QRP with the doctor you’d trust leading the hantavirus response instead of RFK Jr.

*me reading any article about anything* you guys need to listen to more jazz fusion

LC!4LYF

I owe a massive debt of gratitude to glass beach. Hearing tfgba and seeing them live truly awakened my love of music and inspired me to open up my ears and my mind to what is out there, which led me to make my own. J, Jonas, William, and Layne, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 30: A song that teaches you something about theory Tom Waits - Cemetery Polka An excellent example of chromaticism, or using notes outside of an established key. This contributes to the song’s dark, fractured, and unsettling atmosphere.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 29: A song you never skip King Crimson - Frame by Frame In the Court of the Crimson King is rightfully revered by the online music fandom, but for my money, KC’s best record is 1981’s Discipline. I never pass up an opportunity hear this mind-bending cut.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 28: A song with a solo Ween - Ocean Man I was gonna post something with a crazy technical virtuoso solo, but you know what? The guitar solo in Ocean Man never fails to make me smile and say “Hell yeah.” A joyous solo in a joyous song. Play on, Deaner.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 27: A song about technology Los Campesinos! - Death to Los Campesinos! I was OBSESSED with this band in college. Even though I don’t listen to them every day anymore, I’m always glad when I do. The greatest of the Pitchfork-era indie pop bands.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 26: A song for a first date The Beths - You Wouldn’t Like Me Nobody said it was a good first date.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 25: A song about self-love George Michael - Freedom ‘90 Easily my favorite radio pop song of all time. Over 6 minutes long and yet there isn’t a single second of it that isn’t a massive hook. Hell, the verses alone are catchier than most choruses.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 24: A song with an intro Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast Not usually a fan of spoken word intros (or skits on albums for that matter) but Iron Maiden gets a pass because this song fucking rips and has one of the most incredible heavy metal screams

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 23: A song with a weird music video PUP - DVP It’s a post-hardcore song about being a depressed alcoholic, so naturally the mv is 16-bit video game footage with the song lyrics in the text boxes. Incredible song, incredible video. PUP the band forever.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 22: A song with non-western harmonic ideas Gogol Bordello - Pala Tute Excellent folk punk with a heavy influence from Romani folk music. Their live shows are incredible!

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 21: A song that uses syncopation Bomb the Music Industry! - Stuff That I Like A prime example of Jeff Rosenstock’s maximalist songwriting style. Some very cool rhythmic shifts, incorporation of syncopated skank riffs, and mountains of energy.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 20: A song with a fade out ending Steely Dan - Deacon Blues One of my favorite Steely Dan tunes, which is saying something because I don’t think they put out a single bad song in their original run.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 19: A song that gives you chills Ichiko Aoba - IMPERIAL SMOKE TOWN A hauntingly beautiful work. Ichiko Aoba’s music is so incredibly lush, unique, unpredictable, and downright magical.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 18: A song that feels relaxed Masayoshi Takanaka - Oh! Tengo Suerte Throw this record on, lay back, and close your eyes. It’s a one way ticket to chilling on the beach.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 17: A song that feels bouncy The Band - Up On Cripple Creek Gotta love that clavinet + wah peddle tone.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 16: A song with a voice leading focus Vulfpeck - Wait for the Moment The keyboard line on this song makes great use of inversions and extensions to keep the chordal movement subtle and oh-so-smooth.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 15: A song with heavy brass presence Shibusashirazu - Images The first time I heard this band, my jaw literally dropped. If you ever hear someone claim jazz is “boring” play them this. This isn’t just heavy, it’s apocalyptic.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 14: A song with a lo-fi sound The Mountain Goats - The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton Like many other early Mountain Goats records, All Hail West Texas was recorded on a boombox, proving that you do not need expensive equipment to make a masterpiece.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 13: A song with reverb-heavy production Mr. Bungle - Sweet Charity Mr. Bungle is an acquired taste, but once you have it, there’s a musical itch only they can scratch. The reverb on this track contributes to its nightmarish, David Lynch-esque atmosphere

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 12: A song with a distinctive instrument Eric Dolphy - Hat and Beard This one has Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone and Dolphy himself on bass clarinet. Whenever I listen to this album I feel like I’ve been transported to the Twilight Zone.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 11 - A song from your favorite genre Yes - Close to the Edge One of the crown jewels of my favorite genre, progressive rock. I could write an essay about how much I love Close to the Edge, it just might be the single best rock song ever recorded, imo.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 10: A song with triplets Jeff Rosenstock - 80’s Through the 50’s A tearjerker about nostalgia with a 12/8 meter and vintage doo-wop sound woven into the fabric of punk rock. Jeff’s music is so honest, unique, and brilliant, he is my favorite songwriter.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 9: A song with a call and response melody AFI - Totalimmortal This rage I cannot let GOOOOOOO I feel them calling my name WHOOOOAAAAA I feel them gnawing out holes WHOOOOOAAA AFI’s gang vocal game is top tier.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 8: A song with a circle of fifths progression John Coltrane - Giant Steps Coltrane builds off of the classic II V I jazz progression and utilizes the circle of fifths to constantly and rapidly change the song’s key between distant major thirds.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 7: A song with a clear chord change between verse and chorus David Bowie - Life On Mars? That key change to Bb on “SAILors” gets me every time. I can’t grasp most of the wild theory concepts at work in this song, but what I do know is that change SOARS

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 6: A song in multiple languages GING NANG BOYZ - あいどんわなだい (I Don’t Wanna Die) I first found this band through Jeff Rosenstock’s excellent cover of this song. Mostly in Japanese with a little bit of English, this catchy tune explodes with punk energy.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 5: A song with a vocal intro Gentle Giant - Knots A top contender for most underrated band of all time, Gentle Giant were insanely skilled musicians who made brilliantly complex prog masterpieces, broke numerous musical boundaries, and got WEIRD with it.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 4: A song with a swing feel Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Free For All Not only does this swing, it swings VIOLENTLY. A storm of the century that pushes bop to its limits. Quite possibly my favorite piece of jazz. Blakey is the GOAT of drumming.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 3: A song with a strong backbeat Smashing Pumpkins - Geek USA My favorite Jimmy Chamberlain performance. Chock full of mind-bending jazzy fills but still built on a driving rock rhythm that makes the song barrel forth like a freight train from hell.

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 2: A song with a strong downbeat Dead Kennedys - Let’s Lynch the Landlord A hard-hitting punk tune with a surf rock flavor and a timeless, universal message. The guitar solo gives off 60’s beach party vibes, but the heavy accent on the 1 keeps it aggressive

#IsmuasMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Day 1: A song that changes tempo The Arrogant Sons of Bitches - 1-800-ALARM-ME A breakneck speed manic rage that collapses into the doldrums of depression in the bridge. Wild how tight this track is, especially the BLISTERING syncopation in the verses.

Integrity of this caliber is increasingly rare these days. Very proud to be a Cheek Freak.

The really muddled messaging in this film finally makes sense given PTA’s acceptance speeches: He actually didn’t have anything important to say with it. And the Oscar goes to Baby’s First Political Movie.

We are going to open up a fucking pit right in the middle of a comedy club. High energy DIY punk meets top tier improv when Leonardo DiVorcio plays Songs N Scenes at The Second City MainStage in Brooklyn. Get ready to rage and then subsequently laugh your ass off. One night only! Tonight!

Come to the punk rock show. Come to the improv show. Come to the combination punk rock improv show.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2025)

I don’t care if this is a normie opinion, the original Final Fantasy VII is absolutely my favorite game in the series and a top contender for my favorite game of all time.

The audacity of this administration of known pedophiles to call ANYTHING the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" other than a bill that impeaches and punishes every child rapist in office is off the charts... especially with a bill like this that will actively harm trans youth. Fuck this place.

Hugely proud of the response my show Songs N Scenes is getting from our audiences. Next show is 3/6, 7 PM at Second City NYC! Here’s the tix link: www.secondcity.com/shows/new-yo...

Printing up a few CD’s for my band’s upcoming show and doing handwritten liner notes for them only to discover that my handwriting is atrocious.

Jackass should be an Olympic sport.

Leonardo DiVorcio is back from the dead to play Songs N Scenes @ Second City! Come see some improv inspired by sad angry garage punk!

Leonardo DiVorcio is back from the dead to play Songs N Scenes @ Second City! Come see some improv inspired by sad angry garage punk!

Drop an album that was important you when you were nineteen.

2026's most popular conversation heart