The Amygdaloids

The Rock-It Science Festival will bring together eight outstanding--and noted--scientists and academics who share a second career as musicians, along with six additional performers with international exposure and a great appreciation for science.

Dr. Joseph LeDoux conceived the idea for this unique event, which serves as the closing event for the Sensation to Emotion Conference on March 2 and 3. LeDoux is a professor of neuroscience at New York University who not only has pioneered study of the brain's mechanisms for emotion and memory and is the author of The Emotional Brain and The Synaptic Self, but is also guitarist and lead vocalists of rock band The Amygdaloids, who will be performing at Rock-It Science. The Amygdaloids line-up also includes three other NYU scientists: neuroscientist Daniela Schiller, PhD candidate Nina Galbraith Curley, and Environmental Sciences professor and author Tyler Volk.

The Rock-It Science Festival will start rockin' at 6:30 p.m. on March 3 at the Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th Street in New York. Australian Go-Go dancer and variety show star Anna Copa Cabanna will emcee the event, promising an interesting and humorous evening. Rufus Wainwright will highlight an evening that will also include musician, writer and record producer Lenny Kaye, who is the long-time collaborator of poet-rocker Patti Smith.

Other guest artists at Rock-It Science include Grammy-nominated songwriter and international recording artist Gary Lucas, and Peter Holsapple, an acclaimed musician, songwriter and side man who is co-leader of the legendary dBs, and has performed extensively with R.E.M. and Hootie & The Blowfish. American folk-rock duo The Kennedys, jazz/cabaret performer Pamela Luss, acclaimed songwriter Steve Wynn (of the Dream Syndicate and the Miracle Three), and Stuart Chatwood, previously the bassist and keyboard player for platinum rock band The Tea Party, also make the Rock-It Science lineup.

Rufus Wainwright performed in NJ on Friday, and has another NYC show coming up on March 4th.

Dee Snider was Santa this past Christmas.

The Db's are playing the R.E.M. tribute at Carnegie Hall in March.

More info on the Rock-It Science Festival below...

Continue reading "Rufus Wainwright, Dee Snider, NYU academics & others playing for science @ Highline Ballroom"

photos by Tim Griffin

Mick Foley & Dee Snider

Lita Ford

Lita Ford, Mini Kiss, a statue of Ozzy Osbourne, and Mick Foley (wrestler Mankind) were among the guests who showed up to help Twisted Sister celebrate Christmas at two shows at Nokia Theatre in NYC over the weekend. After Mini Kiss made like reindeer and pulled Santa Dee Snider on stage in his sleigh, the band broke into a set full of Christmas songs and true-to-form versions of their classics like 'I Wanna Rock' and 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. And like she does on Twisted Sister's Christmas album, and in the new official video, Lita Ford sang a 'dedicated to the troops' version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with the band. A great live video of that, and tons of pictures, below...

Continue reading "Twisted Sister's Christmas show w/ Lita Ford & Mini Kiss @ Nokia Theater, NYC - pics & video"