January 30, 2026: Breakthrough sounds

Next Sunday, the Super Bowl pits the Patriots and Seahawks against each other. Perhaps even more important is that this year's halftime show will feature global superstar Bad Bunny. We speak with Clark University Professor Juan Pablo Rivera and NEPM News Editor Elizabeth Roman about the cultural significance of this occasion to the greater Hispanic community, and where you can delve even deeper into these ideas on Saturday at 33 Hawley in Northampton  And next week in South Hadley, folx have a chance to get an inside glimpse into the rock world of the early 90’s. The Royal We is an intense new memoir from Faith no more and Imperial Teen member Roddy Bottum that looks at the assemblies of both bands, the scenes they came from, and the impact of his coming out towards the height of the AIDS crisis. We speak with the author before you can meet him in person at Odyssey Bookshop on Monday. Plus at Tip Top Wine Shop in Easthampton, Lauren Clark and Miranda Brown brave the cold weather and former soviet bloc to help us discover the native Georgian grape Saperavi for this week’s wine Thunderdome.