"Sorceress" In St. Petersburg, Russia

Filmmaker
Naama Kates

This just in from Entertain Me favorite and friend Naama Kates. The indie film she wrote, directed and starred in Sorceress is headed to a Film Festival in Russia, here is the 411 from Ms. Kates herself: 

"Wheeee! Just got word "Sorceress" is an Official Selection of the White Nights Film Festival in Russia's amazing city of St. Petersburg, from April 17th-20th, just a couple weeks away!"

http://whitenightsfestival.top/en/about 

You go Naama! Nobody does it better than  you! 

While your at it why don't you do yourself a favor and saunter over to Amazon and let Sorceress put a spell on  you. If you love indie film like I do, you'll be glad you did.

Hit the Amazon link at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sorceress-Naama-Kates/dp/B06XBDZBG9/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QXHAZNZXQWMY6VNQHY6F

Go Indie, Or Go Home! "Southlander"

Are you a "Southlander" ?!?! Find out...

Chance (Rory Cochrane, CSI Miami), a hapless LA Musician, has found his ticket to fame, fortune and romance with the coveted keyboard, the 69' Moletron, which got him the gig and the girl (Beth Orton). But now the Moletron is missing, and Chance must reclaim it by working his way through The Southlander, the ultimate buy/sell classified paper for musicians in Southern California. 

Along the way, Chance and his pal Ross Angeles (Ross Harris, Airplane!) stumble upon the unstable defunct Funk star Motherchild (Lawrence Hilton Jacobs III, Welcome Back, Kotter) and his toadie (Richard Edson, Do the Right Thing), Beck's ramshackle recording trailer, a ruthless junkyard cowboy (Hank III) and his mechanical dinosaur (Robosaurus), an eccentric millionaire's Bacchanalian party, a clairvoyant goddess (Laura Prepon, That 70s Show), and intergalactic Jazz Egyptians (Billy Higgins).

With music performances by Beck, Beth Orton, Hank Williams III, Union 13, and Billy Higgins, plus cameos from Laura Prepon, Ione Sky and Elliott Smith, Southlander is a comically uncanny rock & roll party adventure by critically acclaimed director Steven Hanft. 

Hanft has directed over 70 music videos including Beck's "Loser" and "Where It's At" and more recently, projects for Ariel Pink, Carmen Electra, Prince Jazzbo, and Richie Ramone. Southlander, Hanft's second feature film, is based on true stories he heard of friends who used the SoCal paper to buy/sell/trade instruments. He also produced and starred in the Cannes Film Festival award winning short film "Sunglass Catch" rated by Business Insider as the 4th most important YouTube video ever.

Features include Deleted Scenes, Uncut Performances, Director's Commentary, Music Videos, Bonus Audio, Photo Gallery, and Theatrical Trailer.

Pre-order at the MVD Shop or on Amazon

Everybody Run, Julianne Moore Has A Gun!!!

Hands Up Or You Get Puffed!
Julianne Moore

WTF?! One of my favorite actresses armed herself recently on the British chat show TFI.

Yes, Julianne Moore was toting large with a gun, don't be too freaked out it shoots cheese puffs of all things. Will the wonders of technology ever cease?! 

Moore is one of my favorite actresses having appeared in one of my favorite indie films of all time, Todd Haynes Safe.

I actually encountered her at a Rexall Drug Store in Los Angeles, CA  once upon a time and chatted with her briefly about my love of her and that particular movie, but I'll save that for my book. 

With a resume' full of eclectic roles I guess now Julianne can add gunslinger to that list.

Have a "cheesy" Saturday! 

Julianne on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000194/?ref_=nv_sr_5

It Cuts Like A "Shonen Knife"

Shonen Knife Is Awesome! Legendary Japanese rockers SHONEN KNIFE go into “OVERDRIVE” with new album Out 4/15; US Tour Dates Announced Ever since I heard their cover of The Carpenters "Top of the World" on The Carpenter cover CD: "If I Were A Carpenter" - the punk pop trio of women known as Shonen Knife has been one of my favorite groups...the legends have a new CD dropping and are hitting the road in the United States, it's time, get knifed!

Shonen Knife, Osaka Japan’s legendary queens of indie sunshine, are back with a brand new album for 2014. Their 19th studio release, “Overdrive”, is a tip of the hat to 70’s Hard Rock, and a continuation of Shonen Knife’s journey into the musings of food, fantasy and daily life in the Far Eastern metropolis of Osaka. “Overdrive” features 10 new songs penned by founding member and principal songwriter Naoko who continues to grow the 30 plus year legacy of Japan’s most recognizable name in indie rock. The band is rounded out with 2 songs sung by bassist Ritsuko and drummer Emi, a lineup consistently rocking since 2010. Channeling the musical traditions of 70’s Metal Icons like Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Bad Company, Kiss and Black Sabbath, Naoko’s passion for the hard rock genre is translated through her constant pop culture filter known as Shonen Knife. “Overdrive” will be available in N. America on Good Charamel Records on April 15th 2014 and is now available for Pre-Sale in the Good Charamel Online Store.Shonen Knife will play Japan and Europe this spring and summer. The initial dates on their fall North American tour have just been announced (see below). "Overdrive" Track Listing 1) Bad Luck Song 2) Black Crow 3) Dance to the Rock 4) Ramen Rock 5) Shopping 6) Fortune Cookie 7) Like a Cat 8) Green Tea 9) Robots from Hell 10) Jet Shot Tour Dates: Fri 09-12 Brooklyn NY @ The Wick Sat 09-13 Buffalo, NY @ The Music is Art Festival Tue. 09-16 St. Paul, MN- Turf Club Thur. 09-18 Chicago, IL- Bottom Lounge Tues 10-07 San Diego - The Casbah Wed 10-08 Los Angeles, CA – The Church on York Fri. 10-10 San Francisco, CA- Bottom of the Hill Sat. 10-11 Portland, OR- Dante's Sun 10-12 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern Tue. 10-14 Boise, ID- Neurolux Wed. 10-15 Salt Lake City, UT- Urban Lounge Thurs 10-16 Denver, CO- Oriental Theater Sat 10-18 St Louis, MO- Firebird (More US dates to be announced soon ....) The album is now available for pre-order in the Good Charamel webstore. www.GoodCharamel.com www.ShonenKnife.net

T.G.I.F. - Naama Kates Plays Room 5, Los Angeles CA

If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are planning on hanging out this evening, why not do it with indie darling Naama Kates at Room 5.

This critically acclaimed chanteuse will be hitting the Room 5 stage at 10 pm sharp...!

She is currently promoting her sophomore CD "King For The Day" the follow-up to her hit freshman debut "The Unexamined Life".

So, if your Friday Calendar is free, and you have no plans get your ass to Room 5 at 10 pm and check out Naama.

Oh, I will be there too, so if you come to the show, say "Hello".

                                            Naama Kates "King For The Day"
Get your "King" on at: http://www.naamakates.com/

Room 5 info: http://www.room5lounge.com/

R.I.P: Chrissy Amphlett "Pleasure and Pain"

Chrissy Amphlett

The 53-year-old Australian singer died at her home in New York City after a battle with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.

My first exposure so to speak to the music of The Divinyls was a kinky little ditty bearing the title "Pleasure and Pain": 

"Please don't ask me how I've been getting off, No, Please don't ask me how I've been getting off ,It's a fine line between pleasure and pain, You've done it once, you can do it again"... 

Needless to say the Divinyls had me at the title. I rushed out and bought the "What A Life" album on, time to date my oldness, cassette, and loved it!

Of course that was sort of an indie/edgy/underground type of song, their biggest hit "I Touch Myself" a blatant ode to masturbation was huge...I guess because it did not involve the "Pain" part with the "Pleasure".

Chrissy had one of the best pop rock voices ever! Her delivery cut like a knife no matter what she was singing. 

Not to be crass, but from the sounds of her death she was living the title of my favorite Divinyls song "Pleasure and Pain" let's hope there was some of the former mixed in with the later, her body is now at rest. Hey Chrissy, I hope you are still kicking vocal ass in the great beyond...!

                                                  The Divinyls: "Pleasure and Pain"
                                       

10 Seconds With: Tyrone Wells

Tyrone Wells’ fourth full-length album, “Where We Meet“, ushers in a new beginning for the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter. Not only is it his first full-length release since leaving a major label, it signifies his next evolution. Embracing both sides of his sound,

Wells seamlessly balances acoustic vulnerability and pop rock irresistibility over the course of eleven unforgettable anthems. Ultimately, Where We Meet is the perfect place for Wells to start anew while keeping the same ethic that has won him his loyal fan base from his early independent days.


MS: I’ve been watching much of “The Voice” this year, way more than I ever paid attention to “American Idol” - at least they don’t put people on there that can’t sing, I feel that is such a waste of  my time as a viewer. Tell me how you relate to shows like that?

TW: Ya know, I have some good friends that are on “The Voice” this year, actually. Tony Lucca, he’s opened for me a few times, and I know some other people, but I think Tony has gotten the furthest so far. More power to them, I think it’s just another way to do what we do. You just want to get your music and your voice out there. As someone who has been out there touring, and working really hard and playing literally hundreds of shows every year, for the last several years, it does feel like a bit of a short cut when they get on that show as they have millions upon millions of viewers, just like that. But, that does no always mean ongoing success. I happened to be at a club where one of the winners of “American Idol” was playing and I was blown away that I happen to do as well or better in ticket sales, I couldn’t believe it, I’m not saying which one it was.

MS: Yeah, no worries you don’t have to.

TW: I’m not saying I’m better than this person, I’m simply saying that that type of exposure doesn’t always create lasting fans.

www.tyronewells.com