Welcome back to Pop Loser! This week, we’ll honor L7 bassist Jennifer Finch, who passed on Saturday at the age of 59. I’ll explain the true meaning of Pop Loser, which I found at the Hilary Duff concert. Plus, stop what you’re doing right now and listen to La Roux’s new single.
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This Week in Music:
This week in Strangerland, I interviewed pop duo Chinese American Bear (华裔美国熊) about their new album, pop fandoms, and singing in Mandarin with pride. You can catch them at Neumos this Saturday. And our second episode of Noise Complaint dropped with the Greek psych rock band Eleni Govetas Kompania.
This is what Pop Loser is all about: Seeing Hilary Duff, Pavement, and Kinsey Lee in the same week. To me, Pop Loser is a place to celebrate all kinds of music, whether it be an ex-Disney pop star you assume uses auto-tune, a ’90s indie rock band you might find pretentious, or a local singer-songwriter you haven’t heard of yet. This week, force yourself to listen to an embarrassing favorite song from your childhood. Force yourself to listen to your dad’s favorite band. Force yourself to listen to a local band you’ve never heard. Listen to the thing you hate and see what happens.
Speaking of Hilary Duff, I am still riding a high from her show at White River Amphitheatre last week (and still catching up on my sleep from being trapped in the parking lot until 1 a.m.). I felt blissed out as Duff sang old hits like “So Yesterday,” “Fly,” and “Anywhere but Here.” The most infectious part of her set was that she looked genuinely excited to be there—she danced around the stage with a huge smile, spoke earnestly to the crowd, and even took a tequila shot at one point.
RIP Jennifer Finch. On Saturday, legendary grunge band L7 shared that bassist, artist, and writer Jennifer Finch died at the age of 59. The statement reads: “With a very heavy heart we announce that our beloved bandmate, friend, and fellow troublemaker Jennifer Finch has passed away today. She had a long courageous fight with brain cancer and was loved by many wonderful friends, musical peers and fans worldwide. We love you Jennifer.” This came less than one week after the diagnosis was publicly announced, with a GoFundMe page set up to cover medical expenses. The fundraiser is still active, noting that after medical expenses and legal fees have been covered, the remaining funds will go toward “preserving and sharing the extraordinary body of work she spent her life creating and archiving.” After those costs are covered, anything that remains will go to the nonprofit MusiCares.
In the same post on GoFundMe, Finch’s friends and family shared that she had completed the manuscript for her memoir just before her diagnosis, which was scheduled for publication early next year: “Though we are heartbroken, knowing she still gets the opportunity to share this project she labored over and was so proud of gives us some sense of peace. It’s Jennifer’s story – in her own words – and we’re excited for her to have it out in the world.”
New music on the horizon: Lana Del Rey gave a rare update on her upcoming album Stove on Wednesday, revealing it will be released alongside a not-yet-named companion album. “I need a month to finish putting it together,” she writes. Tinashe has also announced her upcoming album, Popstar. Like Charli XCX, Tinashe has been releasing music since the early 2010s with a cult following, but has yet to have Brat-level success—my fingers are crossed that this album will be her breakthrough. More albums announced this week include Arca’s XXXX, Rebecca Black’s Age of the Exhibitionist, and Melissa Auf der Maur’s Bass Womb Room, an unheard compilation of ’90s demos.
Now, sit back and enjoy Elliott Smith’s 1999 Australian tour rider, shared by former tour manager James Straker:
Music Events Worth Your Hard-Earned Money This Week:
Colleen Green, Mini Blinds, Faerie Born July 22, Clock-Out Lounge, 8:30 pm, 21+
Bob Mould Live on KEXP July 22, KEXP, 11 am, all ages, free (see details)
Evanescence, Spiritbox, Nova Twins July 23, White River Amphitheatre, 6:30 pm, all ages
Alabama Shakes, Billy Allen, the Pollies July 24, Dune Peninsula Park, 7:30 pm, all ages
CatFest 2026: Lichen Hearts, Filthy Traitors, Skates!, Straight to Video July 24, Sunset Tavern, 8:30 pm, 21+
Seven Colors, the Beehees, Style King of the Week July 24, Woodland Theater, 8 pm, all ages
Marielle Jakobsons, David Wesley Golightly, Raica July 24, Chapel Performance Space, 8 pm, all ages
Wynonna Judd & Melissa Etheridge: Raised on Radio Tour July 24, Chateau Ste. Michelle, 6:30 pm, all ages
Dead Disko Fest July 24–25, Baba Yaga, 8 pm, 21+
Boyz II Men July 25, Chateau Ste. Michelle, 7 pm, all ages
Chinese American Bear July 25, Neumos, 8 pm, all ages
Kim Gordon: Play Me Tour July 25, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
The Songs That Keep Me Up at Night:
“Babyline” by La Roux
Remember the song “Bulletproof,” sung by the androgynous ice-cream-swirl-haired singer La Roux? Honestly, I hadn’t thought about her in years, until she opened for Hilary Duff last week. To say I was hypnotized by her set is an understatement. While her hair has been cut into a chic Let’s Dance–era Bowie style, her sound is still dancy, insanely catchy, and ’80s-inspired. As my sister put it, “La Roux has the kind of swag that Justin Bieber thinks he has,” and she’s correct; just watch La Roux’s music video for her new single “Babyline.”
“Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” by Gloria Ann Taylor
I’m going through a disco phase right now, and nothing sounds better than Gloria Ann Taylor. Give yourself the gift of blasting “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” while you cook dinner tonight.
