BRUNO MARS AND THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING
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Bruno Mars





BRONCO TROUBLE --- The estimable columnist Lloyd Grove tweeted last night: This was the worst thing that’s happened to the Broncos since O.J. Now, I’m not a football acolyte, but I watched the game last night and when things went bad minutes 12 seconds into the game for Denver – the writing was on the wall. I hate to see anyone lose … so badly, but the Broncos were indeed shellacked. The halftime show was unquestionably the highlight of the whole shebang as Bruno Mars tore into a 4 song set with palpable vim and vigor. Mars may have been unfairly targeted as entertainment lite, but, last night he was thoroughly enjoying himself on stage with his terrific band. He opened with “Locked Out Of Heaven,” then “Treasure,” “Give It Away Now” with the Red Hot Chili Peppers; then closed with a strong, solo “Just The Way You Are” behind a wild show of fireworks. 


The Peppers, a tremendous band for years, were announced when the wires burned up with questions as to whether Mars was up to the task. Face it: the Peppers are rock icons and even though they performed just one number("Give It Away Now"), they got the crowd on their feet in no time flat . The duet with Mars at first may have seemed like an odd pairing, but within minutes, all were in sync. Anthony Kiedis and Flea (from the Peppers) are one of the best one-two punch acts in music!); and, I enjoyed seeing their new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer ... really exceptional! It was a shame they only go to do one number in … but, it was before a huge audience. Pundits are calling this show one of the best shows ever – and, I concur. 


The commercials as always were an added treat: and, perhaps the most mesmerizing was one from Chrysler, with Bob Dylan of all people, appearing in and narrating it. It was much like the Chrysler-ad several years back with Eminem, trumpeting American-know how. The message here was the same, but with an artist of Dylan’s caliber, particularly moving. The tag line was we build your car. As someone tweeted last night; he’s gone from American-icon to car salesman. Funny! 


Also standout was the one from Radio Shack; with a worker getting a call from the 80's ... well-done with cameos from Twisted Sister's Dee Snider; Alf; Hulk Hogan; and, perhaps in the Olympic spirit, Mary Lou Retton. It was kind of a joke on them ... as Radio Shack is always a horror to go into. Go figure! 


The rest were sort of warm-and-fuzzy, and often odd: the one with a dancing Ellen DeGeneres (for Beats Music) was a tad strange; the one from Budweiser with the puppies and horses -you've heard all about it- was pretty cute as well; not much substance, but cute. The Full House reunion from Dannon Oikos was rather annoying.. and, boy, has everyone gotten older! The Muppets were represented as well in a commercial with Terry Crews … again, most odd. Nice, but a far cry from edgier ones over the years. Getting up his morning, I mostly forgotten all about them. The much-anticipated Seinfeld reunion, though really only with Jerry and Jason Alexander, was funny ... but, what was the point? At the end it tagged Seinfeld's cable-series (Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee), but that was it. Odd if you ask me.


WHO ARE YOU --- Roger Daltrey has told the U.K.’s NME that he and Pete Townshend will be entering the studio to record a new Who album. Amazingly, the band has only released eleven studio albums over their 49 year career with a new one being their first since 2006's Endless Wire which, itself, was their first in 24 years. 


Daltry told the paper "Pete's got hundreds of songs so the only question is whether we get around to it, but he wants to make an album and I'm always ready and raring to go. I never know what I'm doing next, it's about what comes through my letterbox tomorrow, but I don't see why we wouldn't. My voice is still in good shape. The hearing isn't so great, but the voice is fine." 


RIP PHILIP --- Why does it sometimes takes a tragedy to make us appreciated and remember someone as we should? The devastating news about actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was yet another instance. What an amazing actor? If you've never seen him in his Oscar-winning performance in Capote … watch it immediately. It was and is, one of the best performances I've ever seen. From his appearance on the big screen as Lester Bangs in Almost Famous, to roles in such instant classics as The Master; Mission Impossible 2; Before The Devil Knows You're Dead; The Talented Mr. Ripley; and, The Savages, he was just phenomenal. He was also a superb actor on stage, especially in his Mike Nichol’s production of Death of a Salesman. I saw it and it was sensational. With three kids, beloved in his New York City, it is a loss of staggering proportions. So sad. 


CLOSING NOTES --- Most inventive PR-move was from Atlantic Record’s exemplary Chelsey Northern. Emailing a release about Mars during his performance last night. Good timing; well done, Ms. Northern … 


Mars begins his Moonshine Jungle world tour (with his band The Hooligans) in April. After last-night’s stellar performance looks for SRO audiences everywhere … 


Speaking of commercials, the new one for RED featuring U2 (and their song “Invisible”) is rather brilliant. We love it. As reported by Billboard, the song will set up the group’s forthcoming album, its follow-up to 2009’s No Line on the Horizon and the group’s first under new manager Guy Oseary …


Micky Dolenz pr-mouthpiece David Salidor will be on hand for next month’s Monkees Convention 2014 and will file reports for us from the scene. With Michael Nesmith on board as well, it should be a treasure trove for Monkees-fan. Stay tuned …


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