Monday, May 6, 2013

That Rogue Romeo: "Wonderland"


That Rogue Romeo
"So, I thought, "what is that one thing that really made me so happy and joyful"? That was writing my music. I knew I needed to pursue it and follow through with it the way I wanted to twelve years ago, or I would regret it for the rest of my life. I'm going to give it my all for as long as I can" 

- That Rogue Romeo "Chorus and Verse" to yours truly Michael Shinafelt


Romeo, Romeo, That Rogue Romeo, his real name is Kevin Stea he has had quite the ubiquitous career. From being a dance captain/dancer/choreographer on Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" tour - to appearing in one of my favorite movies of all time, "Showgirls".

Kevin wanted to break on through to the other side. and indeed he did. His latest single is "Wonderland" and like Alice it looks like Kevin has fell down a hole of some sort.

Check out my full length interview with Kevin at the jump:

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20120913A

And treat yourself to a "Wonderland" That Rogue Romeo style....Hit It!


                                           That Rogue Romeo "Wonderland"

Go Rogue: http://www.thatrogueromeo.com/
                                    

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Scandal: Whack - A - Mole

President Grant & Olivia Pope

For you lovers of the hit TV show "Scandal" on ABC, of which I am one, the identity of the mole is the big topic amongst us fans...and will be revealed on this Thursdays pre-finale episode.

I have spoke to my friends on their theories as to who the mystery mole might be, we already know that Cyrus has been checked off the list of possible suspects. But who?

The two answers that came up from those I engaged in the topic were A) James, Cyrus's Partner or B) First Lady Mellie.

First Lady Mellie

Both are good hunches - if I was a betting man though I think I would have to go with Mellie. Why? Because she had no real fear of the repercussions of the threats Cyrus threw at her if she went public about President Grant's affair. That to me indicates there are people out there in high places that have her back, and there really is only one way she could form an alliance with people like that in my opinion.

Watch I will probably be totally off base on this one, or perhaps not, right or wrong this is my theory and I'm sticking to it.

All this being said, I must admit the recent episode contained the most shocking moment of the show for me thus far...President Grant earning Olivia Pope's love. I figured it would never happen, and if the circumstances actually did present themselves for it to happen, the interest would be gone as the love was no longer forbidden. Thanks to the clever team behind the show, they chose the unexpected and made it work!


James & Cyrus
Hard to believe this amazing show that continually surprises was the brain child of the woman behind that piece of dreck known as "Grey's Anatomy" Shonda Rhimes, kudos to her giving us a show to talk about around the water cooler each week that is actually exciting and scandalous.

Got "Scandal"? http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

What Do May Flowers Bring? Pentatonix



PENTATONIX GOES VIRAL…AGAIN
“EVOLUTION OF MUSIC” REACHES 7 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS
IN ITS FIRST WEEK
COVER OF IMAGINE DRAGONS’ “RADIOACTIVE”
(WITH LINDSEY STIRLING) SOARS TO 12 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS & DEBUTS IN ITUNES’ TOP 100
YOUTUBE CHANNEL SURPASSES 70 MILLION VIEWS WITH OVER 800 THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS
2013 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR CONTINUES THROUGH MAY

Vocal sensations and winners of season 3 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix have had a whirlwind week with their latest YouTube video – “Evolution Of Music” – garnering nearly 7 million in the 6 days since its debut.  The video spans 1000 years of music in just 4 minutes, featuring some of the most popular songs from the last dozen centuries, and has been featured by The Huffington Post, Ryan Seacrest, Mashable and even got some radio love from New York City’s Z100. 

Additionally, “Oh Holy Night,” the Christmas classic and standout track from PTX’s 2012 Christmas EP, was featured on last week’s episode of NBC’s Community. 

Pentatonix also recently teamed up with dubstep violinist Lindsey Stirling on a cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive.”  The video has a combined 12 million cumulative YouTube views and the single, now available via iTunes, debuted in its top 100.  
PTX & Lindsey Stirling

This follows the success of the group’s previous offerings, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” which surpassed the six million-view mark, an *NSYNC medley and a Swedish House Mafia mash-up.  All of the arrangements are performed on the group’s current tour, which continues through May.   

On top of their live performance  and YouTube release schedules, Pentatonix are also arranging and recording PTX Vol 2,  planned for an early Summer release.
           
After winning the most recent season of NBC’s “The Sing Off,” Pentatonix enjoyed a whirlwind of success in 2012.  

They released 2 EP’s – PTX Vol 1 & PTXmas – twice debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 and selling a combined 100,000 albums and counting.  Their television appearances included The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, The Katie Couric Show, The Talk, The American Music Awards Red Carpet Show and VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live!  They have been regularly featured by RyanSeacrest.com and Perez Hilton.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reviewed their fall tour and said:

No strictly vocal act sounds more ecstatic in triumph than Pentatonix… Euphoric best describes the joyful, self-described “futuristic a cappella” quintet who played before a wildly enthusiastic Philly audience.

Pentatonix are taking instrument-free music far beyond anyone’s wildest expectations.  Named after the world’s most widely recognized five-note musical scale, this vocal quintet has transformed one of pop music’s purest and most soulful expressions into an exciting future, filled with limitless sonic possibility.  Pairing their intricate arrangements with cleverly re-imagined pop songs, Pentatonix have quickly cultivated a sound and style that is entirely unique and undeniably infectious. 


Just a year old, the Pentatonix YouTube channel boasts over 70 million views, buoyed by more than 800,000 subscribers.  The group also has more than 290,000 Facebook fans and nearly 85,000 twitter followers.

It's a PTX World At:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PTXofficial

PTX Official: http://www.ptx-official.com/



Remaining 2013 TOUR DATES

May 2013
2                      Wilma                                            Missoula, MT
4                      Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID
5                      Crystal Ballroom                        Portland, OR
7                      Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA
9                      Vogue Theatre                             Vancouver, BC
11                    Showbox SODO                           Seattle, WA

Monday, April 29, 2013

What?! LeAnn Rimes Still Sings?!


Who knew Ms. Rimes was still a singer? All most of us have known her for the past few years was the Bitch who took Eddie Cibrian from Brandi Glanville...not my words, Brandi's, paraphrasing and artistic license apply.

And boy did Brandi never let us forget it, it was her claim to fame and made her one of the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".

Rimes other claim to fame of late has been about her weight. "Is She or Isn't She Anorectic" - when she is seen out in her bikini.

OK, well LeAnn it's time you reminded peeps why you are famous in the first place, you are a gifted singer and songwriter, looking forward to "Spitfire" putting you in the press for something other than malicious gossip!

LeAnn Rimes announces release of new album SPITFIRE

Physical CD Available Only at Walmart

14 song collection available June 4th, 2013 featuring Special Appearances
by Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Rob Thomas and Jeff Beck


Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter LeAnn Rimes is releasing her new album, SPITFIRE, on June 4, 2013. Rimes, who co-wrote nine of the songs on her newest offering, says “This album is a peek into my world; who I am, what I’ve gone through, what my emotions are.  It’s an intimate conversation between me and whoever’s listening.  I hope I’m saying things that are hard for others to express.  It certainly took me a lot of work to get to this point. And it’s still easier to sing these thoughts than it is to say them out loud.  The intimacy in my music is just beginning.”

“Curb Records is receiving global reviews for LeAnn’s brilliant album, Spitfire.  Her performances with Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Jeff Beck, Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski are amazing and a great representation of LeAnn’s ability as an artist and songwriter, says Curb Records Chairman, Mike Curb.  “LeAnn and producer Darrell Brown have created a very special musical adventure that is delivered straight from LeAnn’s heart.  We’ve always known she is a great singer.  This album simply proves outright that LeAnn is a great, multi-faceted artist.”

SPITFIRE is co-produced by Darrell Brown, LeAnn’s longtime friend, whom she calls her “writing soul mate”. Rimes speaks of this album as a “journey” and says there were several memorable moments along the way from having multi-Grammy award-winning engineer, Al Schmitt (Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Norah Jones) mix several songs to having Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminsky sing background vocals on “What Have I Done?”.  After ten years of trying to write or record with Rob Thomas, the planets aligned as Rob added an undeniable groove to “Gasoline and Matches”, which also features the legendary signature guitar styling's of Jeff Beck, whom LeAnn previously worked with on a Barbra Streisand tribute at the Grammys to benefit MusiCares.


“SPITFIRE covers a range of emotions that I’ve experienced in my lifetime, from anger to love, from frustrations to letting go”, says Rimes.  “Darrell and I talked about telling that story in chronological order, but that didn’t work sonically, so he said, ‘It’s the truth…in no particular order.’ And isn’t that what life is about?”

The physical CD will launch exclusively at Walmart and is currently available for pre-order at:  http://bit.ly/Spitfire1

For more information on LeAnn Rimes, visit www.leannrimesworld.com

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Emii - "Freakier Freak"

Emii: "To Freak Or Not to Freak"?

"I have a sense of humor about a lot of things. It might be terribly inappropriate, but I have no qualms about joking around. It's all good" - Emii "Chorus & Verse" to Yours Truly, Michael Shinafelt.

This is an excerpt from my interview with the one and only Emii when I chatted her up about her then latest single "Mr. Romeo" featuring Snoop Dogg.

Since then she has got her Fuck Me Pumps on in the song "Stilettos" and now she is getting down with her inner  freak, and freaking hard in "Freakier Freak"- she is double dipping in the freak pond and letting that flag fly loud & proud!

The title says it all, Emii is a Sex Fiend and she wants it anyway she can get it, oh my!

With her tongue placed firmly in cheek (and other orifices) Emii hits deep space and comes up with a nine (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Our intergalactic guide, Emii, will navigate us on how to find a Black Hole, Uranus and the Milky Way....cosmic travel never was so enticing. 

So let's hop aboard with Emii and take a ride, shall we... Yahooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Space Invaders!


                                                           Emii "Freakier Freak" 

"Freak" out with Emii at: http://emii.net/

Friday, April 26, 2013

T.G.I.F. - Naama Kates Plays Room 5, Los Angeles CA



If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are planning on hanging out this evening, why not do it with indie darling Naama Kates at Room 5.

This critically acclaimed chanteuse will be hitting the Room 5 stage at 10 pm sharp...!

She is currently promoting her sophomore CD "King For The Day" the follow-up to her hit freshman debut "The Unexamined Life".

So, if your Friday Calendar is free, and you have no plans get your ass to Room 5 at 10 pm and check out Naama.

Oh, I will be there too, so if you come to the show, say "Hello".

                                            Naama Kates "King For The Day"
Get your "King" on at: http://www.naamakates.com/

Room 5 info: http://www.room5lounge.com/

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The Return Of Lee DeWyze



Yep, he's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack....!

April 22, 2013 – Singer/songwriter Lee DeWyze, will return to the American Idol stage on Thursday, April 25th to perform his new song “Silver Lining” - the first single from his upcoming summer release on Vanguard Records.   Thursday’s appearance will mark DeWyze’s first  performance on American Idol since he was crowned winner of Season Nine in 2010. American Idol airs on Fox TV Wednesday and Thursdays at 8:00pm Eastern/7:00pm Central.

DeWyze’s premiere of “Silver Lining” will offer the millions of Idol fans and viewers a preview of what’s to come on his new album spotlighting his gift as a distinctive songwriter as well as an accomplished musician.  DeWyze is currently in the studio wrapping up his Vanguard debut.

Lee DeWyze will formally launch the pivotal next stage of what is already a high-profile musical career with the release of his label debut. “This past year, I hunkered down and wrote an album,” the Chicago native explains. “I wanted to take it back to what I’m really about, which is writing emotionally charged, meaningful songs. It wasn’t like I wanted to find a label and then decide what kind of album to make. I knew what kind of album I wanted to make and knew I could make. It’s going back to the kind of music I’ve always loved. The way I see it, everything that’s happened throughout my career has happened so that I can make this record.

Lee will be hitting the road this summer in support of his new album.  Tour dates listed below with more cities to be added.
06/04/13     Columbus, OH - The Basement at Promowest
06/05/13     Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
06/06/13     Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
06/08/13     Indianapolis, IN - Rathskeller
06/11/13     Nashville, TN - High Watt


There's always a "Silver Lining" at:  www.facebook.com/leedewyze

https://twitter.com/leedewyze