BROADWAY'S ANNAPURNA IS ASTONISHING SHOW
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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London Grammar – In the last five years or so, some of the best music around has emanated from the U. K. From the late-Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch to Adele and Duffy, Natasha Bedingfield, and Leona Lewis too. Of course, for music aficionados, that shouldn't come as any major surprise. Dusty Springfield (born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien on April 16, 1939 – died 2 March 1999) was a British pop singer.
Of all the female artists of the British Invasion, Springfield made the biggest impression on the U. S. market. From 1963 to 1970, she scored 18 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. Personally, I’ve been both delighted and surprised by what’s come from the U. K. Adele, perhaps the most successful is terrific. But, in the last few weeks I've been captivated by the latest music from across the pond: London Grammar.
London Grammar is a Brit trip-hop trio formed by Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic 'Dot' Major. Their debut EP, Metal & Dust, was released in February 2013 and their debut album, If You Wait (via Columbia Records here) was released in September of last year.
Both vocalist Hannah Reid and guitarist Dan Rothman are originally from London and met in a residence hall at the University of Nottingham during their first year in 2009. Rothman saw a picture of Reid on Facebook with a guitar and sent her a message to see if she wanted to collaborate. They were joined by Northampton-native Major a year later, after he began playing music together with Rothman. They chose their name as “not only was it where we're from, but London is also so international and multicultural that it actually felt like quite a universal name in a way.”
After completing their studies in the middle of 2011, the trio moved down to London to pursue a career in music. The band began by playing low-key gigs at local bars, honing their material. They soon found themselves noticed by a number of A&R people and they were signed with the Ministry of Sound in the second half of 2012. In December 2012, the trio posted their song "Hey Now" on YouTube which immediately received a large amount of attention, partly due to the relative anonymity of the band due to a lack of promotional photographs.
On September 1, 2013, they released “Strong,” which peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The following week, they released their debut studio album If You Wait.
Their music has been described as "a blend of ambient, ethereal and classical sounds" with melancholy guitar, soaring vocals and plaintive lyrics. Reid's powerful, brooding vocals, prominent on all of London Grammar's tracks released to date. The songs are a collaborative effort as Reid explains: "I write the lyrics, but the songs initiate from all three of us. Dot will write a piano part or a music score. Dan will add some guitars."
She describes the songs as "emotionally affected" and "writes about people who come in and out of my life." The song "Wasting My Young Years,” which has received over 4 million views on YouTube, was written about her ex-boyfriend.
I think without question, this is one of the premiere releases to date. We love “Hey Now,” “Flickers,” and “Strong,” which on the album has a strong, creative radio edit. Reid’s voice reminds me of Ellie Goulding (also a Brit) and yes, Florence Welch. They appeared on Letterman a week back and were sensational. So far, our #2 record of the year.
Annapurna Ahead --- We got to see Annapurna this week (at NYC’s Acorn Theatre) with the married-couple Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman and just loved it. They play a formerly married couple, re-uniting after a tumultuous separation. Offerman (Ulysses) is a teacher/writer with a degree of success, much like a Jack Kerouac and Mullally (Emma) has just left her current husband, and together they re-unite in the writer’s trailer located in some trailer-park near the mountains.
With some terrific dialogue from the play’s writer Sharr White, they explore what happened and why and discuss their young son, who’s deafness may have been caused by Ulysses in a drunken stupor. It’s poignant and astonishing delivered.
Mullally, of course, from her run in TV’s Will And Grace, was terrific; even at times slipping back into the show’s character of Karen, which had the audience in wild laughter. Offerman terrifically impressed us with his work. Very strong and very moving. Offerman, in fact, blew us away. Tremendous.
CLOSING NOTES --- Katie Couric returning to NBC’s Today; when co-host Savannah Guthrie goes on maternity leave? Brilliant plan; ratings grabber for sure. Katie’s current talk show ends its two-run this June…
Law & Order: SUV gets renewed for its 16th season. Amazing! Let’s have Dick Wolf bring Christopher Meloni back for this one? What do you say Mr. Wolf? …
Fox has Ok’d the new Gotham series from producer/creator Bruno Heller. It’s Gotham before Batman, starring young-Ben McKenzie. Have you seen the trailer yet? There are moments of brilliance, though we've seen it before. Take a look HERE.
American Idol was just renewed for its 14th season … but, NBC has yet to renew Bryan Fuller’s visionary Hannibal. We're hoping as it’s certainly the bets looking show on TV …
Micky Dolenz gets chronicled by The Daily Mail next week for their My Haven - celebrities’ at-home feature. Will be out the end of the month …
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