"Rock For Relief" Tonight!

Danielia Cotton
Photo:
Chia Manning

Riding a new wave of critical acclaim from A Different War, her incredibly timely and most politically charged album to date, widely heralded Biracial blues-rocker DANIELIA COTTON has risen again into the light, fiercely and defiantly, to join a star-studded lineup for “Rock for Relief,” the star-studded benefit concert supporting Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund on July 3 at 8pm ET and again at 11pm ET broadcasted at www.rockforrelief.net.

Presented by United Stations Media Networks and Storic Media Podcast Network, “Rock for Relief” is the latest national spotlight event to heal this tattered nation for Cotton, following her performance at the Juneteenth Tulsa Block Party with Sen. Kamala Harris, Alfre Woodard and others.

“Rock for Relief” arrives as Cotton is entering a “new normal” touring mode with her “Virtual Album Release Tour,” which kicked off last weekend at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA, simultaneously launching the theater’s virtual concert series as well. Her next stop is July 8 at Tanzman Park in Woodbridge, NJ. More dates will be announced shortly.

The “Rock For Relief” benefit show, to raise awareness and donations for families in local communities across the nation, will be hosted by Lou Brutus and Riki Rachtman with talent interviews conducted by Alice Cooper and Joe Satriani. [View Trailer]. Cotton joins a stellar line-up of performers that includes headliner Corey Taylor alongside Gavin Rossdale, George Thorogood, Don Felder (formerly of The Eagles), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger (Halestorm), Jesse Hasek (10 Years), Filter, Lisa Loeb, The Dead Daisies, Chris Robertson (Black Stone Cherry), Starset, Brandon Saller (Atreyu), Ricky Byrd, Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel, Joe Grushecky, Kathy Sledge, Bones Owens, BJ Thomas, Matt Bigland (Dinosaur Pile-Up) and more, with special appearances by Peter Frampton and Adam Gontier of Saint Ansonia.

Feeding America estimates that an additional 17.1 million people could be food insecure in 2020 as a result of this crisis – for a total of 54.3 million people, or 1 in every 6 people. This is a 46% increase over the 37.2 million people who were food insecure prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

Cotton will be performing an acoustic version, on piano, of “A Different War,” the title track from her latest album, which finds the woman whose music is “soulful enough to fill a revival tent” (The New York Times) and whose voice gives her songs “stunning power” (No Depression) speaking to these extraordinary times by unloading her sin while the world around her is gripped in a turbulent spin.

She will be joined for this special live performance by prominent Bronx hip-hop artist Mickey Factz, reprising his guest appearance on the original album track. “A Different War” examines how the reality of people of color getting called into battle as a result of being marginalized informs their entire existence. The song also urges us to press ahead because of the ongoing need for substantive change.

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Michael's Musings

Michael Shinafelt

"You need to just stop
Like can you just not step on my gown?You need to calm down" - You Need To Calm Down, Taylor Swift

While I understand there are many things to give one pause in the world today, let's keep them in perspective. "Yes" there are some things that should anger/upset/disturb you. Then there's things that the Karen's of the world get mad at.

PS you know who you are and what I'm am addressing, uh-huh, I'm gonna leave that here. Moving on Minions...

Hey Police, my 81 year old Mom has been practicing her falling skills FYI

Doesn't anyone watch Sesame Street anymore?!

There's a sucker born every minute, swallowers are harder to find - The more you know

If you could cure COVID19 by sacrificing just one human, who would it be and why did you choose Trump?

Dear Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute - WTF were you thinking?! Honestly I am surprised this took two years to come out. Neither of you can blame it on your youth either. How entitled of both of you to think you could call the cops on anyone for a crime they did not commit just because you were mad at them for cheating on a friend of yours. Let alone doing it to a Black Woman...Wow, just wow!

The Battle: Impulse for connection v Impulse for the greater good 

Holy Mother of Dachshunds!

Hello, My Tricks (make of it what you will, or not)

Woman Crush of the Week - Judy Garland who would have been 98 yesterday. Why? Because it's Pride Month and her performance in A Star Is Born is nothing short of brilliant!

The Confederate Flag is a symbol of slavery, racism and oppression, but it’s also a symbol of losers getting their ass kicked, just sayin'

Trivia: Who was the last person to disband the Police? Answer: Sting

Ever wonder while kicking it: Where's the lightning bolt?

Now serving candy for breakfast

It's always great to have the comfort of Law and Order: SVU reruns during these times

Come see what else I'm watching at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Peace Before Police

This post was made by singer/songwriter/activist Ariel Beesley Saturday morning on her Instagram page encouraging people to come down for a peaceful protest. Here is her first hand account of the truth no one is saying regarding it...

Photos by:
@nonquidproquo

Enough.   

I Love A Parade!

Today's Your Birthday?
Bella Thorne & Ruby Rose

Even though there will be no Gay Pride Parades come June there will be plenty of  other parades in the form of drive by Birthday Celebrations. 

"Yes" It's the pandemic thing to do, keep your Social Distance and such. Check out Bella Thorne and Ruby Rose partaking in a drive by celebration.

For who I do not know, they are keeping it on the DL, down low in the age of Covid 19. Someone needs to write a novel with that title and subject matter, Hmmmmmm...

Anyway if you happen to have a Birthday today, be like Bella and Ruby keep it real, and DL.

It's Monday, correct???

Bella on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/bellathorne/?hl=en

Ruby on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/rubyrose/?hl=en

"We're All In This Together"

D.O.A.'s Joe Keithley takes action on COVID-19 pandemic 

by releasing benefit single "We're All in This Together"

Now Available On iTunes

Burnaby, BC CANADA - A punk legend / city councillor and local mayor have combined forces to create the seemingly impossible: a COVID-19 rock anthem.

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Councillor Joe Keithley celebrate the spirit of our communities and our frontline workers with the release of "We're All in This Together," a passionate, upbeat song for our times.

"Joe wrote this great song, and I hope it energizes and fortifies people to stay strong," said Hurley. "It captures the community's grit and determination that we see all around us today, and calls on us to double down on our commitment to each other and beat COVID-19."

Keithley and Hurley performed the song - with appropriate physical distancing - for a video shot at Burnaby's Deer Lake Park. The song is both a salute to the resilience and perseverance of residents during the COVID-19 crisis and a rallying call:

"We're all in, this together We've got to brave, this stormy weather You can count on us, we're your neighbours We're all in, this together"

Councillor Keithley sings lead vocals and plays guitar for the arrangement, while Mayor Hurley, a lifelong guitar player, accompanies Keithley on bass and backup vocals.

"Writing this song was just a natural as I saw the growing effort by our fellow Canadians to keep as many folks as possible safe throughout the pandemic," said Keithley, who is also the front man for legendary punk band D.O.A. "It's my way of thanking and expressing my admiration for the nurses, doctors and all the front line workers. They are the best!"

Considered a 'godfather of Canadian punk,' Keithley founded D.O.A. in 1978. The band is known for its consistent thread of political activism and its diverse sound rooted in punk rock.

In 2018, Keithley took the band's slogan TALK-ACTION=0 to the next level when he was elected to Burnaby City Council. Hurley, a former fire fighter, was elected mayor in the same election and since then, the two musicians have performed together for a number of charitable events around town.

TIME TO FIGHT BACK AND CHANGE THIS WORLD

TALK - ACTION = 0

Ya Hey! D.O.A. - Forty years and going strong

Follow Joe on Instagram and Twitter, and the D.O.A. gang on Instagram and on Facebook

"All That Matters"

Lights Out

VOCAL QUARTET LIGHTS OUT RELEASES ‘ALL THAT MATTERS’ SINGLE AND VIDEO TO BUOY SPIRITS AND THANK AMERICA’S HEROES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Philly-Based Group Combines Heartfelt Lyrics with Soaring Harmonies to Create an Anthem for Our Times

Proceeds from Single & Video Benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

New Facebook Live Variety Series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” Airs Saturdays @ 4 p.m. EST

 Call it fate, call it coincidence, call it happenstance, but every so often there occurs a magic moment − unplanned and unforeseen − when a song arrives just at the point it is needed most. Such is the case with “All That Matters,” by LIGHTS OUT, which is poised to become an anthem for these troubling and frightening times.

The first single/video and title track from the vocal quartet’s new album, All That Matters – just released April 17 − is a moving, uplifting and inspirational piece that imbues the listener with what is most needed as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic: Optimism that a better day is on the horizon and the unshakeable belief that the human spirit is always stronger than the most fearsome foe.

Proceeds from the “All That Matters” music video and song download go to First Responders Children’s Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Donations are being accepted now at www.lightsoutvocals.com.

In line with the group’s pandemic efforts, LIGHTS OUT has launched a weekly Facebook Live variety series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” webcasting every Saturday at 4 p.m. EST. Weekly themes range from archival concert videos, to live Zoom performances, fan recipe cooking segments, story-swapping, topical discussions, and most importantly throughout, regular fan interaction. It’s all about maintaining the individual and group intimacy with their fans that the group holds in such high regard despite the tenuous climate the pandemic has created. Indeed, social distancing has inspired LIGHTS OUT to further find ways of staying close to its fans through social media.

Composed by members Chris James and Danny Goscicki, “All That Matters” is a work of classic blue-eyed soul marked by an indelible, instantly familiar melody and the breathtaking vocal harmonies that are the sonic signature of LIGHTS OUT. Despite its of-the-moment urgency, it was written and recorded before the world had ever heard the phrase “COVID-19.”

According to Rob Fleishman, fellow group member Chad Moroz suggested the track be released as a single. “That,” Fleishman explains, “kind of sparked an idea in my head to create the video. So I created the video and it kind of took on a life of its own.

“At first, it was going to go down the road of friendship and how the group is together,” he continues. “But the ‘A-ha!’ moment came while I was watching the news. It kinda hit me that the lyrics are just so inspirational for this moment. It spoke to me as, ‘Why not thank the people who are on the front lines?’ Which is why at the end of the video, we thank everyone − doctors, nurses, cashiers, farmers, truck drivers, teachers, the military− for working as hard as they are to save our lives right now.”

The phrase "working hard" also applies to the Philadelphia-based unit that was formed by its members when they were students at the University of Delaware. Starting as an a capella group inspired primarily by Rockapella and Boyz II Men, LIGHTS OUT has simultaneously traveled several musical paths, including being a popular attraction at many of the nation's top venues,2 performing their own blend of originals and covers, and as a highly successful Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute act as well as their original show, The Jersey Beach Boys.

Through the years, the troupe’s thrilling vocal harmonies, polished stage shows and songwriting prowess have provided LIGHTS OUT with the opportunities to work with Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Philadelphia’s chart-topping vocal group Boyz II Men, and Barry Carl of Rockapella. Boyz II Men co-founder Mike McCary was so impressed by the foursome that he actually served as its manager. Although today, the group’s career is overseen by another Philly music legend, Jerry Gross of the revered 1960s vocal act, The Dovells, the relationship with McCary continues to pay dividends.

“We were all, at one point, going to school for music at the University of Delaware,” offers Chris James. “Being a music major is amazing, because you learn so much, but you also can kind of get pigeonholed a little bit, even in your own mind. You can get kind of closed-in and not realize that even though the rules say you shouldn't do something, there are ways to do it that might sound good. Mike started opening our eyes to different harmonies and different voicings and different movements within the four of our voices that we would not have had otherwise. It's not just that we wouldn't have thought of them. But we probably would have said, ‘That note's not in the chord, that won’t work.’ But he opened our ears and our minds into a completely new way of harmony. And to this day we take that with us everywhere we go.”

The evidence the band members have taken such lessons to heart can be heard on the All That Matters album, which boasts, in addition to the title cut, 12 tracks steeped in the quartet’s shimmering, usually breathtaking harmonies. Aside from nine originals, the album boasts four covers: The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” The 4 Seasons’ “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” and most notably, a sharp and energetic “hip-pop” reinvention of “Stand By Me” featuring a guest appearance by show business titan Ben Vereen.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Apple Music | YouTube 

Handwash Jukebox

Free Alexa skill featuring hand-washing songs from Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lilly, John S Hall and others help families protect themselves during COVID-19

“Handwash Jukebox” is a contactless Amazon Alexa skill that uses music to help people wash their hands for the full CDC-recommended 20 seconds

Music and technology join forces to help families protect themselves and fight COVID-19. Handwash Jukebox, the new contactless voice skill for Amazon Alexa, plays a different family-friendly 20-second song every time the user opens the skill, the amount of time the Centers for Disease Control recommends scrubbing your hands. The free skill is available now in the Amazon Skill store in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and India. To use, simply enable the skill and then through your Amazon Echo device, just say “Alexa, open Handwash Jukebox.” To learn more, please visit https://www.handwashjukebox.com.

“We created this skill as a simple and fun way to help flatten the curve.” - Daniel Bremmer, Creative Director

There are thirty songs representing a wide range of musical genres in the skill, with more artists being added regularly. About a third of the artists primarily record music for children, including two GRAMMY® nominees—The Alphabet Rockers and Sonia De Los Santos—and GRAMMY® winner Jon Samson. The skill also includes music by Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lily, The Mammals, GRAMMY® winner Sadler Vaden, Icelandic artists Úlfur Eldjárn and Ólöf Arnalds, King Missile’s John S. Hall and Californiosos, featuring “Farmer” Dave Scher of Beachwood Sparks and others.

The skill is an all-volunteer effort led by advertising creative director Daniel Bremmer and creative technologist Layne Harris with GRAMMY®-winning children’s artist Lucy Kalantari. Dublab veteran Derek McNeill serves alongside Kalantari as Music Supervisor. Katherine Choi is the Design Director and Frank Verderosa is the Sound Engineer.

“Given that Alexa is natively a shared household experience, it was the perfect platform for an idea like Handwash Jukebox.” - Layne Harris, Creative Technologist

Full List of Artists (so far!):

Alphabet Rockers, Ólöf Arnalds, Azalia Snail, Californiosos, Clark Chimp, Dog On Fleas, Shana Falana, John S. Hall, Andrew Koestel, Joanie Leeds, Zoey Lily, Lisa Loeb, LoveyDove, Kent Lucas, The Mammals, Marsha And The Positrons, Mi Amigo Hamlet & Alina Celeste, Music With Michal, Nicolas Pacheco, Rithma, Snowflakes, Sonia De Los Santos, Jon Samson, The Slackers, Sweatson Klank, Úlfur Eldjárn, Sadler Vaden.

“Our mission is to remind families the importance of joy, community and resilience–even in times of great difficulty. It felt right to be part of something that would turn an immensely important activity, like hand washing, into a light and fun experience.” – Lucy Kalantari, GRAMMY® winning artist and Music Supervisor