Searching for a rockin’ musical getaway? Grab your swimsuit and a life vest because it seems the sea is where you will find many hot bands from the past and present. I’ll grant you, the cruise industry isn’t exactly beacon of trust, highlighted by the Italian cruise disaster earlier this year, but this hasn’t stopped [...]
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One Ocean, Four Boats and 100 Rock and Metal Bands: Music-Themed Cruises
STARZ TV Show “Boss” Films at Evanston’s Nichols Concert Hall
I’m a violin teacher at the Music Institute of Chicago. When I went to our website today, I was excited to learn that the STARZ TV show Boss filmed at Nichols Concert Hall in our Evanston campus on May 14. The show features 2011 Golden Globe winner Kelsey Grammer as Tom Kane, the fictitious mayor [...]
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3 Great Covers of the Mad Men Theme Song
I spent most of yesterday laid up on my couch with a neck spasm, so I passed the time by browsing YouTube. In my muscle relaxant-fueled delirium I came across three cover versions of the Mad Men theme song, “A Beautiful Mine” by RJD2. You can check out my finds below. Mad Men-All Bass Cover [...]
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Chicago Will Soon Be Invaded by Pianos: CSOA Kicks off Keys to the City Piano Festival
It’s safe to say that Chicagoans will be thrilled once NATO goes away. Not that we mind the attention from heads of state, but with the city in deadlock, no easy way to get in or out, protests, anarchists and what-have-you – yes, this can all go away. Thankfully, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association will [...]
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Portland Cello Project: Mashing Up Hip-Hop, Jazz and Classical Music
Considering we love sharing news about classical crossover artists, I’m a little surprised at myself for not hearing about the Portland Cello Project until stumbling onto an this article. Founded in 2006/7, the Portland Cello Project boldly mixes up concert repertoire with traditional classical music repertoire and arrangements of jazz, hip-hop, rock and more. Check [...]
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Tracy Silverman & Nashville Symphony Perform Electric Violin Concerto in Carnegie Hall
I recently came across a great story on the Tennessean about a unique programming choice by the Nashville Symphony for their recent trip to Carnegie Hall. The orchestra commissioned American minimalist composer Terry Riley to write a concerto to be performed with electric violinist Tracy Silverman. The Symphony’s performance was part of the Spring for [...]
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Kid Rock Jams with Detroit Symphony Orchestra for Fundraiser
I’ve come across some untraditional collaborations between rock musicians and orchestras, but this one has to be the most unusual. Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press wrote a post about Detroit native Kid Rock‘s performance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on May 12. The event was a fundraiser, which, according to a DSO press [...]
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Knock down Extreme Groupies with Shannon Tweed’s New Videogame
I was so entertained by this tidbit I found on Noisecreep that I just had to share. Shannon Tweed, the wife of KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons (and she officially is Gene’s wife now!) has joined with Goji Games to create a mobile videogame called Attack of the Groupies. In the game, fans can fight against [...]
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Smithsonian Folkways Presents Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection: Woody at 100
This year would’ve been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday. In honor of singer/songwriter’s centennial, Smithsonian Folkways presents an in-depth commemorative collection of songs, photos and essays on one of America’s most treasured 20th-century icons. With more than 3,000 work songs, union and labor songs, political and philosophical songs, anti-war songs, anti-Nazi songs and more, Wilson “Woody” [
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Nightclub Comes to the Concert Hall at New World Symphony’s Pulse Concert
The New World Symphony of Miami, Florida is the latest classical group working to attract a younger audience by putting a new spin on the concert hall experience. Arian Campo-Flores of the Wall Street Journal recently wrote a report on Pulse, the New World Symphony’s late-night event which brought a nightclub atmosphere into the concert [...]
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“We’re Not Gonna Take It” Mariachi Style
Yes, Cinco de Mayo has come and gone. I meant to post this before the weekend, but blame not feeling well and dental work for my delay. As I previously mentioned, Hornitos® Premium Tequila teamed up with Twister Sister to tweak the band’s hit song, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Hornitos offered the opportunity to a [...]
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Awesome Paso, Wonderful Waltz, and Terrible Tangos on DWTS Classical Night
Dancing with the Stars’ classical night can best be summed up by a quote from professional dancer Mark Ballas: “You can’t spell classical without ass”. There were some great classical music moments and some, well, you know… Last night’s show featured an awesome Paso Doble, a wonderful Viennese Waltz, and two terrible Argentine Tangos. My [...]
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The Voice’s Semifinals Shines With Diversity
Inspiring, surprising and awesome can easily sum up Monday’s semifinals of The Voice, but that would over simplify the evening. What I continue to love about this show is the sheer diversity of performers. At this stage of the competition, it might be easy to have vocalists with sheer power remaining. However, this show has [...]
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Metalcamp: This Summer Camp for Kids Might Get A Little Noisy
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Artist:
With summer quickly approaching, it also means parents need to think about how to keep youngsters busy. It’s the time of year when parents make tough decisions to send kids off to summer camp to enjoy a little R&R. Typical summer camps usually include swimming, arts and crafts, hiking and roasting marshmallows while huddled up [...]
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Jesse Campbell Talks Elimination From The Voice: “I Didn’t Think That It Would Be Me”
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If you’ve been watching season 2 of The Voice, you are familiar with the beautiful voice of Jesse Campbell. In a surprising twist last week, the producers decided to add peculiar instant elimination to the show this season. Jesse’s coach, Christina Aguilera, in surprising move decided to eliminate him from her team. As a fan [...]
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Nightwish To Tour U.S. With Kamelot
Stateside symphonic metalheads can get ready for what could be a really amazing sonic treat. Symphonic metal band Nightwish has announced the band will tour in the U.S. this coming fall with Kamelot as its guest artist. Truthfully, this could easily be a dual headlining tour. Nightwish will support the recently released and majestic Imaginaerum. [...]
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Extraordinary Website Commemorates Music of the Holocaust
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. As a Jewish musician, I wanted to commemorate the occasion by writing about the relationship between music and the Holocaust. While doing some research, I came across holocaustmusic.ort.org. This extraordinary website provides a wealth of information about diverse composers and musicians, including those who supported the Nazis and the victims [...]
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Tony Vincent Eliminated from “The Voice” by Cee Lo’s Odd Staging & Song Choice
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I’ve been a fan of Tony Vincent ever since his first goose-pimple inspiring performance of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” in the audition rounds on The Voice. I thought for sure that his versatile tenor voice would carry him through to the final rounds. But it was not to be. After a troubled performance during [...]
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Orchestral Work by Radiohead Guitarist Is Part of Innovative Spoleto Festival USA 2012
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The Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is renowned for its innovative opera and classical music programming. One unconventional offering from the upcoming 2012 season is the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra’s contemporary program, Orchestra Uncaged (Sunday, June 3 at 8:00 PM). The concert will feature two pieces by Radiohead lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood – [...]
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Jim Marshall: The Man that Rocked the World Dies At 88
It’s to image what music world would sound like had it not been for Jim Marshall, the inventor of the infamous Marshall Amplifiers. Unfortunately, Marshall died Thursday at 88 in an English hospice after suffering from cancer and several severe strokes, his son Terry Marshall told the Associated Press. There are very few people who can [...]
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