JVT introduces Opera Link at Rock Bands Rock Opera party
Mar 31, 2007 Rock Bands
Live from the Rock Bands Rock Opera launch party on Oct. 25, 2007 in San Francisco – Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner announces how you can link your cell phone bookmarks with your computer Bookmarks and Speed Dial, and with your Nintendo’s Wii Internet Channel Favorites using Opera Link. Performances by The Binges follow this announcement at: www.youtube.com/rockwithopera
Michael Perlowin Presents Unique-sounding Classical Music Inspired by Spain
Mar 31, 2007 Classic Rock
Michael Perlowin breaks new ground with innovative and enjoyable music performed primarily and surprisingly on the pedal steel guitar.
As with his forays into the world of Debussy, Stravinsky and Broadway with his Firebird Suite and West Side Story albums, Michael Perlowin is again shattering the stereotype of the pedal steel guitar as a country-and-western-only instrument. In his new album, Spanish Steel, he presents 20 tracks from or about Spain, featuring works by Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, Joaquín Rodrigo, Julio Martinez Oyanguren, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
This new album sees Perlowin continuing to alternate between the use of the pedal steel as both a featured and ensemble instrument. However, this CD features Perlowin’s guitar work more than his previous outings, as the guitar is such an integral part of Spanish music. It is fair to say that this is not so much a “pedal steel guitar album” as it is an album of music in which the steel is predominantly featured for its unique expressive sound.
Perlowin, a veteran guitarist of the folk and rock music scene around L.A., became enamored of the pedal steel guitar after unexpectedly finding himself working on a country and western band during the mid-70s. His infatuation blossomed into an all-consuming love affair, an intensely passionate obsession that continues to this day. Perlowin jokingly calls himself a “steel-aholic,” and adds that the intricacies and mysteries of the instrument cause most other players to feel the same way.
As a working guitarist, Perlowin had played just about every type of popular music, from standards, to folk, rock, country, blues, reggae and even disco. Playing pedal steel guitar, however, Perlowin found he was unhappy when confined to country and western music. He began playing the steel with musicians from various genres, including an all instrumental experimental music band, and a blues rock band ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkSnoeTWR4I ).
Eventually, it was the world of classical music that attracted Perlowin’s interest. A recording of Debussy’s “The Maid With the Flaxen Hair” by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith introduced him to the world of literate music. Perlowin explains, “As soon as I heard this piece, I realized that this was what I wanted to play.” Perlowin’s own recording of the piece, which clearly shows Smith’s influence, can be heard on his first classical pedal steel album Firebird Suite.
“Everyone who plays classical music should be required to listen to this recording,” said Mark Laycock, Music Director, Orchestra London, The Princeton Chamber Symphony and Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony. “Mike Perlowin is a musical genius who I am proud to know and learn from, and honored to have for a friend. I love this instrument, and this music and the beauty of these sounds delights my soul.”
Perlowin had been marginally exposed to classical music when he was young, and has no formal musical or production training. Perlowin’s second album, West Side Story, shows his growth not as a player, since he had already mastered the instrument, but as a producer, arranger, and recording engineer.
However, it is with this third album that his mastery of the recording studio blossomed to match his talents as a virtuoso musician. On Spanish Steel, Dave Beyer played drums and percussion, while Bill Watkins contributed timpani samples to complement Perlowin on pedal and lap steel guitars, electric and acoustic guitars, fretted and fretless basses, sitar, mandolin, mandocello, 5-string banjo, autoharp and additional percussion.
Spanish Steel is a totally unique and original album fulfilling Perlowin’s goal of showing the beauty and expressiveness of the pedal steel guitar. Replete with fascinating liner notes, it is the best example to date of the depths of Perlowin’s enormous talent. Find it along with his other albums at CDBaby.com, SteelGuitarMusic.com, Amazon.com; for reviews and images visit his artist website at http://www.mikeperlowin.com
TRACK LIST:
Michael Perlowin, SPANISH STEEL: Music from Spain by Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Rodrigo, Isaac Albéniz and others.
El Amour Brujo (Manuel de Falla)
1. Introduccion Y Escena (0:30)
2. En La Cueva (1:46)
3. Cancion Del Amor Dolido (1:25)
4. Danze Del Terror (2:03)
5. El Circulo Magico (2:45)
6. Danza Ritual Del Fuego (3:52)
7. Escena (1:00)
8. Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo (1:21)
9. Pantmima (4:14)
10. Danza Del Juego De Amor (2:23)
11. Las Campanas Del Amanecer (1:18)
Asturias (Isaak Albéniz)
12. Asturias (Leyenda) (5:43)
Conceirto Andeluz for 4 guitars (Joaquín Rodrigo).
13. Conceirto Andeluz for 4 guitars- Third Movement ( 7:05)
Fantasia Inca (Julio Martinez Oyanguren)
14. Fantasia Inca (3:12)
Capriccio Espagnol (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov)
15. Alborada (1:15)
16. Variazioni (4:20)
17. Alborada (1:17)
18. Scena (2:16)
19. Canto Gatano (2:22)
20. Fandango Asturiano (3:38)
Tags: Classical, Inspired, Michael, Music, Perlowin, Presents, Spain, Uniquesounding
Rock Band PS3 Beatles Edition-Bring Out Your Inner Rock Star
Mar 29, 2007 Rock Bands
Rock Band game series will no doubt eclipse all others in popularity. This is a music game so no shooting or guts and zombies here. It gives us all a chance to rock out like a star. The coolest game option by far is playing together with pals. You can each pick either singing or playing on drums, guitar, or even bass and play together like a real band. It pulls the old guitar hero out of history and totally ramps it up. People of all ages will get together to play this winner, and have a blast.
Since Rock Band has become such a big hit, fans are anxiously awaiting Rock Band Beatles PS3 because if you really want to be a big band, then lets face it who better to be than by far the biggest band of all time, the Beatles. With song selections that include everyones favorites, this release is coming up in the beginning of September 2009 and this new game may just find an older generation rocking out to Rock Band either with or without their kids. After all, there are still plenty of Beatles fans out there who wont let this one pass them by.
The Beatles Rock Band will allow fans to choose from an extraordinary catalog of music that will take gamers on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the Fab Fours astonishing career. This game offers all the perks of the Rock Band experience, and even throws in a few extras like three part vocals and will allow gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal stylings of the legendary Beatles.
There is a special surprise on the game for serious fans. When these were originally recorded at Abbey Road there was also recording happening while they were hanging out and taking breaks. You get to hear Paul, George, Ringo, and John during these moments. This is the first time these have come out publicly and are proven to be authentic. All more than 40 years old.
Don’t miss out and pre-order your game made for the PS3 platform. You don’t have to already be a Beatles fan to enjoy it, although no doubt you will become a big fan quickly.
If you enjoy music games then Rock Band Beatles Edition will be in your collection. For Beatles fans Rock Band Beatles PS3 is going to add happiness to your world.
Yellow Brick Road: Hocus Pocus by Focus
Mar 27, 2007 Classic Rock
Watch in higher quality: Add &fmt=18 to the URL address above in your browser window. YBR performs the Dutch Classic Rock treat during the taping of their recent DVD: Live at the Railhead. Visit our website for order info, and check the other vids for more rock covers (Van Halen, Rush, Zeppelin, Floyd, The Who, Queen, etc). www.ybrband.com
Top 20 Lead Female Rock Bands
Mar 24, 2007 Rock Bands
My favorite top 20 female lead bands of NOW. Not of all times…but of NOW! I know I left out a lot of bands! Tell me the bands I left out or your top female lead bands.
The Fixx – “Stand or Fall” Music Video
Mar 24, 2007 Classic Rock
The music video for “Stand or Fall” by The Fixx. Released from their 1982 debut album “Shuttered Room”. ©MCA Records/Universal Music Group. Director: Jeannette Obstoj
Types Of Guitar: Electric, Acoustic And Classical
Mar 23, 2007 Classic Rock
A guitar, which is a hollow-bodied stringed instrument with a neck, produces sound when the strings’ vibrations resonate through its body.
There are three basic types of guitar: the electric guitar, the acoustic guitar, and the classical guitar.
The electric guitar converts the sound of the vibrating strings into electronic current. These electronic signals are then altered and produce the desired pitch and vibration before they are fed to amplifiers. Because an electric guitar uses these “pickups,” the body does not need to be resonant as it does with the other types of guitar. An electric guitar is used for all different kinds of music, such as country, pop, jazz, rock and roll, and heavy metal.
The acoustic guitar is shaped much like the classical guitar (described below) in terms of its appearance and shape. This type of guitar does not use amplifiers for its sound traditionally, although they can be added. An acoustic guitar uses steel strings for a louder and brighter sound than the nylon strings of the classical guitar. The acoustic guitar also uses heavier woods than does the classical guitar, including maple, mahogany, and spruce. This is because the steel strings on the acoustic guitar produce more tension than the nylon strings of the classical guitar do. This type of guitar is usually used in country, folk and blues music. It can also be used in different types of rock music. Oftentimes, acoustic guitars can also have built-in electronics so that their sound can be amplified louder than they would have been traditionally.
Finally, the classical guitar is also known as the “Spanish guitar.” It’s the most common of the three types of guitar. Its body is hollow, as with the acoustic guitar. The hole in the center acts to resonate the sound produced by the strings when they are plucked and strummed. It uses six strings, which are usually made of nylon. They are less taut than are the steel strings of the acoustic guitar. Usually, this type of guitar is played without amplifiers. The sound can be “amplified” simply, however, by just placing the guitar in front of a microphone. The classical guitar is usually used in Latin, flamenco and classical music.
All three types of guitars (classical, acoustic and electric) can be used by one person alone or by playing with other guitar players. However, electric guitars are much louder than classical or acoustic guitars, and are generally not mixed with acoustic or classical guitars. However, it’s often true that rock bands, for example, play electric guitars with accompaniment such as drums, trumpets or other louder instrumentation that can’t be easily overpowered by the electric guitar’s volume.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.
Guitar Hero 3 PC – Rock Bands Run To The Hills
Mar 21, 2007 Rock Bands
Iron Maiden – Run To The Hills imported from Rock Band to Guitar Hero 3 PC!!! It’s 5th time i play the song so i pretty suck at it 
Robert Plant’s tribute to Jimmy Page
Mar 21, 2007 Classic Rock
Percy praises Pagey: an exclusive video salute by Robert Plant filmed especially for the 2007 awards staged by Classic Rock magazine, where James Patrick Page won the Living Legend accolade. Visit www.classicrockmagazine.com for all the latest rock news and gossip!