jimblr.com

YOU may have noticed a revolution going on in the Australian music scene. For the first time in years - arguably ever - the country’s most exciting bands aren’t thrashing out beer-splattered rock’n'roll; they’re making shimmering, danceable pop … and the public is loving it.
At the top of a pile that includes Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts and Sneaky Sound System sit Sydney duo the Presets. Their outstanding 2005 debut album, Beams, sold only “pretty moderately”, admits singer-synth maestro Julian Hamilton, yet having disappeared to work on the follow-up as cult heroes, they’ve returned as bona fide pop stars.
The second Presets album, Apocalypso, entered the ARIA charts at No.1 and remains in the top five after nearly two months, and they’ve already sold out their entire national tour. How did that happen?
“Well, I guess when we first started, like, the gay scene was into it or the real hipsters were into it,” Hamilton says. “But pretty quickly we noticed a lot of different faces in the audience. You know, you had the suburban kids, you had the goth kids, you had the surfer kids - all these different types of people. After a while we sort of realised, ‘Hey, this is kind of touching a bit of a nerve out there.’”
“We don’t hide our thing or keep it protected for certain people,” adds the other Preset, drummer Kim Moyes. “That completely goes against what I think is the best thing about music - bringing people together. It’s so corny but it’s true. You don’t make a record so that certain people can hear it and read Vice magazine to it; you make a record so that you can sell as many of them as possible and … that’s about it.”
Hamilton: “I hate going to shows where you look onstage and the person onstage looks way cooler than you; everyone’s dressed up, everyone’s got cool hair and you just think, ‘Oh shit.’ We wanted to do something a bit - not daggy but … I dunno. That’s why Kim and I try to clown around in our videos or in our photo shoots or jump around like fools onstage - because we wanna try and encourage people to do the same thing.”

smh.com.au

Luna is the Latin word for moon. It’s the name of a Roman goddess. It’s also the name of the only alternative dance music club in the Royal Oak area.
Luna, which sits smack dab on the corner of Main Street and 12 Mile, has a character that says, “Come on in and party.” It’s an unpretentious club, allowing its 21-and-older crowd to dress down as much as they want. There are celestial designs painted directly on black walls, a nice-sized bar that gives off a warm red glow and a sexy wait staff to attract drinkers. Scattered around the room are intimate booths that seem to float off the floor, and a railing with seating that borders the ample dance floor, complete with a smoke machine and light show.
Last weekend, as the moon was gearing up for its monthly full phase, Friday night at Luna featured the hot live band Between the Lines and a DJ playing tunes from the ’80s for a moderate crowd working off the workweek.
This past Friday night, the dance floor wasn’t always crowded. Sometimes, there was a smattering of ladies dancing with each other, with a few fellas occupying floor space. Mostly, guys were huddled near the bar or around the two pool tables. Couples or small groups filled up tables and booths.
Still, the band was pure entertainment. Cranking out such tunes as Pat Benatar’s “Heart Breaker” or “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” drew those ’80’s music fans onto the floor. They even performed Seal’s “Crazy,” and lead singer Gina Abruzzo did the song great justice.
More often than not, there were two ladies who lived on the dance floor this night. They were Karen Wasielewski, 36, of Royal Oak and Anne Murphy, 33, of Ann Arbor, best friends who love to dance.

detnews.com

“It was like a game, because practically none of us were musicians,” recalls Robles. The boys holed up in all-night rehearsals for their first gig at the Durango fair, and “he taught us how to play and sing in 15 days.” What had been a hobby just a couple weeks earlier turned in a musical career, with tours throughout Mexico and then a record deal with American Show Latin. The label became a potent sales force in the U.S. this year via a distribution deal with Universal’s Machete Music.
Ponzoña Musical has had two albums on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart since last year. Having just wrapped a tour of the Midwest and East Coast, its first charting single “Tal Vez” reached No. 35 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart”.
“Three and a half years ago we were in school and we didn’t imagine what we’d be doing. It’s really cool,” says Robles, whose band’s name translates to “musical venom.” Why such a tough-sounding name for a squeaky-clean group whose single sounds like a ’50s pop confection with a tuba? Durango state is known for its scorpions, which many musical groups from the area have adopted as a symbol.

billboard.com

Comprehensive listings for galleries, plays, music, and other happenings in the area.
APRIL VACATION WEEK EVENTS
Easton: Children’s author and concert, Ames Free Library, 53 Main St. April 25, 11 a.m.-noon, children’s entertainer Wayne Potash performs a blend of folk, bluegrass, pop, and blues music from his recordings “Yodel for a Fish” and “Don’t Forget the Donut.” Free. 508-238-2000.
Norwell: South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Lane. The center has a nature store and six walking trails; interactive indoor exhibits include the EcoZone, which incorporates animals in a re-creation of their natural habitat. Every Saturday at 10 a.m., feed an animal Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 24-25, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Vacation Week Ecolympics! for grades K-2. Explore the “champions” of nature through hands-on activities and outdoor explorations in the Science Center woods or at Jacobs Pond. April 24, Plant Power; April 25, Great Forces of Nature Our Wonderful Earth; April 24-25, 9:30 a.m.-noon, “Earth Day, Every Day,” programs for ages 3 1/2-5; April 24, “Volcanoes, Lava and Rocks, Oh, My!” April 25, “Who Needs Dirt?” Drop-in Vacation Week Programs for grades 3-5, 9:30 a.m.-noon: April 25, “It’s Arbor Day, so Hug a Tree!” learn why trees are important and how to tell the difference between a maple and an oak. $35 per child per day. Vine Hall gallery: Through May 17, “Hedda - A Retrospective,” tribute to local artist who painted subjects and landscapes in varied mediums, many of which included the Jacobs Farm area. Also on display are paintings never seen, photographs by her son, Andrew Zona, and wood pieces by nephew Richard Friberg. The center also features a nature preschool and function room. $5, $3 children older than 2. 781-659-2559, ssnsc.org.
Plymouth: Plimoth Plantation comes alive during vacation week when activities for children and adults are free with admission. Programs include: Colonial games, working with rare-breed animals, building a monarch butterfly way station, working with deerskin, and more. April 24-25, 8-9 a.m., “A Morning With Rare Breed Animals,” help with morning chores and see the care and training of the exhibit animals and agriculture in the 1627 English village. April 24-25, 1 p.m., “Game On - Colonial Style!” play 17th-century games with museum staff, at Colonial Education Site. $10 fee. Ages 5 and up. April 24, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., “Fish and Fun,” an opportunity to experience traditional Native fun. Tickets: plantation only $24, $19 seniors, $14 ages 6-12; with tour of Mayflower $28, $22 seniors and students, $18 ages 6-12, free age 6 and younger. Mayflower II only: $10, $7 seniors and students, $7 ages 6-12. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org.

boston.com

Mikal Blue’s new album is titled “Gold,” but the Los Angeles singer-songwriter and producer has already gone platinum — with another artist. Last year, Blue produced Malibu singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat’s platinum-selling debut album, “Coco,” and its debut single, “Bubbly,” which exploded last year on Myspace.com. The 22-year-old Caillat (the daughter of Fleetwood Mac co-producer Ken Caillat) had been singing in clubs, but within a year she became a star.
Everything the British-born, Beatles-loving Blue touches seems to turn to gold. He has worked with a growing flock of successful artists, among them Augustana, One Republic, Save Ferris, Brendan James and Five for Fighting. His gift for songwriting and shaping talented artists into hit makers has made him one of L.A.’s hottest producers.
Blue, who grew up in Newcastle, England, arrived in L.A. about 10 years ago after living in the Greek Isles, Austrian Alps and Aspen, Colo.
With his own album “Gold,” Blue is now enjoying his own solo success after years of developing the music of others. The title single of his new album, released this week on the Immergent label, was featured on the TV drama “October Road.” Not giving up on one’s dreams is a common theme in his music. Blue recently did a short, East Coast tour, but plans to return to the road this summer.
On what made Colbie Caillat so alluring: It was all about her voice. It was just so comforting to listen to. It has such a deep, smooth tone. It falls somewhere between Sade and Karen Carpenter. It’s just so appealing to listen to.
On the power of Myspace in promoting new music: Colbie and I wrote this song, “Feelings Show,” together, and I said to her, “Post a bulletin right now (on Caillat’s Myspace page) that we’re working on new a song … and that we’ll be putting it up tonight at about 10:30.” We raced like crazy that day to get it done and when we put the song up, we watched the messages come in. It was crazy how fast the numbers went up. … (With Myspace) you can see which songs people love and which songs are the singles.

seattlepi.nwsource.com

IT’S 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, and shooting for the day is winding down. Film director Jay Will and his crew have occupied the Fort Clarence beach for 12 hours, shooting the Jamaican leg of Shaggy’s Feel The Rush, a theme song for UEFA, governing body of European football.
It hasn’t been the easiest of days; heavy winds and mini sand storms force delays and adjustments. But the 29-year-old Jay Will is up to the task.
He issues directives in a no-nonsense manner.
If there are complaints from production crew, they fall on unsympathetic ears. Jay Will has a vision which goes, for the most part, uninterrupted.
“We’re gonna set up over there until the lunch is ready,” he assures a somewhat reluctant worker.
The lunch break, at which time he promises to break for an interview, has been two hours in coming. And when he does sit down to eat, it is mere seconds later that he turns away from his meal. His is an intentness of purpose that could easily be misconstrued as arrogance.
But it is a winning approach, as far as Shaggy is concerned. This is the deejay’s fifth video with Jay Will who was responsible for Bonafide Girl, Church Heathen and Broadway.
In February, Church Heathen won a Reggae Academy Award for Best Music Video.
“As dysfunctional as it is, Jay and I have a successful chemistry. He gives me more trouble than any other director, but I respect his creativity,” says Shaggy. “We have mutual chemistry; he’s a very talented director.”
As the talented one sits over his uneaten meal, he explains that, “Majority of the times I come up with the concept (for a music video) and if the artiste presents one, I still always add my touch to it,” he said.
Artistic licence perhaps earned by directing over 80 music videos, and that’s in Jamaica alone. It would seem that producing concepts for so many songs would be a task, but Jay Will explains that ‘it is a gift’.

jamaica-gleaner.com

A COLLEGE TUITION ASSISTANCE SEMINAR will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Multipurpose Room of Tek Park, 9999 Hamilton Blvd., Breinigsville. Representatives from colleges, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Army ROTC program, and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) will attend. Financial aid experts from Lehigh Carbon Community College, Kutztown University, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Lafayette College will also be available. Details about grant and loan programs will be offered, including forms and when to apply. For information, or reservations, call Rep. Doug Reichley at 610-965-9933; or Rep. Carl Mantz 800-770-8114 or Rep. Pat Browne at 610-821-8468.
IN THE ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT a public hearing on the renovations and addition for Allen High School will be held 7 p.m. April 2. Anyone wishing to speak during the meeting or to submit written testimony should contact board secretary Debra DeCaro at 484-765-4266 before March 26. The project booklet will be available for inspection at Allen, 126 N. 17th St., and at the district’s Administration Building, 31 S. Penn St.
THE DIERUFF HIGH SCHOOL BAND will perform at Carnegie Hall at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as part of the New York City Wind Band Festival. The group will join the Allentown Marine Band in a ‘’side-by-side performance” later that evening at 7 p.m. at Allentown Symphony Hall.

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SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT ON FRIDAY
A pick-up truck collided with a Bibb County School bus on Friday afternoon, sending 11 Westside High School students to the hospital. The accident occurred at Old Columbus Road & Interstate Drive. According to the Telegraph, the driver of the bus, and the pick-up truck driver, also were taken to the hospital. None of the injuries in the crash were life threatening. 72 year-old pick-up truck driver Sig Dayan was cited for failing to yield the right of way.
WILDFIRE SEASON RUNS THROUGH MAY
We’ve entered Georgia’s wildfire season which runs from February through May. With below average rainfall expected over the next few months, the Georgia Forestry Commission reminds you that you need a permit to burn. Last year’s wildfires in Georgia lasted two months and burned over 600,000 acres.
CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL TICKETS AVAILABLE
Tickets for the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival went on sale Saturday. The festival is just over four weeks away. You can buy tickets at the Cherry Blossom Gift Shop located at 577 Mulberry Street in downtown Macon. Ticket’s are $5 for the Balloon Fest, and for the Street Party; Tour of Homes tickets are $20. It’s $30 for the Fashion Show & Luncheon; and $50 per ticket for the Gala Ball.
MACON MUSIC OPENER ON MAY 15TH
Remember the excitement of the 2007 baseball season in Macon? Well, the Macon Music return to Luther Williams on Thursday, May 15th to open the 2008 season. The boys of summer will play an 84 game season that runs from mid-May through mid-August. New this year, all tournament games will be played right here in Macon.
In a related story, The Macon Music Baseball Team has announced that 2007 Opening Day Pitcher Damian Moss is getting a shot in the Atlanta Braves organization. Moss signed a minor league contract and was invited to Braves Spring Training in Orlando.
MAGA FESTIVAL IS A SUCCESS
The Macon Film & Video Festival, known as MAGA, sold out its final day on Sunday, according to the Telegraph. The festival began on Thursday evening with a documentary on Otis Redding and ended Sunday night with an Allman Brothers Film. At the conclusion of those films, Macon Mayor Robert Reichert presented keys to the city, one in honor of Zelma Redding, and the other to Mama Louise Hudson, who cooked for the Allman Brothers at H & H during the Brothers’ heyday.
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY’S PRESIDENT DIES
The longtime president of Georgia State University in Atlanta has died. Noah Langdale is credited with taking the school from two buildings to a major university in 31 years at the helm. Under his leadership, Georgia State went from 5,200 students to over 22,000, and from a budget of less than $2 million to over $118 million, now offering over 50 degrees in 200 fields. President Langdale was 87.
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER VISITS MACON
Georgia Congressman John Lewis spoke to a crowd of over 100 people at Macon’s Tubman African Museum on Friday Night. Lewis was in the news recently for switching his allegiance from presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, to Barak Obama. Lewis told the group in Macon that he’ll have an important announcement in the next few days.
FALLEN SOLDIER IS REMEMBERED
A Georgia soldier who was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb was remembered in LaGrange on Saturday. Sergeant Corey Spates died on February 10th in the Diyala Province. According to the Telegraph, hundreds of people lined the 10 mile route from the church to cemetery. Corey’s family & church friends recently sent 168 boxes of school supplies to Iraq at his request for local school children.

macon.tv