Category Archives: music

INXS Lead Singer Says the Band Fired Him

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Remember back in 2005 when INXS was searching for a new lead singer to replace Michael Hutchence?  The band seized the reality TV bandwagon and took the search to TV.  For weeks we got to listen to some great singers adding their twist to the classic INXS songs.

inxs

In the end, they went with Mr. Attitude himself, JD Fortune.  While I’ll admit that he sounded great, I thought he was a bit too cocky and immature. I was rooting for the other guy. But whatever, it wasn’t my band after all and I’ll still have my memories from that show back in the 80’s.

Well, turns out, after 23 or so months of being on the road together, JD says that he’s been fired from the band.  He reported on Canada’s Entertainment Tonight that he’s essentially broke and living out of his car or on friend’s couches now.

Really, 23 months on tour and you’ve got nothing to show for it?  I always thought it was a temporary gig to begin with and that there were no promises beyond that one album.

I think I love this quote from BBC News best as it really seems to sum things up…”the singer admitted his dismissal may have been linked to a cocaine habit he developed while working with the band.”  But yeah, you have no idea why you were fired and they screwed you man.  Whatever.

Let’s Help a Young Gal Out

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You may or not remember, but a goodly amount of our time in Ireland, my husband was working on some pretty important stuff.  Well, it’s now come to the point where I can share the details.  My husband’s site, in conjunction with Taylor Swift’s team have come up with an awesome contest.

Last month, young fans were invited to post their own videos singing along to Taylor’s songs from her new album on YouTube.  Over 500 kids submitted their songs – and there’s some good stuff out there.  Taylor’s people have narrowed it down to four semi-finalists and all are quite good.

Here’s where you can help a gal out…my favorite video, Emily (HelloLovely26) is one of the finalists.  Her video is adorable (as is her dog) and she sounds great.  Thing is, she’s up against some serious competition with some series fans  and she’s lagging behind.  So I thought I’d ask you guys to help spread the word, show a little love and send some votes her way.  And don’t worry, if she doesn’t float your boat, the other acts are also quite talented.

‘Tis the Season For Holiday Parties

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I never really got to experience the mythical Holiday Office Party.  When I was a young’un, I worked in retail and well, that’s the busiest time of the year so no holiday party for you!  When I was a teacher, the official holiday party was held during the school day, in the library – not the most exciting, I assure you.  As a therapist, well, that’s pretty solo-oriented, though our boss did take us out for a holiday lunch each year.  Then when I worked as a behavior therapist here in LA, our owner hosted a totally lame, mid-day party one year and nothing the second year (we the staff arranged a pot luck ourselves – and then the wife pitched a fit because we didn’t invite her…whatever!)

Since I left that last job, I’ve been working on my own from home (I hear some folks call that freelancing – LOL).  I belong to a couple organizations, so I always had a few chick-focused parties to attend without the hubby.  But still, I never really got to attend a real live office party.  This year, seven years with my husband, I’m finally invited to his office party.  It’s at the Roosevelt and totally classy. I’m so excited.

Yeah, too bad he decided the other night that we’re not going this year afterall *grr*

He’s shooting the Los Lobos show and can’t attend both the party and the show.  So of course, since Los Lobos is one my husband’s favorite bands (and one of my least favorite live concert experiences EVER – that I will never repeat, no matter how much you pay me) he’s decided that my very first office party (at.the.Roosevelt.) just isn’t as important as shooting the show.

Now instead, I get to sit at home, eat frozen food (or delivery) and entertain myself.  Talk about lame!  At least we got to go to the New West Records party last night.  I must say, it was quite cool.  Much cooler than some recording studio party we went to a few years back.  They’ve got this great space, kind of a cross between a loft and a garage and they really went out.  We had delicious wine and passed hor d’oeurves (no Hooters wings at this place – I told you that recording studio party from a few years back was lame!).  Of course, passed hor d’oeurves does not a dinner make, so we headed on over to Kate Mandililni’s for dinner afterwards.  Overall, it was a fun evening with the husband.  Especially knowing that it would be our only holiday party together this year.

So tell me, what is this mythical holiday office party really like?  Is it as cool as they make it look in movies?  Or am I really not missing anything afterall?

Photos from the Monk Institute’s BB King Tribute @ the Kodak

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I’m too lazy to write up a post.  Just know that it was a great show.  I loved Bono, Edge & BB rocking out to When Love Comes to Town.  Check it out here on YouTube (wow, those kids in the rafters sure sang along a lot more up than we did on the floor).

And now, some photos – all photos are clickable to get to larger sizes. And there are more in my flickr. Just remember, this is the first time we’ve taken the new camera out to play so a couple of pictures aren’t that great…

Bono & Edge at BB King Tribute @ the Kodak 10/26/08

Bono @ the Kodak 10/26/08

Bono Bows to BB - When Love Comes to Town

Check out BB King

Bono & BB King @ the Kodak 10/26/08

Throw it Overboard & See if it Can Swim: Squeeze @ the Orpheum

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Killer show.  Killer Seats.  Of course, not having even looked at the tickets, I didn’t realize how good they were, so I didn’t bring my camera.  At least this time around I had my own blackberry handy to take a couple of (crappy) pictures.

The show itself was incredible.  I don’t know when I last went to a concert where I danced so much.  This was the kind of show that reminded you why you used to go to concerts back when you were younger.  The energy of the crowd was great and everyone was up singing and dancing.  Just awesome!

Squeeze @ The Orpheum 9.10.08

Squeeze @ The Orpheum 9.10.08

Next concert, whenever that may be, I’ll have better photos.  We finally ordered my camera upgrade and we should be getting it shortly.  It should actually have some low light, image stableization abilities which will be great for shooting during shows (with a basic point & shoot).  Can’t wait.

How Very Odd – MTV Video Music Awards

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I just got an email to my regular (non-blog, non-company) email account for the upcoming MTV VMAs.  They’re looking for bloggers and people that might be heading out to some of the MTV parties and events and asking folks to blog about these events.

PS – Love the Ting Tings!

Well, I’m all about promoting local events, so here goes…

MTV MARKS ITS RETURN TO LOS ANGELES FOR THE
“2008 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS” BY UNLEASHING 25 YEARS
OF PENT-UP MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT POWER ON THE CITY

The first week of September is going to feature some of entertainment’s biggest stars in Los Angeles as MTV kicks off the events surrounding the “2008 MTV Video Music Awards,” which will air live from the Paramount Lot on Sunday, September 7th at 9pm ET/PT. The week will feature events across L.A., where artists such as Ne-Yo, Colby O’Donis, Calle 13, Panic At The Disco, Plain White T’s, Fabolous and T-Pain will perform in advance of Sunday’s big bash. 944 magazine and MTV Tr3s will prime the weekend with star-studded events on Wednesday and Thursday, and the TAG Records premiere party on September 5 will kick the weekend off with the first ever live performance from TAG Records artist Q Da Kid at an invite-only event. Getting the party started on Saturday night, Rock Band 2 will come together with LIFEbeat to celebrate the game’s forthcoming release and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS education, while Rhapsody brings out more top talent just before VMA weekend reaches its peak with Sunday’s show.

Tickets for the Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat, an all ages event, are $50.00 for General Admission, with proceeds going to LIFEbeat. Tickets can be purchased at House of Blues Box Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The “2008 MTV Video Music Awards Weekend” schedule is as follows:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD , 2008

944 LA IS 2: VMA Week Party

The Kress, Hollywood

Press Call Time- 8:00pm

Red Carpet Arrivals- 8:30pm

Live performance by Ne-Yo


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH , 2008

MTV Tr3s Pre-VMA Party 2008

Level 3

Red Carpet Arrivals – 8pm

Doors Open – 8pm

Live performances by Colby O’Donis and Calle 13 – 10pm

Hosted by – Sucker Free Latino VJ L Boogs

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH , 2008

TAG Records presents: History in the Making – The Official VMA Kickoff Party

Avalon, Hollywood

Red Carpet Arrivals- 10pm

Live performances by Fabolous and TAG Records’ premiere artist Q Da Kid, with his first ever

live performance – 11:30pm – 12:30am

Hosted by – Jermaine Dupri

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH , 2008

Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat

House of Blues

Doors Open – 9pm

Red Carpet – 9:30pm

Show Begins- 10pm

Special short performances by Panic At The Disco, Plain White T’s

Rhapsody Rocks the VMAs

The Roxy

Red Carpet Arrivals – 11pm

Doors Open – 11pm

Appearances by DJ Stretch Armstrong, T-Pain

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH , 2008

The Official 2008 VMA After Party

Presented by Pepsi and Nikon

Paramount Backlot – Immediately following the VMAs

Live performance by the Ting Tings

TAG Records and MTV are offering an opportunity to win tickets to the Official VMA Kickoff Party and the VMA Viewing Party at tag.mtv.com.

Tickets can also be won through a national online contest at mtvvmatrip.com through August 29. Additionally, radio promotions for tickets are running in major markets across the country, and local listeners in Los Angeles can win tickets through the Ryan Seacrest show on KIIS-FM or on KPWR and KROQ through Friday, September 5.

This year, one lucky viewer will get the chance of a lifetime trip by joining “Do Good. Go to the VMAs.” Think.MTV.com, MTV’s online community for youth activism, is hooking up one young activist and shipping them off to Los Angeles to attend the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards alongside the biggest stars in the industry. Find out more by visiting think.mtv.com/Groups/DoGoodGoToTheVMAs/.

The “2008 MTV Video Music Awards” will feature one night only performances by Lil Wayne, Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock, Paramore, Pink, T.I. and Rihanna.

The official sponsors of the “2008 MTV Video Music Awards” are GM, Pepsi, TAG Body Spray, Taco Bell, Rhapsody, Verizon Wireless and Nikon.

You Got Mud on Your Face, You Big Disgrace

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somebody better put you back into your place!

Yeah, yeah, so I’m a bit of a Queen fan.  Actually, I tend to forget just how much I love Queen until I hear them on the radio.  And well, then I just can’t seem to stop singing along and dancing in the driver’s seat.  ‘Cuz Queen, well, they totally rock.  And um…I do have mud on my face right now as I type this.

So last night we attended the Cheap Trick/LA Phil’s tribute to Sgt. Pepper.  It was an absolutely awesome show (then agian, I’d expect nothing but excellence from both Cheap Trick and the LA Phil).  There were some guest performers as well, though they only one I really enjoyed was some Ian guy from a band called Gomez (and yes, I honestly don’t know who that is).  But to listen to an entire show, outdoors, under the stars of nothing but Beatles tunes, well that was just a great night indeed.

Today we got the family together (in-laws) and celebrated the past four months of birthday season.  Out of the 14 (including the baby), 9 of our birthdays are from March through to June.  It makes for a crazy season, that’s for sure.  It was fun to hang out together though.

I was good too.  I didn’t stress about anything. I made the salad, picked up some award winning guac from the farmer’s market and we stopped by Marie Calendar’s for a strawberry pie (to offset the birthday cake and ice cream).  I left everything else to everyone else.  Overall, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of letting go the planning and coordinating of all the in-law functions if I do say so myself.

The gifts were fun too!  I got a bath & body package (hence the mudd – my face is now SO smooth!), a $25 Amex gift card and a beautiful necklace and earring set.  The hubs got all gift cards – Best Buy, Fry’s and Amex (which I’ll no doubt be spending).  But the best part…I borrowed my brother-in-law’s steam cleaner!  I can finally clean our carpets, our couch AND steam clean our ancient tile floors.  SCORE!  So excited about this.

I’ve also decided to pick up a Flip video camera.  I figure I can use it to make video blog posts both here and on my biz site.  But more importantly, I’m hoping to interview some of the gals at BlogHer so I can ask them important blogging questions – how did you get started, how did you find your niche, what can you recommend, blah, blah – so that I can post them on my biz site.  We have a batch of Amex gift cheques that have just been lying about that I’ll cash in for the camera, so it won’t cost anything out of pocket (and the hubs has those birthday giftcards for me to spend!) 😉

Okay, that’s it for me.  I’ve got to do some research on Grammar Girl so I can write up a couple of questions for her (we’ll be giving away her new book on my site the second week in July).  And tomorrow I’ve got a workshop on networking – online and off – to prepare for.  I’m changing things up from my last workshop, so it’s pretty much starting from scratch.  Should be fun though!

Hope you all have a happy Monday.

pleadin’ with you eyes gonna make you some peace someday.