Recording: Marker Starling

Artist: Marker Starling

Song: Diamond Violence

Recorded at Dina's Tavern, February 21, 2026.

Marker Starling - Diamond Violence

Some (such as myself) might have been attracted to this evening as a chance to see Chris Cummings perform some "melancholy party jams" backed by his full band, though as the night's opener, he was happy enough to act (in his words) as entertainment for the filling-in crowd while they perused the headliner's merch table. There was definitely an affinity with Rapallo's headlining yacht rock set, and the group presumably made some new converts. The only thing to be sad about for longtime Mantler-heards is that the catalogue is so deep now that there's no time to reach back and dust off the "classics" — with a couple new ones in the setlist, tracks like this from the group's next-to-most-recent album are already being given a retrospective cast.

Recording: Badge Époque

Artist: Badge Époque

Song: Badge Theme^*

Recorded at Jam Factory (Feast In The East 72), February 28, 2019.

Badge Époque - Badge Theme

The new-ish post-Slim Twig ensemble from Max Turnbull has quietly been building steam for a little while now (though there's still only one track online to hint at the project's sound), with Turnbull (on keyb) joined by Jay Anderson (drums), Chris Bezant (guit), Alia O'Brien (flute), Giosuè Rosati (bass), and Ed Squires (percussion). Pushing deeper into the Gainsbourg lounge-funk essayed in the Twig band's late era and adding some library music deep crate dives, this group is less "rock", and feels more suited for some sort of elegant nightclub where they could perform for a seated, cocktail-swirling crowd.

[Badge Époque will be headlining a stacked lineup at The Garrison on Saturday, May 11th, along with fellow travellers Isla Craig, Ice Cream, and Carl Didur.]

^* Thanks to a source for passing along the title to this one!