Writing

A collection of my written work for various publishers and media

VinylMnky New Music Radar Column

I have written the New Music Radar column for VinylMnky since May 2017.

View a full archive of my columns here.

Top Five Acts We're Excited About at Pitchfork 2017

Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Union Park in Chicago for it's twelfth year (except 2005's "Intonation Music Festival" tag) July 14-16. As usual, it's three full days diverse acts, food, shopping and pre-and-post events. Here's five of the must-see artists at the 2017 installment.

Read more, Scene Point Blank, July 2017

White Reaper: The World's Best American Band

You’d think that a band that titled their album The World’s Best American Band may be getting ahead of themselves. But not every band is White Reaper. They might have just done it.

Read more, Scene Point Blank, April 2017

Hear Cory Branan's Death Record, 'Adios'

On his first record in two-and-a-half years, Cory Branan is thinking about death. The album's title literally means goodbye. There are songs that address it head on, and there are others where the references are a little more oblique—but the end of things seems on his mind.

Read more, Noisey, April 2017

You're Making Hot Dogs All Wrong

There’s no better time than summer to sink your teeth into a hot, juicy frank. But preparing them can be a pain in the ass. You can wind up with a dry, bland interior and rubbery, slippery outside. Or, your tube steak can feature a shriveled, leathery "crust" with an inside that's far too chewy to be enjoyed properly. Here are five foolproof chef tips for making perfectly cooked dogs every time.

Read more, Men's Journal, August 2016

WWE's Dolph Ziggler's Training Secret: Empty Stomach Cardio

Dolph Ziggler has been a WWE mainstay over the past decade, known to fans for stealing the show with his awe-inspiring performances. On August 21, he faces WWE Champion Dean Ambrose for title at WWE’s SummerSlam. Ziggler, 36, (whose real name is Nick Nemeth), spoke to Men’s Journal about how he stays fit and trains for his performances. His secret? Empty stomach cardio. Here's what that's all about and three more of his training secrets.

Read more, Men's Journal, August 2016

Chad Gable's Upward Journey: From The Olympic Mat to the WWE Ring

Chad Gable, along with his partner Jason Jordan are turning heads in the WWE with their tag-team American Alpha. After a year in NXT, WWE’s developmental territory (think minor league baseball, but for professional wrestling), the duo has been called up to the main roster on SmackDown Live, and recently made their primetime debut.

Gable, 30, real name Charles “Chas” Betts, competed for Team USA as a Greco Roman wrestler in the 2012 Olympics. He spoke to Men’s Journal about his Olympic experience and the transition to the squared circle.

Read more, Men's Journal, August 2016

No Sleep Till Malibu: Beastie Boy Mike D. Hosts Show from Pool House

The Beastie Boys have been inactive since the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch in 2012, but that hasn't kept fellow MC Mike “Mike D” Diamond out of the public eye. He’s still rocking the mic, now with his own Apple Music Beats 1 Radio show called “The Echo Chamber,” broadcast biweekly on Fridays, direct from his pool house in Malibu.

Read more, Men's Journal, July 2016

Ride with a View: 7 Bucket-List Roller Coasters

Roller coasters are a time-honored summer tradition — what started as simple wooden rides with attached cars have evolved to towering behemoths testing riders' stomachs and even their consciousness. In some instances, these rides can now be so fast that you experience multiple Gs of force and weightlessness. As coasters get higher, faster, and more thrilling, so does the challenge to make their peaks and views even more breathtaking. Here are a few destination coasters worth checking out — whether you’re in it for the views from the top, the G-force rush, or both.

Read more, Men's Journal, July 2016

Should You Invest in Jose Cuervo?

Sure, your better tequila-infused memories probably involve a dimly-lit tequila library or carefully savoring a glass from a handsome bottle of Casa Dragones. But chances are, you probably also have a fond memory (or eight) of a night spent with Jose Cuervo. Now the industry-leading spirit maker is reportedly seeking to raise about $750 million in an initial public offering.

Read more, Men's Journal, May 2016