My daughter can sing.

No, I mean she can REALLY sing.

She performed in musicals in Jr. & High School – but since getting married hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to do so.

Her husband, Justin, is very passionate about music – plays bass and has been in several bands. He and Austin (along with other players who seem to come and go) are talented musicians who formed a band named Vicious Starfish a couple of years ago.

Last summer they were listening to their recordings and realized they needed a new vocalist if they were going to take their music to the next level – leaving Austin to focus on songwriting rather than singing.

Ashley had done a little back up singing on some of their recordings in the past, so they asked her to audition… and were blown away, of course. (I’m her mother, I can brag)

So Ashley Rae is the new frontwoman for Vicious Starfish.

They’ve been rehearsing and in the studio for months – and finally have a couple of tracks for their new album ready to be heard.

I think Austin is a very talented songwriter and I’m really enjoying their music.

Their first gig with Ashley as vocalist will be April 2nd at Liquid Joe’s in Salt Lake City. I wish I could be there!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to HYPNOSIS and PANDEMONIUM

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You can also listen and follow Vicious Starfish on FaceBook and MySpace

So what do you think?

Even if you’re not a fan of opera, operetta or classical singing, I hope you’ll enjoy this hysterical (and beautiful) rendition of Glitter and Be Gay from the operetta “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein. It’s a very difficult piece to sing, and is performed by the adorable Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda the Good witch in Wicked. She is an amazing coloratura soprano with a gift for comedy. This has to be one of my all time favorite musical theatre/operetta performances. Watch it while you can (before it gets removed from YouTube again).

Today I went to see the movie The Blindside with Sandra Bullock. Here is my brief review:

It’s very, very good – even if you’re not a fan of football.

Go see it.

The end.

What did you do for Thanksgiving?

I rarely see a movie at the theater anymore, preferring the convenience, comfort and affordability of Netflix.  However, I do make exceptions.    Saw Angels & Demons with Kathleen while in Salt Lake (really enjoyed it) and took in Star Trek yesterday.  Loved it.   Some films just have to be seen on the big screen.   And one of the benefits of a movie at the theater is upcoming previews.

Here were the movies  I previewed at the theatre last night – along with my desire, or lack thereof, to see them.

Public Enemies.    I love Johnny Depp – and Christian Bale ain’t too shabby. This looks like it will be pretty good, though violent. It’s a “wait for Netflix” movie.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.     Definite theatre movie.  Can’t wait.

Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen  -  meh.  No interest in seeing this at the theater or at home.

Year One.    LOL…  This looks like it will be a really dumb movie – typical Jack Black fare (and Mike Cera), but the previews made me laugh despite myself.   I think I’ll wait for netflix.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Ummm.  Not sure I’ll want to see this…

Are you looking forward to any of these movies?   Seen any previews that made you really want to see the movie – or really want to stay away from it??

The inaguration is off to a great start.  Are you watching or participating in any of  the festivities?  

The “We Are One” concert is currently being broadcast on HBO, at HBO.com, on local NPR stations and at npr.org (audio only)….

It is a fabulous concert.   Great music, awesome narration and speeches.   James Taylor was just joined by John Legend and Jennifer Nettles for a beautiful version of “Shower the People.”

Oh, and now it’s Josh Groban singing America (My Country Tis of Thee)…. 

This is a concert worth watching.  I believe HBO will be broadcasting encore performances as well.

Every now and then, after The Daily Show & Colbert Report end, I leave the tv on and watch a little South Park.  Usually I end up turning it off after 2 minutes, but now and then an eposide just reels me in and I find myself laughing out loud at their potty mouth,  irreverent, often crude and off the wall humor.   I love that nothing is sacred on this show…..  they are equal opportunity offenders.

Usually it’s the ones that are “musicals” or which skewer religion that get me. Tonight was one such night….    a take off on “High School Musical“ 

Enjoy this 2 minute clip:

Here’s the full episode: South Park  Elementary School Musical.

Here are links to a few of my other laugh out loud epidoes for your enjoyment.

Chinpokomon: The first episode I ever saw and couldn’t tear myself away. All the kids get obsessed with the Japanese toy Chinpokoman and go to some camp and start talking Japanese and get brainwashed.

All About The Mormons: Stan attends “family home evening” with the new kid in town and hears the Joseph Smith story, South Park style – musical and all. Remarkably close to the truth!

Probably – Satan tries to choose between Chris, who treats him like gold, and Saddam – with whom he has more chemistry.

The Return of the Fellowship of the Rings to the Two Towers – The kids go on a quest….

Super Best Friends Jesus calls on the “Super Best Friends” (Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Joseph Smith, and Lao Tzu and Aqua Man) to defeat David Blaine and thwart his mass suicide plans.

Are you a fan of South Park? Do you simply hate it? Any episodes to recommend???

Loving:

Rachel Maddow. Normally I avoid cable news networks at all costs. But I caught a YouTube video of Rachel Maddow’s new show on MSNBC a couple of weeks ago and may just have to turn in every day to watch this Ph.D and Rhodes Scholar.

Unapologetically liberal, she is intelligent, witty, articulate and fair minded. She offers calm and intelligent discourse (based on facts). My liberal leaning friends will love her.

Anticipating:

Comdeian/Political Satirist Bill Maher takes on all the silliness of religions around the world in this comedy/documentary called Religulous. An advocate of “reason”, Maher is sure to be highly irreverent and offend millions of people. I can hardly wait. (Not for people to be offended, but to go LMAO in the theatre.)

Unsurprised:

I mean, come on.

Was ANYONE surprised by this?

Annoyed… and then pleased:

McCain wanted to postpone the planned Presidential debate Friday night so he could rush back to Washington and inject his vast economic experience into solving the current economic crisis (as if his de-regulation policies weren’t partially responsible for what’s happened…)

But Obama said, no way.

“With respect to the debates it is my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in roughly 40 days will be responsible for this mess,” he said. “I think it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once. I don’t see why we can’t be constructive in helping with this problem.”

So what happens if Obama is the only one to show up?

In the early 80s, Kristin and I were watching HBO and happened upon one of the most memorable films of our lives.  It was a brief, animated short film which had won the 1982 Student Academy Award. 

It was called “Guess Who’s For Dinner” and in it, a spinach monster attacks a child during dinner.  It was hysterical and after 25 years is still a clear image in my head. Kristin and I have both spent hours over the years, searching for this in any form… if you stumble upon it, let us know!   The talented animator, Kathy Zielinski has gone on to career with Disney and animated the memorable character Ursula (the witch) in the Little Mermaid, in addition to others.

And then, of course, there were the midnight short film festivals at the Villa theatre where I saw some memorable, and not so memorable animated shorts. Who could forget…

Bambi vs. Godzilla?

I’ve been a fan of short films ever since. So I was delighted to find I can get the academy award nominated shorts for 2004 – 2007.   I got 2006 first (because that’s the one I noticed first) and watched them last night.   What a delightful evening.   Some were better than others, of course – but I enjoyed all of them but one.

I think my favorite live action short was  “éramos pocos” (spain).   Mom has left her slob of a husband and grown son, who are helpless without her. They liberate Gran from a nursing home to cook and clean for them.  Fun, with a twist.

West Bank Story is a love story and rivalry between Israelis and Palestinians and their fast food joints.  Made by students at USC, it actually was a musical – and won the Oscar.  It was fun.

My favorite animated short was The Danish Poet” (Canada-Norway) - which did win the Academy Award.  Simple line drawings and a sweet story. You can actually see this one on YouTube.

I’m looking forward to the other years’ collections!   Do you like short films?  Have you seen any that were memorable or that you’d recommend? 

OK, so I’ve been seeing these Bluefly commercials for awhile now – you know the ones…. where the woman is looking in her closet for something to wear to the dinner party downstairs and just decides to go nude.   Or the newest one where some gal wearing nothing but shoes and carrying a magazine goes through airport security, while the announcer says,…

 ”Bluefly – Always there when you have nothing to wear.”

These commercial makes no sense to me. If Bluefly is always there, why didn’t she go to bluefly.com and get some clothes???

Anyone else watching the spectacular show China is putting on for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? 

I have found myself getting emotional on more than one occasion as I watch the artistry, beauty, creativity and awesome precision of the performances.  

15,000 individual performers, the worlds biggest LED screen on the floor, fireworks as only China can do them – and moving, moving art/dance/song.   Probably the most original, inspired and amazing opening ceremonies ever.  What an incredible undertaking.   

Can you just imagine how excited and proud the Chinese people must be about this?  It makes me teary.  

The only sad part is that the athletes didn’t get to see it : (  

Did you have a favorite performance?