I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give you all a taste of what I was happy to have had the chance to partake and enjoy, and evening of music with the wonderful Brett Gleason and the lovely Jana Fisher. It is the right time, as tonight I am so pleased to be at a special show in Washington, DC, featuring Eric Himan and Tom Goss! So one live treat deserves another. While I am still working on getting by pictures and videos together, I thought offering you an overview of the performances of the performances at MilkBoy Coffee would be in order. And I will start with the performance of Brett Gleason, whose music has fascinated me since I found his first EP, 'The Dissonance'. I love who he structures his music, with layers that fold together much like origami. Brett makes Rock music that is built like Classical, with elements of Jazz and Pop. I was just so excited to finally see him play live, and I was certainly not disappointed. Here is my take on the show, or 'Brett Gleason Live In Concert In Less Than 4 Minutes'.
I was introduced to the music of Jana Fisher by Gleason. He often referred to her as his bestie, and the one who made the booking to bring Brett to my neck of the woods. I would describe her music as more traditional Folk/Pop, personal songs written from the heart that describe this human journey we are all on. Take this opportunity to enjoy one man's view of "Jana Fisher Live In Under 4 Minutes".
For more about Brett, you can find him on his official website, on Tumblr, 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about Jana, you can find her on her official website, 'like' her on Facebook, or 'follow' her on Twitter. I hope you enjoyed this abbreviated look the night, which was great fun. And as a reminder, support live music when you can!
The above are just a few screenshots from the new music video from singer/songwriter Matt Gold, "Oh Joe". The song is the second single off his first album, 'Drown Before You Swim', released last fall. Gold has a distinctive piano-driven sound that beautifully supports his voice. The music video for "Oh Joe" takes a look at the choices we make along life's journey, and how they can effect the rest of your journey, especially if a person might find themselves mired asking "what if?" Perhaps life doesn't end up the way you planned, sometimes that can lead you to a different, but happy path. The song is gorgeous, beautifully sung by Gold, who plays the 'Emcee' of this performance. Enjoy "Oh Joe".
"Oh Joe" is the first cut on the album, the first song I heard when I played it. It was a great introduction to Matt Gold's music then, and still is today. You can find Gold's album 'Drown Before You Swim' on iTunes and Amazon. To read the post featuring his music video for "Ordinary", click here. If you would like to learn more about Matt Gold, visit his official website. He can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
I received an email telling me Fred Oskar had a new single, with a link to check it out. One of the interesting parts of email was being informed that not only did I know of Fred Oskar, but I already 'his' music in my collection. It seems the artist currently known as 'Fred Oskar' is also the artist formerly known as 'Simon Walton'. Walton had a great single, "The Lover", which featured a great collaboration with rapper Loco Ninja. That was a wonderful collaboration of two out and proud artists. I really enjoyed Walton's 2011 release, 'Proud Music', but haven't heard much from him for the last year. I guess I know why now. Simon Walton is no more, and Fred Oskar is releasing new music and a music video, as the pictures above and below can attest.
Fred Oskar released "Just A Haircut", an ElectroPop ditty featuring Fred Oskar discussing his dating life. It seems there is a cute boy he likes, but upon closer examination, he's just a boy with a great haircut and sweet t-shirt. Honestly, I met plenty of those boys back in the 1980s. As well as the single, Oskar has released a new music video. In it, Fred sings with himself, or at least a feminine version of himself. As they both strip back the layers of the dating game, we are soon left with the realization that the sexually charged arena of dating does take more than cute to win your heart. Enjoy the video for "Just A Haircut".
You can purchase "Just A Haircut" from iTunes and Amazon. You can find Fred online at his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.
The last time I saw Tom Goss, he was full of great surprises. Not only did I get a sneak peak at his ye-to-be-released music video for "Make Believe", as well as his new fascination with an artist I hadn't know, Macklemore. Actually, Macklemore in collaboration with Ryan Lewis. He was crazy for the video of the song "One Love" featuring Mary Lambert. The song takes Hip-Hop in a very gay-friendly direction, as straight men talk openly and freely about the need to equality for all. He played me several videos, and it was great so see Tom's excitement about the music. So when I heard Tom was working on a new music video, I really wasn't that surprised to hear he was covering a song by Hip-Hop stars Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The first time I watched Tom cover the song "Can't Hold Us", I did giggle to myself, and wondered if I needed to start referring to him as Tommie G. But it wasn't long before I was just smiling cause it was so darned good.
One of the things that did surprise me is that Tom was doing a cover, something he doesn't usually do. That tells me how much he loves this music. I am wondering if I will be hearing him play this tomorrow night, when I see him playing with Eric Himan in Washington, DC. To learn more about Tom, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter, or like him on Facebook. You can also find his original music on iTunes and Amazon.
Handsome singer/songwriter Eli Lieb has released a new YouTube cover, this one of "Lies", by Marina and the Diamonds. The song is a wonderful fit for Lieb's voice, even if it is very different than Marina's, who has a sweet and ethereal sound. Lieb has a wonderful rough edge to his voice, one that touches me every time I hear him sing. He also has a distinctive phrasing that speaks to me on a very honest level. So please enjoy this song, written by Marina Diamandis, Lukasz Gottwald, Henry Walter, and Thomas Pentz.
To learn more about Eli Lieb, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter or "like" him on Facebook You can find much of Eli's music on iTunes and Amazon. Lieb has an eponymous album of original material that I really enjoy. You can find 'Eli Lieb' on the above links. The song can be found on the 2012 release by Marina and the Diamonds, 'Electra Heart'.
Candy Apple Blue has a new single out, and a matching new music video. The Electro-Pop siblings based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have released the video for "Start All Over Again", putting their own spin on the old adage, "pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again". But instead of being fable-ish, Hoyt and Carly Emerick admit to being human, and at times bound to repeat the cycle whether we wanted to or not. And I was wonderfully shocked to see Carly going all Charlize Theron, with a new tight blond 'do accentuating her amazing cheekbones! And I am wondering here I can order my own framed Hoyt, to hang around my house... Well, until I can place that order, I guess I will listen to the latest from Candy Apple Blue, "Start All Over Again".
To learn more about Hoyt and Carly, visit their official website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, or 'like' them on Facebook! To get your FREE DOWNLOAD of the single "Start All Over Again", Click here. You can also check out my thoughts on Candy Apple Blue's 'Mistake EP' (and get a link for a FREE Download) with a simple click here.
Left to right: Barbra Streisand; Adele Adkins; and Dame Shirley Bassey.
When I saw the picture above on Facebook (thanks, Casey Stratton!), I knew I wanted to do a post. But then there was the tricky issue of finding a YouTube link that wasn't either crappy or would stay up long enough. So I went to Daily Motion, and found what I needed. But first, I have a confession. I did not watch the Oscar telecast. I was watching hockey for a while, and then tuned in to watch 'The Walking Dead' on AMC. And then 'Talking Dead', with The Nerdist, aka Chris Hardwick. I did follow on Twitter, which told me who won, what worked, and what didn't. But I figured I could find the musical performances that interested me later. But as I documented earlier, it wasn't as easy as I thought. With all the build-up and the Twitter twaddlings, there were three performances that I craved to see, and that pictures said it all for me. The women whose music I love, and all three have been on this blog before. It is Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. In those three ladies, there is such a wealth of talent, it is scarey. I shall begin with the newest of the three, the exquisite Adele, who came on to sing the theme song of the latest Bond movie, 'Skyfall'. It is a wonderful song, and she sings it beautifully. After listening to the video, I was slightly disappointed, but not really by Adele, but but the sound mixer for the show. Adele was on the the entire song, but the chorus was mostly lost, overpowered by the band. But still, I will take a badly mixed Adele over so many other artists, so here is Adele singing "Skyfall".
And the second singer from the United Kingdom to make me happy would be the always brilliant Dame Shirley Bassey. I am old enough to remember the original recording of her Bond themes on the radio, and knowing they were something special. And certainly aware that she was special as well. What I didn't realize until this week was that Dame Shirley was the only person in the Bond series to sing theme songs to three different movies. There is no doubt I remember the themes to 1971's Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever, as well as the 1979 effort, 'Moonraker'. And while I was a bit young to remember the original release of the 1964 theme, I certainly heard it for years to come, as it was something amazing. And forty-nine years after the original release, Dame Shirley returned to sings the theme to 'Goldfinger', and made it special once again, at the age of seventy-six. Enjoy listening to, and watching, as Dame Shirley Bassey sings "Goldfinger".
And last but not least, there is the magnificent Barbra Streisand, a singer I have adored for as long as I can remember. Indeed, I remember being a teenager and buying her albums, including the early ones with some spectacular music from the Great American Songbook. I wasn't sure what she was going to sing, but if I gave it any thought, it was a no-brainer that she would be offering a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch. Once the 'In Memoriam' video rolled, Streisand came out singing one of the many amazing songs written by Hamlisch, sung by Streisand as the theme of the movie 'The Way We Were', starring Streisand and the stunning Robert Redford. The song was released in 1973, making this the 40th anniversary. Like Dame Shirley, Barbra was looking and sounding great. Please enjoy the clip of Barbra Streisand singing "The Way We Were", just a few months shy of her seventy-first birthday.
Being Human is the SyFy Channel's version of the great series first produced on the BBC. Since the early episodes of the series, the SyFy version, set in Boston, Massachusetts, found a narrative of its own, allowing the ghost, the vampire, and the werewolf to step out of the shadowy constraints of the British original and find a life of their own. I love both series!
Left to right: Sam Huntington; Meaghan Rath; and Sam Witwer
Last week, Josh and Nora were still trying to figure out Erin, the young werewolf returned to them by Mr. McLean, the twin-wolf-baby-daddy. But with a few thoughts from Aiden, Josh was progress. Sally had been dating funeral director Max, and decided to take the relationship to the next level. Sally's brother showed up, and once he saw her, she ran back to Donna Gilcrest to save him, and sold her soul. And Aiden had struck up a friendship with bubble-boy Kenny, taking some extra vials of blood for later snacks. But Kenny wants Aiden to make him a vampire, which causes Aiden to remember when he was brought over, by the sorely-missed Bishop. And, finally, just when it seemed like Erin was making an effort to fit in, she spiked Aiden's snacks with her own werewolf blood, causing his to get sick and bleed from the eyes on the orders of Liam McLean. Whew, that was a busy episode, wasn't it?
This week begins as we see Aiden still on the floor, suffering and bleeding from the eyes and ears. We see Liam McLean driving to the house, but once he sees Josh about to go in, he keeps driving. As Josh turns to the steps, Aiden sees Erin with a stake, and figures out it was her who spiked his blood supply when she comes at him. using all his diminished energy, he kicks her into the wall, knocking her out. Josh comes in to find Erin unconscious on the floor, and Aiden bleeding on the floor, hardly able to move. Next we see Erin in the hospital, and Josh outside the room, looking in. Aiden joins him, and Josh wants to know what happened. He talks about the werewolf blood, which Josh is not understanding. Then he mentions the wooden stake Erin was pointing in his direction, and Josh is dumbfounded. He thought she liked Aiden more than him, so it doesn't make sense. Then Nora comes storming in, going for Aiden. I am amused the woman who killed her ex-boyfriend and Brynn McLean can accuse anyone of being a violence magnet. She then threatens Aiden, and I am again amused.
Sally goes to a restaurant to see Bridget, who is convinced she is seeing a ghost. Well, that could have been right if she had been able to see Sally a few months before. Instead, Sally just wants to grab an appetizer and some wine. Back at the hospital, Nora is still brooding about Aiden, and is now taking it out on Josh. She wonders if he had to make a choice, would he choose her? Well, considering he killed Ray for her, and protected her often, I am growing tired of her whining. At a restaurant, Sally is chatting with Bridget, who is now a practicing Wiccan. She has many questions for Sally, who is increasingly uncomfortable with it all. When Bridget asks her to join her at the prayer meeting that night, Sally tries her best to get out of it.
Back at the house, Nora's friend Kat stops, annoyed Nora has not returned her call. Aiden mentions she and Josh are at the hospital for Erin, Kat is embarrassed. She mentions trouble with her plumbing, and Aiden offers to lend a helping hand. As Josh stepped out of the hospital, he runs into Liam McLean, and the two exchange attitude and harsh words. Josh warns him he stands with Aiden, who is his family. And he will protect his family from him. Back inside the hospital, Emily and Josh are walking around, and she mentions she is not ready for a one-on-one with Nora, which bothers Josh. He wants the two important women in his life to get along. They keep walking and talking. Aiden is helping Kat at her apartment, and together they fix the plumbing. They flirt more, and even more after they talk of their interest in American history. They both get a bit embarrassed, and leave it alone. Aiden shows up to the hospital, and finds a redhead taking blood samples. He asks for credentials, and he learns her name is Blake, and another vampire. She has struck a deal with Kenneth, and he will give her blood until he is 18, when she will make him a vampire. They argue, for Aiden doesn't want that to happen for Kenny. But he struck a deal, and Aiden will just have to figure things out.
After a break, we see Aiden go to see Kenny, only to find him weak, as Blake had just left. Aiden chases her down, and tells her to pace herself, or she will hurt Kenny. He will not let that happen. She tries to talk to him about him teaching her things. He isn't really interested. She talks about rebuilding the vampire community, and together, he and she could run Boston. He takes a moment to tell her he already ran Boston, and it wasn't that great. As he goes to the room to see Erin, he runs into Kat, and there is a bit more flirtation, until Nora sees them. She is polite until Kat leaves,and once again she threatens Aiden. Cut to Aiden checking up on Kenny, who is struggling a bit. Aiden asks him about Blake, and Kenny admits she scares him. A nurse and security guard stop Blake in the hallway, and tell her she needs to leave. Aiden suggested they check her credentials, and she gets tossed out. Back in Kenny's room, Aiden tells him he doesn't understand what he is asking for, becoming a vampire. That would make him a killer - Aiden knows he is a killer at his core, and must fight it every single day. But Kenny just wants to get out of the hospital, and live life. He doesn't want to do it with Blake, but he must do something. He pleads with Aiden to help him.
Sally goes with Bridget to see the High Priestess, who plans to contact the ghosts of some select people. It seems to work, until Sally hears it isn't Joey that has shown up, but two other ghosts, who are there for the show. They start talking about the ladies there, and soon jump into Bridget. Sally is having none of it, and forces Roger out, and shreds him. When asking if anyone else wanted to take her on, the other ghosts scoots out. The High Priestess is confused by Sally's outburst. Back in the hospital, Blake has made her way through security, but is stopped by Aiden. He tells her to go away, for he is turning Kenny. She is angry, and mentions he wasn't interested in making more children. He said he wasn't, it was to protect Kenny from her. He sees her out. Back at Kat's house, there is a knock on the door. It is Aiden, there to ask Kat to ask out on a date. She agrees, and they are coy for a bit longer, and agree to go out for dinner. Back at the hospital, Nora gives Josh the cold shoulder, until he forces the conversation. He promises he will always choose her over Aiden. They hug.
While they are waiting room, Liam goes to the hospital to see Erin. He tells her that her life and effort is not in vain, and then he puts a pillow over her face until she is dead. He slips back out of the room without being seen. Next we see Sally talking to Bridget, that she feels it is she who lead Bridget to the silly path she is following. Sally tries to explain to Bridget what went on, with the possession and all, but finally just gives Bridget her amulet, which keeps her safe from ghostly possession. She asks Bridget to wear it every day, and to step away from the Wiccan lifestyle, and to just life her life. Then she leaves her, and doesn't plan to see her again. Outside of the house, Liam comes up on Blake, like he has plans to kill her. She warns him that she knows a friend in the neighborhood, and he is a purebred killer. Liam lets her go. Nora and Josh go back to Erin's room, only to find her dead. Nora is a mess, as could be expected. Aiden is down the hallway, and just looks up, confused as to where there will lead. Back at the house, Sally brushes her hair, and notices big clumps are coming out. There is a spot the size of a half-dollar that is without hair, and Sally knows something is up.
Wow, so much happened tonight! Will Nora try to kill Aiden to get misplaced vengeance for Erin's death? Will Josh stand with Nora, and abandon his 'brother'? Is Sally becoming a zombie? Is Liam McLean coming after Aiden, or is it really Josh he has set his sights on? Check out what is coming up next week!
Don't forget to tune in at 9PM/8PM Central Monday night on SyFy! For more about the show, visit the official website here. You can purchase previous episodes from the second season on both iTunes and Amazon. You can also follow them on Twitter, or like them on Facebook.
For our trip to Broadway this evening, I thought we would visit it by way of the UK and John Barrowman. I am an unabashed fan of the man, whose dashing good looks and stunning voice convinced me long ago I needed to follow his career. Of course, his being and out and proud gay man didn't hurt. While he found his early success on London's East End with his stunning performance in Cole Porter's 'Anything Goes', and he quickly conquered Broadway as well with performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard' and the Sondheim music review 'Putting It Together'. He has also been a guest on television musical reviews, his matinee idol looks perfect for the small screen, as well as a voice that never falters. I decided to bring one of those performances to you tonight, with Barrowman taking on the fantastic song "I Won't Send Roses" from the great Broadway musical 'Mack & Mabel'. The musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, explored the explosive relationship of of Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand. It sits so beautifully in Barrowman's register, he sings it so damn well. Enjoy as John sings "I Won't Send Roses".
