Mainstage
Kendrick Lamar’s Microphone was Shut Down at Austin City Limits for Exceeding Time Limit
Recently, Kendrick Lamar discovered that even headline performers are not exempt from festival curfews. He was the last performer on a Friday night at Austin City Limits and was told about a curfew set for 10pm. A video shared by a fan at 10:02pm displayed Lamar continuing his performance, informing the audience, “They’re going to have to turn off my microphone because we’re not finished.” At 10:18pm, the festival officials did exactly that. Lamar responded with grace, bowing and sending the audience kisses before he left the stage a few minutes later.
Austin City Limits is one of Texas’s largest music festivals, featuring an impressive lineup of musical talent. The second day of the show includes performances from Rina Sawayama, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, and the Foo Fighters. Sunday’s lineup includes Hozier, GloRilla, and Mumford & Sons. Lamar is set to return for the second weekend of the festival. Other hip-hop artists performing at the festival include Lil (Friday) and Coi Leray (Saturday).
In other news, Lamar’s song “HUMBLE” received an unexpected cover by Italian rock band Måneskin, winners of Eurovision 2021. The band performed the cover during a show at Madison Square Garden in late September. Lead singer Damiano David told the crowd, “We cannot be the last rock band. But maybe we can be the first rap band,” before launching into their rendition of “HUMBLE”.
Nonetheless, not all accolades to Lamar have been met with approval. A televised karaoke contest in Poland stirred up controversy when a participant sang “HUMBLE” in blackface. The participant, Kuba Szmajkowski, was the winner of that episode of Your Face Sounds Familiar, which resulted in considerable online backlash.
Artist Spotlight
Karate Boogaloo proves simple riffs still hit hard on latest release “Down Home”
Karate Boogaloo‘s latest release,”Down Home,” is a warm, old-school instrumental funk track that celebrates the benefits of simplicity. It’s one of the band’s hardest grooves, with a battered drum sound, a deep pocket, and a chorus melody steeped in nostalgia, taking the comfort of the familiar and turning it into something else. There’s enough character in the groove to render excess redundant.
The arrangement lets the rhythm breathe, and the rough edges are still very much there, “Down Home” has a charm tied to its deliberately worn-in character. The deep pocket anchors the foundation, and the chorus melody adds a whiff of memory and familiarity to the instrumental setting.
Karate Boogaloo is very straightforward. The band lets the groove speak for itself, and it’s incredible how much life a riff can have when musicians know how to make it work. “Down Home” is comfortable but not predictable; tough but not mean, dreamy but not retro.
Connect with Karate Boogaloo on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube
Artist Spotlight
Steve Tabor offers survival and freedom on latest release “Want To Be Free”
Steve Tabor is back with a contrast-heavy, emotionally direct single, “Want To Be Free”. The Kansas songwriter builds emotional lift as the song develops, from uncertain verses to the outright beauty of a choir-led hook. Built on a bed of drums, keys, and country folk guitars, the track’s conscious authenticity keeps the message at the heart of the performance.
These sounds blend with a warmth that makes “Want To Be Free” a natural fit in the Soul Pop, Acoustic, Folk, and Inspiring genres. The arrangement adds a touch of Americana, adding dimension, and the passionate, familiar voice makes it feel very personal. The more tentative sections contrast with the larger hook, giving the song a sense that it is always reaching for something brighter.
The big-band ending makes for a big finish to the record, consolidating its identity as a catchy anthem for the essential freedoms of human life. Steve Tabor’s “Want To Be Free” is a song of conceptual complexity and emotional accessibility, built on familiar instrumentation, heartfelt delivery, and a clear sense of purpose. This song makes its point immediately, but lets the music carry much of the emotional weight.
Connect with Steve Tabor on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook
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