Remember Grad Nite?

I was scratching my head trying to remember who played my Grad Nite when I was talking to Chels about her trip. I really struggled and the only musical act that I could come up with was Chaka Khan. I finally found a list and to my surprise, I was wrong. It was not Chaka Khan, but rather Midnight Star. I later remembered that Information Society may have played, but could not confirm it with anyone. Today I found that confirmation, so enjoy.

Here's a list of music acts that have played Disney's Grad Nite since 1972.

1972 — Duck, Saltwater Express, Crickett, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Stampeders, The Staple Singers

1973 — Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass, Ricky Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, The New Seekers, Helen Reddy, The Spinners, Group Cassidy, Liberation

1974 — The Stylistics, Liberation, Canned Heat, Kool & The Gang, Brownsville Station

1975 — Kool & The Gang, Liberation, Sister Sledge, Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids, Hues Corporation

1976 — K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Natalie Cole, Ohio Players, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

1977 — K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Starbuck, Hot, Flash Cadillac

1978 — Atlanta Rhythm Section, Sea Level, Hot, High Energy, Con Funk Shun, Solar Wind

1979 — Rose Royce, Starguard, Gary's Gang, Peaches & Herb, Solar Wind, The Races, Genes Cotton

1980 — K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang, Robert John, Tantrum, Macar Brothers

1981 — Pure Prairie League, Sister Sledge, One Way Featuring Al Hudson, Terri Gibbs, Fantasy, Ricky & Tightrope

1982 — Pointer Sisters, Tommy Tutone, Bertie Higgins, Tierra, Michael Iceberg

1983 — Steel Breeze, Marshall Crenshaw, Dazz Band, Night Ranger, Burrito Brothers, Greg Kihn

1984 — Night Ranger, Dazz Band, Exile, Dwight Twilley, Weird Al Yankovich

1985 — Midnight Star, Shalamar, Teena Marie, Animotion, Run DMC, Shannon

1986 — Ready For The World, Rene & Angela, Animotion, Nu Shooz, Starpoint, Klymaxx, Miami Sound Machine, Sly Fox

1987 — Wang Chung, Glass Tiger, Ready For The World, Nancy Martinez, Oran Juice Jones, Bobby Brown

1988 — Expose, Run DMC, Force MDs, Michael Bolton, Club Nouveau

1989 — Samantha Fox, Information Society, Will to Power, Midnight Star, New Kids On The Block, Pasanda's, Surface

1990 — Jody Watley, Seduction, Stevie B., Skyy, Kevin Paige

1991 — Stevie B., Tara Kemp, En Vogue, Timmy T., C&C Music Factory

1992 — Shanice, RTZ, Restless Heart, Mint Condition, MC Lyte

1993 — Jon Secada, Shai, PM Dawn, Hi-Five, Classic Example, Boy Crazy

1994 — Hi Five, Mc Lyte, Zhane, Tag Team, Xscape

1995 — Shenandoah, Brandy, All-4-One, Changing Falls

1996 — The Rembrandts, Sammy Kershaw, Silk, Immature, Mickey Finn

1997 — Goo Goo Dolls, David Lee Murphy, Az Yet, Aaliyah

1998 — La Bouche, Backstreet Boys, Rhett Atkins, Allure, Reel Big Fish

1999 — Britney Spears, Reel Big Fish, Sister Hazel

2000 — Destiny's Child, Jessica Simpson, Youngstown, B.B. Mak

2001 — Tyrese, DJ Skribble, Nine Days, 3LW, Christina Milian, Tonya Mitchell

2002 — City High, DJ Skribble, Natural, Beki, Blaque, Christina Milian, Lil J., Petey Pablo

2003 — Mario, Daniel Beddingfield, Smilez & Southstar, Default, Nivea, New Found Glory

2004 — Monica, Simple Plan, Stacie Orrico

2005 — Yellow Card, Ciara, Ryan Cabrera, Kevin Lyttle\

2006 — Fall Out Boy, Omarion, Teddy Geiger, Simple Plan, Farnkie J, Fefe Dobson

2007 — Mario Vazquez, Cartel, The Fray, Cassie

2008 — Ne-Yo, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Last Good Night

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Small Stakes at All Pro Pizza

I rushed straight from the airport to All Pro Pizza on Saturday night to catch my brother-in-law's new band, Small Stakes, play their first show in town. They have played other shows out of town on Sunday nights, so this was the first one that we could catch. It was an all ages show, so the whole family went. They played a mix of some of the songs from his previous band and some new songs.

The Queen and I really enjoyed his shows when he was playing with his previous band, The Everyday Theory. I helped them out by making show fliers, taking photos at their shows, producing some of their demo songs, building a band website and designing the packaging for their CD. I had a lot of fun doing this stuff, so I was looking forward to hearing the new band play live.

I have to be honest, I was exhausted. My flight from Puerto Rico was delayed so I ended up getting home about two hours later than I expected. I rushed back to town and went straight to the show without even going home first. The good thing was that pizza and beer were waiting for me there. The show was good and because I travel with my camera, I offered to take some photos. I was really experimenting and had a few shots that turned out great. I made prints and gave them to my brother-in-law's girlfriend last night.

I think the music was too loud for Cheeseball. She kept plugging her ears. There was also a weird older lady dancing and hugging everyone. She kept trying to talk to me, Cheeseball and The Queen all night, but I for one could not understand a word she was saying. She was drunk and might have also been on some harder stuff as well. All in all it was a good night.

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Halloween Playlist 2

For the evening festivities, we can get a little more creative, and macabre, with our song choices. It will feature some songs from horror movies mixed with some from The Nightmare Before Christmas and others. We might even enjoy Thriller by Michael Jackson. Here is the playlist:

Whispers - Midnight Syndicate
Howdy Folks - film track
Welcome - Disney's Haunted Mansion
Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo
Halloween 1 - Theme Main Title - John Carpenter/Alan Howarth
Blackest Rose - Midnight Syndicate
The Omen Theme - Jerry Goldsmith
Halloween Montage - John Carpenter/Alan Howarth
El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama - White Zombie
Walt Disney World® - Disney's Haunted Mansion
Myer´s House - John Carpenter/Alan Howarth
Fantasia for Strings - Hans Werner Henze
No One Lives Forever - Oingo Boingo
Living Dead Girl - Rob Zombie
Tubular Bells - The Exorcist Original Theme - Robert Miles
Dead Girl Superstar - Rob Zombie
Bonus- Jason's Hack Track - Harry Manfredini
A Mother's Love - Harry Manfredini
Oogie Boogie's Song - Ed Ivory/Ken Page
Everybody Scream (Theme from Dr. Wolfenstein's Creature Double Feature - Rob Zombie
Prophet Of Doom/Introduction to Horror - Friday the 13th Main Theme - Harry Manfredini
He's Alive - Harry Manfredini
Run, Rabbit, Run - Rob Zombie
Dr. Satan - film track
This Is Halloween - Danny Elfman
Call of the Zombie - Rob Zombie
Amityville Horror Theme
Born of the Night - Midnight Syndicate
Transylvanian Transmissions, Pt. 1 - Rob Zombie
Nightmare On Elm Street -Freddys Coming For You
Little Piggy - Rob Zombie
Thriller - Michael Jackson
Goodbye-Goodbye - Oingo Boingo

This playlist should set the scene well for a night of trick or treating and a birthday fiesta. I think there is enough diversity here to satisfy the kids and the adults. It will just be background music, but I know some of the songs will catch the ear of people. It should be fun.

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Halloween Playlist 1

Since Meg is having two different parties on Halloween for her Birthday, I need two different music playlists. Her official party will be in the afternoon for her school friends. This is really the first party she is having for school friends, so it is a big deal.

We need background music for the party, and the kids may even start dancing on the back patio if they feel it. This playlist will feature the entire Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack as well as some other songs. We may even have to put on some Miley Cyrus or other dance music. Here is the playlist

Welcome - Disney's Haunted Mansion
Thriller - Michael Jackson
Walt Disney World® - Disney's Haunted Mansion
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach
The Addams Family Theme - Vic Mizzy
Halloween Dance Macabre Organ
This Is Halloween - Danny Elfman
Otherworldly Music - Disney's Haunted Mansion
Overture - Danny Elfman
Opening - Danny Elfman
Jack's Lament - Danny Elfman
Doctor Finklestein/In the Forest - Danny Elfman
What's This? - Danny Elfman
Town Meeting Song - Danny Elfman
Jack and Sally Montage - Danny Elfman
Jack's Obsession - Danny Elfman
Kidnap the Sandy Claws - Catherine O'Hara; Danny Elfman; Paul Reubens
Making Christmas - Danny Elfman
Nabbed - Danny Elfman
Oogie Boogie's Song - Ed Ivory/Ken Page
Sally's Song - Catherine O'Hara
Christmas Eve Montage - Danny Elfman
Poor Jack - Danny Elfman
To the Rescue - Danny Elfman
Finale (Reprise) - Catherine O'Hara/Danny Elfman
Closing - Danny Elfman
End Title - Danny Elfman
[Untitled Hidden Track] - Danny Elfman
Beetlejuice Theme - Danny Elfman/william Ross

I don't want to get to morbid with the kids, since I don't really know them or their parents. Speaking of parents, I don't know if they will be staying for the party or not. Last Saturday we had 17 kids at our house before the Harvest dance and we ended up with about 10 or 11 parents as well so you never know. My next post will be the playlist for the night gathering.

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Halloween Music

I have been attempting to put together a soundtrack for Meg's birthday party on Saturday, which is Halloween. I have been digging through all of the "standard" Halloween music and I must say that I am disappointed. Most people consider songs like "Purple People Eater" as Halloween classics. I don't consider most of these songs Halloween at all.

I am disappointed with the creativity of Halloween songs. I have always thought that "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo is a great Halloween song and that it would make a great party theme. Meg is too young for that, but when she is older we will definitely use it.

Today I took a major turn in my search and went to horror movie songs and I am much more satisfied. They have the sound I associate with Halloween. The Silver Shamrock commercial jingle from Halloween III is one of my favorites. I think it just has that sound of a kids song, but there is something sinister behind the sound that makes it work. Another great song for Halloween that is along the same lines is "This is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas. While it is not from a horror movie, it is a great song by Danny Elfman who is formerly of Oingo Boingo.

Of course the Friday The 13th and Halloween theme songs are classics. I am a little disappointed that there aren't any original songs from the Rob Zombie movie The Devil's Rejects. There is however some good Rob Zombie music in the movie House of 1,000 Corpses.

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Weezer - Raditude

I am a big fan of Weezer and cannot wait for their new album to be released in a few weeks. I have been listening to the two singles that have been released, "I Want You To" and "I'm Your Daddy" and they are getting me excited for the new album. They are both pretty strong songs.

I saw Weezer in concert several years ago at Selland Arena in Fresno. I really enjoyed the show, even though there were not very many people there. My wife and I were able to walk down onto the floor to get a great view. I would really love to see them again on their current tour.

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