Friday, December 5, 2008

UP FOR GRAMMYS


In case you didn't see the list of Grammy nominations that were announced on Wednesday night, here are a few of em...

Album of the year
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Year of the Gentleman - Ne-Yo
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows - Raidohead
Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne

Song of the year
American Boy - Estelle featruing Kany West
Chasing Pavements - Adele
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Love Song - Sara Bareilles
Viva La Vida - Coldplay

Record of the Year
Chasing Pavements - Adele
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Paper Planes - M.I.A
Please Read the Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best new artist
Adele
Duffy
Leona Lewis
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Best female vocal
Adele - Chasing Pavements
Sara Bareilles - Love Song
Duffy - Mercy
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
Pink - So What

Best male vocal
Kid Rock - All Summer Long
John Mayer - Say
Paul McCartney - That Was Me
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Ne-Yo - Closer
James Taylor - Wichita Lineman

Rock album
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Rock N Roll Jesus - Kid Rock
Only By the Night - Kings of Leon
Death Magnetic - Metallica
Consolers of the Lonely - The Raconteurs

HOSE HOSE HOSE

The Hose were out and I'm not talking the girls from the strip club that recently burned in Hollywood. A fire engulfed the Body Shop, the landmark strip club that was featured in the 'Girls, Girls Girls' video by Motley Crue.



The fire broke out Thursday morning around 6:30AM. The Body Shop, which opened its doors in the '60s, was a mainstay of glam rockers during hair metal's glory days in the '80s.

IT'S COMING...

The Coachella 2009 dates have been announced!

Keep checking back for this years list of performers!

COMES WITH MUSIC

Nokia announced the debut of its pioneering Comes with Music digital entertainment service, which offers consumers a new way to discover and enjoy music. Customers who buy a Comes With Music device will be able to explore and enjoy a diverse catalog of music of international and local artists with unlimited access to millions of tracks for a year, keeping the music once the year is over and revolutionizing their digital music experience.

"
Comes With Music sets a precedent for consumer value and convenience that the rest of the digital entertainment industry is already copying," said Tero Ojanperä, executive vice president and head of the Nokia entertainment and communities business. "Trying out a music recommendation is spontaneous as customers can download without worrying about the cost of an album or a track - the freedom and simplicity of the service is unparalleled. And Comes With Music gives you unlimited access to the millions of tracks in the Nokia Music Store and the music is all yours to keep - because it's not a revolution unless you get to keep your music."

Comes With Music
offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue and customers can keep all the music that they have downloaded at the end of the year to continue enjoying their music collection. Comes With Music will be available across a range of Nokia devices, including the new Nokia 5800 XpressMusic - also announced today and the Nokia N95 8GB and Nokia 5310 XpressMusic. With more than 10 million units sold globally since its introduction last year, the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic is the best selling music phone in the world.

EMI Music has joined as the latest major label to support
Comes With Music.

"With the launch of Nokia's
Comes With Music, fans now have a new avenue to find and enjoy music from EMI's catalogue, and our artists have a powerful new way to reach their fans," said Douglas Merrill, president, digital business, for EMI Music. "By encouraging music discovery in an innovative and consumer-friendly environment, Comes With Music will continue to push experimentation in the digital music industry."

Comes With Music will also feature a tremendous selection of independent music, courtesy of deals with The Orchard (NASD: ORCD), Beggars Group, IODA, the Ministry of Sound, PIAS and Pinnacle. These companies join Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group in supporting Comes With Music. Nokia has also secured music publishing rights from CELAS on behalf of EMI Music Publishing, GEMA on behalf of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, SACEM on behalf of Universal Music Publishing, as well as the MCPS-PRS Alliance.

The United Kingdom will be the first market to offer
Comes With Music with sales starting now and the United States sales are planned for 2009. The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic Comes With Music edition is expected to cost GBP 129.95 and people can pre-register their orders for Comes With Music devices from Carphone Warehouse at http://www.carphonewarehouse.com.

http://www.nokia.com/comeswithmusic

Thursday, December 4, 2008

TICKLE THE IVORY


Game With Fame: Thriving Ivory

Check out this video on the band's love of gaming and NHL 09: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GTnOOP6Y8

If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Thriving Ivory, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (2:30 P.M.) the Game with Fame session starts on Monday, December 8, 3:00 P.M. ET.

* Thriving GWF

Thriving Ivory is a California rock quintet consisting of Clayton Stroope (vocals), Scott Jason (keyboards), Drew Cribley (guitar), Bret Cohune (bass), and Paul Niedermier (drums). Their self-titled debut album just released earlier this year on Wind-up Records, and its signature song, "Angels on the Moon," is getting significant airplay from rock music stations. The album's personal and deeply felt emotional music has a strong appeal to fans everywhere. Song writer and keyboardist Jason says, "We want our songs to be something that will stand the test of time." That shouldn't be a problem.

Be sure to visit Thriving Ivory's Music Showcase page:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/musicshowcase/thrivingivory/default.htm

If you get a chance to play with Thriving Ivory, Xbox wants to hear about it! Send an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: "GWF - Thriving." Be sure to include your Gamertag and hometown.


Date: Monday, December 8, 2008

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST (Noon - 2:00 p.m. PST)

Game: NHL 09

Gamertags: Thriving GWF

Link: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2008/1208-thrivingivory.htm

New Xbox Experience:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/nxe

WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO - RACHAEL YAMAGATA



'Faster' is the latest single/video for Rachael Yamagata. I didn't get the chance to see her live on the Hotel Cafe Tour last month, but I'm hoping she will be back around soon!

SAVING ABEL TO OPEN FOR NICKELBACK

Yesterday we brought you an EXLUSIVE Wal-Mart Soundcheck with Nickelback, and now we find out who is hitting the road with the band.



Saving Abel Will Join Seether As Openers On Live Nation Produced
Tour Kicking Off February 25th In Nashville, TN

#1 Rock Hit "Addicted" Now Top 10 At Top 40 Radio

"Addicted" Approaching Platinum With Over 800,000 Digital Single Sales


(New York, NY - Dec. 3, 2008) - Breakout rock band Saving Abel will Join Seether as openers for Nickelback on their North American tour beginning February 25th in Nashville, TN (full schedule below). Saving Abel's largest outing to date will hit arenas in over 30 cities across the continent. Tickets go on sale beginning Dec. 5th at www.LiveNation.com.

"We're thrilled to be opening for Nickelback. It's crazy, a year ago we were playing small bars and clubs around Memphis and now we're touring the country in a bus and will be playing with one of the biggest touring rock bands in arenas," said Saving Abel frontman Jared Weeks.

Saving Abel have been on the road non-stop since the March, 2008 release of their self titled debut from Virgin records and have played with rock heavy weights such as Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, Puddle of Mudd and Shinedown. The band has enjoyed impressive success with their chart-topping, multi-format smash debut single "Addicted," which hit #1 at mainstream rock radio, spent 11 consecutive weeks at #2 on the active rock chart and reached #7 at alternative radio. At press time, the track is the most played song of 2008 at the active rock format. "Addicted" found a whole new life in July when it impacted Top 40 radio. The run away hit is now sitting in the top 10 at the format and is top 15 at Hot AC. While "Addicted" is topping the pop charts, Saving Abel's second single "18 Days," a huge rock ballad dedicated to the troops, is heating up at rock radio where it is already top 10 at active rock and top 20 at alternative radio. Videos for both tracks have witnessed major play across all video channels including MTV2, VH1, Fuse and Music Choice where "Addicted" is currently the #1 played video an their "Hit List" channel.

Saving Abel continues to reach new heights on the sales charts as well. The album spent 3 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart before debuting on the Billboard 200 in July. It has sold over 240,000 copies to date. "Addicted" hit #20 on the digital singles chart and is approaching platinum success with over 800,000 singles sold thus far.

Saving Abel - named after the Biblical sibling of Cain - was formed by Jared Weeks and guitarist Jason Null in 2004 in their hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. Now based in Memphis, Tennessee, the band's lineup includes guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor and drummer Blake Dixon. Combining influences of southern rock, hard rock and alternative music, the band was first heard on a 2005 EP, produced by Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed).

For more info on Saving Abel, visit www.myspace.com/savingabel or http://www.savingabel.com/



Saving Abel on Tour

Radio Shows:
Dec-6 W. Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre (WPBZ radio show)
Dec-7 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheater (WSUN radio show)
Dec-15 Richmond, VA Toad's Place (WRXL xmas radio show)
Dec-17 Chicago, IL House of Blues (Q101 xmas radio show)

Headline Shows:
Dec-10 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafe
Dec-11 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
Dec-12 Portland, ME The Station
Dec-13 Townson, MD Recher Theater
Dec-18 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Dec-19 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
Dec-20 Indianapolis, MN The Vogue
Dec-27 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theatre
Dec-31 Jackson, MI Michigan Theatre
Jan-2 Traverse City, MI Streeters

Saving Abel with Seether and Nickelback
Feb-25 Nashville, TN Sommet Center
Feb-27 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
Feb-28 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Mar-02 Toronto,ON Air Canada Centre
Mar-03 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum
Mar-05 Worcester, MA DSU Center
Mar-06 E. Rutherford, NJ IZOD Center
Mar-08 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Mar-09 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Mar-11 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
Mar-12 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
Mar-14 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
Mar-15 Moline, IL i Wireless Center
Mar-17 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
Mar-18 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
Apr-01 Edmonton, AL Rexall Centre
Apr-02 Calgary, AL Pengrowth Saddledome
Apr-04 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre
Apr-05 Winnipeg, MT MTS Centre
Apr-07 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Apr-08 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Apr-10 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Apr-13 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center
Apr-14 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Apr-16 Houston Toyota Center
Apr-17 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
Apr-19 Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena
Apr-22 Jacksonville, FL Veterans Memorial Arena
Apr-23 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

MAKE IT A BLOCKBUSTER NIGHT!


This is exciting news!

Blockbuster Inc said it has struck a deal to sell tickets for top U.S. concert producer Live Nation, a tie-up that it expects to drive more traffic to its stores and Live Nation hopes will quell consumer ire over rising ticket prices and uneven availability.

The three-year deal, giving retail ticketing privileges and exclusive blocks of tickets to 500 Blockbuster stores starting in January, has been in the works since last spring, Nathan Hubbard, chief executive of Live Nation Ticketing, said on Monday.

Anything to help with the skyrocketing ticket prices! It's insane and these extra charges need to stop! I'll stop by a store if it saves me some $$!

BECAUSE I LOVE HER..

A ton of holiday movies were playing over the Thanksgiving weekend. Elf, which is one of my faves played like 3 times, and it reminded me how much I love when Zooey sings.

I am so glad she is in a band! This is the video for 'Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?'. I have posted this video before, but I love her band so much I'm doing it again.

We need to see more from She And Him!!!

SOUNDCHECK WITH NICKELBACK


Canadian rockers Nickelback swing by Soundcheck and perform tracks from their sixth album, ‘Dark Horse’. Stay tuned for an eclectic set of old and new tunes and an exclusive interview. The post-grunge group opens up about the musical process, their challenging new tour and relinquishing the reins to work with famed producer Mutt Lange. Check it out at Soundcheck.


Nickelback on Soundcheck
Uploaded by soundcheck2008

KCRW WELCOMES OREN LAVIE

Oren Lavie was the 1st guest for new host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, Jason Bently on KCRW.

Oren Lavie is a singer/songwriter from Israel, who is often compared to Nick Drake, Elliot Smith and Leonard Cohen.



Oren also stopped by the Hotel Cafe Tuesday night to perform. If you missed it...catch him again at the Hotel Cafe on Dec. 16th!

http://www.myspace.com/orenlavie

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

THE RJA'S LONELY ROAD


THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS SOPHOMORE ALBUM, LONELY ROAD, FEB. 3!

New release is follow-up to platinum-selling debut, Don’t You Fake It, with new single, “You Better Pray” out now


NEW YORK, N.Y.—Virgin Records Jacksonville, FL, platinum rockers THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS have completed recording their sophomore album, LONELY ROAD, at the Valley Village, CA, studio of super-producer Howard Benson (Hoobastank, P.O.D., Less Than Jake, Daughtry, Seether, All-American Rejects), the follow-up to the DON’T YOU FAKE IT. Their debut breakthrough was two years in the making, a tribute to the label’s commitment to long-term artist development, and has gone on to sell more than 2.1 million singles and scan over a million copies in the U.S. to date.

The new album, LONELY ROAD, streets on Feb. 3, 2009, and is preceded digitally by the current hit track, “You Better Pray,” as well as a fan’s only studio demo for “Pen & Paper,” available at the band’s RedJumpSuitAlliance.com website, and now on MySpace. To mark the release, RJA will embark on a headlining, international tour, starting Dec. 6 at the 97X Next Big Thing 8 in Tampa, FL, then heading to a number of South East Asian countries in late February and March including Australian dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

“We’re really psyched about these tracks and the new record and hope you are, too,” proclaims lead vocalist Ronnie Winter on the band’s MySpace page. “Just like DON’T YOU FAKE IT, you can be sure LONELY ROAD will tie together these and a bunch of other sounds in a classic, but new-and-improved RJA-sounding way.”

Consisting of Winter, guitarist/pianist/singer Duke Kitchens, bass/singer Joey Westwood and drummer/singer Jon Wilkes, RJA connected immediately with listeners on their first single, “Face Down,” a plea against domestic violence that introduced a band with a commitment to social issues, not just in their music, but in their day-to-day lives.

DON’T YOU FAKE IT charted for 62 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 while “Face Down” stayed atop the Top 20 Modern Rock airplay list for 52 weeks before being retired. “Face Down” earned the band platinum status by selling 1.5 million digital singles and has been streamed over 16.6 million times on MySpace. Songs from the first album have been streamed more than 50 million times on the band’s MySpace page, along with such favorites as “Your Guardian Angel,” which generated 10.2 million MySpace spins and 455k downloads, as well as marking the festive occasions of thousands of Facebook and YouTube photo flipbooks and videos. Two other songs from their debut, “Damn Regret” and “False Pretense,” are both at almost 100,000 downloads apiece.

Since the release of DON’T YOU FAKE IT, RJA has also been an active force for a wide array of charitable organizations and social causes, including teen suicide prevention (including co-headlining the US Take Action Tour with My Chemical Romance and Rise Against), mental health parity and a strong commitment to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, teaming up with their label Virgin Records, to raise funds.

In addition, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Guardian Angel Foundation has been formed as an umbrella group to support under-funded high school band programs, to promote and enhance student musical development; support individuals affected by domestic violence, to break the cycle of abuse; and contribute to research that focuses on management of acute hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients.

“We’re looking forward to finally getting the new record out and once again hitting the road,” writes Winter on the band’s MySpace blog. “And as you’ll soon hear, it was all worth it.”




RED ALERT…keep up with RJA at:

http://www.redjumpsuit.com/

www.myspace.com/redjumpsuit

http://www.redjumpsuitalliance.com/

THE CHANGES CONTINUE...

KCRW announces more music changes as new Music Director Jason Bentley takes the helm of Morning Becomes Eclectic.

New KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley launched into his first show as host of Morning Becomes Eclectic this morning with a track called “Crash” by composer Mark Isham, from the “Crash” movie soundtrack. His first week will also include live performances by Oren Lavie (Dec 2), School of Seven Bells (Dec 3), and Keane (Dec 4). Hear the performances live on 89.9 FM or streaming on KCRW.com at 11:15am PST. All performances are archived for future listening here: http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb

Bentley’s move to the mornings brings longtime KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad back to the airwaves on weeknights. He now moves into Jason’s 8 to 10pm weekday slot, formerly known as “Metropolis.”

“Jason's nighttime legacy is what inspired me to become a DJ in the first place and my goal with this new time slot is to expose the soul of music, no matter what the genre,” said Trinidad.
Jason Eldredge shifts to Saturdays from 6 to 9pm, providing a fresh weekend mix of stand-out tracks, innovative beats and new music from all genres, and Mathieu Schreyer returns to Friday nights from midnight to 3 am.

With a residency at the famous Chateau Marmont and various music consulting projects, Mathieu’s sophisticated music taste is in high demand. Born in France, Mathieu lived in North Africa, the Middle East and Asia before settling down in Los Angeles.

“Mathieu has impeccable taste in music. He’s lived all around the world and he integrates all of those influences into his show with a sense of adventure and fun, perfect for Friday nights,” said Bentley.

“KCRW is a fantastic creative outlet and I am incredibly excited to return. I’m planning a mix of sounds, voices and notes from all over the globe -- from the 50's to unreleased demos. The show will be obscure yet classic, funky, soulful, and modern,” said Schreyer.

Lastly, KCRW just released Top Ten Album lists by all of the station’s music hosts for 2008. They can be found online here: http://www.kcrw.com/music/top-10-albums

Monday, December 1, 2008

WINDING IT DOWN, OR UP IN THE USA.....COLDPLAY!

I had the absolute pleasure to experience Coldplay's tour ONE more time before they head off to the UK and Europe, and the most amazing part, was it was their last night in the US, the night before Thanksgiving.

Not that I expected anything less, as I have seen them before, but they put on a spot on, flawless performance! From beginning to end, it was a static, energetic, and genuine show. Seeing them live, gives you a whole other appreciation for them and their music. I was accompanied by one of my closest and dearest friends, and on the way I asked "On a scale from 1 to 10 how much do you like Coldplay?". His answer, "ummmmm about a 7". When the show was over he was elated and blown away, even saying that in his 30 years of living, this was up there with the best show he had ever seen. I have seen probably over 1000 shows in my lifetime, and I have to agree, I was beside myself.
Chris Martin and company put such a personal touch when they perform; they are there for the AUDIENCE!! They had the perfect mixture of new songs as well as their classics: The Scientist, Clocks, Speed of Sound, and finishing off with Yellow! What I loved is that they had a secret stage set up for the people in the "cheap seats" and the walked off stage, and performed for those that were not so lucky to be in the front, or close, which in turn, made them lucky. I have to say, if given the chance in the future, no matter the price.....GO AND SEE THEM!!!! It's an emotional, energetic experience you will NEVER forget.

REVIEW: CORY RADKE

THE UGLYSUIT DAYTROTTER SESSION

Just last week The Uglysuit had their own featured session on Daytrotter.com . It's a great article...check it out!