That’s just music

Mel B admitted that she used to be a “bitch” to her band mate Geri Halliwell in the past. 

However, their reunion tour justified their agenda in a new way and their co-working relationship is better than before. Spice Girl said that she takes on a different approach these days: “If Geri gets her dancing wrong now I tell her. But in the old days I may have done it in a b***hy way, but it’s much more sisterly now.  I want her to look fantastic and get it right.”

“Everybody knows that Geri and I have had our problems in the past, but having time apart and then coming back together has been incredibly healing. We have a real bond and, amazingly, our daughters, Angel and Bluebell, are completely fascinated by each other.”

She claims that Geri made her to start thinking about appearance on US TV show ‘Dancing With The Stars’.  She scored second in the competition.  As ‘Grazia’ magazine quoted her, “I wanted to show everyone what I could do.  I talked to Geri and she was right behind me, telling me to go for it and knock everybody dead.”

Avril Lavigne says her new tour will be the most “bright and colorful” yet.  The ‘Sk8er Boi’ singer has revealed the ‘Best Damn Tour’ – which begins in Victoria, Canada, on March 5 – will feature spectacular dances, fiant TV screens and a “pink-sparkled drum kit”.

She said: “The show is going to be very upbeat and the production will be bigger in the sense of dancers during a couple of songs, giant TV screens, a pink-sparkled drum kit and flags. 

“Over time, I’ve sort of learned how I need to be on stage, and I’m more confident. It’s just more dynamic, brighter and more colorful.  I’m excited about it becasue I’ve been working on the show for a very long time now. And it’s just going to be really fun to finally go play.”

Avril says the inspiration for her recent LP ‘The Best Damn Thing’ was imagining her fans enjoying her performing the tracks live. She added: “My inspiration from this record came from knowing what kind of songs I wanted to play live.  I wanted to play fast fun songs because I love it when everyone in the crowd is freaking out and jumping. I just wanted to rock, which is why I made an up-tempo record.”

The 23–year-old star’s 60–day tour takes place in venues all over North America and Europe. It is set to finish in Berlin, Germany, on June 24. 

Snoop Dogg performed with Guns N Roses legend Slash on February 7^th at a charity event held in Los Angeles.  Proceeds from the annual concert benefited the Black Eyed Peas’ Peapod Foundation, which helps underprivileged children and introduces them to new music technology.

Frontwoman Fergie was joined by Slash during her solo set, reports the Associated Press, and Ludacris pitched in during her hit song ‘Glamorous’. Later in the evening, Slash and Snoop Dogg jammed together and received a standing ovation from the audience.

Syntheway Percussion Kit is a collection of virtual percussion instruments designed for creating orchestral percussion, as well as auxilary, latin african and mallet percussion.

Features:

– Selector switch on GUI

– Percussion instruments kit includes:

– Orchestral Percussion: Snare Roll, Triple Roll, Bass Drum, Timpani, Gong (Tam-Tam), Suspended Cymbal, Temple Block and Triangle.

Auxiliary Percussion: Triangle, Woodblock, Ride Cymbal, Cymbals, Tambourine and Sleigh Bells.

– Mallet Percussion: Vibraphone, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba and Tubular Bells.

– Latin Percussion: Conga, Timbale, Bongo and Castanets.

– African Percussion Kit.

– Variable room simulation.

DB Audioware has introduced Vocal Intensifier, a plug-in designed to give vocal tracks added punch and presence, to make them stand out in the final mix.

It uses a studio technique called “parallel compression” (also known as “New York compression”), often used for drum tracks, but here tuned specially tuned for vocals. The adventage of this technique is that it boosts the loudness and presence of teh vocals without destroying the dynamics of the original performance. 

Vocal Intensifier Features:

– advanced algorithm boosts vocals without loss of detail

– efficient user interface saves valuable studio time

– uses parallel compression technique, tuned for vocals

– encapsulates 64 bit EQ, compression, de-essing & limiting

– inherently phase-coherent design

– full MIDI control, with easy to use MIDI Learn

plug-ins for PC Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (VST, Audio Units)

Sir Paul McCartney is set to play a concert with his son James.

The Beatles legend has teamed up with the 30–year-old guitarist on his debut album-which is due out later this year-and the father-son pair now plan to try out their new material live.  A source said: “The word is James wants to try out some of the songs on stage in the near future and it’s understood that Paul will be performing with him.”

However, any fans hoping for a big concert will be sorely disappointed, as James-whose mother was Paul’s late first wife Linda McCartney-wants to avoid attention.  The source added: “James won’t want a big fuss as he’s not someone who seeks the limelight, so it will inevitably be very low-key.  But Paul is not a bad backing musician to have under the circumstances.”  It will not be the first time the pair have played live together.  In 2005, James-who co-wrote ‘Heaven on a Sunday’, ‘Back In The Sunshine Again’ and ‘Spinning On An Axis’ for Paul’s solo albums-accompanied his father during his recent US tour. 

James also played lead guitar on his mother’s posthumously released solo album ‘Wide Prairie’.

The Morrison Digital Trumpet, or MDT, is a new brass-style MIDI wind controller designed by Steve Marshall with Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison.  The MDT is a MIDI wind controller designed to make it as easy as possible to transition from the regular trumpet.  For trumpeters, your hand position will be very similar to what you’re used to, the mouthpiece is a normal trumpet mouthpiece, the valves move in the same way, and the air “resistance” is familiar. 

Due to the much increased range and features that MIDI makes possible, there is a need for more controls that on a traditional trumpet.  The MDT includes 3 assignable continuous controllers and 2 assignable switches. 

FEAUTRES:

– The MDT lets you play any sound like anything you have ever wanted from acoustic instruments to electric guitars.

– The MDT gives you 10 octaves of pitch perfect range.

– The MDT lets you control your notes without having to “Buzz” your lips. This gives you hours more endurance.

– The MDT can be used for alternative sounds that a musician cannot produce on their acoustic instruments.  For example you can use the MDT to double on clarinet, saxsaphone, guitar, or bass.  An investment in a MDT wind controller pays for itself by making the musician more marketable and in-demand.

– Transposition is a button push away. 

The MDT retails for AUD $2195.00

The legendary Eric Clapton has announced a special north of England show this Summer.  He will be performing in the beautiful grounds of Harewood House, near Leeds, in June.  The only three time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 18–time Grammy award winning artist, ranks as one of the most successful touring musicians of all time.  His musical journey spans some five decades including stints with such seminal bands as The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos, culminating witha hugely successful solo career.

Eric Clapton and special guest Robert Randolph & The Family Band play Harewood House, Yorkshire, on Sunday 29^th June 2008.  Tickets 50.00 pounds, subject to booking fee, go on sale this Monday 4^th February. 

U2 are considering a mammoth residency at the O2 Arena in London, it has been confirmed. The Irish rock heroes have previously been linked with a series of gigs at the former Millennium Dome, to top Prince’s 21 summer 2007 dates.  However, manager Paul McGuinness has now confirmed talks for the concerts are their new album.  “It’s got great potential for U2 and because it’s undercover you can do a run of a shows in the autumn”, he admitted.  In recent months, Bono and co have been working on their currently untitled 12th studio album with super-producer Brian Eno.