Sandra Bullock is all sass, little sentiment as Michael Oher's (Quinton Aaron) guardian in "The Blind Side."

Let’s be plain about “The Blind Side”: Lee Daniels’ “Precious” it ain’t. Save for two damaged protagonists, these films have little in common. In “The Blind Side,” John Lee Hancock dulls the sharp edges of a childhood lived in poverty and neglect; Daniels displays the emotional and physical hurts in full view. Really, it’s the difference between neatly bandaged wounds and open ones. 

But perhaps this comparison, though inevitable, isn’t exactly fair, because it implies that “The Blind Side” is some kind of emotionally manipulative mushfest that is top-heavy with cliches. Gird your loins for a startling realization: There’s little schmaltz here. Indeed, what delights about “The Blind Side” is the low-key tone and the balance Hancock strikes between character-based drama, sports and comedy. What’s more, the director sees his characters as actual people and allows them to behave as such; their actions feel natural, not forced along by inane plot conventions. They become real to us, something that rarely happens in films with such clear feel-good intentions as this one.

Much credit must be given upfront to Sandra Bullock for her bold, unidealistic performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy Tennessee interior designer whose designer-label threads belie her kind heart and good intentions. This is strong, nuanced work from an actress who (finally! after years of crap like “Miss Congeniality”!) has begun to trust her talent. She grounds “The Blind Side” firmly in matter-of-fact reality as her story intersects with that of future Baltimore Ravens right tackle Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a poor teen accepted to the private Christian academy her children attend. Accepted because the football coach (Ray McKinnon) sees a bright athletic future for him, Michael has a low GPA and a tendency to retreat into his own head that some teachers mistake as stupidity. But Leigh Anne’s son S.J. (Jae Head) befriends Michael, and so she invites the teen into her home. They hire a tutor (the always-wonderful Kathy Bates) to work with Michael while S.J. teaches him football. Slowly, and much to the dismay of Leigh Anne’s snobbish friends, Michael becomes a real part of the Tuohy family.

The story, loosely based on Michael Lewis’ 2006 book about the real Oher, is simple enough to suggest some parts have been smoothed over. That’s probably the case, but it’s important to note what Hancock gets right: the likable characters and the lack of Hollywood mushiness. Tim McGraw, though hardly Sean Penn, doesn’t overact as Leigh Anne’s supportive husband Sean (he does have a few unnecessarily corny zingers, though). Head doesn’t exactly transcend the Precocious Kid stereotype, but he provides solid comic relief. Bates’ sly humor is a welcome addition as well (Kathy Bates don’t do cutesy, remember?). Aaron, chosen more for his size than acting chops, is a little more hesitant than he should be, but that doesn’t derail the movie.

Actually, that hesitation aligns him nicely with Bullock’s hard-nosed Leigh Anne, herself a bit reticent and not prone to spontaneous displays of emotion. These two have more in common than we’d think (this wins the film more points for originality). Sean describes Leigh Anne as an onion — “you have to peel her back layer by layer” — and that extends to Michael. Perhaps that is what draws Leigh Anne to Michael, the fear of seeming vulnerable. They are, in a strange way, kindred spirits. Bullock, who’s always had a quietly guarded air about her, captures Leigh Anne’s reluctance perfectly. This performance might earn her some nominations, and she will deserve them.

Hancock also sidesteps a number of cliches that lesser directors would devour: the Big Game; the Touching Moments Montage; the Coach’s Big Motivational Speech. “The Blind Side” contains not one of these insufferable moments, and the few checklist items that do crop up — there is a misunderstanding and a scene with Michael’s drug-addicted biological mother — are handled with grace. When given the choice, Hancock errs on the side of poise. And while that doesn’t mean “The Blind Side” is perfect, it does mean that it’s a refreshingly unsentimental inspirational film.

Grade: B-

Growing up in the home town of Buck Owens…Mr. Country Music…I knew LOTS of country songs, as of late I don’t frequent the country tracks although I hear little miss Taylor Swift is tearing it up. Anyway, the Country Music Awards recently had an awards show which means another great red carpet to judge. There is something about the CMA’s that is a little bit messier than other red carpets. I don’t know why, but its like the country music scene is the red headed step child of the fashion world…they just never get it. THIS is why I had so many BAD things to post. Not too many winners but I did have two standouts….away we go.

Jessica Harp

This girl is obviously thinking she is in the Miss America pageant with just bright colors and all that beading!! YIKES!! With all that going on, PLUS all that crazy hair she definitely could have toned it down…a LOT.

Diana Degarmo

Where to even begin with this one??? The gold lame trim, the awful shoe/sandal/booties?? How about the Peptol Bismo color of the dress? Then you add in the half up Bump-it style hair and you are on the road to disaster. I also have a serious problem with girls wearing hot pink on a red carpet….it just hurts my eyes.

Patricia Heaton

I know you have to hand it to Patricia Heaton for being so honest about getting work done in an industry that can turn against you so quickly, however, this all out slap in the face with a fake boob is outrageous!! This cleavage bearing, thigh-high mini screams I’M TRYING TOO HARD. She does look great for her age but you can still spot some signals that tell you shes too old for this outfit…not the wrinkly skin above the knees and veiny look of her legs. Oh sigh Patricia…quit being a cougar and clean up your act, at your age, skirts should NOT be thigh high!

Martina McBride

Big hair and even BIGGER dress. Although this is a nice attempt at pulling off the Grecian inspired look, the combination of the super tight top and elaborate draping over her thighs is really not flattering. Not to mention the shiny fabric and overwhelming volume in awful areas…yuk.

Awww poor Leann Rimes…you think your soo perfect because you left your husband for a hot lover…hmmm? Well let me tell you something you little sloot….your not perfect!! nice try. I see your devil in disguise turns up on the runway as well! Wearing a flowing white “virginal” dress paired with harsh black nails and vampy eyes. homewrecker.

Ok now on to the red-carpet super stars of this evening. First off is country musics favorite couple and mine as well… Time and Faith….they do no wrong.

Faith looks effortlessly chic. This steel gray Grecian dress combined with lots of layered necklaces is an easy go to and looks fabulous every time. Since her dress is so well fitted and very simple she really stepped it up with lots of jewels and huge statement earrings….not to mention a girls best accessory, her hot hubby. Tim is also effortlessly country-chic. Normally I would hate on a leather-esque cow-boy hat…but somehow he is pulling it off.

Sugarland and Tim McGraw will perform today on Oprah as part of her holiday concert paying tribute to some of America’s heroes, whom she recognized on her show last week.  Sugarland will perform with Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, and Tim McGraw will perform with R&B singer Alicia Keys.

Tim McGraw’s new movie, The Blind Side, has been quite successful at the box office, but fans shouldn’t worry that Tim will be giving up singing for acting anytime soon.  Tim says, “I’m not going to give up music because it pays my bills.”  When choosing acting jobs he says, “I have to find things that fit in the time schedule that I have. I only have a few months out of the year that I am available to do something, so I was so lucky that something this great and with this quality of people to work with came along at a time when I was available to work. But I’m not going to give up music, no.”  As for the kind of parts Tim’s looking for, he says, “I’m not really out there looking for movie roles.  When I get sent a script, I just try to determine whether it will work for me. And it doesn’t matter if it’s the leading role, a supporting role or just a five-minutes-on-film role.”

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill recently moved into a new house that they had custom built and plan to stay in for a very long time. Faith explained to iVillage, “We’ve been waiting to move for three-and-a-half years. [We've been] building this house in the middle of tours and all that kind of stuff, so this is a very big thing for our family. Every home we’ve ever lived in has always been a place we knew we were going to move out of, so this is a special time for our family. After thirteen years of marriage! Now we’re really excited.” Faith tried to get off to a good start in the new house by going through everything before packing it up and moving it. She says, “I have unpacked boxes in [the old] house that I have not opened in ten years and I’m not over-exaggerating… I tried to promise ourselves that I was not taking one thing to the new house that I had not seen or cleaned out.”

This is a great movie.  I am not a football fan, but I do like football movies.  This movie goes well beyond football, however.  It is a story about generational poverty, substance abuse, gangs, privileged White southerners, Christian private schools, generosity, compassion, and family.  Sandra Bullock plays a pistol-packing mama who takes in a young man who is big for his age.  No one knows how old he really is.  His documentation is messed up.  His mother is a junkie.  But he is good at football; and eventually, he does well enough in a private Christian school to receive a scholarship to Ole Miss.  This movie is based upon the true story of Michael Oher, a 2009 draft pick for the Ravens.  It is a great story.  Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw are outstanding as the foster parents; Kathy Bates excels as Michael’s tutor.  SJ (little brother) is incredible; Collins (little sister) shows her mean girl friends how to behave appropriately around her big brother, Michael.  You will love this movie!

The Blind Side
Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron

One of my secret favorite things to do is to a good cry movie and ball my eyes out, usually by myself. Tonight I went to see “The Blind Side” with a close friend. We both started with the waterworks minutes. As she was stealing my napkins to wipe her own tears, I noticed I wasn’t the only one being so sensitive as the rest of the theater was just as moved. I’ve always been a Sandra Bullock fan. But her last movie “All About Steve” was torturous. After seeing this movie I can forgive her. Her performance is as amazing as many are saying. I predict this is her “Erin Brokovich.” She looks insane. I am totally envious of what her backside looks like. The casting was perfect, there wasn’t a moment where you were taking out of this movie (other than Tim MaGraw’s hair). Michael Oher’s life story has a feel good effect that leaves you buzzing not wanting the movie to end. I can’t remember when I have seen a movie this inspiring. This is why actors and actresses get paid the big bucks. When an actor can successfully channel their creative energy into a performance, that just by you watching it raises your vibration, forcing you to get out of your own stuff even if just a few hours. It’s incredibly healing producing.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

This blog is usally about the “crazies” that find themselves in the spotlight because they either said something really weird or has some strange ideas regarding Bracak Obama or the progressive movement.  Since this is the Thanksgiving holiday week-end, I wanted to do one more entertainment piece that I just read about.

Full disclosure:  I am NOT an Oprah fan.  I haven’t watched her show since the early nineties.  However, I AM a fan of Andre Bocelli (Time to Say Goodbye is one of my favorites.)  Mary J. Blige is my daughter’s favorite singer.  It will be interesting to see two such diverse people sing a duet on Oprah’s holiday show on Monday. I will definately record that show!

There’s more!  Alicia Keyes (huge fan here) and Country Western star Tim McGraw will also sing a duet!

Orlando Centinel:

Could it be that Oprah Winfrey wants in on Simon Cowell’s turf?Lady O staged that Karaoke Challenge. Now she has lined up a holiday show filled with duets for Monday.

You’ll see Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson with Sugarland.

Mary J. Blige with Andrea Bocelli.

Tim McGraw with Alicia Keys.

The Winfrey folks call it “our first-ever holiday duet extravaganza!”

Sounds like a good reason to tune in at 4 p.m. Monday on WFTV-Channel 9.

If you’re disappointed with Levi Johnson, who recently proved in Playgirl that he’s got as much  to offer between his legs as between his ears, then maybe you should shift your attention from Ricky Holly/NoWood to somebody who deserves it: Billy Currington.

He’s the country singer/songwriter whose current single “(God is great, beer is good and) People are Crazy“ is about as pithy as it gets.

Pithy, not pissy. Pissy would be Adam Lambert, who is blaming everything from Out magazine to  homophobia for the mismanagement of his career. It takes some balls going between and betwix there –all rogue/ all victim/all the time–and puts him on the fast track to  becoming the Sarah Palin of the gay/music world.

Apart from his instantly hummable songs which would sound right at home on a George Strait CD, what distinguishes Mr Currington  is his membership in the growing crop of  hunky country crooners who flaunt their big guns and gym toned bods and who, with studied nonchalance, look like they stepped out of the pages of Details magazine.

Call them countrymetrosexuals. Yes, I just made that term up, truthiness be told, and, no, it’s not an oxymoron. Tim McGraw and  Keith Urban are the most conspicuous of the breed. Red state or blue state, redneck or blue blood, it turns out the girls go crazy for a sharp un/dressed man.

Mr. Currington must be doing something right because he’s become a fixture on the list of men who use their bodies as much as they use their voices to build a music career  and, as a result, also a fixture at the top of the charts. His video for the song “Must be doin’ somethin’ right” shows him completely comfortable with using his  “On the Waterfront” sexuality, pushing the envelope about as far as any mainstream  white male singer has since Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” video.

And push he does. Unlike in “Wicked Game”, where the camera mostly devours and fetishizes Helena Christiansen as she shows off her body for (the male gaze and) Mr Isaak, in ” Must be doin’ something right,” the camera devours Mr Currington’s buff bod which is being shown off for the female gaze.

When you watch this video  you will be struck by how rare this display of male sexuality is in music videos while the female equivalent is almost obligatory for most female superstars, no matter their race, genre or, in Mariah’s case, age. (Susan Boyle, beware.)

After his preposterous over the top gay underground visual extravaganza on the American Music Awards was roundly criticized, Mr Lambert fired back that there was a double standard being applied to him because he was gay , pointing to  Madonna and Brittney Spears as examples of performers who have used overtly sexual imagery in their performances, including a same sex kiss for instance, without having to face the wrath of the censors.

He’s only partly right. Yes, conspicuous (and caricatured) displays of gay male sexuality  on network television (but not cable) make America uncomfortable in  2009. So do “wardrobe malfunctions.” Just ask Janet Jackson. But he’s fundamentally  doing somethin’ wrong when he refuses to factor in that America is just now becoming comfortable with routinely fetishizing the male anatomy for the consumption of the female viewer, with (who would have guessed) countrymetrosexuals leading the way.

(See also the ads for Emporio Armani underwear featuring David Beckham.)

It’s going to take some time before America embraces Mr. Lambert kissing male keyboardists let alone orally sodomizing dancers onstage. In the meantime, Adam, if you want to entertain us, start by keeping it in your pants and  record a few good songs and an album that doesn’t get panned by critics.

It worked for  Tim and Keith and Billy.

TheBestDressedList.com

TomKolovos.com

This is the time of the year when many people become a bit more generous.  They forgive a little easier and enjoy spending time with their families.  The Holidays tend to bring out the best in everyone and even music sounds more meaningful.

Here is a new song that I downloaded to my I-Pod from I-Tunes – “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw…

i just saw the blind side last night. this is the second weekend it has been open and the theatre is packed. and after seeing it, i know why. it was such a good movie. i already can’t wait for it to hit dvd so i can buy a copy. my youngest daughter is going to see it tonight and i just know she’ll love it as i do.
so it’s about michael oher (i have probably spelled his name wrong). he was taken away from his mother as a young boy and it has haunted him since. now he’s a teen and by the grace of God, he is enrolled in wingate christian school. he has trouble doing any school work and mentions that he has never even done homework before. shy and afraid, he goes to school everyday. one evening a family (sandra bullock and tim mcgraw) sees him walking in the cold and makes him get into their car where they take him home and give him a warm, dry place to sleep.
if you want to know the rest of the story, go buy the ticket and enjoy this wonderful true story. thank you hollywood and michael oher for this film.

was it good? it was great!

Billboard Top Country Songs

Essa semana, nas musicas mais tocadas nos EUA, temos Lady Antebellum mais uma vez no topo, Luke Bryan em segundo e destaque para Consider Me Gone de Reba, que é o primeiro single por uma artista feminina (não chamada Carrie ou Taylor) a alcançar o Top 5 desde Anyway de Martina McBride, em 2006.

1 – Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

2 – Do I – Luke Bryan

3 – Cowboy Casanova - Carrie Underwood

4 – Consider me Gone – Reba

5 – Bonfire – Craig Morgan

6 – I´m Alive – Kenny Chesney

7 – Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes – Dierks Bentley

8 – Fifteen – Taylor Swift

9 – Toes – Zac Brown Band

10 – Red Light - David Nail

http://www.billboard.com/charts#/charts/country-songs

Billboard Top Country Àlbuns

Nos álbuns dessa semana, o Top 3 ficou igual ao da semana passada, destaque para o primeiro álbum de Taylor Swift, que voltou para o Top 10, deixando a cantora com 2 álbuns entre os 10 mais vendidos essa semana.

1 – Play On – Carrie Underwood

2 – Fearless - Taylor Swift

3 – Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum

4 – Southern Voice - Tim McGraw

5 – The Foundation – Zac Brown Band

6 – Gold and Green – Sugarland

7 – Learn to Live - Darius Rucker

8 – Wide Open – Jason Aldean

9 – Hannah Montana The Movie - Soundtrack

10 – Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift

 http://www.billboard.com/charts#/charts/country-albums

NOISES ON: Can’t believe it, but they swear it’s true. The Frantics, the certifiably insane, oooh, oops, sorry, the mentally extrvagant comedy troupe

THE FRANTICS: Noises-makers

comprised of Paul Chatto, Rick Green, Dan Redican & Peter Wildman, are about to turn 30. (I know, I know, they don’t look a day over 29 .) To celebrate they’re launching a new Greatest Hits CD, Frantic Noises, and working on anniversary release dates for (1) The Very Best of Frantic Times (“more than 1,000 bits compiled from our CBC Radio show,”) (2) The Frantics Walk Upright

STOJKO: Red Door booster

(“the lost tapes of our final performance together in 1998,”) (3) an all-music CD that they’re recording now, and (4) the DVD of their Frantics Reunion Show, which aired on the Comedy Network. Big news is, they’re set to perform live at The Royal on College street — for one performance only, to launch their new CD — on Monday Dec. 7 at 7 pm. All proceeds from tickets ($10 +tax in advance, $15 +tax at the door) will go to PAL (the Performing Arts Lodge.) To order your tickets now, go to their website at www.thefrantics.com, or just click here.

GOING, GOING, GONE: Today is your last chance to bid on a unique online jewelry auction where all of the proceeds raised benefit the Red Door family

PINSENT & PINSENT: all about Uniti (photo: Zoomer magazine)

shelter. Called the Uniti Collection, the pieces are created by 18Karat Goldsmiths and inspired by celebnties partnered with designers. Sparklies adding their lustre to this cause include Leah & Gordon Pinsent, Elvis Stojko and Breakfast Television charmers Dina Pugliese and Jennifer Valentyne. To review the collection and get your bid in, click here … surfers are finding more and more treasures at on-line auctions, which is why they’ve become so popular. BID 2 BEAT AIDS, LIFEbeat’s fifth annual 10-day eBay Celebrity Memorabilia Auction honouring World AIDS Day starts December 1 at 12 noon, with proceeds going to ongoing AIDS/HIV programs in the U.S. Up for grabs are personal items from Michael Feinstein, Debbie Harry, Cheyenne Jackson, Lady Gaga, Cyndi

PUGLIESE: Breakfast jewel

Lauper, Patti LuPone, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Tim McGraw, Liza Minnelli, Stevie Nicks, Cynthia Nixon, Bernadette Peters, Joan Rivers, Henry Rollins, John Waters, Vanessa Williams and the late Bea Arthur, among others. For more information, including a complete list of participating artists and images of many of the items, click here … and  Julia Roberts is among the glitterati reportedly ready to act up for the Labyrinth Theater Company’s seventh annual gala benefit called Celebrity Charades 2009: Jackpot. Beginning

ROBERTS: charity charades

December 7, celeb teams do battle in charades competition, so in addition to Julia look for Eric Bogosian, Bobby Cannavale, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni and more. And feel free to  follow the action online — where else?!? — at  www.LABtheater.org.

Like I said — not yer average rock band.

TOMORROW:

Why Liz Smith always makes me laugh.

Plus, Brangelina update, and more!

December 1, 2005 my career was on top of the world. I was working with some of the biggest celebrities, in the country music industry, and had just finished the first national homecoming for Vietnam veterans that gained world exposure and turned out to be a history channel documentary. My mother’s health was still good enough to travel and a few months earlier my parents were my guest at Operation Homecoming USA and rubbing elbows with all of the Joint Chief of Staff to the President of the United States. In January 2005, I had directed and produced the Inaugural Ball for the President and First Lady.
I was just finishing a grueling tour- Nashville, Branson, Chicago, Davenport, Branson, Nashville, and on to Loveland to surprise my mom and dad for Thanksgiving all over a nine day stretch. God was already preparing me for the guest I hated for many years prior to December 2005. I look back on the tour and God let me see all the people that meant a lot to me and were close to my heart. My busy family, that never has much time for me when I travel, had all the time in the world. I remember thinking as I headed back to Branson after a great holiday how fortunate we were to spend time together. Everything was great as I parted back home knowing I needed rest before my military USO tour that would start five days before Christmas.
Amarillo, TX 2:00am it was evident to me that the uninvited guest had arrived not knowing hours from that moment my life would change forever. My temperature was 104 degrees and my focus was on home because I knew that something was crippling me on the inside. All by myself I traveled across Oklahoma praying to God that he would let me make it home, as God spoke to me through the radio- through song. I passed out in a rest stop bathroom. When I came to a man would not help me telling his son I had too much to drink. They thought I was drunk.
The only way I was able to make it to the hospital from that trip was through my faith in God. I knew I was extremely sick. I really was in so much pain my doctor was amazed I lived through the journey home. Prayer, scripture, and God’s voice got me home nothing else. All the teaching from my past kept running through my head along with memories from my childhood. If you really believe in God and really need his help he will see you through was clear to me that day. Even when you know there is a storm ahead, he will carry you to the storm and will help you to face your Uninvited Guest. When God is preparing you for a storm in your life who do you call out to? Who do you trust? Do you pull over to the side of the road and die or do you keep your eye focused on the solution and keep driving? Do you let the others who ignore your cry for help convince you to give up? The attitude that you choose and your faith will see you through!
To be continued on Saturday July 11, 2009!

Once again I know it has been far too long since I have written and I am going to try to start writing a couple of times a week from now on……..BUT……I just have been Crazy Busy…….

It seemed that Freelancing was going to be an up hill battle this past year due to the slow down in the economy and the Audio Production Industry as a whole…….but I for one have not really had any slow down at all……..Here is what I have been up to lately:

11/20 to 11/22

Monitors at The Orleans Showroom in Las Vegas for THE FOUR TOPS and their 10 piece band. 10 Floor Mixes and Stereo Sidefills………This has been several weeks in a row doing monitors in The Orleans Showroom…….It’s an older House rig, but I have decided it sounds great……There is a 48 Channel Yamaha PM4000M with Klark EQ’s and Klark and ETA Speaker Management systems pushing QSC Amps and Older EAW Wedges and Sidefills. The rig is smooth sounding and the system is very responsive.

11/17

Dragged 3 bands worth of Backline Musical instruments to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to The Joint Showroom and a side room here is Vegas for some Corporate event for PRG (Production Resource Group)………delivered the gear and set it up and then stood around for 11 hours getting paid and watched the Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Game in the Casino Sports Book Until it was time to Load it out……….

11/12 to 11/15

Four Nights Doing Monitors at The Orleans Showroom with NEIL SEDAKA……..Lots of Oldies Hits……..I am running monitor for the band Behind Neil……but for some reason Neil’s FOH Guy is running Neil’s monitor Mixes around him and his Piano from FOH……….strangely enough, his 2 monitors are hanging feedback at 125 Hz, and making Neil crazy……..Of course my 12 monitor mixes are not feeding back….Nothing I can do but call him on the Clear Com…..Check out the picture of Neil’s Piano Below…….

11/10 to 11/11

Two days of Local Talent Show rehearsal’s and then the show at the Orleans Showroom here in Vegas. Lots of RF Vocals, Tons of Playback (over and over and over) and a lots of Choreography (Fosse, Fosse, Fosse), with singing and magic acts……

11/5 to 11/8

GREAT GIG ALERT !! Four GREAT nights with THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS doing their Monitors at The Orleans Showroom. 3 Monitor Mixes and Stereo Sidefills. Upright Bass on a Fishman Pick-up/DI and an amazing sounding Martin Acoustic Guitar thru a DI……….add two SM 58 vocal mics and two funny guys with funny stories and silly songs, and that equals a GREAT GIG !!……It was Big Fun with plenty of laughs……the Legendary Smothers Brothers………LOL……..Of course it was not Original Smothers Brothers……They died in 1969 when they were on CBS……..terrible plane crash…….apparently one of them wasn’t a pilot……..

11/2 to 11/4

Brian Larson at PRG (Production Resource Group) had me as a FOH/Systems Tech and sent me over to the 2009 SEMA Car Show at the Convention Center here in Vegas.

Day one, we prepped the rig at the Shop…….Two Yamaha PM5D’s Consoles, Clair Brothers Wedges, Kudo’s Side fills with subs with L’Acoustics V-DOSC Mains…….took all day to prep………SIGH!

Day two, showed at the show site outside in the parking lot at the Convention Center next to the Motor Trend Test Track……the track was full of Corvette’s flying around the track…….OH…..and SEMA can pretty be summed up as “Hot Cars and Hot Girls”………But I digress ……….anyway…….as we are outside, we are going to be ground stacking the V-Dosc Rig………Not ideal at all…….(picture below)

Once we got the rig up and running we sound checked and then did the show later in the evening on day two……..It was an Invitation only event for The Ford Motor Corporation with THE REED AND DICKINSON BAND From Detroit. Basically the band is full of a Bunch of the Guys from Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band and Kid Rock’s Band…….good straight forward Americana Rock & Roll doing their own originals…..Video Below…..

After the show we packed up everything except the V-DOSC (because the forklift did not show up) and loaded it out…….

Day Three, we came back and rescued the V-DOSC (with the forklift)………

10/23 to 10/25

Rock Show…….!!…..Three Nights with Alice Cooper playing backline tech and working closely with Lorne (Gump) Wheaton (Neil Peart’s Drum Tech). It was a Fun time………But it was also Dangerous Stage Hand Weekend………Alice still puts on a “Complete” rock show……Great stuff!!….Picture below!!

10/22

Set Up the rig for Tim McGraw…….V-DOSC Flown……..6 hours in and out…………show tomorrow night….out the door……(pic of rig below)

SO……..as you can see, I have been MORE than busy……and of course I only mentioned the Highlights of what I have been up to lately……..there was of course others things tike Corporate non-sense and Lounge shows around town as well in-between all that stuff…….

Special Thanks to all the guys that have been keeping me busy lately also……Brian, Joey, Cory, Greg and Super Dave at PRG and Bill Fleming at Desert Entertainment!

Oh and I just got my new passport too……..I am dreaming of some exotic overseas Vanessa Williams Gig……..

Doing the Freelance A-Go Go………

Drama. “The Blind Side” depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron
Director: John Lee Hancock
Screenwriter: John Lee Hancock
Producer: Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove
Studio: Warner Bros.

MOVIE TRAILER :

]]> http://thecountryvibe.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/tim-mcgraw-to-sing-on-oprah-with-alicia-keys/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:17:46 +0000 The Country Vibe http://thecountryvibe.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/tim-mcgraw-to-sing-on-oprah-with-alicia-keys/

Sugarland was just in Chicago to tape an upcoming holiday episode of the Oprah show, and now we’ve learned that Tim McGraw will be a part of that show as well, and he’s singing a duet with R&B star Alicia Keys.  Alicia tweeted a picture of her and Tim on the Oprah set last Wednesday and said, “Me and Tim McGraw performing at Oprah’s Holiday show – chose the Lennon song! Tune in November 30th ”  They will sing John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (The War is Over).”

People magazine has announced their picks for the Sexiest Men of the Year for 2009 and Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley are among their choices.  Johnny Depp was chosen as the Sexiext Man, and he appears on the cover of the issue, which is on newsstands now.  You can watch a short video Tim talking about the honor by clicking here.

Spouse and I went to theatre to see The Blind Side tonight. It was unusual in that when the movie was over NO ONE got up to leave. Everyone stayed in their seats and watched the credits and the real-life photos of the protagonist. It was a great movie- lots of attendees were using their concession napkins to wipe away tears.

My insistence on reading the book before seeing the movie proved to be a wise decision. Though the film was compelling enough to stand by itself, the schemata I acquired enabled me to really understand nuances and distinguish fact from Hollywood embellishment.

Spouse developed a crush on Sandra Bullock when she was a young actress starring in Speed, and  remains enamored  to the present day, so he thought she was great. My real surprise was how good Tim McGraw’s acting was. Without the big black hat I hardly recognized him, until he gave one of those slow smiles. He was cast perfectly and was quite convincing – and much cuter than the real life Sean!

I remember discussing books vs. movies with my daughter when she was about 10 years old. Her profound statement was that she liked books better because she could make the characters look just the way she wanted in her imagination. So true! But even if you do not read the book, go see the film. It is a heartwarming tale!

I will be watching Michael Oher’s career with the Baltimore Ravens with keen interest  after learning about his rocky ride to success!

Review: The Blind Side

The trailers for The Blind Side triggered my “oh geez, another sports-related Triumph of the Human Spirit” cynicism, and I might not have seen the film at all if I hadn’t been assigned to review it. That would have been my loss, and I experienced the lovely surprise of having a movie turn out far more enjoyable than I expected. The Blind Side has no twists or gimmicks other than being a very good example of a sports-related family film, with quality performances and writing.

The movie’s title is a football reference, which the voiceover of Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) explains at the beginning. Michael Oher (Quenton Aaron) is sweating out a tough but unspecified situation in an office, when we flash back a few years and meet him as Big Mike. An African-American staff member at a mostly white Christian private school is trying to get his athletic son into the school, and the school’s coach also spots some athletic potential in Big Mike, granting him a scholarship. Big Mike has terrible trouble keeping up in school, and when his friend’s family stops helping him out, he is virtually homeless — sleeping in the school gym, eating popcorn left there after events, wearing the same thin clothes daily.

Although Big Mike is an oddity at the private school, he gets along well with smaller children like S.J. (Jae Head), and thus attracts the attention of S.J.’s parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Touhy (Tim McGraw). The upper-class family takes him in and encourages him — they’re very much into sports both as former participants and current fans, so they encourage him in football and in schoolwork so he can possibly win a football scholarship to college. Will he be able to succeed, or will he return to his neglectful, drug-addicted mother?

The Blind Side is based on the nonfiction account of Michael Oher by Michael Lewis, which was adapted by the film’s director, John Lee Hancock. If you’ve read the book or know about Oher, the outcome of the movie won’t surprise you. But that’s not the point — this is a movie about characters and relationships, and the effects of great acts of kindness. Bullock, Aaron and Head are the highlights of the film; other characters tend to border on stereotypes, but these three have depth and warmth and fit together beautifully. Kathy Bates has a small but amusing role as a tutor.

The real-life basis for the film may explain some of the difficulties with the story. It’s hard to get past the seeming visual message that the African-American community can’t or won’t care for their own, and that the saviors here are rich white conservatives. The movie is more complicated and personal than that, for the most part. However, I couldn’t believe the scene in which the family that knew about Michael’s situation, and offered him a warm place to sleep, suddenly kicked him out and neglected him. It may reflect real life — I can’t tell without reading the book or asking Oher himself — and real life often makes no sense, but it doesn’t work in the context of the film.

And if this were a purely fictional story, I’d wonder why Longview, Texas native John Lee Hancock and current Texan Sandra Bullock had set a film about intense football fans in Memphis and not in Texas. The rhythms of the dialogue often sound more Texas than Tennessee, although the Touhy adults are actually Ole Miss alumni. Hancock does have some fun casting the college football coaches inThe Blind Side — they all play themselves. Some of the coaches are not quite comfortable speaking lines someone else wrote, but then-LSU coach Nick Saban may have missed a calling as a character actor.

If you can get your head past the dicey racial issues — nearly all African-American characters in this film live in the projects, and I know Memphis is far more diverse than that – The Blind Side is a very entertaining family film that avoids the maudlin cliches of “inspirational” films, or at least pads them out with some depth or humor. I’m not fond of football myself, or intense football fans, but the characters appealed to me and I didn’t even mind the long running time (128 minutes). This is a movie I’d love to take my mom to see — she wouldn’t find anything offensive, and we’d both be entertained. Sandra Bullock fans who may have tolerated some stinkers in order to watch their favorite actress will be rewarded with one of her better performances and one of her better movies.

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E aew povo! O CMB Listas de hoje chega com a parte romantica da música country. Veja os 10 melhores duetos romanticos!

Clint e Lisa Black

10 – It´s Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

9 – To All The Girls I´ve Loved Before - Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias

8 – In Another Eyes – Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood

7 – Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man - Loretta Lynn & Conay Twitty

6 –  The Heart Won´t Lie – Reba McEntire & Vince Gill

5 – Love Can Build a Bridge - The Judds

4 – Golden Ring - George Jones & Tammy Wiynette

3 – Fron This Moment On - Shania Twain & Bryan White

2 – Islands in the Stream - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

1 – When i Said i Do – Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black

Quando eles disseram “Aceito”, era 1991. Sete anos depois, Clint e Lisa levaram esse musical de namorados ao topo dos Charts. E não muito tempo depois, o casal deu as boas vindas a uma filha…Fica com eles, o casal Black, o topo dessa lista.

Lista Retirada do The Boot: http://www.theboot.com/2009/02/11/best-country-love-duets-no-10/