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Boomkat Rocks Summer Single "Stomp"
By Jonathan Weichsel

A private party celebrated the release of the new Boomkat single "Stomp" off their album A Million Trillion Stars. Not only is the view of Los Angeles at night just stunning when seen from the patio of one of those modern architectural marvels that tower over the city, but Boomkat is quickly becoming the must see band for Hollywood insiders. There were more celebrities at the party than I could count, but just off the top of my head, I saw Josh Henderson, AJ Buckley, Hill Harper, Cisco Adler, DJ Qualls, Keith Robison, Elise Neal, and Robbie Jones.

There is a good reason all these celebrities showed up to catch Boomkat. Taryn Manning gives the most electric performance of any singer in Hollywood right now, and her brother Kellin Manning writes infectious pop tunes that are guaranteed to get you bopping up and down on the dance floor.

"Stomp," the new single, is both a break-up song and a naughty dance number. The video features Taryn Manning, in a very short dress and very high-heeled boots, cutting up pictures of an ex-boyfriend with a pair of scissors, and writhing around on a fur rug.

I got to speak with siblings Taryn and Kellin, as well as their mother, Sharyn.

Valley Scene: What was it like raising such talented children?

Sharyn: It has been a real ride. They are both fun in their own ways, but together they are magic. When they were children, they made long road trips so magical that I didn't want them to end. They would put on skits in the back seat and make up songs and it was just so entertaining. They are so different, like night and day, but they compliment each other.

Valley Scene: How are they different?

Sharyn: Kellin is more introspective, very funny, very creative, very smart. Taryn is very ambitious, very talented; she sings, she dances, she acts, she oozes creativity but she is very boisterous, very dramatic. But both are good, kind, compassionate people.

Valley Scene: Kellin, what is it like working with your sister?

Kellin: We grew up together, so we have a creative history. We can anticipate what each other want creatively. When we were bad, which was a lot, our mom would put us in the bathroom and when we got out we would have a play or a musical. Even though we are brother and sister, it is still competitive. When she started taking on acting, I felt I would have to increase what I do musically just so she would work with me. But I had so much belief in her that I thought I'd have to get her on stage once and we'd be signed, and that's what happened.

Valley Scene: So, Taryn, how is the acting coming along?

Taryn: I'm going to be on Melrose Place the third episode of this season playing myself. It's finally my acting and my singing coming together. I've always wanted to be recognized for both. But I've been focusing on my music right now because that's what I love.

Boomkat's music is edgy urban pop that seamlessly melds high fashion and trash. Their newest LP, A Million Trillion Stars, is out now, and has spawned two singles, "Run Boy," and "Stomp." To learn more about Boomkat, including upcoming shows, visit them on the web at http://www.myspace.com/tarynmanningboomkat.

The Beginners Guide to Playing the Acoustic Guitar
By Ralph Serpe

The following guide focuses on some of the most important aspects of playing guitar providing you with an excellent starting point.

Steel String Guitars

The steel string guitar is a masterpiece of musical instrument engineering. Before the steel string, the acoustic guitar was very limited. The guitars of old were very quiet when played. In order to overcome this shortcoming, the steel string guitar was born. The steel string produced a louder sound, but also caused too much stress on the instrument because of the added weight. The body construction therefore needed to be altered. These changes not only made the guitar stronger, but they also increased the life of the guitar.

Guitar Styles

Guitars are available in a variety of different styles and sizes and it really depends on what is most comfortable and enjoyable for you. Each guitar has its own unique look, feel and sound. The larger styles produce more bass and are more difficult to hold and play. The smaller models favor the midranges and treble and are much easier to hold and play. The Classical guitar can only be played using nylon strings and produces a sound that is noticeably different. If you aren't sure what guitar style is right for you, then head over to your nearest music center and give them a test drive.

Holding an Acoustic Guitar

Sit down in a comfortable chair and prop your right foot up on a stool or box. Rest the guitar on your right knee.

Hand Positions

The Left Hand

Try and keep your thumb behind the neck. Wrap your hand around the neck of the guitar and arch your fingers so that they are at a 90 degree angle to the strings.

The Right Hand

Keep your forearm close to the body of the guitar and try only moving your wrist to strum. Many beginners like to strum using there whole arm but if you look at professional guitarists, you really do not see much movement in the arm.

Tune Your Guitar

You can find free step by step guides online to help you learn how to tune your guitar, or you could purchase a guitar tuner. Make certain that you spend time learning how to do this. Head over to YouTube and search for videos on how to tune your guitar. It is much easier to learn by watching others.

Change Your Strings

Learn how to change your strings and change them often. There are a ton of lessons online that.

Music Theory

Guitar music theory is where all of your scales, chords, progressions, notes and more come into play. It is such a huge topic and would fill many books all on its own. Music theory is extremely important to your growth as a musician and should not be overlooked. Many beginners frown upon guitar theory and completely ignore it. They would much rather take the short route and learn tablature and start playing their favorite songs. There is nothing wrong with learning tablature and playing your favorite songs, but don't make that your main form of study.

One of the best websites I have found on this topic is: TheoryLessons.Com. I highly recommend you start there. The owner of that site starts at the very beginning and covers all the major bases.

Hiring a Teacher or No??

This is a very common question amongst beginners and is open for debate.

Learning on your own

With the right home study course, teaching yourself how to play is quite possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. Teaching yourself how to play will save you a ton of money in the long run and allow you to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective as hiring a a good teacher. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

Hiring an Instructor

Over time this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons can cost about $15 - $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson.

Finding a good teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully. Even the most talented guitarists can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone.

A good guitar instructor can be an excellent investment. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them.

The choice is yours. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement a teacher can provide.

Practice

Practice as many days out of the week as you can for at least twenty to thirty minutes, more if possible. The more often you play, the faster you will learn. Be careful not to overdo it though and take breaks of course. Your brain can only absorb so much information before it needs a break and your hands and the rest of your body need time to recuperate as well. When you practice do not rush through any of your exercises. Twenty minutes of quality focused practice is much more effective than an hour of sloppy practice.

Sonja Dunson Can’t Buy Love
By Staff Writer

Renowned longtime film and TV actress Sonja Dunson releases "YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE," the companion seven-track music soundtrack to Dunson's similarly named, to-be-released movie. Set in Detroit, "YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE" is, in Dunson's words, "an interracial love story triangle" in which the principals are a Black woman from a well-to-do family and a White male. "The parents disinherit her because (he's) poor, not because he's White," explains Dunson, whose impetus for creating "YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE" was "to portray the upper-class Blacks.""

Among the disc's Guest Vocalists: Talmadge Armstrong, who is a former member of the world-famous Platters. He has a vocal range of bass to tenor as well as perfect pitch. Armstrong is a combination of Johnny Mathis and Al Green, and is credited with being the singer who created Barry White's style of singing. Armstrong will put you in a very sexy mood with his five songs on this CD, most notably, "So Much Feelin' (In Your Love)" and "Please Make It Good Again." Other guest vocalists include Linda McCrary ("another Mahilia Jackson") and veteran singer-songwriter, Butch Dubarri.

One of Hollywood's earliest successful Black film and television stars, Dunson -- a San Fernando Valley resident who lost her home in the OakRidge Mobile home fires in Sylmar in November 2008 -- has a distinguished history in Tinsel town. The former "Miss Michigan Universe" winner was a regular on three long-running television series - "Lohman & Barkley," "D.A." and "Emergency," and appeared in over twenty commercials while being represented by the prestigious William Morris Agency. Indeed, Dunson earned over 2 million dollars before the age of 24! Her career took an unexpected turn, however, when Lew Wasserman -- the entertainment mogul known as "The Pope of Hollywood" and longtime Head of MCA -- blacklisted Dunson at the bequest of the late Farrah Fawcett. The reason? Dunson's strong friendship with Lee ("Six Million Dollar Man") Majors, who Fawcett later went on to marry. In 1977, Dunson created and published BLACK HOLLYWOOD, which was the only Black casting magazine for actors and actresses of color.

"YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE" - shot in 35 mm - was created on a budget of $120,000, which Dunson obtained via a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration - one of only two producers to ever be funded for a motion picture. It took the ambitious Dunson less than a month to be approved by the SBA, which underwrote the movie project. A prolific writer, Dunson wrote the title track on "YOU CANT BUY LOVE" as well as co-wrote another song in the movie and on the soundtrack, "So Much Feeling in Your Love."

"YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE" Music can be purchased on CD Baby, DigStation, ITunes, and other Internet sites. "If you are in love, ever been in love, or looking for love…you must purchase this CD!" concludes Dunson.

Dunson is interviewed live on "The London Garcia Show," heard over www.latalkradio.com, Sunday, September 13 from 3-4 p.m.

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