Tuesday, April 14, 2020

"Food As A Machine Gun"


ENEMY RADIO SURPRISE FANS WITH DEBUT ALBUM,
"LOUD IS NOT ENOUGH,"
AVAILABLE NOW
 
Chuck D and Flavor Flav Reveal Recent Breakup Was a Hoax,
A Commentary on Social Media-Driven Disinformation
And Hip Hop's Negative News Spin,
As They Collaborate on
"Food As a Machine Gun" by Enemy Radio Featuring Public Enemy

Enemy Radio, the DJ+MC auxiliary unit of Public Enemy made up of Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws, release their debut album today, "Loud Is Not Enough." The album is led by the single, "Food As a Machine Gun," which features a special guest: Public Enemy (including both Chuck D and Flavor Flav), revealing their "War Of The Worlds" inspired hoax that began on March 1 when Chuck D announced Flav would no longer be a part of the iconic group following a public dispute.
 
"I had watched Orson Welles' 'War Of The Worlds' from 1938 when he pulled the wool over the public's eyes as they put 100% belief in the technology of radio," explains Chuck D. "Most people followed like a Pavlovic dog just like they do now. Flav doesn't do benefits and stays away from political events - we been cool and always agreed about that. Enemy Radio was built for that reason, to be a DJ+MC auxiliary unit of Public Enemy, a no-slack homage tossback to DJ+MC roots. It is DJ Lord, myself and Jahi with the S1Ws. Hearing the confused mush of political talk while under the bowels of Trumpotus made me use a presidential stage as my platform. Out of this storm came a plan between Flav and me to remind people that what's important should have as much, if not more, value than just what's popular. Thus came the HOAX, our 'War Of The Worlds.' Believe half of what you hear and NONE of what you see."
 
He also used the hoax to illustrate how the media disproportionately covers bad news over good news when it comes to hip hop. While Public Enemy has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and toured the world for over 30 years including performances at Coachella and Glastonbury, it was the conflict between the group's frontmen that made Chuck D a trending topic on social media and garnered global media attention.  Read Chuck D's full statement on the HOAX here.
 
"So it's April 1, 2020 and as we hoard food and empty store shelves, Chuck D and Flavor Flav hijack it as April 'FlavChuck' Day to end the HOAX with Enemy Radio's new song, 'FOOD AS A MACHINE GUN.' 'Don't Believe The Hype' 2020 style" says Chuck D. "That's right, this is Enemy Radio featuring Public Enemy, with more around the corner: Enemy Radio's debut album, 'LOUD IS NOT ENOUGH,' is here. 'FOOD AS A MACHINE GUN' is the first taste, an attack on the food industrial machine that opens minds to the direct need, dependency and necessity - yet killer - of our current lives, taking inspiration from Kristin Lawless and her book, 'Formerly Known As Food.'"
 
Enemy Radio's debut single sets their sights on the dangers of an industrial food system that adds chemicals and preservatives to grocery store products at the cost of nutrition, resulting in devastating changes to brains and bodies. The concept was inspired by advocate and author Kristin Lawless. "The industrial world food machine rolls like gangbangers in the 21st century of chaos. Who protects us from the weapon formerly known as food?" asks Chuck.
 
"The cracks in our food system have busted wide open," explains Lawless. "The way we produce our food has helped to create this pandemic and the poor-quality products we consume leave us vulnerable to infection. Radical change around food production is required now if we want to prevent future pandemics, protect our planet and save our lives."
 
"Does it take doing crazy shit or catastrophe to wake people up? Obviously so, even when paying attention is the cheapest price to pay," he continues. "So if you got that in your wallet, Enemy Radio is serving up 'FOOD AS A MACHINE GUN.'"
 
About Enemy Radio
Enemy Radio is the DJ+MC auxiliary unit of Public Enemy, a no-slack homage tossback to the group's roots: a soundsystem of mics, turntables and the political essence of protest. They performed throughout Europe with Wu-Tang Clan and De La Soul as part of the Gods of Rap Tour last May and at the Sanders rally on March 1.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Bang A Pot & Give A Yell!

Clan, Clang, Clang Went The Pot...
Sarah Silverman 
Apparently there is a new tradition happening in NYC during this time of quarantine. The citizens of the Big Apple take to their balconies at a designated time and bang pots and yell in support of essential workers "healthcare workers, delivery store workers and delivery people."

What a great way to boost morale in the hard hit city. Above we see Sarah Silverman enthusiastically joining her fellow New Yorkers in the much deserved recognition

Thus I leave you with this notion, try to do something every day that helps put a smile on you and other peoples faces. Trust me it is amazing. The few times I venture out during the week I always smile at people as I pass them on the street or shop side by side with them for groceries.

It's a simple yet powerful thing to do.

Keep on keeping minions!

Sarah on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/sarahkatesilverman/?hl=en

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Happy Easter Lockdown

It's All An Illusion...
Michael Shinafelt
My name is Michael, I'll be your Easter Bunny today, give it up do as I say, give it up and let me have my eggs...

This is my current Easter Mood, black & white, with the beautiful Los Angeles skyline in the background and a mysterious bunny, that is symbolizing who knows what?

While times are uncertain, there is still beauty in the world and this captures all of that and more, depending on what you take from it.

Honestly I felt like Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko when this was shot. However I don't believe the world is that bleak, I always choose the ray of light over the darkness. That doesn't mean I don't have my moments, I am realistic, but my will and belief in the good of others is strong.

Wishing you and yours the best. 

Happy Easter from Michael Bunny!

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

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Virtual(ly) "No Exit"

Coin & Ghost Presents
No Exit [-19] 
A Digital, Quarantined Reimagining of Sartre’s Classic
Directed by Alex Demers & Zach Davidson
Presented on Zoom
Saturday, April 11, 2020 @ 6 & 8:30pm PST
Tonight!!! 
Coin & Ghost, LA’s theatrical home for remixed mythologies, will present its latest digital adventure, No Exit [-19], by Jean-Paul Sartre. With two performances on Saturday, April 11, 2020 (6:00 and 8:30pm PST), the performance takes Sartre’s classic and streamlines it, placing it directly in the context of today’s world: quarantine, Zoom, and a collective sense of existential dread. 

In No Exit [-19]three recently dead strangers find themselves trapped together in Hell, but it isn’t the Hell they had expected—no flames, no torture, no demons—just two other humans connected via Zoom, and some disappointing furniture. Over the course of the play, they come to discover that they have been confined together intentionally, that the three of them are so incompatible that Hell, for them, is just being trapped together for eternity. Co-directed by Coin & Ghost Artistic Director Zachary Reeve Davidson and frequent collaborator, Alex DemersNo Exit [-19] is a thoughtful, timely, and surprisingly funny take on the Hell we are all currently living in. For information and to join the Zoom call for the performance, please visit https://coinandghost.org/noexit19. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5, and half the proceeds will be donated to the Coronavirus Relief Fund.


The cast of No Exit [-19] is comprised of Davidson (Garcin), Jessica Antenorcruz (Inez), Elisa Rosin (Estelle) and Demers (Host). Choreography is by Rachael Caselli, with stage management by Niki Armato, technical rebellion by Will Cotter and documentation by Meredith Adelaide. The ambitious team is made complete with Coin & Ghost’s inner circle that includes its Managing Director Marguerite French, Associate Artistic Director Kendall Johnson and Director of Community Engagement Joseph Baca (with Davidson, Rosin, and Armato rounding out the admin team).
LINKS:
• No Exit [-19] info & tickets - https://coinandghost.org/noexit19 
• Coin & Ghost - https://coinandghost.org
• C&G Twitter - https://twitter.com/CoinAndGhost 

Friday, April 10, 2020

"Blvds Of Splendor"

Photo:
Robert Sebree
Cherie Currie Returns with New Star-Studded Solo Album
“Blvds of Splendor”Set For Release Via Blackheart Records April 28, 2020

Billy Corgan, Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff, Juliette Lewis and more make guest appearances
Digital-Only Release Features Remake of The Runaways Classic “Queens of Noise”
Instant Grat Track of  “Queens of Noise” With Album Pre-Order - https://presave.io/t/cheriecurrie
Click here https://youtu.be/ZrJxqCrfBWk to view In-Studio footage of “Queens of Noise” Recording Session
 70’s Icon and Ex-Runaways singer Cherie Currie has confirmed a release date for her latest solo project which features a bevy of rocks finest on the new album, Blvds of Splendor. The album is set to be released digitally on April  28, 2018 via Blackheart Records  Pre-Order Link and features guest collaborations with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Slash and Duff from Guns N’ Roses, as well as Juliette Lewis, Brody Dalle, The Veronicas and ex-Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, who also produced the set.  “Cherie’s voice tells it all, she is the real deal. And now more than ever that voice tells the story of where’s she’s been in her life. This record is about who Cherie Currie is now. We’ve waited a long time to hear this icon of Rock N’ Roll do what she does best. I’m very proud to be a part of this album by one of the best female singers of all time.” said Matt.
Blvds of Splendor has been a labor of love as Cherie & Matt originally began work on it back in 2010 when Cherie was promoting The Runaways movie (currently streaming on Netflix) which stars Dakota Fanning as Cherie and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett.  The tracks languished in the vaults for years while Cherie went back to work on her chainsaw carvings (see here: CNNand did other studio work for 2015’s Reverie release, which features some of the last works of legendary Runaways manager/producer Kim Fowley
Cherie
Photo:
Robert Sebree
In 2016, Cherie was set to release Blvds of Splendor when she had a near death accident while chainsaw carving falling over 12 feet to the ground off of a hilltop scaffolding.  The accident left Cherie with partial facial paralysis and severe head trauma for over 10 months.   After her recovery, she met and went in the studio with Fanny drummer & vocalist Brie Darling and in 2019 they released their critically acclaimed The Motivator album via Blue Elan Records.  Cherie is back to chainsaw carving again and is ready to finally release  Blvds of SplendorI’ve never had so much fun making a record before. We all looked at each other and went, ‘Oh my God, there’s magic happening here Cherie said.
Blvds of Splendor was released on 180 Gram Translucent Red Vinyl for Record Store Day in 2019 with a limited run of 3000 copies.  This will be the first time the album is available worldwide digitally for the fans. The digital release features three bonus tracks (including a remake of The Runaways classic “Queens of Noise” featuring Brody Dalle, The Veronicas, Juliette Lewis and Matt Sorum paying homage to late Runaways drummer Sandy West) that were not included on the Record Store Day vinyl release.  "Queens of Noise" will be offered as an instant grat track when you pre-order the album: https://presave.io/t/cheriecurrie.  View the Queens of Noise Recording Session
Follow Cherie Currie:
Cherie Currie Official Website: cheriecurrie.com 
Learn more about Cherie and her chainsaw carving here: http://www.chainsawchick.com/about.html

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Michael's Musings

Quarantine & Chill
Michael Shinafelt
Hello from Quarantine, hope everyone is doing well and not going too stir crazy. I plan on staying in today all day. That's correct I will only exit my abode to collect my mail. That's it. 

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands, but if you aren't come with me to the other side...do it, I dare you!

Obviously I am having my weekly period, not my weekly exclamation point. That is all.

Hey Kids, don't stress about college at this point rehab is going to be harder to get into

Quarantine Movie of the week - Happy Death Day, lot's of fun!

Overheard: She's like the Yoda of pussy

Well, well, well if it isn't the consequences of your actions. Say "Hello" to them.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres this coming Wednesday, there's that

A banana has 108 calories, a gin & tonic has 91, the more you know

Can't wait to spend another day alone with my F#cking thoughts


Woman Crush of the Week - Kristen Stewart who turns 30 today. I like her independent spirit.

Something to look forward to? Law and Order: SVU is on tonight

La da dee, La da dee doo, La da da meLa da da you, La da dee, La da dee dooThere's only me, There's only you...

Vengeance is a lazy form of grief

My soft boiled eggs are a travesty 

What pair of shorts shall I don today?