Random Rant: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO the World?

I feel like something has gone awry with the world amongst so many recent disasters. Not to make light of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, but it feels like that just led to a series of ridiculous situations. What am I referring to?

First - Last night, Nate Dogg passed at 41. What a sad moment. People don't realize how much impact his smooth G-funk sound had on West Coast hip hop. Nate Dogg was featured in 45 albums with 255 popular songs (both solo and collaboration). That's quite an impressive body of work when you realize that most of those songs were great. When you hear almost any rap song that you can sing to in the last decade (not including the past couple of years, that's T-Pain), you can be almost positive Nate Dogg was in it. All of which were staples of West Coast rap, one of the most memorable for most being "Regulators".

Second - WHO is Rebecca Black? Please tell me this is a joke...I have nothing more to say.

On a lighter note (#3)....I was NOT chosen for PC World's Twitter Top 100, which I think was a miscount and a sham. I could have at least been #100. I have a lot to say dammit and it's important.

Fourth - Gas is a hitting a ridiculous $4/gallon, which means it's nearly $70 dollars to fill up my tank. Which also means that it's costing nearly $500 RT to Philadelphia, WHY?????

Fifth - the country's obsession with cracked out alcoholic, Charlie Sheen. WHO CARES? He is really not that entertaining other than the fact that he is so screwed up. Why do people find celebrities that are unraveling and in despair so entertaining?

Last but not least, it's nearing the end of March already. How is the time passing so fast? Did I also mention that apparently Talib Kweli (@RealTalibKweli ) is at SXSW and I'm not.

What else can go wrong? Wait....just kidding, I really don't want to know. There's my random rant for the day.

Amos Lee - The Music Box

I had only heard the song 'Sweet Pea' before I was invited to The Music Box in Hollywood on January 27th to see Amos Lee perform. Apparently, that's not even one of his most popular songs. Regardless, I didn't really know him that well and didn't know what genre to put him in (apparently he is in the Folk Jazz genre).

I arrived at The Music Box about 9:00 p.m., at which point his opening acts were still on the scene. While I got my beverage and found my friends, I was interested to see what was in store for me.

The result: What a treat! Amos Lee is pretty terrific and although, some of his songs are a bit more folksy (actually sounded more like country) than I would like, the majority of his set held a lot of mixed genre sounds with soul, jazz, blues and country altogether.

His voice sounds delicious live and he is a very dynamic vocal performer. He also had a trumpet come up there, some snazzy electric table guitar and talented backup singers. This song was on my favorites list from last night.



Of course the show was great, thanks to @James'jimmylin'Lin, since it was free ninety nine; however, if I was asked again, I would not mind paying for the tickets. I'm not sure what kind of perspective that puts that into.

I just wish that they had seats at The Music Box, it actually reminded me very much of The Fillmore in SF. Michael Kors makes very cute boots, but that doesn't mean that I want to stand in them for 14 hours of the day. Seats please!

The Playlist! (From LBC to Arthur Ashe)

Everyone knows that any respectable athelete has a playlist that will mentally get them into and out of their game. I have created a playlist that will take me through my U.S. Open debut. Now I just wonder if I should also not change my tennis outfits at all for good luck throughout my playing (but then I think of how much sweat is involved on hot days, gross!).

I'm banking on someone breaks their arm, pulls a tendon or even dramatically sprains a pinky toe (which is desperately needed for all the side to side movement in tennis), so that I can make my way to Arthur Ashe. I am ,mentally prepared to get annihilated, but my spirits are high and I don't take well to defeat.

Either way, off I got the US Open wild card sectional, my match today is against Rochelle Perkins ( I have mentioned her before). I feel like I know Rochelle, I have been thinking about her so much, lol.

Anyway, I gathered my thoughts on a playlist that would get me pumped for this event...It may be slightly on the feminine side, but still a powerful list that should help me get through.

1. Bad, Rihanna

2.Tell Me, Christina Aguilera & P.Diddy

3. When I grow up, Pussycat Dolls

4. People of the Sun, Rage Against The Machine

5. Paid In Full, Erik B. & Rakim

6. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson

7. Summertime, Fresh Prince

8. Till I Collapse, Eminem

9. My 1st Song, Jay-Z

10. Set Adrift, PM Dawn

Enjoy and tell me what YOU think, what songs do YOU love to get motivated to? I'm sure I need to add others to the playlist :).

Wish me luck.....again!

U never know what to expect @Blogworld -Day 2

Starting Day 2 was not fun. $28.00 to get to the convention center was really not the way to get my day going. Anyway, I started out with some lovely conversation from the CTO of Webgrrls, a very cool professional network for women in technology. Hopefully, I will be helping the LA Chapter grow soon.

Anyway, I walked the exhibit floor for a bit to get a feeling of what is going on there. By far the two most interesting places to be on the exhibit floor was the Charity Smackdown and the Fatburger truck, where they were doing a 11/2 pound burger contest. I contemplated participating, but I was too late to register. Don't worry I have a second chance today, but who knows.

Apparently, you never know what's going to happen at Blogworld. I met lots of new people that I have had great conversations with, potential clients, potential vendors and so much more.

My new friend Blair Williams (@supercleanse)

The opening day part was at JET nightclub at the Mirage, which is the first time I have been there. It was a nice place, free beer, $6 sodas, roasted veggies and mozzarella balls, yum! Upon entry I met Blair Williams at the app bar. It was one of the few highlights of my day. After exchanging conversation about what we do, banter on life an other miscellaneous intro conversation, Blair pulled out some tickets. Who doesn't love tickets?

The Blue Man Group

What were these tickets to you ask? I'm glad you did, it was the BLUE MAN GROUP. I immediately said yes to take one of his last two tix, because I've been dying to see the show for years. Quickly I had plans for the night other than wandering around from one Blogworld party to the next, ensuring an inevitable headache. Instead, I'm on my way to The Blue Man group with 10 new friends from Blogworld. The great part was most of us didn't know each other. We head over to the 10' o'clock show and I must say that the show did not disappoint. The music in the show was amazing, there were funny bits, stuff that made you think and audience participation all wrapped up in a really unique presentation. The Blue Men were great, but what I really enjoyed was the band that reminded me of those Cobra Kai guys in Karate Kid in the skeleton costumes.

Skeleton guys (aka the band) Skeleton guy from Karate Kid

It was a great show and I even got to pretend like I knew what I was doing on those pipes that they play. Check out the pix.

Me on the drums Blair on the drums

One blue man

Fed Up - Away with the Awards already!

After watching this year's MTV Music Awards, I decided that I am through with awards shows. I realize that MTV and the Grammy's are technically two very different things, but are they really? It seems like nothing really turns out the way people want it to, someone is always getting jipped and of course, hi-jinks are added so that the show is ruined for everyone. I think it's is rigged anyway.

I must say that this year's music awards was much more entertaining than I anticipated but the highlight for me was the very first 10 minutes during the Michael tribute with Janet. Which leads me to another question, where has the art of performance gone?

The generation after mine (Y or Z or whatever) has been raped of true performance art. Where I grew up with Michael, Madonna, Prince, New Kids, Janet, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jame, Rage Against the Machine, (the original) No Doubt, N'Sync and even Britney...who do current youngsters have to look up to and aspire to be? Solider boy? I mean c'mon. He shouldn't even really be singing/rapping some of the stuff that he says. The music industry has been congested with BAD but catchy lines, big egos of people who should retire and lack of recognition of true young talent.

What happened to the artists that could do it all? Sing, dance and play and instrument and really put on a show? Now you just have a group of people on stage either hobbling around with a mic pulling their pants up and wearing sunglasses in a dim lit audatorium or a bunch of head banging kids with one witty line in they entire rock song.

Has anyone listened to the lyrics of these songs? I mean really listen...Here let me give you a sample of a popular song today. These are the first-ish lyrics of the #1 song on the Billboard charts by the Black-Eyed Peas

I gotta feeling... (Woohoo)

That tonight's gonna be a good night

That tonight's gonna be a good night

That tonight's gonna be a good good night (Good lang)

Tonight's the night

Let's live it up

I got my money

Let's spend it up

Go out and smash it

Like Oh My God

Jump off that sofa

Let's kick it OFF

I know that we'll have a ball

If we get down

And go out And just lose it all I feel stressed out I wanna let it go Lets go way out spaced out And loosing all control

Fill up my cup

Mazel tov

Look at her dancing

Just take it... OFF

Lets paint the town

We'll shut it down

Let's burn the roof

And then we'll do it again

Lets do it (x4)And do it (2x)Let's live it upAnd do it (3x)Do it, do itLets do it(3x)Cause I gotta feeling... (WoooHooo)That tonight's gonna be a good nightThat tonight's gonna be a good nightThat tonight's gonna be a good good night

Forgive me if I don't really see much sense in any of those lyrics, no wonder America is in a recession following directions like that.

So aside from the bad music the performances are getting even worse. I guess it goes without saying that Michael really knew how to entertain and put on a show, but does that mean that the next generation won't get that experience at all? Instead of waiting by the TV to watch the next MTV video premier or crying dry to get tickets to a concert/show, they are watching a group of guys flail about on stage, posse style with pants that are around their ankles and the other half are cutting off circulation to their upper halves with skinny jeans. Girls are in leotards and no one is putting together classic routines anymore. It's a lot of screaming and repetition.

The more I think about it and see shows like the recent MTV music awards the more I feel that our next generation is being robbed of good entertainment and may fail to understand the enlightened view of entertainment that us 70's and 80's babies had.

When I finally have kids they are going to get a solid dose of what REAL entertainment is like. I guess its off to watching broadway shows, live music and checking out Carnival when I can.

Hip-hop: Tryin' to make it or just playing 'the role'?

Sorry, I've been MIA, I've been out and about. I know, I know that's no excuse to neglect my three fans :). So last week, my good friend had his first solo performance at Blue Cafe in Long Beach. Let me start by saying it was interesting to say the least. I was pretty disappointed in the turnout but it was a small club in Long Beach on a Tuesday, so its unlikely that unless you know a performer that you're gonna show up. Sucky I know.

So I took some pictures, I figured I can make this like a quick picture diary to outline my experience at the show.

1) Phebian - OK I'm sad I don't have a pic of this girl, but I didn't realize I had the camera until later. WHAT THE HELL was going on here? This woman was a hot mess. Not only did her voice make me want to take shots, but her outfit made me want to buy her some new clothes. Her shirt wasn't so bad, a sheer animal print shirt, but she was wearing cut off shorts. Why are you wearing cut off shorts? Her dress code was not reminiscent of her singing style which is supposedly Rock/Electro/Neo-Soul, at least that's what she says. What it was, was a off-key crow singing on top of her song and not matchin' up the timing, walking around the stage like she wanted to be America's Next Top Model. I think she has the potential to maybe be good, but she needs direction and FAST, not to mention her lyrics were kind of like the poems that little girls write when they have young crushes at the age of 10. So many mixed messages with this performance, not to mention that there was no-one there for her, except one dude; who I suppose is either her boyfriend or someone who wants to get in her short shorts. Clean up your act lady....in the words of MTV...NEXT!

2) EazyBukks - Unfortunately his Myspace has been cancelled so I can't show you what he's all about, but I do have pics of this dude. Lyrics were that of a wannabe thug. The beats weren't that bad and eventually he had three guys on stage that was somewhat entertaining. I mean I wouldn't sign him but I wasn't running for the hills exactly. I mean I only needed to drink a cocktail to digest this, not shots.


3) Ego Tripp - First I think his name is stupid and while I can't really dogg his performance all that much, it wasn't something to write home about. To be perfectly honest, I don't really remember it all that much. I wasn't drinking so its not that, it just didn't stick out. I never heard myself saying damn he's good or the beats are tight. Everything was just mediocre. I mean did any of these people come here to put on a good show? DAMN!

Now for the main event!
Ok its the main event for me anyway. I came to support my long-time friend Proverb. I have heard him rap for years and can see his potential, but I can't lie when I say I don't know if it was a well-rounded performance. He didn't disappoint and he was by far the best of the night, but what does that say if everyone else isn't that good? Verb - if you're reading this: you're only as good as the company you keep and I know you know what I'm talking about. Its fine for a starter, but I expect to see bigger and better things from a man with your talent and potential.



4) Proverb - This was the most lively show by far. Almost everyone who was at the venue was there for this. A huge asset is having support, existing support tends to foster more support because other people find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in liking something new. The great thing about this performance is that he chose a variety of tracks to work from. While he started with a true hip-hop track, he mixed in a little comedy in there with 'sexy ladies, where your ugly girls at'. I think the crowd went through more than one emotion, showing that there was some depth in his performance. Being as unbiased as a can though, he needed a little something more. Proverb has a great presence, but you really have to put on a show to get people engaged. As many rap artists do, Verb brought a few of his 'homies' up on the stage to join him, however, they didn't add to the show. If ya'll are not gonna ad lib in the back and do nothing but sit there and bob to the music, you're not adding to my overall experience and that's just they way it is. Clearly, this wasn't the venue to pull out all the stops, but every performance should be a performance that counts!!!

5) Icky Green - Ok, so its hard to follow an act that gets the whole place rowdy and involved. Not to mention, this guy was from SD.

Sticky got on the stage with a drink in his hand very nonchalantly; after hearing the others I wasn't in positive mind. Then...Sticky begins...shit, he's pretty freakin' good. Its sad that he's from SD and doesn't really have any 'crew' with him, but he actually was a very good compliment to Proverb's show. Its too bad that everyone else made this place unbearable. I was surprised that I actually found myself enjoying this interesting dude named Sticky. He was also solo and went up on stage with a shirt and khakis like this was something he does when he gets out of bed in the morning, no pretense, just himself. He had his own unique way of performing. I would be interested to see him on stage with some acoustic instruments or something.

The final word...
One thing lacking in all the hip-hop performances was a hype man. Haven't ya'll learned from watching shows, watching a solo artist with nothing in the background in not a fun show. You need a DJ, hype man, band, dancers, whatever....I would say 1/2 the show is the performer and his/her skills and the other 1/2 is the performance...Put on a damn show, I want to smile, dance, laugh, bob my head!

Well I'll report from the next show I go to, but if all 'up and coming' artist shows are like this one, I understand why the music industry is not doing so great right about now. Yikes!