In Memoriam - Alan Rickman

                                                                 Rest in Peace

2016 Academy Award Predictions

   Here are the films which I think will be nominated for Best Picture this year at the Oscar's:


               The Big Short
               Brooklyn
               Carol
               Inside Out
               The Martian
               The Revenant
               Sicario
               Spotlight
               Star Wars - The Force Awakens
               Straight Outta Compton
           


                  Potential Alternates:


                Mad Max: Fury Road
                Creed



     I originally thought Mad Max : Fury Road would be nominated, but think Star Wars may potentially replace it. The Academy will not nominate 2 action films. I do think George Miller will be nominated for director though. Sicario seems to be picking up steam lately, and Brooklyn looks like the kind of lush romantic film that sometimes gets nominated.

Rest in Peace

                                                   Always emulated never duplicated.
                                                                    Rest in Peace

The Hope Show 8- Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 12/23/2015

             This years semi annual Hope Show was a little different in that they held two shows on the same night. An early show at 7:00, and a later show, which was added weeks later, at 9:30.
              We attended the early show, so I am not sure of the differences in the setlist for the second show. I do know that at the second show Jon Bon Jovi performed Because We Can and also Run Rudolph along with Gary U.S. Bonds, and John Cafferty performed Tough All Over. I am not sure if these were in addition to the earlier setlist or if these songs replaced others.It also looks like Debbie Harry may not have been on stage for Night Tome is the Right Time.
               The early show was a benefit for The Visiting Nurses Association and 180 Turning Lives Around, while the second show benefited Mary's Place By The Sea.
                The now semi annual show was once again put together by local legend Bobby Bandiera, who served as the band leader for the show, as he has with all other Hope Shows.
                The format differed slightly from the last few Hope Shows in that the performers did not perform a song or two and then come out for the encore. This year the majority of the artists performed a song and then would come back later to perform another.
                 This years shows featured both Jon Bon Jovi and Gary U.S. Bonds who have performed at all previous Hope Shows. Southside Johnny was also scheduled, but was absent due to illness. Tim McLoone also returned with a condensed version of his Holiday Express, featuring his group the Shirley's.
                  John Cafferty returned for a second year with Michael "Tunes" Antunes from The Beaver Brown Band joining him, while Debbie Harry of Blondie and Norman Nardini and Frankie Previte all joined in for the first time.
                  The backing vocalists included Reagan Richards, Layonne Holmes, Lisa Sherman, Lorenza Ponce and Jillian Rhys McCoy.
                  The artists performed both covers and originals. Strangely there was not an actual encore. There was what seemed to be an encore of the Ray Charles classic Night Time is the Right Time, but it was followed by Jon Bon Jovi's appearance.It was first year where there was not a proper finale.
                   For me the highlights were Bobby's emotional performance of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, and Debbie Harry's performance of the Blondie classic One Way or Another.
                   Here is the setlist:

             Happy Holidays - Tim McLoone w/Maureen McCrink Lead Vocal
             Nobody Ought To Be Alone On Christmas - Tim McLoone w/Amy Broza Lead Vocal
             White Christmas - Tim McLoone w/Layonne Holmes Lead Vocal
             How Can I Be Sure(Young Rascals cover) - Bobby Bandiera
             Merry Christmas Everybody - Norman Nardini
             (I've Had)The Time Of My Life - Frankie Previte & Lisa Sherman
             Tender Years - John Cafferty
             What Becomes of the Brokenhearted(Jimmy Ruffin cover) - Gary U.S. Bonds
             We Three Kings(Rock version) - Debbie Harry
             He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother(The Hollies cover) - Bobby Bandiera
             New Orleans - Gary U.S. Bonds
             I Don't Wanna Go Home(Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes cover) - Bobby Bandiera
             On The Dark Side - John Cafferty
             That's Life(Frank Sinatra cover) - Bobby Bandiera
             One Way or Another(Blondie song) - Debbie Harry
             Quarter To Three - Gary U.S. Bonds
             Speedo(Coasters cover) - Bobby Bandiera w/Tim McLoone
             Night Time Is The Right Time(Ray Charles cover) - Bobby Bandiera, John Cafferty, Debbie Harry, Gary U.S. Bonds
              Lost Highway - Jon Bon Jovi
              Who Says You Can't Go Home - Jon Bon Jovi & Jillian Rhys McCoy
              Blue Christmas(Elvis Presley cover) - Jon Bon Jovi
             Bad Medicine - Jon Bon Jovi & Layonne Holmes

John Cafferty

Debbie Harry

Gary U.S. Bonds & Debbie Harry

Bobby Bandiera & Jon Bon Jovi

Bobby Bandiera, Jon Bon Jovi & Jillian Rhys McCoy

Jon Bon Jovi & Layonne Holmes

           

           
           
     

           

Christmas

 A few images from our trip into New York City the other day.
 We went to see the Charlie Brown Christmas 50th Anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, New York Theatre Ballet and John Bolton as the narrator. Also went by Rockefeller Center and Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

Just before start of show

Finale

Saks

Rockefeller Center

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Merry Christmas