Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween playlist that rocks (from a first-time Halloween host)


Halloween is here and I'm stoked. 

See, for many years, I lived in apartments.

Which meant on Halloween never having a good reason to buy a pumpkin, decorate or welcome kids demanding candy.

If a stray or two knocked on my door, and I happened to be home, I grabbed a couple quarters from the trusty change jar and sent 'em on their way.

Returned to my six-pack and TV where Linus was always waiting for the Great Pumpkin.

Not this year.

Thanks to my beautiful and thoughtful fiancee, I have embraced the Halloween spirit. 

We have a house in a respectable part of town and it's ready for trick-or-treaters.

We festooned the place with multiple pumpkins (and even some squash), spiders, spiderwebs and all kinds of other not-so-scary stuff.

We bought a bunch of candy, too.

Actually, she has done pretty much all of the Halloween preparations.

She even has a CD filled with essential songs for the evening.

She probably thinks I'm not contributing anything but to the consumption of Hershey's bars.

But I am helping out. With a playlist. Here you go.

Have a happy Halloween.

And be sure to stop by our house before I eat all the goodies.

Spooky songs that haven't been played to death

"Psycho Killer," Talking Heads
"Witchcraft," Wolfmother
"Children Of The Grave," Black Sabbath
"Straight To Hell-Satan Is Real," Hank Williams III
"Dancing With Mr D," The Rolling Stones
"I Love The Dead," Alice Cooper
"Careful With That Axe, Eugene," Pink Floyd
"All Nightmare Long," Metallica
"Inject The Venom," AC/DC
"Little Ghost," The White Stripes
"Killed By Death." Motörhead
"Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," Warren Zevon
"Ghost Of Karelia," Mastodon 
"My Mind Playin Tricks On Me," Geto Boys
"Dead Man's Party," Oingo Boingo

—Photo: Submitter writes: "Just wait 'til I get outta this punkin!" Submissions from the Halloween Photo Contest. Submit your own pics and vote here. PROVIDED PHOTO.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/29/4258009/more-halloween-photo-contest-submissions.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

WATCH (UPDATED 10/31): Asolo Rep previews '1776' with performance in Sarasota

UPDATED 10/31: Asolo Repertory Theatre previews season opener '1776' in Sarasota: video 

Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota presented the cast of '1776' on Wednesday.

The Asolo Repertory Theatre offered a rousing preview performance from its season opening musical "1776"  on Tuesday during a media event on the mezzanine of the Mertz Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts in Sarasota.


Peter Amster (left) and his partner Frank Galati listen to Michael Edwards introduce them.

Speeches were given by "1776" creatives including Tony Award-winner Frank Galati (director),  Peter Amster (choreographer) and Michael Rice (music director). Michael Edwards, producing artistic director at Asolo Rep, served as master of ceremonies and introduced the entire cast of the show.


Michael Edwards shows off the Asolo Rep's reproduction of the Declaration of Independence

But the real excitement came when Bernie Yvon, the actor playing John Adams, started singing the  musical's exuberant opening number "Sit Down, John," along with the Congress members and live keyboard accompaniment (see video below). 

Set model for '1776.'

Asolo Repertory Theatre kicks off their five-season American Character Project with "1776," a musical about the birth of our nation and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Previews start Nov. 13, opening night is Nov. 16 and closing night is Dec. 22. The show originally opened on Broadway in 1969 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical.


—Top photo (from left): Bernie Yvon as John Adams, Andrew Boyer as Ben Franklin, Brandon Dahlquist as Thomas Jefferson and Andrea Prestinario as Martha Jefferson. Photo by Scott Braun/Asolo Rep. 

—All other photos and video by Wade Tatangelo/Bradenton Herald.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Taylor Swift has Tampa date for 'Red'


From the cover of Rolling Stone to Letterman, Taylor Swift is everywhere these days promoting her new album "Red" and, yes, its tour includes a local stop at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on April 20.

Tickets, $29.50-$84.50, go on sale 10 a.m. Nov. 16.

“I didn’t think I could be any more excited about my RED album, but then I start thinking about how I’m going to put the new show together for The RED Tour,” Swift said in a statement. “I have so many ideas about how to really bring this music to life, and I can’t wait to share the new show with all my fans!”

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, whose duet with Taylor, “Everything Has Changed,” from her "Red" album, has already reached the No. 1 on iTunes all-genre Top Songs chart, will be a special guest on all of the shows on the tour. 

Tickets will be available at the McDonald's Ticket Office at the Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com.

In related news, the country-pop super star will co-host the Grammy nominations television special.
Grammy officials say Swift will join LL Cool J as hosts of the Dec. 5 special, airing live on CBS from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This is the first year the nominations special has been broadcast from Music City.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/29/4257581/taylor-swift-to-co-host-grammy.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
—Photo: This Oct. 23, 2012 file photo shows Taylor Swift performing on ABC’s "Good Morning America" in New York. INVISION — Photo by Charles Sykes

Bradenton's South Florida Museum displays community nature photos with compelling stories

'Skyway Sunrise' from Robinson Preserve by Paul Bayard, Bradenton.


On the second floor of the South Florida Museum you'll find a Bradenton backyard where countless adventures began.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is there, too, awash in a brilliant sunrise.

It's also where you'll locate the "hugging trees" adored by a 13-year-old girl.

Many more special scenes and stories are there, shared by your friends, neighbors and folks who travel from across the state to enjoy the Museum in downtown Bradenton.

The photos, about 50 total, were submitted by members of the community and visitors to coincide with the museum's current exhibit, the critically acclaimed "Preserving Eden: Clyde Butcher's Florida Photographs."

The community photos comprise the "Walk Far. Look Deeply" exhibition that runs through the end of the year.

To celebrate the event, a private reception was held for the photographers at the museum Thursday.

"There has been a lot of energy," said Samantha Sprague, curator of education at the museum. "To have something directly respond to the (Butcher) exhibit is very exciting."

The "Walk Far. Look Deeply" images include a short explanation of why the place matters to the photographer.

Sara Vaught invites museum attendees to visit her Bradenton "Backyard." It's her favorite place in Florida, a place that reminds her of going on numerous adventures with her father, who lost his battle with cancer three years ago. Father and daughter would explore the greenery, the creek and search for "little critters."

Read more.

Friday, October 26, 2012

PHOTOS: Hindu wedding procession passes through downtown Bradenton


When I arrived in downtown Bradenton today around 10:15 the last thing I expected to see was horse-drawn carriage, a van blaring music and a large group dressed in colorful attire.


Turns out I had walked right into the arrival of the groom's party in the form of a formal procession, a pre-party of sorts, if Wikipedia is right, for a traditional Hindu wedding.


I was told the groom was Suketu Pathak and that grew up in Sarasota but lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.


Thursday, October 25, 2012

WEEKEND: The Hold Steady, Have Gun Will Travel, to rock Guavaween music fest in Ybor City


City of Tampa officials have smartly shifted Ybor City's annual Guavaween bash from a debauched parade to a first-rate music festival dubbed The Many Shades of Ybor.

The Saturday event features The Hold Steady, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands to emerge in the past decade, performing at The Ritz from 10:50 p.m. to 12:20 a.m.

And don't miss Bradenton-based Americana band Have Gun Will Travel, which will be at Crowbar from 9:45 to 11 p.m.

The music festival includes more than 20 bands representing national, regional and local talent in seven venues throughout Ybor.

Read more.

For much more to do in the Bradenton area and beyond check out Weekend.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/#storylink=cpy

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

UPDATED 10/29: Top 10 Songs for Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay

Top 10 songs for the Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay: commentary 

Mystery monkey of Tampa Bay is shown in the swimming pool enclosure of Renee Barth in St. Petersburg in this March 21, 2010 photo. Renee Barth/St. Petersburg Times/AP Photo

Gotta admit, I hoped Mystery Monkey would run free forever, maybe even sneak across the Skyway and make a home in Bradenton.

Robinson Preserve would've been great, right?

Alas, Mystery Monkey is now held captive.

The rhesus macaque, which successfully dodged authorities for three years, got shot by a dart and captured Wednesday near St. Petersburg.


Mystery Monkey is being taken to the Animal Hospital of Northwood in Safety Harbor, according to our partners at Bay News 9.

A Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesperson reports
Mystery Monkey will not be euthanized.

The woman recently bitten by Mystery Monkey decided she didn't want the animal tested for rabies, which would've required that the monkey "be put down to examine the brain."

Long live Mystery Monkey!
  
Here are some songs to celebrate our prime-time primate.

1. "Too Much Monkey Business," Chuck Berry
2. "Monkey Man," The Rolling Stones
3. "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey," The Beatles
4. "Tweeter And The Monkey Man," Traveling Wilburys
5. "Brass Monkey," Beastie Boys
6. "Monkey Gone to Heaven," Pixies
7. "Shock the Monkey," Peter Gabriel
8. "Part Man, Part Monkey," Bruce Springsteen
9. "Leave My Monkey Alone," Warren Zevon
10. "Monkey on My Back," Aerosmith

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

UPDATED at 5 p.m.: Sarasota professional theater company moving to Bradenton area

UPDATED: Golden Apple Theatre group relocates from Sarasota to Bradenton area 

PLATO, which produced shows at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in downtown Sarasota before being evicted last month, will start staging shows in Nov. at the Ramada on Tamiami Trail in Manatee County. HERALD FILE PHOTO.

Two months after being evicted from its home in downtown Sarasota, the organization behind the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre has a stage in the Bradenton area.

The Professional Learning and Theatrical Organization (PLATO) 
informed the Bradenton Herald today that it has a new performing partner, the Ramada Waterfront at 7150 N. Tamiami Trail in Manatee County.

"PLATO is emerging as a powerful creative force in our community and is excited to bring professional theater to Manatee County,"  said Kyle Ennis Turoff, president and artistic director of PLATO, in a statement. "We strive to provide top notch entertainment and education which will enhance our lives and families! Please support our efforts and entertain yourself this upcoming season with a great show and an even greater cause!"

While Manatee County is home to the community theater troupes the Manatee Players and the Anna Maria Island Players, PLATO will be Manatee's only professional company. In March, PLATO received Internal Revenue Service approval to form as a non-profit organization and operate the Golden Apple. A seasoned director/producer, Kyle Ennis Turoff is the daughter of former Broadway actress Roberta MacDonald and husband Robert Turoff, the couple who opened the Golden Apple in 1971.

Performances will take place in The Ramada's Harborside Ballroom, which has been transformed into a 150-seat theater. PLATO's first show in the new space is Alan Jacobson's "Waist Watchers: The Musical." A comedy directed by Kyle Ennis Turoff about four women and their love/hate relationships with food, dieting and exercise. "Waist Watchers" will run from Nov. 15 – Jan. 6. Tickets are $35 and refreshments with a full bar will be available for purchase.

Other performances at the Ramada include PLATO's Magic Box Theatre inaugural presentation, which will be "Rumpelstiltskin" by Beth Duda and Adam Ratner. Directed by Jared Walker, this modern twist on a classic tale will be performed twice on Saturdays Nov. 17-Dec. 8. At each performance there will be a joke contest so children are encouraged to bring their favorite joke to share. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Two shows on Saturdays: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. All tickets are $10.

PLATO’S education program ByKids4Kids will celebrate each day of the holiday season in "The 12 Days of Christmas" with a special appearance by Santa Claus at each show. This children’s performing group, directed by Jared Walker and Eric Berkel, has performances 7 p.m. Dec. 11-12 and 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15. Tickets are $8 for children and $10 for adults. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Finally, PLATO introduces its team of multi-talented seniors the PLATO Platinum Players performing their original show "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Shows are 2 p.m. Dec. 15 as well as 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Directed and choreographed by Walker, Eric Berkel and Helen Holliday, tickets are $15 and refreshments will be available for purchase.

All tickets can be purchased by calling 941-363-1727 or visiting www.platoarts.org.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Justin Bieber is Tampa bound with Ke$ha for Jingle Ball; tickets on sale today

Boy wonder Justin Bieber and bad girl Ke$ha have a date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Dec. 9 as part of the impressive pop lineup for 93.3 FLZ's annual Jingle Ball bash.

That "Gangnam Style" goofball PSY, OneRepublic, Ed Sheeran, Sean Kingston, The Ready Set, Bridgit Mendler, Austin Mahone, Walk the Moon and Zedd with Matthew Koma are also scheduled to perform.

Tickets are $42-$175 and are on sale today via 800-745-3000 or via ticketmaster.com.

Jingle Ball will kick-off with Pre-Show on the Plaza, the official 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball pre-event celebration. The event, which is free to the public, will include performances by  Bridgit Mendler, Mahone and Ready Set.  93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball Pre-Show on the West Plaza of the Tampa Bay Times Forum will also feature interactive contests and ticket upgrades from participating sponsors.  The event will welcome fans of all ages at 3 p.m.

“93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball has become Tampa Bay’s premiere holiday concert,” said Tommy Chuck, 93.3 FLZ's Program Director, in a statement issued by the radio station. “We are excited to bring pop music’s hottest artists to our fans this season and ring in the holiday in true 93.3 FLZ style."

This Sept. 30, 2012 file photo shows Justin Bieber performing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. INVISION — Photo by Isaac Brekke.

Tucker and Winston's big day at Bradenton Riverwalk

After all the articles I've already written about Bradenton Riverwalk, you would think I'd be tired of the place.

Nope.

Can't get enough.

We returned again for a long, wonderful afternoon Sunday that found us having a tasty lunch at Tarpon Pointe Grille & Tiki Bar before enjoying drinks at Pier 22.

And ice cream from the truck parked behind the Pavilion and Event Area.

In between, we strolled the Riverwalk with about a thousand (or more) other friendly people of all ages and plenty of pets.

Yes, our French bulldog Tucker and his new best friend Winston were there.

Thanks to my Sunday column and the picture that ran prominently on Bradenton.com, they were recognized everywhere we went.

I think all the attention might be going to Tucker's head.

Oh well.

Here's my Sunday column (with picture of Tucker smiling):

Bradenton Riverwalk is a great destination spot, especially for dog lovers

—Photo of Tucker (foreground) and Winston drinking from a doggy water fountain at Bradenton Riverwalk on Sunday.  

Sarasota Opera opens fall season with return of Verdi's 'Rigoletto'

Maestro Victor DeRenzi, who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as artistic director of Sarasota Opera, has brought back a favorite story and performer to kick off the fall season.

Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto," based on Victor Hugo's play "Le Roi s'Amuse," was the first opera performed in the newly renovated Sarasota Opera House when it reopened in 2008. "Rigoletto" returns to the same stately venue Friday and will run through Nov. 12.

Italian born baritone Marco Nisticò, a Sarasota favorite since 2008 when he debuted as Figaro in "Il Barbiere di Siviglia," and who was most recently seen as the Consul Sharpless in last fall's "Madama Butterfly," will make his role debut as the titular court jester.

Sarasota audiences will also know Nisticò, who lives near DeRenzi in Manhattan, from his performances in four other Verdi operas: Giacomo in "Giovanna d'Arco" (Winter 2010), Giorgio Germont in "La Traviata" (Fall 2009), Rodrigue in "Don Carlos" (Winter 2009) and Francisco Foscari in "I due Foscari" (Winter 2008).

"Maestro DeRenzi has given wonderful roles throughout the years," Nisticò said while in between rehearsals in Sarasota.

"My first Verdi role was here and it was an incredible experience."

Read more.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Sarasota Film Society 's Cine-World Film Festival schedule announced

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook." (The Weinstein Co.)

The Sarasota Film Society 23rd annual Cine-World Film Festival features pictures from around the globe including opening night film “Quartet,” by director Dustin Hoffman and starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon.

Other spotlight titles include David O. Russell's "Silver Lings Playbook," Edward Burn's "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," Steve James’ "Head Games" and Michael Haneke's "Amour," Austria’s official submission to the 2013 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

“This is easily one the strongest lineups Cine-World has seen in its 23-year history,” said Michael Kayatta, artistic director for Sarasota Film Society, in a statement issued today. “We can’t wait for people to see what we’ve brought to Sarasota.”

The 2012 Cine-World Film Festival is Nov. 9-18. Screenings will be held primarily at Burns Court Cinemas in downtown Sarasota with special shows at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Festival passes will be available for members of Sarasota Film Society online Oct. 24. Advance passes will be available to the public beginning Oct. 29. Individual tickets will become available Nov. 2. All passes and films can be purchased online at www.filmsociety.org.

Bradenton Riverwalk is 'dream' come true


Skateboarders, splashing babies and senior citizens were among the thousands in attendance at the opening of the city's most highly anticipated project in decades.

"Welcome to your Riverwalk," Mayor Wayne Poston told the large, diverse audience gathered in the newly-sodded Pavilion and Event Area. "This public park has been a dream of mine for years."

Poston, who took office in 2000 and is seeking re-election Nov. 6, talked about how during his many years as executive editor of the Bradenton Herald he used to look at the area along the Manatee River formerly known as the Sandpile and envision a public park.

"I can't stop smiling," Poston said with a big grin. "This is such a great thing."

Read more of my front page story.

—Photo of children enjoying the splash fountains Thursday by Wade Tatangelo.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Deborah Cox brings R&B style to Broadway-bound 'Jekyll & Hyde' at Straz in Tampa: interview

Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/18/4242497/deborah-cox-brings-rb-style-to.html#storylink=cpy
She's been releasing pop and R&B hits for about as long as Justin Bieber has been alive. Launched her acting career in 2004 by playing the lead role in Elton John and Tim Rice's Broadway musical "Aida."

But Deborah Cox still sounds seriously grateful when congratulated on another successful year.

"I work so hard and put so many hours in and dedication, that sometimes I'm just so in the trenches I don't get to savor and enjoy it," Cox said by phone from a tour stop in Houston. "Thanks for mentioning all that has happened this year, I'm really thankful."

Cox started 2012 by topping Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart for the 11th time with her song "If It Wasn't For Love." The multi-talented entertainer also landed a pair of choice Broadway roles. Cox is Lucy in "Jekyll & Hyde" and will play the lead in the "Josephine Baker" production scheduled for 2014.

Fortunately for local theater enthusiasts, before "Jekyll & Hyde" returns to Broadway next spring, the world-famous musical is on a 25-week nationwide tour that started last month in Southern California and has a six-day engagement at the Straz Center in Tampa starting Tuesday.

Read more.

—Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox star in "Jekyll & Hyde." Publicity photo.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/18/4242497/deborah-cox-brings-rb-style-to.html#storylink=cpy

Bradenton Riverwalk opens today with many, diverse attractions scheduled


It's really happening.

Bradenton's Sandpile has been transformed into an attraction that rivals any downtown park in Southwest Florida.

After decades of various plans, both failed and fulfilled, the city's $6.2 million Riverwalk project that began construction last summer has been completed.

It will finally come alive at 4:30 p.m. today with activities ranging from walking tours to skateboarding.

Echoing the enthusiasm of a multitude of long-time Bradenton residents, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Dave Gustafson couldn't be more excited about what has happened to the southern banks of the Manatee River.

He has lived and worked in the Bradenton area since moving here as a child in 1973.

Gustafson, like so many Manatee residents, has witnessed the city's waterfront progress, often at a glacial pace, from wasteland to destination spot.

"When you hear all these potential starts and stops and the economy killing things you just keep trying to put the pieces together," Gustafson said while surveying the Riverwalk. "It's been on the mayor's bucket list, the city council's bucket list and the bucket lists of countless others.

Read more.

The Bradenton Riverwalk and its many, diverse attractions open today 

Bradenton Riverwalk to open with arts, sports and a major blues festival 

Bradenton Riverwalk will impress when it reopens Oct. 18: commentary

—Photo: The Family FunZone at Bradenton's new Riverwalk. GRANT JEFFERIES/Bradenton Herald

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/18/4243326/the-bradenton-riverwalk-and-its.html#storylink=cpy

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SFF award winner 'Ethel' to premiere Oct. 18 on HBO

Ethel and Robert Kennedy from 'Ethel.'
"Ethel," The Sarasota Film Festival's 2012 Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, will have its HBO premiere at 9 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 18),

A documentary on Ethel Kennedy, the feature by her daughter, Rory Kennedy, provides an insider's view of a political dynasty, including Ethel's life with Robert Kennedy and the years following his death when she raised their 11 children on her own.

"The Sarasota Film Festival is thrilled to support award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, who was an honored guest at the festival this past April, and to share our appreciation for her film as it premieres nationwide tomorrow on HBO," reads a statement issued today.

"We hope that those of you who enjoyed 'Ethel' with us earlier this year will tune in to experience it all over again and are so excited that those of you who did not see the film at the festival will be able to enjoy the film now. Please help spread the word and be sure to tune in to this remarkable film."


—Photo provided by Sarasota Film Festival.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Beyonce Super Bowl appearance signals a much-needed shift in halftime performers

Beyonce's eye black grease with the date of the upcoming Super Bowl. Photo from Beyonce.tumblr.com.

Beyoncé has announced she's headlining the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show via a photo posted to her Tumblr blog.

Her black eye grease reads Feb. 3, 2013, the date of Super Bowl XLVII.

Madonna's 2012 halftime show was the highest rated in Super Bowl history at about 111 million viewers, according to our partners over at LATimes.com.

Beyoncé's appearance signals a much-needed shift in halftime performers. 

Back in February of 2011, I wrote about Fergie breaking the Super Bowl’s ban on female performers following Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction.

Because, I noted, the halftime show really shouldn’t be the exclusive domain of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

Or men.

Fergie breaks Super Bowl’s female ban

Monday, October 15, 2012

Dirty Dozen Brass Band rock Ringling in Sarasota to close RIAF

Dirty Dozen Brass Band rock the Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard as the sun goes down on Oct. 13, 2012.

The stately courtyard at the Ringling Museum of Art became the setting for a first-class New Orleans block party Saturday thanks to a potent performance by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band plus dangerously delicious libations like the Southern Comfort-fueled Hurricanes and Tito's Handmade Vodka-laced lemonade.

Party getting started at the Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard on Oct. 13, 2012.

There was also ample, delectable Crescent City cuisine like the beef and Cajun chicken  po' boys, muffulettas and jambalaya prepared by the museum's highly-recommended and versatile restaurant Treviso. Chocolate bourbon pecan pie and sweet bread pudding with whiskey sauce were also served but we never made it to that popular food station. Too busy moving to the music.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/11/4233741/dirty-dozen-brass-band-cofounder.html#storylink=cpy

Although the Dirty Dozen Brass Band had been performing around the Seventh Ward and Uptown New Orleans since 1977, the group's Ringling Museum show in 1984 coincided with the release of its landmark debut album, "My Feet Can't Fail Me Now." Twenty-eight years to the day, the ensemble returned to the circus king's old estate to headline the Closing Night Party of the fourth annual Ringling International Arts Festival.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band rock the Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard on Oct. 13, 2012.

DDBB had a large swath of the mostly middle-aged crowd out dancing, hands in the air like they just didn't care to jazzed-out renditions of classic party anthems like "Sissy Strut" (The Meters), "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder) and that NOLA anthem "When the Saints Go Marchin' In." I've covered numerous events at the Ringling Museum over the years. Pretty sure I've never had more fun than on Saturday.


Dirty Dozen Brass Band cofounder Gregory Davis on 35-year legacy and returning to Sarasota: interview 

—All photos by Wade Tatangelo.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/14/4238273/dirty-dozen-brass-band-performs.html#storylink=cpy

Take me to the Bradenton Riverwalk: Numerous free events planned through end of year

A Postcard from the Friendly City at Bradenton's new Riverwalk. GRANT JEFFERIES/Bradenton Herald

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/14/4236502/bradenton-riverwalk-opens-with.html#storylink=cpy

The long-awaited, $6.2 million Bradenton Riverwalk project that began construction last summer has been completed.

On Thursday morning, the chain-link fence will be removed.

And at 4:30 p.m., the Grand Opening Celebration begins.

Here are the Grand Opening Season Events for Fall 2012:

All events are free (except the history cruise on Nov. 4 and the Bradenton Blues Festival).

Riverwalk Grand Opening: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, Pavilion & Event Area

Opening celebration includes live music by State College of Florida, skateboarding, volleyball, tai chi, public art talks, and walking tours. Music and refreshments start at 4:30 p.m. with the ceremony at 5:15 p.m.

Reels at Rossi Movie: 7 p.m. Oct. 19, Pavilion & Event Area

The 2011 action-adventure thriller "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" (PG-13) starring Tom Cruise will be shown on a three-story screen. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Refreshments for sale.

Read more.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Top 50 Rolling Stones songs (Part 2 of 2)

This recent photo supplied by the Rolling Stones shows the group posing during a photo shoot. They are, from left to right: Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Ron Wood. (AP Photo/The Rolling Stones, Mark Seliger)


25. "All Down The Line"
A bullet train with red-hot slide work by Mick Taylor and shotgun blasts of brass, this come-on rocker has rightfully been a concert favorite since shortly after appearing on "Exile."  

24. "Memory Motel"
The seven-minute centerpiece of "Black and Blue," the tender, downbeat ballad finds Jagger and Richards taking a road trip while trading lead vocals and reminiscing about the girl(s) that got away.

23. "Get Off Of My Cloud"  
The followup to "Satisfaction," the Stones sound gleefully young, tough, cocky and ready to conquer the world.
 
22. "Ruby Tuesday"
This No. 1 U.S. hit from 1967 showcases a sensitive Jagger reading of Richards' most melodic and lovesick ballad.

21. "Happy"   
While not as autobiographical as "Before They Make Me Run" or as randy as "Little T&A,"  Richards' most famous lead vocal performance remains this ebullient rocker from "Exile."

20. "I Am Waiting"  
An obscure, folksy nugget from "Aftermath" with dulcimer by Brian Jones, the song, used to great effect in the outstanding 1998 film "Rushmore," features a stirring vocal by Jagger as he reflects on love lost.

19. "Beast Of Burden"
The slow number from "Some Girls" serves as a soulful, straight-forward love song; or a mea culpa from Richards (writer) to Jagger (singer) for shouldering the burden of running the band while the former was off getting high. Either way, with Richards' and Woods' interweaving guitars, it's a thing of beauty.  

18. "Sway"
Like "Moonlight Mile," it's a "Sticky Fingers" song with a strong Mick Taylor influence (he probably deserves a writing credit) marked by his ace slide guitar playing, strings and lyrics that allude to drug use.  

17. "Waiting On A Friend"
Jagger has tired of womanizing — at least temporarily — on this brothers-of-the-road ballad elevated to heavenly heights thanks to a sax solo by jazz legend Sonny Rollins. Started in 1972 or '73 depending on the source, the song finally appeared about a decade later on "Tattoo You."
 
16. "Honky Tonk Women"
The ultimate cowbell-laced twang rocker, this single released on July 4, 1969, marks the beginning on the Stones' Mick Taylor period that lasted through "Goats Head Soup."
   
15. "Wild Horses"  
A bittersweet ballad about Marianne Faithful? No one really knows and it doesn't really matters. From "Sticky Fingers," it's a an earthy, emotional powerhouse that makes for a richly complicated and tireless love song.

14. "Rocks Off"
The opener to "Exile" is a shot of decadence that includes one of rock's most debauched couplets: "I'm zipping through the days at lightning speed / Plug in, flush out and (expletive) and feed."

    
13. "She's a Rainbow"
The Stones' psychedelic mess "Their Satanic Majesties Request" includes this wonderfully strange and pretty song about a princess.
   
12. "Let's Spend The Night Together" 
A controversial single in 1967 that had to be famously altered to "let's spend some time together"  on "The Ed Sullivan Show," the song remains a joyous, timeless celebration of the libido.
 
11. "Dead Flowers"
The Stones' greatest country song, this "Sticky Fingers" cut finds Jagger delivering a most creditable backwater croon as he sings about leaving his woman for the comfort of narcotics.

10. "Street Fighting Man"
The Glimmer Twins take a look around at the political turmoil of the times and deliver this cynical blast of revolution rock from "Beggar's Banquet." Rather than pick sides, Jagger smartly sings: "What can a poor boy do but sing for a rock 'n' roll band?"  


9. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" 
This seven-minute roller-coaster ride features a hungry Jagger pleading for sanctuary over a ridiculously sexy Richards riff followed by a funky, sax-laced breakdown and then a monster closing jam owned by Taylor, which amounts to something very close to blues-rock perfection.

8. "Gimme Shelter" 
When "Let it Bleed" came out in 1969, much like today,  the world looked ready to burst into flames at any moment. No song captures the feeling of impending doom better than this, the album's ominous-defining opening track. 

7. "Brown Sugar"
Credit Richards for coming up with a riff so upbeat and catchy that ever since the song first appeared on "Sticky Fingers" most people, and we're talking tens of millions of listeners here, have failed to notice that Jagger is singing about some seriously taboo stuff, which makes the song still wildly subversive four decades after its release.

6. "Tumbling Dice"
A slice of rock and soul excellence from "Exile," the song is an anthem of perseverance for the gambler dwelling deep down in all of us. 
 
5. "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
The epic closer of "Let it Bleed" is rock 'n' roll gospel at its most pragmatic, and perhaps most compelling.

   
4. "Paint It, Black"
If fear and loathing has a sound, it's this song. As dark as the title suggests, this single from 1967 drips with unease and features one of Brian Jones' most important contributions: scarily hypnotic sitar playing that perfectly complements Jagger's nihilistic lyrics delivered with gripping despair.


3. "Sympathy For The Devil"  
The Stones opened "Beggars Banquet" with this spellbinding rock-samba that serves as a lengthy ode to Lucifer and a giant one-finger salute to The Establishment. A biting history lesson told from the perspective of Mr. D, it's Jagger's greatest lyric punctuated by stinging guitar licks courtesy of Richards and those irrepressible "woo woos" sung by Richards, bassist Bill Wyman and producer Jimmy Miller.

2. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
By the time Jagger howls the mighty opening line — "I was born in a cross-fire hurricane" — you're already helplessly hooked, forced to ride out one of the fiercest rock 'n' roll storms in history.  Released about six months before "Beggars Banquet," this perfect beast built around one of Richards' famed "open tuning" riffs signaled the start of the Stones' greatest creative period, an amazing run that would last straight through 1972's "Exile." 
   
1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"  
A brilliantly singular sound matched by an infinitely cool statement, 1965's "Satisfaction" captures the Rolling Stones in all their youthful rebel glory.  From Jagger's swagger to Richards' unbelievable way with a riff — this one written in his sleep, the story goes, while staying just up the coast in Clearwater — it's a song that has survived a zillion radio plays, still sounding awesome when accompanying you on a midnight drive or when played during a killer episode of "Mad Men."

Friday, October 12, 2012

Top 50 Rolling Stones songs (Part 1 of 2)

The Rolling Stones today: Mick Jagger, left, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts. (Rankin / Associated Press)

The Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary celebration started to actually get exciting Thursday with the release of the newly recorded single "Doom and Gloom" (listen below). A potent, vintage-sounding rocker driven by Charlie Watts' propulsive drumming and a killer Keith Richards guitar riff, it finds Mick Jagger snarling like a street fighting man about dirty politics and other pressing issues like dancing. Yeah, the Stones are back.

"Doom and Gloom" will appear on the Stones' compilation "GRRR! Greatest Hits Collection," due out Nov. 13. The 50th anniversary release will also include the new song "One More Shot." On Nov. 15, the Stones documentary "Crossfire Hurricane" will premiere on HBO. And then there are the tour rumors, with shows expected in Brooklyn and London the shows just announced for London (Nov.) and New Jersey (Dec.). 

The Rolling Stones started celebrating their 50th anniversary back in July. Since then, I've listened to every track the outlaw rockers have ever officially released (and some great bootleg stuff). Most of the tunes I listened to multiple times.

Here are the Top 50 Rolling Stones songs.

50. "Angie"
Don't trust anyone who says this is his favorite Stones song. And don't trust anyone who says he hates this melancholy beauty from the group's 1973 album "Goats Head Soup."

49. "Let Me Go"
Jagger is such a cad and this track off 1980's "Emotional Rescue"  is one of his best bad-boy anthems.

48. "Before They Make Me Run"
Speaking of bad boy anthems, Richards' signature tune from 1978's "Some Girls" finds him singing highly autobiographical lines like "Booze and pills and powders, you can choose your medicine / Well here's another goodbye to another good friend."

47. "Hand Of Fate" 
The Stone are wonderfully nasty on this overlooked Delta-rocker about an unrepentant gunslinger from 1976's "Black and Blue." 

46. "The Last Time"
The first single credited to Jagger/Richards still sounds fresh and slightly menacing 47 years after its release.


45. "She's So Cold"
A playful kiss-off from "Emotional Rescue," Jagger delights in telling a woman how miserable she'll be without him — especially in old age. He gets away with being a juvenile jerk thanks to a great quasi-disco beat.

44. "Midnight Rambler"
A slow-burning blues workout about a serial killer that first appeared on 1969's "Let it Bleed," the song would become a show-stopper in concert through 1973 thanks to wicked leads by guitarist Mick Taylor.

43. "Bitch" 
The Stones' horn section give extra punch to this delectable, sex-starved ditty from 1971's "Sticky Fingers."

42. "19th Nervous Breakdown"
A nice Brian Jones riff and bassist Bill Wyman's awesome dive-bomb fuel this 1965 smash about  a  high-society girl who's "just insane."

41. "Shattered"
On "Some Girls," Jagger takes a bite out of The Big Apple, using a disco-friendly melody similar to the one heard a couple years later on "She's So Cold." 

40. "Ventilator Blues"
Culled from the 1972 masterpiece "Exile on Main St.," song features sizzling slide guitar work by Mick Taylor, who actually gets a song credit for once alongside Jagger/Richards. 
 
39. "Little T&A"
From "Tattoo You," a love song like only Richards could write (and sing).
 
38. "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)"
Stones take on the NYC police in this "Goats Head Soup" funk-rocker that also laments a young girl who dies of a drug overdose.

37. "Play With Fire"
Jagger is singing about the same girl from "19th Nervous Breakdown" (also from 1965) but in a somber musical setting marked by gorgeous harpsichord playing by Phil Spector's main man Jack Nitzsche.

36. "Connection"
Can the The Stones deliver a sweet, pining love song? Sure. Check out this gem from 1967's "Between the Buttons."

35. "Fool To Cry"
From "Black and Blue" and probably aimed at fans of "Angie,"it's Jagger in balladeer mode on a song used excellently in the heart-warming and hilarious 1996 film "Beautiful Girls."

34. "Star Star"
Keith Richards rocks his favorite Chuck Berry riff while Mick Jagger sings about a world-class groupie on this controversial number — the original title and most of the lyrics can't be printed here — from "Goats Head Soup."
  
33. "As Tears Go By"
Jagger shows his sentimental side, singing over a string section, on this autumnal ballad that his one-time lover Marianne Faithfull first had a hit with in 1964.

32. "Monkey Man"
Spooky rocker from "Let it Bleed" featuring Nicky Hopkins' memorable piano playing came roaring back to life in Martin Scorsese's classic mafia movie "Goodfellas."

31. "Stray Cat Blues"
This song, from "Beggar's Banquet," is why if you were a parent who paid attention in 1968 you would walk through fire before allowing your teenage daughter to see The Rolling Stones.

30. "Mother's Little Helper"
Speaking of making songs mom and dad won't like, Jagger points out the hypocrisy of prescription drug (ab)use in this rollicking single from 1966.
 
29. "Under My Thumb "
From 1966's "Aftermath," it's Jagger at his most misogynistic, bragging devilishly about a conquest over a murky melody that sounds like something from an old-school horror movie. Incidentally, the Stones were performing "Under My Thumb" at Altamont in 1969 when the Hell's Angels stabbed Meredith Hunter to death while cameras rolled for what would be become the film "Gimme Shelter." 

28. "It's Only Rock 'N Roll"
The title track of the Stones' 1974 album finds Taylor's replacement Ronnie Wood firing off hot licks while Jagger responds to the same critics who will write that "'Gloom and Doom' is solid but not as good as 'Brown Sugar' or even 'Start Me Up.'"

27. "Start Me Up"
A sports arena cliche, sure, but when it first appeared on "Tattoo You" it was the catchiest rocker The Stones had released to radio since, well, "Brown Sugar." Which means it's one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

26. "Moonlight Mile"
The hushed, haunting closing track from "Sticky Fingers" chronicles the rigors of life on the road with sly drug references and a tasteful string arrangement.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

We The Kings' Travis Clark says they're 'better people because of Bradenton' on one-year anniversary of big day


We The Kings' Travis Clark (center) during a Manatee County Commission meeting in Bradenton proclaiming Oct. 11, 2011 "We The Kings Day."

A year ago to the day, the members of Bradenton's nationally acclaimed pop-punk band were honored by the Manatee County Commission with "We the Kings Day." The group's many accomplishments include the hit single “Check Yes Juliet,” which has garnered nearly 14 million views on YouTube and sold more than 1 million copies.

Singer/guitarist Travis Clark, who grew up in Bradenton and has a home here, checked in with The Herald on Wednesday following a trip to Brazil to talk about the honor.

"It's hard to believe that it's been a year," Clark said. "When we think back to all of the amazing things that have happened so far, we always remember the key to the city, the annual hometown shows, and We The Kings Day!"
 
Clark graduated from Manatee High School in 2003. The front man, along with his We the Kings band mates Hunter Thomsen (guitar, backing vocals) and Danny Duncan (drums), grew up in Bradenton and attended King Middle School, which is where the group got its name.

"You don't know how much your hometown can shape you as a person until you leave," Clark said. "And I can safely say that each one of us in the band are better people because of Bradenton, because of our family, because of our friends, and because of our fans."

"941 forever," he added, referencing the Manatee County area code. "We'll see you at the 6th annual hometown We The Kings show."

The 5th annual We the Kings homecoming show took place Dec. 29 at The Hall in Palmetto. Stay tuned for details on this year's We The Kings concert in Manatee County.

Jamie Gregorich, the sous chef at award-winning Longboat Key restaurant Euphemia Haye and a culinary instructor at Manatee Technical Institute, was also honored at the county commission meeting last year for the classy way she displayed her immense cooking skills on the hit Fox television show “Hell’s Kitchen.”The county had proclaimed Oct. 12, 2011, “Jamie Gregorich Day.”

—Herald file photo by Paul Videla.

Weekend roundup for Bradenton area and beyond


Dirty Dozen Brass Band cofounder Gregory Davis on 35-year legacy — influencing Trombone Shorty, Soul Rebels, etc. — and returning to Ringling Museum on Saturday.

Cinderella cofounder Eric Brittingham says he's ready for 'fun night' today at Lost Kangaroo Pub in Bradenton.

Bradenton area band Big Daddy celebrates 10th anniversary at Clancy's on Cortez Road.

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival in Bradenton is back with acts from 'America's Got Talent.'

And much more in Weekend.

'Bad Girls Club' casting call in Tampa

Are you naughty (and shameless) enough for national TV?

Casting directors from Bunim/Murray Productions, creators of the hit shows “The Real World” and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” will be holding an open casting call for Oxygen’s hit show “Bad Girls Club” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at The Dog's Bollocks British Pub, 1704 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City-Tampa.

"Bad Girls Club will bring together a cast of self-proclaimed 'bad girls’ in a beautiful mansion," the press release reads. "These women recognize that their fun, outrageous behavior has hindered their relationships, careers, and lives. Will living together help them move forward and turn their lives around – or will the claws come out and chaos rule?"
For those who can’t make it to the open call, applications can be submitted via email.

Visit www.bmpcasting/casting/bgc/ for complete details on how you can apply.


Applicants must bring a recent picture of themselves (which will not be returned) and photo ID. The minimum age to apply for Bad Girls Club is 21.

More information is available at www.bunim-murray.com

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Funky fundraiser in Bradenton to benefit Women's Resource Center of Manatee

Biscuit Miller
The Women’s Resource Center of Manatee's annual fundraiser will be held the night before the inaugural Bradenton Blues Festival and feature a performance by festival co-headliner, superbly funky bassist and singer Dave “Biscuit” Miller.

Dubbed “Bringing on the Blues,” the event will be held in the historic “Brickyard” area behind O’Bricks on Old Main Street in Downtown Bradenton. The cost is $125 per person and includes live entertainment, food and premium open bar.

A regular favorite at Aces Live in Bradenton (see video below), Miller grew up in Chicago and spent a decade in the great Lonnie Brooks' band performing major gigs such as President Bill Clinton's inauguration. He also backed Anthony Gomes before fronting his own group, Biscuit Miller and the Mix, in 2000.

Since then, Miller has established himself as a charismatic front man and excellent bassist who alternates between songs such as the funky double entendre "Butter My Biscuits" to the somber, soulful "Never Seen it Coming."

All proceeds from “Bringing on the Blues” will benefit the Women’s Resource Center of Manatee. The WRC serves more than 4,000 women a year and their mission is to provide programs and services to give women the tools they need to live their lives successfully.

Details: 7 p.m. Nov. 30, Brickyard, 427 Old Main St., Bradenton. Tickets: $125. Information: 941-747-6797 or www.wrcmanatee.org.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

UPDATED 10/14: Greed is why The Beach Boys are performing without Brian Wilson at the Van Wezel in Sarasota

UPDATED 10/14: The Beach Boys show in Sarasota should feature Brian Wilson, but probably won't: commentary


The Van Wezel has known since before announcing its season back in August.

The Beach Boys show on Feb. 17 would not feature creative leader Brian Wilson.

The website for the Sarasota venue says "Beach Boys Feat. Mike Love & Bruce Johnston."

This, however, is apparently news to Wilson.

Here's what happened.

The reunited Beach Boys elated fans with a global 50th anniversary tour earlier this year that brought  the band to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa in May.

The previously feuding chief songwriter/pianist/singer Wilson and his cousin, lead singer Mike Love, plus Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, played together for the first time in more than two decades.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/05/03/4023124/the-beach-boys-bring-50th-anniversary.html#storylink=cpy
The tour was going great, with reviewers largely focusing on the reemergence of Wilson.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/08/26/4170779/van-wezel-performing-arts-hall.html#storylink=cpy
Near the end of the tour, though, in London, Love announced that he and Johnston would continue touring under the Beach Boys’ name in his pre-anniversary edition of the band. Founding/longtime members Wilson, Jardine and Marks would no longer be part of the group.

It's been a war of the words ever since with Love responding to the harsh media reaction by publishing a letter exclusively in the L.A. Times on Saturday that states, among other things, that he never fired Wilson and does not have the authority to do so, adding that even if he did have the authority, he wouldn't fire the group's mastermind.

Now, Wilson and Jardine have submitted a response to Love’s letter. Wilson's letter is running today on the L.A. Times' Pop & Hiss music blog.

"The negativity surrounding all the comments bummed me out," Wilson's statement reads. "What's confusing is that by Mike not wanting or letting Al, David and me tour with the band, it sort of feels like we're being fired."

Wilson goes on to state that he and Jardinewould like to be included in the promotion of the Beach Boys' new, favorably reviewed album "That's Why God Made The Radio."

"While I appreciate the nice cool things Mike said about me in his letter, and I do and always will love him as my cousin and bandmate, at the same time I'm still left wondering why he doesn't want to continue this great trip we're on," Wilson writes. "Al and I want to keep going because we believe we owe it to the music."

Read Wilson's complete response over at LATimes.com.

My thoughts?

Love is greedy.

He can make much more money by using the name "Beach Boys" with nameless hired guns rather than sharing profits with Wilson, Jardine and Marks. And that's sad for everybody. Well, I guess everybody except Love and his agent/accountant.

Tickets for the Van Wezel show are $30-$70.

—Publicity photo of the reunited Beach Boys featuring Brian Wilson (seated, center) and Mike Love (wearing the "Love" hat).

Monday, October 8, 2012

Marshall Tucker Band is Sarasota bound for free show at Thunder By the Bay

Marshall Tucker Band
One of the greats of Southern rock, The Marshall Tucker Band, will headline the 15th Annual Thunder By the Bay Motorcycle Festival in Sarasota.

The group will play the free Downtown Festival Jan. 6 on Main Street.

UltimateClassicRock.com recently named The Marshall Tucker Band's classic power ballad "Can't You See," originally included on the band's self-titled 1973 debut disc, the greatest Southern Rock song ever recorded.

It beat out favorites by the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws   

“We are over the top with this announcement from Ultimate Classic Rock,” said Marshall Tucker Band lead singer and founding member Doug Gray, in a statement posted on the group's website.  “It certainly lets us all know that ‘Can’t You See’ is and will continue to be appreciated for a very long time.”

The Marshall Tucker Band's other hits include "Heard it in a Love Song," "This Ol' Cowboy," Searchin' for a Rainbow" and "Fire on the Mountain."

David “Frankie” Toler, who died last year at Tidewell hospice care in Bradenton after a prolonged illness following a liver transplant, was the drummer for the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band and Marshall Tucker Band (1992-94).

“Frankie’s personality was so big — it stuck out farther than his mighty drumsticks,” Gray told the Herald. “I didn’t know anybody who couldn’t talk to him.”

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/06/07/3253301/former-allman-drummer-leaves-lasting.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
  
Thunder By the Bay, which raises money for Suncoast Charities for Children, is one of the top motorcycle festivals in Florida.

For festival details and updates visit www.thunderbythebay.org

Muse to play Tampa Bay Times Forum


Prog rockers Muse announced an upcoming North American tour today that includes a date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Feb. 23.

Dead Sara is scheduled to open.

Tickets for the show, presented by 97X, go on sale 10 a.m. Friday (Oct. 12). Tickets are priced at:  $32.25, $52.25 and $62.25.  Prices do not include facility fees or service charges.

UK-based trio Muse is touring in support of their sixth album, "The 2nd Law," which was released this week on Warner Bros. Records.

The group's last album, "The Resistance," reached No. 1 in 19 countries and won the Best Rock Album Grammy Award.

Information
: 813-301.2500 or TampaBayTimesForum.com.

—Photo of Muse by Gavin Bond provided.


Bradenton area should benefit from 'blues festival season'

Ana Popovic at the 2012 Sarasota Blues and Music Festival. Photo by Wade Tatangelo.

Welcome to Blues Festival Season, the Bradenton area's fastest growing tourist attraction.

And my favorite way to spend a day outdoors with a large group of laid-back, like-minded people.

If you're a fan of American roost music, let me point out all the major blues festivals within a five- to 45-minute drive.

We just had a great one.

And three more, which should be equally exciting, are on the way.

Blues Festival Season started on the last Saturday in September with a most enjoyable 22nd annual edition of the Sarasota Blues and Music Festival.

Read more.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Top 5: Acts that deserve Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

The nominees for the 2013 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame includes first-timers Albert King, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Public Enemy, N.W.A., the Marvelettes, the Meters, Deep Purple and Rush.

The returnees are Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Randy Newman, Kraftwerk, Donna Summer and Chic.

Yeah, not exactly thrilling, or exactly rock and roll, but there are five acts that should have a permanent presence in the Cleveland campus. 
 
Here are my choices:

1. Public Enemy: One of the most important rap acts of all time. 

2. N.W.A.: The group launched the careers of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy-E as well as the entire gangsta rap movement. 

3. Kraftwerk: We pretty much have them to thank (or blame) for all things techno/EDM.

4. The Meters: New Orleans funk architects responsible for the unstoppable "Sissy Strut" and "Hey Pocky Way" backed everyone from Dr. John to Paul McCartney and provided the beats for numerous hip-hop hits.

5. Randy Newman: One of the greatest living songwriters, he's the compsoer of the classic ballads "Louisiana 1927" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today," Three Dog Night's No. 1 hit "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," his highly unlikely and misunderstood 1978 hit "Short People" and the sports arena smash  "I Love L.A." (send-up of 1980s materialism) as well as the strip club anthem "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

For the first time, the top five artists voted on by fans at http://rockhall.com/vote will make up a "fans' ballot" that will be counted with the 600 ballots from Rock Hall Foundation voters.

The April 18 induction ceremony will be held in Los Angeles and later broadcast later on HBO. 

FILE PHOTO - In this June 12, 2009 file photo, Flavor Flav of Public Enemy performs during the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. Public Enemy is nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. DAVE MARTIN, FILE — AP Photo

Thursday, October 4, 2012

WEEKEND: Florida Georgia Line at Joyland, Trampled Under Foot at Aces, Boyz II Men at Mahaffey

Tyler Hubbard, left, and Brian Kelley of country music duo Florida Georgia Line.

The parents of Lakewood Ranch High seniors Josh "Bubba" Rogers and Brett "Bswag" Wagner have teamed with Joyland and one of the hottest new acts in country music for a benefit concert to celebrate their sons' birthdays and raise seat belt awareness.

The 1st annual B.U.B.B.A. Birthday Bash concert on Friday will feature a performance by Florida Georgia Line, with all of the ticket sales going to the Buckle Up for Bswag and Bubba Association.

Also known as B.U.B.B.A, the organization was started by Gena Rogers and Debbie Wagner, the mothers of the two boys who lost their lives as a result of a car accident on Christmas night last year.

Tyler Hubbard, of Monroe, Ga., and Brian Kelley, of Ormond Beach -- they formed FGL a couple years ago in Nashville -- will be holding a special meet and greet for the families and friends of Josh and Brett at the Bradenton country music venue.

During a recent phone interview with the Herald, Kelley recalled that some high school friends of his lost their lives in a car crash.

"We've always been about giving back and when we heard about this event we jumped at the chance," he said.

Read more.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224962/trampled-under-foot-at-aces-live.html#storylink=cpy

  • Boyz II Men, which have a date in St. Pete today, brilliantly updated R&B in the 1990s with a New Jack Swing sensibility while never overshadowing the group's rich, smooth, timeless vocals.

  • The Village of the Arts celebrates the opening of Bradenton's new Riverwalk (grand opening Oct. 18) and the inaugural Bradenton Blues Festival (Dec. 1) with "A River of Art in Blue" Artwalk.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224954/blues-artwalk-at-village-of-the.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224960/boyz-ii-men-at-the-mahaffey-in.html#storylink=cpy

—Photo: Tyler Hubbard, left, and Brian Kelley of country music duo Florida Georgia Line. Adam Taylor/Republic Nashville

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224952/florida-georgia-line-headlines.html#storylink=cpy