Welp, four issues sure went by fast. What did you think? I’m still trying to find the balance between pop culture and politics, so I’d love to hear from you about what kind of civic news you want to feel informed about Cleveland. Reply to this email or submit a tip using this form.

I’m going to take next week off to re-group, so you can expect the next issue of Upbeat Nonsense on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

Happy reading,
Dakotah

P.S. If you liked this even a teeny bit, forward to a friend or click here to subscribe <3

I’ve been a fan of dystopian fiction since high school and haven’t looked back.

I’ve watched more apocalyptic dystopian shows than I can count, so here me when I say: This one might be my favorite.

There is something special about how Fallout portrays the end of the world. Without giving too much away, the series is set about 200 years in the future in a world divided by those who could afford bomb shelters underground and those forced to remain on the toxic earth’s surface.

The characters include Lucy (played by Ella Purnell from Yellowjackets and Arcane) who was raised in a vault her entire life. Her father (played by Kyle MacLachlan from Twin Peaks and Sex and the City) raised her to believe in meritocracy and that one day the people in her vault will help repopulate the earth.

In the first episode of Season 1, you’ll quickly watch this all go horribly, horribly wrong. The show also has strong sci-fi elements, with ghouls and mechs, and just gets it right in terms of the systemic inequalities that have persisted for too long.

Transparently, I never played the video game, but have heard the series is a good adaptation. Also, I’ll say it — I like Fallout more than The Last of Us series. Disagree with me? Tell me about it!

There’s a lot to love about this series, whose Season 2 just premiered last week on Prime. Episodes premiere once a week on Wednesday nights — like tonight!

If you know me, then you’ve probably heard me shout-out one of my favorite Boston-based rappers: Brandie Blaze. In 2023, I had a few opportunities to write about Blaze, including the release of her sophomore album, Broken Rainbows.

About a year later, Blaze followed up with her third album, Susan Lucci. The project featured hard hitting tracks like “Medusa” and my personal favorite: “BULLY.” Her music often encapsulates the anger that so many women and other marginalized groups feel, but can’t put into words.

So, rage on, girlfriend.

If you want to better understand this moment of increased surveillance in America, I highly recommend Rise of the Warrior Cop by Radley Balko.

Balko, a journalist, lays out not just the history of policing, but also provides a play-by-play of how we’ve overcorrected from a society that deeply cared about privacy to one that is signing more of their rights away with every passing day.

As cities like Cleveland invest in controversial technology such as ShotSpotter, Flock and even generative AI, I think it’s important to understand how we got here. This is just one perspective, but it’s a solid place to start. I’ve only read the original one from 2013, but Balko released an updated version in 2021.

Bands and artists nominated for the upcoming Cleveland Music Awards were shocked to learn on Dec. 21 that they had three days to download an app or risk losing their chance at the award altogether. 

The No Cover app, launched by the founder of the Cleveland Music Awards (CMA), is a last-minute addition to the voting process. This is the first time that voters – and nominated performers – have been required to download anything to participate. 

Almost immediately, musicians were not having it, taking to Facebook to air their grievances.

“So many people won’t be able to vote this year due to this,” a member of Pink Maskerade, a pop grunge band from Akron, wrote on Facebook on Dec. 21. “It was much easier for the people to vote for their favs through a website.”

On Dec. 24, Tom Nagle from Rustic Skies also pointed out that this will prevent people from participating. Within a few hours, the CMA Facebook account replied to Nagle:

“Most people in the world, including third world countries, have smartphones. [...] The reality is that one vote from that friend without a mobile phone is not going to decide the winner.”

Mark Rasmussen, the founder of CMA, said he launched the app to create more secure voting practices. He agreed that the rollout was far from perfect, but that the bugs were being worked out in real time. 

“I want this to succeed and for it to be a good experience for the artists,” Rasmussen told Upbeat Nonsense. 

Musicians have continued to reach out to Rasmussen and CMA on Facebook, citing continued issues with communication and the app itself. Although Rasmussen acknowledges that some of the concerns were valid, he pointed to the 100+ users he acquired in only a few days as proof that it worked.

Still, on Dec. 22, CMA announced that nominees now had until Thursday, Dec. 26 – two additional days – to register. No further extensions will be offered and bands that don’t sign up will be replaced by runner-ups in their category, according to the initial post. 

Some of the confusion may be due to CMA’s inconsistent communication across both a Facebook page and a Facebook group with the same name. Some announcements – including the new Dec. 26 extended deadline – appear on one and not the other, leaving some musicians in the dark.

Rasmussen doubled down and said that he’s emailed everyone and uploaded an instructional video to the page – although not the group – walking people through the registration process.

“I know I fucked up,” Rasmussen told Upbeat Nonsense. “I should have announced it sooner.” Rasmussen did not respond to further questions about the reasoning behind the tight timeline. 

Next year’s Cleveland Music Awards show has been moved up to Feb. 1 at The Agora. Proceeds are used to pay for the venue and other costs associated with marketing the event, according to Rasmussen. 

So far, artists are not compensated for their participation or performance in any shows related to the CMA. Rasmussen told Upbeat Nonsense that artists selected to perform in CMA showcases in January may receive a portion of ticket sales, but details have not yet been confirmed.

By now, most people know two Glenville High School students – Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – created Superman more than 90 years ago. On Dec. 30, the Cleveland Monsters are expected to reveal new Superman-inspired jerseys to celebrate the city’s hometown hero during their last game of the year against the Toronto Marlies.

The event is in partnership with the Siegel & Shuster Society, launched by the creators’ family and fans of Clark Kent in 2007. So far, the society has led restoration projects on Siegel’s childhood home and set up displays around town, including the Cleveland Airport. Over the summer, the society unveiled brand new statues commemorating Superman and its creators in Downtown Cleveland.

Following the success of DC’s Superman film set in Cleveland, the “Year of Superman” continues with one last lap around the hockey rink. Next Tuesday, the Cleveland Monsters plan to unveil brand new Superman-inspired uniforms, showcase memorabilia and raffle items to raise money to keep celebrating Superman’s Cleveland connection.

“We — as Rust Belters — export culture to the rest of the world,” said Valentino Zullo. Zullo is also a professor at Ursuline College and co-director of the Rust Belt Humanities Lab.

At the game, attendees can expect giveaways, raffles, and other ways to engage with Superman’s legacy. The first 2,500 kids (ages 14 and under) to attend will receive a free cape, and if you buy your tickets here, you will receive a free pair of themed socks.

You can also expect appearances by Gary Kaplan, president of the Siegel & Shuster Society, plus a live drawing of the game by local artist Len Peralta. The special edition Superman jerseys are also available for purchase.

“It’s really full circle because [the] third partner in creating Superman was the city of Cleveland,” Zullo said. 

Get tickets ($29 and up) to Superman Night with the Cleveland Monsters on Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena in Downtown Cleveland.

If you need a little pick-me-up before the end of the year, might I suggest this video from the Cleveland Animal Protective League? Watch as adoptable dogs pick out their holiday present from a pile of stuffed toys.