Grammys, Mama, Mama, Bieber and Weed

Just got back in town, and need to dish out my latest Poo...

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Grammy Poo
So, here are my quick thoughts on the Grammys!

• Cindy Lauper - Congrats on that highly convincing celibacy advocacy look! Just in case anyone may have been having sex during the awards show, you did your part to put a stop to it.
• Same Love - STFU already with the gay preaching shit. Be gay, don't be gay, I really don't care how you like to fuck. Live your life. The spectacle is getting old and overplayed. Enough.
• Lorde - What a youthful 41 year old she is! Can you say this generation's female Keith Richards?
• Love the memoriam montage the most. Always chokes up the Poo.
• Phillip Phillips - WTF, how did he get shutout of the nominations? Dude had a platinum album with two multi-platinum singles in his first shot out of the box, and nothing? Something smells wrong here.
• The old fart country duets with Willie, Kris, Merle and "youngster" Blake was epic. Especially the awkward moment when Merle came on after Willie singing about being an Okie not smoking marijuana or having long hair. lol 

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Mama I
So, I spent a wonderful weekend visiting my mother in Clearwater. She loves to drink as much as Poo, so we had great bonding and lots of good booze. Had the hangover drive of drives today back to SoFlo, but it was really a nice time and worth the pain.

I will never drink again. By never, I mean today and tomorrow. 48 hour detox sounds about right.

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Mama II
Crystal (Mama) Bowersox had a NY Rock Exchange "Shareholders" meeting, which was a Q/A with fans who bought special promotional songs she released. Fellow former Idolette Didi Benami showed up as a special guest, and brought a light and fun mood. Also sang some sweet background harmonies. They both seemed to be feeling no pain during the "shareholder meeting", and their bantering was most entertaining.

Best part: Crystal gave Poo a very kind and special shoutout, and finished it with a magnificent belch. Love ya, CB! You are a true Poo favorite. Hope you meant it when you said you were planning a SoFlo show down the road.

Also, Poo asked Crystal if she would dig opening for another Poo favorite Phillip Phillips, and she said definitely. She considers him a true artist and is thrilled for his success. Therefore, Poo is "putting it out there into the universe" (as Crystal loves to say) with the hope it can help make this happen.

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Bieber 
So, who ever woulda thought a teenage kid with shitty parents, who gets a windfall of unimaginable fame and fortune, would become a spoiled, dysfunctional little punk on a dangerous road to ruin? I know I'm shocked. Seriously, I hope he'll get his life together before it's too late. These stories all too often end badly.

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Straight Dope
Florida has taken the first step towards legalizing medical marijuana by getting the necessary signatures to put it on the ballot. It's beyond shameful and hypocritical that cigarettes and powerful narcotics are legal, but a kid with seizure disorder, like my son, can't get medical marijuana to treat it because it might be a gateway? Fuck off to all the lying sacks of shit who are trying to peddle this horseshit.

In fact, legalize it period. I don't even like weed, gives me an unpleasant high so I don't smoke it, but there is no justification beyond total corruption to keep it illegal. Enough is enough. End the charade, and make pot regulated and legal like it is in Colorado and Washington.

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OK, I'm done Pooing. Until next time...

Poo Out!

View From Poo's Couch #3

Now that the View From Poo's Couch has grown into an international phenomenon, how can I possibly stop now? Can't stop! WON'T STOP!

Onward with more glorious Poo!!!

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Went on Healthcare.gov last night in an attempt to navigate the turbulent Obamacare waters, and am proud to report that the website is still a dysfunctional clusterfuck. The site crashed twice while attempting to process. Finally, after a couple hours of complete and utter futility, I just gave up.  Big government entitlement at its finest, baby.

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Sabres lost yet another agonizingly close game last night. Being a Buffalo sports fan is so much fun! We get to experience everything from the embarrassment of being blown out, to losing in crushing, dramatic fashion! So blessed to have been given the opportunity by the Sabres and Bills to learn how to cope with painful disappointment from cradle to grave.

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LADIES! Insight into GUY WORLD!

Crotch scratching is truly an art form. Scratch too much and you get raw and chaffed. Don't scratch enough and you will be left wanting more. The true crotch scratching artist knows just how to nuance the line. For some odd reason, wives and girlfriends never seem to appreciate such talents.

C'mon ladies, stop the hate and appreciate the wonder of our handiwork!

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For those of you who dig good scotch, but spending well north of $30 a bottle for anything drinkable is cost prohibitive, I have the answer for you: Grant's.

William Grant & Sons also distill Glenfiddich and Balvenie on the higher end, but for just $15 a bottle you can get their standard Grant's blend and it's REALLY FUCKING GOOD! Great flavor, no burn, deep caramel coloring...yum.

Try it...you'll thank me.

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OK, that's enough Poo droppings for today. Check back tomorrow, my loyal and faithful followers, for the next mezmerizing installment of the View From Poo's Couch.

Poo Out!

View From Poo's Couch #2

After receiving glowing self acclaim on reviews for my first official installment of the View From Poo's Couch, I am now puffed with the bravado of a thousand hot air balloons. Now, prepare to be dazzled by my brilliant quips of insight and observation!

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Again with the Polar Vortex? Would someone please bring me Al Gore so I can put my fucking carbon foot print right up that lying sack of shit's ass? Thank you, and have a great day.

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Pooaliscious...I like the sound of this. How is it possible it took until now for me to put together this selfy nickname? I have a feeling it's gonna catch on. Try it...POOOOOO-AAAAA-LISCIOUSSSSS!!!!

Wasn't that nice? Sorry, no refunds on the last 30 seconds of your life.

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Watched Blacklist last night, my new most favorite show. Nothing against Megan Boone (plays Red's FBI daughter) or anything, but this show is about James Spader and his killer character, period. The rest is filler. I want and expect more Spader on the show, stat.  Kenny Poo is getting upset!

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The lovely and talented (translation: hot as hell and totally awesome) Pia Toscano has formed a duo with longtime singing BFF Jared Lee. Aptly named "DUO", they are recording an EP set for release this March or April.

A longtime friend of Poo Nation, Pia featured a Kenny Poo question on her weekly Q/A Monday with Jared. You'll see from the video how obvious it is she's crushing on Poo, but we keep it strictly platonic since Mrs. Poo wouldn't approve of me accepting Pia's steamy advances.

Anyway, check it out here, and give them a YouTube/Twitter follow if you haven't already. Poo comes in at the 4:19 mark, but watch it all. Their unscripted banter is fun and worth the watch.

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WTF is the deal, DirecTV? No Weather Channel? My all-time favorite weather chicky poo, Kait Parker, who was down here in SoFlo for about 4 years, recently got a nice gig there but because of the dispute I can't watch her!! This cannot happen, people. Time to light the torches, bust out the pitch forks, grab the battering ram, and storm the DirecTV gates so I can see her in the morning before work.

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OK, that's enough magnificence for today. I'm sure by now you've laughed, you've cried, you may have nearly died, so rather than risk anyone's health any further it's time to say...

POO OUT!

View From Poo's Couch

So, my first post of the new blog format. Guess I better be clever, funny, relevant, interesting and cool lest...

Fuck!

The pressure is too intense. Guess I'll just type whatever shit comes into my head, post, and then let the chips fall where they may.

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It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, and it seems every special interest group under the sun is now cherry picking a quote of his and declaring their cause the "REAL" vision of MLK. Well, I contend if MLK were alive today his "real" message to all these organizations would be STFU!

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That Seahawks/Niners game last night...one of the best I've ever seen. What a fucking war down to the final seconds. Still, the best part for me was the post game interview when Seattle CB Richard Sherman scared the living shit out of delicate flower Erin Andrews moments after his deflection clinched it for the Seahawks. He was still fired up, screaming and slobbering rage about Niner WR Michael Crabtree, and she just about shit herself trembling with the mic. Epic.

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Saw an ugly twitter fight break out last night between Kenny Poo fave Crystal Bowersox and her ex, Brian Walker. Really hate seeing that shit play out on social media, especially when a kid is involved. Not sure who is right or wrong in the dispute, but both celebs and everyday people alike need to learn you keep the dirty laundry out of social media. Nothing good can come from airing deeply personal domestic grievances on twitter.

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Sunny and 72 degrees today here in SoFlo. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case you didn't already hate me.

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Yesterday, I had a wedding followed by an engagement party. Today, a hangover followed by an unveiling. All that's missing was a bris. Circle of life, baby. Now, someone convince my kids to let me take a nap.

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Blacklist tonight. Simply the best damn show on TV. Spader FTW. Watch it or you suck.

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OK, that's enough wit and wisdom for a first installment. If I throw out anymore brilliant nuggets you'll expect me to live up to that standard every damn day. I can't handle that kind of pressure.

So, with that...

Poo out!

New Poo Format

After a few months without posting, no doubt many of you have been going through terrible withdrawal and wondering, "WTF happened to Kenny Poo blog? How can I live if he's through posting for good?"

Well, all of you Poo Stans can relax. I'm back, baby, only this time around in a slightly different capacity.

Rather than heavily focusing on American Idol related topics, I'm moving on to a Daily Poo approach. Basically, that means spewing whatever the hell comes to my warped mind on a semi-daily basis.

Does this mean my girls Haley, Pia and Crystal are no longer going to get any Poo love? That my boy Phillip will be persona non grata?

No, not entirely. I'll still toss out some love for my old friends when there is something to say, but it won't be feature reviews and analysis. Quick hits and blurbs will be the wave of the future.

I also had frequently given full music reviews on both new and older albums of interest to me. Don't expect much of that moving forward, either.

Basically, I'll be expanding my beloved twitter self into longer form. In other words, unpredictability, humor, innuendo, and whatever I'm inspired to blather on about at that moment.

Yes, in the past I have on occasion dabbled with this Daily Poo thang, but now it will be the format of choice. The question you probably have is...why?

Well, I got burned out pushing myself to type out opinions on my favorite American Idol grads, and straining my brain to force out long winded music reviews. I just don't have the available time for extended, research heavy posts anymore. Poo was done like dinner.

So, with that...hope to see you all stopping by, reading and telling me what you think of the crap I have to say. Besides, WTF shit on the interwebs is any better than my Poo?

Exactly.

Poo out.

A Precious Night With Caley

Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams, aka "Caley", have been bestest musical buddies since they met as contestants on American Idol Season X, and last night they teamed up for a most enjoyable night of playful banter, music and fan interaction on the set of the hip new pay-per-view online music platform, Stageit. 

Both have done Stageit in the past, but this was the first time they collaborated on one. They nailed it, too. A 51 minute set-mix of their own originals and unique covers gave the Caley-crazed audience a lot of great material to instant message about. 

Haley was typically gorgeous as hell, and her voice was absofuckinglutely, posifuckingtively immaculate bell-to-bell. Casey showed he can do everything musical, with a mastery of multiple musical instruments, solid singing, and a very chill, hipster-doofus vibe that you couldn't help but dig. No manic, wild-eyed Casey here...dude was a total pro.

Opening with a half-serious, but charming, Monster Mash intro, they then transitioned into a most excellent cover of the Weezer's laid back groove Islands in the Sun. It was such great shit I messaged them as much when the song was concluding, and, groovily enough, Casey read my message aloud (in G-rated form) with a personal shout-out to the magnificent, beloved, hilarious, handsome, and unceasingly humble Kenny Poo.

Soon after, they performed Kenny Poo personal request, "Precious", by the great Esperanza Spalding. The song is one of my alltime faves, and they were BRILLIANT, with Haley nailing every note and Casey lending wonderful harmonies and upright bass coolness. I especially appreciated Haley looking off to the side camera before they started the song to say, "love to...you know who you are."

I certainly do know, because, after all, I are, and I love ya back, babay!

Now, thank God I'm so unflinchingly modest, because, if not, one can only imagine how full of myself I could have become getting that message from the beautiful and talented Haley. Not to worry, though; my humility TOTALLY ROCKS, so suck on that, losers!

Another cool moment was when Haley gave a birthday shout-out to teen Halien "Janelleypoo". Clearly, there is something irresistible about the Poo army.

Anywhooooo.....

So much great music and scatting came next on jazzy/bluesy numbers like Haley's awesome new single, My Cake, and their beloved Caley cover of Hit The Road Jack from Casey's self-titled album, I was rendered virtually verklempt. Had to talk amongst myself for awhile. 

Topic: Caley: Occasional duet performers, or get in the fucking studio and crush out an album of amazing shit for us!!

Another major highlight came when they did a super soulful cover of a song I never heard before called Sail. It was so off the hook I had to hunt down the original by Awolnation on YouTube and check it out. It was so inferior to the Caley version I don't think Awolnation should be allowed to claim it as their own anymore.

OK, time for a negative moment, kiddies. Close your eyes and ears if you don't like any criticism of Haley, starting....NOW!

One thing that annoys the shit out of me is when Haley grabs a cell phone and sings the lyrics because she didn't rehearse enough to commit them to memory. That's what happened on Nightmare Before Christmas, and it's inexcusable, girl! Remember, preparation plus improvisation can create inspiration, but don't skip the preparation part, damn it! You CRUSHED THAT BEAUTIFUL SONG vocally, so much so I was almost willing to overlook the failure to learn the lyrics...but not quite.

OK, rant off. Those of you who couldn't read the criticism are welcome to return.

They adorably signed off for the night with a Monster Mash outro. Perfect ending to an event that left everyone longing for more. Sometimes Stageit shows can be boring as hell...well, there wasn't a second of that here. They were fabtuckulous, and I was thoroughly entertained the entire 51 minutes. It went by like 51 seconds.

I hope we get to see more frequent collaborations from this fun-loving duo moving forward, because there is seriously something unique and special between them. Great talent, great energy and great synergy. 

WE WANT MORE!! GIVE THE POOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!! MORE CALEYPOO!!!

Poo out.

TOP SECRET MUSIC REVIEW: Phillip Phillips - iTunes Session

SHHHHH!!! KEEP IT DOWN! This review is completely on the down low, as I've been notified by super secret suits at UMG that any and all media mention of Phillip Phillips' new iTunes Session is strictly prohibited under penalty of death by Miley Cyrus video twerking torture.

OK, now that we've agreed to keep this just between us, let me reveal the hidden truths you're not supposed to know about. Phillip Phillips, the new Platinum selling recording artist who was just nominated for an AMA for Best New Artist, and won American Idol XI, and is currently on a nationwide tour with John Mayer, secretly released an unplugged iTunes Session album October 8th featuring songs from his debut studio album World From The Side Of The Moon.

No, there was no pre-order sale or promotion. No, there was no press release. No, there was no mention of it on his website. In fact, there was not an announcement of any kind except a couple tweets mid day of the release by Phillip and his girlfriend, Hannah Blackwell.

The purpose of keeping this album top secret to only those who may accidentally stumble across it browsing iTunes remains a mystery. Had Phillip been an independent artist who was completely unknown to the general public, the release without any media or fan notification would still be a bit bizarre. Even unaffiliated artists give some advanced notice on social media to their fans and followers alerting them of the upcoming album release.

Yet, this remains for whatever reason absolutely unmentioned. Google the album under news and no media appears as of this typing 2 days after the official secret release.

Still, much to the chagrin of UMG enterprises, a lot of people ARE finding it. Right now it sits #33 overall on iTunes albums. That's an incredible number for an unannounced album with zero publicity, and is testimony to both Phillip's popularity and the quality of the album itself.

What makes this hidden gem so special is that it reveals the true depth of Phillip's guitar mastery, and the full richness of his vocal tones. The only song on World From The Side Of the Moon that captured this stripped down essence of Phillip is "Hazel", which is brilliant, and happens to be one of his two or three best songs. Now, we have a whole album of that stripped, raw acoustic vibe to appreciate and enjoy.

The setlist is a collection of 8 songs from his studio album, and 1 new cover (Crazy) that he's performed live several times. Best of all, his greatest work to date, the masterpiece of masterpieces, the greatest single song of all time, is FINALLY available on iTunes. Take Me Away is a song brilliant beyond compare, yet until iTunes Session came out it only was available via Target Deluxe CD, and that's not an easy one to find.

While the unplugged version pf Take Me Away loses the complexity and richness of the classical piano intro, the smokey jazz affect of a tenor sax, and the driving rock intensity of an electric guitar, the song is crafted and written so beautifully it still works magnificently when stripped to the bone of just Phillip with his six string.

One song that clearly benefits from the acoustic arrangement is Where We Came From. The album version got smothered in pop, but at its core its a meaty song highlighted by some very intricate guitar work. With all the unnecessary excess stripped away, it transforms from being just a decent song drowning in formula pop rock to one of the very best tunes on the album.

The only song that I felt took a small step back here was Man On The Moon. One of my very favorites off World, and the track I've long advocated to be his next official single, the guitar arrangement on the intro is a bit out of sync compared to the original World version and as performed on his live shows. Seems two guitars were stepping on each other to do a job that's better suited for one.

Oh, and my other pet peeve is that I love hearing the "Oh, oh, oh yeah" segue from the guitar intro into the opening verse, and that's absent here (as with his live shows). I love the way it sets the tone of the song, and implore P2 to toss it back in moving forward for ol' Kenny Poo's sake!

Overall, the album is deep, rich, fun, light, heavy, intense, happy, sad, pissed, and...well, very well balanced. You can't help but loop over and over again. It's infectious. Go buy it, but don't tell anyone else. Remember, it's very existence strictly confidential.

Below is the set list. Click here to purchase on iTunes.

1. Where We Came From
2. Man On The Moon
3. Home
4. Crazy
5. Take Me Away
6. Gone, Gone, Gone
7. Hold On
8. Tell Me A Story
9. A Fool's Dance

COMING UP ON THE NEXT POO: Longtime Poo favorite Pia Toscano makes her big screen debut in the major motion picture, Grace Unplugged. Hope to catch it this weekend and get a review out next week.

Poo out!