MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Rise of Skywalker’ wraps sequel trilogy well but falls short as ‘Star Wars’ saga closer
Editor’s note: This review is spoiler-free and does not reveal any major plot details. Much like its protagonist Rey, “The Rise of Skywalker” has nearly impossible expectations to live up to. As Disney’s marketing campaign has repeated again and again, this movie is not only the end of the sequel trilogy, but the entire Skywalker […]
MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Irishman’ paints Scorsese mob film legacy with mature brush
Before an advance screening of “The Irishman” began last Monday at R/C Movies 14 in Wilkes-Barre, filmmaker Robert May stood in the same theater where his directorial debut, “Kids for Cash,” premiered locally and told the crowd that he felt it was important to have a local screening in addition to those planned at the […]
REVIEW/PHOTOS: We are your kind – Slipknot celebrates 20 years with Scranton
When Slipknot first broke out as national artists in 1999, many dismissed the nine masked maniacs as a gimmicky novelty act whose popularity would soon fade along with the nu metal genre of the early 2000s. But 20 years later, as they top Billboard with the No. 1 album in the United States and the […]
REVIEW/PHOTOS: Weezer + Musikfest = ‘Happy Together’ in Bethlehem
No matter which side of the old versus new Weezer divide fans fall on (hi, Matt Damon), they all agree that live Weezer is the best Weezer, and fans attending the 36th annual Musikfest at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem Monday evening were treated with an especially epic performance. Following garage punks White Reaper, the Wind […]
ALBUM REVIEW: NEPA blues singer Ed Randazzo asks ‘Who’s That Man?’ with timely delivery
In the era of viral Bob Bolus rants against an openly gay Scranton City Council candidate, local Trump trucks plastered with empty slogans, a bigot abusing her Lackawanna County Commissioner seat for years, and homophobia thinly veiled as “straight pride,” there is one album Northeastern Pennsylvania needs right now, and that album is “Who’s That […]
ALBUM REVIEW: Analyzing loss and death in ‘Clear’ by Scranton alternative rock band University Drive
The record starts in static waves. During a week in early February, in between moments of huddling under as many blankets as possible before tossing them off again (rinse and repeat), due to fluctuations of temperature and flu-induced discomfort, hoarding tissues and popping antibiotics to fight off an infection – all while trying to decipher […]
REVIEW/PHOTOS: Starwood, Disposable, and These Idol Hands channel alien energy at Jazz Cafe in Plains
It’s no surprise that when Philadelphia’s resident alien rock band Starwood landed in the Wilkes-Barre area, they brought with them a diverse musical lineup that would strike most crowds as strange, but those gathered at the River Street Jazz Cafe in Plains were ready for a strangely fun night on Saturday, Feb. 9. A week […]
PHOTOS/REVIEW: Alt 92.1’s opening acts steal Snow Show from sleepy Giant in Wilkes-Barre
Radio shows are usually an eclectic bag, and Alt 92.1’s second annual Snow Show at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre was no exception. Young the Giant headlined on Sunday, Jan. 27 with their sublime and beautifully played indie pop – the only band to perform with their full stage production of moody solid light, […]
REVIEW/PHOTOS: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros strip down the Dead at The Fillmore Philadelphia
In the late stages of his career, it seems that everybody who’s anybody wants to play with Bob Weir. This is an interesting place for a man who made his career as rock ‘n’ roll’s most famous second fiddle. From the “Bobby Fans. Weir People Too” bumper sticker seen on Shakedown Street to the 2014 […]
REVIEW/PHOTOS: Lifer reunion in Wilkes-Barre brings back memories and underrated music
For an hour and a half on Friday, Aug. 24, three former bandmates, a guest bassist, and a capacity crowd at Bart & Urby’s in Wilkes-Barre stepped back in time nearly 20 years to relive the era of nu metal and a special time in the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene when bars and clubs were […]
