The All-American Rejects to play BCS National Championship pep rally
The All-American Rejects play recently at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)
Stillwater’s own pop-rock stars The All-American Rejects will headline the Southwest Airlines National Championship Fan Fest, the official pep rally for the BSC Championship game, according to a news release.
Before No. 1-ranked Oklahoma and No. 2-ranked Florida (Go Gators!) hit the field Thursday to determine college football’s champion, loyalists heading to South Florida for the big game are invited to join area residents for the rally, featuring performances by AAR and alternative-rock band Low vs Diamond.
The Southwest Airlines National Championship Fan Fest, presented by the City of Miami, will rock Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The largest National Championship celebration in town, Fan Fest will serve as a venue for Sooners and Gators supporters to cheer for their teams and get them charged up for victory in the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship to be held at Dolphin Stadium Thursday night.
Fan Fest also will feature the Oklahoma and Florida marching bands, school cheerleaders and former players from the two teams.
Created as a celebration for fans and families alike, Fan Fest provides a host of activities, music, entertainment, food and drink from local restaurants, and serves as the ultimate pep rally party for sports lovers and team supporters. Attendees will enjoy the festivities at Bicentennial Park, one of downtown Miami’s most unique outdoor parks overlooking Biscayne Bay and the sparkling city skyline. Bicentennial Park is at 1075 Biscayne Blvd., north of American Airlines Arena and south of the MacArthur Causeway.
AAR will headline the event, which also will include a special performance by alternative-rock band Low vs Diamond and is expected to draw thousands of fans and residents.
According to the release, tickets for National Championship Fan Fest presented by the City of Miami are available for $20; $15 with “The PATCH.” “The PATCH” is available online at www.orangebowl.org.
The All-American Rejects catapulted into the national spotlight with their hit single “Swing, Swing” in 2002. Since then, the band has produced hits including “Dirty Little Secret,” “It Ends Tonight” and “Move Along,” which won “Best Group Video” at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. The group recently released its third album, “When the World Comes Down,” featuring their latest hit “Gives You Hell.”
Low vs Diamond hit the mainstream music scene in 2007 with the debut of its EP “Life After Love.” The band’s self-titled album was released earlier this year. Low vs Diamond has since appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and was named one of “six acts who are defining pop and rock in 2008″ by Rolling Stone.
Southwest Airlines National Championship Fan Fest presented by the City of Miami is just the start; the Orange Bowl Committee has planned two days of exceptional entertainment, culminating with the 2009 BCS National Championship Game on Thursday. Game day will be an all-day celebration with the Budweiser National Championship Tailgate Party presented by Allstate beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the northwest bus parking lot at Dolphin Stadium. The event will feature entertainment by American pop-rockers Smash Mouth as well as other groups including the Miami Heat Street Band, along with interactive games and entertainment that will build excitement for the big game.
The game starts at 6:30 p.m. Oklahoma time Thursday and will air on FOX (KOKH-25 in Oklahoma City).
-BAM
Friday Featured Track
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down),” from The All-American Rejects’ 2008 album “When the World Comes Down.”
This introspective slow song from Stillwater’s own pop-rock stars has really started to grow on me. Since 2008 definitely had its rocky moments, as we go into 2009, I find the idea of having some sit beside me while the world comes down very comforting.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects perform at the sixth annual Video Game Awards at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, Calif., on Sunday. (Associated Press photo)
Since Stillwater’s own The All-American Rejects released their third album this week, let’s dedicate this week’s Video Spotlight to their music videos, shall we?
I say we shall. And we’ll start with the video to their latest hit, “Gives You Hell,” off the aforementioned new album “When the World Comes Down,” courtesy YouTube. And we’ll see where it goes from there.
“Gives You Hell”:
“Dirty Little Secret”:
“Move Along”:
“It Ends Tonight”:
-BAM
New releases
The All-American Rejects play Nov. 28 at Oklahoma City’s Diamond Ballroom. (Photo by Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)
Stillwater’s own pop-rock stars The All-American Rejects are releasing their third album, “When the World Comes Down,” today. The CD already has a hit single, “Gives You Hell.” I’ve given the first few songs a listen and already have a favorite in the bouncy second track, “Fallin’ Apart.”
In the DVD area, the Don Cheadle-Guy Pearce terrorism thriller “Traitor” is out today. I’ll have an interview with Pearce in the coming days, so keep an eye out for that.
We’ve come to that time of year when the selection of new books, CDs and DVDs start tapering off, since studios and publishers began flooding us with new releases before we could get our Christmas shopping done. So, don’t be surprised if this weekly list looks shorter for a few weeks.
Here is a list of the new CDs and DVDs for the week, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
The All-American Rejects, “When the World Comes Down.”
Fall Out Boy, “Folie A Deux.”
Keyshia Cole, “A Different Me.”
Jamie Foxx, “Intuition.”
Saliva, “Cinco Diablo.”
DVDs
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 6
The Cheetah Girls: One World
Generation Kill
The House Bunny
The Little Mermaid Trilogy
Mamma Mia! The Movie
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Traitor
The Women
-BAM
Weekend Warmup
Joe Andoe
Here is a preview of the weekend of Nov. 28-30:
Arts
- Joe Andoe reading: Oklahoma native, artist and author Joe Andoe will read from his book “Jubilee City: A Memoir at Full Speed” at Untitled ArtSpace at 7 p.m. today. Andoe is a prominent contemporary artist who is being featured, alongside other artists with Oklahoma ties, in the gallery’s exhibit “Roots & Ties II.” His short fiction has been published in numerous literary journals and “Jubilee City,” which was received with critical acclaim, is his first full-length work. Books will be available for sale at the reading. Information: www.1ne3.org.
- “Romeo and Juliet”: See the Reduxion Theatre Company’s production of “Romeo and Juliet,” set in post-World War II Japan, at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at Stage Center, 400 W Sheridan. Information: 651-3191 or www.reduxiontheatre.com.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett joins the crowd at the 2007 Downtown in December Christmas tree lighting.
Family
- Downtown in December: Oklahoma City’s annual slate of downtown holiday activities, including the ice skating rink at the Civic Center, the snow tubing at the Bricktown Ballpark, the lights display at the Myriad Gardens, starts today. The festivities kick off with the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Bricktown at 5:30 p.m. today. Information: www.downtownindecember.com.
- Devon Energy River Parade: The fifth annual parade on the Oklahoma River in downtown starts at 5 p.m. today. Free parking parking, admission, entertainment and fireworks at Wiley Post Park and Regatta Park for part of the fun. Information: www.okcevent.info.
Graham Colton
Music
- Graham Colton: Bring food or cash to donate to the Regional Food Bank to Oklahoma Citysinger-songwriter Graham Colton’s benefit show at 8 n28 tonight at Lyric on the Plaza, 1727 NW 16. Information: Ö (866) 966-1777 or Ö www.grahamcolton.com.
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Get in the holiday spirit when Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno. Information: 235-8288 or www.okfordcenter.com.
- George Jones: Hear country legend George Jones at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9 in Norman. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- The All-American Rejects: Hear AAR at 8 p.m. today at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern. Information: www.diamondballroom.net.
Crooked X
Statewide
- Cancer Sucks Benefit, TULSA: Catch Trip C, Crooked X, Aranda and more at the Cancer Sucks Benefit Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Information: (918) 584-2306 or www.cainsballroom.com.
- Casting Crowns, TULSA: Hear Casting Crowns at 7 p.m. Sunday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: www.bokcenter.com.
- Winterfest, TULSA: Downtown Tulsa and the BOK Center kick off the inaugural Winterfest, a monthlong downtown festival including an outdoor ice skating rink, carriage rides and giant Christmas tree. The ice rink opens at noon today and Salvation Army brass ensemble will christen the BOK Center’s Outdoor Plaza, the hub of Winterfest activities, at 5 p.m. today with a performance. Information: www.bokcenter.com.
- Stoney LaRue, RED ROCK: Hear Stony LaRue at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Paradise Casino, 7500 Highway 177. Information: www.okparadisecasino.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 28
Today’s featured event:
Hear Oklahoma’s own The All-American Rejects at 8 tonight at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern.
The band has a new album, “When the World Comes Down,” due out Dec. 16.
The Oklahoman Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett caught up with the rockers in a recent interview. To read it, click here.
For more information, go to www.diamondballroom.net.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: All-American Rejects on “Today”
The All-American Rejects appeared and performed Tuesday on the “Today” show. They played three songs: their new one, the catchy kiss-off “Gives You Hell”; “Dirty Little Secret,” the chosen song in an online vote; and the irresistably bouncy “Move Along.”
They also gave a shoutout to their Oklahoma roots and talked about their upcoming album “When the World Comes Down,” due out Dec. 16.
AAR will play Friday night at Oklahoma City’s Diamond Ballroom. For more information, go to www.diamondballroom.net.
The Rejects talk about their upcoming album and Oklahoma roots:
AAR plays “Gives You Hell”:
AAR plays “Move Along”:
AAR plays “Dirty Little Secret”:
-BAM
Blake Shelton, AAR, Kristen Chenoweth to play “Today”
Blake Shelton (Associated Press photo)
Three Oklahoma talents will perform on the “Today” show in the next two weeks.
Ada native and Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton will perform Friday morning on the NBC show, which airs on KFOR-4 in Oklahoma City. It’s been a big week for Shelton, who released his fifth studio album, “Startin’ Fires,” on Tuesday and was featured in People magazine’s “Sexiest Man” issue on Wednesday.
On Saturday, look for my interview with Shelton in The Oklahoman, on NewsOK.com and here at BAM’s Blog.
The All-American Rejects
Alt-pop stars and former Stillwater residents The All-American Rejects will play Tuesday on the morning show. The band will perform a song chosen by fans who cast their votes at the ”Today” Web site. AAR’s new album “When the World Comes Down” drops Dec. 16.
Kristen Chenoweth
Broken Arrow native and Broadway/TV/movie star Kristen Chenoweth will perform in the “Today” studio on Dec. 1. Chenoweth recently released her new holiday album “A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas.”
NBC is really good about making video of the “Today” show concerts accessible online, and I’ll be sharing those here on the blog as they become available.
For more on the “Today” concert series, click here.
-BAM
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame honors Rejects, Childers and others
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee honored Wednesday the All-American Rejects with the 2008 Rising Star Award.
Other honorees included country songwriter Chick Rains, who has written hits recored by the Reba McEntire, Wade Hayes, the Oak Ridge boys and more; the late Bob Childers, known as the godfather of Red Dirt music; the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes for the contributions to American Indian music; and the nationally recognized Cherokee National Youth Choir.
For more on Wednesday’s ceremony, check out the story from The Oklahoman‘s Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang by clicking here.
-BAM
All-American Rejects and gravy starring on Denny’s menu
Stillwater alt-rock band the All-American Rejects now have their own menu item at Denny’s.
Not surprisingly, the dish comes covered with gravy.
AAR, Taking Back Sunday, Plain White T’s and Eagles of Death Metal all have culinary concoctions listed on Denny’s new Rockstar Menu. The Rockstar Menu is part of the Denny’s Allnighter Campaign and is served from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The Rockstar Menu items are called The All-American S.O.S., Taking Back Bacon Burger Fries, Plain White Shake and Heart on a Plate.
The All-American S.O.S. includes hashbrowns and a slice of grilled Texas toast topped with a burger patty, cheese, grilled onions and sausage gravy.
According to www.dennysallnighter.com, AAR went to their “local Oklahoman Denny’s kitchen” – I’m assuming they mean the Stillwater Denny’s, though I assure you there is more than one Denny’s in this state – “to create their hometown favorite concoction with a little rock star flavor.”
Over at the AAR Web site, the band writes that their Denny’s dish is inspired by a traditional treat in frontman Tyson Ritter’s family. The treat has been “politely deemed” the S.O.S., as they put it. In the immortal words of Eric Idle, say no more.
I don’t think I’m fond enough of gravy to try the S.O.S., but fellow AAR fans who are hungry at 2 a.m. have that option. (Though as skinny as Tyson Ritter is, I have a hard time believing he’s indulged in too many gravy- and cheese-smothered burgers.)
You can even watch the band cooking up their house special in the Denny’s kitchen in this video, embedded here courtesy YouTube:
-BAM
