JJ Braves

JJ Braves

Portland-based musician and producer JJ Braves returns this summer with his powerful new single, “Fix for a Broken Heart,” dropping July 25. The track—an emotionally-charged anthem of resilience—arrives ahead of his forthcoming full-length album and is the first taste of what’s shaping up to be his most fully realized release yet. JJ’s summer tour begins this week in Portland, OR and stretches across the West Coast through early August. JJ Braves is the throwback rock project of LA-based artist Joshua Keever, blending synth-driven hooks, classic rock theatrics, and deeply personal lyricism. Drawing inspiration from the power-chord heroics of Queen and Weezer, the slick pop swagger of Huey Lewis & the News, and even the animated bravado of the Transformers theme song, JJ Braves channels those influences into anthemic, emotionally resonant songs. His debut EP, The Circle Complete, introduced audiences to his signature stacked guitar tones and high-energy synth arrangements—designed to uplift listeners of all ages. Writing music from a young age as a coping mechanism for emotional isolation, Keever infuses the JJ Braves project with purpose: to empower misfits, outsiders, and anyone who’s ever struggled to feel like they belong. “Fix for a Broken Heart” carries that same message—pushing through pain and finding strength when everything seems broken. JJ Braves - Summer 2025 Tour Dates 7/24 – Portland, OR @ White Eagle Saloon 7/25 – Seattle, WA @ Central Saloon 7/26 – Clarkston, WA @ Hogan's Pub 7/27 – Boise, ID @ Lost Grove Brewing 7/28 – Elko, NV @ Charlee's Bar 7/29 – Reno, NV @ Reno Public Market 7/30 – Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides 7/31 – Long Beach, CA @ Supply & Demand 8/1 – North Hollywood, CA @ Kulak's Woodshed 8/2 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickhouse 8/3 – Medford, OR @ Rockafairy   Linktree Instagram Facebook Spotify Apple Music

 

Monday Motivation

Here's your Monday Motivation for July 28th 2025. We all tend to cling to the familiar rather than take the leap into uncharted territory. Hey, it's easier like eating comfort food. 

I have chosen my peace at this stage in my life and trust me when I state that I have visited chaos a few times on this journey. Doing so has finally put the nail in the coffin of the Big "C" because while my peace is a lot of work, the end result of having it is worth it to infinity and beyond.

This nugget of wisdom came to me via my friend Robert Hensley's Nature Reconnect which I follow on Instagram and Facebook. I love the daily affirmations he posts!  

Here is his mission statement:

I am a dedicated Personal Rewilding Coach and Meditation Leader, assisting others in their journey to acknowledge, accept, and honor their innate relationship to Nature through very specific meditative and reflective practices for the welfare of their mental and physical health. 

Why? Because I believe in a world where our species proves its value to the universe through stewardship, caring for and protecting the world to which we owe our lives. I want the generations to follow to live in a world that isn't diseased and decaying, but rich in diversity and abundance. Through personal rewilding, I believe this is possible. 

Find out more by hitting the links below, Monday Motivation indeed! 

https://rhnaturereconnect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/rhnaturereconnect

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

"Twisted Reality"

Have You Any Soul?

These days reality is twisted enough already without the added confusion of AI. This being stated AI can also be fun!

Case in point: My latest TikTok obsession is the creepy/macabre/ghoulish/dark/horrific (did I miss any perverse adjectives?) videos straight outta of AI creators.

These are truly amazing and get under my skin and inhabit all the darkest corners of my mind. A personal fetish of mine is a grisly take on the children's nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep. It's done as a Death Metal song rewritten with disturbing AF lyrics. 

It's Demonic Singer is featured above. It's from my favorite deranged AI site on TikTok: Twisted Reality.

Sunday Funday has never been so fiendish...

Twisted Reality on TikTok -

https://www.tiktok.com/@twistedreality68  

Team Satan!

Satan

Thank you Trey Parker and Matt Stone for South Park. Season 27, Episode 1 is GENIUS! 

Also for the sarcastic apology, keep it up guys!

Team Satan all the way!!!

South Park on the WWW -

https://southpark.cc.com/  

Have A Super Friday!

It's Superman!
David Corenswet

Seen the new Superman movie yet? Well I highly recommend it. The comments below made by Supergirl convey my exact thoughts and feelings about it.

What's that you say? "Yes" Supergirl. "No" not Milly Alcock from the upcoming Supergirl movie, but none other than OG Helen Slater from the one in 1984. 

Hit her (and my thoughts) after the jump and have a Super Friday!!!

Superman on Rotten Tomatoes -

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_2025   

Michael's Musings

Sold - There's Got To Be A Better Way Than This
Michael Shinafelt

"Last night my mother said to me

When you grow up what will you be
If not the white minority
At least protect me
I'm not a factory about to be shut down

Sold - did you hear it? - I'm sold
Sold - did you hear it? - I'm sold
Sold - did you hear it? - I'm sold" - Sold, Boy George 

SALUT! It's National Tequila Day!!!

In a world of Kanyes, be an Ozzy Osbourne. RIP Prince of Darkness 

They only call you Daddy because you disappoint them like their real father, the more you know

Gen-X women will never be "Karens" they are "Heathers" that's all

Getting caught having an affair at a Coldplay concert has got to be one of the Top 5 whitest things in history

Been rewatching Nip/Tuck on Tubi...I love how provocative it is, not to mention all the great Guest Stars they had on it

Do I regret burning bridges? No. I do regret certain people weren't on those bridges though

If you're feeling responsible, you could delay your boat trip until you've tied up loose ends...

Woman Crush of the Week - Julianne Moore in Todd Hayne's Safe. The film is now thirty years old! She and it are brilliant!

Imagine wasting your life obsessing over the lives of gay strangers, there's that

FYI if prayer worked it wouldn't be allowed in casinos, discuss

Are you ready for it? The Fantastic Four: First Steps is here!!!

Music connects people. Soylent Green is people. 

Tomorrow isn't promised be a c#nt today, think about it, but not too much 

Join me right here, right now -

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

https://bsky.app/profile/michaelshinafelt.bsky.social

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelshinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

Christian Bale & Cher

Today we are going to Hump Day & Chill but make it fashion, got it?!

Well what could be more fashion than Cher & Christian Bale photographed together at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Rome??? I ask you? Oh, I'm not waiting for an answer FYI!

Don't they look absolutely fabulous together? Nod your head "Yes" because they do!!!

I can't think of a more divine way to Hump Day & Chill, you?

Fashion, turn to the left, turn to the right...

Dolce & Gabbana on the WWW -

https://www.dolcegabbana.com/en-us/