Latest news with #Alon
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Some of the world's best bands play Scotland in June: Here's our pick
But can we point you in the direction of this Glasgow gig by our favourite Fifer Jacob Alon? The singer-songwriter has often been called Scotland's next big thing (we said it ourselves in The Herald Magazine back in January), a debut album, the sublime In Limerence, out May 30, is the next step on the journey. Alon's delicate vocals and searingly honest lyrics have drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. Heady company, but Alon doesn't sound out of place. This will probably be one of the quieter gigs this month, but it will possibly resonate the longest. Iggy Pop 02 Academy, Glasgow, June 3 Iggy Pop (Image: PA) Maybe the drugs do work. Or maybe he's indestructible. So many of his contemporaries are no longer with us, but Jim Osterberg's still around, still singing Lust for Life and The Passenger and showing off his aged torso as he reaches the fag end of his seventies. It really is quite something. Still a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm, in other words. Spectacular Shostakovich: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Usher Hall, June 6; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, June 7 Marking the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's death, the RSNO performs his epic 11th Symphony, inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1905. Thomas Sondergard conducts and cellist Daniel Muller-Schott is the soloist. Pulp OVO Hydro, Glasgow, June 7 Getting the jump on Oasis, Britpop's finest (well, it's them or Suede) mark their first album - entitled More - in 24 years with another round of live gigs. Last seen in these parts ushering in 2024 at Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the band have had a new lease of life whilst mourning the loss of bass player Steve Mackey. Will the new album live up to its predecessors? That remains to be seen (the precursor single, Spike Island, is OK but maybe not much more). Still, any excuse to sing along to Do You Remember the First Time and Babies is always to be welcomed. Abbie Gordon The Poetry Club, Glasgow, June 19 New blood. Abbie Gordon is a teenage singer-songwriter from Irvine who was named Young Live Artist of the Year in December after headlining King Tut's. The future starts here. And while you're at it, maybe check out Theo Bleak (Canvas, Dundee, June 20), another fresh singer-songwriter with an ear for a tune. Diana Ross OVO Hydro, Glasgow, June 25 Diana Ross (Image: Newsquest) Yes, that Diana Ross. Now in the foothills of her ninth decade on the planet, Ross has a back catalogue that stretches back to her Motown pomp in The Supremes, and takes in her imperious disco era working with Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, her Bee Gees-fuelled Chain Reaction chart ascendancy and even collaborating with the name producer of the moment, Jack Antonoff, on 2021 album Thank You. Not sure she'll have any time for deep cuts. The question is, which of her 100 plus singles will she leave out? Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band Mono, Glasgow, June 25 The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band (Image: free) In the mood for some country blues? This might be the gig for you. Big voice, big beard and guitar picking. The good Reverend, who hails from Indiana, leads a trio including his wife Washboard Breezy (on washboard, you might not be surprised to hear) and Jacob Powell on percussion. Can't deny, they make a noise. Lana Del Rey Hampden Park, Glasgow, June 26 Lana Del Rey (Image: free) Gone are the days Lana used to hang out in Glasgow's south side, but she is back in the city for this arena gig towards the end of the month. Del Rey's shtick - established as early as her first single Video Games - is the society girl with an eye for bad boys, as played out in a Mogadon haze. On paper that doesn't sound like a recipe for filling arenas but it's turned out to be surprisingly moreish. Del Rey is currently the 25th most streamed artist in the world. Hopefully she will turn up on time this evening and not risk getting the power turned off as happened to her at Glastonbury in 2023. Simple Minds Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, June 27 Part of this year's Summer Sessions programme (preceded by the Sex Pistols and Sting on June 21 and June 25 respectively), Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill return for a hometown gig. We can argue over their back catalogue (my cut-off point is 1982; given the commercial success of what was to follow clearly few agree), but the truth is they remain a formidable live act. As frontman, Kerr both looks his age and acts like he's still in his twenties. It's quite the combination. Macy Gray Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, June 27 Macy Gray (Image: Newsquest) Want to feel old? It's now been 26 years - yes, 26 - since Macy Gray's breakthrough single, I Try, which introduced us to the gorgeous rasp of her voice. It remains her best known song, but she has never stopped making records. Quick question. Is her cover of Radiohead's Creep better than Billie Eilish's? Discuss. Kid Creole and the Coconuts Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, June 28; Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, June 29 To be honest, there is a corner of my head where it's always 1982. The year I left home, the year I started fending for myself, the year I fell in love. Kid Creole and the Coconuts were part of that year's soundtrack, a heady mix of disco, Latin rhythms and New Pop, amped up by August Darnell's larger-than-life ego and Zoot suits, and gilded by the Coconuts themselves, all backcombed blonde attitude and harmonies. It was pop panto back then, probably more so now, but, admit it, you're humming 'Ona-Ona-Onamatopea' even as you read this. (Who cares if that's not the real lyric? It's a better one.) Lucy Dacus Usher Hall, Edinburgh, June 30; Barrowland Ballroom, July 1 Fresh from her time as a member of Boygenius and being namechecked by Taylor Swift in her song The Tortured Poets Department, the American singer-songwriter is touring in support of her latest album Forever is a Feeling. It contains a track called Limerence, by the way, which takes us back to Jacob Alon and where we came in.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
JSSI Sponsors Racing Champion Alon Day
Alon Day to Pilot Car in ARCA Menards Series Events in Connecticut, California, and New York CHICAGO, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) and Neil Book announced today the sponsorship of Alon Day for three road course events across the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA West Series platforms. Alon Day is a four-time NASCAR Euro Series Champion and NASCAR's only professional Israeli racecar driver. Day will drive the No.25 JSSI Toyota Camry for team Venturini Motorsports at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut (June 28), Sonoma Raceway in California (July 11), and Watkins Glen Raceway in New York (August 9). Alon's No. 25 Toyota will be customized with a full JSSI-branded car wrap in blue and white and will include the Hebrew word for life, חי, as a symbol of resilience, unity and support for his home country of Israel. "We are honored to partner with Alon Day for a second year. Alon represents the heart and spirit of the Israeli people: commitment to excellence, tremendous work ethic, and ability to persevere in the face of enormous adversity. These are the traits that we strive to embody at JSSI. We're excited for Alon to bring these talents to the streets of America," said Neil Book, JSSI Chairman and CEO. "I am grateful to Neil Book and JSSI for making it possible for me to compete in the ARCA Series races across America," NASCAR driver Alon Day said, "I hope to bring JSSI's car No 25 to the victory circle." "Alon is an accomplished driver on the world stage, and we are excited to have such a top level road course driver racing under the Venturini Motorsports banner for these three races," said Billy Venturini, General Manager Venturini Motorsports. For more information or to schedule an interview with Alon Day or JSSI, please contact Keren Gelfand at 312-593-2535. About Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI)For more than 35 years, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) has been the leading independent provider of maintenance support, advisory services, software, and financial tools to the business aviation industry. With 6,000+ aircraft supported by maintenance programs and software platforms, JSSI leverages this wealth of data, scale, and innovation to drive cost savings and provide custom solutions that align to the interests of each client, regardless of make or model. Learn more at About Venturini MotorsportsWith a family legacy in motorsports dating back to the 1950s, Venturini Motorsports has been a dominant presence in the ARCA Menards Series since 1982. VMS holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured and most successful team in ARCA history, earning 108 all-time series victories. An official partner of Toyota Gazoo Racing, Venturini Motorsports has played a key role in the development of some of today's top NASCAR Cup Series talent, including Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Jesse Love. The team has claimed multiple ARCA Menards Series owner and driver championships with Christian Eckes, Sean Hingorani, and Jesse Love. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Jet Support Services, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Five for Fighting reimagines ‘Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Musician John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting, has released a new version of his hit song "Superman," this time dedicated to the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. The reimagined track is intended to bring global attention to their ongoing ordeal, and, he hopes, help lead to their release. Appearing on "Fox & Friends" Monday, Ondrasik said the inspiration for the project came from the parallels between the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, and the trauma Americans experienced on 9/11. "It became very clear that 'Superman' should be the song," he said. "With the history of 9/11, and the fact that, for Israel, October 7 is their 9/11." Although the song honors all the hostages, Ondrasik said it was especially inspired by one person: 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Alon's mother, Idit Ohel, collaborated with Ondrasik on the new version and its accompanying music video. Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire, Hostage Return Deal Over Disarmament Demands "Just talking about Alon and his situation is so important," Idit said. Read On The Fox News App "People will know that there are still hostages [in] Gaza and they need to be released." She described her son's condition as dire. Injured during his abduction, Alon still has shrapnel in his eye and, as far as she knows, has received no medical treatment. "He's been, you know, shackled. He's been chained and starved every day as we speak," she said. "We really want him to come home." Freed Israeli Hostage Calls On Trump To Act As 'Modern Moses' To Save Brother From Hamas 'Lunatics' Alon was 22-years-old at the time of his capture and has now spent two birthdays in captivity. A passionate pianist, his love for music made the tribute especially meaningful to the family. When deciding which of his songs to rework, Ondrasik said one image stood out: a childhood photo of Alon wearing Superman pajamas. "Seeing the picture of him in his Superman jammies as a toddler made it very clear," Ondrasik said. "We had to tweak the lyrics a bit to basically recognize the incredible fortitude, the spiritual fortitude of people like Idit and the hostage families who go through the unbearable every day." "Superman" became a symbol of resilience in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Ondrasik performed it for first responders, victims' families and at benefit concerts. Now, he says the Grammy-nominated song has taken on new meaning. With Trump's Backing Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza As Pressure Builds For Hostage Deal "The fact that we're still talking about this [returning the hostages] is an outrage of humanity," he said. "One does not have to be Jewish to support Idit, her family, Israel. One merely needs to be human, have a heart, have a soul." More than a year ago, Ondrasik performed "Superman" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where families and supporters gather regularly to demand the hostages' return. Alon's brother played the piano during that performance in honor of him. Ondrasik says he dreams of one day playing the song again, this time with Alon at his side. "I look forward to the day that we are at Hostage Square, at Alon's piano, and he's sitting next to me and his brother sitting next to me, and we are playing 'Superman,' and I believe that day will come. And we all pray that day will come." As of now, an estimated 59 hostages remain in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be alive. Their families continue to call for a ceasefire and the safe return of their loved ones, while also acknowledging the immense loss of life in Gaza, where tens of thousands have died in the ongoing article source: Five for Fighting reimagines 'Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Fox News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Five for Fighting reimagines ‘Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Musician John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting, has released a new version of his hit song "Superman," this time dedicated to the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. The reimagined track is intended to bring global attention to their ongoing ordeal, and, he hopes, help lead to their release. Appearing on "Fox & Friends" Monday, Ondrasik said the inspiration for the project came from the parallels between the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, and the trauma Americans experienced on 9/11. "It became very clear that 'Superman' should be the song," he said. "With the history of 9/11, and the fact that, for Israel, October 7 is their 9/11." Although the song honors all the hostages, Ondrasik said it was especially inspired by one: 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Alon's mother, Idit Ohel, collaborated with Ondrasik on the new version and its accompanying music video. "Just talking about Alon and his situation is so important," Idit said. "People will know that there are still hostages [in] Gaza and they need to be released." She described her son's condition as dire. Injured during his abduction, Alon still has shrapnel in his eye and, as far as she knows, has received no medical treatment. "He's been, you know, shackled. He's been chained and starved every day as we speak," she said. "We really want him to come home." Alon was 22-years-old at the time of his capture and has now spent two birthdays in captivity. A passionate pianist, his love for music made the tribute especially meaningful to the family. When deciding which of his songs to rework, Ondrasik said one image stood out: a childhood photo of Alon wearing Superman pajamas. "Seeing the picture of him in his Superman jammies as a toddler made it very clear," Ondrasik said. "We had to tweak the lyrics a bit to basically recognize the incredible fortitude, the spiritual fortitude of people like Idit and the hostage families who go through the unbearable every day." "Superman" became a symbol of resilience in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Ondrasik performed it for first responders, victims' families, and at benefit concerts. Now, he says the Grammy-nominated song has taken on new meaning. "The fact that we're still talking about this [returning the hostages] is an outrage of humanity," he said. "One does not have to be Jewish to support Idit, her family, Israel. One merely needs to be human, have a heart, have a soul." More than a year ago, Ondrasik performed "Superman" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where families and supporters gather regularly to demand the hostages' return. Alon's brother played the piano during that performance in honor of him. Ondrasik says he dreams of one day playing the song again, this time with Alon at his side. "I look forward to the day that we are at Hostage Square, at Alon's piano, and he's sitting next to me and his brother sitting next to me, and we are playing 'Superman,' and I believe that day will come. And we all pray that day will come." As of now, an estimated 59 hostages remain in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be alive. Their families continue to call for a ceasefire and the safe return of their loved ones, while also acknowledging the immense loss of life in Gaza, where tens of thousands have died in the ongoing conflict.
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- The Guardian
‘Deception, fraud and coercion': the Miami property magnate brothers accused of rape
The Alexanders are the ultimate Miami crime story: three brothers from one of Florida's wealthiest families, opulent real estate, luxury yachts and fast cars; there are drugs, fashion models and A-list celebrities. And, ultimately, a trio who flew too close to the sun, only to crash back down to Earth. The downfall of the Alexander twins Alon and Oren, and their elder sibling Tal, is reflected in their current residence, a federal jail in New York ahead of their trial next year. They face charges including rape, sexual assault and the sexual trafficking of dozens of victims. Jail is a world away, in every respect, from their affluent playboy lifestyle in south Florida's glitziest city, where many of their alleged crimes took place and where prosecutors say they began their almost quarter-century reign of depravity. It started with parties while the trio attended Miami's Michael M Krop senior high school, when, according to a lengthy Vanity Fair account of the brothers' activities published this month, teenage girls were plied with drugs and alcohol and would wake up with unclear recollections of being raped by multiple people. These gatherings, the report said, often took place in waterfront Miami Beach mansions owned by the Alexander family or their wealthy friends, where teenage attendees would arrive in convoys of luxury vehicles, such as BMWs and Cadillacs, and with porn playing on back-seat DVD systems. After university, according to an eight-page justice department indictment filed in the southern district of New York, the brothers perfected their technique. They split their time between Miami, New York and other upscale locations such as the Hamptons and Martha's Vineyard. Using their money and influence once again, prosecutors said, they built their own sex-trafficking network at a time when Tal, 38, and Oren, 37, were forging successful careers in real estate. The men were first representatives for the high-end firm Douglas Elliman, then moved on with their own, now defunct brokerage, Official, that sold condos for tens of millions of dollars apiece. A fawning New York Times profile in 2022 portrayed a lifestyle of members' clubs, expensive restaurants and penthouse living. Celebrity clients were reported to include Ye, Jared and Ivanka Trump, the rapper and producer Timbaland, the supermodel Adriana Lima and the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. Back in Miami, the hedonism and revelry continued unchecked. The brothers were spotted regularly on private jets and super yachts, in supercharged sports cars and 'bringing the party and eye candy wherever they went', according to Vanity Fair. It noted that Alon, who was not part of his siblings' real estate business, was 'frequently along for the ride'. All the while, according to a press release accompanying the justice department indictment, the three 'worked together and with others to engage in sex trafficking, including by repeatedly drugging, sexually assaulting, and raping dozens of female victims. '[They] used deception, fraud, and coercion to cause victims to travel with them or meet them in private locations for various trips and events. The Alexander brothers used the promise of luxury experiences, travel, and accommodations to lure and entice women to these events, and then, on multiple occasions, forcibly raped and sexually assaulted women who attended. 'At times, multiple men, including one or more of the brothers, participated in these assaults. In some instances, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop.' Some of the women, prosecutors said, were recruited out of state, or abroad, and flew to Florida and New York, thus introducing sexual trafficking to the list of charges. One specific allegation, part of a succession of civil lawsuits by accusers filed last year that set the FBI and other federal investigators on a path to criminal charges in December, is from an unnamed woman. She said she met Alon Alexander on a dating app, and traveled to Florida with two friends to celebrate New Year in December 2016. She accepted an invitation from him to attend a barbecue and pool party at his 'luxury condo' in Miami Beach, her lawsuit says, but was greeted by Alon and Oren Alexander, and a man they introduced as a cousin, locked in a bedroom and raped by the brothers as the cousin held her down. The experience, the court document says, showed their 'complete and utter disregard for the lifetime of trauma, shame, emotional turmoil they imposed' and left her 'forever changed and fearful of the demonic defendants'. Evidence recovered during FBI searches of Alexander properties immediately before their December 2024 arrests included videotapes the brothers allegedly recorded of some of their encounters, which they kept as 'trophies'. Prosecutors say they have spoken with more than 60 women who allege they were assaulted by one or more of the brothers, or their friends and acquaintances, and hope publicity might encourage more to step forward. All three brothers, through lawyers, have consistently denied all of the allegations against them, and say any sexual encounters were fully consensual. If convicted, they face sentences ranging from 15 years to life. To observers, the Alexanders' story has parallels in other well-publicized cases in which accused sexual predators have used wealth, power and influence to cover up crimes and aggressively pursue their accusers. Among those cited are Harvey Weinstein and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who is incarcerated at the same Brooklyn detention center as the Alexanders and Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of the UnitedHealthcare chief executive, Brian Thompson. 'They were raised as very wealthy, entitled kids, and no-one ever really said no to them. From a young age they were able to have whatever they wanted, which eventually started moving into sexual things,' said Leslie Dobson, a clinical and forensic psychologist who has followed the Alexanders' case closely. 'What makes things even more twisted is accusations the twins were having sex together with women. It shows the severity of their entitlement, how much money they had, how many people were stroking their egos, how narcissistic and psychopathic they are, and that it morphed into sadism and this complete disregard for human emotion. 'Yet they could easily compartmentalize it and go back to their wives.' Dobson said that the brothers' wealth, with parents who are also facing a lawsuit from five women who allege they enabled their sons to 'abuse, assault, batter, drug, and rape', gave them a sense of invincibility. 'They were going about it in a way that they didn't think they were going to get caught, because they were spending money on these parties and events, and on these individuals, and also on protection and bodyguards and safety,' she said. 'Other people, once you need that level of stimulation, you're going to get arrested, you're going to get caught, because the things you are going to do are going to be really blatantly illegal. But if you can just order someone, like Uber Eats and it gets delivered to you in a limousine, it's a completely different picture.' Although much of what the Alexanders are accused of took place in Miami, they may never face justice there. They were extradited to New York in January with federal charges taking precedence over state, and it is uncertain when or if Florida authorities will move to return them. The Miami-Dade state attorney's office did not return a request for comment. For observers such as Dobson, who has more than 20 years' experience looking into the minds of rich and powerful criminal defendants, the sordid tale of the Alexanders and its glitzy Miami backdrop is ultimately just another one at the intersection of celebrity, dollars and depravity. 'The [civil] allegations can be paid off very easily, and people can be manipulated, as we're seeing in the Sean Combs case, people are taking their claims away,' she said. 'So there probably is some hope that money, their money, can free you over time.' The criminal charges, she said, are a different story: 'Money buys you love, until it buys you prison.' Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
