Tag Archives: Performance

Alphabeat Express Non-Stop

Posted on by Posted in Music .

AlphabeatIf you are a fan of music from the 80s and early 90s then you may have heard of the band Alphabeat. If not, then it’s about time that you have! Alphabeat is a band that is prominent in this day and time, but chooses to model their music and style after the trends of the 80s. With a unique sense of fashion and super catchy beats, Alphabeat is taking the world by storm.

Their new album, Express Non-Stop will be available at the end of the month. While their fan base grows everyday, and the media is scooping up more information on the band, they are all still very down to Earth people with their own individual styles that make Alphabeat something truly unique. With the release of their new single still fresh out, Love Sea is gaining the interest of new and old fans alike, creating quite the buzz around the new album. This group of friends who loves music, style, and just having fun doing what they love, is just as excited as the fans about the new album.

CLICK TO WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO!

DWTS: Keep Dancing

Posted on by Posted in Pop Culture .

If you never become famous enough to land on Dancing with the Stars, settle for the next best thing: Dancing with the Stars: Keep Dancing. This is a brand new online game that brings the television experience to life! The player takes on the role of the star and you get to choose your professional partner. Upon registering, you’ll create your own avatar, and then you choose your partner. Right now, the pro selection is a small compilation of the favorites from DWTS and its British sister show, Strictly Come Dancing.  After all that, you will be prompted to go to the studio where you begin dance practice. As you’re guided through the basics you see your avatar and pro interacting just as the couples actually do on the show! You’ll practice a few samba moves first and earn coins to buy more steps and other cool stuff. When you’ve progressed to the point of performance, you get to choose the costumes and stage lighting. After competing, you get judged on practice, performance, and presentation and receive judges’ scores from their iconic scoring paddles. You’ll even receive coins and experience points. Master every move and earn as many extras as you can for the best scores!

That’s your basic rundown of the game itself. It’s very easy and fun! Explore the site for polls, news, and professional bios. Do be patient with the site, as this program is still in the beta stage. Provide your feedback to improve the experience and get started today at DWTSKEEPDANCING.COM. The ballroom awaits you!

MVD Entertainment Group

Posted on by Posted in Movies, Music .

Some people have a hard time finding cinema that fits their taste. One company has been serving artist and audiences for quite some time by providing a different selection of films. The cool thing about MVD is they offer the brand new concert on DVD’s that you want, and a selection of independent content as well. It’s great to see such a selection in one place. The best part is they are a great and friendly place to buy from.

Audiences everywhere are beginning to fall in love with a new generation of concerts on dvd. Most recently Owl City and Adele have been added to the selection over at MVD. You can expect to find great artist like Taylor Swift and others in the selection as well. From CD’s to DVD’s they seem to have it all. If you have a more independent taste in music and concerts on DVD then there are some great things for you there too. They offer many unauthorized documentaries, which are basically independently filmed stories of the artist and their journeys, something you don’t find everywhere! If you are looking for your favorite artist, or perhaps something different, MVD is the place to go.

Carpenters In Performance 1972

Posted on by Posted in Movies, Music .

I am a huge fan of concerts on film! Recently MVD informed me about a fantastic performance on DVD by the Carpenters. For those of you who think you don’t know who the Carpenters are, consider for a moment if you have herd any songs from the 70s, chances are if you have then you probably herd a song or two by them. It’s rare that my generation gets a glimpse into the past in such a way that not only shares the culture and styles of the time, but also shows the amount of talent that was prominent during the time period.

The DVD is filmed in Japan and not only gives you a front row seat to a Carpenters concert, but it also shows how they were a worldwide favorite during the 70’s! The performance is phenomenal and a must see for any fan of their music, and even those who have yet to hear of them. There is such a rich history behind the band and their music, and they have withstood the test of time. To purchase a copy for yourself, just check out MVD’s website or click here: Carpenters Live In 1972.

Jess Penner Interview

Taylor Swift Is Ours

Posted on by Posted in Music .

If there is one person who knows how to make an impression, that person would be Taylor Swift. After coming out with her latest album everyone suspected that we wouldn’t hear anything else from her with the exception of a few singles here and there and television and concert appearances. We know another album is inevitable, but that would take some time, especially with Taylor, she puts her heart and soul into her meaningful lyrics. She recently surprised everyone with a few singles that are amazing and possibly better than a few on the actual album! One song in particular deserves recognition, that song is “Ours”.

In the song “Ours”, Taylor gives the listener a simple tune, that is quite possibly the most catchy thing we’ve listened to in weeks, and sings some lyrics with meaning that no doubt relates to her life somehow but can be transfered to the lives of the listeners. Taylor has showed us before how relatable she is, and this song is no exception. While the color of her dress is all that changed about the album cover for these few new singles that are now out, and no doubt topping charts somewhere right now, but the mood is slightly different in these new singles than that of the album. These songs show a much lighter side of the music that was only shown in small bits on the album. The published single is a more upbeat song compared to when she performed it at the CMA’s.

Regardless of a poor choice in album cover, we would’ve loved to see some brand new album covers featuring Taylor and possibly settings that relate to each single, we still love her new songs, especially “Ours”. It gets an easy 10 out of 10 here at Toast Pop! Have a listen for yourself!

 

The RiffRaff

Posted on by Posted in Art .

Open Mic at The RiffRaff, an Art Collective located at 865 Mercer St. in Princeton, WV, is an “artistic haven” according to Lori McKinney-Blankenship, where artistic talents of all types are welcomed, encouraged and respected.

Lori McKinney-Blankenship, along with the help of her husband Robert Blankenship opened The RiffRaff in 2006, making it a mere five years old, with the goal of giving back to the community, in an artistic way.

McKinney-Blankenship responded, “I grew up here, this is my hometown. I went away, studied theatre, and spent a summer abroad in London. The way the culture was shaped by the arts really affected me” when asked about what had motivated her to start The RiffRaff. She continued by saying “The fact that the community had access to art was something I recognized to be very valuable. After graduation, I searched for artists to work with, and hit the jackpot with creative collaborators. We wanted to make a difference in our community.”

Their desire to make a difference in their community was the building block to The Riff Raff. At open mic night, people are encouraged to make their way towards the stage, and to share their artistic talents with people who help form a supportive and welcoming group of people. All types of art are welcomed at The Riff Raff, according to McKinney-Blankenship, “Visual, literary, performing, healing, and theatrical. All types of creativity are welcome.”

The RiffRaff supplies people with a place to communicate with people whom they share things in common with. McKinney-Blankenship stated, “We’ve seen tons of young artists come in. Their creative lives are shaped by it. Waves of artists come at a time. It’s like eras of time. It’s always exciting,” she went on to say that “a few have really made it their identity, and taken advantage of the opportunities. Our door is open for you to make it your own.”

What falls under the category of making The RiffRaff your own? Well, at The RiffRaff, you are encouraged to share your art with other people. Diversities of art are welcome, encouraged and respected at The RiffRaff.

If you’re interested in starting or being in a band, The RiffRaff is a great place to meet people. McKinney-Blankenship said, “If you want to find a band, come to open mic. You’ll find musicians to perform with. Once you’re ready to record music, talk to us and we’ll get you started” when asked about how people could go about starting a band, and recording their music at the recording studio at The RiffRaff.

The RiffRaff gives people the opportunity to meet other artists, and to make friends with whom they have things in common with. McKinney-Blankenship said that “If you’re an artist or really creative person, and you’ve been looking for people to relate to, be friends with, you’ll find them here.”

For more information on The RiffRaff visit their website at theriffraff.net!