Pheaturing Stacy Clark

PHIRST OF

Hello, welcome to a Monday entry of the Phile, the web's most updated blog on the internet, and proud sponsor of TACAnow.org and generationrescue.com. Happy Memorial Day. Here in Central Florida it finally stopped raining. Orlando is changing it's name to Atlantis there's so much water here now. The National Archives lost a harddrive with massive amounts of valuable data from the Clinton administration. It contained Bill Clinton’s “to-do” list — 500 people long. A survey has found that 26 percent of people admit to texting while driving. The other 74 percent admitted to texting while being hit by a car. According to a new poll, Dick Cheney’s approval rating is up 8 percentage points since leaving office. Wow, I can’t believe Cheney’s approval rating is 8 percent. Finally, Michelle Obama is on the cover of Time magazine this week. She says she has dinner with Barack and the kids every night. And then — oh it’s so cute — Joe Biden jumps up and tries to lick the plates. 

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
It's been a couple years since we last left night watchmen Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), one of the only people who knows the New York City Museum of Natural History's secret. At night, a magical Egyptian tablet (because there is no other kind) breathes life into the museum's collection of historical waxworks and artifacts. In the ensuing time, Larry has quit his job, become successful, and now in this sequel to the 2006 hit, is on a mission to rescue his magical friends, who have been shipped to The Smithsonian in Washington DC, from three reincarnated historical villains. It's a kids movie. So, like, if you're a kid, you might dig it. If you're a parent with a kid, you might dig it. If you're a degenerate, video-game playing, bong-sucking dude who digs boobs, beer, and bacon… well maybe this isn't your thing. But if you pass out in a gutter and inexplicably wake up in a theater chair as Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian rolls, you might think the special effects are cool, and the mild history lessons informative, and you might even chuckle at the comedy all-star cast assembled. None of these, of course, are certainties. It's one of those kid flicks that thinks kids are dumb. This is unfortunate, since this franchise has a built-in braininess to it, and a "history is awesome" ethic. But let's talk about the cast. No flick in recent memory has had more comedy heavyweights, and the sheer amount of laugh muscle here becomes a weakness, as so much of it seems squandered and misspent. Besides stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, there's Ricky Gervais, Hank Azaria, Bill Hader, Steve Coogan, Christopher Guest and Robin Williams. That's a lot of ha-ha. But it's crowded, and that much talent in one place has a diluting effect. Logan loved it, and liked it. I give it a nine out of ten, and will probably get it on DVD... but there better be a lot of making of clips and a kick-ass commentary.

1895
British playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of "committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons," to wit: fucking some rent boys. For his crime, Wilde is sentenced to two years of hard labor in Reading jail.
1925
John T. Scopes is indicted by a grand jury for violating Tennessee's anti-evolution statute, which he claimed to have broken by teaching Darwin's theory of natural selection in a Dayton high school. Later, on July 10th, the "Scopes Monkey Trial" begins.
1979
Immediately after flight 191 takes off from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, engine number one tears loose from its wing and falls off. A few seconds later, the DC-10 rolls onto its left side and impacts the ground. All 271 aboard the plane are killed in the explosion, along with two bystanders.
1980
Televangelist Oral Roberts senses an "overwhelming holy presence" and hallucinates a 900-foot-tall Jesus Christ. The deity reaches down and picks up a 60-story hospital, bragging to the Oklahoman preacher: "See how easy it is for Me to lift it!"
1985
11,000 people are killed in Bangladesh when a cyclone hits the Bay of Bengal. A 10-to-15 foot wall of water surges over the Ganges delta, devastating a wide area and drowning half a million cattle.
1996
The body of Bradley Nowell is discovered in his room at San Francisco's Ocean View Motel. Nowell, lead singer for radio trio Sublime, was killed by an accidental smack overdose.
2006
Enron CEO Kenneth Lay is found guilty on six counts of conspiracy.

Our guest today is a is an American singer-songwriter whose album "Apples and Oranges" is fantastic. Please welcome to the Phile... Stacy Clark.

Me: Hello, Stacy, welcome to the Phile. So, how are you? 

Stacy: I have a bit of a cold right now, but other then that I am doing great.

Me: Did anybody ever tell you you look like Zooey Deschanel? 

Stacy: Yes. Which is a huge compliment. I am a fan of her acting, her band she & him and her fiance. HEHEE...

Me: I have to say I love your CD "Apples and Oranges". Where was it recorded and was it fun to make? 

Stacy: I recorded it in L.A. at Zenseven Studios. It was a lot of fun to make. A lot of work, emotion and thought went into it.

Me: You wrote all the songs on it, right? 

Stacy: Yes. I am big on writing the lyrics, chords and singing the melodys to my music. I think my songwriting is stronger then my singing.

Me: Stacy, I know you live in Orange County, California, but you're not from there originally, are you? 

Stacy: I am from Buffalo, NY originally.

Me: When did you move out there? 

Stacy: 2004.

Me: Do you go to Disneyland a lot? 

Stacy: Ha, I did have a season pass a while back but have only been a few times. Since there is no real weather here I like to go at all the different seasons - Halloween, Christmas and such so it feels like the holiday. It is great fun.

Me: Being from Orange County, you must be fans of No Doubt and Social Distortion. 

Stacy: Absolutely, I really appreciate and love No Doubt, R.E.M., & The Righteous Brothers.

Me: I read that your music is in a lot of TV shows such as "The Hills" and "Girlfriends". Do you find that cool when you watch those shows?

Stacy: Its always exciting hearing something you created being used. Its kind of funny, I actually started watching those shows because of that reason and ironically met LC (at the HFH event) and Heidi from the Hills, whom where both very nice.

Me: I must say, well done working with Habitat For Humanity. That is something I would never do, just because I am way too lazy. Was it fun, or just hard work? 

Stacy: I think its a little bit of both. I learned a lot of handy tool tricks like removing a nail. I almost threw my back out until this awesome man showed me how to use a wooden block to leverage the hammer to get the nail out. Things that are rewarding usually involved some degree of hard work. To think one day out of a year of my time is going to help build a home for someone in need is a no brainer. It was a great experience that I think everyone should get involved with.

Me: How did you get involved with them? Through a friend. You can get involved here: http://www.habitat.org/cd/local/

Me: Have you ever done any late night shows yet, Stacy? 

Stacy: I wish! Someday (fingers crossed!)

Me: I know you met Conan. How was that? 

Stacy: That was the most unexpected, random thing that has happened to me yet. It was one of those 'at the right place at the right time moments' in my life.

Me: Was he cool? 

Stacy: He is really cool and hilarious. My friends and I where selected for filming for part of his 'Late Night Show' takeover. He was the host of the back lot tour at Universal Studios. It was the best tour I ever had. There was a part we kept driving the tram in circles, which was fun-- but then I thought I was going to get sick. It was awesome. I mean how many people can say they took a tram ride at Universal and was hosted by Conan? Not to mention he took us police escorted off the lot driving down Lankershim and stopped at a .99 cents store to buy everyone something. It was amazing. Its funny how something so small or random can make you smile. My cheeks where hurting from smiling that day and I can smile just thinking about how random that was. You should tune into his show starting June 1st. Its going to be hilarious. After the 2 hour tour, he let everyone (500 people where on the tram) get photos with him. There are many people that are disappointing after meeting them, however I can honestly say he is not one of them.

Me: Are you a fan of The Bird and the Bee? 

Stacy: Yes. I love there music. Inara has the most beautiful voice and Greg's production is genius. They are as great live as on the CD.

Me: You have done a few shows with them. Do you two get along? 

Stacy: As a correction- I actually only opened for them once. Yes I do get along with them. They are lovely, unique people. Even there sound engineer Chris is nice.

Me: Tell the Phile readers about your charity, if that's what it is, called Music Saves Lives. Did you start it, or are you the spokeswoman? 

Stacy: MSL is a nonprofit that helps flight cancer and other blood related illnesses. Back in 2006, I helped start it with Russ. Currently, I am the spokesperson and my advertising company that I co-own with my friend Chelsea - hence Chelstay Advertising, donates a lot of design and marketing to the program. I am pretty attached to the program because I was a recipient of a blood transfusion in 1998. I had an immunity disorder I.T.P. that almost took my life. I think its really important to get involved in things that can truly make a difference like HFH or MSL. These are programs where you can see the result of your work, and although you can donate money programs like these thrive most on your involvement. You can go to www.musicsaveslives.org to see how you can participate. We have a lot of blood donation centers that will need volunteers and donors this spring/summer.

Me: So, what can we look forward to next from you, Stacy? Shows in Florida, I hope. 

Stacy: I am doing a lot of pre-production and will be recording a new album starting June. I am really excited to get some new material out. I actually just played a show in Tampa in April. As of now the focus is on a new album, then tour tour tour.

Me: Stacy, I love your music, and I wish you a lot of luck. Want to plug your website? Take care, and I hope to talk to you again soon. 

Stacy: Thank you, I really appreciate your (& any) support. My website is www.stacyclark.net If you like what you hear please add your email to my mailing list so I can keep you posted with any upcoming show info. Also you can add me on twitter, facebook or myspace (/stacyclark). phew! I think that covers everything. Thanks again!

PHINALLY

There you have it, another entry of the Phile, kids. The Phile will be back on Friday with the last of the Artists for Artist Month. It's Nate Piekos, and then on Monday the Phile will be back with another interview. Thanks to Stacy Clark, Wikipedia and Jimmy Fallon for his monologue, this entry. Have a safe Memorial Day and take care. Spread the word, not the turd, and remember autism is reversible.