Mid-Day Motivators: Dammit Rich!

*snicker*

~ Hath

Happy Holidays

Hey everyone --

I'm off on my annual multiple-Christmas-celebration-extravaganza.

We head out to Long Island today for several days, then we're back the end of next week where we prepare for our holidays at home and with my family.  I've got some things scheduled to pre-post, but posting will be pretty slim for the next week or so.

I will catch up with my emails and posting, and may be posting during the week, but I'm planning on some dedicated family time -- I'm sure you understand :)

So, whether it's Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Festivus, or any other winter-type-holiday, I hope it's a truly joyful one for you and your family, and I wish your New Year be filled with nothing but happiness.

I leave you with one of my favorite New Year's toasts:

Here's to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old;
Here's to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Welcome to the Light

Bay, I'll stick to the dark side :)

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Want Some More?

LadySambora, when I saw this, the first sound byte that popped into my head was from the robot bartender in The Fifth Element, asking the priest "do you want some more" in that monotone-robot voice :)


~ Hath

Radio Interview with Matt

From 92.3 Now Radio

The Internet is for rumors…

Rumors like the one that took over Facebook yesterday. It all started when a blog called dailynewbloginternational declared the New Jersey native son dead.

We got the scoop from Jon’s brother, Matt Bongiovi...

You can listen here.

The article goes on to say

For the record, someone should have realized what was up when this unknown blog also claimed that actress Megan Fox is HIV positive.

Really, EVERYONE should have realized it was a hoax when you actually READ the "press release" and noticed all the grammatical errors, missing words, etc., etc.

I'm with Queenie though -- Google Alerts, drop it already!

~ Hath

Wanted Wednesday: December 1995 - Red Bank

Please rise for the playing of our national anthem.

This cut picks up after Richie's "Heaven Help Us All" solo, where Jon's still talking about Richie and how his daughter calls him "Uncle MooMoo". Too cute. Suppose he got cowbells for Christmas that year?

Richie starts this one out -- taking the intro verse. Apologies in advance for the over-zealous audience members yelling the words and screaming through the solo.

Let's Ride!




And you can snag this from my Mediafire if you like.

~ Hath

PS: Next week is the last Wanted Wednesday post for 2011 -- any interest in keeping this going for 2012? Drop me a comment; let me know!  I still have many boots we haven't tapped into :)

NEW RICHIE MUSIC THIS SPRING!!

At least, that's the scoop according to Luke Ebbin (Ocean Way Recording) who's producing Richie's record:

“Richie and I have worked on and off together for years,” explained Ebbin. “Richie came off the Bon Jovi tour energized and we got together to write a couple of songs. The results were very good, so we kept writing more and decided to go in and record them. The recordings came out great, so Richie decided why not make this a solo record? There are eight songs in the can now, including a co-write with Bernie Taupin. We’ve started round two of sessions and hope to have a full album done by early spring.”

You can read the whole article at MixOnline.

~ Hath

PS: Catte, thanks for passing on the great news!!

Mid-Day Motivators: Sharing

Yep, T; is surely is.

~ Hath

MORE Hope Concert

Some photos and information from the ever-lovely CatteSambora




Show Lineup:

Jon Bon Jovi
Southside Johnny
Gary U.S. Bonds
Bobby Bandiera
The Jersey Shore Rock-n-Soul Revue
Nicole Atkins
Brian Fallon (of The Gaslight Anthem)
Tim McLoone and The Shirleys

Bobby Bandiera (Music Director, Vocals, Guitar)
Nicky Addeo (Vocals)
John Berry (Trumpet)
Joe Bellia (Percussion)
Jim Celestino (Guitar, Vocals)
Doug DeHays (Baritone/Tenor Sax)
Layonne Holmes (Vocals)
Tommy Labella (Tenor Sax)
Hugh McDonald (Bass)
Mike Mancini (Piano/Keyboards)
Tim McLoone (Vocals)
Tommy Meares (Trombone)
Rich Scannella (Drums)
Arne Wendt (Keyboards)

Proceeds of the Hope V Concert benefit the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. At the start of the show Bobby presented a check for $175,000 to the Cancer Institute.

About the Hope Concert (from the show program)

The Hope Concert is a community benefit concert produced by the Count Basie Theater and starring an exceptional lineup of Jersey Shore musicians. All the musicians are volunteering their time tonight. The theater is donating the venue, and only the direct out of pocket costs are reimbursed so as close as 100% of the proceeds as possible may benefit the charity.

From fundraisers in local bars to large concerts in big venues, the Jersey Shore music community has had a long tradition of helping friends and neighbors in need, and the spirit of the hope Concert is best summarized by Music Director Bob Bandiera: "I like the idea of giving back when I can, and I like being able to help a friend when needed. But mostly I like having the chance to apply my craft to supporting a cause... However sick or tired or miserable I may be at the end of a day, I always try to remember that somewhere, someone has it worse than I do, and it only takes a little bit of time and effort on my part to give back."

~ Hath

JBJ Stars at the Hope Concert V

From NJ.COM

Andy Mills/The Star-Ledger

The wicked Twitterati had him in the grave earlier today. But on Monday night, Jon Bon Jovi disproved rumors of his death at the Hope Concert at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. The rock star, who was the latest high-profile entertainer to be prematurely buried by pranksters on the Internet, looked and sounded fit as he sang a jazzy version of “The Letter” by the Box Tops, the J. Geils Band stomper “House Party” alongside Southside Johnny, and Bon Jovi hits “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and “Born to Follow.". Backed by longtime sideman Bobby Bandiera -- the evening’s musical director -- and the 14-piece Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue, Bon Jovi ended the two-hour benefit concert with a flourish.

Jon Bon Jovi returned for a holiday-themed encore set, pulling out his best Elvis impersonation for “Blue Christmas” and splitting microphone time with Nicole Atkins and Gary U.S. Bonds on a raucous rendition of “Run Run Rudolph.”

Atkins, Bonds, Southside Johnny, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, and Tim McLoone and the Shirleys all lent their strong voices to the Hope Concert cause -- raising money for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The benefit, which was the fifth in the series of occasional charity concerts at Count Basie Theatre, brought in $175,000 for the comprehensive cancer center. Unlike most all-star charity shows, the Hope Concert was well paced: No performer outstayed his or her welcome, and the musicians (mostly) resisted the temptation to extend their songs to absurd lengths. Bandiera had his Rock-N-Soul revue drilled, and he proved to be a generous, graceful master of ceremonies.

Like Scott Baio, who was victimized by a similar prank a few days ago, Jon Bon Jovi seemed unnerved by the barrage of Twitter rumors. He referred to the hoax several times, and even pantomimed taking phone calls from concerned friends checking to see if he was still alive. He even felt the need to rehash the old Mark Twain quip about how the reports of his death had been exaggerated.

At the last Hope Concert in 2008, Jon Bon Jovi shared the Count Basie stage with Bruce Springsteen. The Boss did not make a surprise appearance on Monday, but “Thunder Road” pumped over the theatre sound system after the show prompted a compensatory singalong.

~ Hath

Hope Concert Photos

Some from the NJ Star Ledger

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

~ Hath

Hope Concert V ~ Set List and Videos

Hope Concert V

Count Basie Theater

December 19, 2011

Set List

1. The Letter (with SSJ) | Letter-2 | Letter-3 | Letter-4
2. House Party (with SSJ) | Party-2
3. Wanted Dead or Alive
4. Who Says You Can't Go Home
5. We Weren't Born To Follow
6. Blue Christmas (with SSJ) | Blue-2 | Blue-3
7. Run Rudolph Run  (with SSJ, Gary US Bonds and Nicole Adkins) | Rudolph-2

Extras

1. Herding Cats for the Encore
2. Not Dead
3. Not Dead 2
4. STILL Not Dead
5. Kissing Bobby (lol)

Story Update

The next chapter of Another Reason to Believe has been posted. Thanks for reading!!

~ Hath

Heart of Camden Photos

There are a number of shots posted on the JBJ Soul Foundation Website. My favorite? Him squatting down to talk to the kids at their level. I love the little boy's reaction to Jon too. Very adorable.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Listen

Ma-a-a-a-a-an, T, and my wallet was JUST starting to drop the Skeletor impersonation... :)

~ Hath

Bon Jovi World Tour App

Found on the Android Market

Jon Bon Jovi and select members of the crew narrate this exclusive audio tour of Bon Jovi's sold-out world tour, 144 dates that began in Hawaii and ended in Portugal. Swipe through a special collection of Jon's favorite photographs from the road and listen to a customizable Bon Jovi music player. How to use the app:

Swipe through the carousel to browse photographs by acclaimed “action photographer” David Bergman.

Tap on a photo to view it in full-screen.

From the full-screen view, tap the icons to open:

- Audio Commentary: Hear audio from Jon Bon Jovi and photographer David Bergman

- Music Player: A customizable player that invites you to purchase the Greatest Hits or soundtrack your app experience with your own Bon Jovi songs from your iTunes library

- Facts and Figures: Read more about the tour and what it took to capture these incredible moments

From the front row to backstage, you have never seen Bon Jovi this close.

$3.99 USD

Now, except for the commentary, which sounds like it could be cool, I could create the same thing with Adobe PDF Maker for free. Also, the developer's website is not active, just says "Bon Jovi Support Coming Soon", so purchase at your own risk!

~ Hath

Backstage Christmas Pressie

From the Bon Jovi Website:

All Year 23 Backstage Jon Bon Jovi Standard and Signature members* have a special treat in store for the new year. In January, all Year 23 Standard and Signature members will receive Jon Bon Jovi & Friends LIVE - an exclusive CD compilation of both Bon Jovi originals and cover songs performed by Jon Bon Jovi and Friends.

Backstage members get a sneak peek at the CD's track list before anyone else. Check it out!

Jon Bon Jovi & Friends LIVE

So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star
You Give Love a Bad Name
Ain't Nothin' But a House Party
Lost Highway
Pretty Woman
We Weren't Born to Follow
Under Pressure
Wanted
Sympathy for the Devil
Baba O'Riley
Sleep When I'm Dead
Who Says You Can't Go Home
The Letter
Old Time Rock & Roll

*Members who purchased starting September 14, 2011 onwards will be receiving this CD in their package. If you are a current online only member, you can upgrade your membership to receive this CD.

~ Hath