Monday's Special
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Monday sucks. Forever and always – unless it’s gig day.
Guess what? You’re far from being the only one thinking that. I am a professional monday hater and been looking for a way to make it better since I was running around in diapers – I know, I love being dramatic – but I’ve realised with time that when caffeine fails, having a quick shot of live music with your coffee helps you get through the day. Or at least it works for me.
So give it a try, grab yourself some coffee and enjoy right here a shot of live music I’ve dug up this week. We’ve got this !
Mondays aren't so dark if you don't let them be...
Mondays aren't so dark if you don't let them be...
- Kendrick Lamar // Super Bowl Halftime Show 2025 -
I couldn’t care less about the Superbowl, and sorry if that’s news to you but that’s just me and most of the world.
There is though that one moment we all tune in for the sake of it, the halftime show. It rarely disappoints and is weirdly enough always the best way to grasp what the heck is going on in the US. Rather than any news channel, gimme that one artist on stage speaking their truth. That never fails.
I’ve been on a bit of a writing hiatus since the beginning of the year, blame seasonal depression or some shit but I’ve been far too whiny to put down all the glorious content we got so far into words and god knows there’s been a lot of it. Nirvana coming back? St Vincent’s consecration at the GRAMMYs (thank fuck)? Linkin Park A Capellas work of beauty? Jacknife Lee hanging out with the U2 boys which probably means some blindsided punch in the face very soon? Hayley Williams teasing a new solo tour we thought all forgotten about? Mike Shinoda growing his fluff AT LAST?!
Ha. See. Much content. At least in my world. Have many favs my people, diversify your musical diet – this is the way.
And speaking of diversifying, last night’s halftime show couldn’t be further from my usual servings of sucking mother rock and roll and yet here I am. Kendrick being the one sorting me out of that blank page phase wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card. And I mean, Samuel L Jackson. That’s reason enough as it is. How could I not react to that genius performance?
I’ve always been baffled how this musical genre can be so boisterous and so subtle at the same time, and that’s exactly what we got from Kendrick’s performance. The right balance of pride and criticism all wrapped up in red white and blue in a way that didn’t make my european heart cringe badly. Damn – if I am to pick one word to describe it all then, damn. One hell of a performance, a fire show, and a more than willingly taken slap in the face. Yeah. That’s what the world needs. Game over, retry hard. We’ll get there eventually.
It’s a relief to see that America can still captivate in a good way.
Turn off the news, let the music speak and maybe, just maybe, there will be light.
Happy Monday y’all.
- Hayley Williams // True Believer @ Jimmy Fallon -
It’s been a while, but guess what – Mondays still suck.
And if you’re also still like me and in need of some inspiration to get through the day, I’ve got just the thing for you. THE thing, to be fair. It’s been four days, and I’m still absolutely floored by how powerful this performance was.
The very essence of punk may not be what you usually expect from Jimmy Fallon’s guests, yet that’s exactly what we got last week. Sure, piano and orchestra might not sound very punk, but damn, it sure felt like it. Hayley Williams might be only 3 apples tall, but she’s one fierce woman who will always stand up for what she believes in. And that’s exactly what she did here.
She used national TV as a platform to remind us all that art will always be an act of resistance. You can fight back with soothing melodies that carry important messages, and sometimes, the most beautiful fuck-offs are simply delivered through beauty.
Music can be, and should be, disturbing. If it doesn’t challenge you, what will? In the right hands and with true intent, it can be a thousand times more powerful than any lukewarm statement.
I’m not here to give you a lesson on the US political climate (and global) – spoiler alert: everything is fucked up – but I’ll let you check the lyrics of True Believer, which Hayley specifically chose to “promote” her new album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.
I say “promote” sarcastically because, while it’ll likely resonate with the right crowd, it felt more like a mission than a PR move. Those lyrics carry the weight of an entire nation, but her vocals – absolutely insane vocals, by the way – remind us that it’s not insurmountable. But that’s not all.
Let’s talk about the full Black women’s orchestra positioned right in front of her. Remember that Mississippi Goddam is not just a cheeky jab, but a nod to the powerful Nina Simone anthem for civil rights. And if that still doesn’t convince you that this was THE ultimate fuck-off of the year, just wait for the queen of outros to do her thing. Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit will hit you hard if you’ve made it this far into oblivion.
Now you get it, don’t you?
Even if most conservatives – the ones with actual culture beyond their safe little bubbles – are probably still fuming, I’ll focus on how satisfying their discomfort is as a side effect of the message delivered here.
We’re not fucking done yet.
We’ll keep fighting back.
And we won’t stand down.
All the chills. All the pride. And while I’m not usually into Idle Worship, Hayley, you make it hard not to become a believer ourselves.
And though I can’t help but see a bit of Kurt at MTV Unplugged in that vibe, it’s not why this performance will go down as iconic.
It will be because that’s Hayley Williams for you. Fearless, 3 apples tall, and ready to make the world a better place, one song at a time.
Told you.
Punk as fuck.