Just Do It

We all do it: over-analyze that tough decision to the point of madness. It's easy to say "stop thinking too much and just do it" but not necessarily as easy to do. Studies suggest that our instincts actually are likely to be right and that thinking things through too much will only lead to fear and stop you from acting. It is always better to do something rather than nothing though. Whether it is going after the promotion you want or asking the person you are interested in out, inaction will only lead to regrets. The results may not be what you hoped for, but at least you can say that you tried.

Musical vs Movie

Many musicals live to become popular movies. Examples include Chicago, Cabaret, Les Miserables, and Phantom of the Opera (to name a few). Some would argue that these shows were meant for the stage while others like the movie giving more affordable access to a good story. I would argue that there are good things about both forms of presentation. There is nothing like watching a Broadway show unfold on stage. That being said, there are some things that are simply too hard to bring to life without the technical advancements of film. Sometimes the idea the people behind the show are trying to get across to it's audience is easier to convey on film. The best would be to see the play in both forms. Go have the Broadway experience the cast and crew want to give you and keep that with you every time you watch the movie at home. That is the best way to get the full experience the show in question has to offer.

Spotlight: TM Promotions

"TM Promotions is a NY/NJ based booking and promotions firm." This is how they describe themselves through their MySpace page. There is more to it than that, however. TM Promotions is music brought to you by people who really love their music. They are not just a "firm" -- that sounds too technical and emotionless -- they are people. Officially they are actually one person, TJ Olsen, but there are plenty of others who work closely to help out whenever possible. For instance if you check out the photography on the MySpace, that is brought to you by your humble blogger and a friend of ours. I will periodically be posting upcoming events and such in a segment that will be called: Brought to You by TM Promotions. Hope you will come check us out if you are in the area.

PNC on Notice

I recently attended a concert at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ and have a few complaints I would like to share with the management.

1) If you are going to post a list of prohibited items on your website, please make sure it is COMPLETE. Having a basic item like a purse be restricted due to its size will cause many problems unless advance notice is given.

2) Prices: Charging twice the amount that items normally cost is criminal. I get that things are going to cost more at a venue like this but if it would have been cheaper to eat in New York then that is just ridiculous.

3) Organization: You're parking lot is a maze. Please make signs clearer and make it easier for people who were dropped off to be picked up. My ride paid several more tolls than was necessary because he had to keep getting on and off the parkway.

The only thing I didn't really have much complaint about was the actually staging. Sound quality was decent (although I have heard better) and even lawn seats have a decent view of the stage. Just need to work on the above mentioned issues and you could really have something here. I will say that those who drive as a group and get the full experience probably enjoy themselves more. My problem is for those who have transportation issues. Yes there is a train and shuttle you can take, but it is a long ride for most who would take it and costs money. The parking and driving issues that you could possibly encounter almost make it worth it to take the train, however. I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

Change Your Tune

There are certain bands that always seem to have good singles come out that are only memorable for a short period of time or the single will be exceptional but the rest of the album won't be worth the plastic it was wrapped in. Two such bands for me have been Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band. Coincidentally these two bands have recently come out with new songs that I have found to be more enjoyable than any of their earlier material. In fact, Funny the Way It Is may be one of my favorite songs this summer. It is catchier than their usual style, thus making it more memorable for the listener. Pearl Jam has also pumped up their sound with The Fixer by a considerable margin. This surge in more upbeat music gives me hope that these bands will be able to continue their lengthy stay on the top charts. These are two bands that have a considerably large following while still never quite breaking certain barriers. The final level for me is having that one song (or more) that will live in your internal playlist forever. This is comprised of all the songs that made such an impression on you that you still randomly sing them years later. Pearl Jam may have had one or two like this but could only fill a whole album after compiling a "greatest hits" over the years. Hopefully these two bands have filled their new albums with this more exciting sound. If so, we should see an increased interest in these two groups from the music consumer.

Helpful DIY Hints

Even though summer is almost over that doesn't mean that basement and loft shows have to go along with it. Here are some helpful hints to get the most out of your show:

1) DIY may have a great feel, but only if you plan ahead. Make sure you keep in mind how well air circulates in your loft or basement and factor in how crowded you expect it to be. Too many people + not enough air could = a ride in the ambulance for the fainting king or queen. Also make sure you have plenty of water or remind people to bring their own.

2) If you share your building with others or live in a populated area you may want to test sound levels to make sure volume isn't so obnoxiously loud that you get noise violations. Remember, if the super doesn't like you then no more cool shows happen at your space.

3) Don't overcrowd the elevator. There may be other parties going on, but that doesn't mean the blame couldn't fall on you if the elevator breaks down. Make sure people go in small groups or suggest taking the stairs (especially if you only live on the second or third floor). This is obviously more for lofts than basements.

Most important of all is to remember that you are there to have fun. This isn't meant to be a list of rules to follow. This is more a suggestion of things to consider so that you can enjoy your time without having to worry about the authorities coming and ruining your evening.

Dance Dance Revolution

The evolution of dance has taken many turns in its lifetime, as documented by one enthusiastic performer to comical results. Even with as many different styles that are documented in this video, there are still many more that have been missed. From as far back as the 1920s there has been a dance craze that swept the nation. (This is not to say that dance originated in the 20s; only that this blog chooses to start it's focus at that point in time.) Dances in the roaring 20s were much different than dances today. The Charleston is a classic example from this era. Notice how this dance has a complex yet simplistic style to it. This is just as much evidence of a difference in musical styles as it is a difference in the dancing of the time. Fast forward to the 1970s and songs like YMCA by the Village People or the Time Warp, which was introduced to us by Rocky Horror Picture Show, and you see what I mean. These dances were probably easier to do but did not have the classic feel of dances such as the Charleston. The 80s simplified things even more with the Electric Slide. It wasn't until the 90s that we saw a complexity start to reemerge in the world of dance. This was more evident with the Cha Cha Slide than in other dances such as the Macarena. The Macarena become repetitive after awhile, but the Cha Cha Slide made an attempt to mix things up a bit more. Finally we come to the present. For those who have been scared of the Disney generation ever since N'Sync broke up I caution you to look away from the complex dance craze that is brought to you by Miley Cyrus. It is called the Hoedown Throwdown, and it is shamefully catchy to those older than say 15. I was introduced to this by a friend and found myself embarrassed to admit I enjoyed watching her do her thing. While I am skeptic this will be as big a staple as dances like the Electric Slide have become, it is still interesting to compare it to early dances and get a feel of how things have changed over the years.

There is one dance I have failed to mention due to uncertainty as to where to place it in my timeline. Cotton-Eyed Joe has had an evolution of its own over the years. The song can date back as early as the 1800s, however the dance found a surge of popularity during the western craze that followed the release of Urban Cowboy in 1980. There was another such lift when the song was recorded by Rednex, a Swedish band. This is the most common version heard today at dances and parties. There are many different dances to go with the song. The Evolution of Dance video presents one version while I have linked to another as well. There are several other versions that seem to vary depending on what part of the country you are from. I knew someone from Texas who did it differently than another from PA and yet another from New Jersey. It's all a matter of preference I suppose.

There are too many dances (and variations thereof) to name them all here. This has been but a small introduction to the wide world of dance. If I missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment and tell me so. Maybe I'll do a second post if enough people show interest. Until next time, happy dancing.

Moonlighting with Alex

Moonlight passed over television viewers for only a brief moment, but those who watched the show fell in love with it immediately. The question I have for everyone is this -- Did viewers fall in love with the show and its intriguing characters or were they just following one shining star: Alex O'loughlin? The show only lasted one season, but there was a small uproar over its cancellation which indicates that at least some really did love the show for what it was and not simply for who was in it. CBS seems to have other thoughts, however, as it has cast Alex in a new show called "Three Rivers". Many people claimed they would boycott CBS after the cancellation of their beloved show. It will be interesting to see how many people follow up on this and how many just want to see the actors perform in some capacity.

Technology's Double-Edged Sword

It is hard to deny that we are living in the technology age. The main form of communication now is either email or cellphone. We use social networking sites like Facebook to keep in touch with friends rather than pick up the phone and call them. And then there is Twitter, which this blog did a small feature on just yesterday. But with all the good technology can do for us it is just as dangerous, for every computer owner knows that it is only a matter of time before the wonderful little machine crashes on us. After the initial anger at the inconvenience of the thing there is the inevitable panic of "Oh God, what if I just lost everything." Then there is the scramble to find the problem and, hopefully, a solution. Some get lucky and resolve the issue right away, but others are not so fortunate. Those are the ones who tuck the lifeless entity under their arms and march over to the nearest computer store begging for a new fix. The sad thing is there isn't much we can do about this. The computer is in our system now, for better or worse. We gave ourselves to it and will have to suffer the consequences. It's not all bad though. Just think about the endless amounts of information we receive in return for the occasional tiff with the infernal machine. And as long as our famous last words don't become, "Computers will never completely take over," we should all be fine.

Promotions in the Twitter Age

We all should have noticed by now how much Twitter has taken up of our lives. Not only do we use it as another social networking tool with friends, we also can get news and promotions information by following musical artists and news sources we want to stay connected to. LiveNation is using this in a new and interesting way, however. They are currently doing a scavenger hunt that encourages members to follow them on Twitter by offering a lawn season pass at the venue closest to the winner. I don't know about anyone else, but this definitely persuaded me to join the ranks of LiveNation followers. I don't have high hopes for winning, but I'll probably continue following them regardless in the hopes there will be other promotions like this. Whatever happens it will be interesting to see just how successful this venture of theirs actually is. One thing is for certain, TweetDeck will definitely get a lot of use tomorrow.

Slippery When Wet

The third time was the charm for New Jersey band Bon Jovi, as their third (and most successful) album was released on this date in 1986. It sold 12 million copies in the U.S. and over 28 million worldwide. It was also named the top selling album of 1987 by Billboard and went 12 times platinum in U.S. sales. Hits include "You Give Love a Bad Name" which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and "Livin' on a Prayer" which was #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1987. Other hits that didn't quite reach number one include "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Never Say Goodbye". To commemorate this event, here's a video of "You Give Love a Bad Name" (embedding was disabled for this one so have to settle for a link).

I was lucky enough to get to see this band perform live at the opening of Prudential Center. While I was unable to get video myself, others in the audience were more fortunate than I. Here is an example of what you missed if you weren't there.



This was probably one of the top ten concerts I ever had a privilege to attend. It was truly an experience, one that I will remember for years to come. Jon opened by saying "I am the Jersey Devil and this is my new home," a reference to his Jersey roots. His band is one reason I can say I am proud to be from New Jersey. With 10 studio albums and more to come, it is safe to say that this band will be one for the record books.

Edit: In doing some research I found out Bon Jovi actually has a new album coming out later this year. Here is a sample to pique your interest plus another song mentioned in this blog:

Follow the Yellow Brick Road... with The Beatles

Today in history we celebrate a fictional girl from Kansas and a group of musicians from across the pond. In 1939 "The Wizard of Oz" made its New york premiere in theaters. Also this date in 1960, The Beatles started their first engagement outside of England as they arrived in Hamburg, West Germany. This was the first time they played under the name "The Beatles". As a tribute I thought I'd lead you to this video I found on YouTube.

"The Wizard of Oz" and the Beatles are both legends in their respective fields. Not only has "Oz" been voted one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, it also had an interesting mix of black & white and color sequences. When reviewing the history of color in movies, The Wizard of Oz always makes the list right next to another movie that came out that year (and beat it for Best Picture) "Gone With the Wind".

When it comes to music history there is no one like The Beatles. They are one of the most influential bands of all time, as most musicians today either directly or indirectly draw inspiration from this remarkable band. They have made the Billboard 200 Albums of the Year chart countless times between 1964-2007 as well as the Hot 100 Songs of the Year chart between 1964-1976. It is hard to summarize a band with that long a history with just a few words.

Suggested activity of the day:
In celebration of our two events in history, why not drive over to a friend's house with your Beatles records and copy of Wizard of Oz and follow the yellow brick road down memory lane? Just be careful of those flying monkeys!

Mother Nature Sings the Blues

This summer has been a good one in terms of musical events but it would seem mother nature is not a fan. Everyone was excited to hear No Doubt would be going on tour, but New Jersey may have been disappointed by the lack of sun for their PNC date in June. A similar complaint could also be shared for those who attended All Points West (or tried to anyway). Hopefully Blink 182 will be able to break this cycle with their August 26th performance at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. My ticket has been sitting in a safe spot all summer, just waiting for the opportunity to make the day of this self-proclaimed music junkie. While I am hoping for the best, I can't ignore Jersey's track record so far with outdoor events. That is why I am thinking of contracting someone to start building me an ark. You know what they say, "Better safe than sorry."

A Proclamation

Here ye, here ye!

Where it has been decided that I should become more involved in promotions and the music business,

and where it has been recognized that the author is much too random to stick to one topic,

a proclamation has been made that this blog be created so as to bring you the latest news in all subjects the author deems worthy of mention. This may include anything from upcoming movies to what's happening in the world of politics, but mostly it will focus on the music scene. So tune in for upcoming dates and news on all your, well my, favorite bands.

Get ready now, because this is the News on Shuffle.