Elise Testone - "This Is Love"

Elise Testone

ELISE TESTONE, ‘SASSY’ SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER AND FORMER

‘AMERICAN IDOL’ FINALIST, TO RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED

2^ND ALBUM “THIS IS LOVE” ON APRIL 17

EAST COAST TOUR TO BEGIN IN CHARLESTON, SC ON APRIL 17; MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES SCHEDULED DURING NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST

Stream THIS IS LOVE on Soundcloud

Soulful singer/songwriter ELISE TESTONE, a former American Idol finalist and powerhouse vocalist whose incredible stage presence and bluesy maturity rank with the best, is releasing her long-awaited sophomore album, This Is Love, on April 17 and immediately mounting an East Coast Tour that includes special performances during the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Elise has toured extensively, with high profile TV appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen, Live! with Kelly, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and others.

Elise’s debut album, In This Life, released in 2014, received rave reviews, celebrating her ability to “wail the blues, rock like a b*tch and purr sexily” (Goldmine Magazine). Her unique style owes more to Ella Fitzgerald, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, James Brown and Amy Winehouse than today’s disposable hit-makers.

This Is Love is the perfect combination of soul, rock, attitude and restraint ― a distinct fusion of R&B and rock, subtly influenced by funk and hip-hop that best complements her longstanding reputation as a “sassy” (Yahoo! Entertainment) soul siren. Equally as impressive and at ease at belting James Brown style over a relentless funk groove as she is gently resting her voice over a tender ballad, Testone’s range of influences and vocal capacity know few limits.

“Love has come in and out of our lives in many different ways,” says the New Jersey native, now living in Brooklyn after establishing deep career roots in Charleston, SC. “Sometimes the love is real and sometimes we are bound together by an unhealthy passion or aggression and become trapped under the illusion that what we have is true, when in fact it is the opposite. This Is Love is an artistic expression of those experiences, starting with ‘Flying High,’ a composition focused on the most important love ― self-love.”

Co-written with guitarist Adam Fallen (Clay Aiken, Eric Benet) and Brooklyn jazz, hip-hop, and electronica multi-instrumentalist Jesse Fischer, and featuring Daru Jones (Jack White, Pete Rock) on drums, “Flying High,” starts the album floating joyously through a jazz-flavored, flute-enhanced classic soul orchestral groove. Other players on the album include Broadway’s School of Rock teen guitar phenom Brandon “Taz” Niederauer (also co-writer of album closer, “Tell Me Now”), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note) and bassist and experimental musician MonoNeon (Prince).

Of special note on This Is Love is “Holly,” written to honor the memory of Elise’s best friend and Charleston roommate, who committed suicide in 2015, two years after surviving life-threatening brain surgery.

“Holly had a light around her that was like no one I know,” Elise recalls. “She could make anyone smile within the first few seconds of seeing her. We bonded instantly and had a relationship built on honesty and playfulness. We looked out for each other. We were family. Both of us young at heart, we shared a deep passion for music. Holly always dreamed of being a music star but was always a little afraid to perform.

“Two years after her surgery, I moved to New York and she moved to Texas. She was very unhappy and ended up shooting herself in the head, or at least that is the story I was told. I know if I was near her that never would have happened. I felt like I mourned her twice in a way. And in no way did I think I would lose her that soon after I almost already did. This song took me three years to write because it was so important, but also because I had a real tough grieving process and felt stuck. I am so happy with how it turned out. I am so confident that every lyric was the right lyric, and I am so grateful to have had the time with her that I did. Hopefully this song can convey the positive mark she has left on me and the world.”

Elise Testone returns to the road, where she continues to wow audiences, when her tour commences April 17 with an Album Release Party, backed by an 11-piece band, at the Pour House in her “second” hometown of Charleston. Two weeks later, she heads to New Orleans with Doug Wimbish of Living Colour, Nigel Hall of Lettuce, and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, among others, for several performances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Her heart more exposed with every note, it’s not uncommon to find Elise on her knees and out of breath at the end of a hard-driving soul tune – all in service of the music. A Top Six Finalist on American Idol in 2012, she has a wide range of fans that knows few barriers, from young festival goers to older music veterans, to jazz and hip-hop lovers.

Elise has opened for B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Snoop Dogg, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds, and Dumpstaphunk, and has performed with Stevie Nicks, Bernie Worrell, Bernard Purdie, Stanton Moore, Skerik, Robert Randolph, The James Brown Band, Ghost Note; and members of Queen, The Meters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Living Colour, Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Galactic, Van Halen, Turquaz, D’Angelo, Pete Rock, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, Snarky Puppy, Soulive and Lettuce, among others. 

Indeed, nothing compares to seeing Elise Testone live. Her voice fully resonates as she seizes the moment to let the improvs naturally flow.

“I never know what I might do with my voice, and sometimes I’m personally shocked in a positive way when the notes bend unexpectedly,” she says.  “I am also so grateful to a have a strong, passionate, talented and soulful group of musicians, who I call friends, available to play on stage with me in any situation. You never know what special guest may come through either. Always good energy and musicality!”

This Is Love will be available on all online platforms, as CD’s and Vinyl. Learn more at www.elisetestone.com

Wed, April 17^th - Charleston Pour House, Charleston, SC (Southeast Album Release)

Thu, April 18^th - Dead Dog Saloon, Murrells Inlet, SC (Southeast Album Release)

Sat, April 27^th - Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans w/Bonerama Brass Band

Mon, April 29^th – Blue Nile, New Orleans, LA (Wimbash, with Doug Wimbish of Living Colour)

Fri, May 3^rd - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival w/ Leo Nocentelli

Sat, May 4^th - One Eyed Jax w/Ghost Note

Fri, May 17^th - Camp Jam, Hammonton, NJ

Sat, May 18^th – Rhythm & Brews Festival, Haddon Heights, NJ w/Philthy

Sun, May 19^th - Nublu, NYC , Album Release Show co-bill w/Philthy

Elise Testone on the Web

www.elisetestone.com

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The Hillbilly Moon Explosion

To the moon, Hillbillies! The Hillbilly Moon Explosion are a European band who just came to the US to play their own unique version of Rockabilly to Americans. They've long held the US in their hearts. Way back in 2006 they traveled to San Diego to record an album 'All Grown Up' with producer Mark Neill (Black Keys). Since then they've become a viral phenomenon, with their 'My Love For Evermore' inspiring myriad tattoos, cover versions, 7" pressings and sixteen million Youtube views. That track was their first duet with Mark 'Sparky' Phillips, the wayward singer from Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go. His well-worn vocals contrasting with the sultry Emanuela Hutter made the pairing one that had to be repeated on their next two albums. Now they are to release a whole album of duets with Sparky, tellingly titled The Sparky Sessions. It includes "Jackson" and the "My Love For Evermore" vinyl and video hit. Seven new tracks are added to the previous Sparky collaborations. Tonight (April 10th) they embark on a 11-day west coast tour, concluding at the renowned 'Viva Las Vegas' Rockabilly Festival on April 20th. Sparky however will remain a mystery for Americans. He's barred from the country after multiple arrests and jail terms during earlier Demented Are Go US tours. (see story HERE)  The Hillbilly Moon Explosion are comprised of two Englishmen living abroad - Oliver Baroni, double bass & vocals, and Duncan James, guitar; a French drummer Sylvain Pettitte, and their captivating Italian/Swiss chanteuse, Emanuela Hutter. Their home town is Zurich in Switzerland. USA TOUR DATES: with Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones and The Delta Bombers (Select dates): 4/12 - Santa Ana CA - Yost Theatre - TICKETS 4/13 - Lancaster CA - VFW Post 300 - TICKETS 4/14 - Riverside CA - Romano's Concert Lounge - TICKETS 4/16 - San Diego CA - Soda Bar - TICKETS 4/18 - Scottsdale AZ - Pub Rock Live - TICKETS 4/19 - Bullhead City AZ - Lazy Harry's 4/20 - Las Vegas NV - Viva Las Vegas Festival MUSIC VIDEOS: My Love For Evermore - https://youtu.be/2rlYPb2plaY?t=16 Jackson - https://youtu.be/_HM_gPFsDpc

www.hillbillymoon.com www.facebook.com/hillbillymoonexplosion

Michael's Musings

Put On Your Best Sunday Dress
Michael Shinafelt 

This has been one of those weeks, not bad, not good, not even in between - indifferent. Yeah they are the ones that befuddle the senses and make your mind go Hmmmmmmm... but at least they are uneventful and they do tend to have an odd calm about them even though they aren't entirely smooth. 

They are just so very, day by day, which isn't a bad or good thing, it simply is, always and will be, much like a constant craving, sands of the hourglass, blah, blah, blah - It's time to release the Kraken!

Apparently you are not allowed to wear the Queen's tiaras, what would you do?

Gird your loins

In dog years you're still a twat

Alexa, get me some ______ fill in the blank, it yours to enjoy! 

Coffee in the morning? Groundbreaking...

I'm going to name it after you

Him: I can't figure you out

Me: Many have tried 

All the boys and all the girls are begging to if you seek Amy

Sonja Morgan of the Captain Morgan, Morgan's 

"I play the ukulele, and I sing, too" - Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Kane "Some Like It Hot"

A prequel to Grease is in the works, we now officially live in Hell

I don't wanna be buried in Pet Semetary - who am I kidding, I'd love to come back from the dead as a homicidal version of my former self!

Do you believe in the power of rubber baby buggy bumpers?

It's Showtime!

Want to see something really scary? Follow me at: 

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Fencing

Fencing
Chris Mason & Sasha Pieterse

Today is all about fencing, no not of the sword fighting variety, but of the getting impaled on one type of thing. 

Here it is peeps the current image of my eye a BTS selfie of Sasha Pieterse aka Alison Dilaurentis & Chris Mason whose character Nolan Hotchkiss bites it by, you go it, getting impaled on a fence, fencing, at the end of the premiere episode of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. 

Consider this definition of "fencing" my contribution to the Urban Dictionary - since I have to look up so many of today's references there I felt like adding to the already muddled waters for some more WTF? moments and collective Google searches among the masses.

Love this image and really love the show, thus my work here is done.

Mic Drop!

PLL: The Perfectionists on the WWW at:
https://freeform.go.com/shows/pretty-little-liars-the-perfectionists  

Monday Motivation

Jacked!
Zac Efron

Today's Monday Motivation secret word is: Jacked as in getting said way by lifting weights. Witness my Boy Toy Zac Efron in jacked to the max form for the Baywatch movie...witness it, do it and do it now!

While I do not want to get as jacked as Boy Zac, Daddy is on his own "Jacked Journey" - say that three time fast. "Yes" minions I added Weightlifting to my repertoire of Spin, Yoga & Abs classes and what a feeling!!!

I honestly remember not really caring for the act of getting jacked when I was younger thus when I was recruited to do so recently by my Toy, there was some reluctance to do so on my part, But my Toy was persistent and I caved, he guided me on which weights I should do and told me what body parts I was doing each for specifically. Everyone should have a Toy as a guide.

So guess what? I am loving this new addition to my life, in fact I find engaging in getting jacked quite addicting.

It's Monday peeps, now get your booty motivated!

Weightlifting on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weightlifting

R.E.M. The Early Years

So Young! Michael Stipe Begin the Begin: R.E.M.'s Early Years Coming via Verse Chorus Press on May 14    Excerpt HERE courtesy of Dangerous Minds Ever wonder about R.E.M.'s early years? Well wonder no more!!!

Begin the Begin is the first biography of R.E.M. wholly researched and written since they disbanded in 2011. It offers by far the most detailed account of the group's formative years--their early lives, their first encounters with one another, their legendary debut show, early tours in the back of a van, initial recordings, their shrewdly paced rise to fame.  The people and places of the American South are crucial to the R.E.M. story in ways much more complex and interesting than have previously been presented, claims Robert Dean Lurie; he explores the myriad ways in which the band's adopted hometown of Athens, Georgia--and the South in general--shaped its members and the character of their art. The South is much more than the background here; it plays a major role: the creative ferment that erupted in Athens and gripped many of its young inhabitants in the late 1970s and early '80s drew on regional traditions of outsider art and general cultural out-thereness, and gave rise to a free-spirited music scene that produced the B-52's and Pylon, as well as laying the ground for R.E.M.'s subsequent breakout success.  Lurie has tracked down and interviewed numerous figures in the band's history who were underrepresented in, or absent from, earlier biographies--they contribute previously undocumented stories and cast a fresh light on the familiar narrative.Advance Praise for Begin the Begin:  "Meticulously researched and always elegantly written, Begin the Begin is a critical but glorious tribute to its subject." --Christopher Sandford, author of Bowie: Loving the Alien "Hope, yearning, and fear are visceral here, and the portrait painted is of something joyous, mad, and brilliant all at once."  --David Guterson, author of Snow Falling on Cedars "This beautiful, joyful book is more than a biography--it's a deep exploration of art and its bloody relationship with business, a meditation on the South, on youth and love, on family and fame, and an intelligent return to the soundtrack of the 1980s."  --Rebecca Lee, author of Bobcat and Other Stories    Pre-order the book HERE Learn more at www.robertdeanlurie.com and www.versechorus.com