Concert Review: Phillip Phillips Takes Me Away

All he does is win, win, win...

(WEST PALM BEACH, FL) So, the lovely and talented Mrs Poo and I went to see our boy Phillip Phillips in concert with John Mayer at the Cruzan Amphitheater this past Sunday night, and what a kick ass show it was.

Well, that is aside from the ass raping we got from the Cruzan vendors charging $18 for Pina Coladas and $11 for beer. Thank God I had my trusty flask, lest I be writing this review from a local homeless shelter.

Anyway, back to the show.

Chillaxing in lawn seating has always been one of my favorite atmospheres for a concert. Sitting under the stars, enjoying tropical summer breezes with a good beer buzz,, thick plumes of gange providing a nice contact high, the smell of freshly cut grass mixed with jasmine providing a natural high... ahhh, it don't get no better than that, people.

Phillip seems to feel the same way, as he endearingly told us during his 55 minute set about how last time he was at the venue he was with us in the lawn, and can't believe he's now on the stage performing for us. Humble dude, and it seems very genuine.

Of course, he has plenty of temptations to be cocky, what with two multi-platinum singles (Home & Gone, Gone, Gone) from his newly certified platinum debut album, World From The Side Of The Moon. Thing is, he's still the "don't care do yaaaa" guy he was called back on his winning run on American Idol, and I highly doubt that grounded, regular guy will ever go away.

Speaking of Idol, make no mistake: Phillips has utterly OBLITERATED the bubble. In fact, my favorite story of the night personified this with an exclamation point. You see, in the beer line during the intermission after his set, a group of big, 20-something drunk guys were all singing Home together, beer cans aloft, and then high fiving each other about how Phillips ROCKS!!

Mayer wasn't kidding when he said Phillips blasted out of the Idol bubble in record time back on the opening night of the tour. I guarantee those beer line drunk dudes had no clue Phillips was ever on American Idol, and certainly weren't giggling because he was cute.

Fact is, the P2 flat out rocks the house live, and those who've bought his album, especially the Target Deluxe version, understand how far Phillips' style is from being just a Mumfordian folk picker. He's stylistically more of a blend between Bruce Springsteen in his prime (yes, I wore my "The New Boss" Phillips t-shirt to the show), Dave Mathews (with more growl and snarl), a rocked out Eminem and Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band.

What was interesting to see is how into him the crowd was for an opening act. Usually, openers play before sparsely filled stands to a mingling crowd that hardly notices them. At best, they are given a smattering of polite applause. By the end of the set, the crowd is usually anxious for them to finish so they can see the headliner.

That was NOT the case at this show. Phillips and his band commanded the crowd's attention. People walking in to get situated were stopping to see what was going on, because the crowd was REALLY into him. Even in the casual lawn area, all eyes and ears were on Phillips. Very few minglers not paying attention, and if they were it wasn't for long. The "Mayer-Stan" girl in her very early 20's sitting next to us had never heard of Phillips, and when I saw her head bouncing along to his songs I asked her what she thought of him. She said, "I didn't know him before, but I guarantee I'll be getting to know him now. He's really good."

For me it was a perfect song list, opening with an energized Get Up Get Down, a KILLER, crowd pleasing version of Man On The Moon (why is this song not a single?), his very popular single Gone, Gone, Gone, his brand new (but secret) single Where We Came From (with a great, jazz jam finish), his now famous rock mashup of rap songs Lollipop/Lose Yourself/All I Do Is Win, and my favorite song of them all, Take Me Away, which he just SMOKED!

BTW, little ol' Kenny Poo twitter requested Phillip play Take Me Away, a song he doesn't perform live very often, and he came through for me. No clue if PP did so with Poo in mind, but I couldn't be happier that he did.

Of course, he finished with Home, which is I think the new National Anthem, or at least it should be. EVERYONE knows it and loves it, no matter how old or young. I can't think of another modern song with so many people of so many ages and backgrounds who love it and know every word.

After Phillip was done, we really enjoyed John Mayer's show and came away thinking the time is coming soon that Phillip will be headlining venues like these. Perhaps next spring/summer, when his 2nd album is released, he'll get to do a major venue headliner tour.

If so, maybe he can have my favorite jazz and blues rock babe, Miss Haley Reinhart, open for him? She just rocked out the Buffalo Grove music festival fronting one of Chicago's best blues/rock bands, Midnight, (which happens to be her parents band), and they really impressed (see: Haley and the Reinharts Rocked The Grove). Also, she already opened for P2 at a Hard Rock gig last year, and should have her new EP/album out by the spring. Her sexy, down to earth style would perfectly mesh with Phillip, so consider this a seed planted.

To finish up, I'll post two videos from the show to check out, one of which I self recorded from the lawn (Take Me Away) and the other a partial of his unbelievable mashup.

 Poo out!

Haley And The Reinharts Rock the Grove

My girl Haley Reinhart performed with her family band "Midnight" at the Buffalo Grove Days music festival near her hometown of Wheeling, Illinois last night. I wasn't there (it's a bit far from South Florida), but many of her most devoted fans (Haliens) from far and wide were in attendance, and generously uploaded videos of several performances from her set.

Now, I know what some people are thinking. I've read it on message boards and twitter, and it goes something like this: "Performing with her parents at small, local summer festival? What the hell happened to her. This is nothing to write about, it's just pathetic."

Well, pardon my French, but fuck you. You're making a snap judgment about her and this gig without knowing what the fuck you're talking about, so STFU and GTFO, you hateful, spiteful, negative, nasty, worthless piece of shit.

Too much? Sue me.

Haley's family band unquestionably brings out the best in her. Better than Casey, better than her other full band incarnations, better than the Idol band, and better than everything else she's done with a band, period, end of story.

Why was she so good with them? What made it different or special? It goes beyond nurture and love, also has a lot to do with rehearsal, repetition and preparation.

Haley's parents have had their own band for over 30 years, and are consummate professionals. Her father, Harry, is an expert blues rock guitarist whose musical influence on Haley cannot be overstated. Her mother, Patti, has always been the lead vocalist of the band, and inspired her incredibly talented and gorgeous daughter to follow the same career path. Even little sister Angie got in on the act, singing backup and no doubt providing comfort to her big sis. With this family support, Haley has been able to take her natural gifts to incredible highs, and that was evidenced by the brilliant show at The Grove.

To consistently gel and perform at the top of her game with confidence, Haley, like everyone else, needs practice and discipline. However, being free spirited by nature, she often seems to procrastinate and rely on talent to bail her out. Because of this, she's had mixed results on stage, at times looking like a star, and others appearing awkward, flustered and prone to gaffs. Only when performing jazz, a genre that rewards improvisation, and is her natural vocal element, has she been able to find comfort zone and get lost in the music.

That all changed at the Grove. She was a pro. She sounded great. She had confidence. She was prepared. She knew the cues. She knew the words. She knew her shit. That released her to be Haley at her very best, because she didn't have to think too much. She just let loose, trusted herself, trusted the band, and it really helped restore my belief in her that she has what it takes to become a highly respected artist in the music world.

Contrast that when Haley performs with her BFF Casey. While I love the chemistry they perform with together, and enjoy that she has fun on stage with him, and like the jazzy musical influence he provides, she frequently seems like she's joking around and winging it with him on stage instead of digging in and delivering like a pro. Fun on stage is great when it's about getting lost in the music and jamming out, and sometimes they have that, but when they don't it's a distraction that can make her appear unprofessional.

Look, I think Casey is a great guy, a great friend, and a great musician, but he seems equally free spirited and unstructured, and I don't think that helps Haley. I really dig them together in doses, but not as a career path.

The ideal scenario for Haley is finding a team around her that gives her the necessary nurturing, structure and discipline she needs to be great. A small label that's very hands on would help. Until that time, maybe she should do some touring with her parents band. She badly needs to gig more, so how about Haley and The Reinharts hit the road, Jack? Not sure if that's doable financially, but Haley really thrives with them, so why not?

RECAP: Great show, great band, and Haley proved without a doubt that she's the real deal with star power when in the right environment. Below is the video of her new song "Better", which she debuted at the concert. I seriously dig it, especially the a Capella intro and intense finish, and think you'll see what I mean about the killer job Haley and the Reinharts delivered gigging at the Grove. Let it loop and you'll get to enjoy a full playlist of Haley music from HaleysTusk, a superfan who has become Haley's unofficial videographer.

Haley Poo Has Her Cake and Eats It Too in Vegas

Haley Moanin', Scattin' and Growlin' at the Cosmo

My sultry, sassy, sweet and sexy vixen Haley Reinhart took residency at the Cosmo in Las Vegas this weekend, and once again reminded the entire free world that Kenny Poo is right and everyone who doubts him is wrong.

Yes, as anyone who knows me will surely attest, it's long been my contention that Haley is a jazz/blues singing prodigy, and awaiting her is a legendary career in that genre if she'd only embrace it. Of course, to do that she'd have to go against the wishes of her official handlers, managers, advisers, lawyers, agents, publishers, teen fans, and likely herself, too.

You see, my lovely Haley is a free spirit by nature, and prefers to keep all her options open. Dabble here and there in multiple genres, but never commit to any one lane. A little classic rock, a little girl-group Motown, a little disco, a little jazz, a little blues, a little pop, a little funk, a little urban, a little EDM, a little soul, so don't think for a moment she'll commit too deeply to any one genre or sound, bucko.

Haley don't play that game.

Frustrating as that may be for an arrogant, pompous, know-it-all-blowhard like myself, who can't resist thinking I know what's better for Haley than she does herself, I've learned to make peace with the fact that Haley will be Haley, and that's that. Trying to change her natural inclination to play the field is a waste of time and energy, and would only make her feel stifled. I now fully accept and appreciate her for who she is, and not who I absolutely know she should be, damn it!!

OK, so I still need to work on it a little.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the Haley jazztastic brilliance that was fully on display at the shimmering Cosmo Chandelier Room. She and her maestro pianist, Keith Phelps (who recently dropped his own cool as hell album, Phriday Mixtape), demonstrated for the 2nd year in a row that in a swank jazz setting there ain't nobody who can compare to their musical talent and chemistry.

Mind you, I know this not because I was there physically, but because of the fantastic videos, photos, vines and personal interaction accounts with Haley that were posted all over electronic media, be it YouTube, message boards, instagram, twitter, tumblr and vine, by her most devoted groupies. Some of these folks have traveled to every significant show she's gigged stateside since her run on Idol ended back in 2011. They certainly have my thanks (make that a standing ovation) for providing this window into Haley world, and I recommend strongly you check it all out if you haven't already.

To briefly summarize, Haley performed a large mix of jazz and blues standards, originals from her very well received debut album Listen Up!, classic covers from her time on Idol, a couple fun cover songs from the 70's, and a new song she debuted the week before at Universal City Walk with Casey Abrams called "My Cake", which is a wonderfully sexy, funky, jazz/blues number with a catchy hook and an infectious groove.

I think it's a great song for her in every way, filled with sass, sex appeal, and Haley's favorite recurring theme of playing the field with girl power. It feels like a Haley song, so I hope it gets recorded and finds its way onto iTunes sooner rather than later. I especially loved the City Walk version, as it had a really organic sound with kickin' backup vocals and rhythm guitar from her musical beau Casey.

I've included the City Walk version of "Cake" below (the Cosmo version not available yet as of this typing). Check it out, and let me know if you agree with me that it's a great music lane for Haley. She's still an independent girl, free of any label interference, and songs like this will hopefully attract the attention of a record company that's big enough to fund and promote her next album, but small enough to give her the personal attention and guidance she needs to get to the next level in her career.

Cheers, Haley, on a weekend in which you sang beautifully, and also made time to show some love for your dedicated "Haliens" who came from far and wide to see you and your shows.

Poo out.

Pia Toscano and Jared Lee Kick Stageit Up A Notch

OK, so, I've admittedly only seen four Stageit shows in my life, but in my limited experience it's always been a very informal show done in a family room setting. Enjoyably intimate, but little more than a glorified pay-per-view Ustream or Skype session, and can sometimes feel like a money grab for artists who hardly bother to prepare for the show.

This was certainly not the case with Pia Toscano and Jared Lee's Stageit show on June 27th. To their credit, they made the paying customers feel they were tuning into a top quality, professionally executed, well rehearsed performance. With a stage set, mic stands, keyboard and guitarist, tipping fans were rewarded with the perfect combination of good music and playful, witty banter.

The song list was a nice mix of their own individual past music, duets, and a brand new song they co-wrote together, Heaven On Fire, that's subsequently received a lot of positive buzz.

Jared Lee is an artist I only became familiar with because of his connection to Pia (whom I've loved since her run on Season 10 of American Idol).  He's got a wonderfully witty, dry sense of humor that cracks me up, and a great chemistry with Pia. I was very impressed by his acoustic performance of his original song It's Over (Goodbye), and thought that was one of the highlights of the night.

Probably my favorite performance, though, was Pia's killer acoustic version of her single This Time. To be honest, I actually thought her studio version was pretty forgettable, but stripped down to just the organic sound of Pia's voice with an acoustic guitar really brought it to life. I absolutely loved her sultry tone, and she seemed to infuse the song with a little extra confidence and edge. Basically, she fucking KILLED it.

Pia, you make that baby available unplugged and I'll be first in line to download it.

Of course, nothing could outdo Pia's sexilarious booty dance. She could barely hold back the laughter long enough to get through it, which was really cute, and joked about not thinking it would be hot, but come on...this is Pia Toscano, damn it! She's hotter than the sun when lounging on the couch drinking beer and watching football [No, I do not have confirmation she actually does this, but I say she does, and it's my blog, so deal!]

Again, just to make sure this important matter is properly clarified for the lowest IQ readers. Pia booty dance = HOT!

Most significantly, I want to give major props to Pia and Jared for doing their best show possible. Fans know when the celeb doesn't have their heart in it, but clearly these two cared, they made the extra effort, and as a result their fans can feel good knowing their commitment was reciprocated.

Cheers, guys!

Poo out.

From Borrowed to What Have I Done, Rimes delivers

       

Seventeen years after exploding on the music scene as a 13 year-old prodigy, LeAnn Rimes finally found her adult sound and style with her kickass new album, Spitfire. Don't let the tabloid bullshit fool you: LeAnn ain't no vapid, celebrity-bimbo, "has been" with nothing left in the tank.

Far from it.

LeAnn's voice is still strong as ever, but now she's become an even better singer. Being a 30 year old woman, she's got the self-awareness and maturity to bring more finessed, soulful, honest and authentic vocals. No gratuitous vocal gymnastics, no over-dramatizations, no over-singing, just perfect control of her instrument as she hits every note, from the bottom of her heart to the top of her range, with perfect pitch.
  
Of course, what makes Spitfire truly special and meaningful is how she bares her soul. Running the full gamut of conflicting emotions on decisions and actions she's made in her love life, LeAnn gives us a truly adult album rather than the typically cartoonish country formula music so prevalent today. I admittedly don't possess a huge country music catalog, but the album I own that most came to mind when I first heard Spitfire was Patty Loveless' When Fallen Angels Fly, which won CMA album of the year back in 1994.

If there's any justice, Rimes would win one of those in 2013 for Spitfire.

Without question, Borrowed and What Have I Done are the heart and soul songs of the album, and book-end two sides of the single most contentious, conflicting time of her adult life. The desperate, aching, longing for her new, forbidden love to blossom into full commitment (Borrowed), and the tortured regret of destroying her old love with this infidelity (What Have I Done).  I don't know that I've ever seen an artist record two songs so beautiful, yet brutally honest and introspective over the same episode. One gets the impression she will never fully reconcile this self-inflicted trauma.

What's also impressive is that she doesn't try and make herself more sympathetic of a character. She gives her truest emotions and feelings, take it or leave it, no bullshit, leaving the listener free to judge her for the good, the bad and the ugly in her actions. The mature listener will appreciate what she's given to us as a true window into her soul, and in that sense a bird's eye view of the human condition. Whether we approve of her decisions and actions isn't really the point; it's about how deeply she elicits feeling in us for how she feels. She offers up a full confession, leaves herself completely vulnerable, and in the end I found myself wanting to hug her, tell her I understand, and offer her forgiveness and compassion if not approval.

That said, Spitfire is definitely not just a heavy, emotionally draining album that makes you sob. Filled with a variety of flirty, fun, uptempo songs like Spitfire (song), I Do Now, Gasoline and Matches and You Ain't Right, Rimes also shows she has a fun, spunky side with a playful sense of humor.

You've Ruined Me is a grooving number that seems very radio friendly. Where I Stood deals with the reality and frustrations of relationship life after the initial glow wears off, and likely reflects LeAnn's reality today. What will her tomorrow be like? Well, stay tuned for the next album.

Kenny Poo ranks Spitfire a must have album for not just country music fans, but all music fans. Of course, the small minds who live in the tabloid world will no doubt be quick to judge and lash out at LeAnn because of the general subject matter. Radio will also probably shun her, and that's a shame. Bottom line: This album is above them, so they can fuck off if they aren't capable or interested in appreciating the depth, quality, versatility and honesty of this record.

Poo out!

New Music Review: Eliane Elias, I Thought About You (Tribute to Chet Baker)

Chet Baker, the late, great, cool jazz legend, could not have picked a more befitting artist to honor his discography with a tribute album than the brilliant Brazilian bossa-nova babe, Eliane Elias. A highly accomplished jazz singer, pianist, songwriter and arranger, Elias summoned her full repertoire of skills and talents to craft her new LP, I Thought About You: A Tribute To Chet Baker.

The result: A sophisticated, heartfelt, cohesive album that will deserve all the accolades and awards it's bound to receive. Truly the work of a seasoned pro who "gets it", Eliane did Chet's music justice and then some on this compilation, and that's no small accomplishment.

It would be impossible not to be impressed with Eliane's sophisticated, swinging Piano accompaniment that runs throughout I Thought About You. With flawless timing, deft instincts, finesse and a some stank-face inducing spice, Elias managed to incorporate bossa nova flavor into Baker's classic songs.

Vocally, she delivers buttery soft authenticity with nary a hint of self-indulgence, affect or bullshit. It's that sense of restraint, the knowing when to kick it up and when to dial it back, that reflects her maturity and respect to the original artist, who detested artificial, gratuitous interpretations. In Chet's world, songs were meant to make you feel. Words mattered. Melodies mattered. Capturing the proper mood mattered.

In fact, if one is to fully understand and appreciate the wonderful work Eliane did on this album, it would really help to know a little bit about Chet Baker himself, and Kenny Poo is kind enough to share a very brief summary with you.

As was commonplace in the jazz era in which he lived, Chet was a gifted but hard-living, heroine-using artist, whose addiction ultimately killed him at the age of 58 in 1988. A brilliant jazz trumpeter and singer with a very distinct, velvety-smooth vocal timbre that emoted a woman's tenderness, Baker would go on to become the most renown and significant of the cool jazz pioneers of the 1950s and 60s,.

Baker's cool jazz sound would subsequently have a major influence on a talented Brazilian jazz artist by the name of Joao Gilberto. Gilberto would add some Latin spice to the cool jazz, and found a sub genre of cool jazz that would become known as bossa nova.

In 1962, Joao, his wife Astrud, and sax great Stan Getz recorded what would go on to become the most well known, widely covered, and commercially successful bossa nova song of all time, "Girl From Ipanema". The success of this song would create a worldwide frenzy for all things bossa nova, and artists everywhere began flocking to Brazil to check out their hot new jazz scene.

One such artist was pianist and composer Horace Silver. An American with Portuguese family roots, Silver traveled to Brazil to partake in the hot new music scene, and fell in love with bossa nova. As a result of this experience, he would write and record the beloved bossa nova classic "Song For My Father" in 1964.

[Note:  "Song For My Father" was recently covered by reluctant jazz vocal prodigy, Haley Reinhart. Those of you who know me are well aware of my affection for her jazz singing, so if you like that performance do the world a favor by tweeting her at @HaleyReinhart, and tell her Kenny Poo sent you. She needs the encouragement!]

So, with the cool jazz/bossa nova styles being so closely intigrated, you can see why it was only natural for a top Brazilian bossa nova artist like Elias to offer up a tribute to Baker. I can tell you she made some truly memorable music here, and I thought About You is definitely the early front runner for the prestigious Kenny Poo Best Jazz Album Of 2013.

You dig? Cool, baby. Below is the full track list with a brief Kenny Poo skinny for each song.

*  *  *  *

I Thought About You - Eliane Elias

1. I Thought About You (4:56) - Title track will get the toes tapping
2. There Will Never Be Another You (4:52) - Dig the bossa nova styling
3. This Can't Be Love (3:53) - Cool, swingin' jazz, baby.
4. Embraceable You (5:04) - Intimate dining jazz
5. That Old Feeling (3:52) - Kicking up the beat
6. Everything Depends On You (3:37) - Bluesy magnificence
7. I've Never Been In Love Before (3:54) - Stank face piano abounds
8. Let's Get Lost (4:18) - Shimmy yo hips to some groovin' bossa nova
9. You Don't Know What Love Is (5:13) - Slowing it down a notch
10. Blue Room (2:11) - Finger snapping beat with cool phrasing
11. Just Friends (3:30) - Horny tune
12. Girl Talk (3:50) - Opening licks resemble Sinatra's That's Life
13. Just In Time (2:37) - Quick tempo jazz
14. I Get Along Without You Very Well (3:05) - Weepy ending

That's all for today. Kenny Poo out.

Pia Toscano: The Queens Queen Of Kings

It's safe to say that 2 years ago there ain't a chance in hell Queens native Pia Toscano would have believed she'd soon become the beloved good luck charm of the Los Angeles Kings. After all, despite growing up in NY Islander country, she wasn't really a hockey fan and had never even attended a hockey game before.

Plus, at that time she was the beautiful starlet competing on American Idol, and by all accounts considered a lock to make the Top 3. Hell, many thought she'd win the whole damn thing. Hockey? Please...she was on the fast track to pop superstardom, with gold records, Grammys, and all the trappings of A-list celebrity.

Well, it just goes to show you how truth really can be stranger than fiction.

Pia, as we all know only too well, was about to suffer from what's known as premature elimination. Instead of Top 3, Pia was sent packing in 9th place in the most stunning elimination in Idol history. Cheeseball douchebag Stefano Langone would advance instead of Pia, and the uproar was so loud that one wondered if they'd even be able to finish the season. I was so pissed off I boycotted the show the next week, and I think many others did, too.

Well, at least the wrong was righted by Interscope. They signed Pia in the summer of 2011 to a recording contract, and all was well with the world again.

Or was it?

Haley Reinhart stormed to the finish line with an extremely strong 3rd, and made such an impact Interscope would sign her, too. This made for a logjam of gorgeous Idol women with big voices, and would shuffle Pia back in the pack since she was left dormant for 6 weeks while Haley garnered huge Idol buzz with some of the most jaw-dropping performances the Idol stage has ever seen.

Now, we all know it didn't end well for either of them, as Interscope just couldn't figure out what the fuck to do and wound up blowing it with both girls.

In Pia's case, she would be handed a pleasant (if nondescript) mid-tempo pop single (This Time), and release a corresponding music video. However, Interscope didn't even release the song to radio for adds, and then permanently shelved her album. They effectively just hung her out to dry, rendering Pia unable to tour or perform the music she'd worked so hard on. All that was left was the waiting game.

It was during this lost period that Pia would begin her redemption in the most unlikely of places: An LA Kings game.

Attending the first hockey game of her life, she was immediately impressed with the exciting atmosphere. Having by now established a reputation for delivering fantastic national anthems, Pia told her manager she'd love to get the chance to do one at a Kings game sometime.

Well, sometime would soon happen, and the world as she knew it would never be the same again.

When the time to perform came, Pia delivered a lights-out SSB, the Kings won and the crowd loved her. She would definitely be invited back again.

And again.

And again.

And again, and again, and again, and again...

You see, not only did Pia slay the NA, the Kings also kept on winning every time she would sing it. Hockey is a VERY superstitious sport, so Pia by playoff time became considered the official good luck charm of the LA Kings. So, what happened next? Oh, she only sang them all the way to winning the Stanley Cup.

This year, she's doing it again. The Kings have won the first two rounds of the playoffs behind Pia's voice, and are set to begin the conference finals vs Chicago. Pia now has an immaculate 16-0 record on the season including playoffs.

Overall, she's an amazing 28-3-1 since her debut last season.

Now, I'm old enough to remember back when Kate Smith was the unbeatable force of the Philadelphia Flyers, who would summon her to guarantee victory back in the 70's. In fact, as a born and raised Buffalo fan, I was myself victimized by her rendition of God Bless America back in the '75 Stanley Cup finals. As much as I wanted my Sabres to get it done, I just knew when Kate was unleashed it was curtains for us.

Fast-forward about 40 years, and Pia Toscano is doing the same thing in LA with the Star Spangled Banner.  The players and fans really believe in her, and opposing teams get that foreboding feeling when she strolls out onto the ice to belt out the Anthem.

Now, Pia is the toast of the town. Newspapers are writing about her, fans are chanting her name, blogs like mine are dedicating posts to her incredible run, celebrities like Tom Cruise and Mathew Perry are personally and publicly singing her praises...it's incredible to behold, and nobody is more deserving of the good fortune.

So, cheers to you, Pia. You're truly LA's favorite girl, and if there's a better way to get a new start on a music career than that I don't know what it is.

Below you can check out Pia Toscano's Game 7 winning Star Spangled Banner vs the San Jose Sharks. I recommend playing it when you really need something to go your way...hey, can't hurt!

Go Kings! Kenny Poo out.