Skope

COMEDY & POP CULTURE ICONS CHEECH & CHONG CONFIRM 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

November 16, 2009 Comedy visionaries Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong announce their 2010 North American Tour, Cheech & Chong: Get It Legal, partnering with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) to promote policy change through laughter.   The Live Nation-produced tour will kick off on January 16, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado at the Macky Auditorium.  …

NEW DEAD BY SUNRISE VIDEO “LET DOWN”

Check out the latest video from Dead by Sunrise, “Let Down”, from their debut album Out of Ashes in stores now! “Let Down” Video: [myspace 100619292 nolink] Dead By Sunrise is a band consisting of Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Ryan Shuck (Julien-K), Amir Derakh (Julien-K), Elias Andra (Julien-K), Brandon Belsky (Julien-K) and Fu.

CASH MONEY HOSTING 13th ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY NOVEMBER 24th IN NEW ORLEANS

Cash Money Records Co-CEOs and founders Ronald “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Birdman” Williams have never forgotten their roots in the projects of New Orleans. Even before they achieved massive success with artists like Lil Wayne, Kevin Rudolf, Drake and Jay Sean, they were giving back to the community in their hometown, and this year will…

DEFTONES TO PERFORM TWO BENEFIT SHOWS

Deftones, one of the world’s most respected and influential hard rock bands will perform two very special benefit concerts at the Avalon in Hollywood, CA, this week to raise money for the Chi Ling Cheng Special Needs Trust. The trust has been set up to help pay for the growing medical costs required for Deftones…

HOT CHIP ANNOUNCE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

To herald the release of their new album One Life Stand, Hot Chip will be bringing their explosive live show back to North America in April. The band will be playing tracks from new album as well as old favorites. The xx will be the band’s special guests on this tour. Hot Chip have become…

MUSIC UP CLOSE WITH JANIE – NOVEMBER 2009

My apologies for the lateness of this month’s Music Up Close. I’ve been reveling in unheard of 50 degree temperatures up her in the Northern Plains where I live AND working on details for my debut as a fiction author. The Bowdancer, my novelette, will be published as an ebook by Breathless Press later this…

MORNING FUZZ WILL NOT TELL STOLI WHAT’S UP WITH THE BROWN BAG

Morning Fuzz is a Brooklyn, NY based melodic rock outfit exploiting the talent and showmanship garnered by Frank Fussa and Chris Johanidesz, both former members of Ultra High Frequency. I caught wind of this trio after giving a listen to their really impressive, ‘Morning Fuzz EP.’ I also must admit that there is something special…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16th, 2009

RIHANNA PREPARES 3-CD BOX SET Attention Rihanna fans! The Princess of Pop is gearing up to release a 3-CD collector’s package featuring the singer’s biggest hit songs. Rap-Up.com reports the box will include her first three albums Music of the Sun, A Girl Like Me, and Good Girl Gone Bad, with a slot for her…

Sinatra: New York, Box Set

I will admit that if it was not for my absolute obsession with Mafia movies & shows like Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Sopranos I may not have such a love for the music of the legendary, Frank Sinatra. So when I was pitched to review the brand new box set of CD’s and a DVD…

DJ DRAMA SERVING TURKEY IN ATL

Atlanta’s streets will not be safe for the likes of hunger this holiday season, as Drama partners with Hosea Feed the Hungry (HFTH) and all of the Radio One-Atlanta stations (Hot 107.9, Majic 107.5/97.5 and Praise 102.5) for the first annual Turkey Challenge.   This is not just another turkey call. This challenge will make…

LAWSON ROLLINS NEW ALBUM JANUARY 19

Many believe that the arts mirror what is happening in the world and if that is the case, perhaps Lawson Rollins’ Espirito serves as a monumental soundtrack to the unification of our disparate cultures.   The guitarist’s epic thirteen-song collection, to be released January 19th by Infinita Records, which is distributed by Baja/TSR Records, serves…

WARNER BROS. RECORDS TO RELEASE DIGITAL HOLIDAY ALBUM

Warner Bros. Records will release a digital holiday album, entitled Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep On Giving, exclusively through iTunes beginning December 1st. It’s the first comprehensive holiday album release of its kind from the label.   In keeping with the holiday spirit, Gift Wrapped features both Christmas and Hanukkah songs, and includes classic…

MARY J. BLIGE CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCES NEW SOUNDTRACK FOR PRECIOUS

Lionsgate Music, the music arm of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF,) the leading next generation studio,in association with Matriarch/Geffen Records, will release the official soundtrack for Lee Daniels’ highly anticipated, prize-winning film PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE.   The soundtrack will be available online November 3rd and in stores November 23rd.   It was…

FINK ANNOUNCES US TOUR DATES

Ninja Tune Records is excited to announce that acclaimed UK artist Fink will be performing dates in the US this coming December. In support of his latest album, Sort Of Revolution, the tour begins on Friday, December 4 at Spaceland in Los Angeles, CA, and will culminate with an intimate performance at New York City’s…

MARIONETTE LIVE FOOTAGE FROM SWEDEN

Gothenburg Sweden based metal sextet MARIONETTE posted a collage of high quality footage from its September 24, 2009 show at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg Sweden.   [youtube csOi21Vz6v8 nolink] www.myspace.com/marionettesweden

LITTLE FISH SET TO TAKE USA BY STORM WITH 2010 CUSTARD/UNIVERSAL MOTOWN DEBUT

Once in a very long while a band comes along with a sound that is more than just music…it is raw seductive impulse revealed through mesmerizing vocals, raucous guitars and driving drums; this band is Little Fish. Hailing from Oxford, England, Little Fish is comprised of vocalist/guitarist/principal songwriter JuJu, a rail-thin force of nature (think…

SKOPE EXCLUSIVES: PLIES Releases “3 Headed Monster”

We at Skopemag.com get hundreds of exclusive tracks via various vendors on a daily basis. The goal for us is to share with our readers as many tracks that come in. Please note that some of these links expire so you got to get it while it’s hot! PLIES Releases “3 Headed Monster”: SKOPE IT…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13th, 2009

TAYLOR SWIFT ACTUALLY WON 5 AWARDS AT THE CMA AWARDS Taylor Swift was surprised backstage during the dress rehearsals for The 43rd Annual CMA Awards when Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn presented her with the 2009 CMA International Artist Achievement Award. Brooks & Dunn were last year’s recipients of the award, which recognizes outstanding achievement…

JIMMY RAE FLOWS ALONG WITH MIRANA COMSTOCK OF THEORY OF TIDES

Mirana Comstock is ½ of the group known as Theory of Tides.   Comstock handles vocals, percussion, keyboards and songwriting while her husband, Rick Comstock, takes care of guitar, bass, percussion and producing.   Infectious dance beats are heard along with hip-hop, pop, techno-ish, trance-like, club-worthy and tribal-sounding vibes.   Everything appears to be fresh…

IS KACI BATTAGLIA GETTIN’ IT IN FOR STOLI?

I was going to wait until Monday to post my new interview with Kaci Battaglia but I really just could not wait. Kaci is making serious moves with her new single, “Crazy Possessive.” At first glance you might mistake Kaci for an actress or a model even, but that is not the case. By the…

GUITAR CENTER REVOLUTIONIZES THE HOLIDAY WISH LIST

Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, today announced the unveiling of its innovative online “Wish List Poster Creator” (www.guitarcenter.com/wishlist). The brand new application advances the art of the online wish list by allowing musicians to share what they truly want this holiday season and share their passion by creating and presenting their holiday…

2009 CMA ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR TAYLOR SWIFT TO PLAY GILLETTE STADIUM

Kraft Entertainment has announced that newly-crowned 2009 CMA Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift will headline Gillette Stadium next spring, with tickets to the June 5, 2010 Fearless Tour date going on sale Dec. 5. On Wednesday, Swift won all four Country Music Awards for which she was nominated, including best album, female vocalist, music…

SCANNERS OFFER “SALVATION” MP3 OFF NEW ALBUM COMING FEBRUARY 2010

Scanners are a London-based rock outfit formed by Matt Mole (guitar, vocals, synths) and Sarah Daly (vocals, bass, violin), later rounded out with the addition of Amina (guitar, keys) and Tom (drums), resulting in the sound and on-stage chemistry that the band is acclaimed for. 2009 saw Scanners finish up recording their second album ‘Submarine’…

MIRK MAKES SALE TO JAY-Z FOR “CRISPY BENJAMINS”

Joshua “Mirk” Mirsky of the popular Albany-based Pop-soul band Mirk & The New Familiars, recently produced a track titled, “Crispy Benjamins” (co-produced by Anthony Rich) that has been acquired by Jay-Z.   As a producer and long-time fan of Jay-Z, working with him has been a thrilling experience for Mirk and he’s extremely excited for…

JANET JACKSON ‘NUMBER ONES’ PRE ORDER ON AMAZON.COM

Janet Jackson is releasing a greatest hits album next week (November 17th) titled, Number Ones. It is now up to pre-order on Amazon.com! It features 34 of her chart topping songs such as, “What Have You Done For Me Lately”, “Miss You Much” and “Rhythm Nation.” Track list: Disc 1: 1. What Have You Done…

When Summers Gone, December

The dynamic duo known as When Summers Gone get extremely personal on this debut release titled December.   When Summers Gone is made up of long-time friends Dave Graziani on lead vocals, guitar and piano & Chris Lepri on bass and drums.   Graziani is also the chief songwriter behind this collection of emotionally-charged songs.…

KILL HANNAH’S TOUR BUS STOLEN IN PHILADELPHIA

Chicago’s nu romantics KILL HANNAH woke up on the eve of wrapping their fall tour with Jet, Papa Roach and Morningwood to a find their 15-passenger van and 14-foot trailer stolen. Taken between 4am and 11am today, Wednesday, November 11 from the front of the Holiday Inn on 900 Packer Ave, Philadelphia, PA-the same location…

LAURENA MARRONE CAMPOS OF GRIT PR TALKS PUBLICITY TODAY

Here is an informative interview for bands who are thinking about what the current state of traditional Publicity means to them and what to do about it. Laurena of Grit PR is interviewed by Taylar Kuzniar and it is so well done we got clearance to run the piece on Skopemag.com.

NEFEW SIGNS BREAKTHROUGH DEAL WITH PUMA

Breakthrough Hip-Hop act, NEFEW, stamped with an American/Swiss postmark have secured a break through endorsement from sports apparel giant PUMA.   The duo, managed by Swiss based company On Our Feet Entertainment consist of Polemikk and PA-Double. Combined, NEFEW take on the coveted role of Opinion Leaders for Urban Lifestyle as they represent PUMA INTERNATIONAL.…

ANYA MARINA ON GOSSIP GIRL VIDEO

You heard it this week on Gossip Girl during the threesome. And now Anya Marina’s cover of T.I.’s hit “Whatever You Like” is, well, a hit!   Check out Anya’s video for “Whatever You Like” below, featuring cameos from Justin Kirk (Weeds), Daniel Vosovic (Project Runway), and Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield). [youtube f2xVwq1fvmE nolink]