This month I bring you a Noah Kahan coming attraction, a spotlight on a new band with an old school sound of Colombia, some giveaways and more! Is this really news? Maybe. Maybe not. But I’m calling it a newsletter dammit!
The Road to Noah Kahan
So, my daughter wanted to see Noah Kahan in Boston this year (and last) but we didn’t get tickets during the initial sale, so the best options were all resales. Being a bit of a concert snob, I prefer not to go if the seats are going to suck (unless super cheap or free) and the decent seats were $750…EACH!! To hell with that!
So, we’re going to see him on August 19th instead…in Phoenix, AZ. Somehow getting there, staying there, and good seats ended up being cheaper. Hopefully I’ll capture the adventure on YouTube and here! Stay tuned.
Cartel Cyco
In the July Newsletter, I shared a podcast featuring the founder of the band Cartel Cyco. Who the hell are these guys? Well, Cartel Cyco is a Colombian crossover thrash and hardcore band formed in 2025. Their sound combines aggressive riffs, streetwise attitude, and lyrics inspired by real-life experiences, social conflict, identity, and resistance…and the founder is my personal friend.
Back in 2003 I met this dude named Miguel (aka Mike) and we bonded over our love of music, guitars, and metal pretty quickly. While we now live on different continents, thanks to the power of technology, we still talk on a nearly daily basis; fond memories, life, and MUSIC!!
This bastard was always a fantastic guitar player which made my pitiful playing just seem sad. He was a natural, and also pretty great with computers which allowed him to program drums and more to record full songs. We even collaborated on a couple songs I once wrote and sang, but those are to be heard some other time…or maybe never. We’ll see. Listen to their songs instead below.
Their press kit will tell you that “the project began as a jam session between musicians who shared a passion for crossover thrash and the hardcore scene, initially drawing inspiration from Suicidal Tendencies’ legacy.” But I’ll tell you that Mike is obsessed with Suicidal Tendencies (ST) and has been since probably 1984 or something. They started as a tribute band and ended up writing some pretty sweet originals. I like Cartel Cyco a lot.
The press kit continues, “over the following months, the band quickly evolved into its own original proposal, focusing on creating music with a solid, aggressive, and contemporary identity…Their sound blends the speed of thrash, the rawness of hardcore, and a direct, uncompromising attitude that comes across both in the studio and on stage.” There are more originals to come which is pretty exciting. Check em out, and spread the word if you like what you hear.
August Concerts Worth Checking Out
- 8/8/26 – Stephen Pearcy (RATT) – Lincoln, RI
- 8/8/26 – Billy Idol – Mohegan Sun, CT
- 8/12/26 – Avenged Sevenfold – Mansfield, MA
- 8/27/26 – Rob Zombie / Marilyn Manson – Mansfield
- 8/30/26 – Suicidal Tendencies – Worcester, MA (Rob going!)
August Music Giveaways
- Cort Modern Black Electric Guitar Giveaway – ends 8/25/26 ($1500 value)
- Gibson Les Paul Customer Guitar Giveaway – ends 12/31/26 ($3999 val.)
- Win a Flyaway to see Luke Bryan at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN on Sep 24 – ends 8/14/26 ($2,000 value)
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