The Bell

The Bell Are From Stockholm. Their New Cd Is "Make Some Quiet".

This Is "On And On"


Here's "I Am History"

Red Carpet Moments From The Wire

I had the honor of covering the Red Carpet (ok, it was a small red carpet, but hey, Baltimore is more small town than Hollywood and that's what we love about it, right?) for the season 5 premiere of THE WIRE at the Senator over the weekend.

Not only was it a thrill to see and and talk to some of my favorite characters (Bubbles, Bunk and Proposition Joe), but also, to see surreal moments, from Mayor Sheila Dixon attending the screening (there's a City Councilwoman who, despite David Simon's direct reassurances that the character was not modeled after her, at least bears a passing similarity) to the protesters carrying signs that say, "Cut The Wire" written in dripping blood red.

One thing that stuck out for me came from one of the actors, who said, despite the series shining the light on the War on Drugs, institutional corruption, education, media and the plight of urbanity in America, THE WIRE was David Simon's valentine to Baltimore.

The show also had a wicked sense of humor. Check out the "prequel" to the character of Proposition Joe!




and visit this link to hear clips from some of the actors who attended the screening.

A Kiwi Musical Dynasty In the Making?

Close your eyes, and you'd swear you're hearing an old Split Enz song, but one could forgive Tim's nephew and Neil's son Liam, for drawing on his musical genes a little on his solo debut I'LL BE LIGHTENING.

He used to front popular, quirky New Zealand band BECTHADUPA, now Liam Finn is a one-man-band, of sorts. He plays most of the instruments on the record AND live. He recorded it entirely in Analog at his father's studio. Like Dad and Uncle, Liam has an ear for melody, but his deeply heartfelt romantic lyrics, set to drum loops and other effects, makes Liam Finn a new voice and one to watch in 2008. Check out GATHER TO THE CHAPEL.