Taylor Hicks, Going Mobile?

I’m going home
And when I want to go home, I’m going mobile
Well I’m gonna find a home on wheels, see how it feels,
Goin’ mobile
Keep me moving

I can pull up by the curb,
I can make it on the road,
Goin’ mobile
I can stop in any street
And talk with people that we meet
Goin’ mobile
Keep me moving

Whoopin’ it Up at the War Eagle: Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks partying and playing with the college crowd at the War Eagle Supper Club. Not a lot of ‘supper’ in evidence, with the exception of the liquid kind, perhaps. Much beer and “cheersing” flowing. (Listen to Daddy cut loose.)
“Can’t You See” Taylor Hicks with Rick Carter Rolling in the Hay

Then after a sip of some more cold brew, Taylor Hicks’ “Gonna Move” on to another tune.
Love the tag inserts into this version.

Taylor goes into those “Night Moves”.

Sounded like a fun gig, Taylor Hicks.

Taylor Hicks’ “Early Works” On-Line, Heaven Knows, it’s Time

Taylor Hicks’ compilation CD, “Early Works” can be pre-ordered at Barnes & Nobles for pre-release sale, available October 28. On amazon.com however, one listing only specifies two CD’s available with one review from ‘Auntie Grizelda’. Their prices start at $10.99. Another amazon.com link, Dallas Texas Media, is offering the CD starting at $24.99 with a few more reviews. That said, Amazon.com is giving the CD, “stepchild” treatment with it being specified not eligible for Amazon Prime. This due to the the CDs currently being offered are not from amazon.com but rather individual sellers of this product. (Sort of like an amazon.com ebay source.)

Barnes & Nobles on the other hand, are featuring Taylor Hicks’ CD at $11.99 and including it with their shipping specials. Perhaps in the near future amazon.com will pick up the CD again, as a regular offering but currently, Barnes & Nobles is your go-to, on-line source. Even Target, the home of Taylor Hicks’ ‘exclusive deal’ is still not offering the CD on their website. Regarding other on-line venues, that will be up to you, intrepid Taylor Hicks’ fans, to go forth and discover.

Will B & N increases sales for the CD? I would think so since Target’s exclusive deal held the CD with limited quantities and a limited number of stores carrying the CD. Too, Taylor Hicks will be appearing across the country in the National Touring production of “Grease”, widening his exposure and getting his name back out in a wider spotlight. For the “Curious Georges” out there, after seeing the “Taylorized” version of Teen Angel, B & N provides that venue for purchasing Hicks’ other-than-Idol tunes.

Interestingly, the ‘label’ for the album listed on Barnes and Nobles is Welk Records. I went searching Welk Records (associated with Vanguard Records), but found no listing of Taylor Hicks on their emusic.com download site, nor in their main website’s artist’s roster.

Granted Taylor Hicks’ “Early Works” came out as being ‘distributed’ by this company, but you’d think they’d be interested in pushing the works on their site as well. While visiting the site, I explored some of the artists currently on their promotional pages, and man, they do offer a great listing of musicians including Indigenous, Chicago, Big Momma Thornton, Charlie Musselwhite, Levon Helm (The Band).
Levon Helm today:

Levon Helm in The Band days:

Mato Nanji, aka Indigenous (Man, he’s gorgeous; amazing musician with a Stevie Ray Vaughn influence.)

It’s a positive find seeing Taylor hit the B&N website, I hope the CD stays up and doesn’t disappear as seen on amazon.com – prior to the Target deal. Excellent timing with the CD becoming on-line with the “Grease” tour kicking off in December. Now we need to see Taylor Hicks tunes available on iTunes and emusic.com. News in my “Rumor Box” indicates that may be happening in the near future. Is the “Rumor Box” speaking Truth?
“Heaven Knows” Taylor Hicks

video c/o jeannemarie3

Taylor Hicks Taking the Teen Angel to the Streets

Taylor Hicks is expanding his role of Teen Angel in “Grease” and taking it on the road. Yes, Taylor Hicks has accepted the offer of performing as Teen Angel in the National Touring production of “Grease”.

According to Playbill News it looks like the Spring Tour that Taylor Hicks had talked about will be revolving around his role as that “Beauty School Drop-Out” singing Angel. Andrew Gans, writer for the Playbill News wrote,

“”American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, who recently completed a summer stint as Teen Angel in the Broadway company of Grease, will play that role for audiences across the country in the upcoming national tour of the fifties-themed musical.”

Obviously Taylor Hicks impressed the show’s producers sufficiently for them to make him an offer he could not refuse. I guess now, interested fans who may not have been able to attend this production in New York City can now make plans to go see Mr. Hicks and have their very own playbill signed.

Didn’t I write in an earlier blog, that Taylor Hicks might be headed out West? Yes, I think I did. (It’s all about the timing.)
“Going Out West” Tom Waits

lyrics:

“Well I’m goin’ out west
Where the wind blows tall
‘Cause Tony Franciosa
Used to date my ma
They got some money out there
They’re giving it away
I’m gonna do what I want
Do what I want
And I’m gonna get paid”

The schedule for the National Tour is as follows:

Dec. 2-7, 2008 at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI
Dec. 9-14, 2008 at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, East Lansing, MI
Dec. 16-21, 2008 at Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH
Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 6-18, 2009 at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
Jan. 20-Feb. 1, 2009 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 3-15, 2009 at the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD
Feb. 24-March 1, 2009 at the Music Hall, Tucson, AZ
March 3-8, 2009 at the Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
March 10-22, 2009 at the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
March 24-April 19, 2009 at the Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco, CA (I know when to make sure I’m back in SFO.)
April 21-26, 2009 at Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR
April 28-May 10, 2009 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, CA
May 12-30, 2009 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA

The rest of the casting results are not available at this time. Here’s another rumor, this production may feature much more of the Teen Angel than the original. Ah, Hell, what do I know?

“Taking it to the Streets” Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks: The One That You Want?

That is how that song in “Grease” goes, right? Taylor Hicks ends his Summer of fun on the Great White Way, supposedly hanging up that spangled suit and gray pompadour wig – or is he? Stephen Buntrock is slated to resume the role of Teen Angel in New York, but is this the last of the harmonica playing Angel Taylor Hicks created for the show? From what I have heard in the Rumor Mill, Mr. Hicks may be headed out West. If that word holds any Truth, I may be able to see him in that Ice Cream Cone yet, but is that the best route for him to take?

Granted the 1800’s brought many intrepid pioneers venturing West in search of fame and fortune. But should Taylor Hicks follow suit, would this bring him The real Deal or would he come out of it with a bucket of Pyrite? Remember, all that glitters is not Gold.

Reports this Summer said Taylor Hicks was bringing in an average of $150,000.00 a week over the previous average weekly draws. Taylor Hicks gave the role his own slant and brought a new and fun definition to the minor role. He expanded the minor part to a rollicking celebration; his Teen Angel emerged from the Plastic Ice Cream Cone with a different kind of harp and apparently toward the end, some cowbell – he knows how some folks love that cowbell…

Of course this is just rumored speculation and blog-talk but should Taylor be presented with this venture as a reality would or should he take it? Where does the art begin and where does it end? For that matter what is the definition of ‘art’ in the vocabulary Mr. Hicks operates? In the words of one of those well-known gossip rag-mags, “Enquiring” minds want to know.

Neil Young “After the Gold Rush”

video c/o randalcraig
“Fool’s Gold” Amy Winehouse

video c/o goldtoof1188

Mingling of the Music; Everlast

I love how Everlast melds electric and acoustic guitars along with keyboards to create unique tempos, beats with his combination of singing and rapping delivery. Man, the guy has a unique, creative sound going on. Found these three tunes over on the ol’ youtube. One of my favorites, and the most rocker oriented, “Babylon Feeling”. Of course the Santana influence only helps it along.

Everlast with Santana, “Babylon Feeling”

video c/o LumpyTheCook

Everlast “Black Coffee”

“She smelled like flowers, she tastes like toffee
She kissed me slowly, she held me softly
Got too close and she backed up off me
She left me stone cold sober just like black coffee
Just like black coffee, just like black coffee , just like black coffee”

Everlast “7 Years”

You can check out some of Everlast’s tunes at last.fm. Tour information for Everlast is located in this well-written article in livedaily.com.