Friday, June 29, 2012

End o' week musings



Can you say excited? Oh yeah, I am sooo looking forward to the weekend! But I digress...


Last weekend I babied my knee (which is feeling pretty good now) and cleaned my home. I went through all my books and CDs and sorted out the things I don't get too often enough or I wanted others to enjoy. The result was more than eight boxes set to go for donation!


My friends Dean and Andrew came over to help with the hefting part of things and I was able to make my space look very different. I'll admit it- I had a few stacks of books and CDs on the floor because I was out of room. Now there's nothing on the floor and tons more space. I could rearrange my living room any way I want... but that's for another day. And we deep cleaned throughout so my place sparkles and not just from my glitter.


Tuesday I went to the Arcadia Museum of History to learn about its upcoming exhibit on lace. I marveled at the intricacy of some of the pieces- many of which were handmade. It's actually quite interesting, especially when you get into the historical aspects of the craft.


Wednesday night I took those eight boxes plus to the Baldwin Park Library, where I was greeted with big smiles. They will use what they can and sell the rest to get what they need. I feel good helping spread literacy and knowledge, as well as a little fun.


Thursday I interviewed Michael Dorn (Worf of "Star Trek"). He will be appearing in "As You LIke It" on stage in a garden in Los Angeles. He had a lovely voice and was gracious and funny too. Watch for my story in a couple of weeks at http://www.sgvn.com/


In the evening I went to 3ality Technica (http://www.3alitytechnica.com/ ) in Burbank to learn about 3D film technology. I watched a selection of film, including U2 performing "Sunday Bloody Sunday," trailers for "Spider-Man," "Prometheus" and the new Katy Perry movie, plus slices from a Russian war film, Black Eyed Peas and Kenny Chesney concerts and more. The movies were amazing, as you felt as if you were in them rather than just watching.


After the screening there was a panel discussion about 3D applications in the music industry. We also got a peek at Katy Perry's upcoming "Labyrinth" music video, which was awesome! I'm curious to see if things will change the way the 3ality Technica people think they will... only time will tell.


This morning I spoke with singer/songwriter Penny Nichols ( http://www.pennynichols.com/ ) , who has just released "Colors of the Sun: Penny Nichols sings the early songs of Jackson Browne." She will be performing two shows July 15 at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena http://www.coffeegallery.com/


OK now for the big drum roll! ~



The Queens of Doo Dah Request the honour of your presence at a Royal Cocktail Extravaganza Sunday, July 1st 5 o'clock to 8 o'clock in the evening in theFenyes Estate Gardens Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut Street, Pasadena 91103






. Mingle with Majesty (including me, 31st Queen Naughty Mickie)





Sip Signature Cocktails

Dirty Doo Dah ~ The Doo Drop ~ Doo Dah Twist ~ Doodahpolitan





Savor the flavor of Doodahrific Hors d'oeuvres









Revel in Impromptu Musical Performances by Doo Dah Talent







Tickets:


$35.00 per guest with RSVP


$30.00 per PMH Member with RSVP


$40.00 per guest without RSVP


626.577.1660, ext. 15



Doo Dah cocktail attire encouraged!




Hosted by Light Bringer Project and Pasadena Museum of History; all proceeds from this event support the installation & exhibition of "What A Long Strange Trip It's Been: 35 Years of the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade," a major retrospective exhibition opening August 15, 2012 at Pasadena Museum of History. http://www.pasadenahistory.org/ http://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info/




Now you know, I hope you'll go and if you do, please come up to me for a chat!



Next week it's Fourth of July fun and more adventures...




In rotation this week Beautiful Creatures, McGuffy Lane, Tracy G Group, Britney Spears, Tae Phoenix, Penny Nichols and Bobby Boy's Old Curiosity Shop mixtape.



Photos we got 'em: Current Doo Dah Queen Patrizzi Intergarlactica on parade and former queens waiting to annouce her win at the tryouts by Terry Miller and a couple of pet pix from the web.



Thought o' the week: Think cathartic. It was healing in many ways for me to clean out my house.



First of all, the energy I expended to do the tasks got my endorphins flowing, which is good for your moods, plus I got some good exercise and my body felt happy. When I finished, there was space and light as opposed to feeling almost suffocated by things. And the feeling of spreading good around with my donations added to my joy.



I can also look at cleaning house another way- a sort of spiritual and emotional movement. Making my environment less stressful offers me an opportunity to take stock in my life during the tasks and to reset my attitude once I'm done. It's a cleansing of self if you allow it to be.






There are other ways we can cleanse our lives, such as taking time for a walk on a busy day, chatting with a friend after work or singing loudly with your favorite CD. And though these things may not be as dramatic, whether you are concious of it or not, they all add up for a healing effect. I'm feeling peaceful now and ready to let the happiness I deserve flow back in. Deep breath.. in a word... think what's cathartic for you?



Keep on rockin'

Mickie

Old Pasadena Film Festival July 5-28

Old Pasadena Management presents the fifth annual Old Pasadena Film Festival, a four-week, free movie series showcasing a variety of audience pleasing movie titles and genres, happening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, July 5-28, 2012. With nineteen screenings, the Old Pasadena Film Festival is the largest outdoor film festival in California and is expected to draw upwards of 8,000 attendees.



This year the Old Pasadena Film Festival hosts an eclectic mix of unique films on Thursday nights including cult favorites Napoleon Dynamite, Sunset Boulevard, Batman, and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Friday nights are date nights in Old Pasadena with popular romantic comedies screened at the One Colorado Courtyard with Serendipity, While You Were Sleeping, What’s Up, Doc? and The Philadelphia Story all being screened.



Other highlights include five time Oscar nominee Laura, award winning western High Noon and four time Academy Award winning film A Streetcar Named Desire. This year’s program also includes three very special screenings at Central Park highlighting the horror and thriller genre including Alfred Hitchcock’s Pyscho (1960), Steven Spielberg’s Poltergeist, and the number two thriller of all time according to AFI, Jaws.



Distant Lands, the specialty travel bookstore in Old Pasadena will once again host travel films, including Sophia Copola’s popular Lost in Translation and Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. All screenings are free and open to the public, full schedule below.





Old Pasadena Film Festival schedule



Thursday, July 5, 8:30PM– One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
Batman (1989)

The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker. Academy Award winning film directed by Tim Burton, and starring Jack Nicholson (The Joker), Michael Keaton (Batman), and Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale).



Friday, July 6, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
Serendipity (2001)

Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) meet while shopping for gloves in New York. Though buying for their respective lovers, the magic was right and a night of Christmas shopping turns into romance. Jon wants to explore things further but Sara isn't sure their love is meant to be. They decide to test fate by splitting up and seeing if destiny brings them back together. This is a touching and charming romantic comedy also starring Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven.



Friday, July 6, 8:00PM – Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91105
A Map for Saturday (2007)

On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A Map for Saturday reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary finds backpackers helping neglected Thai tsunami victims. It explains why Nepal's guesthouses are empty and Brazil's stoplights are ignored. But at its core, the film tracks the emotional arc of extreme long-term travelers; teenagers and senior citizens who wondered, "What would it be like to travel the world?" and then did it.



Saturday, July 7, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
The Miracle Worker (1962)

Young Helen Keller (16 year-old Patty Duke), blind, deaf, and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution. Her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" named Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) to tutor their daughter. Through persistence and love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen's walls of silence and darkness, and teaches her to communicate.



The Miracle Worker was nominated for 5 Oscars, and won for Best Actress (Bancroft), and Best Supporting Actress (Duke). It was Duke’s first film role and, at 16, made her the youngest Oscar recipient at the time. Three Golden Globe nominations included Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The Miracle Worker is one of AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies.



Thursday, July 12, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Three-time Academy Award winning Sunset Boulevard, set in 50s Hollywood, focuses on Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a silent-screen goddess whose pathetic belief in her own indestructibility has turned her into a demented recluse. The crumbling Sunset Boulevard mansion where she lives with only her butler Max (Erich von Stroheim), who was once her director and husband, has become her self-contained world. Norma dreams of a comeback in pictures and she begins a relationship with Joe Gillis (William Holden), a small-time writer who becomes her lover, which will soon end with murder and total madness.



Sunset Boulevard was nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Actress (Swanson), Best Supporting Actress (Nancy Olsen), Best Actor (Holden), Best Supporting Actor (Stroheim), and Best Cinematography. It was also nominated for 7 Golden Globes, winning 4: Best Picture, Director, Actress and Score. Sunset Boulevard is on the AFI list of Top 100 Films of All Time.



Friday, July 13, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Lucy's (Sandra Bullock) life consists of constant loneliness; that is until she saves Peter's (Peter Gallagher) life. Now she is a part of his family and with a strong heart and fate on her side, others begin to realize what a terrific person she is, especially Jack (Bill Pullman), Peter's brother. An extraordinarily true-to-life sequence of events begin to take place as Lucy and Jack become closer and learn more about each other and themselves than one would ever expect from such coincidental, yet believable events.



Sandra Bullock received a Golden Globe Best Actress nomination for the role.



Friday, July 13, 8:00PM – Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91105
Lost in Translation (2003)

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American film actor, far past his prime. He visits Tokyo to appear in commercials, and he meets Charlotte (Scarlet Johansson), the young wife of a visiting photographer. Bored and weary, Bob and Charlotte make ideal if improbable traveling companions. Charlotte is looking for "her place in life," and Bob is tolerating a mediocre stateside marriage. Both separately and together, they live the experience of the American in Tokyo. Bob and Charlotte suffer both confusion and hilarity due to the cultural and language differences between themselves and the Japanese.



Lost in Translation won an Oscar for Best Screenplay (Sofia Coppola), and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Sofia Coppola), and Best Actor (Murray).



Saturday, July 14, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
Laura (1944)

Detective Mark McPherson investigates the killing of Laura, found dead on her apartment floor before the movie starts. McPherson builds a mental picture of the dead girl from the suspects whom he interviews. He is helped by the striking painting of the late lamented Laura hanging on her apartment wall. But who would have wanted to kill a girl with whom every man she met seemed to fall in love? To make matters worse, McPherson finds himself falling under her spell too. Then one night, halfway through his investigations, something seriously bizarre happens to make him re-think the whole case.



Directed by Otto Preminger and starring Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb and Vincent Price; Laura was nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Director, Supporting Actor (Webb), Screenplay, Cinematography, and Art Direction. Laura is one of AFI’s Top 10 Mystery Movies, and is also on their list of Top 100 Thrillers of All Time.



Saturday, July 14, 8:30PM – Central Park, 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91103
Jaws (1975)

Three time Oscar winning film that tells the story of a gigantic great white shark that begins to menace the small island community of Amity. The local police chief (Roy Scheider), a marine scientist (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled fisherman (Robert Shaw) set out to stop it.



Jaws is Steven Spielberg’s second feature film, and remains one of the most recognizable franchises of all time, literally inventing the genre of “summer blockbuster”, and re-inventing the way films are released and marketed. Jaws was nominated for 4 Oscars, and 4 Golden Globes, and won a Grammy for its iconic soundtrack (John Williams). It also appears on AFI’s list of Top 100 Movies, is #2 on the list of Top 100 Thrillers of all Time, and is on the list of 100 Best Movie Quotes: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”



Thursday, July 19, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

In a tale that almost redefines sibling rivalry, faded actresses Blanche (Joan Crawford) and 'Baby' Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) live together. Jane was by far the most famous when she performed with their father in vaudeville, but as they got older it was Blanche who became the finer actress, which Jane still resents. Blanche is now confined to a wheelchair - Jane ran her over with the car while drunk, even though she has no memory of it - and Jane is firmly in control. As time goes by, Jane exercises greater and greater control over her sister, intercepting her letters and ensuring that few if anyone from the outside has any contact with her. As Jane slowly loses her mind, she torments her sister, going to ever greater extremes.



One studio head at the time quipped “Who’s gonna want to see a picture with those two old broads?”, but this film revived the careers of both Davis and Crawford and has become one of the great cult classics of all time. It was nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Actress (Davis), Best Supporting Actor (Victor Buono), Best Cinematography and Best Sound, and won for Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for 2 Golden Globes and is on the AFI list of 100 Top Thrillers of All Time.



Friday, July 20, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
The Philadelphia Story (1940)

The Philadelphia Story tells the story of a beautiful and sophisticated heiress (Katherine Hepburn), whose ex-husband (Carey Grant) and a tabloid-type reporter (Jimmy Stewart) who both turn up just before her “wedding-of-the-year” remarriage.



The Philadelphia Story won 2 Oscars: Best Actor (Stewart), and Best Screenplay; and was nominated for 4 others: Best Picture, Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actress (Hepburn), Best Supporting Actress (Ruth Hussey). It is on the AFI list of Top 100 Movies of All Time, Top 100 Love Stories, Top 100 Comedies, and the list of Top 10 Romantic Comedies of All Time.



Friday, July 20, 8:00PM – Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91105
The Way (2010)

A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El Camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself. The Way is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Directed by Emilio Estevez, and starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.



Saturday, July 21, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
High Noon (1952)

On the day he gets married and hangs up his badge, lawman Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is told that a man he sent to prison years before, Frank Miller, is returning on the noon train to exact his revenge. Having initially decided to leave with his new spouse (Grace Kelly), Will decides he must go back and face Miller. However, when he seeks the help of the townspeople he has protected for so long, they turn their backs on him. It seems Kane may have to face Miller alone, as well as the rest of Miller's gang, who are waiting for him at the station...



High Noon won 4 Oscars including Best Actor (Cooper), and was nominated for 3 others including Best Picture and Best Director. It also won 4 Golden Globes including Best Actor (Cooper), Best Supporting Actress (Katy Jurado), and Best Score and Best Cinematography; and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. It is on the AFI list of 100 Top Thrillers, 100 Top Inspiring Movies, 100 Top Movies of All Time, and is #2 on the List of All Time Best Westerns.



Saturday, July 21, 8:30PM – Central Park, 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91103
Poltergeist (1982)

Written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hopper, Poltergeist details a young family who is visited by ghosts in their home. At first the ghosts appear friendly, moving objects around the house to the amusement of everyone, then they turn nasty and start to terrorize the family before they "kidnap" the youngest daughter.



Poltergeist was nominated for 3 Oscars for Effects and Music, is on the AFI list of 100 Best Movie Quotes: “They’re here!” and features an iconic cameo by Zelda Rubenstein as the psychic who helps put everything right.



Thursday, July 26, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

One of the most popular of recent cult films, Napoleon Dynamite tells the story of Preston, Idaho's most curious resident, Napoleon Dynamite, who lives with his grandma and his 32-year-old brother (who cruises chat rooms for ladies) and works to help his best friend, Pedro, snatch the Student Body President title from mean teen Summer Wheatley.



Friday, July 27, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
What’s Up, Doc? (1972)

When Howard Bannister (Ryan O’Neal) arrives in San Francisco to compete for a research grant in music, he bumps into Judy Maxwell (Barbra Streisand) a wacky but intoxicating complication, and hysterical hi-jinx ensue. Numerous identical overnight bags containing everything from Howard’s musical rocks, to an heiress’ jewels, to stolen government secrets, to Judy’s “unmentionables”, create confusion, havoc, and non-stop hilarity.



What’s Up, Doc? was directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and features many wonderful character parts including an unforgettable first-screen appearance by Madeline Kahn as Howard’s controlling and highly-organized fiancé, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. This film is on AFI’s list of Top 100 Love Stories and Top 100 Comedies.



Friday, July 27, 8:00PM – Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91105
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

One of Woody Allen’s most commercially successful films, Vicky Cristina Barcelona stars Scarlet Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall. The film details two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain who become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.



An Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress (Cruz), as well as a Golden Globe win for Best Picture, along with nominations for Best Actor (Bardem), Best Actress (Hall), and Best Supporting Actress (Cruz).



Saturday, July 28, 8:30PM – One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 91103
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

A Streetcar Named Desire is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tennessee Williams, and directed by Elia Kazan. The film follows a disturbed Blanche DuBois (Vivian Leigh) who moves in with her sister, Stella (Kim Hunter) in New Orleans, and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlon Brando) while her reality crumbles around her. Also features a wonderful performance by Karl Malden as one of Stanley’s friends who falls for the fragile Blanche.



This iconic film won 4 Oscars: Best Actress (Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hunter), Best Supporting Actor (Malden), and Best Art Direction; and was nominated for 8 more, including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brando), and Best Screenplay (Williams). It also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (Hunter), and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress (Leigh). It is on AFI’s list of Top 100 Love Stories, and Top 100 Movies of All Time.



Saturday, July 28, 8:30PM – Central Park, 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91103
Psycho (1960)

Psycho is arguably the quintessential Alfred Hitchcock film, and is now and will always be remembered as one of the pinnacles of the horror genre. This film tells the story of a young woman (Janet Leigh) who steals $40,000 from her employer's client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor (Anthony Perkins) too long under the domination of his mother. When Leigh goes missing, her sister (Vera Miles) and sister’s boyfriend (John Gavin) go searching for her, with no anticipation of the horror they will come face to face with.



Psycho was nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Leigh), Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction. It also secured a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress (Leigh). It is on the AFI list of Top 100 Movies of All Time, and is #1 on the list of Top Thriller Movies.



General Public: All screenings are free and open to the public, for more information including a complete schedule visit www.oldpasadena.org/filmfestival

Knott's to offer free admission to military July 2-6

Knott’s Berry Farm and all three Southern California Knott’s Soak City water parks –Palm Springs, San Diego and Buena Park will be offering FREE admission to active and retired United States Military personnel July 2-6 as part of their Tribute to the Armed Forces Program.

Additionally, active and retired members of the U.S. military will be able to purchase discounted admission tickets for members of their immediate family (maximum of six) for Knott's Berry Farm for only $32.99 for each Regular ticket and $27.99 for each Regular Knott's Soak City ticket. The free ticket offer will be available Monday, July 2 through Friday, July 6 with a valid military ID.

Knott’s will celebrate the 4th with a spectacular aerial fireworks show at 10:00 pm as well as offer some fantastic parkwide entertainment starting with Knott’s ice show “Happiness is….Snoopy!” Filled with professional skaters, elaborate sets and a fantastic musical score it is a must see for everyone in the family.

Back by popular demand is Knott’s “All Wheels Extreme” Guests will be amazed by the skills of gravity defying BMX bikers, in-line skaters, gymnasts and even free runners in this fast paced, action packed production.

This summer Knott’s Berry Farm has come alive with new characters that have taken up residence in Knott’s Ghost Town. With Sherriff Jebedeiah Smith, Beau Regard the Saloon owner, the delightful Sweet Adeline and others, life in the 1890’s has never been as colorful or as exciting. This crew will have you seeing life in the Old West in a whole new way.

For the younger set, “Hooray for Hollywood” tells the story of the Peanuts® Gang as they try to make it big in Tinseltown. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and their friend JT pay homage to the golden days of Hollywood in a show that’s sure to delight kids of all ages.

Other unique entertainment offerings include Ballet Folklorico Puro Corazón in Fiesta Plaza, a juggling unicyclist on the Boardwalk Midway, and The Undercover Girls cover band.

A trip to Knott’s would not be complete without sampling some of Knott’s fantastic new food items offered throughout the park including the BBQ Flank Steak sandwich, Slow Cooked BBQ Ribs, or Knott’s very own Big Foot Broiler Kebab sandwich!

Just across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm, Knott’s Soak City is ready for the 4th of July with tons of ways to cool off including Tidal Wave Bay and the thrilling Pacific Spin.

For hours on the day you plan to visit call (714) 220-5200 or check the Knott’s Berry Farm website at www.knotts.com , where you can also save time and money with Knott’s online tickets, or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for Android and iPhone.

50 Years of Reggae Music to be released

August 6th marks the 50th Anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence and VP Records is celebrating with the island's iconic music. On July 31, the label will release an extensive 3 CD set Out Of Many, 50 Years Of Reggae Music - chronicling the genre's evolution with an iconic hit from each year since 1962. To coincide with this release and commemoration, VP recently launched a Facebook page for the "50 Days to Jamaica 50th" countdown:
http://www.facebook.com/50yearsofjamaicanmusic


The page features a daily post on the history of Jamaican music and pays homage to the country's most iconic artists, producers and engineers - similar to the Out Of Many - 50 Years of Reggae Music release.

This 3-disc collection captures the essence of every era over the past five decades with 51 distinctive hits from artists including Lord Creator, Alton Ellis, Skatalites, Augustus Pablo, Dennis Brown, Culture, Eek-A-Mouse, Yellowman, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Shabba Ranks, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Ninjaman, Beres Hammond, Lady Saw, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Sean Paul, Elephant Man, Tanya Stephens, Mavado, Gyptian and many more. The chronological collection includes extensive liner notes written by reggae historian Noel Hawks. He discusses the innovation and evolution of the island's music, and how the iconic label VP Records - once Randy's Record Mart at 17 North Parade in Kingston, Jamaica - played a crucial role in the production and worldwide distribution of these sounds.

Over the past fifty years Jamaica's music has made an indelible mark as a cultural beacon throughout the world. Today, reggae is one of the most influential musical forms. VP Records wants to celebrate these achievements and show the world what a bright future lies ahead.

Out Of Many - 50 Years of Reggae Music Track Listing:

Disc 1

1. Independent Jamaica – Lord Creator (1962)
2. Blow Roland Blow – Joanne Gordon/ Roland Alphonso (1963)
3. Malcolm X – The Skatalites (1964)
4. Mouth A Massy – Alton Ellis (1965)
5. Take It Easy – Hopeton Lewis (1966)
6. Ba Ba Boom – The Jamaicans (1967)
7. Such Is Life – Lord Creator (1968)
8. Love The Reggay – Gaylads (1969)
9. Love Of The Common People – Nicky Thomas (1970)
10. Cherry Oh Baby – Eric Donaldson (1971)
11. Java – Augustus Pablo (1972)
12. Westbound Train – Dennis Brown (1973)
13. Everything I Own – Ken Boothe (1974)
14. Fade Away – Junior Byles (1975)
15. I’m Still In Love With You – Marcia Aiken (1876)
16. Two Sevens Clash – Culture (1977)
17. Smoking My Ganja – Capital Letters (1978)
18. We Got Love – Freddie McGregor (1979)
19. Ice Cream Love – Johnny Osbourne (1980)

Disc 2

20. Wah-Do-Dem – Eek-A- Mouse (1981)
21. Fattie Boom Boom – Ranking Dread (1982)
22. Zungguzungguzunggezeng – Yellowman (1983)
23. Here I Come – Barrington Levy (1984)
24. Under Me Sleng Teng – Wayne Smith (1985)
25. Hello Darling – Tippa Irie (1986)
26. Rumours – Gregory Isaacs (1987)
27. Telephone Love – JC Lodge (1988)
28. Twice My Age – Krystal & Shabba Ranks (1989)
29. Mr. Loverman – Shabba Ranks & Deborah Glasgow (1990)
30. The Going Is Rough – Home T, Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks ((1991)
31. Gal Wine – Chaka Demus & Pliers (1992)
32. The Return – Father & Son – Ninjaman & Ninja Ford (1993)
33. Under mi Sensi (94 Spliff) – Barrington Levy (1994)
34. Can’t Stop A Man – Beres Hammond (1995)
35. Give Me The Reason – Lady Saw (1996)

Disc 3

36. Who Am I – Beenie Man (1997)
37. Heads High – Mr. Vegas (1998)
38. Can You Play Some More – Beres Hammond & Buju Banton (1999)
39. Down By The River – Morgan Heritage (2000)
40. Give It To Her – Tanto Metro & Devonte (2001)
41. Just One Of Those Days – Sizzla (2002)
42. Get Busy – Sean Paul (2003)
43. Pon De River Pon De Bank – Elephant Man (2004)
44. Living In Love – I Wayne (2005)
45. These Streets – Tanya Stephens (2006)
46. Weh Dem A Do – Mavado (2007)
47. Roots – Etana (2008)
48. I Feel Good – Beres Hammond (2009)
49. Hold You – Gyptian (2010)
50. Zungguzungguguzungguzeng (Horsepower Prod Remix) - Yellowman (2011)
51. Independent Jamaica (2012)- Peetah Morgan & Hollie Cook

Terraplane Sun in Santa Ana June 30, Hermosa Beach July 1 and more

Terraplane Sun: http://www.terraplanesun.com/

This 5-piece blues rock outfit hails from Venice Beach and has a swampy southern delta feel reminiscent of the 1960s "California Sound." They'll be playing a bunch of shows coming up in your area and we'd love for you to come out!

Saturday - 6/30 at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana
Sunday - 7/1 at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach
Monday - 7/2 & 7/9 at The Satellite in Silverlake

Stone Axe on writing hiatus

As is typical in rock n’ roll, the rumor mill has been churning and grinding the truth into a semblance of its original form. Since returning from a highly successful tour of the UK and parts of Europe in April, Stone Axe fans have been receiving some mixed messages about the future of these classic rock preservationists. After two Deluxe CD re-issues, a live album, and several years of constant road work, the chief songwriters of the band realized that they needed a break to keep things fresh. So, they put Stone Axe on hiatus for a short while.

Tony Reed, after catching wind of the purported news, posted this statement on the bands website to help clarify the issue:

“Since getting back from the UK/Europe tour in April Dru & I have been taking some time to step outside of Stone Axe and work on some other projects. Dru has been working on a project with Steve Holt from 36 Crazyfists called Cokewulf (Facebook/Cokewulf) and I have been doing a lot of work mixing and mastering bands and also working on the new Mos Generator (Facebook/MosGenerator) album. None of this means there won't be any new Stone Axe. After three years of going full-on, we just need a little break. There are already a few songs recorded for the next record and many more to come. Right now we are riding on the two releases that we hope will keep the listeners satisfied until we can get a new album out. The Stone Axe II: Deluxe & Stone Axe: Captured Live! releases are jam packed full of previously unreleased material and well worth the money. Give 'em a spin and let us know what you think.”

Look for Stone Axe to return in the near future, but in the meantime, enjoy the bands vast catalog of releases, and look for brand new material from Mos Generator and Cokewulf!

www.stoneaxeband.com

Shimmy Showcase Sunday July 1

JULY 1 - Calling all bellydance rockers! Shimmyshowcase coordinator Ilana returns with “Rock a Belly” and Daa-Uud, Sabrina, Ewanni, Reba and Rosé are all set to shake, rattle, and roll (and shimmy of course) with her! If this theme gives you good vibes, please be sure to boogie on down to Viento y Agua this Sunday for a great night of Rock’in Bellydance!



Everyone is invited for a relaxing evening among friends. Select your favorite beverage, hot or cold, from an assortment of coffees, teas, smoothies or juice; add to that a tasty sandwich or pastry; and then seat yourself in the entertainment area to enjoy some really great dancing at NO cover charge!



SHIMMY SHOWCASE begins on most Sundays at 5:30 p.m. at Viento y Agua Coffee House in Long Beach at 4007 East 4th Street; 562-434-1182. Please refer to the detailed schedule below for more information.



Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show time (30 min if you’re a performer!), so you can stop at the refreshment counter to get a delicious beverage, snack or sandwich; then head for the show area and grab a seat so you don’t miss any of our great performers!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below is our upcoming schedule for the next several weeks. If you are a dancer interested in performing at an upcoming showcase, please read on to see whether we have openings in any upcoming showcases and send an email with your preference to Shimmyshowcase@gmail.com



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ UPCOMING SHOWCASE CALENDAR ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 8 - Saviya returns with those lovely belly dancers from Laguna Beach, JJ & the Habibis! These ladies always put on a great show, which you won’t want to miss, so come join your friends at Viento y Agua, grab one of their delicious beverages or food items, and find yourself a great spot from which to enjoy the show.



July 15 - Abraiha returns to host another Shimmyshowcase and welcomes the stunning Jaquelina and IrinaXara, plus new bellydancer Sasha, sensational Sufi dancing by Nicole, and Pepe Gonzalez and his Salsa dancers. With such a fabulous lineup, you want to be sure to make this show! Please plan to arrive early so you can get some refreshment and a place to sit in time for our 5:30 pm start. We’ve got a talent packed program this evening, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it!



July 22 - NO SHIMMYSHOWCASE



July 29 – Shimmyshowcase coordinator Amber will host this evening’s program, and welcomes guest dancers Daa-Uud, Jayel, Nova Kachina, and Sirens of the Sahara back for another performance. This is sure to be a fantastic Shimmyshowcase that you won’t want to miss, so please mark your calendars and join us at Viento y Agua to support these wonderful dancers and enjoy their performances for you!



August 5 - Attention everyone for a Shimmyshowcase first-- “The Male Animal” featuring not one, but FOUR male dancers! Coordinator Saviya welcomes the fabulous Leon, Ibn Fadlan, Ewanni, and Paul! Usually you only get to see one or two of these guys in a Shimmyshowcase, but tonight-- and only tonight--all four will perform in the same program! This is guaranteed to be an exciting, energy packed evening with some spectacular moves, so be sure you don’t miss this show because it will be smoking hot!



August 12 – Coordinator Draca presents “Industrial Goth” featuring guest dancers Reba, Nova Kachina, Bella, and Aleksia.



August 19 - NO SHIMMYSHOWCASE



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



We look forward to seeing you soon at the Sunday Shimmyshowcase at Viento y Agua!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
for Shimmyshowcase information & pictures, please visit our Blog at http://shimmyshowcase.blogspot.com/



NEW! Shimmyshowcase FACEBOOK page! You can get there from http://www.facebook.com/geekdancr#!/profile.php?id=100003686838525&sk=wall

or find us within Facebook at Shimmy Showcase LB or shimmyshowcase@yahoo.com.

Lamb of God speaks out aobut Randy Blythe

June 29, 2012



LAMB OF GOD management will be issuing an official statement on Monday regarding the charges made against singer Randy Blythe. As no formal charges have yet been made and the case is only in the investigation stages, it would be premature to make an official statement filled with false truths or innuendos.



Having said that, management wished to address today one false piece of information that has been included in many of the news stories released so far. Under no circumstances was there a fight of any kind involved. This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance. It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head.



Again, until the investigation is concluded this weekend, nothing more will be released, but clarity and the facts needed to be addressed on this one reported point which is totally inaccurate.

iPalpiti Festival July 21 in Rolling HIlls Estates

15th Annual iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates
iPalpiti Orchestra & Soloists Perform a Festival Preview

When
Saturday, July 21, 2012 - 7:30 p.m.

Where
Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
26438 Crenshaw Blvd.
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
(NE corner of Crenshaw & PV Drive North)

Admission
Suggested donation: $10 / $5 children 12 & under
includes post-concert cookie & coffee reception

For more
Information
www.RHUMC.org/MusicConcerts.asp



The orchestra iPalpiti (ee-PAHL-pit-ee, Italian for "heartbeats") is unique in the world in that it draws its members from top prize-winning laureates of international competitions. iPalpiti has played to great acclaim in leading concert halls around the world. Approximately 30 artists will arrive in Los Angeles from over 20 countries for the annual iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates. Concerts take place at various venues throughout the Southland and culminate in an evening concert by the full orchestra in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Kaskade sells out LA Staples Center

Kaskade marks another industry milestone this week selling out Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center. The trailblazing DJ, who has been named America’s Best DJ by DJ Times and Pioneer DJ, has already earned the distinction of the first Electronic Dance Artist to ever solo-headline the venue and, in his first appearance, it will be a completely sold out show on July 27. The North American “Freaks of Nature” summer 2012 tour presented by Rockstar, has been a major new production for Kaskade, reaching more than 40 cities and also selling out the San Francisco stop at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on July 28.



“I have been working so hard on this new production and it has been so important for me to create a show that I can take to my fans in every market possible that I am incredibly honored that it’s been so well received,” said Kaskade. “The energy from my fans at these shows has been everything I could ever dream of and I am sure LA and SF are going to be particularly off the charts.”



"Kaskade is truly a force in the EDM movement. To sell out both STAPLES Center and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is an amazing achievement in and of itself,” said Perry Lavoisne, Senior Vice President, Live Nation North American Touring.



“Kaskade's success is also further proof that Electronic music and artists are gaining popularity and reaching fans in ways that are invigorating to the industry at large,” added James Barton, President, Live Nation Electronic Music.



After multiple attempts to play the Los Angeles area over the past year, the Staples show will mark Kaskade’s first proper show for the passionate Los Angeles fan base since his two back-to-back sold out shows at the Palladium in 2010. For the new tour, Kaskade has produced a brand new stage set up that will create an electric atmosphere at venues of all sizes, bringing it to everything from ballrooms to theatres, arenas and festivals. The new production has garnered critical acclaim:



RollingStone.com for the NYC show at MCU Park: “Fresh off his performance at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas, Kaskade performed against the backdrop of the famous Brooklyn boardwalk…he filled the minor league baseball stadium with the soaring vocals of Mindy Gledhill from his single, "Eyes," before dropping the bass and delivering more than 90 minutes of adrenaline-fueled house music.”



MTV Buzzworthy: “Kaskade…knows that wherever he goes is where the party's at, which is why he's carving out some time this summer to traverse the United States and Canada giving us some of the most jaw-droppingly rad EDM chills ev-ah on his ‘Freaks Of Nature’ tour.”



Fuse named Kaskade's performance on day two of the second weekend of Coachella as the #1 moment of the day: "When the Chicago-bred DJ-producer born Ryan Raddon hit the stage, it was explosive. Flat LED screens positioned on the underside of the tent, stretching from one end to another, flashed kaleidoscopic color patterns while a sexy woman's voice huffed 'Look into my eyes' ad nauseam. Then—Boom! Crash! Sirens! Jet engine sound!—and the party was underway. This was the other side of Coachella—and it felt a world away from Radiohead, who were playing the main Coachella stage on the other end of the Polo Fields. You could hear the Oxford band kick off their set, but soon they were silenced by Kaskade's dance party. I’m a huge fan of Thom Yorke and Co., but this was hard to leave."



Ryan Raddon, known as Kaskade, has been in the trenches of the electronic dance music (EDM) scene as an original recording artist and in-demand DJ for more than a decade. He has released seven studio albums, including his latest “Fire & Ice,” scored nine Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay Chart, created chart-topping remixes for everyone from Lady Gaga to Beyonce, appeared at all the major summer music festivals, and has performed between 150 and 200 headlining shows a year for the last 10 years, building a name for himself as an innovator of the EDM scene as we know it today. His 2011 release “Fire & Ice,” released by Ultra Music, debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart, # 3 on the Independent Albums Chart and # 17 on the Top 200 Albums chart, while the iTunes version debuted at # 4 on the overall album chart. Currently, Kaskade has a monthly residency at Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub in Las Vegas, which he’ll continue with throughout the tour.



For more information on Kaskade, exclusive updates and more visit www.kaskademusic.com or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kaskade ; and on Twitter @Kaskade. For more information on the tour, check out www.freaksofnaturetour.com.


KASKADE FREAKS OF NATURE TOUR DATES (with many more to be announced)



DATE
CITY
VENUE

MAY 26
LAS VEGAS
THE CHELSEA AT THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS

JUN 15
NEW YORK
MCU PARK

JUN 16
MONTREAL
OLYMPIA THEATRE

JUN 19
CINCINNATI
BOGART'S

JUN 20
CLEVELAND
HOUSE OF BLUES

JUN 21
MINNEAPOLIS
EPIC EVENT CENTER

JUN 22
WORCESTER
DCU EXHIBITION HALL

JUN 23
HARTFORD
FESTIVAL STAGE AT COMCAST

JUN 26
CHARLESTON
MUSIC FARM

JUN 28
PHILADELPHIA
FESTIVAL PIER AT PENN'S LANDING

JUN 29
BALTIMORE
1ST MARINER ARENA

JUN 30
GIBBONS
BOONSTOCK FESTIVAL

JUL 01
toronto
DIGITAL DREAMS FESTIVAL

JUL 11
CHARLOTTE
FILLMORE

JUL 12
ATLANTA
TABERNACLE

JUL 13
TAMPA
FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXPO HALL

JUL 14
MIAMI
KLIPSCH AMPHITHEATRE AT BAYFRONT PARK

JUL 16
NASHVILLE
LIMELIGHT

JUL 18
KANSAS CITY
UPTOWN THEATER

JUL 19
OKLAHOMA CITY
DIAMOND BALLROOM

JUL 20
HOUSTON
BAYOU MUSIC CENTER

JUL 21
DALLAS
Palladium ballroom

JUL 23
SAN ANTONIO
COWBOYS

JUL 24
EL PASO
BUCHANAN'S EVENT CENTER

JUL 25
ALBUQUERQUE
SUNSHINE THEATER

JUL 26
TUCSON
RIALTO

JUL 27
LOS ANGELES
STAPLES CENTER

JUL 28
SAN FRANCISCO
BILL GRAHAM CIVIC AUDITORIUM

JUL 30
ASPEN
BELLY UP

JUL 31
PARK CITY
PARK CITY LIVE

AUG 01
DENVER
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE

AUG 03
INDIANAPOLIS
EGYPTIAN ROOM

AUG 04
DETROIT
FILLMORE

AUG 05
CHICAGO
LOLLAPALOOZA

AUG 07
SPOKANE
KNITTING FACTORY

AUG 08
SACRAMENTO
MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

AUG 09
PORTLAND
ROSELAND BALLROOM

AUG 10
SEATTLE
WAMU THEATER

AUG 11
VANCOUVER
PNE FORUM

AUG 12
VICTORIA
9ONE9

AUG 13
BOISE
KNITTING FACTORY

AUG 15
SASKATOON
TEQUILA NIGHTCLUB




**MORE SHOWS TBA**

Thursday, June 28, 2012

'Still Life' coming to Norton Simon Museum July 20

The Norton Simon Museum Presents the Exhibition

Significant Objects: The Spell of Still Life



On View July 20, 2012 through Jan. 21, 2013


The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena presents "Significant Objects: The Spell of Still Life," an exhibition that examines the diversity and splendor of this genre that has attracted artists since antiquity.

Drawing on the spectacular resources of the Norton Simon collections, as well as a few select loans, the exhibition features approximately 70 artworks, including paintings, sculpture, collage, assemblage, prints and photographs, spanning five centuries.

Among these are stellar examples by the genre's greatest practitioners, including Jan Brueghel, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco de Zurbarán, Paul Cézanne, Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin, Gustave Courbet, Henri Fantin-Latour, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Richard Diebenkorn, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston and George Herms.

www.nortonsimon.org

Chaka Khan supports No Excuses National Initiative

10-time GRAMMY Award winning singer and activist Chaka Khan and top Los Angeles community and business leaders announced today the Los Angeles kick-off of the No Excuses National Initiative, a pilot program that aims to keep juvenile offenders from returning to jail.



"In Los Angeles County, more than 60 percent of all incarcerated youth return to custody after their release," said Ms. Khan at a press conference this morning at the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles. "These kids need our help."



The aim of No Excuses is to enlist local business leaders to mentor young offenders upon their release from juvenile detention. So far such wide-ranging businesses as Robnett Electric, Pacific Beauty College of Los Angeles and R.E.S.C.U.E. have stepped up to offer mentorship opportunities. Other prestigious companies like Apple One have expressed interest in participating. Businesses and juvenile offenders alike are encouraged to sign up for the No Excuses program at www.chakakhanfoundation.org/noexcuses.



"I challenge business leaders all over the country to step up and help these children," continued Ms. Khan. "More important than your money, these kids need your time and expertise to help them make a successful transition to a better life."



One of the beneficiaries of an intense mentor relationship is former Sylmar Juvenile Hall inmate Prophet Walker who shared his experiences with the gathered crowd. His journey out of a life behind bars began after attending InsideOUT Writers, an educational program for incarcerated young men and women that strives to reduce recidivism through workshops that discourage violence and promote pro-social means of self expression. His teacher in the writing classes was top Hollywood producer Scott Budnick who took the young Mr. Walker under his wing. Prophet is now a senior in civil engineering at Loyola Marymount University and a fulltime project engineer at Nautilus Group Inc., a real estate investment, development and design-build construction services firm.

"I wouldn't have made it where I am today without the support of mentors along the way, including my godfather Richard Jones, Scott, InsideOUT Writers and so many others," said Mr. Walker. "What Chaka is doing with No Excuses will provide a very important avenue towards success for kids who need a little extra help, just like I did."

In fact, InsideOUT Writers, which was founded in 1996 to provide creative writing classes to youth incarcerated in L.A. County detention facilities, will administer the No Excuses program in partnership with the Chaka Khan Foundation. InsideOUT Writers Executive Director, Wendy Killian shared her thoughts on the new initiative at the press conference.

Other speakers at the press conference included Chaka Khan Foundation President Veronica Coffield and community leader Avis Ridley-Thomas. Business leader Bill Thomas, who is Vice President of Operations at Robnett Electric, announced that his company has agreed to mentor 100 young men and women in the greater Los Angeles area.



Over the last two weeks, Ms. Khan, joined by business and community leaders, as well as friends from the entertainment industry, visited four local detention centers in the Los Angeles area - Central Juvenile Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Camp David Gonzales in Calabasas and Camp Scudder in Santa Clarita. During a four hour presentation and dialogue session, following the Days of Dialogue format created by Avis Ridley-Thomas, young men and women were encouraged to open up about their situations and what led them to their incarceration. At one particular visit when asked what was most important in helping them to make good choices in the future, kids overwhelmingly said that good mentors and role models were most important to their future success.



And now as the No Excuses National Initiative rolls out in an L.A. County pilot program, young people throughout the area will have the opportunity to connect with business people in their communities to learn the very basic skills they will need to land a job and be successful in society and avoid returning to jails and institutions.



Funding for No Excuses is provided by Wells Fargo (Gold Sponsor), The California Endowment, Carol Biondi and The GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please visit www.chakakhanfoundation.org/noexcuses.

Slash to tour in fall

SLASH Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators--Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass) and Frank Sidoris (guitar)--have announced a fall headlining tour starting September 4 at the House of Blues in San Diego, CA and wrapping October 3 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA.



The exclusive presale for Citi card members starts Tuesday, July 3. Citi card members will also have special access to tickets as well as VIP experiences at http://www.citiprivatepass.com/. A limited amount of VIP packages--including a chance to meet SLASH and get an autographed guitar--will also be available for fans during the pre sale which begins Tuesday, July 10th. General public on sales will begin Friday, July 13 at 10 AM. Purchase tickets for The Wiltern date at LiveNation.com, select Live Nation and Ticketmaster retail outlets and via Charge-By-Phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket info will also be available at http://slashonline.com/tour/ . See the tour dates below.



This news comes as the band, coming off a successful European trek, gets ready to launch a summer headlining tour of the U.S. and Canada July 12 in Portland, OR, right after the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will be honored with his own star on the Hollywood Blvd Walk of Fame on July 10.

The tour is in connection with the success of SLASH’s second solo studio album APOCALYPTIC LOVE which stormed onto the BillboardTop 200 Albums Chart at #4, marking the top rock debut that week. SLASH has achieved his first-ever #1 hit at rock radio as the explosive first single “You’re A Lie” vaults to the #1 spot this week at Active Rock. Watch the video for “You’re A Lie” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SZrJLMTO-8. The album also entered the Top 5 in seven countries outside the U.S.: Canada (#2), Australia (#2), New Zealand (#1), Germany (#5), France (#7), Japan (#2), Sweden (#4) and Switzerland (#3). All the songs on APOCALYPTIC LOVE (Dik Hayd International, distributed through EMI Label Services) were written together by SLASH and Myles Kennedy.



For the tour, SLASH teamed with Guitar Center–the world’s largest music retailer-–to offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity to twenty unsigned American bands. Twenty bands will be hand-selected to be SLASH’s opening acts and will perform on the fall touring the cities closest to their hometown. At the end of the fall run, one of the opening bands will be named by SLASH as the grand prize winner of Guitar Center On-Stage. Not only will the bands be opening for one of the world’s greatest guitarists, but they will also receive a tour support prize pack that includes gear from Ernie Ball, Zoom, Dunlop, Monster Cable, Pro-Mark, and Converse. The top performing band on the tour, as selected by SLASH, will be named the grand prize winner and take home $10,000 in guitars from Gibson and Epiphone, plus a $5,000 shopping spree at Guitar Center and more. The twenty bands will be announced in August.



“I’m a strong believer that the best way to get your music heard is to get out there and play shows,” said SLASH. “There are tons of talented bands that simply don’t have the resources to go on tour, so I’m glad to be able to host them on my tour and at the same time introduce my fans to great, undiscovered artists



SLASH and his band are riding a wave of critical acclaim with a four-star review in Revolver magazine noting: “Apocalyptic Love is at heart a collection of lean, high-octane rock-and-roll tunes built to be blasted out of open-top sports cars or, more suitably, open-air stadiums” (July 2012). Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Times said: “Fans of his work in GNR and Velvet Revolver will find much to embrace in the album's 13 tracks, ranging from the sneering rock hooks of ‘You're a Lie’ and the heavy metal grind of ‘Halo’ to the extended instrumental passages on ‘Anastasia’” (May 24, 2012).





SLASH: featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators tour dates:

DATE

CITY
VENUE

w/ Monster Truck supporting:


Thu
7/12
Portland, OR
Roseland Theater

Fri
7/13
Seattle, WA
Paramount Theatre

Sat
7/14
Vancouver, BC
Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Mon
7/16
Edmonton, AB
Northern Alberta Jubilee

Tue
7/17
Calgary, AB
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Thu
7/19
Medicine Hat, AB
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre

Fri
7/20
Saskatoon, SK
TCU Place

Sat
7/21
Winnipeg, MB
Burton Cummings Theatre

Mon
7/23
Thunder Bay, ON
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Wed
7/25
Belleville, ON
Empire Square Live

Thu
7/26
London, ON
Harris Park

Fri
7/27
Montreal, QC
Olympia Theater

Sun
7/29
Quebec City, QC
Agora de Quebec

Mon
7/30
Moncton, New Brunswick
Centre-Casino Moncton

Tue
7/31
Halifax, NS
Cunard Events Centre

Thu
8/2
Boston, MA
House of Blues

Fri
8/3
Montclair, NJ
Wellmo nt Theatre

Sat
8/4
Huntington, NY
The Paramount

Tue
8/7
Dubuque, IA
Diamond Jo Casino-Mississippi Moon Bar

Wed
8/8
St. Louis, MO
The Pageant

Fri
8/10
Sturgis, SD
Buffalo Chip Campground

Fall Headline Tour with Foxy Shazam:


Tue
9/4
San Diego, CA
House of Blues

Wed
9/5
Phoenix, AZ
Celebrity Theatre

Fri
9/7
Austin, TX
Stubbs

Sat
9/8
Dallas, TX
House of Blues

Sun
9/9
Houston, TX
House of Blues

Tue
9/11
New Orleans, LA
House of Blues

Wed
9/12
Atlanta, GA
Tabernacle

*Sun
9/16
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Tue
9/18
New York, NY
Hammerstein Ballroom

Wed
9/19
Cleveland, OH
House of Blues

Fri
9/21
Cincinnati, OH
Bogart’s

Sat
9/22
Detroit, MI
Fillmore

*Sun
9/23
Toronto, ON
Sound Academy

Tue
9/25
Indianapolis, IN
Egyptian Room

Fri
9/28
Chicago, IL
Riviera Theater

Sat
9/29
Springfield, MO
O’Reilly Family Events Center

Tue
10/2
Oakland, CA
Fox Theater

Wed
10/3
Los Angeles, CA
The Wiltern




*Slash only



http://www.slashonline.com/


VIDEO: “You’re A Lie”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SZrJLMTO-8

Excursions: A Sound Painting to be reissued

Excursions: A Sound Painting was originally released on cassette in 1998. The recordings were mostly performed on keyboards, but there is one song played on ukulele, another on bass guitar and several that are strictly studio sound manipulations. The disc is meant to tell a story through sound, a tale of space travel. For that reason, it's not really music in a real traditional sense, but more of a sound painting.



When it was first released on CD (the disc has been out of print since the fall of 2011), Rick Damigella said this at Music Street Journal, "Excursions: A Sound Painting feels like it would be right at home on (my old hard core electronic music program). Excursions is a very unique piece of audio art. It is a set of sound paintings, designed to tell a story. I should be upfront and mention this is not music in the strict, clinical sense. It is, however, a uniquely different kind of recording, geared towards the most adventurous ears, fans of space sounds of the hardest hardcore variety or those who seek something non-traditionally ambient."



Certainly there are limitations in terms of sound quality due to the recording technology used, but the performances were worth preserving. This was originally released (both the cassette version and the first CD release) under the name Gary Hill. Since then Hill has started using the name G. W. Hill for all his professional work.



G. W. Hill began playing music at age 15, starting on bass guitar. In addition to performing music, Hill is a published author (The Strange Sound of Cthulhu: Music Inspired by the Writing of H. P. Lovecraft and Strange Realities: The Collected Short Stories of Gary Hill) and a music journalist.



G. W. Hill lives in the Rockford, Illinois area and is currently working on a new album (in the very early stages). There are several guests lined up for the new recording, but they are all top secret at this point (although one famous actor has submitted a spoken part to be used). Hill also publishes Music Street Journal and writes for numerous other outlets.



Excursions is currently available exclusively at createspace.com/2018009, but will be available at Amazon.com within the next week or so.

Tyrese at Universal CityWalk June 29 - free

Versatile actor/musician/philanthropist Tyrese, known world-wide for his lead roles in the blockbuster series “Transformers” and “2 Fast and 2 Furious,” will take the stage at the “5 Towers” on CityWalk to perform hits from his latest album, “Open Invitation” including the number one single, “Stay.”



Hundreds of fans are expected to catch Tyrese’s soulful renditions of hits like the sultry “Sweet Lady” and the smash track “How U Gonna Act Like That.”



WHAT: Universal CityWalk debuts the all-new Music Spotlight Series, a free, outdoor concert program at the state-of-the-art “5 Towers.” This showcase of music and entertainment’s emerging and established talent offers an eclectic array of chart-topping recording artists, the hottest club and radio DJs, and dynamic dance crews. The series features Spotlight Fridays, Spin Saturdays, and Retro Cover Bands and Latin Sundays as part of this unique platform highlighting Los Angeles’ diverse music scene.



Tyrese’s Music Spotlight Series performance at “5 Towers” marks the one year anniversary of this game changing concert venue.



WHEN: Friday, June 29, 2012 7:45 p.m.



WHERE: “5 Towers” on Universal CityWalk (located next to the Cinemas)

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Reggae Night at the Hollywood Bowl July 15

The Hollywood Bowl's Annual Reggae Night is set for July 15th. This year's show will boast acts such as the Toots and the Maytals, Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Freddie McGregor and Bob Andy. Furthermore, his year's remarkable artists and host, KCRW's Jeremy Sole, will be coming together for this memorable night to celebrate the legends of reggae.


REGGAE NIGHT - TUFF GONG WORLDWIDE & ZIGGY MARLEY SALUTE LEGENDS OF REGGAE

KCRW's World Fest

Sunday, July15, 2012 7:00PM

Hollywood Bowl

2301 North Highland Avenue

Hollywood, CA 90068

323.850.2000



Purchase Link:

http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/performance-detail.cfm?id=4841&utm_medium=p&utm_source=filter&utm_campaign=reggaehb12



ARTISTS:
Toots and the Maytals

Ziggy Marley

Maxi Priest

Freddie McGregor

Bob Andy

Jeremy Sole, host


ABOUT THIS PROGRAM:

The Bowl rocks with the very best roots reggae artists from Jamaica and beyond!

Official Site: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/

Full Calendar: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/calendar.cfm

J.T. Thomspson making hip-hop documentary

As the world anticipates
the return of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards TV show to national
television later this year the creator and executive producer of the
program J.T. Thompson is preparing his new Hip Hop Music and Cultural
history documentary film entitled Hip Hop Hall of Fame Uncut.

This documentary will follow the History of Hip Hop through the eyes of
the Artists and Pioneers who started it, and lived it. We will document
their stories in the film that will be completed in time for the
Sundance Film Festival.

The project has begun filming and will include the footage from the
original Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards show that aired on BET Network in
the 90s, and the upcoming Hip Hop Hall of Fame 'All Star' Museum
Benefit Concert on Monday July 30th. The concert and production will
feature performances by the Legendary Cold Crush Brothers, the Crash
Crew, the Fearless Four, DAS EFX, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, Black Sheep,
Rob Base, and Philly's Schoolly D.

The recent success of Ice T's film the Art of Rap, underscores the Hip
Hop Hall of Fame Uncut story will be as equally compelling with an
accurate account of the history of hip hop music and culture to the
creation of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. The project will also include a
bonus music album compilation co-produced by Hip Hop Global Media &
Entertainment.

The Hip Hop Hall of Fame was created in 1992 by the Brooklyn born,
Queens, Harlem, and South LA raised James JT Thompson, whose
grand-uncle played with Harlem legends Billie Holiday and Louise
Armstrong, while he was working on the Historic L.A. Gang Truce and
serving as a Community Leader and Organizer in the City of Los Angeles
during the '92 LA Riots. Mr. Thompson seen there was no outreach
between the Music, Culture, Youth, and Community to effect real
Socio-Economic and Political change thru Urban Public and Private
Partnerships and Hip Hop.

J.T. Thompson established the Hip Hop Hall of Fame in partnership with
Hip Hop Pioneers, after he rebuilt the Sear's Hollywood store with at
risk youth and former gang members after the civil unrest. He also
co-founded the Minority Contractors, worked tirelessly with the
R.O.Y.A.L. Alliance of Students, Colleges, and Gang Interventions
organizations, producing music concerts, the first Hip Hop Get Out the
Vote Campaigns that even got the attention of then Presidential
Candidate Bill Clinton who came and played basketball in the
neighborhood with his group, and selected some of his members in his 50
faces of Hope.

After working on a television deal for two years the US Army Veteran
scored with African Heritage Network in late '94 that lead to the BET
Cable Network deal in '95 and subsequent broadcasts of the Hip Hop Hall
of Fame Awards TV Show. J.T. Thompson has had to defend and protect the
Hip Hop Hall of Fame, and Awards show from trademark infringers,
website and domain squatters, and unauthorized merchandisers.

"These stories had to be told, because through it all the Hip Hop Hall of Fame
Awards Show is back, and the Museum & Entertainment complex has found a
home in New York City," stated J.T. Thompson.

See http://hiphophall.org

Bruce Springsteen to be honored by MusiCares Feb. 8 in LA

Bruce Springsteen will be honored as the 2013 MusiCares® Person of the Year on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation® and The Recording Academy®, and Scott Pascucci, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board. Proceeds from the 23rd annual benefit gala dinner and concert — to be held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY® Week two days prior to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® — will provide essential support for MusiCares (www.musicares.org ), which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need. Arranger/composer and nationally renowned music producer Rob Mathes will be the evening's musical director.



Springsteen is being honored as the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary creative accomplishments as well as his significant charitable work, which has included an impressive range of philanthropic activities over the years.



"Bruce Springsteen is a truly gifted and Renaissance artist of our time, a national treasure, and an exemplary humanitarian," said Portnow. "His career is a testament to the power of creative excellence, and his contributions as a philanthropist speak to the tenacity of the human spirit. We are privileged and honored to pay tribute to Bruce this year as our MusiCares Person of the Year."



"Bruce is synonymous with artistic independence and a passion for causes that are close to his heart," said Pascucci. "His career seamlessly combines inspiration and charity, and it's a reminder that we can all do our part to make the world a better place."



The 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a dinner, the award presentation and a star-studded tribute concert. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The celebration culminates with the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/PT.



Springsteen's recording career spans nearly 40 years, beginning with his 1973 Columbia Records release Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. By 1975, the covers of both Time and Newsweek declared Springsteen's music a national phenomenon. He has released 17 studio albums, garnered 20 GRAMMY Awards and won an Oscar (for "Streets Of Philadelphia" from 1993's Philadelphia). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2009 he was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. His albums Born To Run and Born In The U.S.A. have been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®. Springsteen's latest album, Wrecking Ball, was released in March. Springsteen has supported a wide range of charitable causes including organizations that work to alleviate homelessness and hunger.



The MusiCares Foundation offers programs and services to members of the music community

including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent, utilities and car payments; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; psychotherapy; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with healthcare professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund® allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms, supported by the Bohemian Foundation, offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events. MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. The MusiCares Sober Touring Network is a database of individuals across the United States who can take music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.



Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "MusiCares" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/musicares and follow @MusiCares on Twitter at www.twitter.com/musicares.



Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.



For information on purchasing tables and tickets to the event, please contact Dana Tomarken at MusiCares, 310.392.3777.

Lindy Groove dance Thursdays in Pasadena June 28

LindyGroove tonight Thursday June 28th 2012

Main Ballroom
Guest DJ Peter Flahiff (Seattle)
Guest DJ Kristin Buxton (Los Angeles)
DJ Vicky Chan (Los Angeles)

2nd Ballroom (The Lab)
This week: Balboa with DJ Augie Freeman (Los Angeles)
Next week: West Coast swing
Lindy Hop Lessons:
Beginning Lindy with Jason Vaughan & Heather Martelle 7:30 to 8:30
Intermediate Lindy with Ben Yau & Vicky Chan 7:30 to 8:30
Lindy Techniques with Neil Figuracion 7:30 to 8:30
Advanced Intensive with Augie Freeman & Irina Amzashvili (Audition required)
Mini private lessons this week our instructors are
Ben Yau, Peter Flahiff, Josh Gomez, Augie Freeman, Irina Amzashvilf, Sara Lerner, Amanda Hanson Gates

LindyGroove Birthdays:
Delphine Laurens
InMee Holmes
Jazmine Domenzain
Josephine Bidwell

Welcome visiting dancers by including them in our Birthday/Visitor Jam (Email us names/cities or tell the DJ)

LindyGroove Details:
*Every Thursday dance to the best swingin Jazz and Blues DJ's from around the country.
*Grand Ballroom of the Historic Pasadena Masonic Lodge 200 S. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
*5,400 sq. ft. floating wooden dance floor
*Complimentary Beginning and Intermediate Lindy Lesson 7:30-8:15
*Dancing until Midnight.
*Complimentary Parking until 12:45 AM (Lot is locked at 12:45 AM)
*All Ages
*Cover $8.00 (Except for special events)

www.LindyGroove.com

Cathy Heller in LA July 18



1st Division Marine Band in Arcadia July 5

July 5, 2012—The 1st Marine Division Band



Join us this summer at Arcadia’s annual Summer Concerts in the Park series presented by Target. The seven-week entertainment series showcases a wide variety of musical performances. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating on the grass and enjoy a picnic dinner during the show. Kids of all ages will be entertained in our FREE kids’ fun zone area with many games and crafts each week.



Become a part of the Arcadia tradition, gather your family and friends and enjoy the sights and sounds of this year’s concert series. Whether you attend one or all seven, we are sure you will have a great time! As always, admission and parking are free. (Additional parking held at Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 5.) Concerts take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8pm on beautiful City Hall West Lawn located at 240 West Huntington Drive. In addition, the City is pleased to announce the addition of da Burger Boss Gourmet Food Truck at all of the 2012 Summer Concert Series! A portion of the proceeds will be given to the Recreation and Community Services Department!



The 1st Marine Division Band will start off the series to a patriotic theme. The band is based out of Camp Pendleton, California and consists of 50 Marine musicians. While the primary mission of the 1st Marine Division Band is to provide musical support for military parades and ceremonies, they remain versatile to accommodate other needs. In addition to the Ceremonial Band and Concert Band, the band forms smaller ensembles such as Big Band, Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet, and Party Band. They perform at over 300 commitments a year, with highlights including the State Funeral of President Ford, the Tournament of Roses Parades, Disneyland's Independence Day Concerts, and annual concerts at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. In 2007, the 1st Marine Division Band was awarded the "Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands" administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.



For additional information, contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at 626.574.5113.

Jazz at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center July 1, 15 & 22

Performing Arts Center for July 2012


Sundays – The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center All-Star Big Band

WHEN: Sundays, July 1, 15 and 22, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

WHO &
WHAT: The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center All-Stars Big Band directed by Saxophonist John Stephens featuring some of the most talented players on the West Coast, along with the legendary Jazz and Blues singer, Barbara Morrison. The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center is the only venue in Los Angeles serving up a big dose of Big Band Jazz and Blues every Sunday this summer.

WHERE: The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008

HOW: The Cover Charge is $10 per person. For reservations, please call 323-296-BARB (323-296-2272). For more information, and to buy online, please visit the website, www.barbaramorrionspac.com.



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Monday Night Jam Sessions

WHEN: Mondays, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

WHO &
WHAT: Two Jazz Giants: Famed Guitarist, Jacqes Lesure and Legendary Bassist, James Leary, from The Count Basie Band

WHERE: The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008

HOW: There is no Cover Charge, but Donations are welcome. No reservations are needed. For more information, please call 323-296-BARB (323-296-2272) or visit the website, www.barbaramorrionspac.com.



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Thursdays – Comedy Night – Do You Think You’re Funny?


WHEN: Thursdays, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

WHO &
WHAT: Cornelius Grant, former bandleader for the original Temptations, features some of the top comics in the country in this living room feel venue. Stop by on your way to some place else, but beware you may never get to where you’re going. Be prepared to laugh.

WHERE: The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008

HOW: The Cover Charge is $10 per person. For reservations, please call 323-296-BARB (323-296-2272). For more information, and to buy online, please visit the website, www.barbaramorrionspac.com.



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The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center Summer Jazz Concert Series


WHEN: Sunday, July 29, 2012 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. The series will then continue into August and September 2012.

WHO &
WHAT: Trumpeter Steve Huffstetter.

WHERE: The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008

HOW: The Cover Charge is $20 per person and includes Brunch. For reservations, please call 323-296-BARB (323-296-2272). For more information, and to buy online, please visit the website, www.barbaramorrionspac.com.

Rick Shea in Culver City June 20

I'm playing an acoustic show Saturday at Boulevard Music with Tom Corbett, Tom and I have been doing shows as a duo for a few years now, sharing singing and playing. Most of our shows have been in NorCal but Sat Night is right here in Culver City, James Hurley will open the show.

Sat June 30th 8pm
Boulevard Music
4316 Sepulveda Bl
Culver City 90230
310 398 2583
Rick Shea & Tom Corbett
plus James Hurley

www.rickshea.com

Right The Stars in Hollywood July 12

Los Angels indie pop-rock band Right The Stars will perform at the Viper Room on Thursday, July 12.

In March, Right the Stars released the debut “Hello Yes Ok.” Several of the albums songs have been placed in commercials including “Best Days of Our Lives” ) in a Pixar/Xbox commercial and “We Got It All” in a Honda commercial in Australia. Their haunting cover of Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” has had over 50,000+ views on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hm76LDG_Og

Right The Stars is fronted by Los Angeles singer/songwriter and producer Rich Jaques. He recently produced Kina Grannis' album Stairwells, the first single "Valentine" has 13 million youtube hits and the second "In Your Arms" has almost 7million. He’s also been working with ABC Family writing and recording songs for Tyler Blackburn including the first single “Find A Way.”

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Cocktails with Doo Dah Queens in Pasadena July 1



Tenacious D coming to the Wiltern July 31

Following the release of Tenacious D's widely successful third studio album, Rize of the Fenix, the band have added a Los Angeles show to their 2012 Summer tour. The show will take place at The Wiltern on July 31, 2012. Select tickets sales begin Friday, June 29, for more information visit www.tenaciousd.com.

In May 2012, Rize of the Fenix entered the top 5 of the charts around the world, debuting at #2 in the UK & Austria, #4 in Ireland & Switzerland and #5 in Germany. In the US the band saw their highest debut ever entering the chart at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and #1 on the Billboard Rock Albums chart.

"The brave warriors return...savagely beaten down by the long exile in the desert of non believers.they emerge triumphant.survivors of a post apocalyptic war on rock and roll.more heroic and robust than ever before. it is the dawning of a new day..the dawn of the D." -Tenacious D

Their first studio album in six years, Rize of the Fenix is the follow-up to 2006's gold The Pick of Destiny and 2001's platinum debut album Tenacious D. Produced by the brilliant John Kimbrough, Rize Of The Fenix was recorded in the garage behind his LA home and features Jack Black and Kyle Gass (Tenacious D's core duo) performing with Dave Grohl (drums), John Spiker (bass, piano, organ), and John Konesky (electric guitar).


In support of the new album, Tenacious D will visit The Daily Show with Jon Stewart this Thursday. They've also made appearances on CBS This Morning (May 14), The Late Show with David Letterman (May 14), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (May 15), The Howard Stern Show (May 15) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (May 18).

Tenacious D are currently on their 2012 summer tour. Tickets are available at www.tenaciousd.com See below for full dates.

Tenacious D on tour:


June 28 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom

June 29 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom

June 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Penn's Landing - Festival Pie

July 2 Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion

July 3 Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena

July 5 Toronto, ON @ Echo Beach at Molson Amphitheatre

July 6 Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit

July 7 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

July 19 Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall

July 20 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom

July 21 Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater

July 23 Saint Louis, MO @ The Pageant

July 24 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater

July 26 Denver, Co @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

July 28 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

July 29 San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theatre

July 31 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

 

Rize of the Fenix song titles:


Rize of the Fenix

Low Hangin' Fruit

Classical Teacher

Señorita

Deth Starr

Roadie

Flutes and Trombones

Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage Throwdown Rock Is Dead They Fucked Our Asses To Be The Best

39



Rize of the Fenix Available now:

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/rizeofthefenix

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/rizeofthefenixcd

www.tenaciousd.com

www.columbiarecords.com

Bombastic Meatbats release live recording

That Chad Smith is one busy gentleman - having to balance his jammed schedule as both a member of both the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot. And that's not even his full roster, as evidenced by Smith's funk/jam side project, the Bombastic Meatbats, who have just issued their first-ever live recording, 'Live Meat and Potatoes' via Marmaduke Records, which is available as both a traditional CD and as a download, via the following links, respectively:

http://marmaduke.jeffkollman.com/

.

Consisting of drummer Smith, guitarist Jeff Kollman (from Cosmosquad), bassist Kevin Chown (Uncle Kracker, Tarja Turunen), and keyboardist Ed Roth (Coolio and Ronnie Montrose), the band first formed in 2008, and hails from Los Angeles.

The third record in the evolution of the Meatbats sound, 'Live Meat And Potatoes' captures the band in their most natural environment: in front of a live audience in an intimate setting. The band has found its sound after its first two studio releases, 'Meet the Meatbats' and 'More Meat.' LIVE is where they shine the brightest, featuring long extended jams that take the audience on a roller coaster ride of funk, rock and experimental madness of all sorts.

"This double disc is the perfect representation of the Meatbats," explains Kollman. "The recipe starts with the Chad Smith intangible funk groove along with a memorable melody, some sex chords, a bit of sarcasm, and the bombastic interplay that defines the bats. Plus a bit of the kitchen sink thrown in."

As Kollman hints at, the band has a knack for merging killer chops with humor - as evidenced by such song titles as "Opps! I Spilled My Beer," "Pigsfeet," and "Lobster Legs." Additionally, the cover of 'Live Meat and Potatoes' pays tribute to Kiss' 'Love Gun' album cover. Also, Smith pays homage to one of his top influences, the legendary John Bonham, with a slow and funky cover of "Moby Dick" in a way it's never been heard before.

The group's latest figures to match up to the success of their earlier releases, which debuted in the top-20 of iTunes' jazz chart. Additionally, the group's earlier single, "Shag," was one of the most added songs in jazz radio during 2011, and was featured in the USA Network television series, 'Covert Affairs.'

And the lucky fans that have caught the Bombastic Meatbats live can attest that the group offers consistent on-the-edge performances - resulting in the material never being played the same way twice.

As Chown explains, "It's been interesting watching and experiencing the band evolve. Our challenge was always capturing what we came up with spontaneously in our writing and jam sessions. That's hard to do in a studio environment. In front of an audience, we let it all hang out and have a good time with it. It really captures the band the way WE hear it. Live and on the edge."

Bring a healthy appetite for the latest serving of Bombastic Meatbats, 'Live Meat and Potatoes'!

COMPLETE 'LIVE MEAT AND POTATOES' TRACKLISTING:

1. OOPS I SPILLED MY BEER

2. PASSING THE ACE

3. MOUNTAIN OF MEAT

4. THE GUNBOAT IS ON!

5. NIGHTSWEATS

6. TOPPS OFF

7. PIGS FEET

8. NEED STRANGE

9. DEATHMATCH

10. BATTLE FOR VENTURA BLVD

11. MOBY DICK

12. SHILO'S FORBIDDEN CITY BLUES

13. BREADBALLS

14. LOBSTER LEGS

15. INTO THE FLOYD



FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

http://www.facebook.com/bombasticmeatbats

Noah Benardout in residency for July at Hard Rock Hollywood

Hard Rock is committed to recognizing and supporting emerging talent. Never has this been more prevalent than with the announcement of 17 year-old Noah Benardout’s residency for the month of July at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd.



“Noah is an incredible talent that Hard Rock was lucky enough to discover last summer on the recommendation of famed rock photographer Robert Knight,” said Eileen Mercolino, Brand Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. “We are super excited for Noah’s shows. He has already proved his value, selling out two previous shows here at the Hard Rock Hollywood Blvd and it was a natural choice for us to offer him a residency. This time though, we are pulling out all the stops and Noah’s July shows will be more of an event series that celebrate his talent, charities that he has chosen to endorse and other unique emerging artists that he has personally selected to support him “.



Noah Benardout’s residency will begin on Friday, July 6, 2012, with an Independence Day theme and culminate on Friday, July 27, 2012 with a party in honor of what would have been Jimi Hendrix’s 70th birthday. Support acts for the series include Black Vinyl (July 6th), Haddon Cord (July 13th), Michael Lemmo (July 20th), Chronolung (July 27th) and Brotherhood of the Guitar (July 27th).



Noah Benardout’s residency is sponsored in part by Fender, Guitar Center, Swinghouse, BandPage, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, Bands Under The Radar, Kings of A&R and the Sunset Marquis.



What: Hard Rock Café Hollywood Blvd Hosts its July Residency Artist

NOAH BENARDOUT plus support



When: Friday, July 6, 2012

10:00 p.m. Black Vinyl

10:45 p.m. Noah Benardout



Friday, July 13, 2012

10:00 p.m. Haddon Cord

10:45 p.m. Noah Benardout



Friday, July 20, 2012

10:00 p.m. Michael Lemmo

10:45 p.m. Noah Benardout



Friday, July 27, 2012

10:00 p.m. Chronolung

10:45 p.m. Brotherhood of the Guitar

11:15 p.m. Noah Benardout





Where: Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd

6801 Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028



Admission: $10 Suggested donation

To benefit The Fender Music Foundation & the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation



Visit www.hardrock.com/HollywoodBlvd for additional details.



About Noah Benardout

Noah Benardout is a 17 year-old singer-songwriter from Sherman Oaks, CA. Born in London, but raised here in Southern California, his undeniable talent may be related to his famous great great uncle, Irving Berlin! Noah is recognized as one of the best young guitarists in the world and a founding member artist of the Brotherhood of the Guitar endorsed by Fender Guitars and Guitar Center. Noah also plays piano and synth. Noah’s debut EP “What Will Be…Will Be Vol.1” was released last year and produced by Don Gehman (Mellencamp, Hootie & the Blowfish, Tracey Chapman). Two songs from the four track EP were selected by Bands Under The Radar for their Best of 2011 compilation album. In January of 2012, Kings of A&R (a top 10 trendsetting music blog) listed Noah as one of eight emerging artists to watch. A prolific writer at such a young age, Noah continues to hone his craft with jaw-dropping performances, most recently at Hotel Café, NAMM, South By South West, the Whisky A-GoGo and Live at Sunset Marquis. Noah is an endorsed artist for Guild Guitars, Fender, Korg Keyboards and JH Audio, and is working closely with the Fender Music Foundation for the promotion of music education to the under privileged. In March 2012, Noah released “We Battle” specifically written for proceeds to go to the Foundation. Even as an unsigned artist, through word of mouth, Noah’s website has amassed over half a million dedicated hits in under a year. All his music is currently downloadable for free and to date his music has been downloaded 86,702 times! For further information, visit www.noahbenardout.com.