___BROTHERLY LOVE__

When word started to spread that THE MAKEPEACE BROTHERS were coming to Las Vegas on April 15th for shows at The Art Institute and also The House of Blues, I was contacted by a local entertainment reporter who was looking for background information on this great group.

I was happy to try and help, afterall, I know what it's like to be up against a deadline, and, while I was flattered to share, I found it just about impossible to provide info without opinion. You see, I happen to love THE MAKEPEACE BROTHERS. I love the sound of their songs; I love the message of their music. The songs of MPB are love. You can feel it for serious.


SOUND ADVICE

What is it that you first notice about a new record? How is it that certain songs are able to bring back such vivid memories? What makes a particular band popular? The answer to these questions is: The sound.

M- Melodious, Mellifluous, Mellow.

P- Pleasing, Pleasurable, Pure

B- Beautious, Bright, Buoyant


The sound of THE MAKEPEACE BROTHERS is beautiful.

ANSWER: Seals & Crofts, Iron & Wine, Loggins & Messina, Baskin & Robbins.
QUESTION: What is sweet?

There are some great YouTube videos shot during the Music, Magic & Makepeace Tour. JASON MRAZ singing 'Fly Me To The Moon' while BILLY BUSHWALLA juggles up a storm. JUSTIN KREDIBLE lovingly twisting balloon animals and, backing it all up: THE MAKEPEACE BROTHERS, harmonizing. It's a happening. You almost expect Bobby Shields to pantomime by while Peter Maxx captures the scene on canvas. The whole thing is a throw-back to another era, a simpler time when all you needed was love.

Good music is timeless and THE MAKEPEACE BROTHERS sing of things enduring and eternal.

In 'For Everyman,' JACKSON BROWNE sings:

'Everybody's just waiting to hear from the one, who can give them the answers.
And lead them back to that place in the warmth of the sun, where sweet childhood still dances.'

Great music taps into that place we all come from, where dreams float and hopes dance. Play some MAKEPEACE BROTHERS music, you'll hear it. And it's sweet, man. It's sweet.

H2O recommends:

iTunes:
'The Monkey & the Lion'
'Hero'
'Treat Her Right'

YouTube Flipisode#3
'Follow Me'


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THE MASKED MAGICIAN APPEARS IN LAS VEGAS WITH HIS GOOD FRIEND- ME

I went down to the BEAUTY BAR on FREMONT STREET the other night to watch magician R.J. CANTU film 'live' footage for an upcoming special. As a surprise to my new friend, I brought along my best friend from the world of magic: VALENTINO.

Millions have been amazed by the television shows and specials starring THE MASKED MAGICIAN and VALENTINO continues to sell out arenas all over the world. But here's the thing: he's a very cool guy, loyal to his friends and supportive of up-and-coming artists.

Val and I were amazed and entertained by R.J.CANTU, a hip young performer who is keeping the magic alive for real.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA USA

SINATRA @ SUNCOAST APRIL 10th & 11th

FRANK SINATRA, JR., backed by a swinging big band, returns to Las Vegas April 10 and 11 at the Suncoast.

MAGIC ON FREMONT STREET

House of h2o picks Derek & Nicole

When I was in LA recently, DEREK HOUGH was cool enough to introduce me to his talented sister, Julianne.
I've known a few dancers over the years and I admire anyone who can express themselves in dance. Derek is a beautiful guy, a smooth dancer and pretty much a dork. I dig him.
H2o wishes DEREK HOUGH & NICOLE SCHERZINGER all the best. They're the ones to beat, and you can't beat 'em.

SIMPLY THE BEST

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We speak in superlatives. We do. 'This is the best pizza,' 'That was the greatest sex,' 'He was the worst president,' 'She is my best friend' (forever, no less) and so on. I do it all the time, but careful: exaggerated speech can make you lazy. You see, simply calling something 'the best' clouds your thinking, which will keep you from knowing-and saying-what you really, really mean.

'She is a very, very good singer,' more than likely means 'She isn't a great singer.'

I am a superlative type guy in entertainment writing, using such words as a way to make an honest point about performers I admire. Please know that when you see me using such words it is a style thing. You see, I am the stylest, ya know?

If you want to see some less-than-honest superlatives, read some of those film critic's quotes at the bottom of movie ads. And the worst? When critics' sentences are divided by "..." in a totally misleading way. Ellipeses usually signal uber- bullshit. In a show review, I once wrote: "If you've got nothing better to do while you're in town, maybe see the show," which was reduced to: "NOTHING BETTER... IN TOWN!" Seriously.

One night, while driving to a Lake Tahoe show with a world famous singer, we passed a handpainted sign proclaiming 'World's Greatest Hot Dog,' and even though nobody was even kinda hungry, we had to stop and try it. (Note: Alexander was Great, a hotdog never will be).

My longtime friend FRANK MARINO is a superlative performer. He holds the record for longest running star at the same venue in Las Vegas, but more than that, he's funny, savvy and a survivor.


Reading the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS makes me feel weird. Who made a balloon animal the fastest? Who cares?

Titles are good for business, and I've used them a time or two. We set the Guinness record several years ago by putting five motorcycle riders inside The Globe of Death. The stunt was part of big Guinness special for FOX and was a great promotion for Splash at the Riviera. A year later, the late great magic producer GARY OUELLET shot the act for an NBC special and now BELA TABAK'S RIDERS OF THE THUNDERDOME is world famous, the best in the world.

I hear-and read-myself using superlatives all the time (there I go again).

My random BEST:

'HOUSE M.D.,' NICK THUNE, TRADER JOE'S, LOUIE ANDERSON, ROASTED SEAWEED, VITAMIN WATER 10, THAT APPLE I JUST ATE, SIMONS@ PALMS PLACE, THE FEELING I HAVE WHEN WRITING AN HONEST COMPLIMENT, JUSTIN KREDIBLE, LATIN , BAMBOO, A GIRL WEARING MY SHIRT THE NEXT MORNING, THE SOUND OF HORSES WALKING, MAX HODGES ON TMZ, THE SMELL OF FRESH CUT GRASS, HUMMUS, NEON, CRACKING A BOOK, FAMILIAL HARMONY, JACK DANIELS, LIPSTICK KISSES FLOATING ON TOILET PAPER, SINATRA & STRINGS, A NEW RAZOR, LAUGHTER, JASON MRAZ, ORGANIC CARROTS, NOW.

...and WORST:

ANYTHING DECIDED BY A COMMITTEE, EVERYTHING WRITTEN BY ANDREW LLYOD WEBBER, THE DELAY BETWEEN A NEWSMAN ASKING A QUESTION AND THE OVERSEAS REPORTER FINALLY ANSWERING IT.




I believe in the perfectiblity of man. Making yourself better is the ultimate but always remember:

You're the best you right now.

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