Loni Love is doing it all. Not only does she co-host the television talk show “The Real” and co-host the radio show “Café Mocha” with M.C. Lyte, but she will also host the Ellen DeGeneres-produced TV show “Heads Up.” She has been a stand-up comedian for years and has appeared in several movies, including Soul Plane and the upcoming Garry Marshall-produced Mother’s Day, and …
“Slave away, it’s just another day It’s just another day without meaning Blue to gray, another bill to pay Until you die under a glass ceiling.” –From “Learn To Live” by Bad Wolves Six years ago, Tommy Vext had resolved to take his life by stepping in front of a moving train. The despair that Vext felt …
Tommy Vext and the Deafening Sound of Self-Termination Read More »
Gillian McCain told me, “If I wasn’t an author, I think I’d want to be a therapist.” Should she choose to switch fields, McCain is off to a good start. Because with the book “Please Kill Me,” an oral history of the development of punk rock music, McCain and co-author Legs McNeil have delivered to …
“The more we fear the future, the more we recycle the past.” Legs McNeil Growing up, my knowledge of punk rock music was limited to dancing to the Ramones’ “I Want To Be Sedated” at United Synagogue Youth events and watching videos of the Clash’s “Rock the Casbah” on MTV. Later in life, as I became more familiar with punk …
Legs McNeil Shows Me the Secret of Punk Rock Innovation Read More »
“Call it what you will. I call it God.” — Cindy Williams When I told friends and family that I was interviewing Cindy Williams, the reaction was always the same: “What? You are interviewing Shirley?!?!” That’s because while Cindy Williams’ acting career has spanned over 40 years, with roles ranging from the 1973 movie American Graffiti to her recent cameo in the 2013 …
“The dark, the dark, The darkness falls on you. The dark, the dark, The darkness swallows you.” —“The Dark” by Huntress Jill Janus is perhaps best known as the incendiary lead singer of the progressive thrash metal group Huntress. For years, Huntress, which Janus describes as an “occult” band, has combined its intense sound with themes of fantasy to convey the …
For years, Mike Mahler has been a leading fitness guru, specializing in a range of techniques, including kettlebell and body-weight training, as well as the health benefits of a plant-based, vegan diet. The core of Mahler’s message transcends technique, however. In order to succeed in life, one must find purpose, set goals to serve this purpose and …
“I feel like I was once Separated twice, Now I feel like I Will never know my mind.” — “Heavy Metal” by The New Tarot Monika Walker and her band, The New Tarot, are certainly making their way into the public consciousness. Critics say their “hard-rocking brand of Synthpop,” which is “equal parts mystical and danceable,” …
The Magical Consciousness of The New Tarot’s Monika Walker Read More »
When describing hardcore punk music, Lester Bangs wrote that “hardcore is the womb.” The intense, focused sound of a structured three-chord, hardcore punk attack provided the listener with an immersion. In that immersion was a comfort and safety; a place where kids who felt alienated and bored could be distracted, connect with a community and …
“It’s that sky in the moonlight; Waves in the sunset; Strength in the fight; When we wait through the night; Have faith; it’s a sure bet.” — From “When We Love” by MexiCan (featuring Lydia Molise and Anthm) In the 45 years since Hip Hop was founded in the South Bronx of New York City, it has …
Love Conquers All At The Universal Hip Hop Museum Read More »
