Zoiks! Online - Music. Stand-up. TV. Film. "Funny Name. Seriously Entertaining.": 5/1/11

Introducing La-Ex Featuring Former American Idol Finalist Antonella Barba.

LA-ex, as a band, may be brand new to the scene, but the trio consists of three seasoned pros with recognizable names. The electro-pop outfit is fronted by Antonella Barba, a former American Idol Finalist, known for her amazing voice, and steamy off-screen scandals and rounded out by beatmakers Epic and SQRL, who have sold millions of albums with their group Crazytown and as producers/remixers.

After locking themselves in the studio for six months, LA-ex has emerged with a sound poised to take the music industry by storm. Defined by futuristic beats, pop hooks and a disco soul, LA-ex will quickly become the new standard in the electro-pop scene. Check out the lyric video for their single "We Give No Fuks" and keep your eyes and ears open, because this is just the beginning for LA-ex.

To stay up-to-date with the emergence of LA-ex check them out on Facebook.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Sully Erna “Avalon” Live – Review

One of my favorite albums of last year and maybe ultimately all time was Sully Erna’s “Avalon.” It was one of the most visual and cinematic albums I’ve heard in years. When I talked with Sully last year he told me that he was hoping to take the album live, but it would depend on how well the album did financially. Needless to say I was excited when tour dates started to pop up. “Avalon” is an album full of layers that almost seemed like it’d be difficult to translate live, so I was excited to see them attempt to pull that off. They more than did.

Monday night I made the trek out to Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Rave Ballroom. I took a friend with me who is absolutely not into Godsmack at all. He had heard very little of “Avalon,” and his taste in music is vastly different than mine, but he was a good sport and came along for the ride. While I’m sure he didn’t enjoy the show as much as I did, he was definitely impressed with the musicianship shown on stage. He wasn’t familiar with the music going in, so the tribal beats kind of became repetitive to him after awhile, but in every song there was at least one moment he enjoyed, if not the entire song.

I loved the show. There wasn’t many people at the show and most of them were Godsmack fans from the night before (Godsmack played the same ballroom on Sunday night). It was cool to see fans of Godsmack there, because “Avalon” couldn’t be any different than Godsmack. Throughout the show Sully didn’t address the audience once (not until the end). The Erna that is the front man of Godsmack is one of the best in between song banter guys out there, so it was weird yet kind of cool that he didn’t say anything between songs.

While I liked every song, when they went into “My Light,” the show really started to come to life for me. During “My Light” videos of Sully’s daughter played in the background, you couldn’t help but get the chills, maybe a little teary eyed watching that. Like I said before the show and the crowd really came to life after that song. Another thing that really impressed me was that Sully wasn’t front and center, while this is his solo album, the show I saw was a band and not just one guy. In fact he didn’t even sing on one of the songs, “The Rise.”

Every artist got a chance to show off and do a little solo. Sully himself took a little piano solo that led into the theme from “Halloween” which was fun. When the show was over Sully came out to thank the fans for coming out and responding to the album the way they have. At that point he had played all the songs off of “Avalon” and he went into the Godsmack song “Serenity,” just him and an acoustic guitar. After “Serenity” he introduced each member of the band slowly, one at a time. They began to jam on “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac. With each person Sully introduced they joined in on the jam. Finally they all busted into “The Chain” which morphed into the final bars of “Hey Jude.” It was a pretty cool moment.

The musicianship was incredibly impressive. I could write a page about each musician individually. I don’t have the names of each musician off hand, but they all shined when it was their moment to shine. The female singer that was with him had the most amazing voice; it was like Robert Plant in his prime, if not better. I really enjoyed the cello player especially when the synthesizer and the cello kind of played together. It was amazing. The whole band, each and every one of them delivered. I would highly recommend this show to any and everyone. Most of the times when I recommend something I try to select a certain group of people, but “Avalon” is really a universal album that I think everybody could find something in it they like.

BYLINE:

Bob Zerull is the Managing Editor of Zoiks! Online. He writes pop culture commentary, does interviews with bands, and reviews music and stand-up concerts. He also administers Zoiks! Online's Facebook page. Follow Bob on twitter at bzerull. Email Bob at bob@zoiksonline.com.

Egypt Central “White Rabbit” – Review

What separates a rock band from the pack? Sometimes it’s a gimmick, sometimes it is style or a sound and in the case of Egypt Central it is their songs. Egypt Central is not trying to reinvent the wheel with sophomore album “White Rabbit,” they’re just playing music they love and in the process came up with some really solid songs. I’ll be honest, even though Egypt Central had some mainstream success with their debut album, I hadn’t heard of them. When I popped “White Rabbit” in I thought I was listening to the next big band.

The last couple of years the band Rev Theory has really shot up to headlining status, I see Egypt Central over the next to years following in their footsteps…maybe even surpassing them in popularity. The songs on “White Rabbit” are heavy and aggressive, but not heavy enough to alienate those who don’t appreciate heavy music. I would describe their sound as a little bit Avenged Sevenfold mixed with bands like Chevelle, Rev Theory, Saliva, Saving Abel etc.

“White Rabbit” is built to be played live. The song “Kick Ass” in particular will be highlight in their live performances. The title track “White Rabbit” tells the story of someone who is struggling with life and is forced to put his or her faith into something that is not what it seems, told through the story of “Alice in Wonderland.” If you’re into those mainstream rock bands, then check out Egypt Central, in my personal opinion they’re the next big thing in mainstream rock.

BYLINE:

Adrianne Curry and Peter Brady Split. Will She Pursue Steve Urkel Next?

The split that sent shockwaves across the Internet really was not a shock at all. The fact that model Adrianne Curry, 28, and Christopher Knight, 53, best known for his role as Peter Brady, called it quits begs the question of how on earth did these two hook up to begin with?

The two met on the show, “The Surreal Life,” which led to Curry and Knight’s own reality show called, “My Fair Brady,” which documented the couple’s engagement and first year of marriage.

Now, the pair is citing irreconcilable differences. Curry recently told Howard Stern that she was unsatisfied at home and often referred to the Sybian machine, a masturbation tool used by females, because Peter Brady was being, well, a Brady.

I’m not saying that someone like Peter Brady could not land a super hot chick like Adrianne Curry because it happened. Before they hooked up I would have said up and down. Either Curry was a huge fan of “The Brady Bunch” or some insecurity issues have spilled off the modeling pages. My question is will Adrianne Curry continue with her retro TV star fascination by going after Steve Urkel? What about ALF?

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

AMC's The Killing Bounces Back

After two weeks of patience testing contrivance AMC’s The Killing bounced back with an effective few twists on its central mystery but with a new potential red herring in the mix. The investigation of Rosie Larson moved back to square one, the Richmond campaign bounced back and Stan Larson went to prison.

Photo courtesy of Carole Segal/AMC

Full review of The Killing episode 10 at Suite101.com

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

10 Albums to Watch for this Summer

Summer is underway and while summer is often dominated by talk of blockbuster movies, the music industry has blockbusters of its own. Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" is the blockbuster music event of the summer, easily the equal of any other media event of the year. But Gaga's album isn't the only blockbuster on the way as Beyonce launches a new record this summer as well.

Full list at Associated Content

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

President Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and Oprah Are 'Undercover Boss' Episodes We'll Never See.

"Undercover Boss" thrives on companies large enough to be successful, but not publicized enough for employees to know the CEOs and Presidents of those companies. Companies like Hooters and Roto-Rooter relied on the ground level employees to earn the respective company's name and reputation.

Read the rest of this story at Yahoo! TV: “President Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and Oprah Are 'Undercover Boss' Episodes We'll Never See.”

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is Surprisingly Better than the Original

I long ago discovered that the best thing about the job of film critic is being surprised. It's also the rarest occurrence in the job. Rarely do movies, especially big time, mainstream blockbusters, surprise people whose job it is to write about movies. "Kung Fu Panda 2" surprised me in a big way. The animation, the story and the laughs were each an astonishing improvement over the original.

Full review of Kung Fu Panda 2 at Associated Content

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

Avenged Sevenfold On 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards Tonight.

WHO: Avenged Sevenfold

WHAT: Avenged Sevenfold live performance at 2011 Golden Gods Awards to air Saturday, May 28th on VH1 Classic

WHERE: VH1 Classic

WHY: Avenged Sevenfold's fifth album, Nightmare, debuted at Number One on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. The album has spawned two Number One hits on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart with the songs "Nightmare," which was the most played current song at the format in 2010, and "Welcome to the Family." Their current single, "So Far Away," is following in the footsteps of its predecessors and is quickly climbing the Active Rock and Modern Rock Charts. Avenged Sevenfold achieved worldwide success with their platinum 2005 breakthrough City Of Evil, which featured the wildly popular single "Bat Country". They are the only band to have headlined the Vans Warped Tour and Ozzfest while simultaneously hitting #1 on MTV's TRL. In 2006, they won the fan-voted award for Best New Artist for "Bat Country" at the MTV Video Music Awards. The following year, their self-titled album Avenged Sevenfold sold over a million copies around the world. Thanks to their spectacular live shows as well as their rabid fan base, the band has become one of the biggest American hard rock bands and continue to sell out arenas worldwide. This year alone, Avenged Sevenfold will play to more than a million people. Over the course of their career Avenged Sevenfold has built a fanatical fan base resulting in over millions of albums sold worldwide, amassed more than 7.1 million fans on Facebook, and attracted nearly 107 million plays on YouTube.

WHEN: Saturday, May 28th at 10:00 PM EST/PST on VH1 Classic *

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

‘Cash Cab’ Host Ben Bailey Knows he’s the Host of ‘Cash Cab.’ - Review

You may know Ben Bailey as the host of “Cash Cab.” However, Bailey is also a stand-up comedian. But most people know him as the host of “Cash Cab.” Bailey lets you know about it in his new stand-up special, “Ben Bailey: Road Rage and Accidental Ornithology.”

The most common thing people tell him is, “Hey, you’re the host of ‘Cash Cab.’” This happens all the time, according to Bailey. “They tell me this as if I have no idea that I’m the host of ‘Cash Cab.’”

Bailey goes into the hit game show and talks about life being the Emmy winning host and how he really had to get a cab driver’s license. The comedian also jokes about people saying, “Well, if the show fails, you have something to fall back on.”

Bailey says that if that ever happened and he actually had to drive a cab full time, he would just pick people up, play the game and not tell them the show had been canceled until after he dropped them off. “People would be like, ‘We just won $1500 dollars on ‘Cash Cab.’’ No you didn’t. In fact, you owe me $14.86.”

The rest of “Ben Bailey: Road Rage and Accidental Ornithology” consists of the comedian and host talking about various observations he comes across. One of those things is Google, and how the search engine used to be his friend. “Now, Google thinks it’s better than me. I’d search for something and Google would reply, ‘Did you mean…’”

Bailey first moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. He landed a job answering phones at a comedy club and soon after, he found himself doing stand-up comedy. His acting skills show on the special as Bailey delivers stories in an effortless manner.

While a lot of comedians stand still behind the microphone or pace back and forth, the “Cash Cab” host takes away any nerves that audiences may feel when they’re watching a comic do his or her set.

Fans of “Cash Cab” will enjoy this one hour special; it gives you a little deeper look into the most famous cab driver in America. Read the interview with Ben Bailer here: “An Interview with ‘Cash Cab’ Host Ben Bailey.”

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

The Doobie Brothers Pair with Luke Bryan for CMT Crossroads on June 24.

Classic rockers The Doobie Brothers and country star Luke Bryan will be heading to CMT for the next installment of CMT Crossroads when CMT Crossroads: The Doobie Brothers and Luke Bryan premieres Friday, June 24 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Taped before an invitation-only audience in Nashville, The Doobie Brothers and Luke Bryan will perform their hits including The Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water,” Long Train Runnin,” and “China Grove,” and Bryan’s “Rain is a Good Thing,” “Do I” “and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”

"We are so pleased, and fortunate to be able to share the stage with Luke Bryan on Crossroads,” says Pat Simmons of The Doobie Brothers. “We love the challenge of performing such wonderfully crafted songs with an artist like Luke, and his band. He's one of the most exciting artists on the country music scene these days.

The energy, innovation, and soulfulness of the music he writes and performs, is right up our alley. We're dustin' off our country chops, and we look forward to having him join in on our songs. This is going to be a great experience for all of us, and fans of both country music, and rock 'n roll. It could only happen on Crossroads!"

"I am really excited to perform on stage with the Doobie Brothers,” says Luke Bryan. “Their music was such an iconic part of my growing up. I bet most Americans can hear a particular Doobie Brothers song and have it take them back to a certain time and place in their life...and the best thing is, they are still creating great music today!"

Northern California’s Doobie Brothers celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. In 2010, original members Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston , and 30 year member and country producer/songwriter/player John McFee (Southern Pacific) marked a new chapter with the delivery of a potent album – World Gone Crazy, featuring a guest appearance by Country Music Hall of Famer Willie Nelson (iTunes). It’s their first new album in a decade, with tracks like “Far From Home” and their country single “World Gone Crazy” marking a renaissance of the propulsive roots-based, harmony laden, guitar driven style that sold an estimated 30 million records over the course of four decades.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

First Single ‘Rise Above 1’ Released from SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark.

From the upcoming Broadway show SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark comes “Rise Above 1” performed by Spider-Man himself, Reeve Carney, featuring U2’s Bono and The Edge. Reeve performed the single last night on the American Idol Finale, alongside Bono and The Edge.

“Rise Above 1” is the first single from Music From SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark, which will feature 14 new songs co-written by Bono and The Edge for the Broadway production. Songs are performed by the cast including Reeve Carney in the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Jennifer Damiano in the role of Mary Jane, T.V. Carpio as Arachne and Patrick Page as the Green Goblin, with contributions from Bono and The Edge and music performed by the production’s twenty member strong orchestra.

Pick up “Rise Above 1” on iTunes now! SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark will officially open on Broadway on June 14th with Music From SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark swinging into stores the same day. For more info and the latest news, be sure to check out the official site.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Heat vs Bulls Series Wrap Up – From a Bulls Fan

Sniff, Sniff

What makes the Bulls losing to the Heat so hard is that Chris Bosh is so ugly. I want to hate Lebron James, I really do, but he’s so fucking good that it’s kind of pointless to hate on him. I don’t really like him. I was disappointed in him flopping around like a soccer player, but that’s basketball and really he should be commended for that. I also want to complain about the officiating, but in the end Wade and James nailed some huge shots while the Bulls had plenty of opportunities to shut the door late in the game, but they missed their shots. Still, I now know what it must have been like to be a Knick or Pacer fan in the 90’s when Jordan got every call.

All in all this was a fun series to watch, I just wish my team was the victorious one. One thing I think that was established over these last five games is a new rivalry that will be around for the next five to ten years. Unlike the Knicks and Pacers though I think the Bulls will ultimately be able to get past the Heat. The Bulls are one reliable scorer away from that next level and Dwayne Wade is getting old, it was showing in this series. That said, I don’t think the Heat are going to have that hard of a time finding good solid players that’ll take a pay cut to come play with the big 3.

I’m fighting really hard to keep the meat ball fan in me from spilling out onto this page. I guess I’ll wrap this up then. Congratulations to Lebron James, you got what you wanted. I wish you’d have stayed in Cleveland and built a legacy. It’s foolish to say you won’t go down as one of the top five players in the history of the game. I want to believe you won’t because of the All Star team you created in the Miami Heat, but you took control of this series a proved why you’re the best active player in the NBA. Ugh I fucking hate saying that.

Go Mavs :)

BYLINE:

OneRepublic Debuts "Good Life" Remix featuring B.O.B and New Online Scrapbook.

OneRepublic and rapper B.O.B have combined forces for a new remix of the band's single "Good Life." The track is streaming online now (http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/one-republic-goodlife-feat-b-o), just in time for the long weekend.

OneRepublic also just launched a new online scrapbook to keep up with their fans. Fans who tweet a photo of themselves living the good life, along with the #goodlife hashtag, will automatically be featured in the album on the band's official website, www.OneRepublic.net.

"Good Life" is the latest single from the band's album Waking Up, available now on iTunes.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Il Volo Debuts at #10 on Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.

Newcomers Il Volo have officially landed in America. Their self-titled album, released May 17th on Geffen Records, debuted at #10 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. This impressive debut comes after a jam packed week of TV appearances including American Idol, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and CBS Saturday Morning. Their performance on Ellen aired Thursday, and they will perform Friday evening on NBC's Extra TV at 7 pm.

Their US debut album Il Volo is a mix of re-imagined classics and original material that includes Italian standards "O Sole Mio" and "Il Mundo," and two new tracks penned by multi-platinum songwriter Dianne Warren. For all the latest updates on the boys, visit www.IlVoloMusic.com.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Warner Bros. Records To Release The Album To ‘Transformers: Dark Of The Moon.’

On June 14th, Warner Bros. Records will release the album to the hotly anticipated motion picture Transformers: Dark of the Moon — the third film in the Oscar®-nominated summer blockbuster Transformers series, which hits theaters nationwide on June 29th. A pre-order for the exclusive iTunes Deluxe edition begins May 31st at http://wbr.fm/t3preorder.

Released in Standard, iTunes Deluxe, and Game Stop configurations, The Transformers: Dark of the Moon album features music from Linkin Park, including the first single "Iridescent," (click here to view a special Linkin Park / TF3 Trailer), My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Art of Dying, Theory Of A Deadman, Black Veil Brides, Skillet, and Mastodon (who contribute a cover of ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid"), as well as new music from Paramore and Goo Goo Dolls debuting exclusively on the album. The iTunes Deluxe edition also includes tracks from Biffy Clyro, Stone Sour, and Serj Tankian, while the Game Stop version includes songs from Middle Class Rut and D.R.U.G.S.

Contributing the song "Iridescent" (which also appears on Linkin Park's 2010 album A Thousand Suns) to Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Linkin Park's third time working with Transformers director Michael Bay. The first Transformers film featured the band's smash hit single "What I've Done," which rocketed to No. 1 on both Billboard's Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts, while the second film featured the specially written "New Divide," which topped the Rock, Modern, and Mainstream radio charts simultaneously.

Fueled By Ramen recording artists Paramore will also be releasing "Monster," debuting exclusively on the album and marking Paramore's first new single since "The Only Exception" off their acclaimed third album brand new eyes. "We're back for the attack! And we are so excited to be a part of the Transformers album," says frontwoman Hayley Williams, "Tell your friends... Paramore is still a band." Paramore will shoot a video for "Monster" next month before they embark on a series of international headline and festival dates as well as a number of U.S. Vans Warped Tour dates in July and August. Visit www.paramore.net for complete details.

John Rzeznik from Goo Goo Dolls adds: "It's always awesome to be part of a project of this scale." Their TF3 exclusive debut track, "All That You Are," is also their first new music since the release of their current Warner Bros. Records album, Something For The Rest Of Us. Goo Goo Dolls have been touring the world non-stop for the past several months and will perform "All That You Are" live on Good Morning America on July 22nd. Go to www.googoodolls.com for further info.

Opening in theaters on June 29th, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, stars Shia LaBeouf, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, and Kevin Dunn, with John Malkovich and Frances McDormand. Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky. When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

Paramount Pictures presents in association with Hasbro a di Bonaventura Pictures Production a Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production, a Michael Bay Film Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Executive Producers Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner, Mark Vahradian. Produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro's Transformers™ Action Figures. Written by Ehren Kruger. Directed by Michael Bay.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Lenka’s ‘Two’ Can Have Similar Success as Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream.’

Lenka’s music has been featured in numerous television shows like “Ugly Betty” and “Grey's Anatomy” and ad campaigns such as Old Navy, Coca-Cola and Apple. Even though you’re unfamiliar with this brilliant musician’s work, you may have been exposed to her music via TV and advertisements.

Now, the Australian singer is back with her second album, “Two.” Lenka delivers Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue-like catchy pop songs on her latest release. “Roll with the Punches,” “Two,” and “Sad Song” continue the pop trend that has exploded onto the music scene in the last few years. The main difference between Lenka and her aforementioned counterparts is the tone and mood that the Australian singer and songwriter displays.

“Two” is a fun pop album as opposed to the dance albums that Gaga and Minogue offer. That’s not to say that fans can’t dance to this wonderful effort by Lenka, it’s just that listening to “Two” gets you in a happy, bouncy mood rather than an “I want to go clubbing” type mood. Maroon 5 has similar albums that offer the same result.

“My Heart Skips a Beat” is Lenka’s lead single from the album and it sets the theme for the album. The song has a light hearted pop beat without the cheesy lyrics, exactly what you’ll find top to bottom on “Two.” Most recently, Lenka’s music has appeared in the movie, “Easy A,” and NBC’s new series, “The Voice.”

This former actress and current pop sensation is a breath of fresh air and will complement today’s top music with her fresh take on catchy melodies and pop hooks. I really love this album and believe “Two” can find the same success as Katy Perry’s smash album, “Teenage Dream.” Who knows? “My Heart Skips a Beat” may be as big as “California Gurls.”

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Edit Final Cut of New Indie Pic ‘The Power of Few’ Starring Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, and Q´orianka Kilcher.

Director/writer Leone Marucci and star Q’orianka Kilcher (Terrence Malick's The New World) are inviting online audiences to determine the final cut of their new film, THE POWER OF FEW, with a ground-breaking digital editing contest, ‘Scene 64.’ Using raw film footage and editing tools on the film’s official website: http://www.thepoweroffew.com/, participants will have the opportunity to cut a scene from the film. One of the favorites, as voted by fans, will be used in the finished film and the winner will receive a screen credit.

‘Scene 64’ features Kilcher and co-star Jesse Bradford (Bring It On, Flags of Our Fathers), in an action sequence shot on location in New Orleans. The pair co-star with an ensemble cast including Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can, Wedding Crashers) and Christian Slater (True Romance, Very Bad Things) in the crime mystery. THE POWER OF FEW revolves around an enigmatic smuggling ring’s efforts to steal a priceless artifact. The story unfolds through the unique perspective of five characters who cross paths on a day filled with danger, hope and possible transformation.

Marucci and Kilcher are continuing the exploration of perspectives by welcoming users to the film’s official site: http://www.thepoweroffew.com/ where they can download pages of Maurcci’s script; access a video library containing all footage shot on location; and edit the scene as they envision it. Entrants will also have access to audio tracks from the film’s score by Grammy-winning Mike Simpson, whose composing credits include the film soundtracks of Fight Cluband Zoolander and acclaimed work as co-writer/producer on the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” album.

First-time producer and star Q’orianka Kilcher commented, “We’re doing something that’s never been done before: we’re creating a direct connection between a passionate global audience and Hollywood, with an Internet connection being the only requirement. I love the idea of empowering people from around the world with this direct involvement.”

CONTEST TIMELINE:

May 18 – ‘Scene 64’ editing tools live on http://www.thepoweroffew.com/
June 21 – First day to publish final cut in the Scene Gallery. Voting begins for the top fan favorite
July 21 – Voting closes. One of top 30 edits with the most votes will be included in the final cut of THE POWER OF FEW
July 28 – Winner announced

Director Leone Marucci said, "From performance to design to direction, filmmaking in its purest form is a collaborative process. In the spirit of a story being told from multiple perspectives, it's been our goal to create an interactive experience where we open up the creation of the film to the worldwide audience."
THE POWER OF FEW producers continue their embrace of the collaborative filmmaking process with ‘Scene 64.’ During the casting process, first-time actress Stephanie Meilaq won the part of “Carmen,” by a vote hosted on the film’s website. The audience had direct control over the make-up department after the filmmakers asked for body location of tattoos to be sported by “Junkshow,” the key character played by Anthony Anderson (Transformers, The Departed), who's character's name was also picked by fans.

The ensemble cast includes Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation), Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass), Devon Gearhart (Changeling), Jordan Prentice (In Bruges), Navid Negahban (Fox’s “24”) and multi-platinum selling rap artist Juvenile.

The film was written, directed and produced by Leone Marucci under his Steelyard Pictures banner; produced by Q’orianka Kilcher’s iQ Films; Exec Produced by Todd Trosclair, Roy Kurtluyan, Whitney Kroenke; Produced by Jimmy Holcomb, Jay Thames, Roy Scott Macfarland, Fred D'Amico. Arclight Films is handling international sales.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

The Black Eyed Peas Perform ‘Don't Stop The Party’ On Dancing With The Stars Finale.

The Black Eyed Peas brought their futuristic stage show to the "Dancing With The Stars" finale. Fergie, will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo rocked the US Primetime TV debut of their new single "Don't Stop The Party" at the live results show.

"Don't Stop The Party" appears on BEP's sixth studio album, The Beginning, available on iTunes now.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Get the New Singles From ‘American Idol’ Winner Scotty McCreery and Runner-up Lauren Alaina.

Congrats to 17 year old Scotty McCreery, the Season 10 winner of American Idol! Grab his single "I Love You This Big" (http://bit.ly/kDQfZi) along with his Season 10 compilation album (http://bit.ly/iKYiAh), which features full-length versions of 13 tracks that he performed while competing on the show, including Lonestar's "Amazed" and "Gone" by Matchbox 20.

Runner-up Lauren Alaina's new single "Like My Mother Does" (http://bit.ly/ix8KxE) is also available for download, on its own or part of her compilation album (http://bit.ly/mjPGbj). Lauren Alaina American Idol Season 10 features her version of tracks by Faith Hill, Miley Cyrus, Elton John and 10 additional performances.

Go On Tour With Far East Movement.

Far East Movement just wrapped up their "Free Wired College Tour" before heading overseas for newly announced dates and Lil Wayne’s “I Am Still Music Tour” this summer. Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif and DJ Virman are inviting fans to relive the experience with them online through a series of behind-the-scenes tour blogs on their official website. FM share exclusive photos, food reviews and other experiences at college campuses all over the East coast.

Check out a fan-captured video of FM's single "If I Was You (OMG)" featuring Snoop Dogg at their Virginia Tech show and head over to FarEastMovement.com for an inside look at all of the tour dates.

"If I Was You (OMG)" featuring Snoop Dogg appears on Far East Movement's debut album, Free Wired, available now via Cherrytree Records.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Norm Macdonald Is Back With A Vengeance With The Comedy Central Release Of His First-Ever Full-Length Stand-Up Special, ‘Me Doing Standup.’

Norm Macdonald, host of COMEDY CENTRAL's Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, kills it in his first-ever full-length comedy film, Me Doing Standup covering everything from cheating death, 24-hour news stories, shameful sex, serial killers and cheese sandwiches. Entertainment Weekly says, “His humor arises from a standard stand-up procedure — pointing out the contradictions in a subject and exaggerating them for comic effect — but when combined with his devilish smirk and a deceptively artful way of phrasing matters, it’s a potent talent. This special shows that he remains a consummate, if dark, stand-up as he gets big laughs from such subjects as alcoholism and murder.”

Me Doing Standup DVD is uncensored and uncut and features an extended version of the stand-up event featuring material not aired on COMEDY CENTRAL and over 30 minutes of bonus features including: the pilot episode of Norm’s sketch show Back To Norm; the animated featurette "The Twelve Days of Christmas;" and Macdonald's epic and unforgettable appearance on the COMEDY CENTRAL Roast of Bob Saget in 2008.

On Tuesday, June 14, Me Doing Standup will be released nationwide on CD and DVD. Available for both physical and download. In addition, right now you have the chance to pre-order Me Doing Standup at Newbury Comics in return for a copy of the CD or DVD signed by Norm himself! Supplies are limited to just a few hundred and when they are gone, they are gone.

A staple in the comedy world, Macdonald is best known for his offbeat delivery of the news as a "Weekend Update" anchor on Saturday Night Live. Macdonald joined the cast of "SNL" in 1993 and remained on the show for five seasons where his impressions of Larry King, Burt Reynolds, David Letterman and Bob Dole, among others, are still talked about today. Prior to SNL, the Quebec City native, who began his career as a stand-up comic, was a writer on the ABC hit series Roseanne. After leaving "SNL," Macdonald renewed his ties with ABC and he created and starred in The Norm Show from 1999 - 2001.

Macdonald's film credits include co-writing and starring in Dirty Work, voicing Lucky the dog in all three of the Eddie Murphy remakes of Doctor Dolittle, as well as appearing in Billy Madison, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon, and Screwed, among others. Macdonald's history with COMEDY CENTRAL dates back to 2006 with the release of his comedy album, Ridiculous. In 2008, Macdonald made an infamous appearance on the COMEDY CENTRAL Roast of Bob Saget.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

The top 10 Chicago Bears Father’s Day gifts.

A brand new Chicago Bears jersey may just be the answer for Father's Day. Nothing says Happy Father's Day like a Jay Cutler jersey, or possibly a cool throw pillow for that couch your father tends to doze off in. Whatever the case, a Chicago Bears gift for Father's Day is the definite answer for any Bears fan.

With Father's Day approaching, here are the top 10 Chicago Bears Father's Day gifts.

Read the rest of this story at Yahoo! Sports here: The top 10 Chicago Bears Father’s Day gifts.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

The Hangover Part 2 More Outrageous Than the Original?

The working theory by "The Hangover Part 2" is '˜if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' The 'it' in this case is the basic premise from the first film which is tweaked with a location change, the characters, the jokes and even a few of the scenarios are almost exactly the same as they were in the original "The Hangover." And yet, "The Hangover Part 2" is truly as funny as or funnier than the original.

Photo courtesy of Melinda Sue Gordon.Warner Brothers Pictures

Full review of The Hangover Part 2 at Associated Content

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

The top 10 Chicago Bulls Father’s Day gifts.

The Chicago Bulls have earned their best record post-Michael Jordan. This is a great time to be a Bulls fan since the team has had lackluster years leading up to this one. I collected Bulls merchandise during the MJ era like you wouldn't believe.

Autographed plaques, basketballs, special edition books and Air Jordans filled my house. Since the retirement of Jordan, I haven't even looked for Bulls merchandise. Bulls fans became spoiled with Jordan at the helm. Ever since 1998, it hasn't been the same. Until now.

With Father's Day approaching, the Bulls' success has allowed me to look for cool Bulls merchandise. Not only for myself, but for my father. One thing is for certain. This year, my father will not be getting a tie, unless of course it's a Chicago Bulls one.

Read the rest of this story at Yahoo! Sports: The top 10 Chicago Bulls Father’s Day gifts.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith Talk About Zoiks! Online.

Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, aka Jay and Silent Bob, talk about the other Jay and Silent Bob, aka Jason Tanamor and Bob Zerull. The filmmaker and Jay plug Zoiks! Online on their daily podcast.

Help support Zoiks! Online by reTweeting and reposting this on Facebook.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

An Interview with Kat Perkins from Scarlet Haze.

Female fronted bands like Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless have capitalized on the extraordinarily strong vocals of their respective singers. Another band you can add to that list is Scarlet Haze, whose front woman Kat Perkins is no stranger to delivering a powerful rock note. Kat recently stopped by to chat about Scarlet Haze and the band's upcoming album.

Q – Thank you, Kat, for doing this.

A - My pleasure!! It's always an honor for me to do interviews. Hopefully some fans will care enough to read it and hopefully some new fans will stumble upon us because of it!

Q – I love the name Scarlet Haze. What is the origin of the name?

A - Thank you! Honestly, coming up with a band name is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It's very hard to find a name that doesn't sound masculine or too edgy for a female fronted band. Scarlet was the name my sister had always imagined naming a baby girl if she ever had one. I was HOOKED on it when she told me. So, naturally as the bratty younger sister of my family, I stole the name for my baby: my band!!

Q – For those not hip on Scarlet Haze, describe the band’s sound.

A - Scarlet Haze blends a hard edge melodic hook with straight up ROCK chords with a wall of guitars. Oh, and we do it in a sexy, dangerous manner. :)

Q – You’re a female fronted band. There has been an influx of female fronted bands like Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Some Hear Explosions and Evolett. What separates Scarlet Haze from other female fronted bands?

A - Hopefully it's self explanatory when you hear Scarlet Haze. I try to bring a strong set of pipes to the table when it comes to singing. We also have really focused on memorable, hooky songs for our upcoming record. We ideally want to appeal to the fans that appreciate good singing and songs that make you wanna throw a keg party in your backyard.

Q – With reality shows like “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “X Factor,” how frustrating is it trying to make it as a band when winners of these reality shows instantly receive fame?

A - It's a bit frustrating, especially when you work as hard as we do as a band at the "grass roots" level. We recognize that appearing on a reality show is one way of trying to “break” into the industry and I realize that even those shows have their disadvantages and hardships. Scarlet has just been that band that will work our asses off for years and years rather than selling our souls to television "talent" shows.

Q – Scarlet Haze’s debut album is coming out. What can fans expect?

A - This album that we are about to release is my favorite project to date! It runs the gamut of emotions from sexy party tunes to gripping ballads, to pop rock songs about masturbation. I wanted songs that people wanted to sing along and pump their rock fist to, and I wanted songs that make our fans think about life, love, and love lost. Again, we really wanted to focus on our fans and fulfilling what they all like to listen to. A solid, sexy kick drum doesn't hurt either :).

Q – Are there certain songs that you like playing better live than others? Which ones and why?

A - ABSOLUTELY!! As much as I love to sing and my band loves to play, there are just some songs that feel better live than others. I like to keep shows upbeat. I like to see the crowd jumping and pumping. I like to see energy coming right back at me on stage. I also like to change "scene" once in a while and belt out a ballad. One of my favorite ballads to do right now is called 'Hero," a song we released for the Japanese Earthquake relief. It's a heart wrenching ballad with a kick ass hook which the audience always gloms on to.

Q – Will there be a tour soon? (We’re near Chicago and Peoria so that would be kick ass.)

A - We are in talks right now for our tour options both nationally and internationally as we release the final album. I LOVE the Chicago area and can't wait to bring Scarlet back there! Ya'll are hardcore fans over there!

Q – Thanks again for taking the time. Is there anything you wanted to add?

A - Come follow us on Facebook and Twitter please! Tour dates will be at www.myspace.com/scarlethaze. Support local music as that's how bands like us get to where we are!! GO SEE LIVE MUSIC near you! Thank you so much for the interview... Rock on.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Suit Up to Release Full-Length Debut “It's A Corporate World” out June 7

"one of the best debuts of the year." - Filter

"Old fashioned pop like Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney used to make." - HEEB (Chosen Music)

"Because this is exactly the kind of swirly psychedelia you expected from the last MGMT album and never got." - Esquire

"There's an uncanny and guileless incandescence to these songs...but the warmth, the SOUL of these songs spurs from their honeyed harmonies...certain vocal ranges and timbres are manifestly matches-made-in-heaven." - TinyMixTapes
Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are preparing for the release of their full-length debut, It's a Corporate World out on Quite Scientific Records. Set for a June 7th release the band have added new headlining dates in support of their forthcoming full-length. “It's a Corporate World” is available for pre-order at Itunes.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. toured through the spring with Tapes 'n Tapes, performed SXSW '11, and are now headlining an extensive tour including dates with The Generationals and rising artist EMA. In the midst of all the excitement the band had the opportunity to sit down with Dan Harris from ABC to talk about the album in an ABC Amplified piece. The band will continue to tour throughout the summer excited to announce their first appearances at Lollapalooza this August and Austin City Limits festival in September.

Oil portrait by Joanna Marie Care

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on Tour

May, 25 - Proud Larry's - Oxford, MI
May, 26 - Fitzgerald's - Houston, TX
May, 27 - Club DaDa - Dallas, TX
May, 28 - Emo's Alternative Lounge - Austin, TX
May, 31 - Santa Fe Brewing Company - Santa Fe, NM
June, 01 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ
June, 02 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
June, 03 - The Echo - Echo Park, CA
June, 04 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA
June , 06 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
June, 07 - The Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
June, 09 - The Neurolux - Boise, ID
June, 10 - Kilby Court Gallery - Salt Lake City, UT
June, 11 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO
June, 13 - The Waiting room - Omaha, NE
June, 14 - The Mill - Iowa City, IA
June, 15 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
June, 17 - White Rabbit Cabaret - Indianapolis, IN
June, 18 - The Mad Hatter - Covington, Kentucky
June, 25 - St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI
Aug, 05-07 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
Sept, 16-18 - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX

For more info, please visit:

http://www.daleearnhardtjrjr.com
http://www.myspace.com/daleearnhardtjrjr
http://www.quitescientific.com/horsepowerep/

The Contortionist to Co-Headline ‘Slaughter Survivors Tour’ This Summer – Featuring Conducting From The Grave, Scale The Summit and More!

Indianapolis, Indiana’s prog-metal prodigies The Contortionist have just announced brand new co-headlining tour dates on the SLAUGHTER SURVIVORS TOUR with Conducting From The Grave, Scale The Summit, Rings Of Saturn, Volumes, and Structures. The tour begins with a kick-off party in Hollywood, CA at the Key Club on July 21st. See below for all current tour dates.

The band recently announced tour dates with Veil of Maya to their summer touring schedule. The short run will take the guys through Illinois and Indiana on four dates in June. As mentioned above, the band is native to Indianapolis, IN and seldom performs live in the area, so this tour serves as an excellent and rare opportunity to witness the band in their hometown!

The Contortionist released their debut full-length, Exoplanet, with GOOD FIGHT MUSIC on August 31st, 2010. Their infectious, progressive and rhythmic sounds have brought them comparisons to some of today’s metal greats, such as Meshuggah, The Acacia Strain, and Between the Buried and Me.

TOUR DATES W/ VEIL OF MAYA

6/23 Peoria, IL @ Brass Rail
6/24 Evansville, IN @ Boney June’s
6/25 Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
6/26 Fort Wayne, IN @ Broadripple

SLAUGHTER SURVIVORS TOUR DATES W/ CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE, SCALE THE SUMMIT, RINGS OF SATURN, VOLUMES & STRUCTURES

7/21 Hollywood, CA @ Key Club w/ Dawn of Ashes (Official Summer Slaughter Tour Kickoff Party)
7/22 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
7/23 Gallup, NM @ The Juggernaut
7/24 Lubbock, TX @ Jake's
7/25 Austin, TX @ Emo's
7/27 Orlando, FL @ Firestone
7/28 St Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
7/29 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
7/30 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
7/31 Trenton, NJ @ Backstage at Champs
8/03 Wilmington, DE @ Mojo 13
8/04 Amityville, NY @ Broadway Bar
8/05 Holyoke, MA @ Waterfront Tavern
8/06 Amsterdam, NY @ Elks Hall 101
8/07 Jermyn, PA @ Eleanor Rigby's
8/08 Covington, KY @ The MadHatter
8/10 Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theater
8/11 Steger, IL @ Another Hole In the Wall
8/12 St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
8/13 Des Moines, IA @ People's Court
8/14 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
8/15 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
8/16 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
8/18 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
8/19 Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
8/20 South Lake Tahoe, CA @ The Skatehouse

For more information on The Contortionist be sure to visit:

http://www.facebook.com/thecontortionist
http://www.twitter.com/tcband
http://www.myspace.com/thecontortionistband

The Devil Whale Drops Full Length ‘Teeth.’

Upon the first listen, it's clear that Salt Lake City's The Devil Whale possess a genuine small-town aesthetic that most indie-folk bands only strive to capture. Anyone who has heard the music of Brinton Jones will agree that his songs are literature of the heart. Like a book bound by melody, harmony, and honesty, they unfold before you. Paragraphs become verses and chapters become choruses, leaving room for interpretation and relation. Brinton is as much an author as he is a songwriter.

With Jones at the helm as the primary songwriter on vocals and guitar, The Devil Whale is the product of a collaboration between Brinton and long-time friends Jake Fish (on bass) and Cameron Runyan (on drums). In more recent years, that collaboration has been rounded out with the addition of Jamie Timm on lead guitar and Wren Kennedy on keyboards.

Their second full-length, Teeth, out now, draws from the band’s 60’s and 70’s garage and pop influences such as The Animals, The Kinks, and Harry Nilsson. With the help of an EP (Young Wives, 2010) between their first full-length and this release, Teeth has evolved to have a little more “bite” than their debut full-length, Like Paraders (2008). The album plays host to a plethora of talented players, including friends from Seattle’s The Head And The Heart singing on the track "Magic Numbers."

In support of the release, The Devil Whale can be caught live from coast-to-coast (and back again) throughout 2011.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

ADELITAS WAY ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOUR DATES

Adelitas Way have officially announced their upcoming American summer tour dates. Adelitas Way will join the second annual Carnival of Madness tour alongside Theory of a Deadman, Alter Bridge, Black Cherry Stone, and Empathic. Before the Carnival kicks off, Adelitas Way will go on a short run with Seether, to support their upcoming sophomore album, “Home School Valedictorian.”

“Home School Valedictorian,” which features the first single "Sick," is available for pre-order on iTunes now. Fans can preview the entire album through the band's YouTube Album Sampler. The video for the lead single is now available to watch on the band's YouTube Channel is currently in the Top 10 at Active Rock.

For more updates on Adelitas Way, check out their official website, www.adelitaswaymusic.com, as well as their Facebook and Twitter pages. “Home School Valedictorian” hits stores and online outlets everywhere June 7th!

SEETHER TOUR DATES
June 2 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, TN
June 3 Parkersburg Eagles Club Parkersburg, WV
June 7 Soul Kitchen Mobile, AL
June 8 Outside of Club Fire Jackson, MS
June 12 Ground Zero Nightclub Traverse City, MI
June 14 The Oasis Springfeld, MO

CARNIVAL OF MADNESS 2011 TOUR DATES
August 13 Twin Lakes, IL Shadow Hill Ranch
August 19 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Casino
August 20 Sedalia, MO Missouri State Fairgrounds
August 26 Louisville, KY KY State Fair/Cardinal Stadium
August 27 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium (outdoors)
August 28 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
September 1 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair
September 3 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
September 7 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Concert Pavilion
September 10 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
September 11 Huntington, WV Harris Riverfront Park
September 13 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Uptown Amp.
September 14 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
September 16 Tulsa, OK Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
September 17 Poplar Bluff, MS Black River Coliseum

TYPHOON TO PLAY NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL, LOLLAPOLOOZA AND MORE

Portland, Oregon's Typhoon has been catching the attention of many since the release of their new EP, “A New Kind Of House,” out last month on Tender Loving Empire Records. With a captivating live show, one that was a main attraction at this year's SXSW Music Festival, the band is excited embark on a headlining tour, join the Decemberists for a run of dates and play Lollapalooza, The Newport Folk & Sasquatch Music Festivals. Tour dates below.

Download the band's new song "Summer Home" here (approved to embed):
http://www.tenderlovingempire.com/Typhoon-SummerHome.mp3

Check out Typhoon on NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8HnhV2POIk

Fans can also download single "The Honest Truth" here (Approved to embed):
http://tenderlovingempire.bandcamp.com/track/typhoon-the-honest-truth-radio-edit

Along with calling "The Honest Truth" one of "The Best Songs of 2011," Paste Magazine raves "Music critics throw around adjectives like 'orchestral' and 'expansive' all the time these days. But here's a band that actually deserves such labels. Portland's Typhoon is an indie rock geek's dream: a dynamic 12-piece with a seemingly unending reservoir of energy, emotive vocals, arpeggiated guitars, horns, multiple drum kits and strings ... Ladies and gentlemen, meet your new critical darlings."

NPR's Bob Boilen called “A New Kind Of House,”"absolutely stunning" and "so beautiful, it make's me want to follow every single thing Typhoon does." Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune called Typhoon the "coolest little orchestra" and "the group's mix of strings, brass and multi-part vocal harmonies was stirring, as arrangements swung from hushed hymn-like passages to exultant crescendos." Absolute Punk simply says “A New Kind Of House,”"the sort of album that makes me feel excited about music all over again."

www.wearetyphoon.com
www.facebook.com/wearetyphoon
www.myspace.com/wearetyphoon
http://twitter.com/weareTYPHOON

TOUR DATES (more to be announced):

* Indicates shows with The Decemberists

May 29th Sasquatch Festival George, WA
June 3rd Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
July 7th Sundown @ Ecotrust Portland, PR
July 19th Britt Pavilion Jacksonville, OR *
July 20th Idaho Botanical Gardens, Boise, ID *
July 21st Twilight Concert Series Salt Lake City, UT *
July 22, Big Sky Brewery Missoula, MT *
July 23rd The Filling Station VFW Bozeman, MT
July 25th Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
July 28th The Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA
July 30th Newport Folk Festival Newport, RI
July 31st Osheaga Festival Montreal, QB
August 2nd The Mercury Lounge New York, NY
August 3rd Littlefield Brooklyn, NY
August 4th Sixth & Synagogue Washington, DC
August 6th Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
August 8th The Old Rock House St. Louis, MO
August 9th The Riot Room Kansas City, MO
August 10th Hi-Dive Denver, CO
September 10th Musicfest NW @ Pioneer Courthouse Square Portland, OR

Thomas Dybdahl Debuts ‘Songs.’

Strange Cargo, the new label created by renowned music producer, bassist, songwriter and multiple Grammy Award winner Larry Klein, in partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG), announces its first signing: one of Europe’s most talented singer-songwriters, Thomas Dybdahl.

The Norwegian musician’s work has been compared to that of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake. His Strange Cargo debut album, Songs, is due this spring. Download bonus track "Party Like It's 1929."

With three platinum albums to his credit in his homeland, Thomas Dybdahl launched Songs with a series of concerts in Europe. He has a growing international following, notably in Holland, France and Belgium. The first single "Ceilia" is available now on iTunes, pre-order the album at Amazon.

Larry Klein has produced critically acclaimed work by Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, Madeleine Peyroux, and Steely Dan’s Walter Becker, among many other stellar artists. He has been recognized with five Grammys, including those for Mitchell’s 1994 “Turbulent Indigo” and Hancock’s 2007 “River: The Joni Letters,” which he co-produced. Klein has also worked with such superstars as Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Don Henley, and Bonnie Raitt.

Larry Klein said: “I'm honored to be a part of bringing Thomas' music to the rest of the world. His work has an intrinsic emotional power, and reflects an attention to subtlety that I rarely hear. I couldn't imagine a more exciting artist to be Strange Cargo's first release, as I'm a passionate evangelist when it comes to what he does."

Tour Dates

7/13/11 - The Mercury Lounge - NY, NY
7/14/11 - DC9 - Washington, DC
7/15/11 - World Cafe Live Upstairs - Philadelphia, PA
7/16/11 - T.T. the Bear's - Cambridge, MA
7/18/11 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, QC
7/19/11 - The Drake - Toronto, ON
7/20/11 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
7/21/11 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
7/22/11 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
7/23/11 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
7/26/11 - The Media Club - Vancouver, BC
7/27/11 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA
7/28/11 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
7/29/11 - Brick & Motar Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
7/30/11 - The Satellite - Los Angeles, CA

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Lenka Announces U.S. Headlining Tour.

Australian singer-songwriter Lenka will kick off a headlining tour of the U.S. on June 10th at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. The run will feature special guests Elizabeth & The Catapult.

She will perform “Heart Skips a Beat,” the first single from her new album, Two, on “Fox & Friends” on June 4th and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on June 8th. The track just went to Hot AC radio and the accompanying video, directed by Sarah Chatfield, has already racked up more than one million views on Vevo. “Heart Skips a Beat” is in rotation at mtvU and was recently selected as the iTunes Music Video of the Week.

“Lenka pens catchy songs that seem playful on the surface but have a lyrical bite,” said the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Marie Claire put Two on its April “To-Do List,” praising the “lovelorn sophomore album” while Billboard hailed it as ”unfailingly sunny.” Lenka has been the subject of feature articles in Nylon and Blurt and recently performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Several tracks from Two have already been licensed, including “Roll With The Punches,” which was recently used in the new NBC series “The Voice,” “Here To Stay,” heard in a recent episode of “Nikita,” and “Everything At Once,” which was tapped by “Grey’s Anatomy” and by Disney for a DVD trailer promoting its upcoming blockbuster films. She has contributed the song “Everything’s Okay” to the soundtrack for the Showtime series “The Big C.” Proceeds from the collection, set for release on June 7th, will benefit Stand Up To Cancer (www.standup2cancer.org/).

Two is the follow-up to Lenka’s self-titled debut album, which entered Billboard’s Heatseekers chart at #3 in late 2008 and contained “The Show,” which became a No. 1 single at radio in three countries. It was widely licensed for television, including such shows as “Ugly Betty,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Parenthood,” “Easy A,” “90210” and “The Hills,” the film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, advertising campaigns for Old Navy, Coca-Cola, Apple and Nordstrom plus the trailers for Marley & Me and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Named a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist, Lenka toured extensively, hitting 21 countries in 10 months, and appearing on numerous televisions shows – including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Lenka – U.S. Headlining Tour with Special Guests Elizabeth & The Catapult:

6/10 NewYork, NY BoweryBallroom
6/11 Philadelphia, PA NorthStar
6/12 Washington, DC DC9
6/14 Columbus, OH Basement
6/15 Toronita, CA Lee’s Place
6/16 Pontiac, MI CrofootBallroom
6/17 Chicago, IL Subterranean
6/19 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street
6/29 Boston, MA Café 939

Additional dates to be announced.

BYLINE:

Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.

Glee Finds Romance and Glamor in New York Finale

Glee closed its second season a surprisingly upbeat note. Sure, New Directions lost at Nationals, finishing outside the Top 10 in New York, but once returned to Ohio one terrific moment followed another until the final show choir meeting of the school year which had hugs and smiles all around just as the scene faded to black.

Photo courtesy of Craig Blankenhorn/Fox

Full review of the Glee season finale at Suite101.com

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

LeBron James is the Wonder Woman of the Miami Heat Superheroes.

Despite being the Wonder Woman of the Superman and Batman led Superheroes, aka Miami Heat, LeBron James made the right decision to leave Cleveland. That's if he only wants to win championship rings.

It looks like the Heat will close out the Chicago Bulls to get to the finals. And with the Kobe led Lakers out, the possibility of LeBron winning his first championship with a lot of help from Superman and Batman, rather Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, is in sight.

How will this affect LeBron in the eyes of basketball fans?

Although LeBron should have stayed in Cleveland despite the Heat winning a championship, if in fact the team can close things down in a few weeks, he will be known as the all-star who goes to any team with a chance to win. Like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, winning with the franchise you came up with is something that LeBron will never get to experience.

Winning on his terms and being the leader went out the window when he signed with the Heat. The Miami Heat will always be Wade's team, and now LeBron, if he does win a championship, will be the forgotten superhero, like Wonder Woman.

Recently, television announced that there will be a Wonder Woman series. Before it even launched, it was yanked. Wonder Woman, although a great superhero, could not do it herself, sort of like LeBron James.

If the non-airing of the overhyped Wonder Woman tells us anything, it's that LeBron made the right decision to go to Miami. At least he can shine when there was no chance to do it solo. Now, we just need a Superfriends television show so that Wonder Woman can get her moment. Oh wait, we have that now, it's called the Heat versus the Bulls.

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Jason Tanamor is the Editor of Zoiks! Online. He is also the author of the novels, "Hello Lesbian!" and "Anonymous." Email Jason at jason@zoiksonline.com.