Saturday, 28 May 2016

Does Finding Dory have LGBT characters?



The latest trailer for the upcoming Disney Pixar film Finding Dory has caused speculation as to whether it includes a lesbian couple.

The trailer, which was debuted on The Ellen Show last week, starts to show audiences the adventures that the characters go on as Dory tries to find her family in this sequel to 2003's Finding Nemo. You can watch the trailer below.




During one scene, an octopus knocks a girl out of a pram. As the girl's presumed parents turn around, they appear to be both women. If this is correct and these characters are portrayed to be in a relationship, this would be the first film created by Disney Pixar to feature LGBT characters; this would mark a milestone in the companies' progression and support of audiences.

People have taken to Twitter to voice their opinions.



However, some people are skeptical and believe that the scene is merely just two women stood together.





This speculation comes after calls for Disney to include LGBT characters in their films, Earlier in the week, there was a Twitter hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend which called on Disney for their to be a lesbian relationship in the sequel to Frozen.

The campaigns have also spread to other film production companies, as there was also the hashtag #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend, which called on there to be a gay relationship in the upcoming Marvel films.

Whether this speculation over Finding Dory proves correct or not, it's shown that there is a want, or arguably a need, for more LGBT characters in films.

Friday, 27 May 2016

Emma Blackery- Sucks To Be You EP and Headline Tour



Today is the day that the world finally gets to listen and buy Emma Blackery's new EP, Sucks To Be You.

The title track was released a couple of weeks ago and you can now listen to the other two songs that make up this three-song awesomeness: 'Look What You Made Me Do' and 'Let Me Be'.

Just as the title track was described, the rest of the EP sounds like a mixture of Paramore and something that bit more edgy with that piece of Emma's charm. Take a listen to 'Look What You Made Me Do' below.




In addition to the EP, Emma also announced this morning (May 27th) that she will be doing her own headline tour in October, There are just four dates confirmed so far, although the singer explained in a YouTube video that if those dates sell out then there's a possibility that more will be added. Check out the tour dates so far below.

Emma is currently supporting Busted alongside Wheatus on the Pigs Can Fly tour.

The Sucks To Be You EP is available to download, or you can listen to it on Spotify and YouTube. Tickets for the upcoming tour are released on Tuesday (May 31st) at 5pm GMT, and you can buy these from MyTicket and See Tickets.

Emma Blackery's headline tour dates are:

October 
23 - London, O2 Academy2 Islington 
24 - Manchester, Sound Control
25 - Glasgow, O2 ABC2
26 - Birmingham, O2 Academy3

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Radiohead have performed Creep for the first time since 2009




Radiohead performed their hit song 'Creep' during their concert in Paris last night (May 23rd) for the first time since 2009.

The show at Le Zenith arena was treated to the song after frontman Thom Yorke joked with the crowd: "This is for the funny guy shouting 'Creep' at the back, if only to shock you."

It's no secret that the band have had a troubled relationship with the song. Its re-release shot the band to fame despite a poor initial release when the song only reached No. 78 in 1992. Its peak at No. 7 in 1993 meant that everyone knew who Radiohead were, even though Yorke has previously called it "crap". It is very rarely played due to the band's stigma with it, so the audience at last night's show should feel highly honoured that they saw it live. You can watch footage of the song below.



The band are currently touring to support their new album 'A Moon Shaped Pool' and have so far played three dates with substantially varied setlists. As well as 'Creep', the band also played 'True Love Waits'; this is a song that first had its live performance in 1995 but has only been studio recorded for the new album. Watch the band perform it below.



Other songs played include 'No Surprises' and Pyramid Song'.

Radiohead have a three-night stint at London's Roundhouse from May 26th-28th and gigs at New York's Madison Square Gardens on July 26th-27th planned. There are also the inevitable rumours about the band playing festivals in the summer, so there will be more of that here if and when it gets officially announced.

Sunday, 15 May 2016

Emma Blackery- Sucks To Be You review



Two years since her last release, Emma Blackery unveiled her new single 'Sucks To Be You' on Friday (May 13th).

If you're not familiar with Miss Blackery, she's a singer and YouTube sensation who is currently touring with Busted on their Pigs Can Fly tour.

Previous releases include her 2013 Distance EP featuring the songs 'Go The Distance' and 'The Promise'; these are songs that have sweet melodies and adorable meanings. Blackery's newest musical endeavour takes all that and punches it in the face. Full of her punky aggression spurred on with a music video fueled by a break up, it's apparent that she's found a style she's confident with.

There's something almost Paramore-eque about this song. Listening to it, you can almost imagine a generation of young rock fans screaming along to it. It really shows how much Emma has matured over the years and how her music has changed. Watch the music video below.

The Sucks To Be You EP is available to pre-order now and will be released on May 27th. You can watch Emma Blackery's YouTube videos here and pre-order the EP from Amazon here.


Prince's yellow guitar up for auction



A yellow custom guitar owned by Prince in the 80's and 90's is set to be sold at a US auction next month.

The auction will take place at Heritage Auctions in Beverley Hills, California on June 24th. Its opening bid is $30,000 (approx. £20,000), and it really wouldn't be a surprise if sells for a lot more.

The guitar's unusual shape became a style for the late star; the neck was broken in France in 1994 but was later repaired to its full glory. Take a look at the guitar below.



Current owner Richard Leece has spoken to various reporters about the guitar and his decision to part with it: "I’ve been a Prince fan since I was a little kid, and that guitar always stuck out to me because it was super cool and stylish."

"Unfortunately, as morbid as it is, when people pass, their items become more valuable," Leece, who purchased the guitar for $30,000 a year ago, added. "I think something as valuable as this could be too risky to continue to have in my possession."

There are other Prince related items in the auction too, including record sales awards and a demo featuring 'Just As Long As We're Together', 'My Love Is Forever', and 'Jelly Jam'.


Monday, 2 May 2016

Relentless- Four By Fate review



Are you wishing it was the 80's again? If so, this band is perfect for you.
Comprising of four rock and roll veterans who have rocked stages alongside the greats, Four By Fate are ready to send you straight back to the sound of that era that shaped music with their new record Relentless, set to be released on June 3rd via Amazing Record Co.

The band's lineup is bassist John Regan, singer and keyboard player Tod Howarth, guitarist
Bassist John Regan
and singer Patrick James Gasperini, and percussionist Rob Affuso.

One reason this band is so incredible is because it is the result of four industry titans joining
forces to create what can only be described as a supergroup. Fate put Reagan and Howarth together in 1986 when they were touring together; Regan playing bass with John Waite and Howarth singing and playing keyboard for Cheap Trick. It was many years later in 2014 that the pair decided to combine their talents once again and thus Four By Fate was born. Patrick James Gasperini and Rob Affuso were also added to the band to heighten the talent, creating this awesome band and its equally awesome music.

Singer/keyboard player Tod Howarth
From the first few seconds of opening track 'These Times Are Hard For Lovers', it's just like listening to a revved up Bon Jovi mixed with an element of Europe. With blasting riffs that I just cant help but air guitar to, that iconic ride cymbal and powerful vocals, I feel as though I've been transported back to when I first discovered rock music and falling in love with it all over again. An epic track about a love struggle that sets the record off amazingly.

A little more melancholy but nonetheless full of the same oomph is the fourth track, 'It's Over Now'. Evidently its story line is a break up, and with the heavy drums and slower guitar it becomes one of those songs that you can turn up to full volume and sing along to at the top of your lungs.
Drummer Rob Affuso

Bringing a different sound to the mix is 'Don't Know', which starts off acoustically, giving you the chance to hear how brilliant the vocals are. After a couple of quieter verses, that familiar sound of the band in full action starts again to get you headbanging once more.

The whole album sounds like its been plucked straight out of an 80's jukebox and it works well. All 10 tracks really show just how talented the lineup are, how well they know the genre and how well they know their audience.
Tod Howarth and
guitarist Patrick James Gasperini

It's no wonder this album is so stunning; the members of Four By Fate have worked with some of the most legendary artists of our time. Regan had toured with Peter Frampton, David Edmunds and Frehley's Comet. He's also recorded bass for David Bowie/Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones and Billy Idol. Tod Howarth also toured with Frehley's Comet and has had 5 solo albums to his name. Patrick James Gasperini founded Pound, Flywheel and Psycho High, and Rob Affuso is best known as the percussionist in Skid Row. The result of such impressive experience is this electrifying and highly anticipated record.

It's not too long before you can hear the album, but if you're already hooked then you can watch this live version of It's Over Now below, performed in December 2015 at The Chance Theatre in Ploughkeepie, New York.