Leave it to Bruce Springsteen to make a documentary about his career that doesn't really focus on him. Produced by Ridley Scott, Springsteen and I is created by fans, for fans, and includes some unseen performances.
Scott says, "This beautifully crafted film provides a unique insight into the powerful bond between a recording artist and those who connect so profoundly with his music."
The doc hits theaters on July 22nd. No info on a local showing yet, but we'll keep you posted! Check out the trailer below.
One more reason living in the Seattle area has its advantages - we're close to nature in every direction. So close, that the city has ranked in the top 10 for urban areas that offer great outdoor spaces.
According to Mother Nature Network, "NerdWallet analyzed 53 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas to find the best urban destinations for nature lovers. The personal finance website looked at each city's acres of park land, number of national parks within 100 miles, average annual precipitation and air quality ranking to determine its top picks." While Seattle didn't do well in the "annual precipitation" part (of course), it made #9 on the list because of the numerous parks in the metro area, as well as 9 national parks within driving distance. Yea, it's a pretty great place to live... but we already knew that. :)
If you're looking to travel, Albuquerque is #1 because of its many parks and green spaces and average 310 days of sunshine a year. 310! I don't even remember what that's like.
On this day in 1983, David Bowie's "Let's Dance" knocked Michael Jackson's "Beat It" out of the #1 spot on the chart. It was Bowie's only song to hit #1 on the US and UK charts. Which one is #1 in your mind, 30years later - "Let's Dance" or "Beat It?"
Have an old refrigerator that you're ready to part with? Puget Sound Energy will give you a new one FOR FREE! Since older appliances can suck up more energy than newer items, PSE is replacing those old fridges with new Energy Star models. Pretty good deal, right?
To qualify, you must:
You must own the old appliance and be a PSE electric customer living in a single family home with four or less attached units.
For your old refrigerator to qualify for free replacement, it should be:
10-30 cubic feet
Manufactured in 1992 or before
In working/ cooling condition
The primary food storage in the kitchen
Plugged into a properly grounded (3-prong) outlet to ensure safety
Owned by the resident or resident has received written landlord permission
Ex-bassist Mike Mills tells Rolling Stone that nothing's changed since their split two years ago. Mills explains, "We said we're done and we're done. If we honestly thought there was a chance of a reunion tour, we might have said so at the time... Absolutely nobody can predict the future. But right now, there are zero plans for an R.E.M. reunion. Absolutely zero. But the future is a strange place. We could all be hit by a meteor tomorrow, but I would consider it highly unlikely."
As an R.E.M., I'd love to see them together again, but as someone who generally thinks reunions are a way to make money and not about the music, I respect their position. However, if 10 years down the line, their feelings change... I'll be there!
If you can't wait until July to see Paul McCartney at Safeco, head to Cinemark Century in Federal Way @ 7pm tomorrow for a special screening of ROCKSHOW from Paul McCartney and Wings. The film documents the band's 1976 Wings Over America tour. Get more info here >>
On May 14th, 1970, just 11 days after the Kent State shootings, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released "Ohio." Neil Young wrote the song quickly after seeing pictures from the event in Life magazine. David Crosby called Young's use of President Nixon's name "the bravest thing I ever heard."
At a show in Belfast, Northern Ireland this weekend, Eric Clapton was joined on stage for "Help Me" by Van Morrison. The result: awesomeness. Watch for Morrison's addition of harmonica and the great grin on Clapton's face.
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the musical by John Mellencamp and Stephen King that has been in the works foooorrrever, will hit the road this fall.
The cast features 15 actors and a four-piece live band. The show opens October 10th in Mellencamp's hometown of Bloomington, Indiana and hits 20 cities during the tour. All of those cities are midwestern (I guess Mellencamp sticks to his roots even when it comes to musical theater.)
The all-star cast album, featuring Mellencamp, Elvis Costello and Sheryl Crow, is due out June 4th.
Whether you're a mom looking forward to a day in your honor, or you're still planning the perfect day for the special mom in your life, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Mother's Day weekend in the area.
-Who doesn't love brunch? You can get breakfast or lunch, and it's a great excuse to have a cocktail before noon. Here's a list of stand out brunches in Seattle for Sunday.
-After brunch, stop by 5th Annual Pike Place Market Flower Festival. Local farmers from King, Snohomish and Whatcom counties will create beautiful bouquets as you watch. With over 40 vendors, there's sure to be something Mom will love... and it will smell so good!
-If you're on the hunt for flowers in the South Sound, hit the Rhododendron Garden in Federal Way. Their new Mother's Day Collection is in bloom, and they'll have special performers and food trucks this weekend.
Let It Be, the Beatles anthology show, is hitting Broadway! The show, which has been performing in London's West End, will open at St. James Theatre on Broadway.
The show features 40-plus songs from the Beatles' career, performed by live musicians and using projection technology. Fan favorites like "Hey Jude," "Come Together," "Yesterday" and of course "Let It Be" will be featured along with many others.
The show is set to run July 24th through December 29th, though the cast has not been announced yet.
Have you started your spring planting yet, with all the nice weather? Here are a few ways to make your garden shine while also supporting a healthier planet.
-Plant species that are native to the area. Exotic plants could take more water, attention and resources to thrive in foreign territories. Plus, they could take away those resources from native species that are already growing.
-Plan a community planting day. It doesn't have to be big - grab your neighbors and make a Sunday morning out of it. Learn about the bushes and flowers already growing on your street and then enhance with complementary plants. Great for property values, too!
Almost as iconic as MJ's white glove (hey, I said almost), the white leather jacket Axl Rose wore in the"Paradise City" video has sold on eBay for big bucks. One of only three jackets like it, the item went for $5,350 and was sold by the guy who designed and sold most of Guns n Roses' tour merchandise. Ultimate Classic Rock has the scoop >>
The Doors have launched an iPad app to give fans an interactive experience offering music, unpublished photos, videos and more. The idea belongs to Jac Holzman, who got the band signed to Elektra Records, and has the participation of all the members of the band, including Jim Morrison's estate.
"The genesis of this project began with a desire to digitize the boxed set, to use new technology to improve upon a much-loved fan experience. It made total sense to choose The Doors," Holzman says. "Together with the band, we tell a compelling tale using materials from The Doors' own archives and the Warner Music vault plus the hundreds of other sources we chased down – a wealth of treasures including previously unseen photos, fresh interviews, and behind the scenes insights and reflections. Delivered in a single download, this is a riveting approach to showcasing a band's entire career."
Bruce Springsteen is on the road in Europe and treated Scandanavian fans to a treat last week. His two shows in Oslo last week featured completely different setlists, then over the weekend, fans in Stockholm got more surprises. The Boss did Born To Run in its entirety Friday night... and followed it up with the entire Darkness On The Edge Of Town on Saturday night!
He told the audience in Stockholm just how special they were. "To be greeted as we are when we come here, year after year... we want to thank you and all of your relatives for making us a part of your life, your country, your culture."
Springsteen and the E-Streeters hit Finland this week before returning to Stockholm for a third show this weekend.
If you could see Bruce Springsteen do an album from cover to cover, what album would it be?
Of course, stay in the know about concerts and win free tickets by Joining The Club >>
As Boston continues to recover from the Boston Marathon bombings last month, many bands and artists from the area have teamed up for Boston Strong: an Evening of Support and Celebration. Many bands, along with Aerosmith and Boston, will play the TD Garden on May 30th.
In addition to Aerosmith and Boston, the J. Geils Band, Extreme, Godsmack, James Taylor (born in Boston) and New Kids on the Block will perform. Carole King, Jimmy Buffett and country star Jason Aldean, who are not Bostonians, will join in support, as well as a promise of surprise guests. Boston native comedians Dane Cook and Stephen Wright will be on hand, too.
The proceeds from the concert will support the One Fund, which was started after the April 15th bombings. To date, the fund has raised over $30 million. Tickets go on sale Monday. Find out more at aconcertforboston.org.
For more on concerts in our area, and to win free tickets, Join The Club >>
Here's a cool idea to get music lovers engaged in global issues - give them free concert tickets. Would that work to get you more politically active?
Global Citizen is an idea lauched by Eddie Vedder / Pearl Jam's management, who have gotten a handfull of great bands on board already as partners. The website features different kinds of global issues, and after signing up, members can "share" ways to help those causes to earn points. For example, I could share, via Global Citizen, a petition about a global hunger issue through my Facebook page. By doing that, I'd get a certain number of points in my Global Citizen basket. Once I've collected enough points, I can redeem them for a chance at free tickets to see any of the partnering bands.
It's a neat concept that brings fans into the already activist music world... but will it help the progress on some of these issues? I'm not sure just sharing something via Facebook pushes involvement enough, but I wish GC luck in their goals. Every little bit helps. Check 'em out for yourself at globalcitizen.org.
Stay in the know on concerts and get free tickets! Join The Club >>
-Listen: It's the 35th anniversary of Bob Seger's Stranger in Town. Get down to "Hollywood Nights" and the rest of the classic album while you enjoy the sunshine.
-Celebrate: Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, which is the perfect excuse to pour yourself a margarita while you prep for the week ahead.
-Soak up the sun: The forecast is calling for 80 degrees on Sunday. 80! Join me in shedding the layers and feeling the sun on your skin. If you're trying to find your sunglasses from last year, you're not alone. The old wives' tale says that Seattleites buy more sunglasses per capita than the rest of the city, just because we're losing them all the time!
As always, have a great weekend, however you spend it!
While we sometimes complain when it falls from the sky, we're lucky to have so much water around here in the PNW. Gotta think globally, though, so here's are ways to conserve water to not only save some money, but also save a great resource. Try just one of these things to make a difference!
-Find small leaks - one small drip per minute adds up to 53 gallons a year! That's a lot of water wasted.
-Switch your shower head - new low-flow shower heads can save up to 75% of the water you usually use when showering.
-Take shorter showers - speaking of showers, try taking shorter ones. Even a few minutes will make a difference.
-Turn off your faucet when shaving, brushing your teeth and washing your face - 'nuff said.
