Hey, ladies: Want to be on 'The Bachelor'?

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To all the women out there who have been watching Emily Maynard this season on "The Bachelorette" and longing to follow in her footsteps (i.e. look for love under the watchful eye of millions of Americans): Time to show casting directors for the series what you've got.
From 5-9 p.m. Thursday, the Suite nightclub in uptown's EpiCentre (210 E. Trade St.) will host open casting calls for the upcoming season of "The Bachelor" on ABC.
All applicants must be 21 years or older, and cannot be involved in a committed intimate relationship. Duh.
To get a jump start on the casting process, click here. Otherwise, just show up looking your best. Or -- if this season of "The Bachelorette" provides any insight -- maybe bring an ostrich egg. Or dress up as an old man. You never know what ABC (or the guy of your dreams) will fall for...

'Bachelorette': Goodbye Charlotte, hello narcissism

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Boy, it’s a good thing ABC moved production of “The Bachelorette” to Charlotte this season. The flight to Bermuda is a lot shorter from CLT than it is from LAX.

After what seemed to amount to a couple of nights in Emily Maynard’s hometown, where producers agreed to set up shop to accommodate their new star’s desire to minimize disruption in her 6-year-old daughter’s life, host Chris Harrison gleefully tells the 13 remaining bachelors at the beginning of Monday night’s episode: “Pack your bags because you’ll be leaving this mansion forever!”

 “Emily has already left Charlotte,” he says, and is playing croquet, flying kites and spinning around on a hilltop in paradise with Ricki, having what appears to be much more fun than she’s had with any of her suitors.

This week involves three dates:

• A one-on-one date with Doug in which they go boutique shopping, sample cakes, try perfumes, making us wonder whether he is the perfect boyfriend or a gigantic sycophant. At dinner, he tells Emily his greatest flaws are that he spends too much time with his son and won’t wash her car very often, so we are leaning heavily toward the latter. He gets a rose anyway.

• A group date involving Arie, Jef, Kalon and Ryan, who narrowly defeat Charlie, Chris, Sean and Travis in a urinating contest disguised as a sailboat race. Arie gets to make out on the beach with her, Jef doesn’t, Kalon must have articulated nothing of interest at all in Bermuda because he gets almost zero screen time, Ryan gets his share of screen time and then some while babbling platitudes about depth and good timing and communication skills (in speeches that lead us to believe he has none of the above). Emily gives Jef the rose, perhaps to keep Arie from getting too big a head.

• A two-on-one date involving a guy whose nickname is “Wolf” and a kid named Nate. Neither do much that’s memorable beyond turning their noses up at quinoa, then Emily flips a mental coin and sends Nate on his way.

The biggest trend emerging is that apparently crying is a bad omen. Charlie cries in the van on the way back to the hotel after his team’s loss (my mind reels as it tries to comprehend why); he does not get a rose and is sent home. Nate cries while telling Emily about his awesome brother (why his bro is awesome isn’t clear); he does not get a rose and is sent home. Michael cries after he is eliminated, although maybe it’s just because his ponytail is too tight.

Meanwhile, Chris – who has a superiority complex because he’s the most mature 25-year-old on the planet – gets annoyed at Doug. Doug – who has a superiority complex because he’s the only dad in the group – gets annoyed with Arie. Arie – who has a superiority complex because he’s fairly level-headed and most of the other guys are toolbags – gets annoyed at Ryan.And Ryan … well, Ryan has a superiority complex, too. Titanic-sized one. But see, he's just doing his due diligence. As he does his due diligence, Ryan says things like “I personally feel like God has blessed me in a lot of ways. I’m romantic, I’m athletic and a charming guy, all those things.”

And “I guess guys do see me at the head of the pack, a guy they have to beat out. Sometimes actually I feel sorry for them.” And “I’m a good catch, and I think that other guys see that.”

Next week, the group heads to London, where Emily gets angry at someone and tells them to “Get the ---- out.” Please, please, PLEASE let it be Ryan.

Martin Scorsese talks about Oscar nominations

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The nominees for the 2012 Academy Awards were released last Tuesday with Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” (Paramount Pictures, 2011) leading the way with 11 nominations. 
The filmmaker, who is one of the candidates running for best picture and best director, said: “I am deeply honored to have been nominated by the Academy for my work on “Hugo”. Every picture is a challenge, and this one - where I was working with 3D, HD and Sacha Baron Cohen for the first time was no exception. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you¹ve been recognized by the people in your industry. I congratulate my fellow nominees. It¹s an impressive list, and I’m in excellent company.”
“Hugo”, a kid’s adventure that pays homage to early cinema, is nominated in the following categories:
Best picture* Graham King and Martin Scorsese, producers
Best director* Martin Scorsese
Best art direction* Production design: Dante Ferretti* Set decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Best cinematography* Robert Richardson
Best costumes* Sandy Powell
Best film editing* Thelma Schoonmaker
Best original score* Howard Shore
Best sound editing* Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
Best sound mixing* Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
Best visual effects* Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
Best adapted screenplay* Guión de John Logan

James Morrison awakes for new UK & Ireland tour

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BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter James Morrison kicked off his “Awakening UK & Ireland Tour” at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin this weekend.
The Rugby musician will be playing gigs throughout the UK during February to present his third record “The Awakening” (Island), which was released last September and got the number one spot, he has topped it for the second time in his career- Morrison previously scored a number one with his 2006 debut “Undiscovered” (Universal).
The album features the single I Won’t Let You Go, which went into the UK singles chart at number 5. It also includes James’s collaboration with Jessie J, Up, released on November 27.
Tickets for the tour are now on sale from http://tickets.jamesmorrisonmusic.com.
The dates are:
FEBRUARY 2012
Wednesday 1 - Manchester O2 ApolloFriday 3 - Cambridge Corn ExchangeSaturday 4 - Southampton GuildhallMonday 6 - Leicester De Montford HallTuesday 7 - Birmingham O2 AcademyThursday 9 - London Hammersmith ApolloSunday 12 - Southend Cliff Pavilion    Monday 13 - Bristol Colston HallWednesday 15 - Glasgow O2 AcademyFriday 17 - Leeds O2 AcademySaturday 18 - Nottingham Royal CentreSunday 19 - Newcastle O2 Academy

“Beyond Magnetic” available now on CD

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Thrash metal lords Metallica released yesterday their “Beyond Magnetic” EP to celebrate their 30 anniversary in the music industry.
The album, being the first time it has been available outside of iTunes, contains four tracks recorded during the “Death Magnetic” (Warner Bros. Records, 2008) sessions but they were not included in the final album.
Fans had the opportunity to sneak a taste of the new EP through Mission Metallica, members of the Fan Club enjoyed the gift for free after the band performed the fans club shows last December at the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco and from this week everyone can get the physical copy in their hands.
“Beyond Magnetic”, which was produced by Rick Rubin, includes the following songs:
1. Hate Train2. Just A Bullet Away3. Hell And Back4. Rebel Of Babylon

Lady Antebellum to tour the UK in the Summer

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Country pop trio Lady Antebellum have announced they will be returning to the UK for a string of shows this summer as part of their “Own the Night World” tour.
The American ensemble will play headline gigs in London’s Hammersmith Apollo on July 16, Manchester Apollo on 15 and a day before in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow.
The band, which has just won ‘Best Group’ at the American Music Awards, is set to release the new single, Dancin’ Away with my Heart, on March. 
The song is taken from the band’s most recent album, “Own the Night” (Capitol Nashville, 2011), which entered the UK album charts at no. 4 in October and has sold nearly 100,000 copies in the UK to date, alongside its 1.2million US copies where it’s still in the Top 5 of the Billboard charts and featured in the Top 10 best-selling albums of 2011.
Lady Antebellum are competing against Fleet Foxes, Foo Fighters and Maroon 5 to get a Brit Award for Best International Group.
Tickets go on sale 9am on Friday priced at £27.50/£30.00 (London) and will be available from Live Nation’s website.

Sarah Darling Experience at The Lodge

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During Sunday of CMA Fest, we went to HGTV's The Lodge to see Sarah Darling...


She sounded really good and played us a few songs from a new album she is working on...here is "How Dar You"..


I think this is the first time I have ever seen Sarah Darling in person...she has a great voice and looks great which doesn't hurt!


Another song she performed..."You Don't Have to Be Lonely"..


She played a couple of covers too...here is "Blackbird"...


And "Free Fallin'"...



And finally she played her new single, "Home to Me"...


She did a really good a job and I am really excited for her to get her music out there to the fans.  She mentioned she just got a new tour bus so she may be heading to a town near you...

Randy Rogers Band/Kip Moore Concert Recap - Kansas City - 6/14

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Last week, Kansas City Power & Light District continued their Hot Country Nights series with Kip Moore and Randy Rogers Band.

First up was Kip Moore.  He is pretty hot right now and it appeared almost everyone was there when he started...


He actually did a cover of Tom Petty, "I Won't Back Down"...


The girls really like him....they were screaming all night...


He did one of the songs on his album that is really fun called "Motorcycle"....


And then finally he did his #1 hit, "Somethin' Bout a Truck..."


Then it was time for the headliner, Randy Rogers Band...


One of my favorite songs was "Buy Myself a Chance"...


I think this is a new song, a really good one "Speak of the Devil"...


And another really good one is "Lonely Too Long"....


Randy Rogers Band and Kip Moore were just awesome...it was nice to see such a large crowd for them....Kansas City really enjoys their free country concerts.

America Rocks Concert Recap - Kansas City 6/20/12

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Last night at Aftershocks in Merriam, KS, the America Rocks Tour came featuring Jack Russell's Great White, Faster Pussycat and Bulletboys.

The bill had 5 acts on the bill and I saw the very end of Lillian Axe.   I don't really remember them from back in the day.

Next up was Pretty Boy Floyd...same thing, I don't really remember them but they sounded pretty good..



After that was the Bulletboys...they sounded great and had so much energy.  They were the first band that seemed to really get the crowd going...



Here is my favorite song by them for sure, "Smooth Up in Ya"...


Next up was Faster Pussycat, they were one of my favorite bands back in the 80s.  They were with KISS on the first concert I was ever allowed to go to by myself...



They have always been such a crazy band with some pretty dirty songs, here is one of them, "Cathouse"...


For being around, I thought they sounded pretty good.  But all of the bands had trouble with the sound all night and they were all complaining about it.  I guess that happens when you have so many bands in a short amount of time.



Here is another one of the early hits, "Bathroom Wall" with a little bit of "Pretty Fucked Up" mixed in.


Finally, it was time for Jack Russell's Great White...I heard the original band and Jack White are in some sort of fight.



The only really bad thing is they were messing with the sound so long it was midnight before they came on stage.  On a Wednesday night with work the next day, I had to cut the night short.

Here is "Let's Call it Rock N Roll"



Overall, I cheap night with lots of music.  It was fun to go down memory lane and watch the guys rock out one more time...

Hunter Hayes Concert Recap - Kansas City 6/21/12

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Last night at the Kansas City Power & Light District, Hunter Hayes was the latest performer for the free Hot Country Nights concert series.

Hunter Hayes is very popular with female fans and young ones at that.  He is probably as close to the  Justin Bieber of country music that we have...


The difference is Hunter writes all his songs, can play every intrument that is on stage with him and he plays a mix of country and blues.  Even being so young, I think he has a unique sound.

Here is one of those songs, "Love Makes Me"...


So far this year for Hot Country Nights, this was probably the second most attended show way behind Eli Young Band and more than Randy Rogers Band.


Hunter has a song on the Act of Valor Soundtrack, he dedicated this one to all miltary families past and present...here is "Where We Left Off"..


Hunter seems to like many different kinds of music too, he played a really cover of "Supersticious" which never sounded better...


Hunter Hayes has a really big hit on his hands here...."Wanted"....


Hunter Hayes has a chance to be around the music scene for a long time.  He is talented and is a great performer...it was really great that he got to perform in front of such a big audience that was just there to see him...

Emerson Drive Concert Recap - Osawatomie 6/23/12

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Last night in Osawatomie, Emerson Drive performed at the John Brown Jamboree.  It is not very often I can go to a concert in the same county I live, so it was nice for it to be so close.

First up was Travis Marvin...he opens in the area all of the time.  He plays some original music and mostly covers...


He does get some radio play here with this song, "Don't Say That"...


This was my second time seeing Emerson Drive.  I saw them for free maybe three years ago in Overland Park where Eric Church was opening for them...


Here is one of the first songs they played, "Fall Into Me"...


They played a few songs where it was a meshing of two songs together, here is one of those "The Extra Mile" with "A Good Man"...


It is always to see an act like this play such a small town....I don't know why but when the concert is one of the biggest things that happens in the little town all year, it seems better.


They also played some new songs from an album that is coming out soon, here is "My Kind of Crazy"...


Here is another one of those two songs into one...it is "Only God/Everyday Woman"...


And then finally, here is "You Still Own Me"...


Overall, it was a great event.  Well organized and some great music...can't wait to see who they bring in next year...

The Madonna 2012 World Tour will stop in the UK

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The Like a Virgin singer, Madonna, has announced she will return to the UK in July to offer two headline shows in London and Edinburgh as part of her 2012 World Tour.
The blond ambition, who follows an extraordinary week which along with her Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime performance saw the release of her new single, Give Me All Your Luvin, from her highly anticipated new album “MDNA” (Live Nation/Interscope Records), is set to perform in 24 other European cities including Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Berlin.
Talking about the multi-talented star’s upcoming tour, Arthur Fogel, CEO Live Nation Entertainment Global Touring, said: “Madonna’s track record as a world class entertainer and touring artist speaks for itself.  Her artistry, talent and creative productions get bigger and better with each tour and “Madonna 2012” will be no exception.
“We are thrilled to have her back on the road and know her fans feel the same.”
The shows will kick off in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 29 and will include arenas, stadiums and special outdoor sites like the Plains of Abraham in Quebec and a return visit to South America and Australia, where she has not performed in 20 years.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday and will be available from the tour’s international promoter Live Nation’s website.
London Hyde Park’s concert will take place on Tuesday July 17 and prices go from £70 to £125, while the show in Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium will be held on Saturday July 21 and prices start from £45.
“MDNA” is scheduled to be released on March 26. 

Dr. House to perform in the UK this summer

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Comedian and musician Hugh Laurie will return to the British isles this summer with his band the Copper Bottom to perform their biggest headline shows to date.
The new dates were announced last Wednesday via Live Nation following the critical success of the intimate shows performed at the end of last year including London’s Union Chapel and the 100 Club as well as the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, where Laurie and co. presented their debut album “Lets Them Talk” (Warner Bros Records, 2011), which was released last summer.
The album garnered massive international success achieving Top 10 charts positions worldwide and was later released as a Special Edition format, which contained four new recordings and a DVD with the live performance and a documentary featuring legends such as Sir Tom Jones, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint.
The tour will include gigs at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on June 29, The Lowry in Salford on July 1 and London’s Hammersmith Apollo a day after.
Tickets are priced at £35 and £40 for London (subject to booking fee) and are available from Live Nation’s website.

Kanye West and Jay-Z to conquer European territory with ‘Watch the Throne’ tour

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 .
Grammy awarded hip hop duo Kanye West and Jay-Z announced on Tuesday they will bring the ‘Watch the Throne’ tour to Europe in 2012.The longtime friends and rappers who joined their extraordinary talents to form the group The Throne will visit arenas in the UK -including gigs in London, Manchester and Birmingham-, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany and Ireland to present their first album together “Watch The Throne” (Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam), which was released on August 8 last year.
The record debuted at number one and features production from The RZA, The Neptunes and Kanye’s longtime collaborator Mike Dean.

The short list of featured vocals includes Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Curtis Mayfield and Mr. Hudson and the lead track, Otis, weaves Otis Redding’s Try A Little Tenderness.

Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday priced at £60.00/£49.50/£39.50 for London’s concert and £55.00/£47.50 for regional shows and will be available from Live Nation’s website.
‘Watch the Throne’ European 2012 tour dates:MaySunday 20 - O2 Arena London
Monday 21 – O2 Arena London
Tuesday 22 - O2 Arena London
Thursday 24 - Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Saturday - 26 Herning Arena, Denmark
Monday -28 Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
Tuesday 29 - Stockholm The Globe, Sweden

JuneFriday 1 - Paris Bercy, France
Saturday 2 - Paris Bercy, France
Sunday 3 - Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
Tuesday 5 - Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
Friday 8 - Dublin O2 Arena, Ireland
Monday 11 - Manchester Arena
Tuesday 12 - Manchester Arena
Wednesday 13 - Birmingham LG Arena

Corvette Summer 2009

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The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most celebrated automobiles to roll off America's assembly lines. An instant classic the moment it is made, enthusiasts from all over the world as well as in Hawaii love to showcase their 'Vettes. I was lucky enough to catch such a show in Waikiki earlier this month. Here are pictures of dozens of Hawaii's coolest Corvettes around. Enjoy!

• Corvette Summer 2009 Photos @ Flickr.com
  

This Year's Aloha Festivals Parade

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Honolulu's 63rd Annual Aloha Festivals Parade rolled down the street from Ala Moana Park to Waikiki today. The colorful parade featured a variety of marching bands, beauty queens, floral floats, Pa'u riders on horseback, flags, banners, people lining the roadway, sunshine, heat, a politician or two, and an occasional drizzle. The parade lasted for more than 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Photos in this presentation were taken with a Minolta XD-11 35mm camera using Kodak film which was scanned to a CD. The JPG images processed with Apple's iPhoto software on a MacBook Pro laptop computer. Mac OSX 10.5.8

• Aloha Festivals Parade Photos on Flickr

NAS Graduation

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On Friday, there was no instruction or exams! That meant I finished my Spring quarter and my last quarter of my academic life. Wow!

Also, on Friday, I participated in the Native American Studies (NAS) graduation. The graduation is for Native people, as well as major and minors. I'm a Native American Studies minor and I actually finished it last quarter. The ceremony was held at the Student Community Center. A lot of people showed up to support to their fellow graduates. My sister and brother showed up!


The ceremony started at 11:30. Actually, I guess it didn't start at that time. But, that was when people began to arrive. The ceremony began around 12pm, then it was opened up by song and speeches. Then, there was a break to get food.


I was given a feather, a pouch, a bracelet, and a sash (not shown above). I was very happy to receive the gifts! The native students received blankets and I think it matched with which tribe they were in. I think all the gifts were great.
Afterwards, we gathered back for student acknowledgements. Each student came up and was allowed to give a speech. There was about 15 students participating the ceremony. There were people who gave moving speeches. Mines was about 2 minutes, which was pretty short. I didn't want to cry, so I kept it short.


I'm glad that my two siblings came to support me! I have on my three sashes in this photo! The only one I'm still waiting to get is the one from SEA grad on Sunday.

My Commencement

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It's been a long four years and I finally went through commencement! Why, it's just so hard to believe! I had NAS graduation yesterday, commencement at 9am today, and SEA grad tomorrow. Then it is up to me to find out what I want to do and look for opportunities!


I received an alumni pin after walking the stage. I just love pins. No matter where I get them from.


The brochures that were given to my family when they came in the pavilion. I also received one along with my program book.


The three sashes that I wore during the ceremony.


A sticker I was given when picking up the guest tickets!


I was given this when I was walking on the stage. It isn't the diploma since they don't pass it out until January.


The program book! If you look inside, you will find my name under Asian American Studies and History.


Me and my family (minus my dad) after the ceremony. I met with some friends and family afterwards. I was also given a flower by one of my friends!

Oh, and another thing. Some people had flower necklaces and I wondered how they gotten them. I realized that they were available to purchase, along with flowers around the ARC. 

I can hardly believe that all this is really happening. I'm really grateful. And, commencement is just one big part of my life, as there is so much more I still have not done yet!

SEA Grad

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Southeast Asians (SEA) grad was yesterday during the evening. The ceremony is to acknowledge the Southeast Asian community, especially those who were affected by the Vietnam war. Although I do not consider myself as Southeast Asian, I know that my parents were affected by the Vietnam was, so I was too. There were about 40 participants. Most of them were Hmong, Vietnamese, Laos, or Cambodian, and a few Chinese as well.


When I arrived, I signed in for my guests. I also received a program booklet. I'm the first person that is listed in the program. It has a picture of me and a biography that I wrote. It also included one of my quotes that I find inspirational and it's a quote by Booker T. Washington, which has to do with success due to overcoming obstacles, which I felt I have done and will continue to need to do.


l also received another sash when I arrived. I really like this sash! I think it is so pretty!


After the speakers, awards, and performances, it was finally time for the graduates to make a one minute speech. I think everyone thanked people in their lives. Some included a list of people they wanted to include. Others mentioned a quote. The person before me made a speech and was tearing up when she made it. I thought I might tear too, but I actually was excited to make the speech when I got there! When I made my speech, I thanked friends and family and I also said that I appreciated obstacles because without it I wouldn't have grown or have made graduating college an accomplishment. After making the speech, I walked over and got my certificate, cup, and took a picture.


After all the graduates had their speeches, the graduates move their tassels from rights to left. Also, while we waited my baby sister came up and gave me flowers! Then, the graduates started to dance in front of the stage! It was suppose to be a flash mob or something the audience did not know was going to happen. We all graduated and it was time to celebrate.

Jim Hanft Releases 'Weddings or Funerals'

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Makes you wonder how difficult the music industry has become when it takes an American folk artist to be discovered by a Swedish record producer. That's what happened to Jim Hanft when Veranda Records owner, Petra Marten, attended a show in NYC. a short while later she offered Hanft a record deal and it was off to Stockholm with musical partner Samantha Yonack to record some music. Twelve of the twenty songs recorded made it into his new CD, Weddings or Funerals which was officially released today.

I received a Soundcloud link to the release a few weeks back and have been listening to it quite regularly when online. And actually had it piped through speakers playing in our condo last week during vacation. Got to like unlimited broadband. These are real songs, honest songwriting recorded with minimalist production. Just Hanft, his acoustic guitar, harmonica, and supporting vocals from Yonack. Their duo in "Lazy Love" showcase her vocal abilities. "Run My Love" and "Alternate Route" are my favorite tracks; each with Yonack's soft backing and Americana at its heart. The later really reminds me of James Hyland from the old South Austin Jug Band. Check this CD out.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Everybody's Talkin' about the new CD

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We received this interesting press release regrading Tedeschi Trucks Band that we want to pass along. Makes us rethink our decision to skip MerleFest this year.

New York, NY (April 16, 2012) – On May 22, Tedeschi Trucks Band will release Everybody's Talkin', their sophomore album in their second full year as a band. The uplifting, energy-packed double-disc set by the 11-piece ensemble led by husband-wife team Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi that recently marked their first anniversary with a Grammy win for their debut album Revelator. TTB (as their fans know them) shows off a stunning rate of musical progress on Everybody’s Talkin’, eleven tracks selected from a year’s worth of concerts from around the globe plus one new track (“Nobody’s Free”). The performances—a hearty blend of originals and spirited covers of rock, R&B and even gospel classics—capture the group’s roots-rich musical mix, laced with Truck’s signature slide-guitar sound and fronted by Tedeschi’s pliant, honey-to-husky voice (as well as her own gritty guitar-work). The collection also includes all of the joyful, spontaneous energy that has helped TTB build a growing circle of fans and earned them an unprecedented string of triumphs in just the past few months.

TTB have lined up some special treats for fans who pre-order their copy of Everybody's Talkin'. All pre-order customers will receive a bonus downloadable live track of one of TTB's explosive encores, a medley of two Sly & The Family Stone songs, "Simple Song>Take You Higher." It's a perfect complement to Everybody's Talkin', and it's only available for pre-order customers. The band is also giving away a prize package to one lucky pre-order customer that includes a pair of tickets to any TTB concert after June 15th during their 2012 tour, a special meet-and-greet with Derek and Susan, and a Gibson SG Special guitar autographed by Derek and Susan. Five second-prize winners will receive a signed vinyl copy of Everybody's Talkin'. For sweepstakes details and complete official rules, click here.


Pre-order Everybody's Talkin' from the TTB Store



Besides the Grammy for Best Blues Album of the Year in February, Trucks himself, along with TTB bandmate Oteil Burbridge, were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their membership in The Allman Brothers Band. In March, Tedeschi and Trucks were invited to perform at the White House with B.B, King, Buddy Guy, and yes, President Barack Obama himself (who sang a verse of “Sweet Home Chicago”). A week later, they appeared at the Apollo Theater, joining Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and a host of guitar heavyweights in an all-star tribute to bluesman Hubert Sumlin. On April 30th Tedeschi and Trucks will perform at the United Nations General Assembly in New York at a concert to celebrate International Jazz Day. Other featured performers include: Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Wynton Marsalis and others.

“I really never imagined it would have turned out quite like this, especially the last few months. The momentum picked up and it just really started rolling—everything kind of happened at once,” says Trucks, who maintains that his focus, and that of TTB have remained steadfast on the music itself. “As over the top as a lot of that stuff is, the one thing I notice is, it doesn’t really feel any different than being on the road and having successful shows. The way the band took shape musically around the time that we decided to record a live record was pretty exciting.”

True to its intent, the tracks on Everybody’s Talkin’ flow one into the next with the collective spirit and lift of a typical TTB concert—raising the roof with a Saturday night sense of abandon, and gently concluding with a Sunday morning spiritual. Featured are versions of tunes from Revelator that are already crowd favorites—“Bound For Glory”, “Love Has Something Else To Say”—some with added details, like the fresh horn part that pushes “Learn How To Love” a notch higher than the studio original, or the tasteful, quotes of “Swamp Raga” and “Little Martha” on slide-guitar that set the stage for “Midnight in Harlem”. Other songs portray the group’s abiding affection for a truly wide range of soulful and gritty forebears, including Stevie Wonder (“Uptight”), Elmore James (“Rollin’ And Tumblin’”), Bill Withers (“Kissing My Love”), Joe Cocker (“Darling Be Home Soon”), Bobby Bland (“That Did It”), Harry Nilsson (“Everybody’s Talkin’”) and the traditional gospel (“Wade In The Water”).

Beyond the song list, the most attention-grabbing aspect of Everybody’s Talkin’ is the marked progress of the group itself, as this past year has seen TTB develop at a jaw-dropping rate into a fully mature ensemble. What was at the outset a powerful lineup of players that drew its power from a rich brew of roots music—blues, gospel, soul, and rock— has matured like a fine wine. Tedeschi’s vocals and Truck’s guitar-work are front-and-center as in the beginning, yet have become more intuitively intertwined. Tedeschi’s own guitar-playing is more strident and assured. TTB’s ace rhythm section works together with a deeper sense of funk, and a more liberated jazz feel. As an ensemble, they build a song from a tender whisper to a soul-rending scream, and often extend the close of a well-chosen R&B number into a thrilling, open-ended jam. Onstage, they exhibit interplay on the level of a group with years of experience together, improvising with almost telepathic link between all the musicians.

As Everbody’s Talkin’ is assuredly a group album, so TTB stands as a true musical collective, as opposed to the standard lineup of bandleader-with-backup. It helps that the eleven-member ensemble is one overflowing with talent and musical familiarity: besides Tedeschi and Trucks who are married and have two children, Mike Mattison (former lead singer with the DTB) and Mark Rivers handle harmony vocals, while brothers Oteil Burbridge (longtime member of The Allman Brothers Band) and Kofi Burbridge (another DTB member) play bass, and keyboards and flute, respectively. The lineup also includes a pair of drummers—J. J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell—and a horn-section with trumpeter Maurice Brown, tenor saxophonist Kebbi Williams, and trombonist Saunders Sermons (Sermons will also step forward for a vocal feature now and again, as he does on “Kissing My Love”).

The Tedeschi Trucks band is heading on the road hitting summer festivals and theaters as well as a special run of performances with the legendary B.B. King. More info and a full list of tour dates can be found here.

EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’ Tracklisting:

Disc One:
1. Everybody’s Talkin’ (Live)
2. Midnight In Harlem (Swamp Raga intro with Little Martha) (Live)
3. Learn How to Love (Live)
4. Bound For Glory (Live)
5. Rollin' and Tumblin' (Live)
6. Nobody's Free (Live) *
7. Darling Be Home Soon (Live)
Disc Two:
1. That Did It (Live)
2. Uptight (Live)
3. Love Has Something Else To Say (with Kissing My Love) (Live)
4. Wade in the Water (Live)
* New Track


TTB TOUR DATES
April 20 – Live Oak, FL – Wanee Music Festival
April 25 – Charlottesville, VA – nTelos Pavilion w/ Sam Bush
April 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
April 28 – Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest
April 29 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium – SOLD OUT (limited tix at box office)
May 19 – Annapolis, MD – Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival
May 27 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival
May 30 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre
June 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
June 2 – Elmer, NJ – Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival
June 3 – Hunter, NY – Mountain Jam
June 15 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
June 16 – Jacksonville, OR – Brittfest
June 17 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
June 24 – Apple Valley, MN – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater
June 25 – Apple Valley, MN – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater
June 27 – Madison, WI – Overture Center for the Arts
June 29 – Toronto Jazz Festival
July 6 – Winnipeg, MB – Winnepeg Folk Festival
July 7 – Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Blues Festival
July 18 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
Aug 5 – Newport, RI – Newport Jazz Festival
Aug 11 – Scranton, PA – The Peach Music Festival
Aug 28 – Brand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre w/ B.B. King
Aug 30 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ B.B. King
Sept 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre w/ B.B. King
Sept 2 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint w/ B.B. King
Sept 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl w/ B.B. King
Sept 9 – Valley Center, CA – Harrah’s Casino w/ B.B. King
Sept 20 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Sept 21 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Oct 27 – San Juan, PR – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

www.TedeschiTrucksBand.com

# # #

Jeff Kilgour - Passionate Digital
jeff@passionatedigital.com
Mobile: 917-678-4420

twitter.com/passionatehq
http://www.passionatedigital.com

'Hunger Games' fans: District 12 is for sale

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If you're going through "Hunger Games" withdrawal now that you've read the trilogy multiple times and seen the movie version over and over, there's a unique way to tide you over till the second movie comes out in November 2013. All you need is about a million bucks (give or take).

The Henry River Mill Village property in Hildebran, which stood in for "District 12" in LionsGate's post-apocalyptic film this spring, will be sold via sealed bids this summer through the auction house Profiles in History. Estimated value? More than $1.2 million.

The 72-acre abandoned mill town, home of fictional spots like the Hob and the area known as the Seam, will be featured on the Syfy channel's "Hollywood Treasure" series at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5. According to a press release, "Viewers will be able to watch (Profiles in History owner) Joe (Maddalena) and his team visiting 'District 12' ... as Joe is able to get the owner toentrust him to sell this 'collectors dream.'"


“The Hunger Games,” which was filmed entirely in North Carolina, is based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling book series about a girl who volunteers to take her sister’s place in a televised death match against other children. The film, which starred Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, was a box-office smash, earning more than $635 million worldwide to date. The property exists exactly as it is seen in the film, from the bakeryowned by Peeta Mellark's family to the house where Katniss Everdeen andher sister Prim lived.

If you're interested, just make sure to raise the cash fast: The bidding deadline is July 31, 2012. May the odds be ever in your favor ... since we're assuming most of you would have to win the Powerball to afford this piece of movie memorabilia.

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

Mint Museum on next episode of 'Bachelorette'

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Charlotte was all over last Monday's episode of "The Bachelorette," which this year moved here to accommodate Emily Maynard and her 6-year-old daughter, Ricki.
She and one of her dates were featured dining at Osso Restaurant & Lounge at the NC Music Factory, then dancing on the venue's outdoor plaza (as country band Gloriana played). Later in the episode, she and several of her suitors attended a fundraiser starring the Muppets at Booth Playhouse in uptown Charlotte.
Next week, the Mint Museum Uptown gets a big moment in the spotlight.  Maynard and one of the bachelors vying for her heart will scale the exterior of the five-story building using harnesses, rigging and climbing ropes, then dine on the rooftop -- an area normally off-limits to the public. After dinner, they strolled down the middle of Tryon Street and were serenaded by country artist Luke Bryan and his band at the closed-down intersection of Trade and Tryon.

According to a Mint Museum press release, filming for "The Bachelorette" "involved a lengthy cooperative process between the Mint, the city of Charlotte, Wells Fargo, and 'The Bachelorette's' producers. The museum has been a favorite target of location scouts in recent months, with other television series and independent films also shooting scenes at the Mint."
The Mint's moment on "The Bachelorette" will air at 8 p.m. Monday on ABC.

Justin Bieber tickets on sale Saturday

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It seems too early to be making plans for 2013 already, but if you're a Justin Bieber fan, and you're hoping to see him perform in Charlotte next January, this is the weekend to start making your plans.

Tickets for Bieber's "Believe Tour" -- which stops at Time Warner Cable Arena on Jan. 22 -- go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Wal-Mart stores), and charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

A few things to note about the show:

Carly Rae Jepsen is scheduled to open. She's got the biggest hit of the spring to her credit right now -- "Call Me Maybe." Once it gets stuck in your head, you can't get it out of there for days.

It's a school night (Jan. 22 is a Tuesday), so kids, plan to be up past your regular bedtime.

Also, tickets are $82.15 for upper level seats and $99.05 for lower level and floor seats, if you're wondering how significantly his concert is going to break your piggy bank. 

If you are a truly hardcore Bieber fan (and most are -- people either love him or hate him), you can go for the Justin Bieber VIP Meet & Greet Experience. Cost is $425, includes a premium reserved seat, exclusive Bieber merchandise, a souvenir program or photobook, the meet and greet, a photo opportunity with Justin, and an autographed vinyl copy of his new album. Not his phone number, though. Sorry, girls.