Welcome back for the November edition of Now and Then, the Pop Rocks Radio newsletter! Now, more than ever, I’m your host, Bijan.
Oh, what a difference a month makes. Just a few weeks ago, I sat down to write last month’s newsletter, brimming with hope for the future I thought lay ahead. Now, we find ourselves on an unexpected path, unsure of what lies around the corner.
And yet, I still feel hopeful. Maybe it’s the love I see reflected in my children’s eyes, or maybe my unwavering belief in the one thing that has always been a force for change: music. This month, it’s all about rebellion—not the violent kind (there’s far too much of that already), but the kind that speaks truth to power. The kind that refuses to go quietly. The kind that challenges authority, pushes boundaries, and forces those in charge to face the uncomfortable. Rock ‘n’ roll has always been all those things.
In the film If…, Mick Travis declares, “One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.” I’d like to reframe that: “One person can change the world with a chord in the right place.”
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to violence!
Bijan, November 2024
I Have Some Thoughts…
What the world needs now…
We seem to have reached the part of the story where Scar has killed Mufasa, and the hyenas are running the Pridelands. The harmony that once sustained this world is fading, and soon, when the spoils are gone, they’ll turn on each other—and eventually, on their leader.
But till that happens, this isn’t the time for wailing or gnashing of teeth. Saying, “We’re doomed!” or “I’m moving to Canada,” may feel cathartic, but let’s be honest—they’re not solutions. When the future looks dark, where should we turn? Rock ‘n’ roll.
We’re not the first ones to get here…
This music was forged for moments like these. With so many to choose from, let’s look at one of my favorite examples. When The Sex Pistols snarled “No future!” in God Save the Queen, they meant it. In 1970s London, as mostly uneducated, working-class kids, the future looked nonexistent for them under the indifferent and incapable eye of the British government. But not everyone has the luxury of escaping to greener pastures. For many, survival means fighting in the same sewer they’re forced to swim in—and The Sex Pistols turned that fight into anthems, channeling the rage of disaffected youth onto the stage in a way that forever altered the cultural landscape.
Now what?
So if you feel despondent in our troubled times, turn to rock ‘n’ roll. Turn to resistance. Just because you’re fighting for goodness, love, and dignity for all doesn’t mean you have to fight gently. Kick down the door. Make people uncomfortable. And create—pour every bit of beauty and power you can into this world.
Because when the Pridelands need us most, a leader will rise. And when that leader steps forward, they’ll need that beauty and power behind them. Be ready.
Not a Review
“No Obligation” by The Linda Lindas
What better way to kick off a month of rebellion than with a punk album that’s punk only when it wants to be? The Linda Lindas first stole the spotlight during the pandemic with their fiery performance of “Racist Sexist Boy” in a library—a perfectly defiant stage for a band of school-age girls channeling our universal rage and frustration. With No Obligation, their second full-length album, they fully embrace their freedom to be whatever they want. The result? A thrilling cocktail of punk, power pop, and rock that’s sharp, playful, and unapologetically their own.
Key Tracks: No Obligation, All In My Head, Lose Yourself, Cartographers
Latest from Pop Rocks Radio on Apple Podcasts
The recent episodes of Pop Rocks Radio on Apple Podcasts have been some of my all-time favorites. Continuing the vibe, last month’s “Punk Rocks Radio” show delivered a fantastic blend of sharp-edged punk tracks infused with irresistible hooks - a perfect showcase of how punk can be both rebellious and undeniably catchy.
Thanks for listening! If you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing as well so you never miss an episode. And stay tuned for more next month!
On Tour
Click the images below for more info!
Nick Lowe with Los Straitjackets
Legendary songwriter Nick Lowe joins forces with Los Straitjackets from Nashville to deliver a blend of rockabilly, pub rock, power pop, Americana.
The Linda Lindas
The Linda Lindas’ live performances are a whirlwind of youthful energy and defiant anthems. Do yourself a favor!
The Tubs
The Tubs craft jangly, post-punk-inflected pop that’s as catchy as it is introspective. Their shows blend shimmering guitar lines with melancholic vocals, channeling influences like The Go-Betweens and The Feelies into something uniquely their own.
Spinning (and Streaming) at Pop Rocks Radio!
Looking for new playlists to add to your library?
Long-Lost Power Pop - The Sneetches
Formed in 1985 in San Francisco, The Sneetches have been hailed as "one of the best classic guitar pop bands in the late '80s/early '90s," by All Music, turning out gorgeous harmonies over jangle that ran counter to the prevailing winds of grunge. Their six studio albums delivered timeless melodies and heartfelt songwriting, earning them a devoted cult following, until they finally split in 1995.
Long live Rock ‘n’ Roll (and don’t let the bastards drag you down!) Thanks for your support and we’ll see you next month!