According to his MySpace page, looks like it's no accident that A.C. sounds like a grown-up 'N Syncker—his bio says he's been in three boy bands already, and judging by the aviator shades and the unbuttoned Oxford, he's learned a thing or two from his life spent on the Backstreet.  We'll need to get some video clips of his dance moves before printing posters, though.  And no sign of a Jessica Biel-type on his arm, for those who might be hoping to perform a wardrobe malfunction with him after hearing those high notes.

Trying to get a hold of A.C.  More as it comes in-

(Justin Timberlake: AP Photo)

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The performance is in support of Pony Power Therapies, an organization founded to provide equine activities to children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other handicaps. Pony Power Therapies is based in Mahway, N.J.

The inspiration for Dana's new song came after one of the horses suddenly passed away.

One of those musicians was Rick Dobbelaer, who was once the guitar player for a 90s jam band called Last Tribe. They were sort of like Rusted Root or Dave Matthews without all the different instruments. This YouTube clip of Last Tribe covering the Smiths' tune "Cemetry Gates" at the Wetlands gives you a taste of their sound and style (shirtless frontman, with a earth-child leather necklace- love the 90s).

Last Tribe is now defunct, but Rick is still around, even through some struggles. In 2003, he was dying from a heart condition without much hope for survival. He wrote up a bunch of songs about mortality, and even put together an album with a pretty morbid picture of him and his daughter walking through a cemetery.

He got a heart transplant from a 15-year-old girl, though, and now he's back to making music (if mostly for his own enjoyment). In the summer, Rick runs a landscaping business around Rockland, and then records like a madman through the winter. He does it all out of his basement, and he's turned his garage into rough sound booth, with some oil cans and tools scattered around.

His solo music (here on MySpace) sounds like the Nada Surf stuff from the last few years. Glossy pop-rock, mixing straight-forward hooks with occasionally dissonant sounds. On the production side, it's not exactly Radiohead, but judging by the tracks that Rick played for me when I visited last winter, he isn't afraid to experiment with weird digital sounds. He doesn't typically play gigs anymore (which was part of the reason we didn't include him in the May feature), but he's always messing around with some kind of song. If you're a 90s rock aficionado, check out "Accounting" or "It Kills Me" on MySpace. Both feel pretty post-grunge.

Hi Everyone,
Next Wednesday, August 20th, I will be playing at

The Iridium
1650 Broadway
NYC,NY
212-582-2121
with
Michael Goetz- bass
Jay Devlin- drums
Jason Anderson- drums
Shows are at 8:30 and 10:30pm.
This going to be a special night. This gig is the official release party for the Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0 CD. We are also going to do a live recording of this event for future release. Besides the songs from BBBN2.0 we are also going to be debuting 6 new songs.

I hope you can come out for this special evening and celebrate with us!

peace,
Doug

Oh my goodness. The funniest thing happened just as I was typing that last sentence!

I got an email from a group I was looking to book for April 21st saying "Do you mean August 21st?" Nope, I do indeed mean April 21st. Too funny.

Anyways, I just want to use this opportunity to say thanks to everyone out there for supporting this little project of ours — it truly is a labor of love and we appreciate all the love we're getting back from you all.

Keep spreading the good word. Anyone interested in performing in the Listening Room should shoot an e-mail to listeningroom@lohud.com and either Matt or I will be in touch.

Keep rockin!

And it's clear that she's comfortable playing for the relaxed crowd.

Her aura couldn't be more adorable as she sits behind her keyboards and sings, playing a mix of originals and covers — from Neil Young to Oasis to the Divinyls (they're the band that does "I Touch Myself," which, of course, got people singing along for a bit).

Matty and I shared a few pints of the Captain (Lawrence, of course) with some friends and I personally enjoyed the scene tremendously.

My one complaint would be that Jen's first set was way too short. Would have liked to hear her play a few more tunes before taking a set break, to help loosen up the crowd a bit. Also would have liked to hear "Universe God Burst," one of the tunes Jen played in the Listening Room way back when, but maybe she played it after I left? I don't know. Had to call it a night at about 11:45 or so in order to function today.

But all in all, Jen is a tremendous talent, there's no doubt about it. Looking forward to the next one.

(And oh yeah, sorry, I forgot my camera and borrowed my friend's, so as soon as she sends me the pics I'll post some.)

We love Jen.

Not only because she was brave enough to be one of the show's first guests but also because she rocks!

Diana and I are going to support her tonight, so if you're there copme over and say 'Hi!'

Here's Jen's show:

What a great venue. In case you've never been there, the Bowery Ballroom is a great little spot on Delancey Street right off Bowery. (Sorry, gotta throw in a befitting Wayne's World scene… Tiny: Wanye! How you doin'? Wayne Campbell: Hey Tiny, who's playing today? Tiny: Jolly Green Giants and the Shitty Beatles. Wayne Campbell: Shitty Beatles? Are they any good? Tiny: They suck! Wayne Campbell: Then it's not just a clever name.)

When you first walk into the Bowery, you enter the downstairs bar, which to me always feels like I'm hanging out in a really nice cave or something. Dim lighting. Rugged walls. Candlelight. Got the vibe? What I especially love about this bar is that it's a place where people who are there to chit chat can do so without blabbering over the music.

Upstairs is the main concert space, all general admission. There's the floor level and then a balcony level, which sometimes has reserved seating. All told, the venue holds about 550 people.

I've seen everyone from Steve Winwood to Railroad Earth to Umphrey's McGee at the Bowery, plus many more. Always a good time.

The Bowery Ballroom is owned by the Bowery Presents guys, who also own Mercury Lounge (fits about 200 or so people), The Music Hall of Williamsburg (fits about 550), and Terminal 5 (capacity about 3,000). Bowery Presents is a major promotion machine, and any band worth their weight wants to get in with these guys. What I love is that having all these venues of various sizes really gives a band a chance to grow up in the city.

Naturally, seeing Nackman on the bill for a Bowery show got me excited. But then I realized—very unfortunately—that I will not be in town for the show. Boooo me, I know. I'll be up at my friend's place for CABINFEST V – ALIVE. Suffice it to say that CABINFEST is a weekend of musical mayhem not to be missed, HIYA!

But I hope some of you can make it out to the Nackman show. I've seen him live in the city before and he's a great entertainer. Oh, and if you go, you better send me some photos to post!

Joining the band were special guests Christian Horgren and Marcus Hogquist, musicians touring all the way from Sweden with singer Sofia Talvik. The group will finish up its U.S. tour at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago on Friday.

Christian sat in on electric cello on the song "Question Mark and the Mind." Marcus ripped up the electric guitar on "The Vermont Song."

It turns out this was the first time The Breakfast ever played with a cellist, according to guitarist Tim Palmieri. (I, for one, hope it isn't the last!)

"It was great," Christian said. "They're good guys to play with — they love to play so to do a jam session was great fun."

Another twist to the night was drummer Adrian Tramontano wailing on the trumpet while simultaneously banging away on the drums. I have one question: Are you ser??!

Tonight July 25 – Blaggards 8W 38th [between 5th and 6th] NYC 9 PM – 1 set

Saturday July 26 – Borders – Main Street Mt. Kisco, NY 8 PM 2 sets

Also, jazz man Doug Monro hit me with a date next month at Iridium in New York City on August 20.

Here's Doug's show:

Funny story about Doug's show:

We were still finding our way (and still are) on the show and he was our first jazz guy. The (more…)

One more thing … The Listening Room is booked until the end of 2008 — crazy, right? — but don't stop submitting and don't be discouraged if you don't hear back from Diana or I right away.

We'll be booking next month for 2009 and we're also trying to get our Holiday Show off the ground.

Thanks to everybody for all your suggestions and wanting to take part in the show. Diana and I are so fired up about it we're shaking snoglobes all day.

And another thing … you can leave comments with your show dates on this blog and they are automatically e-mailed to The Big D and I, so please do so rather than e-mailing me directly … although I really don't mind.

I think that's it. Get psyched for Johanna .. she's up tomorrow.

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Here's the thing, most people who come in love music and love to play and love the whole singer-songwriter bit. I get it.

But very few of the artists drip joy when they sing. When you listen to Johanna, she makes you psyched, because she's so psyched. In fact, I'm still psyched.

Johanna — That's it. No last name like Milton or Madonna or Marc Von Em (well, except for that last one) — told us a really lame joke about a bear we caught on tape … so we'll have a little bit of extra footage for the next show and of course she signed the Brick!!!

Check back for her show end o da week!!

Photos by Mr. Mark Vergari/The Journal News

I first saw Johanna on a random Thursday night at Opus in Armonk, where she was playing with two of her band mates in the cozy bar area. I immediately was drawn to the soft yet confident vocals she brought to the mic, and the guitar and percussion set a perfectly chill vibe.

Thing was, they were playing mostly covers (which is typical of a weekday performance at Opus). So I went over and asked if they played any originals, and they immediately lit up.

"That's what we love to play," Johanna responded. (Well, it was something like that… It's been a while now…)

It was then that I really saw the magic of the music. Loved it instantly. And I knew I had to get them into the Listening Room – pronto!

While I can't be there in person tomorrow, I certainly will be there in spirit.

Be sure to check back here for the video and the podcast, which should be posted some time this week. Or visit Johanna's MySpace page for a preview and let me know what you think.

Oh yeah, and they're playing a free show at Opus again this Saturday, so you can certainly go show some love. You may just see me there!

(Photo by Kent Miller courtesy of Johanna.)

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If you missed it in today Journal News Tim McNulty profiled Kirsten Thien, read his article here .

Or just watch Thien's show below. Ciao!

Earlier today

Hey! Here's a few shows I thought you might want to know about

Two shows by Joe Noschese:

Tonight:

No cover. 7:30 p.m. Jackson & Wheeler, 25 Wheeler Ave., Pleasantville. 914-741-2000.

Tomorrow:

No cover. 9 p.m. Valhalla Crossing, 2 Cleveland St.. Valhalla. 914-255-7573.

Here's Joe's show … check it out.

Plus Geoff Hartwell plays The Bayou on Saturday

$5 cover. 11 p.m. The Bayou, 580 Gramatan Ave., Mount Vernon. 914-668-2634.

Here's Geoff's show, but Man! wait until you here him go electric with that sweet slide guitar of his!

Geoff, please, please, please come back and do the Listening Room with your whole band!!!

The band will perform October 31 plus November 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 at the

Mailorder presale with postmarks runs from 7/18 through 7/24. Phil Lesh Online Ticketing presale runs from 7/18 at noon EST through 7/24 at 6 pm EST. Ticketmaster sales start 7/26 at noon EST.

Check out http://www.phillesh.net/ for more information.

(Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.)

In fact, I almost cried in the studio … I am such a jackass … but it's true. I swear. Tears.

Check out the show for yourself.

Been going to Rush's Jones Beach shows for the past few years now, and each time it's an absolute blast. We usually start the day chilling out on the beach, but this year we took a little excursion to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone and eat some Nathan's hot dogs before the bands blew our minds.

It was great.

Michelle DeAngelis of Yonkers stopped into The Listening Room yesterday and dropped some power pop on our heads. It was one of my typical book-and-book operations where we weren't sure what we were getting until Michelle walked in.

Chat 19, 19 Chatsworth Avenue, Larchmont. 914-833-8871.

Photo reprints available at the LoHud Store.

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For more on the band, check out their website.

Live music and an after party. Doors open at 6pm. Tix are $15 at the door or get them for $12 each in advance. Check out suburbiarollerderby.com for full details.

Korova Milk Bar is located at 213 East Post Road in White Plains, NY.

The Thirsty Turtle is located at 201 East Post Road in White Plains, NY.

Check thethirstyturtle.net for more info.

Jones Beach Summer Concert Series
Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, N.Y.
For more info or to verify schedules, call 516-221-1000.

http://www.jonesbeach.com

Schedule:
6.28 Stevie Nicks $30-$125. 8 p.m.
7.08 Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. & Trapt $35.50-$99. 5 p.m.
7.09 John Mayer $41.50-$65.50. 7 p.m.
7.10 John Mellencamp $26-$89. 7:30 p.m.
7.11 Steve Miller Band and Joe Cocker $25-$82. 7 p.m.
7.13 Phil Lesh and Friends $36.50-$56.50. 5 p.m.
7.14 Rush $45-$150. 8 p.m.
7.19 Donna Summer $26-$109. 8 p.m.
7.22 Projekt Revolution 2008 $46.75-$76.75. 2 p.m.
7.25 Martina McBride $26-$76. 7:30 p.m.
7.26 Yes $25-$149.50. 8 p.m.
7.30 Poison $25-$77.50. 7 p.m.
7.31 Maroon 5 and Counting Crows $29-$149. 7 p.m.
8.01 Maroon 5 and Counting Crows $29-$149. 7 p.m.
8.02 O.A.R $29.50-$38.50. 7:30 p.m.
8.03 Rock the Bells Festival Series 2008 $39.50-$129. noon.
8.04 The Police with Elvis Costello & The Imposters $57.50-$232.50. 10:30 a.m.