Monday, July 30, 2007

Rock The Bells Concert, Day 1-July 28, 2007-Randall's Island










the weather called for rain, but we got lucky (?). No rain but it was so hot and humid for this all day concert on Randall's Island. Wu Tang Clan, Suprnatural, Public Enemy with Chuck D and Flavor Flav with special guest Scott Ian of Anthrax, Cypress Hill, Rage Against the Machine and several more bands had the audience sweltering in the heat.
Here is Jim Farber's review from the NY Daily News:
" It's telling that the biggest hip-hop show to hit New York this year boasts one of the oldest lineups.
At the star-stuffed "Rock the Bells" festival - at Randalls Island yesterday and today - performers with between 10 and 20 years experience dominated. Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, the Roots, Talib Kweli and more appeared yesterday, all leading to the event's trump card: the first New York appearance in seven years by the mighty Rage Against the Machine.
Together, the two shows drew 70,000 fans, with tickets to yesterday's installment having vanished in 20 minutes. That's especially remarkable given the fact that all these acts are well past their CD-selling prime. Of course, a big part of the draw was the chance to see a reunited Rage - which, it should be noted, doesn't qualify as a hip-hop act per se, but as a rock-rap band.
Still, the credibility, and catalogue, of the other bands had to sweeten the deal. And the success of a tour like this, built around the old-school stars, unavoidably tried to advance the opinion that yesterday's hip hop has it all over today's.
Unfortunately, only some aspects of the music made good on that view. Public Enemy made the best case for elder power. They played with a flair, verbal dexterity and intensity nearly invisible among today's most commercial hip-hop acts. The live band behind Chuck D and Flava Flav tore through classics like "Bring the Noise" and "911 Is a Joke" with an inspired fury.
The Roots searched even further back to establish their credibility. They kept quoting soul classics from the '60s (Sly and the Family Stone) and '70s (Kool and the Gang) amid their jazz-rock jams. But the quick tongues of their rappers and the brisk slap of Questlove's drums gave it all a contemporary edge.
Others seemed more dogged by their pasts than inspired by them. Cypress Hill recycled their hits, cynically milking so many pot references they ended up like a hip-hop Cheech and Chong. The members of Wu-Tang Clan lacked chemistry and alluded once too often to their late member, Ol' Dirty Bastard, who might have brought some cohesion. Talib Kweli seemed a bit lost on that huge stage with just a deejay to back him, though he came alive when he traded verse with old collaborator Mos Def.
Of course, Rage remained the big draw. And they fulfilled every possible expectation. Frontman Zach De La Rocha acted as if he hadn't been let out of the house since the last time he played with the band. He exploded like a jack-in-the-box, leaping about the stage with an incendiary anger and rapping his bourgeois lefty lyrics like a human I.E.D. Tom Morello manically attacked his guitar, spitting out industrial strength leads. The rhythm section had the concussive precision of prime Led Zeppelin.
Still, for all the concert's high points, it had about it the fetid air of nostalgia. It's one thing for boomers to moon over their pasts. It's another, sadder thing for an audience of twentysomethings to be looking back with ardor"

Friday, July 27, 2007

Marc Anthony Live on The Today Show's Concert Series, July 27, 2007


NY Premiere of "El Cantante" Starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, AMC Theaters July 26, 2007





HORRIBLE place for a premiere--right on 42nd Street and 8th Ave. Crowded, loud..crappy.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony posed for a decent amount of time. Also on hand were J Lo's mother and sister and friend Lean Remini

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart at the NY Premiere of "No Reservations" at the Ziegfield Theater, July 25, 2007





can a cast get any better looking??? I really don't think so. Catherine Zeta-Jones is just stunning-a perfect 10 and Aaron Eckhart is absolutely gorgeous. Walking the red carpet together, you can see the chemistry between these 2.
They were just PERFECT--probably 2 of the best celebrities we have had on the red carpet. They posed alone and together, and for a VERY long time, and looked at just about every photographer. These 2 are pros!
If only EVERY one can be this good.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Cast of "Bratz" at Planet Hollywood, Paul Rudd & Tony Durgy on Letterman,Mario Cuomo walking in Manhattan, Hanson performs live at Time Square Virgin











Skyler Shaye, Logan Browning, Janel Parrish and Nathalia Ramos
Stars of the new Lionsgate Family comedy Bratz
stop by Planet Hollywood Times Square
to donate memorabilia from the film

Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy arrives at the Ed Sullivan Theater for a taping of the David Letterman Show. Dungy is a former professional American football player and the current head coach of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League

FINALLY! I was able to get a shot of the gorgeous and talent actor/producer Paul Rudd. He can currently be seen on the big screen in "ten" which he also produced and "Knocked Up" in which he steals every scene he is in.

Former NY Governor Mario Cuomo (1983-1994) was spotted walking down Wesy 53rd Street.

Lindsay Lohan. What can be said? This girl is a MESS. She was arrested AGAIN for DWI. And she just got out of rehab. Note to Lindsay and all her people..IF you REALLY want to get this girl CLEAN AND SOBER-keep her out of clubs where liquor is served and away from ALL THE PEOPLE who enabled her to do drugs and drink alcohol. If this young woman keeps it up, she will be dead by the time she is 25. And THAT will be another wasted life in Hollywood. I certainly hope this little girl looking up to the wax figure of Lindsay in prision stripes from Madam Tassaud's Wax Museum doesn't really look up to this lost soul.

Hanson (Zac, Taylor and Isaac)..those boys grew up. They are all married men with familes and they just released their lated CD called "The Walk." Tonight they played to a packed house at the Times Square Virgin Megastore. I had the pleasure of shooting them in the studio about 7 years ago and I was amazed at how talented they are. Tonight, they really rocked. They deserve A LOT more notierty than they receive.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Eric Clapton joins John Mayer on Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series, July 20, 2007




Eric Clapton up bright and early to perform with John Mayer on "Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series" at Bryant Park

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Special Screening of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" Saluting NYC Firefighters at the Ziegfield Theater, July 18, 2007




MAJOR KUDOS to Damion Stene at NBC/Universal for handling this premiere better than ANY premiere ever in this city. When we requested our credentials, he gave us a number which was the order in which we responded. This completely eliminated the usual ALL DAY waiting we, the photographers, have to do in order to get a good spot. We showed up between 4-5, were called in the order, and led into a VERY LARGE photo pen.
IF ONLY EVERY premiere could be handled this way. Truthfully, there is no reason why they can't (other than what I call laziness and others call stupidity) and every one of us wishes the system coiuld change and be like today.
Walking the red carpet were the film's stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, the adorable Shelby Abamowsky, Chris Rock, Nick Turturro with his family and director Dennis Dugan.

THANK YOU DAMION!!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Blair Underwood book signing, July 17, 2007




Blair Underwood,star of “L.A. Law” and "Sex and The City" signs copies of his latest book, "Casanegra" at the Hue Man Bookstore in Harlem. He sure is sexy!

NY Premiere of "Hairspray" at the Ziegfiled Theater, July 16, 2007








all of the stars were there..John Travolta with his wife Kelly Preston, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Michele Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes.
Others walking the red carpet were the great Anne Meara nd Jerry Stiller, Ralph Macchio ("The Karate Kid") Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, Christopher Walken, Brittany Snow and many,many more

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minillo at the Grand Opening of the Atelier, July 16, 2007


Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minillo walked the red carpet at the Grand Opening of the Atelier 46 story residential luxury apartment building on West 42nd Street near the West Side Highway. They recently moved into to this building which has amazing views down the Hudson River

Friday, July 13, 2007

KT Tunstall, The Today Show's Concert Series, Friday July 13, 2007






































RIP Muriel Vilinsky
You will never be forgotten
You will always be loved
Thank you for everything-for being such an important part of my life and my family's life
xoxoxo

Friday, July 06, 2007

Fall Out Boy Perform On The Today Show's Concert Series, July 6, 2007



Heartthrob Pete Wentz (and boyfriend of Ashlee Simpson) of Fall Out Boy along with his bandmates. Another totally packed to capacity crowd..I had no idea this group was so popular

Monday, July 02, 2007

Hilary Duff performs on THE TODAY SHOW'S CONCERT SERIES, June 29, 2007