All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com for all your photography needs
Photo Gallery: Pitbull at Niagara Falls’ Fallsview Casino
Evolution of Memorable Music
Evolution of memes music is a video where pianist Lord Vinheteiro (there’s a great name, right there) show how the meme songs evolved during the last 500 years.
Very rare footage of bebop/scat pioneer Babs Gonzales performing live in 1979
Babs Gonzales was an American jazz vocalist of the bebop era notable for writing the song “Oop-Pop-A-Da”, which was recorded and performed by his band, Three Bips and a Bop, and was later made famous by Dizzy Gillespie.
From 1950 to 1953, Gonzales was road manager and vocalist for the James Moody band and later gigged and recorded with musicians such as Jimmy Smith, Bennie Green, Lenny Hambro, Johnny Griffin, and Bennie Green on the 1958 Blue Note album Soul Stirrin’ (which took its name from and included Gonzales’ eponymous composition). Spending time in Europe, he knew no limits when it comes to performing live, including shows at Ronnie Scott’s in London in 1962, where he picked 22-year-old Brian Auger to be his piano accompanist.
Here’s some pretty rare footage of him performing in Paris in 1979, just a year before his death.
“Studio 54” Doc Brings You Right Back To 1970s New York
1970s New York. One nightclub defines an era and a generation. For the first time, one of the people behind the infamous Studio 54 tells the in-depth story of how the world’s greatest nightclub was created. Studio 54 is in cinemas and on demand June 15.
George Clinton And Parliament Just Released Their First Album Since 1980
Parliament have returned after 38 years. George Clinton’s legendary funk group have released a new album titled Medicaid Fraud Dogg, and you can check it out below. It features the previously released single I’m Gon Make U Sick O’Me, featuring Scarface. The last album to be released by Parliament was 1980’s Trombipulation, and Clinton is set to retire from touring in 2019. Back in 2016, it was announced that Clinton was preparing a new solo album for Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, though, so keep the funk coming…
The story of an improbable soul music LP, recorded in prison by inmates
Call it whatever you want—jailhouse rock, incarcerated funk, prison soul. But any way you slice it, Edge of Daybreak’s “Eyes of Love” is a singular achievement in music history. Recorded live in prison by incarcerated musicians during a strict five-hour window, this 1979 record is an improbable soul music sensation.
Johnny Depp Is On The Trail Of Notorious B.I.G.’s Killer In “City Of Lies”
Based on the true story of one of the most notorious and unsolved cases in recent time, City Of Lies is a provocative thriller revealing a never-before-seen look at the infamous murder of The Notorious B.I.G. shortly following the death of Tupac. L.A.P.D. detective Russell Poole (Johnny Depp) has spent years trying to solve his biggest case, but after two decades, the investigation remains open. “Jack” Jackson (Forest Whitaker), a reporter desperate to save his reputation and career, is determined to find out why. In search of the truth, the two team up and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies. Relentless in their hunt, these two determined men threaten to uncover the conspiracy and crack the foundation of the L.A.P.D. and an entire city. City of Lies opens in theaters on September 7th.
https://youtu.be/809D5d77rsU
James Announces The Release Of Their New Album Living In Extraordinary Times
James are proud to announce the release of their new album Living In Extraordinary Times. Released on 3rd August, the album is produced by Mercury and Brit Award winner Charlie Andrew (whose previous work includes alt-J and Wolf Alice) and rising star Beni Giles.
Living In Extraordinary Times follows the release of their recent Better Than That EP, the band’s first new music since their hugely successful 2016 album ‘Girl at the End of the World’, which debuted at number two in the UK album charts, second only to Adele – their highest debut entry in nearly twenty years. Hank, the last track from the Better than that EP which is also included on the new album is released today.
This is the band’s 15th studio album, and delivers the same vigour and urgency as its predecessors, a fusion of social commentary and personal reflection, covering everything from the current political climate in America in frustration-charged ‘Hank’ – “This crack heads tiny fingers, Accusing you of what he’ll do, White fascists in the white house, More beetroot in your Russian stew” – to lonesome Father’s Day in heartfelt ‘Coming Home (Pt. 2)’, the latter of which also features keyboard from long-time collaborator Brian Eno.
Tim Booth said, “we knew something was up when Leicester city won the league then Brexit, then Trump. It is as if we’d slipped into an alternate reality, a Philip K Dick reality. We are living in extraordinary times.”
The album started life during jam sessions at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studios and finished recording at Iguana Studios in Brixton. Beni was already working with the band on creating a new rhythmical approach when Charlie joined the project after being blown away by the band live. “This album is full of big tunes,” Andrew states. “Tim and the guys are all very good at writing huge hooks. There’s some really big, energetic tracks and some nice, chilled ones. There’s some monstrous tracks, like ‘Hank’, which is just vast with layers and layers of drums.”
The striking album artwork was created by contemporary artist and former Vivienne Westwood designer Magnus Gjoen.
Living In Extraordinary Times will be available as a CD, download, cassette, and heavyweight double vinyl plus a hardback booked deluxe CD featuring 4 extra tracks – 3 demos plus 1 track from the album sessions. HMV and indies will also stock a limited grey gatefold package featuring double magenta coloured vinyl.
Exclusive signed bundles and a limited yellow gatefold package featuring double white coloured vinyl are available via the artist store here.
YES Founding Member Tony Kaye Talks 50 Years of The Group Ahead of This Summer’s Tour
YES recently revealed initial plans to celebrate their landmark Golden Anniversary this year, including the exciting announcement that founding member/Grammy winner/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tony Kaye (keyboards; 1968-1971 and 1983-1995) will be joining Steve Howe (guitar since 1970), Alan White (drums since 1972), Geoff Downes (keyboards; first joined in 1980), Jon Davison (vocals since 2011) and Billy Sherwood (guitar/keyboards in the 1990s and the late Chris Squire’s choice to take over bass/vocals in 2015) as a special guest for this summer’s entire #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of YES tour.
As the prog rock pioneers prepare to kick off their 35-date cross-country outing June 5 in St. Charles, IL, KAYE sat down to reflect on 50 years of YES and more.
Let’s start with a big congrats to you on your Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction last year and on this year’s 50th Anniversary of YES. Can you talk a little about what these career milestones mean to you?
TONY KAYE: Thank you…I’m very happy the band was honored at last with the RRHOF award. To me, it meant a well-deserved recognition of the band’s music and long history and a thank-you to all the fans who have supported YES all these years. It was also a thrill to be asked by the band to participate in the 50th Anniversary tour this summer. It will be an honor to join Steve and the band to play those early iconic songs that were the beginning of YES.
Did you ever think 50 years ago when you co-founded the band that it would still have such an impact on fans and musicians this many decades later?
KAYE: We had no idea the impact of what we were creating back in the 60’s would be so long lasting…never mind 50 years. The fans of YES have been so dedicated in their support, and of course the music would not have meant so much without them.
What are some of your greatest memories from the early days of YES?
KAYE: Greatest memories are too many…but playing the Marquee Club on Wardour St. in London at the very beginning and getting to see so many great bands and meeting so many amazing musicians, especially Keith Emerson who was such an inspiration to me, has a very special place in my memories.
You joined YES earlier this year for Cruise to the Edge, what was that like for you? Prior to CTTE, when was the last time you performed with YES?
KAYE: My last performance with YES was on the TALK tour in the 90’s and very happily retired and even more happily married the love of my life. I didn’t miss playing or being on the road and it was only a chance meeting with Billy Sherwood that resulted in a change of plan. He persuaded me to dust off the B3 and get it out of storage which resulted in some really great music with CIRCA. Of course, Billy went on to play bass with YES when Chris Squire tragically died and it was great to reunite with Billy and YES on CTTE.
This summer, you will be sitting in on the entire 50th Anniversary Tour, #YES50. What are you most looking forward to about being back on the road performing this music?
KAYE: The 50th Anniversary Tour is obviously a milestone and although I was not anticipating going on the road again, the opportunity to play YES music again with such great guys was something I couldn’t turn down. I am most looking forward to reconnecting with Steve after so many years, and playing again with Alan, Jon, Billy, Jay and especially with Geoff, who was so generous to me on the CTTE Cruise.
It will be great and somewhat nostalgic for me to see all the YES fans at the shows around the USA this summer…I CAN’T WAIT.
Catch the #YES50 summer tour in the following markets:
DATE CITY VENUE
Tue 6/5 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
Wed 6/6 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
Fri 6/8 New Buffalo, MI Four Winds Casino Ballroom
Sun 6/10 Kansas City, MO Midland Theatre
Mon 6/11 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
Wed 6/13 Boise, ID Century Link Arena
Thu 6/14 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Sat 6/16 Bakersfield, CA Spectrum Amphitheater
Sun 6/17 Anaheim, CA City National Grove of Anaheim
Tue 6/19 Los Angeles, CA Ford Theatre
Wed 6/20 San Jose, CA City National Civic
Fri 6/22 Wendover, NV Peppermill Casino Hall
Sat 6/23 Laughlin, NV Edgewater Hotel & Casino
Sun 6/24 Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort & Casino
Thu 6/28 Interlochen, MI Kresge Auditorium
Fri 6/29 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live
Sat 6/30 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Mon 7/2 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Thu 7/5 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Fri 7/6 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
Sat 7/7 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont Theater
Tue 7/10 Boston, MA The Wilbur Theatre
Wed 7/11 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Fri 7/13 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino
Sat 7/14 Atlantic City, NJ Tropicana Casino
Sun 7/15 Staten Island, NY St. George Theatre
Tue 7/17 Peekskill, NY Paramount Hudson Valley
Wed 7/18 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
Fri 7/20 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
Sat 7/21 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
Mon 7/23 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
Tue 7/24 Richmond, VA Classic Amphitheatre
Thu 7/26 Clearwater, FL Capitol Theatre
Fri 7/27 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
Sat 7/28 Atlanta, GA Atlanta Symphony Hall
You Can Now Own Signed Copies Of Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
In 1964, famed writer Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters set off across America on a “Transcontinental Bus Tour,” headed for the New York World’s Fair, drinking (still perfectly legal) LSD-laced orange juice along the way. Kesey’s journey, in the company of his Merry Pranksters, lies at the heart of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, an as-if-first-hand account of the group’s antics and ethos by Tom Wolfe, wunderkind of the New Journalism movement. Celebrated as a classic of American literature as well as the hippie movement, the text explores both the esoteric experience of hallucinogens and fundamental societal shifts of 1960s America.
In this Collector’s Edition, signed by Tom Wolfe, an abridged Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is published in traditional letterpress, with facsimile reproductions of Wolfe’s manuscript pages, as well as Ken Kesey’s jailhouse journals, handbills, and underground magazines of the period. Interweaving the prose and ephemera are photographic essays from Lawrence Schiller, whose coverage of the acid scene for Life magazine helped inspire Wolfe to write his story, and Ted Streshinsky, who accompanied Wolfe while reporting for the New York Herald Tribune.
These photographs—together with those of poet Allen Ginsberg and other photographers who covered the scene—paint a vivid picture of the counterculture world that set Wolfe’s scene: acid parties near “capsule corner” in Hollywood, the hippie-filled streets of Haight-Ashbury, the abandoned pie factory the Pranksters called home, and the infamous Acid Tests, Kool-Aid and all.
Marking the year of original publication, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is limited to 1,968 signed copies, including:
Collector’s Edition of 1,768 numbered copies, each signed by Tom Wolfe, featuring:
Silk-screened hardcover with an embossed paper case
Letterpress printed text on a natural uncoated paper
Facsimile reproductions of Tom Wolfe’s manuscript pages and other period ephemera
Two Art Editions of 100 copies, each with signed photographic print by Lawrence Schiller. You can buy your copy here.
