Category: Entertainment News

Upcoming new album release: All is Song – Misner & Smith

Misner & Smith’s new album, All is Song, will be released April 12. Photo: Misner & Smith

Misner & Smith treasure the unpredictability of their band. Technically precise songwriting mirrored with an improvisatory spirit and soaring harmonies have made the band—consisting of Sam Misner and Megan Smith—one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world. Blending elements of that genre with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop-leaning ideas, Misner & Smith make music gloriously nonconforming. The duo first met at a Shakespeare festival as professional actors in California in 2002 but began working as a musical duo two years later when Sam and Megan discovered a mutual love of roots music, Woody Guthrie, and in particular, harmony singing. Leading up to the release of their sixth LP All is Song, the duo has released five critically acclaimed records. On their new one, All is Song, they build upon that momentum and turn in their finest work to date, an album of inspired declarations to the power of music, song, and, most importantly, collaboration. (Misner & Smith, 2024)

“One thing that’s for sure / Though we never found a cure / We can ride out heartbreak like the weather,” sings Sam Misner on the group’s first single “Anthem.” Along with his longtime musical partner Megan Smith, Misner set about writing the tune that would eventually become the first single from Misner & Smith’s upcoming LP All is Song by dissecting the idea of anthemic music itself. All is Song is set for release on April 12 and can be pre-ordered or pre-saved right here.

The music—every single choice on the album, really—revolves around a single question: “What is this song about?” Every sound on All is Song is in service of the songs. The harmonies are often subtle but always pitch-perfect, a key to the album that took some time to harness. “Harmony is almost like a sculpting tool. I use it as a tool to draw out the stories and the songs and draw out the characters that we’re talking about,” explains Smith. “It’s a huge part of what we do.” Misner adds, “Serving the song became the credo, so we never included a certain line, part, or harmony for its own sake. It was always, ‘How can we best serve the song? That was our lighthouse.”

Catch Misner & Smith on tour:
May 2 – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA
June 8 – McCloud River Mountain Music – McCloud, CA

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

All is Song track list:
Compose (2024)
Deep as the Water
Threadbare
Sadie’s Song
Interlude 1
Kerosene
Rising Of The Moon
Interlude 2
Tears and Ink
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
Silence Of The Sun
One Day (2024)
Anthem
Interlude 3
Little Light

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New horror movie release: Beware the Boogeyman

The new horror movie Beware the Boogeyman had a digital release this week. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

If you’re a horror fan and looking for a new movie to stream this weekend, here is one to consider.

Breaking Glass Pictures is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Beware the Boogeyman, a gripping psychological thriller written and directed by the talented Calvin Morie McCarthy. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

“Calvin is a talented filmmaker, and we enjoy working with him. His keen vision and creative prowess have brought ‘Beware the Boogeyman’ to life in a truly captivating way. With its gripping storyline and haunting atmosphere, this film promises to enthrall audiences and keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end.” – Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures
 

In this chilling tale, Dr. Tristian MacKenzie embarks on her first day of orientation at the Silverdale Psychiatric Hospital for the criminally insane. There, she encounters the enigmatic Dr. Moon, who reveals a series of bizarre cases involving five patients and their shared delusion: THE BOOGEYMAN.

As Dr. MacKenzie delves deeper into the unsettling files, she unravels a web of intrigue and horror that challenges her understanding of reality. With each revelation, the line between sanity and madness blurs, leading to a heart-stopping climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Elissa Dowling, Airisa Durand, and Chynna Rae Shurts star.

Prepare to be captivated by Beware the Boogeyman, a masterfully crafted thriller that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Upcoming new album release: Rio Bravo – Scott Ballew

Texas’ modern renaissance man Scott Ballew announces new album Rio Bravo due out March 29. Photo: Google/Viberate

Austin-born Scott Ballew’s resume is staggering, from his work as Yeti’s Head of Content, directing shorts featuring Ryan Bingham, to more recent independent ventures, including a documentary on Terry Allen and a film, All That is Sacred. A true artistic visionary, Ballew’s latest undertaking is a near-obsessive pursuit of quality songwriting. The medium has changed, but his razor-sharp ability to tell a story hasn’t. Sonically, his music–specifically Rio Bravo–is if Townes Van Zandt was produced by Ennio Morricone. Ballew’s writing is a world of contrasts–poignant but humorous, relatable but cerebral, simple but cinematic. “If you can make someone laugh and cry in the same paragraph, there’s no closer reflection to real life.” (Scott Ballew, 2024)

After an introduction to Terry Allen by mutual friend Ryan Bingham, Ballew’s approach to art (and life) was drastically altered. “[What Terry taught me is that] the audience is irrelevant. What’s important is that you wake up and you show up and you follow whatever it is that’s in your head or your heart.” The ‘showing up’ can be heard on Rio Bravo, a 9 song collection releasing March 29, 2024, via independent powerhouse, La Honda Records.

“People, they don’t change,” sings Scott Ballew on the first line of the first song of his junior album, Rio Bravo—an unexpected remark from a man whose life has been punctuated by personal evolution. A reductive synopsis would be as follows: Texas football star turned film director turned junkie turned musician.

“Writing has become a survival mechanism,” says the songwriter, musician, filmmaker and Texan. “This came to me later in life. I have four decades of experiences, anxieties, and thoughts that I am purging and have found that idle time is not healthy for me.”

Ballew recently shared “Suicide Squeeze,” the first single to be heard from Rio Bravo ahead of its March 29 release on La Honda Records. “I wrote this on a napkin inside Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater watching ‘Licorice Pizza’ by Paul Thomas Anderson,” Ballew recalls. “Inspired by perfect running montages, I resonated with the kid who had ambitions to take a huge bite out of life.” The screening conjured up feelings from Ballew’s childhood like grandiose schemes or desires for widespread acclaim, or in his words, “the feeling that an older woman, or sports accolades, or some degree of celebrity was necessary to achieve success.”

“Suicide Squeeze” can be streamed today at this link, and Rio Bravo is available to pre-order or pre-save ahead of its March release right here.

Rio Bravo track list (Courtesy Photo)
True Love Can’t Surf
Trouble Darling
Suicide Squeeze
Can You Hear Me Smile
Rio Bravo
Impossible Smile
Mutiny
Old Fashioned
All That Is Sacred
A Funny Masterpiece

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Making it as a streamer

Black flat screen computer monitor on wooden desk. Photo: Roberto Nickson/Pexels.

While it used to be something on the outskirts of the culture, now streaming is a hugely popular thing to do. Not only that, it can even be very lucrative, with many people making quite a lot of money this way. You can approach streaming in so many different ways – gaming is a particularly popular genre – and it’s something that you can bring your creativity to easily in order to make the most of it. Here are some tips that you may want to consider if you are trying to make it as a streamer.

Find Your Niche

First of all, you should think about finding a niche that you can get into. While you might already know the genre of streaming you want to try, you’ll ideally want to get more specific than that and land on a particular type of streaming. So rather than just gaming, are you going to be playing certain kinds of games, or talking about particular topics within gaming? These are the kinds of things you need to be asking yourself if you want to make it as a streamer. It will help you to make much more of your experience and get a lot more out of it.

Behind the scenes of a female content creator. Photo: Ivan Samkov/Pexels

Develop An Audience

It can take time to build an audience with anything, and that’s no different when it comes to streaming. But if you want to make sure that you are developing an audience as well as you can, there are quite a lot of ways in which you can do this, and it’s something that you are definitely going to want to think about. Mostly it’s a case of just doing your thing and seeing who follows, but you might also find that some practical marketing can help too, especially if you want to start making money from it.

Monetize It

Speaking of which, you’ll have to figure out what you can do to monetize the streaming that you are considering. This is something that can be quite simple to achieve, but there are a lot of potential ways to do it and you’ll have to make sure that you are aware of what approach is best for you. As well as that, you’ll need to put the systems in place to accept money. Knowing how to accept credit cards as an adult entertainer is going to help a lot, and it’s worth looking into as soon as possible.

Keep Going

Ultimately, with this kind of thing you really then just need to persist. If you can do that, and keep going, you are going to find that it helps you to make it as a streamer much more effectively, and it’s amazing how much that can help. So make sure that you are keeping at it no matter how hard it seems to get. If you can do that, you’ll find that you end up in a situation where you are really able to make it work for you.

Collaborative Post

 

Book to series adaptation: ‘Shōgun’ by James Clavell

‘Shōgun’ by James Clavell has been adapted into a 10 episode series for FX. Photo: Amazon

If you are a fan of historical drama, this new series is worth checking out. Shōgun is airing on FX and streaming on Hulu and is based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell.

James Clavell was a bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction best known for this epic Asian Saga novels. The son of a Royal Navy family, he was educated in Portsmouth. The Japanese captured him at the Fall of Singapore when he was a young artillery officer. It was on this experience that his bestselling novel “King Rat” was based. He maintained this oriental interest in his other great works: “Tai-Pan,” “Shōgun ,” “Noble House,” and “Gai Jin.” “Shōgun ” is the best selling classic epic novel of feudal Japan that captured the heart of a culture and the imagination of the world. It was previously adapted into a 1980 limited series and has now been adapted to television. The series premiered with the first two episodes on February 27 on Hulu and FX with new episodes of the 10-episode series then releasing weekly. (Amazon, 2024)

“Shōgun ” – After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen–Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is seventeenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne’s loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.

Powerful and engrossing, capturing both the rich pageantry and stark realities of life in feudal Japan, “Shōgun” is a critically acclaimed powerhouse. The heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action combines seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion. Endlessly compelling, this sweeping saga captivated the world to become not only one of the best-selling novels of all time but also one of the highest-rated television miniseries, as well as inspiring a nationwide surge of interest in the culture of Japan. Shakespearean in both scope and depth, “Shōgun” provocative, absorbing, and endlessly fascinating, there is only one: Shōgun.

New album release: Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom – Meatbodies

Meatbodies released ‘Billow’ single and video from new album Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom. Photo: Amanda Adam, used with permission.

Meatbodies is an American psychedelic rock band formed in 2011 in Los Angeles by Chad Ubovich. The band recently shared the new single/video Billow from their new album Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, due out March 8. (Meatbodies, 2024)

Billow plays like a long-lost single from the Creation Records heyday with a space-y Stone Roses-type groove that is immediate and unforgettable. It’s nothing short of an instant classic built on harmonizing vocals and tons of tambourine—blossoming from darkness into a hopeful groove bathed in sunlight and lysergic acid. The track is just one of thirteen expertly crafted tracks to appear on Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, due in just one month via In The Red.

Flora is the pinnacle of the Meatbodies’ catalog thus far and an effort bound to be on the tip of the tongue of their fans and in-the-know heads the world over. The borderline lost album is their most realized work to date on which frontman/lead guitarist Chad Ubovich faces the trials of sobriety, redemption, reinvention – all while literally learning to walk and play again.

“The last record was more of a cartoon version of who we were– simple and fun without delving into heavy concept. The whole thing before with Meatbodies was never sit down, next part, next part, but I wanted to make something with more depth. After everything that had happened, and my personal life, I was left with this feeling of emptiness and loss. So I wanted to make music that was absent from things– songs that were more about conveying feeling.”- Chad Ubovich

And so here we are, with Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, an album completed by an ironclad will and steely determination. A massive step forward, both by conventional standards and considering its tumultuous path toward completion. Fan can pre-save/pre-order the album here.

Come Spring, Meatbodies hit the road on a North American run that kicks off with a hometown release show at LA’s Lodge Room. See below for a full list of dates:

Mar 23: Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Apr 03: San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Apr 04: San Luis Obispo, CA – SLO BREW
Apr 05: Santa Cruz, CA – Crepe Place
Apr 06: Reno, NV – Lo Bar
Apr 11: Seattle, WA – Barboza
Apr 12: Portland, OR – Lollipop Shoppe
Apr 13: Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
Apr 15: Boise, ID – Neurolux
Apr 16: Salt Lake City, UT – International Artists Lounge
Apr 17: Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
Apr 19: Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
Apr 21: Chicago, IL – Schubas
Apr 22: Detroit, MI – Lager House
Apr 23: Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Apr 24: Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Apr 25: Troy, NY – No Fun
Apr 26: Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMoca
Apr 27: Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel
Apr 29: Charlotte, NC – Snug Harbor
Apr 30: Asheville, NC – Different Wrld
May 01: Atlanta, GA – 529
May 02: Louisville, KY – The Whirling Tiger
May 03: Nashville, TN – Third Man Records at The Blue Room
May 04: New Orleans, LA – Siberia
May 07: Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
May 09: San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
May 10: Austin, TX – The 13th Floor
May 12: Albuquerque, NM – Sister
May 13: Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
May 14: Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
May 16: San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
May 18: Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer

Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom Track Listing:

  1. The Assignment
  2. HOLE
  3. Silly Cybin
  4. Billow
  5. They Came Down
  6. Trapped?
  7. Move
  8. I believe in pink (interlude)
  9. Criminal Minds
  10. ICNNVR2
  11. Psychic Garden
  12. (Return of) Ecstasy
  13. Gate
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Upcoming new single release: Family – The Peterson Brothers

The Peterson Brothers will unveil heartfelt single ‘Family,’ from anticipated album Experience, on February 27, 2024. Photo: Michael Davila, used with permission.

The Peterson Brothers, hailing from the vibrant musical hub of Austin, Texas, have been enchanting audiences with their very own blend of Americana music consisting of classic Soul, Funk, Blues, and Jazz for over a decade. The dynamic duo consists of Glenn Jr. on vocals and guitar, and Alex, a GRAMMY® award-winning artist, on bass, vocals, and even the violin. Their musical journey began when their mother and grandmother bestowed upon them a treasure trove of assorted albums and a turntable from a garage sale, sparking a lifelong love affair with classic music. (The Peterson Brothers, 2024)

Immersing themselves in the sounds of iconic artists such as The Isley Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Brothers Johnson, and B.B. King, the Peterson Brothers honed their craft by absorbing the nuances of these legends. Drawing inspiration from their musical roots, they crafted a unique stage show that showcases their infectious energy and undeniable musical prowess.

As torchbearers of classic American music, The Peterson Brothers continue to leave an indelible mark on the music scene, captivating audiences with their infectious spirit and a musical prowess that pays homage to the timeless sounds that inspired their journey.

Celebrated for their genre-defying blend of Americana, classic soul, funk, and blues, The Peterson Brothers are gearing up to release their latest single, “Family,” on February 27, 2024. The single is available for pre-save HERE. This track serves as a heartfelt ode to the fans who have been with them since their early teen years. Dedicated to those who feel more like family than followers, the song is a musical expression of gratitude and connection. With lyrics that resonate with the bonds of kinship and shared experiences, the song celebrates the profound connection between a person and their biological or chosen families.

Experience, set to be unleashed in April 2024, is a jubilant celebration of life’s common themes, encapsulating the joys of spending time with family, the thrill of newfound love, and the beauty of human connection. Through the lens of gratitude, The Peterson Brothers invite listeners to join them on a heartfelt exploration of life’s many experiences, all set to a sonically uplifting soundtrack.

“This album is really personal to us and our experiences in life and conversations we’ve had through this journey in life and music. The name for the album comes from our experiences that we’ve had, conversations we’ve had with other people on their lives, the growth in our musicianship and artistry up to this point, and the fact that all of the songs on the album are experiences that everyone has had and can relate to.” – Alex Peterson

Experience will be available on all major streaming platforms on April 12, 2024. Fans can also pre-order the album starting March 29 to gain exclusive access to bonus content.

Experience track list:
In The Beginning
Family
Take You Time
Out Of My Mind
Too Soon
South End
I’ll Be Around
Shine

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

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Television adaptation: ‘The Never Game’ by Jeffery Deaver

The first season of Tracker is based on ‘The Never Game.’ Photo: Amazon

I always look forward to new shows, especially ones based on books. The first season of the new CBS series Tracker starring Justin Hartley is based on “The Never Game.” It premiered on February 11 and after having seen the first episode, I look forward to more of this exciting new action series. 

Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world and are sold in 150 countries and translated into over twenty-five languages. The author of over forty novels, three collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book, and a lyricist of a country-western album, he’s received or been shortlisted for dozens of awards. His book “A Maiden’s Grave” was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin, and his novel “The Bone Collector” was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Lifetime aired an adaptation of his “The Devil’s Teardrop.” (Wikipedia, 2024)

“The Never Game” – The son of a survivalist family, Colter Shaw is an expert tracker. Now he makes a living as a “reward seeker,” traveling the country to help police solve crimes and locate missing persons for private citizens. “You’ve been abandoned. Escape if you can. Or die with dignity.” Hired by the father of a young woman who has gone missing in Silicon Valley, Shaw’s search takes him into the dark heart of America’s cutthroat billion-dollar video-game industry. When another person goes missing, Shaw must ask: Is a madman bringing a twisted video game to life? Encountering eccentric designers, trigger-happy gamers, and ruthless tech titans, Shaw soon learns that he isn’t the only one on the hunt: someone is on his trail and closing fast. (Amazon, 2024)

Photo: Google

Upcoming new movie release: 5lbs of Pressure

Luke Evans in Phil Allocco’s 5lbs of Pressure. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In today’s movie news, the action/thriller 5lbs of Pressure is set for a March 8 release in theaters, digital, and On Demand. More information on this new movie starring Luke Evans, Rory Culkin, Alex Pettyfer, and Rudy Pankow is found below:

5lbs of Pressure – In this gripping action-thriller, Adam (Luke Evans), an ex-con back in his old neighborhood after serving a 16-year stretch for murder, walks a rocky path of forgiveness toward the son who grew up without him while the bitter, volatile brother of the youth he killed looms in the background. Meanwhile, Mike (Rory Culkin), sick of doing the bidding of his drug-dealing uncle (Alex Pettyfer), is desperate to leave his sordid life behind. When Adam and Mike’s paths converge, inescapable destiny will give way to violence and a final, fleeting shot at redemption. (EG PR, 2024)

Filmmaker Phil Allocco is a feature film and commercial writer/director. His work has garnered over 60 awards and nominations. He was one of the short-listed directors picked by Steven Spielberg from a world-wide search of over 12,000 directors for his US TV series ‘On the Lot’ for FOX TV. His feature film ‘The Truth About Lies,’ was released theatrically in 2017 and won 14 awards at festivals including “The Best Of Fest” at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Release date: March 8, 2024 (In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand)
Genre: Thriller
Rating: R for sexual content, nudity, language throughout and some drug use
Running Time: 109 minutes

Photo: Google
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New album release: Portraits – Quarters of Change

Quarters of Change recently released their exposed-nerve second album Portraits. Photo: Anna Henderson, used with permission.

One of the fastest rising rock bands coming out of New York City, Quarters of Change, recently released their album Portraits via 300 Entertainment. After retreating to Woodstock, NY, for two weeks, the band left with their most collaborative, exposed-nerve writing to date; something with a piece of each of them etched into it. Where their last album Into The Rift was staring into the dark tunnel ahead, Portraits is close to the other side, with the band surfacing for some light. (Big Hassle, 2024)

“The album is made up of individualized fragments that provide different perspectives and create their own little vignettes. I think of each fragment as a portrait, reflecting a separate emotion or moment. Overall, it dives into themes of addiction, isolation and exploration.” – frontman Ben Roter.

Anchored by a mutual predisposition for unpredictability, Quarters of Change fuse together a signature hybrid of nineties-style alternative hooks, crunchy space rock soundscapes, and strutting seventies grooves. After piling up millions of streams, selling out shows, and inciting critical applause, the New York City quartet — Ben Acker (guitar, bass, synths), Attila Anrather (drums), Jasper Harris (guitars, bass, synths), and Ben Roter (vocals, guitar)— released Portraits. 

Leaning on an unspoken musical language of their own, forged by years of cutting their teeth together, sneaking into shows they were once too young to play, and practicing in the basement of their old high school, Quarters of Change very clearly have a lifelong bond that has created their own breed of alternative rock with stadium scope. 

Quarters of Change simultaneously emerged as a live force, supporting Bad Suns and selling out their first-ever US headline tour. Doubling down on amplifying the energy, and turning up the distortion, Quarters of Change have quietly emerged as a phenomenon, and maintain this momentum with the release of their new album, available everywhere now. In the coming months, the band will continue rolling out more content from Portraits. They’ll be joining the festival lineups of Governors Ball and Shaky Knees, with more to be announced soon.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Portraits track list:
“What I Wanted”
“Depression II”
“Heaven Bound”
“Turn It Away”
“Tightrope”
“Cherry Tree”
“Do or Die”
“Time Before Mourning”
“Hollywood Baby”
“Illogical Decisions”
“Keep My Blood”