AZ Vibe – The Ultimate Phoenix Entertainment Resource

TEMPE-On September 17th, 18th, and 19th, Tempe Beach Park will host what is the strongest lineup for a local outdoor music festival fans have seen in recent years.  The 2010 Arizona Fall Frenzy boasts an incredible lineup of a wide range of artists from rock, to alternative, to ear bleeding metal.  We’re going to have a preview of each day of the Arizona Fall Frenzy and we start with the opening day on Friday September 17th.

Even though the first day of the Arizona Fall Frenzy consists of just four bands (Stone Temple Pilots, Shinedown, The Cult, and Sevendust), each of these bands put on amazing shows all on their own.  Put the combined line up of all the bands together and you have the makings of one of the most powerful and diverse local festival lineups to hit the area in a long time.  Three of the four bands (Stone Temple Pilots, Shinedown, and The Cult) will be performing full 90 minute headlining sets. So if you’re worried that only four bands on the first day isn’t worth the money, now you have full justification to see Day 1 of the Arizona Fall Frenzy.

So why come to a festival?

Over the years, I’ve personally been to numerous festivals across the US and Canada in numerous different venues.  The best festival promoters ‘get’ that not only do you have to have a strong lineup but it has to be a diverse one as well.  The reason you come to a festival such as the Arizona Fall Frenzy is not only see bands you like but to be exposed to new bands you have never seen or heard before.

Full Artist Schedule for Day 1 of the Arizona Fall Frenzy -- Plan accordingly!

Photo by Chapman Baehler

Stone Temple Pilots

STP on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Let’s be honest here, the Stone Temple Pilots were made to play and headline this festival.  When the Stone Tempe Pilots are ‘on’ they put on one of the most powerful and sold live shows in rock music today.  Granted, the band’s storied 17 year career has been marred by some….speed-bumps (for lack of a better sugar coated term).  However, since the band reunited in 2008 (after a five year hiatus), they have picked right up where they left off with their live shows.  They are currently touring behind their self titled new album which was released in May of this year.  I personally have see them live on numerous occasions and they are a model of how bands should perform live in this day and age.

Photo by Mike Trobee

Shinedown

Shinedown on: Twitter | Facebook

Official Facebook Event for Shinedown’s show at the Arizona Fall Frenzy

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Shinedown has worked hard to not only build a strong fan-base but have built their music into a must see show.  Led by the double platinum selling “Second Chance” off the platinum selling “The Sound of Madness”, Shinedown’s music has established and reached a fan base that is diverse as they are passionate about the band.

It’s been almost three years since Shinedown entered the studio to record ‘The Sound of Madness’ and the band will find itself on the last few days of the ‘Madness’ tour at the Arizona Fall Frenzy.

When Shinedown first went into the studio to record ‘The Sound of Madness’ lead singer Brent Smith had only one goal “I said, ‘You know what — when I’m dead and gone, when everybody in this band has passed or what have you, I want the world to remember this as a record that needed to be made, and that there was a reason for it,’ “. “That was the motivation behind this album.”

With Smith and Shinedown co-founder Barry Kerch, the band’s new additions to the lineup of Eric Bass…on Bass and guitarist Zach Meyers fans will see the product of the evolution of  ‘The Sound of Madness’ (as well as tracks from their other albums).  From the recording studio in 2007, to starting their tour in 2008 all the way to the end of the tour with their date at the Arizona Fall Frenzy in 2010, Shinedown fans are in store for a treat come September 17th.

The Cult

The Cult on: Twitter | Facebook

Official Facebook Event invite for the Cult’s show at the Arizona Fall Frenzy

The Cult’s roots can be traced all the way back to 1984 where they emerged out of England’s post punk scene.  Starting with their classic ‘Love’ album to ‘Electric’ and the US breakout album ‘Sonic Temple’, The Cult rocketed into the upper echelon of rock super-stardom.  Between 1991 and  2007 The Cult’s super-stardom went on a downward spiral due to infighting, substance abuse, and other factors.  Attempts were made to re-form The Cult between this period.  However, attempts to reform the band were short lived.

Fast forward to 2007.

The Cult reformed with a new lineup of Chris Wyse on bass, John Tempesta on drums, and Mike Dimkitch on rhythm guitar along with long time Cult singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy.  This lineup released ‘Born Into This’ in 2007 and sent a message to the rock world that The Cult was back and better than ever.

In 2009 The Cult launched the ‘LOVE LIVE’ tour which saw them perform their classic album ‘Love’ in its entirety.  With this tour, The Cult seemed revisit their 1984 roots in an attempt to re-establish themselves to the rock world and their fans where they came from and what they are all about.

Sometime this fall, The Cult will release new material in a revolutionary fashion.  Not much is known about this release but from the wording of the press release.  However, it looks as if The Cult is looking to take the next step forward with their career.

Check out The Cult at the Arizona Fall Frenzy. This is a band that is reborn, renewed, and ready to put on a great show!

Photo by Jeremy Adamo

Sevendust

Sevendust on: Twitter | Facebook| YouTube

Official Event invite for Sevendust’s show at the Arizona Fall Frenzy

Sevendust.

What else can you say about the metal band from Atlanta that has built a solid career of music and live shows?

Wait.  You’ve never seen Sevendust live?  Really?!?!?!

How can I best explain the band to the layperson….hmmm….

The Dallas Observer once asked  guitarist John Connelly to explain why their music is called ‘Alternative Metal’.  Connelly replied “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure that out. It was back in the day. People, for five minutes called us progressive, and then it was nu-metal. Then, all of a sudden, we were playing alternative metal. We are some kind of heavy and some kind of rock and some kind of metal. I’m not real sure of what title we are carrying this year.”

As I see it, bands either put on great shows or they don’t.  The bands that don’t put on great live shows, tend not to have very long musical careers.  Sevendust, has been going strong since 1994 for a reason.  They put on a GREAT live show.

In addition, fans will be seeing the original lineup for Sevendust at the Arizona Fall Frenzy.  Original member Clint Lowery, who left the band in 2003, rejoined the band in 2008 while touring behind ‘Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow’.  “It was really cool having Clint back in the band,” vocalist Lajon Witherspoon says. “That energy was great and it was really exciting to be able to work together to really hone in on what we had before and make it even better.”

Sevendust may be the opening act for day one of the Arizona Fall Frenzy but I will say this…they will set the bar very high for the acts that follow for the rest of the day.  Check out the sample videos below.  This is but a slight glimpse into a Sevendust show.

Popularity: 8% [?]

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PHOENIX-The Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) announced today that they have been awarded two NASCAR Sprint Cup races for the 2011 season.

The 2011 races are as follows:

February 27th, 2011 – Subway Fresh Fit 500 – Race starts at 1 PM Arizona Time – Race will be shown live across the nation on Fox.

November 13th, 2011 – Kobalt Tools 500 – Race starts at 1 PM Arizona Time – Race will be shown live across the nation on ESPN.

“We are honored to be the only facility in the West with two Sprint Cup Series events,” Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan Sperber said in a prepared statement. “The commitment from NASCAR to race twice at Phoenix International Raceway speaks volumes for the level of enthusiasm the sport has from fans in Arizona and throughout this part of the country.”

NASCAR Fans may note that the first race at PIR has been moved up from it’s usual spot in April to February 27th, that this new race date comes one week after the Daytona 500 and that PIR is using a daytime format this season.

The November 13th Kobalt Tools 500 race will serve as the semi-final race in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.

“Phoenix will be the first and last stop NASCAR makes in the West,” Sperber said. “It’s a great privilege for us to help celebrate the excitement of a new season in February and to help crown season champions as the year winds down with the Chase in November.”

Phoenix International Raceway stated in their press release that the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events will be announced at a later date. The full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will also be announced at a later date.

Now the big question….

How do you go about ordering tickets?

Here’s what we know right now.

Starting Tuesday August 10th NASCAR fans can place a $50 deposit on 2011 PIR Season Tickets before tickets go on sale to the general public. Fans just need to call 877-PIR-XTRA (747-9872) to place their deposits.

The 2011 Phoenix International Raceway Season Tickets go on sale to the general public on October 29th. Season ticket prices will start at just $99.

Tickets for the 2011 Subway Fresh Fit 500 will go on sale to the general public on Thursday November 11th. Tickets for this race start at just $25.

Popularity: 8% [?]

For those of you who missed or couldn’t get tickets to Saturday afternoon’s game, here’s the full video footage of the Arizona Diamondbacks retiring Luis Gonzalez’s #20 in front of a sold out Chase Field Crowd of 48,946.  (Video Courtesy of Fox Sports Arizona)

http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/video/?PID=gcKJX0Bkmjquknu_ekoCtb4Itb2h5gPF

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photos from the Retirement Ceremony can be found on our Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/azvibe

PHOENIX-”I guess I can relax now, huh?” Arizona Diamondbacks great Luis Gonzalez said as he addressed the media. He spoke to the assembled media following the retirement of his number #20 in front of a sold out Chase Field crowd of 48,946 (it’s the 8th largest crowd in franchise history). The man who was and still is the face of the Arizona Diamondbacks was visibly humbled by the number retirement celebration dating back to when was informed that he would be the first Diamondback ever to have his number retired.

Gonzalez said that when “the management decided to retire my number I was a little caught off guard. Obviously Randy Johnson is another well deserved guy to do it. But I was excited”.

Now that his number is officially retired and ‘hanging in the rafters’, Gonzalez was visibly humbled by the whole experience. “When my kids kids come here it’s always going to be there. (My) friends and family. It’s (his #20) up there with Jackie Robinson’s number so its hard to fathom.”

When a team in pro sports retires a players number there’s always some form of discussion as to if a specific person’s number should be retired. However, when it comes to the measure of a player’s worth to a franchise it’s measured by a players on field and off field contributions.

Gonzalez was no different.

“I always poured my heart and soul into the team, staying here and doing whatever I had to do to help…(whether it was) off the field in the community just to try to help promote the team or do whatever we had to do and I felt like it was part of the many hats I wore here when I played with the Diamondbacks.” Gonzalez continued “I always enjoyed playing the game and always played for the name on the front and not the name on the back.”

It’s very easy to see why the Arizona Diamondbacks retired Luis Gonzalez’s number first and why so many fans came out to honor a player that is loved in the community. They loved who he was on and off the field.

So yes, I think you can relax now Luis.

Audio from Gonzo’s speech to the Chase Field Crowd (I tried to make the speech clearer with some re-mixing, this is the best I could do):

The following is Luis Gonzalez’s post number retirement ceremony press conference with the media. This is something that all Diamondbacks fans should listen to:

Popularity: 15% [?]

SCOTTSDALE-This Thursday (July 22nd) at noon marks the Grand Opening of H&M’s store in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. This will be the second Arizona store for the Swedish chain who have been in business since 1947. H&M Grand Openings have a reputation of putting on a great event for customers and this Thursday promises to be no different.

Just as Microsoft opened their very first retail store in the world at the Scottsdale Fashion Square, H&M looks to leverage what the Scottsdale Fashion Square has to offer.  “H&M remains committed to increasing its presence in the U.S. marketplace by seeking out the best new locations and cities. Now, with the opening of H&M Scottsdale Fashion Square, we are thrilled to add another exciting location to the Southwest.” stated Daniel Kulle, U.S. President for H&M in a prepared statement.

So here’s all the information you need to know for the H&M Scottsdale Fashion Square Grand Opening Celebration:

1. The H&M Grand Opening date and time is July 22, 2010 at noon.
2. People can line up for the H&M Grand Opening event outside of the Scottsdale Fashion Square in the parking lot. On the day of the Grand Opening, the doors to the Scottsdale Fashion Square will open at 7 AM. The line will then move from the outside to the inside of the mall.
3. The first 200 people in line will be handed a free ‘H&M Access to Fashion Pass’ which is a gift card that could be worth anywhere between $10 and $300 at H&M.
4. One lucky person will win an ‘All Access Fashion Pass’ which will allow them to get into H&M before the Doors Open to the General Public at noon.  This person will also receive a personal style consultation from an H&M stylist who will put them in the latest and greatest H&M fashion trends.

Here’s some examples of H&M summer season fashions that customers can check out during the Grand Opening:

Women – Swimsuits start at $4.95, Tank tops at $5.95, and printed dresses start at $7.95.

Men – Jersey shits start at $7.95, swimwear at $12.95, and shorts start at $19.95.

Normal Store hours will be:

Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

View Larger Map

Popularity: 24% [?]

PHOENIX-O.A.R, the band that has made the Birds Nest at the Waste Management Phoenix Open a yearly party that is not to be missed, will bring their 2010 Summer Tour to Phoenix.  Of a Revolution (aka O.A.R.) will be playing at the Celebrity Theater on September 28th at 7:30 PM.  Tickets will go on sale July 23rd (details below). Make sure you buy your tickets quick as this show WILL sell out.  The last time O.A.R. played in town, the Scottsdale Fire Department had to turn away fans from the show because the venue was over capacity.

O.A.R. won’t be promoting a new album on this tour as they will have a new album out in the fall.  This is just a summer tour for the band so expect a good set-list of songs that fans love.  Who knows? Perhaps O.A.R. will sneak a new song or two into the show.

Don’t miss this chance to see such an amazing live act in probably the best setting you can possibly see them perform in….up close and in the round.

The Expendables will open the show.

Here’s the full show details:

O.A.R. with Special Guests ‘The Expendables’
Tuesday September 28th at 7:30 PM
Club Doors open at 5:30pm
Theater Doors open at 6:30 PM

Tickets go on sale Friday July 23rd at Celebrity Theater’s box office or via their website. To charge tickets by phone call 602-267-1600 ext.1.

Popularity: 21% [?]

PHOENIX-One of top rock acts in the world today is coming to Phoenix.  Nickelback will be bringing their ‘Dark Horse’ world tour to the Cricket Wireless Pavilion on October 29th at 7PM.  Opening the show will be ‘Three Days Grace’ and ‘Buckcherry’ two great bands to come see if they were touring on their own.

Having played over 120 shows to over 2 million people around the world, Nickelback seems to feed off the love from fans. “Our fans have been amazing all over the world from Japan to New Zealand, Australia, Dubai, the UK and North America,” said Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger. “Our fans keep us going and we are excited to play 25 more dates in the US with Three Days Grace and Buckcherry.”

Don’t miss this chance to see Nickelback at their best….performing live in front of the fans they love.

Tickets go on sale July 17th at 10 AM at all Ticketmaster and Live Nation outlets and by clicking the link below.

Ticket prices are:

Reserved: $89.50 and $69.50

Lawn: $29.50

A limited amount of Pit and Lawn 4 pack tickets will be available for sale.

Popularity: 14% [?]

PHOENIX – Following his dismissal from the Arizona Diamondbacks, former Manager A.J. Hinch met with reporters via conference call. The first question is inaudible but the reporter asked where Hinch was when he got the news that he was relieved of his managerial duties.

Editors note: The Audio of this conference call at first is EXTREMELY horrid. The challenges with the sound are all with the company that hosted the conference call.

Conference call length approximately 20:00 minutes.

Popularity: 8% [?]

PHOENIX – The poor play of the National League’s worst team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, came to a head late Thursday night as the team fired both Executive Vice President & General Manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch effective immediately.

The Diamondbacks have named Jerry Dipoto General Manger and Kirk Gibson manager on an interim basis for the rest of the season.

“I appreciate the commitment and dedication that Josh and A.J. demonstrated during their tenures,” Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick said in a statement released by the Diamondbacks. “Their dismissal is a significant decision, but one that we find necessary in order to achieve a direction of winning consistently on the field again. We have a number of talented players, but obviously see great room for improvement. We look forward to bringing permanence to these two baseball leadership roles.”

“These decisions come as a first and major step in our thorough evaluation of our team,” President & CEO Derrick Hall said in a prepared statement. “We have all been disappointed in the results over the last few years, and we have come to the conclusion that a change in the leadership of our baseball operations staff is necessary at this time. This franchise has enjoyed tremendous success over the years and we want to get back to our winning ways. The loyal staff of this organization, as well as all of our fans, hopes for and deserves better results on the field.”

The Diamondbacks have called a press conference at 10 AM today to discuss last night’s changes in their organization.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Yesterday we reported on our Twitter and Facebook pages that we were investigating a tweet reported by the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Twitter page Monday morning stating that First Friday’s were on hiatus for the Months of July and August.

We have learned that the Twitter post above includes errors in that First Friday as a whole will take place in July and August. However, the most popular part of First Friday on Roosevelt Row will not take place during July and August for whatever reason. The Roosevelt Row schedule and location for September has not been made public as of today The rest of First Friday across downtown Phoenix will take place as normally scheduled.

Editors Note: Requests for comments from Artlink Phoenix, who are the organizers of First Friday, were not been returned when we went to press.

Here’s the map and full details for First Friday:

http://www.artlinkphoenix.com/Artlink_Spring_2009.pdf

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership also has a great listing of some ‘off the beaten path’ First Friday festivities:

http://www.downtownphoenix.com/blog/2010/06/fourth-of-july-weekend-part-ii/

Popularity: 12% [?]

Follow along with all Sports Related news and information on our dedicated AZ Vibe Sports Twitter account – http://www.twitter.com/azvibesports

Back in 1998 I had traveled to Europe (England, Germany, Austria, and Holland) for a friend’s wedding at the top of a Mountain in Innsbruck, Austria. During the course of my trip I had been introduced first hand to not only the World Cup but to watching games first hand in countries that were participating in the World Cup finals (which was taking place in France) and people who were just fans of the World Cup. From pubs in Britain and to a town square in Innsbruck I saw how each individual country displayed their passion for the World Cup.

When it came to visiting the Netherlands, my World Cup experience was totally unique.

I had traveled to the Netherlands, with a buddy from High School, by train from Innsbruck, Austria from a wedding that took place here.  Before my arrival in the Netherlands, I had heard stories from other travelers about the amount of pick pockets and thieves at the train stations specifically at the Amsterdam station.  Someone from our wedding party who had their luggage stolen on a pre-wedding trip to Amsterdam told us they put their bags down for not even 15 seconds and they were gone.

When my buddy and I arrived to the main Amsterdam station, we discovered the station was empty.  Other than a few railway workers and train passengers arriving on our train, there was NOBODY there.  We looked at each other and thought it was strange that there wasn’t anyone in the station after all the stories we had heard.

Anyways, we hopped on the local light rail as our hotel was in Haarlem, a 10-15 minute train ride West of Amsterdam.  When we arrived at the Haarlem train station, it was more empty than the Amsterdam train station.  It was like walking into a ghost town.

As we made our way outside the train station, our experience switched to odd coincidences to the Twilight Zone as streets were EMPTY.  No taxis out front of the station, no people walking in the street, no cars on the streets, no sounds….nothing.  My buddy and I looked at each other and both were wondering what the hell was going on.

…and then it happened.

Thousands of people started SCREAMING all at once from everywhere.

We looked at each other and instantly said to each other “World Cup”.

The entire country literally shut down for the Netherlands World Cup first round matches.  The passion the people of the Netherlands had for their team was amazing.  We happened to arrive in the Netherlands in the middle of one of their World Cup Matches.

However, that was just the beginning…..

After we had settled into our hotel we decided to head back to Amsterdam for some sight seeing in and around the main tourist area.

When we arrived in Amsterdam we discovered literally hundreds of thousands of drunken Dutch football fans partying in just about every street and alley all dressed in Orange.  The passion that these fans had moved me and I was hooked.

From that day on in 1998, I’ve been a fan of Oranje (Orange) and the World Cup.  I’ve followd the Dutch whenever they’re on the international stage (and watched their opening match at the World Cup today).

Most people don’t get the draw of the World Cup.  Just like hockey or Lacrosse, unless you experience international football (soccer) in a European country in person, you just won’t be able fully understand why people love cheering for their given countries.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of US Soccer and always will be.  However Holland’s Football team will always have a special place in my heart.

Popularity: 7% [?]

We’re at Comicon for the weekend and will be updating this posting as we check things out…..and as bandwidth allows…

Thursday

We checked out the preview last night to get a lay of the land and to check out a great Star Trek Q & A called ‘Star Trek Lives (Again)’. I consider myself a pretty big fan of Star Trek having followed most aspects of the Franchise since the first series aired.
However the panelists knowledge of the entire Star Trek ‘Universe’ blew me, and all who were in the packed room, away.

Friday

4:30 PM – Wil Wheaton is on the Stage in the Main Ballroom. The broadcast is available live on the internet right now. He’s in the middle of an Atari 2600 story at the moment.

6:30 PM – Dinner Break

Wil Wheaton’s Awesome Hour was indeed that. Awesome. Recorded the Question and Answer session of his talk and will post the audio later tonight/tomorrow…I just wish there was a media area to work at.

7:55 PM – Hyatt Hotel

The evening portion of the convention has moved to the Hyatt Hotel. Among the events tonight is a Zombie Beauty Pagent and Wil Wheaton Rockband.

Found the video link to Wheaton’s talk. Gonna post it later.

9:45 PM – Wil Wheaton Rockband

Man oh man what a mess. The organizers are realizing that they have too many people showing up and not enough room in the ballroom for everyone. The organizers are doing their best to keep everyone organized and calm.

9:59 – Wil Wheaton Rockband

Ok mess is an understatement. This is unorganized chaos. My patience and desire to participate in this event is wearing thin.

10:20 – Wil Wheaton Anarchy

The band that appeared before this Rock Band event was supposed to start at 9:00 PM followed by the Rock Band event starting at 10:00 PM (going until 2 AM). The band went on at 9:50 PM. Wonderful.

Friday – Conclusion

Well, I gotta hand it to the Comicon People. They got everything re-organized and in line. Kudos to them for a great job behind the scenes to get everything into shape.

I got in line and performed in the Wil Wheaton Rockband, performing the Who’s Baba O’Reiley on ‘no fail’ mode. The makers of Rock Band gave Wheaton an Xbox 360 filled with every single song for Rock Band. Gonna post photos and video of the session later.

The best part of the Wil Wheaton Rockband?

Performing the song ‘Ghostbusters’ with a band dressed as the Ghostbusters….proton packs and all.

3:15 – Session: How to open your own Comic book store

An interesting seminar hosted by two local comic book store owners on tips and traps on opening your own comic store. Great seminar for business owners.

5:30 – TNG Reunion

Just got done with an Hour with Wil Wheaton, Levar Burton, and Jonathan Frakes who were all cast members on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Who knew they were all EXTREMELY funny together. Recorded the entire hour and will post it later this evening.

6:00 PM – Aaron Douglas

The man who played the Chief on the new Battlestar Galatica is about to start his rescheduled appearance.

Popularity: 7% [?]

On Saturday November 27th, one of the best rock albums of all time will be performed at the US Airways Center when Roger Waters of Pink Floyd Fame performs the rock Opera ‘The Wall’ in its entirety. Not much is known about the makeup of the tour other than the dates booked but you can definitely expect one of the best stage shows you have ever witnessed. When it comes to productions of ‘The Wall’ over the years, (‘The Wall’ has been performed in its entirety only 31 times since it’s release) they all have used the most state of the art technology for each production. Roger Waters has always been at the forefront of technology and music and has proved time and time again that he is not afraid to push the limits of both.

Roger Waters isn’t going to be touring for very much longer and with two former members of Pink Floyd now deceased (Syd Barrett and Richard Wright) and another member officially retired from touring (David Gilmour). This is probably your last chance ever to see not only a high quality Pink Floyd production but Roger Waters in concert.

Do not miss this chance to see one of the best sound and visual experiences you could ever imagine in a concert setting.

Tickets are priced at $203.75, $103.75, $79.75 and $59.75 and do not include applicable service charges.

Tickets go on Sale Monday, May 10th at 10am at Ticketmaster.com by clicking on this link.

Roger Waters posted the following essay on his website about why he’s doing ‘The Wall’ again in 2010….

Roger Waters, 2010

I recently came across this quote of mine from 22 years ago:

” What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us to understand one another better, or will they deceive us and keep us apart?”

I believe this is still a supremely relevant question and the jury is out. There is a lot of commercial clutter on the net, and a lot of propaganda, but I have a sense that just beneath the surface understanding is gaining ground. We just have to keep blogging, keep twittering, keep communicating, keep sharing ideas.

30 Years ago when I wrote The Wall I was a frightened young man. Well not that young, I was 36 years old.

It took me a long time to get over my fears. Anyway, in the intervening years it has occurred to me that maybe the story of my fear and loss with it’s concomitant inevitable residue of ridicule, shame and punishment, provides an allegory for broader concerns.: Nationalism, racism, sexism, religion, Whatever! All these issues and ‘isms are driven by the same fears that drove my young life.

This new production of The Wall is an attempt to draw some comparisons, to illuminate our current predicament, and is dedicated to all the innocent lost in the intervening years.

In some quarters, among the chattering classes, there exists a cynical view that human beings as a collective are incapable of developing more ‘humane’ ie, kinder, more generous, more cooperative, more empathetic relationships with one another.

I disagree.

In my view it is too early in our story to leap to such a conclusion, we are after all a very young species.

I believe we have at least a chance to aspire to something better than the dog eat dog ritual slaughter that is our current response to our institutionalized fear of each other.

I feel it is my responsibility as an artist to express my, albeit guarded, optimism, and encourage others to do the same. To quote the great man, ” You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

- Roger Waters, 2010

Mother (Pink Floyd Live 1980):

Comfortably Numb:

Popularity: 10% [?]

Two of the major pro sports teams are on the verge of clinching their spots in the post season. The Phoenix Coyotes and Phoenix Suns have had amazing seasons which have captivated fans. Now both teams are getting ready to take their games to the next levels and take their shot at their respective championship trophies. Both teams have playoff tickets going on sale to the general public within the next few days.

Here’s what we know…

Phoenix Coyotes – Their tickets go on sale this Saturday March 27th at 10 AM.

For more information and how to purchase tickets, please refer to the article on our Coyotes site:

http://coyotes.azvibe.com/2010/03/26/coyotes-playoff-tickets-go-on-sale-on-march-27th/

Phoenix Suns – Individual playoff tickets for the first two games of round 1 will go on sale Monday March 29th at 10 AM at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 1-800-4-NBA-TIX, at the US Airways Center box office, and online via Ticketmaster’s website.

Please note that the Suns first round opponents may not be known until the final day of the season on April 14th.

The first round of the playoffs will take place on April 17th and April 18th.

Here’s the direct link to purchase your Suns playoff tickets via Ticketmaster:

http://ticketsus.at/azvibe?CTY=85&DURL=http://www.ticketmaster.com/Phoenix-Suns-tickets/artist/806004?list_view=1&tm_link=tm_homeA_b_10004_3

Popularity: 7% [?]

If you follow employees of the Phoenix Suns on Twitter, you know they have been cooking up a very unique event for a Suns regular season game. During the Phoenix Suns/Houston Rockets game on April 11th, will be ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ night.

If you purchase tickets via the link below, you not only can get discounted tickets (Lexus Club tickets start at just $96) but a portion of the proceeds will benefit Phoenix Suns Charities that help children in need across Arizona.

According to the Suns promo page here’s what you can expect at ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ night:
* Exclusive Phoenix Suns / Star Wars t-shirt with every ticket purchased through this page.
* Photo opportunities with classic Star Wars characters throughout US Airways Center.
* Costume contest. Dress as your favorite character for a chance to win official Star Wars merchandise!
* In-game Star Wars entertainment. Can you say Suns Dancers in hair buns?
* Sneak peek at the upcoming The Clone Wars season finale.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please refer to the link below:

http://www.nba.com/suns/tickets/starwars_night_2010.html

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