Jonas Brothers get a second chance
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Jonas Brothers turn disappointment into wild success
They may be young, but the Jonas Brothers understand the power of second chances.
Two years ago, the musical siblings – Kevin, 20, Joe, 18, and Nick, 15 – were dropped from Columbia Records after their debut album sold a disappointing 65,000 copies.
But last year, Disney’s Hollywood Records scooped up the pop-rock trio and turned them into an entertainment force of nature with the power to sweep preteen girls into a squealing frenzy.
“It was an amazing opportunity,” Kevin Jonas told The Oklahoman in recent teleconference. “We got very lucky, and we were really honored with how amazing our family is now at Hollywood Records. … They believed in us, and they let us make the record we definitely wanted to make. And they let us be the Jonas Brothers.”
The Jonas Brothers will launch their new headlining tour, titled “The Burning Up Tour,” July 4 in Toronto. It includes a July 8 stop at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno.
Along with the hits from their platinum-selling 2007 self-titled album, the band plans to play songs from their upcoming CD “A Little Bit Longer” on the summer tour.
“We’re thrilled with this record. It’s kind of a continuation of the ‘Jonas Brothers.’ … This record was definitely inspired by some of the artists we look up to – like some Prince and Elvis Costello influences and a little piece of funk in some songs. So we’re very thrilled for the audience to hear it,” Joe Jonas said in the recent teleconference from Paris, France where the brothers were touring with Avril Lavigne.
The New Jersey-bred siblings were last in Oklahoma City in December as the opening act for fellow Disney sensation Miley Cyrus. It was a mere warm-up for the trio, who are getting the type of cross-platform treatment the Mouse House provided for Cyrus, the star of the popular Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana.”
On the music side, the band became the youngest act ever to sign with concert promoter Live Nation in January, and the multimillion-dollar contract includes 140 shows worldwide over two years.
Like Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers also are becoming fixtures on the Disney Channel. Along with their reality show, “Living the Dream,” the brothers also starred in “Camp Rock,” a “High School Musical”-style TV movie that premiered last week.
In addition, they soon will have their own series, “J.O.N.A.S.,” on the cable network.
“We’re working out all the details right now. The writers strike, like, kind of pushed things back a little bit, and then we decided to go on tour. … We should start shooting some time in September,” Nick Jonas said.
The brothers stay so busy that they have only slept in their own beds at their California home for about three weeks in the past 18 months. Compared to their busy touring schedule, shooting “Camp Rock” was almost like a break.
“Filming a movie was so much fun, definitely a dream of ours,” Nick said. “We got to kind of relax for about a month and a half and have some time to play golf, hang out with the cast, that’s what’s incredible. So it was really a lot of fun, and we loved the way the movie turned out.”
Along with their busy schedules, the passionate reactions from their fans have given their lives a surreal quality. Nick still finds it funny when people approach them in restaurants as their dining with their mom.
“It’s amazing they’re so supportive and that they’re just always there to show us they like our music,” he said.
The Jonas Brothers first got the sense that their old lives were about to get swept away last year at a concert in Norfolk, Va.
“We had been there a couple of months prior, and I think there was a hundred of people at our show and then we went there and we kept asking, ‘How many people are here?’ And our management said, ‘You know what? Just wait,’” Nick said.
“So we went out and there are 3,000 people and I think for all of us that was kind of like ‘Oh, OK.’… Then the whole summer tour that we went on was incredible.”
The hype is burning hot now, but the siblings – who write songs and play their own instruments – have no intention of being a flash in the pan. They are already thinking about the where their career will be in 10 years.
For instance, Nick wrote the title track for “A Little Bit Longer,” which is set for Aug. 12 release, about his experience with Type 1 diabetes.
“This music really is us. We’re not like a manufactured version. It’s really truly us and we hope people will have a totally different take on us as a band,” Kevin said.
No matter where their whirlwind career takes them, from performing on the “American Idol” finale to playing at the Eiffel Tower, the brothers said they wouldn’t trade for a so-called normal life.
“If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably be working at Starbucks,” Kevin said. “We know that we’re living so many people’s dreams every single day.”
And just to cap the dream: “It’s About Time,” their first album on Columbia, now is considered a collector’s item, with a used copy recently offered for $135 on Amazon.com.
In Concert
Who: Jonas Brothers.
When: 7 p.m. July 8.
Where: Ford Center, 100 W Reno.
Tickets/information: 235-8288 or www.okfordcenter.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on June 27
Today’s featured event:
TULSA - Even if you never go to Spain or Shangri-La, you can go to Tulsa to see Three Dog Night at 7 p.m. today in the Osage Event Center at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino, 951 W 36 St. North.
Tickets start at $30. Concert-goers must be 21 years old or older to attend.
For more information, call (918) 699-7667 or go to www.milliondollarelm.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Sneak Peek video: “WALL-E”
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NewsOK host Angi Bruss and I talk about the new Pixar movie “WALL-E” and my interview with writer-director Andrew Stanton. I will have a feature with Stanton and a glowing review of “WALL-E” Friday in the Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman, on NewsOK, and of course, here at BAM’s Blog.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup
A preview of the weekend of June 27-29:
Arts
- “The Sound of Music”: Watch the tale of the Von Trapp family unfold when Lyric Theatre stages “The Sound of Music” at 8 p.m. today and Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. For more information, call 524-9312 or go to http://www.lyrictheatreokc.com/.
Family
- 2008 OKC Summer Classic Dog Show: See the top dogs at the 2008 OKC Summer Classic Dog Show, hosted by the Oklahoma City Kennel Club and Mid-Del-Tinker Kennel Club. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Sunday at the Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens. For more information, call 487-8877 or go to http://www.okcdogshows.com/.
- OKC Yard Dawgz arena football: Cheer on the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz against the Lubbock (Texas) Renegades at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno. For more information, call 228-3294 or go to http://www.okcyarddawgz.com/.
Movies
- “WALL-E”: Set in the future on an abandoned Earth, Pixar’s latest animated film, “WALL-E,” focuses on a trash-compacting robot that discovers the way for humans to return to the planet.
- Wanted: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman star in “Wanted,” about a slacker (McAvoy) who learns his murdered father was an assassin and is recruited into the same secret society.
Music
- Ray Price: Hear country singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Price perform at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9, in Norman. For more information, call 322-6464 or go to www.riverwind.com.
- Jazz in June: Listen to Chuck Mangione, Barrie Lee Hall Jr. and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and more at Norman’s 25th Annual Jazz in June.
Blues under the Stars starts at 7 p.m. today at Brookhaven Village Parking Lot, Robinson and NW 36. Jazz under the Stars begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the Brookhaven Village Parking Lot, Robinson and NW 36.
Jazz in the Park will start at 6 p.m. Saturday at Andrews Park, 201 W Daws. An open jam session will be at 11 p.m. Saturday Sooner Legends Inn and Suites 1200 24th Ave. SW. For more information, call 325-3388 or go to www.jazzinjune.org.
Statewide
- Three Dog Night, Tulsa: Even if you never go to Spain or Shangri-La, you can go to Tulsa to see Three Dog Night at 7 p.m. Friday in the Osage Event Center at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino, 951 W 36 St. North. Tickets start at $30. Concert-goers must be 21 years old or older to attend. For more information, call (918) 699-7667 or go to http://www.milliondollarelm.com/tulsa.
- Skiatook Bluegrass Festival: Take in bluegrass shows by nationally known musicians, along with workshops, a junior fiddle contest, a band contest, bluegrass karaoke, camping and a children’s activity tent. The event is at the Skiatook Sports Park. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. today-Saturday. For more information, go to http://www.skiatookbluegrass.com/
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on June 26
Today’s featured event:
Lyric Theatre continues its production of “The Sound of Music” at 8 p.m. today at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.
If you can’t make it tonight, you can watch the Von Trapp family’s story unfold at 8 p.m. Friday or 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 524-9312 or go to www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Rascal Flatts
Country trio Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will appear on the second season of the Sundance Channel’s series “Live From Abbey Road.”The acclaimed music series airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. (10 p.m. EST/PST).
Each one-hour episode includes three musical guests and offers insight into their music-making process as they rehearse, discuss their work and give a final exclusive performance.
Rascal Flatts will appear in the second episode, along with Kate Nash and Herbie Hancock. Hancock will perform with Corinne Bailey Rae and Melody Gardot.
Other artists who will appear during Season 2 are Mary J. Blige; Dashboard Confessional; James Blunt; Diana Krall; Stereophonics; Sheryl Crow; The Black Keys; David Gray, Suzanne Vega, Colbie Caillat, Joan Armatrading, Panic at the Disco; and Manu Chao.
To mark Rascal Flatts’ performance on the show Thursday, I’ve picked some of my favorite videos by the band for this week’s Video Spotlight:
“Take Me There”:
“Stand”:
“Every Day”:
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on June 25
Today’s featured event:
If you’re got “More Than a Feeling” of ’80s deja vu, it could be because Boston and Styx are playing at 7 p.m. today at the Zoo Amphitheatre, 2101 NE 50.
For more information, go to www.zooamp.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
New releases
As is not uncommon, I find myself becoming disoriented when I look at this week’s new releases.
Is it 1989? Because Motley Crue has a new album out. It seems like that should have been outlawed after 1989’s “Dr. Feelgood.”
Or maybe it’s “10,000 B.C.”? That’s what the DVD releases say.
Here are the CDs, DVDs and books coming out this week, according to Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
If the list makes you feel caught in a time warp, rest assured you’re not the only one.
CDs
Motley Crue, “Saints of Los Angeles.”
Amos Lee, “Last Days at the Lodge.”
Shinedown, “The Sound of Madness.”
Edwin McCain, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”
Sigur Rós, “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust.”
DVDs
10,000 B.C.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Definitely, Maybe
Sea Monsters, A Prehistoric Adventure
In Bruges
Persepolis
Charlie Bartlett
Bonneville
Books
Catherine Coulter, “Tailspin (FBI Series No. 12).”
Paulo Coehlo, Brida
Sylvia Browne, “End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World.”
James Rollins, “Last Oracle”
Joyce Carol Oates, “My Sister, My Love”
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on June 24
Today’s featured event:
Rock hard with Sevendust, along with A New Revolution, Soulidium, Overscene and Tulsa-based Christian rock band Pillar, at 7 p.m. today at historic Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa.
For more information, go to www.cainsballroom.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Breaking down the upcoming Marvels
Speaking of USA Today, the standby of hotels nationwide has an interesting breakdown today of the upcoming Marvel movies, from “Ant-Man” and “Thor” to “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”
Click here to check it out.
I’m now returning to the vacation already in progress. Take care, BAM’s Blog, readers. I shall return.
-BAM
