Merry Christmas Pentatonix! PTX Scores Their Second Billboard Top 10!

Pentatonix Scores A Second Billboard Top 10 with PTXmas, Jumping to #7 on the Top 200 and #1 on the Digital Chart

YouTube Channel Surpasses 3 Million Subscribers, as Video for “Little Drummer Boy” Eclipses 15 Million Views in its First Week

2014 North American Tour Dates Selling Out, New Dates Added

Upcoming performances lined up with The Today Show, Conan, The Queen Latifah Show and more

PTX is indeed having a very Merry Holiday Season. First PTX Volume 2 debuts in the Billboard Top 10 and now PTXmas climbed it's way there too, it looks like the skys the limit in 2014 for  these guys!

 Vocal sensations Pentatonix have landed back in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for the second time in less than a month with the release of their new, deluxe version of PTXmas, titled PTXmas (Deluxe Edition).  PTXmas soars into the #7 spot on the chart this week with more than 59,000 copies sold.  Pentatonix recently scored their first Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart with their latest PTX Volume 2 release from Madison Gate Records, landing at #10 while also topping Billboard’s Independent Artist Chart in the same week.  The PTXmas (Deluxe Edition) holiday album includes brand new recordings of “Little Drummer Boy” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”  The video for “Little Drummer Boy” has been a worldwide viral hit since its debut one week ago racking up over 15 million views and landing in the Top 10 on iTunes. 

Watch “Little Drummer Boy” Here: http://bit.ly/1hAAdsG

PTX Volume 2 features 8 brand new tracks, with 3 original songs and 4 covers including a 7-song Daft Punk medley, its video released via the group’s YouTube Channel has garnered over 25 million views. The iTunes version of the album also features a medley of the  Swedish House Mafia hits “Save The World” and “Don’t Worry Child” as an iTunes album-only bonus track. 

Watch “Daft Punk” Here: http://youtu.be/3MteSlpxCpo

Watch “Save The World / Don’t Worry Child” Here: http://bit.ly/SHMCptx

PTX Volume 2 follows the group’s two 2012 Madison Gate Records Releases – PTX Volume 1 and PTXmas – both debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 when originally released and re-entering Billboard’s Top 200 chart last month selling more than 275,000 albums to date.

In support of the huge success of PTX Volume 2, Pentatonix have performed on Ellenhttp://www.ellentv.com/2013/11/04/pentatonix-performs-evolution-of-beyonce/, Conanhttp://teamcoco.com/video/pentatonix-12-10-2013 and The Queen Latifah Showhttp://queenlatifah.com/loving/pentatonix-new-album-tour-dates.  The group was also featured on CNN Headline News http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/11/08/cappella-pentatonix-sing and on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer in the highly coveted “Persons of the Week” segment.  Click here to watch:http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/amazing-success-story-testament-giving-20834572   

Next up, Pentatonix is set to perform on The Today Show December 17, Fox & Friends December 19, Arsenio Hall Show December 20, The Queen Latifah Holiday Special December 23, The Sing-Off December 23, Hallmark’s Home & Family Christmas Special December 24 and Sesame Street on February 7, 2014.

Pentatonix recently announced dates for their 2014 North American and European headline tours with many of the North American shows already sold-out (European shows go on sale this Friday).  The touring will begin February 4, 2014 and go through April 2014, with shows at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles (3/1 & 2), as well as, at Oakland’s Fox Theater and New York City’s Beacon Theatre (4/3 & 10).  All tickets and limited VIP Packages – including meet & greets, access to soundcheck, exclusive merchandise and even a private performance – are available at http://www.ptxofficial.com/tour.

Online, the Pentatonix YouTube channel boasts over 235 million views, buoyed by more than 3.2 Millionsubscribers, and is one of the Top 100 most subscribed-to music channels. Pentatonix fanbase is rapidly growing with over 308,000 new fans added on Facebook and Twitter this past week bringing the current tally to more than740,000 Facebook fans and nearly 180,000 Twitter followers.  

2014 U.S. Tour Dates

February

4                         Midwestern State University          Wichita Falls, TX

5                         Cain’s Ballroom                              Tulsa, OK

6                          Gillioz Theatre                               Springfield, MO

8 (sold out)         Chicago Theatre                         Chicago, IL

9                          Egyptian Room                            Indianapolis, IN

11                        Milwaukee Riverside Theatre      Milwaukee, WI

12 (sold out)        State Theater                               Minneapolis, MN

15 (sold out)        Paramount Theatre                      Denver, CO

17                         The Complex-Rockwell                Salt Lake City, UT

19                         Vogue Theater                            Vancouver, BC

20                          Paramount Theatre                     Seattle, WA

22                          Fox Theater                                 Oakland, CA

23                          Grand Sierra Resort                     Reno, NV

25                           Soma                                           San Diego

26                           House of Blues                            Las Vegas, NV

27                           Rialto Theatre                              Tucson, AZ

March

1 (sold out) & 2      Orpheum Theatre                        Los Angeles, CA

19                           Peabody Opera House               St. Louis, MO

20                           Robinson Center Music Hall       Little Rock, AR

22 (sold out)          Ryman Auditorium                      Nashville, TN

23                           Iron City                                      Birmingham, AL

25                           Hard Rock Live                           Orlando, FL

26                           Georgia Theatre                          Athens, GA

27                           The Fillmore                               Charlotte, NC

29                           DAR Constitution Hall               Washington DC

30                          The Electric Factory                   Philadelphia, PA

April

3 (sold out)  & 10  Beacon Theatre                          New York, NY

5 (sold out) & 6      House of Blues                           Boston, MA

8                             Danforth Music Hall                     Toronto, ON

9                             UB Center for the Arts                Buffalo, NY

http://ptxofficial.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/ptxofficial?feature=results_main%20

https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix

https://twitter.com/PTXofficial

Lindsey Stirling & Kuha'o Case - Inspire This Christmas

Myself & Lindsey Backstage at The Roxy, LA

I love Ms.Lindsey Stirling, she is a Rock Star on the violin! This Christmas she has teamed with someone who will inspire and create awe in your heart for the Holiday Season....Kuha'o Case.

For those who have never heard of Kuha'o he is a blind, self taught seventeen year old piano 
prodigy whose love of music brings him light and happiness.

They have combined their musical forces on the Christmas classic "Oh Come, Emmanuel"

Prepare to be inspired and keep the Holiday joy flowing.

Give it up for Lindsey and Kuha'o!

                                                          "Oh Come, Emmanuel"

Check out Kuha'o on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kuhaocase?feature=watch

Lindsey is everywhere and here: http://www.lindseystirling.com/

Merry "Midnight Red" Christmas

Merry "Midnight Red" Christmas

OK, it time for something silly, it's time for Midnight Red. Yes, they are a boy band and Yes I have a soft spot for Colton Rudloff one fifth of the band as I have interviewed him for Chorus and Verse and he has made an appearance on "Entertain Me" as well:

http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2012/06/colton-rudloff-of-midnight-red-gets.html

MIDNIGHT RΞD have reason to be ‘thankful’ this Holiday Season,.  In celebration of Christmas, Joey, Thomas, Anthony, Eric and Colton are sending a Christmas and Holiday greeting to all their fans with the release of their latest music video “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays."

The song originally recorded by NSYNC, is destined to become a Midnight Red fan favorite as the boys are often referred by fans as NSYNC2.0.  Filmed in a home setting, the five boys spread holiday cheer with friends, family, and a visit from Santa Claus and one of his elves.  But is it a dream?  Waking up in their footed pajamas, what did Santa bring them or did Santa come at all?  Cut to the video and find out....Happy Monday!

                                                     Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Go "Red" at: http://www.midnightred.com/

"Last Christmas" Matthew Duffy Received, Wham!

"Spunkpumper" Matthew Duffy has united his love of electronic and 80's music to give you all a Christmas present...

By releasing his version of Wham's "Last Christmas" as a free download. Knowing what I know about Mr. Duffy, he has been on "Entertain Me" before, "Spunkpumpers Unite" anyone? I assumed this meant he is a huge Wham! fan, of course my instincts were dead on!

Here with five reasons why he loves 80's super group Wham! with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley is Mr. Matthew Duffy!


1. George Michael's fluorescent fingerless gloves

2. George Michael's snaps

3. Club Tropicana. I really wanted to go have a cocktail there with them when I was a kid

4. Everything She Wants - was then and is still a killer track - plus George has incredible height to his hair in the video

5. Wham's wardrobe. Love me a good font statement T-shirt

Extra, Extra, Get Your Free Download Of Matthews "Last Christmas" Here:

https://soundcloud.com/matthew-duffy-music

Follow Him On Facebook At: http://www.facebook.com/matthewduffymusic

Ho Ho Ho, Joe Castro's Scary Christmas

Joe's Christmas 2013 Creation

Tis' the season to be scary... it's to be jolly I know, but I wanted to add a little twist to this Holiday season and  ask someone who you wouldn't traditionally associate with this time of giving what he wanted for Christmas.

For horror fan and filmmaker Joe Castro Halloween is all year round. He writes, directs and does visual effects on all of his horror projects. Yes Joe loves horror and so do I!

Hot off the heels of the big success of his last horror opus the award winning festival favorite "The Summer of Massacre" Joe is doing post on "Terror Toons 3" the sequel to his popular "Terror Toons" series of horror films about homicidal cartoons.

Recently he made a return to short film making with "Attack of the Killer Bees," so what does the King of Gore want for Christmas this year?

3 machetes slaying? 8 corpses rotting? 12 Boogeymen Boogieing? Let's find out, if you dare...

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful

5) a studio funded film I get to direct

4) death to all employees and ppl who produce shows for the SyFy network

3 ) world peace

2) a cure for HIV/ AIDS

1) my very own twin

My very own twin, well I guess you could not count on number one being traditional considering, but this completely was a fun break from usual Holiday traditions, Thanks Joe!

Find out more about the "King of Gore" on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0145581/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

Follow him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.castro?fref=ts

Lita Ford & Cherie Currie, Are Here To "Rock This Christmas Down" !

Merry Rockin' Christmas

Are you ready to "Rock This Christmas Down" ?! I know I am, even though I am a HUGE music fan of almost every genre, my favorite type of music is, and always will be rock! 

Guess what? You are all in for a treat, two of the legends of rock music have combined forces and created an awesome new kind of Christmas single, "Rock This Christmas Down!" Here is what Ms. Cherie Currie sent me about the new Holiday favorite yesterday....

Two of the most influential women in Rock and Roll have reunited for a special holiday song.  LITA FORD has partnered up with her former Runaways band mate CHERIE CURRIE for what is sure to be a new Christmas Classic.  The song “Rock This Christmas Down” is the first time LITA and CHERIE have recorded new music together since 1977.

Tired of the same old Christmas songs LITA was ready for something new:

"I thought the world could use a new Christmas song.   The song was Written by Mitch Perry, my guitarist and Michael Dan Ehmig, my lyricist, along with Marty O'Brien on bass, and Rodger Carter on drums. We so rocked it!

What I didn't know is that I'd be singing it as a duet with my long lost sister, CHERIE CURRIE.  I am blessed to have her back in my life, and what an appropriate time and song to rehash an old friendship.  CHRISTMAS!!!"

CHERIE hopped a plane from Chicago to L.A., and drove straight to the studio and threw down her vocal track on this rocking song!  Needless to say, it was magic and history in the making.

Lita & Cherie: Reunited, Happy Holidays!

We were left with such a smoking track for everyone to hear, every Christmas, every year!  Let's "ROCK THIS CHRISTMAS DOWN!!!”

CHERIE was equally as excited to reunite and work with LITA again:

"I have dreamed, literally, of seeing LITA again for over three decades.  Even after all that time I still thought of her often.  The Runaways was something that was always left unfinished to me. Especially when it came to LITA, but I only knew her as a child.

What floored me more then the unbelievable gift of working with her again was the woman she had become.  She is the bravest, kindest, strongest, most loving human being I have met.

LITA asking me to be a part of this amazing song and a part of her astonishing life has filled that void, that hole I had in my heart that maybe we both shared.  It is now filled with love, support and admiration for a dear and wonderful friend whom I am so proud to say is LITA FORD."

“Rock This Christmas Down” has the flare of our Runaways legacy but its pure LITA.  It rocks like only she can.   We took a dim, negative and unfinished past and turned it into a positive future.  It doesn't get any better then that.  I know this will be the best Christmas I have had in decades.  Thank you sister!

What does “Rock This Christmas Down” signify?  Possibly more collaborations between the former Runaway members in the future…only time will tell....

I say "Yes! Let's hope so!" 

Buy Yourself The Gift of a Rocking Christmas at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rock-this-christmas-down/id747299458?i=747299646

Rock with Lita at: http://litafordonline.com

Rock with Cherie at: http://www.cheriecurrie.com

Tell Santa Claus You Want: Natalie Toro "Just In Time For Christmas"

Classically-trained, Broadway veteran, Natalie Toro brings her infectious energy,and powerhouse vocals, coupled with luscious tones to melt any heart with the, release of "Just In Time For Christmas"....

Yep this pretty much sums it up, this was my first encounter with the force of nature known as Natalie Toro and I must say, not only do I love her voice, I personally think she is da bomb!

The following is when Michael met Natalie, grab some Eggnog and raise a glass, Cheers!

NT: Hi Michael, it's Natalie Toro, how are you?

MS: Hey, want to hear something funny? I found out at the very last minute that you were on the web series "Child of the 70's" and I was watching an episode you are in, I know Michael Vaccaro (Actor/Creator/Writer of the show), I did a short film with him.

NT: Oh my God how funny! Did you see the Christmas dinner scene?

MS: Yes!

NT: We had the best time shooting that, Oh My God,  it was during the summer, and here we are trying to get in the Christmas spirit in the middle of August in New York. (laughs) I've known Michael all my life.

MS: I watched the video for song "Just In Time For Christmas" five times before you called, very nice. Was that shot in August too? (laughs)

                                                         "Just In Time For Christmas"

NT: No, it wasn't shot in August, but it was very funny shooting it in Central Park with a hidden camera. People thought I was insane! (laughs) I had the little ear plug in my ear and my iPod in my pocket and I was singing to Jesus, yep it was just me in the middle of Central Park singing acapella while the video was being shot! (laughs)

MS: The video came out really great - hard to believe you shot it guerrilla style.

NT: You want to know something really funny, when you see the unedited footage before the song got put it in, I am underneath the big theater in Central Park, you know that dome theater? I'm wailing, the acoustics there are incredible! There were people watching and shooting video footage of this crazy lady in a coat, me, just singing at the top of her lungs to no music and you can hear this saxophone player playing "New York, New York" in the background, I was crying I was laughing so hard trying to focus on what I was doing!

MS: Vocally you are really simple, clean and direct, I love that!

NT: Thank you. I really tried to focus on getting away from my "Broadway Voice" on this album. I really wanted to find out who Natalie was, with the help of my producer, Dawn Makay she really worked with me, I mean I've always had a pure clean sound, but Broadway has a standard of what to do in a show, like using vibrato, also I tend to over pronounce everything because of the theater. With this album I really felt like a recording artist, I chewed up the mic I was very up close. A lot of my pure sounds were even more pure when I didn't add a vibrato.

MS: Great! For me personally I think a lot of artists over sing things just to show off.

Natalie & Frosty

NT: Also when you realize if you can't control your vibrato, and this is something I learned from Dawn, when someone has vibrato on every syllable of every word, it really takes you out of the song. It's not all about balls to the wall, it's about finding those moments, it's about what you are singing and the intimacy of it.

MS: "Just In Time For Christmas" is a great example of that.

NT: It's like a grand Disney song.

MS: That's a great way of putting it.

NT: Yeah, I hope Disney can hear it, hey I want that somewhere in a Disney movie! We even have a New Age song on the album "The Christmas Song" with an American Indian flute, so we really worked on that vocal purity and clarity, I mean if I am going to have an American Indian flute playing with me on a Christmas song I better have that same purity and clarity of what that flute represents. It's haunting and at the same time it's meditative, I mean you can't be meditative with someone's vibrato going "Ah ah ah ah ah" that's not meditative, that's like "go get a gun and kill me." (laughs)

MS: I agree, that's why I hate House Music.

NT: House Music is what you dance to when you are having a cocktail.

MS: Not even then I can't be near it.

NT: Yeah, I know I hate it too. (laughs) Hey Michael it might be our age! (laughs)

MS: All of your tracks on "Just In Time For Christmas" are clearly a labor of love for you, but is there any track in particular that resonates more than the others?

NT: My absolute favorite Christmas song is "Ave Maria/O'Holy Night" my idea for intertwining them is they are meeting on the same premise. "Ave Maria" is a prayer about the Holy Mother and her Child, and "O'Holy Night" is about the birth of the Child and I thought Oh My God, it made complete sense to put them together.

MS: Any new videos beside "Just In Time For Christmas" coming from the album?

NT: Yes, the video for "Baby It's Cold Outside" a duet I did with Ryan Kelly was just released.

Chill With Natalie & Ryan at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBLYyZCGA2U

Bravo Natalie at: http://www.natalietoro.com/