Internet Radio Dominating The Airwaves

So we all know about Pandora... we tune in and try not to skip too many songs so that we can listen to what we want. And yes, every one of you reading this would probably have given your left arm to get tickets to the I Heart Music festival now on it's second year in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel. But lets be honest, we all have a niche in our music that we listen to. For some of us it's country, and for girls like me, it's some good head banging Rock and Roll. But every once in a while, you come across something different that makes your foot tap, your head bang and you find yourself even learning some of the songs. Previously overlooked niche's find their way into the internet mainstream and take over your brainwaves for a little while, because lets face it, we're all kind of sick of Delilah. 

Fast Forward to this year's vacation in London where I stumbled across something that wasn't exactly my musical tastes but has turned into the highlight of my week. It's there in England, where DJ's L-Jay and Dubz-D reside. L-Jay and Dubz are current Friday night residents on the an underground internet radio station, PulseLondon.net. You'll find here some newer US dance, remixed with UK Garage, Old Skool Dance, maybe even a lil' dub-step if the mood strikes. 

DJ L-Jay & Dubz-D

As for L-Jay and Dubz, they take over the radio waves on Friday nights from 12am-3am (London time[GMT], that's 7-10pm[EST] for you New Yorkers). So what is it that's causes you to be so addicted to these humble English deejays? Perhaps it's the mix of fast and slow that melds to your mood, or maybe it's even just the accents of these guys which make you want to hand them your underwear when they say words like "Darling", either way it's definitely worth losing yourself for a lil' while in. If you're ever in their town, be sure to check out if they're playing a club that night or pumping up a rave crowd. In their own words "There's no bigger buzz then that." As they say in London, Lock in and locked on. Cause this reporter knows that they sure give some US deejays a run for their money... 103.5 KTU *cough cough* i'm talking to you...

 And of course as all good internet stations, Pulse London has an app for that! You can download from iTunes and listen anywhere you are.(http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pulselondonnet/id539351591?mt=8) Don't be mistaken though, L-Jay and Dubz may own Friday nights and get you pumped for the weekend have a listen in to other deejays and get your groove on 24/7.  

So break out of Pandora's box and experience something new, something oddly niche-y and maybe you'd be surprised that you just could be listening to the next big thing...Stay Tuned...  

Bethel's Interstate Love Song

Last Wednesday, August 22, Stone Temple Pilots and their opening act The Crash Kings took the stage at Bethel Woods.

The night was not one of usual Bethel style, where people were flooding the lot hours before the show.

Surprisingly enough, though this show was one I was looking forward to, it didn’t really deliver in the usual ways a Bethel show does. In addition, attendance for this show lacked so heavily, that all the lawn seats were upgraded to inside pavilion seating. Approximately 4,000 of the 18,000 available capacity was used for this show. Was it a middle of the week thing? Or has STP lost their touch?

Opening was The Crash Kings whose unique style of band arrangement had the audience taken aback by the lack of guitarists on stage. Previously touring with Chris Cornell and Jet, this band’s three members, brothers Mike (keyboard) & Tony Beliveau (bass) and Tim Roslak (drums), took what is normal alternative rock and, in a way, reinvented the guitar’s sound. The guitar parts were replacing with multiple keyboards and synthesizers complete with whammy bars for that cryin’/wailn’ sound.

Despite their creativeness, there wasn’t too much interest flooding the seats for this band. Seemed like a shame, but perhaps once they have a few more years under their belts, it will get better.

The real anticipation came as STP pulled the diva card and postponed coming on stage for over an hour. The crowd was chanting, people were dancing in the aisles to the piped in house music all the while waiting for the band to take the stage. Once they decided to grace the fine people of Bethel with their presence, it was quite evident they had taken part in some back stage partying, as lead singer Scott Weiland seemed to stumble over some of the lyrics of ‘Vasoline’.

It was a slow opening for them as the audience waited through some mumbled lyrics and otherwise off the beaten path songs. The true rocking was delivered when the crowd heard the first riff of ‘Plush’ followed immediately by ‘Interstate Love Song,’ both of which STP delivered flawlessly and with fantastic energy.

Frankly a shame it didn’t do better for ticket sales, as if you got over the initial speed bumps, it was a very enjoyable show. Stay Tuned…

Country Comes To Woodstock...

Friday, August 10, Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center was filled with cowboy hats, boots and giant belt buckles as they welcomed to the stage Brad Paisley as a stop on his Virtual Reality World Tour. Opening for Brad was American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry.

The tour has brought great reviews from critics and reviewers across the country. Not just for the music which undoubtedly is fantastic, but for the benefits that have come along with this tour. In every city/town the tour has had on the schedule, they have created a “Virtual Reality Food Bank,” at which Paisley’s tour has collected food and then delivered to local food banks.

The center grounds were filled almost to capacity as the twang of the guitars and banjos flooded the air. Opening the night was Scotty. His adolescence charm won America over last season and Friday night was no different. Singing a few songs off his album, including his breakout single, “I Love You This Big,” Scotty gave a mellow and somewhat dull opening to what seemed like a shorter than usual night.

Following up was The Band Perry, who is still coming into their own. This sibling band put on quite a show, almost redeeming the mellow Scotty opening. They sang all five of their chart making singles from their debut album, all of which included a fantastic fiddle player and a rocking guitarist (even if he did look like a girl).

Finally, the man of the hour took the stage. Brad Paisley. Equipped with lasers and lights Paisley’s band was indeed worth sitting through McCreery’s 14th minute of fame. As in the past, he brought energy and comedy to the stage. The entire amphitheater sang his songs at the top of their lungs making even the parking lot lingerers sing along.

Rocking My Way Down the Thruway

Ladies and Gentlemen, I realize now why my English friends follow bands across the continent... in all fairness it's mostly Bruce Springsteen and Dance Music but I digress...

This month I have sat at the feet of greatness watching not one, not two but three music legends take the stage. It makes me very humble to know the music I love was born out of the roots these and many other greats have planted along the way.
Bethel Woods hosted earlier this month The Beach Boys on their 50th anniversary tour. The venue packed full of baby boomers, hippies from days gone by and surfers who just never missed the tide going back out. Missing Dennis and Carl Wilson who passed away (1983 & 1998 respectively), the remaining members hit the stage with front man Mike Love leading the way.

Banking on their new CD “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” they sang the album’s title song which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Charts, the highest chart placement they’ve seen since 1974. Of course all the usual favorites were heard including “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfin’ U.S.A” and “California Girls.”

Making my way up the Thruway, I landed at Times Union Center in Albany to see Aerosmith. This was the must see show of the season so far.

Their Global Warming tour set foot in the state capital along with their opening act, Cheap Trick, who might I add should have been left at home. The crowd seemed far from interested in the openers and far more interested in where Joe Perry and Steven Tyler were. The show went off without a hitch and what a show!

Playing off their new album “Music from Another Dimension!” the new hit single “Legendary Child,” which they originally debuted on the season finale of American Idol, brought everyone to their feet. This makes it their 15th studio album since their debut in 1973. Tyler and Perry rocked the house with their legendary chemistry and drummer Joey Kramer brought it down with a 10 minute drum solo which ended with his using his hands and head.
What a night! What a show! Be sure not to miss them at the IZOD center later this summer on July 24.
Coming back down to Bethel Woods, (after trying to regain my voice, of course, because how can you not scream out the words to “Walk This Way?”), I was enthralled by the one and only Dave Matthews Band. Closing out their tour on the east coast they lit up the venue like an early 4th of July celebration.

Opening for them was Delta Spirit which despite The Rolling Stone’s three star review fell very short of amazing and couldn’t hold a candle to DMB’s sound, despite the fact that Dave himself introduced the band.

It was a night for new music this round as DMB played mostly newer music to their set instead of classic standards. However, we were treated to “Satellite,” always a gem. The only downside to this show was despite Bethel’s always amazing security team, outside contractors which could have only been hired by the artists, flooded the place which was already overflowing with sheriffs and state troopers. Though it didn’t prevent this reporter from being shoved around by some ugly goon in the pit.

Up ahead keep your eyes peeled for amazing shows, new albums and a whirlwind of amazing music for you to rock your face off to this summer. After all, there’s got to be something better than what’s getting pumped out of American Idol… Stay Tuned…

Breaking Records...Social Media Style!!

In the last few weeks some interesting new records have been set for the Guinness Book.

One was for the title “World’s Largest Parade of Boats.” This record was set in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2012, with 670 boats in attendance, during the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.

Right here in Rockland County, The Franklin Avenue Playground Committee brought in over 1,000 people as they broke the record for “World’s Longest Ice Cream Sundae.” The organization was raising money as an ongoing effort to renovate the playground at the Franklin Avenue Elementary school in Peal River. The delicious looking Sundae was measured at 406 feet and 8 inches long, which is more than two times the record! This mammoth of a sundae was 630 pounds of ice cream, 55 pounds of syrup, 28 pounds of sprinkles and 24 pounds of cherries!

The organization lined rain gutters with tin foil with dry ice every 10 feet to keep it cold. It took all the children in attendance’s patients to wait it out before they could pig out on ice cream! But the cost of $10 a bowl of this creamy goodness, the organization was able to raise $7,500. Not only an amazing record in ice cream, but in good old fashion fund raising!

Nationally, last week, Lucky Diamond, a rescued Maltese dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge after losing her battle with Cancer. She held the record for being the “Dog Snapped with the Most Celebrities”. She was recognized last year after being snapped with over 363 public figures including “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart, Virgin Atlantic Mogul Richard Branson, even Bill Clinton.

With Lucky’s Facebook page attracting thousands and thousands of fans, it encouraged Lucky’s owner Wendy Diamond to apply to Guinness..

According to Guinness’s website, when talking about her record-breaking dog, last year, Wendy said, “I always thought Lucky was sort of the Johnny Carson of canines but I never imagined a Guinness World Record! The record isn’t really about Lucky or even the celebrities, but the inspiring message that people can adopt their own Lucky and one day there won’t be any more homeless pets.”

Which brings me to today; right now there are a number of groups using Facebook to start a record for consideration.

I mean after all, Facebook has to be good for something other than losing money on the stock exchange now. One of the most interesting causes and records I have found is a group which currently is sitting at 1,661 members, who will be trying to set a record for “Most Greeting Cards Sent.”

Currently there is no record for that. What’s the reason for setting this record, you ask? One of the members of the group has an 8-year-old son Monty, who was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, and who will be undergoing major spinal surgery at the end of the month.

According to the group, his life and the family’s is not an easy one, but full of love, and the one thing Monty loves most of all, is getting mail! So the family in conjunction with what started as a small group decided to send cards, and then they just started growing and cards kept coming.

Last week they received approximately 100 cards. After speaking with them they encouraged anyone to join in the record-making. Greeting cards can be sent to the PO Box they bought just for the record: Monty Chavez c/o Tiffany Chavez P.O. Box 2451, Cedar City, UT 84721.

Maybe with all of this record-breaking going on I should get in on the action myself. I think I’ll send a few cards to Monty along the way, then maybe get a record for most people to read an article… well hey it’s like the lottery, anything can happen! Stay Tuned…

Rock and Roll's Best Honored...

This year HBO aired the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Thank god it was them and not network television as Billy Joe of Greenday let the F-Bomb slip more times the Keebler has cookies.

This ceremony fell on the heels of inductees “The Beastie Boys” losing a member of their band, Adam “MCA” Yauch to cancer on May 4. Rappers Chuck D and LL Cool J introduced them. LL Cool J said, “The reason I’m here tonight and the reason that this was so important to me is because if it wasn’t for the Beastie Boys, I wouldn’t have my career that I have today. The Beastie Boys actually played my demo tape for Rick Rubin in the NYU dormitory. A lot of people don’t know that.”

Greenday introduced Guns ‘n’ Roses minus lead singer Axl Rose. Earlier last month when the nominations were released, Axl turned down the nomination and invitation to attend with fellow members of GnR. Public issues with Slash, the band’s lead guitarist ultimately what led to this no show on Rose’s part.

Billy Joe of Greenday, made a comment during the introduction, saying “now who am I missing?” The crowd booed him and with next presenter, Chris Rock when he mentioned Axl’s name. In true Hall of Fame fashion, the inducted band played a few songs. Slash set the stage on fire, but you couldn’t help but miss Axl. They had a stand in for his vocals but both “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City” seemed to fall short. Shame on you, Axl.

Comedian Chris Rock introduced the Red Hot Chili Peppers to close out the evening. Calling them the “quintessential California Band” and compared them to the Mamas and the Papas, and Ice-T. Their touching acceptance speech included bassist Michael “Flea” Balazry chocking up after spotting George Clinton in the audience. Flea thanked him for his influence on his music.

Both Flea and front man Anthony Kiedis dedicated a portion of their speech and their acceptance to guitarist Hillel Slovak who died in 1988 of a heroin overdose. The played “By The Way” and “Give It Away.” Of course both Anthony and Flea went shirtless, as the Chili peppers we wouldn’t have them any other way (despite Flea’s now gray hair).

The Chili Peppers and GnR ended the night with an all out rock session. Slash and Flea on the same stage? Mindblowing! 3 Drum sets, 3 bassists and way too many guitars to count! This night ended with a huge bang. Even Greenday got in on the action! The stage of the Hall hasn’t rocked so hard since they inducted Aerosmith, Queen and Michael Jackson in 2001.

Other nominees for 2012 included Donovan, Laura Nyro, The Small Faces/Faces, Freddie King, Don Kirshner, Cossimo Matassa (engineer), Tom Dowd (engineer), Glyn Johns, The Crickets, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters, The Comets, The Blue Caps and The Miracles. Stay Tuned…