Which Prince Era Am I?
Hey Soul Mates,
got this Prince quiz via MySpace. But since I don't have a personal page I figured I'd post the result here. Of course, there's no way of knowing what the answers to their questions add up to, but I am my favorite Prince album apparently. Must say I wasn't surprised.
We've been getting a nice response to the Gear HQ and all of the fun Rush Hour Soul stuff there. I already altered one item per requests. Ladies, that Doll-Baby baby doll now says what you wanted.
Have a great weekend. I'll check in with a review of tomorrow's ABC concert.
Love, Power, Peace
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You scored as Parade Prince.
You are the Parade Prince. You know that you are funny and make everyone around you feel better. You're funny and smart and witty.
Parade Prince 100%
Dirty Mind/Controversy Prince 83%
Sign 'O' The Times Prince 83%
Purple Rain Prince 83%
Musicology Prince 67%
Grafitti Bridge 67%
1999 Prince 67%
Slave Prince 67%
Diamonds & Pearls Prince 50%
You're Not Prince... You're The Artist 50%
Lovesexy Prince 33%
Around The World In A Day Prince 33%
Hey Soul Mates,
so much is going on, I have to find a point to begin. This blog has quite a bit of information and at 3 seperate links to things going on in my life right now. Two are very exciting developments for Rush Hour Soul. The last is just what I'm feeling (musically). Here we go.
Number 1:
Got RHS? Well, I am officially announcing the GRAND OPENING of our new on-line merch storefront at CafePress! It's called the Rush Hour Soul Gear HQ. And it's open now! You can shop on-line for fantastic RHS souvenirs and clothing. I recommend that you browse through the entire selection. Enjoy the fun descriptions of each. The items range from mouse pads and magnets to hoodies and jerseys. Represent, Soul Mates!
Keep in mind, Cafe Press is flexible. We control the content of our shop. If there is a style you like, that we are missing or that you'd like to suggest, we may be able to accommodate it. Just tell us. It's been fun putting together the catalogue. All of the logos and images were designed by yours truly. That part is rather addicting. Hard to stop coming up with ideas for merch, as a result I was up til 4 am two days ago.
Number 2:
Next news item. Rush Hour Soul got it's first radio play. We made our new recording of A Talent For Loving available for the Indie Airplay podcast at Suite108.com. And we charted on our first time out! DJ Jennifer Wicks made the song her #2 for this week's "Indie Top 5 Picks." Although, she misannounced it as "Talent For Nothing," I'd call that an auspicious start for us. You can download this particular podcast (show #215 aired on 08.23.05.) at iTunes. It's free to listen to, so check it out. Our song appears at about the 10 minute mark. You'll hear about half the tune in their countdown. Ready for the big time? We are.
Number 3:
Finally, I've been listening to ABC quite a bit. I am going to see them on Sunday and I'm pretty excited. This is a group I loved as a kid. This will be my first time seeing them. Most of the British groups from the '80's avoided the Deep South. I'm still surprised that Duran Duran and General Public ever came to Jacksonville.
I actually own two copies of ABC's Poison Arrow 45. The first vinyl I ever bought overseas was their single for How To Be A Millionaire. I still have it. It came in a very colorful blue and yellow picture sleeve showing the group as cartoon characters. Visually, ABC always stood out. This was the first pop group I saw in tuxes and gold lame jackets. I can remember old MTV VJ, J.J. Jackson comparing their look to Roxy Music and thinking... "Of course! Who's Roxy Music?" Anyway, their LPs Lexicon of Love (playing right now) & How To Be A Zillionaire have always been favorites of mine. When I was home from school, I frequently played Zillionaire as cooking music. It's the secret ingredient for my acclaimed chili, that only Bruce Willis was strong enough to turn down. I could tell you how When Smokey Sings once cured a severe bout of depression, but that's for another day. I'll probably be moved to tears if they play it. At this point, the group is basically lead singer Martin Fry. But I'm still gonna get my ABC on.
Alright, I gotta run and press launch on our Store. Happy Shopping.
Love, Power, Peace
Hey Soul Mates,
it's been an adventure-filled day in Los Angeles. Or rather El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles. I have lived in LA for a decade and I love discovering new places and revisiting others. Today, we went downtown to the Fashion District off Olympic. There is lots to see downtown. Fantastic deco-era buildings, bustling streets and all types of faces. Mainly bargain hunters and buyers for boutiques. As the sun reached high noon, we were walking through the heart of the area, Santee Alley. It was jammed with people and felt like a third world bazaar. I've been to the Fashion District a handful of times, but today, I came up empty. But not for lack of looking. My favorite bit of window shopping came on Los Angeles St. where I found a men's clothing store selling the "Steve Harvey Collection." It recalled an episode of SNL where Bernie Mac did a biting fake advertisement for Steve Harvey's flamboyant, hepcat suits.
From there we hopped in the car and headed back up Main Street, but instead of getting on the freeway, we wound up at Olvera Street. Olvera is the oldest area of LA dating to the very late 18th century. It's currently celebrating it's 75th anniversary as a designated historical center. It's the home of the Avila Adobe house (ca. 1814), the oldest building in the city. This was El Pueblo's commercial heart. We got in a brief look at the Avila house. It was closing time, but since it was free we had to take a peak. It is fun learning new things about this town. Within a few blocks there's also the LA Mission (where I said a prayer for all of you), a large gazebo for live folklorico performances, and a marketplace with parallel rows of souvenir shops and authentic Mexican restaurants. We had lunch at El Pueblo Inn and my taquitos were savory. The shops, many of which deal in trinkets, also have some neat folk art and useful items. Today, I felt like I could truly call myself an Angeleno. No self-respecting citizen should go without visiting the true heart of city: downtown. Not Hollywood.
Union Station is only a hundred yards away from Olvera, so we walked through there, too. The train station is a triumph of interior design. Lots of vaulted ceilings and deco decor. It played the police station in one of my favorite movies, Blade Runner. Of course, as soon as I got home, I had to put on Blade Runner and check out the setting on film.
What a great day of sight seeing right here at home. Yesterday, I spent the evening with friends at the historic Hotel Figueroa, also downtown (two blocks from Staples Center). What a great town. And the full moon was a bright peachy orange, did you see it? It led us all the way into the heart of the city.
Oh, I have to tell you this. Last night I wrote my first Letter To The Editor. This week's new Rolling Stone came in the mail. There's a great multi-page article on rock & roll legend, Bo Diddley. That is one fascinating cat. Bo is still performing, writing & recording. He's apparently an electronics whiz and as eccentric as Chuck and Richard. But then I realized, Bo is not on the cover. Anywhere. They gave the cover photo to Coldplay. They namecheck the Rolling Stones, R. Kelly, the crappy Dukes Of Hazzard movie, Death Cab For Cutie and (?) Fall Out Boy. But NO BO!?!?!? That's not right. Bo is directly responsible for the Rolling Stones, at least. So I wrote Rolling Stone to say, "What's up widdat?" I recommend that everyone else who cares do the same.
Here's their e-mail letters@rollingstone.com and here's what I wrote, feel free to cut and paste or paraphrase:
Subject line: Who Do You Love?
Dear Rolling Stone,
Thanks for giving us the latest on Bo Diddley. But why didn't Bo get any love on your front cover? In fact, how about a cover featuring Bo, Chuck Berry & Little Richard while these rock & roll titans still walk amongst us mortals?
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Alright, that's it for tonight. Adios.
Love, Power, Peace
