MUSIC – CMJ: The Syndicate Party Recap – Take 3

Here is the official party wrap-up from The Syndicate themselves. Thank you to the Syndicate for putting me in such good company in your list of critics. Let the lovefest begin  - oh, it did already.  awww yah.

http://blog.thesyn.com.s17153.gridserver.com/2008/10/29/conflict-of-interest-x-thanks-to-everyone

Last but not least, people are talking about COIX. Check out what the critics are saying.
Billboard
Brooklyn Vegan
CMJ
Buzzgrinder
Consequence Of Sound
Allison Hagendorf
I Have A Message
Metromix NY
Pop Wreckoning

VOICE – “Meet the Mother of All Fathers: COOLIO’S RULES”

The latest show for which I’m the promo announcer, is Oxygen’s “Coolio’s Rules,” which premieres tonight…SO, if you’re just dying to hear my voice and don’t have my number, you can turn on Oxygen and hear me there

OXYGEN BRINGS “COOLIO’S RULES” TO NETWORK TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 AT 10PM (ET/PT)

Posted on 10/14/2008 in General News

NEW YORK – September 9, 2008 – The mother of all fathers, hip-hop star Coolio returns from life on the road and tries to get his family life in order in Oxygen’s new docu-soap series “Coolio’s Rules,” premiering Tuesday, October 28 at 10PM. The series is set for six one-hour episodes.

With three platinum albums, six top ten hits – now Coolio goes from rap daddy to big daddy as his four teenage kids move in and he finds being a parent the biggest challenge of his life.  In “Coolio’s Rules,” Coolio is waking up to find out that his kids have a lot to learn and life isn’t exactly everything he had anticipated.   And Coolio, with his irreverent methods of discipline, will be just the one to show them.

Viewers will see the trials and tribulations of this family man as he tries to balance his role as a musician, a single parent raising four teenagers (Artisha 20, Brandi 20, Artis 18, Jackie 15), a bachelor looking for love, and as an entrepreneur when he launches his own catering business with his children.

“Oxygen is thrilled to continue the momentum of its record-breaking year with an honest yet unconventional family series like ‘Coolio’s Rules’,” says Amy Introcaso-Davis, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Production, Oxygen Media. “Coolio is part showman, part businessman, part charmer and all loving father- we celebrate him for his truly live out loud personality.”

In addition to the series’ look into Coolio’s whirlwind life, fans can catch more of him and his kids on oxygen.com where they can view exclusive and in depth interviews as well as never-before-seen photos of the family.

“Coolio’s Rules” premieres in conjunction with the October 21st launch of his latest album “Steal Hear.”  Demonstrating music is a family affair, Coolio will be on the road promoting his latest tracks with his son Artis, who is starting his own rap career. Fans can see Coolio’s perform starting in September in the US and in Europe.

Coolio, the multi-talented Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum selling artist, composer and actor, is one of the most popular and successful rappers worldwide. To date, Coolio has sold over 27 million records globally and has performed in concerts to adoring fans around the world. Coolio won a GRAMMY Award in 1996 for Best Rap Performance, Solo, for his international hit single, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which also was featured in the “Dangerous Minds” soundtrack. That song has sold over 4 million copies and was Billboard magazine’s #1 single of 1995. Coolio also has won an American Music Award, three MTV Music Video Awards, two Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and a World Music Award. Coolio’s new long-awaited album “Steal Hear” will be released on October 21. In addition to the release, Coolio stars, writes music for and executive produces “Coolio’s Rules.”

“Cooio’s Rules” is executive produced by Coolio, Chris Coelen, Greg Goldman, Andrew Hoegl, Jonathan Singer, Susan Haber and co-executive produced by Mike Duffy for RDF USA and Scott Cooper.

Check out the backstory on the “Coolio’s Rules” show here.

I’m Running the NY Marathon this Sunday – Countdown Begins

First things first – just in case you were wondering… 

(RIP Pheidippides 530 BC–490 BC)

• The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C. 
• Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message “Niki!” (”victory”), then collapsed and died. 
• The Athens Marathon is recognized as the original marathon course and it’s the same course used in the 2004 Olympics held in Athens. 
• The first modern Olympic games were held in 1896 in Greece. 
• The legend of Pheidippides was honored by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens. 
• Athens Stadium, the finish line for the Athens Marathon stands on the site of a stadium used in classical times. 
• Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker, won the first modern Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds, an average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile. 
• At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, with the 2.2 miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family’s viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting “God save the Queen!” (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed.

DRINK – Penn State KILLED Ohio State @ SIDEBAR

A pride of NYC Nittany Lions, including myself, were filled with pride yesterday at Union Square sports haven, SideBar, where we proudly watched our undefeated Penn State team POUNCE Ohio State.

THE GAME:

                                                   (3) Penn State 13, (9) Ohio State 6

THE BAR:

Sidebar owners Mike Sinensky and Sean McGarr (of the Village Pourhouse) have launched a new space fully equipped with 7 flat screens, which has already become a favorite for Big Ten alum. Each Saturday, the 3-roomed bar is literally packed with jersey-donning 20 and 30 somethings enjoying pitchers of Bud Light and plates of wings.  And when I say wings, one should take note that there are 4 varieties: hot and tangy, bbq, Chinese style, and mango-honey mustard. SideBar’s menu is not your average sports bar selection. If you’re not in the mood for wings (to which I personally cannot relate), go for the innovative spins on your favorite spectator staples such as the Smoked Salmon Nachos (crispy taro, onion, creme fraiche, chopped egg, black American caviar,) the Foie Gras Devilled Eggs (with crispy proscuitto & mesclun greens, dried cherry vinaigrette,) or the The Mac Daddy And Cheese (sea shell pasta porcini mushrooms and black diamond white cheddar truffle bread crumb gratiné). What you probably SHOULDN’T do is to order the cheap champagne by the glass ($8) which they offer, (because you think you’re still at the brunch you were at earlier.) No matter how happy you are that your team won, that cow bell from the night before is still reverberating in your head the next day. And by your, I mean mine. Next time, I’ll skip the momosa brunch and go straight to the pitchers of Bud Light at SideBar. 

SideBar – 120 E. 15th St @ Irving Pl. 212.677.2900

Penn State fans celebrating their victory over Ohio State at SideBar. Please note the cowbell. No game is complete without it.

Exhibit A: The jersey-donning fans I told you about...

FOOD – Salam Cafe and Restaurant

I stumbled across this hidden Middle Eastern/Moroccan retreat on W.13th Street tonight.  Cozy is the best word to describe this spot, which is ideal for catching up with friends or getting to know a date.  I guess the couple next to us also felt that way, as they felt each other throughout our entire meal – it appears that “cozy” is open to interpretation.  Apparently, Salam’s decor sets the mood with its cushioned nooks, colorful lamps, beaded votive holders, and embroidered tapestries. 

The menu is primarily Syrian and Lebanese, and the food is pleasantly pacifying- go for the Vegetable Maza, which is the traditional Syrian meal consisting of baba ganouj, homos, Syrian cheese, tabbouleh, fattoush, labanee, spinach pie, falafel, and stuffed grape leaves – yes, it really comes with all of that.  The chicken kebab was also a savory staple.  The highlight of the meal surrounded satisfying my sweet-tooth.   I ofcourse had to sample (and by sample, I mean, devour) the cornucopia of Pistacchio-infused baklava and other cookies, as well as the spiced apple and raisin dessert enveloped in warm fillo and coupled with vanilla icecream.  The traditional Moroccan mint tea is a must, in order to complete your warm visit to this modest mecca.  The mint is so perfectly potent, that it not only settles the smorgasbord you just scarfed, but it politely prepares you for a post-supper smooch. I guess that couple next to us had already gotten that memo…ahem.  So although overall the food at Salam is good but not great, the dessert is divine – and hey, you might experience a level of intimacy here, you can’t get at just any cozy cove

104 W 13th St  - Btwn 6th & 7th Ave
New York, NY 10011 
212 741-0277

Salam Cafe and Restaurant

MUSIC – CMJ – Coheed and Cambria Night 1 of 4

Coheed and Cambria kicked off the first of their four nights at Terminal 5 on Wednesday (October 22) where they played their album The Second Stage Turbine Blade in its entirety. Over the next three nights they will play the rest of the concept albums, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, Good Apollo…, No World For Tomorrow, before heading out to Chicago, LA and London to do the same.

Here are some pictures I took that night. Sorry, about the poor quality – they were taken with my (very professional) Blackberry Curve camera from the side of the stage. 

MUSIC – CMJ – COHEED AND CAMBRIA – NEVERENDER

Coheed and Cambria are my favorite modern day band. period. Frontman, Claudio Sanchez, and I are from the same hometown and went to neighboring high schools, so I was onto his music early, when he fronted Coheed’s precursor, Shabutie.  I also had the privilege of working with the band when I was doing A&R at Columbia Records, with my dear friend Matt Pinfield.  It was at this time, when I became close friends with the guys, and began listening to their music religiously.  

As for the music, Coheed and Cambria’s albums are concept albums, revealing the plot of a storyline called The Armory Wars, written by singer Claudio Sanchez. The band gets many comparisons to Canadian prog rock group, Rush, due to Sanchez’s characteristically high vocals as well as the technical nature of the music itself, especially when compared to that of other bands in the post-hardcore/emo scene of which C&C is often considered to be part.   Although Coheed is often associated with that “scene,” that labeling is a mere product of timing and circumstance.  Coheed and Cambria by far transcend that ambiguous genre, and have proven to be one of the most influential and important bands ever associated with the scene. The music is a fusion of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock, and has often been called new prog.  

That being said, let me explain “Neverender.”

NEVERENDER is an event created by the band in which they will, for the first time, perform live over four nights all four of their concept records in their entirety. The albums will be played in order from beginning to end. Each night’s production will be specifically catered to the record being performed.

NEVERENDER was originally intended to take place in New York and LA exclusively. The 15,000 tickets for these shows sold out entirely within an astounding three hours of going on sale. When the band saw how fast all 8 shows sold, they decided to extend the tour to include Chicago and London. 

“NEVERENDER came about because we wanted to celebrate the end of the Coheed and Cambria saga in a special way,” says Coheed frontman Claudio Sanchez. “We wanted to come up with an idea that paid proper respect to this phase of our career, while at the same time gave our fans something truly unique and different. Many of these songs have never been played in front of an audience before so I think we’re going to be freaking out at the same time our fans are. It’s going to be a major challenge. We’re psyched our fans have been so loyal and amazing. We figured they deserved this.”

“We’re really looking forward to going deep and revisiting not only the songs, but also the story,” Sanchez offers. “Interestingly enough, us going over all the old material seems to be influencing our writing of the next record, which we’re sort of doing simultaneously. And to me, that seems appropropriate since the next story is the prequel to The Amory Wars.”

So…this brings us to the 4 shows of CMJ. 

MUSIC – CMJ Syndicate Party Update

Sean Roberts and I: Embracing our inner Viking

As promised, here are the pictures mentioned in my original post MUSIC – CMJ 2008 KICKOFF (scroll down to see bottom post for the full party deets)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesyndicate/sets/72157608267340364/

Rob Hitt and I: Cool as Ice

Bram Teitelman and I: Radiant in Reykjavik

MUSIC – CMJ The Hilfiger Sessions

The somewhat newish music venue, Terminal 5 (610 West 56th St,) is going to play a prominent role for me in this year’s CMJ.  One of my favorite bands, Coheed and Cambria, is playing 4 consecutive sold-out shows here from Wed – Sat (more on that later.)

However, I spent tonight at Terminal 5 as well, for The Hilfiger Sessions, an ongoing series of live music events organized by designer Tommy Hilfiger. Founded four years ago in Amsterdam, the Sessions – which now take place in cities across the globe – are renowned for hosting performances by both established and emerging artists.  In true CMJ fashion, tonight focused on the emergence aspect, as Louis XIV, the Young Lords, and The Click Clack Boom performed.  A plethora of good haircuts also graced the premises. What I liked best about the set-up was the bands played from a makeshift stage in the center of the main room, as opposed to the main stage, creating a much more intimate experience for the “fans.” I think there were more fashion fans there, than music fans, but all good.  Although tonight was enjoyable, it really made me nostalgic for the last time I was at Terminal 5 which was for the Tegan and Sara/City and Colour show a week or so ago. It was one of the best shows Terminal 5 has ever seen…perhaps until this week’s historical quadrumvirate of Coheed…

VOICE – Feature on Asylum.com

AOL’s Men’s Lifestyle site, ASYLUM.COM, was kind enough to feature me in their “Hot Girl, Cool Job” section. Although I have many jobs, they chose to highlight my gig as a Voice Actor. Check out the full interview/story here: http://www.asylum.com/2008/10/17/hot-girl-cool-job-allison-voiceover-actor/

• Sex
• Dating/Love
• Women
• Business
• Hot Girl Cool Job

 What’s your job?
I am a voice actor, which means I do voiceovers for everything from TV promos (MTV’s The Real World, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood) and commercials (Jergens, Verizon Vcast, TJ Maxx) to voices for animated characters (12-year-old boy, 250-year-old fictional creature). 

What makes it cool?
Becoming a successful voice actor requires more than having a unique voice; you need to be able to become a character and to laugh at yourself while doing it. Voiceover work is not for the self-conscious.    

Sometimes simply walking into an audition is comical because everyone is listening very carefully to everyone else’s voice, sizing up the competition.

Find out what makes Allison’s job sexy after the jump. 

Allison Hagendorf — Voiceover Actor

Is your job sexy?

When I go in to record a booking, I think the men are surprised and relieved to see that I’m not morbidly obese and covered in eczema. Recently, I went in to the studio to record a voice for an animated character that called for a “sexy” read. I was in the booth recording the lines according to the direction, and when I looked up, all 12 men in the studio were giggling like pre-adolescent boys who just found their first Playboy magazine. When they kept asking me to read “alternate” lines of copy, I placated them. 

Ever used your voiceover skills for anything, um, dirty?
Of course I have been asked to exploit my voiceover skills for pornographic means, but I’ve never done anything as racy as that. However, I have recorded the cell-phone voicemail greetings for a bunch of my guy friends.

Get more Allison Hagendorf (or hire her to record a dirty message on your voicemail) at AllisonHagendorf.com.