[Tribute] One hit of the electric piano will buckle your knees! Keep on dancing forever to the "ultimate sit-down-and-talk groove" left behind by soul & funk giant Latimore! Hey everybody! It’s your boy Funky Dave Monroe, who was unconsciously bobbing his head back and forth to the bassline so hard today that my chiropractor deadpan told me, "Your neck vertebrae are keeping time with the funk rhythm." But today, I’ve got to wipe away a few tears and drop the needle on the record with an extra-large dose of love and respect. A true legend of the Miami soul and funk scene—the giant whose insanely deep vocals and sublime electric piano shook hips all around the world—Latimore (born Benjamin William Lattimore) has passed away at the age of 86. This is what it truly means when they say music shakes your soul. Allow me to dive deep and celebrate the undisputedly groovy classics he left us and that bottomless allure that pulls you in and never lets you go! …

Messy Lawsuits, 23-Year Feuds, and Guitars That Laugh It All Away: Don Felder and The Guess Who Deliver Raw Grit and the Blues Late at night, swirling a glass of cheap whiskey, a thought often crosses my mind: the messiest, most stubborn knot in this world isn't romance or debt—it’s the wounded pride of longtime bandmates. On August 19, 2026, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, the music ringing through the night was the very definition of premium blues, delivered by men who’ve tasted every bitter and sweet drop life has to offer. Taking the stage were former The Eagles guitarist Don Felder, followed by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, reuniting after an astonishing 23 years apart. …

[Rest for the Thunder God] Former AC/DC powerhouse drummer Chris Slade announces retirement at 79! Rockheads everywhere headbang in tears over 60 years of explosive beats Is this ringing in my ears from hitting too many gigs, or is it from this shocking news?! All drummers and hard rock fans, stand at attention and raise your sticks! The battle-tested beatmaster who anchored the colossal groove of **AC/DC** and shook the earth in countless legendary bands, **Chris Slade**, has announced that he is finally putting down his drumsticks at the age of 79! Honestly, the moment I saw this on my phone, I almost screamed "THUNDER!" right in the middle of a packed commuter train, earning a massive double-take from the salaryman next to me. Damn it, that's not sweat pouring from my eyes—it's machine oil! …

Can’t Stop the 2-Step! Zara Larsson & PinkPantheress Finally Collide Live on Stage in London! Hey, hey, hey! To the 10 million groove addicts out there, how are we doing?! It’s your boy, Funky Dave Monroe! Just this morning on a packed commuter train, I was looping a bassline in my head and nearly broke into full-on dance steps—only to have the businessman next to me calmly point out, "Excuse me... you're stepping on my foot." Well, my funk radar just picked up some seriously massive vibes coming straight out of London. That's right—UK pop/beat architect PinkPantheress and Sweden’s powerhouse diva Zara Larsson finally joined forces for a historic first-ever live performance together at London’s All Points East festival! …

【40% of New Songs Made by AI? You've Got to Be Kidding Me—We've Been Sharpening Our Chops in the Wings: Sera Cahoone Plays the Gritty Blues of Real Life】 Pour cheap bourbon into a glass, and the ice clinks against the side. At an hour like this, when the night breeze turns a little damp, I don't want slick, digitally manufactured chart-toppers—I want music soaked in human body heat and stale cigarette smoke. I almost spat out my whiskey when I saw the news recently. According to a report by Ultimate Classic Rock, nearly 40% of all new songs being released are AI-generated or AI-assisted. On top of that, most of them don't even disclose that they're using AI. Come on, are you kidding me? Sure, Professor AI might calculate a chord progression in 0.1 seconds, but has it been programmed with the physical ache of getting your heart broken and falling behind on rent? Meanwhile, I'm still out here living a painfully human daily life, getting robbed of change by the neighborhood vending machine and standing there helpless. The world has gotten a little too convenient, and frankly, a bit lonely. But don't worry. Straight from the sweat-and-dust grit of the real world—not some chilly Silicon Valley server room—genuine roots music is making its return. That brings us to the news spotlighted by No Depression: Seattle-based singer-songwriter and percussionist Sera Cahoone. …

【CHEERS! SYMPHONY X is finally on the move! Hitting the studio in September to record their long-awaited new album! Get ready to headbang!】 Hey, metalheads across the globe, are you still breathing!? Crank your speakers up to 11 right now! It's been long... far too long. How many years has it even been since their last record, Underworld (2015)? After enough time has passed to rewind the clock and dig up all of this writer's embarrassing teenage memories, the progressive metal giants **SYMPHONY X** are finally returning to the studio! The moment I read this news on my morning commute, I almost let out a guttural death growl right there while clutching the train strap, earning me some serious "this guy is crazy" looks from the businessman next to me. But can you blame me?! The metal gods are descending upon the earth once again! …

Your Hips Will Move to the Beat on Their Own! Let Me Tell You About the Dangerously Addictive Soul-Jazz Classic "The 'In' Crowd" by Ramsey Lewis Trio! Hey hey hey! Groove addicts across the country, are your hips shaking today?! I'm Funky Dave Monroe, JOCOLLA Music News' resident funk enthusiast—the guy whose right foot starts locking into the offbeat before his pen even hits the page! Quick question: have you ever encountered a sound so irresistible that the second you hear it, you just want to drop every single daily task and start stepping? Full confession: this morning on a packed train, the moment this track hit my earbuds, I nearly busted out a hard offbeat knee-lift while still clutching the hand strap, earning a massive double-take from the salaryman next to me. I almost completely grooved myself right out of polite society! Today, the spotlight is on the prime culprit behind that madness! We're talking about the ridiculously addictive charm of the soul-jazz classic of the century, "The 'In' Crowd," released by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, led by Chicago's genius pianist Ramsey Lewis! …

A Legendary Bloodline and the Roar of a Strat! Duane Betts Delivers the "Soul of Southern Rock" at the Historic Troubadour Sipping a glass of bourbon late at night, I sometimes find myself thinking: there are men in this world born carrying the heavy cross of their father's name. If my old man had named me "Jimi Clapton," the sheer pressure would have burned a hole in my stomach. I would've smashed my guitar by my mid-teens and played it safe with prep books for civil service exams. But this man was built different. Duane Betts—son of the legendary Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, and named after the once-in-a-generation genius Duane Allman. On August 21st, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel took the stage at West Hollywood’s historic, revered venue, the Troubadour. Inside that packed, intimate room of around 500 fans, the music that rang out carried the dusty winds of the '70s and a sweet sense of nostalgia—pure, authentic blues and Southern rock. …

[RUSH 2026 Tour Descends & Deep Purple Still Going Strong! Are the Rock Gods Immortal? Special Report] Tinnitus is a rock badge of honor, and if you open my closet, black band tees are stacked up like geological strata—it’s Johnny Thunderstone! I just got a wall-bang from my neighbor this morning after cranking my guitar straight into the amp, but who cares about petty trouble like that when you can just turn the amp up to 11 and blast it away! We’ve got an avalanche of heavyweight news from the global hard rock and heavy metal scenes that’ll leave you headbanging till your neck snaps! --- …

Queen Chaka Khan's latest track "Curious Subject" is absolute fire! Experience the captivating four-on-the-floor groove hitting funk junkies right in the hips! Hey, hey, hey! How's it going, funk freaks across the universe?! It's your boy, Funky Dave Monroe! Out of nowhere, let me make a confession. The moment I listened to this new track on a packed train this morning, the groove was so razor-sharp that my right hip snapped on its own, nearly elbowing the salaryman standing next to me. I almost had to explain to a police officer, "Sorry, officer, the groove just wouldn't stop!" And who's responsible for this life-threatening (?) experience? None other than the undisputed, reigning queen of funk and soul herself: Chaka Khan! …