Thursday, February 28, 2019

Michael's Musings

In Your Face
Michael Shinafelt
This past weekend the Academy Awards happened and proved after a progressive 2018 show when Moonlight won Best Picture, that there must have been a momentary loss of sense and sensibility from the old van guard because they were back in full force by touting Green Book Best Picture this year. Which would have been a great film if it had been made the year I was born 1965.

Oh and Michael Cohen testified against a B!tch Baby, I mean Donald Trump yesterday. In other news...

"He lied a lot" - Postcards From A B!tch Baby 

This is me waving my middle finger at Facebook, yeah I am being censored and bullied right now or I'd show it to you.

Your Porn Star name is your first name + your last name, because it's you. You're a ho!

How the Hell did Krysten Ritter rate to be an Oscar presenter...WTF?!

"Come again?" - interpretation is everything

That's so very

Erika Jayne is looking like a Drag Queen this season on RHOBH - she would most likely take this as a compliment. I most likely don't mean it as one. 

I didn't know you were gay, my car needs more work

Adult Depends Whore

Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party - that is all 

This is the noise that keeps me awake - that's for me to know and you to find out.

Quiche Lorraine - dinner is served

Shout out to Selma Blair, you get down with your bad self!

Stop being shady, be obscene instead 

Me? I'm serving up eggplant realness right here, right now on the WWW -

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

"The Alarm" Is Sounding Off!


Brand New Album Sigma Set For June 28th Release

 A fraternity of alternative British rock bands led by acoustic pioneers The Alarm, post punk auteurs Modern English, and the charismatic Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel have announced they will take to the road throughout North America this summer 2019. See initial dates below.

The Sigma LXXXV Tour #sigmatour2019 will stop by some 30 plus North American cities, presenting the very best music and ideas from a generation of enduring artists, brought together through a legacy of timeless sound and song. Tickets go on sale today Friday, February 22 and information is available at all three bands websites:  www.thealarm.comwww.modernenglish.me,www.genelovesjezebel.co.uk
With all three artists still proving to be as creative as ever, The Alarm will release a new album Sigma to coincide with the tour on June 28th alongside a reissue of their significant 1985 album Strength (available March 15). Strength is available to PRE-ORDER now from thealarm.comAll individual CD and LP pre-orders placed through thealarm.com will qualify for a Free CD that is exclusive to the alarm.com entitled: ‘The Alarm – A Story of Strength‘ featuring a host of exclusive Alarm tracks and narration by Mike Peters. This fascinating CD tells the entire story of The Alarm’s Strength period from 1985-1986. A special Limited Edition package of 300 is also being made available to pre-order which will include both the CD and LP Editions, a free CD copy of The Alarm – A Story of Strength, along with a very special Replica Strength Era Backstage Pass personally signed by Mike Peters, that can be used to create a unique ‘collectors’  edition. The Limited Edition Collectors package is only available at thealarm.com All titles have been remastered from the original master tapes by mastering engineer Pete Maher (U2, White Stripes…) under the supervision of Mike Peters.
Photo:
Andy Labrow
 The Alarm will perform a full and lengthy set at Irving Plaza on April 13th as part of their US/NYC “Gathering” concerts and will also headline The Gramercy in NYC the day before (April 12) performing a set list that was originally performed by the band during the “Spirit of ’86” concert that was historically broadcast around the world via MTV on April 12, 1986.  

Sigma acts as the sequel to 2018’s critically acclaimed EQUALS release and features musical contributions from original Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp and Billy Duffy from The Cult. Full details on Sigma will be revealed in the coming weeks.

In addition, Mike Peters was recently honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) Award by HIs Royal Highness Prince Charles Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.  The MBE is one of Britain’s highest honors.  Mike was awarded for his services to charity having raised thousands for cancer care projects in the UK and abroad and dedicating his life to giving hope for families affected by cancer.

Modern English first toured on a double bill with The Alarm back in 1985/86 during the Strength tour. Modern English released their latest album Take Me To The Trees in 2017, and are still a staple of American First Wave Alternative radio station playlists with amongst others, their classic hit ‘I Melt With You’.

Also hailing from Wales UK, are Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel, who first broke onto the American charts in 1985 with a cocktail of infectious hit songs such as ‘Desire’, ‘Jealous’ and ‘The Motion Of Love’, and will be joining the Sigma LXXXV Tour in support of their most recent album release, Dance Underwater which was received with delight by their legion of fans.

Throughout the Sigma LXXXV Tour, members of all three bands will join together each night for a Grand Finale version of the ‘Love Hope Strength’ charity anthem to highlight the additional life-saving aspect of the tour.

Love Hope Strength is a charity dedicated to ‘Saving Lives One Concert at a Time’ and throughout the Sigma LXXXV Tour it will be hosting bone marrow drives at each concert aimed at finding donors for people suffering from Blood Cancer who need a transplant for a second chance at life! The charity has already registered over 200,000 individuals and located some 4,000 plus potentially lifesaving matches. Visit
www.lovehopestrength.org for more information.

Alarm Fans attending the tour will also have the opportunity to enhance their participation by purchasing EXPERIENCE SIGMA LXXXV TOUR 2019 passes which will be limited to '85' which matches the tour theme, and will feature additional and exclusive pre-show acoustic performances with Mike Peters, along with an interactive Q&A / Record signing session and a guaranteed photo opportunity Attendees will also have the opportunity and to catch up with exclusive tour merchandise along with the most recent Alarm record releases in the tour ‘pop up record store’ and merchandise emporium.


QUOTE FROM MIKE PETERS of The Alarm

"The Sigma Tour will bring out the best that The Alarm has to offer the 21st Century, and along with our friends Modern English and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel, we look forward to taking part in an event that will hopefully, live long in the memory for all our fans." says Mike Peters. "Our music, which still gets played on the radio every single day, gives us all a platform for creativity that will shine through every second of the Sigma Tour. Fans can expect collaboration, moments of reflection, camaraderie and also the unexpected. The tour will be alive on all the social media platforms allowing fans from around the world to see what its like for British bands to be on the road in the USA. Each show will be presented by an in-house MC / DJ and play host to intimate pre-show events that will connect fans to the musicians in a setting away from the spotlight. Up on the main stage every night, The Alarm will be celebrating the release of a new music album entitled Sigma, and honoring the 1985 Strength album reissue that has literally changed and saved lives through Love Hope Strength, the charity which sprang from the intention of the lyrics. The Sigma Tour will look, sound and feel like no other. It's an opportunity for our generations of fans, to make themselves heard, and for us as artists to prove that we are still as relevant as when we first helped shape the musical landscape of America, and when it's citizens looked to British bands for inspiration and alternatives."

QUOTE FROM JAY ASTON of Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel

"We are so excited to be touring the U.S. with our dear friends The Alarm & Modern English." says Jay Aston. "We all go way back back of course. I remember The Alarm & Gene Loves Jezebel regularly playing different nights at the legendary RockGarden in Covent Garden and as a fellow Welshman, I always kept an eye on their incredible progress. We opened for Modern English early on in our career & often bumped into Rob & the lads at our label (Beggars Banquet) in London. Always great fun to see them and I can vividly remember Ivo (A&R man at 4AD), playing me songs from “After The Snow” & being concerned at rising studio costs (I think 4AD might have got a fair return on their investment…). I once played solo gigs with thee Mike Peters in the UK of course and James Stevenson has been playing with the The Alarm for some time. It’s actually amazing that we haven’t toured together before! We can’t wait to play songs from our “Dance Underwater” album and music from all our albums on the upcoming tour. We’re all planning to make it a very, very special tour." Jay Aston

QUOTE FROM ROBBIE GREY of Modern English

"We are all really looking forward to it." says Modern English vocalist Robbie Grey, "Three bands all from the same era, still creating and performing and coming together for this summer tour. The response has been amazing from promoters and fans alike. Modern English has known Mike Peters and The Alarm since the 80's, same with Jay Aston and Gene Loves Jezebel. It’s going to be fantastic. Modern English are looking forward to performing our early post punk material including 'After The Snow' songs, along with tracks from our most recent album 'Take Me To The Trees' and hopefully a new song which will be the first Modern English single in a long time (that’s a maybe by the way!!). When Mike said did we want to do it ? We said f…k yes".

 Sigma LXXXV Tour 2019 Dates


Friday, July 19, 2019
Austin, TX
3Ten Live
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Dallas, TX
Gas Monkey 
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Oklahoma City, OK
Tower Theater 



Thursday, July 25, 2019
San Diego
House of Blues
Friday, July 26, 2019
Temecula 
Wiens Family  Cellars 
Saturday, July 27, 2019
LOS ANGELES
MICROSOFT THEATER 
Friday, August 02, 2019
San Francisco
Regency Ballroom 
Saturday, August 03, 2019
Sacramento
Ace of Spades 
Monday, August 05, 2019
Portland, OR
 Aladdin 
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Seattle, WA
Triple Door
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
Spokane, WA
Bing Crosby Theater 
Friday, August 09, 2019
Denver
Oriental Theater
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Lawrence, KS
Liberty Hall 



Monday, August 12, 2019
St. Louis
Delmar Hall



Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Minneapolis
Fine Line
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Milwaukee
Turner Ballroom
Friday, August 16, 2019
Chicago
House of Blues
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Detroit
St. Andrews
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Cleveland
House of Blues
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Boston, MA
Paradise 
Thursday, August 29, 2019         Asbury Park, NJ
              Asbury Lanes

The Alarm “Gathering New York” solo shows:

April 12             Gramercy Theatre        New York – Performing “Spirit of ‘86” setlist
April 13             Irving Plaza                   New York – Full electric concert

Fans who purchase weekend ticket passes for both events, will also receive a commemorative collectors laminate pass as they enter the venue on April 12th.


Click here to view The Alarm - Strength Live from The Gathering on February 2019.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiAvNhjZPew&feature=youtu.be

Click here to view the original video for The Alarm - Strength 7" Single (1985) Remastered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyPm_B8dPMs&feature=youtu.be

Monday, February 25, 2019

Monday Motivation

Let's Get Unconscious, Honey-
Madonna & Lady Gaga
"There's got to be a morning after, If we can hold on through the night, We have a chance to find the sunshine, Let's keep on looking for the light" - Morning After, Maureen McGovern 

"Yes" peeps it's the morning after The Oscars - who saw Olivia Colman winning over Glenn Close. No one! However Social Media is buzzing at present about this image of Lady Gaga with her Oscar for Best Original Song and Mama Madonna holding them both.

Honestly, can I be frank? I have never felt there was any "rivalry" ever between the two. They trotted it out when they each had something to promote and then it went away post haste

Let's get real when Gaga did Born This Way a hybrid note for note of Express Yourself and Vogue she had to have had permission to do it. Otherwise Madonna could have sued and won. These two are partners in crime make no mistake about it.

Oh, yeah, what's today's Monday Motivation? Cheers to women supporting each other. Hey we should all support each other as human beings. Go out and be the best version of you that you can possibly be. Even if you actually suck as a human being, try to suck less today.

What's your motivation on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Sunday Schwing!

And He's In Leather!
Matt
Today is Oscar Sunday - so I decided to Schwing! For those about to Schwing! with me I salute you...!!!

Honestly I could not resist my primal urges today when I came across Matt on Tye Briggs Favorite Hunks & Other Things. Normally I like my men, well, manly. While Matt is pretty boyish, there is something down & dirty about him that appeals to my nether regions.

Not to mention there is an interesting back story that appeals to my inner beast that Tye tells in his usual astute way. 

Oscar Mayer Wiener is what I say about today, if you get my drift and I think you do.

Now Schwing! minions, Schwing!

Right here, right now...

https://favoritehunks.blogspot.com/2019/02/age-of-opportunity-matt-by-steve-jerome.html

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Saturday Sinema - Vengeance: A Love Story



Sometimes U Need Vengeance -

On the Fourth of July, single mother Teena is brutally assaulted by a local gang in front of her 12-year-old daughter Bethie. Despite Bethie's ability to identify the attackers, the defense hires a local hot-shot attorney who manipulates the law to their advantage. When the criminals are set free, Gulf War veteran and detective John Dromoor (Nicolas Cage) is dismayed at the lack of justice and plots revenge against the men on Teena's behalf. Blu-ray includes 5.1 surround sound, stereo and English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired.

Order It Here:
https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/MVD2029BR

Friday, February 22, 2019

Freaky Friday

WTF???
Glenn Close
Well minions the Oscars are this weekend and E! Online decided to run images of this years nominated stars from their first Academy Award red carpet attendance. 

In the immortal words of George Takei a Freaky Friday "Oh My" shout out goes to Best Actress nominee for "The Wife" Glenn Close for her total clueless lack of style in this WTF?! number she wore for her first evuh Oscar nomination in the Supporting Actress category for The World According To Garp.

Seriously, who the Hell dressed her in this hideous frock??? Even more seriously, how could she waltz down the red carpet not knowing how ghastly it truly is? I ask you? Gimme an answer now please!

Judging from her appearances on the Award circuit of late Ms. Close has certainly evolved in the style department and will be hitting the red carpet and looking fab not drab this Sunday.

You go Glenn Close!

Glenn on IMDB:

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Michael's Musings

My Finger Is On The Trigger
Michael Shinafelt
"'Cause I may be bad but I'm perfectly good at it, Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it" S&M Rihanna 

I love the smell of sex and "Yes" I am feeling bad, and I'm so perfectly good at it in every little way. Go there with me, join me. You know you want to...

Bernie Sanders needs to F#ck the Hell Off (Don't say I didn't warn you) - 

Put on your best Sunday Dress - do it & do it now!!!

Someday we will be arrested for crimes of fashion. I will be the biggest perpetrator

Give it a name. Come on, your brain can't even do that?!

FYI I am not the Pole Vault Hooker

Pop up brothels are the new frontier 

He touches the darkest regions of my dirty soul

Botched is an abomination unto itself 

Cremation - it's a thing 
Golden Showers
The Oscars
The Oscars, this Sunday, intact (like foreskin) 

Ariana Grande fans are boycotting her song 7 Rings apparently. They should simply boycott her. It's really that easy. 

I know why it happens 

Are you there God? I'm horny

"I'm very much down to earth, just not this earth" - Karl Lagerfeld 

Join me and Karl on another plain at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

"For The Many"


UB40 To Release First New Album in Five Years 
Just Ahead Of 40th Anniversary Tour

"For The Many" comes to CD and Vinyl on March 22nd

Includes a 24 page booklet complete with photos of the band 
and lyrics to all songs
The 38 date 40th Anniversary Tour starts on March 29th in Portsmouth

Red, Red Wine - That Is All...

For The Many is the Birmingham reggae veterans' nineteenth studio album - their first since 2013's Getting Over The Storm. It features UB40's founding members Robin Campbell (co-vocals/Guitar), Brian Travers (saxophone/keyboards), Jimmy Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass/keyboards/vocals) and Norman Hassan (percussion/vocals), alongside long-time members Duncan Campbell (vocals), Martin Meredith (saxophone), Laurence Parry (trumpet) and Tony Mullings (keyboards).

Formed in Birmingham in 1978, UB40 named themselves after the UK government's unemployment benefit form. Their debut album Signing Off was released in August 1980 and is considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band.

It was the start of a career that led to 100 million record sales worldwide and dozens of hits, including "Red, Red Wine," "I Got You Babe" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" which all topped the charts in the UK and in many countries across Europe. The band had a run of hit albums that have spent a combined period of eleven years in the UK's Top 75 album chart, establishing UB40 as one of Britain's most successful bands of all-time.
UB40
Jimmy Brown said, "For The Many is our first original album with Duncan, and a true reflection of where the band are at right now. It gave us an opportunity to go back to our roots and draw on the 1970s-style reggae that inspired us to be in a band in the first place. We intended to make an uncompromising reggae album and I think we have achieved that. There's lots of dub, various guest toasters and a blend of love songs and political songs. I'm really happy with the final result. We're really looking forward to playing some of these tunes live on our 40th anniversary tour in spring next year."

Duncan Campbell said, "After ten years of fronting UB40, for us to make an album of our own original material feels like the final hurdle for me. The album and its title reflect how UB40 are all in support of Jeremy Corbyn and The Labour Party. Both of the songs I have written on the album (I'm Alright Jack and Poor Fool) also reflect this. We all feel this album is going back to what UB40 was all about and we are all excited for everybody to hear the album and looking forward to touring it."

Robin Campbell added, "For The Many" is a great mix of reggae styles, while the different artists we have collaborated with will appeal to more fans and tastes in reggae - it really is an album for the many. The 2019 UK tour is a continuation of our 40th year celebrations, as well as sharing tracks from our latest album. We're playing all over the UK instead of a few arenas dates, meaning our fans from all over the UK can get to see us much more locally and up close - truly a tour for the many."

ONLINE & SOCIALS
Website: ub40.global
Facebook: ub40official
Twitter: @UB40official
Instagram: ub40officia

Monday, February 18, 2019

Monday Motivation

Going To The Dogs
KJ Apa
Happy Presidents Day! I know some of you will take this as an opportunity to Trump bash. Please don't, this is a celebration of the others that came before him. On that note let's dive into today's Monday Motivation...Today's MM is brought to you by volunteering.

"Yep" volunteer work is something we are all capable of and should do. I have in the past and really need to get off my booty and do it again. Thus I am using this post to give myself, as well as you all a push in the right direction.

What better way to motivate you than this photo of two adorable things Riverdale's KJ Apa volunteering with the ASPCA at Wallis Annenberg PetSpace in Los Angeles

Too cute, and so is the dog. Normally I am not into younger guys but there is something about KJ that "pops" to me. There is also a cute dog, see how good I am at motivating you minions? I got this too sweet photo and two cuties to make you rise to the occasion. Damn, I'm good!

Take whatever it is you feel passionate about, whether it be animals, or??? Go out find someplace that you can be of service to your passion. Volunteering, it's that simple and doesn't cost you a thing.

Now get out there and Monday

Volunteering on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering