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This year's 'premier' Chicago convention really snuck up on us. Just yesterday we were complaining about the snow that was falling...just yesterday, after Third and Fourth False Spring came on a little too intensely. Anyway, that's neither here nor there other than to say, take a jacket but wear layers to this year's convention. Our second piece of unsolicited advice? Plan to arrive early, because most of the panels expected to be the most highly attended have been pushed to the beginning of the day, which means parking will fill up fast and lines will form very early. This is especially relevant to LOTR, Breakfast Club and Critical Role fans, whose panels are the "headliners" of this year's event. You don't have to make a Main Stage panel to have a complete blast at C2E2 though, and we hope you check out some of the lesser known programming. This year there's all sorts of interests represented from the standard comics, superhero and pop culture fare to bellydancing, soldering, fitness, cooking and more. There's a lot of different paths you can take to a good time. Attend a meetup for your favorite fandom. Do some Star Wars Yoga, or pull up a story rug for Drag Story Hour. Check out the new comedy track featuring some amazing improv, standup and more... the con's your oyster! Make your own pearl! It's overwhelming staring at that panel schedule, so we've gone ahead and started you down the DIY Con Weekend Track with this Choose Your Own Adventure Preview. Now it's your job to download the app (so you can set reminders for panels you don't wanna miss and get notifications of time/location changes), find your comfy shoes, pack some snacks and get on the road bright and early for the official opening of con season in Chicago. Friday, April 11th, 2025 'Dawn is ever the hope of men' and if you're an LOTR fan wanting to go on an adventure with the lion's share of the cast of the Lord of the Rings, then it's gonna be when you need to get up and get on the road to get to C2E2. This year's kickoff is for you. There and Back Again: A Lord of the Rings Cast Reunion features Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, John Ryhs-Davies, and Andy Serkis. Crowds are expected for this first big panel on the Main Stage at 11 am , and there's already an overflow room set up for it, so you need to be parked and inside at least an hour or two beforehand if you want to get up close or even in the same room for this one. OR If you're into being a maker and want to take some time to make something fun, head over to Friendship is a Superpower and make and take friendship bracelets in the N137 workshops at 11:00 where some of the best maker fun can be had. If you'd rather catch some great gaming action , head over to Side Quest on the show floor at 11 am, where local friends I Play Games! is hosting the Chicago High School Esports Exhibition. Cheer on your favorites, and learn how you can be competitive. Continue on in your game inspired journey by heading over to the FromSoftware Games Meetup in N135 at 1:30 if you'd like to find other souls who have been hurt by the Anor Londo archery club, developed trust issues due to mimics or had to chase crazy head caged men around a level. Clearly there's a lot to unpack, but the costumes should also bring Fashion Souls to life. OR If you're a foodie or an aspiring chef or a Pokemon fan (or both!) don't miss From Screen to Kitchen: Creating Recipes Inspired by Pop Culture/Media Live in S401 at 1:30 , where cookbook and comic book author Jarrett Melendez is going to show you how to make chocolate macaroons from scratch -- and they'll have beaks! The next big event is something that'll be on a lot of gamers' can't miss lists , as the Rolling the Dice: The Cast of Baldur's Gate 3 panel will be on the Main Stage at 2pm. This panel, put on by Popverse, features Neil Newbon (Astarion), Devora Wilde (Lae’zel), Jennifer English (Shadowheart), and Aliona Baranova (Corinna the Squirrel, Motion Capture/Performance Director) and should have lots of behind-the-scenes stories, with a few surprises also in store. Later, if you've got talent or simply want to see if the rest of those folks you've been pushing past on the floor all day do , crowd yourself back into the Main Stage at 4:30 and get cozy for C2E2's first ever Talent Show . According to the panel info, we should be seeing singing, dancing, juggling, comedy, and plenty of other things. Grab the popcorn and get into it! Otherwise, TV fans who love Psych might want to catch Kurt Fuller and Kirsten Nelson's "The Psychologists are in" rewatch podcast live at 5pm in S404 and featuring one of its stars, Maggie Lawson . This is a separately ticketed event and you must also have a valid C2E2 Friday badge for entry. If you're just here for the party, party with Chicago's own Jackbox Games when they host the Jackbox Games Party Power Hour at 5:15 in S403 , where you can play a proper party pack with some local improv stars - and look for Jackbox all over this year's show schedule and floor with plenty of time for fun and games, and lots of room to see some of your favorite guests step in to play a round of Quiplash. Finally, if you're a fan of comedy of the finest caliber , count your lucky stars, since the WorkJuice Improvisers, who include the likes of Craig Cackowski, Jonathan Dinerstein, Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney and a few as yet unnamed special guests. They'll be there for Workjuice Improv: featuring cast from the Thrilling Adventure Hour . This 18+ event is separately ticketed but happens on site at 9:30 pm in S404. Saturday, April 11th Now, it wasn't just the Lord of the Rings fans who have to take the L in the sleeping in on a con weekend category. You're also gonna have to shake off the previous night's tomfoolery in time to line right up for another giant 11 am panel on the Main Stage . And don't you forget about it. That's right. It's a panel 40 years in the making right here where the action happened. Don't You Forget About Me: The Breakfast Club 40th Anniversary Reunion . Honestly, if you're a John Hughes fan...you need to be there . Or at least try to make it to the overflow. Who will you be seeing there? Well, Molly Ringwald (Claire), Anthony Michael Hall (Brian), Judd Nelson (Bender), and Ally Sheedy (Allison) are all on the roster. Find out all about the making and revel in the nostalgia and feeling of superiority knowing even more about a classic film will give you. If you for some reason can't make it off the hotel room floor, you can also livestream this panel . Don't say we didn't help you out in your hour of need. If for some reason that doesn't get you pumped up, you might want to hit up S402 at 11 and join Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn and friends for Welcome to Twilight . You can ALSO make a difference as a cosplayer or a fan by having some thoughtful conversations at the convention , by interacting with the panelists at A Guide to DEI in the Cosplay Community in S401 at 11 am . This panel features cosplayers who are LGBTQ, disabled, POC and plus-sized and who can share their real life experiences (good and bad) Booklovers should hustle over to the Main Stage at noon when Tomi Adeyemi of the Legacy of Orisha series where she'll be talking about the conclusion, Children of Anguish and Anarchy, in a moderated panel also featuring host Ashley Leggs, founder of the AshMedia Network and host of the Slay Girl Slay podcast. Those who love stage shows and comedies and podcasts and, well, fun , should really make an effort to get to S404 for the Thrilling Adventure Hour's 20th Anniversary at 12:30 . If you're not familiar with the longrunning show that's been a darling in LA and come to Chicago a few times before, don't worry, it's full of an amazing cast of incredibly funny people who've done everything from Brooklyn 99 to Legend of Korra , Drunk History , Venture Brothers and everything in between and it could not be a better time. We say that because we're certain, and we'll have an interview with the cast to prove it shortly after this convention! BUT If Star Wars is where your heart lies , don't miss the John Boyega Spotlight on the Main Stage at 12:30 instead . You'll get to hear about his journey to being an actor and eventually how he got to Star Wars - that's a pretty meteoric rise and Boyega's charm is sure to delight. Those who want to do something wholesome, fun and relaxing should pull up a little piece of floor in Family HQ Interactive at 1 for Drag Story Hour . This show features a rotating cast of Chicago's favorites, and today's lineup will include Amanda Lynn, Coco Sho-Nell, Miss Muffy and Mrs. Yuka all in their convention finest ready to read some great stories to people of all ages who have ears to hear it. If you don't wanna leave the jungle, crawl out through the fallout and meet your fellow Vault Dwellers over at the Grand Concourse for the Fallout Series Meetup , where you can admire all manner of interesting cosplay and show off your perfectly shined up Pip Boy. This will start at 2:15 until whenever the Super Mutants start to cause major issues. We're from Chicago, so we're gonna suggest yet another Jackbox Games Party Power Hour for you at 2:30 on Saturday in S401 . Why? Because it's fun. And also because this time, it features members of the Thrilling Adventure Hour podcast , who we also love. Just...do yourself a favor and have a blast with some of the funniest people playing some of the best party games ever. We'd be remiss to leave out horror fans , so join some of Chicago's finest horror authors for The Horror That Made Us and find out what inspired them to create their own horror tales, and what they're liking now. There's not always a ton of chances to get into the horror at C2E2 so do horror fans a favor and make sure you attend at 2:45 in S402-B so these panels keep happening. Voice acting aficionados and animation lovers should be THRILLED about the good news on Saturday at 3:30 on the Main Stage . What's the news? Well, that's when Good News, Everyone! a Futurama Cast Reunion hits the stage, and this one features Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, Phil LaMarr and Lauren Tom . Just...get your butt in the seats, ok? Trust us. Action movie fans might want to shift to S404 at 3:30 though, where Peter Weller and Nancy Allen will be appearing in the Dead or Alive: A RoboCop Reunion panel . If you're torn between the two, join the rest of us in trying to somehow make both panels. Kids and people who just like slime should head over to Family HQ Workshops at 4pm and learn more about slime in A Hands On Look At Slime . Don't worry, it's also hands on, so you won't just have to sit back, you'll get to do something (hey, millenials were raised on slime, ok?). Find out more about this viral sensation that first got popular during the glorious age of Nickelodeon. Then, if you're in Chicago and you're not gonna go see Svengoolie , what are you even doing with your life? You've got time to sit with a Chicago horror icon , so head to S403-AB at 5pm and get educated! One thing we've always liked about C2E2 is how much it shows off Chicago's best sides , and nowhere is this more clear than the Second City Improv Show at C2E2 . This kicks off at 5:30 on the Main Stage and if you've never seen a Second City show correct that at this con. Name a comedy legend- any comedy legend, and you'll find that there's only a handful who haven't graced the hallowed halls of Piper Alley. Webcomic fans will want to head to S401 at 5:30 meanwhile, when the legends that are Cyanide & Happiness' creators take the stage and show off their process and some behind-the-scenes goodies. Then cosplayers and just people who want to see something amazing should make their way to the Cosplay Crown Championship Regionals, Finals and Globals , all happening at 7:30 pm on the Main Stage. This isn't just a standard convention cosplay competition- it represents the best of the best from all over the world and you will see costumes that it is hard to believe could even be real, so delay your dinner and get in the mood for some amazing sights. For your late night entertainment, stick around for the C2E2 Chicago Stand Up Comedy Showcase (18+) at 9 pm in S402 to see the class of 2025 here in Chicago to make you fall out of your seat laughing (just make sure you don't crush your cosplay. ) Once this finishes off, GO TO YOUR ROOM, because you've got one more day of show to go! Ok, fine, go drink at the Hyatt bar. But don't miss out on Sunday, y'hear? Sunday, April 13th Ok, I feel like we've been repeating this a lot, but you're gonna want to get up early for this one. Why? Well, if you're into DnD, or y'know, you watch any TTRPG content at all , it's pretty exciting that the first big thing that happens on the Main Stage on Sunday is the Critical Role panel. This one kicks off at 11 (but parking and security mean you'll need to, what's that again, GET UP EARLY) Everyone's gonna be there, or at least Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Taliesin Jaffe will be. If you're feeling grumpy from all the getting up early and you want to argue, or you just like movies and spirited debates, go ahead and pack up your stuff to get a seat in S402A at 12:15 for the Movies Everyone Disagrees With You On panel , where you'll get to agree to disagree agreeably. Maybe. Or at least you'll get some hot takes out there. OR if you were enamored with the amazing ghouls and boys of Monster High , you CAN go back with the Monster High School Reunion in N135 at 11 am . If you love parody and bugs and sci-fi movies that are eternal classics...you're going to want to hit up the Main Stage at 12:30 for The Only Good Bug Is a Dead Bug: A Starship Troopers Reunion which will feature Casper Van Dien (Johnny Rico), Jake Busey (Ace Levy), Denise Richards (Carmen Ibanez), Dina Meyer (Dizzy Flores), and Michael Ironside (Jean Rasczak) Gamers, there's reason to hang around, especially if you're Nintendo stan s. That's because at 2pm in S403, your quest to trivia greatness begins when you appear at Double NintenDare- a Retro-Fueled Nintendo Game Show . And yes, there's really prizes. So, shape up and get in there. Win one for us! Or, you know, for you. Well, it's time for keyboard cat to play us out, we're gonna need to get to bed for some actual sleep before all the lining up and trying to get you the best from the show floor and beyond. Stay tuned to our socials and right here for daily wrap-ups and cosplay galleries. And repeat after me: Programming is subject to change and this is not even a full slice of the fun you can find on the full schedule.

One of the last times I came out of mosh pit retirement was for The Subhumans when they played Cobra Lounge in what I guess was 2023, but honestly I think it might’ve been five years before that. The last couple years have gone by in a blink but have also been the longest decade of my life so far. In either case, I shoved my way into a circle pretty early on in their set that time, tripped, fell on my bad knee, and promptly hobbled my way towards the back. It was still a great show.  The Subhumans at Reggie's in Chicago. Photo by Aaron Cynic. I was a little more sensible on Sunday at Reggie’s, remembering my fully middle aged body is kind of falling apart even more than it was a few or more years ago, and that there’s no way I could afford to replace the cameras on my shoulders these days if something should happen to them.  I picked up my first Subhumans album when I was a teenager. I was hanging out at the local record store, thumbing through random albums when I stumbled on “The Day the Country Died.” I thought the cover looked cool, and I’d seen their logo painted on people’s jackets at shows. I had no idea at the time but that album changed my life in ways I might still be realizing today. Not only did it open my ears to a sound that would carry through my ears for nearly 30 years and counting, but it opened my mind up to the sheer gravity of how fucked up the world can be.  The Subhumans at Reggie's in Chicago. Photo by Aaron Cynic. Despite feeling my age, when they broke into “All Gone Dead” I felt like I was that kid again, in body, mind, and spirit. The same with every other classic anthem they belted out on Sunday from every legendary album they’ve put out. Just as angry (if not more) than I was when I was young, but more pointed, more informed, with stakes that feel even more dire. I was probably a teenager the first time I saw Dick Lucas and company, most likely at the Fireside or some other iconic Chicago venue that may or may not be still around.  But, even though I didn’t have the energy or wherewithal for the pit these days, The Subhumans still brought the same energy they a couple years ago at Cobra, more than a decade ago at Reggie’s, and who knows how long ago since whenever I saw them when I was actually young.  I got to interview Dick about 14 years ago on the rooftop of Reggies while it was under construction, and it’s still a conversation I think about today. He might be one of the most interesting and smartest folks I’ve spent an hour talking with on a rooftop (or in any other place). And while there’s plenty of negativity in the world, especially with this “fascist bullshit of a government you’ve got,” as he so pointedly put things onstage last night, there’s still a sense of angry positivity interwoven throughout the DNA of the Subhumans.  The Subhumans at Reggie's in Chicago. “There’s a lot of self contained, nervous, pissed off, upset, depressed people who just need some outside encouragement to realize that they do stand or sit on an equal ground with a lot of other people,” Dick told me back in 2011. “We just happen to be playing really good music at the same time.” He echoed something similar onstage last night, bringing up Saturday’s protests that saw millions of people in the streets worldwide demonstrating against the Trump regime.  “Some cynics might say well yeah it doesn’t change anything. It fucking does change something,” Lucas told the crowd. “You may not notice it now but what happens when people go on marches, they come away from the marches inspired, built up, and confident again that the numbers of people involved in the anger against the system trying to shit on them, the numbers it’s just inspiring. It gives people hope instead of fear, that’s the whole fucking point.” FEA at Reggie's in Chicago. Opening for The Subhumans were Chicago’s very own premiere anti-fascist rockers Blind Adam and the Federal League and San Antonia Riot Grrrl band FEA. Both put on fantastic, blistering, and fun sets. One of the shit parts about getting old is sometimes bands and music you know you’ll love fall through the cracks over the years. Last night was the first time I’d seen either of them, and I’m thrilled I was able, and both are making their way into my regular rotation and they should in yours too.

Via Nintendo.com Wednesday April 2nd the world was finally given its first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 and with it came a litany of reveals, but even more questions. We were finally able to confirm a lot of the patent leaks and design docks, but the bigger political implications still loom as a dark cloud over what is to be the next big console release.  Via Nintendo.com The Switch 2 at its core is a more powerful Switch. Bigger screen, 1080p up from 720p in handheld mode, up to 4k docked - a stronger NVIDIA processor and bigger 258 GB storage space with expandable micro SD Express slot for expansion. Via Nintendo.com Other new features include the new magnetic Joycons that now will snap into the sides instead of using the previous rail system. Switch 2 will also feature new communication party systems with an integrated microphone and webcam peripheral. This party system is impressive and allows for webcam integration and screen sharing capabilities akin to Discord. So now, whether in handheld or docked mode, you can still be on cam chatting with your friends and sharing your gameplay, even when playing different games.  Via Nintendo.com Outside of the features on display, Nintendo also released their new catalog of games coming to the new console. Donkey Kong Bananza , Mario Kart World , Kirby Air Riders , Metroid Prime 4 Beyond , Drag X Drive , Welcome Tour and Duskbloods were the new titles announced, with Drag X Drive being a refreshingly inclusive game based on wheelchair basketball that turns your Joycon controllers into a dual mouse setup. The initial offerings for the Switch 2 may seem sparse, so to supplement, Nintendo has decided to enhance some of the Switch 1’s back catalog, such as Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom as well as Mario Party Jamboree. Some of these upgraded titles may have a nominal $10 dollar fee, while others will be free, but the language is still to be determined. Additionally, the GameCube catalog is coming to Nintendo Switch Online with the Switch 2, so there’s even more to play in the retro space.  Via Nintendo.com Alongside the massive drop of new information (including a June 5th release date) came the price points of $449 dollars for the console or a $499 bundle with Mario Kart World. Considering the game price has risen to $80, this is quite a deal. That should make this an open and shut case on everything we need to know for now on the Switch 2, except that right now the political and economical climate for the United States is in complete disarray. Current preorder plans for the Switch 2 are on hold as Nintendo gauges potential tariff impacts, as they have moved their manufacturing to Vietnam that currently holds a 46% tariff, or even on the cartridge packaging and shipping, based out of Mexico which has tariffs at 25%. Analysts are speculating that the Switch 2 prices could rise up to double what has been announced leaving a lot of gamers feeling the impact of the Trump administration.  The gaming community has taken to social media to revel in the excitement to come but so far this Direct has left a lot wondering what it means for the casual gamer. The Switch 2 comes at a similar price point to the Playstation 5 but with much less horsepower. What made the Switch 1 so appealing was the cheaper buy in but now, things are tougher, US stock prices are in freefall, and with tariff implementation and a smaller release catalog, things are looking murky for the Switch 2’s launch. Only time will tell if the Switch 2 will be able to reach the same heights of success as its predecessor, but one thing is for sure: all eyes will be on Nintendo this year.

The Drop-In opened its doors in 2023 in the Fulton Market District at 415 N. Milwaukee and with it came the Not A Damn Chance burger, a viral burger sensation out of Austin, Texas. The NADC burger is the brainchild of Michelin star chef Philip Frankland Lee (of Top Chef) and Pro Skateboarder Neen Williams. Now we are seeing a second Chicago location (with six others in Texas,) located at 1426 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.  The NADC brand began as a spice blend out of Williams’ home but has now grown into a specialty burger and fry chain all seasoned with the unique blend of spices. The burgers themselves are a smash style burger made from Wagyu beef, American cheese, NADC special sauce, onions, diced pickles and jalapenos. They also have fries which can be either regular or “Beast mode” which comes with the special NADC sauce, seasoning, cheese, pickles and jalapenos. The bar also has a selection of local beers and seasonal cocktails that will rotate over time. NADC also collaborates with Dutchbag Brew Co. to produce a gose (German style sour wheat beer) that consists of watermelon, dill and pickling spice called Pickle Trick.  The restaurant itself is roughly 2,100 square feet with seating for up to 60 patrons, decorated with a massive graffiti mural, local art and lots of skateboarding memorabilia from Williams’ illustrious skateboarding career. TV screens are also displaying skateboarding videos, many of which feature Williams on display. NADC Burger is part of Frankland Lee’s Scratch Restaurant Group which boasts a dedication to artisanal “from scratch” approach to hospitality, as stated from their website.  It’s clear from the attendance displayed at the soft launch opening weekend that Williams and Frankland Lee have crafted a dedicated community around their craft and are vying for the position of best burger in Chicago.

It's that time again. Our thoughts turn to Spring, maybe? (Unless you live in an area that just got snow again, for some reason.) And thus begins the search for low price video games. Luckily, we've got both the Steam Spring Sale and PlayStation's Mega March Sale to peruse this week, so if you're searching for something like that (and with a wishlist a mile long, who isn't?) then we've got a few picks you might want to pick up. We asked the Culture Combine crew what they'd like to put in their cart for this sale AND the Steam Spring Sale and here's what they said: Marielle: I like to use my funds (if I've got any) towards AAA games I didn't have a chance to pick up the first time around for these sales, and there were quite a few things I missed lately that I want to pick up. Here they are: Sniper Elite 5: To start it off, Sniper Elite 5 . I've played most of the series and I love nothing more than a well-considered headshot. I've even grown to appreciate the incredibly gratuitous headshot x-ray cam. Sort of. Percent Off: 75% Actual Price: $14.99 Warhammer: Vermintide II: Ultimate Edition I'm gonna preface this by saying that I'm absolutely head over heels for Dark Tide. It's a fantastic, satisfying game that I think more people should play with friends. That said, the mega sale on Dark Tide's not quite as great as this one, and Fat Shark's Vermintide series was my first love as far as Warhammer video games go. Warhammer: Vermintide II is full of fun game modes (Long live Chaos Wastes!), silly hats and seasonal events, and you can't beat the visceral melee and all those sneak-rats. Percent Off: 75% Actual Price: $13.74 Overcooked 1 and 2 Bundle: I might be an introvert but that doesn't mean I never have friends over. And if I have friends over, I'm gonna need a great party game. Overcooked has been imitated with varying degrees of success and with a lot of little spins, but the OG games are, in my opinion, a must-have for anyone who likes a little chaos with friends or partners. Percent Off: 75% Actual Price: $8.74 (PS4) Fallout 4: Fallout is a whole vibe. I fell in love with it late in the series, with Fallout 76 being my very first introduction to, well, country roads and all that. Now, maybe it's the amazing TV series that has me thinking of Appalachia, or maybe it's that one of our own is currently out in the Blue Ridge Mountains right now hiking the Appalachian Trail , but I've got a hankering to crawl out through the fallout, baby. And...well, I think it's time to explore Fallout 4 . Percent Off: 60% Actual Price: $7.99 Alex: God of War: Ragnarok God of War: Ragnarok may have won some awards, but that doesn't mean it always gets all the appreciation it deserves. 2018's God of War represented a tonal shift for the long running series, but one that's turned out to have a lot of fans, including us. And it's worth getting for the PS5 and revisiting, too. Percent Off: 58% Actual Price: $29.39 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth As we've established, you don't have to start a series from game one to enjoy it. Whether you're a Like A Dragon liker from days of yore or you're new to the series, Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth takes you to a brand new locale for the series: Hawaii. Couple that with an improved combat system and the return of some familiar favorite embedded mini-games and this is one worth dropping into your cart. Percent Off: 50% Actual Price: $34.99 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered PS4 and PS5 Do you like ghost vampires? Do you also like remastered games from the 90s? Might be a great time to pick up Crystal Dynamics' brand new old games from the Legacy of Kain series, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1& 2 Remastered . It's always a great time for a throwback. Percent Off: 25% Actual Price: $22.49 These are just a few choice morsels from the much larger PlayStation Mega March Sale , so browse at your wallet's own risk and let us know what you're hoping to snag for a great price while the sale's still on.

"OK, so hear me out..." some pitch guy somewhere must have said. "You know MMA? The raw, bloody, knuckle to knuckle, sweaty totally NOT armored fighting that everyone loves?" "What if...we added armor. Medieval armor!" It's hard to believe that'd make it off the elevator but apparently it did, and that leaves us with AMMA , the armored medieval cage fighting events that we first learned about from our friends at Secret Chicago , as we here in the Windy City will soon be blessed with their presence. It's either a really weird concept, or, if you really think about it, one that's already pretty covered by your local renaissance fair and the jousts. Either way, it seems like their meme game is fire, and we'd not say "Nay" to some tickets to see that action. Find out more if thou wouldst like by clicking here .

President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday he would attempt to cut off federal funding for schools that allow protests and have students participating in them arrested, imprisoned, or deported. Demonstrators in Chicago at a protest calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza in November, 2023. Photo by Aaron Cynic “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” On Tuesday the ACLU penned an open letter to colleges and universities, calling on them to reject any federal pressure to run surveillance on or punish international students or faculty based on speech. The letter takes aim at two Executive Orders from the Trump administration, both issued in January, which targets students engaging in Constitutionally protected speech, particularly ones protesting the ongoing genocide in Gaza, under the guise of “combatting anti-Semitism.” “The federal government cannot mandate expulsion of students or threaten funding cuts to punish constitutionally protected speech on campus,” said Esha Bhandari, deputy director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project in a press release on the ACLU’s website . “While the administration can enforce Title VI to ensure a learning environment free from harassment, it cannot force universities into adopting restrictive speech codes that silence the viewpoints the government disfavors.” While Trump’s statement flies in the face of the First Amendment, it’s not exactly clear how the administration plans to enforce it. Trump doesn’t have authority to unilaterally revoke federal funds from universities, nor can he force universities to expel students. While campus protests might violate some school rules or polices, they’re certainly not illegal. But, not having the legal authority to cut off federal funding for things hasn’t stopped the administration from trying since the day Trump took office. “It’s hard to say that the tweet itself is unlawful, since it alone isn’t enforceable,” Jenin Younis, a civil liberties and free speech lawyer, told Al Jazeera . “So, it depends how the administration executes this particular threat, and it has not yet given details.” More importantly, the threat of arrest, prison, and deportation for simply protesting on campus has a chilling effect on free speech both on campus and off. Many universities called police and had their own students arrested during on campus occupations to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Universities could continue or even ramp up those efforts.  “This executive order sets up a framework to encourage – but not require – schools to spy on and report their non-citizen students and staff,” Radhika Sainath, a senior lawyer at Palestine Legal, told Al Jazeera. “As far as we can tell, these will be non-binding guidelines with no enforcement power or pressure.”

Three times a year Steam puts on the Steam Next Fest, a festival of game demos unlike what we’ve seen in gaming since the early days of demos discs . Hundreds of demos for up and coming games are released and promoted to get more eyes on what’s coming in the year, and I’ve put together a list of some of my favorites from the February 2025 Steam Next Fest.  Deliver At All Cost A wacky driving game that is reminiscent of the original Grand Theft Auto games, but playing as a courier who must deliver his non conventional deliveries at all costs. This includes driving through entire buildings or jumping massive gaps. It’s a wild mess of explosions and chaos that we absolutely loved.  A Week In The Life Of Asocial Giraffe If you’ve ever been out in public but not felt like talking to anyone, have we got a game for you. A Week In The Life Of An Asocial Giraffe has you playing as an anti-social Giraffe forced to perform daily tasks but the puzzles lie in avoiding all human interaction. The puzzles are simple enough but bring enough light hearted comedy that we fell in love with the plight of this Giraffe, but hey who hasn’t been in his shoes sometimes?  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Developer Strange Scaffold has some of the wildest and chaotic game catalogs out there with games based on commentary around the military industrial complex, kink in a world of isolation and even space organ stock trading. Now, seemingly out of nowhere they got access to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license and they use it to make an XCOM styled strategy board game? I don’t know what their approach is but Strange Scaffold has proven that they have the chops to tackle any genre and this one is a blast to play.  Tenebris Somnia What if you mixed Maniac Mansion with Resident Evil and add in full motion video? That is what we’re getting with Tenebris Somnia. A puzzle adventure game set in a horror mystery and right when things get particularly unnerving, the game cuts to full motion video of the terror unfolding in front of you. It’s an intriguing package that uses FMV to heighten the tension but plays well within the puzzle adventure structure.  Blue Prince Blue Prince is a fascinating puzzle game where you are to inherit a massive mutating mansion from a mysterious family member, but the only way to actually get the house is to map out its numerous rooms and find the mysterious final hidden room. To do this you need to explore each room and when you attempt to progress to the next room, you are given a prompt to pick between 3 options, each will expand the mansion. The trick is, not all will have adjoining rooms so you may end up in a dead end, some rooms also take currency you find around the mansion to create, so there’s that wrinkle. In the end, you are attempting to create this configuration of rooms that will lead you to the final room. If you can’t in a single day, you leave and come back the next day to try again with the mansion reset. This is for the trial and error junkies out there.  Steam Next Fest runs from February 24th to March 3rd.

About every two years or so we get something special from Soccer Mommy , the fantastic pseudonym of Sophia Regina Allison. Since her demo album For Young Hearts came out in 2016 we've gotten a whole new album every other year and it's been a joy. Soccer Mommy's sound is a bit of a throwback to the indie rock and alternative grungy guitars of yesteryear, updated by Allison's perfectly dark and often wry lyricism. Last year's Evergreen saw a rawer and even more personal side of Soccer Mommy, making for some devastating songs. The first evening of her two-night stint with Tomberlin at Thalia Hall really underlined just how special and appreciative her audience is for every one of her releases. I've had the pleasure of covering Tomberlin many times in the past and every single performance is a treat. With only two albums and two EPs in her discography, there are some very totemic songs that you not only expect to hear at one of her shows, but are eagerly looking forward to. " Any Other Way " and " Seventeen " are iconic staples and the former is my absolute favorite in her repertoire. It's the opening track of her debut and every time immerses the audience in her emotive and empathic song writing. Newer tracks like "tap", " sunstruck ", and her amazing cover of Casiotone for the Painfully Alones (who now goes by Advance Base ) and "Natural Light" have also risen to that emblematic level in her set lists. There seems to be no end to her ability to turn every one of her songs into an essential and breathtaking experience. While a little technical difficulty meant "Hours" was cut, we got some patter with the crowd about Buffy the Vampire Slayer , which more than made up for it. With a stage dressing straight out of a midsummer fairytale, Soccer Mommy came to the stage with her signature laid-back aura front and center. The Stardew Valley -themed ode " Abigail " where Soccer Mommy seeks the attention of the romanceable NPC, started off the show and really fit the vibe as it got the crowd going. " circle the drain " followed and there was something wild about seeing the contrast between the bright, poppy instrumentals that had the crowd happily swaying away with Allison's lyrics on mental health crises. It's that sort of welcome dissonance that really makes Soccer Mommy's songs special. Much of Evergreen is much softer than the rest of her material but live it all blends together wonderfully. You wouldn't expect the demonic themes of "Lucy" to segway into " M " and " Lost ", the most personal tearjerkers in her catalog, but they really do. While most of Evergreen got highlighted throughout the night, Allison left a lot of room for her other songs to shine. The darkly loving but somewhat forlorn "Shotgun" rang just right while "Bones" had everyone bopping alone despite its sullen and heart breaking lyrics. The latter half of Soccer Mommy 's set continued that dreamlike vibe. She introduced "Henry" as "an early song, you might not like it" and dedicated it to all the Henrys in the room. As the opening track of her demo album, it's one of the first songs of hers that many of her more devoted fans have listened to and it showed as the crowd was completely taken by it. " Your Dog " established yet another high point and one that they truly grooved along with. But it was the encore with the one-two punch of the airy "Changes" and almost shoegazey " Don't Ask Me " that finished off the night and left the crowd completely entranced. Soccer Mommy's shows always feel intimate and special and this evening at Thalia Hall only further cemented those qualities. This review was originally appeared at Third Coast Review

Tim Heidecker has too many talents to list from his storied career, so many that I'll only briefly touch upon a few of them. I'm sure many of my peers remember staying up for the late night block of Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, ready to take in all the strange hilarity that ensued from the likes of Heidecker's early work in Tim & Eric . Over the years he has remained as hilarious as ever. The absurdist nature of his work is still alive and well but he's added so much to his repertoire and this past weekend at Thalia Hall  as he shared his musical talents and knack for putting on a very good show. Instantly the set felt as weird as you'd expect from an unhinged recording of "The Star-Spangled Banner” with all the digital fireworks you could want and a text intro that joked with the crowd and truly prepped them for what was about to go down. Heidecker and the Very Good Band emerged and got right to work with three tracks that immediately captured the audience's attention: “Well’s Running Dry”, "Buddy", and "Trippin' (Slippin')". While Heidecker's abilities were never in question, any doubt that an audience member may have had was immediate squelched with the tenacity of this opening set. Speaking of opening sets, Heidecker made sure to break it down to the audience that he was revolutionizing the concert flow. "No up and comers moping around stage" he declared before urging the crowd to get rowdy: "We're not the opening act!" But the  Thalia Hall crowd didn't need any more amping up. They were animated and eager for the set whether he was joking around with some Chicago Blues noodling on a totally real and not fake song "Titanium Jewellery" (coming soon to the next Rolling Stones record), serenading the crowd with their ode to the late Herman Cain, or getting a little more serious with songs like "Bows and Arrows". While any other show that jumps so wildly between vibes may seem dizzying, it all felt right at home in the hands of Heidecker and the Very Good Band. As promised, toward the middle of the show Heidecker  introduced the great Neil Hamburger to the stage to take over for a bit. Heidecker and crew backed Hamburger for a cover of Randy Van Warmer’s “Just When I Needed You Most” and some of the most thrilling, death defying fidget spinner tricks Thalia Hall  has ever seen before letting him meander wild for a comedy set. No aging rocker went unscathed as Hamburger delivered one liners deriding the likes of the Eagles, Dave Grohl, Anthony Kiedis and more. When Heidecker  returned it wasn't straight back to music. He took the crowd on a small detour to a variety of internet comment sections, giving the spotlight to some of the silliest interactions you can find on Facebook, YouTube, and beyond. And after a little "Spaghetti Again", Heidecker and the Very Good Band ramped up the soundscapes. While he admitted to leaving the more serious songs like "Dark Days" and "Bells Are Ringing" to the end of the proper set, the more jovial tracks still found there way into the mix. And with that the band started making their way off stage. However unlike every other bands usual trip to the back for a few moments before returning to the stage for an encore, the band confusingly meandered around stage, trying to find the exit to no avail. After a few false exits Heidecker  returned to the mic “They're not letting us off the stage. They're saying we have to do 2 more songs." After a quick little jaunt that they wrote earlier in the day ("It's Friday morning in Chicago") the Very Good Band went into a new song "What's Wrong With Me". He confidently declared the song is so catchy that the crowd would be singing the chorus like it was an old favorite. But it wasn't until the following song where the crowd seemed so connected with the onstage antics that it left me awestruck. As the opening chords rang, several audience members shouted "Hot Piss" and sure enough that very song followed with rapturous cheers. The song is as funny as it is great, letting Heidecker and the Very Good Band go wild. It was a little surreal and quite honestly I never thought I'd say this, but there's nothing better than a hot crowd screaming "hot piss" as loud as they can muster. Tim Heidecker truly knows his audience and we were all grateful for the great jams and laughs. This review was originally published on Third Coast Review.

Last year, Lauren Mayberry  stepped out from Chvrches to release her debut solo album Vicious Creatures . While in the past solo albums have gotten a bad rap, something Mayberry seemed very aware of and called out during her show at Thalia Hall , nowadays they are way better than one would expect. This is an understatement when it comes to Mayberry's debut, which synthesizes all her best talents in a pristine dozen songs that range from softly devastating to unbelievably danceable jams. The night started out with a quick set from Cult of Venus, who was shrouded in mystery as they came to the stage and seemingly created music out of thin air. Accompanied by a guitar, drum pads, and some synths, Cult of Venus really captured everyone's attention with some darkly luring electronic tracks that set the mood for the evening. Everything seemed to be on a heated pace as Lauren Mayberry 's set came very quickly after Cult of Venus ' set. Emerging from the side stage and standing dead center of the stage with a flowing blue curtain as a background, Mayberry picked up a bright red phone and set the night on an incredibly fun course with "Crocodile Tears" and "Changing Shapes" back to back. The dancy vibe went off with out a hitch. The two singles paired nicely especially as Mayberry danced and posed around the stage with all the confidence in the world. Mayberry 's set was a pretty short one, lasting only an hour. However this was expected considering she only has one solo album, Vicious Creatures , under her belt. The night was solely dedicated to that album and a cover, eschewing any Chvrches tracks. I'm sure some fans would have loved to hear some of those songs but considering how solid her songs are and how well everything flowed there was very little to complain about. Every song off Vicious Creature  got its time to shine and did so brilliantly. While tracks like "Punch Drunk" and "Something in the Air" were undeniable high points in the set, it's hard not to give the crown to the roaring cover of "Bittersweet Symphony". Positioned in the second half of the night, the Verve's iconic track was truly elevated by Mayberry 's impassioned performance, belting out the familiar lyrics perfectly. It was such a powerful encapsulation of all Mayberry 's talents and truly blew Thalia Hall away. The encore set itself up perfectly, giving the crowd the two remaining Vicious Creatures  their due. First was the soft and tender ode "Oh, Mother", showing off the more interpretive side of Mayberry 's songwriting. And as if cued by some of the lyrics of that song, "Sunday Best" followed and ended the night on a brighter tone. "Keep thinking I'll find the beauty in Goodbye" Mayberry sang and everyone felt that line a little bit more that night. This review was originally published on Third Coast Review

On first glance the pairing of Noah Lennox's Panda Bear and Chaz Bear's Toro y Moi seems a bit dissonant. While both Lennox and Chaz have one foot deeply entrenched in psychedelic ethos, the others are pretty far apart. Panda Bear's wild experimentation and looping create these intricate soundscapes that you are liable to get lost in. Toro y Moi on the other hand crafts immersive R&B vibes that will have you dancing in their warm glow. But after experiencing their show at Salt Shed, the pairing made for an incredible show that fed off each other's energy wonderfully. Opening for the night was Baltimore's Nourished by Time . While I have seen this incredible band before in an early set at a festival, this performance was nothing short of revelatory. Nourished By Time are built for a later evening set and a dense crowd like they had at Salt Shed. Their songs need that sort of energy to feed off of as the bright R&B tracks feel like hidden gems off Dreamcast soundtracks bounce along as singer Marcus Brown serenaded the crowd. Playing tracks mostly of their fantastic  Erotic Probiotic 2 , Nourished by Time certainly got the packed crowd dancing to kick off the evening. Panda Bear took the middle spot of the night and really took advantage of the warmed-up crowd. The band's backdrop was a screen playing the exact kind of crazy visuals you would want to accompany Panda Bear, which made the crowd more immersed in their sounds. And with Sinister Grift  on the horizon ( out February 28 ), this set was a wild preview into the future of Noah Lennox's output and it's damn good. If there is something that can be said of Panda Bear and his band Animal Collective, it's that experimentation is key especially with their live performances as they delve into the unexplored. Every song feels refreshed, which is saying something considering that this outing featured lots of tracks that the audience haven't had much time to live with. Despite that it seemed like Panda Bear really embraced the more guitar-driven aspects of his songwriting and delivered some incredible performance of new singles " Ferry Lady ", " Ends Meet ", and " Defense ". While all three did drift from their studio release, they maintained their warm rock throwback feeling in the live setting and felt all the more epic with the full live band. The latter half of the set found itself in decidedly more familiar territory as " Slow Motion " And "Take Pills" took the crowd on back to back jam sessions. Both songs have had well over a decade to garner the following they have and the crowd seemed more than happy to lose themselves in their experimental haze. "Sequential Circuits" and " Buoys " sandwiched the newer "Praise" to finish off the set and left the crowd the right amount of dazed from the nonstop set of otherworldly sounds. The Salt Shed was on the crazy high of Panda Bear 's exuberant and jammy set when Chaz and the rest of his band took their positions at their center stage array of synths and keyboards. In no time Toro y Moi  glided into their set with " Walking in the Rain ", the opening track of his latest album  Hole Earth . Hole Earth is one of many departures from what his fan's may consider his more signature sound. The instrumentals are still drenched the psychedelic pop and R&B aura, the vocals are entrenched in Soundcloud rapper flows. This comes after Sandhills which saw Chaz embracing alt-country. You honestly just don't know where he's going to go. Since there are so many facets to Toro y Moi , the set list found itself jumping all over his discography. Those newer hip-hop tracks like "Madonna" (which aptly features the line "How you always switchin’ genres") nestled in between older and more glitchy tracks like "Mirage" and "So Many Details". There is a serenading quality to Chaz's vocals that permeates his work, unifying no matter how far off Toro y Moi's center they may be. Eschewing an encore, Chaz let all 20 songs of the setlist breathe and save his most magical songs to end the night. "Ordinary Pleasure" launched it all as the Outer Peace  track is an instant classic full of all the best elements of Toro y Moi. "Who Am I" and his collaboration with Flume "The Difference" followed, which only sent the crowd even further into joyous atmosphere. These final moments of the set really epitomize the Toro y Moi experience, letting go and just feeling yourself as you dance your worries away. Chaz sings "People tend to listen when they see your soul" on "Freelance", the final song of the night and that sentiment couldn't be any truer after such a fun performance. This review originally appeared over at Third Coast Review