Book-lovers can get up close and person with Steve Sundberg on June 9th.

He’s the author of Street Logic, a work of fiction that advocates for the homeless in America.

Sundberg will be at Bluestockings Bookstore, which is located at 172 Allen St. in Manhattan. He’ll be there from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bluestockings Bookstore’s phone is 212-777-7028.

Street Logic is a novel about the truth of what is happening in the efforts to work with chronic homeless people living on the streets of America. Fictional in style, the story is based on author Steve Sundberg’s 12 years’ experience working directly with the homeless population of Boston. The novel supports the work of national and local organizations to end homelessness. Street Logic is being used as an educational tool by professors in the social sciences, and has been reviewed as a unique literary approach for creating awareness among the general public regarding homelessness in America.

It’s garnering good praise from the likes Harvard University and much more.

Mr. Sundberg will talk about the writing of Street Logic and reality literature, and read from the novel. This will be the first presentation of his novel in New York City.

What are you reading right now?

Derek Jeter’s hot start to open this 2012 season has stirred some debate as to whether the shortstop can break the all-time hits record currently held by former Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose.

Before last night’s game he needed 1,112 hits to tie Rose. Assuming Jeter doesn’t get injured the rest of the season, he should easily finish above 200 hits. That would bring the total number of hits he needs to tie rose to under a 1,000.

Here is where the problem comes in. Jeter will be 38 on June 26th and his New York Yankees contract is almost up. Will they resign him?

The Yankees showed that they put their team first when it comes to keeping their ‘Yankee legends.’ Just look what happened to Jorge Posada.

Just how important is it to Jeter to be a Yankee his whole career? Is he even pursuing Rose’s record. Jeter all ready has nearly every accolade you could possibly think of.

This year clearly shows that Jeter is always looking to stay on the top of his game. It all comes down to that next contract period.

If number two is able to get another three-year contract with an option for a fourth, he should be able to break Pete Rose’s record. Of course that depends on what team he signs with but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

Do you think he’ll break the record?

photo: terren in virginia

One of my favorite music groups of all time, Cypress Hill, have teamed up with Dubstep DJ/Producer, Rusko for a five-track EP due out June 5th digitally and physically July 17th.

The video above is “Lez Go.” It’s a performance from their 2012 smokeout show and includes Travis Barker.

As what we’ve come to expect from the boys of Cypress Hill, it’s another new sound. This time around they’re blending an atmospheric vibe over some synths. There are some club hits too in “Roll it, Light it” and “Stay Medicated.” Damien Marley joins the group on “Can’t Keep Me Down,” helping bring the dancehall bounce.

I haven’t heard the entire record but the video alone lets you know you have to continue to be on your toes whenever you listen to the legendary Cypress Hill.

It’s nice to know that the funky ones aren’t hanging up their mics just yet. A lot of their fans are crying for them to bring their old sound back. Right on the YouTube page for this video, someone said “WE WANT OLD CYPRESS HILL!” back. Well legends aren’t legends unless they continue to grow, and that’s what the group is doing.

What do you think about the new sound?

Easily one the best segments I’ve ever seen that TNA has produced.

The back and forth between Jay Lethal and Ric Flair was not only hilarious and entertaining, it spoke to wrestling’s history and its future.

It went down a little over a year ago.

It started out with Ric Flair trying to introduce a new faction called Fortune. A couple of minutes in he was cut off by the New Jersey native, Jay Lethal. It broke down pretty quickly. Lethal was doing his best Flair impression and they were answering a “wooo” with another “wooo.” You could tell Lethal was having a lot of fun doing the promo, Flair on the other hand, was hard to read in his normal heart-attack state. Either way it made for great TV.

If TNA would have been doing this all along, mixing young talent with the legends of Hogan, Sting and Flair, their product would be more elevated than it currently is at the moment.

TNA, a wrestling program that gets carried away with promos. They need to pick their spots.

The fun stops around the seven-minute mark, so feel free to turn it off around then.

What are your thoughts on the TNA product right now? The wrestling is top notch, the writing, not so much.

thumbnail photo: kalooz

American Animal could easily be called American Animals.

Why? Because the film tackles more than one animal America’s society has created. I’m talking the American dream, the 9-5, true friendship and just general ‘rules’ that are deemed socially awkward.

It definitely hit home with me. Times I wonder and think to myself, “oh I can’t do that because it’ll just be awkward.” A product of my environment, maybe, but a common reaction, definitely.

Written, directed by Matt D’Elia, he also delivered an amazing performance that reminded me the likes of Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden character.

D’Elia plays Jimmy, “a dying young man who descends into madness when he discovers that his roommate and best friend is leaving for a new job in the morning,” as IMDB states.

The madness takes place over a night of drinking, smoking and Christmas decorating…in August. Friendships are tested, boundaries are broke but in the end you just have to be true to yourself.

It’s a fun film that not only delivers great acting and amazing writing, but it makes you think.

It hits theaters on May 18th and will be at the Village East theater in New York City. It’s worth your time and money, definitely check it out this flick.

For the American Animal trailer, click here.

Hold on to your butts, because shit’s about to get weird! The obscenely talented, musically omnivorous duo Fergus & Geronimo (known to their mothers as Andrew Savage and Jason Kelly) are back with a new sixteen-track weirdo-opus about aliens, mind-control, conspiracy theories, and intergalactic courtship. Also: numbers, symbols, parties, and LSD. Funky Was the State of Affairs follows 2011′s impressive Unlearn, and is due out on vinyl, digital, and CD formats (in colorful, lovingly designed packaging) on August 7th. Have a listen to first single “Roman Tick” at the link above.

About the record:

Fergus and Geronimo’s leap between their early R&B-influenced singles and their first wildly diverse record was so daring, many music writers and fans were forced to reconsider the pigeonhole to which they had already damned them. Happily damned them, since, after all, those early tracks went over exceptionally well.

But observers and admirers were also left doing something not many get to experience in this dime-a-dozen singles renaissance: scratching their heads concerning what this group would do next. After a first record that was such a departure, not only did they wonder, they actually cared.

Like some of history’s most well-regarded and oft-reissued acts, the group is doing exactly what they are compelled to do for their anticipated sophomore LP Funky Was the State of Affairs: making an album that actually plays like a cohesively complete statement.

And yet the record is entirely unpredictable, even as it tackles reoccurring themes, which Savage says include, “aliens, technology, intergalactic dating/hooking up, the Roman Empire, and the earthling resistance movement.”

Though at times it sounds like fairly serious subject matter, the group employs a sharp-tongued attack with the same sort of gallows humor cracked wise by the likes of their equally Doubting Thomas inspirational figures, everyone from the Mothers of Invention to Devo.

Within the first few minutes, the tone is set; the bright, spiky, opening track over a Krautrock rhythm, “No Parties,” contains a line summarizing the restlessness caused by the alienation of modern habits, sung in a mock-English accent: ”Collecting devices, you’re paying the prices/Of overconsumption, with mental destruction.”

“Basically, its a dystopian sound-scape of our civilization’s collapse,” says Savage. Indeed, those feelings of dread are sometimes instrumentally emphasized by passages of synthesizer static and noise, which Savage attributes to being influenced by groups like Chrome. New members Bob Jones (guitar, bass, analog synth) and Jef Brown (Tenor Sax) also add to the playful chaos. Savage says the original duo added members in order to achieve “the tightness that can only come from recording with a live core,” as “musicianship is extremely important to Jason and I…”

Since Brown and Jones both played in the self-explanatory Evolutionary Jass Band—which evolved out of the equally experimental Jackie-O Motherfucker—there is an expansion in the group’s improvisational capabilities that wasn’t as obvious on past recordings. Yet nothing sounds forced, each interlude is enjoyable, each hip-hop-inspired skit serves a narrative-pushing purpose. The record bounces from Booker T-styled soul (“Wiretapping Muzak I and II”) to early 80s New York dance rock (“Marky Move”) with an immodest ease.

We at Sub Pop are thrilled to announce that The Vaselines will embark on a rare visit to the U.S. this August. The trek will mark the band’s first U.S. live dates since their October 2010 tour – which followed the release of their critically acclaimed second album, Sex With An X (released September 2010 via Sub Pop).

The Vaselines 2012 tour will include the following shows: Brooklyn, NY at Bell House on August 30th, San Francisco, CA at the Independent on August 31st, and Bumbershoot Arts Festival on September 2nd. Full tour dates below.

With regard to the Bumbershoot performance: This year the festival will include a stage co-curated by Sub Pop. Consisting largely of performances by artists signed to the label, along with other great emerging talent, the Fountain Lawn Stage will feature the Vaselines, along with Blitzen Trapper, The Helio Sequence, Fruit Bats, Mudhoney, THEESatisfaction, Niki + The Dove, Low, Sera Cahoone, and Debo Band. For more information on Bumbershoot’s line up + schedule read here.

About The Vaselines: Formed in Glasgow in 1987, The Vaselines released two singles and one album, Dum Dum, on the 53rd & 3rd label. Splitting up in 1989 (in the same week their album was released), they might have faded into obscurity but for the intervention of a certain band from Seattle. Nirvana covered three Vaselines songs, helping to fuel a growing after-the-fact appreciation of their seedy, two-and-a-half chord, garage pop manifesto (read more @Sub Pop).

Catch The Vaselines on tour:
Aug. 30 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
Aug. 31 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
Sep. 02 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot

One of the most popular rock bands around, The Black Keys, is going to get their acting on at a show associated with immaturity, boozing and indulging in some drugs, Workaholics.

According to the EW report, it sounds like Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney aren’t going to have a major role but they will cross paths with the main actors.

Ders, Adam and Blake have to be in small claims court where they’ll meet the rockers, who’ll be playing two ‘dirtbags.’ The dirtbags will be awaiting a small claims court case of their own.

Turns out the Keys are fans of the show so I guess they didn’t’ need much of an offer to act on the show.

When the announcement was spread to the Workaholics Facebook page, it got 3,423 Likes, 440 Shares and 143 comments.

It got a mixed reaction, one fan said “sellouts.” Another fan said “totally like this show less now.” But more or less fans were pleased with the move. One said “THE TIGHEST butthole, in the whole f***ing work. Yes.”

If it’s funny than I certainly don’t have any problem with it.

The third season of Workaholics begins on May 29th.

Will you be watching?

Source: EW

photo: simonfernandez

Isn’t it ironic that the same man, Michael Jordan, that kept him from an NBA championship during his playing days is looking to interview him for the head coaching job of one of the worst teams in NBA history, the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan has shown he can’t manage a team, could he be trying to bring Ewing down with him?

Hmmmmm, interesting.

#33 will have no chance of getting that elusive ring if he starts working for the Charlotte Bobcats. A start to his head-coaching career and an under .500 record is inevitable if he joins Jordan’s side.

Don’t do it Ewing! The greatest New York Knick of all time has the potential to be just as good in the head coaching realm.

The so-called good friends, really? Call it a conspiracy theory, sure. But if I was Ewing I wouldn’t want to be smoking a cigar with Jordan toasting a championship. Shove it in his face for all those hard-fought losses and long summers Air Jordan dealt you.

Don’t take the job! He’ll smile in your face and wag his tongue behind your back.

source: CBS News

photo: jimgreenhill

I had no idea who Paul Williams was when I received an email about Paul Williams Still Alive hitting theaters on June 8th, but according to the Google Keyword Tool, a lot of other people didn’t even know if he was still alive.

I guess Stephen Kessler took it up himself to answer the question people are asking.

One run through the Paul Williams Still Alive trailer (above) and I couldn’t but feel deeply touched.

Directed by Stephen Kessler, with a run time of 84 minutes, this documentary is about Kessler’s lifelong obsession with the former superstar and what happens when the nostalgic filmmaker finally catches up with him.

Don’t think Williams is worthy of documentary? He’s won Grammys and an Academy Award. He’s written #1 songs for Barbara Streisand (“Evergreen”) and the Carpenters (“We’ve Only Just begun”).

It made its U.S. debut at 2012 SXSW and hits The Angelika in New York City on June 8th and the Nuart in Los Angeles on June 22nd.

According to the press release, a national rollout is expected to follow.

Will a film about Williams bring in the big bucks? Probably not but it’s sure to take a film-goer on an enjoyable cinematic journey.