Saturday January 3, 2009 Source:The Blues Foundation Location: Memphis/Milwaukee
25th International Blues Challenge--The World’s Largest Gathering of Blues Bands February 4-7, 2009
The program for the 25th International Blues Challenge (IBC), set for February 4-7, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee, is taking shape, full information of which is posted at www.blues.org. The 25th edition of the world’s premier Blues music competition will feature more than 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from 36 states and nine countries. Blues musicians will be attending from Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, United States and, for the first time, Croatia. The winners receive cash prizes, professional services and appearances at top Blues festivals. Advance tickets are available at www.blues.org.
The events begin Wednesday evening with the Beale Street Merchants hosting a Meet ‘n Greet at the New Daisy Theater, the Memphis Grizzlies presenting four IBC participants during its Blues night at the FedEx Forum in conjunction with their NBA game against the Houston Rockets. Following the game, a special 25th IBC Kick Off Concert, featuring a number of top finishers from recent Challenges, including Trampled Under Foot (2008 IBC 1st Place), Sean Carney Band (2007 1st Place), Homemade Jamz Blues Band (2007 2nd Place), Jonn Richardson (2005 IBC 1st Place and Best Guitarist), Zac Harmon (2004 IBC 1st Place). Friday afternoon will see the first-ever FedEx International Showcase, featuring many of the acts from outside the United States, and the Smokin’ Bluz Youth Showcase, featuring more than a dozen acts whose members are under 21.
The IBC semi-finals commence at 5:00pm Thursday evening in 16 Beale Street clubs and continue before a different set of judges in those clubs Friday evening. The ten band finalists will begin at 2:00pm Saturday afternoon at The Orpheum Theatre while the six solo/duo finalists will commence at 8:30pm Saturday night at the Orpheum. The judges will also present a custom Gibson guitar featuring The Blues Foundation logo to the most promising guitarist. Blues musicians Cassie Taylor and Jason Ricci will host the band finals and Delta Groove Music’s Randy Chortkoff will be master of ceremonies for the evening finals. A complete list of participating acts can be found at www.blues.org.
The weekend also features the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) awards that honor the men and women, who have made significant contributions to the Blues music world, in 22 categories such as journalism, literature and photography and to the best clubs and festivals, as well as managers, promoters and producers. The Blues community will recognize its peers in a moving Saturday morning ceremony at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel.
The 25th International Blues Challenge is sponsored by Arts Memphis, band Village, Beale Street Merchants Association, Budweiser and its local distributor, D. Canale Beverages, FedEx, Gibson, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Smokin’ Bluz, Sonicbids, T. Clifton Art, Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Media Sponsors include Beale Street Caravan, Big City Rhythm and Blues, Blues Blast, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Revue, BluesWax, Downtowner, House of Blues Radio Hour, Living Blues, Memphis Flyer and WREG-TV and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
The International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards are produced by The Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization established to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. The Foundation consists of a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships spanning the globe. In addition to the, the Foundation also produces the Blues Music Awards and the Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. For more information or to join The Blues Foundation, log onto www.blues.org.
Milwaukee’s Sue DaBaco & Wise Fools will be representing Wisconsin at the IBC event in Memphis, and a fundraiser to help the Grafton Blues Association with expenses for the trip will take place on January 24th at the Black Swan Banquet Hall in Grafton (13th Avenue) at 7pm.
January 24, 2009 7pm
Sue DaBaco & Wise Fools, T-Man and the Young Guns
Black Swan Room
13th Avenue (next to Grafton Alehouse)
Grafton, Wisconsin
$5 donation at door
Tuesday December 9, 2008 Source:Century Media Location: Hawthorne, California
The “Maidens of Metal 2009” calendar, featuring the girls of the Century Media Record’s roster, has arrived and can be purchased now exclusively through CMDistro.com for only $10. This is the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer as this calendar features brand new, never before seen photos of Maria Brink (In This Moment), Kristen Randall (Winds of Plague) and Mary Zimmer (Luna Mortis). It also features scintillating shots of Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist), Anna K. (Opiate For The Masses), Aya (UnSun), Leeni-Maria (Kivimetsän Druidi) and Franziska Huth and Alla Fedynitch (Eyes of Eden).
There is no better way to head into 2009 than with your “Maidens of Metal” calendar. This is limited to 1,000 copies, so get your orders in now at https://www.cmdistro.com/index.aspx?IdItem=29620
Monday December 8, 2008 Source:The Palms Location: Las Vegas, NV
LAS VEGAS –- Maynard James Keenan, known as the eccentric and unpredictable singer of two of modern rock’s most successful bands, Tool and A Perfect Circle, will unveil the live incarnation of Puscifer on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14 at The Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort at 8:00 p.m.
In 2007, Keenan created Puscifer, a multifaceted, multimedia, multi-artist, and multi-personality project self-described as “a physical manifestation of the party that goes on in my head 24/7.” The collective’s debut, V is for Vagina, was followed by a remix album (V is for Vagina) as well as several singles and videos featuring the curvaceous Queen B. A rotating cast of players involved in the recordings include Mat Mitchell, Tim Alexander, Jonny Polonsky, Danny Lohner, Gil and Rani Sharone, Lustmord, Laura Milligan, Milla Jovovich, Lisa Germano, and Alan Moulder.
“Expect a loosely organized bucket of Romper Room chaos sprinkled with Dry Wit and Brown Note Booty Bumping Sub Bins. And perhaps some snacks.” said Keenan.
Presented by Andrew Hewitt and Live Nation, tickets for Puscifer are $39.00, plus any additional service fees. Tickets go on-sale Saturday, Dec. 13 at Noon. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 702-474-4000, visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com to purchase tickets. The Pearl Box Office is open from Noon – 7 pm daily. Doors will open at 7:00 pm and show time is 8:00 pm. The Pearl is home to Miller Lite Live, presented by Cricket Wireless; for more information on upcoming concerts, please call 702-942-6888.
About The Pearl:
The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. Featuring a stage just four feet from the floor and the farthest seating area being a mere 120 feet from the stage, The Pearl offers the utmost in intimate viewing of your favorite acts. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology using only top quality sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to The Studio at The Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency and without additional venue set-up. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.
- Rare Document Breaks Record for Highest Amount Achieved Through LiveAuctioneers by a Non-US Auction House -
New York, NY – December 4, 2008 – www.liveauctioneers.com, the leading online resource for high end art, antiques and collectibles, announced today the online sale of the Beatles’ first contract for $211,597, the highest amount ever achieved through LiveAuctioneers by a non-US based auction house. The historic document which cemented the Fab Four’s partnership with manager Brian Epstein in 1962 was featured as part of a live and online auction conducted on November 27 by the Fame Bureau in London.
LiveAuctioneers’ CEO, Julian R. Ellison, said he was “ecstatic to see that people have the confidence to purchase items online at this price level. Because this was the very first contract signed by the Beatles and Brian Epstein, it is especially significant to the history of pop music. There’s no overestimating its importance.”
The Fame Bureau described the contract as an important document in both music and British history.
All four members of the Beatles signed the initial contract on Jan. 24, 1962. The Fame Bureau’s auction catalog noted that, according to Epstein’s memoirs, the Beatles’ first manager refrained from signing the management contract to give the lads the ability to walk away from the agreement if he did not fulfill his promise of landing them major recording contract. By Oct. 1 that year, Epstein, believing he had thus far fulfilled his role as manager, had added his name to the contract. He had signed the Beatles to a recording contract with EMI, and their first single, Love Me Do, was about to be released.
The five-year contract called for Epstein to receive 25 percent of the gross earnings of the band. The document detailed Epstein’s obligations, including undertaking all advertising and publicity for the musicians and advising them on matters concerning clothes, makeup and presentation and construction of their acts.
Included on the document are the signatures of George Harrison’s and Paul McCartney’s fathers, as those younger Beatles were under the age of 21. The contract contains two signatures by John Lennon, who, inadvertently signed in the wrong place. Realizing his mistake, he struck through the first signature and signed again in the correct position.
This contract was later updated by a supplementary agreement, also signed by all parties on Jan. 22, 1963, which was included with the lot. All signatures on both the management contract and the supplementary agreement were accompanied by a red wax seal and the signatures of attending witnesses.
Ellison remarked that there has been no downturn in the bidding volume through LiveAutioneers since the recent woes in world financial markets. “It has held very strong,” he said. “As a general trend, people are turning more and more to the Internet for all types of buying. We’ve noticed a marked bidding increases in sales conducted by auction houses internationally, as well.”
Founded in November 2002 and recently named to Inc. Magazine’s 2008 list of the 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies, Manhattan-based www.liveauctioneers.com provides real-time Internet bidding capability to more than 730 auction houses in a dozen countries. LiveAuctioneers.com has opened up once-exclusive sales to the cyber community worldwide through online publication of auction catalogs, and Internet bidding. Similar to telephone bidding, buyers at remote locations can conveniently participate in auctions in real time from their computers as the auction is being conducted. There is no cost to register and no obligation to bid; anyone can watch the action online, in real time. For further information, log on to www.liveauctioneers.com.
Thursday December 4, 2008 Source:National Publicist by Nick Holz Location: Milwaukee, WI
Marashino hits the road with Shinedown, armed with a new single
Milwaukee, WI (December 12, 2008) – The rock n’ roll band Marashino has overcome the odds of being unsigned, underrated, and battling the trials of the road, to obtaining a slot on a national tour.
The band will be hitting the road this month to play with Atlantic Records recording artist Shinedown. Their line-up includes guitarists Tom LaBrosse and Henry Koller, Eric LaBrosse on Vocals, Nick Mendini on Bass along with Joey Zak on the Drums.
We caught up with members of Marashino backstage, before a performance. When asked how did the opportunity for this tour come about? Tom LaBrosse responded, “Well, we have been touring for over three years, and had the privlage of opening for Shinedown a few times before. They put us on their list of opening acts and we got the call from their agency shortly thereafter.” “What is next for Marashino?” “We are working hard on a new record. We have a few labels very interested, but mum is the word.. We do feel however that it is still better to keep things in house. Things have been moving in a slightly different direction for us, musically. I think it is well reflected with our single “Looks vs Lies"”, says Joey Zak..
The boys from Marashino have everything but “Lies” in their pockets. Since their inception in 2002, the band has performed live on the Fox Network, has made the top 25 unsigned bands list and is drawing fans all over the U.S. Their newest single, “Looks vs Lies” finished in the top 12 of the Punisher 2 soundtrack competition judged by Shaun Morgan of Seether and Lionsgate films. Aside from their non-stop touring, the band has also shared the stage with these other national and worldwide acts: Chevelle, Crossfade, Dokken, Finger Eleven, Kill Hannah, Collective Soul, and Seether.
Marashino currently will be recording their new album, but catch the boys appearing live with Shinedown in a city near you
Wednesday November 26, 2008 Source:Roadrunner Records Location: New York City
BAND RETURNS HOME IN SUPPORT OF ALL HOPE IS GONE
2009 MARKS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BAND’S LANDMARK DEBUT ALBUM
New York, NY – Grammy-award winning hard rockers Slipknot announced today their first U.S. headline tour in support of their #1 album All Hope Is Gone. The tour, which kicks off on January 23rd in St. Paul, MN, will hit 33 cities across the country, and include an historic stop at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a first for the band. Coheed and Cambria and labelmates Trivium round out the bill.
Frontman Corey Taylor says of the trek, “2009 is the 10 year anniversary of the world’s first taste of this band. To celebrate we are coming back out with a killer tour, a couple great bands and the same ferocity with which we attack life. We want all of our maggots to come and celebrate with us, because if it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t have been here for 10 years. Get ready for chaos!”
A special iTunes presale will start on December 3 and be open to those who took part in the band’s digital album presale earlier this year. Internet presales via Ticketmaster, will commence on December 5, and the Madison, WI date will go on sale December 6th at 10am at the Coliseum Ticket Center and all Ticketmaster locations, Charge By Phone 255-4646 or online at www.ticketmaster.com
The All Hope Is Gone World Tour marks Slipknot’s first headline run in America since the release of the album in August. The band is currently playing to sold out arenas on the other side of the globe; including stops in Russia, Japan, Australia, Europe and wrapping in the United Kingdom with three sold-out nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. Preceding All Hope Is Gone’s #1 debut, the band held the headline slot on this summer’s sold-out inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, which drew the biggest crowds to a metal festival since Slipknot played Ozzfest in 2004.
To celebrate the tour, Hard Drive, hosted by Lou Brutus will be airing a Slipknot All Hope is Gone World Tour Special from December 3rd-6th on radio stations all across the country. The special will feature exclusive live tracks from their current tour as well as candid interviews and other surprises.
The band has also launched a new website, allhopeisgone.com to coincide with the launch of the tour. All pre-sale and onsale information will be made available there.
The dates are as follows:
01/23/09- Xcel Energy Center - St. Paul, MN
01/24/09- Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
01/25/09- Mid America Center - Council Bluffs, IA
01/27/09- Alliant Energy Center Memorial Coliseum - Madison, WI
01/28/09- Wells Fargo Arena - Des Moines, IA
01/30/09- Allstate Arena - Rosemont, IL
01/31/09- The Palace of Auburn Hills - Auburn Hills, MI
02/02/09- Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL
02/03/09- Pepsi Coliseum - Indianapolis, IN
02/05/09- Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
02/06/09- Tsongas Arena - Lowell, MA
02/07/09- Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
02/09/09- Greensboro Coliseum Complex - Greensboro, NC
02/10/09- Cricket Arena - Charlotte, NC
02/11/09- Bi-Lo Center - Greenville, SC
02/13/09- 1st Mariner Arena - Baltimore, MD
02/14/09- Rupp Arena - Lexington, KY
02/15/09- Sommet Center - Nashville, TN
02/17/09- Gwinnett Center - Duluth, GA
02/18/09- UCF Arena - Orlando, FL
02/19/09- Pensacola Civic Center - Pensacola, FL
02/21/09- Concrete Street Amphitheater - Corpus Christi, TX
02/22/09- Nokia Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX
02/23/09- BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
02/26/09- Verizon Wireless Theater - Houston, TX
02/28/09- El Paso County Coliseum - El Paso, TX
03/01/09- Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio, TX
03/03/09- Denver Coliseum - Denver, CO
03/04/09- Tingley Coliseum - Albuquerque, NM
03/05/09- Jobing.com Arena - Glendale, AZ
03/07/09- The Forum - Inglewood, CA
03/08/09- Cox Arena - San Diego, CA
03/10/09- Citizens Business Bank Arena - Ontario, CA
03/11/09- ARCO Arena - Sacramento, CA
Tuesday November 25, 2008 Source:D&E Entertainment Location: New York City
U.S. Theatrical Premiere of Landmark CHEAP TRICK Concert Film Takes Place In Multiple Cities on December 4th, 2008 Celebrates Release of BUDOKAN!: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION DVD+3CD Box Set on Epic/Legacy
New York, NY (November 24, 2008) – On Thursday, December 4th D&E Entertainment will present the U.S.theatrical premiere of a newly-restored concert film from Cheap Trick that previously has only aired once on Japanese television in 1978. With a running time of just over 60 minutes, Live at Budokan captures the concert that catapulted Cheap Trick to stardom.
D&E will be hosting the premieres in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, and other markets. Full list of cities below.
The history of rock and roll is fraught with more than its share of unforeseen circumstances. But none so unforeseen as those in the life of Cheap Trick – Rick Nielsen (guitar), Robin Zander (vocals and guitar), Bun E. Carlos (drums), and Tom Petersson (bass). Circa 1978-79, they jumped from being the biggest band ever to emerge from Rockford, Illinois, to becoming platinum-selling headliners on the cover of Rolling Stone. Chalk it up to Japan, who held Cheap Trick so close to their hearts that the band’s record company there decided to reward the fans with a live concert album, a souvenir of the band’s incredible two-night stand at the country’s most revered sports stadium in 1978.
The album turned into a tsunami whose impact catalyzed America, then engulfed the world – and now is celebrated three decades later with a four-disc (DVD + 3 CD) package, BUDOKAN!: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, that brings the sight and sound together for the first time. The set arrived at both physical and digital retail outlets on November 11th through Epic/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. Separately, on December 9th, a new 12-inch vinyl LP of the Live at Budokan original 10-song album will be issued on 180 gram audiophile pressing.
The deluxe box set is highlighted by the premiere commercial DVD release of a film of the concert, a 15-song, one-hour program shot at the Budokan in 1978. This film features a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround Sound by original producer Jack Douglas and engineer Jay Messina. At last, Cheap Trick fans can actually see and feel the moment come to life when – for the first time in history – lead singer Robin Zander exhorts the Japanese audience, “I Want YOU… to Want...ME!”
Three decades later, LIVE AT BUDOKAN: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION proves how immortal some albums can be. The LP is ranked on Rolling Stone’s list of “500 Greatest Albums Of All Time,” and “Surrender” appears on the magazine’s “500 Greatest Singles Of All Time” list.
“Owning a copy of Cheap Trick At Budokan is a pop culture rite of passage for generations of music fans,” Ken Sharp writes in the package’s essay. As drummer Bun E. Carlos told him, “Budokan captured everything about Cheap Trick that no studio album could capture.”
U.S. Theaters and Cities showing: CHEAP TRICK LIVE AT BUDOKAN 1978
THUR, DEC 4th, 2008:
Phoenix, AZ
Ultrastar Surprise Pointe Cinema
San Diego, CA
Oceanside Ultrastar Mission Marketplace
San Diego, CA
Apple Valley Ultrastar
San Diego, CA
Ultrastar Hazard at Mission Valley
Chula Vista, CA
Chula Vista on Broadway
Los Angeles, CA
The Echoplex
Chicago, IL
Niles ShowPlace
Chicago, IL
Skokie Kerasotes Village Crossing
Chicago, IL
Naperville ShowPlace
Chicago, IL
Chicago City North
Chicago, IL
Evansville Stadium
Succasunna, NJ
Succasunna
Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe Ctr for Contemporary Arts
New York City, NY
Clearview Cinemas: 62nd & Broadway
Portland, OR
Cinema 21
Philadelphia, PA
Anthony Wayne Cinema
Burlington, VT
Merrill’s Roxy Cinema
Redmond, WA (Seattle)
Big Picture Theater
Interviews of Cheap Trick about the historic concert
