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The Hottest Unsigned Music Act Anywhere is Ray Bull, Based in Brooklyn, Of Course, And Waiting for a Label Deal

Roger Friedman
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The Hottest Unsigned Music Act Anywhere is Ray Bull, Based in Brooklyn, Of Course, And Waiting for a Label Deal

Only kids have heard of Ray Bull. Maybe.

The duo– Tucker Elkins and Aaron Graham — are artists who live in Bushwick, Brooklyn. They’ve made a full length digital record and an EP, both of which are on Spotify.

In order, this is what happened to bring them here: Victoria Shaffer, the daughter of Paul Shaffer, heard their song “the New Thing Dies” online and mentioned it to her mother, Cathy Vasapoli, who was a famous talent booker in New York TV in the 70s and 80s. She fell in love with the song, too. (She knows a hit when she hears one.)

Cathy tried to find Ray Bull, but came up with nothing. So she asked me to find them, if I liked them, too. It took a while, it was frustrating, but I found Tucker Elkins at last.

He was a bit surprised when I reached out. He and Graham are former artists. He explained the name Ray Bull was a fake one Graham used to get his work into art exhibitions. They are not signed to a label but they do have a manager and a lawyer. They’ve been courted a little by labels, but they’re in the courtship stage.

Of course, they have a YouTube channel.

Here’s the video for “The New Thing Dies,” which sounds like a lot of things no one can put their finger on. It’s just incredibly catchy. The song has echoes of the 80s, and 2000s. When I told Tucker I heard a little Orchestral Manouevers in the Dark, he didn’t know who there were. Oh well. There are also bits of other things we like, including Tears for Fears and Talking Heads. Press mix on the Cuisinart.

Ray Bull has April dates in Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. Manhattan may yet be in their future.

“SNL” with Shane Gillis, 21 Savage was Not a A Hit: 10th Highest Show of Season

Roger Friedman
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“SNL” with Shane Gillis, 21 Savage was Not a A Hit: 10th Highest Show of Season

Getting “SNL” ratings has been a struggle this season.

After a couple of weeks in, NBC stopped releasing linear numbers for the network broadcast show. They just announced a total that couldn’t be verified including streaming on Peacock.

So it’s instructive to learn that last week’s show — with Shane Gillis hosting and 21 Savage as musical guest — was a dud.

Total viewers came to just 3.99 million, placing the episode at 10th so far of the season. The only good news was that nearly a million of those people were aged 18-25. Adults didn’t tune in.

The lack of transparency about the ratings may be because they just haven’t been great. According to LateNighter.com, the Emma Stone hosted show on December 2nd was also low rated.

Last night’s show was pretty good, with a surprisingly enjoyable Sydney Sweeney hosting and a sublime Kacey Musgraves as musical guest. Sweeney’s “Anyone But You” co-star Glen Powell even pitched in. The best indication that people tuned in is that Kacey’s songs that she performed each went top 20 on iTunes.

The only dud in the bunch of sketches was the cold open. Like last week, it seemed short and had no punch. Is this a new strategy? It’s not working.

“Weekend Update” continues to save the show. But the cast still seems a little adrift. I love Ego Nwodim, and Marcello Hernandez has taken off. But there’s a sense of authority missing. There’s no real leading man or woman (or anything else).

Box Office: “Dune Two” Racks Up $81 Million Opening Weekend, Bob Marley Only Other Hit

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Dune Two” Racks Up $81 Million Opening Weekend, Bob Marley Only Other Hit

The box office was all about “Dune Two” this weekend and not much else.

The sequel to the 2021 version of the Frank Herbert sci fi novel brought in $81 million from Thursday to Sunday. That’s a lot of sandworms.

Warner Bros. can only be thrilled as “Dune Two” is a blockbuster and sets the stage for a third and final edition that will even go higher.

“Dune Two” was the only thing anyone cared about this weekend, although both “Bob Marley One Love” and Hillary swank’s “Ordinary Angels” did well enough considering the environment.

Otherwise, the box office is fairly weak and has been since the holidays. All of these other films made over the weekend what they should have made each day of the weekend.

The fact is, most people are watching movies at home. Streaming has severely and permanently injured in person viewing. It’s a shame. There are a few Oscar nominated films still in theaters, but the audience is tiny. We are living in the Upside Down, for sure.

Box Office: “Dune Two” Spectacular $20 Mil After Second Night of Sold Out Shows, $32 Mil Total

Roger Friedman
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0
Box Office: “Dune Two” Spectacular $20 Mil After Second Night of Sold Out Shows, $32 Mil Total

The next thing you know, the sand worms are going to ask for bonuses!

Last night “Dune Two” earned a whopping $20 mil in its second night — or first night, if you go by Hollywood.

Coupled with Thursday previews, “D2” has banked $32 million!

The film scored $7,910 per screen last night, which ain’t bad!

If it picks up another $40 million tonight and tomorrow, that will bring “Dune Two” to $72 million.

Why isn’t it more? Two reasons: the three hour length of the total experience, and the bad weather in most of the country.

Why did “Oppenheimer,” also a three hour movie, do better? Two reasons: it came out in the summer when the weather was fine, and getting up the next morning wasn’t of the same importance work wise.

(Watch) Nirvana Achieved: Still Soaring Keith Richards Records Brilliant Tribute Version of Lou Reed’s “Waiting for the Man”

Roger Friedman
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(Watch) Nirvana Achieved: Still Soaring Keith Richards Records Brilliant Tribute Version of Lou Reed’s “Waiting for the Man”

We have reached nirvana. And an inflection point.

Keith Richards — noted former drug addict — recording the late Lou Reed’s “Waiting for the Man.” I mean, everything comes together here, doesn’t it?

Keith, now 80, kicked drugs and remains a medical miracle and a musical hero. But you can imagine him sending someone up to Lexington and one-two-five, can’t you?

PLAY IT LOUD!

This is part of a tribute album for Lou’s coming birthday.
In honor of Lou Reed’s birthday, Keith Richards has recorded a cover of “I’m Waiting for the Man.” The digital single & music video are out now and featured on the upcoming album The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, which includes newly recorded covers from Keith Richards, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Bobby Rush, Automatic, The Afghan Whigs, and Rosanne Cash. This special collection will be released by Light in the Attic Records and available on Vinyl & CD at fine independent record shops worldwide on Record Store Day (April 20th).

Boom! “Dune” Kicks Up the Sand with HUGE Preview Night Hitting $12 Mil (Including $4.5 Mil IMAX)

Roger Friedman
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Boom! “Dune” Kicks Up the Sand with HUGE Preview Night Hitting $12 Mil (Including $4.5 Mil IMAX)

“Dune Two” killed it last night at the box office.

In previews, the epic second picture of three earned $12 million including $4.5 million from IMAX.

This was obvious last night. Most shows were sold out. It’s the same for tonight.

“Dune Two” could have a $100 million weekend. Bravo!

“Dune Two” Box Office Beast: Most New York, Chicago Preview Shows Sold Out Tonight, Even 3:15AM!

Roger Friedman
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0
“Dune Two” Box Office Beast: Most New York, Chicago Preview Shows Sold Out Tonight, Even 3:15AM!

Tomorrow morning we’ll get the box office numbers from tonight’s preview shows of “Dune Two.”

But I can tell you now it’s sold out everywhere. In New York, at AMC Lincoln Square, even the 3:15am show is sold out. It’s a three hour experience, so that means the audience will leave around 6am!

It’s the same all over New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, which I checked on Fandango. The Dolby and IMAX versions are really sold, there are some seats in regular theaters. “Dune Two” is going to be a box office beast.

“Dune Two” is directed by Denis Villeneuve, and stars Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgaard, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, and a cast of thousands.

The surge for tickets is largely due to the reviews — 95% on Rotten Tomatoes — and a strong cast. The budget is over $200 million, but with these ticket sales, Warner Bros. will be raking it in!

“Oscarheimer” Academy Awards Add More Presenters Including Rita Moreno, The Rock, Bad Bunny, and Kate McKinnon aka Bad Barbie

Roger Friedman
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“Oscarheimer” Academy Awards Add More Presenters Including Rita Moreno, The Rock, Bad Bunny, and Kate McKinnon aka Bad Barbie

The Oscars have added names to their presenters list.

The new names include Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate McKinnon, Rita Moreno, John Mulaney, Catherine O’Hara, Octavia Spencer and Ramy Youssef.

They are in addition to Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Lange, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Yeoh and Zendaya.

The Oscars are on March 10th on ABC. Should we already coin the phrase “Oscarheimer”? The blockbuster looks like it’s going to sweep most categories. An explosive night!

Pop Fizz: Beyonce Country Song Knocked Off Number 1 on iTunes by 21 Year Old TikTok Star Benson Boone

Roger Friedman
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Pop Fizz: Beyonce Country Song Knocked Off Number 1 on iTunes by 21 Year Old TikTok Star Benson Boone

The pop music world is certainly fickle.

Beyonce dropped her new country single, “Texas Hold ‘Em” during the Grammy Awards three weeks ago. It shot to number 1 immediately.

This morning, “Texas Hold “Em” couldn’t hold ’em off. It’s dropped to number 2 behind Benson Boone’s surprise hit rocker “Beautiful Things.” Her other singe, “16 Carriages,” is already down to number 51.

Boone is a TikTok star who’s just 21 years old. He auditioned for “American Idol” but dropped out because he thought he’d have a bigger career on the social platform. Warner Music signed him, and now he’s on his way.

Meantime, Beyonce has done no actual publicity. She doesn’t do interviews or perform on TV. The Queen Bey is 42 and has no clue what’s going on in the music world. She may not care. She has a great publicist, but you can only lead a horse to water. On the cover of her last album, Beyonce sat almost naked on a clear horse. Maybe it was a sign.

Bizarre: Elizabeth Hurley is Directed by Lookalike Son in Steamy Scene from New Straight to Video Release

Roger Friedman
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Bizarre: Elizabeth Hurley is Directed by Lookalike Son in Steamy Scene from New Straight to Video Release

A trailer has arrived for a movie called “Strictly Confidential” that is really bizarro.

Long time Public Beauty Elizabeth Hurley is directed by her lookalike son in a same sex scene.

Yes, really.

The home video Lions Gate release is imminent and it looks very bad, a real D movie.

Damian’s father was the late Steve Bing, the popular music and movie self styled impresario who killed himself during the pandemic by jumping off a building when it turned out his very wealthy father had cut him off.

Bing had refused to recognize Damian, the product of a short relationship with Elizabeth. It’s unclear if Damian ever settled with the Bing family or his father’s estate.

The “Strictly Confidential” trailer suggests a late night Cinemax special with acting stiffer than cardboard. It wouldn’t be notable except for Elizabeth’s seduction scene with a hot young woman — directed by Damian! The mother and son have always had a peculiar public relationship, but this goes one step too far.

The outstanding lines of award winning dialogue: “You’re boring me” and “Jesus Christ!”

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