Commander Chuck here. Over three years ago, I moved to Seattle from Los Angeles for my iconic employer in the coffee industry. I’m a self-proclaimed and proud public radio junkie who enjoys travel, the avant-garde, vinyl records shopping, and music of most genres. Since childhood, music has been central to my life and my other religion, so to speak. MTV, 1580 KDAY AM, and USA Network’s ‘Night Flight’ visual-arts magazine and music variety television series shaped how I grew up and consumed music in my youth.
In 2025, I was enlisted to join The SPACE 101.1 FM Party to protect and preserve the artistic integrity of music and help produce the guest dj program Sonic Test Flight. A blessing and boon to my acclimation in Seattle! Here are some of my top selections of 2025.
Music:
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- De La Soul – ‘Cabin In the Sky’ (album). Cabin in the Sky is the ninth studio album by seminal hip-hop group De La Soul, released on November 21, 2025. The group’s first album since member Trugoy the Dove passed away in 2023; album features previously unreleased vocals from Trugoy. This is unequivocally their best album since Stakes Is High in 1996.
- Clipse – ‘Let God Sort It Out’ (album). One of the greatest hip hop albums of this decade!
- David Byrne – ‘Who Is Sky?’ (album). Great piece of work from Byrne! Personal, cinematic, humorous and joyful.
Books:
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- ‘Excavate! The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall’ by Bob Stanley (Author), Tess Norton (Author). A unique, essay-based exploration of the influential post-punk band The Fall, focusing on their idiosyncratic world.
- ‘KILLED (OF KIDS)’ A Book by HUGGY BEAR. Huggy Bear was a UK riot grrrl band that existed from 1991-1994. It reproduces all seven zines made by the band during their lifespan alongside photos, correspondence, flyers and ephemera from their three year existence.
Movies:
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- Pavements. A docufiction about the American indie band Pavement, which combines scripts with documentary images of the band and a musical mise-en-scene composed of songs from their discography.
- Billy Joel: And So It Goes. A portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, this HBO produced two-part documentary explores the love, loss, and struggles that fuel his songwriting.
Concerts:
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- The Pharcyde @ Nectar Lounge, February 6 2025. The group bringing timeless cuts from the golden era of hip hop! What made the show memorable was they handed me the mic to help sing the chorus of their classic song “Passing Me By” as they remembered me from a 90s contemporary rap group.
- Macy Gray @ The Crocodile, July 15 2025. Gray brought her unparalleled voice and captivating stage presence to The Crocodile…and the night was fun and magical!
- Robert Glasper @ Nectar Lounge, Dec. 9 2025. Glasper is a five-time Grammy winning pianist and jazz innovator. Evening was shaped by deep groove, jazz, soul, and fearless sonic exploration. Comedian Dave Chappelle surprisingly dropped in unannounced and hosted the last 30 minutes of the show!
