Budding Welsh Hip-Hop Star Speaks Out

Transcription

THE INSIDE PAGE
the local buzz
3
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Jason Collins
4
ON THE TOWN
[email protected]
5
ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
James Collins
6
THEATRE NEWS
[email protected]
7
LOCAL ARTIST
9
ON STAGE INTERVIEW
Publisher/Founder
General Manager
Glenn Swift
Editor in Chief
[email protected]
5
Robby Takac with the Goo Goo Dolls
Rene Folsom
Graphic Designer
Page Layout & Cover Design
by Jason Collins
Contributing Writers:
Judy Beard, Katherine Charland, Jason
Collins, Jill DiLiberto, Robert Hooper,
Michelle Kaplan, Robert Kutner, Gloria
Mikula, Richard Munroe, Darcy von
Ohlen, Dana O’Kane, Glen Swift Jr.,
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ON STAGE
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LIVE & LOCAL by Buzzgigs.com
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NEW OF THE WEIRD
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LOCAL BAND
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THE LOCAL BUZZ
Camp Murphy
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BUZZ EXTRA
TO ADVERTISE
CALL (772) 408-6904 ext-1
S TORY I DEA ?
(772) 408-6904 ext 3
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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BACKSTAGE BUZZ
JC Publications Inc. is not responsible
for any injury or damage received as a
result of any technical information or
advice given herein. The contents presented herein do not necessarily represent the views of JC Publications or their
advertisers. Any reproduction of the
materials published herein without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.
21
BUZZ ADVICE
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POSITIVE PARENTING
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HEALTH TIPS
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PAGE TURNER
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VIDEO GAME PAGE
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AT THE MOVIES
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WHEELS
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HOLLYWOOD & LINE
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OFF THE CUFF
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ASTROLOGY
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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WHILE YOU’RE WAITING
Pato Banton
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Feedback from readers, story ideas,
photos and art are welcomed.
PO BOX 9016
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ABOUT THE COVER
GOO GOO DOLLS
Exclusive one on one Interview
with Robby Takac
Visit us Online
TheLocalBuzzMag.com
READ ST OR Y ON PAGE 9
Photo Provided by Waner Bros. Records
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LocalBuzzMag.com Mid-July/Mid-Aug 2007
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U P P O R T
T H E
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N E S
W H O
S U P P O R T
T
H E
L
O C A L
B
U Z Z
LE TTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Notice anything different?
I'm anxious to know what you think about our new look. The size is a tad smaller, and our cover design is very different. Oh...and one more thing... the quality of the paper... literally that is. We've upgraded the stock considerably. So,
unless you have extremely clammy hands (like my editor), you shouldn't have
to worry about getting newsprint all over yourself. But honestly...Doesn't it look
impressive?
OK...back to business.
Award-winning staff writer, Michelle Kaplan, has penned another great feature
story, this time with none other than the "kings of alternative rock" - The Goo
Goo Dolls. Ever since their first smash hit, "There You Are," back in 1991 (has
it been that long?), the Dolls have remained at the cutting-edge of the popular
music scene. Trust me on this one, Michelle has done a masterful job of getting
inside the head of Robby Takac, bass player for this amazingly talented supergroup.
Our editor, the guy with the sweaty hands (he's going to be ticked reading this),
has written a cool profile piece about Jake Hooker. Who you ask? Jake is someone whose name you might not recognize, but you sure know his music.
Remember that age-old rock anthem, "I Love Rock n' Roll"? If you don't, you're
either too old, or the 70s were rougher on you than you think. Well..that was
Jake's.
I'm proud to say that we feature our first jazz musician in this issue...and what
a guy to start off with - Norman Brown. This amazing musician is not only one
of the finest smooth jazz guys around, but one of the greatest guitarists on the
planet. Better yet, he's going to be playing at the King Center in Melbourne on
Saturday, July 21 at 8pm.
Get your tickets now! This guy is absolutely incredible.
Mr. Sweaty Palms wrote another good one about one of Britain's greatest reggae masters - Pato Banton. This guy is worshipped like a god by British reggae
fans, and we're very fortunate to bring you an interview with such an influential
musician...and from the other side of the pond.
On another note, Glen Swift Jr. has put together an interesting investigative
piece about MySpace in his Off the Cuff column that I'm sure you're going to
enjoy.
Well...I'm about out of space. So, get cozy, and enjoy another great issue of The
Local Buzz Magazine.
Remember... we want you to give us your feedback.
Until next month...
3
ON THE TOWN
The good food kept me coming
back for breakfast and lunch,
decadent baked creations, and
a whole lot of breads. The next
visit, JC spoke with pride about
when he was part of an international team that extracted
Americans from a danger zone
during a coup in the Ivory Coast.
They had to fly in on a French
military jet under the cover of
darkness with no lights on the
plane or the runway. They went
from 35,000 feet to ground level
in less then five minutes. J.C.
served as an interpreter.
Photo by Katherine Charland
By Katherine Charland
hen I was a
child
my
favorite
icecream
parlor
was a place
called
the
Popcorn Shop. It was built onto
the side of a bridge that jutted
out over a waterfall, and the
homemade ice cream was as
good as the view. In the days of
franchised everything, it is wonderful to celebrate the unique
things about our Treasure
Coast.
That is why I was thrilled to find
J.C.’s Daily Bread. The aroma
of the bread is as welcoming as
the smiles. The first time I was
there with my sister she had a
light and flaky cinnamon roll,
and I had some sour dough
toast that rivaled any in San
Francisco. I don’t recall how the
conversation started, but soon
we were hearing about Jon
Claude Stevens’ adventures
scuba diving off the coast of
Africa and paragliding in Brazil.
Jon Claude (J.C.) is the baker
extraordinaire. He opened the
bakery with his parents Mark
and Ginette Stevens. They call it
retirement.
As the Green Mountain Coffee
kept flowing, so did the stories.
Mark Stevens and my sister
were comparing stories about
his experience in the US
Foreign Service in South Africa
and Morocco and her travels
abroad as a military wife. Then,
of course, we had to get a loaf of
bread as we left.
J. C. was born in Quebec, so his
first language is French. He is
also fluent in Spanish. Growing
up, he studied overseas at the
International School of the
Philippines. He later studied
cooking at The Culinary Institute
of America. While there he fell in
love with baking. His passion for
perfection quickly led to his
acclaim. He was named “Best
Baker” working for Club Med for
two years. Try it for yourself, and
as you sit around and smell the
bread baking, the taste may
take you home
I encourage you to go out and
explore all the unique little
bistro’s and coffee shops that
our area has. Sit by the river
and enjoy the pancakes at
Dena’s café. Enjoy the view as
you catch the early bird specials
at the Dolphin Bar and Shrimp
House. While you listen to the
band called Paradise, you may
just remember that you actually
live there.
ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
Budding Welsh Hip-Hop
Star Speaks Out
By Glenn Swift
dam Daniels is one of
Britain's fastest rising hiphoppers, but like most
Welshmen… he doesn't
particularly like being
lumped together with his
English and Scottish cousins. Nothing
against them mind you, it's just that
he's darn proud of his native Wales.
"Welsh hip-hop…ha ha…the rest of
the UK would probably laugh if they
heard that phrase, but the fact is, it
exists," said Daniels in an exclusive
interview with The Local Buzz
Magazine.
Born and raised in Cardiff, the capital
and cultural center of Wales (that
"other" part of Great Britain no one
ever seems to talk about), 26-year old
Daniels has worked with a couple of
big time British hip-hop acts (Lost
Prophets and Kidz With Toyz) as well
as appearing in a number of movies:
Manchild, Tokyo Drift, and Blade:
Trinity Two. He recently completed his
first solo album and video, with the first
single off the album to be released in
mid-July.
"Because Wales is so small, we have
a very tight hip-hop community here.
All the heads know each other, making
it more like a family thing than in
England."
Daniels was also quick to point out just
how difficult a struggle it is for all
British hip-hoppers (English, Scottish,
Welsh, Northern Irish) to get that big
deal.
"The hip-hop scene in the UK is very
different from the US in so many ways.
Granted, we've been behind for so
long…but we're catching up. The problem is that the recording industry here
sucks as far as hip-hop goes. Most of
the record companies in Britain don't
know shit from sugar… pardon my language… when it comes to hip-hop.
They're reluctant to sign artists from
outside the US, because they think the
States has got it locked down. But the
truth is, in every council estate (county) in the UK, we've got great talent. Of
course, it's only been the last seven
years or so that the British hip-hop
scene, with urban music stations and
all, has really begun to evolve commercially. Hip-hop is becoming more
mainstream everyday here in Britain,
and there are more and more
American labels looking toward us as
the new thing."
much as possible to keep my mind in a
sane place."
One thing that separates Daniels
music from most musicians in the hiphop trade (on either side of the pond)
is the variety of instrumentation. A
quick glimpse into Daniels' past belies
the answer.
Of course, it always helps to have the
right genes.
"As a child I grew up listening to all
types of music, and that was basically
whatever my mother listened to
around the house, like Marvin Gaye,
Otis Redding, and Al Green."
Although Daniels has steered away
from "grime" (the British equivalent of
gangsta rap), he isn't afraid to speak
out. "George Bush will probably want
to cancel my visa when my album
comes out," he laughed.
Then again, there was a defining
moment.
"When I got hold of my first rap CD, it
blew my mind."
"My father has always played the guitar and sang all around the city since I
was a child."
When asked what kind of music he
likes to listen to, Daniels had this to
say:
"I got into music around ten years ago
mainly as a hobby to keep me out of
trouble. However, being stuck in my
neighborhood, I still got into plenty of
trouble. It wasn't until I turned 18 in
2000 that I really began to take it seriously. My big brother passed away,
and I launched myself into music as
As for influences, Daniels was quick to
pay reverence to the legendary Tupac
Shakur. "His words touched me, and I
could relate to so much of what he was
saying. Then again, I'm inspired by
every artist I hear, even if they're rubbish."
In closing, Daniels wanted to get yet
another plug in for his hood… if you
know what I mean.
"I want everyone out there to know
that it's not just sheep and hills out
here in Wales."
Tupac couldn't have said it better…
"Mainly hip-hop, but I listen to anything
Just how and why Daniels made the
decision to get into music in the first
place has a lot to do with why he feels
so passionately about his craft.
that's hot…any genre, especially the
old Motown classics. Music is a universal language… and I love it all."
THEATRE NEWS
By Glenn Swift
ake
no
doubt
about it – the lights
of Broadway will
soon be shining on
the Space Coast
courtesy of the
King Center for the Performing
Arts.
Brevard County...you’ve come a
long way baby.
As part of its recently
announced
“Broadway
in
Brevard” series, the King Center
will start bringing Equity (the
professional actors’ union) productions
of
contemporary
Broadway shows to its stage
this fall. The series kicks off
October 23 and 24 with the irresistible “Mamma Mia!” – a
power-packed production featuring the timeless music of
ABBA – the Swedish supergroup which produced a number of unforgettable classics:
“Dancing Queen,” “Take a
Chance
on
Me,”
Super
Trouper,” and a whole lot more.
Following “Mamma Mia” are two
more
blockbuster
shows:
“Camelot” (Feb. 19 and 20),
starring Lou Diamond Phillips,
and “Movin’ Out” (March 11 and
12) with music by the legendary
Billy Joel and choreography by
two-time Emmy and Tony Award
winner, Twyla Tharp.
The idea of the Space Coast
hosting high-quality productions
with this level of talent was
unimaginable just a few short
years ago. But thanks to the
tireless work of King Center
Executive
Director,
Steve
Janicki,
and
Marketing/Promotions Director,
Nance Burroughs, what may
have been a pipe dream for
local theatre lovers has now
become a reality.
“In many ways, our ability to be
able to attract these types of
events to our stage is a reflection of just how much our community has come of age. The
King Center is now considered
one of the finest venues in
Florida, and that’s something
we’re very proud of,” said
Janicki.
What is particularly appealing
about the Broadway in Brevard
series is the way the Center has
packaged the product.
“Our three-show series allows
you to celebrate the best that
Broadway has to offer and for a
very competitive price. When
you become a ‘King Center
Broadway in Brevard’ season
subscriber you get access to the
best seats in the house, as well
as special discounts on additional shows,” Janicki added.
Although Janicki and Burroughs
have been working together at
the Center for twenty years now,
the dynamic duo isn’t ready to
rest on their laurels just yet. In
fact, they’re more excited than
ever about the future.
“We’re really pleased with the
direction we’re headed. Ticket
sales have been incredible and
we’ve already exceeded our
revenue
expectations
by
$1,000,000 over our originally
approved budget. Next season,
we’re hoping to bring in even
larger musical tours lasting a
week or so. This is a far cry from
the one-night-only type of event
we used to attract,” said Janicki.
This would truly be a notable
accomplishment and clearly
place the King Center right up
there with the likes of the Bob
Carr Performing Arts Centre in
Orlando. As to how the Center
has been able to attract so
many high-calibre acts in recent
years is a tribute to the growth
of the community – and to the
reputation Janicki enjoys with
his colleagues.
“We work very hard with the
other venues around Central
and South Florida, and with the
Florida Professional Presenters
Consortium, to draw the talent
we want and to make sure that
our schedules don’t conflict. By
pooling our resources, we’re
able to get the very best in
entertainment for the Space
Coast,” said Burroughs.
The King Center’s approach is
living proof of that old English
adage that “a rising tide raises
all ships.”
So don’t waste another minute!
Become a season subscriber
now for “Broadway in Brevard”
by calling (321) 242-2219 or by
visiting www.kingcenter.com.
And one more thing, don’t forget to tell the good folks at the
King Center that you read
about them in The Local Buzz.
L OCAL ARTIST
Photo by Fred Asprinio
By Glenn Swift
he pulsing rhythms of a
rich-sounding 12-string
Alvarez-Yairi
echoed
through the esteemed
halls of historic downtown Stuart’s majestic
Lyric Theatre. As the
chord progression reached its
crescendo, a powerful, yet beautifully
melodic voice, sprang forth from the
man behind the guitar. Instantly, the
audience was taken to that “other
place.”
Treasure Coast music lovers…Meet
Scott Benge.
“My gift is pretty natural,” said Benge.
“I’ve really never had any formal training. But before I could talk, I was
singing.”
You see, some people are just born to
perform.
“I grew up harmonizing to songs on the
radio. How it began, I don’t know. It
was kind of instinctive,” said Benge.
Prior to moving to Ft. Myers as a teen,
Benge spent the early years of his
childhood in Gainesville, FL, where he
grew up listening to country music. “I
have always appreciated the ballad as
a form of musical expression. Even
today, I try only to perform those songs
that carry a special message and
which have personal meaning.”
Maybe that’s why Benge’s music goes
far beyond the notes and chords.
Besides his extraordinary skill as a
guitarist, at the heart of what helps this
budding star to stand out from among
the crowd is the intensity with which he
performs – Benge’s complete immersion into his music.
“I try to live my music with very ounce
of energy I have,” said Benge.
And how.
A few years ago, the multi-talented
artist’s career appeared to be on the
verge of hitting the big time. Benge
had put together a band in Ft. Myers,
XLNC, of which he was the front man.
“We started to get a good deal of air
time with our music and performed to
an audience of over 6,000 in one concert,” said Benge. But the passionate
soul that he is, Benge felt that he
needed to put something else ahead
of his musical career.
“I fell in love,” he said.
Because his apparent soul mate had
been offered a dream job on Florida’s
“right coast,” Benge agreed to bid
farewell to XLNC and follow her.
The potential record deal fell
apart…and sadly, so did Benge’s relationship. Not long after the break-up,
Benge was forced to deal with yet
another heart-wrenching blow – the
loss of his beloved grandmother.
“She was the most loving, the most
kind, the most gracious, the most
accepting human being I have ever
known,” said Benge. “Losing her was
devastating…. After her passing, I was
truly at a personal crossroads.”
A very difficult period ensued in which
Benge was forced to do battle with his
share of personal demons. But it wasn’t long before Benge made a commitment to turn his life around and rededicate himself to his music. His career
has been on the up and up ever since.
Benge’s current southern-rock band,
Crossbone, is steadily gaining in popularity, and as a solo performer, his
TRIVIA CONTEST
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Groucho’s Comedy Club
Compliments of The Local Buzz
QUESTION: Who won the Amazing Race Season 6?
future also appears bright. Recently,
none other than Dave Mason,
Mountain, and Edgar Winter have all
asked that Benge open for them at the
Lyric.
“That was quite an honor,” said Benge,
who is always quick to credit that one
special person in his life for giving him
the strength to carry on.
Thanks grandma…
Scott Benge performs with the
band, Crossbone, at Wahoo’s
in Stuart every Sunday
from 3-5 pm.
Call For Reservations
772-419-0302
To see full schedule visit
www.GrouchoProductions.com
First 3 correct responses e-mailed to [email protected],
or Mailed to T.L.B. PO Box 9016, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34985 win a ticket admitting
two to Friday’s Comedy Show (excludes special event nights).
7 LocalBuzzMag.com Mid-July/Mid-Aug 2007
Sandpiper
ON STAGE INTERVIEW
By Michelle Kaplan
obby Takac, bassist
for the Goo Goo
Dolls, has to pause
for a split second and
think, "Where am I?
Oh, Grand Rapids,"
he replied with a laugh. But ask
him again in a few more weeks,
the answer may come harder.
This summer the Goos, as they
are affectionately known, will be
making a whirlwind tour that
includes stops in Scotland,
Ireland, Japan and England.
Perhaps this tour should have
been called "Dizzy up the Boys."
Takac does look forward in midSeptember to coming home.
"It may be via some other continent, but I will be there."
Besides an exciting summer tour,
the Goos have a single that was
just released on the soundtrack
for the new movie, The
Transformers. And if that sounds
like deja vu all over again, well…
history does have a way of
repeating itself. Their breakout
song, "Iris," was first released as
a single on the soundtrack for the
film, City of Angles, back in 1998.
This was the one that catapulted
them to rock star status. For a
movie that promises to be a summer blockbuster, its soundtrack
also has a few heavy hitters such
as Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin
Park, The Used and MuteMath.
Takac talked about the filming of
9
Photos provided by Warner Bros. Records
the video for "Before It's Too
Late."
"We shot the video on top of a
building in the middle of
Hollywood…with helicopters circling over our heads…smoke
blowing."
He admitted it was a little dramatic. Guys with guitars and smoke
blowing do conjure up images of
rock stars.
"You can computer generate your
rock star image these days, "he
quipped. "Eventually all entertainers will be generated by CGI anyway…there will be no need for
entertainers.”
As much fun as making rock,
smoke and circling copters are,
Takac does seem to have his feet
planted firmly on the ground. He
has a lot going on besides gigs,
recordings and tours. The Music
is Art Festival at America's Fair in
Hamburg, New York will take
place in August.
"It's a little educational thing that I
run…my father (Robert Senior) is
running it for me with a staff.
(While Takac is on tour this summer.) It's a bunch of bands,
artists, rappers, DJ's…it's in it's
fifth year…It's the arts, dance,
and the culture of western New
York, integrated into the community and into the educational fiber
of the community … We do a TV
show through the University of
Buffalo… a series run in over 80
high schools."
Another grass roots operation
that the whole band takes part in,
and has for seven years, is a simple food donation program that
cuts through the bureaucracy and
goes straight to the stomachs of
those in need. This is something
Takac takes pride in - the lack of
red tape and the direct help the
program has provided in the local
community.
"It's with USA Harvest… we've
raised 2.5 million meals…it's a
people-only type project…There's
ON STAGE INTERVIEW
no money changing hands… no
red tape… it's a down-home network of people helping the local
food pantries. Some of our hauls
are
huge,
some
are
smaller…there's usually some
incentives built in… we do some
things through the local radio stations."
Another community program that
supports the arts has the Goos
going home, back to Buffalo
where they are building a recording studio.
"We're building a recording studio, oddly, in the same location
we recorded our first album 20
years ago …but the studio is a far
cry from the one that we had…
although most folks seem to be
making records in their own home
these days."
He said that the studio would be
made available for other musicians to use as well.
"Of course talk of recording leads
to the talk that always eludes the
artist…industry versus art. It's a
love-hate relationship that has
been going on forever, made
even more complex with the
advent and ease of digital music,
the Internet, and easy-to-transfer
music files."
At 42, Takac has a well-educated
and definite opinion on this complex issue. After all, the Goos
have been in the game for 21
10
years, years which have witnessed the birth of CD's and the
Internet.
"There's a whole a generation
that's gotten used to not having to
pay for it… I knock on every piece
of simulated wood in this hotel
room, that a band like ours has
been somewhat able to carve out
a career in a relatively career-less
industry…It's partially the music
industry's fault. They doubled the
price for something cheaper to
manufacture, ship and store
(CD's
vs.
vinyl
albums).
Eventually greedy people got
stomped down."
Takac remembers back to a simpler time, just going out to play for
the people.
"It was a different ball game back
then. So many places to play, so
many places for people 18 plus to
be out enjoying their college life…
There was a self-sustaining little
core 50-60 bands; all those
bands were touring."
Today he has his own record
label that's been out for five
years, but don't label him, "the
man."
"Good Charamel records… I put
out about 12 records. I have a
new project coming out…electronic clubby kinda records…I
don't listen to rock, I make rock
music…I've got all the rock music
I need doing this every night."
Is this right? The guy who is considered the more Punk aspect of
the Goos… likes "clubby"? So,
what's he listening to?
If you visit the "Lobby" of his website, www.RobbysLobby.com, you
can get an up close and personal
look at a genuine Badtz Maru.
"Chemical Brothers, Basement
Jack… kinda like alternative rock,
dance groups…. It's an interesting combination of electronic
music and a little R&B."
This is where he is reminded that
there is a fine line between "collecting" and "crazy."
Takac is an interesting combination himself. He has a huge PEZ
collection, over 2,000.
"My favorite is Casper the
Friendly Ghost…I have a space
alien that I like, a Dopey from the
early 60's…I did the voice for
Peter Pez in the new Pez cartoon
coming out on DVD in two
months…I also collect Badtz
Maru… a penguin, an evil penguin, a little character."
"And I straddle that line proudly,"
he laughed.
The Goo Goo Dolls perform
with special guests Lifehouse
and Colbie Caillat on August 3,
at Sound Advice Amphitheatre
in West Palm Beach. Doors
open at 6 pm, Show starts
at 7 pm
Purchase tickets online
www.livenation.com
or call (561) 966-3309
ON STAGE
By Glenn Swift
unk jazz, soul jazz, crossover
jazz, smooth jazz... all have
been used to describe the
music of Norman Brown.
The funny thing is - they're
all right... some of the time.
"I grew up in a music-loving household
where we listened to everything from Kool
and the Gang to Peter Frampton," said jazz
guitarist and vocalist, Norman Brown.
It shows.
Every time this remarkably gifted musician puts out a new piece of music, you
sometimes wonder if it's the same Norman
Brown. Then again, we should be getting
used to this act by now.
After being discovered in a LA nightclub
by legendary drummer Norman Connors,
Brown burst onto the music scene in 1992
with the release of Just Between Us on
Motown's MoJazz label. The criticallyacclaimed debut album featured collaborative cuts with chorus group Boyz II Men
and the legendary Stevie Wonder. Brown's
love of R&B and the legendary Motown
sound was fully evident... as was his
extraordinary guitar playing.
Brown's next release was After the Storm
in 1994. Once again, the work was well
received, only this time Brown was being
compared to jazz master, George Benson.
Two years later, Brown released another
highly-praised work, Better Days Ahead,
which served to broaden his appeal even
further.
With the collapse of Motown Records, the
burgeoning star transferred to the Warner
Brothers label and released Celebration in
2000. Produced by the renowned hitmaker Paul Brown, the CD was yet another huge success, and virtually every
smooth jazz station in the country was
soon playing a steady diet of Brown's spirited repertoire.
But the biggest was yet to come.
In 2002, Brown released Just Chillin',
which earned him a Grammy for Best Pop
Instrumental. Shortly thereafter, Brown
teamed up with two other giants in the jazz
world: Rick Braun and Kirk Whalum.
Known as BWB, the trio released Groovin'
- considered by many jazz enthusiasts as
one of the finest fusion works in recent
years.
Brown himself alluded to the group as
something very special.
"It was the label's (Warner Brothers) idea
to put us together, and they must have
known something," Brown laughed."
From the first session, it was magical."
The extraordinary project was followed
two years later by another incredible production West Coast Coolin', in which
Brown broke new ground by testing out
his skills as a vocalist. The move was a
good one. His rich, soulful voice was
immediately embraced by the urban radio
market, and Brown soon found himself at
the top of the jazz charts.
In 2005, Brown released The Best of
Norman Brown, one of the best-selling
smooth jazz albums for both 2005 and
2006. But the jazz phenom's success was
far from peaking.
jazz
Summer Storm
Brown then touched upon something else
jazz
"Jazz is family music. It transcends all
ages, races and walks of life."
You can hear Norman Brown and his
Summer Storm in person at the Maxwell
King Center for the Performing Arts at
3865 N Wickham Road in Melbourne on
Saturday, July 21 at 8pm. For tickets or
more information, call (321) 242-2219 or
visit www.kingcenter.com.
Special Note: Two other giants of smooth
jazz, Mindi Abair and Spiro Gyra will also
be making an appearance at the King
Center...and on the SAME NIGHT! Yes,
that's right. On Saturday, August 18 at 8pm
you can hear both of these incredible acts
in one show!
Get Your Tickets Now!!!
Coming August 18 at 8 pm
jazz
Peabo Bryson
Mindi
Abair
Jeff Lorber
Marion Meadows
"Whatever instrument the song calls for,
whether it's a sax, trumpet, piano... then
that's what I want. I enjoy being able to
showcase the talents of the other members
of my group, and what better medium to
do that than jazz. After all, jazz is the most
versatile genre... it allows a musician the
freedom to incorporate a number of widely differing styles and techniques. "
that may account for the medium's continually growing popularity.
at its best!
Norman Brown
July 21, 8 pm
Earlier this year, Brown switched labels to
Peak Records and released what may be
another Grammy award winner, Stay With
Me. The new work is an extraordinary
collection of 10 urban-influenced contemporary jazz tunes - each one displaying
Brown's enormous talents as a guitarist
and all-around musician. As always,
Brown's music allows the other members
of his group to display their unique abilities.
Spyro
Gyra
(321) 242-2219
www.kingcenter.com
Any
outlet
(321) 459-3309 or
(407) 839-3900
www.ticketmaster.com
Tickets (including Hotel/Dinner packages)
also available through
JazzSeries-Brevard
(321) 783-9004
www.jazzseries.com
Local Band Gigs
_________________ ___JULY 12________ __ __________
Coffee Beans with George Reemer (Sax, Flute) at Jazz & Steak
Night at Archie's Seabreeze (Fort Pierce)
Bike Night at the Yellowtail Grille Downtown Ft. Pierce (Fort
Pierce)
Luis Manuel & The Charambo band (Latin) at Brisa Atlantica
Restaurant & Jazz Bar (Stuart) 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 13________ __ __________
Night at Archie's Seabreeze (Fort Pierce)
Pierce)
_________________ ___JULY 14________ __ __________
Robert Swinton at the Hutchinson Island Beach Resort Tiki Bar
(Stuart)
Sunset Saturday Night Concert in the Park at Humiston Park
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 15___ ____ __ __________
The Jukebox Band at Wahoo's (Stuart)
_________________ ___JULY 17 _______ __ __________
Open Mic Night at Planet Smoothie (Jensen Beach) 7:00 PM
- 11:00 PM
Heritage Bluegrass Band at the Heritage Center (Vero Beach)
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 18 _______ __ __________
(Stuart) 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beach Party Open Mic -All Musicians Welcome at Tiki Bar at Ft.
Pierce Marina (Fort Pierce) 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Open Mic Jam and Karaoke with Trebor and Robert Vines at
Sips Lounge (Port St. Lucie) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Jam Night with Spaz, Garry Nutt, Brian Cunningham & Keith
Whalen at Sips Nighclub (Port St. Lucie) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 19 _______ __ __________
Night at Archie's Seabreeze (Ft. Pierce)
Pierce)
_________________ ___JULY 20_______ __ __________
(Hutchinson Island) (Stuart) 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 21_______ __ __________
(Stuart) 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 22_______ __ __________
_________________ ___JULY 24_______ __ __________
Open Mic Night at Planet Smoothie (Jensen Beach) 7:00 PM 11:00 PM
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 25_______ __ __________
Pierce Marina (Fort Pierce) 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
(Stuart) 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 26_______ __ __________
Pierce)
LIVE & L OCAL
_________________ ___JULY 27________ __ __________
(Hutchinson Island) (Stuart) 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
_________________ ___JULY 28________ __ __________
(Stuart) 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
(Vero Beach) 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
_________________ ___JULY 29________ __ __________
_________________ ___JULY 31________ __ __________
Heritage Bluegrass Band at the Heritage Center (Vero) 7:00
PM - 11:00 PM
Open Mic Night at Planet Smoothie (Jensen Beach) 7:00 PM 11:00 PM
_________________ ___AUG 1________ __ __________
(Stuart) 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Pierce Marina (Ft. Pierce) 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Open Mic Jam and Karaoke with Trebor and Robert Vines at
Sips Lounge (Port St. Lucie) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___AUG 2 ___ ____ __ __________
Bike Night at the Yellowtail Grille Downtown Ft. Pierce (Ft.
Pierce)
_________________ ___AUG 3 _______ __ __________
_________________ ___AUG 4 _______ __ __________
(Stuart) 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
"2007 SICK FEST" (Port St. Lucie) 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
_________________ ___AUG 5 _______ __ __________
_________________ ___AUG 7 _______ __ __________
Open Mic Night at Planet Smoothie (Jensen Beach) 7:00 PM
- 11:00 PM
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
_________________ ___AUG 8 _______ __ __________
Pierce Marina (Ft. Pierce) 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
(Stuart) 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
_________________ ___AUG 9 _______ __ __________
Bike Night at the Yellowtail Grille Downtown Ft. Pierce (Ft.
Pierce)
_________________ ___AUG 10 _______ __ __________
_________________ ___AUG 11 _______ __ __________
(Stuart) 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
(Vero Beach) 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
WHETHER IT'S RAMPAGING TRANSSEXUALS, SHAMELESSLY GOUGING CON
ARTISTS, OR GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS RUNNING AMUCK, YOU'LL FIND
THEM ALL IN CHUCK SHEPHERD'S "NEWS OF THE WEIRD" COLUMN -RIGHT HERE IN THE LOCAL BUZZ. SO, IF YOU'RE FASCINATED BY ODD
HUMAN BEHAVIOR OR WANT TO REPORT YOUR NEIGHBOR FOR BITING HIS
DOG, YOU NEED NOT LOOK ANY FURTHER.
S e n d y o u r We i r d N e w s t o We i r d N e w s Ti ps @ y a h o o . c o m o r g o t o w w w. N e w s o ft h e We i r d . c o m
BY CHUCK SHEPHERD
LEAD STORY
Africa's
largely
primitive
Hadzabe people, down to their last
1,500 members after surviving thousands of years of disease, famine and
encroaching civilization, fear their final
blow will be the recent deal that
Tanzania made to turn the tribe's prime
hunting grounds over to United Arab
Emirates royalty for private safaris. The
land comprises 2,500 acres near the
Serengeti Plain, and some Hadzabe
(who still make fire by rubbing sticks
together) are resigned either to fight
the "invaders" (with bows and poisontipped arrows) or to migrate to towns
for survival, according to a June
Washington Post dispatch from
Tanzania's Yaeda Valley.
PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US
Chief Deputy Terry Thompson
was driving around Rayville, La., in June
when he saw several cars stopped for an 8foot snake in the road, with some motorists
threatening to run over it or shoot it so that
traffic could pass. Thompson stepped in to
save it and then realized that he recognized
the snake. It was, he remembered, the oneeyed boa constrictor that had turned up
missing in March after owner Chad Foote
had moved into town, and Foote said he
was ecstatic to have it returned, considering
the handsome price one has to pay for a
snake with one eye.
THE MARCH OF PROGRESS
In April, Los Angeles gynecologist David Matlock licensed his 2-year-old
G-spot-enhancing technology to 35 other
doctors around the country to help spread
the benefits of collagen injections that
swell the so-called Grafenburg Spot (a supposedly pleasure-registering zone which is,
at best, tiny and hidden, but according to
some doctors, nonexistent). With the
patient's help, the doctor guides the 3-inch
needle to the most promising location, and
one injection renders the G-spot the size of
a coin. Many patients claim their sex lives
are greatly enhanced, but no peer-reviewed
research has yet been done.
COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS
THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY
-- Lame: (1) Jonathan Powell, 17,
was convicted in April of sexually assaulting a college student in Iowa City, Iowa,
after his DNA was found in several places
on her body. Powell explained the DNA by
claiming that he had merely bumped into
the woman accidentally while jogging and
had become so "entangled" with her that he
was unable to free himself for about "45
minutes." (2) In April, Donald Duncan Jr.,
34, was convicted of invasion of privacy in
Carlisle, Pa., after his wife discovered a
hidden-camera video of two girls who were
disrobing in a bedroom in the couple's
house. Duncan said he had set up the camera because he suspected there were ghosts
in the house and wanted proof.
-- Lawyer Charles Curbo filed a
motion in Memphis, Tenn., in June, claiming that his client, Tony Wolfe, who was
convicted of murder, failed to get a fair trial
due to the ineffectiveness of Wolfe's lawyer
(i.e., Curbo) because the lawyer was often
too sleepy to do a good job. However, the
prosecutor pointed out that part of Curbo's
strategy had been to "wear down" witnesses "by extensive cross-examination" and
that it was no wonder that he was exhausted.
-- Tiffany Weaver pleaded guilty
in April to having stolen a lawyer's official
ID and impersonating the woman in order
to gain access to the jail in Baltimore so
that she could visit her incarcerated
boyfriend, but she denied, through her
lawyer, that she and the boyfriend had had
sex while they were together. "There was
never any sexual intercourse," said attorney
Ivan Bates. "There was no thrusting whatsoever."
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh
Hancock was killed in an April car crash
after he collided with a stopped tow truck
on Interstate 64 in the middle of the night,
and according to a police report, Hancock
was intoxicated, speeding, un-seat-belted,
and talking on his cell phone at the time.
Nonetheless, in May, Hancock's father filed
a lawsuit claiming that the causes of the
crash were (1) the tow truck operator, (2)
the driver who was being assisted by the
tow truck operator, and (3) the manager of
the restaurant in which Hancock had been
drinking.
LEAST COMPETENT PEOPLE
Twelve hundred troops from
Poland were deployed to Afghanistan in
June as part of a NATO buildup to patrol
the Pakistan border, searching for Taliban
forces, but Polish commanders admitted
that they would not be combat-ready for
several weeks because the keys to all their
Humvees had been stolen. One commander
said spare keys had been ordered.
IRONIES
The local government in Dalkeith,
Scotland, has decided that, notwithstanding
global warming and carbon "footprints,"
the lights will stay on all night, every night,
in the building that formerly was Dalkeith
High School (but which has been vacant
since 2004) because councilors fear that
trespassers would hurt themselves in the
darkness and sue them. A Green Party
spokesman called it "an unbelievable triple
whammy (cost, fire risk, environmental
waste)."
RECURRING THEMES
News of the Weird first mentioned
"Breatharians" in a 1999 report, referring to
people who claim to subsist on only water,
air and sunlight, even though there is scant
proof of their self-denial and utterly no scientific evidence that humans can live
beyond a few weeks on such a diet. In June,
London's Daily Mail profiled German
Michael Werner, who claims not to have
eaten (except for fruit juice, coffee, wine
and an occasional grape or nut) since 2001
yet is active and appears robust at 6-feet-2
and 175 pounds, attributing his success to a
hunger-ignoring state of mind. The two
most famous Breatharians (Australian
Ellen Greve and American Wiley Brooks)
were both later exposed in the press as having sneaked food on the side.
SNOW, WHICH ONE IS THE BRAKE?
(ALL-NEW)
Elderly drivers' recent lapses of
concentration, stepping on the gas instead
of the brake: An East Meadow, N.Y., man,
91, crashed into his wife (March). A prominent biochemist from the 1940s, age 88,
crashed through a wall of the Civic Center
in San Rafael, Calif. (June). An 84-year-old
woman, playing golf with another woman,
accidentally ran her down in her golf cart,
Medford, Ore. (April). A Shiloh, Ill.,
woman, 84, drove into the cafeteria of
Shiloh Elementary School, hitting one girl
(January). A Deland, Fla., woman, 84, driving to pick up a prescription, smashed into
the pharmacy (November). An Eastbourne,
England, man, 80, crashed into the lobby of
Eastbourne General Hospital, coming to
visit his wife (June). An Oshkosh, Wis.,
man, 77, smashed into a restaurant (with
pedalwork that was complicated by his
cane, leaning against the driver's seat)
(December).
ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED
Andres Vasquez, 20, of Verona,
Ky., initially told the 911 operator in May
that someone had "thrown" his truck on top
of him, but he finally admitted he was
drunk, had had a one-vehicle accident, was
trapped upside-down and was in dire pain,
fading in and out for over two hours to the
dispatcher. The operators pleaded the entire
time for Vasquez to just say where he was
so that they could send a rescue party, but,
as the Kentucky Enquirer put it, "When
repeatedly asked his location, (Vasquez's)
answer was always the same: 'I'm under the
(expletive) truck.'" (He finally gave a clue
and was rescued.)
L OCAL BAND
C L E A R LY O N E
OF THE
By Dana O’Kane
an you remember the last
time you went out to see a
band and were blown away
by great music and long
sets of super cool material
to dance to? If it’s been a
while, then you’re in for a treat. The
Jukebox Band consists of four members and was formed in 1999 by guitarist, Pat Channing, and lead vocalist,
Gigi King, following a unique set of circumstances which brought the group
together. As for the band’s catchy
name, Pat’s ability to play nearly any
request had brought him notoriety over
the years as “the human jukebox.“
Right from the opening bar, the energy
of King’s vocals quickly gets people
onto their feet. After asking this talented singer’s secret to her boundless
TREASURE COAST’S BEST BANDS
energy, she remarked, “Simply a good
night’s sleep.“ TJB’s sound often
evokes a battle for space on the dance
floor. Channing’s multi-musical ability
on guitar, base, keyboard and even
mandolin are utterly amazing. Of
course, the talent doesn’t end there.
Drummer, Dan Bernachi, joined the
band in 2002, and George Seiden
added his bass to the group in 2004. All
four members came to the Treasure
Coast from Miami. They love it here so
much they say they say they’ll never go
back. Who can blame them? They’ve
enjoyed quite a successful track record
here.
This band’s musical style is very eclectic, ranging from classic rock and pop
to R&B, country, oldies, disco and funk.
They’re also known to play the longest
sets of any of the area’s bands.
Hold on, there’s still more to tell you
about here. TJB’s two original members, Channing and King, are also
well-known around the Treasure Coast
area as a duo. They play on
Wednesdays at Wahoo’s and have
been the Thursday “house band” at the
Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House for 5 1/2
years running. Where do they get the
energy? Who knows! One has to just
make the conclusion that they are very
blessed, indeed.
Seriously music-minded, they truly love
what they do, and have been noted as
saying that they “hope to continue until
they’re 100 years old.” When asked
what they would want people to
remember most about them, their
response was that they’re “One hundred percent live.”
TJB’s songs are played back to back
with eight long sets and enough audience interaction to get anyone up off of
their chair, no matter how tired they
might be.
So, are you ready for some great
music and a guaranteed fun night out?
Join in on the good times at Wahoo’s
on a Sunday night and witness their
talent and vibrant energy. You can get
all the latest booking info, their bio,
song clips and much more from their
website at: www.jukeboxband.net.
THE L OCAL BUZZ
By Richard Munroe II
Freelance Buzz Writer
omewhere
along
the
Martin County coastline lie
several buildings that have
been dormant for over 60
years. Although they are
not easily visible, they are
inconspicuously present. One may not
know about the military activity that
took place along this isolated area in
Hobe Sound. Today, Camp Murphy is
only a memory for those who trained
there, and campers and hikers pass
the time unaware that a small city
existed on these very primitive
grounds.
With the advancement of various
weapon systems in preparation to
entering World War II, the United
States
Government
significantly
expanded its military radar program.
The Signal Corps Radar School prepared soldiers in the use and service of
radar equipment. At the time, the main
training facility was based in Fort
Monmouth, New Jersey. With the
advancement in radar technology and
required training of its personnel, the
military brass decided that a larger,
more modern facility needed to be constructed.
The government initially based the
Southern Signal Corps School in
Riviera Beach, Florida, where it began
its Florida operations. Through acquisition of land by purchase and lease, the
government
established
Camp
Murphy. With the contracts in place,
the government began building Camp
Murphy in April, 1942. The camp was
named after Lt. Colonel William
Herbert Murphy, an electrical engineer
who was shot down February 3, 1942,
while flying a reconnaissance mission
in Indonesia. Interestingly, Murphy
(who was born in Berlin, Germany)
served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in
World War I and World War II. Murphy
was regarded as a pioneer in the
development of radio beams and
equipment for military aircraft. He is
buried at Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Va.
Because that portion of Martin County
was such a vast amount of land and
undeveloped, it was an ideal location
for construction of the camp. Its close
proximity to the ocean allowed training
of men in both maritime and terrestrial
radar. The camp consisted of 11,364
acres. Of that total acreage, 7,996
acres were purchased, and 3,368
acres were leased. Other reasons the
military chose this location were its
seclusion and its native foliage, which
camouflaged the camp. Also, the railroad tracks that passed nearby were
used to deliver goods to the camp. The
camp began operations in April, 1942,
and formally opened in July, 1942.
Overall costs of land and development
exceeded $5.3 million.
The War Department built Camp
Murphy as a “dispersed layout” camp.
It was well-secluded, and its primary
function was to establish and train third
and fourth echelon radar maintenance
to personnel of the Signal Corps, as
well as other enlisted personnel. While
training at Camp Murphy was primarily
for those in the Army, other branches of
the military, such as the U.S. Coast
Guard and U.S. Marine Corps, also
received instruction.
Development of the camp was based
upon the government's plan to make
Camp Murphy a long-term training
facility. Over 1,000 buildings were constructed, most of which were for classrooms, offices and storage. The camp
also served as a fully self-contained
“base” where it offered plenty of activities which entertained the trainees.
Over 6,000 military were living on-site
at any given moment. Once the enlisted were trained, most were ready to
take assignments overseas, and many
were shipped off to war. Training
received at Camp Murphy was highly
specialized and greatly expanded our
nation’s use of radar as an offensive
and defensive tool in the war.
Living quarters were designed to
accommodate 854 officers and 5,752
enlisted men. The camp was of a
secret nature, and many of the men
had the highest security clearances.
Although they were allowed to write
home, the enlisted men were extremely secretive as to their whereabouts.
Today, because of the highly secretive
nature at that time, little information is
available. Much of the information
which has been documented came
from individuals who served at Camp
Murphy during its brief existence.
On November 30, 1944, Camp Murphy
was deactivated, and the property sat
unused until June, 1947, when property ownership was transferred to the
State of Florida for development as a
park. In many aspects, the government
was quite successful in restoring the
beauty of the natural resources of the
park, as many who visit Jonathan
Dickinson State Park would never
know such a camp ever existed. It officially opened as a Florida State park in
1950.
However, the government left a small
footprint of the camp's existence.
There were a few buildings which were
spared and still stand today. The heavily-fortified concrete structures appear
to have been built to withstand hurricanes and are bomb proof. The most
easily recognizable building still standing is the water treatment facility, and
although vegetation growth has made
access a bit difficult, it is easily visible
along either side of the Florida East
Coast Railway tracks. The roads today
are used as bike trails and offer a scenic and peaceful ride. One can only
imagine the jeeps and military personnel, who over 60 years ago roamed
these quiet and tranquil passages.
Many parts of Camp Murphy serve
other purposes today. The location
where the hospital once stood is now a
campground. Imagine sleeping under
the stars on the very ground where
some of the military's finest received
medical treatment. The observation
tower sits near where the intelligence
office was located. The main entrance
to the park was once the entrance to
the hospital.
For the thousands of enlisted who
served at Camp Murphy, the memory is
within them. For others who share an
interest in learning about the history, it
may remain somewhat mystical. But
with a little imagination, one can go
back in time and relive life at Camp
Murphy. And although it played an
important part in World War II, the
Camp is now gone…but Mother Nature
is alive and well in Hobe Sound.
Camp Murphy
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 S.E. Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
(561) 546-2771
BUZZ EXTRA
By Glenn Swift
ake Hooker is one of those
folks most people don’t
know by name, but they sure
as Hell know his music.
Remember that tune “I Love
Rock n’ Roll’? If you say no,
you’re either too young… or the 70s must
have really been rough on you. Billboard
and Rolling Stone magazines named it
one of rock’s all-time greatest hits.
Well…just in case you’re on a game
show, the song’s writers were Alan Merrill
and …you guessed it – Jake Hooker.
Now don’t think that good ole’ Hooker
just fell off a barstool one day and happened to help write a great song. He’s
had a few others…ummm…more than a
few. In fact, his songs have sold over 100
million records and grossed a staggering
$1.6 billion in sales. (Yes, that’s BILLION
with a “B.”) But as Paul Harvey says,
there’s more to the story…
Besides owning and managing several
companies that produce records, television shows, movies, videos, and live
events, Hooker has also written and produced numerous hits for various soundtracks: Flashdance, Top Gun, Rocky IV,
Iron Eagle, Wayne’s World, Charlie’s
Angels (The Movie), Ghost World, and
Story Telling…just to name a few.
And it all started in The Bronx.
“I made up my mind that I wanted to be a
rock star at 12 before I even picked up an
instrument,”
joked
Hooker.
“Unfortunately, at our school we didn’t
have any of the instruments we associate
with rock, and I couldn’t afford to buy
one. So, I picked up a saxophone…that
was at least close…and basically taught
myself how to play.”
Over the next two years, two good things
happened: 1) Hooker survived The
Bronx; 2) Hooker finally got his hands on
a guitar.
“Once I got a guitar, I learned how to play
very quickly.” Quickly is an understatement. Before his 15th birthday, Hooker
was playing in clubs in Manhattan’s
Greenwich Village with a high school
buddy, Alan Merrill.
“It was 1967 and Merrill and I were the
only two guys in high school with long
hair,” cracked Hooker. “We got one of our
first gigs at the Café Wha? in the Village.
The club was more like an undersized
basement than anything else.”
The Café Wha? might not have been the
Filmore East, but it was the first stepping
stone for what would become a remarkable career. Needless to say, there would
be a few bumps in the road.
Two years later, Hooker’s buddy Merrill
moved to Japan. But a mere 10,000
miles wasn’t enough to keep the two
musicians separated for very long, and
Hooker decided one summer to check
out the other side of the planet.
Before long the two were performing at
US Army bases and a number of clubs in
Tokyo. “But nothing really came out of it,”
said Hooker.
After graduating high school, he ended
up in Sweden for a while. “I didn’t want to
get drafted,” laughed Hooker. From
Sweden, Hooker decided to go to that
island bastion of rock n’ roll – Great
Britain.
“Alan and I were reunited for a while, but
again… nothing happened. I was beginning to worry a bit about my career.”
Understandable… Hooker was already a
ripe old 18.
After running out of money, the two budding stars returned to the U.S., where
they formed a hard-core street band,
Bengunn.
”We were pretty good and met with five
record company agents, but again nothing happened. I couldn’t get arrested in
New York.”
The two then decided to give the UK one
more chance. “We took advantage of
those $59 Laker Airways tickets at the
time.” The money was well spent. After
forming the band Streak with a couple
Brits, A&M records took an interest and
recorded a few singles. Despite a favorable review in Melody Maker, the big
contract never came.
“We lived the rock star lifestyle for a
while, the townhouse in London and the
Bentley to go with it. I mean we lived the
life the Rolling Stones pretended to live,”
cracked Hooker.
Problem was, the band didn’t have a
manager and lacked direction. “Looking
back, I was the manager, but didn’t know
it.”
With money running out, the boys of
Streak knew they’d better get their act
together…and soon.
At first Barry Krost, manager of Cat
Stevens, took a serious look as did Jerry
Weintraub, manager of Elvis Presley.
“We were supposed to tour with Elvis,”
said Hooker.
Again nothing. That is, until Mickey “The
Hit Maker” Most called Merrill and
Hooker in for an audition. Most had
worked with a number of superstars,
including Donovan, Jeff Beck, Lulu, and
The Animals.
The Hit Maker immediately took a liking
to the two kids from The Bronx. On short
notice, Paul Varley, the English drummer
from Streak was quickly impressed back
into action and a new group, The Arrows,
was formed under The Hit Maker’s direction. The band then cut a single on
Most’s RAK Records label, “Touch Too
Much.”
The year was 1974… and the song was
an overnight sensation, quickly making it
to number one on the UK charts. Over
the next two years, The Arrows followed
up their initial chart success with with five
more blockbuster hits: “Toughen Up,”
“My Last Night With You,” “I Love Rock n’
Roll,“ “Hard Hearted,” and “Once Upon a
Time.”
Then came the biggest break of all.
British TV legend, Muriel Young, decided
to produce a television series starring
you know who – The Arrows. For 28
weeks in ‘76 and ’77, The Arrows Show
ran on Britain’s ITV network with the
band performing their own songs and
guest stars performing theirs.
Arrowmania was born.
“It wasn’t quite Beatlemania, but it was
close,” said Hooker.
Bolstered by guests like The Bay City
Rollers, The Drifters, Gilbert O’Sullivan,
Slade, and other big-time acts, the show
enjoyed overwhelming popularity. In
truth, The Arrows were worshipped as
“rock gods” by young Brits and became
mainstays in the UK’s teen print media,
appearing in interviews and pin-ups in all
the glossy fan magazines of the day. The
group even had its own weekly cartoon
strip, which ran in Music Star magazine.
A book was also written about the band
by Bill Harry in 1976.
“We played to screaming crowds all over
Britain in many of the same venues that
The Beatles had once played, like the
Cavern Club in Liverpool,” Hooker
recalled.
But all glory is fleeting…Punk rock soon
took center stage and Britain’s teens
quickly changed allegiances. By 1978,
The Arrows were no more. Nevertheless,
the group made an indelible impact upon
pop music and all three of its members
went on to further their successful
careers.
These days, Hooker is president of Los
Angeles-based Edge Management, Inc.
– one of the nation’s leading artist management companies. He has two children, Jesse, 23, and Vanessa, 16, from a
former marriage to singer and actress
Lorna Luft, half-sister of Liza Minelli and
daughter of legendary singer and motion
picture megastar, Judy Garland.
In addition to his responsibilities with
Edge, Hooker is also a stockbroker.
Needless to say, he’s pretty busy.
When asked if he was currently working
on anything in particular musically,
Hooker replied with a touch of his usual
humor.
“I don’t just sit around making music anymore…I don’t have a band.”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
By Glenn Swift
en years ago, British
reggae great, Pato
Banton, was touring the
United States just like
he is now...but my how
things have changed.
THINGS ARE
DIFFERENT...THE
SECOND TIME AROUND
“Back then, it was all about seeking
success and making a name for myself.
Now it’s very different. I’ve achieved
far more than my wildest dreams and I
just want to give back. I look at music
as my ministry, my ministry of love.
And I want to spread that love to
everyone. After all, that’s really what
reggae is all about, showing one love
for all of humanity, regardless of what
color you are or what language you
speak,” said Banton, echoing the
words of the legendary Bob Marley a
generation ago.
Banton’s path to success was not
exactly paved in gold. The child of
Jamaican parents, Banton was born
and raised in the industrial city of
Birmingham, England, a breeding
ground for avant-garde musicians
going back to the R&B days of the
1950s and early 60s.
“Like so many before me, music
offered an escape from the often difficult everyday life in the city,” said
Banton. “And from the earliest I can
remember, I loved music. My father
was a DJ, and I listened to all different
types.”
But something magical happened
when Banton heard his first reggae
song. “I fell in love,” he said. “Ever
since, it’s been all about reggae.”
Reggae also offered Banton something
else, an identity to which he never had
before.
“I never felt completely comfortable in
Anglo-Saxon culture, because it wasn’t my culture. My heritage was that of
the African experience in the West
Indies. For me, reggae filled a cultural
void,” said Banton, ironically in his
distinctly English Midlands accent.
18
Banton began recording in 1982 with
Ranking Roger of English Beat. Three
years later, he appeared as a guest
artist on the UB40 album,
Baggariddim. It was about this time
that the budding star changed his name
from the Anglo-Saxon-sounding
Patrick Murray to the one with which
we are most familiar. (He had been
nicknamed “Pato” by his stepfather -Jamaican patois for “wise owl.” As for
“Banton,” that’s British urban street
jargon for “heavyweight DJ.”)
Banton’s solo debut was in 1987 with
the release of Never Give In, which
included a collaboration with the
renowned Paul Shaffer. After an EP in
1988, Banton released a more pop-oriented LP, Visions of the World, followed up two years later with Wize
Up! (No Compromise). This latter
work included a college radio hit in
“Spirits in the Material World” (later
covered by The Police) and another
collaboration, “Wize Up!,” with David
Hinds of Steel Pulse.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Banton then worked on a live album
with Mad Professor, before releasing
the highly-acclaimed Universal Law in
1992. After a British #1 hit in Baby
Come Back (originally recorded by
Eddie Grant while performing with
The Equals) with Robin and Ali
Campbell of UB40, a best-of album
was released. In 1996, he released Stay
Positive, which was followed in 2000
by Life Is a Miracle, for which Banton
received a Grammy nomination for
Best Reggae Album the following
year.
At the present time, Banton is touring
with Mystic Roots, a reggae band
formed out of Chico, California.
“It’s great performing in the States. In
many ways it’s a purer form of reggae.
Back in Britain, a great many of the
reggae artists have fused their work
with hip-hop, because the hip-hop and
reggae scenes there go hand in hand.
Then again, many reggae fans in the
UK don’t want to take a reggae artist
seriously unless they’re from
Jamaica.”
In some ways, success has opened new
doors for Banton.
“As an established artist, I’ve got a lot
more freedom to experiment in my
music and take some risks that I couldn’t afford to when I was just starting
out. Whereas so many reggae groups
will use the same basic rhythms over
and over, I prefer to mix it up.”
Something else makes Banton’s work
just a little different than the rest of the
herd. With so many musicians nowadays, it seems to be only about them.
Well, not with Banton.
“I’ve always had a big band, and I like
to showcase the other musicians so
that each one can display their own
individual talent and style.”
You can hear Pato Banton live, along
with another reggae superstar, Mikey
Dread, at the Sunrise Theatre in historic downtown Ft. Pierce on Saturday,
August 4. Showtime is 8pm. For more
information, please call 772-461-4775
or visit www.sunrisetheatre.com.
BACK STAGE BUZZ
By Robert Hooper
he Lyric Theatre
located in historic
downtown Stuart has
announced
two
power-packed shows
for the month of
August: The Clayton Miller Band,
scheduled for Saturday, August 4
at 7pm, and Peter and Gordon,
with two shows slated for 4pm
and 7pm on Saturday, August 11.
The Clayton Miller Band is
arguably the hottest and most
talented blues family in the country right now, and the allure of
this young family band, along
with their innate talent, hard
work, and rocking crazy musicianship will bring you to your
feet – dancing and applauding
for more.
Peter and Gordon became the
very first British Invasion act after
the Beatles in June of 1964 to
take the number one spot on the
American charts with “A World
Without Love.” Incredibly, in
August of 2005, the dynamic duo
reunited onstage for the first time
in over 30 years.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity
to see these two exciting acts
LIVE and in person at the Lyric
Theatre. For tickets or more
information, please call (772)
286-7827 or visit www.lyrictheatre.com.
One more thing...Please remember to tell our friends at the Lyric
that you read about these two
exciting shows right here in The
Local Buzz Magazine!
The Clayton Miller Band - Photo Provided
BUZZ ADVICE
The Buzzed
Perspective
& Ask Darcy
Dear Darcy,
My best friend “Chad” is totally in love with this girl who’s been dating one of
our other friends for years. She could care less about him and all he does is
talk about her. It’s really been bothering me and I hate to admit it, because I
think I might like him. The problem is … we’re both guys. I find myself just in
awe of him, and he’s the person I choose to be around the most. I’d do anything for Chad. Lately, I even find the urge to come on to him. I don’t think he
has any idea about how strong my feelings really are.
By Michelle Kaplan
[email protected]
he Fourth of July should have
been celebrated with a bigger
bang this year, because
Americans love their freedom
so much… we just want to slap
a little on everyone. If you can’t
earn your own, it’s ok… we’ll
die trying to give you some.
But if anyone is deserving of some freedom, I
think it’s the soldiers in Iraq who should be
home by now woofing down burgers, guzzling
beer and telling war stories to their friends. It’s
been a long five years.
But it’s ok.
If you want to know about earning real freedom, let’s ask Paris Hilton because, oh, my
God, she spent a whole twenty-three days in
the big house and damn it, she should know. I
can’t wait for the book she pays someone to
write about “Paris, Doing Time.” What should
she call it? How I Survived the Cell Without
My Cell. No, how about Prison is Hell: How I
Survived Twenty-Three Days Without
Clubbing, Shopping and Prada. Of course,
there has to be a follow-up book. She could
have someone write a “how to” book for her.
It could be called: Let’s Get Drunk and Total
Our Really Expensive Cars and Go Car
Shopping with a Hangover! – How Cool!
Actually, she should stick to things she knows;
a better book title for her would be: Hilton
Head – It’s Not Just a Tourist Trap in South
Carolina.
Maybe Paris should sit down with Nelson
Mandela and have a little chat about real freedom.
A better example yet…someone out there who
is celebrating this symbolic holiday of freedom like no other. Scooter Libby, who must be
turning cartwheels and kissing ass big time.
Since his appeal was rejected a few weeks
ago, his friend George W. stepped in and commuted his sentence. Dubya must figure it can’t
hurt his approval rating any to commute the
sentence of a man who was convicted on four
of five counts and sentenced to 30 months in a
federal prison for obstruction of justice, perjury, and making false statements in the grand
jury investigation into the CIA leak, a.k.a. the
Plame affair.
Maybe OJ Simpson can call old Scooter up for
a tee time. They should have a lot to talk
about, and Scooter should have nothing but
time on his hands since he was disbarred.
Unless, of course, a well-connected friend can
help him out on that front…hmm, I wonder.
The presidential pardon itself is a little bit “get
out of jail free card,” and when you think
back, none of them quite seem on the up and
up. Some have been perceived as tied to
favors, money, friends, relatives or all of the
above. Either way, when it happens, the public
doesn’t seem to be generally giving a standing
ovation in agreement with these acts of presidential kindness.
President Clinton pardoned or commuted 140
on his last day of office alone, including convicted drug dealer, Carlos A. Vignali, who had
served six years of a 15-year sentence.
“Pardongate,” as it was called in the press was
highly criticized to the point where a federal
prosecutor was appointed to investigate the
acts. James Comey, who found no reason to
indict Clinton, replaced the initial investigator
Mary Jo White.
There have been about 20,000 instances of
granting clemency, and pardons by US presidents in the 20th Century. All part of doing
business... or as we all like to call it... politics.
Then there are those who didn’t get convicted
at all. If someone could write a book about
“How I Got Off Easy,” it should be Donald
Rumsfeld. In a suit that charged him with violations of the U.S. Constitution and international law prohibiting torture, cruel, inhuman
and/or degrading punishment filed by the
American Civil Liberties Union and Human
Rights First on behalf of eight detainees who
claimed that they were tortured by U.S forces,
a federal judge dropped the lawsuit this past
March citing that U.S. Government officials
cannot be held personally responsible for
actions committed while in office – WHAT?
Yes, you read that right.
This kinda makes me feel all teary-eyed for
Don Imus. He was made responsible for something he said – how unfair.
Maybe our president should just release
Charles Manson; after all, he’s served a very
long sentence and he’s high profile enough,
but unfortunately he’s broke, so I guess he’ll
keep banging the tin cup against his cage in
the Gray Bar, not Hilton Hotel.
Does that mean I’m gay? Should I tell him? What does this mean for my
future or about me? And what about my friendship with Chad? I’ve never felt
this way about any other guy before.
Sincerely,
Gayzed and confused
Dear Gayzed and Confused,
Yea, that sounds confusing alright and your questions
are indicative of your confusion. This is the first time
you’ve encountered feelings for someone of the same
gender and you have every right to feel conflicted. I
wouldn’t act on any of your feelings as of yet, not physically or verbally towards Chad. First you need to figure
some things out about yourself. You do not want to act
hastily and possibly destroy your friendship.
Whether you are gay or not will ultimately be up to you to determine.
Certainly, the journey of discovering your sexual identity and interests is a
worthy endeavor to obtain a life of personal integrity. Here are my suggestions
to assist you in determining your sexual preference.
Learn the definition of gay/homosexual and bisexual.
Explore your feelings and experiences with men and women.
Would you consider an intimate relationship with a man?
Obtain a sex therapist to support you through this time of self exploration.
They can serve as a catalyst to help you answer some of those very confusing questions.
Familiarize yourself with the work of Dr. Alfred Kinsey and the Kinsey scale at
www.kinseyinstiture.org.
Many people will have homosexual experiences in their lives and continue to
maintain their status as heterosexual. Some people consider themselves simply as “curious.” Once you find some clarity with your sexuality, you can than
determine whether to share your sexual feelings with your friend or not. Often
living in truth with your true self does have negative implications. It is ultimately the choice of each individual whether to take the risk or play it safe.
Remember these words by Elton John, “There is nothing wrong with going to
bed with someone of your own sex. People should be very free with sex, they
should draw the line at goats.“
Shine On,
Darcy Von Ohlen, LCSW
Darcy Von Ohlen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working in social
work and mental health for the last 10 years.She’s worked in hospitals, schools, outpatient mental health agencies and private practice. Most recently, she is focusing her
career in the direction of youth and substance abuse prevention.If you have a question
or comment for Darcy, you can contact her at [email protected]
POSITIVE PARENTING
video games, TV, and the Internet. It's up to
parents to limit their child's exposure to
video games, especially the more violent
ones, which can emphasize negative
themes and promote any of the following:
(source: Factsforfamilies.org)
By Jill DiLiberto, M.A.
ver the past few weeks the
subject of video game
addiction was frequently in
the news. The issue was
whether or not to label
excessive use of video
games as an “addiction,”
and actually have it included in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders – the standard diagnostic
text used by psychiatrists and mental health
professionals all over the world. Well, on
June 27, 2007, the American Medical
Association (AMA) ruled that there is not
enough evidence to do this…yet. They further stated that video game overuse is most
prevalent among users who play against
others online in "massive multi-player
online role-playing games." The council's
report defined "heavy game use" as at least
two hours a day, but one of the doctors on
the committee felt that addictions should be
defined by how much they impact a person’s daily life – including school performance, family relationship, and social interactions. More research will be conducted
on this issue, as well as a review of the
video game ratings system, which was first
put in place in 1994. This should assist parents in monitoring the types of video games
their children are buying and playing.
As a therapist and a parent of a teenager,
the use of video games and online games
by close to 90% of U.S. teens (2005 –
Entertainment Software Association) is of
great concern to me. Look how far technology has come since the release of “Pong,”
the simple, black and white, non-violent
video game of the early 1980’s. Video gaming is now a multibillion-dollar industry,
which brings in more money than movies
and DVD’s. I have concerns about the violent aspects of some video games and the
threat to the emotional development of our
young people. This sentiment seems to be
shared by the majority of the American
public, according to a survey of more than
1,000 parents of children aged 2 to 17 that
was released very recently (Kaiser Family
Foundation), where two-thirds of parents
responding stated that they were "very concerned" about the amount of sex and violence their children are exposed to with
1. The killing of children, adults, or animals
2. The use and abuse of drugs and alcohol
3. Criminal behavior and disrespect for
authority and the law
4. Sexual exploitation/violence to women
5. Racial, sexual, and gender stereotypes
6. Foul language
Studies of children exposed to violence
have shown that they can become immune
to the idea of violence, imitate the violence
they see, and exhibit more aggressive
behavior. Some begin to use violence in an
attempt to solve their problems. Kids who
spend large amounts of time playing video
games may have poor social skills, spend
less time with family, less time on homework, and other hobbies/physical activity.
In addition, their grades may drop, they
read less, and become overweight.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
Look at the ratings. Video games have ratings to indicate violent content, strong language, mature sexual themes, etc. The ratings, established for the Entertainment
Software Review Board, range from EC
(meaning Early Childhood), which indicates that the game is appropriate for kids
ages 3 and older, to AO (for Adults Only),
which indicates that violent or graphic sexual content makes it appropriate only for
adults.
Preview the games. Even with the ratings,
it's still important to preview the games (or
even play them) before you give them to
your child. The game's rating may not
match what you feel is appropriate for your
child.
·
Help your child get perspective on the
games. Monitor how the games are affecting your child. If your child seems more
aggressive after spending time playing a
certain game, it's a good idea to discuss the
game and help your child understand how
the violence that's portrayed is different
from what occurs in the real world. By
doing that, you can help your child identify
less with the aggressive characters and
reduce the negative effects that the violent
video games can have.
Set clear rules. Make it clear to your children which ratings are acceptable and how
much time they can play per day (both in
your home and when they are at a friend’s
home).
Warn children about the Internet. Make
sure your children understand the potential
dangers of Internet contacts if they are
playing games online.
Happy Parenting!
HEALTH TIPS
by Robert A. Kutner, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist- PY4623
common myth exists
that marriage couples
are much happier than
their single counterparts.
Just how accurate is this
myth? A recent longitudinal study sheds new
light on the association between marital
status and happiness. Researchers
have found that people get only a very
small boost in life satisfaction from marriage. The increase in happiness is
approximately one-tenth of one point
on an 11-point scale -- and is likely due
to initial reactions to marriage. Data
from the 15-year study of over 24,000
individuals also indicates that most
people who get married and stayed
married are more satisfied with their
lives than their non-married peers long
before the marriage occurred. Although
people may initially react strongly to life
events, evidence suggests that they
eventually return to their normal levels
of happiness. Even people who have
won huge amounts of money or who
have experienced debilitating injuries
appear not to greatly differ in life satisfaction from the average person.
Psychologist and study lead author
Richard E. Lucas, Ph.D., of Michigan
State University says he and his colleagues found that most people were
no more satisfied with life after marriage than they were prior to marriage.
Widows and widowers were less satisfied with life after the death of their
spouse than they were prior to marriage, but even they showed signs of
adaptation and most eventually
returned close to their initial life satisfaction levels. An additional and unexpected finding of the study is that the
most satisfied people reacted least positively to marriage and most negatively
to divorce and widowhood. This finding
shows the importance of the total circumstances of their life and not just
their personality, according to the
researchers.
companionship of marriage. On the
other hand, the person who is lonely
and, therefore, somewhat dissatisfied,
can gain much by marrying. Similarly,
the person who is very satisfied with his
or her life because their marriage is
wonderful has more to lose if their
spouse dies," said the authors, who call
this process "hedonic leveling" because
it tends to equalize people's overall
happiness levels.
"An event such as marriage or divorce
does not have the same implications for
all individuals. A person who is very satisfied with life probably has a rich social
network and has less to gain from the
This article was taken in part from the
June 2007 APA Monitor publication. If
you have any questions or comments,
please contact Dr. Robert Kutner at
[email protected]
PAGE TURNER
ort St. Lucie’s
independent coffee house and
music
venue,
Exodus
Coffee
and Culture, is set
to celebrate their two-year
anniversary with a 60s themed
party by recreating a 60s Love
In. So, dress in your 60s rags
and come on out to Exodus. It’s
going to be a gas!
The event will take place at
Exodus Coffee and Culture in
Port St. Lucie, 1352 SW
Bayshore Blvd. on August 4,
2007 from 6:00pm to 2:00 am.
There will be a special musical
tribute to 60s music legends,
The Grateful Dead, with live
performances by Orlando’s
most prolific and enduring
bands, funkUs, featuring Toni
Brown.
Brown has an instantly recognizable name in the Jam Band
Circuit, and from 1980-2000,
she was the publisher of Relix
Magazine. Touring nationally
since 1995, Brown has shared
the stage with many musical
friends, from Blues Traveler,
Warren Haynes, Leftover
Salmon and Vassar Clements,
to the original members of the
Grateful Dead. funkUs, has
been dubbed “flavor rock,” and
are responsible for organizing
Jambando @ Hard Rock Live,
a continuing concert series.
The event is free and there will
be raffles to win prizes, but you
must be dressed in 60s attire to
enter.
VIDEO GAME PAGE
FEATURE
OF THE MONTH
TIP OF THE MONTH:
BY
ROGER EBERT
Movie Reviews
done by the only
motion picture
critic to ever win
the Pulitzer Prize.
Roger
Ebert
& Colleagues
Roger Ebert
AT THE MOVIES
Transformers
"Transformers" (sci-fi
action/adventure, PG-13, 140
minutes). Shia LaBeouf stars as a
high school student who gets a
used Camaro that is part of an
invasion by two groups of battling
robots. The Transformers and
Decepticons can twist, fold and
double in upon themselves, like a
Rubik's Cube crossed with a contortionist. Opening scenes are exciting and funny, with a lot of stuff that blows up real good, but the
grand finale, robots battling in special effects, goes on too long. Rating: Three stars.
Evan Almighty
(comedy, PG, 95 minutes). There's no movie here -- just a concept that holds little promise and can't even deliver on those low expectations. Out of the blue,
God (Morgan Freeman) appears and tells Evan (Steve Carell) to build an ark.
This witless effort could have been called "God Is My Co-Signer." Rating: One
star (Richard Roeper).
HARRY POTTER 5
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (Fantasy, PG-13, 138 minutes).
Harry is convinced the evil Voldemort has returned, but no one will heed his
warning, and the Ministry of Magic cracks down, imposing a fearsome new
teacher (Imelda Staunton) at Hogwarts. Her name is Umbridge, and she takes
plenty. Harry and friends hatch a plot to defend Headmaster Dumbledore from
her ravages, in a movie that is darker, more solemn, less whimsical than we
expect in the series. Rating: Two and a half stars.
License to Wed
(PG-13, 91 minutes). The best part of this movie comes fairly late, after you
haven't laughed nearly enough and long after you've decided you don't care
about the characters, not one bit. It's when John Krasinski punches Robin
Williams in the face. Williams plays Rev. Frank, a Robin Williams-like minister
who teaches a mandatory prep course for adults who want to be married in
his church. The affable Krasinski and charming Mandy Moore play the happy
couple, who are put through the paces. Director Ken Kwapis attempts to draw
out humor and ends up stepping into creepy. (Teresa Budasi)
Live Free or
Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard" (Action,
PG-13, 130 minutes). Nearly two
decades after creating one of
the most iconic antihero cops in
modern action-movie history, a
lean and now bullet-headed
Bruce Willis is in classic form as
NYPD Det. John McClane, who
is once again thrust into a cataclysmic emergency in which he
is facing insurmountable odds.
Two hours of pure adrenaline.
Rating: Three stars.
(Richard Roeper)
AT THE MOVIES
Coming to theaters
Coming to DVD
Movies Opening July 9
HARRY POTTER AND
THE
ORDER
OF THE
JULY 10
PHOENIX
(PG-13)
DRAMA/MEX (NR) SHORTCUT
TO
HAPPINESS
(PG-13)
CAPTIVITY (R)
THE STRANGERS (R)
TALK
TO
ME (R)
INTERVIEW (REMAKE) (R)
MY BEST FRIEND (PG-13)
FIERCE PEOPLE (R)
GOYA'S GHOSTS (R)
HAIRSPRAY (PG)
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (PG13)
SUNSHINE (R)
ARCTIC TALE (PG)
THIS
IS
ENGLAND (NR)
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME (R)
MOLIERE (PG-13)
NO RESERVATIONS (PG)
SKINWALKERS (PG-13)
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (PG-13)
WHO'S YOUR CADDY? (PG-13)
Movies Opening Aug 03
BECOMING JANE (PG)
BRATZ: THE MOVIE (NR)
CHARLIE BARTLETT (R)
CUT SLEEVE BOYS (R)
EL CANTANTE (R)
HOT ROD (NR)
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (NR)
THE TEN (R)
UNDERDOG (PG)
The Astronaut Farmer 2007 PG
Brutal 2007 NR
Cherry Crush 2007 R
The Contractor 2007 R
The Last Mimzy 2007 PG
The Last Time 2006 R
Super Sweet 16: The Movie 2007 NR
JULY 17
Dynamite Warrior 2006 NR
The Hills Have Eyes 2 2007 R
Masters of Horror: The Black Cat 2006 NR
Perfect Creature 2006 R
Premonition 2007 PG-13
Surf School 2006 R
Yo-Yo Girl Cop 2006 NR
JULY 24
Cashback 2006 R
The Host 2006 NR
Live Free or Die 2006 R
The Number 23 2006 R
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 2006 R
Renaissance 2006 R
Shadow Puppets 2007 NR
Slow Burn 2007 R
Zodiac 2007 R
JULY 31
Bloodlines 2007 NR
The Darwin Awards 2006 R
Everything's Gone Green 2006 R
Firehouse Dog 2007 PG
Hot Fuzz 2007 R
Lonely Hearts 2006 R
Pathfinder 2007 R
AUG 07
Are We Done Yet? 2007 PG
Disturbia 2007 PG-13
I Think I Love My Wife 2007 R
Unaccompanied Minors 2006 PG
WHEEL S
ENTERTAINING ODDS
Who will get engaged first?
Prince William................................. even
Prince Harry.................................... 2/1
Between the Lines: "Dateline" had its highest ratings in 20
years when Matt Lauer interviewed Prince William and
Prince Harry. The princes also threw a concert July 1 in
honor of their mother, Princess Diana. So the princes are
hot. And there was a Kate Middleton sighting at the show.
Kate, William's former girlfriend, was spotted three rows
behind the future king, and the tabs in England are running
wild with stories about these two getting back together, getting engaged and getting married. As William is the heir to
the throne after his father, Prince Charles, "Hollywood &
Line" has no doubt that Wills -- yeah, we call him Wills -- will
be the first brother to buy a diamond ring.
If "Sexy Thoughts" does not hold up, what will Paula Abdul
choose as the name for her new perfume?
Duh............................................. 3/1
Confused........................................ 4/1
Hey Paula ... Don't Drink This.................. 5/1
Essence of Idol................................. 7/1
Simon Sez....................................... 8/1
Eau de In-N-Out Burger......................... 25/1
Between the Lines: Have you seen Paula Abdul's new show, "Hey Paula"? What a train wreck, but it does
make for great TV. In one of the early episodes, Paula is taken to a perfume manufacturer in an effort to come
up with a scent for her new fragrance. Of course, "Hollywood & Line" is always ready with a helping hand.
The two favorites, "Duh" and "Confused," are easy if you have seen any of Paula's YouTube clips where she
melted down on an "American Idol" press junket. But with her love of fast food, "Eau de In-N-Out Burger"
might be a great wager as a long shot at odds of 25/1.
OFF THE CUFF
claiming malfeasance.
By Glen Swift Jr.
Buzz Writer
h, Myspace – don't
you love it?
What has appeared
to be a haven for
perverted computer
nerds to surf the net, get in touch
with their inner-slut-self and
chase the dream that one day,
near or far, they may actually get
laid, has exploded since its conception in November of 2003.
Now three and a half years and
over 100 million accounts later,
it is the third most popular website in the United States.
Clearly, that’s nothing to scoff at.
Yet, while pedophiles the world
over are checking out pictures of
your 15-year-old daughter’s
cleavage, Brad Greenspan,
founder of MySpace’s parent
company, Intermix, spoke out
against last year’s merger with
News Corp (yes, the same folks
who own Fox News). Claiming
the deal was "the largest merger and acquisition scandal in
U.S. history" he argues that the
company cheated its shareholders out of as much as $20 billion,
and has since called for investigations to be launched by both
the Justice Department and the
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission.
The accusations circle primarily
around certain Intermix board
members,
including
CEO
Richard Rosenblatt, of deceiving
shareholders into voting for the
transaction even though they
knew the company was undervalued. He cited internal reports
showing that MySpace revenues
were growing at a rate of over
1,200 percent a year to further
strengthen his position.
"I expect as the authorities get
their arms around what happened, that this transaction will
31
be unwound and Myspace will
be
independent,"
said
Greenspan in an interview for
www.freemyspace.com.
"An
independent Myspace is significantly better for its users and
shareholders,"
added
Greenspan.
Among the charges levied
against News Corp. are self
dealing, insider trading, options
acceleration, and unfair process
related to the purchase. A News
Corp. spokesman was quick to
respond,
describing
Greenspan’s allegations as simply "sour grapes." However, this
did not deter numerous Intermix
shareholders of filing a sea of
lawsuits against both News
Corp. and VantagePoint Venture
Partners, a venture capital firm
involved in the transaction,
The forces aligned against overturning the purchase would take
a quick blow; however, as a Los
Angelas Superior Court dismissed challenges of the merger. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl disagreed with Greenspan's position, ruling the merger was lawful and had been approved by a
majority of Intermix shareholders. Additionally, she rejected
the plaintiff’s claims of withheld
information.
Quite pleased with the ruling,
News Corp.'s Rosenblatt said to
webpronews.com, "I have exercised great restraint in not
responding to Mr. Greenspan's
baseless and defamatory claims
about the propriety of the News
Corp. acquisition and my role in
the transaction, with the expectation of being vindicated by a
court of law."
Rosenblatt later added, "Lost in
all the rhetoric is that we delivered to the shareholders, including Mr. Greenspan, a nearly
700% increase in stock price."
Nevertheless, the two companies must still fight what
appears by all indications to be a
lengthy federal case.
So whether or not Intermix or
News Corp. or whoever did anything wrong, I think Mr.
Greenspan has learned his lesson. And yes, multi-million dollar
corporations can be a little
greedy. He might have to take
that with a grain of salt, but I’ll
bet he'll be ok.
Matter of fact…he’s probably
relaxing in his condo in Boca as
we speak.
Tune in next month as The
Local Buzz Magazine examines
other issues in this continuing
saga: customer service, censorship…and much, much more.
by Jacqueline
J U LY
2 0 0 7
Aries March 21 – April 19
Your social skills are coming out this month. Whether it’s throwing a
social event or planning a business meeting, you’ll be the one in the
spotlight. Use it to your advantage. You’ll find new opportunities that will
be to your benefit in both business and your personal lives.
Taurus April 20 – May 20
You’ll be balancing responsibilities and opportunities this month. Try not
to let one win over the other. With the Mercury retrograde on the 9th
you’ll have to take more time than what you had planned to accomplish
your tasks. Relax, you’ll catch up. Your life is making a change and
there’s no hiding. Know it’s all for the better.
Gemini May 21 – June 21
Now aren’t you glad June is over! Finally you have a chance to breathe
again. Life is slowing down and giving you the opportunity to do a little
research or catch up on some things you’ve set aside. A financial situation will require your attention. Take your time looking for the best solution.
Cancer June 22 – July 22
Happy Solar Return! You’ll be looking for others to be more responsible
instead of you having to carry the burden. Look outside your normal
group for support and be open to the unique or different; you’ll be surprised at the results. This is a time to change your normal routine. Go
with the flow and see where it all lands.
Leo July 23 – August 22
You are now in the final phase of the restrictions that have been placed
upon you. Slow and steady wins the race. This is not the time to be the
leader, but to find your path within the masses. Don’t forget to take
some time to allow the child within to come out and play. This will be
your refuge.
Virgo August 23 – September 22
This is a month to physically build and grow. The first of the month is
your planning stage. After the Void of Course full moon on the 14th,
start to physically make it happen. Don’t worry if things don’t go the
way you planned. It’s making the natural corrections along the way.
Trust me; you’ll be happy with the finished product.
Libra September 23 – October 22
You’re more passionate and impatient than usual right now, which helps
you in making decisions. You have a lot of choices this month; however, don’t be hasty in deciding on the first thing. Your time restrictions are
false and if you search for the right thing, you’ll find it and have fewer
regrets in the future.
Scorpio October 23 – November 21
You’re keyword for this month is choice. It may be a difficult path right
now, picking which is the lesser of two greater evils, but you usually do
best under pressure. The New Moon on the 14th will guide you in using
your intuitive side to make the right decision. Keep in mind the words
“no fear” and you’ll be guided in the right direction even though it may
not look like it at the time.
Sagittarius November 22 –December 21
Make your plans before the New Moon on the 14th and accomplish
them after that, especially in your personal life. You’re learning how to
follow through to the end and that everything has its right time. Listen to
your friends and loved ones now, but don’t come to a conclusion
regarding the circumstances until next month.
Capricorn December 22 – January 19
You’re at the halfway point in your year and you find your head and
heart in conflict. Remember, this is the year for you to succeed through
your artistic and creative abilities. Your success lies within keeping to
the path you’ve chose, even though you may find it a little challenging
right now.
Aquarius January 20 –February 18
Finally everything comes to a head the beginning of this month. The
sudden changes that have taken place will come to an end. Now is the
time to put everything back into place. However, you must go with the
flow and live in the moment. Things may not go the way you’re anticipating, but they will turn out right.
Pisces February 19- March 20
While everyone else is getting caught up in the changes that are going
on now, you’re settling into your peace and harmony. Your clarity is
high this month, so take note. Know who your friends and supporters
are, and who is not. Allow what doesn’t serve you to disappear and
spend more time enjoying the company of your true friends.
32
ASTROL OGY
H O R O S C O P E S
Are you getting tired of all the changes that have been transpiring? Well, relax
because it will hit its peak this month with that nasty Mercury retrograde going
direct on the 9th, and the Void of Course New Moon on the 14th; we’ll be on the
down slide. However, it’ll feel like it’s not going fast enough for you when Venus-conjunct-Saturn goes retrograde on the 27th and the full moon arrives on the 29th.
Relax; this is not a time for urgency. All will be done in its right time and will be to
the benefit of all in the greater scheme of life.
For those who want to know:
The planet Mars rules our actions. If it is close enough to the Earth or with a telescope, it appears to be red. This is because it is ruled by the first of the fire signs,
Aries. Last month Mars was in its natural sign Aries and it brought us to be accident
prone and gave urgency to our life. This month our actions become more grounded,
because it’s now in Taurus, which allows us to follow our personal values and beliefs
to achieve our highest goals.
Monthly horoscopes by Jacqueline. For more information call: 772.286.2720
COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR
FRIDAY, JULY 13
SUNDAY, JULY 22
(cont’d)
Theater: Seussical, Jr. &
Disney's AristoCats Kids
WHEN: 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm
WHERE: Lyric Theatre,
59 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart
INFO: (772) 286-7827
COST: $19
Film: Hiding Victoria
WHEN: 3:00 pm
WHERE: Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second
Street, Fort Pierce
INFO: (772) 461-4884
COST: 48 Tickets: (772) 461-4775
THURSDAY, JULY 19
SATURDAY, JULY 28
Outdoors: Sunrise Sea Turtle Walks
WHEN: Thu, 7/19 6:30 am - 7:30 pm Thu, 7/26
6:30 am - 7:30 pm
WHERE: Florida Oceanographic Coastal
Center, 890 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart
INFO: (772) 225-0505
COST: Nonmembers $8
The Cowsills
WHEN: 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm
INFO: (772) 286-7827
COST: 25-$30
FRIDAY, JULY 20
Theater: Robin Hood
WHEN: 7:00 pm
WHERE: Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second
Street, Fort Pierce
INFO: (772) 461-4884
COST: Adults $10; students w/ID and children
under 18 $5 Tickets: (772) 461-4775
SATURDAY, JULY 21
Latin: Celebration of International Culture featuring Conjunto Progreso
WHEN: 8:00 pm
WHERE: Blake Library,
2351 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart
INFO: (772) 288-5702
COST: Free
Outdoors: Snorkeling on Bathtub Reef
WHEN: 9:30 am
INFO: (772) 225-0505
COST: Members $5; nonmembers $8
Concert: Celebration of International Culture
WHEN: 8:00 pm, 8/24 8:00 pm
WHERE: Blake Library,
2351 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart
INFO: (772) 288-5702
COST: Free - - tickets required, available 2nd
Monday before event
Folk: Jennifer Breeze
WHEN: 7:00 pm
INFO: (772) 286-7827
COST: $15
Outdoors: Seining in the Indian River Lagoon
WHEN: 9:30 am - 12 Noon
INFO: (772) 225-0505
COST: Members $5; nonmembers $8
SATURDAY, AUG 4
Blues: The Clayton Miller Band
WHEN: 7:00 pm
INFO: (772) 286-7827
COST: $28-$32
Concert: RiverWalk Jazz Series featuring the
Rodolfo Zuniga Quintet
WHEN: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
WHERE: Downtown Stuart, 121 S.W. Flagler
Ave., Stuart
INFO: (772) 288-5335
COST: Free
ON-GOING EVENTS
Open Mic Night
WHEN: Every Tuesday 7pm til ?
WHERE: Planet Smoothie Cafe
3940 NW Federal Hwy, Jensen Beach
Info: 692-0195
Brady’s Burger Bunch BIKE NITE
WHEN: Every Thursday
WHERE: 860 S. Federal Hwy , Stuart
INFO: 772-223-7711
SUNDAY, JULY 22
Outdoors: Family Adventure
WHEN: 7/7,7/21,8/4, 10:00 am - 11:30 am,
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
WHERE: Jonathan Dickenson State Park,
16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound
INFO: (561) 745-5551
COST: Park admission
Rock: Candlebox
WHEN: 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Mojo Room,
6682 South US Hwy 1, Port St Lucie
INFO: (772) 468-0150
COST: $20.50
Downtown Farmers' Market
WHEN: Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon
WHERE: Downtown Fort Pierce, Second Street
and Orange Avenue, Fort Pierce
INFO: (772) 940-1145
COST: Free
ON-GOING EVENTS
(cont’d)
Bike Night
WHEN: Every Thursday, 7:30pm
WHERE: Downtown Fort Pierce
Information: (772) 466-3880
Stuart Green Market
WHEN: Every Sunday 9:00am - 1:00pm
WHERE: Shaded Memorial Park
Downtown Stuart on East Ocean Blvd
(just east of the courthouse)
Information: (772) 283-1995
Merrotica's Coffee Cafe Open Mic Night
When: Wed 8:00 pm till ?
Where: Merrotica's Coffee Cafe
4745 S. E. DeSoto Stuart, FL 34997
Info: (772) 223-7077
Submit your calendar event for free by:
E-mail: [email protected]
(INBOX ONLY)
Mail: Buzz Calendar
P.O. BOX 9016
Port St. Lucie, FL 34985
For comments or questions e-mail:
[email protected]
We will include your arts and entertainment events in our
listings if you mail, e-mail or fax us at least 10 days before
the desired publication date. Include date, time, cost,
address, and public information phone number. A contact
name and number are also requested for verification purposes. Listings are included as space permits. Limit 3 listings unless prior approval by publisher.
WHILE YOU’RE W AITING
Universal Crossword
Edited by Timothy E. Parker July 21, 2007
ACROSS
1 Israel’s
neighbor
6 Having ___
hair day
10 An itemized
deduction
14 Craves
15 Andes
country
16 Rombauer
or “la
Douce’’
17 Pixies
18 Analgesic
target
19 Trim with
scissors
20 Start of a
quip
23 Some math
answers
24 Tease
28 Quip (Part 2)
32 Fleshy fruit
33 Propose a
candidate
34 Cardinals
great Brock
35 Copier
38 Greek
letters
39 Bundle
40 Extensively
43 Group of
girls, e.g.
44 Quip (Part 3)
48 Old port of
Rome
49 Tally on a
gun handle
50 End of the
quip
56 Wine region
59 T-bone
order
60 Implant
61 Swank
62 On the
Indian
63 State of the
union
64 Foot part
65 Visionary
66 German
industrial
city
DOWN
1 Knocked off
a dragon
2 Time to
drink
eggnog
3 Invitation
letters
4 Say over
5 Maintain
6 Seem
7 Words with
“mind’’
(remembers)
8 Excessively
dry
9 Sand pile
10 Contempt
11 Very large
coffee
holder
12 Beatles
label
13 Easy mark
21 Membership
cost
22 Upbeat, in
music
25 Beaver, at
times
26 Musical
interval of
eight tones
27 Destitute
28 Restaurant
29
30
31
32
35
36
37
41
42
43
45
46
“SAVING MONEY”
seating
choices
Protective
trinket
Billion-year
stretch
Dallas sch.
Philosopher
who wrote
the “The
Republic’’
Lend ___
(pay close
attention)
Grp. for Els
Airport info.
Imposing
structure
Award
recipient
Group of
Atlantic
islands
“Have ___!’’
(hero’s
reassurance)
Catchall
abbr.
47 Conspire
51 Precambrian
and
Paleozoic
52 Relaxation
53 Stats for
David Ortiz
54 Trait carrier
55 Adam’s
habitation
56 Rm. coolers
57 HBO
alternative
58 Up to that
time
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
© 2007 Universal Press Syndicate
www.upuzzles.com
by Robert H. Wolfe

Budding Welsh Hip-Hop Star Speaks Out

Transcription

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