Dear Evan Hansen is a winning adaptation
Ben Platt reprises his Tony-Winning Award in Universal Pictures Dear Evan Hansen. Stephen Chbosky directs the movie from a screenplay by Steven Levenson. The film is an adaptation of the 2015 stage musical of the same name by Levenson, Benji Pasek, and Justin Paul.
Concert Review : Bruce Bruce @ DC Improv
I have been a fan of the comedy styling of Bruce Bruce for nearly two decades, and my first time getting hip to Bruce Bruce goes back to his days as the host of New Orleans 10th Anniversary Party Gras edition of BET’S Comic View.
Concert Review : Jeffrey Osborne at The Birchmere
Jeffrey Osborne made a welcome return to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, September 1st, for the first of two shows. After returning home to the DMV in 2007 following my Air Force enlistment, Mr. Osborne has made annual appearances at The Birchmere; however, I never got a chance to go due to either having tickets to another event or the show selling out.
Second Listen Sunday: Tank, Sex, Love & Pain
After what seems like an eternity, Tank’s first three albums have finally arrived on streaming platforms. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I decided to revisit Tank’s third album, Sex, Love & Pain. Tank already had a substantial fan base following his first two albums, Forces of Nature and One Man.
Second Slow Jam Saturday : Playa, Birthday and Hi-Five, Birthday Girl
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to pay homage to the love of my life, my wife, Darcie. Today is her 40th birthday, so I am going against the norm and featuring two songs for Slow Jam Saturday. Up first is “Birthday” by Timbaland feat. Playa from the 1998 album, ‘Tim’s Bio: From The Motion Picture – Life From Da Bassment.’
Cry Macho is strictly by the motions
There is a saying that you cannot keep a good man down, and this rings true for Clint Eastwood as he stars in and directs Cry Macho from Warner Bros. An adaption of N. Richard Nash’s same-titled 1975 novel, the film tells the story of Mike Milo (Clint Eastwood), a one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder who is now retired due to a severe back injury.
Album Review :Stokley, Sankofa
Mint Condition frontman Stokely, returns to the scene with his sophomore solo album, Sankofa. Prior to the COVID pandemic, Stokley released the singles “She”, a ballad that recalled the classic Mint Condition sound, and the up-tempo bop, “Vibrant” feat. Snoop Dogg. Thankfully, the pandemic did not slow Stokley down and he released two more promotional singles earlier this year.
Karen is trash cinema
Coke Daniels explores the current racial climate in his new film Karen, from Quiver Distribution. Karen Drexler (Taryn Manning), a racist white woman who makes it her personal mission to displace the new Black family that has just moved in next door to her.
Crazy Fist is no knockout martial arts flick
Qing Guo makes a mediocre directorial debut in Crazy Fist from Well Go USA. After an opponent dies mid-match, a prominent MMA champion (Qing Quo) swore never to fight again. Instead, he retires so he can run his family’s international business.
Second Listen Sunday : Babyface, The Day
Babyface was already a legendary hitmaker when his fourth album, The Day, arrived in stores in the fall of 1996. For the album’s first single, “This Is for the Lover in You,” a cover of the Shalamar classic, Babyface linked up with LL Cool J and the former members of Shalamar: Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel.
Slow Jam Saturday: Jagged Edge, Goodbye
Released as the second single from the group’s third album Jagged Little Thrill, “Goodbye” was written by group members Brandon and Brian Casey along with frequent collaborators Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox. In addition Dupri and Cox produced the song as well.
Small Engine Repair is a different look at male bonding
Playwright John Pollono adapts one of his plays in Small Engine Repair from Vertical Entertainment for the big screen. Frankie (John Pollono), Swain (Jon Bernthal), and Packie (Shea Whigham) are lifelong friends who share a love of the Red Sox, rowdy bars, and Frankie’s teenaged daughter Crystal (Ciara Bravo).