It's "Witchcraft!"

Which, Witch???
Sandy Zacky

With a mere 15 days until Halloween I thought it was time to bring on the diva! That's correct Minions, it's that time of the year again to let Sandy with a "Y" not "E" Zacky weave her magic and put a spell on you with her rendition of "Witchcraft!" 

Let Sandy with a "Y" not "E" Zacky enchant you with her soothing tones and music that are sure to lull you into a false sense of security, and make you obey anything she has to say...

What's that you ask? Is Sandy a good witch or a bad witch? Hmmmmmm...

How to answer the question at hand? I'll plead the fifth, find out by clicking on the link below, if you dare!!!

Listen to Sandy's "Witchcraft" Here -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOD6WKKpPAo

Find Sandy on the WWW Here -

https://www.facebook.com/SandyZackyDiva  

Class Of 2020

The Immaculate Hear Of Mary
Class Of 2020
Photo:
Michael Shinafelt

Congratulations to the Class of 2020, you made it! Too bad about the pandemic, but there have been many inventive and wonderful ways your graduation year has been and will be celebrated. For instance this past weekend when I was walking by The Immaculate Heart Of Mary they were having a parking lot graduation. 

Basically everyone sat in their cars as the ceremony took place, when the students name was called out they were to don their mask and go up to the stage to accept their diploma. Clever, fun and still full of the possibility of the usual Graduation Day embarrassment.

People have taken to the streets to salute you and famous world figures have recorded special messages and songs on YouTube just for you. 

Let's face it you special day may not have been the usual pomp and circumstance, but it will always be very special, because of how unique it was, you will have some very amazing memories when you look back on this. I am going to leave you with President Obama and his wife Michelle with their message to you.

Congrats to all of you, well done!!!

Graduation on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation

The Power Of BBMAK

BBMAK
Photo:
Jono Symonds

BBMAK ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN & UK TOUR DATES

BAND ARE BACK WITH NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “SO FAR AWAY”

”POWERSTATION” ALBUM TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 11TH

BAND PERFORM ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA

BBMAK on GMA

Mark Barry, Christian Burns and Stephen McNally who recently reunited after a 15-year hiatus are back in a big way with a recent performance on Good Morning America  BBMAK on GMA as well as a special Facebook Live GMA Facebook Live sneak peak backstage with host Ginger Zee as they surprised a staff member with a very special serenade of their huge hit “Back Here” as well as interviews with CBS and many more. 

The band recently performed a mash-up of their songs “Bullet Train” and “Back Here” on Good Morning America.  Click here to listen to “Bullet Train”  http://smarturl.it/e7dwor and watch the lyric video:  https://youtu.be/kGmxv6wW9XU.

BBMAK are also excited to announce new North American & UK tour dates. The tour is set to kick off in San Diego on November 3 and wrap up on December 16 in Glasgow, UK.  All dates (see below) will go on sale Friday, September 13 at 10:00 AM PST - https://bbmak.com/#tour.   The tour, dubbed “Back Here” after their massive 1999 worldwide hit, travelled through such cities as Boston (SOLD OUT), New York, Nashville & Austin, TX this past May. 

Tour Dates

11/3 House of Blues / Voodoo Room - San Diego, CA

11/5 Belasco Theater - Los Angeles, CA 

11/6 Slims - San Francisco, CA

11/7 House of Blues - Anaheim, CA

11/15 Epcot/ WDW - Orlando, FL

11/16 Epcot/WDW - Orlando, FL

12/12 02 Academy Islington - London UK

12/13 02 Academy 2 - Birmingham, UK

12/15 Academy 3  - Manchester, UK

12/16 Oran Mor - Glasgow, UK  

The band have also released their new single, “So Far Away” from their forthcoming album  Powerstation. “So Far Away” is available at all digital retailers  https://ffm.to/5z3589r now and you can view the video here: https://youtu.be/Kaz-tTYhCt8

"So Far Away” is a song ultimately about longing. The soaring guitars and huge drums on this song definitely match the epic scenery in the video” Christian, Mark & Ste

Powerstation was produced by BBMAK, Jonathan Radford Mead, Steve Chrisanthou (Corinne Bailey Rae) & Firebox and is set for release on October 11th via Topanga Creek Records and The Orchard. Pre-order/pre-save is available now: https://ffm.to/powerstation

 “When we got back together last year, we never dreamed we would end up where we are today. We had such good times with BBMAK, from touring with *NSYNC to performing on The Tonight Show to being a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and we thought  maybe that was enough. But when we got together again, the magic was still there, so much so that we started writing music again like not a moment had passed. The result is Powerstation, which is coming out in October and we literally can’t wait for you to hear it. We’ve been absolutely blown away by the love, support and excitement from everyone who has come to see us at our shows or written to us online to tell us how much it means to you that we’re together again.” Christian, Mark & Ste

To coincide with the release of Powerstation, the group has one of a kind, unique items up for grabs on their website (www.bbmak.com). Items on the store include the BBMAK Vintage Merch Bundle (1 vintage signed postcard, 2 vintage stickers, set of four pins, and three guitar picks), an acoustic video performance of each buyer’s chosen song, a short video message from the band and disposable cameras filled with images taken in the studio, on tour, or around town. 

Other exclusive items include a handwritten & signed lyric sheet for one BBMAK song of your choosing, a signed polaroid photo (no two are alike) of the band and, of course, the new album signed by the band. Click here to view all items & order: http://bbmak.com/merch/

The multi-platinum selling English pop group has sold more than three million albums to date and had hit singles worldwide between 1999 and 2003, when they disbanded.

Best known for their self-penned infectious guitar driven hits “Back Here,” “Out of My Heart“ and “The Ghost of You and Me,” BBMAK was one of the few bands from that genre to play their own instruments.  Billboard Magazine named “Back Here” the 9^th Greatest Boy Band Song of All Time. 

See here: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8362499/greatest-boy-band-songs-of-all-time-top-100

“Back Here” – official video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l95MMbls0GQ

“Back Here” acoustic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcCnb51e4ac&feature=youtu.be

“Out of My Heart” (Live at 8 Track Tapes) 2019:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xpOO4Hu-a0

Follow BBMAK:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bbmakofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALBBMAK/  

Twitter:https://twitter.com/BBMAKOFFICIAL 

When The Runaway Met Fanny

CHERIE CURRIE & BRIE DARLING

Announce North American & Canadian Tour Dates

New Album “The Motivator” – Debuts Top 20 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart

Los Angeles-based, female rock icons, Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have announced the initial dates for their first-ever tour together.  The tour, in support of their recently released new album The Motivator is set to kick off in Las Vegas on November 8.  The month long trek will weave through major markets including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York as well as some Canadian dates.   All dates will go on sale Friday, September 6  at 8 AM PST/11 AM EST.

“I’ve worked my whole life for this. I feel so lucky to share this new experience with an icon I truly admire.” says Cherie Currie while Brie Darling sums up her excitement for the upcoming tour with “It's gonna get noisy ...You're gonna wanna be here!"

The Motivator debuted in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s Chart and has received rave reviews with The Big Takeover saying “the chemistry of Currie and Darling is awe inspiring as the vocal gymnastics of both complement each other perfectly,” while Uncut magazine raves “The pick of their three originals is the defiant pop-rock anthem, “This Is Our Time”. “It ain’t over yet, turn up our voices past 10,” sings Currie.  And they have.” 

In addition to major feature stories in the LA Times HERE and Billboard Magazine HERE Cherie & Brie recently sat down with CNNto discuss the new project: Brie & Cherie on CNN

The Motivator via Blue Élan Records was produced by the six-time Grammy nominated Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Stray Cats, Janiva Magness, Tom Waits) and features nine classic covers by bands including The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and John Lennon, plus three powerful new originals, “Too Bruised,” “I’m Too Good, That’s Just Too Bad” and the topical “This Is Our Time.”  

Order The Motivator here: https://smarturl.it/ccbdmotivatoroutnow/

The Kinks classic “Do It Again” - View the video HERE  and also stream “Do It Again” HERE

The Youngbloods’ "Get Together" and T. Rex’s  "The Motivator"

Guests on the album include a host of family and friends who came in to do backups, including Currie’s sister, actress Sondra Currie, her ex-husband, actor Robert Hays; friends, Susan Olsen of Brady Bunch fame, Leslie Koch Foumberg, and actress/director, Allison Scagliotti. Darling’s brother, Henry Berry is on “He Ain’t Heavy”; and brother Phil Berry does a guitar solo on the Kinks tune “Do it Again” while her sister, Rory Berry Bishop plays drums on Thunderclap Newman’s “Something in the Air.” Patti Quatro—Suzi’s sister and a member of Fanny—plays guitar and sings on “For What It’s Worth.”

The Runaways front-woman and solo artist, Currie, met the Fanny drummer and singer, Darling, in 2017 and immediately connected.  Currie had come in to contribute vocals to Fanny Walked the Earth, a reunion album from the trailblazing Fanny, the first all-female band signed to a major label (Reprise) in 1969.  Though the two musicians were certainly admirers of each other, they had not yet met until that session.  Once connected, the idea to continue collaborating was hatched and soon the idea to record an album was solidified.

It was decided they would record an album of cover songs that resonated with the duo.  The covers chosen mostly share—unintentionally—a socio-political resonance that’s as relevant today as when the songs were written.  “The original album concept was that Brie was going to sing a few, I’d sing a few, and we’d back each other up,” furthers Currie. “But I knew our voices really work well together. On T. Rex’s ‘The Motivator,’ Brie did a great soulful rock scratch vocal but maybe I have more of a tough rock quality to my voice, so I think Dave decided I was going to sing it.  But in my head I heard a duet, me doing the first verse, her on the second verse….and that started the dialog of using our voices together as a concept. Our voices complement each other, so we decided we should share the majority of these songs, because it makes them better.”  Producer Dave Darling says, "It's extremely rare to have two such powerful vocalists in the same band. Cherie's a steam roller and Brie's a flame thrower. That just doesn't happen!"  

TOUR DATES

Nov. 8                              Las Vegas, NV                         Vamp’d - BUY Tickets

Nov. 9                              Pioneertown, CA                   Pappy & Harriets - BUY Tickets

Nov. 15                            Patchogue, NY                       Stereo Garden - BUY Tickets

Nov. 16                            Philadelphia, PA                     Kung Fu Knecktie - BUY Tickets

Nov. 17                            New York, NY                          Les Poisson Rouge - BUY Tickets

Nov. 19                            Ottowa, CN                             Brass Monkey

Nov. 21                            Toronto, ON                            Rockpile - BUY Tickets

Nov. 23                             Detroit, MI                              Magic Bag - BUY Tickets

Nov. 24                            Three Oaks, MI                      The Acorn Theater

Nov. 25                                 Chicago, IL                           City Winery

December 5                       Los Angeles, CA                The Whisky - BUY Tickets

December 7                       Costa Mesa, CA                Tiki Bar

Follow Cherie & Brie

Facebook

Instagram - cheriecurrieandbriedarling

Twitter - @CherieandBrie 

Hump Day & Chill

Fanny

ROCK GROUP FANNY’S CDs FACING EXTINCTION

Fanny negotiates to become the sole source of their four albums on CD.

Today I thought we'd engage in a different sort of Hump Day & Chill and rock out with our Fanny out!!!

 When rock group Fanny first hit the music scene in 1970, no one could fathom what their future would be like. The group reached moderate success with the single “Charity Ball” cracking the Top 40, but Fanny’s true legacy was never fully realized.

That is until now.

With the release of a live video performance of Fanny posted on YouTube from the German TV program “Beat-Club”, nearly a million new fans have discovered Fanny’s music. But sadly, their albums are on the brink of no longer being available on CD.

With a heavy contribution from Fanny drummer Alice de Buhr, independent record label Real Gone Music contracted with Warner Music Group to bring the first four albums originally released on Reprise Records to CD starting back in 2012. But Real Gone Music’s stock of the albums has run out and they are not going to reproduce any additional CDs.

Starting September 4^th, 2019, Alice is taking up the challenge of raising money via Indiegogo to cover the cost of replicating and licensing new CDs for fans new and old alike to enjoy Fanny’s music. As part of the arrangement, the CDs will be available only on the band’s “FannyRocks” official website. To entice contributors, Alice is offering up a variety of rewards ranging from reproduction of classic Fanny stickers, autographed drum sticks, signed copies of the new CDs, plus limited copies of the Rhino Fanny CD pack featuring autographs of three of the four members. A big bonus is you do not have to wait as all rewards will be shipped out by Alice as the contributions are made. (See below for complete list)

Starting September 4^th, find Alice’s “Help Save Fanny’s CDs!” Indiegogo campaign at the following link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-save-fanny-s-music/

  

About FannyRocks (https://fannyrocks.com/)

FannyRocks is a website founded in 2008 that is dedicated to archiving the rock group Fanny’s history and music. It is owned and operated by drummer Alice de Buhr and managed by webmaster Byron Wilkins.

3” ROUND STICKERS

Get Behind Fanny - Allez Derrier Fanny - Die Erste Weibliche Rock

·         $5.00 - Your choice of one-of-three 3” stickers.

·         $10.00 - Your choice of two-of-three 3” stickers.

·         $15.00 - Your choice of three-of-three 3” stickers.

4” HEART-SHAPED “LOVE FANNY” STICKERS - CHOICE OF RED, BLUE, OR GREEN

·         $5.00 - Your choice of one-of-three “Love Fanny” 3” stickers.

·         $10.00 - Your choice of two-of-three “Love Fanny” 3” stickers.

·         $15.00 - Your choice of three-of-three “Love Fanny” 3” stickers.

POSTCARD “FANNY - END OF AN ERA”

·         $5.00 - End of Era postcard

T-SHIRTS

·         $40.00 - White Retro Fanny Album t-shirt (Large or XL sizes only)

CDs Autographed by Alice only

·         $25.00 - Your choice of 1-of-4 studio album CDs.

·         $50.00 - Your choice of 2-of-4 studio album CDs.

·         $75.00 - Your choice of 3-of-4 studio album CDs.

·         $100.00 - Receive all four studio album CDs.

EXCLUSIVE AUTOGRAPHED ITEMS

·         $30.00 - Autographed 8.5” x 11” B&W glossy photograph of drummer Alice de Buhr.

·         $50.00 - A single, autographed drum stick from drummer Alice de Buhr.

·         $100.00 - FIVE AVAILABLE: Autographed copies of the “Mothers Price” CD signed by drummer Alice de Buhr, guitarist June Millington, and bassist Jean Millington.

·         $100.00 - TEN AVAILABLE: Autographed copies of the “Fanny” CD (the first album) signed by drummer Alice de Buhr, guitarist June Millington, and bassist Jean Millington.

·         $500.00 - TEN AVAILABLE: Autographed copies of the Rhino CD set “First Time in a Long Time” signed by drummer Alice de Buhr.

An Alarm(ing) "On Tour Age"

The Alarm Launch “On Tour Age” (#ontourage) Podcast

Thursday, July 18

40 date “Sigma LXXXV” Tour featuring The Alarm, Modern English & Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel begins Friday, July 19

 On July 18th 2019, The Alarm will launch 'ON>TOUR>AGE' -#ontourage, the first in a series of Vlogs & podcasts (available from The Alarm You Tube Channel and all good digital media outlets including the official alarm Facebook page), that will be broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the Sigma LXXXV Tour 2019.

The first event will go out 'live' on July 18th from Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where Mike Peters and The Alarm will pay homage to Elvis Presley, their friends U2, and a host of significant others, who have all made the pilgrimage to play at the birthplace of rock and roll.

Fans are encouraged to send suggestions for songs / artists to be covered to twitter.com/thealarm and tag posts with the hashtag #ontourage and any other artists identifiers and song links as deemed appropriate.

Utilising all the modern and accessible camera technology to create vital content, 'ON>TOUR>AGE' will be hosted by none other than Gareth Jones who will be the official MC, presenter and tour guide, taking viewers behind the scenes and into The Alarm's touring and recording world to interact with band members, and all the other essential characters who make a tour like Sigma LXXXV 2019 possible.

The Alarm
Photo:
Andy Labrow

'ON>TOUR>AGE'

Ever wondered what it’s like to go on tour with a rock band across America?

This summer, the 'ON>TOUR>AGE'  film crew with Gareth Jones as presenter, will hit the road, coast to coast with Mike Peters and The Alarm, taking in 40 shows in 40 cities, broadcasting findings and observations to the world and streaming daily on the Internet.

The Alarm and presenter Gareth Jones are no strangers to the USA, having  first arrived in 1983, as guests of Bono and U2 for the War Tour, creating a constant presence on the continent ever since.

What’s changed? Well,  'ON>TOUR>AGE' in association with Mike Peters and The Alarm, will contrast and compare as they bounce along the interstates and highways, headlining a massive 8 week tour of ballrooms, theatres and festivals.

'ON>TOUR>AGE' will also be co-hosted by Jules Peters - breast cancer survivor and Alarm keyboard player who (along with husband Mike Peters MBE), was the subject of two very recent, high-profile BBC documentaries, including the award winning US movie - Man In The Camo Jacket.

The 'ON>TOUR>AGE' entourage, features a host of formidable and humorous characters such as charismatic drummer Smiley who has performed with Robbie Williams and Joe Strummer. The 'youthful' James Stevenson of Generation X and The Cult (who can lay claim to having played guitar for 72% of the world's bands), not to mention being a connoisseur of fine drinks and vintage instruments.

Also on board are the wildly whacky and mildly eccentric team of American roadies and lampies, who set up the shows, and take down all the gear, night after night after night.

This innovative and intimate podcast series will give unrivalled access to the band and their entourage, telling their unique story and the rock and roll adventures that happen to them, in real time, on film and in vlog / podcast format.

Blasting out daily missives from the road, the truck stops, the diners, record stores and radio stations as they go about their business, not to mention playing concerts at some amazing iconic venues such as Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis Presley put together the first three chords of world changing music.

Where will it all end, where will it take them?

Tune in and find out this summer.  Available at all podcast online outlets and The Alarm You Tube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxf6WCerflAEhwtniLeaNg

'ON>TOUR>AGE' - #ontourage

In addition, The Alarm have launched a very special exclusive You Tube Playlist featuring 33 tracks from all three bands - The Alarm, Modern English and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel that will all feature on this summer's forthcoming Sigma LXXXV Tour 2019.

The Alarm have also recorded their very own special versions of the Modern English classic 'I Melt With You', along with a stripped back reading of the 1983 Gene Loves Jezebel single - 'Screaming For Emmalene'.

Both tracks can be heard now exclusively on the official Alarm YouTube Channel and viewed on this page along with a premiere presentation of the widescreen edit of The Alarm classic 'Spirit Of '86', edited and enhanced by Gary Overington.

SIGMA LXXXV 2019 Tour Dates w/Modern English & Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel

July 17                   Nashville, TN                      Cannary Row (The Alarm only)

July 19                   Austin, TX                         3Ten Live

July 20                   Dallas, TX                          Gas Monkey

July 21                   Oklahoma City, OK         Tower Theater

July 24                  Las Vegas, NV                  House of Blues

July 25                   San Diego, CA                  House of Blues

July 26                   Temecula, CA                  Wien’s Family Cellars

July 27                   Los Angeles, CA               Microsoft Theater – Music Festival Show

July 31                    Phoenix, AZ                    Celebrity Theatre

August  2               San Francisco, CA           Regency Ballroom

August  3              Sacramento, CA               Ace of Spades

August 5               Portland, OR                     Aladdin

August 6               Seattle, WA                      Triple Door

August 7               Spokane, WA                    Bing Crosby Theater

August 8               Salt Lake City, UT             The Complex (The Alarm/Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel only)

August 9               Denver, CO                       Oriental Theater

August 10            Lawrence, KS                     Liberty Hall

August 12            St. Louis, MO                     Delmar Hall

August 14            Minneapolis, MN              Fine Line

August 15            Milwaukee, WI                  Turner Ballroom

August 16             Chicago, IL                        House of Blues

August 17            Detroit, MI                         St. Andrews

August 18            Cleveland, OH                   House of Blues

August 20            Portland, ME                     AURA

August 21            Boston, MA                        Paradise

August 23            Huntington, NY                  The Paramount

August 24            Jim Thorpe, PA                  Penns Peak

August 25            Falls Church, VA                State Theatre

August 27             Albany, NY                         Skyport – The Alarm only

August 29            Asbury Park, NJ                 Asbury Lanes

August 30            Staten Island, NY               St. George Theater

August 31            Philadelphia, PA                The Keswick Theater

Sept 1                   Norfolk, VA                        Norva

Sept 3                   Charlotte, NC                    Neighborhood Theatre

Sept 4                   Atlanta, GA                        Masquerade

Sept 5                   Orlando, FL                           The Social (The Alarm/Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel only)

Sept 6                  Bonita Springs, FL             Southwest Florida Event Center   Fort Meyers

Sept 7                  Miami, FL                           The Ground at Club Space

Sept 8                  St. Pete, FL                         Ferg’s Concert Courtyard