Pheaturing Sleeplust

Hey, kids, welcome to the Phile for a Monday. How're you? I am pretty good myself... kinda. I ate for breakfast a packet of Skip's Prawn Cocktail. If you don't know what that is you don't know what's missing. I have to tell you this before I continue... across the street from my apartment complex a British restaurant opened called The Friar Tuck opened and it's my new favorite place to go. I am so happy I don't have to travel far to get British food.
Alright, let's start off with a funny story, shall we, as I am in a good mood... which is rare. Ha. A suspicious husband in Wyoming, Minnesota made a very concerning concerned call when he found something in his wife's purse. First red flag: why was he looking through his wife's purse?

I might be naive, or just super out-of-touch with what the kids are smokin' these days but... what? The Wyoming police had to confirm that the man had never seen a cocktail umbrella, which is kind of sad that he had never experienced a sweet, tropical beverage. Even if it turned out to be something, it's cold to call the police on your wife. The call raises many questions: 1. Exactly how did it seem drug-like to him? 2. Is it possible that he knew it was a cocktail umbrellas, but was jealous that his wife was having cocktails with somebody else and called the police to scare her? 3. Was he, himself, on drugs? Did a psychadelic psych up the site of a mini umbrella?
At the highest level of politics, you never know when a seemingly friendly citizen is really just trying to make you look stupid. Just ask Kellyanne Conway, who once posed for a video selfie with a guy who smilingly instructed her to say "I'm ruining America!" We really hope he didn't get deported for that. The deserving victim this time out is House Speaker Paul Ryan, who led the charge to pass a bill that would dismantle our existing healthcare system and establish some kind of Hunger Games-type dystopia. The Republican talking point on this, for years, has been that they'll "repeal and replace" Obamacare. But if you take a closer look at the shirt the guy next to Ryan here is wearing, you'll get a more brutally accurate idea of their pitch: "Repeal and go fuck yourself."

Classic oversight by Ryan, who was probably just happy that any human being is still willing to stand next to him in public at this point. The shirt-trolling is a victory, to be sure. And you can buy this tee for yourself right here: (cottonbureau.com/products/repeal-and-go-fck-yourself) before your congressman's next town hall meeting. But is it enough? To bring down the GOP establishment, we have to think bigger. Much bigger. Whoever scores the picture with Trump wearing a "I'm with stupid" shirt wins the Internet. Game on. Ha.
At 2am in Lexington, Kentucky on Wednesday, college student Henry Lynch II embarked on a hardcore heist. WKYT reports that University of Kentucky junior climbed through the ceiling ducts in the school's Multidisciplinary Science Building to sneak into his stats professor's office and steal the exam, thinking this action hero move would be easier than just studying. Even more amusing is that it wasn't the dude's first time crawling through air ducts for a great test heist. Unfortunately for Henry Lynch II (what a name), his professor was working late that night, and while the prof had stepped out to get something to eat at the precise time of the burglary, he returned and noticed that something was wrong. The professor returned and caught lynch and sophomore Troy Kiphuth running out of the office, and when police arrived, the students returned to the scene and confessed. The kids were cited for the burglary-3rd degree, which is a full-on felony (!!!) and will face a judge in June. This is a good lesson, kids. It's easier to just study statistics than to conDUCT an illegal scheme.
Being a new mom has lots of challenges, and trying to balance your baby's needs with your own errands and responsibilities has never been easy. So it's pretty dumb that we continue to stigmatize something as common and natural as breastfeeding. Nevertheless, as Ana Davis of Centerville, Utah, found out, even going out of your way to breastfeed in private isn't enough for some people. Davis was shopping at a Nordstrom Rack when her baby daughter Mia started making noises about a meal. Not wanting to attract any unwanted attention or complaints, Davis took her into a bathroom. Not a few minutes later, she was approached by a store employee "who had said a complaint had been made that somebody was feeling uncomfortable to... doing their business while there was a nursing mother in the restroom," Davis said. Yeah, because breastfeeding is so much grosser than sitting next to someone while they take a huge dump. "I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong by nursing," Davis said. "We as a society are okay with, you know, low-cut shirts or advertisements of underwear models and that's okay, but a nursing mother to a lot of people is just very offensive." Nordstrom, for their part, released a short statement, saying, "We want every customer to feel comfortable while they're shopping with us, particularly nursing mothers." Well, they have a funny way of showing it.
I think it's funny this story was took place at Nordstrom Rack. Get it?
Work stressing you out? Well, boy oh boy, do I have a solution for you, and it's not even day drinking. Apparently, if you want to make your work day better, happier and more productive, all you have to do is something that you usually do at home: masturbate. And this is according to actual trained psychologists, not your creepy co-worker Seth, Metro UK reports. It's true. A recent article in Ravishly claimed that "fapping is the new smoke break." Only, unlike smoking, masturbation won't do irreparable damage to your lungs and teeth. Yay! And psychologists actually agree. Mark Sergeant, a senior lecturer in psychology at Nottingham Trent University, told Metro UK that a masturbation break would be "very effective at work," and a "great way to relieve tension and stress." He also thinks that "masturbation breaks" would provide a "self-motivational reward," giving you something to look forward after a long day of hoping your boss doesn't catch you reading the Phile at your desk. A masturbation break could have other benefits as well. "I would expect a masturbation policy to result in more focus, less aggression, higher productivity, and more smiling," psychologist and life coach Dr. Cliff Arnall told Metro UK. As if "more smiling" isn't enough of a perk, he added, "Certainly taking a masturbation break for boredom or an escape would increase work focus." As great as this plan sounds in theory, however, there are some, err, holes. For example, Dr. Arnall expressed some concerns about "timing" and "whether or not you’ll be able to orgasm" on your 1/2 hour lunch break while your boss is in the next cubicle. He also points out that if you try to achieve orgasm and don't succeed, this could lead to increased frustration, which would pretty much negate all the positive effects of masturbating at work, including the smiling. Also, there's the question of comfort and safety. Speaking of your creepy co-worker Seth, bringing sexual gratification into the office could "blur lines" and "open the door to inappropriate behavior," Metro UK warns. "Introducing any form of sexual behavior to a workplace could be seen as a slippery slope that makes people think that other forms of sexual behavior, such as those linked to harassment, are more acceptable," said Dr. Arnall. He recommended that employees not use their masturbation breaks to fantasize about a co-worker, because "this is likely to result in cognitive impairment." So, basically, if you're attracted to any of your co-workers, this plan is off the table (sorry, creepy Seth!).
Alright, so, over the years people have made fun of my name "Peverett," calling me "pervert." I always said it's "prevert"... I already did it while the pervert os thinking of it. That's actually not true. Ha. Anyway, some people have a worse case of a name problem than I do.

Hahaha. Hey, I think President Trump has written a new executive order, kids.

Ummmm... never mind. See you see the new trailer for the new Spider-Man movie? I looks so good and Iron Man is in it, even though I don't exactly think he's gonna make a difference.

Do you kids like Pop Tarts? I don't, but thought you might be interested in the new kind that just came out.

What the hell? So, I saw this pic the other day of Trump...

And I thought where have I seen something like that before. And then it hit me...

It's close, right? So, did you see Trump has a new toad tattoo on his face? No?

Hahahahaha. as I said on Saturday that is so stupid. As stupid as...

Okay, that's a stretch. So, I don't know if you know this about me but I love Funko Pop Vinyls. Well, there's this new app where you can turn yourself into one and I just had to share this...

It's me! Hahaha. I'm sucha geek. Speaking of geeks, I love it when geeks protest.

Science and Star Wars in one protest sign? It's perfect! So, as you probably know I pretty much just wear t-shirts and shorts every day. But if I was this age I am in the 1970s I might of dress different.

"Yeah, I'm looking for underwear that will visually overwhelm a woman. Maybe something with triangles?" Hahahahaha. And now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is...

Top Phive "Improvements" Made To The New Trumpcare Bill
5. Being poor will now be considered a pre-existing condition.
4. Anyone denied coverage may select any waiting-room magazine to take home, free of charge.
3. Happily, insurance premiums will be dramatically reduced for all Congressmen.
2. All hand-enlargement surgeries will receive full coverage.
And the number one "improvement" mede to the new Trumpcare bill is...
1. All coverage will be retroactively denied to fans of Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.

Ha! If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Okay, I'm British as you know, and you probably know how I feel about the French. Ahem. Here's a pheature simply called...

Heads up: you might want to start taking public transit or driving yourself to your mistress's place, because Uber is bad at keeping secrets. BBC reports that a businessman in France is suing the app for tipping off to his wife the fact that he's having an affair. Boo hoo! The suit alleges that the man once called an Uber using his wife's phone, and despite logging off, the app kept sending her notifications, revealing his travel history and making her suspicious of extramarital activity. "My client was the victim of a bug in an application," his lawyer said. The couple has since divorced, and the lawsuit is reportedly worth up to $48 million in damages. Forty. Eight. Million. Dollars. French newspaper "Le Figaro" reports that other users have been exposed to the same bug that could have exposed their affairs. They carried out an experiment, logging in and out of Uber on one iPhone and ordering the driving on the other, and the app sent notifications to both phones. Android phones don't appear to affected by the bug, making it the official new phone of cheaters. To all the cheaters out there: Stay safe and switch to a 'Droid. I recommend the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

The 59th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

Jack will be the guest on the Phile a week from today... next Monday.

Today's guests are the kids that make up the Los Angeles based band Sleeplust, whose new single "Over" is available on iTunes right now. Please welcome to the Phile Amber Ruthe, Michael Pepe,  Sarah Luffred and Joseph Pepe... Sleeplust.

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

Amber: Fantastic!

Michael: Hey, man! Doing great, stoked to be chatting today. Thanks for the interview.

Me: So, Michael and Joseph, you are twins, right? Which one is older?

Joseph: I am older by about a minute and I have yet to let him live that down.

Michael: Joey is actually older by like a minute and he constantly reminds me that he’s the "older" brother.

Me: Did you talk about being in a band together when you were growing up?

Joseph: It has always been our dream we’ve been chasing to be honest. We’ve been playing in bands together since we were in high school, as soon as we graduated we started touring with our old pop/punk band and that has lead to where we are today.

Michael: Yeah, we definitely grew up on the same path loving and learning music together; a really special bond to share. We picked up our respective instruments the same summer. Joey picked up bass and I picked up guitar so that we could start a band. After we heard Blink-182 in ’99 it was ON! 

Me: Were you both musically inclined all your life?

Joseph: Honestly… No! Haha. We don’t come from a musical family but we had the passion and dedication to learn the craft of songwriting and playing. It first clicked when I heard Blink-182 and looked up the chords and I was like “Hey this is easy… I could do this!”

Michael: Hard to say, haha! That may be a question for our parents. I know I loved Elvis from a very very young age. There are home videos of me doing shows for my family of his songs.

Me: So, whose idea was it to form Sleeplust? Or was it both of your ideas?

Joseph: Sleeplust was a sound we had been forming for a while before actually entering into the band as a real endeavor. We had been playing in rock bands and after our last band broke up we decided to really start using our talents in marrying electronic music with rock music into one idea. 

Michael: I don’t know if there was a pinpointed moment per say. After being in and out of a few bands together I think it was just a natural progression in our music.

Me: What does Sleeplust mean and who came up with the name?

Jospeh: I can't quite remember who came up with it, I think it was myself possibly. But it is derived from a Jack Kerouac quote that I love.

Me: The band is based in Los Angeles, right, but you are all from different places?

Jospeh: Correct, we all met in L.A. but are from different parts of the country. We were lucky enough to find each other out here on the west coast.

Michael: That’s correct; we met in L.A. after Joey and I moved here for music. Amber and Sarah also moved here for music!

Me: Michael and Joseph, where are you two from?

Joseph: Mike and I were originally born in New York and raised there until 2nd grade and then we really grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Me: Did you both move to California at the same time?

Joseph: Sure did! We knew it was the next phase in our music careers and where the opportunities we wanted lead. We came here within about two weeks of each other.

Michael: Essentially, yeah! We planned it that way. I was a couple of weeks behind just because of scheduling and stuff but for all purposes yeah we moved out at the same time.

Me: Amber and Sarah, where are you two from?

Sarah: Cleveland, Ohio.

Amber: I grew up in Illinois, Chicago-land area. Moved to Milwaukee for three years and now I'm here in beautiful, sunny L.A. writing music with these fine people.

Me: Amber, you're the singer from the band... but weren't the original singer, am I right? 

Amber: Correct.

Me: Did you replace somebody or was the band a three piece in the beginning?

Amber: I replaced a former singer.

Me: Didn't you see the band in concert before you were a member, Amber? You must really liked the band.

Amber: I did! It was that show that prompted me to search for a band of similar likeness and low and behold it was the same band to kickstart my search that ended up answering my post. Truly a small world.

Me: So, how did you get to be in the band as the lead singer?

Amber: After a few emails back and forth with Joey, we set up a meeting at this place called Joe's Coffee in NoHo and began writing songs together shortly after that. We all seemed to be pretty in tune with each other and it just kind of grew from there.

Me: Sarah, you're the drummer... did you always play drums?

Sarah: I actually learned how to play saxophone as my first instrument in the 3rd grade. My parents wouldn't let me play drums. Finally in the 6th grade after multiple box and bucket drum sets being made and getting in trouble for drumming on my desk at school, my parents gave in and bought me a drum set. I just had the natural ability to play and taught myself. I continued with saxophone in concert band all through middle school and joined the jazz band playing drums.

Me: Do you have a favorite drummer that inspired you?

Sarah: I grew up listening to a lot of Broadway show tunes and Frank Sinatra so unlike other drummers I don't have any old school drummer inspirations. My inspiration was Travis Barker from Blink-182.

Me: So, how did you meet the boys, Sarah?

Sarah: Good old Craigslist, ha!

Me: I have to ask you about the tattoo on your arm... what is it?

Sarah: I actually have three. It's the start of my half sleeve, but I've hit a slight dead end at the moment. One is a rose (my birth month flower), a tiger’s face (Chinese animal birth year) and a silhouette of a drummer boy.

Me: Okay, so, who does the songwriting in the band?

Joseph: We all are writers to be honest and we all bring ideas to the table. We pride ourselves in being a diverse bunch with a lot of musical tastes that can live under the umbrella of Sleeplust.

Michael: The songwriting is a very collaborative process; I think any great band has to be able to bounce off one another and collab well together. We all pitch in on writing and ideas. Typically we like to start with an acoustic guitar or piano and a vocal and go from there. Arrangement is so important to us. Before we start adding all the fun stuff we like to sit down and write a song in its most honest form.

Me: What comes first, the music or lyrics?

Joseph: You know it really depends. Pretty much 100% of the time we start the songs on acoustic guitar or piano and build it from there. But many times Amber will have a melody line or hook that inspires us and we’ll start finding the chords and fleshing out the idea. It’s the most exciting part, to start with nothing and then in a few hours be so proud of what we all did together.

Michael: Typically, they’re kind of happening at the same time. I think they each feed into one another and lead the song to the place it should be. Very often we’ll be writing chords and Amber will be giving melody and lyrics and that’ll make us change courses a bit and then maybe I’ll add an extra chord in and that’ll make her engage in a different way, etc. It’s a very natural process I feel.

Me: Let's talk about "Over," the new single... it's about the end of a relationship, right?

Amber: That is correct.

Me: Can you all relate to the song? I can.

Michael: I feel like one of the things that connects about the song is that everyone can relate to it on some level. I think it has that special metaphoric attitude where a listener can kind of apply it to their life or what’s going on in their world. I think that’s very special when a song can be interpreted by the listener and applied.

Me: This is not your first release... as you have other music out. How has the music in the band changed over the last few years?

Michael: It definitely has. I think the last year or so we’ve been able to bridge our gap between rock and ambient/electronics. Now there’s much more string instruments and when we first started it was an experiment to see if we could NOT use guitars... haha. The songs lately I think are zeroed in on what the band is; a great blend of rock and electronic.

Me: Are you gonna be making a video for “Over"?

Joseph: You know we’ve talked about it but I think we might be doing a video for the next single instead! However I think it’s a very cinematic song so the visuals for the track could be very moving. 

Me: You kids are working on a new album for this summer... what can we expect from it?

Michael: I think it will be the most honed in Sleeplust has ever sounded. I think it will define what the band is and show all angles of what we can do. Some rock, some pop, some electronic, some upbeat, some sad, some acoustic. We’ve worked so hard on attacking all angles of what this band is and how we want to present it and this record I know really shows that off.

Me: You had some song placements in TV shows... that's always cool I know. If your music can be put in any TV show of your choice what would it be?

Joseph: All the shows I adore are off air right now, haha. I would’ve loved to seen our music synched in the show "Entourage" though!

Michael: "Seinfeld" or "Breaking Bad"… Since both of those shows are done and over though I’ll take "Shark Tank." I’m legit addicted to that show, haha.

Me: So, are you gonna be touring at all this year?

Joseph: We will be playing mostly the L.A. area and spreading out from there. We really are focusing on building the band up in our now hometown of Los Angeles. With that being said we are open to play anywhere, we just love to play live shows.

Michael: Yes! We have a lot of shows lined up in the L.A. area and it’ll be so exciting to show off this EP live; we’ve started to already at the recent shows and it feels so great.

Me: So, I am guessing you all get along... but I am sure there's a few debates and stuff you kids don't agree on... what was the last fight the band had?

Michael: I honestly can’t think of a band fight? Probably a disagreement on where to eat, haha. I probably wanted carbs and more carbs. Strictly carb diet for me.

Joseph: I think Mike is right about the food, haha. I can’t remember a big band fight or anything in this particular outfit. We’re all really passionate about what we do but we are also very levelheaded people and know that playing in a band is a democracy. I’m sure if there was a disagreement we would just talk through it, I tend to think communication is one the strongest things we have as a team.

Me: I am glad you guys could be on the Phile. I hope you'll come back again soon. Go ahead and mention your websites, kids.

Michael: Sleeplustmusic.com, soundcloud.com/sleeplustmusic, facebook.com/sleeplustmusic, instagram.com/sleeplustmusic, twitter.com/sleeplustmusic.  

Me: I hope this was fun. Take care, and I am looking forward to the album. And I hope to have you kids back on the Phile then.

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to the kids from Sleeplust for a great interview. Alright, I quickly have to mention something... in two weeks I was supposed to have as pheatured guest Michael Packer from Michael Packer Blues Band to talk about his CD "35th Anniversary" but sad to say he passed away from cancer yesterday. Fucking cancer. Anyway, as he won't be on the Phile I still wanna plug his great album. Here it is...

RIP, Michael. Okay, so, the Phile will be back next Sunday on Mother's Day with Phile Alum Doris Brendel. 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 Pontea

Good afternoon, kids, and welcome to the Phile for a Saturday. How are you? As if you needed another reason not to fly, here's the latest airline horror story to keep you grounded. A New York family is suing Delta Airlines after they claim a Delta employee "slapped" their 12-year-old son's phone out of his hand while they were waiting for a flight from La Guardia Airport in New York City to Florida last July, the "New York Post" reports. On July 1st, 2016, Matthew Boggan was traveling to Florida with 10 family members when their Delta flight was delayed 17 hours due to a "weather event," according to court papers. The Boggan family and other passengers had been forced to sleep in sleeping on the floor, according to "Inside Edition." So when the Delta agent came over to explain the situation to the weary passengers, Boggan, being a millennial, took out his phone and began recording on Snapchat. He wanted to film the passengers' reaction to the announcement, his attorney Terrence James Cortelli said. The Delta ticketing agent said it was "illegal" for him to film the situation, the suit claims according to "The Post." She then "smacked" the phone out of his hand, according to the lawsuit filed in Rockland County. "She just came over and hit me," Boggan told "The Post. " "My phone went flying. I was in shock." According to Matthew’s father, Brian Boggan, passengers responded by yelling, "this is child abuse." Delta spokesman Anthony Black declined to comment on the incident, but a lawyer for the airline said Matthew "interfered with the Delta agent’s ability to communication an announcement." The Boggan family is seeking "unspecified damages" from Delta, the "Post" reports. The Boggans first filed their suit last year, but Matthew Boggan claims the recent viral video of a Kentucky doctor being violently dragged off an over-booked United flight brought back "horrible memories" and he refuses to fly either United or Delta. "I’ll only fly Jet Blue," he said. Cortelli said both incidents signal a much larger problem with airline employees disregarding their passengers' needs. "They don’t care. They know we’re trapped," he said. "We have to do whatever they say."
When Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something much, much worse... yeah, fine, call it Trumpcare... they put themselves in the awkward explanation of trying to explain how they're not actually evil. It's not going well for them! Take Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), who the day after that historically tragic vote visited with constituents at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. There he was informed by a woman that the Trumpcare bill includes cuts to Medicaid that amount to a death sentence for some. Labrador called the line "indefensible," which was pretty rich considering what he said next. "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare." Good luck getting reelected, dude!
Former Arkansas governor and current blathering old man Mike Huckabee likes to make jokes on Twitter. There is only one problem... he really sucks at it. In his latest attempt, Huckabee tweeted out this purposely distasteful "joke" about Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday that commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862...

Okay, so Huckabee is very obviously trying stir up controversy with broad stereotypes about Mexicans for no other reason than to just be an ass. Makes you long for the good ol' days when politicians at least pretended not to be racist, doesn't it? Although Cinco De Mayo is observed to commemorate an unlikely military defeat over French forces in 1862, many Americans mark the holiday by wearing racially insensitive costumes, guzzling alcohol and eating inauthentic Mexican food at chain restaurants. Nowadays, many like to exploit Mexican culture as they chant "build a wall!" The irony. Remember when we thought things couldn't get weirder than this Cinco de Mayo tweet?

Stick to politics, Huckabee. Oh wait, you were no good at that either. Maybe just go away?
Your boozy aunt Susan and your lush freshman year roommate might actually be right... Alcohol is a great painkiller. While research on the effects of alcohol has been swinging back and forth like you when you're drunk, a meta-analysis of 18 scientific studies in "The Journal of Pain" suggests that scientists can agree on one thing: Alcohol might be a better painkiller than acetaminophen, aka Tylenol. If you combine the great painkiller with laughter (the best medicine), a night with friends just might be the cure to your ills. That is, if you aren't in so much pain that you can't go out. Dr. Trevor Thompson of the University of Greenwich looked at 18 controlled experiments on the analgesic effects of alcohol and found that Blood Alcohol Content of approximately 0.08% (around three or four beers) "produced a small elevation of pain threshold and a moderate to large reduction in pain intensity ratings." That's the difference between a frowny face and a crying frowny face on the official emergency room pain scale! But there is a downside, of course. Thompson explained that the World Health Organization's guidelines encourage seeking alternatives because patients with chronic pain are at a higher risk of alcohol abuse. Also, obviously, this would not work with people with alcohol abuse problems who should not drink alcohol at all. So don't get in the habit of "drinking the pain away," especially considering that alcohol is often just delaying the pain until the morning. But if you're feeling for a more delicious alternative to Tylenol, beer is the way to go.
"Playboy" model Jaylene Cook is being criticized for cultural insensitivity after stripping down on a mountain that's sacred to the Maori community, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Cook, 25, climbed up to the 2,518-meter peak of Mount Taranaki, New Zealand. There she took a picture gazing out over the clouds wearing nothing but gloves, hat, and sneakers, which would hurt a lot if she tripped after she stripped. The mountain, which is an active volcano, is sacred to the Maori people, and a spokesperson for the local tribe told the BBC that "it's like someone went into St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and took a nude photo," which, damn... don't give "Playboy" any ideas. The BBC explains that for the Maori, "the volcano is considered the burial ground of the tribe's ancestor and is itself seen as an ancestor." "We simply ask people to please be respectful. This latest case is just another really annoying example where someone obviously didn't know how to behave here," the spokesperson, Dennis Ngawhare, explained. Mount Taranki's sacred status is explained on the New Zealand Department of Conservation's website, so isn't very hard to figure out. "The crater and summit is the sacred head of Taranaki, the rocks and ridge are his bones, rivers his blood and plants and trees are his cloak and offer protection from the weather… Respect the mountain," the official website states. Getting naked at "historical sites" seems to be Cook's "thing."

As the base says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your naked asses yearning to be free." In December 2016, Jennifer Lawrence was similarly called out for disrespecting native cultures when she bragged about scratching her butt with sacred rocks with shooting The Hunger Games in Hawaii. Dear beautiful famous people, there are many places to get naked that aren't considered holy. And there are many other things with which to scratch your butt.
The other day I saw this picture of Trump...

And I thought to myself it reminds me of some other pic I saw. And then it hit me...

Speaking of Trump... did you see he has a new toad tattoo on his face? No? Well, take a look...

What the hell? That's so stupid. Hahahaha. That's as stupid as...

Hahahaha. Doesn't Ed Norton looked kinda stoned tFhere? Hey, are you a fan of those Fast & the Furious movies? I have never seen any of them myself but I heard they are good. Anyway, the poster for the ninth movies in the series is out already.

Okay, I just think that's in bad taste. Just saying. Moving on... I love it when geeks get political, don't you? They just have the best signs.

Even if we're talking about xenomorphs. One of the things I love to do in my spare time is to look up certain words on Twitter. And one of the words I look up is "Foghat." Here's a tweet I saw a while ago...

Lillian, I don't low who you are but that's funny... and you are cute. Alright, and now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is...

Top Phive Groups Who Went To See Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
5. Moviegoers eager to see Vin Disel stretch his acting chops by playing a younger monosyllabic tree.
4. Sylvester Stallone lovers, eager to figure out which parts of his character's wrinkled, discolored flesh are makeup and which are his actual skin.
3. People who've waited 30 years for Stallone and Kurt Russell to be reunited... and summon the legendary magic of Tango & Cash.
2. Classic rock fans who can see no other way to listen to Fleetwood Mac.
And the number one group of people who went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are...
1. Trenchcoats full of enterprising raccoons.

This is really a stupid one. If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Alright, so, I love comedy and I like giving comedians a chance on the Phile. There's one comedian that's really funny, except the problem is he is very old, and it's hard to understand him. Luckily for you though I am really old as well, and can translate for you. Yep. It's a talent. So, please welcome once again to the Phile...

Me: Hey, Alan, welcome back to the Phile.

Alan: Salutations, Jason.

Me: Alright, tell us a joke. I know it's gonna be funny.

Alan: A forward girl being in company of two or three with her mother, must needs whip her hand up her petticoats and scratch her... "Lord, child," says the mother in a pet, "what are you about?" "Only laying the itching of that which you have often plagued my poor father to do for you."

Me: Haha. That's good. Okay, let me translate as my readers will probably have no idea what you're saying... A girl reaches under her skirt in public to scratch her vagina. When the mom asks, "WTF?" the kid replies, "I'm just scratching my vagina like you're always asking dad to do for you." Alan, the 100-year-old-comedian, everybody. Good job, Alan,

Alan: Thank you.

The 59th book in the Phile's Book Club is...

Jack will be the guest on the Phile next Monday.

Okay, today's guest is a very talented and beautiful singer whose new single "Unpredictable" is available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Pontea.

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

Pontea: I’m sooo good! Thank you for having me.

Me: So, how do you pronounce your name?

Pontea: I always tell people the “e” is silent, so try saying Ponta, it sounds like Pawn-tuh, and I usually sing that jingle Fanta Pontea, don’t you wanta, ha!

Me: Pontea, you are very stunning... I know you are a singer, but have you ever done any modeling? 

Pontea: Why, thank you, that’s very kind. I’ve done some modeling here and there in the past, but nothing major.

Me: Where are you from originally?

Pontea: Los Angeles, born and raised... same family home all my life. It’s funny because I’m considered a “unicorn” to others I meet around L.A. who moved here from somewhere else.

Me: Your dad is from overseas, right? Where is he from and where is your mom from?

Pontea: My parents are both from Tehran, Iran. That’s where they met and married. They moved here at the start of the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Me: They are creative people as well... your dad is a singer? My dad was a singer as well, but in a rock band... Foghat. I doubt you heard of the band. What kinda singing did your dad do?

Pontea: That’s really cool! So you know what it’s like to have a musical home environment. Yes, my dad has a beautiful singing voice and he’s actually a damn good whistler too. He was in a band in Iran when he was younger. I grew up waking up to the sound of him whistling tunes from his bedroom and singing his favorite songs when we would get ready for parties. He and I like to do duets together as well, with me on the piano and us singing together. He’s the live entertainment at most of his friends’ gatherings, singing mostly Persian songs with a few favorite Italian and pop tunes.

Me: And wasn't your mom a poet?

Pontea: She has a passion for writing Farsi poetry. Her words are beautiful. I wish I could translate some Persian poetry into English, but it’s never quite the same. 

Me: So, are you an only child, Pontea?

Pontea: Nooo, I’m the youngest of 4 siblings, one sister and two brothers. They’re way older than me though. My sister, who’s the oldest, is 20-years-older than me and the age gap between the youngest brother and I is 14 years... same parents, same marriage. I’m the baby of the family and I had somewhat of an only child experience, considering the huge age difference. My parents were pretty strict on my sister and brothers back in the day. But they were incredibly lenient by the time I came around. I had no curfew, never got grounded, had boyfriends, sleepovers, etc. This freedom stirred my creativity and allowed me to explore my surroundings my way.

Me: What do they think of your career and music? I am sure they are very proud of you!

Pontea: They’re my biggest supporters. They pushed me to do music even when I didn’t think I could.

Me: So, did you wanna be a singer all your life?

Pontea: I’ve definitely wanted to be a performer all my life, both acting and singing. That’s all my daydreams were about, and I spent most of my free time doing something in the arts.

Me: Who were your influences growing up?

Pontea: I grew up listening to all different styles of music including Persian and Mediterranean music, Latin, world music, hip hop, r&b, soul, pop, deep house, oldies in jazz, pop, rock, blues, Disney music, classical music, and musical theater. I’m a melting pot of what I listen to and there are so many artists who have influenced and inspired me. I've gone through stages of being hugely influenced by certain artists at different points. The ones that seem to stick with me are Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, James Blake, Jamie Woon, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Ella Fitzgerald, Melody Gardot, Sia, Banks, Maya Jane Coles, The Black Keys, Simon & Garfunkel, Bill Withers, Bonobo, Miles Davis, La Bouche, D’Angelo, N'Sync, The Beatles, Brian McKnight, Lady Gaga, Queen, and there are so many more.

Me: As well as singing you also play keyboards, right? Do you play on your records?

Pontea: Yes, I play keys on most of my records and arrange a lot of the bass lines as well.

Me: How old were you when you started playing piano?

Pontea: I was 7 and I started composing music soon after learning to play.

Me: Alright, so, do you do all your own songwriting?

Pontea: Yeah, I write all my songs, and I also love to co-write. It’s a priceless feeling to create magic while collaborating.

Me: So, you have a new single called "Unpredictable"... which is one thing I'm not.

Pontea: HA! You and every other guy in this town… hahaha. Yes! “Unpredictable” is the first single off my upcoming EP. I’m super stoked about it finally being out in the world. I love that it blends my love for soul music with my love for electronic dance music and ambient sounds.

Me: So, are you unpredictable?

Pontea: That’s a good question. I think I can be. But for the most part, I like steadiness and peace of mind.

Me: If I had to guess I'd say this song was about someone in particular, am I right?

Pontea: You can definitely say it was reminiscent of a past relationship. Not my best hour. He really toyed with my emotions and was constantly manipulative, yet I was helplessly in love with him. The song is truly relatable to those who have been in relationships that are in their own way unpredictable. I eventually grew out of him though, so that’s nice.

Me: Are you working on an album as well?

Pontea: I’ve been working on an EP and we recently wrapped up the finishing touches. I’m very happy with the song selection. The EP captures different sides of me... the hurt, the intimacy, the playfulness, the sexuality, and more in between.

Me: So, do you do a lot of shows? 

Pontea: I’ve done a ton of shows and took a pause for a little while to produce the EP. I’m excited to get back on stage with this new body of music that I’m incredibly proud of. I poured my heart and soul into it.

Me: What is a typical Pontea show like? I am guessing a lot of dancing.

Pontea: You can expect rhythmic beats, ambience, head-bobbing, and a range of emotions. I used to have fully acoustic live sets, and I’ve transitioned to an acoustic/electronic hybrid solo show, which I must say is sounding damn good in rehearsals. I love dancing while I perform, but I wouldn’t say it’s really a dance show, more just vibing out to the music. One day I may incorporate some legitimate choreography into my shows. That would be dope. I also beat box and sometimes I’ll throw some in spontaneously.

Me: I have to ask about this... you graduated from UCLA... what was your major?

Pontea: I majored in Psychology and loved every minute. I think everyone can use some psych knowledge. It’s made me more self-aware and more in tune with the human condition.

Me: Was it a hard decision to just concentrate on being a musician full-time?

Pontea: I always knew at one point that I needed to pursue this dream and it was only a matter of time before I gained the courage to actually go through with it. The actual decision was only the beginning of the challenge. It wasn’t easy going into such an unpredictable industry while everyone I knew had a more dependable path ahead, especially most people in my culture. My life became a theme of challenging the bubble I grew up in and breaking away from the norm of what is expected of me as a woman and an Iranian-American. I had to overcome a lot of adversity, a ton of uncertainty, and still am doing so in ways. But I’ve become more and more sure of myself as an artist and the message I want to send to the world.

Me: Well, I wish you lots of luck and I hope this was fun, my dear. Go ahead and mention your website and anything else you want to.

Pontea: Thank you so much, it’s been so nice chatting. Yes! You can go on my website, IAmPontea.com and find everything there. My single “Unpredictable” is available on all the digital services, and keep in touch with me on social media: @iampontea. You can sign up for my email list from my website, or like my Facebook page for updates and future shows.

Me: Take care, and please come back to the Phile again soon. All the best.

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Pontea for a great interview. The Phile will be back on Monday with the kids from the band Sleeplust. 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 Troy Richardson From Love Like Suicide

Rabbit. Welcome to the Phile, kids, for a Monday... it's May 1st. Here's an interesting fact... this month our will go into "dark orbit" and won't be visible for a month. I wish I would't be visible for a month. At least I'm having a better time than Ja Rule.
By now, everyone in the world with a stable Internet connection has heard about the catastrophic fiasco that was the Fyre Festival. (If you haven't heard about it, check your wifi.) Basically, what was supposed to be the most exclusive music festival the Bahamas had ever seen turned into a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic hellscape. All of the A-list stars dropped out, and the hot young millennials and social media influencers who paid between $1,200 and $100,000 to attend were left huddling in U.S. AID tents with no electricity or food, hiding from the wild animals wandering the grounds. In the days since the images went viral, all the celebrities who were paid to endorse the festival, including Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, have been blasted on social media. But nobody has taken it harder than hip-hop impresario Ja Rule, who was one of the founders of the festival. He issued a very hostile apology in which he insisted, "This is NOT MY FAULT," but no one is buying it. He and his co-founder, 25-year-old entrepreneur Billy McFarland, are being sued for $100 million in a class-action federal suit by the furious ticket buyers. They allege that the two men knew the festival would be a failure, and even warned their celebrity friends not to come in advance. The suit claims that they willingly lied about it for months, knowing all the time that it was nothing but a "get-rich-quick scam." To be fair, every musical festival is a scam. But although Coachella might be overpriced and crowded, at least you never have to fight off feral dogs for a cheese sandwich there.
If you thought that a presidential administration led by a confessed sexual harasser and a guy who calls his wife "mother" was bound to have some weird issues about women, oh boy were you ever correct. But it's not just wrinkly old men who are bent on rolling back abortion and contraceptive rights. With his latest appointee, the Trump camp has shown that women can hate women, too. On Friday, the White House announced a new round of appointees, among them Charmaine Yoest, who nabbed a job as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Public Affairs. The position involves imparting health information and policy to the country at large, which is a problem given that Yoest seems to have a grasp on medical science that's slippery at best. To start with, there's her troubling belief that abortion raises the odds of breast cancer (Yoest is a breast cancer survivor herself). Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion group where Yoest served as CEO from 2008 to 2016, trumpets this widely debunked view on their site, and in 2012, a "New York Times" writer interviewing Yoest was baffled that she insisted on such a falsehood... "I was surprised, then, when the next thing she said was that abortion increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have rejected that claim, citing, among other research, a 2004 analysis of 53 studies involving 83,000 women that found no link between abortion and a higher rate of cancer. Yet Yoest was insistent. 'As a breast cancer survivor, the spin on abortion and breast cancer really troubles me,' she said. 'Why can’t you report what the research actually shows?' When I said the studies I’d read showed no abortion-breast cancer link, she shook her head calmly and said, 'If you could spend time with the amazing people in AAPOLG'... the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists... 'they could walk you through the data.' What data? I asked. Yoest would only refer back to the pro-life obstetricians she trusts and later declared that the scientific establishment 'is under the control of the abortion lobby.'" Yikes. But that's not all. The woman that AUL describes as "'public enemy #1' to many in the pro-abortion community" also doesn't know how an IUD works. From that same "Times" interview, "She wants to make [abortion] illegal. She leaves no room for exceptions in the case of rape or incest or to preserve the health of the mother. She believes that embryos have legal rights and opposes birth control, like the IUD, that she thinks 'has life-ending properties.'" Oh, charming. It'd be bad enough if you'd spent your life lobbying against pro-choice groups (many of which also push an anti-LGBT agenda, as Motherboard points out), but you also think women are giving themselves abortions with their IUDs? This is like high school health-class ignorance. Try Google sometime. That's right... The IUD is designed to prevent fertilization and pregnancy. So whose life is being ended, exactly? And, if we're really going go down this road, what about all the lives lost when a man uses a condom? Anyway, Yoest is just the latest example of Trump's ongoing staff problems. Because for all he claimed he'd surround himself with "the best people," it doesn't seem as if anyone with half a brain wants to work for him.
Ah, it seems like just yesterday we were compulsively watching a very pregnant April the giraffe pace around her pen for hours on end, and now the time has finally come to learn viral star's baby's name. April's pregnancy captivated the Internet for months before the 15-year-old giraffe finally delivered a male calf on April 15th. Following the birth, a contest was held to name the new addition. The top five names came down to Apollo, Geoffrey, Gio, Harpur, Alyssa's choice. Ultimately, voters decided to let Alyssa, a zookeeper who looked after April, choose the name of her calf. The name was announced this morning on "Good Morning America," and, appropriately, via Facebook livestream. And the name Alyssa chose was... Tajiri! Tajiri is a Swahili for both hope and confidence, and the folks at Animal Adventure Park revealed that they plan on calling him Taj for short. Sorry, Internet. But Harambe didn't even make it into the running. Gone, but not forgotten.
Here's a story that'll make you face palm forever. A man in India recently made up an aircraft hijacking plot to get out of going on a trip with his "online girlfriend." Oh, he's also married. With a child. According to CNN, 32-year-old Motaparthi Vamshi Krishna was arrested in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad on Thursday after he allegedly sent a hoax email about an aircraft hijack plot. Police said that Krishna confessed to sending the email while he was being questioned. Apparently, his online girlfriend in Chennai wanted to take their relationship to the next level, and suggested a trip to Mumbai and Goa. Krishna didn't have enough money to make the trip, but his girlfriend still really wanted to go. So, rather than just, you know, stay at home with his wife and child, Krishna came up with an elaborate scheme to sabotage the trip. First, Krishna, who is a travel agent, created a fake plane ticket to send to his girlfriend. Then, he sent the email about the made-up hijacking plot. According to CNN, Krishna claimed to be a woman who overheard six men plotting to hijack planes in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai in the email. CNN reports that investigators tracked the IP address the email was sent from to an Internet cafe. Using CCTV footage, they zeroed in on Krishna. "He didn't have the money, but if he canceled because of that, it would have hurt his pride, and his friendship with the girl would've come to an end," B. Limba Reddy, the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Commissioner's Task Force in Hyderabad, said at a press conference. "So, his thinking was that if the flight was to be canceled and it was because of the airport, he wouldn't be at fault." That just makes no fucking sense! Turns out he was very much at fault. CNN reports that Krishna has been arrested on four charges, including impersonation and providing false information. Guys, if the person you're dating ever fakes an aircraft hijacking to get out of going on vacation with you, take it as a sign that they're just not that into it.
Sources close to Prince's heirs have reportedly told TMZ that there's a reality show in the works. The show will focus on how the superstar's shocking death on April 21th, 2016 affected the lives of his remaining family members. The people behind the show also want to debut Prince's unreleased music, which explains why his estate sued to block the release of a new Prince EP, "Deliverance," originally scheduled to come out on the anniversary of his death. According to TMZ, Prince's family is battling the EP's producer, George Ian Boxill, to make sure that the music is not released before the show. The EP consists of previously unreleased songs Prince recorded about a decade ago. Boxill has been ordered by the court to turn the music over to the estate, but he's still fighting that. TMZ's sources have told them that the show is in the very early stages of development. So far there's apparently a production company involved, but they have no network deal yet. So there's still a chance the songs will come out, but it's unclear when.
On Saturday Trump's first 100 days came to an end... and coincidentally, the new Mount Rushmore was revealed...

I saw this picture of Trump the other day...

And it reminded me of something. Then it hit me...

See? I can't be the only one who sees that. There's one thing I like about Trump... he even gets the geeks to protest...

You don't grab someone's purse without permission, just like you don't grab someone's pussy... even Bobby Hill knows the appropriate response to either is a swift kick to the balls. So, there's a lot of cool Star Wars stuff out and some of it is rather expensive. But I think this is one of the most expensive things I saw...

That's a Mindphuck. Best offer? Five bucks. Are you excited that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is coming out this week? You know the first Guardians movie came out in the 80s, right. Don't believe me? Take a look...

The new football season schedules came out and I was surprised when I saw Cleveland's schedule...

Why should they bother? Hahahaha. And now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is...

Top Phive Startling Similarities Or Differences Between Fidget Spinners and Trump's First 100 Days
5. Don't accomplish anything beyond a lot of spin.
4. Operate on a consistent, easily-understood logic.
3. Are in content danger of spinning out of control.
2. Provide soothing feelings for many.
And the number one thing similar or difference between the forget spinners and Trump's first 100 days is...
1. Barron Trump has been enjoying them.

Hahaha. If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Okay, so, everybody farts... and sometimes people joke about farting and other times farting makes the news. So, here once again is a pheature I like to call...

In May 2013, Deborah Ann Burns, 37, of Immokalee, Florida was having an argument about money with her boyfriend of six years, Willie Butler, 53. Both were drinking, and as Butler went to the kitchen, he farted on Burns' head. Burns confronted him, and he threw a knife at her. He missed. Burns threw the knife back and hit her target... Butler ran outside with the knife lodged in his stomach. She gave chase and hit him on the arm with a stick. Cops arrived to find a bleeding Butler standing in front of his mailbox, but he was too drunk to give a statement. Burns denied cutting Butler, but was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Tooting will get you stabbed.

On Friday, the White House issued a statement in which Donald Trump proclaimed today, May 1st Loyalty Day, Fox News reports. However, it turns out that Loyalty Day has actually been a holiday since Eisenhower, as "Esquire" pointed out in this piece telling everybody to relax about the whole debacle. How has Loyalty Day slid past us every year, without notice? It's probably a combination of the fact that: 1) we are wary and extra vigilant of everything Trump says and does (and with good reason) and 2) the news broke as a "proclamation" which is basically incorrect. You can't declare it if it's already a thing. And besides, naming a holiday Loyalty Day when you're a flailing mess with low approval ratings and a track record rife with collusion is pretty freaking ironic. You can't expect us to not take note of that.

Jonathan Demme 
February 22nd, 1944 — April 26th, 2017
It puts the lotion in the casket.

The 59th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

Jack will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

Today's pheatured guest is the bass player for the rock band Love Like Suicide whose new single "Side Effects" is available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Troy Richardson.

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

Troy: Doing great, thank you. It's great to be here.

Me: Okay, so, you are friends with Desert Tundra who was on the Phile a few months ago, is that right? How do you know her, Troy?

Troy: I met Janet as both bands were forming. Love Like Suicide was looking for a guitarist and she was looking for a bass player. Both bands got busy and neither of us could do both, but we stayed friends.

Me: Have your two bands played together at all?

Troy: Not yet. We keep working on it, but it hasn't happened so far. I think 2017 will be our year, though. When it does, it’ll be a great bill.

Me: Troy, I think you have a cool name... Troy Richardson sounds like a TV newscaster... has anybody ever said that to you?

Troy: Not that one. Someone had told me it sounds like a name for a "Simpson's" character though.

Me: Yeah, I can see that. So, where are you from?

Troy: Minneapolis, Minnesota. I went to Berklee College of Music and stayed in town after I graduated, so I lived in Boston for a while. I've been in Los Angeles for about 12 years now.

Me: Have you been a musician for long?

Troy: A really, really long time.

Me: I have to mention your band name... Love Like Suicide... that's a Garbage song. Man, I miss that band. Was your band name named after the Garbage song?

Troy: It was. Garbage is one of the vocalist Molly's favorite bands. It was named in tribute, I suppose.

Me: I have a "band" called Strawberry Blondes Forever... but if I had a band with a female singer I would name the band Rubbish. Hahaha. So, are you a big Garbage fan?

Troy: I am. I didn't personally name the band Love Like Suicide, but I like them a lot.

Me: Have you ever met Shirley Manson or Butch Vig? 

Troy: I met Butch Vig very briefly at a party for The Smart Studios film opening. I've never met Shirley, unfortunately. Molly and the guitarist, Mor, both have met them a number of times.

Me: Is Garbage still playing?

Troy: Yes. They were just in L.A. not too long ago. They are still touring in support of the last album, I think.

Me: Alright, let's talk about your band... who is in the band with you, Troy?

Troy: Molly is the singer and Mor plays guitar. They should both get credit for programming and creating loops, too, as it's a big part of the band's sound. Blake is the drummer and I play bass.

Me: You have a hot female singer... which is always a good thing. Did you know her before the band was put together?

Troy: I didn't. I had been on tour with a guy from France who came to L.A. and put a band together. The day after I was back, I wanted to go back out. I looked around L.A. to find the best band looking for a bass player, and it was Love Like Suicide.

Me: Is this your first band, Troy?

Troy: Not by a long shot.

Me: You play bass in the band, but do you play guitar? How long have you been playing?

Troy: I started playing guitar when I was about 12 and picked up a bass about a year later. I played guitar and sang lead in band for a few months once, but I really am a bass player. I have a pedal board where a split my bass signal and half goes through a harmonizer and guitar effects, so part of what sounds like guitar with Love Like Suicide is my bass. 

Me: Are you the main songwriter for the band?

Troy: I'm a co-writer on the new material that's coming out, along with the rest of the band. Molly wrote the older songs on her own.

Me: You have one single on iTunes right now called "Side Effects" but you have a new single and video out called "Burn." Will that song be put up on iTunes soon?

Troy: "Burn" is an older one. We're pretty excited about the new stuff, so releasing those songs is the priority.

Me: Ahhhh... well, the video for "Burn" just has Molly in it... whose choice was that?

Troy: Pretty much Molly's. Hahaha... But really, the narrative involves just one person. It was best with just her, otherwise we’d be forcing the other band members into the story like it was a video from the ‘80s. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some ‘80s. I don’t think it would have added much if I had a cameo as the mailman or anything. Haha.

Me: Where was the video filmed, Troy?

Troy: Hollywood.

Me: Do you guys play a lot of shows in Los Angeles? 

Troy: About once a month.

Me: So, with a few singles out are you guys gonna be working on an album?

Troy: We are releasing an EP very soon. Stay tuned.

Me: Do you prefer recording or playing live, Troy?

Troy: They're different and I enjoy both. I suppose I move less gear when I'm recording, so that's a plus. No two live shows are ever the same and there’s a crowd responding to the band’s energy, so that’s the great thing about that,

Me: Well, I really appreciate you being on the Phile... next time you see Desert tell her I said hello. Wanna plug your website or social media?

Troy: Yes, we're can be found at facebook.com/LLSband and YouTube at LoveLikeSuicideBand. The single is on Spotify and the EP will be there as well.

Me: I hope this was fun and you'll come back when the next release comes out. Take care and keep rocking. 

Troy: This was great. I'd love to come back after the EP is out.

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Troy for a great interview. The Phile will be back on Saturday with singer Pontea. 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