For Immediate Release: Graham Colton Hits The Road

Graham Colton Strips Down, Drives Green on His Go Natural US Fall Tour

Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 29, 2011) — Singer-songwriter Graham Colton will celebrate the release of Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2 on October 18, 2011 by launching the Go Natural tour, a two-month jaunt across the Southeastern United States that will feature stripped down live performances, more intimate fan interaction and a powerful environmental message. Instead of crossing the country in a tour van burning dirty diesel fuel, Colton will embark in a vehicle that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).
CNG produces up to 90 percent fewer particle emissions than conventional fuels including gasoline, and is considered one of the cleanest fuels on the planet. It also costs about 50 percent less than the price of gasoline and is nearly one-third the price of diesel.

“Driving a CNG vehicle gives me an opportunity to do my part in limiting my eco-footprint, as well as raise awareness about American dependence on foreign resources and oil. By educating people along the tour, I hope to show my fans just how detrimental our reliance on foreign oil is, and how making the switch to compressed natural gas can not only help us end that reliance, but also make a powerful, positive impact in the battle to curb carbon emissions.”


Go Natural Tour Dates:

October
20 Baton Rouge, LA Red Star
22 Tampa, FL TBA
24 New Orleans, LA House of Blues(Parish Room)
25 Houston, TX The Mucky Duck
27 Ft. Worth, TX Lolas

November
1 Athens, GA New Earth Music Hall
2 Atlanta, GA Vinyl
4 Jackson, MS Hal and Mals
5 Birmingham, AL Workplay Theater
6 Nashville, TN 12^th & Porter
7 Chattanooga, TN Rhythm & Brews
11 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse

December
8 Westchester, PA The Note
9 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
10 Easton, MD Night Cat
12 Wilmington, DE World Café Live at Queen
15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
16 Ann Arbor, MI The Arc

http://www.grahamcolton.com/

Video: "Trying To Leave Now" Aiden Leslie

He’s back! The guy with the killer falsetto Aiden Leslie has just released his much anticipated follow up to his debut “Worlds’ Away” an ominously titled single called “Trying To Leave Now.”

So Mr. Leslie share some thoughts with us on your latest…"I wrote "Trying to Leave Now" about a person in my life I have always had deep feelings for, but was afraid to express."

Extrapolate please.

"When it comes to love, things are not black and white," care to explain some more Aiden? "If love isn’t working, it’s important to be honest with yourself and to find the courage to say what you feel to the other person, and understand that sometimes, leaving is the only option."

All that being said “Trying To Leave Now” is on the fast track to become another hit for this musical man. Check it out!

Get yourself more Aiden at: http://www.aidenleslie.com/

Also read the interview I did with him at: http://www.chorusandverse.com/

For Immediate Release: Midnight Red

LOS ANGELES, CA – As the massive popularity of such acts as The Jackson 5, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, *NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys has shown, people can’t resist the simple pleasure of five talented, upbeat guys singing and dancing in unison. Enter Midnight Red, a new group of exciting young performers from across the country who are carrying on that legacy by bringing stellar harmonies and electrifying dance moves to the pop landscape. The group hit the road in July as the opening act for the sold-out New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys co-headlining tour and released their digital EP. The EP features Midnight Red’s debut single, “One Club At A Time,” plus two remixes, and a cover of NKOTB’s “Step By Step” produced by acclaimed hitmaker RedOne (JLo, U2, Lady Gaga, Pitbull). In addition, “One Club At A Time” was selected as one of three National Dance Day Songs in conjunction with So You Think You Can Dance’s National Dance Day, which took place across the country this Summer.

Midnight Red are currently working on new material for their full length CD scheduled to be released in 2012 and will be out in the clubs during the month of October with a string of headline shows including a month-long residency at Hard Rock Hollywood every Saturday night.
Track listing for Midnight Red’s EP is: 1. One Club At A Time 2. Kat Krazy Remix 3. Purple Crush Remix 4. Step by Step

Tour dates listed below.
OCTOBER
01 Los Angeles, CA – CherryPop Night Club Performance
08 Los Angeles, CA – Pinktober Residency at HardRock Café Hollywood & Highland
15 Los Angeles, CA – Pinktober Residency at HardRock Café Hollywood & Highland
22 Los Angeles, CA – Pinktober Residency at HardRock Café Hollywood & Highland
29 Los Angeles, CA – Pinktober Residency at HardRock Café Hollywood & Highland

http://www.midnightred.com/

TV Watch: "Charlie's Angels"

Now that my very favorite show on TV, "True Blood" has come to an end for another year (yes, waiting does suck!) what is a pseudo TV fan to do...?

Well here is a show that I grew up with, "Charlie's Angels." It is no secret that it is getting a re-boot as a TV series (for the sophomore time).

After two great, tongue in cheek movies starring two of my favorites,  Drew Barrymore (Executive Producer of the films and the TV show) & one of the best comedic actresses around Cameron Diaz, I have, I don't want to say high hopes, but expectations to be entertained with a new twist (like the movies) on an old, but loved series.

I remember as a kid watching the Angels jiggle their way through many adventures, my favorite Angel of all time was of course Farrah Fawcett. Her hair was almost like a supporting character in the series, it was pure camp heaven!

Who knows what to expect from the 3rd incarnation of this classic, that being stated I will be watching tonight to see how it plays out....how about you?

10 Stupid Questions With: "Ponyboy"

Alt-rockers “Ponyboy", Charles McVey & David Zey, are in the house to promote their “Little Dick Demo” by answering my 10 Stupid Questions…are you ready Pony’s? Let’s rock-n-ride!
　
1. Do you guys know how to pony, like Boney Moroney?

Charles: I don't know what you mean. Is that a George Clooney movie?

David: Yes. I do it all the time with my uncles and step-brothers.

2. What about twist? Do you do it like this?

Charles: Well I like water with a lemon twist, but I think that most people do.

David: Well I’ve certainly played naked Crisco Twister a few times in the woods with my friends, if that’s what you mean.

3. Daddy Issue’s or an issue of Playboy?

Charles: I think it was a daddy's issue of Playboy that revealed the wonders of the female body to me. However, I soon saw a clip from a porno called "Fat Chicks" and it totally turned me queer.

David: My daddy had issues with Playboy. He was always smearing the pictures and getting the pages all stuck together somehow.

4. Ever been too drunk to f#$k?

Charles: I'm too drunk to f#$k right now.

David: I’m too f#$ked to drink.

5. What about kiss?

Charles: Does anyone really kiss anymore? I hear that H.J.s at The Replay are all the rage.

David: I have a strict “no kissing” policy. Put that mouth to better use –

6. Are you always the outsider?

Charles: I would have to say that most of the time I feel like an outsider, but especially when I am outside my house. I am not fond of nature and look forward to a life lived in domes.

David: I love playing outside. I’m kind of a hippie. I drink outside, dance outside, smoke outside, f#$k outside, etc…

7. Do you guys think Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) is hot?

Charles: Yes, who doesn't?

David: What the hell is Maroon 5? If it’s not bear porn I don’t care.

8. How about his “Move Like Jagger” singing partner Christina Aguilera?

Charles: No, I don't like her. What happened to Jenny from the block?

David: She’s a mostly failed attempt at risqué. She could try harder and be much more offensive and in the face about it.

9. What color is God’s skin?

Charles: Crimson and Blue

David: This is a trick question. God does not exist. But if she did, her skin would be candy colored sequins and it would taste like cocaine.

10. Does God really hate your feelings?

Charles: People confuse that song as being a statement against the whole, or something like "God hates everyone's feelings" but that is not what I meant. The song is targeted at a specific individual, not the world. So, I don't think that God hates my feelings, but I know he hates someone's feelings and that person is David Zey.

David: No. But I certainly hate God’s feelings. He’s a great big winey baby and is really self-absorbed and needs all this attention but is really particular about how he gets attention and he always manages to find a way to ruin EVERYONE’S good time. Seriously, f#$k that dude and quit inviting him to our parties.

Want more “Ponyboy”? Check them  & their music out on the Facebook "Ponyboy" fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/messages/?action=read&tid=QGpjs2PZD2Eg8b5AUuedUA#!/pages/Ponyboy/143896842344210
　

Spend "Tonight" With D'Manti

Up-N-Comer D’Manti, whose name means “Sparkling Diamond” has a single that is appropriate for all of your evenings, titled: “Tonight.”

With a current Billboard break out hit and beauty to spare, D’Manti is poised to hit the bit time!

I checked in with her at an ad shoot for designer Maggie Berry & Flaunt Magazine and grabbed a few sound bites while she was in getting her hair and make-up done.

MS: So this photo shoot is for Flaunt Magazine?

D’Manti: Yes, it is.

MS: Does d’Manti like being styled and made-up?

D’Manti: I love it! It is so much fun!

MS: You sing in English & Spanish.

D’manti: Yes, and Spanglish too !

MS: Did you write your current song “Tonight”?

D’manti: I did. (she is getting rouge applied right now)

MS: Are you one of those singers who writes all of your own material?

D’manti: I collaborate as well, but the majority of my music I write. (eyeliner time)

MS: You are camera ready, looking fabulous!

D’Manti: Thank you, speak soon.

Stay with D’Manti tonight at: http://www.dmanti.com/ 　

Graham Colton's "Pacific Coast Eyes"

Singer songwriter Graham Colton has an uncanny pop sensibility with deep roots in folk and rock music that has already earned him both critical and mainstream acclaim. His latest album, “Pacific Coast Eyes,” the follow up to 2008’s “Here Right Now,” hits right in the pocket of what Graham does best: write lyrics about universal themes of love and loss, and everything between in a way that uniquely ties himself to the listener; and most importantly, enables them to feel as though they are hearing the story of their own lives through Graham’s music.

After the heady success of “Here Right Now,” Colton took time to re-group; deciding to get 100% behind his career and go indie again, he holed himself up in his hometown of Oklahoma City to begin to put down the words, ideas and melodies that had been banging around his head. The result is the pop perfect “Pacific Coast Eyes”. Chorus and Verse readers, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Graham !

GC: Michael.

MS: Graham.(both laugh) So, what’s going on are you in Oklahoma right now?



GC: You know, I’m really not here that often anymore. But I am actually in Oklahoma doing a little bit of recording right now.

MS: Rumor has it you are based there, so I was wondering if that was the city I was patched through to.

GC: I have been traveling a lot, but I am in Oklahoma for another week, then it is back to Los Angeles, I just keep on keeping on going I guess. (laughs)

MS: You must be in Los Angeles a lot, I was watching the video for “Pacific Coast Eyes” and I saw the Griffith Park Fountain in it.

GC: Yes, definitely LA has become a home away from home. We recorded half of the album in LA and half in Oklahoma. My Uncle helped me out with the video, he has been in the television for the last 15 years, I told him I did not want to make another guy with a guitar music video. So, we pulled as many favors as we could, it was a really rewarding process, we had the best time! My wife is my co-star in the video.

MS: Oh, that’s your wife, I did not know that, she’s pretty.

GC: Thank you. With the big make out scene at the end of the video it kind of had to be my wife, and it worked out in my favor that she actually took the part. (laughs)

MS: Rumor has it you wrote a song for the Oklahoma Thunder Basketball Team called “Rise Together.”

GC: I did! Being born and raised and still living in Oklahoma, man our basketball team has come at a really perfect time for our city. Oklahoma has been through a lot since the bombing back in the 90’s. There has been this organic growth going on since then, that’s been compounding it seems almost annually. The basketball team could not have come at a more perfect time. I am really proud of our city, doing the song was a blast!

MS: How did you doing the song come about?


GC: Honestly man, I had just finished the album, I had been involved with the team before, I had sang the National Anthem on their inaugural night 3 years ago. I had also done a couple of half time performances as well. When this happened it was pretty magical, it’s kind of hard to describe because a bunch of cities have sports teams. It really is hard to describe, it’s just been a very magical experience with this team. Their slogan was “Rise Together” I told them I was inspired to write this song, let me know what you think, if you want someone else to sing it, if you think it’s terrible, let me know. (laughs) They got back to me and said: “We love it” !

MS: Very cool! Something that is interesting about you is you scored a major record deal for “Here Right Now” and then decided to go indie again for “Pacific Coast Eyes” my guess is you feel like you have more control this way.

GC: It certainly is that, for sure. I’d be lying if I said that transition wasn’t both sided. I mean, I had a new album deal with Universal and certainly had a great experience being on a major label, and got to do more things than I could ever dream of. At the end of the day, to be honest, and this is not coming from a cynical place, I felt like a lot of the opportunities that were created would have been there without the label. A lot of the relationships, a lot of the tours I got on, getting on David Letterman, Jay Leno - it was because, this thing happened and that thing happened and this person heard it. There was never a feeling….I mean, I was never shot out of a cannon, I never had a mass marketing campaign. It was nice the label was there, they paid for the album and that was great…I got signed to Universal in 2002 and by the time came to make my second album everyone who had signed me got fired. As you know that is a typical situation right now and what those labels need is quick sales, quick stars & radio hits, that is not where I am. I don’t think it made sense for them to do another album with me as much as it didn’t make sense for me to do another album with them.

MS: I completely hear that.

GC: Back to the video, I knew I could do it myself, granted am I going to lose a little of possible exposure? Maybe, yeah, of course, but everything that is happening now is exciting and fresh and uncharted territory, it doesn’t adhere to the old model. For example I just tweeted a free download this morning, saying here’s a new song, I want you to have it. I could have never done that in the past.

MS: Let’s chat a little about your song “Best Day” it was on “American Idol,” that was huge!

GC: That was off my last album with Universal. The way the song got on “American Idol” was through a friend.

MS: Wow!

GC: A friend in the business knew someone at “American Idol” and said “Hey, I played your song for the people at “AI.” Initially I was told it was never going to get used and they were going to use a song by Ruben Studdard. What happened was Ruben got sideways with the people at “American Idol” and refused to record the song they wanted him to, so they were scrambling for a track, and they literally landed on mine. I was watching the show thinking they were never going to play the song and low and behold, there it was, I was like: “Oh my gosh”?! It played for six weeks, I was really gracious to get that.

MS: You actually opened for the original “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson.

GC: Yeah I have a couple of connections with “American Idol” and I was never on it. I have had people come up to me before when I was touring with Kelly asking me: “Which Idol were you”? (laughs)
　
Open your “Pacific Coast Eyes” with Graham Colton at http://www.grahamcolton.com/