Universal Studios Hollywood is delighted to invite children and parents to their first ever Halloween Party where they can trick-or-treat with some of their favorite characters.
Children 12 years old and under can don their Halloween costumes and join various characters who will also be dressed up for the holiday. Patrons can expect to see Scooby Doo and the gang, Hello Kitty as The Bride of Frankenstein, SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star, Illumination’s Minion Monsters, Curious George, Woody Woodpecker, Dracula, and Frankenstein and The Mummy.
Photo courtesy Universal Studios Hollywood
There will also be more frighteningly fun activities happening in the Plaza including a live DJ, games, and a costume showcase. Kids can also get creative for the Halloween treat decorating. All children 12 years and under will be treated to a free game voucher for Super Silly Fun Land.
Enjoy the Halloween festivities Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Events at a glance:
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Trick-or-Treating and character meet and greets
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Halloween Party taking place in the Plaza
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Costume Showcase at Universal Plaza
The custom pop is a recreation of a blood spattered Rowena from the eighth episode of season 12 of Supernatural ‘LOTUS’.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to My Hope Chest.
This one-of-a-kind custom Rowena Funko is based on actress Ruth Connell’s outfit in the season 12 episode “LOTUS”.
All proceeds from the auction of this Pop will be given to Connell’s chosen charity, My Hope Chest, a nonprofit that specializes in helping women post-breast cancer with paying for breast reconstruction surgeries.
Rob Benedict made a surprise appearance yesterday on the set of Lucifer to support Richard Speight, Jr., as he directs an episode of the show. It seems while there, Rob and Lucifer star Tom Ellis had a fun little jam session!
Aimee Garcia (Lucifer, Dexter) posted some fun videos of the jam session, which you can see below!
We’re bringing you a really great interview today with Billy Moran! If you don’t know Billy, he’s a musician, writer and member of the bands Louden Swain and The Station Breaks. He regularly travels the world with the bands doing shows or performing at conventions for thousands of fans.
Louden Swain is about to release their next album, an acoustic album titled Splitting the Seams on Friday, October 26, so what better way to celebrate the album release than an interview with Billy! We got the chance to ask Billy all about music, his influences, writing, and threw in a few nerdy questions as well!
Nerds and Beyond: According to the biography on your website, you picked up your brother’s guitar and started to play when you were eleven. Can you tell us more about how you got started playing music?
Billy: For as long as I can remember I’ve always had an obsession with music. My Dad would rock out to bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin & The Beatles through our home stereo all the time. It was so loud that the neighbors would often complain. I was always drawn to the loud guitars and vocal melodies. One day my brother, who is 10 years older than me, brought a guitar home and I was immediately drawn to it. I remember the smell of the wood and the old strings that were left on it from the previous owner. It wasn’t an expensive guitar by any means but it felt expensive to me. I remember there only being 5 strings on it. I just picked it up and starting strumming away and that was that, I couldn’t put it down. As soon as I could play a few chords I was looking for a band to play with.
Nerds and Beyond: What was the first song you ever learned to play?
Billy: The first song I learned to play on guitar was “Sweet Child O’ Mine“. That opening guitar riff just sent me through the roof when I first heard it.
Nerds and Beyond: What was the very first guitar you owned?
Billy: The first guitar I owned was by a company called Memphis. It came with a tiny Gorilla amp. One day I was making my bed and unknowingly draped the covers over the guitar and my friend walked in and sat down on it and broke the neck right in half. I was devastated. I think I still have pieces of that guitar floating around somewhere.
Nerds and Beyond: How many guitars do you own now? Which one is your favorite to play?
Billy: I have about 10 or so right now. My favorite guitar to play is probably my Fender “Troublemaker” Telecaster. It’s a limited edition Tele that Fender released this year and Fender was able to get me one of the first ones. It’s one of the best sounding guitars I’ve ever played.
Nerds and Beyond: Who are your musical influences? Who do you look up to?
Billy: My earliest influence would be Randy Rhoads. He performed with Ozzy Osbourne. He was such an amazing player. After Randy I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughn, Slash, Joe Satriani, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, & later Eric Johnson. Each of those players has a very unique voice that really drove me to want to play better. Today, I’m really inspired by guys like Michael Landau, Doyle Bramhall II, Marcus King & Gary Clark Jr., just to name a few.
Nerds and Beyond: Which artist, album or song had the biggest impact on you as musician?
Billy: Hands down Guns N Roses, Appetite for Destruction. That album really launched the dream of one day becoming a full-time guitar player. During that time in the 80’s, there was a bunch of hair metal bands doing flashy stuff that I could never see myself doing. When “Appetite” came out it really broke the mold for me. They just looked like five dudes you’d see in a small club driven by the love of their craft and nothing else.
Nerds and Beyond: What’s one song you’re proud you mastered or one you’ve always wanted to master?
Billy: Joe Satriani has the song called “A Day At The Beach” off of one of his earlier records, Flying In A Blue Dream. That was one of the first times where I felt I was able to push my own abilities.
Nerds and Beyond: Did you start writing songs when you were younger? Or did you get more into writing as your career progressed?
Billy: I’ve always enjoyed writing melodies and song arrangements. In most cases, I’ll get a feeling when I’m playing the music that usually inspires what the subject matter of the song will be. In the case of the song “Honey Bee”, I was playing my daughter’s toy ukulele while she was randomly dancing around the living room. I then recorded the music with the melody I heard and immediately sent it off to Rob [Benedict] to put words to it. I really love how the lyrics came out. It perfectly captured what I was feeling at that moment.
Nerds and Beyond: You’re currently part of two bands: Louden Swain and The Station Breaks. Can you talk about each of those? We’ve had interviews before with Louden Swain as a group, and Jason/Rob about Station Breaks, so wanting to hear it from your perspective, what is the songwriting process with both of those bands?
Billy: With Swain we typically would get a song idea from Rob that we all work on in rehearsal or studio and add our own spin on it. Or, in some cases it’s just something we stumble on while jamming during a rehearsal. Other times I’d bring in some music that I composed and would have the melody and a story I wanna tell hashed out. Like with “Honey Bee”, I’d send the idea off to Rob for him to write lyrics. I always feel it’s important for the words to come from the person who is singing the song, and there’s no one better at word crafting than Rob. He always has a knack for finding the perfect words to match the emotion. Another example of this would be with the song “Too Far Away” off the Splitting The Seams album. I was going through a hard time after losing someone very close to me. I sat down one day and just started playing that song. I think I played it and sent it off to Rob with the note on what inspired it. He then took it and tapped into his own experiences with loss and made it something personal to him. I vividly remember the moment when we recorded that track where his vocals had this tender vulnerability to it that came through. We all looked at each other and didn’t even need to say a word. That was the take. It was pretty moving. I don’t think that would have happened if they weren’t his own words.
For The Station Breaks, Jason [Manns], Rob and I just got together and started working on these little nuggets that each of us had. I’d brought in a few tunes and helped assemble a few others. We all kinda knew what we wanted to achieve with that band so it all came together really quickly. The key was to make it sound different from a Swain or Manns album. I really wanted every tune to have a second vocal part that accompanied the main melody line throughout. After all, there were two amazing lead singers in the band, right? I naturally heard Jason’s voice taking the lower parts on a majority of the tunes while Rob took the higher parts. When Rob brought in the tune “Gone”, I suggested that he and Jason mix it up where Jason took the lower part. It was fun to experiment with stuff like that. We just started working on a few new songs for the next SB record. I’m pretty stoked for that. No timeline set though.
Nerds and Beyond: What’s your favorite Louden Swain song to perform live and why? Favorite Station Breaks song to perform?
Billy: It changes often, but right now I’d have to go with “Wave” for Louden and “The Rest” for SB.
Nerds and Beyond: What was your favorite song to re-imagine musically on Louden Swain’s new album, Splitting the Seams? Which do you think was the most challenging?
Billy: I think “Rock Song” is probably the most different on the album. It is definitely one of my favorites too. Each song had it’s own set of challenges though. I’m not sure any one song stood out as more challenging than another. It was just a blast to put a new spin on these songs. I really enjoyed working with a string section on this album. They really elevated the tunes.
Nerds and Beyond: What do you enjoy most about the smaller Louden Swain shows or The Station Breaks tour?
Billy: I love being able to play our own material for the audiences. It’s also really nice to see the fans outside of the convention shows and get to chat with them a little more than we normally get to.
Nerds and Beyond: What’s one of your favorite memories from performing?
Billy: There are so many great memories I have from performing. It’s so hard to pinpoint just one. The first time I joined Swain at their album release party for “Suit and Tie” is certainly up there. Getting the chance to open up for John Entwistle from The Who is one for sure. But if I had to pick a favorite memory, it would probably be the time Louden Swain played our first convention in front of the SPN family. It was such a wild moment. From the second we walked out on stage, we were embraced but this incredible warmth from the audience that I still find hard to describe. Prior to that show, we were busting our butts for years, playing countless shows just trying to get ahead.
Nerds and Beyond: What do you find most challenging about playing music?
Billy: For me it’s dealing with my own form of “the butterflies” just before going out on stage. I get this overwhelming desire where I just want to be sitting at home on my couch watching a movie or playing a video game. As soon as I walk out on stage that feeling disappears though.
Nerds and Beyond: Who would your dream collaboration be with?
Billy: I’d love to work with Quincy Jones on just about anything. He’s a genius in the purest sense of the word and he just seems like one of the coolest dudes.
Nerds and Beyond: You’ve worked on music for artists like Briana Buckmaster and Gil McKinney. Can you share what your favorite part is about doing that work?
Billy: When Jason Manns approached me to add guitars to those albums I said yes without hesitation. Jason has a great ear and he just asked me to do whatever comes naturally. He really give the musicians he works with a freedom to explore the songs. Both Briana and Gil are both amazing artists with incredible voices, so the bar was already really high. My approach was to track my guitars but consciously stay out of the way of the song and the vocal performance. One of the things I enjoy most about these types of projects is listening to raw tracks of the song and then finding my place within it and coming up with something cool to support it.
Nerds and Beyond: So, we at Nerds and Beyond always ask nerdy questions. So along those lines, asking some of our traditional questions, who is your favorite superhero?
Billy: Gonna have to go with Spider-Man. I’ve been playing that on PS4 lately and I just think he’s super rad. He’s kind of a loner and a lot of people don’t really understand him. He has this amazing ability to just ignore all the noise around him all the while busting his butt to make the world a better place.
Nerds and Beyond: What do you nerd out to, what are you a fan of?
Billy: If it’s not video games, it has to be guitar effects pedals. I’ve recently traveled down the Fuzz Pedal rabbit hole. It’s a massive universe down there.
Nerds and Beyond: When we talked last, you said you were really into playing Star Wars: Battlefront. Is that still a game you’re playing? Or is there another game you’re loving right now?
Billy: Ha! Every now and again I’ll fire up Battlefront. Right now I’m really into that Spider-Man game & the new Assassins Creed.
Nerds and Beyond: If you were going to introduce the Star Wars universe to your kids, would you introduce the movies to them in chronological order, or film release order?
Billy: I have two daughters, so we started with “The Force Awakens”. I know it’s out of order but I just think Rey is such a bad-ass and wanted my kids to be introduced to the franchise with a kick-ass strong female lead. Now my 5 year old loves to play Battlefront with me. She’s totally into it. She constantly reminds me when I lose. I think the first word she learned to read was “Defeated”. Hearing her say it takes a little bit of the sting out of the loss.
Nerds and Beyond: A lot of people have comfort food, do you have a comfort song?
Billy: If Fettuccine Alfredo were a song, that’d be it. I’d have to say, U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” is it. That album was one my Dad would frequently listen to when I was younger. I fondly remember walking past the living room and catching him reclined in his Lazy Boy chair listening to that track with his eyes closed. He just got lost in it.
Nerds and Beyond: Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Billy: I just wanted to thank anyone who takes the time to read this. This fandom and this show have really changed my life and I feel really lucky to be a part of it. Thanks so much for all the love and support you’ve shown the boys and me. XO
Thank you again to Billy for doing this interview! Louden Swain’s Splitting the Seams is available October 26! You can order your copy here.
Grant Gustin in The Flash. Image courtesy of www.imdb.com.
Wow! This week’s episode of The Flash was a real nailbiter! Cicada has the team on high alert. Unfortunately, they don’t know much. But what they do know, they learn from Nora.
The episode started off with a flash-forward to 2032 as we see little Nora at The Flash Museum in what I assume is The Hall of Villains. She says no one knows who Cicada is, where he came from, or how he got his powers. What makes him scary is the fact that The Flash never caught him. She goes on to say that Supergirl, the Legends, the League, and even the Green Arrow tried to catch him, but no one ever did. (As an aside, I assume she’s speaking of the League of Assassins, as the Justice League has not been spoken about in any Arrowverse shows yet. However, it does seem odd that the Assassins would go after someone that is not a threat to them. The existence of the Justice League is an interesting possibility.)
What Nora also explains is that Cicada has shown up in the timeline much earlier. It is quickly becoming apparent that her little foray into time travel has made a bigger impact than they realized.
While the team works on a plan, Ralph heads down to a local mini-mart to stop a robbery in progress. This whole piece seems to be a huge joke as the robber is using a solar-powered weapon with a “zero-carbon-footprint” and gets mad at the cashier for putting money in a plastic bag when he said he brought his own reusable cloth bag. Ralph chooses to appear as a giant pear and knock the guy out when he comes closer to inspect. While the captives should be thankful, they instead take pictures of Ralph in his weird shape and post them online.
Nora thinks the team should contact Harrison Wolfgang Wells since, in her timeline, she knows they never tried that. To get a different result, she thinks, try something different. Unfortunately, Wolfgang says he’s far too busy to help, but he points them in the direction of someone who can – Harrison Sherloque Wells (who is French).
He quickly gets to work showing off his abilities of deduction, which is just a poor imitation of the skills of Benedict Cumberbatch’s character in Sherlock. He agrees to help the team for a substantial fee and says he already knows where Cicada is hiding. He asks Ralph to stay behind as two detectives would be one too many. Ralph is already feeling bad as his pear body has become a meme, which is not helping things. Thankfully, Caitlin lets him know that there is more than one mystery to solve and enlists him to help her.
The duo visits Caitlin’s mom and gets shut down. They know she forged the certificate, but she does not admit to it and assures Caitlin that her father is dead. With her mother stonewalling, Ralph decided they need to do a B&E to get what they want. The find a room labeled “File Room.” (Isn’t that convenient? It might as well have been the Room of Requirement.) What they find inside is a game that she and her father used to play where she was allowed to make up fictional compounds and elements while learning the periodic table. They also find a letter written to Caitlin from her father — a goodbye letter.
Barry and Nora head to the location where Sherloque has assured them Cicada is, because the villain is none other than David Hersch. They are able to take him down with little trouble. (That should have been the first clue that they had the wrong guy.)
After comparing David Hersch’s and Cicada’s shoe sizes, Barry learns they are not the same guy. Sherloque says that is impossible because it is always David Hersch. It turns out that he has solved this mystery 37 different times on 37 different Earths and that it’s always the same guy. This is when they tell him that Nora messed up the timeline. Sadly, all the money has been disbursed among Sherloque’s five ex-wives as alimony payments. He attempts to fake his own death, but he’s not the genius the last Wells was and they catch him before he can sneak off.
Doing a bit of research on his own, Cicada finds a connection between Joe West and Vibe, who he has decided needs to die. So while the team thinks they should be celebrating (except for Barry, who knows something feels off), Cicada is paying Joe a visit and demanding that he call Vibe. Cecile wakes up and sneaks downstairs into Joe’s line of sight. She prepares to press the panic button on her phone that would alert the team that something was up. Joe asks her not to via his thoughts, but when the baby cries, Cicada see her and she presses the button. Honestly, it was the right call. Cisco breaches into the room and gets tackled by Cicada right back into his breach.
Using their coms, Cisco is able to tell them that he ended up in a forest somewhere and he is running for his life, being hunted by Cicada. He can’t breach out because of his powers being affected by Cicada. (I didn’t even know he could do that without specifically using his dagger.) Without knowing what forest he is in, they don’t know where to look. Sherloque decides to help by asking what kind of trees Cisco saw, and then he asks him to be quiet so he can hear the sounds of the forest. Identifying the trees and bugs allows them to narrow down to a specific forest.
Cisco gets hit in the back with Cicada’s dagger that magically comes back to him, bringing Cisco’s body with it. He gets thrown to the side as Barry shows up, and he quickly loses his powers as well. As we all know, Barry has no fighting skills that don’t involve speed, which means he begins to get beaten to within an inch of his life by Cicada.
Nora gets an idea and runs off to join the fight. She manages to get a bolt of lightning thrown at Cicada, knocking him away from Barry and tosses an explodable fuse to Cisco. He throws the fuse at Cicada who manages to knock it right back at Cisco. The resulting explosion knocks Nora and Barry on their rears, while Cicada manages to use his dagger to create a protective shield. The leftover result is a crater with Cisco’s Vibe gear inside it. Content that Cisco is dead and realizing he is hurt, Cicada takes off into the sky. (Yes, that’s also a new magical skill he has.) The dagger lets him fly.
Thankfully, Cisco is not dead. Along with the explodable fuse, Nora also gave Cisco one of their breach buttons, which allowed him to escape without Cicada knowing. Now, they at least have knowledge that Cicada does not, and Nora finally didn’t screw up. Yay for her! She might have value after all.
Caitlin starts going through all the things they found in her dad’s file. At first, a lot of things seem like gibberish, but she soon realizes she is looking at a code based off the elements she had made up. The finished message reads, “Caitlin, come find me.” Perhaps her dad isn’t gone after all. It even seems like he might be spying on her, judging from the little clip they show of an unidentified man watching closed-circuit monitors that show her at the lab.
Joe gives Iris all that he can remember on Cicada, but he points out something else he notices. Cicada made comments about family and cherishing them. He has a feeling that whoever Cicada is, he may also be a father. His hunch is proven right when we see him at the hospital visiting a young girl in a coma. We learn from the doctor that Cicada’s first name is Orlin. We also see a wound he has on his chest, one that the doctor knows about but cannot help. It may have something to do with how he got his powers. It appears the doctor may also be aware of his extracurricular activities. I’m assuming that’s Nora’s appearance caused something to happen to his daughter, and that is why he is on a mission to eradicate metas.
Since Sherloque will need a place to stay while he works on the new Cicada mystery, Iris suggests that Nora move in with her and Barry. She agrees and, despite it being her mom’s suggestion, she still only hugs Barry. Her dislike of her mother is starting to get a little weird.
Perhaps it has something to do with what Sherloque asks Nora. He asks if the decision to punch the satellite was one she made on her own or if someone talked her into it.
Whatever it was, it seems like we will be finding out next week. The promo shows an upset Iris crying about something her future-self did to Nora. What is even stranger, though, is Nora going after Barry. Take a look!
This week’s This is Us gave us a glimpse into Toby’s childhood and the events that contributed to his depression. There were definitely a few tear-jerking moments courtesy of the acting talents of the man who portrays Toby, Chris Sullivan. This recap is full of spoilers so stop reading here to avoid them.
Toby (Chris Sullivan) attempts to contact his doctor. Photo Courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC.
We start the episode with a young boy, Toby, pretending to act out a scene from Ghostbusters in his mirror. He seems happy until he hears his parents fighting in another room. He goes to his room and lies down, turning on a fan and staring into space. In the present, Kate and Toby are waiting on news from Dr. Jasper. Kate hangs an Eight is Enough sign on the fridge, with eggs replacing the faces of the eight children. They get a call from Dr. Jasper that they have three embryos. Kate changes the sign to Three Amigos, again with the eggs replacing the faces of the characters. Finally, they are left with a photo of one viable embryo pinned to the fridge. They have one chance of getting pregnant.
In the past, teenage Randall and Kevin are getting ready to go to prom. Kate tells Randall to have fun as she leaves the room, and Rebecca looks confused, wondering why Kate is not getting ready too. Randall stops her before she can say anything and explains that he already tried. He tells her to just leave Kate alone and not bother her about it.
Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) prepare for their big day. Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Randall and Beth are in their room getting dressed up. Randall is about to start his official campaign for city councilman and Beth is interviewing for a new job. She holds up a pair of earrings and a necklace, asking which looks better. Randall tells her, “I like them hoochie hoops,” to which Beth responds to by immediately choosing the necklace. She tells him that he cannot cry at his campaign events and recounts the different times that Randall has broken down crying, including a story about a young boy selling lemonade in the cold. When Randall sadly says that all the boy’s lemonade froze, Beth replies, “He was stupid, baby.”
Kevin and Zoe are driving to Baltimore to meet with Donnie, Jack’s friend from his unit in Vietnam. She tells Kevin that she left her silk pillowcase at home. He mocks her, thinking it is an issue of preferring silk sheets to the cheap cotton ones a hotel would provide. Zoe starts to correct him but keeps it to herself instead.
Young Toby and his mom are shopping for clothes. His baby brother begins crying and as his mom picks him up, she begins breaking down and crying too. Toby grabs a nearby blazer and begins putting it on as his mother tells him he does not need one. He starts doing impressions to cheer her up and she watches him with wonder. Amused, she stops crying and they are able to keep shopping.
Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz) excitedly awaits news from her fertility doctor. Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Toby and Kate are waiting for the big call from Dr. Jasper, the one that will let them know whether or not they are pregnant. Toby tells Kate that they can’t stand around waiting, they should both go to work and keep themselves busy. He tells Kate not to take a home pregnancy test but to wait on the official results. They agree to meet back at their apartment at 4:00 and Toby leaves. As soon as he walks out, his demeanor changes. He is more worried than he wants Kate to know.
Miguel shows up with a piano for the Pearsons. Rebecca thanks him as Kate says they do not have enough room. She clearly does not like him being around but Rebecca is extremely grateful to have him helping out.
Kevin and Zoe stop at a gas station and go inside for snacks. Zoe goes to the restroom as Kevin pays. While he talks to the cashier, Zoe walks up behind him and tells him the restroom is out of order. The cashier snaps at her, and when Zoe explains she and Kevin are together, eyes her disapprovingly. Kevin is oblivious as he pays but Zoe is extremely uncomfortable until they leave.
Randall is at a BBQ joint preparing for his first campaign meet and greet. He begins introducing himself to everyone but it seems like the people are more interested in the food than in Randall’s campaign. Looking at the flyers for the event, he discovers why. Chichi designed the flyers to say “Free BBQ” in big, bold print and the information about Randall and his campaign in what Randall referred to as tiny “pharmaceutical print.” Chichi smiles and tells him that he asked her to help get people to come to the event and she did just that. The rest, she tells him, is up to him.
Young Toby is standing in the doorway to his dad’s bedroom. His dad is packing his suitcase and explaining to Toby that he needs to get control of his feelings because he will not be able to act the way he’s acting once he becomes older. Toby stares but says nothing. Adult Toby is at the pharmacy attempting to get back on his medication. He explains to the pharmacist how he threw out his medication in order to give himself and Kate a better chance at getting pregnant and now, if they get pregnant, he needs to be able to get back on his medication right away. The pharmacist tells him that he has to speak to his doctor, and asks if someone can come and get him. He walks away muttering, “She can’t know”, referring to Kate. He is spiraling and fast.
Kate, dressed in a blonde wig and a fancy dress, is in an office building. She walks up to the receptionist and introduces herself as an Adele-a-Gram. Soon, a man in a tux comes out to get her. He is very excited about her being there as he takes her back.
Randall, Kevin, and Sophie go to Randall’s girlfriend Allison’s house to pick her up for the prom. Allison’s father walks into the room and attempts to tell Randall he is pleased to meet him but struggles with his words until he admits he is unable to act like he is okay with Randall dating his daughter. He rushes out of the room as Allison chases after him. Her mother apologizes and follows them, leaving a stunned Randall staring after them.
At the BBQ, Randall begins telling the people about himself as they eat. He talks about how he and Beth decided to take up where his father William left off, helping people. Despite his intentions, the people are uninterested. Councilman Brown has been their friend for many years and Randall is a newcomer who does not know any of them. They see him as intruding on their lives and he realizes this will not be an easy campaign.
Kate, at the office party, begins singing Adele’s “When We Were Young” as several scenes are intercut: young Randall alone, Kevin and Sophie going to prom, Toby attempting to get his doctor on the phone, Miguel fixing Rebecca’s refrigerator, Randall almost alone after his failed campaign speech, and Kevin and Zoe arriving at Donnie’s home.
The young man from the office party follows Kate to the elevator and asks her what she is doing. He tells her how impressive her performance was, telling her that she was amazing and should be on a show like The Voice. Kate explains that when sad things happen to her, which is a lot of times, she shuts music out of her life. This is why she never pursued music more than what she is doing now. He tells her that he hopes things stay happy for her.
Young Kate walks into the living room and sits down at the piano that Miguel brought them. She begins to play and hum but stops herself. As she goes to close the piano, Rebecca walks up behind her and stops her.
Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) learns more about his father’s time in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Kevin and Zoe are sitting around a table with Donnie and his wife, looking over pictures and laughing. Later, Kevin and Donnie are alone, discussing what happened in Vietnam. Donnie offers Kevin some bourbon but Kevin explains that he is now sober. He tells Donnie that he wonders if Jack’s alcoholism stemmed from what happened to him during the war. Donnie explains that Jack was not the mechanic that Kevin thought, but instead, he was actually a staff sergeant, a squad leader, and he saved Donnie’s life. In the kitchen, Zoe and Donnie’s wife are talking. Zoe tells her about Kevin’s reaction to her needing a silk pillow and the cashier being racist. She says that Kevin does not understand what it is like to be black and she does not know how she can explain it to him. Donnie’s wife tells her that she needs to decide if she can handle explaining it to him and if she thinks he is worth the effort to do so.
Randall and Beth are cleaning up after everyone has left. Randall is upset over how people say they want change but they continue to vote for a councilman who fixes nothing. The owner of the BBQ joint tells Randall to go back where he belongs. Randall says he cannot understand why the people will not stand up for themselves and what they need, instead choosing to follow Councilman Brown out of blind loyalty. The man explains to them how Councilman Brown helped them when they almost lost their restaurant. He explains to Randall that the people owe him more than just their loyalty. They owe him their lives.
Toby is lying on a bed as his mom walks in the room. She tells him she is worried after his brother told her things he had said. She explains that he has to keep going even though his wife, Josie, left him. Toby tells her that he can’t but she refuses to listen. She tells him that he can keep going just the same as she did. Toby helped her when she needed him and now he needs to find something that will help him. Toby starts going to therapy and begins making progress. Heavily bearded, he jokes that no one is going to want to date someone who looks like they ate the Unabomber, to which the therapist asks if he is ready to take care of that. Back home, Toby shaves his beard. This is when he meets Kate. Back in the present, Toby has zoned out while playing an arcade game. A girl complains that he has been playing too long and when she tells him the time, 3:45, he realizes he is going to be late getting home for the news from the doctor.
Kevin and Donnie are talking. Donnie says that he can’t tell him much about what happened to Jack in Vietnam but that “sometimes the answers are so dark, you’re better off not having them.”
Randall comes home and sees Miguel outside. Miguel asks why he is home so early and not at the prom. Randall explains what happened at Allison’s house. Miguel begins telling him about how when he came from Puerto Rico, all he wanted to do was blend in. He worked extremely hard only to be called Ricky Ricardo on his first day of school. He explains to Randall how he played along with it, making a joke out of it, but that Randall is stronger than he was. Randall is not interested and goes inside.
In their hotel room, Kevin tells Zoe that he feels like he learned a lot but at the same time he feels like he did not learn anything. A delivery arrives. Kevin tells Zoe she should get it because it is for her. He has ordered her a silk pillowcase because it was important to her to have it. She decides to explain to him why it was necessary (for her hair) and also tells him about the racist cashier. He asks her why she only just decided to tell him now and she says because she thinks he is worth it.
Rebecca and Young Kate are sitting down at the piano. Rebecca tells Kate how she put aside music due to sadness and being afraid, and how even though Kate didn’t think there was room for the piano she feels like there is so much more space now that it is here. She begins to play and sing Cyndi Lauper’s “All Through the Night.” She asks Kate to join her and for a moment it looks like she might, but she says that she can’t. Rebecca tells her it is okay. She may not be ready now but one day she will be because that is what she is meant for. Adult Kate is at home, playing piano and singing. She is choking up as Toby finally arrives home. She explains to him the doctor already called her with the results. They are officially pregnant. Overwhelmed, Toby begins to hyperventilate. He rushes to the kitchen sink for a glass of water as Kate follows him, worried. He begins to break down and sob uncontrollably, grabbing onto Kate for support.
Beth (Watson) thinks back on her job interview. Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Beth and Randall are putting the campaign signs in the back of Randall’s truck. They discuss how the meeting went and Beth tells him how proud she was that he did not cry at all. He remembers Beth’s interview and asks her how it went. He is excited for her. She plays it off and leaves to get in her car, where she thinks back on her interview. Just as it seems to be going well, the interviewer asks about her previous job and how it must have been difficult leaving after being there as long as Beth had been. She struggles to talk about what happened, fighting to control her emotions and eventually excusing herself as she walks out in tears.
As Toby lies in bed with a fan blowing on him, Kate talks on the phone to his doctor. She walks into the room and tells Toby that his doctor is going to adjust his medication so he can get back on it. Toby stares into space.
After prom, Kevin’s friends drop him off at Miguel’s house. He is drunk and passes out on Miguel’s bed. Miguel calls Rebecca to let her know Kevin is safe and refuses to let her come and pick him up, saying she should just let him stay and sleep. Rebecca tells him that they do not deserve him. Miguel flashes back to a moment between himself and Jack where Jack asks Miguel to take care of his family if anything were to ever happen to him.
Kevin (Hartley) studies an old photo of Jack. Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff/NBC
As Kevin and Zoe prepare to leave the hotel, Donnie is waiting for them. He tells Kevin that Jack may have actually wanted Kevin to know more about his time during the war. He hands Kevin letters that Jack wrote to him and leaves. As Kevin pulls one of the letters out of its envelope, a picture of Jack and a Vietnamese woman falls out. The woman is wearing the necklace Jack gave to Kevin.
One thing I love about This is Us is how we are able to see the characters from a young age and how different events or moments effected who they are in the present. Getting to see the events that made Toby who he is, and showing how early depression hit him, made his eventual break down even more heartbreaking. Chris Sullivan knocked it out of the park this week.
The other heartbreaking moment for me was courtesy of Beth, played by Susan Kelechi Watson. It was hard to watch the usually strong and sassy Beth lose her composure as she thought about being unexpectedly let go from her previous job. The more she attempted to stay in control, the less control she actually had, eventually leading to her leaving the interview. This was a complete role reversal for her, as it is usually Randall who struggles with his emotions and Beth that stands strong to support him. I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out the rest of the season.
Disney has released a special look trailer that gives us more of an insight into the fantastic return of everyone’s favorite nanny, Mary Poppins. The dancing, the singing, and the magic will delight families when it comes to theaters December 19th. Mary Poppins Returns stars Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, Meryl Streep as Topsy, and featuring the wonderful Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Junior.
This month there are some fantastic games being released, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Regardless of the gaming platform you use–Play Station 4 (PS4), Xbox One (XBO), Nintendo Switch (NS), Computer (PC) etc–there is a new game for you to enjoy.
To keep track of it all, here is a list of the anticipated video games being released this November.
Content Warning: Trailers contain scenes of explicit violence and some gore, may not be appropriate for all viewers.
November 1
The Quiet Man (PS4, PC)
Taking place over the course of a single night, the player tries to find a kidnapped songstress. Playing as Dane, the deaf protagonist, players try to find the masked man who took her all while fighting through the streets of New York City.
November 6
Overkill’s The Walking Dead (PS4, XBO, PC)
This first-person shooter game is set in The Walking Dead world and will have players fighting the living and the dead in a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. Users can choose between four characters Aidan, Heather, Maya, and Grant; each come with their own skill set and background story. Will you survive?
GRIP (PC, PS4, XBO, NS)
This combat street racing game is set in the future. Players race through tunnels, tracks and off road while battling the elements and each other.
November 8
Ride 3 (PS4, XBO, PC)
This game has over 230 customizable bike models from which players can choose. It also features over 30 tracks to race on for players to ride to victory.
November 13
Hitman 2 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Following what happened in Hitman, Agent 47, a contract assassin, goes after the Shadow Client. There are six missions in various locations to complete. Players can choose to be Knight or Stone who come with their own skills and weaponry.
November 14
Fallout 76 (PS4, XBO, PC)
This is the ninth Fallout game in the series and will serve as the series prequel. The website describes the game as:
“Reclamation Day, 2102. Twenty-five years after the bombs fall, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats.”
November 20
Battlefield 5 (PC, PS4, XBO)
The 16th in the series will focus on the World War 2 battlefield. The player will shape their troops, choose their weapons and vehicles, and lead them into battle. Players can choose between three modes: squad play, single-player, and multi-mode.
November 27
Darksiders 3 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Players become Fury, sister of War who is one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and Death. She relies on whips, swords, daggers, and magic to fight enemies and collect the Seven Deadly Sins. Players will have to solve puzzles and go through obstacles while collecting souls and fighting.
What video game are you looking forward to playing? Let us know in the comments below.
The Byers home living room within the “Stranger Things” Maze. Image courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that guests can now experience a “lights-on” walk-through of the all-new “Stranger Things” maze during daytime hours. This opportunity will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at how the Upside Down comes to life during the “Halloween Horror Nights” celebration, which will run from Monday, October 29 through Sunday, November 4. The tour of the maze is included in the price of daytime admission to the theme park.
Universal Studios Hollywood worked closely in collaboration with Netflix and Stranger Things creators and producers, including Matt and Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, to create an authentic representation of Stranger Things sets, including the Hawkins National Laboratory and the Byers home living room.
The parallel universe within “Halloween Horror Nights,” known as the Upside Down, will also include a Demogorgon that will stalk unwitting guests as they tour iconic scenes and encounter characters and environments of the critically-acclaimed series.
Welcome to the eighth and final part in our Louden Swain series! If you missed them, you can read part 1, part 2,part 3, Part 4 ,Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7. We’re celebrating the band leading up to the release of their new acoustic album, Splitting the Seams, which will release on October 26.
We asked for input from fans of the band, and had them answer questions. We had a huge turnout, with many fans wanting to share their favorites and their stories. For this last installment, fans share why they love the band so much!
Natasha (@NatashaCole): “I love Louden Swain, first and foremost, for the music. I found them during a difficult time in my life. I was a newly single mom, unsure of where my life was going to go after a devastating breakup, and the first song I heard of theirs was ‘She Waits’. It’s been love ever since. Also, they are legitimately the nicest guys who care about their fans. They never say no to stopping to take a selfie or sign an autograph, they’re amazing with children who are also fans, they are supportive of fan artists, and they always have the right words for people who need to hear something nice from their faves.”
Tiffany (@Tiffany Shope1): “The entire band is awesome; their songs are amazing, the lyrics are raw and honest, and when performing they aren’t afraid to mess up and not be perfect which makes them real. But in particular Rob’s voice. Every time he performs he throws his whole soul into it. It doesn’t matter if he’s tired or spent the day taking pictures or flying cross country on a red eye to make a show; he gives it his all….. for us. Seeing him sing live; he’s undeniable. You HAVE to stop and pay attention. On stage he has his own gravitational pull that can’t be ignored. And when you see them play, Billy can’t help but draw your eye. He always shows so much passion for what he’s playing… he’s a joy to watch. Norton and Borja are just amazing too. I have met some of my best friends through going to Louden Swain shows. Being able to form connections like this has been a surprise and something I think I was lacking in my life. Traveling to be able to meet up with your best friends and see your favorite band? There’s nothing better in the world.”
MaryJane (@12TimeTraveler): “There are plenty of artists out there making nice music. But with Swain it’s like…each performance they leave you with a little piece of their soul. They put everything they have into their music and it’s not just a cute little ditty they wrote. It’s real, it’s passionate. They open themselves up to us and let us meet them through their songs.”
Scout (@Scoutstiel): “If you ask anyone, even the damn band themselves, they’ll say that I tend to tease these guys a lot. I’m a joker, I make goofs, but it’s how my personality comes out when I really love something. But every lyric I hear, and every conversation I have with them I witness nothing but cool, humble dudes. I think I really start to love something when there’s a real, deep emotional connection involved, and over the past 5 or 6 years I’ve seen a lot of laughing, tears, growth–you name it. These guys are dedicated artists with huge hearts, and they’re responsible for a lot of friendships, art, car karaoke, gigs, and genuine joy I’ve experienced over the last half-decade. That felt a little vulnerable though, so I’m also going to say I love them because of the collective hair styles they had between 2000-2005.”
Em (@invisible_heir): “I love them because they inspired me to start writing poetry again. I started writing at a really young age and my favorite thing to do was write birthday rhymes for people. I absolutely loved telling stories through rhyme. They were my way of making someone smile. Then when I was 22 my mom suddenly passed away and I just kind of forgot how much I loved it. It’s not that I refused to do it or didn’t want to, my mind simply blocked it out. And it stayed that way for years. Until I met Louden Swain. Until I heard their music. And then, something just clicked. I started writing again. Not just poems that rhymes but I started playing with different styles. Since discovering them in 2016 I’ve now written 70+ just about the band as a whole or as individuals, and several more about other faves or friends. When I was writing before I would maybe write 5 a year. Now I’ve written probably a total of 100 in 2 years. I can’t give a definite answer as to what it is about Swain that sparked that. I honestly wish I knew. But for whatever reason, their music and the creative part of my brain intertwined and gave my writing back to me. So for that, they will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Dean (@Chucksvessel): “I love Louden Swain because they’re all genuinely in love with what they do and care about their fans. They’re all amazingly talented too. I’ve never seen a band as genuine and talented as them.”
Tiffany (@TiffIsWayward): “Not only are they insanely talented, they are so real and down-to-earth with their fans. They’ve really become a part of the SPNFamily and embraced us as their fans as part of their ‘family’ too. I think they’re always a little shocked at how much we love them and that makes me love them even more.”
Emma (@simplyreflected): “Their music is amazing and it calms me down when I’m stressed. I found them in a bad time of my life and I fell in love with their music instantly. I was actually contemplating suicide for the first time in about 8 years when I found them. I feel that one of the reasons I love them so much is that they saved me. So if any of them ever read this, Thank you.”
Maranda (@maranda_martin): “I love Louden Swain as a group and as four really amazing gentlemen. I love their dedication to music (another something that I love), I love their personalities, I love how normal they are. I love their music.”
Jenna (@sushiswain): “Loving Louden Swain encompasses such a variety of things it’s difficult to give specific reasons. It’s like a multi-layered gift that you keep unwrapping the longer you’re a fan. In the beginning, I loved Louden Swain because their music had a good beat and something about Rob’s voice really drew me in. The more I really listened to the lyrics, the more I fell for their music. They’re very good at writing songs that tell a story, have a good melody, and really speak to your heart. Once I was able to meet them in person, I discovered an entirely new layer. They’re the best sort of people, who are truly grateful for every one of their fans and love hearing how their music has spoken to us. I enjoy lots of different bands, but there’s something about listening to Louden Swain that feels like coming home and becoming who you were meant to be at the same time.”
Lori (@SPNZookeeper): “I initially fell in love with them because of their music. At this particular moment in time when I look back over the past few years of being a fan and realising just how much they’ve given me, I just I can’t even put into words how much I love them. I love them because they’ve given me the best friends I could have ever imagined, their music has helped me through the worst times in my life. Their encouragement and support has driven me to do the best I can and has given me the courage to fly around the world and experience new places. They’ve given me so much strength. They’ve brought me so much happiness; so much happiness that I could never ever even think of how to repay them. I’ve found my tribe within this band and through their music and I love them for that.”
Kari (@Kariface27): “I love Louden Swain because of how much they care about their fans. They all appreciate us and remember us. It’s nice to feel appreciated.”
Finn (@againsthewave_): “Do you have time for a novel? In short, because their music moves me, they are incredible musicians, and even better people. Literally no band cares about their fans the way these guys do.”
Gisselle (@lopezado8696):”I love Louden Swain because it’s a band consisting of four really great friends, doing what they love to do. Because they create wonderful, inspiring, fun music that everyone can enjoy. Because they do so much more than play music, and are such active and engaging members of our community. Because they treat every fan with respect, and always have a smile on their face when we meet them. Because they, each in their own individual way, have helped to shape conventions into what they are today. Because of Rob Benedict, Billy Moran, Mike Borja, and Stephen Norton. Because why wouldn’t I love Louden Swain?”
Erika (@soliloquywriter): “Well, any group of guys that haven’t gotten tired of one another after 20+ years is in and of itself pretty amazing! They just make my world a better place, from Billy being a fan of my art/photography, to Mike’s never ending smile that is completely contagious, to Stephen’s cat snaps that brighten even my worst days, and ending with Rob’s lyrical mastery, and how he crafts songs from the heart that everyone can relate to or draw strength from, and have helped my healing process on numerous occasions.”
Michelle (@lydrewsmom): “Louden Swain are the first musicians to ever make me appreciate music as a whole. It’s the way Billy is able to make a guitar sing it’s own lyrics. It’s the way my hands automatically tap the steering wheel when I hear the beat of Stephen’s drums. How Michael’s bass seems to speak to the depths of my soul. Rob’s voice and the words he sings have gotten me through various emotional states. When I’m happy, sad, angry or anxious, the music of Louden Swain always improves my mental state. I’ve met some amazing people through my love of Swain. Some that I will love for the rest of my life. How can I ever thank them for making these connections possible? They speak only truth when they say, ‘I’m packin’ only love down this one-way street.’ The connection they’ve made to their fans and their genuine appreciation is nothing I’ve ever seen. I’m proud to call myself a Swainer.”
Lynette (@LynetteParki): “I love their music because of their versatility. Before I found Swain I had songs that I listened to when I was in different moods or wanting to listen to a certain genre. Louden Swain has songs for every mood and in such a wide range of genres. There is a song that everyone will like, no matter what kind of music a person normally listens to. The music and the lyrics are all so beautifully written with such depth of meaning behind them. What puts the cherry on the cake with this band is that they are such genuinely nice men. They are down to earth and so appreciative of the fans. They deserve every success that comes their way.”
Emma (@EmmaV421): “I have never had a band where every song, interview or video has left an impact on me. The fact that they are so amazing, that they can make a difference for so many people but are still some of the sweetest, most down to earth guys is, to me, the biggest accomplishment.”
Muriel (@housecatsswain): “I love their music and lyrics of course. Music never has touched my heart and spoke to me the way Louden Swain’s music does. Rob, Stephen, Mike and Billy are some of the kindest people I have ever met. They are good people. Every little thing they do show that. But the main reason I love Swain is this: becoming a Swainer led me to meet online and in person so many great people. I made so many friends all around the world because of Swain. Some I met already and will meet again in a few weeks at Rockwood, some I am going to meet for the first time there and I can’t wait to meet them, some I hope to meet one day. I speak to them nearly daily and I can’t imagine my life without them. I have been in a lot of fandoms across the years and I can say the Swain fandom is the most friendly and welcoming fandom I ever was part of. I will eternally grateful to Louden Swain for the friends I made thanks to being a fan of them.”
Aileen (@fandomfreak221b): “I love Louden Swain because, besides the fact that they make awesome music, they are four genuinely amazing guys who have a real passion for what they do and really care about their fans.”
Emily (@fiveafterseven): “They care about making good music. They are present and invested in every fan interaction. Their shows are filled with love and energy. They always work to be better. But more than anything I love Louden Swain because they led me to my second family. The last five years I’ve made memories with people who live miles and countries and continents away. People who inspire me to work harder, who all have their own challenges but still make time for each other. I’ve found safety and understanding and support. People I can laugh and cry with. We laugh A LOT. We cry a lot too. But we find strength in each other. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon so many people that have changed my life for the better.”
Mary(@pare6386):“I love Louden Swain because they are extremely down to earth guys, their music resonates with me, it evokes memories, helps calm and center me when I need it. I think the connection they have with fans is incredible and not often seen among the music acts you see today.”
Sam (@SwainerSam): “Never, in my whole life, have I ever experienced the amount of love and support these guys give to me. It started out just loving a band that had music I absolutely loved and turned into this family that believes in me and gives me so much strength. To try and show love to your favorite band and instead receive all that love right back from people I consider heroes is the most amazing feeling. They’ve gone beyond and not only given me music music that I love, but friends that support me as well. I can never thank them enough for all they have given me.”
Shaena (@StartoftheAct): “Their music is so great, the songs are really diverse. The whole band is so nice and are great with the fans. They lit on great live shows, and I just can’t put into words how great they are!”
Katie (@mattcohen4fake): “Louden Swain has been my rock for the last 5 years. They have supported me with my artwork and life in general; have showed kindness to my brother and friend when I brought them to meet the other four dudes that make me happy; have shown me that happiness is within arms reach and I have to do is rise up and get it. But most of all, this LA based indie rock band has given me the most beautiful, genuine, lifelong friendships anyone could ever ask for. I have no idea where I’d be without the friends that I made through this band. They’ve been with me through my hot highs and tricky lows and have made me a better person. My life has definitely changed a lot in the last five years and I like to think its for the better. So yeah… I guess you could say I love this band.”
Stacy (@LoveandSwain): “It’s really hard to put into words how much I love Louden Swain. The simple answer would be that they are truly a great bunch of guys and that their music has reached me on an extremely personal level. However, it goes so much deeper that that. This band has forever changed my life for the better. It’s because of this band that I have found my tribe. I have found friends, but more importantly; I have found my family. These four guys have helped me to find acceptance and true happiness. There are not adequate words to describe just how thankful I am to have found Louden Swain. My life will never be the same, and I’m so incredibly grateful for that.”
Kelli (@klairermusic1): “Louden Swain has catchy music that I enjoy, but they are also real with their fans. They truly enjoy seeing the fans. I love that they are so willing to talk with us. Also, they are willing to show themselves as they really are on social media. They do not try to depict themselves as someone who they are not. Honestly, I could probably go on and on about what I love about the band.
Kim (@KimSaysSmile): “I love them because they have changed my life. I would not be the same person if I did not know they existed. Their music speaks to my soul. I have never had a band write lyrics that spoke to me the way Swain lyrics do. I can relate to so many songs & have had songs help me through all sorts of situations. Because of Swain I also have a whole family of Swainers. I met some of my best friends because of our mutual love for Swain. I couldn’t imagine my life without these people and without this band.”
Katie (@katmgc): “I love Louden Swain because they were what I needed in my life. Their music keeps me going even when times are rough. I have made so many friends because of them and their music, friends I hope I have for the rest of my life, friends I consider family. I’m less afraid of change, I’m less afraid of doing what makes me happy, even if it might be hard. I was trying to make a big decision, and debating on whether I could do it or not. I went to a con, and at SNS a friend told me their story about how Rob had helped them make a big change in their life. Listening to that story is what convinced me that I could make the decision I needed to make. And after I made that decision I went to a con, and I told Rob about it and after asking if I was okay, I told him I was happy with my decision and he hugged me. He promised me later that weekend that I could always tell him anything because he’d have my back. In the years, and it’s weird to think it’s been years, since I’ve had so many other interactions with them that have always left me grateful that they are in my life. I’m stronger because they’re in my life, and I’m a better person because of the influence they’ve had on me.”
Jennifer (@macd1982): “I think the better question is “how does anyone NOT love Louden Swain?” Aside from the fact that their music is incredible, their lyrics are astounding and very relative a lot of the time, and their live shows are fantastic, they are truly genuinely nice people. They put so much heart into their music and they care so much about their fans. I’ve never met a more down to earth group of guys. They are easy to talk to and they all give incredible hugs! One of the most unexpected and amazing things I gained from loving Swain though… a whole new set of friends I never would have met otherwise. Louden Swain brings people together and I will be forever grateful to them for that alone.”
Beth (@comet9443): “Their music has helped get me through what’s turned out to be one of the hardest years I’ve ever dealt with. In March, I lost my Dad and in April (just 6 weeks later) my 15 year old dog (who I’d adopted at 6 months and had gotten me through so, so much) had to be put down. Without their music and their social media posts, I don’t know where I’d be. They give me hope, they let me know I’m not alone, and heck, not one is hard to look at.! But they truly have saved me this year and I can never thank them enough for that.”
Lindsey (@lindseyiam): “I love Louden Swain because they made me rediscover my love and appreciation for music. I always enjoyed music growing up, but there were quite a few years in my life where my relationship with music became a bit distant for whatever reason. Listening to Louden Swain changed all of that for me, and I would definitely credit it to how very talented they are and how diverse their music is. Also, I love how much I sincerely enjoy all of their albums and songs. I don’t feel the need to ‘skip around’ through albums when listening to them, I want to listen to every single song from start to finish.”
Brittany (@tasteofmyhominy): “There are so many reasons I could list but, to put it plainly, they have helped myself and others so much. They seem to have a song for every season of life and so many times the lyrics have been exactly what I needed to hear at that exact moment.
They are just genuinely good guys. Some of my favorite stories are from different guests who perform during the the Saturday Night Special with them at conventions. Almost, if not all of them have a story about how they didn’t think they could ever sing or play in front of an audience for one reason or another and how playing specifically with Louden Swain has helped them find their confidence and voice.
It’s such a testament to this amazing band that not only are they talented entertainers themselves but they have created the type of environment where people who are not musicians are comfortable enough to share the stage with them and step out of their comfort zone. They are all such stunning musicians and I feel so lucky that their music is in my life. I’m a better me because of them.”
Sarah (@wyldefandom): “They are amazing, kind, funny and down to earth guys. You can tell they all genuinely enjoy what they do. What you hear on the albums is what you hear when you see them live, which is important to me. The fact that they are putting out an acoustic album gives me chills when listening to an acoustic song it has so much emotion and makes the song feel intimate. When they are on stage performing their energy is infectious you can’t help but let the music and lyrics take over and connect to the moment you’re in.”
Paige (@lightinmychest): “Their music is wonderful, they are good to their fans, and they’re just good guys.”
Niki (@DarlingNiki): “Louden Swain brought me some of my best friends. One of my newest tattoos is a green kazoo, and it is my only colored tattoo. I chose it because it was representative of my friends AND Swain, and they both brought color back into what was feeling like a somewhat bleak existence.”
Karyl (@karylannegeary): “I love their music, their sound, how they relate to their fans, how I’ve found a family among other fans. I love how they’re all genuinely good people and how willing they are to keep pushing themselves to improve. There’s something intangible that makes a band really special, and they have it in spades.”
Sara (@altsunthinkable): “I owe these guys so much. Their music has helped me through a lot of different times in my life in the last 5 years. It’s been there for me through loss, depression and through fun and happy times as well. They’re always so happy to see their fans whether the fan is a familiar face or a newcomer. I love that Mike always looks forward to me having a postcard for the band to sign, that Billy always reminds me to travel safely, that Stephen always asks when he’s going to see me next, that Rob knows we can’t go a con weekend without a hug op. But beyond all of that… becoming a Swainer literally changed my life. I have an incredible group of friends now that I have met through being a Swain fan. These friends make me feel accepted, loved, and supported and have been there for me through some pretty tough times. Just like Supernatural has created something special among their fans with the SPNFamily, Swain has done the same with their fans. There are some really amazing people in my life now that I would never have met if it wasn’t for Louden Swain.”
Amanda (@BandagedLetdown): “I love Louden Swain because of their talent, and because of how much happiness they bring to not only myself, but to my friends. I love how relatable their songs are, and how they encourage you to find your own meaning in their lyrics. I love how Rob will stop in the middle of a sentence when someone yells, “I love you,” to say it back. I love how Stephen is so responsive to fans on social media. I love how Billy sometimes starts side conversations with fans during the Swain meet and greets. I love how Mike can turn someone’s day around by simply smiling at them.”
Holly (@AccioAwesome): “They have music I love as well as an ever-evolving style. They’re very accessible to fans and seem like really genuine, great guys.”
Vera (@raths_kitten): “Louden Swain is my favorite band, because they tell actual stories with their songs. It’s not just a bunch of words to go with a beat, but the songs matter. They inspire me to write or they just make me feel better after a shit day, or make me laugh more on a good day or motivate me to get going in the morning. I have a few choice songs for choice moments by now. I also recently really deeply bonded with some fellow fans over a twitter group and I am forever grateful that Swain is the reason we all connected in the first place, only to discover we have so much more in common.”
Elise (@broadwayswain): “They’re just a really good group of guys who are just good people. They’re so good to their fans and are just as loyal to them as we are to the band, if that makes any sense. Their music is relatable no matter what mood you are feeling. They have very playable music, so doing a cover of their songs is a breeze because you know to tune your guitar half a step down.”
Amanda (@AmandaC0124): “How relatable and real they are. I love that they don’t pay somebody to write their songs for them and that the songs almost all have a story or a personal connection to them that we can all relate to. In my opinion, that makes them extra special.”
Angélique (@Angie_Voyage): “All the songs have a meaning, sometimes it’s just happy and cool, sometimes it’s really deep. I also love the fact that they always try new things, like the acoustic album, but even before, in concert or on Stageit. They are really close to their fans, they always answer us and it’s nice.”
Brandy (@horrorlovingirl): “We have four men with different looks and seemingly different personalities who have found a way to be unique and cohesive. That is rare. Musically, they are brilliant. In my heart I know that they belong on a big stage, they have what it takes to be on a big stage, but they’ve stayed indie and true to who they are. They are passionate and they love what they do. But, they also love who they do it for. They are just as dedicated to their fans as their fans are to them. They don’t ever dial it in. There is an inexplicable but genuine connection that they’ve created. They have the ability to get hundreds of people to play the kazoo simultaneously. How many bands can say that?”
Julieta (@poptartheartt): “I love music in general, a lot, but this is the second time I have fell in love with a band, and not only because the music is special, but also because the kind of people they all are. The meaning of the songs, the feelings they sing about. The band is so powerful, so pure and so wonderful and deserve to be recognised worldwide but at the same time they must be loved, respected and appreciated like they deserve, so I feel quite honoured to know them now that they are important and amazing for us who truly love them. I love Louden Swain because they heal me, make me strong, make me happy, the music is beautiful, make me feel alive and I’m glad those four guys got together to work that magic.”
Rachael (@NessaNight): “I love Louden Swain because their songs have a way of getting me out of my own head. I overthink everything and have a lot of anxiety issues and listening to the songs distracts me from whatever was bothering me.”
Sarah (@SharksandSwain): “I’ve made lifelong friends and feel more at home with the people I’ve met through the band more than I ever have in my life. They are incredibly kind, genuine, and welcoming to all of their fans. Whether I’m excited or sad or driven or heartbroken or ready to kick some ass or anything in between, Louden Swain has a song for that. I’ve traveled so much and broken out of my comfort zone and had experiences I never thought I could have and, in hindsight, can’t imagine my life without. I have a renewed drive for art and I’m constantly being inspired with new ideas because of them. I found where I belong because of them.”
Charlotte (@Charlot74714899): “Their obvious born talent with the instruments they play and their passions and love for performing is infectious and has inspired me to pick up the guitar (still VERY beginner though). Not only this, but the raw emotion and vulnerability to their music is so relatable and beautiful to see on the stage.”
Sam (@Honeybeemish): “I love their music, I love their lyrics, I love each of the band members. They are all personable, amazing and kind. Rob is open about what he’s been through and that we all struggle, but he loves us and we have a family in each other. They’ve brought me to some people I’m lucky enough to now call my best friends. Their music heals, celebrates and is cherished. I’m proud to call myself a fan.”
Sandra (@poptartswain): “Many, many reasons and since I’m not even remotely eloquent enough to do my feelings for Swain justice I’m not even gonna try. Their music is there for me when no one else is. I love them dearly.”
Chris (@Chris_afec): “They are CRAZY talented, absolute sweethearts. Their music is inspiring, moving, funny, motivating, heartbreaking, life-affirming. (not necessarily all at the same time.) And more importantly, it’s really fucking good. Also because none of them judged me (at least out loud) when I said “Love the new song, it’s amazing!” right after they had released….Amazing.”
Laurie (@LauriePriemen): “They are amazing artists, but they’re also a close group of friends who have been sticking together for years and I value that more than anything. They inspire me, not only with their music but also by being the beautiful people they are.”
Helen (@mywaywardsonsuk): “I love them because they are all such great and talented guys and their music means a great deal to me on a personal level. It’s like their writing and performing the soundtrack to my life. I really hope I can see them live again some day.”
Shannon (@reelnerdy): “They are a talented group of guys with a great selection of songs.”
Judy (@JayeEmm): “It (obviously) starts with the music. They have such a varied back catalog of songs, yet they all seem to resonate with me in one way or another. Lyrics that at different times can break your heart, make you laugh, or recognize yourself and feel a little less alone. Music that makes you want to dance or maybe fight a dragon – or just sit perfectly still and listen because it’s so beautiful. And to top that off with this music being made by four such truly good people who are so kind to their fans – it’s just a rare combination. I feel very thankful that watching this TV show sent me to a convention where I discovered this band. Their music has changed my life for the better.”
April (@AprilVian): “They’re all insanely talented to begin with. I find their music to be very relatable and really well done. In addition, every member of the band seems to be genuine and humble, they appreciate their fans and their passion for their work is obvious.”
Veronica (@veronica_bum): “I love this band because of how welcome they make me feel. I’ve always felt like the ‘odd duck’ wherever I go. When I’m at a convention for the concert or at a non-convention show, I know I’m among friends and i feel welcomed and like I belong to something. I have Rob, Billy, Mike, and Stephen to thank for that. They brought me together with some amazing people and I wouldn’t change a single moment since i started considering myself a Louden Swain ‘fan’. Even when I’m not at a show, if I put in my headphones or put Louden Swain on in the car or through speakers, the lyrics and the emotion that Rob puts in to the songs reminds me that I’m not alone.”
Jess (@JessHawden): “They are the most genuine guys I have ever met who have nothing but time and love for everyone they see. Their music is so inspiring and helps so many through difficult times in their lives. I love the way they welcome their Supernatural friends to join them on stage during the SNS and how they encourage them and give them the space and opportunity to shine on stage. I love the way their faces light up in happiness and pride throughout the performance.”
We all love Louden Swain for different reasons. For their music, their lyrics, who they are as people and for their kindness to us, the fans. It’s been incredible to watch the bond between the band and the fans. Fans who have made lifelong friends because of the band’s music, and have shared their love throughout this series. Thank you, again, to everyone who has followed along with this series and participated!
Make sure to go and purchase Louden Swain’s new acoustic album, Splitting the Seams, on October 26!
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