The Insider: Contributed by LedSpencer

American Idol Top 12 Performances - The Beatles

LedSpencer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:15:50 GMT

Meh, as a Beatles fan I couldn't bear to listen to some of the performances.

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Crosby, Stills & Nash to perform in Valley

LedSpencer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:31:52 GMT

Legendary folk rock trio Crosby, Stills & Nash will make a tour stop at the Dodge Theatre, 400 W. Washington Ave., Phoenix, on Saturday, June 21. Along with British blues rockers Cream, CSN were one of rock’s first supergroups when formed in L.A. by singer/songwriters David Crosby (The Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash (The Hollies) in late 1968. The trio’s self-titled first album (with most of the instrumental parts, save drums, performed by Stills) was a Top 10 hit in 1969 and included such classic tunes as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakesh Express” and “Wooden Ships.” For their sophomore album, “Déjà Vu” (1970), CSN drafter former Buffalo Springfield singer/songwriter Neil Young into the group (becoming CSN&Y) and threw some rock (“Woodstock”) and country (“Our House”) into their sound while still retaining the band’s pristine three part vocal harmonies. In the early ‘70s, after clashing egos stunted CSN&Y’s artists growth, each member of the band released their own solo projects and although throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s CSN (and sometimes Young) continued to release albums together, the group’s golden era is still considered the ‘70s. Tickets for the Dodge Theatre show, priced from $31-$101, go on sale 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at the Dodge Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com and livenation.com

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Pulse: A Tribute to Pink Floyd kicks it up a notch

LedSpencer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:26:22 GMT

It’s been 35 years since four boys from England released one of the most influential albums of all time. This Thursday at Alumni Hall, 12 of Western’s own will pay tribute to Pink Floyd’s legendary 1973 album, Dark Side of the Moon. The 12-member ensemble — composed of nine music students, two psychology students and a science major — are returning, after a successful debut last year at the Wave to perform the entire 43-minute album as well as songs off The Wall and other Pink Floyd favourites. “Last year, we were totally thrilled with the amount of people that came out. The energy was incredible,” says Daniel Crystal, a second-year popular music studies student, founder of the tribute band and organizer of ‘Pulse: A Tribute to Pink Floyd.’ In fact, the energy of last year’s sold-out house — which saw 500 people pack the Wave — was so fierce that this year the show has been moved to Alumni Hall to accommodate an audience expected to be more than four times the capacity of the Wave. Crystal hopes for the same kind of energy this year, but from an audience on a much larger scale. “Last year we just targeted Western students,” he explains, though the odd older person could be seen in the student-dominated crowd. “This year we’ve targeted all of London.” Belle Air Music, the well-known London music shop, has played an integral role in helping to spread the word. “There’s even a busload of people coming from Toronto,” Crystal adds. This means good news for music students — the more people who show up, the more money for their faculty. A student in the relatively new popular music program, Crystal sees firsthand the potential benefits additional funding will have on students. “Because my program is kind of new, it’s underfunded,” he says. “Last year we gave the money back for scholarships.” This year, Crystal believes using the money to build and promote the program will help to get more happening within it. “A lot of equipment [is needed] to really deliver what we’d like as part of the popular music program,” adds Dr. Jay Hodgson, a professor of such courses as Brian Eno and art rock in the 1970s and listening to popular music graduate seminar. According to him, new microphones, software and other equipment will help to move the program into the next level in respect to what the faculty can offer. Financially, the outcome looks good for Crystal and his music peers. Already, this year’s tribute concert has doubled last year’s donations total of $10,000 and there are hopes of tripling it. “I think it’s absolutely fantastic,” Hodgson says. “It’s very nice to see students getting involved in that way and that people are still engaging with Pink Floyd’s music.” After all the years and one-hit-wonders that have followed the Pink Floyd generation, the fact that such an interest in its music still exists speaks volumes about the band’s resonance. Crystal attributes the band’s long-lasting cultural relevance to the huge influence Pink Floyd had on the baby boomer generation, and in turn, the influence of baby boomer parents on their children. “There’s such a huge sense of nostalgia [for baby boomers]. And I also know tons of kids that are, like, 10 years old that love this band.” Hodgson suggests it’s our unchanging human nature and the band’s ability to compose and produce fantastic music that keeps Pink Floyd relevant. “I think [their music] speaks to a particular part of the maturation process that rock can often neglect, that is, coming to grips with an uncaring and cruel world,” he says. “We all have to come to grips with this cold and uncaring world and Pink Floyd makes it a little more tolerable because you know you’re not alone with your thoughts and worries — and they make it sound so good.” ‘Pulse: A Tribute to Pink Floyd’ is happening Thursday, March 13 at Alumni Hall. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at InfoSource or online for $10, or at the door for $12. Check out www.westernpulse.com for details. The Gazette is giving away two pairs of tickets to ‘Pulse’s A Tribute to Pink Floyd.’ Beginning today at noon, the first two people who come to The Gazette’s office in UCC Room 263 and correctly answer the following trivia question will win a pair of tickets each: What was the Dark Side of the Moon album’s original title?

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Jagger a power freak, says Richards

LedSpencer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:01:11 GMT

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger is a "power freak" who is also a "bit vain", bandmate Keith Richards has said. Speaking to Uncut magazine in an interview to promote a Martin Scorsese documentary about the band, "Shine A Light", the guitarist also said he would have told his younger self to "lay off" drugs. "Mick's a maniac. He can't get up in the morning without knowing immediately who he's going to call," the 64-year-old Richards said. "Meanwhile, I just go 'Thank God I'm awake' and wait for three or four hours before I do anything. He is a power freak and there's nothing we can do about it. I don't want to do anything about it. Let him bugger about. It doesn't make any difference to what we do." Addressing Jagger's on-stage presence, Richards told the magazine, "Excuse me while I laugh. He's a bit vain, let's put it like that," before adding: "We want a vain bloke up there, don't we? Meanwhile, the band can go to work. Vanity will not carry a band. But a band can carry vanity." Richards was also asked what message he would want to send to his younger self, to which he responded: "I'd have said 'Lay off the dope.' That's my advice now to all younger members who are into this sort of thing -- oh, give it up, it ain't really worth it. "I know the fascination, but it ain't worth it, pal." In the interview, he also belittled Led Zeppelin's December one-off reunion gig, telling Uncut: "They had one? Well, well done Jimmy (Page) and Robert (Plant). F*** off. Stairway To Heaven don't make it for me, baby." Something tells me Keith is a little bitter that he is in no way as talented as Zeppelin. He needs to chill out.

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Jimmy Page's New Gibson Signature Guitar

LedSpencer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:40:06 GMT

Gibson Custom announced today that it will showcase over 15 models at its exhibit at Winter NAMM 2008 in Anaheim, California, January 17th-20th. Focusing on the classic sounds and models that Gibson players have come to know and love, Gibson will display a number of Custom Les Paul and ES models that highlight semihollowbodies' traditional electric tone and pay homage to some of the greatest guitar players of all time including Jimmy Page, Steve Jones, Johnny Winter, Mick Jones, Slash, and many more. Among these models, Gibson Custom will showcase: JIMMY PAGE LES PAUL CUSTOM W/BIGSBY Early in Jimmy Page’s career, one of his most relied upon guitars was the three-pickup 1960 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” with a bigsby tailpiece. In 1970, the guitar was stolen and never recovered, but thanks to the Gibson Custom Shop, this guitar is back in the form of a new Gibson Custom Shop Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom. I would love to play around on this guitar. It sounds amazing.

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Marty Crandall abuse case dropped

LedSpencer — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:57:31 GMT

THE SHINS rocker MARTY CRANDALL has had the domestic abuse case against him dropped due to lack of evidence. The New Slang star was arrested along with his ex-girlfriend, former America's Next Top Model contestant Elyse Sewell, last weekend (05-06Jan08) after an altercation at a Sacramento, California, hotel. Sewell was released on Saturday (05Jan08) but Crandall was held on $25,000 (GBP12,500) bail until he was eventually freed on Monday (07Jan08). However, it has now emerged that neither of them will face prosecution over the alleged fight. A spokesman at Sacramento County District Attorney's office says, "Both defendants have not been charged. The case was rejected due insufficient evidence." Sewell has voiced her delight at the case being dropped and insisted she won't be taking any further action against her former lover. She writes on her Internet webpage, "The D.A. has rejected the case against me. I am free. I wish the same outcome for Marty and have no intention of pursuing any further legal action. "I would not wish entanglement in the widening gyre of the American legal system upon my worst enemy."

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Plant and Krauss hitting the road in April

LedSpencer — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:49:48 GMT

Although Robert Plant turned down $200,000 to tour with Zeppelin, Robert Plant's world tour with Alison Krauss -- a key obstacle to a Led Zeppelin reunion trek -- will kick off in Louisville, Ky., on April 20. I believe after this tour is done there may be some Zeppelin shows. Maybe Zeppelin is teasing us? Who knows, but lets pray they tour!

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Sacha Baron Announces The End Of Borat And Ali G

LedSpencer — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 04:50:20 GMT

Thank god it is over. Borat was overrated. It wasn't as funny as everyone was saying.

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R.I.P Kevin DuBrow

LedSpencer — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:43:49 GMT

Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow was found dead recently in Las Vegas. The cause was not immediately known. Its weird I just saw them in concert a couple of months ago. A neighbor summoned police and paramedics Sunday to the house where he was pronounced dead, police and coroner's officials said. There was no forced entry, and no suspicious circumstances were reported, police Officer Jose Montoya said Monday. Quiet Riot was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize." The song, featuring Dubrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" -- which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart. DuBrow recorded his first solo album in 2004, "In for the Kill," and the band's last studio CD, "Rehab," came out in October 2006. "I can't even find words to say," Quiet Riot drummer Frank Banali wrote on his Web site. "Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend Kevin DuBrow." Determination of the cause of death was pending an autopsy and toxicology results, Clark County coroner's spokeswoman Samantha Charles said.

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