MIDNIGHT Retail Launch Parties for Fans

What:     On Friday, March 19, 2010, from 10PM until 12 midnight, Summit Home Entertainment and retailers across the country will provide THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON fans with the chance to celebrate the midnight DVD release of the film. 

Participating retailers will stay open late as fans line up to purchase the DVD at midnight parties.  While there, contests, autographed merchandise raffles, giveaways, limited edition merchandise including collectable clothing and memorabilia will all be available! 

In addition NEW MOON actors and filmmakers will be making surprise appearances at select locations throughout the country

When:      Friday, March 19, 2010  10:00 PM – 1:00 AM

WHERE:   SELECT CITIES ACROSS AMERICA! Fans will be able to locate a NEW MOON DVD Release Party by visiting www.newmoon-themovie.com

Natives of North Carolina, “The Avett Brothers”, gave a rousing performance to a sold out Michigan Theater on Tuesday, March 9th.  The band centers around brothers Scott and Seth Avett who dominate the writing and singing. 

This band is vocally and instrumentally very strong and lyrically superb.  The main floor audience gave them a greeting of a standing ovation and never sat down.  It was their last show before leaving for an upcoming debut European tour.

The band jumped back and forth from current to past releases during the show picking audience favorites like “Bella Donna”, “Murdered in the City”, “Shame”, and “Salvation Song”.  My favorite was “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promises”.  It is impossible to pigeon hole The Avett Brothers in any single genre.  They roam the musical landscape from folk to bluegrass to Americana to country and punk.  The constant is lovely harmonies sung on intelligent heartfelt lyrics. 

Their following is strong and dedicated.  The only flaw was the lack of an encore after such an energetic performance.  They mentioned something about time constraints.  Then why the extended break between the warmup and main act?   It seemed everyone was expecting to hear their latest hit “I and Love and You”, and were miffed when it didn’t happen.

The possible reason the audience was so jacked all night may have been the opening act.  The “Low Anthem”, from Rhode Island, began the night and finished to a deserved standing ovation.  Again, “Low Anthem” skated thru genres with ease and displayed vast musical talent and knowledge.  They are due to solo at “The Ark” on April 7th, and they have earned another serious listen.

On Saturday, March 6th, Stephen Stills rolled into the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor for a much anticipated show.  With him, he brought a stellar band featuring Todd Caldwell on Keyboards, Kenny Passarelli on bass, and the ageless Joe Vitale on drums.  Teamed with Stills’ headlining lead guitar this band rocked.

I must commend Stills on his dedication and effort.  Instrumentally he’s still on top of his game but the passing decades have left him vocally vulnerable.  He did try mightily, but some of the high notes just aren’t attainable any more.  The once glorious harmonies that marked his work now elude him as his voice slips and falls flat.  Even he remarked about “almost” hitting the high hard ones.

Despite the vocal shortfalls it was still wonderful to hear Stills picking gems as he roamed his lush musical canyons.  It warms the heart to hear the originator of such fine tunes as “Southern Cross”, “Change Partners”, and a rollicking version of the anti war anthem “Tree Top Flyer”.  He also did tributes to Dylan, Neil Young, and Tim Hardin. 

He finished with one of his Buffalo Springfield masterpieces, “For What It’s Worth”.  Stephen Stills was slightly flawed but well worth catching.

The COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere Of Joe Rogan’s “Talking Monkeys In Space” Special Airs On Saturday, March 27 At 10:00 P.M. ET/PT

With a successful history as a television host and over 20 years of performing stand-up comedy, Joe Rogan has proven to be a major player in the entertainment industry. The Guardian newspaper called Rogan, "One of the most complex and exciting stand-ups working in America today." With 2 critically acclaimed albums and a comedy special already under his belt, Rogan is ready to release his skewering and ideological brand of humor again.

Rogan takes on religion, Darwinism and more in his stand-up special Talking Monkeys in Space  which was filmed at the Southern Theater in Columbus, OH. The Talking Monkeys In Space CD will be released by Comedy Central Records and the separate Talking Monkeys in Space extended and uncensored DVD will be released by Comedy Central Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

The CD contains bonus tracks of Q&A with Rogan while the DVD is extended and uncensored with over 25 minutes of never-before-seen footage from the special. The DVD also contains over 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes bonus material. Each will be available in stores nationwide on Tuesday, March 30. Talking Monkeys in Space will be also available, extended and uncensored, on download-to-own platforms.