Hoo-Droo.com is a unique domain created by Akron native Mike Marras with the intention to display and highlight his latest and greatest abstract art work. Marras is a recent graduate of Full Sail University in Florida where he studied Computer Animation. Marras now lives and works in Florida as an independent 2D and 3D artist. He specializes in abstract watercolor, marker and ink paintings, 3D environment and hard surface modeling. So check out Hoo-Droo.com for Marras’ portfolio and latest art work.

Hoo-Droo.com

This weekend LeBron James and family will be heading to Toronto for the Toronto Film Festival. That’s because the “More Than A Game” documentary will be making it’s big screen debut. It’s about how basketball has shaped the lives of LeBron, and all of his friends and teammates. It’s a combination of footage from Bron’s high school career with interviews, home videos and family pictures.

They say it’s about more than basketball, it’s about “friendship, loyalty and love”. This movie was directed and written by Kris Belman. He started this documentary in LeBron’s senior year at St. Vincent’s Saint Mary High School. LeBron hopes this film will inspire the youth.

Source: Eighty81

With the 2008 Olympics right around the corner, LeBron James‘ mission is to bring back the gold medal. To prepare, Nike is giving away a number of the LeBron Zoom Soldier II in a special camo edition color-way. To win, send an e-mail to nikebasketball@nike.com expressing your support for James and his USA basketball teammates. Each message sent generates one chance to win the kicks LeBron will sport in Beijing.

Visit Nikebasketball.com for further information related to the give away.

Source: High Snobiety

If your a lover of music then you probably know a thing or two about the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Classically around since 1931, if walls could talk they’d have an amazing story to tell. From The Beatles to Pink Floyd, many greats laid down their tracks here and now only a select few get invited to do so.

Check out the extraordinary The Black Keys as they performed this past Thursday, July 24 on the Sundance channel. Check the interview clip HERE. As always, expect a stellar performance and a proper interview.

Click Here For The Live Performance!

Source: Grimy Goods

For Amelia Zupke, Photography is simply a way of life. Inspired by the color green, Zupke’s artistic journey began here in Akron, OH at King Elementary. This is where Zupke found her fascination with the effortless concept of taking pictures.

Her first toy was an outlandish green, yellow and red M&M’s plastic camera that took film resembling a funky pair of WeSC Headphones. An avid Zupke brought that silly ‘toy‘ everywhere and it eventually paid off after graduating from Firestone High School in 2004. A determined Zupke then pursued Photography at Ohio University in Athens. Zupke graduated four years later with a B.S. in Visual Communication with concentrations in Commercial Photography, Advertising and Design. Photography is Zupke’s foremost passion in the way she creatively captures rare visions for others to see. Her work ranges from Commercial to Fine Art; Travel to Portrait; and Vivid Color to Black and White. Zupke’s artistic views and abilities are infinite as she crosses boundaries in the world of Photography daily.

Amy’s second passion is traveling. Her most significant experience was living in Brisbane, OZ where she studied Photography and Art at Griffith University: Queensland College of Art. Zupke never let school get in the way of exploring Australia’s east coast and various parts of New Zealand. In her free time she was occupied with surfing, playing with kangaroos, exploring new cities, and meeting people from around the world. Zupke’s dream job is a sky diving instructor by day, food critic by night, while traveling the world taking pictures with her ‘toy‘. Who knows where Zupke’s organic presence will take her, but one thing’s certain: this girl will be always down with the 330. Check out more of Amelia Zupke’s Photography BELOW.

Amelia Zupke Photography

Peace Love & Akron.

By: Matt Finley

Akron, OH

Pitchfork Media staff writer Jessica Suarez talks to The Black Keys in a hotel room about Oprah’s entourage, the Insane Clown Posse, White Castle, and blowjobs. Basically everything except their new album, Attack & Release, while Dan dies of laughter. The whole time, they never get out of bed.

Source: Pitchfork Media

Akron’s Finest, The Black Keys, will perform at 8 p.m. October 11 at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. June 13 at the E.J. Thomas Hall box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets, at $28.50, can be purchased by phone at (330) 945-9400 and at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

The show, part of the blues/rock duo’s fall tour, will feature music from their latest album, Attack & Release, which appears to be their best album thus far.

To check out more of TBK’s fall tour schedule dates click HERE.

The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach dished to the Smoking Section’s Austin Scaggs about the slew of upcoming albums they’re working on in Issue 1053, and the duo went so far as to handpick tracks from a half-dozen of their projects to share exclusively with Rolling Stone.

Carney was introduced to the Royal Bangs after the band sent him a link to their MySpace page. “I’m usually grossed out by the music I hear, and that’s kind of what I was expecting. But they’re really good.”

Carney’s Pick: “Cat Swallow”

Beaten Awake are all “really talented dudes who are 33 and live like they’re still 18,” Carney says. “That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing, you know.”

Carney’s Pick: “Goin’ Nowhere”

Also on Carney’s label: fellow Akronites Houseguest.

Carney’s Pick: “Midieval Affaire”

Texas quartet Hacienda gave Auerbach a demo several years ago that “blew my fucking mind.” “They’re Mexican-Americans who are obsessed with the Beach Boys,” he says. “I told everybody about them” — including Doctor Dog, who guest on the album.

Auerbach’s Pick: “Shake Ya”

Cincinnati rockers Buffalo Killers are another band Auerbach produced.

Auerbach’s Pick: “Get Together Now Today”

After Auerbach’s dad introduced him to the music of 18-year-old Jessica Lea Mayfield two years ago, Auerbach contacted her and the pair started recording her “super dark” bluegrass music immediately after meeting.

Auerbach’s Pick: “We’ve Never Lied”

Source: Rolling Stone

Let me introduce to you the Blessed Label Clothing Line. BL is a local streetwear brand based out of the Akron/Cleveland area. You may already be familiar with this local street wear brand, but you haven’t seen shit yet. Scroll down for exclusive shots of their Summer ‘08 Products.

Also, there will be a release party for their Summer Line this Saturday, May 31st, at Anatomy Lounge in Downtown Cleveland from 10-2:30.

These items will be debuting soon and you can pick them up at Next in Beachwood Mall. Stay tuned for more updates and information regarding new releases from BL.

Check out Blessed Label’s Website for more information, gear and updates as well.

Tune in Today (Wednesday, May 21st) to check out The Black Keys in studio performance and interview with Zane Lowe. Broadcast between 7 & 9 p.m. GMT! You can also hear a bonus track on Thursday, May 22nd between 7 & 9 p.m. GMT. Listen online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe

LeBron James on a day off stays reppin’ that 330.

This incredible Black Keys Print is a preview of the new Print Tease feature on Live Music Blog. Designed for their show at The Showbox in Seattle, it is a collaboration between two great artists, Nate Duval and Jon Smith. Although Nate and Jon both have been successful on their own, they’ve done a number of collaborations under the title of 1982.

This poster effectively brings together the dichotomy of the new Keys sound, and melds the individual style’s of Nate and Jon so well. The background pattern of the poster, bisecting circles, is a Nate Duval staple. Those patterns always remind of a funky, lounge-y feeling, in line with Danger Mouse’ production flourishes. But it’s printed here in muted blues and greens that speak to the Key’s blues revivalist sound. The same can be said about the portraits of guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. They are rendered to look like stained glass (the old), but updated in a bright and fractured style (the new), with almost fluorescent colors which can be found all over Jon Smith’s Posters.

Each week LMB looks at a new poster that’s caught their eye, usually for a recent or upcoming gig. Tons of great posters are being produced every week for concerts all across the country and world; hopefully these quick posts will show you some new artists and some exciting prints. Let them know what you think about their picks, and if something has recently held your attention, Let Them Know About It.

Source: LMB

Kevin Garnett, the 2007-2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, getting owned by LeBron James in game 4 at the Q.