Friday, September 30, 2005

Sometimes success is tougher than it looks



Mindy McCready has had a rough last few years. Drug and drunken driving charges, jail, domestic abuse and more have been a part of her life recently, and it's not a pretty sight. This is a sad story of a fall from grace, and hopefully a cautionary tale for young musicians dreaming of a life of fame and fortune.

McCready’s list of problems is long:
  • August 2004: Charged with using a fake prescription to obtain the pain medicine OxyContin. She pleaded guilty in November.
  • May 2005: Charged with drunken driving in Nashville. The charge is pending.
  • May 2005: Former boyfriend William McKnight charged with attempted murder after he allegedly broke into her home and beat her up. Charges against McKnight are pending.
  • July 2005: Charged in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., with unlawful use of transportation and hindering prosecution after police say she and a known con-man tried to use her celebrity to obtain two luxury boats. Charges are pending.
  • July 2005: Hospitalized in Florida after a drug overdose that authorities say appeared to be a suicide attempt.
  • August 2005: Jailed in Tennessee after authorities say she violated her probation on the drug charge. She was released on bond and the case is scheduled for trial in November.
  • Earlier this month she testified in court that she was pregnant by McKnight, the man charged with trying to kill her. Later she was hospitalized after overdosing on antidepressants after a quarrel with McKnight.
A hard road for Mindy McCready - MSNBC.com

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Yep, Clear Channel owns the whole world



Besides radio and TV stations, Clear Channel also is the #1 concert promoter and runs a majority of the concert venues. USA Today reports on the state of the concert industry.

USATODAY.com - Concert promoters hear fans singing the blues

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

We're not letting Mike go solo



Some artists, like Paul MacCartney, are enjoying the life of a solo artist. Think of Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, and many more. Here's an interesting commentary on the subject.

Flying solo, and loving it - MSNBC.com

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

New CD's out today



Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, Ryan Adams and more. This critic doesn't care much for Sheryl's CD, but really likes Neil's.

Sheryl Crow’s latest is just plain boring - ALBUM REVIEWS - MSNBC.com

Monday, September 26, 2005

Now here's a different hurricane relief concert



Leave it to Jack Black and his prestigious rock pals to dump a barrel of laughs — and a barrel of cash — onto an otherwise grim situation.

Slipping into his mock persona as half of facetious Satan-worshipping folk duo Tenacious D, Black invited Dave Grohl, Fiona Apple, Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, and comedians David Cross and Sarah Silverman onstage at the Wiltern LG Thursday night for a Gulf Coast disaster benefit that was equal parts hilarity, intimacy and goodwill.

mtv.com - News - Tenacious D, Grohl, Homme Do Somersaults, Invoke Satan For Hurricane Relief

Friday, September 23, 2005

Looking to hear more from Marty



Marty was my favorite of the Rockstar: INXS contestants, but I totally understand why he wasn't right for that band. Here's a few links for more info on Marty Casey.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Props to J.D.



Congrats to J.D. for winning Rockstar: INXS.
Fortune Shines as INXS "Star"

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

We're baaaaaaack!



After a quirk in our schedule gave us a few weeks off, the MEB jumps back into the ring with a double shot of live music fun. And we've missed you guys and would love to see you all out.

Friday September 23 we revisit our favorite Tipp Hill hangout, Coleman's, getting started around 10 PM. A wide range of folks of all ages, tons of great beers on tap, the city's best dressed bartenders - what's not to love?

And we wander north on Saturday September 24, making our inaugural appearance at an Oswego Co. institution, Do-Shea's Tierra Lanes in Mexico. It's a big bar with a nice stage and lots of friendly folks, perfect for spreading the MEB gospel to a new crowd. We plan to be back here a bunch of times in the future.

Can't wait to catch up with y'all!

Mike, Jeff, Steve and Paul

Monday, September 19, 2005

Katrina gets a Bentley


The Game will let a charity pimp his ride for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The rapper has donated his 2005 customized Bentley Continental GT to Morgan Freeman’s Charity Folks online auction to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

The Game gives his Bentley for Katrina relief - Katrina hits entertainment - MSNBC.com

Friday, September 16, 2005

I want this job




The staff from Boston's WeeklyDig (one of those free alternative newspapers) goes around to a bunch of bars and chronicles their exploits. You get everything from how much drinks cost to what the jukebox is playing to how crowded it is. They're calling it "Five Drink Minimum," so you know they aren't just stopping in for one Labatt's and heading home for the night. Some of their stories are pretty hilarious. These couple of paragraph are some of my favorites and give you an idea of how funny this is:
Drink 4: We’ve since moved up to the bar, and Greg, who’s having a birthday, buys a round for us. What was once walking room is now filled by a sea of Von Dutch hats and stylish purses. Mike, a very persistent BC kid, guesses my age to be 28—always guess low, you asshole—and I call for another drink.

Drink 5: Guinness. My new Irish friend buys the fifth Guinness, and I’m sitting at a table where the conversation is so heavily accented I can only pick up parts. I realize I have no idea where my friends are and drunkenly scan the room. Another round of Guinness arrives. For fuck’s sake. --RACHEL AHRENS

WeeklyDig : > FIVE DRINK MINIMUM

I just loved Barbara Eden



Of course this isn't her pictured here, but ...

Cocoa Beach is celbrating the 40th anniversary of "I Dream of Jeannie."

Cocoa Beach Salutes 'I Dream of Jeannie' - Yahoo! News

Thursday, September 15, 2005

It's about time we had better blog searching

Google Inc. on Wednesday launched a blog-search tool to gather information on what people look for in blogs, as the search-engine hunts for new areas for online advertising.

Google is the first among its major rivals, which include Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN, to offer a dedicated search tool for blogs, one expert said. The others, however, are expected to follow soon.

InformationWeek > Google Launches Search Engine For Blogs
Google Blog Search

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

These are Cocktail Times



Party ideas, drink recipes, interesting history, glassware, and so much more. Save this site as one of your Favorites and you'll find yourself checking in way more than you expected.

Cocktail Times

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

A different kind of marching band experience



Tommy Lee talks about his experience with the Cornhusker Marching Band for his "Tommy Lee Goes To College" reality show.

ESPN.com: Page 3 - Tommy Lee, a Cornhusker

Dave Chappelle starting over



Having bailed on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, Dave is now going back to standup comedy. I'd pay to see that.

USATODAY.com - Dave Chappelle happy to be working clubs

Monday, September 12, 2005

Take a listen to the new David Gray CD



A very unique and cool artist, David Gray makes some great music and from a DVD that I've seen, is great live, too. VH1 is streaming his new CD Life In Slow Motion. You'll like it.

VH1.com : David Gray : Hear Music First

Making the dentist more bearable



Cool - now I can watch movies while I'm having a root canal!

Wired News: Less Plaque, More Action Films

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Are you ready for some football?



The new NFL season kicks off tonight with Green Day, Santana, The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Maroon 5 and more performing for the celebration. TheStones will be playing at Ford Field in Detroit, site of the 2006 Super Bowl.

NFL.com - NFL Kickoff

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Live 8 to be released on four-disc DVD



LIVE 8 is set to be released on a four-disc DVD on November 7.

Live footage of the historical concert, which took place simultaneously at nine worldwide venues on July 2, will be brought together for the first time featuring sets from U2, Muse, Scissor Sisters, Robbie Williams , Madonna, Elton John, Coldplay, REM, Pink Floyd, Dido, Paul McCartney and Keane.

Three discs of the package will feature performances taken from the Live 8 shows staged in London and Philadelphia alongside key highlights from the seven other events staged across the world. Every artist who performed at London’s Hyde Park and Philadelphia’s Museum Of Art appear on the DVD.

Live 8 to be released on four-disc DVD - NME.COM

Friday, September 02, 2005

Helping As Best We Can



As we all sit and watch the horrific images from the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I know we are all looking for ways to give aid and comfort to those affected by this disaster. Wanting to do something as a band, the Mike Estep Band has joined with hundreds of other bands at the Internet music retailer CDBaby.com to donate all proceeds from the sales of our CD This Machine to the American Red Cross. We're looking to do even more, but are thankful that we can at least do this much immediately.

Links:

Thursday, September 01, 2005

I will definitely watch this



Alicia Keys to get ‘Unplugged’ for MTV - R&B/SOUL MUSIC - MSNBC.com