Mickie's Zoo

End o' week musings

2012-02-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

No, I haven't forgotten you... I've been super swamped and spending too many hours on the road. But that's how a journalist gets the good stories...

Last Saturday I went to Descanso Gardens in the morning with my friend Linda. We walked through the place two times! Even up the hills! It was so nice out and the scenery was sooo pretty. There's nothing better than having a good chat while getting some exercise too.

In the evening I went with my friend Roc to the Canyon Club in Agoura to see The Pettybreakers (Tom Petty tribute band) and DSB (Don't Stop Believin' Journey tribute band). I'll be honest, I'm not big on tribute bands, but I do appreciate good musicianship, so the show was entertaining.

The Pettybreakers have talent and a good command of the material. I didn't particularly care for the guest "Stevie Nicks" they had, as she tried to look and move the part, but then did her own thing vocally. She had a decent voice though.

DSB didn't look like Journey, but if you closed your eyes, you'd be hard pressed to tell who was really on stage. They were definitely spot-on with the sound. Several people in the crowd told me that they were big Journey fans and were seeing DSB for their 6th, 10th or more time.

I hate to sound weird, but one of the best things about the Canyon Club was the huge chair as you walked in. It was porportioned like a regular wingback chair, but oversized, so you felt like a little kid sitting in it. It was really comfortable and if I had room at my house, I'd buy one!

Sunday of course was Super Bowl day. I went with my drummer Ric to his friend's house for a party. This was going to be extra special, as Ric is Mr. Sandman in the new Kia commercial, which would be airing for the first time during the fourth quarter of the football game.

I entered the house with my arms full and was greeted by a big dog, who promptly stood up, put a paw on each of my shoulders and licked my face. Good thing I like dogs! It was actually quite funny, as the guys scrambled to grab the pup while I just laughed.

Before and during the game, we played craps. The game would stop for every commercial or any good football plays. And when Ric's commercial came on. We all cheered for him-- he was perfect... but I don't think I want him tiptoeing out of my closet in his onsie to sprinkle me with dream dust! Sorry, Ric...

The football was over and the craps game wound down to me and one other guy and we finally called it a day. Too bad it was just chips-- I would have gone home with a couple of bucks in my pocket!

Monday I met Carin and Tom for dinner. We went to Tava ( http://www.tavalounge.com/ ) in Artesia, which offers modern Indian cuisine. The food was awesome! We had an appetizer of spinach hummus and naan (bread). I went for the vegetarian dish with biryani rice, while Tom had a vegie dish too with an avocado curry base and Carin had chicken biryanit rice topped with two fried eggs. We each chose a different level of spice- mild for Carin, medium for me and hot for Tom. I suggest if you're not sure, go for mild, as the hot is just that. The medium was just that, but fine for me. In all cases, the flavors beneath the spice came through nicely.

We ended our meal with a samosa stuffed with hazelnut cream and fresh strawberries- yum! And we took home enough food for seconds and thirds!

The server, Billie, was very good. She made suggestions, explained the dishes well and was just-right attentive. And she was as pretty as the venue's decor-- which we all liked. After our meal, Billie brought us plastic packages containing hot moist cotton towels with a peach-mango scent. I have never been handed a towel that looked like a snack before! It left me with a spa-pampered feel... Definitely a nice touch. And we all want to go back and try another dish or two!

The rest of my week it's been interview central. I spoke with the band Voodoo Fix, bluesman Joe Walker Louis and actor Mark Doerr-- all very nice and interesting.

As for the coming weekend-- don't bother me!! I need to do a ton of sewing, plus laundry, clean house and so on.... How crazy to have to schedule time for those things?!

In rotation this week: Terrible Things, Elton John & Leon Russell, Lamb of God and Symphony X.

Photos we got 'em: I was busy with my cell phone at Descanso Gardens- flowers, the koi pond, Linda- enjoy!

Thought o' the week: Love, pass it on. Yes, we're being deluged by all that Valentine's Day mush, but the idea behind all the glitz is right.

I admit to being a sucker for romance (although I don't care for romatic movies or novels!). I love being in love and spreading love around to the people in my world. I have sent out scores of Valentine's Day cards and given out a ton of conversation hearts over the years, but not just for special someones, I pass the love on to my friends as well.

Life is too short not to let people know how important they are to you. And it's also too short not to give a kind word or a smile even to a stranger. The world is a better place with a little caring and not just on some card company's holiday, but every day.

Maybe you'll be a little more romantic on Tuesday and that's OK, just remember the rest of the year and pass on some of that love wherever you see it's needed.

Keep on rockin'

Mickie

Today I also got the clean bill of health from my doctor. He is pleased with all my blood testing, OK with my weight and happy with the progress I've made from my back problems.

Strategic Monk offer craft brewery outing Feb. 25

2012-02-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 25 from 2:00 to 4:30 PM

San Pedro Brewing Company in San Pedro

Each month, Greg Richardson, the Strategic Monk, visits a craft brewery in Southern California. Greg is a spiritual director and leadership coach in Pasadena.

The tour grows from the monastic roots of brewing great beer and explores the rapidly growing craft beer community in Southern California. Each stop includes the opportunity to meet new people and combine excellent food with great craft brews. Greg also highlights a local nonprofit organization each month.

For more information, contact Greg at www.StrategicMonk.com.

Young LA professionals invited to American Cancer Society gala May 12

2012-02-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

The American Cancer Society Young Professionals of Los Angeles invites active young LA professionals to its inaugural gala event, A Grand Affair, at the four-star Redbury Hotel under the gaze of the historic Hollywood sign on May 12, 2012.

The evening offers busy young professionals from greater LA the chance to unwind with other upward-bound careerists enjoying the retro hotel’s signature cuisine, drink, a spectacular silent auction and live entertainment while supporting the American Cancer Society’s mission of eliminating cancer through research, education, advocacy and free patient services. Doors open to A Grand Affair at 8 pm and festivities will continue until 11pm.

The Redbury Hotel is located at 1717 Vine St., Los Angeles 90028 just north of Hollywood and Vine. Discounted tickets will be available February 12, 2012 for $125 per person. Tickets increase to $150 on April 1. For tickets and sponsorship information contact Adriana Sandoval at 310-348-0356 or asandoval@cancer.org.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year.

To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or www.visitcancer.org.

Comedian Scott Shimamoto talks on public speaking Feb. 16 in Arcadia

2012-02-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

You may not think it’s too funny if you get nervous speaking in front of a group, but local comedian Scott Shimamoto will give you a good laugh as he provides tips on public speaking at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Networking Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.

Shimamoto, who has performed stand-up comedy at many venues in the region, such as The Ice House, and who produces numerous comedy show benefit fundraisers, is also a home mortgage consultant at Franklin Loan Center.

He will discuss how to overcome your fears, and techniques for using a microphone and working a crowd.

Networking Breakfasts, sponsored by Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Santa Anita Golf Course club house on Santa Anita Avenue. A distinguished business leader of the community is featured each month, and attendees are invited at the beginning of each program to introduce themselves and say a few words about their business or organization.

Upcoming speakers include the new President and CEO of Methodist Hospital, Dan Ausman, and a presentation on the Gold Line railway and station being built through Arcadia, as well as the annual Chamber Business Awards program on June 21.

Tickets are $15 for members who RSVP in advance and $20 for non-members. To make a reservation, contact the Chamber office: 626-447-2159 or by e-mail: info@ArcadiaCaChamber.org.

A new Chamber All Access Pass exclusive to members offers year-round admission to all Chamber events, including all Networking Breakfasts, as well as tickets to the Pasadena Pops, CalPhil, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, and many others for only $250 per year, 10% of which is donated to local non-profit member groups who sell the tickets as a fundraiser.

Other upcoming Chamber events include the annual Planning Conference on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. – 12 noon in the Director’s Room at Santa Anita Park; and the Winners’ Circle Business Expo from 12 noon – 4 p.m. Saturday, March 31, for the first time ever at Clockers’ Corner of Santa Anita Park during a Food Truck Festival.

Membership in the Chamber is $115 for residents and non-profit organizations; $185 for home-based businesses; and starts at $260 for traditional businesses.
The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 90th Anniversary of Creating Community Pride Through Business since 1921.

Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
w: 626-447-2159
c: 626-485-8783
e-mail: info@arcadiacachamber.org
http://www.facebook.com/ArcadiaChamber
http://www.arcadiacachamber.org

March music programming on PBS SoCal

2012-02-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

March 2012 Music Programming Highlights on PBS SoCaL

Friday, March 2, 8:30 p.m. – “Great Performances: Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park”

Acclaimed performer Andrea Bocelli performs a concert in New York’s iconic Central Park. Guests include Céline Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and David Foster.

Saturday, March 3, 6 p.m. – “Big Band Vocalists” – PREMIERE

This special looks back at the “crooners” and “canaries” of the 1940s, featuring the greatest vocalists of the period when they started their careers performing with orchestras and dance bands.

Saturday, March 3, 10 p.m. – “Superstars of Seventies Soul Live”

Soul diva Patti LaBelle hosts the historic reunion of classic recording artists of the decade, including the Commodores, original lead Eugene Record reuniting with the Chi-Lites, the Stylistics, Yvonne Elliman, Heatwave, Earl Young’s Trammps, the Emotions and the Manhattans.

Sunday, March 4, 5:30 p.m. – “Great Performances: The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall” – PREMIERE

This special takes a front-row seat for the 25th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. – “Yanni: Live at El Morro” – PREMIERE

This special features Yanni in an inspiring concert performed at the historic 16th century Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Tuesday, March 6, 8:30 p.m. – “Il Volo Takes Flight” – PREMIERE

“Il Volo Takes Flight” features a trio of teenage tenors’ rendition of operatic, pop and Italian classics, showcasing their vocal talent and interpretive gift for music.

Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m. – “Celtic Thunder Voyage” – PREMIERE

Following the incredible success of “Heritage,” Celtic Thunder continues to explore their Irish and Celtic roots in “Voyage.”

Sunday, March 11, 7 p.m. – “Oscar Hammerstein II: Out of My Dreams” – PREMIERE

The special celebrates the legendary works of the most acclaimed lyricist and librettist of the 20th century. Matthew Morrison (“Glee”) hosts.

Sunday, March 11, 8:30 p.m. – “Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony” –PREMIERE

Tony® Award-winning Broadway, television (“Glee”) and recording artist Idina Menzel, backed by an orchestra masterfully led by legendary composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch, performs at The Royal Conservatory’s beautiful Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada.

Friday, March 30, 9 p.m. – “Great Performances: San Francisco Symphony at 100” – PREMIERE

This special episode celebrates the San Francisco Symphony’s centennial with music director Michael Tilson Thomas and Itzhak Perlman and Lang Lang performing works by Copland, Mendelssohn and Britten.

www.pbssocal.org

Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue week of Feb. 10

2012-02-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

here's just a few tasty tidbits for your weekend listening (and dining & drinking) pleasure:
FRI. 2/10 - the MELLOW D'z (Dave Osti & Deanna Cogan - acoustic rock) @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 5:30 - 7:30pm. Full bar & kitchen with happy hour food & drink specials 4 - 6:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. EVERY FRIDAY.

SAT. 2/11 - SUDBURY & RAMOS @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. Full bar & great Italian food. 322 W. Sierra Madre Bl. 626-836-5414. a collection of Romantic tunes, some in Spanish, and Brazilian/Jazz music... from two Sierra Madre locals...

SAT. 2/11 - OLD CALIFORNIO @ T. BOYLE'S TAVERN IN PASADENA, 9pm. 37 N. Catalina, just north of Colorado Bl. in the alley. (formerly the Handlebars & Toe's Tavern.) No cover, beer & wine. ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCAL BANDS. they're sorta like John Steinbeck, Woody Guthrie & Neil Young all put together... with a little Marty Robbins and Brian Wilson thrown in for good measure! buy a CD and/or vinyl record and come up with your own description.....
shhhh.... meet me in the alley & buy an Alverno High School Jaguar discount card for $10 - it's good until Jan. 2013 and gets you 20% off your daily tab at T. Boyle's (and assorted discounts at 23 other area merchants! oh yeah, I forgot - Cafe 322 and Matt Denny's are also on the Alverno discount card..... )

SUN. 2/12 - S.M. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WINE TASTING @ THE ALVERNO VILLA IN SIERRA MADRE, 2 - 5pm. 200 N. Michillinda Ave. LIVE MUSIC from some of my pals - STEVE & STEVE, DEANNA & DAVE, JEAN & RUBEN (and, I hope - my favorite Magic Castle Magician, Steve Silverman, among others) TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. DON'T LET THE $60 PRICE TAG SCARE YOU - YOU CAN DRINK & EAT YOUR MONEY'S WORTH, HEAR SOME TOP-NOTCH MUSIC AND SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY AT THE SAME TIME! not to mention the fine company you'll be rubbing elbows with....... complete details below and at the following link: http://sierramadrelibraryfriends.org/index.php?page=winetasting

and right after the Wine Tasting............
SUN. 2/12 - (the return of*) LEN MENDOZA @ MATT DENNY'S ALE HOUSE RESTAURANT IN ARCADIA, 5 - 8pm. 145 E. Huntington Dr., between 1st & 2nd. Free parking on street & in back, next to Bob's Garage & Arcadia Party Rentals. 626-462-0250. Full bar & kitchen, outdoor (heated when necessary) patio. Acoustic Rock faves - James Taylor, Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, much, much more...... *I know - it sounds like a horror sequel. He might be scared, that doesn't mean we should be. I told him no one is paying attention anyway... we'll be celebrating Jimmy Wynne's Birthday!

No Tues. Night Trivia........
TUES. 2/14 - VALENTINE'S BALL @ CAFE 322 FEATURING ROB RIO & THE REVOLVERS, 7 - 10pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Reservations recommended: 626-836-5414. $10 cover. Boss of the Boogie Woogie, Rob plays at some pretty swanky venues for big time celebs... we are lucky to have him in our humble burg. You can thank his Sierra Madre drummer Peter Burke for that!

WED. 2/15 - COW BOP @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7 - 10 pm. Country Swing/Cowboy Jazz. Never a dull moment with this group! 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar & greta (or great, depending on how close you're paying attention) Italian food...

that's it for now.
falling asleep at the computer......... hope to see you out & about..........
S.M.Sue
zzzzzzz
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Friends of the Library Wine Tasting This Sunday, Feb. 12th:
The 42nd annual Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Wine Tasting will take place this weekend at the Alverno Villa and gardens, and tickets are still available.

A splendid way to show your sweetheart your love is with a visit to the annual Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Wine Tasting.

The event is being held on Sunday February 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Alverno Villa, 675 W. Highland Ave. in Sierra Madre (aka 200 N. Michillinda), just in time for Valentine’s Day. Picture strolling leisurely through the Alverno Villa gardens while enjoying fine wine and delectable hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

Adding to the romantic atmosphere will be live music performed by the duos of Steve Vargas & Steve Reiners, The Mellow D'z (Dave Osti & Deanna Cogan), and (Jean) Sudbury & (Ruben) Ramos. For your entertainment, magicians from the Magic Castle will perform sleights of hand. You can even find the perfect souvenir of a lovely afternoon at our Silent Auction where you’ll have an opportunity to bid on such exceptional items as jewelry, wine tastings and tours, theater tickets, gourmet dinners, art work, Turf Club at Santa Anita, Disneyland tickets, Rose Parade tickets, wine fridge, Temecula B&B, children's birthday party at the Sierra Madre Fire Department, Universal Studios tour, personal chef dinner for 6, SMPD ride along, and fine wines.

In addition to the auction, there will be an opportunity drawing for a weekend wine tasting in Paso Robles, a prize valued at more than $1,000 (ticket holders need not be present to win).

If you wish to purchase tickets in advance, tickets to the wine tasting are $60 and tickets for the drawing are $5 each. Both can be purchased at the Sierra Madre Library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Sierra Madre. The library can be reached at (626) 355-7186. Or, you can purchase tickets at the door.

Proceeds from the Wine Tasting benefit the resources and programs of the Sierra Madre Library.

All-American Boys Chorus in Pasadena March 10

2012-02-10T11:08:00.001-08:00

The All-American Boys Chorus, under the direction of Wesley Martin, will present A Salute to America’s Music! on Saturday, March 10, at 8 p.m. in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium.

Broadway show tunes, California sounds, music from the Roaring Twenties, swing from the Big Band era, Dixieland melodies and jazz classics will be performed by this 32-voice ensemble.

Serving boys ages 8 to 15, the All-American Boys Chorus provides boys with an opportunity to maximize their potential. They become outstanding musicians and responsible leaders in the community through our multi-faceted training, mentoring, choral programs and concerts.

Tickets to this performance are priced at $26.00, $21.00, and $16.00; 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

Shimmy Showcase Sunday

2012-02-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

February 12 -- Please be sure to join us this Sunday, February 12 for a romantically inspired Shimmyshowcase as our newest coordinator, Draca, welcomes guest dancers Reba, Siraj, Bella and Tehani to the Shimmyshowcase stage.

Please read our upcoming schedule below for additional details about dancer openings!

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!

SUNDAY 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. Occasionally we have Saturday showcases beginning a bit later. Please refer to the detailed schedule below for more information.

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!

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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

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~~ UPCOMING SHOWCASE CALENDAR ~~
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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, Janice and Rima.

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 coordinators Draca, Ilana, Amber, 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 recommend you attend “Once Upon a Time: A Gypsy’s Tale” featuring Shimmyshowcase’s own Saviya with Tribe Roman Morga, Katerina & the Kabuki Dolls, JJ & the Habibis and live music by Saf Mavi at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, 5450 East Atherton Street; Long Beach, 90815; Show time is 2:00 p.m.; for reserved seating ($15 a seat) contact Douglas Law, 562-597-8445 or twinkleUmusic@yahoo.com.

March 25 - Ilana presents “Mother Earth” with guest dancers Meryem Vani, Irina-Artemis, Jayel, and Yuliya Lunessia. Come celebrate the rites of Spring with these fabulous performers and enjoy some great food and beverages at Viento y Agua coffee house.

April 1 – It’s Fool’s Day and with Saviya coordinating, who knows what to expect! One thing we know for sure is that everyone will have fun at this Shimmyshowcase. One thing we’re not fooling about is that we have dancer openings, so if you would like to perform for this Shimmyshowcase, please email us at Shimmyshowcase@gmail.com for a spot!

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

Wooden Wand double disc to be released

2012-02-10T11:05:00.001-08:00

On April 17th, Fire Records is releasing a double disc, deluxe-edition of Wooden Wand's Briarwood!

Catch Wooden Wand at SXSW and on tour around the US in March.

Fire Records are releasing a double disc edition of Wooden Wand's critically acclaimed "Briarwood" album, including 8 stripped down demo versions of the James Jackson Toths penned album tracks.

Here's what James Jackson Toth says about the recordings:

The demos are the grimoire -- there is a corresponding demo for every song I have ever released. I've been cursed with a bad memory, so if I do not make a demo of a song, I will forget it. I rarely remember the chords, and I usually require a little help from more musicianly band members to jog my memory.

Demos are likewise invaluable before recording any new Wooden Wand album; I will listen to them constantly so as to exactly replicate - or dramatically change - my phrasing on any given song. I like to remember every nuance of my vocal performance because singing is my most important job. I rarely double vocals, but when I do, I'm the double-vocal king. This may seem somewhat at odds with the raucous, off-the-cuff nature of a good deal of my work (and my reputation), but it is this very idea of a single 'control' within the chaos that allows me to truly improvise.

These demos were recorded at various times leading up to the recording of Briarwood. It is one of very few WW albums to contain almost all 'newer' material, that is, material written for this specific album and not drawn from the archives. The album versions are only faithful to the demos in terms of vocals. Everything else was up for discussion, and as you will hear, many things were changed and improved upon.

These were all recorded solo, at home in Lexington, KY, on a Roland BR1600 digital 8 track.

About the album version of "Briarwood"

Recorded with Duquette Johnston at Ol Elegante Studios in Homewood, Alabama, a new line-up was formed for the latest album from Wooden Wand. Featuring Duquette's band the Gum Creek Killers as well as James Jackson Toth's constant foil and best friend Brian Lowery and Jody Nelson of Through The Sparks, and the Briarwood Virgins were born.

The sessions were casual and loose, yielding some of the most 'rock and roll' sounding music of Toth's long career. For an artist known in some circles as something of a 'folkie,' it's interesting to note that this album contains only a single track of acoustic guitar.

Briarwood represents the latest direction by an artist who continuously confounds, befuddles and challenges his loyal fans, but what do you expect from a guy with a tattoo on his wrist that says "What Would Neil Young Do?"

LA Chamber Orchestra presents Bach's Magnificat Feb. 25

2012-02-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
DISCOVER BACH’S MAGNIFICAT
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor & musical tour guide
Charlotte Dobbs, soprano
Zanaida Robles, soprano
Janelle DeStefano, mezzo soprano
Ben Bliss, tenor
Daniel Armstrong, baritone
USC Thornton Chamber Singers

WHEN:
Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8 pm

WHERE:
Ambassador Auditorium
131 S. Saint John Avenue
Pasadena, 91123

PROGRAM:
Introduction
BACH Magnificat in D major, BWV 243

TICKET PRICES:
$25-$110;
Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the box office the day of the concert

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets available online at www.laco.org, by phone 213 622 7001 or by fax 213 626 2157
Tickets also on sale at the theatre box office the night of the concert, if available

Erin McNally in Cerritos March 23 and 24

2012-02-10T11:02:00.002-08:00

Erin McNally

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

Date: Friday, March 23, 2012, 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 24, 2012, 1:00 PM
Sing Your Own Song!

Ticket Prices: $45 Friday
$18 Adults/$14 Children (12 and younger)
Saturday
Four or more tickets to a single
performance: $15

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.

Gonzalo Bergara Quartet in Cerritos March 22

2012-02-10T11:02:00.001-08:00

Gonzalo Bergara Quartet

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

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:30 PM

Ticket Prices: $45

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.

Impro Theatre's Jane Austen Unscripted in Pasadena beginning March 1

2012-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Impro Theatre (Dan O’Connor, Artistic Director) announced a limited five-week engagement of their highly-acclaimed production of JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED which will make its Pasadena premiere in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED will be directed by Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan and is produced by Dan O’Connor and Impro Theatre. Performances begin on March 2, 2012, and will perform through April 1, 2012 at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

“We are thrilled to bring JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED to the Carrie Hamilton and to Pasadena’s huge Austen fan base! JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED is a delightful entertainment that attracts theatre goers, devotees of Austen, improv fans as well as those folks who enjoy a good regency era romantic comedy.”

JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED is a completely improvised play in the style of beloved author Jane Austen. The cast of Impro Theatre creates and performs a never before seen, all-new Jane Austen story right before your eyes. They have no idea what the story will be or who they will play. The whole show is based upon audience suggestion, and every show is totally unique and different. Passionate, willful women flirt and verbally joust with handsome, brooding young noblemen. Hearts are broken, secrets are revealed and true love wins out in the end. Or does it? The essence of Austen’s beloved, brilliant and timeless romantic comedies and social satires is brought faithfully to life by this expert team of funny and gifted actors, whose recent explorations of great literary figures include Shakespeare, Dickens, Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams.

Impro Theatre lies somewhere between the Royal Shakespeare Company and “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” The company consists of classically trained actors who are also masters of improvisation. Impro Theatre has grown into a theatre company that has performed their unique productions on some of the most prestigious stages in the Los Angeles theatre scene including The Broad Theatre, The Odyssey Theatre, Theatre Asylum and their debut at The Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre this past fall with a three-show repertory, including the Los Angeles premiere of their production of Twilight Zone UnScripted. Their productions are rooted in the great classics of literature and theatre which act as a springboard for their unique improvisational twists with a 21st century appeal. True narrative daredevils, Impro Theatre is bent on writing and performing in the moment to create a unique theatrical experience at every performance.

The cast is a rotating ensemble including Impro Theatre company members Dan O’Connor, Paul Rogan, Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Jo McGinley, Edi Patterson, Michele Spears, Floyd Van Buskirk and guest artists.

Critical praise for Impro Theatre’s production of JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED includes: “first-rate comedians…BREATHTAKING WIT!” (LA Weekly); “HILARIOUS…one of the funniest evenings in town…quite unbelievable, actually…an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes…a stunning feat of performance and literary wizardry…magic… you gotta go” (Los Angeles Times Magazine); “4 Stars” (Los Angeles Times readers poll); “Impro Theatre’s gift lies in far more than improv’s expected one-liners and zingers – rather, their gift is the more subtle and complex art of storytelling…Austen would be pleased indeed.” (LAist.com); “Jane Austen UnScripted is a delicious combination of humorous wordplay and stiff upper lip mannerisms.” (Entertainment Today); “SENSATIONAL…smash hit…ingenuity, imagination, and hilarity… improv artists at the top of their field… MUST SEE THEATER that many will want to see more than once, if only to witness these gifted improv actors create an entirely different story, all the while remaining faithful to the style and values of Jane Austen. The novelist would be pleased indeed.” (Stage Scene LA); “TOUR DE FORCE… long form improvisation at its finest… marvelous and gifted group of actors… there will be laughter…oodles of it. This is a show you can easily see a second time.” (WeHoNews.com); “COMIC GOLD…a delectably smart, tasty treat…mega talented” (San Diego News Network); “outstanding – absolutely not to be missed!” (SoCal.com); “I LOVED Jane Austen improve!” (CoolGrrrls.com); Impro Theatre is also the recipient of five 2010 L.A. Stage Scene Awards.

JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED will play in The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse from March 2 – April 1, 2012. The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located above The Pasadena Playhouse at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.

The performance schedule is Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Regular ticket prices are $25.00 each (General Admission). Student and senior (55+) priced tickets are available for $20.00 each (General Admission, student/photo I.D. required for purchase). Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates, the box office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

For additional information about Impro Theatre visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Improtheatre
Twitter: www.twitter.com/improtheatre

Caveman to tour

2012-02-10T10:56:00.001-08:00

After a successful past year where Caveman signed on with Fat Possum Records and sold out their first headlining show at Bowery Ballroom, the band sets out on a Spring tour through North America, starting in Chapel Hill on March 6th, including stops in Georgia, Florida, Austin’s SXSW, Toronto, and the Midwest, before ending at Los Angeles’ Echo. Their debut CoCo Beware will get a wide release on March 27th via Fat Possum after the self-release on the band’s Magic Man! label last year.

In 2011, Caveman garnered critical praise for their debut album CoCo Beware from outlets like NPR, The New York Times, and The Fader, and for their big-sounding, impressive and completely unforgettable live shows alike. The band shines live, noted by NPR as their #7 live show of 2011 and after touring with Here We Go Magic and The War On Drugs, Cavemanwill be heading to Europe for the first time next week, before embarking on their North American tour.

Caveman live dates:

2/15: London, UK @ The Macbeth
2/16: Paris, France @ La Fleche d’Or
2/17: St Malo, France @ La Route du Rock Festival (Live Webcast)

3/6: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
3/7: Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater Rooftop
3/8: Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover Festival
3/9: Atlanta, GA @ 529
3/10: Orlando, FL @ Orange You Glad Festival
3/11: Tampa, FL @ New World Brewery
3/13: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/14: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/15: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/17: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/21: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
3/22: Hamilton, ON @ This Ain’t Hollywood
3/23: Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
3/23: Toronto, ON @ El Mocombo
3/24: Buffalo, NY @ 9th Ward
3/29: Syracuse, NY @ Syracuse University
3/30: Bethlehem, PA @ Nowadays Fest
4/9: Washington, D.C. @ Red Palace
4/10: Columbus, OH @ The Basement
4/11: Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
4/12: Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
4/13: Madison, WI @ UW Madison
4/14: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
4/16: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr.
4/17: Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/18: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
4/20: Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
4/21: Seattle, WA @ Neumos Jr.
4/22: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
4/24: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar
4/25: Los Angeles, CA @ Echo

Caveman is made up of five proud New York natives: lead singer/songwriter Matt Iwanusa, who also adds percussion and drums to the band on record and live on stage, Guitarist Jimmy “Cobra” Carbonetti, who designs his hand-made Cobra Guitars from scratch, drummer and native Manhattanite Stefan Marolachakis, bassist Jeff Berrall, and Sam Hopkins on synths. Caveman's 10 song debut CoCo Bewareis produced by Nick Stumpf (French Kicks) and shows front man Matt Iwanusa's ability to craft melodies and lyrics which tackle topics of life and love, reflections on hope, joy as well as moody observations, all sung in grandiose four-part harmonies, wrapped in timeless melodies.

Caveman Girlie Action Press Page
http://www.cavemantheband.com
http://www.facebook.com/cavemanband
http://www.twitter.com/cavemanband

Buy album via Fat Possum

The Good Intentions in Altadena March 29

2012-02-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake Avenue
Altadena, CA. Phone For Reservations: (626) 798-6236

THE GOOD INTENTIONS.....

From Liverpool, UK, come the winners of the British Country Music Association's Americana Act of the Year - The Good Intentions.

Featuring on this tour of California - Peter Davies (vocal, guitar) and Gabrielle Monk (vocal, accordion, percussion), joined on stage by LA's very own Rick Shea (one of Dave Alvin's original Guilty Men) on mandolin, along with David Jackson on Bass (Emmy Lou Harris, Dwight Yoakum and many others).

The Good Intentions are back in California following the release of their acclaimed second album: "Someone Else's Time" (Boronda Records).

The album was mostly recorded in LA and was produced by Rick Shea, with various local musicians also involved, so Peter and Gabrielle pretty much think of SoCal as their home away from home.

They have been described as "Liverpool's Carter Family", playing songs with a timeless country-folk feel but also a modern twist.

"Someone Else's Time" - Americana Gazette Album of the Year - "compelling Americana" MIDWEST RECORD - "a remarkably assured and confident album" COUNTRY CHART.COM - "assured Anglo-Americana folk-country" LONESOME HIGHWAY

Thursday, March 29. Show @ 8:00 P.M. Tickets: $15

www.coffeegallery.com

THE GOOD INTENTIONS (feat. RICK SHEA)

No manager, but led by Peter Davies.

Address: 114 Melbreck Road, Liverpool L18 9SH, UK.

Phone number for interviews: (00) 44 151 475 5741

Website: www.thegoodintentions.co.uk

Email: thegoodintentions@yahoo.co.uk

My cellphone number for Bob's use: 07803 907370 (think you need the UK prefix as with the landline above).

Featuring on this tour of California - Peter Davies (vocal, guitar) and Gabrielle Monk (vocal, accordion, percussion), joined on stage by LA's very own Rick Shea (one of Dave Alvin's original Guilty Men) on mandolin, along with David Jackson on Bass (Emmy Lou Harris, Dwight Yoakum and many others).
The Good Intentions are back in California following the release of their acclaimed second album: "Someone Else's Time" (Boronda Records).
The album was mostly recorded in LA and was produced by Rick Shea, with various local musicians also involved, so Peter and Gabrielle pretty much think of SoCal as their home away from home.
They have been described as "Liverpool's Carter Family", playing songs with a timeless country-folk feel but also a modern twist.

"Someone Else's Time" - Americana Gazette Album of the Year - "compelling Americana" MIDWEST RECORD - "a remarkably assured and confident album" COUNTRY CHART.COM - "assured Anglo-Americana folk-country" LONESOME HIGHWAY Thursday, March 29. Show @ 8:00 P.M. Tickets: $15

The Color Purple in LA March 9-May 26

2012-02-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

THE COLOR PURPLE
OPENS FRIDAY, MARCH 9 THROUGH SATURDAY, MAY 26TH!
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm

Celebration Theatre
7051B Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tickets: $34 For tickets, please call (323) 957-1884 - or visit www.celebrationtheatre.com to purchase tickets online or to view a complete schedule!

Tongue & Groove event in Hollywood Feb. 12

2012-02-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

SPREADING THE WORD for 8 YEARS!

"Tongue & Groove"

A monthly offering of short fiction, personal essays, poetry, spoken word + music. Produced by Conrad Romo and featuring: Daniel Pyne "A Hole In The Ground Owned By A Liar", Cecil Castellucci "FIRST DAY ON EARTH", Joan Kelly "The Pleasure's All Mine", Rick Lupert "Death of a Mauve Bat", Rena Durrant and musical guest Paulene

Sunday February 12th
6-7:30 pm
The Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, Ca 90028
$6.00

Cecil Castellucci's novels for young adults include First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool, and Boy Proof and a picture book Grandma's Gloves which won the California Book Award gold medal. She also wrote the graphic novels The PLAIN Janes and Janes in Love for DC Comics Minx line. She has had numerous short stories published in various places including Strange Horizons, Teeth, The Eternal Kiss, Geektastic (which she co-edited) and Interfictions 2. Her upcoming half prose / half graphic novel is called The Year of the Beasts will be out in May. In addition to writing books, she writes plays, opera librettos, does performance pieces and occasionally rocks out. For more information go to www.misscecil.com

Daniel Pyne's screenwriter credits include The Manchurian Candidate, Fracture, Any Given Sunday, and Miami Vice. He's also the author of the wildly successful noir novel, Twentynine Palms (which was also made into a feature film). His second novel, is a crime mystery set in Colorado about a burnt-out high school teacher who buys a gold mine off the internet and suddenly finds himself surrounded by an unwanted group of locals, wanting their part in his pipe dream.

Rick Lupert served for two years as a co-director of the Valley Contemporary Poets and has hosted the open mic. series Cobalt Café in Canoga Park since 1994. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and literary journals, including The Los Angeles Times, Rattle, Chiron Review, Zuzu's Petals and others. He edited the anthologies A Poet's Haggadah: Passover through the Eyes of Poets and The Night Goes on All Night - Noir Inspired Poetry, and is the author of thirteen books.

Joan Kelly grew up in the South Bay area of L.A. and got her bachelor's degree at Antioch University in her thirties after dropping out of UC Santa Cruz in her twenties, and keeps her weird Hello Kitty shit to herself.

Rena Durrant is a seasoned trial attorney and is twice published in the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. She also has been heavily involved in the L.A. art scene for the past decade curating and promoting collaborative film, music, and dance events. This will be her first public reading.

Paulene are an acoustic indie-folk duo from Los Angeles composed of Paul Christensen and Arlene Deradoorian. ..

Come one, come all and come early! Seating is limited and we start on time! www.tongueandgroovela.com

The Honey Dewdrops in Altadena March 23

2012-02-10T10:50:00.001-08:00

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake
Altadena, CA. Reservations: (626) 798-6236

The Honey Dewdrops combine a high lonesome duet harmony vocal style with contagious energy, soulful new songs and a fresh angle. The result, with guitars, a banjo and a mandolin, is a sound that welcomes you in like a dear old friend. Writing and singing in the veins of folk and old country music, theirs are new songs from the southern mountains that ring with originality. Warm and honest, the Dewdrops fill up a room with sound and spirit.

After their appearance and first place win on a 2008 talent show broadcast of NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion," the Dewdrops began their careers as songwriters and have since released two critically acclaimed albums, both of which have charted at the #1 and #2 positions on the Folk DJ Charts in 2010.

Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine says "Their talent is such that it's quite possible that band recording in the year 2020 might cite the Honey Dewdrops as a prime influence." Writing and singing in the veins of folk and old country music, the Dewdrops entwine harmony singing with tight instrumentation and craft songs that are simple and fine-tuned. Theirs are new songs from the southern mountains that ring with originality.

Friday, March 23. Show @ 8:00 P.M. $18

Web Page: http://www.thehoneydewdrops.com/

Arcadia business expo March 31

2012-02-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

Arcadia Chamber of Commerce member businesses will get a chance to WIN new customers, PLACE their products, and SHOW their business during the Winners Circle Business Expo 2012 at Santa Anita Park from 12 noon – 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 31.

It will be a big day at the track, with live racing just a few feet away from the scenic first-time location at Clockers’ Corner, and thousands of people attending the always popular Food Truck Festival and live concert.
Dozens of Expo exhibitors will be offering limited discounts to food truck treats, raffle prizes, and much more.
The Expo will be promoted on the track’s giant video boards near parking lot entrances, listed in the race program, and announced between races by famed track announcer Trevor Denman.

Exhibitors will receive a free parking pass, two free admission passes, a table, two chairs, table cloth, pre-event publicity, lots of signage to the Expo in the stadium, and free electrical connections.
All that will be available for only $149 for those businesses who reserve a table and pay by Feb. 29. Exhibitor reservations in March will be $199, and must be made and paid by March 23.
Reservations can be made by calling the Chamber office at 626-447-2159.

The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 90th Anniversary of Creating Community Pride Through Business since 1921.

A new All Access Pass, exclusive to Chamber members, offers year-round admission to all Chamber events with a single purchase, as well as tickets to the Pasadena Pops, CalPhil, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, and many others for only $250 per year, 10% of which is donated to local non-profit member groups who sell the tickets as a fundraiser. Call 626-447-2159 to order, or for more information.

Other upcoming Chamber events covered under the All Access Pass include the Feb 16 Networking Breakfast at Santa Anita Golf Course featuring comedian Scott Shimamoto, the annual Planning Conference on Feb. 23 at Santa Anita, and the annual Citizen of the Year Dinner on April 19 in the elegant Chandelier Room at Santa Anita, this year honoring Alice Wang.

Membership in the Chamber is $115 for residents and non-profit organizations; $185 for home-based businesses; and starts at $260 for traditional businesses.

Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
w: 626-447-2159
c: 626-485-8783
e-mail: info@arcadiacachamber.org
http://www.facebook.com/ArcadiaChamber
http://www.arcadiacachamber.org

Pasadena Restaurant Week March 25-30

2012-02-09T10:23:00.001-08:00

Pasadena’s restaurant community opens its doors for the second Pasadena Restaurant Week which takes place from Sunday, March 25 through Friday, March 30, 2012.

Presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena Restaurant Week is a citywide event featuring the cuisine of many of Pasadena’s top dining establishments and local favorites. Participating restaurants will offer at least three fixed price dinner and/or lunch menu items for visitors. Dinners will be three-course meals while lunches will be two course meals. Depending on the venue and menu offered, meals will be priced at $26, $35 or $44 for dinner or $15, $20 or $25 for lunch. Some restaurants will offer special meal deals or discounts instead of (or in addition to) prix fixe meals. (Some prices may vary, depending on the venue. Alcoholic beverages, gratuity and tax are not included in the price unless specified by the individual restaurants.)

This year the Pasadena Restaurant Week website has been completely revamped to include portals to help patrons locate restaurants based on location, cuisine and/or price. In addition, visitors to the website will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite restaurants in a variety of categories. Visitors to the website can also sign up to be entered in a drawing to win several prizes that include dinners at participating restaurants, discounts, gift certificates and other fun dining-related experiences. The Pasadena Restaurant Week website can be found at www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

Restaurants that are participating for 2012 include some of Pasadena’s finest eating destinations including 1810 (eighteen ten) Argentinian Restaurant, a/k/a An American Bistro, Bistro 45, Celestino Ristorante, El Cholo, The Counter, El Portal, Japon Bistro, Kings Row Gastropub, Malbec New Argentinean Cuisine, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, The Melting Pot, Noir Food and Wine, Pie ‘n Burger, Pita Jungle, POP Champagne and Dessert Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Terrace at the Langham, Toro Sushi and Vertical Wine Bistro. New Pasadena restaurants taking part include Haven Gastropub, Roxolana and The StillRoom. It is anticipated that more than 40 local dining establishments will take part in Pasadena Restaurant Week.

“The range of restaurants taking part in Pasadena Restaurant Week represents the best dining experiences our city has to offer. It is very exciting to have so many of Pasadena’s favorites on board for Pasadena Restaurant Week and some of our best new restaurants,” said Paul Little, president and chief executive officer of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. “We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm from our restaurateurs who are excited to be able to showcase their extraordinary menus for regular and new visitors during Pasadena Restaurant Week at the end of March.”

Pasadena Restaurant Week is presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, the event’s Platinum Sponsor. The City of Pasadena and Merrill Lynch / Bank of America are Gold Sponsors. The Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau is a silver sponsor. Platinum Media Sponsors are Hometown-Pasadena.com/Prospect Park Books and Pasadena Magazine. Other media sponsors are Outlook Newspapers, Pasadena Independent, Pasadena NOW, Pasadena Star-News/Rose Magazine, Pasadena Weekly and the San Marino Tribune/San Gabriel Valley Edition.

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.

We Are Augustines on Letterman Feb. 24 and at Coachella

2012-02-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn's We Are Augustines are pleased to announce that they will be making their network television debut on The Late Show With David Letterman on Friday, February 24. The band will be performing "Chapel Song," an ode to lost love and the opener to their critically acclaimed debut album, Rise Ye Sunken Ships, an album that was named "Best Alternative Album" for 2011 by iTunes as well as one of NPR Music's "Top Five Concept Albums of the Year."

We Are Augustines are also confirmed as support for Band of Skulls' upcoming North American headline tour. Beginning in Austin, TX, during the SXSW Music Festival on Tuesday, March 13, the tour will extend through April and culminate in a performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, on Thursday, April 12. Shortly after, the band will be performing as part of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 14 and Saturday, April 21. The band is currently touring Europe with London's The Maccabees and are scheduled to perform at HMV's sold out "Next Big Thing" show with Frightened Rabbit in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday, February 10 as well as the NME Awards Show with Cloud Control on Friday, February 17.

In addition to the upcoming tour, We Are Augustines have also been included as part of the Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International compilation. Featuring over 80 artists that include Joan Baez, Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, Jackson Browne, Sting, Adele and many others, We Are Augustines contribute their rendition of "Mama, You Been On My Mind" for the collection that is currently available for purchase in stores and online. Chimes of Freedom is Executive Produced by legendary music executive Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yannatta, who spearheaded Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur - a 2007 collection of John Lennon solo compositions performed by major artists including U2, Green Day, and R.E.M.

We Are Augustines was formed by ex-Pela members Billy McCarthy and Eric Sanderson, and includes Rob Allen on drums. Much of the material on Rise Ye Sunken Ships documents the most traumatic period of lead vocalist/guitarist McCarthy's life in which he lost both his schizophrenic mother and his brother, James, to suicide. "Headlong Into The Abyss" recounts James' flight from the police while "The Instrumental," a transcendent, richly textured piece written by bassist/keyboardist Sanderson, closes out the album on a note of hope, suggesting that struggle can ultimately point the way to peace. As a whole, Rise Ye Sunken Ships represents the culmination of many years of personal struggle and eventual triumph in the completion of a shimmering album that had been floundering about for some time.

We Are Augustines will be performing at the following venues with Band of Skulls throughout March and April. Tour dates below.

MARCH

13 - Austin, TX - Antone's *

14 - Austin, TX - SXSW

15 - Austin, TX - SXSW

16 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's *

17 - Dallas, TX - Grenada Theatre *

19 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *

20 - Nashville, TN - The Cannery Ballroom *

22 - New York, NY - Webster Hall *

23 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *

24 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *

26 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *

27 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *

28 - Providence, RI - The Met *

30 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre *

31 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre *

APRIL

02 - Detroit, MI - St Andrews Hall *

03 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues *

04 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line *

06 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre *

07 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex (Grand Room) *

09 - Seattle, WA - Neptune *

10 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom *

11 - Portland, OR - Dante's *

12 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *

14 - Indio, CA - Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

21 - Indio, CA - Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

* = supporting Band of Skulls

Kid's Night Out in Arcadia Feb. 10

2012-02-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

Kid’s Night Out –

Arcadia Community Center
My Funny Valentine

Friday, February 10th – 6-11pm

Recreation Staff and Volunteers will offer themed games, a movie, a delicious dinner and supervision so mom and dad can have a night on the town or a quiet evening at home. Children must be at least four years of age to attend. All activities will be geared toward elementary school children; anyone younger must be potty trained. The cost is $15.00 per child and also includes snacks and beverages. Registration for Kid’s Night Out can be done on-line, by fax, 626.821.4370 or by coming into the Recreation Office, 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. For more information please call 626.574.5113!

Trace Adkins shares 'Owney' book online

2012-02-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

Owney the dog is a loveable and inspirational figure in mail-service history and a friend to children and visitors to the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum. This historic pooch is now featured in Owney: Tales from the Rails, a new free eBook narrated and performed by country singer Trace Adkins, and available two ways—online and as an Apple iPad app. The animated children’s story brings to life the amazing true adventures of Owney the dog and is now available on the museum’s website www.postalmuseum.si.edu/owneyebook.

The adventures of Owney, a scruffy mutt who became the unofficial Railway Post Office mascot in the 1890s, are narrated through contemporary eyes and based on primary sources with a dash of imagination. Never before has Owney’s story come to life in such an entertaining way, combining narration and a musical soundtrack featuring Adkins. Owney: Tales from the Rails was produced by Amusme, written and directed by accomplished Disney veteran Jerry Rees, complemented by world-class illustrations by Fred Cline and features music written and scored by award-winning children’s entertainment architect Stephen Michael Schwartz, with underscore composed and mixed by Chris Rhyne.

“As a father of five, history buff and animal lover, I am very proud to work with the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum to bring Owney’s fascinating story to life,” said Adkins. “The song and this story provide a fun way for families to learn together.”

The website and iPad versions of the eBook, developed in tandem with the Postal Museum’s new Owney curriculum guide (www.npm.si.edu/owneycurriculum ), provide rich learning platforms for elementary school students in geography, language arts and history. The illustrations and musical elements are particularly valuable to making the story accessible in multisensory ways for students who are challenged in reading.

“This eBook will allow families and classrooms all over the country to discover the story of Owney,” said K. Allison Wickens, director of education at the museum. “It is wonderful to see a book that combines such heart and artistry with historically accuracy. I love the animated illustrations and musical elements; they enrich the narration in ways a print book cannot.”

Owney, who is also the subject of a recently released official commemorative stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, has been preserved and is on display at the museum. His encounters with his mail clerk friends provide an engaging and accessible window on history and the role dogs play in communities and as companions. This is the first of Owney’s published stories that is based on new discoveries in scholarship; recently uncovered articles and tags have shed new light on his relationship with postal clerks and his many destinations. From accounts of his origins to the detail on postal vehicles, uniforms and mailbags, the story conveys historical accuracy as well as emotion.

This project was made possible through the support of the Smithsonian Office of Education and Access.

About Trace Adkins

Adkins is one of country music’s most versatile and accomplished entertainers. His instantly recognizable baritone has earned him 15 Top Ten hits, and he has released gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums with total sales surpassing 10 million. He is an author and was a finalist on NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice. As an actor, he was most recently seen in The Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillipe. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Adkins was raised on country and gospel and is known as a traditionalist who speaks his mind and honors the past. Beginning in March, he will perform intimate shows at theaters across the country on his “Songs & Stories Tour.”

About the National Postal Museum

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website at www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

New First Fridays Jazz Series launched in Venice

2012-02-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Joe’s Restaurant, Abbot Kinney’s original fine dining experience where farmer’s market ingredients meet California-French cuisine in a comfortable neighborhood atmosphere in Venice Beach, is pleased to present a monthly jazz series to coincide with the First Friday’s Art Walks. Mohr Music will present the First Fridays Jazz Series at Joe’s featuring instrumental and vocal artists, internationally recognized players as well as great local talent, signed and unsigned, playing on the heated patio.

The March 2 First Fridays Jazz Series installment kicks off at 7pm with award winning, critically respected pianist Josh Nelson and his trio, with Dan Schnelle on drums and Dave Robaire on bass. They will be joined by a special guest saxophonist in from Brooklyn, Kyle Wilson.

Legendary LA drummer Peter Erskine notes “Josh is that rare young musician who has not only a wealth of study and experience under his belt (all but assuring him a prominent place in jazz music), but he also possesses those rarest of musical attributes: a touch, a tone, and a “sound” that are all identifiably his own.”

Josh Nelson has made an indelible impression on the international jazz scene performing with the most respected names in music, including Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Anthony Wilson, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Ernie Watts, Peter Erskine, Queen Latifah, and many others.

He has recorded five albums: First Stories in 1998 was called "solid and confident musicianship, with an innate sense of swing and rhythm," by Mac McDonald in the Monterey Herald; Anticipation in 2004 was an exploration of original composition; Let it Go in 2007, was a critically acclaimed release on the jazz label Native Language Music; and I Hear a Rhapsody in 2009, displayed Josh’s strong original voice, daring interpretations of standards, and reinventions of rock tunes.

His latest work, Discoveries (2011) showcases original compositions for trio augmented by added winds, voice and guitar was inspired by albums like Herbie Hancock's Speak Like a Child, The Prisoner and Andrew Hill's Point of Departure. Josh's original music draws from a wealth of experience and influences but it is firmly planted in the classic jazz tradition.

His mentors include jazz pianist Cecilia Coleman, Buddy Collette, Bill Cunliffe, Alan Pasqua, Putter Smith, and Benny Green. Josh is the recipient of countless honors, awards, and scholarships including the Louis Armstrong Award, the John Phillip Sousa Award, and he was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.

Dan Schnelle is from New York where he was first exposed to the music of Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Steve Gadd. At USC’s Thornton School of Music, Schnelle was named a Louie Bellson Scholar. After graduating he attended the Henry Mancini Institute and has since toured the US and internationally and has performed at major jazz festivals. Notable collaborators include Josh Nelson, Nick Mancini, Gary Fukushima, Andy Langham, Anthony Wilson, Ben Wendel, Larry Koonse, the Industrial Jazz Group and more.

A Los Angeles native, Dave Robaire attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York while studying with bassist John Patitucci. While in New York, he worked with Dave Glasser, Andy Milne and Dapp Theory, Gilad Hekselman, and Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2009 Dave returned to the West coast and has been a part of the LA Jazz Collective. His has recorded and performed with Josh Nelson, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Alan Ferber, Walter Smith III, Otmaro Ruiz and many others.

Born and raised in Houston, TX, Kyle Wilson started playing saxophone at age 14. After high school, he studied Jazz Performance at the New School University in New York City. He has studied and/or performed with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Cheek, Donny McCaslin, Greg Tardy, Ben Street, Rodney Green, Corey King, and Ben Van Gelder, among others. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and can be seen playing in venues such as Smalls, Jazz Gallery, 55 Bar, and La Lanterna.

Joe's Restaurant is located at 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA 90291. Reservations are made by calling 310-399-5811 and are strongly recommended as patio seating is limited. The music begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm. The artists will play three or four sets. There is no cover charge for the music, but dinner orders are required for table seating. Joe's will give a complimentary glass of wine, with dinner, for 6-7pm reservations. There is valet parking, a paid parking lot, and street parking.

Tony Reed signs deal with Lace Music Products

2012-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

As the early days of 2012 rolled on by, Tony Reed, guitarist for both the heavy hitting, stoner-fied trio, Mos Generator, and the classic rock preservationists, Stone Axe, signed an endorsement deal with Lace Music Products. The good Mr. Reed now joins the likes of Scott “Wino” Weinrich (St. Vitus/Shrinebuilder), Matt Pike (Sleep/High On Fire), David Sullivan (Red Fang), Scott Kelly (Neurosis/Shrinebuilder), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow), Eric Clapton, and a host of others who use the California-based companies pick-ups.

When asked what is was that he liked about the Lace pickups, Tony Reed had this to say, "With the Lace Hemi I can get a full range of tones just running direct into my amp. From a brilliant glassy clean to a very thick and aggressive heavy distorted tone and all I want in between."

Follow the link to watch a short video of Tony Reed demonstrating the Lace Hemi pick-up:
Tony Reed/Lace Demo

Tony Reed’s sound can be heard on numerous recorded projects, most recently, the Mos Generator 10th Anniversary Edition LP/CD, Stone Axe II – Deluxe Edition, and Stone Axe: Captured Live! Roadburn Festival 2011. Stone Axe can also be seen on the road through the UK and Europe in April!

http://www.lacemusic.com/

http://www.ripple-music.com/

Dinosaur Jr. limited LPs to be released on Record Store Day

2012-02-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

On Record Store Day, April 21st, 2012, a limited edition of 500 purple LPs of Electronic Anthology Project Of Dinosaur Jr. will be released with digital, cd and standard vinyl to follow.

Two years ago, Built To Spill bassist and solo artist Brett Nelson decided to put his considerable musical talents up to a bit of a challenge:

"I truly love bands like Talk Talk, Men Without Hats, and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, but I also love bands like Dinosaur Jr., The Replacements, and The Pixies. So what if I merged my two loves together?"

The answer to that question, initially, was the first release by The Electronic Anthology Project, an EP that took seven songs from the Built To Spill catalog and reimagined them as '80s synth pop classics. Utilizing a variety of vintage 80’s synthesizers and drum machines, the project shimmered with an authentic sheen. And rather than rely on the cut-and-paste ease of modern recording software, he records all the melody lines into his computer using as many takes as needed to get it right. "If I can't play it straight all the way through without screwing up," he says, "then it's not used." And the whole experiment was delightfully topped off with newly recorded vocal tracks from BTS front man, Doug Martsch.

Although dismissed by some reviewers as a "goof," Nelson took to the task with great sincerity and the resulting songs bridged the two seemingly separate worlds with bubbly charm and grin-inducing levity.

At the time of the first EAP release, Nelson promised that he would be back with more. And true to his word comes the latest installment in this project: The Electronic Anthology Project of Dinosaur Jr.

To be released on Record Store Day (April 21st, 2012) in a limited edition of 500 purple vinyl copies (with digital, cd and standard vinyl to follow), the new edition of The Electronic Anthology Project takes nine songs from Dinosaur Jr. and brings out the new wave influences that were always hiding among the acid-dripping guitar solos and fervent rhythms.

The blast of "Little Fury Things" (from Dinosaur Jr.'s breakthrough 1987 LP You're Living All Over Me) is given a new life thanks to a throbbing Devo-like pulse. One of the band's most underrated songs from their Sire years, "Feel The Pain," sounds even more wistful when lost in the swell of glistening synth melodies and a knotty bed of programmed beats that would make The Human League proud.

True to form, Nelson called on Dinosaur Jr. leader J. Mascis to record all new vocal tracks for each song here. Wrenched free from the volume and intensity of his band, the heartfelt side of Mascis's lyrics and sober delivery are given the spotlight's full glare and, as a result, shine even brighter.

Lest you think even after two volumes of the Electronic Anthology Project that Nelson is done, he has a long wish list of bands he'd love to make future EAP projects with including the likes of The Pixies and Sebadoh. If the previous two editions of EAP are any indication, they are sure to be eccentric, tuneful, and in heavy rotation on your home stereo.

Jimmy at the Prom lauded for video

2012-02-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

Newly-formed modern rock band Jimmy At The Prom recently returned home to Milwaukee from the NAAM conference and a string of shows in Southern California and to the support of their hometown fans.

The video for the single "Made of Wax" from their self-titled debut self-release is nominated for "Best Video" by Radio Milwaukee listeners in their annual local music awards show taking place at Turner Hall on Tuesday, March 6th.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKkUNwLU28o

The video was shot and edited by Bryan Mir at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee. It features original animation by Dave Kiehl of Harvest Motion Studio and original artwork by Steven Bossler from Green Seed Studios. Simon Bundy co-produced audio for the video along with mixing and mastering at Audiotrailz Studio in Milwaukee.

Jimmy At The Prom counts themselves among a burgeoning underground rock movement that's not afraid of employing a little production on their recordings and insist on turning up the volume levels. Playing well is also important to this band. The audience can be sure that Jimmy At The Prom won't hold anything back from them either. These are all criteria for a proper rock band and that is who Jimmy at Prom is. Their sound leaves heavily towards prog, arena rock and metal. Think Radiohead meets Black Sabbath. It's a sound as recently described by the Onion that “stakes a claim in the hard-rock racket, borrowing liberally from the guitar-god acts of the late ’70s and early ’80s but retaining just enough ’90s revivalism to keep things from getting too retro. It’s an intriguing—if sometimes confounding—mix, and a solid slab of deeply unironic rock ’n’ roll.”

Jimmy at the Prom is James Dahmann Jr.on vocals, Dave Schoepke on drums, Matt Turner on bass and Sean Williamson on guitar.

Jimmy at the Prom - "Made of Wax" http://www.BlankTV.com/
Director/Editor: Bryan Mir for Blend Studios
http://www.blend-studios.com
Animation by Dave Kiehl
http://www.harvest-motion.com
Artwork by Steven Bossler
http://www.greenseedstudios.com

http://www.jimmyattheprom.com
http://twitter.com/jimmyattheprom
http://www.facebook.com/jimmyattheprom

Fredrik releases album and on tour

2012-02-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Swedish electronic trio Fredrik have announced their return to the US behind their forthcoming remix EP, Ornament, out on February 7th with The Kora Records. The West Coast dates follow several appearances at SXSW 2011 and a string of US dates this past summer. Ornament is a collection of remixes from Fredrik's 2011 album FLORA along with the new instrumental track 'Fever and Foam' that was originally intended to close side A of the FLORA vinyl. The EP will include remixes by Portland-based ambient producer Eluvium, quad-city collective Gregor Samsa (MAB III), and Swedish electronica composer Tobias Lilja. With its nods to the great horror movie soundtracks of the 70's, the EP makes a dramatic and colorful addition to the Fredrik catalogue.

When Fredrik released its debut album Na Na Ni the band started as a sextet and since then have morphed into a trio comprised of Fredrik Hultin, Ola Lindefelt, and Anna Moberg. They followed with their acclaimed sophomore release Trilogi and released FLORA last year with NPR noting the sounds "straddle the line between the earth and another world." FLORA was recorded in their ramshackle garden studio and marks a departure from the wintry moods of the band's first two outings. Edited by Ola Lindefelt, Fredrik's full-length video stream of FLORA reached over 250,000 hits on YouTube.

Fredrik has debuted the new Eluvium remix of "Inventress of Ill (and Everything)," a new single from the Ornament remix EP, out today with The Kora Records. The Ornament EP features remixes from Portland-based ambient producer Eluvium, quad-city collective Gregor Samsa (MAB III), and Swedish electronica composer Tobias Lilja. With its nods to the great horror movie soundtracks of the 70's, the new release makes a dramatic and colorful addition to the Fredrik catalogue. After several appearances at SXSW 2011 and a string of US dates this past summer, the band is preparing to return to the US for a special set of California shows.

Fredrik in Concert

2/12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Bootleg Theater
2/13 - Los Angeles, CA - Cafe Hotel
2/15 - Berkeley, CA - Subterranean Art House
2/16 - San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern

Ornament Tracklisting

1. Fever and Foam

2. Inventress of Ill (and Everything) (Eluvium Remix)

3. Rites of Spring (Tobias Lilja Remix)

4. Shape and Colour of Things Gone Blind (MAB III Remix)

For more info, please visit:
http://twitter.com/fredriktheband
http://www.myspace.com/fredriktheband
http://www.thekorarecords.com/artists/fredrik/

Ellington to be honored in Cerritos March 21

2012-02-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Rob Kapilow’s What Makes It Great?
ELLINGTON – Such Sweet Thunder
Featuring Cal State Fullerton Jazz Ensemble

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

Date: Wednesday, March 21, 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.

Unison to release album in U.S.

2012-02-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

“Brothers & Sisters” is the first single and video from the upcoming US release from UNISON.

[SOUNDCLOUD]: http://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/unison-brothers-sisters

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/unison/mp3/unison-brothersandsisters.mp3

[VIDEO]: http://vimeo.com/28340458

The French record label Lentonia, which has previously issued records by the French duo UNISON in Europe, recently signed a US distribution deal and has now marked April 10th, 2012 as the release date of the debut self-titled album by UNISON in America.

The album is full of uncompromising, dark, layered sounds that have been variously categorized as “Death-gaze,” “Death-trance,” and a weird combination of the better known “Crunk” and “Shoegaze” genres. UNISON members Julien Camarena and Melanie Moran are actually recognized in their home base of France as leaders of what is now known as the “Witch House” movement.

More specifically, UNISON has been referred to as a French version of the Midwestern band Salem, about which Moran comments, “If it is the case, this is very flattering because we adore this band. Like them, our identity is situated somewhere between the countryside and the city and that brings out a special way of perceiving things.”

It is this special perception, and European press from Les Inrockuptibles, Elegy, Standard, Noise, Start Up, Modzik and dozens of blogs that is drawing fans to UNISON’s music in the US, even without having a proper album release or promotion here.

“We have to make music,” says Moran. “It’s a vital need. We need to create and to find a way to share our feelings, even if no one cares. We want our music to be sensual, dark, noisy, melodic, and plain loud. Very loud.”

The debut self-titled album by France’s UNISON will be released by Lentonia Records in the US on April 10th, 2012 preceded by the lead single and video “Brothers & Sisters”.

Melanie Moran and Julien Camarena of UNISON are available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

UNISON

S/T

(Lentonia – April 10th, 2012)

Track Listing:

01. BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD

02. Heartcore

03. Harmless

04: OMER

05. Lost Generation

06. Brothers & Sisters

07. OUTSIDE

08. Arp Quad Rollerskate

09. DARKNESS

10. Intimacy

11. First Degree

12. Put Your Hands In The Air

Children's author Sanjay Nambiar in Santa Monica Feb. 18

2012-02-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Meet, read, listen and do crafts with Sanjay Nambiar, children’s author and creator of the acclaimed book and Mom’s Choice Award Winner, “Maybe (A Little Zen for Little Ones)”.

Based on an ancient and beloved Zen fable, “Maybe (A Little Zen for Little Ones)” is about a wise girl who experiences a series of events that at first seem lucky (or unlucky) but then turn out to be quite the opposite. A bike disappears, but then she gets a new one. She hurts herself, but then she enjoys a nice day at home. For each incident, was what happened good luck? Maybe. Was it bad luck? Maybe. Or, perhaps the girl simply does not get caught up in the emotion of the moment, because she can never know what that event might lead to, good or bad . . . Learn more at http://www.alittlezen.com.

WHERE: Barnes & Noble 1201 3rd Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-260-9110

WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

TICKETS: Free. And cookies will be served!

INFO: To learn more about this event, please visit
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3151042-7.

To learn more about the book, please visit
http://www.alittlezen.com.

The Beach Boys to reunite for Grammy performance

2012-02-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Beach Boys — Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks, who have not performed together live in more than two decades — will reunite on the GRAMMY® stage and join with current GRAMMY nominees Foster The People and Maroon 5 for a special performance; and current nominees The Civil Wars, two-time GRAMMY winner Diana Krall, funk artist Maceo Parker, and six-time GRAMMY winner Joe Walsh have been added to the stellar lineup for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com ).

Two-time GRAMMY winner Common, actor Taraji P. Henson, two-time GRAMMY winner Reba McEntire, and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Diana Ross will appear as presenters. Music's Biggest Night® — hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J — 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 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.

The Civil Wars and Foster The People each have two nominations. The Civil Wars are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Barton Hollow" and Best Folk Album for Barton Hollow. Foster The People have nods in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Pumped Up Kicks" and Best Alternative Music Album for Torches.

Three-time GRAMMY winners Maroon 5 are nominated in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Moves Like Jagger" (with Christina Aguilera).

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood; Chris Brown; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; deadmau5; Foo Fighters; David Guetta; Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt; Lil Wayne; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, The Civil Wars, deadmau5, Foster The People, Guetta, Minaj, Parker and Shelton will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time. Previously announced presenters are Marc Anthony, Dierks Bentley, Jack Black, Drake, Fergie, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ryan Seacrest, Ringo Starr, and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson. LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and this is his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.

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.

Electric Touch in Anaheim Feb. 22

2012-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

Who: Island Records Recording Artists Electric Touch

What: Austin, Texas’ hometown favorites Electric Touch, who have made true believers of last year’s audiences at the SXSW, Lollapalooza, Warped, Coachella, the Austin City Limits festivals, and CMJ Music Marathon in New York – started their 2012 on the road with Evanescence, followed by a major North American tour supporting AMA’s Best New Artist Hot Chelle Rae on February 14th at Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado, and are gaining momentum at radio with “Don’t Stop”, the first single from their debut album NEVER LOOK BACK, set for a March 20th release on Island Records.

When: February 22, 2012

Where: House of Blues in Anaheim, CA

About Electric Touch:

Nottingham, England’s Shane Lawlor (lead vocals), Texas-born Christopher Leigh (guitar) and his fraternal twin brother Louis Messina, Jr. (drums), and newest members Isaac Strycker (guitar, keyboards and vocals), and Portland Musser (bass and vocals) – won thousands of hometown fans with their opening day performance at September’s Austin City Limits Festival 2011. They “provided ACL goers with a good dose of energy and an arena-sized sound they won’t soon forget,” raved the Austin Post.

The five-man Anglo-American band combines the rock passions of its British and American bandmates. They call their music “Tales of Ordinary Life in Glorious Technicolor,” and the garage-rock pulse of “Don’t Stop” sets the pace, a ferocious push-pull of sex and romance, from the highest highs of ecstatic union to the lowest lows of heartbreak.

Watch Now: Electric Touch “Don’t Stop” on www.VEVO.com

www.electrictouch.com

Full HOuse in Whittier Feb. 11

2012-02-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Saturday Feb. 11th @ Animal Crackers

15646 Leffingwell Road

Doug's Birthday Bash !!
Whittier, CA 90604-3313
(562) 943-0749

9pm - close free !!

Saturday March 10th @ Animal Crackers

15646 Leffingwell Road

Doug's Birthday Bash !!
Whittier, CA 90604-3313
(562) 943-0749

9pm - close free !!

Friday March 16th 9pm - close

The Return of Full House !!

@ The Rude Dog in Covina

114. North Citrus ave

Covina

That’s all for now hope to see ya at the shows

www.123drink.com

Facebook – Full House Rocks

Flood art event in Long Beach March 31

2012-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Over the course of the last eight years, during which FLOOD has worked
with the Long Beach Arts District in mounting the annual SoundWalk
event, it has become apparent that there is not only an openness to
creative experimentation, but there is also strong desire for
self-expression among the business owners and residential
organizations who have partnered with FLOOD by graciously providing
spaces and venues to SoundWalk artists.

With an approach to curation that has as much to do with collaborative
performance as it does exhibition, we as FLOOD seek to mobilize
diverse groups of individuals to create artwork that is innovative and
culturally relevant.

As a result, in 2012, FLOOD is launching a trio of events entitled
MERGE
. This will be an exercise in communal curation merging creative
individuals with the Arts District's business and residential
communities. In each of these events, business owners and residential
organizations will present artists whom they find relevant. These
artists will be juxtaposed and, at times, engaging with artists
selected by FLOOD. In what will be an evening highlighting a diversity
of interplayful sensibilities, visitors will find themselves within an
expressive city space, shifting with fluid aesthetic interactions and
energized by creative tension.

WHAT: Merge 2011 Part 1, A one-night event of video projection, sound
installations, performance art, theater, music and more by local
artists. Parts 2 & 3 are scheduled take place on June 2nd and December
1st.

WHERE: Throughout the area encompassed by 4th St, Linden Ave, First
Street and Elm Ave.

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 5 - 10 pm

ADMISSION: Free

PARKING: Metered parking is available on the street; additional
parking is also available in the parking lot at the NE corner of
Broadway and Elm Ave

**About FLOOD**

The artist group, FLOOD has been working together on installation
projects since 2002. FLOOD is interested in testing the limits of
artistic expression through collaboration and experimentation within a
variety of artistic genres. Current members of FLOOD are Kamran
Assadi, Frauke von der Horst, Shelley RuggThorp, Nick Dynice and Marco
Schindelmann.

Lindy Groove dance Thursdays in Pasadena

2012-02-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

LindyGroove Valentine's Ball Tomorrow February 9th

Tomorrow Februrary 9th 2012
LindyGroove Valentine's Ball
10 minute Speed Dating Jack & Jill (with all new bonus rounds)
Guest DJ Hillary Alexander (Los Angeles)
Guest DJ Kristin Buxton (Los Angeles)
DJ Vicky Chan (Los Angeles)
Cover Only $8.00

Lindy Hop Lessons:
Beginning Lindy with Jasmine Cheung & Sam Chan 7:30 to 8:30
Intermediate Lindy with Lisa Wade & Steve Sayer 7:30 to 8:30
Advanced Intensive (Audition required) with Debbie Gitt and Patrick Fredrickson
Lindy Techniques with Neil Figuracion

LindyGroove Birthdays:
Barbara Yeh
Darrin Martin
Doris Leung
Elizabeth Keagy
Eric Eltringham
Jessica Rose
Kim Weissman
Laura Stella
Michael Wolfe
Pamela Tuttle
Zarathustra Aquarian

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

Bauhaus events at the Getty Feb. 16 and 25

2012-02-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

This February, the Getty presents a lecture and performance that spotlight Bauhaus, the German school that changed the face of art education by integrating art, craft, and technology with everyday life. Complementing the exhibition Lyonel Feininger: Photographs, 1928–1939, which includes photographs by Bauhaus master Lyonel Feininger and students, these events offer a closer look at the philosophy, instructors, students and creations that came from this innovative school.

On Thursday, February 16, Niklas Maak, a critic and editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and author of Le Corbusier: The Architect on the Beach, reconsiders Bauhaus culture, viewing it as an approach rather than style, with relevance for today. He brings Bauhaus to life as much more than merely a historical period seen as rational and without frills, and discusses the artistic relationships and activities that made the movement so special. Maak gives the audience much more to think about than the design of a teapot or chair—he will demonstrate that Bauhaus, rather than a stylistic category, is a way of life that emphasizes collective creativity.

Then, on Saturday, February 25, the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra will showcase its internationally renowned programming and vast repertoire. Under the direction of conductor Daniel Spalding, the 17-member ensemble presents a robust program of music from the Bauhaus period, including works by Igor Stravinsky, Ernst Krenek, Ferruccio Busoni, Arnold Schoenberg, and George Antheil.

Although music was never formally added to Bauhaus curriculum, the creators of music, art and architecture collaborated closely and informed each other’s work, and performances by the Bauhauskapelle (Bauhaus Orchestra) explored an avant-garde repertoire. The Philadelphia Virtuosi will present a musical program of orchestral rarities that not only reflect the period, but also the spirit of Bauhaus.

Bauhaus Reconsidered: When Collectivity Becomes Form

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center
Admission: Free; reservations recommended. Call (310) 440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.

Gordon Getty Concert: Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Getty Center, Harold M. Williams Auditorium
Admission: Tickets $20; students/seniors $15. Call (310) 440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.

Lyonel Feininger: Photographs, 1928–1939 is on view at the Getty Center through

March 11, 2012.

Visiting the Getty Center

The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Monday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. Parking is $15 per car, but reduced to $10 after 5pm on Saturdays and for evening events throughout the week. No reservation is required for parking or general admission. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Please call (310) 440-7300 (English or Spanish) for reservations and information. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired is (310) 440-7305. The Getty Center is at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California

Pacific Asia Museum announces spring & summer shows

2012-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Pacific Asia Museum is pleased to announce its exhibitions for the spring and summer of 2012. The exhibitions Kimono in the 20th Century, Gajin Fujita: Ukiyo-e in Contemporary Painting and Masterpieces of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi all explore the roots of modernism in Japan. From printmaker Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's innovative prints of the 19th century, to the dramatic kimono of the mid-20th century, to Gajin Fujita's unique blend of traditional and street art, these exhibitions bring together a variety of objects reflecting new ideas in a changing world.

Kimono in the 20th Century

March 30, 2012 through March 10, 2013
Frank and Toshie Mosher Gallery of Japanese Art

The 20th century in Japan was a time of economic prosperity and cultural expansion. Elements of Art Nouveau and Art Deco brought new dimensions to traditional Japanese art and design, including fashion. Pieces in Kimono in the 20th Century examine these changing styles and fabrics, demonstrating a strong sense of the wearer's taste, the modes of contemporary fashion, or requirements of the season in which the kimono was worn. Kimono in the exhibition include formal styles, children's clothing, undergarments and light summer wear as well as a gift in 2008 from the June Tsukamoto-Lyon collection, which provided breadth and further quality to Pacific Asia Museum's already substantial collection. Guest-curated by Hollis Goodall, Curator of Japanese Art at LACMA.

Gajin Fujita: Ukiyo-e in Contemporary Painting
April 20 through October 7, 2012
Focus Gallery

Gajin Fujita (born 1972) is a Japanese American artist whose work combines elements of traditional Japanese ukiyo-e art with contemporary American street art and Pop art, among other influences. A native of Los Angeles, Fujita has been steadily gaining international recognition since his first solo gallery exhibition a decade ago. The exhibition at Pacific Asia Museum will be his first solo museum exhibition on the west coast, and is timed to coincide with Masterpieces of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi as Fujita's work shares many interesting parallels with the work of the earlier master concerning compositional approaches, the struggle of man in nature, attention to finished surfaces of the work, and a featuring of Japanese folklore and tales of valor and the supernatural.

Masterpieces of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
May 18 through August 12, 2012
Changing Exhibition Galleries
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) is perhaps the most important Japanese print artist of the late 19th century. Yoshitoshi lived at a time when Japan was just opening to the outside world and experiencing major political, social and economic changes. His prints often depict well-known stories from Japanese history and legend but present them in highly original, sometimes shocking compositions that exhibit a range of influences. This exhibition features approximately 130 of Yoshitoshi's prints and drawings, representing the full span of his artistic career. The prints come from a private Las Vegas collection as well as the Pacific Asia Museum collection and offer a rare opportunity to understand an artist whose influence on Japanese graphic art and design continues to this day.

About Pacific Asia Museum

Pacific Asia Museum is among the few institutions in the United States dedicated exclusively to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The museum's mission is to further intercultural understanding through the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Since 1971, Pacific Asia Museum has served a broad audience of students, families, adults, and scholars through its education and outreach programs.

Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is $9 general, $7 students/seniors, and free for museum members and children under 12. Admission is free every 4th Friday of the month.

For more information visit www.pacificasiamuseum.org or call (626) 449-2742.

Hollow Earth signs with Panic Records

2012-02-08T10:02:00.001-08:00

Hollow Earth Signs with Panic Records

We Are Not Humanity to Be Released April 17th

Hollow Earth was a thought between members Mike Moynihan (Guitar) Steve Muczynski (Vocals) and Aaron Goodrich (Drums) during their stint of touring with legendary hardcore band Shai Hulud during November 2010.

One year later, almost to the date, the three friends decided to take that thought more seriously. Rearranging their lives so they would be in the same location in Michigan, the members moved in together and put things in motion to become a real band. Their objective with Hollow Earth was to write sincere music and begin touring as much as possible.

Quickly recruiting Dave Giandiletti (Guitar) and Jake Hicks (Bass) to complete the line up they wrote a six song EP entitled "We Are Not Humanity" within the two and half months of their inception and headed off to record at Getaway Group in Massachusetts with Jay Maas (Defeater, Verse, Shipwreck).

On "We Are Not Humanity", Hollow Earth draws on the influence of legendary bands like Turmoil and Buried Alive, capturing the energy and anger of hardcore that has been lost on so many new bands. Hollow Earth's lyrics are dark with thought provoking premonitions that paint a picture of impending doom that threatens the human existence. Riding into our demise, there's no turning back, the decimation of our world is eminent and Hollow Earth is the perfect soundtrack to play us out. "We Are Not Humanity" will be released on April 17th, 2012 through Panic Records on CD, Vinyl and Digital formats.

Listen to two new songs from "We Are Not Humanity" now on Hollow Earth’s Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/hollowearthinc

www.panicrecords.net

Moving Mountains to release EP

2012-02-08T10:01:00.001-08:00

Westchester, New York ambient indie rockers Moving Mountains will release the New Light EP on April 24, both digitally and on vinyl, via Triple Crown Records. The EP consists of acoustic and re-interpreted versions of songs that originally appeared on the band’s breakthrough 2011 LP Waves and their 2007 debut Pneuma.

Singer/guitarist Greg Dunn says, "We knew we wanted to try something different, but didn't want to explore those options on a new full length, or new songs. The majority of demos we had written for Waves were actually acoustic, and took on a new life when introduced in the studio (and at practice.) This EP allowed us to re-approach songs that were initially envisioned differently, as well as give us an opportunity to try new things."

Moving Mountains have also announced a string of headline dates beginning March 16 in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets for the shows will be available for pre-sale starting February 8 at 12PM EST at http://www.soundrink.com/collections/moving-mountains. See dates below.

New Light EP Track Listing:

1. Alleviate

2. Ode We Will Bury Ourselves

3. Where Two Bodies Lie

4. 8105

Tour Dates:

March 16- Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory – Brooklyn (with Prawn, This Old Ghost, Gameday Regulars)

March 18- Stanhope, NJ- Stanhope House (with Athletics, Gates)

March 23- Cambridge, MA- TT The Bears (with Ghost Thrower)

March 24- Danbury, CT- Heirloom Arts Theatre

www.facebook.com/MovingMountains

http://triplecrownrecords.com

Upcoming concerts from Live Nation week of Feb. 8

2012-02-08T10:00:00.001-08:00

Live Nation So-Cal Events Calendar – February 7, 2012

NEW ON SALES:

On Sale Monday February 13 at 10 AM:
MADONNA

Staples Center

October 10

Another Performance Just Added By Demand!

3rd Area Show On Sale Saturday February 11 at 10 AM:

VAN HALEN

With Special Guest: Kool & The Gang

Staples Center – June 1

Staples Center – June 9 Just Added!

Honda Center – June 12

On Sale Sunday February 12 at 10 AM:

Songs Of A Lifetime -- An Intimate Evening With

GREG LAKE

Featuring Selections from Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson

Plus Stories and Q&A

Orpheum Theatre

Friday - May 18

JUST ADDED:

Final Lineup Revealed! New Performers Announced!

On Sale Now:

CYPRESS HILL SMOKEOUT FESTIVAL 2012

Performing Live:

SUBLIME with ROME

KORN

CYPRESS HILL

WIZ KHALIFA

CAFÉ TACUBA

WOLFGANG GARTNER – Just Added!

MSTRKFT – Just Added!

RUSKO

MOBB DEEP – Just Added!

LOW END THEORY (Daddy Kev, Nobody, Gaslamp Killer, D-Styles, Nocando)

THE DIRTY HEADS

CURREN$Y

NIPSEY HUSSLE – Just Added!

DJ MUGGS– Just Added!

DAEDELUS

DANNY BROWN – Just Added!

SCHOOLBOY Q – Just Added!

RITMO MACHINE – Just Added!

FASHAWN – Just Added!

Plus Surprise Performances! Over 20 Acts on 3 Stages

NOS Events Center

Saturday - March 3

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

Grammys pre-telecast to be streamed live Feb. 12

2012-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

The 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally at www.grammy.com/live and www.cbs.com beginning at 1 p.m. PT.

Attended by nominees and industry VIPs, the star-studded ceremony with be co-hosted by current GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz and Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter President and rapper MC Lyte. The pre-telecast will feature performances by current nominees Kim Burrell, Le'Andria Johnson, Kelly Price, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 in a "Ladies of Gospel" segment as well as current nominees mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, singer/songwriter Steve Earle and New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band.

Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the night in 68 categories will be current nominees Gerald Clayton, Chick Corea, Brandon Heath, Arturo O'Farrill, OK Go, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Esperanza Spalding as well as GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam.

The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event. Following the ceremony, the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m ET/PT. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®'s social networks on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/thegrammys and www.twitter.com/thegrammys.

Co-host Koz is nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Hello Tomorrow.

Performers Burrell, Earle, Johnson, Rebirth Brass Band, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 each have one nod: Burrell for Best Gospel Album for The Love Album; Earle for Best Folk Album for I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive; Johnson for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for "Jesus"; Rebirth Brass Band for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Rebirth Of New Orleans; and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 for Best Gospel Album for Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition. DiDonato has two nominations for Best Opera Recording for Vivaldi: Ercole Sul Termodonte and Best Classical Vocal Solo for "Diva Divo." Price has three nods for Best R&B Performance (with Stokley) and Best R&B song for "Not My Daddy" and Best R&B Album for Kelly.

Presenters Clayton, O'Farrill, OK Go, Rae, and Spalding each have one nomination: Clayton for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Bond: The Paris Sessions; O'Farrill for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for 40 Acres And A Burro; OK Go for Best Short Form Music Video for "All Is Not Lost"; Rae for Best R&B Performance for "Is This Love"; and Spalding for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Bird Songs (with Joe Lovano/Us Five). Corea has two nominations for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "500 Miles High," and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Forever (with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White). Heath has three nominations for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for "Your Love," and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Leaving Eden.

ESPN's 'Who's Next' competition continues

2012-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

The ESPN “Who’s Next” music competition is heating up! ESPN is working with digital music site, OURSTAGE.COM and their premium artists on a competition timed to the NCAA 2012 basketball games. Two bands compete against each other each Saturday from January 21 to February 18 with four bands receiving a first-round bye as voted on by fans on Facebook.

The final head-to-head tournaments will begin the week of February 20 with the winning band unveiled on Saturday, March 3. The winning band’s music will be used as a part of ESPN’s Championship Week Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods coverage, which is viewed by millions.
WEEK ONE

2nd Half "Got it Made" (OH) vs. Thank You & Good Night "Remember Me" (IN)

2nd Half: http://www.ourstage.com/2ndHALF

TY&GN: http://www.ourstage.com/tyagmusic

WEEK TWO

Parachute Musical "Hometown" (TN) vs. Viv and the Revival "Fire" (PA)

Parachute Musical: http://www.ourstage.com/parachutemusical

Viv and the Revival: http://www.ourstage.com/profile/vivpeyrat

WEEK THREE

The Electra Color "Anthem for the Underdogs" (WI) vs. Monty Are I "One In A Million" (RI)

The Electra Color: http://www.ourstage.com/TheElectraColor

Monty Are I: http://www.ourstage.com/profile/montyarei

WEEK FOUR

The Rocturnals: http://www.ourstage.com/profile/therocturnals

Gravity: http://www.ourstage.com/profile/curegravity

ESPN College Basketball Asks Fans “Who’s Next” on the Music Scene

Many musical artists build their fan base in the local community or on a college campus before hitting the mainstream. Beginning Saturday, Jan. 21, ESPN will showcase music from 12 artists in select men’s college basketball telecasts and give the fans the opportunity to determine the next band that should garner a national following.

The “Who’s Next” project will feature a bracket tournament format with the winning band unveiled on Saturday, March 3. The field and matchups will be determined over five Saturdays from January 21 to February 18 with four bands receiving a first-round bye as voted on by the fans. The head-to-head tournament will begin the week of February 20 with the opening round between eight bands followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship throughout the week of February 27. The winning band’s music will be used as a part of ESPN’s Championship Week Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods coverage.

Each of the participating 12 bands will record a remix of ESPN’s college basketball theme song and provide one of their original songs for use in a selected game telecast. The remixed theme song will be used when the game goes to and comes from commercial breaks during the telecast while the original music will be used as the soundtrack of a halftime highlights package.

The first four Saturdays will feature two bands a day on different telecasts with fans voting on the four bands that will receive the first-round bye. As part of its BracketBusters coverage on Saturday, Feb. 18, ESPN will showcase four additional bands that will be in the opening round of the tournament. Each of the bands will originate from the home state of the host team of that game telecast.

ESPN worked with Ourstage.com – a leading destination for music listening, discovery, and quality editorial content – to secure the bands for participation and handle the voting. Fans will vote on the artists’ original song by logging onto the ESPN Home Court Facebook page and can learn more about the bands at www.espn.com/music.

'Travelling Light' in La Mirada Feb. 19

2012-02-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents the fourth High Definition screening of this season’s National Theatre Live series, TRAVELLING LIGHT, written by Nicholas Wright and directed by National Theatre’s Nicholas Hytner on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 at 2pm at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

"How had a twenty-two-year–old pretentious layabout made a discovery that would elude every other cinematic pioneer for years to come?"

In a remote village in Eastern Europe, around 1900, the young Motl Mendl is entranced by the flickering silent images on his father’s cinematograph. Bankrolled by Jacob, the ebullient local timber merchant, and inspired by Anna, the girl sent to help him make moving pictures of their village, he stumbles on a revolutionary way of story-telling. Forty years on, Motl – now a famed American film director – looks back on his early life and confronts the cost of fulfilling his dreams.

"I know it was in the picture. I made the picture and now the cow’s getting paid and I’m not!"

Following Vincent in Brixton and The Reporter, Nicholas Wright’s new play is a funny and fascinating tribute to the Eastern European immigrants who became major players in Hollywood’s golden age. The award-winning Antony Sher – whose previous work with the National Theatre includes Primo and Stanley – returns to play Jacob.

The cast of TRAVELLING LIGHT includes Mark Extance, Colin Haigh, Paul Jesson, Sue Kelvin, Abigail McKern, Damien Molony, Lauren O’Neil. Antony Sher, Karl Theobald and Alexis Zegerman.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE performances are filmed live in high definition and broadcast via satellite to over 700 cinemas around the world, live in Europe and time delayed in the US and Canada, and delayed screenings in countries further afield. There are over 120 venues in the UK alongside venues in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, India, Scandinavia and Europe. The performances at the National are nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE is presented in partnership with Aviva.

NT LIVE SEASON WILL ALSO INCLUDE:

TRAVELLING LIGHT – Sunday, February 19, 2012 – 2pm

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – Sunday, March 18, 2012 – 2pm

ABOUT TICKETS AND PRICING

Single tickets to this extraordinary event are $15 -$20 and are available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310 or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com. Student, Senior, Children and Group discounts are available.

Same Day Screening Bundle - Save $5 on Leonardo Live at 11am!
Save $5 on Leonardo Live tickets when you purchase Travelling Light tickets. Call the Box Office for details.

LEONARDO LIVE offers an unprecedented opportunity for audiences worldwide to experience these da Vinci works. The historic exhibition is sold out in London and, due to the fragility of the paintings, the exhibition cannot tour. Captured live on the eve of the exhibition opening in London this fall, LEONARDO LIVE will provide a high-definition walk-through of the landmark exhibition, in-depth commentary about featured pieces in the exhibit and extra content.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.

Celebrity photography exhibit at the Getty April 3

2012-02-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

Portraits of Renown: Photography and the Cult of Celebrity, on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center, April 3–August 26, 2012, surveys some of the visual strategies used by photographers to picture famous individuals from the 1840s to the year 2000.

“This exhibition offers a brief visual history of famous people in photographs, drawn entirely from the Museum’s rich holdings in this genre,” says Paul Martineau, curator of the exhibition and associate curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. “It also provides a broad historical context for the work in the concurrent exhibition Herb Ritts: L.A. Style, which includes a selection of Ritts’s best celebrity portraits.”

Photography's remarkable propensity to shape identities has made it the leading vehicle for representing the famous. Soon after photography was invented in the 1830s, it was used to capture the likenesses and accomplishments of great men and women, gradually supplanting other forms of commemoration. In the twentieth century, the proliferation of photography and the transformative power of fame have helped to accelerate the desire for photographs of celebrities in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and on the Internet. The exhibition is arranged chronologically to help make visible some of the overarching technical and stylistic developments in photography from the first decade of its invention to the end of the twentieth century.

A wide range of historical figures are portrayed in Portraits of Renown. A photograph by Alexander Gardner of President Lincoln documents his visit to the battlefield of Antietam during the Civil War. Captured by Nadar, a portrait of Alexander Dumas, best known for his novels The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, shows the author with an energetic expression, illustrating the lively personality that made his writing so popular. Baron Adolf De Meyer’s portrait of Josephine Baker, an American performer who became an international sensation at the Folies Bergère in Paris, showcases her comedic charm, a trait that proved central to her popularity as a performer. An iconic portrait of the silent screen actress, Gloria Swanson, created by Edward Steichen for Vanity Fair reveals both the intensity of its sitter and the skill of the artist. A picture of Pablo Picasso by his friend Man Ray portrays the master of Cubism with a penetrating gaze.

Yves St. Laurent, Andy Warhol, and Grace Jones are among the contemporary figures included in the exhibition. Fashion designer Yves St. Laurent was photographed by Marie Cosindas using instant color film by Polaroid. The photograph, made the year his first boutique in New York opened, graced the walls of the store for ten years. A Cosindas portrait of Andy Warhol shows the artist wearing dark sunglasses, which partially conceal his face. Warhol, who was fascinated by celebrity, delighted in posing public personalities like Grace Jones for his camera.

RELATED EXHIBITION
Herb Ritts: L.A. Style
April 3–August 26, 2012
Herb Ritts (American, 1952–2002) was a Los Angeles-based photographer who established an international reputation for his distinctive photographs of fashion models, nudes, and celebrities. From the late 1970s until his untimely death from AIDS in 2002, Ritts's ability to create photographs that successfully bridged the gap between art and commerce was not only a testament to the power of his imagination and technical skill but also marked the synergy between art, popular culture, and business that followed in the wake of the Pop Art movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This exhibition features a selection of Ritts's vintage prints, magazine covers, Polaroids, and commercial video projects.

Visiting the Getty Center

The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Monday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. Parking is $15 per car, but reduced to $10 after 5pm on Saturdays and for evening events throughout the week. No reservation is required for parking or general admission. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Please call (310) 440-7300 (English or Spanish) for reservations and information. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired is (310) 440-7305. The Getty Center is at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California

Additional information is available at www.getty.edu.

Upcoming concerts from Nederlander week of Feb. 81

2012-02-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

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

ARLINGTON THEATRE, SANTA BARBARA

KEVIN JAMES & RAY ROMANO

ON SALE Sat., Feb 11 @ 10:00 AM

SHOW DATE Mar 20 @ 8:00 PM

TICKET PRICES $64.00 / $53.00 / $43.00

SANTA BARBARA BOWL

Bon Iver

Plus special guest All Tiny Creatures

ON SALE Sat., Feb 11 @ 10:00 AM

SHOW DATE April 22 @ 7:00 PM

TICKET PRICES $47.00 / $30.00

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

ON SALE NOW

SHOW DATE Fri., April 27 @ 7:30 PM

TICKET PRICES: $100.00 / $67.00

Freshkills to release album

2012-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Raise Up The Sheets Out March 13th On Bat Rabies Alert / The End Records

Freshkills is a Brooklyn-based five piece as poisoned and poisonous as the famed landfill from which they take their name. No, they didn’t form a couple months ago, following their glo-fi dreams from Ohio to Bushwick. They’ve slung bitter, prickling riffs, sinewy grooves and basement punk poetics since the rebirth of Lower East Side rock and the critically-endorsed coronation of Julian, Carlos and Karen O.

Freshkills’ first self-released EP Here For the Backlash was a sharp stick in the eye for snarkier-than-thou internet hype mongers. The band built a tight local following on the backs of two LPs (2006’s Creeps and Lovers produced with Joel Hamilton, 2008’s Freshkills with Alex Newport) and a notorious live show reminiscent of when rock ’n’ roll was the most confrontational art form around. Singer Zachary Lipez doesn’t carve his arms with broken bottles of Bud or assault the audience with his mic stand. He breaks down that fourth wall psychologically, whether it means stopping dead in his tracks and staring down the front row, or shouting out friends and foes by name.

For their latest offering, Raise Up The Sheets, Freshkills tapped ‘elegant degenerate’ Jim Sclavunos, the No Wave icon who performed with Sonic Youth, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and the Cramps before hopping behind the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ drum kit. Sclavunos: “Freshkills inhabit a dark but thrilling underworld in which relentless machine-like rhythmic intensity hammers ear-anvils at the bidding of wryly louche after-hours philosophy. They’re the visceral embodiment of power and poetry.”

Raise Up The Sheets attacks on every front like a pandemic. The songs are prettier, darker, more concise and more expansive. Lipez is wounded and acerbic, the rhythm section both tight and monstrous with military precision and vulgar swing, the twin guitars frantic, chaotic and dangerous as a sharpened screwdriver. The whole band sounds like they’ve been cornered and will have to fight their way out. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, but either way, it’ll be worth watching.

Freshkills has toured the US and UK, sharing the stage with acts like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sleigh Bells, TV On The Radio, …Trail of Dead and Mission of Burma.

Tracklisting 1. Raise Up The Sheets
2. Why Are You So Unforgiving?
3. The Child We Almost Had
4. Frankie & Johnny
5. Positive Vibes
6. Wolves That Raised You
7. Hotels
8. Bigger Man
9. Try To Be Kind
10. New Folksongs For New Buildings

Monrovia art gallery celebrates book release

2012-02-08T09:44:00.001-08:00

IT WAS A JOYFUL EXPERIENCE TO CELEBRATE THE BOOK OF AWAKENING IN OUR SCENIC DRIVE GALLERY.

THANKS TO POETS ON SITE FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE.

The gathering of like minded people, with the surrounding of visual art and poetry, and delicious food and drinks, created a wonderful atmosphere and time.

Thank you all of you who came to be with us , although super ball was at the same time on Sunday, February 5.
I get great responses from people who bought the book with art and poetry.

Those of you who would be interested to purchase the book , Please contact the Editor Kathabela Wilson at kaw@oldflutes.com

Also, Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in regard to the book.
Looking forward to welcome you next time at an other exciting event.

Susan and Endre Dobay
www.scenicdrivegallery.com

Jesse Leach returns to Killswitch Engage

2012-02-08T09:40:00.001-08:00

Killswitch Engage are pleased to announce that they have filled the singer vacancy in the band and they have done so with a familiar face: original vocalist Jesse Leach.

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut Alive or Just Breathing. Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on Alive or Just Breathing has always been revered by diehard, longtime KsE fans. Things have come full circle a decade later, and Leach and the band couldn't be more pleased about this reunion.

The band revealed that Leach auditioned for the job he once held and pretty much blew everyone away and then some. The band stated, "After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity."

The band further said, "Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."

The band also is psyched to share the news with fans, saying, "This change is very exciting. We know you're going to love it. This is truly a new era in KsE history and it is ready to shred your face off. So, please help us in welcoming Jesse back into the KsE family; he is a rare and great talent, a fact that older KsE fans have known for years. Here is to a killer new record and a bright future. The five of us cannot wait to write this record and play shows together and bring that feeling to our fans. It's been far too long."

The "new" guy himself also commented on his return to the band after a decade-long absence, saying, "It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the 'Howard-era songs,' as well as some Alive or Just Breathing-era songs and we all felt the synergy."

He continued, "I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written. It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KsE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."

KsE remain hard at work on their latest album, which follows 2009's second self-titled album.

The band will perform at the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest on April 22, 2012. Leach last performed with KsE in March 2010 in New York City, Clifford Park, NY, and Wallingford CT.

Upcoming concerts from Goldenvoice week of Feb. 8

2012-02-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

VENUE CHANGES

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

THIS Saturday, February 11th / KEY CLUB / Doors: 7pm / $22.50 / on sale now

All tickets issued for The Music Box show will be honored. Please note new times: 7pm doors, 8pm Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. There will be no opening act.

Mat Kearney with Robert Francis

February 23rd / MAYAN / Doors: 8pm / $25 / on sale now

All tickets issued for The Music Box show will be honored.

On Sale Now!

2nd Show Added

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (press release attached)

April 27th / Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena / Doors: 6:30pm / $67, $100 / on sale now

On Sale Thursday!

Rusted Root with Skinny Lister

April 8th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 7pm / $24.50 / on sale 2/9 @ 10am

On Sale Friday!

Kansas Collegiate Symphony Tour (press release attached)

April 13th / Luckman Fine Arts Complex / Doors: 7pm / $55 / on sale 2/10 @ 10am

Dierks Bentley with Eli Young Band, Will Hoge (press release attached)

April 13th / Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE / Doors: 7pm / $39.50, $44.50 / on sale 2/10 @ 10am

Mana

April 19th / STAPLES Center / Doors: 7pm / $59, $65, $95, $110, $140, $160, $300 / on sale 2/10 @ 10am

On Sale Saturday!

Vitalic (DJ set)

March 25th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $20 / on sale 2/11 @ 10am

2nd show added due to overwhelming demand

Garbage

April 9th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 6:30pm / $29.50 – 2 ticket limit, will call only / on sale 2/11 @ 10am

Added Support

Saul Williams with CX Kidtronik

March 8th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $18 / on sale now

FEED ME with TEETH, AC Slater

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

The Ting Tings with MNDR

March 21st & 22nd / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $28 / on sale now

White Rabbits with Gull

March 28th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $18 / on sale now

MC Hammer with F.Stokes

May 5th / Club Nokia / Doors: 8pm / $28.50, $39.50, $49.50 / on sale now

Yann Tiersen with Piano Chat

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

www.goldenvoice.com

The Boxer Rebellion with Canon Blue

May 18th / El Rey Theatre / Doors: 8pm / $18 / on sale now

Luanne Hunt release new video

2012-02-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

Like January, February has started off with great surprises. One very special one was the opportunity to re-record a song I released as a demo in 2006. It's called "He Was There" and was written by Lawton Jiles and Buster Beam. They also wrote "Christmas Without You" and "I Want To Stand Where Jesus Stood," which have done remarkably well in recent weeks on the European charts. We plan to release "He Was There" in Europe next month.

Here is the link to a Youtube video of the song:
http://youtu.be/s8qWOVw8wWQ

Thanks again for your support and encouragement. I appreciate all of you so very much!

Wishing you joy!
Luanne
www.luannehunt.com

Much appreciation to my fabulous musicians and production team!

Eric Uglum - co-producer, guitars, mandolin, harmony vocals
Hal Ratliff - piano
Roger Gillespie - percussion
Christian Ward - fiddle
Austin Ward - bass

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

2012-02-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

Friday, Feb. 17

Piranha45
www.facebook.com/Piranha45
Stars at Night
www.facebook.com/STARSATNIGHTBAND1
Plus 3 Bands and/or DJs

Saturday, Feb. 18

9pm - The Vim Dicta
www.facebook.com/thevimdicta?sk=app_178091127385
10pm - Craters
http://soundcloud.com/cratersband
11pm - Captions
www.myspace.com/youlikecaptions
12am - Twin Owl
http://soundcloud.com/twinowlmusic
1am - The Orange Rev
www.facebook.com/theorangerev?ref=ts&sk=app_204974879526524

Thursday, Feb. 23

“56" - with Stones Throw DJs and Guests

www.mrtsevents.com

http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com

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

Liz Greene U.S. debut album out today

2012-02-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

Today, UK songstress Liz Green releases her anticipated U.S. debut, O, Devotion!, on [PIAS] America. In honor of the album’s release, Liz has made a track from the album, “Displacement Song,” available as a free Mp3.

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, ‘screw 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.

The Kooks in Pomona March 1

2012-02-07T10:08:00.001-08:00

After a sold-out US tour late last year, The Kooks are returning to the U.S. for a set of headlining shows including Pomona, CA on March 1st performing at Fox Theatre!

Their latest Astralwerks release, Junk of the Heart was produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Belle & Sebastian), and recorded in The Sound Factory (Los Angeles) and Sarm Studios (London). The band’s third album sees The Kooks solidifying their position as a bona fide album band with trademark killer hooks from their undeniable first single “Junk Of The Heart (Happy)” to the electro dub of “Runaway” and the infectious new radio single “How'd You Like That.” “Junk Of The Heart (Happy)” kicks off the new album with a dramatic breakbeat, and builds across acoustic guitar and warm washes of synth before collapsing into a chorus that won’t soon leave you.

The band recently made three TV appearances including performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show With David Letterman as well as Jimmy Kimmel Live! The band also appeared on MTV’s 120 Minutes with Matt Pinfield and performed on KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic as well as Soundcheck on WNYC. Lead singer Luke Pritchard also has his own column on The Huffington Post.

Junk of the Heart follows The Kooks’ multi-platinum debut, Inside In/Inside Out (2006) which peaked at number two in the UK Album Charts and its platinum selling UK number one follow-up, Konk (2008). The Kooks have sold over 2 million records globally.

Storm Corrosion signs with Roadrunner Records

2012-02-07T10:05:00.001-08:00

Roadrunner Records is pleased to announce the signing of Storm Corrosion.

Storm Corrosion is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the modern progressive rock scene's most innovative and multi-talented artists: Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth and Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson. The pair will release Storm Corrosion on April 24 via Roadrunner Records.

A little background information on the genesis of this project: Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late '90s, when Wilson co-produced Opeth’s revered Blackwater Park album. Over the years, they’d often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn’t until recently that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson’s home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.

The sound of Storm Corrosion can best be described as enchanting, orchestral, ambient, epic (half the album’s tracks clock in around the 10-minute mark) and nothing short of surprising to the new ear. However, the musicians’ respective fanbases will be primed to appreciate the new output, with Wilson’s recent solo album, Grace for Drowning, and Opeth’s Heritage having brought them to a logical place to understand Storm Corrosion. This eponymous collection is almost viewed as one side of a musical triangle.

Says Wilson, “If you'd asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, 'Expect the last thing you would expect.' But actually, now that Heritage and Grace for Drowning have come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people, because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it's even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as Heritage and Grace for Drowning, which indeed it does because it was written during the same period.”

“Some of the music on this record I think is the most beautiful music I have participated on ever,” adds Åkerfeldt. “There's some magical sections on there. Musically I think we've created something earthy, a bit frightening, exhausting, profound and rather intense. All at the same time. I can safely say I don't know any other band or artist that sounds anything like Storm Corrosion. I guess that was also one of our goals, so to speak.”

Roadrunner Senior VP of A&R, Monte Conner welcomed Storm Corrosion to the Roadrunner family, commenting, “I am honored to have the Roadrunner logo on the Storm Corrosion album. Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have demonstrated time and time again that they are two of the truest and most important artists working today, and it is not often that I get to work with musicians of this caliber. This album is a beautiful piece of work that will appeal to fans of Steven and Mikael’s past records, while at the same time exploring new avenues for both artists."

The High Strung to release new album

2012-02-07T10:04:00.001-08:00

The High Strung Announce New Album

?Posible o' Imposible?

April 17th, 2012

The High Strung, and especially frontman Josh Malerman, are enthralled with blending fact and fiction. Malerman's Facebook page declares he worked at “General Faw Faw's Impossible Meats” in 1852 and that he attended “Fabulous Posture University” for the 95 years leading up to 1902. Because of this, their history and experiences are like big riddles, short puzzles that are as artistic as the albums they've made. And of their six albums, none captures this fascination with the absurd better than the new one, rightly called ?Posible o' Imposible?

When describing how the band formed, Malerman either discusses grade schools and gym classes or, more recently, mental homes, where he says he was a patient and guitarist Stephen Palmer was an orderly, before the two realized they worked well together and busted out.

The rhythm section of Chad Stocker (bass) and Derek Berk (drums) are everything a music fan relishes; explosive, original, and danceable, too. When describing them, Malerman says he can't remember if they “planted” him or if he planted them but “either way we grew out of the ground and picked each other and presented one another to mother in a vase.”

The songs on ?Posible o' Imposible? are just as enigmatic. Thinking big is the main thread, but maybe it should be described as “imagining” big. The album is home to many modern characters, most of whom are on the verge of creating a grand spectacle. The hunter who tires of animals and seeks out black holes and planets in “Big Game Hunter”. The man who has toiled in obscurity only to be flooded with opportunities in “On Your Way Up!”. The man who experiences the weather before his peers in “Giant.” And, most notably, the world described in “Rats, Rats, Rats” where “there's a job opening for a clerk at the Church of Satan” and a “dance tonight at the Church of Raging Hormones.”

The High Strung do not present themselves as ironic; their absurdist scenarios are delivered in a way that reveals they mean it. And the band is on their way up, having scored the theme song for Showtime's new hit series Shameless, starring William H. Macy as an impossibly drunk father.

Live, the band verges on a variety show, traveling hucksters who have, as Malerman says, “between a dozen and two dozen melodies in jars, rhythms too, sentences too, and, on stage, if we get lucky, we open the corresponding jars so the songs make real sense.” The best known document detailing the experience of the band's live show is a lengthy article in Vanity Fair that covers a two-show trip to Guantanamo Bay where Malerman fell in love with a female soldier, Berk was housed with an over zealous interrogator, and the boys “drank more rum than water.”

The High Strung are a rock band, of this there is no doubt, but one that clearly adores music, successfully injecting all this incredulity, absurdity, and irrationality into ?Posible o' Imposible? and the shows that will accompany it. It's the type of album kids will be downloading, illegally or not, as they discuss whether or not it's true that Berk's drums talk to him or, as Malerman says, “the first time we practiced together, the very first time we played, the boys all struck a C chord at the same time, without preamble. But I sang a D. And instead of thinking we'd fallen short of some cosmic relationship that was meant to be, I immediately understood we were destined to do something... different.”

Denison Witmer to tour in support of new album

2012-02-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

Denison Witmer's newest album, The Ones Who Wait, is a reflection of this understanding of self and the growth that comes through life experience. It is an intimate reflection on the meandering path of life, on family and friendships, on death balanced with new life, on endings and beginnings. In Denison’s own words, The Ones Who Wait is about “patience and reverence. Being mindful and open to what you’re experiencing. A desire to take hold of what’s happening in your life, yet trusting the mystery of it enough to let go and participate rather than dictate.”

Tour Dates:
02.09.12 - Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
02.10.12 - Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
02.12.12 - Quebec, QC@ Le Cercle
02.13.12 - Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
02.14.12 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
02.16.12 - Northhampton, MA @ Iron Horse
02.17.12 - Boston, MA @ Royale
02.18.12 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
02.19.12 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
02.20.12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
02.22.12 - Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
02.23.12 - Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

03.08.12 - San Diego, CA @ Anthology
03.09.12 - West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
03.10.12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
03.12.12 - Fresno, CA @ Neighborhood Cafe
03.15.12 - Eugene, OR @ W.O.W. Hall
03.16.12 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
03.17.12 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
03.18.12 - Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door
03.21.12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
03.24.12 - Denver, CO @ Swallow Hill Music Association
03.27.12 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Cedar Cultural Center
03.29.12 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
03.30.12 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
03.31.12 - St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
(All dates with William Fitzsimmons)

Dynamo:Magician Impossible on TLC Feb. 16

2012-02-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

DYNAMO, has been touted as one of the world’s best magicians…and he’s now bringing his talents to the US! The US series premiere of DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE airs February 16 at 10 PM on TLC.

DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE is the story of an ordinary boy from Bradford who now lives an extraordinary life. Like his grandfather, Dynamo grew up practicing precision card-handling and intricate magic skills. The series will follow the 28-year-old as he travels the globe and astounds everyone he meets.

As magician to the stars, Dynamo has performed for and worked with celebrities like Will Smith, Jay Z, Russell Brand, Trey Songz, Sir Paul McCartney, Prince Charles, Naomi Campbell, Snoop Dogg, Lindsay Lohan, David Beckham, Kings of Leon, etc.. The series will feature his mind-blowing stunts and interaction with many stunned A-listers – from sports stars to headlining musicians.

Here is an embeddable clip (from the US premiere episode) of Dynamo in action with singer-songwriter Trey Songz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rl20FdcF0w

Housse de Racket on tour and coming to Coachella

2012-02-07T09:58:00.001-08:00

Following their tour last year with French pop trio Yelle, and the critically acclaimed release of the debut album Alesia on Kitsune/ Cooperative/ Downtown Records, French duo Housse de Racket announce a month-long North American Spring tour that kick off at Austin’s SXSW, and ends with their first ever performance at Coachella Festival.

For their sophomore album Alesia, the French synth-rock duo Housse de Racket has teamed up with French super-producer, Phillipe Zdar (Cassius, Phoenix, The Rapture) to create a collection of eleven electro-pop songs in the vein of the bands’ own wide range of musical influences; from Ennio Morricone to David Bowie. The result is a unique compilation of tracks that embody the sound Housse de Racket has made famous, both through their first album and their live show. Recorded half in French and half in English, Alesia is an evolution of sound; a bold new direction for the bands’ follow up album to their wildly successful debut, Forty Love.

Housse de Racket, which translates in English to ‘tennis racket cover,’ are Victor Le Masne and Pierre Leroux. The two are highly sought-after musical collaborators with impressive resumes; they’ve worked with the likes of Chilly Gonzales, Phoenix, and Air.

Housse De Racket Tour Dates:
3/14: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/15: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/16: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
3/18: Atlanta, GA @ 529
3/19: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
3/21: Cambridge, NJ @ TT The Bears
3/22: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
3/23: Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
3/24: Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar
3/25: Washington D.C. @ 9:30 Club
3/26: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
3/28: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick Lounge
3/29: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
3/30: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
3/31: Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret
4/02: Calgary, AB @ The Gateway Bar
4/03: Edmonton, BC @ The Haven Social Club
4/05: Vancouver, CA @ Electric Owl
4/06: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
4/07: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
4/12: Tucson, AZ @ Opti Club
4/15: Indio, CA @ Coachella
4/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
4/22: Indio, CA @ Coachella

http://www.houssederacket.com/
http://twitter.com/houssederacket
http://www.facebook.com/houssederacket

Madonna to tour

2012-02-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

Madonna is having a huge party and everyone’s invited. The Madonna 2012 World begins May 29th 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel it was officially announced by Live Nation Entertainment, the tour’s international promoter. The shows will include arenas, stadiums and special outdoor sights including the Plains of Abraham in Quebec and a return visit to South America as well as Australia where she has not performed in 20 years. The tour will stop in 26 European cities including London, Paris, Milan and Berlin.

The first of 26 North American shows is scheduled for August 28th in Philadelphia and includes a September 6th show in NY’s Yankee Stadium and an October l0th performance at LA’s Staples Center. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale beginning February 10th in Tel Aviv and the United Kingdom, with North American tickets going on sale beginning February 13th. A complete itinerary of Madonna 2012 follows this release.

Tickets for Madonna’s Los Angeles show will go on sale Monday, February 13th at 10 AM. Tickets will be available at LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster.com, at select Live Nation and Ticketmaster retail outlets, plus via Charge-By-Phone (800.745.3000).

Madonna’s previous tour, the phenomenally successful “Sticky & Sweet” Tour reaffirmed her status as one of the most successful touring artists of all time. The historic tour included such incredible touring feats as a 70,000 seat sell-out in Werchter, Belgium, an 85,000 sell-out in Helsinki (the largest show ever in the Nordic countries by a solo artist), a 40,000 ticket sell-out in Oslo, Norway, and 72,000 tickets sold out in one day in Tallinn Estonia. Other record breaking ticket sales around the globe include 650,000 tickets sold in her series of South American dates, 72,000 tickets at Zurich's Dübendorf Airfield - the largest audience ever assembled for a show in Switzerland, 75,000 tickets in London and four sell outs in New York's Madison Square Garden (60,364 tickets).

The announcement of Madonna’s 2012 World Tour follows an extraordinary week which included a monumental extravaganza of a performance at the Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime which was seen in over 200 countries by over a billion people. Last week also saw the release of Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin” from her highly anticipated new album MDNA on Live Nation Entertainment/Interscope Records - scheduled to be released on March 26th. Pre orders have already catapulted MDNA to No. 1 on iTunes in 50 countries including the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands. The single’s video directed by Megaforce which also stars Nicki Minaj and MIA previewed on American Idol. Additionally, the Madonna directed Golden Globe Award winning film “W.E.” opened in NY and LA with other markets to follow later in the month.

“Madonna’s track record as a world class entertainer and touring artist speaks for itself. Her artistry, talent and creative productions get bigger and better with each tour and Madonna 2012 will be no exception. We are thrilled to have her back on the road and know her fans feel the same,” commented Arthur Fogel, CEO Live Nation Entertainment Global Touring and Madonna tour promoter.

In the course of her phenomenal career, Madonna has a record breaking 37 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart along with a record breaking 40 Number 1’s on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Song Charts. No other act has more Top 10’s on the Hot 100 or Number 1’s on the Club Chart. Madonna has sold over 300 million albums and holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. She is a seven time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last CD “Hard Candy,” debuted at Number 1 in 37 countries including US, UK, Canada, France and Australia. Madonna 2012 World Tour is the Material Girl’s 9th Tour. Her first tour was the l985 Virgin Tour.

Madonna’s recent Golden Globe winning song "Masterpiece" from The Weinstein Company film ”W.E.” as well as “W.E. Music From The Soundtrack “W.E.” film have both been released digitally on Interscope Records. A physical release will be in stores in the UK on February 6th and on February 14th in the US.

US residents ordering tickets online to a US performance will receive their choice of a digital or physical copy of Madonna’s new MDNA album with every ticket purchased.

Citi® is the official credit card of US leg of Madonna’s upcoming world tour. Citi® cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8th at 10am through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

Icon is Madonna's official fan club. Lifetime Legacy members of Icon will receive first access to tickets and VIP Packages starting February 7, 2012. Registered free Icon members will have the opportunity to purchase an “Icon Live Pass,” which gives them access not only to ticket & VIP Package pre-sales, but also to a tour devoted forum and an exclusive tour gift. Fans can sign up for a free Icon membership at Madonna.com today.

VIP Packages will are available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit: www.VIPNation.com

MADONNA

2012 WORLD TOUR ITINERARY

EUROPE

29-May Tel Aviv, Israel Ramat Gam Stadium On Sale Feb. 10

3-Jun Abu Dhabi Yas Arena On Sale Feb. 27

7-Jun Istanbul, Turkey Turk Telecom Arena On sale soon

11-Jun Zagreb, Croatia Maksimir Stadium On Sale Feb. 17

14-Jun Milan, Italy Stadio San Siro On Sale Feb. 13

16-Jun Florence, Italy Stadio Franchi On Sale Feb. 13

20-Jun Barcelona, Spain Palau Sant Jordi On Sale Feb. 16

24-Jun Coimbra, Portugal Estadio Cidade de Coimbra On Sale Feb. 11

28-Jun Berlin, Germany O2 Arena On Sale Feb. 13

2-Jul Copenhagen, Denmark Parken Stadium On Sale Feb. 13

4-Jul Gothenburg, Sweden Ullevi Stadium On Sale Feb. 17

7-Jul Amsterdam,The Netherlands Ziggo Dome On Sale Feb. 11

12-Jul Brussels, Belgium Stade Roi-Baudouin On Sale Feb. 17

14-Jul Paris, France Stade De France On Sale Feb. 14

17-Jul London, UK Hyde Park On Sale Feb. 10

21-Jul Edinburgh, UK Murrayfield Stadium On Sale Feb. 10

24-Jul Dublin, Ireland Aviva Stadium On Sale Feb. 17

29-Jul Vienna, Austria Ernst-Happel-Stadion On Sale Feb. 24

1-Aug Warsaw, Poland National Stadium On Sale Feb. 17

7-Aug Moscow, Russia Olimpiski Arena On sale soon.

8-Aug St. Petersburg, Russia SKK Arena On sale soon

12-Aug Helsinki, Finland Olympic Stadium On Sale Feb. 14

15-Aug Oslo, Norway Telenor Arena On Sale Feb. 20

18-Aug Zurich, Switzerland Stadion Letzigrund On Sale Feb. 24

21-Aug Nice, France Stade Charles-Erhmann On Sale Feb. 14

NORTH AMERICA

28-Aug Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center On Sale Feb. 13

30-Aug Montreal, QC Bell Centre On Sale Feb. 18

1-Sep Quebec City, QC Plains of Abraham Site On Sale Feb. 17

4-Sep Boston, MA TD Garden On Sale Feb. 13

6-Sep New York, NY Yankee Stadium On Sale Feb. 13

10-Sep Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place On Sale Feb. 13

12-Sep Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre On Sale Feb. 13

15-Sep Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall On Sale Feb. 27

19-Sep Chicago, IL United Center On Sale Feb. 13

23-Sep Washington, D.C. Verizon Center On Sale Feb. 13

29-Sep Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena On Sale Feb. 13

2-Oct Seattle, WA Key Arena On Sale Feb. 13

6-Oct San Jose, CA HP Pavilion On Sale Feb. 13

10-Oct Los Angeles, CA Staples Center On Sale Feb. 13

13-Oct Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand On Sale Feb. 27

16-Oct Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center On Sale Feb. 27

20-Oct Dallas, TX American Airlines Center On Sale Feb. 27

24-Oct Houston, TX Toyota Center On Sale Feb. 27

27-Oct New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena On Sale Mar. 5

30-Oct Kansas City, MO Sprint Center On Sale Mar. 5

1-Nov St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center On Sale Mar. 5

3-Nov St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center On Sale Feb. 27

10-Nov Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena On Sale Mar. 5

15-Nov Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena On Sale Mar. 5

17-Nov Atlanta, GA Philips Arena On Sale Mar. 5

TBC Miami, FL To Be Confirmed On Sale Soon

The tour will also visit South American and Australia.

Additional cities and venues to be announced. Itinerary subject to change.

For complete tour and ticket information, Fan Club memberships, VIP Packages, merchandise and more visit:

WWW.LIVENATION.COM & WWW.MADONNA.COM

Chris Brown, Tony Bennett & Carrie Underwood on the Grammys

2012-02-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

Current GRAMMY® nominee Chris Brown; nominees Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood, who will perform together; and 14-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys and nine-time GRAMMY winner Bonnie Raitt, who will remember Etta James, have been added to the stellar lineup for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com ). Two-time GRAMMY and three-time Latin GRAMMY® winner Marc Anthony, six-time GRAMMY winners and current nominees Lady Antebellum, and television and radio host/producer Ryan Seacrest will appear as presenters.

Music's Biggest Night® — hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J — 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 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.

Brown has three nominations: Best R&B Album for F.A.M.E., and Best Rap Performance (with Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes) and Best Rap Song for "Look At Me Now."

Fourteen-time GRAMMY Winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Bennett has two nods: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Body And Soul" (with Amy Winehouse), and Best Traditional Pop Album for Duets II (with Various Artists).

Five-time GRAMMY winner Underwood is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for "Mama's Song."

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj, and Shelton will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time. Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Jack Black, Drake, Fergie, Miranda Lambert, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, and Ringo Starr. LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and this is his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.

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.

Pasadena Rock n' Roll Half Marathon Feb. 19

2012-02-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012 (6:30 am - Noon)
(Inaugural Pasadena Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon)

General Event Information
The Inaugural Pasadena Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon is scheduled to occur on Sunday, February 19, 2012 and will feature a half marathon distance race that will start and end at the Rose Bowl. The course will wind through historic landmarks and business districts and will feature live entertainment at key spectator spots and at the finish line concert featuring "Sugar Ray."

Day of Event Schedule
6:30 am Police Secures Route
7:30 am Half Marathon Starts
9:15 am Awards Ceremony
10:00 am Finish Line Concert
Noon Finish Line Festival Ends
1:00 pm Rolling Re-Openings with Final Mile Re-Opening by this time

Street Closures on Race Day
Beginning at 6:30 am on race day, Pasadena Police will begin closing down the course with restricted vehicular access only through designated intermittent traffic control points. Residents and visitors should be advised to expect delays when traveling within the City. Please reference the street closure map below to see when streets will re-open in your neighborhood. The Pasadena Police Department reminds residents to remain patient when driving in the City.

Parking Information for Residents & Businesses
In preparation for the event, the route will be posted with temporary "No Parking" restrictions. In addition, the issuance of overnight parking citations will be suspended the morning of February 19th. During this time, overnight parking permits will NOT be required to park on City streets near the route. Residents should park outside of the immediate race route to have access to their vehicles during the day. If your car is parked anywhere along the route after 2:00 am on February 19th, it will be towed by Pasadena Police. Please be aware of posted signs (both temporary and fixed) with additional restrictions. If your car is towed on race day, please call (626) 577-6458 to locate your vehicle. All towed vehicles will be stored at a temporary impound lot located at Central Library (285 E. Walnut Street) until 1 pm on February 19th.

Freeway Off-ramp Closures
The Orange Grove/Colorado off-ramp on the 134 freeway will be closed from 6:30 am - 11:45 am on Sunday, February 19, 2012. All other freeway ramps will remain open. Please plan your travel accordingly.

Directions for Churches Public Access:

Business Districts, Neighborhood Associations, and Churches in proximity to the route can find tailored directions to help navigate around closures on the event website at http://cityofpasadena.net/specialevents/rock_n_roll/

Transit Detours:

Some Metro and Foothill Transit Lines will have temporary bus stop closures and/or be re-routed on Sunday, February 19, 2012. Please contact Metro (323) 466-38766 or Foothill Transit (800) 743-3463 for more information about service advisories.

We hope this information will help you plan your schedule and routes accordingly on Sunday, February 19, 2012.

For more information, please log-on to http://cityofpasadena.net/specialevents/rock_n_roll/

Know What, new city guide app, launches

2012-02-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

New iPhone App Know What, a hyper-curated city guide, features essentials
for urban discovery

WHAT: Launch of Know What, the first iPhone App from Escape Apps

WHERE: Available from the iTunes Store, info at http://knowwhatapp.com

WHO: Know What features contributions from in-the-know urban experts,
bloggers and non-profits, including Esotouric, LA Conservancy, BoingBoing,
SF Heritage, Francesca Lia Block, LA Bizarro, Gustavo Arellano, Gary Singh,
Caroline on Crack, Deep End Dining, Food GPS, LA Freewalls, Vegansaurus and
more.

COST: The basic Know What Essentials App featuring hundreds of destinations
in LA and the SF Bay Area is $2.99. Buy additional curated guides within the
App for $1.99-$3.99

Some of our country's smartest, most creative people and
websites have come together in the new iPhone app Know What to share their
favorite things and places. The app is a new type of hyper-curated city
guide helping people get the most out of everyday life. Know What is
available today in the iPhone app store.

Covering the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas, Know What
taps:

€ Voices of groundbreaking websites like boingboing.net,
sfgirlbybay.com and vegansaurus.com
€ Brilliantly creative people like Weetzie Bat author Francesca
Lia Block, OC Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano, and author and lifestyle
blogger Rebecca Woolf
€ Mission-driven non-profits like the LA Conservancy, SF Heritage
and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR)
€ Purveyors of rare and vital information like Esotouric,
Thinkwalks and LA Bizarro, the best selling guide to LA's absurd underbelly

The result? An app with well over 1,000 amazing places in these two cities
alone all from people audiences trust. Each places comes with a detailed
review / insider tips, beautiful photos, addresses, phone numbers and
turn-by-turn directions. See the complete list of contributors below.

"You know how it goes: 'What should we do tonight?' or 'Where should I eat
lunch?' or 'Why does everything in San Jose suck?'" asked Ben Adair, Know
What editor-in-chief. "Those games are over. Done."

All the content in Know What is dynamically updated, ensuring users stay
current and in the know. Nothing is crowd sourced. There's no sponsored
content, no undercover ads masquerading as truth.

"There's stuff in here that you literally cannot find on the internet," said
Adair. "And every single thing is awesome. It's like a nuclear bomb went off
and blew up all the suck." He added, wistfully: "If only it was gone in real
life too."

How it works:

Download Know What from the iPhone app store for less than the cost of a
latté and gain immediate access to the Know What Essentials for each city,
200 top recommended restaurants, bars, hikes, cultural spots, secret
locations and more. Then, add even more places to your map by purchasing
add-on collections. Add what you like or collect them all almost 1,300 top
spots at launch, with more added every month.

New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle and Portland are just a few of the cities
coming in the first half of 2012.

"Know What is really the ultimate insider's guide to our cities," said
Adair. "The app is great for anyone locals and visitors alike who wants
to find the best things around them at any given moment."

Know What contributors:

Know What is launching with dozens of contributors covering the greater Los
Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. The app bucks the trend of sticking it
to content providers by forming meaningful content partnerships that share
the success of the app.

The complete list of contributors is below. Visit http://knowwhatapp.com for
more information.

Los Angeles:

€ Aileen Holmes, local artist: OC: Sooo Not the Land of Bland
€ Caroline on Crack, carolineoncrack.com: Drink Here: LA¹s Best
Craft Beer and Cocktail Bars
€ Eddie Lin, deependdining.com: Deep End Dining
€ Esotouric, tour company: Charles Bukowski's LA and On the Trail
of the Black Dahlia
€ Francesca Lia Block, author: LA's Dangerous Angels
€ Gustavo Arellano, columnist, editor, OC Weekly: The Best OC
Restaurants!
€ Jessica Ritz, tastertots.com: Discerning Dining for Accompanied
Adults
€ Joshua Lurie, foodgps.com: Global Eats: Southern California;
Prized Pig, LA¹s Best Pork Dishes
€ LA Bizarro, bestselling guidebook: 50 Ways to Lose Your Mind
€ LA Freewalls, street art collective: The Biggest Street Art
Gallery in the World
€ Los Angeles Conservancy: Top 50 of 60s Architecture
€ Mark Frauenfelder, co-founder boingboing.net: Unicorns,
Carnivorous Plants and Other Angelenos I¹ve Known and Loved
€ Modern Hiker, modernhiker.com: LA¹s Best Hikes
€ Raina Lee, author: Karaoke Domination
€ Rebecca Woolf, girlsgonechild.net: Fashion & Fun (for You &
Your Fam)

San Francisco:

€ Burrito Eater, burritoeater.com: San Francisco¹s Top 30
Taquerias
€ Camper English, Alcademics.com: The City¹s Best Cocktail Spots
€ Carolyn Jung, foodgal.com: Ultimate Guide to Bay Area Dining
€ Catherine Weis, Local Social: Oakland's Creative Renaissance
€ Gary Singh, San Jose Metro columnist: Things in San Jose that
Don¹t Suck
€ Joshua Lurie, foodgps.com: Global Eats: The Bay Area
€ San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association: SF's
Secret Parks and Hidden Oases
€ SF Hertiage: Essential SF: The City¹s Architectural Icons; The
Building Blocks of Auto Row and Pacific Heights: The Epicenter of Old San
Francisco
€ Thinkwalks, ThinkWalks.org: Everything Explained and Local
Nerd!
€ Vegansaurus.com: The Best Food in the Bay Area as Picked by
Genius Experts
€ Victoria Smith, sfgirlbybay.com: Sfgirlbybay¹s Bohemian Modern
San Francisco
€ White Walls: San Francisco Street Art

About Escape Apps, LLC: Escape Apps makes high-quality smart phone apps with
one sole purpose to get you to look up, put your phone down and experience
this incredible world we live in. Brothers and co-founders Ben and John
Adair bring over 20 years in media and technology experience, alongside a
love of travel, mystery and the unknown, to a company seeking to redefine
how users interact with their world. Our goals are adventures, new
experiences, good times, and more, better friends. More information at
http://escapeapps.com/

Elliott Caine in Highland Park Feb. 19

2012-02-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

The Elliott Caine Quintet
(EC-trumpet, Carl Randall-tenor sax, Mahesh Balasooriya-piano, Trevor Ware-bass, Kenny Elliott-drums)
performs at The York, 5018 York Blvd., LA (Highland Park) 90042
on Sunday, February 19, from 7:30 to 10pm.
No cover charge.
For more information, please phone 323-255-9675.

Sounds & Rhythms of Afghanistan in LA Feb. 11

2012-02-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

World City at the Music Center Invites You Discover the Rich Cultures of Central Asia with Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan (S.A.R.A.) and Ballet Afsaneh.

Audiences of all ages will enjoy this FREE performance and art-making workshop series that celebrates artistic traditions from around the globe.

WHO:
Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan (S.A.R.A.) (Music, Afghanistan)

S.A.R.A. is the world’s foremost Afghan music ensemble. Featuring four virtuosos of diverse backgrounds, and incorporating elements of percussion, dance, vocal performance and poetry, S.A.R.A. presents an all-encompassing vision of one of the world’s most culturally rich and historically troubled countries.

Ballet Afsaneh (Dance, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

This dynamic group presents performances and activities featuring dance, poetry, and music of the Silk Road. The Ballet Afsaneh repertoire displays a wide range, from glittering lyrical fairytale to thought provoking, contemporary work.

WHEN:
Saturday, February 11, 2012
11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.

WHERE:
World City at the Music Center is presented at the W.M. Keck Foundation Children's Amphitheatre at the Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue,

Los Angeles. Free tickets are distributed on Grand Avenue at 2nd Street, starting at 10:00 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. performance and at 11:00 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. performance.

WHY:
Celebrate and discover cultures from different peoples and places—or potentially even your own—all for FREE at World City at the Music Center. The post-performance visual arts workshops, designed by Music Center Teaching Artists, give children the opportunity to explore the featured culture through unique art-making projects such as calligraphy, puppets and musical instruments.

Comedy benefit for Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic Feb. 20

2012-02-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

The Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic (HSFC) will present COMEDY BENEFIT FOR HOLLYWOOD SUNSET FREE CLINIC starring comedians Billy Gardell (CBSâ€™s Mike and Molly), Louie Anderson (Family Feud), Larry Miller (Best in Show) and Nancy Becker Kennedy (The Louie Show) at The Laugh Factory (8001 W. Sunset Boulevard) on Monday, February 20, 2012. All proceeds benefit HSFC.

"Everyone from the staff to the volunteers of the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic are grateful to Billy Gardell, Louie Anderson, Larry Miller and Nancy Becker Kennedy for sharing their generous time and incredible talent to help raise monies and generate awareness for HSFC," said Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic Executive Director Teresa Padua. "We are also thankful to The Laugh Factory for hosting and supporting Comedy Benefit for HSFC. Maybe laughter is the best medicine!"

Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic's mission is to provide quality health care, mental health services and required ancillary services to the homeless, poverty level and low-income residents of Silver Lake, Echo Park, East Hollywood and neighboring communities of Los Angeles. These communities are in most desperate need; the majority is at the 200% or below Federal Poverty Level.

COMEDY BENEFIT FOR HOLLYWOOD SUNSET FREE CLINIC plays one night only on Monday, February 20 from 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at The Laugh Factory (8001 W. Sunset Boulevard). All tickets are $25.00 and are available online at hsfc.eventbrite.com. The Laugh Factory has a two-drink minimum. All proceeds benefit the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic.

HSFC is a 501 (c) 3 and donations may be made online at www.hsfreeclinic.org or by calling 323-660-7959.

Greek Theatre named best small outdoor venue

2012-02-06T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, which is exclusively booked and operated by Nederlander Concerts, was named North America’s “Best Small Outdoor Venue of the Year” at the 23rd Annual Pollstar Awards. This marks twelve wins for the iconic Los Angeles venue.

Celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2011, The Greek Theatre hosted some of the biggest concerts of the year, including sold-out performances by Adele, Florence + The Machine (2 nights), Sugarland (2 nights), Janet Jackson, Thievery Corporation, The Go-Go’s and Death Cab for Cutie (2 nights), among others. The 5,900-seat venue offers an intimate concert setting, under the stars in the heart of Los Angeles.

This year’s nominees for the award included respected venues such as Chastain Park (Atlanta, GA), Filene Center at Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA), Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA), Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion (Gilford, NH) and The Mountain Winery (Saratoga, CA).

In addition to The Greek Theatre’s award, Nederlander Concerts’ was also honored to have the venues General Manager, Rena Wasserman nominated for “Facility Executive of the Year.”

Nederlander Concerts is currently working on programming for the 2012 season, which will be announced in March through the Premiere Marquee Club, the venues annual subscription program.

About The Greek Theatre

Located in the picturesque tree-enclosed setting of Griffith Park, The Greek Theatre is an internationally renowned venue presenting a wide variety of headline entertainment. The venue has played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment, from pop to classical, reggae to rock and has even been the backdrop for blockbuster movies, including a starring role in ‘Get Him to The Greek’. The Greek Theatre has received landmark status from the city of Los Angeles and is known for presenting some of the most memorable live performances in music history.

The Greek Theatre is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is exclusively managed, operated and booked by Nederlander Concerts. Visit www.GreekTheatreLA.com for more information.

Paddy's Pig in LA Feb. 11

2012-02-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

Happy February!

Paddy’s Pig is waking up from its winter slumber and is hungry to play again. With St. Pat’s just around the corner, we’re excited to let you all know we’ve been asked to play at the L.A. Irish Fair this year. More info on that to follow in a future email. For now, please join us this weekend at our favorite L.A. stomping ground…

Saturday, February 11

8 pm – 11 pm

At: Tam O’Shanter

2980 Los Feliz Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA (in lovely Atwater Village)

www.lawrysonline.com

The Tam is an LA institution some 90 years in operation; make reservations for dinner in the main dining room, join us in the lounge/sandwich carving nook (!) or sit at the bar with a cool refreshing adult beverage.

Upcoming:

2/24 O’Sullivan’s / Carlsbad, CA

2/25 Dublin Square / San Diego, CA

3/11 L.A. Irish Fair / Pomona, CA

St. Patrick’s Day update: we’ve decided to play at a private event the afternoon/evening of St. Pat’s. We would love, however, to play somewhere around LUNCHTIME, and if you know of a pub or restaurant or anywhere else that would have us for a couple of hours, please let us know.

Thanks so much for your support!

Paddy's Pig, Nellie Bly, and Breech

www.paddyspigla.com

www.breech.net

www.missygibson.com

we’re on Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paddys-Pig/116967871670821

LA Chamber Orchestra: Baroque Conversations Feb. 16

2012-02-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
BAROQUE CONVERSATIONS
Patricia Mabee, harpsichord/host
John Schneiderman, baroque guitar
Linda Tomko, dancer
Jill Chadroff, dancer
Tereza Stanislav, violin
Sarah Thornblade, violin
Armen Ksajikian, cello
Roland Kato, viola
Victoria Miskolczy, viola

WHEN:
Thursday, February 16, 2012, 7 pm

WHERE:
Zipper Concert Hall
The Colburn School
200 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

PROGRAM:
VIVALDI Trio Sonata in D minor, Op. 1, No. 12, RV 63, “La folia” (“Madness”)
SANZ Pavanas & Canarios from Instrucción de Musica Sobre la Guitarra Española
GANSPECK Overture in A major for Viola d’Amore & Violin
CAMPRA Rondeau & Loure from L’Europe galante (“Galant Europe”)
SOLER Fandango in D minor, S. 146
CAMPRA Bourrée from Les fêtes vénitiennes (“The Venetian Festivals”)
LULLY Gavotte & Sarabande from Atys
RAMEAU Music from Dardanus

TICKET PRICES:
$50;
Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the venue box office one hour before curtain.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets available online at www.laco.org, by phone 213 622 7001 or by fax 213 626 2157.
Tickets also on sale at the theatre box office the night of the concert, if available.

PRE-CONCERT RECEPTION
A pre-concert reception, beginning at 6 pm, is free to all ticket holders.

Check Yo Ponytail 2 in LA Feb. 7

2012-02-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow February 7th @ Echoplex
IHEARTCOMIX, Media Contender, The Echo and SPIN Magazine Present Check Yo Ponytail 2:

Com Truise, Teengirl Fantasy, Soft Metals and Green Horse. Visuals by DEMONBABIES

Upcoming Check Yo Ponytail events:
February 28 – Das Racist, Mr Muthafuckin Exquire @ Echoplex
March - Austin, TX @ SXSW (line up to be announced)
March 20 – Hunx & His Punx @ Echoplex
April 24 – Hype Williams, Gatekeeper @ Echoplex

Com Truise – Check Yo Ponytail Mix Tape Tracklist:
1. VHS 1
2. Wutendes Glas
3. VHS 2
4. Advisory Circle - Sundial
5. Boards of Canada - Iced Cooly
6. New Order - This Time Of Night (Live)
7. Skinny Boys - Unity
8. Harry Forbes - Technicality No. 3
9. Andy Clark - Fat Cats
10. Das Kabinette - Fudge It
11. The Fashion - Future Girl (Instrumental)
12. Dave Jackson - Mini Logos 4
13. Jeff Newmann - Future Design
14. International Music System - Dancing Therapy
15. Com Truise - A DAT 2
16. Com Truise - A DAT 3
17. Steve Everitt - Breakdance
18. Luis Jardim - Soul Train
19. Com Truise - I dream (For you)
20. Mark J. Cairns - Airwolf Theme

COM TRUISE
http://comtruise.com
/
TEENGIRL FANTASY
http://teengirlfantasy.angelfire.com/main.html

SOFT METALS
http://www.myspace.com/softmetals

GREEN HORSE
http://www.greenhorsemusic.com/

Visuals by DEMONBABIES
http://www.demonbabies.com/

$15 adv
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4145495&pl=echoplex

Doors 9pm 18+
@ ECHOPLEX
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

Jerry Burgan coming to Altadena March 2

2012-02-06T16:10:00.000-08:00

Jerry Burgan ~ Songs & Stories with Debbie Burgan & Tholow Chan
Where: Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena CA
When: Friday March 2, 2012 8:00 PM

In the late 1950s and early '60s, folk music emerged from the coffee houses and morphed into folk-rock influencing everyone from the Beatles and the Beach Boys, to Bob Dylan-- and all the hyphen-rock forms that followed. Jerry Burgan, was there on the leading edge touring college campuses in We Five with classic their hits You Were On My Mind and Get Together.

Today, his Songs & Stories show brings the audience along on a return visit to our folk roots as he leads a guided tour through some of the magical and memorable moments of our common musical experience—when folk songs topped the charts and Dylan still hadn’t plugged in—but the times were indeed a changing.

Joined on stage by his wife Debbie (We Five’s lead singer) and bassist Tholow Chan, they create a totally engaging and entertaining show that has the audience participating from the first song. Whether you were there at the start, sang the songs in school, or learned them from your parents, the familiar tunes are sure to connect as synapses begin to fire. Feet will tap in time with the music and lips spread into a broad smile as they follow along moving in synchronicity with the lyrics.

Between songs, Jerry takes the role of wizened sage, sharing fascinating tales woven from the spirit of Woody Guthrie, the Lomaxes, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and the Weavers, to the more contemporary artists they inspired – like John Stewart. The former Kingston Trio banjo player and writer of countless classic songs in the musical form that’s now come to be called Americana, was Jerry’s mentor, so count on hearing some treasures that were learned directly from the master.

Some originals from his first solo Global Recording Artists CD, Jerry Burgan – Reflections, Songs & Stories, are always included, along with few surprises. It’s all tastily complimented by bassist and humorist, Tholow Chan, and singer/percussionist extraordinaire, Debbie Burgan. Their stage rapport has a seamless quality that’s been honed by time as they draw each audience into the feel-good experience--often with spontaneous laughter and comments coming from the room. When the three of them sing together, their tight arrangements bring to life the exhilarating power, harmony and charm that made folk trios so popular.

Bring your friends along. They’ll thank you.

Jerry Burgan
FolkSongs & Stories
with Debbie & Tholow

Friday, March 2, 2012
8:00 PM ~~Tickets: $18
Reservations: (626) 798-6236
Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N Lake Ave., Altadena CA

Jewlicious Festival in Long Beach Feb. 24-27

2012-02-06T16:06:00.001-08:00

Jewlicious Festival will present the eighth annual world-famous Jewlicious Music and Culture Festival from February 24-27th on the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. The nation's largest Jewish weekend cultural event, the three-day festival will bring a hip modern approach to Jewish culture through world-renowned musicians, artists, speakers, activists, and change makers. The eclectic and transformative celebration has been described as a special blend of TED, Burning Man and Jewish summer camp. In past years the popular festival has attracted more than 1,000 Jewish students and young adults from 20 states, six countries, and more than 60 colleges and universities.

Special performers for the 2012 Jewlicious Festival include the phenomenal actress and PhD in Neuroscience Mayim Bialik (Blossom, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Big Bang Theory), the most upbeat band in Los Angeles The Aggrolites (Coachella, Vans Warped Tour, SXSW), and two of America’s funniest men Todd Barry (The Wrestler, Louie, Flight of the Conchords, Letterman, Conan) and Moshe Kasher (2009 iTunes comic of the year, Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Lately). Amazing musicians Moshav and Dustbowl Revival will be playing sets as well!

Presenters at the festival will include Benzion Chinn on messianism, Yonah Bookstein on “occupy Jerusalem,” Leibish Hundert on kabbalah, Dr. Maya Shlanger and Dr. Dan Wasserman on wellness, Shmuel Skaist on science fiction and Judaism, Thalia Miller on communication, Sasha Perry on activism, Jay Schrieber On the American and Israeli Army, David Abitbol on social media, Marcus Freed on yoga, Larry Trilling on television and Esther Kustanowitz on NextGen Jews. The festival also will feature many other speakers and educators addressing critical issues including social justice, alternative energy and ending oil reliance, Israel, and Jewish spirituality and sexuality.

Festival attendees will also take delight in the numerous community and recreational activities that will be held throughout the weekend. Activities to be offered include Sabbath banquets, workshops, wine tasting, Jewish meditation, henna tattoos, dance and yoga, swimming and, of course, relaxing with friends.

The festival’s culmination on Sunday, February 27 is an acoustic showcase with performances by special guest artists to be announced at a later date.

"It's year eight and our momentum continues unchecked, this year aboard the historic Queen Mary,”noted Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, founder and director of the Jewlicious Festival. “It’s a vibrant stage for our youth and next generation of leaders to highlight the best of their heritage. The entire world can witness as we share our arts, music, community, and culture in a joyous celebration. The stage is prepped, the community is primed and we are all ready to celebrate.”

Vendors, organizations, and companies who are interested in participating in the Jewlicious Festival are encouraged to contact rabbiyonah@gmail.com or call the festival office at (310) 277-5544. For ticket information, updated news on added performers, and more details, please visit http://www.jewlicious8.com/.

About Jewlicious
Jewlicious is the leading brand in the world focusing on inspiring Jews via online media, events and festivals. Jewlicious publishes the most visited Jewish Blog, Jewlicious.com, creates world-class events, operates college campus chapters, and has a line of Jewlicious apparel. The organization inspires young Jews to be active in the community, develop grassroots leadership skills, and connects young Jews to social and sustainability movements. Jewlicious is powered by JConnect, a 501c(3) registered not-for-profit, and has offices in L.A. and Jerusalem.

Taste of the South Bay to benefit LA Kings Care Foundation Feb. 19

2012-02-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

Shade Hotel, recently named one of the top 25 “trendiest hotels” in the United States by Trip Advisor, has announced that they will host the fourth annual Taste of the South Bay, presented by Hush Hush and the LA Kings, on Sunday, Feb. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“We are proud to support the Kings Care Foundation and the incredible things they do for local groups and causes in the Los Angeles area,” said Michael Zislis, owner of Shade Hotel. “The South Bay has become a significant dining destination with a number of excellent restaurants and notable chefs, and the Taste of The South Bay will be a fun way for people to experience that in one location.”

Current Kings hockey players, as well as other celebrity guests, will be on hand as the best restaurants in the South Bay present samples of their food and drinks. Confirmed restaurants include Mucho Ultima Mexicana, ROCK’N FISH, The Strand House, Brewco, zinc@shade (the restaurant/lounge at Shade Hotel), Rock’n Brews, Darren’s, Paul Martin’s American Bistro, Tin Roof Bistro, MB Post, and many more.

Tickets start at $60 with proceeds benefiting the Kings Care Foundation. For more information, visit www.lakings.com/taste or call 310-535-4466.

About Shade Hotel

Shade, Manhattan Beach’s premiere luxury boutique hotel, is a cool retreat just 5.6 miles south of LAX and two blocks from the beach. The hotel boasts an energized yet refined ambience, with attention to guest service. The hotel’s zinc@shade offers incredible indoor and outdoor dining and a popular lounge area. Shade is located at 1221 North Valley Drive in Manhattan Beach. For more information, visit www.shadehotel.com.

About The Kings Care Foundation

The Kings Care Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and recreational opportunities for youth throughout Greater Los Angeles. Since its inception in 1996 the Kings Care Foundation has donated more than $5 million in monetary and in-kind support to the local community.

Van Halen adds third LA show June 9

2012-02-06T16:04:00.001-08:00

Due to overwhelming demand, Van Halen have announced a third Los Angeles area performance. The band has just added a second Staples Center concert on Saturday, June 9.

Tickets for this event go on sale Saturday, February 11 at 10 AM at www.Ticketmaster.com and www.LiveNation.com, with a venue presale on Friday, February 10 from 10 AM – 10 PM (password = Staples). Known around the world for some of the most iconic live performances in music history, the legendary rock band will begin their tour on February 18. Kool & The Gang will join Van Halen as special guest for all three area shows (Staples Center on June 1 & 9; Honda Center on June 12).

Van Halen's new album, A Different Kind Of Truth, will be released in the U.S. by Interscope Records on February 7. Fans can expect Van Halen to perform selections from A Different Kind Of Truth alongside songs from their arsenal of epic hits that include: "Eruption," "Running with the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "You Really Got Me," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,” "Everybody Wants Some," "Unchained," "And The Cradle Will Rock,” "Beautiful Girls,” "Mean Street," "Somebody Get Me A Doctor,” "Jump," “Panama," "Hot For Teacher," "I'll Wait," and more from their classic albums Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down and 1984.

Van Halen – who the Los Angeles Times recently called “a force of nature” and “one of the flat-out greatest rock bands on the planet” – was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.

Pacific Standard Time events in Claremont, Pomona and Palm Springs Feb. 18 and 19

2012-02-06T16:03:00.001-08:00

Claremont / Pomona / Palm Springs special focus weekend programming will highlight Pacific Standard Time partners’ offerings

WHEN: February 18 – 19, 2012

EVENTS: Join the Pacific Standard Time celebration in Claremont, Pomona and Palm Springs for a weekend of special events at the following partnering institutions:

· American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)

· Palm Springs Art Museum

· Pomona College Museum of Art

· Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)
10 am – 4 pm In conjunction with the Pacific Standard Time exhibition Common Ground: Ceramics in Southern California 1945-1975, the Museum will have a day-long celebration including docent tours, ceramic artist demonstrations, and wheel-throwing for visitors age six and older with paid admission. Film screenings throughout the day include Susan Peterson’s Wheels, Kilns and Clay; Los Angeles Finlandia Foundation’s Otto Heino: A Way with Clay; and Terry Sander’s The World According to Dora.

Palm Springs Art Museum, Annenberg Theater
10 – 11:30 am In conjunction with the Pacific Standard Time exhibition Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California 1945-1975, author and pop culture humorist Charles Phoenix will perform Retro Slide Show: Pools, Patios and BBQs, a celebration of mid-century SoCal backyard life and style. Tickets are $25 and $10 for students with valid school ID. Tickets can be purchased here.

Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
1 – 5 pm To celebrate the Pacific Standard Time exhibition Clay’s Tectonic Shift: John Mason, Ken Price, and Steve Voulkos, 1956-1968, a special Clay Day program will include music, dance performances, and clay activities in the Bixby Courtyard adjacent to the Gallery.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
American Museum of Ceramic Art
10 am – 4 pm In conjunction with the Pacific Standard Time exhibition Common Ground: Ceramics in Southern California 1945-1975, the Museum will have a day-long celebration including docent tours, ceramic artist demonstrations, and wheel-throwing for visitors age six and older with paid admission. Film screenings throughout the day include Susan Peterson’s Wheels, Kilns and Clay; Los Angeles Finlandia Foundation’s Otto Heino: A Way with Clay; and Terry Sander’s The World According to Dora.

Pomona College Museum of Art
3 – 4 pm In conjunction with Part 2: Helene Winter at Pomona of the Pacific Standard Time exhibition It Happened at Pomona: Art at the Edge of Los Angeles, Helene Winter will host an artist conversation featuring John Baldessari, William Leavitt, and Alan Ruppersberg. The talk is followed by a gallery reception.

Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
1 – 5 pm To celebrate the Pacific Standard Time exhibition Clay’s Tectonic Shift: John Mason, Ken Price, and Steve Voulkos, 1956-1968, a special Clay Day program includes music, dance performances, and clay activities in the Bixby Courtyard adjacent to the Gallery.

WHERE: American Museum of Ceramic Art 399 N. Garey Av., Pomona 91767 ceramicmuseum.org

Palm Springs Art Museum 101Museum Dr., Palm Springs 92262 www.psmuseum.org

Pomona College Museum of Art 333 N. College Way, Claremont 91711 www.pomona.edu/museum

Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery 1030 Williamson Av., Claremont 91711 www.rcwg.scrippscollege.edu

For more information, please visit www.pacificstandardtime.org

Roman love poetry at Getty Villa Feb. 12

2012-02-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

Whether you appreciate or resent Valentine’s Day, there will be something for you in Impulse and Insult: Roman Poems of Love and Hate, a gallery course at the Getty Villa on Roman poems of love, longing, despair, and condemnation.

On Sunday, February 12, participants will indulge in Roman love poetry that veers from lyrical and loving to wildly insulting, even vicious, highlighting the timelessness of love and jealousy. Afterwards, participants can explore the galleries at the Villa to see how love is immortalized in Greek and Roman Art.

The course takes place at the Getty Villa in the meeting rooms and museum galleries from 1:00–4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 12. The course fee is $35, $28 for students and seniors. Seats are limited; to make a reservation, please call (310) 440-7300 or visit http://www.getty.edu/.

As sweet is joined with spicy, or as wine

is soothed with honey, or as curling vine

does climb and hang as close as close can be

around the trunk of its protective tree,

as waterlily floats in liquid rest,

or rooted myrtle shines onshore its best—

so be they harmonized in wedded life.

(Martial, Epigrams 4.13.3-9, translated by Gary Wills)

Next month, love continues to be in the air at the Getty Villa when Aphrodite and the Gods of Love opens on March 28. From her genesis among earlier deities in the ancient Near East to her adoption in Roman culture as Venus, this exhibition explores the realms of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. It moves beyond the familiar aspects of desire, seduction, feminine beauty, and sexuality to demonstrate the various facets of this complex divinity: civic protectress, helper to sailors, and manipulator of mortals. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in association with the J. Paul Getty Museum, the exhibition includes objects ranging from large-scale sculpture to delicate jewelry drawn from both museums' collections as well as major loans from Italian institutions.

For far too long, I have put up with far too much from her:

her repeated wrongs have exhausted my generous patience.

All I can hope for now is that love may at last withdraw

from within my breast. I want my freedom back.

I wish to be rid of these fetters and I am ashamed to have borne

what I felt no shame in bearing—but that was madness.

Now I am sane and proclaim victory, freedom, and peace!

My disgraceful love I stamp on like a bug.

(Ovid, Amores 3.2 (A1-10), translated by David Slavitt)

Visiting the Getty Villa

The Getty Villa is open Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Tuesday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Villa is always free. A ticket is required for admission. Tickets can be ordered in advance, or on the day of your visit, at www.getty.edu/visit or at (310) 440-7300. Parking is $15 per car. Groups of 15 or more must make reservations by phone. For more information, call 310-440-7300 (English or Spanish); 310-440-7305 (TTY line for the deaf or hearing impaired). The Getty Villa is at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, California.

Toby Keith to toast Nightclub & Bar Convention in Vegas March 13

2012-02-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

Superstar and spirits entrepreneur Toby Keith will be bringing his newly launched Wild Shot Mezcal to Vegas to toast the opening of the 27th Annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show. Each year, the NCB Show (www.ncbshow.com ) America’s biggest and most important bar, nightclub and beverage event of the year, brings over 31,000 industry professionals together to meet with suppliers, network, learn and have fun. The 2012 event will run from March 12-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

On Tuesday, March 13, Keith will participate in the noon ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which officially opens the show floor. Keith will also participate in a press conference with Jon Taffer, president of the Nightclub & Bar Media Group.

“I am looking forward to the Nightclub and Bar Show,” said Keith. “We are going to have fun, drink some Wild Shot Mezcal and proceed to party.”

“We are so honored and privileged to have superstar Toby Keith at this year's Nightclub & Bar Show," said Taffer. "His talents don't end on the stage or in the recording studio, with his newly debuted Wild Shot Mezcal, he is already making his mark in the restaurant, bar and spirit world."

Keith’s albums have sold more than 35 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling all-genre artists on Billboard's Top 200 Artists of the Decade. He is also Billboard's No. 1 Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade. These, among other endeavors, have earned Keith annual recognition from Forbes as one of the very top-earning entertainer/musicians in the world. Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Minneapolis, MN is nominated for Academy of Country Music Award’s Nightclub of The Year.

Wild Shot Mezcal is made in San Luis Potosi, Mexico from ten year old green agave plants. Mezcal produced with this type of agave is easily identifiable by its smooth smoky flavor. Harvested by hand and then cooked in masonry ovens for two days, the “piñas” are mashed on a circular milestone turned by a pair of mules to extract the honey juice. After fermentation, the “pulque” is distilled twice in copper pot stills. The Silver is immediately bottled while the Reposado is aged for two months in oak casks.

Tribes to release album and tour

2012-02-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

Universally acclaimed UK rockers TRIBES will storm the U.S. on March 13, 2012 with the release of their full-length debut, Baby, in stores and online via Fairfax Recordings/Universal Republic Records. The band will also take their raw live performance across the U.S. for the first time, beginning on March 4 in Vail, CO., through Austin’s SXSW Festival and ending March 27 in Philadelphia, PA.

However, these 21st century alternative rock architects are no strangers to the States. NME has sung their praises as "the best American band in Britain" while their fall American tour dates turned heads across the board with tastemakers such as Nylon Magazine declaring, “This Camden four-piece is breaking out in a big way…we can’t get enough!” Q Magazine recently stated, “…by the sound of this debut, their hearts lay several thousand miles due West. The early 90s alt-rock of the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney, The Lemonheads and Pixies loom larege over ‘Baby.’”

Like an intense intermingling of The Pixies and The Libertines, Baby could've been born during the legendary early '90s alternative explosion of Surfer Rosa and Sonic Youth's Dirty, but the album is utterly daring and diverse in its own right.

First single "We Were Children" skates from a dreamy hum of guitars into a resounding refrain that's invigorating and infectious. "When My Day Comes" taps into propulsive post punk power fueled by a colorful chorus and airtight beat. On the other end of the spectrum, "Himalaya" is elegantly haunting as sparse drums and singer Johnny Lloyd's inimitable howl entwine, while "Halfway Home" is a spacey breakup lullaby. Think of them as the alternative to "alternative".

TRIBES is currently on the NME Tour with Two Door Cinema Club, Metronomy and Azealia Banks in the UK before landing stateside.

Baby is the start of a U.S. revolution by a bunch of British lads!

‘BABY’ Track Listing:

1. Whenever

2. We Were Children

3. In the Corner of English Field

4. Halfway Home

5. Sappho

6. Himalaya

7. Nightdriving

8. When My Day Comes

9. Walking in the Street

10. Alone or With Friends

11. Bad Apple

TRIBES Tour Dates:

3/4/12 Snow Ball Experience Vail, CO.

3/6/12 Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA

3/7/12 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR

3/9/12 Hotel Utah San Francisco, CA

3/10/12 Bootleg Theatre Los Angeles, CA

3/14/12 SXSW (Waterloo, C3 Party, 101X Radio Showcase) Austin, TX

3/15/12 SXSW (Pure Volume House/98.7FM)_ Austin, TX

3/16/12 SXSW (NYLON Pool Party, Maggie Mae’s) Austin, TX

3/17/12 SXSW (Baeble Party, Dickies Party) Austin, TX

3/24/12 DC9 Washington D.C.

3/26/12 Santo’s Party House New York, NY

3/27/12 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA

TRIBES is

Johnny Lloyd (Vocals/Guitar)

Dan White (Guitar)

Miguel Demelo (Drums)

Jim Cratchley Bass)

www.tribesband.com

http://www.facebook.com/tribesband

www.twitter.com/tribesband

Mati Zundel to release album

2012-02-06T10:01:00.001-08:00

Waxploitation / ZZK Records is pleased to announce experimental dance producer Mati Zundel’s stateside debut, Amazonico Gravitante, out 3/27. A the veteran of Buenos Aires’ famed Club Niceto and one of the leading members of ZZK Records, Mati has emerged as Buenos Aires’ premier producers, pioneering a style that fuses experimental dance with everything from cumbia to bass music.

In honor of the U.S. release of Amazonico Gravitante, NPR Music premiered Mati’s psychedelic video for “Senor Montecostes.” Critic Bob Boilen wrote, “It feels as if Zundel somehow trapped a never-ending block party in his computer. The sounds of steel drums and maracas mix with electronic noise and fuzz to create an energetic, and slightly shambolic dance jam.”

Raised on rural rhythms, Mati’s debut album Amazonico Gravitante blends dance music with música típica, a combination of chacareras, huaynos, and vidalas two-step with electronic textures. Shaman chants and charango guitar loops form the backbone of Mati's songs, and tribal chants create the backbeat to percussion and bass. The result is a furiously original style that takes indigenous roots, and layers it with a contemporary sensibility, maintaining respect for ritual and tradition while pushing classic Latin influences into a cosmic future.

"The Argentine folklore music I heard on the radio all the time as a little boy recorded itself in me from a young age, even though I could only fully appreciate it later,” Mati says. “We have a complicated history in Argentina, always looking to Europe as our example and always negating our own culture, thinking that indigenous culture is ‘uncivilized.’ Now for the first time Argentina is starting to look inside and appreciate its own culture.”

Recorded across Latin America, the songs on Amazonico Gravitante dive deep into Mati’s cumbia obsession — especially “Senor Montecostes,” “Zindud,” (featuring CSS’ Marina Gasolina), and “Cumbia de la Loviya,” — then push beyond the Argentine borders. In “La Montana” he uses Ecuadorean bombo rhythms. In “Por el Pueblo” the lyrics come from traditional Bolivian tarkas, flute music. Taken together, Amazonico Gravitante is an electrifying debut from an artist straight out of the future.

Mati Zundel - Amazonico Gravitante
(3.27 – Waxploitation / ZZK )

Figure painting lecture in Pasadena March 11

2012-02-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

The California Art Club will present a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts to take part in a figure-painting lecture and demonstration by master artist Quang Ho on Sunday, March 11, at the historic Green Hotel in Old Pasadena.

The Vietnamese-born Ho, who now resides in Colorado and teaches at the Denver Art Students League, is known for his poetic portraits, landscapes and still lifes, which he creates utilizing both abstraction and impressionistic brush strokes.

“Realism and abstract—it's all the same to me,” said Ho, who will discuss both his technique and the inspiration for his artwork during the program. “The real essence of painting is the dialogue between shapes, tones, colors, textures, edges, and line,” added the artist, whose clients have included Adolph Coors Company, Safeway, the Colorado Symphony and the Chicago Symphony.

The lecture and demonstration with a live model will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Romanesque Room in the Green Hotel, located at 50 E. Green Street. The admission is $20 for California Art Club members and $25 for non-members.

This program is made possible in part by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division.

For more information on the demonstration or to make a reservation, contact the Club at (626) 583-9009 or visit www.californiaartclub.org.

Ethan Freckleton to release album

2012-02-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Ethan Freckleton has been called "a rockier Roy Orbison" and "the next alternative rock star" by his songwriting peers (Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin and Ambrosia producer David Pack, respectively). They are well-deserved accolades, but would mean nothing if the proof wasn't in the proverbial pudding.

The Seattle, WA-based artist is gearing up for the release of his debut full-length The Crazy Things We Say, and ready to show the world that he has earned that praise and talented enough to surely receive more acclaim.

The nine-song collection—produced and engineered by Johnny Sangster, a fellow Seattleite who has worked with everyone from Mudhoney to pre-teen popsters Smoosh—is the perfect showcase for Ethan's gruff yet earnest vocalizing, razor sharp melodies, and music that continues the tradition of American rock n' roll, melding a heavy influence of blues and country music with the louder and heavier guitar sounds of the grunge era that he grew up with.

The album is also a testament to the hard work that Ethan has put into learning the craft of songwriting from every conceivable angle. In 2009, he left Seattle for eight weeks, traveling across the U.S. on what he has dubbed a "songwriting sojourn."

Along the way, he hosted an interview series on his blog, getting to known different artists from around the country to get their perspective on the craft and business of songwriting. And, of course, Ethan was able to do a lot of performing along the way, from stripped down acoustic jams filmed for his blog to a show at the historic Ritz Theater in Tiffin, Ohio where he wowed a crowd of over 600 fans.

That journey has helped inform The Crazy Things We Say, as each song is a well-honed squall of rock energy that gives Ethan a chance to take on straight-up rockers ("Free To Be The Monkey"), a hearty mixture of rockabilly and rocksteady rhythms ("The Song Ain't Over"), and even a Tom Petty classic ("Mary Jane's Last Dance").

His fellow musicians have already caught on to what a rare and sincere talent we have in Ethan Freckleton. Don't wait another minute to join them in appreciating and encouraging him as he brings The Crazy Things We Say to the world at large.

Joyce Manor to release album and tour

2012-02-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

Pop-punk four-piece JOYCE MANOR's 2011 self-titled debut record was hailed as genius by more than one music critic and the album found its way onto many a 2011 Best-Of list. Now, just a few weeks into 2012, the band has announced that their sophomore album, titled Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired, will be released on Asian Man Records on April 17, 2012.

Alternative Press released the tracklisting as well as the cover art for the album today - they can be viewed online at: http://goo.gl/EhV9i. Recorded with Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden Studios in Palo Alto, CA, Of All The Things I Will Soon Grow Tired is a step in a new, more dynamic direction for the band. Says bassist Matt Ebert about the forthcoming record, "There are a handful of songs that fit right in with the songs on the first record, and there are some that sound very different - there are definitely some 1980's British pop influences on this one. I think it sounds like a pretty logical progression for us, we never want to make the same record twice!"

Critical acclaim for the band and their self-titled debut album reached fever-pitch in 2011, making them one of the most buzzed-about bands of the year. LA Weekly singled out Joyce Manor as "one of the most promising bands" in LA, while Absolutepunk hailed them by saying, "Joyce Manor have become the poster child for the young band that does everything right." Alternative Press called their debut a "sprightly, enjoyable record," and Bring On Mixed Reviews commented, "It’s rare that a band gets it this right with their first effort," while Decoy Music claims "Joyce Manor is one of a few bands to do their forefathers proud." Perhaps Punknews put it best and most simply though, when bestowing upon the band the honor of Album of the Year, that "Joyce Manor is everyone's favorite new artist. Those who disagree are clearly lying."

Not bad for four guys who describe themselves as having a "taste for bad Chinese food, Thin Lizzy guitar solos, and calling 'shotgun'." Says Matt, "We are stoked to be working with Asian Man on this whole thing, it's a bit of a dream come true for us! Putting out your second record can be kind of scary and a lot of people will listen to it with certain expectations, but we are proud of what we came up with." With bigger touring plans in the works, the band has also announced plans for a West Coast tour in March and April with more details to come soon (tour dates below).

JOYCE MANOR
tour dates

February 10 - Riverside, CA @ Blood Orange Infoshop
February 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Nomad Gallery
March 2 - Pomona, CA @ VLHS
March 9 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
March 10 - Escondido, CA @ Metaphor

March 23 - Fresno, CA @ Bel-Tower
March 24 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
March 27 - Longview, WA @ Minus World
March 29 - Bellingham, WA @ Jinx
April 3 - San Francisco, CA @ Chrome Store

www.joycemanor.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/joycemanorband
www.asianmanrecords.com/bands/joyce.html

James Hurley and Severin Brown in Altadena March 9

2012-02-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

Two of the most respected performing songwriters on the west coast team up for one night to bring an evening of solo acoustic performances to the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 9.

James Hurley and Severin Brown have long discussed performing a combined show. But heavy touring and recording schedules have interfered with those plans until now.

Hurley, a masterful guitarist and singer whom Folkworks Magazine calls “One of the Top Ten Live Acoustic Male Singer-Songwriters in L.A.”, Draws from a large catalog of diverse material. His music reﬂects inﬂuences that range from the Swing era, through the British invasion, to Saturday morning cartoons while remaining distinctly original and
completely accessible. The title track from his release “Tempest in a teacup” spent 12 weeks at the top of Indie-Music.comʼs AC chart.

Browne, whose credits include stints at Motown Records as both a recording artist and as a staff writer, took the “Indie” route a couple of albums back and produces his own releases these days. His most recent, ʻLucky Man-A Songwriterʼs Notebookʼ has garnered high praise form the press. Noted music journalist Paul Zollo calls Browne ʻan
extraordinary songwriter-one of the best and most sophisticated melodists around...ʼ

Fans of acoustic singer/songwriter music will deﬁnitely not want to miss this event.

The Coffee Gallery Backstage is located at 2029 N. Lake in Altadena. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $15, Phone (626) 798-6236

For tour information visit: www.jameshurleymusic.com , www.severinbrowne.com

Getty Center offers Valentine's Day treat

2012-02-03T15:09:00.000-08:00

Artist De Wain Valentine created his own kind of love letter to the California sea and sky: Gray Column, a 3,500-pound sculpture made of polyester resin that is twelve feet high and eight feet across.

This February 14, visitors to From Start to Finish: De Wain Valentine’s Gray Column will receive a sweet Valentine’s Day treat — and as an added bonus, the first 50 visitors to the exhibition will get an extra surprise gift. Even sweeter, artist De Wain Valentine will be on hand to discuss his work from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

One of the most influential sculptors active in Los Angeles in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Valentine is perhaps best known for his striking, semitransparent, and delicately colored large-scale polyester resin sculptures of simple geometric forms that interact intensely with the surrounding light. Not as well known, however, are the challenges Valentine faced in finding a material that would allow him to realize his artistic vision.

Part of the Los Angeles-wide Pacific Standard Time initiative, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) presents From Start to Finish: De Wain Valentine’s Gray Column, an exhibition focused on the materials and fabrication processes developed by Valentine that made the creation of his large-scale works possible. The exhibition centers around the 1975-6 sculpture Gray Column, one of the largest artworks Valentine made with polyester resin, which has never before been publicly displayed.

From Start to Finish is on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from September 13, 2011 through March 11, 2012.

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

Visiting the Getty Center

The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Monday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. Parking is $15 per car, but reduced to $10 after 5pm on Saturdays and for evening events throughout the week. No reservation is required for parking or general admission. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Please call (310) 440-7300 (English or Spanish) for reservations and information. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired is (310) 440-7305. The Getty Center is at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California

Additional information is available at www.getty.edu.

Sign up for e-Getty at www.getty.edu/subscribe to receive free monthly highlights of events at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa via e-mail, or visit www.getty.edu for a complete calendar of public programs.

One-Eyed Doll to tour with Orgy

2012-02-03T15:07:00.001-08:00

Hard rock duo One-Eyed Doll will hit the road for the first of many times this year as direct support for electro death pop act Orgy beginning February 17 in Point Richmond, CA. Orgy is on tour again for the first time in almost a decade. More dates in more cities will be added in the upcoming weeks. For details on show times and tickets, visit: www.oneeyeddoll.com/tour

The dates are:
02/17 Point Richmond, CA Crane Lake Pavilion
02/18 Santa Cruz, CA The Avalon
02/19 Las Vegas, NV Aruba
02/22 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
02/24 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
02/25 Steger, IL Another Hole in the Wall
02/26 Minneapolis, MN 1st Ave
02/28 Milwaukee, WI The Rave Eagles Club
02/29 Flint, MI Machine Shop
03/02 St. Charles, MO Brewskeez O'Fallon
03/03 Traverse City, MI Streeters
03/06 New York, NY Irving Plaza
03/09 Hagerstown, MD Breakaway's
03/13 Little Rock, AR The Rev Room
03/15 Houston, TX Scout Bar
03/16 Dallas, TX Trees
03/17 San Antonio, TX Backstage Live
03/20 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse
03/21 Los Angeles, CA Key Club
03/23 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory

One-Eyed Doll will also be releasing a new album of songs called Dirty that they recorded with Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down, Johnny Cash) this spring.

www.oneeyeddoll.com
www.facebook.com/oneeyeddollfans
www.twitter.com/oneeyeddoll
www.youtube.com/oneeyeddollvideos

LA Chamber Orchestra family conceert Feb. 26

2012-02-03T15:06:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Family Concert: PROJECT Trio’s Appalachian Spring
Jacomo Bairos, conductor
PROJECT Trio (Greg Pattillo, flute, Eric Stephenson, cello, and Peter Seymour, bass)
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

WHEN:
Sunday, February 26, 2012
1 pm – Pre-concert activities, including LACO’s “Instrument Petting Zoo” with students of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, crafts with Kidspace Children’s Museum, dance-circles with the YMCA Glendale, and “create your own box harp” with the Autry Museum of the American West;
2 pm – Performance

WHERE:
Alex Theatre
216 N. Brand Boulevard
Glendale, 91203

PROGRAM:
COPLAND Appalachian Spring
PROJECT Trio Original works

TICKET PRICES:
Tickets for individual concerts: $12-$20
Subscriptions including tickets to all three Family Concerts, February 26, April 1 & May 6, available at $51 and $30.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets available online at www.laco.org , by phone 213 622 7001 or by fax 213 626 2157
Tickets also on sale at the theatre box office the day of the concert, if available

Realistic to release album

2012-02-03T15:05:00.001-08:00

“Token Gestures” is the first single from the upcoming new album “Drowned In Meaning” by Realistic.

[SOUNDCLOUD]: http://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/realistic-token-gestures

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/realistic/mp3/realistic-tokengestures.mp3

[TRAILER]: http://vimeo.com/35079054

Following up previous releases for the Illegal Art (Girl Talk) and Seeland Records (Negativland) labels among others, Brooklyn-based electronic collage artist James Towning will release his latest album as Realistic on February 29th. Drowned In Meaning (the album title is intentionally sarcastic) features 16 tracks comprised of hundreds of samples -- some obvious, some obviously obscure -- stitched and layered with Towning’s own synthesizers, drum machines, digital effects, and keen sense of humor.

Drowned In Meaning’s first single is “Token Gestures” where the Hall & Oates hit “Kiss On My List”, vintage tape of the Mars rover lift off sequence, the sound of a fireworks display that Towning recorded in Brooklyn Heights, and a few dozen additional pieces of audio combine to form a track that sounds strange, familiar and strangely familiar.

“More often than not, I’m drawn to using samples that strike a personal or nostalgic chord,” Towning explains. “I might use two bars from a favorite Cabaret Voltaire track, a snippet from a TV series, or environmental sounds recorded around my neighborhood. Every track has undiscovered conceptual references or an abstract story that I can tell with a new sound that I have on hand.”

Towning’s neighborhood also influenced the album’s artwork. “The cover image is my photo of a garbage dump near my home in Brooklyn," says Towning. "This image resonated with me. The pile of trash reflects the pile of sounds and the glitter texture incorporated into it speaks to how I think the production techniques add a sparkly sheen to the original samples. Glitter holds a nostalgic quality for me as well – it reminds me of my childhood art class.”

Drowned In Meaning, the latest album by Realistic is set for release on the artist’s own Blackmail Electronics label on February 29th, 2012.

Realistic

Drowned In Meaning

(Blackmail Electronics – Feb. 29th, 2012)

Track Listing:

01. Math is Hard

02. Cuddle Party Headrush

03. Notes to Self

04. Token Gestures

05. Drama Distortion

06. Dot Pattern

07. Glitter and Glue

08. Moment of Realisation

09. One Hundred Years

10. Woozy Familiarity

11. Pointless Creative Endeavor

12. The Sea of Showers

13. Good Luck With All That

14. Mining for Content

15. Pursuit of Happiness

16. Late Nights and Weekends

David Diggs to release album with daughter

2012-02-03T15:04:00.001-08:00

After more than 20 years of critically-acclaimed success, Top 10 Billboard Jazz artist David Diggs collaborates with his daughter Rachel for their national record debut of Black Coffee on April 3, 2012.

Produced, arranged and orchestrated by David, the American Songbook album features two instrumental tracks “Just Ask” and “She Paints,” performed by David as well. Additionally, Rachel transforms her poems into lyrics that are beautifully portrayed in the vibrant track “Spice of Life.” The Gold Label father-and-daughter duo blends the hard-to-find classic jazz melodies with modern-day riffs resulting in an infectious ten-track record.

Recognized for her hit song “Hands of Time” (Center of the Earth; PBGL Label) featured on ABC Family’s hit TV show “Pretty Little Liars,” Rachel became a world-wide sensation and is continuing to make her impact in the musical arena. With her rich, vocal quality and passionate delivery, the music and voice of Rachel immediately captivates the listener. An uprising vocalist, Rachel recently won a singer-songwriter contest sponsored by Atlantic Records and Pantene Pro-V, and was flown to New York to open for the award-winning artist Jewel in New York’s Central Park. Additionally, Rachel has also been featured on various projects including Shannon McNally (Capitol Records), Doug Cameron, Mary Ekler, Ryan DeHues and more.

Her father, David, is best known for his melodic imagination and polished arranging and producing. Having made a mark on the scene with his highly celebrated release Streetshadows, which held its spot in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Jazz Album Charts for 26 weeks, David has produced and arranged multiple GRAMMY ® nominated albums and has graced the stage at The Tonight Show and Midnight Special, Better Homes & Gardens’ 90-minute television special and feature films.

For more information on David and Rachel Diggs, please visit www.DavidDiggs.com or www.patsgold.com.

Esotouric crime tour & forensic event March 3 and 4

2012-02-03T15:02:00.000-08:00

Forensic science and cultural history collide with LAVA's serial arson /
Downtown crime lore weekend

EVENT #1: Saturday, March 3, 12-4pm - Esotouric presents Hotel Horrors and
Main Street Vice, a Downtown double-feature bus and walking tour (departs
from Americano, formerly Cafe Metropol, 923 E. 3rd. Street, Los Angeles, CA
90013, $58/person)
INFO/RESERVATIONS: http://esotouric.com/hotelhorrors-3-3-12
TOUR PHOTOS: http://flickr.com/photos/richardschave/sets/72157623986634614

EVENT #2: Sunday, March 4, 12-4pm - Professor Donald Johnson, in association
with LAVA and Esotouric, presents a fundraiser lecture/tour benefiting the
CSULA Criminalistics graduate department "Inside the Mind of the Arsonist"
(at The Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center at Cal State L.A., 1800
Paseo Rancho Castilla, Los Angeles, CA 90032, $36.50/person)
INFO/RESERVATIONS: http://lavatransforms.org/crimelabmarch4

There's just something special about the notorious crimes of
Los Angeles, the way they resonate in the consciousness, and continue to
fascinate years after the fact. In March, LAVA The Los Angeles Visionaries
Association, dedicates a weekend to uncovering the reality behind some of
the city's most compelling and unusual true crimes.

These two remarkable events Esotouric's historic Hotel Horrors and Main
Street Vice bus and walking tour exploring the criminal lore of a grand old
neighborhood, and a crime lab tour and lecture featuring the personal
experiences and research of Ed Nordskog, an active arson/bomb detective with
the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and author of the new book
"'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of Notorious Serial Arsonists." The
program offers an opportunity to get behind the headlines and the hype and
explore fascinating true crime cases with a depth and seriousness rarely
offered to the public. This LAVA weekend is a must for intelligent crime
aficionados and those with a passion for the untold stories of Los Angeles.

ABOUT ESOTOURIC'S HOTEL HORRORS & MAIN STREET VICE TOUR:
>From the founding of the city through the 1940s, Downtown was the true
center of Los Angeles, a lively, densely populated, exciting and sometimes
dangerous place. After many quiet decades, Downtown is making an incredible
return. But while many of the historic buildings remain, their stories have
been lost.

That's why Esotouric, the eclectic bus adventure company whose tours reveal
the secret history of L.A. through crime, culture, literature and
architecture, is offering HOTEL HORRORS AND MAIN STREET VICE, a tour meant
to bring alive the old ghosts and memories that cling to the streets and
structures of the historic core.

The HOTEL HORRORS section of the tour is steeped in true crime and oddities,
featuring some of the wildest, weirdest, goriest and most memorable
happenings in historic hotels like the Alexandria, Hayward, Barclay, King
Edward and Cecil. Join the tour and you'll step inside several of these
legendary locales, and find out where Night Stalker Richard Ramirez slept,
which hotel saw a visit from the Skid Row Slasher, where two traveling
chocolate salesmen laughed so hard they fell backwards out a window to their
deaths. You'll also explore the fiery curse that repeatedly leveled the St.
George Hotel, and hear some light hearted stories to help the blood and gore
go down.

The MAIN STREET VICE section is a social history lesson celebrating the
ribald, racy, raunchy old promenade where the better people simply did not
travel, but kicks were had by all who did. Burlesque babes and dirty picture
parlors, mummified western outlaws and old time tattoo parlors, wax museums
and pawn brokers, "professors" offering sex lectures and magazine peddlers
with nudie Marilyn Monroe calendars under the counter, sophisticated steak
houses and nickel donut dives -- these were the pleasures and the people to
be found along Main during the first half of the 20th century, a street that
every Angeleno knew offered more (yet less) of what could be seen anywhere
else. We'll visit the scenes of some more unforgettable debaucheries and
share stories of crime, smut, passion and commerce.

Climb aboard for a time travel journey back to the downtown that's not there
anymore, and the surprising number of gems that survive.

ABOUT LAVA'S CRIME LAB EVENT: The March 4 event "Inside the Mind of the
Arsonist is a fundraiser for the Criminalistics graduate department at Cal
State L.A., the latest in a series of events at the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic
Science Center at Cal State L.A.

³Inside the Mind of the Arsonist² is an exploration of the scientific
investigation of fire-related felony offenses, revealed through methods of
evidence analysis, profiling and select case histories. Attendees will also
have an opportunity to tour Cal State LA's state-of the-art teaching and
research facilities in the Criminalistics Department of the Hertzberg-Davis
Forensic Science Center.

³Inside the Mind of the Arsonist² is hosted by Ed Nordskog, an active
arson/bomb detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and
author of the new book "'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of Notorious
Serial Arsonists." Copies of Mr. Nordskog's book will be available for sale
at this event.

The presentation consists of two lectures from Ed Nordskog, with a related
breakout scientific workshop offering illustration of the concepts raised by
the lectures.

LECTURE #1 is an introduction to the six main motives behind the crime of
arson spite/revenge, financial gain, crime concealment,
excitement/recognition (hero fires), extremism, juvenile fires
(curiosity/experimentation/vandalism)‹and to Ed Nordskog's investigative
specialty, a modification of the standard arson investigation in which he
"profiles" the arson scene in order to determine a "motive" for the crime.
He does this by determining the actual "target" of the arson attack and the
method of ignition for the event. This usually indicates a motive and the
level of sophistication of the offender. Because arson is a very personal
crime in which the victim nearly always knows who set the fire, it is
relatively easy to identify a suspect‹although proving they were involved is
not so easy.

LECTURE #2 focuses on select cases studies of convicted serial arsonists,
including nationally known crimes and cases on which Ed Nordskog worked
personally. Included will be discussion of Glendale arson investigator /
arsonist John Orr and the prolific Washington D.C. arsonist Thomas Sweatt.

Following this second lecture, attendees will have the opportunity to
purchase copies of Ed Nordskog's book "'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of
Notorious Serial Arsonists."

By the afternoon's conclusion, attendees will have a deeper understanding of
the real work that's done in the field by arson investigators, and the tools
and techniques used to interpret crime scenes for the benefit of
investigating officers and juries.

ABOUT ED NORDSKOG: Ed Nordskog is an active arson/bomb detective with the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He has been a detective since 1990,
working specifically in the arson and explosives world since 1997. He has
conducted over sixteen hundred fire investigations and as of this writing
has personally arrested and interviewed over 250 persons who were convicted
of fire setting and related crimes. He has testified in court as a
recognized expert in this field on over fifty-five occasions. He has been
consulted by prosecuting attorneys on death penalty cases involving arson
and murder on three occasions. He has been personally involved in over
twenty serial arson investigations. The author has a master's degree in
emergency services management and is certified as a fire investigator by the
California State Fire Marshal and the California Conference of Arson
Investigators. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Arson
Investigation Course, the ATF Advanced Arson Investigation Course, the
Forensic Fire Death Investigation Course, and numerous other arson
investigation courses. He is involved in course development and teaches fire
scene investigation, major arson case investigation, serial arson
investigation, and arson murder/fire death investigation. He is a course
developer and instructor for the state of California's Arson and Explosives
Investigation Course. He is an instructor for the state of California's
Homicide Investigator's Course. In 2004, the author was named Arson
Investigator of the Year by the International Association of Arson
Investigators and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the International
Association of Special Investigations Units; both of these awards are for
his work as the lead investigator on a massive arson for hire scheme,
involving fifty-five burned properties. He has received over eighty-five
commendations, awards, and medals throughout his law enforcement career
related to successful criminal investigations. He is author of the book
"'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of Notorious Serial Arsonists"
(http://www.torcheredminds.com ).

Upcoming Esotouric bus tour and LAVA special event schedule
Sat Feb 4 - Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: Route 66
Sat Feb 25 - Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: The Lowdown on Downtown
Sun Feb 26 - Victorian Los Angeles Part Two (info at www.lavatransforms.org)
Sat March 3 - Hotel Horrors & Main Street Vice crime bus tour
Sun March 4 - Inside the Mind of the Arsonist (info at lavatransforms.org)
Sat March 10 - Weird West Adams crime bus tour
Sat March 17 - Pasadena Confidential crime bus tour (weekend pass available)
Sun March 18 - East Side Babylon crime bus tour (weekend pass available)
Sat April 7 - Charles Bukowski's Los Angeles (weekend pass available)
Sun April 8 John Fante's Dreams from Bunker Hill (weekend pass available)
Sat April 14 - The Real Black Dahlia crime bus tour
Sat April 21 - Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' L.A.
Sat April 28 - Maja's Mysteries: Rapture & Release
Mon April 30- The LAVA Salon at Musso & Frank featuring John Buntin (info at
lavatransforms.org)
Sat May 19 - Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles
Sun May 20 Blood & Dumplings crime bus tour

For more info on Esotouric, visit http://www.esotouric.com

Esotouric's Richard Schave and Kim Cooper are proud members of LAVA - The
Los Angeles Visionaries Association. http://www.lavatransforms.org

Joe Louis Walker in Arcadia March 9

2012-02-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Award-winning guitar slinger, passionate vocalist and gifted songwriter Joe Louis Walker, currently celebrating the release of his Alligator Records debut, HELLFIRE, will perform at the Arcadia Blues Club in Arcadia on Friday, March 9 and Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

Walker has been releasing groundbreaking music since 1986 and has toured -- and continues to tour -- worldwide. He has won four Blues Music Awards (BMA) and has been nominated for 44 more, including a nomination for a 2012 BMA for Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year. Walker's also recorded as a guest with some of the blues world's best-known artists, including appearances on Grammy-winning records by B.B. King and James Cotton. The New York Times raves, "Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. He delivers no-nonsense, gutsy blues. His guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair." Rolling Stone simply calls him "ferocious." Concert information is as follows:

Date: Friday, March 9, 2012
Venue: Arcadia Blues Club
Address: 16 East Huntington Dr.
City: Arcadia, CA
Phone: 626-447-9349
Showtime: 8:00pm
Ticket price: $10 advance / $15 at the door
Website: www.arcadiabluesclub.com

Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Venue: Cafe Boogaloo
Address: 1238 Hermosa Ave.
City: Hermosa Beach, CA
Phone: 310-308-4326
Showtime: 9:00pm
Ticket price: $10
Website: www.boogaloo.com

HELLFIRE was produced by songwriter/drummer Tom Hambridge (producer of Buddy Guy's two most recent Grammy-winning CDs, Skin Deep and Living Proof). Walker, who wrote or co-wrote seven of the CD's eleven tracks, says it's the hardest rocking and most deeply soulful album of his career. His blistering blues guitar playing and gospel-tinged vocals effortlessly blend throughout the album.

Joe Louis Walker was born in San Francisco on Christmas Day of 1949. His parents were both from the South and they brought their love of blues with them when they headed west. Joe's dad played blues piano, and his mom played B.B. King records. Walker picked up the guitar as a child, and by the time he was 16 was regularly backing touring blues artists rolling through town. San Francisco's music scene was quickly becoming a melting pot of blues, jazz and psychedelic rock, and Walker was right in the center of it.

As a 16-year-old,Walker was the house guitarist at San Francisco's famed musical playground, The Matrix, where he played with or opened shows for everyone from Lightnin' Hopkins to Jimi Hendrix to Thelonious Monk. He was also a regular at The Fillmore West. The blues legends Walker accompanied shared not only musical knowledge but also their personal wisdom with the teenage up-and-comer. Fred McDowell, Ike Turner, Albert King, Freddy King, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Lightnin' Hopkins and many others taught, fed, and chastised the youngster. Inspired by what he learned, Walker developed his own fiery, melodic, and always unpredictable guitar attack.

Walker met guitarist Michael Bloomfield in 1968 and the two became fast friends. Bloomfield helped push Walker's blues in a more rock-fueled direction, and he became the single biggest influence on Walker's sound. The two shared an apartment for years and remained close friends until Bloomfield's death in 1981. From 1975 to 1985, Walker performed nothing but gospel music, playing and singing as a member of The Spiritual Corinthians. In 1986, after Walker returned to playing the blues, Hightone Records released his debut CD, Cold Is The Night. Firmly rooted in blues, gospel, R&B and rock, the album caught the attention of music fans around the country.

With each subsequent release, Walker's audience continues to grow, as his touring schedule continues to expand. He's played major European festivals, including Northsea Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, Notodden and Montreux, as well as festivals in Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Ireland, Turkey and Brazil. He's appeared on national television, with performances on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, The Don Imus Show and Later With Jools Holland in the UK.

Fans and critics have been celebrating Walker for years. Blues Revue calls Walker "one of contemporary blues' most dynamic and innovative musicians, releasing consistently exciting music. No matter what he's singing, Walker's approach is soulful, heartfelt and spellbinding." Living Blues says, "His fretwork is indelibly stamped with his own trademark blend of emotional heat and impeccable precision -- even at his most flamboyant, Walker sounds as if he's playing ideas, not just notes."

SXSW showcase to stream on NPR

2012-02-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

In what’s become a mid-March must-listen, NPR Music and partner public radio stations will present a can’t-miss-this-one line up for the opening night of the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference, Wednesday, March 14 at Stubbs. The official showcase will be available on-air, online and on mobile to everyone, everywhere, in a live broadcast on NPR Member stations across the country, and live video stream at www.npr.org/music and NPR Music apps.

NPR Music continues its SXSW tradition of bringing to the stage current favorites, and musicians on the rise. This year’s showcase, with special guests to be announced:

Andrew Bird

The Chicago-based lyricist and multi-instrumentalist headlines the NPR Music showcase just a week after the release of his highly anticipated new album Break It Yourself, and the night before embarking on a North American tour (starting in Texas!). Bird’s distinctive mix of jazz, folk and rock elements has garnered both critical and popular acclaim.

Alabama Shakes

The quartet – singer Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, drummer Steve Johnson and bassist Zac Cockrell – will likely bring the house down with its southern-tinged blend of garage rock and soul. Expect newly converted fans to clamor for the group’s debut album, Boys & Girls, due April 10.

Dan Deacon

The Baltimore-based electronic musician, who’s gone from blogosphere favorite to scoring a film by Francis Ford Coppola (the director said he discovered Deacon via NPR, thank you), brings his high-energy live show to the Stubb’s stage.

Sharon Van Etten

Over the course of three albums, the singer-songwriter has evolved beyond folk, to become a fierce balladeer and rocker. This directness is exposed on her latest, Tramp, now streaming in a First Listen at NPR Music, along with an interview with Van Etten.

…And More

Stay tuned.

Joining NPR Music in SXSW revelry are six public radio station partners – KUT Austin, WFUV New York, WXPN Philadelphia, KCRW Los Angeles, KEXP Seattle and The Current from Minnesota Public Radio. More news from NPR Music at SXSW 2012 will be announced in coming weeks, including its annual day party at the Parish on Thursday, March 15, station broadcasts and events. Stay tuned.

NPR Music celebrates great music and is an industry leader in music discovery. The Emmy Award-winning multimedia site www.npr.org/music and iPhone App offer constant new features and an extensive archive, in collaboration with NPR’s newsmagazines, public radio member stations and the passionate NPR community. NPR Music creates and distributes inventive music coverage across multiple platforms – from web, to radio, to podcast, to mobile, to social media, to live events – with first listens to new albums, live performances, concerts at the Tiny Desk, interviews, articles and blogs.

Bruce Springsteen to perform on Grammy Awards

2012-02-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

Twenty-time GRAMMY® winner Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band have been added to the stellar lineup for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com ).

Actor/recording artist Jack Black, six-time GRAMMY winner and current three-time nominee Fergie, three-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (The Roots), and nine-time GRAMMY winner Ringo Starr will appear as presenters. Music's Biggest Night® — hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J — 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 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.

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj, and Shelton will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time. Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Drake, Miranda Lambert, and Gwyneth Paltrow. LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and this is his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.

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.

Trio M in Hollywood Feb. 3

2012-02-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Jazz Bakery's Movable Feast Presents

Trio M

Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, Matt Wilson

Friday February 3rd - 8:30PM

Musicians Institute in Hollywood

Trio M brings together three of the most respected veteran musicians in jazz and improvised music. The New York City Jazz Record's Laurence Donohue-Greene writes, "The exploratory Trio M...continues to turn out one mesmerizing set after another, revealing their deep empathy while equally balancing composition with improvisation. Each member is readily equipped to do anything at any given moment, from soloing to laying out to changing tempo, the three moving as one, always."

Critics have called the group, "one of those rare units that can be both wildly creative and surprisingly user-friendly" (Alexander Varty, Georgia Straight) and "not only one of the most virtuosic playing today, but one of the most consistently engrossing" (Derk Richardson, The Absolute Sound). "Melford, Dresser and Wilson know no bounds on their instruments and don't give a hang about boundaries," adds JazzTimes reviewer Carlo Wolff, "theirs is improvisation so empathetic, they seem of one mind."

Myra Melford - piano
Mark Dresser - bass
Matt Wilson - drums
Fri. February 3rd - 1 show - 8:30pm

General - $25 / Student - $15

The Jazz Bakery's Movable Feast

Musicians Institute Concert Center

1655 N. McCadden Place,

Hollywood, CA 90028

DragonForce to release new album

2012-02-02T10:21:00.001-08:00

London-based metal superstars DragonForce have revealed details of their forthcoming new album. Entitled The Power Within, this 10-track monster marks the band's fifth studio album and its first with new singer Marc Hudson behind the microphone. It will be released April 17 by Roadrunner Records in the U.S.

DragonForce guitarist Herman Li said, "The last two years have been the most fun we ever had making an album. Through writing, jamming and touring together, we have built this incredible energy and it has been fully captured on the new album."

Li also claims the album boasts the fastest song the band has ever recorded. He continued, "This time around we’ve really brought our metal side to the surface and made some of the best music of our career. From the fastest song we’ve ever recorded to the slower songs, and some things you would never expect from us, this is by far the most diverse DragonForce album yet."

The full track listing for The Power Within is as follows:

1. Holding On

2. Fallen World

3. Cry Thunder

4. Give Me the Night

5. Wings of Liberty

6. Seasons

7. Heart of the Storm

8. Die By the Sword

9. Last Man Stands

10. Seasons (Acoustic Version)

There will also be a digital special edition featuring the bonus tracks "Cry Thunder (Live Rehearsal)," "Heart of the Storm (Alternative Chorus Version)" and "Avant La Tempête (Instrumental)."

Look for exciting US tour announcements coming soon.

http://www.dragonforce.com

Appleonia releases video

2012-02-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

APPLEONIA: "PRECIOUS VIDEO"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l89e94_MTis
OUTTAKES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1l5K4NkWcY

WEBSITE: http://www.appleoniamusic.com/

Jessica Chapnik Kahn is not interested in being a mere mortal. After years of mortality, she decided to give birth to something else: herself. As Appleonia.

For Prince fans, the immediate connotation may be that of former protege/Purple Rain co-star Apollonia--but this little apple is not she. This Appleonia was born from the ground and is inspired by all things that have kept the apple as a key symbolic figure in mythology and literature for centuries.

Here are some things about Jessica Chapnik Kahn that you might like to know: she immigrated to Australia as a child from Argentina. She lived in a migrant hostel. She was raised by Jewish Polish Catholic Italian Argentinian parents who joined a couple of cults along the way. She dreams in Spanish. Her first crush was Marilyn Monroe, followed closely by Lady Diana. She acts. She formed her first band at 17. As a teenager she studied the bible. As an adult she studies with a Rabbi. She visits a young saint in India. She was on an Australian soap opera. She doesn't know how to swim, but she lives by the sea. She has a cat phobia. It is tensions like these that have influenced her music-making to date.

It was whilst playing and singing for a few years with several well known Australian artists that Jessica met and began collaborating with singer Ben Lee. Lee was writing and producing a soundtrack for the Australian film The Square, and he needed a voice that was able to carry the weight of these songs. He found the perfect foil in Jessica.

Following from this, encouraged by Lee, Jessica wrote a collection of her own songs. Soon, the two began working together in Lee's home, experimenting freely and drawing from folk-pop traditions and electronic music. Fellow musicians Jimmy Tamberello (Dntel, The Postal Service), Ian Ball (Gomez), Nadav Kahn (Gelbison, Kahn Brothers), Lara Meyerratken (El May) and others came on board to contribute to Appleonia's debut record, "Oh".

However, it was in teaming up with filmmaker Penny Vozniak that Jessica began to bring her songs to sparkling visual life. Making a string of homemade videos together, the pair quickly became a two-woman show, acting as director, producer and crew while concocting frenzied one-shot ideas that often required life-threatening trial and error (all documented, of course).

First in line is their award-winning video for the song "Precious," a one-take masterpiece that finds Jessica physically embraced and affected by the natural world in a ritual full of theatre and gentle drama. It is the idea of transformation and the symbolic nature of things that has inspired her video art and makes them something of an experience. They lie somewhere between science fiction, a Greek/Hindu myth and Xanadu.

So, this is the birth of Appleonia. More music and more videos are on the way; many more ways to give yourself over to the siren song of Jessica's mysterious voice, where the brightest colors walk hand in hand with the dark.

Electric Forest festival announces lineup for June 28-July 1

2012-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Electric Forest - returning June 28-July 1, 2012 to the beloved Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan - today announces its artist lineup. Tickets are available now at www.electricforestfestival.com.

Live music pioneers The String Cheese Incident (3 performances), Bassnectar and STS9 (2 performances) will top the bill at Electric Forest 2012. Also on the bill are Thievery Corporation, Girl Talk, Santigold, Steve Aoki, Ghostland Observatory, Richie Hawtin, Major Lazer, Big Gigantic, The Travelin’ McCourys featuring Keller Williams and many more. The complete list of currently confirmed artists is included below.

Electric Forest 2012 also introduces special curated events at this year’s festival. Working with such esteemed partners as ESL Music, Dim Mak, Check Yo Ponytail and Paxahau, look for events within the event to be hosted at the Tripolee, Forest and Wagon Wheel stages throughout the weekend. Visit the www.electricforestfestival.com for details as they become available.

Named among Paste Magazine’s 2011 list of “Top 10 Most Intriguing Inaugural Music Festivals,” last year’s Electric Forest helped propel the U.S. festival scene into a brave new era of music and camping festivals – offering incomparable VIP experiences, unique festival site features and amenities with astonishing and unparalleled integration of music and art.

Electric Forest’s unrivaled GOOD LIFE VIP experience boasts something for all budgets and tastes, from camping and RV spots, to log cabins and homes, to resort hotel-style suites – all located on the festival grounds. Visit www.electricforestfestival.com for GOOD LIFE options and details. The festival’s exclusive site - at the one-of-a-kind Double JJ Resort - offers trails, forests, fields, lakes and beachfronts, and even on-site lodging, bars and eateries. In addition, Electric Forest patrons can take advantage of the resort’s many amenities including a 60,000 square foot indoor water park, an 18-hole championship golf course, swimming pools, horseback riding, and more. At the heart of the festival, the mind-blowing Sherwood Forest offers state-of-the-art, jaw-dropping light displays, intricate and earthy artful touches, and everything in between.

Also today, Electric Forest 2012 announces two local philanthropic initiatives: Electric Forest’s Roy Price Memorial Food Drive, and the festival’s Music in Schools Program. Electric Forest’s annual Food Drive returns this year as a tribute to cherished Electric Forest neighbor, the late Mr. Roy Price. “Mr. Price and his wife offered us amazing support during last year’s Food Drive,” explains Electric Forest Producer Jeremy Stein. “They worked closely with our food drive partners, Conscious Alliance, to help ensure that the 9300 lbs. of food donated by festival attendees was distributed to those in the local community who were in most need. Mr. Price will be missed, and we’ll host this year’s Food Drive in his honor.”

Electric Forest’s Music in Schools Program is partnering with Shelby High School and Montague Area Public Schools in Michigan to help support music education in local area public schools. Electric Forest will donate funds and/or musical instruments to these music programs to help ensure that today’s youth have the opportunity to learn about music in school. In addition, young musicians from both schools will be onsite to shadow industry professionals and to perform at Electric Forest 2012.

For ongoing updates:
www.electricforestfestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElectricForest
Twitter: @Electric_Forest
You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/TheElectricForest

Electric Forest is produced by Madison House Presents and Insomniac.

Electric Forest’s list of confirmed 2012 performers is as follows:

The String Cheese Incident (3 Shows)
Bassnectar
STS9 (2 Shows)
Thievery Corporation
Girl Talk
Santigold
Steve Aoki
Ghostland Observatory
Richie Hawtin
Wolfgang Gartner
Major Lazer
The Travelin' McCourys featuring Keller Williams
Dada Life
Big Gigantic
Datsik
Zeds Dead
Rob Garza (Of Thievery Corporation)
12th Planet
Borgore
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Midnite
MiMoSA
EOTO
Das Racist
Reggie Watts
Paper Diamond
Felix Cartal
Gary Clark Jr.
Balkan Beat Box
Big Freedia
Nit GriT
The Infamous Stringdusters
Nickodemus
Chali 2na & the House of Vibe
Alvin Risk
The Soul Rebels
See-I
Glass Candy
Battles
Gramatik
Elephant Revival
Ursula 1000
Minnesota
Nobody Beats The Drum
Congo Sanchez
Fruit Bats
The M Machine
Chromatics
Pictureplane
AutoErotique
Nathaniel Rateliff
Adventure Club
Afrolicious
Virtual Boy
The Funk Ark
Franki Chan
Brothers Past
Crizzly
HOTTUB
Zoogma
Cherub
Frank Mitchell Jr.
The Knocks
Vau de Vire Society
Morning Teleportation
DrFameus
Robert Rich
Quixotic
Chuck Flask & Keith Kemp
DJ SOLO
Ataxia
The Crane Wives
Secrets
WALA
Human Agency

And Featuring These Curated Events:
ESL Music at Tripolee
Dim Mak at Tripolee
Check Yo Ponytail at Tripolee
Paxahau at the Forest Stage and Wagon Wheel

With more to be announced…

Tickets on sale now at www.electricforestfestival.com and at 1-888- 512-SHOW (Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm CST).

Gemma Ray tackles Sparks songs

2012-02-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Maverick UK songstress Gemma Ray has interpreted 2 songs by the legendary Sparks, but in true Mael style the LA duo have in turn re-interpreted her interpretation and turned it back in on itself. “What?!” we hear you gasp! - Let’s back up…

Gemma Ray, who once fainted at one of Sparks’ London shows —“it was intense” — was contemplating injecting elements of her next album with some Sparks-esque pomp. But rather than imitate, she approached the masters themselves. Circumstances conspired against it however. Sparks were immersed in taking their incredible musical The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergmann to the stage, but an affinity was established and the three stayed in touch.

What eventually transpired was unplanned, and as unlikely as it is unprecedented. The Maels dared Gemma to attempt one of their songs – and they all eventually ended up choosing a curious two. “How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall” (from their album Lil’ Beethoven) and the innuendo-filled “Eaten By The Monster Of Love” (from Angst In My Pants). Gemma gladly accepted the challenge, updating the songs with her torch-singing noir style. Ron & Russell then took these new Ray-styled numbers, and re-built them Sparks-style!

As Gemma put it, “I have long been a huge admirer of Sparks’ non-conformity which allows them to take their uncompromising creativity to wherever it wants to go. But I really could not imagine what my thing combined with their thing would sound like, and that was a big part of the attraction. ”

And in the words of Sparks: “It takes a certain type of bravery to attack our songs. Gemma has both bravery and immense talent. We are moved by the results.”

The two songs will be released as a limited edition collectors 7” and download, with artwork by Rick Froberg (Obits/Hot Snakes/Drive Like Jehu). And in the coming months Gemma plays HMV Next Big Thing, SXSW, as well as European dates with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and CW Stonekin.

Gemma will be performing a series of U.S. shows leading into her performances at SXSW this year, including a showcase at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 on 2/29 at 9:00 p.m. See full tour dates below. Also check out Gemma's video for "How Do I Get to Carnegie Hall" over at http://www.nme.com/, where the video premiered.

Gemma Ray Tour Dates
2/29: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2 (9:00 p.m.)
3/5: Chapel Hill @ Local 506
3/6: Nashville, TN @ TBA
3/7: Atlanta, GA @ Star Bar
3/8: Savannah, GA @ Stopover Festival
3/9: Tuscaloosa, AL @ Green Bar
3/10: Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's
3/11: Houston, TX @ TBA
3/12-3/16: SXSW

Roger Hodgson of Supertramp to tour

2012-02-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

Roger Hodgson, the legendary voice of Supertramp, will embark on his Breakfast in America Tour next month, kicking off with two sold out shows at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, CA.

Fans the world over have been thrilled with Hodgson’s unforgettable songs such as “Breakfast in America,” “The Logical Song,” “Dreamer,” “Give a Little Bit,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and “School.” Hodgson and his band will perform these timeless songs, as they take you on a magical musical journey.

Universally recognized as one of the most gifted composers and songwriters to have ever put pen to paper, Hodgson helped define a generation of progressive rock. Founding Supertramp in 1969, Hodgson’s dulcet tones and beautifully crafted lyrics helped the band sell in excess of 60 million albums, transforming them into a worldwide phenomenon. Although he departed the band in 1983, he is still regarded as the spiritual and creative force behind Supertramp.

For a taste of the live Hodgson experience, Take the Long Way Home – Live in Montreal, is available on DVD from Eagle Rock Entertainment. Click to view songs from the DVD: “Take the Long Way Home,“ “Breakfast in America” and “Give a Little Bit.”

Reflecting on his tour and DVD, Roger said "I love performing these songs, which continue to resound for me as a performer and for the fans. My songs come from a very personal place inside me and they carry my beliefs and my dreams and my philosophy of life. I understand the deep connection that fans have with my songs that have been a part of so many peoples’ lives around the world."

Roger Hodgson will perform at the following venues:

February 24 and 25 Temecula, California, Pechanga Resort Casino

February 26 Chandler, AZ, Wild Horse Pass Casino

February 28 Tulsa, OK, Hard Rock Casino - The Joint

March 2 Hinckley, MN, Grand Casino Hinckley

March 3 and 4 Milwaukee, WI, Potawatomi Casino / Northern Lights Theater

March 7 Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live

March 8 Ft. Pierce, FL, Sunrise Theatre

August 17 Lincoln, RI, Twin River Casino Event Center

More dates to be announced in the coming weeks! For details: http://www.rogerhodgson.com/documents/tour.html

Enrique Castrejon exhibit in LA opens Feb. 2

2012-02-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

JULIAN BERMUDEZ PROUDLY PRESENTS

ENRIQUE CASTREJON

WAIFS & STRAYS 02.02 – 03.22

OPENING RECEPTION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 8-11PM

BERMUDEZ PROJECTS DOWNTOWN LA

117 WEST 9TH STREET, SPACE 810

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90015

TO PREVIEW THE EXHIBIT, PLEASE CONTACT JULIANBERMUDEZ@HOTMAIL.COM. SPACE IS LIMITED. PLEASE RSVP TO ATTEND.

PAID PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE ADJACENT LOT (OFF 9TH STREET, BETWEEN BROADWAY AND MAIN).

Fishbone on iTunes and 'Jimmy Kimmel'

2012-02-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone Released on iTunes Today in Honor of Black History Month

Out On DVD February 21st

Watch Fishbone Play The Film's Title Track Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Following Monday's performance of “Everyday Sunshine”, “Lyin' Ass Bitch” intro (and we all remember that late night TV controversy...ahem...Michelle Bachmann) into “Crazy Glue” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! we are proud to announce the documentary's release today, February 1st in honor of Black History Month. The film is being distributed via digital and home video by Cinema Guild, which will present the film exclusively as part of the celebration of Black History Month, and via home video starting February 21st.

When Fishbone first emerged from California, no other band sounded or looked like them, and the weight of their innovative and iconic presence is still being felt decades later. Coinciding with the group’s 25th anniversary, filmmakers Lev Anderson & Chris Metzler have directed a compelling new documentary, narrated by Laurence Fishburne. Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is both a fascinating and brutally honest look at the band’s history for longtime fans, as well as a perfect entry point for newcomers.

Everyday Sunshine is a documentary about the band Fishbone, musical pioneers who have been rocking on the margins of pop culture for the past 25 years. From the streets of South Central-Los Angeles and the competitive Hollywood music scene of the 1980's, the band rose to prominence, only to fall apart when on the verge of "making it."

Laurence Fishburne narrates Everyday Sunshine, an entertaining cinematic journey into the personal lives of this unique Black rock band, and an untold story of fiercely individual artists in their quest to reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young Black men from urban America. Highlighting the parallel journeys of a band and their city, Everyday Sunshine explores the personal and cultural forces that gave rise to California's legendary Black punk sons that continue to defy categories and expectations.

At the heart of Fishbone's story is lead singer Angelo Moore and bassist Norwood Fisher who show how they keep the band rolling, out of pride, desperation and love for their art. To overcome money woes, family strife, and the strain of being aging Punk rockers on the road, Norwood and Angelo are challenged to re-invent themselves in the face of dysfunction and ghosts from a painful past.

The documentary includes interviews with: Gwen Stefani (No Doubt), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ice-T (rapper), Branford Marsalis (saxophonist), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction, Porno For Pyros), Questlove (The Roots), and more. Included in the documentary is 100+ minutes of bonus features including interview outtakes, deleted scenes and unreleased photos and performance footage from the bands early years

Happy 25th Anniversary Fishbone!

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw

Official Documentary Website:

http://www.fishbonedocumentary.com/

Official Band Website:

http://www.fishbone.net

2010 USA In English 107 min Not Rated 2011