WATCH: Damon Fowler debut video: 'Cypress in the Pines'

Damon Fowler in Bradenton Beach, Fla., by TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE

Bradenton Beach resident and Blind Pig Records artist Damon Fowler has just released his debut music video. It's for "Cypress in the Pines," off his new album "Devil Got His Way." Enjoy.

Fergie busts Super Bowl ban on women headliners

Fergie breaks Super Bowl ban on females

Here's my column running in the A&E section of today's Herald:

Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction put such a scare into Super Bowl organizers that they stopped choosing women to headline the halftime show.

The split-second flash of flesh took place in 2004.

For the rest of the decade, the most-watched intermission on the planet remained a platform reserved for men who were middle-aged and, in some cases, geriatric.

Continue reading.

This piece originally posted Feb. 4 by sister publications Los Angeles Times, Kansas City Star and others.


Photo and caption via Ministry of Gossip: Singer Fergie roars after being honored at the 20th annual Glamour Magazine Women of the Year award ceremony in New York on Nov. 8, 2010. Credit: Lucas Jackson / Reuters.

'Million Dollar Quartet' among highlights of Straz Center's 2011-12 Broadways Series

PUBLICITY PHOTO “Million Dollar Quartet”

The current Broadway smash "Million Dollar Quartet," the Tony-winning revival of "La Cage Aux Folles" and 25 Anniversary production of "Les Misérables" are among highlights of 2011-12 Broadway series at Straz Center in Broadway:

The jukebox musical “Million Dollar Quartet” (Jan. 3-8, 2012) opened on Broadway to strong reviews last April and continues to draw large crowds at the Nederlander Theatre. Nominated for a Tony Award in the Best Musical category, it takes place in a single afternoon, Dec. 4, 1956, at the now sanctified Sun Records in Memphis.

Rock aficionados will recognize the date as when, largely by chance, rock and country gods Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley participated in a holy jam session. The Perkins, and then Presley, hit “Blue Suede Shoes,” Cash’s famed “Folsom Prison Blues” and Lewis’ sizzling “Great Balls of Fire” are among the numerous, pioneering popular songs in the production.

“It’s four of the greatest talents in music history getting together and an event that actually happened,” said Straz Center Vice President of Marketing Michael Kilgore. “The people who wrote the book researched this and talked to (Sun owner/record producer) Sam Phillips to get the true story of those four legends interacting.”

Levis Kreis won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical last year for his fiery portrayal of Lewis.

“Jerry Lee Lewis was on his way up and, in my mind, steals the show,” Kilgore continued. “He was the brash newcomer basically telling the others he was going to as big, or bigger, than them.”

Click to read entire piece, running in A&E section of today's Herald.

SAG to screen Bradenton-shot short film 'Candy' in New York

Local filmmakers will be in New York next week to show off their latest work to one of the movie industry's most important organizations.
 
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Foundation has selected the short horror film "Candy,"  shot entirely in Bradenton, to be part of its Short Film Showcase on Feb. 9 in SAG's Manhattan boardroom. The event is to spotlight the talent of independent filmmakers and their ability to cast SAG actors.

Director, editor, and co-executive producer Sage Hall plays the lead/title role in "Candy." Her StarFruit Productions is also known for creating award-winning wedding films for clients in Sarasota and Manatee.

Bradenton-based Jesse Kozel serves as creator, co-executive producer. He also play's Marcus, Candy's son in the short film. Kozel is the owner of Bloody Unique Entertainment.

Los Angeles-based Jenny Beres, formerly of Sarasota, wrote the script for "Candy." In the summer of 2007, her debut drama "If The Devil Could Fall In Love," was honored by the Players of Sarasota.

SAG's Short Film Showcase will screen only 9 films on Feb. 9 for selected guests and local union members. Hall and producer Nikki Kostyun will be in attendance for a Q&A session following the screening. Click for details.

"It’s Halloween night and Marcus is bringing home a date, not such a good idea if your mom is Candy."

Justin Moore on new single 'If Heaven Wasn't so Far Away'

Justin Moore at Joyland in Bradenton on Friday/http://www.moorejustinmusic.com

Rising country star Justin Moore on his soon-to-be-released single "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" and new album that he wants to title "Outlaws Like Me." The singer/songwriter best known for the recent hit "Small Town U.S.A." performs at Joyland in Bradenton on Friday.

Moore interview running on Weekend cover of today's Herald:

Justin Moore’s homegrown hits “Small Town USA,” “Backwoods” and “How I Got to Be This Way” have made him one of country music’s most promising young stars.

But it’s another original from the singer/songwriter’s self-titled 2009 album that inspired his upcoming release.

“The song ‘Grandpa,’ about losing my hero, was one I wanted to be a single,” Moore said when he called last week from his tiny hometown of Poyen, Ark. “But when I found this song I wanted it to be the first single -- to fill that void.”

“If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” will be released to country radio Feb. 22. It opens with the memories a rural boy makes in the company of a grandfather who owns a fruit stand and takes the youngin’ fishing.

Continue reading.

Justin Moore: "Outlaws Like Me"

Justin Moore: "Small Town U.S.A."

Christopher Plummer coming to Sarasota Film Festival to accept award and for screening of his new film 'Beginners'

Sarasota Film Festival lands recent Oscar-nominee Christopher Plummer and his upcoming film "Beginners" (see trailer below). From today's Herald:

The 13th annual Sarasota Film Festival has landed acclaimed movie, television and theater actor Christopher Plummer.

The recent Oscar-nominee played Captain Von Trapp in the “The Sound of Music” and voiced Charles Muntz in the 2009 Disney/Pixar blockbuster “Up.”

Plummer will be at SFF, which runs April 7-17, to accept the Cinema Master Award.

He also stars alongside Ewan McGregor (“Trainspotting,” “Star Wars”) and Mélanie Laurent (“Inglourious Basterds”) in SFF’s closing night film, “Beginners.”

“A lot of people are very happy about this,” said SFF President Mark Famiglio by phone late Tuesday. “But it’s only the beginning of a long list of announcements to come in the next couple months.”

Continue reading.

I've much respect for Plummer and glad to see SFF honoring him. He might be the best actor to have never won an Academy Award.  On Broadway, though, he's received two Tony Awards and numerous nominations.

I look forward to interviewing him  (probable but ya never know) in advance of his appearance/screening of "Beginners," which should make for pretty compelling viewing judging by film company, director, cast, trailer and the few legit reviews I've found so far.

WATCH: Damon Fowler's 'Sugar Shack Mondays' with Biscuit Miller at Ace's in Bradenton

"Sugar Shack Mondays" jam Jan. 31 at Ace's in Bradenton. Photo by Lacy Campbell.

The Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays" with special guest Dave "Biscuit" Miller on Jan. 31 at Ace's in Bradenton. Click to read about it.

Damon Fowler and Wade Tatangelo interview/introduction of Biscuit Miller  

Biscuit Miller and the Mix performance

 Wade Tatangelo interviews Biscuit Miller and Damon Fowler


Sugar Shack Monday Jam: Damon Fowler Group, Biscuit Miller and the Mix, RJ Howson, Selwin Birchwood