From time to time, Jimmy Kimmel likes to shine a light on the not so nice things people post on social media. In honor of the CMA Awards, Jimmy presents a special Country Music Edition of #MeanTweets featuring Zac Brown Band, Cassadee Pope, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Randy Houser, Old Dominion, Trace Adkins, Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Jana Kramer, Chris Young, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton, Jake Owen, Little Big Town and Justin Moore.
The ‘Stranger Things’ Kids Were Nearly a Motown Super Group
James Corden and the young stars of “Stranger Things” – Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp – reunite their Motown cover band The Upside Downs.
BAM! POW! Polina Grace masters all her own stunts in new video “Down”
Best known to her 22,000+ Instagram fans as a fashion-forward woman with brains and talent to spare, Montreal-based singer/songwriter Polina Grace has just released her new EP — Down — available now through SONY Music.
The first video — ”Down” — has the dynamic pop powerhouse performing all her own stunts to what results in an action-packed, intriguing, spy-glam thriller. The messaging is sung beautifully loud and melodically clear: self-empowerment, fortitude, and determination.
Between her degree in commerce and psychology, plus being fluent in four languages, Polina makes for a fascinating interview on how she leveraged social media and her modelling career to personally finance her dream of songwriting and singing full time.
“Every song is representative of strength, and very personal to me,” shares Polina, who co-wrote three of the original songs on Down. “I believe in being the protagonist of your own life and that is what I’m looking to portray with my songs, lyrics, production, and visuals. It’s all about empowering people — especially young women — to pursue their dreams and to ‘give up on giving up. It’s about not letting anyone drag them ‘down’ and to cast doubts and haters away by leaving them ‘in the shade.’
“Once the concept was conceived, I began physically training, watching fight videos, and taking lessons at TriStar Gym in Montreal to learn proper kickboxing and MMA moves,” recalls Polina Grace on the making of “Down.” “My coach pushed me to my limit every training session and really instilled a sense of a “fighter” in me. The amount of time I had to train was only about two or three weeks prior, but I learned some of the fundamentals of the MMA craft which prepped me for the next phase — stunt training.”
Training with Kevin Kelsall, an experienced stuntman based in Montreal, was a journey of its own for Polina. “I only had two rehearsals with him, but he was an incredible choreographer,” she shares. “In the video where he throws me onto his shoulders and flips me onto the bed was not a simple move to do with the limited training I had. Kevin said his stuntmen friends were surprised he would do a move like that with “a singer,” but he trusted I could handle it, and more.
“At one point on set, I recall telling him “Kevin, punch me in the side harder. Just do it for real!” He laughed and said I was crazy. I suppose I am a little!”
London, Ontario Music Industry Wannabe? Here’s Your Career Day
A career in the music biz… is there really such a thing! The answer is YES!
London’s first Music Career Day aims to highlight the job opportunities that exist within the music sector. Live music alone contribute some 20,000+ jobs to the Ontario economy. Music is revered as one of three economic advantages for the province of Ontario and best of all, the music industry is seeing significant growth and partnerships with other creative industries.
The Music Industry is like an iceberg. 10% floats above water and is widely recognized as all there is to the music biz. We recognize, the performers, radio stations, record companies, but not much more beyond that. Music Career Day is here to show everyone the other 90% of the industry that supports the artist that isn’t as commonly talked about including Publicists, Venue Managers, Music Synchronizers, Placement Specialists, Entertainment Lawyers, Trackers, Sound Engineers, Tour Accountant, Session Musicians, Tourism Professionals, Business Manager and the list goes on!
Music Career Day will bring together Londoners to see and hear firsthand how to build a career in the music industry over the course of one day, Friday November 17, 2017. This event is targeted towards high school students. Free to attend but must register in advance.
Speakers will cover a wide variety of topics and career paths. Some highlighted careers include Songwriters, producers, A & R, Music Synchronization, Publishing, Royalties, Radio Tracking, Promoter, venue manager, Social Media Specialist, Public Relations and Music Industry Development and Incubation.
Attendees will have the chance to listen to panel discussion, key note presentations, interact one-on-one in the mentor lounge and discuss careers with industry professionals in breakout sessions. The Day wouldn’t be complete without musical performances.
The event runs from 9:00am through to 4:00pm. A 45 min lunch break will be provided and the day will wrap up with a 30 minute networking and mingle event. You can RSVP here.
Musicians Welcome Signs installed at Live Music Venues with Loading Zones
Recently, four of Hamilton’s live music venues received additional signage outside their venues welcoming musicians. These signs signify one of the steps in building and visually demonstrating a city that is supportive of our vibrant music scene and its artists.
The idea for this project was brought forward as a recommendation by the Music Industry Working Committee (MIWC) and Hamilton Live Music Venue Alliance earlier this year. In response to this advice, city staff in Tourism and Culture and Parking & By-law Services worked together to identify solutions that addressed the MIWC’s suggestions and concerns.
Now, when musicians and their teams need to park in the loading zones the owner of the venue will lend them a sign to place in the windshield of their vehicle, which signals to by-law enforcement staff that there’s a musician who requires this space to unload. The intention of the welcome signs is to do just that – welcome musicians to use these areas when they are loading/unloading, basically letting musicians/bands know they can use this space and what the rules are to avoid getting a ticket. It also reminds others that musicians need these spots for their work.
That Time Nirvana Did An Interview In A Bathroom, With Dave Grohl Taking A Bath
If you ever thought Nirvana didn’t have a fun time when together, check out this amazing interview of them in a bathroom, from the show Raw Power in 1992.
Terry Bradshaw Performs “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
Terry Bradshaw isn’t just a multi-Super Bowl Champion and a Hall of Fame quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Oh no, my friend, he’s also FOX television’s host for the NFL Sunday pre-game show.
But if you’re a classic country music fan, you may remember him as a successful country music artist. In 1976, Terry had a Top 20 country hit with his version of the Hank Williams classic I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.
https://youtu.be/XTwS0WiKkqU
The Story Of Toronto’s “People City” Song Anthem
In 1972, Moses Znaimer commissioned singer-songwriter Tommy Ambrose and ad-guru Gary Gray to create a love song about Toronto which would be used as the theme music for a new local UHF Television station called Citytv.
The result was “People City”, an ode to Toronto’s burgeoning multicultural fabric and character, championed by then Mayor David Crombie as a possible official song for the city itself.
The Toronto which “People City” forecast came to exist, but sadly the song ebbed into history. 45 years later, Moses Znaimer, Tommy Ambrose, Gary Gray and David Crombie reflect on the era, the song, and its bittersweet legacy.
People City: Toronto's Lost Anthem (2017) from Retrontario on Vimeo.
100 Albums Scratch Poster
Think you’re a well-rounded music aficionado? You’ve barely scratched the surface. Whether it’s Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis or Lauryn Hill – there’s always a few musical blindspots that you’re yet to properly explore.
The 100 Albums Scratch Poster covers a wide spectrum of musical styles – everything from jazz and hip-hop to good old fashioned rock n’ roll. This carefully curated mix of seminal music moments and modern classics is certain to expand your musical horizons.
Scratch away the foil panels to show off the albums you’ve already heard, then use the remainder as your very own musical bucket list. Thanks to the wonders (or horrors, depending how you see it) of Spotify you no longer even have to buy the albums, so you can work your way through them all in no time.
Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can Chess Set
Kidrobot and The Andy Warhol Foundation have teamed up to create an iconic look at an iconic game with the collectible Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can Chess Set. This chess set features Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans as chess pieces on a pop of color chess board complete with felt accents. Each vinyl 3-inch Campbells soup can is labeled and printed on top with its corresponding piece to bring a pop art look to any game room. Get this collectible and interactive art piece today.
