Saturday, September 11, 2010

PLJ summer blast Off



For the past 13 years, Scott and Todd have been kicking off the summer in style, with live, free concerts at the Jenkinsons Pavillion in Point Pleasant NJ. Having been going since the first event, the crowds have been staying longer and getting bigger year after year, and now it's become a tradition to wait outside as early as 7PM the night before in order to get a good 'standing spot' in the mosh pit near the band..

Having worked with these guys for the past four years, that is only the half of it. The night before, is a huge party with everyone from the big show, a few listeners, and loads of PLJ clients enjoying a night of free food, drinks, and music at the White Sands Hotel. Not being much of a social talker at events like this, I just enjoy the ambience and talk to whoever wants to chatter, but you haven't lived until you see Joe Nolan entertain the entourage at his table..People line up all night to get the chance to talk to the man...it really is quite a sight.

With the party over, it's time to get the show on the road! For the past ten years, I used to get up at 2AM and go wait in line. At this point in the night, you can usually get up pretty close near the giant clown head and in front of the Martell's store. When you are this near, you're guaranteed a good view of everything from the mosh pit....but good luck trying to get out once in. It's a mob of people behind you, so only people with a lot of concert experience will have any luck getting to the back.

This year, however, I get to bypass the line and just watch the festivities from the inside. You get to see the band doing their warm up checks, technicians setting up the equipment S and T use, Monkey Boy the producer making sure everything is in perfect working order, and the interns setting up all the free grab bags the listeners get as they walk in.

At about 5:30, the boys arrive and walk the line. Every year, the line gets longer, and this year, it was estimated that 5,000 people where there to see Kris Allen and the other lead band perform. Once the line is walked, the crowd gets to wait another half hour, and are ushered in around showtime at 5:50...the energy in the room is electrifying by this point.

The boys do their thing for the first few breaks, the first act goes on at around 6:40, the second act around 7:30, and then the man himself Joe Nolan kicks off the Summer with Bruce Springsteen in the background at 8. Finally, the main act comes on and rocks the joint out till showtime ends at 10AM. Everybody files out, and makes plans for next year, which comes faster than you might think! If you have not attended one before, it's time to start...you won't regret it!

The Weird and the Wild: Youtube Edition



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRwNdG9UEY&NR=1

There can only be one reaction to having a Superman Musical. What the hell where they smoking when they thought this up?

Near as I can tell, the main villain is Dr.Sedgewick. He wants to destroy Superman, rule the world, and blow up Sweden. Why, you may ask? Because he's been turned down 12 times for the nobel prize. Along the way, he meets a reporter who works at the Daily Planet....someone who also hates Superman. Seems Superman is stealing the attention of Lois lane away from him and giving her all the scoops! Along the way, these two villains meet up, have an incredibly fruity dance sequence that has to be watched to be believed, and commence with their plan.

The Dr. has his university dedicate, get this....a laundromat in Superman's name. While at the same time, his henchman blow up city hall with.....one giant bowling bowl of a bomb. The Dr. gets the crowd to turn against superman, blaming him for basking in the crowds adulation, rather than going of to save city hall. This, apparently, drives superman into a depression, even more so after that doc discovers his secret identity using a super computer. After the evil doctor tries to 'help' superman with a free psychosis session, Supes decides to end it all because nothing makes sense anymore and the people of Metropolis have turned against him.

So, rather than stabbing himself with some kryptonite, he ties a giant anchor to his person and throws himself off a bridge. Naturally, he survives. What turns him around? Two hippy kids explain that they love him because he's a freaky alien and point out that all the great people in history where a little freaky themselves! So after the two hemp brothers boost superman's ego, off and away he goes to save the day. Lois, meanwhile, has been caught by the evil duo, who then turn on each other, with the 3 henchman they hired coming out on top. After a rediculous battle where superman sings as he fights, Lois is saved, and the bad guys get blown into the air from their own explosive device.

how does this masterpeice theater end? The explosion and landing erased the 'bad memories' of the men and turned them good! The evil reporter is now a saint, and the scientist works as the 'scientific advisor' for the Daily planet.

For all of you hoping that Spiderman musical actually DOES see the light of day sometime this decade, just know that it could be as bad as Superman:The Musical!