Well, if you were in the arena on Saturday, April 7th for Fan Appreciation Day you probably shed a tear or two. One for the loss against Abbotsford Heat and one for hooking up Forest Walton with a brand spanking new van courtesy of Hendrick Automotive Group which will be fitted for handicap accessibility by the Checkers and Van Products.

I am fortunate to work with a lot of amazing people and the Charlotte Checkers is by far one of the most amazing organizations I get to work with. Their dedication to the community constantly amazes me and I am always grateful for anything I get to do with the team be it support through attending games, sending a Twitter or Facebook message for anything they are supporting, or by writing on this blog.

On April 7th, with the purchase of the special promo tickets @ $15, $6 from every ticket goes to Wheels for Forest.

Forest Walton is a 15-year-old young man who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at birth. He was able to walk, run and play until he was 12 years old, but due to this disease, he is no longer able to walk. His mother must take him everywhere in a wheelchair accessible van, and their current van is worn out, unsafe and literally falling apart around him.

Do your part and support the Checkers on home ice against the Abbotsford Heat and in doing so, you'll support Wheels for Forest.

Meet Forest Walton

This might be the most fantastic pairing in my little rock world for 2012!!!

Rammistein featuring Marilyn Manson performing "The Beautiful People" at ECHO 2012.

Sweet Baby Jesus this is awesome!!

You sit in the stands and you hear the players chirping at each other but have you ever wanted to know what the linesmen are saying to each other or to the guys on the ice?

The Charlotte Checkers mic'd up AHL Linesman, Paul Carnathan on the Feb 25th Pink in the Rink. Here's an up close look at what he does.

  If you know me, you know I love the band The Constellations and will push their music to anyone who will listen to it or listen to me talk about them. Don't roll your eyes, I have to listen to a lot of crappy music sometimes and when I find something that gives my ear an orgasm instead of vomiting, I will share it.

If you don't know who The Constellations are, well, you are about to be introduced to one of the most fun, funkadelic, funky, southern gothic, rock and roll bands that EVER came out of The A-T-L. Yep, that's right, I just said EVER and I'll stand by it.

Tuesday, the band tweeted, they were releasing an EP today on iTunes.

WOOOHOOO!! My tweet back actually was "Oh hot damn, new jams."

As of 9:17 am today, I still hadn't found the EP on iTunes. Yes, I was stalking iTunes. Music I'm excited for is hard to come by. After waiting around, I finally text the band and ask if there was a direct link and I discover the label is having problems with the link and the label is working on it. At 4 pm, the link is now working but you have to search The Constellations Sold Out or click here.

WOW! OH! WOW!

I was told by one of the members of the band that if I liked certain songs of the last record, then I was going to love the new stuff. Boy, was he right!

Here's the 4 song EP breakdown:

"Old Fashion Freedom" - when this song starts, I am instantly thrown back to the 70s slow funk with the guitar and bass. The music to the song is seductive and the lyrics have a message of standing up for what you believe in and that if we unite, it's hard for people to stop those that are passionate about something they believe in.

"So It Shall Be" - a great slow song (not a freaking ballad...don't make me have a music 101 class)...A song about losing love and letting go and being okay with it. Did I mention it has a saxophone solo? No? IT HAS A SAXOPHONE SOLO!!! Seriously, love that.

"Going Down in Flames" - This is dirty. The vocals are dirty, the lyrics are dirty,the music is dirty, and the whole damn song rocks! You are singing along within seconds and tapping your toes even before that. It's a song you find in the dark alley you hurry across because you're afraid someone might grab you. It's the song that leads you down that dark alley and tempts you to the dark side and ends up opening your eyes and your soul. It's just that damn good!

"Love Is a Murder" - this song is from their Southern Gothic album and features Cee Lo Green (yes, of the Voice) and it rocks.

In other news, The Constellations signed with 429 Records and you can read that annoucement here.

For more on The Constellations: website | Twitter | Facebook

LOVE THEM, LISTEN TO THEM, WATCH THEM.

WATCH:
Video for "Love is a Murder" featuring Cee Lo Green and Kate Micucci.

This is the video that I saw that got me hooked on the band!

The Constellations peforming a new song "Do It For Free" for Murfie

The Constellations in an END Session, performing "What I See"

The Constellations in their 1st END Session performing "Felicia"