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Third Man Records To Open New Detroit Branch

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On June 1st, Shinola founder Tom Kartsotis partnered with Detroit-native Jack White to purchase the building that currently houses the Shinola Flagship store at 441 W. Canfield in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. The deal marks new expansion for both Shinola as well as Jack White’s record label Third Man Records. For Third Man, this is a homecoming of sorts, since the label was originally founded in Detroit in 2001. This expansion signals the opening of their first retail store and offices outside of Nashville, TN. The new retail space is set to be in operation by Black Friday (November 27th, 2015), with many special surprises in store.

For Shinola, the deal comes on the heels of the brand’s investment into yet another category, rapidly honing in on the ability to manufacture speakers, turntables and headphones of audiophile quality, while creating more manufacturing jobs in the US — a top priority for the innovative and quality-focused company.

Third Man Records has long aspired to have a presence in Detroit and the constantly evolving Cass Corridor in particular, given White’s history in the neighborhood. It is the location of the first-ever White Stripes show, the home of White’s high school, and an area of the city that White says, “has always been the most inspiring area of Detroit for me as an artist and as a Detroiter. From the great visual artists like Gordon Newton to the music of the Gories, and the birth of the Detroit garage rock scene, the Corridor has nurtured Detroit’s soul and inventiveness for decades. That spirit pushes forward with Shinola’s passion and will come full circle for the artists of the Corridor that work with Third Man Records to plant a new foundation there to help keep that creative spirit alive for decades to come.”

The expansion for Third Man Records is both a return-to-its-roots as well as a reach forward into the future, and the possibilities with the additional space and the Shinola partnership are endless and exciting.

About the plans, Tom Kartsotis said, “Everyone at Shinola is so excited about Third Man Records moving into the Cass Corridor. Unbelievable… There goes the neighborhood!”

Amy Schumer Plays a Stripper for a Dog’s Bachelor Party

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Things take a racy turn when Amy Schumer lands a gig stripping for an unconventional bachelor party.

Epic Blooper Reel From CNN For Their 35th Anniversary

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It’s CNN’s 35th anniversary, and they’re celebrating with an epic blooper video from their CNN video archives.

The Downtown Yonge BIA in Toronto Launches Ambitious Music Strategy

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The Downtown Yonge BIA today launched its Music Strategy – an ambitious, multi-pronged plan to re-establish the area as a ‘Music Mecca.’

The Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA) is a catalyst for creating vibrant urban experiences and events in the heart of downtown Toronto. Representing more than 2,000 businesses and their employees, as well as the broader community of residents, students and visitors, the DYBIA champions attractive public spaces, popular events, safety and cleanliness. It plays an active role both at street level and in boardrooms, advocating for a thriving and diverse community of retailers, restaurants and services.

“Several generations fondly remember this part of the city as one of the world’s great music scenes, both for live performances at places like The Nickelodeon and Maple Leaf Gardens, and retail hubs like Sam the Record Man,” said Downtown Yonge BIA Executive Director Mark Garner. “It’s a great part of our past, and we want it to be a great part of our future.”

Garner noted that Downtown Yonge’s musical presence is not just historical. There are currently 14 live performance venues in the area – including Massey Hall, the Carlu, Yonge-Dundas Square and smaller performance spaces like the Church of the Holy Trinity in Trinity Park – totalling nearly 16,000 seats.

“Music is always in the air around here. It’s one of the largest and most diverse live music destinations in the city today,” Garner said. “With its extraordinary history and vibrant present, Downtown Yonge’s music future looks very bright.”

The Music Strategy includes a variety of initiatives the Downtown Yonge BIA is implementing and pursuing, in a cohesive vision for Yonge Street to once again take centre stage for Canada’s music industry. The strategy focuses on three major thrusts:

Homage to Toronto’s Music Legacy – through initiatives such as interactive walking tours featuring musicians’ stories about Yonge Street on a downloadable app; heritage plaques showing significant spaces and buildings; and a ‘neon museum’ featuring iconic signs (like the famous Sam the Record Man sign and recreations of Friar’s and The Blue Note signs) in laneways and public spaces.

Activating Live Music – not just in performance venues but also in public spaces through programs like Play the Parks, a series of lunchtime concerts and exercise programs during the summer. This year, the Downtown Yonge BIA will also present Monster Rock Orchestra – a light and sound spectacular – for the first time at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Paving the Way to Toronto’s Music Future – by creating a Music Incubator for emerging artists, providing studio space, mentorship, education, networking and collaboration.

Once implemented, the Downtown Yonge BIA hopes similar strategies will be replicated by other BIAs, helping to achieve the City’s vision for a thriving, vibrant music community.

“Music is dear to Torontonians. We are aiming to build on that love of music – culturally, socially and economically,” Garner said.

Who is Larry David? “Who the hell knows,” says Larry David

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Who is Larry David? “Who the hell knows,” the TV and comedy star tells Charlie Rose in a hilarious and revealing 60 Minutes interview that Larry says he didn’t want to do in the first place

Massive 45,000 record collection sold for $140,000 and will be publicly exhibited

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At the beginning of the month, Keith Sivyer’s extraordinary record collection was unveiled to the world.

More than 35,000 records – 27,000 7-inch singles and 8,000 albums – were put under the hammer last Thursday. They marked a lifetime’s collection: of every new release that entered the singles charts between their inception in 1952 and Sivyer’s death, aged 75, in February.

The auction was competitive, with 10 telephone bidders calling from locations as far-flung as Brazil and Canada, but the winning bid was made by Omnifone, a digital music company that paid £73,000 for all 45,000 records and CDs – nearly 10 times the £8,000 estimate.

The company intends to re-establish the immaculately kept record collection, considered one of the most comprehensive and extensive in the world, at its offices in West London, keeping the collection in the UK after Sivyer stored it in his home in Twickenham, something his brother Gerald said he “would have wanted”.

Via The Telegraph

Posthumous Album Release By Chinx Scheduled For August 14, 2015

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eOne Music and Four Kings Management have announced the posthumous release of hip hop artist Chinx’s nearly-completed debut album, Welcome to J.F.K., on August 14, 2015. A new single from the album, “On Your Body,” was released today. Listen to “On Your Body” here and purchase here.

As widely reported, the untimely and tragic death of the Queens, NY native earlier this month sent shockwaves throughout the hip hop community and his hometown of New York City.

Chinx, an affiliate of French Montana’s Coke Boys, signed to eOne Music in February 2015, and had been working on his debut album, initially slated for a late 2015 release. The record is produced by Lee on the Beats and B Korn of the Amazinz. Chinx recently said about the album, “I’m in a great space creatively, and it’s time to really play.”

Doug “Biggs” Ellison, Chinx’s manager, says, “Watching and helping Chinx develop as an artist over the last few years has been an amazing experience. He had finally come into his own, musically. This new body of work, Welcome to J.F.K., is a 1 of 1 creation. We took the raw emotions of an artist on the rise, and created a lane that will absolutely establish Chinx as a pioneer in the game. That may be a bold statement for some, but this kid was ahead of his time. His work ethic was 2nd to none. I’m looking forward to the release of his best work yet. I promise, you will be able to press play and ride out to this one! I dare you to live with it and tell me he wasn’t on to something special. Spread the word and support good music!”

Gabrielle Peluso, VP Urban Music of eOne Music, adds, “I first knew of Chinx when he was in a rap group called Riot Squad back in early 2000. His group member and close friend Stack Bundles (who was also murdered in 2007), was signed to my husband’s label, Desert Storm, in 2005, so signing Chinx to eOne was very personal to me because of this connection. He was the most humble, down to earth GENTLEMAN I have ever met in my entire career. The music industry lost a true talent. However, I am grateful that we were able to complete his album before he passed. His wife and children will be able to witness him grow into a household name, as bitter sweet as that may be.”

Fans will be able to preorder Welcome to J.F.K. on iTunes on July 17, 2015.

The Real Opening Chord to A Hard Days Night, Solved, Thanks To Randy Bachman

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You could call it the magical mystery chord. The opening clang of the Beatles’ 1964 hit, “A Hard Day’s Night,” is one of the most famous and distinctive sounds in rock and roll history, and yet for a long time no one could quite figure out what it was.

In this fascinating clip from the CBC radio show, Randy’s Vinyl Tap, the legendary Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive guitarist Randy Bachman unravels the mystery. The segment is from a special live performance, “Guitarology 101,” taped in front of an audience at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto back in January, 2010. As journalist Matthew McAndrew wrote, “the two-and-a-half hour event was as much an educational experience as it was a rock’n’roll concert.”

One highlight of the show was Bachman’s telling of his visit the previous year with Giles Martin, son of Beatles’ producer George Martin, at Abbey Road Studios. The younger Martin, who is now the official custodian of all the Beatles’ recordings, told Bachman he could listen to anything he wanted from the massive archive–anything at all.

Bachman chose to hear each track from the opening of “A Hard Day’s Night.” As it turns out, the sound is actually a combination of chords played simultaneously by George Harrison and John Lennon, along with a bass note by Paul McCartney. Bachman breaks it all down in an entertaining way in the audio clip above.

…and here’s the original. How genius were they?

controller.controller Bassist Ronnie Morris’ Stroke Recovery Fund Is A Go. Let’s Do Our Part

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On Friday, April 24, Ronnie Morris, best known in the Canadian music scene as the bass player for controller.controller and Lioness, suffered two massive strokes, in his brain stem and his cerebellum, as well as a double vertebral artery dissection.

Ronnie had actually suffered an initial stroke a week earlier but had not displayed the usual symptoms; he thought he had the flu. After the double dissection and a second stroke, Ronnie collapsed while on the phone with his bandmate. He was transported by ambulance to Brampton Civic Hospital where an emergency CT Scan confirmed that there was a dissection. Ronnie stopped breathing and was put on life support and transported to Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga, where he required immediate emergency neural surgery. Unfortunately, five days later, after making some progress, Ronnie then suffered a further brain stem bleed and needed a second life saving surgery. For three weeks, he fought for his life in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

As of today, Ronnie’s condition is stable and he has been transferred to the acute care unit at the Brampton Civic Hospital. These massive brain injuries caused paralysis on his right side and have affected his ability to speak. The full extent of the damage to other areas of his brain still needs to be examined, but family and friends remain optimistic he can make a full recovery.

Unfortunately, Ontario’s health care system (OHIP) limits post-stroke physiotherapy care for victims between the age of 20-64. At 38 years old, once Ronnie is discharged from the hospital, he will have to find a way to afford months, and potentially, years of rehabilitation equipment, physiotherapy and medication.

Ronnie is a Phd Candidate for History at York University and was set to defend dissertation this term. He was the former Co-President of the Graduate History Department and a popular teaching assistant in British History. He had been on the picket lines earlier this spring with CUPE striking striking against tuition increases for future grad students and current international students.

Ronnie’s friends have launched a funding site, www.ronniemorrisrecovery.com to assist with the post-hospital care he will require. Ronnie’s mother, Rose Mary Morris explains, “people ask why Ronnie’s friends felt it necessary to develop this site to raise funds and awareness about Ronnie’s rehab costs. The most pressing reason is when he gets discharged from hospital; he will receive no further coverage. We are already witnessing first-hand the rush by our Ministry to get Ronnie out of the hospital.”

Lioness and controller.controller manager, Linda Noelle Bush received many requests from people asking how they could help. She explains, “Ronnie is kind, loyal person who has touched so many personally or through his music. We all want money to be the least of his worries. Crowd-funding just seemed like a natural option.” In addition to the funding site, a benefit concert and auction are in the works and are expected to happen later this summer.

For more information on how to donate and for updates on Ronnie’s recovery, go here.

June is Stroke Awareness month, to learn how to recognize the signs of a stroke please visit Heart And Stroke

Converse Rubber Tracks Unlocks The Doors For Indie Bands To Iconic Studios Around The World

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Today, Converse Inc. announces the global launch of a monumental new Converse Rubber Tracks program that opens the doors to some of the world’s greatest recording studios in music history. Over a two-week period, Converse Rubber Tracks will activate across eight different countries in four continents, offering aspiring musicians the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record original music at 12 landmark studios, including the two Converse Rubber Tracks studios, at no cost.

Global registration begins today, Tuesday, May 26 and runs through Wednesday, June 24, featuring an online submission process that requires applicants to rank their top three studio preferences, and encourages all to enter a brief artist biography or description via a video or written application. If selected, chosen artists will be notified in early July. Following a thorough planning session with studio producers, artists chosen will be taken to one of their studios of choice in September this year, with most travel accommodations arranged and select expenses covered by Converse.

Starting today, emerging artists, bands, and musicians ages 18 years and older and of all genres across the globe can register for the rare opportunity to record at the following participating studios: Abbey Road Studios in London, England; Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California; Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin, Germany; Tuff Gong in Kingston, Jamaica; Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavik, Iceland; The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, Canada; Avast Recording Co. in Seattle, Washington; Stankonia in Atlanta, Georgia; Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia; Toca do Bandido in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the original brick-and-mortar Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn, New York; and the second permanent Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Boston, Massachusetts, slated to open this summer.

“Since we opened our first permanent Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn four years ago, we’ve had aspirations to elevate this program even further, hoping to extend this opportunity to artists across the globe,” said Jed Lewis, Converse Global Music Marketing Director. “With this new Converse Rubber Tracks program, we will unlock the doors to some of the greatest recording studios in music history and we’re ecstatic to offer this extraordinary experience to emerging artists worldwide. As a brand so deeply rooted in the next generation of creative spirits, we’re eager to make history while inspiring creativity and self-expression among music communities worldwide.”

This Converse Rubber Track program will serve as the brand’s most innovative music initiatives to date, signifying the exponential growth and global expansion of the Converse Rubber Tracks platform, set to offer a total of 84 recording sessions at 12 different studios within the two-week time frame. Selected artists will have the opportunity to work with world-renowned producers and sound engineers, while being given access to industry-leading technology in studios that have hosted some of the most celebrated acts in music history.

The Converse Rubber Tracks program was born out of the brand’s desire to give back to the music community and provide opportunities for artists who might not be able to afford studio time. Since the flagship studio opened in Brooklyn in July 2011, over 900 emerging artists have had the opportunity to record original music alongside the Converse Rubber Tracks team of experienced engineers at no cost. At the end of their studio time, the artists retain all of the rights to their own music. Over the past three years, the program has expanded beyond the studio in Brooklyn with Converse Rubber Tracks pop-up studios, which has brought the Converse Rubber Tracks experience on the road to vibrant music communities around the globe, including Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Montreal, São Paulo, Beijing, Amsterdam, London, Hamburg, Paris, and Mexico City to name a few.

To find out more about Converse Rubber Tracks, or to learn more about how to register for one of the coveted sessions, go here.