Entertainment

Some people think big. Some people think huge. And then there's Meat Loaf.

For the past 35 years, the man born Marvin Lee Aday has been a towering monument on the musical landscape.  His legendary 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell transformed this former high school football player, nightclub bouncer and stage actor into one of the great American rock 'n' roll icons. That record, with its staggering operatic sound and impassioned vocals, has sold more than 43 million albums worldwide - still one of the biggest-selling records ever.

Meat Loaf's reputation as one of music's greatest artists was underlined by such masterpieces as Dead Ringer (1981), Bad Attitude (1984) and the Bat Out Of Hell sequels Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993) and Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006). Other artists might have tried to match his scale and copy his sound, but no one has come close.

For what’s sure to be a fun-filled Labor Day weekend, Mary J. Blige has been confirmed to play her very first concert in the Palm Springs area on Sunday, Sept. 5th at 8pm at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The nine-time Grammy award winning artist plans on playing songs from her 2009 release, “Stronger with Each Tear” and hits from her long R & B career. Blige has recently appeared as a guest judge on American Idol, 30 Rock and several film projects. She and opera singer Andrea Bocelli recently released a duet of Simon & Garfunkel’s classic song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Yes, it's a strange name. Chickenfoot knows it, too. Chickenfoot is a band made up of rock heavyweights Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony (Van Halen) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and they're playing at Fantasy Springs on September 10th at 8pm. Mark your calendar now because tickets for this Chickenfoot desert debut go on sale June 25th at 10am.

According to bassist Michael Anthony, the name "Chickenfoot" was only supposed to be a temporary one until the quartet came up with their real band name. Rumors apparently spread about the band with the name Chickenfoot so it stuck.

Best known as a founder of legendary rock band the Eagles as well as an influential solo artist, Henley has maintained an unparalleled commitment to music and various philanthropic efforts — including a sincere dedication to environmental issues and artists’ rights throughout his career.

Raised in a sleepy East Texas town, Henley was drawn to the sounds of exotic music broadcast from distant radio stations in New Orleans and Tennessee. These stations introduced him to the blues, bluegrass, gospel, jazz and rock and roll, paving the way for his future as an artist.

Don Henley, both as solo artist and as a member of the Eagles, has received countless accolades, numerous gold and platinum records and performed sold-out concert tours worldwide.  A highly respected, popular and critically celebrated musical artist, Henley launched his solo career in 1982 with his debut album I Can't Stand Still, featuring the hit single "Dirty Laundry." 1984's Building The Perfect Beast yielded four hit singles, garnered five GRAMMY nominations and won the award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for "The Boys Of Summer." The artist's track record continued unabated with 1989's The End Of The Innocence, which yielded three more hits, including the title track, and brought Henley another Best Rock Vocal GRAMMY Award. Henley is a founding member, vocalist and songwriter of the Eagles, who He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a member of the Eagles. 

The Eagles formed in 1971 and epitomized a musical style that included elements of country, folk, R&B, rock and pop and became one of the most influential American bands in recent decades. The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five #1 U.S. singles and six GRAMMY® Awards. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling album of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The band's Hotel California and Their Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 11 million albums respectively.　 In October 2007, the Eagles released Long Road Out of Eden, the band’s first album of new material in more than 28 years which debuted at number one and was the 5th best-selling album of 2007 by a band.  The band launched the hugely successful Long Road Out of Eden tour in 2008, which begins the 2010 leg  in April 16 with three concerts at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, and then will head out on their summer tour, playing stadiums throughout North America with the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban.

Henley’s career as a musician and activist continues to move forward. He founded the Walden Woods Project, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting the historic woods in Massachusetts, honored by author/conservationist Henry David Thoreau, raising millions of dollars to date. In addition, he founded the Caddo Lake Institute in his native East Texas, a privately operating foundation to act as an "ecosystem-specific" sponsoring entity, underwriting local wetland science and conservation education including cultural and ecological research and monitoring. Henley also co-founded the Recording Artists' Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group formed to represent the interests of recording artists.

As the lyrics from one of country artist Tim McGraw’s number one number one singles says, "I like it, I love it, I want some more of it." The catchy refrain summarizes the feelings many of McGraw’s fans have towards his music. The popularity of what Entertainment Weekly’s James Hunter dubbed a "grassroots superstar" pushed McGraw’s second album, Not a Moment Too Soon, up the charts to become not only the bestselling country album of 1994, but the sixth bestselling album of the year, according to Billboard. Although the release would also earn McGraw the ire of several Native American groups by including the "very un-PC" dance single "Indian Outlaw," the tenor rode out that controversy and has gone on to achieve even greater popularity among young country music fans—all without the help of what Hunter terms "wraparound grooming, marketing, and spin that routinely accompanies major-label careers." Subsequent album releases, including All I Want, Everywhere, Place in the Sun, Set This Circus Down, and Tim McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors, and McGraw’s marriage to country-pop superstar Faith Hill have only increased his fame and record sales.

In keeping with Shakira’s inspired originality, as well as her sensual rhythms and deliciously unpredictable spirit, the tour promises to push the limits of the live concert experience, bringing fans a pulsating spectacle crossing all musical boundaries.

Shakira’s latest hit and the official anthem of the 2010 World Cup, Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) has caught on around the globe, immediately following Shakira’s headline performance at the kick-off concert of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The song has exploded onto the scene with the music video quickly becoming the most viewed video on YouTube for the month of June and the song anchoring the #1 spot on charts in over 15 countries.

Shakira will perform songs from her collection of smash hits including “Waka Waka,” “She Wolf,” “La Tortura” and the hit single “Hips Don’t Lie which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was #1 in 55 countries and became the most played song in the history of US pop radio as well as a sneak preview of songs from her new album “Sale El Sol” (Fall 2010).  

Shakira is a Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter, an entertainer, record producer and advocate for universal education. She is the founder and President of the Barefoot Foundation (Pies Descalzos), a founding member of the ALAS Foundation and an ambassador for 1GOAL and UNICEF.

The Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs was the first venue in the Palm Springs area to bring music fans free, live, rock shows every weekend. At 7:00p.m., the full-throttle rock music fires up and gets audience members out of their seats. The live music continues until midnight. There is no cover charge and guests must be 18 and older to rock out at the Rock Yard.

The Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs was the first venue in the Palm Springs area to bring music fans free, live, rock shows every weekend. At 7:00p.m., the full-throttle rock music fires up and gets audience members out of their seats. The live music continues until midnight. There is no cover charge and guests must be 18 and older to rock out at the Rock Yard.

This free rock concert put on in conjunction with 93.7 KCLB will kick into high gear at the Rock Yard – an open-air amphitheater with ample seating and plenty of space for dancing and just plain rocking out - at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. This show is open to everyone 18 and older. For more information about this or other events happening at the Rock Yard and at Fantasy Springs, call (800) 827-2946 or log onto www.FantasySpringsResort.com.

A native southern California band, Smile Empty Soul formed in 1998 in Santa Clarita. The band released its first album in 2003 and it quickly went gold selling more than 500,000 copies. The band has released several more albums since that time and is currently on a United States tour. Some of the best known songs include “Nowhere Kids” and “Bottom of A Bottle.” www.smileemptysoul.com

Edisun, from New York City, is a true American rock band that is presently taking their distinct brand of rock and roll on the road with a 40+ date national tour that began on July 30, 2010. The band has already traveled the world performing for United States military troops overseas. Edisun has done three tours through warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibuti, Qatar, and supporting bases in United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily and Germany. Their most recent music video for the song “Fly” was shot while on tour performing for the troops in Iraq. The band’s song “Ready to Believe” has also been featured in television sports vignettes on ESPN. www.myspace.com/edisonnyc

The Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs was the first venue in the Palm Springs area to bring music fans free, live, rock shows every weekend. At 7:00p.m., the full-throttle rock music fires up and gets audience members out of their seats. The live music continues until midnight. There is no cover charge and guests must be 18 and older to rock out at the Rock Yard.

The Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs was the first venue in the Palm Springs area to bring music fans free, live, rock shows every weekend. At 7:00p.m., the full-throttle rock music fires up and gets audience members out of their seats. The live music continues until midnight. There is no cover charge and guests must be 18 and older to rock out at the Rock Yard.

The two-hour Wine Down begins at 7:00p.m. inside the picturesque 12th Floor Wine Bar & Cocktail Lounge. The event takes the guesswork out of ordering and buying wine and helps guests get a feel for the kinds of wine they really like, without making a big investment in a bottle whose contents you might not like anyway. For $30, guests will receive a flight of the night’s featured wines, plus learn about the nuances and finer points of each from the wine maker or from a winery representative. During each “Weekly Wine Down,” guests will also learn how to make creative and innovative cocktails from Fantasy Springs’ own Dan, Dan the Beverage Man. Guests also receive samples of all the cocktails Dan makes, as well as a gourmet cheese plate with the admission price. The Weekly Wine Down wraps at 9:00p.m. and is followed by live jazz music at the 12th Floor Wine Bar & Cocktail Lounge. Patrons are invited to stay and enjoy the music and the sweeping views of the valley and surrounding mountains from the 12th Floor Wine Bar. There is no cover charge at the 12th Floor Wine Bar & Cocktail  Lounge. Guests must be 21 or older to attend the Weekly Wine Down. Events will return to a once a week schedule during the Coachella Valley’s “high season.”

Upcoming Wine Down events include:

• September 17th Chateau St. Jean Vineyard
• October 8th Red Wines from the Old World
• October 22nd October Fest: Beers from New Belgium Brewing Co.