Blogarrhea: New Book by Memphis Mafia Member David Stanley Digs Up The Down'n'Dirty Elvis Dirt >>
'My Brother Elvis' by David Stanley (Impello) is a true warts-and-all look at Elvis Presley from an insider's perspective. Stanley's mom married Presley's dad to become The King's step-brother. Elvis yanked him out of high school and took him on the road at the tender age of 16, inaugurating the kid with five hookers on the first night of a tour. Five years later, Elvis was dead. But it didn't have to be that way. Still, I had to ask the burning question...
Blogarrhea: Unearthing Great Sound From Cuba, Memphis, Brazil & a 17-Year-Old Girl From Texas >>
The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble's 'Havana Blue' on 316 Records, a "new" Elvis double-album from Memphis ('Way Down In The Jungle Room' on RCA/Legacy), a Brazilian samba-soaked sampler Boston Pops-style (the self-released 'Concerto Para Moviola') by Ricardo Bacelar and--the gem of the batch--17 year old red hot mama wanna-be Ally Venable from deep in the heart of Texas ('No Glass Shoes' on Connor Ray Music) all combine for one hell of a Blogarrheah.
Keith Stone Self-Releases 'The Prodigal Returns' as a Love Letter to New Orleans (REVIEW) >>
"Way down yonder in New Orleans in the land of dreamy scenes, there's a garden of Eden, you know what I mean." Henry Creamer wrote that line in 1922 and it holds up today as a fairly decent barometer of the allure that this great American city still holds. On 'The Prodigal Returns,' singer/songwriter/guitarist Keith Stone returns to his home town...and he's got Dr. John with him.
Elvis Presley and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Collaborate on New Album >>
A newly scheduled CD release in October joins together the music of Elvis Presley and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The duo will collaborate on a new album, which will feature such classics as "Burning Love" and "Love Me Tender."
Mississippi Blues Trail Finalized, Blue Front Café Owner Jimmy Holmes Not Down About It >>
It's easy to commodify music in this day and age but how about an entire American tradition? In Mississippi, the completion of its Blues Trail is hoping to stimulate tourism in the poorest state in the union. But, for a little juke joint, The Blue Front Café, tourism isn't anything to get down about.
Movie Tie-ins Define 2015 Season for Chicagoland's Theatre at the Center >>
From Monty Python to Elvis Presley to Ralphie and his BB gun, the upcoming season is all about the movies.
UNPLUGGED: ISSUE Project Room Hosts Lo-Fi, D.I.Y. Legends R. Stevie Moore and Gary Wilson >>
For over a decade now, ISSUE Project Room has played a pivotal role in showcasing raw, left-of-center talent--both old and new. No surprise, then, it's also one of Classicalite's favorite venues in all of Gotham. Be it Charlemagne Palestine, Tony Conrad, Yasunao Tone, Eli Keszler, Sō Percussion, Nate Wooley, Ben Vida or even John Cage, we've loved 'em all.
