Pheaturing Poison Ivory

Hey, kids, welcome back to the Phile. It's the last day of October and Halloween. May your Halloween costume be as shocking as Renee Zellweger's new face. Hey, did somebody order a pugkin spice latte?

I'm so funny.  Tim Cook, the Apple chair whom, assuming you've heard of him, you probably know is gay... came out as gay in an unusually personal essay published by Bloomberg Businessweek. "I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me," wrote the famously gay businessman who is only now opening up about his sexuality. Tim Cook says he's proud to be gay, but I bet by next year his gay will be two times as proud and with a multitude of new I/O ports.  The citizens of San Francisco were apparently so distraught at seeing their home team win the World Series that they immediately took to the streets and began burning things in protest. Riot police were dispatched to keep the demonstrations from getting too violent. Wow, the people in that city must really hate baseball. A Phile reader sent me this picture...

The Giants have won. A truly horrifying day for little people everywhere. I certainly hope the Giants' win does not affect the modesty and humility for which San Francisco is known.  A batch of Fireball Whisky is being recalled in three Scandinavian countries after it was found to contain propylene glycol... a chemical compound also found in anti-freeze, despite the fact that the sweetening agent, which is used in many food products, is probably the least hazardous ingredient in the the cinnamon-flavored alcoholic beverage. Fireball contains a chemical used in anti-freeze. So I poured some in my car, but now it's just being really annoying and slutty.  Hip-hop mogul Suge Knight might spend the rest of his life behind bars after being arrested for stealing a camera from a female paparazzo alongside comedian Katt Williams. The Death Row Records co-founder faces thirty years to life for the dumb, totally uncool crime due to a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon. I dreamt that I got shot in the arm but left the bullet in so I could finish running my errands. My dream self is apparently Suge Knight.  I have been mentioning this, different TV networks are coming out with TV shows with an Ebola theme. Here's the latest one...

I'd watch that. I love "Survivor".  A Phile reader sent me a picture of a pumpkin they carve that they said was me. I don't know, take a look and tell me what you think.

Hahahahaha. I will say I'm very flattered. It does have my mouth. But it also has a look of confusion... which yes, is also fitting.  Most of you will probably go trick or treating tonight, right? And you might need s costume. Here's one costume I recommend you don't get... if you can find it...

In 2010, a Japanese discount chain pulled a Nazi costume from its shelves after receiving a complaint from an American Jewish organization. The costume, on sale at the retailer Don Quijote Co., included a black jacket with a red swastika armband in a package adorned with a sketch resembling Adolf Hitler and the phrase “Heil Hitler” in Japanese characters. The outfit was on sale for about 5,000 yen ($60) in at least two Don Quijote outlets in Tokyo, including one in the upscale Ginza shopping district. Aico, a Japanese party goods maker, has made the costume for seven years and never had a complaint. Freakin' crazy.  Okay, so it's the last day of October and through this month I have been showing you some amazing cancer survivors who chose body art instead of reconstructive surgery. Here is the last one...

A great line for a cancer survivor.  I am so mad, yesterday on the Phile I forgot to mention one of the most famous bass players in rock and roll history has passed away under the Someone Phamous Has Died pheature. So, I will do it now...

Jack Bruce 
May 14th, 1943 — October 25th, 2014
He'll wait in that place where the sun never shines.

Can you spot the Mindphuck? By the way, when you vote here in Florida on Tuesday vote yes for Amendment 2. I mentioned something yesterday, my music project Strawberry Blondes Forever, or SBF as the cool kids cool it has a new Christmas single called "Christmas On My Mind" which is available on iTunes and Bandcamp. Here it is the cover for it...

Go and download it at strawberryblondesforever.bandcamp.com. Dan Nowicki put a lot of work into this song, so I thank him. Have you heard about the nurse who refused to remain in quarantine as she might have Ebola? The Phile's good friend Laird Jim has, and has something to say about it. He's a singer, patriot and renaissance man. It's...

Reason # 6,352,125 of why I think The Mayans were right (they were just off on the date by a bit)... There's this nurse from Maine who returned from treating high risk Ebola patients and was told to remain in quarantine for the required 21 days. She has refused to do so and is arrogantly flaunting her total disregard for procedure. First off.... What the FUCK? Secondly... Anybody else, besides me out there wanna slap this bitch silly and hand cuff her to her fucking toilet for 21 days?

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is an early American folktale about the first documented case of road rage.

The 28th artist to be pheatured in the Phile's Art Gallert is Al Abbazia and this is one of his pieces...

Al will be the guest on the Phile on Sunday.

Today's pheatured guest is a grunge, soul, rock pop r&b hip hop singer whose EP "The Filth" is available on iTunes. Man, this woman knows how to dress. Please welcome to the Phile... Poison Ivory.

Me: Hello, Poison, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

Ivory: I'm firkin fantastical, how are you, sir?

Me: I am really good. Should I call you Poison or Ivory?

Ivory: Call me Ivory, call me Poison Ivory if your nasty.

Me: Ivory it is then. At first I thought your name was Poison Ivy and I was gonna ask if you were a Batman fan. Hell, I'll still ask it, are you a Batman fan?

Ivory: Fuck yeah! Who isn't? But I didn't pull the name mainly from being a Batman fanatic. I actually went by Ivory many years before Poison was spoken into my existence. The Poison signifies the dirt and Ivory the purity.

Me: Did anybody call you Poison Ivy by mistake?

Ivory: All the time, I don't get offended. It's an easy mistake.

Me: Officially that's not your real name, but it easily could be. For the longest time I thought Pink was Pink's real name. When did you start to call yourself Poison Ivory and is there a story behind that?

Ivory: I've been going by Ivory for years. I called myself Candace Ivory at first. My middle name. Then Kris which is short for my real name Kristina. Until one day I'm having a discussion with a friend about the significance of my name. I told him how I love Ivory because its a precious commodity, its strong, its pure, and attached to a now rare animal that represents prosperity and wisdom. My friend said, "Your like a cracked piece of porcelain! You have a pure heart with a dark twisted side." And I realized that I had that dark twisted side because I had let all of the Poison from the industry corrupt me. Although I have that bit of darkness seeping in through the cracks my light finds the perfect balance. Kind of like a Yin & Yang. Therefore Poison Ivory became my artist name.

Me: I downloaded your EP "Filth" from iTunes and really dug it. There's a lot of musical influences on it, Ivory. Rock, hip hop, reggae, pop and punk. You must like all kinds of music am I right?

Ivory: Yes, you are so right. I LOVE MUSIC. I have many passions but music is my kindred. I am so in love with it.

Me: You describe your music as Pop Urban Grunge... that sounds like a great name for an album. What does Pop Urban Grunge mean, Ivory?

Ivory: I've called my music Grunge Soul as well. It means that there is something musical in it for everybody.

Me: What kinda music did you listen to growing up?

Ivory: I grew up listening to what my mom and pop listened to. My dad was listening to classic rock Led Zep, The Eagles, Neil Young etc... My mom was listening to Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand... Both of my parents listened to gospel music being since I grew up in church.

Me: You were in a gospel choir when you were a kid, am I right? And you sang to President Clinton with Barbra Streisand? There's a picture of you with Hillary and Barbra. I have to show it here...

Me: That must of been pretty cool. Were you nervous?

Ivory: Thank you! It was awesome! I didn't really get nervous as a child, I loved being the center of attention. Not much has changed... haha.

Me: And your dad was a pastor and also was in the music business?

Ivory: My father was in the music biz during the 60s & 70s, he was also a long haired hippie. He worked with many labels and artist doing radio promo and P.R.. He gave up his music biz hopes and dreams for a life of God & family. But still continued to do P.R. for many in the black music gospel realm while he ran his own homeless ministry in the heart of Hollywood for many years. Now he's retired.

Me: I read he worked with The Temptations, WAR, The Mama's and the Papa's just to name a few. Did you meet any of these people growing up?

Ivory: I met Michelle from The Mamas and the Papas growing up. Lou Adler from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and I met a whole lot more people when I was basically a baby but I was too young to know who they were.

Me: My dad was in the music business as well and I met some cool people growing up so I know what it's like. Where are you originally from, Ivory?

Ivory: I'm born and raised Los Angeles, California. Pasadena bred, but Los Angeles raised.

Me: You're based in L.A., am I right? Do you like living there?

Ivory: Oh but California California... in the words of Joni Mitchell. I love California with my whole heart. There is nothing like Los Angeles in all its soul tormented beauty. So many hopes & dreams jam packed into one area. Nothing like the California mountain-scapes. And the California skies that look like an oil painting sometimes. Convinced? Bfwaha.

Me: I like California as well. I have to talk about your look, it's very colorful. You put a lot of thought into it I am taking. What do you call the look?

Ivory: I call it "How the fuck I'm feeling today"... haha. I actually don't put as much thought into it as you think unless I'm performing then the chaos begins. I do however gravitate towards patterns, bright colors, colors that contrast. My inspirations are pulled from many sources from the past. I love history.

Me: I see some Gwen Stefani in our look and sound, but also for some reason some Japanese influences. You spent some time in Japan, right?

Ivory: I went on a mini tour in Japan. I love me some Queen Gwen but it's not where I am pulling most of my inspirations from. She definitely has inspired some cool things. And yes, Japan changed my whole perspective on life. I went on tour out there one year and it rocked my world. I fell in love with the Japanese culture and pop culture.

Me: How long have you been singing, Ivory, and when did you realize you wanted to be a performer?

Ivory: I've been singing since I was five years old and I always knew I was going to be a performer. I just knew I was going to be a singer, a cartoonist, and a writer. I have accomplished most of those things in some form... haha.

Me: Let's talk about something serious... you are a cancer survivor. I was hesitant on mentioning this, but cancer has been a big thing in my life... both of my parents passed away from cancer in 2000. What kinda cancer did you have?

Ivory: I am so sorry to hear that and you sound like quite an amazing individual for having to endure that. Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma.

Me: How old were you when you were first diagnosed?

Ivory: Twenty-two years old.

Me: It must of really affected you, I am sure as you were so young. Did you think about stop being a performer and a singer at all?

Ivory: There were times when I felt defeated and the thought crossed my mind but I never gave up. 

Me: Well, thank God you are doing well. Let's talk about your EP "Filth". When I look at you filth is the last thing that comes to mind. Colorful and bright is a better word. Why "Filth"?

Ivory: I come from an extremely religious background. I grew up in ministry and the music I do is considered spiritually filthy to a lot of religious buffs. Although I love God I just don't box him in. The Filth is all of the lies & bullshit society pours into us on a daily, this is my take on filth. Money sex, power... all tools used to manipulate us. Which is exactly what I touch on... in all of my lyrics. "Alchemy". Your love is like alchemy... Sorcery. It bewitches me. "Sex is a Weapon". My sex is a weapon and ima pull it on you! "Mr. Wonderful".  How can we live off crumbs and bread, brain wash our bodies so our minds are always dead. You and your suit, you and your tie, baby your so handsome with authority. "Little Piece of Heaven". Don't tell me what you condone. I'm a Picasso Extraordinary. Your use to people kneeling down, I didn't mean to make you weary. Just listen to the lyrics, man! It explains itself.

Me: Very well. You sing about sex, money and power. Are those three things important to you, Ivory?

Ivory: Those are three things I don't have. LOL. LMAO... me neither but I think you may need to dissect the lyrics a little more. When Im singing about power in "Mr. Wonderful" I'm actually talking about "the man" in the power position who has the authority to change your life in a positive direction but instead he is tearing you down. "Mr Wonderful" is actually an incredibly sarcastic song. Somebody talk me off this ledge, I keep breathing in your pollution til I'm red, how can we live off crumbs & bread? Brain wash our bodies so our minds are always dead." Money in "Alchemy". I'm talking about this man who is an alchemist, he can change metals to gold & silver, he has power and can manipulate the natural unnaturally and he does so to me. It's a dark song and tale of a woman who is over powered by the wrong forces. Money, and material things. Sex in "Sex is a Weapon" is about several woman I know who use their bodies to get what they want and over power others with their sex like a weapon. Men do the same to woman... but there is something so dirty and filthy according to society about a woman using her sex as weapon towards a man... or even another woman. "Little Piece of Heaven"... An example of a person who stole something so pure. They took a little piece of Heaven. "The Blues"... A dark tale of poor choices that meets heartbreak therefore leaving both individuals with the blues. Therefore the EP is added of stories of "The Filth". Do you get it now? If not I can't help you... hahahah.

Me: No, you explained it pretty good. I watched the video for "Mr. Wonderful"... was it filmed in L.A.?

Ivory: I have three videos out and they were all filmed in L.A .

Me: How was a laundromat chosen as a background?

Ivory: We picked a straw and I won. LOL... I kid... Zae Bear from Zae Bear Photo said he knew a great laundry mat... it just so happened to be the one I used when I lived in that Hollywood area... synchronicity!

Me: I also watched the little film clip for "Filth" an I thought wow, this could be a very crazy trailer for a movie. Do you like being on film and acting?

Ivory: Yes, I'm an attention whore.

Me: There's a scene where someone is trying to drown you in a bath tub. I have  photo of it here...

Me: Was that your idea?

Ivory: Yes. That represents me drowning my old self and re-emerging an evolved creature.

Me: Hey, I have to ask, who are those people with you on the cover of the EP?

Ivory: Those are my parents and they are really praying over me in front of my house which is a 130 year old Victorian home.

Me: What do your parents think of your music now?

Ivory: My dad thinks it's far out, he loves it. My mom doesn't really listen to a lot of music so she doesn't really understand it. But they both support me 100%.

Me: Apart from making music I was told you are a painter and illustrator. What kinda stuff do you do?

Ivory: Check out @ArtPoison its my illustration company. I draw and print my own stickers & merch. I also draw merchandise for other artist like myself and paint.

Me: I need to have you back and pheature your art. Okay, so, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Ready? If you could donate one million dollars to charity which would you choose? I would choose St. Judes.

Ivory: I would probably skip a charity this time, those guys are pretty well off. I would try for maybe a group home or something under the radar no one knows about, help someone get on their feet.

Me: Okay. Ivory, thanks for being here on the Phile. Please come back again. Go ahead and mention your website. Take care, and I wish you continued success and good health. Oh, and come and play in Orlando.

Ivory: Thank you! My pleasure! Iampoisonivory.com.

There. That about does it for this entry. Thanks to Laird Jim and Poison Ivory. The Phile will be back on Sunday with artist Al Abbazia and on Monday with Phile Alum Anna Coogan. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker

Pheaturing Everett Young From Kicklighter

Hey there, welcome to another entry of the Phile, kids, how are you? So, I'm a geek, right? we know that, so let's start off with some marvelous geek news...  After weeks of speculation of who would be playing Marvel's cosmic magician Doctor Strange in an upcoming film adaptation, it now appears as though Disney has settled on obscure British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, whom audiences will remember from his recent roles as a slaveowner in 12 Years a Slave and as that one guy from Atonement. At first I didn't like this idea of Cumberbatch getting cast, but then I thought I was getting concerned I would not see Benedict Cumberbatch in any television, movies, books or music on July 8, 2016. Whew!  After six years, and more than a dozen films released and announced, Marvel Studios has finally decided that its audience... which is predominantly made up of people who are not white males (and that's not even considering its international audience) is finally ready to see a movie or two about some characters who are not white males. So, included in its information dump the other day are two upcoming films that aim to shake things up... Black Panther, about a black male superhero, and Captain Marvel, about a white female superhero. Marvel should have trolled everyone for a day and announced the Black Panther was gonna be played by Johnny Depp.  Pope Francis caused some controversy yesterday when he announced to an audience at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences that he believes that both the evolutionary and the Big Bang theories are based in fact, saying that God is not “a magician with a magic wand." This is probably the most compelling evidence against those theories that the scientific world has seen thus far. Mad shout outs to the Pope for admitting evolution is real, the Big Bang theory is right, and Biggie and Tupac are still alive. Former partial-term Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, clearly aware that the world had momentarily turned its gaze away from her as it prepared itself for the impending midterm elections next week... told NBC News that she will "hopefully" be running for office again in the near future, with the ostensible purpose of annoying her "haters." Moments later, haters everywhere unanimously threw up their arms in celebration. She still knows how to give the people what they want. Sarah Palin says she's hoping to run for office again. What for? President of Redneck Reality Shows?  After several decades of bitter antagonism, officials from North Korea are finally agreeing to sit down with counterparts from Japan to discuss the fates of all the Japanese citizens that they always pretended not to have kidnapped back in the 1970s and 1980s. While Japan has accused its neighbor of abducting hundreds of Japanese citizens, North Korea disagrees, admitting to a much more reasonable 13 people. By he way, North Korea has banned foreign tourists because of Ebola. Kim Jong-un wants everyone to stay healthy and alive. So he can execute them. Speaking of Kim Jong-un, have you seen him lately? He looks a little bit different...

Haha. That's scary.  Pop singer Taylor Swift is set to make music history by becoming the first musician to sell one million copies within the first week of her new album's release for three consecutive albums. Her new album, "1989", appears on track to match her previous two, "Speak Now" and "Red" in sales as well as vapidity. Taylor is really popular, and Disney has decided to re-release all it's classic animated movies replacing the princesses with Taylor Swift. I mentioned this last week, well, here is another preview.

She looks happy with Aladdin, doesn't she?  Did you know the Chinese love America, and will do anything to copy you guys. Check this out.

Haha. That cracked me up.  So, with everyone talking about Ebola, some TV networks are about to cash in with Ebola themed TV shows. Here's the latest...

I still have not seen "The Walking Dead", the real show, and this season everybody is telling me I need to start watching. Maybe I will soon...  Halloween is tomorrow and if you need an costume ideas check out these ones...

Oh, yeah. You're welcome, fellas. If I was Jim Henson that's what the Muppets would look like.  Okay, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all through October I have been showing you some
amazing cancer survivors who chose body art instead of reconstructive surgery. Here's the latest one...

She's beautiful, isn't she?  I just mentioned tomorrow is Halloween and you still might be trying to figure out what you are gonna dress as. Here's a costume I don't recommend...

Every parent's dream is for their little girl to be part of a harem. Okay, and now from the home office in Port Jefferson, here is this week's...

Top Phive Things Overheard At Tuesday's Rocket Explosion
5. Dammit, I TOLD you this would happen if you ran the launch sequence and the hair dryer at the same time!
4. No worries... NASA has also outsourced the cleanup!
3. I hope the adorable puppy that jumped on at the last minute is okay!
2. I'm sure the people on the International Space Station won't become so desperate for food and supplies that they end up eating the weakest among them!
And the number one thing heard at the rocket explosion...
1. Insurance will probably total the thing.

Haha. This is a real easy one. And it's a real screen shot as well. Before we move on I need to mention something... you know I have a music project called Strawberry Blondes Forever, right? Well, we just released our Christmas single called "Christmas On My Mind" and it's available on Bandcamp and iTunes. Check out the awesome artwork I did...

Go to strawberryblondesforever.bandcamp.com  and check it out. Alright, it's Thursday, kid's. So, it's time to talk football with my good friend Jeff Trelewicz...

Me: Hello, Jeff, welcome back to the Phile. How have you been?

Jeff: It's always good to be back on the Phile. I'm doing okay, hope you are doing well.

Me: I'm doing pretty good. So, tomorrow is Halloween, are you dressing up this year? Jeff, I remember you always had good ideas for costumes. Weren't you John Travolta one year? Do you have a picture of that?

Jeff: No, I don't think there will be any dressing up this year. There is a picture of me however it was late in the night and the wig had come off and placed back on at the wrong angle. I am compiling pictures of all my Halloween costumes though so there is a chance it could be seen again.

Me: Cool. I haven't dressed up since the early 90s when I was Frankenstein Sinatra. Okay, football talk... the only story I can think of is Peyton Manning getting mad at the scorekeeper or somebody. What was that story, Jeff? Do you know what I'm talking about?

Jeff: Peyton Manning felt that the scorekeeper was disrespecting the other team with the images they were showing on the scoreboard. I don't know if I agree with him, but again I didn't see it when it happened.

Me: Neither did I but I saw his press conference and he was pissed. Any other stories that happened this week?

Jeff: Nothing too big happened this week. There was some really good games this week that went down to the last few plays. More injuries to players as well. It has been a bad year for injuries. At least two players have had season ending injuries while celebrating a sack of the opposing quarterback, which I just think is as dumb as you can get.

Me: Alright, so how did we do with the last picks?

Jeff: It was a mixed bag for us last week. You, Jason, went 2-0. I went 1-1 and Lori went 0-2. The Eagles lost a nail biter to Arizona, the Giants were off and the Steelers beat the Colts so I earned a point for that. As it stands I am still in front by a score of 27-23-17.

Me: I'm catching up to you though. Haha. Let's do this week's picks then I have to ask you something about the rest of the season. I say the Bengals will beat the Jags by 7 and the second pick is a toss up... either 49ers by 10 or Seahawks beat the Raiders by 13. Hmmmm. I say 49ers by 10. What do you kid's say?

Jeff: My picks are New Orleans by 3 and Chiefs by 7. Lori picks Chargers by 3, Seahawks by 5

Me: Alright, so, here is the question... starting this Sunday the Phile will move from Thursday and Friday to Sunday and Monday, so what day do you think we should do Phootball Talk?

Jeff: As far as moving Phootball Talk, that's entirely up to you. This is yours. Keep in mind though it does limit us from picking a game a week since there is a Thursday night game (and on Thanksgiving, three games) every week. But that is your call.

Me: Hmmmm. Good point. Okay, for the rest of the season I will post another entry on Thursday's. So, I will see you back here next Thursday. Have a good weekend and a safe Halloween.

Jeff: See you next week.

The 28th artist to be pheatured in the Phile's Art Gallery is Al Abbazia and this is one of his pieces...

Al will be a guest on the Phile on Sunday.

Today's pheaured guest is a singer-songwriter whose project Kicklighter has a new album called "The Fascinating Thinking Machine" that is now available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Everett Young.

Me: Hey, Everett, welcome to the Phile, man. How are you?

Everett: I’m hanging in there, man. I got two small children... 4 and 7. So I might be a wee bit worn out. But I’m living the musical life, so let me stop complaining right there.

Me: Your first name rhymes with my last name. Crazy. Haha. Everett is an unusual first name, were you named after someone?

Everett: My grandfather’s middle name. Can I tell you that I hate my name? People tell me it’s cool, but my wife is real with me about it. She doesn’t like it either! I wish my name were cooler, but it’s my name, and I don’t think I’m going to change it. When I was a kid, I used to hate it when people would call me Ev, but I like that now. I think it’s snazzier than Everett.

Me: I love it when people call me Pev. Your last name is ironic, because didn't you start playing piano when you were four?

Everett: My mom got me a little batter operated keyboard around that age, yeah. Maybe even a little before then. They realized I had a special ear for harmony within just a few days or weeks, apparently. I still have a memory of coming home from the church we were going to and playing a major third interval, and saying, “Mama, I heard this at church today.” I can still hear it in my head. Probably three years old, and I remember it was a major third.

Me: How old were you when you started songwriting and realized you wanted to be a professional musician, Everett?

Everett: I’ve realized that I want to be a professional musician several times in my life, then pronounced myself a failure and walked away, only to be drawn back and realize it again. The first time was in middle school. I wanted to be a songwriter, and I wrote some silly (and profane) songs. But I got serious about school in high school. Later in high school, however, I realized it again and I had a duo with a friend of mine named Daryl Jones. He was the singer and I was the keyboard player. We had a producer who was going to take us to the top! And we even had some real recording studio experiences. But fame didn’t happen, and then I went to college, and focused on my studies again. But then again in college, I got involved with a terrific band called the Sight-Seers, running sound for them and recording their music. My god, were they great. And then of course I decided that I wanted to be a pop star. I moved to Atlanta with those guys, recorded an album that, today, I’m quite embarrassed about, and eventually moved to L.A. on my own, recorded another album, and gave it a decent try. Spent a lot of money trying to promote my own music, all to little end of course. Eventually I tried opening a mixing studio back in my hometown of Tallahassee, recorded a third album, got married and quickly divorced, and then in my mid-30s decided music was not ever going to work out for me, and just desperate to be successful at something, went back to my intellectual side, to my studies yet again, and earned a Ph.D. in political science, hoping for an academic job. But as you can see, that didn’t work out either, and I’m back at music. I could have made a career of that if I’d wanted it bad enough. I didn’t. So this is the last time. It’s music until death now. I think after all that, I’ve finally learned that commitment is what matters, it’s who you are. Chasing success for the sake of success alone is completely empty. Wait, I didn’t answer your question. I mean, I was many different ages when I decided I wanted to be a professional musician. But how did I realize it? Well, this last time, in my 40s, when I decided to become a guitar player, I just looked at my whole life and I asked myself, “Do I really have an identity? Does anything look like the thing I’m on this planet to do?” And it was pretty clear who I am. I’m music. I think I’d never truly seen myself as an artist until my 40s. Or, I hoped I was an artist, but I didn’t believe it.

Me: Wow. I think that has to be the longest answer in the Phile's history. I am guessing you started out playing classic music, like a lot of musicians I interviewed who started young, am I right?

Everett: I mean, I took classical lessons for a few years, but I was a terrible student and I’m not a technician at the piano. I never practiced well until my 40s... and then it was guitar. I have a nice feel at the piano, but I can’t sightread at speed and I don’t sound technically trained at all.

Me: Who did you grow up listening to? 

Everett: My dad introduced me to Simon and Garfunkel as a 4 or 5 year old, and I love them to this day. "The Monkees" were in re-runs in the 1970s and I loved the Monkees. Not a bad influence at all for a songwriter, since the writers for that band were first rate. But then I also liked Barry Manilow. Can you maybe not print that?

Me: No, it's printed. Haha. I wanted to interview you when I heard your music and read you are compared to Crowded House, Lloyd Cole and Costello. Are you fans of those musicians?

Everett: I love Crowded House. Great 1980s songwriting band. Lloyd Cole just has this one album that’s so beautiful and so honest, called “The Negatives,” came out around the year 2000 or so. I have not been able to connect with Cole’s songwriting on his other albums, just that one, and I love every song on it. Weird, huh? Elvis Costello doesn’t really sound like me, but he’s a pure songwriter, and I love people committed to song craft. That’s my passion. Melody crafting, really.

Me: Who are your main influences? 

Everett: My biggest influence is definitely Tears for Fears. A great 1980s defining band that’s still doing good work today. Earlier than that, I listened to a lot of Earth, Wind and Fire, if you can believe it. Maurice White was one of the great, underrated vocalists of all time. In the 1980s, Howard Jones too, great songwriter. Sting and Peter Gabriel, U2, I listened to that intellectual pop in the 1980s over and over. And Scritti Politti. Great melodies, intricate production. I got to meet David Gamson (their keyboardist/programmer) over lunch once, years after Scritti Politti’s pop success. Gamson tried to repudiate their “Provisions” album, the one after “Perfect Way” and say it was overproduced, and I wasn’t having any of it. I told him they were simply brilliant and I loved what he did, no asterisks. I also used to listen to a lot of Al Jarreau as an adolescent. When I was 12 or 13, I was into him a lot. Michael Jackson too, from his "Thriller" and "Off the Wall" albums. Believe it or not, the Sight-Seers are big influences on me. They have this singer, Zollie Maynard, who is a naturally gifted melody writer. Actually one of the greatest I’ve ever heard, famous or not. That band, now defunct, still needs to be discovered by the world. They are the best undiscovered band in the history of rock music. I actually co-produced a beautiful record with them right around the turn of the millennium.

Me: Major pints for mentioning Scritti Politti... I have been trying to get Green on the Phile for years. Also I didn't realize Lloyd Cole was really known over here, Everett. Anyway, what about Graham Parker, are you a fan of his?

Everett: I don’t know who Graham Parker is! Should I go listen?

Me: Yes! You said you are from Tallahassee. Do you still live there?

Everett: Yes, my wife and I have settled back in the home town.

Me: You are not a Seminoles fan, are you?

Everett: Lifelong. As a young boy, used to cry at games in the early 1970s when we were a horrible team, before Bobby Bowden came and changed everything. I love my Seminoles.

Me: This interview is over. Ha. Just kidding. Okay, so, we talked about you playing piano, but you also play guitar... but didn't you have problems playing that instrument?

Everett: Yeah, I tried to learn it a bunch of times in my life. Well, like two or three times anyway. And every time the same result... practice a little for a few weeks, then walk away after realizing that I wasn’t getting anywhere fast enough. Finally, in my 40s, I accepted how long this adventure lasts. You don’t become a professional player in six weeks. You have to embrace you playing as it is now, at each moment in the adventure.

Me: I can't say anything as I don't play either... I do play kazoo though. Haha. Anyway, why was guitar so hard to play for you?

Everett: As I indicated above, I’d say it boils down to impatience. Adults are impatient with learning in a way children aren’t. That’s why almost nobody truly learns guitar as an adult. It’s not because we can’t... it’s because we give up too quickly. Kids don’t do that. They don’t know how long it’s taking, or aren’t aware of it.

Me: My dad tried to teach me guitar but I complained it hurt my fingers. I was a big pussy. You never gave up though, and play guitar to this day, am right?

Everett: Yep, play professionally and teach. You should try it again, really. The pain goes away after a few weeks, but as I remember, my previous attempts were thwarted by that, too. I’d complain that I couldn’t practice as long as I needed to in order to improve. So what was the point? Somehow, though, I got to a place were I can play for six hours without pain. You just get there, you do.

Me: And now you teach guitar? To kids or adults and where at?

Everett: I teach in Tallahassee and online. All ages, but of course I have a special place in my heart for older learners like myself.

Me: You also have a Ph.D. in political science, am I right? I know what that is, but I bet a lot of readers don't. So, what is it?

Everett: I do indeed, Political psychology is my specialty. Political science is the field of people who know the least about actual politics. Okay, just kidding, sort of. These days, we learn a lot of statistical analysis in political science. We try to find out what really gets people elected, what voters like, and in my case, what makes people liberal or conservative, psychologically.

Me: Okay, let's talk about your new album "The Fascinating Thinking Machine". I like that title, what does it mean, Everett?

Everett: It’s your brain, I suppose. It is us. We are thinking machines, people are. Of course, it’s meant to be ironic a bit because most of what our brain does is not conscious thought. That’s a big theme in my album... the inability of our conscious minds to account for all the crazy things we do. A person isn’t just “one being” as his conscious mind makes it appear he is by weaving a coherent-looking narrative. We are a bunch of different modules all existing together in one brain... often at odds with each other.

Me: And you released it under a band name Kicklighter. I didn't know what Kicklighter was, but it's named after someone, right?

Everett: Actually, my producer suggested it to me years ago, and I thought it sounded great... after I got over the fact that my high school choral director’s name was Ray Kickliter. He and I did NOT get along. But it does sound great, and I think it fits my music. All my friends thought it was a great name. Then again, I recently found out it’s like German for “chicken farmer” or something. Which isn’t all that cool. No offense to the fine chicken farmers of the world.

Me: Well, Sammy Hager has a band called Chickenfoot. Why didn't you release your first album under your own name?

Everett: I did! This is not my first album. It’s just the first album of mine that I want YOU to hear! So I changed to Kicklighter because I just don’t like the sound of my own name. Actually, I’m starting to make available some of my old stuff on my website and Facebook page.

Me: How long did this album take to record, Everett?

Everett: About a year. That’s what happens when you have small children and a day job.

Me: I love the album, so I am sure you are very proud of it, am I right?

Everett: Yes, finally, I seem to have created an album that, several months on, I’m still very fond of. It’s very close to being the record I wanted it to be. And for you to say you love it... well, that’s amazing to hear, man. That kind of thing really makes my day. 

Me: It's true. Did you write all the songs on it?

Everett: Indeed I did! Well, I discovered, or assembled, them. Everything is borrowed, you know.

Me: It sound alike it could've been released in the 80s. Is that something you were aiming for?

Everett: Yep. Consciously. I thought the textures of 1980s New Wave were beautiful, dramatic, mysterious. I loved that romantic thing that was going on, and I didn’t think the possibilities had yet been exhausted. I hate the idea that music has to sound like a the current decade in order to be any good or for anybody to like it.

Me: I have to ask, who is that woman on the album cover?

Everett: She’s a model that my art director found. Striking looking!

Me: So, you have so much talent, why did it take you soooo long to release an album?

Everett: Because I forgot who the hell I am and went on a success-chasing mission getting a Ph.D. in something. Honestly, I’m glad I have the Ph.D. I love having the knowledge and the experience I got from that. But I promise you it won’t be twelve years again. I plan to lie on my death bed and listen to the many, many albums I spent my life making, at least from age forty-four onward.

Me: My favorite track on the album is "Building a Robot". Do you have a favorite song?

Everett: That’s certainly near the top for me. Nobody seems to notice “Sultan of Brunei” but I think that song is quite an achievement, writing and performance and production all of that.

Me: You have a song called "When Howie Dressed Me Down". Who is Howie? I thought of Howie Mandell for some reason.

Everett: I don’t know if I can reveal this! But this is someone I ran into in graduate school. Near the end of my studies, I was called into his office and essentially told I’d wasted my time in graduate school, had made all the wrong decisions about who to work with, had sabotaged my own career, and that the paper I’d recently submitted to a journal was a piece of crap. He sent me back to my office wondering why I’d ever bothered to spend five years of my life doing what I’d done. I won’t tell you whether his name was actually Howie. I thought Howie sang really well in that spot, though.

Me: Everett, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Are you ready? Would you rather live by the beach or in the mountains?

Everett: Mountains. North Carolina is one of my favorite places on earth.

Me: Everett, thanks so much for being on the Phile. Please come back again soon. Will you be recording another album or is this it for you?

Everett: I am writing the new album right now. I’m well into it. Thanks so much for having me! I would love to come back, seriously. I love your questions too. These are some of the best questions I’ve answered about my music.

Me: Thank you. Go ahead and mention your website and I wish you continued success. Don't stop now, Everett.

Everett: It’s kicklightermusic.com. And there’s always a bunch of new and interesting content there. Check it out. Thanks again!

That about does it for this entry of the Phile, kids. Thanks to Jeff Trelewicz and of course Everett Young from Kicklighter. The Phile will be back tomorrow with singer Poison Ivory, and then next week it gets rather confusing. The Phile is changing it's days from Thursday and Friday to Sunday and Monday. Sunday it's artist Al Abbazia and Monday Phile Alum Anna Coogan. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker

Pheaturing Jess Meuse From "American Idol"

Hey, everybody, welcome to the Phile. How are you? Are you kid's "Real Housewives of New Jersey" fans? My wife loves that show. Anyway, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice will begin serving a fifteen month sentence for federal fraud charges at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut beginning in early January. Interestingly, the correctional facility is the same one at which Piper Kerman, author of the nonfiction book upon which Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black "was based... served her prison time. It is currently unknown when Giudice will begin filming her "Real Prisoners of Danbury" spinoff reality television show, but you'd better believe that somebody at Bravo has already pitched that idea.  The trailer for the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, which was supposed to premiere during next Tuesday's episode of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. " on ABC, but somehow made it onto the Internet ahead of schedule. In response, Marvel Studios decided to release an official version this week. While the film company blamed its own fictional villains on Twitter ("Dammit, Hydra.") it seems much more likely that the much-anticipated preview... about a Stark Industries artificial intelligence program that gains independence acquired free will and figured out how to upload itself to the throngs of voracious fanboys and fan girls online. Either that, or some dude who works there did it on his lunch break. 

Florida here is apparently so fed up with having to deal with itself that the entire southern half of its peninsula is trying to become its own state. "It's very apparent that the attitude of the northern part of the state is that they would just love to saw the state in half and just let us float off into the Caribbean," South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard explained. Stoddard's feelings about the north aside, the resolution to recreate an autonomous South Florida has about as much chance of passing as the northern half of the state has of not hosting a single drunken nude sword fight this weekend. Remember when the main joke about Florida was that elderly people lived there, and not that it was literally an unfolding apocalypse. Speaking of Florida... I was gonna talk about this in the Florida: America's Wang pheature but I have another story to talk about then.  A Florida based mom activist, or moctivist, Susan Schrivjer has started a popular online petition to get nationwide toy store Toys R Us to stop carrying "Breaking Bad" action figures, claiming that the tiny little representations of drug dealers... complete with itsy-bitsy containers of fake crystal meth... is a bad influence on children, despite the fact that the collectables are displayed in an adult section of the store, far away from the more kid-appropriate functioning crossbows.  Music legend Annie Lennox informed younger, more bootylicious, musicians that "twerking is not feminism," during a recent NPR interview, in which she gave her thoughts on the "over-sexualization" of pop music by performers like Beyoncé Knowles. "It's not... it’s not liberating, it’s not empowering. It’s a sexual thing that you’re doing on a stage; it doesn’t empower you." So, take that under advisement, Ms. Fierce. Hello Tilda Swinton, Annie Lennox here… Just checking to see if we are possibly the same person. Call me when you get this. Okay, bye. Haha. I'm so stupid.  In the process of reconstructing the 45,000 year old variant of the human genome, geneticists confirmed that your great great great great etc. grandparents liked to have some kinky inter-species sex with with Neanderthals. Just wanted you to know. Now go about your day and try not to kill any Woolly Mammoths.  For the past six years, the Empire Brewing Company in Syracuse, New York has offered a style of lager that it has dubbed Strikes Bock. Get it? Do you get it? Like The Empire Strikes Back. See? That's clever. However, now that Empire is trying to trademark the beer so that they can distribute it, Lucasfilm... which was bought by Disney... the greatest company to work for ever... for all of the money in the world two years ago is filing a lawsuit to stop the microbrewery from calling it that, saying it sounds too similar to the name of the movie that Empire is rather obviously trying to make it sound like. I like to imagine that they filed it via a highly concentrated legal beam from a small artificial moon which is always orbiting the Earth. But they probably just faxed some papers over to some law office somewhere. The microbrewery's owner, David Katleski, is painting himself as a sort of scrappy booze-producing rebel just trying to do his thing on his own little base on Yavin IV. "It’s kind of a ‘big dog against small dog’ thing," he told Syracuse.com. "We’ve had this beer for seven years, and we did this [trademark attempt] because we don’t want to infringe on any other beers or anyone else’s trademarks." That's all well and good, but his company is the one called Empire, so doesn't that kind of make him the Emperor in this situation?  I want to try this beer.  There's a new movie that came out today I think called Ouija. Anyway, I guess in time for Halloween McDonald's has a movie tie-in for it which is kinda weird.

Haha. That's so funny.  Did you guys ever play with a ouija board? I did it once when I lived in England with my sister and a friend.  A Phile reader sent me a picture that I thought was funny and thought I would share.

But I want to buy stuff.  Taylor Swift has a new CD out and she's everywhere now. Disney has decided to re-release all their animated movies by replacing the princesses with Taylor as well. Here's the first look at the first one...

Hahaha. I really don't know what to say.  You kid's I am sure love Frozen, right? There was a scene in Frozen which I did not really understand.

No wonder she wants to marry that guy so fast.  So, one thing I like to do in my spare time is to go on Twitter and look up certain words to see what people are talking about. One of those words I look up is Foghat and this is what I recently saw.

God, I wish I knew what ride that was.  Okay, it's October, and it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So, this month I am showing you some some amazing cancer survivors who chose body art instead of reconstructive surgery. So, here is another one...

Alright, and now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is this week's...

Top Phive Startling Similarities And Differences Between Oscar Pistorius And Oscar De La Renta

5. Is the pride of South Africa.

4. Isn't making any plans for the foreseeable future.

3. Beloved by fashion models worldwide.

2. Googled "How to make a shiv" in the last two months.

And the number one similarity and difference between the two Oscar's...

1. Has feeling in his feet.

Ben Bradlee
August 26th, 1921 — October 21st, 2014
Deep box.

Oscar De Le Renta 
July 22nd, 1932 — October 20th, 2014
Fashionably late.

Shit! That had to hurt. If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. And I thought my accident two years ago was bad. Man! So, a few weeks ago the Maelstrom ride in the Norway pavilion in Epcot closed down to make room for a Frozen themed ride. In that ride was a polar bear who now is unemployed, but all he wants to do is to be a stand-up comedian. So, a few weeks ago I invited him on the Phile to tell some jokes and he was so damn popular I thought I would invite him back. So, here he is once again, the Phile's new character...

Petter: Hei, Jason, er det flott å være tilbake på Phile.

Me: Hi, Petter. I don't speak Norwegian so all I got was Jason and Phile. How are you?

Petter: Fantastisk, takk.

Me: Petter, please stick to English. Okay, do you have any jokes for us?

Petter: Why shouldn't you take polar bears to the zoo?

Me: I don't know. Why?

Petter: Because they'd rather go to the movies.

Me: Petter, that was horrible.

Petter: Sorry. How about this one? What did the polar bear eat after the dentist fixed its tooth?

Me: I'm not sure.

Petter: The dentist.

Me: That's mean. Any others?

Petter: Ja. What do you get when you cross a polar bear with a seal?

Me: I'm not sure. What?

Petter: A polar bear.

Me: Hahaha. Petter, that's funny. Do you have a story to finish your pheature?

Petter: Ja. A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a polar bear sitting next to him. "Are you a polar bear?" asked the man, surprised. "Yes." "What are you doing at the movies?" The polar bear replied, "Well, I liked the book."

Me: That wasn't funny at all, Petter. I'll have you back soon to try again. Keep at it. Petter the Comedic, Norwegian, Unemployed Polar Bear, everybody. And now for a brand new pheature...

U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a printed version of Ben Stein's voice.

The 28th artist to be pheatured in the Phile's Art Gallery is Al Abbazia and this is one of his pieces...

I love it! Al will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

This is sooooo cool. Today's pheatured guest is an American singer from Slapout, Alabama, who finished in fourth place on the thirteenth season of "American Idol". Please welcome to the Phile... Jess Meuse!

Me: Hello, Jess, welcome to the Phile. It's so cool you are here, how are you?

Jess: I'm great! Happy I can sit down and have time to answer some questions, of course! It's a great day to be alive!

Me: Okay, so, do you like to be called Jessica or Jess?

Jess: I like to be called Jess more. In high school, I had like a thousand Jessica's in my classes, so it got really confusing, and it kinda left a stigma on the full three syllable name! Ha!

Me: Jess, I have to be honest, I originally was planning to have you on the Phile in 2011 when your album "What's So Hard About Bein' A Man" came out. I have photo of that album here...

Me: I thought that was a great album title... was it a pun?

Jess: Haha. You're so punny. It was a collection of many of my early works, including the title track, one of the very first songs I ever wrote. That time in my life was a huge time of learning, and with that, frustration! What better way to release that than through music and lyrics?

Me: That album was all originals, right?

Jess: All of the tracks were original aside from my cover of "Simple Man."

Me: When you do your shows do you still do songs from that album?

Jess: Sometimes. I'm really lenient with my set lists. I usually don't make it until about five minutes before I get on stage, and then about five songs change on it anyway… so sometimes I don't even make one. Every now and then, I'll definitely have a "throwback" to my "What's So Hard About Bein' A Man" days!

Me: When you were on "Idol" I was like... wait a minute. I know that name. Has your life changed a lot since you were on that show?

Jess: Definitely. It was like being picked up in a tornado and not even seeing the clouds rolling in! But it was a great ride and an awesome experience! There are some educations you just can't pay for, and the "Idol" experience is one of those. My life has definitely changed for the better, and I'm ready to keep pushing forward with my solo career and go crazy with my music... in a good way, of course!

Me: Regular readers of the Phile know I am a huge Kelly Clarkson fan and she's my favorite Idol, but last season you were my favorite Idol. Did you have a good time doing that show, Jess?

Jess: It was AWESOME!!

Me: You went pretty far which was so cool, and you had some amazing performances... "Jolene", and "Gunpowder and Lead" were great. You have done local talent shows and auditioned before for other shows, right?

Jess: Thank you so much! I've done a ton of local shows here, there, everywhere. I doubt I could list them all offhand. I'm really rooted in the place I come from, so I was sure to be a part of the community not only as a musician but as a person; it built a lot of character, I think, and helps me stand firm in who I am today.

Me: I have to show this picture of your audition on "Idol"...

Me: How did you choose "American Idol" over say "The Voice" or any other talent show?

Jess: I was on "The Voice" Season 3 in 2012. It just didn't work out, and that's okay. I got to blind auditions, and no one turned around. It was my first real Hollywood experience.

Me: You got to perform your own original song "Blue-Eyed Lie" on the show. That must of been a really big deal for you. And they even paid to have you record it in the studio? Do you wish you got to do any other of your original songs?

Jess: That was a total dream come true! I actually ended up being the first finalist to perform an original on the show, which is hard for me to process even now, months after the season has ended! I just feel very blessed and thankful. I do wish I'd gotten to perform other originals, of course. I was going to sing "The Hell You Put Me Through", ironically, on the round I was eliminated. The theme of the week got switched up last minute, and I had to pick a song on the spot; I ended up with "So What" by P!nk, because it was the only song, lyrically, that I could even remotely relate to on the cleared list.

Me: Do you have a favorite "Idol" moment? Mine would be in the eighth season when Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta did "Slow Ride". You could of done a great version of "Slow Ride" or any Foghat song, Jess. Are you a fan of Foghat?

Jess: I'll have to go check them out! I've heard the name before, at least!

Me: Jess, you're originally from Texas, right, but didn't you live in Florida for awhile?

Jess: Yes! I lived in Zephyrhills, Florida for a couple years!

Me: How did you end up in Slapout, Alabama?

Jess: That's a good question. It just kind of… happened. My family and I moved down to Slapout from Rhode Island, so it was a rather random place to end up in.

Me: You being on "Idol" really put the town on the map. Are you still living there?

Jess: I do still live in Slapout!

Me: Do you get recognized a lot?

Jess: Everyone knows everyone in Slapout, so yes! It's fun, though! I love the tight-knit community. It's like a big happy family!

Me: Jess, how old were you when you started playing guitar and singing?

Jess: I was just finishing up eighth grade at Holtville Middle School, so I was probably 14 or 15. I'm a night owl. I'd sit up all night and teach myself, wake up at 6, go to school, do my homework, repeat.

Me: What was the first song you learnt, Jess?

Jess: It escapes me. I had to learn a lot of covers, especially when I was playing three and four hours worth of shows, multiple times a week. It was definitely something without bar chords, though! Haha! Those came later!

Me: Hey, I just remembered something, you did a show with a Phile Alum Kirk Waldrop who is the lead singer of the band Nine Times Blue. Do you remember that? Was that before "Idol"?

Jess: Wasn't that at The Nick in Birmingham?

Me: I'm not sure... I wasn't there.

Jess: One of the coolest venues to perform at, if you ask me! I remember Nine Times Blue & Roostertruck performed there that night, too! It was an epic night of music. Just how I like it.

Me: Okay, so, now the "Idol" show is over and the tour is done, are you gonna be going into the studio to work on your album?

Jess: I currently am working with a very talented production group based out of Los Angeles. Hopefully, if things work out, I'll be releasing a single and hopefully begin working on an EP.

Me: Have you been writing songs for it, Jess?

Jess: Always writing!!!!

Me: You're going to continue being a singer and performer, right?

Jess: I couldn't be anything else. It's not in my soul.

Me: I have to mention your tattoos as I have four myself, but you have a lot more than four. How many do you have?

Jess: Maybe nine? Once you start to get so many, it becomes less of a number and more of a size thing… I have a huge dragon on the left side of my back, my best friend's spirit animals and mine, a Celtic cross with "Caelitus Mihi Vires" written on it, a phoenix, a double infinity with wings, "Faith," "XIII" (for "Idol" season 13), and a few more.

Me: You designed them yourself, am I right?

Jess: Yes, I designed all of them except the buckmark on my hip. The big dragon I told you about was originally my concept, and I had a drawing, but the artist I use is freehand, so he ran with my concept with his own interpretation!

Me: Are you gonna be getting any more?

Jess: Maybe… probably...

Me: Okay, so, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Ready? What's the hardest thing you've ever done? And no, that's not a pun.

Jess: Remained true to myself... and continuing to do so... while being pushed and pulled from every angle. There are a lot of people in this world and not one of them has the same idea of perfection. I think it's imperative to stay honest, be real, and be true to yourself and others in spite of the parts of this world that will try to weigh you down and make you feel heavy. You just have to do what you love and treat people the way you want to be treated. That's my goal every day.

Me: Good for you. Jess, you are fantastic. Continued success and when your album comes out will you come back on the Phile?

Jess: Thank you so much! I enjoyed it. I'll definitely talk with you again sometime!

Me: Go ahead and mention your websites and stuff.

Jess: Facebook.com/idoljessicameuse, Twitter: @jessmeuse, IG: jessmeuse.

Me: Take care, all the best.

Jess: You too!

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Jess Meuse for a great interview. The Phile will be back next Thursday with singer Everett Young from Kicklighter and on Friday with singer Poison Ivory. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker