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By Alex Orona The Green Lanterns have been a catch all for most intergalactic space adventures in the DC Comics universe. Their main Lantern, Hal Jordan, has a storied history of ups and downs but now with 8 different Green Lanterns from earth, there’s always been a lot to explore in those pages. Now in the year of our lord 2022, we have not seen an ongoing dedicated Green Lantern book since Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps was canceled in 2018. Part of that has been the watering down of the brand over time. While inclusivity has been a welcome change to the Corps, being a Green Lantern member from the Earth sector always felt like a rarity but now we’re up to 8 members. Add to that, the fan favorite Hal Jordan has had so many twists and turns as a hero, villain, savior and everything else under the sun. Still, this still doesn’t explain why the book has had a consistent ongoing comic. Another thought is the popularity of the one off mini-series format that could better explore the universe in separate short adventures, which could include different writers and artists. Since the cancellation of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps in 2018, we’ve seen The Green Lantern and the Black Stars, and the critically acclaimed Far Sector. Each of these acted as limited issue stories that explored short experiences that wrap up as quickly as they start, with Far Sector only going for 12 issues. There could always be the obvious hypothesis that there isn’t an ongoing Green Lantern series because there isn’t a movie out, which is more an advertising and possibly political move ( see how Marvel killed off 90% of the X-Men when Marvel wanted the film rights back from Fox.) For this premise, there’s at least hope on the horizon, as there is a TV series in the works at HBO Max following the Green Lantern John Stewart. While that has been in production hell since 2019 (and they just lost their showrunner,) there’s at least a glimmer but we will have to see. Whatever the reason, I feel that there’s still a lot of stories to tell within the Green Lantern universe. Each Lantern deserves the spotlight and can easily headline their own ongoing series with interesting twists and turns on their galactic adventures. Even when there’s little hope, that’s especially when the Green Lanterns shine. Remember: In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night…

Whether it's troubles with in the group or the difficulty in maintaining the lifestyle of musician, it's always a bummer to see bands disband and disappear from the limelight. But every once in a while groups get back together and treat their fans to a beautiful evening filled with those old familiar songs and maybe a few new ones. Such was the case last week at Thalia Hall when Yellow Ostrich and Voxtrot returned to perform for a devoted crowd. I had seen Yellow Ostrich, the musical project of Alex Schaaf, perform back in 2014 as they opened for The Antlers. I was immediately a fan of their sound and was looking forwarded into diving into tier work. Unfortunately they disbanded later that same year. In the years following their were the random posts here and there, but never a full on comeback until last year when Alex Schaaf announced the revival of the Yellow Ostrich project. An anthology collection and a new album Soft emerged and earlier this year Schaaf toured with a full band in tow. For this set it was mostly Schaaf on stage alone, save for the final few songs where he was joined by Jared Van Fleet of Voxtrot . The mostly one man show did not disappoint as Schaaf had the crowd smitten from the get go. While there were a few older tracks in the night like magnificent "Marathon Runner" the set really shined brightest as the newer Yellow Ostrich songs held the spotlight. "Julia" and "Birds" off Soft were truly gentle and touching displays of Schaaf's songwriting. "Muscle Memory" in particular hit a high spot in the great set. When it finally came for Voxtrot to hit the stage, the already packed crowd grew. There is something to be said about a band being gone for 12 years making a return as anticipated as this one. Especially since the singer-songwriter Ramesh Srivastava brought together the original members of the band: Jason Chronis, Matt Simon, Mitch Calvert, and Jared Van Fleet. Even better was that it felt like they hadn't missed a beat in all that time apart. They kicked off their lengthy set with "Introduction" and "Raised by Wolves", leading the crowd headlong into night fueled with incredible songs. While their actual performances were top notch, there were a few technical difficulties between songs, but Voxtrot dealt with them quickly and effectively, They shifted their set list from time to time as to never leave the crowd waiting without a song engulfing the venue. Srivastava introduced songs with a playful little gags leading the audience to think they were getting one song but got treated with another. "This one's from the EP Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives" he'd say and the crowd certainly expected to hear the title track but were met with "Soft & Warm". Whatever the case, the crowd was eating it up, enjoying every second of every song. Save for a few rarities like "Kindergarten", the set stuck to the most popular Voxtrot tracks. "Your Biggest Fan" sparkled as bright as you'd hope and "Raised by Wolves" almost sped by the crowd with just how easily it absorbed the crowds attention.Towards the end of their set, the anticipation for one certain song had come to a head. Everyone knew it was going to take a while for what is arguably Voxtrot 's most well known song to land. Srivastava prefaced the song acknowledging just how important the song is to the band and it's fans, uttering it's name to a small joyful murmur. Even thought the crowd was beyond excited for "The Start of Something", their reverence for the band remained intact as Srivastava told the tale of playing a wedding the last time he was in Chicago. The couple had "The Start of Something" on one of their early mixtapes they shared and needed to have the man who wrote it sing it at their wedding. The happily married were in attendance, right at the front of the crowd, and much like the rest of the crowd were ready to be transported to the time that song meant the most to them. "The Start of Something" was a joyous release for everyone at Thalia Hall. Every passing line of this beautiful and tumultuous love song hit the crowd in just the right spot. The song isn't about the easiest of loves as Srivastava bellows out "Is this the end or just the start of something really, really beautiful". It's about trying again, returning to an old love and hoping to start again and maybe make it work. "Marianne, let the ghosts sleep tonight" he croons, hoping to let the past go and start anew. After 12 years, Voxtrot is in the very place that amazing song is. He and the band are returning, hoping beyond hope that their past love is still around and willing to reunite. And while the song is desperately ambiguous about getting back together, is no doubt that everyone in the crowd never lost a bit of love for the band. All photos by Julian Ramirez This review was originally published at Third Coast Review. You can check out more pictures here.

Let's cut to the chase here: to say that Divino Niño's newest album Last Spa on Earth was at the top of my most anticipated albums of the year would be an understatement. Their last album, Foam, was a perfect summer album that was determined to just chill out its listeners with its psychedelic indie rock mixed throwback sounds. Last year upon the release of "Drive", it was undeniable that Divino Nino was going to be trying something new with this album. "Drive" felt like a transitional song, embodying the indie psychedelia of the band while dipping its toes into electro-house, R&B, the stranger elements of modern Latin music. Last Spa on Earth takes that notion to heart as it turns that idea of laidback tunes on its head, delivering another sexy album that will have you dancing rather than relaxing. While Foam seemed to split the Spanish and English language tracks evenly, Last Spa on Earth eschews that and mixes the languages entirely. Every song on the album slides between the two with ease, not really caring to be tied down by either one and doubles down a wide variety of Latin music influences. I'm sure the extended presence of Spanish and dancier grooves will make some try to corner the album as just Latin Music, but it's so confident in the integration of elements that it supersedes any true definition. The album kicks off with the ethereal and hazy "LSE," an intro song luring you into the Last Spa on Earth with smooth lines: "Calentamo toda la piel / Aquí no hay tiempo / Aquí no hay hora" (We heat up all the skin / Here there is no time / here there is no hour). The song's final lines seem to underline the band's direction, "Won’t you come over? Need a makeover? Need to start over?". It's an invite to this new world that effortlessly slides into the following track "Nos Soltamos," an immediate highlight of the album. "Nos Soltamos" is Divino Niño at their most at ease. The song is an ode to letting go even as things seem to at their worst as they detail a car skidding on the road. With references to Blink 182, the Beach Boys, a pair of underwater friends and lines like "Cuando me dedicas esta canción con tu nalga fatal" (When you dedicate this song to me with your fatal ass), "Nos Soltamos" tows the line between insightful and absurd. The same could be said about the overall vibe of the album. The pop culture reference are abundant and there are moments of strange dissonance throughout that all somehow works out elegantly. "Mona", a song that at first feels like a lost track off Foam with tender vocals, soft guitars, and twinkling keys before it melts into that fast-paced and glitched out electro-house. "XO" is an R&B jam if I ever heard one, but laced with some Reggaton beats that fit in with the song's sexy blasphemous ("Sin religión, solo sazón" is maybe my favorite line in an album full of amazing lyrics). There are just so many standout tracks on the album. Each one has its own unique style while maintaining the Last Spa on Earth's cohesiveness (that of insatiable horniness). Some songs ooze with sincerity like "Tu Tonto", a complete embracing of just giving into someone (and a Ranma ½ shoutout). Others are just pure party anthems like live staple "Miami", which finally sees a studio version after years of making crowds shake their butts off. The song is as fun as it is live with its infectious chants of "Welcome to Miami" hitting just as strong. Last Spa on Earth is a dazzling new direction for Divino Niño. Whether it's the direction they'll be going in the future or just a pit stop, its adept mixing of styles makes for a necessary listen. You can listen to Divino Niño's Last Spa On Earth here. This review of Divino Niño Last Spa On Earth was originally published on Third Coast Review.