Author Archives: Tony Hicks
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Insert Foot: Supernova music festival as a snapshot of terror
Attendees flee from terrorists at the Supernova music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Reuters video still. We’ve had a few weeks to digest what’s happening in Israel and Gaza and, because too many people have too many instant opinions, I won’t necessarily offer one leaning one way…
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REVIEW: Duff McKagan stays cool while not trying to be GNR on ‘Lighthouse’
Duff McKagan, “Lighthouse.” Duff McKagan is easily one of the 10 coolest guys in rock. The Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and Iggy Pop and the Losers bassist does his job, doesn’t make a big deal about things and doesn’t look too up or down. He always seems to…
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Insert Foot: Indoctrinating your kids to like good music like Bad Religion
Bad Religion performs at the Concord Pavilion in Concord on Oct. 29, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. Last night my 21-year-old daughter and I were planning to go see Bad Religion. Rendering: Adam Pardee/STAFF. There’s a very old going-to-church joke just sitting there, waiting to be launched. Please note my restraint.…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Wilco taking risks again on ‘Cousin,’ and it shows
Wilco, “Cousin.” The best compliment for a new Wilco record is saying you can’t wait for bedtime to lay in a dark room with headphones, soaking up the misery and patchy optimism in songs with unpredictable paths. Cousin Wilco dBpm Records, Sept. 29 8/10 Get the album on Amazon…
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Insert Foot: What does it mean when we say we “love live music?”
Insert Foot and live music. People love to say they love “live music.” I’m not even sure what that means. I mean, I do – but it’s a pretty big statement. And I’m hearing it all the time, which just might be attractive in and of itself in the…
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Insert Foot: The Rolling Stones are ancient but they’re still here for us
Insert Foot is still grateful for the Rolling Stones. All these older rockers are dying off. Jimmy Buffett, Tina Turner, Robbie Robertson, Gary Wright, Tim Bachman, Christine McVie … on and on. It happens, especially with the lifestyle that goes with being a rock star. Touring is difficult enough…
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Insert Foot: The world needs more like Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett performs at La Cigale n Paris, France, on Sept. 26, 2014. Photo by David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns. I’m not a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett’s music. I mean, I don’t hate it. Finding a Jimmy Buffett song is like finding a raisin in a cookie. It’s fine, it’s not…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Royal Blood builds out its sound on ‘Back to the Water Below’
Royal Blood, “Back to the Water Below.” Just because only two people make up a band, it doesn’t mean they sound like all the other two-person bands. Thank God. Back to the Water Below Royal Blood Warner, Sept. 8 8/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. We’ll never know…
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Insert Foot: Here’s why Danny Trejo is a great American
Insert Foot a fan of Danny Trejo Actor Danny Trejo has been sober for 55 years, as of last week. That’s a lot of sobriety. Especially to those of us who manage to stay straight for a year or two and wonder why we don’t get an anniversary parade. I…
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Insert Foot: Why an ‘NSync reunion might not be the worst thing
‘NSync circa 2000. Original photo: Tim Roney/Getty Images. So ‘NSync is allegedly getting back together. Yay? As a once fully bonded and licensed music critic for a major daily newspaper, I’m still legally required to react to the big news by properly rolling my eyes in disgust and continue…