rickyleepotts.com | a voice of rhythm, reason, & reality

On his highly anticipated debut artist album, Dutch producer Pitto displays a mature and genre-defying sound. Working with a number of gifted musicians and vocalists (and even singing on a couple of tracks himself) he has taken a bold step, joining the dots from filtered house to fragile electronic pop. In a time when the LP has become a promotional tool rather than a form of expression, Objects In A Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear stands out as a truly sincere and compelling artist album.

Over the past two years, Pitto has invited an international cast of vocalists and musicians into his studio. Annie Mackin (from London) lends her spoken word to Childhood Storage & Childhood Storage Returns, written by designer Anna Nicole Ziesche (from London). Pianist Wout Smeets collaborates on Every Second Of U. Utrecht’s Lilian Hak sings over the spooky chords of Ceiling In Paris. Leonie Muller (from Breda) features on Where My Soul Is Now & Goodnight. Alice Rose (from Cologne) collaborates on When I Look At You, Devil In Desire, Don’t Come Any Closer and Happy Now. And Manu Delago (from London) plays on the mesmerizing Mono Desire.

Every single track has its own story to tell, but the full package offers a greater narrative, spanning many different genres. Overall, Object In A Mirror is a very intimate and dynamic listening experience, taking you from ecstatic to melancholy in the blink of an eye. When Pitto sings on Walking By The Sea, you realize that heartfelt music is the only music that really matters.

Please click the links below for more information on the collaborating artists:

• Alice Rose
• Anna Nicole Ziesche
• Leonie Muller
• Lilian Hak
• Manu Delago
• Wout Smeets

Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal’s Green label announces a new single by Dutch producer extraordinaire, Pitto. As the warm rays of the sun begin to pierce through the blanket of European winter cloud, Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal’s Green label looks to launch its 2011 campaign with a release made to play under blue skies…

Where My Soul Is Now (Original/Minilogue Mix) is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming artist album by Dutch producer extraordinaire, Pitto.

Taken from the sincere and compelling album Objects In A Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, lead track Where My Soul Is Now with its melancholic, jazz infused overtones and incredible Leonie Muller vocal is a perfect snap-shot of Pitto’s mature and genre-defying sound.

On the remix Green are honored to welcome Swedish duo, Minilogue. Their combination of powerful ambient and emotional sounds, have won a legion of fans and admirers. Many of their releases for the likes of Traum, Crosstown Rebels and Wagon Repair have been hailed as classic productions, and their Cocoon album Animals, found huge worldwide critical acclaim. Their desire to create beauty through techno makes them the perfect choice to remix Where My Soul Is Now – stunning introduction to the new album and a perfect way to launch the year for Green.

For years I have heard about this place. Every time I drive down I-465, I see this place lurking in the shadows. One of my good friends actually raves about this place, and even has a growler that he gets refilled every week. So finally, after many moons we decided to give this place a chance. (I even asked a co-worker and he had nothing but good things to say about this place.) Needless to say, my hopes were high when I walked in the front door. When we walked in, the brew master actually sat us in a booth in the corner. After a few minutes of banter, I had scheduled a tour of the brewery and corresponded an interview with the man who makes these brews. It doesn’t take much to impress me!

Let’s start by taking a look at all the beers they have available.

Northern Light Lager

Brewed to the American standard of a classic light lager, this light golden beer is our mildest offering with a crisp, smooth taste.

The beer has a pretty smooth nose, but left my nostrils quick. Based on how it was described to me, I had expectations of a Bud or a Coors light. Let’s take a taste.

I was right. It tastes like a Bud Light. But it’s not bad. The aftertaste, which is typically a quick bitter taste, stuck with it for a little while. The beer was pretty carbonated, and I think would taste better in the middle of the summer, but it was a great beer and had a smooth finish. See, now I want another one!

Brother Benedict’s Bock

A German style lager, our bock features a garnet-brown color, medium body, and sweet malt flavor.

The nose on this beer… well, there is no nose on this beer. That scares me a little bit, but let’s see what it tastes like.

Whoa, the aftertaste on this beer is wicked. The beer is pretty dark, and I expected it to be a little bit thicker than it was, but the flavor is there. It’s not too overbearing, and the aftertaste… I just keep going back to the aftertaste. It’s good, that’s for sure.

Broad Axe Stout

A thick creamy head sits atop the opaque blackness of this oatmeal stout. Roasted chocolate and coffee notes make this beer a great treat.

Oh boy, I love stout. And the older I get the more I enjoy the oatmeal stout. The first few oatmeal stouts I had were not that solid, but I’m excited for this.

The head on this beer is thick, reminds me of a Guinness. The nose is solid, a bit sweet, and makes me think of coffee… perhaps even a coffee stout. Let’s see what this extremely dark beer tastes like.

This is another beer that I expected to be thicker than it was. But the flavors here are way more exciting than the consistency. And the aftertaste, the aftertaste that just doesn’t want to leave, sits on the tongue forever. And the sweetness sticks with you too. This beer is solid, and while it’s called oatmeal stout, I’m smacked in the face with a thick chocolate flavor.

Good beer. I highly recommend giving this beer a try. Even if you don’t like dark beers, it’s great.

Duke of Wellington IPA

All right, now we’re talking. I am a big fan of an IPA, and considering the first beer we made in our recent adventure of making our own brews, we chose an IPA.

The nose on this beer is great. I love the smell of an IPA. Let’s see if this tastes like an IPA.

It tastes like an IPA! But the aftertaste is not what I expected. It lasts, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not as bitter as I expected. But like the other beers thus far, the aftertaste sits on the back of my tongue for a long time. If you like IPA, you might not like it as much, but it’s solid.

Wag’s Wheat American Wheat

An exceptionally drinkable, intentionally hazy beer. Light, sweet, and crisp flavors of barley and wheat shine through a subtle background of hops for balance.

When I think of a wheat beer, the first thing that comes to mind is a Blue Moon. But this beer… it doesn’t look like a Blue Moon. It’s hazy, like they promised, but it’s not as dark, therefore not as thick, as a Blue Moon.

The nose is solid, has a bittersweet smell to it. And the taste is not that of a Blue Moon. It is not what I expect from a wheat beer. But that’s a good thing. It’s good. It might be better than a Blue Moon, actually.

But I tell you what; the aftertaste sticks with you. Do you see a pattern here? If this brew master does anything right, he knows how to make a good beer with a strong aftertaste.

Two Pull

A blend of our northern light and bock beers. Sometimes the best creations are a mix of great creations.

Love the name. I honestly have no idea what this beer is about. It doesn’t smell like anything, so let’s see what this sucker tastes like.

When the beer first hits your tongue, it’s smooth and sweet. But when it finishes, it tastes heavy and cloying. I like the idea of mixing two beers, and sipping on this makes me think of what chugging a black and tan tastes like. I like it, that’s for sure. (Did you know that in Tampa, Florida they make their black and tans with Yuengling?)

Mekay Scottish Ale

This is one of two specialty beers they have on tap.

The nose on this beer is obvious, more so than anything else on the bar. But it’s quick. It leaves your nostrils in a hurry.

Regardless, this beer is great. It’s a wonderful surprise in this chain. I hate it that this is a seasonal, because I might come all the way over here just for this beer. I am a big fan of Scottish ales, and this one takes the cake. Locally anyway. It’s good, the aftertaste is constant, and it’s just a good sipping beer.

I would say that this beer would taste better closer to room temperature. It is served ice cold, but the warmer it gets, the better it gets and the more the flavors surface. I have actually heard of some Scottish ales being served at room temperature to better acknowledge the flavors in the beer.

Admiral

According to their brew master, this is the beer people who don’t like an IPA like. It’s half northern light lager and half of the IPA we tasted earlier… to calm down the taste a little bit.

As soon as I taste this beer, it’s compared to getting hit by a huge wave while standing in the ocean! Just think of that for a second. The flavors just explode on your tongue. This is the best beer they have on tap. Man, this just made my night.

If I can say anything about the beer here, they lack when it comes to their overall scent. There is hardly a nose on any of these beers. But the flavors make up for it. It’s not the best beer I have ever had. But at the same time, it’s not the worst beer either.

I had wanted to discuss the food here at Granite City, but I didn’t order anything! I just drank! So apparently the beers were good enough for me to focus on one thing… the booze! I have since been back, back for their prime rib Sunday brunch, but I don’t want to bore you with that. The only think that would come close to the flavors on these beers is the bacon. Everyone loves bacon!

What’s your favorite beer at Granite City?

Their lyrics are simply moving. When I listen to these guys perform, nothing else matters… they have a certain mystique about them that makes all pain in the world simply disappear. I have no idea where I found these guys, but I am so glad that I did. Their lyrics are incredible, and they just sound so solid playing together. Not sure I would call it Christian music… but there are some definite overtones thrown in every now and then. Songs like Lost My Way, you can’t help but close your eyes and feel the grace of God. They call themselves Top 40, but they are deeper than that. I love the lead singer’s voice too. They just have it all. Don’t ask me where the name came from… I’ll get to that in the interview! When I listen to bands like this, I think Kings of Leon or NeedToBreath. These are bands that don’t produce a bad song. I am so glad to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with the guys in NEEDMORE.

So tell me, what do you need more of?

Oh, I see what you did there… a band joke. (Laughs)  What do you need more of?

That’s just such an obscure name. Where did you guys come up with that?

Oh man… well, during the young years of this band, we were called The Need.  In signing our first record deal and recording our first album, we were told the name had to change, as there was another band that had trademarked it.  After months and months of deliberation with hundreds of names, we still didn’t have one.  On the way home from the studio one day, one of us said, “What about NEEDMORE – as in, we need more names?”  That was that.  What began as a joke, became the name we live under today.

That’s awesome! So where did you guys all meet?

Well, to make a long story great, Los Angeles.  As it were, it just so happened that TJ was attending grad-school in Long Beach while I was in LA already plugging myself into the music scene.  Ironically, I had lived right down the street from him and went to the same high school as he did, back in Ohio… yet never knew him.  I was a good friend of his wife, whom told him about us needing a drummer.  After meeting on my birthday in 2007, we all started playing together.

Tell me a little bit more about your single Lost My Way.

Lost My Way was one of those songs that seemed to write itself.  The chord progression, melody and lyric all came out in about fifteen minutes.  It has really been hitting home on a personal level with a lot of people… basically telling the story of an extremely independent person finally breaking down and asking for help. Vulnerable.  No more shame.

All right, I just have to say it. I LOVE your voice.

(Laughs) Thank you; thank you so much.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

Well, up until this point, I have been that person. It’s starting to change though.  A good idea is a good idea.  A good lyric is a good lyric.  We’re now actually playing a song during our live show that the other guys and myself wrote lyrics for.  It’s fun and challenging figuring out ways to connect to lyrics that aren’t necessarily your own.

Windows Media Guide? That’s so sick! How did you get your tunes in the hands of the folks over at Microsoft?

They approached us, actually.  It was just one of those things where they really loved us as a band, and pushed for it.  We surely accepted the offer.

Where do you guys practice?

We practice everywhere and nowhere at the same time.  Think about that one!  (Laughs)  Actually, we have a gigantic warehouse in a rural Midwest town.  We can lay low, go crazy, write and rehearse through all hours of the night.  We also tend to run through a lot during sound-checks while on tour.

So you guys are from in LA. What are some of the advantages of living on the west coast?

We’re no longer in LA. We formed there, and lived there for years.  When we started hitting the road a lot, we relocated back to the Midwest in order to be closer to family.  I could still tell you some great advantages though!

I would love to hear those stories one day! Traveling all over the place… what are some of your favorite places to play?

I’m going to go ahead answer for all of us and say we all love playing in southern California – mainly Orange County.  We have a lot of fantastic fans and friends, who support us, help us sell-out venues, and have really become family to us.  It’s always good to feel the love.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

It never comes from one place. For example, in writing the music for a new song, I could think a piano part I’m playing sounds like something from The Fray, where as TJ could be pulling inspiration from a Dave Matthews song.  Lyrically speaking, it can come from anywhere as well.  I could be writing about a situation I’ve witnessed, or a situation I’m currently in.  I could be writing about something from my past, or something that I have yet to do.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career, what song would you choose?

I couldn’t do it.

New Music Seminar said you were an “artist on the verge”. On the verge of what? Because from what I can tell, you guys are doing just fine! What’s next for you guys?

I believe we’re an “artist on the verge” of… um… exploding… or an artist most ready to break in 2011.  NEEDMORE is a powder keg man; a powder keg.  That said, we have a TON planned for this year and the beginning of 2012.  We’ll be finishing this tour up with a performance during SXSW at a RedGorilla event.  After that, we’re looking into either another ninety-five date tour, supporting another larger artist on tour, or playing regionally while writing for our next record.  Our official website will tell anyone everything they want or need to know!

How cool is it that you are being played all over the world?

We are?  (Laughs) It’s definitely a super humbling feeling when fans write us, wanting us to come to the UK, Australia, or any other country for that matter.  I don’t think it will really hit home for us until we tour in another country and see people singing along to our music.

Speaking of that, the state of the music industry is changing. With the Internet music will never be the same. How have you guys made that shift in the last few years?

It’s a digital age. We live in a very instant world.  It is important to feed the social media appetite as much information as possible. Any way for a person to connect with us is a way for us to connect with them – and that’s what we’re trying to do.

You worked with Jeff Juliano on Lost My Way. He has worked with some major names in the music industry. How did you get hooked up with him?

I listened to some of the records I though sonically sounded absolutely amazing. After a bit of research, I found out that Jeff was the master behind the puppet. I got in contact with him, and after listening to the demo version of Lost My Way, Jeff told me he would absolutely love to mix it. Now after working with him, Dave McNair, and Tony Alany, we are confident we have found our team to record, mix, and master many records in our future.

I almost want to call you guys Christian. You remind me of a Reliant K. What genre do you guys put yourself in?

We’re very much in the secular market. However, we love to spread positive messages. One theme that seems to grab people is making the most of you life… and not letting it pass you by. As far a genre, we are classified as Pop Rock I suppose.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

No sir – being a musician is a full time lifestyle.  It’s not a job, it’s not a career, and it’s definitely something you cannot take for granted. We eat, sleep, and breathe it. Just give time to what you love; for that’s all you have in life.

You are on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. How do you keep all of those social media sites straight?

Maintenance, that’s how.  If you don’t keep up with them, you’ll lose the edge.  If you do keep up with them, they are fantastic tools.

I know you’re busy, but what are you doing on a typical Friday night?

We’re either in rehearsal, in a writing session, playing a regional show, on tour, or recording.  If none of those apply, we spend time with family and friends.

You guys have a ton of endorsements. What’s the benefit of working with so many companies?

First, we are so lucky to be working with all of them. The benefits are fantastic. From customization of products, to cross promotion, it’s all positive. Recently, we’ve been working closely with Kawai pianos to design an upright shell to use with my MP8II digital piano. We’ve also been working with LiveWires to create custom in-ear monitors for each member of the band, and with Audio-Technica to determine which microphone set-ups work best for NEEDMORE.  All of the companies we endorse have fantastic people working in them, and we couldn’t ask for better products.

How does a live show differ from what I am hearing online? What can someone expect from a live show?

Some words that come to mind are passion, energy, excitement, and experience. We’re a band that you have to see live, in order to fully understand who we are. We bring it with 110%, no matter what.

The doctors have given you a week to live. How do you spend your last week here on earth?

That’s easy for all of us. I think we can all agree we would spend it with close friends and family.

You guys sell shirts and backpacks. How do I go about getting one of those shirts?

Right now, we’re selling everything at our live shows. From American Apparel V-Necks to crew necks, backpacks, bracelets, CDs, posters, and even guitar picks – we’ve got it.  We will however be re-opening our online store soon.  Until then, just come see us live!

You guys are coming to Indiana. But your show is private! I need to see you guys live.  Any chance you will be coming back this year?

Definitely. We will be through Indianapolis, Bloomington, and other cities around Indiana. Just keep an eye out on our website for more information. Everything you need to know is there!

So on your album cover for your new single, you guys are all walking away. What are you walking away from? Or better yet, what are you walking towards?

We are walking away from one situation, and into another.  This artwork, to me, signifies us moving on from our past… our previous record label… and on to something greater.  We are finally re-accepting offers, but we are definitely happy doing what we’re doing.

Who are some of your favorite bands?

To be honest, I can’t really answer this.  I know what we all like, but we tend to listen to bands for different reasons. Our favorite bands for gathering inspiration might be one set, but our favorite bands for pure listening pleasure might be a completely different set.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Straight to the top. (Laughs) We’re definitely not going to stop… but I guess time will tell all.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

Making music that the masses can connect with.  I think it’s safe to say we don’t want to be the indie band that only a small following enjoy. We want to be bigger than life. We want to add to the daily lifestyle of everyone we can.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Thanks for that, Ricky. I think I would just encourage everyone to check out our website, find us on Facebook, and follow us at Twitter.  We love to hear from new friends, and want to welcome you to the NEEDMORE family.  Hopefully we’ll see you all at a show very soon. Cheers from everyone in the NEEDMORE camp.

André  Tanneberger (ATB) is a mastermind of the international music scene. For almost twenty years he has not only been one of the world’s finest and most successful DJs, but also a highly talented producer and songwriter. With seven acclaimed studio albums, a greatest hits CD and DVD collection and seven DJ mix compilations, as well as countless singles to his name, ATB can justifiably claim to have developed his career as musician and DJ in the most successful manner imaginable.

“What drives me is the constant desire to create something new. I think my creative spirit is nourished by the fact that I travel so much, as this represents a break from my studio sessions. It’s so important to take a step back from songwriting and producing now and again,” André suggests, when asked about his seemingly inexhaustible source of quality tracks.

ATB’s latest album, Distant Earth is no exception, as ATB once again delivers an array of fantastic new songs, which transcend the genres of dance, trance and pop. Album number eight also features collaborations with renowned artists – something of a trademark for ATB as his studio work has progressed. Guest appearances on Distant Earth range from two of the hottest properties in trance music, the pioneering figures of Armin van Buuren and Dash Berlin to a remarkable team-up with Rea Garvey, who came to fame as lead singer of the international star act Reamonn.

“I had composed an instrumental track when it suddenly hit me that Rea’s voice would fit absolutely perfectly. The song actually turned out completely differently when we got together. I didn’t mind that a bit, as I had wanted to work with Rea for a long time already,” André explains.

The album title Distant Earth is a reflection, in the broadest sense, of how André Tanneberger likes to experience music. “I aim to maintain a certain distance from daily life and the usual problems it entails. It feels good to close your eyes, step onto the dancefloor and forget everything around you. If this is how you feel when you listen to my album, then I have done what I set out to do” the artist continues.

Distant Earth presents two very different CDs. One pulsates with melodious club music, the other showcases a selection of more chilled out ATB songs, again demonstrating the range of his artistic expertise. Guest artists join him in this side of his music as well.

“Armin van Buuren and I have chatted on and off for years about producing an ambient track together, and now we have finally found the time to actually do it.”

Both musical worlds continue to inspire this hugely successful DJ and producer in more or less equal measure after close to twenty years. “I’ve always felt that the one can’t exist without the other. DJing gives me the energy to produce my own tracks and when I’m in the studio, my fingers itch to get back to the decks, up on stage. I really love both sides.”

Distant Earth is further proof of ATB’s unique international sound. “My many trips over our planet give me no end of inspiration which can flow freely inside the studio,” André acknowledges. The results can be heard on twenty-five songs across two CDs. A strictly limited Deluxe VIP Fan Box contains a further bonus disc of club mixes of tracks from the new album. “I love springing surprises on my listeners.” ATB has certainly managed to achieve that on the latest chapter in his oeuvre – Distant Earth.

Distant Earth dropped on April 29th on Kontor Records/Napith Music.

ATB Distant Earth World Tour 2011

• May 20 Nürnberg, Germany at Planet
• May 21 Halle, Germany at Eissporthalle
• May 26 Newport Beach, CA at Sutra
• May 28 Las Vegas, NV at Marquee Nightclub
• May 29 Denver, CO at Beta
• June 11 Seoul, South Korean at Kaya – Gum Hall
• June 26 Las Vegas, NV at Electric Daisy Carnival
• July 02 Bratislava, Slovakia at Topfest Festival
• July 07 Belo Horizonte, Brazil at Chevrolet Music Hall
• July 08 Sao Paulo, Brazil at Pacha
• July 09 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil at Circo Voado
• July 10 Porto Alegre, Brazil at Pepsi On Stage
• July 16  St. Petersburg, Russia at Global Gathering
• July 23 Scottsdale, AZ at Axis Radius
• July 30 Las Vegas, NV at Marquee Nightclub
• August 05 Raketenbasis Pydna, Germany at Nature One

Your information has been compromised! No, really… it has. Well, if you are a member of the PlayStation Network it has. Earlier this week I heard reports that PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information had been compromised. This was all in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into the network. Regardless of the intrusion, reports are saying that names, email addresses, mailing addresses, and even credit card information has been compromised. When you signed up for your account, and threw that information their way… it became their responsibility. Of course, this encroachment is being called illegal and unauthorized. Of course it was illegal and unauthorized… who at Sony would authorize something like this?

Earlier today I got an email from Sony regarding the issue. It was nice to have their continued communication regarding this issue. They are taking the blame (who else could you blame) and they are doing whatever they can to cover their own behinds. But again, it was nice of them to keep all the PlayStation Network members in the loop. If you are a member I am sure you got an email as well. Just check your inbox.

I wanted to share with you what that email said for a few reasons. First off, I wanted to make sure all my readers who are members were aware of what happened. I also wanted to make sure I did my part by sharing this vital information through the outlet that has been created here. So whether you play video games or not, this issue will affect a lot of people. Millions of people, actually.

Sony stated that they have:

1. Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services.

2. Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened.

3. Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by rebuilding our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.

For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them as well.

To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements and to monitor your credit reports. We are providing the following information for those who wish to consider it: – US residents are entitled under U.S. law to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free 877-322-8228.

We have also provided names and contact information for the three major US credit bureaus below.  At no charge, US residents can have these credit bureaus place a “fraud alert” on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name. This service can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it also may delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, or should you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below:

Experian: 888-397-3742 - www.experian.com – PO Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
Equifax: 800-525-6285 – www.equifax.com – PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
TransUnion: 800-680-7289 – www.transunion.com – Fraud Victim Assistance Division, PO Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

You may wish to visit the website of the US Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or reach the FTC at 877-382-4357 or 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 for further information about how to protect yourself from identity theft. Your state Attorney General may also have advice on preventing identity theft, and you should report instances of known or suspected identity theft to law enforcement, your State Attorney General, and the FTC. For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; telephone 877-566-7226; or www.ncdoj.gov. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; telephone: 888-743-0023; or www.oag.state.md.us.

We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information.

Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at 800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment

I don’t know about you, but I feel better knowing that they are at least aware of the issues. Chances are these hackers just wanted to prove they could do it. Not sure they are out there buying cheeseburgers with my credit card information. If they are, hold the onions!

A couple of weekends ago Sheryl and I headed south of the border… the Indiana and Kentucky border. We were in town for Thunder Over Louisville, a huge celebration to kick off the Kentucky Derby. She actually had planned it as a surprise, but thanks to her TripIt being linked to her Facebook page, I found out pretty quickly where we were going. She rented a car, and we headed out. A mere two hours later we were checking in to our hotel.

Hotels on a Budget

We rarely stay in nice hotels. That’s actually on purpose. When we travel, we don’t go somewhere to stay in our hotel. We like to get out and explore. Because of this, we usually stay at smaller more economical hotels. For this trip to Kentucky, that’s exactly what we did. We stayed at an Econo Lodge. The room ended up being pretty nice, and was located within walking distance from everything. Literally two blocks over was 4th Street Live. But I’ll get to that in a minute. One advantage of the hotel was free parking. During Thunder Over Louisville, over 500,000 people flock to downtown for boat races, a carnival, an air show, and one of the world’s biggest fireworks displays. It’s actually the largest display of fireworks in the United States. So when it comes to parking, expect to pay a ton. We saw rates starting at $10 all the way up to $50. Free parking at the hotel was a major perk.

When we pulled up to the hotel on Friday night, folks were already starting to party. There were people grilling out, drinking, and listening to music. This would continue all weekend long; the festivities actually go on for the entire week leading up to the derby.

4th Street Live on Friday Night

I had heard of 4th Street Live in the past, but had never experienced it until now. Seeing as it was only two blocks away, it was within walking distance. The weatherman had called for rain, but most of the bars on 4th Street are covered, so when it did rain it wasn’t a huge deal. We were lucky actually, never having to deal with the rain all weekend long.

Sheryl hadn’t eaten all day long, so when we got to 4th Street all we wanted to do was grab a bite to eat. Seeing as how all of the bars would be charging cover, we had to swing by an ATM first. Since Sheryl has paid for the entire trip, I figured I’d pay for her covers and some of her drinks that night.

For dinner, we went to The Pub. Sheryl had researched this place beforehand (she’s good at that) and knew it was a good place for dinner and a beer. We headed in, grabbed a table, and ordered a drink. I hate drinking the same beer twice, and I asked for something local. When our server came back, she was bearing gifts… Two very good brews. Sheryl got a Kentucky Bourbon Stout and I a Kentucky Bourbon Ale. The stout was decent, but the ale blew me away. It was sweet, and had thick and noticeable bourbon back. Apparently the beer is aged in old bourbon barrels. Whatever it was, it paid off. It was fantastic.

After dinner (I had a chicken sandwich; pretty boring) we went to Sully’s. Again, Sheryl had researched this place beforehand and knew they had some good drink specials. $2 beers and $4 Russian Standard vodka drinks. We are both big vodka drinkers, and ever since she introduced me to Russian vodka, I’ve been hooked. We ordered a couple of shots, and was told they were not on special, only drinks that included the vodka. I argued with the bartender for a while, and eventually we paid full price. Later, when we came back for more shots I tried a different bartender. He charged me $4. Needless to say, I went back to him for the rest of the night.

The Hotel (A Different Hotel)

After hanging there, we headed to The Hotel, a bar that apparently played beats. We were both dressed for a nicer joint; and quickly found ourselves surrounded by sharply dressed dancers. Funny thing is, there weren’t that many people there. The cover at both places was only $5, but drink prices were through the roof. A shot of vodka here was significantly more expensive. So what did we do? Danced here, and drank at the other place!

One cool thing about 4th Street is you can carry your drinks from one bar to the next. Think Las Vegas, only in Kentucky. We’d go to Sully’s Saloon, have a drink, and go back to The Hotel. We stopped by Howl at the Moon for a little bit too. They were running a deal on foursquare offering a free cover with every check-in. We didn’t even order a drink there. Sully’s had good specials, and we had a few drinks over at The Hotel, but being able to come and go as you please made it convenient for us to pick and choose our selection.

The best part about The Hotel was the dancers. Especially this one couple that was dancing by the bar all night long. They were older, but were dressed the part. She was wearing a long red dress, and was dancing like she knew what she was doing. He, on the other hand, wasn’t the best dancer in the world. But he didn’t care, and that was what made it all worthwhile. He was just a blast to watch.

Oh yeah, and Sheryl found a cell phone. What is it with her finding stuff? We turned it in though; did the right thing. It felt good leaving knowing that if whoever lost that phone came looking, it would be there. I would hope if I dropped my phone, someone would do the same.

Louisville Bats & The Indianapolis Indians

On Saturday we had tickets to see the Louisville Bats take on the Indianapolis Indians. The stadium, like everything we did all weekend long, was within walking distance of the hotel. It was a little bit further than 4th Street Live, but still not too far from where we were staying.

The weather didn’t like us on Saturday though. It was raining off and on all day long, and it was freezing cold! I’m not sure it ever broke 50 degrees on Saturday, and it was windy. It was so cold that we only stayed for two innings before taking off. We took off and ended up at the brewery on site.

Browning’s Restaurant & Brewery is actually located inside the Louisville Slugger Field. I had taken some photos before we went in to watch some of the game, but we ended up there for lunch. Actually, we grabbed some snacks at the concession stand first, then headed in there for lunch. Being a brewery, I just had to try their beers. They were out of the one beer they are famous for… but managed to win me over with their black IPA. It had a smooth finish to it, and tasted just like an IPA should. I tried all of their beers, minus the She Devil and their pilsner, and ended up ordering a pint of their black IPA. After that, we consulted with foursquare on what to do next.

Derby City Espresso

Oh man, did we find a diamond in the rough. Both Sheryl and I had looked at this place, and had made mention to it in the previous days. It was a coffee shop, but they served beer. So we were both intrigued. While sitting at lunch, Sheryl did a little more research and found that Derby City Espresso only had one employee… the owner. And not only that, he also lived upstairs. So imagine… a coffee shop, that serves beer, owned by the barista, who lives upstairs. We just had to check this place out.

A few blocks over we walked in, and were impressed off the bat. (No pun intended being in Louisville, home of the Louisville Slugger baseball bats.) The place isn’t big, and the bar is at the back of the establishment. There are a couple of booths up front, a few chairs and couches in the center of the room, and then a handful of barstools around the back bar. We walked in, and sure enough Matt was back there brewing coffee.

Matt is an interesting character. We stayed there for a few hours, sipping on our Joe and talking with the regulars. I even managed to schedule an interview with Matt. He used to work as a coffee buyer for Whole Foods. He also used to live in Europe as a translator working for several agencies. Needless to say, the guy had a lot to talk about. And he uses Square technology to take credit card payments.

After we finished up our drinks, it was time to rest. Friday night was a LONG night, and we needed to catch up on some relaxation. We headed back to the hotel to relax before the fireworks.

Fireworks Light up the Sky

We had great seats for the fireworks. That is the main reason we bought tickets to the baseball game. The fireworks are actually shot off a bridge that is just on the other side of the stadium, so sitting at the ballpark gives you a great vantage point. At first, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard nothing but good things about this display, and it has been called the best in the country and one of the best in the world. So needless to say my expectations were pretty high. I mean, I have seen some pretty impressive fireworks in my day… especially over Disney World.

When they started, it looked like the same show on either side of the bridge… I would later learn that is exactly what they are trying to accomplish. They also play music to go along with the fireworks, but we could barely hear it in the stadium. Apparently there are 500,000 people that come down each year for this… and I didn’t believe it until AFTER the show. I have never seen so many people trying to go in so many different directions at the same time. Imagine rush hour in New York City. There were people, cars, golf carts… going everywhere. Where is the fire? Why was everyone in such a hurry?

One guy was in a hurry at a crosswalk… so much so that the crossing guard was yelling at the driver. About five minutes later, we saw the same car (it was a Mustang) revving his engine as he drove down the street. Not moments later, a policeman pulled him over. It was funny for a few reasons… first was because he was being a jerk, frustrating the crossing guard and then being an idiot revving his engine while he drove down the street.

It was also funny… the cop was in a mini van. I know, a mini van! It was awesome. By the time we got to the scene of the crime, the driver had been pulled out of the car and was getting searched by the police. It was just a funny turn of events to the guy behind the wheel.

Back to Derby City Espresso

After we finished dinner (we ate at a really crappy Mexican joint) we headed back to Derby City Espresso. All we had earlier was coffee… this time we wanted a beer. So we headed back, grabbed a few drinks, and watched some live local tunes. Apparently the live music, and the fact it’s an all ages venue, are what draw people here. I must say, the vibe you get just by walking in is irreplaceable.

We had a couple of drinks, and headed back to the hotel. We actually had plans early the next morning. I didn’t know what the plans were, but we had to be somewhere by 11:00 the next day. I hate it when she plans surprises like this… but I always end up loving what we do.

Deep Into Indiana Wine Country

Getting up early is hard to do… especially on the weekends. But we had to check out of the hotel and get on our way to… I had no idea. But I quickly figured it out when she told me what exit to take. We headed to Huber Winery, located in the Deep South. We actually got there early, and had a chance to eat lunch at their family restaurant.

This was country. It wasn’t very busy; we blame church. And the food was homemade. As a matter of fact, the menu said, “We promise barnyard fun.” We didn’t get to experience any of the barnyard fun, but it was obvious by our surroundings that it was a possibility.

After lunch we headed back to the winery. We had no idea what to expect, as we don’t make a habit of visiting Indiana wineries. Maybe we should… because when we finally did get to taste their juices, they were quite good. We walked into the gift shop, and saw a sign that said, “Tasting In the Loft”. We assumed the loft was upstairs, so we headed up the stairs to find out. Sure enough, there was a bar (a very long bar at that) and a ton of stuff for sale on the opposite wall. We walked over and were greeted by several folks eager to pour, and ordered a sampler. We got the $9 sampler for a few reasons. First off, you got to keep the glass. Secondly, you got to try two additional wines. So we started sipping, I started taking notes on my favorite varietals, and we continued our conversation with the bartender. She took the time to explain each wine as she poured, and it made for a nice experience as we sniffed and sipped on each glass.

My favorite was the port… I just love port so much. Imagine sipping a wine that literally tastes like chocolate… better yet, our sample was served in a chocolate cup. Yeah, I know… a chocolate cup! It was awesome. So you sip the wine, and then eat the glass.

After we left the winery, we headed home… we did stop at Edinburgh first, to shop at the outlet mall. But we didn’t have a lot of energy left, and just wanted to get home. Thunder Over Louisville was awesome, and we had a great time while in Kentucky. It was the first time I had heard of the festivities, and I hope it’s not the last time we make it down there for the fireworks. I mean, we did miss the air show… and the boat races after all.

Have you ever been to Thunder Over Louisville?

Marquee Las Vegas is bringing the world’s top DJs to four days of poolside partying and late night revelry over Memorial Day Weekend for UNITED, featuring Armin van Buuren, Fatboy Slim,  and Laidback Luke, plus Marquee residents Above & Beyond, ATB, Blake Jarrell, Cedric Gervais, Chuckie, EC Twins, Markus Schulz, Redfoo of LMFAO, Robbie Rivera and Roger Sanchez. The holiday weekend will culminate with a FREE BEACH PARTY on May 30, with no cover all day featuring Robbie Rivera & Chuckie at Marquee Dayclub. With this stellar artist lineup and the recent launch of Marquee Dayclub, UNITED  at Marquee is guaranteed to be a Memorial Day Weekend to remember.

LA’s A-list DJ duo Graham Funke and StoneRokk, otherwise known as The Captains of Industry, will join the wildly energetic house music residents EC Twins, plus  special guest – Jamaican dancehall superstar and Grammy winner Sean Paul to set the weekend off right at the Dayclub on Friday. The Nightclub will then see Coldharbour Recordings head Markus Schulz commanding the decks with his deep grooves and trance melodies alongside Roger Sanchez, whose Latin beat-infused electronic music turns Marquee into a sexy burlesque boudoir every month. Saturday features world-renowned UK trio Above & Beyond bringing their euphoric electronic dance music to the Dayclub along with Cedric Gervais, certified king of the Miami dance scene. ATB’s unique brand of electronic sounds and melodious club tracks will then take over the Nightclub, followed by a late night set by Mixmash Records head and Dutch dance superhero Laidback Luke. The UK’s one and only funky big-beat master Fatboy Slim will take over the Dayclub on Sunday. Then on Sunday night, the Nightclub will host the White Party, featuring the world’s number one DJ and Armada Music head Armin van Buuren, along with the talented young Armada artist Blake Jarrell. On Monday, the Dayclub will host the free Juicy Music & Dirty Dutch beach party featuring Robbie Rivera and his distinctive brand of sexy, dirty, electro-tinged house and
Dirty Dutch music mastermind Chuckie. Later that evening, Chuckie will also appear as the special guest at the Nightclub alongside the electro house party animal Redfoo of LMFAO.

Marquee Dayclub extends the energy and excitement of its successful nightclub to the outdoors, embracing sunny days on the Las Vegas Strip with a lavish, adults-only offering. Spanning 22,000 square feet of the expansive multi-level 60,000 square-foot David Rockwell-designed entertainment complex, the Dayclub boasts two pools, several bars and a gaming area. Exclusive experiences can be had in one of the eight cabanas, which feature infinity edge glass dipping pools, flat screen televisions and dedicated cocktail and food service. The ultimate day to night offering will be discovered in the exclusive bungalows dotting the perimeter of the Dayclub, complete with overnight quarters, individual pools and an open-air party deck.

Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub UNITED Memorial Day Weekend

• May 27  – The Captain of Industry & EC Twins with special guest Sean Paul at Dayclub
• May 27 – Markus Schulz & Roger Sanchez at Nightclub
• May 28 – Above & Beyond & Cedric Gervais at Dayclub
• May 28 – ATB & Laidback Luke at Nightclub
• May 29  – Fatboy Slim at Dayclub
• May 29 – Armin van Buuren & Blake Jarrell at Nightclub
• May 30 – Robbie Rivera & Chuckie at Dayclub
• May 30 – Redfoo & Chuckie at Nightclub

His lyrics simply move. From one song to the next, his album No Place Left to Hide is packed with seven killer tracks. Every song inspires and his voice just carries you from one song to the next. I really can’t get enough of this guy. He also has a certain style and grace about the way he handles himself. This kid has what it takes, and his voice demands some attention. No way this guy doesn’t sign with a major in the near future. He’s too good not to. I have no clue how he and I met, but who cares… he’s so good it doesn’t matter how we met, I am just thankful that we did. His track Change In Me is hands down my favorite song on the album. The instrumentals are solid too, something you would expect to hear on repeat on your favorite top 40 station. From being torn to pieces to being put back together again, it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Matt Moore.

So is Matt Moore your real name?

Yes sir, that is the name I was born with.  In retrospect it would have probably been a good idea to come up with some sort of clever stage name since there are dozens of other Matt Moore’s out there playing music!

How long have you been performing?

I’ve been playing guitar for about fifteen years now in various different rock and metal bands, but it wasn’t until about four years ago that I decided to strike out on my own as a solo artist and start this project.

Where are you originally from?

I was actually born and raised right here in Clare, Michigan.  It’s just a sleepy little town right in the middle of the state, but it’s always been home.

Do you write all of your own lyrics?

Yeah, I really dig the challenge of trying to put my own feelings and personal experiences out there in such a way that it connects with other people.  If you can honestly share a part of yourself in your lyrics and people can identify it in their own life and feel it, that’s pretty special in my book.

Tell me a little bit more about the Big Ticket Festival.

The Big Ticket Festival is this big three-day Christian music festival that’s held in Northern Michigan every summer.  And since almost no artists ever perform in Northern Michigan it’s a pretty big deal to the folks who live around here.  Tens of thousands of people attend each year; it’s a pretty cool scene.  They have several different stages, and over a hundred bands that perform each year.  They also have an “Indie Stage”, where a select number of independent artists get to showcase their stuff and compete for a chance to perform on one of the main stages at next year’s festival.  Basically it’s a big battle of the bands, and they pick one winner for each of the three days.

I had applied last year to perform on the “Indie Stage” and was actually one of the artists that got selected.  At that point I was touring all over the place with just an acoustic guitar, and thought it would be really cool to put together a full band to try and recreate the sound on my CD.  So I asked my buddy Derek if he and a few of his friends might be interested in backing me up for just a couple of larger shows I had booked that summer.  The very first show we ever played together was the Big Ticket Festival, and as it turned out we ended up winning the “Indie Stage” that day.  So since we figured we must be on to something pretty good we decided to continue performing together, and this summer we get to come back and rock on the “Alternative” stage at Big Ticket 2011.

That’s really cool! Congrats on your performance on the “Indie Stage”. So tell me, where do you get all of your inspiration?

Most of my inspiration comes straight from my life.  I’m not really creative enough to come up with stories or fictional stuff, so I work with what I know.  And for some reason I always find it easier to write about the struggles I have in life rather than the happy stuff.  I don’t know, it’s almost like getting that stuff out helps me work through my own issues.  It’s kinda my therapy.

You are playing a ton of shows in Michigan, and a few in Indiana. What do I have to do to get you down to Indianapolis?

I have actually played several dates around Indianapolis over the past few years, mostly just smaller coffee house or church gigs.  I know we are bringing the full band down to Sharpsville in May for a gig, and a few other dates around Fort Wayne.  I’m always open to setting up more shows in the Hoosier State!  Just shoot an email to info@mattmooremusic.com and we’ll work something out!

I know where you get inspiration on a daily basis… but where do you get inspiration for a new track?

There really is no set way that I go about writing a song.  Sometimes I come up with a cool guitar riff and that gets things rolling.  Other times I have a lyric, or a melody in my head and I have to put music to it.  Lots of times I will just start humming stuff while driving in the car and I have to find a way to record it on my phone or something.  I have lots of little song pieces that I have come up with over the years; the really tough part for me is sitting down and turning those ideas into a finished song.

I have to admit, I love the header on your website. Who does all of your graphic design work?

I work with an amazing graphic designer from Nashville, Tennessee named Leigh Ashlind.  He runs his own graphic design company called Avaliis, and he has done almost everything that I have put my name on for the past several years.  He designed my website, album artwork, shirts, even my official logo that I use on everything.  He does awesome work, and he knows how to take the stuff I see in my head and make it come to life, which is huge for me because graphic stuff is not my bag!

You are going to be performing at Soul Blast later this spring. That is a pretty huge bill. You starting to get excited about that show? How did that all come about?

Yeah that is going to be an awesome event!  I had actually heard about Soul Blast for the first time last year and did a little research to find out who was in charge of booking the artists.  As it turns out I actually know the dude setting the whole thing up!  He plays guitar for this amazing Michigan based band called Pauper’s Field, and we have played many shows together in the past.  So I quite literally sent him an email and asked him what I had to do to get myself in on the show!  Nothing like a little shameless self promotion to help open some doors!

You are on MySpace Facebook, Twitter, iTunes. How do you keep all of these social networks straight?

I use this great online service called Artist Data.  Basically I can enter my show information all in one place and it automatically updates my official website, Facebook, MySpace, Reverbnation, etc…  It has been a HUGE time saver!  Plus I even have it set to do stuff like automatically update my Facebook status to remind people where I am performing that day!  I highly recommend that any artist with a decent web presence check it out.  Plus it’s free!

I am sure this will be tough, but describe your genre in one word.

Modern-Alternative-Pop-Rock.  If I hyphenate the whole thing it should technically be considered just one word right?  If that doesn’t work I’ll just go with “AWESOME”!  And if that sounds too pompous… “rock”.

I know you’re busy touring… do you have a job outside of music?

How does that old saying go?  Real musicians have day jobs?  I actually work at an office technology company, which basically means that I fix laser printers and deliver cases of paper to people.  The great thing is that they have always been way cool about my music career, so they allow me quite a bit of flexibility with my schedule.  Just last year I moved from full time down to part time to allow me to tour more often, and if things continue to grow I’m hoping that I will someday be able to support myself solely as an independent artist.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

I have played a handful of big summer festival type gigs where there were thousands people in attendance.  Those are always a blast!

What about the smallest?

Oh I’ve definitely played my share of shows were the only audience to speak of was made up of people that I brought with me and the staff at the coffee shop!  Those shows can be kinda humbling.

How have I never heard of your stuff before? Your sound is pretty much epic.

Thanks man!  I’ve actually been promoting this album completely independently so far, trying to get my music into as many wars as possible, and I know there are definitely some areas of the country I have yet to hit.  I am planning to perform around Indiana a lot more this coming year, and I am still working some of the indie and college radio stations in the area.  I have been very blessed that every single song on this CD has received some airplay on radio stations around the country, but it’s mostly a pocket of people here and another pocket over there.  I’m hoping that getting a chance to play around the area more often, getting some radio airplay in the area, and of course interviews like this one will help expose more folks in Indiana to my music!  Then it’s all about people spreading the word!

Let’s say you weren’t a musician. What would you be doing if you were not performing?

That’s a good question.  I’m not sure I would know what to do with myself at this point.  I kinda feel like that is what I was made to do.  I imagine I would still be doing something with music.  Maybe just writing songs and playing them for my kids or something.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

Well, we’re always out playing somewhere on a Friday night.  Sometimes it’s just my percussionist Josh and I jamming out in a little coffee shop, other times it’s the full rock band playing some bigger venue.  And since there are not many places to play around Clare, my nights usually involve a bunch of driving around and getting home really late!

What’s this I hear about you being the “hottest artist in the world”?

There is a big music website out there called Reverbnation, where independent artists all over the world can share their music with people.  It’s kinda similar to what MySpace used to be for bands, a place to post all your music related stuff and network with fans and other artists.  They also have their own charts to track who the top bands on the site are, and one of those charts is called the “Hot Chart”.  The “Hot Chart” follows who is climbing the rankings fastest in their respective genre, and in the fall of 2010 I reached the #1 spot on the “Hot Rock” charts for several days.  This means that during that period of time I could claim to be the “Hottest Rock Artist in the World” according to Reverbnation.

One of the coolest things about the way the charts are displayed is that they list both the artist’s name and location.  I thought it was pretty funny to see little ol’ Clare, Michigan listed above cities like Hollywood, California and Paris, France!

What if I wanted to wear your face around all day? Where can I get some Matt Moore merchandise?

You can always grab yourself some sweet Matt Moore swag at one of our live shows, or you can go to my website and click on the store link.  There you can grab an autographed copy of the CD, a t-shirt, etc…  You can even download the album absolutely free on my website if you want!  Or if you would rather pay for your MP3s you can find me on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, etc…

It’s not always just you up there. Tell me about the other guys in the band.

There are four other guys in the band with me, and they all bring something really special to this project.  Derek Turcsanyi plays bass and sings backup vocals, Caleb Gates plays lead guitar, Josh Minor plays drums and Josh “THO” Thompson is my auxiliary percussionist, hype man, etc…  Actually “THO” does a little bit of everything for the band, both on and off stage.  He and I are both from the Clare area, and still tour around an awful lot performing a high energy, two man acoustic show.  To this day I have never seen anyone play the djembe like this cat, he is a monster!

Derek, Caleb and Josh were all in another band from around the Flint area before I convinced them to come jam along with me.  We started playing together last summer and things just clicked right away.  They are all incredible musicians, and I am constantly humbled that I get to make music with them.  I’ve recently started bringing in some of the new material for the next album for these guys to put their stamp on and I’m really excited with how it’s coming together.

Like I said before, it looks like you play a lot of shows in and around Michigan and Indiana. Do you ever travel outside of the Midwest?

Yeah, I have actually had the opportunity to travel all over the country the past couple years.  Last summer Josh and I did a nice little acoustic tour that took us as far south as Texas, and as far west as Colorado with many points in between.  The funny thing about that tour was that we actually packed a complete PA system, all our instruments, merch, clothing, food, sleeping bags, etc… into the back of a Ford Focus!  We called it the “Close Quarters 2010 Tour” since Josh and I spent most of our time only about six feet away from each other!  But hey, it gets way better mileage than the van!

I have never seen you perform live before. Not yet, anyway. What can someone expect from a live performance?

Well whether you catch an acoustic show at your local coffee joint, or the full rock band you can expect some of the same stuff.  We always strive to put on an entertaining, high energy show.  Even the acoustic stuff is pretty rocking; it’s definitely not your standard quiet evening at the coffee house.  We really work to create different moments in our show that people can connect with.  All kinds of stuff ranging from five man percussion breakdowns, a big looping section where “THO” plays like four or five different instruments at the same time, and even a couple cover songs that you probably wouldn’t expect.  We like to have a lot of fun onstage, and we really work to make sure that our audience feels as though they got their money’s worth!

What’s the best show you have ever been to?

I actually don’t get to go to a lot of other shows these days because we are out on the road so much, but about a year ago I got to go see Metallica live for the very first time.  They have been my favorite band since I was a kid, so it was a pretty special moment for me to see them.  And it was definitely the loudest show I have ever been to!

Seen any good movies lately?

No!  To be honest I have not seen a single new movie in almost two years!  Not at the theater, not on DVD, not even on TV.  I have a really hard time sitting down for two hours to watch a movie, I always feel like there are so many other things I need to be doing.

We got hit with one of the worst winters in recent history. I bet you guys got even more snow up north. Do you like the winter months or do you prefer the summer sun?

Living in Michigan you sorta learn to tolerate the winter months.  I guess I’m more of a warm weather kinda guy myself, especially when it comes to traveling around so much, but it’s all good.  Now if I could find a place to live that was like autumn all year long that would be perfect!!

I am sensing a little bit of Adam Lambert in your style. I am hearing a little bit of Ryan Cabrera in your voice. How do you manage to wrap all these singer/songwriter sounds together and produce a unique Matt Moore sound?

Thanks bro, I really appreciate that.  I just dig a lot of different music, so I’m really influenced by a lot of different stuff.  I’m a big fan of the singer/songwriter guys like Ryan Cabrera, Howie Day, Damien Rice, etc…  But I also dig a lot of R&B, soul, pop, folk, etc…  And of course I’ve always been a rock guy at heart.  So my goal is to let all those various things influence what I do and not try to imitate any one artist.  Hopefully what comes out the other side is something unique to me!

What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

I don’t really get embarrassed easily by stuff on stage.  I’m usually more embarrassed when we don’t play well or something.  There are definitely some more awkward moments though.  For example, I sometimes like to cover songs that most dudes won’t touch, just because I find it amusing, and sometimes they get me into trouble.  I can remember a particular show where the female violin player from the band that I was touring around with told me that she really liked my version of Rhianna’s song Umbrella.  So on stage that night I innocently dedicated the song to her, just because I knew she was into it, and it wasn’t until about halfway through that I realized exactly what I was saying, and the fact that I kept looking over at her was giving everyone the impression that I was singing this sappy love song directly to her.  Now for a lot of guys this wouldn’t be a big deal, but to a married guy with three kids… it was more than a little awkward.  After the song we all had a good laugh about it, but we agreed it was probably best to avoid eye contact for the rest of the tour!

Do you prefer playing the festivals or the smaller, more intimate crowds?

I know this is such a generic answer, but I honestly dig both for different reasons.  And they definitely both have their different challenges!  The big festival shows are fun because there is a lot of energy from the crowd, and you get to play rockstar to huge sea of people.  But those shows often feel less personal, and it can be harder to make those one on one connections.  Playing for a smaller crowd makes it easier to connect with each person there, and I find I can be a little bit more casual.  But I personally find it much more intimidating to play to a small number of people that you have to look in the eye than to a large crowd.  I guess I enjoy the challenges of both settings, and I can dig each one for what it is.

I know it’s a long time from now, but where do you see yourself in five years?

I definitely see myself still performing live all over the place, writing new music, and doing a lot of what I’m doing right now.  I certainly hope that by that point I will be able to support myself solely through music, and also able to support the other four guys in the band too.  I don’t know that I really see myself signing to a label at any point, as I actually kinda prefer the independent route, but I’m always open to the idea.  I certainly don’t see myself stopping any time soon.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I would most want to be remembered as man that loved God, loved his family, and loved people.  I want to be remembered as an artist that genuinely served people with his music.  Someone that put his heart and soul into each song, each performance, and always strived to give people a great show.  And I hope that my music can connect with people, and that the personal things that I share in my songs can help other people through struggles in their lives.  I think that kinda stuff lives on long after I’m gone.

In all of the interviews that I do, I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Hey Ricky, thank you so much for the opportunity to share a bit about my life and my music!  Definitely looking forward to catching up with you when we come down to Indy!

Beer is a guilty pleasure of mine. Ever since I turned 21, I have been searching for and trying as many different beers as I can. I rarely order the same thing twice. I am always trying to discover the next best drink, from an IPA to a stout, to porters and more. I just love the taste of a good brew. Heck, we even make our own beer at home. We made, our first batch, an IPA. We called it the Love Shack Dirty IPA. We called it dirty in case it tasted bad. It turned out just fine, and we are ready to make our second batch of beer.

On a recent flight to Orlando, I grabbed an in-flight magazine and about fell out of my chair. I saw an article for a Pumpkin Bomb, a beverage that mixes both beer and a shot of Goldschläger. Here is how you make this cocktail.

What will I need?

There are several ingredients to make this delicious treat. However, the hard work is well worth the result. You will need the following:

• Honey or agave syrup
• 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 ounce (1 shot) of Goldschläger
• 15 ounces of pumpkin ale
• 12 teaspoons chopped, toasted pumpkin seeds

Let’s kick things off by combining the cinnamon, the sugar, and the syrup, or agave, and mixing it all together. Then, dip your glass in this mixture to coat the rim of the glass. We’re making progress already.

Then pour the Goldschläger into a shot glass. Pour the bottle of beer into a pint glass and wait for the head to settle. Make sure that you leave room for the shot glass and the shot of Goldschläger, as that will take up some room in the bottom of your cup. After you have poured the beer, sprinkle some cinnamon on top, and garnish with a handful of pumpkin seeds.

Drop the shot of Goldschläger into the beer, and start sipping. There are a lot of ingredients going on here, but the hard work will pay off. It’s delicious! I think you’d prefer to drink this in the fall, just based off the feeling I get preparing one of these. I know spring just got here, but can we hurry up and get to fall?

Bottoms up people!

With the release of their Group Therapy album just around the corner, UK dance music titans Above & Beyond embark on their extensive thirty-four-date North American leg of the Group Therapy World Tour. Taking in all the major US cities, Above & Beyond will hit famed venues such as Chicago’s House of Blues, Toronto’s Guvernment, and sold-out shows at New York’s Best Buy Theatre on Broadway and two nights at LA’s Hollywood Palladium.

Above & Beyond’s latest single from Group Therapy, Thing Called Love, follows the widespread success of the trio’s recent crossover smash Sun & Moon – a track playlisted by BBC Radio 1. Again featuring the distinctive vocals of Richard Bedford, Thing Called Love is a powerful song-driven anthem that upholds Above & Beyond’s unique ability to marry innovative electronic grooves with stirring, thoughtful lyrics that are the antithesis of throwaway club tracks. 

In keeping with the stadium-sized sound of Sun & Moon, new Radio and Club mixes from Above & Beyond blend chunky electro basslines with forward-thinking, euphoric melody drops. Sitting neatly outside genres, Thing Called Love is another festival-ready anthem with meaning from Above & Beyond. Already played on Scott Mill’s Ready For The Weekend show on BBC Radio 1, Above & Beyond featuring Richard Bedford Thing Called Love will be released on May 29.

Above & Beyond’s highly anticipated second artist album Group Therapy will be out June 2011 on Ultra Music.

Above & Beyond Group Therapy North American Tour Dates

• April 21 Boston, MA – Royale (SOLD OUT)
• April 22 St Louis, MO – Europe
• April 23 New York, NY – Best Buy Theater (SOLD OUT)
• April 24 Montreal, QC, Canada – Bal En Blanc 17 at Palais Des Congres de Montreal
• April 27 Charlotte, North Carolina – Phoenix
• April 28 Roxy, Orlando, FL – Roxy
• April 29 Austin, TX – Nocturnal Festival at Apache Pass Event Center
• April 30 Tampa, FL – The Amphitheater
• May 1 New Orleans, LA – Ampersand
• May 13 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (SOLD OUT)
• May 14 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (SOLD OUT)
• May 15 Las Vegas, NV – TAO Beach
• May 18 Tuscon, AZ – The Rialto Theatre
• May 19 Denver, CO – Beta
• May 20 Vancouver, Canada – The Commodore Theatre
• May 21 Calgary, AB, Canada – Flames Central
• May 22 Grand Prairie, AB, Canada – Rock City
• May 24 Sacramento, CA – Barcode
• May 25 Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
• May 26 Santa Cruz, CA – Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
• May 27 Seattle, WA – Showbox
• May 28 Las Vegas, NV – Marquee Dayclub
• May 29 Scottsdale, AZ – Axis Radius
• May 29 San Diego, CA – Intervention at Hard Rock
• May 30 Newport Beach, CA – Sutra
• June 1 Cleveland, OH – Anatomy
• June 2 Nashville, TN – Limelight
• June 3 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
• June 4 Toronto, ON, Canada – Guvernment
• June 7 Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sound Republic
• June 8 Detroit, MI – Bleu
• June 9 Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
• June 10 Chicago, IL – House of Blues
• June 11 Washington, DC – Glow at Fur
• June 12 Buffalo, NY – Pure