Elizabeth Cook, “Exodus of Venus” (Thirty Tigers) Fast-talking, foul-mouthed Elizabeth Cook is SiriusXM’s most entertaining host, which makes her new album a puzzle. She shows more personality in one brief riff as a DJ than on most of the songs on “Exodus of Venus.” Cook is the daughter of honky-tonkers, but she recruited former Pearl … Continue reading
Author Archives: carlcaesarblog
Legend of Zelda’: 5 ways ‘Breath of the Wild’ is different
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nintendo is putting all of its faith in Link at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The video game publisher is using its entire booth at the gaming industry’s annual extravaganza to promote “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” the latest installment of the action-adventure series starring iconic adventurer Link. After delaying the title from last … Continue reading
A look at the winners and losers of E3
LOS ANGELES (AP) — With some publishers splitting from the show floor and more gamers sliding on virtual reality headsets than ever before, this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo moved the video game industry in decidedly different directions than past installments of the annual interactive extravaganza. The event drew more than 50,000 industry insiders to the Los Angeles Convention … Continue reading
Kanye West, Weeknd to play Meadows festival in NYC in Oct.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kanye West and The Weeknd will headline the first edition of The Meadows Music and Arts Festival in October in New York City. Founders Entertainment announced Tuesday that Chance the Rapper, Kygo, Damian Marley, The 1975 and Bryson Tiller will also perform Oct. 1-2 at Citi Field in the borough of Queens. Founders … Continue reading
Iggy Azalea, Nick Young split up over ‘trust’ issues
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper Iggy Azalea and Los Angeles Lakers star Nick Young have called off their engagement months after a social media spawned scandal that appeared to expose Young’s infidelity. In an Instagram post Sunday, the 26-year-old Australian writes that she’s tried to rebuild her trust in Young, but it has become apparent that she’s … Continue reading
Rihanna, Coldplay to headline Made in America festival
Rihanna and Coldplay will headline the Made in America festival on Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia for its fifth season. Organizers announced on Monday the lineup of the two-day Budweiser Made in America festival, which also includes ColleGrove (2 Chainz & Lil Wayne), Jamie xx, Chance the Rapper, Martin Garrix, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, … Continue reading
‘A Bronx Tale’ heading to Broadway with De Niro directing
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert De Niro is coming back to Broadway, but you won’t find him onstage. The Oscar-winner will be co-directing “A Bronx Tale,” this time as a musical. Chazz Palminteri’s coming-of-age story, which was a one-man play off-Broadway in 1989 and was turned into a movie starring De Niro four years later, … Continue reading
Lil Wayne performs at E3 after suffering seizures
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne performed Wednesday for attendees of the Electronic Entertainment Expo just days after suffering what his spokesman described as two minor seizures. The rapper and Samsung pitchman performed at the company’s booth inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. He delivered such songs as “John” and “No Ceiling” as six skateboarders … Continue reading
Musicians use song, statements to respond to mass shooting
Elton John, Ricky Martin and Melissa Etheridge are among the gay artists using their voices to respond to the mass shooting at a Florida nightclub. John said during a concert in Liverpool, England, at the Echo Arena this week that “we feel shocked, angry and we’re devastating sad for the people who died and the loved ones … Continue reading
Neil Young continues revolutionary streak with ‘Earth’ album
CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) — When Neil Young turned his 1959 Lincoln Continental into an electric car, developed a high-tech digital music system and mixed animal sounds into his latest album, he didn’t think it was revolutionary. They were just cool ideas he wanted to try. “I just consider myself as a person who wants to … Continue reading
Grammys to include streaming-only tracks, more changes
NEW YORK (AP) — Changes at the Grammy Awards include members voting in fewer categories at the 2017 show and songs only released on streaming services being in contention for nomination. The Recording Academy announced changes Thursday that will impact the 2017 Grammys, to be presented Feb. 12 in Los Angeles. Streaming-only recordings — released … Continue reading
Music producer whose long sentence drew outcry is free early
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah music producer who was ordered to 55 years behind bars for bringing guns to marijuana deals has been set free, after 12 years in prison and national outcry over the mandatory minimum sentencing laws that forced a federal judge to impose the lengthy term. Weldon Angelos, 36, was … Continue reading
Principal at school where Fetty Wap video shot on paid leave
PATERSON, N.J. (AP) — A principal at the New Jersey high school where rapper Fetty Wap recorded a music video has been placed on leave, according to a published report. Paterson Superintendent Donnie Evans announced during a board of education meeting Wednesday night that East Side High School principal of operations Zatiti Moody has been … Continue reading
Celebrity birthdays for the week of June 12-18
June 12: Singer Vic Damone is 88. Actor-singer Jim Nabors is 86. Jazz musician Chick Corea is 75. Singer Len Barry is 74. Singer John Wetton of Asia and of King Crimson is 67. Drummer Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick is 65. Country singer-guitarist Junior Brown is 64. Actor Timothy Busfield is 59. Singer … Continue reading
Would-be surprise Kanye West show turns to chaos in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — What was supposed to be a surprise Kanye West show in New York City quickly turned to chaos as thousands of fans descended on the venue. More than 4,000 people swarmed Webster Hall, which only holds 1,500, early Monday for the pop-up show. They climbed on top of cars, dumpsters and … Continue reading
Pharrell gives pop lift to Little Big Town’s harmonies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Little Big Town’s new album of pop and dance songs produced by hitmaker Pharrell Williams grew out of a writing session fueled by Waffle House and a little Tennessee moonshine. The top pop and R&B producer and artist came down to Nashville in early 2016 and ended up with eight songs … Continue reading
Jay Z, Eminem, Slick Rick and more remember Muhammad Ali
NEW YORK (AP) — Muhammad Ali was not a rapper, but to many of the genre’s best lyricists, he was influential in paving the way for hip-hop stars to succeed and had a lasting impact on the art form. Ali was hip-hop: He was boastful, he trash-talked, he was a strong poet and he could … Continue reading
The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store
iTunes’ Official Music Charts for the week ending June 9, 2016: Top Songs 1.CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! (Original Song From DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls”), Justin Timberlake 2.For Free (feat. Drake), DJ Khaled 3.One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla), Drake 4.Just Like Fire (From Alice Through the Looking Glass), P!nk 5.Don’t Let Me Down (feat. Days), The … Continue reading
Finding Dory’ is no trophy fish but it’s a keeper
In Pixar’s hands, the ocean — equal parts danger and wonder — is a vast metaphor for the choppy waters of parenting. Cloistered coral reefs of home are surrounded by frightful drop-offs and strong currents that can sweep a little fish out to an immense sea. When the difference between survival and shark bait is … Continue reading
Ubisoft goes ‘Steep’ at E3
LOS ANGELES (AP) â For its next open-world game, Ubisoft is combining collaborative multiplayer action with snowy extreme sports. The video game publisher capped off its Electronic Entertainment Expo presentation Monday with a first look at “Steep.” The game will set players loose on a virtual rendition of the Alps where they can ski, snowboard, … Continue reading
Shooter games hyped at trade show just after Florida attack
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The flags outside the Electronic Entertainment Expo are flying at half-staff in honor of the victims of the attack on a Florida gay nightclub that left 49 dead. However, it will seemingly be business as usual inside the video game industry’s annual trade show this week. E3 kicked off Sunday and … Continue reading
Microsoft touts smaller, faster Xbox One game consoles at E3
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Xbox One is shrinking in size and growing in power. Microsoft unveiled during its Monday media briefing at the Electronic Entertainment Expo a new, slimmer version of the video game console coming later this year and a more powerful one that’s due in 2017. The company says the white Xbox One … Continue reading
Tonys audience largest since 2001, viewers up by 2.2 million
NEW YORK (AP) — CBS’ Tony Awards on Sunday beat last year’s audience by one-third. The broadcast drew 8.73 million viewers, up 35 percent from last year, according to preliminary ratings from the Nielsen Co. It is the largest audience for the show since 2001. The surge was even more pronounced in the key 18-to-49-year-old … Continue reading
In Haiti, cradle of rich visual heritage is being reinvented
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Youvensky Despeignes used to spend hours a day at home drawing pencil-and-ink abstractions on cheap notebook paper, his aspirations as a painter frustrated by a lack of opportunities in Haiti where a rich artistic heritage has suffered decades of decline. But the 22-year-old is now a scholarship student at the Centre … Continue reading
Country artists welcome Beyonce to the format
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When Beyonce dropped a country tune inside her new visual album “Lemonade,” it was the biggest crossover news in country music since Justin Timberlake brought down the house at the Country Music Association Awards last year alongside Chris Stapleton. The Houston native’s Southern music roots are interwoven throughout the No. 1 … Continue reading