Marc Martel Performs on American Idol with Queen Extravaganza

On a recent afternoon in Toronto, Queen's Roger Taylor was checking out rehearsals for Queen Extravaganza – a 25-date tribute tour with a lineup hand-selected by him and his bandmate, guitarist Brian May – when singer Marc Martel belted out a few notes from "Bohemian Rhapsody," stopping the 62-year-old drummer in his tracks. "It was as if Freddie (Mercury) was in the room," Taylor said today during a conference call with journalists. "It was uncanny."

Martel is just one of four singers selected to join the Queen Extravaganza lineup after a lengthy online audition process. The nine lucky musicians will kick off their trek on May 26th in Quebec City after making their live debut last week on American Idol, where they were joined by Taylor and May. "We had such a fantastic response," said Taylor. "We weren't just looking for copies of us. We were looking for great musicianship, great charisma and the right people, the right sort of personalities that fit into the band. What we weren't looking for were lookalikes." Martel first discovered Queen's music while watching the 1992 film Wayne's World. The 36-year-old singer, who is also in the Nashville-based band Downhere, was later encouraged by his bassist to study Mercury's singing. "I realized, 'Wow, this guy did so many amazing things with his voice,' especially in the studio," Martel explained. "He really pushed himself."

Thousand Foot Krutch Charts at #14 With Indie Release

Thousand Foot Krutch's biggest debut ever hits No. 14 on Billboard Top 200, No. 1 on multiple Retail Charts and sales tracking 72% ahead of last CD.

Announcing their independence from label life last year, TFK raised money through Kickstarter, then released  its seventh studio album, The End Is Where We Begin, to not only wide critical acclaim, but also its biggest sales debut ever. Since its release last week, the album reached #6 on the iTunes® Top 10 Albums chart, climbed to #2 on the iTunes Rock chart (No. 1 in Canada) and earned the #8 spot on the Rock Singles Chart while capping the week with it highest ever chart position on the Billboard Top 200 at No. 14 with 23,659 albums sold, marking a 72% sales jump over the band's previous best-selling album, Welcome to the Masquerade. The album also landed at No. 1 on the Hard Rock Billboard charts.

The new CD has already had song placements on ESPN (NASCAR, NCAA basketball), WWE and EA Sports NHL 2013 releasing this fall.

The new album is a testament to the bond the band has with its fans. Thanks to the TFK armies across the globe, who helped fund the album through Kickstarter and allowed the band to self-release, TFK has achieved their greatest successes to date.

"Since day one we've actually been uncomfortable with the term 'fans' because these people mean so much more to us," says TFK front man Trevor McNevan. "They're the friends and family of the band, so to speak, and I think they've grown to trust us over the years, which is something that's been built between us and not manufactured."

Fired ESPN Editor Talks Jeremy Lin & The Power of Christ

Life has been a roller-coaster these past two months for 28-year-old Anthony Federico. The former ESPN editor was fired back in February after writing a headline entitled, “Chink in the Armor” for an article about Asian NBA star Jeremy Lin. Federico, who has been open and honest about the fact that the terminology was merely an unintended mistake, promptly apologized. But the damage was already done, as the young journalist quickly became what he calls “public enemy number one.”

On Tuesday, he opened up to The Blaze about how the scenario has impacted his life. He also spoke about how the power of his Christian faith has restored him, while teaching him valuable life lessons.

read article here

Phil Keaggy Released From Hospital

It was announced today that Phil Keaggy was released from the hospital.  Keaggy was hospitalized for hemorrhaging after experiencing complications from surgery. 


Canceling an anticipated show on April 16th, news spread of Keaggy's hospitalization. With many fans concerned about Keaggy's illness, an update about his condition in a statement via his Facebook account was released. 

"Thank you everyone for your concern about Phil. He had some issues after a colonoscopy and had some bleeding which required medical attention. He is doing fine and will most likely be able to fly home to his family tomorrow. We appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and would request that you respect Phil's privacy at this time."

Today, his Facebook page announced:

"Thanks to all you folks out there who have been praying for Phil. I am happy to report that he has been released from the hospital and is on a flight back home to Nashville with his wife by his side."

Tenth Avenue North is Golden And Joins The Fray With TobyMac

RIAA Gold download certifications, representing more than 500,000 in digital song sales, were awarded to seven first-time recipients in March including Tenth Avenue North’s “By Your Side.”  3x multi-Platinums were awarded to The Fray for “You Found Me.”

A variety of certifiably popular musicians upped their Gold album award ante in March including TobyMac who earned his fourth for Tonight.

Stunner: Colton Dixon Ousted from American Idol

Thursday night’s American Idol left many fans in the audience wondering if the judges used their save too soon when fan favorite Colton Dixon was eliminated from the competition. Inside the theater, there was no doubt that this was the most shocking elimination yet.

Unlike past elimination nights, there were no boos for the crowd when Ryan Seacrest announced that Colton would not be returning to Idol next week. Instead, there was a single audible “No,” followed by stunned silence and a few tears. But Colton’s only silver lining may have been that he finally received that elusive standing ovation when he performed his final number on the show. A small gesture from the judges, but, backstage, Colton told me it was a huge moment for him. “I've been trying too hard to get a standing ovation from the judges that I didn't need,” he said. “During [my final performance], I wasn't singing for them, or my family, anyone in the audience or anyone at home. That song was between me and my Lord Savior Jesus Christ. We had a cool moment onstage for sure."

It wasn’t just the audience that was shocked by Colton’s elimination. Jennifer Lopez could be seen shaking her head in dismay when his name was announced. The other Idol contestants also appeared stunned, then rushed to hug Colton, even trying to make their way to him before he sang. Ryan, however, was the only one able to grab his shoulder before he took the stage.

The contestant most affected by the shocking results? Phillip Phillips, who remained seated for a portion of Colton’s swan song, hanging his head as he listened. Hollie Cavanagh — who many thought should have been sent packing — cried throughout the song. Following his emotional performance, all the contestants came over to give Colton a hug. And the judges weren’t far behind — Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson embraced the contestant as well. But, it was Jennifer who had the longest conversation with him, hugging him at least three times before leaving the stage. Looks like fans weren’t the only ones who hoped Colton would stick around as long as possible.

Read Hollywood.com's take.

Kirk Cameron Laughs off 80s Sitcom Actors' Slam

Former child star Kirk Cameron stirred controversy in Hollywood when he declared homosexuality to be “unnatural,” “detrimental” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization” to gossip show host Piers Morgan.

In response to Cameron’s comments, some of his ‘80s and ‘90s sitcom contemporaries banded together to star in a mock PSA video as members of CCOKC: Child Celebrities Opposing Kirk Cameron on the comedy web site “Funny or Die.”

On “Fox & Friends,” Cameron stood by his original comments, calling out Morgan for bringing up the topic of gay marriage in the first place. 

“When you’re sitting across the table from someone who knows what your perspective is on issues–and I’ve been very consistent, I don’t think anything I said surprised anybody as a Bible-believing Christian," he said. "But to then take some answers, reduce an important and personal and sensitive issue to a four-second sound bite and toss it into a community to start a political bonfire and really upset people that you’re saying that you’re looking to protect – I think is disingenuous.”

Read entire article and his reaction to the video 

Winter Jam Tour Again #1 Among All Tours

The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular has shattered its own record to become the #1 tour in the world (first quarter) for the second consecutive year. According to Pollstar's 2012 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales Charts - Top 100 Tours, Winter Jam outpaced attendance for all other tours, including Cirque du Soleil - "Michael Jackson: The Immortal," Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, The Black Keys, Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley, among others.

Founded and hosted by NewSong and this year headlined by Grammy®-nominated Skillet, the 47-city tour ended April 1 and saw 32 sold-out concerts and surpassed last year's record attendance by more than 10,000, playing to a total of nearly 535,000 people.

"Being the headliner on Winter Jam was an incredible opportunity for Skillet," said the band's frontman, John Cooper. "The fans, the music, and the message were absolutely relevant and impacted people's lives each and every night. The worst part of Winter Jam was having to end the tour and go back to 'normal' life!"

In addition to headliners Skillet, this year's tour also featured Sanctus Real, former Newsboys frontman Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429, Group 1 Crew, illusionist Brock Gill, and speaker Nick Hall. In addition, the OneVerse Pre-Jam Party included performances from Dara Maclean, For King & Country and We As Human.

Following its January 6 launch in Charleston, West Virginia, The Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular played to capacity audiences in some of the country’s top venues, including Atlanta’s Philips Arena; The Wolstein Center in Cleveland; Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena; the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee; and the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, where more than 20,000 were in attendance.

Since its formation by NewSong in 1995, Winter Jam has featured many of the top names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Jeremy Camp, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North and Fireflight, among others. The tour has also been instrumental in helping launch the careers of such acclaimed artists as Francesca Battistelli, Chris August and Sidewalk Prophets.

For further information, visit www.jamtour.com

Warner Bros. Shelves Mel Gibson Maccabee Movie

TheWrap is reporting that Warner Bros. has put on hold a Mel Gibson movie project about the Jewish Maccabee revolt in the 2nd Century B.C. after reading the script by writer Joe Eszterhas.

A spokesman for the studio told TheWrap: "We are analyzing what to do with the project."

Jewish groups were outraged after news broke in September that Gibson had reached a production deal with Warner's to direct the story of Judah Maccabee, whose victory over Greek and Syrian armies is celebrated at Hanukkah.

Eszterhas delivered the script in late February, and Warner's has since passed on it, according to an individual close to the project. Warner production president Greg Silverman described it as lacking in “feeling” and “a sense of triumph," according to the individual.

As another individual put it: "The script didn't pass muster."

But in an explosive letter to Gibson obtained by TheWrap, Eszterhas said that the director never planned to make the movie, and was using him to deflect Gibson's anti-Semitic reputation.

He wrote: “I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason you won’t make ‘The Maccabees’ is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews.”

Update: Gibson responded in a letter to Eszterhas:

"Both Warner Brothers and I were extraordinarily disappointed with the draft. In 25 years of script development I have never seen a more substandard first draft or a more significant waste of time. The decision not to proceed with you was based on the quality of your script, not on any other factor."

Gibson also apologized for using "colorful" language, but said that much of Eszterhas's observations were "utter fabrications."

Eszterhas declined to comment.

Warner's has a long history of collaborating with Gibson, but the star was upset after the studio rescinded his cameo in "The Hangover Part II" when the crew protested his involvement

The project involved one of Gibson’s favored themes -- an underdog army fighting for freedom. In 165 B.C., Jewish leader Maccabee led his brothers in revolt against the Seleucid Empire, ruled by Antiochus Epiphanes who had forbidden Jewish practices.

Noting his checkered history of making anti-Semitic remarks, Jewish leaders said the choice of Gibson to direct a film about a prominent figure in their religion was insensitive.

Phil Keaggy Reunites with Glass Harp at BB King's in New York City

 Legendary Christian recording artist and world-renowned guitar maestro Phil Keaggy recently performed in New York City at BB King's Blues Club and Grill in Times Square. During the show, the guitarist was joined onstage in a rare guest appearance by drummer John Sferra and bassist Daniel Pecchio of Glass Harp, the three-piece rock band with which Keaggy recorded three albums on Decca Records in the '70s. During the two-hour show, Keaggy entertained the audience with both acoustic and electric guitars, featuring selections from his current CD, Live From Kegworth Studio.

Of Keaggy's performance, Bert Saraco in a show review published in The Phantom Toolbooth, writes "Phil stepped onstage with his acoustic guitar, JamMan, and a small table with his various 'toys' and treated the room full of New Yorkers and wide-eyed tourists to a half-hour of the kind of guitar wizardry found on his recent Live From Kegworth Studio project. Utilizing every technique known to any pair of guitarist's hands, Phil filled the room with layer upon layer of sound, including vocal and percussion effects."

When Sferra and Pecchio joined Keaggy onstage, the musicians treated the audience to Glass Harp repertoire, as well as improvisation.

"All three men shared vocal harmonies…and of course each is a master of their respective instruments," Saraco says.

In the review, Saraco, who calls the show "a rare treat," said Keaggy and company left its audience having witnessed "that special symbiosis that musicians sometimes share, creating sounds that charge the room with an energy that exists only for that special moment."

'American Idol' Contestants Receive Spiritual Support

"American Idol" contestants often endure long days and harsh criticism from judges and audiences. During that time, one may wonder if their spiritual needs are being tended to. Linda Bellesi, though, is determined to take care of contestants and minister to their needs.

Bellesi has worked with contestants from the past seven seasons, opening up her home to their family members and assisting both financially and spiritually to those who appear on "American Idol."


"Seeing God put the pieces together, there's no way I could have made all of that happen," she explained. "This is our message. We're all on assignment every day of our lives."

What does Bellesi think of this season's contestants? So far she has worked with Colton Dixon, who has spoken publicly about his faith.

"Colton is the Tim Tebow of 'American Idol,'" she told the Today show. "I have had some really unique opportunities to pray over him and give input where I can."

full article here