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 

Michael's Musings

And This Cross Is Your...
Michael Shinafelt

"And this curve, is your smile, And this cross, is your heart, And this line, is your path" Red Shoes, Kate Bush

It's only the second day post my bunion surgery and it feels like an eternity. I have been for the most part off my feet per Drs. orders. Also having erratic sleep patterns and lack of appetite. For someone who is usually very active as I am this is not the best case scenario. It's not the worst either. My mantra "This line is your path"...

Imagine a world where air came to earth in balloons, 99 red ones to be exact

Go Speed Racist, Go!

On a lighter "Go" note "Go Flash Go" from the 1980 camp classic Flash Gordon (for those who are young)

Big Little Lies season two finale this Sunday...can't wait!

Remember when you were reading your History Books and couldn't wrap your head around how Nazi Germany happened? 

Did you hear? They are going to reopen a hair gel mine in Kentucky? Now THIS is what Fake News is

In case you care the Emmy Nominations were announced yesterday, doesn't it now seem so far away?

Caught Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! on the rooftop of The Montalban Theater in Hollywood this past Friday. My first time seeing it on a big screen. It's bonkers! In case you are wondering that is a recommendation 😉

Woman Crush of the Week - Laura Dern, she puts the top in over the top on Big Little Lies

It is blue, it reminds me of you

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? Oh wait, I don't have a cookie jar, nor do I buy cookies

Got Wine?

Big Brother apparently is airing and everyone is complaining about the disgusting contestants on Twitter. So whats your point???

I like to ride my bicycle, but at this point I'd settle to be able to get to Trader Joe's in an Uber

Mention it all to me here -
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

Everyone Know It's Kenny!

This week's Hump Day & Chill honor goes to Baker and Adams for their simple yet compelling, not to mention downright sexy images of model Kenny.

Baker and Adams also shoot against one of my favorite things a stark white backdrop. Kenny has a sexy ease, a comfort in his own skin that is quite evident while he is naked in front of the camera.

This might be because, or might not be because, Kenny is a dancer (who am I kidding it is because Kenny is a dancer.) 😃 Wow does this make for some sensual, erotic photos that need to be Hump Day & Chilled to ASAP, like now, right here, in the moment, as it were...

Tye as in Tye Briggs Favorite Hunks & Other Things gets to the bottom, so to speak of, what made this shoot so special.

So what are waiting for? I've already started, roll with me by clicking on the link below. Down below, below your belt, ahem!

Now where did I put that...???

https://favoritehunks.blogspot.com/2018/07/stark-white-kenny-by-baker-and-adams.html  

Just Because... "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"

Pals
Mariska Hargitay & Peter Gallagher

Just Because it will become the longest running TV Drama in history this season, twenty-one years and counting. Just Because it is one of my favorite TV Shows ever & Just Because Mariska Hargiaty is terrific as Olivia Benson. Here she is along with another actor I like, Peter Gallagher on the set the upcoming record breaking season in NYC.

It never ceases to amaze me how intricate, clever and compelling Law and Order: SVU storylines are. The coolest thing about them is they start out headed in one direction and more often than not veer off into another one you would have never thought. "Yes" snd they all make logical sense.

Along with top notch actors, the writers are amazing as well. When I see these stories unfold, as a writer I think to myself "Wow! How did they come up with that?!"

To keep a show going this many years and maintain the quality and keep it's audience is no small feat. 

Congratulations to all involved I am looking forward to this season dropping, can't wait to watch!

Law and Order: SVU on Twitter ("Yes" I follow it on there)
https://twitter.com/nbcsvu

Monday Motivation

Pump It Jam!
Gal Gadot

Today's Monday Motivation is the heavy topic of weightlifting, something that I recently discovered at the age of 53. I attempted lifting in my twenties and couldn't stand it. Then post my fifty pound weight loss I was told by someone close to me that I would start lifting weights. Well this person used to be a trainer and I told them if they wanted me to do that they would coach me on what they thought I should do and how to proceed correctly.

They did, and I now do! I F#cking enjoy lifting weights now. I think I figured out why. There is more to it than bulking up, also at this point in my life anything I do, I am doing for myself. Another reason, is I now know how to do each set of weights I was assigned to do with properly and with intent. Meaning I like the control I have while engaging in this form of exercise.

For visual inspiration on this Monday I bring you Wonder Woman herself Gal Gadot hitting those beasts and hitting them hard! As her T-Shirt says: JOCK and indeed she is...!!!

Take that Monday!

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

Silly Sunday

Since I am feeling Silly on a Sunday and Taylor Swift is in the spotlight right here, right now I thought it would let the good times roll and post her goofy AF Got Milk? ad.

First off let me state I am NOT a milk drinker. I can't stand it, but Taylor apparently does judging from her milk stache bringing all the boys to the yard. 

All of the Got Milk? ads are sublime in how ridiculous they are, but Swifty gets the singling out for this Silly Sunday. 

Now get out there and get yourself some...

Mooooooo!

Taylor on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/?hl=en 

You've Got To Have Friends

"The Pretenders With Friends"

The Pretenders featuring Chrissy Hynde performs with special guests 

Iggy Pop, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Kings of Leon and Incubus!

Blu-ray / DVD / CD package available July 12th featuring 

bonus interviews with band members, slide show, trailers & more

Just Because, I  F#cking love The Pretenders!!!

Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling band The Pretenders featuring the Legendary Chrissy Hynde performs with special guests including Iggy Pop, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Kings of Leon and Incubus, recorded live at the Decades Rock Arena in Atlantic City, NJ.

Songs include "Brass in Pocket"; "Message of Love" by Incubus, "I'm Only Happy When It Rains" by Shirley Manson, "Precious"; "Candy" by Iggy Pop and Chrissy Hynde", "Talk of the Town"; "Back on the Chain Gang"; "Drive" by Incubus; "Mystery Achievement", "Fools Must Die" by Iggy Pop, and "Middle Of The Road" encore performance featuring The Pretenders with Iggy Pop, Incubus, Kings Of Leon and Shirley Manson. 

Complete details HERE