Paul Bright Brings The Light

Leave it to director Paul Bright to figure out a clever way to say something I try to say, no nearly as well or as cleverly. He enlists the help of sexy actors Matthew Charles Burnett and Jon Gale and makes a cameo himself, so give it a look.



Well, I see this as being more than just the film industry. Paul Bright has a crew to pay, as does Eric Himan, Tom Goss, Levi Kreis, Christopher Dallman, and, well, the list goes on and on. When you don't pay for their product, be it a movie or an album, it's like you showing up to work on payday, and leaving without a check. The rent isn't paid, the utilities either. And a generation of voices from LGBT music and film are lost. Don't let that happen. Support the artists who you want to hear. Buy their art.

Adam Joseph's New Music Videos

I've been a fan of Adam Joseph's music since the moment I heard the first minute of Flow With Your Soul, and I'd even say my appreciation of his talent has gotten stronger over time. My fingers went straight to iTunes, and before I knew it, How I Seem To Be was a valued part of my collection. And all because of this...



Well it has been far too long since this talented boy had a new album available, but I understood why. He is an independent artist trying to eek out a living, pay his rent, and fall in love, all in the big city of New York, which ain't cheap. And if you want to talk about studio time, well, forget about it! But, it turns out he has the music under control, it is the music videos he needs a hand with. Hey, I'll let Adam talk for himself about it.



So you have the story now. I know I want to have music videos I can put on this blog for you to see, so I clicked on the link, ponied up my money, and think you should too. And remember when I mentioned looking for love? Well, he is making music and video to stand up for the chance to for everyone to express their love and affection equally, so when you get the chance, why not stand up for him? How, you might ask? Well, you can fess up a bit of money so he can make videos like Finally, his ode to marriage equality.



You see the quality the boy strives for, don't you? Want a shout out from Adam on FaceBook or Twitter? An advance copy of the first single off the new album? A digital copy of the whole album? An autographed photo? Have Adam call you and sing a song? A chance to visit the set of the video? A cameo in a video? Well, all you have to do is click on the widget below, and be prepared to spend a bit of money, maybe $10 or $25, depending on what you want. It could be more, But in the end, it is up to you to make this happen!

AI 10 - The Final Four Announced

We get back to the show, and see a video recap of the show, basically begging the thought that Jacob will be leaving tonight. 60 million votes were cast, the highest of the season. They introduce Crusty and the judges, and then blatantly promote Steven Tyler's book and Jennifer's appearance on the show. Randy, he's got nothing. Crusty bring the kids out, and they sing the classic Happy Together by The Turtles.



It is not as bad as it could have been, nor is it as good as it should be. After the break, Fox decides to cross-promote Gordon Ramsay and make the kids cook omelets with no training. It is varying shades of bad, except for Lauren, who wins. But then Chef Ramsay tells us it isn't over.




Crusty comes back out to introduce Country sensation and Grammy Award-winners Lady Antebellum. They are Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott and they perform their latest single, Just A Kiss. This ballad drags a bit for me, but so did their megahit, Drunken Booty Call. No, wait, that was Need You Now, wasn't it?



There was a bit about song choice and wardrobe that went nowhere fast, but promoted Bing... So it is time for results, and we hear from Jimmy Iovine that he thought his performance was the weakest so far. He is asked to go to the far side of the stage. Lauren is up next, and Jimmy Iovine thought she was great on the first song and fearful on the second. He thinks she will be in the bottom two. She is asked to stand on the near side of the stage. What does that mean? Only time will tell, because next up, we are going to have J-Lo performing.



After the break, Chef Ramsay is back to promote Hell's Kitchen once again, with a face off between Lauren & Jacob in a blind taste test. No, it wasn't that funny... So Crusty, Steven and Randy introduce Jennifer Lopez to perform On The Floor, which features Pitbull. There are some hot guy dancers. What was up with the pants on J-Lo? Where they supposed to leave room for a diaper? Well, that was a club single.



So with less than 16 minutes left, we are waiting for J-Lo to change, so we get a sneak peak at the new single, I'm Into You. Another dance track. Jennifer comes back, and Jimmy Iovine cut him no slack about his performances. He felt he lost confidence, and it showed. HE is asked to join Lauren on the near side. Haley is next, and Jimmy I. thinks she won the night with her strength and fearlessness. This leaves only Scotty. Jimmy I. thinks he is good, but fell a bit short on the 2nd song. But he thinks he is great. And we find out Scotty is safe, still never in the bottom two. Crusty asks Scotty to pick the group that is safe, but he wisely refuses. So Crusty walks him to Haley and James, and announces all three are safe. This leaves Jacob and Lauren in the bottom, and both are visibly shaken. After the break, we find out that Jacob Lusk is going home, and Lauren is safe for another week. He takes it well, saying he thinks American has fallen in love with him, and he plans to bring back some great R&B music.



He sings A House Is Not A Home as his final performance. And the final four are set: Scotty, Lauren, James and Haley.

SIRPAUL is Giving It Up Online

You know I am a big fan of SIRPAUL, the NYC-based Electro-Pop master whose Music & Me album set the bar in Pop, at least for me. The remixes for SIRPAUL's new single, Give It Up, are available for purchase on iTunes. You can check them out here. Give it a listen here, and then go buy it on iTunes!

5 on the 5th - May 2011

It is the 5th of the month, time for Stephen Chapman's Five on the Fifth posts. I wanted to make sure I was on time this month! This month, Stephen suggested two themes, "Clothes" or "Happy," and I thought I would go with happy. There was so much happiness in the faces of the kids at the family Easter Egg Hunt, I thought I had to go with some pictures I took on Easter morning. And, as it turns out, there are plenty of clothes on display, as the kids went looking for the eggs!

The Hunt Begins!


Madden, Katie & Tristan


The Boys


Hayden & Reed


Avery & Jenna are after the butterflies!

AI10 Today & Yesterday

For the tenth time in it's illustrious history, American Idol offers up a top five to the audience to enjoy, and then take an active role in their careers. James, Lauren, Jacob, Haley and Scotty will all be performing two songs this evening, one from our modern times, and one from the 60s. If there is a greater philosophy behind this, other than filling 90 minutes of airtime so Fox can charge a bun of money for commercials, it is lost on me. And since they decidedly left up without a clue as to the identity of the bottom 3 last week, all five of the remaining contestants are on equal footing, or at least that is the impression the producers want to give us. After all, until last week, we knew that Lauren, Scotty and James had not been in the bottom 3. Did that change last week, and they just didn't tell us? Or did Haley and Jacob complete the bottom 3, still leaving the record of the others unblemished? I doubt we'll ever know, but soon, we will know who was in good form, and who wasn't.

Everyone is introduced, and we find out that tonight is important, cause, as Randy says, America and the Judges want to know who is in it to win it. This tells me that I will soon be tiring of this statement, for Randy will be going there time after time. James starts out the evening with the contemporary entry, as he performs Closer To The Edge by 30 Seconds To Mars. He does a nice job, although there are times when he really drifts off the notes. I just find his technique to be really lacking at times, he can get pretty sloppy with his notes, and his breath control is lacking. Of course, the judges all love him, and see none of that. In fact, Randy calls 30 Seconds To Mars a great band, which is somewhat surprising...



Jacob is up next, and he picks No Air, by Jordin Sparks and features Chris Brown. Jacob goes it alone on the duet song, which was a beautiful one perfectly suited to the former AI champions voice. Not so perfect for Jacob. He is incredibly sharp and shrill, and makes a wonderful song and makes it a muddied mess. Jennifer seems to appreciate he has defined himself as the next Chris Brown, and ignores the bad performance. Surprisingly, Randy agrees with me, and he and J-Lo argue about who is right, rather than about the guy in front of them. Steven agrees, but with what, I am not sure.



Lauren is up next, and she is going to sing Flat On My Feet by Carrie Underwood, a true vocal powerhouse and winner of the fourth season of Idol. Cheryl Crow offers the useful advice that Lauren plant herself and sing the damn song, and when Lauren takes the stage, she really takes control of the stage. She owns it, and does a great job. The judges agree.



Scotty is next, singing Gone by Montgomery Gentry. Cheryl loves it, and thinks he sounds great. Frankly, I thought the song showed a certain thinness in his voice, a bit of a hole in his range. But it was certainly more energetic than I thought Scotty capable of being, at least on stage. Apparently, once again, I listen alone, as the judges drool over the performance, and is the 3rd outta four who is in it to win it. Sorry Jacob.



Haley is up next, and we are told she is singing an unreleased song by Lady GaGa, which fascinates me. How does Haley get to sing a song like that? Apparently, Jimmy Iovine suggested this song, which GaGa did at concerts, but not recorded yet. Haley got permission from GaGa herself to sing You And I. Cheryl Crow promises an elusive 'moment' on the show, and I think she sang it well, with perhaps the best vocals of the night. OF course, the judges see it differently. Jennifer thinks it was silly to sing a song no one knows, the audience isn't smart enough to see the singer. She Randy agrees, and even insults the song and Lady GaGa. Steven, as is often the case, says nothing.



James comes back to lead off the 'Songs of the 60s' portion of the night, and sings Harry Nilsson's Without You. That is a great song, and right up his alley. There is all kinds of slippage going on, moving from on key to sharp, and he loses his emotions, as well as a bit of vocal control. Again, he highlights his weaknesses. For the judges, however, not so much. Randy considers it his to lose at this point. Sure there were some bad notes, but that is OK. After all, it's not a singing competition, right? Steven also acknowledges the bum notes, but chooses to ignore them. Jennifer does the same, emphasizing the emotional mess of the situation. Got it.



Jacob sings Nazareth. Go figure. He sings Love Hurts, and hits some notes that are not anywhere on the paper, nor should they. He plows through much of the song, and then pulls out his bag of tricks at the end. What a steaming pot of mess. Shockingly, the judges see it differently, as an amazing performance that put him back in the competition.



Lauren is up next, and is singing Simon Cowell's favorite songs, Unchained Melody. It is a favorite of her parents, sung by the Righteous Brothers. She does a lovely job with it, but is a bit too tentative to me. No bad notes, but a bit hollow. However, the judges think it was beautiful, with nary a bad thought allowed.



Scotty sings Always On My Mind, by Elvis Presley. I think of it as a Willie Nelsen song, but hey, it is a great song. It is kinda sweet, and a bit vapid. A little weak at moments, but no bad notes. The judges love it, and think there is nothing to criticize. I cringe a bit when Crusty starts talking about there being some Puerto Rican in Scotty...



Haley will close out the show with some great 60s rock by The Animals. She will sing House Of The Rising Sun, a brilliant piece, to be sure. Cheryl convinces her to come out singing a cappella, and she just tears the house down. She sings the crap outta this song. Surprisingly enough, the judges agree, and call her the performance of the night. I just don't follow them.



The recap goes on, and it is very obvious that Jacob is the weak link of the night. I thought both performances went way outta control. But it also featured some wonky notes from James, and how Scotty was carried by the back up singers in his first song. The ladies had good edits on their songs, but who knows what America will do.... Guess we will learn tomorrow.

Tonys to iTunes: A Chat with Levi Kreis

I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to ask some questions of Tony Award-winning actor/singer Levi Kreis. Well, I was understandably excited, as I am a fan of his work, having purchased my first Levi CD after his appearance on the very first season of The Apprentice. I was intrigued by the handsome singer/songwriter, and searched for information about him. It paid off, and I was able to order One of the Ones, and I have been hooked since. My Kreis collection runeth over, including an autographed Playbill from Million Dollar Quartet, which I saw in previews. His performance of Jerry Lee Lewis was just remarkable, and not only brought him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor In A Musical, it also earned him the trophy. So I shall start out with my questions about his Broadway run before moving on to the music.

Which is the strongest aphrodisiac: touring with the new album or playing in a hit on Broadway? Touring my own music hands down. I have acted roles on stage though that were such a ride over the course of the night that it was exhilarating. I will definitely do theatre again, but the thing that makes my music main focus is that I love to be the muscle behind the product, from writing, arranging, marketing, promoting, to being the boss across the board. I think it's one of my fortes. I'm only good at being a "hired gun" for so long, then I start getting antsy.



After so many years with Million Dollar Quartet, how does it feel to be away from it? Wonderful. I am so grateful for the experience, but truthfully, musical theatre has never been a primary pursuit of mine, but rather something that seems to find me. And as you know, I never stopped turning music out and touring, so I've been working two really exhausting jobs for nearly three years. I prefer being a recording artist though. I am definitely more fulfilled expressing what is in my soul rather than molding the expression of someone else's. It's the writer in me.

What did playing on Broadway teach you about yourself? Did it change your thoughts on performing? Gosh, it taught me so much. It first taught me that every community has its own tendency towards self-importance, whether you identify as a recognizable member of your local gay community, theatre community, church community, sports team, whatever you are into. My challenge is to say, "how can I be within a community, yet not conform to the idiosyncrasies that define and drive that community." I know it's human nature to desire to belong to a social group of some kind, but it's always been a challenge for me to not get lost in the world of others and forget who Levi Kreis really is. I’ve become much better at it, but in an all-consuming world like Broadway, remembering "who Levi Kreis is" was a daily commitment. It also taught me how to give up control and be a team player. I’ve toured nearly 400 cities as my own boss, so to release control of everything from sound, music, arrangements, players, etc, was a real challenge at first. I had to realize that while I was there from the beginning with this show, ultimately, it was not my baby, and I was there to be of service. I don't think enough performers realize that when you are an actor, or a musical theatre performer, or a recording artist, you are in the service industry. There is absolutely no logic to an inflated ego. You are there to provide a service on demand, an experience for patrons who are laying their hard earned money on the table. I've always had that attitude about performing, but it really solidified it after being on Broadway. I could go on and on with this question.



With Million Dollar Quartet and Broadway covered, I think it is time to move on to the next topic: The Music. What tends to come first, the music or the lyric? The lyrics come first. I have developed a habit of listening attentively to the world around me, and most of the time my best ideas come from hearing the conversations of others. I start with the idea and fashion a chorus, usually lyrics and melody together as the chorus is so instrumental in the successful deliver of the song. Once the chorus is positioned, I write lyrics to a first verse, then melody to the rest of the song, followed by lyrics to complete the song. It's the same method most every time.

Are there any authors or playwrights who have inspired you? Country music inspires me in that most country songwriters are good at tapping into the common experiences we all share yet wording it in a very simple, yet unique way.



What is the better muse for your music: Love, or the lack thereof? GREAT question. I think any emotion that is paramount enough for me to express. Writing has always been like journaling for me, so the tone of an album is pretty telling as to where I was in life while creating it.

I have seen an evolution in the music through the first four albums. What can we expect 'new or different' in the album you are working on now? Another great question. I previously mentioned that so much of my music is a out-picturing of my own life experiences. In 2009, I hit a personal all-time low in my life, and it forced me to re-evaluate every aspect of my life. These last two years have made clear to me so much that I couldn't see before. In so many ways, my life has been lived seeking the approval of others, wanting to be good enough, and never feeling worthy. This was not lost on the musical endeavors of my past. With each album, there was some thing that I was seeking to be equal to, and chasing the current notion of "where I belonged" in the broader music scene. It led me to many genres and musical places that, while I would like to believe are solid, and still valid, still didn't invite me to the party. In the past, I've been more concerned about creating what would "get me farther" than what was simply the most fun for me to create. "Where I Belong", ironic title, is a great example of that. I was following the impressions that I belonged in a rootsy-pop Adult Contemporary market, so that's what I created. I was being authentic about what I expressed contextually, but from the musical perspective, it wasn't anything I would listen to. I would compare that album to Gavin Degraw or John Mayer, in that niche, but I don't own any of their albums. I don't really like ‘em. So, for me, this new album, first and foremost, stays true to what my supporters love the most: me, a piano, and some insightful lyrics. My debut album, "One of the Ones" is a perfect example of this, and is the fan favorite to date. The only thing I'm adding to this equation is finally, a style of music that I listen to on repeat, that I never get enough of, and allows me to enjoy my own music fully. Just to give you a little hint, I am framing my piano/vocal vibe with a slight "chill" framework, giving it a hint of electronic texture, but never too overbearing. We started the first song this week, and I'm beside myself. I'm finally having the fun I should have been having all along.


With the music just about covered, I have a few random thoughts I just want to know about! Is there any music that makes you a fanboi? Ricky Martin, mostly when I watch him perform on video. He has a charisma that few artists these days have. I forget that I'm an artist and I become entirely captivated by his craft.

Is there any place you'd like to travel to, for business or pleasure, where you haven't been? Australia. If I dream without limits, I envision this new album having the perfect appeal to an overseas market, particularly Australia, and I find myself getting paid to travel, see the world, and share my heart with others.

What guilty pleasure would my readers be surprised to hear about? Jersey Shore, but again, maybe that is not too surprising. I secretly want to be a Gorilla juice-head.



Currently, Levi is working on his next album, and you can be a part of it. He opened up a Kickstarter page to get the funding together, with some great perks, including a phone call from the man himself. You should check that out! And you can find his music on iTunes, Amazon.com, and other retail outlets. It is all well-worth listening to. I should know, I have it all in my collection! And, of course, you can check out his official website to find out more about the man and his music.