#You guys ever riff with an only child and their shots just hit different

[lydias--stiles]

and in the haze you see colours

juke | human soulmate au | title: 5 am // amber run

The first colour she ever saw was purple.

When someone was born, they got to see one colour. To each it was different and often a reflection of one's aura. Julie's aura was purple and, naturally, it was the colour she could see. Which was unfortunate, as there weren't many purple things in life - not naturally, at least.

And so, her entire bedroom was purple. Purple walls and purple sheets and purple stationary. The rest were varying shades of grey. Often times, she asked her parents why some were lighter than others, and they told her about green and blue and red. It sounded like a fairy tale. Red was warm, apparently, and blue was flexible and green was fresh. Despite their best attempts, she couldn't visualise it.

It didn't matter. Once she met her soulmate, she would see all the colours imaginable.

Befriending Flynn was easy. The girl had purple ribbons in her hair and that instantly attracted Julie. Vice versa, Julie's orange dress was a plus for Flynn. Through their deep bond, oranges slowly infused itself in her cornea. Orange, like a child's laughter.

With Carrie came pink. Pink, like the fiery moves of a dancer. It was close to purple, so it wasn't a huge shock to see a bouquet of roses suddenly come alive with colour.

In retrospect, gaining orange and pink wasn't that amazing. Not when she lost her mother while doing so. Placing pink dahlias on her grave was just another punch in the gut.

Years passed and people around her found their soulmates. In freshmen year, so many students gasped and fainted as they crossed eyes with their One. She went to parties and someone would start randomly kissing the other. She went to open mics and watched as her soprano voice accompanied two people finding love. It was as beautiful as it was tragic.

Julie was seventeen and she still hadn't found her soulmate. Statistically, most had by now. Had she not gone to The Orpheum that night, she might’ve waited even longer.

Flynn urged her to go to this new and upcoming band, Sunset Curve, as their sound was someone she’d vibe with. Julie wasn’t really feeling it, drowning in homework and song ideas, but her friend was persistent. They needed a breather from everything and a concert was the perfect remedy. After a quick Google search, she realised they were her age. Curiosity swelled in her chest, wondering how they moved up from open mics or school assemblies to the iconic stage of The Orpheum. The only thing she could note about the band was the drummer’s pink hoodie. That was it.

The venue was packed when they arrived. Boisterous chatter, antsy for the band to come on stage and fill the spaces between the instruments. Glasses chiming of sodas and beers being filled and passed around, the soft hum of pop music blaring from a speaker. Most of the crowd were kids from neighbouring schools and all dressed more alternatively. Though she didn’t see most colours, it was clear as day the band tees were vintage and the trousers were ripped or checkered or both.

She shot Flynn a look. “Are you sure this is our thing?”

“Yes!” Propelling them to the front of the stage and consequently shouldering kids in the ribs, she added: “Their biggest hit is, like, insane. And you’ve been in a funk all week, so you need some insanity. To like, counteract it. I don’t know.”

Julie withheld a pout. She’s been ‘in a funk’, because while she was at Eats & Beats grabbing a coffee, two strangers fawned at the sight of each other. RIght in front of her nose, another couple found. It normally didn’t affect her that much, but it did this time. The girl was sick of hearing about romantical love instead of experiencing it herself. Sure, she had Flynn and Carrie and her family, but…

But she wanted that. She wanted more. And with each ticking hour, it felt less and less viable. Where was the One for her?  

The lights dimmed and the pop music stopped, smoke drifting across the stage as the audience began hollering and whistling. Egging the band to get on and give a performance worth watching. The hyped-up teens pushed everyone to the front, now Julie and Flynn forced to crane their necks to watch.

The drummer came on first, all applauding for him as he took his seat and started a drum beat that quickly upped in tempo. It swept them up in an atmosphere, heads bobbing and feeling that rise in anticipation.

Then the bassist came. His dark jacket glittered in the overhead lights, the flannel peaking beneath almost hinting at orange but remaining grey. He added to the beat, bringing in a bassline that had feet bouncing and more people cheering. The mic at the front remained empty, teasing its explosion of lyrics and electricity.

Finally, at the crescendo of sound, the frontman stormed on. He was all charm and smirks and cut-offs and blazing purple shoes. That caught her off guard, eyes dropping to the ultraviolet sneakers. A shock of colour amidst the grey.

His raspy voice belted out lyrics, a grin pulling on Julie’s face at the musicality. Grabbing Flynn’s hand, they jumped around with the other people. Their music was insane. It was fast and clashing and aggressive and raw.

With her neck in its odd position, she observed the singer for a beat. He was… hot. That was all Julie could think. He was hot. His hair falling perfectly right, big eyes, the smile breaking all lines in his face like a beautiful mosaic. Humming like an undercurrent was a buzz right beneath her ribs. Snug and warm, which could’ve been the vibrations from the amps, but it felt different. A good different.

They were in their fourth song when it happened. The band was kicking and jumping around, singing about making it big and not looking down, skyrocketing to stardom, when it happened.

The lead singer dropped to his knees and let the guitar riff bleed to the front row. The audience hollered, Julie laughing in delight at the expert playing, when her and the guy’s gazes met.

He yelped, music stopping short as he careened over the edge and crashed to the floor. Simultaneously, Julie felt the air knocked out of her lungs, losing balance and falling into Flynn. Her eyes were shrivelling with heat, as if hit with the embers of a campfire. A hammer slammed down on the buzz in her chest, electrifying the feeling till it was nearly unbearable.

Her eyes shot open. And then there was colour.  

The crowd dispersed in fright. Gasps and gawks echoed to the back, curious murmurs carefully watching the guy and the girl come to their senses.

“Flynn,” she exclaimed, grabbing for her friend. “Flynn, I can-”

Except she wasn’t there, joining the rest of the crowd further back. The bassist and drummer were watching on, baffled.

Oh. Her stare drifted to the squirming boy on the floor. Oh.

Luke scrambled upright, instantly coming face to face with Front Row Girl and all the colours he has wished to see forever. His eyes were burning from shock and euphoria, greys and whites bleeding out of his bloodstream.

Her hands grasped for his face, worried, lips forming words he hardly registered but vaguely processed as ‘asking if he was okay.’

“Y-yeah, yeah,” he stuttered, his gaze racing across her features to wholly take her in.

Warm skin and wide, brown eyes and dark lashes and curled, pink lips and a pointed chin and glossy, long curls dancing against her cheeks and soft hands and red - she was wearing red. His colour. His soulmate.

He laughed. “Hi.”

She matched it, giggling. “Hey.”

“Hi,” he sighed, still in disbelief that she was his soulmate. His soulmate. His soulmate. The One.

Her trembling smile softened, thumbs swiping across his cheekbones. “You have really pretty eyes,” she whispered.

Her own were shining with unshed tears and he felt himself choking up too. Never in a million years did he think he’d meet his soulmate. To him, it had always been music. Sure, it sounded nice, but he knew he shouldn’t be yearning for it. He had his friends - his aura was red and he gained pink from Alex and yellow from Reggie.

But suddenly she was here. She was really here.

“You’re- pretty-” he stumbled, causing her to laugh again.

Yeah, there was no way he’d be able to continue the gig. The Orpheum was a big deal, but meeting your soulmate? Most monumental moment of anyone's life.

There was so much colour now. So much life. There was so much more than just music and red and pink and yellow to enjoy. (Songs swirled in his mind though, exciting him to the bone as his hands slid to grab her own. Winking all coy, like the best was yet to come.)

“Do you wanna talk?” he rushed out after.

She nodded. “Yeah. You- uh- your band-”

Their fingers intertwined, warmth dancing in his heart. “Doesn’t matter,” he chuckled. “Really does not matter right now.”

The light of a camera flash and exhilarated screams of ‘soulmates!’ ripped them from their bubble. The bassist jumped offstage and clapped Luke on the back, whispering at him to go to the alley. Leading her away, there was no sense of doubt in their steps. Luke didn’t know her name, she maybe didn’t know his. None of that mattered. There was colour now.

From the alleyway, they found themselves wandering around the Strip as they talked for ages. Her name was Julie, his was Luke, they were musicians, they were seventeen, their auras were purple and red, he decided he adored her smile the most and she his twinkling eyes.

“I think they’re green,” Julie said, peering into his eyes. She was impossibly close and it sort of took his breath away. “They’re fresh.”

“Fresh?” he grinned.

She didn’t lean back - she didn’t want to, his soul simply enigmatic - and asked him the same question. “What are mine?”

His expression softened, a smile twitching on his lips. They’re beautiful. “Brown, I think,” he said instead. “Not sure though. You wanna figure it out tomorrow?”

Her stride halted, their grasp on each other nearly yanked apart. His brows raised expectantly. It was there - that invisible, innate, sense of understanding. It wasn’t just colour. It was the refusal to look at colour alone, ever again. It was insane for the both of them, how their rushing thoughts slotted all puzzle pieces together without a hitch. It had that satisfying click-click-click sound, like dominoes.

Luke found himself coming back to her, the space between them disappearing till their arms pressed together and there were no forces tugging them together. It was all themselves.

“I have a book about colour,” Julie eventually said. “We can learn them all.”

He smirked. “I can tell you your lips are pink.”

“Yours are too.”

“Yeah?” he teased.  

But then she lifted a finger and pressed against the plump skin. His heart stopped short at the sensation. Before he gave into the instinct to pucker them and kiss it, her hand dropped.

Julie grinned. “And now they’re red.”

When Luke kissed her, hers were red too.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

@blush-and-books​ @bluefirewrites​ @unsaidjulie​ @willexx​ @unsaid-emily​ @ourstarscollided​ @pink-flame​ @constantly-singing​ @stydixa​

#juke #jatp fanfiction #julie and the phantoms #otp: i think we make each other better #bitches always be using colour.... im bitches

[morning-might-arrive]

Here’s the continuation of my last post. Thank you so much to everyone who liked and reblogged! This is becoming a lot longer than I thought, so there will be another part soon. Feedback is appreciated!

A series of misunderstandings involving a limousine and Spectra’s blog lead Jackson to the realization that he has way more friends than he thought.

Wednesday

Jackson sighed as he silenced his blaring alarm clock. 7:00 am. As he walked to the bathroom to get ready, he was suddenly struck by a memory.

“It’s nothing personal, normie. You just look like such a freak.” Manny told him as he shoved him off of the lunch table. Jackson looked towards the other mansters, but they said nothing. So they all agreed. Even Clawd. 

He cringed. He’d had to eat lunch in a bathroom stall that day. He looked at his reflection, desperately wishing he could change it. He sighed and got dressed. He had to leave early since he now had no car and his parents weren't home. He plugged his headphones into his phone. Holt had gotten them into this situation, only fitting that he deal with it.

Holt Hyde cursed under his breath as he walked to school. Although the weather was warming, mornings in March were still frigid. He sighed in relief as he approached Monster High.

“Heya there, sweetpea,” Operetta drawled in greeting as Holt waltzed through the front doors of the school. 

“What’s good, Oppy?” Holt responded, his usual loud and energetic self even at the early hour.

“Just peachy keen like always, hun. Say, you seen the Ghostly Gossip lately?” She asked.

“Nah, we usually stay away from that garbage ever since that story about us and Frankie. Humiliated the poor ghoul and almost tanked our relationship. It really ain’t cool what they're doin’.” He replied nonchalantly. 

“Oh. Okay. Well sugar, you know you can tell me anythang you wanna, right?” She continued.

“Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks Oppy.” That was kinda weird for the rough and tumble ghoul to say, but honestly Holt was just glad their botched attempt at dating didn’t mess up their friendship. Oppy was a cool ghoul. 

“What’s the word, cool cats?” Came a new voice.

“Johnny!”

“Johnny.”

Johnny spirit sauntered casually down the main corridor of Monster High, and students jumped out of his way as if he had the plague. He put his arm around Operetta’s shoulder. “Hey, babe.”

Holt snorted. “I’ll never get why everyone lets you float around like you own the place.”

Johnny shrugged. “Guess they don’t have a choice. Besides, I never see you doing anything about it,” he replied with a bit of challenge in his tone. Holt rolled his eyes.

“You know you don’t scare us, Spirit. Anyway, it seems like Oppy’s got you on a leash without our help.”

Johnny bristled at that “Y’know Hyde, I’m gettin’ real sick of-”

“Why don’t we scamper on down to the catacombs and finish that new song we been workin on, sugarpie?” Operetta cut in. She really didn’t want to deal with a fistfight this early.

The couple walked away and Holt made toward the auditorium. He found the symphony on stage setting up and dashed up to join them, plugging his guitar into its amp. Jennifire was nearby greasing the corks on her clarinet. He huffed and sat down next to her.

“Another run in with the phantom pianist?” She asked, not even looking up.

“That guy is such a jerk!”

She chuckled and shook her head. “You boys are so easily provoked; I may never understand it. My brothers were just the same. He has done not to insight your anger.”

Holt really hated to admit it, but she was right. Johnny really didn't scare Holt, and he knew a little better than to try that tough guy act on Jackson. Plus, it was kinda funny seeing guys like Heath and Manny faint when he walked past them.

“Your emotions run like wildfire, I am very impressed you came to terms so easily with your end.” She continued.

Wait. What. “My what now?”

“Of course, it must be so hard for you to talk about. I am sorry.” A tear fell from her eye and promptly turned to smoke upon hitting her face.

“Jen, are you okay?” Holt asked, facing her.

She smiled. “Yes, I will be okay. So kind of you to think of me.”

“Okay, Okay, enough chit chat. Places people!” The director yelled as he approached the stage. Well. That was weird. Holt took his place in the stool beside the amp and looked up as the director began counting them off.

After an awkward hour of rehearsal, they were dismissed to second period. Holt emerged out into the crowd of students in the hall. Jennifire was nowhere to be found, so he made his way toward the art room. His Spotify playlist suddenly changed to a song by Pierce the Veil. He pulled out his phone to skip it and saw he had a message from Jackson. He scoffed. If D-low had told him what was wrong, would he be asking? JJ could be so oblivious. Maybe it was just a normie thing. 

He took his usual seat in front of his canvas and continued his painting for this week. 

“Psst, Holt.” he heard a whisper. He turned and met the shiny magenta eyes of retired popstar Catty Noir. “We’re turning up at Cleo’s place on Saturday, you in?”

“Yeah totally- oh, nevermind. We can’t make it, we kinda got a...thing that day.”

“Oh,” she said, looking kind of taken aback. “It’s that soon?” 

“What was that?”

“ I said I’ll see you soon!” she hastily corrected herself as she got up and turned in her painting, promptly leaving the art room. Man, everyone's acting off today. He touched up his work and quickly followed suit.

He basically had the rest of the period to himself, so he decided to riff on his guitar for a little bit. He couldn’t do it in the building anymore ever since that one time Headmistress Bloodgood caught him, so he moved to the front steps and set his bag beside him.

“Hey Holt!”

Holt turned towards the front of the school. “Frankie Fine-Stein! Where have you been hiding?” Her skin glowed a light mint green and her eyes sparked in the sun. Just as bootiful as ever. She sat on the step beside him.

“I was actually just in the library. I found this book about the original Jekyll and Hyde. It was way harsh; It said that Edward Hyde trampled a child in the streets of London, is that true?”

“Nuh-uh! Those stuffy normie’s didn’t like that grandpa’s were different so they dragged their reputation through the dirt!” Holt declared passionately. “Some of the people they charged him with killing didn’t even exist in the first place! Then they made Dr. Jekyll out to be a complete basket case and threw them both in jail! That is until they got bailed out by our great-great-grandma, Lucy.”

“Oh, man. I didn’t know any of that!” Frankie replied. She actually knew all about it, she had heard the exact same thing from Jackson before. They were both incredibly salty about the smear campaign launched against their great-great-grandparents that made their family flee to America in the first place, and you could hardly bring it up around them without a passionate rant. Frankie felt a little bad about bringing up something she knew was a sore subjet for them, but she had to make sure Spectra and the other ghouls didn’t get caught. It was for their own good, right?

Her phone buzzed in her lap and she glanced down. “Spectra got something, meet us back in the library.” Clawdeen. Frankie jumped up. “Sorry, Holt, I really gotta go.”

Holt watched her go in curiosity. He checked the time and quickly jumped up himself and dashed back inside the building. The only way to not be late now was to go through Section C, the so-called “vampires only” hallway. It really irked them when other monster’s used it, but he didn’t really care when it was either that or detention. As he made his way through he felt someone glaring at him, and met eyes with a large group of the former prep-school vampires. He braced himself, but instead of giving him grief like they usually did, they just let him pass. They were acting weird, but so was everyone else. Oh well, he didn’t really have time to think about it now.

Holt’s third period was Chemistry 2 with Mr. Hack. No thanks. Science was never his strong suit. Plus, there was seriously something off about this particular teacher. He just took a little too much pleasure in the cutting open of living things for Holt’s liking. He pulled out his phone.

“Keep an eye out. Today’s been weird, Bro.” He typed the message out and then disconnected his phone from his headphones. The world went dark.

Jackson blinked a few times. What was that ringing sound? “Oh, shOOT!” He bolted through the closest door- which just happened to be the right one- and took his seat as the bell finished ringing.

Mr. Hack passed out a hefty amount of worksheets to the class. “Okay class: no whispering, no talking, no looking around, no coughing or sneezing, no you can’t use the bathroom, and if I catch you on your cell phone the whole class gets detention. You have until the end of the class to complete the worksheets or it's a 0 for today.”

Everyone groaned. Good old Mr. Hack. Charming and likeable. Jackson tried to ignore the stares and whispers in his direction as he did his work. He knows he’s different, don’t they ever get tired of reminding him? Were they all paying more attention to him than usual, or was it just his imagination? He blazed through his work in about 20 minutes, it was just some simple thermodynamics equations. He looked up and noticed that Mr. Hack was asleep. Typical. Half the class were on their phones and the other half were talking amongst themselves. He pulled his phone out and saw Holt’s message.

Huh. Maybe it wasn’t just his imagination then, everyone was acting a little odd. Granted, every day at Monster High was pretty weird. Last week they had lost their school crest in a rollerblading contest and the school nearly toppled over, so maybe he could just ignore whatever this was.

The bell finally rang for lunch. He set his work on Mr. Hack’s desk as he jolted awake and practically ran from the room. He shot Clair a text

“Okay, transportation is set and decorations bought. Am I forgetting anything?”

“Measurements, goofy.” She responded almost instantly.

“Oh, right. I can get a tape measure from the woodshop teacher and get them during lunch.”

“Have you told the other monsters about Saturday?”

“No. I just don’t know how they’ll react, y’know?”

“Aren’t they always telling you about how you don’t belong? So why would they care?”

“Yeah you’re probably right. It’s just a difficult situation.”

“Yeah, I hear you. Let me know how it goes.”

Looking down at his phone, he didn’t notice Draculara until he bumped her as he passed.

“So sorry!” He exclaimed. 

“It’s alright.” She reassured him as she walked away. She made her way to the library where her friends were already gathered around in a circle. Spectra floated in the center.

“What’s this all about?” Draculara asked.

“While Frankie had Holt distracted, Spectra looked in his locker.”

“Well what did she find?” Cleo demanded.

“Just this. It appears to be a receipt for some kind of car rental.”

Clawd glanced at his phone. “Heath says Jackson is in the boys locker room right now taking measurements of himself and writing them down.” He told the group.

“Then what Spectra said is true.” Fraknie finally admitted. The room fell into extended silence.

“Well we can at least show Jackson he means something to us.” Draculara spoke up.

“Yeah,” Frankie agreed, “we can do something nice for him and Holt.”

“What are we going to do? Hijack the gym and throw a huge party during lunch?” Cleo asked sardonically.

“You’re on a roll Cleo! It’ll be closed tomorrow, but we can do it Friday!” Clawdeen agreed.

Cleo smiled. Very well then. Friday would be a day for the monster history books.

#jackson jekyll #holt hyde #frankie #draculara #clawdeen #spectra vondergeist #operetta #johnny spirit #monster high #mh

[total-television-productions-act]

i generated a show to draw refs for. thanks rng gods SO MUCH for not giving me a massive one

yes my "put all the character in the background characters" disease struck again. trigger warnings for abuse belowwwwwww

Boston Bully is the former leader of Riff Raft's gang. He is also a horrible monster of a person. He started out as a regular old bankrobber with his right-hand-man Shifty, and then got... extravagant. Shooting & killing people and shooting his name into just about anything became his calling card. Of course, the image of being feared extended to his gangmates. Shifty got the worst of the abuse, but Boston was horrible to... just about everyone he's ever met. He groomed Riff up to be the perfect leader, just in his own image, later. Riff is not, and his gang quickly broke the bottom rung off their cufflinks as soon as Boston was killed. The Champion is not much of a guy. He can pack a punch and has a lot of force, but his most dangerous weapons are real weapons. He is not a super hero like Underdog, but he is the only person who has ever arrested and/or beaten up the Boston Bully. He's also the mentor of Underdog, which is probably Underdog is such a good psychical fighter. He has since retired, letting Underdog take the mantle from him. (Also, I imagine he listens to the same Commissioner that Sam & Max do.) Cauliflower Cabby, however, is kinda a guy! He wears bowties for pleasure & is the Champion's alter ego. He's Shoeshine's sort of rebound father, and was the one who taught him to to actually be an adult. He also used to date Pinky Knees, and introduced Shoes & Polly to eachother. He retired quickly after Boston died, tacking a wicked bullet to the shoulder and not wanting to worry Shifty, his boyfriend, too much. He currently works as a summer school teacher (but I keep autocorrecting to Sunday school teacher, which might also be true.) Pinky Knees Purebred is Polly's mom and I have always thought of her as a wild old woman. She slept around alot when she was younger, and still does these days to a lesser extent. One of these sexual endeavors with a long-term fuckin friend ended up in a pregnancy. Pinky sorta shrugged and kept it. The friend panicked and started to date her, deciding that he did not want to know how much child support she could press him for, being a lawyer and all. Pinky is aromantic so stayed to give her son, Noah, a good shot at a normal childhood. A few years later she got surprise pregnant again, and had Polly! The friend was not a good father, and didn't want to do it again, so he hit Pinky once. She left immediately and went to her bff the Champion, and decided she'd rather let it go and not involve her kids in a lawsuit. Nothing much else happened to Pinky or her kids from there, they both grew into successful adults and Pinky still does what she does best (being court debate and banging strangers.) -(This is not related to her backstory, but I imagine that one of her bangin buddies was Scotty Affen. Not anymore, but she's the reason that Scotty and Polly are friends. She was also very surprised when Underdog introduced him to her as his agent.) Shifty Borzoi is my favorite character of the bunch. (What can I say. I like kinda evil gay twinks.) He used to be Boston's most loyal follower, and best friend of Georgia Raft. He recruited Taptap into the gang. Things were so good for a while, making absolute bank and hardly even having to work for it! Until, well, Boston started taking out his various angers on Shifty in several different ways. He's still messed up these days, and certainly flinches if you move to fast near him, and can't even bear the thought of banging someone. Anyway, Shifty put up with the abuse for the moment, making sure that no one in the gang thought anything was wrong! They certainly thought that things were wrong. Shifty waited and waited to strike back until he decided that Riff was capable enough to lead the gang, and shot Boston until his guns were out of bullets. Then he ran away, without a chase, out of the gang, never to be seen again. -He went to the Champion, of course. Champion was a beacon of light and endless well of patience that was perfect to help Shifty recover. And Cauli, of course, takes him in. And Shifty is doing much better than he ever was in the gang, now living a happy life out of crime in an office or something. He does know Shoeshine, and doesn't remember Taptap at all - though did feel a weird wave of deja vu when Cauli took Shoes under his wing.

#my art #boston #pinky #shifty #boston doesnt have the eye wrinkle bc hes dead not bc hes any younger #yes not wearing shoes runs in the purebred line ig #cauli #taleverse #gun tw

[avaliveradio]

Kama Linden Releases a Song about Summer 'Belmar Breeze'

Band Name: Kama Linden

Song name: Belmar Breezes

Music Genre: pop/adult contemporary

I live in... Bronx, NY

Link to play: BELMAR BREEZES https://open.spotify.com/track/5Kafd6tHkpTuRqXkpqvdrI?si=UfgJ6QxoSeq4KASG_KMNSw

BELMAR BREEZES is a song about Summer, but also a visual, detailed description of my version of PARADISE. The Jersey Shore is an oasis for me. I run the beautiful boards of Belmar to Spring Lake, and back, I go to the ocean after 5 pm until maybe 8 pm and walk along the ocean, listening to the calming ocean waves, and the funny seagulls. 

I watch the most amazing sunsets you have ever seen, and the big, bright moons that come up over the ocean, that you cannot see anywhere else. People are friendly and happy, even during COVID. I play my guitar on the boardwalks of a few of the beaches. I live for summer. One day I hope to live in Belmar, or close to it.

IF I'M WRONG is a song I wrote on Route 70 in maybe 15-20 minutes while driving. It is about making your own choices, and IF I'M WRONG, well, fine. But I took a chance. I did not lead a SAFE and boring life. I became an artist. I traveled. I funded my projects. 

I have been swindled out of money, usually by unscrupulous men, but I am here to tell you about it. I am a survivor. I live for me and do not allow myself to be controlled or manipulated, or if it happens, it is short-lived, I figure it out, and I flee the situation :). I am brave and need to try new things, take road trips, meet new people/new friends, and write and sing what is in my heart.

My music is...

Every song is different. Uninhibited was an eclectic pop/rock mix. Better Late Than Never has a theme of a single woman's journey through love, life, loss, and finding G-d. Southern Country is COUNTRY and was recorded with musicians who play at the Grand Ole Opry. 

However, Everything In Good Time is a story about letting what will be, come to be. Not rushing to get there and missing the sights. Getting it right vs. getting it now. Not forcing a result. 

It is the quintessential story a parent tells a child: “Que sera, sera”. It is a dedication to two great ladies, my Mom, and Nana, who guided me through life and answered the questions of an inquisitive, precocious, and artistic child. My songs are reflections, observations, and dedications. It took me 4 studio albums to finally have my voice and my music captured the way they should be captured. I hope that you will enjoy this journey that I have created, culminating over 20 years of songwriting. 

The song "Everything In Good Time" is a conversation between my Nana and I: A precocious little girl who want all the answers RIGHT NOW, and my Nana just telling me, "Don't Worry, it will be fine. You will be beautiful. You will be an actress. You will meet a nice man....just relax...."

If I'm Wrong as I described above, is the song about taking chances, and living a brave life, not a safe, "doing the norm" out of fear of failure or living up to other people's expectations instead of my own. Darla Perlozzi, of Misstyx studio, was able to find me the best musicians as they were all on furlough due to Covid. Tony Toliver's mastery of the piano was out of this world! I dreamed about the piano is a very important part of “If I’m Wrong”. I wanted a higher descending piano line like Vanessa Carlton's "1000 Miles", and then a lower one. But on this song, you will hear the guitar riffs of James Mitchell in the beginning.

Jim was able to telepathically understand what it was I was looking for in so many of my songs and took the helm. Tony also did the amazing keyboard work you hear in "Searching For Madonna" an "Belmar Breezes"...which was SUPPOSED to just be a SIMPLE piano song...both turned into the amazing masterpieces that they were! Tony and Jim went back and forth and just added more and more parts just because they liked my songs, unlike the musicians from "Southern Comfort" who were old guys who liked to COMPLAIN. Tony and Jim, as well as Darla, and her husband Timmy Patterson, play for A-listers! And here they were, giving me their ALL...little old me!

Rodney Ingle is hands down the BEST engineer I EVER WORKED WITH! He was instrumental in capturing my true voice the way it should be recorded. After I banged out the lead vocals to 11 songs in 4 hours, he made suggestions for the harmony lines, which I layered one by one like an individual melody. His guidance, professionalism, and mastery made this the best album I ever made. An album I WOULD GO AN BUY and listen to every day.

How do you think this release represents your current direction…

BELMAR BREEZES: Anyone who knows me or is on my Facebook will see photo after photo of my Jersey Shore escapades. Big moons. Beaches with lots of umbrellas. Timed shots of me in my sunhat, sunglasses, and bathing suits. Making the most out of life and summer. Connecting with other people. Vocally calming, beautiful, descriptive, and inspirational.

IF I'M WRONG: Is the 'in your face', brave, doesn't take no for an answer, taking chance kind of song, like "Better Late Than Never" was. Unapologetic. Feel-good music.

I write the lyrics, melodies, basic chords...play them over and over until I feel good about them, but the musicians from Darla' studio were the ones who brought everything from black and white into color.

James Mitchell, guitars and just guru who got inside my head.

Tony Toliver's mastery of the piano: I dreamed about the piano is a very important part of “If I’m Wrong”. He did more than this for me. He brought so many of my songs to life, and because of him, I do not “hate organ”. He is the reason "Belmar Breezes" sounds like it does. And "Searching For Madonna".

Timmy Patterson's wonderful bass playing, and for keeping me calm. He is the studio business side as well. We tracked 11 songs (12 tracks) in 14 hours, and I was worried about not being able to sing all the songs in one day. BUT I DID!

Darla Perlozzi, of MissStyx Studio, picked up my project when all seemed lost. The previous "producer" bailed on me, and I was better for it. Just listen to the difference in "Make Room For Mama" and "Make Room For Mama 2020". Darla did everything from putting together the best team, working with my budget, and giving me the album I should have had from other studios, at a NASHVILLE price! And of course, for her wonderful drum beats.

What most inspires you?: 

Although I started writing songs when I was 10, they began to fill my head around 1998. Songs would wae me up in the middle of the night. I could run to one song, and be inspired to write a song because of that song. Sometimes it is a simple sentence or catchphrase, like "Better Late Than Never": "What Took You So Long" was one of the last lines in the movie, "Singles". "Everything In Good Time" is what a parent or Nana tells an impatient child. You have only to go to Belmar to experience "Belmar Breezes".... it could be 90-100 degrees outside, and yet this Tradewind will kick up, and you feel like you are standing in front of the refrigerator.

"You're On Video" is about the constant scandals where you WILL BE FILMED on someone's phone, and brought to public justice on Instagram or the news. Think of all the police brutality incidents from Eric Garner to recent protests. Hit and run accidents. Hate speech. You will be filmed! You can't escape. Conversely, "Searching For Madonna" was pre-COVID: being so wrapped up in your phones and gadgets, that you have forgotten humanity, spirituality, and anything but taking selfies and scrolling through nonsensical posts of someone's breakfast.

Writing music is not a choice. It's a NEED. I don't think I could make it stop if I wanted to. Some songs come quickly, like "If I'm Wrong". Some I will write down a line or two, and come back to it years later. Each song is like a birth of a child. Sometimes I go a week or two with no writing, and sometimes It is like a flood of songs. When people hear my lyrics or a small child comes up to me on the boardwalk, dancing and smiling, "I love your voice" like Lara did on Saturday evening at Seaside, or a group of teens passing by stop to listen, jam along, clap, dance....even give a thumbs up...that is why I do it. Being remembered. Not just fame. But have a reason why I was put on this earth and what I will leave behind ("Here She Lies").

I took piano lessons from childhood, but I am one with my guitar. Ibanez. I have four of them. You will see me on the boardwalk with my black one, (Black Ivy) and in shows/photos with my purple one (Miss Plum)

I will hopefully record any future music with Darla's team, but like the movie "Once", all of this happened because I was furloughed, and the musicians were as well, and who knows if we will ever have the opportunity to work together as a team again, once everyone goes back to their touring schedules. I do my scratch recordings with a condenser mic an garage band and hope to eventually, finally learn ProTools. 

What was one notable event that helped shape your last decade?  

I really can't think of "one". Everything is just small little steps that eventually become part of a journey. But from 2016 onward, I taught fewer classes for the horrible and abusive gym and worked more on SAG-AFTRA projects. Of course, everything has been shut down for COVID.

What’s your goal for 2020?: 

Take "Everything In Good Time" to the heights it needs to reach! It is an album that MUST be HEARD. I snuck off to Nashville during a pandemic to record it with the best musicians in the world and released it during a pandemic. It can be for nothing. It is also my best work yet. The songs are relevant! "You're On Video", "We Could Be Friends" (Black Lives Matter and other discrimination and divisiveness), "Your Love Hurts" (domestic violence).

When I started, my first recordings were on "DAT"...

Then someone said, "You need to find a studio with ProTools". My first album and half were recorded at "Night Owl", and then I like paid what would buy me a small condo to finish "Better Late Than Never" at Cove City in Long Island. I trusted 3 "labels" who kept my money, took my money, and were lazy. 

Now I am in control of my production as well as finding people to promote my music. I also have learned that I can go to Nashville an get a quality recording, vs spending through the nose in NY. Like, NY, you have to weed through, as te 1st team was ok for the time, but when Darla's team explained that they probably had the mic on backward, recorded me on the clunky 2-inch machine they threw out when they took over the studio, didn't give me my tracks in a ProTools session so I could remix them if I wanted to, vs the amazing project I recorded with Darla's people. Darla and I bonded over being females, it is a boy's club, especially in Nashville. One guy must have been trolling Darla's FB, and although I just recorded at Darla's studio, wrote to me via my website, and wanted to know who I recorded with. 

I told him I was happy, and would never record ANYWHERE again except for Misstyx, which prompted an angry rant, and "do you know who I am" and "I will have you blacklisted from the musician's union".....so I called the musician's union. Everyone knows everyone, so both Tony (my piano player) and Darla, and a few other folks, shut him up.

Every time I get a guy who tries to scam me out of money ($150 to be on some blog in Nashville that no one has ever heard of) and he says, "You don't know how the music business works!" I just laugh. Musicians today have to do some digging, shopping, and unfortunately, occasionally being scammed or overpaying the wrong people, but it is easier to get it right now thanks to the public opinions online. Do good work, get good reviews. I was also scammed by "Loggins" bac in 2006 or 2007. They charged $750 a week and then tacked on charges for "gift cards" I did not agree to. You couldn't stop them from charging your card for like 2 weeks (you had to give "notice"). I eventually called "Loggins" to ask why I was not receiving ASCAP royalties for all the radio promotion he did, and he could not answer.

Musicians have all the tools they need to create and promote music. I could have bought a house with the mistakes I have made over the past 20 years. But I have learned to do my research and search out the right people to help me.

Website & social media links: :

 Kama Linden: www.kamalinden.com New album: "Everything In Good Time" June 20, 2020:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5RHPPSDhiiYpmt55p1ONeL?si=-WQaDYe9Ttu9eoj73sTNqg Apple:https://music.apple.com/us/album/everything-in-good-time/1517559501 Bandcamp:https://kamalinden.bandcamp.com/album/everything-in-good-time

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamalindenmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamalindenmusic

#Kama Linden #bronx #New York

[queen-rogah]

Chasing Dreams - Part 1

Summary:  In the year of 1971, you dreamed to be the best musician/performer that you’ll ever be. And upon achieving your dream, you have met the four musicians that would surprisingly help you to chase your dreams. The story of you and the rising band is deeply life-changing, and even finding love would get in the way, but all you have to do in chasing those dreams is to always face the consequences…

Warnings: fluff, language

Word Count: 2.8k+ words

Note: Finally, the first part of the Queen series! I will be opening a taglist for this series so let me know! Aaaand this is just a small fic series, maybe in over 10 to 15 parts I guess? Who knows…

♡♡♡ PART ONE: “PROLOGUE” ♡♡♡

The band before them were hyping up the audience. People holding a cup of their beers and feeling the vibe of their music. He can hear the faint noises of Lola’s western accent, with an electric guitar playing in the background. The pub was jam packed, especially right now on Fridays where teenagers will sneak out of their houses, never telling their parents they will go out and do stuffs that aren’t supposed to be done in their age and regular adults just want to have a good time. The van they are using are parked at the back of the pub while they are standing here, the four of them, the lead singer is breathing in and out since this is his first gig as the new frontman, the blond drummer smoking his cigarette, finished it within minutes as he flicked it off his fingers, stomping it with his old converse shoes, then his eyes trained over to the bassist–the youngest one–also the new one of the group, he’s leaning his back on the wall and also a bit nervous like the singer.

The door opened to see Dixon, the one who is running this pub, and also a great man, “You boys are up in five. Instruments are already onstage, only give the people what they want…”

“On it Dix.” Brian smiles at Dixon before he got inside again.

The guitarist pushed himself off the van, where he’s leaning his back on and faced the new group. The two fresh faces of Smile, hoping to be successful. “You guys ready?.”

“Ready.” Freddie nods his head and the band got inside the pub, getting their nervousness off in the backstage. Just in time Lola’s band came inside, her bleached hair was up in a ponytail as she stares at the band before her.

“Look who it is, the band that is striving to get to the top.” Lola snickers as her group chuckles at her remark, she soon stood close to Brian, chin up. “Listen up May, we’ll still be the crowds favorite band nowadays, and now Tim left the band as you’re still trying hard to get your band together. Isn’t it the perfect time to give up already?.”

He swear he hate this 20 year old singer who’s too full of herself. Too bad he doesn’t hit a child like her.

“Listen up here too Lola, we may be striving but you don’t know what’s ahead of us. Don’t be too confident to yourself. You don’t know us, you don’t know Smile. Now step back.” Brian backfires, gripping on his guitar before getting onstage with Roger and John then Freddie came on struting his way at the front, where the people started to stare at him. Surprised at him being in Smile.

“We got a few fresh faces in here,” Brian spoke through the microphone as he picks up his guitar, “That’s John Deacon and this is Freddie…Bulsara.”

“Hello you beautiful people.” Freddie spoke through the microphone. Even bending down on it since it’s too short for him.

The people are quiet. Still astonished.

“Where’s Tim? Who’s the pakkie?.” Someone yelled from the crowd, several people also agreeing on him. Freddie have a straight smile on his face, Brian came to look at Roger who’s fuming while getting ready with his drumsticks and then his eyes dropped on Lola, who’s laughing under her breath, feeling the enthusiasm on what’s happening on them.

Then Brian catches Freddie as he looks back to him, “Let’s do it.” He mumbles to the guitarist as his riff started.

Then Roger’s part, then John’s…

And Freddie starts to sing, picking up the tambourine laying by the drums. He gripped the microphone, to pull it up to match his height, but he can’t. Brian felt worried to Freddie, hearing Lola’s snickering at the back again in watching the singer struggling in the microphone, and when Freddie pulls it up, he broke it. Only getting half of it, but he found a way to make it better as he started to play the tambourine, playing around with the beat. While he’s singing and feeling the presence of it, Brian notices that Freddie was singing the wrong lyrics, that’s why he’s shaking his head. Freddie came to him, grooving his body on the heavy vibe of the song. Brian kept saying to him that’s he’s singing the wrong lyrics, but that doesn’t stop Freddie.

But when Brian looks over to the crowd to see they are actually feeling the music, of how Freddie delivered it. Some people are staring at Freddie in awe, while he shakes the tambourine in his hand. He look back to Roger as the drummer shot him a smile while playing the drums.

This is the start of the new Smile.

…

The gig ended with the band enjoying themselves in the pub. Freddie ordered several pints of lager as he forces the boys to celebrate and be drunk throughout the night. He have his arms around his girlfriend, Victoria, who he met down in their stall in Kensington Market. Roger didn’t have any girl today, but he have his eyes on this brunette wandering around the pub. Brian and John are just sipping down on their drinks, and order another glass, then another and then another.

“You know what Bri,” Roger spoke while stealing a cigarette from Freddie, “I still didn’t see you look at some girl all my life.”

“I guess I have a certain type Rog,” Brian replied, finishing off his drink as he sets down on the table.

“A certain type of a girl is bullshit Brian, there are a lot of beautiful women around town. You need to be laid.” Freddie chuckles, Victoria also giggled in his arms.

“Fuck off Fred,” Brian shrugs as he laughs, drinking on John’s drink that he didn’t finished. He noticed Roger is now actually speaking to this girl by the bar, but she looked uninterested with Roger leaning over her as they talked. Then her eyes suddenly dropped on their table, but her eyes are on Brian, who noticed her stare first. He watch her turn her look to Roger again before she whispered something in his ear.

Roger turn his heel around from her as he walk back to the table, his eyes burning right through Brian. “She’s expecting you Brian.” Roger huffed as he sat down his chair.

Brian’s eyes slowly widened, “What? Me?.” He made sure.

“No, she’s expecting Deaky,” Roger sarcastically said, “Yes you Brian, she wants you.”

Roger have been rejected by this girl, just to talk to Brian instead. Which made Freddie smirk at him, telling him to go to the girl. Brian fixed himself before leaving the table, patting Roger’s tensed shoulders as he smokes. He walk up to the girl, who is facing the other way as he stood beside her. When he felt her turn around, Brian’s heart was racing.

“Wow, you’re here. I thought you got no interest in me.” She speak. Brian looked down her then put up a small smile.

“I just don’t want to abandon a girl who’s been expecting me,” Brian chuckles, “And you just rejected my friend, who is the ladies man. First time to be rejected though.”

“Oh really?.” She blinked her eyes.

“Yeah.” Brian replies. He feels comfortable with her now, and how he stare down on her is creating this unique tension between them.

“Your friend isn’t my type and when I saw you back there, I know you’re different from anyone else in this room.” She said as she drank on her drink. No woman didn’t say that to Brian, that’s why he’s definitely blushing as he looks away, trying to her avoid him looking flushed.

“What’s your name by the way?.” Brian asked.

“Rosalie…” She replied with that beautiful toothy grin as they shake hands together. In the back of Brian’s head, he thinks that this girl, who is holding his hands is the one for him.

“And yours?.” She still didn’t pull her hand away, their hands stopped shaking as they are just holding each other.

“Brian.” He smiles.

…

The school bell rings as you left your room with your bag and then your guitar case. Your dark suede platforms are clicking on the marbled floor of this university, going straight out of this building as you see the sun began to set. You’re beyond happy that this is gonna be the last year in college, so you’re doing your actual best in earning the diploma, having the degree you wanted and making your parents proud. You took a tight grip on your guitar case as you started walking back to your house, be greeted by some class friends outside with their group of friends. You abruptly stopped in your tracks to suddenly see him, leaning on his black Chevrolet, he’s wearing that dark leather jacket that matches his hazelnut eyes that you loved to look at whenever he’s passing through you in the hallways of the campus. But you see the girl that he’s been seeing this week walking towards him as he gave her a hungry kiss, the kiss that you wanted all your life.

You sadly look away, continuing in walking forwards again as you stopped again to hear him call your name, “Hey! Y/N!.” He calls.

Your grip in your guitar case tightens as you turn your heel around, seeing him jogging up to you, “William, w-what’s up?.” You stammer, hands scratching the back of your neck.

You kept making contact with his girlfriend waiting up by his car. This is making you a bit anxious. Maybe she’ll hate you for this.

“There’s actually a party that I’ll throw in my house tonight since it’s gonna be two weeks before graduation, so I’m here inviting you and also thanking you in helping me for my project last week.” He smiles. Damn that smile can make you melt like a popsicle on a summer day.

“Tonight? I…uh, I’ll try okay? I’ve been too busy at nights with my father, so yeah…I’ll still try William.” You stutter in your words. Your cheeks are turning a bit of that red shade as he chuckles.

“Okay, see you then Y/N,” He replies as he puts his hands inside the pocket of his leather jacket, “And hey…”

“Yeah?.” You answered.

“You still look cute when you blush Y/L/N…” He gave you that wink as he walks away, putting his arms on the girl’s shoulder as they both got inside his car. You have a smile plastered on your face while you’re walking home, when you’re already in your neighborhood, you race towards your house, entering by the back door as you lean you back on it, squealing in happiness that William called you cute and personally invited you to his party tonight.

“Y/N? Is that you?.” You heard your father’s voice from the hallway as he sees you here, drowning in your obsession to your college crush and your cheeks still heating up.

“Dad, please…can I go to this party? Just this once and I promise I’ll make it up to you in your pub since I didn’t sing today.” You said all of that in one breath as your father just gawk at you.

“No.” He retorts. Facing his back to you.

You groaned, pushing yourself off this door that you’ve been leaning your back to as you face him again, “Dad, please, just this once!.”

“Maybe that party will be filled with alcohols and drugs Y/N, I may be running a pub business here but I don’t want you be intoxicated with someone in that party. Especially when you’re with a group of men.” He strictly said, making you huff.

“Uh…” You paused, thinking of an excuse to let you go to that party, “Jonathan will be coming with me and he’ll be there by my side. You trust Jonathan right?.” You lied, giving him a pleading look.

“Yes, I trust Jonathan but I’m still not going to let you go in that party. You must sing in the pub tonight, end of discussion.” He said and sat on his chair. Your shoulder slumps down and glare at him.

“Then why are you letting Rosalie go by herself in Kensington to go to some pubs there while you don’t do the same to me? That’s just unfair!.” You complained.

“Your sister is older than you and that’s that–” He argues.

“–we’re just three years apart and I’m not a child anymore Dad! I need to be…free too!.” You bicker.

He was about to speak but you suddenly heard a knock on the front door as you immediately stood up from your seat, stomping your way towards the door to let out your frustrations as you open the door, seeing Jonathan smiling before you.

“Jonathan, you’re finally here…” You smiled as you stepped outside the house, closing the door afterwards. “I’m actually here to ask you a favor…”

Your best friend furrowed his brows, “What’s this favor again Y/N?.” He asked.

“Look, earlier while I was walking home from uni, William Porter aka my crush since high school–”

“–You still didn’t moved on about William huh–”

“–and he suddenly invited me to his party tonight and called me cute for blushing…” You giggled.

“And…? What’s your favor now?.” He asked, feeling uninterested on you talking about your school crush. You stood closer to him as he eyed you, raising his left brow.

“I kinda said that you’re coming with me in the party to Dad so that he’ll let me go, since he trust in you.” You whisper to him, watching his eyes widened.

“You what?! You can’t just lie to your father! And involve me to it, he will kill me Y/N…” He whisper-yell at you, giving you that strict look whenever you’re doing something that would ruin things.

“No, not you too! You’re supposed to be my best friend Jonathan! My partner in crime!.” You whined. He held your hand as he is suddenly going towards your house.

“I’m your friend that is taking care of you Y/N, and I will tell your father that you lied to him.” He said, opening the front door. You try pulling your hand from him, escaping from his grip but it won’t budge. When he pulls the door open, there you see your father looking at both of you.

“Jonathan, you’re finally here.” He said.

“Mr. Y/L/N, I’m here to say that Y/N–”

You finally escaped his grip as you’re now standing beside him, cutting off his sentence, “–That I’m really excited that he’s coming with me in the party that I’m talking about! And he will help me choose my outfit!.”

Your father sighs, “Fine. Jonathan, look after her throughout the night okay? Don’t let her drink that much and if you’ll see drugs in that party, leave immediately.” He said.

Your heart skipped a beat as you jump in happiness, hugging your father then look over to Jonathan, who’s rolling his eyes at you. Holding his hand as you let him in your room. Opening up your closet to bring out the flares and the blouses you’ve been hiding for a special occasion.

“Why is this party so important to you?.” Jonathan asks, sitting on the edge of your bed as he lays down, staring at the ceiling.

“Because it’s William’s party duh.” You replied, holding up two blouses at him. “Which one do you prefer, this autumn colored blouse or the peacock print?.”

Jonathan pointed at the autumn colored as you start to take your shirt off, but you heard him shout behind you, “Hey! You shouldn’t do that while I’m here missy, good god.” He said.

“You just seen me without clothes dumbo.” You teased.

“Yeah! When we were eight Y/N!,” He retorts, opening your door then looks back at you. “I’ll pick you up later for us to go to that party. Okay?.”

You smiled at him as you nod in reply, “Okay Jon, see you tonight.” You said.

“See you Y/N.” He said before leaving your room, closing the door gently behind him.

__________

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#Brian May #brian may imagines #brian may x reader #brian may x you #queen imagines #queen fic #queen band #queenrogah's fic

[magicalgirlartist]

This is Sprout, a character for the upcoming Sentinel Comics RPG! She exists entirely because of my tendency to say “aw beans” whenever anything goes wrong. (You can blame Brian from the Letters Page Discord for this.)

Character notes, lies about publishing history, character backstory, and game mechanics (?) under the cut, with deepest apologies to mobile users.

Character Notes

Sprout’s real name is Jacqueline Stock. She was originally created in the 1960′s as a child character for children, then disappeared from comics for a long time before being “rebooted” as a young adult for modern comics. Sprout has no innate powers of her own, but she does have a slew of magic beans which she uses to solve problems and (eventually) fight crime. Most of them just grew vines really fast (and as a kid that was all they did), which she uses to trip, tie up, or otherwise incapacitate bad guys. She can get creative with these, such as using the vines as a climbing rope or a bridge, and they’re the type of beans she uses the most. Other types of beans include explosive beans, smoke beans, slippery beans, and sticky beans.

As a child, Jacqueline’s identity was kept secret via Clark Kenting: Jacqueline had hair that hung straight down, whereas Sprout had pigtails. Sprout also always had a bright green bandage on her somewhere. As an adult, Jacqueline keeps her identity secret by virtue of not having any friends in Megalopolis that aren’t also superheroes.

Publishing History (lies)

Sprout was originally a character created by a different comic publishing company. During her original run, she was a nine-year-old child and her comics were aimed at young children. She mostly solved “mysteries” (such as Someone Has Stolen The Class Pet) and served as a PSA/morality character (with such stories as Nobody Is Going To Her Favourite Candy Store Anymore And They Might Have To Close Because There Is An Untrue Rumor Being Spread About The Owner And This Is Why You Should Not Spread Rumors Kids). Seeing as they were comics aimed at young children, the language and plots were fairly simple. They were generally well-liked and popular among kids of the era.

Eventually she went from grade three to grade four, but her stories stayed mostly the same. Once she hit grade 5 (ten real-world years after her original release), she started actually fighting crime. Most of it was either low-level street crime (purse snatchers, cat burglars, etc.) or the occasional costumed supervillain. Her most notable supervillain was the Ant King, notable mostly because he was the only one who showed up more than once. (He’s a whole other story.)

During this time, Jacqueline’s backstory was never explained. The most the audience got was “she reads a lot and is very smart and also has magic vine-growing beans.” Her home life was mostly glossed over, as her comics tended to focus more on problems at her school and in her (fairly generic) community.

Around the mid-seventies, the company that published Sprout’s comics was going out of business, and Sentinel Comics bought the rights to Sprout, her comics, and her supporting cast. They didn’t really do anything with her right away, and Sprout sort of faded from the public consciousness up until Vengeance. There was a background shot where a character that looked like a mid-teen Sprout, straw hat and sundress and all, throwing something vine-like at a guy wearing a terrible ant costume and a crown. The people who grew up with her freaked out, thinking Sprout was back.

She was not.

Sprout wasn’t really seen in Sentinel Comics again until OblivAeon, where she was part of the Really Big Group Shot of Every Hero Ever and even got a focus panel during a montage of minor and alt-universe heroes fighting Aeon Men. In this one, she was throwing beans that appeared to be exploding. Again, the people who grew up with her (and the huge comic buffs) wondered if this meant she was coming back for real, but they’d been wrong once before, so they weren’t expecting much.

This time, however, she did actually come back. When the Freedom Plaza book(s) were announced, the release discussed some of the characters that would be appearing in the book, and one was Sprout. There was an Issue 0 for the book she would appear in, giving a basic overview of each character’s backstory and where they sit in Sentinel Comics as a whole. As Sprout didn’t have a backstory before, this was the first place her backstory was ever published.

Character Backstory

Jacqueline’s backstory in her original run wasn’t talked about. She was a cool kid who solved problems and captured criminals with her smarts and her beans.

In her Issue 0, she was given a full, fleshed out backstory. It was something of a riff on the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, playing off her name and magic beans.

Jacqueline Sprout grew up on a farm with her mom and older brother Jackson. They lived in a fairly small town, the sort of place where everybody knew everybody else. Every Saturday, Jacqueline’s parents took her and her brother down to the farmer’s market. Jacqueline’s job was to put people’s purchases in bags, but when she was in third grade her parents started letting her handle transactions (with supervision, of course).

One week, Jacqueline was handling a customer by herself while her family was busy with other customers. He was an old man with a funny hat and a nice smile. When she told him his total, he looked sadly at the few coins in his hand and said “Ah, it seems I’m a little short. But I’ll tell you what.” He pulled a small pouch from a pocket of the long coat he was wearing. “In this pouch are some magic beans. I’ll give them to you in exchange for your fine produce.”

Jacqueline, being a fairly gullible child and having read the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, immediately accepted. By the time her parents realised what she had done, the old man was long gone and Jacqueline was gushing proudly about how she was going to climb to the sky and fight a giant. They flipped out, she was lectured for a very long time, and she wasn’t allowed to handle purchases by herself until she was sixteen.

When they got home that day, Jacqueline immediately planted the “magic beans” in a pot next to her bedroom window. By the next morning, they had already sprouted, and while she was disappointed that they hadn’t grown to the sky overnight like in the story, that was still incredibly fast. They were producing more kidney bean sized beans within a few days. Jacqueline started harvesting them, and accidentally dropped one on the ground. Upon impact, vines started to grow from it. She freaked out, but they stopped fairly quickly, and she destroyed the evidence before her family found out. She kept the harvested beans in jars under her bed. After a while, she started using them to solve problems at school and in her community under the secret identity of Sprout.

As she got older, Jacqueline started to wonder if there were other things she could do with the beans. She began to experiment with them. She did research into genetically modifying plants, and when that turned out to be not viable from home she turned to alchemy. She set up a basic, makeshift alchemist’s lab in her closet, keeping it locked when not in use. After a lot of trial and error (a lot of error) she managed to create several different types of beans with different abilities. 

After graduating from high school, she moved to Megalopolis to attend university. She was going for her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Jacqueline said it was so she could take over the Stock family farm one day, but mostly it was to find new and interesting ways to improve her bean alchemy. Sprout used her beans to help fight against Aeon Men, and when she heard about the Sentinels of Freedom and Freedom Plaza, she jumped at the chance for more ways to learn about the beans she grows and how she can use them to help people.

Game Mechanics (?)

Since we don’t currently have access to full character creation rules, I’m just throwing things around based on what we do know about character creation. Full character sheet stuff will be put here once we have access to the rules.

Power Source: either Nature, Mystical, or Experimentation

Archetype: Alchemist

Personality: Cheerful

Background: Farmer?

Principle of the Alchemist: The first law of alchemy states that to gain something, something of equal value must be lost

Principle of the Green Thumb: You grew up taking care of plants to the point where you know almost everything there is to know about them.

#sentinels of the multiverse #art #fanart #traditional mediums

[fckeddiemunson]

The Guitarist - Chapter One

ALRIGHT SO I GOT BORED AND WANTED TO DO THIS I WILL UPLOAD AGAIN SOON AND YES IT WILL BE SMUTTY

Harry wasn’t sure how he ended up in a crowded venue, surrounded by beefy guys with beer in sleeveless leather jackets. But there he was regardless. He wanted to be alone, but not be alone. Going anywhere public would have been futile and resulted in hastily taken pictures and the definite hassle of paparazzi. It took him a while to think of a place, but he was driving down a quiet street of London when he saw an advertisement for a small metal band, playing a show of about 500. The tickets were dirt cheap and the risk of someone recognising him there was so slim, Harry was convinced he could use a fake name with no second glances. Harry hadn’t the faintest idea what kind of show he was in for, but he was excited to witness something new. Something where cameras weren’t watching and he could just watch, without being watched. He was to the left of the stage, people packed in closer but he stood his ground, at a good distance from the stage.

The lights dimmed completely and a dark red light illuminated the stage, hauling in whistles and screams from the audience. Harry chuckled and whistled with them, relishing in the feeling of being on the other side. Harry blended in and didn’t feel too out of place with his black t-shirt and tattooed arms, but he knew he was different. Harry dressed like a rock star but had the personality of a bumble bee dancing around a stage in a flower crown. He was a delicate creature who liked the simplicities of life and liked his privacy. He had learned over the years who he was and that person should not have been at a metal concert. The band was called Living With Insanity and he felt somehow captivated to their contrasting elements and desire for something new.

The band came on one by one, in traditional fashion and his eyes landed on the lead guitarist. The guitarist was a girl around 20, wild curly dark brown hair and cascading tattoos down her slim body. He felt entranced by her playing, the way her fingers plucked the riffs and murdered the solos. She stood on his side of the stage and mainly looked out at the crowd, smiling. Harry could just see her hazel eyes wondering the crowd as she danced across the strings on her black electric guitar. A few men in the crowd heckled at her during intervals but she took it in her stride and answered their crude and ridiculous pleas. He was captivated by her, nobody else mattered in the band, the crowd’s screams dulled in his ears as he listened only to the playing of her guitar. His body moved to the playing of her guitar, much like rest of the crowd. Her eyes wondered out to the crowd, searching for faces but Harry knew this attempt was pointless in such a dark venue. The show came to a close and all Harry wanted to do was find that girl and talk to her. Her aura on stage was enthralling and he felt possessed by it. He wandered lethargically out of the venue and to the back of the building where he saw them packing up. Chords lay tangled everywhere and she was crouched down wrapping them around her arm, cigarette between her lips and hair wild.

“Hey.” Harry said softly as he walked up in front of her, her eyes darted up and eyebrows quirked at him.

“Hi.” She replied in a huffed tone and continued wrapping up the chords.

“I’m Harry” he said with an assured tone, attempting to strike up a conversation, maybe even help her.

“I am aware. I’m Piper” Harry was slightly taken aback but didn’t let it faze him.

“Can I help you with anything?” Harry said, grinning and looking down at the chords she had to wrap up.

“Sure, just don’t mess up the chords.” She handed him a loose chord, making brief eye contact with him. Piper wasn’t quite sure why Harry was at their show, in fact she was quite confused.

“What are you doing here, pretty boy?” Her tone was somewhat accusing but she was mostly outrageously curious.

“I came to enjoy the show.” He said sincerely, Piper’s expression was somewhat hard and unreadable.

“Yeah okay.” Piper went back to wrapping the chords and took a ling drag of her cigarette causing Harry to cough innocently. Piper rolled her eyes, her expression covered by her cascading looks.

“Look, I just wanted to tell you the show was really good by the way, and you are an amazing player.” Harry smiled at the girl, her piercing mixed hazel eyes looked at him, attempting to decipher his meaning.

“Look, flattery will get you nowhere, pretty boy.” Piper retorted, accusation lacing her soothing voice.

“I wasn’t- ” Harry was cut off by Piper standing up and walking away, he quickly got up to follow her, desperate for her attention. Harry almost slapped himself for being so whiney. Piper turned around and took a step toward Harry to which he took one back. Piper took another and so did Harry, he felt his back touch a wall and Piper stood awfully close to him.

“Pretty boy, what do you want?” Piper spoke softly, holding a firm and slightly frustrated tone.

“A drink, with you.” Harry’s breathing had quickened and he could feel the hair on his neck rising in nervousness.

“I don’t do the whole mega star thing.” She gestured to his body and he shook his head.

“I’m not like the media portrays me.”

“And what would that be?” Piper challenged

“A stuck-up asshole with too much money and who doesn’t care.” Harry breathed out quickly, burning under Piper’s stare. Piper weighed up her options, she could either go home to her messy liquor filled apartment and drink herself to sleep or she could go out with popstar Harry and go to a poncy bar with a dress code.

“I pick the bar.” Piper stepped away from Harry and he exhaled sharply, nodding while looking her in the eye. Piper asked one of the roadies if he could pack up the chords and she told Harry to wait while she collected her belongings. He waited anxiously, somewhat intimidated by her. They started walking down the alley way, Piper led the way, her strides fast and snappy, Harry kept up with his long legs. He couldn’t help but trail his eyes down her body when she got slightly ahead, her jeans clung tightly to her figure and her hair flowed wildly behind her, mimicking her fierce personality. Harry didn’t want to seem like the other guys she clearly disliked so he kept his eyes down on the road as they walked. Harry didn’t even expect to acquire her number at the end of the night but her endearing personality attracted him, in an unexpected manner. He usually went for a quiet girl who didn’t cause the media any scandals, although, he felt Piper admired privacy and didn’t want hers stripped away from her.

“So, how long have you been playing guitar?” Harry smiled as they walked down a quiet street with a few lone people lurking around.

“Since I was eight. How long have you been singing?” Piper looked at Harry, making an attempt to be nicer than she had.

“Ever since I could talk really, but I didn’t think I had any real potential.” Piper couldn’t help but roll her eyes, but hid them from Harry who was watching her intently.

“Yeah, well singing seemed to turn out pretty well for you.” Piper attempted a smile that ended up like a pained Cheshire cat. Harry however smiled his toothy grin back and Piper stopped at a door. The door led to a downtown bar, the slightly dodgy and dirty part of town. Even as a teenager, Harry didn’t venture down here, unlike Piper, his life was more sheltered than hers. Harry had lived a relatively normal and cosy life as a child compared to the backlashing harsh life of Piper.

The lights inside the bar were dim and a few strippers adorned poles in the back corner of the room. Middle aged men threw money at them, their white singlets showing their protruding beer bellies. Shift workers loved this place. They loved the dark decor, the cheap strippers and the near twenty-four-hour service for any and all needs. Harry felt a bit uncomfortable but slung his body down on a faux leather lounge that was chipping and peeling. Piper ordered shots for the two of them, clearly knowing her way around the claustrophobic, smoke ridden bar. She laid down on the lounge opposite him and he coughed slightly, engaging her attention.

“So, tell me about your life?” Piper was shocked by his constant optimistic glow but shrugged, sitting up to look him in the eye.

“I bust my ass in a band that is seemingly going nowhere, but I love making music so I stay. I work occasionally at this bar when our gig money doesn’t cut the rent and electricity and water bills. I could’ve gone to university; my marks were good enough but I chose the band life and started touring the UK with a bunch of twenty-five-year old guys who learnt pretty quickly that I was an equal member of this band and we got along ever since.” Harry wasn’t expecting such a length response, but he was glad they were managing to get a conversation rolling. Piper didn’t ask about his life and she knew it would completely shadow her small little life.

“What was your first job?” Harry questioned as their shots came and they downed them simultaneously.

“I used to work at a coffee shop that was on the river. It was lovely there, but they changed owners and it wasn’t the greatest after that. What about you?” Piper seemed to look fondly back on this memory, a smile curled on her lips and Harry wanted to see more of it.

“I used to work in a bakery.” They made eye contact and Piper giggled at Harry’s answer.

“What?” he giggled back at her, confused at her sudden outburst, but intrigued.

“I’ve lived a safe life and I am a huge rock star and I used to work in a bakery.” Piper taunted him, Harry’s grin widened as he shook his head at her impression.

They ordered another round of shots, this time Harry watched her drink hers before he downed his. He watched the scrunch of her nose as she swallowed and the crinkle of her eyes as the spirit hit her throat. His eyes stared into hers as she bit her lip, hollering for more shots. Shot after shot they took and soon they were huddled together on the same lounge, Harry ran his hand through her dark curly mess. Harry’s phone began to buzz relentlessly and Piper had ended up turning it off and shoving it in her pocket, claiming he wasn’t allowed to have it. Harry was surprised by Piper’s demeaner in her drunken state. She stopped pretending to be an intimidating guitarist and let herself laugh and smile. She snuggled into his chest as they sat there, the music subtle in the bar, a few truck drivers had stopped and then left again. They had been there the longest, cheesy laughing at every shot they took and slamming the glasses down on the scratched dark wooden table.

“I think we better go.” Piper stated, in between every word a hiccup.

“I’ll call my driver.” Harry said loudly and started patting Piper down in an attempt to locate his phone. He found it and smirked at Piper before taking it off her. Piper dazily sat up from the lounge and stood up, stretching widely as Harry made the call.

“Okay, let’s go!” Piper was in an excited state and dragged Harry up from the lounge, he grabbed his coat and stumbled with her out the front door. They stood in the freezing air, dancing from foot to foot, trying to keep themselves warm. Harry felt light headed and looked towards Piper, her face lit up as she made eye contact with a freezing Harry. Harry saw a car turn a corner, recognising it immediately he walked closer to the road. It was being followed by several vans, he knew they contained paps. He looked to his driver and his driver was shaking his head, Harry knew he had been stalked on the way over. Piper seemed gleefully unaware of them and Harry wanted to keep it that way, knowing that even in her happy drunken state, she would lash out, claiming he was something he wasn’t. He wrapped an arm around her waist and hustled her into the car as soon as it pulled up. He saw the distant flash of a camera but didn’t turn his head in acknowledgment and instead buckled himself into the dark car.

“Piper, where do you live?” he slurred lightly but smiled earnestly at her. She seemed somewhat more aware and gave the driver explicit directions, her hands gesturing as she spoke. Harry tried to take a mental note of her place when they arrived, it was in a quiet street. The apartment building towering menacingly over the drunken boy. He stepped out of the car with her, walking her to the entrance of the building. Piper regained a sober moment and pushed him unexpectedly against the red brick wall.

“Like I said pretty boy, flattery will get you nowhere.” She breathed to him, her eyes flutter as she leant in and kissed the corner of his mouth teasingly. He tried to kiss back but she stopped and smirked at him, fumbled with her keys and unlocked the apartment entrance.

“See you later, pretty boy.” Her voice, like velvet rang in his ears as he walked back to his car, already in need to see her again.

#harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles smut #weird concept #smut #i like #harry #cute #hot #af #baby #beauty #guitar #love #harold #the guitarist

[happymetalgeek]

British four-piece rock band COLLATERAL are set to release their highly anticipated eponymous debut album on 21 February 21, 2020. The album is released by Roulette Media Records and distributed worldwide through Cargo and is available for pre-order now.

January 31st saw the release of their new single “Merry Go Round.”.

Collateral are special guests on Jared James Nichols’ February and March 2020 UK Tour as well as on Skid Row’s European 2020 Tour, Phil X & The Drills UK March 2020 Tour and H.e.a.t’s UK Tour 2020 with Vega and Mason Hill. Tickets are available from www.collateralofficial.com

Collateral have been busy in the studio since the release of their debut EP ‘4 Shots!’ which was originally released on November 17, 2018 and featured the single ‘Midnight Queen’. After the single got to the top of the Australian Radio Charts, it was then added to the main playlist on Planet Rock; the UK’s biggest classic rock radio station (the single appears on the band’s upcoming debut album).

The exciting and flamboyant Kent-based rock and roll band are comprised of Angelo Tristan (lead vocals, guitar), Todd Winger (guitar), Jack Bentley-Smith (bass) and Ben Atkinson (drums).

Todd Winger Photo Credit: Rob Nankivell

Jack Bentley Smith Photo Credit: Rob Nankivell

Ben Atkinson Photo Credit: Rob Nankivell

Angelo Tristan Photo Credit: Rob Nankivell

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Spotify

On May 3, 2019, Collateral released their next single, ‘Lullaby’ which was the first new song taken from their highly anticipated debut album. The single was accompanied by a live style music video which was celebrated by Planet Rock and was premiered on their official website.

After the release of the ‘4 Shots!’ EP, Collateral worked relentlessly to keep the momentum going. They won a Camden Rocks Festival competition out of 20,000 bands to play the main stage at the Electric Ballroom on June 1, 2019. A few months later, they won a competition between 40 bands at the Ramblin’ Man Rumble to play the Rising Stage at the Ramblin’ Man Fair festival 2019.  The band drew the biggest crowd when they played the Rising Stage at Ramblin’ Man.

One of their most exciting achievements for Collateral in 2019, was when they won a competition out of 200,000 entrants to support Jon Bon Jovi on his Runaway to Paradise Mediterranean Cruise departing Barcelona to Majorca on August 26th.

Now, Collateral’s hotly tipped debut album is likely to propel them next level. A lot of people don’t know what to expect from the new album, as the band have been tight-lipped about the new songs. Collateral have created a state-of-the-art rock album that will enable fans to feel the blood, sweat and glory that went into the recording of every song.

Angelo Tristan (Vocals, Guitar). Photo Credit: © Rob Nankivell

Todd Winger (Guitar). Photo Credit: © Rob Nankivell

“We wanted to stay away from the normal rules that apply to what you can and cannot put on an album,” says front man Angelo Tristan. “The album contains all of our inspirations, and nothing’s has been diluted. I’m very influenced by country music which is evident in the song ‘About This Boy’. Jack is heavily influenced by 80’s rock on tracks like ‘Mr Big Shot’ and ‘Promiseland’.

“One of the more Southern style tracks on the album is “Merry-Go-Round.” It’s a reflection of Todd’s inspiration from bands that include Black Stone Cherry and Cadillac Three. Our drummer, Ben, comes from a far heavier metal background which really gives the songs their powerful edge.

“The album is comprised of nine songs – all killer and no filler. The recording of this album was an amazing experience from the get-go. To finally see this record come to life was remarkable. I hope the fans will share the same excitement we had when we made the album. Buckle up. We’re in for one helluva ride!”

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM & SINGLE

INSTANT GRAT TRACK “LULLABY: LIVE AT THE BLACKHEART” WHEN PRE-ORDERING THE ALBUM

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM & SINGLE

ALBUM TRACKLISTING

1. MR BIG SHOT 2. PROMISELAND 3. MERRY GO ROUND 4. IN IT FOR LOVE 5. LULLABY 6. MIDNIGHT QUEEN 7. GET BACK TO YOU 8. WON’T STOP ME DREAMING 9. ABOUT THIS BOY

TRACK BY TRACK

Collateral’s front man, Angelo Tristan, breaks down the songs on the new album track by track.

1. MR BIG SHOTThis was one of those songs that really grew into something it was never intended to be. What started out as something that was supposed to mock the way we see ourselves; ended up being such a heavy gritty song that really held its own when it came to narrowing stuff down to go on the album. Mr Big Shot started out as a bit of an inside joke, because that’s what people assume you think of yourself when you’re in a band. But we took that vibe, turned it into something fun, charming and full of innuendos.

2. PROMISELAND

This one really meant something to us. Sometimes as a songwriter, you write about a subject that you hold particularly close to your heart. The state of the music industry is something that we all have worries about. Music venues are closing, people singing songs that they didn’t write or don’t understand. It’s as if everyone is scared to be themselves. Coincidentally, one of the lyrics is “Tearing down the Borderline.” A month after we wrote it, the Borderline venue in London announced they were closing.

3. MERRY-GO-ROUND

Collectively, when this song was written, the band had some stuff going on. When it never rains, it pours. We wanted to write something that not only made our listeners feel like they could get through whatever life was throwing their way, but also that we are all going through it with them, too. It’s a keep-on-keeping-on kind of track.

4. IN IT FOR LOVE

This one is amongst the first few songs I ever wrote. That was twelve years ago, and it has changed so much, it’s almost like when you bump into an old school friend and catch up over a beer, and you’re like, “Wow, I’m so glad to see you doing so well man!” We changed the song so much from the initial laid-back, carefree track that it was, we changed the tempo in the choruses because well, why not?! It really changed the vibe of the song and from there with Ben smashing it on drums it just became a bit of a revolution.

5. LULLABY

This track really laid the foundations for the album, it was written at a time where certain members that are no longer with us, really weren’t giving it their all. We were frustrated and really just wanted to write something four on the floor, hard hitting with bad-ass angry riffs that would get crowds singing along. It’s from the same vein as Promised Land, but except from a first-person perspective which also added a new angle and diversity to the way we write which is always interesting.

6. MIDNIGHT QUEEN

I remember wanting to write something to help a close friend who had gone through a bad relationship and she needed to know she’d done the right thing by walking away. We’ve all been there, and sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing. But having something upbeat to listen to when you’re going through that can make a difference. Being influenced by The Eagles, it was the first song where we really explored that country rock vibe and really ran with it.

7. GET BACK TO YOU

The inspiration is pretty obvious. I miss both my girls so much when I’m away and it does feel like an endless run of beds that aren’t your own and places that are unfamiliar. Ask anyone, when you’re away, the thought of getting back home is what gets you through. Being heavily influenced by Bon Jovi as you may or may not have heard; I wanted to have an “Always” under our belts for when the heavens open midway through a concert; we want to get those lighters in the air!

8. WON’T STOP ME DREAMING

This song evolved so much within its first stages it ended up as three different tracks split up in the end. We had so much fun writing it. We joked that it was a chorus generator, we came up with so many different choruses off the back of the verses in this song. It’s probably the most pop rock song on the album. The initial inspiration for this song came from us reading a review of one of our shows where the guy said something like, “I’ve seen it all before.” We just decided to have a little bit of fun with that.

9. ABOUT THIS BOY

This song took a long time to write because it was personal. Writing songs, regardless of their content, can be as if you are tearing your heart out and painting a canvas for everyone to see the way you really are. For a longtime this track was an unfinished sketch. I just couldn’t figure out where I wanted to go with it. Eventually it wrote itself, it couldn’t be forced. It was autobiographical. As a child, I’d listen to my Mum singing to the Dixie Chicks whilst she was cooking or cleaning. The music shaped me, not only as a musician, but also as a human being. I wanted to express that in this song. For me it was all about going back to my roots and self-reflecting on what was important in my life.

2020 UK TOUR DATES

TICKETS: WWW.COLLATERALOFFICIAL.COM

JARED JAMES NICHOLS UK TOUR SPRING 2020 TICKETS VIA: MYTICKET & SEETICKETS

Eventim (Bilston Only) | AltTickets (Nottingham Only) Solid Ents (Grimsby Only) | Ticketmaster & Tickets Scotland (Glasgow Only)

The Robin 2, Bilston

Tuesday 25th February 2020

Eventim Tickets – http://bit.ly/2qzm3o6 SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/2Pq9dDl Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 20 – 28 Mount Pleasant, Wolverhampton, Bilston WV14 7LJ www.therobin2.com

Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Wednesday 26th February 2020

Alttickets – http://bit.ly/2pNEXHH SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/2N6DKDa Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Masonic Pl, Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5LB www.rescuerooms.com

Yardbirds Rock, Grimsby

Thursday 27th February 2020

MyTicket – http://bit.ly/364lSBq Solid Ents Tickets – http://bit.ly/2p0fYks Facebook Church St, Grimsby DN32 7DD http://yardbirdsrocks.co.uk

Think Tank, Newcastle

Friday 28th February 2020

Tickets – http://bit.ly/31I6QxV SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/362ad6a Facebook | Twitter Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP www.thinktankncl.co.uk

The Garage 2, Glasgow

Saturday 29th February 2020

Ticketmaster – http://bit.ly/32JD90Y Tickets Scotland – http://bit.ly/31NmnfQ Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 490 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3LW https://garageglasgow.co.uk

The Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes

Sunday 1st March 2020

Seetickets –��http://bit.ly/2Wsnbpr Tel: [phone] Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 59 Stratford Rd, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5LT www.thecraufurdarms.com

Soup Kitchen, Manchester

Friday 27th March 2020

MyTicket – http://bit.ly/2BDYYD5 SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/31LJ8km Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 31-33 Spear St, Manchester M1 1DF https://soupkitchenmcr.co.uk

The Dome, Tufnell Park, London

Saturday 28th March 2020

MyTicket – http://bit.ly/2BBIITc SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/31CmcUM Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 178 Junction Rd, Tufnell Park, London N19 5QQ www.dometufnellpark.co.uk

Exchange, Bristol

Sunday 29th March 2020

MyTicket – http://bit.ly/2BBIXh4 SeeTickets – http://bit.ly/361viO5 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 72 – 73 Old Market St, Bristol BS2 0EJ www.exchangebristol.com

PHIL X & THE DRILLS MARCH 2020 UK TOUR

Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Tuesday 3rd March 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Masonic Pl, Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5LB www.rescuerooms.com

The Fleece, Bristol

Wednesday 4th March 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 12 St Thomas St, Bristol BS1 6JJ https://thefleece.co.uk

The Underworld, London

Friday 6th March 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 174 Camden High St, Camden Town, London NW1 0NE www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk

Rebellion, Manchester

Saturday 7th March 2020

Facebook |  Instagram 2B Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WZ www.rebellion.club

King Tut’s, Glasgow

Monday 9th March 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 272A St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5RL www.kingtuts.co.uk

The Caves, Edinburgh

Tuesday 10th March 2020

Facebook | Twitter 8-10 Niddry St S, Edinburgh EH1 1NS http://unusualvenuesedinburgh.com

O2 Academy 2, Liverpool

Wednesday 11th March

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 11-13 Hotham St, Liverpool L3 5UF https://academymusicgroup.com

O2 Academy 3, Birmingham

Thursday 12th March 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 16-18 Horse Fair, Birmingham B1 1DB https://academymusicgroup.com

SKID ROW EUROPEAN TOUR 2020

KARMøYGEDDON Metal Festival, Kopervik, Norway

Thursday 30th April 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Hovedgata 27, 4250 Kopervik, Norway www.karmoygeddon.no

John Dee, Oslo, Norway

Friday 1st May 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Torggata 16, 0181 Oslo, Norway www.rockefeller.no

Sondrehallen, Orkanger, Norway

Saturday 2nd May 2020

Orkdalsveien 340, 7300 Orkanger https://orklaevents.hoopla.no

Batschkapp, Frankfurt, Germany

Monday 4th May 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Gwinnerstraße 5, 60388 Frankfurt am Main, Germany https://batschkapp.tickets.de

Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany

Tuesday 5th May 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Klosterwall 11, 20095 Hamburg, Germany https://markthalle-hamburg.de

Fabrik, Bruchsal, Germany

Wednesday 6th May 2020

Facebook | Instagram Kinzigstraße 5, 76646 Bruchsal, Germany https://www.fabrik-bruchsal.de

The Circus, Helsinki, Finland

Friday 8th May 2020

Facebook Salomonkatu 1–3, 00100 Helsinki, Finland www.thecircus.fi

Castell Roc, Chepstow, UK

Friday 14th August 2020

Facebook Chepstow Castle, 1 Bridge St, Chepstow NP16 5EY www.castell-roc.co.uk

H.E.A.T MAY 2020 UK TOUR PLUS GUESTS VEGA, MASON HILL & COLLATERAL

Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill

Thursday 28th May 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Starworks Warehouse, Frederick St WV2 4DU www.kkssteelmill.co.uk

London, The Garage

Friday 29th May 2020

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 20-22 Highbury Corner, Highbury East, London N5 1RD http://thegarage.london

Swansea, Patti Pavilion

Saturday 30th May 2020

Facebook Mumbles Rd, Swansea SA1 4PQ www.pattipavilion.co.uk

NEWS: @collateralrocks Big News With New Single, debut Album & Tours with @JJNicholsMusic @TheRealPhilX @OfficialSkidRow & @heatsweden @Peter_Noble @Noble_PR @RouletteMusicUK @CargoRecords British four-piece rock band COLLATERAL are set to release their highly anticipated eponymous debut album on…

[devils-gatemedia]

Earlier this year, the glorious summer came to an end at exactly the time that Steelhouse Festival opened with a weekend of storms, high winds and incessant rain. Halfway up the bill on Saturday, a band that had somehow previously escaped my notice came on stage and gave the sodden crowd one of the best festival sets I have ever seen. As we left the pit the photographers each applauded, something I have never seen before. After the set, I sought the singer out in the crowd as he watched the next band, a young unknown called Myles Kennedy. Firstly, I have NEVER done that before, but I wanted him to know how much I enjoyed his music and secondly, after thanking me he gazed at the stage, turned back to me and said in awe “It’s Myles Kennedy”. That band was the Dan Reed Network, and when I heard that they were taking a headline tour on the road, I HAD to be there.

Opening the show were another band that have so far not appeared on my radar, but I will now be following and looking out for, Hollowstar. It is genuinely exciting to see young bands with this much class and ability. Every song in the brief set, from opener “Money” to absolute stunner of a set closer “All I Gotta Say”, hit the mark. There is light and shade, with “Feel The Burn” showcasing some soulful and emotional vocals from Joe Bonson before a huge guitar hook comes in, courtesy of the ever-active guitarists Phil Haines and Tom Collett, all supported by powerful drums courtesy of Joe’s brother Jack. There is a healthy dollop of Black Stone Cherry about “New Age Lullaby”, and “Let You Down” is simply massive! Mid set, Joe takes some time to talk about how it feels to be where they are and to be playing to a crowd, passionately talking about invisible illnesses and how music helps him deal with issues he has faced. It is raw and honest, and rewarded with spontaneous applause.

Later in the evening, during Dan Reed’s set, the female half of our little review team needed to hydrate and lost her place upfront with me. Joe, at the merch stand, saw what had happened, and made a gap back to the front for her, where he spent some time dancing. A really gentlemanly thing to do, and this is a public shout out to thank him as it made her day! It is easy to say that bands low on a bill have “potential” to go all the way in this business, but I haven’t been as impressed by an opening act in a long time, and wish the guys every success. I get the feeling I will be seeing a LOT more of them!

Mason Hill also appeared on the bill at the mudfest that was Steelhouse, and whilst I enjoyed their set, I picked up on some reviews that weren’t exactly impressed and accused them of going through the motions. Since then, they have had a number of difficulties, and so I was intrigued to see how they would come across on such a strong line u

Their intention became clear as soon as the lights went down. Singer Scott Taylor walked to the mic and sang solo vocals in a single spotlight to “No Regret”. It’s a ballsy and exposed way to start a show, and as the rest of the band kick in, it is clear that they are out to put the record straight. “Survive” was up next and could well have been written to sum up recent trials. The anthemic chorus was sung with particular passion. Hold On” slowed the tempo down a little then burst into life. “Out Of Reach” quickly followed. Every song an absolute belter and thrown at the crowd with immense energy and passion not to mention musical ability.

Between songs, Taylor has an easy rapport with the audience, which isn’t easy when the combination of his thick Glaswegian and a Bristol burr must be the most contrasting of accents! He seems thrilled at the size of the crowd and the reception they are giving the band. “Wait For You” and “Against The Wall” continue to showcase their songwriting skill. The twin guitars of James Bird and Marc Montgomery trade some powerful licks and riffs. One of the strengths of the band is the quality of the rhythm section with bassist Matthew Ward and drummer Craig McFetridge excelling. “Where I Belong” is a belter. Taylor’s vocals once again taking centre stage. It’s a ‘lighters in the air’ anthem, and the room is silent as the waves of emotion surge from the stage. For me, the best two songs end the set – “Now You See Me” with it’s complex guitar intro has a different feel to much of the set and then encore. “Cochise”, is delivered with real respect. Dan Reed has said several times on the tour how strong the support bands are, and how the future of rock music is in good hands. He is absolutely on the money. Here’s hoping Mason Hill get through recent challenges and realise their potential.

So, to the headliner. Even before Dan Reed Network take the stage, there was a demonstration of the class that the “Network” bring to the business when bassist Melvin Brannon snuck out and stood at Hollowstar’s merch table with his bass. The guys were visibly stunned when he asked them to autograph it for him! Shortly after, the band took the stage for one of the most entertaining and enjoyable couple of hours I have seen on a stage.

Now usually I would run through a setlist , mention a few songs that I liked and comment on the skill of the musicians, but somehow at a Dan Reed show that feels insufficient. You see, a Dan Reed show is a life affirming, joyous, fun, amusing, musical, soulful, funk and rock experience, rather than simply a collection of songs played live.

First there is Dan Reed himself. The living epitome of the phrase “dance like nobody is looking”, he is never still for a moment. His rapport with the crowd is unparalleled; constantly shaking hands, pointing at old friends, hanging out over the room from the unfortunately placed steel support right in the middle of the stage and entertaining them with banter and stories rooted in many years in the business.

Then there is the ‘Network’: Brion James, dreadlocks flying and a smile that lights up the room, mixing funk with raw rock sounds, Melvin Brannon slapping the strings off his bass and entertaining with one of the best solos I have witnessed on the four-string, Rob Daiker, keys and all around support as well as a couple of songs at the front in the spotlight, and drummer Dan Pred, long-time friend of Dan Reed, and tonight, honoured with a round of shots for his fast approaching birthday.

Then there is the sheer fun that they have on stage together. During the set, an entire litany of problems presented. First the monitor in front of Brannon objected to being used as a step and disappeared into the void. Result? Dan suggested they would spend the evening singing Celine Dion songs instead and handed the mic to Brannon for a simply hilarious version of “My Heart Will Go On” while it was sorted. Shortly after, the show came to a halt with Reed commenting that whenever the drums played the bass stopped. Brannon’s wireless system was to blame and Reed gleefully ranted about the old school leads that never let you down as Brannon went low tech. Further into the set again, and issues with James’ effect pedals led to more improvisation and finally a broken string for said guitarist led to Reed singing almost the entirety of jazz standard “All Of Me” leading to discussions of an alternative future as a jazz band.

Dan Reed stops and starts the set at will even without the issues, at one point instructing James not to choose a particular effect because he “wants to hear that guitar part differently tonight” and often just dissolving into laughter at the antics of his band. All of that might sound unprofessional, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. What we are seeing is how to continue to enjoy what you do many years after most bands become formulaic and all feeling is gone. Every band should take a lesson from Dan Reed Network, as it keeps a freshness that is pretty unique to the set. Of course, there are the songs too!

“Rainbow Child” is the song most people would associate with Dan Reed Network, and tonight it is played as emotively and passionately as the day it was written. “Tiger In A Dress” had the crowd in the palms of his hands. “Baby Now I” is possibly my favourite few minutes of a band on stage with its’ jam, where anything and everything could happen, from heavy metal classics to soul and funk. “Save The World” and it’s addictively funky rhythms.

The set consists of sixteen or more songs, plus the many breakouts and jams. The clock goes way past curfew with Dan Reed Network just keeping on going. Reed refers back to the support bands several times, and also takes time to thank pretty much everyone who has taken a part in the evening from the venue, another humble touch.

I rarely wish I had video from gigs, but the ending tonight just after I had put my camera away was one of the times I wish I had done so. Just as I thought Dan Reed Network had taken their final bow, they lined up and sang acapella with some sumptuous harmonies. Dan Reed, leaning out over the crowd, was unaware of the chaos unfolding behind him as Pred sneakily removed the cord from Brannon’s mic, just as he went to step forward to sing a lead vocal. Brannon grabbed James’ mic. James saw his moment approaching and reached to grab Reed’s mic from behind. Reed struggled and threw a mock punch at James who retaliated. Cue utter chaos and hilarity as the entire band tried to complete the song amidst cartoon violence with one less microphone than vocalists.

Several bows later, and Dan Reed Network finally leave the stage, promising to return for signing and almost nobody moves as they wait to shake his hand and have a word. There is only one way to end the review – to Mr Dan Reed and the Dan Reed Network, Thank you! See you soon!

Review and pics – Rob and Danni Wilkins

Live Review: Dan Reed Network – The Fleece, Bristol Earlier this year, the glorious summer came to an end at exactly the time that Steelhouse Festival opened with a weekend of storms, high winds and incessant rain.

[nickreposted]

nicreations shared this story . (Brinson Banks for The Washington Post) Published on February 16, 2017LOS ANGELES — One day last summer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, on break from “Hamilton,” stopped by neighbor Jimmy Fallon’s house in the Hamptons. They both love music and Fallon has a listening room in the basement, so it wasn’t long before they were downstairs sharing another passion: “Weird Al” Yankovic.“I said, ‘Do you know “Polka Party!”?’ ” Fallon says. “He’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I know it word for word.’ ”Fallon threw Yankovic’s 1986 record on the turntable, and the Broadway phenomenon and the late-night TV star sang along to an accordion-driven medley that covers 12 songs in three minutes, from Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” to Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach.”“Picture Jimmy Fallon and I sitting in a basement laughing our asses off singing, ‘I’m gonna keep my baby, keep my baby, keep my baby,’ ” Miranda says.“We were crying, laughing and singing,” Fallon says.They’re not alone.Yankovic has sold millions of albums, played 1,616 shows and outlasted so many of the stars he once spoofed. His most recent album, 2014’s “Mandatory Fun,” featured parodies of Iggy Azalea, Lorde and Pharrell Williams, a polka medley and his usual smattering of original songs. The album hit No. 1. At 57, he’s now readying a complete set of his 14 studio recordings, plus an album of bonus tracks. “Squeeze Box,” on sale through a PledgeMusic drive until the end of February, will naturally come in an accordion-shaped box. “Comedy recording and funny songs go back to the earliest days of the record industry,” says Barry Hansen, better known as Dr. Demento, the radio host who introduced Yankovic to the public 40 years ago. “But Al is unique. There’s nothing like him in the history of funny music.”For Chris Hardwick — the comedian who created the Nerdist empire and hosts two game shows, “@midnight” and “The Wall” — Yankovic is more than a musical success story. He’s a triumph for all the oddballs and outsiders.He remembers being a kid in Memphis the first time he heard Yankovic on Dr. Demento. And then the rush of spotting his nerd hero on MTV.“When you’re young,” he says, “you kind of wonder: ‘What’s wrong with me? Why don’t I like the same things other kids like? I must be broken or flawed.’ And then you see this guy who is like, ‘Yeah, me neither, and it’s okay but we can f— with these people, but in a friendly way, not in a toxic way.’ ”'Weird Al' breaks down his 'Tacky' video with Kristen Schaal and Jack Black Play Video An accordionist is bornAlfred Matthew Yankovic is unflinchingly polite, doesn’t curse and pays off his monthly credit-card bill on time. He lives in a beautiful but not ostentatious house in the Hollywood hills. Sometimes, on a beautiful night, he and his wife, Suzanne, and daughter, Nina, 14, will bring their sleeping bags out on the deck and camp under the stars.And he is, at heart, still a nerd.During an interview in his living room, Yankovic has a confession. He’s in the process of re-ripping his entire CD collection because he’s read that FLAC files sound better than MP3s.Yankovic on the set of his music video for "Fat" in 1988, and with his wife, Suzanne, on the red carpet of a movie premiere in 2013. (Byron J. Cohen; Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)“My wife sometimes will question the sanity of it,” he says, laughing. “Like, ‘Are you sure this is worth your time?’ Hmm. Maybe.”On a video set or in the studio, he’s just as deliberate. He plots each shot, studies the charts, thinks through each step. When Huey Lewis filmed a Funny or Die riff off of “American Psycho” with Yankovic in 2013, they barely spoke. “It was serious business, and Al was on his game,” says Lewis, whose “I Want a New Drug” had been spoofed by Yankovic in the ’80s. “The best comedians always are.”He can be so quiet, you wonder whether he’s hiding something. How could a guy who throws on a fat suit to perform funny songs in front of thousands of fans be shy? Easy.“He’s an introvert,” says Scott Aukerman, the comedian and “Comedy Bang! Bang!” host. “It’s tough to kind of break through that in interviews with him.”Suzanne Yankovic acknowledges that even she was caught by surprise. When a mutual friend suggested in 1999 that they go on a date, she declined at first.He can be so quiet, you wonder whether he’s hiding something. How could a guy who throws on a fat suit to perform funny songs in front of thousands of fans be shy? Easy. “My immediate thought was that maybe he was going to be a little bit on and a little bit wacky, and I wasn’t sure if that would be a good fit,” she says now. “Then I thought about it and said, ‘How shallow of me.’ ”Yankovic, for his part, doesn’t feel walled off in any way.“But I am, at heart, sort of a shy person,” he says.He traces his personality to his late parents, Nick and Mary Yankovic. Neither went to college, with Nick working at a steel-manufacturing plant and as a security guard at different times. Mary took care of their small house in Lynwood, just south of Los Angeles.“My father was very outgoing and gregarious, and my mother was kind of withdrawn and soft-spoken,” he says. “Both sides of my personality are there.”His parents got him started in music, buying him an accordion just before his seventh birthday. While other Woodstock-era kids were strumming their Fenders to emulate Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, Yankovic was learning “Dipsy Doodle” with Mrs. Fesenmeyer.That’s not to say he didn’t love the British Invasion. He did. But instead of rebelling, he adapted.Yankovic, 10, holds the accordion he learned to play as a youth, and poses with his parents, Mary and Nick, as a toddler. (Family photos)In lessons, he learned classical and polka, and to read music. In his free time, Yankovic figured out how to play the songs he loved by ear, whether it was Mason Williams’s “Classical Gas” or Elton John’s entire “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album.Yankovic was more than a good boy. He skipped second grade, got straight A’s and was Lynwood High’s valedictorian. As an only child, he was loved and sheltered. Church was every Sunday and sleepovers were forbidden, as was anything even remotely risque. Yankovic remembers an issue of TV Guide arriving at the house that contained a photograph of an actress in a bikini. Mary took out a felt pen to fill out the suit. Did he ever do drugs? No. Because his parents told him not to.Did he ever consider ditching an instrument that only Lawrence Welk’s mother could love? Never.“It’s not like, ‘If I only got rid of the accordion, things would be perfect,’ ” Yankovic says. “I was two years younger than everybody in my school. I didn’t go through puberty at the same time. I didn’t learn to drive at the same time. I was a straight-A student, a high school valedictorian. I was always the nerdy kid.”If he found an escape, it was through the satirical humor of Mad Magazine and novelty songs on the Dr. Demento radio show. Hansen, with a master’s in musicology from UCLA and an expansive record collection, exposed listeners not just to Spike Jones and Allan “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” Sherman but to more-obscure one-goof wonders such as Nervous Norvus. Hansen also gave Yankovic his first break. On March 14, 1976, he introduced “Alfred Yankovic” to his audience by playing a tape made by the 16-year-old high school senior. “Belvedere Cruising” centered on the family’s Plymouth. Yankovic accompanied himself on accordion. “When he sang the line, ‘There’s something about a Comet that makes me want to vomit,’ that kind of perked up my ears,” Hansen remembers. “He would do far better songs after that and he’s a little embarrassed about ‘Belvedere Cruising’ today, but I thought, as soon as I heard it, ‘That guy has some talent.’ ”Yankovic works as a student DJ for KCPR, California Polytechnic State University’s radio station, in 1980. (Tony Hertz/San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune)Becoming ‘Weird Al’He arrived at California Polytechnic State University in the fall of 1976 and immediately made an impression. The mismatched clothes. The flip-flops. The accordion. One kid in the dorm derisively named him “Weird Al.” Another stumbled into his room.“It looked like a homeless encampment,” his friend Joel Miller remembers. “There were just little paths. One was to his desk, one was to his bed, and one was to this accordion in the corner of the room. And I had never seen an accordion before, I mean in real life. So I asked him, ‘Can you play that thing?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah. What do you want to hear?’ ”Elton John. Which song? And within minutes, Yankovic launched into “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.”“We were just blown away,” Miller says. “People started coming out of their dorm rooms to see what was going on. My friends knew I played percussion. So I ran and got my bongos and we started playing, and we had so much fun.”They began appearing on Thursdays, amateur night, at the student union. Others would bring their acoustic guitars and do Dan Fogelberg songs.“And we’d be playing, like, Tom Lehrer covers, and we’d do a medley of every song written in the world, or we’d segue from ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ into the theme from ‘The Odd Couple,’ ” Yankovic says. “Just random and stupid, and people were looking at us like we were from outer space. And that was the first time I felt that kind of wave of acceptance and appreciation from an audience. And it was kind of addicting, I have to say.”Barry Hansen, better known as Dr. Demento, with Yankovic in 1996. Yankovic has been a working musician for nearly 40 years: His first single debuted in 1979, and his first album was released in 1983. (Courtesy of Jon Schwartz; Brinson Banks for The Washington Post) He kept scoring with Dr. Demento. “My Bologna” was inspired by the Knack’s “My Sharona.” The Queen parody “Another One Rides the Bus” was recorded live in the studio. Both songs ended up on Yankovic’s self-titled 1983 debut. By then, Yankovic had also recruited the band that remains intact today — bassist Steve Jay, guitarist Jim “Kimo” West and drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz. He also made an important discovery. Funny songs could get you on Dr. Demento. Funny videos could make you a star. In “Ricky,” Yankovic ditched his glasses and mustache to portray Desi Arnaz from “I Love Lucy.” The song cracked the top 100, and Yankovic felt confident enough to quit his day job working in the mailroom at Westwood One.'Weird Al's' music videos through the years Play Video “He made people stop and look at the TV and say, ‘What the hell was that?’ ” remembers Les Garland, MTV’s head of programming during the 1980s. “Every type of research that we did — familiarity. Do you like it? Are you getting enough of it? Do you want more? — the numbers were huge. And from that, he absolutely was an MTV star.”He was so polite and respectful it almost hid his subversive genius. Yankovic’s parodies poked holes in the bubble of pop pretension. Take his treatment of the Michael Jackson hit “Beat It.”Jackson’s original, released as a single in 1983, revolutionized music by ushering in MTV’s golden age, an era when a video could aspire to become art and take on something as serious as gang violence.Yankovic’s “Eat It” video opened with the flatulent beat of “Musical Mike” Kieffer’s hand percussion before giving way to a sonically authentic backing track. “Weird Al,” slap-sticking through some ofJackson’s iconic dance steps, sang corny lines about food: “Have some more yogurt. Have some more Spam. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh or canned.” As he pranced, viewers were treated to a steady stream of “Airplane!”-worthy sight gags.Yankovic’s 1992 spoof of Nirvana would be another creative triumph.To get permission, Yankovic called Kurt Cobain on the set of “Saturday Night Live,” where Nirvana was set to perform.“One of the first things he said is, ‘Oh, is it going to be a song about food?’ Because at that point, I was sort of known as the guy that did food parodies,” Yankovic remembers. “I said, ‘Actually, it’s going to be a song about nobody can understand your lyrics.’ There was a brief pause on the line. Then he said, ‘Oh, that’s funny.’ ”In his video for “Smells Like Nirvana,” Yankovic donned a stringy wig and sang unintelligible lyrics as marbles spilled out of his mouth.“‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was a powerful jam that changed the face of music,” says actor Jack Black, who considers Yankovic an inspiration for his work in his comedy rock duo Tenacious D. “It created this new genre and sort of destroyed hair metal. It was a big cultural moment, and he comes in and marble-mouths it. There’s something really important about laughing at things that take themselves too seriously.” Coolio was not a fan of Yankovic's ''Amish Paradise,'' a parody of the rap artist's biggest hit. They appeared together at the American Music Awards in 1996. (Courtesy of Jon Schwartz; Kevork Djansezian/AP) Desperate for approval“That makes me sad,” Yankovic says.He’s in a car being driven to an event at San Francisco’s Sketchfest, a comedy festival he’s speaking at, when he’s told that Coolio is still annoyed. The issue dates to 1996, when Yankovic donned a giant hat and fake beard and released “Amish Paradise,” his parody of “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Years ago, the rapper complained that the song was recorded without his approval. (Yankovic has always maintained that it was a misunderstanding.) These days, Coolio says he’s more upset with the quality of the sendup.“Okay, damn, if you’re going to make a parody of my song, can’t you do a better job?” he says. “He killed ‘Beat It’ when he did ‘Eat It.’ ”Sometimes, Coolio will go to a bar and they’ll have Yankovic’s parody on the jukebox.“And what do they do? They play ‘Amish Paradise,’ ” he says. “And everybody’s looking at me with this big, stupid-ass smile on their face.” As the car rambles through the city, Yankovic says, “I wish that everybody that I parodied enjoyed what I did.”The reality is, almost everyone has.“It was a vote of confidence,” says Greg Kihn, whose top-10 1983 hit, “Jeopardy,” was turned into “I Lost on Jeopardy” by Yankovic. “If you’re not well-enough known to be parodied, well, you’re just not well-enough known.”Yankovic really does care. As his friend Miranda has reminded him, he doesn’t have to get permission from artists. Parody is protected by the First Amendment. But Yankovic has built his reputation on respecting artists’ wishes.Parody is protected by the First Amendment. But Yankovic has built his reputation on respecting artists’ wishes. “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings,” Yankovic says. “I don’t want to be embroiled in any nastiness. That’s not how I live my life. I like everybody to be in on the joke and be happy for my success. I take pains not to burn bridges.”Prince never agreed to let him parody one of his songs, so he didn’t. Paul McCartney dissuaded Yankovic from turning “Live and Let Die” into “Chicken Pot Pie.” The former Beatle, a vegetarian and animal rights activist, suggested “Tofu Pot Pie.” Somehow, that didn’t have the same ring to it.Then there’s Iggy Azalea.In 2014, Yankovic decided that “Mandatory Fun” needed one more killer parody, and he focused on the Australian rapper’s hit “Fancy.” But he couldn’t get a response from Azalea’s manager.So Yankovic flew from Los Angeles to Colorado and worked his way backstage for an Azalea concert. The singer’s road manager told him it wasn’t going to work. Azalea was too busy to chat. Perhaps he could try to see her in London when she played there in a few months. A few months? Yankovic could see his release deadline drifting away.“Then I thought: ‘I’ve got to be proactive about this. Do something,’ ” he says. “This is my one chance. And this is not like me, but basically as she was walking offstage I kind of jumped in front of her and said: ‘Iggy, hi. I’m “Weird Al” Yankovic and I’d love to do a parody of your song.’ She looked at me like a deer in headlights, as was befitting the occasion, and she said, ‘Oh, well, I would need to see the lyrics.’ And I said, ‘I happen to have them right here.’ I pulled them out of my pocket. She glanced at them for several seconds and then said, ‘Looks fine with me.’ ”Yankovic on the set of his video for “Eat It” in 1984 and with his Grammy for best comedy album, "Poodle Hat," in 2004. (Courtesy of Jon Schwartz; NARAS)The ‘Weird Al’ rebootAt Sketchfest, Yankovic sits on a panel about the late, great IFC show “Comedy Bang! Bang!” He served one season as Aukerman’s musical sidekick, against his management’s advice. They thought he was too big for a low-rated cable show. Yankovic loved every minute.Next, Yankovic heads to a podcast hosted by comedian Pat Francis.There is a lively crowd and cheers throughout the interview when Francis plays many of Yankovic’s ’80s classics. Afterward, Yankovic is asked whether it bothers him that his original songs and more-daring experiments are overshadowed by “Eat It” and other hits.“That’s fine,” he says. “I have to be self-aware enough to know that those are the songs that most people care about.”Musically, he has come a long way. Yankovic was green when he recorded his debut in 1982. Back then, he relied heavily on producer Rick Derringer, known for his hit “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.” But by the following year, Yankovic was bringing horn charts and vocal arrangements to the sessions. Tony Papa, his longtime engineer, says Yankovic began to produce out of necessity. Derringer, in those days, wasn’t always at his best.“He would do a line of coke, then mellow it out with a joint and then drink,” Papa says. “A lot of times Rick would fall asleep. I think that’s when Al realized he didn’t really need Rick.”(Derringer, responding via email, said that he regrets using drugs — he’s clean now — but that “we made great records TOGETHER.”)By 1992, Yankovic got sole production credit on his albums. His songs also became more varied and complex, whether he was doing hip-hop, grunge, candy pop or, on 2003’s “Genius in France,” a nearly nine-minute tribute to Frank Zappa.“People ask me, ‘Hamilton’ has a fairly diverse base in terms of the kind of music I’m writing for it,” Miranda says. “And I say, when you grow up with ‘Weird Al,’ you learn that genre is fluid.”And so is a business plan.Yankovic decided even before finishing “Mandatory Fun” that he was done with traditional albums. In a viral society, it takes too long to go from idea to approval to creation for a 12-song release. He also doesn’t need a label. Consider how he promoted “Mandatory Fun.” Record companies no longer provide video budgets. So Yankovic partnered with other outlets, including Funny or Die, College Humor and Nerdist. He launched his album by releasing eight videos in eight days.He plans to return to the road next year. But it will be a different show, with the “Fat” suit and pinpoint production plans left behind. Yankovic and his band will play smaller venues, do a different set every night, and focus on deep album cuts and originals. The idea is to connect more with his fans.That is something that comes natural to him. Backstage in San Francisco at Sketchfest, a family has been ushered in to say hello and pose for pictures. Jill Gould, a longtime fan, makes her request.“Can I touch your hair?” she asks.Yankovic doesn’t groan or pause, even if he is asked this all the time. Instead, his eyes widen and he tilts his head toward Gould and returns the question with a mischievous, cartoon smile.“Can I touch your hair?”And like that, they stand there smiling, fingers running through locks. The most successful song parodist ever and a die-hard who heard him first 30 years ago on Dr. Demento. The moment is meant to be shared. Just a man, a pool and his accordion. (Brinson Banks for The Washington Post) Editor’s picks <img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=3005617&cv=2.0&cj=1" /> <img src="//me.effectivemeasure.net/em_image" alt="" style="position:absolute; left:-5px;" /> Signed in as nicreationsShare this story on NewsBlurShared stories are on their way...

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