Talk to Sales

Mixing it up for the Holidays

Holidays and music have long gone together. Some of the most memorable holiday sing-alongs (aka ‘The Classics’) have been written and recorded over the last 150 years. With the Golden Age of holiday songs (arguably) behind us, we are annually subjected to the popular artist re-make rife with vocal olympics, over-production, gaudy arrangements, and sometimes just a bad fit.

There are occasionally some gems: poignant versions that remind us of the sentiment in the song, and some versions featuring clever arrangements, genres, and mash-ups. But what seems to be most lasting or most impressionable (to me at least) are the odd, random pairings of artist, song and genre. Over the last 35 years there have been some new “Classics” that put a genuine twist into the old standards. Here are few of my favorites.

Run DMC – Christmas in Hollis [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqe30azXSBo&feature=player_embedded#!]

David Bowie and Bing Crosby – Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus&playnext=1&list=PLDE5BD9BA29C89A86&index=33]

A little history on this odd pairing that almost never happened can be found

Kiehl’s Welcomes Rainn Wilson for Grand Opening!

Even though Kiehl’s has been offering high quality skin care products since 1851, the brand new store in Bellevue Square Mall is opening this weekend.  Saturday, October 23rd from 10:30-12:00pm Rainn Wilson, most famously known as Dwight Schrute from The Office, will be the special guest at this grand opening.  If that isn’t enough, you’ll also receive 15% off your entire purchase all day!

Later that night, the Seattle Native will be showing up at The Paramount for a pre-show dinner, show, and after party with some of his friends (including Presidents of the United States of America for a special acoustic performance).  See you there!

Kymberlee Executive Assistant/Sales Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Concert Review: Recoil (Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode) – The Triple Door, Seattle – October 18, 2010

For the last 15 years Alan Wilder hasn’t been a member of Depeche Mode. And in the span of 90 minutes, the length of Recoil’s show last Monday night in Seattle, it became painfully obvious what’s been missing from the last four DM albums.

Against a backdrop of intriguing (and sometimes disturbing) visuals Wilder, with the assistance of Paul Kendall (a longtime Mute Records engineer, producer and mixer), created a stunning sonic landscape, chock full of all of the elements we have come to know and love, i.e. analog synthesizers, sound effects and vocal samples. Playing songs spanning the entire Recoil discography, the tunes that received the biggest response from the audience were mash-ups that incorporated elements from the Depeche Mode catalog (for me, “Walking In My Shoes/Jezebel” was a highlight).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igWGacLdQb8]

Apparently Wilder is constantly barraged with questions regarding when he’ll rejoin his former band mates. That would be fantastic! But, please Alan, at the very least: produce DM’s next album. Just imagine;

Burn The Floor – Review

What do you get when you take all of the top ballroom talent from SYTYCD, DWTS and National Championships and make them perform together?  The answer is a spicy hot, nonstop ballroom dance extravaganza called Burn The Floor.  This new Broadway production came to the Paramount Theatre last weekend and blew me away.  The dancers transitioned seamlessly from Cha Cha to Viennese Waltz to Rumba to Jive and more.  The best part was the hottest Samba I’ve ever seen to “Magalena”.  I highly recommend checking this show out.  Fly to the to New York if you have to.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ftDoAmA_KI]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlah7oYyWo]

Kymberlee Taylor Executive Assistant/Sales Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Bumbershoot Comedy Recap

So I did it!  I completed my goal of watching every single non-local comedy show.  It took the whole three days and a lot of following special guest and my imaginary friend Doug Benson around but I did it.  He proves the worth of Twitter with his smart one-liners and ‘Where’s Doug‘ secret sayings to get free merch.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUM69fH7FaE]

Bumbershoot did a great job of designating venues for certain genres of comedy.  Vera Project was local acts, Charlotte Martin was musical comedy, and Intiman was your typical stand up.

The musical comedy was a lot of fun and pretty much everyone involved had toured with Flight of the Concords.  I saw David O’Doherty open for my celebrity crush Demetri Martin a couple years ago and I still reminisce the hilarity his performance produced.  His dad was a trained jazz pianist and D.O.D. plays his things like “My Beefs 2010” on his 1984 tiny electric yamaha keyboard.  Sell out performances by Patton Oswalt and […]

Happy 9.02.10 Day!

Even though the Facebook fan page didn’t reach its goal of 10,000 followers (which means no officially recognized holiday, TBS marathon, or new 90210 movie) we can still celebrate our favorite Beverly Hills gang!!

This is a once in a lifetime event so I’m getting out my Brenda Barbie and running my own 90210 marathon tonight.  I said it and I’m not ashamed.

Larry King loves it too.. and for even more details on the event go here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KSXEo9b70I]

Now hum along and get this song stuck in your head all day!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRXm1AavtmY]

Kymberlee Taylor Executive Assistant/Sales Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Heather’s Song Of The Day: Fresh

In case you missed it, New-Wave band Devo recently released their first new studio album in 20 years. 20 YEARS! And it is a FANTASTIC album! Something For Everybody really does have something for everybody. I love this album and the video for the first single from the CD, “Fresh,” shows the boys are just as quirky as ever. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVqESo4mFMs&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

Heather’s Song Of The Day: Yours

Finally! After two years of waiting, Dan Black is coming to Seattle! The Paris, France native will play Chop Suey on October 11 in support of his 2009 Polydor debut album ((Un)). That album made my Top 15 list last year, and I am super excited that Dan is finally coming to town. To celebrate, here is the video to one of my favorite tracks on the album, “Yours.” This video came out in October 2008, which is why I’ve been waiting so long for a Dan Black Seattle tour stop. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJgLrhj9iZ0&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Oh yeah! Dan’s also been nominated for an MTV VMA! The video for his song “Symphonies” received a nod for best Breakthrough video. The awards show is September 12.

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

Heather’s Song Of The Day: Any Which Way

Scissor Sisters have just released the second single from their new album Night Work, and it’s one of my favorite songs on the disc. The video is appropriately awesome and it only makes the wait until I see them live at Showbox Sodo on September 15 seem even longer. This clip has everything! People breaking stuff, hot shirtless men, pretty colors and clothes to die for. (I’d love a pair of shoes like the ones Ana is sporting at 1:44. Size 9, please!) And did I mention the song is fantastic? Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHv0jW4p_xA&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

Janelle Monae is IT

Why is it that Janelle Monae has not massively blown up yet?  Maybe it’s because she doesn’t have a machine gun brassiere? Or is it because she’s singing about politics and poverty instead of hard-partying & boy troubles? Either way, I have hope that her slow-growing album The Archandroid keeps growing roots. Here’s her new video for another amazing track off of it- “Cold War”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqmORiHNtN4]

Julia

Music Director

Bjork – The Comet Song

Moomins and the Comet Chase” is a new animated film for children, and Bjork happens to be a huge fan of the Moomins. She composed a song with Icelandic poet and author, Sjon, entitled “The Comet Song”. This song is available on iTunes as of today, and all the funds generated from the sale of the track will be donated to UNICEF Pakistan Childrens Charities. You can also check out the Moomins on Facebook here. The video is streaming directly from Bjork’s website, and it may have a few technical issues due to influx of traffic to her site today since this was just announced. Click HERE to watch and please enjoy!

Heather’s Song Of The Day: Hang With Me

My friends and coworkers know I have a special place in my heart for Swedish pop singers. They seem to have perfected the magic formula to create the ultimate sugary-sweet songs. The artist responsible for today’s song of the day is no exception. She is one of the biggest music stars is Sweden right now and if you ask me, that success is well-deserved.

Robyn has had a busy few months. She is about to release her second album so far this year, with another album to go after that and she just finished up a US co-headlining tour with Kelis. Oh, and did I mention that she runs her own record label? She isn’t slowing down a bit, however. Her new single “Hang With Me,” the first off Body Talk Part 2, just dropped and the accompanying video gives the viewer a pretty good idea of what it’s like to be in Robyn’s shoes right now.

Look for Body Talk Part 2 on […]

Beiber and Ullman Slowwwwed Dowwwwn

So… I’m sure you’ve heard the viral sound of Justin Beiber’s song, “U Smile” slowed down by 800%, and the process of slowing that song down created a sound that is unearthly. The original of the sing can be found here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp4oM4x7yA]

But when it’s slowed down by 800%, this is what you get:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0RqzP_N2Ps]

Have you heard the slowed version of Tracey Ullman’s “They don’t Know”? Here is the original:

And slowed down, she sounds eerily like Tears for Fears

So, there you have it! Now, run home, grab your vinyl (or buy a program with audio slowing capabilities) and see what musical treasures you can create by slowing things down a bit!

Zoë Dixon Messaging Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Kids In The Hall Return To TV

Tomorrow night, everyone’s favorite gender-bending Canadian comedy troupe is back! That’s right, the Kids In The Hall return to television for the first time since their self-titled sketch series went off the air in 1994. This time, the Kids take on Death in the original IFC miniseries Death Comes To Town.

All five original KITH (Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson) play almost all of the roles in the new eight part series. The scripted 30 minute show follows the exploits of the residents of Shuckton, Ontario after the Grim Reaper arrives on the Greyhound bus and one of the townspeople ends up dead. The first two episodes air back to back starting at 10pm Friday, August 20th on IFC.

While you wait, here’s a classic Kids In The Hall clip. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbvbF0L9tJg&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

Comedy Makes the World Go ‘Round (some reviews)

I have an addiction.  It’s a problem.  I’m completely addicted to live comedy.  There had been a couple weeks of not frequenting a stand up joint and I was getting the shakes.  Luckily I got tickets last week to go see Doug Benson of ‘Super High Me‘ , Comedy Central programs, and VH1’s Best Week Ever.  I’ve seen his stand up on Comedy Central before and wasn’t super impressed.  Which is why I’ve decided you haven’t really ‘seen’ someone until you’ve seen them live.  He was hilarious.  Interacting with the people in the crowd who were telling him to open his eyes, making fun of a poster someone made for him, and getting to tell jokes about McDonald’s and how his flatulence smells like delicious McGriddles (they weren’t a sponsor this time).  His opener, Graham Elwood, was fantastic as well.  He kept on getting distracted by the wavy lights in the background and having a little one-man rave party.  I even got my own […]

Robyn Hitchcock & The Hungry Moment

Robyn Hitchcock has been around longer than most of the stuff you listen to, and there’s a reason for that; he’s fantastic!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKE0maCnw9s]

For a limited time, you can head over to his site and download 2 tracks from his new project The Hungry Moment, which is a ‘psyche & western’ group he’s started with Abigail Washburn & Rayna Gellerd on board!

They’ll only be up for 1 week, so head over now to grab your Phantom 45’s

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Concert Review: Chromeo – Showbox at the Market, August 12, 2010

Last night, Seattle’s Showbox at the Market rocked harder than I’ve seen it rock in a long time. What was the occasion? Chromeo, of course! The Montreal-based electrofunk duo played a sizzling set for a shockingly enthusiastic all-ages crowd. Lead singer Dave 1 put it best when he said, “Seattle, can I say something? You’re nuts!” Not something that we notoriously standoffish Northwest audiences hear very often. In the case of last nights sold-out gig, however, Dave 1 was 100% correct.

Dave 1 and his partner in funk, P-Thugg, played hits from their first two albums, She’s In Control and Fancy Footwork, as well as cuts from their upcoming release, Business Casual, scheduled to drop on September 14, 2010. I was excited to hear all of my favorite songs, including “Tenderoni”, “Fancy Footwork” and my number one Chromeo track, “Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys).” I was also happy to hear some of the new stuff, as I was hoping they’d play their new single, “Don’t Turn […]

Morrissey: 13 for Friday The 13th

I read on NME today that indie God Morrissey has selected his all-time favorite 13 albums for Friday The 13th! Since there are more than a couple i’ve not heard, I’ve decided to post some vids to visualtrack his picks, just to turn us all on…

Here is the list: Jobriath – ‘Jobriath’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXks3Xjydh0]

Jeff Buckley – ‘Grace’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MMXjunSx80&feature=av2e]

The Smoking Popes – ‘Born To Quit’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqeniPMrkI]

Damien Dempsey – ‘Seize The Day’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TfGCEt45-E]

Roxy Music – ‘For Your Pleasure’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVCGTsiedEY]

The Velvet Underground – ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjDmX9Tkss&feature=related]

The Velvet Underground – ‘White Light/White Heat’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mn71fQpXNY]

Sparks – ‘Kimono My House’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxiz4B3EqQ]

Iggy & The Stooges – ‘Raw Power’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MPvJYZUSuI&feature=related]

Nico – ‘Chelsea Girl’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ype6Hw_Hmjo]

Patti Smith – ‘Horses’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9f4C4iZ9o8]

Ramones – ‘Ramones’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_VxvwMRKr4&feature=related]

New York Dolls – ‘New York Dolls’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbd-BcuPvLA]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Twilight vs. Quileute Nation at SAM

Ever wonder what the Quileute tribe thinks about their fame as a morphing, teenage, vampire-hating wolf pack in the Twilight series?  Well if you’re lucky enough to live near the Seattle Art Museum you can find out what this tribe is really all about in a special story time and drumming circle this Saturday from 1-3pm.

Check out the article in the Seattle Times for more details.

Local News | ‘Twilight’ leads Quileute tribe to help museum tell its true story | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Kymberlee Executive Assistant/Sales Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Something That Means Something: Lush “Spooky”

The early 90’s were an exciting time in music. The 80’s were over and i was discovering for myself more music than ever, growing out of The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen and the like… “Baggy” had started a couple of years earlier but was fading into House music, which left me cold. That’s when “Shoegaze” grabbed hold of me. There were fantastic songs coming out of this genre, and a couple of great albums as well. One such album was the debut from English band Lush, titled “Spooky“. I was in love with this album, and with Emma Anderson, the other singer-guitarist. Have a look and a listen…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBkMQsu2iwc&feature=related]

In 1992 Lush played The Palace in Hollywood (now The Avalon Hollywood), and some friends and I made the trip over. Back then, all the shoegaze bands played The Palace and did signings at the late-great Aron’s Records. We headed down, but i refused to wait in line. However, i did […]

“Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna

I figured since I have had the same lyrics playing on repeat in my head for the past few weeks, I would hunt down the video and share it with you.

Love The Way You Lie” is a huge success track off of Eminem’s new album “Recovery” which was released in June of this year. It features Rihanna on vocals, and personally, I couldn’t have paired a better duo to pull off this song. It’s preformed from the heart, and please keep in mind that this song may be offensive to some, so viewer discretion is advised.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U]

Zoë Dixon Messaging Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

New Band Obsession: Hurts

For the past several weeks, I have been obsessed with new UK band Hurts. The electronic duo is comprised of vocalist Theo Hutchcraft and synth player Adam Anderson. While their first album hasn’t dropped yet, I am loving what I’ve heard so far. The first two singles have been very well received in Europe and I am anxiously waiting their arrival on US shores.

Their debut album Happiness is scheduled for release in Germany on August 27 and in the UK on September 6. Sadly, no release date has yet been set for the States, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.

Here is the video for their very first single, “Better Than Love.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn8tBgI1BVQ&hl=en_US&fs=1]

And the somewhat strange video for their newest single, “Wonderful Life.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuwdw7KmGwA&hl=en_US&fs=1]

And my personal favorite Hurts video, a live performance for their song “Illuminated.” Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2aCANYiwv0&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

David Bowie & Trent Reznor “Hurt” Together…

15 years ago David Bowie & Trent Reznor thought it would be a great idea if they did a tour together. It wasn’t. I saw the tour in Las Vegas, and unfortunately NIN opened for Bowie, so half of the arena left when Trent did. I felt embarrassed for Bowie, though I stayed as he was who I’d come for. I’ve read over the years that Vegas was no fluke. Peeps were walking out everywhere, which would explain why this fantastic pro-shot footage has remained vaulted for the last 15 years. It’s too bad; it’s excellent!

Watch on Vimeo!

I sort of attended out of obligation to the past and to my girlfriend at the time. NIN were played out for me even though they were riding the peak of their success at that time. I loved “Pretty Hate Machine” but “Broken” left me wanting more tunes and less rage, so by the time “The Downward Spiral” rolled around, […]

Brian Eno: New Release on WARP

Read yesterday that Brian Eno will be releasing a new album on WARP. As far as i’m concerned, a new Brian Eno album of any kind on any label is welcome news! I love Eno’s music and his philosophy on life. I would worship at The Church Of Eno, even though he would absolutely loathe such an idea. In fact, it’s my understanding that Eno would hesitate to support any religious institution, which is ironic as he loves Gospel music.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shEwFjhzA4&feature=player_embedded#!]

It is also my understanding that any “NEW” album is a misrepresentation. Eno, as a musician, spends his time tarrying in the studio, stockpiling complete as well as unfinished ideas. Much like Prince, he is believed to have loads of unheard/unreleased material of varying quality locked away in the “vault” somewhere. This “NEW” album I assume is no different.

In fact, one of his collaborators alludes to this very fact! “It contains the fruits of several years of jams between the three of […]

Summer at the Space Needle

Alas, it’s that time again!  Where Seattle weather is the perfect 75 degrees and sunny every day.   These are the days  I miss living downtown the most.   Good thing Seattle keeps all sorts of fun things happening so I have constant excuses to make my way over there.  Coming up next week, KEXP and Seattle Center join forces to bring us free music and movies ‘Concerts at the Mural‘ and ‘Movies at the Mural‘!!  Hanging out on the lawn of the Mural Ampitheatre sounds like my kind of way to spend a summer evening.  I can even pretend I live in the “good ol’ days” where drive-in movie theaters where popular and people knew (and spoke to) their neighbors!  Now the only problem is which ones do I go to?  I certainly can’t miss watching The Princess Bride for the 485th time.  It’s outside this time!

Kymberlee Taylor Executive Assistant/Sales Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

I’ve Fallen for Chrissie Hynde all over again!

How cool is my job? Today I came in and worked like I normally do, but then at 3:45, instead of yawning and looking at what meeting was next up on my calendar, I got to stroll a few feet to check out a live show! Just being in the business we’re in, I’ve been able to check out a few bands, like Minus the Bear and Fun, but today is a special double-header featuring Susan Cowsill and J.P., Chrissie and the Fairground Boys (that’s Chrissie Hynde’s new band in case you hadn’t heard!). How amazing is this … a true icon and some fantastic musicians! To prepare for this historic day, our video & production crews transformed part of our nondescript, office-park building into a bonafide mini-club complete with black curtains, bright lights, camera equipment, a small stage, and adoring fans! PlayNetwork employees and guests have already been treated to a set by Susan Cowsill and her band. On the road from New Orleans, Susan’s […]

Nick Cave to rewrite “The Crow”

Ok, so yesterday i was hating on Nick Cave, but today is a new day and i’ve just read some exciting news! Now, i’m not a huge movie buff or anything, but one film i used to love was “The Crow“, and while i usually loathe remakes of already good films, today’s news has me singing a different tune, as Nick Cave has been tapped to pen this one.

For those of us who may not know it, Mr. Cave is regarded as the screenwriting talent for the future, and while i’ve not actually seen anything to his film credit (I’m afraid to, as I love his music and am familiar with the darkness his mind is capable of), the buzz is on!

“The Crow” may be better known as the film Brandon Lee was filming when he was accidentally shot dead on set. While the irony is almost unbearable, it is still a great movie with an even better soundtrack. […]

Grinderman “Heathen Child”

If Nick Cave is married to The Bad Seeds, then Grinderman is his mistress. “Heathen Child” has been given to us ahead of the albums release via SoundCloud, check it out!

[soundcloud width=”100%” height=”81″ params=”” url=”http://soundcloud.com/muterecords/heathen-child”]

I have to say, i don’t like it very much. Nick, i thought we had a kind of potlatch pact? I bring my hard earned cash to the party, and the music gets better and better. Well, now i feel a little betrayed! This is a poor b-side at best, in fact, The Bad Seeds have 3 discs full of better b-sides than this song. Maybe The Bad Seeds’ revolving door policy should be implemented with Grinderman? Just a thought. End this fling after this release and beg for forgiveness! That, and coax Blixa & Mick back into the fold. Now, please. I’m waiting…

Now, let’s reminisce for a moment, shall we?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNYNL-n_uU&feature=related]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Countdown to Mad Men

This weekend is the THE weekend. Mad Men is back! Season 4 starts on AMC this Sunday night. Yes! It’s time to get back to the gorgeous men in suits & fedoras, the voluptuous women, the not-so-old-school sexism, the indiscriminate smoking and drinking.

What will become of the mysterious Don Draper and his broken family, the eager Peggy Olson, the new ad agency? Is Betty Draper a nut job? Is Joan Harris back for good? Can the ambitious Pete Campbell be trusted? I am counting the minutes.

If you  need to get your fix in the meantime I recommend spending some quality time designing your very own 60’s avatar at AMC’s new & improved “Mad Men Yourself”. I did. A few times. Here’s my fave:

Julia, Music Director

[news] Decibel Festival line up announced

This past week the Decibel International Festival of Electronic Music Performance, Visual Art and New Media in Seattle unveiled an updated list of confirmed performers, showcases, venues and sponsors for the 2010 program.  The line up features a plethora of critically acclaimed, international electronic music acts, including Modeselektor (Berlin), Carl Craig (Detroit), Fennesz (Vienna), Beats Antique (Oakland), Mary Anne Hobbs (London), VibeSquaD (Denver), Murcof (Tijuana), Plastician (London), Monolake (Berlin), Dinky (La Araucanía), Theo Parrish (Detroit), Ben Frost (Reykjavik), Starky (Philadephia) and Scuba (London).

For a complete list of the over 75 confirmed acts, visit the Decibel Festival artist page

Big K.R.I.T feat. Yelawolf – “Hometown Hero” remix

Def Jam found no hesitation when it came time to sign their newest artist, Big K.R.I.T, to their label. His most recent mixtape, “K.R.I.T. wuz here”, was released earlier this month, and caught the attention of Yelawolf, another talented artist who wanted to throw down onto the track, “Hometown Hero“. Below is a link that has the remixed version with Yelawolf’s contributions. Both artists are dropping a future mixtape together entitled “Country Cu$$ins”, so be on the lookout for it as it is anticipated to be one of the hottest mixtapes to circulate this year. Southern hip hop has been revived through these two talented musicians and I look forward to hear what they collaborate on in the future. PLEASE NOTE DISCLAIMER – The lyrics in the track are unedited and may be offensive in nature to some. Listener discretion is advised.

Please click right HERE to preview the track.

Zoe D. Messaging Coordinator PlayNetwork, Inc.

Kristin Hersh’s new Book? new CD? “Crooked”

Just read in Billboard that Kristin Hersh is releasing her new album “Crooked” with book publisher HarperCollins! I’m not sure what section you’ll have to look in to buy it, but with the record industry collapsing, this is a shrewd move on her part. Is it a book with a CD, or a CD with a book? You decide. Each copy comes with a download code, recording stems for remixing, track-by-track audio commentary and a fan forum. The book contains color artwork and an essay about each song on the album. That sounds pretty cool actually!

This got me thinking about which artists could benefit most from this new arrangement. Perhaps the new Justin Bieber CD will be packaged with a coloring book? Or maybe the new Marilyn Manson will come with a pocket Bible? The new Who record could be another breakthrough, with the first CD/Braille Book packaging?

Kristin is on to something here i think…

Tony Media Producer […]

Flying Lotus “MmmHmm”

Wow!  This is everything a video should be!  Enjoy…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCyv05SG1g&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Scissor Sisters Are Coming To Town!

One of my all-time favorite bands, Scissor Sisters, just released their new album, Night Work, on June 28th. What? You say you haven’t heard it yet? Well, I highly encourage you to pick it up! I’ve been listening to it non-stop for weeks and it’s a fantastic summer album. Every song is so different and seems to be influenced by a different genre or band. There’s a song that sounds like it could be vintage Talking Heads, one that would be right at home on the new DEVO album and one that sounds like it was written in the middle of disco fever.

One of the best things about a new Scissor Sisters album is, of course, a Scissor Sisters tour. Tickets went on sale this past weekend for most of the dates on their newly-announced North American jaunt and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve missed them the last few times they came to Seattle, so I will be sure to […]

JAMES: North American Tour 2010

Good news from one of the most underrated bands of all time, yes, of all time! JAMES is a band, not a man…well, unless you know someone named James, then he is also most likely a man, but this JAMES is a band, and a rather good one too…

Sadly for them, they are best known in the U.S. as that band that sings “Laid”…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol-KrTTta4g]

Now, one song will not fill a stadium like that a decade after it’s release, so there must be something more, no? However, their anti-stardom is a blessing for those of us over here, as we get to see this great band in much smaller, more intimate & better sounding venues! Look for yours below and do yourself a favor and go…

USA, Canada, Mexico ~ Autumn 2010

September: 20th – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Culture Room 21st – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House Of Blues 22nd – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse 24th – […]

[film] Facebook the movie?

My initial reaction after hearing about this was movie, staring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield and Rashida Jones, was to cast it aside as another predictable Hollywood drama, trying to capitalize on the hype surrounding social networking. However, after reading more about the  ‘The Social Network’ by David Fincher (‘Fight Club’, ‘Seven’, ‘The Game’, ‘Panic Room’, ‘Zodiac’) and the score by Trent Reznor aka Nine Inch Nails, I filmly believe this is going to be a great film chronicling the most popular social networking site in the world (Facebook).

2 Scots: 1 on the Highway To Hell, 1 Alive & Kicking

Today is the birthday of 2 famous Scots.

The first, is none other than the legendary late Ronald Belford! Who is that you ask? Well, take a look at this…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9iOk8PqkKs&feature=related]

The Late, Great Bon Scott (July 9th, 1946 – February 19th, 1980)! The original (and some say the best) singer for Australia’s AC/DC.

Happy Birthday Bon, wherever you are…

The second Scottish Birthday Boy is singer-songwriter Jim Kerr (b. 1959), frontman for long-standing Scottish band Simple Minds, who happen to be this photographers favorite band!

Most people know Simple Minds from their one-big-hit “Don’t You Forget About Me“, from the 80’s Film Classic ‘The Breakfast Club‘. However, they have a 30+ year career, with many great songs that you may not have heard before, so let’s check out a couple, shall we?

Here’s “Someone, Somewhere, In Summertime”…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7XZPhgmTaw]

Yes, you are right! Charlie Burchill does wear his guitar too high! But it’s not his birthday […]

Who Got A Nod?

This morning, nominees were announced for the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Critical darling and international sensation Glee was nominated for a whopping 19 awards, while Tom Hanks’ latest wartime miniseries The Pacific earned a staggering 24. There were a few surprises on the list this time around.  

Best actress in a comedy:

Lea Michele, “Glee” Toni Collette, “United States of Tara” Tina Fey, “30 Rock” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures of Old Christine” Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie” Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”

Best actor in a comedy:

Jim Parsons, “Big Bang Theory” Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Matthew Morrison, “Glee” Tony Shalhoub, “Monk” Steve Carell, “The Office” Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

Best comedy series:

“Glee” “30 Rock” “The Office” “Modern Family” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” “Nurse Jackie”

Best reality competition:

“The Amazing Race” “American Idol” “Dancing with the Stars” “Project Runway” “Top Chef”

Outstanding Reality Program:

“Antiques Roadshow” “Dirty Jobs” “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” “MythBusters” “Undercover Boss”

Outstanding […]

The Return of MTV?

NEWS FLASH!!!  Yesterday it was rumored that there may be 30 new episodes in the works of a couple of my favorite characters, Beavis and Butthead.  Since King of the Hill ended last year, I’ve been itching for my Mike Judge/Greg Daniels regular fix.  It’s said that the format of the cartoon would stay the same (story + music video commentary) down to the rudimentary drawing.

The question still remains where the show would air.  Would it return to one of the channels that had previously held the spot (MTV, Cartoon Network, Fox)?  Or would it air only online off of Judge’s own website?  I’m voting for the return of MTV.  Please stop making me hear about the Kardashians and Jersey Shore and start letting me watch Beavis and Butthead take on Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga videos.

Remember how fun this was?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQYlLQWvEr0]

I would be thrilled if my child gets to grow up with these guys.  Does that make […]

Interpol 2010

I’d heard of Interpol before I’d heard the music. Everyone was talking about Joy Division this, Joy Division that, and i just couldn’t be bothered by something like that. However, on the way back from a trip to Hollywood’s Amoeba Records, sitting in the back of my managers car, he put on their self-titled EP…

At deafeningly loud levels, I was converted. And i fell especially in love with this song…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw97oth25Vg]

I don’t think they sound anything like Joy Division actually. That’s just lazy journalism! Anyone with a passing knowledge of pre-Nirvana alternative music and ears to hear will tell you that Interpol are a blend of The Chameleons UK and Kitchens Of Distinction.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_UIr3ATi4]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JXk_oV4nbo]

Interpol released 3 albums since that car ride and I’ve enjoyed them all and now they’re ready to release they’re fourth album which is to remain untitled.

They’ve lost the coolest bass player to come along in two decades in

So You Think You Can – DANCE This?!

For the 12th year in a row, Seattle Theatre Group’s Paramount Theatre is bringing together teen performers and professional artists of all backgrounds to perform in DANCE This!!

This show has everything from  hip-hop choreographed by SYTYCD judges Napoleon and Tabitha to tap performances by NW Tap Connection to b-boy routines by Seattle’s own ABDC Crew, Massive Monkees.

The performers and some fans participated in a flash mob at Seattle Public Library last week for a little sneak peek! I got my STG email with the video and cracked up when I noticed my little sister starting off the ruckus!  Check out the show this Saturday, July 10 at 7:30 PM.  See you there!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iITUxFo9hB4]

Speaking of The Paramount, STG just won this year’s American Theatre Organ Society’s national preservation award for their work in maintaining their historic and beautifully intricate Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.  Read more here or go on a theatre tour for tons of fun facts!

[…]

Lilith at the Gorge in George

The view from my car as I venture out of Seattle, up and over the Cascades and into the central portion of Washington State is a view that I enjoy every time I find an excuse to make the eastward trek. This last Saturday, my reason for the breathtaking commute was a celebration of women in music, otherwise known as Lilith Fair. For those of you who don’t know, Lilith Fair is a traveling concert and music festival founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Dan Fraser, Terry McBride and Marty Diamond. The women who have graced Lilith Fair with their presences include but are not limited to Tracy Chapman, http://www.jeweljk.com/, http://www.suzannevega.com/, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Liz Phair, Fiona Apple, Joan Osborne, http://www.didomusic.com/us/home/, Lisa Loeb, Tracy Bonham, Juliana Hatfield, Dar Williams, Alana Davis, Dixie Chicks, Beth Orton, Nelly Furtado, Bonnie Raitt, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Mary Lou Lord and much, much more. In […]

David Bowie ‘Station To Station’ Reissue

Whenever you hear or read about ‘Classic Bowie‘, it’s usually followed by references to ‘Ziggy Stardust‘ or the Berlin years with Eno. Either that, or it’s a hatchet job on his post-70’s material. All of which fail to do the man justice, frankly. If you want to know what’s up with Bowie, ask a fan, don’t listen to the critics. They’ll just fill you in on what the cognoscenti think, which is so far from Reality as to be fictional.

David Bowie‘s underrated classic ‘Station To Station‘ gets the remastered/repackaged treatment for public consumption September 20th! From the opening track, Bowie leaves the glam-rock and plastic soul behind for futuristic robotic crooning. After briefly looking back with “Golden Years“, he ventures back into space until crashing back to Earth again with maybe the best version of ‘Wild Is The Wind‘ ever recorded.

Let’s check out the sound & vision of a couple of tracks! Here’s ‘TVC15’, performed on […]

Trailer Flash! – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It’s here! It’s here! Fans everywhere can now salivate while watching the first trailer for the final two films in the Harry Potter series. The seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, covers so much material that one movie couldn’t possibly do it justice, so Warner Bros. is going to do it up right. They are splitting the book into TWO films! Part 1 will be released this November and Part 2 in July 2011. Until then, we shall have to content ourselves with this preview. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Heather Producer, Branded Music PlayNetwork, Inc.

Cirque Du Soleil – Kooza

I’ve seen many shows as a fanatic of live theater performances – particularly comedy, Broadway, dance, and Cirque Du Soleil.  The Grand Chapiteau set up camp right in PlayNetwork’s backyard, Marymoor Park, so it wasn’t long until I just had to go.  Kooza wasn’t my favorite show from the incredibly talented and strange people at Cirque, but it certainly was entertaining.  It still gave me all the feelings these shows should –  wonderment, excitement, fun, thrill…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O0-HJhjw8Q]

A lot of the Cirque shows are great for kids but this one has a Grimm Reaper scene and a giant dog that I, for one, thought was terrifying.  Of course I laughed nervously as the dog ran into the audience (because the children, for some reason, thought it was hysterical).  The show reminded me of one of my favorite movies as a kid, Little Nemo (which was also a bit like a horror movie to me but I watched it anyway because sometimes it’s good to […]

[news] Britney Spears teams up with UK Dubstep producer/DJ Rusko

[news] Britney Spears teams up with UK Dubstep producer/DJ Rusko

FACT Magazine reports that UK’s most in demand Dubstep producer Rusko (now living in LA) will be working with Britney Spears on her new album. Could this unusual pairing could spark the end of Dubstep’s subterranean UK roots?

RIDE Glastonbury 1994

Glastonbury 2010 is happening as i type! Since i cannot be there, thought i’d post some RIDE from 1994…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVqTxedY6Q]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPKJ5IANDYo&feature=related]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkQFi9H7l0E&feature=related]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTvoYQx1qg]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87quwGV_WEc&feature=related]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Nerd Alert – The Triumphant Return of Futurama

Tomorrow night, sci-fi nerds everywhere will be celebrating the return of Futurama, the much-beloved (by me, anyway) animated series from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. The sitcom, about a pizza delivery boy accidentally cryogenically freezing himself in 1999 and waking up on New Year’s Eve, 2999. With all of his friends and family long gone, he has to adjust to life in the 31st century. He gets a job as (what else?) a delivery boy. Only this time, he’s delivering packages to different galaxies.

The show debuted on Fox in 1999 and ran for four seasons before being canceled in 2003. Since then, the reruns have been shown in syndication on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Excitement over the possible resurrection of the series began to build in 2007, when four straight-to-DVD movies were released, and the movies were subsequently broken up into parts and aired as “new” episodes. Then, last year it was announced that the series was coming back […]

Tame Impala

If you ever wanted to start a band that fused The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Flaming Lips with John Lennon on vox, well, time for plan B as these boys have beat you to it. Perth, Australia’s Tame Impala are soon to be the next Indie household name, so why not get acquainted with them right now?

Last month we finally got the debut album “InnerSpeaker” and this is the great first single (do they have singles anymore?) ‘Solitude Is Bliss’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxvf7gR4-2M&feature=related]

Videos are cool and everything, but live is where it counts, and this is a great clip from Camp Nowhere, here’s ‘Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiDEVnXwfus]

I need one more to keep vibing… From their self-titled 2008 EP, here’s ‘Half Full Glass Of Wine’, instrument swapping in full effect…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U5QPPPnw7E&feature=related]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Album Review – Sia – We Are Born

Today, Australian-born singer-songwriter Sia Furler releases her fifth solo album, We Are Born. Sia began her career as a backup singer for British group Jamiroquai before becoming a featured vocalist for producer duo Zero 7. She really came to be recognized a powerful solo artist in 2005, however, when her song, “Breathe Me” was chosen as the soundtrack to the climactic final scene in the critically acclaimed series finale of the HBO drama Six Feet Under. Since then, she has released a live album and, as of today, two studio albums.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr1bTNFjec8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Unlike her last disc, 2008’s Some People Have Real Problems, the new album is comprised mostly of upbeat electro-pop tracks. Some of the credit for this certainly has to go to one of her major collaborators on this project, Greg Kurstin. Kurstin is the male half of The Bird & The Bee, as well as an in-demand songwriter and producer. So far this year he has worked with […]

[news] Sónar Chicago announced

[news] Sónar Chicago announced

Barcelona’s massive Sónar Electronic Music Festival will be hosting a smaller, US version of its festival in Chicago this fall. Sónar Chicago will be co-promoted and produced by AC Entertainment, whom also produce the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee. Here’s a LINK to the Sónar Chicago page.

June 25th, 2010 – One Year After We Lost Our King Of Pop

It’s now coming up on a year since the world of music lost their King of Pop. Responses around the world made it clear that Michael Jackson was a pop icon, and his music and life inspired and touched the hearts of people across multiple generations on a global level. The days following the announcement of his death, tributes to Michael were created throughout the world and shared across the internet. On the one year anniversary of his passing, I wanted to share what I thought were some of the tribute highlights.

The following video is a clip from “Dancing with the Stars” and features Latoya Jackson during the intro and was sponsored by Macy’s. The songs featured are I Want You Back, Man In The Mirror and Thriller. You thought trying to mimic the moves in Thriller were hard, try doing it in 6 inch stilettos on a hard-wood floor. Mad kudus to the ladies for pulling that one off.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZKDqr0i7xc&feature=fvst]

Dancing isn’t your cup of tea? […]

[album review / podcast] Trentemoller’s “Into The Great Wide Yonder”

[album review / podcast] Trentemoller’s “Into The Great Wide Yonder” (In My Room)

A couple weeks ago Danish producer Andreas Trentemoller released his second full length album titled “Into The Great Wide Yonder”.  Seeing how his 2006 album “The Last Resort” is in my top 10 albums of all time, I had pretty high expectations for his sophomore release. Well, this past weekend I listened through the entire 10 track, 60 minute album start to finish and I’m pleased to report, he’s done it again. In fact, I think it’s fair to say that Trentemoller has further expanded on the musical ideas contained on “The Last Resort” by adding more live, organic instrumentation into the mix (guitars, vocals, live percussion, strings, etc).

Stand out songs like “Shades Of Marble” and “Haexan” offer a familiar, cinematic dance tone that Trentemoller fans will appreciate, while melancholy pop tunes like “Neverglade”, “…Even Though Your With Another Girl” and the single “Sycamore Feeling” share more in common with Radiohead and Mazzy […]

Things are Looking Up for Eels

This August, Eels will release their 3rd album in 14 months! “Tomorrow Morning” will complete the trilogy that started with “Hombre Lobo“, followed by “End Times” earlier this year!

If you can’t wait E has given us a sneak peak at what’s to come here. While the trilogy deals with broken love, this new track sees things ‘Looking Up‘ as Eels take us to church…

There’s no video for it yet, so let’s take a look at this creepy one from “End Times“; Here’s ‘Unhinged’…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=YHd9-ymWvxU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FOfficialEels#!]

Need a little more? Keep listenin’ Eels Music Player.

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Trendwatch 2010: Bikini Top Accoutrements

Within the last week and a half, two pop stars have released music videos that they hope will propel their accompanying songs to the top of the summer charts.  Last week, Lady Gaga gave us “Alejandro,” an homage to just about every video Madonna has ever done, with a little bit of Evita thrown in for good measure.  Wednesday, Katy Perry posted her clip for “California Gurls,” which reminded me mostly of the game Candyland that I loved so dearly as a child.  (I fear I shall never be able to play that game ever again without thinking of a naked Katy Perry wearing a Queen Frostine wig.  Sad.)

These videos obviously couldn’t be more different…except for one thing. Both Katy and Gaga and some point during the video sport a bikini top featuring some kind of strange accessory. Katy actually does this several times -mostly with pastry-related items- but the highlight(?) is at 3:23 when she has actual spraying cans of whipped cream […]

PlayGreen at PlayNetwork

PlayGreen, the sustainability committee at PlayNetwork, has been working hard on a blog for a little while now, and PlayGreen is a vital part of our GPC, or Guiding Principals Committee. Some refer to the GPC as the soul of PlayNetwork, where we have groups that organize community outreach programs, pet adoptions, healthy living events, employee parties and events, live performances at our offices and much, much more! To view the PlayGreen blog, please click here. Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you back here sooner than later!

See this music scene

Has the music scene got you down? Get up! Let Blockhead’s video take you someplace else.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhheiPTdZCw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0]

Crunch Gym Turns 21 – Celebrates with New Web Radio & Workout Music

In celebration of Crunch Gym’s 21st birthday – or 21 years of sets, grunts and rock n’ roll – PlayNetwork helped the company launch its very own custom web radio, equipped with prizes, parties and more.  Set in a bar scene, users can enter contests by viewing the shot of the day. Other cool features include the “wall of shame” in the photo booth, a list of upcoming parties, fun facts about the gym by hovering over people and objects, and of course, the ability to share it all on Twitter and Facebook. Simply scroll over the DJ booth for your music controls and find a new workout favorite. Check it out here!

So Many Rhodes, And Many More…

Today is the birthday of Nicholas James Bates, better known as Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran.

However, everyone knows about Duran Duran, so let’s focus today’s blog on Mr. Rhodes’ extra-curricular activities, shall we?

In early 1983, Nick discovered the band Kajagoogoo and co-produced their debut single “Too Shy” which became a UK #1. A friend recently gave me their debut LP, which i’d not heard before, and i have to say…it’s terrible, really. However, “Too Shy” is still the jam, even if it’s a low-grade DD ripoff…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbdLQ7E_wZk]

In 1985, Duran Duran took an indefinite hiatus, but Nick couldn’t just lay back and enjoy his new found wealth. No, a mind like his must always be creating, so he gave Simon Le Bon a ring and they started what initially was meant to be an EP. Things were going so well, however, that they drafted in Roger Taylor and recorded the best album that Duran Duran never made! Here’s

Exile On Twain Street

In 1983 my friends and I set out on our little Rolling Stones adventure. Their concert film ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together‘ had just come out, and we were determined to get to the Cinedome to see it. Easier said than done, since we were 11 and our parents wouldn’t let us. So we devised a plan, that involved lying to them, getting out of school early (somehow) and hiking the 10 miles to the theater. The latter would prove our undoing, as it gave the ‘rents time to track us down. I spent the next 2 weeks restricted to my house! In defiance, i refused to remove my Rolling Stones t-shirt that i bought from the local stoner at the arcade.

I never did see that film so, I had to settle for clips on MTV

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNlni8ysHD8]

You may have noticed these last couple of weeks, The Rolling Stones have been all over the place promoting the re-release of their classic “

PlayNetwork says, “Hello Music!”

With already an extensive music database to choose from for branded media services, we’ve broadened our music library by partnering with Hello Music, an online aggregator of sorts for independent and unsigned musicians. This move is also a great opportunity for these music artists, giving them access to universal distribution to some of the world’s most well known brands through PlayNetwork.

R.I.P. Ronnie James…

When i was growing up it was all about the Metal! And nobody could bring the metal like Ronnie James Dio, who died yesterday after battling stomach cancer.

The Metal and I soon grew apart, but there are some artists that i’ve always kept tabs on and who’ve never lost their Rock-God status; Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy & of course, Dio. Back in the day, these guys were all over MTV (pre-hair bands), and Dio had some classics. Now, YouTube doesn’t have the original videos for some reason, but there are plenty of great live versions, so let’s get reacquainted, shall we?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6URlmeUpk]

What’s most fascinating about Dio is that he’s quite a little guy, yet possesses the voice of the Gods! Matched only by his polar opposite, Brudda IZ. Let’s check out another classic!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUXSTY9AW-s&feature=related]

I’d heard that if you held Dio upside down, you’d see the Devil! A few years back i was walking down Melrose […]

A Sneak Peek at Chuck E. Cheese TV

PlayNetwork was chosen by CEC Entertainment to produce CEC TV, an in-store TV show for Chuck E. Cheese’s.  PlayNetwork’s in-house video team is responsible for creating , licensing, and  editing the content for this fun and entertaining program. The goal for CEC TV is to bring together popular kids and youth driven content, current music videos, exclusive music artist and kid features, cool games, exceptional graphics and Chuck E. Cheese exclusive music videos, all into one fun and exciting in-store network.

Check out the CEC TV highlight reel here and let us know what you think!

gofobo.com

Thanks to my radio winning prowess I’m going to see the premier screening of the final Shrek movie next weekend. So excited! But to collect my passes, I had to register for a site I’ve never heard of: www.gofobo.com.

Turns out this site may start turning into my new best friend as far as new movie releases. The site looks fairly new right now, but with more people using it and further development, there’s potential for gofobo to become a really great social site.

Check it out to get screening tickets for Letters to Juliet this Mother’s Day. You can also join a discussion group (or make your own), search for all tweets about your favorite actors and movies, view the latest Hollywood news and events, and win sweepstake prizes; I definitely entered to win my Apple iPad and AC/DC: Iron Man 2 collector’s edition soundtrack!

Kym PlayNetwork, Inc.

Review: ROBOPOP!

I had never even heard of the Washington Ensemble Theatre until my friend decided to throw a birthday party there last night. It’s literally a hole in the wall that I’ve driven and walked by countless times to rehearse and perform choir concerts right across the street.

We started our night right next door at The Kingfish Café. I dreamed last night of a perfect heaven supplied with all you can eat Kingfish Café deep-fried cornbread nuggets. I had no idea Seattle had such a great place for some down south comfort foods. The table next to us had a red velvet cake dessert about as large as my head. I had to restrain myself from reaching over and stealing a bite while they weren’t looking.

After slapping myself in the face to prevent what I thought was an inevitable food coma, we went next door to the tiny 45-person capacity theater. Then ensued the mind-trip that was ROBOPOP! We got a little program that replicated a […]

Broadway…Meet Green Day

It’s hard not to know about the ongoing Donald Trump / Rosie O’Donnell feud – but their musical interests brought them to the same crowd just last week.  In the same company you could find Edie Falco, Serena Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Kushner and Ed Norton, along with screaming, head-banging, punk -rockers.  Wait, what? Yes, you heard right. Donald was rocking out to Green Day.  Don’t worry though, he was sure to keep it classy; it was on Broadway. We’re talking about the April 20th premier of  American Idiot, the Green Day musical, that’s now playing at Broadway’s St. James Theatre in New York.                                                                                                                                                                                     The rock opera is a hit already, receiving rave reviews from the New York Times, Washington Post and Rolling Stone, among others.  According to reviews, the musical, which features music from the 2004 Green Day album,  tells the story of young Americans encountering love, alienation, war, unprotected sex, and drug use on their search for a meaning in life.   […]

Record Store Daze

A few years ago, i suddenly realized that i was not enjoying music very much anymore. I delved down deep to figure out why, and it wasn’t because there was nothing good out there, nor was it because i’m just getting old. Was it because my ears are shot? No, though they are. So what was the reason after all? Then it dawned on me! It was the iPod.

I noticed that i was listening to music the same way that i watch television; with the remote in my hand, changing to something else out of compulsion and not just boredom. I used to keep my iPod on shuffle, as it seemed like the best radio station of all time in that mode. Everything programmed according to my superior tastes! However, even when a song came on that i really wanted to hear, i would listen to about a minute of it, then hit ‘next’.

This was a revelation to me, as i’d previously thought of my iPod […]

Concert Review: Black Eyed Peas

I used to jam to Black Eyed Peas constantly when they came out with their first album. It was the most perfect cardio music! I started listening to them less and less the more popular they became but they always had a special place in my heart. (I still think their less popular songs are way better than their top hits.)

We got tickets to see them at the Tacoma Dome which is definitely not my favorite music venue. But that didn’t matter because Ludacris was opening! So random! They put on a fantastic show full of space-aged outfits, a flying motorcycle and a few lesser known songs off of my beloved Elephunk album. I really enjoyed when each member of the band got to sing an entire solo song. Will.I.am even did short little tributes to Michael Jackson, The Eurythmics, and Journey among others. Luda even came out mid-act to sing a song with the band. The whole show was much […]

Concert Review: The Church – Showbox, April 9th 2010

After everything, now this! It’s the 30th Anniversary of The Church! (It’s not a religion, it’s just a technique) Hard to believe on some levels, but then again, it’s been so long since I’ve been without them. Thankfully. To celebrate, the band has invited us to the party. Specifically, they are currently touring the US semi-acoustically. The shows, dubbed “An Intimate Space“, are just that. If you are the gal who remembers The Church song ‘Under The Milky Way‘ from her dorm-room days and you want to drag your sugar-daddy to the show, i fear that you will be dreadfully disappointed (but go anyway). If you are, like me, a massive fan who knows ALL the songs and has ALL the albums, then do not miss this tour!

It’s a sit-down affair, with anecdotes, good-natured jabs and friendly banter between band-members before and after each song. Not only that, but The Church are playing 1 song from every official release in reverse chronological order, […]

Comedy Review: Larry Miller

Thanks to my husband’s glorious mustache…

…and the rally stache contest we got tickets to see the one and only Larry Miller at Parlor Live Comedy Club in Bellevue, WA. This is the first time I’ve ever been at The Parlor. It was super fancy with a dress code, laser lights, and cabaret style seating. Little did I know this was the place for The Best Damn Trivia Night Ever on Tuesdays, Rockaraoke Wednesdays, and an Interactive Mafia Musical Dinner Theatre! Looks like I have to spend a little more time here now.

Performing four sold out shows, Larry was just great. I admit I was a little star struck the entire time. He mostly joked about how spoiled rotten Americans have become and tacked on the five stages of drinking at the end. Not only did I spend about ten minutes in hysterics while he was ripping on my husband and my hometown of Cedar Rapids, at the end I got him to […]

Web Radio: Growing Trend for Consumers & Retailers

If you are like most people, then you probably find yourself sitting at a computer for a good chunk of your day. You also probably like to have some tunes playing in the background to keep yourself entertained while doing all those important things that make the Internet essential to our daily lives –  tweeting, checking email  and Facebook, doing your online shopping…you know.  And when you don’t feel like paying that $1.29 for a song anymore, and are sick of that playlist you’ve heard over 100 times, this is the time to turn to web radio, which was, by the way, ranked #2 in the decade’s top radio trends by Radio Survivor.  What do we say to this? Amen! After years of illegally downloading music, getting viruses from doing that, potentially getting fined, losing all music when the computer crashes – finally, we have arrived at web radio.  

The problem for us though is that we don’t want some generic web radio where we’re going to be listening […]

Comedy Review: Brad Upton

I’ve been to Laughs now a couple times now—amongst a huge crowd for Kevin Nealon and a very small crowd for Brad Upton. I love it here because it’s a nice place with a low-key feel (and they make some curiously strong drinks).

I’ve learned a few things about myself and comedy these past few shows: 1. Comics that smile a lot are annoying 2. I like myself and people I came with to get made fun of 3. Sometimes I laugh so hard I snort and I’m not embarrassed by that

Brad Upton was a lot of fun. He’s got a funny little face with funny little facial expressions that cracked me up all night. He’s a Seattle native who has won the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and been in specials on HBO and Comedy Central. He’s just very “relatable”, likable and fun. Perfect for an enjoyable Thursday night out.

Here he is at Laugh’s a couple years ago:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Foe4LnbJrUA]

Kym PlayNetwork, Inc.

Comedy Review: Chelsea Handler

Volunteering for the Chelsea Handler stand-up show at The Paramount was about equal to babysitting drunks in 6-inch heels. I have never before seen a crowd like this at this venue before. Everyone was dressed up and stumbling all over themselves—which actually produced a great crowd for this comedian.

After a sleepy first act, Chelsea came on stage, huge glass of belvedere with lemon in hand, to deliver a raunchy hilarious set. She makes you laugh hysterically at subjects you are embarrassed or ashamed to be laughing at. I admire anyone who excels at making fun of themselves and their adventures. Her life just makes perfect comedy, from practical jokes to bodily functions to her disdain for her family.

I’ve also never seen so many people lined up for autographs. I think about ¼ of the audience brought their own books (or magazines) for signatures and ½ of them bought her newest book “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang”. All of her books, including “My Horizontal Life: […]

Comedy Review: Kevin Nealon

Last weekend Kevin Nealon came into town to perform four sold out shows at Laughs in Kirkland. I’m a big fan of Subliminal Man and his character Doug Wilson on Weeds and was lucky enough to get into a show and had a fantastic night. My face cramped up mid-act from all the laughing. I love sitting in the front during comedy shows in hopes that someone I’m sitting by will get made fun of. I was with my husband Joe (who has the beard of a logger) and our friend Dave. In the middle of the act my hubby got up and Kevin Nealon pointed him out and asked him to leave. Then said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, from the Deadliest Catch”. HA! I just love it when people make fun of that mass on Joe’s face.

We also got to enjoy Kevin as Mr. Subliminal making fun of other people in the crowd. He had a running joke about people who answer their own […]

DSE Aftermath, share we must

It’s been a few days since Digital Signage Expo ended and we haven’t posted a re-cap on the event, but hey, its Vegas baby! So please grant us some slack, we needed recovery time. Now that we’ve slept it off we have to admit it was a pretty great event, and while what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, we’re just too excited by what we saw to keep it to ourselves. Share we must.

 Props to Karen Barone and the rest of the team over at ExpoNation for hosting the show.  Our techies were beside themselves with all the innovative ideas that were being shared amongst industry players big and small. A big theme on the show floor this year was interactive digital signage. There was even a sign at the show displaying the #DSE2010 Twitter feed (PlayNetwork is the top tweet 😉

  The DOOH industry has become a front runner in our “people driven economy” and we’re thrilled to be a part […]

South Korea loves Iowa???

My husband is a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan (and has converted me as well). So every day he reads about Iowa Hawkeye football, wrestling and basketball. When college football season rolls around he goes a little nuts. We dress up in our Iowa gear and head over to Buckley’s in Lower Queen Anne to meet with our fellow Hawkeyes, watch the game, drink, eat and sing the fight song with the trombone and an occasional sax and snare as our band!

Amongst our fellow Iowans, we stumbled across this gem of a video. It’s a Korean girl band called Girl’s Generation (who’ve topped the charts in South Korea) that apparently has some affection toward an Iowa Hawkeye football helmet. So random. But I love it—it’s so catchy! And who doesn’t love a good ‘I’m-having-so-much-fun-all-the-time’ Korean pop girl band?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbwL8kSpEk]

Kym PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose: Judas Priest

So i found myself watching the Judas Priest ‘Behind The Music Remastered’ episode the other night, and it dawned on me that they may be the only Metal band worth listening to anymore. Back in the days of buying concert t-shirts from the local stoner at the arcade, Judas Priest were just one of the many on offer. However, all but they have fallen by the wayside, relegated to the bargain-bins, if you can even find a record store anymore…

Now, until the other night i wouldn’t have thought they’d have even survived my unpaid opinion, but while watching and listening, i realized that they have some fantastic songs! That’s the mistake most of the other dino-rockers made. Too much emphasis on flash and hairspray, not enough on the tunes. Though JP was one of the heaviest bands at the time, i suspect much of the catalog was actually written on acoustic guitar, though i can’t prove it…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoDbAd4fYBA]

Great song, but this was my jam back […]

Oh Canada!

I just went up this past weekend to check out what was going on in Vancouver with the Winter Olympics being so close. Turns out it looks almost like Vancouver does usually but with more drunk Canadians, much more Canadian flags and some photo ops on Granville Street near Robson Square. They had some crazy sculptures lining the sides of the road and Winter Olympic themed “Hole in the Wall” type cut outs.

It also had a small ‘lantern forest’. Children colored paper lantern and hung them up in the ‘forest’ made of small bare fake trees.

We stayed and watched a laser light show in Robson Square.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oNeKms7_Rc]

It was anticlimactic at best. It was much too bright all around to really see the lasers and whoever picked out the music was living under a rock. But it was exciting to see people dressed up in the outfits of different sports zip lining close overhead.

The bars were packed full with lines on the outside […]

Heather’s Song Of The Day – February 15, 2010

The Knack – My Sharona

Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.  He was 57 years old.

The Knack formed in 1978 and had their biggest success with the ultra-catchy “My Sharona.”  The track features one of the most well-known guitar riff in pop music history and has been covered (or parodied) by countless artists.

I have always loved the song My Sharona, maybe because it was the number one song (it spent six weeks at the top of the charts) on the day I was born and so I probably heard it a lot in the womb.    Originally released in 1979, it hit the charts again in 1994 when it was featured in the movie Reality Bites and released as a single for the film’s soundtrack.

Here is the original music video for My Sharona.  RIP, Doug.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukL_vlOKj8A]

Buy – iTunes

Buy – Amazon

Heather

Producer, Branded Music

PlayNetwork, Inc.

Heather’s Song(s!) of the Day – February 3, 2010

Tonight, the long-awaited Elton John and Billy Joel Face To Face tour makes it to Seattle.  Two shows slated for early November 2009 were postponed when Elton fell ill.  Tonight, the rescheduled shows begin at Key Arena.

I am a huge fan of both Elton and Billy, so I am beyond excited for the concert tonight.  I haven’t seen either one of them live before, so it’s a big night for me.

To celebrate tonight’s dream come true event, there are TWO songs of the day!

Billy Joel has the first slot with the 1980’s classic “Uptown Girl.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E]

And of course, the other song of the day comes from Sir Elton!  Here’s a vintage clip from a 1970 performance of “Your Song.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTa8U0Wa0q8]

Enjoy!

Heather

Producer, Branded Music

PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose: Black Grape

What makes a performer a legend? 1 Great song? 1 Great band? A Built in mythology? Possible alien lineage? Well, one man has more than one of the above, and he’s also got a dancing fool comrade. Mr. Shaun Ryder. Originally the leader of Happy Mondays, legends in their own right, he also went on to front Black Grape in the midst of Britpop hysteria. Co-existing while simultaneously taking shots at bands like Oasis, Pulp & Blur.

Black Grape are reuniting after 13 years apart, so let’s celebrate and relearn the BEZ dance!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaMsukvPj4&feature=related]

It being a World Cup year, as well as nearing the MLS season opener, let’s have another; and if it’s cool enough for Joe Strummer, it’s cool enough for you!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvuqgyKj5iM]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Jimmy Chamberlin

So, by the early 90’s i’d developed my style to the point that i was a mixture of all my prior influences, with a dash of youthful energy and rage. What it ended up sounding like was something very similar to Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer for Smashing Pumpkins. This was unintentional as i hadn’t even heard of them till ’93 or so. That’s not to say that i was anywhere near as badass as Jimmy, just that our styles were similar, which is why when i finally heard his playing, i was so excited by it. Here was someone coming from the same place as i, but was 100 times the player i was. Another benchmark to reach for…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC_GUmdC31A]

Wow! How 90’s was that? It’s hard these days to separate The Billy Corgan Show from the band know as Smashing Pumpkins, but once upon a time, they were a force to be reckoned with…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE2tQ1Fjg24&feature=related]

Jimmy Chamberlin is STILL a tornado…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqY0CDmvyc8]

Tony Media Producer […]

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Loz

Enter the 90’s and England’s 2nd of 3 great movements; ‘Shoegaze‘. The best of these bands, and yes, better than MBV, was RIDE. They were the perfect band at the Perfect Time, and they had a secret weapon in their drummer; Loz Colbert. RIDE‘s music was full of melody & angst, and Loz contributed just enough chaos to bring it all home. Imagine Keith Moon without the crazy…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evgtkrcSXgw&feature=PlayList&p=566DE665690585D5&index=3]

Amidst the beauty and the noise, you can hear hook after hook! This next song taught me the ride/crash/ride/crash technique that i still love to use…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOnDVjxTKfE&feature=related]

Sadly, RIDE broke up and for some reason refuse to reunite! One guy went solo, another joined Oasis, another quit music and Loz joined indie-Gods The Jesus & Mary Chain

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ApJgcZZ_0Q&feature=related]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Heather’s Song Of The Day – January 22, 2010

Journey – Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

So I could not let the day end without mentioning that it is Steve Perry’s 61st birthday.  61 years old!  Though he left the band in 1987 (and again in 1998 after a short three-year reunion) Steve was the lead singer of  Journey during their heyday.

Journey has given us many iconic pop songs; “Lights,” “Any Way you Want It,” “Faithfully,” “Open Arms,” “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” “Wheel in the Sky,” “Who’s Cryin’ Now,” and of course, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Whether you’re a Journey fan or not, you have to admit that Steve has some serious pipes.  He’s certainly one of the best vocalists of all time.  To honor Steve’s birthday, today’s song of the day is my favorite Journey song.  It’s the song I believe features Steve’s best vocal performance, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).”  The video is also totally cheesy and unintentionally hilarious!  Watch how Steve gets so into the lyrics, […]

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Reni

In the late 80’s, something wonderful was happening in the UK. I’d always been a fan of British music growing up, but now my Anglophilia was being cemented with 3 distinct movements on the horizon. The first was what would later be termed “Baggy“. Lazy journalism is what coined such a term, but living in the states it did make a nice little package. The first of the “Baggy” bands that i’d heard and fell in love with was The Stone Roses. At the onset, i loathed this band. The first thing i’d seen or heard was the video for ‘I Wanna Be Adored‘, and my first reaction was “what a bunch of arrogant _______!” Somehow though, i got sucked in and when i bought their now classic self-titled LP, that was it, i was hooked.

There are lots of things one could write about on this album, but it seems that no one really mentions the drumming, which is phenomenal! Even more amazing when […]

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Stephen Perkins

I spent years in my bedroom playing along to records and honing my skills. It was time to get out and play with some real people. After a couple of false starts in bands with my brother and another with some kids from school, i finally found a band of like-minded souls in Isolation. That’s not to say that musically we were on the same page, but we liked each other and each brought something different to the collective. Now, playing to records and playing with other musicians are two completely different things. It took some time to get to the point where i wasn’t just emulated beats from those records, but eventually i found my own voice and started to realize that a band is a gang. It is your tribe and it’s you against the world! That kind of thinking and approach to music was highlighted by the emergence of Jane’s Addiction.

I first heard of Jane’s in my buddy’s Honda Civic on our way […]

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Larry Mullen Jr

So where was I? Oh yes… If Roger Taylor taught me how to keep time and make people move, and Scott Miller taught me how to play with passion and channel my angst into drumming, it was Larry Mullen Jr that showed me how to combine the two. Additionally, unlike most drummers and just like Keith Moon, Larry seemed to be listening more to the guitar player than the bassist. It’s different these days with U2, but back then Adam Clayton played more like a lead-bassist, while Larry and The Edge were the rhythm section. Overlooked by most people, Boy George excluded, Larry is truly one of the greats. From his poly-rhythmic patterns and unorthodox style to some of the most tasteful subtleties i’ve ever heard, he is truly an original…

Up until i discovered U2, i’d only ever seen the standard way of setting up your drums. Larry on the other hand added a timbale where the 2nd Tom […]

When In Rome…

I was going through my drawer organizing t-shirts this morning and I came across one that I forgot I had. It was a GenesisTurn It On Again” tour tee. My mom got it for me in Dusseldorf, Germany where she saw the concert. I saw the concert (for free!) in Rome, Italy with my little brother at the Circo Massimo. It was the most massive concert I’ve ever been to with over 500,000 people gathered in and around that ancient dusty hole in the ground. I remember thinking I was going to fall down that slippery, rocky hill into the pit and get trampled. But we ended up being just about smack dab in the middle of everything (safe and sound) surrounded by gigantic video screens and a full out Genesis spectacle. Check it out!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw15vqz56AA]

Kym PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: RIP Teddy Pendergrass

Most people didn’t know that Teddy Pendergrass started out as a drummer, myself included. He started with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes as their drummer, then later moved to lead vocals.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Ni7LGXW7g]

While he wasn’t a drumming influence on me, as i didn’t know he was a drummer till yesterday, I thought it would be a great reason to write today’s blog about him. My mom used to rock this joint in her Oldsmobile 8-Track player, here’s Teddy Pendergrass with ‘Love TKO’…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HPAgiVdILo]

See you in the next one Teddy…

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Agent Orange

Everyday after school i would run home hoping to get some quality time behind my kit before the ‘rents came home. If Neil Peart set the benchmark & Roger Taylor gave me the grooves, then Scott Miller of Skate-Punk band Agent Orange gave me ferocity and energy! This was a whole new kind of drumming; fast and mad, which is perfect for the 14 year old suburban half-breed that was me! Here they back in the day with ‘Voices In The Night’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_wPfSoF3LA&feature=related]

The first thing I’d ever heard from them was pure fury! Thanks KUNV! Here’s ‘Bloodstains’…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBwaypYjtXA&feature=related]

Tony Media Producer PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Duran Duran

When i was 13, i was losing interest fast in the kind of bands that were ‘cool’ to like. At that age, it was all Van Halen, Motley Crue & The Scorpions. I liked those guys, but really i was a closeted Duran Duran fan! I wasn’t the only one either. One friend and i would discuss their music conspiratorially when the macho metal heads weren’t listening. Anyway, when i finally scored my first drumset i never thought, ‘oh i wanna be like Tommy Lee or Alex Van Halen‘. I thought it would be far better to be Roger Taylor! Never really having a proper instructor, I used to just put on the headphones and play along. My ‘teachers’ were Duran Duran, Agent Orange & U2, but especially Roger Taylor of DD. For some reason, those rhythms really spoke to me. It’s hard to believe now, but that music was really quite strange for the times. Rhythmically it was a […]

Heather’s Song of the Day – January 11, 2010

The Chemical Brothers – The Salmon Dance

Tom Rowlands, one half of the English electronic duo, The Chemical Brothers, turns 39 today.  Happy Birthday, Tom!  To celebrate, I’ve chosen one of my favorite tracks, (and my favorite Chemical Brothers video) The Salmon Dance as the Song of the Day.

I don’t know a single person who doesn’t like this video.  It’s like a super-psychedelic Finding Nemo.  It’s also surprisingly educational.  Plus, I bet that once you listen to The Salmon Dance you won’t be able to get it out of your head.  Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDj7DuHVV9E]

Heather

Producer, Branded Music

PlayNetwork, Inc.

Tz’s Daily Dose of Drummers: Rush (of course)

Over the weekend i finally had the chance to see the much hyped doc “It Might Get Loud“… Man, what a snooze-fest! Actually, i was very interested in what The Edge had to say, but those other two? However, i powered through it with the occasional daydream of how a doc about drummers would be so much more interesting. Then it dawned on me; in the 25 years that i’ve been playing drums, maybe 3 people have asked who inspired me to play initially, as well as who is still inspiring to me. So, this blog goes out to those 3 peeps, the rest of you may want to check back in later 🙂

No drummer of my age can escape the influence of Neil Peart. I loved Rush as a kid, but not one single band i’ve been in has sounded in any way like Rush. Nor am i capable of the kind of Mojo required to play most Rush songs. That being said, […]

Tz’s Daily Dose: (Eggs)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGQjyGT1-mc&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]

Heather’s Song of the Day – Never My Love

I’m just gonna come right out and say it: “Never My Love” is one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME.  It’s way up in my top 10, maybe in my top 5.  The song may be a little on the cheesy side, but come on!  Who doesn’t need a sappy love song now and then?

I am not alone in my love for this song.  Broadcast Music Incorporated (commonly known as BMI) lists the song as the second most played track (in TV and radio) of the 20th century.  Quite a feat, and well deserved, as far as I’m concerned.

I was excited to see that a cover of “Never My Love” was recorded by another favorite of mine, Har Mar Superstar.  He collaborated Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches on the song for  the soundtrack to the 2009 film Whip It.  While it’s a great version, The Association’s cover of the song is still my favorite.  Here is The Association performing live […]

Tz’s Daily Dose: The Cure

When i was 13, my best friend Mark was way cooler than i was, though i would never have admitted it at the time. Consequently, he was the first to find out about cool bands, and today’s band is one of the most enduring of all the cool bands of the 80’s. In 1985, The Cure had been around for 5 or 6 years already, but they were just being heard on a large scale in the states. They would become a ‘gateway drug’ for all of the other great music I would soon discover, like The Smiths, New Order, Echo & The Bunnymen, et al. It seems strange to think about nowadays, but The Cure were really really weird! With the hair and the makeup they were a suburban nightmare, and exactly what i wanted more of…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYWcCRhdClY]

Buy ‘The Caterpillar’: Amazon or iTunes

Mark had the “Japanese Whispers” EP on Cassette, so his house was the place to listen to […]

Heather’s Song of the Day – January 5, 2010

The Clash – London Calling

30 years ago today, British punk band The Clash released one of the most iconic albums in rock music history.  London Calling took the world by storm and brought punk music to the pop charts.  It’s one of my favorite albums of all time.  Here is the video for the title track.  Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGf82oCyLEo&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Heather

Producer, Branded Music

PlayNetwork, Inc.

Buy track on iTunes.  Buy track on Amazon.

Tz’s Daily Dose: Cheap Trick

When i was a kid, i could only get MTV at my Grandma’s house. The other cool thing about my Grandma’s house was my Uncle Ricky’s record collection. It was through that collection that my earliest tastes were developed; Journey, Parliament, Frampton, Pat Benatar, The Eagles & The Commodores were all early faves. But best of all, was Cheap Trick! One word; Budokan

So, fast forward a bit to the MTV days, and you get this next video. By this point Cheap Trick’s stock was falling, and this line-up contains that “other” bass player, however, this is actually my all-time favorite Cheap Trick song! So, here’s ‘If You Want My Love’ from the One on One album…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8qMLWpzwPc]

Buy! Amazon or iTunes

I actually walked from my Grandma’s house to K-Mart to buy this record! Well, tape actually. Here’s another great song from that highly overlooked album, ‘She’s Tight’…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADWG6EXrbcE&feature=channel]

Buy! Amazon or iTunes

[…]

Heather’s Song of the Day – January 4, 2010

R.E.M. – Finest Worksong

Heather’s Song of the Day returns!  Today my post celebrates one of the greatest frontmen of all time, Michael Stipe.  The R.E.M. singer turns 50 today, so I have a great excuse to post one of my favorite songs by the rock superstars.  From 1987, here is “Finest Worksong.” Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559eWB93jW4]

Heather

Producer, Branded Music

PlayNetwork, Inc.