KORN's "Family Values" a hit in Nashville

This weekend the multi-platinum hard rock outfit KORN launched “The Family Values Tour”--also featuring main stage artists Deftones, Stone Sour and Flyleaf--with record-breaking attendance of over 16,000 at a sold-out show at Nashville’s Starwood Amphitheatre and over 17,000 at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta. This marked the triumphant return of the “The Family Values Tour” which KORN created and headlined in 1998.

According to their press team, a highlight of the concert was when KORN--JONATHAN DAVIS (vocals), JAMES “MUNKY” SHAFFER (guitar), FIELDY (bass) and DAVID SILVERIA (drums)--performed their song “Hollow Life” acoustically for the first time ever on a platform in the middle of the crowd.

Another crowd favorite came when Deftones’ Chino Moreno joined DAVIS on vocals for KORN’s performance of “Wicked,” marking the first time they’ve collaborated on the song live in over six years. KORN’s set featured a variety of songs from their seven-album body of work, including “A.D.I.D.A.S.,” “Falling Away From Me,” “Blind,” “Shoots & Ladders,” “Freak On A Leash” and--from their critically acclaimed platinum release SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE --“Politics,” “Twisted Transistor” and “Coming Undone.”

With nine artists on the tour and a variety of attractions on the “Family Values Campus”--including 3-on-3 paintball competition--fans get even greater value from the Live Nation-produced “The Family Values Tour,” which is one of hottest tickets of the summer and also features 10 Years at the Pensacola Civic Center on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Tickets are still available in Pensacola: $39.50-$49.50

Contact: 434-7444 or www.livenation.com or www.ticketmaster.com

"Black and White Again" winners

Artel Gallery’s latest exhibit, “Black and White Again," will run through September 15 with an opening reception on Friday, August 11 from 6-8 p.m.

Juror for the show was Scott Mueller, a fine art photographer best known for his alternative photography techniques using Polaroid films, which he manipulates to make impressionistic images. His main objective is for his images to have a painterly appeal and indeed many of his pictures have such a strong impressionistic impact that they seem to fuse the two mediums together.

Prize winners are: Will Crane, Best of Show; Reid Leonard, First Place; Kreg Yingst, Second Place; Donna O'Neal, Third Place; Bob Goldberg, Becky Makla, Rick Otoupalik, and Suzanne Robbert, Honorable Mention.

Rob and Amber back to reality

Reality-TV millionaires and recent Pensacola transplants, Rob and Amber Mariano continue to be unstoppable after dominating the boob tube in 2006.

As reported in previous Loaded Guns, the newlywed couple—simply known by their legions of fans and enemies as "Romber"—forged an unlikely relationship on "Survivor: All Stars" and were finalists on last season's "Amazing Race 7." The two purchased a beachfront home near Pensacola almost a year ago.

Reports suggest that the tag-team duo opted for the Perdido Key locale because Mariano's sister is going to school here and his family owns real estate in the area. And, like the thousands of folks who flock to our beautiful community every winter, the newlywed lovebirds prefer our sunny climate over Mariano's chilly "Bawston" hometown.

"We were both kind of ready to get away to something new and live by the ocean," she says in reports.

However, their stint on the Gulf Coast has been limited because the two continue to carve a niche within the entertainment industry.

According to Fox press execs, the Marianos will star in the Fox Reality Channel's first original show, "The Rob and Amber Project."

The show will take place in Las Vegas, where Rob will attempt to become a professional gambler. Fox Reality Channel has ordered 10 half-hour episodes so far. The show is expected to debut in January.

David Lyle, Fox Reality Channel’s general manager, told Daily Variety, "We've grown up with Rob and Amber. We've seen their first kiss on Survivor and watched their wedding. They're likeable and competitive. What Rob's trying to do now, it's probably every guy's dream and every girl's nightmare."

Click here for the lowdown.

Salvador Dali piece stolen

Austin, Texas police are investigating the theft of a Salvador Dali sculpture from a gallery, according to the Associated Press.

So far no arrests in Wednesday's theft from the El Taller Gallery in North Austin. Investigators believe a man put the artwork, valued at $12,000, under his T-shirt, left the shop and fled in a car.

The bronze sculpture called “Homage to Gaudi'' is a limited edition piece that stands about 14 inches tall and is 10 inches wide.

Meanwhile, the Pensacola Museum of Art continues to showcase the surrealist's provocative exhibit, "Fruits and Flowers: Dali’s Botanical Prints." If you haven't seen the sexualized cut-and-paste collection of tweaked fruits and flowers, you're missing out. What Dali does with botanicals is a masculine interpretation of what Georgia O'Keefe was able to do with orchids--a psychosexual nightmare that alludes to aggressive male psyche gone terribly awry.

What: “Fruits and Flowers: Dali’s Botanical Prints”
When: Tuesday-Saturdays until Sept. 2
Where: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St.
Cost: $5 adults, $2 students and military
Details: 432-6247 or www.pensacolamuseumofart.org

Dixie Chicks: Shut up and sing

Toronto International Film Fest execs announced that they plan to premiere the documentary following the controversy surrounding The Dixie Chicks after vocalist Natalie Maines spewed anti-Bush comments during a London concert three years ago.

"Dixie Chicks -- Shut Up and Sing," from Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County," "American Dream") and Cecilia Peck, will receive a high-profile gala screening in September.

Click here for the complete story.

Possible "Project Runway" spoiler

Vincent Libretti, the 49-year-old oddball designer currently raising eyebrows on Bravo’s “Project Runway,” may have let the cat out of the bag on his MySpace blog.

According to his posting “Wonderfull (sic) times,” the California-based visionary claims to be designing a dress for the Emmy Awards and a second garmet for MTV’s Video Music Awards on August 31 in NYC.

“Things are going really well,” he writes. “TV is one thing, innovation is another.”

While it's purely conjecture, if Libretti's claims are true it's more than likely that he scored the VMA and Emmy gigs after winning two “Project Runway” challenges yet to air.

While fans of the show initially discounted Libretti as having potential to reach the finals of “Project Runway,” the buzz started when it was announced that his model, Jia Santos, had been tragically run over by a bus in NYC. Chatter was off the hook when her publicist announced that the 18-year-old model had made it into the final three.

So, if “Project Runway” history is any indication, Libretti will more than likely stick with his model Santos all the way until the final three.

Pensacola Saenger restoration

Plans for the expansion and renovation to the Saenger Theatre in downtown Pensacola are moving forward--thanks to the local option sales tax approvals in March 2006.

The City of Pensacola will contribute $6 million to the project and Escambia County will contribute $2 million with the remaining $1 million coming from fundraisers and private donations.

Included in the renovation:

The entire main floor will be re-seated
Balcony seats will be refurbished
New air conditioning for the theater will be installed
New lobby space will be added
Additional restrooms will be added
New refreshment stands
New meeting rooms
New additional entrance

Click here for more information about the restoration project.

So you think you can dance?

Michael Wardlaw, the new Pensacola director of Northwest Florida Ballet, is oozing with an unbridled enthusiasm as he walks with a confident swagger through the group’s makeshift studio located at 28½ S. Palafox Place.

In town for little less than a week, the instructor is still unpacking boxes from his move to Pensacola from Ohio.

“This is my dream,” he says, unfazed by the holes in the downtown studio’s ceiling, the ratted carpet and the metal practice bars propped up with tennis balls. “I’m so excited to have this opportunity to teach fulltime in such a beautiful area. I feel that teaching is all about giving a part of yourself and it rewards not only the student, but the teacher.”

While the five-foot-five phenom plans to cosmetically overhaul the downtown dance space, it’s his passion for ballet—and movement in general—that earned him the job and ultimately won over Northwest Florida Ballet’s artistic director, Todd Eric Allen.

“Michael demonstrated that he has an incredible energy, technical integrity and most important a vision for a thriving dance program for Pensacola,” Allen explains.

Armed with a paintbrush and over 16 years of professional dance experience, the senior soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet maps out his vision for the 3,000 square foot practice space.
This fall, he plans to teach a cavalcade of dance styles—everything from Latin to African to hip-hop and, of course, ballet. Wardlaw also envisions a study program that immerses students in cultural customs as well as movement.

“My focus is definitely on quality and not quantity,” he says about his recruiting efforts for the upcoming semester.

Wardlaw says TV shows like ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” have fueled a renewed interest in dance. However, the 32-year-old doesn’t want to lose sight of his roots.

“Today, most ballet companies are moving toward more contemporary dance styles,” he says. “While I am comfortable with this, I don’t want to lose sight of where we’ve come from. I think it’s important that we as teachers, and as a society, maintain our respect for the classics.”
The director is currently enrolling students at all ages and levels to begin study Monday, August 14. Wardlaw is also hosting an open house 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29 with free classes starting at 3 p.m.

Call 433-8484 or visit www.nfballet.org for details.

Lance Bass comes out

Former *N Sync goofball, Lance Bass, confirms all of those gay rumors circulating on the Internet in an exclusive interview with People magazine.

"The main reason I wanted to speak my mind was that (the rumors) really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God so there's really nothing else that I worry about," he says.

Big surprise? Not.

Click here for a sneak peek.

"Dupree" controversy

The folks from Steely Dan are demanding that Luke Wilson--and not brother Owen Wilson who is actually the star of "You, Me and Dupree"--offer the aged group an apology for ripping off the character "Dupree" from their song, "Cousin Dupree."

Here's an excerpt:

What we suspect may have happened is this: Some hack writer or producer or whatever they call themselves in Malibu or Los Feliz or something apparently heard our Grammy winning song “Cousin Dupree” on the radio and thought, hey, man, this is a cool idea for a character in a movie or something… They, like took our character, this real dog sleeping on the couch and all and put him in the middle of some hokey “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” ripoff story and then, when it came time to change the character’s name or whatever so people wouldn’t know what a rip the whole thing was, THEY DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO THINK UP A NEW FUCKING NAME FOR THE GUY!

… But hey, Luke, man… do you think you could persuade your bro do do the right thing and come on down to our Concert at Irvine and apologize to our fans for this travesty? I mean, he wouldn’t have to grovel or eat shit or get down on his hands and knees and ask forgiveness - we don’t want him to do anything he’s not comfortable with - but he would have to cop to the fact that what he and his Hollywood gangster pals did was wrong and that he wishes he had never agreed to get involved with this turkey in the ifirst place… You just tell him - he’ll come down to Irvine, apologize on stage, then we’ll load him up with cool Steely merch and he can party with us and the band. Otherwise, if this business goes unresolved, there are some pretty heavy people who are upset about this whole thing and we can’t guarantee what kind of heat little Owen may be bringing down on himself. When negative energy like this attaches itself to someone because they allow themselves to get involed in stuff that is not spiritually aligned for them on all levels, there can sometimes be very harsh trips that go down.

Click here for the complete rant...

Cowell at it again...

Simon Cowell is at it again, this time creating a new talent search-style karaoke show called "Celebrity Duets." The series couples professional singers with other B-list celebs not known for their vocal chops. Think "American Idol" meets "Dancing with the Stars."

Someone please make him stop.

Singers signed up for "Duets" include Cyndi Lauper, Macy Gray, Randy Travis, Dionne Warwick, Brian McKnight, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Kenny Loggins and Michael Bolton.

Click here for the lowdown.

Prostitution, pornography and sexual slavery

Attorney-turned-author Joe Hilley will sign copies of Electric Beach , his latest legal thriller, at the following locations in the Northwest Florida Area.

Saturday, July 29:
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Books-A Million in Pensacola
6235 North Davis Highway (850-478-4849)

When a phone call drags Connolly from bed in the middle of the night, it seems like just another case. A wife is missing. The police are questioning the husband. But it doesn’t take long before clues lead to a tanning salon and a world Connolly could have never imagined. Set along the Gulf Coast and ripped from the latest headlines, Electric Beach, takes you beneath the congenial veneer of everyday life to a world of prostitution, pornography, and sexual slavery — in places you’d never expect.

Click here for more information.

Public art confidential

The city is teaming up with the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Arts Council of Northwest Florida to amp up Pensacola's public art offerings.

Artist Peter King--who, along with Xinia Marin, created the memorial in downtown Pensacola at the intersection of Garden and Palafox Streets dedicated to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001--was a public-art trailblazer when he erected his 12-foot, 10,000-pound arch, called "9-11 Homage to America" in 2005.

The second work to hit downtown? Rep. Holly Benson has donated a metal sculpture called "Muscle Beach" which will be on display in Bartram Park. The work is in honor of the late Cooper Yates, an influential advertising consultant who was active in the arts community. The piece is valued at $10,000.

The PMA and Arts Council plan to meet this afternoon to discuss their initiative of more public art offerings to dot Pensacola's ever-changing landscape.

Beyonce's "Deja Vu" is deja pew?

Who's that freak dancing on a Southern plantation in a bizarre allusion to slavery? It's an unusually vapid looking Beyonce dropping it like it's hot for boyfriend Jay-Z.

Fans of the divine "B" seem to hate the new video for"Deja Vu." In fact, they hate it so much that they've started an online petition asking Columbia Records to reshoot the footage because of its "alarming content."

Here's the so-called offensive clip. Tell us what you think.

Miss Universe pageant on NBC

Women from 86 countries will sashay in bikinis and evening gowns tonight for the final competition of the Miss Universe pageant, held in the United States for the first time in five years.

Miss USA Tara Conner (pictured) is vying to become the first American winner since Brook Lee in 1997.

The competition, held in Los Angeles, will air 8 p.m. tonight (Sunday, July 23) on NBC.

Few locals know that the current president of the Miss Universe/Miss USA organizations is a Pensacola native, Paula Shugart.

Click here for more info about Shugart.

Train hits the Wharf

The road to rock ‘n’ roll super-stardom is full of obstacles and roadblocks. The fellas from the alternative rock band Train, however, refuse to be derailed.

Starting in 1994 with songwriter/vocalist Pat Monahan, the group began their road to success as a two-piece act, playing small coffeehouses in their home base of San Francisco. Monahan soon added guitarist Jim Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood.

Armed with their watershed single, “Drops of Jupiter,” their success was fast and furious. In 2003, Train was joined by bassist Johnny Colt (originally from the Black Crowes) and Atlanta keyboardist Brandon Bush (John Mayer, Shawn Mullins).

Hot off the release of a new album, “For Me, It’s You,” the group is ready to take the local stage again—after their memorable performance at Pensacola’s SpringFest in 2004.

“It doesn't sound like we're trying too hard,” says Train vocalist-songwriter Monahan about the new album’s relaxed and intimate vibe. “I do think this record is more personal and more genuine. It’s definitely an appropriate record for me personally.”

TRAIN WITH MAT KEARNEY
8 p.m. Friday, July 28
$11.50-$46
The Wharf Amphitheatre
23101 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, Ala.
251-980-7325 or www.thewharfal.com

American radio snubs Madonna

While the Material Mom is selling out arena-sized venues throughout the U.S., Madonna is getting minimal support from American top 40 radio.

"Hung Up" got some airplay on mainstream top 40 outlets, "Sorry" barely made a blip and "Get Together" has been all but ignored by pop stations.

More than 3,300 fans have signed an appeal at the "End the Madonna on U.S. Radio Boycott" online petition directed at Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays.

Click here for the complete story.

Northwest Florida Ballet director honored

Todd Eric Allen, artistic director of the Northwest Florida Ballet, recently received international recognition when he was selected to participate in the USA International Ballet Competition as teacher and evaluator.

Known throughout the dance world as the “Olympics of dance," the competition comprises a two-week, intensive curriculum with competition for gold, silver and bronze medals, cash awards, scholarships and job offers for the best of the 340+ dance competitors.

Held every four years in Jackson, Miss., this year’s competition included Allen as teacher of Contemporary Dance; one of eleven international dance instructors.

Click here for more details.

Colin Farrell is my bitch

The blogosphere is buzzing about a confrontation last night on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" led by Dessarae Bradford, a woman who claims that the "Miami Vice" actor stalked her with inappropriate calls and text messages. The charges were dismissed in court.

On Thursday, Bradford (pictured) was a studio audience guest and surprisingly confronted him walking up to him on the stage. According to other audience members, Bradford left a copy of her self-published book, "Colin Farrell: A Dark Twisted Puppy," on Leno's desk.

According to a studio audience guest, Farrell escorted Bradford off stage and then, as she was manhandled off the set, she shouted, "I'll see you in court" and Farrell retorted, "You're insane."

In addition to her supposed tell-all book about Farrell, she's hocking another tome titled "I Fucked Alec Baldwin in the Ass" on her website.

Bradford has also written a song about Farrell called "Colin Farrell is my bitch" which you can listen to here.

Take a stab

Marvin Matanane, an 18-year-old originally from Guam who relocated to Pensacola in 2004, is taking a stab at organizing all-ages shows.

His end-of-summer showcase, featuring power-pop locals Red Lipstick Letter and IN Music Award nominees Endings Edge, is part of his Stab Here Media franchise that is growing into a tour de force among the local, under-25 crowd.

“It’s important to help kids stay busy and stay out of trouble,” explains Matanane. “The thing I always try to do is bring new artists from all around to our scene,” he says, adding that Don’t Die Cindy (pictured), A Day To Remember and Summerdale are also slotted to rock out the Legion.

What makes the show a must-see event for the young promoter? “Indianola Records’ recording artist A Day To Remember,” he explains. “I’ve been listening to them for about a year now and never got a chance to watch the boys perform onstage.”

STAB HERE MEDIA EVENT
6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20
$7
The American Legion
1401 W. Intendencia St.
www.myspace.com/shmevents

Men behaving sadly

Oh, the stupid things people do for free stuff.

At a NYC Virgin Records' event early this week, 50 men danced around on stage with only a tube sock to win free concert tickets for a two-day music festival featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Gives a sad new meaning to "sock hop."

Colin Farrell's loaded gun

Here's a shot of Colin Farrell on the set of Woody Allen's yet-to-be-named summer project.
In this photo, a female production associate seems transfixed on Farrell's gun--or is it his rear that she's looking at?

Source: Gossiprocks.com

DC superheroes get licked

A set of US postage stamps celebrating 10 of DC Comics' superhero characters are being issued this week.

The collection of 39-cent-stamps--featuring Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and others--are flying into Pensacola post offices on Saturday (our friendly mailman in the downtown branch says they should have them first-thing Monday).

Half of the 20 stamps feature portraits of the characters, while the rest show covers from their comic books.

Tori Spelling knocked up?

Possibly the first sign of the Apocalypse ... but former "90210" star and current "So NoTORIous" celebutante, Tori Spelling, is supposedly having a baby with actor Dean McDermott.

Own a piece of McConaughey

Actor Matthew McConaughey is auctioning off his 1971 Stingray Corvette on eBay to benefit Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.

Meanwhile, the hottie is caught here getting his yoga on. His response to his strenuous workout sessions on the beach: "I'm training for life, man."

IN Your Head Radio

The Independent News has launched a weekly audio component called "IN Your Head Radio," airing 11 a.m. Fridays on WUWF's digital channel 1 and 4:35 p.m. Saturdays on WEBY (1330 AM).

Loaded Gun is responsible for the 5-10 minute A&E segment nestled in the middle of the show. For this weekend's program, I interviewed bassist Grant Mosley and guitarist Cory Seals from Glory of This. Next week it's Nashville recording artist Randy Bonner and the following segment is with singer-songwriter Lyndsey Battle.

Click here to download the podcast of IN Your Head Radio.

Jessica Simpson fellates cone

The way pop tart Jessica Simpson devours an oh-so-lucky ice cream cone in her new video "A Public Affair" gives new meaning to former hubby Nick Lachey's rhetorical outcry "What's Left of Me."

What's left of Lachey? Based on Simpson's hardcore mouth action ... not much.

Mobile paper's "best of" controversy

There are a few regional grumblings surrounding Mobile's weekly alternative, The Lagniappe, and their yearly "Best of the Coast" awards called the Nappies.

A contributing writer for the paper, Sean Sullivan, is also a morning DJ on radio station WZEW. The Lagniappe contibutor sweeped the Nappie's "Best Radio" category, winning "Best Radio Morning Show DJ," "Best Local DJ" and"DJ whose voice leads you to believe you may want to see him naked." Sullivan's station also snagged "Favorite Radio Station."

Insider voting? Hmmmm...

"3D Party" video

Boxing champ Roy Jones Jr.’s rapping identical twin sons and cousin—DeAndre “Dre,” DeShawn “DJ” and Dyllon “D”—make up Body Head Entertainment's IN Music Awards nominated rap act, 3D.

Here's the Pensacola-based trio's video to "3D Party" off of their debut CD, "Boys Will Be Boys."

Local lands "High Fidelity" role

Katy Mixon, a Gulf Breeze native and a Pensacola Children’s Chorus alum, has booked “High Fidelity,” a Broadway-bound musical based on Nick Hornby’s novel and the cult film starring John Cusack.

Mixon has won the role of “Liz,” performed by Cusack’s sister, Joan, in the movie that follows a record store owner who knows a lot about vinyl but not much about love. “High Fidelity” opens on the Great White Way, December 7, after a month-long stint in Boston at the Colonial Theatre.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles-based actress is winning over critics as the sexually boisterous mean girl, Michelle, in “The Quiet,” an indie film scheduled for limited release in August.

Following the death of her widowed father, Dot (Camilla Belle) is taken in by her adoptive godparents, Paul (Martin Donovan) and Olivia (Edie Falco). Deaf and silent since age 7 when her mother died, Dot is sullen and introspective and is badgered by a group of dysfunctional high school teens all in a hormonal tizzy.

Mixon’s character, Michelle, is a bitchy cheerleader who desires some girl-on-girl action with the deaf-mute lead character, Dot. Think “Heathers” meets “But I’m a Cheerleader.” The content is dark but Mixon’s performance, according to critics, is funny as hell.

Also, the actress has a memorable part in the upcoming film, “Blind Guy Driving,” featuring Jane Seymour and scheduled for release sometime in November.

Mixon’s mother, Donna, says her daughter plans to visit home before hitting Broadway.
“She’s actually coming to Pensacola prior to moving to New York from L.A. and will be in town the first part of August,” explains Mixon’s mother. “She’s planning to go to New York by August 16.”

"Clerks II" too smutty for Siegel

Pun-hungry movie critic, Joel Siegel, stormed out of a press screening of Kevin Smith's "Clerks II" earlier this week reports the New York Post.

"Time to go!" roared Siegel to his fellow critics. "First movie I've walked out of in 30 [bleeping] years!"

The scene that sent the "Good Morning America" wordsmith running to the exit involves the allusion of a woman having sex with a donkey.

Smith fires back on his MySpace blog. The tirade is titled "A dick in a mustache is still a dick":

Getting a bad review from Siegel is like a badge of honor. This is the guy who stole his mustachioed-critic shtick from Gene Shalit years ago, and still refuses to give it back. This is a guy who seemingly prides himself on his own nyuk-nyuk wordplay. For 'Pirates 2,' he made us all titter with 'Yo, Ho, Ho and a Bottle of Fun' . . . He made us squeal with delight when he wrote, 'Wheelie Good Time for "Cars." ' I mean, Fozzy [bleeping] Bear laughs at this guy."

"Project Runway" scandal?

Well, "scandal" is an incendiary word, but the blogosphere is buzzing about "Project Runway" season 3 wannabe, Keith Michael, and the alleged fake sketches he presented in his initial audition.

Loaded Gun's alarms were set off when Michael claims to have collaborated on women’s apparel during the initial interview with Tim Gunn—but later brags that his winning garmet last week was the first dress he ever designed.

According to OMG blog, Michael defends his sketchy sketches.

I thought it might be time to write in. for the record, i submitted 5 portfolios for the judges review. the one you seem to be focusing on was a research assignment i did for a client in which i reviewed key fashion trends. as a designer, trend forecasting jobs come to me quite frequently. i'm very proud of all the work that i do. the panel of judges that reviewed my work had many years experience behind them. i found them neither ignorant, uninformed or misguided about their own profession. keith-

Last week's “what’s to come” promo at the end of the first "Project Runway" episode alludes to a big controversy that possibly results in one of the contestants getting kicked off the show. Could it be Michael?

Tune in Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (CT) on Bravo.

Date Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel, former "Seventh Heaven" hottie turned "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" roadkill, goes on the auction block tonight (7-10 p.m.) in Denver, Colorado to help a teenager who lost a leg in a Humvee accident on prom night.

Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" has posted an audio message urging listeners to support the tragically injured Molly Bloom by making a donation to what organizers are calling "Mollypalooza."

"I intend to submit a very special auction item as my contribution to the evening," purrs Biel in the taped message.

Denver-based bands 3AM, The Snobs and Flicker Four will perform at the Rock Island fundraiser.

Retching Red tonight

RETCHING RED WITH EKS & A COMMON HOPE
9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, July 18)
$6
The HandleBar
319 N. Tarragona
434-9060


A night of punk, hardcore, thrash and squirrels with knives ignite The HandleBar as Cinder Block—the fiery vocalist who carved the female-fronted punk band path with TILT—has regrouped to form California's Retching Red. Armed with its new release "Scarlet Whore of War," Red's flow of anger tackles misogyny by embracing the old-school punk sound and ethics of the early '80s. A Common Hope, locals who recently graced the ShiraGirl stage at Vans Warped Tour, also boasts a female vocalist but lacks the venom spewed by Cinder Block. While Hope is a relative newcomer to the local music scene, Earl's Killer Squirrel has been thrashing away for 12 years. "Cinder Block and her former band TILT really were torchbearers for female-fronted punk rock music all through the '90s," comments promoter Chris Wilkes, adding his enthusiasm of pairing up the new breed with the veterans. "I'm also excited about A Common Hope's drive and talent. It's been far too long since Pensacola has had a local band vaguely like them," he adds.

Splitsville for Carmen and Dave

Carmen Electra and her rock star hubby, Dave Navarro, have finally quelled the rumors and announced that their marriage is over.

Originally saying "I do" on the MTV reality show, "'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave," their rep confirms that the duo have split amicably.

Meanwhile, fans are sending support to the couple on their individual MySpace pages.

Hi Dave,
sending you love and support, I know how hard it is with a troubled marriage. I hope you guys can work things out but if not, I wish you the best. and know you have a friend here who is praying for you.

hugs!

Want more info? Check out the MySpace pages for Navarro and Electra.

Source: New York Post

Photo: Navarro's MySpace

Lindsay Lohan has zits

Downtown film fest

As reported in previous Loaded Guns, the three-day Pensacola Bay International Film Festival has been moved from the spring to the fall, with an official kick-off bash on Friday, Nov. 3.

What are some of the changes?

“The vast majority of the festival is moving to downtown Pensacola,”says Tom Roush, the festival's artistic director. “And it’s going to be in venues that are all within walking distance of each other.”

Think Gallery Night but with film screens.

We have a number of historic structures in downtown we’ve made agreements with to use their spaces and we’re going to turn them into screening rooms,” Roush continues, adding that both the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Pensacola Cultural Center have signed on as PBIFF venues.

The festival’s artistic director says he may screen the larger, big-budget films at a local theater, however he quips, “what we’re not prepared to do is to have the entire event be driven by where the theaters are located, which we can’t control.”

Check out the PBIFF’s new website, www.pensacolafilmfestival.com, for updates.

Timberlake's drug binges?

Justin Timberlake insists that nobody will ever see him taking drugs or getting drunk--because he gets high in the privacy of his own home, away from the public eye.

Timberlake tells today's edition of Observer Music Monthly, "I don't show up drunk to functions. The drugs I do have been in my own private time.

"I've never been arrested... though that's not to say I won't.

"I get plastered, I've done my fair share of drugs and I've been caught with my pants down. I just make sure there are no cameras around. I try to live my life in a well-rounded manner."

Source: Yahoo News (U.K.)

Pensacola Civic Center rocks on...

With fuel prices at record highs and summer concert ticket sales at an all-time low, the Pensacola Civic Center placed in the top 10 on two of "Venues Today Magazine's" hot lists.

Kenny Chesney's April performances in Pensacola ranked No. 6 for highest grossing ticketed events in venues with 5,001 to 10,000 seats. The sold-out shows will go down in the record books as the highest grossing event in the Civic Center's history.

The venue also garnered a No. 10 spot for overall grosses ranging from Nov. 16, 2005 to May 15, 2006. During that period, the stadium hosted acts ranging from Staind to Nine Inch Nails to Clay Aiken.

The only setback this past season? The March 4 cancellation of Aerosmith's "Rockin' The Joint" tour due to issues with frontman Steven Tyler's voice which result in throat surgery.

Click here for details and info about the upcoming KORN show.

What the cluck?

OK, I'm always a bit apprehensive when I open mail from the Virginia-based People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They've been particularly vehement with their “Kick The Bucket” campaign against KFC. Click here for their website and here for my perspective in Loaded Gun.

In the past, they sent me a bloody Col. Sanders bobblehead holding a knife and slaughtering a chicken. This morning, they sent me one of those cute, wind-up chicks that hops around—however it’s covered in blood and its beak is ripped off.

The tagline: “KICK THE BUCKET: Chicks everywhere are hopping mad at KFC for breaking their wings and legs, cutting their beaks off and scalding them to death.”

Too much?

PLT receives preservation grant

The Pensacola Little Theatre and Cultural Center received approval of grant funds from the Historic Preservation Grants in Aid Program, Florida Department of State in the amount of $50,000.

The grant will be used to repair the exterior walls and roof damage from the recent hurricanes. The grant requires a dollar for dollar match. The repairs will restore this historic structure which was renovated from its original use as a County Court of Records building and County jail and houses several arts organizations including the Pensacola Little Theatre.

CBS' "egg-vertising"

In September, CBS plans to start using a new place to advertise its fall television lineup: your breakfast.

The network plans to announce today that it will place laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store. Some of their planned slogans: “CSI” (“Crack the Case on CBS”); “The Amazing Race” (“Scramble to Win on CBS”); and “Shark” (“Hard-Boiled Drama.”). Variations on the ad for its Monday night lineup of come.

Click here for the complete article.

Spencer in "Angela's Eyes"

Gulf Breeze native Abigail Spencer is "gorgeous" as FBI agent Angela Henson on Lifetime's new docu-drama, "Angela's Eyes."

But is her character more style than substance?

Here's an excerpt from a review in the New York Times:

Angela Henson sees things. Not exactly like Allison DuBois on NBC’s “Medium,” who has dreams, most often about murders. Maybe it’s more accurate to say that Angela knows things. Like Adrian Monk of USA’s “Monk,” the Holmesian detective who sees clues where mere mortals draw a blank. Angela is never wrong. Like Dr. Gregory House of Fox’s “House.” If he makes a diagnostic error, that means the whole episode is a dream.

Angela (the gorgeous Abigail Spencer) is the FBI agent heroine of Lifetime’s new drama series “Angela’s Eyes,” which has its premiere on Sunday night. And Lifetime would love nothing more than for her to take her place alongside those infallible television favorites.

She proves herself in the first episode by becoming fed up with an uneventful three-day stakeout, barging into a diner and confronting the man who she knows is harboring a terrorist. She can even tell where the terrorist is by the movement of the man’s eyes when he lies about it. And when he puts a gun to her poreless forehead, she is so sure of his intentions that she is able to say, coolly: “Wow. Scary.”

It would be nice if Angela’s persona were truly distinctive, but, played by Ms. Spencer, she may turn out to be just another very pretty face.

*******************************************

Based on last night's performance, I would have to argue that Spencer's portrayal is, in fact, multi-dimensional. The character is young--and so is Spencer--and that comes across in some of the Valley Girl-isms interspersed throughout the hour-long premiere. However, the actress is convincing as a young woman who has this amazing gift as a human lie detector--but can't seem to turn it off in her personal life. The conflict is that she has this ability but lacks the maturity or life experience to handle what comes with the responsibility.

Great job Abigail!

Click here for Loaded Gun's interview with Spencer earlier this month.

Gallery Night Update

The Independent News office (124 S. Palafox) is bustling with last-minute preparations for tonight's Gallery Night festivities kicking off at 5 p.m.
The folks from Mr. Margarita have set up three margarita machines--strawberry, lime and "jacked-up" lime. We're handing out the frozen potent potables to the masses for free--just as soon as the concoction freezes.

University of West Florida visual artists Julie Najjar and Tressie Scarborough are setting up their artwork on IN's lime-green walls. In honor of our "argh, matey" pirate theme, the two plan to dress up as buccaneers--think more Mary Read and Anne Bonny and less Blackbeard and "Calico" Jack Rockham.

Scarborough has three new pieces that particularly stand out. It's her reaction to a UWF professor saying that she's "not girly enough." The paintings evoke a Toulouse-Lautrec, absinthe-fueled journey to 1889 Paris featuring female models (with boyish features). Scarborough says it's her way of challenging traditional gender roles and identity.

For a complete listing of tonight's Gallery Night festivities, check out our website.

Week IN Music_07.13

If you can tear yourself away from the blogs for a bit, this week's paper is online now. Here are a few highlights from the A&E realm...

MOURNING GLORY
Cory Seals, guitarist for the Pensacola-based melodic hard rock band Glory of This, isn’t the type to pussyfoot around the details surrounding his band’s full-length release, “The Lover, The Liar, The Ruse."

A&E PICKS
Best of the best for the week of July 13, 2006...

LOADED GUN
Korn cometh, red-hot ‘Radio’ and the Rex returns?

CD LOWDOWN
If you haven't heard of “Be Your Own Pet” yet, you're officially out of the loop.

MUSIC LISTINGS
Live music events, DJ listings and karaoke

ROAD TRIPS
On the road again…

IN MUSIC AWARDS
The race for INMA’s “Best Regional” is closer than ever. Vote now!

Glory of This ... naked?

OK, it's just Glory of This' bassist, Grant Mosley, stripped down...but you can see the fellas let it all hang out at their "The Lover, The Liar, The Ruse" CD release party hitting Sluggo's 7 p.m. Friday, July 14; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 16.

And check the Independent News on Thursday, July 13 for a revealing (alright, maybe not as revealing as this) interview with Mosley and GOT's guitarist Cory Seals.

Here's a sneak peek of the IN feature:

“We all had to question if we were all willing to break off these relationships to keep doing music,” explains Seals. “We all made the decision right then when we wrote and recorded the album that the music comes first. We don’t have a choice. It’s the life we’ve chosen to live.”

Photo credit: Shauncey Fury

Indie Summer Screams

Nightmare Theatre, the Florida Gulf Coast's only hosted horror television show, is proud to announce the first "Indie Summer Screams" film series at the Silver Screen.

The series seeks to highlight some of the most entertaining independent horror productions being produced. These B-films that may not have Hollywood budgets or backing, but still manage to terrify, amuse and satisfy audiences.

The series kicks off 11:30 p.m. July 29, with the Southeastern Premiere of "Screech Of The Decapitated" featuring scream queen legend Debbie Rochon. This horror-comedy is the tale of two showgirls, Wanda & Raquel, who must save the world from outer space invaders, wrestling werewolves and bad taste. www.screechthemovie.com.

On August 26, the series continues with "Frankenstein's Bloody Nightmare" shot on both Super-8 & digital video locally in the Pensacola & Milton area, this unique avant-garde horror film is reminiscent of David Cronenberg & David Lynchs early works. The director/writer John R. Hand and most of the cast and crew will be on hand for this film's public premiere. www.pulsingcinema.com/jrhfilms

And finally, on September 30, director William Wincklers latest film, Frankenstein vs. The Creature From Blood Cove ends the series. A tribute to the rubber suit monster films of the 50s, this horror comedy features cameos from Lloyd Kaufman (Troma), Butch Patrick (The Munsters) and Ron Jeremy (Uhhh, you know). www.williamwincklerproductions.com

All of the features will be hosted by the cast of Nightmare Theatre, including The Baron Von Doren (Mike Ensley), El Sapo De Tempesto (Chip Chism) and Mittens The Werewolf (Lemmie Crews). In addition to the films, there will also be giveaways, trailers for other indie films and, as always, surprises!

All films are being screened at the Silver Screen Theatre, 7280 Plantation Rd, Pensacola, FL. Admission is $2 and films begin at 11:30pm.

For up to date information on the series, visit www.nightmaretheatre.com or www.myspace.com/nightmaretheatre

The Rex Returns?

In the recent edition of The Downtown Crowd, newbie journalist and talented musician, Joshua Kinser, explores the buzz surrounding owner Tim Hogan's vision of transforming the fallen Rex Theater on Palafox into "a high-tech, retro-themed" movie theater and music venue.

Our fingers are crossed.

The estimate in 2001 to renovate the Rex to code and remodel it into a conservative, usable venue space/snack bar was a cool $1.5 million.

If Hogan is able to revitalize and deliver, the new Rex could satiate the need for a mid-size music venue outlined in the Independent News' "Ballsy Plan III."

This is our call to action months ago:

Pensacola needs a nice mid-size music venue to replace the old Bayfront Auditorium, which sat on the water at the end of Palafox Street.

The hall should be large enough to accommodate regional bands that are too popular for the 1,800-seat Saenger Theatre, but not big enough to sell out the 10,000-seat Pensacola Civic Center.

If Hogan and his team are able to refurbish the venue up to code, will there be enough parking? And, better yet, will it be large enough to showcase bands that are too popular for the smaller venues like Sluggo's and The HandleBar and not big enough to fill the Civic Center?

We hope so.

Suitcase stealing marines?

10 YEARS guitarist Matt Wantland claims that the group's tour bus was attacked by two U.S. marines in Pensacola at the "Lot of Rock" show outside of Seville on Saturday, June 24. The rockers apparently were asleep at around 5 a.m. when the assailants attempted to enter the bus and steal a suitcase. The band and its crew allegedly fought off and chased the men before they were apprehended by the police.

Here's an excerpt from Wantland's story (SOURCE: Blabbermouth.net):

We got them out, shut the door and called the cops. At this point one of the guys grabbed one of trash bags sitting on the curb and smashed it against the bus window, breaking beer bottles and scattering trash everywhere.

Click here for details.

Check out my review of the "Lot of Rock" show at www.inweekly.net.

Road Warriors

Erran Yearty and Nick Claeboe, former graphic artists with the Independent News and current A-list party boys in Atlanta, are featured players in the July ’06 issue of Maxim magazine.

The duo--who originally forged a friendship in Pensacola--teamed up for “Team Armada” and participated in the 2006 Great Maxim Magazine Road Trip Contest. Yearty and Claeboe came in a respectable third place and earned national ink for their decadent going away party at Atlanta’s Frequency nightclub that included Motley Crue’s infamous drummer Tommy Lee screwing around on the turntables and Nikki Sixx, well, being Nikki Sixx.

The “slow-motion train wreck,” as they call it, started on Wednesday, March 15 and ended on Saint Patrick’s Day in Dallas, where Yearty downed 160 Jagermeister shots and Claeboe strangely disappeared with a group of bodybuilders and strippers. The three-man team’s captain, Max Smith, was hospitalized after the weekend for kidney trouble that was reportedly exacerbated by the liquor-fueled festivities.
While creativity was rewarded, the team had to adhere to a few Maxim road trip rules which resulted in Claeboe being taken away by a cop in handcuffs, photos of a three-way girl kiss that included tongue and the entire team working the pole at a strip club.

Yearty sums up the weekend in Maxim’s “Three’s a Crowd” write-up: “I was so hungover when we got back that my company fired me for having such a bad attitude. They eventually hired me back, but it was horrible.”

Check out www.myspace.com/sofain for the lowdown.

Argh, matey!

In anticipation of the upcoming Johnny Depp sequel "Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest," pirates seem to be popping up all over Pensacola.

This Friday, a group of pirate enthusiasts who dress up in traditional garb and reenact authentic sword fights--called the Crewe of the Black Pearl--will “argh, matey” their way to the Silver Screen at all four screenings (1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.) of the anticipated sequel. Pirate leader, Cathy Goren, says that her cohorts will hand out gold coins to the kids and answer any questions moviegoers may have about the peg-leg pack.

Meanwhile, visual artist Brandon Delles has his homage to pirates on display at the Palafox Convenience Mart, 126 Palafox Place (right next door to the Independent News).

And coming up on Gallery Night (Friday, July 14), the Independent News is opening its doors as a pirate-themed hideaway, hosting acoustic singer-songwriter Lucas Crutchfield and showcasing works from a crew of up-and-coming UWF artists.

Get ready to surrender the booty.

Art & Design Society 6th Annual Photography and Digital Arts Exhibition Call to Artists

For Immediate Release

To: All Local Media, Arts Interests
Subject: Art & Design Society 6th Annual Photography
and Digital Arts Exhibition Call to Artists

Date:
Drop Off: Monday, August 28th, 2006: 8:30 am– 1:00 pm;
Show dates are: September 1 – 24, 2006;
Reception: Friday September 1, 6 – 8 pm.

Location: The Arts Center, 17 First St, SE, Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548
Contact: Marcy Eady, ADSO, 850-244-1271

From: Margaret Warren, 850-324-1928,
ADSO Publicity Chairperson

The Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach (ADSO) announces a call to artists for their 7th Annual Photography and Digital Arts Exhibition to be held September 1 – 24, 2006. The show will accept entries in an open category format, with the works being produced using photographic methods (including digital).

Computer manipulation is allowed. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded. Work will be accepted on Monday, August 28th 8:30 am– 1:00 pm. Opening reception will be Friday September 1 6 – 8 pm. ADSO.

The judge for the exhibition will be Benjamin Gillham, MFA, Professor of Graphic Design/Photography/Multimedia Okaloosa-Walton College.

For more information call Arts and Design Society at 850-244-1271 or 17 First St SE, Fort Walton Beach or visit our website at artsdesignsociety.com.

--

Revel Snipes Back

Ben Minor, guitarist for the IN Music Awards nominated local band Revel, responds to the criticism in last week's review of the "Lot of Rock" show outside of Seville. The article is called "Asphalt Jungle."

Ben Minor's response:

Do you have any guitar tips for me? I'm tired of being laughable, and I wish I could be more good than gratuitous. Just a little constructive criticism would help. Sorry I'm not Joe Satriani.

By the way, all the people screaming so loud that I couldn't even hear what I was playing during my solo seemed to think I was better than "laughable". I was literally shaking because I was so floored by the response. That was one of the best feelings I've ever experienced.

Or maybe they were just laughing at me and wanted me to stop being so gratuitous.

P.S. If you're pissed at me because I didn't answer your question at the merch table, I'm terribly sorry. I don't have the best hearing ability because I was foolish in my youth and never wore earplugs while jamming with my buddies in the garage, and I listened to my music too loud. I honestly couldn't hear what you were saying, and I really did feel bad about that. I'm glad John was able to help you out more than I was.