CREATORS OF STOMP BRING PANDEMONIUM

PANDEMONIUM: wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos.

The production of Pandemonium saw its west coast debut last night at UCLA's Royce Hall and it defiantly lived up to the definition of uproar and chaos. Utilizing everyday objects like vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, and radiator hoses, the 25-member cast created rhythm with impeccable timing.

Broken into two parts, Pandemonium runs for approximately one hour forty minutes which includes an intermission and encore. Within each part there are several different productions including titles Dead Clown, OilDrums, Woodcutter and Waterphonics.

I've never seen anything like Pandemonium and it does amaze me how they came up with some of the ideas for instrumentation, but glad the tickets were free. In the end it's just a bunch of noise- kind of what I would anticipate a jam session on LA's Skid Row to sound like.

GWYNETH PALTROW IS COUNTRY STRONG

We knew Gwyneth Paltrow could sing thanks to 2000's DUETS and now she's gone country in her latest movie role. Paltrow plays a fallen country star in COUNTRY STRONG, which also stars Leighton Meester and country heartthrob Tim McGraw. Slated for a December 22 release COUNTRY STRONG displays Paltrow's vocal chops. For a sneak peak, check out Paltrow on the movie's title track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN4tTY7SOvc

LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE

Live From Daryl's House (LFDH) is a monthly web show featuring Daryl Hall (half of the number-one selling duo in music history Hall & Oates) performing with some of music's most famous names. The award winning show is a music lovers dream- talented musicians in a simple room surrounded by a plethora of amazing instruments. The direction and outcome of the show varies and you often find the musicians improvising and adding new twists to popular tunes.

In the latest LFDH, the Philadelphia native pairs with Pat Monahan and Jimmy Stafford of the band Train. The seven-song set features "Hey, Soul Sister," "Say It Isn't So," and the Temptations' cover "Papa Was A Rolling Stone."

Past episodes have featured Rob Thomas, K.T. Tunstall, Smokey Robinson and Plain White T's. You can watch previous episodes by clicking on the past shows tab on LFDH's website.

http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/

Enjoy!

LISTEN TO KATY PERRY'S NEW ALBUM BEFORE IT HITS iTunes AND STORES

Katy Perry gave us two catchy summer songs in "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream," but I'm ready for new KP material. The new album will be out Tuesday, but Perry will premiere Teenage Dream (the clean/edited version) tomorrow at 9PM PST on her Facebook page. All you have to do is select "Like" Katy Perry's fan page to participate.

Enjoy:

http://www.facebook.com/katyperry

WILL JANIS JOPLIN'S LIFE EVER HIT THE BIG SCREEN?

Last week it was announced that actress Amy Adams ('Julie & Juliet') had signed on to star as Janis Joplin in director Fernando Meirelles' ('City of God') biopic of the legendary singer. The script, owned by Fox Searchlight, is tentatively called 'Get It While You Can,' which had Hollywood a buzz a few years ago with rumors of pairing director Catherine Hardwicke with Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon.

Adams is just the latest in a line of stars who have been attached to a Janis project over the years. In 1999 Lili Taylor was set to play Joplin, but nothing came of that. Then the horrendous news in 2003 that Renee Zellweger was going to bless us all with her "singing talent" in 'Piece of My Heart.' Thankfully that didn't happen and by 2004 things were looking up as fireball musician P!nk inherited Taylor's spot in 'The Gospel According to Janis.' Unfortunetly, not even with P!nk (who I've seen sing the hell out of Joplin's material) could the movie get made. Although I did hear that there were creative differences between the musician and the producer which eventually resulted in P!nk dropping out and being replaced by Zooey Deschanel in 2006. Add Reese Witherspoon into the mix along the way and you can see why I wonder if Janis Joplin's life will ever be brought to the big screen.

I guess there is some hope, as it took almost as long for 'The Runaways' to get made, but once Kristen Stewart signed on, the indie biopic started production and hit theaters earlier this year. Ironically there is a 'Twilight' connection to the Joplin project as well- 'Get It While You Can' is slated to be produced by Temple Hill Entertainment, the same producers behind the 'Twilight' saga and lord knows they should have enough money now to get the Janis Joplin biopic into production, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

ALBUM PREVIEW: KT TUNSTALL

Last week a friend and I headed out to the Hotel Cafe to catch Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall showcase material from her upcoming album Tiger Suit. The gig was billed as a solo acoustic performance and it was defiantly solo, but NOT acoustic. With the help of looping pedals, Tunstall recreated the new material that she described that night as "Eddie Cochran mixed with Leftfield."

Tiger Suit, Tunstall's third studio album is due out in September and is defiantly more beat driven than her previous work. Tracks "Fade Like a Shadow" and "Glamour Puss" are prime examples of that.

It will be interesting to see how listeners respond to the new material, as her follow-up (2007's Drastic Fantastic) didn't fare nearly as well as her 2004 breakout Eye To The Telescope.

ART AND MUSIC COLLIDE

I find myself fascinated by the way an artist's (in any of the arts) mind works and how they come up with such original ideas. That said, I recently discovered an artist by the name of Erika Iris Simmons and her series of work "Ghost in the Machine."

Simmons takes old cassette tape and arranges it on canvas creating instantly recognizable images of famous faces. The "Ghost in the Machine" collection includes pieces ranging from The Beatles to Lenny Kravitz.

For more information on "Ghost in the Machine" or Simmons other work, you can visit her website at: http://www.iri5.com/Home_Page.html

A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE

I was recently thumbing through the pages of an old SPIN magazine and came across an oldie but goodie- a ad for Columbia House (CH). Remember those services like CH and BMG where you got 12 CDs for a penny and agreed to buy six more CDs over the course of two years at regular club price?

I surely remember those days and there always seemed to be a brown paper box (that was impossible to open) awaiting me when I returned home from school. I used to get so excited because half the time I forgot what I had ordered and it was like Christmas several times a month. I would go back to my room and play the latest works from No Doubt, Savage Garden and Janet Jackson, only coming out of my room for the mandatory supper break.

Those were the pre-iTune days, where you bought the whole album based on the chart topping single. Sometimes you got a really solid piece of work like Sarah McLachlan's Surfacing and other times you got a so-so album, say for example Tonic's Lemon Parade.

Regardless, I just remember the whole process as being fun. You scanned the rows and rows of album options, debated which ones to buy to fulfill your obligation and then cancelling your membership only to renew a couple months later when there were 12 new CDs you wanted.

Good times, good times!

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

Metric - Fantasies

Mary Onettes - Islands

Ivan & Alyosha - The Verse, the Chorus

Girls - Album

The Smiths - "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"

Gossip - "Heavy Cross"

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

HAVE YOU HEARD PASSAFIRE?

I was recently taken to the Belly Up in Aspen to see the band Passafire. I had never heard of them, but I'm never one to turn down live music, good friends and Blue Moon.

When we entered, the fun was already underway with young adults dancing all around in a thick haze of ganja joy.

Hailing from Savannah Georgia, Passafire was formed in 2003 and mixes progressive reggae with rock and dub. Consisting of Ted Bowne (vocals/lead guitar), Adam Willis (keys) and brothers Nick (drums) and Will Kubley (bass), Passafire has made a name for themselves by being road warriors and establishing a grassroots connection with fans. Their Myspace page has over 750,000 views and their music and approach fits perfectly with the recent web based indie movement.

Passafire joined LAW Records (founded by the band Pepper) for their sophomore album Submersible, which was recognized by iTunes as one of the Top Ten Best Reggae Albums of 2007. Since then the band has worked with The Wailers, 311 and Van Halen.

I was really impressed with their sound and how much fun they seemed to be having on stage. For more information on Passafire, you can visit their Myspace page at:

http://www.myspace.com/passafire

KID ROCK'S NEW ALBUM

It's been almost three years since Kid Rock released his multi-platinum album Rock N Roll Jesus, but we should have new Rock material by the end of the year.

Working with veteran producer Rick Rubin, Rock has enlisted help from fellow musicians Zac Brown, T.I. and Martina McBride. However, the collaboration I am most looking forward to on the new album is Rock's second duet with Sheryl Crow, which features Bob Seger on piano.

The new material has Rock and friends singing and playing live without click tracks (audio cues used to sync recordings). Now in the mixing and mastering phase, the new album tentatively titled Born Free should arrive fourth quarter. Until then, you can check out Rock on the road this summer playing dates in Great Britain, Canada, and The United States.

'Eclipse' Soundtrack

The soundtracks for the 'Twilight' saga are more consistent than even Robert Pattinson's hair and Kristen Stewart's facial expressions.

The 'Eclipse' soundtrack solidifies the franchises excellent taste in indie artists with three of my favorite acts (Metric, Florence + The Machine and Band Of Horses) appearing on this chill alternative offering. The 15 track album also includes "Neutronstar Collision" from 'Twilight' soundtrack veterans Muse. The Dead Weather, Vampire Weekend and Beck w/ Bat For Lashes also made the cut. In all, music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas had over 400 tracks to choose from and had the tough duty of narrowing that number down to just over a dozen.

You defiantly don't have to be a fan of Stepenie Meyer's books or know the difference between Team Edward and Team Jacob to get into this piece of 'Twilight' mania. It's simply good music people and the only thing I hate about this album is that it comes in one of those old plastic jewel cases that are impossible to open.

For more information, visit the album's website at:http://www.eclipsesoundtrack.com/

UNIQUE LINER NOTES

Yesterday at the Starbucks located within my office building, I conveniently picked up the latest project from Band of Horses. Once upstairs I put their CD Infinite Arms on and went right to the liner notes. However, I didn't find the traditional booklet of artwork and lyrics. Instead I found a sealed square with a photo of trees about an eighth of an inch thick.

What the heck was this?

I slowly peeled back the sealed area on the end as if I were about to say, "and the award goes to" and just like that 13 square sheets of paper fell to my desk. Random photographs of wooden buildings, a giraffe, various rooms of a house, etc were scattered before me. It was odd, but upon turning the pieces of paper over I discovered each paper represented a song on the album.

On one side of each square was a song title, a line or several lines from that song and some hand drawn artwork that relates to each title. On the other side was a color photograph of an item or scene that also relates to that song.

Some squares, like the song "Laredo" were easy to figure out. You had a hand drawn horseshoe on one side with the lyric "are you having troubles in droves" while the other side showed a photo of a cowboy roping his cattle. However, not all of them were so easy. Take for example the song "Dilly" with the line "it really took a tall one to see it, two to believe it, three to just get in the way" and the number 3 drawn on the one side, with a photo of an old wooden church on the reverse side. I had to find out the meaning of dilly and then listen to the song to put it all together.

Now mind you I didn't do this on company time, but rather it became a side project for today. The cool thing is Band of Horses did something unique. It showcased creativeness and made me listen to the album again, but this time with pieces of paper in my hand.

DO KIDS IN LOVE STILL MAKE MIXTAPES?

Over the past few weeks, I've had two run-ins with a key element of the 1980's and 90's youth culture- the mixtape.

Three weeks ago I was back home in PA, where I keep a box in the back of my old closest that's filled with memories of my adolescence. That box is mostly filled with cards, jewelry, and miscellaneous items from young suitors. There in the midst of all this stuff were three mixtapes from my ex-boyfriend Dan. These tapes brought a smile to my face as I could recall sitting in that very room listening to them over and over again. It was hard to read the song titles on the cassette cover due to his scribble, but the hand drawn heart said it all.

I was reminded again today of that PA moment when I heard Butch Walker's song "Mixtape" in which he sings about a relationship that has ended, but that she made him the best mixed tape ever. Having your boyfriend love your tape was the best because you put thought and time into your selections. It was like John Cusack said in HIGH FIDELITY, "making a tape is like writing a letter."

The mixtape was my generations love letter and I hope that today's youth still have that experience. Although I guess it would be called the mixed CD these days!

ALBUM PREVIEW (sort of) : KIMBERLY CALDWELL

If the name Kimberly Caldwell sounds familiar, but you're not sure why, rewind back to season two of American Idol. Caldwell was the blonde Texas beauty with the raspy voice who sang the hell out of Melissa Etheridge songs. She placed seventh that year on Idol and has seemed to do more television work than music since then. However, that will change with the release of her debut album Without Regret.

Originally slated for an April release, Without Regret has been pushed to summer so additional songs could be added. I have a copy of Without Regret, just not sure how many of the songs will make the final album. Regardless, I thought I'd share my thoughts on take one of Caldwell's debut.

It doesn't surprise me that they want to add new material as the album never establishes a musical flow or consistency. It's a roller coaster that starts out rock'n with "Heart Like Mine" takes an electro-pop turn with "Going Going Gone" and picks up soulful speed with "If You're Gonna Fall." The rest of the work is middle of the road rock 'n' roll.

Vocally Caldwell's strong, sounding a lot like P!nk. She brings it on "Say Love" and the Etheridge cover "Sleep While I Drive." Some songs were written by Caldwell, but Without Regret also showcases some of song writings biggest hitters with the Diane Warren penned "Cost of Love" and Karen DioGuardi/Chad Kroger's "Heart Like Mine."

I think Caldwell fans would be pleased with the effort, but Without Regret does not boast a jump-off-the-page radio hit so the majority of people may never even know the album exists. However, that could all change with the addition of a song or two. I know I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I remember being blown away by her Idol Austin audition.

TBC.......

CHELY WRIGHT

Country music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting with Barbara Mandrell and The Oak Ridge Boys recordings. I love country music and as I've gotten older I've had a chance to meet many country artists and work with a few. The thing that has always struck me is how friendly and appreciative they are and Chely Wright was no exception.

Between 2000 and 2004, I met her two or three times and when I heard she came out this week as a lesbian I was surprised, I'm not going to lie, but when I watched her interviews on TODAY and Access Hollywood I felt sad. Sad because someone felt that they needed to hide a piece of themselves because an industry they wanted to be a part of so much and had given so much to (both musically and through charity work) would not except them for who they were.

I know my views on many topics are liberal and maybe I simplify things, but at the end of the day I guess I just want people to be happy- whether they've been friends for years or someone I've spent just a fraction of time with.

I pulled a photo I shot of Wright from an old photography portfolio and couldn't believe how much she seemed to have aged in the last eight years. When compared to her appearance on TODAY, the presumable stress of her secret life can be seen in her face.

The country music world trends conservative and many can still remember the country music backlash the Dixie Chicks experienced in 2003 from comments made about the war and President Bush. I realize that Wright's situation is different than the Chicks, but it does beg the question - will the country music family and Wright's fans continue to support her?

Wright sure hopes so telling EW.com, "I want my country fans to stay with me. I'm not giving the finger to country fans. By all measure, they already like me. They voted me 'most philanthropic,' 'country star with the biggest heart,' People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful, Kansan of the Year. I'm still all those things."

http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/05/05/chely-wright-comes-out-qa/

It will be interesting to see what happens with Wright's career, but this blog is titled Its All About The Music and for me that's still what it's about with Wright. So if you heard the name Chely Wright for the first time this week and haven't checked out her music, I've always been a fan of "While I Was Waiting," "Jezebel," "Never Love You Enough," and of course her big hit "Single White Female."

HOW DO YOU LISTEN TO A NEW ALBUM?

If you are laughing at my question, I'll assume one of two things- you've either been gobbled up by the single driven music machine and haven't listened to a complete album recently or can I dare say EVER or you're thinking silly girl, one can only listen to music via a player of some sorts.

If you fit into the first bucket then I feel sorry for you, but I do understand that there are few great albums produced these days and your desire to not give up an hour of your time is understandable. However, if you fall into the second group, let me elaborate.

Ask yourself:

Do you always listen to new music as background noise while making dinner?

Do you always stop by Best Buy and listen on your drive home?

Do you always listen on your iPod while at the gym no matter the genre?

You see where I'm going here? Yes you listen to new music via some device, but is the environment always the same? If so you may be missing out on a great musical experience.

Take for example the last new album I listened to- Court Yard Hounds by Court Yard Hounds. I had heard clips from the project weeks ago and viewed the DVD The Making of Court Yard Hounds (it comes w/ the new CD) prior to listening to the album, so I had an idea what the album would sound like. Consequently, I lit three candles, slipped the disc in my Mac, turned out the lights in my bedroom, put my earplugs in and closed my eyes. In a relaxed, peaceful environment I could fully appreciate the instrumentation and texture of the music with Emily Robinson's lyrical journey dancing around vividly in my head.

Do I listen to all albums this way, absolutely not. I can't imagine listening to the latest MGMT project that way, but if you know a little about the album and the artist, changing up the way you listen to new music can be very rewarding!

MY INTERVIEW WITH: STEPHANIE URBINA JONES

Stephanie Urbina Jones grew up in Texas and has been influenced by musicians from both sides of the border. Her new album, The Texicana Sessions was just released and I caught up with Jones who called in from Nashville (she splits her time between music city and San Antonio) to discuss her musical journey and her latest project.

IAATM: For people that may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe it?
SUJ: Tex-Mex American country with Latin influences.

IAATM: You were born in San Antonio, but you have a connection to Mexico right?
SUJ: Correct, my great grandfather came to the United States in 1901. When I was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my career a few years ago, that's what was really compelling to me- that immigrant story coming across the border.

IAATM: Was music a big part of your childhood?
SUJ: Yes, during the early years growing up on the west side of San Antonio, I was exposed to the mariachi's and sounds from the border, but that was also the time of the outlaws- Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. We went two stepping and to honky tonks, that's what my parents did. At three, four, five years old I was going with them. And on Sundays different pickers and songwriters would gather around campfires telling their stories with guitars.

IAATM: I read that Carole King was a big influence, I'm excited to see her in a few weeks, did she inspire you to become a songwriter?
SUJ: She really did. My dad was in Vietnam and he sent me the Tapestry album, I guess I must have been four years old. I just remember it was a time when my parents had split and I missed my father and I just remember having a very strong experience and would spin "You Got A Friend" and remember being comforted by it. When I turned 18 and when I was looking for what I wanted to do, I knew whether I was an artist or a songwriter, I wanted to be involved with music because it's such a powerful medium.

IAATM: You moved to Nashville and landed a publishing deal with Sony music. The songwriting environment in Nashville is like no other, did that climate help you hone your skills?
SUJ: Absolutely. One of my first songwriting sessions that I got to do was with a guy named Mark Allan Springer and that year he was the BMI's (Broadcast Music, Inc) Songwriter Of The Year. I got into situations where I got to write with some of the absolutely best writers during their time, I was very fortunate and I love, love, love writing. It's a spiritual, mythical experience for me.

IAATM: You penned hits for artists like Lorrie Morgan, but when did you decide you wanted to focus on your own singing career and record an album?
SUJ: Honestly, everything for me has been part of an evolution, the next right thing. I started singing in high school and in a band in college, but I just didn't have the confidence at the time to do that, as an artist. Then a few years later when I was a professional writer, I started singing my own demo's and then people hired me to sing their demo's. Then that itch, I just kept seeing myself singing and I just stepped into that experience.

IAATM: How does the new album, The Texicana Sessions differ from your self-titled debut?
SUJ: It really hones in on my Mexican/American heritage. There were elements of that in the first album, but on this one I just feel that it really takes a strong turn into that experience. Feels like my childhood and my experience growing up in Texas, it's fun.

IAATM: There were several years between albums, did you spend that whole time writing?
SUJ: I was constantly writing. The last few years were challenging and a growing experience. When I put this collection of songs together and take it to the stage it's going to be fun.

IAATM: The thing that strikes me about The Texicana Sessions is how diverse it is, in instrumentation and vocal style. Was the diversity something that you knew you wanted going into the project or did it just develop in the studio?
SUJ: No, this was a collection of sessions that I put together over the last few years. I had my daughter, I had a record deal in there, then I went through a divorce, lost some people in my life so I was constantly writing and going in and recording. Some where recorded two at a time and three at a time and pieced together. Done different than any other album I've done before, in that it was put together as a collection of songs that I loved and wanted to perform. The audience kept asking where these songs were. It just all came together and I loved it.

IAATM: What do you hope people take away from The Texicana Sessions?
SUJ: I hope it makes them feel all kinds of emotions. I hope they laugh, I hope they are touched by songs like "Canta Me" and "Choose To Believe." I hope they are left with a smile, a good experience, like a good meal. I hope they want to know me more and that we get another opportunity to experience each other, to connect.

IAATM: Thank you Stephanie and good luck with the new album.
SUJ: Thank you.

To learn more about Stephanie Urbina Jones, please visit her website at:
http://www.stephanieurbinajones.com/

"Boys of Summer" Keith Urban & Kris Allen LIVE in Vegas

This is why I love live music and why a great song will always be a great song. Enjoy!

SONG LINE OF THE DAY

Get caught in the race

Of this crazy life

Tryin' to be everything can make you lose your mind

Lady Antebellum "American Honey"

ANNUAL MUSICARES MAP BENEFIT

Established by The Recording Academy, MusiCares mission is to provide a safety net of critical resources for music people in times of need. I worked their MusiCares Person Of The Year event a few years back when they honored Sting and it was a great night of music and camaraderie.

On May 7, 2010 MusiCares will host their annual MAP fund benefit concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles to celebrate Women In Recovery.The evening will feature some unique performances including Linda Perry with Paul Ill and Beth Hart with Slash.

It's come to my attention that general admission balcony seats are available for $35. For the big bucks you can enjoy dinner too ($1,200), which will be DJed by Samantha Ronson in memory of her friend and last year's event DJ, DJ AM.

ttp://www.ticketmaster.com/Musicares-Map-Fund-Benefit-Concert-Celebrating-Women-In-Recovery-tickets/artist/1430597

Spring To Bloom New Music

Get ready for a plethora of new music this spring. Some of the biggest names in music will be releasing new material in the coming months. Check it out:

Erykah Badu 3/30
Slash 4/6
Jakob Dylan 4/6
MGMT 4/13
Willie Nelson 4/20
Hole 4/27
Melissa Etheridge 4/27
The New Pornographers 5/4
Court Yard Hounds 5/4
The Black Keys 5/18
Stone Temple Pilots 5/25
Tom Petty (May)
Devo (May)
Band Of Horses (May)
Drake (May)
Maroon 5 (June)
Mark Ronson (June)
Sara Bareilles (June)
Christina Aguilera (Spring)
Katy Perry (Spring/Summer)

THE RUNAWAYS: SEX, DRUGS and ROCK 'N' ROLL

Many have heard of Joan Jett or Lita Ford, but few probably know that they started out in the same all-girl teenage rock band in LA called The Runaways. Now thanks to the new movie of the same name and a little TWILIGHT star power (Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as lead singer Cherie Currie), the story of the first female rock band is being told.


The band only lasted four years, but they changed the music industry forever. The movie chronicles the girls through their formation, rise to fame, hard partying lifestyle and turbulent relationship with manager Kim Fowley (Oscar nominee Michael Shannon). It marks the feature film directorial debut for Floria Sigismondi, the music video veteran who wrote the screenplay based on Currie's book Neon Angel. Jett served as executive producer to help guide Stewart and the rest of the cast.


The end result lived up to expectation even though the film is a bit choppy. Stewart shines as the tough as nails Jett, while Dakota Fanning is almost unrecognizable as Currie. The film doesn't shy away from the teenage girls graphic drug use and sexual experimentation. It's a raw look at the 1970's male dominated rock 'n' roll scene and how one girl (Jett) and one band (The Runaways) defied the odds.


...........and I personally would love to see a biopic on Jett that picks up where THE RUNAWAYS left off. TBC....


Update 3/29/2010: THE RUNAWAYS received four MTV Movie Award nominations.

THE UK CHART

I'm always looking for new music and that task can be overwhelming at times because there are sooooo many places to look. One stop that I always make however is the current UK Top 100 Singles Chart.

http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php

I think most would agree that Europe's musical taste is quite different then America's. Sure top U.S. hits like Owl City's "Fireflies" make the chart, but the UK list has far less bubble gum corporate crap. Instead you'll find a much more diverse chart that contains a lot of really cool electronic pop/rock material.

I scan the artists, write down the ones I don't know and then head to their MySpace music page. If I like what I hear, I'll pop over to iTunes or a similar service and buy the music. If the majority of the tracks sound good, I'll hop over to Amazon (U.S. or UK) and pick up the album.

Over the years, I've discovered many artists on the UK Chart including Calvin Harris, Florence + the Machine, La Roux, Frankmusik and English electropop sensation Little Boots.

Anytime a new artist strikes me, I always check to see if they are on tour and note their LA date. Last night, Little Boots stopped by The El Rey theater with her flashy costumes and laser light show. Vocally, she wasn't as strong live, but the thing that struck me was how full the venue was. It was packed and Little Boots, to my knowledge has never been played on commercial LA radio and has never landed on the Billboard chart.

Looks like others are searching for new music too, which is great for all musicians!

P.S. The opening act Dragonette was cool too, so the UK Chart is like the gift that keeps on giving :)

ANOTHER HOTEL CAFE DISCOVERY- JOEY RYAN

I headed out to The Hotel Cafe last night to see Dan Wilson and am ending up writing about another artist- Joey Ryan.

Ryan started his Thursday residency at Cahuenga Blvd's musical gem last night, sharing the stage with talented backing musicians that included Counting Crows David Innergluck on guitar and mandolin. The set featured new material from his latest EP Kenter Canyon, as well as older songs that included the love inspired "Like A Cloak."

I was impressed and curious as to what the recorded material sounded like so I picked up the latest EP and With Its Roots Above And Its Branches Below. My iTunes slapped a folk genre stamp on his music, but it's more diverse than that. "Queen Jane" has a very contemporary country feel while "Falling" has more of an alternative style, which works well with his achy voice. Ryan also incorporates a variety of instruments in his work, which is always a pleasant surprise.

The music is not the only thing that grabbed my attention last night, he writes solid lyrics too. Ryan crafts songs that connect. Take for example the line from "Broken Headlamp" in which he sings, "why can I only tell you I love you when you're sleeping in the passenger seat." Simple words, but so real and heart felt.

Thanks to The Hotel Cafe for once again exposing me and my readers to more good music. I am going to try and get back to see Joey Ryan before his residency ends and per the wonders of social media looks like I will have a seat at next weeks gig per Ryan. Check out our Twitter correspondence below:

Philly2LA

That's you!

1. was really impressed by Joey Ryan. May need to come back to Hotel Cafe during his Thurs residency.about 19 hours ago via mobile web
   joeyryan
   @Philly2LA thanks dude! we'll save a seat for you next weekabout 5 hours ago via web in reply to Philly2LA
   
   (photo curtesy of Meg Jarrell)

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Grab some tin cans, a hubcap and various kitchen items and make your own percussion instrument!

(2/21/2010 at Venice Beach Wines)

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH.....

SHERYL CROW?

Here's an update on one of my favorite artists.

1. Sheryl is joining the cast of her friend Courtney Cox's ABC show 'Cougar Town' for several episodes starting in March.

2. Expect a new album from Crow sometime in late spring.

3. Sheryl will be co-headlining this summers Lilith Fair festival with Sarah McLachlan.

LIVE MUSIC

I've been to almost 300 live shows in my life- either worked them or as a fan and to me there is nothing better than listening to good live music. OK let's not kid ourselves, maybe there are a few other things, but it's defiantly in my top five :)

Thankfully, I live in a city that always has a tour stop for acts and a city that has many smaller live music venues. Last night, me and a few friends hit up one of those live music venues in The Troubadour to see Austin musician Bob Schneider.

Schneider is a very eclectic singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas who has several bands in addition to his solo work. Last night he was in Los Angeles promoting his new album Lovely Creatures.

Schneider, who's toured with Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow and the Dixie Chicks, is a very good live performer who understands his audience. He was there to expose his fans to the new material, but also to give them what they came for, so he started taking requests toward the end. That's the great thing about small live music venues, you get to see your favorite musicians up close and possibly get a chance to interact with them. Another solid Bob Schneider show is in the books.

For more information on Bob visit his website at: http://www.bobschneidermusic.com/

Next up Dan Wilson at the Hotel Cafe 2/25!

IS INDIE DEAD?

The bold, simple layout caught my eye and it's question stimulated my mind. What is "indie" and was it dead?

Before reading Rachael Maddux's feature in the latest issue of Paste, I jotted down what I thought indie might mean.

• original, artistic, not mainstream
• without the help of a major label
• something that's viewed as "cool"

I figured Maddux would tell me what "indie" was right away because we need to know what it is before we can figure out if it's dead right? Well turns out Maddux didn't really know either and when she asked various folks what they thought, everyone seemed to have different opinions.

OK then the answer to is indie dead has to be NO since we can't agree on what it is, right? Well not according to Maddux. Confused?

Over the course of nine pages Maddux tries to support her view. At first she tries to categorize "indie" as a movement, much like punk, underground, or alternative. Each had their moment in the sun, but ended up dying when they became popular. But it's not that simple.

The rest of the article contains great music history and information, but it's a bit all over the place. She starts to paint this image of what a punk adaptor would see today if he or she had fast forwarded 30 years- cool concept, but she never sees it through. Rather we venture into music placement and marketing, talk about artists ranging from Spoon and Mozart to Lyle Lovett and Frank Sinatra.

Random I know, but you can read the whole article for yourself at

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/01/is-indie-dead.html

That's right it's all online, including the cool graphics. Wish I had known, could have saved $5.95!

THE MOVIE CRAZY HEART

I can't believe it's taken me almost two months to finally see Crazy Heart. Lack of time is the only reason because ever since I saw the preview of Jeff Bridges looking like Kris Kristofferson from his Closer to the Bone cover, I've been curious.

With the tagline "The harder the life, the sweeter the song" I knew Crazy Heart would tell the tale of a hard-living musician caught up in booze and women, but would the movie stand out, would the actors develop interesting characters that pulled you in and would the music frankly be any good?

YES, YES and YES!

THE FILM:

Crazy Heart, based on Thomas Cobb's book, tells the story of country music legend Bad Blake (Bridges). The glory days for the 57 year old Blake are long gone and the years on the road combined with the reckless lifestyle show all over his face. Blake finds himself broke, divorced (several times), unmotivated and playing small town bars and bowling alleys to support his drinking and chain smoking habits. Along the way he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who allows Blake into her life and becomes the inspiration for Blake's new material as he attempts to regain his former fame.

THE ACTING:

Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal have received the majority of the press surrounding Crazy Heart and rightfully so, but I had no idea the movie also starred Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. Both, but especially Farrell as Blake's former protege enhance Jeff Bridges performance. A performance that has already garnered Bridges a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for best actor.

Jeff Bridges

In Blake, Bridges takes on a character that we've seen many times in other films, but in Crazy Heart, Bridges makes Blake his own. The first piece is that he sings the songs and he sings the songs in a voice indicative of Blake's lifestyle. Second, Bridges creates believable traits in Blake that range from biscuit making, to the way he holds the booze bottle to driving his truck with his pants undone. And third, Bridges adds a lovable personality to Blake so even when he's screwing up you want to root for him and your heart breaks in the last two scenes with Gyllenhaal. You add it all up and I can understand the accolades.

Maggie Gyllenhall

Frances McDormand and Edward Norton are the only two actors I'll go see no matter what their in, but Maggie Gyllenhaal may become the third. Her performances in Secretary, Sherry Baby, and World Trade Center were exceptional and she didn't disappoint in Crazy Heart either.

Playing journalist and single mom Jean Craddock, Gyllenhaal had the tough duty of convincing me that she really was in love with a man 20+ years her senior, but she did it. The way she grabbed Blake's face was so real and the emotional delivery in key scenes were so natural, there's no wonder she's nominated for an Oscar for this performance.

THE MUSIC:

This is a music blog so lets get to the other main component of this film- the music. The main man behind crafting the sound of Crazy Heart was T Bone Burnett.

Burnett, seems like a perfect choice as the Grammy winning producer of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack has worked on several films including another country music gem Walk The Line. On Crazy Heart, Burnett co-wrote five out of the six original songs and co-produced the soundtrack with Stephan Bruton.

The original lyrics sung by Jeff Bridges in the film capture the life experiences of Bad Blake and Burnett used classic country instrumentation to complete the songs. Both ingredients were essential because without them, I could NOT have bought into Bridges performance.

The Crazy Heart soundtrack is available now on New West Records.

-Tammy Good (entry and photo)

2 DIXIE CHICKS=COURT YARD HOUNDS

With the Dixie Chicks on hiatus, sisters Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire have created a new musical project- Court Yard Hounds.

You can preview Court Yard Hounds debut album at http://www.courtyardhounds.com/.

If "Delight" and "Ain't No Son" are true reflections of the duo's new project, get ready to rock. It's NOT like any Dixie Chicks material and I can't help but feel a bit of Sheryl Crow influence here. I'm sure it will be interesting reading the liner notes to see who the girls worked with!

Robinson and Maguire tell the story behind Court Yard Hounds at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o166rYH0WWY.

-Tammy Good

MELODY RECORDS, CHICO CALIFORNIA

I travel a lot for work and this past week I found myself in Chico, California, a college town 90 miles north of Sacramento. It was there, just blocks from Chico State University that I discovered Melody Records.

Small record stores are fading fast and Melody is the only one left in Chico per its owner. A sad consequence of the digital downloading world we live in, but for this music lover I was a kid in a candy store who found some very sweet treats.

After almost an hour of thumbing through rows and rows of vinyl, I ended up with ten albums in my arms. And the gems that I found blew me away. Check it out:

Fleetwood Mac- Rumours

Fleetwood Mac- Fleetwood Mac

Carole King- Tapestry

Eagles- The Long Run

Eagles- Desperado

Willie Nelson- Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson

Carly Simon- Hotcakes

Heart- Dreamboat Annie

Suzanne Vega- Solitude Standing

Madonna- "Papa Don't Preach" (single, extended remix)

And all this great music only cost me $32!

-Tammy Good (entry and photo's)

TOP GRAMMY PERFORMANCES

1. LADY GAGA and ELTON JOHN

These two great performers didn't need sooty faces, an over the top stage or ridiculous outfits because the piano playing and vocals stood on their own. The way it should be for true artists!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTkgaKG3qdw

2. PINK

If you saw her Funhouse tour, then you know tonight's performance was nothing new. However, I'm so glad she opened more people's eyes to how good of a performer she is! This Philly girl is super talented and I've been trying to spread the gospel of Pink for years. Maybe America will finally figure out what Europe and Australia have known for years.

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

3. BEYONCE

She took a chance covering "You Oughta Know" and she owned it! I could have done without all the hair flipping, but her pipes and the musical arrangement landed her in my top 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzlG8JKIvQ

FLOP OF THE NIGHT

I really hate to say this, but Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks just didn't work. I still love you Stevie and please just let Lindsay buy the rights to your story.

-Tammy Good

FOR MATT NATHANSON FANS

On my flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco today I met Mark Weinberg, a very nice guy who turned out to be Matt Nathanson's longtime friend and collaborator. Weinberg was headed to the bay area to work on new material with Nathanson. No date for the new album is known, but it will probably arrive late 2010.

For those not familiar with Nathanson, he is a singer-songwriter best known for the hit "Come On Get Higher," co-written by Weinberg. The single peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later covered by Sugarland.

-Tammy Good

KATY PERRY WAKES UP VEGAS!

Unlike Three 6 Mafia (see previous post), Katy Perry knows how to host a party in Las Vegas!

Perry was the special guest at Haze nightclub Saturday and around 1 a.m. she brought her high energy self to the stage. Wearing a short sparkly dress, the newly engaged singer got the enthusiastic crowd singing along to her hits "Hot N Cold" and "Waking Up In Vegas."


She defiantly delivered for Haze and validated the beautiful crowds choice saying, "I hear Haze is the place to be!"







Upon exiting the stage, Perry was beaming as she took time to pose with fans.

-Tammy Good (entry and photo's)

ME AND........

Gabe Saporta from Cobra Starship (1/23/2010 @ Haze)

DISTASTEFUL APPEARANCE BY THREE 6 MAFIA

Some friends and I headed out to Rain, a club at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas last night to see DJ Z*Trip spin. Also on the bill were Memphis rappers Three 6 Mafia, who ended up doing more talking than rapping.

Mafia went on at 1:30 a.m. and literally performed one song. The rest of the time they made women show their breasts while they threw out CD's, handed out bottles of Grey Goose and told everyone including Z*Trip what to do. Their attitude was horrendous and their behavior was obnoxious.

I couldn't wait until the Oscar winners got off stage. Many at the club felt the same as the bar and bathrooms seemed to get more crowded and the dance floor emptied. Three 6 Mafia interrupted a perfectly good set by Z*Trip and the DJ never seemed to get the momentum back after their nonsense.

-Tammy Good

RADIOHEAD PLAYING HAITI BENEFIT

Radiohead is playing a benefit concert for Haiti this Sunday at the Music Box Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are ONLY available via auction, which is running now through Saturday January 23rd at 11AM PST.

For details go to: http://www.ticketmaster.com/auction/09004434FC1C86AC/1/?tm_link=edp_auction

Update 1/25/2010: $500,000 raised at benefit show

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100126/ap_en_mu/us_music_radiohead_haiti

-Tammy Good

CHECK OUT DANIEL MERRIWEATHER!

I've had Daniel Merriweather's CD Love & War in my player ever since I picked it up in Paris last summer. The Aussie's major label debut saw Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen) produce an album filled with striking lyrics and soulful sounds.

I was so excited to see Merriweather's first LA show tonight and he didn't disappoint. His passion and unique voice captivated the sold out crowd as he belted out stirring renditions of "Chainsaw" and "Change" while mixing in covers of "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."

Love & War will not be released in the U.S. until February, but the single "Red" is currently available on iTunes. Keep your eye out for the album and defiantly listen to "Water And A Flame," his duet with Adele.

For more info visit http://www.danielmerriweather.com/us/home

Update 1/22/2010: Love & War goes platinum in U.K.

-Tammy Good (entry and photo's)