Tina Alvarez
EMOL
Random Musings
Local: Tucson & Phoenix
Rock News
Industry News
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Tina's Korner: More Arizona Musicians
Summer Random Musings
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Local Music - Phoenix/Tucson
The NYC Bar hosts an "Unplugged" show every Tuesday night, according
to Kevin Fitz, who handles the booking of talent. Interested musicians can
contact Fitz at 520-629-8355 to schedule a time slot. Among the local musicians
who have performed include Alana Swindler from Propaganda Child, Frank Lloyd
Vinyl and Funky Bonz.
Cand/destine, a Phoenix based Native American ensemble which fuses Native
American influences with rock, has signed a recording contract with locally
based Canyon Records. Cand/estine leader, David Montour is also an accomplished
sculptor who was commissioned to scuplt the chair Pope John Paul II sat
upon during his visit to the Native American community in 1987. Look for
an upcoing cd from the band as well as live dates around town.
Those Tucson bands designated to showcase at the SXSW conference in Austin,
TX are Maryanne, Giant Sand, Friends of Dean Martinez, The Drakes, Paula
Jean Brown, Dan Stuart and Alana Swidler.
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Rock News
Chris Isaak completed shooting the video for "Graduation Day"
from the album "Forever Blue" with actress Lauren Holly. The number
is the third single off the gold selling album
Comedian/singer/actor Adam Sandler's album, "What the Hell Happened
to Me?" is out on Warner Brothers Records and features "The Chanukah
Song" as well as 13 new comedy sketches. In addition, Sandler's second
major motion picture, "Happy Gilmore," was released last month
as well.
Joni Mitchell journeyed to Stockholm to receive the Polar Music Prize for
1996 for "significant achievement in music" from the Royal Swedish
Academy of Music. The award was presented by His Majesty the King of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf. Mitchell shared the award with French composer and conductor
Pierre Boulez. Both received one million Swedish crowns, or $150,000.
"Board Aid," a day long snowboarding event to benefit LIFEbeat
and heighten awareness of AIDS (with teenagers as the target audience) was
held in Snow Summit Ski Resort on Big Bear Mountain early in March. Participating
artists included Anthrax, Megadeth, Electric Love Hogs, Ugly Kid Joe's Whitfield
Crane, and the Gin Blossom's Robin Wilson. A pre-event concert held at he
Hollywood Palace showcased Lucy's Fur Coat, 311, Overwhelming Colorfast,
Battery Club and Blood of Abraham.
Love and Rockets' new LP, "Sweet F.A." is set for release April
9th. Their first headlining club tour since 1989, kicked off in Palo Alto,
CA with a stop at Club Rio on March 24th.
Ministry is currently on tour through May promoting their sixth album, "Filth
Pig," on Warner Brothers Records.
After founding member Mark Olson left the Jayhawks last November, the future
of the band was in doubt. Olson has decided to remain with the band and
will begin recording their next album this month. Gary Louris said that
the name of theband will be changed, "as we owe it to our fans and
Mark to move on."
I.C.U. (Intensive Care Unit) are slated to tour through late April in suport
of their newest called "O No No O Zone" on Radical Records.
Fireside, a promising Swedish hard rock group, has been signed to American
recordings. "Fireside comes from an extremely healthy Sweish rock scene,
especially the straight-edged punk scene in the north," said Johan
Kugelberg. "What's so exciting abut Fireside is that they're such young
kids, just 19 or 21 years of age, but they sound like they've been together
for 10 years. They're very, very tight."
"Loreena McKennitt's: No Journey's End" is a half-hour documentary
being aired on public television. The program tracks McKennitt's spiritual,
cultural and musical inspirations.
Highly regarded by his buddies in the Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Rage
Against the Machine and the Foo Fighters, Wesley Wellis has inked a deal
with American Recordings. His debut as a solo artist with "Feel the
Power" is expected to be released early this summer. His contrac t
with the company gives him liberal creative license, saying if he chooses
to switch from solo to recording with his band, Fiasco, that's fine. "We
don't want to push him," noted American's Dino Paredes. "We want
him to work at his own pace. He's an artist with a vision who makes music
for a good reason -- because he loves to do it. And that's what we care
about."
Ruth Ruth's Chris Kennedy has an admitted penchant for horror flicks, which
he enthusiastically collects, numbering somewhere over 300.
Expect Pete Droge's second album to appear this summer. After persistent
touring,he has chosen a permanent band called Pete Droge and the Sinners.
The line-up includes guitarist Peter Stroud, bassist Dave Hull, drummer
Dan McCarroll and singer/percussionist Elaine Summers.
"Sing Monkey Sing" is Raging Slab's new release, due out in late
spring. A European tour will follow.
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Industry News
The 4th Independent Label Festival will be held July 26 & 27 at Columbia
College and supporting nightclubs. The conference provides an educational
and networking opportunity for those intersted in the music industry. Bands
and indie labels wishing to can senf for information at ILF, 600 S. Michigan
Ave., Chicago, IL 60605.
Departures and Arrivals at American Recordings. Departures: Melissa Dragich,
the National Director of Media Relations is leaving to join the staff of
Epic Records. Jennifer Murrillo, assistant to Rick Rubin, is departing for
Maverick. Commented Rubin, "I will miss them very much, but wish both
nothing but love, magic and high adventure." Arrivals: Jean MacDonald
is part of the American Recordings Media Relations Department as Senior
Manager, while Steven Cohen is Manager of Media Relations. Congratulations
to all in your new journeys.
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Other News
Raffi, known as one of the world's premier children's performers, was nominated
as a contender for the "Best Children's Album" with the album
"Raffi Radio" in the 25th Annual Juno Awards sponsored by the
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Observed Raffi, "The
best way of investing in chilldren so they may be healthy, loving adults
is to give them in their younger years what they need -- the chance to dream."
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alvarez@emol.org
© 1996 Entertainment Magazine On-Line, EMOL.
alvarez@emol.org