Friday, May 15, 2015

Can We Talk? Ian Harvie Part II

Ian Harvie
Photo: Austin Young
"I don't understand it, but I accept it is societies go to phrase. It stops us from really putting ourselves in someone else's place. It keeps us from really going there. But we could go there, and if we allowed ourselves to do that we would really understand it." - Ian Harvie

The above quote is a little paraphrased but it stuck with me after I turned off the recorder and Ian and Myself were chatting off record. This is one of the most eye opening, honest things I have heard in a long time.

For those of you not in the loop Ian is a transgender comedian/actor and friend. Post Bruce Jenner's recent interview let's keep the dialogue flowing...

Note: This is part II of my interview with Ian, here is the link to part I:

http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2015/05/can-we-talk-ian-harvie-part-i.html

MS: I get feeling comfortable in your own skin. Now that I am almost fifty twenty somethings are hitting on me all the time. When I was in my twenties I could never get guys my own age interested. 

IH: Their attraction is now, that you posses something inside that they wished they had. Let's take our exteriors out of this. I think people today, as we get to this place, we still deem exteriors important on some level, but...I'm in recovery, and I remember when I first got sober, the person that you ask to sponsor you, they have something that you want. There is something about them that reflects how you want to live your life. Someone might be pretty on the outside, but when you are really attracted to someone it's that they posses something that you wish you had, that you know you have, and you want to crack it open in some way. Sometimes for me it's on the surface, but usually it's what someone says, and I'm like: "Oh shit that was good!"

MS: I was headed there with this.

IH: Well, I just cut you off, sorry (laughs)

MS: Hey, this is an open forum. (laughs) You are really fearless with your comedy shows. 

IH: I won't be exhausted with it until everybody fucking gets it. People ask me "are you tired?" I'm like: "No, no I want everybody to hear this." I will say it to whoever and as many times as I need to. Maybe I will say it differently with new material, but it's a really important part of what I want to do in this art medium. 

MS: Awesome!

IH: Let's jump back to The Nightly Show for a second. 

MS: Go for it.

IH: What I thought was really awesome about it was, that this is the Comedy Central demographic watching this show. Hearing these words and these perspectives, maybe for the first time. Maybe, maybe not, there was a live audience there and there were eruptions of applause. When I said there should be etiquette on behalf of Cisgender people to Transgender people everyone applauded. But that's a live New York audience, the average viewer of that show, who gets their information from what used to be The Colbert Report and what is now this show, most likely hasn't heard this before. What a great gain to have that dialogue on Comedy Central and their demographic. 

MS: Absolutely.

IH: I was like Fuck Yeah! Fuck Yeah! Fuck Yeah, good!

MS: You did discuss Bruce Jenner on the show, I loved your Kardashian joke about all of them having plastic surgery by the way,

IH: Seriously with all the work that entire family has had done this should not be a shock. (laughs)  Yes, it's someone who was male at birth, an iconic athlete who has been in  the homes of all of America for years. Yes, so this is a new story, someone officially coming out like this is going to save lives. It's funny I use to tell a similar joke about Chaz Bono and Cher with all the work she has had done. (laughs) I like thinking of things that flip the narrative and to say the opposite of what everybody is thinking. This is not just a Trans peoples issue to figure out it is also other people's work to do as well. So I like thinking about things in reverse terms, thinking about them in other ways. 

MS: Well in West Hollywood, CA they now have all access bathrooms and I love that because I know when I want to pee, I don't care where I go, I just want to go!

IH: How many times is there a line in one bathroom or the other? I mean, we all use the same bathroom when we are at home. But when we cross the threshold into the public: WE CAN NOT USE THE SAME BATHROOM! (laughs)

MS: One last thing. What the fuck are incinerating boobs?

IH: I just did a podcast where I discussed my chest surgery and was asked what happened to my boobs afterward. I said I didn't know they were probably in a incinerator somewhere in San Francisco. (laughs) 

Keep it real with Ian at:
http://ianharvie.com/
https://twitter.com/ianharvie

Thursday, May 14, 2015

D.O.A. "The Cops Shot A Kid"

D.O.A. Are A O.K.


D.O.A. releases new single "The Cops Shot a Kid"


Their here they're D.O.A. - get used to it!!!


In reaction to the recent deaths of African Americans at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland and New York City, D.O.A. one of the world's most political bands has released a new single: "The Cops Shot a Kid (Gonna Be A Riot)," the first single from D.O.A.'s upcoming studio album "Hard Rain Falling" on Sudden Death Record. The single will be officially released on I Tunes Wednesday May 13th ( HERE).

Joe Keithley, Canada's punk godfather had this to say "I am outraged by the deaths of unarmed suspects at the hands of various police forces in the USA. Of course I realize that there are a lot of good cops that do a difficult job every day, but some of the recent killing sure looks like it's rooted in racism. So I wrote this song about these injustices and the inevitable reaction that will likely follow from the folks in that neighborhood Police should be wearing body cams while on duty. Look at it this way if it weren't for bystanders with cell phones, the public would be not seen what had happened and the truth could have been severely impeded."

D.O.A. is still working on their new 12-song studio album "Hard Rain Falling" and their Kickstarter Campaign will be active until the end of the month.

The band started in 1978 and is known as Canada's punk pioneers. Canada's godfather of punk Joe Shithead Keithley originated the term 'hardcore" back in 1980 and the band pushed the term into the common vernacular with their landmark album Hardcore 81. 

"When I started writing songs for Hard Rain Falling I listened to our early stuff like Hardcore 81 and the Disco Sucks EP and I tried to take same direct to the point, wild and political approach," says Keithley. "So it's back to D.O.A.'s roots the way we are approaching this album."

Keithley with the help of his notorious rhythm section, Paddy Duddy (drums) and Mike Hodsall (bass) will record an album that harks back to the basics of early punk. It will contain fast, short, frantic songs that dive deep into urgent issues of out time: racism, war, gangs, oil pipelines and environmental degradation. 
REMAINING TOUR DATES
Wednesday May 13th - Neurolux, Boise, ID 
Thursday May 14th - Big Dipper, Spokane, WA 
Friday May 15th - Highline, Seattle, WA 
Saturday May 16th - Emerald of Siam, Richland, WA 

Joe Keithley is on Twitter! Follow Joe and the D.O.A. gang on Twitter @DOAJoe and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DOAPUNK

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

When Kris Met Selma

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Kris Jenner & Selma Blair

With the recent news that Selma Blair would be playing the force of nature known as Kris Jenner on the upcoming Ryan Murphy FX series American Crime Story: The People V OJ Simpson, Surprisingly the two had never met, until the day after the announcement that Selma had been cast as Kris.

At the black carpet event for the Children's Justice Campaign in Beverly Hills, California on Tuesday, the two met and as it turns out, they are fans of one another.

They posed for photos and even took selfies together. Kris is quite pleased with the choice of Ms. Blair to portray her. 

Have a entertaining Wednesday!

Go "Crime" on IMDB at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2788432/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Dolly Parton: Coat Of Many Colors

It's A Deal! Dolly & NBC Executives 

Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton...need I say more?


It's official!! During the NBC Upfronts in New York City this morning, where Dolly Parton made a surprise appearance, word came that NBC has greenlit the first original movie under its development deal with the music Icon, actress and songwriter. Coat of Many Colors, named after Parton’s song, will be based on Parton’s upbringing, with the Parton serving as executive producer.

Parton had called the 1971 track her favorite song she has written. It tells the story of how her mother stitched together a coat for her daughter out of rags given to the family, telling her the biblical story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors. But when the girl, all excited, debuts the new coat at school, she is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing rags.
The original coat is now on display in Parton’s Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.

NBC’s deal with Parton, announced in January, includes a series of standalone TV movies based on Parton’s songs, stories and life. They will contain music but won’t be musicals, with Parton possibly appearing in some. Parton is developing the projects with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.

Coat of Many Colors is part of NBC’s slate of event programming for next season, which also includes previously announced The Reaper, a miniseries based on the best-selling memoir by Sgt. Nicholas Irving, a decorated African-American sniper who was deployed in Afghanistan for 100 days, and holiday musical The Wiz Live!.
# # #
 

Monday, May 11, 2015

Unleash The Monster With Dudley Saunders

Dudley Saunders Morphs 
OK, I have never really commented on my posts about the quite talented and intensely moving artist Dudley Saunders, well there you go I just did. Here is his latest video Monster from his amazing CD (which I have) Monsters.

Here is Dudley's statement below about his latest from In These Boxes...

"Generations passed. This is a tintype photo, the first image of family they’d ever owned. He was maybe Jonny’s great-grandson, and he was not a killer: he courted many women. But when he saw the photo, he did not believe it. It was not who he was. It was not who was in control of him. He never married, and died in a mountain hollow after missing a curve he’d driven all his life."



Keep Track Of Your "Monster" at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/dudleysaunders
https://twitter.com/dudleysaunders
https://www.facebook.com/DudleySaundersMusic

Margaret Cho Is psyCHO

MARGARET CHO ANNOUNCES U.S. FALL DATES FOR
THE “psyCHO” TOUR
PRE-SALE TICKETS ON SALE MAY 13 & 14
PUBLIC ON-SALE BEGINS FRIDAY, MAY 15

Margaret Cho is finally copping to something that we Cho Ho's have known for years, that she is psyCHO. Just the way we like her!

Three time Grammy and Emmy nominee, comedian Margaret Cho has announced she will embark on a national U.S. run  in support of The psyCHO Tour this fallMargaret will hit various cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and her hometown of San Francisco before embarking on a string of European dates this winter.

Margaret has been developing brand new material over the last several months and said: “I'm so thrilled to announce that I will be back out on the road. This show is about insanity, and about the anger I feel about everything happening in the world right now, from police brutality to racism to the rising tide of violence against women. It makes me all so crazy - hence the title: “The psyCHO Tour” - there is no “I” in team but there is a “CHO” in psycho". When men go off on something - they are "passionate" and "driven" and when women go off on something we are "hysterical" and "crazy". I'm trying to bring some joy to the hysteria and insanity. 

From singlehood to Boko Haram to Bruce Jenner’s transition to female empowerment, Margaret tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted“It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.”

A big part of Margaret’s show are tributes to her “father in comedy,” Robin Williams and her “mother in comedy,” Joan Rivers, who passed away within a month of one another. Margaret was very close to both of them; her friendship with Robin encouraged her to start the #BeRobin campaign to raise awareness and funds for the homeless community. Her friendship with Joan reinforced Margaret’s desire to remain fearless.


Pre-sale tickets for October 1 thru November 14 dates will be available startingWednesday, May 13 at 10:00 A.M. EST until Thursday, May 14 at 10:00 P.M. EST and the password is “psycho.”   The general public on-sale will begin Friday, May 15 at 12:00 noon EST.

June, July & August dates are currently on sale. All show info is posted at http://www.margaretcho.com/

Margaret Cho Official Website http://www.margaretcho.com/
Margaret Cho Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretcho/
Margaret Cho YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/margaretcho

2015 Tour dates

Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21 -  Orlando, FL - Orlando Improv
Friday, June 26 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium

Saturday, July 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – The Borgata
Friday, July 24 – Montreal Canada – Just For Laughs Festival

Saturday, August 8 – Fire Island, NJ
Thursday, August 13 – Provincetown – Town Hall

Friday, October 2- Minneapolis, MN – Pantages

Saturday, October 3- Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

Sunday, October 4- Cleveland, OH - Hard Rock Live

Thursday, October 8- Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury

Friday, October 9- Washington DC - Warner Theatre

Saturday, October 10 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre

Thursday, October 15- San Fran, CA- Castro Theatre

Friday, October 16- Las Vegas, NV -  Treasure Island

Saturday, October 17- Scottsdale, AZ  - Scottsdale Center for the Arts

Sunday, October 18- Tucson, AZ -  Rialto Theatre

 Thursday, October 22- San Diego - Balboa Theatre

Friday, October 23- Riverside, CA - Fox Theatre

Saturday, October 24- Seattle, WA -  Moore Theatre

Sunday, October 25- Portland, OR -  Revolution Hall

Thursday, October 29- Atlanta, GA -  Tabernacle

Friday, October 30- Miami, FL - Fillmore Jackie Gleason

Friday, November 13- Denver, CO -  Paramount Theatre

Saturday, November 14- Los Angeles, CA -  Wiltern Theatre

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Spend Mother's Day With Traci Lords

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

To all of you Moms out there Happy Mother's Day!

One of my favorite people, Actress/Writer/Icon Traci Lords says her greatest role ever is being a Mom to her son Gunnar pictured with her above. No, he isn't the guy with the silver hair on the right he is the young man in the middle. The guy on the right is her foxy husband Jeff.

So I thought I would share this portrait of Traci and her family, courtesy of Celebrity Wife Swap.

Yes, you read correctly Traci will be swapping places with Jackee, of 227 and Sister, Sister fame on the Wednesday May 20th episode of Celebrity Wife Swap at 10pm on ABC.

Traci says she and her family had a great time and that son Gunnar steals the show. I am sure he does, his effervescent personality jumps at you in the photo. 

"The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children" - Jessica Lange 

Keep up with Mama T at:

https://www.facebook.com/tracilordsfan
https://twitter.com/thetracilords