 minutes, Dune: Part Two rushes by without ever feeling bogged down by the enormity of its story. There are certain departures from the source material, but they all feel perfectly aligned with the more measured take on the space opera. It all builds on itself wonderfully and culminates in a satisfying way. With another movie likely on the way, Dune: Part Two could have easily fallen to the pratfalls associated with middle film, not being complete without its other parts, but Villenue’s deft hand has ensured it's able to stand on its own.  Immaculate It’s been an undeniable year for horror movies and Immaculate may be one that gets lost in the shuffle despite its solid efforts. Starring Sydney Sweeney and directed by Michael Mohan, Immaculate is their second collaboration and better of the two. Centering on Sweeney as an innocent nun who moves to a convent in Rome where she discovers she is immaculately pregnant with what most everyone around her believes is the son of God. Sweeny shines in her role, giving every bit of nuance to her timid turned desperate character.  Immaculate is a throwback if there ever was one, harkening to Italian Giallo films and nunsploitation of yesteryear. The film never quite succumbs entirely to the extremes of those genres, but it definitely comes close with a few religious side characters feeling more like caricatures at times and the creeping pace disrupted by a jumpscare or three. Immaculate surely wears its influences on its sleeves but isn’t beholden to them.  The film’s final scene is one of the best in recent horror memory. It’s a completely satisfying conclusion, both emotionally and narratively, and leaves the audience with a burned-in image that you won’t soon forget. Marielle's picks: Woman of The Hour Woman of the Hour is a retelling of a “stranger than fiction” tale about a serial killer who once appeared on an episode of the Dating Game, and Sheryl, a down on her luck actress, played by Kendrick. In real life, Rodney Alcala, the “Dating Game Killer” was convicted for murdering 7 women, but according to some reports may have murdered up to 130. While we know who the killer is right away, the brilliance of Woman of the Hour is that danger comes from all sides. Pete Holmes as Terry seems like a loveable sheepdog, but constantly makes unwanted advances. The cocky lothario that is Bachelor 2 obviously sees women purely as objects, and even the “well intentioned” men like audience member Laura’s otherwise kind seeming boyfriend, just dismisses her as crazy when she correctly identifies Alcala as the killer. Also telling, amidst all the actual danger surrounding Sheryl, the part of the movie that feels the most dangerous is when Sheryl bucks the rules of the dating game and starts asking the men pointed questions like “What are girls for?” thus invoking the wrath of the show’s host, Ed. Perhaps even scarier, in contrast to just about all the male characters, Rodney, the actual killer, seems refined, funny, even likeable - and would likely be the last of the terrible people in this film we’d suspect as having brutally raped and murdered two women at the time he appeared on the show. He’s “the danger” but at every point in the show, at every single moment, Sheryl’s been in danger, simply because she exists in the world as a woman. Woman of the Hour is about the monotony and bald reality of being in constant danger, and that’s what makes it truly terrifying, and a must watch in my book. Turning Red Pixar stands out as a studio largely based on its ability to craft a unique story that’s accessible to everyone yet doesn’t shy away from complicated topics. If you’ve ever had the experience of being a person who menstruates, you know it’s complicated. There’s a lot of angst that comes from being a ‘neonate and having a body that’s doing things you don’t understand while you’re feeling all kinds of feelings you don’t know what to do with. On top of that your little undeveloped brain thinks that because you’ve reached or are about to reach thirteen, you’re basically an adult, even though everyone (especially your family) is still treating you like a child. Turning Red’s main character Mei is obsessive, anxious, dramatic, cringey, kinda mean, super silly and, basically, the quintessential obnoxious ‘neonate. And who wasn’t obnoxious at that age? Being a ‘neonate is a lot, when you really think about it. What’s beautiful about Turning Red is that it doesn’t shield its main character from the weird, ugly, incredibly embarrassing parts that even adults don’t always want to talk about. It’s about how you can butt heads with your mom at every opportunity but still desperately need her, about how a community of women cares for and protects each other - and it’s a beautiful film as well, in large part due to the stunning backdrop of Toronto, specifically featuring the Chinese Canadian community there. If you missed it streaming in ‘22 or in the theaters in ‘24, correct that in this new year. Aaron's Picks: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice While it might not be “movie of the year,” Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a delightful sequel to the iconic 1988 Tim Burton movie. And though Hollywood has long been too awash with sequels, franchises, and reboots, Burton bringing back some of my favorite childhood characters to the big screen didn’t feel like a nostalgic money grab, but an homage to the original and introduction/continuation of the story for a younger generation. Many of our characters return, with Michael Keaton returning as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder a now widowed Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as stepmother Delia. While the Maitlands’ have since moved on, Lydia and company are joined by daughter Astrid, played by the perfectly cast Jenna Ortega, a local boy love interest (Arthur Conti), Beetlejuice’s revenge-seeking wife (Monica Bellucci), and a dead cop (Willem Dafoe), along with a host of monsters and ghosts both new and old. Keaton fits back into the role of our villain turned teammate like a pair of well worn shoes, albeit a little older. Ryder and Ortega make a great estranged mother daughter pair, and you can feel both the tension and underlying love. Lydia’s boyfriend Rory, played by Justin Theroux , pulls off being a creepy grifting con-man pretty well -- maybe a little too well. While characters are played well and Burton’s design of both the Earth and the now sprawling afterlife are gorgeous, the plot does somewhat falter. At times it feels like our characters were thrown into a kitchen sink from four different bowls, only loosely interacting at times. While it was good to see some old tropes and fun set pieces return, sometimes they do feel a little bit thrown together. Despite these stumbles, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was at its core, what I hoped it to be – a FUN throwback. I might’ve been scared a little shitless as a child watching the first installment, but growing up watching it again and again, that movie became a lighthearted and fun exploration of life and death, with heaping hunks of bizarre creatures and sets. The second installment felt very similar. It’s not an Oscar-worthy film and at a refreshingly speedier than most movies these days - an hour and thirty two minutes – not an in depth exploration of anything. But I never expected it to be. Once again, it was just an enjoyable and fun movie.  While the story might’ve been a little less coherent than the first and a little less dramatic, it was still a great time.  Deadpool & Wolverine Let’s face it, superhero movies have been an exhausted franchise for quite a few years now. We’ve been living in an oversaturated market of capes, masks, powers, puns, and one-liners for entirely too long and I’m not the first to have wanted off this ride. That oversaturation though, is one of the things that made Deadpool & Wolverine – the MCU’s third installment of the Deadpool series – good.  Much like the first two installments of the series, it doesn’t take itself seriously at all. And despite the red and black suited foul mouthed mercenary donning mouse ears for this one, the movie doesn’t hold back. If anything, Deadpool & Wolverine is even more foul-mouthed and excessively violent than its first two editions. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have fantastic reluctant love/embraced hate buddy comedy energy, and the cast of familiar Deadpool cameos and new to this universe(s) ones keep the fun and energy moving. While the story itself is a little slapdash and basic, tying everything into a bow via Loki was well executed.  There’s probably nothing that can save the superhero genre anytime soon – it’s as overdone as the driest holiday turkey one can’t even stick a fork in. But Deadpool & Wolverine didn’t feel like it was trying to do that. Much like dinner leftovers cobbled together into a delicious brunch the next day, it was just a fun blockbuster filled with the fan-service we’ve come to love and expect from this particular corner of the Marvel universe, and just as rewatchable as the first two. Alex's picks: Saturday Night I’ve always been a fan of Saturday Night Live, and while most of my friends were quoting their favorite Adam Sandler jokes or Will Ferrell sketches, I was more curious about the process. Writing, crafting scheduling--it all fascinated me. The idea of making this show happen reminds me of spinning a million plates at once, where when one wobbles, it threatens to take the entire collection down with it. While Live From New York: The Complete Uncensored History of SNL book or shows like 30 Rock did their best to give peeks into the background of the show, I wanted more. Queue Saturday Night. Saturday Night is a retelling of the two hours before the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live goes live. This is where we get a mostly full view of the chaos that goes into every single episode. The drama between personalities and production, constant re-writes and test jokes, the ever looming threat of everything about to go off the rails in a flaming catastrophe. It gave me everything I could want in that view, while also including some of the classic stories you may have heard retold throughout the show's tenure. It’s not 100% accurate of course, but brings the viewer into the chaos while entertaining them thoroughly.  The Substance I’m not the biggest horror fan, but there was something that drew me to The Substance. It’s no secret that there is a deep-seated fault of ageism that exists in Hollywood towards women. In The Substance , Demi Moore plays a famous television fitness instructor who is getting forced out of her show on her 50th birthday. It’s here that Demi discovers “the substance,” a miracle drug that promises a younger, fitter version of you. This unlocks some of the best body  horror that I’ve seen in a very long time.  The transformation into a fitter, younger you is less of a transformation and more birthing a clone of yourself from a giant gaping hole out of your back. It’s a wild visual that is as auditorily wet as it looks with buckets of blood being thrown about all over this film. There’s a fun back and forth adversarial relationship between Demi and her younger ‘fitter’ clone that plays like a celebrity wrestling match, with both playing the heel. There’s an antagonistic nature to it, despite them essentially being the same person. By the end the relationship devolves into a massive discussion on fame's fleeting embrace as time makes fools of us all. Nothing gold can stay.  Hundreds of Beavers I was not prepared for Hundreds of Beavers , or the nostalgia it would pull out of me personally. What is presented in this film is a throwback to the days of Tom and Jerry, or the Three Stooges. The classic 1920s, 1930s absurdist black and white slapstick comedy with close to zero dialogue. From beginning to end, every bit of this wild tale of love and revenge hits right in the funny bone.  The story begins with our hero Jean getting famous for his apple orchard and distillery but soon after many drunken evenings, it’s all set ablaze by beavers chewing through the wood beams. Now it’s up to Jean to become an animal hunter to rebuild his wealth and possibly win the love of the local merchant's daughter. Of course, his redemption arc crosses paths with those pesky beavers and all hell breaks loose in a final battle of wits. It’s silly, it’s ridiculous and rarely does it make sense, but man, it makes for a solid evening viewing. Technically this has been in the festival circuit since 2022, but it didn’t get its official release until this year. More people need to see this movie.  These are our picks - were any of yours the same? Let us know your favorites from the year in the comments!

Every year around the holidays, local indie folk hero Andrew Bird hosts his Gezelligheid concert series out of the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Seven days of concerts to celebrate the spirit of the season as well as keep with the Dutch term that roughly translates to “cozy.” Bird started this tradition back in 2009, marking this as the 14th year of Gezelligheid.  Andrew Bird, an indie folk musician originally from Lake Forest Illinois, started his career back in 1996 including a stint with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Bird’s musical stylings range from Indie, Folk, Jazz and Swing, even winning the “Best Folk Album” at the 2019 Grammys for his album My Finest Work Yet. Since 1996, Andrew Bird has released over 20 albums, impressively  under his own name, with additional albums in varying Jazz or Swing ensembles.  The Fourth Presbyterian Church was formed in 1871 on Chicago’s downtown North Michigan Avenue near the John Hancock Center. A beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture that also acts as a sanctuary as well as the second largest Presbyterian congregation in the United States. It’s this beautiful piece of Chicago history that housed Bird’s intimate concert series.  What makes this concert series so intriguing is the vibe that Andrew Bird has cultivated here. Nothing really changed to the site as a whole so attendees were seated in the pews of the church surrounded by the iconic architecture, and massive lighting structures throughout. No extra frills, just the church pews and Birds signature folk style. The concert can best be described as a blend of folk and jazz, with Bird swapping between his violin, and guitar with a few guests coming in to assist with some additional musical layers, but mostly it was an all Bird show.  Considering Bird’s musical repertoire ranges pretty heavily, he tended to keep things safely within the realm of the cozy night in, playing a more subdued collection of songs including some covers  of Bob Dylan and Stevie Nick but also throwing in a medley of Vince Guaraldi Trio of music from Charlie Brown Christmas. There were some beautiful lighting effects that displayed across the large cathedral ceilings to accompany the musical stylings. By the final run of shows it’s clear why this was a holiday tradition that will continue as long as Andrew wants it to, each night a sell out and each night a warm safe evening to spend with the family. Andrew’s made me a fan, and now a recurring attendee to these events. Happy Gezelligheid!

This Saturday Marc Rebillet finished a three day series of shows for his We Outside World Tour over at Thalia Hall. Playing three nights of his specialized improvised EDM to full sold out crowds is an impressive feat. Especially since Marc originally burst into the scene only eight years ago by going viral with his bedroom/living room live streams on Youtube and especially hit peak virality during the COVID lockdowns.  Originally, Marc started his career performing improvised DJ sets from home, usually in his boxers and a bathrobe. These sets consisted of creating looping sound effects using whatever items are around him including voice modulation on his own voice creating catchy hooks to loop into his EDM style. One of his earliest viral hits was his 1 minute song “Your New Morning Alarm” which consists of Marc screaming to the listener about waking up.  What makes Marc’s performances so intriguing is that, in the nature of improv, no performance is ever the same. Marc is an artist in the way that he’s able to take the art of making sounds and create entertainment in the form of a party. It’s a one man show and Marc is controlling it all. You can see why he’s earned the nickname the Loop Daddy, when he begins a song by slamming his microphone into a table, and eventually looping in a conversation with a baby using voice modulation.  It’s as much about the process as it is the performance. Marc just messing with voice modulation on a theme of chilling in your room can easily turn into a crowd pleasing party anthem that has the entire crowd cheering while confetti cannons shoot confetti into the air. It’s fascinating to experience because you can never quite guess where the song is going to take you but it’s a journey that inevitably ends with everyone dancing and Marc jumping into the crowd in his underwear.  I would be lying to say if every piece was a banger but the process was always captivating. I wanted to see what else he would loop in to create another banger track. You can hear it best exemplified in songs like “Night Time Bitch” that you hear how something so simple can be turned into an absolute jam, so seeing it live really puts Marc and his creativity on display. Creating nothing from something in the best possible way.

We're at the final month of 2024 and it's been a stellar year for physical media! But just because we're at the end doesn't mean the fun is over and done with! There are still four weeks of excellent releases on the way so sit back and enjoy some incredible movies on bluray and 4k! Galaxy Quest 4K - December 3 I remember seeing Galaxy Quest in theaters as a little kid not understanding the meta-ness it was making about Star Trek and all the post fame parallels. I just remember thinking it was a really funny and enjoyable movie that I need to see again and again. I guess 90s Tim Allen really had a stranglehold on me back then. The movie has ages like an incredibly pricey cellar wine, with every passing year hitting their satire right on the head and it's atmosphere being all the more appreciated. No Country For Old Men 4K - December 10 I was taking a film class the Oscar season semester after No Country For Old Men came out and my professor really hammered home how daring and magical the film was, particularly for it's ending. It's a film that on the surface feels like an old school slow burn neo-western (god that's a lot of contradictory descriptors) but is hiding a very sad and prescient feeling of hopeless in a world you once knew. With every passing reassessment (of which given the recent Cormac McCarthy revelations there may be a new one brewing) by the all knowing film circles, the film always comes out on top. Say what you will about Criterion remaster and disc QC, but this one is sure to hit the right spot. Seinfeld: The Complete Collection 4K - December 17 Seinfeld is a show I watched way too young, understood practically none of until one day I just got it . It will forever serve as my entry point into sitcoms that rose above your typical endearing characters and understandable miscommunications. These were assholes who kinda knew it and didn't care. Weird that the 4K version is the only release that will contain the original formatting of the show, which I maintain is the reason physical media should exist, but this is a must for fans and new comers to the show. Side note, Jerry Seinfeld sucks. Immaculate 4K - December 17 Did I recommend this in previous Let's Get Physical ? I sure did, but this is the 4K edition of this phenomenal movie and goddammit I'm recommending it again. The movie is such a loving tribute to Giallo films and completely confident in its simple story that it all works. They know the movie they're making and are treating it with a reverence it should have. Relive the religious trauma, pseudo science buffoonery, and Sydney Sweeney's anguished screams in the best quality. You won't regret putting on right after Christmas dinner! Snake Eyes 4K - December 31 I am aware I may be the only ardent fan of this mid era Brian de Palma movie, but boy is it fantastic. Coming of what would be a franchise spark of Mission Impossible (insane that he didn't direct another), Snake Eyes feels awkwardly sterile. The sets feel small, the acting over the top, the Hitchcockian vibes that are prepackaged in every de Palma film are as wanton as ever; but its still so fun. It's just a good almost schlocky time at the movies and we need more of that in our boring sequel and unmotivated remake timeline that we're in.

This is looking like a good movie for movies as some must haves for me are rolling out in the coming weeks. So take a seat while I lead you down my top movie picks for the month of June! You can see a good chunk of the upcoming releases over at Blu-Ray.com 's site! Immaculate 4K - June 11 When I saw Immaculate in theaters, I was awestruck. Despite the subpar showing (damn screen had a huge stain right in the center), Immaculate is an impressive throwback to horror films of the 70s. Rife with references to Giallo films and Sydney Sweeney giving mesmerizing performance, Immaculate stands as my favorite horror film of the year (still need to see The First Omen ). The story is pretty straightforward and if your in any way familiar with its religious setting, you'll see a lot of things coming a mile a way, but it never detracts from its quality. The ending alone is one of the best in recent memory, balancing the extreme with a bit of measured tastefulness that is often forgotten. Chinatown 4k  - June 18 In my constantly rotating favorite films of all time, Chinatown is consistently in my top 5. This 4K transfer has been available digitally for a while, in fact I bought it when it was initially released years ago, but nothing beats a physical copy. The film is massively influential, surprising amongst animated films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit (which may have originally been the inteded concept for a Chinatown sequel) and Zootopia , and is enthralling. This release also has a Blu-Ray featuiring the actual sequel The Two Jakes , which is not a great movie, but a reasonably entertaining one directed by star Jack Nicholson and fetureing a very good performance from Meg Tilly (who I wish would have pursued more acting roles). NOTE: Yes I'm aware of the crimes of Roman Polanski, and my enjoyment of this film is no excuse of them. Fuck Roman Polanski. Blue Velvet 4K  - June 25 There are plenty of Criterions released every month and they are always worth a look, but I'm highlighting Blue Velvet because it's so damn good. David Lynch is one of my favorite directors and this movies sits right in the middle between his more straightforward work and his more... surreal work. It is also an ideal representation of his directing style when it comes to actors, giving you both the melodramatic cadence from Isabella Rossellini, Laura Dern, Kyle McLaughlin's performances and the extremely stylized grittiness of Dennis Hopper's insane villain. Blue Velvet is weird, uncomfortable, and a must have. The Guyver 4K - June 25 I was introduced to the anime through a bootleg VHS that was bought at a flea market, so it's safe to say I ADORE Guyver. The American live action movie featuring Mark Hamil, certainly not starring as early marketing material would have suggested, is very much of its time. Hard B-Movie vibes with a dash of cheesiness and incredible practical effects, which is expected with co-directors Screaming Mad George & Steve Wang and producer Brian Yuzna at the wheel, The Guyver is undeniably fun. If you have an nostalgia for Japanese tokusatsu or early Power Rangers (I know, I'm sort of repeating myself), The Guyver is for you. Other Films you should check out this month: Bad Lieutenant 4K  - June 4 RoboCop 2 4k - June 18 Matinee 4K - June 25 Purple Rain 4K  - June 25 The Sadness 4K - June 25

Let's start this post off with a HUGE mistake I made and a little rant about the FOMO, hype, reseller culture that has a strangle hold on every hobby. While I thought I had pre-ordered the Chinatown 4k I mentioned in the previous upcoming movies roundup, I actually had left it in my cart and didn't go all the way through the ordering process. Normally this wouldn't be a huge deal and the release would be available to pick up a mere two weeks after release, but to my shock, it's sold out everywhere and resellers are selling it for double the normal price and often even more. Now I'm not against reselling something you've watched and no longer want in your collection, thats how you let a collectiongrow and breathe. But this flipper mentality of buying with the onl intention is to sell will always be strange and annoying to me to me. I know, everyone's gotta make a buck somehow, but constantly having to be right on top of releases as they come out isn't always feasible. Every hobby has it's downside and currently it's this for the physical media game (alongside so many places droppouing physical media but I digress). Alright with that out of the way, let's get to the new releases! Taxi Driver 4K - July 2 At this point, Taxi Driver's iconic status can not be denied. It's a monumental work from director Martin Scorsese, the Internet's most blunt Hollywood staple Paul Schrader, and stars the unbelievable Robert DeNiro. Plus add shockingly good performances from everyone in the film including Josie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and genuinely everyone else in the cast. The film is so incredibly laid out and delivered with the rawest, unflinching vision that it can be an uncomfortable watch. It's a must see and this 4K transfer is getting some great reviews. Le samouraï 4K - July 9 A meditative noir-ish film with a protagonist who barely utters a word and oozes a sense of cool while taking cues from the modern pop culutre of the time and hearkening to Japanese mythology? No I'm not talking about Drive , or Ghost Dog or the countless other films that have a similar synopsis. I'm talking about one of if not the originator of that vibe that these other films have taken inspiration from: the amazing Le samouraï. I'm certainly biased as this movies is exactly the vibe I search out/is one of my favorite films of all time/it's original Criterion cover was my avatar on many a forum back in the day. So getting a 4K version of this film is big news for me! Especially during the Barnes & Noble sale (which I'm positive this won't be the last you'll be hearing about that!). Alain Delon is stoic as stoic comes and the film flows by like a calm river with some sudden rushes throw out.   It's a slow paced film, but its deliberate and methodical nature grabs a hold of you very quickly. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Phantoms 4K - July 16 "But, Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms." The Linguini Incident - July 23 I have not seen The Linguini Incident outside of a terrible rip on YouTube years ago. But as a David Bowie obsessive, I needed to at least try and watch it. I barely got a few minutes in before the quality became so grating to me that I gave up. Thankfully it's getting a proper restoration here for 2 cuts of the film, which is great considering director Richard Shepard's desire to have his original vision finally be seen. Let's hope it's worth the wait! Other films you should check out this month: The Guyver 4K (Delayed from last month ) - July 2 Risky Business 4K July 23 (Remember, the Barnes & Noble sale is going on this month ) Ghoulies II 4K (yes, a 4K of GHOULIES 2 ) - July 9 Danza Macabra: Volume Three — The Spanish Gothic Collection - July 30 Invasion U.S.A. 4K (my family LOVED Chuck Norris, so his movies hold a special place in my heart)

Last week, a few days before Halloween, Lincoln Hall  got a taste of some of the most energetic and genuinely entertaining music one could hope for. The Go! Team  stopped by Lincoln Hall the first time in six years to celebrate 20 (!) years of their debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike.  Joined by La Sécurité , the pair of bands gave Lincoln Hall a night of pure bliss. First up was Montreal band  La Sécurité Fronted by Éliane Viens-Synnott and backed by an immensely talented lineup this tour including Félix Bélisle, Laurence Anne Charest-Gagné, Kenneth David Smith, and Alix Fernz. Now at first listen you may think "This is a bit of an odd pairing for this show", but I assure you it was pretty damn perfect. The band has this inherent fun and creativity behind their sound that matches that of the headliner, making for a fantastic first punch of the night. La Sécurité opened up the night with the exact high energy set you'd want for a night at Lincoln Hall. A mix of art punk aesthetics blended with almost new wavey synths and an aura to match, La Sécurité  had the crowd bopping away to their intense tunes. Starting with "Le Kick", La Sécurité careened in to the set, looking as cool as can be while songs gave way to some post punk sounds highlighted by Viens-Synnott's incredible vocal delivery. Every moment felt like a build up to the next song while still feeling like an explosive high point all its own. The French language "Serpent" slithered along with confidence that was matched late in the set with "Hot Topic", which blast forth with unmovable feminist energy "I will not sit pretty" is just one of a dozen emphatic statements the song blasts out and proudly stands alongside. It was an incredible showing and a damn fine reason to show up early to the show. The Go! Team  followed with a set the exceeded all expectations I had of the group. Having listened to the Thunder, Lightning, Strike the moment it came in, The Go! Team were essentially the soundtrack of my high school years. Full of energy, fun, hope, and just a damn good time, Thunder, Lightning, Strike  felt like the first big breath of fresh air and was such an incredible debut that has stood the test of time. And with this full album play show, it re-cemented it as an all timer of an album. The proper set was the entirety of the debut album, giving everyone in the band their time to shine and bask in the glow of that magnificent song list. Ian Parton, the original and at one time sole member of The Go! Team , came to the stage alongside the likes of The Go Team members Adam Znaidi, Jaleesa Gemerts, Kate Walker, Sam Dook, and of course Ninja. From the opening salvo of "Panther Dash", the band was firing at 100%, never really giving themselves a moment to rest up. Ninja in particular was emblazoned with nonstop energy, belting out the chants and lyrics of the album with every bit of passion that resided in her. There are so many tracks on that album that hold a special place in my heart that it's hard to process all the emotions I felt during the set. Whether it's "Ladyflash" with throwback vocals that switch to modern hip-hop flows at the drop of a hat, the jingle jangle of "Feelgood by Numbers" that is elevated immediately by "The Power is On", or the bright embrace of "Get It Together"; Thunder, Lightning, Strike just feels like a blast. The final track of the set and album "Everyone's a V.I.P to Someone" continues to be a fantastic closer, and given how much I and a few other members of the audience were surprisingly and lovingly spotlighted by Ninja throughout the night, it certainly felt like we were all VIPs. The encore felt like a rush through the rest of The Go! Team 's history as a band, playing tracks from Rolling Blackouts, Proof of Youth, Get Up Sequences Part Two, and Semicircle . Final song of which, "Apollo Throwdown", had Ninja going through the crowd and meeting as many fans as she could. The encore was truly what an encore should be: a fantastic cherry on top of an unforgettable night. This post was originally published on Third Coast Review

As a music fan that always aims to catch the opening acts of shows, I can safely say that those performers have a lot of pressure on them. Not only do they have to set the vibe for the rest of the night, but they often have to do so while the crowd is anxiously awaiting the headliner. Thankfully last week at Radius, The Flints took the opening spot for Justice and completely nailed it. Not only did the pair's energy and music fit perfectly with the night, it left a lasting impression on the eager audience. The Flints  are the duo of George and Henry Flint, Manchester twins that are making some incredibly fun music. I sincerely challenge you to listen to any of their songs and not find a burst of joy in the sound. It's a menagerie of influences and genres are that carefully layered on top of one another creating something familiar, but undoubtedly new. On their official releases their sound is a hazy but somehow neatly pristine treat, imbued with highs of '70s disco and tinted with a bit of psychedelic sidesteps that make for the best music to dance your night away. However, live their sound is a wholly different beast. Maybe it's because they were tasked with opening the night for Justice, but their songs seemed to permeate with even more pulsing rhythms than I could have imagined. Nearly every track seemed to flow with additional danceable grooves that had the crowd mesmerized. "Finally Forever" especially raised its already ethereal soundscapes all the more, lending itself to the more club-like atmosphere of the night. George and Henry were constantly moving on stage, shifting between their spots, often exchanging synths and guitars with a fluidity that is inherent in the music. I honestly couldn't keep track of who I was seeing or hearing at any given moment as they blended together as well as their songs. I would snap one shot of George on his guitar and it would be Henry in my viewfinder, shredding away. The pair just work so well together, feeding off each other's vibe and the obvious enthusiasm the crowd had for their songs. Moments of all-out madness were sprinkled throughout their set as they truly gave into the more electronic side of the night. With flashing red lights pounding the crowd, one of the brothers was completely melding with his guitar while the other was zoned in at the table, adjusting knobs and kitting pads creating the most frantic sounds of the night. They seemed completely entrenched in their performance, lost in the craft of it as much as the crowd was lost in the dance. " Serengeti " hit some of the highest notes of their set as the duo seemingly invoked the psychedelic gods for one hell of a performance. There was no doubt that the packed Radius crowd was left satisfied and ready for the rest of the night. This post was originally published on Third Coast Review

Satirical news site The Onion won a bankruptcy auction for the media empire of Alex Jones, giving it control of the conspiracy factory known as Infowars, along with some of its social media accounts, broadcasting equipment, customer lists, and inventory, which includes its long list of supplements. “I would like to reiterate: We own everything,” wrote Onion CEO Ben Collins on the social media site Bluesky. “The broadcasting equipment, the supplements, the intellectual property for Brain Force Plus. We are still trying to figure out what to do with it.” The site was put up for auction as part of more than $1 billion in legal settlements against Jones in lawsuits brought by the families of victims in the Sandy Hook Massacre. Jones spent a decade peddling outright lies and other defamatory nonsense in the wake of the massacre, attempting to paint the tragedy as a hoax. "From day one, these families have fought against all odds to bring true accountability to Alex Jones and his corrupt business," Chris Mattei, attorney for the families and partner at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, said in a statement, according to CBS News . "Our clients knew that true accountability meant an end to Infowars and an end to Jones' ability to spread lies, pain and fear at scale. After surviving unimaginable loss with courage and integrity, they rejected Jones' hollow offers for allegedly more money if they would only let him stay on the air because doing so would have put other families in harm's way." Jones and the Infowars brand have peddled utter horseshit for more than two decades, from 9/11 truth conspiracies to anti-vaccine nonsense along with hateful rhetoric and lies about pretty much every marginalized person it could find. The conspiracy juggernaut has long been a pipeline for radicalizing fascists while making millions hawking tubs of apocalypse chow, supplements, and other snake oil.   In a post on The Onion, fictional CEO of Global Tetrahedron Bryce P. Tetraeder writes: “Founded in 1999 on the heels of the Satanic “panic” and growing steadily ever since, InfoWars has distinguished itself as an invaluable tool for brainwashing and controlling the masses. With a shrewd mix of delusional paranoia and dubious anti-aging nutrition hacks, they strive to make life both scarier and longer for everyone, a commendable goal. They are a true unicorn, capable of simultaneously inspiring public support for billionaires and stoking outrage at an inept federal state that can assassinate JFK but can’t even put a man on the Moon.” In true Alex Jones fashion, he posted a video to X calling the purchase “tyranny.”  “This morning the Connecticut democrats with The Onion newspaper bought us…I don’t know what’s gonna happen,” he said. “I’m gonna be here until they turn the lights off. I’m gonna say ‘where’s your court order…’ They want to silence the American people.” Infowars was purchased for an undisclosed amount with the help of the Sandy Hook families. Collins said Onion and Clickhole staffers have been retained for whatever Infowars will become under its new ownership. “We're planning on making a very stupid website,” he posted on Bluesky.