| DRAGONFORCE Guitarist: 'Our Musical Influences Actually Come From ...
Brian O'Neill of UWeekly.com recently conducted an interview with DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
U Weekly: Herman, enquiring minds want to know... Dude, how do you shred so hard?
Herman: "(Laughter) I don't know! That's one of those hard to answer questions. We just play what we think sounds cool and if people think that's cool then we have something in common."
U Weekly: It does surprise many that you never took any formal lessons in your life...
Herman: "No, I pretty much learned from watching videos and listening to music, things like that. I never had any guitar lessons or anything like that. I just played and tried different things and work it out and see what works and what doesn't. I can't read music either.
'90s rock veterans still flock to amphitheaters
While their mid-90s peers such as Candlebox and Better Than Ezra are playing smaller venues such as the Newport Music Hall and Lodge Bar, Counting Crows and the Goo Goo Dolls have united for a tour that will probably fill most of Germain Amphitheater on Friday. Counting Crows has sustained a decade-plus career with a string of hits that started with 1994s Mr. Jones and continued through 2004s Accidentally in Love. The Goo Goo Dolls have built upon the successful poprock formula they started on 1995s A Boy Named Goo and perfected with 1998s Dizzy Up the Girl. Opening duties go to upstart rockers theworkingtitle, whose debut, about-face, will be released Tuesday. Tickets cost $25 to $67.50 at the amphitheater box office and Ticketmaster. Switchback 8:30 tonight in the Hey Hey Bar and Grill, 361 Whittier St.
Viveik signs up for guitar lessons
In Vishal Bharadwajs Omkara, an adaptation of Shakespeares Othello, Viveik essays the character of Kesu Phirangi (Cassio). In his bid to develop the character and heighten the authenticity of certain scenes, where he is seen strumming a guitar, Viveik has taken up guitar lessons. Hes got his musician friend to travel all the way to Wai, near Mahabaleshwar, where they were shooting, to help him out. Reminiscent of his Company days, Viveik seems to be back with his erstwhile perfectionist zeal. His director Bharadwaj is ready to give praise where it is due, Viveik is a very dedicated actor. He has done a good job in Omkara. MEANWHILE... Salim Khan gets a piece of Omkara This may come as a bit of a surprise, but Salman Khans father Salim Khan has acquired the distribution rights of Vishal Bharadwajs Omkara in Central Indian (CI) territories. These include Indore, Gwalior and Bhopal and other parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Negro League stars discuss their playing days
ONTARIO - Baseball might have been the main topic Friday at the annual luncheon hosted by the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to honor those who played in the historic Negro Baseball League, but it was their personal stories that were most riveting. For the third year, Quakes general manager North Johnson put together the opportunity that allowed Southern California baseball fans to meet and chat with men in their 70s about an era most only know through history books. "We need to take advantage of real history lessons,'' said Johnson, who started a similar event in Kinston, N.C., more than 10 years ago. "There are less than 100 players from the Negro League who are still living. "We want to make sure that we don't forget an important part of our history. These men changed society, not just baseball, as a whole.'' Johnny Washington, Sam Allen, Herb Wooten, Hank Mason, Harold Hair and Carl Long were once household names as they played for teams such as Chicago American Giants, Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis Clowns and Birmingham Black Barons.
Pine Tree Gallery to mark 30th anniversary
IRONWOOD -- For 30 years the Pine Tree Gallery has launched artists' and musicians' careers while entertaining the public. On Sunday, gallery owners Phil and Judy Kucera will host an anniversary celebration with artist demonstrations, hands-on arts opportunities, live music, food and an exhibit focused on Lake Superior. Free activities indoors and out from 1 to 4 p.m. at the gallery at 824 E. Cloverland Road also will celebrate Lake Superior Day. "All of us are so tied into the lake, it was natural to do it on that day -- orient everything to it," said Phil Kucera. From its start in 1975, the Pine Tree showed art from the Lake Superior basin and far north, with artists from Canada and Alaska iin the mix. Eventually, Kucera said, "we felt our focus should be the lake itself." Two of the gallery artists who helped plan the celebration would like it to be about Kucera himself as well as his gallery -- but they know he shuns the spotlight.
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