The Arts: NoHo Arts Festival

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, November 12 (12-8PM)

Is the celebration of the NoHo Arts District. Maybe they should call it NoHo Day? Either way it's going to be a party, oh yeah !

NoHo is going to open it's doors so L.A. can experience the talent, art, uniqueness, kookiness and just plain grooviness of the NoHo Arts District...their booming one-mile neighborhood in the North Hollywood, CA area of Los Angeles.

Well this NoHo is going to be there for the sole reason to attend a performance of A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters" starring Jonathan Brett & Yvette Green.

 

NoHo Stages - 4934 Lankershim Blvd.

Time: 2:00
Show Title: LOVE LETTERS by A.R. Gurney
Synopsis: World renowned, Pulitzer Prize winner two character play which covers the lifetimes of two friends born in the 1930’s who comnmunicate throughout their lives using the lost art of letter writing.
Rating: PG

Best of all? The festival is freeeeeeeeeeee....! See you there !

Get Your Festival On At:  http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/

Video: Kate Bush "Wild Man"

OK, this is not an official video, it was fan made and Kate's label approved it, thus, I am a fan so I am posting it. R U following me so far? Yeah? Awesome..!

Harkening back to my love of Kate is not hard to trace. I was in a drama group in college and was at a party for said group cut to, prententious class actress with bleached blonde hair and black lipstick and goth make-up, she takes a drag off of her cigarette: "Michael, have you ever heard of Kate Bush"? Me: "Uh, no."

Dragging dramatically again: "I think you would like her, you should really give her a listen". Well, pretentious drama classmate, thanks! I did listen and I liked her, make that love her, and I still do to this day! I can't wait for her "50 Words For Snow" album to drop on November 21st....in the meantime, here is the fan video for the first single "Wild Man"....

Get yourself some Kate at: http://www.katebush.com/

10 Stupid Questions With: Matthew Duffy

 In anticipation of his upcoming EP, "Spunk Pumpers Unite" (to be released February 2012), Matthew Duffy wants to introduce you to his latest single, "Homosapien," which is a cover of the Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks) song from 1981. Matthew also covers (not in the literal sense) "Angel, Angel Down We Go Together" from Morrissey which he recorded as a tribute to the LGBT community. "The increasing bullying, suicides, & isolation of our community makes me so upset and frustrated and when I was growing up this song gave me confidence to never give up" Duffy states. Very well put. OK, Matthew time to get stupid....

MS: Why should Spunk pumpers unite?

MD: To save the world from misery by delivering muscles and magic to the people of earth.

MS: Are you in love with Morrisey?

MD: I really just want to make out with him while simultaneously stroking his pompadour

MS: Girl in a Coma is, do you know who they are?

MD: No but my sources tell me it's really serious.

MS: What song gives you confidence?

MD: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor

MS: Do you consider yourself a homosapien, too?

MD: I am indeed homo erectus and homosapien, like you.

MS: Define Buzzcock?

MD: Drunk dancing at the east village watering hole.

MS: Is that something you do regularly?

MD: Yes! At least once a day & twice on Sunday.

MS: Peanut Butter & Jelly, or another combo?

MD: Peanut Butter, Thick Cut Bacon, Banana, & Honey.

MS: Because the wind is high it blows your….?

MD: Beef curtains open

MS: WTF, does Matthew Duffy think he is?

MD: He is SPUNKY. Enjoys getting DRUNKY. And he likes Ryan Gosling cause he be HUNKY.　

Get Spunky & Drunky with Matthew at:

www.facebook.com/matthewduffymusic

www.soundcloud.com/matthew-duffy-music

TV Watch: American Horror Story

Seen any good horror movies lately? I thought not, that’s because the best thing going horror wise is on FX….

“American Horror Story” rocks! It’s everything that you want your horror to be, edgy, nasty, creepy & best of all politically incorrect.

Two time Oscar Winner Jessica Lange, (one of my favorites) looks like she is having a blast, chewing the scenery as “Constance.” - with her daughter, "Adelaide" played by Jamie Brewer.

Their relationship is very “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” slash Piper Laurie & Sissy Spacek from “Carrie.”

Being a total horror geek I can completely appreciate these references shed in a new light and there are many other horror flick wink & nudges in this frightfest. It is obvious that it's creators, two guys who did one of my favorite shows ever “Nip/Tuck” Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuck, are huge horror geeks too.

The main victims, uh, family that moves into this infamous “murder house” are headed by Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott & Taissa Farmiga as the Harmon’s. The Harmon’s are a really dysfunctional lot, and that is the charm of them too, and why the “murder house” draws them in and owns them, nobody puts the “murder house” in a corner!

With so many juicy horror elements thrown in, and Zachary Quinto recently guest starring as one half of the previous 2010 couple who owned the house, hey the Harmon’s are so 2011, so, if you are true horror fan why aren’t you watching, freak?!

Really I do not want to give too much away if you have not seen it . There is one secret I could spill, perhaps…Dylan McDermott is one of the coolest guys I have ever met, oh, and beware of men in rubber suits…

“Take a look at yourself”!

http://www.fxnetworks.com/

Checking In With: Matt Zarley

Singer, Matt Zarley has released his follow up CD to “Here I Am’ the title of the CD?

“Change Begins With Me” has already yielded the hit dance single “WTF”

Matt is a guy on the go, let’s check in with him and see “WTF” is happening….
　
MS: Hey Matt, wanted to check in with you, Loving the theme of your new CD “Change Begins With Me.”

MZ: The CD is the result of a really tough break-up I went through years ago. We were together 4 years. I sort of did the album as a way to heal. “Forgive Me For Not Forgiving You” is the first song on the album that I wrote about that relationship. I’ve learned through this whole process that you can’t expect other people to change, you have to make that happen for yourself. It’s human nature to play the blame game, when you’re hurt. The person I was with is a terrific person, we just weren’t terrific together.


MS: How does the song “WTF” fit into this scenario?

MZ: That song was written about somebody I had a quickie romance with last year. The situation was profound only in the sense that I didn’t think I was ready to fall in love with somebody. It awakened me to the fact that I was ready, even though it was hurtful it served a great purpose in the end.

MS: When I was reading the press release I went: Wow, this CD is something everyone can relate to.

MZ: Well good, I am glad.

Get more Matt at: http://www.mattzarley.com/

Also if you are in Los Angeles on Tuesday November 8^th check out the information for the event Matt is involved in at the top of this page and get to it!
　
　

Video: Margaret Cho Is "Asian Adjacent"

Margaret Cho & Michael Shinafelt

Hey Peeps, check out one of my fave performers & interview subjects latest video from her CD "Cho Dependent".....

Margaret Cho is proud to release her latest video from her Grammy nominated "Cho Dependent" CD release. “Asian Adjacent,” which appears on Cho Dependent, her musical comedy album she released last year, wherein she collaborated with the musical minds of Fiona Apple, Brendan Benson Tegan and Sara and many more. For “Asian Adjacent,” she teamed up with singer-songwriter Grant Lee Phillips; and the dude also appears in the video– beautifully directed by Tani Ikeda.

Laughspin says: Margaret Cho is more than a comedian. She’s a force. She proves it time and time again. With each live performance, with each album release, television role and video, she keeps pushing the boundaries of what is considered mainstream entertainment

I agree...!

Click here to watch "Asian Adjacent": http://vimeo.com/31270345

Get more Cho at:
http://www.margaretcho.com/

Trick Or Treat: It's "Scream Queen" Raine Brown

Actress Raine Brown has done it all from drama to comedy, stage to film…

That being said, Raine is best known as one of the premiere indie horror actresses around. A “Scream Queen” if you will who has legions of followers and lights up any movie she appears in such as “100 Tears” for which she won best supporting actress at the 2008 Tabloid Witch Awards, “Barricade” & “Brain Cell.”

She also hosted “New York's Village Halloween Parade 2005” - Trick or treat, guess whose knocking at your door for Halloween…?

MS: Hey Raine..Boo! How are you? film anything that is going to make us scream this year?

RB: I’m doing great, I have done a couple of horror films and I am actually in the middle of shooting a comedy right now.

MS: Awesome!

RB: Yeah, it’s really cool, a different change of pace.

MS: So Raine, shall we get spooky? It’s Halloween…

RB: I love getting dressed up, honestly if I did not get in costume all year long, I would be so gung ho for getting into a costume for Halloween. But whenever there is an event or a party, it makes getting dressed up for Halloween a little less exciting, because I am always putting together a costume.

MS: Ah, show biz! (laughs)

RB: Halloween is actually my Mom’s Birthday too, so that’s kind of cool. We go crazy decorating the house. Everyone always gives her Halloween decorations for her Birthday - so we have plenty of stuff to use. (laughs)

MS: What is your favorite role in a horror movie?

RB: Definitely “I Heart U” …I co-created the story & the character, produced and starred in it, it was great being involved from the ground up a little bit more. It’s in post production and close to being finished.

MS: Can you tell us what it is about?

RB: It is a horror/romantic/dark comedy - it's about a husband and wife who live this perfect suburban dream. But they each have this secret life, they are both serial killers and neither one of them knows about the other. It mocks the “dream” and what is really going on underneath it all. I love that they are evil and yet you root for them, it’s a wicked little twist. (laughs)

MS: Hit us with your favorite horror movie.

RB: I’d have to say it’s “Carrie” that to me is classic. I love that it is female based, that is always of interest to me. Also I love that it is so psychological, you really feel for Carrie, it’s really, to me, honestly about her story more than it is about the blood, the blood is more of a symbol of what’s going on. Every time I see it, I think, ah, that is such a good movie.

MS: OK, Ms. Brown, time for your favorite horror movie villain.

RB: Ooooooooooooooh, my favorite horror movie villain, that’s a hard one….well the one that scared me the most, recently, and now it’s old is Jigsaw, from the original “Saw” movie. He scared me the most out of every villain that I have ever seen. That was part of that whole torture craze, and that dude scared hell out of me! I’m not sure if that makes him my favorite or not, but he got the job done! (laughs) I’m like Unnnnnnnnh, I don’t like that! (laughs)

MS: Getting the job done is half the battle, so do tell, for those not in the know, what’s it like being a “Scream Queen”?


RB: Well, it’s very messy! (laughs) You often spend the whole day covered in sticky, bloody goo! (laughs) I love the fun of it. It’s a great genre to be a part of, because the people who love horror, just LOVE IT! They follow it, and that’s been able to keep me working a lot. Fans go: Oh My God, let’s see what Raine’s doing. People hire me because they know people will watch it because I am in it. As you know the “Scream Queen” is only on part of what I do - I do every kind of film, theatre or character there is, just throw it at me, I love it! The horror is a large part of what I do, and the fans are great!

MS: Ever thought about cutting a single?

RB: I can sing, maybe I should.

MS: Any parting thoughts on Halloween.

RB: It used to be a Holiday for kids, but now it’s like, it’s time for grown-ups to get out and have fun, release your inner craziness! It’s the one day adults can be a total freak and show it on the outside! Also free chocolate just for ringing a door bell? I mean c’mon that’s the American way, I love chocolate!

Get down, with Raine Brown at:

http://www.rainebrown.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raine-Brown/200385190029588?sk=wall