New Jersey man pleads guilty to assaulting officer at Capitol on Jan. 6

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — A New Jersey man on Friday pleaded guilty to two federal counts of assaulting law enforcement and obstruction of an official proceeding during the January 6 Capitol assault.

Scott Fairlamb is the first accused rioter charged with assaulting law enforcement to plead guilty.

Prosecutors say he was seen in videos stalking a line of officers outside the Capitol before punching one in the head.

Obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the assaulting law enforcement court carries a maximum sentence of 8 years.

Prosecutors said they are seeking a sentence ranging from 41 to 51 months in prison and have said Fairlamb should pay $2,000 restitution.

Fairlamb will likely argue for less time behind bars.

Sentencing memos from both parties are due on September 20 and Fairlamb is scheduled to appear back in court on September 27.

“Are you an American? Act like one!” Fairlamb, a gym owner and former MMA fighter, is heard yelling in a body cam video, which was released to ABC and 13 other media outlets as part of the ongoing legal effort. “You guys have no idea what the f*** you’re doing.”

Prosecutors also flagged videos Fairlamb posted to his Facebook during the riot where they say he’s seen holding a collapsible baton and saying to the camera, “What do Patriots do? We f***in’ disarm them and then we storm the f***in’ Capitol!”

Fairlamb had previously hosted a pandemic protest at his Pompton Lakes gym in response to COVID restrictions and last summer posted a threatening message on Instagram targeting Representative Cori Bush.

While Fairlamb’s attorney has said the government is seeking a 51-month sentence for his client, it’s unclear what D.C. District Judge Royce Lamberth will decide is an appropriate punishment — though it could serve as a benchmark for the more than 150 rioters so far charged with attacking police.

Of the more than 30 rioters who have pleaded guilty so far in the Justice Department’s sprawling investigation into the Capitol attack, only six have been sentenced and none of them to significant time in prison.

A Florida man, Paul Hodgkins, was recently sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge of obstructing a congressional proceeding, and two others who had already been in government custody pending trial were sentenced to time served.

There are more than 500 people charged by the Justice Department for their actions on January 6.

Watch trailer for ‘Dear White People Vol. 4;’ Halle Berry’s ‘Bruised’ gets fall release date; and more

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The senior class at Winchester University are leaving on a high note. Netflix has revealed in a teaserthat the fourth and final season of Dear White People will premiere on Wednesday, September 22, as a “’90s-inspired musical event.”

The new season is said to pick up in a “not-so-distant, post-pandemic future” where the cast will be looking back at “the most formative (and theatrical) year of their lives.” Created by Justin Simien, Dear White People stars Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherson and Marque Richardson.

In related news, Deadline has learned that Simien has inked a three-year overall deal with Paramount Television Studios. As part of the agreement, Simien will develop premium television series aimed at various platforms via his Culture Machine production company. As previously reported, Simien’s next big venture will be Disney’s fantasy horror comedy Haunted Mansion.

Finally, Entertainment Weekly has learned that Netflix has set a November 24 release date for Halle Berry‘s directorial debut, Bruised. Written by Michelle Rosenfarb, the film stars Berry as disgraced MMA fighter Jackie Justice, who’s attempting to redeem herself. After her six-year-old son comes back into her life, Jackie decides to return to the ring to fight one of the “fiercest rising stars of the MMA world,” and “become the mother” her son deserves.

Expansive 50th anniversary reissue of George Harrison’s classic album ‘All Things Must Pass’ released today

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The expanded 50th anniversary reissue of George Harrison‘s classic 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass was released today in multiple formats and configurations.

Among the various versions available is a Super Deluxe box set featuring either eight vinyl LPs or five CDs and Blu-ray-audio disc.

The Super Deluxe reissue features a new mix of the original 23-track album, demos that Harrison recorded during the first two days of the All Things Must Pass sessions, and a variety of outtakes and studio jams. Forty-two of the tracks are previously unreleased.

The collection comes packaged with a 60-page scrapbook curated by Harrison’s widow, Olivia, that features rare images, handwritten lyrics, studio notes and more. A replica of the original album poster also is included.

Originally released in November 1970, All Things Must Pass spent the seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200. It features George’s enduring spiritual anthem “My Sweet Lord,” which spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other standout tunes on the album include “Isn’t It a Pity” — released as a two-sided single with “My Sweet Lord” — the top-10 hit “What Is Life,” “Wah-Wah,” and George’s memorable cover of Bob Dylan‘s “If Not for You.”

The All Things Must Pass reissue was executive-produced by Harrison’s son, Dhani.

In celebration of the reissue’s release, a living-art installation depicting the album’s cover opened today at London’s Duke of York Square and will remain on display until August 20. The installation includes two giant garden gnomes made out of flowers and foliage.

Visit GeorgeHarrison.com for a full track list and more details about the various versions of the All Things Must Pass reissue.

Luke Bryan remembers his late brother with “Songs You Never Heard,” as he releases ‘My Dirt Road Diary’

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan recounts the early musical experiences he shared with his older brother, Chris, in his newly released tune “Songs You Never Heard.”

In the lyrics of the track, Luke tips his hat to country greats like Keith Whitley, Clint Black and George Strait. But there’s a tragic twist to the story he tells in the song: Chris died in a car accident when Luke was just 19 years old.

In the years that have elapsed since his brother’s death, a huge amount of great country music has come out — including Luke’s own massive catalog of hits. Now, he sings in the song, he can’t help but think of tunes like Strait’s 2001 hit “Run,” which his brother would have loved, if he’d been alive to hear it when it was released.

“Time marches on, there’s a lot of new/ Music and memories we’d be drinking to/ I think about it and I laugh until it hurts,” Luke sings. “‘Cause I can hear you singing along/ To songs you never heard.”

Luke also opens up about his brother’s death in the five-part docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, which is available to watch now via Amazon’s free streaming service IMDb TV.

The remixes we share: Listen to CHVRCHES & horror director John Carpenter take on each other’s songs

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Credit: Sebastian Mlynarski & Kevin J Thomson

CHVRCHES is gearing up to release a new album called Screen Violence, and now the trio has teamed up with something of an expert on the subject: famed horror director John Carpenter.

Carpenter, who is also a composer, has released a remix of the Screen Violence song “Good Girls.” To return the favor, CHVRCHES remixed Carpenter’s piece “Turning the Bones,” a track off his 2021 album, Lost Themes III: Alive After Death.

Both remixes are available now via digital outlets.

Screen Violence is due out August 27. It also includes the lead single “He Said She Said,” and the Robert Smith collaboration “How Not to Drown.”

(“Good Girls” remix video contains uncensored profanity.)

“It is almost here”: Teaser reveals ‘Stranger Things’ will return to Netflix for season 4 in 2022

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Good news/bad news for Stranger Things fans. Those jonesing for any information about new episodes just got some — but they’ll have to wait until 2022 to actually see what happens.

Netflix just revealed a new peek at the upcoming fourth season, teasing the return of the global hit sci-fi show. The action in the snippet comes at a rapid-fire pace, but the residents of Hawkins, Indiana will apparently have their hands full.

“Holy mother of…” Gaten Materazzo‘s Dustin says, reacting to an unseen horror.

The growing menace can be summed up with Millie Bobby Brown‘s warning as her character, Eleven:

“Something’s coming. It’s almost here.”

Halsey announces one-night-only digital global performance of ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Halsey just unveiled another new way to experience her upcoming album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.

After previously announcing an IMAX “film experience” set to the music of the album, the singer has now announced a one-night-only “global performance experience.”

The digital performance, presented by Moment House, takes place on August 29. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET at MomentHouse.com/Halsey.

The album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, comes out August 27. The If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power film experience will be screened in select IMAX theaters in the U.S. for one night only on Wednesday, August 25.

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Mary J. Blige lands a stunning cover on the September issue of ‘InStyle’: “IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!”

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mary J. Blige rocks a stylish plaid suit for the September cover of InStyle magazine…”The Fashion Issue.”

“IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!” the Grammy-winning singer writes on Instagram, sharing photos from her cover shoot. “This black woman finally got her first @instylemagazine cover and a spread.”

In other photos, 50-year-old Blige wears a tiger-print jumpsuit, a leather hooded jacket, and a golden three-piece Gucci set paired with a long cape.

During the interview, the Queen of hip-hop soul reveals that she keeps her phone close by her bed to write down any inspirational lyrics that come to mind, especially in the wee hours of the morning. Lately, Blige has taken inspiration from other R&B vocalists, including H.E.R., whom she says “has a phenomenal voice and is a great writer.”

Blige continues, “Jazmine Sullivan moves me, Ella Mai moves me, [and] Lucky Daye. So many dope artists out there are doing something great.”

As a veteran in the music industry, Blige bluntly advises younger artists, “Stay on your business. Know the state of your money. Get life insurance. Get all kinds of insurance.”

Along with preparing new music, Blige says she’s finally embracing her single status after divorcing her husband of 13 years in 2018.

“Divorce, that took a load off. The day that I began to lighten up is the day my skin began to brighten, my eyes began to brighten,” she says. “Now I keep beautiful people around me. I’m single, without a kid, and I’m having a good time. I’m doing the most.”

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Scotty McCreery calls for unity in “Same Truck,” his next album’s just-released title track

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Scotty McCreery is hoping to bring fans together with his brand-new “Same Truck,” a song that points out that we’ve all got more in common than we might realize.

“But we’re all in the same truck / Heading down a different two lane / Kickin’ up the same dust / Praying for the same rain,” Scotty sings in the song’s soaring chorus. “Closing down the same bars / Different wishes on the same stars…”

The song is the title track of his upcoming album, which is due to arrive on September 17. Also on the project’s track list is “Why You Gotta Be Like That” and his current top-ten hit, “You Time.”

The truth behind “Same Truck” is one that’s become clearer to Scotty the more he tours and travels, he says.

“We’re all more alike than we are different. I’ve witnessed that on almost a daily basis as I talk with people and watch them while traveling around the world to perform,” he reflects. “This is my way of saying that we’re all on the same team here; let’s all work toward getting along again. Let’s build each other up.”

While Scotty’s fans may all be driving the “Same Truck,” they’ve got the chance to pre-order a different — and exclusive — version of the new album starting this week. The limited-edition version of Same Truck features alternate cover art.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett duet in the studio for “I Get a Kick Out of You” video

August 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Park MGM Las Vegas

After their two shows at Radio City Music Hall this week, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have released a new music video for their duet of the Cole Porter-written classic, “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

In the video, the two are seen in the studio trading verses on the jazzy tune. Whenever Tony starts singing, Gaga looks at him lovingly with tears in her eyes. She even goes to embrace him at one point.

Tony, who turned 95 this week, has been battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Bennett and Gaga’s two-night engagement at Radio City Music Hall, One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, marked Tony’s last live performances in New York City. It was recorded for an upcoming TV special.

Gaga and Tony’s new duets album, Love for Sale, will be out October 1.

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