Bob Weir and David Bowie

Bob Weir of Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

Last month January 10th, 2026 on the 10 year anniversary of the passing of David Bowie, we lost another music legend, Bob Weir. Two very different types of musicians but trailblazing, creatively artistic geniuses in their own regard. Listened to and loved by so many from different walks of life worldwide while they were here, both will be worshipped long after their passing thanks to the passion of their craft and the kinship it continues to create. 

Born on on October 16th 1947, Robert Hall Weir co-founded The Grateful Dead with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Ron Mckernan in 1965 when he was just 18 years old. 

Growing up, The Grateful Dead is all my mom listened to. Well, The Dead and Bob Marley is all I can remember her listening to. Being that she was a single mom, that's all me and my sister heard in our younger years before mom's music taste broaded a little. Dad, on the other hand, listened to all types of different music. Because of him, me and my sister were exposed to everything from The Dead, to Queen, The Rolling Stones to Ice-T and Jerry Jeff Walker and everything in between. 

The Grateful Dead was my first concert. I actually saw them twice as a little girl and both times were with Jerry Garcia. I was too young to remember either experience and even though I didn't grow up to be  a Dead Head, it has never been lost on me how special it is that The Grateful Dead was my first concert. 

John Mayer and Bob Weir of Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

You read that right, I did not grow up to follow in my mom's Dead Head footsteps. Rather, I steered clear of jam band bands having heard enough, if not too much of it early on in life. From what I remembered it all sounds like the same one long song. I didn't get it and I ended up not liking it nor the memories this type of music can conjure up for me. 

Naturally, my dad's enthusiasm for music has never faded. Over the years he frequented a number of Dead and Company shows as he does with artists he loves, especially as they get older. 

Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

When Dead and Company played the Sphere in Vegas last Spring, my dad was there for a couple of their shows in April. He raves about those shows and I have no doubt they were very cool, trippy even. Later that year when he told me he was going to see Dead and Company play in Golden Gate Park I voiced some concern. The shows in Golden Gate Park were more of a festival setting, one which I didn't think my dad would particulary care for. He did not disagree but shared that Bobby, as he called him, wasn't doing well and this might be his last chance to see the legend live. Turns out my dad was correct. Those Dead and Company shows were the last time he saw Bob Weir perform live. 

When I heard about Weir's passing on January 10th, I was on my way to celebrate my birthday which is January 11th at the 15th Annual Bowie Bash at Great American Music Hall in SF. My dad was the first person I thought of when I heard the news. Him and his premonition. It made me happy knowing he had seen  Bob Weir that one last time and in Golden Gate Park no less. 

Great American Music Hall marquee for the Bowie Bash 1/10/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

There was an outpouring of admiration in San Francisco the days after his passing. The Grateful Dead were from the Bay Area after all and headed the counter culture that was the soundtrack of the Summer of Love in the 1960's. With Weir gone there's only one remaining original member of The Dead left, drummer Bill Kreutzman. 

Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

John Mayer and Bob Weir of Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

The ship has sailed for me to see Dead and Company with my dad, a show I would have  actually remembered seeing with him. It's something I wish I would have thought to do when I had the chance instead of being haunted by my past. As we grow older, some of us grow wiser, evolving with the ever  changing seasons of life as they pass. I took this opportunity to give The Grateful Dead another chance and set fourth to see if there might be some songs of theirs I do in fact like. 

The Grateful Dead American Beauty album cover 

I've always liked "Scarlet Begonias" from their 1974 album, Mars Hotel, and no, not just because Sublime covered it. I must have liked it when I was little, a forgotten core memory of you will. As soon as I heard "Friend of the Devil" and "Truckin" from their 1970 album American Beauty all of the lyrics came rushed back as if I had just listened to the songs yesterday. All good songs, classics, and not too jam bandy. I stopped there as to not overwhelm myself. 

I had a confession to make the next time I saw my dad: I had found Grateful Dead songs that I liked and could listen to. He laughed and told me he didn't consider himself a Dead Head. This surprised me, to which he said that listening to The Grateful Dead wasn't his whole personality. It wasn't his identity. Being a fan of The Dead didn't consume all of his musical taste, something I've known my whole life yet alwasy thought he was a Dead Head. Dad proved me wrong yet again and I couldn't be more relieved that he was right this time. He usually is when it comes to music. This is when he reminded me that the street he lived on when I was in High School, Harrington Street in San Francisco's Exclesior District was renamed to Jerry Garcia Street because that's where the childhood home of the famous musican is. 

Bob Weir of Dead and Company at The Sphere April 2025 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

The compassion felt surrounding Weir's passing helped me find a new appreciation for the music he made. I've always appreciated The Grateful Dead but now I can listen to them and appreciate them in a whole new way. 

The universe works in mysterious ways and with two passings of famous musicians on the same day albeit a decade apart, I can't help but wonder who will be next to go on January 10th. Things do happen in threes, if you believe in that sort of thing. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026

 I don't remember how I stumbled upon discovering Girl Tones last year but I'm stoked that I did. It was their single "Again" that got me with that gritty, grungy, garage rock sound that I love.  As I typed up a short review of that song for my 2025 Playlist blog post last month, I just so happened to look up if they were playing any upcoming shows that I might be able to squeeze in before my work schedule takes off. Low and behold, Girl Tones  are on tour and had a show at Cornerstone in Berkeley on January 29th. I was in the Bay Area for work but of course I couldn't make it to the show because of work. I could however, make it to their show a week later at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown which is such a cool venue to see these girls play. This is where the review really begins. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Opening for up and coming post-punk rockers, Dexter and the Moonrocks rendered Girl Tones a decent sized crowd for their 9 pm set. Starting right on time, the sister duo from Kentucky situated themselves on the small, cluttered stage quickly with Laila on the drum kit stage left and Kenzie behind the mic off centered to the right. They might be new but for a band that has yet to release their debut album but Girl Tones having been on tour for the better part of last year and then some. They've opened for bands like Cage the Elephant and playing festivals like Lollapalooza so they know what's up and they wasted no time showing us what they're made of at Pappy & Harriet's. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Decked out in vintage thrift store attire, they started their set with "Got It", an up tempo garage rock track that had front woman Kenzie shredding and belting. Right out of the gate she showed us that she does not take the role of front woman lightly with enthusiastic playing and palpable crowd engagement. With her blonde locks  shrouding about freely and her sister's curls bouncing to the beat of the drums I was reminded of another, similair sounding female rock duo, Deap Vally. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Introducing themselves as sisters after the first song, founder/singer/electric guitar player, went on to tell us that they themselves drove all the way from Kentucky to be on this tour which started in Washington State. Their appetite to connect with the crowd and turn show goers there to see the headliners into fans of their own is infallibly insatiable and their ability to deliver a solid rock show is admirably sensational. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Their second song of the night "Burnout" followed by their latest single "Volcano" kept the grunge vibes climbing higher. By now the small venue was packed to see the rocking opening act. Kenzie's personable interactions with the crowd between songs didn't alter as she whole heartedly tried to wake the crowd up and get them moving. I'm not too sure about show goers in other states, but the ones in Califonia tend to be a little stagnant so I commend her for her efforts. Here is a two lady band without a full length album, opening a show, full on rocking it and full on yelling at people to move. Not only was I impressed by the guts that takes and the show they were putting on, I was also compelled to rock out more than I already had been. 

Their 2025 EP Blame features a cover of Radiohead's "High and Dry" but on Thursday night Girl Tones covered The Vines' "Get Free", a smart move on their behalf being that the energy in the room was rising. While their "High and Dry" cover rocks harder than the original it might have put a slump in their set. The stratigic playing as well as the placement of this song in the set list worked to their advantage as more and more people sang along to the early 2000's hit. The crowd was locked in for Girl Tones now and the band was more than ready and willing to give it to them. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Focused on delivering solid drum fills and grooves, we saw the demure Laila on back up vocals more and more while her sister continued to command the stag. Stomping side to side, making wide eyed eye contact and other animated theatrics, the singer even went into the crowd, shredding from the floor and throwing people into a frenzy. By the time they played the song that got my attention last year, "Again" near the end of the set, Girl Tones had proven that they got it. They have what it takes. They're going after it and there's no stopping them. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Girl Tones rock and they know how to put on a show. The noise the two of them make is remarkable. That noise, that reverb, that grittiness made me think of the great White Stripes the more I watched them. It wasn't surprising in the least to learn that The White Stripes are Girl Tones' biggest influence. The Whites Stripes and the Riot Grrrl movement, of course. And no, they are not on Jack White's label, Third Man Records. When their album does drop, which is rumored to be some time this year, it will be on Parallel Vision founded by Cage the Elephant's Brad Schultz who also happens to be from Kentucky. 

Kenzie directed everyone to jump with her during the last song of their set. Of course I obliged, making me too preoccupied to take notes on what song it was they played. They ended their set on a high note to a roar of applause and cheers as they took a bow together before exiting the stage. 

Dexter and the Moonrocks had fans give it up for Girl Tones a couple songs into their own set and fans showed the openers a little more love. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Both bands went on to play The House of Blues in San Diego and LA's iconic Troubadour to round out their tour together. Girl Tones hop back on the road with Peter McPoland in March before jumping on the festival circuit for Bottlerock Napa and Bonnaroo stints. If you're heading to a show or a festival that they're playing don't miss your chance to see them!

Keep your eyes on Girl Tones. I have a feeling they'll be headlining their own tour soon, possibly on the heels of their debut album release. I cannot wait! Don't stop rocking, Girl Tones. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Cupcakes from Angel Cakes in Oakland

As part of the celebration for my niece's 13th birthday I got cupcakes from Oakland's Angel Cakes for the birthday girl herself, with her mom (my sister), her grandpa (my dad) and myself (her aunt). 

Angle Cakes in Oakland 
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Unlike me, my niece is a picky eater and I wasn't sure what cake she likes. I figured Red Velvet was a safe pick since the popular flavor falls somewhere between chocolate and vanilla. My sister confirmed that my niece would like anything with sugar in it, which as it turns out, is just like me. 

I had passed Angel Cakes in Oakland near where I happened to be staying for work. Under a maze of freeway over passes and on ramps, this bright pink, rustic, wooden almost barn like structure is a sight to be seen in an otherwise desolate area of town. 

I had known of Angel Cakes for a while but had yet to try their cupcakes. After hearing about the unfortuante robbery and ultimate passing of it's owner, Jen Angel, a couple years ago, I thought that the Bay Area woman's business had closed. 

Needless to say, it's touching to see that Angel Cakes is indeed still open and that her business is booming. Moreover, this is exactly the type of business to support: small, local and founded by a female activist who's mission was to enrich the lives of those in her community being run in her honor. That kind of sweetness is no easy feat. 

Pre-occupied with looking at all of the different cupcakes while straining to read the flavors on the small tags in the display case, it was unclear if the two customers in front of me were picking up orders or walk-ins like myself. It's a small store, with magic being made right beind the array of cupcakes on display. It was a lot to take on all of the different flavors. 

Angel Cakes cupcakes
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Luckily, I walked in knowing what I was there for. At least, I thought I knew what I was there for. They had Red Velvet and Red Velvet with raspberry jam on top of the cream cheese frosting. They also have a passion fruit cake topped with the same cream cheese frosting and raspberry jam that I couldn't leave without. It was an easy decision to add a little variety to my niece's birthday celebration cupcake selection by getting 2 regular red velvet cupcakes and two raspberry red velevet cupcakes. 

Angel Cakes cupcakes
photo by Nikki DeMartini

When I got to the register to place and pay for my order of five cupcakes: two Red Velvet, two Raspberry Red Velvet and one Raspberry Passion Fruit, a small sign promoting six cupcakes for $25 got my attention and I wound up leaving with six Angel Cakes cupcakes. The sixth being for my friend who I knew does not like raspberry so she got a Blueberry Walnut cupcake: walnut cake topped with cream cheese frosting with blueberry jam on top of it. The four birthday cupcakes went in a box that held four and the other two went in a box made for two. 

Typically I don't refridgerate cupcakes but since these wouldn't be eaten for a few days that's where they went in the until it was time to celebrate. The two cupcakes for my friend and I were eaten that day. I wasn't planning on reviewing the Raspberry Passion Fruit cupcake, however, the explosion of flavor upon biting into it blew my mind. There was no way I could not, not write a review of this cupcake. 

Red Velvet & Raspberry  Red Velvet  cupcakes from Angel Cakes in Oakland
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Raspberry Passion Fruit cupcake from Angel Cakes in Oakland
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The cake is dense, moist and full of flavor. And I mean, WOW. The passion fruit flavor is no joke. I've had one other Passion Fruit cupcake and to say that it does not compare to this one is an understatement. It's tartness met with the sweetness of the frosting is a perfect match. The fresh raspberry jam adds a little bit more sweet and a little bit more tart without over doing anything, while it's berriness complements the tropical flavor in an unexpectedly, lovely way. Seeing raspberry seeds is a clear indicator that the jam topper is freshly made. In fact, the whole cupcake is divinely fresh, making it all the more delicious. If you are a fan of passion fruit and cupcakes I highly recommend this cupcake. 

Raspberry Red Velvet cupcake from Angel Cakes in Oakland
photo by Nikki DeMartini

On the day of the birthday celebration, I let me niece and sister pick which cupcake they wanted and they both chose the Raspberry Red Velvet. Being that I had already had one of Angel Cakes' cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting and raspeberry jam I was happy with their choice. Reporting back, my niece said she liked the cupcake and that her mom had eaten hers in two bites. Nervous that the cupcakes would taste stale, this came as a releif. I was happy that they both liked the cupcake they chose. 

The Red Velvet was a standard Red Velvet cupcake as far as Red Velvet Cupcakes go. I knew that it would have tasted even better if it was enjoyed when it was fresh. Nevertheless, it was still tasty with the signature not quiet chocolate cake and not too sweet cream cheese frosting. Angel Cakes' cream cheese frosting is more creamy than it is thick and a little more on the sweet side than the cream cheese side. The small piece of dark chocolate and white chocolate striped curl on top parallels this perplexing yet simple flavor and is a nice accentuating touch.

Red Velvet cupcake from Angel Cakes in Oakland
photo by Nikki DeMartini

My one and so far only experience of Angel Cakes cupcakes has already rendered recommendations to others. Not only are the cupcakes great but it's a great small business support. Angel Cakes also offers full size cakes, mini cupcakes, vegan and gluten free options along with other treats like lemon bars, cookies and macarons.  Order online or walk in to see what you can walk out with. I can't imagine leaving with a treat from Angel Cakes that isn't short of heavenly. 

Red Velvet cupcakes from Angel Cakes in Oakland
photo by Nikki DeMartini

2025 Playlist

 Have I become one of those people who doesn't listen to albums? The answer here is yes and no. 

Do I listen to albums cover to cover? Yes.
Did I listen to new albums in full that were released last year to constitute a favorite album of the year list for 2025? No I did not.

Do I have an album of the year? Yes but it was not released this year.

The album that I kept revisiting, the album that resonated with me, with all of the trials and trimbulations that 2025 brought and that will most likely carry on was Idles' Ultra Mono from 2020. 2020 was of course, the final full year of the first Trump administration while 2025 was the year that the second Trump administration started.

In the absence of a favorite album of the year list for 2025, I've put together a playlist of songs that were released over the course of the year. There is no rhyme nor reason to the placement of the songs which is to say that the first song isn't my number one favorite song of the year, so on and so forth. 

1. Wavves "Busy Sleeping": San Diego's Wavves released their 9th studio album Spun last June. "Busy Sleeping" caught my ear with a sound reministent of 2010's King Of The Beach.

2. Lambrini Girls "Big Dick Energy":  If there's an album that comes close to being my number one album of last year this is it. Lambrini Girls struck big with their debut album Who Let The Dogs Out in 2025. It's the girl power movement we all need as the world around us grows even more overtly misogynistic.

3. Steve Lacy "Nice Shoes": This song is more like a spoken word poem with every nonchalant word ringing true therefore widely relateable. Steve Lacy is yet another artist from the R&B relm blending genres and taking the plunge into a more interspective and mature psyche.  

4 . King Princess "Cry Cry Cry" : The name of the 5th song "Cry Cry Cry" on King Princess's 3rd album Girl Violence caught my eye so I gave it a listen. It's indie-pop flare and bratty, blunt chorus tickeled my fancy. 

5. Drama "On The Way": I sure do love me some music from Drama. The duo from Chicago didn't drop an album but they did give us a few songs and "On They Way" was one of them. It's a little deep, a little cool, calm and dancey. It's a whole lot of Drama and I can't get enough of it. 

6. Turnstile "SUNSHOWER":  Their highly anticipated follow up to 2021's Glow On, 2025's Never Enough dropped last June. You can find Turnstile at Coachella this year which will be a real life sunshower indeed. It would be fun, and fitting, to see them play this song live at any Spring time or Summer time music festival.  

7. Idles "Doom": Thanks to the 2025 movie Caught Stealing we got a new underlying, politically charged single from Idles. Best listened to loud, "Doom" came just in time for when we the people need it most.  

8. Arooj Aftab (Khruangbin remix) "raat ki rani": The fact that this is a Khruangbin remix drew me to give this song a listen because, Khruangbin. It's seductivly romantic. Seducing with it's ethereal, cathartic sound that's difficult to describe in words but easy to understand when listened to.   

9. Andre 3000 "i spend all day waiting for the night": Andre 3000's outfit at the Met Gala last year makes so much sense after seeing the album cover art for last year's 7 Piano Sketches. This song starts with a kinda creepy intro which I am totally into. The song itself is melodramatic with pounding keys accentuated by drums. This track stuck out to me because of it's name since I too use to spend all day waiting for the night. Now, I can't wait to go to bed to wake up to a new day everyday. Andre 3000 said see ya later flutes, it's piano time.
Where will this experimental musician take us next?

10. Nine Inch Nails (TRON Ares) "As Alive As You Need Me To Be": Thanks to yet another TRON re-boot and the ceaseless EDM boom, industrial electro-rockers, Nine Inch Nails, might have never come out of  movie score hiding. With another tour up their sleeve this year and an appearance with Boys Noize at Coachella this Spring, I for one couldn't be more excited for the return of and hopefully more than a tour from NIN. 

11. Alabama Shakes "Another Life": The last time we got an ablum from Alabama Shakes was 2015. Ten years later they gave us the single, "Another Life".  

12. Miley Cyrus "Something Beautiful": The title track off her last studio album won me over with it's soulful twang and curveball by way of that gritty beat drop.

                        13. Brooke Candy "POGO": Sometimes you just need a raunchy, thrashy, hyper sexualized dance romp from Brooke Candy and she gave it to us in 2025.

14. Princess Nokia "Drop Dead Gorgeous": Off the beaten path of her usual hip-hop driven tracks as we hear Princess Nokia veering more pop on this one and I'm here for it. 

15. Die Spitz "RIDING WITH MY GIRLS": When I found out that Die Spitz is on Jack White's Third Man Records label I had to give them a listen and "RIDING WITH MY GIRLS" sold me. 

16. Choke Cherry "Secrets":

I really wanted SF's Choke Cherry to be another grungy garage rock girl band, however they're a little on the softer side. "Secrets" is my pick off of their debut album Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls which dropped last November. 

17. Mac DeMarco "Knockin": There's something about the slow tempo strumming and singing heard on side B track 4, "Knockin" from Mac DeMarco's sixth studio album, Guitar that struck a cord with me. The Canadian singer/songwriter released the album on his own record label, Mac's Label in Aguust 2025.  

18. Madi Diaz "Feel Something": Touched by the song off her 7th studio album, Fatal Optimism, "Feel Something" as an ode to everyone who's ever found themselves in a relationship with a narcasist or an emotionally avoidant person. Stripped down to her voice and guitar amplifies it's overall rawness, playing into the rawness of awakening to the realization that your own emotions have been eroded.  Being breadcrumbed along the way before finding your way back to what makes you you by allowing feeling to flow and workign through why you feel the way you do. It's a song to listen to alone, perhaps on a walk through the woods or while having your morning coffee or afternoon tea. 

19. Fred Again + Amyl & The Sniffers "You're A Star": I didn't jump on the Fred Again bandwagon when he burst onto the scene a couple years ago but I'm on it for this one. I love me some Amyl & The Sniffers and dig this punk, dance fusion. It's a PDM collab, if you will. 

20. Earth to Eve "THREAT LEVEL ORANGE":  Unlike the subject at hand, "THREAT LEVEL ORANGE" it's clever, it's smart and it's factually accurate. Lyrically delivered in more of a rapping style while the over all vibe is punk, there's so many things to love about this track from Earth to Eve.  It doesn't pretend that our democracy and basic human decency in this country is disappearing before our eyes. This isn't the only politically powered single she released last year and hopefully it won't be the last because shared like minded thinking and awareness seems to be the only sense of hope we have these days. 

21. Cardi B "Check Please":  This is the only track I've heard from Cardi B's 2025 album, Am I the Drama?.  "Check Please" is the energy I'll be carrying throughout 2026. #teamcardi #feelinglikeabadbitchallgoddamnday

22. Couch "Window": My favorite track off of Couch's debut album. A dreamy sound thanks to layered horns and melodic harmonies. It's uplifting indie song reminding listeners to be thankful for what we have. 

23. Wolf Alice "Bloom Baby Bloom": Wolf Alice returned with vigor last year with their 4th studio album, The Clearing. Frontwoman Ellie Roswell sounds stronger than ever on "Bloom Baby Boom". With vocals that are reministant of an early 2000's Kimbra, an intense build up and powerful drop to round out this solid rock n roll song. Welcome back, Wolf Alice.  

24. Wet Leg "Catch These Fists": We all fell for Wet Leg's first single "Chaise Longue" when it dropped in 2022. Three years later, their new found confidence shines on their sophomore album as they've clearly found themselves, in more ways than one, and we love to hear it. Understandably so, the feisty independent woman anthem, "Catch These Fists" is the first single off their new album.  

25. Modern Nature "Zoology": Heard about Modern Nature by chance late last year. "Zoology" is like a modern day lullaby for indie kids.

 

26. Mt. Joy "More More More": Easily one of my favorite songs of last year. With it's sutble build up and crashing beat drop, Mt. Joy's "More More More" sparks an unassuming joy.

27. Ecca Vandal "MOLLY": Straight from South Africa, Ecca Vandal's 2025 single "MOLLY" is fun, it's punky in a screamo way and if you've ever had bad news broken to you while under any type of influence, it's relateable. Plus, I love her style. Aside from her appearance at Coachella this year, I'm looking forward to more from her.  

28. Girl Tones "Again": Yet another girl group giving us their take on grungy, punky girl power. "Again" is enjoyable again and again and leaves us wanting more from Kentucky's Girl Tones. 

29. Khruangbin "Little Joe and Mary ii": I think it's safe to say I am a big fan of everything Khruangbin does. For instance, surprising us with a new album in 2025 after giving us one in 2024. I could listen to the first track, "Little Joe and Mary ii" off of their sixth studio album, The Universe Smiles Upon You ii everyday for the forseable future.   

30. Olivia Dean "Man I Need": 2025 was Olivia Dean's year partly due to this hit single of hers and for good reason. It's catchy, her voice is solid and she's not the only one searching for the man she quote unquote needs (wants). 

31. Madonna "Drowned World/Substitute For Love": I almost forgot that Madonna released a remix album of songs from her 7th studio album, 1998's Ray of Light called Veronica Electronica until my Dad gifted me the album on CD for Christmas. The first track brought me back and made me remember how much I love the original. Now I love the remix, too.  This is the other album that would be on my favorite albums of 2025 list if I had one.   

As if paying artists mere cents wasn't reason enough to cancel Spotify, up until early 2026 the platform not only supported MAGA's ICE movement but ran recruitment ads for it. Paying for premium therefore paying to hear zero ads doesn't mean they're not there. It's shocking, to say the least, to see how many people still subscribe this streaming platform.

Because of all of Spotify's fascist support and lack there of for musicians, along with Apple's MAGA investments, this playlist can be found on the new streaming platform, Qobuz. Every song might not be available yet on this new platform but it is super easy to transfer playlists from other platforms to this one. We do love conveience, right? And yes, there is a monthly payment due but it's a small price to pay for music we love. 

No More Sprinkles Cupcakes

 On December 31st, 2025 I happened to hear on the radio that Sprinkles Cupcakes was closing. I quickly tried to figure out how much time I had to get in one last Sprinkles cupcake review only to learn that as of that very same day, all Sprinkles locations were closed. That was it, no more Sprinkles. 

Apparently customers weren't the only ones shocked by this news. It turns out that Sprinkles employees were given a day or less notice of the closure. They also got no severance pay. Happy New Year. 

In 2005 Sprinkles founder, Candance Nelson, opened the first Sprinkles Cupcakes location in Beverly Hills. She subsequently pioneered the gourmet cupcake trend. By 2008 Sprinkles was all the rage, easily the front runner of the cupcake craze and opened it's first Northern California location at The Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto. 

In Februaury 2012 I lost a boss, a friend, a mentor. Robin Rockwell was and is a radio legend who rocked the promotions department at alternative rock radio stations in San Diego then San Francisco. Robin loved a big rock show. She had a special way of lifting people up to make them realize their full potential and she loved to laugh. Oh brother that infectious laugh of hers! She also loved cupcakes. When I left radio, I started this blog reviewing music and cupcakes. My cupcake reviews are a dedication to Robin and her infinity for the handheld, single serving cakes. She's the one who introduced me to Sprinkles Cupcakes and she's the first person I thought of when I found out about the closure. 

Sprinkles Cupcakes in Palo Alto 2012 
photo by unknown

Not long after her passing, a former co-worker and I took a trip down to Sprinkles in Palo Alto and had cupcakes in Robin's honor. I got what would become one of my favorite Sprinkles' flavors, the Black & White: Belgian Dark Chocolate cake with vanilla frosting topped with chocolate paillettes. The chocolatey-est chocolate cake that isn't chocolate flourless cake that I've come across. August 4th, 2012 was the first time I reviewed a Sprinkles cupcake, the Chocolate Marshmellow. 

That same year, the first Sprinkles Cupcake ATM opened at the same store where it all started in Beverly Hills. This revolutionized the cupcake industry, making Sprinkles Cupcakes available 24/7. 2012 was also the year that founder Candance Nelson sold her hugely successful cupcakery to the private equity firm, KarpReilly. 

It took me six years but in 2018 I finally made it to that cupcake ATM, got a cupcake from it and reviewed it. It was a spin on what was probably their most popular flavor, a Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting but this one had crushed red hot candies in the frosting making it a Red Hot Velvet cupcake. I remember it being good and I was stoked about finally getting a cupcake from a cupcake ATM. 

Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM in Beverly Hills 2018 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

In the 13 years that I've been reviewing music and cupcakes for my blog, 

I only reviewed Sprinkles Cupcakes a handful of times. I've eaten plenty of Sprinkles Cupcakes over the years and reviewing every single one would have been too easy. There's a lot of cupcakes out there and I have to review as many different ones from different places as I can to know which cupcakes are better than the rest. Sprinkles was up there with their perfectly manicured frosting and signature fondant button on top of almost all of their cupcakes. I did always wish that the cup part of their cupcake was a tad girthier though. 

In the Summer of 2024 I reviewed what would, unbeknownced to me, be my last Sprinkles Cupcakes cupcake reveiw, the Pride Sprinkle cupcake. It was the flavor of the month for June, which is Pride month, and the cupcake was filled with rainbow sprinkles, my fave on, in, or off cupcakes. 

The cupcake craze faded considerably since the early to mid 2000s but cupcakeries and cupcakes are still all around. Sprinkles was always on top when it came to cupcakes which compounds the confusion and has enthusiasts wondering, what happened? 

What else does KarpReilly own?

Why did they do Sprinkles Cupcakes employees so dirty? 

How much money did Nelson get when she sold Sprinkles?

If you're looking for answers on-line the Sprinkles website offers no information, it doesn't even state that they've gone out of business. The Sprinkles Cupcakes social media pages have been deleted, deactivated, wiped clean, as if  Sprinkles never existed. 

The only conclusion I could think of is that sales had to be down, way down. Did inflation costs which all of us feel, make matters worse? Baking ingredients aren't cheap and they're not getting any cheaper. Did rising costs leave those in charge feeling hopeless about cashing in big moving forward? 

Pride Sprinkle cupcake from Sprinkles Cupcakes 2024 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

A private equity firm is an investmate company that pools money from wealthy individuals and institutions to buy, improve and sell companies not listed in the public stock exchange. They aim to produce high profits by growing the business or restructuring the business over several years. 

KarpReilly owns stakes in small to mid sized consumer growth companies which is quite unsettling of you think about it. How many Sprinkles Cupcakes lovers thought they were supporting a woman owned business that started small only to have the rug pulled out from under them, exposing the man behind the curtain. KarpReilly also owns Salt & Straw Ice Creamery, Spindrift Sparkling Water and Koia Protein Shakes. 

In the age of gross consumerism where everyone is inudated with information that's more often than not taken at face value with little to no research done before drawing a conclusion, what we witnessed with Sprinkles Cupcakes comes as a reminder to slow down. Know where your dollars are going. Are you supporting small, local businesses or are you feeding the gluttonous man?

Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Spend wisely. 

Couch @ The Fonda Theatre December 10th, 2025

As Thanksgiving approached I couldn't shake the thought of this year going by without offically covering a concert. So, despite December being the start of the slow season for live music, I looked up what shows were coming to town. I hadn't heard of the band Couch before they popped up in my search. They sounded fresh and pop-y when I gave them a go, so I set out to cover their show at The Fonda Theatre on December 10th. Low and behold, on show day I got word that I was approved to cover the show that night.

After working what feels like countless shows, it sure does feel good to go to a show. Sure, in a sense I was working but reviewing shows is not work to me.

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Finding nearby parking didn't take too long which was great because I was a few minutes late for the estimated start time. With doors opening at 7:00pm and one opener I had guessed Couch would go on at 9:00pm. 

The Fonda 12/10/2025 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Live music seeped from the open doors beyond the mags as I collected my ticket from will-call around 9:05pm, confiming that the show had indeed already begun. I hurried inside to a crowded floor as the first song "What Were You Thinking" came to an end. Making my way to stage left in hopes of finding some wiggle room a little closer to the action, the crowd cheered and clapped as the next song began. 

Vivacious applause following an obvious fan favorite "Jessie" from their 2023 EP Sunshower simmered down as singer Tema Siegel informed show goers at The Fonda that night that it was family photo time. She explained that this is when they pass around disposable cameras so the crowd can take photos of themselves. If so inclined, people can purchase their Couch family photos knowing that all proceeds go to a Rosie's Place, a women's shelter  in Austin Texas which happens to be where the band from. 

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Listening to their latest ablum, 2025's Big Talk, Couch struck me as a pop band, the vocals reminding me HAIM while the bouts of horns give their sound some ska flare. 

There's a lot more soul along with some funk and a whole lot more from the horn section when they perform live.  

Siegel gracefully dominates the stage with powerful vocals and lively energy that makes you want to be friends with her. She can belt it out from the bottom of her being then hold a note like you could hardly believe coming from a petite front lady in an indie pop band. 

It's abundantley clear that Couch is comfortable on stage, playing with each other and performing in front of others. Naturally because of that their vibe was well recieved and reciprocrated over and over again at the start of each song and again and the end of each song. 

Their debut full length album, Big Talk  dropped not too long ago in October so of course most of their set was comprised of songs from it. 

Treating us to as a keyboard solo, a drum solo and no shortage of solos from the horns they also conversed to and with the crowd  betwix songs through out the show.  Maybe it was because this was their LA show, the entertainment mecca where people come to find stardom but they didn't take their stage presence or crowd engagment lightly. It had me wondering how long they'd been on tour. Turns out this was the tail end of their 2025 run, which is impressive in and of itself being how full steam ahead they were. With three shows following their LA stint, Couch will be back on the road at the top of next year.

Catchy through and through, this up and coming band means business. Fun loving business in a work hard, play hard vain. I can easily see them drawing a crowd at a mid day performance at a Summer music festival with their signature yet familiar sound, then having people stick around until the end of their set because of their insatiable go get it attitude their live show permeates. 

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The show ebbed and flowed between slow, mid and more upbeat tempos continually yet even when tempos dipped the vibe remained high. 

I myself was quiet content when Siegel wondered out loud if we ever go on night walks and find ourselves peering in windows that aren't ours for a glimpse in to other people's lives. Seeing things that we percieve as nicer than what we have only to realize that what we have is also quite nice. I have peered through other people's windows for years wondering what their lives were like and admiring what I could see, so I personally connected with the sentiment of an awakening of gratitude she was alluding to as a prelude to my favorite song from their LP, "Window".

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

A little later, about half way through "Still Feeling You" Siegel took time to introduce a gal named Haley who had started out as a loyal fan, working her way up from selling merch to hitting the road with them. Working in part as assistant tour manager, VIP and merch manager to a guest saxophonist, Haley joined the horn section on stage for a short but sweet sax solo. 

After showing some love for the openers, Siegel invited the singer from Night Talks, Soraya Sebghati, back to the stage. The two front ladies covered Britney Spears' "Toxic" in a charismatically entertaining lounge style duet. 

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Just when one might think there couldn't be any more crowd interaction up their sleeves, the keyboardist took an opporotunity to get the left side of the room, the right side of the room and show goers who wound up in the middle of the room to harmonize certain parts of "Lucky To Be Stuck With You". 

Couch gracisously continued with little lulls here and there. During one pause between songs they acknowledged and thank their entire crew and production team which is seldomly seen done at shows. It was so nice to witness a band appreciating the hard, tiring and most often than not thankless jobs done by the people who make the show go on behind the scenes night after night, tour after tour. Before the en core Siegel made the rounds on stage introducing her bandmates as "Summer with You" rounded out the regular set. 

Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025
photo by Nikki DeMartini

As mentioned above, Couch continues touring in early 2026 starting at the Buffalo Iron works in Buffalo New York on January 23rd and bringing them to the Broadberry in Richmond Virginia on Febuary 3rd before hopping the pound for shows in the UK in March. 

There's also the chance to catch Couch next July at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival and see if I guessed right about them delivering a good mid day fest set. 

Couch at The Fonda Theatre 12/10/2025 

1. What Were You Thinking 

2. Saturday 

3. Little Less Over You 

4. Jessie

5. Poems

6. Slow Burn 

7. Alright 

8. LA

9. Window 

10. Static and Noise 

11. Still Feeling You 

12. Lucky To Be Stuck With You 

13. Transparent 

14. Toxic 

15. Autumn 

16. One Night 

17. So Myself 

18. On The Wire 

19. Summer With You 

en core 

20. Easy To Love 

21. Middle Man