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During Finals Week, I was unable to keep up with these “In the News…” posts so some of these bits are from two weeks ago. From here on out though, everything will be pretty current.
Fashion
- Giambattista Valli will design for Macy’s. [Source]
- Hamish Bowles is writing an autobiography. [Source]
- Katie Couric is launching a talk show on ABC next fall. [Source]
- There has been talk of a US remake for the UK hit show “Misfits.” [Source]
- MTV will film their next season of Real World in San Diego. [Source]
Seattle
- Blur Seattle has created the HappyButts project to encourage smokers to toss their used cigarettes in these designated cans and not the streets of Capitol Hill. [Source]
Other
- “Human Barbie” Sarah Burge who has had $800,000 worth of surgery recently purchased a voucher for breast implants for her 7-year old daughter to redeem when she is 16. [Source]
- The ridiculous family that started the whole Balloon Boy incident last year has decided to auction off their enormous balloon in order to raise money for the Japan relief. The price is currently set at $1m. Okay, you’ve redeemed yourself a little bit. [Source]
- Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn are no longer dating. [Source]
- Shaq announces retirement after 19 years in the NBA. [Source]
This past school year, I have had the wonderful privilege of working with some incredible musicians and bands at Seattle University. Within just one school year, they are already making headlines, putting out new albums, headlining tours, and have found themselves on the lineups of music festivals.
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with these eight very talented musicians and bands:
If there are any musicians and bands that you should be following from Seattle, it is them.
- My dearest friend Liz has relocated to the state of Colorado, but has been keeping busy with a string of shows. Please go out and support her because she is a wonderful and talented little lady. [Source]
- Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground will be releasing their album “Introducing” on July 26, 2011 from Suburban Home Records. The band will host CD release shows in both Portland and Seattle, June 11th and 12th respectively. [Source]
- Almost immediately after my show with He Is We ended, the band hit the road to head East to begin their tour with The Rocket Summer. The band will be headlining their first tour beginning mid-June. Did I also mention that they will be performing at Bonnaroo 6/9 – 6/10? [Source]
- Two of my performers Robbie Christmas and Matt Bekker will actually be performing a show together tomorrow at the Crocodile Cafe! The show is 21+. My friend Matt Bekker also recently became a part of the Rocket Music Entertainment Group family, which is home to Elton John, James Blunt, Lily Allen, and Oh Land.
- Champagne Champagne will be releasing a new album this summer and will be performing at the 2011 Capitol Hill Block Party, Bumbershoot Music Festival, and Doe Bay Fest!
- I am so excited to be working with Campfire OK for my last show of the year. This year, the band was voted by City Arts Magazine as one of the best new bands of 2011 and this summer, you will be able to catch the rustic-sounding band at both Capitol Hill Block Party, Bumbershoot and Doe Bay Fest! I would say that this band is going to be in a completely different place in the next year, but I know that things for them are moving fast and that the change will most likely occur within the next few months. Their CD “Strange Like We Are“ is definitely one of my favorites from the year. Expect to see them on the bill for various music festivals next year because that’s probably where they will be.
Three August covers – one Miu Miu dress. Well, you certainly don’t see that…ever!
The now infamous dress from Miu Miu’s Fall 2010 runway collection has made the cover of British Vogue, UK Elle, and US Magazine W. [though slightly altered on each cover] According to The Guardian, Fashion press officers work hard to achieve a delicate UN-style political balance between glossies to make sure that these kinds of overlaps don’t happen. “Usually press offices are pretty good at making sure we don’t get the same dress as our rivals,” says Lorraine Candy – editor of Elle.
What a fabulous dress. The three fashion magazines may have slipped up, but they did their job in showcasing the Miu Miu dress on Eva Mendes, Lily Allen, and Freja Beha Erichsen in yellow, lilac, and tangerine.
Grab the dress now before it’s completely sold out – and it probably will be.
- Model Coco Rocha has become the newest Victoria’s Secret model representing the pink collection. [source] Coco will also be updating their style file blog for British Vogue for July.
Gina Meyers has put out a new book entitled Love at First Bite: The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook. Oh my goodness.
- Oh hey Happy Canada Day!!
- The hit television series of the summer, Pretty Little Liars, has added on 12 more episodes for their season.
- The Hollister store located in the Soho District has been shut down temporarily because of an infestation of bedbugs. Gross. [source]
- Cynthia Rowley will be collaborating on a new diaper design w/ Pampers. [source]
- More proof that MTV’s The Hills is fake? Yes, please. Guess it doesn’t matter anymore now that the show is ending.[source]
- Actor Ruper Grint has been lending his voice to the Harry Potter video games ever since The Order of Phoenix and has been contributing since. [source]
- An all-star cast is brewing for both Scream 4 and The Social Network.
Scream 4 has cast: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Adam Brody, Rory Culkin, David Arquette, and Marley Shelton
The Social Network includes: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Andrew Garfield, Trent Reznor, and Brenda Song.
- Rachel Dratch is preggers!
- Actress Jane Lynch will play the role of Sam’s [Jennette McCurdy] mother in the Nickelodeon series iCarly.
- Maroon 5 has released the CD cover artwork of their new album Hands All Over. It is potentially nsfw so you can check it out here
- Kelly Bensimon is struggling to stay relevant. She plans to release a work out video.
- The broken up Bachelor couple Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi have been offered to pose in both Playgirl and Playboy magazine respectively. Word on the street is that Vienna will have the cover in the near future and explains that it’s really for the money. No shameeee. [Source]
- Charlize Theron has made an appearance in Brandon Flowers’ new music video for his solo single “Crossfire.”
- Tori Spelling’s husband Dean McDermott has been put into intensive care today after a motorcycle accident. He has a collapsed lung. [source]
*****
Crystal Renn was known for being basically a spokes model for full size figured models. A recent shoot w/ photographer Nicholas Routzen is now shedding a different light on Crystal – one that might make her seem almost unrecognizable.
- Lily Allen will be doing the music for the Bridget Jone’s Diary Musical. [Source]
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In silly rules and laws…
- The French Parliament has just approved a law in which calling your spouse a foul name will earn you up to three years in jail and a $93,000 fine. They are calling this type of verbal abuse a psychological offense or criminal offense if you will. [source]
- Anthony Williams, a senator from Philadelphia, has decided to blame the plain white tee for gang violence and street gangs. He believes the elimination of huge white t-shirts will “decrease the power of street gangs” who prefer to hang out on street corners.
“During these tough economic times, we have to set our priorities and be a role model for the country. These children are looking for us to stand up for them, and we have to turn this ‘white-T culture’ in a different direction.”
Hey, sir, the white tee is a common staple for everyone. It’s efficient, fashionable [even in tall tee form] classic, and inexpensive. Next you’re going to tell us that we can’t wear blue denim.
“People in this day and age are still under the illusion that every woman who is successful must be being controlled by a man… I’m the boss.”- Lily Allen
Lily Allen has chosen to retire from her musical career to focus on fashion. This morning, she announced over Sky News that her last concert will be on March 7th at London’s 02.
She will be helping out designer friend Wayne Hemingway with his line Vintage at Goodwood while also managing her own collection Lucy in Disguise.
“I’m helping Wayne out with this first of all and then I’m opening up a shop with my sister and a couple of other people and I’m really busy,” she said. “I’m in the office every day, sourcing clothes and getting really excited about my new venture.”
I first came across Eleanor’s music about a month ago after hearing about her on the Urban Outfitters blog. After listening to her song, “Belgium,” I was hooked and haven’t stopped listening to it! I was amazed when she found my blog so I asked her if she would be interested in doing an interview. Let me just say that Eleanor is one talented lady. She was also super excited to do this interview :)
Q:Eleanor, how old are you and where are you from? Plus, I have to know. Is Eleanor Seabird your real name?!
Eleanor: I’m 22 years old, and I’m originally from America! I still like to call London my hometown as it is the first place I finally feel able to call my home. No, Eleanor Seabird is not my real name, it actually came from my old landlord/friend who was in the music business briefly and we were driving along and I was trying to come up with a stage name and I wanted to be Eleanor SEBERG after Jean Seberg my favourite actress and Sandy thought I said SEABIRD and was like, “Genius! Eleanor Seabird is great!” And I never corrected him. It might not be the name on my birth certificate, but Eleanor Seabird is a real person it’s who I am and who I’ve always been.
Q: When did you first begin singing and was it just for fun or could you see this as a possible career?
E: I began singing when I was four. I started off with Elton John cassette tapes and a little walkman and then did talent shows with my kid sister (we’d sing gruesome versions of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen songs) then when I was about 17, my aunt took me to this music group and I would sing Wham! Songs at the mall to people. I didn’t take it seriously till I moved to London and felt like I had nothing to lose, so now I’m embarking on a proper career.
Q: Who are you usually compared to? And do you think that this person and you are alike?
E: Looks wise, people say I have this Karen O thing going on, and music wise it’s a combination of Karen O and Lily Allen, both of whom I love so I take it as a compliment.
Q: What is your favorite song to cover?
E: ANYTHING by Hall and Oates. I end my sets with a killer acoustic version of MANEATER and we want to do a Hall and Oates show of just their songs. They are so much fun to sing!
Q: Who were your influences growing up?
E:BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN! He was and is one of my heroes. I really loved Elton John, AC/DC, Genesis, the Police, a lot of classic rock growing up as I think I was in a state of rebellion coming from a conservative home so anything loud that made me feel like I was going to get the heck out of dodge had an impact on me. As I got to my late teens’ early 20s when I moved to London I became seduced by French pop of the 1960s and fell madly in love with Jacques Brel. He is, to me, such an amazing vocalist and performer. I really hope as an artist to be as captivating as he was/is.
Q: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
E: Jacques Brel, Dizzie Rascal, or Bruce Springsteen.
Q: What influenced your relocation to London from America?
E: Because I left the states to pursue a better life for myself I don’t have too many good memories but I will say the ones that mean the most are the ones with me and my radio. I always found solstice in listening to music. I think now as an adult and coming back to the states on different terms I’m looking forward to meeting people who love music, who are passionate about life, and to be able to see the parts of the country I haven’t seen, such as Seattle. I think growing up in a small town you’re just not inclined to travel so I’d only go to places where I had relatives, we never really could afford to travel much so even though I’m from America I’ve met Europeans who have seen more of it than I have.
Q: Describe to me the London music scene.
E: The London music scene is vast. Music is on every night of the week, and there is sooo much of it. That’s what’s great about London, it’s really chaotic and multi-cultural and the music capital of the world and any and everything goes here. I will say it’s cool to be a artist here as it does feel like a community and you go out to support your peers and they come out to support you and there are some big faces around so it’s cool to bump into some bands you really like and get the chance to strike up a conversation.
Q: What is a typical day for Eleanor Seabird?
E: This question makes me laugh as I know people expect a musician to have this lifestyle, but I’m quite boring to be honest. I eat breakfast at the same café every morning, I’m usually writing and recording throughout the day and at meetings with different people I want to collaborate with, and in the nights I’m either rehearsing or checking my Myspace and then off to bed. I had someone ask me where all the great nightclubs are in London and I couldn’t name ANY! I prefer films, art galleries, photography exhibits in my spare time. And of course going to gigs to see friends play or a really great band I like. It’s pretty standard.
Q: What has been most challenging for you as a musician?
E: I think taking the criticism. I have people tell me I’m crap or that my music is shit to my face and because I put a lot of myself and my life into my work, it’s hard not to take it personally. I have those moments where I’m ready to quit sometimes…….. it’s not a life for the faint of heart especially when trying to make a living doing it.
Q: At the end of the day, what makes it all worth it for you?
E: This! When people want to interview me or chat with me because they really enjoy what I do and want to learn more about who I am. It’s cool to know that there are people out there willing to give me a chance and come on this journey with me because I’m still unknown, but hopefully I’ll drum up support along the way. I really love to play and put on a good show for people and I’m glad that more people believe in me and my work than don’t so the fans and friends who believe in me make it worthwhile and it makes me want to really succeed!
Q: What are you listening to these days and who would you suggest my readers start listening to, besides you of course!
E: Oh there are a few suggestions: I really like this band called the Dark Room Notes based out of Dublin, Ellie Goulding is great, TheTemper Trap, The XX, TheBig Pink are great and put on a wicked show, Pelle Carlberg is an indie guy from Sweden who’s great, Dizzie Rascal is a rapper from London who I quite think is fun, and Mayer Hawthorne is cool! He’s like Amy Winehouse, but a bloke!
Q: Where can we expect to see you next Eleanor?
E: I’m starting up a show on my YouTube channel ELEAVISION called ELEANOR GOES where I go on little adventures. It’s not a reality show, though if I did a reality show I’d call it THE BILLS because that’s wherein my drama unfolds. Me a telephone and the lady on the other line. LOL It’s just a little documentary style show where I go off and do stuff. My first one is ICE SKATING and then I’m going to Norway to find this red phone booth I have an obsession with. Apparently phone booths are on the historical society’s list to preserve in Norway or so my Norwegian mates tell me. So going to go on a safari and try to capture them in their habitat before they disappear. Good times……….
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head. What comes to mind when you think about this? Then you ask yourself, is this really the name of a band? YES and they are from SEATTLE. I first heard about them maybe… four years ago maybe? They started back in 2005 which is when I first started going to shows too. I never really thought much about them, they played at shows and festivals I went to but since I was never there to see them I kind of just either skipped it our did my own thing until I saw the bands I wanted to see. I remember talking to Miss Kiku about them and also brushing them off when Kelly had asked me if I wanted to contact them for my shows.
Wanna know where they are today?
Opening for Lily Allen. I’m … sort of kicking myself a little bit now.
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head. What comes to mind when you think about this? Then you ask yourself, is this really the name of a band? YES and they are from SEATTLE. I first heard about them maybe… four years ago maybe? They started back in 2005 which is when I first started going to shows too. I never really thought much about them, they played at shows and festivals I went to but since I was never there to see them I kind of just either skipped it our did my own thing until I saw the bands I wanted to see. I remember talking to Miss Kiku about them and also brushing them off when Kelly had asked me if I wanted to contact them for my shows.
