Hey folks, over at Bumpershine we’re big fans of music and photography and that’s why we couldn’t be more stoked to be giving away a brand new Diana F+ Edelweis from Lomography and a copy of the just released White Stripes DVD Under Great White Northern Lights. Honestly, I think this is my best giveaway ever.

What is the Diana F+ Edelweiss you ask? Well, it’s a square shot medium format camera dripping with dreaminess, leaking with light leaks, and oozing with an overall lo-fi character. The brand new all white limited edition Diana F+ Edelweiss is a faithful reproduction and a loving homage to the classic 60’s Diana – with a few new features tossed in. Check out some more detailed specs on the Diana F+ Edelweiss below:

Features
• Two shutter speeds – “N” for normal daytime or “B” for unlimited indoor and nighttime exposures.
• Two image sizes available -12 full-frame shots (5.2×5.2cm) or 16 smaller square images – (4.2×4.2cm)
• Compatible with Diana+ Flash
• Multiple and Partial Exposures
• Removable lens for Pinhole Function
Camera Type
• Zone Focus

Under Great White Northern Lights

As they like to say in the infomercials, but wait, there’s more… The second half of this giveaway is a DVD copy of Under Great White Northern Lights, the brand new documentary feature from the White Stripes which is a tour diary of their awe-inspiring 2007 cross Canada tour.

Having first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2009, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights documents the band playing to crowds in towns of all sizes across the Great White North – from traditional venues to matinee gigs at unusual locations such as a bowling alley, a boat and even on a city bus – culminating in a momentous 10th Anniversary show at the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. A captivating mix of striking live footage and poignant off-stage moments, this visually stirring and emotive feature length film celebrates the band’s 10 year history, bringing the band full circle in their career to a place reminiscent of how they first started out; shows where no one knew who they were, and where they were left to make a first impression with their music.

For those White Stripes completists out there, the new DVD is also available in a limited edition box-set (which I’m NOT giving away here):

• DVD of the documentary film The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights, directed by Emmett Malloy (92 minutes)
• DVD of the band’s 10th Anniversary show, The White Stripes Under Nova Scotian Lights, directed by Emmett Malloy (135 minutes)
• The first-ever official live album from The White Stripes, featuring 16 songs recorded at various shows during their 2007 Canadian tour on both vinyl and CD. The double LP comes pressed on 180 gram black vinyl packaged in a gatefold jacket with a 6 panel insert unique to the box set. The CD accompanies the film and Anniversary show DVDs in a special 7″ square 3 panel folder along with a 24 page bound booklet and slipcase.
• 7 inch vinyl featuring Icky Thump (Live) and The Wheels On The Bus (Live). Two versions available with different artwork and color of vinyl depending on your country of residence.
• 208 page hard cover book containing photographs of the Canadian tour shot by Autumn de Wilde with a foreword by Jim Jarmusch.
• 1 of 6 different silk-screened prints designed by Rob Jones.

For your chance to win, fill out the contest entry form after the jump. Contest ends March 31, 2010 at 11:59 PM EDT, 1 entry per household (multiple entries will be disqualified), US residents only please.

PS Third Man Records is putting up a pop-up store at SXSW at Frank! (407 Colarado St). In my experience, where there’s a pop-up store, there’s usually a surprise White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather show to go along with it.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Singer Inara George and multi-instrumental/producer Greg Kurstin, aka The Bird and The Bee, will release Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates, on March 23 via Blue Note Records. The new album will feature eight classic covers along with the original song “Heard It On The Radio.” The band played a pre-album release show at the El Rey Theater in LA on March 5, but no future tour dates have been scheduled as Inara George is expecting a new release of her own (and by that, I mean a baby) on April 30. The entire El Rey show was webcast live at Livestream.com, and will be archived on the site starting March 22.

In honor of the new release, I’m giving away a copy of the record on vinyl and a band t-shirt. For your chance to win, fill out the entry form after the jump. US entrants only, a winner will be announced on March 23, one entry per household please.

Album art, track list and contest entry form after the jump.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates
Heard It On The Radio
I Can’t Go For That
Rich Girl
Sara Smile
Kiss On My List
Maneater
She’s Gone
Private Eyes
One on One

While the high profile (and excellent) original soundtrack for Where The Wild Things Are featuring Karen O and the Kids was snubbed by the Academy this year (though it did receive both Grammy and Golden Globe nods), the lesser known documentary film on Maurice Sendak entitled, Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak, was not. The Lance Bangs/Spike Jonze directed short documentary feature comes out on DVD on March 2, 2010, which is also the same day that the critically polarizing Where The Wild Things Are is released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

To promote the release of both films (though B&N only mentions the documentary), Spike Jonze and Lance Bangs will be doing a Q&A with John Hodgman at Barnes & Noble Union Square on March 2, 2010. For those of you unfamiliar with the Sendak documentary (or missed it when it aired on HBO), here’s the amazon.com description:

From Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze, acclaimed director of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, comes TELL THEM ANYTHING YOU WANT: A PORTRAIT OF MAURICE SENDAK, a loving look at one of the most cherished and controversial figures in children’s literature. TELL THEM ANYTHING YOU WANT is a deeply moving tribute to Sendak, a seminal talent whose conflicts with success and lifelong obsession with death have subtly influenced his work. Now 81, Sendak is best known for his book, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, which he wrote twelve years into his career as a writer and illustrator. WILD THINGS would go on to become one of the most beloved and critically lauded children s books of all time and, much to Sendak s chagrin, would come to define his career. Through his own words, personal photos, and illustrations, Sendak offers a rare, intimate, and unexpected look at his exceptional life. TELL THEM ANYTHING YOU WANT also features James Gandolfini, Meryl Streep, Catherine Keener, and Tony Kushner honoring their friend and colleague.

In celebration of Mr. Sendak and the release of his signature work on DVD, I’m running another “super-cool” contest featuring the following prizes:

1 Copy of the Where The Wild Things Are Original Soundtrack on CD;
1 Copy of the Where The Wild Things Are motion picture on DVD;
1 Carol Mask; and
1 Where The Wild Things Are Crown.

For a chance to win these fabulous prizes, fill out the entry form after the jump. A random winner will be notified and selected on March 2, 2010 at midnight. Contest is only available to US residents, 1 entry per household (if you try and cheat, you won’t win).

Last but not least, for those of you that prefer the written word, you can still purchase the original award winning Maurice Sendak book in fine bookstores everywhere.

Where The Wild Things Are Carol Mask and Crown

Lance Bangs speaks to the Cinefamily crowd about Tell Them Anything You Want

Aziz Ansari has a few reasons to celebrate these days, first of all, his show Parks and Recreation just got picked up for a third season on NBC, he just released a new comedy album and companion DVD, entitled Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening, and by popular demand, he’s playing 8 CD release shows at Comix over the next four days (Feb 3-6).

In honor of his new releases, I’m giving away 3 copies of Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening on DVD to three lucky readers of this blog. To enter the contest, fill out this entry form after the jump. This contest ends on Feb 12, 2010 at midnight, US residents only, 1 entry per household (IP checking enforced).

Contest entry form and more Aziz Ansari tour dates after the jump.

Aziz Ansari 2010 Tour Dates
02.03 – 02.06 – New York, NY – Comix
02.08 – University of Southern California
02.19 – 02.20 Denver, CO – Comedy Works
02.27 – University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE

Last month, Editors released In This Light And On This Evening in the US (it came out last year in the UK), and this month they’re touching down on our shores to play a 12 city tour. They’ll be at Terminal 5 on Feb 19 (Buy Tickets) showcasing their new Flood produced record and apparently they are quite excited about playing the new material, especially to an American audience:

“We haven’t been there for awhile,” Lay said. “It’s always fun for us to play the States. It’s quite easy for the band to tour there. There’s no communication barrier. You can have a lot of fun but play some incredibly exciting venues like the Wiltern in Los Angeles, one of the best venues in the world. To come over and get the opportunity again is great for us. Based on previous tours, we had a great time.

“This show should be different as well. Because we incorporated a lot of different stuff on the record, a lot of new instruments, you get an awful lot of variety. You’ve got different stations of samples, drum machines. We kind of had to work our way around the stage a little bit more to play them at different times. Literally, it’s more exciting. We’ve got quite a mix of songs now. Quite a lot of dynamic range. It makes the show far more interesting.” [LiveDaily.com]

In honor of the new album and the new tour, I’m giving away a copy of In This Light And On This Evening and a tour t-shirt to one lucky reader. For your chance to win, please fill in this entry form after the jump. Contest ends Feb 10, 2010 at midnight EST, US residents only, one entry per household (IP checking is enforced).

Editors tour dates and contest entry form after the jump.

Editors 2010 US Tour Dates
02/05 – Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
02/06 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
02/08 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
02/09 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
02/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
02/13 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
02/15 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
02/16 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
02/18 – Boston, MA – House of Blues Boston
02/19 – New York City, NY – Terminal 5
02/20 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero Theatre
02/21 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club

The deadline to enter this contest is today (Jan 22) at noon EST. Once again, here’s what you can win:

1) 4 Tickets to Dan Zanes at BAM, Saturday, February 6 at 2 & 5pm
2) Fine Friends Are Here and 76 Trombones CD/DVD bundle
3) Fine Friends Are Here DVD
4) 76 Trombones CD

Fill out the entry form after the jump for your chance to win.

So you probably know Threadless for their hipster approved t-shirts, but what you probably don’t know is that they just launched a new line of iPhone and iPod touch cases decorated with original art from the Threadless community. In honor of their foray into the world of Apple accessories, I’m giving away two of their new “Living In Harmony” iPhone cases (pictured above) to two lucky readers of this site. To enter to win, fill out the entry form after the jump, US residents only, one entry per household (IP checking will be enforced). This contest ends on Wednesday, January 27 at noon EST. Good luck!

Entry form and the “video trailer” for the new iPhone case after the jump.

On his new album, instead of traditional folk songs or the poems Carl Sandburg, Dan Zanes puts his unique stamp on 17 Broadway classics on the thoroughly enjoyable 76 Trombones. Special guest stars on Trombones include Broadway luminaries like Carol Channing, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Matthew Broderick as well as Zanes regulars like Father Goose, and the fetching Sonia De Los Santos. In celebration of the new album, Brooklyn’s King of Kid Pop is putting together a couple of wild dance parties on Saturday, February 6th at the famed Gilman Opera House at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The special family shows promise to be a unique celebration of the borough’s many wonderful cultures and will feature some of Dan’s good friends including: Derick K. Grant, Tareq Abboushi, the Bed-Stuy Resoration Youth Arts Academy, The Brooklyn Symphony Youth Orchestra and many others! Because Dan Zanes concerts are a cause for celebration around here, Festival Five Records and Bumpershine.com are giving you the opportunity to win a set of 4 tickets for you and your family to the BAM shows along with some other special prizes including copies of 76 Trombones on CD as well as their new live concert DVD The Fine Friends Are Here! Check out the complete list of awesome Dan Zanes prizes below!

1) 4 Tickets to Dan Zanes at BAM, Saturday, February 6 at 2 & 5pm
2) Fine Friends Are Here and 76 Trombones CD/DVD bundle
3) Fine Friends Are Here DVD
4) 76 Trombones CD

To enter the contest, please fill out the entry form after the jump. Contest is available to US residents only. Deadline to enter the contest is January 22, 2010 at noon.

Dan Zanes tour dates and track listing for 76 Trombones after the jump.

Dan Zanes 2010 Tour Dates
01/23 Albany, NY The Egg
02/06 Brooklyn, NY BAM, BAMfamily and Sounds Like Brooklyn Concert
03/06 Berkeley, CA Cal Performances
03/07 Berkeley, CA Cal Performances
04/17 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
04/18 Flushing, NY Kupferberg Center for the Arts
05/02 North Bethesda, MD Strathmore
05/08 New York, NY Metropolitan Museum of Art
05/22 Westhampton Beach, NY Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
05/23 Morristown, NJ Mayo Center for the Performing Arts

76 Trombones Track Listing
1. Seventy Six Trombones
2. Hello, Dolly! (with Carol Channing)
3. I Can Do That (with Derick K. Grant)
4. I Like Ev’rybody (with Brian Stokes Mitchell)
5. I Won’t Grow Up
6. Big On Broadway (with Father Goose)
7. Thumbelina (with Father Goose)
8. Tomorrow (Mañana) (with Sonia De Los Santos)
9. I Don’t Need Anything But You (with De’Adre Aziza)
10. Gary, Indiana/ The Wells Fargo Wagon
11. You I Like
12. The Inch Worm
13. I’m Flying
14. Before The Parade Passes By (with Matthew Broderick)
15. You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
16. I Am What I Am (with the band aka The Friends)
17. Goodnight, My Someone

I was fortunate enough to attend the original taping of Wednesday night’s Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… (airing Dec 23 at 10PM on Sundance) and after seeing the entire thing on TV, I think this episode plays better now that it has been whittled down to a television friendly 45 minutes. As for the performances within the show, the full band rendition of “The Weight” (complete with 3 guitarists, 2 drummers, 2 bass players, 1 piano player, 1 keyboard player and Ray LaMontagne) was the highlight of the night for me, followed closely by Richard Thompson’s “Shoot Out The Lights” and Nick Lowe’s “The Beast In Me”. While the original taping suffered from too much Elvis and not enough guests, the edited version is actually more watchable because they were able to cut out some of Elvis’ more long-winded questions and focus a little more on the guests answers. Each guest got more or less an anecdote and a song and then they all came together for the big finale with “The Weight”. Levon Helm, who was defying doctor’s orders to be at the show, was the only guest who actually didn’t talk at all because of a severe vocal strain, so he and Elvis did a “Mr. Ed” routine where Helm answered questions via drum rolls (it was corny, but I guess they had to leave it in, otherwise Levon wouldn’t have gotten any “interview” time at all). For those of you who’d actually like to hear the man sing, I’m pretty sure Mr. Helm will be in better voice when he plays his big show at Terminal 5 on January 7, 2010 (Buy Tickets) with Okkervil River. Our friends in the Garden State can catch Levon at Harrah’s in Atlantic City on February 26 and then again at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ on February 27.

In honor of tonight’s episode of Spectacle and Levon Helm’s recent Grammy nomination for his album Electric Dirt, I’m giving away a copy of Midnight Ramble, a gorgeous looking coffee table book featuring artist testimonials and some of the best photographs from Levon’s monthly all-star jam session at his home/studio/farm in Woodstock, NY. (US residents only, contest ends on December 31, 2009 at 11:59 PM.) Click here to enter the contest.

The Levon Helm Midnight Ramble
Artist: Levon Helm
Author: Paul LaRaia
Artist: The Band

The official record of the incredible down-home jam sessions held by Levon Helm, the charismatic drummer, singer, and sometimes mandolin player for The Band. Accompanying the spectacular photos are testimonials and remembrances from the notable blues entertainers and musicians who have joined the Ramble.

Contest entry form and more Levon Helm tour dates after the jump.

Levon Helm Tour 2010 Dates
01/07/10 Terminal 5, w/ Okkervil River, New York, NY (Buy Tickets)
01/08/10 Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
02/26/10 The Wellmont Theatre, w/ The Duke and the King, Montclair, NJ (Buy Tickets)
02/27/10 Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ (Buy Tickets)

PS According to certain emails I have received, a “surprise guest” will also be appearing at this show. (Surprise guest details TBA on January 4.)

Neil Young is one of my all-time favorite artists, so I’m incredibly psyched to be giving away a copy of Neil’s recent early career retrospective box set, Archives: Volume 1 (1963-1972). Here’s a little bit of what Will Hermes of NPR had to say about the Blu-Ray edition of Archives: Vol. 1:

The 10-disc set overflows with great music, some previously released and some not. Young was working with four remarkable bands during those years: Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crazy Horse and the Stray Gators, who backed him on the classic LP Harvest. The collection also shows Young working out songs as a solo performer — as in a 1965 demo, “The Rent Is Always Due,” whose melody would be repurposed in one of his signature tunes, “I Am a Child.”
…
Music aside, Neil Young Archives includes a ridiculous amount of ephemera. Clearly, this man throws out nothing. Between the 236-page book and the multimedia submenus, there are yellowed newspaper articles, handwritten lyric sheets, personal photographs and rare picture sleeves; old radio interviews and Young’s stoner-surrealist midnight movie, Journey Through the Past. To many, it’ll all seem like overkill. But if you’re like me, you’ll waste hours with this stuff. Neil Young’s Archives is definitely the new gold standard for artist anthologies, and I’m sure many will follow suit, since it’s a cash-cow concept for an ailing industry. But few musicians have a body of work that deserves this kind of treatment. This guy definitely does. [NPR.org]

One lucky first place winner will win a copy of Neil Young’s massive 10 disc box set on DVD and three runner-ups will win a copy of Neil’s brand new live album Dreamin’ Man: Live ‘92. Dreamin’ Man features early stage live material from the album that sparked the Neil Young renaissance of the 90’s, Harvest Moon. For your chance to win, fill out this contest entry form after the jump. Contest ends on December 24, 2009, 1 entry per household (IP checking is enforced), US entrants only.

Dreamin’ Man Live ‘92
The album is a complete live performance of Young’s album Harvest Moon drawn from various solo acoustic shows he performed in 1992 before the actual release of the Harvest Moon studio recording, which makes this performance even more unique.

Dreamin’ Man track list and Archives Vol. 1 widget after the jump.

Dreamin Man’: Live ‘92 Track Listing
1. Dreamin’ Man [Live 1992] 5:03
2. Such A Woman [Live 1992] 4:59
3. One Of These Days [Live 1992] 4:59
4. Harvest Moon [Live 1992] 5:26
5. You And Me [Live 1992] 4:01
6. Hank To Hendrix [Live 1992] 5:31
7. Unknown Legend [Live 1992] 4:47
8. Old King [Live 1992] 3:10
9. Natural Beauty [Live 1992] 11:26
10. War Of Man [Live 1992] 6:27

The vinyl pressing of Dreamin’ Man will be released on January 12, 2010 on Reprise Records.

Photos: Dave Matthews Band at ACL Festival 2009, Ben Harper at Mile High Festival by Jay Blakesberg, Gogol Bordello at APW 2009 by G!

The folks at AEG Live have been busy running around the country filming festivals over the past year or so, and this Friday (Dec 11) they are going to release some of that footage to the public in the form of a 3D concert film titled (something like), “Larger Than Life” in 3D Featuring Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper and Gogol Bordello. “Larger Than Life” captures portions of Gogol Bordello’s awe-inspiring set at All Points West 2009, Ben Harper’s slide guitar laden outing at the 2009 Mile High Festival in Denver, CO and a good chunk of Dave Matthews sweat drenched headlining set at the 2009 Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, TX.

For those of you into DMB (there are some still some of you out there right?), you probably don’t need any convincing to go see this film, for the rest of us, I can give you three good reasons to go and see this film, “Gogol” and “Bordello” and “3D”. Eugene Hutz’s energetic live performance is only heightened by the stereoscopic 3D effect, my only complaint is that it was just too darn short (stick around for the end credits though, they throw in an extra GB song for the faithful). I was little surprised by the song choice for Ben Harper’s set as at least two songs have him seated while wailing away on the slide guitar, not necessarily the most compelling action to watch on screen (even if it is in 3D). Dave Matthews set leans heavily on tracks from his new Grammy Nominated CD, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, and caps off with a crowd pleasing “So Much To Say”/”Ants Marching” finale. Personally, I haven’t really been that enamored with Mr. Matthews since Crash rocked my world in 1996, and I can’t say I was really won over by the new material, but as I said before, I’m sure DMB fans will jump at the chance to see Dave “live” once again.

As for the 3D, this film is not about flying beach balls or preening for the camera— the effects are a lot more subtle than that. Sure at times, instruments, crowds, and at least one beach ball appear to “jump out” of the screen, but the biggest impression the 3D left on me was the illusion that there was some “real” physical space between the performers on stage. Also, as Jon remarked, because of the 3D, you can watch the movie from more than one visual perspective:

The thing that struck me most about the technology was, the endless depth of field in the video. It makes it more like being there in person since the viewer is able to look around and see anything on the screen clearly. This is in contrast to traditional films, where the cameraman leads the attention of the viewer by focusing on certain subjects within the video frame.

Well if you’d like to see for yourself what the fuss is about, I’m giving away two “Larger Than Life” prize packs with the following items:

1st Place
1 run of engagement movie pass (valid for 2 tickets)
2 “3D looking” replica tour passes, and
2 limited edition InConcert3D t-shirts
2 limited edition movie posters

2nd Place
1 run of engagement movie pass (valid for 2 tickets)
2 “3D looking” replica tour passes, and
1 limited edition InConcert3D t-shirt

Since the movie premieres on Friday, December 11 and ends its limited run on December 17 (just in time for James Cameron’s Avatar to take over all the 3D screens in America), I’m going to give this contest a very short fuse and end it on December 11 at noon EST. Use the entry form after the jump to enter the contest, valid only in the US, entrants must be 18+.

View some pictures of the prize pack and the “Larger Than Life In 3D” trailer after the jump.

PS For any Phish Phans out there, the folks at AEG mentioned that they also filmed the recent “Save The Date” festival at Coachella; the only question now is how to make it into a movie that lasts less than 3 days.

“Larger Than Life in 3D” Prize Pack

“Larger Than Life In 3D” Trailer

You’ve seen the billboards, watched the promo videos, maybe even read some spoiler reviews, but as of tonight (Dec 9 at 10PM) the long wait is finally over. On the Season 2 premiere of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… mild mannered talk show host Elvis Costello, sits down with two of the biggest rock stars on the planet, Bono and The Edge, for a revealing fireside chat at Toronto’s Masonic Temple.

In honor of the premiere of Season 2 of Spectacle I’m giving away an awesome Sundance Channel Prize Pack (tote bag, baseball cap, t-shirt, usb key, pen and notebook) as well as Season 1 of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… on DVD. For your chance to win, fill out this contest entry form after the jump. Contest ends on December 16, 2009, 1 entry per household (IP checking is enforced), US entrants only.

Sundance Channel Prize Pack

Contest entry form, full set list from the Bono/Edge taping (including unaired performances), and Spectacle Season 2 schedule after the jump.

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… Bono & The Edge
Taping Date: September 15, 2009
Taping Location: Masonic Temple, Toronto, ON
01. Please – EC & The Imposters
02. Dirty Day – EC & The Imposters
03. Mysterious Ways – EC & The Imposters
04. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) – Bono & The Edge
05. Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad – Bono with Davey Faragher & Pete Thomas
06. Alison – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
07. Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
08. Pump It Up / Get On Your Boots – EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters

Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… Season 2 Schedule
December 9 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bono and The Edge
December 16 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester
December 23 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint
January 6 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Elvis Costello
January 13 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne, and John Prine
January 20 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bruce Springsteen pt.1
January 27 at 10:00 PM – Spectacle: Elvis Costello with TBD Bruce Springsteen pt. 2

In early November, chief bumpershine theatre critic Robert Jaimes and I attended a preview on FELA! on Broadway, here’s his review:

FELA! A Review by Robert Jaimes

In celebrating the music of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, FELA! is, at times, downright hypnotic. With its driving beats, raw and often-politically-infused lyrics, FELA! immediately promises the audience something different in the way of a Broadway theatrical experience. Different it delivers. FELA! falls somewhat short, however, when the story drifts away from the unique concert experience that FELA! originally promises.

Upon entering the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the audience is transported to “The Shrine,” which, according to the program note, “is in one of the most dangerous parts of the city, and between the thousands trying to get in and the Army trying to keep you away, it’s no easy task. Best to show up before 11 PM.” (The good news is, thanks to advance ticket sales and assigned seating in this Times Square Disneyfication era, I experienced neither dodgy Black Friday-like mobs clamoring to get in, nor NYPD’s finest militia barricading my entrance into the theatre. I do recommend, however, arriving a tad earlier than the program note recommends— no later than 8 PM for evening shows— so as not to avoid missing the show altogether.)

Almost immediately, we are treated to “B.I.D. (Breaking It Down),” a series of songs designed to provide a lively and interactive education in the music of Fela Kuti and the genre of Afrobeat. For those unfamiliar with this musical style, Afrobeat can be described as a symphony of raw, tribal rhythms, infused with jazz. Fela’s caustic lyrics tell it like it is in corrupt 1970s Nigeria, they are often urgent, often playful, and never apologetic. Combined, the music and lyrics can accuse, inspire, compel and amuse.

Led by the remarkable Sahr Ngaujah in the title role [Kevin Mambo also plays the lead twice a week], the FELA! cast embraces Afrobeat with every ounce of their immensely talented beings. With the help of Brooklyn’s Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, their mastery and expression of Fela’s music is mesmerizing. Standout performances include “Everything Scatter,” “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense,” “Expensive Shit” and “Zombie.”

Neither the choreography of Bill T. Jones nor of his talented dancers ever misstep. In some of the more uplifting moments in FELA!, traditional tribal-like dances are brought alive with such joy, spontaneity, child-like abandonment and down-and-dirty sexuality. The dancers’ spirits are infectious. Jones has infused into heart-pounding, primitive African dance such eclectic dance styles as Bollywood, jitterbug, swing, latin beat, as well as military and tap, making FELA! ethnocentric and universal, foreign and recognizable, all at once.

Those not familiar with Afrobeat or Nigerian accents, fear not, at least for part of the show. Director/Choreographer Bill T. Jones has adeptly employed multi-media elements— supertitles and vintage footage— to assist the untrained ear and tell Fela’s story.

Despite its excellent music and dancing, I had some difficulties with the story in FELA!. The narrative interrupts; it transported me away from The Shrine that Bill T. Jones and the rest of his design staff and cast and crew so successfully created at the top of the show. Although the real-life history of Fela Kuti can pack an emotional wallop, particularly the brutal military raid on Fela’s compound depicted in Act Two, I often felt imposed upon and at times confused. A dream sequence between Fela and his mother, Funmilayo Kuti, also particularly missed the mark, with the set evoking a white netherworld, a Roosevelt Island tram and an aluminum Christmas tree. Enough said? As terrific as Broadway veteran Lillias White is as Funmilayo, I wanted Fela to wake up right away. – RJ

While I basically agree with Robert’s assessment, (though I might have added that FELA’s lighting was also excellent), I really think that fans of Fela Kuti, fans of Afrobeat, and music fans in general will find this show tremendously entertaining. Sahr Nguajah was truly a tour de force in the lead role— he dances, acts, conducts, and plays sax, all with exceptional prowess and seemingly boundless energy. Aside from Mr. Nguajah, the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra delivers a finely honed performance and the chorus of dancers are as talented as they are magnetic. In short, there is really nothing like Fela! on Broadway right now and I really hope it finds the audience it deserves— hopefully the addition of Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith as executive producers will help out in that respect. To those of you who usually prefer the dark confines of a Lower East Side club over the blinding lights of Times Square, I encourage you to head on up to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre for a change of pace, I think you’ll be glad you did.

Now here’s the best part, I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to FELA! on Broadway valid for a variety of performances in December 2009 and January 2010. In order to win tickets, please fill out the entry form after the jump, US residents (locals only please), must be 18 or older. This contest ends on December 11, 2009. If you’re not the winner, don’t despair though, you can still purchase tickets to FELA! on Broadway via Telecharge, use code FEBBX67 or FEBX817 for substantial savings.

One last thing, this recent interest in Fela has sparked a couple of interesting side projects, nearly four dozen Fela albums are being reissued on Knitting Factory Records in the US starting in 2010 (a 2 CD “Best of the Black President” compilation is out now), Focus Features has announced that they are developing a feature film based on the life of Fela, and finally Brooklyn’s own Antibalas has started a Thursday night residency at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn from now until January 28th, 2010.

UPDATE: Watch for the cast of FELA! on The Colbert Report tonight (Dec 7).

Contest entry form, more information on the Fela Kuti reissues and Antibalas residency after the jump.

PS See Ben Brantley’s rave review over here.

Fela Kuti Album Reissue Schedule
Fela Kuti – “Koola Lobitos / The ‘69 Los Angeles Sessions” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory
Fela Kuti – “Live with Ginger Baker” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory
Fela Kuti – “Shakara / London Scene” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory
Fela Kuti – “Roforofo Fight / The Fela Singles” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory
Fela Kuti – “Open & Close / Afrodisiac” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory
Fela Kuti – “Confusion / Gentleman” (02/02/10) Knitting Factory

Antibalas Residency at The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY)
Every Thursday from December 3rd thru January 28th

After dedicating the last three years providing the musical foundation and pulse for the latest off- and on-Broadway sensation, Fela!, Antibalas brings the party back to its Brooklyn roots for a weekly residency at the Knitting Factory. The concerts promise to hearken back to Antibalas legendary Africalia! dance parties at Tribecas now-defunct No Moore club, and further cement the band’s reputation as an unstoppable live music juggernaut. From the New York Post (“What really makes the show work is the music, fabulously delivered by Antibalas”), to the New York Times (“As played by the Brooklyn band Antibalas, this is music that gets into your bloodstream”), Antibalas’ reputation has quickly become headline news.

Disclaimer: The producers of FELA! provided me with tickets to this show for review, promotion and giveaway. However, regular readers probably recall that I expressed interest in this show long before I was ever contacted by its PR team.

Hey, it’s Friday, and by my estimation, Chanukah is right around the corner, so why not have another giveaway right? To win a copy of Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition (featuring Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie), fill out the entry form after the jump. Contest ends on December 9, 2009, US entrants only, 18 years and older.

Product Description
Rowan Atkinson is deliciously twisted as the comic villain, Edmund Blackadder, in the enormously popular comedy series. Follow Blackadder in hysterical send-ups of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan age, the Regency period, and World War I. This special edition contains new exclusive interviews and audio commentaries , making it a must have for all BlackAdder fans.
- Remastered series: The Black Adder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, Blackadder Goes Forth
- New commentary by Rowan Atkinson and John Lloyd, Stephen Fry, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Tony Robinson and Tim McInnery
- Blackadder Rides Again: special 60-minute documentary to mark the 25th anniversary
- Exclusive extended interviews with Hugh Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry
- Costumes Revisited with Miranda Richardson, Patsy Byrne, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnery
- Plus Blackadder’s Christmas Carol, Blackadder the Cavalier Years, Blackadder Back and Forth, Baldrick’s Video Diary and more

If you like this video, you can head on over to the BBCAmericaShop.com and enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree! More details about the BBC America 2009 Holiday Sweepstakes after the jump.

BBC America Holiday Sweepstakes Details

First Prize:
A $500 BBC America Shop gift certificate for the winner and a $500
BBC America Shop gift certificate for the friend or family of his or her choice.

Second Prize:
A $250 BBC America Shop gift certificate for the winner and a $250
BBC America Shop gift certificate for the friend or family of his or her choice.

Third Prize:
A $100 BBC America Shop gift certificate for the winner and a $100
BBC America Shop gift certificate for the friend or family of his or her choice.