Congratulations to Miguel Dakota – through to the next round of America’s Got Talent
COMBO sends its “Congratulations” to Miguel Dakota, 21, a really nice looking and good-sounding young man from Monument, CO. He is a singer/songwriter who got through to the next round on America’s Got Talent with 4 “yes” votes. Miguel even got a “Standing O” from Howard Stern! Miguel comes from a family of 5 children with an absentee father. Here’s wishing him the best of luck in his musical future. Miguel dropped out of college to help out his family and is currently working part-time construction jobs to pay the bills. (Sound familiar?)
http://www.americasgottalent.com
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QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT BRING FABULOSITY, FREDDIE REVERENCE | By Lyndsey Parker | Reality Rocks
The stars came out for Queen + Adam Lambert‘s Los Angeles extravaganza at the Forum Thursday night, July 3rd. Everyone from Muse’s Dominic Howard, No Doubt’s Tony Kanal and Adrian Young, and the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins; to RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Alaska, Willam Belli, and Raja; to actress Lisa Rinna, superstar songwriter Bonnie McKee, and Adam’s old American Idol pal Allison Iraheta showed up for the big show. But the shining-est stars of the evening were Adam Lambert, of course, and, during a few poignant virtual-duet moments, the late, great Freddie Mercury himself.
Ever since Queen started touring with Adam Lambert overseas two years ago, Queen fans have expressed skepticism, and understandably so. Freddie Mercury, who tragically died in 1991, was arguably the finest rock vocalist of all time, and the man can never be replaced — not even by someone as phenomenally talented as Adam. So it made sense that, just minutes before Thursday’s Forum gig, concertgoers could still be overheard in their seats, in the beer lines, and in the restrooms, murmuring cynically, “I hope Adam can pull this off.”
So far on this U.S. tour, it has helped Adam win over doubters that his Queen stint follows that of Paul Rodgers, who sang with Queen from 2005 to 2009 and definitely did not pull it off. Paul’s gruff everyman persona, while a perfect fit for his previous legendary arena-rock bands Free and Bad Company, was always all wrong for a wildly theatrical, multi-octave band like Queen. So, you know what was also overheard among the fans before Thursday’s Forum show? Sentiments along the lines of: “Well, no matter what, Adam’s got to be better than Paul Rodgers, right?”
Right indeed. Unabashedly tapping into his musical-theater background, Adam was a total glam ham and he went totally H.A.M. — in a way that few frontmen (especially Paul Rodgers) ever could, and in a way that made absolute sense for a Queen concert.
Adam guzzled Moët et Chandon from his pretty cabinet while splayed grandly across a velvet fainting couch during a very killer “Killer Queen.” He amusingly gave a shoutout to all the “fat-ass bitches” during “Fat-Bottomed Girls.” He had the crowd going ga ga, and clapping along Live Aid-style, for “Radio Ga Ga.” And he rocked five costume changes, including one with floor-sweeping gold leather fringe, plus one pageant-worthy rhinestone crown that surely made the aforementioned Drag Race contestants emerald-green with envy. Adam made the “Fabulous Forum” just a little more fabulous on Thursday night.
Adam was a total professional, of course; his how-are-they-not-Memorex vocals were pristine throughout the revue, and were especially awe-inspiring during “Who Wants to Live Forever” and “The Show Must Go On,” two of the toughest songs in the Queen catalog. (It’s also significant that Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor entrusted Adam with singing a reworked version of the Freddie Mercury 1984 solo single “Love Kills,” which was never performed during Freddie’s lifetime and only just made its live debut on this year’s tour.) But there was always a certain pleasing playfulness to Adam’s performance, a certain likable somebody-pinch-me-I’m-singing-with-my-heroes giddiness. It was an attitude that made the audience root for Adam, as fans were reminded that in some ways, he’s still that same hopeful, starry-eyed kid who stood in line to try out for a TV talent show, somehow wound up onstage with Queen at the Season 8 Idol finale living out his rock ‘n’ roll fantasies, and simply can’t believe his good fortune even five years later.
And it was that humility, mixed in with all the brashness and bravado, that helped Adam convert the naysayers in the crowd. When he asked for the audience to cheer for Freddie Mercury during the intro to “Love Kills,” or graciously stepped aside and gestured to the video screen to let a virtual Freddie take over lead vocals midway through “Bohemian Rhapsody,” his showed his respect for the Queen legacy in a way that all fans could appreciate.
And that’s probably why the most powerful moments of the two-hour show weren’t actually Adam moments, but interludes that took place while Adam was off undergoing one of his many fantastic costume changes. When Brian May performed a solo acoustic version of the weeper “Love of My Life” while a video screen flashed a building-sized Freddie for a from-beyond-the-grave, positively goosebump-raising duet, or when Roger Taylor sang “These Are the Days of Our Lives” backed by vintage footage of Freddie, these were touching reminders of what rock ‘n’ roll has lost and can never get back. For many rock fans, Freddie Mercury will always be the true love of their lives.
So yes, there will only ever be one Freddie Mercury. But that’s OK. There’s only one Adam Lambert, too. He’s not Freddie , and he’s not a “replacement,” but judging from the star-studded L.A. audience’s elated reaction Thursday night, he’s absolutely the right man to front a new, different version of Queen in 2014. And that’s pretty fabulous.
[Article contains 6 videos of this concert, including one of Queen from the early days.]
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ONLY THREE MORE WEEKS TO ENTER COMBO’s SONGWRITING CONTEST!!
Full info included on the website under “Talent Needed”! Winning songs will be featured on a CD to be given out to music supervisors, publishers, and record companies. One Grand Prize winner will receive a ticket to the Durango Songwriters Expo in October (worth $300!) (drawn from all entrants into the contest). Check it out now! Deadline August 1st, 2014 to enter.
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COMBO & CENTENNIAL PRESENTS JULY 19th CONCERT WITH JODEE MESSINA
COMBO, the City of Centennial, and promotions company Local Sounds OnLine will be presenting a series of family-oriented concerts on the third Saturday of each month during the summer at the new Centennial Center Park Amphitheater, located at 13050 East Peakview Avenue, Centennial, CO 80112. The show will be hosted by COMEDY 103.1 and KYGO.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs as well as benefitting COMBO.
What: COMBO and the City of Centennial’s Summer Concert Programs
Where: Centennial Park Ampitheater, 13050 East Peakview Avenue, Centennial, CO 80112
When: Saturday, July 19th
Time: Doors open at 4:00 p.m.; shows start at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $17 per person
The July 19th concert headlines national country star Jo Dee Messina. Local country musician Ben Marshal is one of the supporting acts for Jo Dee.
Centennial Center Park is located on the north side of Arapahoe Road, between South Revere Parkway and South Vaughn Street, adjacent to Centennial Civic Center, 13050 East Peakview Avenue. http://www.centennialco.gov/events or call 303-325-8000.
http://www.localsoundsonline.com
Jo Dee Marie Messina is an American country music artist. She has charted six number one singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week Number One songs from the same album. To date, she has two Platinum and three Gold-certified albums by the RIAA.
Messina debuted in 1996 with the single Heads Carolina, Tails California. Her album was certified Gold by the RIAA. Her second album, I’m Alright, produced five Top 10 Country hits between 1998 and 1999, and sold over a million copies in America. Since her debut, six of her singles have peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country singles chart and five of her albums have received a certification by the RIAA or the CRIA. She has sold over 5 million records worldwide.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Dee_Messina
http://www.JoDeeMessina.com
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GROOVE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL – JULY 18th – 20th !
Mark your calendars for the inaugural Groove Music & Arts Festival July 18th-20th!
Three full days of music, mountains, and freedom; featuring the highest quality funk, bluegrass, and jam bands around. Groove Music & Arts Festival offers patrons two stages with live music throughout the weekend, as well as performing arts, yoga, meditation, sustainability workshops, and a local farmer’s market every morning. On-site camping is included with the purchase of a three-day festival pass.
LINE UP!
● Keller & The Keels
● Karl Denson’s Tine Universe
● Kyle Hollingsworth Band
● Dumpstaphunk
● Tea Leaf Green
● Orgone
● Hot Buttered Rum
● Cosby Sweater w/ Joel Cummins
● Mountain Standard Time
● Euforquestra
● Whitewater Ramble
● Alan Evan’s Playonbrother
● Earphunk
● The Main Squeeze
● The Magic Beans
● The Drunken Hearts
● Ultraviolet Hippopotamus
● Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
● The Congress
● AND MANY MORE
Groove Music & Arts Festival is being held on Shadows Ranch, conveniently located 2.5 miles off of I-70, about 45 minutes west of Denver in Georgetown, CO. Shadows Ranch boasts beautiful shaded on-site camping with Clear Creek running directly through the festival grounds and expansive mountain views. The beautiful scenery combined with the intimate atmosphere Shadows Ranch provides are the main reasons we have chosen this site to be our template for the inaugural Groove Music & Arts Festival.
Purchase tickets for $115 for a limited time HERE.
(Tier 3 price will be $135, Gate Price will be $150)
We have opportunities for volunteers and street team members/promoters to earn free tickets to the festival.
If you are interested in performing, painting, conducting a workshop, or for any arts related inquiries, send an e-mail to arts@groove-productions.com describing what you are interested in and any appropriate links to view your respected portfolios. Our arts coordinators will be happy to further discuss any information regarding arts related opportunities.
* Like Groove Music and Arts Festival on Facebook HERE
* Like Groove Productions Colorado on Facebook where there will be tons of giveaways for shows in the Denver area HERE
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!
GROOVE FEST PRE-PARTY at Cervantes’ and Cervantes’ Other Side in Denver on July 17th featuring artists that will be performing at Shadows Ranch.
● Mountain Standard Time
● Euforquestra
● Whitewater Ramble
● Alan Evan’s Playonbrother
● Earphunk
● The Main Squeeze
● The Magic Beans
● The Drunken Hearts
$15 Advance / $20 Day Of Show
Get tickets for the event HERE
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/587699?utm_source=MEL&utm_medium=71005
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