June 2017 News

from: cbc.ca
By Haydn Watters, CBC News | Photo by Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

The party continued Thursday for the seven new recipients of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards -- complete with a little help from rock and roller JOAN JETT.

This year's honourees, which include actors Martin Short, Michael J. Fox and crooner Michael Buble, were feted with a fancy Colm Feore-hosted gala Thursday at Ottawa's newly renovated National Arts Centre. It comes a day after the winners received their awards and gave speeches at Rideau Hall.

Jett, perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, was on hand to rock out alongside her friend Fox, just like they did in the 1987 film Light of Day. Vancouver actor Ryan Reynolds also gave Fox kudos in a taped tribute.

"I just want to say what a giving man this person is," Jett said post-performance. She talked about starring alongside Fox in Light of Day, her acting debut. "He was the most generous, down-to-earth person you'd ever want to meet and you don't find that a lot in Hollywood."

"This is a special being you've got right here."

from: houstonpress.com
By JESSE SENDEJAS JR

When's the last time you went to a rock concert? I mean a real live extended guitar solo-wailin', bassist leaping on the amp, giant gong behind the drum kit, lit Bics in the air, over-the-head hand-clapping, air guitar-inducing, never sit in the seat you purchased rock and roll affair? If you weren't at last night's Boston/JOAN JETT show, you missed a hell of an opportunity to experience such a moment.

The bands are traveling together on Boston's Hyper Space Tour. Jett latched onto the tour for shows this month and next and opened the night. She peppered the audience with jab after jab and had us reeling before the headliners came out to land a haymaker, a musical knockout so intense it had us seeing stars (or spaceships, at least).

Even in an auditorium the size of Smart Financial Centre, bands feed off their crowds and last night's audience provided plenty of fuel. There was more than a feeling of excitement outside the building ahead of the show and long lines at the merch tables indoors. But most people were seated when none other than Dayna Steele, Houston's "First Lady of Rock," came out to introduce the bands and welcome everyone. You can't get more "rock and roll" in this town than having Steele onstage setting things up.

Maybe. But who's aged better than JOAN JETT? She hit the stage ten minutes past eight with "Victim of Circumstance." Dressed in a skin-tight, red and black body suit with a matching guitar, she's sexy as ever and her trademark rasp is still punk a.f. She moved from that 1981 track into a string of hits that included "Cherry Bomb," "Do You Wanna Touch Me" and a frenetic version of "Bad Reputation." Her younger visage projected behind her during the songs reminded us of her coal-dyed hair and doe-eyed beauty. But, seeing her in the flesh, peeling off half-smiles and smirks during tracks like "I Hate Myself for Loving You" just made it evident that she is destined to be eternally cool. Over a dozen songs, she made the night interactive, urging us to "Oh Yeah!" for "Do You Wanna Touch Me" and, of course, exacting a mass sing-along to "I Love Rock n' Roll."

She chatted with the crowd, drawing laughs by telling us The RUNAWAYS had played Houston before, "At,….someplace that doesn't exist anymore." Before she and the band ripped into "Light of Day," she advised us that after the show she and the band were flying to Canada to perform tonight with Michael J. Fox, at his behest, for the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards, where he is being feted with the nation's highest arts honor.

"Then we're coming right back to Texas," she promised. All we could think was please don't be too long in returning to Houston, Ms. Jett.

Boston's set began appropriately, with its architect, multi-instrumentalist and, according to lead guitarist Gary Pihl, "the man who wrote all the songs," Tom Scholz alone onstage. While his bandmates took their places in the shadows, the band founder stood in the spotlight and thrilled with an elaborate guitar intro to show opener "Rock & Roll Band."

from: theet.com
By Kirsten Reneau STAFF WRITER

BURGETTSTOWN -- For rock fans of all ages, Boston and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will be performing a high-energy, true rock-and-roll show that will take audience members out of this world.

Boston may be best known for the hits "More Than a Feeling," "Peace of Mind," and "Smokin.'"

Boston's beginnings are unique. Unlike many bands at the time, Boston's work was done in a basement, written, produced and recorded by the still touring Tom Scholz. Scholz was an MIT graduate who designed special equipment to create songs, but nonetheless started off in the world of music with the plan to be able to play live shows without using prerecorded music.

It's been over 40 years since the band's first album, but "with over 31 million albums sold to date, Boston has stood the test of time," officials say.

Their newest tour, titled the Hyper Space Tour, continues to offer a high-energy show along with exceptional musicianship.

from: latimes.com
By Randall Roberts

A little before 4 a.m. Monday, the disc jockey who will forever be known as Rodney on the ROQ bid farewell to his long-running radio station home, KROQ-FM, with a song by the Monkees.

At the end of a four-hour final edition of a show he has curated for nearly 40 years -- which included archival interviews with Van Halen and Elvis Costello and on-air well wishes from JOAN JETT, Debbie Harry and others -- the DJ born Rodney Bingenheimer played one last piece of music: "Porpoise Song."

The song, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, concludes with an eerie refrain.

Wanting to feel
To know what is real
Living is a, is a lie
The porpoise is waiting
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye ...

from: ultimateclassicrock.com
By Ultimate Classic Rock Staff

Boston's 2017 Hyper Space Tour has added JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS to the current leg, which starts on June 14 in Mountain View, Calif. Ultimate Classic Rock and Live Nation are giving one lucky winner and a guest a trip to see them live in Boston on July 13. This prize includes two reserved tickets to see Boston and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS at TD Garden in Boston on July 13, 2017, round-trip flights for two from the airport nearest your home, a three-night stay at a hotel and a $200 pre-paid cash gift card to use toward ground transportation. (Full details below.)

The tour finds both bands playing songs from their long careers. Both artists released their latest albums in 2013. Boston's Life, Love & Hope marked the group's return to the Top 40, and Jett and the BLACKHEARTS' Unvarnished featured performances and production from Dave Grohl.

"I am thrilled to have Joan and her band on tour with us this summer," Boston leader Tom Scholz said. "Not only is she an amazing rock and roll performing artist, but even more exciting to me is that she is a fellow vegetarian and shares compassion for animal welfare."

You can see the entire list of dates for Boston and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS' 2017 tour below.

from: looktothestars.org
By looktothestars.org

Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is pleased to announce that the 18th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, presented by Pepsi-Cola, Shaw's Foundation and Star Market Foundation, will take place June 2-3.

More than 2,500 people are expected to participate in the Challenge -- a charity walk, run and ride to benefit Best Buddies International.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots Quarterback and Best Buddies Global Ambassador, will serve as Honorary Co-Chair, along with Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III. During the Challenge, Event Chair Ted English, Executive Chairman of Bob's Discount Furniture, will help honor Retired CEO of Natixis Global Asset Management John Hailer with the Spirit of Friendship award for the incredible work he has done to promote Best Buddies' mission of friendship and inclusion.

"Best Buddies is a fantastic organization with a great message to spread, and I am so proud to support their work," said Best Buddies Global Ambassador Tom Brady. "I hope my role as Honorary Co-Chair will continue to bring attention to the organization's mission of friendship and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the world."

"We are delighted to be returning to Massachusetts for our 18th Annual Hyannis Port Challenge and we are thrilled that Tom Brady, Guy Fieri and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III will join us as Honorary Chairmen of this event," said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International. "We are also honored to have Pepsi-Cola, Shaw's Foundation and Star Market Foundation as this year's Presenting Sponsors. Their dedication to the Best Buddies mission of inclusion -- along with that of all Challenge participants -- has helped bring an even greater awareness to the infinite abilities people with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess."