Yellow Brick Road fronted by the amazing Brody Dolyniuk, is my favorite cover band currently gigging in Vegas. This amazingly talented group of musicians consists of Brody on lead vocals and several instruments, Brooke St. James on lead guitar/vocals, David St John on bass guitar/mandolin/vocals, Jonathan Gilcrest on various instruments and James Sloan on drums. Their song list is reminiscent of the rock stations I used to listen to as a kid back in L.A.: from AC/DC’s hits “Dirty Deeds” and “Highway to Hell,” Aerosmith’s “Love In An Elevator” and “Sweet Emotion,” to songs that seems to come out of left field like Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” and Charlie Daniels’ “Devil Went Down to Georgia” and tons of Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Journey, Queen, The Who and Van Halen to just name a few bands these guys pay tribute to. Linda Lou did a fantastic review/interview of Brody and Yellow Brick Road earlier this year on this site (click here for a link to that posting) and for a little update, here’s a Q&A with Brody and some more pics from yours truly.

Photo Diva: With so many cover bands in Vegas that have come and gone over the years why do you suppose you have such staying power? Brody: I think it takes a strong commitment and work ethic to keep any band going this long. First, you have to love what you’re doing. We’re always looking for something new to try. We’re forever trying out new songs in the show. Some stay and some don’t work. We’ve staged several one-off tribute shows where we’ll do an entire evening of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Rush, Led Zeppelin, etc. And if it isn’t something new in the musical department, it’s a new website, a new logo, a new piece of merchandise, a new venue. Getting back to the music, we really try to do a respectful job of recreating the songs, true to the originals but with a live feel. People seem to appreciate the attention to detail….this is their music and it’s sacred to them, as it is for us. It’s nostalgia for some and it’s something brand new for others. I’m just as happy winning over a new fan who may not have thought they’d like classic rock as I am seeing a smile of familiarity from a die-hard fan. The music and the vibe keep people coming back. I love it when the audience and the band connect…that will always be important to me as long as I’m performing on stage.

Aside from that, it’s important to maintain a healthy band camaraderie. The inner relationship among the group really translates onstage. The audience can sense when things aren’t up to snuff. Fortunately, this band really gels well together on and off stage and we’re all committed to the same goal.

Photo Diva: Over the years you have developed a rather large fan base of locals as well as out-of-towners. What is your secret to maintaining/fostering that fan base? Brody: In addition to the comments above, I think once you have your act together, you get out there and play as much as possible. In the early years (we started in 1997) we played all over. Small bars like the Crown & Anchor and Screwballs, then eventually we landed some casino gigs. The Monte Carlo, Main Street Station, The Maxim, Stardust, the Rio, then up to Reno, Wendover, Elko, and back. All over the place. We were playing 5-6 nights a week then, and in different places. It was something different….surprising to see a band playing Led Zeppelin in a casino. So it didn’t take long for people to catch on. We had cards printed up so people could write down their mailing addresses. Keep in mind, this was before email…we were literally making up flyers and mailing them via the Post Office.

Once the internet/email became commonplace, that made things much easier when it came to acquiring names and getting the word out. But regardless of how large a band’s email database is, I believe it’s still word of mouth that really keeps the new people coming to see us. We might not have the largest email database, but it seems to be working. It takes a lot to fill a showroom or club three times per week, every week of the year.

Once we landed the house gig with Boulder Station, it gave us a home base, so eventually everyone knew where to find us. I think that really helped us to build momentum and develop sort of a scene there. Our name became synonymous with the property…they even had our mugs printed on the blackjack tables!

Photo Diva: What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever gotten? Brody: Musically or…? I don’t know, but some of the misspelled artist names/songs are hilarious. Funny, I can’t think of a single one now. We need to keep some of them and scan them!

Photo Diva: What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened at a gig? Brody: That’s tough too…we draw some very uh, unique individuals to our shows. From big-boobed porn stars to homeless guys, biker gangs to Elvis impersonators. Colorful people. I guess one incident that comes to mind was during a show at the Suncoast. A woman got onstage to dance and when she was finished, there was a small “puddle” left behind. Another was the bomb scare that brought last New Year’s Eve show to a halt. It was of course a false alarm. You asked for the weirdest thing….we have a lot of very normal shows too with regular, enthusiastic, but well-behaved people.

Photo Diva: It seems to me that fewer and fewer clubs in Vegas are booking live music, much less cover bands (in lieu of more DJs for less money or no entertainment at all). Do you agree and, if so, do you think it will change? Brody: I’m not sure these DJs are getting LESS money…judging by the full-page ads that are on every other page of a LV Weekly magazine, it appears the nightclub owners have a budget. I may not be the best one to ask about what a good DJ is vs. a bad one. I guess the bad ones make the cd skip? Oh wait, they use laptops now…sorry. Anyway, I think live music will survive for those who want something that’s real and tangible. There’s a place for both. It’s true, there are some clubs/lounges that have done away with bands in favor of…whatever, but I still see a lot of places in Vegas that have live music. Hopefully they can both coexist. All I can say is, I’m happy to be a working musician in this day and age.

Will it last forever? Who knows….one thing that is cool is whenever we do an outdoor show and I see all the kids getting into it. That tells me that good music is just good music and can cross generations. So I don’t think that any trend in Vegas is because there’s a younger crowd taking over, I think it has more to do with how some of these places can squeeze as much $ out of you by making you think you need to spend $300 on “bottle service”. And for some reason, hip-hop/DJ music seems to go hand in hand with that sort of mentality…I dunno.

Photo Diva: Your regular gigs are at Green valley Ranch (Ovation Showroom), Boulder Station (Railhead Showroom) and Aliante Station (Access Showroom) – all of which are Stations properties. Do you think the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy will have any effect on your regular schedule? Brody: I’m no financial expert, but my guess is they’ll get it all worked out. Other gaming companies have emerged from bankruptcy. The rumor mill doesn’t indicate any reason for concern as far as I know. I mean, I don’t think these casinos are just going to dry up….someone will pick up the slack. The one thing we have going for us is, we still pull a crowd into the casino and make revenue just in drink sales. So I’d like to think that if anyone has some job security, it’s us. However, when you’re a musician you know that at any given moment you could get a phone call and be looking for a new gig. So again, we’re thankful….mainly to our fans who continue to support us….that we are still going strong.

Photo Diva: You have a nice website and and also have a presence on MySpace. Do you utilize any other forms of social media like Facebook or Twitter?Brody: We’re actually starting up our own social networking site, called MyTwitterSpaceBook.com. Look for it in 2010. Just kidding, yes, we’ve caved in to the pressure and are now on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and of course, we still have the main site, ybrband.com. Just search for ybrband anywhere and you’ll find us.

Photo Diva: I caught a performance of another project of yours a while back that I thought was inspired called RockShow! The Ultimate Tribute Concert. The production value was just spectacular, the running joke via the Roadie character was hilarious and musically it was spot on. Do you have plans to bring that back in the near future? Do you have any other creative projects that you are working on? Brody: Thanks. I would love to see RockShow! get another shot. For a home-grown effort, I think we managed to pull off quite a spectacle with that. Certainly a viable show for the Las Vegas strip, I think. It really comes down to being able to make the numbers work out. It cost me a lot out of pocket with no outside support. The show kicks ass….just needed a chance to grow wings (read: financier).

Lately, I’ve become involved in another show called The Music of Queen. It’s a symphonic rock show based out of Virginia Beach, and tours to various cities where we perform a 2-hour Queen show with 50-piece orchestras. Great fun and a challenge to front the show singing all those Freddie tunes…he was one of a kind. I love the music and the chance to play for large audiences is great.

Photo Diva: If you think of anything else that might be of interest to locals please feel free to chime in! Brody: Actually, this year marks our ten-year anniversary with Station Casinos. We are in the planning stages with the Stations to commemorate the occasion, so watch for that. YBR gained two new members last September, guitarist Brooke St. James and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Gilcrest. The new lineup really kicks butt. Anyone who hasn’t seen us in a long time should check it out….we’re doing a lot of different things these days and the vibe/energy is the best yet.

We’re also talking about writing and recording some originals, so I’m looking forward to seeing what develops. In the meantime, we still love to perform for our fans. We add new material almost every week. Lastly, we are working on a new DVD that should come out this winter. Always something to do in the YBR camp!

BREAKING NEWS! Brody just sent me some fantastic photos of his RockShow! that I must share with all of you! Granted, I didn’t shoot these but they are perfect examples of what an over-the-top Rock tribute show should be like! Fingers crossed that this show finds a home soon! Enjoy the pics!

Big Show...Big Audience!

The Roadie was a great segue between costume changes (Brody as David Lee Roth on the right)

Brody as Aerosmith's Steven Tyler

brody as Queen's Freddie Mercury

brody as David Lee Roth

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Lesson for the day: be prepared for anything.

I began the day running late…so I forgot my camera…just going to a tweetup later on. No biggie.

I’m an idiot.

Las Vegas “Tweetup” at Las Vegas Hilton
Approximately 120 local “twits” met in the Tempo Lounge at the Las Vegas Hilton for what I expect will be a regular event. If you don’t know what Twitter is you must not be from this planet. It must be the most explosive social media outlet there is… So big, in fact, the tweetup made the news. Check this clip out from KVBC coverage. Twitter is networking taken to another level. Go check it out and follow me. I’m PhotoDivaLV.

When I got to the tweetup in the Tempo Lounge, Peter Arceo (Executive Director of Casino Marketing) greeted me and introduced me to one of his associates who said, “would you like to see Arc Angels tonight?” I thought, “Oh my God….are you kidding me? Of course I do!” I calmly said, “can I get two tickets?” And I called my hubby to get his behind to the Hilton ASAP.

Arc Angels
For those of you who don’t know, Arc Angels is a ’90s blues rock band straight out of Austin, Texas. According to Bob Meredith of Allmusic the “ARC” in the band’s name came from the Austin Rehearsal Complex where the band first started jamming before releasing their 1992 debut album. The band consists of guitarist and singers Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton and drummer Chris Layton, a former member of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band Double Trouble.

In recent years, Bramhall has played guitar in Eric Clapton’s band and toured with Roger Waters, Sexton has toured with Bob Dylan and Layton has recorded three albums with the Texas soul quintet Storyville. They have also backed such artists as Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer.

These guys really rock in a very Texas Blues kind of way a la Stevie Ray Vaughan. Their hits from the ’90s still hold up to today’s music and very reminiscent of John Mayer Trio. If you get a chance to see them play live…GO! Check out the pics I shot of the guys from my pocket camera (I always have that one on me…I’m not a COMPLETE idiot…) For more on Arc Angels, including clips of some of their songs, go check out their website: http://www.myspace.com/arcangelsmusic

Charlie Sexton rockin out!

All in all I had a great time talking to VegasWineChick, VegasTaxiDriver and the newest twitterer, CandlePassion. Thank you to Peter Arceo and the Hilton for the hospitality and I will see all you twits again soon. So now its late and I need to go to sleep.

BREAKING PHOTO DIVA NEWS: As of August 3, 2009 I will be the Monday featured writer for living-las-vegas.com covering Las Vegas entertainment and beyond! Be sure to follow me on Twitter (PhotoDivaLV) for more details as this develops.

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One of my favorite brands: Stash Tea

I’m a hot green tea drinker… with just a little bit of Splenda…several cups a day. I love the stuff. When asked to go take pictures at the trade show to accompany a feature article I was, well, less than enthused. I thought this was going to be some boring 15-20 minute assignment on a beautiful May afternoon in Vegas. I wanted to be anywhere else than in some convention center. I mean, c’mon, how many kinds of tea could there be?!?!? Answer: a whole bunch! I saw teas I’d never heard of, much less drank, and hundreds of tea related merchandise that truly boggled my mind. I was there for hours tasting, admiring and of course, taking pictures!

Two of my favorite things: green tea infused dark chocolate by Torn Ranch (http://www.tornranch.com/) which is the most amazing chocolate I’ve ever tasted and the Swamp Water tea from East Indies Tea Company (http://www.eastindiescoffeeandtea.com/) which was very refreshing and kinda citrus-y!

The most amazing chocolates ever from Torn Ranch

So here are more tea pics to go with Brian Rouff’s great article about the 2009 World Tea Expo held at Mandalay Bay this past May. If you missed the article, here’s a link: http://living-las-vegas.com/2009/06/tea-expo-las-vegas/

A closeup of Sungarden Tea display

Tea accessories from Coastline Imports

Tasty petits fours by Divine Designs

Just some of the flavors by East Indies Tea Company

Fabulous display of tea closeup

Flowering teas everywhere!

Great Mercury International's vast selection of tea sets

Stunning display by Hancha Tea

Chef Robert Wemischner proudly shows off his cookbook at the PeLi Teas booth

Jello Bello - made with jelly beans - is one of many flavors from East Indies Tea Company

A beautiful display by Q Trade Tea

I thought this bench, made from recycled tea leaves, was really inventive

Green tea liquer?!?!? Really?!?!?!? Not too sure about this one...

BREAKING PHOTO DIVA NEWS: As of August 3, 2009 I will be the Monday featured writer for living-las-vegas.com covering Las Vegas entertainment and beyond! Be sure to follow me on Twitter (PhotoDivaLV), Facebook and MySpace for more details as this develops. Wish me luck!

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NO, I don’t have pics so if you came here to see Holly’s breasts I’d suggest going elsewhere.

I’ve had the opportunity to see PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas twice so far (once with each set of lead performers) and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is overall. Sure, you can go to just about any strip cub around town and see more flesh if you are so inclined but that’s not what this show is about really.

PEEPSHOW’s storyline is basically Bo Peep’s dream (played previously by Kelly Monaco and now Holly Madison) of classic fairy tales gone awry. I would prefer not go into too much detail because I don’t want to ruin it for those anxious to see the show.

I will, however, compare what I call PEEPSHOW 1.0 (with Mel B. and Kelly Monaco) and PEEPSHOW 2.0 (with Shoshana Bean and Holly Madison).

Overall, the differences are subtle and not noticeable to most attendees. In version 1.0 the dancers, when topless, wore pasties for the most part and in version 2.0 they do not. To me, it didn’t make a difference either way in the sexiness or quality of the show. My favorite dancer is the spunky Keltie Colleen who plays the piggy in the straw house in the 3 little pigs scene (she’s so cute and a fellow Twitter girl) but the entire cast of dancers are all very talented as well as beautiful and the costuming and choreography is just fabulous. And ladies, there is lots of eye candy for us as well: the male dancers are all uber hot…especially the guy who plays the big bad wolf and the one in the bathtub scene (are they one in the same?!? I’m not sure…should have brought my binoculars!)

Mel B. (of Spice Girls fame) wore very revealing costumes (though never topless) and her voice has much more of a raspy, Rock ‘n’ Roll vibe where Shoshana Bean (swept from musical theater, most notably from the Wicked touring company) is more modest in her costume but her voice is stronger and, dare I say, much more pleasant than Mel’s, especially in a theater setting.

The biggest difference between version 1.0 and 2.0 is the character of Bo Peep. Kelly Monaco’s take was quite different than that of Holly Madison. Now taking into account that when I saw Kelly it was well into her 3 month run so she had had time to get comfortable in the role and on the stage and in comparison I saw Holly on opening night. Kelly came off as a wholesome, innocent girl-next-door, her smile sincere and her dance moves effortless and smooth. Holly, on the other hand, does project some of that same wholesomeness that the roles needs and is cute with a slamming body but her smile as well as her dance moves seem, well, not so smooth. When the spotlight was not on Holly I could see her fidgeting and playing with her hair which, for me, was distracting. I think it was just nerves – after all it was opening night – so it would be interesting to go back in a few weeks to see if she’s worked that all out.

One more change that I’d like to note is that the size of the band from version 1.0 to 2.0 drastically reduced in size as well as one less backup singer. I didn’t even notice until my hubby (a musician and editor of Front of House magazine) pointed out the band’s catwalk area above the stage seemed much less crowded than it did in version 1.0. Major props to Jeffrey “JJ” Hillman, the sound guy, who made this change virtually undetectable. (BTW: thanks for the tickets…you rock!)

So, I give PEEPSHOW two thumbs up with a snap. It’s a fun sexy time without the sleaze and great for a “date night” with your significant other. One last thing: if the “saddle” scene, accompanied by the Pony song by Ginuwine, doesn’t get you all revved up and ready to go then you seriously need medication. Seriously.

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Yesterday was an interesting day for me and my thoughts are still all over the place.

First, we lose the courageous Farrah Fawcett to cancer, then the sudden death of Michael Jackson and at the end of the day I attended the official Opening Night of Peepshow with Shoshana Bean and Holly Madison. Yep, that made for an interesting day. I will cover Peepshow later as I feel the need to address these two lives lost first.

These two people both passing on June 25 really don’t have any direct relevance to this D-list Diva but I do have strong opinions on some of the media’s behavior and so I am using this space to reflect, ponder and question.

Farrah Fawcett

Let’s start with Farrah. Having been a child of the 70s I grew up watching Farrah Fawcett on TV and wanting to look like her when I grew up (Yes, I had THE infamous hairstyle and the bathing suit in Jr High and my older brother had the poster on his wall). I had a huge crush on her then husband, Lee Majors too so there was a little bit of jealousy on my part. So sue me…who didn’t envy her a little bit.

I was really rooting for her to overcome this lengthy battle with a horrible disease so she could be our poster child once again…this time for cancer awareness and early detection. We have now lost that beacon of hope and light. Having lost many family members to cancer – and having a cancer scare myself earlier this year — I know and understand that the only “cure” at this moment in time is early detection and unfortunately for Farrah, her family and her friends hers was not discovered in time and while she fought valiantly it was not a battle that could be won. On some level she must have known that but it didn’t deter her at all.

What I admired most about Farrah wasn’t so much her beauty or talent (thought she had plenty of both) it was her devotion to her family and friends and — as we all saw in her recently aired documentary of her cancer battle – that undeniable spirit that shone so brightly, even through her painful final months and in the face of her own mortality. I hope that if I am ever faced with such a battle I can do the same. It’s what Farrah would want us all to do.

Michael Jackson

And then there’s the passing of Michael Jackson. He and his family were also a big part of my growing up years. I’ll never forget the TV shows where the brothers would perform their terrific songs and I would dance and sing along. It’s those songs that are a major part of the soundtrack of my childhood. One of the first albums I ever bought with my babysitting money was a Jackson 5 album (it was the one with Dancing Machine on it…around 1974/1975 I think).

I grew up not far from the Jackson’s Encino CA home and had a friend that lived a few doors down. My Michael Jackson moment was when my friend and I and a few other kids walked past the Jackson home and the llama was near the gate so we walked up to it to try to pet it. Big mistake. The llama spit at us and pretty much nailed me in the face. But I digress…

As I remember him from now on I’m not going to reflect on Michael’s eccentricities that made for tabloid fodder, rather I will reflect on the earlier years when his musical genius was evident. I will fondly remember the days when I was 19, with fake I.D. in hand, going to the disco with my friends taking over the dance floor and doing the Thriller choreography step for step and the cheers we’d get from the crowd. Ah, those were the days…

The cost of Celebrity

Like so many of us I first heard the news of both deaths via Twitter. Farrah’s death was pretty much expected and I wasn’t surprised though it did make me cry and I tweeted my condolences to the universe.

Then TMZ and Harvey Levin tweeted about MJ being rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest and all Hell broke lose. At one point I read that twitter was getting nearly 20,000 tweets per second and 9 out of 10 were about Michael Jackson. The rumors were flying: overdose, suicide, etc. It was amazing and captivating to watch it all unfold before my eyes.

As a trained journalist I know that you don’t report a story until you have a confirmed reliable source or two. I kept tweeting that TMZ is not a legitimate news source (they are nothing more than paparazzi) and not sourcing their info so it’s all speculation and to wait until an official statement — or at the very least a reliable source –before exclaiming that he’s dead but it fell on mostly deaf ears as the tweets kept flying. My small voice was lost in the overwhelming chaos.

Once it was made official I began to see clearly the media feeding frenzy taking place and it made me sick. The photographers/videographers camped out in front of Jackson’s home were making it nearly impossible for the paramedics to leave the house with Jackson inside the vehicle by running up to its windows seeking to get the photo that will make them rich. There’s video of this spectacle as well as a single photograph of Jackson inside the ambulance (which looks fake to me by the way) all over the internet if you are so inclined to want to view it. As for me, I was mortified by this behavior.

On top of that UCLA Medical Center had to post guards at every entrance, turn away staff members trying to enter, rope off the entire area…basically shut down the only emergency room in the West LA area…because of the media frenzy outside. I pity anyone else who had a medical emergency yesterday afternoon that was in the area because, basically, they were not welcome there. (Question: did anyone else die b/c of the media mayhem?)

So this is what I ponder and question: do we as a society have any right whatsoever to invade these fellow human being’s privacy in their final moments of life simply to be “the first to know”? My response: only by invitation.

We were “invited” to witness Farrah’s final days by the airing of her documentary on her cancer battle. Her friends and loved ones “invited” us in by showing up at any media outlet that would take them and air their testimony of her losing battle. Whether Farrah was aware of it or not, we were invited in to this most intimate and personal time of her life.

Michael Jackson, on the other hand, did not invite us. Nor did his family, friends or staff. We as a people invaded his privacy yet again just so we could be the first to know the very thing that was none of our business. Why do law enforcement withhold names of victims until family is notified? Because it’s the right and decent thing to do for the family. His family had every right to be the first to know that their love one has left this place. Not us. We are not family. Like any other human being on his planet, Michael Jackson’s family should have been allowed to be notified by the proper authorities — and not by tweets from strangers – that their loved one had passed. But for the sake of being the first to report and the public’s thirst to be the first to know, Michael’s family was denied that dignity and respect. It’s shameful and I feel for his family.

There’s a sensitivity line that shouldn’t be crossed by the media or the public. Unfortunately, when you are a celebrity, that line seems to disappear. It’s a shame really. Even celebrities should be allowed their privacy and the media should back off unless invited to do otherwise. It’s the right thing to do. Yes, some celebrities “invite” it by notifying the paparazzi ahead of time of events and such but most celebrities don’t want the invasion 24/7/365.

As a journalist and photographer would I go “dumpster diving” or hide in bushes of stalk someone to get my story and/or picture? It depends on the story and whether or not I thought the public had a right to know. Would I go camp out at some celebrities house and interfere with the paramedic’s efforts to revive said celebrity by rushing the ambulance just to get a shot so I can sell it for big bucks to the highest bidder? Not on your life. That’s crossing the line of decency…and those indecent photographers and videographers who did that yesterday should be relegated to shooting baby pictures at their nearest Sears Portrait Studio.

Regardless, the real tragedy here is that not only was Michael screwed out of his childhood, he has now been screwed out of the gift of growing old and watching his children grow up. He has been screwed out of seeing his children take those steps into adulthood like graduations and dating and walking his little girl down the aisle. To me, the saddest tragedy to come from his death is that his three small children are left without the only parent they’ve ever known.

It’ll be weeks before we know the cause of Michael Jackson’s death. Toxicology results take 6-8 weeks. Hopefully, this time, the family will be notified prior to the release of any information. I have my theory but I will keep it to myself. In any event, he has been paying the cost of celebrity almost his entire life and it is my fervent wish that his children are left alone to grieve and grow up peacefully without their father.

My final thought: let us all take a lesson from Farrah’s life and become more aware of early cancer detection and if/when we are ever faced with the same battle we fight the good fight like Farrah. Go to the doctor and get tested. Early detection is our best weapon. The lesson from Michael’s life is that fame and celebrity come at a cost and for him it was astronomical.

In the end, both Farrah and Michael were icons and masters of their respective crafts and will be missed by many but they leave us with great memories to treasure. More importantly, both did their best to leave this world a better place and I thank them for that. I only hope that people can say the same thing about me when it’s my turn to go.

Godspeed Farrah and Michael.

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Sunday, June 14
CineVegas 09 Honorees Reception
Red Carpet outside Rain Nightclub

Like the Opening Night Red Carpet, this event was by a special RSVP and the media were put on a VIP type list. However, unlike the opening night — where I was early on the list and there was a great deal of space — this event was in a very restrictive hallway with limited space and I was one of the last to be let into the still photographer space. So I didn’t have a spot right up against the velvet rope but I did luck out (somewhat) and stood behind a really short chick. I just had to time myself so that her flash didn’t blow out my pics. I did get a few pretty good ones…take a look.

Mike and George Kuchar

Actor Willem Dafoe

Danny Greenspun

Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper and Danny Greenspun goofing around with photographers.

Trever Groth, Dennis Hopper and Danny Greenspun mugging for the cameras.

Maria Menounos posing for the throng of photographers.

Maria Menounos posing with childhood friend.

Jon Voight, Al Schwartz and friends on the Red Carpet.

Mega Skateboarder Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk and Tonny Sorensen

Tony Hawk and Tonny Sorensen

Jon Voight and Tony Hawk speaking to the media on the Red Carpet.

Jon Voight speaking to the media.

Jon Voight and Al Schwartz working their way down the Red Carpet.

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Asylum Seekers Red Carpet Arrivals

Immediately following the Red Carpet Wedding of Richard Spiller and Ashley Matthews was the arrivals for Asylum Seekers, a movie about six would-be patients competing for the last available spot in a super luxe insane asylum.  The red carpet guest list was much shorter and and the photo shoot much simpler than the opening night and for All In: The Poker Movie so it actually was much more enjoyable for me to do.  Here are some of the pics.

Actress Pepper Binkley

Pepper Binkley with "Thunder From Down Under" accessories.

Actress Judith Hawking

Pepper Binkley and Judith Hawking

Actor Daniel Irizarry with the Fantasy Girls.

Asylum Seekers cast: Pepper Binkley, Daniel Irizarry and Judith Hawking.

Director Rania Ajami and date.

Director Rania Ajami and date.

Director Rania Ajami and date.

Judith Hawking, Rania Ajami, Daniel Irizarry and Pepper Binkley.

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Only in Vegas!

June 13, 2009

The Red Carpet Wedding of Richard Spiller and Ashley Matthews

Well, what do ya know…Elvis is in the building and he’s the Best Man and the oh-so-hot Chippendales dancers acting as groomsmen. Oh, and there were girls too…The Sin City Girls to be exact…but I digress.

Richard Spiller and Ashley Matthews of Houston, TX probably had the ultimate Vegas wedding: on the CineVegas 09 Red Carpet. When I saw this event on the schedule I thought: this I have to see. Here are some pics. Enjoy!

The groom, Richard Spiller of Houston, TX and the Sin City Girls.

The groom, Richard Spiller of Houston, TX and the Sin City Girls.

The bride, Ashley Matthews of Houston, TX and the Chippendales dancers.

The bride, Ashley Matthews of Houston, TX and the Chippendales dancers.Richard Spiller and Ashley Matthews of Houston TX say "I DO" on the Red Carpet.

Elvis looks on as the officiant begins Richard and Ashley's ceremony.

The officiant continues with Richard and Ashley's ceremony.

What a cute couple!

With this ring...

I now pronounce you...

You may kiss the bride...

Congratulations Richard and Ashley.

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