Friday, September 23, 2011

CHICKENFOOT ANNOUNCE “THE 2011 ROAD TEST TOUR”

CHICKENFOOT ANNOUNCE “THE 2011 ROAD TEST TOUR” IN SUPPORT OF CHICKENFOOT III DUE SEPTEMBER 27TH FROM eONE MUSIC and earMUSIC/Edel

image3D Packaging of Critically Acclaimed Album Reveals Special Message on CD

LOS ANGELES, CA—September 23, 2011—Chickenfoot –the supergroup featuring guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Kenny Aronoff, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar – have announced “The 2011 Road Test Tour,” the first live performance dates in support of the band’s forthcoming Chickenfoot III. The band will play five US concerts in support of Chickenfoot III due September 27th from eOne Music in North America and around the world by earMUSIC/Edel, taking them through San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago and New York early November. Venues and ticket on-sale information will be announced October 3rd.

Chickenfoot will offer fans a very special free Live Concert Webcast: Chickenfoot Presents “III” at 6PM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME on TUESDAY, SEPETMBER 27TH. The band will perform tracks from the new album at TRI Studios in Marin County, California and host a 30-minute Q&A session with the fans at www.chickenfoot.us. Fans can submit their questions to be included in the live Q&A session at www.chickenfoot.us leading up to the live webcast. The webcast will rebroadcast on the band’s website on September 28th at NOON PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME.

Chickenfoot III, produced by Mike Fraser, features an elaborately designed 3D package with optical illusions and special codes giving fans a fully immersed creative Chickenfoot experience, creating a spectacle with spectacles. With special “3D optical enhancers,” otherwise known as old-skool 3D glasses that come with each package, the cover and inside photos feature artwork that trick the eye by looking through the two different red and blue lenses of the glasses. Having used a special state-of-the-art 3D camera rig to create the designs, Chickenfoot gives fans a truly multi-dimensional experience throughout the packaging that also offers a 3D photo of each band member with stats and Q&As, QR codes for behind the scenes 3D video content from the photo shoot on smartphones and much more. A look through the red lens even reveals a very special message on the CD itself.

The first single, “Big Foot,” debuted at #1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock Chart holding the position for seven weeks and earning over 1.85 million listeners and continues to receive critical acclaim:

“‘Big Foot’ is sinewy, muscular and abundantly familiar – but in a good way. As Hagar sings, ‘that s*** rocks.’” Billboard Magazine.

"Chickenfoot light a fire under rock 'n' roll's collective ass, setting the pace for the genre as a whole. Chickenfoot III melds monstrous grooves and virtuoso playing in one of the year's best rock records,” writes Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect.com.

In support of the album, Hagar will be the special guest of the week on VH1’s That Metal Show debuting on Saturday, September 24th and throughout the week. On the big screen, Satriani has a cameo in this weekend’s hotly anticipated big screen feature Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt.

Chickenfoot III features 10 tracks with so many moments of epiphany that one can barely take them all in on first listen. Colossal, stadium-shaking riffs abound on earth-movers such as “Alright, Alright,” “Last Temptation” and “Lighten Up.” Tradition meets innovation on the Nashville pop-tinged “Different Devil,” the Delta-blues flavored “Something Going Wrong” and the aching rock ballad “Come Closer.” Special video releases and more can be seen at the band’s webpage (www.chickenfoot.us), as well as their podcast, YouTube, Facebook and Google+ pages. Chickenfoot III follows the band’s 2009 debut album, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 and was certified gold for sales of over 500,000 units by the Recording Industry Association of America.

THE 2011 ROAD TEST TOUR DATES**:

November 1 San Francisco, CA

November 2 Los Angeles, CA

November 4 St. Louis, MO

November 5 Chicago, IL

November 8 New York, NY

**Check www.chickenfoot.us on October 3rd for venues and ticket sales information.

For the “Big Foot” music video, more information about Chickenfoot and the upcoming release Chickenfoot III, please visit www.chickenfoot.us or stay connected via Twitter at www.twitter.com/chickenfoot and Facebook at www.facebook.com/chickenfoot.


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Anthrax CD Review: Worship Music

Anthrax has raised true Metal from the grave of mediocre music.
 
Anthrax - 2011I would like to start by saying that this is not a paid advertisement, I have been a big metal fan for years and I have been very discriminating in my choices in what to listen to and what to avoid.
 
Since Anthrax first walked out on the stage, they have been a driving force in the music industry, and they have continued to bring originality and cutting edge composition to their craft. I have every Anthrax album in my collection, and I am convinced that their newest album, Worship Music, is by far, their perfect crowning achievement. 

On this album Anthrax has held nothing back, the album is rich in complexity but is neither dry nor “played out”, the members have shown that throughout their career they have honed their skills to a razor edged blade of musical might nails us to the spot. With massive rhythms and guitar playing at speeds that defy imagination, Anthrax is a force to be respected.
 
Worship Music is a culmination of the skills and talents of Anthrax members Joey Belladonna – vocals, Charlie Benante – drums, Frank Bello – bass, Rob Caggiano and Scott Ian – guitars, a group of musicians that are living legends in the History of Metal. The album starts with deep tones and harmonics that set an audio stage and demands the listener’s attention which is followed by hypnotic and powerful rhythms and flawless chords. Joey Belladonna’s voice has not withered with time, he belts out the lyrics as a man with fire in his soul, making every word clear and precise. The talents of Charlie Benante, Frank Bello, Rob Caggiano and Scott Ian have, in my opinion, become faster and are spot on, from what I have heard on this album, this band has remained strong, and I feel that Worship Music is their best album and should be in every Metal Head’s Musical Arsenal. 
 
WorshipMusicCDCover_hiMy favorites on Worship Music, which was hard to discern because every song is great, were Earth on Hell, Fight’em ‘till you Can’t, I’m Alive, In The End, The Giant, Crawl and Revolution Screams ( not to mention the hidden track at the end of Revolution Screams). 

Now, I am aware that I just named pretty much the entire album, but it’s the truth, the album is flawless, and to be honest In the End, which Scott Ian said on his blog Scott-Ian.com was a tribute to the late “Dime Bag” Darrell Lance Abbott of Pantera and Ronnie James Dio (both of whom will be forever missed and remembered as innovators to music) and his appreciation for what they brought to his life lives in this song. 

 
As many Anthrax fans know, the group tends to write songs that are topical, such as “Now it’s Dark” related to the movie Blue Velvet, or like “Make Me Laugh” was a statement of the Television Evangelists of that time who were caught in the same acts as they proclaimed as vile, Worship Music Relates Anthrax’s ability to interweave the art of storytelling into their powerful music.
 
Anthrax_FightEm_CoverArt_1 
Worship Music, a triumph of Metal Might, is in my opinion, the Best Metal Album of the year, and it should have a defined place of honor in your music collection.

Lock and Load my friends, its Zombie Hunting Time and Anthrax is providing the soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
 
Joseph Timmons
Xombiewoof.com Music Review Journalist


 
 
 

Deadmau5 to Perform Santa Barbara Bowl–October 27th 2011

Nederlander Presents…

Deadmau5

deadmau5_live_drew_ressler_small

World-renowned electronic music producer/performer Deadmau5 is bringing his Meowingtons Hax tour to the Santa Barbara Bowl - Thursday, October 27th.

Supporting acts include Feed Me, Le Castle Vania, Jason Bentley and SOFI.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 24th at 11am

Deadmau5 plays original compositions, assembling tracks on the fly, using cutting edge computer technology, including software he’s helped write himself. “There are no CDs involved,” he explains. “It’s a technological orgy up there and I try and keep it more my music than anyone else’s. If people come out to see deadmau5, I want them to hear deadmau5 music.”

Named after his cat, Professor Meowingtons, Deadmau5’s Meowingtons Hax show features incredible production—a menagerie of lights!

 

Soon To Santa barbara

Don’t miss your chance to see Deadmau5 at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Thursday, October 27th!

imageTickets range from $33 to $50, plus applicable service charges. The Santa Barbara Bowl, celebrating 75 years, is located at 1122 N. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103, 805-962-7411.

Tickets on Sale SATURDAY, September 24th at 11am

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets including:

Arlington Theatre | Santa Barbara Bowl Box Office | Walmart

To charge by phone please call, 800-745-3000. Order online at www.ticketmaster.com

 

www.deadmau5.com - www.nederlanderconcerts.com - www.sbbowl.com


SHADOW EDEN–TALENT REVEALED


 

Introduction: SHADOW EDEN

We being to you Shadow Eden, a group that has something to say, and well said it is…

albumForged by incorporating progressive, rock, metal, fusion, and jazz styling, "Shadow Eden" delivers well crafted, listenable songs which feature virtuoso performances designed to please the ear of musicians and music lovers alike. The rest of the story is best told however, through the words and deeds of others.


The Shred Lord himself, Joe Stump proclaims ".....A power trio of excellent players, Shadow Eden combine elements of progressive rock, fusion and guitar-driven metal into well structured, highly musical, and very listenable tunes. …”


Shadow Eden's self titled, self-financed and promoted ALL instrumental release, hailed by WORT Mosh Pit Radio as a "great" listen "for the proggy metal fan...", became a mainstay of national radio entering the top 40 on the CMJ charts.  "SHADOW EDEN" culminates the heralded talents of founding members David Mercado and drummer Kenny Lane. Bassist extraordinaire Randy Coven (of Steve Vai/Steve Morse/Yngwie Malmsteen fame) rounded out the line up in July 2011.  Having proven their mettle on the live circuit, Shadow Eden has toured in support of esteemed players the likes of Dave Weiner (Steve Vai Band), Rob Balducci, and Joe Stump (Holy Hell). Moreover, Shadow Eden proudly made an appearance at the 2011 NAMM convention as honored guests of Charvel guitars & Morley pedals.


groupThe bands musical prowess has garnered the attention of and earned the band endorsements from manufacturers who feature their music and likeness.  The guitar laden "Book Of Mirrors" is proudly featured on the CHARVEL guitars Myspace. David Mercado is endorsed by CHARVEL guitars, JHS Pedals and recently adorned as a featured artist by Morley Pedals, while Randy Coven is endorsed by Warwick basses.

 

 

 

More Links to Shadow Eden

 Booking Info - Buy Thru CD Baby - Buy Thru DigStation - Buy Thru iTunes - Buy Thru Looney Tunes 

Charvel features "Book of Mirrors" - Dave Mercado Endorsed by Morley Pedals - David Mercado Endorsed by JHS Pedals

 Facebook Kenny Weydener endorsed by Dean Markley - Kenny Weydener endorsed by Hartke

Kenny Weydener endorsed by Spector - Myspace  - Reverb Nation - Website/Home Page - Youtube

 


COMEDY CENTRAL'S® "NICK SWARDSON'S PRETEND TIME"

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COMEDY CENTRAL'S® "NICK SWARDSON'S PRETEND TIME"

SEASON TWO PREMIERES ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT 10:30 P.M.

Nick Swardson's twisted world of trust fund kitties, cereal character Mr. Creepy and the infamous "Garry Gaga" will return as COMEDY CENTRAL presents the second season of "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time." The hit sketch series will premiere on Wednesday, October 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT following the fall season premiere of "South Park."

"Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" is a sketch show in which each sketch is filtered through the absurd point-of-view of stand-up comedian Nick Swardson. Swardson takes the viewer into his world through a series of sketches including the adventures of a wheelchair–bound cat, space alien paternity tests and pregnant babies. Swardson's world of make-believe incorporates every reach of the imagination - from monster doctors to a man’s unique face transplant. In between sketches, Swardson performs stand-up in front of an audience and is joined by back up guitarist, Beardo.

Executive produced by Swardson, Tom Gianas and Doug Robinson with Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Culver Entertainment, the first season of "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" averaged nearly 1.4 million total viewers and was the second-highest original cable series in Tuesday Prime with Men 18-34 during its fall 2010 run, improving the timeslot average by nearly 20% in key demos versus the prior year. The series was co-created by Swardson and Tom Gianas, who is the director and co-writer of the series. Seth Cohen and Jack Herrguth are the executives in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

COMEDY CENTRAL Digital will offer fans and newcomers alike bonus access to the outrageousness of "Pretend Time." The branded Web site will feature a wealth of video content including weekly episodic previews and highlights, weekly preview sketches, as well as outtakes and extended and/or deleted scenes.

Viewers can also look out for regular updates to the "Pretend Time" Facebook page which will be updated throughout the season. In addition, mobile will feature a WAP site loaded with video content, a flipbook of episodic still photos and fun polls to take part in. "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" will be available for Download to Own day after air in HD on iTunes, Xbox, Playstation and Amazon and in SD on Samsung Media Hub.

Nick Swardson, a multi-talented actor, stand-up comedian and writer, was first recognized for his stand-up at the young age of 18. By 22, Swardson had become the youngest comic to shoot a half-hour stand-up special for COMEDY CENTRAL, following it with a second half-hour special six years later (2006) and his own one-hour, COMEDY CENTRAL Original Stand-up Special, "Seriously, Who Farted?," which premiered in 2009 and was released as a CD by COMEDY CENTRAL Records the same year. Swardson's long-term relationship with COMEDY CENTRAL also includes the 2007 release of his debut CD/DVD "Party" which has sold more than 140,000 copies (CD) and gone Platinum (DVD) and he is well-known to viewers for his recurring role as "Terry" in the network's hit series "RENO 911!"

On the film side, Swardson recently co-starred in the feature film "30 Minutes or Less" with Danny McBride, Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, which premiered this past August, and "Just Go With It," starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman. Swardson can also be seen in his first starring role this September in the Columbia Pictures feature, "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," which he co-produced with Adam Sandler and Allen Covert. Other film credits include "Blades of Glory," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" and "RENO 911!: Miami." He also co-wrote and appeared in "Grandma's Boy" and "Benchwarmers."

Tom Gianas has written and directed for "Saturday Night Live," "Human Giant," "The Adventures of Tenacious D," "The Awful Truth" with Michael Moore, "Mr. Show" and most recently, served as executive producer on "Drunk History" for HBO's "Funny or Die Presents."


Sunday, September 18, 2011

Review – 15 Minutes: A Tribute to Andy Warhol

15 Minutes logo
In 1949, a young man moved to New York City and began a career in magazine illustration and advertising. This eccentric young man moved into the artistic and Music circles with ease and quickly became a leader in the Avant- guard movement that would be a visual representation of New York, and he too would become synonymous with the New York experience, in fact he would be New York, but we would all know him as Andy Warhol. In his life, Andy Warhol would be on the cutting edge of everything, and anyone who knew him or would be with him would be graced with good fortune, he would also inspire others to greatness. There are many artists in the music world that have created moving musical observations on Warhol that, maybe without knowing it perfectly reflected on the life and times of an artistic genus.  

 
Artwork - Christopher Makos
Sony Music and Legacy Recordings bring to you 15 Minutes, an audio homage to Andy Warhol 15 Minutes has been curated, assembled and produced by Warhol associate and conceptualist Jeff Gordon, and his partner Path Soong for Wu-Shan Inc. Gordon, who knew and admired Warhol, has been producing original sound recordings and prints by visual artists and poets for 25 years. Soong is a respected and well-known abstract black-and-white painter. In the early ’80s, Gordon conceptualized the idea of producing recordings (spoken word, sound pieces, and music) by visual artists, most of who had never been in a recording studio. Revolutions Per Minute (1982) packaged 20 of these recordings on a double LP, in a box with 20 visual prints by the 20 artists. The idea turned into a traveling exhibition, and the boxes were purchased by art world collectors, museums, galleries, and audio connoisseurs. Deluxe boxes contained signed prints, while regular boxes contained unsigned prints. 
 
Artwork - Jeff Gordon
In 1995, Gordon and Soong produced Two Dialogues, a CD that featured the only known recorded interview with Jackson Pollock, together with a later extensive conversation with Lee Krasner. All sales royalties went to benefit the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. In 2005, Gordon and Soong created “31 Stones,” a site-specific installation of visual and audio art, at the Pollock-Krasner House. 
 
For the deluxe box set of 15 Minutes, each artist has created a unique visual work which will be represented as a 12x12-inch square silkscreen print. Among the contributions are Bob Dylan’s painting for the cover of his Self Portrait album (1970); photographer Nat Finkelstein’s black-and-white image of “Andy, Bobby [Dylan] and Elvis”; and Patti Smith’s poem “Edie Sedgwick (1943-1971)” (first published in Patti’s 1972 book, Seventh Heaven), super-imposed over a photographic image of Edie. The silkscreens are individually printed by Alexander Heinrici, one of Warhol’s most trusted silk screeners. Heinrici created the original silkscreens for Warhol’s world-renowned “Mao,” “Flowers” and “Merce Cunningham 1,” among others. Each will be numbered, signed or stamped by its creator(s). However, there are two exceptions. Ivan Karp, the art dealer who first championed Warhol’s paintings, only provides an audio track (no silkscreen). And Berlin and Fremont collaborated on the same piece. So there will be a total of 16 silkscreens in the box.  
 
Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Deluxe Box
In addition, each contributor will be represented by an original recording, ranging from music to spoken word (poetry, reminiscences) to abstract sound. These recordings will span three CDs, and will also be repeated across four vinyl LPs. Among the contributions are Bob Dylan’s classic “When I Paint My Masterpiece” (1971), and Patti Smith’s new recording of “Edie.” Berlin and Fremont again collaborated on one piece (the 40-minute “Conversation,” which occupies all of CD Two, and both sides of the third LP). So there will be a total of 17 unique recordings in the box.  The deluxe version of the 15 Minutes box (limited to 85 copies) will be handmade and wrapped in black silk. It will house the 16 numbered silkscreens hand-printed by Heinrici. Along with the artwork are the three CDs and four vinyl LPs, plus individual photographs of each of the 18 contributors. The regular version of the 15 Minutes box (limited to 1,964 copies) will house color offset lithographs of the 16 artworks (not signed), along with the three CDs and four vinyl LPs, and the photographs of the contributors. This release has coincided with Andy Warhol’s birthday (August 6th), Legacy Recordings has released the most ambitious multi-artist, multimedia project upon which it has ever embarked. 
 
15 MINUTES: HOMAGE TO ANDY WARHOL, created with the full approval of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, is headlined by Columbia Records artists Bob Dylan and Patti Smith, and 16 other world-renowned fine artists, poets, painters, photographers, actors, and musicians. “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” Andy Warhol famously said in 1968.
15 Minutes is certain to be the most talked-about project of this fall’s box set season. It will gather silkscreen prints and original recordings, created by 18 of the most prominent artists who were associated with or have been influenced by Andy Warhol. In addition to Bob Dylan and Patti Smith, there will be contributions from (in alphabetical order): Yura Adams, Connie Beckley, Brigid Berlin, Susan Breen, Nat Finkelstein Vincent Fre­mont, John Giorno, Jeff Gordon, Alexander Heinrici, Ivan Karp, Christopher Makos, Billy Name, Carter Ratcliff, Path Soong, Ultra Violet, and Lawrence Weiner. 
 
The limited-edition 12x12 box set, with a lift-off lid, is a D2C (Direct to Consumer) exclusive. It is available now for pre-order at fifteenminutesonline.com in advance of the August 2nd release date through Legacy Recordings, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAIN­MENT. There will be two versions of the 15 Minutes box set: a deluxe edition strictly limited to 85 copies, priced at $20,000 – and a standard version strictly limited to 1,964 copies, priced at $600. 
  
imageThe 15 Minutes Art and Sound box set will be the focal point of a traveling exhibition that will appear in major museums and universities worldwide, through 2012 and beyond. The exhibition will open August 4th (through October 29th) at the Pollock-Krasner House in East Hampton, New York. It is also set for exhibition starting October 1st (through Jan. 8th) at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
I have listened to several tracks from this collection and it is quite formidable, I especially liked “When I Paint My Masterpiece” by Bob Dylan, “Warhol Soundfield 467” by Susan Breen and “Edie Sedgwick” by Patti Smith, again these artists have created audio images of Andy Warhol that truly encompasses his life in sound. I only wish I could have been around to see and experience all of what this collection represents, but for those of us who were not able to be at The Warehouse, this collection will help us experience the magic that happened there.
 
"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." – Andy Warhol




DVD Review: Nick Kroll – Thank You Very Cool

Nick Kroll, stand-up comedian has created a visual one liner in his video Nick Kroll – Thank You Very Cool, which is a montage of stage performances and in character videos that takes place in a nightclub where we meet Nick and his many alter egos, which are personas that range from an off the wall radio DJ to a wack job night club doorman with severe issues. His humor styling is topical but tends to be off tone until he gets to his punch lines. Nick Kroll keeps the laughs rolling and puts a smile on the face of insanity while pointing out that people are generally screwed up, showing us that we laugh at others, it’s ok, they won’t mind.

DVD running time is 64 minutes from Comedy Central.

Find him Online : http://www.nickkroll.com/


Comedy CD Review: Patton Oswalt- Finest Hour

 

Patton Oswalt, comedian and actor offers up this hilarious new CD “Finest Hour.” In his newest comedy special, recorded in Seattle, Oswalt talks about fatherhood, incontinent monkeys, crack heads and Jesus. As a 20-year veteran of the stand-up comedy scene, with three previous albums, concert DVDs, his own comedy tour and various acting and voiceover roles under his belt, Oswalt has become ubiquitous in the world of stand-up. His fourth (and quite possibly his best) album "Finest Hour" will be released by COMEDY CENTRAL Records on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. This album is way too short, I could not stop laughing, and when I did, it was only to take a breath. Patton puts on this cherub like smile and then smacks you with a 2x4 of comedy. His humorous delivery of life’s observations is what we all think about but don’t say; I especially loved his points of parenting, the power of Jesus and the ham incident. Parental advisory, the album does use a loving spoonful of colorful language, but it’s not senseless, it stands to prove a point that people have devolved, and the human brain is a rat trapped in a cage and reality is a stick poking at the rat, listen to the album, you’ll get it. Look for it in stores on September 20th or online at Comedy Central.


Comedy CD Review: Lewis Black- The Prophet

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What was Lewis Black like when he was younger? Did he have a positive outlook on life in the ‘80s and grow disenchanted as he got older? Hardly, Lewis Black saw the future, oddly enough, many of his “what might happen” observations came true and if we look back at what he was talking to us about in the 80’s, we was trying to want us, and we screwed it up.

Comedy Central Records releases Lewis Black's "The Prophet" CD on Tuesday, September 27 2011, this historic album from America’s foremost commentator on everything gives a telling, hilarious insight into Black’s earlier years in standup before "The Daily Show," before the Grammys® and before the massive fame. "The Prophet" CD was recorded in late 1990 while Lewis was on tour and exemplifies his acid-tongued wit, his prescience about what matters and his hilarious takes on the politics of the times.

Lewis toured clubs and colleges through the end of the 20th century. He honed his craft to become the spokesman he is now - the spokesman for a generation of crazies gone straight ... but with fond memories. Lewis’s first five award-winning CDs on COMEDY CENTRAL Records are consistent sellers and have sold over a half a million combined units in the US. Black has earned two Grammy® Awards for his "Stark Raving Black" and "The Carnegie Hall Performance" CDs in the category of “Best Comedy Album.”

Black is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today. He executes a brilliant trifecta as stand-up comedian, actor and author. Receiving critical acclaim, he performs over 200 nights a year to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and The United States. He is one of few performers to sell out multiple, renowned theatres, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City Center and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.