Monthly Archives: May 2014

Mike Epps Late Night Comedy Tour Leaves Chicago Winded

By Sommer Thornton 
Photos by Dan Locke

Mike EppsMike Epps rolled his successful Late Night Comedy Tour into Chicago for two shows at the Arie Crown Theater April 19. Fans packed the theater for grown & sexy late laughs. The show featured Mike Epps and two opening acts. One of the openers was Chicago native, Kenny Howell. Howell got the audience warmed up quickly with his stories of his childhood growing up in the Robert Taylor projects. Howell was felt by the entire audience, many who are very familiar with growing up in the 80’s on the West side of Chi-town. The crowd was gasping when Howell joked about ex-cons working in the kitchen in Church’s Chicken, and about the dos and don’ts of receiving fellatio without messing up a woman’s hair.

Mike Epps, best known for movies like Sparkle, Next Friday, and his hosting of Shaquille O’Neal’s comedy shows hit the stage a little before midnight getting right into what he does best, making fun of people. Epps joked that some audience members were taking unauthorized photos with prepaid “Boost mobile phones”. Epps even paused the show to threaten a nearby press photographer saying, “If I find out you’re not in my camp, we’re f-in you up.” Mike Epps spared no punches talking about many of his celebrity friends and frenemies like rapper Rick Ross, Miley Cyrus, R. Kelly’s lisp, and even Bernie Mac. Epps had nothing but nice things to say about the late comedian, even sharing some of Mac’s invaluable advice to him.

One part that was absolutely hilarious was when Epps touched on the controversy with his daughter, who publically called him a deadbeat dad. While Epps said he loved his daughter dearly, he joked that her mother coerced her to publically condemn him, and that he himself is to blame for getting a mechanic pregnant in the first place. Epps joked that back-in-the-day; he slept with any woman that wanted him, which was most times women he wouldn’t look twice at now.

This was one of the funniest comedy shows I’ve seen this year. Mike Epps kept the crowd roaring non-stop. And he brings his funny friends along for the ride. With a successful career in stand-up under his belt along with a few serious roles in big films; Epps proves that he not just a punchline, but a versatile and very funny entertainer.

Budweiser Made in America” Music Festival Expands In 2014

Made in AmericaShawn “JAY Z” Carter, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, Budweiser and United Way of Greater Los Angeles are bringing the spirit of “Budweiser Made In America,”to Los Angeles during the 2014 Labor Day weekend. The two-day music festival began in Philadelphia on Labor Day weekend 2012 to benefit United Way of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and United Way of Lancaster County, and this year will deliver twice the amount of music. Live Nation will produce both the Philadelphia and Los Angeles two-day music festivals, delivering must-see performances on both coasts. Details and lineups for both festival locations will be announced at a later date.

“Budweiser Made In America” will be the first American festival to run simultaneously on both coasts. Performances from both “Budweiser Made In America” sites will be available for fans to view with live-streaming.

With the addition of the west coast festival, JAY Z, Live Nation, Budweiser and United Way are committed to improving lives and strengthening local communities in Los Angeles County. United Way will invest the funds raised to ensure more people have the opportunity to reach their potential–through quality schools, good jobs and stable housing. The “Budweiser Made In America” Festival provides the perfect crescendo to summer and coincides with the culmination of “Summer of Success,” a multi-pronged approach by Mayor Garcetti to advance youth during the school break by providing them jobs, learning opportunities, and extended programming at City of Los Angeles parks and recreational facilities.

Budweiser, JAY Z and this festival embody the American spirit and enhance the ongoing partnership between the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and the City of Los Angeles.

The Philadelphia site will benefit United Ways in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and Lancaster County, Penn. The primary goal of this music festival is to have a positive impact on the communities involved. As a result, the money invested into these communities will positively impact the education, income and health of the most vulnerable and needy citizens in these regions.

As a result of last year’s “Budweiser Made In America” Festival, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is investing $300,000 in education and talent development initiatives to enhance cradle-to-career education that ensures all students graduate high school college–and career-ready and equips individuals with the job skills and training they need to secure work that provides a family-sustaining income.

The festival also enabled United Way of Lancaster County to invest an additional $100,000 in programs and services that support learning success across the education continuum.

WHEN: 

Labor Day Weekend 2014, Aug. 30-31

WHERE:

The Los Angeles “Budweiser Made In America” Festival will take place on Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles. The Philadelphia festival site will remain on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

TICKET PURCHASE:

2 Day Early Bird presale tickets are available now at www.livenation.com

2 Day Early Bird tickets for Philadelphia are $99.50 and Los Angeles are $125.

Additional on sale information will be announced.

ONGOING FESTIVAL INFORMATION:

The festivals site, www.madeinamericafest.com will be updated with general information.