Off The Record...

Try Whistling This

Neil Finn

Not many artists have the fortune to front two critically and commercially successful units as Neil Finn has done with Crowded House and Split Enz.  Now, in a logical progression in his career, he finally goes it alone solo and with pleasant results.  Try Whistling This doesn't stray far from what you would expect, not that it should.  Finn is a master at writing upbeat, infectious melodies, and this album is chock full of 'em.

At The Movies...

Mulan

Disney has hit another animated home run.  Based on Oriental folklore, a young girl disguises herself as a man to prevent her father from being drafted, using her wits and physical skills to battle the invading Huns.  Lots of exciting action, beautiful animation, and bursts of comic relief provided by a wise-cracking dragon voiced by Eddie Murphy, that's sure to have young girls and boys cheering right up to the rousing finale.  Mulan is girl power in it's finest form.

On Video...

The Rainmaker

Two of the biggest names in the business, novelist John Grisham and director Francis Ford Coppola, combine forces to deliver a powerful film that centers around an ambitious young attorney that takes on a large, powerful insurance company and it's hired gun lawyers for the rights of a client in need of a bone marrow transplant.  A who's who of Hollywood stars, including Matt Damon in the lead role, Danny DeVito as his assistant, and strong support from such notables as Mickey Rourke and Jon Voight. 

The Buzz...

If you're looking for something to write about in next years inevitable What I Did Last Summer's essay, try attending one of these hot summer festivals......

What/Where:  Edgefest, Winnipeg Stadium, July 4th Who's Playing:  Green Day, Foo Fighters, Tea Party, Sloan, Watchmen, Creed, Matthew Good Band, Holly McNarland, Econoline Crush, Killjoys, Bif Naked, Copyright The Deal:  Lot's of great Canadian talent mixed with some international acts Website: www.muchmusic.com

What/Where:  Rock Fest, Chippewa Valley Festival, Cadott WI, July 16th - 19th

Who's Playing:  Eddie Money, Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Grand Funk Railroad, Huey Lewis & The News, Molly Hatchet, B-52's, The Pretenders, Foghat, Night Ranger and more The Deal:  Lot's of classic rock and camping over 4 days so hope for nice weather

What/Where:  End Of The World Festival, Strikers Meadow, Kenora, July 17th-19th

Who's Playing:  Wide Mouth Mason, Great Big Sea, Headstones, Blue Oyster Cult, Semisonic, The Tubes, Blue Rodeo, New Meanies, Paul Rodgers, Todd Rundgren, Benjamin Orr, Bran Van 3000, The Rankins, Ashley MacIsaac, Blink 182, Burt Neilsen Band, Brave New World, and more The Deal:  What better way to celebrate the environment than throw a huge concert

Website: www.endoftheworld.com

What/Where:  Ozzfest, Float Rite Park Amphitheater, Somerset WI, July 18th

Who's Playing:  Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Tool, Limp Bizkit, Soulfly, Coal Chamber, Sevendust, Life Of Agony, Incubus, Kilgore, The Melvins, Monster Voo Doo Machine, Snot, Ultraspank, System Of A Down The Deal:  The surprise hit of last summers festival season proving people still wanna rock Website: www.ozzfest.com

What/Where:  Vans Warped Tour, Float Rite Park Amphitheater, Somerset WI, July 18th

Who's Playing:  Deftones, Rancid, Bad Religion, Motorhead, Specials, Reverend Horton Heat, All, Aquabats,  Assorted Jellybeans, CIV, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Fu Manchu, Home Grown, MXPX, Melvins, NOFX, No Use For A Name, Save Ferris, Slackers, Snapcase, Unwritten Law, Voodoo Glow Skulls and more The Deal:  The heir apparent to Lollapalooza, but a younger, hipper version.  On this date, the Warped tour teams up with the Ozzfest for one of the biggest concerts of the summer.  Throw in the Smashing Pumpkins the night before at a free street concert and this can't be missed. Website: www.warpedtour.com

What/Where: Classic Rock Picnic, Minnedosa Lake Resort MB, July 31st - Aug 2 Who's Playing:  Trooper, April Wine, Dr. Hook, Alice Cooper, Randy Bachman Band, Foghat, Loverboy, Pat Benatar and more The Deal:  Lot's of classic Canadian rock and camping with some International Acts to boot

What/Where: Bayfront Blues Festival, Bayfront Park, Duluth MN, Aug 14th -16th Who's Playing:  Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets With Sam Myers, Charlie Musselwhite, Eddy The Chief Clearwater, Sam Myers, Lonnie Brooks Blues Band, Susan Tedeschi, Jimmie Vaughan, Tommy Castro, Kelly Hunt The Deal:  One of the best blues festivals in North America Website:  www.bayfrontblues.com

What/Where: Lilith Fair, Canterbury Park, Shakopee MN, August 21st Who's Playing:  Sarah McLachlan, Paula Cole, Lisa Loeb, Joan Osborne, Natalie Merchant, Mary Lou Lord, Neko Case, Tuesdays and more The Deal:  Last year's surprise runaway hit, will Lilith take the crown once more? Website:  www.lilithfair.com

Stephen King's The Stand, an eight-hour mini-series, will be rebroadcast on ABC on July 12, 13, 14 and 16.

The Simpsons will be inducted into Hollywood's Walk of Fame next year along with a group of other more human celebrities that include Wesley Snipes, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Sigourney Weaver has signed on for the fifth Alien film.  Reportedly the actress will receive $20 million and will help in scripting the movie.

New York playwright Mark Dunn has alleged in a lawsuit that Paramount Pictures stole The Truman Show from his 1992 off-off-Broadway play Frank's Story. Dunn is seeking 100 percent of the proceeds from the film, claiming over 100 thematic and plot similarities between the play and the movie.

U.S. Customs officials at LAX put a hold on Our Lady Peace's equipment June 12, forcing the band to miss a gig at L.A.'s House of Blues.

Third Eye Blind's bassist Arion Salazar and Green Day's Mike Dirnt came to blows at the KROQ Weenie Roast when Salazar tried to get onstage while Green Day was performing. After Green Day's set was over, Dirnt confronted Salazar for climbing onstage with the band, and then pushed him. As Dirnt turned to go, witnesses say that someone cracked him over the head with a bottle. Dirnt was rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance, and was treated and released for a head injury.

Former Kiss skinsman, Eric Singer, will be rejoining Alice Cooper's backing band for the foreseeable future as current drummer Jimmy DeGrasso has joined Megadeth. No word if this will be a permanent return or just a fill-in

50 million guitar picks will be packaged inside bags of Doritos as part of a Pick Your Music cross-promotion between the chip-maker, Warner Music Group, and Gibson Guitars. Each pick will feature art work representing 14 Warner recording artists on one side, and the Gibson logo on the other. One bag will contain a lucky platinum pick that entitles its finder to an unplugged concert held in their hometown by one, or possibly more, of the acts involved in the promotion.

Aerosmith will be back on the road following Steven Tylers knee injury.  The band will play a rescheduled date in Duluth on Friday November 13.  Lucky...

Our Lady Peace has announced plans to go ahead with their Summersault tour later this season.  I Mother Earth will be on the bill and sources say that Garbage will be added as well. 

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