Author: A Star-Revue Contributor

Arts

Medea Hoar on pussy riot & Lamb of God, by Medea Hoar

Welcome to the March Edition of “Tits up Brooklyn!” March is reported to come in like a lion and leave like a lamb…What does that actually man for us music lovers? Does March arrive like the Stray Cats (rockabilly) and leave like Lamb of God (heavy/dark metal)? Or perhaps like Pussy Riot (punk) and leave like the Electric Sheep (female […]

Arts

Political Comedian Nish Kumar Asks, “Why Not Do Something More Fun?” by Laryn Kuchta

“You have to justify telling jokes about the news at a time like this.” That’s what British political comedian Nish Kumar said in 2022, during his last tour. A lot has happened since then, and Nish is performing in the US now. So, how has this feeling changed? “It’s got worse!” Nish laughs, sitting on a couch in the green […]

News

Afraid to go to work in Trump’s America

Since Trump’s second inauguration – and the crackdowns on documented and undocumented immigrants alike that have come afterwards – growing numbers of New Yorkers are terrified to leave their homes. Many are “very afraid to even go to work,” says Juan Carlos Pocasangre, president of Guatemaltecos in New York, an organization that has been providing help to immigrants from Guatemala […]

Feature Story

Working to protect neighbors from ICE, by Laryn Kuchta

District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés knows how hard the Trump administration’s immigration policy is hitting Red Hook. Avilés, who is Chair of the Immigration Committee, says that community providers have noted drops in undocumented people accessing services and a lot of talk about moving away. People do not feel safe, according to Avilés. “There’s unfortunately an enormous amount of vitriol […]

Feature Story

Walking With Coffee, by R.J. Cirillo

A descent into the maelstrom     There is a short story written in 1841 by Edgar Allen Poe called “A Descent into the Maelstrom.” It tells the tale of a mariner at sea caught in a giant whirlpool. IMHO we ourselves are currently spiraling downward in a similar predicament. Hard to say when this malevolent spin of events began. […]

Feature Story

France in Flux, by Dario Pio Muccilli, Star-Revue EU correspondent

2024 has seen a high degree of political instability in France, with four different prime ministers, the rise of the far-right, a snap election called by Macron in June, and a successful no-confidence vote passed in December by the left- and right-wings together. The political impasse led France not to pass a budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which has […]

Arts

Medea Hoar enjoys some hot music in a cold january

Hello my lovelies and welcome to February’s “Tits Up Brooklyn”. February brings us valentines, candy, flowers, lovers and oh, so much more. Do you know what this muse-y gal craves to satisfy her needs? My goal for February is to pursue a celebration of “New love for new music!” For me that’s the best way to celebrate the month of […]

Feature Story

Will we ever grow up? by Dario Pio Muccilli, Star-Revue EU correspondent

2025 has happened. The 21st century has officially begun his quarter life crisis. According to many psychologists, that is a time when young adults enter the real world and experience anxiety, sorrow, insecurity and doubt. In other words, the world has just graduated from college and still does not know what to do for a living. Older generations do not understand these problems, […]

Arts

Sixth time around

The British funk band Cymande’s fame was momentary 50 years ago or so. They released three notable albums [their self-titled 1972 debut, followed by Second Time Round (1973) and Promised Heights (1974)] with less essential efforts in 1981 and 2015, toured with Al Green and Patti Labelle and headlined at the Apollo before calling it quits. Their grooves were later mined by the likes of De […]