Month: April 2023

Logan Halstead’s hauntingly honest debut album Dark Black Coal

Logan Halstead proves age is just a number on debut album Dark Black Coal, due out May 5, 2023. Photo: Google

The success of Logan Halstead’s first single Dark Black Coal has allowed him to build a fan base through YouTube, touring, and opening for artists like Zach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin, Town Mountain, and many more. With the record released over a year after he recorded the album, OurVinyl came into his life at the perfect time. In a collaboration with OurVinyl, Logan released a taste of his upcoming project with a four-song EP that has amassed over 120,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The wisdom Logan Halstead has accrued at just 19 years old can only be measured by those decades older than himself. (IVPR, 2023)

Born in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia, it is no surprise that Halstead draws influence from like-minded peers Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson, but he has also found inspiration in the work of Nicholas Jamerson and Cole Chaney. “All these folks mentioned have laid a path and shown that it’s okay to be from these parts; we’re not so looked down on anymore,” says Halstead. The aforementioned contemporaries have given him the ability to be proud of who he is, and that has led him to be a driving force in the scene of young artists from the Appalachian region.

The hauntingly beautiful Dark Black Coal debuts on May 5, 2023 via Thirty Tigers. Fans can hear the first track “Kentucky Sky” and pre-order and save the album.

Halstead drew inspiration for the song by admiring the scenery of Kentucky outside his back window at the time. Simple, yet powerful, Halstead softly fingerpicks at his guitar accompanied by broad strokes from a fiddle in the background as they paint a picture about keeping a loved one close. Describing the song in his own words Halstead states, “I was picking around in the kitchen looking out the window and saw two cardinals playing on the fence out back. I thought back to a summer in Crittenden, Kentucky, where there were rolling hills and cow pastures. It seemed like the sun never wanted to set there. That’s how I came up with the title.”

Halstead wrote and released his first song Dark Black Coal at just 15 years old and has already amassed over 5 million views on YouTube. Rothman was immediately moved by Halstead’s lyrics and knew instantly how he wanted to produce the proper sound for Halstead’s stories to be told. Rothman states, “Logan’s songs are far older than he is. His voice hit my heart muscle hard, there is so much living in the resonance of his singing but so much youth at the same time.”

In speaking about his experience with the recording process, Halstead states, “It was a great experience. Lawrence is top-notch. They made me feel comfortable just to go in and do what I do, and to get to record in a place like that is a dream come true, especially for a holler kid.”

Dark Black Coal track list:
Good ol’ Boys with Bad Names
The Flood (written by Cole Chaney)
Man’s Gotta Eat
Dark Black Coal
Mountain Queen
Kentucky Sky
Coal River
Far From Here
1952 Vincent Black Lightning (written by Richard Thompson)
Uneven Ground
Bluefoot

Logan Halstead 2023 Spring Tour Dates:
Thursday, May 4 – Nashville, TN – The Basement
Friday, May 5 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
Saturday, May 6 – Pineville, KY – Bell Theater
Thursday, May 11 – Newport, KY – Southgate House
Friday, May 12 – Louisville, KY – Zanzibar
Saturday, May 13 – Huntington, WV – The Loud
Wednesday, May 17 – Buckhannon, WV – Strawberry Music Festival
Friday, May 19 – Richmond, VA – The Camel
Saturday, May 20 – Charlotte, NC – Evening Muse
Sunday, May 21 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Saturday, May 27 – Slade, KY – The Pit House
June 9-10 – Pineville, KY – Laurel Cove Music Festival

New movie release: Space Wars: The Quest for the Deepstar

Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar is set for digital release May 2 but is now in limited theater release. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The official trailer has dropped for the upcoming action-packed sci-fi adventure movie Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar, starring Michael Paré, Olivier Gruner, and Sarah French. The movie is set for digital release on May 2, with some theatrical play dates beginning April 21, and has just been selected for screening at this year’s Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival. (October Coast, 2023)

The film concerns a father-daughter team of space scavengers who must race against a band of evil mercenaries to reach the legendary treasures on board a lost mythical freighter. Their quest will force them to navigate a universe filled with giant monsters, aliens, robots, and a mortal enemy seeking vengeance.

The movie also stars Tyler Gallant, Rachele Brooke Smith, Anahit Setian, Jed Rowen, Elise Muller, and Sadie Katz. In recent months, the film won the Golden Marquee Award for Best Feature Film and the Outstanding Producing Award at the Zed Fest Film Festival. It also won the Gold Award for Best Sci-Fi Feature at the Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Awards and Festival, a Gold Award and Silver Award for Feature and Directing at the Hollywood Gold Awards, and an “Outstanding Performance” Award for Sarah French and Diamond Award for “Best Actor in a Sci-Fi” for Michael Pare’ at the New York Best Actor & Director Awards.

Garo Setian, producer/director of the award-winning sci-fi film Automation, directs and edits from a screenplay by Joe Knetter, based on a story by Setian and Knetter. Producers are Jeff Miller, Robert Parigi, ‘Evil’ Ted Smith, Ben Stobber, and Joanna Fang, along with Garo and Anahit Setian, Joe Knetter, Sarah French and Bill Klinakis. Ronnie D. Lee is executive producer.

Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar is a co-production between Hungry Monster Entertainment, Millman Productions, and Ron Lee Productions. Michael Su is Director of Photography, Anthony Pearce is Production Designer, Jo Anna Heckman is Costume Designer, ‘Evil’ Ted Smith is lead prop fabricator, Steve Clarke and Paul Knott provide the visual effects, Jeff Farley handles practical creature FX and the music is by Joel Christian Goffin.

It will be in the following theaters starting April 21:

April 21-27: Lumiere Cinema, Beverly Hills, CA (Q&A on first night) Camelot Theatres, Palm Springs, CA
April 22: The Frida Cinema, Santa Ana, CA (Q&A with cast and crew)
April 28-May 3: Galaxy Theatres Boulevard Mall, Las Vegas, NV
April 28 & 29: Moonlite Drive-in, West Wyoming, PA (double bill w/Escape From Death Block 13)
April 30: Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival, Miami, FL May 5 & 6: The Fallon Theatre, Fallon, NV

New book release: ‘My Samurai: The Way of the Warrior’ by Masaki

‘My Samurai: The Way of the Warrior’ is the new YA novel by Masaki. Photo: Masaki, used with permission.

Masaki has worked as a therapist and educator with young adults from many countries around the world. His latest novel and his creative writing are a reflection of that work and a desire to help youth live with purpose and passion, fulfilling their unique potential, and embracing the hero’s journey. If you like fantasy, mythology, quests, and gripping stories, you will love “My Samurai: The Way of the Warrior.” The first in a series of Young Adult novels by author Masaki, this fast-moving tale is full of memorable characters, suspense, humor, twists and turns, tragedy, and triumph. Set in futuristic, dystopian, and mythical worlds, the story serves as a reminder that a hero lives within us all. (Masaki, 2023)

** For a limited time, from Friday April 21 00:00 to Saturday April 22 23:59 PST, you will be able to download it for free as part of a free e-book offer. Click here for your free copy. **

“My Samurai: The Way of the Warrior” – Your life is working out and making sense, until one night you discover an ancient warrior standing on guard outside your family apartment. What is up with that? And what do you do, especially when nobody else can see him? Nineteen-year-old Eddie Sato does not have any answers either. Life is hard in the Freezone; a scorched and broken part of the city, afflicted by The Dry and run by a corrupt organization. Eddie does not need any more problems or anything changing. But far reaching change has just arrived. His life will never be the same again. As the rebellious Freezoner pushes back, unseen forces propel him onto a mystical path, known as the Way of the Warrior. Shuffling forward, Eddie begins his training. At the same time, an extraordinary, mythical realm opens up, where he discovers his ancestors and a menacing shapeshifter who serves a destructive deity from the underworld. When those closest to him are attacked, the reluctant warrior is faced with a terrible decision. Should Eddie try and save the life of someone he loves, or should he let them die to help prevent the destruction of humanity? Nothing can prepare you for this journey.

“As a non-reader, this book took me on a surprise adventure, it was funny, punchy, and relatable.” – @abuvrubys

‘My Samurai: The Way of the Warrior’ by Masaki. Photo: Masaki, used with permission.

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Celebrate Fiesta at Thompson San Antonio’s block party

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is hosting a block party to celebrate Fiesta in style. Photo: Google

San Antonio’s Fiesta is coming up this month and it is one of the largest festivals in the U.S., providing countless special events that showcase the city’s rich Latin heritage and culture. On April 29, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk invites guests and locals to a Fiesta Block Party with fun activities, food and drinks, live entertainment, and excellent views of the Flambeau parade, America’s largest illuminated parade. Additionally, the hotel will offer family-friendly activities on April 28 for the day parade with a coffee bar, mimosas, breakfast tacos, and more. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2023)

Fiesta San Antonio is a citywide celebration featuring locally themed culinary offerings, decorated floats, musical performances, and vibrant colors. The tradition of celebrating Fiesta started in 1891 as a parade to share memories with loved ones and honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. The city’s signature event, sponsored by various nonprofit organizations, returns to San Antonio for another year from April 20-30.

Opened in February 2021, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is a modern retreat soaring 20 stories above San Antonio’s celebrated River Walk – capturing the contemporary spirit of this historic Texas city. The hotel features a stylish living room bar; celebrated dining from a James Beard Award finalist; a show-stopping pool deck; and a luxurious full-service spa.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The importance of making your health a priority

It is time to stop pushing your health to the back of the queue. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

It is time to stop pushing your health to the back of the queue in your life. We know that you have a lot to do, and we understand that this can be difficult to manage at times, but this does not mean that you can treat your health like it does not matter, because it does. In this article, we are going to be taking a look at some of the things that you should be doing in your everyday life to take care of your health, and ensure that it is not the last thing on your to-do list. Keep reading if you would like to find out more about this.

Charities like The Dwoskin Family Foundation help fund research related to many of these areas. It’s worth finding out more about what you can do. 

Eat Healthy Foods That You Enjoy
First on the list, you need to be eating healthy foods that you enjoy on a regular basis. Of course, every now and then you are going to want to indulge yourself in some of the foods that are less than healthy, and that is completely okay. There is nothing wrong with this, you just need to make sure that it is not a regular occurrence and that the majority of the time, you are eating your vegetables. You can look up a range of different recipes such as this super easy bacon wrapped shrimp which can be used for your treat days, or even as part of a balanced diet if you are careful with what else you are eating.

Make Time For Exercise
It is also essential that you are making time for exercise. One of the things that people often forget is that exercise is about more than looking good, it is about keeping your insides healthy. Health experts are not telling you that you need to complete a regular level of activity because it helps you to look your best, they are telling you because it ensures that you are able to keep your muscles healthy. It helps your body stay strong and in shape, able to complete the processes that it needs to, and fight off infections when they occur.

We are not suggesting that you head to the gym every day of the week and complete a high intensity workout, so if this is what you have got in mind then you need to shut this down fast. Instead, you can do things like go for walks in the morning, or go to the gym a few times per week. Do not hurt yourself exercising, but make sure that you are doing enough.

Mental Health Is Essential Too
Your physical health is not the only thing that you should be fighting to take care of, your mental health is just as important. You need to be doing the things that take care of you mentally like giving yourself a break, acknowledging and speaking about your emotions and whatever else you can think of. There are professionals available to help if you need them, or you might be able to manage your mental health on your own. Whatever you decide to do, just ensure that you seek professional assistance if things get too much.

Get Enough Sleep At Night
Finally, when it comes to your health, you need to ensure you are getting enough sleep. This is not just about how long you are sleeping for but also the quality of the sleep you are getting. As an adult you should be aiming for around six to nine hours of undisturbed sleep each night. If you are regularly missing out on vital hours of sleep or you find yourself tossing and turning all night then you will wake up feeling exhausted.

Why is sleep important for your health? Well, when you sleep your body is busy repairing itself from any issues that cropped up the previous day. It also helps with your mood and therefore your mental health. Not getting enough sleep each night will result in your feeling grouchy and snapping at people when they annoy you.

If you are regularly waking up with various aches and pains that are disturbing your sleep then it may be time to look into why this is happening. It may be that your mattress is old, lumpy, and uncomfortable. These should be changed every eight to ten years to improve the quality of sleep.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should do to ensure that you are no longer pushing your health to the back of the queue. There are so many different things that you can do here, but these are just some of the ones that we have come up with off the tops of our heads. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you make some of these positive changes in your life, ensuring that your health becomes a priority in future, and not just an afterthought.

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Dog art walk with artist Hiromi Stringer

The dog walk will be held this Thursday, April 20. Image: Hiromi Stringer, Dog (Germany)19 2022 gouache and sumi ink on oriental paper, 9 ½ x 13 in. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Attention all dog lovers. The Contemporary at Blue Star is hosting a social dog walk on Thursday, April 20, from 5p.m. to 7 p.m. with exhibiting artist Hiromi Stringer. The event is free and open to all dog owners who want to join in on the fun. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2023)

The walk is through The King William neighborhood and starts with an hour of socializing with fellow dogs and their humans. Local shops, including the SouthPaw Waggery will be in attendance with goodies and swag. Attendees can screen print matching Contemporary bandanas for themselves and their furry friends, or park their dogs at our hosted dog parking station while they explore the exhibitions inside the galleries, such as Hiromi Stringer’s The Dog Show.

At 6 p.m., Hiromi will lead the dog walk through the neighborhood, which will conclude at the Contemporary for a viewing of the exhibition The Dog Show. To participate, complete the registration form. Do not miss out on this exciting event.

About the exhibition:
The Dog Show: Time Traveler Umeyama’s Drawings from the 21st Century, Hiromi Stringer
March 3 – June 4, 2023

Inspired by a chance encounter almost 30 years ago, when artist Hiromi Stringer saw someone walking a Siberian Husky dog on a busy street in Bangkok, Thailand, an incident that made her wonder about globalization and mundane objects in our life.

In The Dog Show, Stringer revisits her ongoing project UmeyamaReports, which chronicles the travels and observations of ShoeiUmeyama, Stringer’s fictional character. Umeyama is a Japanese man from the mid-1800s using time-teleportation to visit today’s modern world. This time, Umeyama reports on a variety of dogs and their owners, making observations, not only on the traits of each breed, but on the mundane objects that connect them with their owners, such as collars, leashes, and bowls, among others. Writings in Japanese—which visitors can translate using Google Translate on their personal devices—offer further insights into Umeyama’s particular point of view. Umeyama’s drawings, artifacts, and observations are displayed in the imagined Umeyama Time Teleportation Museum (UTTM) showcasing Umeyama’s achievements and the legacy of his history as a time traveler. Ink paintings/reports serve as his record of what he observed as he made sense of the modern-day U.S. Stringer’s exhibition and Umeyama’s imaginary findings represent an alternate perspective and reflection on today’s contemporary society.

Drawing on her personal paradigm shift, which included cultural and language differences, Stringer’s work reflects her curiosity about the world in which she lives. Using a micro perspective borrowed from Umeyama’s view, whose base point is Japan 170 years ago, a time when the country was under governmental enforced national isolation.

Stringer sees parallels between one’s process of knowing and living with very limited information about other countries and her own experience in a foreign land. By using Umeyama as a lens, Stringer provides a more objective view of the world while acknowledging her own subjectivity in her works.

Stringer is a 2019 alum of Contemporary’s Berlin Residency Program. During the three months that she lived and worked at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien as a residency awardee, she continued her UTTM work which took on new meaning in a new foreign home. Through her art, Stringer invites viewers to explore the mundane objects of our times and consider how they inform our current existence. Her approach to art is an extension of her curiosity about the broader world, and her latest work offers a unique perspective on globalization that is sure to spark conversations and inspire contemplation.

Movie adaptation: ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ by Judy Blume

The movie adaptation of the classic coming of age novel will be release April 28, 2023. Photo: Amazon

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places, doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Superfudge,” “Blubber,” “Just As Long As We’re Together,” and “Forever.” Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year that American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Her books have sold more than 75 million copies and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages. The beloved coming of age novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” has been adapted into a major movie and will be released in theaters April 28, 2023. (Amazon, 2023)

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” – Margaret Simon, almost twelve, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she is anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she is asked to join a secret club she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she is normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends. Lucky for Margaret, she has got someone else to confide in, someone who always listens.

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Book of the week: ‘Identicality’ by Jay L. Koppelman

‘Identicality’ is the new technothriller by Jay L. Koppelman. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

How do genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in computer science, medicine and physics engage with ethics and morality? These are themes in “Identicality,” the debut novel from San Francisco Bay Area resident Jay Koppelman. It is a riveting and thought-provoking science fiction novel that will keep you thinking and guessing until the very end – and then beyond. In today’s world, science is quickly catching up to fiction. Will it have gone too far when it comes to replicating human beings? Check out the reviews for this amazing romp of a techno thriller and see what the excitement is all about.

As Adam Braudy, a brilliant inventor-entrepreneur, lies dying following an assassination attempt, he asks Charlie Wood, his lifelong friend, to use  Adam’s latest invention—a human replicator to create Adam’s replicant. Despite deep ethical reservations, Charlie sets them aside, and at the risk of spawning a Frankenstein monster, creates Adam’s replicant who then steps into Adam’s role as husband, father, inventor and industrialist, having no reason to doubt that he is the real Adam Braudy. But then the first Adam miraculously survives. How far will Adam go to get his life back?

“Identicality is exhilarating!”

                It’s a thriller that takes you to a place where “I is another”, and “identical is actually distinct.” I can’t wait to see the movie. It’ll put The Matrix to shame.

                                —Patrick Feigelson, author

“Thoroughly human characters grappling wit extraordinary dilemmas”

                The technological wonders in Identicality are only just out of our reach, but they have profound implications for our sense of our selves. It’s a sense we feel as we witness thoroughly human characters grappling with the extraordinary dilemmas that animate this thrilling and thoughtful novel.

                                —Maxim Shusteff, PhD

“A thought-provoking romp of a novel”

                What a fun combination of page-turning action and real ethical questions about life. Human replication is such a creepy thing to think about. This is a book that will stick in my mind for a long time to come.

                                —Monica West

 “Unique and gripping novel”

                In this unique, gripping novel, fleshed out characters live out their lifelong friendships full of mutual dependence, competition, shared ambition, and love. All against a backstory that includes exciting dramatic scenes of chase, explosion, terror, and medical science fiction. This should appeal to readers seeking science fiction that unfolds medical and ethical fictional situations with real human impact. A unique and well written offering. Highly recommended!

                                —Ann Jensen

 

New horror movie release: Dark Entities

Dark Entities is the new horror movie from Terror Films. Photo: Terror Films, used with permission.

From writer/director Brandon McLemore, encounter Dark Entities this April from Terror Films. Starring Elena Ontiveros, Brandon McLemore, Jackson Lee Turner, and Warren McLemore, discover what is in the walls of the Winters house this April. Dark Entities is available worldwide April 14 from Terror Films on digital. It is available for streaming on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. (October Coast, 2023)

Dark Entities – Following a tragic accident in 1977, the three Winters siblings move into the mysterious home they inherited. They soon discover the house holds dark secrets that seek to threaten everything they hold dear. Convinced the strange occurrences are a result of trauma, they seek out logical explanations with little success. They look to the help of a parapsychologist as the supernatural forces become life threatening. With time running out, will they be able to survive the dark entities?

Book review: ‘Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage’ by Kanchan Bhaskar

‘Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage’ is Kanchan Bhaskar new memoir. Photo: Amazon

Kanchan Bhaskar was born and brought up in New Delhi, India. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Delhi University and a postgraduate certificate in personnel management and industrial relations. She moved to the US in 2000. She works in the corporate world, mentoring, counselling, and coaching employees at all levels in the industry. She is also now a certified advocate for domestic violence victims in the state of Illinois and is a volunteer speaker, mentor, and coach for victims and survivors. Her new book “Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage” is an inspiring memoir of a woman who reclaims her power and finds the strength to leave an abusive relationship. (Kanchan Bhaskar, 2023)

“Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage” – Raised by two loving parents in New Delhi, India, Kanchan Bhaskar has always been taught that marriage means companionship, tenderness, and mutual respect—so when she enters into an arranged marriage, this is the kind of partnership she anticipates with her new, seemingly wonderful, husband. The story is told in chronological order and begins in 1980-1981 when, as a new wife, Kanchan is starting a new life with her new husband and his family, all strangers to her, but is still naively hopeful that it will be full of wonder and romance. She quickly discovers that his warmth is deceptive—that the man beneath the bright, charming façade is actually a narcissistic, alcoholic, and violent man. Kanchan pleads with her husband to seek help for his issues, but he refuses. Trapped in a nightmare, and now with children to protect, she tries numerous times to leave him but Indian law is not on her side. It is not until many years later, when the family of five moves from India to the United States, that Kanchan is presented with a real opportunity to leave him—and she takes it. It is divided into eighteen chapters, including A Love Story, My Safe Haven, and Coming Together.

Kanchan Bhaskar’s memoir is not just about domestic abuse. In the Preface, she writes that “the story does not stop with gaining my freedom but describes my continuing journey on the path of spirituality.” The abuse she endured is just one part of her story; the whole is more about her personal journey to self reliance. She perseveres against all odds and it does not define who she is now. The abuse details, while disturbing, are brief and not too graphic, just enough to shed light on her tragic experiences. It is always interesting to learn about other cultures, in this case, Indian culture, especially the process of selecting a partner in an arranged marriage. This proves the universality of the human condition regardless of race or culture. The language is easy to understand and often poetic “I felt like a free bird, seeing myself as a white swan gliding high in the infinite sky – who had no boundaries, no limits, no shackles, no fear, no apprehensions…” With a story that flows easily through the pages, readers are witness to her journey from abuse to spiritual awakening. “Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage” is an empowering story of a woman who even during her bleakest moments, found the strength to move on. It is recommended for readers who enjoy inspirational memoirs by strong women.

“I wish there was one formula for all of us, but there isn’t. The formula that worked for me and liberated me was essentially powered by my three strong beliefs, my tools, and my mantras. Belief in self. Belief in Universe. Belief in spirituality.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Excerpt available.