Author: Dakin Hardwick

How Did Scott Simoneaux Get Here?

You can find the entire series of “How Did I Get Here”? here or on your favorite Podcast Application!

This is the story of Scott Simoneaux, the booker for ATG Live, an offshoot of ATG- the organization that brings touring productions of Broadway shows to big cities around the country. He’s bringing touring bands and one-off events to those theaters while they are dark. In the Bay Area, this includes the original stars of Airplane! hosting a Q+A this Friday, as well as Robert Plant and Art Garfunkel shows coming up. We talked about how he found himself starting this career by simply liking a band and wanting to help them, taking him from New Orleans to Los Angeles and all the way in between. We also both realized we had stumbled across this book about the Stooges by accident. 

Learn more about ATG Live here!

Single of the Week: “Ego” by The Warning

I’m not a “metal” guy. It takes something really special in that world for me to fall for. “Ego” is a Spanish Language, driving, chunky head banger that I’ve been listening to so much that, despite being three weeks old now, it only seems fair to give it the honors that it should’ve gotten right away. 

“Ego” is off The Warning’s upcoming album, Everything’s Falling, which is out August 28th in stores and on your local DSP. 

Single of the Week: “Kool Aid” by Debbii Dawson

Times are dark. It’s refreshing to hear a truly uplifting and joyful song. “Kool Aid” by Debbii Dawson is about the most positive love song I’ve heard in ages. It’s also catchy as hell for a song about life being heavenly. 

“Kool Aid” is off Dawson’s upcoming EP, Where Have All The Good Men Gone?, dropping June 26th. Prepare for it’s arrival here! 

Single Of The Week: “nothing good to cry about” by wilt

Sometimes you just need a good, hook heavy pop-punk jam to get through things. You will have those in spades, and “nothing good to cry about” will make you feel all the feels you had when all you needed to get through the hard stuff was the right song. 

All you need to learn more about wilt and select your preferred outlet for listening is here. 

BottleRock 2026: A First Timer’s Impression

The first BottleRock was 13 years ago. I’m an avid concertgoer and Bay Area native, but, for whatever reason, making my way to BottleRock just hasn’t worked out. This year, however, there was a near-perfect synthesis of life and lineup working out for me to make my way there for a day. Continue reading “BottleRock 2026: A First Timer’s Impression”

BottleRock AfterDark Review: Rilo Kiley with Whitmer Thomas at Uptown Theater – Napa, 5/22/26

Rilo Kiley has been a major part of my life for multiple decades and life changes. I’ve seen them play electric and acoustic. I’ve seen them in teen centers and massive outdoor sheds. We used “More Adventurous” to walk down the aisle at my wedding. 

I love this band. Enough to travel an hour away for a late-night show. Continue reading “BottleRock AfterDark Review: Rilo Kiley with Whitmer Thomas at Uptown Theater — Napa, 5/22/26”

Single of the Week: “grin & bear it” by Panic Shack

What can I say? I love a good punk rock mosher. “grin & bear it” by Welsh Riot Grrl act Panic Shack ticks all the boxes- intelligent feminist lyrics, sung with their Welsh accent, and a BPM that gets the heart rate into danger territory. I love them, and love this song. And somehow Super Furry Animals AND Sex Pistols are taking them out on the road next year! Continue reading “Single of the Week: “grin & bear it” by Panic Shack”

Single Of The Week: “Heart Has To Work So Hard” by Blondshell

I didn’t post this on Friday. Because I knew what was coming. Gen Z’s greatest songwriter, Sabrina Teitelbaum aka Blondshell, had a new single coming down the pike. And it’s a banger. So heavy- both sonically and emotionally. I can’t wait for this record to drop. Enjoy “Heart Has To Work So Hard” NOW! 

Fall tour dates HAVE dropped, including an appearance at the historic Castro Theater in SF. Full dates here, including sign up for the May 20th presale! 

How Did Soft Palms (Julia Kugel & Scott Montoya) Get Here?

I wish I could say that no AI was used on this podcast. I hate AI, but I also don’t have a budget for a producer, so I use Riverside.com to help edit these.

I know. I told Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya of Soft Palms, whose book “How To Be Self-Reliant In The Music Industry” is out now, and they are not fans of AI, either. They are smart folks who have been through a lot with Soft Palms, as well as their own bands, The Coathangers and The Growlers, and Julia’s solo project, Julia, Julia.

Their upcoming record, In Echo, is out TODAY! They will also be touring the US and EU this late Summer and Fall. Tour dates here.


 

Single of the Week: “Switch It Up” by Mike D

First of all, it’s been 15 years since the last new music dropped from ANY Beastie Boy. It’s also been 14 years, nearly to the day, since Adam Yauch left this mortal plane. But Mike D gifted us his first solo single today, and it’s a chaotic, jungle-influenced bit of sonic joy. Think DJ Shadow meets AK 1200. Anyways, “Switch It Up” is great. 

He’s also playing a few headlining shows, with a show at Sid The Cat Auditorium on Sunday, and Xanadu in Brooklyn May 22nd-23rd.