Howie Day, Annie Lennox, Anastacia, Hot Coco & More!

Photo is cropped from an original on Howie’s official site

Howie Day: More randomness for you today. Now that I have a BlackBerry, my email is always accessible, assuming I’m above ground. I got an email from Howie Day’s official list the other day, informing us that he has a new tour coming up to promote his forthcoming album Counting On Me, due out in the Spring. This new album will be his first of new material in nearly 6 years so it’s long over due! I saw him a few years back at a club in Boston. I loved the set, but was annoyed that he came out late. Oh well, he’s a young talent that is due for a comeback so hopefully this will be it for him. According to his MySpace blog, the tour will consist of Howie “playing new stuff, old stuff and everything in between.” The first set of tour dates is below. He’ll be announcing East and West coast dates shortly. Also be on the look out for a free download of a new Howie track via his MySpace blog in the weeks to come!

Tour Dates:
3/6 – Fox Theater – Boulder, CO
3/7 – Bluebird – Denver, CO
3/11 – Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
3/12 – Redstone Room – Davenport, IA
3/13 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
3/14 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
3/16 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH
3/18 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI
3/19 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
3/21 – Lake Shore Theater – Chicago, IL
3/24 – Blueberry Hill – St Louis, MO
3/25 – The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
3/27 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
3/28 – tba – Austin, TX

Annie Lennox: Via ArjanWrites via Spinner.com I stumbled upon Annie’s new video for “Shining Light,” her Ash cover that’s serving as the first single off her forthcoming The Annie Lennox Collection compilation album due out February 10th. It’s one of two new tracks on the album, the other of which is a cover of Keane’s “Pattern of My Life.” The video features Annie (looking amazing) in multiple roles, as various players in a band. It’s a fun pop song and Annie sounds great.

Photo via Coverlandia Blog

Anastacia: Nothing new to report on the Anastacia front…in fact I’m still waiting to find out if she plans on releasing her album Heavy Rotation, here in the states. If not, then I have to pick up the import pronto. New European single “Absolutely Positively” is fast growing on me, as is the Moto Blanco remix that’s making it’s round at the clubs in Europe. Hot!
Modern Music: On TV the other night, a State Farm commercial came on about young drivers. The song playing was a fresh, contemporary electro-rock cover of “Sixteen Going On Seventeen” from The Sound Of Music. At the end of the commercial, they plugged the State Farm website where you can download the song for free. I did and I love it! The song file was pre-tagged with the artists name listed as Modern Music. According to their website, Modern Music “delivers custom scores, original songs, remixes, sound design and complete music supervision services for advertising, film, television, gaming and new media.” Interesting. I also learned via the Modern Music website that they are writing an original song for a direct-to-DVD hip hop sequel to the 2000 film Center Stage. Doubly interesting.

Photo Via www.myspace.com/jennifercoolidge

Jennifer Coolidge as Hot Coco: On a recent episode of the cutting edge FX drama Nip/Tuck, actress Jennifer Coolidge reprised her character Candy Richards, coming back this time as a “rapper” called Hot Coco. She comes to the doctors asking to be given “black features” so she can have a successful rap career. It sounds controversial but it was actually rather hilarious. Jennifer Coolidge is a true comic genius. You have to check out the video for yourself. Inappropriate? Yes. Very. But hilarious all the same.

Photo Via Jennifer Hudson’s Official Site

Jennifer Hudson: Don’t forget to check out Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem before this Sunday’s big game! It’s her first public performance since the tragic deaths of her mother and nephew.