Happy Halloween Ms. Winehouse!

I thought it would be fun to dress-up as Amy Winehouse for Halloween, but I ran out of jet-black eyeliner and I just couldn't get my hair to beehive. Oh, and I can't sing a lick.

My friend, Yoga Matt (remember him?), has been going on and on about the British songstress, and since I know you music fans out there are missing Bret's music blogs, I thought I would try to give you something to chew on. Winehouse was on a recent cover of Rolling Stone, and writer Jenny Eliscu referred to her latest album, Back to Black, as, "...a stylized collection of R&B throwbacks that sound like a British hip-hop brat's interpretation of Sixties Motown soul in the best possible way..." Winehouse's problems with addiction are no secret, and though I am more partial to the sultry "Love Is a Losing Game," I'll give you her more popular, albiet defiant, hit "Rehab:"

Women of Ojai Calendar Release

A PRESS RELEASE FROM ATTASALINA PHOTOGRAPHY:

“STRENGTH IS BEAUTY” - THE WOMEN OF OJAI 2008 CALENDAR

The Ojai Calendar Project continues to support the arts in Ojai. This year, Attasalina Dews presents the Women of Ojai in “Strength is Beauty” to be released on October 26th at a reception and gallery show at the Ojai Art Center from 6-10pm. The calendar is a limited edition of 750 copies featuring fine art nude photographs of twelve local women. Limited edition, fine art prints will also be available for purchase at the reception. Pre-sales of the calendar are available online at www.womenofojai.com. Proceeds of calendar and print sales will benefit local artists, art groups and school art programs. The calendar price is $25.

The response to the 2007 Men of Ojai calendar “Liberation” was overwhelmingly positive and the process of creating and distributing the calendar supported many local artists and art related businesses. Through the calendar effort, Demitri Corbin was elected to serve on the board of the Ojai Arts Commission where he continues as an advocate for the arts in Ojai and Peachtree Theatre Company has been able to continue its community programs.

The Women of Ojai 2008 Calendar has brought on new support in the form of four local sponsors: Color Works Printing, Inc., P3D Marketing & Events, Studio 201 Framing and Valley of Moon Giclees. They have all made this project possible with their generosity and enthusiasm for the work. With their help, this calendar has even greater potential to support local artists and encourage creative freedom in the Ojai Valley.

While a major focus of the Ojai Calendar Project is to raise money for the arts, the other equally important aspect is to raise awareness of how vital the arts are to our community. Art is an integral aspect of human nature. Too often it is marginalized, trivialized or considered only for the elite. The Ojai Calendar invites the community to participate in the artistic process and to share in the experience of creation. Freedom of expression is a tremendous gift that must be valued and nurtured. Our children must learn to challenge people’s perceptions and be encouraged to raise their standard of consciousness. We should all nurture the strength to support each other and to appreciate beauty abundant in its many forms. Because art is life!

Listen to an interview with Salina about the project on Radio Ojai.

Contact information: 798.1440, www.attasalina.com, salina@attasalina.com

MAVRIC Awards!

Celebrating Ventura County's independent musicians, the Music Awards for Ventura Roots & Independent Creations (MAVRIC) nominees have just been announced! The winners will be selected at the first annual MAVRIC Awards ceremony on Sunday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the Pt. Hueneme Oceanview Pavilion, featuring special performances by several of the winners. Among the nominees are a few familiar faces who have appeared on Radio Ojai, including Champagne Sunday and Fred Schmitt, who is playing tonight at Farmer and the Cook. Check it out and vote for your favorite by Sunday, October 14.

You Tubing Steve Earle

I can't tell you much about Steve Earle, the hardcore troubadour, other than he's had a really, really hard life, much of it self-inflicted. Is it true he missed signing a record contract in Nashville because he decided instead he needed to get his heroin fix? And I can't really explain why I like his music, other than I'm a sucker for an acoustic guitar and anyone who dare strum it with such wild abandon and sharp biting vocals that delight in telling you how pissed at the world they are. For a better perspective, Bret has a good Steve Earle post here. Here is my current favorite song (that will change by next week I'm sure), "I Feel Alright," and I encourage you to just listen, because he is really too hard to watch in this video! This song is ruining me, it's just so angry and pleasantly righteous and the guitar picking is near perfection, I can't get enough of it!



P.S. Matt and I have a new show on Radio Ojai - he's got a few things to say about local milk prices!