“Casanova” was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. It was also nominated for best R&B song.

In 2006, Sean’s brother, Gerald Levert, who was also a member of the Levert trio had died of accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. He was 40 years old.

Sean Levert was in jail during his brief illness. He had pleaded guilty last week to six counts of nonsupport involving children ages 11, 15 and 17.

Well, you have decided on what home theater you are going to install in your home so what’s the next step? One important thing that is often overlooked is comfortable seating for you and your guests. And not only should the seats be comfortable, they should also be positioned for a great view of your new wide screen tv. Sure that spare couch or loveseat would work fine for the most part, but you can really enhance the overall experience by putting some thought into the seating in the home theater room. Let’s talk about the first and foremost thing to consider when looking at the available seats: comfort.

Your home theater seating needs to be comfortable. You will be spending many hours relaxing in it, watching movies and sporting events. The last thing you want is to have your back stiffen up or your neck to hurt. When you are comfortable you can focus on watching the television and listening to the surround sound, instead of thinking about how to get into a better position so you are not sore. One thing you can look for in your seating options is seats that are constructed of a plush material, but still give enough support for your body. Many of today’s home theater seats will also have additional pillows or cushions in strategic spots, to give your head and neck extra support. This provides a great way to enjoy your entertainment room, allowing you to easily relax. There are many specialty furniture companies out there that design their products to work specifically in home theaters. These (more…)

Some say it’s a sellout move, others beg to differ.

The other day at a neighborhood picnic, I was wrinkling my nose at hearing some favorite music being what I thought was bastardized in a car commercial. My neighbor gently corrected my single-mindedness, reiterating comments from some musicians that he said express their pleasure at “finally getting some recognition/exposure.”

“Anyone,” he paraphrased, “ thinking otherwise—that bands are selling out to commercialization—are idiots.”

Now, I’m pretty non-confrontational, in person, anyway, so I just thanked my friend for the new take on music in ads. But when I got home, I decided that no, I was not settling for this attitude overall.

True, the appeal to authority approach is and has been an effective one for decades, with everyone from actors who play doctors on TV to celebrities peddling hair and beauty products to singularly sexy and identifiable voices doing ads for everything from cars to candy (James Spader’s voice seems particularly convincing in Acura ads, for example, while Sally Kellerman—of M.A.S.H. movie—can be id’ed talking seductively to and about the Milky Way bar).

And okay, granted, some musical artists need income, need to find their niche. For example, when I was a kid, my mother gifted me a copy of an album by Jake Holmes, formerly of the Yardbirds. I played the hell out of that album, and to this day can sing the lyrics. Then I heard that distinctively crisp voice as if it was a blast from a past I thought no one else had access to—on television in an ad for deodorant or something.

Now, you might know, Jake has had a tough go in the rock world, having his classic “Dazed and Confused” allegedly ripped off, for example. He also has a virtual career making backdrop music and jingles for some of the biggest companies in the marketing world. Maybe, then, musicians like Holmes have an appreciation for the income, regardless of what the product is they are hocking [or helping to hock].

(more…)

Finally! Bret got rid of Lacey. Eww. I’m still shaking off the slimy feelings.

My friends who are also appreciators of TV came to visit this weekend. And though they don’t get into as many or the same reality TV shows I do, they patiently sat through not only the episode of “Rock of Love” where Lacey gets the boot but my explicit backstory on each of the remaining contenders and summaries of critiques by other TV writers of “Rock of Love” as a “train wreck” of a show.

Before I even fully expressed how much “we” can’t stand Lacey, one of my friends was shouting out how evil she looked and acted. He also got hooked on how funny Bret is in the interviews…, you know, when he does his mocking commentaries such as how those big breasts on blondie convinced him they could have a beautiful relationship. Grin.

But almost more delightful an experience than having my friends as company or enjoying Bret’s satire was watching Lacey implode, burn, and crash. Finally…, Heather gets hep to her two-faced, manipulative bullshit. Finally…, somebody [Heather] calls Lacey on her lies. And finally…, Bret gets equally hep and gives up the hope of Lacey being the underhanded, back-stabbing, front fouling hag she is.

And worse, but maybe what helped push Bret over the edge of real reality, was how appalling Lacey’s father was, as well.

(more…)

http://media.roland.com/en/v/v0339/v033912M.mov

It’s a Quicktime Video so be prepared to stare at a blank page till it loads. It’s worth the wait!

Wow! I keep getting amazed with what I am finding on youtube.com

I just did a search for the band Xtra Large not expecting anything and there they are! Videos for the band!

Xtra Large could have been as big as Janes Addiction or Smashing Pumpkins if they only stuck it out. But they got splintered apart and we lost them… one cd is all they did I believe (I’ll have to look that up).

But now it’s fun to check out the videos on youtube.

Here is the video for Hooker by Xtra Large

Shotguns and Cigarettes

Josh Freese is an incredible drummer! I saw himn once playing with Dweezil and Ahmet… what was that??? Was that Dweezils band??? I forget…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHUhEmp38ks

Snip Clip with Devo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjfZ9m_tG64

Josh Freese DW commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxPNmEGYBm4

Way cool! I just found that you can watch the performances from ALL of the LIVE EARTH shows online! MSN has all the stuff!

I was looking for the Japan show - found out there were 2 of them - Tokyo and Kyoto and MSN has the whole thing up there to watch online!

It’s really pretty amazing! I give Al Gore and the crew hats off for making this a cool experience. They are still pushing the messages but so what - th emusic is killer!

You can watch the bands like YMO, Linkin Park and so many others perform live!

http://entimg.msn.com/i/ExperienceData/p1-7/us/x.htm?sh=LiveEarth&ep=le_tokyo

They do have messages between all the songs but a small price to pay to see all the songs as they were performed!

Have fun at the Rock Show(s) !

Man, it’s simply amazing how easy it is to find great stuff on the web! I was just searching for Yellow Magic Orchestra and their performance at the Live Earth Japan shows (they reunited for it) and found that they have been performing occasionally under the name Human Audio Sponge!

Human Audio Sponge is Yellow Magic Orchestra!

 If you search on youtube and myspace you’ll find some great videos! I have yet to find the Live Earcth show on video but will keep looking.

Here is a link to video of a Human Audio Sponge live show performing Rhydeen. (more…)

Joe Strummer 1952-2002

From The Clash to The Mescaleros to Latino Rockabilly War to 101ers to The Pogues….

Joe Strummer, nee John Graham Mellor, made a dynamic impact on the punk rock and rock world(s)…all the while maintaining a contained, humble, personable character that is rarely paralleled.

If you saw as I did recently the short rockumentary, “Let’s Rock Again!”, you likely agree that Joe Strummer was not only a consummate performer but a self-effacing everyman who endeared instantly.

Yes, he was outspoken, vociferous, even. But his manner of delivering his bits of wisdom never alienated, never brought to bear any kind of misdirected egomania…from what I have seen and saw.

So rather than do a bio of the gentle dynamo, here, I would like to show some of the comments Strummer has made which are almost more indicative than his background of what a great human being he was, surely must have been, for those who knew him, worked with, and loved him. (more…)

How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man? Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly Before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind.How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry? Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind.How many years can a mountain exist Before it’s washed to the sea? Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist Before they’re allowed to be free? Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn’t see? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind. ~”Blowin’ in the Wind”; Bob Dylan; Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

“Like a Rolling Stone”; Highway 61 Revisited – named #1 Greatest Song of All Time by Rolling Stone; named #3 of 100 Greatest Rock Songs by Digital Dream Door

Anberlin
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Michael Bolton
Judy Collins
Cher
The Creation
Drive-By Truckers
Eiffel 65
The Four Seasons
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
John Cougar Mellancamp
Johnny Thunders
The Rolling Stones
Mick Ronson
Phil Lesh and Friends
Rotary Connection
Spirit
Neil Young
The Young Rascals

“Blowin’ in the Wind”; Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – named #14 of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone; included in “NPR 100” as one of the 100 most important American musical works of the twentieth century

Alanis Morissette
Bender [“Futurama”]
Chet Atkins
Sam Cook
John Fogerty
Etta James
The guinea pig in Dr. Doolittle
Joan Baez for Jenny, a.k.a. Bobbie Dylan [played by ] in Forrest Gump
Lemar
Marge Simpson
Marlene Dietrich
Elvis
Peter, Paul, & Mary
Dolly Parton
Stevie Wonder
Neil Young (more…)