Michelle Kaplan

Dashboard Confessional - Chris Carrabba Let’s Us In - A Little Bit

Dashboard Confessional is the band’s name, but don’t ask founder Chris Carraba to give up his sins or reveal too much personal information. If you want him to bare his soul, give a listen, that information is contained in the lyrics of his songs.“I put a lot of myself into my songs,” he confessed.He was willing to give up a little piece of himself, if only maybe accidentally. Mere small talk seems to give way to his deeper self that unfortunately, he couldn’t hide if he tried. As he talks about the band and where they’re going, it’s easy to see that they have now come to that point where through hard work and very little exposure, they’re about to break - big time. “We’ve never been on the radio, we’ve had no radio support…now the song, Stolen, which is about Florida, is burning up the charts,” he said. Continue reading Dashboard Confessional - Chris Carrabba Let’s Us In - A Little Bit…

Roger McGuinn: Artist, Guitarist and Techie

Roger McGuinn is a bit of a paradox. It’s a rare occurrence when art and technology find a home in one heart, but here it dwells.

The front man, the guitarist, the folk rocker, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is best known for being a member of the Byrds, back in the day. Today, as a solo artist, McGuinn is on the road a lot. However, he is not touring solo. His wife Camilla and he are very much partnered on this venture.

One has only to read her blogs to feel a part of this journey. Camilla has blogged their adventures and the people they tour with, as well as strangers met along the way. Her descriptions of the places they go are very much postcards from the road. McGuinn likens it to the On the Road segments with Charles Kuralt.

“We always liked Charles Kuralt. He made it romantic and fun to travel the back roads of America. We prefer to be on the road …it’s more fun, there’s room service, maid service…at home it’s a lot of work.”

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Goo Goo Dolls: Interview with Robby Takac

Robby Takac, bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls, has to pause for a split second and think, “Where am I? Oh, Grand Rapids,” he replied with a laugh. But ask him again in a few more weeks, the answer may come harder.

This summer the Goos, as they are affectionately known, will be making a whirlwind tour that includes stops in Scotland, Ireland, Japan and England. Perhaps this tour should have been called “Dizzy up the Boys.” Continue reading Goo Goo Dolls: Interview with Robby Takac…

David Barnes: Uncovering the Hidden Persona of Marlon Brando

We are a culture fascinated with television and movie personalities. Once gossip lived only in the tabloid pages that line the checkout counters in supermarkets. Now our homes are invaded during the serious six-o’clock news.

We no longer question the credibility of broadcasters who open with the birth of a celebrity baby instead of headlines about our economy, politics or an international tragedy. We’d rather hear about Paris Hilton’s mock political rivalry with John McCain.

Before this stalkarazzi culture there lived a celebrity who guarded his privacy like a pit bull. His larger than life image only fueled more curiosity about who he really was, speculation that followed him beyond the grave.
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Memory Lane - Leaves You Aching For More

Don’t go see this band…Ok; you’ve been warned…you’ll be sorry.

The next morning when you rise to find your hips hurting, your shoulders sore, and your body radiating a dull general ache from dancing like a fool - echoes of “I told you so,” will ring in your ears.

When you can barely whisper a “good morning,” because you were singing at the top of your lungs, while you were dancing like a fool, you’ll remember that you had been warned.

Four guys - DJ DC, Popeye, MR (Motivated Radiated) William T and Smoove, yeah, just smooooove, whose harmonies could put the Temptations to shame sing soft, smoldering jazz, ala Nat King Cole, smoky blues from the likes of Muddy Waters and an array of music that ranges from Marvin Gaye to Prince, closing the generation gap.

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