Alan Palesko from Austin, Texas, plays Jenga with his cat, Moe. Moe is very good at Jenga but tends to throw a hissy fit if things get too difficult. Uber cute.
Category Archives: Entertainment
The Sons – Relic | Music Profile
Their New Single
Relic
Release Date: Monday 9th June 2014 as a digital download
Relic is a heartfelt and gentle song that showcases singer Paul Herron’s accomplished vocal performance against a simple yet effective piano and guitar accompaniment, but the song’s lyrics come from a place of mourning for what has passed.
The Sons, an independent British five piece, draw inspiration for their alternative guitar pop from the likes of Crowded House, Wilco, Paul Simon and Fleetwood Mac.
Creating a current sound with a timeless feel, they are masters at coupling upbeat, catchy songs with rather dark, complex lyrics about the pains and hardships of life.
Having toured the UK & Europe extensively, The Sons have attracted a large and a very loyal following with fans fully funding the making of the band’s third studio album, ‘Heading Into Land’. This record hit the UK album charts upon its release in March 2014, marking a new chapter for the band.
The premiere single from the album, ‘Death Love Money’ was released in January 2014. To mark the release, The Sons invited everyone who pledged money toward the album to a free show at the historic Guildhall Theatre in Derby, England. More than two hundred people packed into the theatre to witness the band debut its new songs, with excited post-gig reactions exploding on social media.
Sydney’s Monks of Mellonwah Touring U.S.A
Monks of Mellonwah are touring the U.S.A for the third time.
Full tour dates are:
Passport Approved (A&R Worldwide Tour, Monks of Mellonwah headlining with guests Lime Cordiale, Hamish Anderson & Giorgi + Leo )
June 6th – Last Exit Live, Phoenix, 9PM
June 9th – Viper Room, West Hollywood, 8 PM
June 10th – The Standard, Fresno, 8 PM
June 11th – The Atrium @ The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA , 9 PM
June 12th – The Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA, 8PM
June 13th – Doug Fir, Portland, OR, 8 PM
June 14th – Bodega Nightclub, Reno, NV, 8 PM
June 17th – Crocodile, Seattle, WA, 8 PM
w/Scott Stapp
June 20th – Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
June 21st – The Emporium, Patchogue, NY
June 24th – Latitude Live, Pittsburgh, PA
June 25th – The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
June 28th – The Machine Shop, Flint, MI
June 29th – Buster’s Billiards & Backroom, Lexington, KY
July 1st – Gillioz Theatre, Springfield, MO
July 2nd – Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden, Fort Smith, AR
Band: Monks of Mellonwah (Sydney, NSW)
Style: Alternative, Indie, Progressive, Electronic, Pop
Similar to: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, John Frusciante, Incubus, Black Keys
Release: Turn the People (March 7, 2014)
Label: Gatcombe Music Pty Ltd
Members: Vikram Kaushik (vocals), Joe de la Hoyde (backing vocals/guitar), John de la Hoyde (bass), Josh Baissari (drums)
Bio:
The Monks of Mellonwah are a band from Sydney, Australia whose music displays a masterful and unique blend of intense space, driving riffs and sharp metaphors.
The Monks of Mellonwah consist of; lead vocalist Vikram Kaushik, guitarist Joseph de la Hoyde, as well as drummer Joshua Baissari and bassist John de la Hoyde. The creative collision of these four musical personalities yields a timeless, yet inimitable array of alternative rock, progressive rock and cinematic-themed scores.
Together for only a little over four years, the Monks of Mellonwah have catapulted quickly into success on a global scale. In addition to worldwide airplay, the band has gleaned over four-hundred press reviews – as well as syncs and licensing – from the likes of Bunim/Murray Productions, MTV Networks, Discovery Channel, and FOX Sports. In addition, the band has already toured the U.S.A, Singapore and Australia. “M.O.M” were voted “Best Indie Rock Band” in the 2012 Artists in Music Awards and placed as the “International Rock Artist of the Year” at the 22nd Annual LA Music Awards in 2012.
The Monks of Mellonwah stand more as a quadrangle than a quartet, with each facet reflecting their cumulative creative goal; to deliver all-original music in its purest, untainted form. Stylistically, the band has evolved dramatically over a short period of time, impossible to be boxed into any genre. There’s a variety of subtle hints of musical influence that arise from each band member, which include Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, as well as bands such as Muse and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Brought together in October of 2009, it was the inherent and collective love of performing live that melded the members Monks of Mellonwah into what they are today. They’ve already had the opportunity to perform at venues around the world which include the world-famous Whiskey A Go Go and The Avalon Theatre in Los Angeles, The Mercury Lounge in New York, as well as Sydney Australia’s The Metro Theatre and The Factory Theatre.
With tours already under their belt in the U.S.A and Asia, the Monks of Mellonwah continue to blossom. “During the last three years, we’ve developed both as individual musicians – but more importantly – collectively as a band also,” adds de la Hoyde. To date, “M.O.M” has released three EPs, beginning in 2010 with Stars Are Out, a five-track debut that featured the single “Swamp Groove” – which became the group?s first popular single on Australian radio. In 2011, they followed the classic-rock and retro sounds of Stars Are Out with an edgy alt-rock single release entitled, “Kyoto.”
In 2012 it was the release of Neurogenesis, a five-track EP, which led to multiple licensing agreements, and press exposure via the EP’s title track as well as the single, “Neverending Spirit.” In 2013, showing their diversity in style, the Monks of Mellonwah released a three-track cinematic trilogy entitled Sky and the Dark Night. The film-inspired project epitomizes what “M.O.M” is all about – interweaving a matrix of multiple genres into one track with an eight minute run time.
In 2013 began release their first full-length album, Turn the People in three-part volumes with the album in its entirety to be released in March, 2014. Volume 1: “Ghost Stories” was released in June 2013, followed by Volume 2: “Afraid to Die” in October. The final Volume 3: “Pulse” is scheduled for release, along with the full album, in March, 2014. Grammy-winner producer and sound engineer Keith Olson (Fleetwood Mac, Ozzy Osbourne, Grateful Dead) produced five of the tracks on the upcoming Turn the People album. In 2014, the band plans on touring both Europe and the U.S.A. in support of the album.
The Monks of Mellonwah set out musically not to repeat past styles, yet rather to pave the future for alternative rock. In doing so, they take the preeminent sounds of 70s psychedelic rock and 90s alternative – and blend it into something fresh and new.
Band of Holy Joy Release When a Gift is a Curse
Their new single on Radio Joy
When a Gift is a Curse
Release date: June 16th
Format: Digital Download
For 30 years original Rough Trade Alumini The Band Of Holy Joy have been a main part of the rich tapestry of alternative urban folk punk groups emanating from the UK. The band continues to write about the same outsider concerns with the same measure of spirit and care and man, they still put on a show.
n the back of great reviews for their latest album ‘Easy Listening’ and to coincide with the band’s appearance, where they headline the second stage at the NME C86 festival at London’s 229 Club on June 14th, Band Of Holy Joy are releasing a digital single ‘When A Gift Is A Curse’ through their own label Radio Joy on Monday 16th June 2014.
The song is a glam hymn to both good living and bad livers and pays tribute to the wayward genius that was George Best.
This is a first in a series of libationary singles spaced six weeks apart and dedicated totally to the joys and pains, the triumphs and tribulations, the art and indeed style attendant to the age old right now remember then forget about tomorrow, beautiful and ugly, sordid and sensual pastime of the older person’s habitual alcohol consumption.
“It’s become something of a tradition for Band Of Holy Joy to release my favourite album of any given year… When A Gift Is A Curse concerns the notion of destructive talent, with George Best taking a leading role…”
Louder Than War, rating 9/10
“..this band still revels in their own potency.”
The Daily Mirror, rating 4/5
“Band Of Holy Joy are an unsung British institution that understands the human heart.”
Mojo, rating 4/5
Jamaica Inn DVD Review
Jamaica Inn was all over social media and also got widespread media coverage concerning the sound quality of the transmission when it aired. Rather unfortunately this distracted from the show when it was aired. I didn’t watch it but saw the reaction on social media. Now you can watch it without any problems, as it has been released on DVD.
Jamaica Inn catches the period very well, the costume and tone really add to the story. I didn’t even recognise Jessica Brown Findlay until I looked up Jamaica Inn on IMDB. She is very brave, wearing no makeup and shapeless clothes. She still looks beautiful, but it is rare for an actress so successful to lack vanity so much, and it bodes well for her future career: it truly shows a dedication to the role.
Jamaica Inn is well shot, drawing you into the story. It has a good script. It is paced well and is an enjoyable, dark, gothic drama. Worth a watch.
Set in 1821 against the forbidding backdrop of windswept Cornish Moors, Daphne du Maurier’s
Jamaica Inn is a dark, gothic tale of desire, survival and morality which has been brought to life in a stunning new TV adaptation by Emma Frost (The White Queen, Consuming Passion). Initially broadcast in three hour-long episodes as a major feature of BBC One’s prime time Easter schedule, the entire series will be released on DVD by FremantleMedia International on 26th
This new adaptation of du Maurier’s iconic novel is directed by BAFTA-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe (Call The Midwife, Five Daughters) and stars Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Labyrinth) as Mary Yellan, Matthew McNulty (The Paradise, Room At The Top) as Jem Merlyn, Sean Harris (The Borgias, Southcliffe) as Joss Merlyn, Joanne Whalley (The Borgias, Gossip Girl) as Aunt Patience, Ben Daniels (The Wipers Times, House of Cards) as Francis Davey and Shirley Henderson (Southcliffe, The Crimson Petal And The White) as Hannah.
Certificate: 15
Single disc DVD
Run time: 180 minutes
RRP: £17.99
Bonus features: Behind the scenes/making of featurette
Each episode is also available for download via iTunes for £1.29 in standard definition and £2.49 in high definition. A series pass costs £4.99 in standard definition and £6.99 in high definition.
Angelina Jolie Knows Being a Superstar Makes Being A Mum Easier
It is good to know that some people know how privileged they are and Angelina Jolie sure does. After being asked if she ever feels ‘mom guilt’ she replied.
“I’m not a single mom with two jobs trying to get by every day, I have much more support than most people, most women in this world. And I have the financial means to have a home and health care and food.
“My kids, they’re here upstairs,” [they were in the hotel she was being interviewed in, upstairs in her room]
“When I feel I’m doing too much, I do less, if I can. And that’s why I’m in a rare position where I don’t have to do job after job. I can take time when my family needs it,”
“I can say I can only get into the (editing) room after the kids are in school, and I have to be back for dinner, and they’re coming for lunch,”
“I actually feel that women in my position, when we have all at our disposal to help us, shouldn’t complain. Consider all the people who really struggle and don’t have the financial means, don’t have the support, and many people are single raising children. That’s hard.”
Kim Kardashian Wedding Dress Pictures
It has been three days since they married and E! have finally released pictures of Kim and Kanye’s wedding. Especially the Givenchy wedding dress. Here it is:
It sure is beautiful but if you were on your third marriage at 33, would you wear white?
Mark Ruffalo ‘I Auditioned 800 Times Without Booking A Role’
For t
hose outside the acting industry it probably looks easy, but what isn’t easy is finding work. This is proven by Mark Ruffalo’s interview in Interview magazine. Here is a highlight:
“In 2000, playwright-cum filmmaker-Kenneth Lonergan’s quirky little sibling drama You Can Count on Me broke out of the festival circuit and went on to be nominated for two Academy Awards (for screenplay and for actress Laura Linney’s star turn). Its success was powered, in part, by the electric performance of a virtually unknown 32-year-old leading man. By the time he booked the part, Mark Ruffalo had already given up on acting at least once, in the mid-’90s, heading home to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to work for his commercial-painter father. But he came back, again and again—auditioning, he once said, 800 times without booking a single role.”
Wow. That is impressive perseverance. Ruffalo also had to deal with his brother being murdered and having a benign brain tumor removed.
Mark Ruffalo is an amazing actor and I am just happy he kept at it. Read the amazing interview, he is interviewed by Julia Roberts and on a shameless self-promotion note: If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.