Ariel Beesley @ The Satellite

Her Name In Lights!
Ariel Beesley

This past Friday, "yes" two days ago. I had the extreme pleasure of seeing a young woman who I have known since she was, well just a kid, grow-up and blossom into one of the best singer/songwriter/musician/performers this dude has ever bared witness to.

Ladies & Gentlemen I present to you my evening seeing the singular talent known as Ariel Beesley @ The Satellite in Silverlake, CA!

OK, some of this may not be from that evening. I do want you to hear her bomb ass song Slower Than Usual, thus I have included the video for it via YouTube. But and however for the most part...moving on here it is!!!

It's Always Showtime @ The Edge Of The Stage
Ariel Beesley

Slower Than Usual

Myself & Proud Mom Nina Savelle-Rocklin

A Star Is Born
Ariel Beesley


Ariel on Social Media @ -

https://www.instagram.com/arielbees/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/ArielBeesley
https://www.facebook.com/Arielbeesley/    

Dolly Parton Is "Outside Your Door"

Say Dolly Parton is "Outside Your Door" - do you invite her in for  coffee or do you have the neighbors over for a party? I choose party!!!

World-renowned singer/songwriter/entertainer Dolly Parton released a lyric video for "Outside Your Door," which premiered yesterday on One Country. "Outside Your Door" is available for instant download HERE when you pre-order Dolly's upcoming album Pure & Simple, out August 19th on Dolly Records/RCA Nashville.

"Dolly, as a national treasure, is at her best on 'Outside Your Door'... the tune, musically, is simple in production terms and features that classic Dolly charm with the lyrics." - One Country

"I may not be pure, but I'm as simple as they come! This new 'Pure & Simple' project is really special to me because I'm taking my fans back to my roots," Dolly explained in a recent interview with Huffington Post. "I feel like these songs have a pure, tender side and we didn't go overboard with the arrangements. I'm so glad we've teamed up with our friends at Sony to get this album out to the fans."
  

Pre-order Pure & Simple Now

iTunes: smarturl.it/dollypartonps
Stream "Outside Your Door"

Apple Music (streaming): smarturl.it/applemusicdolly
Spotify: smarturl.it/dollyoutsideyourdoor
Google Play: smarturl.it/dollygoogleoyd

DOLLY PARTON PURE & SIMPLE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR:
July 29 Sprint Center - Kansas City, Mo.
July 30 Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo.
Aug. 02 Celeste Center- Columbus, Ohio
Aug. 03 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum - Fort Wayne, Ind.
Aug. 04 The Colosseum at Caesar Windsor - Windsor, ON, Canada
Aug. 06 Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aug. 07 Ravinia Festival - Highland Park, Ill.
Aug. 09 Norton Center for the Arts - Danville, Ky.
Aug. 10 Ford Center - Evansville, Ind.
Aug. 12 BOK Center - Tulsa, Okla.
Aug. 13 Verizon Arena - Little Rock, Ark.
Sept. 09 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON, Canada
Sept. 10 Essar Centre - Sault Sainte Marie, ON, Canada
Sept. 12 MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Sept. 13 Mosaic Place - Moose Jaw, SK, Canada
Sept. 16 Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB, Canada
Sept. 17 Rogers Place - Edmonton, AB, Canada
Sept. 19 Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sept. 21 ShoWare Center - Kent, Wash. SOLD OUT
Sept. 22 Northern Quest Casino - Airway Heights, Wash.
Sept. 24 Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, Calif.
Sept. 25 Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sept. 27 Valley View Casino - San Diego, Calif.
Sept. 28 Vina Robles Amphitheatre - Paso Robles, Calif.
Sept. 30 Laughlin Amphitheatre - Laughlin, Nev.
Oct. 01 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, Calif.
Oct. 02 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, Calif.
Nov. 15 LeConte Center - Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Nov. 16 Von Braun Center Arena - Huntsville, AL
Nov. 18 North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston S.C.
Nov. 26 Amalie Arena - Tampa FL
Nov. 27 BB&T Center - Sunrise, FL
Nov. 29 Pensacola Bay Center - Pensacola, FL
Nov. 30 Smoothie King Center - New Orleans, LA
Dec. 05 NRG Arena - Houston, TX
Dec. 06 Frank Erwin Center - Austin, TX
Dec. 09 Global Event Center at WinStar World Casino and Resort - Thackerville, Okla.
Dec. 10 Global Event Center at WinStar World Casino and Resort - Thackerville, Okla.

 DollyParton.com 

Where In The World Is Naama Kates?

Naama Kates: On The Move and Ready for Adventure!

Singer/Songwriter/Actress Naama Kates has been living out of a suitcase for the last six months. 

Globetrotting to places like Finland, Los Angeles, New York and coming soon Spain so I asked her what are her ten must haves when she travels.

So what's in your bag Naama?

1. My Xanax.  Because at some point during a 22 hour flight, you might start to go stir crazy and freak out and decide, during your 6-hour layover in Dublin, that you can't handle one more second in a plane and just run out into the street and then, after a couple of days frolicking and hanging out in pubs with Irish novelists, you realize you have to get to Madrid ASAP, and you've already spent all this money and, it's a good story but so's the one where you just get to Cadiz, and see flamenco music, and finish your movie and meet all these amazing people.... Yeah.  No panic attacks.  If it involves the TSA I'm taking my Xanax.

2. My laptop (and LaCie hard drives with my projects and iRig... I'll call this all work technogear.)

3. My iPhone, for internet (cuz there's free wifi everywhere in Europe) and music. Even though it
    won't work overseas and I'll have to buy a Slovenian burner phone. ;-)

4. My skin cream w/ SPF 50+!

5. My suede-bound notebook.  Right now I put everything in that.  Song chords and lyrics.  Shot
    lists.  To-do lists.  Phone numbers.  And I can always open it when meeting people to look
    more organized/professional.  Or just busy.  And I'd keep info in it like my flight confirmation 
    code and time and addresses I might need and even my passport and visa number in case I
    lose everything, and my electronic routing number, in case I lose EVERYTHING.  And
    because consequently, by losing this book, I am theoretically handing my identity to a thief  

    wrapped with ribbons and foil and a Christmas card-- I would NOT put my name anywhere in it! 

6. My make-up bag.  That's ONE item.  But if I were to lose it at the gas station in Hartola, I'd
    get mascara, lip gloss and BB cream first.

7.  A novel I know I can consume me, for the flight and more.

8.  Wallet. 

     

9.  Cigarettes and lighter.  Yeah yeah.

10.  Some jolly-ranchers..... wait... is this list about leaving home like before I travel or like to go to the gas station??? 

Keep tabs on Naama at: 
https://www.facebook.com/NaamaKates
https://twitter.com/naamakates
Listen to her at: 
https://www.reverbnation.com/naamakates
https://www.youtube.com/user/delilah11

Eric Himan @ Room 5

One of my favorite singer/songwriters, Eric Himan took to the Room 5 stage in Los Angeles, CA last night for his Everything To You Tour.

As usual Eric gave 110% and the audience loved the show, of course! I would like to give a special shout out to the fan who requested Mr. Himan sing his hit song Red Hot Tears since it happens to be my personal favorite by him. Thanks Dude!

Enough of this already let's check out the photos this fan took of the evening, shall we?

Getting Set-Up For A Great Show!!!

Red Hot Tears

Look, It's Eric Performing!

Eric And A Fan

Let Eric be "Everything to You" at: www.erichiman.com/ 

Small Is Beautiful With Trevor Hall

Trevor Hall, Om Shanti
Photo: Emory Hall



King Of  Mellow, Trevor Hall goes with the flow and embraces the vibe of the road to let you know, small is beautiful.

TREVOR HALL ANNOUNCES “SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL” HEADLINE TOUR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 10th IN SAN FRANCISCO NORTH AMERICAN TOUR FOLLOWS RELEASE OF LATEST ALBUM CHAPTER OF THE FOREST  Singer songwriter Trevor Hall will be heading back on the road this fall on a North American headline tour beginning on September 10th at Slim's in San Francisco, CA. The “Small is Beautiful” tour will include stops in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston and New York City. See the full list of dates below. The announcement comes on the heels of Trevor having wrapped up a 30+ city amphitheater tour with Michael Franti’s Soulshine Summer shows. For tour updates visit: www.smarturl.it/thtour  Trevor recently surprised his fans with the sudden release of his new 12-track album Chapter of the Forest, a collection of songs born during a yearlong sabbatical where Trevor returned to his beloved India, Nepal, Vermont, and Maine, and spent that time in deep reflection and spiritual connection.

 “This album is inspired by simplicity, by the roots of life, and by the beauty that one finds in solitude and in nature,” says Trevor.


Chapter of the Forest was released on June 17th and debuted at #3 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart and #17 on the iTunes Overall Albums chart.  

Commenting on his “Small Is Beautiful” tour Trevor states, "The 'Small Is Beautiful' tour goes along with the same message as "Chapter of the Forest." It’s about coming back to the roots and approaching music in a simple and conscious way.”

WATCH A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE OF THE FIRST SINGLE “WISH MAN” HERE:http://youtu.be/QIzF-8CM3g8

LISTEN TO “WISH MAN” here: https://soundcloud.com/vanguard-records/trevor-hall-wish-man

 Small is Beautiful Tour Dates:

 
September

10                  San Francisco, CA        Slim’s
12                  Portland, OR                 Aladdin Theatre
13                  Seattle, WA                   Nectar Lounge
14                  Vancouver, BC              Media Club
16                  Missoula, MT                Top Hat
18                  Salt Lake City, UT         The State Room
20                  Ft. Collins, CO               Aggie Theatre
21                  Aspen, CO                     Belly Up Aspen
24                  Lake Tahoe, CA            Crystal Bay
27                  San Juan Capistrano    The Coach House
28                  Los Angeles, CA            The Troubadour

October

7                     Charleston, SC              Music Farm
10                   Tampa, FL                      The Ringside Café
11                   Orlando, FL                   The Social
12                   Jacksonville, FL             Freebird Live
14                   Asheville, NC                Grey Eagle
15                 Atlanta, GA                      Eddie’s Attic
17                 Ozark, AR                         Harvest Festival
18                 St. Louis, MO                   Off Broadway
19                 Evanston, IL                     Space
21                 Cleveland, OH                 Music Box
23                 Burlington, VT                 Higher Ground
24                  Boston, MA                     Middle East
25                  New York, NY                  Gramercy Theatre
26                  Vienna, VA                      Jammin’ Java
28                  Philadelphia, PA             World Café Live
29                  Fairfield, CT                     Stage One

Hang Loose With Trevor at: http://www.trevorhallmusic.com/

Grace Valerie Live @ The House Of Blues

Go Grace!

Singer/Songwriter Grace Valerie took to the stage at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip last night and I was there.

The singer of the Randy Jackson (yes, that Randy Jackson) produced hit single "When The Lights Go Down" and her current hit, and my personal favorite of hers "Not For Love" produced by the prolific Busbee sang both of these songs and others with a live band and she rocked it!

So enough of my word vomit and let's see the photos I took of the evening shall we????

Amazing Grace

Myself  & Grace Before The Show

Grace Laying It Down

Sing It You Two

Roll With Grace at:

https://www.facebook.com/gracemusic 

https://twitter.com/MsGraceValerie

Cindy Alexander Brings Home The "Bacon Brothers"

Cindy Alexander 

"Wonderful" singer/songwriter Ms. Cindy Alexander who has been featured on "Entertain Me" before is going on tour this summer as an opener for the Bacon Brothers, you know the band with some guy named Kevin Bacon in it and his brother Michael? Yeah I thunk so. 

Tell us about it, Cindy...


"I truly love opening up their shows and the subsequent fun that continues throughout the evening. Hope to see so many of you this summer!"

Here are the confirmed tour dates:


SUMMER TOUR WITH: THE BACON BROS.!!!!

Friday 6/20 Aston, PA, Sun Center 
Saturday 6/21 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere 
Saturday 6/22 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
Sunday 6/23 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
Friday 7/11 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theatre 1894
Monday 7/14 NYC, City Winery
Tuesday 7/15 NYC, City Winery
Wednesday 7/23 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
Friday 7/25 Rocky Mount, VA Harvester Performance Center 

Want more Cindy? Well get it at: http://www.cindyalexander.com/

What "Nobody Said" To Aiden Leslie

Aiden Leslie is not a stranger to this blog from his singles "Trying To Leave Now" and "Diamond Dreams" to well just popping up because he is a fun friend of mine.

So it is no surprise since Mr. Leslie has a new single out, "Nobody Said" that I am making all of you aware of it and asked Aiden to tell me something that nobody ever said to him that he wishes they had, and here is what "Nobody Said" to him:

"No matter what, it's you and only you...and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that it stays that way"....

Very interesting Aiden, I must say, so simple, yet quite powerful, much like your songs. Maybe you should be a songwriter, oh yeah, you are...lol!

Aiden Does Atlanta

Check out Aiden's latest below, he has one of the best falsetto's I have ever heard and the song is quite reminiscent of one of his favorite bands, 80's sensation Erasure. Yes, thats right, Erasure's fingerprints are all over the latest from Leslie, the band is someone who influences him greatly and he has paid homage to more than once.

OK, enough with the hyperbole, hit it Aiden!

Listen to "Nobody Said":

http://youtu.be/QrKEUBoirSA

Buy it on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/aiden-leslie/id253301266

Get Busy With Aiden at: 

http://aidenleslie.com/

Cindy Alexander Is Some Kind Of "Wonderful"

Cindy Alexander

Award winning singer and songwriter, Cindy Alexander knows a thing or two about being "Wonderful".

Check out this wonderfully funny excerpt from her Bio:

"I’m a Mom of twin girls and my life is a whirlwind of pretend-play, Yo Gabba Gabba, toddler germs and MUSIC. I spend a lot of time at Target. I used to have my toe nails polished at all times but now they are on the back burner until Chip tells me I look “ghetto” and begs me to go to the salon. I love those days…at the salon, not being called “ghetto.” I crave guacamole, constantly (except when I was pregnant). I can turn any conversation into a song. I cry easily but I laugh even easier. I give everything away. I’m loyal to a fault. I’m moody. I clench my jaw when I sleep sometimes. I love my family. They love me too. My nickname is “pnut” (like peanut). I have the greatest friends on earth. I have very few socks that match. Somewhere there is a black hole with all my miscellaneous socks….and my guitar picks. I’m lucky and I’m blessed. I am passionate about cancer prevention, awareness and finding a cure. Add to that heart disease. I believe in Love. I Love. And I am Loved. And some people say that I’m a highly functioning dysfunctional, the most organized disorganized person you will ever meet but I manage to get stuff done…eventually. I agree with them. Oh, and I write songs and sing to say relatively sane"


Ha! Well in case you haven't guessed it the amazing Cindy has a new song out with the moniker "Wonderful"

So Cindy, define "Wonderful" for us...

"The song is about self acceptance and not needing anyone else's validation. Wonderful - that which embodies a sense of delight, joy, spirit and a little extra somethin'"

Right on! There's something to be said for self love, uh, does that sound weird? Whatever it doesn't matter, because hey I don't need your validation and I'm gonna go and express my sense of joy and check out the song and video for Cindy's "Wonderful" join me...by clicking on the link after the jump!

The Video for "Wonderful" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzZoMVqrV5g

Got Cindy? Log on to: http://www.cindyalexander.com/

Naama Kates: It's Good To Be "King"

Naama Kates

Naama Kates is back, after her critically acclaimed debut "The Unexamined Life" and the hit single "Before You Lose It" Naama has recently released the CD "King for the Day" I highly recommend it!

Ms. Kates has this to say about her latest: "I wrote it when I was working on"The Unexamined Life", it was the first song I wrote after that record, while it was in production because I felt like, I was kind of living this dream really that I didn't even imagine, having my record done by this amazing producer, its like a lot of musicians' dreams when they come to LA I think".

I caught up with Naama during her album release show at The Silverlake Lounge on March 13th, where she and her band performed a flawless hour long set - It's Naama time!

MS: How are you my dear?

NK: I'm alright, how are you?

MS: Fine. You were so amazing tonight, The Silverlake Lounge has really great acoustics.

NK: Of course I didn't hear what my band sounded like, but I heard what the other ones did, it can be a little loud acoustic wise in there.

MS: I thought the acoustics for your show were dead on.

NK:  You're right, I have seen other shows there and they have sounded really good.

MS: When I go to a live show, I always expect a glitch here and there, but yours was like hearing the album, except it was live.

NK: You know what that is? It's because that is the way we recorded the album actually. There are no overdubs on it at all, all the songs are just a take that we chose, we did maybe a couple on each one, and just chose one. We played them how they are on the album, partly because it was more time and cost effective, that we did it that way (laughs) Hey, it worked!

MS: Very well by the way. I heard most of the album before I came to your show, my thing is I have to hear something a few times before I am super familiar with it.

NK: I so get that. Especially with this album it's not like other things. The structure is kind of wandering and stuff. I know I have to listen to music, a lot, before I know it, enough to know it when I go hear it live. 

MS: What the Hell with that girl who was talking louder than your show?

NK: Yeah, she was talking the whole time, I could hear the same voice, at the same frequency in my ear the whole time, but I couldn't see anything with the lights on me, but the TV in the corner. 

MS: I could not locate her either, I'm like "WTF is that coming from"?!

NK: She was near the front I think.

MS: Well I said something to Andrea ( Delesdernier Naama's PR person) She said "that happens with every show" I'm like noooooooo, that was really special, I mean I talk during a show, but you can't hear me over the whole thing!

NK: Oh, I know, I know. My thing is, I don't mind people talking at my shows, people are there with their friends. But if I am at a show or whatever and I am sitting really close to the front, I won't talk. All I heard was "wa wa wa wa"

Myself & Naama Post Silverlake Lounge Show

MS: Yeah, it was really rude. What I would like to say about the music off of "King for the Day" is it is a lot more low key than the "Unexamined Life".

NK: It's more down tempo.

MS: The more uptempo songs were not as frequent on "King" as they were on "Unexamined". Is that where you are at right now?

NK: You know, I don't really plan that when I write. Like, I don't ever have any pre-conceived ideas what I am going to write, period, when I do. All I know is I am going to write...I just sit down and do it, I guess it is a reflection of where I am. The things I am talking about on this album are a little more calm, it also has a lot to do with the arrangements. It was arranged with a four piece band, it was really organic.

MS: I get that, that's the way I write, and I think all writers do too. But, even though you say "it's what comes out" it is not as random as we writers think.

NK: There is definitely some driving force behind it, with the subconscious and everything...pushing the message out. But you are not calculating it or contriving it consciously at the same time.

MS: I one hundred percent agree with that. Creativity is winged on it's own level.

NK: Definitely! Life is not that deliberate. 

MS: BTW, since I turned you on to it, are you loving "Pretty Little Liars"?

NK: Yes! Great characters and story, good call!

Check out one of my favorite artists  Naama Kates and crown yourself "King" at: http://www.naamakates.com/