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Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise proves you can rock the boat
Imagine you're on a cruise ship for a four-day excursion to the Bahamas. You've got your swimsuit, an adult beverage, and you're ready to relax. As you make your way to the pool deck, you're hit with the sound of distorted guitars and in-your-face vocals as legendary L.A. punk band X rips through 'Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.' That was the scene on Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise, which set sail from Miami on May 9-13 on board Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Gem, and the 1,800 or so passengers were in punk rock heaven. The lineup featured an array of SoCal-based bands, including Social Distortion, L7, Rocket From the Crypt, the Lords of Altamont and the Dollyrots. They were joined by dozens of other performers across the rock 'n' roll spectrum, from the hard-stomping Fleshtones to the incorrigible Supersuckers, to Tommy Stinson's Bash & Pop, to the ageless Linda Gail Lewis — younger sister of music icon Jerry Lee Lewis. As John Doe of X said, 'bands you never thought you'd see on a boat.' The festival-at-sea concept isn't new. Sixthman, the company that ran the cruise, has been organizing festivals since 2001 and offers more than 25 curated cruise experiences. Upcoming sailings include Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska, Chef's Making Waves Boston, Rock the Bells Cruise and Headbangers Boat. In many ways, the first Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise is an offshoot of Sixthman's Outlaw Country Cruise, which completed its ninth sailing earlier this year. It was a somewhat somber celebration because both its architect, SiriusXM's Jeremy Tepper, and its ambassador, Mojo Nixon, died suddenly in 2024. That cruise drew an eclectic mix of performers such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Dave Alvin, who share musical DNA with many of the artists on the Underground Garage Cruise and vice versa. For example, Alvin's former band the Blasters played alongside X during L.A.'s first wave of punk, and Social Distortion's Mike Ness was often in the front row watching them play. 'Jeremy and Mojo were incredibly close,' Alvin said. 'They were like soulmates in a weird way. Cultural, artistic soulmates.' One surprise guest on the Outlaw Country Cruise was Jello Biafra, who released the album 'Prairie Home Invasion' with Mojo Nixon in 1994. He played with Nixon's backing band the Toadliquors during an emotional tribute to his late friend. 'It's hard,' Biafra said, 'because there is a little bit of a pall over this whole event, because Mojo isn't here, and everybody's got their memories bubbling up. I have plenty of that.' Many of the performers, including some who'd never taken a cruise before, had reservations about what the Underground Garage Cruise would be like. 'I thought there was going to be a lot of crazy drunkenness,' said Donita Sparks of L7. 'I was thinking it was a booze cruise, but I haven't seen a whole lot of that. I haven't seen a single fight. I've seen people laughing and hugging and rocking out to the music. I've just seen a lot of joyousness.' John Reis, vocalist and guitarist of Rocket From the Crypt, was concerned about seasickness and feeling 'trapped' but neither proved to be an issue, and he found it easy to 'succumb to the vibe.' 'We don't take certain things all that seriously,' Reis said of Rocket From the Crypt, 'and festivals can be very regimented. There's often a lot of stress involved, mainly with the people putting on the shows. The cruise isn't like that at all. It's way more casual.' Even Ness of Social Distortion was seemingly won over by the cruising lifestyle. 'Ease into the day, do what you want. No traffic, no hassles,' Ness said from the stage. Punks of a certain age are all too familiar with the phenomenon of looking forward to a show but, once it's time to actually leave the house, losing all enthusiasm to drive across town, find parking and wait for opening bands to wrap up their sets. On the Underground Garage Cruise, all shows are a short walk away and run from an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. No openers. No encores. Although some shows overlap, unlike most festivals, the bands play several times throughout the course of the cruise. So if you missed a band's performance on the spacious pool deck, you could catch them later at the 850-seat Stardust Theater or one of the more intimate lounges that provide a clublike setting. That means you can choose where and when you want to see the band — even early in the afternoon. 'We've been doing this a long time,' Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers told the crowd at the band's 1:15 p.m. gig. 'But never this early,' quipped bandmate 'Metal' Marty Chandler. Performers participated in events offstage as well: autograph signings, a wine tasting with the Dictators, a poker tournament with the Slim Jim Phantom Trio and interview sessions that will eventually make their way to the Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on SiriusXM. An interview with Mike Ness ended with a surprise short set by Social Distortion, accompanied by keyboardist Ben Alleman on the accordion. There are, of course, drawbacks to the cruise experience. If you're not having a good time at a festival, you can always leave and go home. Obviously, you can't do that on a cruise ship. There are also larger concerns with the cruise industry itself, from the impact these behemoth ships have on the environment to the low wages paid to foreign workers, who do the bulk of the cooking and cleaning. John Doe said he was conflicted about the gig. 'As you grow up, you do things for love or money, right? This is for money. But I love the band X.' Then there's the elephant in the room: the perception that cruises aren't for kids; they're for elderly people. A lot of these old punks are, well, old. And if you were in the pit with bands like X, Social Distortion and L7 when they were first making waves, then so are you. That's not necessarily a bad thing. 'Rock 'n' roll is like jazz now,' said Eddie Spaghetti. 'Essentially, it's become a niche art form for older people because most kids don't like rock 'n' roll anymore.' As fans age, their bodies may break down but their passion for the music of their youth remains the same. But a lot of music fans, this writer included, deal with disability, health and/or mobility issues that can put a damper on the typical festival experience. Sixthman, however, excelled at making sure every passenger felt welcome. For instance, all of the venues on the Underground Garage Cruise had an abundance of ADA seating, with staff designated to assist those who requested it. One staff member I spoke with told me she scans the crowds during the shows and looks for people who might benefit from extra assistance. That kind of personal attention goes a long way toward explaining why fans, performers and staff members alike think of these cruises as a community. There's a camaraderie on these trips that you won't find at your typical festival. The people you meet at the show aren't just festivalgoers; they're your neighbors and sometimes your breakfast companions. The intimidating-looking punk rocker covered in tattoos is a lot more approachable when eating pancakes with his partner at the buffet. This camaraderie isn't what leads most fans to sail on a music cruise, but it's one of the reasons they return year after year. During the Outlaw Country Cruise in February, passengers assembled for a group photo for those who'd sailed on all nine Outlaw Country Cruises. That camaraderie is important to the musicians too. Everyone I talked to raved about the shows they'd seen. Jonny Two Bags of Social Distortion told me that when he received the schedule, he highlighted the bands he wanted to see — just like any fan. He was especially excited to see Bash & Pop, who he'd played with in the early '90s. Donita Sparks of L7 had fond memories of playing with the Supersuckers in the early '90s. 'We used to sleep on the Supersuckers' floor in Seattle,' Sparks said, 'and we would have a dance party every night.' That excitement for what L7's Jennifer Finch called 'the buffet of bands' is infectious. It's also why Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise will sail again next April, to Cozumel, Mexico. 'We're all alive,' Sparks said. 'We're here and we're still rocking.' Jim Ruland is the L.A. Times bestselling author of 'Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records' and of the novel 'Make It Stop.'
Business Wire
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Geely Galaxy E5 Surpasses Global Safety Standards with Record 50km/h Crash Test
HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On April 16, at the TECCON Laboratory in Austria, an institution accredited by Euro NCAP, the Geely Galaxy E5 successfully completed an "ultra-rigorous" 50km/h frontal center pole impact test. Previously, the Geely Galaxy E5 had already earned the highest safety ratings of "Five Stars" from both Euro NCAP and ANCAP, reaffirming that under the protection of the Shendun Battery Safety System, Geely Galaxy products deliver "safety for global users, five-star quality for global users." Currently, there are no mandatory regulations for frontal center pole impact tests worldwide, and the industry typically adopts a 35km/h testing standard. Geely Galaxy E5 opted for a far more rigorous 50km/h test, where impact energy is 104% higher. The final test results demonstrated that the E5 met all requirements across various dimensions including functional performance, body structure, new energy source safety, and occupant protection after the 50km/h frontal center pole impact, marking the test a complete success. Additionally, the vehicle's airbags deployed correctly, contact between the airbags and the dummies' heads was normal, seatbelts pre-tensioned as expected, and injury values for all body parts of the two dummies met or exceeded the thresholds for full scores in Euro NCAP's rigid wall impact scenarios. The Geely Galaxy E5's "beyond-standard" safety performance is largely attributed to the Shendun Battery Safety System. Since its launch in 2023, Geely Galaxy has conducted a series of public tests covering cell-level, battery pack-level, and full-vehicle-level evaluations of the Shendun Battery Safety System through models like the E5, L6, L7, and E8. Each ultra-rigorous safety test has been passed with flying colors, far exceeding industry standards, and has delivered high-standard, high-performance experiences of "equality in safety" to consumers across mainstream NEV segments. Over nearly three decades of automotive manufacturing, Geely has consistently adhered to a "safety-first" development strategy. In the past decade alone, Geely's R&D investment has exceeded RMB 200 billion, gradually establishing an industry-leading safety development system. As a leader in automotive safety, Geely is set to release a white paper this year focusing on comprehensive all-domain safety standards for smart vehicles. This initiative aims to redefine the benchmarks for smart vehicle safety, openly sharing cutting-edge safety technology advancements, and ensuring the utmost safety for every user's journey.
Associated Press
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Geely Galaxy E5 Surpasses Global Safety Standards with Record 50km/h Crash Test
HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2025-- On April 16, at the TECCON Laboratory in Austria, an institution accredited by Euro NCAP, the Geely Galaxy E5 successfully completed an 'ultra-rigorous' 50km/h frontal center pole impact test. Previously, the Geely Galaxy E5 had already earned the highest safety ratings of 'Five Stars' from both Euro NCAP and ANCAP, reaffirming that under the protection of the Shendun Battery Safety System, Geely Galaxy products deliver 'safety for global users, five-star quality for global users.' Currently, there are no mandatory regulations for frontal center pole impact tests worldwide, and the industry typically adopts a 35km/h testing standard. Geely Galaxy E5 opted for a far more rigorous 50km/h test, where impact energy is 104% higher. The final test results demonstrated that the E5 met all requirements across various dimensions including functional performance, body structure, new energy source safety, and occupant protection after the 50km/h frontal center pole impact, marking the test a complete success. Additionally, the vehicle's airbags deployed correctly, contact between the airbags and the dummies' heads was normal, seatbelts pre-tensioned as expected, and injury values for all body parts of the two dummies met or exceeded the thresholds for full scores in Euro NCAP's rigid wall impact scenarios. The Geely Galaxy E5's 'beyond-standard' safety performance is largely attributed to the Shendun Battery Safety System. Since its launch in 2023, Geely Galaxy has conducted a series of public tests covering cell-level, battery pack-level, and full-vehicle-level evaluations of the Shendun Battery Safety System through models like the E5, L6, L7, and E8. Each ultra-rigorous safety test has been passed with flying colors, far exceeding industry standards, and has delivered high-standard, high-performance experiences of 'equality in safety' to consumers across mainstream NEV segments. Over nearly three decades of automotive manufacturing, Geely has consistently adhered to a 'safety-first' development strategy. In the past decade alone, Geely's R&D investment has exceeded RMB 200 billion, gradually establishing an industry-leading safety development system. As a leader in automotive safety, Geely is set to release a white paper this year focusing on comprehensive all-domain safety standards for smart vehicles. This initiative aims to redefine the benchmarks for smart vehicle safety, openly sharing cutting-edge safety technology advancements, and ensuring the utmost safety for every user's journey. View source version on CONTACT: Mengjia Lv [email protected] KEYWORD: AUSTRIA CHINA EUROPE ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURING BATTERIES SOURCE: Geely Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/22/2025 04:50 AM/DISC: 04/22/2025 04:49 AM
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Li Auto launches sales in the Philippines
Li Auto officially launched sales operations in the Philippines this month, with the Chinese automaker targeting growing demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the country. The company has set up a partnership with local marketing distributor HomeAuto Inc under the name Li Auto Philippines Inc. Li Auto joins a growing list of Chinese BEV and hybrid-electric vehicle manufacturers to have entered the Philippine market in the last year, after the government introduced its EO12 zero-tariff programme in 2023 – originally targeting BEVs and later also covering hybrid vehicles. BEV sales are expected to reach 20,000 units this year. The company launched two upmarket battery-powered SUVs in the market earlier this month, the L7 and Li L9 range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs), targeting the luxury segment occupied by brands such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Stone Yu, CEO of Li Auto Philippines, told reporters at the launch: 'The local market presents a significant opportunity for us with its increasing awareness of electric vehicles and interest in modern technology. Filipinos' strong family values align perfectly with our vision, so we are confident that they will appreciate the unique blend of luxury and technology that Li Auto offers.' "Li Auto launches sales in the Philippines" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Should You Buy Li Auto Stock While It's 50% Below Its All-Time High?
Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), a manufacturer of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) in China, went public back in 2020. The stock rallied from its initial public offering price of $11.50 per ADS (American depositary share) to a record high of $46.65 in 2023. But today, Li's stock trades about 50% below that peak, at around $23 per share. The stock retreated as growth in the EV market cooled off and rising interest rates drove investors toward more conservative investments. The decline was exacerbated by China's economic slowdown and the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. However, Li also looks undervalued. Its enterprise value of 80.5 billion yuan ($11.1 billion) is less than its forecast sales for next year. So should you buy its stock before its near-term headwinds dissipate? Li Auto started to deliver its first PHEVs in late 2019. It currently sells four plug-in hybrid SUV models (the L6, L7, L8, and L9) and its newer battery-powered Mega minivan. Here's how rapidly it ramped up its deliveries over the past five years. Metric 2020 2021 2022 2023 First 9 Months of 2024 Vehicle deliveries 32,624 90,491 133,246 376,030 341,812 Delivery growth (YOY) N/A* 177% 47% 182% 40% Data source: Li Auto. YOY = Year-over-year. *Started deliveries in Dec. 2019. Li set itself apart from its competitors in two ways. First, it initially focused on selling PHEVs instead of fully battery-powered electric EVs. PHEVs were often a more practical choice for people who only drove their vehicles within smaller areas, and they were also attractive for drivers who didn't want to rely entirely on EV chargers. Second, Li built its own network of supercharging stations to support its vehicles. At the end of its latest quarter, it was operating a network of 894 supercharging stations with 4,286 charging stalls across China. It also operated 479 retail stores. Li, like many other Chinese EV makers, is subsidized by the Chinese government. But unlike many of its peers, it turned profitable on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis in 2023 as it scaled up its business. That sets it apart from currently unprofitable Chinese EV makers like Nio and Xpeng. Unlike Nio, which is expanding into Europe, Li only sells its vehicles in China and doesn't have any overseas ambitions beyond some vague plans for the Middle East. Therefore, Li should face fewer tariff headwinds than those Chinese EV makers that want to expand into Western markets. However, it could still be affected by higher tariffs or export curbs on components or software from the U.S. and Europe. Li's margins are also being squeezed by the EV price war in China. Its vehicle margin expanded from 16.4% in 2020 to 21.5% in 2023, but shrank year over year to 19.3%, 18.7%, and 20.9% in the first, second, and third quarters of 2024, respectively. It attributed those declines to a shift in its sales mix to a higher proportion of cheaper vehicles, which reduced its average selling prices. Analysts expect Li to report an 18% rise in revenue for 2024, but they also estimate that its net income dropped by 35% as it ramped up production of its Mega minivan and navigated a tough pricing environment in China. But in 2025, they expect its revenue and net income will rise by 32% and 55%, respectively, as it laps those challenges. Li Auto stock looks dirt-cheap right now, but it could continue trading at a discount as long as the EV market remains chilly, China's economic growth stays sluggish, and the trade tensions between the U.S. and China drive investors away from Chinese stocks. If you expect those headwinds to gradually dissipate, then this could be a great time to buy Li's stock. But if you think those headwinds will worsen before they wane, then it might be smarter to stick with other undervalued growth stocks instead. Before you buy stock in Li Auto, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Li Auto wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $790,519!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 915% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of January 27, 2025 Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Li Auto Stock While It's 50% Below Its All-Time High? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
