The News Review:
- Reality TV’s Big Break
- Interview : VHS or Beta brings dance party to Duck Room
- Spare Times: For Children
- At Freedom Plaza Two (or More) to Tango
Reality TV’s Big Break
Forbes – Jul 13, 2007
Reality programs that are events tend to be the most successful. In its sixth season Idol drew 30 million viewers on average each week making it the year’s most-watched series according to Nielsen Media Research. Among the other solid performers: ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? and So You Think You Can Dance. According to TVtracker. com this past season saw 65 unscripted series across all of the broadcast networks up from 51 the year before. If reality TV handles the strike right count on that number to grow. “The possibility of a strike has really just reinforced what the networks already have as a programming mandate” says Finger.
Interview : VHS or Beta brings dance party to Duck Room
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jul 13, 2007
The band will release their second full-length album Bring on the Comets on August 25 on Astralwerks Records. A few of the tracks are reminiscent of Duran Duran (who VHS toured with in 2005) with echoey 1980s guitar riffs and colorful synth parts. Deep and funky basslines the songs movin’ and shakin’ throughout. VHS joins My Morning Jacket as Louisville bands who have made some noise nationally… I spoke with Craig Pfunder in advance of the band’s Monday show at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. Why are you touring before the album release?We finished recording in March and we wanted to play some smaller clubs in the Midwest so we could get used to playing again and oil the hinges. We took a 1 year break to write music and record. How does your new album differ from Night on Fire (2004)?The big difference is that we abandoned our worries and fears of what kind of record we “should’ make. We decided we were going to make the record we wanted to make and do it as honestly as we could. How would you advise a band trying to get national exposure?It’s hard f–work.
Spare Times: For Children
New York Times – Jul 13, 2007
That is certainly true of the Sippy Cups beloved of music fans who favor apple juice over beer. But what you may not know is that their influences include the Velvet Underground and the Beatles. They will play at Global Family Day at Central Park SummerStage which will also include Hip-Hop Harry the yellow break-dancing bear of television fame; Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular a group of hip-hop stars; and at 2 p. “Cinderella Samba” a production by the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater (see above). From 1:30 to 5:30 p.
At Freedom Plaza Two (or More) to Tango
Washington Post – Jul 13, 2007
She circles her leg gracefully backward then steps coyly over the blockade. They move low and long out of view. If tango is sensuous to watch dancing it is like a “three-minute love affair with a stranger” as one of the more experienced dancers told me at a practice session. Tourists in shorts and sneakers couples and families passing by stop and stare. Riveted they find a spot on the ledge and make themselves comfortable cameras and cellphones flashing. After a set of three songs the DJ plays a snippet of a non-tango tune — swing salsa or samba — announcing a break. The onlookers erupt into spontaneous applause the dancers smile and acknowledge each other before seeking a new partner: “That was lovely thank you… Tourists in shorts and sneakers couples and families passing by stop and stare. Riveted they find a spot on the ledge and make themselves comfortable cameras and cellphones flashing. After a set of three songs the DJ plays a snippet of a non-tango tune — swing salsa or samba — announcing a break. The onlookers erupt into spontaneous applause the dancers smile and acknowledge each other before seeking a new partner: “That was lovely thank you. ” A few observers timidly approach the dancers about lessons but this event is for serious trained dancers. Shashin Singh who organizes local tango events and dances called milongas has been hosting the free outdoor session at Freedom Plaza since last year. The event runs from 7 to 10 most Sunday evenings all summer.