Music Notes

CD Sunday - Michael Grimm

2012-01-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Album- Michael Grimm

Artist- Michael Grimm

Favorite Songs - Simple Man, I Am, You Don't Know Me

Year - 2011

How I Got This CD..... I got this CD as a Christmas present from my friend Robi Banerji. Robi was Michael's offical guitar tuner during Michael's recent residency at the Flamingo in Vegas. Robi was able to get this CD signed for me and it is now one of my most cherished CDs.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

Mike Sanchez, Songwriter for band Daughtry, and member of band Dirty University, during his performance at the Whiskey A Go-Go 10/31/11

Top Ten Must-Dos for Musicians….

2011-12-26T15:56:00.000-08:00

1) Update – Keep your profiles up to date – When venues, labels management, or any other potential business connection looks at your page, they want to know what you are currently working on and how to contact you. It will also help your fans stay in the know. This includes, photos, Mp3s, event info etc.

2) Be Polite - No one wants to work with someone who is rude - it doesn’t matter what business you’re in. Being nice to the ‘main guy in charge’ is lovely, but if you are rude, mean, or discourteous and inconsiderate to anyone at a venue or event, EVERYONE finds out. Word of mouth is your best friend and harshest enemy – in EVERY business – especially this one.

3) Read All The Details Before You Agree- When you get booked for a gig, the person who makes the agreement with you provides the full details regarding time, price, promotion policy, what equipment you need to bring etc. If they do not cover all of the details – it is YOUR responsibility to ask! Getting to a gig and finding out that you need more equipment than you brought or you advertised the wrong time sucks for everyone involved.

4) Don’t book a show when you KNOW no one is going to show – It may be fun and exciting to play but if you want people to keep booking you, you need to have people come to your shows. If your fans know you are going to have another gig next week, then they have no motivation to come to this one. Also higher attendance numbers will get you booked at larger venues.

5) Have current contact info- Make sure that you keep your contact info up to date on your website. You can’t get mad that no one is emailing you or calling you about your music if you don’t give them a way to do so.

6) Check the lines of communication – With so many bands out there, you need to make sure that you are quick to respond to people or else people will move on to the next band on their list.

7) Don’t rely on social media websites- With the layouts of social media changing every week and people boycotting them all the time, it makes it an unreliable way to inform your fans with info. You should have a website so that no matter what other websites are doing your info is still out there. Certainly FULLY utilize these free resources for promotion (Myspace, Facebook, Twitter etc) but ALSO make sure your events are on YOUR site.

8) Make your website user friendly - Having a fully blown website with all the bells and whistles is great if it works. Having a site that takes forever to load and/or is too difficult for you to regularly and accurately update makes the website useless.

9) Don’t spam your fans – The fastest way to get your fans to ask to be removed from your email list or unfollow or unfriend you is to bug them. An email once a month and/or one right before a show is appropriate.

10)Be unique - Trying to sound like another artist or mimicking them will only make your fans go watch the originals. Covers are great but an attempt to copy a style or sound of someone else will not grab nor hold anyone’s attention.

CD Sunday - Adam Shenk - Suitcases

2011-12-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Album - Suitcases

Artist - Adam Shenk

Favorite Songs - Rebel, Trust In Me, Still

Year - 2010

How I Got This CD...I got this CD when Adam performed at The Mint. Don't forget to catch Adam at Cafe Cordiale this Wednesday ~ http://on.fb.me/tQuN7d

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T22:43:00.000-08:00

Katy Perry at the launch of her perfume, Meow, at The Grove ~ 12/14/2011

CD Sunday- Blue Meridian – Brave Angel

2011-12-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

Album - Brave Angel

Artist - Blue Meridian

Favorite Songs - Helly, Gravity, The Range

Year - 1999

How I Got This CD….. I Got This CD when I saw Donovan perform at Cafe Cordiale.

Donovan's NEW CD - Skint & Shattered is being released a week from today (12/18) at his Viper Room full band, full hour performance! Click here for more details Skint & Shattered Debut Performance

Here is one of the first music videos from this new phenomenal album....listen, enjoy, and come see the show!

CD Sunday - John West - John West Live

2011-12-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Album - John West Live

Artist - John West

Favorite Songs - 40 Days, Rise, Nice Seeing You

Year - 2007

How I Got This CD....I got this CD when john cam to the Grove LA as part of their summer concert series. To get a full account of the concert - http://bit.ly/nibN8F

Leann Rimes At The LA County Fair

2011-11-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

It hardly seems like two months ago. Sure it was raining and getting windy, and here in ‘Sunny California’ that is the start of autumn…but it is still hard to believe that it is the end of November and two months since I saw Leann Rimes in concert for the first time.

Yes….that’s right! Leann Rimes….LIVE IN CONCERT.

A generous ticket offer from All Access Tickets posted on Facebook mid afternoon one Friday and THAT night I was suddenly, unexpectedly, and ecstatically at the LA County Fair watching Leann Rimes perform…and from AMAZING seats!

Kellie Pickler performed right before for Leann. Kellie is phenomenal and I have to admit I enjoyed her live way more than I ever have via CD or TV. Kellie sang some of her newer tunes, like ‘Tough’ – a great song and one of my new favorites, as well as the song she composed right after her experience on American Idol.

Then it was what we had all been waiting for….Leann Rimes!

Leann sang some new songs from her recently released album ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’. Her next album is already in the works and Leann dropped a few hints about what we can expect from her upcoming album.

Leann talked about her charity work with several organizations that give children and teens a second chance. Specifically, she asked us all to look up ‘StandUp for Kids’ which she is currently very involved in. She shared how much it meant to her to meet these young adults when she was filming the video for her recent hit ‘Give’, in Chicago. "'Give' is a song with a message about how if we want love, kindness and happiness in our lives, then we need to give some of that back," LeAnn says. "I believe that message needs to be shared with the world."

LeAnn wanted to create a video for the song that that tied into its message, and raised awareness of an issue that is very important to her -- homeless teens across America. She shared a story of a young teenage girl who read her a poem she wrote. Leann encouraged her to keep writing, saying her words are lyric-worthy! After warning the audience that she may cry during this song, she sang the heartwarming song.

While Leann mentioned that her husband, Eddie Cibrian was there, he stayed out of sight, keeping the spotlight on his lovely wife.

Leann performed some of the most amazing songs…. She sang a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”…I love Adele but this may just be my favorite performance of this hit. Leann also sang “Blue” from her early years as a singer and mentioned that she is taking a recommendation recently made to her to rerecord it now that her voice has matured so much. Of course, Leann sang “Can’t Fight the Moonlight”…under the early autumn moon…as it started to rain.

Rain and all, Leann kept singing and gave us all an amazing night to remember! I can’t wait to see her again!

CD Sunday - Andy Grammer

2011-11-27T22:50:00.000-08:00

Album - Andy Grammer
Artist - Andy Grammer
Favorite Songs - Ladies, Build Me A Girl, Slow
Year- 2011
How I Got This CD..... I got this when Andy Grammer came to The Grove LA as part of there Summer Concert Series. For a full account of the concert ~ http://bit.ly/q1R3SD

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ozzy Osbourne signing his book "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy" at Barnes and Noble The Grove ~ 10/15/11

CD Sunday - The Bangles - Different Light

2011-11-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

Album - Different Light
Artist - The Bangles
Favorite Songs- Manic Monday, Walk Like An Egyptian,
Year - 1985
How I Got This CD.... I got this CD signed when The Bangles came to The Grove LA to sign their new CD - Sweetheart Of The Sun.

CD Sunday – Mark Ballas – Waiting For Patience

2011-11-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Album – Waiting For Patience

Artist – Mark Ballas

Favorite Songs – Pretty, All For Nothing, Somebody

Year- 2010

How I Got This CD….. I got this CD signed when Mark performed at the Mint during his first residency with Hollowbody LA. On my birthday Mark sat down for an interview ~ http://bit.ly/k676fm .

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Chris Daughtry during his performance at The Whisky A Go-Go 10/31/2011

CD Sunday - Enation- My Ancient Rebellion

2011-10-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Album - My Ancient Rebellion
Artist - Enation
Favorite Songs- I'm In Awe, Prodigal, Breathe On Me,
Year - 2011
How I Got This CD- My mom gave me this CD pre- signed. After not being able to see them perform during their last LA performance, getting this CD (that came signed) made me super excited.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Kellie Pickler performing at The LA County Fair - 9/30/11

CD Sunday – Blue Meridian – At The End Of The Century

2011-10-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

Album – At The End Of The Century

Artist – Blue Meridian

Favorite Songs – The Final Thing, Sideways Silverjet, Helly,

Year – 1997

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD when I saw Donovan perform at Café Cordiale. It was nearly a year later when I finally got them signed. I went to another one of Donovan’s concerts and had him sign all 4 of my CDs.

CD Sunday - A Cinderella Story Soundtrack

2011-10-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Album – A Cinderella Story

Artist – Various Artists

Favorite Songs – Our Lips Are Sealed, The Best Day Of My Life, Anywhere But Here,

Year- 2004

How I Got This CD….. I got this CD signed when Hilary Duff filmed Extra at the Grove. Even though it was over 100 degrees outside, Hilary graciously stopped and signed my CD. Thank you Hilary!

Lonestar

2011-10-13T21:21:00.000-07:00

This summer was a musical wonderland for me. Through my job as assistant at HollowbodyLA, I met many amazing musicians – some Indie, some well known. I also often get to meet musicians who do CD signings, or even book signings at local booksellers. This summer, I was also fortunate enough to have local free concerts to enjoy, hosted by The Grove LA.

One of those magical musical evenings featured Andy Grammer and one of my all time favorites – Lonestar.

The opening act, Andy Grammer was welcomed by a throng of adoring fans. While it was my first time hearing his music, clearly some of Andy’s fans have been loyal for years. Some brought him and his band flowers during his concert performance, and all of us – fans, new and old – waited online for quite some time to meet Andy and have him personally autograph his CD.

The main act, was truly who I had originally come to see – Lonestar. This award winning country band played all of their hits to the delight of their fans. One particular song – “I’m Already There” was dedicated to the troops and moved everyone on the audience. Keyboardist, Dean Sams hammed it up for the crowd, making funny faces as photos were snapped of the band on stage. Unfortunately, Lonestar had to leave immediately after the concert, and could not stay to sign CDs. I was VERY fortunate however, and I saw lead singer, Cody Collins on his way out, and he was kind enough to stop and sign my CD and pose for a photo with me.

What a memorable night!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

Leann Rimes during her performance at The LA County Fair - 9/20/11

CD Sunday – James Kenney

2011-10-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Album – EP

Artist – James Kenney

Favorite Songs – Soul’d On You, I Can’t Be Held Responsible

Year- 2009

How I Got This CD….. I got this CD signed when James performed at Cafe Cordiale. James is currently appearing as a contestant on X-Factor.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald at The Grove Filming Extra 10/4/2011

CD Sunday – The Band Perry Album

2011-10-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Album – The Band Perry

Artist – The Band Perry

Favorite Song- If I Die Young, You Lie, Quittin' You,

Year – 2010

How I Got This CD….. The Band Perry gave me this CD when they came to The Grove to film Extra. For a full account of our meeting click here - http://bit.ly/gMa0cJ

CD Sunday - Lonestar - Lonely Grill

2011-09-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Album - Lonely Grill
Artist - Lonestar
Favorite Songs - Amazed, Simple As That, I Got To Find You,
Year - 1999
How I Got This CD…. I got this CD when Lonestar performed at the Grove as part of the Grove's Summer Concert series.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Judges of X-Factor during the first ever taping in the USA.

CD Sunday – Glee: The Music Presents The Warblers

2011-09-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Album – Glee: The Music Presents The Warblers

Artist – “The Warblers” ~ Darren Criss, Chris Colfer , & Various Artist

Favorite Songs – Teenage Dream, Somewhere Only We Know, Misery

Year – 2011

How I Got This CD…..I got this CD when Darren Criss came to Barnes and Noble the Grove. To get on the details as to what happened at the event read this blog - http://bit.ly/fFeUwT. Don't forget to watch Darren and the rest of the Warblers this Tuesday during the Glee Season Premiere.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Jason Wade of Lifehouse during a performance for Extra

CD Sunday – Jordin Sparks – Battlefield

2011-09-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Album – Battlefield

Artist – Jordin Sparks

Favorite Songs – Battlefield, Emergency (911), No Parade

Year – 2009

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD when Jordin came to The Grove to kickoff her summer tour. Jordan performed after Kate Voegele and Katelyn Tarver opened the show. All 3 of them then went to Barnes and Noble to sign their CD's.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Guitar On The Sunset Strip

CD Sunday – Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment

2011-09-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Album – For Your Entertainment

Artist – Adam Lambert

Favorite Songs – If I Had You, For Your Entertainment, Whataya Want From Me

Year – 2009

How I Got This CD- I Got this CD signed when Adam came to The Grove LA to film Extra. To read a full account of my meeting with Adam Lambert -Click Here

Happy Birthday Michael!

2011-08-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

CD Sunday - Coyote Ugly Soundtrack

2011-08-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Album - Coyote Ugly
Artist - Various Artist
Favorite Songs - Can't Fight The Moonlight,The Devil Went Down To Georgia, The Right Kind Of Wrong
Year- 2000
How I Got This CD - I got this CD signed when Piper Perabo came to The Grove to film Extra.

My Summer of 80’s Music

2011-08-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

The summer of 1967 is referred to as The Summer of Love.

Well, for me, this summer, the Summer of 2011 has been ‘The Summer of 80’s Music’.

No, not just because our new neighbors seem to have purchased a karaoke machine and an 80’s hits sing-a-long CD. It is The Summer of 80’s Music for me because of who I got to meet, see in concert, chat with and more.

On July 19, Rick Springfield came to Barnes & Noble at The Grove to sign his book, Late Late At Night. He was so sweet and charming to everyone. There was a huge turnout, and Rick’s warm and welcoming manner made every person feel special. He said he would stay for hours till everyone’s books were signed….or until the coffee ran out. Even as he discussed his book, and acting, you could still tell that Rick Springfield is truly a rocker at heart. One thing that I found interesting and endearing is that Rick did not want his music playing during his event as is the usual practice at Barnes & Noble. He actually requested that it be shut off.

Now one of my favorite songs, ‘Jesse’s Girl’ is even dearer to me, now that I have met the wonderful man who sings it!

My other ‘80’s Music’ experience this summer, was attending a Richard Marx performance and meeting this famed musician backstage. Richard Marx performed at The Grove’s Summer Concert Series. Growing up, I often heard his music on classic stations and in my mother’s playlist. I was eager to hear this popular crooner, live in concert. Singing some of his classic 80’s tunes, as well as some newer pieces from his most recent album, Richard Marx had the whole crowd singing along. Playing much longer than the scheduled concert length time, Richard gave a truly memorable performance. I was fortunate to be given backstage access, to meet Richard, take a photo with him, and chat for a minute or two as he signed my CD. This privilege was only given to a select few, most of whom work in the music industry in various roles, just as I do.

So as my 80’s Summer comes to a close, I am very grateful for these opportunities that I never thought I would have. It has been fascinating putting a ‘personal face’ on yet more of the music I love.

CD Sunday - Bryan Titus - Anymore

2011-08-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Album - Anymore
Artist - Bryan Titus
Favorite Songs - A Little More, Mayflower, War Inside,
Year - 2010
How I Got This CD - I got this CD last night at Bryan Titus' Birthday Performance at The Mint. A phenomenal performance followed by CD signing and photos.

CD Sunday – Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love

2011-08-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Album – Too Fast For Love

Artist – Motley Crue

Favorite Songs – Public Enemy #1, Starry Eyes, Too Fast For Love,

Year – 1981

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD Signed when Nikki Sixx came to Barnes And Noble The Grove to sign his book "This Is Gonna Hurt". Nikki and the rest of Motley Crue are being honored at this years Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

Dirty Nasty (Simon Rex), My Mom and I At The Roxy

CD Sunday – Stage 11 – Livin Room Sessions

2011-08-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

Album – Livin Room Sessions

Artist – Stage 11

Favorite Songs – It's My Right, Blinded Steer, Rollin' On

Year-2010

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD when Stage 11 performed at The Mint LA. Stage 11 will be performing at The Mint again on Saturday, August 20.

CD Sunday – Avril Lavigne – The Best Damn Thing

2011-07-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

Album: The Best Damn Thing

Artist: Avril Lavigne

Year: 2007

Favorite Songs: Hot, Innocence, Girlfriend

How I Got This CD: I got this CD when Avril came to The Grove LA to film Extra as part of her promotional tour for her new album, Goodbye Lullaby. In addition to seeing her interviewed live, and her being gracious enough to stop and sign my CD, I was fortunate enough to see her perform her new single “Smile” the following day at the live taping of “America’s Got Talent” .

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

Richard Marx, My Mom & I backstage after his performance at the Grove ~ 7/20/2011

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Rick Springfield & I at The Grove LA Barnes & Noble Signing - 07/19/2011

CD Sunday – Mark Ballas – HurtLoveBox

2011-07-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Album- HurtLoveBox

Artist – Mark Ballas

Favorite Songs – Done, Hotwire, Way You Werk, Burn Me Alive

Year – 2011

How I Got This CD…..I got this CD on my birthday at the Mint during Mark’s 3^rd residency with Hollowbody LA. On my birthday Mark sat down for an interview ~ http://bit.ly/k676fm . Mark was just nominated for an Emmy for his choreography in season 12 of Dancing with the Stars.

Summer Concert At The Grove

2011-07-13T23:22:00.000-07:00

The Grove LA hosts many events and experiences throughout the year. As an intense music lover, my absolute favorite Grove Event Series is the “Summer Concert Series”. These concerts are absolutely free to the public and are participated in by some of the most popular names in music today. Anyone living in LA should definitely add these FREE concerts to their summer fun planning.

This past Wednesday, July 6, was the launch of this year’s Summer Concert Series….and oh my goodness, did it start with a HIT SHOW!

With two entirely different style acts the concert appealed to an audience filled with music lovers of all ages and musical taste.

The first act was John West. John went from performing on the 3^rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica to performing to a big audience at the Grove. John’s music is very unique but technically still pop. Most music these days are one or the other, and John’s unique style and sound really crosses and fills both sides of the genre boundary. John West’s Song “Lovely” was just danced to by Ashley Rich on the hit reality TV show, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. John was very sweet and generous with his fans, and he signed his CD and took photos after his set. John currently has 3 CDs and based on what he has been sharing on Twitter, had his next album in the works. Be sure to check him out – you will be glad you did!

Next up was Orianthi. With numerous hit albums of her own, Orianthi is known far and wide for having been Michael Jackson’s guitarist, played dueling guitars with Santana, was on the road with Adam Lambert on his tour, and more!

When Orianthi came on to the stage the crowd went wild. The Grove’s light technicians psyched up the crowd for her arrival by turning on the fog machine and making the lights change from red to blue. It was a spectacular visual introduction. Orianthi played a number of songs from her albums as well as a new as of yet unrelased song, and several acoustic songs. During her performance she brought out Dave Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics, to play guitar on a few of her songs. It was an unexpected bonus, that Orianthi took the time after the show to talk to her fans, take photos and sign CDs for everyone that wanted. She truly made this free summer concert a night to remember for many devoted fans.

Don’t forget to stop by the Grove every Wednesday in July to catch more amazing musical acts during their Summer Concert Series.

CD Sunday – Lindsey Harper – Living

2011-07-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Album – Living

Artist – Lindsey Harper

Favorite Songs – I Am Beautiful, I Believe In You, Don’t Wreck This

Year – 2009

How I Got This CD – I got this CD when Lindsey Harper performed at the Mint during Mark Ballas’ first residency. Lindsey currently performs on tour with Selena Gomez and she sung the opening theme song for ABC Family's "Huge

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

Mark Ballas Performing At The Mint LA ~4/26/2010

CD Sunday – Abri Van Straten – Sunlight and Shadows

2011-07-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

Album: Sunlight and Shadows

Artist: Abri Van Straten

Favorite Songs – Living In LA, 16^th Floor, Rain,

Year – 2010

How I Got This CD- I got this CD when Abri performed at the Mint on May 16^th. I got it signed last night when he performed last night, July 2^nd, again at the Mint.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

LaToya Jackson signing her book "Starting Over" at Barnes and Noble The Grove ~ 6/28/2011

CD Sunday – Charlene Kaye - Things I Will Need In The Past

2011-06-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Album – Things I Will Need In The Past

Artist – Charlene Kaye

Favorite Songs – Andromeda, Strike A Chord, Magnolia Wine, Skin and Bones

Year – 2008

How I Got It… I got this CD when Charlene performed at The Mint with Darren Criss (who is featured on the CD). Charlene will be performing at The Mint again this coming Saturday, July 2nd. She will also be performing at Trip in Santa Monica on Sunday, July 3rd.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Selena Gomez at the Grove LA during her Extra interview with Mario Lopez - 11/9/10

CD Sunday – Sabrina The Teenage Witch

2011-06-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Album – Sabrina The Teenage Witch

Artist – Various Artist

Favorite Songs - One Way Or Another, Show Me Love, I Know What Boys Like

Year – 1998

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD signed when Melissa Joan Hart was Grand Marshal at the 2010 Sherman Oaks Street Fair. She was very sweet and took photos with everyone that asked. Melissa owns a sweet shop in Sherman Oaks called "SweetHarts". Melissa is currently starring in ABC Family's "Melissa & Joey".

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Jordin Sparks during her performance at The Grove ~ 4/15/2011

CD Sunday - Shania Twain - Up

2011-06-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Album: Up
Artist: Shania Twain
Favorite Songs: Up, I'm Gonna Getcha Good, Ka- Ching!, It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing
Year- 2002
How I Got This CD.... I meet Shania when she came to Barnes and Noble The Grove to sign her book "From This Moment On". Shania just recently announced that she will be returning to the stage in December 2012 for a two year residency at Caesar's Place called "Shania: Still The One". If you would like to see her before then catch her show "Why Not? With Shania Twain" on OWN.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Dick Van Dyke- Book Signing At Barnes And Noble ~ 5/10/2011

SUCH A Musical And Entertainment Icon, He Gets Two Pictures

CD Sunday- Monte Pittman – The Deepest Dark

2011-06-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Album- The Deepest Dark

Artist – Monte Pittman

Favorite Songs- Out Of The Black, Cold, After The Last Wave,

Year – 2010

How I Got This CD…. I got this CD when Monte performed at the Mint. Guitarist to Madonna and Adam Lambert, Monte is a phenomenal musician. It was awesome meeting him! If you’re in the LA area, check out Monte during his Hollowbody LA residency at The Viper Room Lounge, every Thursday in June. For more info check out Monte’s website - http://montepittman.com/events/

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Shania Twain Signing Her Book- From This Moment On- At Barnes and Noble The Grove

CD Sunday - Blue Meridian - Avalon & Babylon & Me

2011-05-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Album- Avalon & Babylon & Me

Artist - Blue Meridian

Favorite songs – Ghost In The Machine, Mary Model, Crystal Clear

Year- 2007

How I got this CD….. I got this CD when I saw Donovan perform at Café Cordiale. It was nearly a year later when I finally got them signed. I went to another one of Donovan’s concerts and had him sign all 4 of my CDs.

CD Sunday - Josh Groban - Awake

2011-05-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

Artist: Josh Groban

Album: Awake

Favorite Songs: You Are Loved, So She Dances, February Song,

Year Released: 2006

How I Got This CD: I got this CD when Josh came to the Grove to talk to Extra about his upcoming tour. Josh was very sweet to all his fans. He signed CDs and other memorabilia and posed for photos. I had brought my mother’s Josh Groban CD for him to sign for her, but wanted one for myself as well. I was very lucky because when I went to Barnes and Noble (right there at the Grove) to get his CD, there were only 2 left in stock! I got the 2^nd to last Josh Groban CD that they had. During his interview one of his fans asked him to sing one of his love songs. Josh then sang a few lines of a “When You Say You Love Me”, which only left the crowd wanting more.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls) and Steve Jones, Hosts of X-Factor USA, Interviewing a X- Factor contestant ~ 5/8/2011

CD Sunday- Sixx:AM - This Is Gonna Hurt

2011-05-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Artist : Sixx:AM (Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, & James Michael)

Album: This Is Gonna Hurt

Favorite Tracks: This is Gonna Hurt, Live Forever, Sure Feels Right, Oh My God

Year of Release: 2011

How I Got It …… I Got this CD signed when Nikki Sixx signed his new book, “ This Is Gonna Hurt Music. Photography. And Life. Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx” at Barnes and Noble. In addition to this new book by Nikki, the sleeves of his about-to-be-released CD were available for signing with a pre-order of the CD. The songs on this CD were created in sync with the new book, making it the accompanying soundtrack to the contents of his written work.

A Few Fun Facts:

1. 1. Nikki Sixx co-wrote all the songs on this CD with the exception of “Skin”

2. 2. Nikki surprised everyone by personalizing his book in addition to ‘just’ autographing it.

3. 3. There were SO many of Nikki’s fans lined up to meet him, that they covered two full floors of the store.

4. 4. This is Nikki’s second book and CD Soundtrack. His first book and CD combo is called “The Heroin Diaries”.

5. 5. Nikki was sweet to all of his fans, no matter how late it got. He was gracious and sincerely glad to meet each and every one.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

Casey Abrams & I at The Mint 04/09/11

CD Sunday- Gavin Rossdale - Wanderlust

2011-05-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

Artist: Gavin Rossdale

Album: Wanderlust

Favorite Songs: Forever May You Run, Love Remains The Same

Year of Release: 2008

How I Got It …. I got this CD at a Barnes & Noble at the Grove. My mother picked me up from school early on the first day of school so that I could go see Gavin. Gavin was very sweet and posed for photos with everyone.

CD Sunday-Ballas Hough Band- BHB

2011-05-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

Album name: BHB

Artist: Ballas Hough Band

Favorite Songs: Breakthrough, Do It For You, Devastated, Longing For

Year of Release: 2009

How I Got It…. When Ballas Hough Band’s CD came out they had a Tuesday night residency at the Grove. Their performances were held at the center of the Grove. After the concert, Barnes & Noble at the Grove hosted a CD signing of the BHB album. The full Ballas Hough Band was in attendance signing CDs and band posters.

An Evening with Mark Ballas

2011-04-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Living in LA, and working closely with people in the music industry, I get to meet amazing people, attend performances and concerts, and often snap some stellar personal photos with these musical artists.

This past Monday was…beyond extraordinary. I was blessed with double the good fortune – double the meaningful and musical opportunity! I was fortunate to both hear Mark Ballas perform at The Mint, as well as privileged to sit down and speak with Mark, and get to really know the man behind the music.

Mark Ballas is so multi faceted that as we chatted and I got a further glimpse into who Mark really is, the more intrigued I became to know more, to ask more. While he is perhaps best known as being an award winning dancer, the music within Mark is not merely a dancer’s musicality, but is truly the magical gift of a composer, singer, and performer in this equal but different mode of expression. I hope that by sharing some of our interview conversation, more people will see Mark and his music not just as ‘great music by Mark Ballas of Dancing with the Stars’ but rather…. Music by Mark Ballas.

Perhaps what I love the most about Mark’s performances is that every time you watch him in concert, it is completely different. Over the past year, during the course of his now three residencies at The Mint, and an occasional musical appearance at The Grove LA, I have heard Mark perform dozens of times. Every single time, he brought a new element to the stage and to the experience each of his fans walked away with. He likes to change up his presentation of his songs, at times elongating a certain piece, or introducing new –as of yet – unreleased songs, dancing with….not to …but WITH his music, and throwing in a mashup of different covers. Each time is equally but differently entertaining.

This week’s performance started with ‘Hotwire’. This song is on Mark’s latest album HurtLoveBox, and also was just released as a music video, which you can enjoy right here:

The female lead in this video is Mark’s dancing partner this season on DWTS - actress Chelsea Kane.

I also STRONGLY encourage you all to subscribe to Mark's YouTube channel so that you are sure to see all of Mark's official music videos as soon as they are released. To subscribe, just click here: Mark Ballas Music Official YouTube

Next up was ‘Burn Me Alive’ also from Mark’s new album, followed by a brand new song called ‘Under You’. The next tunes Mark performed were ‘Every Piece’ and fan favorite ‘Done’. Mark moved on to a 3 piece cover mashup of ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ by John Meyer, blending into ’Sexual Healing’ by Marvin Gaye, and culminating in ‘Rude Boy’ by Rhianna. The last cover of the evening’s line up was ‘Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone’ by Bill Withers. A new, seemingly untitled song came next. I can’t wait for Mark’s next album, because these new songs are outstanding! Mark sang ‘If Only’ from his album, and then took a slight break from his performance to wish a Happy Birthday to 3 fans attending…including me!! The set resumed with ‘Pretty’, and ended with the high energy tunes of ‘Werk’ and ‘Regret It’.

As always I loved seeing Mark perform, and it added an extra special element to my birthday celebration…..but the best was yet to come!

Mark honored me with generously spending time chatting with me, and granting me an interview.

Ø What is your favorite track on HURTLOVEBOX? Every Piece

Ø If you could do a duet with anyone – who would it be and why? Mark said that since meeting John Mayer at one of John’s concerts in 1992, he has wanted to do duet with him.

Ø Dance and Music are both very expressive – when you need to express, vent….what is your preference…your ‘go to’ form of expression? Mark said that he actually uses both dance and music equally but differently to express himself. They express different aspects of him.

Ø You have been part of a band and now have your solo music career – which do you prefer and why? “Solo” was Mark’s immediate reply, voicing a preference for creative control. He can write and perform the songs he wants, and create the vision that he has for each piece as well as the album as a whole.

Ø What is your favorite aspect of the entire process of creating an album? Writing the music? Performing on tour? Creatively marketing your work? Mark’s reply ‘writing the music’ did not surprise me at all. In every song you can see and feel how invested he is in the lyrics and music of each and every song.

Ø You are currently a spokesperson for Martin Guitars and we see you with several guitars on stage during your performances. How many guitars do you own? Do you use all of them in current rotation? Have you kept any for sentimental reasons? Mark currently has 20 guitars. Mark collects guitars, some of which are vintage. While all of his guitars hold different sentimental value and memories, his favorite is his Sunburst on which he has written most of his songs.

Ø I personally know people – as far away even as Bangladesh – who not just love your music but are inspired, moved, and empowered by it. What do you hope your music does for your listeners? Mark’s hope is that his music will make people remember and acknowledge their experiences and feelings. That they will learn from their lives as well as from Mark’s own experiences and life, heal from what has hurt them, appreciate the goodness and love in their lives…and most of all for his listeners to know that they are not alone.

Ø You have done a few small acting roles – any interest in doing more acting? We may indeed see Mark branch out further into acting….Possibly more theater or on Broadway if the right opportunity presents itself.

Ø What can we look forward to next from Mark Ballas, the Musician? ‘I already have 9 new songs written’ Mark shared. He usually writes 17 songs, and then selects 11 to go on his album. Clearly the next album is well underway. One of Mark’s larger goals is to have his own world tour. Maybe when he does, some of his world wide fans will have the amazing experience that I have….seeing Mark perform live, meeting Mark…..and seeing their favorite music come to life!

I clearly love both of Mark's CDs thus far....his EP 'Waiting for Patience' and his new album 'HurtLoveBox'. To purchase your own AUTOGRAPHED copy of HurtLoveBox just click here: HurtLoveBox . You are sure to love it!

Here are a couple more pictures of Mark performing at The Mint LA on April 25, 2011...

Thank you Mark - for sharing your many talents with us all, for my signed CD, for this amazing interview, and for...so much more!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Romeo & I at Dancing with the Stars 4/26/2011

CD SUNDAY - Kate Voegele - Dont Look Away

2011-04-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Artist: Kate Voegele

Release Date: 1-22-2008

Favorite Tracks: No Good, Wish You Were, Kindly Unspoken

I got this CD... Kate came to The Grove with Jordan Sparks to kick off their summer tour. Both Kate and Jordan performed. Kate did a number of songs from this album “Don’t Look Away” and a few off her second album “A Fine Mess”. After the concert, both Kate and Jordan signed copies of their CDs at Barnes and Noble.

Darren Criss At The Grove ~ 04/22/2011

2011-04-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have been to several events at Barnes & Noble at The Grove lately. Last night’s event was extra special for me.

Darren Criss, who plays Blaine on Glee, came to Barnes & Noble to sign Glee’s new soundtrack “Glee: The Music Presents The Warblers”. This soundtrack is devoted solely to the Warblers, and features Darren as the lead singer.

The crowd of fans at Barnes & Noble was so huge that the line filled most of the second and third floors of the bookstore! These fans were REALLY devoted fans. Some spent close to two hours waiting on line to see Darren and have him sign their CD. While waiting they sang along with the soundtrack that was playing in the store. The event staff at Barnes & Noble knew that would keep the large crowd happy and entertained while waiting. Some were clearly Darren’s fans from some of his other work as well, as they sang some of his music from “A Very Harry Potter Musical”. Most of the fans were wearing some sort of merchandise from Darren’s different roles – tee shirts, and of course the signature pink sunglasses.

Darren was very sweet to all of his fans & the press. He even surprised everyone by personalizing everyone’s CD. I actually already knew how nice and generous Darren is with his fans, as he had performed at The Mint where I work. What DID surprise me – and really touched me – was that Darren remembered me from the last time we meet when we worked together at The Mint. You can read about that wonderful performance here: http://bit.ly/gMa0cJ

I’m so glad that I got to see Darren again and now have my personalized, signed CD! I can’t wait to see him perform again….hopefully some time soon

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Nikki Sixx at Barnes & Noble at The Grove LA 4-12-11

CD SUNDAY - NCIS Soundtrack 2

2011-04-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

NCIS Official TV Soundtrack vol. 2

Artist: This soundtrack has songs performed by various artists.

Release Date: 11-3-2009

I got this CD... Extra films celebrity interviews at The Grove LA every weekday. This weekend (Saturday, April 16) Extra filmed a Special Edition and featured the ENTIRE NCIS cast. I was lucky to catch Pauley Perrete (Abby) and Michael Weatherly (Tony) after the hour long interview segment and asked them to sign my CD. They were very gracious and sweet and signed my CD as well as one for my mother.

A Few Fun Facts:

1) The entire NCIS cast was at the Extra Special Event besides ‘Ducky’ who was in NY for a special Marine Ball.

2) Extra gave t-shirts to some audience members who correctly answered NICS trivia questions.

3) At the end of the interview segment, they then VERY generously gave NCIS items to some lucky people in the LARGE crowd. I received an NCIS baseball cap, and my sister got Bert the Farting Hippo….Abby’s stuffed hippo, as well as an NCIS Official Score CD signed by most of the cast.

4) Two members of the military (on Navy officer and one Marine) attended as well. They were the first of the fans selected to come on stage and ask the cast a question. Mark Harmon rose from his seat and shook their hands and thanked them for their service on behalf of our country.

Port Chuck at The Grove 4/7/2011

2011-04-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

I enjoy TV…who doesn’t….but my true love is music. When these two come together it can be a wonderful medley of my favorite forms of entertainment and arts. After hearing many actors turned musicians, I have come to find that they either are great….or should have focused on their acting.

Port Chuck – a band consisting of four of the most popular, best looking actors from the daytime soap opera General Hospital – Steve Burton, Brandon Barash, Bradford Anderson, and Scott Reeves - was a wonderful, wonderful surprise. Port Chuck is a self proclaimed ‘cover band’ but truly are much much more!

This past Thursday, April 7, ‘Port Chuck’ gave a free concert at The Grove to kick off their upcoming tour and be interviewed by Mario Lopez for Extra.

A large crowd gathered at The Grove for this event to see some of their favorite General Hospital stars. Everyone there was fortunate enough to hear a preview of Port Chuck’s debut album which will be released April 15. As Mario interviewed Steve, Bradford, Brandon, and Scott, a few lucky members of the audience were given the opportunity to come on stage and each ask the GH stars a question. As a surprise to everyone, the last ‘fan’ to come onstage with a question, was their costar, Laura Wright who plays Carly Jax. Other members of the GH cast also came out to support them including Kelly Monaco, Andrea Bogart, Lexi Ainsworth, and Sean Blakemore.

For me, the best surprise, and most fascinating part of their performance was that even though the band members each had such distinctively different musical influences, styles, and sound, they blend together to create something truly beautiful. The Port Chuck unique twist to some classic songs, was extraordinary.

The crowd grew even louder and more excited when the band sang “Jesse’s Girl” by Rick Springfield, a GH alum. Of course Steve Burton coming down into the crowd to encourage them to sing along, also had a lot to do with the rising excitement level!

These four mega-soap stars were very gracious and generous with their time, and patiently took pictures with everyone who wanted one from the crowd. Their true appreciation to their fans endeared them to us all even more.

For more information about the upcoming Port Chuck tour or to purchase their debut cd, please visit www.portchuck.com.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

Monte Pittman & I at The Mint 4-4-2011

Music in LA

2011-03-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

One of the perks to living in LA is that I am presented with many opportunities to attend concerts, and performances of all kinds. While my past 2 blogs have been about music in general, I decided to share more than just my opinion in this blog, and let you know a bit of what I have been up to.

I have had the pleasure of attending concerts by Lifehouse, Bruno Mars, Darren Criss, The Band Perry, and Adam Lambert. I have even been able to get a picture and signed CDs from a few of them.

Recently EXTRA has been filming at the Grove in LA and asking for local residents to come be in the crowd. As a music lover I jumped at the offer to meet some of my favorite musicians. It was at these EXTRA interview events, I have had the pleasure of meeting Lifehouse, The Band Perry, and Adam Lambert.

LIFEHOUSE- Lifehouse performed songs off their most recent alb

um ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ - All In and Falling In. If I wasn’t already in love with Lifehouse, this performance would have me head over heels. When they (Jason & Ricky) perform you see the love of music in their eyes. When they sang Falling In with Alyssa Bernal, I fell in love with the song all over again. Adding the female vocals to the song made it a totally new song. Here is a link to their performance http://bit.ly/ezRISY

THE BAND PERRY- When I heard that The Band Perry was coming to the grove I got excited because I had just become obsessed with their song “If I Die Young”. When I got to The Grove, I asked one of the Crew guys if the band would have time to sign CDs. He was very sweet and said he could take it to their trailer and ask them to sign it for me. So I ran to Barnes and Noble to buy a CD and found that they were sold out of the CD! I walked back to where the concert was going to be and when I got there the crew guy asked me if I got a CD. I told them the store was out. Later he was telling one of the managers about this and points me out to them so that they can bring me a CD to get signed when the band comes out. The band came out soon after and performed “if I Die Young”. There manager then made sure they signed my CD. I was also able to get a picture with the lead singer Kimberly Perry. For this devoted fan, this whole experience made my day and will be remembered by me always. Remember what I advised in my last blog “Concert Rules” http://bit.ly/fArIMX – being nice to the crew is polite, proper, and can only work to your advantage!

ADAM LAMBERT – When I went to go see Adam Lambert, I meet his biggest fan. While we were waiting to meet Adam, we spoke at length and made a ‘deal’. Since my new friend and fellow Adam Lambert fan was an even bigger fan than I am, he would get a the better spot so he could make sure to get an autograph and after his he would move so I could get my autograph from Adam. Adam didn’t end up performing but he did come over after his interview to sign CDs & posters. When he came by, my new concert friend got so excited that Adam gave him a hug and autograph. Then my new friend told Adam that I was a fan and Adam gave me a hug and signed my CD. What a wonderful bonus to an already fabulous day!

BRUNO MARS- Gilt City LA put on a free concert at The Grove. Bruno Mars performed a number of songs off his debut album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’. At the concert I was met a woman and her two year old daughter. Right before Bruno performed “Just The Way You Are” the woman told her very well behaved two year old that he was going to play their song. Apparently her mom sings it to her all the time. When she started singing so did the two year old. Just goes to show just how deeply music can become part of our lives – create memories, emotional bonds….a true soundtrack for our soul.

DARREN CRISS (from GLEE) – Through my job (as Assistant to the head of HollowBody LA and (therefore) reception crew at HollowbodyLa events at The Mint LA) I was able to see Darren Criss perform & meet with him. Darren‘s show at the Mint sold out so quickly that we had to add a second show for later that day. Darren performed his own original songs. He was even sweet enough to make sure everyone who wanted an autograph and/or picture got one, generously giving a lot more of his time than originally scheduled. It is always wonderful to see your favorite performers are also wonderful people as well.

More events to come….Stay Tuned!

Concert Rules

2011-03-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Concert Rules

As an avid music lover, a frequent concert-goer, as well as someone who ‘works in the music biz’, I have seen and heard just about every type of concert behavior that you can imagine.

These basic rules, are basic courtesy mixed with common sense, and a dash of insider perspective. Follow these rules and you & your fellow concert goers will enjoy the concert to its fullest potential.

Here are 7 basic concert rules that I think everyone should follow:

Rule Number 1: Don’t Piss Off the Security or Crew Members – When you piss them off it makes them very unwilling to do you favors or even to do their job in a timely manner. This rule especially applies when you want a favor, like an autograph or photo with the artist. Trust me it pays off to be nice to them; I got a personalized free CD because I befriended a crew. Remember they basically control what the artist does when they are not on stage (sometimes even when they are on stage).

Rule Number 2: Don’t Sing Along- People didn’t come to hear you sing the song off key; They came to hear the artist sing. Please don’t ruin it for them. When an artist asks for a sing-, then it is fine but you deciding to sing along with every song - especially as loudly as you do in the shower or your car - is not okay. Humming along is also not okay.

Rule Number 3: Respect the Artist’s Personal Space – The artist wants to talk to you, the fans, and take a photo with you (most of the time). Just because they are generously taking time to talk does not mean you are allowed to invade their personal space. Be grateful and respectful. Good manners go a LONG way to an artist – truly any person – being willing to do more for you.

Rule Number 4: Don’t Talk During the Performance- You came to enjoy the performance, so do so. By talking you prevent yourself AND the people around you from hearing the performance. If you want to tell your companion that you are leaving, just wait until the song ends. Not to mention it is disrespectful to the artist that you supposedly cared enough about to come see! If your phone rings go outside to answer (and see rule number 5).

Rule Number 5: Turn Off Your Cell Phone- You go to the concert to hear the artist perform not to hear your cell phone ring, nor to chat with your friends - so turn it off! The ringing will annoy the people around you and the artist if they hear it. If your phone needs to be on, then put it on vibrate.

Rule Number 6: Be Considerate to Other Concert Goers – Everyone at the concert is there to have a good time too, do not mess it up for them. They want to see the performance - not you obstructing their view. Putting up your arm or a sign will make it hard for them to see. It’s ok if you’re not blocking anyone from seeing. Also make sure you’re not stepping on their toes or accidently bumping into them in any way – including your camera or bag banging into them as you jump around to the music.

Rule Number 7: ENJOY – THE most important rule. When you can forget about getting a picture with the artist or a signed CD or a front seat, you will be able to enjoy the concert. If you get any of these things, it will seem like a cherry on top. Enjoy what you came to enjoy….the music, the joy of seeing it performed live by one of your favorite musicians!

Rock On…and Take Note!

2010

2010-12-31T22:42:00.000-08:00

On nearly every website you visit, you will find a recap of 2010. My blog is no exception…. I am sharing my recap of the music and musicians of 2010.

This year the music industry has favored two categories: Rap (Taio Cruz , Usher, B.O.B., etc..) and Female Pop Artists (Katy Perry, P!nk, Rihanna,Taylor Swift etc.).

Most of the female artists are very talented, but they have been overshadowed by Rap music in both radio play time and awards.

A lot of very talented musicians have been overlooked because people want music that has been electronically altered. If you have ever heard Justin Beiber or Miley Cyrus on the radio, and then listen to the album version of the song you would not be able to tell that it is the same singer. I can‘t understand why people would buy an album by Miley or Justin when they can buy one by Selena Gomez or One Republic. They have better songs and they have true talent, not merely a crazy fan base filled with relatively young kids.

A few musicians, like Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, HAVE talent but no one sees the full extent of it because of the crazy persona they put on when they perform. Even though these two eccentric and talented artists both have had huge success, they have not gotten the awards that they should have. There are other successful, and some of the most gifted musicians in my opinion, artists (Taylor Swift, Haley William, ect..) that have also been snubbed by the award circuit, whereas some musicians have been over awarded and over played like Bruno Mars. Bruno Mars is a great musician but you soon come to nearly hate his songs because it is played a million times.

To hear what I believe to be a brilliant mash-up of this year’s top selling songs go to http://djearworm.com/united-state-of-pop-2010-dont-stop-the-pop.htm

I look forward to new music, new artists, new releases by my favorite artists…Let 2011 TRULY ROCK!

Acoustic Cordiale ~ Wednesday 6/2

2010-06-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

Computer issues, final exams, a new kitten, and still more computer issues….oh my!

Clearly just a few challenges that delayed the timely posting of this blog. My apologies.
Final test is over, kitten is maturing (slowly), and in this given moment my computer is cooperating …a little bit…so here I am…

Wednesday Nights with Acoustic Cordiale at Café Cordiale in Sherman Oaks. It is SUCH a cool experience; I truly suggest it to all ages – for the food, for the music, for the ambiance, for the people. On my most recent visit, we enjoyed a front row table, and scrumptious food.

The June 2 lineup was three very diverse acts.

The first act had the unique distinction of not only playing at Acoustic Cordiale, but the lead singer, Eddie Sanabria is also a bartender at Café Cordiale. During his performance I kept wondering if it was a more comfortable experience for him, having that home court advantage, or if it made it more nerve wracking performing in front of colleagues. Either way – it was a lovely performance. A different spin on the café crooner style. This soulful singer and his band sang both upbeat tunes as well as a few ballads. I noticed a theme that flowed through all the songs – Being who you are! Whether the song was about a breakup from someone who did not accept you for who you are, or an upbeat song rejoicing in finding one’s own voice, the message was clear – Be yourself, Be proud of that, Embrace that, and Work it! I enjoyed listening to, and meeting Eddie Sanabria . I hope to see them again…and Eddie – Thanks for the CD, I have been enjoying it and will be reviewing CDs in upcoming blogs.

Act two of this fabulous evening, was James Kenney – an absolute favorite of mine…and my sister’s…and my mother’s. James’ music is….amazing. The music, lyrics, his voice….all amazing….but what really seals the deal is James’ performance. He is a performer who performs and yet does not detract from his own music, as many do with their over the top antics. You can see him living the music, the expression of which is shared with the audience through the music and his performance.

One of my favorite James Kenney songs is “My Girlfriend”, which James has recently posted a link to on his Facebook account (http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_4355783) – you should all check it out. My favorite version of this song is the live version, which I have had the pleasure of hearing several times now.

This is not just another ‘girlfriend’ song. It truly holds an amazing life lesson. So many of us, so much of the time are focused on planning for the future, that we forget to be present and enjoy the moment we are in now. This moment is really the future we planned for last week, or last month. If we wait till ‘the future’ to enjoy life, we never get there and never enjoy. This song reminds us of that, subliminally making us aware of this ideal as we simply ‘enjoy music’. The premise of “My Girlfriend” is that this particular girl may not be the love of his life….may not be ‘forever’ ….but right now she is his girlfriend. What they share in the here and now is just as important and precious as whatever and whomever the future holds.

Add that amazing concept to a great beat and vibe and there you have one of my favorite songs!

The last act of the evening was ‘Vinyl Candy’. I was intrigued by the name, and anxious to hear the live sound of a group with that name. . As I often do, I had pre-listened to some of their music online before seeing them live. I must say I enjoyed their performance more than just listening to an audio track. Seeing the personalities so vibrantly on stage, putting a face to the sound, brought it to life in a whole new way. Very upbeat music, I can see Vinyl Candy being a favorite on many I-Pods.

Acoustic Cordiale ~ Wednesday 5/26

2010-06-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Need a mid week pick me up? Go to Café Cordiale for Acoustic Cordiale. This past Wednesday, I visited this very special place for the first time last week.

Café Cordiale is a gorgeous restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, with delicious food, and a classic and relaxing atmosphere.

At 9 pm, discreet and subtle changes are being made as the restaurant segues into a night club. Two tables are removed, a glass room divider slides away, and the lights dim as a curtain divider comes down between the kitchen and dining area, literally setting the stage. NOW, Welcome to Acoustic Cordiale, as the dinner hour shifts into nightclub mode. The incoming crowd at this hour is here for music in a wonderful night club. It is a scene stealing transformation that you need to see to believe!

Hollowbody LA presents the acts at Café Cordiale every Wednesday night.

This past week, the first act up Blue Meridian.
An extra special aspect of this performance is that Mr Hollowbody LA himself, Donovan Lyman is the lead singer of Blue Meridian.

This is my second time seeing Blue Meridian live. They played my favorite song of theirs, “The Final Thing”. This song seems to have been written with a romantic relationship in mind, but it truly can be related to any type of love relationship within one’s life…family, friend, lover, or mate. The common thread that resounds through all such relationships is that while we may always love the person, we don’t always like them. We get frustrated, angry, disappointed, and yet we still love them. This song expresses that mixture of emotions through both verse and vibe. I love Blue Meridian’s music – all their songs really, but this one is my favorite. It jumped out at me as describing the most beautiful aspect of love – that no matter what challenges our experience of love on a given day, we still feel it…..as well as exposes just how imprisoned we are by our own emotions….that if it were not for our love for this person, we would be out of there in a heartbeat. The dichotomy of love is the very essence of this song. You feel it, you hear it articulated, and you come to both understand and appreciate love on a whole new level through this musical experience.

Blue Meridian had some of their cds and DVDs on hand for sale, and I was thrilled to add four of their albums and two of their DVDs to my musical library.

The other act that I am reviewing from the evening musical lineup is by a group named Adora Vida.

This was my first time hearing any of Adora Vida’s music and they instantly became a new favorite of mine.

Much of their music has a solid beat that gets everyone clapping, and even inspired a young boy in the audience to get up and dance.

Each of their songs resonates with a different aspect of the soul and its journey….there were songs that had a romantic vibe, some songs held the passionate courage of a time of healing and self reinvention. Each song passionately sung, carried you beyond the lyrics, on a wave of real feeling to a place that each person could identify with.

I can’t wait to see them again!

Another Amazing Night at The Mint LA 5/17 - Part 4

2010-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Donovan Lyman & Blue Meridian

Now THIS performance I have been waiting for!

Since meeting Donovan Lyman at The Mint, I have been fascinated. He creates the BEST line up of musical acts for amazing evenings of music. Anyone who can do that….I was SURE I would like his music. I have been listening to his music online for several weeks now, and was looking forward to hearing him play live with his band Blue Meridian.

Blue Meridian’s music, with Donovan as lead vocalist has the dulcet tones of classic rock, content and sound that gets your soul stirring and your heart pumping, yet without the harsh overtones that some of today’s heavier rock has.

As I listen to Blue Meridian’s music, it feels as if you are being transported to another place.

While some music tells a story you relate to, or describes feelings you may have, I find that Blue Meridian makes me feel – not a specific feeling, but rather transports you to an inner place where you are not dwelling on the specifics of an event or circumstance, you simply feel.

To me this is the epitome of music.

I am eager to attend more Blue Meridian performances, and you can be sure I will be buying their cds the very first chance I have!

Another Amazing Night at The Mint LA 5/17 - Part 3

2010-05-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

Mark Ballas

This was my 6th time seeing Mark Ballas perform at The Mint LA.

Every week, for the past couple of months, I have spent all week looking forward to the coming Monday, when I would once again enjoy Mark’s performance. This week I had mixed feelings, because THIS week was unfortunately the last performance of his residency at The Mint. I just didn’t want to think of a Monday without, what had become a meaningful and wonderful part of my week.

Once Mark was onstage, my full focus was on enjoying his music. He played several of his songs from his EP, a few of his as-of-yet unreleased newer titles, AND a BRAND NEW SONG.

“Let Love In” is a beautiful song that acknowledges past hurt from previous relationships (think of going through what motivated Mark’s song “Done”), and yet encourages you to let love back into your life. This song helps you feel justified in being cautious in new love, but encourages you to embrace a new person, a new opportunity….and let love (back) into your heart and life.
Many of Mark’s songs listened to in succession, show how his music truly feels like the soundtrack to your own life. He ranges through experiences and emotions, deals with them, grows from them, and emerges a wiser and even better version of himself. To see what I mean, listen to his songs Done, Hotwire My Heart, and then, Let Love In (videos will be posted soon for your listening convenience) and you will see what I mean. He sings what he feels. He sings what we all feel. That is what makes his music so special, and what keeps it replaying in your head and heart.

I will miss Mark Mondays at the Mint, and I hope to see him perform here in LA again very soon. I cannot wait for his next album that will hopefully include all of these new songs he has shared with us at his Mint performances.

Mark, you have enriched not only my past several weeks, but also my taste in music, my love for music, and given me some rockin’ memories! Thank you!

Another Amazing Night at The Mint LA 5/17 - Part 2

2010-05-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

James Kenney

The next act up was James Kenney. This was my second time seeing James perform at The Mint. Having purchased his CD at his last performance, I have been listening to his music in the interim, and was looking forward to another great musical experience. That is exactly what I got!

A key part of what makes James’ performance so enjoyable is how he connects with his audience during his performance. The lyrics of every song have a story behind them, which James shares with his listeners. As you listen to him sing, the story unfolds for you beyond just listening to a great song. It becomes an experience.

With a mixture of charisma, humor, an incredible voice, and a nearly tangible love for music, James Kenney rocks the house!

Another really great thing that I appreciate about James is that he is very generous with his fans. He talks to individuals from stage, gracefully handles some of the more ‘interesting’ types, and is warm and welcoming when you ask to take a photo with him.James Kenney is a musician to listen to …and keep an eye out for…He is a true music star in the making.

Another Amazing Night at The Mint LA 5/17 - Part 1

2010-05-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Marcus Terell & the Serenades

Marcus Terell….you should all know that name. He sang his way into our lives and our living rooms while on America’s Got Talent. This man certainly does indeed have talent.

Bringing back the music of old school Motown, Marcus and the Serenades delight audiences that encompass all ages. Their music is appropriate for younger listeners, and relatable for the more seasoned listener.

Marcus Terell was the very first performer I ever saw at The Mint LA. This second time seeing him, was just as enjoyable. The performance consisted of songs primarily composed by Marcus, as well as a cover of “Apologize” by One Republic.

From costuming, to songs, all the way to his personal demeanor, Marcus embodies the soulful richness of the original Motown era and is bringing that cherished music back into the mainstream. What a gift!

Marcus oozes charm, sincerity on his love of both music and his fans. He poses for photos, meets everyone who was there enjoying his performance. I was fortunate enough for him to come by our table, and chat a while with us.

I can’t wait to see Marcus Terell and the Serenades again….perhaps on a local marquee advertising a performance…or maybe even once again on my TV.

Performance at The Mint LA 5/10/10

2010-05-13T12:47:00.001-07:00

How lucky am I?

This past Monday night, May 10, I attended Hollow Body’s second to last presentation of Mark Ballas at The Mint LA.

As always, there were other artists who performed before Mark and one after his performance as well.

The first act was Chasen Hampton. He is a very soulful musician. All of his music is sung and written from the heart. During his performance he brought one of his students on stage to play the keyboard. They did a beautiful cover of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby. I was fortunate enough to not only see him perform, but also to be able to add his CD to my collection. He was kind enough to sign it for me as well!

Next to perform was Eric Baines. This artist performed with a full band, many of whom work with other well known artists as well. Eric’s music is pop-rock, one of my favorite genres. His music has the winning combination of relatable lyrics, and great tunes. Mix that with a charismatic stage presence and you have an enjoyable rock performance. Eric was selling his CD, which I of course also added to my collection….and was happy to get it autographed by him.

Now….the focal point of the night’s line up, Mark Ballas.

Since releasing his EP album, “Waiting for Patience”, Mark has composed and performed three new songs. My favorite of these new tunes is entitled “Done”. The lyrics, take you through the process of a bad break up; the rhythmic tune moves you through the emotions of that journey. Drawing from his own experiences, Mark created a song reflects the feelings that anyone who has been through a really bad breakup can relate to. This song is the song to sing/play to help you know that you are not alone because let’s face it, everyone has gone through a break up like this. The crowd’s response to this song EVERY time Mark performs it shows that the true emotion he invests in his work is what reaches people.

As Donovan Lyman (Hollow Body LA) said when he introduced Mark before his set: “He Dances with the Stars, and he Sings in Bars”…..Mark Ballas is a full scope performer and his passion for his art brings it alive!

If you are in the LA area, come see Mark Ballas’ last performance at The Mint LA on Monday, May 17 at 9pm. Other performers include, Marcus Terrell, James Kenney, and…..Donovan Lyman!!!!! I can’t wait!!!

Videos of Mark Ballas performing at The Mint LA 5/3/2010

2010-05-06T23:32:00.000-07:00

Mark Ballas at The Mint LA

2010-05-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

Mark Ballas, what do you think when you hear that name? I hear great dancer and musician. I had the pleasure of hearing him perform live at The Mint LA last night. He performed songs off his EP album “Waiting for Patience” such as “Every Step of the Way” and “All Tied Up”. He also performed 3 songs of his that are not yet released.

Mark’s Music is jammed packed with emotion which everyone can relate to in one way or another. Lyrics and vocals aside, Mark’s guitar skills are amazing. Those phenomenal skills enhanced his cover performances of Rihanna’s ‘Rude Boy’, Pussycat Dolls’ ‘Buttons’ and a mashup of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’ and John Mayer’s ‘Waiting on the World to Change’. Although this mashup is seemingly an odd combo, Mark mashed it up beautifully.

In my opinion Mark Ballas is a great musician, the likes of John Mayer….master lyricist, soulful singer, and amazing guitarist.

I can’t wait to see his next two performances – his final two at The Mint LA – on May 10 and May 17.