SUMMER OASIS FESTIVAL 2016

ABOUT THAT TENT LIFE!

When I got the call from my boy Cedric McDougle asking me to come and cover his weekend event "Summer Oasis", a musical glamping tent festival that was being held at the historical Paradise Lake in Idlewild, Michigan, I had to make it happen. 1) Cedric and I go back so I had to have his back, 2) I had never been to Idlewild and 3) I had never experienced glamping, which is luxurious camping in a tent. You can bring whatever you like to enhance and make your tenting adventure enjoyable, from luxury bedding, sofas, big screen televisions and someone even had a microwave. Now of course your boy THE REEL HUSTLER was not rolling like that, but more like Bear Grylls out there about to straight be roughing it. Now also what was invitingly tempting was the musical lineup which consisted of some of Detroit's and Chicago's hottest house DJ's starring Raynard Hines, Ray Bone Jones, Rick Wilhite, Stacey Hale, Kevin Dysard, Nigel Gieger and Joel Oliver, Seth Carter, Todd Perrine, Mike Grant, Keith Worthy, Mike Clark, Groove Temple, Drake Phifer, Celeste Alexander and Karizma from Baltimore. Oh yeah it was going down and THE REEL HUSTLER was granted the exclusive to this kickoff event.

Cedric who originally started this event eight years ago as a private backyard type affair with friends wanted to go even beyond that so he along with friends Lynn Ford, Shae Seaward and Sheri Walker, to name a few formed Summer Oasis Festival to be held August 19 - 21, 2016 for the first time at Paradise Lake in Idlewild, MI. From the time I hit the campground I knew this was going to be something special. Everything was well organized from tenting arrangements, to the stage and light setups, it was hooked up nicely and everyone was so pleasant. It was all just about having fun and good house music.

Now Friday, the first day of the festival the weather was beautiful and the DJ's had the music bumping and the grills were hot and popping with all types of meats as people were still pulling on the site to register there tent. It was all good! But come that Saturday, from the beginning of the morning it rained and not light rain, it was a hard, junior monsoon type rain but that did not deter Cedric from still providing his patrons with the musical treats that he had in store for them as he made arrangements for the DJ's to be setup inside of an old store front that had been turned into like a local bar that is owned and operated by Idlewild residents Joe and Fredna Lindsey who also owns the property where the festival was held. The show went on and the DJ's still showed out. When an event organizer hosts any event pertaining to the outdoors the weather is never predictable and they must be able to provide options and Cedric did that which showed great planning on his part. Outside of that, hey that is what tent life is all about, enjoying the elements.

Although my intentions were to get around to do some video interviewing with the DJ's,unfortunately the weather changed up my plans so I had to settle to mostly capturing the event by still moments. But trust me this was an event that you would have had to be there to enjoy the full effect. There was not one person that attended that I talked with that gave any negative comments or reviews, even despite the rain. Everyone had a great time. So great job Cedric McDougle and thanks for the exclusive invitation. If you don't know, you better get to know "About that tent Life"!

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLE!!!

#aboutthattentlife

WAR DOGS

Plot:

In his early twenties, David Packouz (Teller) had become fed up with meaningless jobs and tried his hand at being an entrepreneur starting up a business as a bed sheet set provider, but this endeavor would also turn into a dead end. While attending a funeral service for a schoolmate he reconnects with his long lost childhood best friend Efraim Diveroli (Hill) who is now a small time arms dealer looking to set up business back in his home city, Miami. David would soon team up with the erratic Efraim so as to make ends meet for his wife and baby girl, both guys bidding on smaller arms deals that brought in lucrative cash for them to live a comfortable life until they get the jump on a bid with the U.s. Government for a $300 million deal and they win the bid, the pair would  enlist the help of a savvy but shady big time arms dealer Henry Girard (Cooper) who gives them an amazing deal on the ammunition they need. Soon they will then realize the true fact that all business is not good business and all money is not good money. Eventually the friends will be tested on their loyalty to each other or the lure of the greed of the money. Which will it be?


Reel Talk:

This film is based on the true story of the two friends in their twenties that would land one of the biggest arms deals from the United States that would be used during the first Iraq War. Where this is suppose to be a true story you can hand pick all of the Hollywood sensationalism in the film as well as how predictable the outcome. Now even with those flaws the film is still entertaining, with Miles Teller and Jonah Hill appearing like a modern day version of Dean martin and Jerry Lewis. This drama / comedy will be good for some laughs and put some things on your mind with the many cliches throughout the movie. Not a bad movie and it is worth cashing out to check it out.

Starring: Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Bradley Cooper, Ana De Armas and Kevin Pollak
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rated: R

I give it 3 corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

RIB AND R&B FEST 2016 - SUNDAY NIGHT

AND THE BEAT GOES ON!

So on Sunday, the final day for the Rib and R&B Festival that took place at Hart Plaza located in downtown Detroit despite another evening of rain that came down pretty good but not continuous like on Saturday evening, the performances still went down as scheduled. Again I got there just in time to catch the main acts that started with local singer Cherelle taking to the stage to perform her hit songs and then she was accompanied by Alexander O' Neal to perform one of the songs they collaborated on then he did his solo performance before Cherelle rejoined him to perform their biggest collab Saturday Love. The set closed with Alexander closing his performance by leaving the stage and going into the audience way up to the top 
level (I thought he was going to one of the rib vendors...LOL).

Then to close out the night and the festival the main act, Midnight Starr, hit the stage and for the patient crowded audience that endured the passing rain down pour they were in for a treat as the old school group gave them a relentless performance of the hits that made them a powerhouse group during the previous years. They are one of those groups that it had been so long that you sort of have forgotten how many jams they had produced. The crowd was on their feet and grooving to the beats on the last night for the rib fest that was powered by Washington Entertainment. CEO Johnnie Washington who promised that as long as he continues to get the support of the people of Detroit he will continue to provide good quality shows. Again despite the rain the festival was a weekend success. Great job Washington Entertainment!

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

RIBS AND R&B FEST 2016 - SATURDAY NIGHT

RIBS AND RAIN

Despite the off and on down pouring of rain that prevailed the city of Detroit the show still had to go on as I made my way down to the downtown Detroit's Hart Plaza for the second day of the Rib and R&B Festival hosted by Washington Entertainment. As mentioned it rained hard and pushed the show off schedule but CEO Johnnie Washington was intent on the show going on because he made it clear to the audience that he is a genuine promoter who wants to always give a quality event and not to be confused with any of the promoters that have duped patrons on some previous concerts. when I got there right in between the rainy monsoons we waited a bit then the show hosted by radio personalities Gerald McBride and Theresa Hill proceeded to start back up with the local group the Stubbs Sisters that re daughters to the late Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops. Then they were followed up by the old school house sensation CeCe Peniston who got everyone on their feet to dance to her jams and she was followed up by the all girls group Klymaxx featuring Bernadette Cooper from the original group from back in the day and these ladies know how to rock the crowd. With time winding down the show didn't stop there because immediately The Emotions took to the stage and closed out the show performing all there hits from past.

Overall it was a good time, with good music, good food and good people despite the rain. Now it is time for the next episode.

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

JUST HANGING, HAVING FUN!

FUNTIMES WITH FRIENDS

Just was out enjoying the night having a good time with actor Obba Babatunde, actress Juanita Jennings (who are both in town shooting for a new series called DETROITERS), Judge Craig Strong, Al Maddin, Denise and Tracey.

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

CHARIVARI 2016

THE MUSIC GOT ME!

I remember the first CHARIVARI picnic that took place a few years ago at Milliken Park and felt the positive vibes that came from the reunion event. It was good socializing with past and present event promoters with myself being a former party promoter, while listening to the various DJ's take their turn rocking the crowd with their addictive beats. Well that picnic set the tone for what has now become one of the city's signature events as the CHARIVARI organizers Theresa Hill, Grant Gray, Todd Johnson and the late Steve Dunbar may he continue to R.I.P. have turned it into a weekend music festival (originally a 2 day fest but was extended to 3 days) that showcases some of Detroit's most talented DJ's whose music selection ranges from electronic dance, trance, techno and house music that is held at one of the city's jeweled parks, Belle Isle. Now you already know that if it is hot your man's THE REEL HUSTLER is gonna be there to capture the moments.

The CHARIVARI DETROIT Music Festival which took place this past weekend, is steadily becoming one of the city's most anticipated annual events and is equally rivaling some of the preexisting music festivals of the similar musical genre. They are now enlisting the support of sponsors, vendors and continuing to secure the best DJ's in the Michigan area. Yes CHARIVARI is here and they don't seem to be going nowhere so be sure to check out the link below to find out how you can get involved with the next event and other info with regards to the CHARIVARI movement.

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

http://www.charivaridetroit.com/