100% Grade "A" Pentatonix

Truly Original: PTX

While we love Pentatonix doing covers and mash-ups celebrating all of the Katys, Justins and Daft Punks of the world, it is about high time they sang something of their own doing, PTX has decided to "Run To You." Yes you, all you legions of Pentatonix fans with their first original PTX song called, I bet you can't guess?

"Run To You!" Yes! You get that gold star from the teacher even though you secretly put salt in her coffee this week.

The single is featured on the gangs latest album "PTX Volume 2."

Just one more of many reasons to love these guys...Woot!

                                                                 "Run To You"

"Run" to PTX official for all of the latest PTX News: http://ptxofficial.com/

John Lennon & Yoko Ono "I'm Not The Beatles"

I'm Not the Beatles: The John & Yoko Interviews  with Howard Smith, 1969-1972  Available as 8 CD Set on April 14th Here it comes all you hardcore John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Beatles fans - it's the transition from being one of the Beatles to being a revolutionary, all the dish straight from John Lennon and Yoko Ono themselves... This eight CD box set features John Lennon & Yoko Ono's five iconic conversations with Village Voice journalist and radio personality Howard Smith. These in-depth discussions about music, love, creativity, peace and politics illuminate the couple's transformation from Beatles into revolutionaries. These interviews have been mastered from Smith's original audio recordings, which had been buried in the back of his West Village loft for 40 years. Never before released on CD.   May 28 - 29, 1969 - Live phone interview, the Bed-In Montreal (35 min) Smith speaks on the phone with John & Yoko, who are in their suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Among other things, they discuss selling Peace as a commodity, the Activist Movement, and Lennonʼs denial of being, nor intention of being, a leader.   Dec. 17, 1969 - Ronnie Hawkinʼs Ranch, Ontario Canada (89 min) Smith traveled to Ronnie Hawkinʼs Ranch outside of Toronto to interview John & Yoko. While eating shrimp tempura, they discuss the ins and outs of recording with the Beatles, the bandʼs uncertain future, Woodstock vs. Altamont, and the impact of the Youth Movement.  Dec. 12, 1970 - Regency Hotel, NYC (86 min) Smith interviews John & Yoko the day after the Plastic Ono Band albums are released, and they are in the midst of shooting 2 art films. They discuss the emotional process of their music including specific songs from the albums, their time in Janov therapy, how they handle fame, and whether the Beatles will ever get back together.   Sept. 9, 1971 - St. Regis Hotel, NYC (71 min) Smith interviews John & Yoko on the day Lennonʼs album Imagine is released. They discuss the album, Onoʼs upcoming artist retrospective, Paulʼs, Georgeʼs and Ringoʼs own individual albums, the mediaʼs criticisms of their relationship, Johnʼs "working class" nature, and future plans.  Jan. 23, 1972 - The Lennonsʼ Bank St. apartment, NYC (86 min) Smith drops by John & Yokoʼs West Village apartment on the day of a WPLJ Beatles marathon which can be heard at times playing in the background, often inspiring and directing the conversation. They discuss the experience of being a Beatle (and a Beatle wife) and the break up, stage fright and the emotional rollercoaster of performing, breakthroughs acquired in Janov therapy, love, and Revolution.  About Howard Smith: Howard Smith is an Oscar winning film director, journalist and broadcaster. As a writer for more than 30 years, his articles have appeared in, among others, Playboy and The New York Times. Smithʼs weekly column "Scenes" in the Village Voice helped cement the paperʼs position within the emerging counterculture.  Pre-Order Link - http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD6105A

Pentatonix: "Can You Tell Us How To Get To Sesame Street?"

Awwwwwwww, He's Sharing His Cookies With The Gang!

Well apparently someone told them because PTX made the trip to that famed street on Friday February 7th 2014...

Let's face it no matter what age you are Sesame Street is an awesome place to visit, who wouldn't want to hang with Oscar The Grouch, Big Bird & Cookie Monster for a while, righteous cool company if you ask me!

Here for all of you is Scott, Avi, Kirstie, Kevin & Mitch Singing and counting to five, that's because there are five members of Pentatonix for those out there who may be numerically challenged.

And look what street they are on...Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

                                                         Look! PTX Can Count!!!

Take a trip to Pentatonix Street at: http://ptxofficial.com/

Michael Vaccaro Is A "Child Of The 70's"

The Hit Web Series "Child of the 70's" has been around for two seasons now and is about to embark on it's third, for those of you who are not in the loop, COT70's follows the adventures of one Carlo Perdente...

"Carlo Perdente is a real loser! He's a struggling actor in New York. He loses his survival job, he gets thrown out of his apartment, his boyfriend dumps him, his overbearing Italian mother treats him like garbage, and he's about to give up... until a chance encounter with his favorite '70s star, KiKi Lawrence, completely changes his life. Will he move to LA? Will his life be any better there? Will he find love? Career success? And what will his mother say?"

Here to talk about being a "Child of the 70's" is the Writer/Creator, "Carlo Perdente" himself Michael Vaccaro!

MS: Obviously "Child of the 70's" is based loosely on your life.

MV: Very, loosely (laughs) 

MS: So why are you a "Child of the 70's?" Being that we are the same age and were both teenagers in the 80's?

MV: I gravitated more towards the music and movies of the 70's by the 80's I was horribly jaded and cynical. I consider the 70's my formative years. I actually kind of hated the 80's to me it was the time when everything went down the shit hole.

MS: Have you ever been a phone sex operator like your character "Carlo" was on the show?

MV: I did have a job at a phone sex company, that part of the show is real, I think I got fired after a couple of months. There's nothing sexual about the job at all, it is actually horrendously boring. You sit at a phone bank for eight hours a day and moan and groan into a phone. (laughs)

MS: By the way, Donna Pescow played your Mother "Anna Perdente" on the first season, how come the end credits read "Anna Perdente" as "Anna Perdente" and not Donna Pescow as "Anna Perdente?"

MV: That was a decision we made together. We thought it would be cute to do the credit that way and see if people could figure out who the actress was playing "Anna." 

MS: She was really good.

MV: Also there is a joke behind it too, every season we are going to have a different actress playing my Mother. In season two we have this amazing actress, Lynne Marie Stewart, who was "Miss Yvonne" on "Pee Wees Playhouse." I love how on "Bewitched" there was a new Darren and on "Roseanne" there was a new "Becky" and they just don't explain it at all, that is one of my favorite things, Soap Operas do it all the time.

MS: Who is the character of TV Star "Kiki Lawrence" on your show based on?

MV: "Kiki" is sort of based on Vicki Lawrence, who was on the show "Mama's Family" of course "Kiki's" show is called "Mama's Jewels." But I don't have inside information on Vicki Lawrence, I don't know if she was a psychopath like "Kiki." (laughs) But she was the jumping off point I used for writing that character. 

MS: You have some awesome cameos on the show!

Carlo & Family

MV: We have Susan Olsen from "The Brady Bunch," Geri Jewell from "The Facts of Life" and Bruce Vilanch. In season three we have Dee Wallace from "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" there is also this amazing pop singer, Kitten Kay Sera, she is going to be playing "Kiki Lawrence's" crazy white trash sister. There is one more superstar from the 70's who is joining us in season three as well, but it is a surprise and I can not tell you.

MS: I wanna know!

MV: Sorry, I can not mention his name. Everyone will have to tune in to see who it is.

MS: When is season three set to drop?

MV: That's a great question and the answer to that is "I don't know." I'm fundraising right now. So if there is anyone out there who wants to be an investor, executive producer or a sponsor, get in contact with me. Season three is all written, the cast and crew are ready to go I just need the money to pay everybody.

MS: Season three sounds very exciting.

MV: It's the biggest, most ambitious season yet. There's a whole new story line, almost an entire new cast coming in. I'm not going to give anything away, but there is a major cliff hanger at the end of the season, something really exciting! I'll give you a hint, just remember that our show takes place in Los Angeles, CA...


Have a blast from the past and let loose your inner "Child of the 70's" at:

Website: http://www.theofficialchildofthe70s.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChildOfThe70s

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChildOfTheSeventies1

You Go Olivia! Olivia Newton-John's "Summer Nights" @The Flamingo

You Go Olivia!

My first girl crush from my formative years as a young man and former interview subject, check out this fun chat I did with her at AfterElton: http://www.thebacklot.com/interview-with-gay-ally-olivia-newton-john/08/2008/

 Olivia Newton-John is going to have a residency at Bugsy Malone's former Vegas oasis, The Flamingo. I last saw Ms. Newton-John perform at Los Angeles Gay Pride and she was great! I am predicting a trip to Vegas in the near future, congrats Olivia!

Get ready for some summer lovin’ and “have a blast” as Olivia Newton-John makes her way to Flamingo Las Vegas with her “Summer Nights” residency. Opening inside the Donny & Marie Showroom on Tuesday, April 8, the beloved internationally-renowned singer-actress will take audiences on a musical journey through her life in film and music.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. Members of Caesars Entertainment’s Total Rewards program will have access to an exclusive pre-sale from Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m.   To join Total Rewards program for free, click here.  

“I am thrilled to be able to call Las Vegas home for a while,” says Olivia. “I have performed here many times through the years and have had nothing but wonderful memories and I look forward to even more fun at the Flamingo. I am especially thrilled that a portion of every ticket sold will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.”

“We look forward to welcoming Olivia to Flamingo Las Vegas, where so many other iconic artists have performed,” said Eileen Moore, regional president of the famed center Strip resort. “She has such a broad appeal and you can count all of us here at Flamingo among her adoring fan base; she’s the ‘one that we want’ and we can’t wait for her to call Flamingo home.”

The show will be a musical journey through the iconic artist’s illustrious career featuring hits from her early years including “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “Let Me Be There,” “If You Love Me Let Me Know” and “I Honestly Love You,” as well some of her favorites from Grease,“Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re The One That I Want,” and of course, “Summer Nights.”  Favorites and hits from her other movies, including Xanadu, as well as her ‘80s anthem and record breaking song “Physical,” will keep the room dancing, while new songs from her recent Billboard hit album Grace and Gratitude are sure to warm the hearts of the entire audience.

Dates confirmed so far:

April: 8 – 12  
May: 6 – 10, 27 – 31  
July: 1 – 5, 29 – 31 
Aug: 1, 2, 5 – 9, 12 – 16, 19 – 23, 26 – 30 

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $69, $99 and $139, and a special meet and greet package is available for $249. Additional service fees apply. Tickets are available at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office, by phone at (702) 777-2782 or (855) 234-7469 or by visiting flamingolasvegas.com. For groups of 10 or more call (866) 574-3851 or email EntertainmentGroupSales@Caesars.com.

R.I.P: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman

It's Superbowl Sunday, the groundhog saw his shadow and  Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away today.

Philip Seymour Hoffman first caught my attention in a big way with his role as "Scotty J." whose character had a mad crush on porn star "Dirk Diggler" (Mark Wahlberg) in "Boogie Nights."

He also was in two other favorites of mine Todd Solondz's "Happiness" and Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous" as famed rock critic "Lester Bangs." 

And he won the Oscar for playing Truman Capote, in "Capote."

There are so many more roles and movies that he has done and he never turned in a bad performance. 

This tweet from Rose McGowan in his memory sums it up best:  "A giant talent touched by fire. Philip Seymour Hoffman."

One of the greats is no longer among us, may you rest peacefully Mr. Hoffman.

Philip Seymour Hoffman on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

Rock Out With Your C#ck Out! It's "All Downhill From Here"

For all of you who love something other than pop music, myself in particular, this is the book for you. 

It's February 1st 2014, I wonder if the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow? If he does...It's "All Downhill From Here!" 

In 2003, the AFI message board spawned a new webzine called Scene Point Blank. AFI were at the top of the charts, The Blood Brothers and The Locust were making waves in hardcore, and a young folk-punk band called Against Me! released As the Eternal Cowboy. The times have changed, but Scene Point Blank is stronger than ever, celebrating 10 years with All Downhill From Here, a new book that highlights some of their favorite material and includes insight on the wide-ranging cast of writers behind some of the webzine world's longer reviews.

Curated from 4000+ reviews and 200+ interviews, Scene Point Blank has put together some of their most popular items, some of their favorites, and their most memorable pieces into three formats: Kindle, eBook, and print, retailing from $7-15 depending on platform. Content includes interviews and features with Ian Mackaye, Henry Rollins, Larry Livermore, Evan Dando, Jacob Bannon, and many more. 

Scene Point Blank isn't limited to punk and hardcore... They're proud of their varied content, ranging from blackened death to drone to hip-hop and even prog. They feel that music shouldn't be limited to genre and, in fact, discussing it in those terms is far too limiting. Their focus is on heavy, independent music, both the well-known and those just getting started. 

After 10 years of online coverage, Scene Point Blank now offers All Downhill From Here to the public on a format they can carry with them and share, 

Available now at:

http://www.scenepointblank.com/ 

http://www.scenepointblank.com/book/