Elizabeth Doyle hails from South Dakota. She was brought up around all kinds of music from an early age, thanks to a truly musical family. Three of her four grandparents were professional musicians, (including one radio performer and singing cowboy). Her father had played saxophone and clarinet in the Navy during World War II and her mother was an avid singer and pianist. Both parents were fans of big band music, jazz, and the show tunes of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.

Doyle began playing piano at age six and began writing her own songs soon thereafter. In high school, the influences of such female singer/pianists as Carmen McRae and Dorothy Donegan began to take hold and Doyle decided to pursue a degree in music (and French) at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. During a foreign study stay in France, Doyle was lucky enough to have one piano lesson with the legendary Nadia Boulanger.

In recent years, Doyle has become a fixture on the Chicago music scene, with appearances at some of city’s most celebrated rooms, including the Fairmont’s Metropole, The Coq d’Or at the Drake Hotel and a six year run at Chicago’s famous Pump Room. A devotee of the Great American Songbook, Doyle has created a number of themed cabaret shows including, Dakota Blonde: The Lyrics of Peggy Lee, Some Like It Hot: The Hits of Marilyn Monroe, and the show with which she recently made her New York debut, Hollywood Blondes, a tribute to the music sung by some of Hollywood’s most famous (and, of course, blond) leading ladies. Doyle has also written and composed music for several original full length musicals with such titles as Fat Tuesday, Duo and Alice in Analysis.

Doyle’s latest CD is Time Flies, a collection of lesser heard standards and three original tunes as performed by Doyle and some of Chicago’s best bassists. It’s a follow up to Doyle’s self-titled debut.

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The Sound of a Generation

Nirvana
Album: Nevermind
Song: Lithium

Beck
Album: Odelay
Song: Where It’s At

Public Enemy
Album: Fear of a Black Planet
Song: Fight the Power

Buzzcocks
Album: Operator’s Manual
Song: Sixteen

The Byrds
Album: Sweetheart of the Rodeo [Bonus Tracks]
Song: You Ain’t Going Nowhere

Soulja Boy Tell Em
Album: Souljaboytellem.com
Song: Crank That (Soulja Boy)

M.I.A.
Album: Arular
Song: Bucky Done Gun

Kelly Clarkson
Album: Breakaway [Bonus CD]
Song: Since U Been Gone

Okkervil River
Album: The Stage Names
Song: Plus Ones

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Tilly and The Wall have released new details about their forthcoming new album, the enigmatically ‘titled’ ‘O’. The follow-up to critically-acclaimed ‘Bottoms of Barrels’ is going to be pre-released in the UK from June, with the official release arriving late September on Moshi Moshi. The official Moshi version of ‘O’ will feature different artwork, plus an extra track, ‘Beat Control’.

The album, produced by the acclaimed Mike Mogis, technically has no title. It could be called ‘O’ because its cover is just that: an oval-shaped frame for the artwork that will go inside of it. As a band who surround themselves not only with artistic friends, but also artistic fans, Tilly and the Wall have invited everyone in their community to contribute to the cover art for their record. In the States, ‘O’ will have limited edition runs of handmade prints available by different artists that will act as the record’s cover, giving the band’s fans a unique piece of art for both their album and their walls. Each month, the record will have a different cover or fans can create their own.

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Formed by erstwhile Simian front man Simon Lord and former Wiseguy Theo Keating, The Black Ghosts have been steadily establishing their unique vision of black hearted beats and eldritch tales with a series of superlative club cuts and their lauded ‘Mixtape’ compilation which recently gained high praise from all quarters, including Compilation of the Month accolades in Mixmag and DJ Magazine. Now with the advent of their eponymous debut artist album on July 7th the pair are about to reveal the underbelly of their ethereal electronic soul. Built from the foundations of their pointedly pure dance floor approach, the Black Ghosts add in a host of new elements with Simon’s disquieting lyrical narrative coating Theo’s Machiavellian pop progressions, creating a set that slips effortlessly between visceral electro noir and psychotic torch songs.

Accompanied by a series of bespoke films, one for each track of the album and a some truly striking artwork that evokes the very spirit of The Black Ghosts, Simon Lord and Theo Keating’s debut outing is an all-consuming affirmation of their ghetto-gothic aesthetic.

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Mumford & Sons release their debut EP, “Lend Me Your Eyes“, on 7th July through Chess Club Recordings.

It is the presence, the joy and the unbelievable talent of Mumford & Sons that stops people in their step. They represent a youthful spirit and communicate it with an intensity and integrity wise beyond their years.

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The Michael Bay actioner beat stiff competition from I Am Legend, Pirates of the Caribbean: World’s End, Juno, Superbad and National Treasure: Book of Secrets to claim the trophy, which comes in the shape of a golden tub of popcorn.

The movie’s leading lady Megan Fox, recently named sexiest woman in the world by the readers of FHM magazine, accepted the award on behalf of the film, the sequel to which begins shooting this year.

Teen comedy Superbad had been the favourite to sweep the board, having accrued five nominations, including for best movie.

The film’s leading men, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, were up for the best male performance gong as well as being nominated in the best newcomer category alongside their co-star Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

However, Will Smith claimed the male award for his performance as the last man, Robert Neville, in I Am Legend while High School Musical star claimed the breakthrough prize for his role as Link Larkin in Hairspray.

Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman won the best kiss award for their clinch in Step Up 2 The Streets while the best fight gong was claimed by Never Back Down stars Sean Faris and Cam Gigandet for their mixed martial arts clash.

Johnny Depp was a surprise winner in the best comedic performance category and also took the best villain prize for his turn as the demon barber of Fleet Street in Sweeney Todd.

The winners of the MTV Movie awards are:Best movie
Transformers

Best male performance
Will Smith - I Am Legend

Best female performance
Ellen Page - Juno

Best comedic performance
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: World’s End

Best villain
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd

Best breakthrough performance
Zac Efron - Hairspray

Best kiss
Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman - Step Up 2 The Streets

Best fight
Sean Faris vs Cam Gigandet - Never Back Down

Best summer movie so far
Iron Man

Generation award
Adam Sandler

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Italo-disco has boasted a major role in dance music heritage since it first surfaced. New York and Chicago clubland held a close affinity as Italo productions sat perfectly alongside early boogie and Latino freestyle at feted spots like Paradise Garage, The Funhouse and The Music Box. Labels like Emergency regularly licensed tracks and cemented a presence Stateside. The music’s roots can be traced back to early Moroder and Cerrone and, later, Mauro Malavasi’s productions for Change and BB&Q Band, a spacious, tight production style that still sparkles with its electro touches and warm, jazzy arrangements.

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The concert at Anfield football stadium, home of Premier League club Liverpool, will receive support from the Kaiser Chiefs and the Zutons.

Foo Fighters star Dave Grohl is also expected to make an appearance. However, the McCartney told the Liverpool Echo former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr would not be taking part, saying “that was never going to be on the cards”.

The concert will raise money for the charity McCartney set up - Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (Lipa) – and the Nordoff-Robbins music charity.

McCartney told the BBC: “About 12 years ago when we were looking to start Lipa, Liverpool was a bit on its knees - it was not in good shape at all.

“But now there’s quite a resurgence.”

He promised to play all his hits, and said he would also throw in a few surprises.

McCartney added he has not been to Anfield before, as he is an Everton fan, but said he loved both teams.

Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s widow, said she will be attending the concert. Speaking at an exhibition of Lennon’s work in the city, she said: “Of course I am going to be there. I’m looking forward to it.”

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