ENTERTAINMENT

IndiMusic TV- Proof That Music Videos Still Have A Place

I am someone who comes from a generation where the music video was such a prevalent item in making someone’s music career a success. Artists like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Missy Elliott wouldn’t be half as big as they are today if they didn’t have the power of each of their music videos to further their careers. The music video even launched independent artists onto the forefront of our television screens, most notably people like Lisa Loeb, who is still the only artist in the history of music to have a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and not be signed to a major label with “Stay”. Sadly, today’s generation is lost on some of that magic where mainstay networks like VH1 and MTV have foregone their endless airplay of music videos with their current crop of reality TV programming such as “Love & Hip Hop” and “Are You The One?” Luckily, there is a subscription based service that allows people to still divulge in thousands of independent music videos & artists as well as some pretty great programming for mainstream mainstays from Maroon5 to Bon Jovi. I am taking about Indimusic.TV.

IndiMusic TV, which launched two years ago as the first 24-7 independent only worldwide music video TV channel and Musician Social Network, has cemented themselves as the go to spot for the very best in independent music videos – garnering 800,000+ subscribers in over 260 countries worldwide, over a million unique visitors a month (over 40,000+ visits a day), and more than 85,000 Likes on Facebook. IndiMusic TV was originally founded in 2004 as a “go to” music video website and then launched as a half hr TV show in 2008 in the NY tri-state area on the independent TV Network WLNY TV10/55. It garnered instant popularity as it was the only game in town to launch, market and expose new indie Music Videos on traditional TV. After three successful seasons IndiMusic TV broadened their horizons by launching a world wide mobile TV network partnering with Yamgo TV, a mobile TV start up in the UK. In September 2012, IndiMusic TV launched as the first 24-7 independent only Worldwide Music Video TV channel and Musician Social Network. They are currently ranked as a top 100,000 site in the world and the proof is in the pudding as to why this is the case for many up and coming musicians.

On top of the endless music videos available at your disposal, they also have some great music related programming for the masses to enjoy. First, there is the show “Do I Have A Hit Song”, which airs Monday through Wednesdays at 7-8 on M&W and 9-10 on Tuesdays. This show puts the song front and center, featuring hit makers such as Drew Copeland from Sister Hazel proving that it really is ALL about the song. The show has a unique online component that means any songwriter has a chance at being part of – and winning – this ground breaking International TV show (enter at www.doihaveahitsong.com). Artists who get the most votes online during the semifinal rounds will be chosen for the finals, attaining major publicity and support in getting their song heard and distributed to the world. Semifinal episodes air on selected Tuesday nights at 9pm including January 20th, February 3rd, February 17th, March 3rd,March 18th, March 31st, April 14th; with the finals airing May 12th and May 26th. Consider this to be the song version of “American Idol” right on your computer screen. Watched the first episode and with all the unsigned talent that is out there I am really excited to see how this show plays out in 2015 and see if that person does in fact have a hit song.

Another show that they have that I really dig is called Private Sessions. Hosted by former VH1 VJ Lynn Hoffman, she sits down with legends in the music industry such as Maroon5, Bon Jovi and Gene Simmons from KISS and gets to the grit of how they made their way to becoming who they are now. The Emmy Award winning series airs Thursday nights at 9PM, and you can also catch Lynn hosting IndiMusic’s Top 21 Countdown airing weekly.

For artists the sign up is free and to upload footage onto the site is affordable and worth it. When you are putting footage onto a site that has Emmy wins, a huge amount of views & unique views, and combines a mix of great music from independents and huge artists what is there to lose? Check out the official site for more information.

The Loft Sound Studio- Finding The Next Big Thing In Music

by Ryan Shea

In the past decade or so, reality television has giving audiences a first hand look into what it takes to develop the next music superstar. Shows like “American Idol”, “The X Factor” and “The Voice” have all played pivotal roles in taking a regular person and turning them into a chart topping, Grammy winning performer who becomes a legend in the industry they simply once aspired to be apart of. But what happens when you take someone who has already been through the ringer of this type of program and take their experience into their own hands and utilize it on other up and coming performers? That’s where you will find Donnie Klang and Matthew LaPorte, who have developed The Loft Sound Studio.

Located ten minutes away from me in Plainview on Long Island, Donnie & Matthew have built Long Island’s premiere music artist development factory. If you are unfamiliar with Donnie he rose to fame on MTV’s hit show “Making The Band” a couple of years ago, most notably being signed by Diddy as a solo artist as opposed to the rest of the men there who were being groomed to be the next big group in R&B and hip-hop. When your mentor is none other than Sean Combs you pretty much have the rundown as to what it takes to find that next X factor of a person or persons. Since their opening, they have developed some big new talent including MarissaAnn who was a finalist on season 3 of “The Voice” and Madison Beer, who landed a deal with the biggest artist in the game- Justin Bieber. I sat down with Donnie & Matthew to discuss more.

Hey guys! So tell me a little more about how the process of The Loft Sound Studio started?

We opened The Loft Sound Studio in 2011 with the intention of giving young aspiring singers a place where they can come develop not only their vocals in a fun innovative way- but also help train and create recording artists that are industry ready.

Donnie, do you think your experience on Making The Band helped in the process of developing the studio itself?

My experience on Making The Band was one in a million. It was really the last of true artist development that labels used to put into their artist. It’s been amazing being able to take everything I learned and the network I made and help new artists pursue their careers.

What was the biggest takeaway that Diddy taught you during the MTB experience?

The biggest thing I learned from working with Puff was that this is truly a business. I learned the ins and outs of every aspect of developing, growing, marketing, and exploding a brand.

What made you want to transition out of music and focus solely on producing at this point in your career?

When things slowed down for me- I realized from a business aspect I wanted to have something in place that can help sustain my life moving forward so that when I’m ready to work on my music again I won’t have to worry about the financial side of it. I’ll be able to just whole heartedly put my focus on creating.

Can you please let our readers know who both you and Matt have been developing and any success stories with the brand?

We helped to develop Madison Beer who secured a deal with Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun and she eventually signed to Island / Def Jam. We’ve gotten multiple teenagers onto reality music competition shows including X Factor and The Voice. Most recently we assembled a 5 member pop / R&B girl group that we are currently marketing and developing and will be showcasing to record labels in 2015. They are called The Janes. We also have been working with 17 year old soulful powerhouse vocalist MarissaAnn from season 3 of The Voice.

Seeing as we are all Long Islanders here, do you think LI gets the musical respect that it deserves?

I think Long Island is a hidden gem. We are of course in the shadow of the greatest city in the world- but it also gives us amazing opportunities less than an hour drive away. A ton of clients from Long Island that come to us used to have to travel all the way into NYC to get the type of training and services we offer- so we pride ourselves in being a little slice of the big city in Long Island.

Now that 2014 is ending, what are your ultimate hopes for The Loft Sound Studio as we enter into 2015?

Everything seems to have been culminating to this upcoming year. Everything I learned while being an artist in the industry- along with how much our business and network has grown- there will be multiple label deals signed this upcoming year for a bunch of our artists!

Learn more about Loft Sound Studio by logging on to their official site

Theater Review: LYPSINKA: THE TRILOGY

by Ryan Leeds

Not to minimize the contribution that many drag queens make, but let’s be honest: Most of them are a dime a dozen. Walk into any gay bar on any given night of the week and you’re sure to see a bedazzled beauty strutting her stuff and lip-syncing to the latest Top 40 hit. Sure, it takes skill and preparation, but mostly, it’s just bubble gum fantasy with free drink tickets.

Now, take your fabulous self downtown to the Connelly theater and let a genuine and unparalleled diva hypnotize you with her ferocity and glamour. The lady of whom we speak is none other than Lypsinka, who is currently casting a spell in the East Village in the Lypsinka Trilogy. Lypsinka is the persona embodied by John Epperson, an immensely talented individual who has been inventing and reinventing Lypsinka since the late eighties. Even Epperson himself has been known to eschew the title “drag queen” because it “describes an amateur”, and he holds the label of “actor” in much greater esteem. It is a fair declaration because Lypsinka is the grand dame by which all other drag artists should aspire. Three shows are running concurrently at the intimate theater spot and –just in time for the holidays– each of them is a precious gift to theater goers.

Lypsinka! The Boxed Set

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Who is Lypsinka and why all the praise?” Lypsinka is a throw back to the golden age of stage and screen. Using clips from classic films, interviews, and vintage cabaret clubs, Lypsinka actually lip syncs (imagine!)various sound bytes, incorporating her own flair but still maintaining the integrity of the characters. Bette Davis will appear one moment, followed by Gloria Swanson the next. Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Faye Dunaway, and others are also heard. How she is able to pull it all off with such exquisite flair is nothing short of a miracle. But with the subtle raise of a brow, an extended glance, and quivering lips, Lypsinka will mesmerize and amuse.

The Boxed Set is a cornucopia of these silver screen beauties and although there are few costume quick changes, the hostess for the evening will make each and every moment unique. A string of phone calls will be answered, each by a different personality, and a screwball version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” turns the song upside down by replacing the traditional lyrics with a variety of cocktails for each day. The entire show will hold you in delightful captivity, but these two scenes elicit the greatest response from audiences and had me laughing so hard I had to catch my breath. Epperson’s Lypsinka has been at this for years, but make no mistake about the artistry. Under Kevin Malony’s keen direction, this is precision and talent at its finest.

The Passion of the Crawford

One would be remiss to pay homage to the bygone era of Hollywood without mentioning Joan Crawford. Here, Lypsinka, with the help of Steve Cuiffo, recreates an actual interview between Crawford and John Springer (Cuiffo). Clips of radio interviews and acceptance speeches also emerge and once again, we watch in awe of the detailed mannerisms, executed with over the top flair and drama. Malony also helmed this production, which opens with a tight montage of Crawford’s work.

Although it is worth seeing, The Passion of the Crawford should be seen in addition to, rather than instead of, The Boxed Set. Consider The Boxed Set a primer to the living wonder of Lypsinka. Even though the Crawford piece is flawless, The Boxed Set offers more variety. Either way, you’ll become a fast fan of Epperson’s creation. In both cases, Lypsinska knows her audience and she’ll deliver the delicious goods.

John Epperson: Show Trash

When Lypsinka sheds the Edith Head inspired costumes, she is actually John Epperson, the creator of this larger than life personality. Seated behind a piano, Epperson discusses his early days in New York City and the origin of his creation. It is hard to wrap your head around the fact that Epperson is Lypsinka since he embodies none of the qualities as his alter ego. Epperson is slight, unassuming and reserved; She is everything aside from it.

Under Barry Kleinbort’s gentle and able direction, Epperson deserves the utmost respect for sharing his own self. The vulnerability and honesty expressed here is not often on display for drag performers. Yet, one questions whether Epperson’s goal is simply an autobiographical presentation or a plea to be acknowledged as himself rather than dwelling in the mascara mask of his lady. Either way, we can celebrate both Epperson and his female side for bringing pure quality entertainment to life.

Lypsinka! The Trilogy plays now through Saturday Jan 3, 2015 at the Connelly Theater, 220 E. 4th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. For tickets and information visit: http://tweedtheater.org/lypsinkatrilogy/ ,

Essential Voices USA: Holidays at Carnegie Hall and “Cherished Moments”

by Ryan Leeds

Well, New York…It’s that time of year, again. Not, as the popular song goes, “when the world falls in love and every song you hear seems to say ‘Merry Christmas’.” For most city folk, it means cluttered sidewalks rife with tourists, longer lines than normal at the morning coffee shop, traffic jams, and a quick depletion of pain killer from Costco sized bottles. This weekend, however, Essential Voices USA is determined to melt your frozen yuletide hearts as they take to the Carnegie Hall stage for The New York Pops’ annual concert “Home For the Holidays” this Friday and Saturday, December 19th and 20th . The 60 voice chorus, under the direction of Judith Clurman, will be joined by Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara (recent star of The Bridges of Madison County and upcoming leading lady of Lincoln Center’s The King and I revival) and Matthew Morrison (Light in the Piazza, Hairspray, and television’s Glee). On Sunday afternoon , December 21st, a smaller ensemble of Essential Voices USA will join the orchestra for a family holiday concert. The afternoon will feature a staged 50th year anniversary celebration of the beloved television special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Matthew Morrison_small2 (1) — Photo courtesy of Laura Marie Duncan

On Friday and Saturday, audiences will be treated to “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “O Holy Night”, “We Need a Little Christmas” and other holiday favorites. Sunday’s light offering will include “Holly Jolly Christmas”, “Silver and Gold”, and the title song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. The afternoon will also feature members of the New York Theatre Ballet as they re-enact scenes from the holiday classic. All concerts will guided by the baton of Steven Reineke, music director and conductor of The New York Pops. As of the writing of this article, tickets for all performances are extremely scare, so you’d better act fast, find a generous friend with an unused seat, or pray for a holiday miracle.

Speaking of miracles, Clurman’s group will honor the season’s festive Jewish holiday within the Friday and Saturday night concerts with “Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah.” This collection of songs was arranged collectively by Clurman, Larry Hochman, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Clurman translated the piece and it originally premiered in December 2010 (under her baton) at Carnegie Hall with Essential Voices USA and Stokes Mitchell. Due to popularity and acclaim, the group will once again revive this joyous song cycle , which is currently being performed nationally by other vocal groups. Although Essential Voices USA’s weekend performances will not be recorded, Clurman’s arrangements of the Chanukah piece have been preserved on the recording, “Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit”, available through the Sono Luminus label on iTunes, amazon, and Spotify. The album not only incorporates “Songs of Freedom”, but other holidays and life events surrounding the Jewish culture and religion. Produced by the Grammy award winning David Frost, it is one of Clurman’s proudest musical achievements. “Each of these pieces is a cherished moment from my own life,” she says. Some of the pieces have been written with the last few years, while others are traditional songs like, “Han’shamalach”, a song that Clurman heard as a child in the synogogue. The album captures the essence of the Jewish experience and Clurman is particularly fond of the idea that, “Jews experience the sacred in time rather than space. It is through these moments that we find meaning and holiness in our lives. This album is a kaleidoscope of who we are as a people.” Both “Songs of Freedom” and “Cherished Moments” capture the essence of Jewish life, but have broad, universal appeal. Clurman observes, “It transcends by being fine music.”

Fortunately, for those who have already purchased tickets, they can experience this musical transcendence live. If you’re one of the unfortunate music lovers who decided to lollygag like a tourist from Topeka around the Rockefeller Christmas tree , download “Cherished Moments” and let it fill your soul with peace and calm during this otherwise harried holiday.

For tickets and information visit: http://www.carnegiehall.org/,

http://www.essentialvoicesusa.com/

http://sonoluminus.com/p-386-cherished-moments-songs-of-the-jewish-spirit.aspx

EVgroup — Photo courtesy of Gertjan Meijer

SELECT – The Black Card for the Next Generation

by Ryan Shea

With the ever present view of celebrity lifestyle in the forefront, whether it is on television, radio or in the magazines, we get somewhat of an insiders look on their spending habits and boy are they big. Many of them have the AMEX Black Card, which loosely translates to that you are ballin and probably in the top 0.1% But what happens when you are a hard working young professional but still want to be a part of that lifestyle? Let me introduce you to SELECT. [Read more…] about SELECT – The Black Card for the Next Generation

EXCLUSIVE Interview: Shawna Hamic Sets Sail on Broadway

by Ryan Leeds

What is it like to share the spotlight with an International superstar? Ask Shawna Hamic, who is currently starring in the brand new, musical The Last Ship on Broadway. Written by the former front man of The Police and 16 time Grammy award winner, Sting, it tells the story of Gideon, a young man returning to his small English town to save the pending closure of the shipyard and win back his childhood love. Hamic originated the role of Mrs. Dees, a buxom, no-holds-barred broad who owns the local watering hole. Hamic is making her Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed piece and took a few minutes to chat with Manhattan Digest about riding her ship of dreams to the Great White Way.

PERFORMANCE BACKGROUND

As a child in Southern California, Hamic started singing when she was 3. Her grandfather was a minister and her mother was the choir director at their church, so she often sang in the church services. Her interest in musical theater was peaked in junior high school, and she was first cast as Ado Annie in the musical production Oklahioma! She was cast over upper class men –which was a big deal!

Hamic’s family couldn’t afford a four-year college. so she went to an intensive 3 year performing arts program at a community college (Citrus College in Glendora, California). Here, she gained exposure to all genres including jazz, rock, pop, and traditional Broadway. She also toured Europe twice and Hawaii for a month with her student peers. The entire education cost around $3,000 and Hamic is quick to point out that “ It’s not about where you go, but what journey you take to get there.”

AUDITION PROCESS

Hamic had been on the road for 3 years, playing the brash, swindler Madame Thenardier, in a touring production of Les Miserables. Since the revival was headed to Broadway in March 2014, she auditioned for the same part. In spite of her hope to recreate the role there, the creative team went in a different direction and Hamic wasn’t cast. Instead, she ended up taking a quick trip to Florida to visit family and planned to come back to NYC if there was an audition to attend. Within a few days of arriving in Florida, she received a call from her agent who asked if she could audition the next day for The Last Ship . Hamic packed her bags, caught an early flight to NYC the next day, and crashed at a friend’s apartment.

When she received the first call from her agent, she was told that the casting team wanted her to approximate the Geordie accent when she read sides( Geordie is the region of North East England where the show takes place). She used the concept album (of the same name) which Sting recorded, to mimic the accent. As Hamic is a huge Sting fan, she already owned the recording. Her flight became a rehearsal space while she tried to master the brogue.

She arrived to the audition, with her song, (Cyndi Lauper’s “I’m Gonna Be Strong.” ) Since she had been on the road for 3 years, she hadn’t sung it. But as crafty actors go…Hamic hatched a plan. At the same audition studio, Hedwig and The Angry Inch was holding open auditions. The rumor mill circulating was that the role of Yitzhak had already been cast so the auditionees were sparse. Hamic seized the opportunity and auditioned simply so she could hear her song be played before she auditioned for The Last Ship . How freakin’ clever is that?!? With time to spare, Hamic grabbed some lunch and with it, an unwanted dose of food poisoning. Yikes! While most hopefuls step into an audition room wanting to bring down the curtain, Hamic’s simple prayer was, “Oh God, Don’t let me throw up!”. Apart from going sharp at the end of the number, her initial audition went well, but furiously fast. Hamic was in and out in 5 minutes.

Within 20 minutes of leaving the room, she received a call back from her agent. The creative team wanted to see her again the next day and had notes for her. “Change the ending of the song, wear something simple and pretty, and go “balls- to –the- wall Madame Thenardier” on the sides.” “No problem!”, she thought. And one additional note: Sting would be present at the callback.

Hamic arrived early to the Saturday callback and went to the nearby Westin hotel to compose herself and prepare. Immediately before entering the room and “amping” herself up, the casting directors announced a bathroom break, but Hamic took it in stride, “Well, at least they ‘ll focus on me instead of concentrating on the fact that they all have to go!”, Hamic thought. Although the audition pianist blind-sighted her by racing through the song (traditionally done as a power ballad) she sucked it up, made it work, and plowed through. It apparently went unnoticed by the casting team, who applauded her deft ability to pull off the song.

Then came the side readings. In a moment, Hamic took a deep breath and found instant knowledge of what they were looking for–and she nailed it! As she walked out the door, she heard Sting say, “That was Shawna Hamic, right?”, and she felt overwhelming joy to know that, whatever would transpire, Sting knew her name for two minutes.

That Monday, two days following the callback, dance auditions for the show were being held and Hamic anticipated a callback for the dance portion. Instead, she got a call from her agent (on speaker phone) who announced that he wanted to be the first person to inform her that she had landed her first Broadway show! She didn’t even have to attend the dance callback. Later, she learned from one of the company managers, that she had been cast in the show about 11 seconds after she had left the callback audition.

CREATIVE PROCESS AND SHOW RITUALS

The show premiered at Chicago’s Bank of America theatre on June 10th , 2014. Rehearsals started 6 weeks before that in New York. Since the entire show is a new concept, there was a great deal of trial and error during rehearsals. The Broadway production is primarily the same as what Chicago audiences saw, but creatives changed about 20 % of the show. The collaboration of the creators went very smoothly and everyone was on board to make this the best show it could possibly be. “Sting was never precious about “killing his babies”,” she said. “If a song didn’t work, he would simply write a new one. I tried not to be starstruck when I began working with him because I wanted to view him as a colleague.” At home, though, she admitted to a bit of “fan-girling”. She has much admiration towards him because of his respect for the process. Through the entire rehearsal period and previews, he was always there supporting and encouraging the cast.

In addition to her role as Mrs. Dees, Hamic serves as the photographer of the show as has provided photo documentation of the journey, as well as press photos of Sting, which have appeared in Time magazine and other established publications.

Like a tight-knit family, the cast and crew have a Saturday night ritual with their theatre friends at the August Wilson theatre, located directly across the street from the Neil Simon on West 52nd street. Jersey Boys is currently running here. Each Saturday night, the cast from both shows serenade each other following the show. Usually there is a short rehearsal for it. Upon learning of the ritual, Sting wanted to get involved. “He really just wants to play and he’s up for anything!”, Hamic said, “Including an appearance on “Carols for a Cure”, a holiday album with songs from current Broadway casts, which raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “Soul Cake”, a rambling version of the traditional folk song, is The Last Ship‘s contribution ”

FUTURE

Hamic has a short wish list of roles she’d like to tackle, including Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. For now, though, she is exceedingly grateful and thrilled to be performing as a feisty bar owner and performing the Act 2 opening number, written expressly for her by Sting (“Mrs. Dees’ Rant). The composer has also become her fellow cast member, as he is currently starring as Jackie White, the foreman of the shipyard through January 24, 2015.

The Last Ship is currently running on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre (West 50th between Broadway and 8th Ave.) For tickets and more information, visit http://www.broadway.com/shows/last-ship/ or visit the box office.

The original cast recording of The Last Ship will be released on Tuesday Dec. 16th. “Carols for a Cure 2014” can be purchased now. Both are available on iTunes or www.amazon.com

z100’s Jingle Ball 2014- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

by Ryan Shea

Last night z100’s, New York’s #1 hit music station, held their 2014 Jingle Ball right in the heart of New York City at the famed Madison Square Garden. In conjunction with I Heart Radio, the concert was broadcast all over the internet with an air date on the CW to happen later on this month. Naturally the show was sold out as it was packed with some of today’s biggest and brightest stars, all huddled under one roof to give everyone a great show and for us to have an awesome night. Whereas there were a ton of great moments that happened throughout the night, there were some things that happened that made me puzzled, confused and wondering if it was really ok putting them there in the first place. Take a look at what went right, and what went wrong at Jingle Ball.

The Standouts-

Taylor Swift-

Of course, Taylor was the headliner at Jingle Ballso she was the last to come out which happened around 11:45 PM, nearly four hours into the show itself. It also happened to be Tay tay’s birthday today, so all of us got to celebrate with her on her 25th which was pretty awesome. Honestly, Taylor is at the stage in her career where being at the top isn’t even the top, she’s further than that. So the mini concert itself was really just a spectacle to watch and the audience craved every minute of it. She has such great stage presence and really enjoys the interaction she has with her audience. Only thing I was a bit confused by was why she performed two songs off of “Red” and not all five of her songs from “1989”. I get you wanna perform the hits, but you have enough adoring fans that know “1989” already that they would’ve been excited to hear something new as opposed to something we’ve heard for years (I was hoping she would’ve performed, “Style”. Nope). Otherwise, great set to end the night.

Shawn Mendes-

Maybe this is just my age as I am transitioning from the top 40 phase of my life to the WALK 97.5 stage, but Shawn Mendes was the only person on the Jingle Ball lineup that I had no clue who he actually was. He apparently has some big song out right now that he performed last night called “Life Of The Party”, which for a guy just playing with a guitar and nothing else did a pretty good job. The highlight was his own version of the first verse of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” which he did in a very stripped down way, and that to me was awesome. It is good to know that someone of his tender age of 16 can research music from a different time period and take a song which is so deep and heavy and turn it into something much more light and in a way refreshing. Hope he has a very successful career ahead.

Sam Smith-

Love him and I think he is the best thing that happened in 2014 by far. Such a simple guy with this amazing voice that commands such a presence. He is such a unique throwback to the yesteryears of Elton John and Billy Joel, and did such a fantastic performance of his hits “I’m Not The Only One” and “Stay With Me”. Just like Shawn, I see a bright future for him and hope his success continues beyond this amazing year he had.

Pharrell-

Surprisingly Pharrell was the one who kicked off the night, which in past years is usually reserved for some of the smaller acts. Pharrell spent most of his set performing hits that he was featured on such as “Blurred Lines” and “Get Lucky” but the latter two songs were his best. Why? The surprise announcement of his fellow “Voice” judge Gwen Stefani coming out to perform their new song “Spark The Fire”, which was freaking awesome. Growing up Gwen was a huge music influence for me and seeing her and him perform together again was amazing. Of course, he finished his set with “Happy” and invited a bunch of PSL’s on the stage to dance/take selfies with him. Honestly, if I was on stage with Pharrell I would put my phone in my pocket and enjoy the experience and not do what these stupid girls did, but it’s a generational thing, so whatever.

5 Seconds of Summer/Maroon 5-

The only two “Rock” acts at Jingle Ball, and both did a pretty decent job. Maroon 5 was great, maybe phoned it in a bit with “Animal” and “One More Night”, but I felt like they were super rushed because Jingle Ball itself had such a large lineup that many of the acts only had 10-15 minutes. Nevertheless they were great. 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS, were quite fantastic and did a great rendition of “What I Like About You”. My hope is that they can get past the screaming girl phase and really be seen as a great band as opposed to a flash in the pan that pop seems to take in and spit out every year.

The Lowlights-

Jessie J/Meghan Trainor/Rita Ora/Nick Jonas/Charli XCX/Rixton-

I honestly felt bad for all of them, they legit got 2.5 seconds on stage and then went bye bye. Nick and Rita I’m not shocked at. Rita doesn’t even have a huge song here in our country, and Nick only has one song “Jealous” which he did pretty decently. Jessie did one song “Burning Up” but came back later on in the night to perform “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande, and Charli XCX came back after her set to do “Fancy” of course. I just felt that all six of these artists are quite talented and had a good amount of buzz about them that they could’ve given them a little bit more stage time. Especially Meghan Trainor, who legit rushed through quite possibly the biggest song of this year, “All About That Base”. I get that they have to stay on schedule but I just thought it was a bit unfair to give them that little amount of time when they are all talented in their own right.

Calvin Harris-

You have had massive hits over the years with some of the biggest names in the business, and you even sing on some of your own songs. So you got paid last night to stand on stage, press play, and yell at the audience and you weren’t even mixing. Seriously? Bye.

Ariana Grande-

Oh lord, where to begin. First off, I’m begging this girl to stop wearing that stupid ponytail as she consistently looks like a 6th grader. Want to be taken seriously? Dress a little bit older than you have been. Her shout out to her awful brother Frankie was another thing. Zero connection with her audience, she giggled about tripping during her one part, and just seems very unprofessional. Also, it seemed as if The Weeknd was supposed to perform with her on “Love Me Harder” but conspicuously wasn’t there. I attest it to the fact that she wanted all the stage time, which further proves her diva like behavior that she has been accused of over the past year. There is a huge difference between what she and Taylor is putting out there. Just saying.

Iggy Azalea-

Sort of surprised that she was the second to last to perform over people I deem to be bigger and more talented than her. Ugh. What kills me is that she needs to figure out if she wants to be a pop artist or stay strictly rap, because her performance last night lingered both ways. She was super bubbly and pop on “Fancy” then went the other direction on one of her better songs “Work”. I can’t believe she didn’t censor the “Blow Job” line in that song, but to each his own. I just read novelty all over her and hope that she figures out a game plan because the amount of respect she has in the industry as a whole is quite low for someone who had such highs this year.

Go to z100’s site for more information.

Andy Cohen’s “The Andy Cohen” Diaries- Review

by Ryan Shea

“Andy Cohen’s Got The 411” couldn’t be truer in this novel

I for one am a self confessed Bravo addict. I don’t know when the addiction began, but it is real and true. Part of that addiction is the man at the helm of this article, Andy Cohen. Andy, who only a mere couple of years ago was only known for being a producer of content for Bravo TV, emerged as a contender in late night programming with the wildly successful “Watch What Happens Live”. He has also been the host for the riveting “Real Housewives” reunions, as well as developing some of our TV mainstays such as “Top Chef” and “The Millionaire Matchmaker” to name a few (not on this list- “NYC Prep”. Yikes Andy Cohen. Bloop). With all the success that Andy Cohen has had over the past couple of years, both on and off camera, he has taken his crazy life stories and written about it in two books. The first one was released earlier this year, titled “Most Talkative: Stories From The Front Lines Of Pop Culture”, which chronicled how he got to where he is now. He recently released his second book titled “The Andy Cohen Diaries” which gives us a day to day visit into his life and the totally exciting chaos that ensues on a daily basis. As much fun as the first book was to read, I was totally excited to read “The Andy Cohen Diaries” as it would give me a better glimpse into someone who I view as a bit of a hero when it comes to making yourself in this world. I got that, and so much more.

There are a lot of facets that I love about Andy Cohen just from reading this book. There are times while reading it where I genuinely get a Kathy Griffin vibe from him, meaning that he is really the celebrity for the people and that he is just one of us. What I mean by that is when he details his nights at “Watch What Happens Live” & when a big celebrity appears, he wants to make sure that everything goes well in order to make sure the night runs smoothly (See: Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, even Shaq). It comes off as a mixture of wanting to be a good host yet also wanting to make sure that the audience watching at home and in the studio is having a good time, which comes across as genuine and that he really cares. There is even a part in the book where he worries about becoming a self obsessed narcissist as he has heard that it is near impossible for other late night hosts not to get that way. Very interesting.

The book sometimes really does read like Andy Cohen is the gay male version of Carrie Bradshaw, most notably noticed by Sarah Jessica Parker herself as written on the back of the book. From reading this book it seems like Andy leads quite the glamorous life, with hosting fantastic events, attending some of the best bars and clubs that New York City amongst other cities has to offer, and hanging around some huge A-listers as a genuine friend to (Kelly Ripa, Anderson Cooper, etc). Something that I love about these parts of the books are the normal people that he meets along the way, such as “Baby Jane Flight Attendant” on his trips to LA and his “future husband” that he meets on at trip that coincidentally lives in the same building as him. His also honest take on how New York City has become completely commercial is a huge breath of fresh air, especially when it is something many New Yorkers like myself have been noticing for years. So when he brings up the greedy landlords that keep closing some of the best restaurants in New York City down due to price hikes to make way for yet ANOTHER Duane Reade or TD Bank, it is just another reminder of why NYC is not what it used to be. Kudos to Andy Cohen for bringing that up.

It to me is so funny that the theme song to “Watch What Happens Live” starts with “Andy Cohen’s got the 411”, which couldn’t ring truer in this novel. The 411 meaning the biggest name dropper of 2014. There are so many names that Andy discusses in this book, both inside and outside of the housewives realm. Something that I wish he could’ve been a little more open on are the housewives that got fired and he omitted their names while discussing. That would’ve made this book even more salacious as a lot of us would love to know his true opinions on the Housewives, although he seems to play favorites (Nene, Brandi, etc). That being said, some of the highlights for name dropping is his cavorts at “The View”, most particularly his epic visit when Barbara Walters read him the house down for his assumption that her generation didn’t understand “American Hustle”. Yikes. Of all the name droppings in the book (Gaga’s was a hoot) the one that I genuinely liked the most was his honest description about Miss Britney Spears. I grew up loving that girl so much that I was voted Most Obsessed in my 8th Grade Yearbook. So when he talks about meeting her in Vegas, and pretty much detailing his honest thoughts about her (get the book, its good) it brings us a much more candid version of who Britney really is on a day to day basis, and that is was a real person’s experience and not a tabloids. Fascinating stuff.

The best parts of this book are two things- Wacha and his parents. Wacha, the rescue dog that he adopted from a kill shelter in West Virginia, is a pivotal point in this book as he appears throughout. From Andy’s lack of committing to anything including a dog, it really was fun to see the growth that he experiences with Wacha from the first time he meets him to the bond he develops with the dog to this present day. It really is heartwarming and as a dog lover myself can empathize about the daily struggles of having a dog but loving it unconditionally as they love you that way. Then of course there are his parents. I truly believe if Andy gave them their own reality show it would be a hit, as they are both hilarious in their own nutty ways. Evelyn’s (mom) texts to Andy about a myriad of things runs similar to how Kathy Griffin describes the brutal honesty that her mother Maggie bestows about her on a daily basis. It is part caring, part keeping it real, and part hilarity all wrapped up in one, and something you will see quite often as you read the book.

Overall, I think Andy Cohen is like Charlie Brown meets Andy Warhol. Just a normal guy from St. Louis who happened on this incredible life and stories for the masses to read, just like Andy Warhol did with his book back in the 80’s I would highly recommend anyone getting this as you will find some sort of relatability throughout. For more information on all things Andy Cohen, log on to his site.

Movie Trailers are the New Black

by Alex David Jimenez

There, I said it. We’re all thinking it. Or perhaps, when in fact studying the craft that is designing a film trailer nowadays, in all their ostentatious glory – perhaps movie trailer teasers are in fact the new black. And then all the young boys and girls of a certain sort stand proudly and truculently in their not-so-common Storm Trooper costumes and meticulously crafted Elven ears and say Nay! – it is not the teasers of said trailers which are the new shade of popular, oh no. It is in fact the teasers of teasers which are just the greatest thing ever!

A long time ago, in a Hollywood now far, far away, the only hint of a plot to upcoming films was a poster. And it was usually hand-drawn. Imagine a let down of that magnitude in today’s viral campaign-mongering and hashtag-driven world of foreshadowing wonder. It would be madness, I tell you, madness!

Here is where one would cue the brass-heavy rousing film score.

While dramatic to an extent, there is in fact an aspect of truth to the idea that movie trailers can sell or destroy today’s major motion pictures. Along with the special-effects and the plot twists and the acting techniques which have adapted and grown to a higher standard as the years have gone by, the previews to our films have also significantly risen in quality. It’s very easy to compare the compelling appeal of movie trailers today to those of yesteryear, thanks heavily in part to the accessibility of YouTube and modern-day archive resources at a whim.

Case and point, here’s the official trailer from the original 1954 version of GODZILLA:

And then watch this one, from the 2014 film reboot:

And lastly, just for the overall nerdy fuck of it, check out this mashup of the old with the new. The style alone brings a new element to the old trailer which makes it appealing, even today.

So why do we love movie previews so damn much? Well, part of it has to do with the fact that we are able to spread them like wildfire. Back when films were a thing of luxury, in black and white glory and magnificent faux sets, the only group of people who saw the previews to the next big film were the ones in the theater. Jump-cut to today when movie trailers are premiered on the internet before they even make their debuts in theaters.

This past Thanksgiving two very large movie trailers made an appearance in theaters. How do I know? Well because they first landed on YouTube, before they appeared anywhere else. Was this effective? You be the judge: The film trailer for Jurassic World was posted on YouTube on November 25th. As of the time of the publishing of this article, it has been viewed 41,077,141 times. Yes, that’s forty-one million. And counting. On November 28th, the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was posted on YouTube. Today it has 42,193,847 views.

Have you seen these trailers? If not, check them out here:

And with all this being said and watched, how many times do we fall victim to the ever-present masterpiece trailer, only to be followed by the monumentally disappointing actual film? We’re looking at you, Superman Returns. It’s true, the foreplay does not always result in a fantastic finish.

Screen Shot 2014-12-04 at 11.57.13 PM — LEGO Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Trailer – by kristo499 on YouTube

So what’s next? If movie trailer teaser teasers are the rage, what could possibly top them?

Easy. Movie trailer teaser teaser parodies for the win.

Which film trailers are your favorite? Which ones were better than the actual film?

Theater Review: “Love Letters”

by Ryan Leeds

Candice Bergen is a five time Emmy Award winner, two time Golden Globe award winner, and an Oscar nominee. Alan Alda has also been nominated for Academy Awards and has taken home entertainment trophies for his roles on television’s The West Wing and M*A*S*H. Both Bergen and Alda have graced Broadway stages and have convinced us that they can handle the medium of live theater with comfortable ease.

How is it then that their pairing in Broadway’s Love Letters seems so awkward and mismatched? Love Letters is A.R. Gurney’s 1989 Pulitzer prize-winning play that has found its way back to the Brooks Atkinson theater. Since September, producers have lined up big name talent to read letters written between two complicated lovers slash friends over the course of their lifetimes. Mia Farrow began the run as Melissa Gardner, a girl of affluence who blossoms into an adult in search of herself Along the way, she battles heartbreak, depression, and rehab. In the midst of life’s trials, Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, her childhood sweetheart, comforts, encourages, and at times, frustrates Gardner. Brian Dennehy assumed the role of Ladd upon the show’s opening.

Bergen’s performance is much too brash and self-assured. Gardner is sweet, vulnerable and girlish but still expresses a confidence which suggests that she is not a complete pushover. Here, Bergen plays her too much like Murphy Brown, the character in the sitcom of the same name, and the role for which she is best known. A a hard-hitting TV Anchor, a caustic, annoyed demeanor works. Here, however, her Melissa is too defensive, making it difficult to empathize with her. Alda seems altogether disengaged from the material. Ladd’s likeability hinges on the fact that he is torn between the loves that he did have as adult versus the possibilities of a life with Gardner. Through the years,an abding respect and devotion for Gardner remains intact. This makes Ladd perfectly human and relatable. But Alda’s body language suggests that he is bored and would rather be at a bar, sipping a martini with Loretta Swit. At this particular performance he actually lost his place in the script–with the pages directly in front of him.

And…the…dramatic…pauses…seem…endless. Both actors interject so many of them that the usually brisk 90 minutes feel painfully interminable. There is a fine line between dramatic pause and a lunch break. Candice Bergen is a fine actor. Alan Alda is worthy of critcal praise. Love Letters is a poignant, thoughtful, and deeply felt play. The combination of all three, though, generate an exchange of correspondence that is not much more than a string of misfired missives.Let’s hope that the next line-up (including Diana Rigg and Stacy Keach, Angelica Huston and Martin Sheen) will handle Gurney’s poetic script with more depth and sensitivity.

Love Letters on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson theater, 256 W. 47th (between Broadway and 8th ave.) Tickets available at the box office or by visiting: http://lovelettersbroadway.com/. Visit the site for the guest star schedule.

ENTERTAINMENT

“Andy Cohen’s Got The 411” couldn’t be truer in this novel

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