Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this weeks picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more:
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Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection. Fan boys and girls rejoice, Star Wars is now available to watch on-the-go via a multitude of devices. Love the entire series? Buy the bundle. Not a fan of Jar-Jar? Buy them individually. Either way, each film comes with never-before-seen features. If you’ve ever wondered how Empire’s walkers walked or marveled at its fabulous matte paintings your curiosity will be satisfied. Want to see the first lightsaber? It’s here. For fans of deleted scenes there are nearly forty included. Be aware as bonus features may vary by retailer.
Order Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection [HD]
Game Of Thrones Season 5. HBO’s hit series – based on the best selling books by George R.R. Martin – returns kicks off Season 5 on Sunday. Not much is being hinted about the upcoming season, other than ‘Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues….Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’
In other words, more sex, violence and political intrigue set in the Middle-earth. It also has one of the best ensemble casts on TV featuring, among others, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage. For the show’s rabid fan base, the wait is finally over. Game Of Thrones airs Sunday at 9pm Eastern on HBO.
You can go to www.hbo.com for more about the show.
READ THIS:
Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead By Bill Kreutzmann with Benjy Eisen. Many books have been written about the Grateful Dead but these accounts come from Bill Kreutzmann’s first-hand view atop his drum kit. Life at 710 Haight Street. Altamont, Woodstock, Monterey Pop and the Great Pyramids. Pigpen, Janis and open blinds on the Festival Express Train. Drugs, destruction and deaths. Kreutzmann holds nothing back when detailing stories about himself and his former bandmates. Cue up “Skull and Roses.” Chase that with “Europe ’72” and you’ve got the single-drummer lineup of the Dead rocking out like never before, the perfect soundtrack for such an intimate and entertaining summer read.
Pre-order Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead
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Halal in the Family. Aasif Mandvi’s parody of American sitcom’s (like, for example, The Cosby Show) shines a light on anti-Muslim behavior in America using the sitcom as a vehicle. The series is lighthearded and silly in tone, but the message is sharp and important. If you think you’re a model citizen, you may think otherwise after watching Aasif Qu’osby deal with his neighbors and handle the problems faced by his wife and kids. Mandvi does a terrific job of shining a light on the problems faced by Muslim families without putting the viewer on the defensive. And it’s really funny. The first four episodes are available on funnyordie.com now.
Watch Halal in the Family here on The IBang.
SaveNYC (www.savenyc.nyc). For close to 10 years, Jeremiah Moss has been documenting the loss of long time New York City businesses and cultural landmarks on his blog, Vanishing New York (or as its subtitled, ‘The Book of Lamentations: a bitterly nostalgic look at a city in the process of going extinct). The blog has grown traction through the years and was Moss was recently profiled in the New York Times. Now Moss has decided to spin off his blog to mobilize long time New Yorkers frustration and put that anger into action. SaveNYC encourages New Yorkers to document at risk cultural and heritage landmarks; support The Small Business Job Survival Act, which will make it possible for small businesses to negotiate fare and reasonable lease renewals with landlords; start a Cultural Landmarks Program that will put long time and beloved small businesses in a selective rent control program; Limit the spread of chain businesses the same way the city curb adult store chains did back in the late 90s; offer the same tax breaks to small business owners that they do to corporations; fine landlords who live the commercial spaces vacant for more than 6 months. As much of New York City and other cities around the country are getting consumed by chain stores, shopping malls and glass towers, here’s one person looking to do mobilize the community and do something about it.
Go to www.savenyc.nyc for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Coming Forth By Day by Cassandra Wilson. Cassandra Wilson is classified as a jazz singer, but throughout her 30 year plus recording career, she has been one of music’s great shape shifters. Like all great interpreters of song, Wilson has left her imprint on everything from Monk to Joni Mitchell; Miles to Van Morrison; Rogers & Hart to Boyce & Hart. On her latest album, she celebrates the Billie Holliday centennial by re-working many of the songs closely associated to the jazz/blues icon. But rather than do straight forward, traditional readings, Wilson and producer Nick Launay (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) infuse the material with traces of Americana, folk and 70s soul. It’s an album of Holiday material, but it’s also a pure Cassandra Wilson album. This is a labor of love that radiates from start to finish.
Coming Forth By Day
You can also go to www.cassandrawilson.com for more info.
Here Come The Girls by The London Souls. Formed in 2008, this New York-based band quickly won over audiences with a sound that drew heavily from 60s’ bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. Their 2011 debut album received rave reviews and saw the band tour extensively around the world. A couple of songs from the album were featured on the FOX TV show Fearless Music and in an Adidas ad featuring NBA star Derrick Rose. The London Souls were ready to release their follow up in 2013, but lead singer/guitarist Tash Neal was seriously injured in a hit and run accident and put all plans on hold. Fully recovered, The London Souls are back on the road and in stores with an album featuring big riffs, crisp songwriting, with the exception of one song, has songs clocking in at 3:30 or less. It took them awhile to regain their footing, but The London Souls are back and have all of the makings of being the next great rock n roll band.
Here Come the Girls is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers.
You can also go to www.thelondonsouls.com for tour dates and more information.
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NEW YORK CITY:The Dust Rays. This New York-based power trio is led by ‘Captain’ Kirk Douglas (guitar and vocals), fellow Roots bandmate Mark Kelley on bass, and Ricc Sheridan of Earl Greyhound on drums. There’s no loops, high theatrics or gimmicks: Just three world class musicians playing big riffs, heavy grooves and Earth-shattering rhythms. It’s a straight up old school power trio and no one’s complaining: These guys have been winning fans with every show, so come out and see what all of the fuss is about.
Go to www.thebellhouseny.com or www.theiridium.com for tickets and more information.
NEW YORK CITY: Alice Smith In Concert. The Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter come to the Bowery Ballroom for two nights in support of her latest album, She. With a powerful four octave range and a powerful stage presence, Smith first got noticed in the New York’s Black Rock scene literally stealing the show singing everything from rock to Nina Simone covers. Her debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me was nominated for a Grammy and her song ‘Dream’ was featured on an episode of Entourage. The follow up, She, features a knockout cover of Cee-Lo’s ‘Fool For You’, and the sultry, ‘Cabaret’ among other great tracks. Live, she’s captivating, playful and has a voice that will reduce you to mist. Prince has been covering her songs on his current tour, so you know she’s the real deal. First show is already sold out, but a few tickets remain for the 13th.
Go to www.alicesmith.com for more information.
NEW YORK CITY: Stevie Wonder in Concert. In 1976, Stevie Wonder released Songs In The Key Of Life, a staggering double set that cemented his place among the all-time greats. Incredibly, Wonder never did a full scale tour in support of the album, opting to go back into the studio. While some of the album’s more iconic tracks have made its way into the live shows in subsequent years, Wonder has avoided performing the complete work from start to finish. Until now. He’ll be performing this masterpiece from start to finish (along with several other classics) for a two night stand at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Come out and hear a master present his masterwork.
Go to www.barclayscenter.com for tickets and more information.
LOS ANGELES: Todd Rundgren Global Tour. The universally acclaimed singer-songwriter-musician-producer will be doing a weekend stand at L.A.’s Egyptian Theatre in support of his new album, Global. Ever pushing musical boundaries, Rundgren’s latest blends marries rock and soul with electronic dance music. The live show will only feature Rundgren, two female vocalists, and a DJ/keyboardist, but the Philly native promises that the performance will be ‘a video and lighting spectacle to behold’. Rundgren has always been ahead of the curve, so its a safe bet to take his word on it.
Go to www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org for ticket and additional info.
LOS ANGELES: Stone Temple Pilots featuring Chester Bennington. They’ve weathered blistering criticism, drug addiction, jail, and multiple breakups, but Stone Temple Pilots continue to solider on with their brand of hard rock, grunge and melodic pop. After another reunion quickly went south, lead singer Scott Weiland was out and Chester Bennington – on loan from Linkin Park – was in. The pairing seems to be working: they quickly released a pair of singles and are working on a full length album. STP will perform some new songs, along with some of their classics at a show at House Of Blues. It’s also for a good cause: $1 from each ticket sold will go to Music For Relief, a non-profit disaster relief and environmental environmental organization founded by musicians. Go to www.houseofblues.com for tickets and more info.
To find out more about Music For Relief, go to www.musicforrelief.org.
LOS ANGELES: Fleetwood Mac. Big Mac is back and are at full strength now that keyboardist Christine McVie is back in the band and bassist John McVie has overcome his battle with cancer. Though they’ve hinted at putting out new material, this tour is strictly for the hardcores Tons of material from their 1975 self-titled classic, Tusk, Mirage, the 1987 comeback Tango In The Night, solo hits and, of course, Rumours. Its also in FM’s adopted hometown of L.A., so expect some surprises.
Go to www.fabulousforum.com for tickets.
LOS ANGELES: The Replacements. By blending melodic pop with punk sensibilities, The Replacements laid the groundwork for the alternative rock explosion that happened throughout the 90s. The band imploded before they could take their much deserved victory lap but their influence can clearly be heard in bands such as Nirvana and Green Day. They resisted offers to reunite for close to 20 years, but got together in various incarnations to record new songs for compilations and a benefit EP to cover medical expenses for former member Slim Dunlap, who had suffered a severe stroke. When Rhino reissued the entire catalog and the Gorman Bechard doc on the band, Color Me Obsessed, spotlighted the enormous influence the ‘Mats had on the current wave of bands, it introduced them to a new generation of fans. Finally in 2013, Westerberg and Stinson a series of shows as The Replacements. They will be bringing this current leg of the tour – which will feature recent recordings along with their classics – to the legendary Hollywood Palladium. Replacements shows have always been loose and unpredictable, and time has done little to change that perception. In other words, its rock n roll, so expect anything!
Go to www.thehollywoodpalladium.com for tickets and more information.
LOS ANGELES: Star Wars Celebration 2015. Timed to coincide with the digital release, this promises to be a celebration that eclipses Life Day. The guests include bonafide Star Wars A-listers- Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), J.J. Abrams, Billy Dee Williams and more. Events include an Art Show, Bounty Hunt, Collectors Tables, Fan Tables, Autographs, Podcasting, Cosplay and even a Tattoo Pavilion!
Buy tickets here.
CHICAGO: Primus & The Chocolate Factory. Bassist Les Claypool was only 8 years old when he saw Willy Wonky & The Chocolate Factory, the demented, slightly dark children’s film starring Gene Wilder. The movie had a profound impact on Claypool and played a key role in developing the Primus sound. Primus paid the ultimate homage by releasing a Primus-ized version of the film’s soundtrack this past Halloween. They will be bringing the tour in support of this project to the Chicago Theatre on Friday. There will be Primus bars, Oompa Loompas, and of course, the classic Primus lineup. It will be a fun, funky and freaky night.
Go to www.thechicagotheatre.com for tickets and more info.
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