UK singer/songwriter Alex Clare is now a platinum seller. Clare’s single “Too Close” off of his first album, The Lateness of the Hour, just passed the 1 million sales mark. And there’s a new music video on the way, with Clare collaborating with award-winning director Keith Rivers on the video.
The video was shot at the Moore Theater in Seattle using a 60-camera setup. Says director Rivers, “It’s a story of achievement. We’ve come full circle from the Microsoft spot. Alex began at ground zero and rose to massive success because he worked so hard. The video starts with him in a modest practice space, follows him in a tour bus, and ends with a packed concert exploding with light and a wall dropping. If you’re persistent and you stay true to yourself, you’ll get that gratification. It’s an interpretation of how I perceive his journey as a musician. I think he’s one of the most talented artists today, and it was an honor to work with him. I hope even more people discover him through this video. You can’t help but love him, suspenders and all!”
Added Clare, “It was fantastic shooting the video with Keith. His aesthetic is amazing, and he really captured something very special. Having these opportunities is incredible. I’m just so floored by the success of the song in the U.S., and I can’t wait to tour the country.”
“Too Close” is sitting at the #2 spot in the US on the Alternative, Top 25 at HotAC, and Top 25 at Top40. In the UK, “Too Close” is the #1 Alternative single.
More on Alex Clare [Courtesy of Universal Republic Records]:
Clare grew up in southeast London. He was always enamored by music and his tastes spanned everything from bebop and blues to electronic and indie rock. Over the years, he cultivated an inimitable songwriting style and truly captivating stage presence. He went from playing local open mics to a small songwriting deal. While working on those early recordings, he trained as a professional chef and continued to pursue his beloved hobby—fly fishing. His demos eventually landed him a deal with Island Records in the UK. However, he’s currently got his sights set on the U.S.
Source: Universal Republic Records
—Posted by Rebecca Murray
Alex Clare Goes Platinum with Too Close
Kevin Hart Set to Host the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards
Previously announced participants include One Direction and Alicia Keys.
Commenting on his upcoming hosting gig, Hart said, “This is huge, wait this is bigger than huge, this is bigger than what’s bigger than huge.” I’m overwhelmed with excitement….sh*t is about to get real.”
Added Pink, “I think what makes the VMA’s such a powerful night is the unpredictability of it all and the versatility of artists – all from different genres and it’s kind of the most rock and roll show out there.
Hart’s acting credits include the comedy movie Think Like a Man and his stand-up feature film, Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain. He’s currently on a 90 city tour with his show “Let Me Explain,” with stops planned for cities including Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Voting on the 2012 MTV Music Video Awards is currently open online at vma.mtv.com.
List of the nominees: 2012 MTV Music Video Awards
Watch the promotional video:
Get More: Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart, 2012 VMA, Music, Kanye West
Source: MTV
—Posted by Rebecca Murray
Pitch Perfect Clip – The Riff-Off
Gleeks, this is a film made with you in mind. Just you. Universal Pictures’ Pitch Perfect about a college acoustic singing group stars Anna Kendrick (one of the humans in Twilight), Rebel Wilson (you loved her in Bridesmaids), and Brittany Snow (a veteran of musicals having starred in Hairspray), and this new clip shows the ladies squaring off against their male singing counterparts.
The Plot:
Beca (Kendrick) is that girl who’d rather listen to what’s coming out of her headphones than what’s coming out of you. Arriving at her new college, she finds herself not right for any clique but somehow is muscled into one that she never would have picked on her own: alongside mean girls, sweet girls and weird girls whose only thing in common is how good they sound when they sing together, in the new out-loud comedy Pitch Perfect.
When Beca takes this acoustic singing group out of their world of traditional arrangements and perfect harmonies into all-new mash-ups, they fight to climb their way to the top of the cutthroat world of college a cappella. This could wind up either the coolest thing they’ll ever do or the most insane, and it will probably be a little of both.
Watch the clip:
And don’t forget about the Pitch Perfect Music Video Contest: Get the details
R.E.M. Document Remastered Release Date
On September 25, 2012, R.E.M. is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1987 fifth studio album, Document, with a remastered re-release. The 25th Anniversary Edition will include all of the original songs plus a “previously unreleased 1987 concert from R.E.M.’s ‘Work’ tour.” The remastered release also has liner notes provided by journalist David Daley.
Document was R.E.M.’s first platinum record, peaking at #10 on and spending 33 weeks on the Top 200 chart. In the new liner notes, band member Mike Mills tells Daley: “We always felt that if we had a hit, it would be despite us, not because of us.”
R.E.M.: Document (25(th) Anniversary Edition) [2CD, digital] Details
CD 1 (digitally remastered original album)
1. Finest Worksong
2. Welcome To The Occupation
3. Exhuming McCarthy
4. Disturbance At The Heron House
5. Strange
6. Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
7. The One I Love
8. Fireplace
9. Lightnin’ Hopkins
10. King Of Birds
11. Oddfellows Local 151
CD 2 (previously unreleased “Work” tour concert, recorded live in Utrecht, Holland – September 14, 1987)
1. Finest Worksong (4.20)
2. These Days (3.36)
3. Lightnin’ Hopkins (3.43)
4. Welcome To The Occupation (2.52)
5. Driver 8 (4.15)
6. Feeling Gravitys Pull (5.00)
7. I Believe (4.28)
8. The One I Love (4.38)
9. Exhuming McCarthy (3.23)
10. Wolves, Lower (4.23)
11. Fall On Me (3.05)
12. Just A Touch (3.12)
13. Oddfellows Local 151 (5.34)
14. Little America (2.50)
15. Its the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (4.01)
16. Begin The Begin (4.32)
17. Disturbance At The Heron House (3.42)
18. Moral Kiosk (3.02)
19. Life And How To Live It (4.59)
20. So. Central Rain (5.35)
All songs by Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe except “Strange” (Gilbert, Lewis, Newman, Gotobed)
Source: Capitol/I.R.S. Records
—Posted by Rebecca Murray
‘Revolution’ Series Preview: Cast, Plot, and Trailer
Billy Burke and Tracy Spiridakos star in NBC’s new action-adventure series Revolution. The one-hour drama is set to premiere on September 17, 2012.
Tracy Spiridakos stars as Charlie Matheson, Graham Rogers is Danny, Billy Burke plays Miles, Anna Lise Phillips is Maggie, Zak Orth is Aaron, and JD Pardo is Nate. The cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito as Captain Tom Neville, David Lyons as Bass, Maria Howell as Grace, Daniealla Alonso as Nora, Tim Guinee as Ben Matheson, and Elizabeth Mitchell as Rachel Matheson.
The Synopsis: What would you do without it all? In this epic adventure from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Supernatural‘s Eric Kripke, a family struggles to reunite in an American landscape where every single piece of technology — computers, planes, cars, phones, even lights — has mysteriously blacked out forever. A drama with sweeping scope and intimate focus, Revolution is also about family — both the family you’re born into and the family you choose.
This is a swashbuckling journey of hope and rebirth seen through the eyes of one strong-willed young woman, Charlie Matheson (Spiridakos), and her brother Danny (Rogers). When Danny is kidnapped by militia leaders for a darker purpose, Charlie must reconnect with her estranged uncle Miles (Burke), a former U.S. Marine living a reclusive life. Together, with a rogue band of survivors, they set out to rescue Danny, overthrow the militia, and ultimately re-establish the United States of America. All the while, they explore the enduring mystery of why the power failed, and if — or how — it will ever return.
News: Revolution sneaks during the 2012 London Olympics
Video: Billy Burke and Eric Kripke interview at 2012 Comic-Con
Interviews: Billy Burke / Tracy Spiridakos / David Lyons / JD Pardo / Giancarlo Esposito
Event Photos: 2013 Comic-Con Photos
‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ Cast Share Their Thoughts on the Family Comedy
In this behind the scenes video from Walt Disney Pictures, The Odd Life of Timothy Green cast (Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Lawrence, and Rosemarie DeWitt) discuss the story, what audiences will get out of it, and working with each other. Hitting theaters on August 15, 2012, The Odd Life of Timothy Green was written and directed by Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape).
The Plot: It’s the inspiring, magical story of a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.
Watch the video:
‘Frankie Go Boom’ Trailer and Poster with Charlie Hunnam
The full trailer for the independent comedy movie 3, 2, 1…Frankie Go Boom is pretty hilarious (and I’m glad they rescue the pig). Hopefully, it’s not giving too much away – a common problem with trailers.
Directed by Jordan Roberts, Frankie Go Boom stars Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Nora Dunn, Whitney Cummings, Ron Perlman, and Chris Noth. The comedy will be released via iTunes on September 10, 2012 and in theaters on October 12th.
The Plot:
Frank Bartlett has been tortured, embarrassed, and humiliated by his brother Bruce — usually on film — his entire life. Now that Bruce is finally off drugs and has turned his life around, things should be different. They are not.
Watch the trailer:
Kris Allen Video – Performing at the Berklee City Music Scholarship Concert
American Idol winner Kris Allen joined Berklee City Music singers for the 2012 Berklee City Music Scholarship Concert. The annual event took place during the last week of a five-week summer program that includes the awarding of 2012 Berklee City Music College Scholarships.
“My passion is music education and my work with Music Empowers Foundation introduced me to this amazing network connected by Berklee City Music. These kids are beyond talented, but it takes organizations like Berklee City Music to help them turn talent into a tool for success in life,” said Allen.
More on Berklee City Music: “Berklee City Music is a nonprofit program that harnesses the energy of contemporary music to provide music education to 4th through 12th graders in underserved communities at 38 Network sites, educating more than 10,000 students across the country, and bringing as many as 100 of them to Boston each summer. Each year, Berklee City Music awards scholarships to attend Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program as well as four-year scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music.”
Go Behind the Scenes of Goats
Director Christopher Neil, screenwriter/novelist Mark Poirier, and actor David Duchovny take audiences behind the scenes of Goats, a reverse coming-of-age film starring Duchovny, Graham Phillips, Vera Farmiga, Justin Kirk, Ty Burrell, and Keri Russell. The comedy hits theaters in limited release on August 10, 2012.
The Plot:
In Goats, Ellis is the most adult member of his eccentric family at 15 years old. His mom is a New Age hippie that spends all of her time working on self-help rituals with her hustler boyfriend. His dad left home years ago and is more focused on his new wife and family. And then there’s Goat Man, the goat-herding sage who has lived in their pool house since Ellis was a child, teaching him the meaning of stability, commitment, and expanding one’s mind.
When Ellis decides to leave Tucson to go to the same East Coast prep school that his father went to, he easily assimilates to his new environment – even gaining the attention of a local girl (Dakota Johnson). But as he re‐connects with his estranged father, he finds Goat Man’s influence and his life out West thrown into stark contrast.
Watch the video:
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