And Now for Something Completely Different Part 1: January 24, 2023 was not on my bingo card as an important day. But, here I am today sitting at the desk at my full-time job (the same desk I was sitting at in 2009 when I launched the site, albeit at a wildly different job) writing about how today is the day I posted my 2,000th article on Pop Break.
First, a little inside baseball for everyone. I’ve participated in tons of group posts, reconfigured photographer notes into stories and written up numerous podcast and video descriptions — so I’ve definitely been involved in more than 2,000 posts. However, this one right here is my 2000th solo post and it feels awesome.
Over the years my writing output has varied from a consistent, three-time-a-week writer to having the occasional writing spurt to having a brutal six-month bout of writer’s block last year. I wish my output were more consistent, but things change from when you start a website as a 27-year-old bachelor to a 42-year-old husband and dad with a demanding full-time job.
However, every time I do write for Pop Break — it brings me joy. Not every piece has been easy to write, not every one has been an award winner, but man I have had so much fun doing it. I started this site because I couldn’t write about things that I love at my then full-time gig. I’m happy to say this site has afforded the opportunity not just to do that, but also expand my own pop culture tastes, improve my writing style, and make some great friends along the way.
So in short, thank you all for being a part of my journey.
So, I Read Comics Now: Over the past few columns you’ve read about my rediscovery of my love for comic books. For Christmas this year, I had one request — an iPad. I haven’t had one since 2011, and I wanted one for two reasons. The first to save my poor MacBook Air wear and tear, because it’s my personal laptop that I have to use my laptop for my job (yeah, I know). So the iPad would be used for streaming purposes — so I can watch everything for the site — and to read more comics!
I subscribed to Marvel Unlimited, which is an online library of all Marvel comics — including exclusive online only titles. It’s been so much fun reading new titles like Spider-Boy and Captain America and The Howling Commandos, while also diving back into the original Infinity Gauntlet and Infinity War sagas. The high resolution transfers from book to digital are magnificent and there’s literally no loss in quality or enjoyment of having an iPad and not a physical book in my hand (although, I still will buy physical comics).
If there’s any catch to the service, it’s that new titles take about three months to get to the service, but that’s not an issue (pun intended) for me, as I’m just diving back into the world of comics. If you want to subscribe, click here.
Oh the Random Things You’ll Hear: This the name of my ever-evolving Spotify playlist that was created back in 2011 (currently at 2,689 songs). Every month I’m going to give you some recent cuts from this list that I’ve added that are in heavy rotation…
“Angel” – NewDad: A brand new band out of Galway, Ireland (where I trace my ancestral roots) that has massive upside. The band’s sound evokes a moody synth pop version of Metric in the best possible way. “Angel” is inspired by the HBO series Euphoria, and this track could easily have been included in Season 2’s soundtrack (hell, they could end up in the eventual third season). NewDad has that intangible “it factor” that has them destined to be a staple of the festival circuit if not this year, then definitely 2025.
“All I Wanna Do” – The War and The Treaty: This 2018 banger is a gigantic Southern soul and rock ‘n’ roll track that definitely will tickle your Daptone Records sensibilities. It’s the type of red hot track filled with soul and fury that warms your dancing shoes during the coldest months. The one-two vocal punch of husband and wife duo (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter) is an absolute force and I cannot wait to dive into the rest of their catalog.
“Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing” The Menzingers: The Office isn’t the only great thing to come out of Scranton, PA. The Menzingers are amazing. For us older heads from the Asbury Park music scene, this band was introduced through The Bouncing Souls and if those godfather of punk put a stamp of approval on you — you’re golden, Pony Boy. “Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing” is the perfect punk rock gang chorus anthem that the frozen tundra of the Northeast needed for 2024.
“Fever” – Eric Krasno, Stanton Moore & Branford Marsalis: An jazzy, bluesy instrumental cover featuring the guitarist from Soulive (Krasno), the drummer from Galactic and Branford “By God” Marsalis is the stuff of legend. This is off the Krasno Moore Project record dubbed Book of Queens, and is easily the highlight of it all.
“Dilemma” – Green Day: Holy shit, the new Green Day single really good. Green Day has been a band I’ve been off the wagon of since American Idiot reached Californication levels of over-saturation. Like we get it guys, you’re trying to be a modern era Queen or The Who with a concept rock opera record. However, with Dilemma — a single off their new album Saviors — it’s a bit more raw, a bit more rock, a bit more fun. Listen, they haven’t reverted to the Kerplunk! days, but this feels like the most akin to the Green Day all us old heads fell in love with in the ’90s.
Reeeee-Watch: Originally, I was going to write about my holiday rewatch of Marvel’s Hawkeye that I did with my daughter. However, I finally got around to watching a series I’ve been dying to jump into for years — Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. My wife is a huge true crime documentary and podcast fan and I’ve been bugging her for years to sit down and watch this with me. While I was working constantly over the holidays, she had the chance to binge the entire series and she absolutely loved it. Thankfully, she demanded we re-watch the series together and like she has in the past with Hannibal, New Girl and The Wire — she hit a home run with the choice.
Only Murders in the Building Season 1 is easily one of the best seasons of television this writer has experienced in quite some time. While I have waxed poetic about many shows over the past 15 years, there have been very few shows that have created a near-perfect viewing experience for me. OMITB is the perfect blend of mystery, satire, drama and comedy. It’s sincere, it’s heartfelt, it’s suspenseful, it’s thought-provoking and it delivers some wonderfully timed big belly laughs. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are perfect together. The chemistry between these three is delicious. Amy Ryan is an absolute God send in her role, and I wish we could see more of her in these type of roles. Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who just snagged an Oscar nom, is so good here too, as is Nathan Lane. Run don’t walk to this brilliant series.
And Now for Something Completely Different Part 2: The BCP Hall of Fame. The Bob Culture Podcast/BCP+ recently surprised me on a podcast announcing that I was going into their Hall of Fame. It was a bit of a shock to me because honestly I don’t think I belong in any Hall of Fame (yet, I’m only 42). However, I do have to say thank you to the gang over there. I have been a regular on the show since its inception and many of their team are active members (now) of Pop Break. BCP brought Amanda Rivas into my and Al’s life and now she’s a huge part of Socially Distanced. Kimmy Sokol not only became a writer but our intern and now senior wrestling writer. Matt Widdis, Rob Williams, Mike Vacchiano, Kriss Nunez, Mike Mueller and the rest of their team have been wonderful to me personally, but have also been great member of the Pop Break team. It’s an honor to be so highly regarded by a group of great people.
