VH1 is following many other channels and getting more heavily into reality TV. First, they had Rock & Roll Jeopardy, which, of course, featured host Jeff Probst, who ended up hosting Survivor as well (and even brought back some Survivor II contestants to play the game show). Then they brought in Bands on the Run to follow four bands as they hit the road and compete against one another.

Their newest game show is Cover Wars, hosted by Paul Shaffer and Sky Nellor (though, frankly, it seems the only reason Nellor is there is to wear skimpy clothing and look good). This show features three cover bands who compete to play mostly well-known songs in a variety of ways. The winner of each show moves on to the semi-finals, and then on up to the finals.

The first two rounds are rated by celebrity judges. Former Skid Row lead singer Sebastian Bach is one, USA Today music reviewer Elysa Gardner is another, and Royston Langdon is the third. Round one is called “Human Jukebox,” and involves each of the judges requesting a song for each band. The band has 30 seconds to play that song. After each judge has given them one to play, they rate them on a scale of ten. If they don’t know the song, well, as Shaffer says, that’s just too bad.

3Peace is the first band, and Bach gives them “Ramblin’ Man.” It is rather amusing seeing a guy with a mini-mohawk singing this song, but they do a good job. Gardner gives them Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf,” which it’s obvious they don’t really know (luckily, they only have to fill half a minute). Langdon gives them “What I Got,” which they obviously know and do a good job playing. At the end of the round, Bach and Gardner rate them at 7, Langston at 10, for a total of 24.

Clueless is next, and they are given Styx’s “Mr. Roboto” by Gardner. The band knows the line, “Domo aragato, Mr. Roboto,” but that’s about it, so they repeat it for 30 seconds while one of the lead singers makes robotic moves. Langston gives them a Matchbox 20 song, which they do fine on. Bach gives them Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.” They have the right beat but mess up the lyrics. While I thought they were pretty mediocre, Gardner and Langston give them 9 each, and Bach gives them a 7, for a total of 25.

The third band, The Beatniks, are presented with “No Rain” by Blind Melon, and do a pretty good job of it. The drummer is quite obviously out of his mind, but in a good way. Bach gives them Kiss’s “Rock & Roll All Night,” and they do an excellent job with it. Gardner gives them “People Are Strange” by the Doors, and they do another great job. They are given 10 by Langston and Bach, and a 9 from Gardner, for a well-deserved score of 29.

The second round involves three songs that were picked at random and will get “musical facelifts.” The songs are announced and then one judge tells the band what style to do it in. After they do it once in that style, they are asked by the same judge to switch to a different style.

The Beatniks are given “Celebration” as the song, and Bach asks them to do it in lounge singer style. They do okay, but I sure wouldn’t have called that lounge style. Then they move on to Reggae as the second style. They are rated at 8 by Bach, 9 by Gardner, and 10 by Langston, for a total of 27.

Clueless is given “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)” and asked by Garnder to do it in country/western. They do quite a good job of it, and a similarly good job in the second style, heavy metal. Bach gives them two thumbs up and a score of 10, Gardner a 9, Langston a 9, for a total of 28.

3Peace is presented with “Take On Me” and told by Langston to do it in a Sexy Latin style. Eh. Then they are asked to do it in R&B. Frankly, I couldn’t really tell the difference. The judges weren’t impressed either, giving them only a total of 20.

So, the totals are at 56 for The Beatniks, 53 for Clueless, and 44 for 3Peace. At this point, it’s time for 3Peace to leave, because the final round is head-to-head for only the top two.

Here’s the way it works: They are given a list of ten songs. One band picks a song and starts to play it as the clock ticks down. When the buzzer sounds, they stop and the other band must pick up – musically and lyrically – exactly where the first stopped. If they do it correctly, they get a point and control of the board to pick the next song. If the don’t, the first team gets the point and picks again. The first group to three points wins the game.

The Beatniks start since they came in with the higher score. Their choices are:

• Black Water
• Jungle Boogie
• Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
• Le Freak
• The Way You Love Me
• Lullaby
• What It’s Like
• Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
• Let’s Get It On
• South Side

The Beatniks choose to begin at the second chorus of “Sitting at the Dock of the Bay.” When they stop, Clueless picks up with the wrong lyrics and loses the round. The Beatniks pick “Black Water” as the second round and Clueless drops the ball with the lyrics again. For the third, The Beatniks go with “Let’s Get It On” and Clueless actually gets it right.

Clueless picks “Le Freak” as the next one, which is kind of a strange pick. I mean, it’s not like there are really any lyrics involved. So when they pass it over, it’s quite easy for The Beatniks to pick it up. They do so and get the point, giving them three and the game. So, The Beatniks – who really were the best ones there, in my opinion – will go on to the semi-finals.

Overall the game was pretty amusing – not a bad way to spend a small slice of TV viewing time. I imagine that, over time, it may start to get a bit boring. But for now, at least, I’ll put it on my TV calendar.

~ Article written by David Bloomberg

As we travel down the yellow brick road,  music provides us with our sound track…it is often the intangible woven into rhythm, lyric, melody, harmony…it has been called the universal language…connecting peoples…it is the fortifier as we traverse the bumps in the road…it is an element of play that allows us to engage our full selves. Listening to music is good for us.

Scarecrow: I haven’t got a brain…only straw
Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don’t know…
But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking…don’t they?
Dorothy: Yes, I guess you’re right.

Listening to music helps the brain. As we listen, the mental chatter quiets…finally.

Depending on the tempo of music, brain waves sync with a strong beat.
Faster beats induce sharper concentration, focus and alertness, while slower beats induce a calm meditative state.
It has been dicovered that through listening to music and the resultant changes in brainwave activity, the brain is able to shift brainwave activity faster and more easily on its own.
Therefore, listening to music has lasting positive effects on our state of mind, our thinking, and our moods- even after the music has stopped.

(http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm)

Dorothy: Did you say something?
Tin Woodsman: Oil Can!
Dorothy: He said Oil can.
Tin Woodsman: Me - e, m  -  e-,  My-  mmm-my,  my, my, my goodness.  I can talk again!
Dorothy: Well, you’re perfect now.
Tin Woodsman: Perfect? Oh- bang on my chest if you think I’m perfect.
Go ahead- bang on it! It’s empty. The tinsmith forgot to give me a heart. All hollow.

Listening to music is also beneficial to the heart.
A healthy heart is important as we navigate through life’s challenges
and open to joyful experience.
Our heart is the center through which our blood, our physical life force, flows.
While listening to our favorite music, the blood vessels dilate,  allowing for more blood flow.
This in turn brings oxygen and nutrients to the whole body.

“A study of 10 healthy adults in their mid-thirties showed that their
blood flowed 26 percent more easily when they were listening to music they defined as joyful,
an increase in blood flow similar to aerobic activity.”

(http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/benefits-of-music-therapy.aspx)

Dr. Miller, research cardiologist form the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, released findings (at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific sessions) of a recent study testing the effects of listening to music on the cardiovascular system.
“The inner lining of the blood vessel relaxed, opened up,
and produced chemicals that are protective to the heart…
Music may be one of the best de-stressors-either by playing or listening to music.”

(http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/11/music.heart/index.html)

(http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/music-cardiovascular.htm)

Dorothy: My goodness, what a fuss you’re making! Well, naturally, when you go around picking on others weaker than you are. Why, you’re nothing but a great big coward!
Cowardly Lion: (crying) You’re right,  I am a coward! I haven’t any courage at all. I even scare myself. (sobs)
Cowardly Lion: Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven’t slept in weeks.
Tin Woodsman: Why don’t you try counting sheep?
Cowardly Lion: That doesn’t do any good.  I’m afraid of them. (sobs loud)
Scarecrow: Ah,  that’s too bad.

We are all familiar with stress and its effects…
it can wreak havoc on our nervous system, our nerves, as it can cause difficulties in concentration, sleeplessness, and a feeling of tension, where fear pervades our consciousness.
Relaxation is the key to alleviating the effects of stress and coming to a place of strength.

Music is known to alleviate stress,  as it calms the mind.
More serotonin, what some refer to as the “hormone of happiness,” is produced.

“The most surprising finding is that for relaxation, the genre of music is of little importance.
What makes a huge difference is whether you are listening to live music or not.
Live music makes us relaxed no matter the genre.”

(http://www.e-zine.com)

“‘What people say soothes them, soothes them, even if it’s heavy metal,’
says music therapist Joanne Loewy,  DA,  director of the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Center in New York City.
‘The most important aspect is how it is incorporated in your life.’”

(http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/benefits-of-music-therapy.aspx)

Do what feels good…follow the sound track,  and listen to your favorite music-
Live - if you can.
Allow your mind to relax,  heart to sing,  body to move,  and spirit to fly…

“Singing and dancing, man expresses himself as a member of a higher unity.
He has forgotten how to walk and talk and is on the verge of flying up into the air as he dances. The enchantment speaks out in his gestures.
Just as the animals speak and the earth gives milk and honey,  so now something super natural echoes out of him. He feels himself a God.
He now moves in a lofty ecstasy, as he saw the Gods move in his dream.
The man is no longer an artist.   He has become a work of art.”

~Friedrich Nietzsche

As a promoter and talent buyer, Dean Zelikovsky (Machine Entertainment) has brought over 100 national acts to such venues as: the Ballard Firehouse, RCKNDY, The Off Ramp, The Showbox, Under the Rail, the Crocodile Café, Berbadi’s Pan, the Crystal Ballroom, Satyricon, The OK Hotel, The Catwalk, and more.
These national acts include: Ronnie James DIO, John Entwistle Band, UFO (w/Michael Schenker), Blackhappy, Motorhead, Great White, Rick Springfield, the Romantics, Blue Oyster Cult, Pat Travers, Bay City Rollers, Sugar Hill Gang, Rose Royce, Biohazard, Sick of it All, Fear Factory, Sadhappy, Six in the Clip, Medicine Hat, Popsickle, Harvey Danger, Silly Rabbit, Sweatty Nipples, Sebastian Bach, Berlin, Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons, Rattled Roosters, Twisted Sister, Merl Saunders, Quiet Riot, Dread Zeppelin, Loverboy, Super-Deluxe, KC and the Sunshine Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Bow Wow Wow, Nazareth, Hot Tuna, Rick Derringer, Bo Diddley, Gene Loves Jezebel, Foghat, Robin Trower, Leftover Salmon, Slaughter, Todd Rundgren, Wang Chung, The Tubes, The Dazz Band, Exodus, Dropkick Murphys, Obituary, Cheap Trick, Green Apple Quickstep, the Posies, Misfits, David Broza, The Lemons, Galactic, and many more.

In the beginning….

Dean, the man behind the machine, has worn many hats of the music industry. From musician, talent buyer, booking agent, manager, promoter, and consultant, Dean has a firm foundational understanding of what makes the music industry machine tick.

The first wave…

Dean began his career while attending UW, filling the position of Social Chairman and hiring bands for the Greek system and WSU. As a booking agent, the bands he hired included national acts such as Quiet Riot and Sweet Water, and the top bands of the 90s Seattle music scene. Having been in bands in high school and college, Dean had a bird’s eye view, seeing the three different perspectives: Musician, Buyer, and Booking Agent- and through these different lenses, reached a comprehensive understanding of the three aspects and their unique needs, with the one common need of all: success on all levels.

The second wave…

The 1990 Goodwill Games afforded Dean the opportunity to try his hand as an exclusive booking agent. He booked all of the bands for the event and packed the house every day in the venue known as the popular Lock, Stock & Bagle on the Ave. Through this, Dean began the trend of live music at Lock, stock and Bagle- and soon his role morphed to include Promoter.

Through his success as exclusive booking agent and promoter for Lock, Stock & Bagle, Dean soon became the exclusive booking agent for The Attic (Madison Park) booking a variety of bands playing different genres. Later, Dean began booking the University Sports Bar, booking primarily original bands of the early 90s. Again, he was the exclusive booking agent for the venue.

1990 was also the year Dean picked up the ever-popular Seattle-based cover band, the Beatniks. As Tom Phalen from the Seattle Times wrote in an article about the band, “In terms of earnings and gross (meaning body count) popularity, (the Beatniks) are the biggest band in town…(The band) has a winning formula that other bands would kill for.” As time has proven, this formula has garnered the band amazing success right into today, without a blink.
In 1994, Dean picked up the band, Hit Exposion, having them open up for Silly Rabbit at the Fenix Underground. Later, Hit Explosion began headlining events such as Bumbershoot, a post-Mariners game at Kingdome, and at actor Bruce Willis’ clun The Mint in Haley, Idaho. The band is known for captivating an audience of all-ages, as written up in numerous papers.

Acting as band manager, exclusive booking agent, and promoter, Dean moved his talents into Pioneer Square, booking ninety-five percent of the bands on weekends at venues such as the Fenix Above/Underground and Doc Maynards. Dean learned how to utilize bands of every genre to build clubs’ draw by maximizing their drawing potentialities. In other words, creating a buzz in the scene using proprietary strategies proving repeat success, resulting in venues becoming hot spots; the most recognized and well-known venues in the area. Pioneer Square is a prime example as the hot Seattle destination spot in the 90s.

Dean also developed strategies for bar, club, venue, and casino development by exclusively booking rooms to maximize draws; understanding each venue’s own clientele while also generating new ones.

The third wave…

Dean expanded into managing, booking, and promoting original bands., including Popsicle (C-Z Records), Black Happy (Macola Records), Blind Tribe (Miramar Records), The Lemons, The Distractions, Silly Rabbit, and Medicine Hat. Medicine Hat was on the Indie-label Collective Fruit, owned by Nabil Ayers, who later founded Sonic Boom Records.

Dean worked closely as a team with super-producer Don Gilmore, while Don was under Shankman, DeBlasio, & Melina Management. Don Gilmore has produced the likes of Linkin Park (WB), Avril Lavigne (Arista), Eve 6 (RCA), and Duran Duran (Sony.) Through Don’s management company, Dean was given his first five-city tour as promoter for the band X (Infidelity), with members John Doe and Excene Cervenka (Rhyno Records). Dean also began booking original bands at Under the Rail, another well-known Seattle venue. He promoted Cheap Trick’s first come-back show in this room, as well as promoting Nina Hagen and Second Coming as opening act for the show, with special guest Layne Staley (Alice in Chains). Later, Dean would become the exclusive booking agent and promoter for national acts and weekend acts at the Ballard Firehouse.

While Dean managed, booked and promoted his bands, Don Gilmore produced their records. This successful liason led to Don’s first meeting with Bennet Kaufman, then Vice President of RCA records. When Dean and Don went down to South by Southwest, Don reconnected with Bennet, who was managing producers at the time, and joined Bennet’s team at BK Entertainment Group.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts…..

Through his experience in management, booking, promotions and talent buying, Dean is able to see the various facets and interconnectedness of the music industry. This panoramic view allows Dean a deeper understanding of every role in order to empower and facilitate each function, thereby maximizing and bringing forth the highest potentiality of all aspects. Bringing people together working toward the same goal, through implementing successful, results-driven strategies, Dean believes in setting up a solid foundation. With this solid foundation, all of the components come together, creating not only an efficient machine, but one of excellence; one which raises the bar of capabilities and expectations.

Pacific Northwest’s 5th Annual Black Tie Bonza Bash w/ the Beatniks!
Once a year in the Aussie outback, there is thrown an enormous party…
——————————————————————
Yes, that’s right folks - its Bonza Bash time again…Sat March 28th, 2009!

Get away from it all for a night out on the town at the Pacific Northwest’s 5th Annual Black Tie Bonza Bash.

Once a year in the Aussie outback, there is thrown an enormous party. People bus/fly/chopper in from all over the world dressed in formal wear to party under the stars until dawn, and do it as only Aussies know how - in the most unlikely of places, and thousands of miles from home.

Well it’s that time of year again - time to kick it up a notch and do what we do best - put together the most amazing party in the Pacific Northwest …

Come join as we celebrate the annual gala in style. Superb aquatic style, actually.

Dance the night away with iconic Seattle band, the Beatniks

http://www.machineentertainment.com/our-bands/the-beatniks/
playing hit tunes from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s, plus DJ Rhythma spinning all of today’s hottest hits on the turn tables.

We had such a great time last year at the Seattle Aquarium that we’ve decided to return for this year’s event. Only this time we’re doing it bigger and better

This Bonza Bash will help support the mission of the Seattle Aquarium, inspiring conservation of our marine environment!
Any amount you donate AND a significant chunk of your ticket price will go directly to support the marine conservation mission of the Seattle Aquarium Society!

You can make donations at the same time you purchase your tickets (it’s integrated and super easy to use).

The Seattle Aquarium Society is a fantastic cause, and not donating is kind of like ordering “Nemo Sushi” at the Disney cafeteria — just poor form, really. So come out, have a fabulous time and support one of the region’s most worthy and impactful causes!

** Visit the Bonza Bash website now to learn all the details, including information about our Seattle Aquarium Society BONZA GOLD VIP package - a truly “beaut” Bonza experience! **

http://bonzabash.com/Events/BonzaBash2009/

This will sell out… so get your tickets now!