SWEET DAVIS EP REVIEW OF BITTERSWEET

The Virginia-based band Sweet Davis has released their latest EP, Bittersweet.  The 3-song EP is a nice blend of indie-pop rock with splashes of country.  Singer Kristin Davis joins her brother Pete Davis (drums) and Matt Ascione (bass and guitar) to form the trio which sound more like a 5 piece band with the addition of piano, keyboards and guitars.

Sweet Davis got their start quite by chance… On one particular night there was a jam/rehearsal session for an upcoming show at a bar in DC.  When the singer didn’t show, Kristin, who had had a couple drinks and was feeling no pain, grabbed the microphone and started singing.  Pete Davis recalls: “I knew my sister had musical talent but had never really heard her sing. That night we knew she was it.”

The song Ready has plenty of great guitar riffs.  Somehow, I expected to hear a male voice but was pleasantly surprised to hear this woman’s voice sear through the chords and out of the speakers.  Too Shy has melodic, free spirited piano playing that is reminiscent of Bruce Hornsby’s That’s The Way It Is.  The last track, Sparks, will spark your interest with catchy anthem lyrics the audience can sing along to.  If you are feeling blue, turn on this track and instantly feel better.  Better yet, just replay the EP!

For more information, please visit their website www.sweetdavis.com

Or contact Tailfish Publik Relations Phone: 310.721.0877 www.tailfish.com

HOW DID OSCAR NIGHT 2012 GO DOWN IN HISTORY, IMHO?

On Billy Crystal

It was great to see Billy, like a longtime friend.  Overall, IMHO he did great.  Billy is best when he is spontaneous.  So I thought he’d reference The Dictator’s incident with Ryan Seacrest.  Loved the opening montage and song saluting the NINE movies nominated for Best Picture.  They could have done with 5 and added more Best Original Song choices:}

Funny Moments

When cast of The Bridesmaids came out.  Wild card!  Also,when Jim Rash imitated Angelina Jolie’s odd pose earlier.  Oh yeah, Angelina Jolie’s odd pose!  Didn’t realize how silly/goofy she was on the red carpet until the recap.

Award Winners

I guessed 19 out of 24 correctly.  Not going to win any contests though:{  The ones that got me were Hugo dominating the tech awards.  And Girl With Dragon Tattoo duo winning Film Editing for a second consecutive time.  The Academy really likes these guys.  Also, I really thought Viola Davis was going to win for Best Actress.  Did people just want to hear Meryl Streep’s off the cuff acceptance speeches?  She is entertaining.

Overall

I thought the show would come in just under on on time.  But alas, they stretched it out and went over 10 minutes.  It seemed to flow pretty well.  Time was saved by having presenters present more than one award.  Smart!

THE RED CARPET LOOKS ON OSCAR NIGHT 2/26/12

This year’s trends seem to be white, oof-white or pale colored dresses, hair swept to one side (Stacy Keibler, Maya, Miss Piggy), glamorous do’s (Milla Jovovich, Penelope Cruz) or loose-waves worn long (Angelina Jolie, Kristen Wiig).  Also one scoop sleeved shoulder (Kate Mara, Missi Pyle, Stacy K.).  Thanks for the homage to Hollywood of the 20’s and 30’s Rooney Mara, Milla Jovovich and Penelope Ann Miller (Badgley Mishka).  Angelina Jolie looked a little lost in that Atelier Versace black dress with the slit up to… She tried too hard with the poses.  Angelina has great legs but TOO skinny arms:{

MY TOP TEN WOMEN

Giuliana Rancic was my favorite in glamorous white Tony Ward

Milla Jovovich started the night in a classy white Ellie Saab

Cameron Diaz who is a hit or miss woman got it right in a cream Gucci dress

Penelope Cruz looked light and airy in slate blue grey Giorgio Armani Prive

Natalie Portman wore some color in red with black polka dots Dior Haute Couture

Viola Davis wore a standout green Vera Wang which fit her perfectly

Jennifer Lopez looked classic but with a modern twist in off white Zuhair Murad

Rooney Mara looked art deco perfect in white Givenchy

Octavia Spencer wore a very pretty and flattering off white Tadashi Shoji

Sheila E looked perfect and gorgeous in a sleeveless white #

MY TOP MEN

Brad, Bradley, Colin, George, Jean and Pharrell (in alphabetical order)

HOTTEST COUPLES

On the red carpet: Brad and Angelina

At the Vanity Fair party: Becks and Victoria.  Also Taye and Idina.

GOLDEN COUPLE

George and Stacy (but Stacy looked a bit too shiny for me, like an award/statue)

MOST DARING

Gwyneth Paltrow in a white Tom Ford cape and dress.  It was perfect only on her!

HONORABLE MENTION

Tina Fey in midnight blue Carolina Herrera, one of my favorite designers I admire.

SAY NO TO THE DRESS!

Jessica Chastain – Too medieval for me.  Looked like it was straight out of The Tudors!

Shailene Woodley – It didn’t flatter her body, not glamorous at all!

Maya Rudolf - Loved the color but not the bedazzled sleeves!

Emma Stone – What an obnoxious bow!  Didn’t Nicole Kidman pull off a similar style in the past?

Did Melissa McCarthy and Sherri Shepard have the same designer?!  Too much sleeve and fabric going on!

Emma Stone with that obnoxious bow!  Also reminded me of Nicole Kidman’s dress from the past.

AND THE WINNERS FROM 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS ARE...

Best Picture	The Artist
Best Actor	Jean Dujardin
Best Actress	Meryl Streep
Best Supporting Actor	Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress	Octavia Spencer
Best Director	Michel Hazanavicius
Best Original Screenplay	The Descendants
Best Adapted Screenplay	Midnight In Paris
Best Foreign Language	A Separation
Best Animated Feature	Rango
Best Animated Short	Fantastic Flying Books
Best Original Score	The Artist
Best Original Song	Man or Muppet
Best Cinematography	Hugo
Best Art Direction	Hugo
Best Costume Design	The Artist
Best Makeup	The Iron Lady
Best Film Editing	Girl With Dragon Tattoo
Best Sound Editing	Hugo
Best Sound Mixing	Hugo
Best Visual Effects	Hugo
Best Documentary	Undefeated
Best Documentary Short	Saving Face
Best Live-Action Short	The Shore

MY OSCAR PREDICTIONS FOR TONIGHT: 2/26/12

Best Actor	Jean Dujardin
Best Actress	Viola Davis
Best Adapted Screenplay	Midnight In Paris
Best Animated Feature	Rango
Best Animated Short	Fantastic Flying Books
Best Art Direction	Hugo
Best Cinematography	Tree of Life
Best Costume Design	The Artist
Best Director	Michel Hazanavicius
Best Documentary	Undefeated
Best Documentary Short	Saving Face
Best Film Editing	The Artist
Best Foreign Language	A Separation
Best Live-Action Short	The Shore
Best Makeup	The Iron Lady
Best Original Score	The Artist
Best Original Screenplay	The Descendants
Best Original Song	Man or Muppet
Best Picture	The Artist
Best Sound Editing	War Horse
Best Sound Mixing	Hugo
Best Supporting Actor	Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress	Octavia Spencer
Best Visual Effects	Rise of Planet of Apes

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS

Best Feature – The Artist Best Male Lead – Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Female Lead – Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Male – Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Female – Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Director – Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best First Feature – J.C. Chandor (director) - Margin Call
Best Screenplay – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Descendants
Best First Screenplay – Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Cinematography – Guillaume Schiffman, The Artist
Best Documentary – Steve James (director) – The Interrupters
Best International Film – A Separation (Iran)
Piaget Producers Award – Take Shelter
Robert Altman Award – Margin Call
John Cassavetes Award – Dee Rees (director), Nekisa Cooper (producer) – Pariah
Audi Someone to Watch Award – Mark Jackson (director), Without
Nokia Truer Than Fiction Award – Heather Courtney (director), Where Soldiers Come From

MIMI PAGE TO PERFORM AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES SUNSET THIS SUNDAY!

From Mimi Page herself!

Just a little something I threw together to promote the album dropping Tuesday. I remixed "Black Valentine" which is the song you hear in my video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbFsY8lSUs&feature=player_embedded#! <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbFsY8lSUs&amp;amp;feature=player_embedded#%21>
 

GRAMMY NIGHT WASN'T OVERCOME BY THE DEATH OF WHITNEY HOUSTON

The West Coast feed is airing now.  I'll be back later to comment...

THE BAFTA AWARDS RED CARPET REVIEW

Once I view the airing, I'll be back.

THE BATFA AWARDS WERE GIVEN OUT TODAY

Leaving a marker so I can return once I've viewed the airing.  Cheers, Z

MAKE A VOW TO SEE THE VOW

The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams was theatrically released this past Friday.  I had a chance to see this charming movie some weeks back and LOVED IT!  Or shall I say LOVED HIM!  There is something charming and adorable about Channing Tatum's performance.  (This story is inspired by the true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter.) 

After a terrible accident, Paige loses her memory of the last 5 years.  So Leo sets out to help her remember... to fall back in love with him.  It doesn't help that her ex-fiance Jeremy, played by the ever so devilishly handsome Scott Speedman (Felicity), is putting the moves on her.  Also putting a crimper on the reunion is her parents played by the awesome Jessica Lange and dashing Sam Neill.  They'd prefer it if she married Jeremy.  (Glad to see JL back in the movies AND on tv!)

BTW- Bring some tissue... it's going to be a weeper of a film.  I'd loan you the small promo box they gave us but there isn't enough left!  He he he...

AFTERMATH OF THE SUPER BOWL AND COMMERCIALS

So the Giants won.  Yay!  NY is my home away from home:}  It was a good game with close scores.

Now, the commercials seemed tame this year.  But lots of dog related ones which I'm a sucker for.  The Doritos commercials were cute.  LOVED the David Beckham one and Matthew Broderick in his Ferris Bueller voice.  Both were viewed ahead of time which seems like a first for me.  I'll be back for more comments.  -Z

OUT TODAY: THE BIG MIRACLE STARRING DREW BARRYMORE AND JOHN KRASINSKI

Out today in the theatres is a sweet, heartwarming movie based on a true story.  The Big Miracle stars Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski.  But the main attraction are the three California Blue Whales that are stuck in rural Alaska.  The town and soon the world chip in and tune in.  You may shed a tear or two (like I did)!  It's been so long since we've seen Alaska represented, what took ya so long?!