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The World of Free Music Videos
By Ken Snow
Music has become an integral part of our lives. Whatever the occasion, music can add a different dimension to it. Whether you are driving alone on a long stretch, partying or even simply relaxing, music can be your perfect partner. However, music videos go one step ahead of the conventional CDs in that they also play to our optical senses. This gives us a much more complete experience since you now have a person who is performing in front of you rather than just a voice playing back.
There are plenty of options available in music videos. You can choose from your titles available as VCDs and DVDs. However, thanks to the Internet, you can now access music videos online as well. To top it off, if you love music but don't like spending a lot of money on CD's or fee-based music download sites, you also have an option of accessing a music download service that offers you free music videos! These free music videos could be a trailer to a new release or a complete song.
Nowadays, even the record companies are uploading the videos of their artists to promote the CD sales. These include the sites from the Big Five i.e. Sony, EMI, BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Then there are regular sites like yahoo (http://mu-sic.yahoo.com), msn (http://mu-sic.msn.com) or http://music.aol.cm etc. that offer free music videos on demand.
Most of these sites are very well organized and make your quest for a particular song easy. You can search by the name of the artist, the name of the album, the genre of the music or even top 100 music videos! The sites also have a 'help' section so if you are experiencing any problems with your search or any other technical difficulty, you have all the answers at the click of your mouse.
The sites also let you download of the latest playback software for free. There are also plenty of other sites like http://www.findvideos.com or http://www.artistdirect.com that compile music from various providers and make it accessible on their websites. These sites have titles from almost all the artists, covering all the genres.
So whether you are looking at checking out songs or albums before you actually go ahead and purchase it, or you need to play back some good music while you are surfing, there are plenty of free music video sites for help. So,
play on!
Rocking Out In The Wisconsin Farmland:
Rock Fest 2008
By Tim Wassberg
As dark clouds permeated over the bright green cornfields, the seats and towels reached as far as the eye can see as music. In this isolated area known as Cadott, Wisconsin, 100 miles from Minneapolis, major acts like Stone Temple Pilots and Matchbox 20 came to strut their stuff at Rock Fest 2008 (rock-fest.com.
After checking out Plain White Ts and their major radio hit "Hey There Delilah", the Leinenkugel Beer tent at the top of the hill came to life with the hard hitting cover action of Gridlock (gridlockrocks.net) who, from songs like "Separate Ways" to "Barracuda" to "Lick It Up", got the attendees jumping while the beer, including a favorite "Creamy Dark", lit up the soul. As Slipknot played onstage, the thunder began to boom and the red light and flag on top of the hill came on signaling major thunderstorm and tornado action. But Rock Fest went on - rain or shine. The die-hards huddled in the beer tent as heavy winds buffeted the inside and cheers were made for those who decided to brave the torrential downpour for some well-deserved audience applause.
As the skies cleared, Live took the stage working their tunes like "The Dolphins Cry." The VIP section revealed John Leinenkugel, one of the three brothers involved
with their namesake Leinenkugel Brewery (leinie.com), which is a local and national brand under the Miller label. However their different tastes of hops and dark beer create a vision all their own. Their Summer Shandy with its wisps of lemonade tickles the lips, and there is nothing but good things to say about them.
At Rock Fest, the darkness settles. Watching the Goo Goo Dolls from the ninth row allows one to see the scope of the people attending. The great thing about this festival is that you can upgrade to VIP which includes Leinenkugel beer to your heart's content. And, also for people in general admission, there is a revolving pit (which we lovingly called "The Moat" because it had filled up with water during the rain storm) where people can get up close and take photos of their favorite act. The high-point of the night and the festival was Stone Temple Pilots with their sheer performance, stage presence and interactivity. Hitting the stage at near midnight, Scott Weiland was in full form jumping into the crowd with a bullhorn and ripping through hits without batting an eye while a raging LCD screen behind the band highlighted the experience with everything from "Big Bang Baby" to "Wicked Garden" to "Vasoline".
Hidden within rolling hills and burning sunsets, the hangouts of Rock Fest that permeate the outskirts of Chippewa also extend solace, nourishment and a bit of fun. The High Shores Supper Club (highshores.com), sitting on the picturesque Lake Wissota, offers great deals with a hearty soup and salad bar and a porterhouse steak succulent and encrusted to the max. The Town Pump, a former watering hole of elder local statesman Bill Leinenkugel, offers tap beers with a sense of nostalgia and Northwoods hospitality along Bridge Street. Right across the road at Olson's Ice Cream Parlor, the shakes, especially the mint chocolate chip, melt in your mouth. And, at Lucy's down the street, you can grab a stacked sandwich like "The Miller" where avocado, turkey and swiss tango in beauty with a local Point root beer. Last but not least, Loopy's (723loop.com) on the outskirts provides an old school saloon with a great pizza lunch buffet, beers and volleyball courts made for frolic.
Rock Fest, on its final day, saw some up-close visceral music. Tesla jammed the afternoon and their "Signs" had the whole place singing along. The sunset began with Gridlock's lead singer Yvette Laquess singing a killer version of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" as the blinding light crested. From this, the heavens opened up with rain as Jacob Dylan and The Wallflowers hit the stage. They weren't even thwarted by a lightning strike that flickered the stage as they played "6th Avenue Heartache" and "One Headlight" while concertgoers, drenched in the downpour, roared their applause. As the closing night ingratiated itself, Matchbox 20 hit the stage in a flurry of energy as the able-voiced Rob Thomas belted out such songs as "If You're Gone", "Bent" and "Push" while the masses swayed along. As the spotlights lit up the late night after the encore, a cacophony of sounds reverberated as your trusted narrator headed up the hill while buzzing guitar sounds wailed into the night.
Rock Fest 2008 brought together some stellar acts like STP and Matchbox 20 in an area of Wisconsin, still mostly unknown and untouched. The down-home friendly service, nice people and the incomparable Leinenkugel Brewery make this area a great place to visit and enjoy music in the bustling heart of summer.
Gary Ballen Interview
By Jonathan Freeman-Anderson
Gary Ballen has been a Valley entertainment staple for almost thirty years. Influenced by music since he was four and working with a variety of genres and performers in his career inspired Ballen to take up live performance of classic songs himself. Ballen is able to perform popular music from almost any genre, and between playing shows at various Valley bars and pubs and private parties, Ballen actively pursues a variety of other creative endeavors.
Valley Scene: Where do you perform in the Valley?
Gary Ballen: I played the Pickwick Pub in Woodland Hills for 25 years, from the early 80's to when it burned down. I currently perform at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas every Wednesday from 6:30-10:00, the Blarney Cove in Canoga Park every Friday night from 10:00-2:00 and I'm going to be at the Lookout Bar & Grill in the Channel Islands every Saturday starting September 6th. and I will also be at the Crown & Anchor in Thousand Oaks on Sept 6th, 14th & 27th from 4:00-7:00.
VS: How did you get involved with music?
GB: I've been performing since I was in middle school many, many years ago. It is my hobby and my passion. I have always had other gigs around music business, production manager for Air Supply in the early 80's, road managing Lita Ford, Jeff Lorber, Richard Clayderman, followed by tours with Eazy E & NWA, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. I worked at Ruthless Records from '89 till Eazy E died in '95. I currently work with Damon Elliott, a music producer who has worked with Pink, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, etc. I've always been in the music business, and have always played music. It's what I've always wanted to do my whole life.
VS: How did you get to the Valley?
GB: I came out here in 1969 and stayed with my cousin, Jerry Heller who was a big Music agent at the time. I knew then that I would end up out here. In 1978 I moved from Columbus Ohio and managed a rehearsal studio called Big Ed Productions in Northridge. The groups I started working with were Chaka Kahn and Rufus, Three Dog Night, Toto, and The Knack to name a few.
VS: Do you still manage bands?
GB: I had to diversify. My main projects now include "The Untold Truth" a documentary about the Negro baseball leagues; Louis Gossett Jr. is a partner and narrator. We've been given the opportunity to shoot at Dodger Stadium, Go Dodgers! We're going to bring in young icons to talk about the Negro Baseball League, celebrities, athletes, musicians, etc. I'm also working on a South African musical called "African Footprint",
A very cool project.
VS: How do you like the Valley?
GB: A great location. This is where I live, I don't really care about performing in Westwood, Santa Monica. I'm a Valley person and people from here know me now, which is great because the more it picks up the better we'll all do.
VS: Why do you think you get the response from audiences that you do?
GB: I perform what the audience wants and I know lots and lots of songs. My signature songs are Brown Eyed Girl, American Pie, Wipe Out, Hotel California, The No No Song. I take money to start and money to stop which is a story in itself. I go from Boyz in da Hood to Puff the Magic Dragon, Straight Outta Compton to Kumbaya, Gangsta Gangsta to Feelings. I do ton's of Elvis, Beatles, Stones, Eagles.. I gauge my crowd. If there are kids around, I watch my language. I don't take myself seriously, I never have, and we all have a good time.
VS: Is there anything that you won't perform?
GB: I'll try anything…If I've heard it.
VS: How do you feel about the current state of music?
GB: I think the 50's 60's and 70's were the best.
VS: Would you ever want to go back out on tour with a band?
GB: I'm happy not going on tour anymore. I was on tour non-stop for ten years. When I was on tour, I went all over the world and I loved it. I've had some of the most incredible experiences with Air Supply, Lita Ford, NWA and Bone Thugs. It's been an interesting life.
VS: So how has your passion for music affected your family?
GB: My 16 year old prefers underground hip-hop, my 13 year old classic and current rock. The younger one plays bass and sings in a rock band called The Splinterz. They play Hendrix, Chili Peppers, Zeppelin, etc.
VS: Is there anything else about your performances that you wish to mention?
GB: Yes, I've brought in a good friend of mine, Leslie Lewis to sing with me. She does the chick songs, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, Patsy Cline, etc. She does great harmonies and I love singing with her.
VS: What's your favorite thing about performing?
GB: Pretty much everybody knows every word to every song I do.
VS: What do you say to people who want to hear more of you?
Singing and entertaining is my passion. It's what I love to do. I've made many people happy over the years and I'll continue to do it until I die.
To get more information, go to www.garyballen.com.