#Josie Music Awards

[nashmusicguide]

A Heartfelt Thank You to The Josie Music Awards From Irene Michaels 

One of the biggest surprises for Irene Michaels was winning Best Song of the Year in a pop song category last year at the 2023 Josie Music Awards for her hit song “I Like Rain.” It took her completely by surprise as she wasn’t aware of being nominated in that specific category. She was thrilled beyond words when they announced her name and from that moment on, she began to look forward to this…

[hazelsmirrorball]

 Rockstar girlfriend | Hazel Callahan

Rockstar! Hazel Callahan x Popstar! Reader summary: Y/n despises Hazel and due to that they decide to put them together in a PR relationship Warnings: Enemies to lovers! Heavy make out session, English isn’t my main language  a/n: This is going to be several parts, hope you enjoy!

part two. part three. part four.

There were a few words Y/n could use to describe Hazel Callahan. Annoying, cocky, rude, careless, egotistical, arrogant and the list goes on and on. Y/n could talk for days about her hatred towards the girl but she was aware that the only thing she couldn’t call her was untalented. 

Hazel was an excellent song writer and a perfect musician. She played every single instrument known to mankind and she had a voice of an angel. She had several awards to her name, best song writer, song of the year, best music video, best upcoming artist, Every category that existed, she had won. Y/n would bet that with all the money she had, she probably paid someone just to come to her house to clean her grammys just to get her daily doses of ego up.

 Hazel Callahan had everything. Her band, The Bottoms, was selling hit after hit, becoming one of the best Rock bands to ever exist. Yeah, PJ, Josie and Hazel were talented, she really couldn’t deny that but did they really have to rub it in their faces? It seemed that everywhere Y/n went Hazel seemed to follow her. Billboards in Time Square haunted her, magazines with their recent shoot in her local supermarket made her scream, The band being featured in her favorite show made her break the remote,  the loud mall speaker blaring their music drove Y/n to the edge. Everyone wanted something to do with the band collabs, interviews, photoshoots, hell they even had their own toothbrush line. But the thing that drove Y/n insane was the fact that Hazel’s band was under the same record label and management as Y/n. 

Isabel, Brittney and Y/n made it their life mission to work hard to get to where they were. Sure they didn’t play instruments on stage like The Bottoms or made your ears bleed with the hard rock music but they had managed to make actual good music with dance moves. They were the pop girlies people would die for but due to the fact that Hazel’s mother had something to do with the record company everything related to them always came second. 

Y/n hated Hazel because everything she worked so hard for was pushed to the side because she was mommy's little princess and it drove her insane. She could do elaborate dances, make the best song to mankind and she would still come out second place.  

Y/n wasn’t the best when it came to hiding her feelings, so it was pretty obvious that she couldn’t stand being in a room with Hazel for more than one minute. At first, some people of the management team found out but they simply brushed it off thinking it was some type of petty drama. The higher ups started noticing the glares or scoff Y/n would throw to Hazel’s way. But Y/n had dropped a big one, by writing a song indirectly hitting hatred towards a certain girl. It wasn’t hard for the fans to get the hint, clicking every interview or award show where both girls were seen together. Everything made sense but this caused everyone to start taking sides which wasn’t good for any of the bands. That’s when their PR team went to work and that’s how Y/n found herself straddling Hazel's lap waiting for the paparazzi to show up to take a picture of the two. 

If they wanted people to get out of their business and think that the song wasn’t about her and that she actually tolerated Hazel they needed to be spotted making out. The perfect idea, at least that was how both PR teams made it seem. It was an opportunity for both bands to finally click together and Y/n was getting the short end of the stick. 

Y/n let out a groan, already frustrated in the situation she was in. Her hand rested on Hazel's cheek while Hazel's hands gripped on her waist, her cold rings sending shivers to her spine. They had been straddling each other for the past 45 minutes in Hazel’s car waiting for the paps to show up. 

“When are they getting here? Isabel said that they were going to show up half an hour ago. I’m already done with this shit” She muttered as she attempted to sit straighter, her skirt slowly rising up making Hazel sneak a discreet look. 

“Why are you so eager to leave? I thought we were having fun” Hazel responded sarcastically as she rested a hand on her thigh squeezing it a little to make her stay still.  Y/n looked away from the car window and focused her gaze on Hazel’s blue eyes. 

“Well, I would enjoy spending my weekend on top of someone that I can actually stand, rather than being here with you.” She said, sending her way a fake smile. Hazel rolled her eyes tapping her thigh sending her one of her famous smiles that Y/n was tired of seeing in those damn magazines that stayed near her night stand. 

“Really? I didn’t know you had so much action? By the looks of it you are turned on just by my hand gripping on your thigh. Don’t worry, if you want you can grind on it” She responded with a cocky smirk , making Y/n slap the side of her head making Hazel let out a loud laugh. 

“You really think you're the shit, can you jus..” Y/n got cut off by Hazel placing her thumb on top of her lips, grazing them softly. 

“All you do is bitch and moan with those damn pretty little lips of yours, can’t you do something else?” Hazel said her soft breaths hitting her lips. Y/n could feel the space in the car getting closer as Hazel’s eyes gazed at her lips. “Not so vocal anymore, what happened, cat got your tongue?” 

“You always have to rui..” Y/n started but got cut once again by Hazel’s lips on her. It took Y/n a few for her to kiss back but as a few seconds passed by she finally caught herself kissing back. Both of the girls kissed desperately fighting for dominance or finally letting out that sexual tension that they’ve bottled up for years. 

Hazel's hand reached towards Y/n’s ass, gripping harshly making her moan. Y/n’s hand gripped on Hazel’s hair as she let out a low whimper making Y/n smirked into the kiss. Before she could even think about a comeback, her thoughts got snapped into reality by seeing flash coming towards the window. 

“Don’t worry, I take my job really seriously so don’t take that kiss to heart sweetheart. Take this as excuse about writing a song about me but this time, don’t say I’m a bad kisser” 

part two part three

[doctorcurdlejr]

On 50sdale, Telenovelas, and Veronica Lodge

In the grand Genres reading of Riverdale I think it's important to place Veronica's family in the context of the telenovela, which makes for an interesting point in making her parents television stars in 50sdale. Not only were some of the first telenovelas released in the 50s, but in a modern US context the telenovela often represents family, either in content or viewing practices (since it's often something you watch with family), which ties well into the popularity of the nuclear family sitcoms in the 1950s (I Love Lucy being the most obvious). With that being said, the representation of an "alternative" family in Oh Mija! brings it closer to the family sitcoms of the 60s that were interested in palatable Otherness (Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Munsters, and perhaps most relevantly The Addams Family, where the family was originally of Castilian descent but has since become incredibly Latine).

Palatability in this case I think operates on two levels: 1950s taste and modern taste. In the case of the 1950s, we have the show directly addressing what that could mean for an actor through morality clauses and communist suspicion related to Cuban ties; which I think is especially interesting considering that one of the first telenovelas was the Cuban Senderos de amor in 1952. In a through line from 1950s to modern media there stands the question of representation (who gets to represent and tell these stories), which in some ways comes through Veronica's role as daughter being recast and given to Tillie Thompson. The US sitcomification of the telenovela in this case then acts as the driving force for familial separation, where garnering acceptance at large through some level of cultural assimilation and behavior monitoring comes at the sacrifice of family and ones own latinidad. Interestingly enough, Veronica does eventually return to Hollywood as a producer, originally by means of Josie who highlights the importance of own voices productions on every level.

It's also of note that Peter Roth also gives Veronica a chance in the show - same as he did for Riverdale in real life. Others have spoken to Jughead being RAS's love for comics, Kevin his love for musical theater, and if we approach this through a similar lens, in some ways I think Veronica speaks to an appreciation for his position in film and television (did you know: the National Hispanic Media Coalition awarded RAS for his work as an "Outstanding Executive Producer"). While I think the show's approach to Veronica's latinidad is often a bit... odd, the show's telenovela sensibilities have always run strong. In a season where many of the character arcs revolved around taking control of their own stories across mediums, I think to some degree Veronica taking control on a production level speaks to a history of Latines in Hollywood.

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I listened to a few episodes of the Trusty Hogs podcast, as per a recommendation I got here. Heard both Nish Kumar ones and thought they were both extremely funny. Nish Kumar is great in an environment like that, isn't he? And by "an environment like that", I suppose I mean among very outspoken women. Although probably the funniest thing in both episodes was Catherine Bohart trying to argue everyone to her side about everything.

I listened to the David O'Doherty one too, which was great for a number of reasons, the main one being Catherine Bohart being very sweetly star struck at the Irish star. I've got to admit I'm not such a big fan of Helen Bauer (not for any particular reason, just not my favourite style), but I could have happily listened to Catherine Bohart and David O'Doherty chat about jazz music and Ireland all day.

And of course we got this from that episode, because it's not a podcast episode ft. David O'Doherty without him launching into Chocolate Milk Gang-era stories. He really is the best for being the CMG member most likely to bring those stories out, and I think his favourite is the summer that he and Josie Long traded victories in new act comedy competitions.

I've heard both sides tell this story so many times, and I do not get tired of hearing it. David O'Doherty is being slightly disingenuous by saying that "to this day, Josie brings up that she beat me in the BBC New Comedy Awards", as though he doesn't also tell that story every chance he gets. It's a good story. And I'd heard it quite a few times already, when last year, my friend dug up a video of that BBC award final, which, as DO'D said, was televised:

Absolutely adorable, all three of those videos. Look at those tiny adorable children. Look at that weird eclectic mix of judges. The 90s. What a time.

I so wish that So You Think You're Funny Final were also on video, I'm pretty sure it was never recorded. That is a quite star-studded final. If you go to the Wikipedia entry for it, I recognize more names from 1999 than I do from the years around it. From 2000, it's Mark Dolan, Francesca Martinez, Jason Manford, and some people I don't know.

Now, here's something interesting about that Wikipedia page. They mentioned on the podcast episode that Jimmy Carr was in the final, but isn't on Wikipedia. And I thought that might make sense, because I did notice, a couple of months ago, that he was left out of the Chortle article. When Chortle announced the Taskmaster season 18 contestants, they said that Andy Zaltzman had been a 1999 finalist in So You Think You're Funny, along with Russell Howard, David O'Doherty, and Josie Long. I mentioned in a Tumblr post at the time that it was weird that Jimmy Carr was left off that list, I joked that this may be Steve Bennett getting a subtle dig at him that he's not important enough to be on the list of famous finalists.

But after I heard this podcast episode, I thought that maybe he was left off the list because Steve Bennett got his information off the Wikipedia page, and Jimmy Carr's not there. However, when I went to that page to check, I saw:

The people of that podcast were right, though, when they said you can go back through the Wikipedia edit history to check on that. The above screenshot is from today. Here's a screenshot from August 10, 2022:

And here's a screenshot of the edit history:

On September 1st, 2022, someone edited the "1999" section. That podcast episode came out on September 1st, 2022. I really enjoy how little time that took. Someone listened to that podcast and fixed the Wikipedia error that same day. No one can pretend that Jimmy Carr was never young/human.

Having said that, I don't think it was, as DO'D implied, a conspiracy to pretend Jimmy Carr was never human, as I went back to the earliest versions of that page in the Wikipedia history, and it appears Jimmy Carr was never listed there, until that podcast came out. And it does appear that whoever wrote Andy Zaltzman's Wikipedia page was using the pre-2022 So You Think You're Funny Wikipedia page for reference, as it says this:

Which I now realize is why Chortle left out Jimmy Carr when listing Andy Zaltzman's co-finalists in the article about the Taskmaster season 18 contestants; Steve Bennett would have been getting his information from Andy Zaltzman's Wikipedia page. It is probably that, and not another Jimmy Carr-based conspiracy in which Steve Bennett thought it would be funny to say "here are the people from that final who are important enough to mention" and intentionally leave out Jimmy Carr.

Although you never know with these things - who's important enough to get mentioned by name can change in a flash. Did you see Russell Howard got relegated to "and more" in the latest Big Fat Quiz?

This post has hit quite a lot of different topics, for one post. I think the main takeaway is that I would happily listen to Catherine Bohart and David O'Doherty chat to each other about Ireland and jazz music all day. That was pretty good. Don't worry too much about the unnecessary Wikipedia information.

Oh! And I almost forgot, David O'Doherty followed the podcast clip I posted above with an absolutely adorable story of how he'd recently taken Josie Long's young daughter to see a theatre show, while Josie and her partner were both busy performing (this was recorded at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival). She got excited to see pictures of her mom all over town on posters. What a good story. Great podcast episode.

[ear-worthy]

Josie's Lonely Hearts Club: A Semi-improvised Audio Drama You'll Love

Have you ever seen a Russian nesting doll? Remove one and there is another underneath. That's how the new audio-drama podcast Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club unfolds for listeners. It's a captivating drama with layers upon layers -- all of which will fascinate and enthrall. Here's the premise. Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club is a semi-improvised audio drama set in the studio of New Mexico’s third-best romantic advice call-in show. On-air, listeners eavesdrop as Josie (Rachel Music of How Do They Bone?) squares off against top improvisers and her engineer Frank (Maximilian Clark of Superhuman Public Radio). In reality, Josie, the romance advice DJ, is melancholy Joanne Holtzinger. Each episode has off-air vignettes that chart Joanne's journey to nationally syndicated sensation Josie Heller, and then back again when the mics are off.

I listened to the first episode and was fascinated and wildly entertained. The episode begins with Josie discussing first impressions on dates with her listeners, and then encouraging callers to discuss that topic. Josie's voice is faintly Southern - Western and has a breathless quality to it.

For those who know radio, Josie's voice and demeanor reminds me of Delilah, who is a well-known American radio personality. Her show -- on the air since 1996 -- perfected the format for call-in romantic advice radio shows and has an estimated eight million listeners.

Then the call-ins to the radio station begin. These calls are improvised by professionals, and Josie (Rachel Music) has to respond. The callers include a bouncer for the nu metal band Korn, who doesn't know how to talk to women and a man who recounts a tender slow dance with a woman, who abruptly walks out, leaving a shoe behind a la Cinderella. 

Then, on a commercial break, we meet "Joanne," who is the real person behind Josie. We discover that unlike Josie, who dispenses advice on life and romance, Joanne needs support and guidance about her seemingly despairing life.

The calls are fascinating, funny, odd, weird, yet strangely touching.  "What results is an often hilarious and surprisingly human show exploring the risks we idiots take every time we fall in or out of love."

The character Josie Heller was born in 2021 while Rachel Music drove from New York to LA with all of her possessions, her boyfriend, and her dog -- hopefully no in that order. 

"The week-long road trip was full of colorful characters and long stints of AM radio on old Route 66. The germ of a great idea took root...and like most great ideas, the first iteration was crap, and it sat on her desktop." Around this time, Rachel Music was picked to help write and voice season two of Superhuman Public Radio by its showrunner, Maximilian Clark, and the two clicked like Lois and Clark or Cagney And Lacey. A few months later, when Rachel co-founded Good Story Guild, a puzzle emerged: a show as nimble to produce as an unscripted podcast, but with arcs that deepen an audience’s connection to a flawed, vulnerable character. Together, puzzlers Maximilian and Rachel developed an ingenious hybrid– half-improv Olympics, half writers room. An ongoing experiment in creativity, Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club is designed to surprise:a living, breathing show with a narrative spine. Rachel Music (co-creator, Josie) is a full-time artist and road-tested in New York's cabaret and cirque scene. She hosted and produced burlesque and circus revues as airborne, opera-singing Mistress of Ceremonies Kittyhawk Boone before stepping into a production role. Her work spans theater, music and new media, including GUNS, A CABARET, the award-winning short WENDY/GIGI, and the TikTok series EAVESDROPPERS. Now in Los Angeles, Rachel is the co-founder of the Good Story Guild and executive director of the company's audio drama and podcast slate. According to Rachel, she has lent her voice to children’s toys, rodeo commercials, and a lot of alien-on-human erotica. Maximilian Clark (co-creator/showrunner, Frank) has written and/or directed festival winning films, web series, and audio dramas that provide insightful commentary on the human experience interspersed with slapstick and fart jokes. He’s largely responsible for the Starz digital series Llama Cop, and the audio drama Superhuman Public Radio on the Fable & Folly network. He’s been invited to the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal three times, and has been temporarily banned from the Podcast Movement festival in Denver for six months. When he’s not being a creative menace in the world of fiction, he spends his time going undercover at Qanon rallies, producing content with Walter Masterson that exposes far right extremism through comedy and trolling. You can hear about their experiences on their politics podcast We Are Not Journalis.

Good Story Guild apparently birthed Jose's Lonely Hearts Club and when I googled the company this is what came up: "It is a time of crisis in the realm of storytelling: the barriers to entry are getting smaller, new technology continues to disrupt business models and power has consolidated into the hands of a few empires. Storytelling needs a new wave of heroes to usher in the next era. Instead, they got us - a guild of industry veterans, rogues and outsiders alike, brought together through a little serendipity and a passion for great story hooks. GSG is on a journey to bring back a little risk and danger to our beloved art form. Will you join us?"

I really have no idea what all that meant, but their manifesto is weird, intriguing, and I think we need a new true-crime podcast to investigate these people.  

That said, this show is a rule breaker, a genre mash up of epic proportions, a half-scripted, half-improv Jekyll Hyde creation, and 30 minutes of all-out fun, genius, humanity exposed, and as outrageous as detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out and Glass Onion.

Check out Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club. Even if you don't love it (which you will), you can get some romantic advice or insights on alien on human erotica.

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 4/26

Please, trees, free us from the pollen!

BLAB! Vol 1 TP - Monte Beauchamp, Noah Van Sciver & Ryan Heshka

BLAB!-the Harvey Award-winning anthology of cutting-edge comics, art, and culture-has returned to its comics roots with a stellar lineup of contributors. Noah Van Sciver depicts the tragic demise of Crime Does Not Pay editor Robert Wood. Ryan Heshka recounts the rise and fall of Superman creators Siegel and Shuster. Sasha Velour portrays the making of film director F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu. Children's book illustrator Giselle Potter examines Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter's passion as a naturalist. Illustrated articles include the history of the gorilla and a report on UFOs. All this and much more in Comics and Stories That Will Make You BLAB!

Black Cat Social Club TP -  Christopher Painter & Bob Quinn

The story of three punk rock witches, Alice, Hazel, and Maggie, who cast spells with their songs to battle corporate demon jerks, defeat rival witch bands, save the world, and get to the next gig. Black Cat Social Club have been at this "band thing" for quite a while, with limited success. (Bummer.) Despite their kick-ass punk rock skills (and a little songcasting magic), these witchy women have been struggling to reach their big break. Discouraged, bassist Hazel sells her soul to a demon for more magical power, prompting singer/lead guitarist Alice to step in and assume the debt herself! Plus side, the band is killing it at their shows now. Downside? They may literally be killing the entire world by fueling these corporate demons' evil plans, which for sure involve brimstone, monsters... you know, the works! Can the band stop the apocalypse? Is drummer Maggie's songwriting, uh, "technique" the key? Will the demon Stan ever shut up?! If you've ever wished Josie and the Pussycats had more demons, or Buffy was fronting a three-piece rock band, you've found your next favorite book in Black Cat Social Club!

Boy’s Abyss GN Vol 1 -  Ryo Minenami

Reiji's life is as miserable as the small town he can't escape. The most interesting thing that's ever happened there is a double suicide down by the river. Does Reiji have any power over his fate, or will he too fall into the abyss?

Charisma’s Turn GN -  Monique Couvson & Amanda Jones

From the award-winning author of Pushout, an inspiring graphic novel about what can happen when Black girls are given the opportunity to find their genuine power. Charisma's Turn is a graphic novel that follows the dynamic story of Charisma, a Black high school student who is grappling with mounting pressures from home and school. When frustrations with her family intersect with a conflict at school, she reaches a crossroads, facing a choice that could change her future. Featuring vibrantly illustrated art from Amanda Jones and a foreword by poet, artist, and arts educator Susan Arauz Barnes, this book will appeal to teens, parents, educators, librarians, and more. Charisma's Turn exemplifies how Black girls can be truly empowered to reach their full potential when they have supportive educators and community members in their corner.

Cut-Over Criteria GN -  Koala Omugi

A fresh new boys' love office romance in which opposites attract! Recent graduate Jin has been assigned to help out his upperclassman Seto, a highly competent but somewhat standoffish systems engineer. Though Jin is good at his job, he does seem to have his head in the clouds more often than not... and Seto's eyes always seem to linger on him more than they should!

Deep Cuts #1 (of 6) -  Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Danilo Beyruth & Chris Brunner

New Orleans, 1917. In the city's bustling red-light district, a young clarinet player lands a job with his hero-but he'll soon discover there's more to the music business than playing the right notes.

Join writers KYLE HIGGINS & JOE CLARK (RADIANT BLACK) and an ALL-STAR CAST OF ARTISTS for SIX DOUBLE-LENGTH ISSUES that weave stories of struggle, joy, and hope through the history of jazz!

Disney & Pixar’s Turning Red: 4*TOWN 4 Real GN -  Dirchansky & KAlfee

4*Town 4 Ever! 4*Townies are hyped to see 4*Town performing their favorite hits live, but how will Canada's greatest boy band spend the day leading up to their epic Toronto concert? Hang with Robaire, Jesse, Tae Young, Aaron T, and Aaron Z as they enjoy a rare break in their busy schedules! Jesse and Tae Young embrace their artistic side and visit a ceramics museum, Aaron T gets his fashion on at the mall, and Aaron Z and Robaire stay in the dance studio to master their moves before the sold-out show. Only the realest fans deserve to get this up close and personal with Tween Beat Magazine's Hottest Band of the Year!

Fashion Illustration: Outfit Of The Day GN -  Pie International 

Fashion Illustration is a new genre in the Japanese illustration scene, offering the most up-to-date, modern and practical styles for everyday. This book introduces 40 up-and-coming illustrators from Japan who are becoming popular on social media, including Daisuke Richard the author of Kikanetsu published in June 2019. Filled with loads of cool, stylish coordinates and color patterns, this guide offers a whole new way for discovering new trends in fashion. Find your own outfit of the day!

Jujutsu Kaisen: Thorny Road At Dawn GN -  Gege Akutami & Ballad Kitaguni

A modeling scout approaches Kugisaki, but he turns out to be a cursed speech user with an ulterior motive, and when Inumaki tries to rescue her, things don't quite turn out as planned. Mechamaru goes on a solo mission, Gojo and friends try to host a party, and more chilling and charming adventures ensue in these five short stories set in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen!

Money Shot Comes Again #1 -  Tim Seeley & Gisele Lagace

The XXX-plorers are back on their hands and knees for the good of humanity! When the giant ass space jellyfish who run the ordered universe arrive on earth, the porn-stars-cum-science explorers must put away grudges, crushes, and side-hustles to once again take one (or two! or three!) for the team. An epicly sexy new arc begins, which takes aim at dumb billionaires and bad optics, and guest stars a LEGENDARY underground comix heroine! NEW ARTIST Gisele Lagace puts her sexy spin on the book!

New Retro Illustration Bilingual Edition GN -  PIE INTERNATIONAL

Retro but modern. This is the new trend, the new way, the new form of illustration created by the new generation. "New retro," a combination of the word "New" and "Retrospective," is a phrase meaning "appreciating and enjoying something old while reimagining it into something modern." This book introduces 40 up-and-coming illustrators working in this "new retro" style. Through the 300 illustrations showcased in this one book, readers can appreciate and enjoy retro culture, items and motifs reimagined and transformed into something new.

Platinum Blood GN -  Mor Ichigaya

Alucard, known by "Al" for short, is a vampire who has been raised by a priest, You. Providing Al the fluids he needs to survive has created an unusually close relationship between the two, but what will become of their partnership as You's mortality catches up to him? This book contains explicit content and mature themes, including incest and violence. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.

QUEEN In Comics GN -  Emmanuel Marie & Sophie Blitman

Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Freddie Mercury form one of the greatest rock bands in the world. Under the leadership of its charismatic singer, Queen is a planetary success for each hit with its decadent shows, inimitable aesthetics and style. "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Are the Champions", "Don't Stop Me Now" or even "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" are just some of the hits! Discover the great stories and little secrets surrounding the legend!

Sacred Lamb GN - Tim Seeley & Jelena Dordevic

Online celebrity Kellyn West, who just recently dispatched "her" own stalker-slash-serial killer Clay Coogan on a live stream, finds herself the newest resident of a secluded town known as Sacred Lamb. This is where the government hides "endemic victims" under witness protection in hopes of preventing innocents from being murdered when, inevitably, psycho slashers return from the dead. But when the body count starts rising inside the barbed wire fences, Kellyn must team up with the original survivor girl, known only as "The Babysitter," to rally the E.V.s and withstand an army of slashers at their door, seemingly back from the dead, and definitely back for blood.

Sap Hunters HC -  Laurent Genefort & Alexandre Ristorcelli

Through the branches of the gigantic World Tree, Pierig searches for the source of the malevolence that poisons the sap. The colossal branches of the World Tree are home to many diverse clans of people, each living among their tier. When Pierig, a Sap Diviner, is captured by the Bellicose clan for his rare skills, he learns that the World Tree is dying and its nourishing sap, the fuel for each of these communities, is being poisoned... Accompanied by three warriors, Pierig is forced to trace the origin of the evil that is eating away at the plant titan through each of its levels, and down to the very base if necessary. But along his journey, issues deeper than the root of this sickness begin to surface, putting everything Pierig knew to be true into question.

Silence #1 (of 5) -  Devin Kraft

In this extraordinary Rock'n'Roll/Mythology mashup, Johanna Jones returns to her hometown of Anthem, a down-on-its-luck shipping town, to discover the ship her father sailed on has gone missing. She ends up aboard a yellow submarine named the Heart of Gold, headed directly into Hades' Hexagon to find the missing crew, accompanied by her childhood best friend, a rich young addict, and a punk legend.

Star Wars The High Republic Adventures: Quest Of The Jedi One-Shot -  Claudia Gray, Fico Ossio & Tom Fowler

On the ancient world of Angcord, the Force works in unforeseen ways. When legendary Jedi Knight Barnabus Vim and his intrepid Padawan Bly arrive on this mysterious world, seeking an ancient artifact of the Force, they quickly find more than they were bargaining for. But just what is the mysterious Echo Stone, and what does its existence mean for the continued survival of all those who call Angcord home?

Souls Of Black Folk: A Graphic Interpretation GN -  W E B Du Bois, Paul Buhle & Paul Peart-Smith

Peart-Smith's graphic adaptation provide historical and cultural contexts that bring to life the world behind Du Bois' words. Readers will get a deeper understanding of the cultural debates The Souls of Black Folk was engaging in, with more background on figures like Booker T. Washington, the advocate of black economic uplift, and the Pan-Africanist minister Alexander Crummell. This beautifully illustrated book vividly conveys the continuing legacy of The Souls of Black Folk, effectively updating it for the era of The 1619 Project and Black Lives Matter.

W0RLDTR33 #1 -  James Tynion IV, Fernando Blanco, & Jordie Bellaire 

In 1999, Gabriel and his friends discovered the Undernet, a secret architecture to the Internet. They charted their exploration on a message board called W0RLDTR33.

Then they lost control. Someone broke into W0RLDTR33-someone who welcomed the violent hold the Undernet had on them. At great personal cost, Gabriel and the others thought they sealed the Undernet away for good. They were wrong. And now they will know the meaning of PH34R.

The Witches Of World War II GN -  Paul Cornell & Valeria Burzo

In the darkest hours of World War II, Doreen Valiente (then known as Doreen Dominy), an expert on British folklore and the occult, is approached by British intelligence at Bletchley Park who tell her they know she's a witch... and that's how she can best serve her country. Together with the "most evil man in the world," a hard-nosed white witch, the grizzled founder of Wicca, and a professional exorcist and con man, Valiente will travel deep into the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe and gamble her life, her belief, and her powers on a mission to help capture Rudolf Hess, second in command to Adolf Hitler himself.

Whatcha scooping up this week, Fantom Fam? 

[jamieroxxartist]

✔ Mark Your Calendars: Tues Dec 27 on 🎨#JamieRoxx’s Pop Roxx Radio 🎙️#TalkShow and 🎧#Podcast w/ Featured Guest:

#DarrenMichaelBoyd ​(#Rock)

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​Pop Art Painter Jamie #Roxx (www.JamieRoxx.us) welcomes Darren Michael Boyd; (Rock) to the Show!

● WEB: www.darrenboyd.com ● IG: @darren.michael.boyd ● FB Group: @groups/darrenmichaelboyd ● FB: @darrenmichaelboydmusic ● YT: @THEwHORRORcanada ● SP: https://open.spotify.com/artist/13IYAOkMpkJvWrllsPS49p

Darren was nominated for BEST ROCK ARTIST by the Josie Music Awards, the largest independent music awards show in the world - held at Dollywood in Tennessee!  

Creeping Beauty has just finished recording a new single which is expected to be released early in the new year,  and Darren also recently completed studio recording  for a new Famous Underground release.

During the 2020 Covid Pandemic period, he has been hard at work  writing and producing the follow-up instrumental album to Lifting the Curse called Wonders of the Invisible World -

The objective for Darren Michael Boyd has always been the same: play loud, be seen, and be heard. With that motto in mind, he is always creating, performing, and looking forward to being part of the next musical team that he can contribute to - and proceed to tear the world a new one…

● Media Inquiries: www.darrenboyd.com

[randallfranks]

Praises! The Lord blessed me last night with winning Musician of the Year - Fiddle/Violin at The Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. What an amazing way to celebrate my 40th Anniversary Month of my Artist Debut for the Grand Ole Opry and becoming a Blue Grass Boy - standing in the Opry Circle accepting this award. Thanks be to God, the Josie Music Awards, my parents - Pearl and Floyd, my musical fathers - Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, the Georgia fiddlers who made me - Great Uncle Tom Franks, Dr. Donald Grisier, Dallas Burrell, Gordon Tanner, Cotton Carrier, and the fiddlers who helped to sharpen my skills - Chubby Wise, Paul Warren, Howdy Forrester, Kenny Baker, Benny Martin, Bobby Hicks, Tommy Jackson, Buddy Spicher, Blaine Sprouse and Jim Buchanan ! It was an honor to share the awards stage with Lifetime Achievement Award Winners John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) Neal McCoy Multi-Platinum Country Artist, Icon Award winner Tiffany, Songwriter Legend Award Randy Edelman and all the talented winners - such as Lee Newton and Webb Dalton Music and so many more. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! It was a blessing spending some time with old and new friends like Dale Houston & Tim Atwood & Roxane Atwood. Thanks to Jeff Womack for a great award interview! New Single Out This Week Cotton-Eyed Joe with Bill Monroe www.RandallFranks.com

[emmagoldberg]

We won it! Bravo to the whole team of LAZIE INDIE MAGAZINE and JAY its director, we dreamed of it, we did it, the magazine and its team of which I am part awarded by the JOSIE MUSIC AWARDS (USA) Proud and immensely happy!

[annemariepicerno]

For Your Grammy® Consideration in AMERICANA PERFORMANCE "You Know I Love You Right" - Annemarie Picerno LISTEN LINK: https://annemariepicerno.com/fyc-annemarie-picerno-americana-performance From passion to illumination, Annemarie Picerno describes love that transcends trials, inspires hope, and details a moment from the title "You Know I Love You Right." The hook, by cowriter Trevor Layne, and lyrics with bluesy vocals and storytelling on the grand piano by Annemarie, builds in a tapestry of musical solos of Americana rhythmic grooves by Bob McGilpin on acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin, and bass, with intertwining harmonies that swirl with emotion cherishing friends and love. Lyrics & Music - Annemarie Picerno Title: Trevor Layne Produced by Bob McGilpin Nashville SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/track/5QMKd3mye9rGdelK5mOOyc ITUNES http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1744129522?ls=1&app=itunes APPLE http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1744129522 OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://annemariepicerno.com/home Annemarie Picerno is a Grammy member, Americana Music Association member, Indie Collaborative artist and 2018 Josie Music Award winning artist in Nashville. She has performed in theater, bands in every musical genre, comedy shows, film, radio and television. She was recently Red Carpet Host at The Soiree Las Vegas in 2022 interviewing music industry professionals, Grammy® nominees and winners with her outgoing style and humor. Her diverse musical sounds mix Americana, Pop, Blues, Gospel, Soul, and Rock with emotional lyrics and powerful vocals. She is a dynamic entertainer on stage, and known for her diversity and unique performances. She was awarded Bronze Medal Finalist for July 2023 Global Music Awards, Best Music Video Concept and Grand Jury Prize Gold 2021 Best Music Video at the 2021 Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival for her music video "Color Blind", as well as Best Music Video for 2021 The Global Non Violent Film Festival, 2021 Artist of the Year in Red Carpet Holland Awards, 2019 for The Gran Royale Music Awards and LDM Radio Awards. Select singles also released on Bongo Boy Records and for consideration on the ballot for the Grammy© Awards.

[newmusicradionetwork]

D Boone Pittman “Better Days”

D Boone Pittman, the Country/Americana songwriter, performer, and current 8-time Josie Award nominee, is thrilled to announce the release of his fourth single off his studio album, Resurrection Noise, “Better Days”. Pittman’s music has always been tethered to his roots. A product of Appalachia, Pittman’s songwriting captures the depths and majesty of his homeland while giving the listener a front row vantage point to the culture and history. Pittman writes and sings about this culture and history with an authority given only to those who have lived in the area. From the historical ballads like “Casey Jones” (from the Emerge, LP) and “Furnace Mountain” (from Bluegrass American Dream) to the relational angst expressed in songs like “She Likes the Beach” or “Bardstown Train”, Pittman consistently represents his heritage in song. It’s a formula that works, and his new project is no different. In the same way he approached the hardships of the pandemic with Emerge, Pittman tackles two new topics with his album Resurrection Noise. The 10 track LP deals mostly with the subject matter of the tragic eastern Kentucky flooding from 2022, with some light hints to the passing of his father “Jackie” Pittman in 2021. “East of Ravenna”, the advanced single from the project, is meant to project hope to those still dealing with being displaced and/or grieving the loss of loved ones affected by the floods. In the same way “East of Ravenna” is meant to offer hope, “Better Days” gives us a look at a fictional family dealing with the aftermath of the event through the eyes of hope. “The family could have been anyone”, says Pittman. “There were over 9000 homes affected by the storms, and they all have their own story. This is just one I created.” While staying true to the key themes of the album, “Better Days” closes out the project with the hope the victims in thirteen different eastern KY counties are still leaning on, even today in 2024. Music Career / Bio Pittman’s musical story begins in the early 1970s at the grand opening of the local town drug store. His late father, from whom Pittman would later inherit his trademark Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, basically forced him to sing a Johnny Cash song, much to the delight of the crowd that had gathered there. Pittman, though he immediately received enthusiastic accolades and even tips, wasn’t havin’ it. “I hated it,” he recalls, “but I In my room, I’m playing air guitar and pretending to be Elvis, but to do it in public as a kid was tough. It wasn’t that I struggled doing it, it was just more the fact that I was being made to do something. That ended up driving me into a phase where I refused to sing out in public at all.” Even going to a Johnny Cash concert at the age of 5 with his mother wasn’t enough to lure Pittman back into the spotlight, and transcribing the lyrics to hit songs off 45s for his father didn’t quite do the trick eitherbut it did lay the groundwork for the lyrical depth and flair that Pittman showed so effortlessly right off the bat with his 2019 debut Bluegrass American Dream. “My dad would pay me a dollar a song to sit down and figure the words out for him,” Pittman chuckles. “I have to really question how good I was at it because I was so young, but I guess he was able to use it. Who knows how many of the lines I’d get right at the end of the day, but I think that’s when I got my first appreciation for lyrics.” “Back when I was 7 or 8,” he continues, “country rock was really big, and ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ by The Eagles was a big hit. I remember that song specifically because there were so many verses in it. Even at that age, I could appreciate the darkness behind the cheating and the lying and everything in that song.” Pittman’s resistance to performing in front of people went out the window, however, when he got the opportunity to go on a field trip as a freshman in high school. “All the girls were going,” Pittman laughs. “It was an academic competition, and they had a talent category. I specifically remember the teacher saying, ‘I need somebody to fill the talent spot. You get to go on this three-day trip to Louisville and compete.’ So, I raised my hand. ‘Well, what’s your talent?’ she asked. And I said, ‘I sing and play guitar.’ Nobody knew I sang and played guitarbecause I didn’t! So, I’m thinking I’ve got six weeks between now and this talent show, and that was when I had to swallow my pride. I go to my dad and I’m like, ‘Look, I’m ready to learn how to play guitar. I want to do this.’ And my dad was like, ‘You’re crazier than hellI can’t teach you how to play in six weeks!’ I was like, ‘Just think of the easiest bluegrass tune that you know, and I’ll run with it.’ So he taught me how to play a medley of “Jimmy Brown The Newsboy” and “Wildwood Flower”, but his style of playing was like Maybelle Carter, where they played the melody and the rhythm at the same time.” The trip, alas, got cancelled, but Pittman’s life path was set. (By the way, he learned the song in four weeks). Pittman captures this story in a tribute to his Dad on Resurrection Noise with the song “The Wildwood Flower”. “There was just no running from it,” he muses. “I had an undeniable love for music, and singing came naturally to me. I’ve never put it down since.” As a tribute to his father, Pittman adopted The Fugitives band name, but he sees his work as carrying on an even broader legacy. “I grew up in an environment where it was a common thing for people to bring their instruments over on the weekendsbanjos, fiddles and guitars where everybody was singing and just having a good time. That was a really crucial aspect of my childhood. I really miss that. You don’t have that front-porch picking kind of spirit anymore, at least not where I’m at. So whatever I can do to bring it back with my music, I feel like I have to at least try.” In other words, Pittman is inviting you back homeback home to a world that still has room for community, back home to the most cherished aspects of your past and back home to yourself. You don’t have to be from Kentucky for his music to take you there, but D Boone Pittman sure does make it seem like a wonderful place to explore on the way. Additional Artist/Song Information: Artist Name: D Boone Pittman Song Title: Better Days Publishing: Darrell Pittman Publishing Affiliation: BMI Album Title: Resurrection Noise Record Label: D Boone Pittman Music Record Label: Boonetown Darrell Pittman 5027092631 boonecreek5@gmail.com Booking Agent: indie artist booking & management Billy Halls 859.539.3530 billy@indieartistbooking.com Read the full article

[nashmusicguide]

Celebrity Photographer Billy Hess Wins “Best” @ the Josie Music Awards in Nashville 10/27/24

New York celebrity/concert photographer Billy Hess took home the win as  “Photographer of the Year” at the Josie Music Awards this year which was live at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN on October 27, 2024.  The Josie Music Awards are the largest, most prestigious, respected and revered awards and event in the independent music industry. This year founders and hosts Tinamarie…

[newmusicweekly]

D Boone Pittman Releases new single, “Better Days”

D Boone Pittman, the Country/Americana songwriter, performer, and current 8-time Josie Award nominee, is thrilled to announce the release of his fourth single off his studio album, Resurrection Noise, “Better Days”. Pittman’s music has always been tethered to his roots. A product of Appalachia, Pittman’s songwriting captures the depths and majesty of his homeland while giving the listener a front row vantage point to the culture and history. Pittman writes and sings about this culture and history with an authority given only to those who have lived in the area. From the historical ballads like “Casey Jones” (from the Emerge, LP) and “Furnace Mountain” (from Bluegrass American Dream) to the relational angst expressed in songs like “She Likes the Beach” or “Bardstown Train”, Pittman consistently represents his heritage in song. It’s a formula that works, and his new project is no different. In the same way he approached the hardships of the pandemic with Emerge, Pittman tackles two new topics with his album Resurrection Noise. The 10 track LP deals mostly with the subject matter of the tragic eastern Kentucky flooding from 2022, with some light hints to the passing of his father “Jackie” Pittman in 2021. “East of Ravenna”, the advanced single from the project, is meant to project hope to those still dealing with being displaced and/or grieving the loss of loved ones affected by the floods. Read the full article

[spinstrackingsystem]

D Boone Pittman Releases new single, “Better Days”

D Boone Pittman, the Country/Americana songwriter, performer, and current 8-time Josie Award nominee, is thrilled to announce the release of his fourth single off his studio album, Resurrection Noise, “Better Days”. Pittman’s music has always been tethered to his roots. A product of Appalachia, Pittman’s songwriting captures the depths and majesty of his homeland while giving the listener a front row vantage point to the culture and history. Pittman writes and sings about this culture and history with an authority given only to those who have lived in the area. From the historical ballads like “Casey Jones” (from the Emerge, LP) and “Furnace Mountain” (from Bluegrass American Dream) to the relational angst expressed in songs like “She Likes the Beach” or “Bardstown Train”, Pittman consistently represents his heritage in song. It’s a formula that works, and his new project is no different. In the same way he approached the hardships of the pandemic with Emerge, Pittman tackles two new topics with his album Resurrection Noise. The 10 track LP deals mostly with the subject matter of the tragic eastern Kentucky flooding from 2022, with some light hints to the passing of his father “Jackie” Pittman in 2021. “East of Ravenna”, the advanced single from the project, is meant to project hope to those still dealing with being displaced and/or grieving the loss of loved ones affected by the floods. Read the full article

[airplayaccess]

D Boone Pittman Releases new single, "Better Days"

D Boone Pittman, the Country/Americana songwriter, performer, and current 8-time Josie Award nominee, is thrilled to announce the release of his fourth single off his studio album, Resurrection Noise, "Better Days". Pittman's music has always been tethered to his roots. A product of Appalachia, Pittman's songwriting captures the depths and majesty of his homeland while giving the listener a front row vantage point to the culture and history. Pittman writes and sings about this culture and history with an authority given only to those who have lived in the area. From the historical ballads like "Casey Jones" (from the Emerge, LP) and "Furnace Mountain" (from Bluegrass American Dream) to the relational angst expressed in songs like "She Likes the Beach" or "Bardstown Train", Pittman consistently represents his heritage in song. It's a formula that works, and his new project is no different. In the same way he approached the hardships of the pandemic with Emerge, Pittman tackles two new topics with his album Resurrection Noise. The 10 track LP deals mostly with the subject matter of the tragic eastern Kentucky flooding from 2022, with some light hints to the passing of his father "Jackie" Pittman in 2021. "East of Ravenna", the advanced single from the project, is meant to project hope to those still dealing with being displaced and/or grieving the loss of loved ones affected by the floods. Read the full article

[ear-worthy]

6 Degrees Of Cats: Where Hiss-Tory, Culture & Felines Converge

There are innumerable pet podcasts - usually cats and dogs -- that enable listeners to bathe in their role as human parents to their Persian, Retriever, Siamese, and Border Collie. These shows make you feel better about being a pet parent, and offer advice about care for Kitty or Fido. 

How about listeners who love cats, history, culture, media, and psychology? If you enjoy any of these interests, then I urge you to listen to 6 Degrees of Cats.

Loyal listeners have described 6 Degrees of Cats as "educational, thought-provoking, meditative AND fun" and praise host Amanda B.'s hosting as "...not only informative but highly engaging and entertaining."

 6 Degrees of Cats has a lot of things going for it as an ear-worthy podcast. First, it's not a "cat lady" podcast where cat lovers, mostly women, tell super-cute stories about their cat Mittens. The show looks at cats in history, mythology, and culture. For example, I loved the April 25, 2024, episode about Vikings and cats. Norse folklore expert Terry Gunnell will fascinate listeners with his tales of cats and the Viking culture.

For example, listeners learned in the second season that on Halloween, cats occupy an important mythological significance for this holiday. This episode showcased an impressive panel of expert guests, including Dr. Megan Goodwin, host of hit religion and history podcast “Keeping It 101”; culinary historian and author of “Endangered Eating” Sarah Lohman, who explained the origin of the witch costume; and Kings County Distillery founder and writer Colin Spoelman, who introduced listeners to two distillery cats. In the second season, 6 Degrees of Cats offered listeners an international lineup of leading voices in fields such as animal welfare, music, history, religion, and even pizza. Notable guests in the second season included “My Cat From Hell” star Jackson Galaxy, global rock sensation Malina Moye, Islam scholar and Head on History podcast host Ali Olomi, and founding pizza czar Anthony Falco. Throughout the nine-episode season, there was a companion newsletter, "The Captain’s Log," for exclusive bonus content and opportunities, and listeners can subscribe. The podcast has an infectious intro music "Josie & The Pussycats" beat, and the show manipulates sound with purpose and to great effect. I personally commend any podcast that fully uses its greatest asset -- sound.

Moreover, 6 Degrees of Cats has as its most valuable asset, the host, "Captain Kitty" aka Amanda B.

She's smart, funny, informative, and has endless energy. Amanda B is a Korean American transracial adoptee based in Brooklyn, New York. She was selected into a cohort of 10 out of 18,000 applicants to go through Spotify's first Sound Up podcast accelerator for women and non-binary podcasters of color in 2018.

As a musician, she has supported international performing artist Peaches onstage for The Samantha Bee Show’s 2017 Not the White House Correspondents Dinner broadcast, and released a sophomore full-length album with her rock ‘n’ roll band Leathered. Amanda B also consults for clients.

What I like most about 6 Degrees of Cats is its scholarly intentions toward cats, the hosting skill of Amanda B, and the catchy friskiness of its audio.

Earlier this year, 6 Degrees Of Cats won the Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Award for Best Pet Podcast. 

 As an independent podcast, 6 Degrees of Cats needs the support of listeners. Remember that even though cats are rumored to have nine lives, podcasts do not.

Right now, Amanda B. is busy preparing episodes for the next season. Now is the ideal opportunity to check her the podcast archive and take on a journey through human history, culture and the advent of science.

When VP candidate JD Vance blamed "childless cat ladies" for every societal issue, he clearly had never listened to 6 Degrees of Catsand is obviously hiss-terical.