http://mikestand22.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Mike Cole en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:57:57 GMT 2010-01-03T20:57:57Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977560349 I'm glad ABC gave us an hour of Scrubs in it's first appearance on the network last Tuesday night.  The first episode was an unholy mess of quick character sketches sandwiched around the . . . Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:01:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977560349 Mike Cole 2009-01-11T23:01:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977515972 On the coldest night of the season so far, singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton was the hottest ticket in Boston.  Those thinking they could walk up to the Paradise box office an hour before showtime . . . Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:54:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977515972 Mike Cole 2008-11-24T21:54:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493381 "Legally Blonde The Musical" arrives in Boston a week before a Presidential election -- smack dab in the middle of an economic downturn -- just days before we turn the clocks back to begin the . . . Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:21:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493381 Mike Cole 2008-10-31T01:21:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977491070 A Monday night club gig poses a myriad of challenges for both artist and audience, so you know something magical has happened when the performance brilliantly conquers all.  Matthew Sweet rolled . . . Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:26:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977491070 Mike Cole 2008-10-28T19:26:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977486042 Thursday ni ght has always been my favorite night for TV.  The weekend is close ... but not close enough for a night out.  I'm pretty much fried by the work week, but shifting into TGIF . . . Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:54:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977486042 Mike Cole 2008-10-23T02:54:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457872 Neil Patrick Harris, we turn to you in these dark times for the TV biz.  After the abomination of an Emmy Awards broadcast that America had to gag, snore, and wretch through last Sunday night, . . . Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:26:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457872 Mike Cole 2008-09-24T15:26:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977452324   I heard "A Chorus Line" long before I ever saw it. It was 1975.  The original cast LP (yes, sweet, sweet vinyl).  I was a teenager in a small Massachusetts town, the . . . Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:44:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977452324 Mike Cole 2008-09-18T14:44:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438775 The guy's name is Sweet, and with his angelic tenor and gorgeous harmonies it's hard to describe his music in non-sugary terms.  That hasn't always been the case.  There are plenty . . . Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:37:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438775 Mike Cole 2008-09-04T01:37:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977423774 Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" is making its share of noise right now, but for me it's more of a suburban gully washer than a pop culture deluge. This movie is like a mischievous puppy . . . Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:06:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977423774 Mike Cole 2008-08-17T23:06:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977416401 Right around dusk tonight ... about the same time fireflies begin their nightly summer light show ... The Jonas Brothers will take the stage at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. A collective . . . Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:17:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977416401 Mike Cole 2008-08-08T01:17:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977403624 Director Christopher Nolan's decision to set his brilliant new film "The Dark Knight" in a present day, American city, tells us everything we need to know about the dark times we live in. . . . Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:21:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977403624 Mike Cole 2008-07-22T01:21:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977400498 Turns out that in a television season nearly upended by a writers strike ... it's the pen (or keyboard) that reigns supreme. "Mad Men" .. "Lost" .. "John Adams" .. "30 . . . Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:37:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977400498 Mike Cole 2008-07-18T00:37:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393179 "Oh, come on, ladies. God wouldn't have given you maracas if He didn't want you to shake 'em." Hold on, hold on ... those are the words of Penny Johnson, one of the central . . . Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:23:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393179 Mike Cole 2008-07-09T01:23:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977385257 Yes, behold the grinning geek to the left ... clearly a crass and obvious ploy by the band Delta Spirit to sex up their upcoming debut CD release. Clearly this is a band that will stop at nothing to . . . Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:37:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977385257 Mike Cole 2008-06-29T15:37:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977380023 While the Boston Celtics were parading around the streets of Boston in duck boats last Thursday, a delicate bit of culinary triage was taking place in a Hub hotel room. Chef Duff Goldman was rebuilding . . . Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:09:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977380023 Mike Cole 2008-06-23T01:09:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370655 The problem with dying young and famous is there's just too many people left around to muck up your legacy.  Instead of reflecting back on a life of creative peaks, valleys and plateaus there's . . . Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:29:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370655 Mike Cole 2008-06-12T15:29:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359161 You always have that odd moment when you're talking about new music from the Old 97's ... let's all let it pass okay?! "Blame It On Gravity" ... the first set of fresh tunes since . . . Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:34:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977359161 Mike Cole 2008-06-02T01:34:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977338700 Check out that moustache partners ... Rivers Cuomo is saddled up and ready to ride again! He may have a Harvard degree now, but Rivers isn't singing about nouvelle cuisine ... it's Pork and Beans, . . . Mon, 05 May 2008 01:43:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977338700 Mike Cole 2008-05-05T01:43:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977334388 Let's first state the obvious. She's 15. That pretty much ends the debate over the "appropriateness" of the "Vanity Fair" photo controversy involving tween multi-media superstar . . . Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:56:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977334388 Mike Cole 2008-04-29T02:56:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977333358 I'm so glad I didn't buy the soundtrack before seeing the show. That may seem an odd thing to say about a musical -- isn't it the songs that make or break the production? In most cases that's . . . Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:27:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977333358 Mike Cole 2008-04-27T20:27:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977328149 I was 15 when "Born to Run" came out, and first fell in love with the sound of E Street. I didn't know Phil Spector from a hole in the wall -- I didn't even know there were two previous . . . Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:31:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977328149 Mike Cole 2008-04-20T22:31:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324549 I admit I have some serious miles on my music odometer, but I've never stopped looking for that after-market part that would help keep my rock and roll engine running. With the music industry desperately . . . Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:35:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324549 Mike Cole 2008-04-16T00:35:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977302262 I know, I know it's a girl thing. Even so, I'm still a little stunned at the squeals of delight for the return of The New Kids On The Block -- did you really miss these guys that much? . . . Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:07:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977302262 Mike Cole 2008-04-05T12:07:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977290079 What is it with gambling emporiums and their penchant for ruining rock songs? Last year Rhode Island's Twin River casino used "Take Me To The River" to promote their "entertainment" . . . Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:29:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977290079 Mike Cole 2008-03-22T01:29:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977266978 Kathleen Edwards defies category -- country, alt country, folk, rock, indie rock - all apply, but none adequately describe what she can do with a song. As a singer/songwriter she can show poignant delicacy . . . Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:19:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977266978 Mike Cole 2008-02-24T19:19:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977263072 This Sunday night is Oscar night on ABC and two films in which music plays a vital role are in the running, the multi-nominated "Juno" and "Once" which is up for Original Song. I . . . Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:39:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977263072 Mike Cole 2008-02-20T15:39:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977257131 One of the things I like best about entertainment blogging is going to bat for an artist that deserves a big chunk of spotlight, but sometimes has to settle for a sliver. One of my favorite singer/songwriters, . . . Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:21:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977257131 Mike Cole 2008-02-13T03:21:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977255238 Classic can be a conundrum, especially in musical theater.  Stay too close to the original and you've got yourself a fossil.  Stray too far and you've got nothing put a pale imitation.  . . . Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:16:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977255238 Mike Cole 2008-02-11T03:16:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977231812 Silly is in short supply in Boston right now. The winter's been rough,fuel prices are brutal, street parking has been reduced to an arctic version of the Hatfield/McCoy blood feud. Everyone really . . . Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:48:21 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977231812 Mike Cole 2008-01-18T13:48:21Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977190451 Have you ever dipped a Twinkie in a glass of Coke? Have you ever seen the musical Mamma Mia? The two experiences have a lot in common. Both are very fizzy, not terribly nutritious, but enjoyable . . . Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:33:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977190451 Mike Cole 2007-11-30T06:33:55Z