Every Thursday night for the past month, bartenders, as well as “celebrity bartenders” at The Windjammer have been donating their tips to the charity, as part of the “Pints for Paws” program.
Local members of the community have been stepping behind the bar to try their hand at whipping up some cocktails for the generous people that venture out to support the cause.
This Thursday, however, The Windjammer had two extra special guests from CBS’s reality show, Big Brother. Michelle Costa from season 10, and Derrick Levasseur, winner of last season’s contest, donated their time to help raise funds for charity.
“Anything with animals, I can not say no to”, said Levasseur, who along with Costa is a RI native.
Derrick Levasseur, current Big Brother champion, learns how to bartend to raise money for the “Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter” at The Windjammer Surf Bar in Westerly, RI.
Levasseur uses his fame as a platform to advocate for animals, and raise awareness for any charity or organization that supports animal protection.
Over the course of the past month, The Windjammer’s “Pints for Paws” night has raised over $2,ooo for the “Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter”, and hopes to be able to raise even more money next season.
Derrick Levasseau, and Michelle Costa, both from CBS’s Big Brother team up with Windjammer bartenders to donate their time for the “Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter.”
To donate to the cause, or to purchase a raffle ticket for their annual raffle, which offers cash prizes, check out their Facebook page.
A stark contrast to the last list of songs you need to hear, this group of artist are relatively new to the scene, with the exception of one band. For some, these tracks are an opportunity for a follow up single that is as successful as their predecessor. For others, this is their chance to launch a successful music career. Either way, you need to know these new artist, and you must listen to these 5 tracks right now.
5. Dreamers, “Wolves” –
https://youtu.be/CmQy6qgV2cM
It’s not clear whether or not the girl this song is devoted to should be offended, or flattered.
You got me brainwashed
You got me so lost
You got me f*#@* up
Like you
“Wolves” is about how a man feels brainwashed, lost, and f’ed up, because of the girl that he has fallen in love with. But, he is saying that she is also brainwashed, lost, and f’ed up. These guys are basically the modern day Romeo.
Either way, it is a catchy track, and fun as hell to sing along to.
4. Hozier, “Jackie and Wilson” –
This is for all the naysayers who doubted that Hozier would be anything other than a one hit wonder after the smashing success of last year’s “Take Me to Church”. Not only has Hozier followed up “Church” with “From Eden”, “Work Song”, and the recently released “Someone New”, this gem of a song has not even officially been released as a single, but it is still getting radio play.
“Jackie and Wilson” is Hozier’s homage to the late R&B singer, Jackie Wilson, whom he idolizes.
“We’ll name our children Jackie and Wilson, raise them on rhythm and blues” is as much of a compliment an artist can give to their inspirations. In fact, if Hozier can record another album as phenomenal as Hozier, I may feel the need to have a child and name him Hozier, and raise him on, well, Hozier.
3. The Struts, “Could Have Been Me” –
The Struts, an English rock band from Derby, England, formed back in 2010, and released their debut album Everybody Wants last year. “Could Have Been Me” has recently made its way to the States, and after hearing roughly 20 seconds of the track on Alt Nation, I purchased the track on iTunes before the song was even over.
The Struts have dubbed their style as “Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll” after the song by The Killers. Not only are The Struts glamorous, party animals that could hang with AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses in their prime, they are full-on rock stars with the ability to get your 90 year old grandmother out of her rocking chair, ready to get the party started.
“Could Have Been Me” is a epic rock anthem that will make you want to practice rolling your r’s, so you can properly sing along to this killer track.
2. Elle King, “America’s Sweetheart” –
Unless you have been in a coma for the past two months, you are probably quite familiar with Elle King and her breakout hit of the summer, “Exes and Ohs.” Being the real life daughter of Rob Schneider may have left some wondering if her father’s connections has helped Elle launch her music career, but after “America’s Sweetheart” is released as a single, Elle will prove to the world that she is not a one-hit wonder, and she is a bonafide rock star, regardless of her dad being Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.
In “America’s Sweetheart” Elle shares with the world all of her imperfections, and flaws. She drinks too much, has a chip in her front tooth, and has awful tattoos. Elle breaks boys’ hearts, and couldn’t care less. She is unapologetic for who she is, and does not care what the world thinks of her, because she has never claimed to be America’s sweetheart.
“What do you want from me? I’m not America’s sweetheart
So beat the drum with me, I’m not America’s sweetheart
Well, they say I’m too loud for this town
So I lit a match and burned it down
What do you want from me, I’m not America’s sweetheart
But you love me anyway”
BUT, despite all of her traits, and her inability to play the role of America’s sweetheart, Elle promises that we are going to love her anyway, and she could not be any more right. She is certainly not “America’s Sweetheart”, but America has fallen in love with Elle King.
1. Third Eye Blind, “Get Me Out of Here” –
Not only is “Get Me Out of Here” one of Third Eye Blind’s best songs in years, it has the potential to be one of their best videos in their nearly 20 year career.
Stephen Jenkins and the boys put their acting abilities to the test in “Get Me Out of Here”and despite Jenkins being his typical overly-dramatic self, they make it work. The video is a tribute to the 40th anniversary of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, , which helps the band relay their intended meaning of the song, which is “a personal story of introspection after a dark beginning.”
Even without the music video, “Get Me Out of Here” is an anthem. It is epic. And it is Third Eye Blind at its best.
After the first, of what will likely be two “Double Eviction” episodes of the season, we are left with only 9 remaining houseguests. With two ladies taking the fall this week, the gender lines in the house are almost back to even, not that that seems to matter this season. BB17 is one of the only seasons in recent memory where there has not been at least a solid attempt to create an “all-girls” or an “all-guys” alliance, and it doesn’t look like there will be one forming any time soon.
The Double Eviction has also left us with some rather shaken-up power rankings as we approach the final few weeks of the game.
9. Becky
Winning HoH last week was one of the worst things that could have happened for Becky. It forced her to show her cards, and threw her directly into the spotlight. If Becky can not remove herself from the block with a POV win this week, she will very likely be talking with Julie about her train-wreck attempt at playing Big Brother.
Depending on what the competition is to get back in the house from jury, she could have a very solid chance at getting back into the house, before she is inevitably evicted again just a week or two later.
8. Vanessa
Despite somehow surviving the double eviction, Vanessa has no clue how badly her houseguests want her out of the game. Just about everyone, including her alliance is sick of her, but, because she is so emotionally unstable in the house, they are all hoping that someone else will be the one to take her out. Becky’s only shot at surviving this week is to convince the others that she will be gunning for Vanessa next week with the wrath of a woman scorned.
If you bought Vanessa for the value of how well she is playing the game, and sold Vanessa for the value of how well she THINKS she is playing the game, you would be a very wealthy individual.
7. John
As painful as it is to say: if Johnny Mac does not form some more solid alliances soon (Steven aside) he may be in some hot water sooner than later. He will likely lose his friend Becky this week, and will be left with Steve, who has a much tighter bond with the twins and Austin, as his only friend. Johnny Mac needs to win HoH this week, form a solid final 4 with James and Meg, and pray to God that Shelli comes back into the house. If these things can happen, it could be a very happy ending for Johnny Mac, and his legion of fans.
6. Austin
Austin is sitting in a great spot this week, and has secured himself safety with just about everyone next week. He should be able to throw HoH and still be alright for the next few weeks. Austin’s problem, however, is the fact that he likely would not be able to beat anyone in the final 2. If he gets there with Liz, he will insist that the jury votes for her to win, and if he gets there with someone else, the jury will not forget the fact that just a few weeks ago he cried that he did not care about winning, and only wanted to go to jury to be with Liz. If anyone in the jury rewards him for that, they are all dumber than originally thought.
5. Liz
Liz should be considered the biggest target left in the game, but miraculously, she is not. Between her sister and Austin, they will both do everything in their power to protect her. Essentially one-third of the house is playing for Liz to make the final 2. Her biggest hurdle, however, will be the potential for Becky to come back in the house. Even worse for Liz, if Becky survives this week and wins HoH, she will be very satisfied with seeing Liz walk out the door during her reign.
4. James
It is nothing short of miraculous that James has not been considered more of a target this season. He is great at physical challenges, and decent at the mental ones. He is a strategic player, and not afraid to go after the power players and make big moves. If James is anywhere near a final 2, he should have this game on lock. It is likely, however, that once a few more power players are gone, James will be seen by the house as the huge threat that he is.
3. Steve
Believe it or not, Steve is in a very similar position to Austin. He has surprisingly found some allies in most of the house. Also, he has recently become close with the twins and Austin, and his closest allies throughout the entire game have been John and Vanessa. If Becky is evicted this week, his only concern will be Meg or James winning HoH, and they will probably have bigger fish to fry than Steve. He is in a great spot to position himself for the final 2, but he will have to make a few more big game moves if he wants to have a chance at getting enough jury votes to win the game.
2. Julia
(Julia Nolan: photo credit: cbs.com)
Julia is in a much better spot than her sister. In fact, if is wasn’t for her sister, I think Julia would be the favorite to win. The only reason she would be evicted before her twin, is if Liz is saved with the POV and Austin is not on the block with her. But, if she could somehow get to a final 2 with Liz or Austin, Julia is more likable than both of them and could easily garner enough jury votes to beat either in the final 2. If she doesn’t take a bullet for her sister, Julia should not be going anywhere, anytime soon.
1. Meg
Meg is the more likable, less annoying, and a bit more useful version of Big Brother 16’s Victoria. The difference between Meg and Victoria, however, is that Meg has been part of alliances that have made big moves and changed the game. Even though she has never made these moves herself, she can take partial responsibility for all of them, if she is not sitting next to one of her allies in the end. If she is sitting next to James, she is screwed; but if she can get to the end with another houseguest, she has a good chance at winning, simply by being likable.
I suppose she is playing a similar game to Jordan (BB11) and all Jordan needed to do was win a few challenges near the end, and she was a half million dollars richer. If anyone can pull off that same type of victory, it is Meg.
