Category: Viral

If you follow bourbon, then you know that most brands like to release new expressions in the fall to get a jump on the holiday season. Well, now that the calendar has flipped and spring has sprung this is the perfect time to take a gander at what you may have overlooked during the doldrums of winter. After all, just because you missed out on tasting the latest Buffalo Trace Antique Collection doesn’t mean there aren’t other excellent bottles of bourbon just waiting to be discovered.

Lucky for you, we looked high and low to find the very best of those gems that are hiding in plain sight. Whether you’re looking for something light and sweet to enjoy on a balmy evening or something full of flavor to toss into a cocktail, we’ve got you covered.

Chances are you’ve walked right past one of these bottles without even realizing how good it is. With this list, you won’t get caught slipping ever again. Now you can impress your friends (and expand your palate too!) by adding them all to your personal collection.

Let’s get into it!

4. Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

For an introduction to one of the best craft whiskey brands in America, you don’t need to look any further than this bottle from Starlight Distillery. Starlight has made a bit of a name for themselves with their exotic finishing casks but tasting their base bourbon is the kind of eye-opening experience that you’ll want to start with.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Take me out to the ballgame! This is a box of Cracker Jacks on the nose, where you can expect caramel sweetness and subtle nuttiness to be present along with some barrel char and corn-forward graininess.

Palate: On the palate this retains its nutty quality while providing just enough butterscotch balance plus plenty of nutmeg to make this an enjoyable pour that comes across as straightforward but savory.

Finish: Carl T. Huber’s Bottled in Bond shines on the medium-length finish, where each sip exudes balance between the mellow baking spices like nutmeg and clove along with a gentle sweetness anchored by the notes of butterscotch.

Bottom Line:

It’s full of nutmeg, Nutella-like hazelnut, and warm brown sugar which gives it a commanding enough presence to be enjoyed neat, but it will really shine in boozy cocktails like an Old Fashioned making it a versatile choice.

3. Pinhook 5-Year Cask Strength Bourbon

ABV: 59.1%
Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

Pinhook’s bottles feature eye-catching wax tops in a variety of colors and admittedly it can be a bit confusing to try and keep track of which is which, but remember this – the new 5-Year Cask Strength Bourbon belongs in your shopping cart. Featuring a bubblegum-pink wax this particular bottle is hard to overlook and once you peel off the top it’s even harder to forget.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apricot jam and vanilla come tumbling out of the glass along with graham cracker pie crust and a bit of burnt sugar.

Palate: The stone fruit carries through to the palate where the flavor of candied apricots and peanut shells coats the tongue leaving little room for the slightly doughy note that emerges at mid-palate.

Finish: The finish features a flourish of freshly cracked black pepper and turns slightly lip-puckering which does well to conclude the light and sweet flavors found at first.

Bottom Line:

The first of Pinhook’s contract-distilled bourbon to come out of Castle & Key is a portend of great things to come. With well-developed flavor despite being only 5 years old and a proof point that will shock you with how easily it drinks, you’d do well to get in on the ground floor with the whiskey Pinhook is producing.

2. Frank August Case Study 02

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $160

The Whiskey:

Tasting Notes:

Nose: At first this pour comes across as overly sweet but once given some time to settle you’ll notice that there are degrees to the sweetness. Red berries come out swinging but they’re soon joined by honey, an infusion of oak from the casks, and an abundance of white pepper and thyme.

Palate: The influence of the brandy cask this bourbon was finished in isn’t overbearing. Instead, it offers a kiss of cherry syrup sweetness with a dash of black pepper and allspice that showcases the beauty of balance in a whiskey.

Finish: The effect of black pepper only becomes more prominent on the finish, and that’s a good thing! It helps to curb the sweetness from becoming cloying and leads to lip-smacking after every sip.

Bottom Line:

This is the best bourbon that Frank August has ever produced. Period. You may have admired their sleek bottle design from afar, but if you haven’t indulged in a taste, well… this is the peak of the mountain. If you want your socks knocked off with a single sip, treat yourself to a bottle of this.

1. Ben Holladay Soft Red Wheat Rickhouse Proof

ABV: Varies by batch.
Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

Ben Holladay is one of those curious brands that simultaneously has a rich history and a short track record. That’s because while the Holladay Distillery was established 166 years ago, a 30-year hiatus preceded their $10 million renovation in 2015. After releasing the first bourbon under their current regime in 2022, a traditional Bottled in Bond bourbon, Ben Holladay followed that up with two 6-year age-stated wheated bourbons in 2023 –– this high-proof version and a Bottled in Bond variant.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leather, like the kind you might find on old books, and brandied cherries leap out at first before a slightly floral aspect joins nutmeg and berbere spice to round out the aromas.

Palate: Nutmeg and a distinct oakiness lead the way before basil, clove, and red apple skin begin to emerge on the palate. From there you’ll pick up the more familiar sweet note of caramel.

Finish: On the finish the sweetness of this pour cascades away leaving oak and a medley of baking spices in its wake. It’s lengthy and savory –– punctuated with walnuts and orange zest.

Bottom Line:

In a category dominated by Pappy Van Winkle and Maker’s Mark, this inaugural barrel-proof release by Ben Holladay already places them in the conversation as the next best thing in wheated bourbon. Its earthy backbone allows flavors like Jamaican allspice berries, walnut meat, and a subtle infusion of dried cranberries to blossom across your palate. You’ll want a backup of this bottle so do yourself a favor and buy two the first time.

A new flavor of Dr. Pepper is coming!

Why are we so excited? Well, aside from the fact that we love soda (and I’m assuming you do too) this is the one section of the snack food market that doesn’t get a whole lot of innovation. New flavors come and go occasionally, but the soda aisle is generally littered with the classics: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, the various lemon-lime brands, Rootbeer, and Dr. Pepper. So anytime a new flavor comes around it’s kind of a big deal. Will this new flavor be so popular that it becomes a new classic?

Who knows! Though… probably not. Still, there is a chance and that’s enough for us.

Dr. Pepper’s new flavor is a tropical spin on their famous formula, dubbed “Creamy Coconut,” and is set to hit stores nationwide from May 1st to the end of July. It’s very much billing itself as a summer soda, promising a “creamy finish,” and notes of coconut to its stock blend of 23 flavors. The flavor will be sold in 12 oz cans and 20 oz bottles in both a full-sugar and zero-sugar iteration. Ahead of the drop, we got our hands on the two flavors to give you a preview of what to expect.

Here are our thoughts and tasting notes.

Dr. Pepper Creamy Coconut Taste Test

Thoughts and Tasting Notes:

Diving into the full sugar version, little, if any, of that OG Dr. Pepper taste is gone here. What you have instead is a prominent candied coconut flavor with that promised smooth and creamy finish.

This will sound off-putting, but it’s almost milky in consistency. There is a noticeable softness here, it doesn’t have the fizz or burn you’d expect from a full-sugar soda.

Moving on to the Zero-Sugar formulation, the flavor is mostly the same, but I’m getting a bit more carbonation and bite at the aftertaste. Shockingly, I think I prefer the zero-sugar version more because of this.

Both are a bit too sweet for my liking — where the soda comes alive is when you mix it with a bit of alcohol. I mixed a heavy splash of Creamy Coconut into a glass of Hamilton 86 dark rum and was treated to a sweet tropical delight that tastes much more elevated than your typical rum and coke. Pleased with those results, I tried a combination of Kettle One Vodka, grenadine, and Creamy Coconut Dr. Pepper and this was even better, as the sweet fruity flavor of grenadine was a perfect complement to the smooth tropical tones of the soda.

I can’t see myself enjoying Creamy Coconut Dr. Pepper with a meal or as a midday snack, but as part of a cocktail? This new flavor has a lot of versatility.

The Bottom Line:

As a standalone soda, it leans a bit too sweet and creamy for my liking (if you like cream soda, this might be an interesting variation on that flavor profile), but as a secret ingredient in your bar cart arsenal? This is an obvious winner.

Throughout his career, Kanye West has worn many hats. A rapper, a producer, a designer, and a creative director. And now, it looks like he is continuing to branch out. Today (April 23), TMZ reported that Ye is apparently planning to venture into adult entertainment.

According to TMZ, an associate of Ye told the publication that Ye has been “kicking around” the idea of launching a porn studio for a while now. And as he and his crew are reportedly in advanced talks to get the studio up and running, it looks like this launch may happen sooner rather than later.

The publication noted that the rumored porn studio would be part of a broader adult entertainment division under the Yeezy company.

The representative also told the publication that Ye has supposedly been seeking help from Stormy Daniels’ ex-husband Mike Moz, who has over two decades in the porn industry as a producer, casting agent, and art director.

Over the years, Ye has shown to have an interesting relationship with pornography. In the past, he has claimed to be addicted to porn. He even co-creative directed the inaugural Pornhub awards back in 2018. But he has also sworn off porn, and claimed it was bad for his spirtit.

It looks like he’s had a change of heart. Lord, help us.

The NBA is in the middle of the first round of the playoffs, which means that we’ve reached the part of the calendar where individual excellence gets celebrated, too. On Tuesday night, the league handed out its first award for the 2023-24 season, as the TNT crew handed out George Mikan trophy to its Most Improved Player.

This year, the honor went to Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is in the midst of a breakout campaign that previously saw him make it to the All-Star Game for the first time in his young career.

Maxey, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has come up big for the Sixers over and over again this season, as the team saw him take on a bigger role in the aftermath of the James Harden trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. His role got even bigger midway through the year when Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury, and whenever he was asked to deliver, he did. On the year, Maxey put up career-best numbers across the board, going for 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and a steal in 37.5 minutes per game.

Maxey beat out Chciago Bulls guard Coby White and Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun to win the award. The voting results show that Maxey narrowly beat out White, while Sengun came in a distant third.

Now that he has officially been named the MIP, Maxey can focus on Thursday night, when the Sixers will host the New York Knicks for Game 3 of their first round series.

I’ve only been to Mexico once before — to Tulum and Playa del Carmen on the east coast. We’re talking lush, tropical jungles with plenty of cenotes to explore and bask in while Instagram influencers flood the streets to get their photos taken standing backstage at house and techno parties. It’s fun, to be sure, but in my experience it’s certainly not tranquil.

So when I landed in Los Cabos, on the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in a completely different setting. Calmer, quieter, and decorated with cardon cacti peppered across a desert oasis backdrop. Newly placed in this landscape lies Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos. Having opened in January 2024, the all-inclusive, five-star resort is Velas Resorts’ third property in Los Cabos, following the footsteps of its sister properties of Mar del Cabo and Grand Velas Los Cabos.

Upon arrival at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, you’re greeted with breathtaking ocean views at nearly every corner, vibrant magenta bougainvilleas lining the hallways and white-painted corridors, and a colorful geometric infinity pool that overlooks the Sea of Cortez and the surrounding mountains. And with 79 suites — each boasting a private terrace and personal concierge — the property is a picture of luxury, privacy, and escape.

As you might imagine, the fact that no kids are allowed helps with that latter point.

WHY IT’S AWESOME

Sorry-not-sorry but the best part about this place is that it truly is an adults-only resort.

I didn’t see any children or teenagers during my stay, which helped me to relax while on vacation. Everything was created with only adults in mind, all the way down to the food offerings, the communication style between the staff, and the design of the resort itself. Also, having opened just four months ago, everything is brand new. The infinity pool’s colorful geometric design is completely jaw-dropping while the freshly planted bougainvilleas adorn each little hallway and corridor of the resort making me feel like I was in a sexy fairytale.

Additionally, all guests of Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos have access to the five Grand Velas Los Cabos gourmet restaurant offerings at no additional charge. With the sister resort being a quick two-minute walk away, this was a game changer — greatly expanding your food offerings each night.

I also love that Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos offers complimentary cultural experiences to guests. These include a Mexican chocolate tasting journey of 12 flavors; Mexican wine and cheese pairing from varying states of Mexico like Chihuahua, Oaxaca, and Michoacán; and tequila tasting in the Agave Tasting Room.

FOOD & DRINKS

There are endless food options at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos. With the hotel being newly opened, it was clear that some recipes and dishes were still being dialed in. I ordered several of the same dishes every day and some came out completely different each day, which was confusing but also thrilling — in that you weren’t quite sure what you were going to get. (I joke, but the various chefs can surely be forgiven for needing to get presentations and expect ingredient ratios dialed.)

There are four direct on-site restaurants and bars to satisfy your cravings at any time of the day or night. Frida, featuring high end Mexican cuisine; Piaf, with traditional French cuisine; Lucca, showcasing Italian-Mediterranean specialties; Velas 10, serving seafood and prime cuts; and Cocina de Autor, presenting creative gastronomy led by Chef Sidney Schutte.

In the morning, you can order your breakfast to your room or start your day overlooking the Sea of Cortez at Del Mar restaurant.

A few highlights of Del Mar breakfast:

• Hash Brown Potatoes: I wouldn’t even call these “hash browns” as more like scalloped breakfast potatoes. These came as a surprise side on the first morning and I requested them every morning after. They were, without a doubt, one of the best breakfast offerings. The only issue is that they never came completely consistent or the same each morning but when they came crispy and hot they were unbelievable.

• Omelet: Just make sure to tell them what you want in it — otherwise it will come as fluffy scrambled eggs. But if you tell them how you want it – filled with bacon, sausage, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and cheese – it’s the perfect size and consistency.

• Avocado Toast: Not all avocado toast is made equal. Instead of a usual guacamole-style avocado spread, these were freshly cut pieces of avocado stacked alongside hummus, cherry tomatoes, and crushed pistachios.

• Lox & Bagel: I ordered this every morning and it came out very consistent. The capers added a great pack of flavor to the salmon. They put lox on one side of the bagel though and leave the other half with the smallest amount of cream cheese — they shouldn’t tease you like that!

• Crème Brúlee French Toast: I’m a sucker for something sweet in the morning and this satisfied my sweet tooth. The crust was a little too thick but the fluffy middle was to die for, especially if you drizzled just a touch of maple syrup.

• Seasonal Fruit: The fruit was fresh! The pieces of papaya melted in your mouth. Bravo to the kitchen team on sourcing produce fresh and at scale!

Then there was the poolside Roca Bar. You could dip into the stunning infinity pool and order your drink of choice at the swim-up bar or bask at one of the dozens of poolside or beachside chairs for a drink and mid-day snack or lunch.

Highlights include:

• Al Pastor Tacos: These were initially my favorite. The three “street-style” tacos had exceptional flavor rounded out with red peppers, raw onions, tomatoes, and pickled onions. The meat was juicy and tender and the serving size was perfect. Unfortunately, they didn’t come out the same each day and came out looking and tasting completely different. Overall, the dish was hit-and-miss.

• Ceviche: This is where consistency doesn’t have to be an issue. I really liked this because it was different each day depending on the type of fresh fish that was caught. While the fish was fresh and silky, the chips weren’t doing it any justice and were pretty hard and crunchy.

• Tempura Shrimp Tacos: The pineapple is perfectly complemented with a hint of lime and overall crunch.

• Veggie Samosas: Indian food in Mexico just hits different, right? The curry sauce was to die for and had my mouth water just by the smell of it. That said, they need a new name for these though because they only had potatoes in them with no addition of any vegetables.

LOTO Robata Grill is the flagship culinary destination for the resort. Led by two-Michelin-starred chef Sidney Schutte, I tasted my way through Japanese cuisine prepared over a slow-cooked robata open-fire grill.

Highlights of dinner:

• Steak & Tuna Tartar Cones: I’m always wary of steak or beef tartar. The cone presentation made these welcoming and fun to try while the flavors burst in your mouth like how you would take bites of the end of an ice cream cone. Amazing execution.

• Rock Shrimp Salad: I was a big fan of the flavor but the shrimp wasn’t crispy. I did like that it came on a bed of French lettuce so it was a nice, light appetizer.

• Ribeye: I tried a variety of cooked meats and steaks and the ribeye was by far the best. I’m pretty picky with wanting my steak cooked medium rare, and I thought the ribeye was perfectly juicy and tender.

Again, the restaurant is new and working through kinks. That said, I didn’t have a good experience with the corn or the french fries.

AMENITIES

• SE Spa
• Private butler-concierge service for every suite
• Ocean views
• Personal plunge pools
• Private terraces
• Private beach access
• Outdoor infinity pool
• 24-hour fitness center
• 24-hour suite service
• Minibar in suite replenished daily
• Parking and valet parking
• Business center
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary cultural programming, including Tequila and Mezcal tastings, Mexican Wine & Cheese Pairing, Mexican Chocolate Tasting

ROOM TYPES

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos features 79 brand-new luxurious suites exceeding 900 square feet of living space. Each suite includes a walk-in shower, a personal jacuzzi, a daily-stocked minibar, welcome bottles of wine and mezcal, aromatherapy diffusers, 24-hour personal concierge service, bathrobes, electric curtains, and Dyson hairdryer and straighteners.

• Garden Suite – King bed with double outdoor daybed + outdoor jacuzzi
• Ambassador Ocean View Suite – King bed with private terrace + plunge pool
• Sunrise King Suite – Ocean-facing King bed with private terrace + outdoor jacuzzi
• Pool King Suite – King bed with private fire pit + plunge pool
• Grand King Suite – King bed overlooking the highest point of the building with outdoor jacuzzi + separate living room
• Grand Class King Suite – King bed with private terrace, plunge pool, firepit + two separate living spaces
• Elite King Suite – Two bedroom King bed suites with indoor jacuzzis, outdoor terrace, plunge pool, fire pit

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK

The best thing to do at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is fully relax and bask in its offerings. With the private beach just steps away from the pool, you can spend your days sitting poolside getting waited on with endless food and drinks overlooking the Sierra de la Laguna mountains or get your toes sandy and walk the beach. I will say that the beach isn’t set up for swimming unless you walk five or ten minutes to the left where it levels off more, but it’s a great area for exploring the rocks and environment.

With the property still undergoing construction, its on-site spa hadn’t opened yet for guests when I visited. However, guests of the hotel do have access to its sister property Grand Velas Los Cabos’ SE Spa. Spanning 35,000 square feet, spending an afternoon here is true luxury.

The Water Ceremony was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. With my own spa valet, I was directed through a seven-step water journey that included a eucalyptus-scented steam room, polar pool, sauna, and multi-sensory hydro pool with massaging faucets and bubble beds. The bubble beds made me feel like a kid again as they tickled my body but also sent me into a state of full relaxation.

I always deem a massage successful if I fall asleep, which doesn’t always happen. After I spent an hour guided through the water ceremony, the tequila massage sent me into a deep state of relaxation that I wish I could tap into more. As the name implies, they mix one shot of tequila with massage oil to rub into your muscles, which was something completely new and very well received by me. I was worried that the smell of tequila would be too overpowering but it wasn’t at all.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A $20 TAXI RIDE

With the resort being 30 minutes from the Los Cabos airport and 15 minutes from the downtown area, exploring the area is quite easy. The hotel offers transportation and personal scheduling for several activities including visiting El Arco De Cabo San Lucas and Medano Beach, yacht charters, fishing expeditions, and sunset cruises at Cabo San Lucas Marina, snorkeling and swimming at Santa Maria Beach, whale watching, and more.

I decided to set off on my own and get dropped at ​​Plaza Mijares. The town square is the main square of the city and is the perfect place to spend hours walking around like a local. It almost reminded me of Frenchmen Street and Bourbon Street in New Orleans where you can get drinks to go and freely walk around and find something new on every corner. The place lights up on a Friday night with skateboarders, rollerbladers, bikers, and people just frolicking around enjoying the atmosphere.

I’m a sucker for being a cheesy tourist, so taking a photo of the San Jose del Cabo sign in front of the Church of San José was a must. Getting a margarita to go and spending hours poking your head into dozens of little shops, art galleries, and filling up on appetizers from restaurants was the perfect way to spend an afternoon and evening.

Some highlights of the Historic District:

• Corsica Galeria De Arte: Offered a compelling walk through multiple rooms featuring contemporary and modern art from Mexican artists.

• TWH Art Gallery: I loved this little art gallery! The sculptures, paintings, and jewelry were so unique and most of them touched on graffiti street-style art. I spent quite a bit of time chatting with the owner about the stained glass lamps.

• Tequila Town: Pop in here to get a $1 can of beer to walk the streets with.

• La Lupita: This place was packed and for good reason. I had some of the best tacos of my life here accompanied with tunes by a local live band. The soft shell crab and kampachi tostadas melted in your mouth. I’m pretty sure I died and went to Heaven when I ate the al pastor tacos, which are wrapped in an asadero cheese crust wrap.

BED GAME

Let’s be clear here: I’m not a morning person. Was I a morning person in Los Cabos? Very much so. The bed faces the near floor-to-ceiling balcony windows and doors, so you can easily catch the sunrise wrapped up in blankets in bed. The goose-down comforters and addition of the pillow menu elevate this bed to the next level.

Rating: 9/10

SEXINESS RATING

Having your own private ocean-view balcony naturally decorated with pink little flower petals would make anyone swoon. The jacuzzi or plunge pool that’s perched on each one sends it over the edge. Having 24-hour access to endless food and drinks straight up to your room – meaning you can relish rich desserts naked on your balcony with your lover – is priceless.

Rating: 10/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS

Grand Velas Los Cabos is perfect for scoring ultra-sexy Instagram photos. Each suite’s balcony is naturally adorned with bright magenta bougainvilleas flowers to accentuate any photo while the geometric infinity pool lends a beautiful backdrop for a golden hour photoshoot.

Rating: 9/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT

There really isn’t a bad season to visit and stay at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos. I enjoyed my stay here in February which granted me warm days and cool nights. I personally would have liked it to be a tad bit hotter to fully enjoy the ocean and pool, but it was nice to not be sweating just walking around the property.

December through April is considered “high season” and you can also count on seeing whales coming up for air from your balcony during this time.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING

The hotel is very much still under construction, both literally and figuratively. Literally in the sense that some corridors were blocked off for construction and you could see some parts of the hotel getting built up more from your balcony, which at times was disruptive. Figuratively in that with it being completely new and open, the service is not completely dialed in. Is that something to be expected of a new hotel? Sure. But if you’re paying for five-star service, you should know that this is a work in progress.

Another thing to note is that I’ve never been so bummed to get on an elevator. Knowing that the elevator is the magical vibe holder to the grander hotel experience, this was like getting into a dark, futuristic warehouse-style room that lacked air conditioning. The elevators did not align with any of the design of the resort in the slightest, which was just bizarre to me.

BOOK HERE

Suites at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos start at $1,200 per night.

Book Here

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT GRAND VELAS BOUTIQUE CABOS

The story of The Land Is Inhospitable, And So Are We continues. Today (April 23), Mitski has shared the video for “Star,” a fan-favorite from the album.

On the song, Mitski remembers the pleasant moments of a love that was short-lived, but still ever-so-special.

“That love is like a star, it’s gone / We just see it shining / It’s traveled very far, I’ll keep a leftover light burning / So you can keep looking up / Isn’t that worth holding on?,” she sings on the song’s chorus.

The song’s music video was filmed last summer and presents Mitski as she sails through a pond among painted pieces of wood, crafted to create the illusion of mountains in the background. Directed by Maegan Houang, the video captures the otherworldly feelings of the song, visualizing the experience of holding onto a fading love.

“Unlike the more narrative/concept driven videos Mitski and I have done together in the past, I wanted this video to encapsulate the impressionistic circularity we all experience. Our lives oscillate between light and dark repeating itself in an endless cycle where nothing is permanent,” said Houang in a statment. “The best moments are fleeting, but so are the bad.”

You can see the video for “Star” above.

Back in November, the Anyone But You publicity shuttle began to heat up with a joint appearance from stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. The pair beamed at each other in a manner that instantly inspired rumors that the two were secretly dating. This speculation surfaced despite Sweeney’s engagement to Jonathan Devino, and of course part of the chatter only grew more fierce when Powell and girlfriend Gigi Paris called it quits.

Anyone But You then experienced a slow start at the Christmas box office, although it’s gone on to exceed $218 million at the global box office, which is much more impressive than that of big-budgeted superhero fiasco Madame Web. As of April 23, Anyone But You has finally arrived on Netflix, and now, those rumors are popping up in a conversation with the New York Times.

Would you be surprised to learn that Sweeney and Powell “intended” for that fuss to happen in the first place? Those stinkers:

The speculation played out, the stars said, exactly as they intended.

“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry,” Powell said in an interview. “That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit – and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”

What did Sydney do? As a producer, she had an especially vested interest in, well, making sure that interest in the film flourished:

“I was on every call. I was in text group chats. I was probably keeping everybody over at Sony marketing and distribution awake at night because I couldn’t stop with ideas,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film, because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who created the entire narrative.”

In retrospect, not too surprising! And yes, the tactics most certainly worked, and hopefully, this film’s success has invigorated people’s appetites to leave the house a little more often to see romcoms — and ideally, that trust will also be in good Hollywood hands.

(Via New York Times)

The 2024 lineup for Ohana Festival has been revealed. The festival is billed for September 27, 28, and 29, with headlining performances from Neil Young And Crazy Horse and, of course, Pearl Jam (the Seattle band’s lead vocalist Eddie Vedder is the festival’s founder). Other acts on the bill include Alanis Morissette, Black Pumas, Cat Power, Dogstar, Garbage, Idles, Jenny Lewis, Kim Gordon, Maren Morris, and more.

When Do Tickets For Ohana Festival 2024 Go On Sale?

Pre-sale for Ohana Festival tickets starts on April 25 at 10 AM PT. After that, a general sale will be held, provided there are still tickets available. You can sign up for a pre-sale code here.

Last year’s Ohana Festival was headlined by Foo Fighters, The Killers, and Eddie Vedder, with performances from The Chicks, Father John Misty, Haim, Japanese Breakfast, Pretenders, and The War On Drugs, among others. You can read Uproxx’s review of the festival by Editorial Director Phil Cosores here.

Aside from booking his fest, Vedder’s been pretty busy of late promoting Pearl Jam’s new album Dark Matter, which Uproxx’s Steven Hyden called the band’s best album in “decades.” Ahead of the band’s performance at Ohana Festival, they’re going on a tour spanning from their hometown’s neighboring Vancouver, BC, Canada to Boston before hopping the pond for a slate of European dates after the festival

In the modern era of the music business, when so much of success relies on artists’ connection with fans via social media, it’s rare to see any artist completely disconnect. Yet, Jelly Roll — one of the breakout stars of modern country music after jumping genres in 2021 — has made it a point to do. He hasn’t made a new post since April 10. So why did the breakout star quit social media?

As his wife, influencer Bunnie Xo, revealed in a preview of her podcast Dumb Blonde, the Tennessee native decided to step away from social media after being bullied over his weight. Earlier this month, he told fans he was training to run a 5K marathon next month. When he shared his goal, and said he wanted to lose 100 lbs. after already losing 70 lbs., the response was less than encouraging, however.

“I’ve really been kicking ass, man. I’m doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week,” he said. “I’m doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I’m eating healthy right now. I was thinking, I plan on losing another 100, 100-and-something. If I feel this good down weight, man, I can only imagine what I’m going to feel like by the time I go on tour.” Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Tour is set to begin in August.

In a clip from the upcoming episode of Dumb Blonde, Bunnie addressed the backlash. “My husband got off the internet because he is so tired of being bullied about his f*cking weight,” she said. “My husband doesn’t show it to you guys, but I’m going to have a very vulnerable moment here. It hurts him… The internet can say whatever the f*ck they want about you. And they say, ‘Well you’re a celebrity, you’re supposed to be able to handle it.’ No, the f*ck we’re not.” You can watch the clip below and the full episode tomorrow.

Hard rock/alternative festival Sick New World is back after its inaugural 2023 iteration. After last year brought Deftones, Korn, Incubus, and System Of A Down to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, this year’s lineup again brings System Of A Down out, paired with Slipknot as headliners with features from Alice In Chains, Bring Me The Horizon, Danny Elfman, and A Perfect Circle. With the festival returning this Saturday, April 27, Sick New World has announced its set times, spread across five stages and running into the wee hours of the night. You can see the full schedule of set times below.

Thanks to the packed schedule, plenty of fans appear to be distraught at having to choose between seeing System Of A Down — who are only playing a handful of shows this year — and other bands playing in the same time slot, such as Sleep Token. Meanwhile, similar cross-programming conflicts appear to be terrorizing fans of Slipknot and Bring Me The Horizon, with one fan highlighting their troubles by showing off their wishlist and all the hiking — or outright teleporting — it’d entail. Fans in the comments on Sick New World’s Instagram post echoed those sentiments, expressing frustrations with the tight programming. You can see the full schedule below and get more info on sicknewworldfest.com.