The tour features eight amazing headliners including Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, and Randy Houser, who will host a meet and greet with his custom-made Harley by the Harley Saloon at 5:30 PM. Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Drake White will also be performing in this day long tour.

San Diego Entertainer will be hosting a free ticket giveaway to this amazing event! Winners will get two tickets to the show. Head to the bottom of the page or follow this link to sign up. Entry ends Monday the 20th at midnight, the winners will be announced Tuesday the 21st.

The event is organized by the same producers of the highly successful Vans Warped Tour. The Vans Warped Tour, so you know it will be a great time.

Headlining under Willie Nelson and Jamey Johnson, Lee Brice has been nominated for three ACM Awards including Single and Song of the Year. He was also recently nominated for CMT Music Awards USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.  Brice’s song “Love Like Crazy” reached the top five on the charts and was named Billboard’s #1 country song of 2010. The single currently holds the record for the longest charting song in the history of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Brice is also known for his songwriting talent, writing songs for Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks.

Brantley Gilbert’s debut single on The Valory Music Co. “Country Must Be Country Wide” is a Top 40 hit and rising. Brantley also wrote Jason Aldeans #1 hit, “My Kind Of Party” and current single, “Dirt Road Anthem”. Brantley is also out on the Radio Tour and will be releasing a new album later this year.

Craig Cambell’s release of his self-titled album has had the highest first week sales for any debut made this year! His single “Family Man” is a Top 15 hit and will be included in an upcoming episode of HBO’s hit series “True Blood”. Cambell also has a popular new single “Fish.”

Being the son of Willie Nelson may give you a bit of an edge in the industry, but Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real’s have proven their talent. The group has performed for the first time on both the Late Show with David Letterman and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Every major publication is singing their praises. And with their recent release of the band’s debut full-length album and constant roadwork, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real are a talent you don’t want to miss.

Drake White, the 27 year-old EMI singer/songwriter, will also be performing. The Hokes Bluff, Alabama native credits many country, blues, rock, freestyle, and bluegrass influences for a unique and entertaining performance.

To complement all the heavyweight talent, Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour is also known for spotlighting up and coming singer/songwriters on the tour’s specially designed Bluebird Café stage. The Bluebird Café stage provides an intimate setting for fans to enjoy some of Nashville’s best rising artists. These artists which include Adam Hood, Caitlyn Smith, who’s had songs have been featured on “Jersey Shore”, “One Tree Hill”, and “The Real World”, Austin Lucas, Brent Cobb, Dani Flowers, and Erin Enderlin all of which will also perform on the main stage in between set changes.

As always, the tour will close out with its anticipated Willie-Nelson’s annual 4^th of July Picnic. This long time tradition will be held outside and inside of the famed Billy Bob’s Texas. Headliners at the picnic will perform on the venue’s main stage outside with many artists taking the stage indoors for a full complement of entertainers. The picnic will feature many artists such as Ray Price, David Allan Coe, Paula Nelson, and more.

To get fans ready for the show, The Throwdown Tour has partnered with iTunes to offer all fans an 8-song free download sampler. Some of the songs included are Willie Nelson’s “Man With The Blues”, Drake White’s “50 Years Too Late”, Caitlyn Smith’s “My Lover’s Gone and Left Me”, and more. You can go ahead and claim your FREE tracks here.

For all the lowdown on the Throwdown, please visit: http://www.countrythrowdown.com.

In San Diego’s elegant Gaslamp district, the hotel Andaz’s chic nightclub Ivy, played host to a special event last month.

On April 27th, local artists and performers came together for RAW: Natural Born Artists, a showcase devoted to San Diego’s most creative minds.

The organization has branches in 17 different cities across the nation and holds monthly events in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

San Diego holds it’s monthly exhibition on the last Thursday of every month. I spoke to the director of San Diego’s branch Sarah Wilwerding, who explained to me that the events are meant to provide some exposure and publicity as well as serving as a forum for these emerging artists to not only share their works but to meet each other and learn from the other. It is a project that boosts communication and support within San Diego’s creative community.

Along with providing a valuable service, RAW also throws an excellent party. The event at the Ivy was impressive to say the least. Held in the basement of the club, the venue kept to true Gaslamp form by creating a cool, urbane space that was part lounge and part club. Black and white photographs in jaunty wooden frames hung from the ceiling, illuminated by the bar that was stationed right across from the exhibit.

Every corner of the room housed a collection of works by a local artist. The theme of the works that night seemed to be ghostly images mixed with a street art sensibility and a fascination of the macabre.  There were a number of performances as well; spoken word artist Gill Sotu delivered a stirring series of passionate monologues. His performance was followed by a stand up set by local comedienne, the brilliant Jiavani Linayao, who used both song and improv in her stand up routine. After the laughs came local musicians from all different genres.

The performance that really got the crowd on their feet was Kobra Kai, (like the name of the villainous dojo in The Karate Kid). This hip hop trio hails from Los Angeles and is comparable to artists such as People Under the Stairs stylistically.

Closing the event was a fashion show by Moonlit Jewelry, a locally based company which makes pieces that evokes a deep connection with nature and natural beauty.

There is a timer on the RAW website that counts down until the next event, INCITE, which returns to the Ivy on May 26.

This month’s showcase will undoubtedly be impressive, with a new group of showcasing artists and performers. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the incredible talent that San Diego is harboring right in its own backyard.

For photos from the April RAW San Diego event, click here to view SD Entertainer’s gallery.

(all images taken by author)

The Cloud Drive is a service that allows users to store their music and the contents of the computer online versus the traditional storage device.

Music and documents are available online as well as in the form of an app for devices running by Google Android. The service is not compatible to any of the Apple devices (as of yet) such as the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Customers will be getting 5 gigabits of storage for free which is equivalent to the first iPod that was released in 2004, 1250 songs or 2000 photographs. From there, 20 gigabytes for $20 a year. Right now as part of a promotion, Amazon is giving customers 20 gigabytes of free storage with a purchase of any MP3 format album. It’s unclear how long the “gift with purchase” will last.

Any new music purchased from Amazon is saved directly to the Cloud Drive but will not count against the storage count. All music can be saved in MP3 or AAC format that way it works in iTunes for Mac music player users.

Amazon is expanding their business to include online content. They already provide MP3s, Video On Demand, and last month Amazon launched a new movie streaming service as a part of its Prime membership service. Now with Amazon Cloud Player, Amazon is trying to increase their sales in other sectors other than physical books and CDs that their known to sell at great prices.

Having been available less than a single day, Amazon has already been met with backlash. Sony Music was upset with Amazon’s decision to launch the Cloud Drive without new licenses for music streaming, according to Reuters.

Image from loiclemeur via Flickr.

The English alternative rock band has harnessed the power of electronic media yet again. As you may recall, the band released “In Rainbows” back in 2007 with a “pay what you want” method. The band has moved away from that model for their new album. The quick announcement and digital distribution of the album has helped to prevent unofficial leaks, a problem that has plagued many in the music industry.

“King of Limbs” was made available Friday morning, February 18th, and can be downloaded in MP3 and WAV formats. The album can be downloaded from their website but the physical CD release will reportedly not happen until next month.

They are also taking pre-orders for a “newspaper” edition, which will contain two 10-inch vinyl records in a special sleeve, including artwork, and a CD.

Earlier this week (Monday, February 14th) the Radiohead website announced that the new album was coming. Just 4 days later, it’s finally here. In addition to releasing the album online today, the band’s blog published the first song and video from the album, “Lotus Flower.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Songs off the album include:

01.”Bloom”
02.”Morning Mr. Magpie”
03.”Little By Little”
04.”Feral”
05.”Lotus Flower”
06.”Codex”
07.”Give up the Ghost”
08.”Separator”

Photo from prusakolep via Flickr

Thursday, February 17

Music is in the air this President’s Weekend and it’s getting started a little earlier than usual.  On Thursday night, the downtown House of Blues will feature Random Karma featuring Brad Perry and The Acoustic Fingerprints. With their classic rock sound and assorted blend of rock, pop and blues, their vocal harmonies are sure to please any music lover. Doors are at 7:30 PM and it’s just $10 for General Admission.

If you’re interested in a more urbanized, hip-hop sound, The House of Blues is also featuring Murs with Tabi Bonney, Whole Wheat Bread, Ab-Soul, and DJ Foundation.  They will be performing at 8 PM with standing and reserved seating available.

And no fretting about the rain outside as each of these concerts is guaranteed to be cozily indoors.

Would you rather skip on the concert in favor of food? Arterra at Marriott Del Mar is unveiling a new look, taste and vibe with a special grand re-opening event, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. San Diego’s field-to-fork fresh innovator, Arterra will debut items from its new menu, all for only a suggested $10 donation at the door. Donations benefit Feeding America San Diego’s Farm2Kids program.

Friday, February 18

Famed as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, Joe Bonamassa brings life to 1960’s British blues rock this Friday night at the Balboa Theatre.  He was named the Best Blues Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards for the third consecutive year in 2010.

If you have a little one, or are young at heart, you’ll definitely want to see The Wizard of Oz at the Civic Theatre this weekend.  Take a walk down the yellow brick road and enjoy this family friendly show.  This performance runs every day this weekend through Sunday.

Saturday, February 19

Love watching ice skaters spin and jump across the ice on television? Then grab a seat at the Valley View Casino Center to see Smucker’s Stars On Ice 25^th Anniversary Tour.  The live show is featuring incredible performances by Olympians Evan Lysacek, Sasha Cohen, Kurt Browning, Ekaterina Gordeeva and more.

Want to get your retro-groove on? The Balboa Theatre presents In The Mood: America’s Greatest Big Band Musical Revue.   The 1940’s swing dancing and big band instrumentals will sweep you off your feet!

Sunday, February 20

Closing out this President’s weekend is Hard Rock Hotel’s fabulous Wintervention Sunday, with DJ Pauly D from Jersey Shore providing the entertainment.

Needing some “sun” this weekend?

Then take this chance to see Linkin Park-A Thousand Suns: World Tour 2011 at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University.  No half-nudity required.

Who are you most excited to see this weekend?

Let us know what you think of this weekend line-up and what your plans are this rainy weekend!

Photos by Andrew Choy, Holly Vesper, FilippoDLC via flickr

In the world of playing the Bass, when Victor Wooten speaks, people listen. And rightly so. Victor Wooten is a 5 time Grammy winner, he has won the “Bass Player of the Year” award from Bass Player magazine three times in a row (the first person to win the award more than once). In addition to a his award winning solo career and collaborations with various artists, like legends Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller,Wooten has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group’s formation in 1988.

On top of that, he’s one of the only bass players I’ve ever met that didn’t suffer from
Bassistian Bitterosa Complexia (BBC), a very serious disease, in which the bass player gets stuck repeating the phrase “Who cares what I think, I’m just the Bassist.” And I guess there’s a good reason for that. When you play any instrument like Victor plays the bass, you tend to turn a few heads.

And while he’s used to being in the spotlight, he has turned his attention to education. A while back Victor opened a camp that combines learning bass guitar and learning to be one with nature.

The Entertainer caught up with Victor Wooten at this year’s NAMM show in Anaheim for an exclusive interview. Victor shared a lot with us, including talking about his new record label, his about-to-be-rereleased solo album, his camp, and more.

Check it out:

It features 22-year-old Rihanna scantily clad throughout, wrapped in rubbery garments a la Lady Gaga in that latex red dress from last year.  While we’ve seen eccentric, and let’s face it, down-right appalling outfits on pop singers before, what makes this video’s portrayal of sex so “inappropriate” that it’s been flagged on youtube for only 18+ users?

Well, in light of her leaked naked pictures, nothing.  Even MTV continues to air the #1 ranked video for public audiences.

There are scenes depicting Rihanna in a dominatrix-type dress, evoking sadistic pleasure out of having blogger Perez Hilton held by a chain as an animal slave or submissive.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me,” she seductively croons to the camera, “I may be bad but I’m perfectly good at it.” Her song is an effort to attack the members of the press for the grief caused by their constant harassment.  She “dominates” journalists in another scene, having them bound to the wall and a bed as she rears her pink whip, taunting and sneering at them powerless to her will.

Want to see Rihanna in all of her racy glory? Just click on the clip below for a “smell of it”—

What do you think of this video? Is it as racy and controversial as the title “S&M” describes? Or is Rihanna making an intelligent satiric attack on journalism in the music industry the best way she knows how?

The song “S&M” is featured on her 2010 album, Loud alongside the star’s other recent radio hits, “Only girl (in the world)” and “What’s my name?”

Photo from MIKeARB via Flickr

The weather outside is frightful but it’s always delightful listening to your favorite bands this holiday season. This winter, San Diego hosts everyone from Lady Gaga to the The Doobie Brothers. Venues like Belly Up Tavern, House of Blues and the Casbah are offering musical experiences that cannot be missed.

Here is a calendar of upcoming events:

December 3

• Straight No Chaser is playing at Harrah’s at a 9 p.m. show. Fans can get their tickets for the evening here.
• John Meeks plays the Casbah at 8:30 p.m. Get tickets here.

December 4

• Mike Pinto plays at the House of Blues with Stranger, B Foundation, High Tide, & Hi Roots starting at 7 p.m.
• Classic Rock band The Doobie Brothers will be rocking the night away at the Spreckles Theater with Shawn Mullins. The live show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale here.
• The ’90s hip-hop artists of the Wu-Tang Clan will perform at 4th & B at 8 p.m.
• Catch Earthless at the Casbah. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale now.

December 5

• Electro pop band Passion Pit has two records and is best known for their single “Sleepyhead.” You can see them perform at Soma at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here.
• Musician Dweezil Zappa (C) and members of Zappa plays Zappa will be playing at the House of Blues at 7 p.m. Get your tickets for the show online.

December 7

• Courtney Taylor-Taylor will play with the rest of the Dandy Warhols, Portland’s psychedelic-pop protagonists known for songs like “The Last High” and “Bohemian Like You.” The show is going to be at the Belly Up at 9 p.m.

December 9

• Fever Sleeves along with The Globes and Mt St Helens Vietnam Band are going to be at the Casbah. Tickets are $10 online.

December 10

• Delta Spirit returns to San Diego to play at the House of Blues at 7:30 p.m., Doors open at 7 p.m.

December 11

• An amazing lineup will appear at 94/9’s Holiday Hootenanny this year; featuring artist The Black Keys, Against Me!, The Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells and Tokyo Police Club. Show starts 6p.m. at UCSD’s RIMAC arena. $40 a ticket at the Price Center Box Office or online.

December 12

• 2010 Wrex the Halls at Viejas Arena on the campus of SDSU will include Switchfoot, Smashing Pumpkins, My Chemical Romance, Bad Religion, and Jimmy Eat World. Tickets are now on sale. Get them while you can.
• Daniel Ledisko of LA Riots and Sam Adams will perform at the House of Blues at 8 p.m.
• Brooke Fraser is going to entertain the crowds at the Casbah, doors open at 8:30 p.m.

December 14

• The Casbah will host Horse Feather, Y La Bamba, Chairs Missing, and Cry For Us Black Swans all one night for $8, Doors open at 8:30p.m.

December 15

• Billy Idol is in SD with a concert at the House of Blues. The show kicks off at 8 p.m., tickets are available online.

December 16

• Listen to the Kottonmouth Kings at the House of Blues, show starts at 7:30 p.m., tickets $20.
• White Buffalo will be performing at the Casbah at 8:30 p.m.

December 18

• Rob Halford of Judas Priest is going to be rocking the house at the 4^th and B at an 8 p.m. gig. Doors open at 7 p.m.

December 23

• American jazz fusion band Hiroshima will be performing at Anthology on Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The band is most well known for fusing Japanese music with other forms. Get your tickets here.

December 29

• Steel Panther is going to perform at the House of Blues at 8 p.m. and tickets are on sale here.

December 30

• The Dresden Dolls take the stage at the House of Blues. Tickets went on sale Nov. 11.

January 11-12

• Jared Leto and the rest of 30 Seconds to Mars will be performing at the House of Blues for two nights, both nights start at 6:30 p.m. Ticket info is online here.

January 13-14

• Rebelution is playing at the House of Blues as a part of their Winter Greens Tour. The show starts at 7pm with doors opening at 6 p.m. both nights.

January 15

• Enjoy the company of Joan Rivers at the Balboa Theatre at 8 p.m. this evening.

January 18

• Catch The Album Leaf with The Hot Moon at the Casbah. Tickets are on sale now.

January 21

• The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil are joining together for The Immortal World Tour at Valley View Casino. Tickets are on sale now online.

January 22

• Chris Carrabba with Dashboard Confessional will perform at the House of Blues as a part of their Swiss Army Romance Tour celebrating their 10^th anniversary. The music starts at 7:30 p.m., get tickets here.

January 29

• See Amos Lee with Vusi Mahlasela at the House of Blues at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $22 online.

February 2

• British alternative rock group Interpol is playing at UCSD’s RIMAC arena. Tickets on sale now, show starts at 8 p.m.

February 4

• Comedian Lisa Lampanelli is going to be at the Spreckels Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are on sale here.

February 10

• Judy Collins comes to the 4th & B at 8 p.m. Fans can get their tickets online here.

February 15

• Spend an evening with Tommy Emmanuel and friends at their show that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Balboa Theatre. Tickets are on sale here.

February 19

• Social Distortion is playing live with Lucero at the House of Blues at 7:30 p.m. Doors open an hour early and tickets are on sale here.

February 20

• Catch Social Distortion again at the the House of Blues for another night at 8 p.m. Get your tickets here.

February 21

• Fans can celebrate Bob Marley at the Bob Marley Fest at Valley View Casino. Tickets will be on sale here.

February 24

• Comedian Maz Jobrani is performing to the House of Blues at 8 p.m. Get your tickets for the show online.

March 2

• Crystal Castles is coming to San Diego for a show at the House of Blues at 8 p.m. Fans can get their tickets here.

March 22

• Enjoy Girl Talk at the Casbah at 7 p.m. You can buy tickets online now.

March 29

• Catch the one and only Lady Gaga at SDSU’s Viejas Arena. Get your tickets while you can here.

April 4

• Ani DiFranco will be at the House of Blues at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are up for sale here.

April 9

• Pete Yorn is at the House of Blues tonight at 8 p.m. along with Ben Kweller. Tickets for this show are on sale now.

The Entertainer hopes your winter season will include some time away from work with family and friends AND some of your favorite artists!

Images from Vincent Desjardins, Lisa Brewster, and Felixe via Flickr.

The San Diego Entertainer is giving away tickets to see this performance.  Sign up at the end of this article for your chance to win!  The Giveaway will end Wednesday, November 17th at noon, and winners will be announced the same day.

Pines of Rome will be performed in the Copley Symphony Hall. A three night affair, the performance will take place on November 19^th and 20^th at 8pm and on November 21^st with a matinee showing at 2pm. Tickets range from $20 to $96. Use promo code SDE to get $10 off your ticket through 11/17. The show will also feature composers Gioacchino Rossini, Michael Torke, Bedřich Smetana, and Ottorino Respighi.

Violinist and Concertmaster Jeff Thayer

The show will begin with the Overture to William Tell composed by Rossini. The Italian composer’s final opera, William Tell, premiered August 3, 1829 and was marked with great success. Written in an unusual structure, the Overture is divided into four striking parts. The first section is undeniably remarkable and invokes a sense of nobility. Simply marked Allegro, the second section illustrates a violent storm with strings and woodwinds suggesting thunder and rain drops. The aftermath of the storm is presented by the third section with a solo of the English horn and of the flute, a calmness and sense of thanks envelops the scene. Marked Allegro vivace, the closing section is well known for its astonishing first violins and its later fame as television show, The Lone Ranger’s theme song. Conductor Jahja Ling is excited for the Overture, “the opening for the cellos is not sad or gloomy. It is cantabile, like a beautiful song. The whole thing is a wonderful piece, with some fine solos, and its universal popularity makes it a great opener.”

Harpist Julie Ann Smith

The world premiere of American composer Michael Torke’s Cactus will be the second piece showcased. The piece was commissioned by the San Diego Symphony with the generosity of board member Sam Ersan. Commissioned specifically for concertmaster Jeff Thayer and harpist Julie Smith, Cactus invokes a sense of being stranded in the desert where only a single plant can flourish—the cactus. With its budding flower and not-so glamorous life, the piece presents the hidden beauty of the cactus in a new unpredictable light. Jahja Ling notes the importance of presenting a premiering piece, “It is important during our centennial year to have been able to commission a new work by a leading composer, Michael Torke… Torke’s music is very accessible and can also be quite exuberant and, at times, avant garde.”

The next piece will be Three Dances from The Bartered Bride, composed by musician Bedřich Smetana. Czech nationalist as well as composer, Smetana is known for his Czech pride. His work The Bartered Bride is known for its use of a Czech setting, characters, costumes and customs, as well as being one of the first operas with a libretto in Czech. The opera is a Romeo and Juliet-like loves story that takes place in a Czech village. The main characters, Marenka and Jenik, are in love but must overcome the obstacles that include Marenka’s parents’ desire to marry Marenka off to a rich husband. Very successful in Europe, The Bartered Bride did not reach the United States until February 19, 1909 in New York City.  As a part of the Pines of Rome showcase, the Three Dances will be “exuberant and virtuosic, but still representing a good contrast with the William Tell Overture,” says conductor Ling.

Internationally Renowned Conductor Jahja Ling

The final piece for the November performances will be Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Written in 1924, Pines of Rome is a part of an orchestral triptych. Inspired by the Italian city, Pines of Rome takes a closer look at the pine trees that grow throughout the city. Respighi’s works are aimed to create an atmosphere more than telling a story or depicting actions. Using the pines trees as inspiration, Respighi’s opera is comprised of four movements that create a painting-like description full of colors and tones. In Pines of Rome, Rome’s pine trees are characterized as witnesses for events in Roman life and symbols that retain Rome’s memories and visions. According to Ling, “[Pines of Rome is]…always a great climax to any concert. A great descriptive piece, it is also a wonderful showpiece for the orchestra, and the special effects, such as the extra brass and the recorded nightingale song make it an audience favorite. Besides, it also brings in the organ to give it even more depth.”

Musicans of the San Diego Symphony

Pines of Rome is a must-see event. This wide array of works by classic and contemporary composers will make these performances well worth an evening or afternoon at the symphony.

Remember to sign up below for your chance to win tickets for what promises to be a spectacular performance!

Check out a video of Michael Torke on his new work Cactus.

Apple has begun to send out letters to music label representatives announcing change to longer song samples. The letter, sent out Tuesday November 2, asks labels to agree to new terms that will give Apple the licensing to change song samples from 30 seconds in length to 90 seconds. Only songs longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds will be affected and songs shorter than this will still only have 30 second samples.

Apples writes in the letter sent to music label representatives, “We believe that giving potential customers more time to listen to your music will lead to more purchases.” This idea has been proven true in a recent study at the Robert Morris University. Professor Min Lu and assistant Yabin Tu have come to the conclusion that 30 seconds of a song is not enough, “Our empirical tests show the current stingy online digital music sampling [of 30 seconds] is not optimal.” Their report states that consumers are more likely to buy songs if they are allowed to sample it for about 60 seconds. Giving consumers a 90 second preview of high quality music only satisfies a consumer’s interest in music that much more.

To be clear, song samples are snippets of music that give the consumer a taste of what they are about to purchase. A change in song sample length is also aimed to counter the free music availability that Pandora and Youtube provide. Consumers know that both services feature full length songs and thus give them the opportunity to preview music in full length, guiding consumers away from the iTunes music store.

Rumors of extending the length of song previews to 60 seconds began to circulate in September when Apple launched their new line of iPods. It didn’t happen. Apple still needed to negotiate with music publishers revealed the National Music Publishers Association.

Apple has not released a time frame in which the lengthened song previews would take place. As of Wednesday morning, November 3, songs still were providing 30 second previews.

It is clear that Apple has the digital download market on lock down controlling 70 percent of the market alone. A study made by NPD research noted that Apple hit the 10 billion song mark in February 2010. Apple is not a digital download force to be reckoned with, especially now with 90 second song samples.

Image from @labnol via Flickr.

Jay-Z, who signed the mini-diva to his record label, calls Will Smith’s daughter a superstar, even comparing her to the late Michael Jackson.

“You have to start somewhere and when you have that sort of talent and when you have that sort of vision, then there’s no such thing as too young,” Jay-Z said in reference to Smith, according to Actress Archives. “Everyone said, ‘I can’t believe that…you like a record by a nine year old.’ But we’ve all danced to Michael Jackson records when he was eight, and Stevie Wonder.”

Teen sensation Justin Bieber had this to say about Smith’s video via twitter: It’s CRAZY!! She is killin em! GET READY!”

Smith, who said she’d like to collaborate with Lady Gaga, sports a variety of hair styles in her new music video. “Don’t matter if it’s long, short,” the young artist sings, “Do it. Do it. Whip your hair.”

Smith begins the video by walking into a colorless room filled with monotonous peers. She then dips her dreads into paint, and proceeds to, well, whip her hair and douse the room with color.

Smith is not only a hip hop star. She also acts on the big screen like her father, and her 12-year-old brother Jaden, who starred in the latest  “Karate Kid” movie. Jaden makes a cameo in Smith’s video.

It won’t be the last time these syblings are seen working together. Smith and her brother are expected to co-star in the fantasy film, “Amulet.”

Smith’s acting debut came at the age of seven, when she worked with her dad in the movie “I am Legend.”

Here is Smith’s new music video, “Whip My Hair”:

Photo by Harrywad.

Walking into the band’s one-story house built beautifully into the side of Mt. Soledad,  glass was smashed in the kitchen and a kid skateboarded through the hallway on his stomach. Having met San Diego band Jet West at our bands’ mutual rehearsal studio about a year ago, it has been an awesome trip watching their musical journey unfold. From house-parties and two-man acoustic gigs to a brand new full-length album, this band has big things in store for them.

On Saturday September 11th, 2010 at Mission Beach’s own Sound Wave venue, Jet West hosted a CD release party for their debut album “Dropping In”. The show featured awesome live music, beautiful girls, DJ Debonair (Keith Urban’s DJ), and a high-end laser show… but first a little info. on the band.

Jet West formed in the summer of 2009 when Chris Warner and Scott Floquet (lead guitar and vocals) teamed up to start writing and build on Scott’s previously developed songs. Playing house parties and small fundraisers in the beginning, their music was met with positive reviews. It was time to find a band. Finding perfect fits Derek Potter (drums) and Deren Schneider (bass) right in their own circle of friends, the ball started rolling.

With influences ranging from Slightly Stoopid to Linkin Park they quickly developed their own sound, riding radically on the lines of surf reggae and hard rock. Early on, the band scored solid gigs with Canes (now Sound Wave), 710 Beach Club and Winston’s, which are still band favorites. Since their inception they have racked up radio play, live interviews on 91X Loudspeaker with Rowley, sets on the morning news with KUSI, a full-length album, a music video and played Nascar VIP event all the way in Bristol, TN. They are even being featured on a surf-cruise-cup this coming Halloween! So believe it, the CD release party was a nice look at what could be in store for this extremely driven band.

The pre-party was hosted at guitarist Chris Warner’s house, and friends of the band rolled to the show in style on three packed party buses. In true rock star fashion the buses were stocked with everything from champagne to pole-dancing. Upon arrival at the venue, the line at the entrance was growing by the minute, and we were later informed it was one of the most packed events Sound Wave has hosted.

Reggae locals Full Blown Stone rocked the opening set and played a skankin’ rendition of Sublime’s “Saw Red”, featuring the beautiful Talee Lauren Rooney on vocals and Uproot’s Peter Eichar rocking guitar. The dance floor began crowding as the wildly awesome stage presence of Nick Hein and Ben Palmer (bassist and singer) left the crowd psyched for more, while all around sponsors like the Surfrider Foundation and Photon Light Boards could be seen. The night would be finished out by Dirty Modelo’s always excellent hip hop and rock beats, and right in between sets played the headliner, Jet West.

Lasers pierced the air as the stage darkened. Fans screamed. A sea of people flooded the venue from front to back, and as the opening chords of the guitar rang out a symphony of support washed over the stage. Scott’s vocals held the crowd completely captivated while Chris harmonized with echoing lead guitar. Derek and Deren (the “Double D’s) held it down tight on the rhythm section, locking the groove in place while they played hits like “Sunday” and “Irie Eyes”… even some horns made a guest appearance! When the beautiful women strutted onto stage wearing sexy reggae “flight attendant” uniforms during one song, the crowd let out a roar one might hear as a tsunami comes crashing down.

It was an awe-inspiring moment; that is, seeing a band progress from early shows with ten or so people to a sold out CD release event at one of San Diego’s most prestigious venues. As the band threw beach balls out into the crowd and energy levels peaked, all of Sound Wave was feeling something special (and it wasn’t the brownies). The feeling was being a part of something from the ground up, seeing a band catch one of its first big breaks and the possibility to go anywhere from here.

Since the release party the band has been pushing its way further north, playing bigger venues like Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach and Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. The music business certainly isn’t easy or forgiving for independent artists. But for a band that puts in the hard work, persistence and high energy shows they do, good things are bound to happen. Do yourself a favor and catch the wave with Jet West and their debut album “Dropping In”, now on Itunes!

Links:
http://www.jetwestband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/fullblownstone
http://www.myspace.com/dirtymodelo
http://www.wavehousesandiego.com/soundwave
http://www.winstonsob.com/index.php
http://www.710bc.com/

Nevertheless, if one industry includes and embraces many vibrant personalities, it is the music industry. Even after a five-year hibernation, Eminem returns trailed by an even bulkier band of fans. “The fact that he can still relate to younger kids is an amazing thing,” says mixing engineer Scott Kieklak, “The eighteen year old crowd still love him and his delivery.” Kieklak is the Director of SAE Atlanta; his contributions to the music realm are both pedagogical and recreational. He believes that by marrying lyrics with proper delivery, Eminem continues wooing people: “I think that fans can still relate to him, and that’s the mark of a true artist.”

Some may silently disagree, while others outwardly have.  In 2005, Eminem ranked No. 58 in Bernard Goldberg’s book, 100 People Who are Screwing Up America. Sandwiched between a billionaire media mogul and a Democratic mayor, Eminem lingered tip-toes away from the halfway mark.  The rapper’s oftentimes violent lyrics—responsible for the delicate swirl of controversy encircling Eminem’s name—won him a spot in Goldberg’s book. And while many parents express fear of the consequences his lyrics might carry, Kieklak’s approach is more cool-headed: “As fans, we have to be mature enough and smart enough to know when something’s reality and when something is fiction. Honesty is more important than anything else.”

For Eminem, it seems generous heaps of honesty, audacity and sprinklings of a few secret ingredients fuel his burgeoning popularity. But unlike baking bread or switching a car tire, there is no formula to fame.  Kieklak, whose mix clients include Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliot, acknowledges that there are too many variables: “I don’t think Timberland and Missy [Elliot] set out to say ‘We’re going to do a certain thing.’” After all, an artist’s prominence relies heavily on the society into which he emerges. “When all of a sudden that music, that artist, that style of music all lines up you think ‘That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.’”

It appears that Eminen now strides on a different— and more remarkable— plain. His recent single, Love the Way You Lie, sung alongside Rihanna, has helds the No. 1 position on over five worldwide charts. More importantly, Eminem is now sober. This is not only hopeful news for him, but also for his younger fans, who oftentimes emulate an idol’s behaviors. Rather than fizzle into oblivion, Eminem has evolved.  Over two decades ago, his rap pseudonym—M&M—birthed images of the candy-coated chocolate treat. Now, another idea rolls into mind: eminence.

As for Scott Kieklak, from Beyonce to Busta Rhymes, his mix clients have cultivated music stardom, but a reason for Kieklak’s own success is that he treats every song the same. “I treat everything like a hit,” he says. Though this fearless approach intimidates some, it helps drive individuals like Eminem and Kieklak forward. After all, Eminem’s recent single, Not Afraid, glimmers with an element of unification that his earlier, and perhaps more self-centric songs, lack: I’m not afraid to take a stand/Everybody come take my hand/We’ll walk this road together, through the storm/Whatever weather, cold or warm. Kieklak, who once worked as a janitor so that he could continue his full-time education, holds a similarly bold viewpoint: “I don’t think that fear is a bad thing in life—if you’re scared of something you should do it. If I can handle the worst case scenario then I go ahead and do it. Don’t be afraid.”

Photos from Hadi via Google Images and courtneyBolton and Ben Sutherland via flickr

A two day music event known by the subtitle of “San Diego Music and Media Conference and Festival”, the Thing takes registrants through a comprehensive tour of the music business through panel discussions, workshops, and demo review sessions. Thousands of aspiring local artists, and even many out-of-towners, swarm to the event in hopes of getting a little extra musical cred under their belts. And cred is exactly what they get—the NPMT features speakers from all walks of the industry, from local and regional veterans to performers who have years of experience belting out tunes on a national level. At the end of the night, attendants can jam out to the musical stylings of over 100 bands from the Southwestern U.S., featured on 14 different stages.

And, as if that isn’t enough, all proceeds from the NPMT go to the San Diego Music Foundation, a local non-profit organization that’s all about enriching and enlivening the San Diego community through music. The Foundation provides assistance to local musicians, aiding them in areas such as music education, professional development, live performance, etc.—everything a budding musical protégé needs to make it to the big time. On top of that, the San Diego Music Foundation sponsors the annual San Diego Music Awards Show, which recognizes especially creative and original artistic endeavors in the San Diego community.

So whether you want to be a star, improve upon your craft, or just hear some really good music, check out the NPMT at the beautiful Lafayette Hotel this weekend, August 13^th-14^th. Ticket options range from an all-inclusive $35 dollar pass to $10 individual stage tickets. For more information, visit the NPMT’s official website at http://sandiegomusicfoundation.org/npmt/.

Photo from BobbyProm via flickr

Check out the breakdown of what you can expect from The Sandcastle Competition this weekend:

Friday, August 6, 2010:

The Boys and Girls Club of Imperial Beach kick off the weekend with a Sandcastle Dance for the 21 and over beach-goers. Enjoy your drinks with a night full of live music and great people! The Boys and Girls Club is located:

847 Encina Avenue
P.O. Box 520
Imperial Beach, CA 91933

Saturday, August 7, 2010:

The street festivities begin with over 140 vendors lining the streets of Imperial Beach. Vendor booths will be filled with food, crafts, arts, and more! This street festival will be perfect for any family looking for an affordable way to entertain the kids for the day. Enjoy the scenery and local music while strolling up and down Seacoast Drive during the competition. The music and entertainment that is composed of local family acts, brings an enormous crowd every year. Also, the Kid-N-Kastles competition will be held Saturday afternoon. So make sure to prepare for a sandy ride home!

Sunday, August 8, 2010:

The official sandcastle competition is held on Sunday and the sandcastle building begins at 9:00am and concludes at 2:00pm. The competition is the one and only time when master sandcastle carvers can display their talents and fight to win the championship title. Master’s and amateur’s rally to the beach to see if they have what it takes to win over $21,000 in cash prizes! There will be trained representatives on-site that will be judging the sandcastles.

The Sandcastle Competition weekend will end on Sunday when the winning teams are announced and cash prizes are given at the Awards ceremony.

According to EW, Laurie will be holing up in the recording studio for the remainder of the summer and the majority of fall coming up with smooth tunes that are sure to dazzle—that is, if the actor is as good as he seems on the sneak peeks fans of the show have gotten of his piano and guitar skills. Folk-rocker Joe Henry is slated to produce the debut album, with special musical collaborators that have yet to be announced.

In the press release, Laurie addressed his talents, stating that he is “predominantly self-taught (after creative differences with his childhood teacher).” The actor also made a few jokes at his expense, noting that he hopes he doesn’t go the typical down-in-flames route other actors-turned-musicians have gone: “I am drunk with excitement at this opportunity. I know the history of actors making music is a checkered one, but I promise no one will get hurt. I am particularly thrilled to be working with Joe, who has produced some of my favorite records, and I can’t wait to get started.”

While Hollywood has shown us that actors generally seem to make terrible musicians, Laurie doesn’t seem destined to go down that road—in fact, he’s already got some musical credentials under his belt. Aside from the ditties he’s played on ‘House’, the 51 year-old actor plays the keyboard in a charity group called Band from TV, and also appeared on Meat Loaf’s latest album.

Photo from little miss no name via flickr

The Portland Cello Project @ The Loft UCSD

Billy Midnite, The Modlins @ Tin Can Ale House

Sprung Monkey, Circa Now, Fuzz-Huzzi, and Without Warning @ Ramona Mainstage

Saturday, February 6th

Morning On Fire, Life In Orbit, Misc. Ailments, One I Red @ Radio Room

OB Reggae Party feat. Hi Roots, Fortunate Youth, Tribal Theory, Cornerstone @ Winstons

The Burning of Rome, A Scribe Amidst the Lions, Astra, River City @ Casbah

Sunday, February 7th

The Thermals, Thao, The Get Down Stay Down, Boomsnake @ Belly Up

Someday Assassin @ O’Connell’s

Monday, February 8th

Langhorne Slim, April Smith,  the Great Picture Show @ Casbah

Lady Dottie & the Diamonds @ U31

The Styletones @ Bar Pink

Tuesday, February 9th

The Editors, the Antlers,  Princeton @ House of Blues

John Luther Adams, Steven Schick @ Sushi Performance & Visual Arts

InTransit Audio, Science Fiction @ Tin Can Ale House

Wednesday, February 10th

St. Vincent, Wildbirds and Peacedrums @ Belly Up

Gene Loves Jezebel @ Bar Pink

Alec Ounsworth, The Vision Of A Dying World @ Casbah

Performed in Italian with English translations above the stage, La bohème tells the story of friends Rodolfo and Marcello who share a studio in Paris’s Latin Quarter. Rodolfo has fallen in love with his neighbor, Mimì, while Marcello is in love with Musetta, his ex-girlfriend and an unrepentant flirt. Tensions flare and relationships are challenged; Marcello and Musetta over his jealousy and Rodolfo and Mimì over the fact that she is very sick and Rodolfo is too poor to take care of her properly. The story takes a tragic turn when Mimì’s health worsens and Rodolfo realizes even love is not a strong enough force to delay the inevitable.

One of the greatest love stories ever told features some of the greatest music ever composed including the famed “Musetta’s Waltz” and the melodic “Mi chiamano Mimì” (“They call me Mimì”).

Last performed by San Diego Opera in 2005, La bohème features the exciting Company debut of Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as Rodlfo. One of the world’s leading tenors, Beczala dazzled audiences last season in the Metropolitan Opera performance of Lucia di Lammermoor and returns to the Met to sing Rodolfo immediately after these performances in San Diego.

Making a Company debut is exciting young soprano Ellie Dehn who sings Mimì in these performances. San Diego’s very own soprano, Priti Gandhi, will make her important role debut as Musetta. American baritone Jeff Mattsey will sing Marcello. Rounding out the cast are American bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Colline, American baritone Malcolm Mackenzie as Schaunard and American bass-baritone Scott Sikon taking on the double roles of Alcindro and Benoit. San Diego Opera’s resident conductor Karen Keltner will lead from the podium and stage director E. Loren Meeker will make her Company directing debut.

Audiences familiar with this opera are already enthusiastically welcoming Anja Harteros and Piotr Beczala to San Diego for these performances, while those new to opera will see why La bohème is one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire.

La bohème
San Diego Opera’s 45th International Season
Saturday Jan. 30, 7pm
Tuesday Feb. 2, 7pm
Friday Feb. 5, 8pm
Sunday Feb. 7, 2pm
Tickets: $35-$210

San Diego Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Street (In Downtown San Diego)
Box Office: (619) 533-7000
Online: sdopera.com

Three 6 Mafia will be performing at Hard Rock this Saturday, January 16th, 2010. You can catch the group in promotion of DJ Paul’s solo album Scale-A-Tron, in stores now.

Three 6 Mafia’s current members are DJ Paul and Juicy J who in 2007 debuted their popular reality TV show Hollyhood on MTV. While the show is currently off the air, San Diegan’s have a chance to get close to the golden-grill clad stars.

The duo are well known for being the first African American group to win an Academy Award in 2006 for their song “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” as best original song from the movie Hustle & Flow. Three 6 Mafia will release their 10th album Laws of Power March 28th, 2010. “Stay Fly” with Juicy J and DJ Paul this Saturday.

Start – 8:00 P.M.
Cost- $20.00

Fat Joe will be hosting Industry Sunday at Hard Rock this Sunday, January 17th, 2010. Fat Joe has been putting records on the radio for over a decade.  Working with producers like Scott Storch and collaborating with Thalia, Fat Joe has certainly become synonymous with hip hop today.

Fat Joe’s most recent, J.O.S.E 2 is his ninth studio album. J.O.S.E 2 features collaborations with Fabolous, Lil’ Kim, T-Pain and A-Kon among other heavy hitters in the industry.

“Lean Back” with Fat Joe this Sunday whether you’re in the industry or a local.

Start – 9:00 P.M.
Cost – Unlisted

Located at 207 5th Ave, San Diego, CA‎ – (619) 702-3000‎. For more details on Hard Rock, the stylish club in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego visit their website.

Thursday, January 14th

Shawn Rohlf and the Buskers @ Bar Pink

Nautical Disaster, Behind the Wagon @ Ruby Room

Jackie Greene w/ Truth and Salvage Co. @ Belly Up Tavern

Friday , January 15th

Get Back Loretta, PAPA, Weatherbox @ Soda Bar

Asobi Seksu @ Loft La Jolla

The Mexico City Rollers, Sunnyside, End of Power, Muddy Knights @ Ken Club

Saturday, January 16th

The Buiilders and the Butchers, Little White Teeth @ Casbah

Adam Franklin, Tape Deck Mountain, Roxy Jones @ Soda Bar

Ecklipse 79, The All Wait, Echo Echo @ Beauty Bar

Sunday, January 17th

The Silent Comedy w/ Mississippi Man @ Bar Pink

Mount Righteous, Red Pony Clock, Golden Red Tunes, Preteens @ Tin Can Ale House

Jimmy Lewis @ Prospect Bar & Lounge

Monday, January 18th

Misha and Amadou @ Evolution Fast Food

Lady Dottie & the Diamonds @ U31

The Styletones @ Bar Pink

Tuesday, January 19th

Danse Macabre, The Broken Column, Ape Machine @ Soda Bar

Sinizen, The Hounds, Iruselum, Rough and Steady @ O’Connell’s

The Burning of Rome, Run Run Run, Little Fowl @ Casbah

Wednesday, January 20th

Dick Dale w/ Heavy Guilt @ Belly Up Tavern

Napoleon Complex, Michael Logen @ Soda Bar

Stella, A Dull Science, To Walk the Night @ Second Wind

All I Want for Christmas Is a Bunch of New Media

Several years ago, when I was 16, I was handed my first paycheck. As soon as I’d changed out of my Navy Exchange smock, I made a beeline for the bank, then the record shop. I was like a drunk inhaling that first cocktail: Crisp greenbacks smoking in my pocket; rows of shiny new record covers stretching for aisles and aisles. I think I bought albums by Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren, and T. Rex. In any case, it was ON.

Although this may not be the best example for anyone trying to follow a strict budget, music, books, and films have helped me: (1) learn about all kinds of things; (2) find my creative voice, and (3) stay sane/happier. To me it seems a bit different than spending money on other items. But what does this have to do with the holidays, or you?

Buying presents is one of the best excuses I know for getting a shopping high. If the elements of anonymity or surprise are included, it can even be thrown in the “random acts of kindness” category. Four years ago I made fiber-optic angels appear between Christmas Eve and the next morning for various people, including a very giving soul who was recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Bringing unexpected joy to others is the kind of magic that makes me feel downright merry. As Scrooge cried after his night of harrowing visitations, “I don’t deserve to be this happy!”

Friends and family like to think we know them, or are at least paying enough attention to know what they like. Media gifts are one of the most affordable ways to convey this. The following suggestions don’t even begin to cover all the bases, especially if your cousin likes to play video golf or your niece is really into Barbie. I can’t (and don’t want to) know everything.

First on the list is the Scrooge just mentioned, which can be a great choice for Christmas Eve. A British early-’50s release, it features Alastair Sim and a crew of wonderful character actors, including Hermione Baddeley. Accept no substitutes (or the colorized version – part of the draw is the phenomenal black and white photography). This is the one for which I always need at least two tissues. Or you might light a few candles and dive into A Christmas Carol, the book from which the film was adapted. This is one of those cases when it makes sense to seek out a hardcover printing – no kindle-ing. I’m very fond of the edition I was given when I was a little girl. Published by John C. Winston in 1938, it features an introduction by Lionel Barrymore, a photograph of page 62 from Dickens’s original manuscript (love the squiggly cross-outs), and evocative illustrations by Everett Shinn.

Or you can get all historical and buy a printing modeled after the first (1843) edition, with John Leech’s warm pictures. Either way, you’ll be returning to the tenets of cheer, love and generosity: Dickens’s story helped change December 25 from a neglected holiday (a status into which it had fallen in England and the United States) to one of sharing and celebration (that needn’t be tied exclusively to Christianity). I can’t think of anything more spiritual.

Next, if you can afford the remastered Beatles boxed set (mono version) that came out this fall, please get in touch and I’ll give you my address. After that you can figure out who else deserves a copy.

I’ve sometimes wondered if the sixties’ counter-cultural movement impacted the British as much as it did Americans. Monty Python: Almost the Truth answers that question, along with many, many more. The three-disc set includes profuse discussions with Python’s living members. If you’re already thinking, “Bor-ing,” or simply don’t like documentaries, you may not care whether there’s lots of performance footage – anyway, there is.

I don’t know how well some of the Python sketches will translate to anyone who’s more than a generation or two away from the source, or who hasn’t seen the show – it would be wise to supplement this set with complete episodes or films, like And Now For Something Completely Different. Python is recommended for just about anyone who craves the wackily irreverent.

Almost the Truth does a good job at exploring the fresh thought and freedom coming into fruition in the ‘60s. I was struck by the synchronicities attending the coming-together of Python’s unique talents, including Terry Gilliam, who grew up in the States, and who had a lot to do with the group’s consistently out-of-the-box creativity. There’s fascinating coverage of shows that influenced and/or led to Python, including Beyond the Fringe, The Goon Show, the David Frost Show, and Do Not Adjust Your Set (featuring the Bonzo Dog Band), all of which highlight the evolution toward the absurd set-ups that were Python at its best.

Python played a significant role in cracking the grey mood and rigid authoritarianism that permeated Britain following WWII.

As happens with many of my favorite documentaries, I feel privileged to be spending time with a group of very bright, articulate, influential people. Footage of the late Graham Chapman’s memorial is one of the most touching and inspiring things I’ve ever seen. Another highlight is clips and segments from the final concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which turned into a riotous party blurring the lines between Python and its hip audience, which included John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The next suggestion is for those friends that just about everyone likes to parody, and that’s the Renaissance Fair lovers who may lurk somewhere on your list. A new recording of Rick Wakeman’s The Six Wives of Henry VIII has been released. Whether it’s really for them, or you (if it is you, know that I type “parody” with love and a lighte heart) I shall laye out for you the tools for an unforgettable soiree.
They/you could mix up a vat of heady mead, along with whatever it is that goes with heavy mead. Partiers wearing lots of velveteen will be impressed by the Wakeman CD.

The hosts can then throw on The Lion in Winter. The film’s based-on-a-play, based-partly-on-history verbal sparring, delivered by four powerhouses (Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, and a young, hungry Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins), is basically a prolonged, intellectual cat fight–in other words, incredible.

After The Lion there could be a little palate-cleanser, perhaps Mary Timony, who, especially on The Golden Dove, stirs a unique brew of original songwriting with Medieval tones. Also good here would be Carols & Capers by Steeleye Span’s progressive folk goddess, Maddy Prior. Book-end the party with the new DVD of Wakeman performing The Six Wives last May at Hampton Court Palace. A staggeringly large group of supporting classical and rock musicians, and women dressed as the six queens, add to the pageantry.  By the time this is over, guests should be draped all about, drowsing and/or drooling, as dogs wander about licking their faces and gobbling leftover turkey legs. People will never stop talking about your party – in fact, I’m starting to be depressed at not being invited.

To date, there have been a lot of question-marks about one of Britain’s most influential bands (several previous products have included bits and pieces of history).  More Than This: The Story of Roxy Music is the first to examine the nuts and bolts of RM from its conception. It’s interesting to learn how Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, and Andy MacKay brainstormed this phenomenon into being.

I wasn’t aware of RM when it exploded out of Northern England in the early ‘70s. Even after I got into the band I was ignorant of its huge impact on British subculture and its influence on the new wave, electronic and glam-rock movements. But I did happen to catch Roxy’s June, 1977 show at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The friend who swore I couldn’t miss it was fired-up partly because we were King Crimson fans, and Crimson’s John Wetton was on bass for that particular stop. We’d also heard intriguing reports about a techno-wizard named Brian Eno, as well as the flashy electric guitar of Phil Manzanera.

By the time Jerry Hall strutted across the stage waving her tiger tail during Roxy’s rousing cover of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together” (as “Let’s Stick Together”), we were on our feet. We knew we were at one of the best concerts we’d ever experienced. We certainly knew we’d never seen anything like it.

Especially through ’76-’77, RM put the lie to the idea that high camp was an exclusively gay province (as did the New York Dolls, but in a much more rough-and-tumble way). Roxy was about a glamorous construct as much as it was about music. In the beginning it was very much about art (founder Bryan Ferry, who’d studied under pop artist Richard Hamilton, thought of it as a collage).

While I would prefer more live concert footage and less talking (commentators include Siouxsie Sioux and Duran Duran’s John Taylor), the DVD is still likely to intrigue art-rock mavens. Along with much of Ferry’s work with the band or solo, the More Than This could be seen as a document of sex/love addiction. It also exposes a fixated determination to escape the tedium of working or middle class existence into opulence and (stylized, controlled) hedonism. I feel these themes are best-tempered by the explosive energy and irony permeating the first several albums. A good example is the shocking, aching vulnerability of “In Every Dream Home a Heartache.” A vintage performance of the latter is included, along with “Do the Strand,” “Editions of You,” and “Both Ends Burning,” from a 2006 reunion show.

Throw a copy of the performance-rich Thrill of It All: A Visual History into the gift bag with More Than This, and the recipient will be aghast at your cultural and gifting savvy. Recommended albums: Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life.

Most of the following can be explored via past Off the Beaten Track(s): For quirky pop-experimental stimulation:  Micachu’s Jewellery (CD); for hard rock fun and inspiration: Status Quo’s Pictures: Live at Montreux (DVD); for the listener who likes stuff so bad it’s funny, Incredibly Strange Music, Vol. One (CD); for the folkie who wants his or her acoustics considerably out of the box: Fraser & Debolt with Ian Guenther (recently released on CD); and for your younger and/or more open-eared explorers:  Backwords, Beautiful Supermachines, and Bogs Visionary Orchestra. For great new pop: The Wandas (New Wave Blues/CD).

For anyone who can’t get enough of John Denver’s pure and simple vibe, there’s a new live performance DVD, with suitably excellent acoustics – Rocky Mountain High: Live in Japan.

We haven’t arrived at my column on very vintage (as in Sophie Tucker or Fanny Brice)  songstress Janet Klein, but if you know someone who loves the amazing Cheap Suit Serenaders, Klein has very effectively picked up the torch. You can count on her, or on Madame Pamita’s Wax Works CD. For a local finger-picking master’s take on holiday songs, go  with Jim Earp’s Bright Star. Three of the most interesting  songwriters  gracing San Diego coffeehouses are Michael Tiernan, Gayle Skidmore and Aaron Bowen – all have CDs.

If the economy’s tying your hands, a dash of creativity (applied to yard sales and thrift-shopping), or making cards, gifts, or music mixes, tends to go a long way. One year I had a lot of fun with some rubber stamps and a new poem. Right now I’m putting off  the hours of work involved in improving and printing a card for about 60 people (thanks to Facebook, and my desire to resurrect artsy card sharing). I’ll make that more exciting by spinning lots of weird and wonderful holiday music, to be shared with you next week.

Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik performs in concert with members of his touring band and special guest David Poe at The Old Globe on Jan. 11 at 8 p.m., prior to the world premiere of his new musical, Whisper House. Sheik has toured extensively this year and will perform songs from Whisper House and his other acclaimed albums.

Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single, “Barely Breathing,” which spent 55 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100. He has since expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage. Sheik won two Tony Awards, as composer and arranger, for the Broadway production of Spring Awakening. Written with lyricist Steven Sater, Spring Awakening also received the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Set in 1942 at the height of World War II, Whisper House is the story of an 11-year-old boy, Christopher, who lives with his Aunt Lilly in a haunted New England lighthouse following the death of his father. All of the songs in the musical are performed by the ghosts, played by David Poe and Holly Brook, and embody the boy’s subconscious thoughts and fears. Previews for Whisper House open Jan. 13, with opening night Jan. 21.

Sheik is currently developing two additional musical theater projects. Nero (Another Golden Rome) had a workshop production this summer at Vassar College, featuring Wicked star Idina Menzel and Spring Awakening ingénue Lea Michelle. The Nightingale is slated for a 2010 opening at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater.

For tickets to the concert, call the Old Globe Box office at (619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623) or log on to www.oldglobe.org. Proceeds from the Jan. 11 concert benefit the Globe’s education activities.

The Visual Underground Feat- Crash Encore, Republic of Letters, Dj Edgartronic @ Casbah

Abe Vigoda, Best Coast, Zola Jesus, Dj’s Mario, Chuck and Brandon W @ Soda Bar

Sonic Youth, Sic Alps @ House of Blues

Friday, January 8th

The Fascination, Vinyl Film, Bella Novela, The RnRs @ Radio Room

Pato Banton w/ Now Generation @ Belly Up Tavern

The Western Set, Dark Horse Candidates, Taming the Fox @ Tin Can Ale House

Saturday, January 9th

Monsters Form Mars, Lights On, Dj Cris Herrera @ Onyx/Thin

Pete Escovedo Orchestra @ Anthology

Nautical Disaster, Death on Mars, Behind the wagon @ Soda Bar

Sunday, January 10th

Boom Snap, Westfire, Hargo @ Beauty Bar

The Devastators @ RT’s Longboard Grill

Tribe of Kings @ U31

Monday, January 11th

Alberta Cross, Hacienda @ Casbah

Lady Dottie & the Diamonds @ U31

The Styletones @ Bar Pink

Tuesday, January 12th

Minipax, Carney, Stripes and Lines @ Casbah

Lindsay White @ Bare Back Grill

Clean Cuts @ Tower Bar

Wednesday, January 13th

Holdsworth, Bozzio, Levin, and Mastelotto w/ Science Fiction @ Brick by Brick

Mia Riddle, The Useless Keys, Longstay Residency @ Beauty Bar

Drew Andrews, Boomsnake, Writer, Metrofique @ Casbah

Wearing a comfy but fresh beanie, white K-Swiss and sitting with his beautiful wife, it did seem pretty simple back stage at the San Diego edition of How The Grouch Stole Christmas at Belly Up Tavern.  DJ Fresh, the producer of recently released Grouch album Three Eyes off The Time was headphone equipped, playing on the keys nearby. I felt so relaxed, and in the few moments that had transpired I knew that it was going to be a great interview.

I started by asking The Grouch about his excitement being in San Diego, and whether the city shows as much love as up North.  The Grouch confirmed that San Diego was a hot spot, and we proceeded onto the more burning questions.

This year’s edition of the annual How The Grouch Stole Christmas tour doubled as a Toys For Tots drive. The Grouch says that getting involved with the charity just came about this year, but that it’s something he’d like to continue. With fans Toys For Tots donations at the show, you received a special gift from The Grouch: a complimentary copy of his freshest CD, Three Eyes Off The Time plus a limited edition vinyl!

Living Legend fans may also have been surprised that this year’s tour didn’t include the usual cast of “legendary” characters. Instead, other remarkable artists such as Mistah F.A.B., Fashawn and Exile opened up. The Grouch wanted full control over the opener’s on his tour, and that’s one reason he explains why these West Coast up and comers were enlisted. According to The Grouch, past tour openers haven’t all properly reflected what he believed in, or wanted to be associated with. Undoubtedly this show was different.

The first openers were local artists Fetty Slaps and OH10x who kicked off the show representing for SD with their new single “Drop.” Following was MC Fashawn with Exile who fed his insanity into the turn-tables and blew our minds.

Then Mistah F.A.B. got on stage to our “stupid” surprise and the crowd’s delight. Mistah F.A.B. showed us why being “cool, fresh and different” makes you elite. Mistah F.A.B. closed his set with a freestyle like I had never seen before, it was just like the energizer bunny. He kept going and going, but with a lot more style.

Three Eyes Off The Time was available for purchase at the merch booth, a day before its official release. I had to understand what that title meant to The Grouch; it’s pretty unique. As I asked the question, The Grouch explained that he hadn’t prepared a good answer for “that one yet.” As he delved into his own mind for the answer, he reasoned with me and said it was “very deep.” Not to our surprise, The Grouch confirmed that if you listen to the new album, the title should make a lot more sense as the concept is very complex.

This album is produced in its entirely by DJ Fresh, who is also on this tour with The Grouch. The Grouch explained that in the past he had beats ready to match words with, or kept them around in the “vault” for years only to be resurrected at the right time.

This time he collaborated with DJ Fresh on the Three Eyes Off The Time project and seemed very proud of it. Understandably so, as just this week it has risen to the number 2 spot on the iTunes Store’s Top 10 Hip Hop Albums, beating Snoop Dogg’s Malice N Wonderland(#4) and Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3(#10).

Underground and independent have become synonyms in the industry. The Grouch, with indie labels Legendary Music and Simple Man, has been doing music without the system since day one. The Grouch is a representation of an artist that has built an empire without any corporate sell-out. He has become an internationally recognized and appreciated hip hop artist.

Artists always have their reasons for going the independent route. The Grouch chalked it up to control, the ability that independence gives you the right to have full control of your music.

From the interview I definitely felt that The Grouch’s spiritual connections, which are ever-present in his music, play into every aspect of his life – another reason I am sure that he’s gone independent.

I remarked about how I understand the difficulty in maintaining a close family relationship while working. This goes for everyone, not just artists on the road, but parents working 40+ hours a week. The Grouch said the only way for him to maintain sanity was to have his wife and daughter with him on the road. I had to bring up his daughter, who has been photographed on his album covers, including Show You The World in 2008.

There was definitely a sense of tenderness when speaking on family subjects that can be appreciated in a world of disrespectful hip hop artists.

It’s well known that there are tons of kids trying to break into the rap industry, talented or not. I wanted to know what The Grouch thought of all these kids, and his recommendation for those aspiring to his type of success and personally controlled empire.

The Grouch confirmed not to give up or loose hope and keep working hard. Obviously this is a statement he can attest to, since he’s been putting out records since 1995 and working towards his goals. The Grouch has been in the underground scene and is overflowing into mainstream success.

Our Entertainer interview contained a lot of great chit chat about The Grouch, and I finished by asking him what was next. The Grouch has records, merchandise and fans galore; will we see him on the big screen? The Grouch laughed, and said he didn’t have any plans for that. But maybe he’d start writing something someday.

You can get more information and buy the new Three Eyes Off The Time on www.therealgrouch.com.

For up to the minute updates on The Grouch follow him on Twitter @therealgrouch and add him on MySpace.

Check out this recent video from the tour, performing “Whatever I Say” in Santa Barbara on December 8th.

Your thoughts?

Play with The Grouch’s music online here

With a cast of more than 150 volunteers, celebrities, choirs and even live animals, the Christian Community Theatre presents Traditions of Christmas, A Musical Spectacular! The 17th annual family Christmas show, considered San Diego’s most elaborate family Christmas entertainment event, opens Dec. 10 and plays through Dec. 23.

Traditions of Christmas is an exciting and colorful presentation of favorite Christmas traditions with holiday music, colorful costumes, favorite holiday stories, singers, dancers, children and live animals.

Musical highlights include:

• Christmas through the Centuries: From the Middle Ages to the Space Age, see how the celebrations have varied.
• Candy Cane Christmas: Featuring the CCT precision kickline dancers.
• Living Nativity: The entire cast, live animals and majestic Christmas music combine to bring the Christmas story onto the stage in an unforgettable finale.

Traditions of Christmas, A Musical Spectacular!
Presented by the Christian Community Theater
Dec. 10-23
Tickets: $18-$38

East County Performing Arts Center, 210 E Main Street (In El Cajon)
Box Office: (619) 588-0206
Online: www.cctmusicaltheater.org

• Lunch with Santa: Have lunch with Saint Nick on Saturday, Dec. 12. This special event starts at 11:30 a.m. and includes lunch, face painting, cookie decorating, backstage tour and more. Tickets are $20-$50.