#nana tour was my saving grace and now it’s gone

[wqnwoos]

experiencing severe gose withdrawals……

#nana tour was my saving grace and now it’s gone #im becoming more mentally ill with every week there’s no gose #is this too dramatic #hana’s babbles

[tattoosandporcelain-blog]

Coree Marx‎ to Christopher St. Clair It had been too long since the last time Coree and Christopher had spoken. He'd been the first person to seek the girl out when she was only seventeen years old after her first song had been written, sold, and hit number one on the charts. She would never forget what it felt like to hear his voice on her voicemail asking her to call him back, that he'd like to talk about an arrangement with her. She had been so nervous to write with the man and yet they would do it many times over since that time, ultimately developing what was an easy friendship between the two. When she was finally ready to take herself to that next level, to attempt performing her own songs, it had been Christopher that had encouraged her to speak with the executives at the label he was on and everything kind of snow balled from there. Although she was struggling her way through, finding performances to be far more difficult than she'd ever imagined, freezing every time her feet touched a stage, she hadn't yet lost her faith. Life was changing quickly for the young woman, but she'd never lose touch with the person she was, even in the midst of things coming together.

Just after six in the morning, she was awake before the sun as usual. Her long time boyfriend, Barron Presley, didn't have to be up as early as she did and for once, she wouldn't bother the man. Instead, it was a walk with the new boxer puppy, Gremlin, a quick shower, and a cup of coffee by the floor to ceiling windows that lined the living space of the new apartment. Everything felt new and although sometimes she didn't feel like it was real, she knew that she was right where she belonged. Glancing into the bedroom, she'd assure that Barron was still sleeping before she'd close the door gently as to not wake him. A quick text was sent to Christopher. -If you're up, give me a call.- Sitting down in a chair by the window, she looked out into the darkness, not at all able to shake the energy she'd experienced the night before, an energy that she wanted nothing more than to bottle and keep forever, an energy that she wanted to share with one of the few people that knew how deeply the woman had struggled for the last year, an energy that might just change the platform for the young artist entirely.

Christopher St. Clair The transplanted Brit was only too familiar with the struggles and perils of a sudden sky-rocketing career. There was a misconception the general public had about fledgling celebrities and thier seemingly ill-gotten gains -- the recognition that propelled his career (he’d often been confided in by random passerby) wasn’t a feat of fate but rather misinformation, slyly given. That people saw him as this slick operator with an agenda was greatly amusing to Christopher. In fact, there had been nothing ill-gotten about his modest beginnings. Given his rough start into the career that had been his saving grace both, both literally and metaphorically, he felt it his joyous task to provide for someone else as someone had been kind enough to provide for him. In the living room of his agent who had been gracious enough to put him up, he had donned headphones and sat on the couch, eyelids shut fast as his iPod shuffled through songs of faceless and altogether nameless aspirators. True inspiration and talent is hard to fake and in these zen-like hours that were the way he spent his evenings, Christopher had heard enough songs from wannabes that he wanted to shove superglue in his ears so that he would never have to hear such fakery ever again when sincerity shone through. Her song was honest, revealing in a way that no one could ever doubt. The bones of her song -- the lyrics, the haunting melody -- she was an oasis in a desert of posers.

Five o’clock in the morning and it wasn’t at all uncommon that he was up, fucking around on the guitar that had been his constant and unyielding companion since he was fourteen years old. Making music was easier when it was purely for the fun of it, not determined by a deadline. Given that he was still residing in his agent’s abode (on a couch he was sure had born witness to the Sixties) the whip of the ruler was always being slapped. Mechanically strumming chords, his mind had long sense gone off into its own world: fretting over minor details of his upcoming tour, how his dad’s birthday had come and gone last week and he hadn’t given any acknowledgement to it, how the springs in the couch had successfully broken through the material that separated his body from the metal coil and as such, had left a scar on his cheek because he was too knackered to wake up to deal with the residual sting. Mulling through his thoughts, he’d almost missed the text alert if his phone hadn’t been resting on the table, the prompt causing it to vibrate and make a particular annoying sound that he could’ve sworn would have woken his nana from her grave all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. Instant regret settled in as his eyes blurred over the contents of the message and focused on the name. Coree. There was no reason, that he could think of, that would’ve justified his reasoning for haven’t calling her in the past or even taking the small two hours and thirteen minute drive from his place to hers for a luncheon. In fact, he’d been in Nashville only yesterday to work on his record, but had negated to offer up an olive branch to her. Tapping on the phone icon by her name, he sat the phone on top of his guitar, pressed the speaker button and strummed on the instrument some more - the sound of a ringing phone had annoyed him for as long as he could remember - until he heard her voice on the other end. “Coree. Yeah, hi, it’s Topher. What are you doing awake at his god awful hour?”

Coree Marx The sound that came from the other end of the phone told her everything she needed to know.  He was awake and she hadn’t woken him up in the slightest.  She’d laugh instantly as her phone rang, bringing a brilliant smile to the blonde’s features at the name on the caller I.d.  Not a stranger to the early mornings, Coree had been an early riser ever since she could remember and didn’t know any other way.  Being involved with a man who loved his sleep hadn’t changed things for her, often giving her those first few hours of the morning to wake up slowly, walk the new puppy, Gremlin, and even delve into some writing of her own, she was normally careful not to bother anyone else at this hour, but she’d awoken just as excited as she’d gone to sleep and it would be evident from the first one to pass her lips.  “Topher!” she immediately exclaimed, entirely too awake for that hour for most human beings, yet it was par for the course with the woman.  “I always get up around now,” she confessed a moment later, reeling her voice back into something more manageable and less frightening.  “Barron says it’s a curse. I say it’s a blessing,” she confessed as she valued those hours at the beginning of the day.  She’d stay up late with him and get up early, never requiring much sleep at all, which he couldn’t seem to understand, and yet somehow she knew Topher would.

“I’d ask you if you’re busy, but by the sounds of it, you are,” she teased, hearing the strumming of his guitar there in the background as she’d quiet for a moment to just let herself listen.  The man was a musical genius as far as she was concerned and nothing could change her mind on it.  From the first time she’d had the pleasure of writing with him years before until now, the woman was just as mesmerized by him then as she was now.  Humming softly to the tune he played, she let her eyes fall closed and the music play through the phone as she swayed softly to the music.  “God I’ve missed you,” she confessed all too easily in a hushed whisper as she knew his fingers on those strings could simply do no wrong.  After a short time, she was back to reality, sitting in her New York City apartment, her coffee suddenly calling for a refill as she made her way back to the kitchen with the phone in one hand and a boxer puppy at her heels.  Recalling what it was she’d reached out to him for as his musical display there had caused quite the distraction in the woman, she’d clear her throat.  “So I had to tell you… I’ve got a show tonight playing with…” she paused, knowing the name would come across as someone entirely too well known for her to be playing with, aside from the fact that the man had been retired and no longer did shows at all, only running a record label and being spotted here and there.  “Trevor Masters,” she’d offer, giving another moment of pause for effect. (Jon Bellion is the musical inspiration)  “But that’s not even what I called to tell you really.  I called to tell you that last night… well, first, you know how the stage and I are in a love hate relationship, mostly on the freezing and not saying a word hate level?  Well.  We did rehearsal because Trevor’s got this idea that pushing me into bigger crowds is the only way to combat this stage freight thing… so we do rehearsal and then we go to dinner.  At dinner, the man literally hijacked the grand piano in the restaurant, started playing, and had me sing for the entire place, and I think we might’ve found my problems.  It’s not that I can’t sing or even perform to a crowd like I’ve been telling you for how long now?  No. I can’t perform /my/ stuff.  Give me anything else and I’m good to go.”  Whereas many artists would not be excited to find this out about themselves, it was a great relief to Coree, as was well marked by her quickly spoken, rambling words.  “So, as it turns out, I’m not a fucking loss!”

-March 25, 2017

#ionlyaskthatyouwontgoagain #limitlessexistence #2017 #statplay

[winewankers]

If ever there was a dream job, Andrew Roper from Wines to the Stars has got it.  If your idea of #wine nirvana is hanging out backstage with the world’s biggest musical artists while drinking the rarest and most expensive wines ever produced… Fuck it – you’re gonna hate this guy! 🙂

Drew, Wine Wanker: What does your job entail?  

Andrew Roper, Wines to the Stars: Taking care of touring artists and celebrities with their wines, spirits and special beverage requirements whilst on tour in Australia, NZ & through Asia, USA and Europe. My business looks after them with the design of their backstage ‘Green Rooms’ at venues they perform, as well as on their show-free days with private winery visitations and other wine and spirit related meals and events. We also take care of them with making sure they meet the wine people of Australia/NZ backstage to share their respective passions of wine and music/arts. We organise everything, from security, transport, private tastings and ongoing personal supply and wine cellar management to their home cellars. I like to call our services more a ‘Liquor Concierge’ rather than a Sommelier.

Drew: Who are some of the celebrities you’ve worked with

Andrew: Where do I start! Madonna & band, AC/DC, One Direction, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Billy Joel, Paul Stanley (KISS), Matthew Bellamy (Muse), Axl Rose and Frank Ferrer (GnR), The Beach Boys, Vivian Campbell & Rick Allen (Def Leppard), Jack White, Michael Schumacher, Marat Safin, Bryan Ferry, Robert Plant, Carlos Santana, Madness, Ben Harper, Disturbed, Culture Club, Florence and the Machine, Nana Mouskouri, Drake,…shall I keep going?

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Drew: Who has the most educated/enviable palate when it comes to wine – what kind of wines

Andrew: In my 20+ years of looking after artists, Paul Stanley has by far the best palate I’ve encountered and loves the big Aussie Shiraz as well as the finer Cabernets from Mount Mary and Yarra Yering. Birks Wendouree of Clare Cabernet Malbec from 1998 was also something he loved. When I sent some Giaconda Chardonnay in an order to try out, his comment was “simply the best Chardonnay I’ve had”. He also wanted the Parawa Ingalalla which he fell in love with.

The man with a fantastic wine nose also is Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhol’,s who is super particular about what wines are backstage after show. The more Burgundian French in style the better for him. Although I blew him away with some 1990/94 & 2000  , which he had never tasted anything like before. There are long term wine friends like Michael Schumacher (who sadly had) an amazing understanding of wines and loved the Germanic named Henschke Wines I introduced him to every time he was in Australia. Matthew Bellamy of band MUSE knows his stuff and loved the wines from Samuel’s Gorge, Torbreck, the DeBortoli Noble One. Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen and Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age absolutely love coming down-under to drink with me, they loved this tour the wines from Villa Maria (Reserve Range) I organised for them backstage in Auckland, then we had a great expose of the Pewter and UNO range of Semillons, Shiraz and Shiraz Pinots from Tempus Two (Hunter Valley).

My fave however is a great mate and wine lover named Burton C Bell of industrial metal band Fear Factory, who I always take time between shows to tour the wine regions with and show our best to; he loves the wines from Yarra Yering mostly. The guys from rock band Disturbed are also right on the ball with wines they know and love, in fact David, Dan, John & Mike all really know and love their wines and loved the Australian showcase I provided on their last tour. They voted Rusden Sandscrub Shiraz as the wine of tour. Eric Burdon surprised me with his class and knowledge of wine selections, and also fell in love with some of the wines from Soumah (Yarra Valley) and Elderton Wines (Barossa Valley) we provided backstage on his last tour.

Canadian band The Tea Party are always up for a wine party after show and really love the reds from Devils Lair, as well as the Rusden Grenache on their last Australian tour with the MSO. They fell in love with the wines from Tellurian Estate (Heathcote) and Moore’s Hill Pinot Noir from Tasmania.

Alicia Moore (Pink) loves a wine we import just for her called La Crema Chardonnay from Russian River, CA, but we managed to get her into some Mollydooker wines thanks to their artistic labels. She still orders La Crema though when touring here.

Drew: When in Australia, do international celebrities want to experience the local wines and do they know what to ask for or do they rely on your recommendation

Andrew: When in Australia & NZ, most of the artists rely on my wine judgement and I always conduct a bit of wine & spirit investigations on each artist I have not looked after beforehand. I try my very best to ensure that all on tour get to taste the wines from the regions they are performing close to, for example; when in Perth we will bring them our discoveries from boutique producers from Western Australia, mainly those from Margaret River, Swan Valley, Pemberton or Mount Barker regions.

[For Andrew’s top Australian wine recommendations click here]

Drew: What are the most expensive requests you’ve fielded and who was requesting these wines

Andrew: I get the obvious request for the Iconic’s of Australia as Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and maybe a bit for the Torbreck Laird, but I also have had some amazing almost mystical wines to chase up like the Parawa Estate “Ingalalla” which is, I may add Australia’s top ranked wine by many of the top critics (who have been lucky and tasted it). It cant be brought just anywhere either, you have to know where to strike it! and at A$1300.00 plus for .750mls, it sure is a wine to be reckoned with!

I introduced the singer of metal band Tool to Penfolds as well as Henschke on a tour, and I wish I didn’t to be honest. I lost him as a client due to him going direct and them giving him free Grange & Hill of Grace instead of the other option of buying it through me, and with the now the Chief Winemaker becoming his ‘bestie’ makes life hard to compete with.. ha-ha.

I do however also get the particular wine superstar drinker who only wants their fave wine of the moment and this can be anything from Ch.Petrus, even d’Yquem from early 1900’s, Le Pin, Barolo from Gaja, Giuseppe Quintarelli (RIP), Giacomo Conterno or the great Napa Cabernets Stags Leap, Caymus, Harlan Estate, Hundred Acre, Bryant Family and JJ Cohn’s Scarecrow is something I treasure as special orders to date. I always order more so I can add the odd extra bottle to my cellar! As for Champagnes, well the normal bling bottles such as Cristal, Krug, and the Vintage Doms still shine as the most requested bubbles I am requested for. I love putting up a great Aussie Sparkling like Arras Grand Vintage or Rose as a comparison for them though, which gets a few interesting remarks, especially when they often taste better!

  Drew: How much of the wine is actually drunk – or is it left behind for the crew to drink after the band has left?

Andrew: Most of the wines I bring are drunk, I have learned over the years to always bring a boot full of back up’s and most times I do need to go to the car again. Their guests drink more though, as they feel like it’s a ‘free for all’, so why not. I get really involved with the feel of the aftershow and enjoy explaining the wines as I pour. Making wine fun is really what it is all about, long gone are the days where wine was treated as an old man’s drink. People are genuinely respectful just to learn something from what I pour them.

Drew: Any other unusual requests with wine service – special glasses, a sommelier to pour, wine fridges etc?

Andrew: Over the years of backstage service of wines, I learned early on that Riedels or Plumm and some other popular brands were just not right for the backstage party environment – too many breakages! I landed with Luigi Bormioli crystal and they seriously are the best you can get as far as shape, crystal quality and durability. Don’t think about getting anything else seriously.

I have many famous clients that will still demand “No Screw’d Wine please” (screw’d meaning screw capped). Paul Stanley has a point when he says, if i want a soda pop wine, I will go to my 7/11 mate, so don’t send me any please!

Drew: What’s the Champagne of choice for some of the world’s top celebrities when on tour?  What’s your favourite?

Andrew: Dom Perignon, Cristal and Moet are what I see on most rider lists

My fave Champagne has always been from the House of Krug, particular vintage of 1998 or 1980 which I still have a case or two of each. Their Clos du Mesnil from 1995 is absolutely superb. I’ve also a secret bottle of the Clos du Mesnil from 1982 I am saving for a great day! Also a Jeroboam of 1995 Dom sits proudly in my office in a temperature controlled display case that one day I may open if the right occasion arrives.

I do have a real passion however for our Sparkling Shiraz and always give the after party a special tasting of our most hidden wine. They all love it so much and as the British bands say, “Sparkling Alcoholic Ribena” WOW!!!

It is such a unique wine, that I have several projects on the go with producing Sparkling Shiraz for bands.. crazy but true!

Drew: What’s your fave go to shop/auction house to buy the best wines

Andrew: I buy only through my long term trusted sources, or wineries directly. I have had far too many wines from the popular auction sites turn awful on me and with no way to erase the disappointment of the great occasion turning sour.

It really has affected the way I buy wine, especially super premium wines. I was the winner of a so called great vintage Grange the last time I purchased unseen at an online auction and it was the worst $4,000 I ever spent in my life!

My favourite shop in Melbourne to wander around and lose myself in their selection of great wines and imported Rum is Nick’s Wine at Doncaster. Great guys, great wines and always back their sale with a quality return policy if needed. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but the big wine super market chains to me are more interested in the turning over cases rather than the quality of service and knowledge base.

If we all purchased on the basis of cheaper pricing we are doomed!

If you’re a celebrity and you need Andrew’s services, you can contact him at winestothestars.com

What wines do the world’s biggest celebrities drink? You’re about to get very very jealous! If ever there was a dream job, Andrew Roper from Wines to the Stars has got it.  

#celebrity #feature #wine