As Seen On Blogcritics – Page 10

Backstage with ‘American Idol’s’ James Durbin

Hours before the Top 11 from American Idol season 10 took the stage at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, I had the opportunity to talk with a certain Idol contestant that was extremely excited and happy to be back in his neck of the woods.

Santa Cruz native, James Durbin and I sat down backstage for a pre-show chat, where he discussed getting the crowd up and on their feet during the tour, writing and recording for his album, and the episode of Idol that neither of us will be forgetting anytime soon.

So how does it feel to be performing in the Bay Area?

It feels great. We did Oakland last night, and that was insane. I’m really excited for tonight.

It has to be a cool feeling to have tried out for the show in San Francisco, and have this full circle kind of moment.

This place, HP Pavilion, I came to my very first sporting event here. It was the Sharks versus the Avalanche. I was five-years-old, packed arena, and out of every single person, my one seat, I won a CD player. And then a hockey puck got hit over [the barrier] and landed right next to me. Unfortunately the Sharks lost, but two out of three things ain’t bad.

I’ve been here so many times. I’ve seen countless wrestling shows here. I once waited for three hours and climbed on top of that cement wall to catch a glimpse of Chris Jericho. Now I have him on speed dial. We were just texting and he’s in Europe with his band touring. We went and saw Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Poison, and Motley Crue, and hang out all the time. It’s so crazy, it’s a full swing.

Very cool. Have you been able to get back to Santa Cruz while you’re here, or does everyone kind of have to come to you?

Everyone’s had to come here. I’m dying to go to Socrates and get a sandwich, but unfortunately not, which really sucks. It’s a twenty minute cab ride. I could grab lunch and come back.

So, how has the tour been going so far with the handful of shows you’ve done so far?

This will only be our sixth show out of forty-seven. It already feels like it’s been awhile, but it’s only been a blink. But, it’s gone really good; every show’s been great. Everyone’s been really receptive, everyone’s there to have a good time. Sometimes they need to be reminded that they’re supposed to have a good time. A lot of people have been sitting down.

You know, I’ve gone to a handful of Idol tours, and sometimes people treat the live show like they’re at home watching y’all on TV, instead of embracing the vibe of being at a concert.

I know some people get agitated if people are standing up, Sit down! We’re trying to watch the show! It’s a concert; you’re supposed to stand up! We enjoy it when you stand. That’s why when I come out for my set, I come out through the crowd. I want people to stand up! Stand up! Try and find me!

Continue reading Backstage with ‘American Idol’s’ James Durbin

Concert Review >> American Idols Live! in San Jose, CA 07.13.2011

This week the American Idols Live! tour rolled through San Jose, CA to the delight of the masses who showed up to see one particular Santa Cruz native by the name of James Durbin. Just the mere mention of his name at the top of the show by season 10 runner-up, Lauren Alaina, resulted in an eruption of cheers from the crowd.

And I must say that Durbin didn’t disappoint. He appeared in a couple group numbers during the first half of the show, but it was his entrance for his two-song set that had the audience at the HP Pavilion on its feet.

Entering from the back of the building wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey, singing Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’Mine,” Durbin shook hands as he made his way up to the stage. Towards the end of the song he held his microphone out to the audience and, without any real prodding, they sang the chorus back to him. I have to hand it to Durbin. He’s charismatic, has great stage presence, and absolutely relished every moment of his solo performance, wherein he took the time to thank the fans for voting for him and for the overall support he received from the Bay Area.

But Durbin wasn’t the only Idol who amped up the crowd. Paul McDonald got the people on their feet in the first half of the show during his lively performance of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May.” Naima Adedapo’s rousing rendition of Jennifer Lopez’s current hit, “On The Floor,” complete with an African dance break, was one of the most well-received performances of the night.

Continue reading Concert Review >> American Idols Live! in San Jose, CA 07.13.2011

Javier Colon Discusses His Time On ‘The Voice’

It was during the April 26, 2011 premiere episode of The Voice, which featured the blind auditions, where the audience met husband, father, and phenomenal singer Javier Colon. Colon’s voice impressed all four coaches, Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton, so much that they all turned their chairs around during his initial performance. Colon decided to make Team Adam his home for the remainder of the competition.

Colon survived the battle round and went through to the Top 16, where his performance of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” was a highlight of the performance night. During the Top 8, he put a modern twist on Coldplay’s “Fix You,” which would help ensure his spot representing Team Adam in the finals.

In the end, there was only a two percent difference in the voting margin between Colon and Team Blake artist, Dia Frampton. After over two months of hard work, dedication, and singing “Landslide” with Stevie Nicks on live television, Colon was announced the as the winner of The Voice season one.

The morning after his big win, Colon participated in a conference call with the press where he discussed what advice Adam Levine imparted on him during the show, his reaction to finding out he’d be singing with Stevie Nicks, and what winning means for him and his family.

When speaking about how he was going to approach the blind auditions on The Voice, Colon said that he went into it “pretty open,” and that he would have been happy on any of the coaches’ teams.

Continue reading Javier Colon Discusses His Time On ‘The Voice’

American Idol’s Pia Toscano Signs With Interscope Records

It was announced this week that American Idol season 10 contestant Pia Toscano has been signed to Interscope Records. This is great news for Idol fans that were absolutely enraged about Toscano’s early elimination during this past season’s competition.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Interscope and 19 Recordings family,” Toscano said in a press release. “Jimmy Iovine was an amazing mentor during my time on Idol and I’m looking forward to working with him and everyone at Interscope Records and 19 Recordings. This is a dream come true.”

Toscano’s debut single, “This Time” is set to be released digitally next Tuesday, July 12. The song was written by Esther Dean, who has written tracks for such artists as Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, and Katy Perry. The “acoustic guitar and beat-driven” track is said to be only a taste of what fans can expect off of Toscano’s debut album, which is slated to be released later this year.

Fans will be able to hear the singer perform “This Time” during the American Idols Live! Tour, which kicks off tonight at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.

For more information on Pia Toscano, check out her official website. To find out when the American Idols Live! Tour is coming to your town this summer, check out American Idol’s official website.

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

Music Review >> NKOTBSB – ‘NKOTBSB’

Last summer while the New Kids on the Block were wrapping up their latest tour at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, they surprised their audience by bringing out the Backstreet Boys. singing “I Want It That Way.” A handful of months later, it was announced that the two boy bands would be joining forces on a full-fledged tour.

Before heading out on their current summer tour, the supergroup came together to release a joint collection of greatest hits as chosen by their fans called NKOTBSB. The album consists of five New Kids on the Block songs, five Backstreet Boys songs, two all-new tracks, “All In My Head” and “Don’t Turn Out the Lights (D.T.O.T.L.),” and a mash-up of both groups’ hits.

Overall, I think this greatest hits album is a fantastic mix of hit songs from both groups. The only change I would make is to swap out Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life” for their lead single off their Black And Blue LP, “The Shape of My Heart.”

As much as I love both of these groups’ greatest hits, the standout track for me on this set is the collective NKOTBSB single, “Don’t Turn Out the Lights (D.T.O.T.L.).” Written by the song’s producer, Emanuel Kiriakou, along with Claude Kelly, and Jess Cates, it’s one of the best-written pop songs that I have heard in awhile. The track earned an A- from Entertainment Weekly’s Sandra Gonzalez, who said NKOTBSB “reclaim their reputation for creating perfect, infectious pop tunes with this danceable debut single.” I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re a fan of both of these groups, the NKOTBSB album is basically a dream come true.

NKOTBSB is available now. For more information and current tour dates for NKOTBSB, check out their official website.

NKOTBSB Track listing

1. Step By Step – New Kids On The Block
2. I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
3. You Got It (The Right Stuff) – New Kids On The Block
4. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
5. Please Don’t Go Girl – New Kids On The Block
6. As Long As You Love Me – Backstreet Boys
7. Hangin’ Tough – New Kids On The Block
8. Larger Than Life – Backstreet Boys
9. I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) – New Kids On The Block
10. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) – Backstreet Boys
11. All In My Head – NKOTBSB
12. Don’t Turn Out The Lights (D.T.O.T.L.) – NKOTBSB
13. NKOTBSB Mash Up

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

Concert Review >> Funeral Party Kick off Panic! At the Warfield in S.F.

Last week, Funeral Party played the Warfield in San Francisco as a part of Panic! at the Disco’s ongoing tour. The LA-based band played six songs off their debut album, The Golden Age of Knowhere, which was released earlier this year.

Funeral Party kicked off their set in front of a sea of people with the title track from their album. The audience seemed to respond excitedly to the energetic band, led by lead vocalist, Chad Elliott.

Elliott comes off as a passionate, yet seemingly full of angst type front man. He did a great job pumping up the restless (and for those in the pit, swaying) San Francisco audience by telling them that they “looked more badass” than their hometown crowd from the previous night’s show in L.A., which provoked a loud round of cheering from the room.

The band performed a nice cross section of songs from their album, including “Car Wars” and “New York Moves to the Sound of L.A.,” but it was their lead single, “Finale” that got the collective audience moving and clapping along the moment the song started.

Looking back on the night of music as a whole, I found that this tour seemed to be a really good fit and great exposure for a band that’s just released their first album, such as Funeral Party. This was my first experience at a Panic! At the Disco show, but from what I could tell, they seem to appeal to a wide range of music listeners. There were guys and girls from high school ages on up through college, including a handful of adults that could be seen rocking out on the floor the whole night.

Also, performing alongside a band like Panic! At the Disco allows Funeral Party to take cues on what works when performing for a large audience. For instance, I think engaging with the crowd is really important and has a hand in holding their attention for the remainder of a band’s set. I think if the band figures out what songs they can get the audience more involved in that they’ll be a pretty unstoppable live act.

Overall, the whole night was filled with great music courtesy of Funeral Party, fun., and Panic! At the Disco, and is hands down the best tour I’ve attended so far this year.

Funeral Party is on tour with Panic! At the Disco through Wednesday, June 29. For more information on the band, check out their official website.

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

Music Review >> Matt Nathanson – ‘Modern Love’

Dear summer, your soundtrack has arrived. This week marks the welcomed return of Matt Nathanson with his latest effort, Modern Love.

The San Francisco-based Nathanson took a year-long break from touring to work on his seventh album with his longtime collaborator, Mark Weinberg. Drawing influence from such bands as Depeche Mode, AC/DC and Talking Heads, Modern Love is a striking move forward from the singer-songwriter.

“We started with the idea of keeping a groove steady the whole way through a song,” Nathanson stated in a press release about the album. “I wanted things to breathe and hang off these songs in a way that defied the fact that they were written on an acoustic guitar.”

The lead single, “Faster,” really took me by surprise at first, because it is such a departure from “C’mon Get Higher” and the other material from Nathanson’s previous album, Some Mad Hope. The song really grabbed my attention, and it left me feeling excited about the direction in which he is taking his music.

Songs like “Mercy” and the album’s title track are guaranteed live show sing-a-longs. Both burst with such an energy which makes them perfect additions to any listener’s summer playlists.

Other standouts include “Run,” which features Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, and “Room At the End of the World.” In particular, “Run” shows the singer-songwriter’s sexier, romantic side. Its opening lyrics, “I wanna watch you undress, I wanna watch you glow, let hair down, all around, and cover us both,” are just the tip of the intimate iceberg. While I feel like it could have been recorded by just Nathanson alone, the combination of his vocals with Nettles’ elevates the song’s overall chemistry and emotional connection.

I really like “Room At the End of the World” because it has a bit of an anthemic feel to it, and I can’t wait to see how it translates onstage during a live show. If you have ever had the opportunity to see Nathanson perform live, then you know that he has a very charismatic stage presence which leads to quite the enamored audience.

With a bigger sound combined with provocative lyrics, Modern Love will be the album this summer that moves people to sing-a-long, to dance, and to be good to one another.

Modern Love is available now. For more information on Matt Nathanson, check out his official website.

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

The Voice: Alison Haislip Talks Twitter, Contestants, and Coaches

Last week, NBC’s The Voice kicked off the third stage of it’s vocal competition with the live shows. This week we find out which two members from Team Blake and Team Christina advance, as well as see Team Adam and Team Cee Lo take the stage for the first time during the live show.

Alison Haislip, The Voice’s Social Media Correspondent spoke with the press last week about how her role on the show is changing now that The Voice has gone live, how important it is for the contestants to connect with their fans via social media, and what she thinks about the reports on the lack of critiquing from coaches Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Haislip has a unique opportunity as the show’s Social Media Correspondent to connect with fans through Twitter and other social media outlets as a way to encourage their participation in building The Voice contestants’ individual fan bases, connecting with the contestants, and most importantly, voting. Haislip feels like the excitement to participate has grown, since fans realize that they can get their questions/comments shown on the air.

Continue reading The Voice: Alison Haislip Talks Twitter, Contestants, and Coaches

Tim Halperin Discusses The Making of “The Last Song” Music Video

There have been a few extremely talented former American Idol contestants that have faded away from the spotlight after appearing on the show. For former contestants to stay on the fans’ radar, they have to really make a concerted effort, which is exactly what season 10 Top 24 contestant, Tim Halperin has been doing.

A lot of things have happened since I last spoke with Halperin earlier this year. He released “The Last Song” as a free mp3 download right after his run on Idol ended, which led to a unique opportunity with radio DJ, Kidd Kraddick. In between going on his Piano Tour and participating in Kidd Kraddick’s “Idol Got It Wrong” competition, Halperin raised $8,000 via Kickstarter to fund the intriguing and visually stunning music video for “The Last Song,” which premiered on June 6.

Watch Halperin’s music video for “The Last Song” below, and then check out my extensive Q&A session with the singer-songwriter which took place earlier this week about the making of “The Last Song” music video, his participation in “Idol Got It Wrong,” and what he thought about this season’s American Idol results.

How long ago did you actually write “The Last Song,” and how did it come to be the song to kick off your post-Idol journey with?

I wrote “The Last Song” about a year and a half ago. I was about three months out of a long term relationship, and I kind of came to that point where I was resolved to move. It’d come to that point where a lot of time you’ll see things or remember certain memories about that other person. Every day you’ll see certain things. So, it kind of got through that for a couple months, and I was finally ready to move on. I had that line going through my head, “This is the last song I’ll write for you,” because after being with someone for quite awhile you tend to write a lot of music about them. I had that line in my head and just started filling out different lyrics and different ideas for it.

That was one of the first songs that we recorded on my full length CD that will come out in the fall. It just turned out really well, and I think that that song gives people a good picture of who I am, and also that my music is very honest and straightforward. I like to throw all my emotions on the table, because I think people can relate best to honest music. That was kind of why I put it out first after American Idol. If you’re an Idol fan that maybe hasn’t heard my music before, you’ll get a good glimpse of who I am as a songwriter.

Did you always intend to turn “The Last Song” into a music video?

No, I hadn’t really thought about doing a music video. When I gave “The Last Song” out for free, in that first week it had almost 5,000 downloads. People really seemed to latch onto it, and it started getting radio play with this radio DJ in Dallas, Kidd Kraddick. It actually got enough radio play to put it on the Top 200 radio show, and it actually hit 148 a few weeks ago, which is really cool.

So I was like, “Man, people really relate to this song,” and so I called my buddy who did my music video for “She Runs” about a year ago. These two directors, my two friends Jonathan Combs and Joe Childress, I called them up and said, “I want to do a music video, I don’t have any money.” [laughs] Which they’re familiar with that, cause I didn’t have any money for the “She Runs” video. So, they started brainstorming and said that they wanted to do another video for me. They had a great concept, but they’re like, “This is going to take some money to do it.”

We decided to do a Kickstarter page where people could donate in return for different rewards like Twitter mentions and YouTube shout outs. And we raised the whole budget. I was so excited. We raised the $8,000 in less than 30 days.

Continue reading Tim Halperin Discusses The Making of “The Last Song” Music Video

Music Review >> Glee Cast – “New York”

Included in the last batch of Glee tracks which could be heard in last week’s season two finale “New York” were four new original songs, Matthew Morrison’s latest single, and one of the best duets from the entire season.

It wouldn’t truly be Glee without one final mash-up of the season. The mash-up of Madonna’s “I Love New York” with On The Town’s “New York, New York” is interesting. Glee definitely sped up the tempo from the original Madonna song, which gave it more of a pop feel and kind of took away the song’s edge. I did like Cory Monteith (Finn) and Naya Rivera (Santana) on lead vocals together. It’s nice to mix up the Lea Michele/Monteith leads every so often. I like that Glee kind of put in the effort this season to let Rivera shine a little more.

I couldn’t help, but crack up a little at Mark Salling (Puck), Chord Overstreet (Sam), and Kevin McHale’s (Artie) “Bella Notte,” which is from Disney’s Lady and The Tramp. It’s one of those songs that you don’t expect to hear on Glee, but it’s still just oh-so charming. The song is sung well by all three guys. I like that it’s not overtly cheesy, and would fit nicely alongside other tracks on your Glee playlist.

Matt Morrison (Will) took a turn in the spotlight with “Still Got Tonight,” which was co-written by American Idol season eight winner, Kris Allen. The song is Morrison’s current single off of his recently released debut album. Crossover promotion at it’s finest! I really like this song. I think it’s a great mid-tempo pop track that I hope does well for Morrison.

Continue reading Music Review >> Glee Cast – “New York”