Michael's Musings

The Morning After...
Michael Shinafelt
Photo:
David Pevsner 

"Saturday in the park, I think it was the Fourth of July" - Saturday In The Park, Chicago 

Was yesterday the 4th of July?! Well I wasn't in the park, or was I??? Perhaps I was picking posies or catching caterpillars. It really makes no difference how I whiled away the hours on July 4th, or perhaps it does.

Time to get this July 5th party started minions!

Just saw a byline that stated: Amber Heard Slammed - some girls have all the luck

It's time to rethink moisturizer, the more you know

I revisited the Billy Wilder classic Sunset Blvd. up on the roof July the 3rd at the Montalban Theater in the heart of Hollywood. I didn't remember it being as funny as it actually is from when I saw it in my youth. 

Age = Perspective 

A big yawn out to Nikki Bella & John Cena for the lamest PR stunt ever

I have a dream...of course you do darlin'

Heard on the street "I'm Leonard for no reason" - actually there is one, because it's the name your Mama gave you! 

David and Victoria Beckham celebrated 19 years of marriage yesterday - Spiceballs  

Katy Perry Shoots, She Scores!

"'Cause baby you're a firework, Come on show 'em what your worth" - Firework, Katy Perry

How much is that Pitbull in the window???

It's like a magic bus and can take many riders 

Smell what my cauldron is brewing 

Ever want to be Jackie Onassis?!

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer IncorporatedWe're gonna do it!" - Name that quote!!!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling quite resplendent - it's a groovy word Google it!

Let's get social at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/mshinafelt?lang=en  

Reunited

Ezria
Ian Harding & Lucy Hale

This one is for all of you Pretty Little Liars fans out there, like me. Lucy Hale posted a photo of her and former co-star Ian Harding with the caption: "Look who I found in Chicago" this past Sunday on her Instagram, meaning yesterday.

As all you fans recall they played the hopelessly romantic couple Aria Montgomery & Ezra Fitz, or the couple formerly know as Ezria.

While I miss the show that wrapped after it's seventh season nine months ago. It was time for it to end.

But fear not PLL fans a spin-off The Perfectionists with "Liars" Sasha Pieterse & Janel Parrish is in the works! Yay!

Lucy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lucyhale/?hl=en

Now More Than Ever

File This Under: Things That Make You Go Hmmmmmm...

Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago is the unbelievable true story of the rock band Chicago. 

Spanning 50 years, from 1967 to the present day, it highlights a band that has sold over 100 million records and has never taken a year off of touring, still playing well over 100 shows a year. 

Detailed are several stories behind their hits and a look at the way they dealt with both ups and downs on their way to becoming the highest-selling band of the 1970s and the second highest selling American band of all time.

Featuring interviews from band members both past and present, as well as those behind-the-scenes, the film shows Chicago as no one has ever seen them before.

As seen and promoted on CNN's January 1, 2017 broadcast

Pre-order at MVDshop.com or on Amazon 

"You Can't Have Empathy Without Pain"

Baby It's Cold Outside
Lady Gaga & Taylor Kinney

What is now an annual tradition for the couple, Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney took the Polar Bear Plunge in Chicago as a show of support to the Special Olympics.

The mighty Gaga took to Twitter and tweeted this about it: “You can’t have empathy without pain, Get FREEZING cold so they can feel your warmth. #SpecialOlympics #PolarPlunge.”

Cool sentiment, from one half of the hottest couple on the planet IMHOP. 

Freezing With Strangers
Lady Gaga 

Well at least the Lady got to cover herself some to fend off the cold, her poor fiancee sported nothing but swim trunks and a baseball cap as he carried her into the freezing water to take the plunge.

In the end it's all in good fun for a good cause and nobody gets hurt.

Happy Monday, hope you don't have a Polar Bear of a week!

Find out more about the Special Olympics at:

http://www.specialolympics.org/ 

Have A "Silverball" Naked

BARENAKED LADIES NEW ALBUM SILVERBALL PREMIERES ON BILLBOARD.COM

LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR BEGINS ON JUNE 5^TH IN COLUMBUS, OH

ADDITIONAL CITIES INCLUDE DENVER, CHICAGO, NASHVILLE, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES 

Get naked grab a "Silverball" and do your thang!

Silverball, the new album from the Barenaked Ladies premieres exclusively on Billboard.com today. Available on June 2^nd, the Ladies’ 14^th studio album showcases the band’s growth and stands as a testament to their longevity.

BE THE FIRST TO STREAM THEIR NEW RECORD AND READ AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ED ROBERTSON HERE: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6576022/barenaked-ladies-silverball-premiere-new-album-stream

WATCH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR THE SINGLE “Say What You Want” HERE:https://youtu.be/R_lRI5-Qzp8

The band kicks off their ‘Last Summer on Earth’ tour with the Violent Femmes and Colin Hay on June 5^th at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, OH with stops including Denver June 10/Red Rocks, Chicago June 16/First Merit Bank Pavilion, New York City July 1/Pier 97, Los Angeles July 21/Greek Theater and wraps on July 26^th at the Marymoor Amphitheater in Seattle, WA.

Fans can pre-order the album and get full list of tour dates at www.barenakedladies.com.
 

barenakedladies.com
www.facebook.com/barenakedladies
twitter.com/barenakedladies
instagram.com/barenakedladiesmusic

Margaret Cho Is psyCHO

MARGARET CHO ANNOUNCES U.S. FALL DATES FOR

THE “psyCHO” TOUR

PRE-SALE TICKETS ON SALE MAY 13 & 14

PUBLIC ON-SALE BEGINS FRIDAY, MAY 15

Margaret Cho is finally copping to something that we Cho Ho's have known for years, that she is psyCHO. Just the way we like her!

Three time Grammy and Emmy nominee, comedian Margaret Cho has announced she will embark on a national U.S. run  in support of The psyCHO Tour this fall. Margaret will hit various cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and her hometown of San Francisco before embarking on a string of European dates this winter.

Margaret has been developing brand new material over the last several months and said: “I'm so thrilled to announce that I will be back out on the road. This show is about insanity, and about the anger I feel about everything happening in the world right now, from police brutality to racism to the rising tide of violence against women. It makes me all so crazy - hence the title: “The psyCHO Tour” - there is no “I” in team but there is a “CHO” in psycho". When men go off on something - they are "passionate" and "driven" and when women go off on something we are "hysterical" and "crazy". I'm trying to bring some joy to the hysteria and insanity. ”

From singlehood to Boko Haram to Bruce Jenner’s transition to female empowerment, Margaret tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted. “It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.”

A big part of Margaret’s show are tributes to her “father in comedy,” Robin Williams and her “mother in comedy,” Joan Rivers, who passed away within a month of one another. Margaret was very close to both of them; her friendship with Robin encouraged her to start the #BeRobin campaign to raise awareness and funds for the homeless community. Her friendship with Joan reinforced Margaret’s desire to remain fearless.

Read more about #BeRobin - New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/ 12/25/us/with-memories-of-a- comic-comrade-margaret-cho- helps-the-homeless.html?hp& action=click&pgtype=Homepage& module=second-column-region& region=top-news&WT.nav=top- news&_r=1

Pre-sale tickets for October 1 thru November 14 dates will be available startingWednesday, May 13 at 10:00 A.M. EST until Thursday, May 14 at 10:00 P.M. EST and the password is “psycho.”   The general public on-sale will begin Friday, May 15 at 12:00 noon EST.

June, July & August dates are currently on sale. All show info is posted at http://www.margaretcho.com/

Margaret Cho Official Website http://www.margaretcho.com/

Margaret Cho Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho

Margaret Cho Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretcho/

Margaret Cho YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/margaretcho

2015 Tour dates

Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21 -  Orlando, FL - Orlando Improv

Friday, June 26 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium

Saturday, July 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – The Borgata

Friday, July 24 – Montreal Canada – Just For Laughs Festival

Saturday, August 8 – Fire Island, NJ

Thursday, August 13 – Provincetown – Town Hall

Friday, October 2- Minneapolis, MN – Pantages

Saturday, October 3- Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

Sunday, October 4- Cleveland, OH - Hard Rock Live

Thursday, October 8- Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury

Friday, October 9- Washington DC - Warner Theatre

Saturday, October 10 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre

Thursday, October 15- San Fran, CA- Castro Theatre

Friday, October 16- Las Vegas, NV -  Treasure Island

https://ti.eventshopper.com/eventShopper.html?wr=0533ccdf-c796-49e0-a069-5486f036486f

Saturday, October 17- Scottsdale, AZ  - Scottsdale Center for the Arts

 http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/event/margaret-cho/

Sunday, October 18- Tucson, AZ -  Rialto Theatre

  https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/851593?utm_medium=bks

 Thursday, October 22- San Diego - Balboa Theatre

  http://sandiegotheatres.org/margaret-cho/

Friday, October 23- Riverside, CA - Fox Theatre

Saturday, October 24- Seattle, WA -  Moore Theatre

Sunday, October 25- Portland, OR -  Revolution Hall

https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/852389?utm_source=os

Thursday, October 29- Atlanta, GA -  Tabernacle

Friday, October 30- Miami, FL - Fillmore Jackie Gleason

Friday, November 13- Denver, CO -  Paramount Theatre

Saturday, November 14- Los Angeles, CA -  Wiltern Theatre

Lady Gaga & Taylor Kinney Take The (Polar) Plunge

Baby It's Cold Outside: Taylor Kinney & Lady Gaga

Recently engaged couple Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney took part in the Polar Plunge on March 1st.

Participants in the plunge jump into Chicago's icy & frigid Lake Michigan as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.

Gaga shared the experience to her Instagram followers telling them: "My weave froze!!" further spilling "Taylor gave me his hat I thought my wig was gonna freeze into and become one with the lake."

Awwwwwwwwwww.....these two sound like they are made for each other.

Hey, the couple that freezes together, stays together.

Find out more about the Special Olympics at:

http://www.specialolympics.org/

Lita Ford & Cherie Currie, Are Here To "Rock This Christmas Down" !

Merry Rockin' Christmas

Are you ready to "Rock This Christmas Down" ?! I know I am, even though I am a HUGE music fan of almost every genre, my favorite type of music is, and always will be rock! 

Guess what? You are all in for a treat, two of the legends of rock music have combined forces and created an awesome new kind of Christmas single, "Rock This Christmas Down!" Here is what Ms. Cherie Currie sent me about the new Holiday favorite yesterday....

Two of the most influential women in Rock and Roll have reunited for a special holiday song.  LITA FORD has partnered up with her former Runaways band mate CHERIE CURRIE for what is sure to be a new Christmas Classic.  The song “Rock This Christmas Down” is the first time LITA and CHERIE have recorded new music together since 1977.

Tired of the same old Christmas songs LITA was ready for something new:

"I thought the world could use a new Christmas song.   The song was Written by Mitch Perry, my guitarist and Michael Dan Ehmig, my lyricist, along with Marty O'Brien on bass, and Rodger Carter on drums. We so rocked it!

What I didn't know is that I'd be singing it as a duet with my long lost sister, CHERIE CURRIE.  I am blessed to have her back in my life, and what an appropriate time and song to rehash an old friendship.  CHRISTMAS!!!"

CHERIE hopped a plane from Chicago to L.A., and drove straight to the studio and threw down her vocal track on this rocking song!  Needless to say, it was magic and history in the making.

Lita & Cherie: Reunited, Happy Holidays!

We were left with such a smoking track for everyone to hear, every Christmas, every year!  Let's "ROCK THIS CHRISTMAS DOWN!!!”

CHERIE was equally as excited to reunite and work with LITA again:

"I have dreamed, literally, of seeing LITA again for over three decades.  Even after all that time I still thought of her often.  The Runaways was something that was always left unfinished to me. Especially when it came to LITA, but I only knew her as a child.

What floored me more then the unbelievable gift of working with her again was the woman she had become.  She is the bravest, kindest, strongest, most loving human being I have met.

LITA asking me to be a part of this amazing song and a part of her astonishing life has filled that void, that hole I had in my heart that maybe we both shared.  It is now filled with love, support and admiration for a dear and wonderful friend whom I am so proud to say is LITA FORD."

“Rock This Christmas Down” has the flare of our Runaways legacy but its pure LITA.  It rocks like only she can.   We took a dim, negative and unfinished past and turned it into a positive future.  It doesn't get any better then that.  I know this will be the best Christmas I have had in decades.  Thank you sister!

What does “Rock This Christmas Down” signify?  Possibly more collaborations between the former Runaway members in the future…only time will tell....

I say "Yes! Let's hope so!" 

Buy Yourself The Gift of a Rocking Christmas at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rock-this-christmas-down/id747299458?i=747299646

Rock with Lita at: http://litafordonline.com

Rock with Cherie at: http://www.cheriecurrie.com

The Return Of Lee DeWyze

Yep, he's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack....!

April 22, 2013 – Singer/songwriter Lee DeWyze, will return to the American Idol stage on Thursday, April 25^th to perform his new song “Silver Lining” - the first single from his upcoming summer release on Vanguard Records.   Thursday’s appearance will mark DeWyze’s first  performance on American Idol since he was crowned winner of Season Nine in 2010. American Idol airs on Fox TV Wednesday and Thursdays at 8:00pm Eastern/7:00pm Central.

DeWyze’s premiere of “Silver Lining” will offer the millions of Idol fans and viewers a preview of what’s to come on his new album spotlighting his gift as a distinctive songwriter as well as an accomplished musician.  DeWyze is currently in the studio wrapping up his Vanguard debut.

Lee DeWyze will formally launch the pivotal next stage of what is already a high-profile musical career with the release of his label debut. “This past year, I hunkered down and wrote an album,” the Chicago native explains. “I wanted to take it back to what I’m really about, which is writing emotionally charged, meaningful songs. It wasn’t like I wanted to find a label and then decide what kind of album to make. I knew what kind of album I wanted to make and knew I could make. It’s going back to the kind of music I’ve always loved. The way I see it, everything that’s happened throughout my career has happened so that I can make this record.

Lee will be hitting the road this summer in support of his new album.  Tour dates listed below with more cities to be added.
06/04/13     Columbus, OH - The Basement at Promowest
06/05/13     Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
06/06/13     Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
06/08/13     Indianapolis, IN - Rathskeller
06/11/13     Nashville, TN - High Watt

There's always a "Silver Lining" at:  www.facebook.com/leedewyze

https://twitter.com/leedewyze