#WhatsHappening for February 25, 2018

Good Sunday morning, kiddios. Hope you're enjoying your weekend so far. Unlike most people, I actually enjoy rainy days- because it means the pollen count will be down (at least for the day it rains) and I can actually open windows in the house and get some fresh air without my skull turning into the Greater Snot Sea.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Saturday Night Karaoke last night. Lots of singers always means a fun time for everyone and you certainly didn't disappoint.

Today would've been George Harrison's 75th birthday. The "quiet Beatle" was born on this day in Liverpool in 1943. Hard to believe it's been 17 years since he died. 

Former Talking Heads' front-man David Byrne didn't quit the music business when the group disbanded in 1991, he's just been very- let's say "deliberate"- about releasing new music.
American Utopia, due out March 9, is Byrne's first solo release since 2004's Grown Backwards and his first album since his dual effort with St. Vincent, 2012's Love This Giant.

Here's the first single from the album- Everybody's Coming To My House.

Can we agree that this is kind of creepy?

Prince fans can pay homage to the star via their culinary skills when a new cookbook inspired by the Purple sage hits stores April 21- the second anniversary of his death.

The Cat Food Bakery's Little Red Velvette features selections like Purple Rain ombre cakes, Raspberry Beret tarts, and Darling Stikki toffee puddings. The book is currently available for pre-order.

Barbara Ann Alston, singer with the '60s girl The Crystals, died last week after contracting the flu. Donielle Prophete, Alston's daughter, told the Charlotte Observer her mother had spent two weeks in intensive care in Charlotte before succumbing to the virus.

"She loved the Crystals. She always talked about singing with them, the work they created together. She loved the sisterhood part of it, the traveling," Prophete said, but she was uncomfortable with her original role as lead singer. 

Prophete told the BBC that producer Phil Spector and Phillies Records' management "loved her voice and they kept pushing her to the front but she was shy."

Alston's funeral is set for Friday. She was 74.

Latest headline I scratched my head over: These game show contestants seriously struggled to identify Kendrick Lamar

Not a clue.

Evidently the internet is all surprised and shit by the fact that the three middle-aged contestants on an episode of Jeopardy didn't know who the rapper was- even though the clue included the names of some of Lamar's best-known songs.

Now, if I've said it once, I've said it a million times- I wouldn't know who 95% of "celebrities" were if they walked up to my door and asked if I'd seen there new movie/TV show, or heard their new record, or whatever. Then again, I'm pretty pop culture ignorant- especially when it comes to pop culture since 1995 or so. I just never paid that much attention.

Birthdays today include: Daniel Powter (42); Justin Jeffre of 98 Degrees (45); Mike Peters of The Alarm (58); Dennis Diken of The Smithereens (61); and Doug Yule of Velvet Underground. #MusicalBirthdays 

#WhatsHappening for February 23, 2018

Whoa yeah, Friday.

Me? I've been busy. I haven't been reading Joe Hill's book The Fireman or his dad's The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three or working late. Nope, not me.

Elvis Presley’s Graceland will be holding the first ever Graceland Performing Arts Camp this summer. The camp- open to children ages 6-15- will teach acting, music, and dance techniques.

The four day camp will allow participants to explore the Graceland campus- including Elvis' living quarters- and feature showcases developed by all the camp's participants being performed at The Guest House Theater for family and friends as camp comes to a close.

I didn't realize that Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood debuted fifty years ago this week. How about that? I wasn't really a fan- even as a child- but he seemed like a good guy, and I love the stories that people share about him.

I know I've mentioned this more than once in the past- but I am out of touch. I read through the Billboard, NME, and Variety websites and I don't have a fucking clue who, probably 80% of the fucking people they're referring to are.

We hope you'll join us tomorrow night for Saturday Night Karaoke at the Iron Horse Tavern. We'll be there, rocking the house for you from 10pm-1am.

I was just reading that Fergie says her rendition of the National Anthem at the NBA All Star Games "clearly... didn’t strike the intended tone."

I mean, it's not like I watched it (I have as much interest in basketball as I do in having corrective surgery on my deviated septum- which is zero), but did everyone magically have the Super Bowl Halftime abortion she put on wiped from their memory but me?

Birthdays today include: Jeff Beres of Sister Hazel (46); Howard Jones (63); Brad Whitford of Aerosmith (66); Steve Priest of Sweet (68); Rusty Young of Poco (72); and Johnny Winter (74). #MusicalBirthdays