Broken Bells Return to Los Angeles

The Broken Bells have just announced a few more domestic dates in March and make a much anticipated return to Los Angeles after their debut performance at The Bootleg Theater last week.Tix to their March 14th date at The Troubadour go on sale at 1pm PST. Their NY show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on the 10th of March has already sold out so you can expect the LA show to sell out in the time it takes you to watch an episode of What's Happening!! Speaking of which, I've been getting a lot of requests to provide private links to share the videos i took from their debut performance, which were removed from Youtube at the request of their label Sony. I WILL NOT SHARE any of these videos and the reason can be found in a very special episode/Rerun of What's Happening!!! feat. live performance from The Doobie Brothers. See video below, referred by EJL.



If you're not able to score tix out here they will have a couple dates in Europe next week and then will be heading over to Austin, TX for SXSW after their LA performance....and don't underestimate the possibility of a Coachella addition in April. Their debut album comes out on the 9th of March. "Vaporize" and "The High Road" are now available for a free download with every preorder!

TV Tuesday: A Very Special Episode...

Is it me or is Television so unflattering these days? Who remembers when you would stay at home on Friday nights just so you could order pizza and watch the latest episodes of "Perfect Strangers", "Step By Step", "Family Matters" and "Full House" on ABC's TGIF, or even random Saturday morning cartoons like "ProStars" and "Camp Candy" from the incredible production company DIC and super-producer Peter Engel's "Saved by the Bell" and "California Dreams?" Maybe I'm stuck in a moment and i can't get out of it but this was what my childhood was all about. If you've been following us you know by now that I might overstate my fair share of Nass-talgia, but the event that's happening tonight at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre happens once in a life-time.

Tonight, we will witness half a dozen fine prime-time quintessential sitcoms involving themes of death, cast members getting backhanded across the room by drunken guest Stars (hint hint-rhymes with Lom Ganks)..., prostitution, surreal dream sequences by Alex P and much more as "very special episodes" get way too specialized. Come one, come all and share laughs since the in-studio audience was forbidden to during the recording. Our favorite example is below courtesy of Youtube's chrono2300 with a special remix edit featuring Le Tigre's version of "I'm so Excited".



To get YOU so excited/scared for tonight's main event, we've included a special party favor from the episode in which this takes place.

mp3 - Saved by the Bell - Put Your Mind To It

Also, be sure to check out IGN TV's top 10 special episodes and please join the Jesse Spano Facebook support group.

"Summer Heights High" - Tonight on HBO

I've only blogged once about a tv show and once again I need to spread the word about this amazing Australian comedy that was shown in the UK earlier this year and is finally making it's debut in the U.S. on HBO tonight at 10.30pm. Summer Heights High is the brainchild of comedian Chris Lilley, and similarly in the vein of "The Office", it is filmed mockumentary style, but this time at a public high school in Australia. Lilley plays all 3 main characters himself, including delusional drama teacher Mr. G, privileged and narcissistic teenager Ja'mie and deliquent youth Jonah. What I love about this show is how completely politically incorrect it is, which allows the characters the freedom of going where most tv shows do not have the luxury of going. Check out a clip below:

"Towards Darkness" aka "Hacia La Oscuridad" on HBO & Showtime

"Towards Darkness," is the debut film by FoundTrack Friend, Director and Screenwriter Jose Antonio Negret . The film's conceptualization began as a final project for the Director while attending the University of Southern California's prestigious School of Cinema Arts. "Towards Darkness," is a dark and gritty (think "24") depiction of the kidnapping crisis that plagues the country of Colombia (and various other Latin American countries)- An issue that Antonio Negret knows all too well. "The film is a very personal film, which strives to open people's eyes to what is going on in Colombia," says Colombian-born Director Antonio.

Synopsis: The son of a Colombian banker, photographer José (Roberto Urbina) lives abroad in New York . While visiting his family back home for the Christmas holidays, he is reunited with a streetwise old flame (America Ferrera ,) and reacquainted with the casual violence that mars his country. Within days of his return, José is beaten and kidnapped, his captors demanding an exorbitant ransom from his parents. (MovieWeb)

The criminal practice of kidnapping was first introduced in modern Colombian history during the early 1970s by the guerrilla movements and, later, also by criminal groups. With the release of Colombian presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt on July 2, 2008 this practice gained worldwide notoriety. (Wikipedia)

The practice of kidnapping has evolved and become a more common way for various underworld organizations and individuals to extort money from victims. It is so widely used that the rise in kidnapping cases has increased drastically. In the year 2000 alone, the number of kidnapped people in Colombia rose to 3572.

"Towards Darkness" or it's Spanish translation, "Hacia La Oscuridad," is a bi-lingual film that is shot in both English and Spanish, with English subtitles- A move that I consider groundbreaking. Groundbreaking because it speaks to a large portion of the population in the United States that still lacks representation in the entertainment industry. The U.S. is home to more than 45 million Hispanics, making it the world's second-largest Spanish-speaking community, only after Mexico and behind Colombia, Spain, and Argentina. Roughly half of all U.S. Spanish speakers also speak English "very well", based on the self-assessment Census question respondents (Wikipedia). That is a large number of individuals that communicate using both languages in their daily interaction, and yet there are no films that use the mixture of the two languages. Antonio may be a step ahead of the rest on this and I look forward to seeing more bi-lingual films in the future by this Director/Screenwriter.

Trivia: What do both Antonio Negret and America Ferrera have in common? I will tell, both are bi-lingual in English and Spanish and both attended the University of Southern California. The two were actually classmates.

"Towards Darkness" or "Hacia La Oscuridad," is currently on HBO and Showtime this month and is a definite must see. You can watch it anytime through HBO's and Showtime's On Demand Service. Check out the trailer!

The Ascot Revival

Earlier this year I came across an older gentleman wearing what I believed to be a scarf under his button-down shirt. The scarf really complimented his button-down shirt and gave the outfit (which would have normally been average) some flare. The fabric of the scarf appeared to be silk and the colors were dark & rich...it really caught my eye. After speaking with the man, I was informed that the scarf was an “Ascot.” An ascot tie, or ascot, is a form of necktie, descended from the cravat which was widely worn in the early nineteenth century, made of linen and elaborately tied around the neck.

In the 1940’s, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn and various other actors were commonly pictured wearing ascots both in formal and casual attire. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the ascot made a comeback. Hollywood stars such as Al Pacino, Michael Caine and Michael Butler were men spotted rockin' this accessory. In The Godfather II (1972), Al Pacino’s character, Michael Corleone, is pictured wearing an ascot in a few scenes throughout the movie, referencing the appeal of the ascot during the period. Recently, Jeremy Piven made an attempt to revive the look in 2006. During his Emmy acceptance for best supporting actor, the Entourage star wore a navy blue ascot under a white-button down shirt and navy sports coat. I think he wore it well.

My encounter with the ascot sparked a quest to add one to my fly arsenal of apparel. Finding one proved to be a bit more difficult than I expected. Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom’s, Brooks Brothers and The Men’s Warehouse were stores I thought would carry the accessory. Unfortunately for me, none of them offered a selection of ascots. During a visit to San Francisco I came across an upscale boutique specializing in men’s formal fashion called The Custom Shop Clothiers. As soon as I stepped into the spot, my eyes were immediately greeted by a mannequin dressed in a white button-down shirt, black sports coat and a dark purple & black ascot. Needless to say, I bought it!

An ascot is a great accessory that can easily dress up any outfit. Draw attention to yourself and your gear this fall/winter season with an ascot, it’s a good substitute for the average scarf. It adds the little extra flare to take your outfit from ordinary to bangin'. Interested in adding one to your collection....your best bet is going online! Ascots range in price from about $58-$125, depending on the quality of silk, pattern and type. Are you a creative person? Do you have what it takes to make your own? If you think you got the skills, save yourself some money during the economic crunch and peep out this cool link that shows you how to make a retro-ascot necktie!



Do you already own an ascot but are unable to figure out how to tie one? Well bring it out of the closet, dust it off and take a look at these simple instructions on how to tie one.

Futuristic European Adidas "Modular Man" Soccer Ad

This ad from Adidas Europe is pretty badass- It features a vision of a what a future game of soccer might look like. The player is rocking a high tech uniform/suit of armor that is able to break down and rematerialize with the help of a little CGI. The whole thing is set to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (dropped down a key) which juxtaposes the flashy visuals nicely.

While the ad is super cool, I do have to note that it totally totally reminded me Lacoste's 75th anniversary "Let's reinvent the Game" spot... Not sure who came up with the concept first so I won't sit here and judge either piece. And now for some eye candy:



Source

FoundTrack Friend, Interior Designer Serge Van Lian, on Bravo's Top Design 2

(Serge's Apartment featured in InStyle Magazine)

One of FoundTrack's closest friends Serge Van Lian is an interior designer based out of New York's East Village. He is a true artist by nature and has rocked it out in everything from music production, to painting and now interior design. Serge moved to NYC 2 years ago and has only been in interior design for this short period, but is already doing big things. Starting this Wednesday on TV's Bravo, he'll be one of the cast members of the reality competition show "Top Design 2" (from the producers of Project Runway). Do yourself a favor and checkout the show- I guarantee you'll be entertained by this wild man. Here's a little preview profile on our main man Serge:

(FoundTrack Team x Serge Van Lian)

More on Serge @ Serge Van Lian's Myspace Page

Gavin & Stacey - tonight on tv

Ok, I don't want to get in the habit of plugging TV programs but I feel so strongly about good shows that get lost in the multichannel universe, that I'm going to make an exception.


There are plenty of reasons to tune into the premiere of Gavin & Stacey tonight on BBC America at 8.40pm but the most important one is that it's actually funny. I have to admit that I find it difficult to laugh at most of the comedies on television nowadays, but this British comedy is an instant classic. It's one of those shows that you have to stick with for it to pay off, because honestly I wasn't convinced after the first episode, but once I started the second episode I managed to watch both seasons at work in just two days (part of my job - promise!) Written by two of the stars James Corden and Ruth Jones, this is essential tv viewing or definitely one for the tivo, especially those who are fans of British tv.

Check out a clip below with one of my favourite characters Nessa, played by Jones, doing what she does best.

Commercial Break- Kobe Jumps over an Aston Martin, and more

I wanted to share a few commericals i've seen lately which are pretty remarkable.

Exhibit A - Truth or Dare? - Kobe Jumps over an Aston Martin

Product - Hyperdunks
Message - Once you wear the hyperdunks you can do anything, even hire a great film editor...oh and don't try this at home...try this on the roof of a highrise in downtown a few weeks before the playoffs start.

Exhibit B - Awareness Test

Product - Public Service Announcement from London's Transport Authority
Message- It's easy to miss something you're not looking for

Exhibit C- My Better is Better Than Your Better

Product - Nike SPARQ training : 60 seconds feat. Saul Williams "List of Demands"
Message - Saul Williams' better is better than your better

Superbowl XLII Commercials 2008

(source: Getty Images)

Oh how the mighty fall...

Nass and I watched the big game at a fun Superbowl party hosted by FoundTrack friends A-Rod, Big Art, and Anna Rawson. The Giants gave the Patriots a hell of a game and came out with the upset, providing one of the only memorable Superbowls in recent years. I'm not one to judge, but perhaps the Curse of supermodels on the abilities of Superstar Athletes is true.

Regardless of who you were cheering on, something we can all have a good time with are the commercials that are forced upon us. Forced upon us yes- but a guilty pleasure nonetheless. For example, Fox did a great job jamming Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in our faces in a not-so-subtle manner:



Our favorites? In no particular order:

Something for the 80s junkies- The Rocky Montage homage:

Clydesdale Training - Budweiser


Something for the comic book nerds- The Iron Man Trailer:

Iron Man - Paramount Pictures


And one that's just plain hysterical:

Amp: Push It - Pepsi-Cola


So what did you think? Leave us a comment...

Source: Spike TV

American Gladiators Rehash vs the Original - No comparison

Despite all the hype regarding this new-fangled American Gladiators 2008 show, I'll still always be a fan of the original. IF you seem to disagree for any reason, just checkout the video below. I mean seriously, all you need in this world is "a brewskee and a beautiful babe." I rest my case:

Theme Song - Flight of the Conchords

July 2007 Edition - Track 9
Album: The Distant Future EP (sample/purchase)
Label: Sub Pop
Release date: August 7, 2007
Referral: Heather Browne - http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/conchords
http://www.hbo.com/conchords

Flight of the Conchords were "formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo (a feat only matched by Borat's title of "Kazakhstan's sixth most famous man"). Since then, the duo of Jemaine and Brett have moved on to great success as stars of HBO's hit mock-reality show Flight of the Conchords.

Each week, we the perplexed audience, get to tune in and watch the guys get into various misadventures as they try and make it as an indie band on the mean streets of NY. During a typical night's 30 minute episode, the duo breaks out into appropriately random and hysterical song-and-dance numbers spanning genres from 80s electro-rap to french-pop.

On the July compilation we featured their Theme song. Here now for your viewing pleasure is a live performance of their hit "Business Time":