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Immersive sensory presentation co-created by David Byrne to premiere in Denver this August

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Founding Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has teamed up with author Mala Gaonkar to create an immersive sensory experience called Theater of the Mind, which will premiere August 31 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Off-Center.

The production, which originally was scheduled to debut in 2020 but was postponed because of COVID-19, takes place in a 15,000-square-foot historic warehouse and, according to an official description, brings audience members on “an immersive journey of self-reflection, discovery, and imagination, inspired by and grounded in neuroscience.”

The show uses stories from Byrne’s and Gaokar’s own lives to shape a narrative that attendees will be able to see, feel, taste and hear.

At each show, 16 audience members will follow a “Guide” through various environments and will have the opportunity to try a number of sensory experiments devised to make attendees question how they perceive their own beliefs, memories and identities.

Byrne explains that Theater of the Mind was inspired by a series of neuroscience experiments in which both he and Gaonkar participated.

“We began referring to the project as a Neuro Funhouse, but as we worked on it we came to realize that it was evolving to be something more than that,” he notes. “It has made us rethink some of our own beliefs and assumptions, to see ourselves and the world in a different way, and we hope that it might have a similar effect on our audience.”

Theater of the Mind begins previews on August 31, and officially opens on Septmber 13. The production will run through December 18. Tickets will go on to the general public on May 20, while pre-sale tickets will be available to all Denver Center for the Performing Arts subscribers starting May 6.

Visit TheateroftheMindDenver.com for more details.

More groove, less grind: Silk Sonic to launch exclusive radio station on ‘Fortnite’

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Those toiling away at Fortnite can now level up while listening to Silk Sonic. The popular battle royale game announced Thursday that they’ve teamed with the Grammy-nominated duo for its brand new “Icon Radio.”

According to a press release from Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, cars that players drive in-game will now come equipped with the station “Icon Radio.” It even has its own on-air host, ’70s funk legend Bootsy Collins, who will entertain players between playing tracks from the An Evening With Silk Sonic album.

Bootsy is jazzed about his latest venture and said in a statement, “Back in the day I was crazy about arcade games, so being able to bridge the worlds of music and gaming with Fortnite is very exciting.”

That’s not the only Silk Sonic-flavored update coming to the game. Both Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak also helped design brand new outfits and accessories that players can purchase in-game.

Jokes Bruno in a statement, “When Fortnite asked me if I wanted to create an outfit for the game, I asked, ‘Are CGI muscles off the table?’ They said ‘no.’ I said ‘deal.'” Anderson cheekily chimed in, “When Fortnite agreed to give Bruno CGI muscles, I said, I’m in. He could use the help, so I support it. And it makes me cool. Win, win.”

In addition, Fortnite is hosting a “Silk Sonic Cup” tournament for a chance at more branded goodies.

This isn’t the first time Silk Sonic dipped their toes in Fortnite. Anderson performed an in-game “Spotlight Concert Series” in September 2020 and, in April 2021, Bruno contributed an emote styled after his appearance in “Leave the Door Open.”

Slash recalls his fake ID days during ‘Kimmel’ interview

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Slash is one of the most recognizable people in rock today, but when he was growing up, he often pretended to be someone else. Specifically, someone old enough to get into rock clubs.

During an interview on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday night, the Guns N’ Roses icon recalled creating fake IDs when he was a teenager.

“I was pretty good at it,” Slash said. He then told a story of when he and his future GN’R band mate Steven Adler used fake IDs to get into a particular club, but while the doorman let Adler in, he rejected Slash.

“I was just crushed,” Slash shared. “So I went home, and I put on a bunch of makeup and put on some of my mom’s clothes — I was really drunk, you have to understand — and I went back up there. It was Ladies Night, so I went back and I got in.”

Slash’s initial thought was he was going to mess with Adler — “Steven would screw anything,” he joked — but soon realized that the drummer had since left the club.

“This whole black cloud of reality came down,” Slash remembered. “I felt the most vulnerable I’d ever felt, ever. Still to this day, I’ve never felt like that.”

After the interview, Slash and his solo band Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators performed their new single “The River Is Rising.” The track will appear on the upcoming Conspirators album 4, due out February 11.

Dolly Parton named as host for the 2022 ACM Awards

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Dolly Parton is set to host this year’s ACM Awards. The Academy of Country Music broke the news this week, also adding that yet-to-be-announced co-hosts will join her in the gig.

The 2022 ACMs will take place on March 7 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. For the first time ever, the show will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. It’s the first time a major country awards show has moved to a streaming-only format instead of airing on a TV network.

“I am so excited to be hosting the ACM Awards on March 7 from Vegas,” Dolly said in a statement. “Watch for us because we’re going to have some fun.”

In addition to details about Dolly’s co-hosts, fans should be on the lookout for the nominees list. The ACMs will reveal this year’s nominees next week.

It’s been a banner week for Dolly, who was also revealed Wednesday as a nominee for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lady Gaga scores BAFTA nomination for ‘House of Gucci’

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lady Gaga‘s performance in the movie House of Gucci continues to rack up award nominations.

The star just received her second career BAFTA nomination — the U.K. equivalent of the Oscars — for her role as Patrizia Reggiani in the Ridley Scott film. She’s the only member of the cast who’s nominated; the movie itself is up for Best British Film, as well as Best Makeup and Hair.

Gaga was previously nominated for Best Actress in 2018 for her role in A Star Is Born, but lost to Olivia Colman. Colman was expected to be nominated again in the same category this year for her role in The Lost Daughter, but surprisingly, she wasn’t. Another musician-turned-actor was, though: Alana Haim of the group HAIM is up for her role in Licorice Pizza.

The BAFTAs will be handed out March 13 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, at a ceremony hosted by Rebel Wilson. Next week, Gaga will find out if she’s received an Oscar nomination for House of Gucci.

Céline Dion is “an amazing actress,” says her ‘Text for You’ co-star Priyanka Chopra Jonas

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Since Celine Dion delayed her new Las Vegas residency due to a medical problem, we’re not sure when the singer will launch the engagement, but she is expected to grace our movie screens sometime this year in her first film role. And according to one of her co-stars, the Canadian superstar knocked it out of the park.

The movie, a romantic comedy called Text for You, stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as a woman who copes with the death of her fiancé by sending text messages to his old cellphone number. It’s now been assigned to another guy, played by Outlander‘s Sam Heughan, who is also bereaved. It’s reportedly Céline’s music that gives both characters the courage to find love again.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Priyanka says, excitedly, “It’s Céline Dion’s acting debut and it will be in my movie! She’s so funny. And she’s an amazing actress.” Priyanka knows a thing or two about singers who act, since her husband is Nick Jonas.

“She definitely needs to do more of this,” adds Priyanka of Céline.

Meanwhile, the movie Aline, which was loosely inspired by Céline’s life and features her music — though not her original recordings — opens in the U.S. on April 8. The movie has faced criticism from Céline’s family over its supposed inaccuracies, and its portrayal of their family as a bunch of scam artists.

K. Michelle reveals one reason why she had plastic surgery: “I felt like the bigger the butt, the bigger the career”

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

K. Michelle is starring on Lifetime twice this week…in a dramatic film and in a docuseries that she hopes will save lives.

The docuseries, My Killer Body with K. Michelle, premieres on Thursday, February 3, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The Love & Hip Hop star is also featured in the movie Single Black Female, which airs Saturday, February 5, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

My Killer Body tells her painful story of several years of enduring near-fatal plastic surgeries, and she hopes the series will help prevent others from similar suffering. The NAACP Image Award winner says she decided to get silicone-filled injections into her buttocks more than six years ago, because she believed it would enhance her music career.

“I had just got a new record deal and I felt like the bigger the butt, the bigger the career,” Michelle tells Essence. “I already had a big butt. It was just ridiculous.”

The “V.S.O.P.” singer recalls that the injections almost killed her. After undergoing multiple reconstructive surgeries, she now says she’s “probably the healthiest I’ve been in a while.”

“There are several people who’ve gone through this who are just starting to feel the effects of it,” Michelle says about the individuals who are also featured on the series. “You even have women who recently had this procedure and are feeling the effects right away.”

The 39-year-old entertainer warns people to be aware of the consequences when considering cosmetic surgery.

“Just like you research when you want to buy a car, you should definitely research what you’re going to do with your life and your body because you only get one,” Michelle says.

Who’s Helen Reddy? Emmy Meli’s “ashamed” that at first, she didn’t know about the other “I Am Woman”

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

After breaking out on TikTok, Emmy Meli’s song “I Am Woman” is climbing the radio chart. Back in 1972, there was a number one hit called “I Am Woman” by the late Australian singer Helen Reddy. It became an anthem for the women’s movement and has earned a permanent place in pop culture — it even inspired Katy Perry‘s hit “Roar.” So, was Emmy equally inspired by Reddy’s song? Well, no.

“I’m actually ashamed to say that at first, I didn’t know what people were talking about,” Emmy admits to ABC Audio. “I had no idea that that was a song, and then once I went back and listened to it, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I feel like I might have heard this song before, like, maybe in a movie.’ Or it sounded familiar, for sure.”

The point is that when Emmy wrote “I Am Woman,” which has a similar message of female empowerment, she really wasn’t aware that there was another song with that title and theme…until people started pointing it out.

“At first, people were like ‘Nice cover of the song by Helen Reddy,’ and I was like, ‘Wait, who’s Helen Reddy?'” she laughs. “And I felt kind of dumb, because I love oldies and I love older music, and I grew up listening to lots of ’50s and ’60s music and funk and Motown and a lot of older artists.”

“I kind of was like, ‘How did I not know who Helen Reddy is?”’ she laughs. “I was embarrassed that I didn’t know!”

A few days ago, Emmy released a video for “I Am Woman” billed as Emmy Meli & Friends. It features women of all races, from all walks of life, illustrating the song’s message.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Eddie Vedder encourages COVID-19 testing ahead of US solo tour: “The goal is to be conscientious of others”

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has shared a statement regarding the COVID-19 safety protocols for his U.S. solo tour, which launches Thursday in New York City.

“We have done our absolute best and are doing everything we can to be able to play these shows as safely as possible,” Vedder writes.

Vedder asks attendees for tonight’s show to “remember to bring your proof of vaccination and wear your mask.” He adds, “If you have access to testing and can double-check you’re negative before you come, even better.”

“The goal is to be conscientious of others,” Vedder concludes. “And in doing so, get 2 or 3 hours where we can not think of any of this crap and tap into the live music we’ve been missing.”

Vedder will be touring in support of his forthcoming solo album, Earthling, due out February 11. His live band for the outing features Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, ex-RHCP guitarist and current Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer, Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, and producer and guitarist Andrew Watt.

Billy Idol forced to pull out of Journey tour support slot; Toto now opening entire trek

February 3, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Back in November, Journey announced plans for a lengthy U.S. trek this year dubbed the Freedom Tour 2022 featuring Billy Idol and Toto opening the first and second respective portions of the outing, but now comes word that Idol has dropped off the tour for health reasons.

Instead, Toto now will be the support act for Journey’s entire trek, which kicks off on February 22 in Pittsburgh and is mapped out through a May 11 show in Hartford, Connecticut. 

Idol’s departure from Journey’s Freedom Tour is due to a chronic sinus infection that will require surgery in the coming days.

“The last thing I ever want to do is cancel shows and I am absolutely gutted that I won’t be able to perform the upcoming dates with Journey as planned,” Idol says in a statement. “I wish Journey only the best on their tour and give thanks to TOTO for stepping in for me.”

The trek features a total of 40 concerts, including two newly added dates that are scheduled for March 4 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and on March 6 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Tickets for the two shows will go on sale to the public on Monday, February 7, at 10 a.m. ET. In addition, pre-sale tickets will be available via Ticketmaster starting today, February 3, at 10 a.m. ET. Visit JourneyMusic.com for more information.

Toto originally had been slated to join Journey’s tour in April, and had lined up a U.S. headlining trek that was to have run from February 25 through March 19, but now their own outing has been postponed until a later date.

A note on Toto’s official website advises that tickets purchased for the band’s headlining shows will be honored when the dates are rescheduled. Details about those shows will be announced soon.

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