Chris Collins Show

OFF THE FRET, MORE MUSIC, MORE MUSIC TALK! If you’re like ME – MUSIC is everything! Since day one it’s been a passion of mine to create an opportunity to showcase amazing up-and-coming artists.  The CHRIS COLLINS SHOW has interviewed some of the most incredible international and national bands out there—from Finland, the Philippines, India and UK—to NY, LA, Texas and Nashville—you name it. We are so fortunate to have this outlet to show you guys some of the most talented musicians out there today!  There’s no other medium that brings people together like LIVE MUSIC.  Join me and listen to our first OFF THE FRET podcast.  More Music. More Music Talk!—with ROYALS!

Elizabeth “Betsy” Kim, Co-Founder of GenZ Critics joins the last JUST TALKING of 2021 to discuss award worthy films. It’s been an incredible year for cinema—SO what are the top picks for the millennial audience? Betsy recommends CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and The Hand of God. Best picture goes to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Power of the Dog or black and white comedy drama Belfast. Are cinema award shows relevant to millennials? Where can a millennial watch an award show that speaks to Gen Z/Millennial values? Betsy recommends the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a TikTok awards show?! Theaters have started opening back up but is it enough to get people in seats? Films from directors like Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg have bombed at the box office—is this “The Last Duel?” — OR do millennials just like to stream? Write up your film critique and submit to Gen Z Critics https://genzcritics.com

This week on JUST TALKING we celebrated “Hawkinsmas” with comedian Marcus Hawkins. The Holiday Tree bared many gifts wrapped in WOKENESS!  But the greatest gift of all — front teeth!  “If you have no front teeth you’re automatically a crackhead!” The METAVERSE is screaming for comedy but can today’s “unwoke comedian” make it off Santa’s blacklist? Marcus says “I’m gonna give YOU what YOU need, not what YOU want.”  Merry CHRISTMAS!

Steven Blake from Animal Sun is back on STRIKE A CHORD to promote their new music video Safe not Sound.  “It explores the darker weird obsessions in our lives.”  After adjusting his curly locks Steven’s Marlon Brando vibes bring out the dark eye-liner in all of us.  “We know what we want out of this record.”  Animal Sun is constantly evolving, pushing boundaries — “reinventing the wheel a little bit.” The new album Generation Waiting (Coming Soon) is a mix of 80’s pop—BUT more importantly Animal Sun wants us to be thinking about—“being present—being in the moment.” Follow Animal Sun on all platforms.

What the hell is the Metaverse? Whatever it is Dan Mitre Associate Director of Community Development at Ubisoft joins us on JUST TALKING and pulls out the 2021 Video Game Awards.  Wasssss uuuuppppppp!  Game of the year is up for grabs!  Out of the six nominee’s Dan goes for…. we’re not going to tell you!  Log in!  The world is going digital—forget about the traditional courting rituals like eating out at a restaurant for your first date.  Why not test the strength of a pre-marriage commitment with the game It Takes Two—"it’s either going to make or break your relationship over the puzzles."  Not sure what gift you should get for the gamer in your life?  The top six nominee’s: Deathloop, It Takes Two, Metroid Dread, Psychonauts 2, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Resident Evil Village are absolute stocking stuffers! The Video Game Awards have become the new Oscar’s for voiceover actors.  Move over animation, TV and Film because Far Cry 6’s Giancarlo Esposito performance takes the 1-up mushroom!  Video games continue to be a major driving force behind the rise of Esports with a revenue stream greater than movie and music industries combined.  2019 League of Legends had more viewers than the Super Bowl!  OK Zuckerberg we’re on to you!  There’s always been a Metaverse! Remember a game called Second Life?  “You can go meta upon meta” — GAMING INVENTED META! Watch the Video Game Awards Streaming Live Thursday, December 9, https://thegameawards.com

OFF THE FRET, MORE MUSIC, MORE MUSIC TALK! If you’re like ME – MUSIC is everything! Since day one it’s been a passion of mine to create an opportunity to showcase amazing up-and-coming artists.  The CHRIS COLLINS SHOW has interviewed some of the most incredible international and national bands out there—from Finland, the Philippines, India and UK—to NY, LA, Texas and Nashville—you name it. We are so fortunate to have this outlet to show you guys some of the most talented musicians out there today!  There’s no other medium that brings people together like LIVE MUSIC.  Join me and listen to our first OFF THE FRET podcast.  More Music. More Music Talk!—with ROYALS!

Milwaukee punk rock band Avenues joins STRIKE A CHORD to release their new album “We’re All Doomed.”  With insane bass fills, drumming, rhythm and vocals, it took 4 years to make this album.  Drummer Marc Alan Perez suffered an intestinal infection requiring physical therapy to learn how to walk again—fortunately for this album he is back at the drums!  Every rock band has their quirks and for Avenues it’s Galaga!  YES the 80’s arcade greatest video game of all time Galaga!  Vocalist/guitarist Vin Smith was at a regional Galaga competition when the album dropped—“when duty calls you’ve gotta blow up some battleships!”  We call that the Galaga Incident!  The album “We’re All Doomed” is exceptionally important to the band—it screams a message about determination and commitment to your craft as an artist. Listen, follow and support Avenues at: https://www.facebook.com/AvenuesMKE

Let’s go to the movies!  Film Actor Vin Vescio joins JUST TALKING complete with costume.  Wearing a custom made Christmas Snowman sweater—made by his girlfriend.  Vin gets us into the Christmas spirit with his film See You Next Christmas.  Most actors start in theater and work their way up looking for their big break.  OR you can do what Vin did—accidentally audition for a bartender role with George Wendt (Norm from Cheers) doing improv and then “everyone knows your name!”  Vin plays supportive husband Tom Clark in See You Next Christmas a millennial Rom-Com about two binary pronoun specific gender defined singles who find themselves hooking up at the yearly “Clarkmas” party.  Holiday parties can lead to awkward conversations.  BUT the question is—how do you get out of them?   Vin offers the same advice for surviving a music concert. Pivot with the crowd, hydrate, always have exit strategy, exit strategy, exit strategy and no hot apps!  Everyone should have a “Clarkmas” party.  Watch See You Next Christmas on major streaming services. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/see-you-next-christmas/id1588992086

Strike a Chord

German Indie Pop Band, Kid Dad joins STRIKE A CHORD to promote their EP BLOOM. Why does a German band care so much about America?  Their track “As Soon As America” breaks it down.   Bands like Green Day and Blink 182 were inspirational to Kid Dad.  The idea of “having multiple cultures coming together in a melting pot can become who they are.”  German millennials are facing similar adult pressures to Americans — get a real job, go to university, make real money not bitcoin!  But Kid Dad romances about a “gigantic earth that loves and cares for each other.”   It’s an endearing sentiment resonating in “As Soon As America.”  The EP BLOOM is a “bouquet of 5 different flowers that blossom in very different colors.”  Not conforming to the genre box Kid Dad’s new EP BLOOM evolves from the past dark grunge label to the “good vibes” colorful songs they could identify with most. Germans are often labeled as serious but the track “Apartment” is a joking matter.  It’s one of the few videos where the band is smiling and laughing.  Kid Dad is emotional, fun and serious all at the same time—it’s a roller coaster ride!  Follow at https://www.kid-dad.com

2021 Next Generation Indie Film Awards BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, Luis Antonio Aldana joins JUST TALKING. It was only a year ago Acuitzeramo Director Miguel Angel Caballero was on the show to promote the film. Besides picking up awards world-wide Acuitzeramo is a conversation starter. Identity in films is important.  These types of stories are becoming more mainstream—“we don’t really get to see the stories about queer elders in rural towns.” Luis’s character Anthony (the son) plays a major role in providing an impartial viewpoint—“it’s about empathy, it’s about understanding someone else’s story.” Today’s storytellers have an obligation to create original and unspoken stories. Acuitzeramo is available on HBO MAX starting January 2022.

JUST TALKING

CCS Sports Contributor Kevin Drake joins JUST TALKING to spit game! First up to bat the 2021 Major League Baseball World Series!  Kevin wants revenge for the Dodgers loss to Astros—BUT first got to get past the Braves.  The MLB gave Candy Digital their entire catalog to use for NFTs.  Will baseball fans buy a rare Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson digital baseball card?  The NBA season kicked off its75th season.  Will the Milwaukee Bucks pull a repeat win against the Brooklyn Nets minus Kyrie Irving?  Well Charles Barkley isn’t happy: “you don’t get the vaccine for yourself…family first then your team.”  The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is still up for grabs.   Kevin picks the Golden State Warriors.  China gives the NBA a sad Emoji :( and pulled all Boston Celtics games from the Chinese internet after Enes Kanter posts Xi Jinping a “brutal dictator.”  Gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them—right LeBron?  Follow Kevin at: https://www.chriscollinsshow.com

STRIKE A CHORD

Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter Cloe Wilder joins STRIKE A CHORD to talk about her new EP “Teenage Lullabies.”  The vibe is good and Cloe is good!   While on lockdown in Los Angeles, Cloe has been making a ton of new music.  Cloe’s latest track “In the Next Life” has a music video with its own backstory—and tells her Instagram following: “This is an entirely alternative video from what I had originally planned to use.”  “In the Next Life” is a thoughtful track about remembering loved ones—AND knowing there’s comfort in “seeing them again.” Great lyrics—a MUST HEAR! Support and follow at: https://www.cloewilder.com