Author Archives: Rossman In Your Head
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
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ZZ Top Has Legs
Baby boomers and slightly younger fans crowded the House of Blues in Las Vegas, hooting and hollering with anticipation. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s party time,” said the cute young, blond girl in the video that opened the show. At 10:20pm, those sharp dressed men, bassist Dusty Hill and guitarist Billy Gibbons, entered the stage with their classic long beards, cowboy hats, dark suits and cheap sunglasses. Ready to rock! Beardless Frank Beard, wearing a tee-shirt, pounded the drums. The trio powered through their entire 80 minute set promoting new album, La Futura, without any breaks. Gibbons wished the House of Blues a Happy 20th Birthday. “We’ve been doing this for 4 decades,” he added and the lively crowd cheered.
ZZ Top at HOB Las Vegas
The show was a warm and fuzzy look back at ZZ Top’s great bluesy music and rockin’ hits over the years. Video clips, live shots of the band and other visuals enhanced the songs on-screen behind the band. Classic MTV videos played along-side “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Legs” while other songs had visuals such as pretty girls driving cars. Old movie clips of Vincent Price accompanied “Vincent Price Blues.”
At one point in the show, the band took a license plate from a fan. It read: ZZ TOPS. They passed it around on stage to sign. Gibbons then pretended to be an auctioneer, bidding. “Do I hear 25? 25?” The fan got their license plate back eventually.
Folks kicked up their heels to “Tube Snake Boogie.” There was a lot of 70’s and 80’s nostalgia in the air. I purchased that same famous ‘ZZ’ keychain I had and lost over 10 years ago. For their last few songs including “La Grange” and “Tush,” Gibbons and Hill switched out their guitars for those crazy white and fuzzy ones that spin. The only thing that would have completed the experience for me was if they actually spun those guitars live just once. Well, at least the guitars spun in the video clip. This was a solid performance and this is the perfect band for this venue. ZZ Top has legs.
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Registered and Relieved
After years of placing my first passion, screenwriting to the sidelines, I have finally registered a NEW screenplay with the Library of Congress.
I’m fairly sure the last screenplay I registered was for “American Quest” back in 2001 about young Iranian male teens looking to leave the wrath of Khomeni’s 1980’s Revolution. Inspired by a true story. So many years of juggling other projects including feature film, “Rubbernecking”, struggling to work as a video editor, etc.
In the last five years, I started playing around with some screenplay ideas. I’ve been working on and off on two very different stories.
This screenplay I registered today is a dark, supernatural high school drama. You could call this a teaser. I’m not even giving out the title. It’s only a first draft. There will be more drafts to come. But it just feels so good to finally accomplish what used to be second nature to me. It’s been too long! I used to crank out first drafts like drafts of beer. Well, I no longer drink like a fish. There’s nothing like finishing a good first draft and feeling great about the second draft. And look! IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT!
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Melvins Lite
- Buzz Osbourne
“We broke the record we set last night in Phoenix,” said Buzz Osbourne, lead singer/guitarist of sludge metal band The Melvins Lite. The trio has embarked on a grueling tour in support of their latest release Freak Puke. The tour is more of a mission; 51 dates in 50 states in 51 days including Washington D.C. They’re attempting to break a Guinness Book of World Records to be the fastest tour by a band in the U.S. currently held by George Thorogood. Osbourne was accompanied by drummer/singer Dale Crover and Trevor Dunn on a stand-up bass.
Switching up from the usual 4-piece band with two drummers to the trio with Dunn on bass is why
Bassist Trevor Dunn
they’re called The Melvins Lite. There was nothing ‘Lite’ about it. Osbourne, with his signature grey, ragged hair, black long-sleeve shirt and what looked like sequins, thrashed about on stage, leading the rockers furiously. Bass player Trevor Dunn wore a brown baseball cap, white button-down shirt and a tie. Is this Dunn’s Angus Young (AC/DC) Halloween costume? Dunn got the flannel-wearing crowd of 30 and 40-somethings revved up with his thrilling bass solo from dark, spooky riffs to the pleasant sounds of “Over the Rainbow.” Drummer Dale Crover, mid-40’s, tee-shirt and jeans, re-entered from backstage and told the crowd, “Sing it Bitch!”
Crover got a surprise on-stage before their set as ‘Professional Weirdo’ Jenn O. Cide, a very tall, tattooed, busty brunette, lit up the room with her lengthy ‘fire fingers.’ She then lit the candles on Dale Crover’s cake and led everyone in singing “Happy Birthday” to Crover.
Jenn O. Cide Lights up
Melvins Lite, on their 49th date of this record-breaking tour, has stuck together since the early 80’s. This hard-working band played with great confidence and spirit. It was a solid performance including songs “Mr. Rip Off,” “Electric Flower” and Wings cover “Let Me Roll It.” At the end, Crover shouted, “Let’s get fucking shit-faced!” And with that the band exited the stage. George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” played immediately afterwards. Look out, George!
The show took place at Las Vegas Country Saloon.
Link to article in Vegas Seven Magazine
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A Crowd-Surfing Matisyahu
Matisyahu with The Dirty Heads – Soundwaves Pool @ Hard Rock Hotel
The Dirty Heads
The Dirty Heads kicked off the good vibes with their rock/reggae/hip hop grooves for the beach ball-throwing kids mostly in their 20’s and 30’s. The Dirty Heads with their own fan-base got the crowd dancing and swaying to the hits; “Spread Too Thin” and “Lay Me Down.” The Dirty Heads were solid.
Without his usual skullcap, dark long beard and conservative black and white clothing and tallis or ‘prayer shawl’, Matisyahu walked through the crowd unnoticed as he hopped on stage wearing a white tee-shirt and blue jeans. Many fans were still unaware of his new lighter-colored hair and clean-shaven appearance. He seemed to have a fresh outlook on life as he reached out at one point to go crowd-surfing. It was a good show, but was crowd-surfing and beat-boxing enough to satisfy true fans?
Matisyahu
In early December 2011, Matisyahu shocked the music industry with a new look and not going by the ‘Hasidic reggae superstar.’ He hasn’t shed his Jewish beliefs as much as redefined them for himself.
Matisyahu has experimented with different styles of music and other artists (ex. The Chemical Brothers 2009’s “Drown in the Now”). With his new look and new album, “Spark Seeker,” perhaps his transition is a struggle to find a new identity and a wider audience. His updated look doesn’t mean he’s changed much on the inside. He‘s shed all labels. He just wants to be known as a musician or artist.
My friend (KOMP’s @thehangingchad) and I decided to watch from the upper level. Unbeknownst to us, Matisyahu and his small entourage were hanging out in a cabana nearby before the show. Every once in a while, Matisyahu would exit and walk somewhere with whom I’m guessing was his son, about six years old.
Ross with @TheHangingChad on left
During the show, I actually spoke to a guy with a long, dark, scruffy beard who called himself Kool Kojak. He turned out to be the Co-Writer/Producer on Matisyahu’s current “Spark Seeker” album. Kojak told me Matisyahu grew tired of some the restrictions of Hasidic life. He wanted to embrace his female fans as much as his male fans. That was not allowed in his Hasidic faith.
American Jews and non-Jews alike have identified with Matisyahu’s messages of faith in his lyrics. What made him so inspirational when he first came on the scene was the feeling in his voice when he sang with all his emotion and spirit. His earlier music sang out with such conviction. That magic was not present at this show.
This show was nothing like the first three times I saw him about six years ago. Matisyahu sang some of the old songs; “Time of Your Song,” “Jerusalem” and “King Without a Crown.” There was a slight edginess and a faster tempo to the old songs that lost their original appeal.
At the end, Matisyahu invited fans to climb on stage during “One Day.” And as unnoticed as he entered the stage initially, Matishayu snuck off the crowded stage and back into obscurity. He returned to the very same cabana. I was able to tell him, “Good show!” And it was a good show.
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That Brad Garrett
So, last week I’m working at my freelance editing gig at a post facility in Las Vegas. I’m working on a TV reality pilot. The day before I was informed that Brad Garrett was coming in to do some voice over for an upcoming animated feature film. I think it was going direct to video. I was hoping to meet Mr. Garrett. I had two stories I’d like to share with him.
Story #1: At a post facility in Woodland Hills, CA, I met Brad’s step-father, Lionel, who was waiting to pick up some materials. We exchanged business cards. Months later, Lionel and Brad’s mother attended a screening of my feature film, “Rubbernecking.” (Titled “Accidents Don’t Happen” at the time)
Story #2: When the hot new throwback model of the Ford Thunderbird was coming out, Brad Garrett was in line to get one at the Calabasas dealer. Brad Garrett, who stands 6′ 8″ could not fit into the car and ended up not purchasing it. Next in line was my father and he still has that car today although it’s losing its umph.
Unfortunately, I just missed Mr. Garrett as he left the facility. I did hear him enter initially with his distinct animated character voice. Later, I viewed some clips of his filmed performance. As an animated film subject, actors need to be filmed so the drawings of facial expressions can be accurate and give the animated characters the character of the actor.
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CES 2012
This was my first experience at CES and definitely not my last. I had a blast! So much to see. So much new technology! Apps, apps and more apps.
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Michael McDonald
Soulful singer Michael McDonald has been performing since the late ’60s, and at this sold-out show at the Eastside Cannery Casino on February 18th, 2012, his age showed in some amusing ways. At the very start of the show he had slipped up by saying Los Angeles instead of Las Vegas, but quickly recovered. This one-time backup singer for Steeley Dan and ex-Doobie Brother poked fun at himself hoping he could ‘remember the lyrics’ to solo hit “I Keep Forgettin” off his first album, “If That’s What It Takes.”
A fan wished Michael ‘Happy Birthday.’ McDonald added that he recently turned 60. It was a night to celebrate all of 
his favorite pieces of music from The Doobie Brothers to his solo work to Marvin Gaye. McDonald’s rich baritone sounded great on hits; “It Keeps You Runnin’, ”Minute By Minute,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Sweet Freedom” from the 1986 movie, “Running Scared.” McDonald, on keyboard, was supported by a solid group of musicians. His two female singers encouraged the crowd to stand up and dance throughout the show. Fans instinctively stood up as McDonald sang “What a Fool Believes.” In McDonald’s encore, he dedicated “Takin’ it to the Streets” to Whitney Houston who was buried earlier that day. McDonald ended the 80-minute show with Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City.” It was a night that perhaps McDonald won’t remember, but his fans will.
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Motley Crue…Still Kickin’ Ass!
Of all the bands that have come and gone, Motley Crue is ‘still kickin’ ass!’ All four original members; Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and frontman Vince Neil have kept it together. There of course have been some rocky years, decades, etc. The nature of this band redefined rock and roll debauchery.
Even without the circus of sexy dancers, dangling half-naked from the ceiling of The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel that Wednesday, February 15th, the clowns on stilts and fake-Motley Crue little people running around, the band itself put on an awesome performance. My concern was that Neil wouldn’t sound the same. Neil may have been a little out of breath at times, but his vocal chords were pounding out the high notes.
“Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout at the devil!”
Looks That Kill
The last time I saw Motley Crue I was in college in Hartford, CT in the early 90’s. It was the Dr. Feelgood tour. My seats were so far away. This time my buddy, Andrew, hooked me up on the GA Floor. I could have been as close as I wanted to, but 10-15 feet was close enough.
So many memories growing up as a teenager, rebelling society with my Crue tee-shirts…and parachute pants. Yes, I was also into Run DMC too. For the rest of the world, that was weird. But I love music and whatever ‘Kickstarts’ my heart works for me. Nowadays you can’t recognize songs because they’re so mixed and mashed up. Whatever happened to the days of vinyl? I still have my “Looks That Kill” 45. On the flip side is “Piece of Your Action” which turned me on to Too Fast for Love. I loved that album so much I painted the cover on the back of my jean jacket of a man grabbing his crotch. Looking back it was somewhat startling for my very white-picked fence oriented small town in Armonk, NY. IBM would not approve.
On With the Show
Getting back to the concert, they kicked off the show with “Live Wire,” “Wild Side” and “Too Fast for Love.” Soon after that came “Shout at the Devil.” The middle of the show involved a sit-down acoustic set in a circular mini-stage about 20 feet in front of the stage where my date, Nancy, and I were. The stage spun slowly enhancing the songs (not necessarily ballads) “Without You,” “On With the Show,” and “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away.)”
Drum Solo
A buxom female ringmaster dressed in black and red introduces Tommy Lee as the man ‘every single man wants to be.’ Tommy, sitting in his drum set, loops in a giant circle upside down and all around. Then as “Rollercoaster” comes on by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, a fan gets on stage and rides the contraption with Tommy. Very cool!
Drum roll please
Home Sweet Home
In the middle mini-stage Tommy plays a piano as Vince Neil swings over the crowd from the opposite far corner, singing “Home Sweet Home.” It’s a fitting finale as The Joint is their home all this month of February, from the 3rd to the 19th. It’s also Vince Neil’s permanent residence.
There have been rumors that this could be the end. But then during the show the band hinted at coming back.
Hard Rock Hotel elevator
Come on and Dance!
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108 Shorts…Dam!
In its 8th year, the Dam Short Film Festival puts on a great showcase of 108 short films in a small town setting in Boulder City, Nevada. It was my first time attending this festival and I was very impressed. The wide variety of programs start at 11am in the morning and run until 11pm. Being the Founder of Social Media Film Festival, I opted to get the weekend pass so I could see as many films as possible. I skipped the last programs of each day as it’s a good 45 minute drive to and from my home in Las Vegas. If I had a chance in catching the 11am program the next day, skipping the 11pm program was ideal.
Some films at DSFF I had seen at other local film festivals such as VIFF. They are also some of the shorts I really liked; “Walter Was Here,” “The Southern Belle,” and “Love on a Saturday.”
“Walter Was Here” was a part of the Nevada Filmmakers Showcase along with “Lady and the Chap,” a modern Chaplin-style silent film that came out of last year’s 48 Hour Film Fest.
Nevada Filmmakers
One of my favorite programs was Sci-Fi: Past and Future Friends. “Chorebot” may be my favorite short of the festival. It won for Best Sci-Fi film. “Chorebot” was about a robot and a dog that were neither getting any attention from their master, a man that couldn’t take his eyes off his tablet from minute he wakes up until the minute he leaves and repeating himself when he returns home. The relationship between the robot and the dog is more human than any relationship their master had. Other Sci-Fi standouts were “Shrodinger’s Box” about an cat experiment and a very funny “How to Kill Your Clone.”
“UMOJA: No Men Allowed” is about a group of women in Kenya that leave their tribe to form their own tribe because they’re sick of the way their men treat them like pets. The film won the Best Documentary award and deserved it. I liked it a lot.
Another short I very much enjoyed was “A Finger, Two Dots, Then Me,” a spoken word piece that won Best Drama which sounds odd. It’s more of an experimental film. “Bottle” was my favorite animated film and it won for Best Animation.
Comedy Shorts
The Audience Favorite was “My Good Fortune” about a wanna-bee wiseguy played by director and actor David Silverman (right side of photo to the left). He gets upset because the Chinese restaurant he eats at has no fortune cookies. He goes on this far-away adventure to locate the fortune cookie writer who’s got writer’s block.
“The Proposition” which won for Best Comedy involved a satirical ‘serial’ mom (Tiffany Elle) who wanted to kill her 9 year-old daughter. She hires a hitman played by Todd Stashwick (“The Riches”). Before the hitman can make his ‘move’, the daughter played by Megli Micek gives him a proposition of her own.
Dir. Ed Stein and Megli Micek of "The Proposition"
And finally there’s “Incest! The Musical.” I’ve been waiting for a film to poke fun at “Glee” and the “High School” musical films. The filmmakers hired a real pair of actors with superb voices. Without singing ability this film would have fallen flat. Their power to sing translated to laughs as it was truly a very clever and funny film. Not to mention, it was a student film. WOW! Nicely done!
The Dilinger
I very much enjoyed the film festival. So, if you have not attended the Dam Short Film festival you should plan on doing so next year. The Dilinger, a mob-themed restaurant across the street served very good burgers. You can order the Bugsy or the Capone. So, I’m guessing these really shiny police motorcycles nearby keep a close watch on these Blue Brothers who sit awfully close to The Dilinger restaurant.
The Blues Bros.
In Your Head Productions 