"Summertime, and the livin' is easy" - Ella Fitzgerald In case you didn't register, Summer officially began yesterday. Yes minions it's on! Which of course made me think of the song Summertime, sung by Ella Fitzgerald. However my first exposure to it was the cover by Janis Joplin. For the longest time I thought Joplin to be the originator of the seasonal song, obviously I thought wrong. Que sera sera - Move Over and Let's Get This Party Started! Free the disabled hyenas Good things come in pink boxes, or is that cum? This week on Pretty Little Liars - We all found out who killed Charlotte...it was Mona. OK we all saw that one coming, but the way the whole life event went down was a doozy! Attack of the 50 foot Granola Lesbian, the threat is real Think of me when you use body lotion There's a scandalous book coming out about the group Van Halen that has, what else? Sex, drugs & rock-n-roll. One the band members actually hallucinated giant penises coming out of the wall. That's hot!
Memories Mike Clifford
Today marks the 48th anniversary of Judy Garland's passing. Mike Clifford and I visited her yesterday at Hollywood Forever, he knew Judy. Visit Mike's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MikeCliffordsWonderfulWorld/ Wash that man right out of your hair File This Under Who Cares: Beyonce birthed her twins Descend into madness Once upon time there was an evil tyrant who tried to undermine all that is good about a land called the United States of America Itsy bitsy teeny weeny...fill in the blank On that note - obey everything I say and follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en https://twitter.com/MShinafelt
The Pretty Reckless continue their ascent on the rock charts with the release of their new single, “Oh My God.”“It's just me and the band, pouring ourselves into the song, and into the camera. It's subtle, you have to really watch it to understand all the layers, but it's honest, and that to me always yields the best art.” says lead singer Taylor Momsen
The song is already in the top 10 on the active rock chart and the video can be viewed here:http://vevo.ly/wsMImY.
“Take Me Down,” nominated for Rock Song of The Year at the upcoming iHeart Radio Music Awards taking place March 5 was the first #1 rock single from their latest album Who You Selling For.This milestone marks the fourth consecutive #1 for the band, who broke records as the first female-fronted band to have three chart toppers in a row with “Heaven Knows,” “Messed Up World” and “Follow Me Down” (all from 2014’s Going To Hell) - a feat that has not been accomplished since The Pretenders in 1984, over 30 years ago.
The Pretty Reckless will perform on CONAN February 28
The Pretty Reckless’ extraordinary third studio album Who You Selling For features the bands #1 rock hit “Take Me Down.” Produced by longtime collaborator Kato Khandwala, Who You Selling For expands the band’s sound to encompass soul, blues and rock and roll. The songs were written by front woman Taylor Momsen and guitarist Ben Phillips. Momsen’s dark lyrics and raw, charismatic vocals are on full display and the band delivers at full intensity with a level of musicianship that raises the bar.
Huffington Post says, Who You Selling For is a fire-breathing monster of a record that offers adrenaline-rush stompers (“Oh My God”), revolutionary rockers (“Living in The Storm,” “Take Me Down”), breathtaking ballads (“Who You Selling For,” “Bedroom Window”) and pretty-gritty R&B (“Wild City” is like taking a step back into 1970s Motown).
The Oakland Press quipped, “"Part Kurt Cobain, part Janis Joplin, Momsen showed off some serious vocal chops and towering onstage charisma — the kind that hints this one-time actress is genuinely focused on achieving enduring musical relevance."
TPR will continue to tour throughout the year in support of the album, hitting major markets and festival shows including Rock on The Range, Carolina Rebellion and Rocklahoma
in the US as well as European and South American dates. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
Margaret Cho has never been one to shy away from taking on any subject matter in her stand-up shows. Her no holds barred attitude has crossed over into another aspect of her career as well, that being her music. For those of you who may not be aware Margaret started exploring her hidden talent of expressing herself through song with her freshmanCD Cho Dependent released in August of 2010. Her sophomore effort American Myth drops this Friday, April 29th 2016. On it Margaret is as fearless as ever! So, without further hyperbole, here to discuss Anna Nicole, Sexual Abuse, Sex Workers, Movie Titles For Your Butt Hole and last but not least, the American Myth is the one and only Margaret Cho!!! MS: That meme you posted on Facebook the other day about movie titles for your butt hole got a lot of mileage. MC: I laughed so hard over those! My favorite was "Three Men and a Baby!" MS: A friends of mine saw that I participated in it and insisted that I post it to her page. MC: Did you have a favorite? MS: Other than mine? I thought mine was pretty good. MC: Which one was yours? MS: "Something Wicked This Way Comes." MC: Oh, that's a genius one! That's really genius. I laughed so hard all day at the great responses! "The Color Purple" kept coming up a lot, that one is classic.
Anna Nicole MS: You have a video for the song about your late friend Anna Nicole Smith, titled "Anna Nicole" off your CD "American Myth." MC: Yes. MS: Expand on a statement you made about her: "some people are too good for this world." MC: That's why my album is called "American Myth." It's the idea that certain people are too beautiful for this world. Whether that's Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Anybody in the twenty-seven club like Kurt Cobain or Janis Joplin. But it also relates to something that's inside of yourself, sometimes innocent parts of ourselves die off because this world is too terrible and cruel to sustain it. There's different levels, thing like being too precious to survive, only the good die young kind of thing. It's not just people, it's elements of our own beings that can't live, it's too hard. MS: There was an innocence and sweetness about Anna Nicole. MC: Yes,and given the circumstances around her death, she had just lost her son. He died in her hospital room. She had just had a baby almost immediately after that, so she had grief and postpartum depression combined. It's a miracle she lived as long as she did through all that incredible suffering. MS: This is your second CD. How was working on this different than the first? MC: On this album it was the first time I had input on composing. There's a few songs that I composed entirely. There were some different artists helping me out, for the most part it is an album that I composed which is exciting.
I Want To Kill My Rapist
MS: I want to bring up the song "I Want To Kill My Rapist," which was the first video off of "American Myth." You tackling the subject of rape has brought a lot of mixed reaction to say the least. I remember you did make a joke at The Wiltern that made the audience groan. I can't remember it, do you remember what it was? MC: The one about my uncle who raped me, is the one I think it was. When I said "but I don't want to see him again, because I don't want to fuck him again. Because that's what would happen because we never broke up." That one makes people so upset, but it's me trying to lighten the mood. (laughs) The thing is if we don't make it OK to talk about and joke about sexual abuse it's going to continue happening. Look at fucking Dennis Hastert Speaker of the House, he's allocating fund in order to buy the silence of these young men, who are now grown men, who still have to live with the suffering and the shame of it. Sexual abuse is something that has long been considered a woman's issue, but really it's a global one, for men as well it's something we need to deal with. MS: Having been molested I tend to be sensitive to the subject. However I think it is important to have an open dialogue and be able to joke about it as well. MC: It's hard as survivors. We're meant to stay silent about certain things. Breaking the silence and allowing survivors to speak will help protect the innocents of this generation. Silence and shame are accomplices to a predator. It shouldn't happen like that, that's something that we can control.
Troubadour
Margaret Cho
Photo: Dusti Cunningham
MS: You also have a song titled "Come With Me" about sex workers on the album. MC: It should be decriminalized it would make it easier for people to work in the sex worker industry to report crimes that are committed against them. People who work in the industry don't have the ability to prosecute because they are afraid of getting arrested themselves. We have to improve the way society thinks about sex work. The song came from when I was recording in El Paso and I saw a lot of young male prostitutes. I wanted to take one to an amusement park. Because they were the age of a son I would have, if I had children. That is totally a legitimate reason to hire a sex worker, you want to have that love experience of being a mother with a son. The video is set, it will be out sometime soon. It is really a way to have people acknowledge that sex workers are also somebody's children. It's not about rescuing them because they are doing something wrong, it's that they are also kids. MS: This country is way to uptight about sex. Yet, murderers and criminals become stars and make money. There is something off about that. MC: I know, I know. MS: Isn't it the worst? MC: It really is! Get Mythical With Margaret at: http://margaretcho.com/ https://twitter.com/margaretcho https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho
This is going to date me...one of my first cassette tapes was Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits. Which of course lead to Pearl and others. They don't make em' like they used to. I mean the rock stars, not the cassette tapes.
The critically acclaimed, box office smash Janis: Little Girl Blue is coming to DVD on May 6th viaBrooklyn-based film and TV distributor FilmRise.MVD Entertainment Group will distribute the film with exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features.
Directed and written by Academy Award®-nominated documentarian Amy Berg ("Deliver Us From Evil," "West of Memphis") and produced by Academy Award®-winner Alex Gibney ("Taxi to the Dark Side," "Going Clear"), Janis: Little Girl Blue is an intimate portrait of the iconic but troubled rock 'n' roll singer Janis Joplin. FilmRise released the film in theaters in Fall 2015 to rave reviews, and it wowed audiences in over 100 cities across the country with electrifying archival footage, exclusive interviews with friends and family, and rare personal letters from the iconic rocker herself. The film features musicians Pink, Kris Kristofferson, Melissa Etheridge, Juliette Lewis, and Bob Weir, TV presenter Dick Cavett, producer Clive Davis, counterculture filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, and more.
The DVD will include bonus features such as an a capella performance from Janis's first band, Big Brother and the Holding Company; footage from Janis's posthumous Walk of Fame ceremony; a fascinating look at Janis's early venues, The Avalon and the Fillmore; and a rare interview with Chan Marshall aka Cat Power, who narrates Janis's letters in the film.
Janis Joplin is one of the most revered singers of all time, a tragic and misunderstood figure who thrilled millions of listeners and blazed new creative trails before her untimely death in 1970 at age 27. Janis: Little Girl Blue examines her story in-depth for the first time on film, presenting an insightful look at this complicated, driven, often beleaguered artist with rare personal and performance footage and interviews with friends and family. The Joplin family provided unfettered access to their vaults for the first time, through which Berg unearthed previously unreleased letters, photos, audio and footage of Joplin. The singer's own words tell much of her story through a series of letters she wrote to her parents over the years, never before seen by the public (read by Cat Power). Joplin was a powerhouse when she sang, and her surprising rise and sudden demise changed music forever.
Janis: Little Girl Blue premiered at the 2015 Venice Film Festival, and screened at the Toronto and London Film Festivals, as well as the prestigious DOC NYC. The film opened in theaters in November 2015.
Hypodermic Sally Will Give You A Prick Sarah Paulson
American Horror Story: Hotel with Lady Gaga premieres tonight! I wonder if you can do a check in there for your Facebook account?
Well as much as I am Gaga to see the Lady as The Countess, I am equally stoked to see the amazing Sarah Paulson get to play her darkest character to date in the AHS universe a junkie named Hypodermic Sally.
Once upon a time little Sally had dreams of becoming a singer, but the dream is now over and she is now one of the minions that call The Cortez home.
Given the back story and the characters name I am going to venture to say that Hypodermic Sally is based on real life rock legend Janis Joplin.
I hear Sally has a pretty horrifying encounter with the The Addiction Demon and his drill bit penis. Yeah, you won't want to miss that!
I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing the mega talented Jessi Teich recently. Her upcoming album which she recorded in Paris, Twisted Soul is due March 3rd and it's amazing!
Not familiar with her? Well let's get acquainted with the Jazz aficionado...it's time to know more about Ms. Jessi Teich! JT: Hi Michael, this is Jessi Teich MS: You and I were just in a Twitter frenzy. JT: Yeah, that's exactly what was happening. (both laugh) MS: I really loved Twisted Soul and the fact that you were Magna Cum Laude from the Berklee College of Music was not a real shocker. JT: Awwwwwwww, Thank you. It's such a nice thing putting something out there that people respond to in a positive way. It means so much, it's great! MS: The music biz is so up in the air it's the more unique artists that seem to be catching on. JT: I tried to make this album accessible as far as the musicality of it. I know with jazz it's really easy to go into an eight minute solo...Not everyone wants to geek out on jazz. (laughs) People like simple music, I like simple music. I gravitated towards that with the album, I think it's a great marriage between jazz and simplicity. MS: Twisted Soul is described as "Poperatic."
Jessi Hitting The Keys
JT: The story of it is autobiographical. Actually the booklet that is coming with the CD, each song is going to be presented as a chapter in the story and I do a little narration in each song. It's in third person, between a male and female character. This is all based on a previous relationship I was in which was emotionally abusive. The CD talks about how I was in the relationship, how I was able to break free from the relationship and how I was able to succeed in finding my own way, my own voice and emerging victorious. This is a very positive way in dealing with a terrible situation. MS: I love your quote about "vomiting crazy emotions" out of yourself. JT: (both laugh) I'm always afraid I'm going to gross people out when I say that, but it's true! It's like I am purging myself of these crazy feelings. It feels like vomiting, it's weird. (laughs) MS: Yeah, it's like when I write. Something comes out that's so loopy I keep it because it's so cool. JT: Yeah, it's you, it's unique. I think that is what people graft onto in this day and age. They want you the person, not you this unattainable artist. They want to be able to relate to you somehow. That is part of the reason I chose not to remain silent about my situation, not only does it help me, but I feel like it could help a lot of people, feeling they could live through this and get through something horrible. MS: What I find interesting when artists do speak about these things is, it's not going to stop it. But it will help people. JT: If I can benefit one person, I've done my job. When I was going through the worst of it, I really grappled onto who else has been in a similar situation to me. One things I did was I called one of the abuse hot lines. I talked to them about my options and protection and what I could do...because I was very scared. When I was able to reach out to somebody else, people that knew how to deal with situations like that I felt like I had a community. It was an amazing feeling. MS: You also had to overcome a cyst on your vocal chord. JT: That was pretty intense. I was diagnosed with a cyst on my right vocal chord a few years ago. It was something that really kind of jilted me into reality, like oh my gosh! I might not be able to pursue my music career. When I was diagnosed I was teaching forty vocal lessons a week, eating pretty much what I wanted. I questioned myself first, and I asked my vocal therapist: is it me or my technique? She said: No absolutely not, this happens when you overuse your voice. I did everything I could for a while, speech therapy, singing therapy, changed my diet, everything that could be a trigger and the cyst went down about fifty percent, but it didn't go away so that's when I decided to have the surgery. But before the surgery, you're going to laugh at this, I still went to work and carried around a white board and wrote everything down, people did not know what to do with me. People thought I was deaf or mute, they thought I didn't speak English, even though I had a name tag and a white board that said: Hi my name is Jessi Teich and I'm on vocal rest. (both laugh) It really opened my eyes to how important your voice is. The only other universal language other than music is a smile, so I just smiled a lot, people were like: OK she's happy even though she's not talking (both laugh) MS: It's interesting to me that you covered Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River.
Jazz Baby
JT: Yes. I grew up listening to Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin...My Dad had this amazing vinyl collection. I still was a child of the 90's and I listened to Justin Timberlake, he was on the radio, he was my guilty pleasure. It seemed to fit the album. I've always liked covering pop in a very different way. MS: When I first saw the song on your album, given your background. I thought it was a cover of the Arthur Hamilton version. JT: Oh yeah the jazz standard. I think I have been throwing a few people for a loop, because they expect that. Then they hear Justin Timberlake and they're like whaaaaaaat?! (laughs) MS: Throwing people for a loop is a good idea I think. JT: I do too, and I do it on a daily basis anyway, why not do it on my album? MS: I loved your poetry on the title track of Twisted Soul. JT: Thank you. I could literally sit down with you and go through every line of that song, and really any song on the entire album, it all means something. Every lyric is prepared for a very specific reason. There are long and short stories behind each song. The album was so cathartic and so therapeutic, to write these songs and get them out in the world. I appreciate your compliments, it's so nice for me to get them out of my system.
MS: You really love jazz, touch on that some before we say goodbye.
JT: Some of my greatest music teachers were Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington...I grew up listening to these women. Here I am this little white girl, so cool, all my friends are like: I listen to Brittney Spears, I listen to Christine Aguilera. I'm like: I listen to Billie Holiday. (both laugh) They would all look at me like: Who's Billie? (laughs) who is he?! I was such a different kind of kid I really walked to my own beat. Walk to your own beat with Jessi Teich at: www.jessiteich.com www.youtube.com/jessiteich www.facebook.com/jessiteichmusic www.twitter.com/jessiteich
Margaret Cho is on the loose! Where shall we begin? Season five of "Drop Dead Diva" on Lifetime seems like a good starting point, follow that up with new tour dates for her acclaimed comedy show "Mother".
Not to mention her three women fresh out of jail YouTube series "In Transition" and she's baaaaaack co-hosting "The View" Thursday July 25th and Friday July 26th, hoping to take over one of the vacant seats.
There are so many other things I could say, instead of reading my shopping list let's let Margaret tell us herself.
MS: "Drop Dead Diva" is back! Did you think that would happen since Lifetime initially cancelled it?
MC: You never really know with TV. You never know how things are going to go, that's the nature of it. What's really great is the fans really love "Drop Dead Diva" and they wanted to see more.
MS: It's a cute show, I've seen it a couple of times. It puts a smile on your face when you're in a bad mood.
MC: I like that.
MS: Sandra Bernhard is a guest this season.
MC: She's amazing, I'm such a fan of hers. We talked about what a sexist Jerry Lewis is when it comes to women in comedy, it's disturbing. I was talking to her about how amazing she was in "The King of Comedy".
MS: Oh she's so good in that!
MC: Sooooo good! It's legendary, a great movie! I think it's Martin Scorsese at his best. With Sandra as a mad stalker...she is so hilarious and so sexy.
MS: She scared the Hell out of me in that!
MC: I love her when she's scary, that's when she's at her best. She's just fabulous in every way, as a comedian, actress and a musician. She is someone I admire tremendously so it was great to have her as part of our show.
Margaret's YouTube Series "In Transition"
MS: By the way "Mistress Lina" I was on season 2 of "Where The Bears Are" and so were you!
MC: Oh that's great! I haven't seen it yet, what part did you play?
MS: I got some good face time in the Faultline Bar scene.
MC: Oh My God I have to watch it. I'm saving it up to watch it all at once, I hate to watch one episode and not be able to see the next one, I have to see it all at once.
MS: Well I was caught of guard by your role as "Mistress Lina" when you pulled the demure Asian Woman thing and when the Bears fell for it you called them racist. (laughs)
MC: I know, it was fun!
MS: Like, where did that come from?! Sorry I sound like Janis Joplin today, I got the rasps this morning.
MC: That's OK.
MS: So I saw you on "The View" was that fun?
MC: That is the job I want most of all. I am in the running to be a host.
MS: Oh wow, that's awesome!
MC: It's a great thing, it would be so cool, I would love it!
MS: Personally I wished Elisabeth Hasselbeck had been on the day you were I would have liked to see an exchange between the two of you. I don't think she's stupid, I think she doesn't articulate her opinions in a clear manner.
MC: She's great, they're all great for their own different points of view, ideas and jokes. It's a real rock-n-roll sort of thing, they all play their different instruments and I'd really love be a part of that band.
MS: How was doing "In Bed With Joan"?
MC: It was a blast! I love Joan Rivers, and I love going over to her house. It's so exciting, and she is so hysterical. I've know her for a long time, and I respect her and love her so dearly.
MS: Like I told a friend recently when you are 80 you want to be Joan Rivers, she has the stamina of a 20 year old and still has her wits about her.
MC: Totally! She is so cool and has such a strong work ethic. An unbelievable presence, such a cool lady.
MS: Since I know touring is your favorite thing, hit me with when you are doing it some more.
MC: At the end of August I will be playing some gigs in Georgia, Athens & Atlanta - I will also be touring all over Europe.
Tour Dates For Margaret Cho:
2013 Mother Tour dates
Monday, August 19 Athens, GA - The World Famous
Tuesday, August 20 Athens, GA - The World Famous
Thursday, August 22 – Sunday Aug 25 Atlanta, GA - The Laughing Skull
Friday, September 6 Las Vegas, NV - The Mirage
Friday, September 20 Buffalo, NY - Helium Comedy Club
Saturday, September 21 Buffalo, NY - Helium Comedy Club
Friday, September 27 Nashville, TN - Zanies
Saturday, September 28 Nashville, TN - Zanies
Sunday, September 29 Nashville, TN - Zanies
Saturday, October 12 San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Center
Friday, October 18 Denver, CO - Paramount Theater
Saturday, October 19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater
Sunday, October 20 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre
Wednesday, October 23 Austin, Texas - Paramount Theater
Thursday, October 24 Dallas, Texas - The Majestic Theatre
Saturday, November 2 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
Wednesday, November 6 Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
Saturday, November 9 Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
Friday, November 15 Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Saturday, November 16 Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Tuesday, December 3 Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theatre
Wednesday, December 4 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
Thursday, December 5 San Diego, CA - Balboa Theatre
Friday, December 6 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
Monday, December 9 Berlin, Germany - AdmiralsPalast
Thursday, December 12 Cologne, Germany - Gloria Theater
Friday, December 13 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Comedy Theater
Saturday, December 14 Copenhagen, Denmark - Bremen
Sunday, December 15 Oslo, Norway - Latter
Monday, December 16 Zurich, Switzerland - Bernhard- Theater
Wednesday, December 18 Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatern
Thursday, December 19 Helsinki, Finland - Savoy Teatteri
