Month: April 2021

Champion Cheaters: Epilogue, by Mark Erickson

Remember the hype and saga surrounding the Jackie Robinson West Little League team from Chicago that competed for the Little League championship game in summer 2014? https://www.eastportlandblog.com/2015/02/21/champion-cheaters-by-mark-erickson/ Earlier this week the two lawsuits have been settled/dismissed.  The decision by Little League International to strip JRW of its title remains, and the suit against two coaches …

Paula Cole Shares Songs “Black Mountain Blues,” “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Hidden in Plain Sight”: New Album, American Quilt, Out Now

Photo by Ebru Yildiz Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Paula Cole shares her new song “Black Mountain Blues.”  Recorded by Bessie Smith and covered by Janis Joplin, Cole’s version of the song is the second single from her upcoming album American Quilt.  “It’s strong like black coffee and it’s warrior-esque”, says Cole. American Quilt will be released on May 21st through …

A quick RIP for Jim Steinman, one of rock’n’roll’s most magical artists, by Claude Iosso

(Jim Steinman, left, with Meat Loaf, right) How magical was Jim Steinman? Well, he wrote brutally honest songs about men lusting after women, gave them orchestral bombast and delivery by the mighty-lunged Meat Loaf, and they’ve been wedding reception standards ever since.  Look up “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad” on YouTube, and people are still …

Five years ago today, Prince boarded the Mothership, by Mark Erickson

Five years ago today, Prince boarded the Mothership.  Yesterday, he sprinkled some Purple Dust on Minnesota. (Chauvin verdict) Live music is returning to Chicago!  Less than four miles from my house,   https://northshorecenter.org/event/fareed-haque/  Fareed Haque has collaborated with Billy Cobham who is the favorite drummer of my son’s long-time (age 5-16ish) drum instructor. The warmup band, The …

Weezer Releases New Song “I Need Some Of That”: Van Halen Tribute ‘Van Weezer’ Drops May 7th

OK Humans — the time has come to unleash Weezer’s long-awaited homage to metal upon the world:  Van Weezer will be released on May 7 via Crush Music/Atlantic Records.  A new song from the album, “I Need Some Of That,” has been released today. “I Need Some Of That” follows the release of last year’s “Hero” and “Beginning Of The End,” as well as 2019’s “End Of The Game,” all …

THE STRUTS RELEASE VIDEO FOR “LOW KEY IN LOVE” WITH PARIS JACKSON

British glam rockers The Struts and acclaimed singer/songwriter paris jackson have joined forces for “Low Key in Love,” a fiery duet released last week via Interscope Records. Today, the soulful vocal exchange between jackson and Struts frontman Luke Spiller is highlighted in the track’s video directed by Bryson Roatch.  Produced by Tommy English, “Low Key in Love” delivers everything you could ask for in …

THE BLACK KEYS CELEBRATE MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES WITH NEW ALBUM DELTA KREAM ON MAY 14 – SINGLES “GOING DOWN SOUTH” AND “CRAWLING KINGSNAKE” OUT NOW: ALBUM HONORS MUSIC OF R. L. BURNSIDE, JUNIOR KIMBROUGH AND OTHERS WHO HAVE INFLUENCED THE BAND

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins On May 14, The Black Keys release their tenth studio album, Delta Kream, via Nonesuch Records. The record celebrates the band’s roots, featuring eleven Mississippi hill country blues standards that they have loved since they were teenagers, before they were a band, including songs by R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, among others.  Dan …

Architecture of the Cocktail: Summer Time is Negroni Time, by Bill Stott

The Negroni. When the snow and cold begins to fade in the Spring, my thoughts always turn to the classic Negroni. I’m not sure why. The drink is lovely – even on cold snowy days. But there is something about the thought of sitting on the porch without a coat or sweater, sipping on this delightful little drink that makes spring seem springier.   The classic …

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre”: Alice Merton Gives You “Vertigo”

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre   The falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere   The ceremony of innocence is drowned; WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS – “The Second Coming” On a cold night, Alice Merton abruptly notices something is wrong while standing in line, …

Canadian Female Vocal Group ViVA Trio Reveal New Theatrical Sound & Style in “Siren Song”

Award-winning and Internationally acclaimed Canadian female vocal group ViVA Trio are set to summon audiences out to sea with this, their stunning new single, “Siren Song.” The three-piece’s two sopranos Anna Bateman and Katya Tchoubar, along with mezzo-soprano Erin Fisher, discovered a rare silver lining in the interruption of their international touring schedule due to …

LIZ PHAIR RELEASES “SPANISH DOORS” SINGLE IN ADVANCE OF SOBERISH, HER FIRST RECORD IN ELEVEN YEARS

Credit: Eszter+David [At approx. 00:15 in the video below, an image appears of Liz on Yamhill Street in downtown Portland standing near some streetcar tracks.] Liz Phair is pleased to announce details of, Soberish, her highly-anticipated new album, and first collection of original material in eleven years. Produced by Phair’s longtime collaborator Brad Wood – …

Minnesota: Where Doves are Crying, AGAIN, by Mark Erickson

SMHSMHSMH. “I woke up this morning and I got myself a [rude awakening].”  George Floyd Part II.  WTF!  I wrote in August 2020 about George Floyd and my familiarity with the site of the civil unrest in Minneapolis:   https://www.eastportlandblog.com/2020/08/24/bola-wrap-non-lethal-police-tool-for-use-in-mental-health-crisis-interventions-by-mark-erickson/  This morning greeted me with the murder of Daunte Wright, another unarmed Black Male being murdered …

Senses – Drifting: “layers of atmospheric guitars, leading to arms aloft euphoria”

SENSES are: Callan, Kavvy, Finny and Ronan. They return with Drifting, the second track to be taken off their debut album, Little Pictures Without Sound (due 16th July). They combine arena ready hooks with evocative soundscapes to create their compelling sound. Equally influenced by shoegaze romanticism, alternative experimentation, and indie ambition. SENSES received support very …

IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, FEARLESS (TAYLOR’S VERSION) BECOMES NINTH CONSECUTIVE TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM TO MOVE OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES DURING WORLDWIDE DEBUT WEEK

Marking a full circle moment 13 years in the making, Taylor Swift releases Fearless (Taylor’s Version) today. It is available HERE. She proudly presents the definitive album version of her 2008 classic. Fearless (Taylor’s Version) includes 27 re-recorded songs, six of which are previously unreleased tracks – “You All Over Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” [feat. Maren Morris], “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The …

GWEN STEFANI AND SAWEETIE TEAM UP ON EMPOWERING “SLOW CLAP”

Photo credit: Meeno Peluce Global superstar Gwen Stefani adds yet another iconic pop collaboration to her catalog with the release of “Slow Clap” featuring the multi-platinum rap star Saweetie. The empowering track, Stefani’s first single of 2021, is inspired by a mash up of sounds with Saweetie’s unabashed verses. “Slow Clap” featuring Saweetie is available now at all digital retailers via Interscope Records. The …

April 8, 2021: International Call for Peace in Afghanistan, by Mark Erickson

https://www.blackagendareport.com/biden-harris-look-ready-keep-us-afghanistan-say-no https://twitter.com/search?q=maydayafghanistan&src=typeahead_click Remember when people lauded the “brave” Afghans for their resolve to beat back the Russkies out of the country during the 1980s occupation?  You may not have learned that Russia sent geologists and engineers to survey – not for oil – for mineral wealth.  Afghanistan has rich deposits of gold, silver, platinum, copper, …

Architecture of the Cocktail: The Japanese Whisky and the Highball, by Bill Stott

Shinjiro Torii (left) and Masataka Taketsuru (right)  Whiskey, combined with a non-alcoholic carbonated mixer, served over ice in a tall glass is called a whiskey highball everywhere in the world. Except for Japan. In Japan, this is simply referred to as a Highball.   The origins of the term highball are grey. Some believe it has to do with the American Railway. Some believe …