Spring and summer are quickly on their way, and you know what that means. When the weather warms up, the top artists in the industry begin touring again, wowing music fans across the land with live shows and concerts, many of which will be appearing this year in a city near you. Whether you are a rock ‘n roll fan, a smooth Jazz listener, a country music fan, a deep groove Reggae lover, or a pop music fanatic, this upcoming 2007 concert season is highly unprecedented and there’s sure to be a show that you simply can’t miss.

Check out the guide below on acts you can check out this summer. This has been a year of great music so be sure to get your tickets to your favorite acts as early as possible to ensure great seats and the best concert experience you could possibly have.

Rock ‘n Roll Fans:
This upcoming season is going to be a great one for you die-hard rock fans out there; many of the best rock and roll bands are touring this year, so you definitely have some exciting choices. Some of the bigger names in Rock and Roll show business that are touring include:

*Best Buy Presents The Police, Live in Concert; tickets for this tour are on sale NOW. There are dates all across the United States beginning in June 2007, from Seattle, Washington to Hershey, Pennsylvania.

*Ozzfest; tickets not yet on sale. See the legend himself Ozzy Osbourne and many of the heavy metal greats at the legendary Ozzfest tour, held at venues all across the United States

*Heaven & Hell (Black Sabbath): Tickets are on sale NOW. They are in Canada in March and will be ending in New Jersey in May.

*Rage Against the Machine and Wu-Tang Clan: The L.A. band Rage Against the Machine is reuniting and will join the Wu-Tang Clan for three shows called ‘Rock the Bells’ festival.

*Roger Waters of Pink Floyd; tickets are on sale NOW. Roger Waters from Pink Floyd are legends unto themselves; see Waters in a venue near you with dates scheduled all across the United States beginning in May 2007.

*Genesis: Phil Collins and company are touring the world right now and will touch down in North America in September 2007. Don’t miss this awesome reunion while they make their way across the land.

*Steve Miller Band & Doobie Brothers: The Steve Miller Band, classic rock band of the 70’s, is in the middle of a reunion tour and will be performing many shows with the Doobie Brothers all the way through July.

*Steely Dan: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are at it again and are touring this May for their Heavey Rollers 2007 concert tour.

Country Music Fans:
The summer is always a great time for country music, and this summer is bound to be no different. This summer, you will have the chance to check out many of Country music’s finest acts, including:

*Kenny Chesney; tickets are on sale NOW. Kenny Chesney is one of Country music’s greatest acts, and you will have the chance to catch him from the months of April, May, and into the end of June. Kenny Chesney is appearing from coast to coast this year, with acts from Omaha, Nebraska to Selma, Texas.

*Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill will be touring together again for Soul2Soul 2007, one of the most popular country tours of all time. tickets are on sale NOW.

*Keith Urban: tickets are on sale NOW. The Australian country singer is going to be touring across North America.

Reggae Fans (World Music Fans):
Reggae is a representation of a particular culture, and not just a style of music. Check out Reggae’s finest acts this summer in a venue near you. Two of the best roots reggae acts out this summer will be:

*Stephen Marley (some acts featuring Jr. Gong); tickets on sale NOW. Stephen Marley, one of the Marley reggae greats is appearing this summer in venues across the nation, from cities in Florida to Texas. Check out Stephen Marley’s show from the months of March through the end of May.

*Steel Pulse; tickets scheduled for one show in Atlantic City, New Jersey. If you can manage it, don’t miss one of the true Rasta acts left in show business.

Jazz and Blues Fans:
Jazz is about attitude, and passion. What a better way to show your passion for jazz then to attend many of the indoor and outdoor jazz events that are going to be held this summer. Jazz concerts are a summertime favorite, also a genre of music that is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. This summer, take advantage of some of the jazz favorites that will be out:

*Keb Mo; tickets on sale NOW! Don’t miss Keb Mo’s awesome show; his tour kicks off in Atlanta, Georgia in March.

*Harry Connick, Jr.; tickets on sale NOW! Connick is one of Jazz’s greats, with a sound and the look to match. Check out Harry Connick, Jr. in concert in a city near you this summer.

*Joss Stone, the Grammy Award-winning English soul, R&B, and blues singer is also touring this spring 2007. She’ll be visiting both American and Canadien cities on her tour.

Popular Music Fans:
Pop music really is a revolution, and when the springtime and summertime hit, so do the stars. Pop music fans will delight in many of the acts set to hit the stage this summer; of many Pop music greats, some of the more popular acts that are bound to sell out quickly include:

*Billy Joel; tickets on sale NOW! If you know Popular music, you know that Billy Joel is one of music’s legends in any Genre, so be sure not to miss him this year. Billy Joel has sold more than 100 million records in his career, and he has acts scheduled from coast to coast, but not many shows so you had better catch him in a city near you while you can!

*Gwen Stefani, her Harajuki Girls and the Sweet Escape Tour; tickets are on sale NOW! Gwen Stefani has always been a legend; from the lead songstress of the popular band No Doubt to her current role as pop/rock singer and fashion designer. Don’t miss her incredible show, with acts from Las Vegas, Nevada to Holmdel, New Jersey.

*Morrisey: Morrisey is the former Smith singer and will be supported by Kristeen Young on his 2007 tour.

*Michael Jackson: The King of Pop is rumored to be attempting a comeback and may very well be setting up shop in Las Vegas to do multiple shows similar to Celine Dion. Jackson representatives are negotiating a deal which will see him joined on stage by all the other members of the Jackson Five. Besides the Vegas shows, Michael Jackson may also do a string of gigs across America.

As you can see, whatever your interest is musically, there are live shows out there just waiting for the summer to emerge, and this is only just the beginning. Hopefully your favorite acts will be touring this summer and you’ll get the chance to experience them live. Be sure to check online for updates, tour information and concert rumors.

Has there ever been a concert you were just dying to go see, but by the time you got through on the phone with the box office, the tickets were all sold out? Well get in line! No, really! For some shows, you have to camp out at a ticketing box office overnight to be in line early enough to grab a ticket.

So often today, the demand for concert tickets is larger than the ticket supply. So, if you want those tickets, you have to be one of the first people in line. Of course, there is always the phone and Internet, but in my experience, I’ve always had better luck, and better seats, camping out in line.

First, and most importantly, after you’ve picked the concert you want to see, you need to find out what date and time it goes on sale. The most common on-sale date/time is Saturday mornings at 10:00 am. But, of course, this may vary, so double check. For many performers, there are pre-sales. However, the codes for those sales are usually provided by a fan club membership, which costs extra money. And in today’s economy – who has that?

Secondly, you need to figure out where you’re going to buy the tickets from. There are usually only two options here: Ticketmaster, or the venue box office. You could always get your tickets from a secondary ticket broker, but I’ll get to that later. Ticketmaster has box offices all over the place. So, it would be best to find out which is closer to you: a Ticketmaster location, or the venue itself.

Okay, so now you know where you’re going and when you’re going! Good! But you’re probably still wondering how early you need to get there, huh? Well, that all depends. If it’s a super popular concert, and it’s sold out the last few years in a row, or in the previous cities, where it went on sale first – it’s probably going to be an overnighter. And that’s why you’re reading this anyway – right? So, get your bags packed and grab some friends!

Plan on getting to the location the night before the tickets actually go on sale. In some cases, you may need to get there at least 24 hours before, but let’s assume it’s just an overnighter, and you can get there in the evening, when you get off of work or school, whatever the case may be. The most important thing is a lawn chair! Get that first! Below is the list of other necessities, and any notes I can think of.

Lawn (or camp) chair – once you wake up in the morning, you’ll probably have to take your tent down, but there will still be several hours of waiting ahead of you. Yes, you can stand or sit on the floor, but trust me, after about two hours, you’ll wish you had one of these!

Tent – you might want to check with the location before you bring this. Some places have ordinances against using them in public places, like outside of a store. But, it is helpful to have, in case you are allowed to have one.

Sleeping bag/blankets/pillow – again, how many you need will depend on your comfort zone. Some people only need a sheet to be able to sleep anywhere, some need a little more, so bring whatever feels best for you. And remember, you can always leave stuff in your car and get it only when you need it. No use in hogging the sidewalk if you don’t need to

Water/food/drinks and a cooler – Again, the amount you’ll need to bring depends on you. Just remember though, you probably won’t have access to a refrigerator or any heating device (microwave, oven, toaster), so bring stuff that doesn’t need to be heated up.

The cooler, obviously, will keep things cool. Bottled water, sodas, juice boxes, sandwiches, chips, pretzels, and dip are all great things to have. You could always call for pizza delivery, but I have found some chains don’t deliver unless you have an actual address for them. You could always use the location address, but again, keep it simple.

Money – Yeah, don’t forget you have to pay for those tickets

Friends/cards/games – You will get bored. And if you’re standing in line by yourself, you’ll get real bored around all those strangers. Although, conversations are usually struck up and people tend to bond over their shared experience, it’s still best to bring someone you know along with you.

Alright, so now you should be packed up and ready to go! Another great reason to bring a friend is that you’ll have someone to hold your place in line. So, grab your friend too and get to the box office! As soon as you get there, stake out your spot in line. Set up your tent, or whatever you have. Then, get comfortable.

I did wait in line once for HFStival tickets, and the woman at the front of the line had been doing this for years. So, she started a list – as soon as someone else got it line, their name was added to the list. This helped to keep things fair in line – there was no “cutting” the line; everyone knew who everyone else was, and where their spot was. You could do this, if you’re first in line, but don’t feel that it’s required.

So, assuming you’ve made it through the night, wake up early and put your tent and other bulky items back in the car, or out of the way somehow. Once those doors open, you don’t want to be tripping over someone’s stuff, trying to get in the door. Conversely, you don’t want your things to be trampled. Also, once all the bulky stuff is gone, the line seems like it gets shorter – YAY! It doesn’t actually – you’re just closer to the people in front of you, but by then, any seeming success feels great!

Set out your lawn or camp chair, and get ready to wait some more. Hopefully, someone in line will offer to make a coffee and bagel run, or you could do this yourself. Again, if you have that friend with you, he or she can hold down both of your spots while you go to the coffee shop, or wherever.

Once the doors open, get your butt moving to get those great tickets! Once it’s your turn, the ticket agent (the person behind the counter at the ticket machine) will ask you how many tickets you need, and then will tell you what seats are available. Get them! The seating options only get worse the longer you wait. Then, pay the money and enjoy the show!

For those who were unsuccessful, or who don’t feel like doing all that work: The secondary ticket broker will be your best bet. A secondary ticket broker is not affiliated with the box office, performer, or venue in any way. They are a company that buys and sells tickets on the secondary market. So, the prices for the tickets will probably be higher, but you’ll have a variety of seating locations (want 3rd row on the floor? No problem!).

There are many secondary ticket brokers out there. However, make sure, if you decide to purchase tickets this way, that the broker is registered with the Better Business Bureau, and the National Association of Ticket Brokers. You want to make sure you’re buying from a legit place, after all. Also, let’s say you waited in line and got those great tickets you wanted, and for some reason, you can’t make it to the show after all.

Ticketmaster and most box offices do not have refund or return policies. Again, this is where secondary brokers work to your advantage. Most brokers also buy tickets. So if you can’t make it to a show, call a broker, and see if you can’t at least get your money back by selling them your ticket!

Going on a first date can be stressful, there are many things you must do when preparing. You should have an idea of what you are going to do and where you are going to go, what type of clothing you are going to wear, what type of cologne you are going to put on…

Try to come up with an original date idea, this should be something that the person probably has never done on a date before. This should be something that your date will enjoy doing.

Here is a list of things you can do and places you can go when you’re going on your first date.

1. Going to a casino

This can be a good idea if the person is not opposed to gambling. Going to a casino and playing some games with your date, can be a great way to get to know each other better.

2. Going to the highest point in the city

Imagine looking down on the city while enjoying a quite evening with your date. This is a great idea which will win you a few points from the get go.

3. Going to a live concert

This can be a great alternative to going on a traditional date, assuming that your favorite band or her favorite band is coming to town on the same night. It will be a great experience to take your date to the concert.

4. Having a picnic on the beach

All good dates do not involve spending a large amount of your money. This is an inexpensive date which will give you some quality time to engage in a stimulating conversation.

5. Go for a ride in a hummer limousine

This is a great idea if you’re trying to impress your date, this will give you the ability to sit back and unwind while taking a tour around the city.

6. Go to Disney World

Although amusement parks generally cater to the needs of little children, adults can have fun participating in different rides and activities as well. This can be a great way to relive your childhood.

7. Go to a live sporting event

It may be football, basketball, baseball, or any other sport if the person you’re going on a date with is a sport fan. You can use this as an opportunity to bring the both of you closer together.

You should try to be creative when planning your date, before going on a date you can ask the person what types of things they enjoy doing in their free time. This will make it easier for you to come up with a good dating idea which will be enjoyable for the both of you.

Before 2006 mainstream music fans may not have heard of the Jonas Brothers much when they debuted their first CD “Its about Time”. However, these three brothers actually had a long list of accomplishments to their credit. Among the tweens, they became popular with their single “Year 3000″ played on the Disney Channel.

Their average age isnt even 18 yet, and they just graduated to headlining status after opening for fellow Disney sensation Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus late last year. They also competed in the Disney Channel games during the summer of 2007, which seemed to help skyrocket their musical career even further. The Jonas Brothers have performed two songs at the Miss Teen USA 2007 contest. The following day, the closing ceremonies of the Disney Channel Games was aired, featuring a performance from the Jonas Brothers. http://www.ticketmayor.com That same year, they co-presented an award with Miley Cyrus at the Teen Choice Awards. They also performed at the American Music Awards in November 18, 2007. The Jonas Brothers signed with Hollywood Records in February 2007 after they were dropped by Columbia Records. Their self-titled second album, “Jonas Brothers” was released on August 7th 2007 and reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart its first week.

Disney has signed the brothers to a concert special, movie (Camp Rock, premieres January 2008), and TV Series. The fictional television series entitled “J.O.N.A.S!” (Junior Operatives Networking As Spies) starring the trio as a group of government hired spies was filmed, and is expected to debut on the Disney Channel this year.

Considering themselves to be a mixture of rock and punk music, Jonas Brothers from Wyckoff, New Jersey is headed up by three brothers, Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. Kevin plays guitar and sings backing vocals, and Nicholas shares lead vocals with Joseph in the group. They have released two albums – “Its About Time” in 2006 and “Jonas Brothers” in 2007. The Jonas Brothers are working on their 3rd Album. Have musicians as parents, music always played a major part in the brothers lives growing up. The boys influences include an eclectic mix of artists ranging from the Ramones to the Jackson 5 to the Modern Lovers-all purveyors of tight, catchy anthems.

In 2004 an executive at Columbia Records got wind of the song that Nick had written for his Dad, in 2002, called “Joy to the World” (A Christmas Prayer). The song was featured on the annual Broadway “Equity Fights AIDS” album, and later picked up by Ino Records for release to Christian radio stations across the country. Before long, Nick was signed by Columbia Records. After Steve Greenburg, the president of Columbia Records heard “Please Be Mine,” a song which featured all three of the brothers; the group was signed as a band. For the Jonas boys, the real fun began as they combined their musical abilities to write and record their debut album together, quickly realizing how lucky they were to have each other for both personal and professional inspiration.

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If you are anything like me, I am sure you have spent more then you care to admit on concert tickets during your earlier formative years. Many of you reading this article may still spend more on concert events then you may care to admit to yourself or your significant other. Unfortunately, concerts nowadays are becoming more and more costly. Most college students and many young professionals are finding it increasingly difficult these days to pay for these tickets, or have to starve the week prior to the event to save up the money required (Ramen Noodles anyone?).

Well listen up young people, this article is for you. Just don’t tell your parents. Why should music be so expensive? Well, if you sneak into the concert, it’s not. By splitting the cost of concert tickets between the valid ticket holders and those sneaking in, you can lower your cost per person significantly.

Here are the best 5 ways I have found to sneak into a concert, explore them at your own risk:

1. The Stamp – Lots of smaller venues across the country still use the hand stamp to prove that you have paid to get into a concert. Once your hand is stamped you can come and go as many times as you like during the concert. When you are getting your hand stamped always put it on the ticket stand or table that you are getting stamped at. This way the stamp will be clear and have more ink on it than if you had held your hand out in the air. Once your hand it stamped wait 15 to 20 minutes before leaving the venue. Once outside wet the stamp, spit works well, and then press your hand against your friends hand to transfer the stamp. Walk back in casually together and waive your hands in front of the door person to prove you have a valid stamp.

2. Wristbands – Many concerts have decided that wrist bands are an easier way to keep track of groupies. They come in two types, plastic and smooth paper, both are stretchable. This trick, however, requires at least two ticket holders. Once the two valid ticket holders are inside, stretch the band so that it will slide off over your hand. The other person can then take the band outside and give it to the person waiting to sneak in. If the band has stretched so large that it will be obvious, bring tape or a safety pin to hook it under your wrist and walk in with your fingers in your pockets so that the wristband is still showing.

3. Ticket Stubs – Some concerts still rip your ticket when you enter and let you keep half of the ticket. This is the one of the easiest ways to get in. Most people, once they are in a concert do not leave, therefore their tickets stubs get dropped on the floor or in the nearest garbage can. Once in the stadium, look for extra tickets stubs to take back out to your buddies so that they may enter. When returning to the stadium, go in groups of no more than 2 or 3, so as not to be obvious.

4. The Exit/Entrance – There are still quite a few venues out there that have exit doors along the sides or back of the stadium. Some of the older buildings have not yet been equipped with alarm sounding doors; therefore if your friends can coordinate with you and determine where the door on the inside of the stadium opens to the outside of the stadium, you can let them in. This is best done by scoping the concert halls out ahead of time or checking the stadium seating chart on the internet before going to the concert. Plan ahead, trying to coordinate the location from inside a large venue may be difficult,t and you would not want to be walking around the outside of the building so much that you would draw attention to yourself. I suggest doing this 1 person at a time with long intervals in between so as not to draw too much attention to the change of lighting caused by the open door.

5. The Stage Pass – To let in roadies, techies, and other backstage employees many concerts create stage passes so that they will not have to be bothered by security when they enter and exit multiple times during the set up for the concert. A stage pass can be created by purchasing standard laminate. Create your own stage pass by printing out the bands current album or tour logo and laminating it yourself. Check e-bay to see if anyone is selling their old passes for collector’s items to get an idea of what yours should look like. This pass works best if you arrive early for the concert when crews are still setting up and lots of people are coming and going. Wear plain clothing that does not stand out easily in a crowd, and carry any equipment sitting around to make yourself look like an employee.

The key to sneaking into a concert is attitude. If you believe you should be in there, then you should. If you look like you belong, you do. If you act like it’s no big deal, then it’s not. If you are nervous, try making a phone call, talking to friends, or looking at the concert program while entering the venue; this will help you to look more nonchalant.

Sneaking into a concert can certainly save you some bucks for the next event. Follow the above steps and save some money for what is most important to struggling college students everywhere…more Ramen Noodles!

Making a perfect gift isn’t easy. However, anyone knows that offering someone a good time, entertaining on a special occasion is the best way to create a wonderful memory. If there is a great concert coming up or a football match you friend would appreciate to see, then a couple of tickets for the new event can be a perfect choice for a present. Your efforts to buy concert tickets or football tickets will be much appreciated and the day you’ll be spending together will surely be unforgettable.

The live performance, the location, the large number of beating hearts pumping up adrenaline for the same cause, the noise, the enthusiasm of the public that participates to such hot and breath taking events are reasons why so many make huge efforts to get concert tickets or football tickets. You strive to pay good money for a couple of tickets to allow yourself to make a pleasant surprise to someone dear. You sometimes discover that some opportunities for entertainment are simply inaccessible because queuing isn’t enough. Concert tickets, football tickets or theater tickets can sell out before you get a chance to buy. The popular events sometimes require taking time off from work to stand in never ending lines. Not everyone affords wasting time, even if money is not an issue (or the other way around).

To make matters worse, the desperation sometimes pushes people to counterfeit their concert tickets or football tickets and try their luck. If you do this, you risk public humiliation by getting kicked out from the event and spoiling the fun of those who are with you (and who perhaps don’t know about the fake tickets). You may also receive a fine which won’t make anything better. However, you can get to see your idols without making unnecessary mistakes and just paying a little extra for concert tickets by buying them online.

If you don’t want your friend to miss out on his gift you have to benefit from alternatives to buying concert tickets or football tickets and the Internet is here for this. To make things easier for those with busy lifestyles, many ticket brokers have launched websites which offer to help you make the best of your time. You can now buy or book difficult to find concert tickets or football tickets, choose the best selections and get the least expensive ones for comparable seats. Of course, the websites will charge an extra fee for their services, but you won’t need to waste your precious time and energy.

You might ask yourself why concert tickets are more expensive if bought online. The Internet isn’t the primary market, but a secondary one, thus the chance to attend an important event is given to you after wasting the first opportunity to book the concert tickets in advance. This is a luxury that has to be paid, but the advantages are numerous. Just think about it: there is the possibility that you did not know about the event or found out too late to book concert tickets. You are given a second chance. If you’ve suddenly decided to buy the concert tickets as a surprise for someone, then you can think this through to be certain if this is a good gift or not without hurrying because the concert tickets are rapidly selling out. These are the advantages of buying online concert tickets or football tickets and one thing is for sure: you won’t risk anything this way.

Buying football tickets is just as tricky as buying concert tickets because usually the fans crowd in as soon as they are available. But can you blame them? If for some entertainment means buying concert tickets to hear Eric Clapton, Dixie Chicks, Rolling Stones or the Black Eyed Peas, for others a hot pick consists in something else. This is why some would like to buy NFL or NCAA football tickets and enjoy the competition between two famous teams, among which one is the favorite. But the entertainment doesn’t stop here. Sport fans can experience baseball, basketball or hockey matches or for those more sophisticated, your gift can be the chance to view a theater show. However, in any of these cases, whether the problem resides in buying concert tickets or football tickets when you want, the solution is to buy online.

Chris spheeris and his amazing music come to Arizona this November and the CloudNine team is so happy to spread the news!

Music from Chris has appeared in everything from commercials to the olympics and now Chris will be in town to share his music on November 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm! Chris will perform with the Hellenic Greek Dancers to Help Benefit Higher Education for Hellenic Youth.

“Although my music is abstract in nature, and not intended to convey a particular message, i am very aware of the magical and powerful influence that music can have on the listener. for this reason, i carry with me the responsibility of what i communicate to my audience.”

Tickets are $27-$32! Visit the Mesa Arts Center or call the Box Office at 480-644-6500 for more info! We hope to see all of you there!

The biggest concert in my life deserves the best review I can give. The Doors music group aptly renamed The Doors 21st Century kicked off their 2004 tour on Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 The highly anticipated event was a month overdue because of a legal tangling with Ian Astbury, the frontman of this new group. The wait was well worth what we received from original Doors members Ray Mazarek (Keyboards), and Robby Krieger (Guitar). The only thing missing was of course Jim Morrison, the enigmatic and provocative lead singer that burned the history of Rock and Roll over 30 years ago.

To those born after The Doors died in 1971 with Jim, this was as close as anyone could get. Ian Astbury gave a phenomenal performance in Jim Morrison’s absence. Complete with tight jeans, dark sunglasses, long dark hair, and an uncanny resemblance to Jim he and the audience channeled the spirit of more than a band. I have attended many a Rock Concert, but this one ranks among the elite. One needs to wait a few days to really let the event seep into the pores of the mind. To those of us who believe in the myth of Rock music and believe in it like a religion, this was our Passion of the Christ.

When I arrived at the historic Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis I was awestruck by the interior. Perfect for a band that was established in the classic ballrooms of California in the late 1960s. Hanging chandeliers, enormous ceilings, and a great close view from where ever you sat… But very few people were sitting.

The anticipation from the crowd was electric. When the roadies were coming out to test the instruments the crowd lit up like a fire. Chanting for, “The Doors”, and rising to their feet. This scene was repeated several times.

 When the lights finally went down the deafening screams drowned out anything else in the room. Then a light appeared on the stage to show a juggler. After a few moments the light moved to a circus announcer at the side of the stage who announced, “From Los Angeles, California, THE DOORS!“.,

As the lights on the stage came on Ray Manzarek was seated at his organ, Robby Krieger had his classic Gibson SG electric guitar, and Ian Astbury was at the mic looking just like Jim Morrison. Persian rugs were on the floor below each member and they immediately began playing Break On Through. It sounded like a scene out of a Beatles movie from the screams of a very diversely aged crowd.

From then on the band played through the years picking several selections from different albums. (Set List Below) Ian Astbury mimicked the trademark revolutionary stage performance that Jim Morrison perfected many years ago. Although in today’s climate of bands the Doors would be a bit mild, the moves fit the music perfectly. There is a lot of discussion about having a replacement lead singer, but the crowd of over 10,000 was the actual replacement. The spirit of Jim Morrison was in everyone around, and the biggest example was the young kids who ran up next to the railing of the balcony.

 About ½ way through the show four 16 year old boys and girls ran up to the balcony railing and began dancing. When this happened awhile earlier guards came down quickly and escorted them back to their seats. Now they were here to stay.

Being so young one would assume that they had not even heard of an almost 40 year old band. But they knew every word and were dancing over the railing like Leonardo in Titanic! It was the epitome the evening. An older gentleman next to them was dancing with them and giving more high fives than the Super Bowl.

At the same moment a young man in his early 20s hopped up on stage and ran up to Ray Manzarek and put his arms up in the air cheering! The bouncers quickly wrangled him, but Jim Morrison was there that night. He was on T-Shirts, hats, minds, and souls The old trickster.

It should be noted that Ian Astbury even gives props to Jim when he sings, Not To Touch The Earth. He says, “Jim Morrison was the Lizard King, HE can do anything”. The other noticeable differences to 1967 were that Ray Manzarek’s keyboard was not his oldie. That didn’t stop him from playing with his feet and showing off. There were several times when Ray and Robby would point back and forth as they hit their cues in songs. The one person not pointing was John Densmore, the former drummer who was not in attendance.

 As the show was drawing to a close The Doors 21st Century played the hit, Light My Fire. The Doors greatest chart topping song, which was number one in the Summer of Love in 1967. The background was a liquid show, the theater was antique, and the music was what a group of Americans wrote many years ago in a turbulent time. Had Jim Morrison been there a riot surely would have erupted from the sexual and emotional energy that was in the theater.

Almost like a tribute to Jim the song The End, Jim’s and my own favorite was not played. I believe that this show was better than any concert I have ever scene. I think back to Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, and other superstars’ shows I have attended. This one topped them all! Sure “the” Jim Morrison wasn’t there, but his spirit was in the music.

On a side note the local paper, The StarTribune had a guest writer do a review and it was the saddest thing I had ever read! The person was so disappointed that The Doors were playing without Jim Morrison he went to the length to say Ian Astbury stuffed his pants. It was a stupid article that should not have even been printed. I am ashamed and pray the Doors come back here! MINNESOTA LOVES YOU!!!

featuring 2004 U.S. National Poetry Champion Sonya Renee, Toronto’s d’bi young, Motion, Jemeni, Camesha Cox, Bird of Paradise, Tamla Matthews, Dasha Kelly from Milwaukee, and from the Punany Poets, Mahogany Browne.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front St. East)

9pm. Tickets are $25 upper level, $30 lower level in advance.

Tickets are on sale now through the St. Lawrence Centre Box office at 416.366.7723 or in person at 27 Front St. East

For more info, interviews, or media accreditation contact Dwayne Morgan at dmorgan@upfromtheroots.ca or 647.284.9135

www.upfromtheroots.ca

Born Carlos Sosa in late seventies Puerto Rico, Dj Sneak has experienced two major musical shocks in his life. He first listened to Merengue and Salsa played by Latin orchestras – very much resembling jazz’s big bands – from his hometown. Then his family moved to Chicago in 1983, and as a teenage graffiti artist, Sneak soon took to Chicago ’s nascent house sound, the sound of pioneers such as Larry Heard, Todd Terry or Frankie Knuckles then conveyed by the Hot Mix 5 on local radio WBMX.

Sneak did not took long to hook up with the cream of second-wave Chicago producers. Working for the much respected Gramaphone Records shop, Sneak became acquainted with Derrick Carter who inspired his move from Djing into producing. Sneak soon began to release material for various independent labels including Cajual, Relief and his own Defiant imprint. His work on Cajual gave him international exposure and broke him into the international Dj structure.

After releasing two debut Lps ( Rice & Beans Please! and Blue Funk Files ) and launching a second imprint Unabomber in conjunction with Mario J, Dj Sneak had a massive success with his Teddy Pendergrass sampling mutant : You Can’t Hide From Your Bud. Despite the hit enjoyed by this killer of a track, Sneak was weary of being pigeonholed as a disco-house producer. He explored drum & bass territory along with Armand Van Helden ( with mixed results ) and launched several projects with fellow djs such as LA’s Dj Doc Martin. Today, he’s rumoured to have actively participated to Daft punk’s new album and remains active on a number of imprint including Derrick L Carter’s Classic.