#WhatsHappening for March 31, 2017

Hi, ho kids- hope you've all had a good week. If you're anything like me, though- you're damned glad it's over!

Don't forget to join us tomorrow night for our first ever Saturday Night Karaoke $1000 Edition. Magic Mark will be spinning the tunes and rocking the room for you from 10pm-1am, plus he'll have $1000 bills to hand out to our singers. You don't want to miss it.

Sign O' The Times was released 30 years ago today. While Purple Rain may have represented Prince's most famous accomplishment, Sign O' The Times- to me- shows him at the absolute pinnacle of his musical genius. 

That's not to say Prince didn't put out some great music after this 1987 opus, but I don't think a you could find a stronger two-disc set of original music since- by anyone. To me, Sign O' The Times rivals The Beatles in terms of creativity, power, and sheer talent on display. 

Damn, he's missed.

"I vote fer that blonde one- he's got a purdy mouth."

Because boy bands aren't bad enough, ABC is giving me another reason to hate them- announcing a 10-episode series order to Boy Band, "a reality competition where hopeful singers compete with one another to join a musical group," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Viewers will have the control to vote for their favorite five band members live. No judges or hosts have been announced for the show, which premieres this summer.

Gorillaz has announced that they're ready to "Rock The House" with their first North American show in seven years at the Quebec City Summer Festival. No word on whether there will be additional dates, as the band's only other announced performance is their at their Demon Dayz Festival in England.

"We have the meats" has a whole new meaning.

Okay, I think most of the Arby's commercials are pretty stupid, but the one with Holding Out For A Hero where Ving Rhames says "gyro" over it makes me giggle.

BMI has announced that Barry Manilow will be honored with the BMI Icon award at their 65th annual Pop Awards on May 9.

The GRAMMY, Emmy, and Tony Award winner will be recognized for "his prodigious musical legacy and an unparalleled career encompassing the worlds of Broadway, Film, TV, and popular culture."

"Barry Manilow is a visionary whose exceptional body of work has shaped the course of popular music for over five decades," said BMI VP Barbara Cane.

"He has left a lasting imprint on every aspect of music, influenced the careers of his contemporaries, and touched the lives of many with his unique gift of artistry. His musical brilliance defies genre expectations and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient."

Except he didn't write I Write The Songs. That's just funny.

Birthdays today include: Robert Holmes of 'til tuesday; Pat McGlynn of Bay City Rollers; Angus Young of AC/DC; Sean Hopper of Huey Lewis & The News; Al Goodman of Ray, Goodman & Brown; Herb Alpert; and Shirley Jones. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for March 28, 2017

Hey, kids- hope all is well.

Coming up this weekend, it's the first-ever Saturday Night Karaoke: $1000 Edition, coming up this weekend at The Iron Horse Tavern. We run 10pm-1am, each and every week. Don't miss it!

This is so damned funny, I had to share it again. From Mental Floss, it's A Scientific Explanation for Why Everyone Hates Nickelback. 

Except Lea.

Either something just exploded in the karaoke compound's neighborhood or there's a storm coming.

Once again proving that death is good for sales, Chuck Berry is back on the Billboard album charts for the first time in 40 years after his death on March 18th, re-entering the top 50 at number 33 with his greatest hits compilation, The Definitive Collection.

It's Berry’s highest-charting album since 1972's The London Chuck Berry Sessions.

Hip-hop promoter Raheem Thomas was charged on Monday with assault after pistol-whipping a bystander during an altercation that included a shooting involving Fetty Wap early Sunday morning. 

The shooting happened outside a 24-hour deli in Paterson. Names of the victims weren't released.

Thomas was also charged with weapons offenses, but was not charged in the shooting.

The BBC reports that Clem Curtis, original lead singer for The Foundations, died yesterday.

The Trinidad-born Curtis joined the band in 1967, and sang on the group's breakout hit Baby Now That I've Found You, as well as Back on My Feet Again, and Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad). He left the band in 1968 and rejoin them in the mid-70s. 

No cause of death was given. Curtis was 76.

Stereogum reports that Adele told the crowd in Auckland, New Zealand last night the at the show- the last stop on her 25 tour- might be the end of her touring.

Between songs, the singer is reported to have said, "Touring isn’t something I’m good at… Applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable. I don’t know if I will ever tour again. The only reason I’ve toured is you. I’m not sure if touring is my bag."

I feel the same way about her singing: Not my bag.

NME reports that Queens Of The Stone Age have reportedly "just finished" work on their new album and the band is gearing up to hit the road a short tour this summer. 

The band has reportedly been working the on the follow-up to 2013’s …Like Clockwork for some time– and say they "locked in" to finish work on the record last summer with a release date of this year. 

One person in this picture won't be attending.

New Power Generation, former backing band for Prince, has added their name to the supporting cast list for for Phil Collins‘ upcoming show at London’s British Summer Time in Hyde Park.

The band worked Prince on 1991’s Diamonds and Pearls and 1992’s Love Symbol Album, and toured as his backup band until 2013, when Prince began focusing on working with 3RDEYEGIRL.

Other acts scheduled to perform at the show include KC and the Sunshine Band, Chas and Dave, Cats in Space, Blondie, Mike + The Mechanics, and Starsailor.

Birthdays today include:  Lady Gaga (who was born the same year I graduated high school- fuck, I'm old); Dave Keuning of The Killers; Cheryl James of Salt n' Pepa; James Atkins of EMF; Steve Turner of Mudhoney; Reba McEntire; Milan Williams of the Commodorers; John Evans of Jethro Tull, and Chuck Portz of the Turtles. #MusicalBirthdays