Music Helps Keep the Lights On
A wistful, sharply observed journey through the barely-beating heart of a roadside Vegas satellite where Latin Pop and “The Price Is Right Live” might be the future.
Contributing Author Alex Chrisman captures the crumbling charm and improbable resilience of Primm, a place where the bugs still flock, the dice still roll, and the music—just barely—plays on.
It’s The Hits Of July-ish 1925!
From the cutest story ever to come out of the Georgia legislature, to a sultry dance craze that rattled the moralists, this piece has it all: politics, pianos, and not a small amount of pelvic motion.
Contributing Author DJ Professor Dan masterfully unpacks the untamed energy of 1925 with humor, detail, and the quiet resignation of someone who’s read all 2,700 pages of Ben Bernie’s joke file.
The Life And Legacy Of Leo Fender
Contributing Author Bill Bois reveals the fascinating paradox of Leo Fender – a man who transformed popular music forever despite never learning to play the instruments he created. From a farm boy tinkering with radio parts to the genius behind the Telecaster and Stratocaster, this is the story of how pure innovation and relentless curiosity built the foundation of modern music.
The 1978 Failed Nashville Underwater Jewelry Heist
In what may be Tennessee’s most preposterous criminal plot: In 1978, three Nashville-area men attempted to bomb the J. Percy Priest Dam Contributing Author and Historian Bill Bois uncovers this forgotten piece of Music City’s criminal history that reads more like a rejected movie script than reality.
The Hard Truths America Still Won’t Face
Contributing Author Chuck Small delivers an unflinching examination of America’s continued struggle with white supremacy five years after George Floyd’s murder, weaving personal revelation with urgent social commentary. This powerful piece challenges readers to move beyond performative allyship toward the uncomfortable work of dismantling systemic racism in their own hearts and communities.
We often toss around names like “Einstein” for genius, but what about the linguistic footnotes? The Skutniks and Beddias, whose names have quietly snuck into our everyday speech? Through a single extraordinary moment or observation, learn who became an accidental eponym architect…
Ever get more excited about the car in a movie than the actual plot? Join us as we celebrate the most memorable rides in pop culture history, proving that sometimes the coolest characters come with an engine and a set of wheels.
From subversive street art to international tourist sensation, Contributing Author and Historian Bill “Virgindog” Bois introduces us to the dwarf statues of Wrocław, and traces a winding path through protest, humor, and community pride
A century ago, Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong gave us the ultimate blues track—and this lovingly researched deep-dive from Contributing Author DJ Professor Dan explains why “St. Louis Blues” is still the essential listen of the 1920s.
From Hawaiian lap steels to the world’s first electric bass guitar, one man’s impact on modern music was revolutionary—even if few people know his name.
Contributing Author and Historian Bill “Virgindog” Bois tells the story of Paul Tutmarc in this latest episode of Musical Inventors
