Danzig Sings Elvis

“His take on “One Night” — Presley’s foot-stomping rockabilly barnburner, which made it up to Number Four in 1957 — retains all the lustful passion of the original with gently buzzing guitar and as much glorious slap-back reverb as Danzig could find” - Rolling Stone Magazine

The wait is finally over as punk rock icon DANZIG releases his highly anticipated new album DANZIG Sings ELVIS today with Cleopatra Records. After crediting Elvis Presley as one of his greatest influences, DANZIG has wrapped up this eagerly-awaited full-length album, which is also available on vinyl.

While recording this project, it was important for DANZIG to not only include some well-known Elvis recordings, but also some that were not hits, but influential nonetheless. With tracks such as “One Night,” First In Line,” “Like A Baby,” popular versions of “Fever” and a haunting rendition of “Always On My Mind,” there is no denying, DANZIG cut no corners when creating this iconic record.

The first single to be released was “One Night,” which stays true to its classic Elvis foundation while exhibiting a modern alternative polish unlike anything fans would expect to hear. The single was exclusively premiered by Rolling Stone on April 9, giving everyone a glimpse into what this anticipated album will be like.

Now that it is time to shine for DANZIG Sings ELVIS, his loyal fans are being transported back to simpler times as DANZIG pays tribute to The King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley.

To view Danzig’s exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, visit here.

To stream the single: orcd.co/danzigsingsonenight

To order/save the album: orcd.co/danzigsingselvisalbum

I Am The "Tiger King"

Exotic
Rob Lowe

I have a confession to make, I have not seen Tiger King. Yet, because of the wonder of Social Media I feel like I have. Yeah, there's that. 

Well the media frenzy has extended to celebs dressing like Joe Exotic during their quarantine downtime. File that under things to do in Hollywood when one is bored.

My pick for the best Joe Exotic get up is Rob Lowe pictured above. It's pretty eerie, and there's a feral intensity to Rob that really shouts "Exotic."

Thus it makes perfect sense that he and the ubiquitous Ryan Murphy are developing their own version of the truth is stranger than fiction story.

Hey, sounds good to me, and aren't you happy???

Rob on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/roblowe/?hl=en   

"All That Matters"

Lights Out

VOCAL QUARTET LIGHTS OUT RELEASES ‘ALL THAT MATTERS’ SINGLE AND VIDEO TO BUOY SPIRITS AND THANK AMERICA’S HEROES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Philly-Based Group Combines Heartfelt Lyrics with Soaring Harmonies to Create an Anthem for Our Times

Proceeds from Single & Video Benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

New Facebook Live Variety Series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” Airs Saturdays @ 4 p.m. EST

 Call it fate, call it coincidence, call it happenstance, but every so often there occurs a magic moment − unplanned and unforeseen − when a song arrives just at the point it is needed most. Such is the case with “All That Matters,” by LIGHTS OUT, which is poised to become an anthem for these troubling and frightening times.

The first single/video and title track from the vocal quartet’s new album, All That Matters – just released April 17 − is a moving, uplifting and inspirational piece that imbues the listener with what is most needed as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic: Optimism that a better day is on the horizon and the unshakeable belief that the human spirit is always stronger than the most fearsome foe.

Proceeds from the “All That Matters” music video and song download go to First Responders Children’s Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Donations are being accepted now at www.lightsoutvocals.com.

In line with the group’s pandemic efforts, LIGHTS OUT has launched a weekly Facebook Live variety series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” webcasting every Saturday at 4 p.m. EST. Weekly themes range from archival concert videos, to live Zoom performances, fan recipe cooking segments, story-swapping, topical discussions, and most importantly throughout, regular fan interaction. It’s all about maintaining the individual and group intimacy with their fans that the group holds in such high regard despite the tenuous climate the pandemic has created. Indeed, social distancing has inspired LIGHTS OUT to further find ways of staying close to its fans through social media.

Composed by members Chris James and Danny Goscicki, “All That Matters” is a work of classic blue-eyed soul marked by an indelible, instantly familiar melody and the breathtaking vocal harmonies that are the sonic signature of LIGHTS OUT. Despite its of-the-moment urgency, it was written and recorded before the world had ever heard the phrase “COVID-19.”

According to Rob Fleishman, fellow group member Chad Moroz suggested the track be released as a single. “That,” Fleishman explains, “kind of sparked an idea in my head to create the video. So I created the video and it kind of took on a life of its own.

“At first, it was going to go down the road of friendship and how the group is together,” he continues. “But the ‘A-ha!’ moment came while I was watching the news. It kinda hit me that the lyrics are just so inspirational for this moment. It spoke to me as, ‘Why not thank the people who are on the front lines?’ Which is why at the end of the video, we thank everyone − doctors, nurses, cashiers, farmers, truck drivers, teachers, the military− for working as hard as they are to save our lives right now.”

The phrase "working hard" also applies to the Philadelphia-based unit that was formed by its members when they were students at the University of Delaware. Starting as an a capella group inspired primarily by Rockapella and Boyz II Men, LIGHTS OUT has simultaneously traveled several musical paths, including being a popular attraction at many of the nation's top venues,2 performing their own blend of originals and covers, and as a highly successful Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute act as well as their original show, The Jersey Beach Boys.

Through the years, the troupe’s thrilling vocal harmonies, polished stage shows and songwriting prowess have provided LIGHTS OUT with the opportunities to work with Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Philadelphia’s chart-topping vocal group Boyz II Men, and Barry Carl of Rockapella. Boyz II Men co-founder Mike McCary was so impressed by the foursome that he actually served as its manager. Although today, the group’s career is overseen by another Philly music legend, Jerry Gross of the revered 1960s vocal act, The Dovells, the relationship with McCary continues to pay dividends.

“We were all, at one point, going to school for music at the University of Delaware,” offers Chris James. “Being a music major is amazing, because you learn so much, but you also can kind of get pigeonholed a little bit, even in your own mind. You can get kind of closed-in and not realize that even though the rules say you shouldn't do something, there are ways to do it that might sound good. Mike started opening our eyes to different harmonies and different voicings and different movements within the four of our voices that we would not have had otherwise. It's not just that we wouldn't have thought of them. But we probably would have said, ‘That note's not in the chord, that won’t work.’ But he opened our ears and our minds into a completely new way of harmony. And to this day we take that with us everywhere we go.”

The evidence the band members have taken such lessons to heart can be heard on the All That Matters album, which boasts, in addition to the title cut, 12 tracks steeped in the quartet’s shimmering, usually breathtaking harmonies. Aside from nine originals, the album boasts four covers: The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” The 4 Seasons’ “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” and most notably, a sharp and energetic “hip-pop” reinvention of “Stand By Me” featuring a guest appearance by show business titan Ben Vereen.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Apple Music | YouTube 

Michael's Musings

As The Quarantine Turns
Michael Shinafelt

This weeks episode of As The Quarantine Turns clearly has me doing something many of you have more than likely done too. That's correct minions, it's called going through all of your old photos as you can see by this weeks image of myself, I have clearly been doing just that.

Once upon a time I used to bleach what was left of my hair blonde. I did have more fun, and it looked groovy, onward with this weeks tomfoolery buttercups.

It's Purple Monkey Time, woot!

Florida beaches are now open. I'll  just leave that here.

I can deal with your problem, or rock out. But I can't do both

The season finale of  Law and Order: SVU is on tonight, while I can't wait I am riding on a bummer there will be no other new ones until who knows when 😞

Four months in and 2020 feels like 2024

Some sweet news - See's Candy is slowly resuming operations

Now for some frivolous news - It's official I can't stand new addition to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Sutton Stracke, ugh, simply ugh!

Pets are smarter than people, because pets don't hate people over politics

Woman Crush of the Week - Fiona Apple, she made "Fetch" happen with her latest album Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Jack Nicholson recently turned 80, I love me some Jack, what a great actor

All I want is a Disco Stick 

Yesterday was the day when people who were flying private roughly a month ago made social media posts about Earth Day

Also happened yesterday, the title of the Hunter S. Thompson novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas took on a whole new meaning. Think about it, but not too much...

Pizza is my latest food group during quarantine

Join me for a Pepperoni/Jalapeno won't you? at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt.

Hump Day & Chill

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Handwash Jukebox

Free Alexa skill featuring hand-washing songs from Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lilly, John S Hall and others help families protect themselves during COVID-19

“Handwash Jukebox” is a contactless Amazon Alexa skill that uses music to help people wash their hands for the full CDC-recommended 20 seconds

Music and technology join forces to help families protect themselves and fight COVID-19. Handwash Jukebox, the new contactless voice skill for Amazon Alexa, plays a different family-friendly 20-second song every time the user opens the skill, the amount of time the Centers for Disease Control recommends scrubbing your hands. The free skill is available now in the Amazon Skill store in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and India. To use, simply enable the skill and then through your Amazon Echo device, just say “Alexa, open Handwash Jukebox.” To learn more, please visit https://www.handwashjukebox.com.

“We created this skill as a simple and fun way to help flatten the curve.” - Daniel Bremmer, Creative Director

There are thirty songs representing a wide range of musical genres in the skill, with more artists being added regularly. About a third of the artists primarily record music for children, including two GRAMMY® nominees—The Alphabet Rockers and Sonia De Los Santos—and GRAMMY® winner Jon Samson. The skill also includes music by Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lily, The Mammals, GRAMMY® winner Sadler Vaden, Icelandic artists Úlfur Eldjárn and Ólöf Arnalds, King Missile’s John S. Hall and Californiosos, featuring “Farmer” Dave Scher of Beachwood Sparks and others.

The skill is an all-volunteer effort led by advertising creative director Daniel Bremmer and creative technologist Layne Harris with GRAMMY®-winning children’s artist Lucy Kalantari. Dublab veteran Derek McNeill serves alongside Kalantari as Music Supervisor. Katherine Choi is the Design Director and Frank Verderosa is the Sound Engineer.

“Given that Alexa is natively a shared household experience, it was the perfect platform for an idea like Handwash Jukebox.” - Layne Harris, Creative Technologist

Full List of Artists (so far!):

Alphabet Rockers, Ólöf Arnalds, Azalia Snail, Californiosos, Clark Chimp, Dog On Fleas, Shana Falana, John S. Hall, Andrew Koestel, Joanie Leeds, Zoey Lily, Lisa Loeb, LoveyDove, Kent Lucas, The Mammals, Marsha And The Positrons, Mi Amigo Hamlet & Alina Celeste, Music With Michal, Nicolas Pacheco, Rithma, Snowflakes, Sonia De Los Santos, Jon Samson, The Slackers, Sweatson Klank, Úlfur Eldjárn, Sadler Vaden.

“Our mission is to remind families the importance of joy, community and resilience–even in times of great difficulty. It felt right to be part of something that would turn an immensely important activity, like hand washing, into a light and fun experience.” – Lucy Kalantari, GRAMMY® winning artist and Music Supervisor  

The Quarantine Shuffle

Wonder Woman
Lynda Carter

Like most of us I have been watching way more TV of late. Hey, what are we Corn Teen minions supposed to do with limited options???

Well yesterday while channel surfing I struck Television Gold! "Yes" I was feeling my inner Yukon Cornelius when I stumbled upon a two part Batman episode with Julie Newmar as the Catwoman on, followed by an episode of Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner. 

The thing I remembered most about these shows from my days of yore was that they were silly fun. What I really did not recall was how skilled the actors were in bringing depth to that silliness. 

Catwoman
Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar brought surprising pathos to her performance as the kinky Catwoman, even though the material she was given on Batman was pure camp on a stick, Ms. Newmar really understood what she was doing and how to elevate it. 

Likewise Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman and Lyle Waggoner as Major Steve Trevor. They all elevated something silly into something magic.

I truly enjoyed rediscovering these two old friends, sometimes The Quarantine Shuffle isn't too shabby.

Wonder Woman on IMDb -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074074/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6

Batman on IMDb -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059968/?ref_=nm_knf_i1