Steve Grand's Record-Shattering Kickstarter Campaign Ends at $326,593

A little over a month ago, openly gay singer/songwriter Steve Grand launched a Kickstarter campaign to finance his first album, "All-American Boy."

He asked for $81,000.

Last night, the campaign ended at $326,593 - more than quadruple what Steve had requested, making it the third most-funded music project in Kickstarter's history, as well as Kickstarter's most-funded music project by a musician never affiliated with a record label.

Steve writes on his campaign page that he will use the additional funds to promote the album.

A few hours before the campaign ended, he posted this emotional video to thank his supporters:






Later, he created this message for his supporters:

"Back to California" is the first song and music video from the new album.




I look forward to purchasing Steve's first album due out later this spring.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

I cannot wait for X-Men: Days of Future Past to hit theaters everywhere on May 23, 2014.

Bryan Singer again directs.

Robbie Rogers in Flaunt Magazine

On March 13, 2014, out soccer player Robbie Rogers posted this lovely video on his Facebook page.

It is a behind-the-scenes look at his spread in Flaunt magazine.



When you have a moment, please check out his organization BEYOND "it", which stands "against all forms of human discrimination" to better the world we live in.

Are You Okay? by Dum Dum Girls

Yesterday, Dum Dum Girls released their short film, Are You Okay?, which is written by Bret Easton Ellis (Less Than Zero, American Psycho, The Canyons), directed by Brewer and produced by Braxton Pope (The Source Family, The Canyons).



If you are a fan of this blog, you know I really like The Canyons, a collaboration between Ellis, Pope and director Paul Schrader (American Gigolo, Raging Bull).

Are You Okay? is no doubt the next installment in Ellis' interconnected stories.

"Parallel Minds:" Interview with Bright Smoke

I enjoy so much the work of British singer and artist Bright Smoke, I wanted to know more about her as an artist and a person.



So, I was thrilled when she recently found time in her busy schedule to chat with me.

I started:

You and I met last year on Twitter, when we were both tweeting our support for fundraisers benefiting the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which uses music therapy to help young adults in need and works to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among young people.

Yes, we did! Twitter is a great resource for connectivity.

There are so many aspects of the Amy Winehouse Foundation besides its work with drug and alcohol charities.

They donate to homeless and eating disorder charities, and to a charity that helps vulnerable women who have recently left prison to help them from returning to a life of crime.

They even donate to a charity that helps disadvantaged people with mental illnesses escape the city and learn how to grow, produce and market their own crops. They pick up valuable qualifications along the way.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, actually. It’s a very special charity.

I totally agree.

I discovered the Foundation through my love of Amy's voice and music. I'm still devastated she's no longer here making great music.

This is how I discovered the Foundation also. It still breaks my heart that I never got to meet her or see her perform live.

Amy Winehouse by Bright Smoke

You have been quite candid in interviews about your own struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Is this another reason you're drawn to the Foundation?

Well. Due to my own experiences with these, I naturally connected to Amy’s lifestyle and understood the battles she faced in regards to addiction.

I followed her music almost right from the start; and when she died, it really shook me to my core. I suddenly realized I needed to make drastic steps towards recovery so I could truly devote myself to my music and art.

I support the Foundation because I believe it is doing something extremely important in making people more aware of the struggles Amy dealt with. It is breaking down that taboo against discussing addiction. It’s something we really do need to talk about. There’s no shame in any aspect of addiction.

You can read online my full story in my "open letter."

When you and I first connected through Twitter, I was intrigued by your name, Bright Smoke. The obvious question is: what does it mean? Were you inspired by Romeo's attempt to describe love in "Romeo and Juliet?"

It is directly related to "Romeo and Juliet."

One of my closest friends, Kat Basquill, actually came up with the name for me. We were knocking around ideas, when she suddenly came out with "Bright Smoke" from Romeo's line, "feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire."

I instantly thought, “That’s the one!”

The first time I watched your music video, "Parallel Minds," I was an instant fanboy. I must admit I was blown away by your voice and your song.

Thank you, Mike!

Thank you for making lovely art.

Who are your major musical influences?

That song I actually wrote about wanting to move to New York one day, despite the fact I’ve never been! I’m quite drawn to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which seems to have a thriving art and music scene.

I listen to a very wide variety of music. From T-Rex, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin right through to Nas and Damian Marley, Toots And The Maytals, The Everly Brothers and classical music.

Jimi Hendrix by Bright Smoke

I would say my songs, as they stand with just myself and a guitar, are mainly reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s folk movement. And of singers like Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Melanie Safka, who I grew up listening to and just adore!

When did you start singing?

I think I started the moment I learned my voice was capable of being used in such a way.

I started writing songs at an extremely young age.

I’ve kept every piece of paper with every lyric I ever wrote. My spelling and handwriting are ridiculous on some of them! Maybe one day I’ll have an exhibition with them all.

I can definitely imagine them as a montage on a gallery wall.

In your music video, you play the guitar. Do you play any other instruments?

My first instrument was actually the flute, which my dad also plays.

I had lessons at my regular infant school from about 7 years old.

I was brought up going to folk festivals, so I quickly picked up how to play penny whistles. And, then, the Irish drum called the bodhran.

I got my first guitar when I was 12, as it seemed a natural progression to accompany my songs.

I never had a single guitar lesson. To this day, I still use my own codes for bar chords, as technically I don’t have a clue what I am playing. [Laughter.]

About two months ago, I started learning the cello.

I love the cello, especially J. S. Bach's unaccompanied cello suites.

I am really enjoying it. It’s tricky learning an instrument in a completely different key, though.

I read sheet music and what I think is a B is actually a D on the cello. Very confusing!

I'm definitely impressed. I'll never show anyone how badly I play the air guitar.

I saw on Twitter your paintings debut May 5, 2014 at The Strand Gallery in London, with an exhibition running through May 11.

Yes, this is my debut into the art world. It’s something I still can’t believe is finally going to happen!

It's awesome.

How do you think your music informs your art?

Marc Bolan by Bright Smoke

I see a very strong connection between my music and art.

I mainly paint musicians. I listen to their music whilst painting them. I find this has a strong effect on the color palette and techniques I use.

Music of course is an art form itself, so the connection between the two is organic.

What's next for you?

There are so many answers to this.

I have one of those forever-scheming, impulsively creative minds, but I have narrowed it down to starting rehearsals and demoing my songs as a full band.

Then I'll be on a bohemian/musician/hunter-gatherer spree over the festival season to see if I can round up a rabble of free spirits perfect for the band for the long term.

I obviously have the exhibition to look forward to. The launch night [May 5] is also my 26th birthday and marks two years of sobriety.

Congratulations on both!

I've also just rebooked my charity skydive on May 21 for the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

Busy month!

My main goal is to keep up this level of creativity and keep pushing my music and art out there, in the hopes of building a solid fan base, so I can tour all the time, meet amazing people and connect with them through my music.

For a couple of dates on their UK tour, I recently joined the band Will And The People as their support act. I watched a show just before the tour ended and thought to myself: If I can get that many people from each city to come and watch me play and have an awesome night, well, that's my definition of success!

Connect with Bright Smoke on Twitter. She is participating in the Skydiving for the Amy Winehouse Foundation fundraising event - Yes, Bright Smoke will be skydiving! - on May 21, 2014. Please donate what you can here.

The First Two Minutes of the VERONICA MARS movie

Here are the first two minutes of the Veronica Mars movie, which hits theaters on March 14, 2014.

Robbie Rogers on the April, 2014 Cover of Attitude Magazine

If you're a fan of this blog, you know I adore Robbie Rogers, the first openly gay player in Major League Soccer.

He's on the April, 2014 cover of Attitude magazine.

In that issue, he discusses his brief retirement from soccer in February, 2013, when he also came out.

He returned to the sport three months later, signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Among other topics, he discusses in the article the mental hardship he experienced while in the closet.

When you have a moment, please check out his organization BEYOND "it", which stands "against all forms of human discrimination" to better the world we live in.

Stuart Vevers Debuts an Edgier Coach at New York Fashion Week 2014

During New York Fashion Week, Stuart Vevers presented Coach's first ready-to-wear collection for autumn/winter, 2014.

Coach's first ready-to-wear line at New York Fashion Week 2014

Formerly a designer at Mulberry and Loewe, Vevers joined Coach in June, 2013 as its Executive Creative Director.

With this collection, he has succeeded in reinventing the 70-year-old, $1-billion American brand as luxurious, edgy - even streetwise - but never pretentious.

Coach jackets and bags by designer Stuart Vevers

The new line of bags is softer and more detailed than current Coach offerings.

Conner Mertens Leads the Way Out

On January 28, 2014, Conner Mertens became the first active football player to come out as bisexual. This is the letter he shared with his team and hometown.

Conner Mertens

Watch the Willamette University football kicker's video interview below with Outsports' Cyd Zeigler and You Can Play's Wade Davis on how and why he came out.



Days later, his boyfriend Chandler Whitney came out as gay during the first week of winter practice with his baseball team at Walla Walla Community College. Outsports covers his story here.

Chandler Whitney

Since Mertens came out, it seems more and more college athletes are coming out.

Former NFL kicker and LGBTQA ally Chris Kluwe applauds Mertens' courage.

Kluwe writes in theguardian.com that all athletes competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics have the moral obligation to speak out against Russia's legislated homophobia.

Mertens says he hopes his coming-out story "[lays] a trail for somebody else to do something like this, and have it be easier for them."

As more sports players come out, the more evident it becomes the LGBT community is everywhere and comes in all shapes and sizes - even tough, competitive athletes.

will.i.am on the Cover of Volume 14 of 360 Magazine

Volume 14 of 360 Magazine is now available at Magzter and on Blurb!

Known as the Golden Toad issue, this is our compendium issue and features will.i.am, Ellie Goulding, Shakira, Beyonce, Tegan and Sara, F-Type, Bruno Mars, Eminem and all of the 2013 issues - plus much more.

will.i.am has new creative projects, such as the song "Feelin' Myself," featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa and French Montana; being the executive producer on Britney Spears' new album Britney Jean; and releasing the comic book Wizards & Robots.

He discusses why he made an appearance at 2013's Global Citizen Festival, as well as the importance of i.am.angel Foundation, which he founded in 2009.