Month: November 2023

The anticipation of a rock concert is an electrifying force that surges through the veins of fans like myself long before you’re even in the venue seat! It all starts when you hear the band had been announced! Then, the flurry of seeing who wants to see the show with you! Finally, tickets are purchased, hotel is booked, restaurants chosen and concert outfit has been picked! All if this feverish excitement is fun as the date approaches. ALL of this happened pre-Aerosmith (in Tulsa).

THEN, the dreaded news … Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler fractured his larynx forcing band to postpone rest of 2023 tour dates. The remainder of the band’s Peace Out Tour dates will be postponed to sometime in 2024. Obviously, I want Steven Tyler to get well. But, the blow was crushing! What are you to do? Well … you proceed to the girls weekend in Tulsa for the NOT Aerosmith Concert Trip! Roadside attractions, restaurants, slots machines, shopping and all sorts of fun was had! I wonder if 2024 will hold the dat

Kevin Howard

It’s been a couple of decades, but the Rolling Stones are back with a new album and I must say I LOVE IT! Hackney Diamonds is right up there with some great Stones albums. I’ve always been a big fan and I knew I’d probably like whatever they put out, but this surpassed my expectations AND it grows on me with every listen. Somehow Mick and Keith and Ronnie still got it! The songs sound crisp and the lyrics are fresh. They don’t call them the greatest rock n roll band in the world for nothing.

Track listing;

Angry / This was the first single. Reminds me of Start me up.

Get Close / Steve Jordan on Drums. He was Charlie’s suggestion. Nice work. Elton John plays piano.

Depending on You / Things slow down a bit here but a great song.

Bite My Head Off / The album picks up again here and this song is FUN. Paul McCartney popped in to play bass on this one and I imagine the old boys had a ball recording this. You can tell!

Whole Wide World / Dreamy Skies are next up, Not my favorite on the album but they didn’t make me want to skip forward.

Mess It Up / A Fine rocker and it was cool to hear the late Charlie Watts on this one. I always thought he was under rated. Such a chill dude and an excellent drummer.

Live by the Sword / This features Elton John on piano and original Stones bass player Bill Wyman came out of retirement for this one.

Driving Me Too hard / Tell me Straight / These two keep the momentum going.

Sweet Sounds of Heaven / My favorite song on the album! Mick’s vocals are as good as ever and Lady Gaga brings the heat with back up vocals. Stevie Wonder adds the piano and keyboards. I think this ends up a classic Stones song. The edited version bangs but if you want a little more for you money you’ll enjoy the 7 minute version.

Rolling Stone Blues / A great way to finish out the album. It’s a good old fashion blues song. The blues is what got these boys into the business and they have mastered it!

If you love this album like I do you’ll be happy to know that producer Andrew Watt says they recorded enough material for another album. In spite of their age, the Rolling Stones have even more to offer. I say bring it!

The film PRISCILLA is written and directed by Sofia Coppola based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir ELVIS AND ME.  It stars our very own local, Cailee Spaeny!  This film is about teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meeting Elvis Presley.  Elvis is already a mega-star who becomes someone completely different in private moments. Some tidbits about the production:  Elvis Presley Enterprises declined Coppola’s request for permission to use Elvis’ songs in the film. So, Coppola took to creative alternatives including the use of contemporary music and versions of songs from the film’s era. 

Let’s talk about Cailee Spaeny! The rise of Cailee is one of hard work.  I had the absolute pleasure of working with her at my previous gig, Opfer Communications/video production company.  Cailee worked tirelessly along with her family for a big break.  It came with a feisty/fun role in PACIFIC RIM:  UPRISING.  Cailee followed up with major films like:  BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (my personal fave of hers), ON THE BASIS OF SEX, THE CRAFT: LEGACY, and a pivotal role opposite Kate Winslet in a limited mini-series, MARE OF EASTTOWN. 

Cailee is receiving a lot of buzz for PRISCILLA and she SHOULD, she IS the movie!  The film moves a bit slow.  But, her performance owns the screen.  She won Best Actress at The Venice Film Festival and that is just the start.  And, just for fun she is taking on the new reboot of ALIEN:  ROMULUS due in theatres next year! I hope to see her at The Critics’ Choice Awards 2024! :-), Chris Louzader