The Weekly Pop Blitz

Hey there Popsters, how was your week? Mine was…..long and I am so very glad the weekend is finally here! I’ve got lots of pop news for you this week so, without further yada, yada, yada, let’s get this party started!

 
Darth Vader Wants You!

The gang over at PBH Network posted a collection of incredibly awesome Star Wars Propaganda posters this week and I highly recommend you surf it when you have the time. It’s impressive work from some very talented artists and I know you’re really going to love it! Check it, Popsters!

http://www.pbh2.com/astounding/incredible-star-wars-propaganda-posters/

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Weezer on the Cars 2 Soundtrack

When Pixar’s Cars 2 hits the big screen on June 24th the theater speakers will be rocking as Weezer puts their spin on The Cars‘ 80s hit “You Might Think”. Here’s a brief clip of the guys talking about the flick, followed by a very short vid of them in the recording studio. Enjoy!

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Ken and Barbie Go to Hawaii

Speaking of Cars 2, in case you didn’t already know, the short playing in front of the Pixar feature this time around will feature the Toy Story gang in what I’m calling Toy Story 3 1/3. The plot will revolve around Ken and Barbie on their Hawaiian Honeymoon…or not. Here’s a quick clip for you!

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New Trailer for Fright Night Remake

I’m still not sure how I feel about Hollywood remaking one of my favorite horror comedies from the 80s but, I have to admit, this trailer looks pretty freakin’ cool! I have to give the filmmakers credit, Colin Ferrell was an inspired choice. Fans of the original flick will notice the character of Peter Vincent, (originally played to perfection by Roddy McDowell and, this time around, David Tennant), is nowhere to be seen in this preview. Is that a good or bad thing? Who knows. We’ll see when Fright Night hits the big screens this August.

The posters I’ve seen for this remake are very reminiscent of the original and it’s heartening to see they’ve kept all the original character names, it’s clear the people involved are true fans of the first film. Here’s hoping they don’t mess this one up!

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Pink Floyd Lives!

(….At Least For a Few Minutes)

Last summer– shortly before Roger Waters began his “Wall Tour” – he played a brief set with his former band mate David Gilmour at a benefit for the Hoping Foundation. At the time, it was rumored Gilmour had agreed to make a cameo on Water’s “Wall Tour” at some point in the next year.

Well, that rumor and promise finally came to pass this week at London’s 02 Arena! Waters and Gilmour performed “Comfortably Numb” as the crowd at the arena went insane. During the finale of “Outside the Wall,” Gilmour returned to the stage alongside Nick Mason, who played a tambourine.

The London audience was treated to a rare moment in rock and roll history as this was only the second time that Nick Mason, David Gilmour and Waters had played together in the last 30 years.

Thankfully, today’s technology all but guarantees that somehow, someway, these fleeting moments of history will always be captured. God bless the amateurs and their cell phones!

Just as he did on the original 1980/81 tour, Gilmour plays his epic solo on top of the Wall.

I have to admit, this clip gave me a couple goose bumps and brought a little mist to my eyes. In my opinion, “Comfortably Numb” is one of the ten best rock songs ever written and David Gilmour is a true guitar God! Enjoy!

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Once More, with Less Feeling

Fans of the now classic indie film, Once, may have been longing for a sequel but I’m doubting this is the story they were hoping to see.

The world fell in love with Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová when their songwriting collaboration in the film Once culminated in a jubilant Oscar win. But behind the scenes, where Glen and Mar’s on-screen romance became reality, a grueling two-year world tour fractured their fated bond. Gorgeously filmed in black and white, this music-filled documentary is an intimate look at the exhilaration and turmoil created by both love and fame.

For the record, Once, is an all time favorite of mine and I’m also a huge fan of The Swell Season, the band Glen and Mar formed following the success of their movie. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Glen and seeing the band in concert last year and it was a night and show I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. This is why I find this trailer so heartbreaking, it’s a sad but true example of art imitating life imitating art. It’s like a cinematic infinity mirror.

The Swell Season doesn’t have a release date as of yet but, if I were to guess, this one is destined for our most melancholy of seasons, you know, when all the leaves begin “Falling Slowly”? (I couldn’t resist.)

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Armistice- Mission Bells

Here’s one from a band featured in this week’s Pop Bitez PopCast which is available on this page every two weeks. Of course, if you really want to be a cool and loyal Popster, you’ll just subscribe to the PopCast at iTunes and have it automatically download to your iPod every other Friday!