Beyonce - Why Don't You Love Me, The song is very good and the video is also well made and interesting. There is really many good songs in her albums, and plenty of good videos to see as well.

Rihanna - California King Bed: The song is nice, and the video is well made and fits well with the song.

Skylar Grey - Dance Without You music video is good in my opinion like song also is. Actually this video reminds me of the videos I've seen on the nineties, for me that technically brings up good memories.

Skylar Grey was also on the 'I need a doctor' which I wrote about some time ago, on that song her performance sounded good, I'm sure that brings more attention to her in a good way.

Lady Gaga - Bad Kid, is a nice song.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxhjHz9FYQE&feature=autoplay&list=ULBVySRynj6qk&index=8&playnext=5

Lady Gaga - Fashion Of His Love, is a nice song also. Personally I don't like it as much thou than I liked 'Bad Kid'.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZv-yVuvFi4&feature=autoplay&list=ULBVySRynj6qk&index=9&playnext=6

Lady Gaga - Highway Unicorn (Road To Love), is a nice song. It is pretty clear that the hole album 'Born This Way' is listenable. There is no really bad songs in it, and there is plenty of good-ones in it.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q0m-48Sjok&feature=autoplay&list=ULBVySRynj6qk&index=10&playnext=7

Lady Gaga - The Queen, is a good song as well.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf72ljWJqAY&feature=related

Lady Gaga - Electric Chapel, is actually better than the previous song I wrote about in this article. If it also nicely different than some of the songs in this album.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDt_oagItBM&NR=1

Heavy Metal Lover, is also a song that I like quite much.

Here is a link to where you can listen this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyN5157_Xos&NR=1

In my opinion, it is clear that the hole album 'Born This Way' is good album in it's class. It is no wonder that it sells well.

This year's Essence Music Festival featured an all star-line up, including Usher, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Jill Scott, Stephanie Mills, Kanye West, among others, and empowerment workshop series at the Convention Center.

This year marks the 17th year Essence has sponsored this event which brings over 170 million dollars in revenue to the city of New Orleans.

Family reunion/tradition now includes going to New Orleans, LA for the annual Essence Music Festival, and we reconnected with this city--the birthplace of my parents, as well as jazz.

The southern heat not a barrier to the community of family, and friends rediscovered here. ‘I’m home.’  Walking through the 'French Quarter'-a tourist site, people were excited just hearing music's spontaneity in the streets. This is what makes this city so special.

There will always be pre-post Katrina stories. The rebuilding efforts each year speak to a community still struggling, but fighting back, and progress being made in this city of so much culture.

Unfortunately, the fact New Orleans is below sea level makes it also a place to fear. 

The concerts, in particular Charlie Wilson, Usher, and the unforgettable Ms. Chaka Khan (who is also providing support for a number of local New Orleans residents), were all enjoyable events. However, my only suggestion is they include more jazz artists, and bring Frankie Beverly back! Miss seeing him and his band.

We also want to thank Ms. Gina Montana of Montana Productions for showing us the best of the city.

It was November 1996, Thanksgiving time. My mother and I just got done visiting my Grandmother in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, and we were heading to Tampa, Florida. We were at the Newark Airport and waiting for our flight, which was probably delayed. I had just graduated High School 4 months earlier and my mother and I were discussing my plans for college and my relationship with my boyfriend, Billy, which had gotten serious. While chatting and waiting for our plane, I went to go to the restroom and on my way back, I noticed this striking woman walking in front of me with long, beautiful, blond hair, dressed to the nines and she had legs for miles. I knew instantly who this woman was, because I had seen her picture every day in magazines for months. I couldn't believe who it was and that she was right in front of me! With excitement building inside of me, I blurted out her name. Carolyn! She turned around and sure enough, it was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr's new wife! She said hello and I said hello back and then I asked her, "Are you Carolyn Bessette Kennedy?" and she replied with a yes! She had a smile on her face and seemed very happy and comfortable with me talking to her. I asked if I could have her autograph, to which she replied, "Me? You want my autograph?". I said yes and she seemed very surprised that I wanted her autograph. She came across as being modest, a bit shy and demure. She said to me, "You don't want my autograph but follow me" and with that, we started chatting and walking together. We walked right by my mother and I saw my mother's face as we walked by. Reading the same magazines as I always did, my mother realized what was happening and who I was with and her face lit up. Carolyn and I walked up to a young man and I knew instantly from the back of his head, who it was. It was JFK Junior! I couldn't believe it! He was just sitting there in a seat, like every other person, waiting for a plane, except he had a burly security guard sitting right next to him. I stood back a little from the two of them as they talked and I heard Carolyn tell John that she just met me and could he please give me his autograph! I couldn't believe it! I asked for her autograph and she did me one better. John looked over at me, kind of shrugged and after talking with Carolyn for a minute or so, Carolyn motioned for me to come over to them. As I walked up, John said "Hello, I'm John" and extended his hand. I said " I know who you are"and introduced myself and shook his hand. He was even more handsome in person and I was in a state of shock. He seemed a little agitated and his eyes were bloodshot red. My mother now came over to us and I introduced my mother to Carolyn and John, as if they were my friends. Everyone said hello and started shaking hands and John asked me, "Do you have something for me to sign? Like a magazine or something"? My mother said I had that Seventeen magazine in my purse and I grabbed it and handed it to John. He then said, "Why don't you have George magazine?", which was a magazine he created, which was political in nature but sometimes had celebrities on the cover. My mother said, "Because George magazine is expensive and mom bought Seventeen instead". I couldn't believe she said that! Butit was true and John laughed. He took the magazine from me and signed his name. I was still in a state of shock and started acting like a blubbering idiot. I told him I knew what it was like to be hounded by people (really?) and that I knew what it was like to have no privacy. Again, really? I still can't believe I said such stupid things. I started talking about my life in high school and how my friends would drive me nuts and I never had space and he was just staring at me. God only knows what he must have been thinking? Then Carolyn and John started asking my mother about our holiday plans and discussing travel. They told us they were on their way to Martha's Vineyard. After a few more minutes of talking, I noticed people started forming a large circle around us. They realized who I was talking to and now there was a big crowd of people gathered around us. I felt bad that I ruined their privacy, because until I started talking to them, no one seemed to notice he was there. After watching the crowd getting larger, my mother and I ended the conversation with John and Carolyn and thanked them for talking with us and for giving me his autograph. Carolyn and John told us to have a safe flight and we wished them a happy holiday. I thanked Carolyn again for being so kind. As I walked away with my mother, people in the crowd started to ask me if that was John F. Kennedy Jr and his wife. I said yes but that they didn't want anyone else to bother them and their security guard wouldn't allow anyone else to come up to them. I made that up, but figured it was the least I could do to get people to stay away and back off. If it wasn't for me, no one would have noticed them and being that they were so kind and accommodating to me, I figured that if I told the crowd that the security guard would get involved, it would make people cautious and less likely to approach them. As my mother and I went to find seats, we hoped that the crowd of people believed me and left them alone. My mother and I boarded our plane headed to Tampa, Florida, and couldn't believe what just happened. I wrote about my experience in an essay for college and got an A. It was one of my most memorable memories and still is to this day.

Two years later, when I was 20 and living in my apartment in New Jersey, I got a call from my cousin early in the morning. I was about to yell at her, because I was out the night before and didn't get much sleep, but she said "Your boyfriend is missing, your boyfriend is missing"! I didn't know what she was talking about because I knew Billy wasn't missing. She then told me to turn on the news and I realized what she was talking about. John F. Kennedy Junior and his wife, Carolyn, along with Carolyn's sister, went missing. They were in his Airplane, which he was piloting, and they never made it to their destination. I knew the moment I saw the TV screen that they were gone. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and knew they wouldn't be found alive and that they were dead. Sure enough, we all found out that the plane had crashed into the ocean and they all perished. John and Carolyn's deaths were very sad not just for me, but our entire country. I somehow felt as though they were my friends and I cried over their deaths. To this day, I am still sad that they are not here. Who knows what John F. Kennedy would have accomplished? It seems there is a Kennedy curse but I will always have fond memories of meeting John and Carolyn and I still have that autograph.

So that was my day with JFK. Even though I have met a few other celebrities, nothing ever compared to meeting John and nothing ever will. If you have met a celebrity, I would love to hear your story too.

New York thrashers, Anthrax, gear up for a September release: WORSHIP MUSIC! 

Thrash is alive and ready to raise Hell!

Most of you know that Bella is Augur Well's trusty jeep, if you didn't now you do. Well, I have a story that you might enjoy so I'm sharing it today. It all started last Friday, the first full day we (my sister and I) were in Louisville for the Vinemeet.

The Awesome 80's! Boy, do I miss those times! I guess you could call me an 80's baby, as I grew up during those years.....going from a baby to a pre-teen. I grew up in New Jersey, home of The Boss and Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi even went to school with my cousins and lived a few blocks from us. I remember watching my girlfriends and members of my family teasing their hair up to the sky and my mom spraying tons of Aqua Net hairspray all over her hair, which always landed on me somehow too.  I remember how much joy I got when I heard "Wake Me Up Before You Go- Go" by Wham! I got up and danced my heart out the first time I ever saw the video and a big smile came across my face. To this day, I still love that corny song and always dance, smile and sing along when I hear it. I remember women drinking Riuniti wine and guys wearing shirts that said, "Frankie Says Relax" on them. I loved everything about the 80's and I miss those years very much. I thought I'd share some of my favorite things from the 80's with you.

1. John Hughes Movies: Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Christmas Vacation, Plains, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Sixteen Candles, Mr. Mom and The Breakfast Club, to name a few.
2. Toys: Teddy Ruxpin (the talking bear), Rubik's Cube, Boom Boxes, Atari, Nintendo, Cabbage Patch Kids, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, Garbage Pail Kids, My Little Ponies, Pound Puppies, Stickers of all kinds, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and going to the arcade.
3. The Clothing: Legwarmers, grey sweatshirts or over-sized sweaters with leggings, Spandex, Jelly shoes, British Knight sneakers, Member's Only Jackets, Denim Jackets, Leather Jackets like the ones Michael wore, blazers, ripped jeans and high tops.
4. The Accessories: Funky, plastic bracelets, Charm necklaces, Swatch watches, mesh earrings, New Kids On The Block buttons, lace fingerless gloves, Ray-Ban's and mullets were some of the best accessories.
5. The Music: Madonna, Wham!, A-ha, Van Halen, Beastie Boys, Heart, Motley Crue, Run DMC, Debbie Gibson, Cyndi Lauper, Hall & Oates, Rick Springfield, Billy Ocean, The Human League, The Go- Go's, Whitney Houston, The Bangles, Prince, The Peters (Cetera and Gabriel), Def Leopard and Flock of Seagulls. There are so many more.
6. TV Shows: Diff'rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, Webster, Punky Brewster, Family Ties, Who's The Boss, Dynasty, Dallas, Saturday Night Live, Pee Wee's Playhouse, Charles in Charge, Growing Pains, 227 and the Golden Girls, to name a few.
7. The Slang: Awesome, Barf me out, Bogus, Gag me with a spoon, Dweeb, Eat my shorts, Poser, Lame, Rad, Preppie, Yuppie, Word and Totally, Like - Fer sure!
8. The Horror Movies: Friday the 13th, Halloween, Hellraiser, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, Poltergeist, Pet Cemetary, Fright Night, The Thing, Day of the Dead, An American Werewolf in London, Child's Play and The Lost Boys are just some of the many wonderful movies that came out and are still some of the best today.
9. The Coreys: Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. I was OBSESSED with Corey Haim and even have Corey Haim and Corey Feldman's autographs from the set of one of their many movies, "Dream A Little Dream"! Sadly, Corey Haim passed away March 10th, 2010. I felt like a big piece of my childhood got taken away that day. R.I.P. Corey Haim.

 So those are just some of the many things that I love and miss about the 1980's! What do you miss, if anything?

Ever find yourself on a gloomy, rainy day with no coin in hand, nothing to do and cabin fever setting in? Why not try what I (and it turns out several homeless folks do to get out of the weather) do to pass such time? I saunter to my local used book store and mine the shelves for lost treasure.

See, while some collect books, I just collect the titles. They take up less space and I can bring them with me where ever I go. Below are the most interesting book titles I found on a recent outing. You can prctice this hobby at your library as well, and they'll even let you take the books home for a time. For Free-zies! But I find the government funded libraries just can't compare to the collective castoffs of the private sector.

I can't imagine my library stocking gems like these: 

Alien Abductees Handbook

How to Enjoy Sex while Conscious

Handbook of Underwater Acoustics

How to Read a Book

Psychological Effects Preventing Nuclear War

Population Control through Nuclear Pollution

How to Make a Moron

Headhunting in the Solomon Islands

Elephants in pink Tutus

The Screwing of the Average Man

1978 Oahu Bus Schedule

Advice from a Failure

Suture Self

Superfluous Hair and Its Removal

A piece about a local film maker in Geneva, Il.

Super 8 is a monster of a movie. I just came back from the theater and have a big smile on my face. That's because I thought Super 8 was a great movie and perhaps one of the best movies to come out in the past ten years. Don't get me wrong, when you see the movie you may feel like you've seen it before. And that's because you have. It has a little bit of The Goonies, a little bit E.T., a little bit of The Monster Squad and a little bit of Close Encounters-all rolled up into one giant movie. But if you're like me, you are a fan of those other movies. So no matter how you slice it, it's a good time.

The movie is about a group of young kids growing up in the late 1970's (1979, to be exact) and they want to make a zombie film to enter into a contest. During the filming of their zombie movie, they witness a horrible train crash and something very large and mysterious has exited the train. There are subsequent power outages, missing people (and dogs) and things change forever in the small town. The local deputy, (played by Kyle Chandler) is the father to one of the boys making the movie and finds himself in a serious situation after the Sheriff goes missing and the military moves into town. In the movies it's never a good thing when the military comes into town. They are there to "clean up" the situation but no one is quite sure what they are really wanting to clean up and at what cost they will have to pay. It seems whatever lurked off the train is not a mystery to the military. And they want it back very badly.

The children are basically unknown actors, with the exception of Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning's sister). There is a bit of puppy love between her character and one of the boys. It makes the film very sweet and has you thinking back fondly about your childhood years and your childhood crushes. But there are tons of laughs in the film, lots of surprises and the soundtrack is great because it's mostly music from 1979, such as the songs 'My Sharona' and 'Heart of Glass'.

I won't spoil things by telling you what happens and what the "monster" is. I will say I was pleased with the characters, the acting and the production of the movie. It was a collaboration of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. Can't go wrong there.

Super 8 is a film that families can enjoy together, although there is some language which may be inappropriate for younger children and the "monster" and intense action could be scary for the younger audience. Overall though, it's a film that an entire family could watch together, which is a rarity these days.

I had a great time and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it and recommend seeing this movie.

But that's just my opinion. ;)

PS- Stick around for the closing credits.

Starting Aug. 31, DC Comics will begin a sweeping relaunch of all 52 of its titles, the company said on its official blog Tuesday.

ASPIRING fiction writers, don’t take it too hard, but the Kardashian sisters, best known for their skill in cozying up to reality-show cameras, are about to publish their first novel.

“As wild as our real lives may seem on TV, just wait to read what we’ve dreamed up to deliver between the covers of our first novel,” Kourtney, Kim and Khloé said in a statement last week, announcing that William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, would publish a novel they had written.

Those of you, who have been daunted by the length of recent articles, will find this an easy read…unless you take a little time and start exploring the links. There’s where you’ll find the videos by the band, but much, much more. You’ll get a tour of the band, “Indie Press”, and other bands and tour-mates from throughout their history.

This will be just a taste of what I wade through each week to create these snapshots into the lives and careers of one of the fastest growing phenomenas in the history of modern media. Indie Music is not only here to stay, it’s starting to gather some impressive numbers, here, in North America. Mainstream Radio is still beating the “dead horse” of format broadcasting, but even the bigger stars are beginning to “drift” to the same force that is sweeping the rest of the planet. 

I AM trying to branch out into a greater variety of genres, and Via Audio is no exception. Some of the bands I have lined up for future snapshots, and some of those linked in the article are prime examples. I think I will stick to the “snapshot” format, which will allow the reader to invest as much time into each one as they choose. I hope you take the full tour…you never know what you might be missing. 

I’ll never tell. 

Via Audio:

Official Bio: 

Two years after the release of their critically-acclaimed album Say Something, Brooklyn’s indie pop quartet Via Audio releases their sophomore opus, Animalore, a melting pot collection of eccentric sounds- songs infused with fairy tales, folklore, science fiction, romance, seduction, and adventure, maintaining a very “tongue-in-cheek” attitude in their songs like “Digital”., “Making Active People”,  “Modern Day Saint”. & “It Takes Two To Put Out The Lights.” 

They have two main web sites: http://www.viaaudio.net/ & http://www.myspace.com/viaaudio, as well as sites on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Via Audio was formed in 2003 in between classes at the infamous Berklee College of Music in Boston. After releasing a self-titled EP on the small independent Kill Normal Records in 2004, the band first garnered attention when Death Cab for Cutie’s guitarist Chris Walla dubbed them his “new favorite band,” in his column for Under the Radar Magazine. 

They soon after caught the attention of Spoon drummer Jim Eno, who would become their longtime producer, collaborator and comrade. With Eno’s help behind the board, Via Audio released their first full-length, Say Something, in 2007 on California-based indie label Sidecho Records. Pitchfork Media described Say Something as having “such a beautiful gloss over everything that it sticks, hurts, and feels delicious”. The album received accolades from Spin (Creator of “Spin 180 Indie Radio”) , Nylon, Under the Radar, Alternative Press, The Tripwire, and Stereogum, among others. The band has since toured the U.S. and Japan alongside the likes of Spoon, White Rabbits, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Ha Ha Tonka, and Modern Skirts, making appearances at the South By Southwest, Monolith, and CMJ festivals. 

Shutting themselves up again in Eno’s Austin, Texas home studio in 2009, the group tackled their latest songbook-the featured video on their site: “Olga”, the pure pop fun of “Lizard Song”, the lo-fi electronics of “Digital,” the soul-infused funk of “Goldrush,” the ethereal surf-lament of “Wanted,” the glittery R&B pop of “Babies”- as Eno carefully and artfully crafted different sonic palettes for each unique song on Animalore. The result is an album that plays like a pop-up book for adults, bursting with vivid colors and secret corridors at the turn of every page. 

Animalore is out now in three formats: Full-album mp3 download, CD + download or Vinyl + download - right here, right now. You'll get a link to a download high quality 320k MP3s of the entire album at the time of purchase. Downloads come with digital booklet and album art, LP (Vinyl) will be shipped with a limited edition, full color, 11 x 17 poster featuring an alternate version of the album art.  

Via Audio, Babies (FILTER Exclusive)

By Mikela Floyd on December 3, 2009 

Two years after the release of their critically-acclaimed album Say Something, Brooklyn- based indie pop quartet Via Audio (Jessica Martins, Tom Deis, David Lizmi, and Adam Sturtevant) have unveiled the plans for their sophomore album, Animalore, a collection of eccentric sounds infused with fairy tales, folklore, science fiction, romance, seduction, and adventure.  

Recording the album in Spoon drummer Jim Eno’s Austin, Texas home studio in 2009, Via Audio tackled their latest songbook as Eno carefully and artfully crafted different sonic palettes for each unique song on Animalore.  The result is an indie rock album that serves as a pop-up book for adults, bursting with vivid colors and secret corridors at the turn of every page.

Via Audio will release Animalore via Undertow Music on February 23rd and the band will be busy supporting the record on the road all year.  You can check out “Babies” from the album here, brought to you exclusively by FILTER.     

Animalore Track Listing:
1. Hello
2. Goldrush
3. Babies
4. Tigers
5. Digital
6. Wanted
7. Too Quiet
8. Lizard
9. Summer Stars
10. Oh Blah Wee
11. Olga
12. Happening  

Fleet Foxes

 I “discovered” this band in my Janga update email. I honestly had never heard of them before. There’s nothing easily genre specific about this band. There’s so much about them that keys to deeply remembered things, maybe a little of what “The Band” evoked back in the day. Yet they are something new and unique, loved all around the world, and an easy on the ears mix of the best of a lot of very American music. 

I put a comment on their MySpace page that touted them as follows: “Putting these guys in a Genre is a ridiculous task. Think maybe Fleetwood Mac doing Americana at Grant Woods 4th of July Bash or Background Music for the great American Tragedy. They are pretty a addictive for a guy who usually listens to female fronted metal. They will become a "Guilty Passion" for millions.”(As Dr Suleiman Dex, my MySpace ‘nom de plume’) 

When you listen to them, they WILL haunt you, evoke old memories, and change you in subtle ways. 

That’s what great music should do.

Official Bio (At least According To Wikipedia-hey…after checking out the links, doing a little editing, I couldn’t see fixing what wasn’t broke):

Formation and early years

Robin Pecknold and Skyler Skjelset both attended Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle, and soon became close friends. Pecknold and Skjelset bonded over a mutual appreciation of Bob Dylan and Neil Young and began making music together. Their parents influenced their musical tastes early on—Skjelset's mother Peggi was a keen listener of both Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, while Pecknold's father Greg was a member of The Fathoms, a local 1960s soul group. The two were interested in the achievements of Dylan and Brian Wilson and realized the importance of practicing music from a young age. 

Originally going by the name "Pineapple", a name clash with another local band prompted a change and Pecknold decided upon "Fleet Foxes", suggesting that it was "evocative of some weird English activity like fox hunting". Pecknold took up the role of principal songwriter, both singing and playing guitar, while Skjelset played lead guitar. Pecknold's late-sixties pop style caught the attention of Seattle producer Phil Ek and he helped them record their first demo in 2006, the self-released Fleet Foxes EP. Ek was impressed with the band's songwriting, and upon hearing Pecknold for the first time, noted "it was obvious he had talent coming out of his ass." By late 2006 the Seattle press began to take notice of the band; Tom Scanlon of the Seattle Times stated that he was impressed with the band's lyrics and musical maturity. 

With growing popularity on the local circuit, the band set about making their first album in early 2007, spending time in the studio with producer Ek in addition to recording material at home. However, funds for recording were tight, so the band members cobbled together what funds they had, which limited the time they had in the studio, and so the majority of the tracks were recorded in various band members' apartments, other spaces, or the basement of Pecknold's parents' house. 

Rise to prominence

Fleet Foxes were becoming increasingly popular and by late 2007 they had attracted over a quarter of a million song plays over two months on their Myspace site. Although the band had not released any of their recordings, they benefited from word of mouth exposure and their success soon translated into a record deal, signing with Warner Music subsidiary record label Sub Pop on January 18, 2008. According to Sub Pop A&R Sue Busch, at the time of signing the band was still a relatively primitive set-up, being without manager or legal representation. Robin's sister Aja Pecknold then assumed the role of band manager. The band's frontman, Robin Pecknold attributes much of their success and popularity to illegal file sharing. 

The band completed the recording of their second EP, Sun Giant, around the same time in preparation for upcoming tours. Fleet Foxes began their spring tour with fellow Northwest band Blitzen Trapper on February 28, 2008. The band's performances, first at the SXSW festival in March 2008, and then the Sasquatch festival in May 2008, moved the band into the public consciousness, notably attracting attention from the European press for the first time. 

Sun Giant was released internationally on April 8, 2008 and the group's brand of folk, rock and pop, marked by their use of vocal harmonies, was well received by the press. Despite the warm critical reception, the group stated that the EP did not represent their full ambitions, serving merely as a CD to sell while on tour. In May 2008 the band chose to extend their North American and European tour until September in support of their forthcoming album. Additionally, the band grew in number as songwriters Christian Wargo and J. Tillman joined Fleet Foxes on guitars and drums respectively. Their debut full length album Fleet Foxes was released shortly afterwards on June 3, 2008. The album achieved similar critical success as the previous EP had. Fleet Foxes received four out of five stars from Rolling Stone, who compared it to the likes of the Beach Boys, Animal Collective, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a 9.0 out of 10 in a review by Pitchfork Media, sharing the website's album of the year rank with the Sun Giant EP. The Guardian was particularly complimentary, awarding the album five stars and declaring it "a landmark in American music—an instant classic." On June 24, 2008, Fleet Foxes went to #1 on the CMJ Radio 200 Chart. The album achieved an average rating of 87/100 from 30 critic reviews on aggregator website Metacritic. 

While the group enjoyed moderate success in the United States, Fleet Foxes was better received in Europe, selling over 200,000 copies in the first five months following its release. The sales were matched with critical plaudits and their debut album won Uncut's first ever Music Award 2008 prize. Uncut editor Allan Jones said the album "showed impeccable musicianship, and although you could trace its antecedents, it sounded totally unique. Fleet Foxes was just a glorious debut." The band sold out music venues for their tours of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, reaffirming their growing popularity.

At the end of 2008, Fleet Foxes was rated album of the year by Billboard's Critic's Choice and in Metacritic's end of year best album round-up it appeared in 17 lists, topping six of them. Furthermore, it had sold over 210,000 copies in North America and over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom, making it the first gold certificate record for UK label Bella Union. Their growing profile enabled the band to make televised appearances, playing on Vincent Moon's "La Blogotheque" in December 2008 and on Saturday Night Live the following January. In 2009, they toured in Europe to favorable reviews; Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant said their show in Paradiso induced goose bumps. Throughout 2008-9 the band played globally ending the tour in September with a final European leg. Fleet Foxes played at the Bridge School Benefit curated by Neil Young on October 24 and 25, 2009 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. This is the second time they supported Young after a summer bill in Hyde Park, London. Fleet Foxes will make a return to the music festival Way Out West (at which they first performed in 2008), held in Gothenburg between August 11-13th, 2011. 

Fleet Foxes Music:  

White Winter Hymnal, Helplessness Blues, Grown Ocean,  He Doesn’t Know Why,  Mykonos,  & The Funeral

The Fleet Foxes playing "Blue Ridge Mountain" at the Grand Palais in Paris, France
"A friend's friend let us into an abandoned wing of the Grand Palais. There were empty spaces, as if abandoned at short notice, unreasonably high ceilings. The perfect place for the Fleet Foxes..."
Produced by Chryde for La Blogotheque

Directed by Vincent Moon

Sound by JB Aubonner

Edited by Lucas Archambault
http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
http://www.blogotheque.net
http://www.takeawayshows.com

Movies made from Hemingway novels have not been Oscar winners, and the movies have taken liberties with what was written, but they can still be good to watch.

I try and publish an article every now and then when something new comes up for those who are keeping up with what I am doing with music. Earlier I published the song Blame that I co-wrote with my singing partner Cheryl. We Just recieved the Copywrite and registration on Halfbreed Outlaw today this song is registered as My self and Cheryl writing the lyrics and Pat Elwood composer of music. Pat is the Bass Player for The Marshall Tucker band. Cheryl, Pat and I are hoping it is one of the songs Doug Gray (Original Lead singer) will include on their album they will be recording later this year 2011.

I was a blast writing with Cheryl and Pat. I hope to have a clip up after we know if it will be on the album. Also being from Arkansas I had to include one famous historical person in the song. The Hanging Judge, Judge Parker from Fort Smith Arkansas. Here are the words to Halfbreed Outlaw.

He was born in Oklahoma and raised in Arkansas....No one could tame this halfbreed outlaw

His father was a white man and his only sin, He married a Cherokee on the reservation just around the bend

She bore him a son, that took the white man's....then he turn to the bottle just to hide the shame

Fatherin' a halfbreed put a black mark on his name.. even though the child was innocent they're somethings you just can't change.

Chours

Hand me down my saddle and go and get my gun

Cause devil's in this bottle and it's got me on the run

If I don't make the border before the morning sun

Judge Parkers gonna hang me for a crime I haven't done

Loved by his mother despised by his pa..he walked in both worlds... belongin' to none at all

He found numbness in the bottle and protection by the gun..yeah the halfbreed outlaw spend his life always on the run

Took him a job about a mile from ole man Johnson place...back in the Arkansas timber to hide his sorry and disgrace

When Sheriff found ole man Johnson a 44 struck the final blow ah empty whiskey bottle lay next to him in the red stained snow

2nd chours

Hand me down my saddle and go and get my gun

Cause devil's in this bottle and it's got me on the run

If I don't make the border before the morning sun

Judge Parkers gonna hang me for a crime I haven't done

The sheriff gathered his posse with one thing in mind...the halfbreed outlaw was working on the Arkansas timber line

as they came upon the ridge and looked down below....They saw the halfbreed outlaw ridin' hard through the snow

(Play Music break out 4X....first gun shot at end of first riff/Gun shot canyon echo at end of music break)

Did you always want to know what it's like to interview a rock star?  Well, I did and I tried and I just loved it!!! Music without a doubt will break any prejudice, any negativity and will always bring people together.

it would be great if she could exist in the here and now. Today's world. Not the future, or some kind of Underworld, or a mythical town in California set upon by vampires. Usually women are allowed to be heroes in those scenarios because, duh, it's not real.

The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre (BRIFT) recently announced that four films showcasing the talents of BRIFT alumni were featured at film festivals throughout the State. 

Turkles, a kid friendly family feature written and directed by well-known Palm Beach County filmmaker Frank Eberling, garnered special recognition at the Downtown Boca Film Festival, being named “Best Feature Film.” This inspirational tale, which focuses on the efforts of pre-teen campers determined to discover who is stealing protected sea turtle eggs, was also featured at the Sustainability Summit in West Palm Beach. It was screened to the viewing enjoyment of Port St. Lucie residents at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival.

Writer/Director Eberling is no stranger to the awards process. In 2011, Turkles earned much deserved recognition as Best Screenplay from the Tree of Life International Foundation. The film was also earned nominations for Best Screenplay and despite fierce competition from five other feature films, won the Florida Gem Award at Treasure Coast International Film Festival. For the three nights it was screened at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, it played to sold-out audiences. 

A collaborative production effort of the Burt Reynolds Institute (BRIFT) and Palm Beach State College (PBSC), Turkles utilized the talents of many of the Institute’s students as well as being supported by a seasoned crew from both BRIFT and PBSC. For more information: www.turkles.tv.

The Treasure Coast International Film Festival (TCIFF) brought attention to the efforts of three other BRIFT trained filmmakers and many of the Institute’s acting students. On Wednesday, April 28^th, two films by BRIFT alumni – Way Back and Interview with Evil – were shown at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center. Way Back, written and directed by Rick Bennette and featuring Tom Walker and Cooper Getschel, is the story of a homeless war veteran who finds dignity through the kindness of a stranger.

The short, Interview with Evil, written and directed by C. Todd Vittum, stars David Ausem and Robert Tassey. Interview is a crime drama that discovers a story within the story. In the film, a documentary filmmaker talks with a convicted felon and in the process, the filmmaker learns more about himself than his subject.

Faded Photographs, directed by Mary Alice Stewart, had its world premiere on Thursday, April 29^th, also at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival.  The story focuses on a chance meeting between a lonely widow and widower, who help each other to understand that memories of the past can lay the foundation for a happier tomorrow and in the process they find much needed love and companionship.

Jamie Lynn Noon: 

I “found” this young lady, in a kind of “accident”. I had received a friend request, just this morning, from a glamour model named, “Sammie”. Before I accepted it, I went to look at her site to see what I could find out about why she had sent it. 

Though it happens less, one may occasionally get these requests for people with…let’s say…”Photos For Sale”, and leave it at that. However, for reasons that escaped me at the time, she was on the up and up, had more ‘Friends’ than I did, and had been a MySpace member for a while. 

I sent her a nice message, making sure she understood who she had “friended”. Suggested if there was anything specific I could assist with, to let me know, and welcomed her as a ‘Friend’. As I looked back over her site’s ‘Friend List’, I noticed this young lady’s Avatar, checked it out, and was enthralled at what I had found. 

I wish there had been more, video wise, but there’s enough to “whet your appetite, not to mention a download available for free and one that raises money for Leukemia Research. She’s a talent to appreciate now, but also to “keep an eye on” in the future. If you don’t take the time to go listen to her songs on her page players, you will be missing a treat…Honest. 

‘Cause, friends, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” 

Note, once again, aside from the Song List at the end of Chris Key's story, the links are scattered throughout the stories.

From Her Website Bio: Angels Spoke EP Press Release: 12/14/10

Hot on the heels of her dynamic debut EP, "A Moment to Break," California artist Jamie Lynn Noon is releasing her eagerly awaited follow-up, Angels Spoke, available now through major digital download outlets. And Jamie is primed to have another hit EP to her credit, with Angels Spoke released just as the singer-songwriter debuted at No. 25 on Billboard's new Social 50 Chart. Her charting feat is accompanied by a prominent feature article in Billboard Magazine (26 February 2011), chronicling Jamie's musical success on numerous social networking sites. Though she is releasing Angels Spoke independently, it is already making a remarkable impact on her old and new fans alike via Jamie's Internet social media engagement. 

For Angels Spoke, Jamie Lynn Noon has assembled a collection of uplifting and melodic gems very much in the vein of her debut release. "This new record evolved organically from my first EP," says Jamie. "I specifically picked songs that were similar in style and mood to what my fans have come to expect from me." And while the EP's six songs deal with introspective vantage points on forgiveness in relationships and hope in the face of tragedy, the inspirational themes are wonderfully couched in Jamie's signature breezy California singer-songwriter melodies that go down like a cool drink on a hot summer's day. From the delicately steadfast opener, "Secret Power," through the irresistibly catchy hooks of "Like A Meteor", “The Second Of A Spark” and "Take Me Home," Angels Spoke is a touchingly autobiographical snapshot of Jamie's world - one that rewards listeners more musically and lyrically with each listen. Jamie's songs evoke chanteuses ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk to Linda Perry and Carly Simon at her peak. 

Angels Spoke also serves as a summary of the multitude of success that Jamie Lynn Noon has experienced over the last couple of years. Aside from the notice awarded her debut EP, Jamie's haunting version of "Silent Night" was featured on iTunes at Christmas time and she has had songs spotlighted on television shows including "All My Children" and "The Real World." Keeping in tune with some of the music industry's savviest artists, Jamie recently made the move from California's San Francisco Bay Area down to Los Angeles in order to focus her attention on the publishing side of the business, establishing her as a multi-faceted musical force. Jamie has even launched an iPhone app that will help her fans follow her across her social media sites and keep track of all the activities that the singer-songwriter somehow manages to juggle. 

"I wanted to do another EP specifically for the fans," declares Jamie. "I chose songs that are personal and mean a lot to me, but which would also really appeal to those who enjoyed 'A Moment to Break'." And, with the prominent song placement that Jamie has seen in recent days, it appears that Angels Spoke is already on its way to positioning Jamie Lynn Noon as an industry powerhouse in the publishing arena - and as a household name for her uniquely poignant and powerful work, which far belies the young artist's years. Angels Spoke is both a beautiful collection of unforgettably touching songs and the next chapter in the career of one of contemporary music's most talented rising stars. 

According to Billboard Magazine:

Uncharted Territory: Jamie Lynn Noon Jumps to No. 2,

Girl Talk Moves In 

The Social 50 ranks the most active artists on the world's leading social networking sites -- YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and iLike -- using a formula blending weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays.

She has a cause she expends a lot of energy for :

 Exclusive Music Download on Givegoods.org 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

"I am offering my music to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause very close to my heart as I lost my grandmother to Lymphoma in late 2006. In exchange for your $3 donation to this organization, 

I am offering a High-Quality MP3 digital download of a song titled "'Til Ya Make It" off my recent release ('Angels Spoke'), and an exclusive Klubjumpers Remix (Radio + Extended Version) of "A Moment to Break", the title track off my debut EP.

You will also receive a PDF download of the album artwork and an 8x10 autographed photo.” --Jamie Lynn Noon 

 Login and connect to Givegoods.org

Chris Keys:

Synchronicity runs deep. Shortly after I had spent a little time getting an overview on Jamie Lynn Noon, I got ANOTHER “Friend Request” from Chris. 

I do get many requests from singers, bands, and performers, but truthfully not many from any that simply go by a first name. But hey…I’m nothing if not fair about things, so like “Sammie”, I went to find out who he was and “what was shakin’”. 

WELLLLL!...I was definitely in for surprise number two of the day. Not only was Chris Keys an “A-List” Singer-Songwriter, but his depth and presentation was of the kind of quality that was like getting a chance to preview Springsteen before he was “known”. 

Am I saying Chris is exactly like Springsteen? Not at all, but his voice, his way around a melody line, the simplicity of his “hooks”, and the story quality of his works DOES make you think of Springsteen. I’m pretty sure “The Boss” would like this guy. 

Their backgrounds are actually similar. Springsteen grew up on the Jersey shore in an “edgy” kind of environment. He kept that edge and sowed it into his music. 

Chris grew up in Belfast. I think that would pass as an ‘edgy’ kind of environment, as well. Chris’s take on life is a little gentler, but you can still hear Belfast in his voice and words, just like Jersey can’t ever be “exorcised” from Springsteen. 

Northern Ireland-Friend Requests on MySpace…Interesting day-nu? ‘DeX’

The Short Bio: 

Northern Irish Singer/songwriter Chris Keys had a passion for music from a young age. He grew up in Portstewart, a small seaside town where the beach, night sky and surfing brought out his creativity and had a big influence on his songwriting. 

As a teenager Chris played in many bands gigging around the north coast area and began writing original material. 

In 2005 he won North Down 'Pubstar', wowing the judges with his increasing catalogue of songs. Chris has been performing for years as a solo artist at a wide range of events. In 2010 he has made appearances on Balcony TV, Blast FM, Feile FM, Bandwagon TV, and performed at many great venues in Belfast, and throughout Northern Ireland, “Live at Five” Radio Performance in Belfast. 

Also, in August 2010, Chris went to No.1 on the N. Ireland Chart with 'City Lights', followed by a second No.1 in December with 'There for you'.

He is continuously writing new material and looking for opportunities to showcase his music to a wider audience. Chris will be performing at music festivals and other events in 2011. Be sure to catch a gig. 

Chris Keys - City Lights - Belfast City - The Band Wagon Tv - 16th October 2010

From: TheBandWagonTV  | Oct 17, 2010  | 1,433 views

I’m a singer / songwriter from Northern Ireland currently living outside Belfast. I write, record and produce all my music in a basic home studio. Hopefully one day this bio will read ... 'Hi, I’m Chris Keys, I live in L.A. and record all my music at Capitol Studios. I started playing the guitar at the age of 14. I was hooked and knew music would play a major part in my life. I hope you enjoy these tunes & live videos as much as I have enjoyed putting them together.

CHRIS KEYS

From: StephenORegan  | Sep 16, 2010  | 1,897 views

PRESENTED BY TOM MILLETT 
Chris Keys, Northern Irish singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist had a passion for music at a young age, performing “You And I” on Live Dublin TV.
He grew up in Portstewart a small seaside town where the beach, night sky and surfing brought out his creativity and would influence his songwriting forever. 

The Music speaks for itself. Hearing him would be like getting to hear “The Boss” before he got big. Songs include: “Halfway Home”, “There For You”, “Shooting Stars”, “Stronger”, “Under The Streetlight”, “Daydreams”, “Shadows”, “Side By Side”, “City Lights”(Single Version),

A good friend of mine, Bob Minter, Radio Disk jockey, Musician, and Studio Guy, sent this story to me via E-Mail a couple nights back. I was impressed at the magic of how he described these musicians from different times and places in experience and taste somehow found some common ground on a rainy day in Iowa.

It's also kind of a "passing of the torch" kind of story, where we see the eyes of experience telling us about the road they've seen, encouraging us to take a walk down one ourselves. It happens somewhere every day. We hear about things like this happening. And "happen" they must, as no one could likely make it happen. Here, because the next generation decided to bide some time and observe, we get a "ring-side" seat on the magic. 'DeX'

It was a moment...the kind of moment that takes us by surprise by being so inconspicuous at first, but unfolding in front of our very eyes to leave us in awe.

My day wasn't going so well, having too many irons in the fire, and not enough time to put them all out, plus the constant drizzle outside, mixed in with a cold north wind, made for the perfect recipe of self pity stew. My last stop was at a local music store to see if I could rent some sound equipment for a small show at the end of the month, just a scant two weeks away.

I walked in the store only to find that some older gentleman, in his late 60's or early 70's, had the gall to be wasting my time by getting what amounts to a private tutorial on how to set up and run a small sound system that he was thinking of purchasing. “Jeez”, I thought to myself,”why doesn't this old fart go on the road for a decade or so and learn how to do this like the rest of us had to?”

Because Kris, the owner, is a person who has a vast knowledge of all things musical, and therefore commands my respect,  I have a seat and plink away on one of the many guitars he has on the wall, and patiently wait to see if he can make the sale. Either that or see if the old guy's brain locks up, needing him to be taken away. 

After the first eternity passes, I have learned that the older gentleman is a dobro player (kind of a lap steel guitar) and wants the PA for small informal gigs. After some discussion about tuning and playing styles, Kris gets the system set up and disappears to the back, only to return with a dobro so the older gentleman can take the system out for a spin. Oh great I think, time for some redneck noodlin' while the daylight fades and I age another year.

As the guy starts playing, its apparent that he has some talent on the instrument, and posses a pretty darn good voice too. I'm jealous right away because I sing like old shoes smell, and sometimes curse the night at my misfortune. After a few tunes, Kris grabs an acoustic guitar and joins in what becomes a makeshift jam session. Now I'm not your bluegrass or country kind of musician, more of a ham fisted dork, who, left alone with a guitar and an amp, can cause small animals to beg for a quick death, but what was happening started to mesmerize me and sooth the sarcastic selfish oaf that walked in on this unlikely scene, on this unlikely day.

I sat quietly on a chair, while these two ran through some classics from Hank Williams and artists who's names I did not recognize.

They even managed to get through a song written by a local musician some 15 years ago. The music store had now taken on the atmosphere of the shooting of a documentary, with both men exchanging stories between songs. I suddenly remember the I-Pod in my pocket, and quickly fire up the video camera, hoping to capture some of the magic I was now experiencing. Kris would talk about all the different styles of music he has played, and all the different bands he starved with.

The older gentleman then reveals a priceless story...his father was a fervently Christian man, so much so, that he attended church three times on Sunday. He was also a decent guitar player, and wanted nothing more than his son to play the mandolin with him. Although the young boy loved to listen to his father play, he never took him up on the offer. “I loved my Dad very much, he was strict, but he was still a great father. I just knew, that if I learned to play that mandolin, I would be going to church three times every Sunday!” said the older gentleman. But this story doesn't end here.

The phone rings and Kris has to break off the jam to take care of business, so the old guy strikes up a conversation with me, making small talk about the sound gear and dobros. He introduces himself as Paul, and then tells me that he always wanted to play, but somehow never got around to it until about nine years ago. He was at a bluegrass festival in Texas,saw somebody playing a dobro, and knew right then he was going to learn how to play. So, it had come full circle, and I'm sure his father would approve, even though Paul still won't go to church three times on Sunday. 

As I drove home later, I could not stop thinking about what I had just witnessed. Two complete strangers able to sit down and create their own little universe with their own language. Strip away the cumbersome weight that the genre labels carry, forget about the latest technology that the “pros” say you need to rise above the noise. I have heard music in it's purest form by people who play for the sheer joy of it. Its a moment I'll never forget.

Bob Minter, Belmond IA

Let me begin with a brief introduction to what I'm planning as a full series of articles related to the video game industry.  Every so often, I like to take a break from writing about politics to focus on other passions of mine.  Video gaming constitutes one of my biggest loves, up there in the stratosphere with music, politics, and writing.  I'm not writing this series only as a former indie video game designer, but also as a fan of the games and franchises I'm commenting on.  Each article in the series will focus on a game franchise, with my ideas on how to improve that franchise.  None of the designers responsible for these games would listen to me if I emailed them, so I figured I'd write articles that showcase my ideas, and if those designers ever find these articles, great.  Otherwise, consider them little more than game design exercises.  At any rate, let's get started!

Saving the World (of Warcraft)
I probably don't need to tell anyone familiar with the world's biggest MMORPG game, World of Warcraft, that the game has been dying a slow death since the release of its latest expansion pack, Cataclysm.  Entire guilds are abandoning the game for other titles.  On many servers, "trade chat," once thriving with Chuck Norris jokes and links to Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker, is often completely silent in the middle of the day.  Players are bored with World of Warcraft, and worse... they're frustrated.

With the release of Cataclysm, Blizzard decided to take end-game content in a new direction, and by "new," I mean "back to the old system that no one liked."  Before the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack, end-game content could only be experienced and truly enjoyed by a tiny minority of the game's players.  WOTLK changed all of that.  Suddenly, it was much easier to find epic ("purple" or "grape") items, meaning more people could participate in end-game content and enjoy the fruits of the apparant bulk of Blizzard's  labor; the company focuses heavily on end-game content, putting little effort toward appealing to lower-level players, who are expected to quest, grind, level, and like it.  But when Cataclysm came out, Blizzard made a critical error: they returned to catering to the tiny population of elite, hardcore WoW players, ignoring the masses who can't schedule their lives around a two-hour dungeon.  Dungeons were suddenly impossible again for all but the most skilled, patient, and available (time-wise) players.  Everyone else?  There's always fishing daily quests.  The first step Blizzard needs to take in saving their marqee game title is to stop their hemmoraghing of players, and attract some of the lost players back, by completely re-designing their end-game system to appeal to more players.  If a person isn't capable of enjoying end-game content, they're going to get bored, and when gamers get bored, they find other games to play.

A significant idea for boosting the number of people who play World of Warcraft would involve the implementation of a new payment system.  Currently, the game costs around $16 per month.  But there are a plethora of new fantasy MMO games on the web that are free to play, including Dungeons and Dragons and Lord of the Rings.  Blizzard could enjoy a tremendous influx of new WoW players by implementing a new tiered payment system. Here's how it could work:  You buy World of Warcraft off the shelf, as well as the expansion packs when you get to the point where you need them.  There's no monthly subscription to play, but you'll only be able to reach level 84 (the current level cap is 85), and you'll only be able to equip uncommon ("green") items.  For $5 per month, you can reach the level cap and use blue items.  For $10, you can use "grape" items.  For the full subscription cost, you can participate in PVE raid dungeons, heroic raid dungeons, and as an added perk, your in-game bank would double in available size, allowing you to go from using the standard seven bag slots you can use in your bank today, to fourteen slots for bags in your bank.  If you want to participate in a raid, but you don't want to go for a full-featured subscription, you could "pay for play" with a microtransaction.  You could also buy in-game currency and legendary ("orange") items through microtransactions... take that gold sellers!

Other Ideas
Here's a short list of additional ideas that I think would vastly improve World of Warcraft on the whole.

New Mounts:  Getting my chopper in WoW was one of my happiest video game moments, right up there with beating Bowzer for the first time and watching the epic final cinematic in Metal Gear: Solid, which left me saying "Fox... die!" for weeks.  But where are the cool new mounts in Cataclysm?  Oh, that's right... they don't exist yet!  Imagine if WoW had airplanes and submarines with single-seater, 2-seater, and 3-seater variations.  Imagine if you could buy a wagon or carriage, link two of your mounts to it, and use that to bring your friends around Azeroth?  As an added perk, some of these mounts could have internal bag slots, especially the carriages and wagons.

Guild Airships:  Are you familiar with the airships in Icecrown?  Imagine if your guild could own one!  Simply put, your guild could have an airship that slowly flies around, controlled by officers.  The guild master could designate different guild ranks as "pilot ranks," allowing guild members who hold those ranks to fly the airship when no one else is piloting them.  The airship would have a mobile graveyard attached to it (so you can spawn on the airship and return to the action more quickly), a bank, a guild vault, vendors for repair and selling junk loot, a small meeting hall where guild functions could be carried out, and more.  The airship would have cannons that really fire, so long as the guild vault contains ammunition.  You could fire on other airships, ram them, and destroy them, resulting in the guild needing to wait through a 48-hour cooldown.  Suddenly, you'd have pirate guilds, fleets of airships with new alliances of multiple guilds, and epic PVP wars being waged in the skies!  This would add whole new aspects to the game that never existed before, livening up PVP, bringing guilds together in a whole new way, and adding a myriad of new social dynamics.  And this would beat the heck out of adding guild halls to the game... a flying guild hall can't be topped!

A "Thinker's" Puzzle Dungeon:  Let me explain to you the simple process of running a dungeon for the first time.  Someone in your group Googles how to finish the dungeon.  The guild chats about the strategy needed, and presto, the dungeon is beaten.  How incredibly lame is that?  WoW needs at least one proper "puzzle dungeon" for players who like a good challenge... a dungeon you can't simply find a walkthrough for.  The dungeon could use a variable-based puzzle system for navigation, requiring players to -- gasp! -- think about what they're doing.  You don't just charge through in a linear fashion, toppling one boss after another.  In this dungeon, you'd need to actually stop, chat with your friends, and figure out the best course of action, and running the dungeon would never give the same experience twice.  I could design a dungeon like that, and if I can, so can the folks at Blizzard!

Casinos:  There's absolutely no reason why casinos aren't present in World of Warcraft.  You can't say they'd disrupt the game's economy, because casinos are designed to make money, not lose it.  You can't say it has something to do with adult content, because I can get drunk in WoW (with on-screen visuals and slurred text), drink potions (drug abuse, anyone?), and run quests with names like "Muck Diving," "Just the Tip," and "Camel Tow."  Just give us the darn casinos already.  People have been requesting them since the game's launch.

Character Hunger/ Thirst:  This might be a little too harcore for the audience of WoW, but with all of the food and beverages in Azeroth, it does make sense:  Provide hunger and thirst bars.  If they're empty, you suffer a 30% loss to strength, stamina, and/ or spirit.  If they're full, those stats are boosted by 10%, plus you get whatever "well fed" bonuses you're enjoying from the food you've eaten.  Hunger and thirst would decrease in time.  This would give the game more uses for food and beverages, beyond simply restoring health and mana.  And on the RP servers, I'd imagine it could help quite a bit as well.  Last but not least, it would give warriors a use for all of those darn drinks we pick up in dungeons!

Kites:

The first thing you notice about these people, is the obvious influences of folks like Brian Eno, Roxy Music, in an updated 80’s power-pop format. 

That’s where it ends. I’ve included tasty tid-bits from their interviews and blogs that showcase that these are highly literate and gifted people who possess a sense of humor often lacking in post-modern music. 

Some of the quotes are funny-at least if you’re up on the tongue-in-cheek humor of our English cousins. Matthew Phillips is the outspoken frontman and literary wit of the Band(he authored the blog on their websites-worth a read-there are some interesting and humorous anecdotes to read there.), but everyone

does “pipe in” with aplomb.

This is a relatively young AND new band. There ARE some decent videos, (This time they ARE at the end, as there was no appropriate place in the body of the article to place them. )but they talk about many things, while not really getting into specifics about their recorded work.

WE ARE 'KITES', their Official Bio on their Main Page:

A boy and a girl alight on the platform at Angel tube station. 

Usually platforms on the London underground are squalid and claustrophobic. Hundreds of commuters can occupy a single space that often resembles a sweatier incarnation of the Terracotta Army. But at Angel the southbound platform is different. It is spacious, aerate and inviting. 

The boy and the girl did not pause to consider their surroundings. The boy was too busy animatedly conveying ideas to his female companion. As they glided up Angels central escalator, which I am told is the longest escalator in Western Europe , his verbal meanderings began to crystallize. When they finally emerged from the underground terminus, blinking into the English sunlight, they had decided to embark on a voyage. 

Welcome to KITES

"Formed just six months ago Kites have already been compared to indie electro pioneers such as New Order and Talking Heads. Intensely physical and energetic live performances coupled with tightly constructed tracks have won the band an adoring fan base and a wave of industry attention. Following intense media interest the band have toured extensively and have been hailed as ?the hottest unsigned band? in the UK. The band, from London, hope to sign a record contract this year and release their debut album. " 

Musicweek – 2011

And Does Fame Save You From Opportunities For Public Humiliation?...Not According to their Blog Page:

 "A Very English Kind Of Butchery" 

Everyone I know has at least one horror story involving a scissor-happy hairdresser and an ill-considered makeover. Before now, I would listen to these tales with mock sympathy until proclaiming, rather bombastically, that there was not a salon in Christendom that could despoil my locks. As with every tragedy that one hears about, we never, for one nano-second, believe that they will befall us. We think that we are somehow exempt; that our brightly conditioned hair will escape the wrath of a blind Edward Scissorhands. 

Like every pig-headed dullard, I was proven to be spectacularly wrong. It mattered not that my stylist was a thoroughly likable chap with a moist Italian charm and an enviable selection of teas and biscuits. What mattered was that we spoke different languages. 

When I tried to explain, with tedious meticulousness, the haircut of my dreams, my new chum looked on with innocent incomprehension. I doubt most native English speakers would have understood much of my florid gibberish but, for my unfortunate coiffeur, it must have been like hearing Anglo-Saxon for the very first time. 

My suspicions of a communication breakdown were first aroused when my hair was shaved with an alacrity that would have alarmed a well-seasoned sheep. At that moment, I realized that a butchering was very likely. But when my well-intentioned 'Delilah' began muttering about Brad Pitt in 'Inglorious Bastards' [sic], I knew that my doom was sealed. Who, apart from the most misguided wretch, would make a conscious decision to look like a Nazi? 

So, how do you imagine I reacted when this aggressive topiary was underway? Well, I did what any self-respecting Englishman would have done when faced with such circumstances: I grinned politely throughout the thirty minute ordeal, tipped him generously, and left cursing my own pathetic uselessness. 

When will we English learn that keeping silent is an act of supreme stupidity? 

Like Samson, let's just hope I can regain enough strength for Kites' show on Saturday at La Scala.

Indiesouprunner.com did an interview, that gives a lot of insight into this unique Band: 

You might be able to say a year from now that you first heard of Kites on ISR.  These guys are on the verge of breaking out really soon.  It's only a matter of time before an indie label signs this foursome up for an album deal.  Their catchy new wave/disco beats echo New Order and Depeche Mode, among other 80s new wave bands. 

Check out their latest demo track 'The Disappearance of Becky Sharp," on: soundcloud.com.

www.wearekites.com
www.myspace.com/kitesonline
www.facebook.com/wearekites
www.soundcloud.com/kites

KITES are: 

Matthew Phillips (Vocals, Guitar)
Taio Renee-Lawson (Guitar, Bass)
Richard Baldwin (Electronics)
Jack Newton (Percussion)

ISR: First of all, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions. We really appreciate it.
BAND - Our pleasure.  

ISR: According to your website, you guys started out as an idea on a subway platform. Could you elaborate on that a bit?

MATTHEW - I’m afraid I am prone to elaborate allegory. As such, much of what I say should not be taken literally. In this case, I was revealing my fascination for the London Underground Network. I realize that admissions of this nature promote me as a train-spotter and not the singer of an up-and-coming musical outfit. Oh dear. I think what I was trying to articulate, in my characteristically obnoxious manner, is that we all met in unexpected circumstances and that we all share a burning ambition. In future, I should probably keep my ridiculous imagination to myself.

TAIO - If the idea did actually come from a subway platform, we would probably be a very different band. 

ISR: How did you guys come up with the name Kites for the band? What were some of the other name choices you were tossing around?

RICHARD - Skylon, Remembering Everything...both were pretty much working titles until Kites was plucked out of thin air by Matthew, purely for it's aesthetic qualities I suspect? 

MATTHEW - It was born out of a desire for musical simplicity. We wanted to be in a position to define our name, rather than to be defined by it. I often find that more obviously outlandish names do more to place a band within a certain pigeon-hole. Moreover, Kites – as an idea – has an airborne quality about it which seemed appropriate for a new band. 

ISR: You guys have an 80s new wave inspired sound. Can you list for me your main sources of inspiration for Kites?

TAIO - Personally, before starting the project I was listening to a lot of Talking Heads, Gang of Four, Sonic Youth, and Depeche Mode. I was very much in love with that post punk movement, I still am. Having said that I was brought up listening to soul, jazz and hip hop. These genres may not influence the sound of kites as such, but they have certainly influenced me. 

RICHARD - I can't speak for the rest of the band, but I've spent a lot of my years listening to, producing and DJing all sorts of electronica rather than the latest bands. One of my favorite things over the last few years is finding records I haven't heard before from way back and seeing how that fits in to the history and development of modern music. I'm talking dark doomy Los Angeles disco from the late 70s or underground synth tracks from the various scenes across the world. One thing that fascinates me is that for every group who endured, New Order, Depeche Mode etc, there were countless other artists plying their trade in similar but disparate scenes all over the world. These distilled pockets of music culture reflect each city/country in an interesting way. Paris, Berlin, Manchester, New York, Seattle, all very different but perhaps using similar methods and tools. 

MATTHEW - Joy Division, Patrick Wolf, Brian Eno, Thomas Dolby – to name but a few. All four of us bring different influences to the band. 

ISR: Have you guys been approached by labels yet? Which ones do you see yourself on?

BAND - We have been approached by a number of labels. We are eager to release our debut album so we are considering all the options open to us. 

ISR: If there was one band that you could tour with which one would it be and why?

TAIO - On Saturday I would have said Them Crooked Vultures. Today it would be The National or Wild Beasts. In fact, New Order, with out question.  

MATTHEW - Ziggy Stardust or the Stop Making Sense tour-bus. The theatrics would be mesmerizing. I am fascinated by the idea of approaching a tour like a director would approach their latest play. I think these tours captured a sense of physicality and visual display that is sometimes missing from musical performances 

ISR: If you guys weren't in a band, what would you be doing?

MATTHEW - I’d either be skulking through London’s streets like a lost puppy or doing something that involves public speaking. I’m told that I like the sound of my own voice. Don’t worry, I’m currently endeavoring to learn the art of the inner monologue. 

TAIO - Reading Bulgakov. 

RICHARD - Making music would still be the obsession it has always been. It's always been something I do on my own to relax, although I've never taken it so seriously as I have now. Having met Matt and the rest of the band, the talent that they have, that creates a dynamic that spurs you on to make more of it. 

ISR: What do you guys do to stay in shape? Give me your typical workout in a given week.

MATTHEW - Apparently, I suffer from a condition that has been diagnosed as ‘Gym-shy’. I can’t say I have attended a health centre since I became aware of my wonderful metabolism. The closest I get to exercise is the stage or a when cycling to one of my favorite taverns. Anyone who has attended a Kites show will know that they are rather lively affairs. 

RICHARD - I just took up Yoga actually, I had an injury last year which requires me to work on my flexibility so I go twice a week. It's an eye-opener! 

ISR: Any plans for touring stateside?

MATTHEW - Yes - ever since I picked up a guitar at the age of eleven. When can we come? 

ISR: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

MATTHEW - Biting my finger-nails and attempting to fathom how I can maintain creative dynamism. I’d also like to be featured on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ but that’s probably something of a pipe dream. 

TAIO - I would love to be having lunch with Kate Bush. 

ISR: Thanks guys. Best of luck in the studio. See you Stateside soon.

From an Interview on “Wharf” in the UK: 

By Simon Hayes on July 26, 2010 3:19 PM :

They might be an unfamiliar name at the moment but up-and-coming band Kites are determined to be soaring up the charts sooner rather than later. 

The London-based quartet, formed last year, are already attracting a devoted following and are part of an unsigned bands night at the Indigo2 on August 6. 

Singer Matthew Phillips is looking forward to the showcase. 

He said: "We've not played many shows so we only expected about five people to turn up, but they have all been heavily attended. People seem genuinely interested in the music.

"The Indigo2 show will be a bit of an anniversary for us because it will be almost exactly a year to the day since we formed the band. We're really excited because it's a fantastic venue, bigger and better than anywhere we've played before. It'll give us the chance to do some different things with the show. 

"We're the penultimate band on the night and we want to blow the audience away and make it hard for the last act to follow us. I hope that doesn't sound too big-headed. To be honest, we just want to impress people with our music. We see ourselves as a live act - it's not just a case of playing our instruments, we put on a show as well."

Kites' line-up of Phillips, Taio Renee-Lawson on guitar, Richard Baldwin on synths and drummer Georgie O, has a surprisingly mature sound. 

The influences of 1980s bands like New Order and OMD are evident, and they are already attracting the attention of record labels. 

Phillips said: "We spent a long time working on the tracks, rather than playing live, so they sound finely honed. A lot of other bands do it the other way round. 

"I had quite a clear vision of how I wanted us to sound, uncomplicated and pure. I'd been in bands before but I set up this project very systematically, with a very clear idea of the music. Even my voice is projected differently in Kites.

"That's reflected in the name we chose. I always liked band names like Pulp and Blur because they are so simple, plus it had an airborne sentiment, which appealed to me because it's about freedom. 

"What's also great about the band is we come from all four corners of London, and range in age from 18 to 30 so we all bring something different to the mix. There's not much band in-fighting, which is a relief."

Kite Videos: 

The Florist,  Take The Reins, These And Three More, Including:

Remnants Of An Army, Yellow Letter, & with the Priscillas Live.

(Just a note from ‘DeX’ on this & future articles, the videos and other important links are now imbedded in the copy. When activated, they will open up in a new window, which should be easier for everyone to use. If I can ever find a “primer” on this, I hope to embed the actual video in the story in the future. Thanks, ‘DeX’)

Sirenia:

MySpace Site: http://www.myspace.com/sirenia, Official Site: http://sirenia.no, Label: http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/

SIRENIA was formed by Morten Veland in January 2001.

Morten's musical work was already well known through his work with his former band Tristania, a band he co-founded back in the mid nineties. Being the main songwriter for this band he was a part of defining the gothic metal sound from a very early time on. With SIRENIA his intention was to bring everything to the next level.

In an interview with Chad Bower, Veland said: “Some years ago I decided to take Sirenia in a more melodic direction. However, I still composed a lot of music in different genres and I ended up with a great amount of ideas that basically didn’t fit in Sirenia’s musical concept anymore.

So I was faced with two options, either to throw these ideas away, or create a new project where I could bring these ideas to life. I thought that a lot of these compositions were way too good to be left uncompleted, so I decided to form Mortemia, and began working with all the ideas that I had and could not fit into Sirenia’s music, because they where either too complex, too hard, or did not have the right expression- musically speaking. So this is basically how the idea of forming Mortemia came together.”

To date, SIRENIA has released 3 albums and an EP. Their latest work ‘Nine Destinies and a Downfall' made it to the charts in 6 countries, receiving great reviews worldwide. Meanwhile their single ‘My Mind's Eye', taken from the same album, topped radio charts in several countries. Their new album ‘The 13th Floor' was released on the 23rd of January via Nuclear Blast Records, and includes: ‘The Path to Decay’, ‘Led Astray’, Live in HD, also, from the other Albums, ‘The Other Side’, and ‘The End Of It All’. Here is ‘The One I Once Was’ in HD on ‘Napalm’ Records.

About Jonathan A Perez, from Wikipedia:

Jonathan A. Perez has been known for their involvement in different bands of Gothic and Symphonic Metal from Norway. His career in music began at age 18 in 1997 with Trail of Tears, a local band, when he served as drummer after Vidar Uleberg left the band. With them he recorded a total of five studio albums, including full tours and numerous shows in Europe, as well as the first full Mexican tour in June 2003.

In 2004 he was assigned, along with Trail of Tears, to be part of the double album tribute to the Australian group Dead Can Dance, entitled "The Lotus Eaters (Tribute To Dead Can Dance)." The band appears performing the song "The Arcane".

During the spring and summer of 2006, he made a successful European tour with his band, along with Therion and Tristania, promoting the album “Free Fall into Fear”, which was published a year earlier. Once completed, he recorded the group's fifth album, called “Existentia”, which was programmed with a new concert tour playing the new material during 2007.

However, in November 2006, Perez finally abandoned Trail of Tears in conjunction with other members (except their leader Ronny Thorsen) because of differences and monetary losses of the organization to the members of the band.

Subsequently, it has remained a permanent member of Sirenia, but has not been habitual or constant as a session musician on recordings of their albums.

With this band, he was involved only in the recording of their mini-CD "Sirenian Shores" (2004), on their album "Nine Destinies and a Downfall" (2007), and also is credited in three singles and videos they have released since then. His arrival coincided with the first great international success of Sirenia, the song "My Mind's Eye" (2007), which topped the radio charts in several countries. The video was widely distributed in Austria, Switzerland, Australia and Germany, and was broadcast on MTV, according to the Norwegian newspaper Aftenbladet.[2]

Two other musical projects of a more experimental and less known bands have been Stemplet Falsk ("False Stamp" in Norwegian), which formed with his co-former Trail of Tears, guitarist Runar Hansen and more personal, which he called Sonido Latino (Latin Sound).

About Michael S Krumins, as told by Saren Hjort from the MSK Agency:

Michael S. Krumins has made himself noticed both on the national and international music scene within several genres and styles of music.

Since the first record deal as a 16 year old, he have played more or less over the whole world, touring with several bands and played on everything from small clubs to big festivals. He is today active in several bands and projects, from world music, jazz,
Latino and Metal. Michael S. Krumins holds a Masters Degree in Music Performance from the University in Agder, with focus on World Music.

“His focused work trough these years have lead to that he now master a wide spectre of musical expressions. From heavy metal to jazz, string swing, Latin American and African styles. That Krumins has gained such a high level within so many genres is a testimony of a great musical talent.“
-Rolf Kristensen

“Michael delivers always what he is supposed to, and on time. He has an incredible ability to create music that can bring several musical cultures together. He is also a skilled producer, an amazing guitarist, a rare musical talent”
- Søren Hjort, Artist Management

Here’s “Motherland”, “Astrakhan Café”, and “Minor Swing” with his Latin Jazz Band, “Hot Swing DeVille”-note the tight guitar work.

About Ailyn:

Pilar Giménez García ((born May 29, 1982 in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona) is a Spanish singer, known as Ailyn. She is the female vocalist of the Gothic Metal Band Sirenia.

Her musical career started at the age of 15, when she studied Solfege and Classical singing at The Albéniz School of Music.

Her professional debut was in 2002 in Cornellà de Llobregat, in an annual benefit fashion show the city held to raise money for Alzheimer's sufferers.

Her first discographic contract was as part of the group Charm (a female vocal trio that played anime songs, J-pop and J-rock). After their first album titled "Konnichiwa" and released in 2003, she wanted to try her luck as a solo artist, she began recording tracks on her own. In 2004, after completing some tunes for the "Kimagure Orange Road" anime series, she left the group. In September 2005, she was a contestant, representing Spain, in the International Pop Music Festival "Canzoni Del Mondo", being among the 10 finalists.

In October, she got the "Silver Tabaiba" to the Best Performance in the 5th Edition of the International Song Festival in the Canary Islands. In November, she got the "Gold Tabaiba" to the Best Singer Of A Published Song, in the 6th Edition of the International Song Festival in the Canary Islands. The song, "Puedo Sentir", was originally sung by Lena Park (Fall In Love).

In May 2007, she was selected as a member of the young team in the Spanish version of X Factor.

In the different episodes she sang Time After Time, Moonlight Shadow, Bring Me to Life and Why.

On April 9, 2008 it was announced that Ailyn was chosen as the new singer of Sirenia out of over 500 women. "I got selected as Sirenia’s new vocalist as an accident," she later told an interviewer. "My sister added them to my MySpace’s friends, but we didn’t realize that if you wanted to audition for the band you had to send them your demo or add them as friends, so I was shocked when they wrote asking me to go to Norway and audition for the new vocalist(position). I went there twice, the first time was a studio audition, and the second with all the band members. I think I was selected because I’m what Morten wanted for the band, and since the first moment we connected, all the members from Sirenia, as well.”

Her first album with the band is The 13th Floor, which was released on January 23, 2009. She is also the female vocalist on Sirenia's fifth album The Enigma of Life, released on January 21, 2011. Although Henriette Bordvik performed vocals on both An Elixir for Existence(In My Darkest Hours-From The Movie “The Exorcism Of Emily Rose II”) and the EP Sirenian Shores, the release of the Enigma of Life makes Ailyn the first female vocalist to record two full-length albums with Sirenia.

SIRENIA sounds like a mixture of gothic metal and rock with classical influences, in addition to elements from more extreme metal genres. Their sound has a solid foundation in the powerful drums and bass, supported by massive rhythm guitars, dressed with atmospheric keyboards, and spiced with melancholic violins and 12-string guitars.

The vocal styles are diverse, consisting of female vocals, choirs, growls, screams, clean male vocals, whispers and samples. The songs are very intense and the atmosphere changes frequently.

The lyrics are deep reflections on life, death, love, hate, paranoia, anxiety, mental decline, and the rigors of life in general.

The band has a very strong line-up. In addition to Morten Veland performing guitars and vocals, the band consists of Ailyn: female vocals, Jonathan A. Perez: drums, and Michael S. Krumins: guitars.

Arthur Marx, who wrote screenplays for film and television and a best-selling book about his father, "Life With Groucho," died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 89. His death was confirmed by his son Steve.

“Ours” & Jimmy Gnecco:

Web Sites:

Official J. Gnecco:  http://www.jimmygnecco.com/pages/

Jimmy Gnecco MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jimmygneccosolo

“Ours” Official: http://www.ours.net/home.html

“Ours” MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/oursmusic 

Finding these folks last night on MySpace, was a true experience. I often find talent that I’m impressed with, but that said, the over all talent here is truly phenomenal. It’s like discovering a “Bob Dylan” before they become “Mainstream Famous”. Herein is two stories in one, but central to both is the songwriting of Jimmy Gnecco, the band founder and front man. He is as compelling sitting in a studio with just his acoustic, as with the band. 

I’m not going to belabor you with my opinion-it’s mine, I hope you take it in consideration as something worthwhile, but you need to explore this. Hey, you can tell folks you heard this when they were “On The Verge…”But, simply there’s much to be heard on the Band and Solo sites that haven’t, as yet, found their way into a real video. YouTube is getting overcrowded with “Fan Videos” that are at best story approximations, at worst a single photo with the mp3 burned onto the sound track in Windows Movie Maker”. I have to sieve through all of them each week to find the best, and hopefully the Musician created ones. 

This is the first of a new series under the Banner of “The Arts Of Freedom”. I intend to devote part of the time in the process of creating the Arts in a world that often denigrates it as frivolous. If anything, as it IS the last expression of true Freedom left to us, we could frankly use more. I believe if you get a “snapshot” of the process, you’ll find that whether creativity derives technology, products, or the Arts, it is an essential part of a thriving culture. 

Official Biography: Ours began in 1992, and built a strong following playing shows in New York City. 

By 1997, the band had sparked a label bidding war, and when the smoke settled, they signed a deal with Dreamworks Records. For their first record, Distorted Lullabies, Ours worked with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite. The record was released in 2001, and was met with beaming critical praise, and fervent fan appreciation. Their single "Sometimes" enjoyed heavy rotation at both radio and MTV2. 

Ours followed up Distorted Lullabies in 2003 with Precious, helmed by critically acclaimed producer, Ethan Johns. For the past 4 years, Ours have been meticulously crafting their 3rd record with world renowned producer Rick Rubin. Now on sale, the lush, sweeping, and transcendent Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy) is the record Ours were destined to make. 

From “Last FM: The band OURS is the creation of singer Jimmy Gnecco, guitarist Dave Milone, drummer Tony Angerson, and bassist Scott Greco. Since its creation in 1990, the lineup has evolved but Gnecco has always felt that having a stable group of individuals who could play off each other was important. 

In high school, Gnecco was in the band Lost Child, and later, The Harmony Bandits (which eventually evolved into what is now OURS). Around 1992-1994, OURS released their first album titled Sour under their own label entitled “Beatnik records,” owned by Mike Marri who produced Sour. 

Afterwards, the band dissolved and would not reform again for several years. 

In 1997, Gnecco started OURS again and quickly drew industry attention. A label bidding war ensued and OURS was signed with DreamWorks Records. After four years, they released their first album, Distorted Lullabies, in 2001. Precious followed in 2002 and was promoted by DreamWorks. OURS has now been slated into the roster of Rick Rubin’s American Recordings, and their most recently recorded third album, Mercy (Dancing for the Death of An Imaginary Enemy), was released on April 15, 2008.

From MTV2 Interview:
"I enjoy feeling sad sometimes," says Jimmy Gnecco (pronounced NECK-oh), front man for Ours, "because at least then you're feeling something--you know you're alive." 

Fans of Ours, who have devotedly followed the band's live performances in and around New York, will definitely know they're alive when they hear the opening chords of Distorted Lullabies (DreamWorks Records). With guitars that spiral in on themselves with raga-like intensity, a voice that can flip from a graceful falsetto into a bloodthirsty howl, without notice, and melodies that wind through the songs with a logic all their own, Gnecco transforms torment into beauty, evoking mystery with power. 

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Gnecco grew up on the power ballads of late-'80s album-oriented rock. Towards the end of high school, Gnecco began playing in a band that would eventually become Ours. After graduating from high school, he worked as a pizza delivery guy and liquor store salesman, all the while pouring his life force into music with single-minded focus. "The first rock band I fell in love with was U2," he says. "The mixture of emotional release and melody, along with drama, hit me emotionally. Growing up, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and John Lennon affected me greatly because each one used their personal pain in a positive way to show love. I admire that." 

After a few years, the band took a break to re-focus. 

Gnecco then roped his friend Race Bass into playing guitar, and they started to put the band back together. While beginning work on their first album, they also found drummer Kirke Jan. They added keyboardist Anthony DeMarco, then brought guitarist Dave Milone back on board.

The band’s current touring lineup consists of: 

* Jimmy Gnecco: vocals, guitar
* Static: guitar
* Locke: guitar
* Race: bass
* ???: drums

Jimmy Gnecco Says this In His Own Autobiography from Wikipedia: 

James Francis "Jimmy" Gnecco III (born , 1973) is an American musician. He is the vocalist for the rock band Ours.

 Early life

Gnecco was born on September 30, 1973 in Teaneck, New Jersey at Holy Name Hospital and grew up in Ridgefield Park. Gnecco grew up well-rounded in his musical influences, listening to old Motown artists like the Jackson Five, Smokey Robinson, and Marvin Gaye. Gnecco calls Gaye's What's Going On his favorite album. He has also cited artists and bands like Frank Sinatra, U2, Radiohead, Jellyfish, and KD Lang as people that helped shape his musical pathway.

Being fairly small all his life, Gnecco's years as a teenager in high school were plagued with a fair share of teasing and bullying from his peers. High school was also the time period in which Gnecco would start his life as a musician. Before forming Ours, Gnecco played guitar and fronted bands called "Lost Child", "Harmony Bandits", and "The Puddles". Gnecco started singing at the urging of other bandmates, eventually finding enjoyment in it. Gnecco had very little formal vocal training, saying he couldn't afford it.

Personal life 

Gnecco, who has never been married, has three older sisters and two younger brothers. The youngest of them, Pit, formerly played drums for numerous Ours tours. Gnecco also had two children, both born to different mothers. Gnecco remains a doting father to both. 

In 2002, shortly after the release of their second album, Gnecco's then girlfriend ended her own life. This caused Gnecco to reconsider his choice to be a constantly touring musician after being distraught about not being there for his loved ones. It took a long while for Gnecco to resume his career as a musician. Gnecco stated, "I was really hesitant to pick up a guitar again and start singing or writing. I didn't feel like singing. And writing...I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror, so how could I write? I just felt like, 'I don't like myself at all.' I felt horrible. I felt guilty."

Maintaining a very small frame, Gnecco is an avid runner. He used to live a vegan lifestyle for several years, but explained in a recent interview that he added meat back into his diet after feeling weak at times. He stated, “I was a vegan for about twelve years, but I’m not anymore. I still try to be as much of it as I can. But every once in awhile I have to eat some salmon or some tuna, or turkey or something. I have to because I work out a lot and it’s really tough if I’m working out that much. I feel a little bit better when I eat a little bit of meat. I don't overdo it but I’m not fully a vegan.” Gnecco also cautiously protects his voice, often performing without air conditioning and also avoiding being in rooms where people are smoking.

Gnecco started a friendship with late musician Jeff Buckley shortly before his death. When his career with Ours finally got media attention, it was often falsely reported that Gnecco worked as Buckley's guitar technician.

Along with those reports, vocal and physical comparisons to Buckley often plagued Gnecco. While Gnecco cites Buckley as an inspiration to him later in his career, in an attempt to silence the comparisons, he stresses that Buckley was not an influence on his singing style, explaining that he and Buckley shared a lot of the same influences growing up. Gnecco has often professed a great love and respect for Buckley and wrote the songs, "I Heard You Singing," "Bleed," "As I Wander," "Living In A Video," & "Saint" about his lost friend.

Career 

Ours formed officially in 1992. Several years later, after a handful of setbacks and personal conflicts, Jimmy Gnecco was signed as a solo artist to DreamWorks Records in 1997 under the moniker of Ours. Ours have released three official albums to date: Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy) (2008),Precious (2002), and their label debut Distorted Lullabies (2001). 

Gnecco's first recording titled Sour (1994) was a demo compilation which he feels is not a real Ours record, being that he was dissatisfied with much of it. In 2005 he said, "In 1994, I was only 20 years old, and labels with offering record deals to me, but I knew I was too young, that's not where I was going yet. So, I made one demo record with that Ours line-up and then left it; I didn't want to be known as the ex-singer from those Sour recordings. The band on Sour is not Ours- we were just a bunch of young kids, just messing around. I wasn't allowed to be insane, like I wanted, and I had no patience, and wondered why we felt we had to put it out." A song from this recording eventually evolved into the title track of their latest album, Mercy. 

Ours have gone through several members over the years, most notably rotating drummers very often. Their current line-up does not include a drummer. It consists of Race on bass, Static on guitar and effects, and Locke on whatever else they need done for a song, which includes but is not limited to... guitar, keyboards, and percussion. 

Gnecco has stated that their most current album Mercy is the only album they've put out that he is truly pleased with. Gnecco has faced plenty of setbacks in dealing with record labels and their treatment of the band and has recently stated that he would like to release music independent of any label.

Other Projects 

Gnecco and Brian May of the band Queen recorded a duet, "Someone to Die For" for the Spider-Man 2 Soundtrack. The song is a cover of Chris Cornell's original. 

Gnecco also contributed on the track Our Final Hymn from Neverending White Lights' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies and also the track "Dove Coloured Sky" from their second album, Act 2: The Blood and the Life Eternal. 

Gnecco lent his voice to a Kohl's fall 2006 commercial singing a cover of Big Country's titular "Big Country." 

Gnecco also has plans to release a solo acoustic album containing songs his fans have grown quite familiar with over the last few years at concerts, as well as some new songs. This album is expected to be released in 2010. 

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Jimmy Gnecco; it is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the CC-BY-SA. 

Original Wikipedia article:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy Gnecco

The “Ours” Videos:

Sometimes: http://youtu.be/erOMPA0Y0m8

God Only Wants You: http://youtu.be/2brnQcmW8Ig

Realize: http://youtu.be/Fz2U-AIKlDQ

The Worst Things Beautiful: http://youtu.be/dTNWCLYP0d4

The “Jimmy Gnecco” Videos:

Bing You home: http://youtu.be/KRuXWZiNsb0

The Heart “A View To The Writing Process): http://youtu.be/FPER-QP1C8Q

Light On The Grave: http://youtu.be/TO6pI4138nU

From BBC’s “Robin & Marian”, Jimmy Gnecco & Brian May, “Someone To Die For”:

http://youtu.be/cMVZAr_z124

Madison Smartt Bell's latest novel "The Color of Night" landed on my desk with a handwritten note from his publicist: "Check out the acknowledgments. I think you'll find it interesting." There Bell writes that his work has always been "dictated to me by daemons. People probably think that's a figure of speech, maybe this book will prove it literal."

Mad genius. Also my college professor.

Well most of my friends know of the Wookie monster, my illegal cat. Some of you are new to her and have vistied my article "Is Your Pet an Illegal" recently.

I decided to go a variety of directions this week, beginning with a band, as the title states, most of you never guessed was an “Indie” Band, not only from the US, (One of the most successful ‘Indie’ Bands in the US, currently) but from the capitol of my “Home State”, Iowa.

 The band gets steady rotation on many of the nation’s “Modern Rock”, College, and Independent Stations, including 107.9 FM and 102.7 FM-The Blaze from Waterloo and Northwood, IA.

 Seriously, if you like edgy solid well-crafted American “Radio” Rock, you’ll like this band…a lot. They “kick it” hard, yet remain very listenable.

 What’s not to like about a combination like that? This is especially profound, as they’ve maintained their ‘Indie’ status, and become successful either because or in spite of it.

 The huge and growing Fan base don’t seem to care.

 [Just an aside, about the structure of these articles, they have evolved into a combination of totally “off the top of my head” commentary & observation, (I’m sure the more observant of folks who know me can probably tell…Hi-Ho!) and compilations, images, and Video Links from a variety of sources, usually requiring some-to much editing on my part. (Some of the foreign entries, though in English (sort of), need A LOT of work).

The purists may object to that. I don’t really care. It’s really about the music. If the Bio says it well enough, I’m a believer in not fixing what isn't broke. Most of the time, however it needs a lot of TLC.

 That seems to work well enough.]

 Stone Sour:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/stonesour

Official: http://www.stonesour.com/

 From The MySpace Bio[Edited by DRD]:

When we last saw Stone Sour, the triple-Grammy nominated group was playing sold-out shows around the planet in support of 2006’s critically acclaimed Come What(ever) May, a sonic blockbuster that entered Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart at No. 4 and went on to sell more than a half-million copies on the strength of three radio hits, including the No. 1 smash single, "Through Glass.” 

Billboard hailed the record as “an intense, taut piece of work,” Alternative Press called the group “masters of ass-kicking,” adding, “In a better America, Stone Sour would be the face of American rock,” and Revolver magazine gave the disc four stars and praised the quintet for “demonstrating a dynamic range equaled by few of their peers.” 

Four years later, the quintet (vocalist Corey Taylor, guitarists James Root and Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki and drummer Roy Mayorga) have returned with a broadened range, a deepened perspective and the determination to make the new album: AUDIO SECRECY, a multi-layered record, free of stylistic limitations. 

“It’s everything I've ever wanted to do on one album,” says Taylor. “It's heavy, it's melodic, it’s dark, it’s slow, it’s light and it’s beautiful. You’ll hear something different with each listen.”

The group recorded AUDIO SECRECY with Come What(ever) May producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Deftones) at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios. 

When they weren’t working on the album, they spent their free time living in a spook-filled crash pad. "That house put us through hell,” laughs Taylor. “It was really old, so everything was broken down and leaking and infested with wasps and spiders. I'd get lost because there were so many damn rooms. It was like living in the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. It did keep us in the right mood, though, so maybe we should thank it in the liner notes."

Stone Sour does a lot of things brilliantly—and they do most of them on AUDIO SECRECY, beginning with “Mission Statement,” an electrifying track that breaks from the gate with white-knuckle intensity. “It punches you in the face and drags you by the hair like a caveman," laughs Taylor. Prior to the album’s release, the band offered “Mission Statement” as a free download. Fans responded en masse and the track was downloaded more than a 1,000 times an hour within a two day period. 

Among AUDIO SECRECY’s endless highlights is “Say You’ll Haunt Me,” a heavy-with-melody rock track that best exemplifies the band’s ability to pull in fans from cross-pollinating directions. At the album’s centerpiece is “Hesitate,” an epic “November Rain”-ish type track that’s both melodic and melancholic with orchestral strings and a soaring chorus. 

About the song’s emotion, Taylor says, “Lyric-wise, I’m writing from a more personal space here. Whether talking about a relationship or being a father or finding my soul mate, I’m putting it out there for everyone to hear and feel and see if anybody can relate.”

The album’s title is a play on words for idiosyncrasy. “I’m a fan of double meanings and metaphorical speak,” muses Taylor. “There are so many levels to what those two words combined could mean. As a title, it perfectly fit the album.”

For guitarist Josh Rand, the track “The Pessimist” holds a special significance. "It's the heaviest song we've done up to this point. I spent a day and a half studying the Hindu scale for the lead. The guitar solo for that song has a very Eastern sound." The song sees Rand shredding with a precise, powerful solo that's melodic and metallic. All the while, it preserves a unique feel.  

"The great thing about Stone Sour is that we’ve got five writers in the band and the sound is like different pieces of cloth coming together to form a blanket," says Taylor. "All you have to do is pull the strings a little tighter to bring those pieces together. Everyone in the band brought in material and we came up with an album that's really alive."

"Threadbare" was written by Mayorga and marks a songwriting debut for the drummer. "The band was really cool and encouraged me to throw some music into the hat," he says. "It's one of the longer, weirder and darker tracks on the record. I'm thrilled everyone embraced it and made it a Stone Sour song. It's very progressive, and it makes for a nice little rollercoaster ride." 

Economaki goes deeper into the track, adding, "It's absolutely epic. It's got clean melodies and it modulates. It takes the listener to a whole different dimension.”

In addition, Stone Sour's trademark dual guitar assault became even tougher, with Jim Root and Josh recording simultaneously.

There was no need for them to over-digitize parts or go back and water everything down with Pro Tools. Taking an old school approach, both guitarists entered the booth and ripped away. Says Rand, "We're like five guys playing in a garage and it reflects in the music. There's a song for every mood you can possibly go through in a day." 

“This album really represents everything we’ve been threatening to do,” says Taylor. “It has so many different vibes and styles…it’s probably the best thing I’ve done in a long time.” That’s a helluva statement considering Taylor’s resume, which includes his “other gig” as the lead singer of multi-platinum Grammy winning band Slipknot (Root also pulls double-duty, playing guitar for both groups). 

“I'm not trying to change the world, I just want to make music and get some s**t off my chest,” smiles Taylor. “But at the end of the day, I hope people dig this record. I hope they grab onto something that they want to sing all day. I hope it gets them excited. I hope it makes them think and I hope it makes them want to start their own bands. I hope it makes them happy and most important of all, I hope they feel that it was worth the wait." 

Stone Sour Videos: 

Haunt Me in HD: http://youtu.be/eEn-nTkbEM0?hd=1

Bother: http://youtu.be/Q-pXD0FXLQ8

Through Glass: http://youtu.be/3phsIEmKWbw

Hesitate-From New Album: http://youtu.be/qrv6sa0PrtU

Inhale: http://youtu.be/7NHz3Koj7o0

Made Of Scars: http://youtu.be/_tmxCRRmNhM

Kandia: 

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kandiamusic

I seriously hope you start with the MySpace page and explore this band, as well as keep an eye for them in the future. They have a lot going for them. 

Kandia grew to a full band due to the demand for players in live venues. The core is the talented duo of Nya and Andre, a couple from Portugal, who enamored by American & UK “Prog” Bands like Tool & Pink Floyd, as well as American style 80’s Metal. 

I wish there were more good videos to share, but they’re relatively new, though not likely to disappear anytime soon. 

I would venture, on the strength of their new album, “Inner Beauty/Outer Reflection”, this year will be a pivotal one for them. 

I think the rest of the planet will like them, especially N America, as they’ve taken the influence of a couple of our best exports, and made it theirs. 

They’re NOT a “sounds like” band, at all. But those who inadvertently were their influences would like them.

I expect great things from these folks. 

Official Bio from the Band Site (with heavy editing by DRD): 

In November 2007 a new rock band was born. 

Nya and Andre decided to join forces on a project they would name Kandia  “to obfuscate, to blind by light”. 

Influenced by progressive rock bands such as A Perfect Circle, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, & metal giants such as Metallica & Pantera, the band was capable of finding a unique sound joining all these influences. 

Only a few months after they started producing their new songs, Kandia recorded two of them at home: “Grown Up” and a cover from the 80's hit “My Sharona”. Soon they were filled with requests on their MySpace page and decided it was time to get things done the right way. 

The two members entered the studio on July 2008 to record their first EP - “Light” with Daniel Cardoso (Head Control System) as producer. Daniel would also fill in as drummer in the band, and record the piano tracks as well. The EP was released through web on August and officially launched on October. 

As the band considered it important to have a good image, they decided to have a photo session, and take responsibility for the artwork on the EP, which they feel, 'till this day, very proud of. 

Light was highly acclaimed by Fans AND Critics.

On may 2009, Kandia entered the studio to record their debut album “Inward Beauty|Outward Reflection”. The album presents nine new songs and a remake from “Rise”. The song was chosen by MySpace Friends to be re-recorded on the album. Charon's front man was invited to sing on Kandia's song “Reflections”, which was released as a single online for free. 

This was also a time of change for the band as Daniel Silva joined to fill the slot on drums. The band started playing live in April 2010. , as Kandia became officially a four piece live band. 

Nya, Andre, Bernardo & Daniel are now aiming for a bigger goal, to play abroad and take something more out of their debut album. 

"Inward Beauty|Outward Reflection" caught the attention of BitOrg's CEO Masa Kishimoto, & Kandia signed a deal for a Japanese edition of the album coming released January 2011. 

2011 will be the year of changes and risks. Stay tuned. 

A Recent Review On The Inward Beauty/Outward Reflection Album By Via Nocturna: 

Review IB|OR - Via Nocturna (ENG)

Imagined and created by the minds of Nya Cruz and Andre, Kandia debuted with Light, an EP released in 2008 (including a first version of Rise that reappears here), then publishing Inward Beauty|Outward Reflection, their first LP, earlier this year.  

Stylistically the duo approaches melodic metal, without going too Gothic, which often happens with female-fronted bands, adding a high dose of romanticism with notable guitar density and an adequate dose of electronic keys that make the songs more interesting, vibrant and appealing.  

The guitars have an important performance in terms of harmonic sections, riffs, and solos, which are well placed and perfectly executed. 

In addition to the guitar work, the voice of Nya Cruz (sounding close to Cristina Scabbia) stands out with excellent pitch, dynamics and melody. There’s an excellent duet with J. P. Leppäluoto (of Charon) in  the song Reflections.  

Pedro Mendes performs the solo in Paranoia, Daniel Cardoso plays drums and piano throughout the album, and Ze Puto performs tablas on Waste My Time, redolent of its Mediterranean/Middle Eastern  influences.  

Lacuna Coil was a powerful influence in the studio, along with the excellent production Daniel Cardoso, UltraSound Studios, and an accomplished level of songwriting and performance by the duo. [Edited for Grammar & Continuity by DRD.] 

  http://vianocturna2000.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-inward-beauty-outward-reflection.html

Kandia Videos: 

Into Your Hands in HD: http://youtu.be/1sakmVghMfE?hd=1

Hold On To Me (Acoustic HD): http://youtu.be/Tz1iq51ZOrQ?hd=1

Silbermond (Silver Moon): 

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/silbermond

Okay, before you light up the torches and grab the farm implements, I KNOW they sing all their songs in German/Deutsch. They’re from Bavaria-who’d have “thunk” it? 

But they’re so polished and compelling, when watching a video, it’s almost (Remember…I said ALMOST) easy to forget. 

Fortunately, the first two bio information blurbs existed in English at Answers.com & Wikipedia, which only required editing for grammar. The official biography came from an Austrian Fan Mirror site. Google had enough of a challenge with the base translation, I had to squirm through the rest. 

But their work is worthy of the high praise I give it. I hope enough folks join me in my appreciation of Stephanie & Company, they do some stuff in English for their American cousins. (You think I’m joking about that, I’ve got a shirt-tale relative in Munich named Herbert-who knew-right?) 

So, fill a stein with your favorite barley brew, close your eyes, and take a “click-trip” back to the Fatherland.

Bio From Answers.com:

German Rock Band: Silbermond formed in Bautzen in 2000. Lead vocalist Stefanie "Pony" Kloß(Kloss), guitarist Thomas "Ratte" Stolle, bassist Johannes "Hannes" Stolle, and drummer Andreas "Nowi" Nowak previously teamed in a local choir project dubbed Ten Sing. 

Originally calling themselves JAST -- an acronym assembled from the quartet's respective first names -- they made the switch to Silbermond (Silver Moon) in 2001 concurrent with a shift away from cover songs to original material. 

After a high-profile January 2004 opening gig for singer Jeanette Biedermann, outsized expectations awaited the group's debut LP, Verschwende Deine Zeit, and sales did not disappoint. The album went quintuple platinum on the strength of the Top Five single "Symphonie," and on July 2, 2005, Silbermond performed on the Berlin stage of the international Live8 concert event. Their sophomore effort, Laut Gedacht, hit retail in the spring of 2006, debuting atop the German and Austrian charts. The album also launched Silbermond's first number one single, "Das Beste." ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Read more: 

http://www.answers.com/topic/silbermond#ixzz1J3QYYO5O 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Silbermond (German for "Silver Moon") is a German rock band from Bautzen, Saxony. The band consists of Stefanie Kloß (Kloss), Andreas Nowak, Johannes and Thomas Stolle.

Silbermond's band members originally met in 1998 when they participated in the music project Ten Sing. Two years later, they decided to form their own group, and as a result they began performing locally under the name Jast (composed by the initial letters of band members.). In 2001, they changed their name to Silbermond, simultaneously concentrating on songs in German language for the first time.

In January 2004 the group got the chance to perform as opening act for singer Jeanette Biedermann.

Afterwards, they released their first single "Mach's Dir Selbst", followed-up by their debut album Verschwende deine Zeit, which was eventually certified double platinum in Germany and Austria and spawned three further singles, including top 5 hit "Symphonie".

At the end of 2004 the band went on tour, and in April 2005 they published their first concert DVD Verschwende Deine Zeit - Live, which reached gold status.

Silbermond participated in the Berlin installment of Live 8. They performed "Zeit für Optimisten" after Green Day's set, and before Chris De Burgh in the concert lineup.

Silbermond Video:

Ich Bereue Nichts: http://youtu.be/5rbVv9kBgSI

Das Beste: http://youtu.be/cqcXnjAx7dk

Unendlich: http://youtu.be/T3oPyXuvTS0

Durch Die Nacht: http://youtu.be/3fXkngQhtJM

Symphonie: http://youtu.be/fxijG1N4jF4

Des Ende Vom Kreis: http://youtu.be/X5NApPbvmfs

Irgendwas Bleibt: http://youtu.be/9sfknBJlmoo

Meer Sein: http://youtu.be/oMKLNuay5GM

Kreiger Des Lichts:  http://youtu.be/Rf4dKoBHsHg

For this Saturday Matinee article, I decided to write about the movie going experience rather than focus on one particular film. What started me thinking about this was remembering movies I had seen as a child and young teen. I grew up in Huntington, WV at a time (late 50s and early 60s) when children were not ferried around from one extracurricular activity to another. For the most part, we were left alone to amuse ourselves. Sometimes that meant running around in the woods near our house. Sometimes it meant riding bikes or playing board games or shooting marbles. Sometimes simply sitting quietly and reading a book. But on a fairly regular basis, our parents would pack us into the car and drop us off at the Keith-Albee Theater downtown for a Saturday matinee. It was the Keith-Albee that defined the movie going experience for me as a child.

The Keith-Albee Theater in Huntington opened its doors in 1928. From Wikipedia:

At the time it was built the Keith-Albee Theatre was the second biggest theater in the United States, after the Roxy Theater in New York City. Seating approximately 3,000 patrons, it exemplified the opulence and grandeur of the 1920’s with a Mexican Baroque design style. Intricate plasterwork, chandeliers, and balconies create an atmosphere of sophistication, along with cosmetic rooms, smoking rooms, and fireplaces for men and women in the restrooms adjoining the main lobby. The Keith-Albee Theatre, which cost $2 million to construct in 1928, was dubbed a “temple of amusement” by Huntington’s Herald-Dispatch newspaper. The opening day performance on May 8, 1928 featured performer Rae Samuels, nicknamed the “Blue Streak of Vaudeville” for her versatile acting ability. The theatre survived a major flood in 1937.

The Keith-Albee Theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer organ to accompany live performances and motion pictures. The organ was capable of creating almost any sound effect needed for silent films shown in the theater. This original organ was removed and sold in the 1950’s after live music had lost some of its appeal.

During my childhood, the theater still retained much of its original grandeur. This was the place where the Junior Women’s Club put on their annual shows, where I once watched my mother dance across the stage in some horrible hula number while munching on homemade fudge sold from the aisles by the non-performers. This was the place where I went to see movies. I’ll be honest. I don’t remember every single movie that I saw there. But a few do stand out:

1. A Hard Day’s Night – I was in the fourth grade when Meet the Beatles was released. Like many young girls, I had an ongoing love affair with The Beatles (George) that lasted into my teen years. We would rush to the record store downtown whenever a new album was released. (Yes, there was a record store. No coffee. No books. Just records. Rows of little 45s in their individual sleeves. Rows of colorful albums with heartthrobs prominently featured on the covers.) We thronged to the Keith-Albee to see A Hard Day’s Night when it was released in 1964. I was 10. And there we were, a hoard of young girls ensconced in the plush velvet seats, surrounded by lavish chandeliers and gilt, screaming at the top of our lungs while The Beatles cavorted across the screen in a movie so light on plot as to be positively airy. It was a heavenly experience then and one that still brings a smile to my face today.

2. The Happiest Millionaire – Okay, not exactly a classic film, not even one of Disney’s best. But in 1967 I was 13, still young enough to find Fred MacMurray comforting and definitely young enough to have a full blown crush on Tommy Steele. I adored that movie. Looking back, I’m not entirely sure why. The clearest memory I retain is of someone dancing across the screen with an alligator on a leash. But I adored it. What comes back to me most strongly is the feeling of sheer bliss as I sat in the familiar comfort of the Keith-Albee and gave myself over to a fantasy. I was able to simply be a child.

3. The Graduate – Like The Happiest Millionaire, The Graduate was released in 1967. It is probably indicative of the schizoid nature of 13-year-olds that seeing this movie also stands out as one of my most vivid movie going experiences at the Keith-Albee. What comes to mind when I think about this movie is, well, sneakiness. I went with a girlfriend. (I’m not too sure now whether it was Muffy or Jan or Kathy or possibly Martha.) We were not old enough to see the movie but decided to try and get in anyway. So we straightened ourselves up, pasted “mature” looks on our faces and nonchalantly handed our money over at the ticket booth. To our surprise, we were in! I actually remember this movie pretty well though it’s likely that some of the plot details come to me from subsequent viewings over the years. I do remember sitting in the balcony of the Keith-Albee. I do remember the final scenes of the movie with some degree of clarity; can picture them on the theater’s screen. And I do remember wondering a) what all the fuss was about and b) what it was about the movie that I didn’t quite understand. Thirteen can be kind of a horrible age.

So the Keith-Albee was with me through childhood and into puberty, until my family packed up and moved to Chicago. It was a constant in my young life. When I think about the experience of going out to see a movie, there is a part of me that yearns for the opulence and familiarity of that particular theater. Oh, I know how movie theaters have improved over the years. We have surround sound. We have more ergonomically designed seats. We have TECHNOLOGY. But no matter how high tech and impressive today’s theaters may be, I don’t believe I will ever find one that provides me with the same amount of emotional satisfaction as the Keith-Albee Theater did when I was young.

Some links for further information on and some great interior photos of the Keith-Albee:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith-Albee_Theatre

http://www.pawv.org/endgrd05/keithalbee.htm

Some information on the three movies mentioned in this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day%27s_Night_(film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happiest_Millionaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Graduate

When the classic novel "From Here to Eternity" was published in 1951, a few things were gone that had been in the original manuscript: explicit mentions of gay sex and a number of four-letter words.

The author, James Jones, objected to the changes at the time, arguing in a letter to his editor at Scribner that "the things we change in this book for propriety's sake will in five years, or ten years, come in someone else's book anyway." But eventually he gave in to his publisher.

We are a celebratory creature. Though the trappings and styles change, this is what is are nature to do.

We no longer dance around the fire to sing, celebrate, remember, mourn, or to mark rites of passage. Yet, something about who we are as creatures compels us to do this, though in our modern and much more sophisticated ways.

We dance around offices, bars & clubs, school rooms, halls, altars, great leaders, teams of great players, and our favorite bands and artists in halls, audtoriums, and stadiums. Music, whatever style or expression of it has become the background for the scenes in your life's movie, is likely a bigger part of life than most would acknowlege. Just cast a careful eye around you, someday, and you'll see lips moving to songs playing in people's heads, see motion in their step, too dance-like to be ignorred, and you'll see this phenomena a lot more than you would have believed. When you get in your car, like most of us, you turn the key, buckle up, adjust the mirror, and turn on the radio.

This is what we do. These folks, as well as all the others I've written about, and WILL write about are a part of this continuing ritual we are compelled to play out...we need to dance, we need to remember, celebrate, acknowlege, and soar through life's rites of passage. So, we are the dancers, and all of these folks, these creators of the rhythms of all our journeys and changes, folks like Zoot Woman, Nifra, and all the others...are the FIRE.

This is, more or less, part two to last week’s article-which means if you didn’t actually read it, much of this, though new information, has nothing much to tie itself to.

America, including the US, and to a slightly lesser degree, Canada, has networks of radio and television broadcasters still governed by “Old School” Big Business. It’s been this way for a long time.

Some wiseacre once quipped, rather accurately, that change only comes when “the pain of change is out-weighed by the pain of staying the same...”

How true.

There are small evidences of change in the air, but we’re likely still some time away from a real overhaul. I spoke with a CSR from Netflix the other day, named Jacki from the Portland Oregon area, who commented that her friends and her had been tuning in more to Indie music these days, as the “Grunge/Garage-wear-your-plaid-shirt-be-suicidal-with-a-heroin-addled-girl-friend” Music movement, was, most unfortunately, a”alive” and well. They were tired, as am I, of Pop or even “Hot Rock/Real Rock” Formats that typically play songs that all sound alike.

Hey-back in the day we MADE “Pop/Rock” Music what it is....but somewhere in the last few decades, we got stuck. Formulas and Formats Rule. We have a Satellite Radio Station over the PA in our office which plays mostly the same songs on a not too unique play list EVERY SINGLE DAY! (Arrrghhh!) Subscribers are PAYING for this service. What a coup for the American Major Labels, as these services are retreading the hits from every era in American Music History.

Okay...I’m ranting-I’ll stop. I’m not interested in taking these “boys” down but attempting to tempt, (now THAT could be a chorus hook for a Country Hit Song, “Attempting To Tempt” Yee-Haw!)them into considering some new dynamics that might increase the varieties and quality of what we hear, and save millions by not “Manufacturing” so many stars, but plugging “proven product assets” into their Promotion and Distribution resources. THEY COULD MAKE MORE MONEY , with a lot less overhead.

I digress.

The first Band here is a British Pop-Electronic-Gothic Band known as Zoot Woman. There was, and occasionally is a woman who plays in the band-particularly for Live venues. Otherwise they are three well-kempt well-dressed males who sound like there should be more of them.

The infusion of Electronic Dance rhythms add to a straight-up Pop sensibility, well-crafted lyrics, fearfully wrought arrangements, and a Gothic Dark edge.

Current front man, Stuart Price, is literally all over the place, musically, in a number of other bands, playing under the name, “Jacques Lu Cont” in Les Rhythmes Digitales, as well as DJ and Production work all over the world.

The music is all of these things converging, mixing, evolving and riveting the audience, whether they came to listen or came to dance. There’s a lot of “Buzz” about all three of this weeks offerings.

I have my thoughts scattered throughout the article. Where I can, I’ve inserted material I have researched the web to find. I would have liked to leave it as I found it, but sometimes the grammar was so difficult to follow, I had a hard time reading it-and I’m used to reading “Character Dialogs” in novels from everywhere, some of which are written to mimic a patois or dialect. Therefore, I took care to edit it without losing the thread of intent. For the writers, English is a second language.

Some of us have trouble in it’s usage as our primary tongue.

Zoot Woman:

MySpace Site: http://www.myspace.com/zootwoman

Official: http://www.zootwoman.com/

Official Bio:

Zoot Woman are a British electronic music band consisting of Adam Blake, Johnny Blake and Stuart Price.

Known for their live shows, the group has gained a worldwide following. The live line-up includes Jasmin O'Meara.

With 'Living in a Magazine’ Zoot Woman established themselves on the music scene. Credited by many within the industry as one of the most important forerunners of electroclash.

The album Things Are What They Used To Be does not stray from the melodic road that Zoot Woman fans are familiar with. The songs display an upfront, passionate approach to the essence of what the group is known for.

Well-received by critics; NME rated the album 8/10 with Camilla Pia writing, “The electro-clash survivors are at their most impressive yet: combining rip-your-heart-out lyrics with instantly singable melodies and frosty synths, all tinged with the occasional flurry of string and disco riffs. This is a masterclass in modern electronic music, finessed by innovation and emotional depth.”

The Guardian’s Dave Simpson writing, “More Than Ever wraps undying love up in big keyboard stabs, Witness is an effective moody stomp, and Lonely By Your Side – a personal/existential crisis in a three-minute pop song – can hold its head up among their heroes.”

Videos including "We Won't Break", and "Memory" have achieved great success for Zoot Woman on YouTube. This album helped expose the band to a worldwide market. It features the singles "Just A Friend Of Mine", "More Than Ever", "Memory", "We Won't Break" & "Live In My Head".

Further Information:

by Andy Kellman

(From Allmusic.com:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/zoot-woman-p392683 )

The sharply dressed Zoot Woman is a three-man pop group that owes as much to Hall & Oates as Pet Shop Boys. Stuart Price (bass) met brothers Johnny (guitar, vocals) and Adam Blake (keyboards) while at school in Reading, England. Though the group's basic setup is much like a rock band, electronics play a significant role in their sound. They began recording during the late '90s but didn't make their full-length debut until 2001; signed to Wall of Sound, Living in a Magazine came first, while a self-titled -- and more organic -- follow-up came in 2004. They've released several singles, most of which have featured club-oriented remixes from the likes of Todd Edwards, Le Knight Club, and Paper Faces. While the group has gained a significant amount of notoriety across Europe, Price's DJ, production, and remix work as Les Rhythmes Digitales and Jacques Lu Cont (including time spent with Madonna, No Doubt, Cornershop, and Goldfrapp) might be known to more people overall.

About Les Rythmes Digitales:

Link: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/les-rythmes-digitales-p278066/biography

John Bush, also from ‘Allmusic.com’ had this to say about Stuart Price:

More akin to French nu-disco compatriots like Daft Punk, than his Wall of Sound label-mates, Jacques Lu Cont's Les Rhythmes Digitales project bridges the gap between the quintessentially early-'80s phenomenon of synth pop and more contemporary styles like acid house and trip-hop. Lu Cont is actually of British origin, however; he was born Stuart Price to a Reading couple vacationing in Paris. Both were classical pianists, but Stuart was turned on to the twin towers of electro -- Kraftwerk and Afrika Bambaataa -- at an early age.

He also became interested in noted French proto-electronica figures like Pierre Henry and Jean-Jacques Perrey, and began experimenting with synthesizers as a teenager. Mark Jones from Britain's Wall of Sound Recordings gained a demo tape from a third party, invited Price to begin recording for the label, and even concocted his Gallic alias (years before Daft Punk and Air made French citizenship a hot property).

The first Les Rhythmes Digitales single was 1996's electro-shocked "Kontakte," followed closely by the debut album Liberation. Price looked to another of his influences for his second Wall of Sound single; "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" was a streamlined acid-disco epic, the title a clever pun on Chicago house kingpin Steve "Silk" Hurley's hit from ten years earlier. Price began a DJ residency spinning '80s hits, and even provided a few remixes, for decade classics like Heaven 17's "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" and Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love", as well as label-mates Dirty Beatniks. Les Rhythmes Digitales, which became a noted live act as well, playing 1998's Reading Festival (a hometown gig for Price) and headlining a Wall of Sound label tour through Britain and Europe.

A new single, "(Hey You) What's That Sound?," preceded his second album, and featured none other than Boy George in its accompanying video.

Forthcoming material didn't appear, however, thanks to a new gig serving as musical director for a Madonna tour. He also helmed most of the tracks from her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor, and became one of the more popular pop production names by the end of the decade thanks to work for Seal, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Scissor Sisters, Keane, and the Killers.

Nifra:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/nifra

Label site: http://www.armadamusic.com/artist/nifra/

Nifra, short for Nikoleta Frajkorova is of Slovakian roots, with a heart full of rhythm, a soul alive with high energy, with musical and production skills to match.

First of all, you will find her EVERYWHERE. If she’s not the hardliner, she’ll still most likely be either in the band or supporting the line-up some way. Regardless, please understand, increasingly large numbers of fans ARE there to see her.

She brings it...period.

You need to remember, that while she releases songs, plays on albums, produces albums, creates tracks other DJ’s use as a basis for their own live performances, her maestro’s touch is revealed live.

She, like the other DJ’s she does tracks and remixes for have material to work from as a basis for their shows, but these are, forgive the pun, merely “tracks to run on”. What is created from there is governed by the crowd’s vibe, the ambiance, sonically and emotionally of the room, as well as her own “instant creativity” determine what comes out of the speakers for the next several hours.

Really, this is improvisation, music created for the moment. Even if the basis of “the mix” she does for the crowd begins as one of hear tracks, what takes this all to another level is what she does with it in the moment.

You have to be there...really-it’s the only way you get the real experience. It’s an event. It happens now. And now is so personal and final when it becomes was.

Biography:

Nifra is one of those rare talents that come from the new leading generation of trance & progressive producers in central Europe.

Having her roots in the progressive scene, Nifra started her career with warm ups on the biggest shows in Slovakia & Czech republic for acts like Tiesto and a growing number of others.

It was in 2008 when Nifra took her step from being a progressive DJ, into the scene of the nu-trance generation with her first signing on Armada Music. Nifra recalls; "Having my first release on Armada was a huge step for me, not only sound wise but of course gig wise, we started to get bookings from all around Europe".

With a gig list expanding to countries like Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine & Sweden, many finally got their eye's on her.

It wasn't long until international world renowned producers like Leon Bolier, Breakfast & Ashley Wallbridge got her on remix tasks. Despite being just 22, and in a scene dominated by male politics, Nifra accomplished something very few female DJ's succeed at-putting the focus on the music. "I feel ashamed when I see any topless DJ creating bad rumour for us hard working female edm musician's", Nifra says.

With her production tracks are sure players in DJ bags from Markus Schulz, Gareth Emery, Sander Van Doorn, Andy Moor and Marcus Schossow, just to mention a few. It’s clear she finally found her sound in the nu-trance scene, and is now finally starting to expand into new venues around the globe.

Her radio show "Be Progressed" & production tracks have created an Internet following that goes all around the world, from Los Angeles via Cyprus, and all the way to Asia. "I'm amazed how fast its all been going, a few years ago I could only dream of where I am today, I'm really grateful for all the support from my fans".

2011 is going to be another strong year for this talented woman, having created a track with Progresia, called "Different Ways" in the Beatport-Trance Chart Top 10, and an increasing demand for international performances, she is well on the way to challenging the hegemony of the top elite of the world’s touring Nu-Trance DJ's.

Remember the name Nifra, its not the last time you’ll hear it!

Her Label, Armada Music Adds:

Nifra aka Nikoleta Frajkorova is a name you really should remember.

She was born in 1988 in the eastern part of Slovakia and raised in a little town called Michalovce, where nobody expected what that little girl would achieve in the coming years

Nifra’s dreams were always to be DJ and producer, and by the age of 19, she has accomplished what most of us only ever dream of.

Addicted to EDM (Electronic Dance Music), especially Trance, she started to creating it herself by the age of 16.

However, it didn’t go so well. Nifra recalls: “I remember that i was trying to get some help but no one in the local area knew something about it.” Though she left it for a time, Fate decreed she would one day Produce full time.

Nikoleta felt a need to start her DJ career, and finally, it started to take off in early February 2006. From that time, things have been rolling steadily for this talented lady, which, by the way, is the only female Progressive/Trance DJ in Slovakia.

Making guest-mixes for the national radio, scoring gigs on the biggest parties around Slovakia, and playing with names like Above and Beyond, MIKE, Hawk, Sebastian Brandt, Marcus Schossow, Joonas Hahmo, Robert Nickson, Thomas Sagstad, Eddie Sender, Kamil Polner, Robert Burian, & Milan Lieskovsky have made her one of the most hailed talents in Central Europe.

She instantly became a favorite of her followers, and in this years Slovak Trance Chart, she ended up being the Slovak 5th Most Popular DJ.

Back in the studio, the year 2008 was to be the best year ever for Nifra, with her first release on the highly respected label Armada, owned by world renowned DJ, Armin Van Buuren.

Nifra says: “I didn’t call my first track “Ready” for nothing, I feel ready to kick some a** in the EDM scene. ” And ready she is!

If you want to catch up with Nifra, and see whats she’s playing, then tune in to her own radio show at www. ah.fm every 4th week of the month 23.00 CET !

Contact & Booking Information:

Email: djnifra@djnifra.sk

Kerli:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kerlimusic

Official: http://iamamoonchild.net/

I can only hope, you’ve all, at the very least, HEARD of this last Artist. Though she’s described as a major label act, she has had to work harder than most to gain the acclaim she now has.

She works hard-an ethic not so strange to her early life in a Soviet occupied rural town in Estonia. She had a dream of going to America as a child which she refused to let go of until it happened.

Even since “making it big”, nothing is ever simple, she’s had famous feuds with the likes of Lady Gaga. She’s a true one of a kind with a ferociously independent spirit. Her producers do what they can to craft her for success in the fractious world of American “Pop/Rock”. But, as she remains indisputably her own woman, influence is the best they can hope for.

These days, she refers to what she does as “Bubble-Gothic”-Think “Bubble-Gum meets Goth”.

Get it?

If you don’t, don’t worry about it. By the time you do, she’ll have moved on to something else.

Rest assured it will be deeply personal, unsurprisingly accomplished, and definitely not boring. Like many “Pop Stars” before her, she’s chosen to go by one name.

She’s “Kerli”...and that pretty well covers it.

Official Bio:

Born in Elva, Estonia, a tiny, then-Soviet occupied town of 5,000 people in the forest, Kerli grew up with a dream to get out and experience the world. “Little creepy girl/Oh she loves to sing/She has a little gift-an amazing thing,” she declares on the autobiographical, world music beat of “Walking on Air. “She will go and set the world on fire/Nobody ever thought she could do that.”

“I’m a passionate person,” declares the blonde-haired beauty, who once drew a picture in a diary when she was 13 that depicted her going to America. “I love my country, but I always had a desire to spread my wings, take on the world, live every moment. I looked around me, and it was beautiful, but I wanted something more. And I decided music would be my way of expressing myself and building my dreams.”

Ignoring material comforts and new clothes, for lessons in singing, ballet, acting and classical piano, Kerli entered and won a Baltic, American Idol-style talent competition when she was 14, at which point she decided to concentrate on singing.

Her talents brought her to Sweden, where she first began working with internationally notable producers within the Murlyn group. Demos she cut there caught the attention of A&R staff at Island Def Jam, which led to a trip to NY and a meeting with Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid. Reid signed her on the spot after she auditioned for him, recognizing her unique talent and the fact that she stood strong on her own two feet.

Over the next couple years, Kerli had the opportunity to work with a myriad of top writing and producing talent from around the world in crafting her sound, including Lester Mendes, Guy Sigsworth, Guy Chambers, and the Good Charlotte brothers.

However, she contributed all the personal lyrics to all the songs, which reflect her amazing odyssey from a small town in Estonia across the sea from Scandinavia to become a major label recording artist.

Much of this time Kerli spent in the U.S., first living in New York and finally settling in Los Angeles. Speaking of her experience in America, Kerli states: “Being here has enabled me to grow as a person,” she says. “People here really do believe they can become whatever they want to become. I’m definitely a dreamer myself, so I relate to that. In my hometown, the things I’m doing now didn’t seem possible, but I kept believing. I still have so far to go, but my experience has shown me that we can go after our dreams.”

Kerli’s iron resolve comes across in songs like the rocking “I Want Nothing” and the vulnerability mixed with bravado of “Bulletproof,” while the hope of a better future comes across in the soulful R&B of “Beautiful Day” and the emotional moving “Butterfly Cry,” in which she reveals, “I used to believe there was no lights/But I found out/Life is far too short to fight/Lose yourself/Let go your pain/Taste the air you breathe/And kiss the sky.”

Having suffered from depression during the writing of some of these songs, a cycle of death and resurrection runs throughout Kerli’s songs, from the title track, to the techno-rocking “Hurt Me,” a reflection on childhood suffering, and the defiant harmonies of “Fragile,” marking the distance between where she came from and where she is now.

She claims a variety of musical influences, from Massive Attack to Bjork to pop giants like Fergie and Christina Augilera. But Kerli insists: “I’m just such a sponge that whenever I hear something beautiful, it touches me. When I was little, we didn’t have much access to western culture. I remember my cousin getting cable when she was five and it was the first time we’d ever seen MTV.”

Stay tuned for Kerli’s 2010 follow-up to “Love Is Dead” as she continues to share her amazing journey with the rest of the world.

Music Aficionado, “Arjan” Writes:

Site: http://www.arjanwrites.com/arjanwrites/2008/05/free-download-k.html

Estonian pop singer Kerli is one of the newest talents to emerge from the Merlin production studios, which is run by Bloodshy & Avant who are responsible for recent hits by Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue.

But Kerli's music is nothing like the catchy pop fare people have come to expect from Merlin. It has a Gothic twist that is best described as Björk meet Evanescence meets atmospheric electro pop.

Born in Elva, Estonia, a tiny, then-Soviet occupied town of 5,000 people in the forest, Kerli first hit the scene in 2002 when she appeared on Fizz Superstar, a Baltic talent competition equivalent to American Idol. Her success on the show was followed by appearances on Estonia's Eurolaul song contest and Sweden's famed Melodifestivalen in 2004. But Kerli's big break came in the summer of 2005, when Kerli was invited to perform for Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid. He was impressed by her performance and signed her to his label on the spot.

The first single taken from her big debut label debut album "Love Is Dead" is the spooky "Walking On Air," which is one of my favorite tracks on her album (note the similarity between the rhythm track on "Walking On Air" and Britney Spears' "Piece Of Me").

Download a totally guilt-free MP3 above for a limited time only (courtesy of Island Records). "Love Is Dead" will hit stores on June 10. Use the Arjan Link at the top.

The Videos:

Zoot Woman:

We Won’t Break: http://youtu.be/5dPHSxF0VNw

Memory in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=9T5bL6Qd_rw&hd=1

It’s Automatic: http://youtu.be/bNj1xSMT4Bc

Grey Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aXP9flpY0M&hd=1

Ghosts: http://youtu.be/9yaEwcmrR4Q

Tomorrow: http://youtu.be/z_BSfkTFQ4M

Taken It All: http://youtu.be/2CG0Y3205H0

Losing Sight: http://youtu.be/jx-dSzz3GDo

Nifra:

Live at the BeeFree Festival in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx0HITX7ttY&hd=1

Live w/Tiesto “In Search Of Sunrise”: http://youtu.be/Vg04qk5KT38

Progress Your Mind: http://youtu.be/qETxXLHJ8tU

BeeFree 2010 Full HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apwmbe9F1zY&hd=1

Kerli:

Walking On Air: http://youtu.be/wXMeZwO2qZ0

Tea Party: http://youtu.be/uY58uPtAM68

Love Is Dead: http://youtu.be/XdXvqMF-6vI

Live-Back in Estonia in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGqs9237fFw&hd=1

Army Of Love in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhgvWLs2rsM&hd=1

Strange with Tokio Hotel: http://youtu.be/BPn2-hy1XPA

Beautiful Inside: http://youtu.be/J1KVaB6bDKQ

Bulletproof: http://youtu.be/zmVleS1kfIs

Well, I went walking just the other day
yep, I took me a little stroll
down to the old swimming hole
and I dove right in.

It was colder than I remembered
but it still felt good.

It must have seemed odd
to see an old man there
they all stopped and stared
as I dove right in.

And, yes, it was colder than I remembered
but it still felt good.

~~~

As I swam there it was still yesterday
I was eighteen and a fool in love
with a young girl who was sweet sixteen
and who loved me too.

We didn't know then it would end in tears
with a separation of so many years
and with a lifetime of memories
holding us worlds apart.

Beneath the surface it all seemed the same
all the old feelings felt still they remained
though we both understand what was then
is now forever gone.

Though older now we still carry on
playing our innocent foolish little games
until again we end up calling each other names
and it just breaks my heart.

~~~

Then, I went walking just the other day
yep, I took me a little stroll
down to the old swimming hole
and I dove right in.

It was colder than I remembered
but it still felt good.

It must have seemed odd
to see an old man there
they all stopped and stared
as I dove right in.

And, yes, it was colder than I remembered
but it still felt good.

~~~

"Colder Than I Remembered" © 2011 by Mic Hudson

Armin Van Buuren:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/arminvanbuuren

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

A State of Trance, from the Official Bio:

It’s the music that means the most to Armin. The perfect example of that fact, is his weekly 2-hour radio show ‘A State of Trance’. Listened to by 15 million EDM lovers, he continues to deliver his fans a selection of the best in trance and progressive, no matter how busy his tour schedule might be. The 400^th and therefore 8^th birthday of the show was celebrated in style with a cross-country 72-hour live broadcast, with three events in Germany, UK and the Netherlands. ASOT 450 was even bigger, with 5 events in 4 different countries. A State of Trance 500, the 10^th anniversary of the show, will be celebrated in 5 different countries on 5 different continents; South-Africa, the Netherlands, USA, Argentina and Australia. All A state of Trance 500 shows will be broadcast live.

In addition to the weekly show, Armin also started the weekly ASOT podcasts, which contain highlights and Armin’s favourite tracks from the previous episode, to ensure that trance lovers across the world will never miss another episode.

Armin’s annual A State of Trance compilations have won several awards, and continue to lead the trance fans in the right trancy direction with a fresh and exclusive selection of tracks. As if one compilation isn’t enough yet, Armin has been live recording some of his sets at the Armada parties in Amnesia, Ibiza, releasing them under the ‘Universal Religion’ series. The summer of 2009 saw the 4^th edition of this beloved series, a one hour live recording of a more than special night.

Armin’s own productions have all made a huge impact, quickly gaining worldwide acclaim; his third artist album titled ‘Imagine’ entered the Dutch Album Top 100 Chart at number one. This is the first time a dance producer has ever accomplished such a feat in the history of Dutch music. The first single to be taken from this album, ‘Going Wrong’ with DJ Shah featuring Chris Jones, entered the Dutch Singles Chart at number five. The ‘Armin Only DVD’ was also released and reached the acclaimed number one spot in its second week. The music video of ‘In & Out of Love’, the hit-single with singer Sharon den Adel, received more than 68 million views on YouTube, holding the first position on the Dutch Top 10 of most viewed videos all-time. Armin’s back catalogue includes Blue Fear, Communication, Sound of Goodbye, Shivers, Rush Hour, Burned With Desire, Exhale, Love You More, This World Is Watching Me, and Yet Another Day. While the remix offers flood in, Armin only takes on tracks that he really loves. He uses exactly the same criteria for his compilations, meaning that every release from Armin or his long-running Armind label is a bone fide stormer that’s earned its place. His output includes tracks for the cult TV series 24 and the likes of Motorcycle, The Killers, Faithless, BT and Kerli.

But, as a true artist befits, Armin keeps creating new music, and has released his fourth album, ‘Mirage’, in September 2010. For the album, Armin collaborated with the likes of BT, Christian Burns, Ferry Corsten, Adam Young and Nadia Ali. After the first single, the instrumental, powerful trance track ‘Full Focus’, the second release of the album was a collaboration with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, ‘Not Giving Up On Love’. The music video for the track was shot on party island Ibiza, including shots of Club Amnesia, where Armin holds his residency.

This is a whole world of music most of you have never really heard. You look at some of the numbers, and one must certainly wonder how all this has become so powerful, yet remains hidden from us. Though weak attempts to plant this “culture” her have been attempted in the past, it is likely it will “bleed in” with the rest of the dynamic cultural onslaughts created and indigenous to the Internet.

Though this article centers on Armin Van Buuren, in the videos you will find variations old and new, some familiar, some doing familiar music, but all mostly new to the listener and/or viewer.

The key to understanding this Music is the “Club Scene” in Europe. Several attempts to “import” the Genre into the American Pop Scene have been tried, and have ultimately failed. Why? Those doing it tried to “integrate it” into the type of productions that would be more compatible with our Radio Rock. The rhythm was mixed with Blues and R & B, was done by a lot of U.S. And U.K. Known bands, (even the Rolling Stones had a couple of “Disco” songs-ouch!)though most notably, at it’s peak, the Disco era was helmed by the Aussie Gibb Brothers, in turn promoted to super stardom by the blockbuster “Saturday Night Fever”, which took John Travolta out of Mr Kotter’s School Room to the big screen where he’s remained a staple.

In the 80’s Bands like Erasure, Enigma, and even Madonna had some radio success with their own truer representations of the Genre.

Close-but no cigar. 

There are a growing number of venues expanding the genre’s influence into more places, playing to more fans pretty much every year. 

In Europe, Asia, and places mostly off the North American continent, it plays to a youth who are a little more political, have somewhat more educated “plates”, who come to the clubs these Bands play at for “an experience”. 

Now, some of you old school Rockers remember the schtick that was the draw of a “Back In The Day” Band called the “Grateful Dead”. Their Albums were really moments frozen in time-truthfully, the creative dynamic force behind the Band, Jerry Garcia, would have told you he didn’t even LIKE recording albums, but the Radio and the Fans demanded it-not to mention, if you wanted touring bucks, albums for the Record Companies was the currency you had to proffer.

When they played live, their songs became “tracks to run on”, and run on it they did. That WAS the appeal of the “Dead”, as it is the appeal of these Bands. The songs were often not even recognizable, but the outcome was, none the less, incredible, inventive, surprising, and fascinatingly entertaining, I.E., you had “an experience”.

And THAT’S what happens at the clubs and concerts Bands like this play. The songs are blank canvasses onto which the musicians can “paint” the mood and vibe of the evening’s audience. There’s a synergy at work in this, a symbiosis, if you will between the Band (which, incidentally can be a couple of musicians, or can be four or five piece or more.)

There are singers who can pick up this synergism and totally improvise a subject into a full lyric. The result is, like many of the “Dead’s” Albums, the recorded result is a moment frozen in time. Does that mean their not good? Not at all, but don’t go see the band expecting, necessarily, to be in familiar territory, or even recognize the song if they chose to use it among the night’s “canvasses”.

I will feature, not only some of this band’s offerings, which are likely a little “darker” than most, as well as some others in the same or related genres, genres that include Industrial, Electronica-of various kinds, Club, Dance, Trance, etc. 

It’s not likely everyone’s cup of tea, but I find it compelling. Like Jazz and other improvisational music, it’s expression in it’s purist form, it’s always new, always, fresh, and only to be experienced right here-right now. there’s much to explore, so I will take a few weeks to expand on this. 

I really want to present ALL Genres of what is the “State of the Art” in “Indie Music”, so feel free to make suggestions. They don’t have to be “Indie” now, but need to have started on an Indie Label or have been self-released, need to have Videos, (A must!), Biographical Information, and Photos. 

Share it-Experience it. ‘DeX’ 

This Weeks Videos-An Olio of Electronica, Dance, and Samples of Related Genre. 

Armin van Buuren:

With Sharon den Adel(Within Temptation)-In and Out of Love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxvpctgU_s8

Unforgivable w/Jaren: http://youtu.be/eyUfJVqMtO0

Shivers: http://youtu.be/NHUn3AWOw8k

Sound Of Goodbye: http://youtu.be/6qf8Ypw7KGc

Yet Another Day w/Ray Wilson: http://youtu.be/zEYfJ51qASE

The Legendary “Enigma”:

The Silent Warrior: http://youtu.be/RB_qsKGjTrg

The Age of Loneliness (w/Enya): http://youtu.be/0rj6kyMO2wk

MMX The Social Song: http://youtu.be/n35y6WtrwLg

Carte Blanche “Veracocha (Cosmic Gate Remix): http://youtu.be/hVuK3UxVDn4

FAV at Cosmic Gate In HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuhml7OLSz4&hd=1

Robbie Romero: Guru (Pixel Girls) in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtcR-ARgb8k&hd=1

Jes “Closer”: http://youtu.be/UmB3SmDKzjY

Jes “Lovesong” in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46MS4_mx9Mw&hd=1

First State featuring Relyk “Cross the Line” in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNQvBQJPF2g&hd=1

Dash Berlin featuring Emma Hewitt “Waiting” in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSgnf-tBN9s&hd=1

Dubrick & Klein featuring Stella Attar “Heartbeat” in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuFExIim0ls&hd=1

Jasper Forks “More Than This”(Roxy Music Cover) in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiiIr1TPAms&hd=1

Nadia Ali “Rapture” (Avicii Remix) in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbVxvITmwIc&hd=1

Lustral “I Feel You” (John O’Callaghan Remix) in HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAO9gvNaiA4&hd=1

When I came up with the concept of doing a Saturday Matinee series, the idea was to revisit many of the classic movies that I hadn’t seen for a long time. I didn’t have to think too hard before deciding that I wanted Invaders from Mars to be the first in this series. Why? For a number of reasons. This movie represents a whole host of classic science fiction and horror movies that showed up on my television during my childhood years, usually on Saturday afternoons. I watched them avidly. Everything from true classics like The Day the Earth Stood Still to quasi-classics like Them to pure awfulness like Attack of the Mole People. I watched them all. I loved them all. Those Saturday afternoon movies were a staple of my childhood. But this movie is particularly vivid in my memory because it gave me nightmares. My 9-year-old self literally woke up screaming the night after I watched it, clutching at the covers and drenched in sweat. From that day to this, I had never watched it again.

For those of you who have never seen this movie, let me take a moment to briefly summarize the plot. The year is 1953. David McLean is a young boy with a keen interest in astronomy. One night during a storm, he is woken by thunder and looks out the window to see a flying saucer landing in the sand dunes near his house. His father goes out to investigate and hasn’t returned by morning. When his father does finally return the next morning he is changed, cold and mean. David notices a small incision on the back of his father’s neck and becomes even more alarmed. He eventually goes to the police where he sees the same small incision on the back of the police chief’s neck. He soon realizes that his mother has also been changed. Terrified, he has nowhere to turn until he meets Dr. Pat Blake. She begins to believe him and calls in Stuart Kelston, an astronomer. Together they come to the conclusion that Martians have invaded and contact the military. You can probably guess some of the rest.

I loaded up my DVD player this afternoon with some anticipation. The movie started playing and suddenly I had my first hiccup. It was in color. Having only seen it on a black and white TV, I was shocked. Here I’ve been replaying a very vivid, black and white version in my head for nearly 50 years. But okay, I figured I could adjust. So I sat and watched through the portions of the movie I have already summarized for you and on to the end. Watched as David’s terror built. Watched as Stuart Kelston is brought in and we are treated to a vision of the observatory with its very large telescope (cue inspiring music). Watched as the tanks rolled in and the sand dunes were surrounded (cue patriotic music). Watched as Pat Blake and David are sucked under the sand dunes where they are held captive by the Martians (cue very large men in weirdly padded, execrable green suits). Watched as the large Martians turn out to be slaves of a bronze, bodiless head with orange-ish eyes (cue very thick make-up). Watched as the soldiers penetrated the dunes, set mounds of explosives hooked up to what looks like a large kitchen timer, and everyone scrambled to get out before the big bang (cue suspense). And then, there they were -- the penultimate scenes of the movie. David is running and running. As he runs, he flashes back to all the events in the story. The explosives go boom and he wakes up to the sound of thunder, safe in his own bed. His parents are also safe and normal in their bedroom. It has all been a bad dream. But as David settles down to go back to sleep, he looks out the window and sees a flying saucer landing in the dunes. The End.

So did I enjoy revisiting this movie? Yes, I did. On one level, it delivers everything we expect and enjoy about a lot of 1950s science fiction movies: crude special effects coupled with a clichéd storyline. On another level, it delivers everything we expect from the 1950s: parents are good and can only turn bad if they become inhuman, science and scientists are a force for good in the world, soldiers are heroes whose main function is to keep us from harm. But this movie delivers something else. In the end, it becomes a renunciation of itself. Because all that ingenuity and heroism and saving of people is just a dream. We never get to know what really happens. We never get to know whether there is a happy ending. And that, my friends, is why I woke up screaming at the age of nine. I was a child growing up in a highly dysfunctional household at a time when that wasn’t supposed to be possible. I was a child who very much wanted someone to tell me that everything would be okay. Viewing this movie again today with my 56-year-old perspective, I know that I have put that fear back into the black and white distance of childhood where it belongs and I can appreciate this movie for what it is: a kitschy, nostalgic, heck of a good time! Check it out when you’re in the mood for some fun.

For more information about Invaders from Mars, the director and the actors, see the Wikipedia article here.

Is there a cure for writer's block? (And no, "get a real job" doesn't count.) A recent article in The New Yorker profiles a therapist who treats struggling screenwriters for hundreds of dollars an hour.

If mouths traded places with butt-holes, let's say,
why, we'd all become such filthy yappers!
Cell phones would be miniature toilets we'd carry,
forever talking into our crappers!

: O

Cold Fairyland

Band Sites: http://www.myspace.com/coldfairyland

Official: http://www.coldfairyland.com/

Cold Fairyland, (冷酷仙境, Lěngkù Xiānjìng) is based in Shanghai, China. Their style combines Eastern melodies and rhythms with Western symphonic rock and classical music. These two sides allow them to play in concert halls as well as in rock clubs.

Cold Fairyland was established in 2001 by LinDi (Vocals/Pipa/Keyboard) and Su Yong(Bass). They reworked several songs each had previously written and made a demo. Soon after it’s unofficial release online, it was picked up by an underground record company LStape and released on cassette. This demo later became available as their first CD “Flying Over the City”. Shortly thereafter drummer Li Jia joined the band. With the rest of it’s lineup still in a state of flux, CFL played it’s first show at a bar called NowhereTown. In September 2001, they played a cancer benefit at XinTianDi’s ARK Rock Club in Shanghai; thus began their long relationship with the club. They have played in many festivals and clubs across China, including The Beijing MIDI Music Festival, often referred to as the Woodstock of China.  CFL had  a rotation of guitarists until 2003, when they settled on Song Jian Feng, a MIDI device engineer who worked with Su Yong. Next to join in 2004 was the cellist known as Yao Yao (Zhou Shengan) from the Shanghai Opera. Xi JinE was added as a keyboard player in summer of 2008, and Seppo M. Lehto replaced Su Yong on bass guitar in August 2008.

The name Cold Fairyland comes from a Chinese translation of one of Haruki Murakami's books (known in English as "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World") favored by LinDi. The name reflects the sometimes dark tones of their music.

Composer, arranger. keyboardist and pipa player LinDi has been playing pipa since she was 4 years old. Her arrangement skills often bring out very surprising elements from the mix of cello, pipa, keyboards, bass. drums and guitar.

The Cold Fairyland Albums:

1. Flying Over the City (2001)

2. Ten Days in Magic Land (LinDi's solo album released in Taiwan 2002)

3. Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers (2003)

4. Bride in Legend ( LinDi's solo album released in Taiwan 2004)

5. Live 2005 (2006)

6. Seeds on the Ground (2007)

7. Meet in Secret Garden ( LinDi's solo album released in 2009)

In 2008, Cold Fairyland signed with TreeMusic Records of Beijing, who republished “Seeds on the Ground” and released “2008 Cold Fairyland Tour in Finland DVD” both in 2009.

Performances include concerts in Europe, Japan and around China including The Beijing MIDI Music Festival 2004 and 2006. Early in 2008 Cold Fairyland toured five cities in Finland with Magyar Posse. In December CFL played the Jetlag 08 Festival in Bilbao, Spain. The band performed at the Zhenjiang Midi Festival, Shanghai JZ Music Festival, and Hangzhou Xihu Music Festival in 2009.

The Videos:

Ice Castle (Live): http://youtu.be/FzW2M9mfthk

Meet In A Secret Garden: http://youtu.be/8Iv0Axjc0EA

Dead Children In Newspapers (Live at ‘Henry’s Pub in Finland: http://youtu.be/O4_Wl77IbxY

Seeds On The Ground (Henry’s Pub in Finland): http://youtu.be/BBsQknyCYoE

Reawakening: http://youtu.be/Hyugmz2iElk

Magic Stone: http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/106023540

The Chant

Band Sites:

Official: http://www.thechant.net/,

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thechantofficial

More than just six people in a row (photo: Jarmo Katila). Members of The Chant from top left: Ilpo Paasela (vocals), Markus Forsström (bass), Roope Sivén (drums), bottom left: Jussi Hämäläinen (guitar), Mari Jämbäck (keyboards, piano), Kimmo Tukiainen (guitar)

The Chant is a seven-member Finnish band based in Vantaa and Helsinki.

Our past

The current line-up was formed in 1999, when Jussi Hämäläinen, Mari Jämbäck and Ilpo Paasela were joined by Kimmo Tukiainen from Diablerie. At the same time Markus Forsström and Roope Sivén joined the band. One could say they now, after nearly ten years, know each other thoroughly.

Before releasing their debut The Chant recorded four demos. The first two helped shaping the band’s sound but the latter two gained a lot of positive feedback. Sighs (2005) was named Demo of the Month in Inferno and Imperiumi.net.

After Sighs it all got slightly bigger. With Breakdown (2006) the band won Radio YleX’s demo contest, and was granted nationwide airplay. Even before its release, Ghostlines was already noticed throughout Finland, due to the single Ode to the End which got included on the main playlists of the most significant radio stations in Finland.

In 2008, The Chant's debut album “Ghostlines”, 54 minutes of melancholic music full of beautiful melodies and harmonies, was released by Shadow World Records.

The band's members are no strangers to collaborating with other bands and artists. Around the time when Ghostlines was released Kimmo Tukiainen started playing live guitar in Rapture.

Ilpo Paasela collaborated with Matti Reinola from ShamRain giving his voice and interpretation to a track for the score of an open source movie:Valkaama.

The Chant's guitarist and main composer Jussi joined Hanging Garden as they were making their second studio album titled TEOTWAWKI. You have probably seen him playing the guitar and singing his lungs out on stage. Kimmo moved to London for a while in the end of 2009 so Pekka Loponen was kind enough to help us out. He ended up doing such a good job we decided to keep him.

The Videos:

Ode To the End(Thank You), this isn’t much visually-a fan video, but the song is good: http://youtu.be/WL300uR9Y7Q

Relativity, Much as Above: http://youtu.be/JgYDHfCANqs

Will You Follow?...Ditto: http://youtu.be/rEJW2aU6vv4

Relativity...Like The Rest: http://youtu.be/pWkm1pHIbSI

This Is The World We Know: http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/104736397

Yotangor

Official Site: http://www.myspace.com/yotangor

The Band Bio:

Yotangor is a new female fronted Symphonic Progressive band from the Pyrenees Provinces in France, who’s first release is a an ambitious double album with 26 tracks! The man behind the project, JG Pichoustre, understands music and was able to create something "Metal", yet entirely accessible to everybody.

King Of The Universe is an album of of hits. which will play well to many tastes of Symphonic, Progressive, and Metal. This band has a tremendous future, particularly with it’s combined talents and solid work ethic.

King Of The Universe is a concept album about King Yotangor, a modern dictator absolutely convinced he’s good with his people, while all he does is just perverted by money, arrogance and stupidity. Victim of plane crash, Yotangor asks for a second chance, and this is how the whole story (and then lyrics) begins. Even if the concept is simple, and even if the lyrics are really positive, and not dark, there is a certain political conceptual message, which is interesting, since, Yotangor is not some kind of "f*** the government" Metal band, but they're definitely not into "lalala happy flower land" which isn’t the easiest balance to pull off.

You’ll find something like-15 killer “Radio-Ready hit songs, at least. If you can, just check "The Dome" which has an epic melody, or the really catchy "Fly Away", which should probably become the anthemic “Closer Song” at the end of their concerts. Not violent at all, King Of The Universe is clearly influenced by 80's Metal, so if you like Melodic Classic Rock, you’ll enjoy it, especially if you like those famous catchy melodies which will stay in your head all day long.... That's the main positive point of this release, the songs are complex, with inspired arrangements, but with choruses you’ll find yourself singing along to.

King Of The Universe was recorded in the excellent professional studio owned by JG, called "The Metal Laboratory" (cool name huh?). The sound is great, well mixed, and you'll hear every ambient sound, 2nd melody, etc., on each song. Yngrid Allières, the main vocalist, is a power-house singer, but without pseudo-diva voice & attitude. Note too, that Tony Marcos sings with a really classy hoarsy voice on some songs, and the guitar solos of Vincent Agar are shredelicious.

Finally, a female fronted band which doesn't ignore technique.

I have to say one more time that the release is full of hits which should attract and entertain a lot of people, from a variety of Genre tastes. The band features a really good composer, an amazing guitarist, a promising singer, and some solid professional musicians (especially Tony Marcos, the drummer). King Of The Universe is an ambitious and dynamic first album.

YotangoR Lineup:

Yngrid Allières - Lead Vocals
Vincent Agar - Lead Guitar
Vanessa J. Wood - Keyboard, Backing Vocals
Corinne "Coxx" Fourment - Keyboard, Backing Vocals
Patrice Hernandez - Bass
Jean-Guy Pichoustre - Rhythm Guitar
Tony Marcos - Drums

The Videos:

Another Place-not much imagery, but HQ Musically: http://youtu.be/e3KG9cpIF_s

Hanging On: http://youtu.be/puHofJF4l1c

Try Again: http://youtu.be/_z05sWltglY

Fly Away: http://youtu.be/iIszwtHBqTk

About Love: http://youtu.be/cp-a_gw5kBA

The story of Emily Alice Ovenden is perhaps a perfect analog as to why what is happening in the global arts is so compelling and refreshing.

I’ve watched her career evolve from being an occasional soloist and group performer with Mediaeval Baebes through her emergence as a profoundly gifted soloist in her Celtic Legend releases, her Art, Modeling, Designing, her Debut as a Novelist, and finally the emergence of her Classic Progressive Power Metal Band, Pythia.

Interestingly, she is still performing with the Mediaeval Baebes, reduxing songs from Celtic Legend in special appearances, raising money for charities, yet constant touring, writing, and recording with her band mates in Pythia...ALL AT THE SAME TIME, yet retaining time for family friends, church, and of course, her beloved chocolate Lab, ‘Mrs Miggins’

Included in this article are her biography, quotes from her blogs, from reviewers, all taken with minimal ‘editing’ as they were found. I’ve made sure to include links to all of her important web sites. There are many, but she’s a lady, and let me stress: LADY, of many facets.

At one point, wherein we had sent a number of E-Mails back and forth, she had begun referring to herself as “Emily Alice-Fallen Princess”.

I made sure to tell her there was nothing “fallen” about her. Here’s to you Emily, dear Lady, and of course, my best to the illustrious Mrs Miggins.

Official Biography

PYTHIA are a group of classical and Metal inspired musicians who believe that music is a lifestyle that should be lived only by the brave and true of heart. Fronted by Emily Alice Ovenden, a published novelist and member of the number one selling band Mediaeval Baebes, PYTHIA were brought together by a love of Gothic literature and Metal.

Emily Alice grew up in a mock Gothic castle in Cornwall as the daughter of infamous Ruralist artists Graham and Annie Ovenden, and began singing and writing ghost stories at an early age. The themes that she grew up with have naturally influenced her songwriting but, says Emily: “PYTHIA is a band dedicated to making music which not only incorporates Gothic themes but also the themes of power metal which we feel help to give strength and positivity to the darker side of our stories,”

Musical pedigrees within the band stem from UK rock and thrash metal projects such as Descent and Head On. Drummer Marc Dyos and guitarists Ross White and Tim Neale are joined by relative newcomer, bass player Andy Nixon-Corfield and their combined power metal riffs and palpitations are embellished with epic keyboards from Richard Holland.

With just a handful of live shows under their belt. PYTHIA have already supported some impressive acts such as Tarja (ex Nightwish), Ministry and Fields Of The Nephelim. After a series of spectacular shows at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including Shepherd’s Bush Empire, The Forum and The Electric Ballroom, PYTHIA were chosen to represent the female Gothic community at one of the UK’s largest Metal festivals Bloodstock Open Air 09. PYTHIA performed on the new Sophie Lancaster stage, as a tribute to the murdered teen on Saturday 15th August 2009. Bloodstock founder and promoter Paul Gregory says: "Adding PYTHIA to the festival was a natural choice to represent the female Gothic community and the launch of the Sophie Lancaster Stage. This stage is in memory of a young girl whose life was needlessly cut short by intolerance and mindless brutality. Sophie celebrated life through the music and lifestyle she chose, PYTHIA's ideology mirror this perfectly".

Production on PYTHIA’s debut album ‘Beneath The Veiled Embrace’ has just been completed with Danish mix-master Jacob Hansen at the finish line who is best known for his work on prominent metal acts such as Rob Rock, Destruction, Hatesphere, Fear My Thoughts, Heaven Shall Burn, Without Grief and most recently The Wildhearts. ‘Beneath The Veiled Embrace’ features a special guest appearance from the one and only Brian Blessed (!) and was released in October 2009.

The band is nearing the release of it’s second album due sometime this year-likely in the summer.

Side-Line Music Magazine had this to say about “Beneath The Veiled Embrace”:

Behind this new English band hides front lady Emily Alice Ovenden, better known as a member of the famous and international recognized Mediaeval Baebes. E.A. Ovenden seems to have found a new challenge with Pythia, which sounds definitely more metal and harder than the 'sweet' Mediaeval Baebes. Pythia is a Gothic-metal band in the purest meaning of the word. The opening "Sweet Temptation" is a hard and merciless piece that will take you by surprise. This song is pure terror! The symphonic metal style has been driven by a furious, devilish rhythmic while the vocals are more Gothic-like. This debut is a real shock and a real great introduction as well. The guitar parts played by two guitarists are definitely one of the main characteristics from this debut opus. The guitars are quite metal-orientated and are definitely harder than the most Gothic-metal formations from this scene. Pythia is constantly moving on the edge of metal while their vocalist seems to symbolize the sweeter and Gothic part. The rhythmic elements are speed and furious, which is another ingredient from metal music. What I like on this album is the kind of balance that Pythia has found between both styles. The metal style has been never that enlightening and fascinating! Songs like "Ride For Glory", "Tristan" and "Eternal darkness" can't leave any soul unmoved. This is the most annihilating part from this album that has to be consumed moderately! But the album also features a few 'softer' songs although we can't speak about ballads or music for sissies! A song like "Oedipus" brings a more Gothic touch to Pythia while "No Compromise" reminds me a little bit to the particular style of In Extremo. Both songs add an interesting diversity to the track-list. Another essential item from this album are the lyrics. Emily Alice Ovenden is a real passionate novelist and her passion for writing and literature is largely evoked in the lyrical content. Metal music can be quite poetic as well, but the fans of this band will first of all get fascinated by the sound!

From Emily’s Blogspot: The boys from the men!

Sunday, October 24, 2010, 5:30:10 AM | (Emily Alice Ovenden)

'This tour,' I said to Pythia. 'Will separate the boys from the men.'
And I was right. From beginning to end there was very little time for sleep, a lot of uncomfortable travel but in-between two of the best shows we've been lucky enough to play.

The first show was in Holland as main support to Arch Enemy. A lot of the time it's difficult playing to someone else's crowd but this time the audience seemed to really like us, they punched the air, moshed, screamed and sang a long. People seemed to know all the lyrics and there were Pythia T-shirts in the front row. I was very impressed with Arch Enemy, I have to say. They're not really a band I've managed to get into before, but their live show is something else and the guitar plying from the brothers is superb. After the show we drove back to Belgium and reached our hotel at 6am. Two hours kip, sharing two single beds with The Sound Viking, Oz (who is standing in for Ross) and Tim. No privacy for a lady in this band that's for sure.

Get in and sound check at 9.20am at 'Metal Female Voices Festival'.

To be honest I'm not really used to singing at 11am in the morning but I decided to pretend I had jet-lag and it was really 9am. Therefore after the soundcheck I did what I normally do, warm up and pour myself a goblet of wine. I was doubtful that there would be many people to see us. I was I wrong. The enormous venue was two-thirds full by the time I stepped on stage and boy was it a lovely big stage. I enjoyed the show, working the massive drum walkway and frankly I was in my element. Afterward we signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans for ages and then we were off duty for a couple hours before heading back to the ferry. Arrived home last night at 2am, f****** knackered but happy.

There's going to be a roast dinner down the pub today and a lot of sofa action!

Remembering

Friday, August 27, 2010, 3:17:20 PM | (Emily Alice Ovenden)

Last night I got really drunk with my friend Jonas (Murder Mile) and played records all night in order to remind myself why I love music. After a round of disappointing and annoying business problems that surround my various music projects, I was starting to forget why I do it in the first place.

Money, Money, Money is always the problem. We just don't have enough of it and we're constantly struggling to keep everything afloat. *Yawn*, but although I have a terrible hangover today and no skin left on my ankles, I have remembered my deep love and commitment to making music, and I am feeling rejuvenated.

The new PYTHIA album is going to be amazing! Even if I do say so myself.

Emily With Mediaeval Baebes:

This is how she describes herself on her Emily Ovenden

My Space Bio:

My name is Emily Alice Ovenden, and I am a singer, author and composer! I am lucky to work with some amazing projects, Mediaeval Baebes, Celtic Legend and PYTHIA. PYTHIA are about to release our debut album, “Beneath The Veiled Embrace”, it is my best work to date. I also had my first novel published at the end of last year, called The Ice Room. I have an unhealthy appetite for Finnish Metal, Beer, M.R James, Grave Yards, Ginger Blokes and Beards. I hang out with my Dog, Mrs Miggins, who is a lovely choc lab. I was born in Cornwall, and am a country lass at heart. I hope you like my work.

And About Her Stellar Vocal Skills: The hissing of a dying serpent as it drowns in a vat of warm jam, but a bit better and with a bit more of a tune. Not at all really, but sounded better than saying Kate Bush sort of ish.

Critique Of Her Novel “The Ice Room”:

The Ice Room is a novel that bristles with passion and repression in equal measure. Set in the mid 1980s against a backdrop of impenetrable ice and snow, the novel unfolds as an evocative and menacing piece. A man of considerable wealth and self-discipline, Marcus Montifrant finds himself consumed with conflicting emotions when he falls utterly in love with his best friend’s new wife, the brilliant but manipulative pianist Madeleine Trevoski. On the slopes of the French ski resort, Champagny En Avoriaz, their affair is set upon a startling path which will have devastating consequences. Through the inter-weaving of personal tales, the reader is seduced into a haunting realm, inhabited by the intriguing emotional and sexual lives of two men and the woman they both desire. “THE ICE ROOM is a strange, lyrical and evocative book. A very accomplished and atmospheric piece.” Joanne Harris author of CHOCOLAT.

(Find it here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-ice-room/5317161 )

Emily, From her Site For Raising Funds For Her Church:

OK guys.

The Mediaeval Baebes are doing two concerts for the St John at Hackney Seating Appeal but if you can't come, why not give us a couple of quid instead so I can buy the church a chair with a Mediaeval Baebes plaque on it. For me churches are very special places, whatever your beliefs and need to be cared for as much as they try and care for people.

I love this church and the people who I've met there and I would love to buy them a chair!

Find It Here: http://www.justgiving.com/EmilyAliceOvenden

Friday 17th September 2010 – St John At Hackney Church, LondonSaturday 18th September 2010 – Ely Lady Chapel, Cambs.

First, ALL of Emily’s Sites:

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

Pythia MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/pythiamusic

Pythia on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PYTHIATV

Mediaeval Baebes: www.mediaevalbaebes.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mediaevalbaebes

Celtic Legend: http://www.celticlegend.com/home.html

C.L.MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thecelticlegend

Emily/MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/emilyovenden

Then The Many Offerings Of Emily’s Music. Really, everyone should find SOMETHING they like among these videos.

Pythia Music:

Army Of The Damned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGck-4cuuTk

Eternal Darkness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGck-4cuuTk

Sarah(Bury Her): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-AaY00F6UI

No Compromise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phnOmLRuNmo

Celtic Legend & Mediaeval Baebes:

Siren: http://youtu.be/bZsNqdQyPNs Celtic Legend

Sweet Rosemary: http://youtu.be/SV-sFsDnDd0 Celtic Legend

Song Of Tomorrow: http://youtu.be/jFCY6PVblb4 Celtic Legend

The Boatman: http://youtu.be/rq86XyT_XyI Celtic Legend

Temptasyon: http://youtu.be/dlR2v7CkUOo Mediaeval Baebes

Adam Lay (Live): http://youtu.be/juUNs3vcPNk Mediaeval Baebes

My Lady Sleeps (Live): http://youtu.be/k7aOPviHZeQ Mediaeval Baebes

Dringo Bell (Live): http://youtu.be/gpws72fGmWg Mediaeval Baebes

My husband and I got engaged on Christmas Eve just six months after we met. Since I was divorced, I was a pariah to his parents, who thought being tattooed with the scarlet "D" made me a bad person. I could fill a year's worth of daily posts with stories of my interactions -- that's sound so much better than knock down/drag out brawls -- with his father over the next twenty years. This story is about our first encounter.

Mike, my soon to be husband, was due to pick me up at my home at 6:30 so that we could have dinner with his family. I was in the bathroom putting the finishing touches on my makeup when the doorbell rang. My mom let him in and a few minutes later, Mike knocked on the bathroom door. When I opened it, he handed me a very large box. "I can't wait," he said. "Open it now." I placed the box on the toilet lid and began to unwrap it as Mike leaned against the door jamb. Inside the box was another box, slightly smaller. When the unwrapping was complete, I found another box, again slightly smaller. This went on for about ten minutes until finally there was just one little box left. My heart was pounding as I lifted the black velvet lid and saw the most beautiful engagement ring any girl could wish for. I turned to look at Mike, and I don't know what sparkled more -- the diamond in my hand or the smile on his face. We were so happy -- but now we had to face his parents.

Mike had debated not telling his mom and dad in advance of our engagement, but dreading the scene it would cause at dinner, he gave them 24 hours notice. Let me say here that my late father-in-law was the type of man who could peel the varnish off the statues of the saints in church just by looking at them. Scary doesn't even begin to describe his personality. The man had a corner on miserable and did his best to drag everyone in with him.

Okay. So 24 hours is not a lot of time to shop for suitable engagement gifts for a soon to be daughter-in-law you wish would just go away. In an Italian family, Christmas Eve is a big deal bound in tradition. In Mike's family, the scene that unfolded every year was comical. Dad would make himself comfortable in a big wing-backed chair, while the rest of us squirmed in agony knowing what was to come. One by one, he called out our names and handed us our gifts. He would wait as we each opened our packages and offered the appropriate words of gratitude. The fact that 90% of the stuff was going back to the store the next day was lost on him.

When all the gifts had been distributed, Dad would sit back and wait to receive his presents. Let's just say that many a wall needed to be repaired after the holidays. If Dad didn't like what he got, and he rarely did, the gift was thrown like a discus across the room until stopped by sheet rock, plaster and two by fours. My mother-in-law would run crying from the room, and we kids would be forced to pick up the broken pieces of whatever had disappointed him.

So what did my future in-laws give me to celebrate my engagement to their son? IOUs.... and a toilet seat. Stop laughing! The IOUs were for canisters and a teapot with matching cups - not my style, but it was the thought that counted. Right? Wrong. Since the IOUs were never honored, I never had to answer questions like, "Where's that teapot we gave you that first Christmas when we hoped you would be run over by a sleigh?" About ten years into our marriage, I actually asked my mother-in-law what happened to the IOUs. "We never thought you'd last," was her matter of fact response.

As for the toilet seat, it did come in handy. Mike and I used it when we renovated the bathroom in our first apartment. Every time I sat on it, I thought of my in-laws. We've built five homes since then, but no seat has ever felt as "right" as that one.

"Our Story Studios & Productions":

I had the pleasure of sharing a long phone conversation with the founder and Executive Producer of a phalanx of unique programs emanating from the Southern Minnesota town of Fairmont, a thriving city of about 11,000 spread over a chain of five lakes in Martin County.

A Few Words About Fairmont:

Fairmont is the County Seat, famous for it’s Red Rock Center For The Arts, it’s recently restored Opera House, and it’s Historic Court House. The courthouse is located on the site of Old Fort Fairmount, built in 1862 at the time of the Dakota (Sioux) Uprising. Its construction was began on April 9th, 1906, being completed November 1st, 1907. The dedication was held on December 16, 1907. It is 79 feet by 116 feet in size, and height, to the top of the roof is 50 feet. The dome extends 58 feet above the roof, making it 108 feet from the ground to the ball on the dome. Though it’s structure sits on five foot thick foundations, and it’s made of a high quality limestone, (Think Great Pyramid stone), it cost only $125,000 to build. I don’t think you could pull that one off now, and it was a quite a feat at the time.

Fairmont is also a city where the Arts haven’t been “gutted” from the public schools, opinions are diverse and civilly aired, and where a sense of community and it’s history abound.

It’s really no wonder, then, that this would be the birthing and nurturing place for so unique an idea as “Our Story Studio & Productions”. Whether you “get it” or whether it leaves you scratching your head, the audience for this collective lunacy is a million households in at least three states and growing, thanks to Cable, Public, Public Access Broadcasters, and more and more, the Internet.

As the convergence between television, Radio, and the Internet grows, we may see more offerings of this kind, from “My Story Productions”, as well as other new media pioneers, who evidently, someone forgot to tell: “Hey...this is not how you do this.” Kick me, is it isn’t!

Here’s The Story Behind “Our Story”

Founded in 2007, OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS is a multimedia company primarily involved in the production and distribution of television programming focused on “small-town living at its best” in the Midwest. Each of our 60-minute programs is aired on public-access TV stations to over 1,000,000 households in 34 counties in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota.

They also publish a bimonthly magazine called The Road to OUR STORY that is distributed throughout those states (what we call “OUR STORY Country”) at Chamber of Commerce offices, businesses and many other venues as well as on the website. The magazine features articles ranging from profiles of OUR STORY Country businesses and spotlighted communities, to entertaining glimpses of the TV programs and the “behind-the-scenes fun” the over 52 OUR STORY volunteers have in making everything in fictional “Sweet Swine County” seem “real” for it’s viewers!

OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS also develops and produces customized informational programs for businesses and healthcare-service companies. They are creating novel & wide-ranging possibilities for businesses to increase their outreach into the communities that make up their viewer base.

We often hear that the rural way of life is dying. We at OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS believe that our way of life is merely changing, and we aim to innovatively embrace these changes while preserving the incredibly unique heritage of rural America!

“It's not just the past but the present

that becomes OUR STORY!”

Here are just a few of their top rated shows that are currently in 1,000,000 households in the North Central U.S. There are over 50 and climbing. The growth is a phenomena that “big city” media simply can’t understand or explain.

I spoke with Jeff Rouse, who with wife Denise, were the founders, leading lights, janitors, and resident cat herders for a group of about a dozen employees-give or take, and hundreds of volunteers & guests. This is a new vision of reality television-it’s REAL people doing unreal and extraordinary things that somebody forgot to inform them they couldn’t do. (Think Hee-Haw meets Twilight Zone meets Friends meets The Young & The Restless meets-well, you get it. If you do you’re on your way to addiction that might even be good for you.

These people are almost like a train wreck at times. One Ol’ Boy, interviewing Jeff about one the programs stated he thought “it was pretty silly...”, to which Jeff rejoindered, “Well..which episode did you watch?” He said, “Actually-I watch it every week...”

Yep, it’s like that, and that interviewer is likely still watching, even while thinking “it’s silly”.

The bottom line, here, is that it’s working. Plus, it’s a family friendly alternative to the corporate pap that’s getting cruder, ruder, and more bizarre every year. Middle America has been looking for this for a long time, it just didn’t know it. It’s finding out, and friends, this things going to grow...huge.

Here Are Programming Descriptions Direct & Unedited From The Show Site:

http://www.ourstorymn.com/

Just A Few Of Their Programs:

The Women Of Sweet Swine County

Small-Town Stories with Big-Town Attitude!

Our Story Productions premiered "The Women of Sweet Swine County"—filmed at Our Story Studios in Fairmont, MN—in the summer of 2009. Television hasn’t been the same since! Hosted by three sassy ladies from Sweet Swine County, this full-of-fun daytime talk show jiggles with the latest and greatest news about the people, places and events found all over Our Story country. You want style? These brazen ladies fling it at you! You want gossip? Well, giddy-up, can we talk?!

The Show Link:

http://www.ourstorymn.com/video/the-women-of-sweet-swine-county/1/

Split Hoof Tonight

Our Story’s late-night talk show, "Split Hoof Tonight," is filmed at Our Story Studios in Fairmont, Minnesota in front of a discerning, yet agreeable studio audience (and maybe one or two mice—the studios are in an historic 1890s building!). Hosted by Cousin John and his incomparable sidekick, Earl Silo, a roster of star guests from all around Our Story country make appearances that you won’t want to miss! Heeeeeere's Cousin John!

The Show:

http://www.ourstorymn.com/video/split-hoof-tonight/1/

As the Corn Grows

Having joined Our Story's roster of programs in the summer of 2008, the zany soap opera As the Corn Grows depicts the story of a big-city girl (Urban Katie) who leaves behind her city life to move to Southern Minnesota after inheriting a farm from her Aunt Ella. Executive Producer Jeff Rouse says, "To the best of our knowledge, As the Corn Grows is the first TV soap opera about rural Minnesota life. The show gives viewers a tongue-in-cheek look at life inside Sweet Swine County with a lovable cast of characters who bring new meaning to the word, 'corny'!"

The Show:

http://www.ourstorymn.com/video/as-the-corn-grows/1/

The Cocklebur Morning Show

Just when you thought you'd gotten the cockleburs outta your overalls, they're now on TV! That's right, The Cocklebur Morning Show, filmed at Our Story Studios in Fairmont, MN is one weed you won't want to pull! It's a hit in Sweet Swine County. So watch it grow with hosts Bobby Ray and Sally Sue while they deliver a mix of news, entertainment and information about towns throughout Our Story Country.

The Show:

http://www.ourstorymn.com/video/the-cocklebur-morning-show/1/

“The Road To Our Story” Magazine

Our Story's fun-filled magazine, The Road to Our Story, is published bimonthly and highlights the stories that have been or will be featured on Our Story's popular TV program aired to over 1,000,000 households in the Upper Midwest! Join with all the fans of our programs that include The Cocklebur Morning Show, The Women of Sweet Swine County and Split Hoof Tonight to read the latest scoop about what's happening in Sweet Swine County!

Link: http://www.ourstorymn.com/magazine/

Our Leading “Lights”:

Jeff Rouse:

Executive Producer—OUR STORY TV
Publisher—The Road to OUR STORY magazine

When Hollywood reached out to Jeff Rouse as a child through television and films he reached back and never let go! Not to date him, but Jeff will be the first person to tell you that he only got two black-and-white channels on TV on the farm in Iowa where he grew up—unless he climbed up onto the roof and changed the direction of the antenna. His fascination with movie history really began at age 10 when he switched channels from the boring Lawrence Welk Show to find the classic film, The Invisible Man, playing on the other. He was instantly hooked on old movies. From then on, Jeff has developed such an expansive knowledge about showbiz trivia that his wife calls him, "A constant source of useless information!" All the better for the rest of us! Jeff used this knowledge to develop several businesses. At 27 he opened his first retail store in Denver specializing in Hollywood memorabilia called Cinemagraphics. Building upon that venture, Jeff formed Star Struck Enterprises—a regional wholesale and retail distributorship—that included an additional store in the well-known resort community of Okoboji, Iowa.

Ask anyone and they'll tell you that Jeff can sell snow to an Eskimo. Now he's selling his dreams to the rest of us as Executive Producer of OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS via its uniquely varied programming. OUR STORY is just that—the story about us, the people of the Midwest. Jeff created a roster of programming that highlights the lifestyles we share in rural America to promote the idea that no matter who you are or where you live, it's not just the past but the present that becomes OUR STORY.

Denise Rouse:

Costume and Set Designer—OUR STORY TV
Style & Entertainment Editor—The Road to OUR STORY magazine

Denise Rouse brings razzle-dazzle to every facet of life! Raised on a farm in Southern Minnesota, Denise parlayed her farm-girl sensibilities into creative small-town business ventures that garner admiration far and wide. As a mother of five children and grandmother to six, Denise’s favorite mantra is, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” There can be little rest for someone with so many hobbies that include gardening, reading, sewing, thrift-store shopping, curbing, embellishing used vehicles, re-purposing old furniture, belly dancing, entertaining, practicing Reiki, and, and, and. Into this mix, Denise combines the operation of her two very popular consignment shops in Fairmont, Minnesota called, “Hollywood Babe” and “The Giddy-up Boutique.” Before opening those stores, Denise owned an antique and gift store for 15 years, too.

Fans of OUR STORY’s soap opera, As The Corn Grows, recognize Denise as portraying the character of Prairie Ann, who also is a host of the hit talk show, The Women of Sweet Swine County. Off-stage, Denise designs and decorates the sets at OUR STORY Studios, and finds time to produce the much-publicized local annual summertime events—the Fairy Ball and Mad Hatter Tea Party. When she was younger, Denise thought maybe a career in politics was in the cards. But it didn’t take long for her to discover that being a mother and a wife is much the same as a being a politician, except you don’t travel as much! Denise will be the first one to tell you that life isn’t about the number of breaths you take, it’s about the moments that take your breath away! Her innate spiritual connectedness and joie de vivre radiate within her ability not to take herself too seriously. As Denise Rouse tells everyone within earshot, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been!” Giddy-up!

Wanda Nelson:

Production Manager/Reporter—OUR STORY TV
Contributing Writer/Photographer—The Road to OUR STORY magazine

From her first tottering steps across the floor of the house on her grandfather’s Midwest farm, Wanda Nelson has lived the life of a farmer’s daughter! Wanda was creative at an early age, learning to bake bread from her grandmother, cook hearty meals from her mother, and sew in 4-H. Her eclectic and unusual childhood hobbies included teaching herself to draft floor plans to scale by age 12, and knit like a pro by age 16. Children normally look toward the future and shun the past. Not Wanda! Even as a young girl, she loved antiques and enjoyed studying genealogy. In those days, girls were supposed to grow up to be a secretary or a teacher—so off to secretarial school she went. Soon, she had a career in corporate America in sales, marketing and management. To satisfy her creative urges, on the side Wanda continued to pursue unique interests, like making her own “County Wine.”

Wanda’s eclectic interests and creative spirit are ideally suited to her role as “Jack of All Trades” at OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS. Photographer, interviewer, writer, scheduler, bookkeeper—Wanda masters them all! She has a keen eye for ferreting out the interesting stories that reflect OUR STORY’s ultimate goal of portraying “small-town living at its best”!

Bryan Peterson:

Managing Editor—The Road to OUR STORY magazine
Creative Writing Specialist—OUR STORY TV, website and marketing

Bryan Peterson has always believed in blazing a trail towards the farthest star in the expectation that he’ll at least get halfway to it! Having grown up on a Southern Minnesota farm, right after high school Bryan followed his dreams of seeing big cities, visiting faraway places and meeting culturally diverse people. His college studies in Communications and Liberal Arts took him from Minneapolis to Phoenix to Heidelberg, Germany, and even to Jerusalem, Israel. Bryan’s professional career pursuits have been equally wide-ranging and determinedly concentrated in the arts. Ultimately settling in Los Angeles for 25 years, for 20 of them Bryan worked as a high-level corporate writer while also following his passion of producing theater and numerous music events. At OUR STORY PRODUCTIONS, Bryan serves as Managing Editor of the entertaining magazine, The Road to OUR STORY, and is Creative Writing Specialist for the company’s TV, website, marketing, and business development needs.

Bryan primarily home-bases from Princeville, Kauai, where he directs the Operations and Programs for Retreat Sedona—a 20-year-old company providing spiritual, self-rejuvenation, and holistic transformational programs at a private estate called Shambhavan (“House of Peace”) located on Kauai’s magnificent North Shore. Bryan edited the recently released book Anahola: Kauai’s Mystic Hawaiian Village and is currently co-authoring the second in a trilogy of metaphysical books called THE MIDDLE OF FOREVER with Jim White at Paramount Pictures. Bryan creates dreams and is ever grateful to live the reality of them on a daily basis!

Samantha Hillmer:

Director—Graphic Art & Design
The Road to OUR STORY magazine

Born into an Air Force family in Washington, D. C. on Flag Day, Samantha Hillmer’s flag-wavingly creative spirit gets salutes from all who know her! Although she traveled the world with her family, Sam primarily grew up in South Dakota where she ultimately received a B.A. in Fine Arts/Graphic Design at South Dakota State University in Brookings. Since then, Sam has designed everything from pizzas (at Little Caesar’s Pizza) to the colorful pages of The Road to OUR STORY magazine—and much more in-between! Sam’s freelance graphic design company, Spotted Dog Design Studio, is the home-based “store front” from which she works her artistic magic while she raises her son, Wil, and pursues an endless array of hobbies that include belly dancing, making chocolate truffles, thrift-store shopping for “gotta-have” bargains, golf, and cookin’ up the best pasta around!

Sam portrays the co-hosting character “Paris Richie” on OUR STORY’s hit daytime TV talk-show, The Women of Sweet Swine County, and also manages to schedule time into her busy life for helping out at The Giddy-Up Boutique next door to OUR STORY Studios in Fairmont, Minnesota.

Yes, conventional wisdom puts this crew of crazies, at least “a few fries shy of a ‘Happy Meal’, but as they are a persistent lot who love what their doing, it doesn’t seem like they’re too concerned.

What’s really important about all this, and why I wrote about it, is this.

As Jeff essentially stated, “ We believe in small town America as a vibrant and dynamic place where possibilities become realities everyday. There’s hope in a better America at large in these places. We want to show this to everyone, while allowing it to not only be thought-provoking and inspirational, but downright entertaining, at the same time.

These are stories about these towns, done by and all about “ordinary people” who had the courage and vision to do something extraordinary, something that some folks-folks who probably had the best of intentions-deemed a waste of time, impossible, and ridiculous. Yet...here it is. Well done Jeff and Crew...I like it! ‘DeX’

Okay, from the title you might think I'm a little crazy. And maybe I am. But here are ten reasons why I love Charlie Sheen, just the way he is.

The life of a commuter is a tedious repetition of the same roads/same (idiot) drivers/same epithets issued daily – morning and evening – and requiring the ability to zone out in order to clock in. The quest for a paycheck that barely covers essentials demands that I adhere to this routine with the dedication of a fly on fruit.

Unlike other members of the commuter convoy, who must brave the I-95 between West Palm Beach and Miami (an hour +), my office is, usually, a ten-minute sprint from my home when adhering to the 50 mph speed limit. Yet, from October to May, each trip takes three times as long.

In Florida, the winter months are referred to as Snowbird Season. Unfortunately, that designation does not require a hunting license and shotgun. If it did… well, best not to even think of the possibilities.

Should I forget for even a moment that 75% of the tri-state area moves South for the winter, early rising retirees out to get the morning paper remind me with the regularity of Senokot. On those mornings when driverless [*] cars riding in tandem doing 14 mph hold up traffic for miles, I try to relieve the tension by listening to WIRK-FM. Somehow the sounds of country music put everything in perspective. One quick rendition of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," and I realize that slow is better than shackled.

[ *You've seen them. I know you have – Very senior citizens who have "shrunk" below the steering wheel and can no longer be seen by other drivers. If I can't see them, how do they see me? ]

This morning I got a real treat! Between my car and the ancient mariner at the front of the slowly moving line of cars was a red Ford F-150 pickup festooned with bumper stickers. Pulling up behind the truck, my eyes were drawn to the biggest of the banners:

Unless you are a hemorrhoid, get off my ass!

I immediately backed up a little bit… and started laughing. Boy, did that feel good! Once the tears had cleared my eyes, I started to read the rest of this man's philosophy of life.

Life's all about ASS: Covering it, kicking it, kissing it or trying to get it!

For a small town, this place sure has a lot of a-holes!

I was really beginning to like this guy. He appeared to have his priorities in order and, I assume, would not tolerate fools too readily. What really cinched my membership in his fan club was the sticker plastered across the rear window:

SMILE: It's the second best thing you can do with your lips!

Is that a great outlook or what? Thanks to the man in the red pickup truck, I will be second besting it all day.

Last year a decade-old age discrimination lawsuit filed by a group of Hollywood writers over age 40 has been settled for $70 million.

The Hollywood newspaper Variety reported the suit, filed in 2000, alleged that talent agents helped the television networks and movie studios discriminate against older writers by refusing to represent the older writers or refer them for studio writing assignments.

I got my Class Action post card in the mail. I tossed it. We are a town of “open secrets” and one of the most open and bewildering is that talented professionals, and amateurs alike, are being discriminated against because they are “Old”. “Old” being over 23 at times, over 39 for sure.

Last years “PitchFest” had a number of Studios, Producers and Managers willing to meet with potential Talent. John Fogel of “Fogel Ent.” Was listed as “Looking For: Writers in their 20’s & 30’s to develop specs from scratch”. I guess a genius writer aged 42 will not be considered. I question that business model but appreciate the honesty. I don’t think anybody should be forced to work with or buy a brilliant script from a 40 year old if they do not want to.

In the days of Black Listing, due to the irrational and unconstitutional fears of Communists, many writers used different names or had others submit their scripts. Today are we to get a fake ID or have our teenage nephews submit for us?

I understand prerequisites like - a greeter should be pleasant, a Hooters Girl should be a “girl”, a driver should have a drivers license and a delivery person should be able to safely move and deliver merchandise, etc. I am far from litigious are politically correct. I just cannot wrap my head around how living longer, which gives one more opportunity for more life experiences, is a hindrance to writing.

Ageism is rampant in “Hollywood”. Try to even get a server job if you are over 50. Especially a woman over 50. And thanks to the “Baby Boomers” older Americans are a huge population, but still there it is. I am no stranger to workplace or even housing discrimination. Ever notice how very rarely jobs are posted with a mention of pay or benefits? Notice the lack of prices listed on “For Rent” signs? It is not like that in every city in America. Unlisted makes it easy to discriminate and scam.

I often run into people seemingly completely unqualified for their positions. The most glaring examples are The 70 year old one armed Furniture Mover I found on craigslist, The Sporting Goods employee who had never heard the word “raft” and Educators “K – College” with an alarmingly poor grasp of English. So, yes I see the need for standards and common sense. Constitutionally speaking I am uncomfortable with “regulations”… But writers?

Should we not judge the writer by the content of the script and not the date on the their birth certificate? As a Director / Producer I am looking for the best script. The only criteria for a writer should be professionalism and performance.

There has been more than one writer fired for lying about age. Recently a woman who was on a roll got the axe. The producers loved her work. She was really in touch with her fellow 19 year olds. Until she was found to be in her thirties and promptly fired. Fired for lying on her resume I presume. An act I highly discourage. But this particular incident is odd. They liked her writing, it was working. This is Show BUSINESS right? This town is not built on making money; it is built on making a profit. And they fired a profitable writer because she was not 19?

Writers are far from the only class to be dogged in this town. Native Americans are so far off the radar that they stopped keeping stats for them. Disabled actors not only can't get hired to play an average character; they can’t even get hire to play disabled roles. Such as “Born On The 4^th of July” or more recently “Glee” and countless other examples old and new.

I say Damn the torpedoes! Let the Great Democratization continue! Yes the new ease of production via the Internet and “pro-sumer” cameras has created a lot of opportunities (and a lot of crap) but the cream will always rise to the top.

Self-Publish, Write it and Shoot it. Fight the Good Fight! And despite the propaganda you do not become less interesting with age. If that were the case, you would have bigger problems than being told “you are over the hill at age 23”.

Maybe you will become a big success and you can enact change from within.

“I’m going to changing it from the inside”!

This is what my acquaintance that had just been recruited by the CIA proclaimed while passing Magic Mushrooms around to everyone in the open bed of a Bikini Models pickup truck speeding towards a Deep Purple concert. I had just returned from traveling the world including a lion confrontation in newly Apartheid-Free South Africa and a forced extended stay in South America due to a Border War… One of many stories a 19 year old could never tell. Sometimes it actually helps to have lived life for a while. And Deep Purple is no longer touring… so good luck with that too.

February is a mystery to me
It's a month where there's so little time
but there was time enough to see
a heart so dreary, stormy, dark and gray
where loneliness once found a home
'til your love washed it all away.

Yes, and I love you honey'
more with each passing hour
and I know it may sound funny
but you've given me the power.....
to let go of the hard times
times that once were filled with fear
and to look ahead with promise
knowing (it's a notion) that from now on you'll be near.

I remember still the day we met so well
I'd been down for I don't know how long
going through a living hell.
Yet you took my empty heart and filled me up
Once a broken man, now I can proudly stand
my love's an overflowing cup.

Yes, and I love you honey'
because what I have now
is world bright and sunny
and you fill it up somehow....
full of dreams for our tomorrow
while remembering yesterday
Every day with you's a treasure
that (I promise you) I'll never ever throw away.

"It is important that you recognize your progress and take pride in your accomplishments. Share your achievements with others. Brag a little. The recognition and support of those around you is nurturing." Rosemary Rossetti

Last Valentine's Day I received an email in response to a story I wrote in which the writer suggested I was subtly thumbing my nose at the never married and/or divorced. The writer, a man, told me that, by referencing all the years I have been joyfully married, I was basically proclaiming, "I did it right," while others, less fortunate than I, had gotten it all wrong.

I've been stewing over those comments for awhile now. Is it possible that people, women in particular, find it offensive that I publicly stated my "success?" I suppose that someone still looking for her knight in shining armor might be a little jealous. Heaven knows I was after my first marriage debacle.

But that was then and this is now. Should I pretend to be someone I'm not? Should I allude to dissatisfaction I don't feel just so others will feel better about themselves? Isn't knowing that happiness is not just an illusion something to celebrate?

The first twenty-five years of my life were spent in hell on earth. At the time, it was located on Polk Street in West New York, New Jersey. Then I met my husband. He rescued me when I was at my lowest point and damn near drowning in self-pity. Long before we said, "I do," he made it clear that he would stand beside me without complaint through whatever trials and tribulations came our way. Yes, I did say trials and tribulations. Does anyone really think that two people, living together for more than a day, have not had hurdles and hoops to jump through on the path to happily ever after?

First of all, I came to this marriage with baggage -- lots and lots of baggage. My childhood was aggressively dysfunctional, which propelled me into an early first marriage to the male equivalent of my mother, the original Wicked Witch of the West. Surviving that foray into matrimony with my life was a miracle. Like any soldier returning from battle, I suffered post traumatic stress disorder long before it had a recognizable name.

When I married my present husband two years later, I was combative, surly, distrustful, fearful, suspicious and just out and out nasty if the pressure got too great. My "run" reflex was strong, and I fought it daily, especially when doubt got into the ring with reason and threw a few too many punches at my self-confidence. Rarely during the first year did I speak to my husband in a civil tone if I felt threatened. Yelling at the top of my lungs was SOP. My mom was a screamer and no one took advantage of her so, naturally, I thought that was the way to prove my superiority. Luckily, he never raised his voice in return and potential arguments died from lack of sustenance.

Whenever I rode the seesaw of emotions, my husband sat calmly on the other side, placed his feet firmly on the ground and balanced my world. He kept me level when I felt my life was somersaulting around me. I lost count of how many times he said, "You don't have to yell. I'm standing right here. I can hear you. Just talk to me." Eventually, I realized he not only heard me, he was also listening very carefully; and he was smart enough to understand the meaning behind the words I babbled in pain and frustration.

Together we've grown strong not from the good times but from the bad. Failed business ventures, accidents, injuries, disease and death -- we've seen our share. We've struggled through little problems like the toilet seat being left up and the cap being left off the toothpaste, and we've stood strong against people both outside and inside our families who were intent on seeing us fail. We are each other's buffer when the winds of misfortune blow at hurricane force.

Thirty-five years later, we're still standing hand and hand against the enemy at the gate. Is our life perfect? Of course not, but when the door closes at night and we are home together, there is nowhere else I want to be. No one gets through this life without having to contend with lots of bumps and bruises. That I have found the one person I want to massage the weight of the world off my shoulders is, indeed, a miracle. That he feels the same way about me is a gift for which I am forever and always grateful.

So, yes, I claim bragging rights. I've earned them. I have a good marriage not because "I did it right," but because somehow I was lucky enough to find a man who loves me with all his heart despite my shortcomings. I don't take that for granted. Each day in every way, I make sure he knows how very grateful I am.

The only sage piece of advice my mother ever gave me was, "If you want something bad enough, you'll get it." On this Valentine's Day, I wish you all an abundance of love and laughter in your lives. Now, go out there and get 'em.

I heard you knock…”come in”…says I, “the door is open” I said with a sigh. It’s dark, it’s late…I looked at the time. One AM and I was wide awake.

We all live in prisons
here of our own makin'
and yet we deserve them
for all that we've done
and for all that we've taken.

Yes, we all wear chains
we're in shackles, it's certain;
locked up in our minds
with our lies and alibis
where we never stop hurtin'.

~~~

Been a while since I lay here
and thought all night
over what I should've said
or might have done
to set things right.

When you left I thought
I'd be better off this way.
It's sort of funny how
things have turned out now
where either one of us could say....

~~~

We all live in prisons
here of our own makin',
and, yes, we deserve them
for all that we've done
and.for all we keep takin'.

Yes, we're all in chains
and there's one thing that's certain
we must all pay the price
for our lies and alibis
and all the people we keep hurtin'.

~~~

Sitting here alone tonight
I think back when,
you were all I needed
my whole world
both my soul mate and best friend.

Times have changed though
now we both have moved along.
Love's undying flame
became how who's to blame
who was right and who was wrong.

~~~

We all live in prisons
here of our own makin'.
And, yes, we deserve them
for all that we've done
there should be no mistakin'....

Yes, we're all in chains
and there's one thing that's certain
we must all pay the price
for our lies and alibis
and all the people we keep hurtin'.

~~~

Oh, yes....

We must live in our prisons
til the last bow and curtain.
So let us thank the good Lord now
for the freedom yet to come
where there'll be no pain or hurtin'.

[It began with] my need to break my students of the habit of apologizing for what they were writing. Whether it was a story or a novel or a novella or an essay they tended to start with either the apologetic desire to tell you what they were going to write about or by hesitating before they launched into it.

There was a young man in Kettering,
Northamptonshire, U.K.
A window licker extraordinaire
regardless of what people say.

Macdermid licked windows all of his days
of repute he was quite well spoken,
from Inverness clear out to Southend-on-Sea
licking windows (clean, dirty, or broken).

Comes a time though for every window licker
when he's licked his last and can lick no more
For the tongue gets weak as the mind grows feeble
so he sits on his arse til his crack gets sore.

Flyleaf:

This part of the article is followed by Apocalyptica for a reason. The works currently blend toward each other through the vast repertory of front woman, Lacey Sturm. Of course, she has a fast growing following with Flyleaf, but her incredible voice is finding it’s way into projects around the planet. 

Though Flyleaf is known by many as a “Christian” Band, they succeed in being accessible to folks of many persuasions, which is perhaps why they’ve toured with such a wide range of Bands from very diverse backgrounds, styles, and personal philosophies, like Korn, Stone Sour, Deftones, and Evanescence. Their enormous Fan base crosses every border and touches every culture. I’ve included their official Bio which quite effectively tells their story, though I have edited it a bit and accented key words, quotes, and phrases.

There’s a lot to search through, read, watch and listen to. It’s a journey worth the time. Pursuing greatness and appreciating where the journey takes you is always worth it. We come away a little better for it. A full and satisfied heart, an enriched soul, and a soaring spirit may not be too “newsworthy” these days, but I can’t be the only one that likes to make that journey, every now and again.  

I’ve made my comments and analysis, as well as what I felt are the highlights in bold and/or hyphenated text. I have drawn from other articles, reviews, and interviews to present what I felt was most important about the band’s stories.

The Band:

Lacey (Mosley) - vocals
Sameer Bhattacharya - guitar
Jared Hartmann - guitar
Pat Seals - bass
James Culpepper - drums

"Memento Mori"

This was a turning point for the Band, which almost broke up. This video shows how this started and how the crisis was resolved: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmVQO9lRQpg . About the Album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmVQO9lRQpg . On ABC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X53Dzmfoayg .

Lacey with Vendetta Black’s “Resident Hero”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8aye3J6WHY & Lacey with Apocalyptica’s”Broken Pieces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jb3rMcwmeg . Lacey Sturm’s uniquely crisp clear vocals underpin Flyleaf, but has made her in demand for many other projects around the world. This how the band describes the process and outcome of the work that led to the release of their second full length album: 

A focused fire burns bright at the heart of Flyleaf's second full-length album. The platinum-selling Texas quintet's latest offering is a collection of poignant, passionate and pensive hard rock songs. From the kinetic first single, "Again," to the touching album closer, "Arise," guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartman trade orchestral riffs that seesaw from soaring to searing. Drummer James Culpepper smoothly propels every groove forward, while Pat Seals' bass anchors unforgettable hooks. Gliding across this majestic melodic backdrop, Lacey’s vocals build into beauty from pain. Her voice reaches transcendent heights on songs like "Set Apart This Dream" and "Missing.”

Lacey describes MEMENTO MORI best. "This album feels like an emotional roller-coaster. While listening to it, I was holding my breath at points. The issues definitely got heavier and a little more intense."

For Flyleaf, it's all part of growing up. In October 2008, the band entered a Los Angeles studio with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Papa Roach, All-American Rejects) to record the follow-up to their self-titled debut. Immediately, these five individuals tapped into the same chemistry that made FLYLEAF a massive worldwide hit and yielded songs like the breakout single "I'm So Sick" in 2005.

"As songwriters, we all have such a great rapport. None of us are really possessive or territorial about what we write," explains Pat. "There are a lot of different flavors that work perfectly together. We grew up a lot since the first record, and I think that particularly shows in the selflessness that each of us now brings to Flyleaf. We're vastly different people, but we’re united in what we want to say and how we want to say it."

That unity shines on songs like "Beautiful Bride," which just poured out of the band one day in rehearsal. The track came together instantly, and Lacey was able to write lyrics on the spot. She says, "Pat started playing this new song, and the words came out all at once. I'd been dealing with a conflict in my family and this song was born out of that moment. I got a phone call the next day that an amazing reconciliation had come within my family. Both the song and the situation started out painful and ended up glorious. This just proves to me how everything can work together for a greater good. Like a family fight turning into 'Beautiful Bride', a song about unity."

The record is made of messages like that. Flyleaf titled the album MEMENTO MORI—a Latin phrase meaning "Be mindful of death"—in order to remind the world how precious life is. The band tries to take advantage of each and every opportunity presented to them, and they're an example of dreams coming to fruition through never giving up. For Sameer, that sentiment of living every day to its fullest is essential for creating music. "Each day is a new beginning. It's never too late to become the kind of superhero you imagined you'd be when you were a kid."

These sonic superheroes have created an experience for listeners, stretching far beyond the recorded sounds. Flyleaf looked over the 13 songs that would become MEMENTO MORI, and saw how they all come together to form a sort of parable if you listen from start to finish. Lacey evinces, "Every track is like another chapter of the story. In my head it feels like a movie. The story becomes a parable for important life lessons we’ve learned over the years. After coming through these life and death experiences, we have learned to be more grateful and purposeful with the time we are given. We want to pass the torch at the end during ‘Arise.’ Perhaps someone will come away from the story and be more grateful and purposeful with their own life and the world will change for the better."

Flyleaf began composing these stories as they toured the world on the 2006 and 2007 installments of the Family Values Tour and on a European trek with Korn. Sharing the stage with the likes of Stone Sour, Deftones and Evanescence, Flyleaf captivated fans everywhere as their self-titled debut continued to ascend the charts. Singles such as "I'm So Sick," "Fully Alive," and the RIAA gold smash "All Around Me" pulled audiences in, and FLYLEAF reached RIAA platinum heights while the band toured endlessly. The album spent 133 weeks on the Billboard 200 while staking claims in the top 5 of the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart and the top 15 of the Billboard Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts.

In 2006, Flyleaf released MUSIC AS A WEAPON, a four-track EP; its sale supported the work of World Vision. Last year, the band contributed their rendition of "What's This?" to the star-filled compilation NIGHTMARE REVISITED, a rock homage to the music of director Tim Burton's now classic 1993 film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. The following year the band treated fans to a special, limited edition, two-disc version of FLYLEAF.

Now the world will receive MEMENTO MORI, and it's Flyleaf's greatest gift. Right before they put the finishing touches on the album, they embarked on an acoustic tour for U.S. troops overseas in Afghanistan, debuting two songs, "Circle" and "Chasm." The band's itinerary took them from Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan—where they performed before nearly 1,000 soldiers—to the distant Forward Operating Base Baylough in southern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.

Lacey explains. "It was the last thing we did before we finished this record. It was really life changing for us. Everywhere you turn in Afghanistan, you're reminded of your mortality—in a good way. These troops were so thankful that we were there and that they could just enjoy life for a minute. That's exactly what MEMENTO MORI means. Life's important, and it's brief. You never know when it's going to be over for you or the people around you. You have to make the most of every opportunity you're given. We got to talk to the soldiers about so many things, but there was a bomb the next day and many of them were killed. We came to know these men personally in a short time though. That was MEMENTO MORI at its highest."

"Missing" is another song that shows how important love and life are. The hook is massive, but there's more to it. Lacey continues, "The bridge says "Down here love wasn't meant to be for me, all is vanity underneath the sun." The phrase makes you ask 'What would the world be like if we took love out of it?' Love is painful. It requires work. It's selfless. Even though it's difficult, if you take that out of the earth you're going to end up with nothing. C.S. Lewis said, 'The only place in all of the world where you can escape the dangers of love is hell.'" Nothing could be truer.

On the other end of the emotional spectrum, Lacey drew inspiration for her vocal performance for "Set Apart this Dream" and "Tiny Heart" from her relationship with her younger sister. She says, "My sister is 17, and she's about to become a woman. She's always looked up to me. As much as I can, I want to make sure she doesn't make the same mistakes I have. She listens to me. This record has stories about failing and consequences of wrong decisions. My songs are usually hopeful in a really dark way. Many times artists can communicate deep feelings for other people and it heals them. That's what art does."

That's also what Flyleaf does. In the end, this band is about giving. "This band's formation was one of the most natural things I’d ever experienced and I knew it would change our lives” says Sameer.

However, it's evolved into something even larger. Lacey concludes, "I want to let kids know that they have a purpose and can do something great. I believe that one hundred percent. Growing up, my mom was a single mom with six kids. We struggled for absolutely everything. Here we are now with so many blessings. It doesn't even feel real sometimes. I just feel so thankful."

The ITunes Review of their new EP “Remember To Live”, had this to opine: 

This seven-track EP takes avoids some of the sonic “sturm und drang” found on the Flyleaf's albums in favor of a more restrained, but no less intense, approach. The songs — a mix of new material and hard-to-find tunes from the band’s early days — are mostly rendered acoustically, with bursts of electric guitar crunch added for emphasis. Singer Lacey Mosley shines in this stripped-down setting, letting the bruised beauty of her waif-like vocals fully connect with the pathos and salvation within her lyrics. “Dear My Closest Friend,” “Believe In Dreams” and “Light In Your Eyes” burn with an incandescent fire as they celebrate hope while acknowledging suffering. “Justice & Mercy (Violent Love Version)” is a revelation — by stripping away its familiar metallic edge, the song’s defiant tenderness gains heightened power. “Arise” — remixed here by ex-Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody — gains a sweeter taste while retaining its Gothic bite. More than just a preview of a full-length project, “Remember to Live” stands on its own as a compelling statement artistically and spiritually.

Whatever your core beliefs, this is a band to like, music you’ll want to hear more than once, and visions you’ll chew into and meditate on long after the echoes of the last notes recede. Both of these bands have achieved awesome accomplishments and most certainly have greater things in store for all “who have ears...”

Flyleaf Video:

Fan Site: http://flyleaf.ning.com/ , Official Site: http://site.flyleafmusic.com/home ,

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/flyleaf .

Official Flyleaf YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/flyleafmusic?blend=1&ob=4

Missing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X5lbZi6UUo

Again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbdCeWoEH1U

Beautiful Bride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfW4CkYrjXs

All Around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0FFK8JSYE

I’m So Sick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIADZKU9dw

Sorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eztZ6mvWCcs

Breathe Today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYLIJrKzeJU

Chasm: http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/106620007

Apocalyptica:

This is a Band with History who have been consistent releases of there uniquely orchestral approach to Rock & Metal. They have often crossed over in both directions from Rock/Metal to Classical with stops along the way. They’ve devoted complete albums to more atmospheric and contemplative classically rooted compositions and have “torn the house down” with sollid rock, featuring guests from many of today’s leading singers and players, including Lacey Sturm from Flyleaf on their latest release, “7^th Symphony”. 

“The instrumental stuff is more instrumental than anything we’ve done before,” says lead songwriter and cellist Eicca Toppinen. “For the previous albums, we sometimes had songs which had the potential for vocal tracks, but turned out to be instrumentals. This time, the instrumental tracks are pure instrumentals with long, progressive passages. We wanted to write instrumentals where nobody’s feeling ‘Oh, it’s great, but where are the vocals?’”

At the same time, 7th Symphony contains songs that rock harder than anything they’ve done since 2001 when they released the epic, transfixing album Cult, their first album to contain mostly originals. In the same way that Cult caused fans to view Apocalyptica from a different perspective, 7th Symphony is the next forward step in the group’s creative evolution. Most of the songs on the disc were produced by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool) and two of the four vocal numbers were produced by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Papa Roach).

“Joe told us, ‘You know guys, this album will bring your metal fans back’” Toppinen says. “It’s heavier and more exciting. It has a very dramatic classical-metal mixture. And the hard stuff is really hard.”

In addition to the six symphonic tracks, 7th Symphony features four songs with vocals that were co-written with other established artists. The first single, “End of Me” was co-written with Johnny Andrews and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, who sings on the tune. “It’s definitely a cool rock song,” Toppinen says. “Gavin definitely had his own ideas and wanted to change some of the music and lyrics, but working with him was pretty easy. He’s a nice guy and he’s very professional.”

The other guest vocal performances are equally impressive. Brent Smith from Shinedown sings on “Not Strong Enough,” which was written by award-winning pop songstress Diane Warren (Aerosmith, Toni Braxton, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood) and produced by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Papa Roach). Benson also worked with Lacey Sturm from Flyleaf on the song “Broken Pieces.”

One of the heaviest songs on the album is “Bring Them to Light,” a collaboration with Joe Duplantier, of the French extreme experimental/progressive metal band Gojira. Toppinen was introduced to Duplantier by his music publisher in France, who also works for Gojira. “He had a feeling that we would get along well and he was right,” the cellist says. “The combination is great. It doesn’t sound like Gojira, it doesn’t sound too much like Apocalyptica. It’s symphonic thrash metal and Joe makes vocal patterns in a way that he’s never done with Gojira, which is very exciting.”

Working with Barresi as the main producer, was rewarding for Apocalyptica for a couple reasons. First, after years of flying around the world to record, they were able to work home in Helsinki. More importantly, they appreciated Barresi’s ear for detail and creative ideas. “We used much more effects than we usually do and got a different kind of sound experience than ever before, but still I think the album is very organic,” Toppinen says. “The drums area more natural and there’s not so much sampling or editing. When we were tracking, we just found great sounds and recorded them right there. We didn’t fix them in the mix with punch ins like people do nowadays.”

One of Toppinen’s favorite songs on 7th Symphony is “Beautiful.” The all-orchestral number was recorded with three cellos and drummer Mikko Sirén on bass. “It was the first time Mikko played bass in his life,” Toppinen says. “It’s a beautiful acoustic song recorded in one take in the studio.”

If “Beautiful” sounds bare and vulnerable, it might have something to do with the way in which it was recorded. “We decided to play it naked,” Toppinen says. “It was a moment where there were four guys naked in the room just playing acoustic music. Being naked always brings good feelings. We tried with clothes on, and we were like, ‘Oh, something is missing.’ Mikko wanted to celebrate his bass playing by being naked, so he was already naked so we thought, ‘Okay, everybody else should get naked, too.’ Immediately, it was much more fun.”

Apocalyptica started writing 7th Symphony last fall and Sirén flew to Los Angeles in January to record the drums. But as soon as he arrived, Toppinen had a sudden burst of creativity back home. “I wrote three more songs after that,” he says. “So I was just sending him demos and he was tracking the songs. Then we recorded all the other parts, and it was strange to go into a studio to record songs that we hadn’t fully rehearsed and that didn’t even have the final arrangements. A lot of stuff was missing. But it was exciting because it made us do things in a different way and be creative all the time. And it made things fresher because it wasn’t like we went, ‘Okay, we did five demo versions of the songs, let’s decide which way to go?’”

7th Symphony is the musical culmination of 17 years of hard work. Apocalyptica started in 1993 as an outlet for Toppinen and three of his classically trained classmates at the prestigious Sibelius Academy. Three years later, they released their debut, Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos.

Apocalyptica Video:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/apocalyptica , Official Site: http://www.apocalyptica.com/us .

AOL/Original Review on “Noisecreep” by Matt DeBenedictus:

http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/01/26/apocalyptica-not-strong-enough-video-premiere/ .

Making of 7^th Symphony w/Lacy from Flyleaf doing Broken Pieces: http://bcove.me/7vak7d27 , the

finished Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jb3rMcwmeg

Grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofcNYtUwHvk .

End Of Me (Featuring: Gavin Rossdale): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efojzMwLIK0

Not Strong Enough(Featuring Brent Smith of Shinedown): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5O90uzvUA4

In the Hall Of The Mountain King (Grieg):LIVE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf2aIVKp1OY

I Don’t Care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxDcWvZCSRg

For many years, my husband was a police physician in the town where we lived in New Jersey. Day in and day out, officers would come for treatment of illnesses and injuries and, during their appointment, relate tales of their adventures on the force. Some were hair-raising stories of lives threatened and, most often, saved. Others were humorous bits of interaction between themselves and our local citizens.

One story has stayed with me for years and always, always brings a chuckle when I think about it. Picture Kojak... just shorter and tougher. That was Butchie. He was a no nonsense cop, who wore his badge with great pride and did not suffer fools easily.

On this particular day, Butchie was patrolling the highway that bordered the northern edge of town. His routine had him hiding behind a billboard on the west side of the road, where he could see cars entering off a ramp. Butchie was just far enough away to allow drivers to pick up speed, and most picked it up about 20 miles over the limit.

As a big white Cadillac flew past him, Butchie hit the siren and the gas pedal simultaneously. Within minutes, he had a distraught woman pulled over and was lecturing her about the dangers of speeding.

"You don't understand, Officer. I have to get home immediately."

"What's the emergency?" Butchie asked the bleached blond floozy in the tight fitting lime green suit.

"Well, you see," she hesitantly began to explain. "I just got my, um, er, period, and if I don't change my tampon soon, I'll bleed through my clothes and stain this white leather seat. My husband will kill me."

Butchie listened politely, raised his hand as if to say "wait right here" and walked back to his patrol car. When he returned, he was carrying a newspaper. Passing it through the window to the woman, he said, "Sit on this while I write your ticket. License and registration, please."

You just gotta love him!

Another story that was often repeated involved Detective Ray C. and a jumper. Standing on the ledge outside a tenth floor window, the man had been threatening to end his life for more than three hours. Many police officers had attempted to talk him down, but he was adamant that he wanted to commit suicide.

Night was closing in and time was running out as were ideas. Ray had been monitoring events from a command center set up inside the building. He was tired, hungry and a little hoarse from trying to convince this guy not to swan dive onto the concrete sidewalk below.

Sending all the other officers away, Ray made a decision to end the standoff - one way or another. Climbing out on the ledge, he pulled his gun and aimed it at the guy, who suddenly realized death didn't seem so appealing.

"What the f*** are you doing?" he screamed at Ray.

"I'm helping you decide what you want to do. If, by the count of three, you haven't either jumped or climbed back through the window, I am going to shoot you."

"You're f***ing crazy. You'll be arrested for murder."

"I'm hungry and tired but not crazy. I'll tell them that I climbed out here on the ledge and tried to convince you to come inside. You grabbed for my gun and it went off. Who are they going to believe? You, the psycho, or me, the decorated cop? Now... one, two, ..."

"Get the f*** out of my way. I'm climbing back in."

Perhaps, not exactly text book police procedure, but a life was saved and everybody was home in time for dinner.

I'm hesitant about writing this last story because it is somewhat gross. If you have a squeamish stomach and are partial to beef, I suggest you not read it.

Marge Harris had been the matron at the local precinct for nearly twenty years. In that time, she thought she had seen every possible variation on crime. Each week, crooks and criminals came up with new ideas for "getting away with it." On this particular Thursday, even Marge learned a new lesson.

The Shop Rite that was the primary supermarket in town had its fair share of theft. Someone was always trying to walk out with a beer or bottle of wine, maybe candy or cookies. Occasionally, a package of pork chop or chop meat was shoved into a coat pocket and hurried home for dinner. In business, shoplifters are a constant drain on the bottom line.

Tony Smith, the Shop Rite manager, always said that watching the surveillance cameras was an education. After this day, he knew more than he needed. A very large woman, wearing oversized clothing was seen pushing a basket through the store. As she made her way up and down the aisles, items appeared in her cart but even more items were stashed in her coat. By the time she got to the checkout, she was being followed by in-store security. A call had gone out to the police department and officers were on the way.

As good as surveillance cameras are they cannot possibly see every nook and cranny in a large supermarket. Shelves and end aisle displays block a good portion of the viewing area, and a smart crook knows just where to stand to avoid detection.

The woman was allowed to pay for the groceries in the basket, but when she left the store, she was arrested. Handcuffed, she was brought to the station and placed in Marge's competent hands for processing and strip search.

As was procedure, the woman was told to remove her clothing, bend over and spread 'em. Donning her latex gloves, Marge began a body cavity examination. When she reached between the woman's legs, she felt the edge of one of those courtesy plastic bags supermarkets supply for fruits and vegetables. Giving it a tug, she met with resistance.

Fearing that she would do physical damage to the woman if she pulled too hard, she ordered her to squat and remove the item herself. As though in the throes of labor, the woman pulled out a 5 pound roast beef.

Now, I like a good steak once in a while, but I swear, after hearing this story, I ate chicken for a long time.

Theme birthday parties are nothing new. When my kids were small, all their friends' parents tried to outdo each other with novelty acts and entertainment thrills. One mother hired a magician, who kept the kids enthralled for hours. He used a variety of animals in his act, while others, those he no longer used, were caged in his truck and ready for adoption. Let me state right here that it should be against the law to make a pitch about giving animals a good home at a kid's birthday party.... especially if my kids are guests.

Hefty, named for the trash bag, came home in our goodie box. Actually, he came home in a BIG box. There was a reason he no longer fit in the magician's hat. As rabbits go, he was unique. We had three cats at the time, Princess, Annie and Akachan (baby in Japanese). Hefty and Akachan immediately became fast friends. Since Hefty used the litter box, he did not need to be caged, but we did provide him with a miniature doghouse to sleep in -- a place of his own so to speak. He preferred cat food to rabbit pellets and Akachan actually like rabbit food so it worked out well.

Now, Akachan also had a fondness for my daughter, Jessica. He usually slept at the foot of Jess' bed where he could protect her from the boogieman. One fateful night, five-year-old Jess pulled back her covers and let out a mind-boggling scream. There, nestled against her ballerina sheets, was a dead mouse. That whole "it's the thought that counts" thing just didn't hold water for her. Akachan was banned from the bedroom and Hefty had a new bunkmate.

What can I say about Samson, the Pomeranian? A neighbor who was moving to a "no pets allowed" apartment complex begged us to take him in. He was very protective of me and did not take kindly to Jessica, who was just an infant. When I wasn't looking, he would sneak into the nursery and urinate on her bassinet. Samson didn't like my husband either. No sooner would Mike get home from work then Samson would urinate on his briefcase. Needless to say, Sam didn't live with us for long. His new home was on a farm where he could run free through acres and acres of corn fields. He was much happier. So were we.

I've always loved birds, probably because parakeets were the only pets I was allowed to have as a child. I have fond memories of the two "Mickeys" who brought joy to an otherwise dismal childhood. It goes without saying that when I got a home of my own, I would have a tweeter or two. One parakeet became two which became five. Then, I saw a cockatiel in the pet shop window and... well, you know what happened.

Cinnamon enjoyed riding on the vacuum cleaner as I pulled it around the house. The vibration seemed to give him pleasure. That's all I'm saying. He was also a good playmate for Jessica. Not many birds would allow a little girl to push them around in a Barbie doll car and baby carriage. He even let her put a little bonnet on his head. Good sport that bird!

Magnus, a lab, was named for one of Anne Rice's vampires -- his sharp little teeth drew lots of blood. He was born during Hurricane Andrew and suffered from canine attention deficient disorder. No joke. Magnus could not focus on anything for more than a minute. He was hyper, and our legs were constantly covered with scratches from his insistent demands that we pet him. One of his favorite activities was to run full speed through the house, go airborne, landing on the sofa, which would then slide on the tile floor like a sled on snow. After repairing the holes in the wall a dozen times or more, Magnus, too, found another home. His new owner was a young guy who lived on the beach with two other labs. Together, they spent hours playing in the sand and the surf. I'm pretty sure Magnus forgot we existed in less than a day.

The years passed and life changed. The kids went to college, moved away, moved back home and moved away again. The family dwindled until now we have just Valentina, a Cockerpoo. She was my Valentine's present seventeen years ago - hence, her name. Mike and the kids insist I call her Val. Valentina "sucks" I've been told quite often.

In closing, I would like to thank my husband, Mike, for his patience with my need to "nurture" over the past thirty-five years. I also would like to emphasize that if he had just agreed to have more kids, this story would be a lot shorter.

Happy memories pet lovers!

A large family was always my dream. When Mike and I got engaged, I seriously suggested, "Let's have eight kids." Mike, still in shock, hesitantly replied, "Two?" The bartering began. Mike/2, Donna/6, Mike/4, Donna/6, Mike/2.

In the end, the decision wasn't really ours. Fate stepped in and decided how many and what kind (both kids were a month premature). Mike summed it up very succinctly as the doctor laid a just born Jessica in my arms. "A boy and a girl. Perfect. We'll try again when they come up with a third sex."

Through the years, the maternal instinct stayed strong. Whenever I felt a yearning to cuddle something small, I adopted a new pet. I swear there was an underground in the wildlife community. If an animal was sick or injured, it found its way to our house. Mike was always concerned that he would find a wounded hippo in the living room. He threatened to plant a vine near the front door and just swing in from work. At one time, we had two wolves, a Labrador retriever, a husky, a cocker spaniel, three cats, an endangered species tortoise, a chinchilla, a long haired guinea pig, a cockatiel, five parakeets, a lizard and forty -- yes, I did say 40 -- gerbils. No need for us to visit the zoo. We could have charged admission and made a fortune.

The gerbils provided a lesson in sex education that I was unaware I needed. My son's fifth grade teacher thought it would be a good idea for her students to learn responsibility by caring for a class pet. "A" class pet -- she should have stuck to the "A" part. Instead, she bought three gerbils and assigned a student a week to feed them and clean the cages.

When the school year ended, she asked who wanted to adopt Susie, Sally and Sandy. Michael begged and pleaded all night. "Please, mom. I'll take care of them. They're easy. You won't have to do a thing." What can I say? I'm a sucker for my kids.

I called the teacher and she assured me the three gerbils were all female, healthy and tame. They loved being held and played with so, home they came. For a few weeks, everything seemed fine. Then, two of the gerbils, Susie and Sally, started to get fat. They didn't run on the wheel as much and slept a lot of the time. Stupid me. I thought we were overfeeding them.

One morning, I heard Michael and Jessica screaming for me from the family room. "Mom. Come quick. There's something wrong with Sally and Susie." You got it! The only thing wrong with Sally and Susie was that Sandy was really Sammy. Did you know that some baby gerbils are born still encased in the sack and need to be cut free with surgical scissors? Did I tell you that my husband is a doctor? Guess who his patients were that morning. Sixteen gerbils later, we bought a second cage. Problem was, we weren't experts yet on distinguishing males from females. So the cycle repeated, and a short time later...."Mom. Come quick!"

This time, I went to the pet shop and bought a book on gerbil care. As soon as I got home, I picked up each one of those furry bundles and spread their legs. Small they may have been, but like a Pinkerton guard, I got my man, er, men.

When we were done separating the sexes, we had twenty males, twenty females and four very large cages. After dinner, I showed Mike the new arrangements. "See," I said, "what happens when you stifle a woman's need to breed?" Mike 's answer, "Just promise me. No rabbits!"

I didn't listen…. but that's another story.

My husband, Mike, and I have been making an annual pilgrimage to Disney World for thirty-five years. Our first trip was on our honeymoon. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we returned the following year, and by the next year, we had eight month old Michael with us. Two years later, Jessica joined our family, and along with thousands of other people we stood at the gates to the Magic Kingdom intoning, "Miska, Mooska, Mouseketeer." (If you're not familiar with that phrase, don't stand next to me. I'd hate the obvious comparison.)

Anyway, about eight years ago, Mike and I traveled to Disney alone, as Michael and Jessica now had lives of their own which did not include holding mommy and daddy's hands as we traversed the parks. That fact had been rudely rubbed in my face at check-in, when I noticed all the young parents pushing strollers or carrying babies in their arms.

Early on the first morning of our stay, we decided to forgo breakfast and head over to Epcot. World Showcase has always been an enjoyable experience for us, especially the frozen margarita cart in front of the Mexico pavilion. Although most of the countries were still closed, the friendly senorita behind the poster of three fruit frozen alcoholic slush was doing a brisk business. It was, maybe, ten a.m., but my tongue was already somersaulting in anticipation of that first sip of ambrosia.

I ordered and, into my hands, she placed the equivalent of a 7-11 Big Gulp, which is not a problem if you have food in your stomach. I did not. Mike and I began to walk around World Showcase as I eagerly sipped my drink to the point of getting brain freeze every few minutes. Mike kept warning me to slow down, but I was in tequila heaven.

So, we kept walking.... past Norway and China and the area that was to be Africa but never got developed. On to Italy and Morocco, where, finally, I had to go to the bathroom. Although still well maintained, Disney is no longer new and the bathrooms leave a lot to be desired in some locations. This ladies room was a little dark with overhead fluorescent lights that cast shadows on mirrors that had long ago lost most of their silver backing. (You can torture me, but that's the story I'm sticking to.)

What I saw when I looked up from washing my hands was an aged woman wearing my clothes. Who the hell was she? I turned around. Nobody was there. I squinted and bobbed my head from left to right, but she just wouldn't go away. I started to cry.

Panicked, I ran outside and Mike, ever my knight in shining armor, was immediately ready to defend me against the forces of evil. Unfortunately, time was one enemy he couldn't vanquish. Choking and sobbing, I told him, "There's a woman... in there... in the mirror... she looks... like me, but... she's... not young... anymore. I want... my babies... back. I want... to be mommy... again."

The look on Mike's face, while at first confused, suddenly shone with understanding. "It's okay, honey. You've just had a little too much to drink. Food will make everything all right. I know just place to put the twenty-five year old back in your step." And he did.

You see, as much as I like tequila, I like chocolate a whole lot more. In France, they make the most divine little chocolate mousse desserts. Two or three of those (to absorb the alcohol), and I perked right up.

For the rest of the trip, I avoided anything stronger than Diet Coke. When we got home, all the bulbs in our house were changed to LEDs and the lamps were covered with scarfs to "soften" our (my) self-perception.

As is often said, age is just a state of mind...and some clever lighting!

While the band is American, Khan is from Norway and Palotai is German. I would like to thank Mary J 0604 for reminding me in one of her Friday Jams, of this Band, Whose Video: “Love You To Death” is on:( http://myspace.com/drsuleimandex), which is me on My Space. This Is a Band I had fully intended to write about. Her reminder pushed me to make that time, now. Thanks Mary J.

They have evolved from a mostly progressive to symphonic to a band that encompasses elements of all their evolved history. Though they hail from Tampa, FL they have a following world-wide, are currently on a Japanese Label, and have hit the stage with some Europe’s greatest Bands, having guest performers from them on stage and in the studio, including Epica’s Simone Simons who also sang on tour, appearing in Live and Studio Videos with them.

There have been changes along the way. It appears another may be happening. Kamelot’s official Web Site had this to say about the remainder of the “Pandemonium Over Europe Tour 2011” supporting the release of “Poetry For The Poisoned”:

As reported earlier this week, Kamelot's Pandemonium Over Europe 2011 is building, adding Evergrey, Amaranthe and Sons Of Seasons (on selected dates) to the already announced tour schedule, with more dates to come. As part of the ongoing Kamelot campaign, the band has now announced 2 shows as part of what will be a full US tour:

Aug 30 - Grammercy Theater in New York City, NY - USA
Sept 2 - Club Soda in Montreal, Québec - Canada

Unfortunately, we have been informed that, due to continuing medical and personal issues, Roy Khan will not be able to finish the remaining touring in support of Kamelot's album, Poetry for the Poisoned...

However, we are pleased to announce that metal icon Fabio Lione (Rhapsody Of Fire, Vision Divine, ex-Labyrinth) will be joining the tour and handling the lead vocal duties. There will also be guest vocal appearances throughout the tour by Simone Simons (Epica), Tommy Karevik (Seventh Wonder), and many more surprise guests throughout this very special and rare tour.

Fabio Lione is eager to get on the road, stating: "I am excited and pleased to be part of the next Kamelot tour. I always loved the sound of the band and I think this will be a great experience for me, the band and for all the fans of great music and Kamelot... see you soon on tour and let's rock!"

This has happened before. Bearing in mind the change may be only temporary, even if it isn’t, while the departure of Roy Kam would obviously signal a further “Evolution” in the band’s overall sound, Nightwish recently experienced a huge shake-up with the departure of Tarja, which after an unsettling year or so for Musicians and Fans alike, turned out to be a better situation for Nightwish AND Tarja.

Mark Vanderbildt and co-founder Richard Warner departed in 1997, being unable to tour. Casey Grillo was swiftly brought in, but finding a vocalist proved more difficult. Kamelot then auditioned Roy Khan. To make Roy prove himself, he had to go skydiving with the band.

David Pavlicko left soon after "Siege Perilous". One of the band's new producers, Miro, filled in on studio work, while a succession of guests were used in live performance venues until Oliver Palotai joined as a permanent member on "The Black Halo" tour.

Glenn Barry stepped down from his role in Kamelot in late 2009 due to family commitments. He had sat out most of the band's touring since 2006, with founding member Sean Tibbetts standing in. Tibbetts then rejoined the band permanently.

Kamelot have a close relationship with Epica (Nld). Epica are actually named after the Kamelot album of the same name. Roy Khan did some vocals on the Epica song "Trois Vierges" and Epica's frontwoman Simone Simons performed vocals on every Kamelot album since "The Black Halo". Various Epica members have made live guest appearances during Kamelot gigs, and Oliver Palotai has filled in as a live keyboard player for Epica.

Khan made a guest appearance on one song for Avantasia in 2008.

For the Iron Maiden tribute album "A Tribute To The Beast, Vol. 2" Kamelot recorded their own version of the classic "Flight of Icarus" (feat. Ian Parry).

Before the formation of Kamelot, in 1988 Youngblood, Wagner and others as Camelot recorded "Breaking the Silence" for the "Tampa Bay's Metal Mercenaries: The Invasion" a cassette of various heavy metal bands from Tampa Bay produced by Keith Collins (ex-bassist for Savatage).

Birth dates:
Thomas Youngblood (29th May, USA)
Roy Sætre Khantatat/Roy Khan (12th March 1970, Elverum, Norway)
Glenn Barry (15th November, USA)
Casey Grillo (16th October 1976, Enid, Oklahoma, USA)
Oliver Palotai (17th March 1974, Germany)

Discography:

• Eternity (1995)
• Dominion (1997)
• Siége Perilous (1998)
• The Fourth Legacy (1999)
• Karma (2001)
• Epica (2003)
• The Black Halo (2005)
• Ghost Opera (2007)
• Poetry For The Poisoned (2010)

On Poetry For The Poisoned, The Latest Album Release:
Kamelot continues their ascension to the top! Kamelot is one of metal’s most unique, influential and prestigious acts to come along in decades. The group’s reputation among fans and media alike is marked by enthusiasm as well as esteem, with each of their eight studio albums to date surpassing its predecessor in terms of songwriting and production. As one of the most difficult to categorize artists on the metal scene, Kamelot are poised to assault the planet with their most insightful and ambitious project to date, “Poetry for the Poisoned”, proving once again they are Invictus in the metal scene.

Ready to continue their rise to the pinnacle of metal royalty, founding guitarist Thomas Youngblood and vocalist Roy Khan are joined by drummer Casey Grillo, keyboardist Oliver Palotai, and new bassist Sean Tibbetts to complete their journey to systematically alter the face of metal. Throughout the recent years, their releases have achieved cult status around the world, and “Poetry for the Poisoned” will once again raise the bar for others to follow.

“5/5 – Poetry for the Poisoned proves that Kamelot both merges and transcends genres for a truly progressive musical experience. Poetry for the Poisoned has to be their best work to date.”

Dangerdog

“Ferocious album, Kamelot’s finest production, an album that will satisfy hordes of fans.”

Rockpages.gr

“8.5/10 : Kamelot are and will remain one of the most charismatic and most original melodic power metal bands of our time.”

darkscene.at

“9/10 : … hottest contenders for album of the year 2010 and sets new standards in the genre!”

The-Pit.de

“9.5/10 : … it’s a powerful return from one of the most influential bands in their genre. Innovating, personalized, dark, aggressive, melancholic, bold…”

Rock Heavy Loud

20/20- “‘Once again, Kamelot deliver something unique for every fan out there with the album of the year, worthy enough to be listed amongst their highest Achievements and beyond.”

SpiritOfMetal.com

9/10 – “…they proclaim and demand your attention with every track…Kamelot can do no wrong…”

MyGlobalMind.info

9/10 – “Kamelot releases with ‘Poetry For The Poisoned’ another masterpiece. A must-have!”

Rock It! Magazine

6/7 – “Great!”

Metal Hammer Magazine

Perilous Links:

Band Sites:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kamelot; Official Site: www.kamelot.com

Official YouTube “Kam TV”: http://www.youtube.com/kamtv

Video:

The Great Pandemonium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Trjxuc6Q2c

Hunters Season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8z2-C2NKHc

Ghost Opera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-TUufvK0gU

The Haunting (With Simone Simon of EPICA Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWDALIOzXNk

When The Lights Are Down (Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58azvyFmKrc

Love You To Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9BwQGYDLXg

Rule The World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJeqUW-T5hE

The March Of Mephisto (Uncensored Version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0yYxOV-bRU

Karma (Footage From ‘The 300’): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMFqdlvqAw0

Forever (Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_VGBlQRl2c

Abandoned (Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASY2Kxwvsw

Memento Mori (Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnYW1xeixAE

Telltale hearts beat with anticipation during a rainy, midnight dreary and beyond, hoping the mysterious visitor to Edgar Allan Poe's grave would return after a one-year absence.

The seats at the Golden Globes on Sunday evening were filled with quite a few “old timers,” those no longer young but still great actors who have brought many memorable moments to the big screen. Among them were Al Pacino -- badly in need of a mirror and a good hairbrush -- who displayed his usual strangely disquieting behavior. Robert DeNiro took the stage looking like he had just stepped out of a wind tunnel, but nonetheless proved -- again -- that he can kill whether his weapon is drama and comedy.

While wiping away the tears evidenced by Ricky Gervais’ shocking (and, yes, hilarious) commentary, I searched the crowd for a glimpse of one of my all time favorites – Dustin Hoffman. Hoffman holds a special place in my heart, and although I’m nothing more than a blip on the navigational system of his life, he is a luminous image in mine.

Twenty five years ago, when my son, Michael, was seven years old, he was hired to do some looping on "Death of a Salesman," a television special produced by and starring Hoffman. The part Michael auditioned for was that of the son of Willie Loman's boss, Howard Wagner.
In the scene, Willie, a traveling salesman, approaches Mr. Wagner in his office with a request to stay in New York City. Mr. Wagner is preoccupied with a new device called a wire recorder. To demonstrate how the machine works, he plays a recording of his young son reciting the fifty states and their capitals. The voice you hear in the film is Michael..."The capital of Connecticut is Hartford, the capital of Delaware is Dover," etc.

My son auditioned for the part on a Wednesday afternoon. I was told that we would know by eight o'clock that same evening if he had booked the spot, as it had to tape the next day. No phone call was received and, so, on Thursday morning, Michael and I were back in the city making the audition circuit.

As we were awaiting Michael's turn at a casting agency in mid-town, the director stepped into the front office, looked around, pointed at me and asked, "Are you Mrs. Carbone?" When I answered in the affirmative, he told me to hurry to a recording studio on, I believe, Fifth Avenue, where a SAG representative would meet me in the lobby. Michael had the part.

Because the casting decision had been made last minute, I was now required to run to the new location. There was no time to get my car from the parking garage or to hail a cab. As I rushed the ten blocks, I pulled my son behind me like a kite in flight.

Michael was escorted into a recording booth while I sat with the SAG rep and filled out the contracts. It is a rare day when a child actor's mother is welcomed on a set, but suddenly, Michael was back, telling me I was wanted in the booth. He ran ahead and, by the time I reached the door he had slipped through, he was already behind the plate glass window of the sound proof room. As I walked into the engineer's booth, I saw Michael, standing with his back pressed against a far wall, while Dustin Hoffman pitched grapes for him to catch in his mouth.

Needless to say, I was surprised, and without realizing I was speaking out loud, I said, "Oh, my god, Dustin Hoffman." The walls echoed with my words over and over again, and everyone had a good laugh at my expense. Mr. Hoffman asked Michael what my name was and, being a child, he answered, "Mommy." So, for the duration of the taping, that's what I was called.

Now, Michael's agent had warned me before the audition that Dustin Hoffman was a difficult man to work with. He was a perfectionist and expected nothing less from the actors he hired. Children were no exception. When I saw Mr. Hoffman standing in the booth, I became somewhat nervous, not because his celebrity intimidated me, but because I feared his disposition. I worried for naught.

Dressed in ragged sneakers, jeans and an old sweatshirt, Dustin Hoffman did not play the star. He was kind, patient and gentle with Michael. When the taping was over, he and his wife, who was holding their infant son, Max, sat with me and talked about child rearing, the genetics of hair color and a few other topics I now forget. When we rose to leave, Mr. Hoffman shook my hand and thanked both Michael and me for our participation in the movie. I was thrilled. Michael was bored.

It was mid-afternoon and raining when we stepped out of the building. Michael was still expected at the audition we had abruptly left that morning. As I'm not the star struck type, I jokingly said to my son, "Dustin Hoffman shook my hand. I can't get it wet, so I'll keep in my pocket. You'll have to hang onto my arm as we walk." The look on his face clearly said, "Mommy's nuts."

In a few minutes we were at our destination. When the casting director called Michael's name, he jumped up with excitement. "Do you know who I just worked with?" Michael asked. "No, who?" responded the casting director with a sly smile. "John Denver!"

To this day, the only reason I can find for Michael's confusion is that he did a voiceover spot with John Denver the week before but never actually met the man. However, I did tell him that the singer/song writer was one of my favorites and that his dad and I had danced to "Annie's Song" at our wedding. Those facts must have stuck in his head.

Michael is now a screenwriter living in Los Angeles. I guarantee you, should he ever have the opportunity to meet Dustin Hoffman again, he will not confuse him with John Denver and not just because Denver is dead. As for me, I have washed my hands many times, but the tingle of Dustin Hoffman's touch still remains.

Fireflight:

Band Site: http://fireflightrock.com/about.php

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fireflight

On Thanksgiving, while on tour, Fireflight had their band trailer, with everything they owned in it, stolen. This WOULD get nearly anyone down a little, but their attitude truly reflects their Faith. This is what they blogged on their MySpace page:

Reflecting on Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season

Every year we all like to take time to reflect on what we are thankful for. We in Fireflight are no exception. This past Sunday night we had our band trailer stolen. Most of everything we owned professionally was is that trailer. Guitars, amps, drums, merchandise (t-shirts, posters, cd's, etc), even our custom stage set up. All in all, about $80,000 worth of gear, merch and trailer cost is gone. Like Dawn said on the "For Those Who Wait Tour", we live in a fallen world that is full of broken people that make bad choices. We don't know why someone would do this. The point is that they did.

Now we, just like everyone else, have a choice how to respond. In this Holiday season, on this Thanksgiving Day, We choose to be thankful for everything that we do have and everything that God has blessed us with. We all have wonderful families, great friends, and are blessed to be able to spread God's love through music.

Our trailer was in fact insured. Sure, there were things in the trailer that are one of a kind and somewhat irreplaceable. But at the end of the day it was just "stuff". Will this set us back a little... maybe? Will we allow it to make us bitter and cynical? No. God still has a great plan for this band, just as he has a great plan for your life. So we want to be an encouragement to you. When life looks bad and the cards are stacked against you-Look up! We all go through tough and disappointing times. Let's go through them together with God's help!

All that we ask at this time is your prayers and maybe your watchful eyes. If you see anything that you believe could be Firefight gear or merch, please contact us and let us know. If not, that's ok too. We will be happy if you kept our band and ministry in your prayers as we begin to rebuild and keep a positive eye on the future. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Blessed Holiday Season!

That was a tough stance to take in the light of having to do postponements or cancellations, deal with the insurance company (which, as a general rule, doesn’t like to insure Rock Bands or PAY their claims for just this reason-Christian or otherwise.), and actually go through the effort of re-equipping before they can get back on the tour.

What happens a couple months down the road could only be construed as an answer to their prayers. They were nominated for a Grammy-their first! They are a bit edgier than most Christian Bands, so they had to be a little difficult for a nominating committee to “wrap its head around”. However, they did and Fireflight received its first Grammy nomination:

NASHVILLE, TN Dec. 2, 2010 Premiere modern rock band Fireflight receives its first career GRAMMY nomination this week, with its third studio album For Those Who Wait announced in the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album category last night by The Recording Academy®, as determined by the voting members of The Academy. For the third year, nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced on primetime television as part of "The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! ‹ Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®," a one-hour special broadcast live on CBS from Club Nokia at L.A. Live.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 13, 2011, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Released Feb. 9, 2010, For Those Who Wait debuted at No. 5 on the Nielsen SoundScan Current Contemporary Christian Album Chart. Along with superior album reviews, For Those Who Wait was named the No.1 "most anticipated album of 2010," by Jesusfreakhideout.com. The project also gave the band its fifth career No. 1 radio single on the Rock format with lead single "Desperate," followed by the title track’s performance as a Top 5 hit at Rock and Top 10 at CHR.

Unbreakable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWRJAHaOrYg

Desperate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQctVDvIFWg

For Those Who Wait: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRMNiZtj5s

Skillet:

Official Website: http://www.skillet.com/enter.php

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/skilletmusic

Many of you have been actually listening to this band for years without realizing they’re “Christian”. Rather than being “preachy”, their lyrics come from their life experience and world view. They speak from experiences both positive AND negative, openly and honestly, as the “Monster” video exemplifies. This song has had resounding success on “mainstream” modern and “college” rock stations, as has many of their other releases. The widespread appeal of their hard-edged music brought them from being a “local” phenomenon from Nashville to international recognition as an Atlantic signed and promoted band.

Since Skillet last hit the studio for 2006's breakthrough project “Comatose”, the group toured with the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, followed by a solo headlining ranking within Pollstar's Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours for 2008. Along the way, the Grammy-nominated alternative band also scored three top 40 singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts, earned a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards, and released its first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack in support of the season called Comatose Comes Alive.

Aside from the commercial success, the Grammy-nominated modern rockers are rapidly approaching gold sales status, making the brand new “Awake” (Atlantic) the band's most anticipated album to date. Not only does Skillet continue in the tradition of bone crunching rockers and melodic power ballads that comprised the last trip to the studio, but there's a noticeable evolution sure to connect with longtime listeners and open the floodgates of its fan base even further than ever before.

"We found Comatose scoring the most acceptance in terms of album sales, ticket sales and radio airplay out of any of our albums so far, so there's certainly a continuation of that direction," unveils singer/songwriter/bassist John Cooper of the current collection. "But we never want to make the same record twice and that's why Awake keeps it fresh and surprising. We've built off several of the epic elements, orchestration, piano parts and male/female vocal trade offs on several songs, but there's also a balance of straight up rock stuff and tunes that are a little bit stripped down in comparison."

In addition to the increasingly cohesive chemistry by the famed front man, keyboardist/vocalist Korey Cooper, guitarist Ben Kasica and drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger, having all-star producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D., The All American Rejects, Hoobastank) behind the boards helped the band reach its most compelling conclusion to date.

I urge you to do what I do. Suspend my differences in worldview and listen with an open mind to THE MUSIC. I will continue to write about ANYONE who does excellence regardless of their convictions. If you review my articles, you'll see it's simply the way I do what I do. Enjoy! 'DeX'

Monster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mjlM_RnsVE

Hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcsIdGOuZY

Awake and Alive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJUnltwsqs

Whispers In The Dark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8WhAfZphQQ

Savior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCMs_ViMOA

Forsaken (The Comatose Comes Alive Tour): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dga18RQMGCU

IS THE END COMING BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO TELL US?

People were asking for the Prediction List I have added it to discussing panel.

I don't know I am not omniscient, but some interesting coincidences are converging in the last few years to make me want to look into the possibility.

In the past few years it seems those in power and the wealthy have become increasingly callous and disregarding of anyone not of their class. Indeed politicians and the wealthy of ALL persuasion seem to be making a conscience effort to decimating the lower classes now before a big extinction event. Gone are the grand ideals that ALL Men (should be changed to Sentient Beings) are Created Equal and we should care for our fellow (Sentient Beings) Man. Now we have politicians screaming that the other side are doing the exact destructive and self-protectionist actions that both sides are claiming; (death panels, removal of financial and medical assistance, War, and cannibalization of the Earth) and pointing fingers at each other while the rest of us starve, drown, freeze, burn, and die.

A few examples for you:

Massive financial deregulation and corporate accountability leading to the concentration of wealth to the detriment of the rest of society. What are they doing with all this wealth?

Stripping of rights and protections of We The People from the Constitution by the Patriot Act.

Massive communication and propaganda control (control of the Media) concentrated and usurped for a single Fascist political view...

Political commentators turning allegedly it is rumored into Televangelists...for example Glenn Beck.

Politicians allegedly disregarding constituents for their own power and wealth of their friends...for example Jan Brewer. Arizona receives 200 million in stimulus money but won't disclose where the money is and what she has used it for? At the same time she cuts a paltry 2.3 Million that was used for in state Medical Medicaid payments for individuals that need life saving medical services? And yet, its the Republicans and Jan Brewer that scream the loudest that the Democrats want to create Death Panels...

Yucca Mountain Nuclear storage facility being converted into a 10,000 person emergency shelter...But for whom?

Strange coincidence that in the last 20 years we have tried to launch a deep weather satellite to monitor planetary climatic changes...6 times...6 satellite payloads...and every time...the payload fails to make it either out of our atmosphere, to become operational, or in the last instance Bush Jr shelved Gore's proposed satellite and stuck it in storage for last 10 years...

Massive unexplained species die offs. Birds, Fish. Sea Mammals, Salamanders, Spiders,

Disappearance of almost ALL small salamanders and some frog species which are highly sensitive to environmental and climatic changes.

Unpredicted Increase in Seismic and Volcanic activity Globally.

Increase in Climatic Change events causing famine and drought in some areas while other areas are receiving the worst snows and flooding in history...think Sudan, Indonesia, Australia, Japan anyone?

Increased Magnetic Polar migration. North pole is now on edge of Siberia.

Melting North Polar Ice Cap and run-away CO2 releases from the sea floors.

These events are calculated to occur and increase in frequency for the next 7 years due to the focal alignment of our Sun to the Galactic Center and an unknown pulse from the center of the galaxy that seems to have a frequency of 28,000 light years, the same distance our sun is from Galactic center... Suspects are enhanced Neutrino-Gamma ray bursts that pass through our upper atmosphere heating our Earths Core and in turn; speeding up the movement and migration in the Earths magma and shifting magnetic poles relative locations. These random bursts will be cooking us indiscriminately till the big Yellowstone eruption in possibly 2012...Or maybe we will be spared for another 28,000 years and experience the greatest evolution in Humanity...We can only hope.

The Mayans gave us the clues all we had to do is a little basic Geological and Astral-calculations to find out that Yellowstone's massive eruptions occur every 644,000 to 672,000 years which coincidentally is mathematically constant with a 28000 year galactic center pulse if you multiply that times 23-24 permutation of the received pulse, which puts us at that occurrence in a direct relational alignment with all our planets on the left or right of a direct path from Galactic Center (Massive Black Hole) with our sun in a direct clear path between galactic center and our planet at 644,000 to 672,000 years. This can potentially causes a Magnification effect that cooks our planets Core...Through Enhanced Neutrino-Gamma Ray particles and possible Hawkin's radiation derived possibly from the black hole and our own sun.. Before you go calling horse pucky try begging the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab to check my planetary perturbations and tell the world that my calculations have no validity...I bet they can :)

It's just pretty coincidental stuff when you play with math...so lets have some fun with math...

THE MAGIC OF MATHEMATICS:

Galactic rotation:Estimated time it take our solar system to perform one elliptic around galactic center 220,000,000 to 250,000,000 Years

Estimated Planetary Polarity shift 7000-8000 years

Mayan calendar duration before restart is the same as the distance to Galactic center 28000 years.

Mathematical formula from Geological evidence for Yellowstone eruption frequency. 644,000-672,000 years

Galactic distance to our Solar to Black Hole Center is approximately 28000 years

Planetary rotation around the sun 23 hours .56 mins .4 sec

Yellowstone Super Eruption variable every 28000 X 23 - 24 Galactic permutations.

Last Yellowstone Super Eruption eruption estimated approximately 642000 years ago.

616,000 year eruption 22 x 28000

644,000 year eruption 23 x 28000

659,680 year eruption 23.56 x 28000

672,000 year eruption 24 X 28000

Magnetic Polar total swap every 14 Galactic Permutations...

You can pray and attribute everything to God if you like.

Me I believe in God as the initial Creator of all things (Big Bang) but I also believe in the Science of Geology and Mathematics. It seems to my understanding that we have been given 640,000+ years to develop and evolve, sadly I fear none will survive the coming Extinction Event. That includes the wealthy hiding in their holes in the ground or under the sea.

Or maybe I should just put this bottle of Jack down and go to sleep.

"American Rhapsody"

A Political Parody of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

An Anthem of America's Financial Woes &
Tribute to The Seedy & Subversive Politics
& Representatives of Washington, D.C.

(Complete Version)

I say give them life
this should be a felony
It's such a wild ride
our American economy.

We hear all their lies
their false alibis
and plead.

Now were all poor folk
in need of some empathy
Congress: "Easy come, easy go
market high, market low."

See the bear and bull run
it doesn't really matter to me
to me.

Congress just killed a plan
that could rescue all our dreams
but House and Senate won't agree

Obama - Oh, what have you done?
Will you keep what's pledged
or throw it all away?

Obama
(Boo-ooh-ooh-ohh)
You never thought that we would buy
all the promises
you said would come tomorrow

But carry on, carry on
as if nothing really matters.

It's too late
the time has come
for the taxpayer to pay
the foreclosures on the way.

Goodbye better future
cause it has to go
Leave my children's kids
in debt forevermore.

Obama
(Boo-ooh-ooh-ooh)
It makes me wanna cry
Sometimes I wish you
had never run at all!

I still see the heel
(the stiletto) of a witch
It's Pelosi! Its Pelosi!
Oh, God, do me the favors!
Thunderbolts and lightnings
very straight and striking - she!

Here Boehner comes (Pelosi goes)
As Boehner comes (Pelosi goes)
Make it so, (oh, make it so)
Magnifico-oh-oh-oh-oh!

Oh...

Everybody's near broke
in this economy
Even some rich folk
because of old Bernie
Spare us this life
from another Ponzi scheme

Easy come, easy go
Should we let this go?

Expletive!
No, we will not let this go (Let it go)!
Expletive!
We will not let this go (Let it go)!
Expletive!
We will not let this go (Let it go)!
Will not let this go (Let it go)
Will not let this go (we'll never let this go-go-go-go-go...)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no

Obama please, Obama please
Obama please let us go)!

Oh, Barney Frank has said
a bank loan's set aside
for me, for me, for
....meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

So you think you can tax me
then spit in my eye
Do you think you can screw me
and I'll never cry?

Obama! can't let them do this, 'Bama!
I just wanna make do; just wanna make do, not get rich!

All that really matters
Congress says shall be:
And all that really matters
is all this crap that happens....

...to me!

I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart that my parents are not like Kaustab’s, in fact on the contrary, they’ve been right there, by my side whenever I’ve needed their support or guidance. This however is a criticism of inevitable coming of age problems that an adolescent faces, in one form or the other and sometimes like in Kautab’s case, how they’re compounded by their demanding parents, and how so often these wobbles turn out to be the cornerstones of their success.

“Dear Mum,

I’m going through a major crisis here. I’m almost as sure about failing my 9^th Standard Maths finals as I am of being a complete idiot. So you can guess the dire straits. Dad has still not returned from his trip abroad for the conference, and there’s nobody to comfort me. I don’t know what to do with my life, not even sure whether it’s any good living anymore. The silver lining is that our school has a provision for allowing grace in any one of the subjects for students excelling in sports. My display in the interschool football championships, therefore, I feel, is my last resort. But for that I will have to make sure I’m influential enough to draw the attention of our faculty and persuade them to enact this provision.

I know you guys are in absolutely against seeing me take up the game on a professional basis as that would compromise my academic progress and all, but the irony is that just at the moment, this tournament is apparently the only way of salvaging my academics.

I know I’m going to get some stick for the appalling show in the examinations once both of you reach home and settle down, but before that I’d need all the emotional support that I can get going into the first match which is day after tomorrow. It’ll be a real lift if you can manage to make it to the ground to cheer me up. Have also warned Aman about the consequences if he doesn’t make it, so please give him a lift on your way.

I promise that I’ll do my best to improve on my studies. In fact I’ll start right after this tournament and will make sure that football doesn’t hamper my studies any longer. Am pretty sorry at being a source of constant embarrassment for you guys. Hope you can forgive me

Signing off

Kaustab”

Kaustab was an only child of a well to do Bengali Indian family, born and raised in Calcutta. His parents were typical exponents of the upper middle strata of the Indian society. Father, Arindab Chatterjee was a real perfectionist, manager at an MNC’s Indian subsidiary. He was all too busy with his office and often carried his job into his personal life both through work and the overall professionalism and attitude, hardly sparing a second of thought for his son. When free though, he used to watch football on the television as a stress buster, a habit picked up by his son. Though, in Kasutab’s case, it ended up becoming a hell lot more important than just being a stress buster that’s for sure. His mother, Pratima was a qualified teacher but aside that, she also engaged herself in active participation for NGOs, organisations for social work. She was a proud woman of firm ethics, an assertive altruist who held helping homeless kids above all her duties but ironically was guilty of ignoring the lonely kid in her own home.

Aman was a classmate and best friend of Kasutab. As a matter of fact, he also was the brightest student of the class, but quite awfully inept at sports, therefore complementing Kasutab pretty well. Without further ado, lets fast forward to the events which were about to unfold, which would take one and all by the scruff of their necks and make them go through an emotional roller coaster so that they would never be the same again.

Pratima was away on some NGO’s assignment, though in the vicinity of Calcutta, and well within reach to pop round to her son’s school for the football match. However, this email never reached her cause she had mistakenly provided an incorrect work email id to her son, due to carelessness or preoccupation, its hard to say. So, its needless to say that neither Pratima nor Aman who had been instructed to wait right outside his house by Kaustab could make it to the school for the match.

Kaustab’s much anticipated tournament, to his horror turned out to be bitter as worm wood. In the opening exchanges of the match, Kaustab, who played as a winger was the victim of a lunging challenge by a defender while on a forward run. Though unintentional from the defender who felt shattered himself afterwards, this challenge tore Kaustab’s favourite left foot apart. While he was still treated by physios at the ground, players and audience alike were horrified by the sight of his affected foot floating like a disjointed plastic toy. Seeing the extent of injury, he was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, Mr. Agnihotri, the English teacher, who was one of the very few in the faculty who got along really well with Kasutab leading the way. Their football coach was left startled but had to stay on the field and get on with the match.

The doctors had to go for an emergency surgery to minimise the damage caused and ensure that he didn’t end up being crippled for life. When Kaustab regained consciousness, he could overhear his parents absolutely furious at him firstly for compromising his studies for the sake of football, and secondly to top that, sustaining an injury that could’ve potentially crippled him for life while taking part in a football tournament. They were also having a go at each other for not taking care of their responsibilities. Their rebukes at each other and common ones at their son were cut short though by the doctor, who came in with the first post operative test reports.

“I’ve a good news and a bad news. The good news is that your son will be able to walk again, it’ll take time, but he’ll eventually start walking without crutches. The bad news is that he’ll never be able to run again at the speed he used to, and it’d be best if he refrained from playing demanding sports like football”

“Thanks doc, thanks a lot for your help” replied Arindab

Then he turned to his wife with the beginning of a smile on his face and said

“I know its pretty sick to say this, but I think that in a way, its a couple of good news. Football won’t come in the way of his success now.”

Pratima was still lost in deep thought about the implications of doc’s prognosis and couldn’t join in on Arindab’s positive outlook towards the horrible injury to their son.

In the meantime, Kaustab who had been all ears ever since waking up had lost the plot completely. He was beside himself in anger, aimed both at his fate and parents who had apparently already started rejoicing about his inability to do the only thing he loved doing in his life, playing football, the only thing he held dear in a world which was otherwise so full of disappointments.

As he rose into a sitting position in fury, his eyes were fixed on a box of sleeping pills on the table just by his bed side in the patient room. He cried aloud both out of disgust and anger for his parents as a rush of blood passed him

“Here’s to death. That’ll hopefully please all”

By the time his parents could reach the room after getting alarmed by the cries, he had swallowed a handful of those pills and had almost as many in his hand. Just then, his cell phone rang, it was a call from Aman.

He stopped, thinking it’d be fitting to have a parting chat with his best friend before he bids adieu.

But it was his mother who was on the line.

“Kaustab, please come over to the City Hospital as soon as you can, Aman has attempted a suicide.”

Aman who had a single parent and held nobody dear in the world apart from his mother and best friend had somehow managed to fail in the Maths exam, quite like Kaustab himself. But Aman’s case was different; being a successful mathematician someday was his ambition in life, ever since he was just a small kid. Obviously, he was crestfallen learning that he had failed, and couldn’t take the blow retorting to a suicide to escape his misery.

But fate so had it that Aman didn’t only fail in the examination, but also in his suicide attempt which he executed by jumping from the top of his house’s roof. Hearing the news, Kaustab was stunned and in a moment of self introspection, realised his stupidity, throwing away the sleeping pills. Its quite remarkable how people learn from other people’s mistakes so easily while ignoring their own. So, one friend’s attempt at taking his own life ended persuading the other to stall similar plans of his own, ensuring that both of them survived the wobble and recuperated well, regaining near normal health eventually. Just at that time, both of them were pretty similarly injured though, only difference was that Aman had broken both his legs against Kaustab’s one.

What happened after that? Did Kaustab ever play football again, or did Aman overcome the setback and ended up becoming a mathematician, well that is not really important here. What's important is that they survived to tell the remarkable tale to others.

In '79 I was living in Irving, TX. The girlfriend of a friend dropped by with a two of her friends (thinking perhaps he'd be at my place - he wasn't). They'd come to take him to an Elvis memorial being presented over in Euless, Texas but ended up taking me instead. I write songs and play guitar, so they felt I'd appreciate getting to go (one guy with three girls - go figure).

The memorial (admission was free) was held in a public park. As you entered, each occupant of the vehicle was issued a ticket (these were chances for door prizes to be handed out at the end of the program) mine went straight into my shirt pocket.

The first half of the program involved a gospel band who performed a set comprised specifically of gospel/inspirational music Elvis had performed in life. The second half of the program was (supposed) to have been a second band who were to perform some of Elvis' Rock 'n Roll hits. Unfortunately the second band were no-shows. The promoter of the memorial apologized to the crowd (of several hundred people) spread out over the hill above the stage area.

That's when the girls who had kidnapped me to the event stood up, started pointing at me, and began hollering, "Mic knows Elvis songs! Mic knows Elvis songs!" Suffice it to say, I burned (e.g., turned) as red as a noonday sun. I had never performed publicly before in my life (I was strictly an around the pool or backyard picnic singer, entertainment for friends, fodder for social parties). Suddenly I was the center of attention, in a public forum of Elvis fish (enthusiast), whose appetite for Elvis had yet to be satiated (yep, I was new bait on the hook)! In my confusion/disbelief I could hardly decline the chance to make a total idiot of myself in front a few hundred semi-delusional fanatics, so I slowly made my way down to the platform.

The band which had played the gospel set were still there and volunteered to act as my back up band (which I gratefully accepted), though the lead guitarist confessed they didn't really know much about Elvis' rock-n-roll music but said they'd do their best to follow me. "Oh boy, great," I thought, "My public debut and the band doesn't know any of the songs!"

There I stood (barely), my knees were shaking so badly they were colliding with one another (right there onstage, for everyone to see) as I began the first song (did they think it was part of the act (?) - I wonder to this day). I made it through the first song and the applause and cheers rang out! Okay, I felt a bit more comfortable (I'd made it though the first song). Should I try another? Yes, I should (and proceeded to yodel several more Elvis tunes before deciding I'd better quit while I was ahead). It was probably the most exciting/terrifying experience of my life (to that point), but I'd managed to pull it off without wetting my breeches.

So came the time to hand out the door prizes. I have no idea now how many were given out, I was still dazed and confused by the turn of events. Somehow or another my ticket number came up second in line. I won a bright red Elvis T-shirt, with "Elvis" spelled out across the front in golden glitter (a miniature crown dotting the letter "I"). It's the only prize I've ever won and actually claimed.

Call me foolish, call me a dreamer (call me a nut) - but upon reflection of that Sunday afternoon, it all seemed very surreal (almost as if the spirit of Elvis were present, guiding the course of events as they transpired that day. I hadn't even known about the event to begin with, yet I ended up a being a main attraction. Winning a door-prize at the conclusion was the coup de grâce of the entire days events.

If you're wondering, "No, I didn't wrap the T-shirt in plastic and store it away for posterity, I wore the hell out of it for probably three years or more til it couldn't be worn any more!"

Thank you, Elvis - Wherever you are! You do indeed still live - at least in spirit!

I'm made of chrome
(boam-boam-boam-boam)
I have a dome
(boam-boam-boam-boam)
and I can pulse, vibrate,
and with some soap I foam
(boam-boam-boam-boam)

I'll make you scream
(ding-ding-ding-ding)
and maybe cream
(ding-ding-ding-ding)
I'll go just where you want
I'm every womans dream
(Ding-ding-ding-ding)

I'm always home
(boam-boam-boam-boam)
When you're alone
(boam-boam-boam-boam)
If I'm too cold just twist me right
I'll make you "Moen"
(boam-boam-boam-boam)....

           ~~~

Disclaimer: This Song-Poem is not an official endorsement of the product mentioned (but it could be)!

; D

Original © 2009 by Mic Hudson, Newsvine.com

[See "The Beach" by azsky13 (comment #26.25)]

Do you know how many characters were in the original Charlie Brown Cartoons?
Give up?
The answer is 2. Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Look closely at the faces of the characters. They are all Charlie Brown! The only differences are their hair, clothes and voice.

Joe walked ahead
of both ass and Mary
for he had quite a lot on his mind.
The carpentry trade
had been piss-poor this year,
a fact to which Romans were blind.

Yes, the taxes were due
and his wife Mary too
though inside he so wished either weren't.
He knew better than bother though
the baby's real father, so
being silent is better than burnt!

Then finally all three
(yes) ass, Mary and he
ended up at a stable in town,
where Mary dilated
so, poor Joe, he waited
for the whole birth routine to go down.

Soon the baby was born
and Joe sat forlorn
with his head in his hands as he mumbled,
with the smell of fresh sheep @!$%#
on the sole of his shoes,
"What a merry first Christmas," he grumbled!

As he stood by the manger
a crowd bustled in
some kings, some shepherds and peasants,
and though slightly disturbed
Joe was hardly perturbed
for they all brought some hellacious presents.

So, yes, the place smelt
but this cave where they dwelt
sure saved on the price of the birth,
And as the crowd petered out
he heard Mary shout,
"Without Pampers there's no peace on earth!"

Have you ever asked yourself, “What if?”

I have been doing it quite a bit lately. I wrote a little article about the books I read as a boy, and the dreams of adventure that were instilled by those books and it got me to thinking. And, as you might imagine, a lot of those thoughts begin with “What if?”

What if I had gone to college right out of High School, instead of going into the Navy? I was young, brash, and extremely undisciplined back then, but I wrote a lot more than I do now. From time to time, I actually entertained the thought of doing it professionally. Seems as if the further I progressed through my military tenure the less I wrote, and the harder it was to do so. I think the discipline and structure that was instilled in me was at odds with the creativity that was born there, and the logic and discipline won out in the end. If I had gone to college, and not gone into the Navy, would I have ended up as a novelist? A columnist in your Sunday Paper? I wonder about it.

What if I had stayed in the Navy, instead of getting out after one hitch? I fully planned on doing twenty-five years, and retiring. I had no intention of getting out. It was an odd series of events that led me to get out, and one that I did not see coming until it arrived. If I had stayed in, I would have retired 5 or 6 years ago with Max pension from the Navy. Wonder where I’d be now if I had stayed in?

What if I had not found that first job after I got out? I found my first job after the Navy by chance. Someone told me that a friend of a friend was looking for a helper, and that guy was Ex-Navy. My name got to him, and one thing led to another. Here I am, 25 years later, still in the same industry, working as an Engineer, and making a pretty good living. Where would I be if I had not gone to meet that guy, and never entered this business?

What if I had not taken that transfer back in ’89? Many of you know that I met my wife because the company I was working for transferred me to a newly acquired company, at which she worked. The company that had been acquired was in bankruptcy, and they wanted to try to bring it back to profitability, so they sent 3 or 4 of us over there to make some changes. We knew it was a one way trip, and that if the company still ended up going down, we would not be brought back as our jobs would have been back filled after we left. But we went anyway, although I thought long and hard before accepting it, and consulted with my Dad a lot about the risk that I was taking.

What if I had not kept asking my wife out? Again, some of you know that story, and it was a 5 month endeavor to get her to just go out with me.

What if I had just given up?

What if she had said “No” when I asked her to marry me?

What if my dad and I had never reconciled after those rough high school years?

What if……well, you get the picture.

I find myself looking back over the road map that my life has created, and looking at all of the cross roads that I have navigated, and realizing that just one different turn would have led me to a completely different destination. Depending on the turn, it might have been pretty close to where I am, or it might be so far from here that I would not recognize it. It is somewhat frightening sometimes, to look at it and realize that the place that I am is the result of hundreds or thousands of decisions, many of which were made on little to no thought and with little concern for the future.

I look at the extremely complex route that has led me to this waypoint, this very spot at this very time, and I think how fortunate I am, and I finally have the answer to one of my “What if”s”.

What if I knew that I would wind up right here, right now, with my wife, kids, grandkids, and the life I am leading? Would I still follow this winding and hazardous road map that brought me here? Would I bear the burdens and challenge the curves and dark corners of the path that I have followed.

And the answer is simple. “Oh, Yes. Every single step of it.”

Every night for the last two weeks, I have dreamed of the Hurtling Moons of Barsoom. I awake in the morning, still feeling the Martian dust, smelling the canned air of my pressure suit, with my heart still pounding from the battle against the Martians that I have just left.

I used to have dreams like that all the time, back when I was but a young lad. I was Innes, traveling with Abner Perry on his mole to the center of the earth, fighting the Mahar in Pellucidar. I was Bowen Tyler, braving the wilds of Caprona. I was Private Juan Rico, of Rasczak’s Roughnecks, dropping on Klendathu to fight the bugs.

Excitement. Thrills. Peril. These were my daily companions. Looking forward at life, I saw nothing but an endless adventure awaiting.

Somewhere along the line, however, I grew up. High School, the Military, marriage, kids, jobs, and everyday life all entered the picture, and somehow I never made it to Luna City, much less the outer reaches. I settled down to an ordinary life, a bit less spectacular.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my children, and have loved every single second of being a father. Loved every second individually, as they have passed. Even the hard ones. And, I have loved each minute of over two decades with my wife, and would not trade one second of it for a lifetime on Golden Rule as a single man.

But, I do dream of Golden Rule. It’s there that I meet Gwen, and she looks a lot like my wife. And at the end, while I bemoan the loss of my foot, and try to tend the wounds of my beloved Gwen, it is my wife’s lovely brown eyes that I am looking into.

I think this is my midlife crisis manifesting itself. I am reverting back to the adventure seeking boy that I was. Dreaming of the books I read and wishing for the thrill that I had when I would read them.

I do still experience it sometimes, even now. I have accompanied Jack Ryan on many harrowing adventures. There were a couple of times that I thought we weren’t going to pull through, but somehow we made it. I cannot count the number of lonely roads that I have walked down with Jack Reacher. He and I have made it through some extremely touchy situations, and I thank God that he had my back.

You know, it’s funny, but I am the only man I know who feels this way. I have talked to many of my friends, and coworkers, and they seem to have lost the hunger for adventure that we had when we were boys. I have asked them, and they all seem to be too old, or too grown up, to be interested in these things. But I am not. I still want to go look for Captain Flint’s treasure. What's funny about this is that sometimes I am Jim Hawkins, and sometimes I am Long John Silver. I am not sure what that says about me, but I am sure that it means something.

Anyway, I have been dreaming about these things lately, and I just wanted to get it off my chest. I think it might just be the winter setting in, and the realization that I am not going to be able to do any hunting this year, and fishing is pretty much over until spring. Maybe it’s just that my job is a bit of a grind, and this is my mind’s way of compensating for it. Or maybe it is a full blown mid life crisis, and I am anxious for the day in a few years when my wife and I are on our own, kids gone, and chuck it all away and hit the road.

I don’t know.

But, this weekend, I think I will stack a few cups and await Rufo. Perhaps he will show up, and we can wander the Glory Road together, he with his bow and me with The Lady Vivamus sheathed on my hip. I dream of this sometimes, too, and every single time, when I meet Star she has the deepest brown eyes I have ever seen, and I feel as if I am drowning in them.

And, sometimes, when I am feeling especially clever, I can make her laugh.

Blake Edwards, a writer and director who was hailed as a Hollywood master of screwball farces and rude comedies like "Victor/Victoria" and the "Pink Panther" movies, died Wednesday night in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 88.

TARJA TURUNEN, the exceptionally gifted singer rose to prominence as the voice and the face of Finnish outfit Nightwish.

With her unique tones and striking stage presence having played a key role in making Nightwish a major multi-platinum success, Tarja (now signed to Universal Music on an exclusive worldwide basis) is ideally placed to take her career to a whole new level, both in terms of musical ambition and personal profile; to this end, the 30-year-old - originally from the Finnish town of Kitee - has spent the past few months working on her first recordings beneath the 'Tarja' banner, making use of studios in Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Finland and on the US West Coast.

Tarja's debut single, 'I Walk Alone' (inspired by Mozart's celebrated 'Requiem'), is already receiving an enthusiastic response from fans and media alike, with the accompanying video - directed by Joern Heitmann. Other fine videos have been released from this, as well as the “What Lies Beneath...” albums.

Throughout her career, Tarja has managed to achieve that most difficult of tasks - seamlessly joining worlds that, at first glance, would appear to be poles apart; in this case, Metal & Opera. Could these two ever really stand shoulder to shoulder without one diluting the other? Well... not only did the soprano singer drive herself to achieve the perfect balance, with hits such as 'Nemo' storming the international charts, but in doing so she helped to create a style that is currently exerting a huge influence on the Rock & Metal scene in general.

And now there's 'My Winter Storm', an outing that sees Tarja adding an extra dimension to her already expansive approach, using movie soundtracks, rather than traditional rock recordings as a measure against which the atmosphere and depth of the final recordings should be judged...

"I absolutely love film scores," stresses the singer. "I wanted - no, I needed to have the emotional weight and the dense feeling of the soundtrack on this album." No compromise. No constraint.

FROM CLASSICAL structure right through to full guitar attack, 'My Winter Storm' and ‘What Lies Beneath...’ are albums conceived to show, not just those elements of Tarja that fans will already be familiar with, but brand new tangents and textures besides... is showing that Tarja - now very much writing her own rules - is as comfortable with her 'commercial' leanings as her classical ones, further enhancing her credentials as an artist you predict at your peril...

Simply, Tarja Turunen has always had the voice of an angel, a signature style that easily transcends language, location, or musical type. With 'My Winter Storm', and ‘What Lies Beneath...’you have two albums that will grab the lapels of anyone who likes their music dark of spirit, dramatic, and finely melodious. Tarja is back and she’s done it her way.

Tarja Turunen: http://www.tarja-whatliesbeneath.com/ http://www.tarjaturunen.com/ www.mywinterstorm.com

Nightwish,The Tarja Years and The Anette Olzon Years:

http://www.nightwish.com/ http://www.myspace.com/nightwish

ANETTE OLZON-Lead Vocals since 2005: http://anette-olzon.blogspot.com/ http://www.anette-olzon.com/replacing Tarja Turunen who fronted the Band from 1996-2005

This is the other half of a tempestuous, but talented relationship. Tarja was with the Band in it’s infancy in 1996 through the heady days of 2003-2005 as Nightwish achieved global fame, with honors received for it’s recordings, as well as it’s prowess as a live act. The videos below catalog times of Nightwish with Tarja, Tarja as a Solo Performer, and Nightwish since the addition of Anette Olzon.

While the parting totally shocked and even alienated some of the most die-hard fans, it is apparent that the change did everyone some good.

Taja is exploring the more classical and theatrical styles she desired, as well as proving her mettle as a writer and arranger. With her husband Marc Cobuli, she has established a now very successful debut and has followed “My Winter Storm” , but has followed it with “What Lies Beneath...”, symphonic at times, neo-classical, yet dark, rich, and edgy...Tarja, as everyone knows and loves.

Most folks were sure that Nightwish was done as a world class band. Nothing proved to be further from the truth. They, just needed to find the right face and voice to front the band, who could rise to the level of talent and drama fans had began to expect from the days of Tarja’s reign.

The auditions for the position as new lead singer ended in mid-January. All in all, the band had received and listened to more than 2,000 demos from singers from all over the world. Exciting news that was followed by the announcement of the first new live shows, scheduled to happen in the USA and Canada in October and November.

On May 24th, Nightwish introduced their new lead singer, Anette Olzon. Within minutes, the news was all over websites and news stations around the world. One day later, the first single "Eva" was released as an internet-only single. The single's entire revenue was donated to a children’s charity.

In June, the band went to Los Angeles to shoot two videos for their upcoming singles "Amaranth" and "Bye Bye Beautiful". Both were directed by the renown Finnish director Antti Jokinen, who had already worked with Nightwish for their "Nemo" video. "Amaranth" was released in August and sold gold in just two days in Finland. It made good charts positions all across Europe and went straight to the top of the single charts in Finland, Hungary and Spain.

The new album "Dark Passion Play" was released in late September and had a very successful start all across the world. It was awarded double platinum in Finland after just two days and has received four additional gold awards, so far. The album entered the charts at the top position in several countries. The world tour is booked, first shows already sold out, the new era has begun...

This really has brought positive changes for both parties. Tarja AND Nightwish are creating, in my humble opinion, even BETTER music separately, as they did together. It reminds me of my first marriage, end in a storm, but finally coming to the reality we were meant to be friends, each established in our own rights. Once that was realized, we became good friends and colleagues.

This is the story’s end I would wish for these two powerhouse talents. Think of it-a World Tour featuring BOTH Tarja and the current Nightwish, playing their new work and celebrating together their past triumphs. Now THAT would be the Concert of the Century.

Tarja 2010:

Falling Awake-HD Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_1PqsvcWhw

Until My Last Breath: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_eevJgzaWY

I Feel Immortal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-IeeDekU_c

My Little Phoenix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niWEDh6gCpU

Damned And Divine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As1sZ0sy8qE

The Kinslayer-Live in Ukraine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml_tE58NU1g

Nightwish-With Anette Olzon:

The Escapist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TndZQJtdduM

Bye Bye Beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdhXxxWREo

Whoever Brings The Night-Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwLtU-Da26s

7 Days To The Wolves-Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4F-60xRbg

Nightwish-With Tarja:

“Creek Mary’s Blood” from Dances With Wolves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33bRVPpZ6BI

Wishmaster-Live/Last Concert with Tarja: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfRkjydOTLY

Sleeping Sun-Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PmPlSC-3o8

I Wish I Had An Angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueiOqaSvHp0

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the labNot a creature was stirring, it was too dark and drab.The plans were laid by the workbench with care,In hopes that evilness soon would I share.

WINGER:

Most of us, older than 20 plus remember this band as a well-promoted Glam Rock band with a small string of ‘hits’ in the late 80's into the 90's. Then, aside from appearing in the shows of other ‘Arena Rock’ Bands, they virtually disappeared.

This year, they’ve been surprising old fans and the younger Indie fans with new music that reflects the freedom being Indie is all about. No bands music is Everyone’s cup of tea, but this band’s reincarnation is going to appeal to a very broad Global Indie audience.

Frontiers Records proudly announces the release of Winger’s fifth studio album entitled “Karma” on October 16th in Europe and October 27th in the USA.

WINGER reunited after more than a decade in 2006 for the release of the successful comeback album entitled: IV, a record that pushed the boundaries of the WINGER classic sound to new heights. It deals with the concept of the military life, what it was like to be a soldier, from a soldier’s perspective, while leaving politics at the door. “After Winger IV, we toured the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan and made a live record.” says Kip Winger. "When the chance came up to do a new Winger record, I envisioned an upbeat totally rocking record that was a cross between the 1st Winger album and Pull. So, Reb and I sat down and wrote all the music in a month or so. I worked for 6 months to finish it in the classic Winger style".

The result is an amazing new record where the four band members: Kip Winger (bass and vocals), Reb Beach (guitars now also in Whitesnake), Rod Morgenstein, and John Roth shine with incredible instrumental and vocal prowess at the service of some superb Hard Rock songs, yet with an uncanny sense of melody. The title “Karma” represents Winger completing its full musical circle. As Kip explains, "We were discussing the very interesting path the band has had and we HAVE all been through so much together. So we went for “Karma”, as this is a word that truly sums up the experience of being in the band".

The WINGER debut album in 1988 on Atlantic achieved platinum status in the United States, and gold in Japan and Canada, sporting such hits as “Madalaine”, “Seventeen”, and “Headed For A Heartbreak”. In 1990, the band was nominated for an American Music Award for “Best New Heavy Metal Band”. Shortly after, WINGER released its second album “In the Heart of the Young”, which went platinum in the U.S. and gold in Japan. The album included Winger’s biggest hit “Miles Away”, who topped at #12 on the Billboard charts in the USA. Their third and last studio album, “Pull”, produced by Mike Shipley, was recorded in 1992/93 as a three-piece band, following the original keyboard/guitar player Paul Taylor’s departure. On the following tour John Roth was called in to replace Paul Taylor.

“Usually Winger fans don’t ‘expect’ anything, because they know we do what we feel like doing artistically.” explains Kip. "It is not a commercially driven band. I can say that the songs are very upbeat." Reb Beach adds, "It’s a very up-tempo, riff driven, rocking record. It has the elements of vintage Winger from '89 but has the blood, sweat and tears of 20 years of writing, recording and touring!"

They did a live performance this year here in Iowa, with Cold Filtered, Warrant, LA Guns, Sweet, Dokken, Winger, Skid Row and Night Ranger in Blank Park. Some friends of mine, Bob and Brenda, went to the show as guests. It seems Bob had known a couple of the band members from “back in the day”.

The consensus of some of the other bands on the bill, was that Winger was not a good fit, that they were “dead weight” on the rest of the bands. Nothing proved further from the truth. As soon as Winger started playing, the venue came alive. The audience was very enthusiastic about their new edgier sound. It’s when the other bands started playing that the attendance began to wane.

Winger is back, with ferocious talent and great new songs. They’ve joined the groundswell to the freedom of expression only to be had as Independent, ‘Indie’, Musicians.

Here's Bob's take on the Concert and Winger in general, in his own words:

Following the career of Kip Winger has been really been a vindication of principles, when it comes to artistic integrity. I first met Kip when he was about 16. He dropped out of high school so he could keep playing in a band with his brothers and a close friend. After many years of paying dues, playing in every imaginable venue, Kip moved to New York to hone his songwriting skills. While living there, he also landed a short gig with Alice Cooper, doing a tour, and making important inside connections. Signing with Atlantic records, his group Winger earned top rotation honors on MTV (back when they actually showed music videos) and garnered many top Billboard hits before the 80's bubble burst. The last album released on Atlantic was "Pull" which, in many ways, gave indication as to the stellar songwriting and production capabilities that Kip had now possessed.

Not one to rest on past accomplishments, Kip quickly set up shop to start recording his next phase of musical prowess. He was releasing material from his own website even before the phrase "indie" became an industry buzzword. Always in the back of his mind was the desire to compose a classical piece of music which became a reality in 2009 when "Ghost" (movement 1 and 2) was released on Amazon.com. It was also interpreted and performed by the world renowned San Francisco Ballet.

Not done with rock Kip and Reb Beach got the band back together in 2010 and released "Winger IV" followed by "Karma". Even after all this, Kip remains the consummate entertainer. I witnessed this firsthand at a show in Des Moines this past summer, where Winger absolutely tore a hole in the fabric of the rock universe. It was the most energetic and sincere performance I think I have ever seen. If you love rock as much as I do, please get a copy of "Karma". I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Winger, Official Site: http://wingertheband.com/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wingertheband

Winger Video:

Right Up Ahead-Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gly8pv0Ykko

Generica-Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm62DXn5c1Q

Karma-Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqsUYgZ82Yo

From the hoarfrost of Father Winter's spittle
I sprang into being, fresh and alive
and rode upon the North Wind
as far as my muse would allow me to traverse.

Far and wide, I traveled with my fellows
the air a playground, we ever explored
in search of the respite due us til it came
and our death throes were violent

Valiantly at first we struggled together
in fear of the unknown, below us so vast
then silently, in the painless agony of knowing
we fell quietly to our fate.