Author: The Dishmaster

Ray LaMontagne at The Greek — FULL REVIEW

SUPERNOVARay LaMontagne graced The Greek with one of the tightest, most memorable performances its stage has seen. The Grammy winning singer-songwriter is somewhat akin to an athlete, moving quickly from one song to the next, with limited audience interaction and a fixed, center-stage presence.  I have little information on LaMontagne, but my uneducated guess is that he’s a shy perfectionist. His band is flawless, his staging and styling were crisp, and the live mix was perfectly on point.  It’s clear from the song lineup that LaMontagne was there to promote his new material. Instead of sprinkling his hits throughout his set so as to aid anticipation and distraction, he strategically placed his most-loved tunes in the center of the show, offering an acoustic rendition for fans to get a new take. In a rare, vulnerable moment, he even advised the audience not to clap too much for the hits, because it would “hurt his feelings.” There’s something understated and magical about Ray LaMontagne. He deserves every ounce of the success he’s acquired. I came to watch a good show at the Greek, and I got it.

Shia LaBeouf Acknowledges Meltdown on Ellen DeGeneres

I’d love to believe that Shia LaBeouf has eliminated his antics in favor of a more serene, professional life, but I’ll table my take until more time has passed. LaBeouf has spent a large part of his recent life arrested, in bar fights, plagiarizing, and executing insane performance art. As for why, my uneducated guess is he’s an addict in need of help, but outing another’s addiction probably won’t help the kid. Also, he still doesn’t look healthy. Watch his video on Ellen below.

Macy Gray Releases ‘The Way’ — FULL REVIEW

I could sit and analyze the intentions behind Macy Gray’s new record, ‘The Way,’ by addressing her target audience and dissecting its genre and then monologue about the music industry’s changing tide — or I could simply tell you it’s good. I’ll choose the latter.

I’ve interviewed Macy Gray, and she’s a delightful, unapologetic performer with an unwavering vision. She’ll change for no one, and that’s a good thing. The first three songs on her record are by far the catchiest, starting with “Stoned,” a dynamic tune that’s true to Gray’s signature sound, with her voice taking center stage. And though she might “Miss the Sex” on song number four, she also wants to find “The Way” on her title track, where her vulnerable lyrics are met with a choir, a trumpet, and a ukulele.

This record makes me want to put on a slouchy, off-the-shoulder sexy knit as I dance around my apartment while occasionally looking in the mirror to ensure I’ve got just the right amount of seductive sass. Enjoy some tunes below.

Bill O’Reilly Sides With Bill Maher on Ben Affleck Debate

If a group of violent black men were said to represent the entire population of black people, and Bill Maher and Bill O’Reilly claimed that to be an unequivocal fact, we’d call them racist. And according to the bigoted ideology of Bill O’Reilly in the video below, if black people everywhere didn’t publicly condemn those actions, that would signify their tacit approval. O’Reilly clearly comes down on the side of Bill Maher on his assault of Islam, and his response is predicated on Affleck saying, “How about more than a billion people who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punch women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, pray five times a day and don’t do any of the things you’re saying of all Muslims.” As an aside, Bill O’Reilly should do some research. There are many Muslims condemning the acts of ISIS. Watch below.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Wants to Close Our Borders

The doe-eyed devil known as Elisabeth Hasselbeck advised on Ebola with a “close our borders” recommendation, and she packed her prescription with a very pretty bow about simultaneously “allowing aid” because . . . you know . . . she has a heart. Watch Hasselbeck discuss the Ebola issue with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institiute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases at the NIH. Fauci rightfully points out that closing the border would cause more mass chaos by hindering our attempts to contain the disease through help, at which point Hasselbeck basically asks if we can allow medical supplies, but not people. When Fauci expresses confusion, she tempers her tone, perhaps as a way to feign intellect. Enjoy the video below.

Tabloid Gossip: Week-in-Review

Leonardo DiCaprio is single. Wet Paint

Zoe Saldana confirmed she’s carrying twins. Pop Sugar

Jason Derulo and Jordin Sparks split. What’s New

Nick Jonas is holding a handful. TMZ

Big Sean talked Ariana Grande and Naya Rivera. Wonderwall

Mario Lopez admitted to cheating on his first wife, Ali Landry. Inquisitr

Is ‘Sex and the City 3‘ happening? Just Jared

Amber Rose has moved on to Gene Simmons’ son. NYDN

Nick Cannon just got Mariah Carey off his back. Mirror

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis had a baby girl. Us Magazine

Ellen Pompeo had a baby via surrogate. Rumor Fix

Lauren Conrad revealed her wedding photos. Pop Sugar