Music

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Noelle Scaggs. Noelle is the co-lead singer of the band Fitz And The Tantrums.

Fits And The Tantrums is headlining their own tour this summer while aslo opening some shows for Bruno Mars.

What's the difference between headlining your own show and opening for another artist?

The time slots, its 35 - 40 min when opening when headlining its hours. Also all of our fans buying tickets to see us when headlining and when opening we are trying to gain fan base so its a mixture of fans. There's a difference in fans depending on the city. In New York we have a huge fan base already.

Have you always had a passion for music?

Yeah I kind of stumbled into it. My father had a huge vinyl collection front to back. I listened to Parliament and Temptations while digging through his vinyl collection. I was aloud 1 hour of television a day so I would watch the video channel writing down the lyrics of songs and trying to learn the process of song writing. Trying to learn by singing in my room before performing in front of crowd.

Sarah Brightman, a classically trained singer and actress, says that she is planning to become the first recording artist to venture into space and is setting her sights on a trip to the International Space Station.

Brightman, 52, revealed that she has wanted to explore space ever since 1969 when she was a little girl watching the historic Apollo 11 landing on the moon on her television. She said:

"I was very lucky and privileged to be living in that time to see that actually happen on a black-and-white TV screen and it changed many of us. I don't think there's been anything to date that was like that."

Brightman says that since that moment, she's wanted to go to space and now is making plans for it to become reality. She added:

"It looks as if a special journey into space will be happening for me in a couple of years."

A news conference was held on what would have been funk music pioneer James Browns' 80th birthday, during which a group of Dayton, Ohio, residents announced their intentions to create a hall of fame for funk music in the southwestern Ohio city by collecting $10 donations from 10 million people.

The Dayton Funk Dynasty Group held the press conference late last week to talk about the details of the planned Funk Hall of Fame and Museum. They also urged fans of funk to contribute to the cause.

Taylor Swift performed at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday April 25th. Ed Sheeran opened the show this evening and also performed with Swift during her set.

Taylor appeared on stage in dramatic fashion with an array of dancers, back up singers, and drummers being hoisted to the ceiling. Her bright white smile and red lipstick sparkled on stage. Swift had at least four wardrobe changes throughout the evening.

She opened the show with "State of Grace". After her opening song Swift greeted the crowd and said she was happy to be in Cleveland. She noted that every single seat was sold out at The Q.

Each song was as happy and cheerful as the last. Even if the lyrics were not cheerful Taylor somehow makes the song seem happy. The entire arena sang along to every note sometimes even drowning out Taylor's voice. Everyone had a smile on their face, even parents who brought their young children.

Swift entertained the crowd for nearly two hours. She worked the stage and performed every song with a high level of energy. At one point Taylor was carried through the crowd on someone's shoulders so she could reach a different part of the stage and be closer to some fans.

The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern's future is in jeopardy after the city of Cleveland appealed a March ruling at the last minute on April 11 which stated that the concert venue should only have to pay the back admissions taxes it owed, and not what it accrued in interest and penalties. If Cleveland is successful in getting the ruling over turned, which would mean Beachland would be on the hook for the $119,320 owed in back taxes plus the $285,707 accrued in interest and penalties, Beachland co-owner Cindy Barber says that the concert club would have to shut its doors.

The $119,320 tax bill is in itself steep, but Barber says that Beachland was working to increase its cash flow in a way that would allow it to eventually pay down the debt.

Beachland is planning to grow its business by expanding food sales and its vintage store, which sells old accessories, apparel, and records. The venue also hosts a popular Sunday brunch, which they've recently expanded to Saturdays. Barber also reveals that they're planning to serve lunch seven days a week, and have informed the city of their plans to increase business.

In recent years, city of Cleveland officials have aggressively pursued concert club venues in the city to make good on back admissions taxes. This has inspired local clubs to lobby for exemption from the admissions tax law, arguing that the nature of the music business already forces them to operate on a slim budget.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to see a fantastic band in Chicago. Frightened Rabbit performed at The Riviera Theater. The opening act was The Twilight Sad, also a Scottish band.

The band from Glasgow is currently on tour promoting their new album titled "Pedestrian Verse". Before attending the show I had only been a fan of the band for a couple of months. I was initially surprised to hear the show was sold out. Now, I know why. It was a great show and the band sounded perfect.

To me, every song from Frightened Rabbit has some similarity. That's not a bad thing because they definitely have a unique sound. When you hear a song from Frightened Rabbit you immediately know it's them.

They played a lengthy setlist including 18 songs from all four of their albums. Fans heard many favorites including "Old Old Fashioned", "December's Traditions", and "Backyard Skulls".

There was one very disappointing aspect of the show in Chicago. The venue, was horrible. This was my first time attending a show at The Riviera and I will never go back. It was impossible to see the stage. It's one big room with no elevation in the floor.

Maroon 5 will be headlining a concert at Blossom Music Center on August 26th. Former American Idol star Kelly Clarkson will be the special guest at the show. PJ Rozzi will open the gig and Honda has been named as sponsor of the show.

"We are very excited to team up with the Honda Civic Tour," said Adam Levine. "Kelly, PJ, Rozzi and Tony are all such unique and amazing artists. I'm really looking forward to hitting the road with them. Each night will be a great night of music."

"We are pleased to welcome Maroon 5 to the Honda Civic Tour stage," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of auto operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Now in its 12th year and arguably the biggest year in the Civic Tour's history, it's another great opportunity to bring music and Civic fans together."

August 1

St. Louis, MO

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 3

Indianapolis, IN

Klipsch Music Center (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 4

Cincinnati, OH

Riverbend Music Center (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 6

Pittsburgh, PA

First Niagara Pavilion (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 7

Camden, NJ

Susquehanna Bank Center (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 9

Mansfield, MA

Comcast Center (Rozzi Crane to open)

August 10

A strong Sunday showing for rock veterans Garbage ended the holiday weekend for concert goers at Cleveland's House of Blues. The show was an electrifying display by the band that has been around since 1995 and a classic display of the great sound they have been known for. The band features 3 well known producers, most notability Butch Vig who was the sound mastermind behind Nirvana's Nevermind, along with one of the most talented lady front woman in the industry in Shirley Manson.

The 46 year old Manson hasn't lost a step and is still possesses both the fantastic voice and mind blowing looks that she had when burst on the scene in the mid-90's with a series of alternatives rock hits that have grown into classics. While the band was as solid as can be, there was no denying that the star of the show was Manson who had the crowd wrapped around her finger from the opening song and managed to keep their attention the entire evening.

One of the city of Cleveland's finest traditions is the annual Moondog Coronation Ball that takes place every March to commemorate the first ever rock n roll concert at the Cleveland Arena in 1952. Each year, WMJI puts together a top-notch lineup from rock n roll yesteryear and the show has attracted a cult following as the latest installment of the concert series attracted the biggest audience in the history of the show. This years gig featured the Doobie Brothers as the headlining act and were supported by the Temptations Revue and Three Dog Night. The Spencer Davis Group was set to perform, as well, but were a disappointing last minute cancelation that was announced the day of the show.

As a 30 something concert goer, I was well on the young side of the gig that featured a grayer audience than you would typically see at a Quicken Loans Arena gig. Not to say the old timers were old fuddy-duddies, however, as many of the attendees were on their feet the entire show dancing the night away to the plethora of hits that were featured on the set list.

Franz Welser-Most, music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, collapsed on Sunday during a performance at the Vienna State Opera and is currently recovering at his home in Austria.

According to a spokesperson for the orchestra, Welser-Most was struck by acute lower back pain and saw a physician during intermission at a performance of Wagner's "Parsifal" at the Vienna State Opera on Sunday, where he also serves as general music director. The spokesperson also said that Welser-Most was taken to a Vienna hospital, where he was treated for the back pain and low blood pressure.

Reports out of Europe indicate that Welser-Most collapsed after the opera's first act, which spans about 140 minutes. The performance reportedly continued following Welser-Most's departure, under the direction of Vienna State Opera staff conductor James Pearson.

Welser-Most has long been dealing with back pain, having been involved in a serious car accident as a youth.