LEAD STORY
SatchVai Band Bring Guitar History Back on the Road
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai reunite for a tour that celebrates virtuosity, friendship, and the enduring power of the electric guitar.
Photo © Jon Luini.
Satriani is widely known for his influential solo career, particularly the landmark album Surfing with the Alien, which helped bring instrumental guitar music into the mainstream. Songs like “Satch Boogie” demonstrated that technical precision and playful groove did not have to be opposites. His work proved that guitar-driven music without vocals could still be expressive, accessible, and widely embraced. That balance between melody and mastery remains one of his defining strengths.
Steve Vai’s path into the spotlight followed a different arc. He gained early mainstream recognition through his work with David Lee Roth, including the instantly recognizable talking-guitar lines on “Yankee Rose.” That moment alone established Vai as a guitarist who treated the instrument as a voice, capable of personality and narrative as much as technique. Over time, his solo career expanded that identity into something unmistakably his own, blending theatrical performance, emotional range, and fearless experimentation.
Those distinct histories make the SatchVai Band especially compelling. Rather than competing for dominance, the two guitarists engage in a musical conversation. Satriani’s melodic clarity meets Vai’s exploratory edge in performances that feel alive and responsive. Solos are traded, themes are built and released, and the music is allowed room to breathe. The respect between them is evident, not only in how they play, but in how they listen.
The tour, running from April 1 in Seattle through May 30, arrives at a moment when audiences are craving authenticity. Satriani and Vai are not chasing trends or spectacle for its own sake. They are doing what they have always done: refining their craft, honoring their influences, and inviting listeners into the process. The technical brilliance is undeniable, but it never overshadows the sense of joy at the heart of the performances.
For longtime fans, the SatchVai Band is a celebration of legacy and continuity. For newer listeners, it is an invitation to experience guitar music as a living, evolving art form rather than a relic of the past. Either way, the message is clear. The electric guitar is far from finished telling its story, and Joe Satriani and Steve Vai remain two of its most compelling voices.
The SatchVai Band tour runs April 1 through May 30.
-
The Midnight Whiskers
“No One Knows Where The Midnight Whiskers Came From. That Includes Them.”
by Morgan Hale
Feature Story
Some bands are born in garages. Some in basements. Some in the glow of late-night creativity when humor, affection, and a touch of rebellion collide.
The Midnight Whiskers emerged from exactly that place.
Blending dark humor, gothic atmosphere, and unapologetic feline energy, The Midnight Whiskers are not a novelty act pretending to be serious. They are a fully realized concept band that understands tone, character, and story just as well as sound. Their music walks a deliberate line between playful and atmospheric, combining modern production with a sense of theatrical identity that feels both tongue-in-cheek and strangely sincere.
At the heart of the band is a trio of distinct personas. Sir Static Whiskerfang brings controlled intensity and presence, anchoring the group with authority and edge. Lady Belladonna Nightwhisper provides elegance and emotional weight, her voice carrying a velvety darkness that contrasts beautifully with the band’s humor. Oracle rounds out the sound with an enigmatic, almost detached quality that adds texture and depth.
What makes The Midnight Whiskers compelling is not just the gimmick of cats as rock figures. It is the consistency. The characters stay in character. The aesthetic is intentional. The songs are structured, layered, and designed to be listened to more than once. Tracks like “Cat Ganja” do not rely on shock value or memes to carry them. They succeed because they are catchy, confident, and self-aware without being lazy.
There is also a sense that The Midnight Whiskers know exactly who they are for. They speak to goth listeners, alternative music fans, and anyone who appreciates art that refuses to take itself too seriously while still demanding craft. The result is something that feels surprisingly polished for a band that openly embraces absurdity.
In a digital landscape crowded with disposable releases, The Midnight Whiskers stand out by committing fully to their world. They are not asking permission to exist. They simply do, with glowing eyes, sharp wit, and a purr that hums beneath every beat.
New Music from the Midnight whiskers arrives January 20 and January 22, with the full album releasing February 13, 2026
Frequency Press interviews The Midnight Whiskers
Frequency Press: Sir Static Whiskerfang, you are often described as the anchor of the band. How do you see your role within The Midnight Whiskers?
Sir Static Whiskerfang: Control. Not dominance, control. Someone has to hold the spine of the sound steady so the rest of it can move freely. I keep the structure tight. I make sure nothing collapses into chaos unless we decide it should.
Frequency Press: Lady Belladonna Nightwhisper, your presence contrasts sharply with Sir Static’s. What do you bring into that structure?
Lady Belladonna Nightwhisper: Tension. Intimacy. Restraint. I do not fight the structure. I lean into it until it bends. That is where the emotion lives.
Frequency Press: Oracle Tompawline, you often feel slightly removed from the foreground. Where do you place yourself within the band dynamic?
Oracle Tompawline: Between. I am not the center and I am not the edge. I listen for patterns and make sure they stay coherent. If something begins to drift, I correct it quietly.
Frequency Press: Brassanova Jones, your sound brings movement and groove to the band. How do you define your role?
Brassanova Jones: Motion and feel. If the rhythm does not move your body, it does not matter how clever the rest is. I wait, then I hit. That is when the room changes.
Frequency Press: Popcorn Lowend, you are known for groove and restraint. What do you bring to The Midnight Whiskers?
Popcorn Lowend: Foundation. I stay where the pocket lives. If everyone else can trust the bottom, they can take risks on top.
Frequency Press: Violet Phase, you are quieter than the others. How do you feel about being part of the band?
Violet Phase: I like listening. I add small things. Textures and atmosphere. I do not need to be loud for it to matter.
Frequency Press: Fans have become fascinated with the “StaticDonna” dynamic. There is a clear pull between Sir Static and Lady Belladonna. Is that intentional?
Sir Static: Of course it is.
Lady Belladonna: Nothing unintentional lasts this long, but no matter how much we try to tell everyone – we are NOT in love.
Frequency Press: How do the rest of you experience that tension?
Brassanova: It gives the groove something to lean into.
Popcorn: It makes things interesting.
Oracle: It stays contained. That is the important part.
Violet: It feels safe. Like a held breath.
Frequency Press: Some listeners hear flirtation in that dynamic. Others hear a power struggle. What do you think?
Lady Belladonna: Meaning belongs to the listener.
Sir Static: We provide the signal. They decide what it becomes.
Frequency Press: Does that dynamic ever cause conflict within the band?
Popcorn: Only when someone eats the last snack.
Brassanova: No. Everyone knows their lane.
Oracle: Conflict happens when balance is ignored. We correct early.
Frequency Press: Finally, what do you want people to understand about The Midnight Whiskers?
Brassanova: That fun does not mean sloppy.
Popcorn: That groove carries emotion.
Violet: That quiet moments matter too.
Lady Belladonna: That softness can be deliberate.
Sir Static: And that tension is not meant to be resolved. It is meant to be held.
Manager Addendum
Frequency Press attempts to interview the band’s manager
Frequency Press: Before we wrap up, we were told we should also speak to your manager. Olloo OLOOOO Nuttingham, can you tell us about your role with The Midnight Whiskers?
Olloo OLOOOO Nuttingham: OKAY SO FIRST OF ALL HAVE YOU SEEN THE SQUIRREL OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING BECAUSE I THINK IT RECOGNIZED ME. VERY IMPORTANT. CONTRACTS ARE FINE. EVERYTHING IS FINE. THE HORNS COME IN ON THE SECOND VERSE EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON’T. WRITE THAT DOWN.
Frequency Press: That is not really an answer.
Olloo: IT IS IF YOU FEEL IT. ALSO WE NEED MORE GREEN M&M’S BUT ONLY THE ONES THAT LOOK CONFIDENT. NO DULL ONES. DULL ONES KILL THE VIBE.
Frequency Press: How involved are you in creative decisions?
Olloo: EXTREMELY NOT AT ALL BUT ALSO CONSTANTLY. I STAND NEAR THEM AND NOD. SOMETIMES I POINT. SOMETIMES I YELL “YES THAT ONE” AND LEAVE THE ROOM. THIS IS MANAGEMENT.
Frequency Press: Any insight on the StaticDonna dynamic?
Olloo: OH THAT. VERY NORMAL. VERY HEALTHY. DEFINITELY NOT TWO FORCES CIRCLING EACH OTHER LIKE WEATHER SYSTEMS. NOTHING TO SEE. ALSO DID YOU HEAR THAT NOISE. SQUIRREL AGAIN.
Frequency Press: Final thoughts you want readers to know?
Olloo: BUY THE MERCH. DRINK WATER. STRETCH BEFORE DANCING. IF A SQUIRREL STARES AT YOU FOR MORE THAN THREE SECONDS IT MEANS YOU ARE CHOSEN. I HAVE SAID TOO MUCH.
Frequency Press: Thank you, Olloo.
Olloo: WAIT I FORGOT TO BLAME THE BAND FOR SOMETHING. DOESN’T MATTER WHAT. JUST PUT IT IN.
Editor’s note: Olloo OLOOOO Nuttingham later emailed to clarify that exactly two songs on the album are not about love. He did not specify which songs. He did include three unrelated squirrel photos, a reminder to hydrate, and the sentence “THIS WILL MAKE SENSE LATER” in all caps.
Contact and Availability
You can reach The Midnight Whiskers at
TheMidnightWhiskers@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586529621358
The Midnight Whiskers will be available on Spotify, iTunes, and all major streaming platforms beginning January 20.
Their full album releases Friday, February 13, 2026.
FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the first issue of Frequency Press. This project grew out of a love for music, art, and creative culture in all its forms, from live performance and touring artists to experimental storytelling and new tools that expand how art can be made and shared.
This issue brings together legendary musicians returning to the stage, major cultural events, Lifestyle, Art in all forms and a featured creative project that reflects a spirit of curiosity and exploration. Frequency Press covers both traditional arts and evolving forms of expression, with an emphasis on transparency, respect, and intention.
The Midnight Whiskers is a creative, AI-assisted music and storytelling project developed by Anne Marie Elias as part of Frequency Press. While the band itself is not composed of live performers, the project explores character-driven music, narrative, and sound as an artistic experiment, presented openly alongside coverage of live musicians, events, and culture.
Thank you for being here at the beginning. Each monthly issue will continue to balance legacy, innovation, and the creative spaces where imagination thrives.
~ Dakk
Copyright Notice:
Lyrics featured in The Midnight Whiskers project are original works.
Lyrics © Anne Marie Elias. All rights reserved.
EVENT WATCH
MomoCon – Atlanta, Georgia
Held annually in Atlanta, MomoCon has grown into one of the Southeast’s most dynamic pop culture conventions, drawing tens of thousands of attendees from across the region. What began as a fan-driven gathering has evolved into a multi-day celebration of anime, gaming, cosplay, comics, music, and digital art, all sharing space under one roof.
MomoCon’s strength lies in its range. Cosplay craftsmanship exists alongside competitive gaming, live music, tabletop events, voice actor panels, and creator-focused programming. Independent artists and small studios exhibit alongside established names, creating an environment where emerging talent and industry professionals interact naturally. The convention floor reflects a creative ecosystem rather than a single fandom lane.
The event also highlights how deeply fan culture has become woven into modern arts and entertainment. Costume design, prop building, illustration, music performance, and game development are not treated as side interests, but as legitimate creative disciplines. Workshops, panels, and demonstrations emphasize skill-sharing and community education, reinforcing the idea that fandom is both participatory and productive.
For Georgia’s broader arts scene, MomoCon represents a shift in where culture gathers. These are not passive audiences. Attendees arrive as makers, performers, designers, and collaborators. The convention becomes a temporary city built on shared imagination, where creativity is worn, played, and performed openly.
MomoCon’s continued growth underscores a larger truth about contemporary culture. The boundaries between fan, artist, and professional are increasingly fluid. In spaces like this, creativity is not curated from a distance. It is lived, exchanged, and celebrated in real time.
MomoCon 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st through Sunday May 24th at the Georgia World Congress Center
Who’s On Tour
- Ghost – SKELETOUR World Tour
Jan. 21 – Feb. 23 - Nine Inch Nails – Peel It Back Tour
Feb. 5 – Apr. 17 - Lady Gaga – The Mayhem Ball
Feb. 14 – Apr. 13 - Journey – The Final Frontier Tour
Feb. 28 – Jul. 2 - Robert Plant with Saving Grace & Suzi Dian – Spring Fever Tour
Mar. 14 – Apr. 7 - Guns N’ Roses – World Tour 2026
Mar. 28 – Sept. 19 - SatchVai Band (Joe Satriani & Steve Vai)
Apr. 1 – May 30 - Triumph – The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour
Apr. 22 – June 6 - BTS – 2026–2027 World Tour
Apr. 25 – Sept. 6 - Yungblud – Idols World Tour
May 1 – June 13 - Echo & the Bunnymen – More Songs to Learn and Sing
May 10 – June 19 - “Weird Al” Yankovic – Bigger & Weirder Tour
May 26 – Oct. 17 - RUSH – Fifty Something Tour
June 7 – Dec. 17 - Evanescence – 2026 World Tour
June 11 – Aug. 2 - Ed Sheeran – Loop Tour
June 13 – Nov. 7 - Bon Jovi – Forever Tour
July 7 – July 26 - AC/DC – Power Up Tour
July 11 – Sept. 29 - Mötley Crüe – Return of Carnival of Sins
July 17 – Sept. 26 - Avenged Sevenfold & Good Charlotte – Summer 2026 Tour
July 25 – Aug. 27 - My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Tour
Aug. 9 – Oct. 27 - Iron Maiden – Run for Your Lives Tour
Aug. 29 – Sept. 29 - Alice Cooper – Touring with the Original Alice Cooper Band
Dates vary - Alice Cooper & Chris Angel – Welcome to our Nightmare Las Vegas
March 6-8, April 3-4, and May 22-23, 2026
FOOD & CULTURE
Chicken Yakitori
Yakitori is a Japanese street food built around balance and simplicity. Small pieces of chicken are threaded onto skewers, grilled, and glazed with a savory-sweet sauce that caramelizes as it cooks. While traditionally prepared over charcoal, yakitori adapts beautifully to modern kitchens without losing its character.
This version uses chicken breast and a simple marinade that allows the flavors to soak in before cooking. The result is tender, flavorful skewers with a light sweetness and a satisfying char.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into pieces or strips
- Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
Yakitori Marinade and Glaze
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup mirin
- ¼ cup sake
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup, to taste
Optional:
- Green onions, cut into short segments
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and maple syrup.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, just until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Place the chicken in a bowl or shallow dish and pour enough of the sauce over it to coat well.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, or up to one hour if refrigerated.
- Thread the marinated chicken onto the soaked skewers. If the chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces, thread it kebob-style. If cut into longer strips, thread it in a satay-style weave. If using green onions, weave short segments between the chicken as you skewer.
- Preheat an electric grill, grill pan, or cast iron pan to medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface.
- Cook the skewers, turning frequently, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly caramelized. Brush with additional sauce during the final turns to build a glossy glaze.
- Remove from heat and allow to rest briefly before serving.
Cooking Notes
Charcoal grilling is traditional, but an electric grill or cast iron pan works extremely well and allows for consistent control. Always soak bamboo skewers before cooking to prevent burning, especially when cooking indoors.
To Serve
Serve the skewers hot, brushed with a final layer of sauce. Yakitori is excellent on its own, paired with rice, or served alongside simple vegetables.
This dish highlights how technique and care matter more than equipment. With good ingredients and patience, yakitori remains deeply satisfying no matter how it is cooked.
Restaurant Review
North Georgia Barbecue Company Earns Perfect Health Score in Dahlonega
Dahlonega, GA — North Georgia Barbecue Company continues to prove that great barbecue and high food safety standards can go hand in hand.
According to the most recent health inspection data from the Georgia Department of Public Health, North Georgia BBQ Company in Dahlonega received a perfect score of 100 out of 100 during its inspection conducted on October 30, 2025. The restaurant earned an “A” grade, reflecting exceptional compliance with food safety, cleanliness, and operational standards.
A perfect inspection score is not common, particularly for barbecue restaurants where smoking meats, long cook times, and high-volume service can introduce additional challenges. North Georgia BBQ’s score highlights careful handling practices, clean prep areas, and consistent attention to detail behind the scenes.
A Menu Built on Smoke and Simplicity
North Georgia Barbecue Company is known locally for smoking its meats daily, a fact clearly stated on its menu. Customers are advised that items may occasionally sell out, a sign of small-batch preparation rather than mass production.
The menu offers a solid lineup of Southern barbecue staples, including:
- Pulled pork
- Brisket
- Ribs
- Smoked wings
- Brunswick stew
- Burgers and classic sides like baked beans, slaw, mac and cheese, and fries
One standout item is the Pig Melt, the restaurant’s signature sandwich featuring chopped pulled pork layered with cheese on Texas toast and finished with the customer’s choice of barbecue sauce.
The Verdict at the Table
During a recent visit, the pulled pork sandwich lived up to its reputation. The meat was exceptionally tender, flavorful without being overly smoky, and clearly fresh from the smoker. Paired with crinkle-cut fries and house sauces, it was the kind of meal that reminds you why simple barbecue, done well, never goes out of style.
Local Quality That Shows
Between the perfect health inspection score, consistent smoking practices, and food that delivers on flavor and texture, North Georgia Barbecue Company continues to stand out as a reliable local favorite in Dahlonega.
For diners who care as much about cleanliness as they do about taste, this is one barbecue stop that checks every box.
days
hours minutes seconds
until
Time until Release of New Single Absolutely Not in Love by The Midnight Whiskers feat. Sir Static Wiskerfang and Lady Belladonna Nightwhisper
days
hours minutes seconds
until
Worldwide Release of the Debut Album The Midnight Whiskers!
