Earlier than there was “The Matrix” or “John Wick,” there was Keanu Reeves, bass guitarist within the alt-rock band Dogstar.

Reeves was a rising Hollywood star with a handful of movies — together with “Invoice & Ted’s Wonderful Journey” — beneath his belt when he fashioned Dogstar with a few associates within the early Nineties. The band toured incessantly all through the ‘90s, opened for giant headliners like David Bowie and Bon Jovi, and launched two albums earlier than breaking apart in 2002, in keeping with NPR.

However as Reeves informed Billboard final 12 months, getting the band again collectively was by no means utterly out of the query.

The actor, drummer Rob Mailhouse and guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose stayed in contact through the years and infrequently held jam classes. When the early days of the pandemic slowed their lives down, they began to rehearse extra, typically clocking eight-hour days. And steadily, the official return of Dogstar fell into place.

“I missed taking part in collectively, I missed writing collectively, I missed doing exhibits collectively. It’s one thing I’ve all the time missed,” Reeves informed Billboard. “We got here to a spot the place we weren’t taking part in anymore, and I missed it. … As soon as we began to play, and it felt good, and actually constructive and inventive, that’s when it was like, ‘OK, let’s make this occur.’”

Now, the band has launched “Someplace Between the Energy Strains and Palm Timber” — its third album and first in twenty years. Dogstar is presently on tour in help of that album, and visits Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday.

Greater than a passion

Reeves’ stardom has skyrocketed since Dogstar fashioned greater than 30 years in the past — The New York Instances locations him at No. 4 on its record of high 25 actors within the twenty first century.

However the actor, who purchased his first bass in 1987 and has cited Pleasure Division’s Peter Hook as a serious affect, per American Songwriter, is adamant that Dogstar is not only a facet mission that he works into his Hollywood profession.

“It’s not ‘find time for it,’” he informed Billboard. “It’s one thing that’s a part of my life. … It’s an area that I like, and an area that I attempted to guard.”

Dogstar reunites — and involves Utah

Dogstar wrote its latest music in the beginning of the pandemic. “All the things Turns Round,” the lead single from its newest album, has 1 million views on YouTube.

“I believe this can be a little lighter perhaps than among the final albums, subject-matter-wise,” Domrose informed Selection. “I believe we’re 20 years older, and a whole lot of life has been lived for the reason that final time we made a report, and it was a pleasant shock to see that that is what got here out of us. , it seems we’re not as depressed as we was once. Not each music is summery and blissful, however … I hate to say it, but it surely’s enjoyable.”

The band’s U.S. summer season tour extends by late September — together with a cease at Salt Lake Metropolis’s Union Occasion Middle on Sept. 3, in keeping with its web site. The Utah present comes only a day after Reeves’ sixtieth birthday. Dogstar has been documenting its exhibits and the viewers reception on its Instagram.

“This time round it simply looks like much more love (for the band),” Mailhouse informed Selection. “I don’t know whether or not it’s deserved or not, however I really feel that and it’s appreciated.”

LAS VEGAS–Aggressive eater Joey Chestnut didn’t simply beat his opponent on Monday. He additionally beat his personal document.

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Chestnut, who lives in Westfield, Indiana beat Takeru Kobayashi in Netflix’s “Unfinished Beef” Labor Day showdown on the Hyper X Enviornment in Las Vegas.  Chestnut ate 83 scorching canines, which beats his personal world document of 76 that he set on the 2021 Nathan’s Well-known Scorching Canine Consuming Contest. Kobayashi ate 67 scorching canines.

“I’ve been making an attempt to hit 80 scorching canines for years. With out Kobayashi, I used to be by no means capable of do it. He drives me. We weren’t all the time good to one another, however I really like what he can do. We push one another to be our greatest,” Chestnut mentioned on stage after the win.

“I really feel like I did every thing I might,” Kobayashi responded by way of an interpreter.

Chestnut was banned from the Nathan’s competitors this yr over his partnership take care of Unimaginable Meals, forfeiting the “Mustard Belt” to Patrick Bertoletti.

On this occasion, opponents weren’t allowed to dunk or pour water on the recent canines. In addition they weren’t allowed to separate the meat franks from their buns. Penalties may be levied for extra crumbs and regurgitation.

FSU soccer head coach Mike Norvell knew he wanted a switch quarterback going into the 2024 season with two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, with two profession begins amongst them. The coaches pursued two targets, DJ Uiagalelei and Cam Ward. Each quarterbacks have had various levels of success and got here with their positives and weaknesses. Uiagalelei appeared like the higher match as a result of he had performed in huge video games, and his persona would match effectively with the 2 younger quarterbacks persevering with to be taught. I do not suppose anybody anticipated Uiagalelei to compete for a Heisman Trophy in 2024 at FSU. The aim was to handle the offense, not make errors, and work in live performance with an elite FSU protection to go 9-3 at worst and sure 11-1 at greatest.

Let me be clear. There’s far more unsuitable with this FSU staff than DJ Uiagalelei. The protection has been atrocious, however faculty soccer is an offensive recreation and groups have to attain greater than three touchdowns in two video games. He is missed some wide-open throws, however receivers have dropped or missed a number of passes he is placed on the cash too. Nonetheless, groups do not respect FSU’s passing recreation with him at quarterback and he hasn’t been a lot of a menace within the operating recreation together with his legs. If the latter is not potential, and he cannot make groups pay together with his arm, what is the level in taking part in him after shedding the primary two video games? The season is over, barring some miracle, so listed here are three causes it is time to transfer on from DJ Uiagalelei.

America, European Union and 9 Latin American nations on Tuesday rejected an arrest warrant issued in Venezuela towards opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims to have rightfully gained the July presidential election.

The Venezuelan public prosecutor’s workplace mentioned Monday {that a} courtroom had authorized its arrest warrant for Gonzalez Urrutia over “critical crimes” associated to the opposition’s insistence that President Nicolas Maduro and his allies stole the election.

Gonzalez Urrutia, who has been in hiding since shortly after the July 28 polls, had ignored three summons to seem earlier than prosecutors as a part of their investigation.

“Somewhat than recognizing his election loss and getting ready for a peaceable transition in Venezuela, Maduro has now ordered the arrest of the democratic chief who defeated him overwhelmingly on the polls,” the highest US diplomat for Latin America, Brian Nichols, wrote on the X social community.

“We be a part of the rising listing of worldwide companions condemning this unjustified arrest warrant.”

EU international affairs chief Josep Borrell wrote on X: “I categorically reject the arrest warrant.”

“Sufficient of the repression and harassment of the opposition and civil society. The desire of the Venezuelan folks should be revered.”

Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay mentioned they “unequivocally and completely reject the arrest warrant,” in a joint assertion launched by the Ecuadoran international ministry.

– Disputed ballot end result –

Venezuela’s Nationwide Electoral Council (CNE), most of whose members are allies of 61-year-old Maduro, declared him reelected to a 3rd six-year time period — an end result disputed by the opposition and far of the worldwide neighborhood.

The opposition revealed its personal polling station-level election outcomes, which it says present Gonzalez Urrutia gained the race by a landslide.

These outcomes are on the coronary heart of the costs towards the 75-year-old ex-diplomat, which embody “usurpation” of public features, “forgery” of a public doc, incitement to disobedience, sabotage, and “affiliation” with organized crime and financiers of “terrorism.”

“Nobody on this nation is above the legal guidelines, above the establishments,” Maduro mentioned on Monday in his weekly tv program.

America and a number of other Latin American nations help the Venezuelan opposition’s declare to victory, whereas Maduro-friendly Mexico, Colombia and Brazil have refused to acknowledge the official end result with out seeing detailed vote tallies.

The CNE has mentioned it can’t publish the information as hackers had corrupted the information, although observers have mentioned there was no proof of that.

Gonzalez Urrutia changed opposition chief Maria Corina Machado on the poll on the final minute after she was barred from operating.

She, too, has been largely in hiding for the reason that vote, although she has led a number of organized protests towards Maduro.

– Airplane seized by US –

Maduro has mentioned each Gonzalez Urrutia and Machado belong “behind bars,” blaming them for the deaths of 25 civilians and two troopers in protests that broke out spontaneously after his alleged victory was introduced.

Practically 200 folks had been injured and greater than 2,400 arrested.

Since coming to energy in 2013, Maduro has presided over an financial collapse that has seen greater than seven million Venezuelans flee the nation as GDP plunged 80 p.c in a decade. 

Specialists blame worldwide sanctions and home financial mismanagement.

Final week, a blackout left most of Venezuela with out energy for hours on finish in what the regime claimed was “sabotage” underneath a US-led plot to overthrow the socialist chief.

Maduro has managed to cling to energy regardless of sanctions stepped up after his 2018 reelection, additionally dismissed as a sham by dozens of nations.

America on Monday seized the airplane utilized by Maduro and his entourage, citing sanctions violations.

US officers took the airplane within the Dominican Republic and flew it to Florida.

Maduro denounced the transfer as tantamount to “piracy.”

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By Dianna Russini, Matt Barrows and David Lombardi

San Francisco 49ers All-Professional left sort out Trent Williams is ending his greater than month-long holdout because the 11-time Professional Bowl choice returns to the Bay Space to finalize a deal Tuesday, per league sources.

Williams’ return comes because the 49ers resume observe Tuesday morning following a four-day break for Labor Day weekend. Shortly after their final session on Thursday, the 49ers lastly struck a cope with Brandon Aiyuk on a four-year, $120 million extension to finish his hold-in amid months of contentious contract discussions. Tuesday expects to be Aiyuk’s first observe with the group since earlier than the Tremendous Bowl in February.

The tenor of the Williams talks by no means reached the extent of Aiyuk’s, who during the last month was granted permission to hunt a commerce. Whereas the 49ers appeared exasperated at instances with the Aiyuk state of affairs — “Sooner or later, you’ve gotta play,” basic supervisor John Lynch a day earlier than agreeing to the cope with Aiyuk — the 49ers by no means expressed concern about reaching an settlement with Williams.

“I’m optimistic that issues will work out with Trent,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned Wednesday. “I’m not sitting right here realizing what day it’ll be. … When two sides wish to get a deal completed, normally it occurs.”

Williams nonetheless had three years remaining on the six-year, $138 million contract he signed in 2021, however there was no extra assured cash on that contract. He had been due a base wage of simply over $20 million this season and the most important chunk of cash remaining on that preliminary deal wasn’t slated till the 2026 season, when Williams will probably be 38.

With Williams nonetheless performing as the most effective offensive sort out in soccer — he’s been a first-team All-Professional the final three seasons — he was looking for a pay elevate that not less than brings him nearer to the highest of the market, plus some further ensures.

Williams’ new deal ought to assist mitigate the roughly $4 million in fines he accrued by lacking all of coaching camp and the three preseason video games. These fines usually are not forgivable in line with the league’s Collective Bargaining Settlement; fines can solely be waived for gamers nonetheless on their rookie contract.

Getting Williams again on the sector is a large increase to the offense. He stays one of many league’s greatest cross protectors, and even at 36, he nonetheless has elite motion abilities to get down the sector on the 49ers’ vaunted wide-zone runs. Even with Williams again within the fold, the 49ers are threadbare at offensive sort out with simply two — Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz — on the lively roster and nobody with any NFL game-day expertise on the observe squad both.

GO DEEPER

As 49ers’ roster comes into focus, so do the weak spots for the upcoming season

Williams, nevertheless, is extra than simply bodily gifted. He’s essentially the most revered participant within the locker room. Not solely do younger offensive linemen collect round him and eat up each phrase of recommendation, but additionally he has the identical impact on defensive linemen. He and Nick Bosa have common, lengthy conversations in regards to the arts of cross blocking and cross dashing, particularly after video games. Williams’ arrival ought to additional increase the group’s confidence and, together with Aiyuk’s signing, start to alter the narrative on what has been a disjointed, distracted summer time session.

Re-signing Aiyuk means the 49ers look to be much more loaded on the talent positions than they have been because the NFL’s No. 1 offense in 2023. Quarterback Brock Purdy has Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr., Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and rookie Jacob Cowing now at his disposal. That group ought to be capable of generate sufficient separation to permit Purdy to launch the ball shortly, however he’ll nonetheless want some semblance of excellent safety in entrance of him — and Williams is essentially the most certified candidate to ship it on his blind aspect.

GO DEEPER

Why Brandon Aiyuk’s match with Brock Purdy was too good for 49ers to commerce away

The 49ers’ greatest offensive weak spot forward of the season opener on Monday towards the Jets lies within the cross safety of their offensive line. They ranked within the 20s throughout the spectrum of pass-blocking metrics final season, and that was with Williams doing an incredible job anchoring his place. It’s simple to see disastrous outcomes with out him. The three video games that Williams missed final season have been all 49ers’ losses through which they scored solely 17 factors in every.

Ending Williams’ holdout doesn’t erase all of the 49ers’ issues up entrance. They nonetheless appear precariously skinny at heart, the place starter Jake Brendel has been managing knee tendinitis and the one backup with expertise on the place, Jon Feliciano, is on injured reserve. And not one of the different spots alongside the offensive line protected nicely final season. Maybe rookie Dominick Puni will change that at proper guard, however that is still to be seen. Williams, then again, is a strolling first-ballot Corridor of Famer. And that’s value its weight in gold — as evidenced by this profitable renegotiation.

Required studying

(Photograph: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photographs)