Taylor Hicks Is An Infinite Hero

Taylor Hicks is ALWAYS on the move, check it!

Taylor Hicks, one of America’s most beloved musical artists, is wrapping up 2015 on a high note with several performances that are reminding fans across the world of his deep and varied musical talent.

On November 11, the singer took part in a special Veterans Day event held in Foothill Ranch, CA. Hicks performed the National Anthem and an intimate acoustic performance of his song "Nineteen" for Infinite Hero Foundation’s Racing to Reimagine Recovery Race. In addition to sharing his musical gifts, Hicks also took part in various events which included a motorcycle tribute ride, hosted by John Paul DeJoria’s Peace*Love*Happiness Charity co-founder Gary Spellman, Medal of Honor recipient and former Army Sgt. Kyle Jerome White and former Navy SEAL Jason "Jay" Redman, and aRacing to Reimagine gala event. Infinite Hero Foundation combats the most difficult front line issues – mental and physical – facing military heroes and their families.

Just a few days prior, Hicks brought his music to the Grand-Reopening of Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The singer wowed the crowd with his blue-eyed soul stylings by joining forces with cover band Liquid Blue. The collaboration took place to celebrate the rebuilding of the hotel, which had been tragically demolished by a hurricane. The Hilton resort underwent a multimillion-dollar fixup after being extensively damaged by Hurricane Odile in September 2014. The musical chemistry between Hicks and Liquid Blue was so tight and harmonious that the staff and management at the Hilton are making plans to have them return soon.

The next few weeks are going to be exciting ones for Hicks’ fans. While Taylor puts the finishing touches on his new album to be released in early 2016, two of his albums – 1997’s In Your Time and 2005’s Under The Radar will be released November 19th in their limited editions digitally for the first time. In Your Time features a brand new recording of "Somehow,” while the latter album will give fans the opportunity to hear an unreleased track, “No Place I’d Rather Be.”

Hicks is in the midst of an extensive tour including holiday-themed stops in California for the Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 29, as well as the annual lighting of the official State of Alabama Christmas Tree in Montgomery on December 4. He will then lend skiing talents to the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest  (#DVSKIFEST) live on the CBS Television Network on December 13. He will pick back up his touring schedule January 16 in Bartlett, TN, and is in the midst of adding dates to his 2016 itinerary.

TAYLOR HICKS ON TOUR:
Nov. 29 Hollywood Christmas Parade / Hollywood, CA
Dec. 04 Annual State Christmas Tree Lighting / Montgomery, AL
Dec. 13 Celebrity Skifest Competition / CBS Network
Jan. 16 Bartlett Performing Arts Center / Barlett, TN (SOLD OUT)
Feb. 13 Pastime Theatre / Winfield, AL

For more information, visit www.TaylorHicks.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Art, It's Always In Season

Sarah Horwitz

Rimon (Pomegranate)

34” x 24” • oil on wood • 2015

Contemporary Los Angeles Painter Sarah Horwitz

Featured in

7,567mi, Los Angeles to Jerusalem

Part of the 2nd Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art

At Platt and Borstein Galleries

In Bel Air, CA

Through Sunday, December 20, 2015

Happy Monday, time to get yourself some culture!

Contemporary Los Angeles painter Sarah Horwitz is featured in 7,567mi, Los Angeles to Jerusalem, part of the international 2nd Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art. Horwitz’s work is on display through Sunday, December 20, 2015 at Platt and Borstein Galleriesin Bel Air, CA, one of three venues in LA that make up the 7,567mi exhibit, which is presented by the Jewish Artists Initiative (JAI) of Southern California. As part of Jerusalem Biennale 2015, the 7,567mi exhibition examines the Jewish connection between Los Angeles and Israel from diverse vantage points by posing the question: “What does it mean to be Jewish in Los Angeles in the 21st century?” This year, the international Biennale is hosting exhibitions in Jerusa lem, New York, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Los Angeles. Platt and Borstein Galleries, located at American Jewish University (15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air, CA 90077; 310-476-9777 ext. 201), across from the Skirball Cultural Center, is open Sundays though Thursdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm and on Fridays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Free parking is available. For additional information, please visit the artist's site at http://www.sdhorwitz.com.

Sarah Horwitz’s work explores universal themes of matter and spirit related to compelling social, political, and environmental challenges within the world today. Her lush oil on wood paintings depict earth, air, fire, and water as liminal sites of perception. Abstraction combined with representation creates an impossible place between physical and spiritual planes, navigating between dream and consciousness, physicality, and spirituality.

Horwitz’s paintings present a dichotomy between optimism and danger – within the individual and society as a whole. “Rimon” (Pomegranate) simultaneously portrays violence and unrest while embracing hope, as the seeds of redemption are spread throughout the world. Exploding in mid-air like a grenade against turbulent water and sky is a blood red pomegranate, which can be sweet or sour and is widely cultivated in the Middle East for its nutritional and healing properties. Across many cultures, the pomegranate symbolizes fertility and prosperity. The fruit is also said to have 613 seeds corresponding to the 613 mitzvot (or commandments) of the Torah. These commandments are known in the Jewish faith as the tools for ushering in the era of enduring world peace.

While rooted in Jewish mysticism, Horwitz’s art is open to a multiplicity of meaning, offering viewers the autonomy to explore and interpret the works within their own belief systems and frames of reference.

Her art exists in the margins between binaries – where struggle and peace coexist, where destruction, creation, and transformation are all possible. Ultimately, Horwitz’s work is hopeful, offering up the potential for transcendent moments as an inspiration for embracing the challenges of the human condition.

Sarah Horwitz –

Sarah Horwitz* is a contemporary painter who has exhibited her work locally and nationally. Solo shows include Perimeter Gallery in Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center (sponsored by a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs), and Gramercy Fine Art in New York. Her work has also been repeatedly included in the International Art Expo in Chicago, where she lived before moving to Los Angeles. Horwitz’s works are in the collection of Fidelity Investments in Boston as well as in private collections in the US and Europe. Where Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun Times, and New Art Examiner have written about her work. Horwitz taught as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the BFA program at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago for ten years. She received a BS in film from Boston University and an MFA in painting and drawing from The University of Iowa. She was raised in Northern New Jersey, where she first experienced profound transcendent moments in nature. Horwitz currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Are You Ready? Here She Comes! E.G. Daily!!!

E.G. Is Ready!

I did a really juicy interview with one Ms. E.G. Daily a month ago about her upcoming gig at the  legendary Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles. Yes, fresh off her splash on The Voice E.G. is back where she started, on the Sunset Strip! Yay! 

Well here is an alert! The show is one week, yes, one week from today, November 22nd at 9 pm!

Be there or be a square peg! It's a rare one of a kind show!

Want to be a fly on the wall? Check out my revealing chat with E.G. here: 

http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2015/10/eg-daily-back-on-track.html

Got ticket info? Well here it is:

.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=6106655

Say It, Say It!

Jaco & His Electric Bass

It's documentary time boys & girls!

JACO, A full-length documentary film chronicling the life, music and ongoing influence of the mythic electric bass pioneer Jaco Pastorius, is being released on DVD/BluRay on Nov. 27, 2015. Produced by Robert Trujillo (bassist, Metallica) JACO incorporates interviews with musical visionaries including Sting, Joni Mitchell, Flea, Jerry Jemmott, Bootsy Collins, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and many others with never-before-seen photos and films from the Pastorius family archive. This extraordinary film reveals the story behind Jaco's life and music, both as a solo artist and member of Weather Report, the tragic arc of his demise and early death and the enduring influence and inspiration of his artistry and genius.

The DVD / BluRay release is a two-disc set. Disc 1 is the film and Disc 2 Features bonus material: 30 never before seen interviews with Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Bootsy Collins and many more. They talk about Jaco's incredible contributions to music, how he changed the instrument as well as musical boundaries, and also Jaco the person.

JACO had its world premiere earlier this year at Austin's SxSW Film Conference & Festival, and has appeared in many film festivals around the world winning awards at the inaugural Asbury Park Music Film Festival as well as the Athens Film Festival.

The film "(captures) the essence of what made Jaco Pastorius such an influential artist," declared the Montreal Gazette, praising "the glowing words of interviewees and the many recorded and live musical excerpts that he lets speak for themselves" and hailing JACO as "an enlightening introduction to a groundbreaking musician."

"A brilliant film about a brilliant musician. I love every minute of it." - Michael Kurtz, co-founder, Record Store Day.

The DVD / Blu-ray / etc will be distributed in the U.S. by MVD Entertainment Group. In Europe, contact Proper Records and Music Sales Ltd. In Canada, contact Conveyor / Universal

For more information and updates: www.JacoTheFilm.com

The red-carpet, world premier screening of JACO will take place at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown LA on November 22nd followed by a concert featuring Robert Trujillo and Mass Mental, Felix Pastorius and Hipster Assassins, special guest performers including Billy Idol, Flea, and more surprise guests to come. Tickets are now available, VIP tickets include a meet and greet with the artists: http://j.mp/1FVqOtJ

Pre-Order from MVD: http://bit.ly/1NfEnkP

Amazon Preorder: http://amzn.to/1XSJZJh

Jealous Much? Kate Winslet

My Daughter Is So Jealous!
Kate Winslet & Liam Hemsworth

Apparently, in the world according to Kate Winslet. Her daughter Mia was quite envious that she got to film steamy sex scenes with Liam Hemsworth for her latest film The Dressmaker.

As Kate puts it: “Liam is a lovely, lovely guy, much is made of how he looks and he’s physically extremely beautiful but he’s a fabulous chap and was really up for mucking in with the rest of us,” she muses “But my daughter Mia was extremely jealous, along with all of her friends.”

She also reveals that she would not even know who Liam's character was in The Hunger Games if it wasn't for daughter Mia.

Some girls have all the luck, some guys do too!

Kate on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000701/?ref_=nv_sr_3

Liam on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955013/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Margaret Cho Goes "Grasshopper"

Margaret Sheared
Photo: Dan Tuffs

"Sexual abuse, becomes self abuse if you don't murder the rapist inside you" - Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho stated on her recent appearance on The View that she wants you to "snatch the pebble from my hand" for those of you who don't know the TV classic Kung Fu, well Grasshopper you have much to learn...that's why Wikipedia was invented. 

Yes, Cho has sheared her hair for her video I Want To Kill My Rapist which debuts tomorrow, Friday the 13th on PerezHilton.com.

The song is about people expressing their views and ridding themselves of their anger against all types of sexual abuse. As Margaret puts it: "Cathartic rage has to have voice."

Watch the clip from Margaret's appearance on The View below.

Looking forward to seeing you again at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA Saturday the 14th Margaret, it's been too long. 

                                                                 The View 

Kill Your Rapist With Margaret at: 
https://twitter.com/margaretcho
margaretcho.com/
https://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho/    

American Horror Story: Hump Day

It's In His Kiss
Finn Wittrock & Lady Gaga

Happy American Horror Story: Hump Day Everyone! It's that time of the week when we all tune into FX and get our freak on with American Horror Story: Hotel.

Personally I am loving this season, the shows best since Murder House and Asylum. To all of you out there who thought Lady Gaga couldn't make the grade, suck it!

The story has been unfolding slowly, it is one you had to stick with until around episode three for the motivations, addictions and flaws of the characters truly started to be revealed. Wow! Is all I have to say, and this is the first season since the first two that I have actually found the material to have visceral and truly disturbing undertones. 

Here is an image from an upcoming episode of Lady Gaga and Finn Wittrock producing steam for their AHS: Bad Romance, hey is there ever such thing as a Good Romance in the "Horror Story" world? I think not!

Enjoy your check in to the Cortez tonight!

Get Your "Horror" on at: 

https://www.facebook.com/americanhorrorstory/