#Sister Act the Musical UK/Ireland Tour

[aroundtheworldin80playspod]

Plaster Act (Stop 3: Stoke-on-Trent)

Episode 3: Stoke-on-Trent – Like an Emma over Bridgewater, Lizzie and Alfie take Dolly to Stoke’s famous pottery house to paint some gifts for the family. Plus, Lizzie enthralls Alfie with an exploration of Orchestras on tour.

***

Sister Act: the Musical 2023-24 UK/Ireland Tour Tickets: https://www.sisteractthemusical.co.uk/

Show Socials: https://twitter.com/80Playspodcast -- https://www.instagram.com/thrashntreasurepodcast/ -- https://www.tumblr.com/aroundtheworldin80playspod E-mail suggestions/questions: 80playspodcast@gmail.com

Lizzie on Socials: https://twitter.com/LizzieBea3 -- https://www.instagram.com/lizziebea101/ Alfie on Socials: https://twitter.com/ParkerAlfie -- https://www.instagram.com/parkeralfie/

Also, support '80Plays' and buy our theme song 'Blue Sky' and help support our show! - https://www.thetonastontales.com/bookstore/p/blue-sky-by-walken-mp3-around-the-world-in-80-plays-podcast-theme-song Or buy the full album 'Current Melbourne Temperature' by Walken from Bandcamp - https://walkentheband.bandcamp.com/album/current-melbourne-temperature

Or, sign up to our patreon - https://www.patreon.com/bloomingtheatricals

*** EXCLUSIVELY on The BLOOP Network!

Production Credits

Hosts: Lizzie Bea and Alfie Parker Producers: Aaron Ware (EP) and Spencer Sher (AP) Co-Producers: Alfie Parker and Lizzie Bea Editor: Aaron Ware Location Assistant: Seher Ackrim Theatre Photography Courtesy of Kristian Lavercombe Podcast Support Pets: Dolly the Dog; Belle the Dog Press/Advertising Enquiries: 80playspodcast@gmail.com Theme Song ‘Blue Sky’ by Walken (written by Baines, Bowie, Smith, Soussan, Tsipas) Buy the ‘Blue Sky’ MP3 single and help support ‘Around the World in 80 Plays’ at https://www.thetonastontales.com/bookstore/p/blue-sky-by-walken-mp3-around-the-world-in-80-plays-podcast-theme-song Additional Music and 'Dolly's Theme' Composed by Jonathan Wagner Music Video for Blue Sky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXeCN0yRfcU Powered by Transistor.FM

[montesfamilyblog]

DreamWorks/Big Idea's "VeggieTales" Reimagine Projects

1. VeggieTown Reunion Values:

VeggieTown Reunion Values, also known as VeggieTown Values For VBS Reunion, is an upcoming series of Vacation Bible School (VBS) curriculums that will be made by Big Idea, Kingstone Studios, DreamWorks Animation, and Universal Pictures, for churches to use in their children's ministries. It featured the VeggieTales characters in a suburban setting to teach many of the values and morals taught in the VeggieTales video series.

Each kit came with resources to use including booklets explaining the curriculum, clip art, music, activities, and exclusive DVD cds made specifically for the programs. This segments included such DVD cds as: VeggieTales Stories — Shortened and edited versions of segments from the VeggieTales videos to help reinforce the curriculum and lessons being taught. • Cartoon/Animation • Home Video • Cast/Celebrity Helping Kids Talk — A resource video hosted by sisters Chole and Halle Bailey to help leaders and volunteers understand how to help and encourage children and students in the program. • Puppets Greetings From Bob & Larry — A series of short, humorous greetings from Bob and Larry that welcome the children to VeggieTown and introduce the day’s lesson and theme. • Song

Theme Music: VeggieTales Theme Song (VeggieTown Values version)

DVD Episodes: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. TBA 5. TBA 6. TBA 7. TBA 8. TBA 9. TBA 10. TBA

Songs: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. TBA 5. TBA 6. TBA 7. TBA 8. TBA 9. TBA 10. TBA

2. VeggieTales Reunion Live!:

VeggieTales Reunion Live! is an upcoming and tenth VeggieTales Live! show, that will be produced sometime around this year or next year. It will be toured on Seventh-Day Adventist Churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Broadway, North American Tour, UK & Ireland Tour, Australian Tour, International Tour, Cruise Lines, Carnival Festivals, and Amusements parks. And coming soon, one of the show will be filmed at West Palm Beach Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church, also, to be released into a DVD, streamed on Peacock, premiered on YouTube, and on Television. It also features an Adventist gospel group Heritage Singers (founded by the late Mace Mace).

Synopsis The Veggies are reuniting! Bob, Larry and the whole crew are back on stage with the silliest Silly Song Countdown ever! They have prepared the best of the best, the most classic of the classic, and the absolute silliest of the silly. But sometimes silliness just isn't enough! Archie prefers lesson songs, Mr. Lunt wants to sing about food, and Jimmy and Jerry are stuck in the 2000's! Everyone wants their turn, and their songs in the show, but there's only so much time! The entire VeggieTales crew will have to learn the importance of sharing to make this show work! A quirky song and dance spectacular for the whole family, this show will have you singing along, dancing in the aisles and smiling so hard your teeth will ache! Fan favorites include classic silly songs such as His Cheeseburger, I Love My Lips, The Hairbrush Song, and so many more! So join your favorite singing and dancing Veggies and the Heritage Singers!

DVD Synopsis Have we got a reunion live show for you! Bob, Larry, and the whole veggie crew are back on stage with the silliest Silly Song Countdown ever! This high energy song and dance spectacular takes silliness to a whole new level! But sometimes silliness just isn't enough! Archibald Asparagus prefers songs with meaning, Mr. Lunt wants to sing about food, and Jimmy and Jerry are stuck in the 2000's! But there's only so much time… will the Veggies learn the importance of sharing so that the show can go on and everyone will be able to sing themselves whatever they want??

Songs

Intermission (Before Act One) • I'll Find You - Lecrae, Tori Kelly • Winter Wonderland/Don't Worry, Be Happy - Pentatonix, Tori Kelly

Act 1 1. VeggieTales Theme Song - VeggieTales Cast 2. The Water Buffalo Song - Larry The Cucumber 3. Big Things Too - Junior and Archibald Asparagus 4. Song of Glory - Heritage Singers (Scott Reed & Tim Davis) 5. The Song of the Cebú - Larry The Cucumber, Jimmy and Jerry Gourd, Junior and Archibald Asparagus 6. Dance of the Cucumber - Larry The Cucumber, Bob The Tomato 7. God is Bigger - Bob The Tomato, Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot 8. His Cheeseburger - Mr. Lunt 9. Love My Lips - Larry The Cucumber, Archibald Asparagus 10. I Am Not Ashamed - Heritage Singers (Shani Judd Diehl) 11. Set Me On The Rock - Heritage Singers (Tim Calhoun, Dave Bell, Tim Davis) 12. That Sounds Like Home To Me - Heritage Singers (Miguel Verazas, Max Mace, Adriane Mace)

Intermission (Before Act 2) • Because of Love - Heritage Singers (Tim Davis) • Leave Before You Love Me (Last Christmas Mashup) - Josh Dela Cruz, Kathryn de Rende

Act 2 1. Oh Happy Day/Nothing But The Blood - Heritage Singers (Tim Davis) 2. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (remix version) - Larry The Cucumber, Pa Grape, Mr. Lunt 3. The B-I-B-L-E/I Am A C H R I S T I A N - Larry The Cucumber, Mr. Lunt 4. I Can Only Imagine - Heritage Singers (Scott Reed, sign by Holly Reed) 5. Endangered Love - Larry The Cucumber, Bob The Tomato 6. Belly Button - Boyz in the Sink, Wilfredo Montalvo 7. The Lighthouse - Heritage Singers (Max Mace, Tim Davis, Adriane Mace, Marcelo Constanzo, Dave Bell) 8. The Hairbrush Song - Boyz in the Sink 9. Bubble Rap - Boyz in the Sink, Wilfredo Montalvo 10. What Have We Learned - The French Peas, Petunia Rhubarb, Madame Blueberry, The French Peas, Mr. Nezzer 11. I Can Be Your Friend - Boyz in the Sink 12. VeggieTales Theme Song (Live Show Finale Version) - VeggieTales Cast

Intermission (After Finale) • VeggieTales Remix - Shama Mrema • Peacespeaker - Heritage Singers (Annette Morrow, Tim Davis, Judy Gipson Knapp)

Host • Holly Reed as Bernice Voiced Dubbed by: • Stephanie Beatriz - Seventh-Day Adventist Churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Anna Kendrick - Broadway • Isabela Merced - North American, Australian, International, UK & Ireland Tour • Halle Bailey - Cruise Lines, Carnival Festivals, and Amusements parks

Dancers • Holly Reed • Miguel Verazas • Ariana Greenblatt • Yolanda Renee King • Melody Davis • Tim Davis • Shani Judd Diehl • Scott Reed • Dave Bell • Tim Calhoun

Rappers • Wilfredo Montalvo

Members of Heritage Singers

Singers • Dave Bell • Tim Calhoun • Marcelo Constanzo • Melody Davis • Tim Davis • Cindy Haffner • Shani Judd Diehl • Val Mace Mapa • Scott Reed • Adriane Mace • Miguel Verazas

Band • Art Mapa– guitars • Austin Mapa – drums • Nino Ocampo – bass • Joel Umali – keyboards

Technical • Tim Davis – vocal arranger and producer • Greg Mace – sound engineer • Lucy Mace - tour manager • Art Mapa – music arranger, producer, programmer

List of shows

Seventh-Day Adventist Churches • TBA

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • TBA

Broadway • TBA

North American Tour • TBA

UK & Ireland Tour • TBA

Australian Tour • TBA

International Tour • TBA

Cruise Lines • TBA

Carnival Festivals • TBA

Amusements parks • TBA

3. Very Veggie Silly Stories - Series 3:

Very Veggie Silly Stories, also known as The VeggieTales Podcast, is a podcast based on VeggieTales. Each episode is released weekly and includes original stories, special guests, and classic VeggieTales songs.

The first episode of the first season was released on May 17th, 2022, with the last episode being released on August 23rd, 2022. The first episode of the second season was released on November 3, 2023, with the last episode being released on December 22nd, 2023. On July 2024, the third season was announced with new voice cast, special guest, and 10 episodes, that will be made by Big Idea, Kingstone Studios, DreamWorks Animation, and Universal Pictures, and sometime set to release in 2025 or 2026.

Special Guests: • Will Arnett as TBA • Seth Rogen as TBA • Paul Rudd as TBA • Chris Pratt as TBA • Patton Oswalt as TBA • Michael Keaton as TBA • Jack Black as TBA • Owen Wilson as TBA • John Cho as TBA • Antonio Banderas as TBA

Theme music for the VeggieTales podcast series 3: "It’s Time For VeggieTales (tune of “Play Along With Sam” from Nick Jr’s titled series)" by Sam Moran

Episodes: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. TBA 5. TBA 6. TBA 7. TBA 8. TBA 9. TBA 10. TBA

Songs: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. TBA 5. TBA 6. TBA 7. TBA 8. TBA 9. TBA 10. TBA

Sponsors: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. TBA 5. TBA 6. TBA 7. TBA 8. TBA 9. TBA 10. TBA

4. LarryBoy: a VeggieTales Movie:

An upcoming LarryBoy film will be made by Big Idea and Kingstone Studios, Produced by DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Universal Pictures, set to be released in 2026.

This will be the third feature-length VeggieTales movie, after 2002's Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie and 2008's The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie.

Phil Vischer has confirmed in a tweet that he will return as the co-director of the upcoming film, and Mike Nawrocki will also return as the writer and director.

The original working title of the film was "LarryBoy Begins" as shown in a now deleted post on the official VeggieTales X account. A later post refers to the upcoming movie as simply "LarryBoy."

Mandy Patinkin as Awful Alvin Amy Poehler as Adèle Pepper

5. Untitled "3-2-1 Penguins!" Movie:

A spin-off to an upcoming LarryBoy film will be made by Big Idea and Kingstone Studios, Produced by DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Universal Pictures, set to be released in 2027.

Voice Cast: 1. Hugh Jackman as Zidgel 2. Kenan Thompson as Kevin 3. Kel Mitchell as Midgel 4. Josh Server as Fidgel 5. Lori Beth Denberg as Agnes and Winnifred, Marcy, Jason and Michelle Conrad, Grandmum Conrad 6. Jake Gyllenhaal as Uncle Blobb 7. Phil Vischer as Buck Denver, Brother Louie, Captain Pete, Chuck Waggin, Pastor Paul, Sunday School Lady, Clive and Ian, Dr. Schniffenhousen, Michael, Granddad Conrad 8. Angelique Bates as Angela 9. Alisa Reyes as Allie 10. Katrina Johnson as Katerina 11. Amanda Bynes as Kandace 12. Jon Stewart as Buzz-Saw Louie

6. The Slugs & Bugs Movie:

Another spin-off to an upcoming LarryBoy film will be made by Big Idea and Kingstone Studios, Produced by DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Universal Pictures, set to be released in 2027.

Live Action Cast: 1. Randall Goodgame as Mr. Randall 2. Julie Andrews as Miss Julie 3. Giullian Yao Gioiello as Gus 4. Alyson Stoner as Lynn 5. Andrew Peterson as Clayton 6. Charli D'Amelio as Miley 7. Dixie D'Amelio as Maya 8. Cody Linley as Preston 9. Iain Armitage as Xavier 10. Ariana Greenblatt as Xena

Voice Cast: 1. Isabela Merced as Maggie Raccoon 2. MattyBRaps (aka Matthew David Morris) as Sparky the Lightning Bug 3. Johnny Orlando as Doug the Slug 4. Shawn Mendes as Morty Raccoon 5. Phil Vischer as Hugo the Duck, Toby the Dog 6. Mike Nawrocki as Dan, Gabe, Peyton, Qwerty the Computer 7. Anna Kendrick as Danielle, Peri, Riley 8. Stephanie Beatriz as Fizz, Gabrielle 9. Ben Affleck as Hank 10. Will Smith as Spike

7. The VeggieTales Show: A Reunion Special:

The VeggieTales Show (often marketed as simply VeggieTales) is an American Christian computer-animated television series created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. The series served as a revival and sequel of the American Christian computer-animated franchise VeggieTales. It was produced through the partnerships of TBN, NBCUniversal, Big Idea Entertainment, and Trilogy Animation, and ran from October 22, 2019, to April 1, 2022. Vischer, Nawrocki, and Lisa Vischer reprised their respective roles as the voices of Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and Junior Asparagus, with Kurt Heinecke returning to compose the show's music score. They are joined by the creative team led by show-runner Todd Waterman. It was the last VeggieTales production to involve the Vischers, Nawrocki and Heinecke before their departure from the franchise in 2021, and the last VeggieTales production to feature Big Idea Entertainment as a corporate entity, before the company shut down production and became an in-name unit in 2021. On July 2024, The Reunion TV special was announced that will be made by Big Idea, Kingstone Studios, DreamWorks Animation, and Universal Pictures, alongside the new voice cast, set to be released sometime in 2026 or 2027.

8. The Bob & Larry Movie:

The origin story of VeggieTales hosts Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber reveals how they met, how they got their own show, and answers the question how vegetables and fruit talk. This was intended to be the first film in the series to feature humans. According to Phil Vischer, "Since Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie was our Ten Commandments, The Bob and Larry Movie would be our Toy Story." The Bob and Larry Movie was originally planned to be the second VeggieTales film with a release date in late 2005. It was placed into production in early 2002, toward the end of production of Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002). However, Big Idea Productions fell into bankruptcy in late 2002 and the film was placed on hiatus, deemed too expensive. Phil Vischer then wrote The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie to replace this movie. In 2008, it was considered to be the sequel to The Pirates who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, but talks stalled after the 2008 recession had led to the bankruptcy of VeggieTales owner Entertainment Rights and Classic Media. According to Phil Vischer in 2018, "I have a copy of The Bob and Larry script on my laptop, but probably won't release it because it is technically owned by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. It will hopefully be produced in the near future." According to Vischer, the film would have begun with a brief synopsis of how talking vegetables were involved in world history, which would be described as a "rare, but recurring phenomenon". One example would have shown tomb paintings of a pharaoh consulting with a leek. Bob the Tomato would be working in local TV news hosting a segment called "Farm Report", while Larry the Cucumber would work as a tester at a chicken hat factory (on account of the fact that his head was chicken-sized). Bob would make a report on the factory, and first meet Larry through several antics involving the chicken hats. Bob the Tomato would also be renting an apartment in a nightstand of a human boy named Dexter. In 2019, Talks of the movie were first brought up when Phil Vischer got a call from Universal to possibly do the upcoming Bob and Larry movie, mainly thanks to an executive at Universal previously being an executive at Artisan Entertainment, which was the distributor of Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. Phil is currently giving some story re-ideas for what the movie could possibly be about. The movie was first teased by Phil Vischer on the same day that the revival series, The VeggieTales Show, was announced, with Phil saying that Universal was developing it and further stating that DreamWorks will have no involvement in the movie. Phil later clarified that the movie isn't in production at the moment, and still has to find its funding before it can fully be made and put into the production pipeline. He also stated that it was most likely going to be based around a Bible story. In 2020, Mike Nawrocki reaffirmed that a new VeggieTales movie was in re-development. On June 29, 2021, Phil Vischer revealed on his Twitter that he, along with Lisa Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, and Kurt Heinecke, had been completely laid off by Universal from working on future VeggieTales-related projects when Big Idea shut down. As a result, Universal shut down Big Idea completely when the four people all got laid off. Most likely due to all of this, the film possibly got shelved. On July 2024, the upcoming movie was officially revealed to be un-scrapped and un-shelved, that it would re-launch Big Idea to save the company, and projected 2027 theatrical release, as the fourth VeggieTales movie, alongside the voice cast.

Terry Crews as Bruce Onion and Gourdon Smithson 9. A VeggieTales Reunion Christmas Special:

A VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular! was a VeggieTales television special. It retells the story of The Toy That Saved Christmas, the first Christmas special of the series. It originally aired on Ion Television (formerly Pax TV) in 1998, 1999, and 2000. On July 2024, The Reunion Christmas Television Special was announced and set to air on TBN in 2025, on PBS in 2026, and on NBC in 2027, hosted by Awkwafina and Zion Hwang, It will retell the story of The Best Christmas Gift (from The VeggieTales Show), and also the remake with the new voice cast, and be made by Big Idea and Kingstone Studios, Produced by DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Plot

Opening The special took place on a big stage where the Veggies have ostensibly booked time with a major network to air a special film as part for the VeggieTales Reunion Christmas Spectacular! However, one big problem becomes almost immediately clear - Zion Hwang can't find the film. Given this discouraging news, the Veggies attempt to fill the time with a variety of musical performances. The first song is performed by Junior Asparagus who is being uplinked by satellite live from the Holy Lands. He sings the song "While By My Sheep" surrounded by a flock of sheep that bleat along with the melody. When the satellite uplink is lost, the Veggies continue to scramble while Pa Grape attempts to buy time with the network, which is threatening to pull the plug on the production. The second song is "Silly Songs With Larry" where Bob, Larry, and the rest of the VeggieTales Gang sings "The Eight Polish Foods of Christmas".

Silly Songs with Larry see The Eight Polish Foods of Christmas.

Before the Film The third musical number features Archibald Asparagus singing a German folk song, "Ring, Little Bells", while ringing some bells. Larry joins in, but as the song ends the Veggies learn that the network is about to pull the plug. Fortunately, the film reel is found by Jimmy and Jerry with the feature The Best Christmas Gift is shown. Zion Hwang, Awkwafina, Bob and Larry are so happy that the Gourd brothers finally found the film

The Film Plays The Film opens on Bob and Larry are preparing for their first Christmas show in Mr. Nezzer’s theater and the show seems to be headed for disaster. Bob begins to wonder how to celebrate Christmas when everything is going wrong. It’s only when the Veggies go back to the very first Christmas, where times were tough and things didn’t seem to be working out, that they all learn the promise of Christmas – God is with us. It’s a timeless story of hope that every family will enjoy!

Closing As Awkwafina and Zion Hwang begin to wrap up, they get news from Pa Grape that the network loves the film. While Awkwafina and Zion Hwang are initially excited, it's eventually revealed that the network wasn't watching the right channel, and that they missed the entire show. While initially disappointed, Zion Hwang, Awkwafina, Bob and Larry still wish the people watching a Merry Christmas!

Hosts: • Awkwafina • Zion Hwang

Phil Vischer as Goliath Hugh Jackman as Khalil

Songs • "VeggieTales Theme Song" • "While By My Sheep" • "The Eight Polish Foods of Christmas" • "Ring, Little Bells" • "Christmas Foods" • "Junior Shepherd" • "Wisemen" • "Let There Be Joy" • "Kingdom of God" • "O Goliath"

10. DreamWorks Theatre (VeggieTales characters & other DreamWorks characters update):

The DreamWorks Theatre is an attraction at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. It was made by re-designing the previous Shrek 4-D attraction to showcase all characters from DreamWorks Animation's various works, starting with those from the Kung Fu Panda franchise. The attraction opened on June 15, 2018, replacing Shrek 4-D. On July 2024, an attraction announced that it would be updated with VeggieTales characters and the rest of the DreamWorks characters.

Voice cast • Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf • Marc Maron as Mr. Snake • Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula and Zhen • Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark • Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha • Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade • Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington/Crimson Paw • Jack Black as Po and Lenny • Angelina Jolie as Tigress and Lola • Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu • J. K. Simmons as Kai • Jackie Chan as Monkey • Lucy Liu as Viper • Seth Rogen as Mantis • David Cross as Crane • James Hong as Mr. Ping • Randall Duk Kim as Oogway • Kevin Hart as George Beard • Thomas Middleditch as Harold Hutchins • Ed Helms as Benjamin Krupp/Captain Underpants • Nick Kroll as Professor Poopypants • Jordan Peele as Melvin Sneedly • Ryan Reynolds as Guy and Theo/Turbo • Bill Hader as Hiccup • America Ferrera as Astrid Hofferson • Hugh Jackman as Roddy St. James • Kate Winslet as Rita Malone • Ben Stiller as Alex • Chris Rock as Marty • David Schwimmer as Melman • Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria • Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien XIII • Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice • Andy Richter as Mort • Tom McGrath as Skipper • Alec Baldwin as Theodore Templeton • James Marsden as Timothy "Tim" Templeton • Emma Stone as Eep Crood • Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood • Clark Duke as Thunk Crood • Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood • Cloris Leachman as Gran • Anna Kendrick as Poppy • Justin Timberlake as Branch • Will Smith as Oscar • Troye Sivan as Floyd • Eric André as John Dory • Kid Cudi as Clay • Daveed Diggs as Spruce • Camila Cabello as Viva • Olivia Rodrigo as Diva • Anne Hathaway as Toppy • Lauryn Hill as Tanya • Zooey Deschanel as Bridget • Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Gristle • Gwen Stefani as DJ Suki • James Corden as Biggie • Ron Funches as Cooper • Aino Jawo as Satin • Caroline Hjelt as Chenille • Kunal Nayyar as Guy Diamond • Walt Dohrn as Smidge • Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond • Mike Myers as Shrek • Eddie Murphy as Donkey • Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona • Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots • Salma Hayek Pinault as Kitty Softpaws • Harvey Guillén as Perrito • Conrad Vernon as Gingerbread Man, Rico, Mason and Phil • Aron Warner as Wolf • Christopher Knights as Three Blind Mice • Cody Cameron as Pinocchio, Three Pigs • Chris Miller as Magic Mirror, Geppetto • Lana Condor as Ruby Gillman • Toni Collette as Agatha Gillman • Jane Fonda as Grandmamah • Sam Richardson as Uncle Brill • Colman Domingo as Arthur Gillman • Jaboukie Young-White as Connor • Blue Chapman as Sam Gillman • Reese Witherspoon as Susan/Ginormica • Seth Rogen as B.O.B. • Hugh Laurie as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. • Will Arnett as The Missing Link • Kiefer Sutherland as General W.R. Monger • Paul Rudd as Derek Dietl

11. VeggieTales Sideshow Spin Reintroduction:

VeggieTales Sideshow Spin was a kiddie coaster at Dollywood. It operated at the park from 2005 to 2016. The ride was once themed to the VeggieTales series before the name was dropped in 2012.

History For the 2005 season, Dollywood expanded the County Fair section by adding new family rides. One of these rides was an L&T Systems kiddie coaster named VeggieTales Sideshow Spin. The original color scheme was a pink track with silver supports.  

In 2012, the attraction was renamed to Sideshow Spin. All references to the VeggieTales series had to be removed. The ride was repainted with an emerald green track with peach supports.  

After the 2016 season, Sideshow Spin was sent to Kentucky Shores Family Fun Center where it became Veggie Tale Spin in 2017. However, the new ride wouldn't last long. It was removed in 2018 due to the ground being too soft. In 2019, the ride was sent to London, UK.

In July 2024, Sideshow Spin is announced that it will be reintroduced at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, during the upcoming VeggieTales Reunion Live Show, and parade.

12. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie/The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie/LarryBoy: A VeggieTales Movie Triple Feature:

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie/The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie/LarryBoy: A VeggieTales Movie Triple Feature is an upcoming triple feature consisting of both the feature-length VeggieTales movies. It is set to be released in 2027.

Description Site description Twice the VeggieTales hilarity! In Jonah, Bob and Larry learn about second chances on a whale of an adventure. And in The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, Larry, Mr. Lunt, and Pa Grape are mysteriously whisked back to the days of seafaring bandits! In LarryBoy, The city of Bumblyburg needs a Superhero! Can they rescue the royal family from evil cheese curls and giant rock monsters?

Cover Description TWICE THE VEGGIETALES MOVIE FUN! Jonah: A VeggieTales MovieJoin the entire VeggieTales crew as they set sail on a whale of an adventure. Bob the Tomato and his Veggie friends are driving to a concert when they meet up with the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. The Pirates tell the story of Jonah the Whale[sic], a messenger who enjoyed delivering messages from God until God asked him to deliver one to a place he didn't want to go to. So, he ended up swallowed by a whale. Fortunately, God believes in second chances, so Jonah ends up just fine and learns that one of the best gifts you can give - or get - is a second chance. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales MovieGarrrrr! Working at The Pirate Times Dinner Theater is less than exciting when you're a busboy. For three moping misfits-- Elliot, Sedgewick and George (Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape)-all they dream of is the day when they can take stage to star in a show at the dinner theater. It seems as if any kind off[sic] starring role will never come their way…until unexpectedly they find themselves on the ride of their lives when they are mysteriously whisked back to the time when pirates ruled the high seas. They must each trust God toface[sic] their own fears--helping them become unlikely heroes in a battle to rescue a royal family from an evil tyrant, evil cheese curls and giant rock monsters. It's a boatload of fun for the for the[sic] whole family!

LarryBoy: A VeggieTales Movie Watch Out Citizens! LarryBoy is coming to your rescue, fight crime, and stop the villains!

Films included • Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002) • The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008) • LarryBoy: A VeggieTales Movie (2026)

Fun Facts Trivia • It will be the first release to be made by Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Big Idea, and Kingstone Studios. • The main menu has Tori Kelly's cover version of the late Selena Quintanilla's "Dreaming Of You".

Production Companies: • Big Idea • Kingstone Studios • DreamWorks Animation

Distributed by: • Universal Pictures

Written and Directed by: • Phil Vischer • Mike Nawrocki

Produced by: • Amy Poehler • Lisa Vischer

Music by: • Kurt Heinecke

Main Voice Cast: Dwayne Johnson as Bob The Tomato/ThingamaBob Kevin Hart as Larry The Cucumber/LarryBoy Sam Moran as Archibald Asparagus/Alfred Tiffany Haddish as Petunia Rhubarb/Vouge Jeff Fatt as Mr. Lunt/S-Cape EvanTubeHD as Junior Asparagus/Ricochet Ryan Reynolds as Jimmy Gourd Jesse Eisenberg as Jerry Gourd Greg Page as Jean-Claude Pea Paul Paddick as Phillipe Pea Murray Cook as Pa Grape Rachel Crow as Laura Carrot David Mann as Mr. Nezzer Emma Watkins as Madame Blueberry/Mayor Blueberry

Supporting Voice Cast:

Phillip Wilcher as Norman the Peach

Jason Segel as Scooter Carrot/Officer Scooter

Amy Adams as Miss Minchin

Justin Bieber as Gary Garlic

Selena Gomez as Callie Flower

Kathryn Bernardo as Annie Onion

Daniel Padilla as Percy Pea

Bill Hader as Mike Asparagus (Speaking Voice)

Mindy Kaling as Lisa Asparagus (Speaking Voice)

Tony Hale as Phil Carrot

Liza Lapira as Carol Carrot

Tim Davis (from the Heritage Singers) as Mike Asparagus (Singing Voice)

Melody Davis (from the Heritage Singers) as Lisa Asparagus (Singing Voice)

Minor Voice Cast:

Vanessa Williams as Vanna Banana

Tom Holland as Lou Carrot

Timotheé Chalamet as Lenny Carrot

Anne Hathaway as Katrina and Sabrina

Tori Kelly as Mirabelle

with The Wiggles as The Scallions:

Anthony Field as Scallion 1

Simon Pryce as Scallion 2

Tsehay Hawkins as Miss Achmetha

Lachlan Gillespie as Scallion 3

Lucia Field as Jenna Chive

Caterina Mete as Ermie Asparagus

Evie Ferris as Lily Asparagus

John Pearce as Li'l Pea

and Pentatonix as Shux:

Scott Hoying as Wedge

Mitch Grassi as Stub

Kirstin Maldonado as Cassie Cassava

Kevin Olusola as Colin

Matt Sallee as Christophe Pea

[brookston]

Holidays 3.2

Holidays

Adwa Victory Day (Ethiopia)

Air Force Day (Sri Lanka)

American Citizenship Day (Puerto Rico)

Antarctica Crossing Day

Baloch Culture Day (Balochistan)

Brother and Sister Day

Claudette Colvin Day

Dia de la Ciudadania Americana (Puerto Rico)

Dr. Seuss Day

Elm Day (French Republic)

Everything Acts To Further Day

Farmers’ Day (Myanmar)

Give Up Easily Day

Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)

Highway Numbers Day

International Jim Magill Day

International Rescue Cat Awareness Day

International Tongue Twister Day [also 2nd Sunday in Nov.]

Jamahiriya Day (Libya)

James Roland Webster Day (Anguilla)

KCNQ2 International Awareness Day

Key Grip Day

Midnight at the Oasis Day (Arizona)

National Be Kind Day (Australia)

National Blackjack Day

National Salesperson Day

National Usher Syndrome Awareness Day (UK)

National Walter Day

Old Stuff Day

Peasants’ Day (Burma)

Read Across America Day [Weekday closest to 3.2]

She Decides Day

302 Day

The Toddle Waddle

University Mental Health and Wellbeing Day (UK)

Vietnam War Anniversary Day

Victory at Adwa Day (Ethiopia)

World Book Day (Ireland; UK)

World Information Architecture Day

World Teen Mental Wellness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Banana Cream Pie Day

National Chicken Fried Rib Day

National Egg McMuffin Day

3.2 Beer Day

Welsh Venison Day

1st Saturday in March

Iditarod Dogsled Race begins [Saturday of 1st Full Weekend]

International Open Data Day [1st Saturday]

National American Paddlefish Day

National Platypus Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National R&B Music Day [1st Saturday]

Running of the Reindeer (Alaska) [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sock Monkey Day [1st Saturday]

World Telemark Day [1st Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 2

Sea Week [thru 3.10]

Independence & Related Days

La Union Province Day (Philippines)

Morocco (French-Moroccan Agreement signed; 1956)

Rhodesia (Proclaimed Republic; 1970)

Texas (from Mexico; 1836)

Festivals Beginning March 2, 2024

Adelaide Writers’ Week (Adelaide, Australia) [thru 3.7]

Annual Barrel Tasting (Sonoma County, California) [thru 3.3]

Big Brew Beer Festival (Morristown, New Jersey)

Boston Wine Expo (Boston, Massachusetts) [thru 3.3]

Capitol Beer Fest (Sacramento, California)

Chocolate, Brew & Wone Tour (Bel Air, Maryland)

Iditarod Dogsled Race (Alaska) [1st Saturday; thru 2.17]

Melodifestivalen (Karlstad, Sweden)

Parke County Maple Syrup Festival (Indiana) [thru 3.3]

Penn Cove Musselfest (Coupeville, Washington) [thru 3.4]

Schell’s Bock Fest (New Elm, Minnesota)

Snohomish Wine Festival (Shohomish, Washington) [thru 3.2]

Feast Days

Agnes of Bohemia (Christian; Saint)

Angela of the Cross (Christian; Saint)

Ascent of the Christ of the Gypsies (Alleluyas)

Ceadda (Celtic God of Healing Waters)

Chad of Mercia (a.k.a. Ceadda; Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church)

Charles the Good, Count of Flanders (Christian; Blessed)

Crows Search Days begin (Celtic Book of Days)

Democritus (Positivist; Saint)

Dr. Seuss (Writerism)

Feast of 'Alá (Loftiness; Baha’i)

Feast of the Martyrs under the Lombards (Christian)

Holy Wells Day (Celtic)

Icovellauna Water Festival (Ouranian God of Ale Brewing)

Joavan (a.k.a. Joevin or Jovinus; Christian; Saint)

John Irving (Writerism)

John Maron (Christian; Saint)

March Nymphs’ Parade (Shamanism)

Marnan of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Mindfulness Day (Zen Buddhism)

Mother March Day (Everyday Wicca)

Nineteen-Day Fast begins (a.k.a. Feast of 'Alá or Loftiness; Baha'i)

Omizu-okuri Festival ("Water Carrying;" Japan)

Paul (Muppetism)

Robert Williams (Artology)

Rule of St. Benedict Day

Simplicius (Christian; Saint)

Tagliatelle Day (Pastafarian)

Tea and Camellias Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Victor Charreton (Artology)

War of Oranges Anniversary Day

Wonder Woman Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [14 of 71]

Prime Number Day: 61 [18 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [16 of 57]

Premieres

Against All Odds (Film; 1984)

The Bremen Town Musicians (ComicColor Cartoon; 1935)

Bugs and Thugs (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Come As You Are, by Nirvana (Song; 1992)

Diner (Film; 1982)

Dude Duck (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Gnome Alone (Animated Film; 2018)

The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck (Novel; 1931)

Gooney’s Goofy Landings (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1970)

The Hunt for Red October (Film; 1990)

I Haven’t Got a Hat (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

I’m a Man, recorded by Bo Diddly (Song; 1955)

King Kong (Film; 1933)

The Lathe of Heaven, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Novel; 1971)

Like a Prayer, y Madonna (Song; 1989)

Log Jammed (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

London Has Fallen (Film; 2016)

The Lorax (Animated Film; 2012)

Lost in the Funhouse, by John Barth (Short Stories; 1968)

The Mexican (Film; 2001)

The Night Life of the Gods, by Thorne Smith (Novel; 1931)

Norma Rae (Film; 1979)

November Rain, by Guns N’ Roses (Song; 1992)

Red Sparrow (Film; 2018)

Repo Man (Film; 1984)

The Secret Island, by Enid Blyton (Novel; 1938)

The Sound of Music (Film; 1965)

Stagecoach (Film; 1939)

Symphony No. 103 “The Drumroll” in E♭major by Joseph Haydn (Symphony; 1795)

Symphony No. 7 in C Major, by Jean Sibelius (SIngle-Movement Symphony; 1924)

This Is Spinal Tap (Mockumentary Film; 1984)

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1965)

Trio, by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt (Album; 1987)

Twist and Shout, by The Beatles (Song; 1964)

Under the Bridge, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Song; 1992)

Unpack Your Adjectives (Grammar Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1974)

Venus in Furs, by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (Novella; 1870)

Zodiac (Film; 2007)

Today’s Name Days

Agnes, Karl (Austria)

Čedomil, Ines, Iskra, Lucije (Croatia)

Anežka (Czech Republic)

Simplicius (Denmark)

Virge, Virgi, Virma, Virme, Virve, Virvi (Estonia)

Fanni, Fiona, Virva, Virve (Finland)

Charles (France)

Agnes, Karl, Volker (Germany)

Efthalia, Evthalia, Troadios (Greece)

Lujza (Hungary)

Ava, Basileo, Simpilicio (Italy)

Laila, Lavīze, Luīze (Latvia)

Dautara, Eitautas, Elena, Marcelinas (Lithuania)

Erna, Ernst (Norway)

Absalon, Franciszek, Halszka, Helena, Henryk, Januaria, Krzysztof, Lew, Michał, Paweł, Piotr, Radosław, Symplicjusz (Poland)

Nicolae, Teodot (Romania)

Anežka (Slovakia)

Simplicio (Spain)

Erna, Ernst (Sweden)

Absalom, Aksel, Axel, Chad, Chadwick (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 62 of 2024; 304 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 9 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 14 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 22 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 22 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 21 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 2 Green; Twosday [2 of 30]

Julian: 18 February 2024

Moon: 60%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 6 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Herodotus]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 73 of 89)

Week: 1st Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 13 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.2

Holidays

Adwa Victory Day (Ethiopia)

Air Force Day (Sri Lanka)

American Citizenship Day (Puerto Rico)

Antarctica Crossing Day

Baloch Culture Day (Balochistan)

Brother and Sister Day

Claudette Colvin Day

Dia de la Ciudadania Americana (Puerto Rico)

Dr. Seuss Day

Elm Day (French Republic)

Everything Acts To Further Day

Farmers’ Day (Myanmar)

Give Up Easily Day

Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)

Highway Numbers Day

International Jim Magill Day

International Rescue Cat Awareness Day

International Tongue Twister Day [also 2nd Sunday in Nov.]

Jamahiriya Day (Libya)

James Roland Webster Day (Anguilla)

KCNQ2 International Awareness Day

Key Grip Day

Midnight at the Oasis Day (Arizona)

National Be Kind Day (Australia)

National Blackjack Day

National Salesperson Day

National Usher Syndrome Awareness Day (UK)

National Walter Day

Old Stuff Day

Peasants’ Day (Burma)

Read Across America Day [Weekday closest to 3.2]

She Decides Day

302 Day

The Toddle Waddle

University Mental Health and Wellbeing Day (UK)

Vietnam War Anniversary Day

Victory at Adwa Day (Ethiopia)

World Book Day (Ireland; UK)

World Information Architecture Day

World Teen Mental Wellness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Banana Cream Pie Day

National Chicken Fried Rib Day

National Egg McMuffin Day

3.2 Beer Day

Welsh Venison Day

1st Saturday in March

Iditarod Dogsled Race begins [Saturday of 1st Full Weekend]

International Open Data Day [1st Saturday]

National American Paddlefish Day

National Platypus Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National R&B Music Day [1st Saturday]

Running of the Reindeer (Alaska) [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sock Monkey Day [1st Saturday]

World Telemark Day [1st Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 2

Sea Week [thru 3.10]

Independence & Related Days

La Union Province Day (Philippines)

Morocco (French-Moroccan Agreement signed; 1956)

Rhodesia (Proclaimed Republic; 1970)

Texas (from Mexico; 1836)

Festivals Beginning March 2, 2024

Adelaide Writers’ Week (Adelaide, Australia) [thru 3.7]

Annual Barrel Tasting (Sonoma County, California) [thru 3.3]

Big Brew Beer Festival (Morristown, New Jersey)

Boston Wine Expo (Boston, Massachusetts) [thru 3.3]

Capitol Beer Fest (Sacramento, California)

Chocolate, Brew & Wone Tour (Bel Air, Maryland)

Iditarod Dogsled Race (Alaska) [1st Saturday; thru 2.17]

Melodifestivalen (Karlstad, Sweden)

Parke County Maple Syrup Festival (Indiana) [thru 3.3]

Penn Cove Musselfest (Coupeville, Washington) [thru 3.4]

Schell’s Bock Fest (New Elm, Minnesota)

Snohomish Wine Festival (Shohomish, Washington) [thru 3.2]

Feast Days

Agnes of Bohemia (Christian; Saint)

Angela of the Cross (Christian; Saint)

Ascent of the Christ of the Gypsies (Alleluyas)

Ceadda (Celtic God of Healing Waters)

Chad of Mercia (a.k.a. Ceadda; Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church)

Charles the Good, Count of Flanders (Christian; Blessed)

Crows Search Days begin (Celtic Book of Days)

Democritus (Positivist; Saint)

Dr. Seuss (Writerism)

Feast of 'Alá (Loftiness; Baha’i)

Feast of the Martyrs under the Lombards (Christian)

Holy Wells Day (Celtic)

Icovellauna Water Festival (Ouranian God of Ale Brewing)

Joavan (a.k.a. Joevin or Jovinus; Christian; Saint)

John Irving (Writerism)

John Maron (Christian; Saint)

March Nymphs’ Parade (Shamanism)

Marnan of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Mindfulness Day (Zen Buddhism)

Mother March Day (Everyday Wicca)

Nineteen-Day Fast begins (a.k.a. Feast of 'Alá or Loftiness; Baha'i)

Omizu-okuri Festival ("Water Carrying;" Japan)

Paul (Muppetism)

Robert Williams (Artology)

Rule of St. Benedict Day

Simplicius (Christian; Saint)

Tagliatelle Day (Pastafarian)

Tea and Camellias Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Victor Charreton (Artology)

War of Oranges Anniversary Day

Wonder Woman Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [14 of 71]

Prime Number Day: 61 [18 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [16 of 57]

Premieres

Against All Odds (Film; 1984)

The Bremen Town Musicians (ComicColor Cartoon; 1935)

Bugs and Thugs (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Come As You Are, by Nirvana (Song; 1992)

Diner (Film; 1982)

Dude Duck (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Gnome Alone (Animated Film; 2018)

The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck (Novel; 1931)

Gooney’s Goofy Landings (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1970)

The Hunt for Red October (Film; 1990)

I Haven’t Got a Hat (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

I’m a Man, recorded by Bo Diddly (Song; 1955)

King Kong (Film; 1933)

The Lathe of Heaven, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Novel; 1971)

Like a Prayer, y Madonna (Song; 1989)

Log Jammed (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

London Has Fallen (Film; 2016)

The Lorax (Animated Film; 2012)

Lost in the Funhouse, by John Barth (Short Stories; 1968)

The Mexican (Film; 2001)

The Night Life of the Gods, by Thorne Smith (Novel; 1931)

Norma Rae (Film; 1979)

November Rain, by Guns N’ Roses (Song; 1992)

Red Sparrow (Film; 2018)

Repo Man (Film; 1984)

The Secret Island, by Enid Blyton (Novel; 1938)

The Sound of Music (Film; 1965)

Stagecoach (Film; 1939)

Symphony No. 103 “The Drumroll” in E♭major by Joseph Haydn (Symphony; 1795)

Symphony No. 7 in C Major, by Jean Sibelius (SIngle-Movement Symphony; 1924)

This Is Spinal Tap (Mockumentary Film; 1984)

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1965)

Trio, by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt (Album; 1987)

Twist and Shout, by The Beatles (Song; 1964)

Under the Bridge, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Song; 1992)

Unpack Your Adjectives (Grammar Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1974)

Venus in Furs, by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (Novella; 1870)

Zodiac (Film; 2007)

Today’s Name Days

Agnes, Karl (Austria)

Čedomil, Ines, Iskra, Lucije (Croatia)

Anežka (Czech Republic)

Simplicius (Denmark)

Virge, Virgi, Virma, Virme, Virve, Virvi (Estonia)

Fanni, Fiona, Virva, Virve (Finland)

Charles (France)

Agnes, Karl, Volker (Germany)

Efthalia, Evthalia, Troadios (Greece)

Lujza (Hungary)

Ava, Basileo, Simpilicio (Italy)

Laila, Lavīze, Luīze (Latvia)

Dautara, Eitautas, Elena, Marcelinas (Lithuania)

Erna, Ernst (Norway)

Absalon, Franciszek, Halszka, Helena, Henryk, Januaria, Krzysztof, Lew, Michał, Paweł, Piotr, Radosław, Symplicjusz (Poland)

Nicolae, Teodot (Romania)

Anežka (Slovakia)

Simplicio (Spain)

Erna, Ernst (Sweden)

Absalom, Aksel, Axel, Chad, Chadwick (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 62 of 2024; 304 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 9 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 14 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 22 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 22 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 21 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 2 Green; Twosday [2 of 30]

Julian: 18 February 2024

Moon: 60%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 6 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Herodotus]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 73 of 89)

Week: 1st Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 13 of 30)

[yorkcalling]

Sue Cleaver Announced for Sister Act at York Opera House

MON 6 MAY – SAT 11 MAY 2024 Grand Opera House York The producers of the Olivier Award-nominated production of SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL are delighted to announce that Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver will swap the Rovers for rosary beads as ‘Mother Superior’ in the UK and Ireland tour, and will be in York from 6 May 2024. Sue joins the company in Brighton, before playing Manchester Palace…

[screen1ne]

SUE CLEAVER to star as Mother Superior in the SISTER ACT UK and Ireland Tour

Praise the Lord! SUE CLEAVER to star as Mother Superior in the SISTER ACT UK and Ireland Tour Click for all the heavenly info #SueCleaver #Corrie #SisterActMusical #MotherSuperior @sisteractsocial

The producers of the 2023 Olivier Award nominated production of SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL are delighted to announce that Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver will swap the Rovers for rosary beads as ‘Mother Superior’ in the UK and Ireland tour, from Thursday 14 March 2024 at the Theatre Royal Brighton. Sister Act UK Tour trailer Sue joins the company in Brighton, before playing Manchester Palace…

[superrichlads]

“I always work off the motto of, ‘if you think you’re working hard, there’s always someone else who’s working harder’… there is nothing easy about the sport or music industries, and you have to work so hard to be successful.” - Niall Horan

On The Loose: released official fourth single from Flicker, including a radio edit, lyric video (rip), official video, behind the scenes video, Basic Tape remix, Slenderbodies remix, acoustic version, acoustic video, and vertical video So Long: performed unreleased song on piano throughout Flicker World Tour dates Mirrors EP: released on vinyl for Record Store Day 2018 Seeing Blind: released acoustic video, live video, and radio single in Australia Finally Free: released song for Smallfoot soundtrack and live video recorded at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles Flicker (song): released as a radio single in the Netherlands Flicker featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra: released live album in Ireland, featuring nine songs including an official live version of previously unreleased song So Long

81 tour dates: across Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, playing arenas, amphitheatres, state/regional fairs, and large theatres Featured opening acts & special guests: including Wild Youth (Killarney), Julia Michaels (Europe), RuthAnne (Dublin), Lewis Capaldi (Glasgow), Hailee Steinfeld (London), Maren Morris (NZ, Australia, the Americas), Jayda (Manila), Ming Bridges (Singapore), Sugar Me (Tokyo) Setlist: featured 14-15 original songs and 3-4 covers Regular covers: Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen), Crying in the Club (Camila Cabello), Drag Me Down and Fool’s Gold (One Direction) Covers for select tour dates: Dancing in the Moonlight (Thin Lizzy - Dublin night 1), Where the Street’s Have No Name (U2 - Dublin night 2), Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty - Greek Theatre LA, Red Rocks & others), New York State of Mind (Billy Joel - Jones Beach Theater, Long Island), Life in the Fast Lane (Eagles - final September tour dates) Filmed Red Rocks show: for potential future release Top 50 worldwide tours of 2018: selling more than 445,000 tickets

BBC Biggest Weekend: played a six-song set on the second day of the festival in Swansea Reputation Tour: special guest for Taylor Swift’s first night at Wembley Stadium, performing Slow Hands together RTÉ Concert Orchestra special: performed nine songs from the Flicker album for broadcast in Ireland, later broadcast in France & South Africa Sounds Like Friday Night: performed acoustic version of On The Loose & interview  New York State Fair: played the headline show on the final day of the fair Official livestream: of Flicker World Tour Amsterdam show, in partnership with Live Nation, for a global streaming audience Late Late Show: performed Slow Hands on London episode Virtual reality concert: made London Flicker Sessions show available on MelodyVR platform

Sounds Like Friday Night: interview on BBC RTE: interview with Eoghan McDermott, as part of RTE Concert Orchestra Special The Project: interview on Australian TV The Voice Australia: guest mentor with Delta Goodrem Today Show: interview on Australian TV Sunrise: interview on Australian TV Studio 10: interview on Australian TV Late Late Show: guest on London show, brief appearance on show in October

TalkSport: co-hosted breakfast radio show in January & September Dubai Desert Classic: played in Pro-Am with Rory McIlroy and a competition winner, and participated in a golf clinic, helping two of his Modest! Golf clients gain entry to the pro event US Golf Masters: ambassador for Drive, Chip & Putt competition Ladies golf: signed Maguire sisters to Modest! Golf, announced Ladies event for NI Open in 2019 Ryder Cup: played in celebrity match & Team Europe ambassador BMW PGA Championship: played in Pro-Am with the winner of a BBC Children in Need charity auction Sky Sports British Masters: played in Pro-Am Interviews: ESPN, SkySports, BBC Radio 5, Golf Channel, Bunkered, Ladies European Tour, The Irish Times, Golf Magic, among others LUFC: provoked an infamous Twitter clapback from Leeds United Modest! Golf: supported four players who have secured tour cards for 2019

Irish referendum: supported the yes vote to legalise abortion March for Our Lives: supported cousin’s participation in march for gun control US politics: publicly denounced Trump (again) US mid-term elections: urged US citizens to vote

Horan & Rose: hosted the second edition of the charity gala & golf event, upping the total money raised for charity to £1.5 million to date Charity t-shirt: released second charity t-shirt raising funds for Cancer Research UK and the Kate & Justin Rose Foundation Rays of Sunshine: hosted teens at Flicker World Tour London soundcheck & show, donated Jingle Bell Ball Santa shirt for charity raffle Charity auctions: donated items for multiple fundraisers, including a signed guitar & VIP concert experience for a Grammy auction raising $4,500 for Musicares Foundation; signed boots to a Small Steps charity auction, raising £1,130; signed artwork; signed guitar to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation auction, raising €4,000 Anti-bullying Week: supported efforts to stop cyber-bullying on Twitter Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr: supported Brazilian football superstar’s work providing education for kids in Praia Grande, Brazil World Cancer Day: supported Cancer Research UK’s Unity Band initiative LauraLynn Hospice: spent time with kids in hospice care before Flicker World Tour Dublin show

BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw: how real are these Niall Horan ‘facts’?, can Niall Horan remember his own lyrics? BBC Radio 1 Biggest Weekend: when Niall Horan met Shawn Mendes BBC Radio 1 Biggest Weekend with Matt & Mollie: Niall Horan answers questions he’s never been asked before EW: Niall Horan listens to Dua Lipa, Springsteen and more on tour - check out his exclusive playlist Billboard Pop Shop podcast: Niall Horan on new song 'Finally Free,' 'disappearing' after tour to work on next album & 8 Years of One Direction MORE FM: Niall Horan talks about his “intimate” connection with NZ The Edge afternoons with Jono, Ben & Sharon: Niall Horan talks about being mates with Dan Carter The Edge 30: Niall Horan says NZ is his favourite country to perform in Nova 969 Smallzy’s Surgery: could new Niall Horan music be on the way? Nova 969 Smallzy's Surgery: Smallzy’s backstage tour with Niall Horan Nova 969 Fitzy & Wippa: exclusive chat On Air with Ryan Seacrest: Niall Horan recalls best Flicker World Tour moments so far FUN 107 The Michael Rock Show: Niall Horan surprising secret to great hair Walk 97.5 Christina Kay: interview Coup de Main: interview - Niall Horan on his upcoming NZ show, recording live, and honesty in writing ‘Flicker’  Coup de Main cover story: interview - eye to eye with Niall Horan GQ Italia cover story: Niall Horan: my life after One Direction George Ezra & Friends the podcast: Series 2, Episode 1 Zeit Leo: "I get restless very quickly." Singer Niall Horan has a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder. How music helps him, he tells here.

GQ Italia: Music Issue cover shoot Paul Smith: guest at Paris fashion show and spent time with the designer in his studio Revista GQ: Niall Horan is, right now, the only person who knows how to wear a shirt with undershirt as it’s done in 2018 Fashion Bean: best-dressed men of the week

US RIAA certifications: Slow Hands 3 x platinum, This Town 2 x platinum UK Official Charts certifications: Flicker x gold Australia ARIA certifications: Slow Hands 5 x platinum, Flicker x gold Canada Gold/Platinum certifications: Slow Hands 5 x platinum, Too Much To Ask x platinum Chile certification: Flicker x platinum Songwriting awards: BMI London Pop Awards Song for Slow Hands, BMI Los Angeles Award Winning Songs for Slow Hands & This Town  Spotify milestone: Flicker surpassed 1 billion streams in June 2018 Billboard #1s: achieved his 9th solo Billboard chart number 1, with Too Much To Ask reaching #1 on the Dance Club Songs Chart Billboard Year-End 2018: achieved album, song, radio, social and artist entries on the year-end charts US radio: On the Loose became Niall's fourth Top 20 single on Hot AC radio, and fourth single to chart on Mainstream Pop, Hot AC & AC radio formats, reaching #22 on pop radio Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Finally Free nominated for Original Song - Animated Film RTE Choice Music Prize: Slow Hands nominated for Irish Song of the Year iHeartRadio Awards 2018: winner of Best New Pop Artist & Best Lyrics (Slow Hands)

April: using soundchecks to come up with ideas October: wrote a tune on the piano November: ‘3 days into making tunes and it’s feeling good !!!!!’, ‘exciting watching ideas come to life in the studio’, in the studio with Julian Bunetta & John Ryan in Los Angeles I / II / III / IV, RuthAnne Cunningham tells CelebMix she will be writing with Niall for NH2 December: ‘exciting week of writing’, writing session with Jamie Scott, Mike Needle & Dan Bryer in London, ‘very much in writing mode’

Everyone loved Niall: and Niall loved everyone, but especially Hailee Steinfeld, whom he quietly dated while avoiding the media circus which often surrounds celeb relationships.

Soundcheck Q&A and Meet & Greets: made fan engagement a central part of his Flicker World Tour experience Golf events: made time for fans who came out to see him play at pro-am events Maintained boundaries: called out fans for taking creep shots & obnoxious behaviour Calmed audiences: and looked out for the wellbeing of fans at his shows, especially in Latin America Twitter & Instagram: read and responded to fan tweets and questions with a mixture of sincerity, gratitude, brutal honesty, and humour Jade: made one young fan’s night (/life) by inviting her up on stage to dance at the Allentown Fair show

Baby Marit: melted hearts everywhere offering reassurance to two new dads

[onestowatch]

30 Artists To Watch on Tour This Spring 2019

Ah, what a season spring is. It is a time of rebirth, from the super bloom of poppies that are flooding Instagram feeds to even young love that will last at the very least until summer. Yet, one facet of spring is more magical than any pretty flower or whirlwind romance -- we are of course talking about spring tours!

This spring, the best of the best of rising artists will be embarking on tours across the world, playing world renowned festivals and likely a show in a city near you. Yet, with hundreds, if not thousands, of artists embarking on tour this spring, how could you ever decide who to see? No need to fret, as we here at Ones To Watch have already solved that problem for you. These are thirty of the best tours happening this spring 2019.  

LÉON with Morgan Saint

Genre: Left-of-center pop that is the just the right thing for any listening occasion 

We here at Ones To Watch could not be more elated to present LÉON’s forthcoming tour in support of her long-awaited, self-titled debut album. The fact that we are going to get to hear one of pop’s most soulful voices alongside one of our favorite musical discoveries of this year is all we could have ever asked for and more.  

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Jorja Smith x Kali Uchis 

Genre: Two R&B visionaries sharing the same stage 

We would be lying if we did not admit that a solo Jorja Smith or Kali Uchis show would be more than enough to have us rushing to buy our tickets. So, when word hit that these two powerhouses of R&B were setting off on tour together, we already had our wallets drawn. 

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Smino with EARTHGANG and Phoelix 

Genre: Hip-hop with substance 

A true hip-hop visionary, rapper and singer Smino will be embarking alongside EARTHGANG and Phoelix on the Ones To Watch presented ‘Hoopti Tour.’ Following the release of Smino’s acclaimed sophomore album, Noir, we are all expecting a tour rife with a wealth of phenomenal material to pull from. 

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YUNGBLUD

Genre: Raw, explosive, and political alternative rock

It is no secret that YUNGBLUD is our favorite socio-politically-minded rocker, having invited the rising star out to our New York rooftop to demonstrate his talents for us first-hand. And with “11 Minutes,” a striking collaboration with Halsey and Travis Barker, YUNGBLUD has emerged as 2019’s breakout star.  

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Wallows 

Genre: An otherworldly blend of indie rock and anti-pop aesthetics 

Comprised of Braeden Lemasters, Dylan Minnette, and Cole Preston, Wallows has yet to release their debut album, but the trio is already one of our favorite new obsessions. And the best news yet? The boys are just about to drop their debut album, Nothing Happens, and hit the road playing what is bound to be an album we will have on repeat.  

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A R I Z O N A

Genre: electronic dance pop that reaches heavenly heights 

A R I Z O N A does more than transform guitars, keys, and vocals, into alternative dance pop. The trio transforms these sparse elements into anthemic musical worlds brimming with life. Currently gearing up to embark on the Ones To Watch presented ‘Find Someone Tour,’ you can expect to catch us at the front row of every show. 

Grab tickets!

iDKHOW 

Genre: Pop-punk may just be the only type of punk that’s not dead 

I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, popularly abbreviated to idkhow for the sake of me not getting early onset arthritis, reminds us exactly why pop-punk is such an internationally loved phenomenon. Our sister site, The Noise, had the pleasure of capturing iDKHOW live, and it has us oh so pumped for this upcoming tour. 

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Sticky Fingers 

Genre: The illicit love child of Manchester rock and Kingston dub 

Our favorite chart-topping Australian rockers, Sticky Fingers, are currently in the midst of their Ones To Watch presented ‘Yours To Keep Album Tour,’ in support of their remarkable fourth studio album. Based on what we saw of their New York show, trust us when we say Sticky Fingers is a band you do not want to miss out on seeing live. 

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Pale Waves 

Genre: Iridescent indie pop with a healthy side of goth 

Pale Waves is akin to a modern-day The Cure. Adoring a gothic exterior, the UK-based quarter makes shimmering indie pop that is undeniably infectious. Add that to the fact that they are playing not only a series of their own headlining shows but touring alongside The 1975, and we are sold. 

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lovelytheband with flora cash and Jagwar Twin 

Genre: Indie pop anthems that speak to depression, anxiety, and the hardships of life 

lovelytheband is a band that has no trouble in resonating with the world at large. From their songs that are veritable earworms to their wholly relatable lyrics, we here at Ones To Watch could not be happier to be presenting the band’s ‘finding it hard to smile’ tour.  

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Leikeli47

Genre: Raucous rap with an infectious edge

Brooklyn rapper Leikeli47 is in a class all her own. At times experimental yet always slapping, Leikeli47 is chronicling life as a black woman through her empowering, humorous, sad, and thought-proving gift for lyricism. Catch us pondering and going off on ‘The Acrylic Tour.’   

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Alec Benjamin

Genre: Profound songwriting talent that belies the artist’s age 

A story or a songwriting genius like Alec Benjamin does not come around too often. From being dropped by his label to being praised across the globe as a stunning songwriting talent, Benjamin’s gift for weaving story into song is best experienced live. 

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Omar Apollo with ROLE MODEL, Ambar Lucid, Mk.Gee

Genre: DIY musical prodigy whose Spanglish bedroom rock meditations melt hearts 

Inspired by the likes of Cuco and John Mayer, Omar Apollo stood out in 2018 as a brilliant illustration of what the future of music looks like. And this spring, he is bringing a fair share of equally talented friends with him on the road for a series of shows that are not to be missed. 

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MorMor 

Genre: Versatile psychedelic pop belonging to a world all its own

Toronto singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist MorMor delivers music without a concert for established trends or conventions. Quite unlike anything we have heard before, it is a sound worth losing yourself in, and the same holds true for his live show. 

Grab tickets! 

Tom Walker 

Genre: World-renowned, critically-acclaimed alternative soul 

Tom Walker took home the “British Breakthrough Act” at the 2019 Brit Awards and it is not hard to see why. With a voice that carries a unique emotional gravitas and a critically-acclaimed debut album now under his belt, this is a tour poised to make this British sensation an international one. 

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The Japanese House 

Genre: The reason the moniker dream pop exists  

The solo project of London-based singer-songwriter Amber Bain, The Japanese House’s music exists in a plane of lush, atmospheric haze. 2019 saw the release of her highly-anticipated debut album, Good At Falling, and as personal fans of every single second of it, we cannot wait to experience it in person. 

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Matt Maeson

Genre: Absolutely haunting songwriting by an enlightened soul

Matt Maeson’s unforgettable songwriting often surrounds itself with themes belonging to the darker side of life, and in doing so, the Chesapeake Bay native paints narrative portraits that are likely to stand the test of time. Set to release his debut album, Bank On The Funeral, ahead of his mostly sold-out, first headlining tour, this may be your last chance to catch Maeson in such an intimate setting.  

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Dennis Lloyd

Genre: Anthemic music that transcends genre

Dennis Lloyd is the very definition of a multi-talented threat. The producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentality from Tel Aviv ignited a fire with his breakout single, “Nevermind,” a hypnotic track that has been streamed over 450-million times to date. And it is a fire he is keeping ablaze with his follow-up single “Never Go Back” and a series of shows. 

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Lolo Zouaï

Genre: The future sound of pop

Lolo Zouaï is a worldwide phenomenon in the making. The French-Algerian-American trilingual queen makes music informed by her diverse background and upbringing, and the result is a sound that feels wholly refreshing. Zouaï is a name we expect to be seeing a lot more of after this upcoming tour wraps. 

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Picture This 

Genre: Anthemic alternative pop with a profound emotional gravity 

Picture This is hands down one of Ireland’s hottest musical exports, having claimed the title of the best-selling band in Ireland for two years straight. Now, Picture This is taking their talents worldwide on a monumental North American tour this Spring.

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Ella Mai with Mahalia 

Genre: Commanding UK R&B that is not afraid to bare its soul 

What is better than catching one of the best rising artists in the realm of R&B? Catching two of them in fell swoop. Breakout star Ella Mai will be joined by fellow UK R&B phenom Mahalia on ‘The Debut Tour,’ and we could not be more excited. 

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Lennon Stella 

Genre: YouTube star turned veritable pop sensation

Ontario, Canada, native Lennon Stella may have first gained international attention covering songs on YouTube with her sister, Maisy, but it is her own works of pop magic that are keeping people hooked. Heading out with Valley and Anne-Marie this spring, we cannot wait to fall under Stella’s pop spell.  

Grab tickets!

Soccer Mommy

Genre: Folk-leaning indie rock that sprawls out like a beautifully written diary entry 

Soccer Mommy left quite the impression in 2018 as one of the most critically-acclaimed artists of the year. An artist who cut her teeth on the DIY scene and released the phenomenal album that is Clean, we could not be happier to champion this new face of indie rock at every one of her future shows. 

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Dermot Kennedy

Genre: Soulful, poetic, and picturesque songwriting 

Dermot Kennedy’s rise over the last few years feels particularly meteoric yet undeniably deserved. The Irish talent simply has the sort of voice you cannot ignore and the songwriting acumen to back up such a commanding voice. It is a voice that when heard live never fails to pierce your heart. 

Grab tickets!

LANY

Genre: Breathtaking and exhilarating alternative pop 

LANY’s rose era may have to come to an end, but the moon era is everything we could have ever asked for. The band’s latest album to date, Malibu Nights, is pure synth-driven perfection that deserves to be heard live, over and over again. 

Grab tickets!

JID

Genre: Hip-hop that is cinematic in scope 

There are no two ways about it; JID is one of the most technically and lyrically skilled rappers in the game right now. The Atlanta rapper’s sophomore outing, Dicaprio 2, is an album that launches JID into a pantheon few other hip-hop artists can touch. It also doesn’t hurt that it is filled with music perfect for an explosive live show. 

Grab tickets!

Cub Sport 

Genre: Pop that carriers with it an irresistible, airy charm 

Self-managed, entirely independent, and some of the finest pop out there, Cub Sport is a band that you cannot but help but cheer for. The Australian quartet creates atmospheric pop that sounds like a dream but is deeply rooted in sentimental, often deeply personal songwriting. 

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Olivia O’Brien 

Genre: A velvety fusion of atmospheric pop and R&B 

Olivia O’Brien first entered the public consciousness with her viral hit “hate u love u,” and her gift for poignant pop songwriting has cemented her as a lasting force in the music world. Hot off the heels of a series of successful singles, 2019 is poised to be a monumental year for this pop powerhouse.

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Wet with Kilo Kish 

Genre: Poignant music that is constantly evolving 

Wet and Kilo Kish are two artists who have consistently escaped simple classification, so it only makes sense that they hit the road together this spring. And whether it be the ethereal pop-leaning work of Wet’s early discography or the folk-evoking meditations we were graced with in 2019, we here for every moment of it. 

Grab tickets!

Billy Raffoul 

Genre: Beautifully unapologetic songwriting for the ages

There is a timeless quality to the music of Billy Raffoul. Through the sole force of his raspy, jaw-dropping voice, Raffoul delivers refreshingly sincere works of sonic art that are minimalistic yet never feel sparse. It is the sort of music that stays with you long after a song fades or the show the finishes. 

Grab tickets!

[centrestagereviews]

Actor of the Week: Ethan Davis

Actor of the Week: Ethan Davis from @thedriftersgirl ⭐️

Ethan trained at International College of Musical Theatre. His credits whilst training include: Eddie Souther (Sister Act – Stockwell Playhouse), Tony (Stretched – Mark Goldthorp) and Good and Evil (Stuart Glover). His theatre credits include: Swing and Cover Smokey Robinson (Motown the Musical UK and Ireland tour 2018-2020) and Duane (Hairspray – Grange Park opera). His workshops include:…

[loadingbritish593]

Chris Bailey Twitter

Bailey (at right) with Peter Wilkinson and Caspar Wijnberg, Amsterdam, July 2006

Background informationBirth nameChristopher James Mannix BaileyBorn1957 (age 63–64) Nanyuki, KenyaOriginBrisbane, Queensland, AustraliaGenresRock, punk, post-punk, blues, grunge, folkOccupation(s)Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, record producerInstrumentsVocals, guitarYears active1976–presentLabelsHighway 125Associated actsKid Galahad and The Eternals The Saints The Chris Bailey Combo Chris Bailey and The General DogWebsitesaintsmusic.com

Chris Bailey Twitter Weather

Chris Bailey Weather Twitter

Chris Bailey Twitter

View the profiles of people named Christopher Bailey. Join Facebook to connect with Christopher Bailey and others you may know. Facebook gives people the. About Chris Bailey: Whether you're buying or selling a home (or both), your success hinges upon the expert advice and services provided by your real estate agent. I'm committed to providing my clients with professional services based on my experience, knowledge and skills. I've filled this website with tips and resources to help you quickly understand what you need to know. The latest tweets from @Kentuckyweather. A sign of spring and fall in the Huron Wetland Management District (WMD) is the arrival of millions of ducks and geese. The habitat within the district provides critical food and shelter to migratory birds that are dependent on grasslands and wetlands during their nesting and migration. Photo by Chris Bailey. 1,732 Followers, 503 Following, 940 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from BAILEY.IV (@bailey.iv).

Chris Bailey (born 1957) is the co-founder and singer of rock band The Saints.(1) He was born in Nanyuki, Kenya(2)(3) to Irish parents. Microsoft office excel 2013 for mac. Bailey grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland until the age of seven, when his family emigrated to Australia. His family settled in Inala, in Brisbane, Queensland and he and his sister Margaret(4) attended Inala State High School, Oxley State High School and Corinda State High School where Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay were also students.(5) They formed the band, The Saints in 1973. Their first hit was in the UK with the classic punk anthem '(I'm) Stranded'. The band slowly evolved toward a more sophisticated sound on their next few albums.

After several years of solo adventure, Bailey revived The Saints to record Howling in 1996. This album was followed by Everybody Knows the Monkey (1998), Spit the Blues Out (2002), Nothing is Straight in My House (2005), Imperious Delirium (2006) and 'King of the Sun' (2012-Australia, 2013-Europe) which were all recorded under the name of The Saints.

Career(edit)

A cover of The Easybeats' 'The Music Goes Round My Head' was issued as a single in December 1988 and featured on the soundtrack to the film Young Einstein. In 1991, Bailey formed the Chris Bailey Combo which included Paul Hester, Nick Seymour and Dror Erez, as well as a revolving cast of guest players.(6)

Angled bristles: Brush with a slanted edge to make painting against the edge easier. Angled foam: Foam brushes will typically have an angled tip to make applying paint easier. Round-ended roller: While not the best choice, using a roller with rounded ends helps to get paint into edges and corners where regular rollers aren’t able. Chisel Trim Brush - slanted bristles produce a good, straight line for trimming in corners and edges. Square Trim Brush - the ends of the bristles are cut square and used primarily for applying paint over flat areas. Angled Brush - bristles are cut to make it easier to apply paint to window trim. Corner paint brush for walls. But the real secret is in the combination of the plastic side guard and tiny underlying brush that lets the roller glide right along the edges of corners, ceilings, baseboards, and trim without the need for protective painter’s tape, and without smudging paint where you don’t want it to go. Get a small bead/line of paint on one side of the brush and then wipe the other side clean on the paint tray. Then pull the brush along the edge as straight as possible. A Tip: When you are up on a. Gather your tools: paint, a small container, and a 2-inch angled sash brush. You can paint in Zen-like.

Demons was Bailey's second solo album, recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had been sent by TVT Records. Savage Entertainment was released in October 1992, and in 1993 Bailey wrote and recorded together with Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano, which included a rework of the song 'All Fools' Day'.

Bailey's fourth solo album 54 Days . . . at Sea was recorded in Malmö, Sweden and was released in 1994. It featured Bolivian folk musicians Mundo Folk, whom Bailey had seen busking when visiting friends in Sweden the previous year. Swedish musicians Eddie Nyström (guitar), Magnus Börjeson (bass) and Stellan Colt (drums) provided the rock base for the album. For the Earth Music compilation, issued in June 1994, Bailey contributed a cover of Tim Finn's 'Not Even Close'.

When Mushroom Music celebrated their 25th anniversary in 1998, Bailey was one of the invited artists to perform on a stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of an audience of about 100,000 people. He performed two of his most famous songs, 'Ghost Ships' and 'Just Like Fire Would', solo and also a duet with Paul Kelly: 'Wide Open Road', a tribute to the late David McComb of The Triffids.

2003 saw Bailey make a guest appearance, singing the chorus vocals on 'Bring It On', on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album Nocturama. Bailey then toured America with the group and performed with them on the Late Show with David Letterman.

At the 2005 Queensland Poetry festival in Brisbane, at the Judith Wright Arts Centre, Chris Bailey headlined the event.

Chris Bailey and the General Dog is another one of Bailey's constellations, their latest record being Bone Box in 2005.(1)(6) During the spring of 2007, Bailey undertook a solo tour of France, on occasion as a double act with French rock artist Mickaël Furnon, alias Mickey, from rock group Mickey 3D.

Discography(edit)

Chris Bailey solo albums(edit)

Casablanca (1983)

What we did on our holidays (1984)

Demons (1991)

Savage Entertainment (1992)

54 Days at Sea (1994)

Encore (1995)

Bone Box (2005)

The Saints albums(edit)

See discography in article about The Saints

References(edit)

General

Chris Bailey Twitter Weather

McFarlane, Ian (1999). 'Whammo Homepage'. Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2010. Note: Archived (on-line) copy has limited functionality.

Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) (1987). The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN1-86503-891-1.(7) Note: (on-line) version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.

Specific

^ abSpencer et al, (2007) Bailey, Chris(permanent dead link) entry. Retrieved 28 January 2010.

^Ed Kuepper Guitar - Powerhouse Museum Collection

^Los Angeles Times: The Patience of a Saint 4 November 1998

^Meyering, Isobelle Barrett (26 September 2019). 'The Margaret Bailey case: high school activism, the right to education and modern citizenship in late 1960s Australia'. History of Education Review. 48 (2): 183–197. doi:10.1108/HER-05-2019-0014. ISSN0819-8691.

^Stafford, Andrew (2006). Pig city: from The Saints to Savage Garden. University of Queensland Press. pp. 53–54. ISBN9780702235610.

^ abHolmgren, Magnus. 'The Saints'. Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database. (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 8 January 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2014.

^'Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry'. catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2010.

Chris Bailey Weather Twitter

External links(edit)

Chris Bailey Twitter

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Bailey_(musician)&oldid=994683444'

[gaymusicchart]

GAY MUSIC CHART - 2018 week 23

 Due to an increasing music actuality and votes on our channel, we try to make a TOP 60 LGBTQ+ related music videos chart. Let’s see if it’s possible, because we are so frustated to see so many good music videos which don’t enter or stay more in the chart. In this format, votes of fans are limited to 4 weeks. Please notice that this new format is just an experimentation.

Welcome to the Gay Music Chart, the LGBTQA related music videos TOP 60 actuality and most request.

Vote for your favourite LGBTQA related music videos by leaving a comment for this post on :

YOUTUBE (in the comment section of the video of the week) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7yfp-xq-b08tD6mAWwclA

BLOGGER : http://gaymusicchart.blogspot.fr

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/GayMusicChart/

TWITTER : https://twitter.com/GayMusicChart with #GayMusicChart  

TUMBLR : http://gaymusicchart.tumblr.com  

 Here is the recap for this week :

 OUT : Be Steadwell - Sometimes (LW: 43 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 43)

OUT : Titica - Reza Madame (LW: 45 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 45)

OUT : Jaloo feat. BADSISTA - Say Goodbye (LW: 47 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 47)

OUT : New Jiew - Tonight (LW: 48 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 48)

OUT : Ryan Beatty - Bruise (LW: 51 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 51)

OUT : Leon Markcus feat. Bilal Hassani - Hot City (LW: 52 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 52)

OUT : Ірина Білик / Iryna Bilyk - Не ховай очей / Don't Hide Your Eyes (LW: 55 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 19)

OUT : Juan Guiã - Despacho (LW: 56 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 29)

OUT : Gumball Machine - I'm Gay And Instagram Is Ruining My Life (LW: 58 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 58)

OUT : K's Choice - Je Ne Rêve Plus De Toi (live @ Liefde Voor Muziek) (LW: 60 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 60)

  01 (=) : Troye Sivan - Bloom (Lyric Video) (LW: 01 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

Australia - 2018

The Australian singer deleted a tweet where he said that the song was talking about bottoming. Now, he answer that it only talks about flowers. If the first explanation is real, the brilliant metaphore makes this song an enjoyable gay sex anthem.

 02 (+ 1) : Years & Years - If You're Over Me (LW: 03 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 02)

UK - 2018 / from the album "Palo Santo"

 03 (+ 4) : Francisco Victoria - Todo lo que tengo (LW: 07 / WO: 8 / PEAK: 03)

Chile - 2018

 04 (- 2) : Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Together (LW: 02 / WO: 13 / PEAK: 01 (x5))

Ireland - 2018

Congratulations Ireland for your 16th place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest! But in semi-final, this act was censored in China because it includes two men dancing together. Meanwhile, in Russia, the commentator said that this act showed a strong male friendship.

 05 (+ 5) : Calum Scott - What I Miss Most (LW: 10 / WO: 13 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

UK - 2018 / from the album "Only Human"

The singer won the Metro Guilty Pleasures Award of the British Music Awards 2018.

 06 (=) : Kodaline - Follow Your Fire (LW: 06 / WO: 8 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

Ireland - 2018

There is a gay couple in this music video.

 07 (+ 1) : Céline Dion - Ashes (LW: 08 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 07)

Canada - 2018 / from the album "Deadpool 2 OST"

This is Yanis Marshall (and not Ryan Reynolds) who plays Deadpool dancing in high heels in this music video.

 08 (+ 17) : The Diesel Tykes feat. Scott Free - LGBT Alphabet Song (Pride Song) (LW: 25 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 08)

USA - 2018

 09 (- 5) : Kim Petras - Heart to Break (LW: 04 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 04)

Germany - 2018

The transgender singer will be on first part of Troye Sivan's Bloom Tour.

 10 (+ 1) : Openside - No Going Back (LW: 11 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 10)

New Zealand - 2018

 11 (+ 9) : Blair St. Clair - Now or Never (LW: 20 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 11)

USA - 2018

This is the first music video of the drag queen who was a contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

 12 (+ 2) : Eli Lieb - The Nights We Lived (LW: 14 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 12)

USA - 2018 / from the album "The Nights We Lived"

The music video is composed with his own home footage taken over the past 15 years.

 13 (+ 5) : Ryan Amador - Loverboy (LW: 18 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 13)

USA - 2018

Such a romantic love song...

 14 (- 2) : Jackson Krecioch - Little Things (LW: 12 / WO: 7 / PEAK: 05)

USA - 2018

Jackson Krecioch is a 19 years old Musical.ly star and YouTuber. He came out publicly in 2016.

 15 (+ 1) : Lostchild - Blacklist (LW: 16 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 06)

UK - 2018

 16 (+ 1) : Christine and The Queens feat. Dâm-Funk - Damn, dis-moi (LW: 17 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 16)

France – 2018

You can call the queer artist Christine or Chris now. The english version is titled "Girlfriend".

 17 (- 8) : Namuel - Poder (LW: 09 / WO: 15 / PEAK: 03)

Chile - 2018

 18 (+ 1) : Tiago Braga - Ilusão (LW: 19 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 18)

Portugal - 2018

A story of infidelity.

 19 (+ 25) : Lars von Keitz - We Are Weeds (LW: 44 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 19)

USA - 2018

 20 (+ 14) : Francisco Victoria - Marinos (LW: 34 / WO: 23 / PEAK: 03)

Chile - 2017                            

This is the first single of the Chilean singer, produced by Alex Anwandter. A revelation.

 21 (- 16) : Saara Aalto - Monsters (LW: 05 / WO: 17 / PEAK: 02)

Finland - 2018

Finland came 25th in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

 22 (+ 18) : Jake Shears - Creep City (LW: 40 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 22)

USA - 2018 / from the album "Jake Shears"

This is the debut single in solo of the lead singer of the band Scissor Sisters.

 23 (+ 30) : Tuure Boelius - Lätkäjätkä-Ville (LW: 53 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 23)

Finland - 2018

The 17 years old Finnish YouTuber decided to release this music video just before the debut of the Ice Hockey World Championship 2018, hoping changing mentalities for more acceptance and diversity in this sport. It caused a mediatic storm in Finland.

 24 (NEW) : Roy Kinsey - BSAYF (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 24)

USA - 2018

 25 (+ 14) : Not.Your.Regular.Boy. - Crazyland (LW: 39 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 25)

The Netherlands - 2018

Revealed on X-Factor and the Voice, this is his debut single.

 26 (NEW) : JC Brooks Band - Anywhere But America (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 26)

USA - 2018

 27 (+ 3) : Smashby - Wild One (LW: 30 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 27)

UK - 2018 / from the EP "Wild One"

 28 (NEW) : Monét X Change feat. Bob The Drag Queen - Soak It Up (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 28)

USA - 2018

 29 (- 2) : Don Diablo feat. Calum Scott - Give Me Love (LW: 27 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 10)

The Netherlands / UK - 2018 / from the album "FUTURE"

 30 (- 2) : Years & Years - Sanctify (LW: 28 / WO: 13 / PEAK: 01 (x3))

UK - 2018

Years & Years singer Olly Alexander says the band’s new single Sanctify is about straight men who experiment with gay sex.

 31 (- 18) : Netta - Toy (LW: 13 / WO: 11 / PEAK: 04)

Israel - 2018

And Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 : congratulations Netta!

 32 (+ 1) : Keiynan Lonsdale - Kiss The Boy (Official Lyric Video) (LW: 33 / WO: 10 / PEAK: 15)

Australia - 2018

 33 (+ 16) : Ian Sepheer - Cries Of The Jungle (LW: 49 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 23)

The Netherlands - 2018 / from the EP "After Dark"

This is the debut single of the 21 years old Dutch singer.

 34 (+ 20) : Trevor Moran - Sinner (LW: 54 / WO: 25 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

USA - 2017

 35 (- 9) : Janelle Monáe - Pynk (LW: 26 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 21)

USA - 2018 / from the album "Dirty Computer"

 36 (+ 1) : Openside - I Feel Nothing (LW: 37 / WO: 17 / PEAK: 06)

New Zealand - 2017

Lead singer Possum Plows, who is gender non-binary, raises the transgender flag in this music video.

 37 (- 2) : Sam Smith feat. Logic - Pray (LW: 35 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 16)

UK / USA - 2018

Finally, a music video is available for this awesome collaboration.

 38 (- 9) : Alex Aris - Wrong Love (LW: 29 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 14)

Sweden - 2018

This is the first single in solo of the 29 years old Swedish singer. His song is talking "about someone who constantly falls in love with the wrong people. And it does not matter if it's a man or a woman", he said.

 39 (RE-ENTRY) : Chester Lockhart - In Loving Memory (LW: - / WO: 2 / PEAK: 39)

USA - 2018

 40 (- 9) : Ben Davidson - Fallin In (Official Lyric Video) (LW: 31 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 14)

UK - 2018

 41 (NEW) : Eli Lieb - Ashes (Celine Dion Cover) (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 41)

USA - 2018

 42 (- 21) : SAKIMA - Daddy (LW: 21 / WO: 25 / PEAK: 05)

UK - 2017

 43 (- 1) : King Princess - Talia (LW: 42 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 42)

USA - 2018

 44 (- 20) : BuzzFeedVideo - The History Of Queer Dance (LW: 24 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 24)

USA - 2018

The story of this young teen is emotional.

 45 (- 13) : Emmanuel Moire - Et si on parlait d’amour (LW: 32 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 32)

France - 2018

 46 (NEW) : Hayley Kiyoko feat. Kehlani - What I Need (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 46)

USA - 2018 / from the album "Expectations"

 47 (- 32) : La Prohibida - La pubblicità (Un mondo ideale) (LW: 15 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 09)

Spain - 2018 / from the album "100k años de luz"

This is the new music video of the Spanish drag queen.

 48 (+ 9) : Leon Else - My Kind Of Love (LW: 57 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 48)

UK - 2018 / from the album "13 Reasons Why - Season 2 OST"

 49 (NEW) : Elodie, Michele Bravi, Guè Pequeno - Nero Bali (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 49)

Italy - 2018

 50 (- 4) : SuperKnova - Night's A Bitch (LW: 46 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 46)

USA - 2018 / from the EP "Splendor Dysphoria"

 51 (- 10) : HEIDRIK - White Flag (LW: 41 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 34)

Faroe Islands (Denmark) - 2018 / from the album "Funeral"

 52 (NEW) : J Pee - Candy Rapper (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 52)

USA - 2018

 53 (- 15) : Melo Moreno - One More River (LW: 38 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 53)

Spain - 2018 / from the album "No soy una Señora"

 54 (RE-ENTRY) : Michael Medrano feat. Steve Grand - Heal (LW: - / WO: 2 / PEAK: 38)

USA - 2018

 55 (- 5) : Asbjørn - Nothing 2 Lose (LW: 50 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 31)

Denmark - 2018

 56 (- 20) : Steven Redant + Joe Gauthreaux - Together and Always (LW: 36 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 36)

Spain / USA - 2018 / from the EP "Together and Always"

The music video is focused on an intriguing trouple.

 57 (NEW) : The Irrepressibles feat. Jon Campbell - Submission (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 57)

UK - 2018

 58 (- 36) : Colapesce - Maometto a Milano (LW: 22 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 22)

Italy - 2018 / from the album "Infedele"

The Italian singer dares to represent two Daesh fighters falling in love and then executed when their relationship is discovered. His music video is aged restricted on YouTube because of that.

 59 (=) : The Internet - Roll (Burbank Funk) (LW: 59 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 59)

USA - 2018

 60 (- 37) : Zolita - Come Home With Me (LW: 23 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 23)

USA - 2018 / from the EP "Sappho"

Her girlfriend in real life is in this music video with her.

  ALSO NEW THIS WEEK

 Kesha - Hymn

USA - 2018 / from the album "Rainbow"

 Kylie Minogue - Golden

Australia - 2018 / from the album "Golden"

 Brandi Carlile - Hold Out Your Hand

USA - 2018 / from the album "By The Way, I Forgive You"

The music video has been filmed at the March For Our Lives in Seattle, WA on March 24, 2018.

 TMBOY - Focus

USA - 2018

 Dorian Electra - Career Boy

USA - 2018

 Davis Mallory - Sun and Moon

USA - 2018

 Renato - I Can't Wait

Czech Republic - 2018

This is a cover of Nu Shooz.

 Les Funambules feat. Alexandre Faitrouni - Tu es là

France - 2018 / from the album "Les Funambules"

 Isaura - Closer

Portugal - 2018 / from the album "Human"

 Cristiano Malgioglio feat. Fernando Proce - Danzando Danzando

Italy - 2018

 Lia Clark feat. Heavy Baile - Q.M.T.

Brazil - 2018

 BeBe Zahara Benet - Jungle Kitty

USA - 2018

 Monet X Change - Strange Fruit

USA - 2018

 Hyukoh (혁오) - Love Ya!

South Korea - 2018 / from the EP "24: How To Find True Love and Happiness"

There are some same-sex couples in this music video.

 The Lovers of Valdaro - Lost Forever

Sweden - 2018

 MNEK feat. Hailee Steinfeld - Colour (Lyric Video)

UK - 2018

 Matt Fishel - Twinks (Official Lyric Video)

UK - 2018 / from the album "M/F"

 Madblush - Homophobic (Lyric Video)

Brazil - 2018 / from the EP "Cactus II"

 Allie X - Focus (Official Lyric Video)

Canada - 2018

 Isaac Folch - Warm Summer Nights (Audio)

Spain - 2018

 Дмитрий Гревцев / Dmitry Grevtsev feat Teo Entertainment - Курортный роман / Holiday romance (Stason project demo remix)

Russia - 2018

 David Courtin feat. Izia - Nous deux (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 25)

France - 2018 / from the album "Volupté des accointances"

 Calum Scott, Barbara Pravi - You Are The Reason (French Duet Version/Audio)

UK / France - 2018

 SAKIMA - Show Me (Audio)

UK - 2018

 Anthony Bowens - How We Met [Official Audio]

USA - 2018

The professionnal wrestler made a song for his boyfriend's 24th birthday, Michael Pavano.

 Betty Who - All Things ("Queer Eye" Theme Song)

Australia - 2018

 RuPaul feat. Skeltal Ki - Supermodel [RuPaul's Drag Race: SEASON 10 QUEENS - Trailer & Meet the Queens Supercut]

USA - 2018

 Pabllo Vittar feat. Coral de Drags - I Will Survive (Live @ Prazer Pabllo Vittar Multishow)

Brazil - 2018

 Troye Sivan - Bloom (Live on The Today Show /2018)

Australia - 2018 / from the album "Bloom"

 Troye Sivan - My My My! (Live on The Today Show /2018)

Australia - 2018 / from the album "Bloom"

 Tuure Boelius - Lätkäjätkä-Ville (live)

Finland - 2018

 Years & Years - If You're Over Me (Live @ The Biggest Weekend)

UK - 2018 / from the album "Palo Santo"

 Christine and the Queens - Girlfriend (Live @ The Biggest Weekend)

France - 2018

 Sam Smith - Too Good at Goodbyes (Live @ The Biggest Weekend)

UK - 2018 / from the album "The Thrill of It All"

 Sam Smith - Pray (Live @ The Biggest Weekend)

UK - 2018 / from the album "The Thrill of It All"

 Sam Smith - Midnight Train (Live @ The Biggest Weekend)

UK - 2018 / from the album "The Thrill of It All"

 Rickard Söderberg - Bögtåget (Fag-Train)

Sweden - 2018

After receiving homophobic hate mail over a concert that included music by LGBT composers, a Swedish orchestra has responded by turning the messages into music.

 Steps - Chain Reaction (Live From The SSE Arena, Wembley)

UK - 2018

 Steps - Stomp (Live From The SSE Arena, Wembley)

UK - 2018

 Steps - Neon Blue (Live From The SSE Arena, Wembley)

UK - 2018

  See you next week and don’t forget to vote for your best LGBTQA music videos ! Here are the rules :

1 ) You can vote for many videos as you want under the videos on YouTube in the comment section. It could be recent or past music videos, which must provide at least one among the following conditions:

- the music video has LGBTQA related content, in the lyrics or the music video

- the artist is LGBTQA, an LGBTQA icon or eventually ally

- LGBTQA medias talked about it.

2 ) You can’t vote more than 3 songs of a same artist per week.

3 ) In case of an artist who receive votes mostly by a fan base, we will count only one song, in a limited time of 4 weeks of presence in the top.

4 ) You can vote with only one account.

5 ) If you make 5 votes or less, your first vote will represent 5 points, your second vote 4 points, etc… until your last vote and following 1 point. If you make 6 to 10 votes, your first vote will represent 10 points, your second vote 9 points, etc… If you make more than 10 votes, your first vote will represent 20 points, your second vote 19 points, etc…

6 ) People who make 1 to 5 votes form the amateur ranking, those who make 6 to 10 votes form the fan ranking, those who make more than 10 votes form the expert ranking. We form the jury ranking. And we count now the ranking of minutes of views of our weekly playlist of the previous week. The Gay Music Chart is the addition of the five charts. In case of equality, the number of votes and the dates of votes will count.

7 ) The votes will close on Thursday, 8 PM, European time.

[aroundtheworldin80playspod]

Hullo, Dolly! (Stop 2: Hull)

Episode 2: Hull – On the second stop, our hosts stop by a local farm for a week, where Lizzie educates listeners with the New Theatre’s amazing WWII history, plus Alfie and  Dolly to a local art gallery where we meets Bootleg Shreg.

***

Sister Act: the Musical 2023-24 UK/Ireland Tour Tickets: https://www.sisteractthemusical.co.uk/

Show Socials: https://twitter.com/80Playspodcast -- https://www.instagram.com/thrashntreasurepodcast/ -- https://www.tumblr.com/aroundtheworldin80playspod E-mail suggestions/questions: 80playspodcast@gmail.com

Lizzie on Socials: https://twitter.com/LizzieBea3 -- https://www.instagram.com/lizziebea101/ Alfie on Socials: https://twitter.com/ParkerAlfie -- https://www.instagram.com/parkeralfie/

Also, support '80Plays' and buy our theme song 'Blue Sky' and help support our show! - https://www.thetonastontales.com/bookstore/p/blue-sky-by-walken-mp3-around-the-world-in-80-plays-podcast-theme-song Or buy the full album 'Current Melbourne Temperature' by Walken from Bandcamp - https://walkentheband.bandcamp.com/album/current-melbourne-temperature

Or, sign up to our patreon - https://www.patreon.com/bloomingtheatricals

*** EXCLUSIVELY on The BLOOP Network!

Production Credits

Hosts: Lizzie Bea and Alfie Parker Producers: Aaron Ware (EP) and Spencer Sher (AP) Co-Producers: Alfie Parker and Lizzie Bea Editor: Aaron Ware Location Assistant: Seher Ackrim Theatre Photography Courtesy of Kristian Lavercombe Podcast Support Pets: Dolly the Dog; Belle the Dog Press/Advertising Enquiries: 80playspodcast@gmail.com Theme Song ‘Blue Sky’ by Walken (written by Baines, Bowie, Smith, Soussan, Tsipas) Buy the ‘Blue Sky’ MP3 single and help support ‘Around the World in 80 Plays’ at https://www.thetonastontales.com/bookstore/p/blue-sky-by-walken-mp3-around-the-world-in-80-plays-podcast-theme-song Music Video for Blue Sky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXeCN0yRfcU Powered by Transistor.FM

[steenpaal]

Fame (2009 film) - Wikipedia

Fame is a 2009 American musical drama film and a loose remake of the 1980 film of the same name. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Allison Burnett. It was released on September 25, 2009 in the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK. The film follows talented high school students attending The High School of Performing Arts in New York City (known today as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School), where students get specialized training that often leads to success in the entertainment industry. Exterior shots of the Performing Arts school are of the Professional Performing Arts School or PPAS on West 48th Street and not the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School on 100 Amsterdam Avenue behind the Lincoln Center.

Debbie Allen, who portrays the school principal Angela Simms, is the only person to appear in the original movie, the subsequent television show (in the 1980 film and the series she played role of dance teacher Lydia Grant), and this production.

Auditions

During the opening scenes in auditions and orientation, it is told that in 1936, New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia founded the High School of Music & Art in order to provide a facility where the most gifted and talented public school students of New York City could pursue their talents in art or music, while also completing a full academic program of instruction. In 1948, the School of Performing Arts (P.A.) was created to provide training in performance skills to students who wished to prepare for professional careers in dance, music or drama.

Freshman year

Students learn on the first day of classes that their teachers expect them to know everything. In dance class, the teacher Ms. Kraft is worried about Kevin's dancing, but is easily impressed by Alice.

In acting class, Jenny feels uncomfortable to let loose and be crazy like everyone else. In music class, Mr. Cranston gives Victor pointers, while Denise plays the music perfectly on the piano.

In the lunchroom, everyone practices their major and they all get up and dance ('This Is My Life'), while Denise and Malik escape the madness and they talk to each other, Denise saying that her uptight and conservative parents thinks that the school is "people sitting around, practicing cello all day", and that they would die if they saw this. Malik reveals that his mother doesn't even know that he is coming to the school because she works three jobs and would never notice.

Just before freshman year ends, it shows Malik at his apartment, his mother finding his report card, making it clear that he goes to Performing Arts. She is angry but he continues to go to the school. The year closes after she goes to work and leaves Malik standing alone.

Sophomore year

As the new school year begins, it shows the dancers all practicing in a circle, but once it is Kevin's turn, he is out-shined and is forced to go back in his original spot.

In music class, Victor is having trouble sticking to the right music, and adds his own spin on whatever he is playing, which doesn't sit well with Mr. Cranston.

In theater class, Malik talks about his dead sister, Ayanna, causing Mr. Dowd to ask questions that he refuses to answer. Malik then leaves, stating that he's going to be famous, no matter what anyone else says.

Meanwhile, Denise is playing her classical piano, but then starts to sing, assuming she is alone. ('Out Here on My Own') When she leaves, it is revealed to the audience that Malik was watching the whole time. He brings her to Victor and convinces her to sing for the album that they are producing. She agrees to it, as long as her strict father doesn't find out.

At a Halloween party, Malik plays the song, but says the vocals are "anonymous", upsetting Denise, which confuses Malik. Later, Joy is in Central Park drinking beer. She gets up and does a rap, vomiting at the end of it. Neil captures this in his documentary and presents it to the class. Marco asks Jenny out on a date (though not for the first time). She agrees to go with him to dinner at his father's restaurant, where she convinces him to play a song and sing on the piano. He does ('Try'), and she gives him a money tip. The sophomore year ends with them kissing.

Junior year

Joy has another audition, but is annoyed, because the other girls competing against her always seem to get the part. Neil says that he is meeting with a producer for a short, independent film he wrote and hopes to direct himself.

Meanwhile, Marco and Jenny go to a party, where Jenny sees a guy named Andy Matthews, a former P.A. student who claims to be a professional actor and known player. He tells her that he can have her meet with his agent, and the naive Jenny gives him her cell phone number. Marco leaves, having seen the last part, and Jenny runs out after him. They have a minor fight, but she promises that she will never talk to Andy again, and they go back to her house.

Victor, Malik, and Denise meet with a man from a record company, who says that their demo is interesting, and he will play it at the next meeting and get back to them. Victor and Malik are overjoyed, but Denise is still hesitant. At the next meeting, the producer tells them that Denise is the reason he was interested in their music. He tries to persuade her to stay.

Joy tells Jenny and Neil that she got a part-time acting job on 'Sesame Street' and is very excited about it. Ms. Rowan, the voice teacher, takes some of the students to a karaoke bar where she ends up singing as well. Jenny goes to meet Andy despite what she said to Marco. When she arrives, Andy tells her the director is out sick. He comes onto her, but she stops him and angrily leaves. She tells Marco, and he asks if Andy tried anything, saying that he knew this would happen and that if fame was really that important to her then he hopes she gets the job. He then leaves her sobbing his name on a rooftop.

Neil tries to get his equipment for the movie, but when he tries to find his producer, he is discovered to be gone, along with the $5,000.

Senior year

Kevin (Paul McGill) has a meeting with Ms. Kraft, the dance teacher, because he asked her to write him a letter of recommendation. She says she can not write him the letter, because she believes he is not talented enough to become a professional dancer. Meanwhile, as they talk, Alice is dancing to ('Black and Gold') practicing her jazz piece. This conversation with Ms. Kraft causes him to attempt suicide by stepping in front of a subway car. Joy, Rosie, and Jenny are there to stop him.

Victor is told by his girlfriend, Alice, that she is going on a world tour next week. He asks if she will visit him, but she says that after P.A. couples usually go their separate ways.

Joy drops out of school before graduation because she is working on 'Sesame Street' full-time now and her grades have suffered.

Malik talks with Mr. Dowd about his father, which leads to Mr. Dowd telling him about breaking down his walls. Victor, Malik and Denise put on a hip-hop concert at a club at which her parents are at, but Denise told them it was classical jazz because of her father's wishes for her to pursue classical piano and not vocals. Despite this, she defies her father and goes on anyway and wins over her mother during the performance. Marco, along with Neil, Joy, and Rosie, is there to watch but when he sees Jenny come in, he says he has to go. Jenny stops him from leaving, saying that she's been thinking a lot about him, and that it kills her that she hurt him.

Later, during the concert, he puts his arms around her and they smile at each other. When Denise leaves with her parents, her father is outraged and tells her that he is pulling her out of P.A., even though she is about to graduate. Her mom stops him and says that if Denise wants to sing, she should sing.

Graduation

Before graduation, Jenny gives a speech about success to the graduating class, saying that she felt it when she was in the school. Kevin tells Joy that he is moving back to Iowa (following the advice Ms. Kraft gave to him), and that he is going to be "the best god damn dance teacher there ever was". During the graduation performance, everybody participates ('Hold Your Dream'), with Denise as the main singer. It ends with all the characters following graduating (except Joy and Alice).

The main cast is featured on the official website.[2]

Students

Teachers and staff

Other characters

Release

Critical response

The film has received generally unfavorable reviews from critics.[4]Rotten Tomatoes reported that 25% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 116 reviews with an average score of 4.4/10.[5] The site's consensus, states: "Fame is ultimately undone by its choppy editing, its incomplete characterizations, and its apparent desire to appeal to the High School Musical generation."[5] Based on 26 critical reviews sampled by Metacritic, it gave an average score of 39% for the film.[4] On At the Movies, Michael Phillips gave the film a "See It" while A.O. Scott gave the film a "Skip It".[6]

Box office

The film opened at third place behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the newly released Surrogates with approximately $10,011,682.[7] The film has grossed $22,455,510 domestically and $50,930,003 in the foreign market with an international gross of $73,385,513, making it a moderate box office success.[8]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on August 25, 2009. It features a blend of American standards and new pieces, written specifically for the movie. Included from the original film are the piano ballad "Out Here on My Own" and the title theme "Fame" (both sung by Irene Cara for the 1980 original film).[9] There's a version of the theme song with a verse by Collins Pennie, but didn't make the album, although it was included in The Radio Mixes EP of the song[10] and there was made a music video for it to promote the film.[11]

Track listing

"Welcome to P.A." – Raney Shockne

"Fame" – Naturi Naughton

"Big Things" – Anjulie

"Ordinary People" – Asher Book

"This Is My Life" – Hopsin, Ak'Sent, Tynisha Keli & Donte "Burger" Winston

"Out Here on My Own – Naturi Naughton

"Street Hustlin'" – Raney Shockne feat. Stella Moon

"You'll Find a Way" (Switch & Sinden Remix) – Santigold

"Can't Hide from Love" – Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie

"Black & Gold" – Sam Sparro

"Back to Back" – Collins Pennie feat. Ashleigh Haney

"I Put a Spell on You" – Raney Shockne feat. Eddie Wakes

"Get On the Floor" – Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie

"Try" – Asher Book

"You Took Advantage of Me" – Megan Mullally

"Too Many Women" (Damon Elliott Remix) – Rachael Sage

"Someone to Watch Over Me" – Asher Book

"You Made Me Love You" – Raney Shockne feat. Oren Waters

"Hold Your Dream" – Kay Panabaker, Asher Book & Naturi Naughton

Additionally, a More Music From Fame[12] and two solo albums by Naturi Naughton and Collins Pennie titled Fame Presents Naturi Naughton as Denise: Didn't I Tell You?[13] and Fame Presents Collins Pennie as Malik: Best Believe That[14] were released in February 2010.

References

^ Fame at Box Office Mojo

^ "Full Cast". Official fame website. MGM Studios.

^ Ebert, Roger. "Fame Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 27, 2009.

^ a b "Fame (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET Networks. Retrieved September 27, 2009.

^ a b "Fame Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved September 27, 2009.

^ Phillips, Michael; Scott, A.O. (September 26, 2009). "Fame Movie Review". BV Entertainment.com. Retrieved September 28, 2009.[permanent dead link]

^ "Weekend Box Office Results for September 25–27, 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 27, 2009.

^ "Fame (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 13, 2010.

^ "Fame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved January 3, 2014.

^ "Fame - The Radio Mixes - EP by Naturi Naughton". iTunes. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

^ "FAME Theme Song Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie". YouTube. September 17, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2013.

^ "Fame (More Music from the Motion Picture) by Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

^ "Fame Presents Naturi Naughton As Denise: Didn't I Tell You? by Naturi Naughton". iTunes. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

^ "Fame presents Collins Pennie as Malik: Best Believe That by Collins Pennie". iTunes. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

^ "Pandora Archive" (PDF). August 23, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2012.

^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Lescharts.com – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Officialcharts.de – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Charts.org.nz – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – Fame %5b2009%5d". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ "Official Compilations Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2014.

^ a b c "Fame [Lakeshore Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

External links

[theamtanyusa]

5 Minutes With #AMTAFamily Grad Ethan Davis!

We were in Dublin recently to exhibit at Perform Ireland, Ireland’s biggest musical theatre event. Fortunately, just down the road, #AMTAFamily grads Ethan Davis and Karis Jack were performing in Motown the Musical! We were lucky enough to grab the last two tickets in the house and watch the Friday evening performance.

Bord Gais Energy Theatre was host to latest leg of the musical’s UK tour. The tour is currently due to run until 2020, so it’ll be keeping our grads very busy over the next few months! Motown is the next in a long line of success stories from our brilliant #AMTAFamily!

Karis (2013 Grad) joined the tour having previously played Eponine in Les Miserables in the West End. She also appeared in Urinetown (West End), Little Shop of Horrors (Salisbury Playhouse) and Hairspray (UK Tour). Karis is represented by Tildsley France.

‘AMTA got me to where I need to be!’ – Ethan Davis

Ethan graduated from AMTA London last year, after appearing as Eddie in Sister Act at Stockwell Playhouse. As a result of our end of year Pro Panel, Ethan was signed by one of the top agencies in London, Global Artists. After that, Ethan was awarded the AMTA 2018 Award for Musical Theatre in the Singing Category. Ethan’s appearance as a Swing in Motown marks his professional debut, staring rehearsals only weeks after graduation! Check out his profile on their website here- http://www.globalartists.co.uk/artists/details/ethan-davis/

We caught up with Ethan to see how life on tour has been treating him, and how AMTA helped get him there! Watch the video below to find out!

You can see more of AMTA’s success stories here- https://theamta.com/gb/success-stories-london/

Want to get the same amazing opportunities as our students? Head to theamta.com/apply to join the #AMTAFamily today!

The post 5 Minutes With #AMTAFamily Grad Ethan Davis! appeared first on American Musical Theatre Academy.

from American Musical Theatre Academy https://theamta.com/gb/5-minutes-with-ethan-davis-motown/

[londontheatre]

New rehearsal images for the UK & Ireland tour of JERSEY BOYS, which opens at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on 16th December 2017, running until 6th January 2018, then touring until March 2019.

Michael Watson will be playing Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey will be Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan will be Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths will be Nick Massi. Michael, Simon, Declan and Lewis have all previously performed their roles in JERSEY BOYS to great acclaim: Michael and Simon in the West End, Declan in the West End and Australia, and Lewis in the first UK and Ireland tour.  Dayle Hodge will return to the production to play Frankie Valli at certain performances.

[See image gallery at http://ift.tt/1FpwFUw]

  Michael Watson made his West End debut in We Will Rock You and was also in the original London casts of Imagine This, Sister Act and Shrek the Musical. A founder member of theatre super-group Teatro, Simon Bailey also played Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. His other West End credits include I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical and We Will Rock You. Declan Egan played the role of Bob Gaudio in JERSEY BOYS in his native Australia and has toured the USA in The Book Of Mormon. Lewis Griffiths played Johnny Castle in the recent tour of Dirty Dancing. He also appeared in the original UK touring productions of Ghost – The Musical and Legally Blonde – The Musical. Dayle Hodge made his West End debut as Chip in the original London cast of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and has appeared in Les Misérables, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Scrooge.

The cast also includes Joel Elferink as Bob Crewe, James Alexander Gibbs as Joey, Mark Heenehan as Gyp DeCarlo, Karl James Wilson as Norm Waxman, Arnold Mabhena as Barry Belson, Phoebe May Newman as Francine, Olive Robinson as Lorraine, James Winter as Hank Majewski and Tara Young as Mary Delgado. Completing the cast will be Peter Nash, Dan O’Brien, Stephen O’Riain and Amy Thiroff.

JERSEY BOYS first opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 18 March 2008 and moved to the Piccadilly Theatre in March 2014. The Olivier Award-winning West End production closed on Sunday 26 March 2017 following nine amazing years in London. The first UK & Ireland Tour of JERSEY BOYS was a record-breaking success and ran for 18 months, from 4 September 2014 to 5 March 2016.

JERSEY BOYS is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.

Winner of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, JERSEY BOYS is the winner of 57 major awards worldwide and has been seen by over 25 million people worldwide. JERSEY BOYS can currently be seen across the United States on its US National Tour. The Broadway production closed on 15 January 2017 as the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history. JERSEY BOYS will return to New York City in a new production in November 2017 at New World Stages.

JERSEY BOYS is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. The UK & Ireland Tour production is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, with scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy and projection design by Michael Clark. The orchestrations are by Steve Orich and the music supervision and vocal arrangements by Ron Melrose.

The UK & Ireland Tour of JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals and Ambassador Theatre Group with Joseph J Grano, Pelican Group, Latitude Link, Rick Steiner and Howard Panter.

LISTINGS INFORMATION 16 Dec 2017 – 6 Jan 2018 Birmingham New Alexandra 0844871 3011 http://ift.tt/18ppj5O On sale 10 March

9 – 20 January Liverpool Empire 0844 871 3017 http://ift.tt/2j87SkD On sale 23 March

23 January – 3 February Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 http://ift.tt/1Txe0cK On sale 23 March

6 – 17 February Stoke Regent Theatre 0844 871 7649 http://ift.tt/NLleAa On sale 23 March

20 February – 3 March Hull New Theatre 01482 3 306 http://ift.tt/2m44Hba On sale 24 March

20 – 31 March Sunderland Empire 0844 871 3022 http://ift.tt/1iLKBx0 On sale 23 March

3 – 14 April Glasgow King’s Theatre 0844 871 7648 http://ift.tt/2fbf10Z On sale 23 March

17 – 28 April Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

9 – 19 May Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 0115 9895555 www.trch.co.uk

22 May – 2 June Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 01274 432000 http://ift.tt/1ejuZCR

5 – 16 June Norwich Theatre Royal 01603 630000 http://ift.tt/1dPahbf

19 – 30 June Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 0114 249 6000 http://ift.tt/Z3Lm6I

3 – 14 July Aylesbury Waterside Theatre 0844 871 7607 http://ift.tt/2B5oMJl

17 – 28 July Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 01702 351135 http://ift.tt/2cvI7qz

31 July – 11 August Newcastle Theatre Royal 0844 811 2121 http://ift.tt/U2q2OB

14 – 25 August His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 01224 641122 http://ift.tt/1jmKzrs

28 August – 8 September Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 42 92 12 http://ift.tt/13yobvr

11 – 22 September Belfast Grand Opera House 028 9024 1919 www.goh.co.uk

2 – 13 October The Marlowe, Canterbury 01227 8787787 http://ift.tt/2xeNvXs

16 – 27 October New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 8717645 http://ift.tt/2B3GE7e

30 October – 17 November Bristol Hippodrome 0844 871 3012 http://ift.tt/2BzNS44

20 November – 1 December Leeds Grand Theatre 0844 848 2700 http://ift.tt/1k0ZJHO

18 December – 5 January 2019 New Theatre Oxford 0844 871 3020 http://ift.tt/2BAbzZQ

16 – 26 January Wales Millennium Centre 029 20636464 www.wmc.org.uk

29 January – 16 February Palace Theatre Manchester 0844 871 3019 http://ift.tt/2B5oRg7

19 February – 2 March Edinburgh Playhouse 0844 871 3014 http://ift.tt/2BxVT9P

5 – 16 March Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 0844 847 2455 http://ift.tt/RbxcU5

19 – 30 March Mayflower Theatre Southampton 02380 711811 www.mayflower.org.uk

http://ift.tt/VMg84P London Theatre 1

[listenherereviews]

Interviews

The Fontaines (SXSW interview:)

Traveling to Austin, Texas to perform at SXSW for the first time, Los Angeles band The Fontaines are a group that have plenty of potential. Releasing two new singles “Evaporate” and “Vacant” recently, fans get a taste of their unique sound, which they label “nu-wop.” Speaking to siblings Hank and Charlotte Fontaine and members of their backing band Chrystian Kaplan (drums) and Daniel Zuker (bass) at Houndstooth Coffee in downtown Austin, the band told us what they think of one of the music industry’s most well-known conferences and festivals, opinions on Austin, their inspirations, and more.

Hank began the interview by saying, “this is our first time in Austin playing SXSW, and it’s been a good trip. We’ve had some good barbeque. We went to this place called Le Barbeque, which was pretty good. We’ve played with a lot of cool bands and we played with a lot of our friends yesterday.” As for what they think of Austin, “it’s beautiful,” Hank says. “It’s kind of like LA.” Charlotte, Hanks sister interjects by saying, “we don’t have anything like 6th street.” “Austin is a lot more supportive of upcoming music,” says Zuker. “For LA, it’s become this whole pay to play scene.”

When asked how the band got started performing together, Zuker says, “Hank and I had a mutual friend and we were trying to set up the group, and I asked my friend Albie if he knew any bass players.” “Not even!” Hank says. “I asked my friend Albie if he could play bass for us, and he was like, I would, but I can’t, so try this guy. I was referred to Hank by our friend Anthony who is in another band.”

As for how they found their style, the group has been described as taking after Southern California surf band The Beach Boys, though Hank insists that the band is losing that part of their style by saying, “we always hear different things from different people. They will say ‘oh, this is funk, or this is indie, which I like since you can’t pin it down.” Charlotte says, “for me it’s always about what I’ve been listening to or what I heard growing up. I like a lot of female singers from the 50’s, 60’s, so Brenda Lee or Peggy Lee, and then going more modern I like Amy Winehouse. Just strong female voices.” Hank names his influences by saying, “I listen to stuff that happened before I was too young to know about music, like Sonic Youth and Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana. I started listening to those bands and seeing what they listened to, and that was like Sam Cooke, The Cars, stuff like that.”

Since their songs can’t be pigeonholed into any genre, Hank tells us they have been writing more pop inspired songs lately, saying, “there’s a lot of freedom in the restrictions of writing pop songs, but I would love to do an acoustic album someday.”

Releasing their new single “Evaporate,” the response Charlotte says, “has been amazing actually. It’s been our fastest growing song on Spotify, and there is a Huffington Post article about it. It’s been really fun because it’s kind of a new direction for us as a band. It’s a bit poppier but it’s been a lot of fun performing it live for the first time at SXSW.” When discussing how Spotify and other streaming platforms have helped them as a small band, Charlotte says, “our most diehard fans have actually come from the internet. They’ve been following us on Instagram, Twitter, or on Spotify or YouTube, which I find interesting especially from LA, you can play a lot of shows and play to a lot of the same crowds, so it’s nice to be able to reach people that you would never have the opportunity to unless you are touring the world.”

As for if they have any plans to release more new music (they released their EP ii last year,) Charlotte says that they have a few more singles coming out (they dropped their latest single “Vacant” several weeks ago) and that they have a full album’s length of songs that they want to put out this year.

The Academic (SXSW interview:)

Formed in 2013 in Mullingar, Ireland, an hour outside of Dublin, a young band called The Academic turned heads at SXSW in Austin, Texas just a few weeks ago. With songs such as “Mixtape 2003” and “Different” off their most recent EP Loose Friends which dropped in 2015, Listen Here Reviews caught up with the entire band to talk about their beginnings, playing SXSW (it was their first!) and what’s coming up after SXSW.

Meeting at the Austin Convention Center after doing a radio interview with Kansas City Radio, the band states that it was a good warm up to the day, as they had just flown in to town the night before. On their first official morning at SXSW, lead guitarist Craig Fitzgerald states that the band went to BD Riley’s for breakfast and spent some time on 6th Street, saying, “we found out that we are actually playing at BD Riley’s tomorrow. It’s our first time in Austin, so we’re just getting the vibe down.”

Getting their name from the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Fitzgerald gives details about their beginnings, by saying, “we were always playing in school together from a younger age, and then when we hit around 18, we said that we would get more focused on the band and original songs, so we started troubleshooting a lot of names over the years, and The Catcher In The Rye had the words ‘the academic’ in the first few pages, and it made it to the shortlist. It stuck and it made sense as we were all in school together.”

If fans search the band on Youtube, they will come across their cover of Taylor Swift’s hit track “Style,” though The Academic does go acoustic for their version. Performing it for the first time on Ireland’s National Public Radio (RTE,) drummer Dean Gavin gives details about that performance, saying “We had just dropped our very first single and it started to do well, and they said, ‘we want to come in and do this song, we want you to do a cover that’s in the Top 40 at the moment.’ “We thought that song was good and her record 1989 was coming out, and it came together last minute.”

Discussing their home town of Mullingar (where One Direction’s Niall Horan is originally from,) Stephen Murtagh, the bands bassist, says that “there’s not a huge scene like there would be in Dublin.” Fitzgerald interjects by saying “you kind of have to go to Dublin, and that’s where we got a lot of our breaks, but also Cork City is another great place to go and gig, but it’s not a massive country so it’s easy to get around. There’s only so many shows you can play in Mullingar because its tiny.” Gavin continues, “It’s only got 20,000 people, but it’s definitely more musical.  The outlying towns, they aren’t as musical, but for some reason Mullingar just loves music.”

While they each had varied musical beginnings, the group now have shared musical tastes, leading to the question of how they got to open for the Pixies at Live at The Marquee music festival in Cork, Ireland in 2014. Guitarist Matt Murtagh (Stephen’s brother) told the story by saying, “I remember when I was 14, my cousin gave me a CD of their greatest hits and I became a big fan. That’s the biggest support slot we’ve ever done, and when we found out we were supporting the Pixies, it was totally crazy. I don’t know if we were expecting to meet them or anything, but we did get to hang out with them and it was a mind-blowing experience for us, since it was the first time we had ever met and played with a big act. It was 8,000 people as well which was by the biggest show we had ever done.”

As for what’s coming up after SXSW, the band got to enjoy a few days off at home before heading off to start a UK tour beginning tomorrow at Kasbah in Coventry, UK where the band will play new songs. To wrap up the interview, they gave details on new music, with Fitzgerald saying “I don’t know if we would get in trouble by giving a description, but it’s pretty much the same sound. It’s fun, young, and indie.”

  The 4onthefloor (SXSW interview:)

Forming in 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The 4onthefloor writes all their songs in 4/4 time, with every member of the group playing a bass drum during live performances. Releasing their last record All In in 2015, the group has become known throughout their home state and the rest of the country as a band with soul and authenticity. Hoping to secure a record deal with a label that understands and breathes their passion for music at SXSW (South By Southwest,) a music festival and conference in Austin, Texas, happening next week, Listen Here Reviews sat down with front man Gabriel Douglas to chat about music, the late Minnesota teen and osteosarcoma patient Zach Sobiech, their favorite part about performing at SXSW, and how they write songs.

Starting out his musical journey by “assaulting everything he could find with rhythm”, Douglas described his  passion and influences as the following, “The old-fashioned, countryside deliverance of rock’n’roll through a multitude of sources via old records, AM & FM bands on the radio waves, and countless broadcast renditions of oldies brought music to the forefront of a young mind. I started assaulting everything I knew (mostly trees and fallen branches) with rhythm. Although I was ways away from learning any sort of traditional drums, I got a saxophone – an alto saxophone – which lead to the wanting of more notes at the same time. Which lead to an old Sears acoustic guitar that had been hiding unassumingly under our family’s stairs. The action on it was atrocious, it only had a few sheets with cowboy chords with it, and the internet was still young enough that even finding tabs was looking for a needle in a haystack. It was perfect. It was a start.”

With Minneapolis having a thriving music scene, influence can be found throughout the entire state, with the group feeling so inspired by their Mid-Western roots that they named their fourth record Spirit of Minneapolis (2013) as a tribute to their home state. Moving the conversation towards home town inspiration, Douglas talks about not only the states frigid winters, but also the warm spring saying, “Where you live, where you reside, and what you call home will always have an influence on what you do for a living if you let it.” Elaborating further, he says that “until it has come around again, I don’t remember the joy of the first snowfall until the skies unleash the army of those beautiful snowflakes. Changes that you can always believe are coming, but when they arrive, it is anew all over again. It brings a resilience, a stoicness, to my songwriting process that is ingrained in generations of hard-working North Country men and women. Minnesota brings community and the joy of brotherhood to a primary spot at the table of priorities and I hope that is encapsulated in our songs as well.”

Perhaps another question on fans minds is the influence of late Stillwater, Minnesota teen Zach Sobiech on The 4onthefloor. In 2013, the group got a chance to perform with Sobiech in Minneapolis at The Varsity Theatre for a performance of his hit single “Clouds,” a track describing his journey as a cancer patient. Raising funds for osteosarcoma research, which Sobiech eventually passed from in May of that year, Douglas says that it was a pivotal moment in not only their professional lives, but their personal lives as well. “Zach lives in every single step I take as a musician. On every stage that The 4onthefloor gets the honor and joy to grace, he still is part of our performance. Knowing Zach is a beautiful connection I do not take for granted. The youthful, jubilant energy that he created through everything else; his hunger for living is not lost on any of us. We are happy to a part of his legacy (albeit a small, tiny morsel of the rock’n’roll part.)”

Heading into more technical matters, Douglas hashed out details of their unique stage set up, as it has raised questions to how The 4onthefloor write songs, and while their strict policy of only writing songs in 4/4 time did not get discussed in depth, Douglas did explain the creative process of songwriting. “We draw on our experiences traveling and sharing the merriment of rock’n’roll for songs. We get songs from the people we surround ourselves with and the people who come barreling through the doors of our lives. And the people who get thrown out the windows of our lives. We hope to one day find a song similar to “Came in Through the Bathroom Window” but currently none of our processes have conjured such a topic, such a Cocker-esque sequence, such a song.”

With SXSW just around the corner, Douglas divulged about the bands favorite parts of the festival, considering that The 4onthefloor has performed at the event over the past several years. Saying that the band enjoys tacos, Douglas says “Favorite parts: rock’n’roll and tacos. Other parts that we adore: downtempo, classic country, the class reunion of all of our tour mates from tours gone by, rooftop hangs, seedy club hangs, quarter-riddled arcade hangs, how’d-we-get-into-this-sewer-and-how-do-we-get-out hangs, and tacos.”

Among other plans at the festival is the hope that the group will score a major record deal when the festival is finished. Douglas says of the ambitious task, “We are hoping to get a major label contract from SXSW. We hope the label is ready for a road-worn, road-ready pack of musicians that are as hungry as the day they gasped their first breath. We hope the label is ready for a band that puts the show and the songs at the forefront, but a band that will not stare at its shoes. We welcome the community of patrons at any establishment that has taken the time from their lives to listen to our music, to learn our music, or to recite our music with us.”

“We hope the label doesn’t attempt to give some ridiculous advance, we don’t need it. We need their PR machine, we need their prestige, we need to be on the road with other like-minded musicians, traversing this nation and this globe. We hope the label understands that we will not be ready to tour the moon in 2017, but any year coming up, we are ready to circle back around and talk about lunar tours. We are hoping for a label that believes in our music, in rock’n’roll, and in sharing joy, as much as The 4onthefloor does.”

The ambition and heart that The 4onthefloor possesses will not be lost on anyone listening and with another year of SXSW about to be in the books, there is hope that The 4onthefloor have no trouble securing what they most desire.

Yarin Glam

Growing up in the small town of Arad, Israel, roughly an hour and a half from Tel Aviv, up and coming pop vocalist Yarin Glam never imagined that she would have success on the other side of the world in Los Angeles, California, where she now lives. Releasing her latest single “Mr. Calvin Klein,” which has received warm reviews in Israel, America and Italy, Listen Here Reviews chatted with Glam through e-mail to talk about her music, her new single, finding success in America, and what’s coming up next.

When speaking about her influences, Glam says “To be honest, I have so many. But to name a few, I love Lana Del Ray, Lorde, Beyoncé, Alessia Cara, Drake, and Lady Gaga.” While speaking with Glam, it’s clear that she wants to make upbeat music, which is popular in Israel, as the country has a large electronic music scene, though she mentions that pop music is not well loved.

Spending most of her life in Israel, the Middle East’s most stable country has had an obvious effect on Glam, with her stating “It’s home. Israel shaped me as a person, and as an artist. It’s who I am, and it motivated me to bring something new to the music world. I want to inspire people that come from diversity to dream big and never give up.”

When talking about “Mr. Calvin Klein” and its universal appeal with women, as everyone wants to find their perfect man, Glam gave details about the inspiration behind the track, saying “I had the biggest crush on this boy from my high school who I couldn’t stop thinking about. He looked as if he came straight out of a Calvin Klein commercial. It’s been really great to see how people from all ages in Israel, America, and even in Italy have responded to my music. They’ve given me so much love and support! It shows how music can reach anyone. I guess it means lots of people around the world have their own ‘Mr. Calvin Klein’”.

While good working relationships are a crucial part of success in the music business, Glam also gave details about her relationship with her producer Swagga Bob, how she met him, and how he has helped her throughout her time in America. “I met Swagga Bob about a year ago at IHOP, and it’s been all good vibes ever since. “Swagga is like family, we’ve grown extremely close. It’s been awesome working with him. He teaches me a lot about music, and the industry in general. When in the studio, we can be serious and focused, or we crack a lot of jokes, or both. He’s one of my closest friends, and even more than that, a great mentor to have in my corner!”

To wrap up the conversation, Glam will be hard at work releasing two EP’s this year, with one of them already being released, titled Now or Never, with Glam saying “My first EP is very special to me. I feel it’s my first chance to share my love for music with the world. It might sound a little ‘all over the place’ which is me experimenting with my sound. I feel I grew a lot as an artist while working on it.” With that said, she kept her second body of work shrouded in mystery, telling Listen Here Reviews, “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

Wherever Glam ends up, we hope to see her on stage soon performing all over the world and giving everyone a taste of their very own “Calvin Klein.”

The Funeral Portrait

Releasing their record A Moment of Silence in December, Atlanta act The Funeral Portrait has been moving up the ladder as a group to watch, and with new music that will get people talking, Listen Here Reviews was eager to chat with the group about the new songs, touring, and what’s coming next. Speaking with front man Lee Jennings through e-mail, he gave us the history of the group, how they wrote Silence, and the bands that they most like to tour with along with their favorite cities to perform in.

New to the music scene, it may be surprising that the group started off as a pop-rock band named Comoscope with Jennings saying, “After about two years of playing shows and releasing a record under that name we decided it was time for a change and started working on the songs for our first EP, [The Dearly Departed] as The Funeral Portrait. We then submitted our songs to Revival Recordings and they loved them and wanted to help us release the EP.”

After listening to the group’s music, it becomes apparent immediately that the group has varied musical influences.  Jennings, who comes from a musical theater background, naturally incorporates that feel into the band’s music, despite their more edgy tone, while drummer Steve Danzey brings in more of an old heavy metal vibe to the bands songs, though Jennings states that each member also listens to more recent material, particularly “emo-rock from the 2002-2008″ period.

In 2015, fresh on to the music scene, Alternative Press named The Funeral Portrait one of the top bands of the year. While that’s an accomplishment for any act, Jennings recalls the story of finding out the big news by saying “It was kind of scary actually… we were such a small band, so fresh and new and to already have to live up to that name is kind of weird! In 2016, we just spent the year recording the record and touring as much as we can, so hopefully we will have lived up to that grace!”

The Funeral Portrait recently made Alternative Press headlines again when the magazine’s website premiered clips from the groups new album A Moment of Silence. With each track sounding varied and different with each clip, Jennings provided details of the recording process, saying that they tend to deviate away from the normal process of ‘getting in a room and jamming.’ “Steve, our drummer, sits down and writes most of the instrumentals then Juergie Landstrom, our other guitar player, comes up most of the lyrics and then we demo out everything at my recording studio. This being our first full length record we really wanted the songs to be super strong and have great parts, so we worked morning, day, and night, to make sure every song sounded the way we wanted before ever going into the bigger studio with our producer to record the record.”

While touring is a normal part of life for The Funeral Portrait, to close out the interview, Jennings gave details about what is coming up next while also naming who the group enjoys touring with most, with Jennings saying, “Alesana are always fun dudes to tour with! Same with the guys in Islander. Both bands are just made up of genuinely nice guys! I know we always love playing Buffalo, NY as well as New York City and Anaheim, California. A place we haven’t played but would like to is Seattle, Washington… we were supposed to play there on this last run with Famous Last Words but the show got canceled because of a snow storm.”

A Moment of Silence is out now.

                Marcus Alan Ward

Releasing his debut album Last Night I Grew Tentacles in 2014 on his own label Long Division Records, Cleveland, Ohio soul singer Marcus Alan Ward has a great career shaping up ahead of him. After checking out his latest video for his latest single “Little Sunshine,” we set up an interview with him to discuss his influences, who he would most like to sing a duet with, and more. Our conversation is below.

Kicking off our chat, we began by asking Marcus which bands he is influenced by, due to his soulful and anarchic voice. The answers he gave us were a bit surprising. “Growing up my favorites were The Mars Volta, The Killers, The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Marvin Gaye, Bjork, TV On the Radio, and James Brown. That’s just to name a few. I still listen to these artists today regularly.”

While solo records pop up all the time, there is very rarely a solo record released where musicians do everything themselves, though in Ward’s case his music is a true solo venture. Telling us that he began playing music in fifth grade by picking up the clarinet, he tells us that “I play electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, vocals, and do drum programming and production as well. On the records I write, produce, and perform everything myself.”

With such a soulful feel, each song that Ward puts out sounds like he is creatively in control, and by doing every aspect of his albums alone, he continually pushes himself to make great music, and so far, he has risen to the challenge. Starting to take music seriously as a teenager, Ward told us about his days taking over guitar and backing vocals in plenty of bands, while exploring his next steps by experimenting with computerized sounds, and eventually discovering a happy medium by doing a hybrid of both musical outlets.

We think it worked out pretty well. With such a large responsibility to fill every time he releases an LP, we asked about who he dreams of recording with, with Ward telling Listen Here Reviews, that his dream would be to sing with Bjork, “as she’s the queen.”

Rooting his music in science fiction, we ended the interview by wanting to know more about the response to his latest album Tentacles and the writing behind it, with Ward telling us “I think it really opened people’s minds up locally and regionally to what could be done. I mean it’s an electronic, alt rock, soul concept album rooted in science fiction, space exploration, and quantum physics, created by a young black male. So I think it was a good look. I’m in a different place musically now, but I think it did well in showing people that I can’t really be tied to any one genre.”

While he may be in a different place musically, Tentacles illustrates that Ward does not want to be pigeonholed into one genre while also compelling his audience to listen further and dive deeper into his releases.

  Continental Recording Studio

The recording studio has had a long history in the music business. It is a place where musicians go could and record their creative ideas and put out their songs on an album for their fans to hear. For decades, the studio was the only place where musicians could record, though over the past decade or so, the concept of the studio has become more personal. Now, musicians have the freedom to record out of their bedrooms with programs such as Garageband or Reason. For the music fans that want to take an old-fashioned approach to recording music, studios are still there to meet their needs.

One of those studios is Continental Recording Studio based in Long Island, New York situated very close to the Big Apple by way of the subway, who opened their doors in 2008. Speaking to brothers Mike and Matt Gevaza about their joint business of recording music for a living, they are determined to turn a dying part of the music industry into a thriving one, and we were interested to know more about not only their business, but also their musical history and what drives them to help musicians be creative.

Kicking off our discussion with Matt about how the brothers began playing music and recording, he began our discussion by telling us “Our path to getting into recording began in the early 2000’s while playing in high school rock bands. Mike was always technically inclined and early on in our music career he took the initiative to record us. After getting a few sessions and mixes under his belt with some basic recording gear and cheap dynamic mics, word started to spread of his engineering skills. By 2008 we were in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and still recording our own music in our rehearsal space. Eventually other bands heard what we were doing and wanted to work with us and once again word spread. What started out as a bunch of 15-year-old kids experimenting with sound eventually blossomed into Continental Recording Studio.”

Both siblings had a strong musical education that started when they were both very young, beginning with the guitar and bass, taught by local guitar God Larry Logeman. The brothers credit Logeman with teaching them everything they know about guitar, eventually giving the brothers enough knowledge to start performing in front of a crowd with Mike adding “among our earliest performances was in an 8th grade play performing as The Beatles, at a local bar in 2001, and at a local ska venue around the same time. We were fortunate enough to play at CBGB’s many times between 2002-2006.” In total, the siblings have been playing music for 20 years, while they have dabbled in piano, synths, and drums alongside their main instruments.

The experience of playing one of New York City’s most historic venues, eventually led to a new path behind the recording desk and with the opening of Continental Recording Studio. Asking how the brothers picked the location of the studio, Mike tells Listen Here Reviews that it was about making the studio to musicians who utilized public transportation heavily. “We chose Long Island City for many reasons. LIC is accessible through the E, G, 7, and M trains at Court Square, the N, and Q trains at Queens Plaza, and in close proximity to the 59th street bridge and midtown tunnel. Its central location makes it ideal for musicians who access us via public transportation. Aside from being located so close to Manhattan and Brooklyn, Long Island City is also a thriving neighborhood and there is a lot of great art, culture, and food in the area.”

Set in a vibrant area, we know that New York City musicians are looking to get their songs out to the world in the best way possible, which led us to asking Mike and Matt about their approach to recording, with the brothers telling us that they treat each client as if they were The Beatles recording at Abbey Road. With a meticulous attention to detail and getting each recording just right, the brothers work as if they were working on a piece of artwork by telling us “We’re guided by the spirit of doing what each individual recording calls for, and we aim for a balance between experimentation and using tried and true methods. While we use digital as a recording medium, our recordings run through all analog signal paths. One of the main things we stress is getting the sound and performance right at the source. We try to avoid fixing things in the mix where possible, and we are deliberate in our microphone placement and gear choice. Throughout the tracking, mixing, and mastering process we listen with a very attentive and focused ear and don’t leave sonic issues unaddressed.”

To wrap up our discussion, we asked Mike and Matt about any upcoming projects they will be working on for the remainder of 2016. Wanting to consistently challenge the artists that they work with, Mike and Matt are currently working on a series called Uncomfortable Covers, where they invite an artist to come in to to record a song outside of their genre, with Mike excitedly saying that “It is a fun way to challenge artists and create some really cool unexpected covers. Our affiliate label, Electric Giant Productions, also has a few releases on the way. We’re putting out Tory Hanna and the Pondsiders debut album Learning to Share on August 26th, Brett Ferguson’s album Let Go in the fall, and John Severin and the Quiet 1’s self-titled release later this year. Be on the lookout for those in the near future!

With plenty of upcoming projects in the works, Continental Recording Studio is in for the long haul as the future of the music industry is changing rapidly. With creativity flowing in and out of studio, Mike and Matt Gevaza will make sure that the concept of the recording studio stays breathing for a long time to come.

          A Boy Named John

Starting in 2014, Parsippany, New Jersey rock band A Boy Named John formed over a mutual love of music and friendship. With the release of their new album So We Live | So We Die, Listen Here Reviews spoke to the band about their formation, their inspirational high school teacher John SanGiovanni, live performances, and what’s coming next for the band. To start the discussion, we decided to start things off with a subject that is close to the band member’s hearts – their high school music teacher. Josh Lustig, who plays guitar, spoke fondly of his former teacher, telling us “John SanGiovanni, or as we call him, Sange, was one of the main reasons that we got started as a band, namely because he encouraged us to get started by donating almost two grand worth of vocal equipment to us, for free.  He was great to have in class as well because he made his students look forward to playing music.  A few months ago, we performed at his retirement party to a room full of our old teachers and administrators.  It was a very humbling and gratifying experience.  It should also be noted, that John SanGiovanni was not only a great teacher, but he was the perfect representation of all of the great teachers that we had throughout our schooling, especially in music.”

While SanGiovanni was certainly an inspiration, he also encouraged the band to keep going, and as they polished their work ethic, the DIY group also had to start doing everything themselves. Starting bands which is similar to starting a startup, takes a dedicated group of people to make bands successful, something that was rooted in A Boy Named John early on. Noticing their persistent efforts to the get the group up and running, we wanted to know if they had any advice for upcoming acts or individual musicians who are doing everything themselves. They had some important tips that aspiring musicians should take note of. Vocalist Christian Singh added the following, “The biggest advice I would say is to keep good communication between everyone in the band. Don’t go MIA, be active within the group, help each other out. Have someone designated to answer emails, to book shows, to make phone calls etc. To this day we are continuously improving our methods of communication, aiming to operate as efficiently as possible in those regards.”

Moving away from the business of music, we wanted to discuss the very thing that got the band here in the first place, their music. Releasing their album just a short while ago, we wanted to hear what inspired the band to write the songs on the LP and the storyline behind the record. They offered the following explanation, “the general meaning behind So We Live | So We Die as a whole is basically how we as a society, live life as a routine (living and dying) and how we need to break that routine, open our eyes on the bigger issues in this fucked up world and do something about it to break this cycle and stand up for ourselves and each other. The writing process was pretty awesome for the album. We all collaborated pretty evenly in terms of lyrics and music. These songs were written based on issues going on in this world that, for the lack of better words, really pissed us off and we wanted the world to know and open up their eyes. Hopefully the listeners will be inspired to make some positive change!”

In the early days of social media, music fans had sites such as Myspace that allowed members to discover bands and musician from every corner of the world, become their friend, and keep up with their latest happenings. After a few years of extreme popularity, Myspace was side swept by Facebook who is currently the face of social media, leaving Myspace to lag behind. After a much needed faceclift, the former social media giant revamped its website to dedicate itself entirely to music. Occasionally, you will hear a band that is streaming music on Myspace, and A Boy Named John is one of them. Caught off guard to see where the band is allowing a first listen for their fans, we decided to them to ask why they chose the platform.

“If you’re looking in terms of the generic, cluttered, complain-about-everything social media Platforms, then yes Myspace does trail behind Facebook. That’s because Myspace has shifted its gears away from the “life’s a box full of chocolates” way of doing things and put all its efforts toward one beautiful thing: MUSIC! It’s an entirely different animal these days. If someone is on Myspace, they are there for the music and nothing else. A genuinely sweet community of music passioneers (yes I made that word up and yes you can use it.) We support this 100% and we’re very happy with the results received from working with them.”

While the band is still largely unknown, we wanted the guys to give us a little taste of their live performance and what the set list looks like for shows. Drummer Dean Mulligan jumped in for this question telling us, “They can definitely expect to participate in a high energy show. We establish a bi-directional connection between us and the crowd that intensifies throughout the set. We really aim to make the entire room feel something. “We’re in this together and we’ll come out the other side together.”

“As for the set list, we try our best to tailor it to the vibes we receive from the people in the room. It all depends on the type of show and the expected audience. It’s also not unusual for us to throw in some covers for people being introduced to our music for the first time. Collectively, our favorite songs to play are “I See, Said The Blindman” and “The Irony of a Birdhouse” which we often close with due to their high and climactic energy. So for those who have yet to see us, you can expect a high intensity show with a feeling of connectivity and belonging.”

Guitarist Jack Lips wrapped up our interview by telling us that the band will be releasing a music video for their latest single “Gentleman” and that they will be doing an East Coast tour in the future as well as possible tour out west.

Wherever the band will end up next is unknown, but their future is an exciting one and we can’t wait to follow along on the amazing ride with A Boy Named John.

Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb is one of pop music’s most recognizable artists. Getting her big break in 1994 when her song “Stay (I Missed You)” made it onto the soundtrack for the romantic-comedy Reality Bites, it was the first time that Lisa had achieved such visibility with her music. Her good friend and actor Ethan Hawke had passed the track on to Ben Stiller who was directing the film, which then kicked off Lisa’s career, leading to the release of several albums as well as venturing into children’s music.

Today see’s the release of Loeb’s new 7” record, with the songs “3,2,1 Let Go” and “The Disappointing Pancake,” with the latter being a fan favorite among adults and kids alike, released on her kid’s album Camp Lisa. Gearing up for the release, Lisa spoke to Listen Here Reviews about the record, as well as what inspires her to write music, her current tour, and her interest in writing music for children.

We started off the interview with Lisa by asking about the beginnings of her career and making her way onto the soundtrack of Reality Bites. Asking about her friendship with Ethan Hawke, she tells us “I’d been friends with Ethan for a while before he passed the song along to Ben Stiller, who put the song in the movie and soundtrack.  Ethan and I were part of a very creative group of pro-active friends who made music, wrote plays, books, acted in films and theater- all kinds of things.  We really had a great support system, which felt like a continuation of the same support system I had at Brown University.  When the song got into the film, it was the biggest thing that had happened in my professional music career.  I’d had songs on smaller labels complications and some record company interest, but this was the most visible.”

While Lisa has maintained her popularity among adult music fans, she made the shift to performing music for children in 2003, with the release of Catch the Moon, collaborating with her college friend and music partner Elizabeth Mitchell. Since then, Lisa has written songs that have appeared on the Noggin TV network, and contributed to the children’s album A World of Happiness, with the single “In The Details.” Interested to know why she made this shift in music, she told us that “I had an opportunity to make a record and I decided to make a kids record at that time.  I love writing music for kids because I visit other parts of my brain and creativity and storytelling that I don’t in my grownup music.”

Inspired by kids albums such as Free to Be You and Me and Really Rosie, which were both released in the 70’s and 80’s, Lisa tells us that she enjoys these records due to them being “entertaining for the grownups too with their wit, heart and cleverness,” something that she hopes to get across in her music when adults are listening.

Wanting to know the details about her latest release, we asked her to tell us about the 7” inch, letting us know that “this is an awesome exclusive way to get a super cool title song I wrote for a film starring Nia Vardallos, (Helicopter Mom,) and one of my most popular kids’ songs about a pancake who turns out to be not so disappointing after all.  This is something I would have loved to own when I was a kid.  You can listen to it over and over again and it’ll sound great on vinyl! The artwork is super cool too.”

Of course, promoting a release is a must for any artist and Lisa was excited to tell us a bit about her upcoming plans to perform for her fans in Canada, along with what they can expect to see from her if they have never watched her perform live. “I’ll play my songs, you know, from the radio, album tracks selected from all of my albums, some new songs, some kids’ songs too.  You can probably make a request during the show too. I always like to play some requests. I’ll most likely tell some stories and maybe hear from the audience as well.”

She also shared her love for her Canadian fans saying “I’m always on tour.  I’ll be up in Canada in July for four shows.  It’s been quite a long time since I’ve been to Canada, other than visiting my brother-in-law’s family in Ottawa.  I love my Canadian fans- they really connect with humor and heart and so I connect with them.”

To wrap up our discussion, we asked Lisa about her upcoming plans which included heading back Los Angeles to finish up the recording of her upcoming kid’s album Feel What U Feel, which will be released in the fall, and of course, more touring.

To see all of Lisa’s upcoming tour dates (including dates for the US), check out Lisa’s website here. You can listen to her new EP and purchase it over at Bandcamp.

The Downtown Fiction

Releasing their new EP Alligator Tears in February, Virginia power-pop band The Downtown Fiction have accomplished quite a bit in their almost ten years as a band. Forming in high school in 2008, members Cameron Leahy, guitar and vocals, and former drummer Eric Jones, came together to form The Downtown Fiction, and soon after began posting demos to their MySpace page, a popular method of getting noticed by the music industry back in the early days of social media. Upon the release of their latest effort, we sat down with Cameron to discuss the record, the bands songwriting process, and their upcoming plans.

We opened our discussion by asking about the band’s start and asked Cameron if he ever felt that the group could potentially make it as far as they have, with him telling us “we have been so fortunate to emerge at the time we did, with so many resources and means by which to reach people. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to get what I create out there. I just wanted to make music and I guess part of me kept saying, you’re doing this one way or another.” While it has become easier for a musician to “make it” in the digital age, The Downtown Fiction rose to becoming well-known in the pop punk and indie music scenes pretty quickly, as the band got a spot in Alternative Press, one of music’s most well-known magazines, which labeled the group as a band you need to know in 2010, only two years after they formed.

Since then, the group’s sound has changed and evolved, and we became interested to know just how much the band has changed since the beginning of their career, with Cameron telling us that they are at the point where the group can break their own rules, while also getting back to who The Downtown Fiction are at their core. “I think we’re continually modifying the constraints we want to work within. Those walls are always being reigned in or pushed out in some way or another. I don’t think we consciously make these rules, but over time I think you start to get a better gauge of what’s integral to your musical DNA and that’s something you’re sort of just putting on like a character.”

When asked about the writing process behind Alligator Tears, which Cameron self-produced, he tells Listen Here Reviews  about the creative freedom and path the band took with the release, saying “I had the opportunity to focus more seriously on demoing the songs at my home studio and take the time to experiment with facets of the arrangement that I would have left more undefined until later. But this time the songs took form pretty early on and once we re-tracked the bass and drums live, it really began sounding like the record. It was a great experience because self-producing really allowed for some creative freedom time-wise to push the limits of how much punch we could fit into one moment. There were some sleepless nights but I think that’s what’s at the heart of Alligator Tears, this feeling of pouring all of yourself into what you’re doing.”

After talking about the creative process, we wanted to know if there were any songs on the EP that hold a special place in Cameron’s heart with him telling us that “it’s probably “Hepburn Shades”—we just put out a video for the song. I think it became the closer because it has the ability to really take hold like a rock song would, but it’s also very reflective. It makes you want to sit back and think a little bit and that’s the sort of music I’d love to continue making.”

As for touring plans, the band cannot wait to perform the songs on Alligator Tears, with the members hoping to play for as many people as possible.

Tawnya Reynolds

Country artist Tawnya Reynolds always knew she wanted to be a star. Born and raised in New Mexico, Reynolds did not grow up in a musical town, leaving her no choice but to risk it all and move to the bright lights of Nashville. Though before moving to Music City, she set her sights on the Live Music Capital of the World, also known as Austin, Texas, to try her hand at what she calls a “more raw” music scene. Believing that she never truly fit in to the scene that Austin had to offer, she decided to go where country music blossoms, Tennessee’s capital and home of country music. While she says she has found the right city, that didn’t mean that Tawnya wouldn’t encounter some stumbles along the way, as she tried out for The Voice in 2012 and only made it to number thirty-two before being eliminated.

Now with a new album titled 8 Track, Tawyna is ready to embark on a new journey with new music that means the world to her, while hoping that the music will be loved by her fans as well. We sat down with Tawnya to discuss her new music and the path that got her to where she is today.

We started off our discussion talking about what has inspired Tawnya throughout her childhood. “As a little girl I was drawn to stylistic artists. Reba McEntire specifically, was the end all be all for me for years. That’s carried over into my adult life into a significantly deep respect for not only her musical sensibilities but her business savvy as well. Every artist dreams of that kind of longevity.” As for dreaming of moving to Tennessee, she tells us “moving to Nashville was always the goal. It was never a question…so I suppose mission accomplished.”

While the journey was never as cut and dry as some music stories may lead you to believe, Tawnya first tried out Texas to get her feet wet in the music business, in a city that’s not as harsh as Nashville, while telling us “as much as I love the city and everything it had to offer, Austin never seemed to truly fit me musically. I was so green, not even twenty-one at the time so I was really just trying to figure it all out. There’s no handbook in the music business. Everything is truly trial and error. I had so much to learn and was too caught up in surviving on my own to focus on the music properly.” Never finding a spot to fit into proved difficult, and while Nashville has provided Reynolds with experiencing her dream, she admits that “Nashville is somewhat vanilla. It doesn’t stray from the path of popularity,” making Tawnya’s songs a bit of a risk, as her music tends to stray from the commercial sounds of country, a style that Music City thrives on.

But risk taking is something that Reynolds does well, and wanting to explore more of this side of Tawnya’s story, we asked her about her time on The Voice back in 2012, where she would end of making it to number thirty-two in the competition before getting eliminated. When asked how to she got on the show while also describing the moment of her elimination, she offered the following explanation. “I was approached by Perry Howard of BMI to do an industry audition. It took some nudging from my husband but in retrospect, taking the opportunity was the right thing to do. Going home was a real moment. I never imagined I would be as emotionally invested as I was. You spend every moment with these people who become your friends and then out of nowhere you have to leave them. I was proud of portraying country music and myself the way I did so I wasn’t regretful. It took up over a year of my life from start to finish and then ended rather abruptly. One moment I was performing in front of sixteen million people, then not even sixteen hours later I was on a flight home. It was bittersweet but it honestly felt like the right time.”

Saddened but not defeated, Reynolds immediately began working on new music. While she is grateful that the fans have embraced her she admits that “this business can be fickle” and “that as far as the touring, the record and moving forward, that all has to come from me. I have to hit the pavement and make it work. The show gave me such an enormous platform and unimaginable exposure, but nothing was handed to me.”

To wrap up our conversation, we wanted to know what was coming up next for Tawnya surrounding 8 Track and beyond. “I always want to improve. I want to continue to be a better singer, a better guitar player, a better writer. I’m getting ready to hit the road and meet some new faces. This summer I will have the new music with me physically and otherwise. I just finished a duet with Radney Foster that will be on an upcoming Roger Miller Tribute release. I’m not shooting for perfection in any endeavor but I’d like to surprise myself somewhere along the way.”

While Tawnya certainly has had some difficult experiences along the way, she continues to impress us by the way she approaches music along with her relentless work ethic and with this in mind we know that 8 Track will find success in Nashville and elsewhere.

Safe, So Simple

Labeling themselves as a high energy band, Benson, Arizona group Safe, So Simple are certainly making a name for themselves throughout the music scene in Arizona and beyond. Releasing their new EP <em>Too Close to Closure </em>in March, the group is on a roll. Every song is immediately alluring, while also having the perfect sound for the younger generation- songs that bring together the sounds of EDM while using pop punk and metal to tie everything together, elements that we’ve heard in the recent pop punk songs of the last few years. With all of these elements in mind, the EP puts Safe, So Simple on the right track for achieving long term success. Curious to know more about their beginnings, career, and their songs, we chatted with the group to see what they had to tell us about what’s happened and what’s ahead.

Dereck Ausseresses, the groups drummer begins the interview by telling us, “Derrick [Fenn, guitar and vocals] and I were in a project together and we met Josh [Striffolino, the bands front man] through mutual friends who I used to be in a band with. We all discussed a project idea and made a decision to give it a shot,” adding that “collectively we share a lot of similar influences like Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, New Found Glory, Four Year Strong, and A Day to Remember.” As for their own individual backgrounds, each member began playing their current instruments in middle school and high school, with many of them playing other instruments before settling on their current choices, giving each member a varied musical background.

When listening to the EP, the, EDM, pop punk, and metal influences are obvious, with all three genres coming together seamlessly, with the band possessing a real sense of what makes their fans excited as well as what they want to hear from the band. With this in mind, we wanted to find out more about their songwriting process, the influences behind the release, and the creative process behind the record. Derek tells us, “Our songwriting has definitely evolved as we’ve gotten closer as a band. It used to be one of us had a song and then we fleshed it out. It’s a much more collaborative effort now. It definitely helps solidify our sound as a band as “the EP is primarily about finding a sense of closure. Whether it’s in the fulfillment of your dreams, relationships, or finding your purpose. Then it actually took on a whole new meaning during the writing and recording process. It took us seventeen months and three engineers to complete this EP. It was a process that at times we thought would be just easier to hang it up, but we trudged forward and worked for that sense of closure.”

Deciding to forge ahead, it’s a good thing the band decided not to call it a day, as Safe, So Simple is now trying out for a spot on the main stage at this summer’s Vans Warped Tour, one of America’s most renowned tours which stops in Phoenix in August, along with getting the chance to work with director Jeremy Tremp on their video for “Teeth Like Sharks.” Music fans may know Tremp’s name from working with fellow Grand Canyon state musician Luke Holland on his popular drum covers on YouTube. Seeing Tremp’s work beforehand got us curious about what the group’s experience was like working with Jeremy, the filming experience, and the storyline of the video. As it turns out, the filming behind the “Teeth Like Sharks” video was a simple one.

Filmed in Tremp’s home, the band is seen in a single shot going from room to room singing the track. Derek goes on to tell us that “Jeremy Tremp is the most professional individual we’ve worked with as a band. It being all one take, meant our blocking and timing had to be perfect. After a few solid hours of dry run’s, we mustered up three solid takes and picked the best one. No tricks or editing. All one crazy fun-filled shot!”

To tell us more about the process behind the shoot, Josh jumped in and told us a little bit more about the video with him saying that, “Jeremy had come up with the idea and then he and Derek began the initial blocking and ideas. Jeremy always maintains a very fluid and creative work atmosphere, so changes were happening on the fly. Everyone gave input and helped make it what you see today.”

As our conversation came to an end, we wanted to ask about the band’s possibility of playing Warped Tour. After telling us that it is up to a panel of judges whether or not the group will play, they tell us that it would be their first time performing on the Warped Tour. With a good chance of gaining hundreds of new fans from participating, we can’t think of a place better for the group to be than playing then on the main stage of one of today’s biggest and most influential platforms. For fans who are wondering when new music will be released, we certainly wanted to know about their upcoming plans for new music, with the group telling us that songs will drop after summer ends.

Check out the video for “Teeth Like Sharks” below.

    Audio Impulse

How did each of you get into music?

I know Freeman, our drummer, got into playing drums through Rock Band, but had been learning guitar and bass prior to that. The rest of us it just stemmed from a love of music, not just listening to it, but wanting to be a part of it, creating it. For the four us, not to be cliché, it isn’t just a hobby it’s a lifestyle. Music just resonating within us so deeply we had no choice, but to play and perform.

How did the band get started?

Audio Impulse was initially a started with Nate and Barry jamming together for fun. As they started to actually write out songs they decided they wanted to form a full band. It was then they reached out to Pat to fill out on bass and then we found Freeman in the deepest, darkest depths of the internet known as Craigslist. After Freeman joined Audio Impulse formed into the band it is today.

  How did you come up with the name Audio Impulse?

After spending an embarrassing amount of time debating what the name should be we initially settled on “Arc Impulse” as a reference to our videogame nerdiness, but we came to find out the name was already being used by another band. After throwing around a few other ideas involving the words “audio” and “sonic” we settled into “Audio Impulse”.

  How did you decide that “Straight Shot” should be a single for your current EP?

Well there’s the obvious it’s the title track might as well make it the first single, but that aside it was the first song we wrote when we began working on the EP process. It’s also the most emotionally charged and aggressive song on the EP, so we wanted to put that out there first to get it out of the way as we’ve taken a different approach with the material we’re writing currently that isn’t entirely indicative of that kind of emotion. Since we draw our inspiration for our songs from our own personal experiences it kind of begins a narrative, and “Straight Shot” is where the story begins. While it’s still a song we all love, take great pride in, and believe deserves to be out there it isn’t entirely where we’re at anymore, so the rest of the releases from the EP and the next couple releases will begin to work us into the next chapter of our lives and music.

  What are your plans for promoting the EP?

We just held our release party for “Straight Shot” and had a great turnout. We have a few shows coming up in support of the EP, and we have a few more videos in the works to help push the EP. Overall we have a lot planned for 2016. We’re working on securing tour dates in the summer and fall as well, so make sure to swing by www.AudioImpulseMusic.com to stay up to date on that, as well as all things Audio Impulse.

How have fans responded to the songs that you have released so far?

“Straight Shot” has received really positive response since the release of the video getting 1000+ views on the Facebook feed, as well as another 16,000+ over on YouTube. We couldn’t be happier with the way that’s been received, but also just talking to fans at the release party who’ve caught the separate teaser “leaks” of each track all the tracks are getting their fair share of love. I think it just comes down to personal tastes in music. Each track is vastly different from the rest, but still have our unique sound to them.  It’s interesting to hear the different reactions.

  What is your songwriting process like?

Our songwriting process is generally pretty simple. We’re big fans of the old adage “keep it simple, stupid”. One of us will come into the rehearsal space with the idea for a riff, vocal melody, or drum beat, and we’ll start to work from there. We’ll start to hash out different parts, then take those parts, and work out a song structure and progression. Once we have that general framework in place we just polish our individual parts and work on making the song feel like it has a natural flow to it.

  What was the process behind shooting the “Straight Shot” music video?

Again here we didn’t over complicate things. The premise behind the song “Straight Shot” is pretty simple. It’s a hard rocking “F*** you” break up song, so we decided to make a simple video for it. None of the bells, whistles, or the ricketa-racketa, just us rocking out.

What’s next for the band?

We have a lot planned for 2016. Like I mentioned we have a few more videos to work out to support “Straight Shot”, by the summer we have two more singles to release, we’re working on getting a tour together, and by the end of the year we’re looking to put out another recording. We’re also in competition to get onto Warped Tour this year. You can help us out by swinging by here (http://warped.amplifiertv.com/channel/Audio+Impulse) and checking out our videos. That’s all we currently have planned this year, so make sure you swing by the website to keep up on your Audio Impulse news and thanks for checking us out!

MC Lars

1.You just started your tour with Koo Koo Kangaroo. How has that been going?How did you guys end up going on tour together?This tour has been great!  They are the most awesome kids’ dance / hip-hop/ comedy duo to ever come out of Minneapolis.  We met on Warped and itfelt only natural hat we teamed up.2. Your EP The Laptop EP had a great style as well as themes. Your new albumZombie Dinosaur will be coming out in early November and I hear that bothreleases are similar in sound and lyrical themes. Can you tell us moreabout the record and what fans can expect from the new music?Thanks for your props on the EP!  The new album has exciting guestappearances from Watsky, Kool Keith, Roger from Less than Jake and more! I’ve continued some of my stories form earlier works and the sonicaesthetic ranges from everything from crust punk to trap to ska.  It’s mybest record I feel.3. I remember when The Laptop EP was released back in 2004. How do you thinkyour music has changed and what do you think keeps your fans coming backand listening to every album you release?Everything has moved to the Internet, physical media isn’t as present anda lot of the things I predicted on “Download This Song” came true, andstreaming has surpassed downloads.  Things like Warped help me stay intouch with my fans and pre-order sites like Kickstarter helps fund thecreative process and give fans proprietary bonus goodies.  There has neverbeen a better time to be an indie rapper.4. Are there any new songs on the upcoming release that you particularlyenjoy and how does this record differ from your previous albums?“Zombie T-Rex” is my favorite track because I’ve always wanted to do asong with Stza from Leftover Crack.  This album is heavier musically andmore lyrical than other albums, while staying poppy and high energythroughout.5. What was the writing, recording, and producing process like for the newrecord?Intense!  I spent over a year working on it and was able to higher some ofmy favorite engineers to produce the final product.  Very pleased with theresults.6. After living in Los Angeles for a few years, you decided to move back tothe Bay Area. Being from the Bay Area myself, I know that they are hugedifferences between Southern and Northern California. Why did you decideto move back?The Bay Area is home.  My time in LA was up and it was one to go back tomy roots.  I love Venice Beach, but nothing beats San Francisco.7. What can fans expect from you when they see you perform on this tour?A high energy, upbeat, multimedia extravaganza!  Come hang out! http://nerdcoretour.com8. Lastly, you just recently signed to Blacktop Records. How did you end upsigning with them?Ben had put out my friend Brendan from Wheatus’s cassette, so we thoughtit would be fun to collaborate on a cassette project.  Availableeverywhere 11/6.  Thanks for spreading the word!

Face Value

1.      You guys just released your debut EP Growing Up Young. What was the recording process for the EP like?

Pretty awesome. We recorded, mixed, and mastered it at The Monster House in Waldorf, Maryland where we also stayed during the entire process. Mike Bridgett (the man behind The Monster House) took us in and let us live on the floor of his living room for a week and a half. Everyday we would wake up, watch Chopped on Netflix as we fixed breakfast, and then record music in his basement for hours upon hours. We had a blast recording G.U.Y and we hope you can hear it in every hit, riff, progression, burp, fart and chorus when you listen to it. Alec’s mom also made us some delicious baked Ziti and chicken dinners that we enjoyed on the first two nights. Each night we watched Netflix movies, ya know, the ones nobody has ever heard of that went straight to DVD. And we made friends with all of his roommates. It was like a sleep-away summer camp that we never wanted to end.

2.      Do you guys have a favorite song off of the EP?

“If I had to pick a favorite, it’d be Members Only”, says Jeb. “It’s one of the first songs we ever wrote as the band we are today. I think it really captivates the kind of sound we’re going for and the lyrics are dark and very strong. They’re about the loss of a loved one and the guilt and hurt that comes along with it. It’s a song people can relate to, not when they’re up, but when they’re down and need it the most. And it’s just boppy and catchy as hell.”

3.      You were formally named Out To See. What prompted the name change?

We were going in a different direction. More mature sound, new members, etc. The band was changing and it was only right to change the name as well. Face Value defines us and what we stand for. We got the name from a band called “With The Punches”. They have a song called “Face Value” which talks about not letting physical things define you, saying, “..From the clothes you wear to the car you drive, the company you keep. They’re all just worthless commodities…”. To us, Face Value means to be yourself and to not let what you have or who you know define you. No one’s better than anyone else.

4.      How did each of you choose your instruments? As individuals, who inspired you to play music?

Jeremiah: I was always hitting on things trying to make cool beats and sounds since I can remember. I always loved music and something in me just liked the drums the most. I got a book from the library and read all about Keith Moon and I’ve had sticks in my hand ever since.

Gray: I started playing drums at age 7 when I admired a band called Hanson (don’t judge me). When Park started playing guitar in 5th grade, I took it up, too. Park got our grandparents to buy us a Mark Hoppus Signature Bass and I began dabbling with that as well. The Mark Hoppus Bass is now decommissioned ever since Jeb dropped it in Alec’s driveway…I love you, Jeb.

Park: Me and Gray always liked Blink and Sum 41 back when we were too young to understand any of their fucked up lyrics. Enema of the State and All Killer No Filler were huge influences on us. In 5th grade, me and Gray saw “School of Rock” and it really made want to start playing guitar, especially since I was the same age as those kids. I started taking guitar lessons and playing Blink 182 songs and that’s really how I learned how to play guitar.

Alec: The desire to learn how to play guitar really stemmed from my father’s love for music. he was an 80’s hair metal headbanger, which may be frowned upon by the music elitists of the modern age, but nevertheless the genre was super uppity and catchy. With my interest in music growing, my dad decided to sign me up to take lessons in my quaint hometown of Kingsville, MD. Mr. Don, my instructor, taught me about every Beatles song ever written, which I slightly resented at the time, but later understood was a great basis to continue to self teach myself guitar on my cherry red Fender. Since then I have self taught and taken vocal lessons and started the band which I continue to play in, Face Value.

5.      How was the most recent tour that you did over the summer? Were there any memorable moments or shows?

Our first tour could not have been a better time. Our friends in the band Something More asked us to hop on and the rest is history. I would say we had a bunch of memorable moments that will stay in hearts for years to come. In Indianapolis we saw “Inside Out” while Something More saw “Jurassic World”. In Peoria, an awesome band called Unamused Dave let us crash at their parents’ house (borderline mansion) and let us all shower and eat frozen pizzas, yum. In Knoxville, TN, some random local yocals let us sleep at their town home and gave us Panera bagels. Finally, in Charlotte, SC, we stayed at our friend’s place and hung out on the beach all day before our final show. Some shows were better than others but that’s life. We spent two nights sleeping in Walmart parking lots and the rest of the 9-day stretch we managed to sleep in somebody’s home. All in all, tour was one of the greatest experiences of our young, weird lives and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

6.      You guys recently released a music video for the single “Car Door.” How did you come up with the plot for the video and what was it like to film it?

We worked with AHT Productions before with our music video for “Up Late” and they did such a great job with it that we went to them again for Car Door. I believe the only idea we gave them was “Naughty” and they came up with the rest and made it the masterpiece it is. It was awesome shooting it. We spent all day watching the actors and actresses (which were mainly just our friends) do their thing and shoot all the scenes and also got to do our small little scenes (Alec and Jeremiah gardening and Parker and Gray working at a liquor store). Then, we spent all night shooting the live band scene at a friends’ parents’ house. They only knew Gray and Parker, but were kind enough to let us, the film crew, and a handful of extras come make noise on their property. It was a great time and if you’re reading this definitely check it out! We couldn’t be happier with it. Big thanks to the Krach family for sure.

7.      What can we expect to see or hear next from the band?

Other than show announcements in our hometown of Baltimore, Maryland and the surrounding area, expect new music (a new EP perhaps?) and new merch (T-shirts and stickers) in the somewhat immediate future! Be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on all your favorite social media sites for pictures, videos, updates, and foolishness! Thanks for reading.

Ship Captain Crew

How did the band get started?Roger and Mike have been playing in bands since 2005, but Ship Captain Crew started in 2010 after some of us met outside of a show that was sold out. We started playing music together in bedrooms, basements and garages and immediately started playing shows around Chicago. We have been at it ever since then.You guys played at the Chicago date of Warped Tour recently. What was the experience like?It was an incredible experience for us as a band and personally. It was one of the largest dates of the tour for attendance, almost 20,000, so being able to perform for and meet a portion of all those people was absolutely a dream come true. Also for us, as music fans, being able to play on a stage across from some of our favorite bands like Senses Fail, The Wonder Years and PVRIS was truly inspiring. To be a part of Warped Tour and what it means to many people was everything we imagined it to be.Even though you guys only played the tour within the past week, has the response to your music grown? How has the response to your music progressed since you started performing together?Absolutely the response from people we meet has been phenomenal. Seeing a fan with your lyrics tattooed on their skin forever, or even meeting someone at a show down-state that caught your set at Warped Tour is a humbling and very unique experience. But that’s what we live for, and the response is always getting better the more opportunities we get to play for people.On your Facebook page, you posted a picture of a fan who got a tattoo in honor of the band. What was your reaction when you saw the tattoo? What was the particular story behind the design?It was something we never imagined would happen, so it was incredibly humbling to actually see in person. It was a little quote, ”I always leave some room to grow” from our song Notebooks, with a little potted plant sprouting underneath. The simplicity of it was most captivating as it really sums up the mantra of the whole song and the EP that it begins, House Of Mercury.Has playing Warped Tour changed anything for you guys in terms of what you want to achieve as a band going forward?I think everything we do as a band is always leading to a step in another direction. Playing Warped Tour may have been a small step in the grand scheme of things, but it was a big leap for our friends, family and fans that have known us from the start. So it was very rewarding to see how much that meant to them. I think the door has been opened for new opportunities as a result of playing, and what lies ahead is a little more clear now.What are your upcoming plans for new music and touring? We are currently working on a new EP, which you will be hearing more about very soon. In support of the new record, we will be playing around the Midwest and East Coast this Fall!

Zak Mahoney of Like Mike

How did you guys get started?

We started practicing in the summer of 2011. All of us had just graduated high school. Myself, Corey and Dan were in a different band together and were looking to take it on the road but we just couldn’t get it together with the other two people in our band. Nothing against those guys but it just seemed that their personal lives weren’t going to be flexible enough to do as much as we wanted to do anytime soon. Sometimes that’s how it is. I got a call from Corey one day asking if I wanted to sing in a pop punk band he was starting. It was meant to be a side project to our other band until we were able to really get that band going on tour. He contacted Billy and Edward who were in another local band at the time. We began practicing and things just clicked. The 5 of us got along, had similar goals and wanted to tour. Eventually this band became the main focus and we decided it was time to put our old band to rest.

For each of you, what are your musical backgrounds?

My favorite band is Knuckle Puck. Corey loves Such Gold. Billy’s all time favorite is My Chemical Romance. And Edward loves Four Year Strong and Set Your Goals.

Your music has had a great response within Atlanta. How does your music fit in with the culture of the city, particularly alongside its hip hop scene?

There’s a pretty strong pop punk scene in our area. A lot of bands have been forming that can fall within the genre. The scene we’re in and the hip hop scene are fairly separate in our area. To be honest, I couldn’t name a venue that primarily exists for hosting hip hop shows. We’ll have a rap artist on shows we play here and there but for the most the two scenes don’t intertwine too much. 

What inspired you guys to shift the direction of your music after a few successful releases? How have your fans reacted to this change in style?

The music we write is simply inspired by whatever we’re listening to the most at the time. When we first started you’ll hear a lot of Set You Goals and Four Year Strong influence. We eventually shifted to have some influence by Taking Back Sunday and Senses Fail.

How has your success grown since performing at Warped Tour?

Playing Warped was an awesome experience. I don’t know if the one day that we played really kicked down any doors for us. But we’ve been touring a lot since then. It also kind of helped us learn more about how bands on a larger scale operate.

How is the writing/recording process going for the new music?

It’s going great. This time around has been a 100% team effort. We used to have Edward write something from home, upload the audio tracks in our google drive. Then I would go in and write a vocal part over whatever he had written. Then we would show up at practice and learn the song together. This time around, everything has just been jammed out together at practice. Somebody would jam out a really basic but catchy chord progression. Then the song would just build from there. As the songs became more solidified, I would put a vocal part over it.

What kind of sound can fans expect to hear this time around?

It’s going to be a mixture of how our old stuff sounded and how our more recent stuff has sounded. We really found a way to blend the two sounds together to create something that I feel is really cool and unique.

What do you hope to achieve with this new record?

I think the goal as with most bands is to have it catapult us to where we can be making enough money to pay our bills and quit our day jobs at home. I know all of us would very much like for our living to just be playing music together.

Approaching Troy:

1.      You guys just released a new EP called Dear Sadie. It has a lot of influences from bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Hidden In Plain View, among others. Was there a reason for reviving this sound, especially since we haven’t heard that in a while? 

 There isn’t really a specific reason. We’re all 90’s kids and grew up in that early 2000’s scene. We lived through that Long Island Pop-punk Emo scene. It’s what inspired us to write songs in the first place. Those are the bands that got us through the adolescent hardships and teen drama. Every new up-n-coming artist had to be influenced by something before them, I like to think we do a good job incorporating it into our newer more modern take on the genre. 

2.      How did you guys meet since the band originally started as a solo project? 

We actually all met through different ways. Some of us went to school together, and others met through “friends of friends” on social media. 

  3.      What has the response been like to the new EP? 

 The response has been amazing! Not only have people been complimenting us on the musical direction we took with this EP, but also the work that our engineer Anthony Paganini did on the recording to bring out our performance and that sound we wanted. The best part about the response to this EP has been when we ask people their favorite song, we usually get a different response from person to person. 

4.      Do you have a favorite song off of Dear Sadie? 

I think it’s pretty split among us as well. Some of us hold the title track “Dear Sadie” near and dear because of its lyrical composition as well as the use of different beat patterns, and then some of us think that “Here’s To Ohio” is the best song and most memorable off the album. It’s dark yet fun at the same time. We really think “This Victory” should be in a movie soundtrack or played for a sports event or video game. That would be cool don’t you think? 

                                                                               5.      What was the process like writing and recording the EP? 

 The writing process was unique on this EP. There were songs that just came to us like “Here’s To Ohio” and “This Victory,” but then there were songs like “Dear Sadie” that if you were to hear the original demo of the song, you would have no idea that it’s even the same song. Some of the songs were more of a challenge to write because we really tried to go out of the box and give a new sound and feel to familiar styles. 

 6.      How has opening for bands such as The Ataris, Hawthorne Heights, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus changed the band? Obviously opening for these bands gives you exposure, but have you felt that opening for them has helped you achieved your goals as a group? 

 Well to start, opening for bands like that was surreal. Some of these bands like Hawthorne Heights we grew up listening to and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was actually the first band our lead singer, Jake Salazar, saw live. As a band, these opportunities are all stepping stones on the road to our success. We always hoped we would open up for bands like these and when it finally happened it really helped us realize what we need to do to be ready for these opportunities. We’re definitely excited to see the momentum continue by having more shows with bigger bands like those to open for. 

 7.      Is there a city, state, or country that you’ve always wanted to perform in, but haven’t gotten the chance? 

 We’ve been talking about the UK a lot lately. It would be unbelievably exciting if that could be accomplished within the next year or two. England just seems like it’s ready for something new. We’ve had a few plays here and there at a few stations in the UK and hopefully it’ll catch on soon over there. We’re confident it will. Asia is also on our bucket list and we really feel we’d be successful over there too. 

 8.      How has Long Island’s musical history influenced Approaching Troy?

We fully appreciate the rich music history that has come from this amazing place they call Long Island. With that being said, our influences come from all over. Of course you can tell that our music is strongly influenced by bands like Bayside and Taking Back Sunday; both Long Island natives. Yet We’re not entirely sure we completely write based off those influences. We also are influenced by bands like Utah’s own, The Used, and Michigan’s Chiodos. Maybe it’s coincidental or maybe…it’s just something in the Long Island water we drink that keeps us close to our native influencers. 

The Scandals:

1. How did you and the rest of the band get into punk rock?

I was given a Rancid and an Operation Ivy cd in the schoolyard by a good friend. I fell headfirst into it that moment. I think the rest of the band had similar experiences. There’s always a person in your life that points you in the right direction.

 2. What inspired you to start a band?

I always wanted to play music but when I saw a local show in my hometown at 15 i knew that was it. I watched a punk band called No Say rip through a set in the park and I wanted to run right home and start writing the songs.

3.  You guys have a European tour coming up that’s just around the corner. What has the response been to your music over there?

Europe has been great to us. Last years tour was our most successful tour at that moment and we’ve been beyond excited to get back. There’s something special here in terms of the excitement surrounding music and live shows. It’s something that I’m afraid is lacking a little bit back home.

4. Are there any cities that you are looking forward to playing? What do you notice the most about your overseas fans in response to your music and punk rock in general?

I don’t think there’s a city on this tour that we’re not looking forward to. Dublin and Brighton are high on the list as we’ve never been to the UK. We’re also stoked to return to Berlin, Prague, and Volkach. The biggest thing is the genuine interest to hear music that is new, and if they like it they show a great amount of support.

5. Do you guys have any shows that are memorable to you over the course of your career?

There’s been a few shows that stick out in my head. Our return home from Europe at The Court Tavern last year was great. We’ve had shows in Cedar Falls, Iowa that have become tales of legend amongst our group. I think we could all agree that Terminal 5 in NYC this past March with The Gaslight Anthem was surreal.

6.  You guys have been around for awhile. Do you guys have any moments that stick out to you that are particularly memorable, either on tour or recording?

There’s definitely quite a few moments that stick out on tour, most of which I probably shouldn’t talk about. Anthony’s first tour with us was actually his first tour ever. It was with our buds in Let Me Run and we hazed him by stealing his toothbrush every night. He had no clue where they kept going and we’d keep seeing him trying to hide  the fact that he was buying new ones at rest stops because he was embarrassed. At the last show Corey from LMR handed him all his tooth brushes on stage. Recording has always been a blast for me and we’ve had the opportunity to work with some great people.

  7. What are some of your favorite songs to play live? Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written?

Right now our favorite songs to play live are our newest ones. We’re still figuring out some of the nuances that allow us to perfect the tracks so playing them live can be a lot of fun. I also enjoy playing Sean’s track “Sold on Merit” because I don’t have to worry too much about where I am on the stage. I’m not sure I can pick a favorite song that I’ve written. Each one holds a certain time and place for me. I guess if I had to pick one I’d go with a newer one called Lucky 7’s.

8.  Is there a record or a band that you is feel is particularly influential to you as individual musicians or as a band?

I know for a fact that we all have very different opinions on this subject. I’ve had a lot of bands and records stay with me from the obvious choices like “…And Out Come the Wolves” to The Wallflower’s “Bringing Down the Horse.” I hold a band like One Man Army as a huge influence of mine as well as Lucero. I’m a sucker for great songwriters.

9. You guys just played Skate and Surf alongside some incredible bands. What were some of the highlights of the festival.

Skate and Surf was a blast. We got to catch our buds in Gates, see Beach Slang for the first time and I got to do a song with Gaslight to close the night. Way too much fun for one day. I’ve been listening to those Beach Slang EP’s in the van nonstop since then.

10. Lastly, what can we expect from the new music you are putting out this year?

I think you can expect the right step that we need to take. We put a lot of time and care into these songs and we really can’t wait to get them out there.

Victorian Halls:

Here is my interview with Mike and Jordan of Victorian Halls that happened during SXSW. Their new album Hyperalgesia comes out on May 19th on Victory Records. Best of luck with the album release guys!

Lauren: Can you guys introduce yourselves and tell us about what you both do in the band for anyone who doesn’t know who you guys are?

  Mike: My name is Mike and I play the drums.

  Jordan: I’m Jordan and I like to think of myself as the multi-instrumentalist that does a little bit of everything on stage, except play guitar, a little of percussion, but it’s mostly bass and vocals, and a little of synth here and there. Sprinkle it in…

  Lauren: So, how did you guys form as a band?

  Mike: Well, we formed quite a while ago. Jordan joined the band shortly after, and we were actually friends with some of the people in his band, and we had a member leave the band or whatever, and then it just so happened that right around that time Jordan’s band was having a falling out…

  Jordan: Not a falling out, but we were calling it quits with our music, we’ve done this for so long, and we really didn’t want to play this style of music anymore, and let’s just throw in the towel…

  Mike: Then we got a hold of Jordan a couple of days before their last show, and we went to go see him, and we absolutely loved him. Like, we fell in love with him. That was a couple of years ago, and since then it’s been like the core three of us, and we’ve just kind of stuck as a three piece since then. It’s much easier that way, traveling….

  Jordan: Everything…

  Mike: And it doesn’t smell as bad either. Don’t get me wrong, it smells terrible, but it doesn’t smell as bad if you had like four or five members…

Jordan: True, true.

  Lauren: So how did you guys come up with the name Victorian Halls?

  Mike: Uhhhh….I honestly don’t really know.

  Jordan: I know the story behind it, just because I had to look it up, because I asked the guys when I first joined the band, but it ended up being this, um, but it ended up being this charity event for orphans, and it was around Christmas time so they were just giving a bunch of donated presents and gifts away to a bunch of orphans, and when the whole thing started, a bunch of the orphans just rushed the stage, and a bunch of them got trampled, and it was a tragic event. So I guess that was where the name Victorian Halls came from. It was at Victorian Halls.

  Mike: Like, that was where the stage was.

  Jordan: To my understanding, I mean I looked this up, so I’m pretty sure that’s it.

  Mike: Its sounds like you guys are dark and morbid, something like that, so yeah, that’s pretty much it.

  Jordan: Sick, I love kids.

  Lauren: So how did you guys start playing your instruments and what inspired you to start playing music?

  Mike: Me, personally, I would always listen to the radio as a kid, and I stole my brother’s punk CD’s, and he had a couple of hip hop CD’s that I would take from him and just listen to. Drums just kind of stuck out for me, and I actually went to a Black Hawks game as a kid, and anytime the Black Hawks would score a goal, there was like this marching drum line, and they would stand in the gates, start marching and going crazy. They would use the large drumsticks, and I just asked one of the guys for a pair of sticks, and he gave it to me, from there it just went crazy.

  Jordan: Dreams were made…

  Jordan: For me, my musical upcoming is like really weird, because no one in my family really plays music or anything, so I pretty listened to whatever my mom was listening to, and that was like Usher, R. Kelly, Shania Twain, a lot of New Jack swing, 90’s R&B. I didn’t dive into punk rock until I was in middle school. But prior to that, I really got into metal, and that was really weird, for all of you out there, I guess heavy metal is taboo for African Americans. But, I loved it. I think what made me want to pick up the bass, was that I really couldn’t distinguish it from music at all, like when I was younger you had CD players and cassette tapes and all that. So I couldn’t really, like, hear the bass, and I was like “where’s the bass in this?” like “where is the bass?”, “I don’t hear it.” And if I couldn’t hear it, was it even present at all?” I think that was really got me to play the bass, so I could make it come out, but then you know technology expanded and grew, you know innovation, and now bass is everywhere. But I still love it. I play guitar and drums too though, but they’re not my main thing. But yeah, mostly nu-metal, bands like Slipknot and Korn, Spice Girls is a big one. Spice Girls is HUGE for my musical influences, Usher, Michael Jackson, Prince, all over the board.

  Lauren: So, a good mix of different things.

  Jordan: Nothing super intricate, like I like jazz and gospel and all that, but I never practice it, but I feel like you don’t need that much when writing a song. So that’s it for me.

  Lauren: It’s cool that you have all of those different influences.

  Jordan: I just love music as a whole. You can find beauty in any genre that you listen to, you just have to wait for it and hear it. Because, you know, I don’t like everything, but I can find something, you know?

  Lauren: You guys have a pretty interesting sound I took a listen to a few of your songs, so how did you find your sound?

  Jordan: I feel like we’re still looking for it!

  Mike: We’re still changing still, which is cool, you never get bored of playing one genre. Our debut album with Victory was kind of like one genre, but twelve different songs from that same genre and very similar style, and at the time, it was just kind of like…

  Jordan: It reflects a lot on our older music, it was really aggressive, but we want to add more electronic elements in there. And for this new album, we kind of strayed away from that and just wrote songs. Not being genre specific, but if a song went a certain way, it was why can’t we just write it this way, instead of making it the way we usually would, with all of the electronics and all the thrash, and with the crazy high pitched aggressive vocals. We were like, “why don’t we write songs that we want to write?” Then we went in that direction. But our first album, I feel like it’s all over the place. Just a lot weird, unorthodox type music. But I really enjoy the direction we’re taking right now, and hopefully we’ll just keep evolving and playing different genres of music, and putting more of our musicianship out there, rather than just writing a song that anyone could play, I guess.

  Jordan: We’re not saying that EVERYONE can play our songs. Because they are crazy and they have weird time changes, and genre switching stuff going on.

  Mike: But, yeah, I like where we are right now.

  Mike: Hopefully, that answered your question.

  Jordan: I went off on a tangent there, but it’s my morning breath of air, to get everything I have to say out in the beginning of the day, and as the day goes on, I chill and then I just listen to people talk.

  Lauren: So what was the process like when Victory signed you guys? Did they approach you, how did they find you?

  Mike: We wrote a little EP, we wrote it ourselves, and we sent that out to several different labels, and Victory was one of the labels that got back to us, and we talked and we were on the same page, as far as what we wanted to do with distribution and touring and things like that.

  Jordan: Just like the big picture of everything.

  Mike: It was cool, because one of things that they asked us, was who do you guys want to be, and we were naming some smaller bands, and where do you want to be. Think bigger, and I don’t think we ever thought like that, until we started talking with them. They pushed some humongous bands, and it’s very inspiring to us. And it’s cool to think like something like that is possible. And you go to these concerts, and you never think that these people are larger than life. It is possible, and if they are one of the labels that can help us pursue that, and get to that level…

  Jordan: Especially when you’re young, and I didn’t even realize that I was listening to a lot of bands who were on Victory, when I was in middle school, high school. Like Taking Back Sunday, Catch 22, Bayside, Between The Buried and Me. Those are just a few on our label that I just loved growing up.

  Lauren: As a music fan myself, I always get a lot of the bands I like from the bands I listen to. Is there one particular band that you think everyone should check out, or know about…

  Mike: Like, upcoming bands?

  Lauren: Any band. Upcoming or known.

  Jordan: It’s weird because I always have a favorite band in mind. At the moment its Earth, Wind, and Fire. It want to funk that will make you just want to get up and dance, Earth, Wind, and Fire.

  Mike: I’ve had some of those on repeat for a 45 minute drive. Just funk in general, though is just amazing. They started off with like the pop punk thing, and went to indie rock, and then they went to grunge, and then they went super grunge.

  Jordan: I would have to say that my favorite band is Brand New. They’ve evolved immensely over time. They did the pop punk thing and then they did indie rock, then they went grunge, and then they went super grunge.

  Lauren: Have you listened to, I forget the name, I think his name is Simple Mind, he did a covers album of one of their records, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me.

  Mike: They did a cover of the whole thing?

  Lauren: The whole thing.

  Jordan: No way! I have not heard this!

  Lauren: He did a re-imagined version of that album.

  Mike: That’s cool. We will definitely check that out.

  Jordan: The Devil and God is like my favorite record of all time, then I’ll probably listen to it for like a year.

  Lauren: So when you guys are out on the road, do you have any particular cities that you like, or cities that get a particularly good response?

  Mike: Arizona. There’s a couple of cities in Arizona like Tempe…

  Jordan: Scottsdale…they’ve really grabbed onto us, and it’s not like the geographical location of Arizona, it’s the people there, that are like really, really cool.

  Mike: Their not really into a “scene”, their just into music and they absolutely love it, they really latched onto it, and any time we come through, they know about it immediately. We don’t even have to post the dates, like somehow they find out through the promoter and say “hey, I heard your coming through here, I’ve got a bunch of people coming.”

  Jordan: So, that’s probably one of my favorite places. Like, they go out of their way to find places for us to stay, and I just think that that’s like so cool.

  Jordan: Besides Chicago, of course. But you know, it’s a devil of its own. Got to be careful around those parts. Because music isn’t like huge in Chicago or anything, like we listen to a lot of music, but we don’t have a lot of up and coming artists coming out of Chicago, so it’s really hard to make your niche in the scene. Especially, there is like no scene.

Jordan: But yeah, Arizona’s cool. I really like Texas. I’ve been here to South By about four or five times, and every time I come down here, it’s like the best time. Everyone is so friendly, music is thriving, you meet a bunch of people, it’s really great. I also like New York. New York is just a little bit too crowded for my taste. But I like people, sometimes.

  Mike: It’s an interesting group of people out in New York.

  Jordan: Yeah, everyone’s just free in New York. Oh, and California too. California’s fun. But that’s also another beast of its own, because everyone’s different wherever you go. And you’re going to have those few that are like, really cool, and then you’ll have another set of people who aren’t into much of anything, except what they’re doing, and you just have to get past those people.

  Mike: It’s all about support; you have to support each other, if you want to get somewhere. People see right through that stuff too.

  Lauren: So, what’s next for guys in terms of albums, tours, things like that?

  Jordan: Yes! All of that stuff!

  Mike: We are releasing a new album on Victory Records called Hyperalgesia, it’s going to be out in May. I believe the 19th. After that, it’s heavy touring. Heavy everything. Just when you go out at your hardest, that’s when everything kind of comes together, and that’s what you get to enjoy. You to record and do all of this stuff, getting everything ready, and then touring is really the fun part. It’s what pays everything off. Touring is fun, that’s the easy part.

  Jordan: There’s nothing I’d rather do than just tour. Just all the time. It gets hellacious after awhile, but after you really find your place, then I feel like touring is the place for me. I don’t like being in one place for a really long time, so I think that’s the way to go.

  Mike: So, there’s a lot coming.

  Jordan: Very soon. I can’t wait. We’ve had this record written for a year and a half, but we’ve just been going through and making all of these revisions, rewriting, and rerecording parts, and trying to make it the best possible album that we could. But, I’m really excited to see what comes next.

  Mike: The songs have been around for a little while but they’ve changed drastically, at least like four or five times, like each song. We’re perfectionists when it comes to that.

  Jordan: We like to do everything ourselves, whether it be videos or whatever. We always get help from friends, but we like to spark the idea a little bit, and then just get people to help us out. But we always want to have our vision in everything we do. I feel like its more close to home that way, a little bit more intimate, and people can relate. Like “oh these guys are actually doing something and they are doing it for themselves.” I think that’s cool. Maybe that will spark inspiration in someone, you never know.

  Flannel Mouth:

I interviewed Flannel Mouth at SXSW back in March. They were nice guys and very fun to interview! Everyone check out their album when it comes out this summer.

Lauren: Could you introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about how the band got started?

  Luke: Well together we’re Flannel Mouth, I’m Luke, and I sing and player guitar.

  Ryan: I’m Ryan, and I sing and play bass, and some percussion.

  Tyler: I’m Tyler, I play the drums, sing  backup vocals, and I take a lot of Dayquil.

  Lauren: You guys are from a small town in Illinois of only a thousand people. How has your hometown responded to your music?

  Luke: From elsewhere, or from the hometown?

  Lauren: From the hometown.

  Luke: I think that they appreciate us and expect us to do good things; I don’t think they get the music as much in the hometown, and when we go out I feel like the reception is a lot better.

  Tyler: It’s very rural, you have to drive through a lot of backcountry to get to it, and there’s a lot country music, people really like that, we have a little element of that, but for the most part we are the kids who are doing good. We’re kids making noise for a lot of people.

  Luke: They still complain a lot about us practicing. I guess if there was a country band playing by us, I wouldn’t be super stoked about. It’s a wonderful hometown though, I love it.

  Lauren: How did you guys get started?

  Luke: We all went to school together. Me and Tyler were going since kindergarten basically, then Zach showed up, and then Ryan showed up. Zach’s the invisible guy right here.

  Ryan: Zach’s not here but he plays lead guitar, backup vocals

  Luke: Violin

  Ryan: Trumpet, piano

  Luke: He’s a wonderful guy

  Tyler: Very soft spoken, for as much as he has to do.

  Tyler: We’re all in the same graduating class, out of a class of 60 people, and we all just hung out and got along, and we were really good friends even before we started playing instruments, and then we started playing instruments and ten years later here we are, in Austin, Texas playing South By. So cool.

  Lauren: For each of you individually, has playing music been something that you guys have always done or was it something that you picked up later?

  Luke: I remember going to school and doing like the wheels on the bus, and I’ve always been into since then, always been a chorus kid. Tried to do the band thing, but I picked the oboe, but I wasn’t too good at the oboe. I’ve always been into music, me and him (points to Tyler) always dance to The Backstreet Boys. The music interests have changed, but you’ve got to stick with your roots.

  Ryan: Me and brother, he was in band, I never picked up on anything, and then they asked me join, and I was like OK, and then I just started from there.

  Tyler: We gave him a week

  Luke: I didn’t like him when I asked him to join the band

  Tyler: We were always very athletic and into sports and and just hanging out and being friends anyway.

  Luke: Our sports were always really bad I think that that had to do with it.

  Ryan: We were bad at it, so we just did something we were good at.

  Tyler: Luke and I started a rock band, played guitar for awhile, and then we needed a drummer, so I was like, I’ll give it a shot, why not? It was freshman year in high school, and it just kind of grew from there, did jams bands, hanging out, and having a good time. Then we started taking it a little more seriously and then we met Mike (Abiuso) from SwitchBitch Records, and then he ending up signing us and recording us. Then he took us to Boston to record our first EP, and we didn’t get quiet a running start.

  Luke: Since then it’s been hard work.

  Tyler: We wanted to learn the ropes, it’s been an incredibly slow process but incredibly rewarding.

  Lauren: What was the inspiration behind the name Flannel Mouth?

  Luke: Well, we’ve been through a lot of names, with this one it was kind of like, we knew we wanted to go with something that was a little bit more Western, because we’ve got a little punkabilly feel to it, so we were looking up all types of Western terms, and Flannel Mouth is actually a term for someone with a sharp tongue.  Like, someone like a lawyer, or something like that. So that’s what we were going for, I guess.

  Ryan: Then we all sat down and tried to figure out names, and that’s what we came up with.

  Tyler: It’s like cooking spaghetti, throw a bunch of names at the wall, and the ones that stick are the ones we went with.

  Lauren: Do you remember any of the other names you came up with?

  Luke: Iridescence, for a good part of it, and that was probably a good, like, year or so, and then we introduced Zach to the band.

  Ryan: And then we were Two Chambers Each when Zach was in the band

  Luke: That was when there was three of us.

  Tyler: It was a six gun, we were called Two Chambers Each. A robber, pistol reference, not pistol, it was a revolver! Gotta know my guns, I’m in Texas right now. Then before that, it was Mafia of the Beloved, and Myers On Batalon, our respective last names, and I don’t think we ever even played out under that name, probably because it was terrible.

  Luke: And then when we were coming up with Flannel Mouth, there was like a whole list. That was a very frustrating process. And because of this guy (points to Ryan), he was like “Nope, nope, that one’s no good.”

  Tyler: It took Ryan a couple months to like anything we came up with.

  Luke: Yeah, he still doesn’t like Flannel Mouth

  Tyler: But, hey, we’re here. Deal with it.

  Ryan: Now it’s stuck.

  Luke: Like spaghetti

  Lauren: What should fans expect from seeing you guys perform live if they’ve never seen you before?

  Tyler: Well today a pool party, which is the coolest thing (laughs)

We took a lot of influence from Brand New, and like shoegaze, where we kind of just stood around and stared at ourselves playing, and it was more just atmosphere that we were involved in, but once we started playing out and seeing more bands, and just picking up on things here and there, we just decided that we were going to go completely out of the way, and try to be really cool, calm, and collected in person. But when we get on stage, we just lose ourselves and go crazy.

  Ryan: It’s more, instead of it just being like, entertainment, it’s a performance, watching something happen, than listening to just music.

  Tyler: If want to hear our music, buy the CD, if you want to see us live, come see us live. Because you don’t want to hear exactly what you’ve already been experiencing by yourself, and so we want to make sure that’s a big thing in our show.

  Luke: I like to freak people out

  Ryan: Scare ‘em right away

  Luke: Have eyes in the back of our heads

  Lauren: Do you guys have any moments on the road that particularly stand out?

  Ryan: We have good moments and bad moments for sure.

  Tyler: I have terrible moments for sure.

  Luke: The moment that always sticks for me is the pee, I’m not gonna lie

  Ryan: The pee!

  Tyler: We don’t need to talk about that…

  Tyler: We learned up wind back forest, where one of us tried to use the bathroom out of the back of the van while we were driving

  Ryan: On the highway…

  Tyler: Because we didn’t want to pull over. And I didn’t I needed to tell anybody that I needed to use the bathroom.

  Luke: Well, Ryan was holding you.

  Ryan: And covering myself.

  Tyler: So what happened was the updraft from underneath the van comes off the trailer and pushes right back in and so luckily I’m not standing at 90 degrees. I was sideways and our merch guy….

  Luke: I felt it, and I was like “ooohhhh.”

  Tyler: I was thinking more along the lines of having no one show up to our show in Detroit except for three people, one wearing overalls, dancing and having a great time, and introducing us to his friends who were the other two people there. They ended up taking us in for the night, and we stayed up just listening to vinyl and talking about everything imaginable, until about 6 or 7 in the morning. And we finally fell asleep for a couple of hours, and watched Netflix all day, and they made us a meal. And what was one of our worst shows, turned into one of our best experiences as a touring band, it was pretty incredible.

  Luke: All because of the people.

  Tyler: We had an opportunity to play a different show in a different city, and we called the promoter and asked if it was going to be a good show, and he said yeah, and it wasn’t, and we were just beat. But everything just turned around immediately. It was incredible. Big shout out to Mike, and Laura, and Julius in Detroit, they’re fantastic.

  Lauren: I know you guys are recording a new album. How has that been going and what has the process for that been like?

  Ryan: Constant work.

  Luke: It’s been going really well, I would say. I’m really excited, it’s going to be a pretty big departure from what we were doing.

  Tyler: We went out to Boston and recorded songs in three and a half days for our EP, where as this time we took it upon ourselves to just buy all of the equipment, so it’s ours just to have now. We flew Mike of Switchbitch Records, to our hometown of Peoria, and we rented an office, and got everything up to par, recording standards, and we spent a whole with Mike just soundproofing different things, and trying different ideas.

  Ryan: Different mics

  Tyler: It took about four days to do all the drums, and it took more than the time it took to record Bull In your horns. Very, very particular about the sounds that are coming out of the amps and that sort of thing, and so far we are in our fifth week of recording now

  Luke: We get to come back from here and record some.

  Tyler: This is a working vacation for us for sure, but the sounds that are coming out are amazing. I didn’t know Luke could sing the way he does, I’m really, really impressed.

  Luke: Thanks!

  Tyler: It’s been different and it’s been rewarding. We are never opposed to trying new things

  Ryan: and it will be amazing.

  Tyler: It will blow the ears off of goats and the Mediterranean. So, if you’re not a goat in the Mediterranean you’ll be ok.

  Lauren: Do you have a release date you are thinking about?

  Luke: We are hoping to get it done by the time we go on tour in May. So it might be kind of close with the mixing and all that.

  Ryan: The mastering…

  Luke: But we’re going to try, going to try for May, and if not it will be June or July for sure.

  Tyler: Definitely summer, early to mid summer. And we’re be touring lots of places, ideally Austin, Texas

  Any names that you’ve thought of for it yet?

  Luke: For the album?

  Lauren: Yeah.

  Luke: Yeah, we’ve actually got a name. It’s called The Prisoner’s Cinema

  Tyler: It stems from the Iridescence days. Iridescence was supposed to be like a rainbow, and we started playing off the monochrome EP just to play off the color, and prisoners, I’m not even sure how we landed on that. But when you…. there’s an absence of light for a really long time, you start seeing hallucinations and all these different colors that you’ve never seen before, and they called it Prisoner’s Cinema, because a lot of time prisoners are subjected to no light whatsoever, and it just your mind playing tricks on you. We were trying to be very cinematic with Iridescence, and it’s easy enough to just call it the rainbow album or whatever, you know.

  Luke: We should just called it Dark Side of The Moon

    Ryan: Haha, yeah I know.

  Tyler: Exactly, so we wanted to be as original as possible and Prisoner’s Cinema took on a different meaning where it became a story about a prisoner and a movie that’s kind of playing out in his own head, and kind of rationalizing the craziness that occurs. It’s got 12 songs, which we have coming out.

  Tyler: That’s it in a nutshell. Very big big nutshell.

  Lauren: I’m looking forward to hearing it. It was a pleasure chatting with you all. Thank you!

    Synodik

Tell us how the band got started. Have you guys always been into heavy metal?

Matteo: The band is active since 2006, when was called Asylum and had a way different musical attitude than now. In fact the first demo, “Drown In Pain” was influenced by a mixture of death and thrash metal and in particular by bands like Morbid Angel or Nile. When the band changed the name in Synodik the musical attitude and the overall sound changed to go in a more technical and atmospheric/progressive direction so that has a lot of modern influences but still keeping its roots into 90’s styled death metal. Our first album “Sequences For a New Matrix” showed the first step of where the new band’s sound was going, and the latest EP “A Matter Of Perception” pushed up what Sequences already did before. Our new EP represents in the best way possible what the band wants to do musically, to be free from pre-settled rules and to explore as much soundscapes as possible. Synodik is freedom, Synodik is the universe of sounds that we are talking about in our songs. We all grew up with a strong passion in Death and Extreme Metal and everyone of us has got its favorite bands but our basic influences kinda disappears when we are in composition mode, we want to sound like ourselves and not like our musical mentors, we don’t want to give us limits in what we do and of course we want to amaze and thrill the listener and even ourselves

Where did the name Synodik come from?

Leandro: We were searching for a new band name to replace the old “Asylum” monicker, and the new one had to match with our new wave of inspiration focused on fringe science, introspection and physics of the deepest structures of reality; “synodic” indicates the period of a body to rotate once, in relation to the planet, star or whatever to which is orbiting around. It’s an harmonic motion that perfectly describes the beauty of the universe’s order at a macroscopic sight, in extreme contrast to what happens in reality at a microscopic level, where quantum mechanics describe a strange “non-sense” world very hard to understand for us.

Matteo: When we entered in studio to record “Sequences For A New Matrix” we felt necessary for us to change name because the band identity deeply changed and so the lyrical aspect and the concept within the music needed a much more appropriate name. We looked to the name change as a new era for the band and a cut to the near past. Literally Synodik is the “sinodic month”, the time the Moon takes to re-align its position with the Sun and the Earth after a complete revolution motion around our planet. The “sinodic” term derives from the latin “synodicum” and then from the greek “synodikòs”, a further derivation of “synodos” that means “reunion” so “sinodic” resembles the reunion or the conjunction between two planets or two stars.

  How has the Italian music scene responded to you? Is heavy metal a popular genre in Italy?

Giacomo: Absolutely yes, in Italy there are tons of amazing bands in heavy and extreme metal. Several famous acts started to come out of our country actually back from the late 70’s to the mid 80’s and throughout the whole 90’s like Strana Officina, Vanexa, Necrodeath, Extrema, Bulldozer, Mortuary Drape, Cripple Bastards, Sadist, Electrocution, Antropofagus, Detestor, Sacradis, Spite Extreme Wing, Abysmal Grief, Rhapsody, Lacuna Coil and many more. Also, during the last years Italy has seen the birth of some of the finest extreme bands around such as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance, The Modern Age Slavery, Nero Di Marte, Hideous Divinity and many others so summing up the whole Italian metal scene, nowadays as in the past, is more than prosperous. In consequence of the high and various musical proposal each subgenre has its own strong fanbase, and so the number of people that listens to our music kinda raised up after our “sound change” because the death metal roots kept with us the die hard old school metalheads, while the newer generations liked our more modern influences.

    Your new EP A Matter of Perception features only three songs with two of them clocking in at over seven minutes long. Was there a reason for why you decided to include only these three songs at that length?

Leandro: All Synodik’s songs are built with no rules or standard “policies” about length, refrein’s repetitions ecc. Every song evolves independently; I like to describe the process of creating a Synodik song comparing it to the stream of the scenes in a film: every scene (we can call it “riff” in music) is linked to an emotion, and while listening to the song you can follow and bring those emotions into your inner core, enjoying all the different moods and visions that stem from the dynamic evolution of the track.

How have your fans responded to A Matter of Perception?

Leandro: The feedback is very good, in particular compared to the former album we see that numerous people appreciate the new chosen path, because I think that this Ep is perceived as a step forward for the band in creating a more personal sound.

What were some of your influences while writing the EP?

Leandro: The main influence in writing these songs was the fascination that the themes regarding the limits of human perception generates in me. The role of humans in their particular way of perceiving the Universe in its deep complexity, in contrast to its apparent macroscopic simplicity, is a true passion for me! From a musical point of view currently I’m really into atmospheric/progressive metal bands like Fallujah for example, despite I’m listening to soundtracks and cinematic stuff in an increasingly way, as well as more “traditional” extreme metal acts like Decapitated. I’m also a great fan of Muse!

What is next for Synodik?

Leandro: We’ve just got a new drummer, Emanuele Giannoni, and we are finally ready to hit the stage again after a forced break due to the decision by our previous drummer Edoardo to leave the band. We feel stronger than ever and we are building up new songs for the next album, that will be another step forward in the band growth!

Giacomo: To promote our music even more, to grow up even stronger in our musical path to find a more personal and unique identity and of course to express ourselves as much as possible in our favourite environment: the stage! Come and headbang with us! \m/

Jeremy & The Harlequins, interview with front man Jeremy Fury

1. First off, I just want to say that I loved the album, particularly the sound of the record.

Was there anything in particular that made you go completely analog with the recording,

or have you guys always enjoyed albums that were recorded this way?

Well, thank you.  To get our sound, recording analog to tape is not only important, but a necessity.  I don’t mean that in a pretentious sounding way.  If we had done it digitally, it would be a totally different record.  It’s not only because of the sound that analog gear has, but also in it’s limitations.  It’s way more difficult to “correct” the recording.  The limitations become an asset and the imperfections make the end result more perfect.  As a music listener and fan, I wouldn’t say I only enjoy analog music, but when it comes to rock ‘n’ roll, I tend to prefer the sound that analog recordings have.

2. The record has a very old timey feel to it. Did the group set out to have more of an older sound, or did it evolve into that?

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t intentional.  It was somewhat reactionary to where music is at right now.  The electronic thing is so massive right now and we’re not that.  We don’t want to be that.  Our goal is simply to make great songs and play them as stripped down as possible with guitars, bass and drums.

3. Jeremy, in your biography on Facebook it says that you started the band after taking out lyrics that you had written over the past few years. How long have you been writing

(lyrics or otherwise?)

Yeah, not only lyrics, but songs.  Some of the tunes have been circulating for years, demoed in various ways.  It wasn’t until a couple years ago did I finally find the right people to play them with.  As for writing lyrics, I’ve been writing for years.  I’ve been playing in bands and touring for years.  I think the first song I wrote when I was seven or eight.  I wrote it with my mom and it was called ‘Mr. Miller’s Caterpillar.’

4. For everyone in the band, what is your musical background? Are your influences

reflected in the music you are playing with Jeremy & The Harlequins or are your tastes

totally different?

I think everyone found a common chord in this band, but everyone does have other influences and tastes.  Patrick has played in Jamaican reggae bands in the past, and while it might seem far off, the guitar lines from reggae are very similar to what you might hear in ’50’s rock ‘n’ roll.  Craig loves classic pop rock, but maybe has a soft spot for British rock, everything from the Invasion era to the Oasis/Blur Brit pop wave.  Stevie and I grew up listening to a lot of the same stuff, not only early rock ‘n’ roll, but also really influenced by early ’70’s glam like Sparks, Mott the Hoople and T-Rex.

5. Ambition seems to be a huge part of your band. What made you want to perform in front of an audience one week after forming? What was the response like?

We were there and we were asked to do it, so we did it.  We were excited to play because it had been awhile since any of us had been on stage.  Plus, we were excited about the music.

The response was good.  It was funny because a few people asked how long we had been together and when we told them that was the first time we ever played together, they thought we were lying and being jerks.

Actually, one of the other funny things about that night is at that time we hadn’t yet chosen our band name.  I wanted to call it Jeremy and The Harlequins, but we hadn’t really decided on it.  So the host of the evening, just prior to us taking the stage, asked me what we were called.  I told him Jeremy and The Harlequins.  And that was that.

6. You guys recently made it in the Wall Street Journal after the paper premiered “You’re My Halo.” How have things been going for the band since appearing in the paper?

Good.  We’re definitely getting more press and more people interested.  Our biggest goal is to show more people what we’re doing.  That’s the best thing about press, to have other enthusiastic people, like yourself, let people in the world know about us.

7. While looking at your Facebook and press photos, even your appearance indicates that your music fits in with an older era. Is there a particular band or musician you are trying to emulate with the way you guys look?

I wouldn’t say that.  I think it’s more that we’re representing the idea of classic America.  In the past six or seven years in this country it’s been cool to see more people in this country making things again.  Not only music and art and movies, but everything from chocolate to cars to beer to clothing.  That’s what the world fell in love with in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and I think the world is ready to fall in love with that America again.

8. How has your hometown of Toledo responded to your music?

I’m not sure.  We all live in New York now so I’m somewhat disconnected.  We have played in Toledo a few times over the past 18 months and it seems the response is pretty positive.

9. What is next for Jeremy & The Harlequins?

We will be putting out music videos for the songs ‘You’re My Halo’ and ‘Some Days.’  Also, one of our older tunes is going to be in the season finale of the show ‘Shameless’ with William H. Macy.  Besides that, more shows.  Oh, and we are recording some new stuff right now that we hope to put out by the end of the year.

You can listen to “You’re My Halo” below.

Mike Smagula: Co-writer and creator of children’s show The Shagoolies. He  was also the bassist of the band The Number #12 Looks Like You.

 Most of you guys have been in music for a long time. What made you want to transition from musicians to creators of a kids’ puppet show?

It actually came pretty naturally. From playing and touring in the #12 Looks Like You with Jesse, we would always be talking about funny episodes of cartoons or Pixar movies. After the band, we started getting together and just working on ideas that we thought would make great kids shows. Then we quickly reached out to Mat about adding his insight to everything. Mat’s way of thinking matches up perfectly with ours. Then we would get in touch with Eric to see what he could bring to the project. Eric’s personality was perfect for bringing The Shagoolies’ main character to life.

Did you all come up with the idea for the show as a group or did one of you bring up the idea?

Jesse had the original idea that eventually became The Shagoolies. He wanted a show about a photographer that traveled. When he came to me with the idea, I immediately wanted to incorporate puppets. Together we came up with some rough ideas of the different characters and story and then went to Mat for the art and he gave us how these characters and this new world would look.

Take us through the process of creating each episode. When writing each episode do you all throw out ideas as a team or do you each bring ideas to the table individually?

It’s always a mixture of both individual and a team effort. At first we all come up with separate ideas of what the overall episode is about. Once we like that topic, we start to think about different scenes within the episode. Finally, we start to put together the dialog. I think all of us always want to have certain jokes or scenes that we really like in each episode, so we figure out a way to get those all in.

Was a puppet show something that you’ve always wanted to do, or was it a more recent idea?

Personally, I have always wanted to do a puppet show. I been a huge fan of Jim Henson since I can remember. I wore out the VHS tapes for both the Muppets Take Manhattan and Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. It didn’t take much convincing Jesse to make The Shagoolies into a puppet show, and Mat was immediately on board with what we were doing too. We believe there is a certain magic that a live action puppet can bring, instead of just using animation.

All of you are working with an impressive group of television veterans such as Cory Cavin as well as writers who have written for well known children’s shows and channels. How did you get all of these people on board?

We have been very lucky that we already knew various creative people – artists, musicians, writers, comedians – many of which were friends, or friends of friends. Often when sharing our concept, somebody would be excited to connect us to someone else they knew. That’s how we linked up with most of the crew on the pilot.

What do you want kids to take away from The Shagoolies?

We want kids to take away a sense of passion and fun that comes with exploring the world around you. The show is about getting out there and seeing the amazing things that might be taken for granted. For adults, seeing someone ride a bike or riding on a bus might not seem like a big deal, but to a kid (and a Shagoolie) this is something new and exciting!

Note: The Shagoolies show has a Kickstarter to fund the shooting of six webisodes.The fund has six days left for fundraising, with $3,455 raised of a $150,000 goal.

Dirty Loops: Interview with bassist Henrik Linder

For the readers of Listen Here Reviews who don’t know your story, tell us how you made the transition from a studio band to a touring band. Which setting do you enjoy playing in the most?

It’s was kind of natural transition. We did an album and when it was released we started touring. Both of them are a lot of fun. It’s a good thing for us to go in between them as we all like to change things all the times.

In your biography, you mention that you chose the songs you covered on Youtube because you knew you could do something different with them. Do you consider yourselves fans of the music that you cover, or are you more of a casual listener of those artists?

-I guess we’re more casual listeners. Some songs we liked better than others. But we think all of the songs are well written pop songs.

  How did each of you individually get started playing your instruments? Are your families musical or was music something you picked up on your own?

All out families are full time musicians or hobby musicians. So there’s always been role models and people who’s been supporting us from back home.

What is your songwriting process like?

  We always start out with the melody and back that up with very simple chords. Then we try to get a vision of the arrangement/production and after that we add the extra everything.

Have the artists that you’ve covered on Youtube been influential to you when writing your own original music or were your musical inspirations for writing the album completely different?

For the melodies absolutely. I don’t believe there’s an accident those songs became suck huge hits. For arrangements though we have other sources for inspiration.

For each of you, what was your first musical memory?

Henrik: I guess dancing to just a gigolo by david lee Roth as a baby. I saw videos of it. I was a way better dancer back then.

Aron: the sting records my mom used to play at home. 

Jonah: my moms choir lessons. I started singing before I could talk.

What is Sweden’s music scene like? Is there one particular genre that is popular or is there a mix of styles that people enjoy listening too? 

There’s a big mix. Especially since streaming services get available. But the Eurovision Song Contest dominates the Swedish charts. 

  What are some of the differences between touring in Europe and here in the US? As this is your first US tour, how is everything going so far?

It’s our first nightliner tour. Which is a way more comfortable way of traveling compared to all the airport stuff we’re used to. Its our first U.S. tour as well. A big difference is the climate that you could go from snow to sunshine from one day to another. Tour has been a lot of fun. And it’s been great meeting all the people at the shows. Hope to do it again!!

What’s next for Dirty Loops?

More touring next year and writing new material. We constantly need to develop.

The bands debut album Loopified is out now.

If you want to hear what Dirty Loops sound like, you can check out their video for the single “Hit Me” below.

    Dylan Sneed

       Growing up, what were some of your musical influences? Is there a particular artist that has influenced you more than others?

My strongest musical influences have been my guitar teachers. I’ve studied with three main teachers for a cumulative amount of about 10 years, so I’ve logged some hours with these guys. Their impact is immeasurable, because it’s on a foundational level. They taught me how to think about music, and so they’ve influenced the way I listen to everything, indeed how I see the world. You could say they influence the way I’m influenced. If I had to pick a couple of artists, I’d say Paul Simon and Townes Van Zandt.

Have you always played music or was it something you picked up later on?

Our church sang accapella all the time, so I started singing at an early age. I took piano lessons around age 8 or 9, but I didn’t like to practice. I kick myself for that now. I started learning guitar at 15, and it was a hit from the get go. There was no doubt. Songs started coming a year or two later.

Moving from the corporate world in Dallas, TX to Hartsville, SC to pursue music is quite a difference.  What inspired you to make this change and how has it changed you?

I actually started to pursue music at a younger age. I grew up in Austin, and had a band there in high school, then several bands in college, and continued playing and touring after college when I moved to Dallas. The best explanation I can offer for leaving a town like Austin and eventually landing in a town like Hartsville while pursuing music the whole time is this: there’s something in my DNA that is attracted to swimming upstream.

How has moving to a small town impacted your music? Obviously, Hartsville is not LA, New York, Nashville, or even Austin.  Why did you decide to relocate to South Carolina instead of one of the major music cities?

I won’t claim that I’ve “been there, done that,” just because I grew up in Austin, but I do believe that I’ve been imbued with some of that Live-Music-Capital-Of-The-World spirit. It’s something you can take with you and share with others, and that’s what I try to do wherever I go. I’ve started a couple of concert series in Hartsville, and I host an open mic. We’ve already attracted musicians from around the world to our little town, and events like the open mic are cultivating the kind of audience you might expect in Nashville, NYC, LA, or Austin, minus the smug hipster vibe (There are tons of cool people in all those towns, of course, but sometimes the too-cool-for-school vibe can be a little much. It happens.). It’s so rewarding to witness that moment of discovery in people’s eyes when they realize the inherent value of live music. To answer your first question, I feel that the combination of living in a small town and traveling the world keeps me grounded, and this hopefully keeps my music honest. I know that Hartsville is not the center of the universe. New York isn’t, either. People are living lives of great significance all over the place, even if nobody’s watching. And as for why I moved, I always like to cite Coelho’s The Alchemist and say “I was just following my Personal Legend.”

As an artist where do you want be in five years?

I want to be more honest. I want to be easier on myself. I want to still be hungry.

How was your last European tour? When finding homes to play at, what is the process like? How have music fans in Europe responded to your music? Has it been the same or better than in the United States?

My last Euro tour was great. Everything on the booking end was done for me, so I basically just showed up and played. In that way, it was better than many of my domestic tours. But you could argue that all those tours had to happen before the first trip to Europe. Finding house concert hosts can be difficult, but in my experience you end up finding two kinds of people: those who host one concert, have a good time, and move on with their lives; and those who can’t get enough of it. So it’s worth the work in seeking out hosts, because in many cases you end up finding lifelong supporters of your music. The folks in the Netherlands responded much the same as the Americans I’ve played for. They speak English just as well, so there’s no real barrier there.

Do you plan to have your organization Artsville expand throughout SC and beyond, or do you envision having it be just a local organization?

Great question! If I had to pick between local and global, I’d pick global. I think the message of Artsville is something valuable to people all over the world. I printed over 1,000 black and white bumper stickers with the simple phrase, “try new things.” and I’ve handed them out to just about anybody I run into. It’s a message I think we could stand to see more of, no matter where we live.

If a major record label wanted to sign you, would you take the offer or do you see yourself going with an independent label, or doing things completely on your own?

It all depends on the deal. I’d want to surround myself with smart people that care about me and consult them before I made a decision like that. The most important question to ask in that situation is “Do these people believe in me?” True supporters are those that trust you, even when your art begins to evolve.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians who want to have professional careers in music, as well as those who are thinking about making a career switch to playing music full time?

A few things. Measure twice, cut once. Sound good, and keep going. Be yourself. Those are the best pieces of advice for aspiring professional musicians I’ve ever heard.

Interviews was originally published on Listen Here Reviews