Alaena Alaena One of Life’s Unguilty Pleasures By Jay S. Jacobs Singer and songwriter Alaena (born Alana Potocnik) has learned a lot about the world as a woman in rock over the past decade or so. Previously best known for playing in the death metal band Winds of Plague, Alaena decided a couple of years ago to have a musical coming out party in which she would do her own songs instead of being a cog in a band. As a singer and songwriter, Alaena felt the need to explore a more

Shania Twain – Still the One – Live from Vegas SHANIA TWAIN – STILL THE ONE – LIVE FROM VEGAS (2015) Featuring Shania Twain, Cory Churko, Hardy Hemphill, JD Blair, Keith Nelson, Jason Mowery, Joshua Ray, Justin Schipper, Ryan Kowarsky, Don Kowarsky, Andrea Whitt, Jennifer Eriksson, Mandy Andreason, Adrian Lee, Paul Benshoof, Miguel Perez, Devin Walker, Donald Romain, Mark Romain and Carrie Ann Brown. Directed by Raj Kapoor and Mark D. Allen. Distributed by Eagle Vision.  153

Anson Mount of “Hell On Wheels” in New York City, August 4, 2013. Photos © 2013 Mark Doyle. Anson Mount Raising Hell On Wheels by Jay S. Jacobs When you conjure up a mental image of the iconic American cowboy, it wouldn't be too surprising if he looks a whole lot like Anson Mount. This is not just because Mount has spent the last two years starring in the best western currently on TV, AMC's Hell on Wheels, a dusty, downbeat and dramatic look at the building of the railroads i

Lady Gaga Lady Gaga Winning the Fame Game by Jay S. Jacobs “I’m a hustler, you know?” Lady Gaga says.  “I just keep going.” She is going… and she’s planning on going far. Growing up in New York, Stefani Gabriella Germanotta – who now goes by the stage name Lady Gaga – was steeped in the celeb culture, watching famous classmates going to all the best parties and dodging paparazzi. Wanting a little of that glamour herself, Gaga threw herself into music – a giddy marriage of dan

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus – The Best of Both Worlds Concert HANNAH MONTANA AND MILEY CYRUS – BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT (2008) Starring Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, Kenny Ortega, Mandy Jiroux, Paul Becker, Teresa Espinosa, Jaco Caraco, Jennifer Talarico, Jason Pettigrew and Marshall Lake. Directed by Bruce Hendricks. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios.  74 minutes.  Rated G. The Miley Cyrus hype machine is so unstoppable in 2008 that t

Wilmer Valderrama stars in “Unaccompanied Minors.” WILMER VALDERRAMA UNACCOMPANIED by Brad Balfour Miami-born actor Wilmer Valderrama has come a long way since his days as Fez, the quirky foreign exchange student who was often the butt of jokes on the popular TV series That ‘70s Show. The 26-year-old jovial, handsome charmer – known for gallivanting around with some of Hollywood’s hardest-partying starlets – grew up in Venezuela and moved to Los Angeles with his family at age

Hope Partlow hope partlow who she is… by abraham kuranga With a cute southern accent and an even more sincere demeanor, Hope Partlow has snuck onto the music scene and is ready to make a lot of noise. From her humble beginnings in Drummonds, Tennessee, Hope has had her eyes set on this moment for a long time.  “I was singing before I could talk,” says Partlow.  “I was always around music, because my dad was a singer.”  It wasn’t until she felt the thrill of the stage that she

Austin Powers in Goldmember AUSTIN POWERS in GOLDMEMBER (2002) Starring Mike Myers, Beyonce Knowles, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Vern Troyer, Robert Wagner, Michael York, with cameos by Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, John Travolta and Britney Spears. Screenplay by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers. Directed by Jay Roach. Distributed by New Line Pictures.  Rated PG-13.  94 minutes. The films of the Austin Powers series are nearly impossible to critique.

Crossroads CROSSROADS  (2002) Starring Britney Spears, Anson Mount, Zöe Saldana, Taryn Manning, Justin Long, Jamie Lynn Spears, Kool Moe Dee, Dan Aykroyd and Kim Cattrall. Screenplay by Shonda Rhimes. Directed by Tamra Davis. Distributed by Zomba Films/Paramount Pictures.  93minutes.   Rated PG-13. There are some people out there, more cynical than me, who would say that Crossroads is a two-hour music video to promote Britney Spears’ under-performing third album. And that is