Friday, July 17, 2009
Alison Krause, Cherryholmes and Others to Host Fund Raiser at Wildhorse Saloon
A genre-crossing collection of local artists -- including Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), bluegrass family crew Cherryholmes, breakout bluegrass achievers the SteelDrivers and Juilliard-trained contemporary Christian outfit Annie Moses Band, among others -- are teaming on Aug. 4 at the Wildhorse Saloon to benefit Nashville's Chris Fontaine, who's suffering from a rare form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma.
Fontaine, a luthier at Music Row's Williams Fine Violins, has been unable to secure medical coverage based on a pre-existing condition, organizers noted, thus supporters and friends have organized the benefit and a fund via Bank of America to which well-wishers can donate. More information about the fund is available at www.FontaineFund.com.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the event, and general admission tickets are $25 (limited $50 VIP tickets are also available).
Flavor Flav's Pajama Party Featuring THB & Collier
Date/Time:Sat., July 18, 9:00pm
Twenty years ago—back when we had just started fighting the power and welcoming folks to the Terrordome for the first time—if you told us that the second in command for America's most politically charged rap outfit would one day come to town promoting a pajama party, we would have laughed right in your face. Public Enemy's Flavor Flav hosting a pajama party has to be a joke, like 911, right? We can't be expected to believe that we've got to git up uh git git down just because Flava is in his underwear in our town, right? Well, believe it folks. Strong Island's most famous second banana is taking his reality teevee-bolstered reputation to Club 527 for what's probably going to be a nonsensical party of epic proportions. This, after all, is the man that coined the phrase “Wipe ya butt, ya gotta hole in your couch.”
Nashville Fairgrounds Schedule for July 18, 2009
Saturday – July 18, 2009
125 Lap Late Model Race
125 Lap Late Model Race
2:00pm
Registration/Pit Gates Open
3:00pm
Practice Begins
Dwarfs 3:00-3:05 Super Stock 3:28-3:33
Legends 3:07-3:12 Limited Late Models 3:35-3:43
Frontrunners 3:14-3:19 Super Truck 3:45-3:53
Thunderstox 3:21-3:26 Late Models 3:55-4:03
4:00pm
Grandstand Gates Open
4:10pm
Driver Meeting/Draw
Thunderstox
Super Stock
Limited Late Models
Frontrunners
4:30pm
Qualifying
Dwarfs
Legends
Super Truck
Late Models
5:30pm
National Anthem (Bailey Dozier)
Dwarfs (25 Laps)
Legends Pro/Master (25 Laps)
Legends Semi-Pro/Young Lions (25 Laps)
Frontrunners (20 Laps)
Thunderstox (25 Laps)
Super Stock (30 Laps)
Limited Late Models (30 Laps)
– INTERMISSION –
Super Truck (40 Laps)
Late Model (125 Laps)
** All times/events are subject to change.
** Preliminary Rain Date for this event will be July 25th.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Upcoming Mingo Fishtrap Tour Dates
07.25.09 Threadgill's World Headquarters (south), Austin, TX
07.31.09 McDavid Studio @ Bass Hall, Ft. Worth, TX
08.01.09 Whitewater Amphitheater w/ Delbert McClinton & more, New Braunfels, TX
08.03.09 Siro's, Saratoga Springs, NY
08.04.09 Musikfest, Bethelehem, PA
08.05.09 Musikfest, Bethelehem, PA
08.06.09 Alive at Five Concert Series w/ The Neville Brothers, Albany, NY
08.08.09 Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, PA
08.27.09 The Granada Theater, Dallas, TX
01.10.10 Delbert McClinton's Sandy Beaches Cruise 16 - The Grand Finale, from Tampa, FL
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
May Town Center Asks for Revote
Tony Giarratana is asking for a do-over for the May Town Center with the city's planning commission.
In a letter delivered to the Metro Nashville Planning Commission Thursday, Giarratana - president of Giarratana Development - says the multiple motions and votes made on June 25 during the re-zoning hearing for the $4.2 billion development in Bells Bend were handled improperly.
He is asking for a new vote at the July 23 Planning Commission Meeting.
Metro City Council, which has final say in the matter, has since delayed its consideration of the issue.
The letter says a new vote is necessary “(t)o maintain the integrity of the process, to instill public confidence, to ensure the applicant is guaranteed its fundamental due process rights, to promote a concept of basic fairness, and to correct the procedural errors that occurred throughout the evening.”
Planning Department spokesman Craig Owensby says the department is reviewing the request.
Jack May, a partner in the project's owners, Bells Landing Partners, says the owners are still evaluating the prospects for the development and the property.
The May Town Center has been the subject of intense public debate since it was first introduced in early 2008. The developers say the project is needed to create a viable location for corporate campuses in Davidson County. Opponents argue that the project is the wrong land use the farmland, and would do harm to the surrounding community, especially in regards to traffic and congestion.
Meanwhile, Giarratana is struggling with financial difficulties, as an $11.5 million loan on Giarratana Development’s Signature Towers site in downtown Nashville has been in delinquency since February. And his Atlanta-based development partner is trying to extend or restructure at least $100 million in loans, many of which are delinquent.
May says Giarratana is a hired consultant in the project and does not have any equity in the May Town Center development, and that outside financial issues had no impact on the property's prospects — “good, bad or indifferent.”
He said there was no apparent reason Giarratana’s role in the project would not continue.
Thanks to Turner Hutchens
Taylor Swift to Perform New Version of "You Belong With Me" on MTV's Video Music Awards Show
Taylor Swift will perform a never-before-heard version of "You Belong With Me" at MTV's Video Music Awards on Sept. 13 in New York City. This will be Swift's first time to perform at the VMAs.
"I'm so excited that MTV and the VMAs have invited me to perform because I think this year's show will be unlike anything they've ever done," Swift said. "I love incorporating theatrics into my performances, and the VMAs have always allowed artists to run with that. MTV has been so good to me, and I could not be more excited about this year's VMAs."
British actor-comedian Russell Brand will return as host.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
MUSIC CITY MMA PRESENTS: ROCK & HAVOC
ROCK & HAVOC
SATURDAY, JULY 18 @ 7PM. DOORS OPEN @ 6:30PM.
TICKET PRICES: $77, $32, $27, $22.
FOUR ROCK BANDS & 10 FIGHTS
BANDS:
NEWMATIC, MOTORFLYS, NOVEMBER, HALO STEREO
PRO CARD FIGHTS FEATURING ULTIMATE FIGHTERS:
MIKE DOLCE VS SHANE PRIMM
JEREMIAH "THE BIG RIG" RIGGS VS DUSTIN WEST
HOLLYWOOD CORTEZ VS. ANTHONY STEVENS
TENNESSEE'S OWN JASON WOOD VS PAUL GARDINER
PLUS SIX MORE ACTION PACKED BOUTS
The 4th Annual Jeffrey Steele Songwriting Boot Camp
The 4th Annual Jeffrey Steele Songwriting Boot Camp will take place in Nashville, TN September 10 - 13 2009. Applications will be posted here June 1st. 12 applicants will be chosen to participate in this intensive 3 days 3 night songwriting boot camp, which features songwriting, co-writing, luncheon panel with industry professionals, one-on-one coaching from Jeffrey Steele, & more!
Congratulations to the 2008 JS Boot Camp Alumni! Many have already made demo’s of songs they have written at boot camp, including the 14 - way co-write “I Can’t” which the campers performed on stage with Jeffrey at 3rd & Lindsley. Many are taking steps to move out to Nashville to continue working and advancing in songwriting.
Some 2006 and 2007 Boot campers continue to make waves in Nashville signing their first deals and getting their first cuts! Congrats and keep it rolling guys!
2006 Boot Camp Alumni Jennifer Adan has just received chart topping success with her first cut! Blake Shelton’s latest hit “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” written by our very own Jennifer Adan spent 2 weeks at #1.
Another 2006 Alumni Melissa Bollea was named “The Most Promising Female Songwriter 2008″ by the Tennessee Songwriters Association!
Click HERE to apply for Boot Camp 2009!
Signature Tower Site in Nashville in Default
Trying to build the tallest building in the Southeast has put one of Nashville’s most prominent developments into default, while its financial partner is facing major financial problems of its own.
An $11.5 million development loan for Nashville developer Tony Giarratana’s proposed 50-story Signature Tower in downtown has been in default since February, and remains in default after coming due at the end of April, according to a letter sent in May to investors in the Novare Group, Giarratana’s development partner.
Atlanta-based Novare, which has served as the equity partner on more than $150 million of Nashville-area projects with Giarratana including the Viridian and Encore condo projects, is facing major financial challenges, too.
The dire nature of the Atlanta company’s situation is spelled out in a May 29 report from Deloitte and Touche, regarding its independent audit of Novare’s finances. “(T)he company’s in default on a substantial amount of its indebtedness. These defaults and the significant maturities in 2009 of outstanding indebtedness raise substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the audit states.
Regarding the Signature, Giarratana says in a letter to the Nashville Business Journal that he is negotiating with the lender, Wachovia, for a loan extension. He says Novare is only tangentially involved with the project and that the Signature Tower loan has been re-negotiated three times. He is now in negotiations for a fourth amendment that would extend the maturity date, when complete payment will be required. “(W)e continue to have a cordial relationship with Wachovia, our land lender on the project. We have continued to service the debt and are actively pursuing capital to begin the project,” Giarratana’s letter reads.
The Signature loan has been in default at least twice, both times for a lack of payment, and has remained unresolved since it matured more than two months ago, according to Novare’s financial statements. Wachovia Bank would not comment on its lending agreements.
According to Novare’s financial report dated Oct. 31, 2008, the company received notice in August 2008 that the loan was in default because Signature Holdings — owned by Giarratana — hadn’t made a scheduled $1.4 million payment on the loan.
On Oct. 10, however, a loan modification extended the due date for the loan to April 30, 2009, according to the Novare documents obtained by the Nashville Business Journal. Under that agreement, Giarratana put up additional collateral valued at $6.5 million. Novare also agreed to subordinate a $1.5 million loan it had made to Giarratana, meaning the bank would be first in line to collect any money paid to the loans.
Signature Tower has been in the design and pre-construction phase for years. The building was first proposed as a 50-story building, but grew in size as a hotel and more floors were added until plans called for a 70-story skyscraper, taller than the Chrysler Building in New York. In April, Giarratana announced that plans for the tower were being scaled back down to 50 stories — which would still be the tallest in Nashville.
Novare says in a written response to the Atlanta Business Chronicle that its “objective is to restructure the Company’s balance sheet” without having to file for bankruptcy.
Giarratana has always aimed high. Along with Novare, he built the $70 million Viridian, the first downtown condo high-rise in Nashville, as well as the $80 million, 333-unit Encore.
Giarratana Development and its partners have completed about $300 million in projects in the past decade, including 1,100 urban residences, 2,000 structured parking spaces, and 100,000 square feet of retail space — and the sale of condos “has or will liquidate the construction loans on many of these projects,” Giarratana says in his letter.
The Encore is a bright spot for Novare, with 77 percent of units sold, and only $7 million left on what was a $63 million loan, Giarratana says in his written statement. He says the project should be sold out by September. The construction loan for the Encore was due last month, but was re-negotiated to extend the maturity date to June 30, 2010, according to documents filed with the Register of Deeds.
Atlanta-based Guest Relations Marketing has also sued Giarratana for not paying $53,000 for work done to promote the Signature Tower. Guest Relations’ suit says that despite being awarded the money in arbitration, Giarratana has not paid. Giarratana has said the suit stems from a disagreement over what work the firm actually did.
Giarratana filed a $2.25 million suit in early June against Gresham Smith and Partners over work by the architecture firm on the design for the Belle Meade Town Center. The holding company of that project, BMT Associates, took out a $23.7 million loan from Wachovia for the project in August 2006, as well as a $2.1 million line of credit. A spokeswoman for Gresham Smith declined to comment.
In addition to Novare’s interest in the Encore, Novare is at least part owner of the 73,400-square foot St. Cloud Corner office building at Church Street and 5th Avenue across from the Signature site; the 12,000-square-foot Cohen Building at 421 Church St., which was purchased in 2007 for $5 million; and the retail elements of the three downtown condominium buildings it helped develop .
In 2008, Novare had a net loss of $61 million, and in the first quarter of 2009, lost an additional $47 million, according to a letter by Novare President and CEO Jim Borders, which was included with financial statements for all of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.
The letter says the losses stem from projects that were put on hold because of the weak economy but have still incurred development expenses. In addition, many of their condos on the market have suffered from a significant decline in the price and speed of sales. “Put simply, outside of Austin, Texas, we are only able to sell if we do so at a price that is less than our cost,” Borders’ letter reads. “The combination of construction pricing from a very healthy market two to four years ago when we started our existing projects, and consumer demand in a very weak market today, has caused this result.”
No properties have entered foreclosure, Borders said in an e-mail to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, “but there are near term and past due maturities that could result in that.”
The company has 1,387 high-rise units under construction, including about 500 in Atlanta, 462 in Charlotte and 395 in Tampa.
Novare is no longer making scheduled interest payments on loans secured by eight projects in Atlanta, Tampa, Houston and Charlotte. Combined, the loans come to almost $57 million. Novare suspended the payments as lenders reconsidered the request to restructure the loans.
Thanks to Turner Hutchens
Rick Rubin: In the Studio
'Rick Rubin: In the Studio' offers an in-depth look at the life and times of Rick Rubin — in the studio and beyond. The book contains behind-the-scenes stories of how Rubin created hit albums with diverse legends such as: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run DMC, Johnny Cash, the Beastie Boys, Audioslave, Tom Petty, Metallica, Danzig, Slayer, LL Cool J, The Cult, Weezer, the Dixie Chicks, Linkin Park, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Jay Z, Neil Diamond, Sheryl Crow, and Slipknot.
Monday, July 13, 2009
George Strait's Twang
George Strait, The King of Country returns with TWANG, the follow-up to his #1, platinum-certified Troubadour, which was named “Best Country Album” at the 2009 Grammy Awards. George has sold over 67 million albums throughout his record-breaking career and currently sits in third place on the all-time platinum/multi-platinum album certification list, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
TWANG, George's 38th album, is set for release on August 11 and features the hit single "Living For The Night" (co-written by George, his son Bubba and Dean Dillon), which has hit the Top 15 in just 3 weeks. “Living For The Night” marks the first time George has penned a song since “I Can’t See Texas From Here” from his 1982 debut – Strait Country. Listen to "Living For The Night". Strait co-wrote two additional songs on TWANG - “He's Got That Something Special” and “Out Of Sight Out Of Mind.”
Track Listing for TWANG:
1. Twang
2. Where Have I Been All My Life
3. I Gotta Get To You
4. Easy As You Go
5. Living For The Night
6. Same Kind Of Crazy
7. Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
8. Arkansas Dave
9. The Breath You Take
10. He’s Got That Something Special
11. Hot Grease And Zydeco
12. Beautiful Day For Goodbye
13. El Rey
George Strait
TWANG
8.11.09
Produced by George Strait and Tony Brown
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
