Blake Shelton Gets Crash Course on Usher

Blake Shelton Gets Crash Course on Usher and Shakira From Miranda Lambert

NBC Universal

Season four of "The Voice" is off to a great start and the camaraderie between the coaching panel -- Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and new additions Usher andShakira -- has never been better. Putting any conflict rumors to rest, the mentors fielded questions from reporters at NBC's Summer Press Day in Pasadena, Calif. on Monday (April 22), but spent most of the time exchanging friendly and funny barbs.

"I was a little bit nervous [about adding new coaches] because I knew how well the show was doing and it was beating the odds," says Blake. "It's a music talent show in a world where there's a lot of those. We knew we had something that worked and I had never met either one of these two [Usher and Shakira] before. The one thing that you can't fake is chemistry. I'll be damned if it's not as strong as it's ever been with the four of us. I'm lovin' it. I'm proud of that. Whether it was NBC or [executive producer] Mark [Burnett], whoever picked these two knew they weren't dealing with artists with egos, they were dealing with really good people and that's what makes it work."

In an effort to educate her hubby on his new coworkers, Blake's wife, and fellow country superstar, Miranda Lambert gave him a history lesson on Usher and Shakira's impressive careers.

"I can tell you a true story right now," he started to say.

"These tend to be long," joked pal Adam. "There goes Grandpa Shelton telling his stories."

"Last week my wife was with me here in Los Angeles," Blake continued. "Every now and then I get to have her here with me on her days off. We spent probably three hours one night, Miranda was educating me on Shakira and Usher and showing me videos. She's such a fan. She was like, 'You don't appreciate how ...' I was like, 'Oh my gosh, they're awesome, babe. I swear to God, they're awesome. I know they are.' She's like, 'No, look at this video and then tell me!' I swear I saw all of their videos, I listened to all their hits and that's been the last week of my life. She sold me on them."

One sore point among the coaches is the steals during the battle rounds, although, as it was pointed out, contestants who are stolen by another coach may still be sacrificed in favor of a singer they've been working with since the beginning of the season.

"That makes the decision even tougher because you do feel loyalty to the ones that picked you to begin with after you picked them," says Blake. "There is a trust and a bond there. If you're really doing your job as a coach, you have to make the decision based on talent and not a relationship. That's tough. The lines get blurred and it's a gray area sometimes. Sometimes that makes a difference in a winner and a loser in those type of situations."

Best bets: Blake Shelton and Hugh Laurie

Best bets: Blake Shelton, Hugh Laurie, Phife Dawg and more

 

1. Mike Trainor and Kevin McCaffrey

TruTv tends to put all of its cards on the table. You get what you expect, like its popular "World's Dumbest" series. Comedian Mike Trainor narrates the whole thing, elevating dumb to funny. The commentator, along with his co-quipper Kevin McCaffrey, will bring their stand-up to Morty's next week.
Trainor says, "It's hard to pick my favorite," dumb criminal at this point, as he's done more than 100 episodes. "I was pretty happy recently with a clip where a woman stuffed a mink coat down her pants. It allowed me to say, 'A mink coat? More like a stink coat!' on television. Yes, I have a strange job."
Trainor insists the show isn't just for laughs. It teaches lessons, too. Namely, that we must realize we live in a world with cameras.
"One guy broke into a store that sold security cameras," said Trainor. "There must have been 30 angles of the guy."
8 and 10:20 p.m., Aug. 24-25, Morty's Comedy Joint, 3625 E. 96th St., $12, (317) 848-5500

2. Recalling the Beatles

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents a Beatles tribute concert for the fifth year in a row -- cast members of "Beatlemania" performing their "Classical Mystery Tour" show, a touring hit since its creation in 1996. Performers and the Beatle personas they create in the show are: Jim Owen (John Lennon), Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney), John Brosnan (George Harrison) and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr). The ISO will not perform.
8 p.m. Aug. 17-18, Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, $22 in advance, $27 at the gate, ages 2-12 $11 and $13

3. New West Guitar Group

An all-guitar trio performing music described as ranging from jazz to chamber music to Americana will make its Indianapolis debut. Guitarists Jeff Stein, Perry Smith and John Storie constitute the group, whose newest CD, "Round-Trip Ticket," (Summit) peaked in the Top 20 list of the JazzWeek radio charts. The group was formed several years ago by guitar students at the University of Southern California. It has been honored by Los Angeles Sister Cities Committee.
7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 22, Earth House Collective, 237 N. East St., $5 suggested donation, 

4. Hot Club of Detroit

Putting a 21st-century touch on the classic gypsy jazz guitar style of Django Reinhardt's Quintette du Hot Club de France, the Hot Club of Detroit goes into modern jazz, such as "Seven Steps to Heaven" (a Miles Davis classic), as well as refreshing the Reinhardt repertoire. Band members are Evan Perri, lead guitar; Julien Labor, accordion; Carl Cafagna, sax; Paul Brady, rhythm guitar; and Andrew Kratzat, bass.
7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 18, Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave., $15, 253-4900.

5. Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton's singing voice made him a country star, but his speaking voice made him one on TV. The Oklahoma cowboy had been releasing successful country albums, including "The Dreamer" and "Pure BS," for a decade before he was drafted as a judge on "The Voice." Catch Shelton when he hits Indy for this Indiana State Fair appearance.
7 p.m. Aug. 17, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., $40-$75, (317) 917-2727

6. Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest

Can I kick it? Yes, I can. So here's the scenario: A Tribe Called Quest rose in the 1980s, along with De La Soul, as pioneers of jazz-influenced, enlightened hip-hop. A few decades later, those groups remain highly influential. MC Phife Dawg, who led Tribe with Q-Tip, will be at Blu Lounge this weekend. What's more, he's got a new solo record out just this year. Ladies, extra points if you introduce yourselves as "Bonita Applebum."
9 p.m. Aug. 17, Blu Lounge, 240 S. Meridian St., $10, (317) 955-8585

7. Locals Only finale

And that's the show folks. Tonight's three-billed set, featuring Whoa! Tiger, Jenn Cristy Band and Breakdown, is on the books as the last show at longtime independent music stronghold Locals Only. Grab a beer and enjoy this unique, creative space while it lasts. The club's motto "You don't have to be from here to be local. You just have to be here now" sure makes sense tonight.
8 p.m. Aug. 17, Locals Only Art and Music Pub, 2449 E. 56th St., (317) 255-4013

8. Benjamin Harrison's 179th Birthday Celebration

President Benjamin Harrison may be turning 179, but he sure looks good for his age, thanks to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site keeping his memory and legacy alive. The celebration will include a concert featuring Alexandra and the Good Batch's original, engaging children's music. The museum will offer free walk-through tours, and there's free ice cream and birthday cake.
1:30 to 4 p.m. Aug. 19, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St., free, (317) 631-1888

9. Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band

Dr. House was, for eight years, one of the most riveting characters on television, aggravated, passionate and fiercely intelligent. The guy behind House, Hugh Laurie, isn't the same character. He's British, for starters, and actually quite friendly. But they do share one thing: talent. Outside of acting, Laurie is a successful blues musician. His first full album, "Let Them Talk," a collection of classic blues cuts, was released in 2011 to mostly positive reviews.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 22, Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, 355 City Center Drive, Carmel, $45-$145,

10. Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction is the living, breathing definition of "alternative rock," when it meant an alternative to mainstream, watered-down radio metal. Led by Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro, the band was on-again, off-again for much of the past two decades, but they've held it together since 2008, with a new record, "The Great Escape Artist," released earlier this year.

 

Bowyer celebrates win with Blake Shelton

Bowyer celebrates win with Blake Shelton concert

Clint Bowyer doesn't need a reason to throw a party, and he already had one planned even before he won at Sonoma.
Bowyer celebrated the opening of the Bowyer Community Building in his hometown of Emporia, Kan., on Tuesday night with a concert by country star Blake Shelton. The building is located at the Lyon County fairgrounds and was built with funds raised through Bowyer's "79 Fund" charity.
"It was always going to be a big week, starting with all the charity foundation things we had planned, then we go and win the race," Bowyer said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "It's been the biggest week we've ever had. It just set us up in being able to celebrate, and that we did, let me tell you."
The Tuesday night concert with Shelton was scheduled as the grand opening of the community center Bowyer gifted to the county. The event included a VIP reception inside the center, where Bowyer, Shelton and NASCAR's Kyle Petty conducted a Q&A with fans.
Petty was then the opening act at the outdoor amphitheater in front of a crowd Bowyer estimated to be about 900 people. Shelton, a good friend of Bowyer's, then performed an acoustic show.
"Obviously, in my hometown, that building is something we are very proud of," Bowyer said. "And Blake, he killed it as always. It was really more of an intimate show, and it really showed his talents. Man, we had a good time."
Bowyer won his first race of the season, first career win on a road course, and first since joining Michael Waltrip Racing on Sunday at Sonoma. A day earlier, he auctioned off his 2011 Toyota Tundra custom truck at Barrett-Jackson to raise funds for the Emporia Community Foundation.
Now, he's ready to get back to racing.
"I woke up today wishing I was going to Kentucky," he said. "We've had a good time this last week, and I need to get back to work so I can get some rest."