Taylor Swift - Blah, Blah, Blah

I Have Two Left Feet, But I Am Having Fun, So, Shake It Off!

With her forthcoming album 1989, inspired by the sounds of “late ’80s pop,” that will debut on October 27. 

Taylor Swift has released her first single and video from it called Shake It Off, which for reasons of pure publicity and entertainment fodder has sparked some sort of debate about whether Ms. Swift going all 80's on us is appropriate, or not.

Thus I will chime in on this important world issue. This song, a send up of public perception of who she is contains lyrics that are pure Swift. As for the sound? I could name a few songs it reminds me of, but what the F@ck?! Madonna has made a career out of this sort of thing.

Personally I L-O-V-E that Ms. Swift gets down and references one of my favorite films, Black Swan in her Natalie Portman ballet dress, and acknowledges she has two left feet by showing that everyone else around her is a way better dancer than she is.

Sure we all will be over this song in a week or two, it's going to be a huge hit and in your face everywhere you turn. But in the meantime it's the middle of the week have some fun and Shake It Off ...Happy Hump Day! 

                                                                 "Shake It Off"

Go Retro With Taylor: http://taylorswift.com/splash

These Are A Few Of My "Favorite Hunks"

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Christina Aguilera: The Name Game

Christina Aguilera, Has A Baby Girl

With last weeks deaths of Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall, I thought it would be great to kick off this week with a celebration of life and to congratulate Christina Aguilera and her man Matthew Rutler on the birth of their baby girl this past weekend.

Aguilera gave birth to her bundle of joy on August 16th, 2014 at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA.

Christina announced the name of her daughter on Twitter today with this statement: 

"So proud to welcome our beautiful daughter Summer Rain Rutler into the world,"

Love the baby name! I Have a cousin named Summer and have always thought it a great name for a girl.

Ms. Aguilera hits the studio again on August 11th to start work on a new album and wrote on Instagram:

"Baby girl getting first listen to what mama's been creating in the studio," 

Best to both Christina and Matthew. 

Have a terrific Monday Everyone!

Congratulate XTina at: http://www.christinaaguilera.com/us/home

Shonen Knife Is On The "Top Of The World"

Yes, This Happened In August! OSAKA’S SHONEN KNIFE TO PLAY 1000TH SHOW ON 2014 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Having covered The Carpenter's "Top of the World" on the compilation CD: If I Were A Carpenter - It seems fitting to toast Osaka Legends, Shonen Knife with said song to celebrate their 1,000th performance. Cheers!

Osaka, Japan’s legendary Shonen Knife are about to reach another milestone in their 30+ year career of bringing the joys of punk rock, fantasy and food to the hearts and ears of the fortunate. Shonen Knife's 1000th worldwide performance (since their inception in 1982) will take place in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota at The Turf Club on 9/16 during their upcoming 33 show North American tour. This latest visit takes place during the months of September and October in support of their latest album “Overdrive” released in April 2014 on Good Charamel Records. Shonen Knife will be taking requests for this special show from fans via their Twitter and Facebook pages, and the 1000th performance will also include an appearance by original Shonen Knife member Atsuko (sister of lead singer Naoko). The "Overdrive" tour has already seen successful runs in Europe, The UK and Japan and now Naoko, Ritsuko and Emi will be taking the show around North America including performances at “Anime Weekend Atlanta”, Buffalo, NY’s “Music is Art Festival” and a stop at the “Pop Montreal Festival” in Canada. Shonen Knife “Overdrive” North American Tour 2014 9/11 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts: Black Box 9/12 Brooklyn, NY The Wick 9/13 Buffalo, NY Music is Art Festival (Delaware Park) 9/14 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom 9/16 St. Paul, MN The Turf Club 9/17 Iowa City, IA The Mill 9/18 Chicago, IL The Bottom Lounge 9/19 Detroit, MI The Magic Stick 9/20 Toronto, ON The Silver Dollar 9/22 Cambridge, MA The Middle East 9/24 Baltimore, MD The Ottobar 9/25 Durham, NC The Pinhook 9/27 Atlanta, GA 529 9/28 Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta 9/30 New Orleans, LA The Beatnik 10/01 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s 10/02 Dallas, TX Club DADA 10/03 Austin, TX Red 7 10/06 Tucson, AZ The Flycatcher 10/07 San Diego, CA The Casbah 10/08 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater 10/10 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill 10/11 Portland, OR Dante’s 10/12 Seattle, WA The Tractor Tavern 10/14 Boise, ID Neutrolux 10/15 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge 10/16 Denver, CO Oriental Theater 10/17 Kansas City, KS Record Bar 10/18 St.Louis, MO The Firebird 10/20 Pittsburgh, PA 3st Street Pub 10/21 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint www.shonenknife.net www.goodcharamel.com www.twitter.com/shonenknife www.facebook.com/ShonenKnifeOfficial

Jane Says: It's Time For A Shindig

JANE’S ADDICTION 

RISE AGAINST

ANCHOR RETURN OF THE SHINDIG MUSIC FESTIVAL

Uh, wow this really does look like it lives up to it's name, Shindig, not to mention Jane's Addiction is a headliner, what more could one want in a music festival except for free Jack Daniels with Diet Coke, I ask you?

Yes! It's An Addiction,  Jane's Addiction!!!

GOGOL BORDELLO, CLUTCH, FISHBONE, HALESTORM, LUCERO, MANY MORE

JOIN THE PARTY FOR BALTIMORE’S ONLY TRUE ROCK & ROLL FESTIVAL

Daylong Celebration Captures Spirit and Work Ethic of Charm City’s Neighborhoods

Saturday, Sept. 27 @ Carroll Park

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

“My favorite thing about this festival was the overall vibe of the good people of Baltimore. The festival was packed in tight with positive, sincere people who all were there to see some great music and have fun.”

- The Vinyl District (DC)

 A "Shindig" is defined as "a large, lively party celebrating something,” and in this case, that "something" is the DIY Rock & Roll spirit and work ethic of Baltimore at the core of THE SHINDIG MUSIC FESTIVAL, returning Saturday, Sept. 27 to Carroll Park with alt-rock legends JANE’s ADDICTION and punk rock favorites RISE AGAINST anchoring a daylong, two-stage lineup in the city’s Pigtown district that’s as fun and diverse as Charm City’s people and neighborhoods.

Adding to the eclectic festivities on this year’s two main stages will be Gogol Bordello, Clutch,Fishbone, Halestorm, Lucero, J Roddy Walston & The Business, Larry and His Flask, TheMahones, The Bots, Charm City Devils, Bad Seed Rising. Gates open at Noon. Music Begins at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale NOW at $60 until Aug. 16 (early bird); $70 thereafter. VIP tickets also available. To order tickets, go to www.missiontix.com/THESHINDIG. Complete festival information at www.theshindigbaltimore.com.

The all-day festival will feature two identical main stages with NO OVERLAPPING SETS of music. The Vending Village in The Woods offers a variety of Baltimore’s best and familiar food and beverage options with plenty of seating and shade available. The Woods is also home to the Ripley's "Believe it or Not" Side Stage featuring an array of rare talent including sword swallowers, fire breathers, aerial acrobats, burlesque performances and other visually captivating oddities.

"I was born and raised in Baltimore and creating a festival and vibe we've never seen was my goal,” says THE SHINDIG’s curator, longtime Maryland independent concert promoter, Paul Manna at 24-7 Entertainment “As a fan of every artist playing, I just know that thousands of live music lovers will truly appreciate this lineup as much as I do. Seeing Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction, one of my all-time favorite bands, perform in Pigtown will certainly be the icing on the cake.”

The Shindig's inaugural event last year, featuring Dropkick Murphys, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, The Gaslight Anthem, Clutch, The Mighty MightyBosstones, Reverend Horton Heat, The Hold Steady, and more, was a resounding success, prompting Pigtown officials to welcome its 2014 return.

"The Shindig showcased our historic neighborhood to the most people ever gathered for an event in Pigtown or Carroll Park - without any incidents or arrests,” says Ben Hyman, Director of Pigtown Main Street. “They are yet another example of our investment in Pigtown, including the opening of nine new businesses and hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic development."

Carroll Park is located 1/2 mile from Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, I-95, and I-395 in the heart of Baltimore’s beloved Pigtown. To eliminate any parking concerns, 24-7 Entertainment has reserved several large, secured parking lots that border the festival grounds conveniently landmarked by the monstrous Montgomery Park building.

The Shindig is proud to welcome festival lovers from all over the Mid-Atlantic region to our beloved hometown of Baltimore, MD for another year of great music and memories.

THE SHINDIG ON THE WEB:

Tickets: www.missiontix.com/THESHINDIG

Official Weebsite - www.theshindigbaltimore.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/theshindigbaltimore

Margaret Cho Remembers Robin Williams

Robin Williams

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world" - Robin Williams

I love this quote and it best sums up who Robin Williams was to me. I will never forget the impact of the laughter, joy and ideas he brought into my life. 

Words can not begin to describe how seeing The World According to Garp influenced and changed me when I was young.

I thought it best to let his life be discussed by someone who knew him well, friend and Entertain Me favorite Ms. Margaret Cho said this to Time Magazine about the passing of our Captain:

"He was the first celebrity I ever met. My parents owned a bookstore in San Francisco in the ’70s and ’80s. My father made Robin autograph a copy of The World According to Garp for me. When I started comedy in San Francisco in the ’80s, Robin would hang around the clubs I started doing shows at and grew up next to. He would always come in, and then later, of course, we would always see him in clubs here. He was the patriarch of our little clan of comedians in San Francisco. All of us looked at him, in a way, as a father figure. That’s why this is so upsetting.

He was just very supportive. He was very shy, and possibly a little embarrassed by his fame. Inside, he really was a comic. Naturally, all comics just wanna hang around other comics, so he would come to these little clubs and open mics, and you’d get bumped, and he would go on and you’d have to follow him, which was always really terrifying because he’s so great, and people were so excited to just be in his presence. Also, we were all excited to be around him. He’s the kind of guy, I remember, he would help out comics who needed money. When I was a teenager, my first boyfriend needed money to live, and he loved this guy’s comedy, so he would give people money to survive. It’s a beautiful thing. He was a great guy."

R.I.P. Oh, Captain! My Captain!

Robin Williams on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000245/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_2

Lauren Bacall's Passing Ends The "Vogue" Era

Lauren Bacall

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly" - Lauren Bacall

With the passing of the last of the great Hollywood Broads, Lauren Bacall, this now marks the end of an era for the Madonna mega hit Vogue.

Yes, every amazing star named in the the monster 1990 smash Vogue has now passed away.

Wow! But what a great homage to all of those unique and singular talents of yesteryear this song is and shall ever remain.

As much as I loathe Madonna's recent output this is and will remain a song for the ages and in honor of Ms. Bacall's passing and all the other legends in it, let's have a moment and -

"Come on, vogue
Let your body move to the music"...

                                                                     "Vogue"

Lauren Bacall on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000002/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1