Friday, May 28, 2010

End o' week musings







OK, OK, I know you've been anxiously waiting to hear about my adventures. I spent last weekend camping in Joshua Tree with my mother. It was car camping, meaning that you pull up to an assigned spot, but we slept in a tent like good Girl Scouts.



Saturday we arrived at Black Rock campground, set up camp and then set off on a hike exploring the surrounding area. It was surprising how quickly we ended up in the outback unable to see our tent or my car! Only the sounds of birds and the wind through the trees and cactus.





I was told quite a few times not to expect flowers, but there were tons of blooms. Cactus boasted red, pink, yellow and green flowers, while wildflowers burst in patches of purple, blue, yellow and white. It was beautiful.



The wind picked up in the afternoon, so I took my mom to Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown for a late lunch. There was a bluegrass band and the grub was great. We got back to camp and it was too blustery for a campfire. As darkness fell, we went inside the tent and chatted until we were ready to sleep.


The next morning it was raining lightly, but we didn't care. We were off to the Integratron in Landers. The Integratron is this strange dome-shaped building that is supposedly built over the junction of three underground rivers in the middle of a strong magnetic field. The man who built it hoped that visitors would receive benefits of health, renewal and possibly even stopping the aging process. Three sisters now own the Integratron and open its doors on various weekends for tours and sound baths.



For the sound bath, you go upstairs in the Integratron and lay down on the wooden floor. You can use a yoga mat, blankets or other comfy stuff provided or bring your own. One of the sisters tells a little bit of the history of the building and then she plays a series of crystal bowls. The sound is supposed to stimulate your chakras from your toes to the crown of your head.



Now I don't know about all this new agey stuff, but I do know that the music is among the most beautiful I have ever heard and it's soooo relaxing that I can't even move for 5-10 minutes after the concert is over.



My mother has a pretty open mind with a touch of skepticism, still she played along. She was very quiet when the session ended and then finally told me that she had no pain anywhere. My mom had been run over by a car when I was a child and has always had pain. Also, she held out her hands, which have arthritis, and all her fingers were straight and much of the swelling had gone down!



Weird! I don't care if it's chakras, magnetics, deep relaxation or all in her head, but as of yesterday my mother was still pain free so it's all good as far as I'm concerned.


The rain cleared and gave way to sun, although it was still a tad chilly. On the way back from Landers, my mom spotted the Pioneertown sign and asked if we could back to Pappy & Harriet's and I obliged. No music this time, but the coffee was hot and the peanut butter pie rocked!


Back at camp we took a long walk. During part of our hike, we wandered through camp. It was pretty desolate. I checked the space tags and it appeared that many of the campers had given up with the wind and rain and left. It was cool to have the place to ourselves! We enjoyed the sunset and had a campfire before calling it a night.

Monday morning there was an odd noise outside the tent... and it kept getting closer. Curious, I unzipped the door a bit and peeked out- a plucky quail peeked back in at me. He then made a little sound (the odd noise) and returned to scratching around for bugs. I guess I wasn't threatening or interesting enough!


We packed up camp and took our time driving through the main part of Joshua Tree Monument. We stopped when we saw something interesting (like bighorn sheep) and even walked around when the mood struck (like the Cholla Garden). I continued out the back way down an odd road toward Mecca, then picked up the 111 and took my mom to the Oasis Date Farm in Thermal. We had shakes and shopped. Then it was home, home, home.


The remainder of my week has been busy with interviews, such as local rockers Evertheory (as talented as they are good looking!) and two-time Grammy winning composer and musician Billy Childs.



Tonight, if I'm not too tired, I'm planning to check out Throttle at Rude Dog in Covina. I will attend Ronnie James Dio's memorial on Sunday.




Next week I'm gearing up for the Art Bender weekend at McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World in Altadena. Don't miss the fun- visit http://www.galleryattheendoftheworld.com/ for all the info.


In rotation this week: I actually made a point of not listening to music or news during my time in Joshua Tree- nature provided all the soundtrack I needed, which was very cathartic. But I have caught some Tom Petty, Orange Sky and The Randies since.



Photos we got 'em: Just a few animal pics from the usual Web spots and a wonderful image of Dio in concert taken by Keith Durflinger.



Thought o' the Week: Be open to the unexpected. The experience at the Integratron reminded me of how much we long for the concrete in life. We often want proof of things or to see something for ourselves before we are willing to believe in it.



Being surrounded by nature it's hard not to believe that there must be a higher power and that we are here for a purpose, even if it's only to tend to its "garden." The higher power is not tangable, but you can see it in everything around you. This makes you better appreciate what you have, most importantly the gift of life.

As far as the Integratron, again I am on the fence when it comes to all those New Age ideas. I think if something makes you feel happy and healthy it's a good thing (as long as it doesn't hurt someone else). It's easy to say that my mom's relief is all in her head or she's simply wanting it to be so, therefore to her it is. I'd rather open myself to the possibility of there being something to the Integratron. I know when I've been there I feel peaceful, calm and happy. Could that just be all in my head? Or could it be good vibes are really radiating there?


Open yourself to the unexpected. Don't be afraid to try something new even if it seems a little weird. You may find the surprise opens your eyes to a whole new world.
Keep on rockin'
Mickie










Top war movies available on DVD

Reader Don Prindle shared this tip on TV viewing this weekend. Watch and remember why you should be thankful to live in the United States. ~m

In advance of Memorial Day (May 31) and D-Day (June 6), I thought you and your readers might be interested in a new article on LocateTV entitled "Top 5 War Movies." The piece outlines LocateTV's choices for the best-ever war movies, as well as the reasons for their choices.

You can find the piece at http://www.locatetv.com/blog/top-5-war-movies/

Paddy's Pig shows this weekend and beyond

Paddy's Pig in LA Saturday, and more!

Hello again!

***Paddy’s Pig is now on Facebook. Track us down and Like us. We’ll figure out how to comport ourselves thereafter.***

Hey Los Angeles folks…. Paddy’s Pig is happy to return to the Tam O’Shanter!

Saturday, May 29 — 9 pm to Midnight
At: Tam O’Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(in Atwater Village)
http://www.lawrysonline.com/tamoshanter_gen_info.asp
This place is an LA classic, in operation for almost 90 years!

Also, we’re coming back to Carlsbad…
Friday, June 18 — 9 pm - ~11:30 pm
At: O’Sullivan’s
640 Grand Ave.
Carlsbad CA 92008
www.osullivanscarlsbad.com

Also in June:
Hello, Westside folks, we haven’t seen YOU in awhile! Come join us!
Friday, June 25 — 9:30 pm ‘til late
At: Cock ‘N Bull Pub
2947 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Of note in July:
7/9: Los Angeles Zoo World Music Event
7/16: The Field, San Diego
7/17: R. O’Sullivans, Escondido


and yes, the new Paddy's Pig cd is coming along nicely, although a little slower than initially planned! That’s all for now! Thanks for listening, and for your requests.

and, oh, yes, the Mike Flanagan solo cd is AVAILABLE NOW, and already being called "intense". Stop in at www.breech.net or a Paddy's Pig or Nellie Bly show and get one!


www.paddyspigla.com
www.myspace.com/paddyspigla

Towne Singers in concert in Pasadena in June

On June 13, the Towne Singers will present their 24th annual spring concert, From Sea to Shining “C”: A Celebration of American Composers. Come travel with us through the musical sounds of the Big Band era, American spirituals, folk songs, and a smattering of your favorite show tunes. Dancers from Rose City Ballroom will trip the light fantastic to the “Best of Duke Ellington.” Act I will close a reverberating rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The honor roll of American Composers brings together a blend of tradition and modern innovation: Stephen Foster, Sondheim, Gershwin, and of course Aaron Copland, along with Eric Whitacre, who is fast becoming the most performed and popular composer of his generation.

Our menu of ticket prices is unchanged and makes it possible for all age groups to attend: $15 in advance, $8 for children (age 10 and under), $12.50 for groups of 15 or more and students with ID, and $20 at the door. Tickets may be ordered by calling (818) 952-7402 or via the Towne Singers’ web site, www.TowneSingers.org/purchase.html.

So come see the Towne Singers, a 100-plus member community choir, on June 13. You’ll have a delightful afternoon of fun, nostalgia, and great American songs. See you there!

Rose Bowl Loop walk with Mayor Bogaard June 2

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and members of the Pasadena/Foothills Chapter of the United Nations Association will lead a 3.3-mile walk around the Rose Bowl Loop at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, as part of Up & Moving Pasadena.

The United Nations Association is a national organization dedicated to strengthening the UN system and enhancing U.S. participation in that system. The Pasadena/Foothills Chapter, one of the largest in the nation, fosters these goals on a local level.

Meet at Gate A at the stadium. Free parking is available. All levels of ability will be accommodated.

Up & Moving Pasadena is a community effort to support fitness for health. Walks are scheduled the first Wednesday of every month. Find walking tips, start a walking group and track your progress at www.upandmoving.org or call (626) 831-2980

Descanso Gardens celebrates World Environment Day with seed class

The Joy of Seeds, 10 a.m. - noon, June 5, Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive., La Canada. Get an entertaining look at seeds and learn how to prep for winter gardening. Free with admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children. (818) 949-4200, www.descansogardens.org.




About Descanso Gardens
Established as a public garden in 1954, Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, near the interchange of the 2 and 210 freeways. A popular setting for weddings, parties and meetings in addition to being a location for numerous feature films and television shows, the Gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Christmas Day. Parking is free. Admission fees are $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $3 for children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 5 and younger. Fees for classes and programs include Gardens admission.

For information, call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org

Pianist Richard Glazier to perform on KCET

On Wednesday, June 9, at 8:00 p.m., KCET, public media for Southern and Central California, airs From Gershwin to Garland: A Musical Journey with Richard Glazier as part of a special night of programming in support of KCET featuring the award-winning pianist and master storyteller Richard Glazier live at the KCET studios. Weaving fascinating commentary with entertaining piano performances, From Gershwin to Garland: A Musical Journey with Richard Glazier invites viewers to join Glazier on his nostalgic voyage, providing an opportunity to gain a new understanding of some of America’s greatest composers and singers.

In an intimate studio setting, Glazier performs “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “An American in Paris,” “Body and Soul,” “Concerto in F,” “Bess, You is My Woman Now,” “Boy Next Door,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Trolley Song,” “Over the Rainbow” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” Glazier hosts the evening, playing classics on a piano donated by Steinway & Sons.

Cheap Trick to perform "Sgt. Pepper" in Vegas

To paraphrase the iconic lyrics “Well it was forty-three years ago today / Sergeant Pepper taught a band to play…” as one of the most influential rock albums of all time, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was released on June 2, 1967. Given the anniversary date, it is fitting that power pop progenitors Cheap Trick will bring their own interpretation of “Sgt Pepper Live” to Paris Las Vegas for a limited engagement beginning June 11.

A Bill Edwards Presents Inc. production, the show is Cheap Trick’s live celebration of the iconic and beloved Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Geoff Emerick, the renowned engineer of The Beatles’ classic album, will supervise the audio production of “Sgt. Pepper Live.” Emmy-award winning production designer René Lagler designed the sets that are evocative of the vivid rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1960s and include a 60’-wide by 12’-high elevated orchestra stage and three turn-table entranceways.

“We have created an energetic and spectacular interpretation of an album that was absolutely groundbreaking when it was released 43 years ago,” said producer Bill Edwards. “These songs are known and loved by millions of people and Cheap Trick has captured the essence of ‘Sgt Pepper’ in their unique style and recreated one of the most beloved and timeless musical works of modern times.”

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was the eighth studio album released by The Beatles. It took them 129 days to record. The album incorporated musical genres of jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, western classical and traditional Indian music, including the sitar. The Beatles never performed the album in its entirety due to the complex studio technology that was employed in the making of the album.

“Forty-three years ago today we released Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a very special and now iconic album. Ten days from today the album will come to life in its entirety as never before presented in “Sgt Pepper Live” at Paris Las Vegas,” said Geoff Emerick, producer and engineer of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and audio supervisor for “Sgt. Pepper Live.” “I’m happy to be a part of this event and to revisit this celebrated music once again.”

“Sgt. Pepper Live” allows Cheap Trick to incorporate their brand of power pop into the classic songs in a celebration of The Beatles’ influential album. In addition to Cheap Trick, the show features an orchestra, an authentic Indian sitar band and a captivating experience of light and sound. Cheap Trick performs the entire album live as well as select Cheap Trick songs that lend themselves to orchestral arrangements.

Tickets to “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick are on sale now and may be purchased at the Paris Las Vegas box office or on-line at www.parislasvegas.com or www.sgtpepperlive.com or by calling 1.888.727.4758.

For more information about the show visit www.sgtpepperlive.com or follow on Twitter @sgtpeppervegas or @parisvegas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sgtpepperlive.

Daily Grill contest winners announced

The popular lunch and dinner hot spot, Daily Grill ran a video contest campaign nationwide asking film schools, amateurs, producers, students etc. to compete on creating the best commercial for Daily Grill. The top picks just happened to be residents of Los Angeles and Ventura County. The links to the winning commercials are below. They really are clever and showcase the creativity that LA filmmakers have to offer. These videos would be awesome to post on the blog!

Daily Grill - The Lunch Affair (Grand Prize Winner - $4000) Created by Brent Lusk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh0Ins3v7x0&feature=player_embedded

Daily Grill - We Tried (1st Runner Up - $2000) Created by Tim Halling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi0Vj32XEz4&feature=player_embedded

Daily Grill - Right now (2nd Runner Up - $1000) Created by Kyle Shea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deq_hzNg8X0&feature=player_embedded

Jackson Harris honors Jay-Z with new song

Jackson Harris Pays Tribute To Jay-Z’s “Empire”Rising NYC star Jackson Harris pays tribute to reigning king of New York Jay-Z with his cover of “Empire State of Mind.”

The video for Harris’ take was shot in and around NYC at various photo shoots. Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OydWQ92beo

Listen to Harris’ tracks “Long Story Short” and “When It Rains” at:
http://thejacksonharris.com/

Look for Harris’ debut EP this Fall.

http://twitter.com/Jackson_Harris
http://www.facebook.com/jacksonharrisnyc

Los Lobos to release new album and tour

LOS LOBOS RELEASE BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM, TIN CAN TRUST, ON AUGUST 3, 2010 ON SHOUT! FACTORY

LOOK FOR THE BAND ON TOUR THIS SUMMER

Sunday, July 11 @ 7:00 PM
Greek Theatre
supporting Steve Miller
2700 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
Tickets $35-$75 / Ages 5+ Welcome
For more information, please contact 323.665.5857 or visit www.greektheatrela.com/

Los Lobos, the Grammy-winning East L.A. band, announces the release of their brand new studio album, Tin Can Trust, to hit streets on August 3, 2010. With Tin Can Trust—Los Lobos’ first release for Shout! Factory and first collection of new original material in four years— the venerable quintet once again redefines itself and expands its scope, while never losing sight of where they come from. And, like so much of Los Lobos’ previous work, Tin Can Trust is an album that speaks to the time and place in which it was conceived; the album’s title can be traced back more than a century, but for the band, it’s apt for the rickety state in which so many of us find ourselves—and our world—today.

The 11 tracks on Tin Can Trust offer the perfect balance of Los Lobos’ parts: the band’s lineup has remained uninterrupted since 1984, when saxophonist/keyboardist Steve Berlin joined original members Louie Pérez (guitar, drums, vocals), David Hidalgo (guitar, violin, accordion, percussion, vocals), Cesar Rosas (guitar, vocals) and Conrad Lozano (bass, vocals), each of whom had been there since the beginning in 1973.

Seven songs on the album are distinguished and genius Hidalgo-Pérez collaborations, including the opening track “I’ll Burn It Down,” which features a guest vocal harmony from blues-rocker Susan Tedeschi. Three others were written in whole or in part by Rosas - including the album’s two Spanish-language numbers: the cumbia “Yo Canto” and the norteño “Mujer Ingrata” - and display Los Lobos’ signature seamless infusion of Mexican folk songs into rock music. Also included in Tin Can Trust – a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway” – offering a nod to the bands’ shared history that extends back into the 1980s when the Angelenos befriended and opened shows for their northern peers.

As with every new recording Los Lobos makes, Tin Can Trust moves Los Lobos into yet another new dimension while simultaneously sounding like no one else in the world but Los Lobos. Los Lobos’ unified vision and strong work ethic are evident throughout the self-produced album, but so is something even greater: “an intuitiveness,” says Los Lobos songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Louie Pérez, “that happens only from being in a band for so long.”

As Rolling Stone once wrote, “This is what happens when five guys create a magical sound, then stick together for 30 years to see how far it can take them.”

Look for Los Lobos on tour this summer in support of Tin Can Trust. Current tour dates include:

Thursday, June 10 Talking Stick Resort Scottsdale AZ
Friday, June 11 Dinuba High School - Dinuba Car Show "Cruise Night" Dinuba CA
Sunday, June 27 Saskatchewan Jazz Festival - Bessborough Garden Mainstage Saskatoon SK
Tuesday, June 29 Taste of Chicago Chicago IL Friday, July 2 Hop Farm Festival Kent ENGLAND
Saturday, July 3 Cavea Auditorium Rome ITALY Sunday, July 4 Latino Americano Milan ITALY
Monday, July 5 Castello Udine ITALY Tuesday, July 6 Teatro Communale Brescia ITALY
Saturday, July 10 Santa Barbara Bowl Santa Barbara CA Sunday, July 11 Greek Theatre Los Angeles CA With Steve Miller Band
Wednesday, July 14 - Thursday, July 15 Minnesota Zoo - Weesner Amphitheatre Apple Valley MN
Friday, July 16 Sioux Falls Jazz Fest Sioux Falls SD
Saturday, July 17 Grand Targhee Resort Alta WY
Friday, July 23 Door Community Auditorium Fish Creek WI
Saturday, July 24 Hillside Festival Guelph ONT
Wednesday, August 4 Clayton Opera House Clayton NY
Thursday, August 5 Thursday At The Square Buffalo NY
Friday, August 6 Flood City Music Festival Johnstown PA
Saturday, August 7 North Carolina Museum of Art Raleigh NC
Sunday, August 8 Birchmere Alexandria VA
Thursday, August 12 Sandia Amphitheatre Albuquerque NM with John Hiatt & The Combo
Friday, August 13 Arvada Center Arvada CO with John Hiatt & The Combo
Saturday, August 14 Chautauqua Auditorium Boulder CO with John Hiatt & The Combo
Saturday, August 21 Rodney Strong Winery Healdsburg CA with John Hiatt & The Combo
Sunday, August 22 Mountain Winery Saratoga CA with John Hiatt & The Combo
Monday, August 30 PNE Centre Vancouver BC with John Hiatt & The Combo
Wednesday, September 1 Winspear Centre For Music Edmonton ALB with John Hiatt & The Combo
Thursday, September 2 Jack Singer Auditorium Calgary ALB with John Hiatt & The Combo
Friday, September 3 Casino Regina Show Lounge Regina Sask. with John Hiatt & The Combo
Friday, October 8 Folly Theater Kansas City MO
Wednesday, October 13 University of California - Davis Davis CA
Sunday, October 17 - Sunday, October 24 Rhythm & Blues Cruise San Diego CA

Stay tuned to www.loslobos.org for up-to-minute information.

ASIA song selected for "America's Got Talent" soundtrack

ASIA's critically acclaimed rock track "An Extraordinary Life," was chosen as the soundtrack for promotional spots announcing the 2010 season of AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. This show is among the most popular entertainment reality shows of all time. Last season the show peaked at the #1 position in overall viewership.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT producers specifically sought out the rights to use the famed ASIA song, which was written by members John Wetton and Geoff Downes. The track was recorded shortly after Wetton survived open heart surgery, in 2007. The song celebrates "carpe diem": each person's ability to seize each day, living life to the fullest. The promotional spots for America’s Got Talent featuring “An Extraordinary Life,” begin airing on NBC in prime time, Wednesday, May 26th.

English band ASIA recently released OMEGA, their fifth album since 1982's multi-platinum world best-selling debut, and the third release since reuniting in 2006. The band will launch a new North American tour in August, 2010. The already well-received album OMEGA is distributed by Frontiers Records (www.frontiers.it). EMI released ASIA’s best-selling album Phoenix [under license from Frontiers Record], containing the hit “An Extraordinary Life”. Both albums are available at www.amazon.com and other fine retailers.

The original members of ASIA are rock n’ roll superstars Geoff Downes (keyboards), Steve Howe (guitars), Carl Palmer (drums) and John Wetton (lead vocals and bass). More about the band can be found at www.originalasia.com

Upcoming concerts around California

SANTA CRUZ:

5/29-SON OF AURELIUS W/ ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS @ 418 PROJECT-418 FRONT ST-8:00 SH-$10 D
* SON OF AURELIUS NEW ALBUM “THE FARTHEST REACHES” – OUT 4/13 ON GOOD FIGHT MUSIC
* www.myspace.com/sonofaurelius




SAN DIEGO:

6/10- BIG JAY OAKERSON -JAGERMEISTER TOUR @ 4th & B CONCERT THEATRE
BIG JAY OAKERSON www.myspace.com/bigjayoakerson
Performing stand-up comedy, MCing, and interacting with the crowd!
*NEW ALBUM BIG JAY OAKERSON: AN AMERICAN STORYTELLER out NOW on Comedy Central Records (digi only)

6/13 - I AM ABOMINATION W/JAMIE’S ELSEWHERE AND MEMPHIS MAY FIRE @ SOMA
* I AM ABOMINATION NEW ALBUM “TO OUR FOREFATHERS” – OUT 5/11 ON GOOD FIGHT MUSIC
* www.myspace.com/iamabomination

8/29 - TESTAMENT @ CRICKET WIRELESS ARENA-2050 ENTERTAINMENT CIRCLE-6:00 DOS/7:00 SHO
www.myspace.com/testamentlegions.com
ON TOUR on the AMERICAN CARNAGE TOUR
*REUNITING CLASH OF THE TITANS LINE UP *TESTAMENT*SLAYER*MEGADETH*
*TOUR EDITION OF THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION w/BONUS MATERIAL
AVAILABLE ON THE CURRENT TOUR & IN RETAILERS NOW



BAKERSFIELD:

6/11-BIG JAY OAKERSON @ RABOBANK THEATRE
BIG JAY OAKERSON www.myspace.com/bigjayoakerson
Performing stand-up comedy, MCing, and interacting with the crowd!
*NEW ALBUM BIG JAY OAKERSON: AN AMERICAN STORYTELLER out NOW on Comedy Central Records (digi only)



ANAHEIM:

6/12 - I AM ABOMINATION W/JAMIE’S ELSEWHERE AND MEMPHIS MAY FIRE @ CHAIN REACTION
* I AM ABOMINATION NEW ALBUM “TO OUR FOREFATHERS” – OUT 5/11 ON GOOD FIGHT MUSIC
* www.myspace.com/iamabomination



CHICO:

7/7-CHIMAIRA/SHADOWS FALL @ SENATOR THEATER-517 MAIN ST.-5308929400-7:00PM D/8:00PM
CHIMAIRA
www.myspace.com/chimaira
PLAYING THE *JAGERMEISTER STAGE THIS SUMMER ON MAYHEM FESTIVAL
*NEW ALBUM THE INFECTION OUT NOW on Ferret Records
Debut #30 on Billboard Top 200
SHADOWS FALL www.myspace.com/shadowsfall
PLAYING THE *JAGERMEISTER STAGE THIS SUMMER ON MAYHEM FESTIVAL
*NEW ALBUM RETRIBUTION OUT NOW Released on their OWN label Everblack Industries
*DEBUT # 35 ON BILLBOARD TOP 200



SAN BERNARDINO:

7/10 - ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL @ HYUNDAI PAVILION @ GLEN HELEN
LAMB OF GOD www.myspace.com/lambofgod
PLAYING THE *MAIN STAGE
* NEW ALBUM WRATH #2 BILLBOARD TOP 200 out NOW on Epic records
2010 'Best Metal Performance' GRAMMY Nominee
SHADOWS FALL www.myspace.com/shadowsfall
PLAYING THE *JAGERMEISTER STAGE
*NEW ALBUM RETRIBUTION OUT NOW Released on their OWN label Everblack Industries
*DEBUT # 35 ON BILLBOARD TOP 200
3 INCHES OF BLOOD www.myspace.com/3iob
PLAYING THE *MAYHEM FESTIVAL STAGE
*HERE WAITS THY DOOM OUT NOW On Century Media
BIG JAY OAKERSON www.myspace.com/bigjayoakerson
Performing stand-up comedy, MCing, and interacting with the crowd!
*NEW ALBUM BIG JAY OAKERSON: AN AMERICAN STORYTELLER out NOW on Comedy Central Records (digi only)



MOUNTAINVIEW:

7/11 - ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL @ SHORELINE AMPHITHEATRE
LAMB OF GOD www.myspace.com/lambofgod
PLAYING THE *MAIN STAGE
* NEW ALBUM WRATH #2 BILLBOARD TOP 200 out NOW on Epic records
2010 'Best Metal Performance' GRAMMY Nominee
SHADOWS FALL www.myspace.com/shadowsfall
PLAYING THE *JAGERMEISTER STAGE
*NEW ALBUM RETRIBUTION OUT NOW Released on their OWN label Everblack Industries
*DEBUT # 35 ON BILLBOARD TOP 200
3 INCHES OF BLOOD www.myspace.com/3iob
PLAYING THE *MAYHEM FESTIVAL STAGE
*HERE WAITS THY DOOM OUT NOW On Century Media
BIG JAY OAKERSON www.myspace.com/bigjayoakerson
Performing stand-up comedy, MCing, and interacting with the crowd!
*NEW ALBUM BIG JAY OAKERSON: AN AMERICAN STORYTELLER out NOW on Comedy Central Records (digi only)



LOS ANGELES:

7/31 - THE COOL TOUR @ HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM -6215 W. SUNSET BLVD-2139627600-3:30PM D/4:30PM SH-$29.50 ADV/$32 D
*THE COOL TOUR – FEATURING AN AMAZING LINE UP!
~As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, Blessthefall, The Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats & War of Ages~
* http://www.cooltour10.com/



SAN FRANCISCO:

8/1- THE COOL TOUR @ THE WARFIELD -982 MARKET ST-4153450900-3:30PM D/4:30PM SH-$29.50 ADV/$32 D
*THE COOL TOUR – FEATURING AN AMAZING LINE UP!
~As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, Blessthefall, The Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats & War of Ages~
* http://www.cooltour10.com/

8/31 - TESTAMENT @ THE COW PALACE-2600 GENEVA AVE-(415)-469-6000-6:00 DOS/7:00 SHO
TESTAMENT www.myspace.com/testamentlegions.com
ON TOUR on the AMERICAN CARNAGE TOUR
*REUNITING CLASH OF THE TITANS LINE UP *TESTAMENT*SLAYER*MEGADETH*
*TOUR EDITION OF THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION w/BONUS MATERIAL
AVAILABLE ON THE CURRENT TOUR & IN RETAILERS FEBRUARY 23rd



LONG BEACH:

8/30 - TESTAMENT @ LONG BEACH ARENA-300 EAST OCEAN BLVD-(562)-436-3636-5:30 DOS/7:00 SHO
TESTAMENT www.myspace.com/testamentlegions.com
ON TOUR on the AMERICAN CARNAGE TOUR
*REUNITING CLASH OF THE TITANS LINE UP *TESTAMENT*SLAYER*MEGADETH*
*TOUR EDITION OF THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION w/BONUS MATERIAL
AVAILABLE ON THE CURRENT TOUR & IN RETAILERS NOW



SACRAMENTO:

9/1 - TESTAMENT @ ARCO ARENA
TESTAMENT www.myspace.com/testamentlegions.com
ON TOUR on the AMERICAN CARNAGE TOUR
*REUNITING CLASH OF THE TITANS LINE UP *TESTAMENT*SLAYER*MEGADETH*
*TOUR EDITION OF THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION w/BONUS MATERIAL
AVAILABLE ON THE CURRENT TOUR & IN RETAILERS NOW

Exodus album release show at the Key Club June 11

Exhibit B: The Human Condition, the ninth studio album from Bay Area thrash progenitors EXODUS, has sold over 4,600 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan and has debuted this week at #114 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, #112 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart, #12 on the Top/Current Hard Music Albums charts, and ranks #3 in the Current Hard Music Albums chart at Core Stores.

States guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt: "Just woke up at the insane hour of 6 a.m. to find that we have actually entered the Billboard charts at 114! Very cool to be back! Nice jump in sales; it shows that thrash is alive and well indeed! Now to get this show on the road!”

EXODUS will play an album release show on Friday, June 11th at The Key Club in Hollywood with fellow Bay Area thrashers Heathen and L.A.’s own Bonded By Blood before they fly out to Europe to tour the festival circuit.

Visit EXODUS online at www.myspace.com/EXODUS & www.YouTube.com/exodus.

The New Loud gives nod to "Twin Peaks" with new album

“Wrapped In Plastic” by The New Loud is a nod to the seminal 1990 David Lynch TV series, “Twin Peaks,” as told from the perspective of the murdered icon, Laura Palmer. “Wrapped In Plastic” emulates the cloaked normalcy and edgy atmosphere of the series by tweaking a pop song template, adding change-ups in time signature and dissonant harmonic keyboard hooks. Undercurrents climax when a foreboding noise pad in the bridge overtakes the mix for a second before being tucked neatly back, just in time for the last chorus.

“Wrapped In Plastic” is the second single from The New Loud’s upcoming LP, Measures Melt due June 8th. The album was produced and recorded by band member Shane Olivo and Mixed by Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Rilo Kiley, Drive Like Jehu). Like all New Loud tracks it is available directly from the band as a Radiohead-style pick-your-price here: http://thenewloud.bandcamp.com.

The New Loud is a new wave/electro/punk band from the working-class Midwestern city of Milwaukee, WI.

Block Starz Music releases new compilation album

Leading independent online music promoter Block Starz Music is looking to burn up dance floors across the heartland this summer with "Midwest Block Starz", the third installment of its critically-acclaimed regional compilation series featuring high-profile appearances by chart-topping platinum rap star Twista, Grammy Award winner Rhymefest, former first lady of Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace camp, Shawnna, XXL Magazine "Freshman Ten" honoree and Kanye West protege Big Sean, Phonte of Little Brother, and Mickey Rocks of The Cool Kids.

This stellar list of national recording artists bolsters an explosive "Midwest Block Starz" lineup featuring sixteen hot regional newcomers, including 2009 Underground Music Awards "Best Midwest Artist" Slick Watts, 2009 Ohio Hip Hop Awards "Best Performer" Machine Gun Kelly, Chi-town's Skooda Chose, Cleveland's Tugun Cannon, St. Louis representative Will Victory, Topeka, Kansas lyricist Mike Schpitz, and Korean rapper/Wisconsin native Smokes.

"Dance Floor" by former The Game protege Tugun Cannon and Nappy Boy (T-Pain) artist Shawnna is the first single from "Midwest Block Starz" impacting regional radio. Produced by Pro & Brave (Celine Dion), the infectious track, described by Rap Reviews as "a surprisingly sophisticated take on minimalist club hop", already has teens and college students steaming up clubs throughout the bible belt, as will the follow up high-energy radio single, "Bodyguard" by Will Victory this summer.

Smalltown, USA is about to explode!

Check out the video for "Dance Floor" by Tugun Cannon featuring Shawnna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUY9qhO30RI

ALBUM TRAILER: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVytg7S3_P8

ALBUM COVER: www.blockstarzmusic.com/pictures/mwbs1.jpg

TRACKLISTING:
1. Streetz On Lock - Bigg Jigg 5:03
2. Yada Yada Yada - Slick Watts 4:22
3. Year Of The Nice Guy - Mike Schpitz 3:17
4. Dance Floor - Tugun Cannon ft. Shawnna 3:52
5. Know Dat - Diego Heat ft. Smoke Nitti 4:23
6. Loungin' - Skooda Chose ft. Twista & Mickey Rocks 3:59
7. Closer - Smokes 3:59
8. Block Starz Music (Commercial) 0:20
9. Say Wassup - Rhymefest ft. Phonte (Little Brother) 3:44
10. How We Like Em (Skit) 0:38
11. Bodyguard - Will Victory 3:48
12. I Hustle - Yp 4:17
13. Night & Day - Young General 3:13
14. Alice In Wonderland - Machine Gun Kelly 3:20
15. New Way To Eat - Fonz 3:35
16. Poe'd Up - Fly Union ft. Big Sean 3:28
17. Optimus Grind - Cola Zone 3:44

ABOUT BLOCK STARZ MUSICBlock Starz Music LLC is a full service independent online music promoter with virtual offices in New York City, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Visit www.blockstarzmusic.com for more info.

PK at the Laugh Facotry tonight

PG-18 Fridays with PK at The World Famous Laugh Factory this Fri, May 28 at 8pm
brought to you by NEOCLASSICS, CAPE, APEX, BLACKSHEEPCOMEDY, PROKREATION, KOLLABORATION, PRIVY, TIMELESS, MY NINJA, VLADO, LINK, VISIONSHOCK, BLENDED, ENTITLED, GLAM, and HBO - Free weekly giveaways! Great Lineup!

PK (Kollaboration, I heard this guy is hilarious)
Ron Pearson (Tonight Show)
Butch Bradley (Comedy Central)
Tom Dreesen (Letterman)

Tickets are $20 but if you're on the guestlist its FREE ADMISSION- Best Deal in Hollywood. I guarantee you will love the show.

Names (+up to 5) to pkguestlist@gmail.com by Fri 3PM.
THE WORLD FAMOUS LAUGH FACTORY
8001 SUNSET BLVD.
(Corner of Sunset and Laurel -Save 10 min and use Fountain or Franklin to get to Laurel)
Valet Parking - $7
Two drink min.
www.laughfactory.com

Laughter is Medicine

.See you there,
PK

www.blacksheepcomedy.com

Teen issues barefoot challenge for UNICEF

A 13 year old boy, Bilaal Rajan, has people of all ages kicking off their shoes and going barefoot in support of his latest campaign.

June 1st is International Children’s Day, and Rajan is participating in an annual event he launched last year called the Barefoot Challenge, where he lives life without shoes to raise awareness about child poverty in the developing world.

"I’ve visited countries in Africa and met with hundreds of children who walk miles every day barefoot to fetch water, work on their farm lands, or go to school," says Rajan. "It made me think of what life would be like to live without something we take for granted."

The Toronto-based UNICEF Youth Ambassador, best-selling author, fundraiser, and social and environmental activist and is already a serious force to be reckoned with. His best-selling book, Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever (160 pages, Orca Book Publishers), is an operating manual for making a difference, no matter what your age.

Last year, the idea gained momentum across Canada and with people in countries as far away as Australia, Afghanistan, England, Switzerland, Thailand, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. "In 2010, the Barefoot Challenge is going to be bigger than ever before," adds Rajan. His school, Lakefield College School, is also taking part in the Challenge.

Since 2001, Rajan has been instrumental in raising millions of dollars for various causes. Five years ago, he was chosen as an official Youth Ambassador for UNICEF Canada. Rajan is asking Barefoot Challenge participants to have friends, family and neighbours sponsor them and donate the proceeds to UNICEF Canada.

"This initiative is a call to action," he says. "And when people ask me why I don’t have shoes, I’ll remind them that millions of children throughout the world don’t either."

For more information, visit his website at http://www.makingchangenow.com/.

Discover Giorgio and "The Party of the Century"

It's real, and it's called The Party Of The Century, probably the most spectacular music record project ever happened. Two years of intense work all around the world, 30 of the world's most influential and legendary musicians put together by the tireless enthusiasm of the young talent Giorgio Onorato Aquilani. Wanting to make something remarkable, Giorgio wrote down 10 original songs together with his lyric partner Ivan Nossa dreaming to involve the best musicians on earth.

Giorgio's concept for his new album is the vision of a "big mansion" hosting an unforgettable music Party. Giorgio reached out to his musicians friends and heroes like: Bobby Kimball (TOTO), David Paich (TOTO), John Mahon (Elton John), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor, TOTO), Simon Phillips (TOTO), Steve Gadd, Ron Carter (Miles Davis), Peter Erskine, Cherisse Osei (Mika), Charlie Morgan (Elton John), Ted Jensen, Greg Phillinganes (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, TOTO), to name a few, and got back an incredible number of "I'm in man!!!". The Party crew so stepped up, adding their individual specialty to what has become an exceptional original music project.

All the tracks are written and performed by Giorgio except the only cover, which is an obscure song by Elton John called Friends. The album features two duets: Poem to life (duet with John Mahon) and At my door (duet with Bobby Kimball). Giorgio's writing, on the Party Of The Century album, can be considered "multi-genre", going from British and West Coast pop/rock to jazz and symphonic.

The lyrical content of the album touches many relevant themes such as: Love, Friendship, War and Aids. Giorgio co-produced the Party Of The Century project with Vittorio Iuè who arranged all the songs and played on most of them.

Party Of The Century has already conquered thousands of fans from all around the world, waking up the interest on this new international and still independent music talent called: GIORGIO.

This incredible new music release is available worldwide and comes out in a gorgeous Deluxe Box containing: the album, a DVD with making of documentary and studio sessions, a book and a gadget!

The official website http://www.giorgiosound.com is frequently updated with new blogs, videos, pictures and facts about the Party Of The Century.


Website: http://www.giorgiosound.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/giorgiosound
Official twitter: http://www.twitter.com/giorgiosound
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/thepartyofthecentury
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/partyofthecentury

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Pasadena POPS, Pasadena Star-News and Rose Magazine to host free concert June 18

Pasadena POPS, Pasadena Star-News and ROSE Magazine invite you to a very special celebration on Friday June 18 from 5:00 PM to 7PM at the Lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl. This special party will be open to the public and is your opportunity to be the first to experience the Pasadena POPS new summer venue and is the Kick off to ROSE Magazine’s Summer Dining and Entertainment season.

Join us for food, fun and prizes and celebrate the very special summer of entertainment we have ahead of us in the greater Pasadena area. With our new Pasadena POPS venue and the performances scheduled, we can say with confidence that we can all enjoy a “World Class Summer” in Pasadena in 2010! The celebration from 5-7PM is for those 21 over, as beer and wine will be available for sale.

At 7:30PM, following this celebration, all ages are welcome to attend the working rehearsal for the inaugural performance of Pasadena POPS 2010 Summer Season. The Pasadena POPS open their summer season on June 19th with Fireworks POPS Spectacular featuring guest artists Cirque de la Symphonie.

http://www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org/youre-invited-to-a-special-celebration/

Fishtank Ensemble cancels Claremont show, open mic still on Sunday

Due to a family emergency, Fishtank Ensemble cancelled their show this Saturday May 29th. If you purchased a ticket please contact the Folk Music Center.

Please join us for Open Mic this Sunday, May 30th

*Always The Last Sunday Of The Month
6:30pm (Doors and Sign-up @ 6pm)
$1
A Folk Music Center Museum Event

FOLK MUSIC CENTER
220 YALE AVE.
CLAREMONT, CA. 91711
http://www.folkmusiccenter.com/
909 624 2928

"Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer" coming to Documentary Channel

The Documentary Channel® (DOC) presents the exclusive U.S. television debut of the critically acclaimed documentary “Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer” on Monday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, chronicling the amazing life and story of one of the greatest American jazz singers, Anita O’Day.

“Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer” tells the astonishing journey of survival, and above all the endurance of O’Day’s talent, told in a number of frank interviews with her and those who knew her. Her career was long and eventful, spanning seven decades, with her last album recorded when she was 84. This documentary of a legend was co-directed by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden who produced with Melissa Davis. Personalities talk about her quirky personality, while jazz critics and her few still living contemporaries speak of her extraordinary talent and how amazing it was that she continued to sing for so long.

DOC is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267).

Big Head Todd & the Monsters to release new album

Big Head Todd and The Monsters announce the release of their brand new studio album, Rocksteady, due July 20 on Big Records through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group. In support of Rocksteady, Big Head Todd and The Monsters will hit the road for a sprawling summer tour, including big plays at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium and others.

Rocksteady, their eighth studio album, offered the band a chance to return to its grassroots beginnings and an opportunity to draw on a surprising body of influences. The album cuts across a broad swath of stylistic terrain. The first single, “Beautiful,” is off to a great start at Triple A radio and is already in rotation at almost 30 stations including early champions like KBCO in Denver and WTTS in Indianapolis.

“It’s a soul/Caribbean record that rocks,” Mohr says. “We almost went out of our way to take all the rock out of it, but it really rocks. It’s the very first album we’ve ever done that’s cohesive. It makes a difference, in terms of this album standing out from our other albums.”

www.bigheadtodd.com

Take American Idol's Lee DeWyze home

Chicago, IL’s LEE DeWYZE has won the competition! Last night, Lee was announced the winner at the season finale, competing against one other finalist. Only adding to his success, Lee’s Wuli Records release, Slumberland, has reached #17 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart! Lee DeWyze is the first singer in the competition to have a record charting on Billboard during the show. In addition to this great chart position, So I’m Told is at #24 on the iTunes Top 100 Pop USA Album chart! LEE DeWYZE is scheduled to appear this Friday, May 28th on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

LEE DeWYZE has two previously released records available for purchase now! The notable records, Slumberland and So I’m Told, feature producers Ryan McGuire and guitarist extraordinaire, Louis Svitek, well known for his work with Ministry, M.O.D. and Mind Funk. The collaboration is an evocative, haunting mix of multi-instrumental, multi-faceted songs whose artistry draws comparison to Jack Johnson and Chris Martin.

See below for the tracklisting on LEE DeWYZE’s two remarkable releases:


SLUMBERLAND:
1. So What Now
2. All Fall Down
3. Annabelle
4. Princes
5. Flower Child
6. Where You Lie
7. Stay
8. Another Sleep Song
9. Sweet Sweet
10. Goodnight

SO I’M TOLD:
1. Mister G
2. Imagination
3. A Song I Wrote For You
4. Love And Misery
5. Dreaming Alone
6. Cast Away
7. Red Rover
8. The Problem Is You
9. Predicament
10. So I'm Told
11. All Right


Head over to www.wulirecords.com to learn more about how you can purchase original LEE DeWYZE recordings!

Hollywood Master Chorale toasts movie musicals June 27

Hollywood Master Chorale
– “Voices Together-Worlds Apart” celebrating movie musicals created in West Hollywood

Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 7 p.m.

Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park; 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. 90046

Artistic Director and Conductor:
Jeffrey Bernstein

Tickets: $15

For more information, call 323.960.4349, email hollywoodmasterchorale@gmail.com or visit www.HollywoodMasterChorale.org

MTV Movie Awards fun peek

Check out the on-air promo airing of “2010 MTV Movie Awards” host Aziz Ansari as he joins forces with teen singing sensation Justin Bieber and Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner to put a new spin on the feature film “The Hurt Locker.”

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/520898/2010-movie-awards-aziz-ansari-with-justin-bieber-and-jeremy-renner-the-hurt-locker.jhtml#id=1640139


Nothing is off-limits for the “MTV Movie Awards” which will air LIVE from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 6 at 9p.m. ET/8p.m. C.

Voting in all categories is now open until Saturday, June 5 at MovieAwards.MTV.com.

Carnifex to tour this summer

CARNIFEX will be destroying stages across the US this summer on the Summer Slaughter Tour, check the dates out.

July 17, 2010 San Diego, CA, US @ Soma
July 18, 2010 Los Angelas, CA, US @ House Of Blues
July 20, 2010 El Paso, TX, US @ Club 101
July 21, 2010 San Antonio, TX, US @ White Rabbit
July 22, 2010 Austin, TX, US @ Emo?s
July 23, 2010 Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, US @ Ridgelea Theatre
July 24, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ Warsaw Ballroom
July 26, 2010 Ft. Lauderdale, FL, US @ Revolution
July 27, 2010 Atlanta, GA, US @ The Masquerade
July 29, 2010 Philadelphia, PA, US @ TLA
July 30, 2010 Baltimore, MD, US @ Sonar
July 31, 2010 Worcester, MA, US @ The Palladium
August,1 2010 New York, NY, US @ Irving Plaza
August, 2 2010 Quebec City, QC, Canada @ Imperial
August, 3 2010 Montreal, QC, Canada @ Club Soda
August, 4 2010 Toronto, ON, Canada @ Opera House
August, 5 2010 Cleveland, OH, US @ Peabodys
August, 6 2010 Cincinnati, OH, US @ Bogarts
August, 7 2010 Detroit, MI, US @ Harpos
August, 8 2010 Milwaukee, WI, US @ The Rave
August, 9 2010 Chicago, IL, US @ House Of Blues
August, 10 2010 Minneapolis, MN, US @ First Ave.
August, 11 2010 Indianapolis, IN, US @ Emerson Theatre
August, 13 2010 Denver, CO, US @ Summit Music Hall
August, 14 2010 Salt Lake City, UT, US @ Club Sound
August, 16 2010 Calgary, AB, Canada @ Republik
August, 17 2010 Edmonton, AB, Canada @ Starlite
August, 19 2010 Vancouver, BC, Canada @ Rickshaw Theatre
August, 20 2010 Seattle, WA, US @ Studio Seven
August, 21 2010 Portland, OR, US @ Roseland Theatre
August, 23 2010 San Francisco, CA, US @ The Filmore

Before There Was Rosalyn on tour

BEFORE THERE WAS ROSALYN continues their journey all over the U.S. including stops at Cornerstone Festival and Sonshine Festival. Check out the dates below to see when they'll be in your town.

May 26, 2010 Lynchburg, VA, US @ Crosspoint Church
May 27, 2010 Cornelius, NC, US @ The House of Music
May 28, 2010 Gastonia, NC, US @ The Branch
May 29, 2010 East Ridge, TN, US @ The Warehouse
May 30, 2010 Jacksonville, FL, US @ Murray Hill Theatre
May 31, 2010 Kissimmee, FL, US @ SS Showcase
Jun 1, 2010 Birmingham, AL, US @ THE VINEYARD VENUE
Jun 2, 2010 Fayetteville, GA, US @ The 11th Hour Venue
Jun 3, 2010 Columbia, MS, US @ The Warehouse Hill City
Jun 4, 2010 Jackson, MS, US @ The Warehouse Jackson
Jun 5, 2010 Houma, LA, US @ Cajun Event Center
Jun 6, 2010 Little Rock, AR, US @ Vino's
Jun 7, 2010 Memphis, TN, US @ T.H.A.T Church
Jun 8, 2010 Waco, TX, US @ Art Ambush
Jun 9, 2010 Midland, TX, US @ The Ground Floor
Jun 11, 2010 Yuca Valley, CA, US @ Joshua Spring Calvary
Jun 12, 2010 Chino, CA, US @ The Stronghold
Jun 14, 2010 Pahrump, NV, US @ The Way Batptist Fellowship Church
Jun 17, 2010 Twin Falls, ID, US @ The River
Jun 18, 2010 Salt Lake City, UT, US @ The Outer Rim
Jun 20, 2010 Camdenton, MO, US @ The Warehouse
Jun 21, 2010 Jefferson, SD @ JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER
Jun 22, 2010 Minneapolis, MN, US @ The Fallout Studio
Jun 23, 2010 Cedar Rapids, IA, US @ The Store Front
Jun 25, 2010 Bartlett, IL, US @ LOCAL NOISE
Jun 26, 2010 Decatur, IL, US @ Wake the Dead
Jun 28, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ The Texas Stage - 9:30PM
Jun 29, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jun 30, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ The Texas Stage - 5:00PM
Jul 1, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ The Encore Stage - 4:45PM
Jul 2, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ The Texas Stage - 6:30PM
Jul 3, 2010 Camdenton, MO, US @ The Warehouse
Jul 4, 2010 Ft. Smith, AR, US @ G.O.E.
Jul 5, 2010 Austin, TX, US @ Art Ambush
Jul 6, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ The Junction
Jul 7, 2010 Little Rock, AR, US @ Vino's
Jul 8, 2010 Mt. Vernon, IL, US @ Grenada Theater
Jul 9, 2010 Franklin, IN, US @ The Gear
Jul 10, 2010 Terre Haute, IN, US @ THE VENUE
Jul 11, 2010 Muir, MI, US @ C.O.R.E
Jul 12, 2010 Detroit, MI, US @ THE HAYLOFT
Jul 13, 2010 Downers Grove, IL, US @ The Campus life Warehouse
Jul 14, 2010 Minneapolis, MN, US @ THE FALLOUT STUDIO
Jul 15, 2010 Wilmar, MN, US @ SONSHINE FESTIVAL (HM STAGE)

Silverstein on tour

As SILVERSTEIN prepares to headline the SCREAM IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! Tour, check the dates and pick up tickets now. Each time you pre-order, you are entered into the SCREAM IT! Community, which grants you access to exclusive content, news & contests. Head over and buy tickets for you, your friends, and your friends' friends.

SILVERSTEIN will be headlining the Scream It Like You Mean It 2010 Tour with Emery. This will be a SILVERSTEIN tour to remember.
July 8, 2010 Sayreville, NY, US @ Starland Ballroom
July 9, 2010 Detroit, MI, US @ St. Andrews Hall
July 10, 2010 Chicago, IL, US @ The Metro
July 11, 2010 St. Paul, MN, US @ Station 4
July 13, 2010 Denver, CO, US @ The Summit Music Hall
July 14, 2010 Salt Lake City, UT, US @ The Complex
July 16, 2010 Seattle, WA, US @ El Corazon
July 17, 2010 Portland, OR , US @ Hawthorne Theatre
July 18, 2010 Orangevale, CA, US, @ Club Retro
July 20, 2010 Los Angeles, CA, US @ House Of Blues
July 21, 2010 Anaheim, CA, US @ House Of Blues
July 22, 2010 San Diego, CA, US @ Soma
July 23, 2010 Tempe, AZ, US @ Marquee Theatre
July 25, 2010 Dallas, TX, US @ The Palladium
July 26, 2010 San Antonio, TX, US @ White Rabbit
July 27, 2010 Austin, TX, US @ Emo's
July 28, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ Warehouse Live
July 30, 2010 Orlando, FL, US @ Club Firestone
July 31, 2010 St. Petes, FL, US @ State Theatre
August 1, 2010 Atlanta, GA, US @ The Masquerade
August 3, 2010 Baltimore, MD, US @ Rams Head Live
August 4, 2010 Philly, PA, US @ Trocadero Theatre
August 5, 2010 NY, NY, US @ The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
August 6, 2010 Worcester, MA, US @ The Palladium
August 7, 2010 Hartford, CT, US @ Webster Theatre
August 8, 2010 Lancaster, PA, US @ Chameleon Club

Taproot on tour

TAPROOT leads the march to TNA Wrestling's "Slammiversary VIII" which continues this Thursday night on "TNA iMPACT!" (Thursdays 9pm ET/PT on SPIKE). TNA World Heavyweight Champion "The Whole F'n Show" Rob Van Dam will defend his title against "The Icon" Sting live on pay-per-view June 13. Fans can tune to "iMPACT!" this and every Thursday, as more matches and Superstars are added to "Slammiversary;" this is the biggest professional wrestling event of the summer!

TAPROOT's Plead The Fifth, is now available everywhere including iTunes. Get your copy here!

TAPROOT continue on a headlining run with labelmates, DESTROPHY. Come see them perform new songs from their latest release, Plead The Fifth!

May 27, 2010 Maplewood, MN @ THE ROCK
May 28, 2010 Chicago, IL, US @ CUBBY BEAR
May 29, 2010 APPLETON, WI, US @ REVOLUTION
May 30, 2010 Waterloo, IA, US @ Spicoli's Grill and Reverb Rock Garden
Jun 3, 2010 Denver, CO, US @ MARQUIS THEATRE
Jun 5, 2010 Boise, ID @ KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE
Jun 6, 2010 Seattle, WA, US @ EL CORAZON
Jun 9, 2010 Modesto, CA, US @ FAT CATS
Jun 10, 2010 Santa Clara, CA, US @ The Avalon
Jun 12, 2010 LAS VEGAS, NV, US @ FEELGOOD'S ROCK BAR
Jun 13, 2010 Hollywood, CA, US @ The Whiskey
Jun 17, 2010 Dallas, TX, US @ TREES
Jun 18, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ SCOUT BAR
Jun 19, 2010 San Antonio, TX, US @ SCOUT BAR
Jun 22, 2010 Little Rock, AR, US @ The Village
Jun 24, 2010 LOUISVILLE, KY, US @ PHOENIX HILL TAVERN

Victory Records offers free sampler and has artists on the road

This Memorial Day weekend VICTORY RECORDS invites you to celebrate the release of a brand new MP3 sampler. Starting on Thursday May 27th, Victory Metal will feature and salute SISTER SIN's new song, "Outrage" off their highly-anticipated album, True Sound Of The Underground out June 22nd. The free sampler, in addition, includes never before heard tracks from: ALL OUT WAR, WRETCHED, CORPUS CHRISTI, GRAVE MAKER and many more. On Thursday, go to the newly-designed VictoryMetal.com to get the extensive FREE sampler.

VICTORY RECORDS continues a solid reputation on the Bamboozle Roadshow.

Stop by the VICTORY RECORDS booth at the Bamboozle Roadshow to pick up a free VICTORY RECORDS bag full of new music. Additionally, a brand new, full size PLINKO board will be showcased where attendees can compete for free prizes including: full-length CDs and posters. Also, pick up select popular merch and CDs that will be for sale.

Here are the dates:

May 26, 2010 Tampa, FL, US @ Ford Amphitheatre
May 28, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ Verizon Wireless Theatre
May 29, 2010 Arlington, TX, US @ Six Flags Texas
May 30, 2010 San Antonio, TX @ Six Flags Fiesta
June 2, 2010 Phoenix, AZ, US @ Cricket Amphitheatre
June 3, 2010 Las Vegas, NV, US @ The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
June 4, 2010 Anaheim, CA US @ Honda Center
June 5, 2010 Minneapolis, MN, US @ Cabooze Plaza
June 11, 2010 Milwaukee, WI, US @ Eagles Ballroom
June 12, 2010 Chicago, IL, US @ Soldier Field Parking Lot
June 13, 2010 Eureka, MO, US @ Six Flags St. Louis
June 15, 2010 Clarkston, MI, US @ DTE Energy Theatre
June 16, 2010 Toronto, ON, Canada @ Molson Amphitheatre
June 18, 2010 Cleveland, OH, US @ Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre at Tower City
June 19, 2010 Cincinnati, OH, US @ PNC Pavillion at Riverbend Music Center
June 20, 2010 Philadelphia, PA, US @ Festival Pier at Penn?s Landing
June 21, 2010 Portsmouth, VA, US @ Ntelos Pavilion Harbor Center
June 23, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA, US @ Amphitheatre at Station Square
June 24, 2010 Jackson, NJ, US @ Six Flags Great Adventure
June 25, 2010 Hershey, PA, US @ Hershey Park Pavilion / Stadium
June 26, 2010 Long Island, NY, US @ Nassau Coliseum Parking Lot
June 27, 2010 Boston, MA, US @ Comcast Center

Rose's Pawn Shop coming to LA June 12

Just a reminder that Rose's Pawn Shop, the Los Angeles “Del McCoury meets Mick Jagger” bluegrass/Americana sensation, will be heading your way soon:

5/27 @ Amnesia, San Francisco, CA
5/28 @ Black Butte Saloon, Weed, CA
5/29 @ The Goodfoot, Portland, OR
5/31 @ Green Frog Café Acoustic Tavern, Bellingham, WA
6/01 @ Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
6/02 @ Sam Bonds Garage, Eugene, OR
6/03 @ Jambalaya, Arcata, CA
6/04 @ The Plough and Stars, San Francisco, CA
6/05 @ The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA
6/12 @ Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA (SoCal Record Release Party)

Rose's Pawn Shop's new CD "Dancing On The Gallows" will be available for download June 8 and in stores August 3. It will be available for fans at the above shows.

http://www.rosespawnshop.com

Saving Abel to release album June 8

Virgin Records will release Saving Abel’s MISS AMERICA on June 8, 2010. The follow-up to the band’s breakthrough debut has reached critical mass via strong support at radio, adds at key video channels, widespread positioning at retail, and a world tour that has been underway for three months.

The lead single “Stupid Girl (Only In Hollywood)” is flying up the rock charts, currently bulleted at 13, while the accompanying video is in rotation on MTV2. MISS AMERICA has been selected for the coveted Wal-Mart Sound Check Program, yielding 150 million impressions, and will be positioned at every retailer under the sun on street date. The video for “Stupid Girl (Only In Hollywood)” is all over broadcast, cable and the Internet. Much like past successes which yielded a combined 100 million plus plays, this clip is on its way to establishing the face of Saving Abel following a Yahoo premiere, rotation at MTV2, and music homepage placement on YouTube.

In front of the imminent release of MISS AMERICA, guitarist Scott Bartlett shares, “There is always anticipation when it comes to the release of a new record. You're nervous, excited, and vulnerable. The key is to remember that this is rock and roll and those emotions don't matter once the record is done. We roll the dice and the game begins. We couldn't be more proud of the way it turned out. Now it's up to the public. Get ready.”

Guitarist Jason Null adds, “It's been a great past 2 1/2 years and we've been very blessed with the success of the first record. With that said, we are really proud of this album. Every song on Miss America is special to us, and each has a purpose for being on there. I love this record and everything about it, our story down to the cover art.”

The quintet continues their current world tour which has, over the past several months, touched down in India, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq (via a USO / Armed Forces Entertainment tour of the Persian Gulf), extensively across the U.S., and in the middle of the Pacific Ocean aboard the USS Carl Vinson as the vessel returned from Haiti.

On why MISS AMERICA was chosen as the title of the upcoming release, Singer Jared Weeks shares, “Having just returned from our USO tour of Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, we all seemed to be on the same page when it came to naming the album. Just being out there with those men and women who do so much for us and the country we live in, we really wanted to give them something back. So for all of us, MISS AMERICA was the perfect name, for a perfect situation. The message of the song is simple - it tells a story of a soldier writing home to his mom, family, wife, and kids. Throughout the song you get the feeling of what it is like to be so far away from your home, your life, and your loved ones, but still having to soldier up and do what you came there to do. It offers the message of not giving up, not losing love, and not running away. We are hoping that this song and our second album MISS AMERICA will spark a fire in some people, and maybe cause a wave of support for all our men and women in the service.”

The release of MISS AMERICA continues one of the great artist development stories of the past several years. The debut yielded multiple hits, one of which “Addicted,” was the most played song of 2008 at rock radio and Top 10 at Modern Rock, Top 40, Hot AC and additional formats. Follow-up singles “18 Days” and “Drowning (Face Down)” hit the Top 5. The album was certified gold for sales exceeding 500,000 by the RIAA, with over two million digital singles sold, alongside over a million ringtones of “Addicted.”


WWW.SAVINGABEL.COM

Mexican Grupero Bronco coming to San Manuel

Thursday, June 24, 2010, Mexican Grupero Bronco brings their international hits and success to the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino. The stage will ignite with decades of unforgettable songs such as "Adoro," "Amigo Bronco," and "Oro." Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and the San Manuel Box Office for $25, $35, and $45.

Bronco formed in the 80’s when band members, Jose Guadalup Esparza, Ramiro Delgado, Javier Villareal, and Jose Luis Villareal crafted a modern sound to the traditional Norteno flare, which incorporated a more melodic, pop style. Their first international fame came with the group’s highly successful hit "Que no Quede Huella" from their 1989 album, "A Todo Galope".

The success continued when they found themselves acting on the Televisa soap opera, "Dos Mujeres, un Camino" in 1993. The group sang the shows opening song, which earned gold and platinum records in Chile, Argentine, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico and included solid sales in the United States.

In 1997, Esparza announced he was pursuing a solo career, which caused the group to break up. After a six-year hiatus, the group reformed, under the name (only used in Mexico) El Gigante de America. They went on to release seven more albums, totaling over-10-million albums sold to date.

Every Thursday night with headliner entertainment, San Manuel gives away $1,000 just for seeing the show. To be eligible to win, guests only need a ticket to the show, a Club Serrano card and to be 21 or older. Guests can enter beginning at noon on such days. Three drawings will be held on those nights: $250 at 7:20 p.m., $250 at 10:00 p.m. and $500 at 11:00 p.m. Winners must be present.

Note: Doors open at 6:30. Must be 21 to enter Casino. Please gamble responsibly.

About San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino is Southern California’s one-stop destination for entertainment and fun. The casino is just 67 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and a short drive from LA-Ontario International Airport. Guests enjoy 3,000 of the latest slots, live poker and Vegas-style blackjack, high-limit gaming, high-stakes bingo, incredible entertainment, sumptuous dining and generous player’s reward program. Owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the casino has been providing fun and excitement since 1986. Since that time, players have received over $2 billion in cash, prizes and giveaways, making any visit to San Manuel an exciting and memorable experience.

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sanmanuelcasino and Twitter: www.twitter.com/sanmanuelcasino. For more information on San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, please visit their Web site at www.sanmanuel.com or call 800-359-2464.

Emily Jane White on tour now

Emily Jane White continues an extensive tour of the West Coast


Sping West Coast Tour Dates
May 27 - Hotel Cafe - LA, CA
May 28 - Pehrspace - LA, CA
May 29 - Gypsy Den - Santa Ana, CA
May 30 - Orange County, CA
May 31 - Soda Bar - San Diego, CA
June 5 - Cafe Coda - Chico, CA
June 6 - The Rotture - Portland, OR
June 7 - Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA
More dates to come!

Get To Know Emily Jane White

Emily Jane White was raised in Fort Bragg, California, a seaside town nestled in the misty, secluded woodland of the Mendocino Coast where old men tell stories about logging and young girls dream of San Francisco. Time moves slowly in Fort Bragg, where in place of big-city sharp shocks of excitement there stretches one drawn-out, stable truth, quiet and unflinching. You will live, Fort Bragg says, and then you will also assuredly die.

Though Emily Jane White's newest album, Victorian America, was written largely in San Francisco and Oakland, the atmosphere of her upbringing permeates her songs. White has no patience with light fare.

“I don't write happy music. I'm drawn to writing sad songs”, she says. “Reflective, contemplative songs. I truly believe that that's my job. It's not my job to create happy music. I'm okay with that.”

This pensive feeling was established with White's first album, Dark Undercoat, which critics and fans alike called a masterpiece; White herself is more inclined to call it a bare set of sketches. Conversely, Victorian America fills in the blank lines from Dark Undercoat with color, dynamics, orchestrations and a richer sense of poetics, the product of the three years' work.

“I pushed myself a little bit further in terms of songwriting”, White notes, “and the arrangements were more of a collaboration between everyone involved in the band. Fortunately this group of people allowed for a lot of experimentation. It was an incredibly organic and enjoyable process.”

That easy majesty from some of the Bay Area's best players is evident from the first track, “Never Dead,” on the intro the unconventional song structure of “Stairs.” White's ethereal conjuring glides the listener through bright lights and high waters of the little track, a lament for lost hopes backed by a sublime string arrangement, and White holds poetically to the Poe tradition with the seven-minute opus “The Ravens.”

Lyrically, White's themes act like a devil on both shoulders who long ago killed off the angel.

“There's a lot of references in the record to political issues, death and dying”, she explains, “there's not a lot of literal narrative. I strive to create scenes in my writing that allow for abstract rather than literal interpretation”.

With positive coverage in Spin and Rolling Stone and with a large European fan base - the reward of near-constant touring - Emily Jane White is the newcomer to watch this year. Victorian America, like the country it is banned for, is not an album that rests easy, nor does it exist for the sake of existing.

From beginning to end, this is new mystic American songwriting at it finest.
written by gabe meline

Professor RJ ROss at Vibrato Bel Air in June

Professor RJ Ross will serve up his smooth, soulful jazz music from his album Face To Face at the renowned venue, Vibrato Grill & Jazz in Bel Air, CA on Wednesday, June 23.

The first set will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a second performance at 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Vibrato at (310) 474-9400 or online at www.vibratogrilljazz.com.

Before emerging as a solo artist, Professor RJ Ross was a singer and keyboardist with various funk groups in his native Detroit, where his seriousness about music and expertise at running rehearsals earned him the nickname “Professor.” With a lifetime of soul-jazz, funky music and hard-hitting stories comes his solo debut CD Face to Face.

Ross’ title track, “Face To Face” is in full rotation at KSBR 88.5 FM in Orange County, Calif. and recently debuted on the Smooth Indie Chart and the JazzWeek Album Chart. The Professor’s unique take on America’s “Ventura Highway” is also popping at smooth jazz station and the timeless Johnny Mercer tune “Autumn Leaves” is gaining airplay on traditional jazz outlets.

Wednesday, June 23
Professor RJ Ross
Vibrato Grill & Jazz
2930 Beverly Glen
Bel Air, CA 90077
Performance times: 6:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Please make reservations by calling (310) 474-9400 or visit www.vibratogrilljazz.com.

Quadron coming to SoCal

Denmark’s Quadron, the duo that the New York Post describes as “…a mix of Adele, The Supremes and Sade…” and BBC News calls, “electronic soul music that isn’t a contradiction in terms…” is preparing for a busy week in sunny Los Angeles. Performing at the UCLA JazzReggae Festival on Sunday, May 30, the band will then perform a free 5PM in-store concert at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, one of the world’s largest independent music stores, on
Sunday, June 6, followed by their U.S. live radio performance debut on public radio station KCRW’s groundbreaking ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ at 11:15am on Monday, June 7.

Pitchfork is premiering Quadron’s brand new, Tracemaker-directed video for the track ‘Buster Keaton’. View the clip here:
http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/6842-quadron-buster-keaton-plug-research.

A breakout act in 2010 thanks to forward-thinking radio programmers at stations such as KCRW, Quadron has announced plans for their first official tour of the U.S. Initial dates are listed below.

Quadron Tour Dates:
May 30th JazzReggae Festival at UCLA
June 6th Amoeba in-store Los Angeles, CA
June 7th KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic Los Angeles, CA
June 11th Mosaic Lounge in San Jose, CA
June 12th The New Parish in Oakland, CA
June 13th Som Bar in San Francisco, CA
June 15th KEXP Live Performance Seattle, WA
June 15th Nectar Lounge in Seattle, WA
June 17th The Fix in Portland, OR
June 23rd Liv in Washington DC, MD
June 24th Southpaw in NY, NY
June 25th Spring 4th in Atlanta, GA
June 26th Venue TBC in Miami, FL
June 29th Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia, PA

*More dates/in-stores/radio appearances to be announced shortly.

Quadron’s self-titled release is available now on Plug Research (www.plugresearch.com).

For more info on Quadron, please see www.myspace.com/quadronquadron.

Starwood launches concert tour program

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest® program today announce the global launch of On Tour with SPG – an exciting, new program that gives SPG members the chance to redeem Starpoints on premium concert tickets to see headliners around the globe. As part of Starwood’s official hotel sponsorship, concert tickets to ‘An Evening with Sting Featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Conducted by Steven Mercurio’ Tour, are on auction now. A new lineup of “On Tour with SPG” auctions will launch each Friday throughout the summer

“We're thrilled to be the Official Hotel sponsor of the 2010 Sting tour, as he is one of the most celebrated artists of our time,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Starwood Preferred Guest. “This sponsorship provides a distinctive opportunity for us to reward our loyal members by connecting with them through their passion for music.”

On Tour with SPG is a direct outgrowth of the innovative alliance formed last year between Starwood and Live Nation, the world’s largest music company. SPG members enjoy access to a variety of benefits including premium ticket access and priority seating, music-inspired promotions, exclusive access to top artists for select Live Nation concerts, and retail discounts for artist merchandise and House of Blues restaurants. SPG members are invited to visit www.SPG.com/moments to view and bid on these exciting auction items, plus a whole lot more.

The groundbreaking SPG Moments program launched in 2007, and since then thousands of members have transformed their Starpoints® into extraordinary lifestyle events. Beyond music offerings SPG members have gained insider access to red carpet movie premieres, championship sporting events, and private dinners with world-renowned chefs. Through its PGA TOUR partnership, SPG also offers grounds passes to many major tournaments around the country, clinics taught by PGA TOUR professionals, and the opportunity to observe behind the ropes at PGA TOUR tournaments.

In addition to “On Tour with SPG”, Moments has a host of other once-in-a-lifetime experiences on auction right now including:

Sporting Events and Celebrity Sports Clinics
Two suite tickets to the Indianapolis 500 in May, plus two pit and garage passes
A private basketball clinic for up to ten participants with the Chicago Sky WNBA basketball team, plus tickets for 10 to a regular season Chicago Sky home game

Dinners with Celebrity Chefs
Private dinner at French Laundry in Napa, CA – evening begins with a canapé and champagne reception with renowned Chef Thomas Keller, followed by a nine-course tasting menu, behind the scenes kitchen tour. Guests also receive an autographed copy of Chef Keller’s award-winning French Laundry cookbook.
Private dinner with Mario Batali at Del Posto restaurant in New York City, featuring a special meal created and introduced by Mario Batali, plus wine pairings and autographed copy of his book.

And coming up shortly members can bid on exciting opportunities like these and so many more:

Arts and Lifestyle
Five pairs of tickets to the star-studded Maxim Hot 100 Party in Los Angeles in May
Balcony tickets to the American Idol Finale in Los Angeles, plus an assortment of memorabilia from the show


About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program’s breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world’s most sought after collection of hotels, reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights, thelobby.com and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 940 participating properties, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at spg.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world’s most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com or call (877) – STARWOOD.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

The Ready Set on tour

The Ready Set is the alias of multi-instrumentalist Jordan Witzigreuter. He's the first signing by the joint venture between Sire Records and Pete Wentz's Decaydance Records. His first full length, entitled I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming, will be out in June. He's toured with Never Shout Never, Boys Like Girls, and Hey Monday, and after playing at SXSW and the Bamboozle festivals on both coasts he's headed out on the Bamboozle Road Show.

You can check out "Love Like Woe," the super catchy first single off the new album, on his myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/thereadyset,

and also a couple of hilarious webisodes he's released here:
http://www.youtube.com/thereadyset#p/u/1/yOOg0yqO8ck

The Ready Set
Bamboozle Roadshow
May 21 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
May 22 – Charlotte, NC – Uptown Amphitheatre @ The Music Factory
May 23 – Atlanta, GA – Six Flags Over Georgia
May 25 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
May 26 – Tampa, FL – Ford Amphitheatre
May 28 – Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theatre (No 2nd Stage)
May 29 – Arlington, TX – Six Flags Over Texas
May 30 – San Antonio, TX – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
June 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Cricket Amphitheatre
June 3 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
June 4 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
June 5 – Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
June 6 – Chula Vista, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre – Parking Lot
June 9 – Bonner Springs, KS – Sandstone Amphitheatre
June 10 – Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze Plaza
June 11 – Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
June 12 – Chicago, IL- Soldier Field - Parking Lot
June 13 – Eureka, MO – Six Flags St. Louis
June 15 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 16 – Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheater
June 18 – Cleveland, OH – Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre @ Tower City
June 19 – Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion @ Riverbend Music Center
June 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Festival Pier @ Penn’s Landing
June 21 – Portsmouth, VA – Ntelos Pavilion Harbor Center
June 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Amphitheatre @ Station Square
June 24 – Jackson, NJ – Six Flags Great Adventure
June 25 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Park Pavilion & Stadium
June 26 – Nassau, NY – Nassau Coliseum - Parking Lot
June 27 – Boston, MA - Comcast Center

KISS returning to US for more touring

Throughout their 37-year career, KISS (www.KISSonline.com ) has sold 80 million albums, played in front of millions of people and become an integral part of American culture. Now, rock’s most iconic band is unleashing another assault on North America with The Hottest Show on Earth tour starting on July 23. KISS will perform such classics as “Detroit Rock City” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” as well as hits that they haven’t played in the US in many years.

The Hottest Show on Earth tour, produced by Live Nation, will trek through a mix of arenas and amphitheaters throughout North America. Tickets for shows produced by Live Nation go on sale to the general public in select markets beginning June 4 at LiveNation.com. Citi® cardmembers can access presale tickets beginning Wednesday, June 2 at 10 a.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. KISS is also giving back to the United States Armed Forces by donating one dollar from each ticket sold to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

Dr Pepper is a proud sponsor of the KISS tour and will be offering exciting contests and prizes in tour markets. Watch and listen for the Dr Pepper Cherry and KISS TV and radio spots that will be back on the air in late June.

KISS has given some of today's now-legendary bands their first shot by opening for the band at sold out arenas and stadiums around the world -- AC/DC, BON JOVI, RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and many others. Now, the legendary rockers are partnering with Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, for Guitar Center On-Stage, an unsigned band competition that will provide emerging artists the chance to open for KISS at 22 of the band’s tour stops. In addition, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will choose one grand-prize winner to receive a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree among other prizes. For more information, visit www.GCOnstage.com. Registration begins on June 1.

For the first time, KISS will host a live internet chat on Facebook via Ustream on June 1 to give fans an opportunity to speak directly with the band about the tour. Users can watch and interact by visiting the official KISS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KISS.

There is no other band in the vast history of rock music that has mesmerized generations of music fans in the same way as this revolutionary and iconoclastic quartet that continues to acquire generations of new fans year after year.

For complete ticket and tour information visit www.KISSonline.com and www.LiveNation.com.

THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH SUMMER TOUR DATES

Fri Jul 23 Cheyenne, WY Cheyenne Frontier Days *
Sat Jul 24 Minot, ND North Dakota State Fair *
Thu Jul 29 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
Fri Jul 30 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Sat Jul 31 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium
Fri Aug 06 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
Sat Aug 07 Boston, MA Comcast Center
Mon Aug 09 Indianapolis, IN Indiana State Fairgrounds *
Fri Aug 13 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sat Aug 14 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Aug 15 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
Thu Aug 19 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Fri Aug 20 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat Aug 21 Washington DC Jiffy Lube Live
Fri Aug 27 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Sat Aug 28 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 29 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Thu Sep 02 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 03 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 04 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair *
Fri Sep 10 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 11 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sun Sep 12 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
Fri Sep 17 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat Sep 18 Dallas, TX Pizza Hut Park *
Sun Sep 19 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Wed Sep 22 Sandy, UT Rio Tinto Stadium *
Fri Sep 24 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

* These shows are not produced by Live Nation

#####

About KISS
KISS, the legendary American rock band formed in New York City in 1972, is one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS is one of America's top gold-record champions which recorded 37 albums over 36 years and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Over thirty years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, most recently, the 2009 finale of American Idol that boasted 30 million viewers.

The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans. In 2009, KISS was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sonic Boom, KISS’ first album in 11 years and produced by Paul Stanley, is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam’s Club. For additional information on KISS, visit www.KISSonline.com.

Buddy Blaze and Scott Patton unveil Generator guitar


Buddy Blaze Fine Stringed Instruments has teamed up with Scott Patton to unveil its new signature model, the Generator™. The guitar will be unveiled to a national audience tomorrow morning on ABC’s Good Morning America as part of their Summer Concert Series.
The new Buddy Blaze Generator™ features a custom graphic designed by renowned graphic designer, Stephen Jensen. The Steam Punk Generator artwork was created to specifically compliment Sugarland’s “The Incredible Machine” tour. The guitar will be part of the handmade ALII Series with plans for a second model to be added to their value priced production line in the near future.

Specifications:
• Custom Graphic Designed by Renowned Artist Stephen Jensen
• Alder Body
• Mahogany Set Neck with Ebony Fingerboard
• Custom Inlay
• 24 5/8” Scale Length
• 24 Fret Two Octave Neck
• Jumbo Frets
• Dual Action / Stainless Steel Truss Rod
• Deluxe Buddy Blaze Hard Shell Case Included
• Handmade, Signed And Dated By Buddy Blaze in Kailua Kona, Hawai’i USA

Scott Patton is the Band Director and Lead Guitarist for the dynamic super duo, Sugarland. The band is currently out on the road preparing for their new release scheduled in October, entitled The Incredible Machine.

To learn more about the new line and Buddy Blaze Fine Stringed Instruments, visit them online at
sales@buddyblaze.com

Starting price with the Steam Punk Generator Graphics:
MSRP $3949 USD Street $3099 USD

Kashmir and Shirock at the Roxy June 12

Sony Denmark platinum recording artist Kashmir will be making their U.S. return June 12th, to headline The Roxy on Sunset located in Hollywood, CA. Also scheduled to perform is the socially-conscious rock group SHIROCK.

Kashmir's latest No Balance EP was released digitally in the United States on February 16th, 2010 and has produced 3 music videos including that of their single, “Kalifornia”. SHIROCK, a five-piece pop/rock band from Nashville, TN, makes their L.A. return following their "EVERYTHING BURNS IN HOLLYWOOD" red carpet charity event benefitting the Midnight Mission.

SHIROCK's debut album, "Everything Burns", produced at Nashville’s Ocean Way studios by Jay Ruston (The Donnas, Cold War Kids, Everclear, and Matisyahu) is available on iTunes and in Hollister Co. stores worldwide--the only independent band ever distributed by the American lifestyle brand. Kashmir has released 2 EP’s in the United States titled The Petite Machine and No Balance, and includes collaborations with artists David Bowie and Lou Reed. Kashmir has sold over 500,000 albums worldwide.

For Tickets to the Roxy Show:
Kashmir @ The Roxy

KASHMIR:
http://www.kashmir.dk

SHIROCK:
http://shirock.net/
http://www.facebook.com/SHIROCKmusic