The Adam Hoffman Revival

by Sami Ponoroff

The Adam Hofmann Revival is a band that knows how to play its instruments, and play them well. Each of their songs is characterized by a unique sound, whether it be reminiscing the music of decades past or remind you what you may hear on the radio today, and yet there seems to be something lacking in their music. When one listens to the first ten or so seconds of an AHR song they will be hypnotized by they piano and keyboard and drums, or whatever instrument they may be sporting, and then the disappointment will hit like a fatal accident on I-95: the vocals are horrendous in comparison with the background music. Put quite frankly, the vocals make a listener turn the speakers off instead of yearn for the next track. And those people who find lyrics more important than instruments will cringe and struggle to get through a song.

The Grammy Awards CD

by Elena Taytem

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The 2010 GRAMMYS are quickly approaching and the 2010 GRAMMY® Nominees CD highlights artists and songs nominated for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.  This CD includes songs I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas, Poker Face by Lady Gaga, You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift, Fallin For You by Colbie Caillat, You Found Me by the Fray, 21 Guns by Greenday and much more great music.

So make sure to pick up this CD with the greatest hits of 2009-2010 and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the MusiCares® Foundation and the GRAMMY Foundation®, two charitable organizations established by The Recording Academy. And be sure to watch the Grammy’s Sunday night, January 31st on CBS 8PM ET/PT with performances by Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood just to name a few. Also some of the celebirty presenters include pop/R&B singer Justin Bieber, pop sensation the Jonas Brothers, nine-time GRAMMY winner Ringo Starr, actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, pop singer Katy Perry and TV and radio host Ryan Seacrest. Plus Usher in a special 3-D GRAMMY tribute to Michael Jackson and Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli in a special fund-raising segment for Haitian relief.

So be sure to tune in to Music’s Biggest Night!

Orange Avenue band Q&A with Melanie

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Ubiquitous artists All American Rejects, Rhianna, Smash MouthHellogoodbye all have one thing in common, they have shared the stage with Daytona Beach, Florida’s Pop/Rock sensation Orange Avenue.

Sounding unique is one of the most onerous thing a musician has to do. For Derek Anderson (vocals), Glenn Sedita (Keyboards/Piano/Percussion), Chris Yetter (Guitar), Sean Sedita (Drums), and Jamie Pohl (Bass), adding their own individual touch is clearly heard through the keyboard and percussion.

Since the release of their first self-titled record (also affectionately called “The Orange Album” by fans) in 2007, the Central Florida based quintet has been pounding the pavement to promote their music on the streets and playing gigs. Following the recent release of their second record, aptly named “Reset,” the band has seen as tremendous amount of success so far by earning recognition by many Central Floridian media publications, selling over an estimated 10,000 copies on their first album, a few singles playing of local Orlando/Daytona radio stations, and were the featured artist of the week on the cable network program MLB Tonight.

Q & A with Orange Avenue


Q: What’s the name of your band? Who came up with name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
A: Orange Avenue (Derek Anderson (Vocals), Glenn Sedita (Keyboard/Percussion), Chris Yetter (Guitar), Sean Sedita (Drums), and Jamie Pohl (Bass)– We came up with the name because we used to practice on a street called Orange Avenue in Daytona Beach.  The location of the street was not in the best of neighborhoods.  The name gave us inspiration to get out, but it also reminds us where our band started.

Q: Who are your major influences?
A: Our major influences are RadioheadColdplayThe KinksThe Beatles and The Hello People (Our (Sean and Glen), father Bobby Sedita was in The Hello People).

Q: How long have you guys known each other? How did you all meet?
A: We have known each other for about 10 years.  However it wasn’t until 6 years of us knowing each other that we formed Orange Avenue (2006). Other than Glen and Sean being brothers we all knew of each other through different bands in the area.

Q: What inspired you to make music together?
A: Everyone had the same goal and we all respected each other’s musicianship.

Q: All musicians have their “go to” instrument. What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty? What attracted            you to the instruments you have now?
A: Derek – I like Shure mics.  I have been singing all my life.
Glenn – For keyboards/percussion I don’t really have brand loyalty its whatever sounds best.
Chris – I like to feel out which guitar sounds best for the specific song.
Sean – I like playing DW drums because of the quality.
Jamie – Like Glen and Chris I like to just feel out whatever sounds best.

Q: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Any major touring coming soon?
A: We have performed all up and down the East Coast.  Our favorite venue is any venue that we have a possibility of gaining a fan.  As far as major touring we just signed a new deal with the indie label Lovelamp Records and Michele & Group, Inc. Talent Agency.  Be on the lookout for a big push of our new “RESET” (EP) and the single “Just Refrain” that we just finished shooting a video for.  You can check out the video and info at “http://www.orangeavenuemusic.comwww.orangeavenuemusic.com

Q: Do you ever play any cover songs?
A: We like to put some covers in the set list but rearrange the cover songs to our own style.

Q: What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
A: We would say the most common theme in our songs is relationship driven.  For instance, our single “Just Refrain” is about a relationship between a girl and a guy and what the guy feels when his girlfriend goes out with her friends.  She isn’t picking up her phone so the guy starts to go crazy.  The message that is conveyed in the chorus though is to “Just Refrain” from saying what you want to her because in time she will come around just like she did before.  It boils down to not letting your emotions and imagination get the best of you.

We write what we are feeling or what we are going through at that point in time in our life, so yes the topics will change over time.

Q: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
A: When you form a band it’s like starting a new family.  Even though we knew each other we had never performed together.  In the beginning stages it was definitely awkward and things felt a little off, but over time things have really gelled together and now we feel the “RESET” (EP) is some of the best stuff that we have written.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: Our biggest challenge is not letting outside influences effect us internally.  It is also a struggle being on the road financially wise.  What we try to do as a band is to just focus on the music.  Since signing the deal with Lovelamp Records and Michele & Group, Inc. Talent Agency we feel that we have a good team around us that will take care of all other aspects and if we do our job musically everything will fall into place.

Q: What’s your ultimate goal as a band?
A: That’s simple we want a Grammy Award and for our fans to enjoy our music.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Itunes, Demo or CD available at shows?
A: For all our “little oranges” out there.  No we are joking.  We just saw how Lady Gaga calls her fans “little monsters”.  Anyway you can access our music at  HYPERLINK “http://www.orangeavenuemusic.com” www.orangeavenuemusic.com where you will find our new video for “Just Refrain”, links to our myspace, facebook, twitter, reverbnation and youtube accounts.  We also have links on the website for street team, booking, merch, iTunes, and up-coming tour dates.  Keep checking in on the website though because a new one is in the works.

Q: What are some websites future fans can access more information about you?
A: We pretty much summed this question up on our last answer.  Saying it twice can’t hurt.   HYPERLINK “http://www.orangeavenuemusic.com” www.orangeavenuemusic.com.  Come check us out!!! New CD “RESET” (EP) and video for our single “Just Refrain”.  Thank you Swept Away Tv and Rock Star Stories for your time.

Allison Moorer- A Review

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By Dina Kolman

Allison Moorer- Crows

Tattered threads hug her half-heatedly as she ambles along the dirt-ridden road. Tears crawl down her porcelain skin, pre-maturely wrinkled from grief and worry. She gazes off into the foreboding horizon, longing for a new life; A life of simple pleasures and harmony. Such emotion is propelled through the heart-felt poetry of singer/songwriter Allison Moorer’s music. One can imagine the agony and plead for serenity of a women, from the release of Moorer’s album, Crows.


Allison Moorer’s seventh album, Crows, is a canvas on which she paints her insightful creativity. With an emphasis on life and nature, this metaphorically driven album touches hearts and effectively transfers Moore’s emotions to her audience. Crows is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2008 album, Mockingbird. Allison Moorer carries out the bird motif to celebrate her obsession with birds. She has been told that birds “are our messengers from the other side, so she decided that instead of letting them make her uneasy, she would consider them friendly and believe they were bringing her messages of comfort.” She even sings about these omniscient crows in the concluding track entitled “Crows.” Showing her connection to earth and natural pleasure, Moore surely sends her message to ears around. In “Easy In The Summertime,” Moorer’s nostalgic reflection on a southern lifestyle in the summertime: mother’s love, mouthwatering- melon, swinging in torn blue-jeans, and the freedom of going barefoot on the cool, hard wood, is relatable and charming. In “The Broken Girl,” Moorer depicts a solemn girl, creatively adding an upbeat catchy rhythm of drums and guitars to contrast the dramatic and sorrowful lyrics. “Just Another Fool” shows her attitude about women overcoming oppression and being independent. The sultry voice captivates listeners in the ballad “Should I be Concerned,” greatly showcasing her dynamic voice range.


Though her songs grant listeners with consoling warmth, alleviating air, and a light of hope, Moorer has the tendency for her lyrics to become disconnected with the supporting music. These heartfelt, bluesy songs of desperation and solemnity become repetitive cries, becoming mundane and melodramatic. Songs such as “Abalone Sky,” and “Goodbye to the Ground” encompass such heartfelt and optimistic words, yet posses such a repetitive, persistent meter, distracting the listener from its powerful message. “In Still The Side of Gone,” Moorer begs for a sign of hope to set her free. While not every track on Crows is a depressing ballad, the majority are woeful pleads that may be easier to listen to if they had an upbeat rhythm, like few tracks on Crows do. In those few tracks, Moorer counter-balances the solemnity with beautifully balanced acoustic guitars, precise piano, and even guest instruments such as violins. The mix is quaint but intriguingly passionate. The final transition is to a very dull, blues-like sound. In “It’s Gonna Feel Good (When It Stops Hurting),” dramatic lyrics swirl amidst the eerie melodies. Vivid images of overcoming pain dance in our heads, leaving a lasting impression of Moorer’s thoughts.


Along with Allison Moorer’s passion and thoughts, comes this warm, comfortable quilt of an album. The songs are strung together as the unique patches. Finally, holding together those patches are the threads of lyrics, running themselves in and out of this quilt. The lyrics brilliantly convey Moorer’s thoughts about life, love, hardship, and even birds. Though the tracks may seem to overlap in style and lose distinguishability, they are still creative evidence of thoughtful Allison Moorer. One must have an open ear to the sultry, soulful, and blues-like style on Crows, but it is not a quilt to be discarded and forgotten.

Hot Chelle Rae- A review

by Alex Rivera

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Hot Chelle Rae is an up-and-coming band who, by the looks of their video “I Like To Dance,” is a carbon-copy of everybody else. The video looks like Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Gone Bad,” the song reminds me of something off of Metro Station’s CD, and the video in it’s entirety makes me think that it was produced by Lady Gaga. Even the lead singer has a slight resemblance to Gabe Saporta.

All the video is is a bunch of people jumping around in weird costumes and masks, a bunch of TVs, a girl that get’s in trouble for hosting the party at her job at an electronic store, oversized glow sticks, and barely any footage of the band except for the lead singer. This video basically has every aspect of every other video made by other bands, completely ripping off their styles and music.

The band also makes frequent use of the name of their album “Lovesick Electric” throughout the song and even in the effects, aka the big words “LOVESICK ELECTRIC’ popping out at you during every bridge of the song. It gets ridiculous after a while and you can tell that there is a complete and total lack of individuality throughout the entire song.

This band is completely unoriginal. The cover art reminds me of Boys Like Girls’ debut album, and to me it seems like yet another bunch of scene kids trying to make it big in the industry. However, being signed to a label and trying to be like another band rather than setting yourself apart from everyone else in the scene isn’t going to get you very far.