Author Archives: UnRated Magazine

2011 Vail Soul Music Fest

For the second annual Vail Soul Music Fest – happening August 19-20-21, 2011 at Vail, Colorado’s Ford Amphitheater – four-time Grammy nominee Ledisi, soul royalty Lalah Hathaway, and genre-bending Cuban singer-songwriter Alex Cuba top the bill during three days and two nights of music. Additional artists include British slam-champion poet and Floetry co-founder Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart, soul revival golden boy Ryan Shaw, and – back by popular demand – mighty R&B singer Liv Warfield, among many others.

Anticipated by those in the know as the only-of-its-kind in the state of Colorado, Vail Soul Music Fest offers a hand-picked mix of emerging and established artists – from the greatest R&B legends to ballad hit-makers to conscious hip-hop to neo soul artists from around the world. Vail Soul Music Fest is the face of the modern, multicultural soul revival. Vail Soul Music Fest is bringing the story of soul music back to the people, and it feels oh so good.

Indeed, Soul music’s stories of heart, truth, and transparency are more universal now than ever before. In this spirit, Vail Soul Music Fest is more than just a music event; it’s the ultimate soul experience. In addition to some of the best performers in the genre, Vail Soul Music Fest features three days and two nights of soulful cultural experiences.

The artist line-up for Vail Soul Music Fest is as follows:

Friday, August 19
Lalah Hathaway
Alex Cuba
Natalie Stewart
Lee England Jr.

Saturday, August 20
Ledisi
Ryan Shaw
Liv Warfield
Chaz Shepherd

Sunday, August 21
“Fan Appreciation Day” with artist meet & greets, free activities and experiences, free music events throughout town, and more.
Additional performers to be announced.

Tickets available at www.vailsoulmusicfest.com or at www.TicketHorse.com / 1-866-461-6556. Local Vail Residents can purchase through the Ford Amphitheater Box Office

Ticket Pricing:
Early Bird 2 Day Tickets On-Sale Now (through July 31st)
Early Bird Two Day Tickets are $45.00 General Admission, $75.00 Reserved,
$145.00 VIP

Single Day Advance Tickets (available August 1 – 18)
Single Day Tickets are $25 General Admission, $40 Reserved, $75 VIP

Day of Show Single Day Tickets are $30 General Admission, $45 Reserved, $80 VIP
while supplies last.

For more information, visit www.vailsoulmusicfest.com

 

Femme Fatale Tour Showcases Rejuvenated Spears

By Anthony Kuzminski

I’m not sure if any celebrity has had more written about them in the last decade besides Britney Spears; some good-some bad all of it fascinating in some fashion. However, as a result, many have had a hard time separating the performer from the celebrity. People look at her and see tabloid headlines and lip-synching and often have a hard time looking beyond. That in itself is a shame because while she doesn’t have the same grasp on the music media as she did with her first few albums, her recorded output in recent years shows growth. I was ready to write her off a few years ago, but with each album she has continued to penetrate the pop landscape and as her Femme Fatale tour rolled into Chicago, both Spears and the Chicago crowd was ready for lift-off.

Spears last toured in 2009 and while the staging was in-the-round with a series of extraordinary staging, it felt bitter and icy. Spears looked disengaged from the proceedings and it felt as if they had taken her out of a box right before show time. Despite what some reviewers have posted about her current tour, it features a rejuvenated Spears in a show that provoked the crowd in all the right spots.

 As a screen split in two on the main stage, Britney Spears appeared on a platform with her lead single from Femme Fatale “Hold It Against Me”. Dressed in a silver outfit that continued to reveal more and more with every chorus, Spears was in her element. “Up N’ Down”, dressed in white private investigator dance of “3” and “Piece of Me”, which found Spears flying on a platform from the front of the stage towards the back before she disappeared into a trap door on the main stage. The whole show featured gimmicks galore yet the crowd never seemed let down from it as it never left room for hesitation. Last tour, the stage was a exceptional in-the-round creation whereas this time, it was a 180-degree stage with a large extensive platform that went more than halfway onto the floor. While not providing as many stunning viewpoints as the 360-stage did, she had enough props and commitment to make it meaningful and never losing the crowd’s interest.

Dispersed with several noir-like video segments, they proved to be time for Spears and her dancers to change outfits. The second portion of the show proved to be among the evenings most entertaining with the thumping “Big Fat Bass” which found Spears in a red skirt almost rapping the one-dimensional, but gripping beat further escalating the tension between her performance the crowd. A car pulled up to the front of the stage, as the ten background dancers were in dazzling colors (looking like extras in a live action Aladdin remake).

Colorful costumes aside, the beattastic song is a sure fire hit and should be a future single. The incessant percussion beat and its catching chorus found every single soul on their feet cheering along. Spears, who has taken career cues from Madonna, leaned the set heavily on material from Femme Fatale. While on paper this would appear to be imprudent, it showcased the album vividly and featured its strengths. “How I Roll” I had overlooked on my initial listens of the record but the performance will be etched in my mind for a while to come. Lace and Leather” (from 2008’s Circus) found Spears pulling a male fan from the crowd who she danced and teased with a leg wrap around the back of his head for and the car drove back to the main stage. “If U Seek Amy” had a 1950’s swing style to it compared to the poppish quality on the studio cut. It was another pleasant surprise of the evening as the arrangements were not cut and paste renditions from the records.

 “Gimme More” rippled throughout the arena with Britney’s spoken declaration (“It’s Britney…bitch”). Vintage hits “I’m A Slave For You”, “Baby, One More Time” (in biker gear) and “Boys” (with the dancers mimicking snakes) all filled the nostalgia crave. A pair of perfectly chosen covers worked beautifully within the set; Rhianna’s “S&M” and Madonna’s “Burning Up”. On the Madonna cover (all the way back from 1982) found spears riding a larger-than-life guitar like it was a bull. However, it was the newer material that resonated strongest and evoked the largest roars of the audience. “I Wanna Go” along with the evening’s finale of “Till the World Ends” found the crowd in a manic state or nirvana. Amidst pyrotechnics and 15,000 dancing fans (mostly female) Spears disappeared beneath the stage as a shower of pyrotechnics draped the stage.

Is the show well produced and executed? You bet. It may be too rehearsed for some, but it’s perfectly suited for troubled time and for those who want to dance their worries away. The Femme Fatale tour is a step up from her Circus jaunt two years ago. It features Britney Spears much more animated and invigorated on the stage. The 90-minute show may not go down as a epic tour de force live performance; it serves its purpose perfectly. More than anything, the crowd ate it up and danced like a clock was counting down to the apocalypse without a worry in the world and ultimately, that’s the greatest gift pop music can ever give us.

Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicagobased writer. His daily writings can be read at http:/the-screen-door.blogspot.com. He can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com (thescreendoor@gmail.com) and can be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/thescreendoor

Photos by Dan Locke

DJ Jazzy Jeff and Ayah Present ‘Back for More’

DJ Jazzy Jeff and Ayah release Back for More today.  The duo is giving away a collection of soulful tunes to fans for free download.  This 13-track project is sure to have music lovers grooving for the rest of the summer and beyond.

DJ Jazzy Jeff, along with contributions from well-known producers James Poyser, Pete Kuzma and Demien DeSandies, has created an experience that music lovers have long awaited. Yet, those not as well versed in the genre will appreciate these soulful treats just the same. We are already familiar with the success of Jeff’s past work with heavy-hitters Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild and Floetry.  And his work with theTorontosongbird, Ayah, will be no exception.

Ayah, who is a success in her own right, has already garnered a grass roots fan base of her own with the release of her last two projects, Problem Woman and 4:15.  And her most recent release of the When it Comes to You single and short film is continuing to make headway.  Having worked with respected MCs like Freeway, Mac Miller, Elzhi and Skyzoo, Ayah is no stranger to hip-hop either.  This makes Jeff’s jazzy production and classic hip-hop sound the perfect complement for Ayah’s full and melodic vocals.

With Back for More, fans should expect nothing less than greatness from soul music’s hottest new collaborators.  Notable tracks on the project include the soulful tune, Make It Last and title track, Back for More, with its feel good party vibe.  Listeners will also witness Ayah’s versatility in the already popular single, Notorious.  Ayah unveils her inner b-girl and lyrical flair in this hip-hop banger.  Back for More also features appearances from Sugar Tongue Slim (STS) and Toronto’s own Tona.

To download Back for More, please visit:  http://www.backformore.bandcamp.com/

Clear Channel Stations Present the Largest Concert Event in Radio

Clear Channel Radio announced the iHeartRadio Music Festival, a two-day music event hosted by Ryan Seacrest that will mark the biggest live concert festival in radio history.  

The extraordinary line-up will include: Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Steven Tyler, The Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Jane’s Addiction, Nicki Minaj, John Mayer, David Guetta, Rascal Flatts, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, Sublime with Rome and special performances from Usher and Sting, with more to be announced.

This diverse array of the greatest names in music will appear on one stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on two consecutive nights, September 23 and 24, to celebrate the official launch of the New iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s free, industry-leading digital radio product that will combine its more than 750 broadcast radio and digital-only stations from 150 cities with the ability to create custom stations, delivering listeners everything they want all in one fully integrated service.    

Live audio and video streams of the iHeartRadio Music Festival will be available online, via mobile devices at www.iHeartRadio.com and across all of Clear Channel’s radio station websites. Throughout the summer-long promotion hundreds of listeners will win a dream trip to Vegas to converge with thousands of fans across the country and experience this one-of-a-kind, two-day festival at the legendary MGM Grand inLas Vegas.  Promotion of the event kicked off with a simultaneous roadblock announcement by all 850 Clear Channel Radio stations nationwide, their websites and iHeartRadio, providing instant awareness and showcasing a new vehicle for announcing news and products to an unprecedented number ofU.S. consumers.  

The New iHeartRadio will deliver to users the nation’s most popular broadcast radio stations as well as the ability to create custom stations with even more songs, more control than the leading custom radio station services and with no commercials through the end of the year, offering listeners everything they want digitally in one fully integrated service – free.

Details on how to purchase the exclusive pre-sale tickets for the iHeartRadio Music Festival are available at facebook.com/iHeartRadio beginning July 11 at 8:15 a.m. ET.  Tickets will also be available to the general public for purchase beginning July 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET by visiting iHeartRadio.com and entering keyword “Vegas.” The iHeartRadio Music Festival is a Clear Channel Entertainment Production.  For more information visit iHeartRadio.com.

 

Comedy Movie Star Chris Tucker Announces Comedy Tour

Armed with a trademarked style, incomparable delivery, impeccable comedic timing and a signature voice, actor and comedian Chris Tucker is set to embark on an 18 date national stand-up comedy tour.  The tour kicks off on August 19th in Long Beach, California.  Tickets go on sale beginning July 15th at 10:00 am at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

Early in his stand-up career, Tucker gained a reputation as one of the leading comics on the Los Angelescomedy circuit and was invited to participate in hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam on HBO, where he became a frequent performer.  As a high energy actor, Tucker paired up with one of rap’s greatest, Ice Cube, in the 1995 cult classic, Friday.  As “Smokey” in Friday, Tucker utilized his keen sense of comedy and acting while developing a signature screen persona that would garner international fame and recognition.  He then gave a remarkable performance alongside veteran actor Lorenz Tate in Dead Presidents and landed co-starring roles in such memorable films as Money Talks, with actor Charlie Sheen; The Fifth Element with action hero Bruce Willis; and Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown .

Additional ticket and tour information can be found at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

CHRIS TUCKER T OU R DATES 2011  
       
August 19  Terrace Theater Long Beach, CA  
August 20  Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ  
September 2    Borgata Events Center Atlantic City, NJ  
September 3  Palace Theatre Albany Albany, NY  
September 4  NYCB Theatre at Westbury Westbury, NY  
September 9  Shea’s Performing Arts Center Buffalo, NY  
September 10  Citi Wang Theatre Boston, MA  
September 16  Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL  
September 23  UNO Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA  
September 24  The Fillmore Miami Beach  Miami, FL        
September 30  Murat Theatre Indianapolis, IN  
October 1  Fox Theatre Detroit, MI  
October 7  DAR Constitution Hall Washington, DC  
October 14  Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, TX  
October 21  Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA  
October 22  Sacramento Auditorium Sacramento, CA  
November 25  Civic Theatre San Diego, CA  
November 26  Paramount Theatre Oakland, CA  

Slurpee® MixMaker Concert Hits Lincoln Hall With Gym Class Heroes

7-Eleven, Inc. is mixing up the 2011 Summer of Slurpee® with a mash-up of cool cups, cold concoctions and sold-out concerts that are proving to be hot, hot, hot. Not only is 7-Eleven encouraging Slurpee flavor-mixing with its ingenious MixMaker dual-chambered cup and valve straw, the retailer is mixing up the Slurpee summer season with its popular MixMaker Summer Concert Series. The third in the series features Gym Class Heroes, appearing July 25 at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall.

Tickets for the Chicagoconcert are $7.11 and go on sale Friday, July 8, at noon on the Lincoln Hall website (http://www.lincolnhallchicago.com). Slurpee Rewards points also can be cashed in for free concert tickets at www.slurpee.com, while they last. Tickets for the all-ages, general admission concert will be held at will-call, which is actually a list of names at the door. Photo ID is required to verify age and ticket purchase.

Gym Class Heroes will take a break from the 2011 Vans Warped Tour to bring their musical talents to the MixMaker concert in the WindyCity. The alternative hip-hop band will release The Papercut Chronicles II this fall, its first album since frontman Travie McCoy’s solo album Lazarus, which featured the smash hit “Billionaire.”  “Stereo Hearts,” the first single from The Papercut Chronicles II, was recently featured on the NBC series “The Voice,” and is available now at all digital retailers.  We are the In Crowd, a pop-punk band fromNew York, will open the show.

Can’t Knock the Hustle…For Trying

By Wendy Simmons

Fresh to DVD, The Hustle starring Charlie Murphy and Al Shearer engulfs us in a day of mishaps as the main characters (Murphy and Shearer) attempt to hustle their way out of trouble.

Directed by Deon Taylor, this Friday meets First Sunday comedy will make you laugh out loud with silly yet satirical comedic slapstick.  Filled with an ensemble of great comedians and actors that include David Alan Grier, John Witherspoon and Tamala Jones, it’s surprising this movie was not released in theaters.  And it was great to see Charlie “Eddie’s Little Brother” Murphy take a leading role.

While the film abruptly ended with quick resolutions, it managed to tie up loose ends and will leave viewers with the idea that a sequel may be in the works.

Definitely pick this one up and enjoy a good laugh at home.

I give it $$ 1/2

Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama 2011

Multitalented singer, songwriter, producer and musician, Cee Lo Green, known for his most recent chart-topping hit “Forget You” as well as co-writing and singing Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” will headline the 13th annual Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama 2011 set at The Chicago Theatre in Chicago on Friday, August 12th at 8 pm.

The artist debuted his first album earlier this year, entitled “Lady Killa,” and also stars as a judge on the NBC hit series, “The Voice.” Also set to perform at Macy’s Glamorama this year is electro-pop quartet Far East Movement who shot to fame with chart-topping singles, “Like a G6” and “Rocketeer” from their debut album, entitled “Free Wired.” The group’s latest single, “If I Was You,” features rap artist Snoop Dogg.

This year’s show – themed ARTRAGEOUS – brings high fashion and fierce performances together for one unforgettable night. Topping the list of featured designers: Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Sonia Rykiel and more! The evening concludes with an over-the-top “artlandish” post-party at Macy’s on State Street. The event will once again benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland® and Northwest Indiana (RMHC®-CNI).
       
Ticket prices range from $50 to $1,000 and can be purchased now through RMHC®-CNI at www.RonaldHouseChicago.org or by calling 630.623.2309. Tickets will also be available for purchase starting June 8th through Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000, www.thechicagotheatre.com or through The Chicago Theatre box office. For more information on Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama, please visit www.macys.com/glamorama

Sean “Diddy” Combs Gives Insight Into His Life and New Band

Music mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs, one of the world’s most successful music moguls and all-around entrepreneur, offers his fans a revealing glimpse into his life and inspirations with the release of his MYMAG, Diddy Dirty Money – available now via MYMAG.com (http://www.mymag.com)

Diddy curated the material in Diddy Dirty Money, which is both a glossy print magazine and an interactive online experience, offering exclusive video, commentary and much more.  Diddy mixes original content, including never-published photographs of him and his band members, Kalenna and Dawn with archived articles from his favorite publications.

“I’ve always loved art magazines and dope books.  The DDM magazine gave us a chance to illustrate some of our personality and share pieces of some of the elements and people who have inspired our collective journey,” says Sean “Diddy” Combs. “Diddy Dirty Money features some of our all-time favorite articles, photographs mixed in with some of our own content… it’s an accurate glimpse into our respective lives.”

Kalenna and Dawn called upon Flaunt magazine to provide an insightful feature on the late fashion designer, Alexander McQueen (whose work is currently the subject of a major exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art), a Tank Girl comic (Dawn’s pick) and a feature on Marilyn Manson (chosen by Kalenna) adorn the pages of Diddy’s MYMAG.

Other content includes Vibe magazine’s first-ever magazine feature on Diddy, as well as tributes to Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige and Hype Williams.  One of the UK’s top music magazines, NME provides content for one of Diddy’s idols, music innovator and icon, David Bowie.  Rare Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack photographs are also featured in the magazine, the late Hollywood legend inspires Diddy’s style and is another one of his all-time idols.

To buy a copy of Diddy Dirty Money and see first-hand what most inspires the mogul of hip-hop, log on to MYMAG.com (http://www.mymag.com), preview and purchase for $12.  Diddy Dirty Money will also be available at select Barnes & Noble locations nationwide as well as select newsstands on May 31st.

Countless Action in …Number Four

By Wendy Simmons

I Am Number Four is a never boring action packed sci-fi thriller new to DVD.

Directed by D.J. Caruso, the audience is introduced to John Smith, a teen alien from the planet Lorien. John is number four of nine survivors from the attempted annihilation of his planet. Those nine were sent to earth and spared in order to continue Lorien’s legacy. But staying alive is no easy feat and is filled with constant motion and life altering scenarios. Now that numbers one through three are dead it is of crucial importance for John to embrace and control his newly discovered special powers. By doing so he’s able to continue to fight and find the other five numbers to unite against the hunters that will go to no end to wipe the existence of Lorien away.

Starring Alex Pettyfer as Number Four, we also see him endure the same issues as any other teen…bullying, acceptances, and love. This allows this sci-fi film to appeal to a realist such as myself. Although it wraps up loose ends quickly, it will hold your attention and will definitely peek your curiosity throughout.

Be prepared for action and surprise when you pick this DVD up on Tuesday! You’ll want to catch this one because you can trust that there will be sequels to come.