Johnny Vatos Boingo Dance Party
Begin Show Rehearsals

Johnny Vatos and the Boingo Dance Party have begun rehearsals for their forthcoming shows at The Galaxy Theater, Santa Ana, CA on May 7, 2011 and at the The 4th & B, in San Diego CA on July 22, 2011.

Rehearsals began last night in the auditorium (studio 1) and the group is in top shape. The music is happening and the guys are having a great time joking and laughing with each other.

Thanks Johnny for thinking about us as your rehearsal space to prepare for the shows.

We’ll have more live reports in the coming weeks and shoot a video of Johnny explaining what he’s got going on with the Boingo Dance Party. You won’t want to miss it.

Learn more about this Southern California “Party Institution”. Read here.

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Call Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA 562.945.1300

Ambrosia Rehearsals

Pictured here: Joe, Shem, Richard, Doug, Burleigh, David. Chris

Friday, Ambrosia locked out “the auditorium” and it was like a bit of heaven dropped by for the day. The guys showed up for rehearsal one at a time which was perfect, cause I got to personally greet Shem, David, Burleigh, Chris, Joe and Doug as they arrived. They were all so gracious and welcomed me into their group.

Like all the seasoned players that rehearse here, set up was a breeze. The guys are completely organized and through planning and practice they know exactly how to set themselves up. Mixing the sound board was cake because they told me exactly what they needed. Preparedness it’s a characteristic I’ve noticed in all the successful people I meet.

When the music began it was like listening to the stereo. Each song alive and breathing, each note precise, each vocal harmony on the button, each song so balanced. I left the door to the hallway open all day so I could enjoy the music.

During rehearsal breaks I really got to meet everyone. The conversations were like the ones I have with my childhood friends, so easy with no pretense. Joe and I even talked about our families from Spain that was very a very cool connection.

Everyone that dropped by noticed the quality of the songs and the musicianship and asked me “who is that in the studio”. For the privacy of the band I always just say “some real professionals aren’t they awesome”.

It’s amazing how fast time passes when you’re listening to good music while you work and I was sad to see the guys leave at the end of the day. It sure seemed like Burleigh could sense this and he assured me they would be back because the guys told him they loved place. He even gave me a hot off the press, one of kind Ambrosia T-Shirt. I was stoked.

Thank you guys for the friendship.

• Joe Puerta — vocals, bass, guitar
  
• Christopher North — keyboards (primarily Hammond organ and Chamberlin), synthesizers, backing vocals
  
• Burleigh Drummond — Drums, percussion, vocals, bassoon
  
• Doug Jackson - guitars, backing vocals
  
• Shem Von Shroeck - vocals, percussion, guitar, bass
  
• David Cutler-Lewis - keyboards, synthesizers

Learn more about Ambrosia at their artist page here.

Messenger Live at the Sunset Room



I had an amazing experience Thursday night. I went to watch Messenger, one of our favorite bands that rehearses’ here, perform at a restaurant/bar called the Sunset Room in Hacienda Heights. I had a blast!

Messenger’s two hour set began with Melinda solo on acoustic guitar performing original material and covering some of her favorite songs. She had the crowding mesmerized.

The band took the stage and the sounds of Messenger filled the club. The crowd loved their music and loud applause ended every song. Patrons got up and started dancing and the place was hopping with energy. Messenger put on a dazzling show.

Watch an exclusive video and learn more about Messenger at their artist page at Hothousestudios.com.

The Sunset Room is a throwback to a better time when music venues didn’t make the band pay to play. Here is the amazing part…the Sunset Room pays the band to be the live entertainment for their patrons. That’s right, they pay the band. They know the value of live music

The Sunset Room offers an upscale ambience with a laid back vibe. They have a well rounded menu and every Thursday emerging bands take center stage and the dinner crowd is there enjoying their meal and the live music. I just loved it.

I’ll be mentioning the Sunset Room to all the bands that rehearse here at Hothouse Studios as the venue to play.

Brazilian Street Carnaval holds Rehearsals at Hothouse Studios


Studio 1 "The Auditorium" at Hothouse Studios

Final rehearsals for the Brazilian Street Carnaval were held yesterday in the auditorium and the studio was overflowing with rhythm and energy.

The drum beats and the dancing is infectious and it spilt over into all the rehearsals here at the studio. Everyone was coming and going with a little dance in their step and telling us what a great rehearsal they had. Positivity is that way.

Join our close friend David de Hilster as he puts on the 13th Annual Brazilian Street Carnaval at the Promenade Downtown Long Beach, Ca on September 19, 2010. Gates open at noon and the event closes at 9pm. This year’s theme is Brasil Moderno.

It’s reasonably priced, it’s all day, there will be two parades, 3pm Rio Style and 5:30pm Tri-Electrio, where everyone can join in. The entire Promenade will be filled with food and cultural booths. A giant stage with have continual music and dance performances. You won’t want to miss this event.

Read the press release below and for detailed info go the Brazilian Street Carnaval web site.




13th Brazilian Street Carnaval Returns to the Downtown Long Beach Promenade September 19, 2010

Long Beach, California, August 18, 2010 – SambaLá Samba School and Contemporanea Drums announce the 13th installment of the Brazilian Street Carnaval taking place on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from noon to 9 pm on the downtown Promenade in Long Beach California. This year's event features a Rio-Style Parade at 3:30 pm, a Trio-Electrico Parade at 5:30 pm, and Brazilian bands, food, and booths all day. Headlining the entertainment for this year's event is SambaLa Samba School, Made in Bahia, Pagode with Cupim. Other groups include Samba 4 U Bloco, Capoeira Centro Sul, Natalia & Daniel, Raiz Brasil Dance Troupe, TMA Music, and Zumba. Proceeds for the event benefit children in Brazil via the charitable organization "Casa do Caminho" located in Rio de Janeiro state. Organizers have rolled back prices to help out in this recession dropping $5 off prices from 2 years ago.

Everyone is invited to parade in one of the two parades that take place on the downtown Promenade in City Place between 5th Street (at Wal-Mart) to Broadway. There is a $10 fee to parade in the Rio-Style parade and costumes are for sale, for rent, or you can wear your own with approval by the parade director. The parade will include 150 dancers, 25 drummers, a float, a sound car, and dozens and dozens of beautiful samba dancers in feathers and bikinis. Costumes are being designed by Long Beach Carnaval Artist Doris de Hilster and choreography by top samba dancer and instructor Valeria Ruggieri, both of who exhibited their skills this year to over 40 million people world-wide in the 2010 Rose Parade in and around the Jack-in-the-Box float.

This year's carnaval theme is "Modern Brazil" (Brasil Moderno) which is features in the Rio-Style parade with the theme song composed and sung by Brazilian Renni Flores with the drum arrangement by Rodney De Assis. The theme song can be found on the internet at song.carnaval.org.

The Trio-Electrico (Bloco) parade requires the purchase the purchase of a T-Shirt along with admission ($25 in total prior to the event, $30 at the gate). Those with the T-Shirt can fall in line behind the sound truck and follow the fun and dance moves. The Bloco T-Shirts were designed by Rio resident Igor Leal who is a carnaval artist and composer living in Rio de Janeiro.

Attendees are invited to bring new small or medium-sized toy for Casa do Caminho charity in Brazil.

General admission is $15 prior, $20 at the gate. Bloco T-shirt admission is $25 prior, and $30 at the gate with VIP all-points passes going for $50 prior and $60 at the gate. There are private tents available for groups of 10 also available at $500 prior to the event. Seniors and students get a $5 discount. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.carnaval.org or by calling 562-508-4504.

For more information call 562-508-4504, email contact@carnaval.org, or visit www.carnaval.org. The Brazilian Street Carnaval takes place on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from noon to 9 pm and will be located at 205 The Promenade North in Long Beach, California 90802.

KTLA Battle of the Bands & Hothouse Rehearsal Studios

Here’s how Hothouse Studios continues to help our musician friends. This time around we entered the concept video we produced for Ronny North’s new single “Tomorrow is Burning” into the KTLA Battle of the Bands Contest.

I went to the submit tab at ktla.com/battle typed in the information, uploaded the video file from my hard drive clicked the submit button and it took around 15 minutes to upload. So wait don’t get inpatient let the file upload.

We are encouraging all our friends to enter this contest. Why not, if you have a video of the band already produced submit it and enjoy the fun. The deadline is this Friday February 5th, 2010.

Read on for the details.

It was easy to do so go ahead submit a video.

Unsigned bands/artists pay attention!

You have a few days to enter to win in the KTLA Battle of the Bands Contest.

More details at:

ktla.com/battle

• In your video, your band must perform an original song that you wrote — you cannot do cover versions.

• You must be a working stage band that performs regularly for audiences that pay admission to see you. No wedding bands.

• You must perform in one of the genres listed in the Official Rules below. Please read the Official Rules below for all details.

KTLA - TV
PRESENTS
"BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2010"
CONTEST1. SPONSOR:
KTLA-TV, 5800 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028

2. CONTEST DATES:
The contest begins at 12:00:01 a.m. PT on January 27, 2010 and ends at 5:00:00 p.m. PT on February 21, 2010. Any entries submitted after 10:00:00 a.m. PT on February 5, 2010 will be disqualified.

3. HOW TO ENTER:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

a. Beginning at 12:00:01 a.m. PT on January 27, 2010, go to www.ktla.com/battle and follow the instructions to complete the entry form and upload your video (including performance of an original song) via online submission. You must provide all information requested on the entry form, including the name of the band, the name and age of each band member, a contact for the band, including name, age (if not already provided) , address, telephone number and valid e-mail address, and the uploading of one digital video showcasing the performance of your band (maximum of one song) (the "Entry Materials"). Video must be in one of the following formats and NO GREATER than 200MB in size:

• avi
• dv
• mov
• qt
• mp4
• mpeg
• 3gp
• asf
• wmv
• mpg
• mp3

The song and video must be the original composition and performance of the band. There will be only one entry per band. You must have a valid e-mail account in order for your entry to be eligible. Videos that are altered or electronically enhanced in order to substantially misrepresent the contestant or the subject matter will not be considered and will be disqualified. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify those entries that (i) contain offensive or inappropriate material, which are deemed by the Sponsors to be unsuitable or (ii) based on third party's claim alleging copyright infringement or a misappropriation of likeness. Entries will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. PT on February 5, 2010. Any entries submitted after 10:00:00 a.m. PT on February 5, 2010 will be disqualified.

b. By entering, the band and all band members warrant and represent that the Entry Materials (i) include an original composition of the band and all rights associated with the Entry Materials are the sole property of the band (or its authorized representative); (ii) do not/will not violate or infringe any intellectual property rights, including but not limited to copyright, trademark/trade name, or contract rights, or any other proprietary rights of any person or entity; (iii) do not name, describe or depict any person or character, dead or fictional, except for the individual or band member entrants; (iv) are the sole and exclusive property of the band (or an individual member of the band who was given authority and rights by the band; and (v) do not defame, libel, or slander anyone or any entity, do not contain offensive, vulgar, obscene ,racist, sexist sexually explicit, harmful or profane content, and in no other way violate any applicable laws, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Entry Materials that do not comply with these Rules shall be disqualified.

c. Incomplete or late entries will be disqualified and KTLA is not responsible for online entries that are lost, late, incomplete, garbled, deleted, or misdirected as a result of technical, internet, server, or other online difficulties. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an entrant, the holder of the e-mail account will be deemed the person who submitted the entry. Limit one entry per band or e-mail address. No member of one band entrant may be a member of any other band entrant. Subsequent entries from the same email address will be deleted. Multiple entries from the same person or band will be disqualified. All entry information becomes the property of Sponsor and will not be returned or its receipt acknowledged. The person listed as the contact for the band shall be the sole contact for purposes of receiving information and notifications in connection with this Contest. That individual will be responsible for all dissemination.

4. ELIGIBILITY:
Only bands not currently under contract with any recording label are eligible. Entries from bands currently under contract with a recording label will be disqualified. This contest is void where prohibited by law. This contest is open only to legal residents of California, and each band member must be 18 years of age or older as of January 21, 2010. Employees of Sponsors and their parent corporations, subsidiaries, or affiliates, and such employees' immediate family or household members are not eligible to enter or win the contest. The band must consist of at least two people that perform regularly for hire at places of public accommodation (e.g., "working stage bands").

Entry Materials should feature music from one of the following genres:

• pop
• rock
• country
• R&B
• reggae
• folk
• rap
• alternative

Entries not featuring video/audio that fits within one of the above-referenced musical genres above will be disqualified, and such determination will be made in Sponsor's sole discretion.

5. PRIZE AND WINNER SELECTION:

a. On February 5, 2010, all eligible entrants will be reviewed by Sponsor. Sponsor will select semi-finalists on the basis of vocals, music ability, stage presentation, and overall entertainment value. The Entry Materials of all semi-finalists will be displayed at www.ktla.com/battle at some time after 10:00 a.m. on February 5, 2010, and before 12:00:00 a.m. on February 8, 2010.

b. Beginning at 12:00:00 a.m. on February 8, 2010, the public will be allowed to go online at www.ktla.com/battle and cast votes for the Entry Materials of the semi-finalists. Voting on semi-finalists will end at 10:00 a.m. on February 11, 2010. The five semi-finalist Entry Materials that receive the highest number of votes during the voting period outlined above will be deemed "Finalists".

c. Between February 15, 2010 and February 19, 2010, the Finalists will have the opportunity to perform on the "KTLA 5 Morning News" which airs from 4:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT. Finalists must be available to appear live on the "KTLA 5 Morning News" on at least one day between the aforementioned dates. Finalists who are unable to appear between the aforementioned dates will be disqualified. Alternate finalists will be chosen from the pool of semi-finalists at the sole discretion of the Sponsor based on the criteria set forth herein. An on-air performance is not guaranteed; Sponsor may preempt or cancel the performance at any time for any reason in its sole discretion, and in such event, no substitute performance opportunity will be provided.

d. Beginning at 5:00:01 a.m. PT on February 15, 2010, the public will be allowed to go online at www.ktla.com/battle and vote for one of the five Finalists . Voting for Finalists will end on February 21, 2010 at 5:00:00 p.m. PT. The Finalist with the highest number of votes will be deemed the "winner". In the event of a tie, KTLA will choose a winner at random from among the finalists who received the highest number of votes.

e. The winner will earn the title "KTLA Battle of the Bands Winner". Sponsor also reserves the right, but is not required, to provide additional products and/or services as part of the prize package at their discretion. Prizes are awarded as is, with no warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, by Sponsor.

The contact person for each entrant agrees to act as the winner's representative and to be responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes associated with the prize, as well as all other costs or expenses associated with the prize, including, but not limited to travel and incidental expenses (including but not limited to travel to the "KTLA 5 Morning News") Odds of becoming a semifinalist depend on the number of entries received and the decision of the Sponsor. Odds of semifinalist becoming a Finalist and Finalist becoming a winner are determined by vote.

Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash, and prize substitution will not be allowed, except at the sole discretion of Sponsors. Sponsors reserve the right, but are not required, to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for the prize in the event the prize listed herein is canceled, postponed or unavailable for any reason.

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

a. By entering, entrants grant to Sponsor an unlimited, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to publish entry submissions (including photos, songs and videos) in any medium now known or hereafter invented, in perpetuity. Entrants and Winners otherwise will retain all rights to their videos, and the publication and/or broadcasting of their videos as part of this Contest will not limit their use and ability to further market the images. Sponsor reserves the right (but is not obligated) to post entry submissions online at www.ktla.com or broadcast the photo on KTLA Channel 5.

b. If for any reason, this Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, tampering, fraud, technical failure, or any other cause which corrupts or threatens the administration, security or integrity of the contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate, modify, or suspend the contest or any portion of the contest. ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE FAIR AND LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE CONTEST. Information submitted in Internet entries, including entrant's name, address, e-mail address, etc., may be used by KTLA TV for marketing or promotional purposes.

c. Sponsor reserves the right to delay contest announcements, postpone or reschedule all or some of the contest events, and/or modify Contest deadlines at its sole discretion. Any such changes will be announced and posted on the Sponsor's Contest website.

d, By participating in this contest, entrants (including all band members) (i) agree to have their bands, band member names, photographs, voices, biographical information, likenesses, and entry submissions (including photographs) used in any and all media for promotional purposes relating to this contest or future similar contests without further compensation or notice, except as prohibited by law; and (ii) represent that they agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges and to release Sponsors, their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, claims , losses, or damages of any kind caused by any prize or resulting from their participation in this contest and their acceptance and use of any prizes won.

7. OFFICIAL RULES AND WINNERS LIST:

For a copy of the Official Rules or the name of the winners, send a self-addressed envelope to "Battle of the Bands 2010", Attn: Creative Services, KTLA-TV, 5800 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028, by April 1, 2010. A list of the band winner's name will be available after the winner has been verified and the prize has been awarded.

OFFICIAL RULES

The 52^nd annual Grammy awards the music industry's premier event will take place live on Sunday, Jan. 31, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.

This year has some amazing nominees. Twitter is filled with predictions and red carpet buzz, with celebrities weighing in on their favorites. Here is a full list of nominees:

Album of the Year
Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Lady Gaga – The Fame
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Taylor Swift – Fearless

Record of the Year
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Song of the Year
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Bon Jovi – “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
The Fray – “Never Say Never”
Daryl Hall & John Oates – “Sara Smile”
MGMT – “Kids”

Best Rap Solo Performance
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Eminem – “Beautiful”
Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
Mos Def – “Casa Bey”

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Brooks & Dunn - “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Zac Brown Band - “Chicken Fried”
Lady Antebellum - “I Run To You”
Rascal Flatts - “Here Comes Goodbye"
Sugarland - “It Happens”

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Black Ice
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Live From Madison Square Garden
Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
U2 – No Line on the Horizon

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele – “Hometown Glory”
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Katy Perry – “Hot N Cold”
Pink – “Sober”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
John Legend – “This Time”
Maxwell – “Love You”
Jason Mraz – “Make It Mine”
Seal – “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”
Stevie Wonder – “All About the Love Again”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen – “Sea of Heartbreak”
Ciara & Justin Timberlake – “Love Sex Magic”
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – “Lucky”
Willie Nelson & Norah Jones – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat – “Breathe”

Best Pop Vocal Album
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough
Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
The Fray – The Fray
Pink – Funhouse

Best Dance Recording
Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – “When Love Takes Over”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Madonna – “Celebration”
Britney Spears – “Womanizer”

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”
Lalah Hathaway – “That Was Then”
Ledisi – “Goin’ Thru Changes”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Anthony Hamilton – “The Point of It All”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Musiq Soulchild – “Sobeautiful”
Pleasure P – “Under”
Charlie Wilson – “There Goes My Baby”

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
India.Arie & Musiq Soulchild – “Chocolate High”
Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige – “Ifuleave”
Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters – “Higher Ground”
Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby – “Love Has Finally Come At Last”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “At Last”
Anthony Hamilton – “Soul Music”
Boney James & Quinn – “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”
Ann Nesby – “Sow Love”
Calvin Richardson – “Woman Gotta Have It

Hothouse Studio Rehearsal Happenings January 2010

On a day to day basis as many as 20 bands use Hothouse Studios for their rehearsals. It's so much fun talking music with everyone and finding out what is going on with them.

Hawkin's Day of Worth was in last night and thanked us for well, to explain it I have to tell you the whole story.

A few weeks back Paul came to me and asked if I would teach him about setting the sound on the mixing board of PA system's. So I explained the purpose of each section of the mixing board and then walked him through the cookbook approach to setting up a live sound mix.

But as I explained to Paul knowing the mixing board is just the beginning of achieving good live music. "Good live music starts with the band" I said. I went on to say "To achieve great live music first the band should arrange their music so each musical part is written to compliment, each of the other player's part. Not overlapping. But like puzzle parts, that fit perfectly together." Get the Picture.

Secondly, I explained "Simply by balancing your instrument volumes, a band gets instantly easier to like when they perform live". "As a listener we like balanced sound." Paul then asked me if I would help them with their volumes. Of course I said, "Remember Hothouse Studios is "Where Music Grows" and we are dedicated to that statement".

So I sat in on their rehearsal and helped each member, Paul Castro (Vocals/Guitar), Chris Segura (Vocals/Guitar), Eric Gutierrez (Drummers), Carlos Contreras (Vocals/Bass), and Juan Martinez (Additional Percussion) set his level.

To their advantage the guys have been rehearsing this way for about 3 to 4 rehearsals and last night as a band they just jumped to the next level. Their music sounds so tight. It's so gratifying when we see and hear bands grow like this. It's what we live for.

Learn more about Hawkin's Day of Worth at their artist profile at HothouseStudios.com. Click here.

This is just one story that illustrates what I'm talking about, when I say "Hothouse Studios Where Music Grows".

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity. Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA 562.945.1300

Reviews of Hothouse Rehearsal Studios

Dan C.'s Review

Dan C.
Whittier, CA

1/25/2010
Great Rehearsal studio that has good equipment and sound, fair pricing with incentives and clean.

Brian S.'s Review

Brian S.
Pasadena, CA

1/25/2010
I have been to many rehearsal studios and this one is by far the best. All of the equipment works great and the staff always makes sure you have what you need to have a productive rehearsal.

Victor C.'s Review

Victor C.
Pasadena, CA

11/24/2009 6 photos
This is one of the best rehearsals around, not just because I know the owner, but because everyone is treated with special care. You need something while you are Hothouse Studios, just say the word and one of the managers on duty will jump all over it. If you have never been to hothouse you will want to make a point to check it out. practice your vocals, go crazy with the awesome drum kits, hold a class, do a photo shoot, this place is the leading multipurpose facility for the entertainment industry, and you never know what famous person might be walking the halls. It's the best kept secret!
yelp: Victor C. 11/24/2009 6 photos First to Review

Hothouse Studio Rehearsal Happenings
January 22, 2010

From the chronicles of Kirk - Hothouse Studio Manager.

Wow, huh?

So Edward C's brother, Ronaldo came down to watch Ed's band rehearse and was so pleased by what he saw and experienced that he dropped $400 in prepaid rehearsal minutes on the rehearsal phone. Wow, huh?

We talked for a bit and what he told me was that not only is he a great fan and supporter of music, but he was extremely happy to see his little brother doing something fun, safe and non-get-yourself-into-trouble-ish, in a fun, safe and nurturing environment, and that he wanted to help that continue by prepaying rehearsal time for his brother. If only more older brothers were so encouraging.

Thank you Ronaldo, and be assured Hothouse Studios will continue to provide Eddie, Damien, and Andrew a safe haven to develop their music.

This is another story illustrating what we mean, when we say Hothouse Studios "Where Music Grows".

This is what we do here at Hothouse Studios on a day to day basis. Ask any band who uses our facility and they'll tell you about how well we treat musicians.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career. Enter the Band Toolbox here.

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity. Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA 562.945.1300

Jay-Z and U2, Plus Springsteen and 100-Plus Stars Join MTV’s Haiti Benefit

Jay-Z will team up with Bono and the Edge for MTV’s “Hope for Haiti” television special, airing commercial-free this Friday, January 22nd on MTV, VH1, CNN and every major network. Jay will perform with the U2 duo at a London venue for the special, and their collaboration has generated a new song, produced by Swizz Beatz, which will go on sale via iTunes in the near future, MTV reports.

Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Shakira and Rihanna have been added to the “Hope for Haiti” event, which will be co-hosted by George Clooney, Anderson Cooper and Wyclef Jean. Dave Matthews Band, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Sting, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige will also perform on the show; all proceeds raised will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti Foundation. According to MTV, more than 100 stars have also signed on for the special.

Talking about U2’s partnership with Jay-Z, the Edge told Ireland’s 2FM, “Bono got a call from a producer, Swizz. He and Jay-Z wanted to do something for Haiti. So, Bono came up with the phrase on the phone, and last night we wrote a song — finished, recorded, and sent it back to them.” Jay-Z previously teamed with U2 during November’s MTV European Music Awards, when he added a verse to “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and lead a sing-along of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up” with Bono.

Tascam Review



Hi this is Richard with Hothouse Studio TV. We are here at NAMM and did a little review on the latest TASCAM hand held audio recorders. I remember when something like this was just a dream for all us early music recorders. Enyoy and check back. www.hothousestudios.com

Wheels of Fire performs at the Alabama Tail Gate Party prior to BCS Championship Game

Alabama meets Texas for the 2010 BCS National Championship on Jan. 7 in the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. Like any huge event, there is much more to this day than just the game. There's the pre-game tailgate party.

Our good friends Hector Gonzalez owner of Rampart Records and Robert “Bobcat” Cook have put together an all star group of musician named the group Wheels of Fire and will be performing at the official Alabama Tail Gate Event being held at the Brookside Golf Club today.

This is a huge event and Wheels of Fire will be performing for over 1,250 people. This event is so big the University of Alabama Marching Band with Cheerleaders will perform during Wheels of Fire’s intermission. Now that is enormous.

Rehearsals here at Hothouse Studios have been going great and the guys are going to show the people from Alabama how California Rocks n Rolls.

This is an all-star super group with some of the finest musicians and some of our oldest and dearest friends.

Wheels of Fire band members are:

Hector A. Gonzalez – Musical Contractor and band leader – Fender Baritone Guitar.
Robert “Bobcat” Cook – Asst. band leader – Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
Luis “Chia” Lizarraga – Background Vocals and Hand Percussion
Phil Salvail – Bass Guitar and Lead Vocals
Tim Sullivan – Lead Guitar and Vocals
Rick Downings – Synthesizer Guitar and Vocals
Johnny (V) Villa – Drums
Ricky Rodriquez – Congas
Jim “The Hawk” Hamilton – Equipment Manager (Motor Home Driver)
Selim Osorio – Band Roadie


Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles with helpful advice on decisions facing musicians seeking a career in music. Enter the Band Toolbox here.

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity. Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Song Arrangement Rehearsal
Crucial to Successful Live Performance



There are various types of rehearsals and a song arrangement rehearsal I believe is crucial to the success of a live performance and a solid recording.

As a band, forging ahead with a new song is great until you realize that you aren’t 100% sure you know what the other members are doing. It’s even more frustrating when you realize the song is good but is lacking something to make it great. By scheduling a song arrangement rehearsal, a band can work out these things in a more controlled environment. Read the entire article here.

Believe, Decide, Take Action, Get Results

You are a band, a group of musicians. The laws of nature say; “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Don’t fight Mother Nature.

Substitute the word “song” for “whole” and you get “the song is greater than the sum of its parts”. When the song sounds great each member of the group will shine within it.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career. Enter the Band Toolbox here.

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity. Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA

The Sky’s the Limit for 2010 as
Rare “Blue Moon” brings us the New Year.



Let this rare New Year event
Be your catalyst to making
2010 your best year ever!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given to us
To live each day with zest . . .
To grow daily and live at
Our highest and our best!

We have the opportunity
Each day to be part of,
To pray for peace, to love each other
And to get into action!”

Peace, Joy and Prosperity to You in 2010
Your friends at Hothouse Studios
Dedicated to Serving You!

Don, Kirk and Richard

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA

Royal Pirates Live at Hothouse Studios

Our good friend James Lee is in a new band named Royal Pirates and these guys have got it going. They release their new music as videos. I couldn’t agree more!!! For 2 years now I’ve been suggesting to bands to release their new music as videos as an alternative to spending all their cash on studio recordings.

Here’s what the Royal Pirates are doing, very cool, smart and cost effective. They came in Tuesday recorded drums, guitar, bass and vocals and shot a video while doing so. Came out good I think.
For more information on Royal Pirates take a look at their Hothouse artist profile Royal Pirates

Setting up at the studio


Performance video


For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA 562.945.1300

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year
From Hothouse Studios

This holiday season all of us here at Hothouse Studios want to celebrate and share our peace and joy with everyone by wishing you and all those you love the greatest holiday season ever, full of good cheer and thanksgiving.

Our wish would be that people find the simplest of things to do for other people throughout the year to make everyone a bit happier.

We are thankful to all of you who supported us throughout the years and those who continue to stand beside us.

We are grateful for your allegiance and look forward to our continuing relationship.

As always we are committed to providing you with our time honored service and support.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous new year.

From your friends at Hothouse Studios
All the Best!!!

Sincerely,
Don, Kirk and Richard

Music Opportunity for Hothouse Studio Bands

Our Good friends over at AirPlay Direct are looking for artist / bands for a Harley-Davidson commercial.

This Harley-Davidson commercial /video opportunity is for all AirPlay Direct members. So if you're not member join up. Their client is producing television commercials / video for Harley Davidson and is looking for artists / bands to submit music that would fit this opportunity.

Two heavy hitters in the music video world are shooting a rebellious, slice of life video for Harley's Dark Custom line of bikes. They are looking for a cool track to match the picture. They are finishing: a 2-5 min video, a: 60 and two: 30’s with cutdowns.

They have available $6k per side (Master / Publishing) $12,000 total, and they need to license the commercial TV spots for 1 year, broadcast TV and cable, industrial, Internet, dealer for tagging, and jumbotron (second year option at 110%). With 2 years for the Video usage including, but not limited to, Internet, dealerships, industrial and jumbotron usage.

Here are some bands with the sound they are looking for:
Black Angels (think "Bloodhounds on My Trail") Tame Impala (think "Half Full Glass of Wine") White Denim, Black Keys, Wolfmother, White Stripes, Patrick Sweaney, Darker My Love, and 13th Floor Elevators.

You could say that they're looking for current bands that sound like:
Free
Spooky Tooth
Morphine

Submission is FREE for all AirPlay Direct members. If you are interested, submit your DPK to this music call by logging into your artist account and clicking on "Resources" from the left-hand navigation. Then click "View Opportunities" to view all open music calls. Open this music call and click on the "Submit your DPK to this music call" at the bottom of the call.

THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THIS MUSIC CALL IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4TH @ 5PM PST.

For more information on AirPlay Direct, please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com

Happy Thanksgiving
Hothouse Studio Blog Readers.

There is plenty to be grateful for on a daily basis,
but on Thanksgiving Day
each of us especially thinks about how blessed we really are.

The Hothouse has been blessed and we know why. It's YOU,
all the incredible people in the Hothouse studio community.

With our deepest gratitude we thank all of YOU
the superbly talented artist and bands that fill the studios
with your magnificent music.
We wish you all a successful life.

Hothouse Studios continues our commitment to Giving You,
the most creative, friendly and professional rehearsal facility in the world,

The Staff at Hothouse Rehearsal Studios
wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday.
Thank you for your business!

Don, Kirk and Richard

For an First Rate
Audio Video Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
"Where Music Grows"

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA

The Beatles RockBand and Remastered Music Catalogue (9-9-09)

They revolutionized the rock world. Now the Fab Four, is set to do it again.

Nearly 50 years after the first wave of Beatlemania, the album charts over the coming weeks are expected to be swamped with the 14 revamped albums, while the group is also expected to top the video game charts with the newly developed 'Beatles Rock Band'.

Their new release, The Beatles: Rock Band, is in the video-game arena and hits stores around the world today Wednesday September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), reaching out to a new generation of music fans while simultaneously luring baby boomers into the addictive waters of gaming.

For the Beatles music lover, digitally remastered stereo and mono versions of The Beatles entire back catalogue, goes on sale today Wednesday September 9, 2009 (9-9-09) and is likely to put the legendary quartet back atop the music charts.

Music Catalogue

The Beatles music catalogue is being issued in two versions – (1) stereo mixes of each album, which are being sold boxed or individually, and (2) a collector’s box of the band’s recordings in mono. Experts have polished the sound and enhanced the quality of the original recordings and have been processed digitally.

It is the first time the releases have been tweaked since they were first issued on CD in 1987. The remasters are designed to appeal to not only those who want to upgrade their collections, but also potential younger fans whose interest has been sparked by classics from their parents or grandparents’ albums, or from bands who have name-dropped their influence.

Even music magazine NME, which is aimed at the younger end of the market, is being issued in 13 special Beatles-themed covers this week.

One area which the band is still to enter is the download market. Despite ongoing discussions with computer giant Apple, The Beatles’ music is still not available to buy from iTunes which means fans will have to buy the albums, rather than buy songs on a track-by-track basis.

However internet rumors continue to circulate that a deal will soon be completed.

The Beatles: RockBand

Made through a collaboration between The Beatles, MTV and Harmonic Music Systems, the game ingeniously welds the song list into a living history of The Beatles and offers players many more options than previous Rock Band iterations.

From the intimacy of the Cavern Club to the screaming adulation of Beatlemania at New York's Shea Stadium, the Beatles simulation game allows players to become John, Paul, George or Ringo and embark on some of the seminal moments and songs that defined the band's career and elevated them to the status of rock gods.

The game uses on-screen indicators that players must follow to reproduce The Beatles' legendary music. If a green gem appears on screen, players must press a green gem key on their controllers to score points and eventually win awards.

Compared to other versions of Rock Band and the rival music game Guitar Hero, where missed cues are punished by screeching feedback and painful dissonance, there are fewer penalties for botching the notes on The Beatles: Rock Band. That's a gesture to the legions of boomers who are expected to take their first baby steps into the otherwise dizzying world of new-fangled video games.

The 45-song game sells for about $60 while the premium bundle - including replica plastic guitars, drums and microphones - was expected to be popular despite its $250 price tag.

Here is an overview of each remastered album:

1. Please Please Me – “ah, one, two, three, farrrr ...” counts Paul McCartney as the band open their first album with I Saw Her Standing There in 1963. Much of the album was recorded in one day and it was largely the live act of the time. Twist And Shout was left to the end of the session because of the throat-shredding effect it had on Lennon’s voice. It featured the famed cover shot of the band looking down from a balcony at EMI’s Manchester Square offices in London (recreated in 1969).

2. With The Beatles – Recorded just four months after their debut and featuring George Harrison’s first composition (Don’t Bother Me), With The Beatles contained six covers and standards, like its predecessor. Included is the track I Wanna Be Your Man, which Lennon and McCartney first wrote and donated to the Rolling Stones.

3. A Hard Day’s Night – The first album written entirely by Lennon and McCartney and featuring 12-string guitars and acoustics to enrich the sound. Written as the soundtrack to a Dick Lester-directed film of the same name, with the title coming from a “Ringo-ism”.

4. Beatles For Sale – By now the band’s lives were increasingly hectic, with touring, filming, travelling and recording – and such was the pressure that work began on this album just six days after the final session for A Hard Day’s Night. As such, the band were again relying on a number of covers with Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly tracks included. They were as worn out as they look on the Hyde Park cover shot.

5. Help! – Soundtrack to the second Beatles film with seven of the tracks used in the completed caper. Among the notable tracks are Ticket To Ride and You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, as well as Yesterday which featured only one Beatle, Paul McCartney, plus a string quartet. Although the cover concept was to spell HELP in semaphore, it was thought the arm positions did not look good enough so the album actually spells NUJV.

6. Rubber Soul – The album which many see as the beginning of the ’interesting Beatles’, as the band play with new sounds. Norwegian Wood saw George Harrison tinkering with a sitar, while If I Needed Someone features a Byrds-y jangle and was one of a number of tracks with a country-rock feel. The cover also shows how the band were embracing psychedelia with the bubble writing and stretched photo giving a mind-expanding feel.

7. Revolver – Often seen as a contender for the band’s greatest album. After a much-needed break from constant demands, The Beatles were in full experimental flow. Song structures were becoming stranger and stranger, nowhere more so than on Tomorrow Never Knows with its thudding rhythm, backwards tape effects and total disregard for the verse-chorus approach. She Said She Said was based on an LSD trip the band took with actor Peter Fonda. Elsewhere, opening track Taxman was George Harrison’s response to the band finding themselves in the ’super tax’ bracket.

8. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – Probably the defining album of 1967, recorded after the band had quit touring and had begun their ’studio years’. With a lavish cover masterminded by pop artist Peter Blake, for which he was only ever paid about £200, the band had a loose concept about the titular group although this is not reflected in many of the songs. The band spent more than four months in Abbey Road working on the tracks, ranging from the touching She’s Leaving Home to Harrison’s sitar-drenched Within You Without You. The highpoint is A Day In The Life – essentially a Lennon song welded to a McCartney song with an incredible George Martin-scored orchestral build – and with one of the most famous final chords of all time.

9. Magical Mystery Tour – Originally a two-disc EP to accompany a BBC Christmas special, with just six songs, about a bus adventure with a nod to Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters; it was later expanded to an album in 1976 with added tracks from the same period which were not on albums, such as Hello Goodbye, Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane. Lennon’s Lear-inspired nonsense song I Am The Walrus later became a live fixture at Oasis’s gigs.

10. The Beatles – commonly referred to as ’The White Album’ due to the plain sleeve, the album captures not only a prolific period of song-writing as the band decamped to Rishikesh, India, but also a troubled few months as tensions within the band boiled over. Ringo Starr quit for a while leaving Paul to drum on some tracks including Back In The USSR. Across a double album, it contains the broadest stylistic range of any Beatles recording including the proto-heavy metal of Helter Skelter and pastiches such as Piggies and sound collage of Revolution 9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps also broke new ground by introducing a featured soloist on to their recordings with Eric Clapton playing lead guitar.

11. Yellow Submarine – Another soundtrack, this time to the animated movie which, although nominally starring the band, was voiced by actors (including former Coronation Street actor Geoffrey Hughes). Some songs had been released before including the title track, while others such as Only A Northern Song and Hey Bulldog were heard for the first time. The album’s second side was an orchestral score composed by producer George Martin.

12. Abbey Road – The last album recorded by the band, but due to the band’s release schedule, not the last to be issued. Contains Harrison’s masterful love song Something, as well as one of the least popular Beatles songs Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. The second side contains a 16-minute medley of song fragments which were pieced together culminating with The End, which was prophetically the last song recorded by all four Beatles. The famed cover features the band walking across the zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road studios.

13. Let It Be – After the squabbles and brief departures of The White Album, The Beatles wanted to make a back-to-basics album, Get Back, where they would rehearse and record together in early 1969. But creative tensions meant the original plan was abandoned and they moved from Twickenham Studios to their own Apple studios to finish recordings. Scheduling conflicts pushed the release into 1970 and the tapes were then given to producer Phil Spector to finish. The album did not appear until May 1970, by which point the band had split. It included One After 909, a song which had been kicking around since the early 1960s, as well as two of McCartney’s most anthemic tracks Let It Be and The Long And Winding Road (although he was never happy with the over-indulgent treatment Spector gave them and erased the producer’s efforts for a new version Let It Be ... Naked in 2003).

14. Past Masters – A compilation of the band’s singles (a-sides and b-sides) and alternate version which had not already been featured on albums, put together to allow fans to have an overview of almost the entire Beatles’ catalogue. The new CD version is a double album bringing together the albums which were previously released in two volumes.

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The Auditorium pka Studio 1

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1. Call 562.945.1300 book your rehearsal for Monday (9-7-09)
2. Mention this Blog
3. You get a $3 per hour discount.

Auditorium - $19/hr - Regular rate is $22/hr.
Studio A - $17/hr - Regular rate is $20/hr.
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Studio C - $13/hr - Regular rate is $16/hr.
Studio M - $15/hr - Regular rate is $18/hr.

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To Reserve Your Rehearsal.

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Your Frequent Rehearsal Program at
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Next time you're in ask us for your
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Here's how it works...
Rehearse 7 times and the 8th rehearsal is FREE.
It's that simple.

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