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Stars of Hulu’s new teen rom-com ‘Crush’ hope the film gives you butterflies

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Remember that first-crush feeling? Hulu’s new teen rom-com Crush aims to capture it.

The movie stars Rowan Blanchard as Paige, an aspiring artist with an all-consuming crush on her popular classmate Gabriela, played by Love, Victor‘s Isabella Ferreira. But after a misunderstanding at school forces her to join the track team, Paige finds herself getting closer to Gabriella’s sporty twin sister, AJ.

Auli’i [owl-LEE-ee] Cravalho, who identifies as bisexual and plays the bisexual AJ, tells ABC Audio she was drawn to the story’s relatable take on queer love, thanks to a mostly queer-identifying cast and crew.

“It was a really safe space to play and also I think that’s why the voice that I heard when reading the script and what we put on screen is so vivid and genuine,” the Moana star says. “It’s because there was representation in front of the camera and behind it.”

That authenticity is something fans will surely appreciate as well, with reaction to the film’s core love triangle already buzzing on social media.

“We’ve already been getting tagged in edits, like video edits — Team Gabby, Team AJ, Team Whatever…” Ferreira says. “And I think it’s so sweet and it’s so cute, because that’s kind of the outcome that we wanted. We wanted people to really love the film.”

Blanchard has similar hopes for the film, telling ABC Audio, “I just really hope that it makes people feel that butterfly feeling of when you have a crush on somebody for the first time.”

Crush, also starring Megan Mullally, Michelle Buteau and Aasif Mandvi, debuts on Hulu this Friday, April 29.

Even more ‘Famous Friends’: Chris Young’s deluxe project has collabs with Old Dominion, Jimmie Allen

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Chris Young hit paydirt with his massively successful 2021 album, Famous Friends, and he’s not done with that musical chapter just yet. On Friday, the singer announced the deluxe version of the project, with six new songs.

Collaborations were a huge part of the original album: In particular, the title track — a duet with Kane Brown — soared to number-one on the country chart and became the most-played song on country radio that year.

So of course, Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition) will deliver even more team-ups. Chris’ new material includes duets with Old Dominion and Jimmie Allen, plus an acoustic version of “Think of You,” the singer’s hit duet with Cassadee Pope from 2016.

Another big hit from Chris’ past, “I’m Coming Over,” gets the acoustic treatment on the deluxe album, and he’ll round out the project with two new solo songs.

Chris’ Old Dominion collaboration, called “Everybody Needs a Song,” is out now. Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition) will come out in full on June 3.

New music Friday: MAX, Gavin DeGraw, Khalid and more

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s Friday! Let’s see who’s out with new tunes.

MAX is out with “Gucci Bag,” a smooth track that is reminiscent of steamy 70s love songs. “I was writing with my friends… and we hit a wall creatively, so we decided to loop a beat we worked on while we played Catan for two hours,” MAX says of how the song came to be. “I had this title ‘Gucci Bag’ in mind as a metaphor for feeling really confident and, midway through the game, inspiration hit and I grabbed the mic and sang this chorus.”

Gavin DeGraw released “Summertime,” the latest track off his forthcoming album, Face the River. The nostalgic track is Gavin’s love letter to his childhood memories of growing up in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

Khalid wants you to get ready for summer with “Skyline.” He said of the hypnotic track, “‘Skyline,’ to me is a recharge and full of summer vibes. I hope it brings my fans joy and gets them through any dark times they may be going through.” He also released the feel-good music video that sees him and his friends enjoying life.

It’s been three years since we’ve heard from her, but American Idol winner Maddie Poppe just dropped a disco-inspired track called “One That Got Away.” Another Idol winner, David Cook, has a new song, “TABOS,” which stands for “This’ll All Be Over Soon.” Both will appear on The Great Idol Reunion May 2 on ABC.

“Ghost Town” singer Benson Boone returns with “In the Stars,” which is about reminiscing about those who’re gone. Boone wrote this song in the memory of his great grandmother, adding, “This song is about all the beautiful memories that we hope to keep from our passed loved ones.”

Luke Bryan sets his six-date Farm Tour 2022 for this September

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan’s annual Farm Tour will be back for its 13th year this fall. The country superstar just announced the dates and lineup for 2022.

Kicking off in Indiana on September 15, the Farm Tour will hit small towns in Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa before wrapping with a stop in Eyota, Minnesota. Riley Green will join the bill for four of the six dates, and Jameson Rodgers and the Peach Pickers make up the rest of the Farm Tour lineup.

“I look forward to these shows every year mainly because of the meaning behind them and why it was important to me to start the Farm Tour 13 years ago,” Luke reflects. “It has allowed communities who don’t normally get a concert in their areas to experience a fun night in their backyard all while lifting up the American farmer.”

Tickets for the 2022 Farm Tour go on sale May 5; Members of Luke’s Nut House fan club will have access to a special pre-sale starting May 2.

Bill Burr defends former ‘Mandalorian’ co-star Gina Carano

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE, CONTENT) To The Hollywood Reporter, stand-up comic Bill Burr talked about his career, his upcoming fifth Netflix stand-up special, Live at Red Rocks, cancel culture, and the firing of his former Mandalorian co-star, Gina Carano.

The outspoken comedian and actor won raves for playing jaded former Imperial sharpshooter Migs Mayfeld on The Mandalorian.

While speaking highly of the Disney+ show, he became “despondent,” the trade explains. “That makes me think of Gina. How cool she was as a person…”

Carano played Cara Dune on the show for two seasons. The former MMA fighter was set to star in her own spin-off series, but was fired by Lucasfilm in 2021 following controversial political posts, including supporting former President Donald Trump‘s false election fraud narrative, and comparing the online quashing of conservative political views to Nazism.

When asked if her firing was fair, Burr replied flatly, “No.”

He added, “The whole thing with Gina…That somebody’s opinion — or their political beliefs — makes people try to destroy their ability to make a living, it’s f**king bizarre to me.”

Burr adds, “…Meanwhile, there are people who get paroled from prison every day who have done so much worse and they’re allowed to put their lives back together.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Watch Nine Inch Nails cover David Bowie at first concert since 2018

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Nine Inch Nails played their first live show since 2018 Thursday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the set included a pair of David Bowie covers.

In addition to a performance of Bowie’s 1997 song “I’m Afraid of Americans,” the video for which co-starred Trent Reznor, the concert also featured the live debut of NIN’s rendition of the 1980 Scary Monsters tune, “Fashion.”

Reznor previously covered “Fashion” in 2021 for a Bowie tribute livestream concert. That performance also featured NIN’s Atticus Ross, and Reznor’s wife and How to Destroy Angels band mate, Mariqueen Maandig Reznor.

Nine Inch Nails’ tour continues this weekend at the Shaky Knees festival in Atlanta.

Scott Ian’s son Revel announces debut album with band Honeybee

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The son of Anthrax‘s Scott Ian has a new band.

The group, called Honeybee, features 11-year-old Revel Young Ian on drums. The lineup also features 16-year-old Liam Williams on vocals and guitar, and 15-year-old Theo O’Gara on bass and vocals.

Honeybee’s self-titled debut album will be released May 27. A press release describes the band’s sound as an “explosive cocktail of hard rock and heavy metal with a dash of psych, prog, and an alt-folk edge.”

You can check that out for yourself by listening to single “Get Out of My Head” now via digital outlets.

Revel has previously demonstrated his musical talents on his dad’s Instagram, including jamming a medley of Foo Fighters songs in honor of the late Taylor Hawkins.

Three Bureau of Prisons employees hospitalized over drug-laced prisoner mail

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Three Bureau of Prisons employees at United States Penitentiary Thompson in Illinois have had to go to the hospital over the past two weeks, according to the local union president, prompting two members of Congress to write a letter to the agency questioning how mail for prisoners is processed.

“We write with concern about reports of unsafe conditions for correctional officers in opening mail for incarcerated persons,” the letter written by Rep. Cherri Bustos, D-Ill., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ili., and obtained by ABC News, said.

“We know that it is critical for incarcerated persons to have access to correspondence while serving their sentences. Unfortunately, mail is also one of the ways in which drug contraband can be brought into correctional facilities,” the lawmakers wrote.

One staff member was hospitalized on Friday. The drug involved and the officer’s condition are unknown.

On March 17, a corrections officer was sorting mail and 19 pieces of mail were soaked in amphetamines, according to USP Thompson Union President Jon Zumkehr.

The staff member started “throwing up and having a violent reaction and was rushed to medical — his vitals were off the chart,” Zumkehr said.

A day later, another staff member was rushed to the hospital after being exposed to synthetic marijuana, he said.

In 2020, the Bureau of Prisons started a pilot program to convert mail to electronic scans at some facilities, to combat drug smuggling through official correspondence, according to the two lawmakers.

Zumkehr said the program was ended due to funding concerns.

“Staff shouldn’t have a price tag on their life,” he said.

Shane Fausey, president of the National Council of Prison Locals 33 told ABC News the substances officers are dealing with, including fentanyl, are both very dangerous and prevalent.

“It’s a matter of safety. It’s a matter of when you deal with substances like fentanyl, car fentanyl, they’re so hazardous a minuscule amount is going to kill someone if we don’t somehow stop it from entering our prisons,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement to ABC News it would respond directly to members of Congress and their staff.

“Out of respect and deference to Members, we do not share our Congressional correspondence with media,” it said.

Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard spills over to Starbucks tip jar

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Just as they allowed fans to take sides in the drama between Pete Davidson and Kanye West, some Starbucks employees let customers vote in the ongoing defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

A TikTok set to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme has gone viral, showing one of the coffee establishment’s drive-thru windows in Los Angeles, which was festooned with one tip box labelled “Johnny Depp,” and another in the name of his ex-wife.

And while tip box results aren’t legally binding, Depp is winning by a landslide: His box is stuffed with bills, while Amber Heard’s is empty.

“One for Johnny!” an enthusiastic passenger says, as the driver of the car makes their vote count by instructing a barista to add a buck to his box.

“Oh my God,” the passenger comments, as the camera focuses on Heard’s empty box.

“Send me a Venmo and I’ll go back to put a tip in there for ya,” commented the video’s poster, @summer-canova.

As of late Friday morning, the video had been viewed more than 585,000 times.

Arcade Fire announces livestream for London concert

April 29, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Arcade Fire is livestreaming their upcoming concert in London taking place later today, April 29.

The show, which marks the grand reopening of the London venue Koko, will air online beginning at 4 p.m. ET via the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel.

The London performance follows similar last-minute shows in New York City and New Orleans celebrating the announcement of Arcade Fire’s new album, WE. The band also played a surprise set at weekend one of Coachella.

WE, the follow-up to 2017’s Everything Now, will be released May 6.

In related news, Arcade Fire members Win Butler and Régine Chassagne guest on a new song from world musician Pierre Kwenders. The track, titled “L.E.S. (Liberté Égalité Sagacité),” is out Friday along with Kwenders’ new album, José Louis and the Paradox of Love.

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