To bear it, we have to endure it, so why not embrace it...Holiday music during the Holidaze.
While there's always room for another go round of 'Chestnuts Roasting on the Open Fire,' Nat King Cole-style, we're happy to hear some new and interesting takes on Christmas classics.
So in the Spirit of a South Park Christmas (aka Jesus vs. Frosty), welcome to the non-inaugural Christmas Cage match between Floridian rock goddesses CASSADEE POPE of Hey Monday and SIERRA KUSTERBECK of VersaEmerge.
In this corner from West Palm Beach, FL, Ms Pope weighs in with a scintillating version of "Oh, Holy Night":
"Oh, Holy Night" will be on a 4-song HEY MONDAYCHRISTMAS EP releasing December 6, which will also contain an original Holiday song called "Without You," another called "Mixtape for Christmas" and a b-side from Beneath It All entitled "Shafted".
And in this corner, from St. Petersburg, FL (which, by the way, once soaked up a Guinness-certified 768 straight days of sunshine), Ms Kusterbeck seduces St Nick with a sinisterly sultry SANTA BABY:
SANTA BABY will be released as a digital single on December 20th.
Hopefully, VE will soon release an official version of their gnarly version of "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch":
Tough call on the Christmas cage match but looks as if the highly impartial judges have declared a technical sunshine state knockout on behalf of both versions rendering a split decision.
Guess a coin coated in bronzer will get flipped to decide the winner whom will go on to battle the victor of the fight night undercard of Jesus versus St. Nicholas:
Here's some bite-sized bark to nibble on while immersing oneself in the glory of Christmas forevermore:
Saint Nicholas, also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker.
He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Mmmm..."Sierra Sinterklaas" evokes a sumptuous syncopation of versa. Imagining it emanating from the thorax of the Lorax, its supple symbiotic syntax makes the mind's eye relax.
Ms Sinterklaas shares her resolutions and deranged DREAMZ for 2012...
Two-time Grammy® winner SCOTT WEILAND finds inspiration from the iconic songs and singers of Christmases past, putting his signature baritone on some of his favorite holiday classics for THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR (Rhino Entertainment). The album also includes the singer’s own original holiday song, “Happy Christmas And Many More.”
The inception of THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR began two years ago when Weiland first performed “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” which is included on this album, on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”
The singer says Frank Sinatra’s legendary 1957 recording of the song, which featured an orchestra conducted by Gordon Jenkins, inspired his take on this sentimental favorite.
Similarly, the album is filled with lush orchestrations punctuated by horns and sweetened with strings, which were arranged by Michael Birnbryer and Jessica Catron respectively.
Weiland leads the musicians through timeless holiday standards made famous by the likes of Nat King Cole (“The Christmas Song”), Bing Crosby (“White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”), Perry Como (“Winter Wonderland”) and Andy Williams (“The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.”) The album was produced by Weiland and his longtime collaborator Doug Grean.
There are surprises as well, including a reggae version of “O Holy Night” complete with steel drums, a spritely “Silent Night” propelled by a bossa nova beat and a jazzy “What Child Is This?” where Weiland channels his inner Van Morrison.
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR is very much a passion project for Weiland. In his note accompanying the album, he writes: “I hope this music, a labor of love from all of ‘us,’ finds you and touches your heart and soul. For that was the purpose of it. Not just these fabulous musicians but moreover, it was the absolute intent of the original writers, players, and legendary icons from days long gone."
"I have to pause and wonder...whether it be Frank, Bing, or Nat King Cole himself. Are these times really so different? A lot of these tunes were written during times of strife within our country and, in fact, around the world. Whether it be the depression or wartime, when these Christmas messages were sent out to men & women of our armed services in a fox hole or hospital, just as today those brave souls who dare to give it all.”
SCOTT WEILAND THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
1. The Christmas Song
2. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
3. White Christmas
4. Silent Night
5. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
6. What Child Is This?
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Happy Christmas And Many More
10. O Holy Night
SCOTT WEILAND
TOUR DATES
Dec 07 - El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Dec 08 - Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA
Dec 13 - The Paramount, Huntington, NY
Dec 17 - City Winery, New York, NY
Dec 19 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
Dec 23 - Brixton, Redondo Beach, CA
Paramore.net has launched a PARAMORE SINGLES CLUB that is initially offering fans access to a trio of brand new tracks from the Franklin trio of PARAMORE forevermore (singer Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis & guitarist Taylor York).
Hayley elaborates, "This club is our way of getting these songs directly to the Paramore family. We really wanted to do something special for all of you around the holidays to thank you for making 2011 so amazing and sticking with us as we go into 2012 and start working on the new album."
The group launched the Singles series on October 10 with "Renegade," a Rob Cavallo-produced track that emerged from the Transformers: Dark of the Moon soundtrack sessions that birthed "Monster":
"Renegade" was unveiled live at Fueled By Ramen's 15th Anniversary Concert in NYC on September 7th:
"Hello Cold World" was introduced to the cold, cold world on November 7th with the final club track to be released in the mourning of December 5th.
"In The Mourning" was also performed during the same FBR15 concert. It features the Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac classic "Landslide" in the breakdown:
The trio of tracks being offered in the PARAMORE SINGLES CLUB are available EXCLUSIVELY at PARAMORE.NET rather than digital retailers such as iTunes or Amazon.
This new material may possibly also appear on the band's forthcoming follow-up to 2009's Brand New Eyes which is slated for release in early 2012.
DIGITAL SONGS + 7" BOX SET + T-SHIRT - $54.99
-Renegade MP3
-Hello Cold World MP3
-In The Mourning MP3
-limited-edition 7" box set
-'bars' t-shirt
-access to Singles Club-only merchandise
DIGITAL SONGS + 7" BOX SET - $39.99
-Renegade MP3
-Hello Cold World MP3
-In The Mourning MP3
-limited-edition 7" box set
-access to Singles Club-only merchandise
DIGITAL SONGS + T-SHIRT - $18.99
-Renegade MP3
-Hello Cold World MP3
-In The Mourning MP3
-'bars' t-shirt
-access to Singles Club-only merchandise
DIGITAL SONGS ONLY - $2.99
-Renegade MP3
-Hello Cold World MP3
-In The Mourning MP3
-access to Singles Club-only merchandise
PARAMORE
HELLO COLD WORLD
I feel happy, I feel sad
I feel like runnin' through the walls
I'm overjoyed, I'm undecided
I don't know who I am
Well, maybe I'm not perfect
At least I'm working on it
Twenty-two was like, the worst idea that I have ever had
It's too much pain, it's too much freedom
What should I do with this
It's not the way you plan it
It's how you make it happen
Yeah, it's how you make it happen
It's such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have
It's such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around
Hello cold world
Girls and boys keep lining up
To see if they can measure up
But they look good and they feel wild
But it will never be enough
You say you're really hurting, at least you're feeling something
We can hope and we can pray that everything will work out fine
But you can't just stay down on your knees
The revolution is outside
You wanna make a difference
Get out and go to get it
Whoa, get out and go to get it
It's such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have
It's such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around
Hello cold world
Don't need my eyes open, wide
I just wanna feel something
Such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have
It's such a cold, cold, world (hello cold world)
And it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around
Spins around
Hello cold world
Rock 'N Roll has always been illuminated by illusion that sometimes paints a pretty smiley face on delusion. Whether real or lubricated by grandeur, there now exists an inter-planetary cushion that has softened the distinction. Say hello to my little friend, the precipice of allusion.
Whereas there was, is and will always be one illusionary being forever known as Pink Floyd, there now exists a wave of identity opaqueness. Yes, Pink Floyd did signify the dawn of allusion and perhaps a prism to refract the current wave of sensory stimulation represented by the milieu of music meets mindful manipulation meets malleable minds.
But rather than steadfast illusions, artists are defining themselves by shades of color embodied by the use of phrases augmented by adjectives ameliorated by acronyms. And through it all, strings of words and strings of letters meant to signify strings of words are hanging by a heavy rope on the God forsaken precipice of one big hot mess.
So, when I say "Pretty Lights," am I referring to Derek Vincent Smith, the ground-breaking electronic music artist that goes by the moniker Pretty Lights and has a record label called Pretty Lights Music or am I referring to the attractive 24-year old Valerie Anne Poxleitner, a ground-breaking electronic music artist whom goes by Lights and has a record label called Lights Music?!?!
Let's not even contemplate what kind of nomenclature might be devised if these two sets of brightly lit Lights were to get married, whether literally or figuratively. Cue Deborah ("Debby") Anne Boone "You Light Up My Life" (Vincent & Valerie's Late Nite Ice Mix).
A litany of Back-rubs and Re-rubs could ensue
But which one's Pink?
At the El Rey Theatre in LA on Monday night, the pretty Lights sang, the pretty lights flashed, the pretty Lights sashayed and the pretty people swayed.
It was pretty passionate. It was pretty panache. It was pretty reckless.
But don't get me started on how The Pretty Reckless might fit into this Pretty Lights, pretty Lights ménage à trois. Valerie meet Taylor...
The Pretty Pretty Lights Lights.
Double your pleasure, triple your fun.
Sounds pretty reckless.
But which one's Pretty In Pink?
I've seen Lights a few times over the last few years and the ebullient joy that emanates from both the stage and given back by the exuberant crowds is more akin to a Sunday morning gospel revue...though one with a self-professed Doodle Jump video game nerd as the congregation's tattooed Saviour.
And quite impressive is this particular alpha Siberian savior's ability to sing, shimmy, sidestep, dubstep and play the synth all in one fluid motion amidst a swirling cavalcade of pulsting beats under the glow of a cascade of pretty lights.
Flowery prose aside, you can tell Valerie takes her art and the meticulous visualization of her craft very seriously.
She also takes her well-coifed hairdo very seriously as she continually (and effortlessly) flipped her hair to picture perfect placement over and over again.
And while I appreciate the attention to every single detail presented in every single glorified moment, when she truly let her inhibitions go during the "I'm off on my rope here. I'm off on my own here" outro chorus of "Where The Fence Is Low," I was impressed the most.
She courageously went for "it" and the fanatical crowd responded in kind.
Towards the end of her 75-minute set, a shower of chanting adulation, from an audience wielding pretty light sabers, went from "Encore, encore, encore" to "We want Lights, WE WANT LIGHTS".
Thankfully, the front-of-house engineer did not actually heed their cattle call and and give us actual "lights" thereby inducing a sweaty herd of tetrissed tigers and tigresses. These hungry Siberian saber cats were propulsive in pushing for more of the pretty lights imbuing the equally pretty Lights.
She responded with a roaring version of "Lions!" a song from her debut album The Listening which, musically, reminds me of the classic atmospheric soundscapes generated on U2's The Joshua Tree, and then a solo acoustic reading of fan-favorite "Cactus In The Valley".
Stripped bare of the beats and the pretty lights, it was pure.
It was pretty.
It was LIGHTS.
LIGHTS
EL REY THEATRE
LOS ANGELES, CA
NOV 7, 2011
1. Banner
2. Second Go
3. Ice
4. My Boots
5. River
6. Flux and Flow
7. Everybody Breaks A Glass
8. Heavy Rope (Acoustic)
9. Face Up
10. Siberia
11. The Last Thing On Your Mind
12. Suspension
13. Where The Fence Is Low
14. Saviour
15. Toes
ENCORE:
16. Lions!
17. Cactus In The Valley (Acoustic)
LIGHTS
Tour Dates
10/18/11 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
10/19/11 New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
10/21/11 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
10/22/11 Baltimore, MD - Sonar
10/24/11 Pontiac, MI - The Eagle Theater
10/25/11 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
10/26/11 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
10/28/11 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
10/29/11 St. Louis, MO - Cicero’s
10/30/11 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Music Hall
11/01/11 Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
11/02/11 Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
11/04/11 San Diego, CA - Soma
11/05/11 Mesa, AZ - Nile Theatre
11/07/11 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
11/08/11 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11/09/11 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
11/10/11 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
11/12/11 Victoria, British Columbia - 9 One 9
11/13/11 Kelowna, British Columbia - Kelowna Community Theatre
11/15/11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Vogue Theatre
11/17/11 Edmonton, Alberta - Edmonton Event Centre
11/18/11 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall
11/19/11 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Odeon Events Centre
11/20/11 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cumings Theatre
11/23/11 Ottawa, Ontario - Bronson Centre
11/24/11 Montreal, Quebec - Corona Theatre
11/25/11 Toronto, Ontario - Sound Academy
01/17/12 Quebec City, Quebec - Le Cercle
01/19/12 Fredericton, New Brunswick - The Market
01/20/12 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
01/21/12 Moncton, New Brunswick - The Capitol Theatre
(Thank you: Ashley @ Jian Ghomeshi Productions, Joan @ William Morris Endeavor, photographer Melissa Libertelli & James Zahn @ Kik Axe Music)
Hollywood, CA: Debuting Monday November 14, 2011 at the world-famous Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip, is ROCKSTARS & PIN-UPS, a unique multi-media event specifically created to cast a light on the best and brightest music, entertainment, fashion and performance art bubbling up in Los Angeles.
Co-produced by Pin-Up America Magazine, Hollywood Music Magazine and HeartChord Entertainment, this inaugural event will include a rising tide of Rockstars & Pin-ups at the helm and embodied within the bands of Evolove, Matt Toka, Valora and Melotia.
Spicing up the non-stop rock will be charismatic retorts by Master of Ceremony Jimmy Roc from You Ain’t Rock / Hollywood Music TV and a tantalizing performance by world-renown Miss Dakota’s Burlesque ALL Stars.
Lucy Levinsohn, singer for Evolove and President of HeartChord (pictured above), came up with the concept of Rockstars & Pin Ups while on tour this summer, "There is a whole Rock ‘N Roll Pin Up scene that has been bubbling for years and it seemed like a good time to expose our fans to it. I am so excited to have such great bands, dancers, and reputable sponsors behind the event."
This special engagement is presented by Pin Up America Magazine and Hollywood Music Magazine and will broadcast live by Radio Buzzed via their Ustream channel.
ROCKSTARS & PIN UPS is an All Ages event (free cover for 21+; $3 for under 21). Doors are at 8 PM.
The Roxy Theatre is located at 9009 West Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA. INFO / RSVP
ABOUT: 1888 MEDIA
Boutique Artist Development/Public Relations company guided by Industry veteran Rob Evanoff whom also publishes original content for the 1888 Media Matrix and is a Contributing Editor for Kik Axe Music (providing concert/event reviews).
3THIRTEEN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
An Entertainment Talent Agency based in Detroit, MI (the 313) dedicated to “Keep Live Music Alive!”. Provides booking representation for Evolove, Alien Ant Farm, 12 Stones, Edisun, Flight Case For Sushi, Machina, Quarterfly, The Black Rabbits & Vains of Jenna.
BURLESQUE ALL STARS
Led by Creative Director Miss Dakota aka Dakota Ferreiro, this talented troupe of talented features singers Aurore Joly, Claude Racine and Lanie Hoxie and dancers Jasmin Figueria, Alyssa Marquez, Alexa Anderson, Crystal Chin, Erica Keihl, Rachel Walker and Morgan Larson whom are accompanied by vocalist Francesca Vannucci. Musical Director for the ALL Stars is bassist Steve Pandis whom is joined by drummers Michael Duffy and Adam Gusta with accompaniment by saxophonists Walter Davis and Zane Musa.
EVOLOVE
This tightly-knit alt-rock quintet fronted by the charismatic Lucy Levinsohn continue to build on the national buzz garnered from being a finalist in last year’s Free Credit Score.com band search. With rave reviews of their new Breaking Heartstrings Ep matched by months of cross-country touring, it’s easy to see why Hot Topic designated Evolove as their “Unsigned Band of the Month” for Sept/Oct 2011.
HOLLYWOOD MUSIC
A multi-media enclave that’s home to HOLLYWOOD MUSIC TV, the world’s longest running online music TV network, and HOLLYWOOD MUSIC MAGAZINE, a monthly online magazine focused on the very best emerging talent worldwide.
JIMMY ROC
Publisher of You Ain’t Rock.com and Host of YAR TV. For the past five years, Jimmy has provided media coverage for Mayhemfest, Family Values & Ozzfest while interviewing everyone from Meshuggah to Ice-T with Body Count. Roc was recently the subject of a July 2011 Hollywood Music Magazine cover story and has also done live remote coverage for Revolver TV, Hollywoodmusic.tv and Thestream.tv.
MATT TOKA
Hailing from Youngstown, OH, Matt is currently working on Straight To Hell, his debut for Reprise Records, produced by Warner Bros Chairman Rob Cavallo whom has garnered International acclaim producing records for Green Day, Kid Rock, Paramore, Jawbreaker and My Chemical Romance. Matt’s new hard-hitting pop-punk single “Say10” is available now on iTunes.
MELISSA LIBERTELLI
Refracting the grit of New York City, the swagger of South Beach and the translucence of Hollywood through a visually trained eye, Ms. Libertelli is a young rising star permeating the City of Angels. At ease jostling for position in a stage front photo pit as titans like Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Muse or Rage Against The Machine rev up an arena or battling the congestion of sweaty crowd-surfing bodies during an Alkaline Trio, Glassjaw or Black Veil Brides concert, she liberates poetry in motion.
MELOTIA
Powered by Sydney Australia, singer/guitarist Ryan David, bassist John Maryanski and drummer Clark Skelton, this melodic hard rock trio is currently working on their third studio release In Valor And Virtue, a concept album inspired by the lives and experiences of two real-life U.S. servicemen from World War II. The full-length LP is being released in three 4-song blocks. Part I which includes the anthemic single/video “We Are The Chosen” is available now for free download at invalorandvirtue.com
MISS DAKOTA (FERREIRO)
Having garnered International acclaim over a 20-year Entertainment Industry career marked by high-profile appearances on Carson Daly, Showtime & Bret Michaels’ Rock of Love 2, Miss Dakota (Ferreiro) is an accomplished and renowned Burlesque Dancer/ Choreographer. Ms. Ferreiro currently serves as the Creative Director for the Burlesque ALL Stars, is the creator of the Burlesque Body Work Out and owns and operates DMA Productions, a full-service Talent Agency / Production company representing dancers, singers, aerialists, specialty acts, musicians, bands, DJs, Burlesque performers, Instructors, nail technicians & photographers.
PIN UP AMERICA
Home to both Pin Up America Magazine, a bi-monthly, full-color publication available at fine book retailers worldwide, and The Pin Up America Show, an online video show co-hosted by Burlesque Vixen, Contessa and Pinup Kitten, Judy Pop (broadcasted live every Thursday from 8-9PM EST), Pin Up America is dedicated to being the global leader in Pinup, Rockabilly & Burlesque!
RADIO BUZZD
Fully Licensed ASCAP, BMI & SESAC Online Radio Station and Ustream Broadcast partner delivering the Best in Rock & Metal Live From Los Angeles.
ROCK ME MAKEUP
Boutique line of Custom Cosmetics, Hand Blended Minerals, Custom Blended Foundation, Pro Artist Tools, Professional Applications, Unique Gifts. Boutique studio located in Camarillo, CA.
ROXY THEATRE
One of the country’s most legendary and influential music venues and a cornerstone of the world-famous Sunset Strip, The Roxy was opened on September 23, 1973 by Elmer Valentine and Lou Adler, along with original partners David Geffen, Elliot Roberts and Peter Asher. From the Roxy’s 1973 opening evening featuring Neil Young, to Bruce Springsteen’s now-classic 1975 performances, to being a regular hangout for John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper, Keith Moon & John Belushi, the history of The Roxy Theatre is paved with icons, whether it was Guns N’ Roses’ pre-stardom shows, Miles Davis, Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, or Paul Reubens, whom introduced his Pee-wee Herman character on the Roxy stage in 1981.
SADISTICEYE (LUSHES LIM)
Schooled in the Arts of Graphic Design and Photography, Cris Jan Lim unleashed his considerable visionary talents during the creation and design of the official Rockstars & Pin Ups poster/flyer. As a sought-after freelance artist, he has previously designed custom artwork for the band Evolove.
STOP STARING!
Established in 1997, Stop Staring! is the leader of original retro chic dresses and separates that flatter the figure and cater to a woman's independent spirit with timeless and classic styles at consistently affordable prices. Guided by Alicia Estrada, head designer and founder of the Stop Staring! Collection, the company’s original vintage inspired dresses and RTW outfits are sold in 1000s of boutiques all over the world and have been worn by celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse, Eva Mendes, Kelly Osbourne, Trisha Yearwood, Kat Von D, Zooey Deschanel, Meg White (White Stripes), Christina Aguilera, Rebecca De Mornay, Chloe Sevigney & Nicole Kidman.
VALORA
Valora is a six-piece hard rock band from Whittier, CA featuring electrifying front-woman Syd Duran whose powerful vocals and stage presence have catapulted the band from obscurity to national attention. Fueled by Syd’s breakout guest vocal performance on Breaking Benjamin's Top 10 Active Rock single "Blow Me Away," all tides are rising high as Alt Press named Valora one of the “100 bands you need to know for 2011” while Revolver Magazine recently christened Ms. Duran as one of the “Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock”:
SKYLAR GREY was at war with herself...And now she's Coming Home.
Left needing A Doctor is the meek, long, brown-haired singer/songwriter Holly Brook whom was on the losing end of an epic struggle dramatically visualized for posterity:
In short, Skylar domineeringly confronts Holly telling her
I Want To Dance Without You
Ms. Brook violently shakes and convulses and tries to retain control of herself, but she is rendered helpless by an invincible cult of personality as SKYLAR GREY triumphantly emerges in all her newfound dark princess glory.
She was Born This Way.
Millions already know her or at least her voice.
I, like Producer extraordinaire Kaskade as he surmised in a recent promo video for his brilliant new double album Fire & Ice, first heard the voice of an angel in the sullen piano-powered intro of Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home".
It sounded as if she was singing right into my ear. Her timbre resonated deeply.
And then, once you discover that she has either co-written (most likely the song's hook) or contributed vocals to a growing list of massive hits including "Love The Way You Lie" (Eminem/Rihanna), "I Need A Doctor" (Dr. Dre/Eminem) "Words I Never Said" (Lupe Fisco), “Castle Walls” (T.I. & Christina Aguilera), "Where'd You Go" (Fort Minor) and a killer new collaboration with the aforementioned Kaskade on "Room For Happiness," your consciousness is assaulted with the comet-like trajectory of a shooting star through the trees.
She's also recently penned a reverential Zombie-soaked track with Marilyn Manson called "Can't Haunt Me". It's set to appear on her forthcoming debut album INVINSIBLE of which the title track was just remixed AND video-remixed by Dirty South:
Needless to say, soon enough the re-born Ms. Brook will no longer be invisible as THOSE millions that have heard THAT voice will put a pretty face to it.
I've been fortunate to have seen her perform live a few times this year including at The Grammy Awards during the Eminem/Dr Dre/Rihanna medley (Skylar comes in at 4:09)
And I was on hand a month ago for a special Grammy/NARAS member-only event at their Producers & Engineers Wing in Santa Monica. Skylar was joined by Alex Da Kid whom is producing INVINSIBLE (it's being released on his KIDinaKORNER imprint through Interscope Records) and whom exploded onto the scene as the magic mechanic behind "Airplanes" by B.o.B and Hayley Williams.
Kid N Grey (not to be confused with Kid N Play) engaged in a spirited Q&A session with DJ Skee before she took to the piano to do a solo rendition of her smash-hit resume. Here's a similar performance taped at a radio station:
And tonight, I'm looking forward to her sold-out show at The Roxy in Hollywood. Between it being her debut LA performance as Skylar Grey and the sheer number of expected VIPs on hand, it should be one for the ages.
Here's some clips from her first ever show as doppelganger Ms. Grey at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on July 28, 2011:
She played songs from INVINSIBLE including "Building A Monster" "Beautiful Nightmare" "Dance Without You" "Tower" Creep" "Weirdo" "Final Warning" before finishing with a 13-minute medley that seams together "Can't Haunt Me", "Zombie" (Cranberries), "Coming Home" (Diddy-Dirty Money), "Words I Never Said" (Lupe Fisco), "I Need A Doctor" (Dr Dre) & "Love The Way You Lie" (Eminem/Rihanna):
Where there was once a babbling brook of words never said, now a deep dark reservoir of conciliatory water is set to boil over.
So while Holly Brook contemplates an invisible bad romance with label mate Stefani Germanotta, the rest of the world best be ready for the baby blue skies of pop culture to turn Grey.
