Mickie's Zoo

End o' week musings

2012-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

OK, I know it really should be "End o' two weeks musings" but tradition is tradition... Plus it has really been more like ONE really, really long week.

Last week I was all systems go in preparation for the NAMM (International Association of Music Merchants) trade show in Anaheim. I had lots of stories I was seeking and miles ahead of me in the convention center to find them.

But before that I had the pleasure of interviewing Anthony Raneri of Bayside, who is on the "Where's The Band? Tour," a solo acoustic performance concert series featuring members from an assortment of popular groups. Raneri was smart and charming with just a touch of sass. (Just the way I like my guys lol!). I like his music, which runs the gamut of musical genres, and suggest checking it out.

I also spoke with Sally Struthers, who is currently co-starring in "Always... Patsy Cline" at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts. I always enjoyed seeing Struthers in "All in the Family" as a kid. I might not have got all the jokes, but I looked up to her strong woman values and understood her vulnerability too. It was a joy to talk with her and discover that she's actually quite a bit like her character Gloria.

Struthers is very much an independent woman, yet she has a soft side and a very pleasant sense of humor. She's also very appreciative of her succes and her fans. Learn more about her and her show at http://www.sgvn.com/

On the 20th, I was ready for my first day of NAMM. Photographer/videographer Keith Durflinger and I covered a smattering of tech stories and then followed Tom and Rich from the Fret House in Covina to learn what the small retail stores do at the show. It was quite interesting.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the day for me was meeting my Twitter friend, guitarist Xander Demos (you can also check him out on Facebook). He was true to his boasts and can really wail on his axe, plus he's an all-around great guy. It's so awesome to meet people in person who you only know online and find out that they're someone you'd enjoy hanging out with. (We hung out a little on Sunday and had a great chat!)

The next day, Keith and I followed Mike Davis (bassist for Dramara and Halford) to get the musician's perspective. I'll admit that Mike focused more on networking and finding fellow musicians than checking out products, but it was still intriguing. I spent that afternoon returning to the booths of the tech products we had videotaped Friday to do interviews with representatives for my print story, which will run in the business section of http://www.sgvn.com/ next week. You can visit the site now to see a little preview of NAMM and hear a few cuts of some good music in the tape as well. (Ooo and look for my friends, guitarist Xander Demos and drummer Chris Batton in the video too).

The evenings of the 20th and 21st, I went to my friends Carin and Tom's house because they live so much closer to Anaheim than I. They took me to dinner and we soaked in the hot tub before I curled up in bed with their purring cat Tuffy for a good night's sleep. Thank you!

Sunday I returned to NAMM to catch anything I might have missed that would make a good story and to enjoy myself a little. I hung out with the staff of Barefoot Music News ( http://www.barefootmusicnews.com/ ) for part of the day, which was fun. They have a slightly different perspective on music than I, so it was interesting to see what they covered story-wise. I always enjoy the exchange of ideas with fellow journalists and musicians too.

At the end of the day, I joined the ukulele circle. It was geared to also for never-before players, but I was seriously surprised that I remembered some of the chords I have learned~ coolness! We had a nice time strumming and singing. Ukulele Barrt joined us and led us in a couple of songs. He told everyone on the left to sing, then everyone on the right, then the people in the middle and then "just you" and pointed at me. What do you know? There was Dan Grigor, one of my friends from Barefoot Music News, on the scene with his trusty videocamera to catch it too! Undaunted, I warbled out the song and tried to play the chords correctly-- I hope it came off OK.

Ukulele Barrt is going to be at the Coffee Gallery Backstage ( http://www.coffeegallery.com/ ) in Altadena 7 p.m. Feb. 5. He will also lead a ukulele circle there prior to the show at 6 p.m., so grab your git and have some fun.

This week began with a 9 a.m. Monday call from Michael Romero of Symphony X. Geez, what rockstar calls you that early on a Monday? I kept quipping words like that all weekend to my friends and discovered one of the nicest rockstars is the answer. Romero was up early packing for his tour and spending a little time with his family... and willing to spend some of that time talking with me. He was extremely gracious and we were soon talking like old friends. I am looking forward to catching the band live if I can, as their album rocks.

In the evening, I went to a house concert in Fullerton where Muriel Anderson was playing. She performed on guitar and harp guitar and was amazing! Muriel did original music, as well as songs by the Carpenters, Beatles and Steve Wonder... and more. She is a national fingerpick champion and doesn't need a band backing her, as she covers it all with her strings. She often comes to the Coffee Gallery Backstage and other SoCal venues, so if you get a chance to see her, I recommend that you go.

The rest of my week has been quieter, with the highlight being a good checkup from my dentist. Yay! No going back to spend time in the evil chair!! That flossing pays off.

I will be going to the Bill Word & Friends comedy show tomorrow night in Whittier, as my friend Carin is performing. If you come out, please say hello. All the info is in the post below.

This week I will also catch "Art" at the Pasadena Playhouse ( http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/ ) and be back to hula class~ Aloha!

In rotation this week: Symphony X, Owl City, The Tierney Sutton Band, Anthony Raneri and Taylor Swift. (That's eclectic, huh?!)

Photos we got 'em: A couple of cut pet pics, my cell phone shot of the gecko on the Geico float in Covina the evening of the company's commercial shoot and a photo of me at NAMM by Terry Miller as he rode the escalator and looked down into the press room (notice the long-haired rocker sitting near me? That's Mike Davis. We were chatting before heading out on the floor).

Thought o' the week: Cool, boy, cool. This morning the news guy on the radio remarked how "cool" President Obama is about things. When someone yells at him (as during one of his speeches), he may pause, but then he goes on as if nothing happened. If Obama has a temper, he certainly doesn't let it flare. We could all take a cue from this attitude.

It is hard not to stand up and fight back to defend your opinion, but it's not always the best course. You can say things you don't really mean or just be overly vicious. Like Obama, it is sometimes better to take a breath and let it go. Or at least take pause and then speak calmly, making your point clearly without being in "attack mode."

Discourse is healthy, as is sharing differing opinions. We learn not only about others, but about ourselves, plus it makes for a more interesting world. It's OK to share your thoughts and OK to respond to someone else's, but in a rational, serene way rather than with aggression. And it's also OK to let things go and turn the other cheek.

Making the world a more peaceful place starts with you... and me too. Be cool, boy, cool and

Keep on rockin'

Mickie

Bill Word & Friends comedy show in Whittier Jan. 28

2012-01-27T10:48:00.001-08:00

Bill Word and Friends
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8:00 PM
$10 cover, two beverage minimum
http://www.killerkomedy.com

Norwalk Moose Lodge

13305 Imperial Highway

Whittier, CA 90605

More info call (949) 223-0298

Host: Bill Word

Headliner: PJ Walsh

THE FRIENDS:
Featuring the comedy of:

Rico

Will Rodgers

Mark Sexton

Donita Smith

Charlene Ward

Carin P. Webb

Shomari Williams

Pasadena PinotFest Grand Tasting Feb. 11

2012-01-27T10:47:00.000-08:00

The fourth-annual Pasadena PinotFest—sponsored by Pasadena's top-rated Noir Food & Wine—will culminate on Feb. 11 with a Grand Tasting at the Altadena Town & Country Club.

Surrounded by the scenic San Gabriel Mountains, the Altadena Town & Country Club is the ideal setting for what promises to be a memorable afternoon featuring both fine wines and fine dining. Guests will have the opportunity to taste 200 pinot noirs from 100 leading wineries in California and Oregon, including: Alma Rosa; Arcadian; Ampelos; Brewer-Clifton; Carr; Clos Pepe; D'Alfonso-Curran; Dutton-Goldfield; Flying Goat; Hitching Post; Marimar Torres; Melville; Sojourn; Stephen Ross; Vergari; Williams-Selyem; and many more. Those on hand also will be treated to exquisite cuisine from top-area restaurants such as Noir Food & Wine, AKA Bistro, Altadena Town & Country Club, Bistro 45, The Cheese Store of Pasadena, and Polka Tots Cupcakes.

Tickets for the event—which runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.—can be purchased online at http://www.PasadenaPinotFest.com. Two levels of tickets are available: general admission for $89 and VIP admission for $119 (the latter comes with admittance to the event at noon as well as access to the VIP lounge and celebrity sommelier host George Skorka). For additional information call (626) 795-7199.

Tickets also are available for a series of pinot noir wine tastings being held at Noir Food & Wine. The events, which all begin at 3:30 p.m., are scheduled for Jan. 28, Feb. 4, and Feb. 10. Tickets—which are $15—can be purchased online at http://www.PasadenaPinotFest.com.

A portion of the PinotFest proceeds will benefit Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services—the largest provider of children's mental-health services in Los Angeles County www.hathaway-sycamores.org.

Beauty and the Beast in Cerritos March 2-4

2012-01-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

NETworks Presents
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Friday, March 2, 2012, 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 3, 2012, 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 4, 2012, 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $64/$54/$40 Friday & Sunday Evening
$75/$60/$50 Saturday Matinee & Sunday Matinee
$68/$55/$45 Saturday Evening

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos
Center for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at
www.cerritoscenter.com or by calling (562) 467-8818.

Larry O. Dean and Malcontent albums to be reissued

2012-01-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

Two reissue releases are upcoming from the Zenith Beast label:

Larry O. Dean "Throw the Lions to the Christians" (out March 6th)

Malcontent "Embarrassment of Riches" (out March 20th

Larry O. Dean was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. As a young man, he worked with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, was widely published in the alternative press, and also worked as an underground cartoonist. He attended the University of Michigan at
Flint and Ann Arbor, where he won three Hopwood Awards in Creative Writing, an honor shared with fellow poets Robert Hayden, Jane Kenyon, Frank O'Hara, and John Ciardi, among others; and Murray State University's low-residency MFA program. He teaches literature and
composition as an adjunct English instructor, and is a Poet-in-Residence in the Chicago Public Schools through the Poetry Center of Chicago's Hands on Stanzas program. He was a recipient of
the Gwendolyn Brooks Award for teaching excellence in 2004. In addition, he is a singer and songwriter, working both solo as well as with several "hard pop" bands. He has released numerous critically-acclaimed CDs, including "Throw the Lions to the Christians" (1997). He is currently working on his third solo album, "Good Grief", with producer Chris Stamey (The dB's). Since 2001 he has hosted a monthly songwriter showcase, Folk You! After living in San Francisco for over a decade, he makes his home in Chicago.

Malcontent (1994-1995) was a short-lived indie pop quartet from San Francisco. The band formed after leader Larry O. Dean's previous band, The Fussbudgets, splintered with the departure of co-songwriter Chris Lehmann. Drummer James Coil had played with The Fussbudgets in their last phase, as had bassist, Ned Doherty. Guitarist Tony Maxwell
was a friend of Larry's from high school in Flint, Michigan. Maxwell brought a tighter pop feel to his guitar parts (in opposition to The Fussbudgets' more shambolic work ethic), as well as a tendency toward bluesiness in his leads, most noticeably on "Perversity." The band gigged infrequently in the Bay Area, recording a four-song EP dubbed "Embarrassment of Riches" with producer Greg Freeman at Lowdown Studios. The four principals were augmented by Christine Wall (Chris Isaak, The Movie Stars, El Sob) on vocals, and Sheila Schat (Dandeline, Tiny, Liar) on violin and viola. "Embarrassment of Riches" was briefly released on cassette in 1995, but its four tracks were later appended on Dean's solo debut, delayed but ultimately released in 1997, after he had moved to Chicago and started the band Post Office.

Shimmy Showcase Sunday

2012-01-27T10:38:00.001-08:00

January 29 – Amber hosts this Shimmyshowcase and welcomes newcomer Ingrid, Siraj and Good Witch dance troupe to the Viento y Agua stage. Sunday evenings at Viento y Agua with Shimmyshowcase are a perfect way to relax and enjoy great food, great coffee, and fabulous entertainment, so why don’t you come join us! Come early so you can order your sandwich and drink in time to catch the first performance at 5:30.

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 at 5:30 p.m. at Viento y Agua Coffee House in Long Beach at 4007 East 4th Street; 562-434-1182.

Note—N405-W22 (7th St) transition is closed for construction, so for those coming from the south, the best way is to exit the 405 at Westminster as the detour indicates. Then take Westminster through the PCH intersection until it turns into 2nd street. Take the first right immediately after the bridge and an immediate left. That street will turn into 4th and Viento Y Aqua will be on the right.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show time (earlier if you’re a performer!), so you can first 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. Note that with our March 10 Anniversary party, Shimmyshowcase for the first time will be on a Saturday! 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 ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

February 5 – DARK -- No SHIMMYSHOWCASE

February 12 - As Valentine’s Day draws near, our newest coordinator Draca welcomes guest dancers Reba, Siraj, Bella and Tehani to the Shimmyshowcase stage.

February 19 – DARK -- No SHIMMYSHOWCASE (Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition)

February 26 – Shimmyshowcase will be taken over by the ever-popular JJ & the Habibis troupe on this night, and coordinator Saviya couldn’t be happier to host this wonderful, versatile troupe. Be sure to join us as the Habibis are sure to put on a delightfully fun program.

March 4 – Abraiha returns to coordinate another Shimmyshowcase with lovely guest dancers May, Liz, Shauntel, and Janice.

March 10 – (that’s right—a SATURDAY!) --Shimmyshowcase celebrates its 9th anniversary with a special program featuring Shimmyshowcase coordinators, past and present! For the first time, Shimmyshowcase will be on a SATURDAY evening so we have more time to celebrate. We’re also starting a little later—around 6:30 p.m. Saviya has the lead in planning for this year’s anniversary party and already has one of Shimmyshowcase’s founders, Alexiis, on tap to perform, as well as current coordinator Ilana and the Om Sisters. Please mark your calendars so you won’t miss the opportunity to celebrate Shimmyshowcase’s reincarnation in our new home, Viento y Agua Coffee House!

March 18 – DARK –No Shimmyshowcase. Instead, we hope you can attend Saviya’s “Gypsy Fire” show in Long Beach! More details to follow.

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

The Jealous Sound to release album and tour

2012-01-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

LA indie rock band The Jealous Sound (http://jealoussound.com ) is releasing a new album (“A Gentle Reminder”) this Tuesday, 1/31.

The record was made in the Foo Fighters' Studio 606 with John Lousteau producing, A Gentle Reminder features founding members Blair Shehan and guitarist Pedro Benito working alongside the Foos' Nate Mendel (filling in on bass for the departed John McGinnis) and new drummer Bob Penn.

About The Jealous Sound:

Blair Shehan says that his time away from The Jealous Sound wasn't a matter of losing his way. It was a matter of finding it.

"I got zeroed out, and I had to figure out how to do things in a healthy way," the singer-guitarist says, recounting the long, strange trip it's been to 2012, when the Los Angeles quartet will release its first album in nine years, A Gentle Reminder. "I've been humbled, and now I'm a very different person than I was in 2003. I've learned a lot about just being in the world."

Many of those life lessons are revealed in the grandeur of the new album, a poignant and emotional triumph that not only proves a worthy successor to Kill Them With Kindness — named one of Spin's best albums of ’03 — but reveals the foursome at the top of its craft. Open-hearted, yes, but not really gentle at all, A Gentle Reminder represents a 44-minute epiphany set to cascading guitars, thundering rhythms and Shehan's evocative vocals.

Made in the Foo Fighters' Studio 606 with John Lousteau producing, A Gentle Reminder features founding members Shehan and guitarist Pedro Benito working alongside the Foos' Nate Mendel (filling in on bass for the departed John McGinnis) and new drummer Bob Penn.

How the quartet coalesced to recapture the magic is a labyrinthine tale that covers three states and includes a lot of emotional baggage, but the first turning point came in late 2004 after rigorous touring behind Kill Them With Kindness. A major label was poised to come on board and help with a follow-up. "But we were simply out of gas," Shehan says. "I was spent. I remember John telling me, 'You know, you don't have to feel bad if you don't want to do this."

A half-hearted attempt at carrying on yielded only 2005’s Got Friends EP, and it was painfully evident The Jealous Sound had stalled completely. So Shehan set aside the band life, moved to Las Vegas and got a day job.

"There's a sense that I flipped out and left; people thought I went crazy," Shehan says. "But what's crazy? Staying in a band at my age with no stability? Ignoring the normal parts of becoming an adult? People don't necessarily understand what we do, and the commitment it takes to do what we do."

After two-plus years in Las Vegas, "things there fell apart in very dramatic fashion," Shehan says, so he moved to Florida and at one point was even poised to take the LSAT. He bought a guitar instead, and reconnected with Benito, whose friendship with Mendel helped The Jealous Sound land a spot opening a 2009 tour for the bassist's previous band, emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate. The old juices started flowing.

When that tour ended, The Jealous Sound began meticulously piecing together the ideas that would become A Gentle Reminder, an experience that at once thrilled and horrified Shehan. "Sometimes I'd be writing a song and think, 'Oh, man, I don't really want to say this, do I?'" Shehan says. "But the process of writing removes any filters you have — you're not as in control of things as you'd like to be. It ended up being very liberating.”

That sense of freedom rings throughout “A Gentle Reminder,” which finds Shehan taking inventory of the past, for better or worse, and looking stoically toward the future. He acknowledges the weight of his regrets in “Here Comes the Ride” but sounds up to the task of bearing it. The effervescent “Your Eyes Were Shining” seems on the surface directed to a sweetheart, but when Shehan sings “The heavens opened wide / and let you in,” he could just as easily be talking about reconnecting, happily, with his songwriting muse. That theme of renewal re-emerges in the “beating drum” and “beating heart” of “This Is Where It Starts.” There, as he likens his visions and dreams to “a rush of blood,” fans of The Jealous Sound’s open-hearted buoyancy will be happy that the quartet has once again opened a vein.

Indeed, after almost a decade, Shehan is still spilling blood. It's just more mature blood.

The Jealous Sound on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejealoussound

THE JEALOUS SOUND

A GENTLE REMINDER

MUSIC IS SUBJECTIVE / FONTANA DISTRIBUTION

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2012

TRACK LISTING:

1. BEAUTIFUL MORNING

2. CHANGE YOU

3. PROMISE OF THE WEST

4. YOUR EYES WERE SHINING

5. THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS

6. HERE COMES THE RIDE

7. EQUILIBRIUM

8. PERFECT TIMING

9. A GENTLE REMINDER

10. WAITING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL

The Jealous Sound Tour Dates:

Feb 03 Soda Bar San Diego, CA

Feb 04 Rogue Scottsdale, AZ

Feb 06 The Mohawk Austin, TX

Feb 07 Lola's Sixth Fort Worth, TX

Feb 08 Stickyz Rock'n'Roll Chicken Little Rock, AR

Feb 09 The EARL Atlanta, GA

Feb 10 Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC

Feb 11 Strange Matter Richmond, VA

Feb 12 Rock and Roll Hotel Washington, DC

Feb 14 Great Scott Allston, MA Tickets

Feb 15 Knitting Factory Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY

Feb 16 MilkBoy Philly Philadelphia, PA

Feb 17 Grog Shop Cleveland, OH

Feb 18 Subterranean Chicago, IL

Feb 19 Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN

Feb 20 The Riot Room Kansas City, MO

Feb 21 Marquis Theater Denver, CO

Feb 22 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT

Feb 24 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR

Feb 25 El Corazon Seattle, WA

Feb 27 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA

Feb 28 The Satellite Los Angeles, CA

Willie Adler (Lamb of God) web site launched

2012-01-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

Premier online guitar community All Axess (www.allaxess.com ) and Willie Adler have joined forces to launch the official Willie Adler website at www.willieadler.com

In a recent video about the site, Willie Adler said, “I’m going to be updating the site personally on a regular basis from the road, while recording or while I’m at home. I will be giving personal tours of my gear, specs on everything, anything new I might be coming out with, even just the music I’m currently listening to. This is the place for all things Willie.”

It does not stop there, as the ever-growing guitar community is now managing social media for world renowned guitarists; through Twitter, Facebook and developing ‘Official’ websites. All Axess has promised a relationship between professional guitarists and fans alike that is revolutionary and exists nowhere else on the World Wide Web.

With the launch of Willie Adler's official website, All Axess has once again expanded on its goal of creating a more interactive online guitar community. In addition, All Axess will continue to bring the viewer lessons from professionals, rig rundowns and a consistent blog and news section.

Jeff Kendrick, the site's co-owner states, “In response to the ever growing social media revolution, All Axess has now initiated the management and collaboration with professional guitarists in the development and management of their official Facebook, Twitter, Youtube accounts and websites. We are very pleased to announce the recent collaboration with Willie Adler as the inaugural guitarist of our social media program. LAMB OF GOD is one of the most respected metal bands in the world and Willie is one of the most sought after guitarists in the metal genre. All Axess is continuing its reign as one of the largest forces on the net for guitar playing and the guitarist lifestyle. All Axess is creating a place where fans can go to find out information about their favorite guitarists, leave comments and also ask them questions with a very realistic chance that their favorite guitarist will respond.”

For more information, visit www.allaxess.com and www.willieadler.com

MozART Group in Cerritos March 7

2012-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

MozART Group

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 7:30 PM

Ticket Prices: $40 Adults/$25 Students

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos
Center for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at
www.cerritoscenter.com or by calling (562) 467-8818.

Arboretum offers plein air painting class starting Feb. 5

2012-01-27T10:31:00.000-08:00

Plein Air Painting at the Arboretum with Marion Eisenmann

Once a month on the following Sundays, 1-4pm

Sunday, February 5,

Or Sunday, March 4,

Or Sunday, April 15

$60 per Sunday for Arboretum members / $70 per Sunday for non-members

Please call (626) 821-4623 for reservations.

Capture the ever-changing moods of nature in this outdoor painting class with artist Marion Eisenmann. Bring your portable folding stool and your watercolors, and learn how to create an interesting composition while expressing your own style as you experiment with different watercolor techniques. Open to both beginning and advanced students, painting at the Arboretum offers a wealth of vistas and a variety of moods that is sure to spark imagination and creativity. Supply list available upon registration.

Marion was born and raised in Germany where she developed her classical foundation in music and the visual arts. Her specialties are story-driven lifestyle illustration and character development. She currently teaches at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California and also gives workshops in plein air painting.

Please visit www.marioneisenmann.com

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

301 North Baldwin Avenue

Arcadia, CA 91007-2697

Phone: 626.821.4624

Jill.Berry@arboretum.org

www.arboretum.org

Carmelite Nuns in concert in San Gabriel Feb. 19

2012-01-27T10:28:00.000-08:00

“Seasons of the Soul”

Sunday, February 19, 2012; 7 p.m. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Music Director:

Sister Marie Estelle, OCD

Guest Music Director:

James Drollinger and Legacy Vocal Ensemble

Program:

An evening of inspiration and hope, with music including Gregorian Chant, hymns, praise/worship, and contemporary Christian

Tickets: Tickets are available on-line at www.carmelitesistersocd.com/events or call 626-289-1353, ext. 246.

Price: $40/person to $100/person

On Sunday, February 19, 2012 . . . the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, invite you to a concert that will take you through the changing seasons of the human soul as it journeys through life. Tickets are available on-line at www.carmelitesistersocd.com/events or call 626-289-1353, ext. 246.

To Pope Benedict XVI “the joy of song and music is a constant invitation to people of good will to commit themselves to give humanity a rich future of hope." And, as friends of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles have long known, the Carmelites would agree with that. Not only does the order have a tradition of incorporating music into its daily work, worship and discipline, but, on Sunday, February 19, at 7 p.m. forty Carmelite Sisters will come together from all parts of the Southland to share their music with those outside their convents’ walls when they present “The Carmelite Sisters in Concert: Seasons of the Soul.”

“We want this evening to be an uplifting time of hope,” explains Mother Regina Marie, OCD, Superior General. “The Carmelite Sisters love music and our lives are filled with music --- chanting the psalms three times a day, composing, singing together and playing instruments. Because music can reach deeply into both heart and soul, the concert will have an inspirational and prayerful tone, coupled with moments of playful fun.”

“The Carmelite Sisters in Concert: Seasons of the Soul will take place at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, San Gabriel, CA. Songs will range from Gregorian chants to contemporary Christian. “The unifying theme for the concert is hope,” says Mother Regina Marie. “As the saying goes, ‘it is always darkest before the dawn. Our concert takes you from the dark night of the soul to the dawn of resurrection. It sings about the journeys of life from fearful, uncertain steps to the joyful confidence of walking in God’s light.” Joining Sister Marie Estelle, OCD, in directing “The Carmelite Sisters in Concert: Seasons of the Soul,” is James Drollinger, a 10-year member of the renowned choral ensemble, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, who received a Grammy nomination for his duet recording of Morton Lauridsen’s “Dirait-on” on the CD “Northwest Journey.” Mr. Drolligner will direct the acclaimed “Legacy” Vocal Ensemble, who will perform during the concert.

In addition, The Carmelite Sisters are also grateful for the support of Studio City Sound, a full-service recording studio owned and operated by Grammy Award winning mixer Tom Weir. Studio City Sound has recorded all of the CDs of the Carmelite Sisters.

Tickets are available on-line at www.carmelitesistersocd.com/events or call 626-289-1353, ext. 246.

For more information about the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, visit www.carmelitesistersocd.com.

The historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse is located at 320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776

'Facial Expressionism' exhibit opens in Cerritos Jan. 31

2012-01-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Cerritos College Art Gallery is pleased to open the year of
2012 with the exhibit Facial Expressionism.

Fifteen contemporary artists participating in Facial Expressionism at
the Cerritos College Art Gallery produce innovative aesthetic
deterritorializations of faces that purposefully over-spill the
limits of any singular signifying system, thereby resisting a simple
complicity between a face and the evolving metrics for 'knowing' it.
Merging baroque vision with haptic thought, the works on display
exist as embodied (de)formations that explore the ontogenesis of a
particular face with its various expressive manifestations, the
gestalt of insular figuration with the nonorganic vitality of ground,
the immanence of representation and materiality, and the entanglement
of emotive gesture and pre-responsive affect.

As gestures migrate from body to body, and from one medium to
another, confusing the etymologically linked concepts of passion and
passage, it is difficult not to be reminded of the individualistic
humanism of the early 20th-century art historical movement of
Expressionism (Die Brücke, Der Blaue Reiter, etc.).

But while there are certain stylistic similarities to this modernist
namesake, the work on display in Facial Expressionism must also be
repositioned against the unfolding backdrop of recent para-humanist
and object-oriented concepts of expressionism in contemporary
philosophy (for example, theorist Brian Massumi argues that a kick is
as much an expression of the ball as the player).

EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Michael Alvarez, Jeremy Bailey, Maya Bloch,
Justin Bower, Guy Denning, Kim Dorland, Paul Gillis, Annie Lapin,
Gerardo Monterubbio, Buddy Nestor, Rachel Niffenegger, Kambui
Olujimi, Dominic Quagliozzi, Phoebe Unwin, and Eric Yahnker
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Galileo Gonzalez

WHEN: January 31st, 2012 to March 15th, 2012
Opening Reception: Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, 5-8PM

WHERE: Cerritos College Art Gallery
11110 Alondra Blvd
Norwalk, CA 90650
A map of the campus is available at
www.cerritos.edu/guide

Daily Parking is available for $2.00 in lot C-10 in the student white
stalls only.

COST: Admission and events are free and open to the public.

Skrillex, Digitalism and more remix song for Syndicate

2012-01-27T10:23:00.000-08:00

Famed electro music producers Skrillex, Digitalism, Flux Pavilion and DJ Scattle have remixed the theme song for Syndicate, the cyberpunk action game from Electronic Arts.

You can download the future installments in the Syndicate DJ Remix series by “liking” the Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/Syndicate?sk=app_290625924286234

In the world of Syndicate, everything is wired, including the people. Through DART 6 bio-chip technology, gamers can take down their foes by breaching the wired world around them. Force enemies to turn on themselves via the DART chip installed in their heads, or harvest their technology for upgrades. The player’s arsenal of weapons is not limited to the guns in their hands. This fast action, sci-fi first person shooter will have gamers instantly wired into its unique gameplay. Syndicate will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on February 21st.

Go Country 105 announces new format

2012-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Furthering its commitment to country radio in Southern California, Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters, Inc., with its flagship GO COUNTRY 105, has announced the launch of its new GO COUNTRY CLASSICS format.

Based on popular demand for country classics, many songs from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and early 90s, which are not played on a regular basis on contemporary GO COUNTRY 105, are now being featured 24/7 with GO COUNTRY CLASSICS.

Programmed by GO COUNTRY 105 Program Director Tonya Campos, GO COUNTRY CLASSICS is now available online at www.GoCountryClassics.com , and beginning next week will also be presented on-air in Southern California on 105.1 FM HD3.

Women in Folk Music show Feb. 25 in South Pasadena

2012-01-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

Women in Folk Music
8 p.m. Feb. 25
Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena
$15, reservations recommended
626-969-0778
tedromu@earthlink.net

Performances by

Jill Freeman with Joel Wachbrit

Sandy Ross

LisaMania! - Lisa Johnson, Lisa O'Kane and Lisa Nemzo

Ukulele retreats in May and August

2012-01-26T10:31:00.001-08:00

West Coast Ukulele Retreat
Asilomar, California - on the Monterey Peninsula
May 16-20
www.ukuleleretreat.com

Camp OoKooLayLay
Family summer camp for ukulele players (includes free babysitting!)
Lair of the Golden Bear
Pinecrest, California
Aug. 18-24
Register by Feb. 14
www.campookoolaylay.wordpress.com

Young London launches remix contest

2012-01-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

Boston-based electro-pop duo YOUNG LONDON (who were recently named one of “Boston’s Best New Band’s” by local alt-weekly the Phoenix) has partnered with their record label Fugitive Recordings and Indaba Music, the pioneering online music creation site, to launch a unique remix contest that allows users to download stems of the act’s latest single, "Let Me Go", and submit their own remix of the track. Indaba’s international community of more than 600,000 musicians can then vote and comment on the remixes - but ultimately Matt and Sarah of YOUNG LONDON will choose the grand prize. The winning remix will receive a $1,000 cash prize as well as on official release of the track, amongst other things (see below for details).

The submission period begins today, January 26th and ends on February 23rd. The voting period will commence on Feb 23rd and conclude on March 8th, after which the winning remix will be chosen on March 29th.

For more information or to submit a mix, visit:
www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/young-london-let-me-go-remix-contest

Prizing:

1 Grand Prize Winner

The Grand Prize Winner, as chosen by the Judges from all of the submissions, will:

Receive $1,000
Have their remix included on an official Young London release by Fugitive Recordings
Receive a signed copy of Young London's self titled album
Receive a 1-year Pro Membership to Indaba Music
5 Honorable Mentions

The 5 Honorable Mentions, as chosen by the Judges from the 10 most popular remixes, will each:

Receive a signed copy of Young London's self titled album
Receive a 1-year Pro Membership to Indaba Music
Timeline:

Submissions Period: 1/26 - 2/23

Public Voting Period: 2/23 - 3/8

Winners Announced: 3/29

About Young London (www.facebook.com/younglondonmusic ):

Matt Rhoades and Sarah Graziani of electro pop duo YOUNG LONDON began writing music together in 2011. They quickly realized that their writing styles combined to form a unique, catchy, dance-inducing style. After their explosive debut at South by Southwest, and a subsequent tour this past summer, they headed into the studio to start working on their first full-length album.

With the direction of producer Mark Maxwell (Blake Lewis, Boys Like Girls), YOUNG LONDON completed their self-titled debut, which was released on January 10 via Fugitive Recordings. The Boston Phoenix recently featured the duo on the cover of the paper and called their sound, “Euro-thumping, anthemic techno-pop…dance music with a bull's-eye on the back of the Top 40.”

View YOUNG LONDON’s latest music video (“Celebrity”) here:
www.vevo.com/watch/young-london/celebrity/USTN11100409

Young London’s new album is now available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/young-london/id482310150

About Indaba Music (www.indabamusic.com ):

Indaba Music pioneered the online music collaboration space, enabling anyone with internet access to connect with musicians from around the world to create, edit and mix studio-quality music online. Indaba Music then expanded to provide musicians with opportunities from iTunes distribution and other sales tools to remix contests, original song contests and commercial music licensing. Indaba Music’s community has over 600,000 members from 205 countries and territories.

www.fugitiverecordings.com

Primal Rock Rebellion to release single

2012-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

PRIMAL ROCK REBELLION release their debut single, ‘No Place Like Home’, via Spinefarm Records on Monday, February 6, 2012. The single will be released as a Limited Edition 10” colored vinyl and digital download.

The video accompanying the song has been co-directed by Mikee Goodman and Meats Meier, a renowned CGI artist based in Los Angeles who provided the illustrations for both the single and album artwork.

The album, ‘Awoken Broken’, features ‘No Place Like Home’ along with 11 other tracks, and has been co-produced by Adrian & Mikee; it is set for release internationally on February 27th (U.S. release date coming soon).

‘Awoken Broken’ was heralded with a free download track, ‘I See Lights’, which can be found on www.primalrockrebellion.com.

The video for 'No Place Like Home' is showcasing now on Vevo, and can be viewed at www.vevo.com/artist/primal-rock-rebellion or on www.primalrockrebellion.com.

Miles Davis and Edith Piaf to be honored with Forever stamps

2012-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

The United States Postal Service today announced the joint issuance of new Forever stamps honoring two of the world’s greatest musicians, Miles Davis and Edith Piaf. The stamps will be issued with the French postal service, La Poste, in June.

“We look forward to issuing these great stamps jointly with La Poste, continuing a tradition of international celebration of stamps,” says USPS Manager, Stamp Services Stephen Kearney.

“On behalf of the Miles Davis family, we are honored that the U.S. Postal Service and La Poste are paying homage to the timeless legacy of Sir Miles Dewey Davis,” says Cheryl Davis (daughter of Miles), Erin Davis (son of Miles) and Vince Wilburn, Jr., (nephew of Miles), representatives of Miles Davis Properties, LLC.

Miles Davis was in the forefront of jazz musicians for decades, setting trends and exploring musical styles from bebop through cool jazz, fusion and funk. His restless musical exploration made him a hero to many, while sometimes confounding critics and fans. Among his many influential recordings are Birth of the Cool, Kind Of Blue, Sketches Of Spain and In A Silent Way. He was also a great bandleader, and many important musicians rose to prominence in his bands, including saxophonists John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, drummers Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette, and pianist Bill Evans, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock.

Davis’ music will long be remembered for its profound depth of feeling. By the time of his death in 1991, he had won many prizes and honors, including a GRAMMY Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 1984, he received Denmark’s prestigious Leonie Sonning Music Prize. In 1989, he was awarded the Grande Medaille de Vermeil by the city of Paris, which was presented to him by Jacques Chirac, then mayor and later president of France.

The most recent Miles Davis release entitled The Miles Davis Quintet – Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol.1, continues to rake in accolades. The critically acclaimed volume tops many critics’ year-end picks, and it also landed in first place in both the Jazz Times Critics Poll and the Readers Poll. Slate calls it one of the Best 10 Jazz Albums of the year. The Bitches Brew Deluxe Edition is also earning accolades with a recent win for “Best Historical Package” in the Down Beat Reader’s Poll. On June 27, the LA Philharmonic presents A Miles Davis Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl featuring Marcus Miller “Tutu Revisited,” Miles Electric Band and Kind Of Blue: Jimmy Cobb’s “So What” band.

Americans may know Edith Piaf best for her cheerful song “La Vie en Rose” (“Life In Pink”), about the experience of falling in love and seeing life through rose-colored glasses; the tune is still heard on the streets of Paris today. Piaf’s tumultuous life got off to a stormy start.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps using a black-and-white photo of Davis from 1970 by David Gahr and an undated black-and-white photo of Piaf made by Studio Harcourt Paris.

The Miles Davis and Edith Piaf stamps are being issued as Forever stamps in self-adhesive sheets of 20 (10 of each design). Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate. At the time of issuance, the Miles Davis and Edith Piaf stamps are being sold at a price of 45 cents each, or $9 per sheet.

Customers may view the Miles Davis and Edith Piaf Forever stamps, as well as many of this year’s other stamps on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at www.beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyone the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expences and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For more information on Miles Davis, please visit the official website http://www.milesdavis.com/.

'Star Wars' event with Brisk Iced Tea in LA Feb. 3

2012-01-26T10:19:00.001-08:00

BRISK ICED TEA SHOWCASES STAR WARS’ INFLUENCE ON POP CULTURE WITH A 24 HOUR POP-UP EXPERIENCE IN LOS ANGELES
Exhibit Will Include Exclusive Star Wars Memorabilia From the Vaults at Lucasfilm

WHAT:
Brisk Bodega, a pop-up gallery celebrating the heritage and culture of Star Wars, all through the Brisk creative lens.

WHEN:
Open to the public on Friday, February 3, 3:00-11:00 p.m.

3:00-8:00 p.m. Open Gallery (all ages)
-- Exhibit featuring original artwork inspired by Brisk and Star Wars, with a Dark Side vs. Light Side theme. Artists include: Artek, Mark Dean Veca, Jasper Wong, Pose, Leo Eguiarte, Dual Forces, Eye One, and Tristan Eaton.

-- Star Wars props and memorabilia, including original Darth Maul and Yoda costumes and Podracers from the Episode I: The Phantom Menace set.

-- Play Brisksaber—the mobile gaming app where your finger becomes a lightsaber—on a bigger screen.

-- Sample Brisk Iced Tea in exclusive Star Wars cans.

-- Watch the 30-second TV spot in which a Briskified Darth Maul and Yoda face off for the first time, as well as the behind-the-scenes making of the video.

6:00-8:00 p.m. Art of Cantina (all ages)
-- Chance to interact with the artists, hosted by Juxtapoz.com.

8:00-11:00 p.m. Guest DJ (21+)
-- Special guest DJ performance and open bar.

WHERE:
722 N Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Paw It Forward event in Pomona Feb. 15

2012-01-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

Carrington College® California Pomona will host Paw it Forward on Feb. 15 offering complimentary veterinary and spa services to pamper dogs and cats in honor of pet dental health awareness month in February. Services will include teeth brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, grooming and flea application. Veterinary technology program director, faculty, and students will be on-hand to share tips with owners on proper dental care including how to brush to combat plaque and tartar buildup.

“With pet dental awareness month right around the corner, Carrington wants to make sure that pets are pampered and owners understand the importance of routine veterinary check-ups,” said Rebecca Appell, executive director of Carrington College California Pomona. “Most people have no idea that dental health is crucial to their pets’ overall health so we are educating owners on how to properly care for their animals for a long and prosperous life.”

The event is free and open to the public with local area animal shelters and pet supply stores being invited to attend Paw it Forward. All pets must be leashed or kenneled. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/carringtoncollege or contact the campus at (909) 868-5800 to schedule your pet’s spa time.

WHO: Carrington College California Pomona

WHAT: Paw it Forward

WHEN: Wednesday, February 15 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: 901 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 125, Pomona, CA 91768

For more information about Carrington College California Pomona, visit www.carrington.edu/california or call (888) 720-5014.

About Carrington College® California

Carrington College California is a leading provider of educational programs in California that prepares graduates for careers in fields such as accounting, criminal justice, dental assisting, dental hygiene, architectural design drafting, general business, graphic design, medical assisting, nursing, pharmacy technology, diagnostic medical sonography and veterinary technology. The nine Carrington College California campuses are located in Antioch, Citrus Heights, Emeryville, Pleasant Hill, Pomona, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro and Stockton. Carrington College California is regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC-WASC). For more information about Carrington College California, visit www.carrington.edu/california.

Carrington College California is a part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE:DV) a global provider of educational services.

Ventriloquist Kevin Johnson in Cerritos Feb. 26

2012-01-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Kevin Johnson

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 3:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $30 Adults/$25 Children (12 and younger)
Four or more tickets to a single performance: $20

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos Center
for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at www.cerritoscenter.com , or
by calling (562) 467-8818.

Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra concert Feb. 18 in LA

2012-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

At first it might not seem like the French writer, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, best known as the author of the popular 20th century novel Gigi, and baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach would have much in common. But Bach may well have appreciated Colette’s assertion that “music is love,” as audiences will discover when Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra presents “Bach’s Wedding Cantatas” on Saturday, February 18 at 8 p.m. at AT&T Center Theatre in Los Angeles and Sunday, February 19 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica.

The program will include Bach’s Cantata No. 202 “The Wedding Cantata” and Cantata No. 210 “Oh, lovely day, longed for time.” Soprano Mary Wilson, hailed as “a gift from the gods” for her “exquisite singing” by San Francisco Classical Voice, will join the renowned orchestra as guest soloist.

“The Bach Wedding Cantatas are extremely poignant as they explore all the emotions that one experiences when approaching that life-changing event – everything from self reflection to bursting joy,” explains Wilson. “As a happily married woman, I especially find personal connections to this music. These cantatas are so beautiful and still as relevant as ever. If you've ever experienced any love at all, you will be able to personally relate to this music.”

But the wedding cantatas celebrate more than love, adds General Manager Laura Spino. “It’s almost impossible not to think of spring when you think of weddings,” Spino explains. “Both celebrate hope and new beginnings. As the opening line of The Wedding Cantata says, ‘Yield I say, ye brooding shadows, frost and tempests, take your rest!’ ”

Also on the program is J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Oboe in D minor, after BWV35/156, featuring oboist Gonzalo Ruiz.

“The Oboe concerto is a reconstruction from two of Bach's Cantatas – the outer movements from Cantata 35 and the inner movement from Cantata 156 – which prominently feature the oboist as soloist,” says Ruiz, who has served as principal oboist of Musica Angelica since its inception. “It is speculated that Bach himself recycled the oboe work into his cantatas and that the original manuscript was lost. Of all the Bach reconstructions for oboe, this one is the most spectacularly challenging for the oboist, a stunning showpiece that tests the soloist's virtuosic abilities.”

Musica Angelica’s Cynthia Roberts will appear as a guest soloist as well, when the baroque orchestra rounds out its evening of works by J.S. Bach, presenting the Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041. Roberts, a leading advocate of the baroque violin in the U.S., recently appeared at the Mostly Mozart Festival in a solo performance of Bach's Sonatas for Violin & Violin & Harpsichord and has participated in recordings of the complete Brandenburg Concertos.

Musica Angelica is especially grateful for the generous sponsorship received from The E. Nakamichi Foundation and Frank & Betty Pinkerton in support of these concerts. Tickets for The Bach Wedding Cantatas are reasonably priced, ranging from $29 to $49/person, with seniors receiving a 10% discount ($26 to $44) and students a special price of only $15 with valid identification. In addition, members of KUSC and SCEMS receive $10 off single ticket prices. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.musicaangelica.org or call 310.458.4504.

AT&T Center Theatre is located at 1150 South Olive Street in Los Angeles, 90015.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 1220 2nd Street in Santa Monica, 90402.

The Huntington acquires Civil War telegraph message collection

2012-01-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has acquired an extensive and extraordinarily rare collection of Civil War telegraph messages, including a number of coded communiqués between Abraham Lincoln and officers of the Union Army. The collection is a near-complete archive of Thomas T. Eckert, the head of the military telegraph office of the War Department under Lincoln. The archive, which until recently was thought to have been destroyed, includes crucial correspondence that has never been published.

"The Huntington is one of the premiere institutions for the study of the Civil War and is the repository of two of the so-called Big Five collections of Lincolniana, material by and about the 16th American president," says David Zeidberg, the Avery Director of the Library. "The Eckert archive promises to add fresh insight into one of the most heavily mined scholarly subjectsthe American Civil War."

Selections from the archive will go on public view for the first time in the fall, when The Huntington presents two exhibitions relating to the war- the major "A Strange and Fearful Interest: Death, Mourning, and Memory in the American Civil War" (Oct. 13, 2012-Jan. 14, 2013) and the focused "A Just Cause: Voices of the Civil War Era." (Sept. 22, 2012-Jan. 7, 2013).

The Eckert materials were among the purchases over the weekend at the 15th annual meeting of the Library Collectors' Council. Other purchases include three rare photographs of San Francisco in 1867 by Carleton Watkins (two of which were not previously known to exist); a family archive that includes documentation of the first congressional action to limit slavery in the United States; a bound set of two 17th-century works of astronomy by a German rival of Galileo; and a 15th-century decorated manuscript containing dozens of Gregorian chants in musical notations.

The Library Collectors' Council is a group of 35 member families who help support acquisitions. It was formed to augment the collections by helping to purchase materials that the institution otherwise couldn't afford.

The council purchased the following items:

The Civil War Telegraph Archive of Thomas T. Eckert

The papers of Thomas T. Eckert range from 1862, during the early months of conflict between the North and South, through 1877, at the close of Reconstruction. The sizeable archive of 76 books includes 35 manuscript ledger books of coded telegraphs sent and received by the War Department, including 7 full ledgers of ciphered telegramsthat is, coded messages sent from Washington, D.C. Taken together, the books contain more than 100 messages from Lincoln. Also among the materials is a number of cipher books, which reveal the complex coding system used to decipher messagesincluding code names for Lincoln: Ida and India, among others. The Confederate Army never cracked the Union Armys code.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this collection, says Olga Tsapina, the Norris Foundation Curator of American Historical Manuscripts. This is a new and largely untapped resource that will, no doubt, provide a new impetus to Civil War studies as well as to the history of telegraphic communications in the United States.

Though a small portion of their contents had been published, until recently, it was thought that the Eckert materials did not survive. In fact, they had been kept intact in private hands since Eckerts lifetime. Zeidberg contacted David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C., to see if it was interested in the records; it deferred to The Huntington, agreeing that the institution would be an appropriate home for the materials, providing ready access to scholars for studying them.

Photographs of San Francisco by 19th-Century Master Carleton E. Watkins

The council added three rare photographs to the extensive archive of 19th-century photographer Carleton E. Watkins (18291916) in an ongoing drive to select strategically and to fill gaps in the holdings. Over the years, The Huntington has continued adding to its Watkins holdings through gift and purchase, building a collection of more than 350 mammoth views (produced from 18-by-22-inch glass-plate negatives) and hundreds of smaller format photographs. Of the three photographs purchased by the council, all made in San Franciscos elite neighborhoods around 1867, only one is known to exist elsewhere and that in but a single copy.

Opening Salvo in the Political Battle that Would Lead to the Civil War

Also purchased by the Library Collectors Council is a family archive that includes documentation of the first congressional action to limit slavery in the United States. Daniel Gott (17941864), a U.S. Congressman from western New York, proposed a resolution in 1848 banning traffic in human beings as chattels in the District of Columbia. The Gott resolution was approved by the House but repealed three weeks later after Southern lawmakers threatened secession.

Christoph Scheiner, Galileos (Not-so) Secret Ally

The history of science is another major strength of The Huntington, and for the second year in a row the council has added a significant item related to Galileo Galilei (adding to the purchase last year of a book considered to be the first attack on Galileos famous work that dared to reinforce the Copernican observation that the earth revolved around the sun). The new acquisition is actually two works bound into one volume, each authored by Christoph Scheiner (15751560), a Jesuit priest, astronomer, and Galileos best-known competitor.

Fifteenth-Century Church Manuscript

An illuminated manuscript from the 15th century completes the remarkable set of purchases. The Huntington has an extensive collection of medieval manuscripts produced in England in the 14th and 15th centuries, including liturgical books used in regulating the worship, rites, and ceremonies of the late medieval English Catholic church. The new acquisition, a portion of what is called a Sarum Manual, is written in Latin and set out the prayers, music, and rituals for the priest or monk who officiated at critical turning points marking the main stages of a life: at baptism, marriage, final illness, death, burial, and requiem mass. The Huntingtons acquisition is of 60 leaves called the Office of the Dead, a sizeable part of the original book that deals with the end of life (final illness, death, funeral, burial, and requiem masses).

The manuscript is handsomely produced on vellum, with prominent rubrics (stage directions for the priest, written in red ink), intricately decorated initials, a colorful floral spray illuminated with gold leaf, and extensive selections of beautiful Gregorian chant.

About The Huntington

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution serving scholars and the general public. More information about The Huntington can be found online at www.huntington.org.

Visitor information

The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Admission on weekdays: $15 adults, $12 seniors (65+), $10 students (ages 1218 or with full-time student I.D.), $6 youth (ages 511), free for children under 5. Group rate $11 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission on weekends and Monday holidays: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, $6 youth, free for children under 5. Group rate $14 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of each month with advance tickets. Information: 626-405-2100 or www.huntington.org.

Pinkunoizu to release album

2012-01-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

Following the brilliant PEEP EP, the spectral Pinkunoizu are set to release their debut album, Free Time! , on Full Time Hobby. Named after the Japanese word for “pink noise” and based in Copenhagen and Berlin, multiculturalism is at the forefront of this band’s world – they play an exotic mixture of lo-fi, high-life, nu-folklore, ’60s Asian pop and post-apocalyptic future rock.

“Most of what I write comes from picking up exciting words or phrases from wherever I stumble upon them,” says chief songwriter Andreas Pallisgaard. “Or maybe it simply comes from floating around like some empty receptor, open to letting the language of the world flow through me.”

Self-recorded in the rehearsal rooms in the German and Danish capitals, Pinkunoizu’s debut album is a meditation on the concept of time filled with hazy pools of feedback and repetitive beats.

“We were trying to look into alternative experiences of time as something elastic, expandable, modal,” says Andreas. “Aspects of remembrance are of course connected to this theme, and runs like a disturbed signal through most of the record as well.”

It’s been a constant theme in the band’s work since the first song they penned together, Time Is Like A Melody , which opens the album.

“It connects the listener to one of the most incomprehensible mysteries of being,” says Andreas.

Elsewhere, songs deal with subjects ranging from the Arab spring to cyborgs and feminism – the country twang of Cyborg Manifesto.

An unpredictable, involved but nonetheless ear-friendly listen that establishes deep, immersive grooves, Free Time! represents the far-ranging recording processes of this unusual band.

“I like the idea of taking little snatches from the world that surrounds us and putting those into the music,” says Andreas. “We've recorded random sounds from around our homes and used them as textures.”

Comprising Jaleh Negari (drums), Jeppe Brix (guitars) Andreas Pallisgaard (guitars, vox) and Jakob Falgren (guitars, keys, foot pedal bass), the four members of Pinkunoizu formerly played together in the acclaimed Danish post-rock group Le Fiasko. With eight people in that band, improvisation was difficult. In Pinkunoizu, the foursome form a flexible core.

“Starting Pinkunoizu was a great relief for us, since we could feel that we were nurturing a space where we could play music for real and have a great say – all four of us,” says Andreas. It allows room for guests, such as Nils Gröndahl, who plays violin and bowed saw, and reflects the prevailing scene in Copenhagen. “Copenhagen people tend to play music with each other in temporary constellations, and some of that old-fashioned band structure has withered away a bit,” says Andreas.

Outside of the band, Andreas and Jaleh are preparing to do a soundtrack for a documentary on the Danish artist Das Beckwerk. Aside from that, “Some are working, some study, some have studied, some have worked, some are looking for work to do to earn money. Some like to play ping pong.”

Tracklisting 1. Time Is Like A Melody
2. Myriad Pyramid
3. Cyborg Manifesto
4. Everything Is Broken Or Stolen
5. Parabolic Delusions
6. The Abyss
7. Death Is Not A Lover
8. Somber Ground

Pasadena State of the City event Jan. 26

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

“Spotlight on Performance” is the theme of Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard’s 2012 State of the City event scheduled Thursday, Jan. 26, at A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd.

Doors to the theater will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. with Vice Mayor Margaret McAustin serving as master of ceremonies.

The Pasadena Police Department Honor Guard will present the colors, a scene from Michael Frayn’s classic British farce “Noises Off” will be performed and accomplishments of the past year in Pasadena will be presented in a video narrated by a community leader.

During his remarks to the community, Bogaard will provide updates and future plans regarding the ongoing weak economy, redevelopment, environment, arts and culture, public safety, transportation and more.

The event is free and open to the public. Spanish interpretation will be provided. The program will be videotaped for future broadcast on KPAS and via streaming video on the Internet. A replay schedule will be announced.

Transportation on the Metro Gold Line is encouraged since A Noise Within is less than a block from the Metro Gold Line Sierra Madre Villa Station; free self-parking is also available at the station’s parking structure with entrances on northbound Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and southbound Halstead Street. Handicapped parking and drop-off will be available in front of the theater on Foothill Boulevard.

For more information email lnagahiro@cityofpasadena.net or call (626) 744-4311.

Robot competition in Long Beach March 15-17

2012-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Robots big and small are set to compete head-to-head at the Long Beach Arena once again Thursday, March 15th through Saturday, March 17th, 2012. The world competition is presented by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST).

It is said that “The engineer has been, and is, a maker of history,” and with the help of FIRST the young adults involved in this competition may very well be the makers of the future. FIRST is a program that helps young people discover science and technology outside the classroom.

By utilizing science, technology, engineering, and math, this event encourages the students to dream big, be creative and develop problem solving skills. This competition is designed to exercise young adults’ minds to their full extent. Regardless of their socio-economic background, each student has the opportunity to create something amazing and revolutionary.

The battle of the young brains is comprised of short games played by autonomous and remote-controlled robots and is as close to the “real world” of engineering as a student can get. The robots are designed and built in six weeks, from a common set of parts, by teams of 15 to 25 adolescents and a handful of mentors. The students remotely control the robots in competition rounds on the field.

FIRST reaches over 248,000 students each year with more than 22,000 teams that create over 20,000 robots. This huge collection of science-minded students and mentors create incredible contraptions that utilize mechanics ranging from garage door openers to PS2 controllers. Their ingenuity only affirms the FIRST vision: to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.

Teams have just six weeks to build a functioning robot to be eligible to compete. Competitions take place every March where 40 to 70 teams are cheered on by thousands of fans over two and a half days. A championship event caps the season, complete with judges and referees. Awards are presented for design, technology, sportsmanship, and commitment to FIRST.

“This event combines science and technology to create a unique sport for the minds of young people,” said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for SMG at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. “We warmly welcome back the U.S. FIRST Robotics Competition to the Long Beach Arena,” concluded Spellens.

This event is free and open to the public.

www.longbeachcc.com

'The Matchmaker' in Long Beach March 30

2012-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Long Beach Performing Arts Center/SMG welcomes the heart-felt comedy of “The Matchmaker” to life on Friday, March 30th at the Long Beach Terrace Theater at 8:00PM. This is a Predestined Entertainment production.

A complex love affair is unraveled in Tamera Hill’s original story of a matchmaker that gets more than she bargained for. Starring Grammy nominated artist and actor Tony Grant (Tyler Perry’s, The Marriage Counselor), Gospel Recording Artist, Yvette Williams (My Sister’s Keeper), Brian Hurst (Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail), and acclaimed comedian, Lester Barrie, this production is guaranteed to have you smiling and captivated the entire time.

“The Matchmaker” promises a colossal explosion of laughter from the drama of two people coming together with an unexpected twist. Most importantly, this is a story comes with a message, “NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF LOVE!”

“We look forward to hosting the star-studded cast in our premises,” said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. “We warmly welcome this production to the Long Beach Performing Arts Center,” he concluded.

Ticket prices range from $25-50 dollars. To charge by phone, please call TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office located at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard. The Box Office is open from 10:00AM to 6:00PM Monday through Friday and 12:00PM to 4:00PM on Saturday.

Gerald Albright, Norman Brown & Boney James in Long Beach Feb. 11

2012-01-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the day of love with Rainbow Promotions’ Valentine’s Day Concert featuring performances by distinguished artists Gerald Albright, Norman Brown and Boney James. Treat your loved one to a romantic evening of soulful jazz at the Terrace Theater/Long Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 11th at 7 PM. Tickets are available for the performance and the VIP Dinner Package.

Gerald Albright

Gerald Albright has received several GRAMMY® Nominations, sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone and garnered notoriety within the industry for his multiple talents. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals. He is a remarkable musician that has the ability to surprise audiences with something out of the ordinary every single time he mounts a stage. Friends and lovers rejoice because on Saturday the 11th Albright will give the audience what they come for - a fantastic show!

Norman Brown

GRAMMY® Award winner Norman Brown is on close intimate terms with his audience and his upcoming performance at the Terrace Theater will be no exception. For almost two decades the multitalented guitarist, composer and singer has been offering tasty sonic tidbits of classic R&B and contemporary jazz, melting into satisfied aural bliss with every succulent, jazz inflected note. This innovative vocalist and guitarist has been front and center in the fast evolving fusion of pop, R&B and jazz that has captured the imagination of true music aficionados across the world.

Boney James

Boney James has four Gold albums, three GRAMMY® nominations, a Soul Train Award and an NAACP Award nomination to his credit. He also received his ninth #1 Contemporary Jazz album with Contact released on March 29, 2011 on Verve Records. Currently, Boney is enjoying a #1 single with the song “Spin,” his twentieth single to hit No.1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart. This February the talented musician will warm hearts and soothe souls with his most intimate and memorable tracks.

"It is an honor to have Jazz musicians of this caliber come together for this special concert," said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. "We are thrilled to welcome them back to the Long Beach Terrace Theater.”

Ticket prices for the performance start at $40. VIP dinner packages are available for $125. To charge by phone, please call TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. The Box Office is located at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard, and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Ravi Shankar in Long Beach March 25

2012-01-26T09:53:00.001-08:00

Maestro Ravi Shankar, the legendary sitarist and world music phenomenon, will mesmerize the Long Beach Terrace Theater on Sunday, March 25th at 7:30PM. This event is a promotion of the Ravi Shankar Foundation.

Shankar is India's most esteemed musical ambassador and prodigious composer. He is a true icon in the classical music worlds of East and West. As a performer, teacher and writer ,Shankar has done more for Indian music than any other musician. He is well known for his pioneering work in bringing Indian music to the West.

"Ravi Shankar is the Godfather of World Music." - George Harrison

“It may be hard to imagine that one person through the force of his talent, energy and musical personality could have almost single-handedly altered the course of contemporary music in its broadest sense. But that is actually and simply what happened.”- Philip Glass

Always ahead of his time, Shankar has authored violin-sitar compositions for Yehudi Menuhin. He’s written music for flute virtuoso Jean Pierre Rampal, Japan’s celebrated Shakuhachi player Hozan Yamamotoand for Russian Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich. He has also collaborated with high-profile composer Phillip Glass (Passages). George Harrison produced and participated in three of Shankar’s albums, "Shankar Family & Friends", "Festival of India" and “Chants of India.” Shankar has also composed for ballets and films in India, Canada, Europe and the United States.

“It’s a true honor to host one of the world’s most prestigious musical pioneers,” said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. “We welcome this renowned talent to the Long Beach Terrace Theater,” he concluded.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow and prices range from $35-$70 dollars. To charge by phone, please call TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office located at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard. The Box Office is open from 10AM to 6PM Monday through Friday and 12PM to 4PM on Saturday.

Dalai Lama speaking in Long Beach April 21

2012-01-26T09:52:00.001-08:00

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be delivering a public talk on ‘Peace of Mind in Troubled Times’ on April 21st, at 1:30PM, at the SMG managed Long Beach Arena. This event is hosted by Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling (GSTDL), a Tibetan Buddhist center in Long Beach.

International peace icon Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, will return to Long Beach to deliver a public address at the Long Beach Arena. Titled “Peace of Mind in Troubled Times,” the speech will cover how to cultivate generosity, humility, and equanimity—universal themes that have made him one of the world’s most beloved spiritual teachers. A tireless advocate of social justice and nonviolence, the Dalai Lama continues to travel widely to promote a more open, just, and democratic world. The Tibetan leader officially devolved his political leadership last year, but remains the head of Tibetan Buddhism.

Although the Dalai Lama was in the Southland last May, travel delays caused the cancellation of several engagements, including a public talk at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre. Local organizers were able to reschedule the event — and this time, at the larger, neighboring Long Beach Arena.

Geshe Lobsang Tsultrim, Director of GSTDL, believes “It’s an incredible blessing that His Holiness will be returning to Long Beach. It’s a great privilege for us to host this public talk at the Arena and this will allow many people to see him.”

"It is with extraordinary pleasure that we welcome His Holiness back to Long Beach on one of his rare visits," said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. “We thank Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling for working with us on this one-of-a-kind event,” he added.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at all TicketMaster locations and the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office. Ticket prices are as follows: $20, $37, $64, and $94. To charge by phone, please call TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. The Box Office is located at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00AM to 6:00PM and Saturday from 12:00PM to 4:00PM.

GSTDL is offering the public and interested organizations the unique opportunity to become event sponsors. The sponsorship package includes preferred seating at the event, brunch at the Westin Hotel on Friday, April 20th and a small gift of recognition. Contact (562) 726-2789 or hhdl2012@gstdl.org for more sponsorship information.

Lindy Groove dance Thursdays in Pasadena

2012-01-26T09:51:00.001-08:00

This Thursday January 26th 2012
Guest DJ Augie Freeman (Los Angeles)
Guest DJ Steve Sayer (Los Angeles)
DJ Vicky Chan (Los Angeles)

Lindy Hop Lessons:
Beginning Lindy with Jason Vaughan & Erin Byrne 7:30 to 8:30
Intermediate Lindy with Ben & Sheri 7:30 to 8:30
Advanced Intensive (Audition required) with Debbie Gitt and Patrick Fredrickson
Lindy Techniques with Neil Figuracion

LindyGroove Birthdays:
Neil Figuracion
Darren Gates
James Streeter
Kim Tran
Lars Lindstrom
Olga Toprover
Paul Jemielita
Richard Ressler
Ryan Harvey
Vincent Fry
Christina Coffey

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

Knott's offering Twogether is Better specials for February

2012-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

Knott’s Berry Farm will be celebrating the season of love this February with special events for teens, kids and adults as well as savings when you bring a friend.

Knott’s believes that everything is better when you share it with someone – your friends, your kids, your date, so they invite guests to bring someone they love anytime during the month of February and purchase online admission for only $34.99 each! Knott’s Season Pass holders can bring a friend for only $24.99. Upcoming events for “Twogether is Better” include:

February 12: K-Earth 101 will invite their listeners to get remarried at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Church of Reflection. 25 lucky couples will be re-hitched and enjoy a special reception from 1-3 pm.

February 18: Knott’s will showcase the up and coming boy band, Midnight Red. These five talented young men – Eric, Colton, Anthony, Thomas and Joey, released their first single this summer, “One Club at a Time” on Interscope Records. Known for their stellar harmonies and electrifying dance moves, Midnight Red will be appearing live in concert in Calico Square at 5:00 pm.

February 25: The Anaheim Duck’s Wild Winger Kids Club will storm the park for their end of the year party. The festivities which will take place in Calico Square from 1:30-3:30 and will feature an autograph session and a Q&A session with Wild Winger Kid’s Club Captain, George Parros, as well as several other Anaheim Duck’s players.

Both the Midnight Red concert and the Anaheim Duck’s Wild Winger Kids Club end of the year party are included with general park admission.

Additional activities during “Twogether is Better” include a brand new stage show, “Love Is In the Air, Charlie Brown!”, Cupid’s Craft Corner where children 11 and under can create special tokens for the ones they love, and a special Peanut’s Hugging Booth all of which take place in Camp Snoopy.

Families wishing to spend the night at Knott’s Berry Farm can book one of the Knott’s Resort Hotel Vacation Packages that include park tickets, breakfast and more by calling 1-866-752-2444 or booking online at knottshotel.com.
www.knotts.com

Jon Byrd in South Pasadena Feb. 8

2012-01-25T10:06:00.001-08:00

Nashville-based Americana artist, Jon Byrd will be making two appearances in Los Angeles this February in support of his soon to-be-released record, Down at the Well of Wishes:

Wednesday, February 8th with Brad Colerick's Wine and Song Night
Firefly Bistro 7-10 pm 1009 El Centro Street South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 441-2443 http://www.wineandsong.com/

Thursday, February 9th as part of the “The First Picture Show”:
Music Photographs by Deone Jahnke Artist Reception & Live Music
Viva Cantina, 7-11 pm 900 W. Riverside Dr., 818-845-2425

In this time of style over substance––of reality with a capital "R"––Nashville singer-songwriter Jon Byrd gives us something we can actually use: honesty. Down At The Well Of Wishes, the Alabama native's second solo recording, is a remarkably above-board piece of work that demonstrates his world-class songwriting and performing skills while remaining refreshingly devoid of pretense. If you can imagine Gram Parsons or The Byrds had they actually been accepted by the country music establishment, then you have an inkling of Down At The Well Of Wishes' straightforward mix of barroom exuberance and front porch restraint.

As with Jon himself, there's nothing forced about Down At The Well Of Wishes––no miasmatic caterwauling; no high speed picking; no obligatory reggae track. On Down At The Well Of Wishes, the songs do the work. From "When it Starts to Rain," a heartfelt acknowledgement of the trials we all share, to "In a Chest of Skin and Bone," written with longtime collaborator Butch Primm, its tracks get right to the heart of the matter––and tend to stick in your head long after the listening is through.

Recorded at Ocean Way studios in Nashville, Tennessee, Down At The Well Of Wishes pulls together some of Nashville's most respected talents, including Shannon and Adam Wright (The Wrights), Milan Miller (Patty Loveless, Grayson Capps, Gary Bennett), Pat Severs (Bill Anderson, The Everly Brothers), Marty Lynds (Marah, Last Train Home), Ed Adkins (The Derailers), and Jimmy Lester (Webb Wilder, Los Straightjackets)––all under the watchful eye of veteran producer R.S. Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Justin Townes Earle).

Down At The Well Of Wishes comes as no surprise to those who've watched Jon work over the years. During the 90s, he was an integral part of Atlanta's storied Redneck Underground movement. His inventive yet understated Telecaster bending with bands like Slim Chance and the Convicts, and solo artists like country traditionalist Greta Lee, stands as a testament to that heady scene.

In 2001 Jon relocated to Nashville and began working with some of that city's finest songwriters and performers, including Davis Raines, Buck Jones, Stephen Simmons, and Suzette Lawrence. He co-produced Greta Lee's critically acclaimed recording You Must Be Present To Win and furthered his reputation as an empathic musician who can dazzle and support with equal measure.

But the move to Nashville had an ulterior motive. As a sideman, Jon had been long been performing his own compositions––if only one or two a night––but now he was ready to jump in with both feet. In 2004 he debuted Byrd's Auto Parts, a rambling collective of in-demand players who set about fleshing out Jon's original material. A self-titled cd followed, and the critics loved it: "A terrifically accomplished, versatile country singer," reported No Depression magazine.

Since then, Jon's songs have appeared on three Red Beet Records compilations––Red Beet is an East Nashville label known for their support of quality, if under-sung, songwriters like Peter Cooper and Fayssoux McLean. A duet with Amelia White, "Morning Song," was highlighted on that singer's 2009 recording, Motorcycle Dream. In the fall of 2010, Jon's composition "Silent Night" was the first single from Master Sessions, an Eric Brace and Peter Cooper recording that also featured steel guitar legend Lloyd Green. This year Jon's voice can be heard on I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs Of Fox Hollow, a tribute to Hall and that legendary recording, which also includes Buddy Miller, Patti Griffin, Jim Lauderdale, Lloyd Green, Elizabeth Cook, Duane Eddy, and Bobby Bare. David McGee of The Blugrass Special says: "In the lilting pop-country of 'How To Talk To a Little Baby Goat,' a tale told gently by Jon Byrd makes an important point about tolerance and respect."

Down At The Well Of Wishes will be released to US radio in February of 2012 following a successful UK tour. If you've been left cold by what passes for country singing and songwriting these days, give it a spin. Call it country, Americana, roots-rock, folk, or what have you, this record delivers––honestly.

Upcoming concerts from Live Nation week of Jan. 25

2012-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

ON SALE THIS WEEK:

On Sale Saturday January 28 at 10 AM:

VAN HALEN

With Special Guest: Kool & The Gang

Staples Center – June 1

Honda Center – June 12

On Sale Friday January 27 at 10 AM:

DRAKE

With Special Guests:

Kendrick Lamar – A$AP Rocky

Galen Center (Los Angeles, CA)

March 5

On Sale Friday January 27 at 12 Noon:

DRAKE

With Special Guests:

Kendrick Lamar – A$AP Rocky

SaveMart Center (Fresno, CA)

March 8

On Sale Friday January 27 at 1 PM:

UNA FAMILIA CON SUERTE

Gibson Amphitheatre

March 16

On Sale Friday January 27 at 1 PM:

AVENTURERA

Gibson Amphitheatre

March 24

On Sale Friday January 27 at 10 AM:

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

The Wiltern

May 12

On Sale Friday January 27 at 10 AM:

INGRID MICHAELSON

With Special Guest

The Wiltern

April 27

On Sale Thursday January 26 at 10 AM:

HARD Presents:

DUB POLICE

Featuring: Caspa & Trolley Snatcha

The Wiltern

March 3

On Sale Thursday January 26 at 10 AM:

HARD Presents:

HARD LA

Featuring: A-Trak

With: Jack Beats - Oliver

The Wiltern

March 31

On Sale Friday January 27 at 10 AM:

“I Get Wet” 10 Year Anniversary Tour

ANDREW W.K.

Performing entire “I Get Wet” Album live w/full band

Avalon

March 8

GO TO www.LIVENATION.COM for tickets, show information and more

Drake to tour

2012-01-25T10:04:00.001-08:00

Multi-platinum selling, Grammy® nominated recording artist Drake kicks off his 18 city Club Paradise Tour on February 14 in Miami, FL. The North American college tour is in support of Drake’s critically acclaimed album TAKE CARE.

The tour will visit Los Angeles on March 5 with a performance at USC’s Galen Center. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 27 at 10 AM. They will be available at www.LiveNation.com.

Plus, USC students will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance, prior to the public on sale, via a special student pre-sale. Tickets for this will be available online at

http://ev10.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=GC&linkID=usc&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode

starting Tuesday, January 24 at 10 AM until Wednesday, January 25 at 10 PM (* 8 ticket limit per customer on the pre-sale. USC student ID # required. While supplies last).

TAKE CARE (Young Money / Cash Money / Universal Republic), Drake’s sophomore album was released November 15 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart with 631,000 copies sold. Acclaimed by fans and critics alike, the album has been praised as one of the best releases of the year, with The New York Times dubbing Drake “hip-hop’s current center of gravity.” The album has since been certified Platinum, having sold over 1 million copies in the US.

TAKE CARE follows Drake’s full length album debut, 2010’s THANK ME LATER, which also bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart week of release and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album earned Drake multiple Grammy® nominations, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo performance.

For more information, details and updates, visit Drake’s official Facebook www.facebook.com/drake and website http://www.octobersveryown.blogspot.com.

Frank Gambale and Boca release labum

2012-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

GRAMMY-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale teams up for the first time with his wife and soul mate, singer/songwriter, BOCA, to create and deliver his first all-vocal, crossover Adult Contemporary album, "Frank Gambale Soulmine featuring BOCA." Luring listeners to “stir their soul,” this release features sexy, strong and evocative vocals, inviting lyrics, R&B jazz-funk stylings, and Frank Gambale’s signature sweep-picking prowess and soulful guitar playing.

“Music is a channel to move people and has the power to heal. I love vocal music and popular music and groove. I’ve had vocals on various solo albums, but I always wanted to record an entire album of well-crafted songs with cool changes, sophisticated vocal harmonies and serious melodic grooves,” said Gambale. “This is the album I’ve wanted to make for 30 years and now, in BOCA, I have the perfect voice, writing partner and performer. We can‘t help but be sexy when we‘re together and I think that magnetism is all over the music.”

Soulmine comprises soulful, contemporary songs appealing to a variety of music genre lovers as well as guitar aficionados and nostalgic 80s music fans who have followed Gambale’s career and rise to fame. The album bridges the musical gap between R&B stylings, jazz and funk overtones. An Adult Contemporary album, Soulmine crosses myriad genres ranging from Jazz-Rock, Smooth Jazz, Funk, Pop and World all the way to Spiritual.

Called by Gambale the “love-child” of two artistic soul mates who believe in the power of love, the album inspires with titles such as “Love Set Me Free,” “Live Your Dream,” “Be The Change,” “Open Your Mind,” “Sun Will Shine” and “Saved Me From Myself.” “Sun Will Shine” sings of optimism, inspiring confidence with the lyrics “… try to start each day knowing who you are… you know what you know, don’t need to be told, go with that…” And “Enchanted Love” sings to newfound joy with grateful confessions “…we lose track of time, lost in the loveliness, the passion I’ve longed for exists…” Gambale and BOCA’s passion for each other and their music comes alive through their lyrics, rhythms and saucy feel-good vibrations heard on this ten-song collaboration.

“Soulmineis a reflection of all the best parts of me,” says BOCA. “It’s always an enormous pleasure for me to record an album. Yet, to record an album with my soul mate and write about the impact of this love and my experiences thus far is exceeding my expectation of ‘love in action.’ My present life is nothing short of being in dreams awake.”

Evidence that the music’s messages are in tune with a new era and mindset now reaching critical mass, Gambale and BOCA are embarking on a world tour commencing in Europe in April 2012 with dates soon to be announced.

Soulmine and more information are available today at www.frankgambalesoulmine.com ,www.iTunes.com , www.CDBaby.com , www.amazon.com and select music stores, priced atUS$20.

Gibsom releases Ace Frehley Signature Series guitar

2012-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

Gibson Custom, a division of Gibson Guitar, today announced the release of the Signature Series Ace Frehley Budokan ’74 Les Paul. For the new recreation of this one-of-a-kind instrument, Gibson Custom worked directly with the current owner to analyze the guitar and replicate it down to the tiniest detail.

Making its debut in 1977, the Budokan Les Paul became Ace’s main guitar when KISS’s fame was exploding around the world due to prime-time television appearances, a sold-out debut at Madison Square Garden and the release of their classic album, Love Gun, which included Ace’s signature hit, “Shock Me” (named in Guitar World's “100 Greatest Guitar Solos”). For KISS fans, this year is also remembered as the year KISS sold out four nights at the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan, breaking the record held by The Beatles since 1966. Ace returned to Japan with his Budokan Les Paul the following year for the Alive II tour, where KISS broke their own record with a sold-out, five-night stand.

Each signature series guitar is a near-perfect recreation of nearly mythical guitars. The recreation process involves passion, skill, science and community as Gibson Custom works directly with high-end collectors and engineers to methodically build guitars, like the Budokan, by capturing the tone and feel of the guitar and every minute detail of the guitar. For this recreation, Gibson Custom worked directly with Frehley and current owner of the guitar.

While at Gibson Custom in Nashville for a final review, Frehley said, “When I played the aged Les Pauls, it was very difficult for me to tell the difference between one from the other. They all were remarkably similar. Even the scratches and worn-off finish was replicated just like on the original. The feel and play ability of the necks appeared to be just like my Budokan Les Paul Custom.”

“Ace is an icon and we’re extremely grateful that the current owner, Matt Swanson, was so passionate about sharing his find that he was willing to work with us and help make this a reality,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “Ace inspired so many musicians and we’re very proud to be able to recreate a guitar behind some many classic songs.”

Visit Gibson’s website at http://www.gibson.com/. Follow Gibson Guitar at www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar and www.facebook.com/gibsonguitar.

Help control feral cat population growth

2012-01-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

When temperatures rise each spring, it marks the beginning of “kitten season,” the time of year when millions of kittens are born and brought to animal shelters nationwide. Unfortunately, few of these kittens find adoptive homes. Many, if not most, are killed in shelters.

Cats have an approximately 60-day gestation period, so spring kittens are being conceived right now, in January and February. In addition, cats can become pregnant as early as age four months of age, so last year’s kittens can be producing this year’s litters.

“Before the ice thaws, the cats are already pregnant,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “The time for prevention is now—preventing new litters and preventing the needless deaths of millions of cats in animal shelters.”

Alley Cat Allies urges community members to have their pet cats spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Not only does neutering prevent new litters of kittens, it improves the cat’s health.

“This is also a crucial time to neuter neighborhood stray and feral cats,” said Robinson. “Through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), we are able to stabilize the population and decrease the number of cats entering shelters. The cats that remain no longer undergo the stresses of mating and pregnancy.”

Trap-Neuter-Return is a long-term, comprehensive community program that stabilizes the feral cat population humanely. Cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor homes. Trap-Neuter-Return is official policy in cities from Washington, DC to Chicago to Oklahoma City, and it is successfully practiced in every landscape nationwide.

Alley Cat Allies provides a number of resources on their website (www.alleycat.org) including step-by-step instructions and videos on how to carry out TNR. Individuals can find more help at www.alleycat.org/GetHelp or request a list of local resources and feral cat organizations at www.alleycat.org/response.

About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 260,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens nationwide. Their website is www.alleycat.org.

Cut Copy in LA Feb. 10

2012-01-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

Cut Copy are happy to announce that they will be celebrating their recent Grammy Nomination with what will likely be their only US appearance this year, a DJ set at Control, held on Friday, February 10th at the premiere Los Angeles club Avalon.

Come get loose with the band before they put on their tuxes. It should be a messy night!

Tickets are available now here:
http://www.wantickets.com/Events/98171/CONTROL-presents-Cut-Copy-DJ-Set/

Wynton Marsalis releases new album

2012-01-25T09:57:00.001-08:00

RELEASED TODAY - THE MUSIC OF AMERICA: WYNTON MARSALIS

From “Hellbound Highball” to “Happy Feet Blues,” this collection of works is the greatest retrospective of Wynton as a composer.

For the first time, Wynton Marsalis brings you this self-curated 2-CD set featuring ONLY his compositions. Performed by a diverse group of artists including musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orion String Quartet, Mark O’Connor, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Danny Barker.

www.wyntonmarsalis.org

Support local music at Mr. T's Bowl in Highland Park

2012-01-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 27

CENTRAL MUSIC with a Night of Jazz/Hip Hop
Surrealist, Mad Bluntz, Linoski, Patch Nastyy, Prophet

Saturday, January 28

VRA Enterprises Presents:
The Moldie Oldies Party All Night Vinyl Record Hop

with Special Guests Invading the Stage:
Thee Cormans, FV5, DJs ASTRO 138 & DJ Zorch
$5 Cover 21+

Friday, Feb. 3rd

Problem With Dragons
www.problemwithdragons.com
Planetoid
www.planetoidmusic.com
bantamFEATHER
www.myspace.com/bantamfeather
Claudine de Culam
claudinedeculam.wordpress.com
Reason To Rebel
www.reverbnation.com/reasontorebel

Saturday, Feb. 4th

9pm - Miata
www.myspace.com/miatatheband
9:45 - Twoversusone
www.twoversusone.com
10:30 - Knuckles
www.knucklestheband.com
Plus 2 Bands or DJ

Thursday, Feb. 9

"56" - Bands and DJ's that Rock

A new bi-weekly in Highland Park brought to you by the Stones Throw DJs.

http://www.facebook.com/events/177402215695014/

www.facebook.com/MrTsBowlandNightclub

www.mrtsevents.com

http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com

http://prem.calendars.net/mrtsbowl - CALENDAR

Upcoming concerts from Nederlander week of Jan. 25

2012-01-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Below are the on-sales for Nederlander Concerts this week. For a complete schedule please see the attached calendar of events or visit www.nederlanderconcerts.com

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

ON SALE Fri., Feb. 3 @ 10:00 AM

SHOW DATE April 26 @ 7:30 PM

TICKET PRICES: $100.00 / $67.00

______________________________________________________________________________________

Santa Barbara Bowl

Florence + The Machine

Plus special guest Blood Orange
ON SALE Sat., Jan 28 @ 11AM
SHOW DATE Sat., April 14 @ 7:00 PM
TICKET PRICES $50.00 / $43.00 / $34.00

Sally Kellerman in Studio City Feb. 8

2012-01-25T09:52:00.001-08:00

Sally Kellerman, will perform “Something Cool” at Vitello’s Jazz & Supper Club, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, CA 91604, on Wednesday, February 8th @ 8:00pm. Tickets are $15.00, Reservations 818-769-0905.

Oscar nominated actress Sally Kellerman proves once again that she has “ it” as she takes the stage in Studio City previewing two new songs (from her cabaret show, which is currently being developed as a national tour) alongside her classic covers and audience favorites. The appearance, dubbed “Something Cool” is all about enjoying the music with style.

“Kellerman doesn't just sing a song, she inhabits it.”

Start with the fact that she has all the basic essentials in place: a sound that reaches easily from dark, intimate low tones to coy, upper register head notes; a solid feel for rhythmic energy; an articulate way with a word and a phrase. Equally important, she brings all her skills as an actress into her story-telling interpretations.

Sexy, sometimes whimsical, blues-oriented tunes such as "I Want To Make Love To You," "Your Mind Is On Vacation," "Don't You Feel My Leg," "Love Potion #9” and "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl" are red meat for the I-gotcha-where-I-wantcha aspects of Kellerman's style.

Ballads and slower songs bring out a completely different perspective. "Just One of Those Things," for example, is rendered in deeply pensive fashion, illuminating the song in a fashion vastly different from the way it's usually interpreted. "Say It Isn't So" is equally whisper-in-your-ear intimate. And "I've Got a Crush on You" is sung up close and personal, as she strolls through the room, singing directly to the audience.

A favorable ambiance, Vitello’s Jazz and Supper Club offers a wonderful meal, a glass of wine, and a great moment to share with friends.

Sally Kellerman’s “Something Cool”
Wed. February 8th at 8:00pm
Vitellos Jazz & Supper Club - 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, CA 91604
Tickets are $15.00, Reservations 818-769-0905, www.ticketweb.com

Celtic Thunder CD and DVD to be released

2012-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder have just been hailed as BILLBOARD’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for their most current disc, Heritage. Celtic Thunder rings in 2012 with a new CD and DVD concert special, VOYAGE just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. VOYAGE the concert special will be broadcast across the U.S. on Public Television stations during the March 2012 pledge period, with an estimated one thousand airings beginning in late February (check local listings). Both the new CD and DVD will be available February 28th on Decca.

VOYAGE continues to pay homage to the musical culture of Ireland, while exploring the musical journey each soloist has undertaken since the beginning of Celtic Thunder four years ago. Former members Damian McGinty and Paul Byrom have moved on - McGinty’s star continues to rise after securing a reoccurring role on FOX’s hit show GLEE (a result of winning last year’s “The GLEE Project”), while Paul Byrom launches his own solo career as well. Keith Harkin is also working on a solo project while maintaining his integral role in Celtic Thunder. He is the first artist signed to the newly helmed David Foster Verve Music Group, and is readying his forthcoming solo debut wildly anticipated by “Thunder Heads” everywhere. The rest of the ensemble including Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Neil Byrne, George Harrison and Emmet Cahill welcome 13-year-old Daniel Furlong to the fold as a guest artist on this recording.

The group performances highlight the diversity of Irish music and song; from the powerful rendition of “Dulaman” to the love song “Maid of Culmore,” the collection also features a rousing performance of “Galway Girl” and beloved Irish party song “My Irish Molly-O.”

In addition to their impressive sales statics, their official YouTube channel, “Thunder Tube” has received over twenty five million views since its inception in 2008. Celtic Thunder’s successful resume includes performing for President Obama at The White House’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration in 2009, opening New York City’s famed St. Patrick’s Day Parade two consecutive years in a row (2008 & 2009), and most notably six hit Public Television specials and numerous sold out concerts all across America.

Celtic Thunder’s three-week US promotion for VOYAGE will end with the group appearing once again on QVC March 17th. Celtic Thunder have appeared on multiple national TV programs including The Today Show, CBS Early Show’s Saturday Second Cup Café, Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends, as well as numerous regional shows in major cities.

http://celticthunder.com
www.deccarecords.com

Pete Townshend catalog acquired by Spirit Music Group

2012-01-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

Spirit Music Group, one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, has purchased Pete Townshend’s interest in his entire song catalog and has partnered with the legendary rocker in its global promotion. The landmark deal includes rights to five decades of music written for The Who, one of the most dynamic and influential rock bands of all time, and a series of acclaimed solo albums. The career-spanning collection includes more than 30 charted singles featuring such timeless and powerful songs as “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Who Are You,” “You Better You Bet” and “Let My Love Open The Door” as well as groundbreaking rock operas “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia.”

The historic deal was conceived and crafted over the last year by Townshend and Spirit CEO Mark Fried with the specific goal of fostering proactive collaboration between the artist, his management team (Trinifold), his record label (Universal Music Group), the original publisher of his earliest works (TRO) and Spirit’s global marketing staff. Spirit has led the music publishing industry in recent years in expanding the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership, creating and executing successful marketing plans to revitalize the songs and expand the brands of such iconic artists as Lou Reed, T.Rex and Chaka Khan.

To underscore his commitment to making this breakthrough deal a success, Townshend has signed a multi-year consultancy agreement with Spirit which will see the parties work together on everything from traditional catalog promotion and film, television, advertising and new media licensing to exploring strategic brand partnerships with media and consumer product companies and developing musical stage shows and multimedia installations which shine a light on the power of the songs and the Townshend and The Who brands.

The pact also includes a long-term publishing agreement for Townshend’s future work, including new songs composed for potential solo and The Who releases as well as songs from “Floss,” the artist’s much-anticipated next musical dramatic project.

“The songs of Pete Townshend are the soundtrack of our lives. They’ve been a mirror to decades of cultural growth and change, challenging our sensibilities, inspiring engagement and forever redefining rock and roll song craft and musicianship. We’re thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to work closely with Pete in the care taking and promotion of his life’s work, and to help inspire his future successes,” said Fried.

Pete Townshend said, “I am very excited about my new relationship with Mark Fried and his team at Spirit. I feel that my song catalogue is at last consolidated with one guiding company, and I’m optimistic that Spirit will keep my music in the public mind. Further, the deal provides me with the resources to start all over again in my creative career – most songwriters don’t get this kind of opportunity, a chance of creative renaissance. I am passionately committed to new projects for rock and for music theater and I can’t imagine a better company with which to be building a new creative life for myself.”

Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg of Trinifold Management added, “We are delighted to be starting a long relationship with Mark and Spirit Music. We feel that they will be of great benefit to Pete’s work both past and future, will focus not only on better known songs but also on the wealth of lesser known gems and prove to be an invaluable creative partner for Pete in his upcoming projects.”

David Cunningham, Partner of Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P. said, “The acquisition of the collective works of Pete Townshend marks a milestone in the evolution of Spirit, our music publishing partner. Winning the trust of one of rock’s most innovative and influential icons is a complete validation of Spirit’s long history of investing in iconic copyrights and partnering with their creators in promoting their legacies. We look forward to what should be a very exciting year for the company.”

Townshend and Spirit are planning a busy 2012, focusing on reintroducing the deeper song catalog and building The Who brand in partnership with cutting edge directors, producers and tastemakers across the media landscape. Townshend continues to promote the personally curated “Quadrophenia-The Director’s Cut” boxed set released late last year and is finishing a long-awaited autobiography set for release in September, both of which will be paired with media and licensing events developed by Spirit. A series of retrospectives for the Who’s most celebrated albums are expected over the next two years leading up to a global celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary in 2014.

Pete Townshend is one of the most celebrated songwriters and musicians in rock and roll. As principal songwriter for The Who, Townshend helped define the sound of the mid-60’s British rock scene with such explosive singles as “I Can’t Explain,” “My Generation,” “I Can See For Miles” and “The Kids Are Alright.” He was one of the originators of the ‘concept album’, first with “A Quick One” and then with “The Who Sell Out” – a wry observation on music in a commercialized culture. Townshend then took album-length storytelling to the extreme, producing the first rock operas, “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” – both acclaimed works which spawned successful film and stage adaptations. Meantime, The Who – completed by the larger than life talents of Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon - established itself as one of the hardest-working live acts in the world, performing incendiary (and infamously destructive) sets throughout Europe and North America – including historic stints at Monterrey Pop and Woodstock – winning legions of devoted fans. Returning to the studio in 1971, The Who produced “Who’s Next”, considered by fans and critics to be one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time thanks to its thematic and musical innovations and some of Townshend’s most enduring songs including “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Baba O’Riley” and “Going Mobile.” The band’s later albums saw Townshend writing more introspective pieces and exploring more varied instrumentation, setting the stage for a series of solo albums ranging from the lo-fi “Who Came First” to the emotionally raw “Empty Glass” (which spawned the ubiquitous pop gem “Let My Love Open The Door”) to the dense think-piece “All The Best Cowboys” and conceptual radio play “Psychoderelict.” 2006’s “Endless Wire,” The Who’s 11th studio album, sailed into the Top 10 on release, demonstrating that Townshend’s songs and Daltrey’s soulful and soaring vocals remain as relevant this century as they were in the last.

In a career filled with milestones and accolades, several Townshend honors stand out including a Brit Lifetime Achievement Award in 1983, a Grammy and Tony award for “Tommy: The Musical” in 1993 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008. The Who received lifetime achievement awards from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 1988 and from the Grammy Foundation in 2001 and they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.

About Spirit Music

Spirit Music Group, founded in 1995, is one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, owning and/or managing more than 40,000 songs spanning 7 decades and every musical genre. The company’s repertoire reflects some of the most beloved songs and songwriters of all time including hits by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Elmore James, Elvis Presley, Charles Mingus, Dion, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Santana, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, Alice Cooper, Pure Prairie League, Chicago, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, The Go-Go’s, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Ricky Martin, Usher, Dido, Jewel and Mary J. Blige, the complete catalogs of such iconic song writers and writer/artists as Lou Reed, T.Rex, Boz Scaggs, The Grateful Dead, The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Squier, Andrea Bocelli, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Angela Winbush, Rick Nowels and C&C Music Factory and the breakthrough work of such newer artists as Scissor Sisters, The Naked & Famous and Old Crow Medicine Show. Spirit also represents the master recordings of such classic labels as Brunswick and k-Tel and buzzing independent labels Fat Possum and The End. The company has earned a strong reputation as an aggressive royalty administrator and a peerless promoter of its songs into film, television and advertising productions as well as a wide range of new media. In recent years, Spirit’s creative staff has helped transform the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership, creating and executing marketing plans to revitalize its clients’ songs and expand their brands. Spirit Music Group is based in New York with affiliate offices all over the world. For further information about Spirit Music Group, go to www.spiritmusicgroup.com.

Carrie Underwood to release new single Feb. 23

2012-01-25T09:47:00.001-08:00

From one of this year’s most anticipated albums, superstar Carrie Underwood will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on February 23. The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later this spring.

Underwood wrote the track with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley, who co-wrote two of Underwood’s No. 1 hits “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.” Once again Carrie teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.

Since releasing Some Hearts in 2005, Underwood has sold more than 14 million albums with Some Hearts, 2007’s Carnival Ride, and 2009’s Play On. She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums.

Underwood is a current Grammy Award nominee and a five-time Grammy Award winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.

The Alialujah Choir to release album

2012-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Alialujah Choir: Debut self-titled album out February 14, 2012 on Jealous Butcher. Pre-order available now via www.alialujah.com.

THE BAND IS DEBUTING THEIR NEW VIDEO FOR "A HOUSE, A HOME" AT THEIR RECORD RELEASE SHOW AT THE DOUG FIR IN PORTLAND, OREGON ON 2/11. Here's a trailer for the video: http://vimeo.com/34647031

The Alialujah Choir is Adam Shearer and Alia Farah of Weinland, and Adam Selzer of Norfolk & Western and M. Ward.

Shearer, Selzer and Farah began writing and recording songs at Portland’s Type Foundry with no commercial ambitions. They simply wanted to take shelter from the chaos of touring and make music together. Ensconced by friendship and solitude, the trio’s shared sensibility to embrace their love for roots folk music has created a beautiful and compelling album.

Upcoming concerts from Goldenvoice week of Jan. 25

2012-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

On Sale Now!

Anthony Green with The Dear Hunter, Isodora Crane

February 11th / Fox Theater Pomona / Doors: 7pm / $18.50 / on sale now

Show moved from The Glass House, all originally purchased tickets will be honored

Mickey Hart Band

March 2nd / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $30 / on sale now

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames with Sarah Jaffe

March 7th / The Music Box / Doors: 8pm / $22.50 / on sale now

FEED ME with TEETH

March 17th / The Music Box / Doors: 8pm / $32 / on sale now

Arcangel

March 24th / Club Nokia / Doors: 7pm / $35, $55 / on sale now

Esperanza Spalding with Radio Music Society (press release attached)

April 27th / The Music Box / Doors: 8pm / $41 / on sale now

Yann Tiersen

May 12th / The Music Box / Doors: 8pm / $25 / on sale now

On Sale Friday!

Awesomesauce. Live!

leetUP (press release attached)

March 1st / Club Nokia / Doors: 7pm / Limited amount of $15 & $20 Early Bird tickets available, $20 GA, $50 VIP/ on sale 1/27 @ 10am

Five Finger Death Punch with Soulfly, Windowpane

March 24th / Fox Theater Pomona / Doors: 7pm / $32 adv & $35 dos / on sale 1/27 @ 10am

Kathleen Edwards

March 27th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $20 / on sale 1/27 @ 10am

Jagermeister Music Tour

Portugal. The Man with The Lonely Forest

May 4th / Fox Theater Pomona / Doors: 8pm / $22.50 adv & $25 dos / on sale 1/27 @ 10am

On Sale Saturday!

Jovanotti

March 17th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $25 / on sale 1/28 @ 10am

The Black Seeds

April 5th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $17 adv & 20 dos / on sale 1/28 @ 10am

Trampled by Turtles

May 22nd / The Music Box / Doors: 7pm / $22.50 adv & $27 dos / on sale 1/28 @ 10am

Added Support

MUTEMATH with Canon Blue

February 2nd / Club Nokia / Doors: 8pm / $31 adv, $33 dos / on sale now

Roky Erickson with The Night Beats, DJ Chris Ziegler

March 1st / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $28.50 / on sale now

Cults with Spectrals, Mrs. Magician

March 22nd / The Music Box / Doors: 8pm / $22.50 / on sale now

The Magnetic Fields with Bachelorette

March 23rd 2012 / The Orpheum / Doors: 7pm / $30, $35 / on sale now

www.goldenvoice.com

Mayhem Festival announces lineup

2012-01-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, the world’s largest touring heavy music festival is back for its fifth year, assaulting the senses of United States heavy metal music fans. The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is proud to announce this summer’s artists. The main stage will be our strongest ever with the headlining slot occupied by multi-platinum Iowa legends SLIPKNOT. Next up will be legendary thrash metal kings SLAYER and then a major special guest will be playing in the third slot whom will be announced on March 5th. The main stage will also spotlight a ferocious mix of today’s best artists in a rotation, including THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA. In 2012 the tour has upgraded the production on the festival stage and this year the JAGERMEISTER STAGE will feature a special headline set by metal masters ANTHRAX supported by a rotation of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA, along with WHITECHAPEL, HIGH ON FIRE and the JAGERMEISTER opener. Please note that bands may vary per market.

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL will make a 26 date trek across the U.S. beginning on June 30th at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California. GET OFF YOUR ASS Pre-sale tickets go on sale Friday the 6th of April, 2012. Tune in to www.rockstarmayhemfest.com and www.livenation.com for up-to-date ticketing information.

Corey Taylor of Slipknot says “You knew we'd be back. Now, you know we're coming. This will be a tour people will scarcely want to miss. It will definitely be a show to remember. Can't wait to see the states again from behind a mask.”

Slipknot’s, Clown states “Slipknot is headlining this summer’s Mayhem festival and it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever felt, sensed, or seen. You miss this, you miss everything. Everyone seems to think that there’s a chance we’re gonna go away. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Stay sic and don’t ever judge us.”

“Mayhem 2012 might just be the last and greatest metal festival before the world ends!! So wreak havoc and go out in style!!” adds Tom Araya of Slayer.

Slayer’s Kerry King comments “ We can't wait to get rolling on Mayhem 2012! Been 3 years since we played it last, and it's gonna be brutal!!! You can't go wrong with Slayer and Slipknot, pure fucking mayhem!!!!

The 5th annual ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL will also feature ROCKSTAR METAL MULISHA JUMP TEAM, on select dates.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is produced by Rockstar Taste of Chaos organizer John Reese, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Live Nation, and Creative Artists Agency. The team has made the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL a standout on the summer concert circuit by following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience. This year sees them joining forces once again with ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK as the title sponsor.

“Metal is ALIVE and WELL in 2012,” states tour producer John Reese. “The fifth year of Rockstar Mayhem Festival will have a massive lineup that will set heavy music fans ears blazing!”

"Some years it all comes together, from top to bottom and this years ROCKSTAR MAYHEM lineup is going to bring it!" adds tour producer Kevin Lyman.

In 2008, the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL bulldozed onto the scene and quickly made itself known as the preeminent summer destination for the hard rock and metal community. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL boasts the most powerful artist line-ups in heavy music. Artists who have performed on the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL have included hard music legends SLAYER, SLIPKNOT, KORN, ROB ZOMBIE, DISTURBED, GODSMACK, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, MARILYN MANSON, MACHINE HEAD, IN FLAMES, TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, CANNIBAL CORPSE, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, MASTODON, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, KINGDOM OF SORROW, DETHKLOK and many more. All have pummeled the stage, while delivering the intensity and heaviness that fans have grown to expect year after year.

See below for all current tour dates.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL 2012 TOUR DATES:

6/30/2012

7/1/2012
San Bernardino, CA
San Manuel Amphitheater

Shoreline Amphitheater

San Francisco, CA

7/3/2012
Seattle, WA
White River Amphitheater

7/4/2012
Boise, ID
Idaho Center Amphitheater

7/6/2012
Phoenix, AZ
Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion

7/7/2012
Albuquerque, NM
Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion

7/8/2012
Denver, CO
Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

7/10/2012
Dallas, TX
Gexa Energy Pavilion

7/11/2012
Houston, TX
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

7/13/2012
Tampa, FL
1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre

7/14/2012
Atlanta, GA
Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

7/15/2012
Indianapolis, IN
Klipsch Music Center

7/18/2012
Oklahoma City, OK
Zoo Amphitheatre

7/20/2012
St. Louis, MO
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

7/21/2012
Chicago, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

7/22/2012
Detroit, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre

7/24/2012
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center

7/25/2012
Cleveland, OH
Blossom Music Center

7/27/2012
Philadelphia, PA
Susquehanna Bank Center

7/28/2012
Pittsburgh, PA
First Niagara Pavilion

7/29/2012
Washington, DC
Jiffy Lube Live

7/31/2012
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

8/1/2012
Buffalo, NY
Darien Lake PAC

8/3/2012
Boston, MA
Comcast Center

8/4/2012
Scranton, PA
Toyota Pavilion

8/5/2011
Hartford, CT
The Comcast Theatre

For more information on the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, visit www.rockstarmayhemfest.com

PJ Walsh to headline Bill Word's comedy show in Whittier Jan. 28

2012-01-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

Bill Word and Friends
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8:00 PM
$10 cover, two beverage minimum
http://www.killerkomedy.com/

Norwalk Moose Lodge

13305 Imperial Highway

Whittier, CA 90605

More info call (949) 223-0298

Host: Bill Word

Headliner: PJ Walsh

THE FRIENDS:
Featuring the comedy of:

Rico

Will Rodgers

Mark Sexton

Donita Smith

Charlene Ward

Carin P. Webb

Shomari Williams

Muriel Anderson in Long Beach Jan. 24, Palm Springs Jan. 25

2012-01-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

Muriel Anderson

Tuesday Jan 24 Long Beach, CA
7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. Concert with Steve Lawson (bass virtuoso from England) All American Melodrama Theater, 429 Shoreline Village Dr. 90802 (562) 495 5900. $15 at door

Wednesday Jan 25 Palm Springs / Desert Edge CA 7:00pm house concert at the community room at Healing Waters Spa, 18131 Langlois Rd (recommended donation $10-20) advance online Reservations and info 760-329-3169 or email

Fri Jan 27 Carlsbad, CA
7:00pm Museum of Making Music, 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 877-551-9976

www.murielanderson.com

Parry Adams to stream live performance Jan. 25

2012-01-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

Parry Adams believes that you shouldn't have to shed your Wednesday night sweatpants to hear great live music. So, she's coming to you live from her living room.

Avoid lofty drink minimums and the January cold by logging onto Adams' Ustream channel on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. Adams will perform a mix of originals and covers as requested by viewers.

Click the video below for Adams first Ustream performance, with a predetermined set list:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19210510

Like what you hear? Check out "Parry's Positivity Project" below. Her uplifting song-a-week release is sure to beat even the harshest winter blues:
http://parryspositivityproject.wordpress.com/

For more information, log onto http://www.parryadams.com/

Twin Atlantic to tour

2012-01-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

TWIN ATLANTIC is premiering a new live video on www.InkedMag.com this week. In the clip, the band performs the title track off their new album “Free” in front of a sold out audience at O2 Academy, in their hometown of Glasgow, Scotland. Check it out here: www.inkedmag.com/blog/exclusive-twin-atlantic-play-free-live-o2-academy.

TWIN ATLANTIC return to the States this week to kick off their stint as direct support on the You Me At Six/The Swellers co-headline tour, along with openers We Are The Ocean. The trek kicks off tomorrow in Cleveland, OH and wraps on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles, CA.

Recently dubbed “your new favourite band” on the cover of Kerrang!, TWIN ATLANTIC’s debut album Free was also named the #9 Album of the Year by Rock Sound Magazine who said they “made THE British all-out rock record of 2011.” Additionally, “Free” is currently #1 on the Kerrang! Radio Rock chart.

TWIN ATLANTIC’S critically-lauded debut full-length, FREE, was recorded with legendary producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Jimmy Eat World). Free, the follow up to the well-received debut mini-album, Vivarium, expands upon the band’s signature sound, melding angular riffs with energetic choruses. Explosive and hard charging, yet melodic and thoughtful, the tracks cut deep and ring true to the listener, leaving a lasting impression. The album is currently available digitally in the U.S., and will be in stores on March 13.

TWIN ATLANTIC U.S. Tour Dates (direct support for You Me At Six/The Swellers with We Are The Ocean opening):

Jan 24th Cleveland OH, Grog Shop

Jan 25th Chicago IL, Beat Kitchen

Jan 26th Pontiac MI, Pike Room

Jan 27th Toronto ON, Sneaky Dee’s

Jan 28th Pittsburgh PA, Smiling Moose

Jan 29th New York NY, Studio

Jan 30th Worcester MA, Palladium

Jan 31st Philadelphia PA, Barbary

Feb 1st Baltimore MD, Ottobar

Feb 2nd Charlotte NC, The Casbah

Feb 3rd Atlanta GA, Masquerade

Feb 4th Orlando FL, The Social

Feb 6th Houston TX, Warehouse

Feb 7th San Antonio TX, White Rabbit

Feb 8th Dallas TX, The Door

Feb 10th Mesa AZ, The Nile

Feb 11th San Diego CA, Soma

Feb 12th Anaheim CA, Chain Reaction

Feb 14th Los Angeles CA, Troubadour

Official site - http://www.twinatlantic.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/twinatlantic

Twitter – http://twitter.com/twinatlantic

Lamb of God partners with Jammit music software

2012-01-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

LAMB OF GOD has partnered with Jammit, Inc.—a music software company founded by renowned producer/engineer Scott Humphrey. Each song from the band’s latest CD, Resolution, will be available on Jammit – an emerging music platform that will give musicians and fans a whole new way to experience LAMB OF GOD. The band’s decision to release their highly anticipated CD simultaneously for Jammit software is a testament to its innovative presentation and rich feature set. Below is a description of Jammit and the link to the LAMB OF GOD artist page.

About Jammit:

Whether you’re an aspiring musician, an absolute beginner or a seasoned professional, Jammit is the easiest way to learn your favorite songs. Jammit delivers a stunning user experience allowing you to virtually practice and perform in the recording studio with your favorite artists. This revolutionary product utilizes the actual multi-track masters from the original recording sessions. Jammit tracks are available for guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals, allowing you to isolate a specified instrument or vocal track from the rest of the band. The software provides note-for-note transcriptions (in standard notation or tablature), instant navigation to any part of the song, adjustable snap-to-grid looping and a slow playback mode (that doesn’t affect the pitch). Once you have learned the song, you can replace the original instrument recording with your own performance. Jammit is currently available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch with Mac and Windows versions coming in early2012.

Check out Jammit’s video tutorial below:

http://www.skylabdigital.com/etc/Jammit-how-to-overview-v2.mov

Check out the LAMB OF GOD / Jammit artist page for all available tracks:

https://jammit.com/artist/lamb-of-god

Luane Hunt music news

2012-01-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Hope your new year is getting off to a great start!

We’re only 23 days into 2012 and so many wonderful things have already come.

I just received some incredible news this morning about my song “Christmas Without You.” In December, the Lawton Jiles/Buster Beam tune went to No. 1 in three countries – France, Denmark and Austria. It also was the 2nd most played song in all of Europe, right behind George Strait’s “I’m Gonna Be Alright.”

You can view the standings at:
www.europeancma.com

At the moment, “I Want To Stand Where Jesus Stood” (written by Lawton Jiles) is a Top 40 hit on the Europe’s premier Hotdisc chart. It’s at No.8 and climbing! Additionally, it reached the Top 10 in the Ourstage Gospel competition last month and is currently at No. 3, poised to make the Top 10 once again.

Last week, RTV Country Festival in Holland named “I Want To Stand Where Jesus Stood” its “Gospel Track of the Week.”

I am so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to record songs by Jiles and Beam, who also wrote several chart-toppers for Patsy Cline. They are truly among the best and my gratitude for their great talent runs deep.

In other news, I have organized an oldies cruise for November, 2012 that will feature The Royal Guardsmen (Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron), Mercy (Love Can Make You Happy) and Robin McNamara (Lay A Little Lovin’ On Me).

We have just started taking reservations and if you’re interested in coming along, there is more information at: www.theroyalguardsmen.net. It promises to be a memorable and magical time on the high seas!

Lastly, Star Creek Entertainment has expanded and we now have a book publishing division. In April, we will be releasing investigative reporter Frank C. Girardot’s gripping whodunit, “Name Dropper: Investigating The Clark Rockefeller Mystery.”

If you like true crime stories, this is one you won’t want to miss. Find out more at: www.rockefellermystery.com.

Also, look for Frank on Dateline this Friday, January 27 (check local listings for times). The program will focus on Rockefeller’s preliminary hearing, which is going on right now in Los Angeles County. Frank is one of the leading experts in this case.

Before I sign off, I’d like to congratulate my clients “The Holiday Sisters” for their great success in the promotion of their children’s Christmas books, “Jesus’ Birthday Gift” (by Michelle Boggiano) and “The Amazing Giving Tree Secret” (by Mary Fimbel).

Michelle and Mary’s work touched countless individuals over the holiday season. And I know their timely and poignant messages will continue to transform hearts for years to come.

As always, I greatly appreciate your continued support and encouragement.

Wishing you a joyful journey!
Luanne

Monica Mancini & Arturo Sandoval in Cerritos Feb. 25

2012-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Monica Mancini and Arturo Sandoval in
Concert
Featuring The Dick Parent Orchestra

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $68/$56/$46/$36

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos Center
for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at www.cerritoscenter.com , or
by calling (562) 467-8818.

Livestock Symposium in Antelope Valley Jan. 28

2012-01-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

If you’re interested in learning about working dogs or knowing how to select and feed market sheep, swine, beef and goats, the 2012 Livestock Symposium in the Antelope Valley should provide lots of valuable information. The symposium, which will be hosted by the Antelope Valley 4-H Council, will take place at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (located at Avenue H and Highway 14) on Saturday, January 28. The event will start with registration at 8:15 am and conclude at 1:00 pm. A donation of $1 at the registration table will be requested.

The symposium will bring together prominent speakers to discuss the challenges of the livestock industry in California and to demonstrate better agricultural practices through presentations and exhibitions. There will be workshops on beef nutrition and selection; feeding and showing of sheep, swine, rabbits and pygmy goats; and poultry basics, to name a few. There will even be a horse showmanship clinic. In addition to the program, attendees will enjoy opportunities to win door prizes.

“This will be quite the livestock event in Southern California. Due to the many wonderful supporters and participants, we will be able to bring a high-quality program to the local livestock community,” says Charlene Moore, UC Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program coordinator.

As part of the University of California Cooperative Extension, 4-H has been active for more than 100 years. 4-H has a rich history of teaching rural children to raise animals; and in recent years, 4-H has had a more urban twist, offering more than 80 projects that range from marine biology to photography.

For more information on this event, please contact Charlene Moore at (661) 974-8824, moore@ucdavis.edu , and for more information on 4-H activities, please visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/4H_Youth_Development_Programs/

Rumer's album out today

2012-01-24T11:09:00.001-08:00

One of the UK’s most buzzed about artists, Rumer, will be releasing her album “Seasons Of My Soul - which has already hit the top 10 in numerous countries overseas, in the US January 24th.

Rumer kicks off her US tour tomorrow in LA (see dates below) .

Rumer’s sound is an incredible throwback to early singer/songwriters. She has a timeless jazz-soul tinged voice with a musical styling that has drawn comparisons to artists like Carole King, Dusty Springfield & Karen Carpenter. Rumer has already worked with and been publicly praised by legendary artists such as Burt Bacharach, Elton John & Carly Simon! Her album, Seasons of My Soul received extensive critical praise. Rumer's nontraditional musical upbringing has shaped her classic yet contemporary sound. Born in Pakistan and the youngest of seven children living in an expat colony without TV or newspapers, Rumer and her family would often sing and write songs together. There Rumer acquired her first guitar; which she taught herself to play, and years later, she wrote all the songs on Seasons of My Soul. Seasons of My Soul is a stunning, autobiographical yet astoundingly universal record.

Rumer will be in the U.S. touring throughout Jan-Feb of 2012 (see attached press release and below for dates). She was recently featured in the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS as one of the “Best Live Shows of 2011” and as one of 2012’s Best Upcoming Album Releases. Please take a moment to discover this incredible new artist.

Seasons of My Soul

Tracklist (click to stream):
Am I Forgiven
Come to Me High
Slow
Take Me As I Am
Aretha
Saving Grace
Thankful
Healer
Blackbird
On My Way Home
Goodbye Girl

RUMER

North American Tour 2012

JANUARY

24 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café

25 San Francisco, CA Bimbos

27 Salt Lake City, UT State Room

31 Minneapolis, MN Varsity

FEBRUARY

2 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall

6 Toronto, ON Mod Club

7 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live

9 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge

10 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall

Young Prisms to tour

2012-01-24T11:08:00.001-08:00

In December 2010, San Francisco's young navel-gazers, Young Prisms found themselves stranded in London's Heathrow Airport due to what was considered an epic ice storm. Looking back, It must have surely been a test of wills, especially for a road-weary group of stoned NoCal tykes. I mean, how did they score weed? This and a handful of other eye-opening events paved the way for what would be the band's most prolific songwriting output to date.

A little over a year later, Young Prisms sees the release of their sophomore LP In Between this spring [March 27, 2012] on Kanine Records. Still a five piece, (albeit a different five) the album captures the highs and the lows of the last year. Born out of the traumatizing Heathrow crisis and the death of a loved one, a strong sense of rejection, loneliness, and despair all play a huge role in the creation of In Between.

However, It’s not all doom and gloom and it’s not like childhood friends Gio Betteo and Matthew Allen didn’t see the changes coming (they named their first album Friends For Now). They just didn’t expect it all to happen in such a dramatic fashion. Still united with singer Stefanie Hodapp and drummer Jordan Silbert, the Prisms welcomes a second female vocalist/guitarist, Ashley Thomas.

It’s this addition that brings a softer, more melodic touch to their fuzzed out sound. If Friends For Now yields comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain, In Between lends itself more to the Mazzy Star, Slowdive end of the spectrum – and one need not look any further than lead single "Four Hours (Away)". Its gentle swing and sullen vocal sweep will melt hearts and help pass those cold and dark hours.

To spotlight how the band has made peace with the past year, check out "Runner", which will put a bounce in your step, while "Dead Flowers" has the Prisms stepping on their pedals harder than ever. Album opener "Floating in Blue" will fill your head with swirly dream pop and the guitar-drenched "Midnight’s When" pays homage to the innocent 50’s inspired lullaby that Mary Chain fans will swoon to both awake and asleep

Enlisting the production of Monte Vallier (Weekend, Mark Eitzel) and once again as a full five piece, the Prisms sound refreshed and Young again. With Allen having moved outside the city, Betteo and Allen began traveling back and forth in between homes to write this record. The result is a perfect soundtrack to the loneliest road trip down California Highway 1…where the lights dim and flicker as the sun sets on the pacific while the fog and haze return to the Redwood Forests and Coastal Cliffs.

Young Prisms are heading back on the road this spring in support of In Between, including a trip to SXSW, and they have plans to visit the UK, but not ‘til the summer of course.

Upcoming Tour Dates Feb 22 - Cafe Du Nord - San Francisco, CA $
Feb 24 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
Feb 25 - Comet Tavern - Seattle, WA ^
Feb 26 - The Shakedown - Bellingham, WA^
Feb 29 - The Aquarium - Dempsey’s - Fargo, ND#
Mar 1 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN #
Mar 2 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
Mar 3 - Cafe Bourbon Street - Columbus, OH #
Mar 4 - DC9 - Washington, DC #
Mar 5 - Glasslands - Brooklyn, NY #
Mar 6 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA#
Mar 7 - Great Scott - Allston, MA #
Mar 8 - The Red Door - Portsmouth, NH #
Mar 9 - Le Cagibi - Montreal, QC #
Mar 10 - Drake Hotel - Toronto, ON #
Mar 11 - Paperhouse - Detroit. MI #
Mar 21 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA *

$ w/ Melted Toys
^ w/ Grave Babies
# w/ Boy Friend
* w/ The Black Ryder

Storytelling and photography at the Getty Jan. 26

2012-01-24T11:07:00.001-08:00

On January 26, noted actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith joins artists Carrie Mae Weems and Eileen Cowin for an evening of conversation and readings at the Getty Center. They will discuss Cowin’s and Weems’s works on view in the exhibition Narrative Interventions in Photography, and explore how storytelling impacts their art making.

Anna Deavere Smith is currently the artist in residence at the Center for American Progress. She is known for her documentary-theater style, showcased in plays such as Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles, in which she performs multiple roles. Smith has also appeared in numerous films and television programs. In this unique meeting of artists at the Getty, Smith urges the photographers to explore their interest in storytelling through performance.

Carrie Mae Weems's work is part of her 1995 series From Here I Saw What Happened, in which she appropriates historical photographs of African Americans and superimposes her own narrative onto the images. Weems's texts add an additional layer of interpretation to the photographs, which depict racial stereotypes, brutality, and injustice.

Eileen Cowin's 2002 series I See What You're Saying consists of large-scale diptychs in which images of books are juxtaposed with close-up details of faces; together, the pairs explore the tension between what simply exists on the page and what is viscerally understood. The work asks viewers to consider the subjectivity of storytelling, specifically the notion of lying.

Storytelling and Photography
Thursday January 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center

Complements the exhibition Narrative Interventions in Photography, on-view through March 11, 2012

Event is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Afro Funke Thursdays in Santa Monica

2012-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

Afro Funké
WEEKLY FUNK INVOCATION
------------------:~0~:---------------------
Afrobeat, Brazilian, Dub, Reggae, Cumbia,
Samba Disco, Batucada, Afro-Latin House,
Indian Beats, Makossa & other deep-rooted
Funk music from around the world
---------------------:~0~:---------------------

Thursday, January 26, 2012

DJ CAM
(France)
With SEVEN, DJ CAM serves up his most personal album since the acclaimed Substances. Inspired as
ever by the original jazz and hip-hop influences that helped him become one of the founders of the trip-hop scene
back in 1995, this new album is also full of exciting new musical and visual influences.

As a mainstay of the French Touch (he started his career in the 1990s together with Daft Punk, Air, Cassius,
Bob Sinclar...), DJ CAM has released six albums, helmed a number of side projects and given countless performances
all around the world, helping him to acquire global notoriety. His 2002 single “Summer in Paris”with Anggun sold
over a million copies and remains an emblematic tune of the Parisian dolce vita.

He is now based in Los Angeles, where his musical and visual projects can converge, including production and
remixes (Michael Jackson, Serge Gainsbourg, Air, Miles Davis...), sound design (Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Sephora,
Agnès b...), soundtracks for both TV (“CSI: Miami”...) and cinema (Gus Van Sant, Wayne Wang...).

SEVEN has touches of well-crafted pop and folk (“Swim,” with vocals by Stateless’ Chris James and a video
directed by Sonia Sieff, reminds one of Radiohead, one of the album’s major influences. And Chris James is also
present on “Ghost” and “Uncomfortable”), hints of old school electronica (“Dreamcatcher”) and cinematic ambient
tracks that invite you to dream (“Seven,” “California Dreaming”). For a feminine touch, DJ CAM adds the vocals of
Inlove, a new signing on his Inflamable label, and Nicolette, long-time collaborator with Massive Attack, the
legendary group that DJ CAM feels closer to now than ever before, and to whom he dedicates the album.

DJ CAM: “After the acoustic album Soulshine and various projects with high-profile collaborations and large
groups, I wanted to get back to the essentials of being a producer: going into the studio alone, having total freedom,
and allowing my inspiration free reign. SEVEN has turned out to be so intimate because I approached it in the
same way as my earliest tracks; with experimentation and pleasure as the prime motivation.”

Written in Paris and Los Angeles, SEVEN is an album whose enveloping, melancholic tone and wide-open
soundscapes aresupposed to help make your mind wander. The release of the album is the moment for DJ CAM
– who admits to spending as much time in art galleries as he does listening to and composing music – to show us
his talents as a photographer through the Landscape Architecture project, a series of mysterious landscapes
where nature and architecture intermingle in a ghost-likeworld. An exhibition is planned, and the visuals will
projected on a big screen during DJ CAM’s concerts, as revealed for the firs time at the SXSW
festival last March.
www.inflamable.com

+

listening party 9-10pm:
MIGHTY SPARROW
"Sparrowmania!
Wit, Wisdom and Soul from the King of Calypso 1962-1974"
(STRUT RECORDS)

Strut present a brand new retrospective of one of the Caribbean's most towering musical figures, Mighty Sparrow,
covering 1962 to 1974. During a career of over 40 years, Sparrow has been an unmatchable figure in the world of
calypso and a constant backdrop to Caribbean life, recording over 300 albums and winning eleven Calypso Monarch
and eight Road March titles at the annual Trinidad Carnival during one of the most competitive times in its history.

Scoring his first hit, "Jean And Dinah," at aged 20, Sparrow's style drew on influences from US street harmony
quartets to crooners like Nat King Cole, jazz greats – Ella, Sinatra – and the early calypso generation including
Lord Melody and Lord Kitchener. By the late '50s and in his early 20s, he was already an influential figure,
encouraging Trinidad's people to pay taxes with Carnival hit "P.A.Y.E." and highlighting cruelty to animals
on "Russian Satellite."

This new collection hones in on Sparrow's most creative years as he effortlessly surfed musical styles from calypso
party jams to hard-hitting boogaloo and soul. He had become a confident political commentator, tackling
subjects as varied as domestic economic hardship ("Ah Diggin' Horrors"), slavery ("The Slave") and the Cuban
missile crisis ("Kennedy And Kruschev"). Other tracks serve as a vital reference point for today's music. On
"Picong Duel," we hear Sparrow and fellow calypso legend, Lord Melody, trade insults, a direct forerunner to
later mic battles in hip hop culture. Elsewhere, Sparrow just plain rocks the party ("Calypso Boogaloo,"
"Jook For Jook") and turns in the odd choice cover – we feature here his lilting version of Otis Redding's
"Try A Little Tenderness" with Byron Lee. The album also documents Sparrow's fearsome live reputation
with two firing tracks from a late '60s gig at the Barbados Hilton and excerpts from a '70s concert in Brooklyn
featuring Sparrow's dynamite backing band, The Troubadours, at the peak of their game.

This is a long overdue retrospective placing Sparrow in his rightful position as a true Caribbean great, a cultural
and social icon on a par with Fela Kuti in Nigeria or Miriam Makeba in South Africa. As journalist Ric Hernandez
wrote in 1967, "It's all there with Sparrow – wit, wisdom and an earthy irreverence for the established order.
He sings life as he sees it, as one long boisterous contact sport."
http://www.strut-records.com

resident deejay:
JEREMY SOLE
(KCRW / TheLift / Musaics)
www.kcrw.com/jeremysole
www.facebook.com/jeremysolefamily
www.twitter.com/jeremysole
www.soundcloud.com/jeremysole

resident deejay:
GLENN RED
(Afro Funke' / Eclectica)
www.glennred.com
www.facebook.com/glenn.red

host / co:founder:
ROCKY DAWUNI
*Current album "Hymns for the Rebel Soul" on ITunes!
www.rockydawuni.com
www.sonicbids.com/rockydawuni
www.facebook.com/rockydawuni

afro funke' co:founder, booker, photographer & producer:
CARY SULLIVAN
*Currently has photography show at Dan Eldon Center in Malibu
www.facebook.com/afrofunke
www.myspace.com/carysullivan

---------------------:~0~:--------------------
Afro Funke' Thursdays
Zanzibar
1301 5th Street @ Arizona
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.451.2221 / 21+ (EVERYONE must have ID)
9pm - 2am / $10

(NO CREDIT CARDS FOR COVER !!
Please bring cash or there is ATM in building)

www.zanzibarlive.com
www.myspace.com/afrofunke
www.afrofunke.com

*AFRO FUNKE' is now on Twitter! Please follow us!!
www.twitter.com/afrofunke

---------------------:~0~:---------------------
***UPCOMING***

Thursday, February 2, 2012

AFRO FUNKE' LIVE PRESENTS

"YEMANJA DAY"

featuring

TITA LIMA
(Brazil)
www.myspace.com/titalima

Shaun Hopper in Altadena Jan. 25

2012-01-23T11:26:00.002-08:00

Bob Stane says..."We’re lucky to get this guy!”

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake
Altadena, CA
626-798-6236

Presents: SHAUN HOPPER, Wed. January 25th at 8:00 pm
Hand picked by Chris Martin (C.F. Martin Guitar Co.) and signed by Steve Vai (Favored Nations Records) as one of the finest guitar players in America.....

Ticket Price: $15
Call for Reservations: 626-798-6236
http://www.coffeegallery.com/showsat.htm
www.shaunhopper.com

w/Special Guests: The Baron Sisters

Acoustic "Fingerstyle" Guitar wizard Shaun Hopper is in town headlining the "All Star Guitar Night", at the Winter NAMM Show 2012, then heading over to The Coffee Gallery Backstage for an exclusive follow-up performance.

This vibrant Son-of-the South will be bringing along his prodigious mastery of the fret-board, vivacious wit, haunting melodies and neck-popping originals. Whether you're a guitar enthusiast or not matters little, Shaun Hopper always delivers a stunning audio-visual performance which stretches the limits of acoustic guitar...mesmerizing everyone within earshot.

Hopper's repertoire is global in scope, crossing and combining musical genres on the fly. Moving thematically through his set, Hopper takes his audience on a tour from Celtic Imagery and Classical Medley to Soulful Ballads and Jazzy Improvs, all of which he'll counter punch with a Nashville "Hot Licks" session, Fret-tapping original or 70's Pop Song. With listeners caught off balance, he is always able to rouse the crowd with a contagious sing-a-long or two. Expect to hear threads of Bach, Beethoven, Beatles, George Benson, Sting, Segovia, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor and Queen. Shaun always raises a smile, a glass and if not ....
a standing ovation.

Shaun Hopper is, without question, one of the finest guitar players and solo performing artists in the country.

Mozart concert in Altadena Feb. 3

2012-01-23T11:26:00.001-08:00

A concert in celebration of the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be presented by members of the Tuesday Musicale and Opera Pasadena on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 7:30 pm, at Altadena Baptist Church, 791 E. Calaveras St. Altadena.

The program will include chamber music for clarinet, violin, cello and piano, as well as excerpts from two of Mozart's operas.

Suggested donation: $10.00. For more information, contact Barbara Ebert at 626-398-0658, or he91001@aol.com.

South African Jazz exhibit in Pasadena thorugh Feb. 27

2012-01-23T11:25:00.001-08:00

A new exhibit showcasing iconic photos of the South African Jazz Age,
Apartheid era, and the early life of Nelson Mandela is on display at
the Pasadena City College Shatford Library.

Running through Feb. 27 in the library’s rotunda, the exhibit
displays the work of Jurgen Schadeberg, recognized around the world
as a pioneer of South African photography. It also features native
beadwork and information about literacy and healthcare programs
involving Pasadena teachers and students who have traveled to Cape
Town, South Africa on learning trips.

The exhibit is presented by the Altadena-based nonprofit organization
Art Aids Art. The group serves women and children through programs in
impoverished townships surrounding Cape Town.

Photos and handcrafts are available to purchase at the
exhibit. Income from the sales will be reinvested into the projects
in Cape Town.

For more information, please call (626) 585-7221.

Silent films and gypsy swing at Caltech Feb. 25

2012-01-23T11:23:00.001-08:00

The Hot Club of San Francisco will present Cinema Vivant on Saturday, February 25, at 8 p.m. in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium.

Cinema Vivant is an evening of vintage silent films accompanied by live Gypsy swing.

Before World War I, European filmmaker Ladislaw Starewicz pioneered stop-action animation, creating a never-before-seen movie experience. A storyteller who used the new medium of animation to illuminate his fantastic imaginings of the secret lives of ordinary objects, Starewicz has become an obscure cult hero. Two Starewicz films are featured in Cinema Vivant—The Cameraman’s Revenge, a piece about the marital troubles of beetles and The Mascot, an adventure story about lost toys. On the other side of the Atlantic, American Charley Bowers revolutionized the industry in the 1920s by combining animation with live action. There It Is, a recently rediscovered film by Bowers, is a comedy about a mysterious occurrence investigated by Scotland Yard.

Tickets to this performance are priced at $20; youth (high school age and younger): $10.00. Senior rush tickets will go on sale for $10.00, beginning one-half hour before the performance (subject to availability). Tickets can be purchased at the Caltech Ticket Office, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena.

Parking for Beckman Auditorium is located at 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena (south of Del Mar Boulevard). For further information, call the Caltech Ticket Office at (626) 395-4652.

www.events.caltech.edu

Pasadena Chamber to offer free seminars and workshops

2012-01-23T11:22:00.001-08:00

-In January, the Pasadena Chamber begins a series of FREE informational seminars and workshops. Wired Wednesday is your opportunity to energize and invigorate your business with new ideas, helpful tips on a wide variety of topics, and practical advice on how to enhance your business success.

The free workshops are hosted at Kidspace at 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, near the Rose Bowl, in Pasadena. FREE parking is available in Rose Bowl Parking Lot I.

The first workshop, presented by marketing guru Craig Valine of the Glazer-Kennedy Insiders’ Circle is The Single Most Valuable Thing You Can Do To Ensure Business Success.

The series is produced by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Kidspace Children’s Museum for the benefit of businesses throughout Pasadena. Presentations are all FREE OF CHARGE.

The public is invited to bring coffee and hear experts present on a wide variety of topics of interest to business owners, managers and operators as well as entrepreneurs. For information, directions or to RSVP call 626.795.3355 or email Linda@pasadena-chamber.org.

The entire workshop schedule is:

· January 25: The Single Most Valuable Thing You Can Do To Ensure Success-Craig Valine (Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle)

· February 22: Making Social Media Work for You-Margaret Hernandez (Anroma Group)

· March 28: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Presentation Skills-Barbara Rocha

· April 25: Green Your Business Without Spending All Your Green-William Meurer (Go Green Solutions)

· May 23: Power Yourself to Greater Marketing Success-Craig Valine

· June 27: Making Technology Work for Your Business: Shashank Agrawal (Acumor)

· July 25: What Sets You Apart-Creating a Unique Selling Proposition-Craig Valine

· August 22: Making Your Website Do the Best Job for Your Business-Justin Tsui (TeamLogic IT)

· September 26: Healthy Business-Keeping Fit in a Competitive Environment-Dennis Buckley (Health Advantage Health and Wellness)

· October 24: Taming the Technology Monster-Donna Massie (General Networks Corp.)

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a professional business organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena, the Chamber has played a major role in the development of this internationally renowned city. Since 1888, when the organization was founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber's primary purpose has been the enhancement of both the business climate and the quality of life in Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce serves 1500 members.

I See Hawks in LA in Altadena Feb. 3

2012-01-23T11:20:00.001-08:00

I SEE HAWKS IN L.A.
all acoustic show including the
intrepid Paul Marshall on upright bass

Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake
Altadena, CA 91001

with special guests
Karen Tobin and Paul Marshall

Friday, February 3, 8 p.m.
$15

http://www.coffeegallery.com/

Coming soon: "New Kind Of Lonely," the Hawks' first all acoustic CD

Five Finger Death Punch on tour with Soulfly

2012-01-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

American Capitalism will be heading to the Great White North this spring. Five Finger Death Punch has announced they will tour Canada as well as the Western US beginning this March, with legendary Soulfly as support, as well as Windowpane and Persist. 5FDP will headline Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and more, while also playing a special Las Vegas hometown show alongside other western-US markets.

Singer Ivan Moody shared, "The few times we've been to Canada it's been absolutely phenomenal. The fact that we get to take a band like Soulfly with us on a tour like this says it all. This is going to be one hell of a great time, in no uncertain terms." Guitarist Zoltán Báthory added, "We only played a handful of dates in Canada, but they were all sold-out so we are really looking forward to a headlining tour up there. What makes it even sweeter is taking one of our favorite bands Soulfly with us on this trek. As we are playing bigger and bigger venues, I think it became our responsibility to help expose some great metal bands to our more diverse audience ."

This will be 5FDP’s first proper headlining tour in Western Canada, where their current album, American Capitalist is already more than halfway to CRIA-Certified Gold Record Status - a mere three months after its release. 5FDP’s previous album, War is the Answer, is projected to hit CRIA-GOLD Status this spring, right around the time of the tour.

In the US, 5FDP continues to rack up impressive sales with over 280,000 copies of American Capitalist already sold. Incredibly, American Capitalist is selling twice as fast as their previous Gold record, War Is the Answer- which itself has been one of the best-selling hard rock/ metal albums of the last five years. 5FDP’s current hit single, “Remember Everything” is already Top Five at Active Rock and climbing; their lead single, “Under and Over It,” was recently named Sirius Octane’s Song of the Year, and American Capitalist was named a Top Album of 2011 by ARTISTdirect.

Tickets go on sale to the general public the weekend of January 27th and 28th, but special VIP packages and tickets will be available starting WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25th 3pm LOCAL at www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH HEADLINING TOUR W/ SOULFLY, WINDOWPANE, PERSIST

MARCH 2012
FRI 23 Las Vegas, NV The Joint
SAT 24 Pomona, CA Fox Theater
MON 26 Fresno, CA Rainbow Ballroom
TUE 27 Modesto, CA Modesto Center Plaza
WED 28 Redding, CA Redding Convention Center
FRI 30 Yakima, WA Yakima Valley Sundome
SAT 31 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre

APRIL 2012
MON 2 Dawson Creek, BC EnCana Events Centre
WED 4 Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall, University of Calgary
THU 5 Edmonton, AB “Thaw at the Shaw” @ Shaw Center
SAT 7 Regina, SK Agribition
MON 9 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cumming Theater
WED 11 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena
THU 12 Casper ,WY Casper Event Center

www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com

Suis La Lune signs with Topshelf Records

2012-01-23T11:16:00.001-08:00

Sweden’s Suis La Lune has signed with Topshelf Records to release its next LP, Riala. The signing marks the first international act that the burgeoning indie label has worked with entirely from start to finish on a release. The band is self-producing their latest effort which will be released this spring.

With a name continuously causing confusion over the last seven years, Suis La Lune is a band hailing from Stockholm & Gothenburg, Sweden. Sharing an equal passion for mid 90's emo the four-piece got together early 2005, despite the inconvenience of being spread out all over Sweden at the time. They quickly found their own take on the genre; melodic and jangly guitars, the shifting between quiet and loud parts with desperate vocals that is ranging between talky rantings and intense screaming. These were the main characteristics on the debut album Quiet, Pull The Strings (2006) and has since long become their signature mark, following the band through their various later releases.

Six years after their debut album and countless of tours in both Europe and the US, it is finally time for the sophomore album entitled Riala to see the light of day. Still with the mix of calm and hectic passages present, the sound has evolved into what almost feels like complex pop songs; more melodic, catchier and with as much passion as ever before. Suis La Lune is happy to present their latest effort and proudest moment to date via Topshelf Records in the spring of 2012.

www.facebook.com/suislalunee

www.topshelf-records.com

www.facebook.com/topshelfrecords

Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra in Cerritos Feb. 24

2012-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor
Featuring Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Program: LUTOSLAWSKI – Little Suite
CHOPIN – Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Friday, February 24, 2012, 8:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $69/$57/$45/$33

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos Center
for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at www.cerritoscenter.com or
by calling (562) 467-8818.

Mendelssohn concert in Cerritos Feb. 22

2012-01-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

Rob Kapilow’s What Makes It Great?
MENDELSSOHN – Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
Featuring Concertante

Theater: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos

Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:30 PM

Ticket Prices: $40

Ticket Information: Tickets are available only at the Cerritos Center
for the Performing Arts’ Ticket Office, at www.cerritoscenter.com , or
by calling (562) 467-8818.

Eliza Rickman at Hotel Cafe in LA March 3

2012-01-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

Riot Act is very very very excited and happy to announce that Eliza Rickman will be releasing her first full-length album on March 6th.

O, You Sinners goes beyond words in its beauty, and you would be hard pressed to find a selection of music that seeps a musical ache such as this one. If "musical ache" doesn't sound enjoyable to you, then you're not living your life correctly.

Eliza Rickman is a nationally touring artist whose unique and haunting sound combines the lilting sweetness of popular vocalists like Feist or Annie Clark with the gritty sensibilities of PJ Harvey and the playfulness of Kurt Weill.

Eliza recorded her first full-length effort this winter with Chicago-based engineer Mark Greenberg (Andrew Bird, Wilco, Mavis Staples). It was funded by a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign during her nationwide spring tour, when over $12k were raised (out of a $6k goal). O, You Sinners, is anticipated for release on March 6th, and highlights Eliza's talent for writing string arrangements, and includes contributions from percussionist Kevin O'Donnell (Andrew Bird's 'Bowl of Fire') & bassist Tom V. Ray (Neko Case, Jakob Dylan).

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
03.01.12 - San Francisco, CA @ Viracocha w/ Zoe Boekbinder
03.02.12 - San Diego, CA @ Six Palms House Concert w/ Zoe Boekbinder
03.03.12 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Cafe w/ Zoe Boekbinder
03.04.12 - Santa Cruz, CA @ TBD w/ Zoe Boekbinder
03.07.12 - Eugene, OR @ Sam Bond's Garage
03.08.12 - Portland, OR @ The Old Church
03.09.12 - Spokane, WA @ The Museum of Arts & Culture
03.10.12 - Port Townsend, WA @ The Upstage
03.11.12 - Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
03.12.12 - Pendleton, OR @ Great Pacific
03.13.12 - Missoula, MT @ The Badlander
03.15.12 - Nampa, ID @ Flying M Coffeegarage
03.16.12 - Logan, UT @ Why Sound
03.17.12 - Provo, UT @ Muse Music Cafe
03.18.12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Dig Collective House Concert
03.20.12 - Denver, CO @ Unit E
03.22.12 - Lincoln, NE @ Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso
03.23.12 - Warrensburg, MO @ Cafe Blackadder
03.24.12 - Omaha, NE @ Side Door
03.25.12 - Lincoln, NE @ Duffy's Tavern
03.27.12 - Ames, IA @ The Space for Ames
03.28.12 - Fairfield, IA @ The Beauty Shop
03.29.12 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Fugue
03.30.12 - Madison, WI @ The Project Lodge
03.31.12 - Chicago, IL @ High Concept Labs

04.02.12 - Bloomington, IN @ Rachael's Cafe

Archer Black to release album

2012-01-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

Onward & Down” is the first single and video from “Forgiveness Is A Weapon” by Archer Black

[STREAM]: http://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/archer-black-onward-and-down

[YOUTUBE]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQctsxA-RQ

See Archer Black live in Los Angeles at the Silverlake Lounge on January 31st at 1030PM. $8 admission includes a copy of the album!

Los Angeles-based band Archer Black will release its debut album Forgiveness Is A Weapon, the first full-length release for the newly formed Post Planetary record label, on February 7th. In its first bit of local exposure, Buzzbands LA, a website devoted to uncovering the latest musical talent in the city of angels, recently featured the band and its single and video for album track “Onward & Down”.

Archer Black is led by Dustin Morgan, the longtime bass player of The Autumns, who brings a wealth of musical experiences to this new project. Morgan has previously toured the U.S. and Europe (where he met Archer Black band mates, Drummer Steve Elkins and Guitarist Madison Megna) with The Autumns, travelled to Central America to play in composer Eldad Tarmu’s Middle Eastern jazz ensemble, recorded in Los Angeles with noted jazz saxophonist Benny Golbin, and most recently appeared on stage in New York and Los Angeles with French cult icon SoKo.

Morgan has also studied with Victor Vanacore, orchestrator and arranger for Ray Charles and Johnny Mathis among others. Sonically, Morgan takes the listener from Black Sabbath to Bjork and from Steve Reich to Steve Albini on Forgiveness Is A Weapon.

Of the lyrical content on Forgiveness Is A Weapon, Morgan states, “I didn't set out to write an entire record of songs about war. Really, the record is made up of love songs.” Citing the song “The Bomb” as an example, Morgan clarifies that the tune is actually about the idea that the deeper two people become invested in one another, the more potential they have to hurt one other. “Essentially you have a nuclear arms race that results in mutually assured destruction. See, it’s a love song!”

That being said, Forgiveness Is A Weapon is still populated with war imagery that plays as war imagery. Confronted with this fact, Morgan admits that the record was written shortly after his brother was enlisted to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Every time I put pen to paper to write what was in my heart, this shaped the metaphors,” he says.

Archer Black’s debut album Forgiveness Is A Weapon will be released by Post Planetary Records on February 7th, 2012. The album is preceded by a single and video for the album track “Onward & Down.”

Archer Black

Forgiveness Is A Weapon

(Post Planetary – Feb. 7th, 2012)

Track Listing:

01. Addiction Is A Trigger Puller I

02. The Bomb

03. The Sounding

04. The Lost War

05. Game Vs. Real

06. Forgiveness Is A Weapon

07. Onward and Down

08. Bayonets

09. Port of Call

10. Addiction Is A Trigger Puller II

Children's novel offers contest for a trip to the Kentucky Derby

2012-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

One lucky person will get to experience life as a jockey and hang out for the day with the winner of the 135th Kentucky Derby – Mine That Bird. The horse’s story continues to inspire people across the globe. The winner, and the winner’s companion, will be flown to Roswell, New Mexico. They will receive VIP treatment, which includes spending an entire day with Mine That Bird, and then chow down at the Double Eagle Ranch with the Bird’s down home cowboy owners for a big western style “cowboy bar-b-q”. If you’re the winner you’ll find out in person what it’s like to live the life of a horse-racing rancher, train a winner, and ride him to victory. To register for the contest, go to www.minethatbird.com. The winner will be selected on February 14, 2012.

The horse’s story is well known – he was picked to run dead last at Churchill Downs, with odds against him at 50:1. His victory is the second largest upset in Kentucky Derby history.

The contest is part of the roll out of the Mine That Bird children’s graphic novels. The novels are a trilogy, and the first two books are currently available on minethatbird.com. The books will also be the basis for an animated film.

Both books are available for only $12.95 each. For more information on Mine That Bird, the books and the contest, go to www.MineThatBird.com. Also follow Mine That Bird at www.facebook.com/minethatbirdthemovie and Twitter: @minethatbirdnm.

Thomas Ankersmit at CEAIT Festival in LA Feb. 10 and 11

2012-01-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

Vintage electronics share a stage with the newest sonic technology when acclaimed Dutch composer Thomas Ankersmit highlights a two-night festival celebrating the CalArts Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology (CEAIT). CEAIT Festival 2012 will be held at REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8:30 pm.

Ankersmit, known for abstract, intensely focused electroacoustic work using hyper-kinetic synth and computer improvisation, kicks off a program that also features work by zerfall_gebiete, the duo of electronic ambient soundscape veterans Thomas Koner and Ulrich Krieger.

Friday is "Noise Night" featuring L.A.'s own Damion Romero and the pairing of noise pioneers Zbigniew Karkowski and Xopher Davidson. "Ambient Night" on Saturday features the debut of a new work by Ankersmit created expressly for the historic Serge analogue modular synthesizer, originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s.

CEAIT Festival 2012 is funded in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Exchange International Program supported in part by public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services (New York), in partnership with the Dutch Centre for International Cultural Activities (SICA); Music Center, the Netherlands; Netherlands Theatre Institute; and the Dutch Fund for the Performing Arts. Thomas Koner's appearance is made possible by Goethe-Institut Los Angeles.

TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION

CEAIT Festival 2012

Friday, February 10 at 8:30 pm; and

Saturday, February 11 at 8:30 pm

Tickets: $20 ($16 students)

Seating is general admission and tickets are available for purchase in-person at REDCAT Box Office, by phone at 213-237-2800, or online at www.redcat.org.

REDCAT Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater

631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

REDCAT is located at the corner of W. 2nd and Hope Streets, inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex in downtown Los Angeles.

ABOUT THOMAS ANKERSMIT

Thomas Ankersmit (1979, Leiden, Netherlands) is a musician and installation artist based in Berlin and Amsterdam. His main instruments are the Serge analogue modular synthesizer, computer and alto saxophone. He frequently works together with New York minimalist Phill Niblock and electroacoustic artists Valerio Tricoli and Kevin Drumm.

"Ankersmit... sets a new bar for live electronic performance... Live in Utrecht is intriguing enough as an artistic statement to attract those uninitiated to this kind of music." —Louis Battaglia, PopMatters

www.thomasankersmit.net

Liz Green to release album in U.S.

2012-01-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

After years of anticipation, Liz Green is finally releasing her debut album in the U.S. The UK songstress will release O, Devotion! on [PIAS] America on February 7th. And to celebrate the release of this album, Liz has made her song “Hey Joe” available for download, premiering the track with NPR Music. Writing on the All Songs Considered Blog, critic Bob Boilen called the album, “a bit of Tom Waits, a bit of Kurt Weill and certainly an original."

For the 29-year-old Liz Green, O. Devotion! is a labor of love, crafted with time and care over the last four years. First rising to prominence in 2007 after winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, Liz started turning heads with her first single “Bad Medicine” back in 2008. In the four years since the single’s release, Liz retreated into the studio with Liam Watson (White Stripes, everyone else). Recording with Liam, Liz found the pieces that were needed to fill out her sound, incorporating new and unique arrangements. “I thought, “Fuck it. I’m gonna get me that brass band I always wanted,” Liz says, looking back on her decision to enlist Watson and saxophonist Gus Fairbairn to help create the woozy, brassy arrangements that appear on the album.

The end results are pretty impressive. Over the album’s 41 minutes, O. Devotion! vacillates between Weimar cabaret, Bugsy Malone dancehall hops, and a version of down-and-out folk that would make Johnny Cash smile. The album includes a single inspired by Holocaust chronicler Primo Levi and sung from the part of a self-reliant refugee (“Displacement Song”), a tale of an inveterate funeral-goer a la “Harold and Maude” (“Luis”), and an astonishingly visceral album highlight titled “Gallows,” which explores the inevitability of a bad end. It’s a multifaceted record that explores the high and lows of love, loss, and all the bad things in between.

Liz Green
O, Devotion! - February 7th via [PIAS] America

Brazilian Nites' Carnaval: Exotica Feb. 25 in LA

2012-01-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

Brazilian Nites presents CARNAVAL: EXOTICA, the 12th annual Brazilian Bacchanal! This full bodied, sensory spectacle of Brazilian passion, music, dance, food and drink features an All Star Brazilian Carnaval band, Samba and Capoeira dancers, contemporary Brazilian dance music, a 100 piece drum circle, and a drawing for a free trip for two to Brazil.

WHO: Music by Chalo Eduardo (performed with Sergio Mendes, Santana, Mickey Hart, Ricky Martin) and an All Star Band featuring vocals by Andrea Ferraz; alternative Brazilian dance music by DJ Chris Brazil and the acclaimed ten year band, SambaDá; Video visuals by Leonardo Bondani (performed with Moby, Deep Forest, Lila Downs, Mexican Institute of Sound); Samba by Brazilian Nites Samba Dancers and the Los Angeles Samba School.

WHEN: Saturday, February 25 from 8:00 pm - 2:00 am.

WHERE: Club Nokia/LA Live - 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015.

COST: Advance tickets are $42.50 for general admission ($50 @ door) and $65 for preferred seating ($75 @ door) in the upstairs lounge and an all access pass, plus group discounts are available by calling (818) 566-1111.

Purchase General Admission and Preferred Seating tickets by calling (818) 566-1111 or visit www.BrazilianNites.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

K'Sandra collaborates with Snopp Dogg, Slash & more on new album

2012-01-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

Up-and-coming pop/dance artist K'SANDRA has unveiled Light ‘n’ Dark, an album which is rapidly getting the attention of radio and club DJs around the world, and has already earned her two nominations at this year's Los Angeles Music Awards: Dance Artist of the Year, and Pop Single of the Year for the smash hit Finger on the Trigger. She is also nominated for the 2012 Starliners Indie Award in the Netherlands.

“Get this chick on American Radio!” says Michael Anthony of RadioWaves.US “There have been more requests for this particular artist than any other thus far. And they have come from all over the world! She fits in so well with today's pop sound. Take a listen.” In fact, many of the radio stations which have already taken a chance on this breakthrough artist have ended up featuring her as their artist of the month, right alongside mainstays such as Lady Gaga, Adele, and 30 Seconds to Mars due to the non-stop barrage of listener requests for her songs.

The culmination of a 2-year-long labor of love, Light 'n' Dark features collaborations with producers and songwriters from Snoop Dogg, Usher, Beyonce, Fergie, and Slash, as well as a duet with Durga McBroom of Pink Floyd fame titled Come Up Fighting. As K'SANDRA describes it, “it is music to move your feet, but with a rock 'n' roll heart”. There is even some spoken word poetry. Critics have hailed the album as representing the true spirit of breakthrough indie due to its genre-bending creativity and diversity, yet wide commercial appeal.

5 of the CDs in circulation contain golden tickets, the recipient of which will win a trip to attend a future K'SANDRA recording session, concert, or music video shoot (depending on artist's schedule). Winners will also be randomly drawn from among digital downloads.

If you'd like to give this talented gal a listen, visit
http://www.IamKSandra.com/music.html

K’SANDRA is an Austrian-born pop/dance artist currently based in Los Angeles, who draws her inspiration from acts as diverse as Madonna, Pixie Lott, Eminem, Motley Crue, and, yes, even her compatriot Falco.

S-Beat Records is a Los Angeles-based indie label specializing in dance/electronic music, with offices in London and Ibiza.

Erin Boheme in Manhattan Beach Sundays through February

2012-01-23T10:56:00.001-08:00

ERIN BOHEME HEADLINES AT THE STRAND BAR IN MANHATTAN BEACHRENOWNED JAZZ ARTIST INSPIRES SULTRY SUNDAYS AT THE STRAND HOUSE

She’s topped the Billboard charts, attracted the attention of 60 Minutes, collaborates with Michael Bublé and now Erin Boheme brings her smooth jazz talent to StrandBar at The Strand House in Manhattan Beach.

Critically acclaimed for her smooth jazz vocals, Boheme, whose debut album, What Love Is, reached #17 on the U.S. Billboard Top Jazz Album Chart, will headline with her band at The Strand Bar on Sunday evenings through February (with the exception of Sunday, February 5 in honor of the big game) from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There is no cover charge.

Boheme recently completed her second album, a collaboration with Bublé, which is set to be released early this year.

StrandBar at The Strand House overlooks the Manhattan Beach Pier and the Pacific Ocean. The energized bar features a broad selection of wines, beers and cocktails, including house specialty cocktails designed by their resident mixologist.

The Strand House is a rustic, yet refined new American restaurant with stunning ocean views in a modern, multi-level venue. Passionate about fresh, local ingredients, Chef Neal Fraser is a regular visitor to local farmers’ markets, where he carefully collects ingredients for the discerning menu and cocktails. The Strand House is completely devoted to using organic and sustainable methods when purchasing and cooking. The farm-driven menus change seasonally.

The Strand House is located at 117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Manhattan Beach. For information and reservations, call 310.545.7470. Visit The Strand House at www.thestrandhouseMB.com.

Janus to release new album

2012-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

JANUS—singer David Scotney, guitarist Mike Tyranski, bassist Alan Quitman and drummer Johnny Salazar—experienced great success with their 2009 debut album, RED RIGHT RETURN, but the band’s new album, NOX AERIS, reveals how far they’ve come.

That musical revelation is the self-produced NOX AERIS, which is due out March 27 on REALID Records (through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group). The first single, “Stains,” is already getting spins at WIIL (Chicago), KPNT (St. Louis), WBUZ (Nashville), WJJO (Madison), WWBN (Flint), KHTQ (Spokane), as well as SiriusXM’s “Octane” and “Hard Drive XL.” Early feedback includes Zigz at WBUZ (Nashville), who says, "If ‘Stains’ is a taste of things to come... then 2012 is going to be a great year for Janus. They’ve hit on a new level with ‘Stains’... this track is righteous."

“Stains” explores what can happen when you don’t follow your heart, the marks left on your spirit when you become someone you’re not. “It embodies what I was trying to say on the record,” says singer David Scotney, “it’s a dark point of view, but represents a cathartic process of self-healing.”

In 2012 touring news, the band’s first round of tour dates will be with Chevelle and Middle Class Rut starting February 24 in Grand Rapids, MI. Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

The record’s title, which is Latin for “night air,” comes from the 14th Century, a period where a third of the European population was killed off by the plague. Then, people believed going outdoors at night would cause them to succumb to the Black Death. While writing NOX AERIS, JANUS found this idea to be an apt metaphor for their own journey, preconceived notions of their own being flipped around as they became a bigger, more established band since the release of RED RIGHT RETURN. NOX AERIS reveals who JANUS is and what they’ve gone through.

RED RIGHT RETURN came out in September 2009 on REALID Records and spawned the Top 10 Active Rock hit, "Eyesore." They spent months on the road touring with Chevelle, Sick Puppies, Sevendust, Pop Evil, Halestorm, Five Finger Death Punch, and Alice In Chains. JANUS also sold-out numerous headlining shows of their own, appeared on MTV’s “Headbangers Ball” and performed in the biggest rock festivals in the U.S., including Rock On The Range. Absolutepunk.net raved about the album: “There are a few bands, given the opportunity, could take the radio by storm. JANUS is a perfect example of this type of band. If they were given the chance, and played on some larger radio stations alongside all of our alternative ‘favorites’ (sound-alikes), they could earn themselves hordes of fans.” While Away-team.com hailed in a 9 out of 10 album review: “Brilliant on many levels and impeccably engineered and produced to perfection.”

www.janusmusic.com
www.facebook.com/janusband
www.twitter.com/janus
www.myspace.com/janus
www.youtube.com/januschicago

Off to NAMM!

2012-01-19T11:14:00.000-08:00

I won't give you any End o' week musings this week, as I'm swamped with work and trying to get everything together to head to the NAMM (international Music Merchants Association) trade show in Anaheim for the next three days. I hope to come back with lots of adventures.

Have a great week!

Keep on rockin'
Mickie

Coffee Gallery Backstage seeks donations

2012-01-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake
Altadena, CA.
www.coffeegallery.com

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT . This is our future.
You have often said to us, “thank you for doing what you do.” You appreciate the years of enjoyment we bring to our stage. Now we need help. Not to pay our bills but to satisfy requirements to the The County Of Los Angeles for parking and entertainment permits. This is for our survival.

Angels and Music Fans....We need a series of Fund Raisers . The Coffee Gallery and The Coffee Gallery Backstage has to raise $20,000 for a Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P) and a Parking Variance to keep our Entertainment License and continue in operation.

We are in a mixed use residental/business area. The County requires a survey to approve parking and operating as an entertainment venue. The County is cooperating with us but we must file paper work and pay for a survey of the area. It is the law and we must go through this about every 15 years. This single night’s income from ticket sales will not get us all the money we need, but it will help and we are pursuing other avenues of donations. Help us continue our good work in music and quality entertainment. Right now we have a deadline of February 15.

A lot of money to raise in a short time...

Come to this event with SALTY SUITES...with Special Guest....Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers who has played her own brand of acoustic folk all over Los Angeles, including the Troubadour, the El Rey, the Roxy, Genghis Cohen and the Grand Ole Echo. Hometown Pasadena called her a "local treasure." Phoebe is an engaging performer for such a young singer, and her own songs are mature and insightful. Phoebe is currently studying music at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

Salty Suites..... Scott Gates, Chuck Hailes and Chelsea Williams. They live in the world of live acoustic music, sharing a passion for roots and bluegrass, as well as traditional mountain music. Scott Gates is as close to a musical prodigy on the mandolin as you will ever meet and now plays guitar with the same fire and brilliance. Having performed all over the country and with artists as varied as John McEuen, Nathan McEuen, Steve Martin, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Loggins and a virtual Who's-Who of bluegrass players, Scott has started writing music.

Chuck Hailes, is one of the top bass players in the country, schooled in classical and jazz bass playing and techniques. Chuck writes his own music and has teamed with Scott to create many new musical gems. With his background in bluegrass music, and degree in the Upright Bass, Chuck sings and plays in a way that is uniquely his own.

Chelsea Williams has been writing and performing her own music since she was 13 years old. While some of her early songs are still hits with her fans, she has continued to develop as a writer penning nearly 100 original songs to date. Chelsea currently makes her living by playing on the street for tips and selling a home-made demo, having sold thousands of CDs in recent months, one-by-one, simply on her own on the street.

Wednesday, February 8. Show @ 8:00 P. M. Tixs: $18 .

SALTY SUITES, CHELSEA WILLIAMS and PHOEBE BRIDGERS are donating 100% of the ticket sales to our County permits fund raiser. Any donations in excess of the ticket price will be much appreciated.

Web Page: http://www.coffeegallery.com/showsat.htm

For Reservations: (626) 798-6236

'Leonardo Live' art exhibit at a movie theater near you Feb. 16

2012-01-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

This February, a first-of-its-kind cinema event will debut in movie theaters across the country featuring Leonardo Live, the first-ever high-definition tour of a fine art exhibition created for movie theater audiences. Presented by NCM Fathom, BY Experience and PhilGrabskyFilms.com, Leonardo Live will hit the big screen on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7:00 p.m. local time. During this unprecedented event, audiences will experience the UK’s National Gallery’s sold out exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan. Captured live in HD in November 2011 just before its opening, Leonardo Live provides a virtual walk-through of the show, with exclusive commentary from scholars and curators. Hosted by highly respected art historian Tim Marlow and presenter Mariella Frostrup, the exhibition brings together the largest number of da Vinci’s rare surviving paintings and some international loans. While numerous exhibitions have looked at da Vinci as an inventor, scientist or draftsman, this is the first to be dedicated to his aims and techniques as a painter.

Tickets for Leonardo Live are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom website (theaters and participants are subject to change). The event will be broadcast to nearly 450 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

“Due to the fragility of these priceless works of art, this exhibition unfortunately cannot physically tour,” said Dan Diamond, senior vice president of NCM Fathom. “But through this extraordinary in-theater event, moviegoers and art lovers alike will have the opportunity to experience this highly-anticipated gallery presentation as if they were there.”

Featuring the finest paintings and drawings by the famed Italian Renaissance polymath and his followers, Leonardo Live showcases paintings, including the “Belle Ferronière” (Musée du Louvre, Paris), the “Madonna Litta” (The State Hermitage, Saint Petersburg), as well as the newly discovered, never-exhibited painting, the “Salvator Mundi.” The exhibition will also feature a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of the “Last Supper,” on loan from The Royal Academy of Arts, London. Additionally, two versions of the “Virgin of the Rocks” – belonging to the National Gallery and the Louvre – will be shown together for the first time during this one-night HD presentation.

Machine Head and Conditions toruing California

2012-01-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD

2/17- MACHINE HEAD @ AVALON – 1735 N. VINE STREET

*WITH SUICIDE SILENCE, DARKEST HOUR, RISE TO REMAIN
*NEW ALBUM UNTO THE LOCUST OUT NOW ON ROADRUNNER RECORDS

3/25 – CONDITIONS @ KEY CLUB – 9039 SUNSET BLVD

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

SAN FRANCISCO

2/18- MACHINE HEAD @ THE WARFIELD – 982 MARKET STREET

*WITH SUICIDE SILENCE, DARKEST HOUR, RISE TO REMAIN
*NEW ALBUM UNTO THE LOCUST OUT NOW ON ROADRUNNER RECORDS

LOS ANGELES

3/18 – CONDITIONS @ EL REY THEATRE - 5515 WILSHIRE BLVD

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

SAN DIEGO

3/23 – CONDITIONS @ SOMA – 3350 SPORTS ARENA BLVD

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

ANAHEIM

3/24 – CONDITIONS @ CHAIN REACTION – 1652 WEST LINCOLN AVENUE

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

FRESNO

3/27 – CONDITIONS @ CLUB RETRO - 4450 BRAWLEY STE 111

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

LANCASTER
3/30 – CONDITIONS @ GREENE ST. CLUB – 113 NORTH GREENE STREET

w/SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, ABANDON ALL SHIPS, SECRETS

Robert Kapilow releases 'What Makes It Great' book

2012-01-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Rob Kapilow, the acclaimed composer, conductor, and pianist, brings the magic he has delivered to audiences from Lincoln Center to Stanford right to your living room bookshelf - or, in a historic first, to your iPad! What Makes It Great focuses on short masterpieces by major composers to help the reader understand the essence of each composer's genius and how each piece transformed the musical language of its time. Kapilow's down-to-earth approach makes music history easy to grasp no matter what your musical background.

The sequel to his enormously successful All You Have To Do Is Listen (winner the PSP Award for Best Book in Music and the Performing Arts) is also the first book of its kind available for the iPad, with musical examples embedded directly into the text - or read the printed version while listening to the audio clips on a companion website.

In discussing Rob's writings, Jeremy Nicholas of Gramophone has said"I can't imagine a better pair of hands than Rob Kapilow's to guide (the reader) into what is still, for him and many others of his generation, a mysterious and daunting world." What Makes It Great: Short Masterpieces, Great Composers continues Rob's tradition of making classical music enjoyable and accessible to all!

Available on Amazon and in book stores nationwide.

Order your copy today!

Tiesto launches 'In The Booth' today

2012-01-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

TIËSTO’S NEW BEHIND-THE-SCENES DIGITAL SERIES

“IN THE BOOTH” PREMIERES TODAY

A new behind-the-scenes digital series from DJ/Producer Tiësto, Believe Entertainment Group, HP and Intel Corporation

Watch it on www.youtube.com/Tiesto

“In the Booth” is a new, documentary-style digital series that will give fans an up-close, personal look at electronic dance music superstar Tiësto’s life and the global movement he has fueled. Consisting of 10 digital episodes, each approximately 7 to 10 minutes in length, the show will reveal how Tiësto’s passion for music and live performance has made him a global phenomenon, chronicling the events, promoters, preparations and how each show ultimately comes together. From Las Vegas to Ibiza, fans will have the ultimate insider access to Tiësto’s world -- backstage, onstage and moments right before he hits the decks in front of thousands of fans -- plus exclusive Tiësto commentary and personal insight into the experience, the venues, festivals and big nights in the world’s most exclusive parties and nightclubs.

Believe Entertainment Group, a New York-based digital entertainment company, is co-executive producing “In the Booth” with Tiësto, as well as financing, selling and distributing it to a worldwide audience, including to Tiësto’s large social media fanbase. Believe has worked with Tiësto’s team to develop the concept and distribute it. HP and Intel are anchor sponsors for “In the Booth” and have provided some of the technology that has enabled the development of the series.

About Tiësto
Recently voted “The Greatest DJ Of All Time” by Mixmag and widely regarded as the world’s biggest DJ/Producer, Tiësto has worked with global superstars such as Kayne West, Coldplay, Nelly Furtado and more …. His Kaleidoscope World Tour spanned more than 15 months and 175 dates across 6 continents playing to over 1 million people. He was nominated for two 2010 Billboard Touring Awards and listed in Billboard’s Top 25 biggest grossing global touring acts of 2010. Tiësto was busier than ever in 2011 with his first residency in Las Vegas, releasing the first in a series of compilations “Club Life - Volume One Las Vegas” mix album, breaking records with the largest DJ tour to ever hit the U.S. college market and ending up making history in Los Angeles in October with the biggest ever DJ only gig in U.S. history, playing in front of 26,000 fans. Tiësto ended 2011 on a high, launching his own fashion line “CLVB LIFE” clothing, announcing his very own Club Life channel on Sirius XM, and playing at the “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” launch in Rio.

Arboretum offers mushroom identification class Feb. 4

2012-01-19T10:59:00.001-08:00

MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION…just in time for the Mushroom Fair at the Arboretum on February 12!

Saturday, February 4

10am-Noon (followed by a walk in the garden to hunt for mushrooms!)

Palm Room at the Arboretum (301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007)

$25 Arboretum members / $30 non-members

Dr. Jerrold Turney, Ph.D, instructor

Please call the Arboretum class registration line at 626.821.4623 to register for class. You may also pay at the door.

This class will provide a basic overview of the fungal kingdom with emphasis on mushroom identification. Learn the basic characteristics used to identify mushrooms and other fleshy fungi. Find out which mushrooms are safe to eat and which ones to avoid. Jerry will also take the class out on Arboretum grounds to seek out and identify mushrooms right in “our own backyard.” Bring to class any mushrooms you find for identification and group discussion. Then with a new understanding of our fungal friends, attend the Wild Mushroom Fair on February 12 from 10am – 4 pm at the Arboretum.

Dr. Turney received his B. S. In Botany from California State Polytechnic University and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of California at Riverside. He has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens, a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and is currently the plant pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of Los Angeles. In addition, Dr. Turney was formerly a licensed landscape contractor, and is currently a licensed agricultural pest control advisor and an ISA certified arborist. His primary fields of expertise are plant pathology, mycology and arboriculture.

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

301 North Baldwin Avenue

Arcadia, CA 91007-2697

Phone: 626.821.4624

Jill.Berry@arboretum.org

www.arboretum.org

Dot Hacker to release EP

2012-01-19T10:58:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles-based band Dot Hacker to release eponymous debut EP on February 21st, followed by first full-length album, Inhibition later in 2012.

The music of Dot Hacker is architectural, built on a foundation of bold, manipulated tones and supported by lush eclectic textures and angular rhythm. The band’s enigmatic sound comes from the collaboration of friends and founding members, Josh Klinghoffer, Clint Walsh, Eric Gardner and Jonathan Hischke.

Before forming Dot Hacker in 2008, the four were already established musicians, recording and touring with an impressive list of respected artists including: Beck, Gnarls Barkley, PJ Harvey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Butthole Surfers and Broken Bells amongst many others. Klinghoffer, the band's lead vocalist, also currently plays guitar in The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band plans to play shows in 2012 to support the release of their debut album.

Dot Hacker EP track listing:
1. Inhibition
2. Order/Disorder
3. Eye Opener
4. Rewire

http://dothacker.org/
http://twitter.com/dothackerband
https://www.facebook.com/DotHackerBand
http://www.orgmusic.com/

The English Beat in LA Jan. 20

2012-01-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

Two-Tone ska legends THE ENGLISH BEAT will be performing in Los Angeles at the Key Club on Friday January 20th. In addition to their timeless classics, they'll be playing some new songs off of their forthcoming album...

This isn’t just any ska band, English Beat is THE ska band! They’re one of the earliest and most important ska revivalist groups. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of their debut I Just Can't Stop It. Their irresistible blend of ska, punk, and reggae has made them undeniable stars. A few of their chart-topping hits include: “Save It For Later”, “Mirror in the Bathroom”, “I Confess”, and of course General Public’s “Tenderness”.

01.20.12 - FRIDAY
Key Club
9039 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.274.5800
All Ages Doors: 7:30pm Admission: $20 GA

Wolfgang's Vault Performance
http://tinyurl.com/EB-WGV

Groundation to release album and tour

2012-01-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

The long-awaited new studio album, from the internationally acclaimed
Jazz/Reggae/ Fusion group Groundation, will be released world-wide in
March 2012.
*

*February tour details below.... *

**

*((( **GROUNDATION **)))*

*Proudly Presents* *Their 12**th** Annual*
*Bob Marley Tribute Tour*

*--- February 2012 ---
*

There are few today who are not familiar with the ubiquitous music of *Robert Nesta Marley*.
So who better to help celebrate and share his revolutionary work with new generations of fans than the biggest, most respected American Reggae band touring the world today? And with all that is happening in these times–from the uprisings in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, on over to the Occupy Protest Movements dotting the map across numerous cities here at
home–– what better time than now...

In just the last few years, *Groundation*'s following and influence has begun to spread significantly, now reaching to all corners of the globe. Truly leading a movement of music,
centered on the tenets of social justice and equality for all that are the hallmarks of Roots Reggae, the band in the last 12 months alone have played to tens of thousands of fans everywhere from Auckland, New Zealand to Casablanca, Morocco; from Athens, Greece to
New York City, and all points in between.

It is no wonder then that *Groundation*'s singular blend of Improvisation-based Jazz/Fusion, live transcendental Dub and thunderous one-drop Reggae has become the soundtrack of a generation of people across the world who are committed to living their lives in a better way–– a more conscious and balanced lifestyle, with music as the chosen weapon of social change. *
*
In 2011, *Groundation* took their annual *Bob Marley Tribute Tour* to Europe for the first time, where their unique take on the King of Reggae's timeless songs was received with
overwhelmingly positive reviews. To put it simply––no one plays Reggae music the way *Groundation* plays Reggae music and the same can be said for their singular take on Marley's distinctive melodies.

To be sure, this is not mere mimicry built for frat-boy-style sing-alongs. * Groundation* plumbs the depths of Marley's deep, under-utilized catalog to present a collection of songs and an overall concert experience that will challenge and enthral everyone from the most hardened Reggae
aficionado to the first-time initiate.

Once again, the realities described in such Marley songs as "*Burnin' & Lootin*,'" "*Guiltiness*," "*Rat Race*" and "*Ambush in the Night*" are splashed across front pages everywhere. You've heard Bob Marley before, but never like this. This show is simply not to be missed.

Feb 2 – The New Parish // Oakland, CA

Feb 3 – The Mystic Theatre // Petaluma, CA

Feb 4 – The Mateel Community Centre // Redway, CA

Feb 5 – The Independent // San Francisco, CA

Feb 6 – The Catalyst // Santa Cruz, CA ***Bob's birthday show!***

Feb 8 – The Coach House // San Juan Capistrano, CA

Feb 9 – Belly Up Tavern // Solana Beach, CA

Feb 10 – Belly Up Tavern // Solana Beach, CA

Feb 11 – El Rey Theatre // Los Angeles, CA

Feb 12 – The Majestic Theatre // Ventura, CA

Feb 13 - SLO Brew // San Luis Obispo, CA

Lindy Groove dance Thursdays in Pasadena

2012-01-19T10:51:00.001-08:00

This Thursday January 19th 2012
Guest DJ Carl Flores (San Diego)
Guest DJ Liz Henkels (San Diego)
DJ Vicky Chan (Los Angeles)

Lindy Hop Lessons:
Beginning Lindy with Jasmine Cheung & Roy Samson 7:30 to 8:30
Intermediate Lindy with Steve Sayer & Chandrae Roettig 7:30 to 8:30
Advanced Intensive (Audition required) with Debbie Gitt and Patrick Fredrickson
Lindy Techniques with Neil Figuracion

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

Bernie Pearl in LA Mondays

2012-01-19T10:50:00.001-08:00

Hi: Happy New Year! I wanted to let you know about a couple of gigs coming up.

But first, a reminder that the Bernie Pearl Blues Band performs every Monday evening 8:00-11:00 at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park. Barbara's enterprise is one of the great cultural venues in Southern California, featuring Jazz concerts, theatrical presentations, often with musical themes, instructional workshops, kids classes, and most important for me, the Blues. Our Blue Monday sessions feature Albert Trepanier, Jr., drums, Mike Barry, bass. We have played the blues with just about everyone over the past quarter century, and we now include the sensational tenor sax of Bobby "Hurricane" Spencer, a veteran of the Oakland blues scene, and our own Terry de Rouen on guitar and vocals. Big T. is one of the truly exciting and distinctive guitarists you'll ever hear. It's a wonderful venue for music and we often feature outstanding guests who drop in to jam. Each week is different, but we always have a great time partying and celebrating the blues.
BMPAC, 4305 Degnan Bl., LA 90008. Cover is General $10, Musicians $5. Call Barbara at (310) 462-1439.
Metered street and lot parking free after 8:00.

Thursday, January 26, I will be hosting the weekly blues jam at the El Dorado Restaurant in Long Beach. Although I have often sat in with the Dennis Herrera band at the El D. jam, this is my first time leading it. I'm very excited to be opening the show with an hour long set with the Bernie Pearl Blues Band. We have not played in Long Beach since last summer's Bayou Fest, and it has been a very long time since I have done my own material with my own band at a club in LB. We'll kick off the show at 8:00 with an hour-long set, and then open up to the jam session. This jam has become one of the area's busiest and best real blues sessions (no "Mustang Sally", fr'instance), drawing pro and amateur blues musicians of a high quality in impressive numbers.
El Dorado Restaurant, 3014 N. Studebaker (at Spring), LB 90808. No cover, (562) 421-2122, 8:00-12:00.
Lot and street parking free.

Saturday, March 17, Mike Barry and I will once again be in concert at Boulevard Music in Culver City. Last year's show became our latest CD, "Sittin' On the Right Side of the Blues". Co-produced by Mike and myself, the all-acoustic opus has received great reviews and extensive radio play, and has led to much wider recognition than ever before. A word to the wise: our concerts at Boulevard Music are usually very well attended and advance tickets would be prudent. CDs will be available for purchase and autograph. Hope to see you there.
Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl. (at Culver), Culver City 90230. Cover $15. (310) 398-2583.
Free street parking. Doors at 7:00.

Mendocino Folklore Camp June 30-July 7

2012-01-19T10:49:00.001-08:00

Wild Belle to release single and in LA March 3

2012-01-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

WILD BELLE TO DEBUT ‘KEEP YOU’ SINGLE ON
12” VINYL OUT FEB 21.

02/28 - SOhO Restaurant & Music Club - Santa Barbara, CA - 09:00PM
02/29 - Casbah - San Diego, CA - 09:30PM
03/01 - The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA - 09:30PM
*03/13 - 03/18 - SXSW Dates TBA*

Chicago’s own Wild Belle are without doubt one of the most promising acts of 2012.

Since unleashing their debut single ‘Keep You’ via their bandcamp page earlier this month, Wild Belle aka Natalie Bergman and Elliot Bergman have managed to wow folks far and wide with their glistening combination of bold songwriting, studio wizardry and late-night vibes.

Growing up in a highly musical family, Natalie would join Elliot on the road with his band NOMO at only 17 years old. Still too young to (legally) get into most of the clubs, she played percussion, sold merch, and occasionally sang a song or two, wowing the audiences and Elliot with her undeniable stage presence and talent.

After extensive touring and some well-deserved downtime for NOMO, the two began a long-distance collaboration on what would eventually gel into Wild Belle. Natalie, in Chicago, dreamt up lyrics, banged out drum loops in her bedroom on her glitter-blue drum-kit and layered instrumental tracks on top. Elliot, in Brooklyn, would add to these foundations with kalimba loops, horn lines or some chords on the Hammond b3. Eventually they formed a backdrop for Natalie's striking vocals; stories of love and loss culled from overflowing notebooks or scribbled lyrics on napkins from her waitressing job.

A sound emerged from their diverse set of shared influences (Helene Smith, Etta James, Francis Bebey, Delroy Wilson, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, Tom Tom Club, Eurythmics), something immediately familiar while strikingly fresh.

Their music doesn’t come from a certain place, but sounds like a locale we'd all like to visit this year. The water’s warm, it’s a beautiful night, and there’s a dance party that’s starting just after midnight.

Wild Belle are currently in the studio working on their debut album due later this year. Be sure to catch them live on the west coast and at SXSW in Austin, Texas (more dates to be announced soon).

LL Cool J to host Grammy Awards Feb. 12

2012-01-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

Two-time GRAMMY® winner LL COOL J is set to host the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards (www.grammy.com ), marking the first time in seven years that the music industry's premier event will have an official host. Music's Biggest Night® takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One/Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®'s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys , www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

"I'm thrilled to be part of Music's Biggest Night," said LL COOL J. “I will always have fond memories of my first GRAMMY Awards and to now be hosting the GRAMMY show, in the company of so many other incredible artists, is a dream come true. Great performances and great music — it's gonna be a great night!"

LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and this will be his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast. Recent past hosts include Queen Latifah at the 47th GRAMMY Awards and Jon Stewart for the 43rd and 44th GRAMMY telecasts. Over the years, additional GRAMMY hosts include Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell, among others.

LL COOL J joins previously announced performers and current GRAMMY nominees Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. Aldean and Minaj will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, while Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Mars, and Swift are returning to the GRAMMY stage.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

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.

dublab guest music curator for Art LA Contemporary Jan. 19-22

2012-01-18T11:28:00.001-08:00

Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC), the international contemporary art fair of the west coast, which takes place from January 19-22, 2012 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, has selected Jesse Peterson and Carlos Nino of dublab as guest music curators for the ALAC 2012 Music Series.

Peterson and Niño will bring a contemporary music program to ALAC by setting up a music space inside the Barker Hangar. To purchase tickets for Art Los Angeles Contemporary, please visit www.artlosangelesfair.com.

As a non-profit web radio collective, recording and film production company, dublab has been at the forefront of the Los Angeles music scene since its inception in 1999. Acts that will be performing at ALAC include: Mark "Frosty" McNeil & Carlos Niño, GB (Gifted and Blessed), Turn on the Sunlight, Contact Field Orchestra, Farmer Dave Scher, The Americans, Yaakov Levy, and El Haru Kuroi with a DJ set by Carlos Nino and Mark ‘Frosty’ McNeill.

Unlike traditional radio, the dublab djs have total freedom of selection. Visitors and exhibitors will experience many different sounds that all have the same soulful root. Since their debut in 1999, dublab have extended their creative action to include art exhibits, film projects, event production and record releases. From bringing dance floors to a boil, exploring magic experimentalism or spinning far-out, eclectic sets, the dublab soundsystem reflects all shades of future roots sound.

“Art Los Angeles Contemporary is about bringing the best of what Los Angeles has to offer to contemporary art lovers from all over the world,” said Tim Fleming, director, Art Los Angeles Contemporary. “Having Carlos and Jesse curate our music series continues our commitment to delivering an inspiring celebration of culture, where contemporary art and music intersect,” he continued.

The dublab soundsystem has been featured at the following venues amongst many others: MOCA, LACMA, Barnsdall Art Park, Art Center College of Design, CalArts, A+D Museum, The Getty Center, Page Museum/La Brea Tar Pits, Disney Hall, UCLA/Hammer Museum, Hollywood Bowl, Natural History Museum of LA County, El Rey Theatre, Henry Fonda Theatre.

ALAC 2012 Music Series Programming:

Thursday, January 19th, 6:00pm

DJs Carlos Niño & Frosty of Dublab

Mark "Frosty" McNeil is the founder and head operator of Dublab.com. As a non-profit web radio collective, recording and film production company, and international taste maker devoted to the growth of positive music, art and culture, Dublab has been at the forefront of the Los Angeles music scene since it's inception in 1999.

......................................................

Friday, January 20th, 11:00am

GB

GB (Gifted and Blessed) is an analogue electronic artist that's released several records of original material, extensive remix productions and collaborative work over the last 10 years. http://giftedandblessed.com/home.html

......................................................

Friday, January 20th, 3:00pm

Turn On The Sunlight

Jesse Peterson and Carlos Niño present Turn On The Sunlight, a new age- folk group.

......................................................

Friday, January 20th, 6:00pm

Superdeluxe

Superdeluxe is an experimental Hip-Hop Pop duo.

......................................................

Saturday, January 21st, 11:00pm

Contact Field Orchestra

The new cinematic improvisation beat project of singer- songwriter Damon Arron, a frequent contributor to Dublab and Hit+Run.

......................................................

Saturday, January 21st, 3:00pm

Farmer Dave Scher

Prolific multi-instrumentalist of Beachwood Sparks, former member of Interpol and Dublab / Mollusk affiliate will perform a solo Psychedelic Surf set.

......................................................

Saturday, January 21st, 6:00pm

The Americans

Venice-based Rockabilly Dance Quartet will perform.

......................................................

Sunday, January 22nd, 11:00am

Yaakov Levy

This legendary multi-instrumentalist of the Build An Ark collective will be playing a solo set of Acoustic Meditations.

......................................................

Sunday, January 22nd, 3:00pm

El Haru Kuroi

This unique power trio is a mix between the smooth soulful sound of Brazilian Bossa Nova and grimy, gritty East L.A. Garage Rock!

......................................................

In Love and Music,

Carlos Niño

Spaceways Radio - Sundays 10:00pm - Midnight PST

KPFK 90.7FM Los Angeles - www.kpfk.org

Carlos Gabriel Niño is an internationally celebrated producer, arranger, composer, musician, radio host and DJ based in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. He has been an important force in the contemporary independent music scene for over 15 years. A prolific artist, Niño has been involved in the production of more than 75 records and has toured with various bands and as a DJ throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. Niño started his first radio show “All At One Point” at KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles in October 1995, where he showcased his favorite contemporary artists and featured live in studio performances and interviews with a wide variety of legends, up and coming artists and bands, as well as DJs. DJ Organic, Hymnl and Jon Liu all co-hosted the show with him at different times. In 1999, he launched “Spaceways” on KPFK, airing Sundays from 10 p.m. to midnight.

About Art Los Angeles Contemporary:

Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC) is produced by Fair Grounds Associates, which was founded in 2009 by fair director Tim Fleming. ALAC takes place annually in Los Angeles, CA and attracts over 10,000 visitors. The fair quickly established itself as the premiere contemporary art fair of the West Coast, presenting a balanced roster of established blue-chip and top emerging galleries from the U.S. and abroad. ALAC highlights the Los Angeles art scene with the participation of a significant number of leading Los Angeles galleries as well as an accompanying series of performances, panels and screenings featuring iconic Los Angeles-based artists and rising local figures. ALAC is supported by local museums, international non-profits, galleries, and collectors. Visit: http://www.artlosangelesfair.com. Twitter @ALAContemporary.

About dublab:

dublab is a nonprofit creative collective devoted to the growth of positive music, arts, and culture. At the core of the organization’s operations is a web radio station that broadcasts several streams of dublab’s signature “future roots” music. dublab has been broadcasting online since 1999 and now reaches more than 300,000 international listeners monthly. dublab’s creative actions include art exhibits, film projects, event production, and record releases. Into Infinity follows along the vibrant conceptual curve of dublab’s previous art projects: Up Our Sleeve, The Dream Scene and Patchwork. Visit: http://dublab.com/artaction.

'The Sound of Music' in Fullerton Feb. 10-26

2012-01-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

3-D Theatricals is thrilled to present its first show of its 2012 season with one of the greatest family musicals of all time, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, musical direction by Julie Lamoureux, choreography by 3-D Theatricals Associate Artistic Director Kami Seymour and directed by 3-D Theatricals Artistic Director T.J. Dawson. THE SOUND OF MUSIC will open on Friday, February 10 and perform through Sunday, February 26 at the historic Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave. in Fullerton.

The final collaboration between Rogers and Hammerstein was destined to become the worlds most beloved musical, and it is no surprise that 3-D Theatricals will bring to their audiences a lavish and epic production which promises to breathe new life into this all-time classic! You won’t want to miss this true story of the Von Trapp Family, whether it is your first time or your 50th!

THE SOUND OF MUSIC will open on Friday, February 10 and perform through Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm (with added performances on Sunday, February 19 at 7pm & Saturday, February 25 at 2pm).

Tickets range from $28 - $56 (with special children’s prices of $22) and can be purchased at 3-D Theatricals website, www.3dtshows.com or by calling the 3DT Office at (714) 589-2770. Student, Senior and group discounts are available.

PLUMMER AUDITORIUM is located at 201 E. Chapman Ave. in Fullerton, Calif., 92832. Parking is free in the structure across the street.

Mary Flower in Altadena Feb. 2

2012-01-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

MARY FLOWER in Altadena and Culver City/New CD Out

Feb. 2: The Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 8 pm

626-798-6236/ www.coffeegallery.com

Also: Feb. 4: Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA, 310-398-2583/ www.boulevardmusic.com

Workshop at 4 pm/Concert at 7:30 pm

Yellow Dog Records announces Misery Loves Company, the new release from pre-eminent fingerstyle guitarist Mary Flower. Mary's most intimate album yet finds her paired with roots masters including Curtis Salgado, Colin Linden, and Dave Frishberg for a series of duets.

Working out of Portland, Oregon, Flower is renowned for a uniquely personal vision of roots music that blends ragtime, acoustic blues, and folk -- technically dazzling yet grounded in the down-to-earth simplicity of early 20th century American music.

With eight albums and an "Acoustic Artist of the Year" Blues Music Award nomination under her belt, Flower has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for her natural, unassuming vocals. But it's her instrumental skill -- a mastery of the difficult Piedmont blues guitar style that takes most players a lifetime to hone - for which Flower is most celebrated. Mary also excels at lap slide guitar, allowing her to infuse her songs with a supremely delicate, plaintive sound that's hers alone while recalling the blues giants of the past.

Having finished in the top three at the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship and appeared on radio programs such as A Prairie Home Companion and played at numerous folk and blues festivals including the Kerrville Folk Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, and Merlefest, Flower is in demand for festivals, concerts and guitar workshops on both sides of the Atlantic.

Pasadena Showcase House seeks volunteers

2012-01-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts will be hosting an information reception for prospective members on Saturday, February 4, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. PSHA programs and volunteer opportunities will be discussed.

For further information, contact membership@pasadenashowcase.org or call 626 578-8500 and select option 8.