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Articles by Laura Mills
A wickedly wonderful evening with Jeff Goldblum at George Mason
There are myriad reasons to attend ARTS by George!, and on October 3 at George Mason University, Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra delivered the promise of an unforgettable evening in full. The annual benefit that supports scholarships and arts programs at George Mason began with impressive showcases of student talent throughout the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Role Model - Chuck Timely & The Hourglass (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Role Model Photo: Chloe Chippendale Role Model’s ‘Chuck Timely & The Hourglass’ is less about reinvention and more about refining what he’s already built: a communal, warm indie‑rock‑folk sound carried by strong vocals and quietly aching lyrics. The album may be similar in certain respects to Tucker Pillsbury’s earlier releases but it’s clear this is a natural progression from 2024’s ‘Kansas Anymore’, getting closer to offering a blueprint for future work.
Melancholy and Euphoria: Temples on 'Bliss' and Bringing Their New Era to Life on Tour
Home > News & Reviews > Temples Photo: Jimmy Fontaine For more than a decade, Temples have produced a repertoire of versatile sounds across four LPs of psychedelic goodness. But, even considering this track record, the band have now entered a new era with ‘Bliss’, a record that leans further into sharp dance‑driven textures, including pulsing synths, crisp electronic beats and club-style rhythms, than ever before.
Baby Queen - I Hope You Don't Remember Me (Album Review)
Photo: ThreeBroMedia/Elif Gonen ‘I Hope You Don’t Remember Me’ marks a real shift for Baby Queen, showcasing musical versatility while leaning less frequently into Arabella Latham’s signature style of social commentary, instead diving straight into heartbreak. It feels like her most mature, honest work yet, showcasing a new era where she’s comfortable being vulnerable.
Steve Lacy - Oh Yeah? (Album Review)
Photo: Gus Van Sant Steve Lacy’s ‘Oh Yeah?’ feels like an example of a blueprint not being followed. Its standout song, Doom, has the best flow on the album, strong rhyme schemes, and catchy hooks, while its reflective lyrics deliver an interesting look at Lacy as a person. The alt-R&B star is at his best when he uses his own experiences as the basis for his music, something the rest of his third album would have benefited from.
Olivia Rodrigo - You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Olivia Rodrigo Photo: Nick Walker Outlining the rise and fall of a relationship with remarkable detail, capturing the rush and excitement of falling in love before gradually sinking into heartbreak, ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love’ is Olivia Rodrigo's most accomplished album yet. Beautifully sequenced, with each track allowed to build naturally on the sentiments of the last, it is an emotional journey that feels raw, real and relatable.
Lizzo - Bitch (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Lizzo Photo: Jason Renaud Themes of self-love and empowerment have long been cornerstones of Lizzo’s music, allowing her to light up genre-blending tracks that seamlessly transitioned from soul to pop to rap. On ‘Bitch’ there’s something missing. While there are some really nice songs here, it doesn’t appear that her heart is in it like it used to be.
The Cappies celebrate excellence in high school theater at 2026 gala
Shout hallelujah — c’mon get Cappies! This year’s Cappies Gala took place on Sunday night, June 7. As usual, the event was a spectacular celebration where students, teachers, parents, and community leaders came together to recognize the many contributions of high school theater and journalism in the Washington, DC, region. The Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) is an international program that trains high school theater and journalism students to attend and review productions.
Towa Bird - Gentleman (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Towa Bird Photo: Charlie Denis Towa Bird’s eagerly-awaited second studio album ‘Gentleman’ is a rush and a comedown. Its opening moves are packed with incisive queer storytelling, her strongest vocals to date and electrifying guitars, but it struggles to maintain that momentum as time draws on. The opening title track is nothing short of delicious.
Camp and joy for the entire family in ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ at Workhouse Arts Center
When I heard Workhouse Arts would be doing The SpongeBob Musical, I immediately thought, “How are they going to stage such a big show in that intimate space?” Oh, me of little faith! The Workhouse delivers the camp and spectacle without overstimulating the audience into oblivion. The SpongeBob Musical is a celebration of optimism and imagination, much like the original animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg.
MUNA - Dancing On The Wall (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Muna Photo: Dean Bradshaw MUNA are back and better than ever. Four years on from their self-titled third LP, and two from vocalist Katie Gavin’s solo debut ‘What a Relief’, ‘Dancing On The Wall’ is packed with hip-shaking beats and jangly chords, switching deftly between high energy electro-pop and their signature indie cool.
Gretel - Squish (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Gretel Photo: Karolina Wielocha Gretel’s ‘Squish’ is a debut album that displays both range and emotional potency, moving between dark indie-pop, gothic folk and grungy alt-rock while her uniquely sultry voice pulls listeners in from the start. The opening title track signals her intent.
Holly Humberstone - Cruel World (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Holly Humberstone Photo: Silken Weinberg Holly Humberstone’s second album is all about quiet reinvention. The pop-rock singer-songwriter has embraced versatility and emotional complexity on the follow up to 2023’s ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’, presenting a post-breakup narrative about managing your life and emotions after losing love that many will find all too relatable.
'It Was Sink or Swim': Meet Manchester Grafters M60 Ahead Of Their Biggest UK Tour
Home > News & Reviews > M60 Manchester is the birthplace of some of the biggest stars in the history of British music, and M60 are out to ink their name into that proud lineage. The quartet — guitarist-vocalist Matthew Morton, guitarist Owen Baldwin, drummer Bradley Smith and bassist Max Phillips — have become known for their high-energy guitar-pop in recent years, with their biggest UK tour to date about to get underway in early April.
Triune Entertainment’s musical ‘The Prince of Egypt’ has ingenious wonder
Triune Entertainment’s production of DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt delivers an emotional retelling of the Exodus story, balancing spectacle with sincere storytelling. While the musical carries the weight of its animated predecessor, the stage adaptation proves that the material can succeed in a theatrical setting when approached with reverence and imagination.
Leigh-Anne - My Ego Told Me To (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Leigh Anne Photo: Niklas Haze It’s been a busy season for Little Mix, even with the girlband on hiatus. Following the breakout success of Jade’s ‘That’s Showbiz Baby’ last year, Leigh-Anne is the latest member to release a highly anticipated debut album that doesn’t simply meet expectations — it exceeds them. Serving heavy drops alongside elements of R&B and reggae, ‘My Ego Told Me To’ demonstrates the singer’s versatility at every turn.
Ellur - At Home In My Mind (Album Review)
Photo: Sarah Oglesby Ellur’s ‘At Home In My Mind’ is a debut album of raw honesty and self-discovery, with glimpses into relationships delivered with a sense of individuality thanks to Halifax singer-songwriter Ella McNamara keeping her Yorkshire accent front and centre.
Maddie Ashman - Her Side EP (Album Review)
Photo: Sandra Ebert London-based musician Maddie Ashman’s avant-garde approach to songwriting and composition sets her apart from the rest. ‘Her Side’ is highly individual and experimental, which is welcome in an industry polluted by carbon copy artists emerging daily. But the ambition behind the EP masks a lack of versatility from song to song. The strongest track here is Seraphim. Vocally, Ashman switches up tempos seamlessly, moving from an angelic sound to a more passionate, balladeering vocal.
Louis Tomlinson - How Did I Get Here? (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Louis Tomlinson Louis Tomlinson’s third album surpasses expectations when it comes to assumptions around an ex-boyband member’s solo work. From the off, ‘How Did I Get Here?’ offers high energy, explosive indie-pop as, channeling every ounce of angst he has experienced in recent years to create something memorable. At a time when his former bandmate Harry Styles is everywhere, Tomlinson has claimed his own lane and it’s really working for him.
Spilling The Tea: The Beaches on 'No Hard Feelings' and Their UK Tour
With pop pedigree and enviable cool on their side, The Beaches are one of the most exciting bands in the world right now.
Fred Again.. - USB002 (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Fred Again Photo: Theo Batterham Fred Again..’s ‘USB002’ is a massive undertaking. Signalling his status as one of the world’s pre-eminent DJs, it pulls together cuts from his set into an upbeat, high-energy collection of club-tested beats. It’s versatile, with an assortment of massive artists featured across its whopping 34 songs, but the fluid project’s current incarnation doesn’t offer anything unique or particularly fresh.
Dove Ellis - Blizzard (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Dove Ellis Dove Ellis’s eagerly-awaited debut ‘Blizzard’ occupies two states. It’s an album that switches between sheer emotion, his vocals cracking while delivering the lyrics, and upbeat jangle, his roots in Irish folk always visible beneath it all. The opener Little Left Hope immediately signals that Ellis’s strong suit is found in his words, with feeling running through each line.
FKA Twigs - Eusexua Afterglow (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > FKA Twigs Photo: Jordan Hemingway Growing out of the prospect of a deluxe edition of this year’s ‘Eusexua’, FKA Twigs’ fourth LP is about digging deeper. Instead of throwing a few extra tracks on streaming services we have ‘Eusexua Afterglow’, an avant-pop electronic record packed with dance anthems, picking up from where its predecessor left off with its celebration of the underground rave scene in Prague.
Whitney - Small Talk (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Whitney Photo: Alexa Vicious With a title like ‘Small Talk’, you’d expect Whitney’s fourth LP to take place amid the mundane parts of life, but this album shows the Chicago-formed duo in a different light as they lay love and loss on the table. The results are wonderful. This isn’t meaningless chatter and preamble — it’s two artists opening up every ounce of their thoughts for the world to see.
Circa Waves - Death & Love Pt.2 (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Circa Waves Photo: Polocho Released at the start of the year, Circa Waves’ ‘Death & Love Pt. 1’ found Kieran Shudall mulling over starting from scratch after his lowest point and a brush with mortality. Its follow up, though, marks a new wave of expression for the Liverpool band — it’s a bubbling, Strokes-inspired payoff to a period of hard graft. Much of its appeal is captured by the stand out track Ten Outta Ten, which has undeniable funk and groove to it.
The Last Dinner Party - From The Pyre (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > The Last Dinner Party Photo: Laura Marie Cieplik The Last Dinner Party’s debut album ‘Prelude to Ecstacy’ helped to establish them as one of the UK’s most unique bands, setting them on a path towards sold out shows and headline festival sets. Hot on its heels they have returned with a confident twist on their baroque-pop sound in the form of ‘From The Pyre’, a second LP that takes their established blueprints and doubles down rather than offering anything more versatile.
'We Don't Want to be What You Want Us to Be': Swim School On Their Debut LP and Tour Plans
Home > News & Reviews > Swim School Swim School are in the midst of a deeply exciting time, with the release of their self-titled debut album running straight into a buzzy UK and Ireland headline tour, which kicks off in Newcastle on November 5.
Still Smitten: Pale Waves On Touring, Changing Meanings and Their Next Step
Photo: @shotbykelsi Released last autumn, ‘Smitten’ was something of a reset for Pale Waves, bringing back their earlier blend of guitar jangle and synth-pop, this time complete with effortless polish. The Mancunian band are about to hit the road for another round of touring behind their fourth LP, visiting compact rooms throughout October that will amp up its emotional flourishes. “I think it’s going to be a lot more intimate,” vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie tells us.
JADE - That's Showbiz Baby! (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > JADE Following her success as a member of Little Mix, many expected big things from JADE as a solo artist. Her debut album ‘That’s Showbiz Baby!’ doesn’t just meet those expectations, it exceeds them in every way. This is loud, powerful and innovative pop music. The album kicks off with her calling card single Angel Of My Dreams, which uses a sample of Sandie Shaw’s Puppet on a String to kick off a winding, unpredictable hit.
Shame - Cutthroat (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Shame Shame’s ‘Cutthroat’ brings fierce, intense energy from the get-go, reinforcing the idea that the south London post-punks are a band unafraid to try new things. Produced by John Congleton, whose oddball pop approach has been employed by everyone from St. Vincent to Mannequin Pussy, it’s a bold record that justifies their confidence. The title track begins with a relentless, electrifying guitar riff that is alternatively piercing, sweet and satisfying.
The Beaches - No Hard Feelings (Album Review)
The Beaches are an impressive, underrated band. Their third album ‘No Hard Feelings’ is an assured follow up to ‘Blame My Ex’, which catapulted them up festival bills and set up a long period of touring. It packs plenty of pop punch and should secure them some of the credit they deserve. Can I Call You In The Morning? is a perfect opener, its explosive, confident instrumental underpinning questioning lyrics. “Whatever you’re thinking, Jordan, just don’t,” sings bassist-vocalist Jordan Miller.
Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend (Album Review)
Sabrina Carpenter has been a supreme performer since her days as a Disney star, but over the past couple of years her profile has shifted in explosive, unexpected ways. ‘Short n’ Sweet’ was a huge hit, catapulting her name onto the lips of pop fans the world over, and she has struck while the iron is hot, releasing ‘Man’s Best Friend’ only 12 months later.
The New Eves - The New Eve Is Rising (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > The New Eves Photo: Katie Silvester The New Eves’ debut has several strings to its bow, from relentless rock songs to supernatural rituals, and the fact that they can’t be pinned down into one style has become the Brighton band’s USP. Reflecting that, ‘The New Eve is Rising’ offers a series of fresh takes on how their music should be perceived, but it’s not without its faults.
The fantastical game world of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ comes to Kennedy Center
Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern is an interactive gameplay experience for D&D enthusiasts, improvisational theater fans, and everyone in between. Due to its long-form improv format, each show is a roll of the dice and based on the prompts from a new audience at every show. For those familiar with D&D, the show is a one-shot based on the fifth edition, complete with a Dungeon Master, Tavern Keeper, and an adventuring party of three players.
Wet Leg - Moisturizer (Album Review)
Photo: Alice Backham Wet Leg’s self-titled debut set Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers on the road to stardom and success in 2022, scooping a couple of Brits while making the sardonic Chaise Longue into a breakout hit of note. Not many bands make such a splash so early on, making their return with ‘Moisturizer’ somewhat daunting, especially given its revamped aesthetic, fresh style and updated sound. This is a swerve in a new direction, then, but it’s an exciting one.
Kesha - . (Period) (Album Review) - Stereoboard
Home > News & Reviews > Kesha Photo: Brendan Walter It’s been a full year since Kesha’s Joyride first teased an album that revives the glitter and neon fun of her breakout hits, but ‘. (Period)’ isn’t really it — it has flashes of the energy fans know and love her for but as a whole this is a lacklustre version of her blueprints. Things begin promisingly with Freedom, a curveball of an opener that starts slowly.
Loyle Carner - Hopefully! (Album Review)
On ‘Hopefully!’ Loyle Carner embarks on a journey of self-discovery, with his soulful voice serving as a guide for listeners to follow. Here he leans on an established sound, without getting too precocious or experimental, and it works for him — this is a powerful record that takes Carner to the next level. Feel at Home is a melancholy and mellow opening chapter. Carner’s performance feels utterly precious, while the introduction of fresh percussion cleverly changes up the melody.
Nxdia - I Promise No One's Watching (Album Review)
Nxdia’s ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’ is a debut mixtape full of emotion, catchy lyrics, forceful drops and genre switches — it’s experimental, certainly, but also offers the perfect payoff to each of its diversions, ending up as a real treat for fans of alt-pop contemporaries such as Towa Bird. Feel Anything immediately seeks to get the listener off balance.
2025 Cappies Gala at Kennedy Center celebrates high school theater talent
The annual Cappies Gala is a spectacular celebration where thousands of students, teachers, parents, and community leaders come together to recognize the many contributions of high school theater and journalism. The emcees of this year’s gala, June 2, were Dr. Tara Taylor, Cappies NCA Chair and Fairfax County Public Schools Theatre and Dance Educational Specialist, and Cappies alumni Hasan Crawford, August Rivers, and Anna Maria Ferrari.
Rico Nasty - Lethal (Album Review)
Home > News & Reviews > Rico Nasty Photo: Chris Yellen Rico Nasty’s ‘Lethal’ is an explosive blend of beats, bars and bangers — it’s loud and garish while also being varied and carefully-crafted, stacking up as perhaps the Maryland rapper’s finest work to date. From the get go, album three is about delivering the full force of rage, power and dominance.
Self Esteem - A Complicated Woman (Album Review)
Photo: Scarlett Carlos Clarke ‘A Complicated Woman’ is a big swing for Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known by her stage name Self Esteem. Her third record is her first for a bona fide major label and the follow up to ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, her thrilling breakthrough. It struggles with that weight — while it initially appears innovative and original, it doesn’t deliver on that promise.
‘Clyde’s’ is served with humor and heart at Workhouse Arts Center
Lynn Nottage’s play Clyde’s, currently at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, is a compelling look into the lives of those who are often unseen and undervalued: the formerly incarcerated working toward a better life. The story centers on four employees in the kitchen of a truck stop sandwich shop. Each worker is striving for a fresh start while grappling with their past decisions.
Prince William Little Theatre's captivating ‘The Secret Garden’ springs to life
Prince William Little Theatre’s The Secret Garden brought a musically captivating interpretation of the classic story to life. With music by Lucy Simon and book by Marsha Norman, this Manassas production features some of the best vocal talents in the greater DC theater community. The story of The Secret Garden explores themes of grief, healing, and renewal. The lush score blends haunting melodies with uplifting harmonies, mirroring the emotional growth of the characters.
Fantastic musical 'Shucked' brings heart and corny humor to DC at the National
Washington, DC, is getting shucked on Pennsylvania Avenue — but not for long! The National Tour of the Tony-winning musical Shucked is playing a limited engagement at the National Theatre, bringing exactly what is needed to the DC area: humor, heart, and an abundance of carefree corny content. Shucked is an American fable that takes place in the fictional town of Cobb County, a community whose livelihood depends entirely on corn.
Triune’s 'Joseph' soars with dreamy vocals and a fresh take on a beloved musical
With its pop-rock score and uplifting message, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has inspired audiences worldwide and is considered to be Andrew Lloyd Weber’s earliest success, as it originally appeared as a 15-minute pop cantata at his preparatory school in 1968. Weber continued developing the musical with lyricist Tim Rice with whom he also collaborated on Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
In ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Reston Community Players, a poignant blend of heart and humor
Reston Community Players’ production of Fiddler on the Roof is a vibrant and heartfelt rendition of the beloved classic. Director Christine Maxted collaborated with her creative team of Music Director Steve McBride, Choreographer Philip Smith-Cobbs, Stage Manager Kaiti Parish, and more to create a production with a poignant blend of humor, heartache, and tradition. Set in early 20th-century Russia, Fiddler on the Roof follows Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman in the small village of Anatevka.
'Clue' on tour at Kennedy Center: a triumph in murder mystery and comedy
It was a dark and stormy night at the Kennedy Center for the national tour of Clue. My family and I have watched the film countless times and we were eagerly waiting for the curtain to rise in the Opera House. Clue is a triumphant tribute to its source material, touching on classic beats but with added physicality and hijinx. Familiarity with the 1985 Paramount film will not detract from the experience — it will enhance it. The show opens on a dark and stormy night at Boddy Manor.
An energetic and heartfelt ‘Legally Blonde’ from City of Fairfax Theatre Company
The City of Fairfax Theatre Company’s production of Legally Blonde: The Musical is a delightful, high-energy spectacle that leaves audiences feeling uplifted and inspired. Director Maura Lacy captures the spirit of the film-turned-Broadway show while infusing it with fresh updates.
2024 Cappies Gala at Kennedy Center celebrates high school theater talent
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts buzzed with excitement on Monday evening, June 10, 2024, as hundreds of young people from throughout the National Capital Area gathered to celebrate the achievements of high school theater. The annual Cappies Gala is the culmination of hundreds of hours for thousands of students, teachers, parents, and community leaders, all gathering to celebrate the contributions of high school theater programs.
'Songs for a New World' rings in new year for Triune Entertainment Original
As the theater community rings in the new year, Triune Entertainment will bring its next production, Songs for a New World, to the Wind River Theater in the historic ARTfactory of Manassas. I had the pleasure of meeting Director Matt Moore and some of his team to preview the special production before its opening night on January 19. Songs for a New World is a powerful and emotionally charged musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown.
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