Taylor Hicks DVD "Whomp at the Warfield" Drops Jan 5, 2010! Preview Here

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First Look at the New Taylor Hicks DVD "Whomp at the Warfield" Available 1/5/10

The long awaited DVD from Taylor Hicks, "Whomp at the Warfield", filmed in May of 2007 at the historic Warfield Theater in San Francisco, is finally being released on Jan 5, 2010. These on-line outlets are filling pre-orders now, but will the DVD will be available in all retail outlets whereever DVDs are sold on the date of release. Amazon.com preorder is coming soon! In the meantime, order from any one of the following online sites.


















DVD Universe

Movies Unlimited

Barnes & Noble

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TMC - Turner Classic Movies

Taylor Hicks: DVD Whomp At The Warfield - New Release Date!

There is new hope for those who've never seen Taylor's elusive DVD that he recorded back in May of 2007 at the historic Warfield Theater in San Francisco! It's back with a thud-delicious cover (GAH!)... pant, pant.... uh..... what was I saying? Oh yea... According to this Video Business, it's due to be released Oct 6, 2009. Stay tuned for updates!

Title: TAYLOR HICKS: WHOMP AT THE WARFIELD
Release Date: 11/03/2009
Label/Distributor: IMAGE
Prebook DVD: 10/06/2009
Retail Price: DVD $19.98
Genre: Music Taylor Hicks performs some of his biggest hits.

Taylor Hicks - A Few Images from the "Whomp At The Warfield" DVD

This is when having a private blog comes in handy. Any guesses why Taylor likes to hold the 'mike' in this position? Heh! Click on the picture for a larger image. I'll upload more in the next day or so! Enjoy!

Taylor Hicks - The Journey So Far....

Ya know, I've been thinking about the impressive list of achievements Taylor has under his belt lately and I can say without hesitancy that he has been the best businessman, the most productive and the most well-rounded entertainer ever to come out of the American Idol franchise. He has total control over his own career, total control over his own music, and ownership of a wide variety of products available to purchase worldwide. By breaking ties and obtaining total independence from Sony BMG and all things American Idol, which I'm sure was a tricky needle to thread, he has been able to now lay claim to being a book author (his memoir "Heart Full of Soul"), executive video producer (Whomp At The Warfield), record label owner (Modern Whomp Records), music publisher (Modern Whomp Music), broadway actor (Grease), platinum selling musician, singer, songwriter and live performer. By February 2009 he will have 3 CDs available, one of which is a compilation of his pre-Idol music - "Early Works" - all this in just a 2 1/2 year timeframe of being in the national spotlight when he took the Season 5 crown.

It is truly an unbelievable feat when you think about all the obstacles that were thrown his way after he triumphed in the show's 5th season. Being the true musical maverick he is, and being thrown under the bus by refusing to be handled and puppeteered by the PTB - being sabatoged without radio support or sufficient advertising - he has without a doubt come up smelling like a beautiful rose, about to bloom in his own sunshine in 2009.

What do we have coming up with Taylor? Well, first we have the national tour with Grease starring Taylor Hicks (Dec 2008-May 2009) and then a big US and International tour to support his brand new DVD, "Whomp At The Warfield" which drops February 17, 2009 and his brand new kick-ass music CD, which drops February 10, 2009. The tour will undoubtedly last at least through the end of the year and possibly into 2010. Like my man, President-Elect Barack Obama, Taylor has a spine made of steal and an ambition second to no one. I'm proud to be a fan of both.

Taylor Hicks - "Whomp At The Warfield" Now Available For Pre-Order!

OMG! I have just stopped hyperventilating long enough to post this "small" bit of info! Yes, folks, that looooong awaited concert DVD from the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, filmed in May of 2007, is finally getting released! Mark February 17, 2009, a week after his new CD is released as the date you can lay your hands on this DVD! Hurray! I can tell you all that this is THE perfect holiday present to give to some special music lover in your family - or any discerning music listener you know. It's absolutely fantastic in every respect - both visually and musically. Taylor wrote 7 of the songs on the DVD and showcases Taylor, the performer, at his finest hour. A Taylor Hicks interview is included as an extra. It's available for pre-order at amazon.com - check it out:

Actors: Taylor Hicks
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Rating:
Studio: Image Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009
Run Time: 84 minutes
Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
ASIN: B001KEGR7A

You can read more about it at "Image Entertainment". It says:

America's voice in his first live DVD! Taylor Hicks performs a roster of his biggest hits and favorites before an enthusiastic "Soul Patrol" of fans. Mixing R&B, rock and blues into one incredible package, he'll knock you out with one show-stopping performance after another!

FEATURED SONGS: Gonna Move, Give Me Tonight, Heart and Soul, Just to Feel That Way, My Friend, The Deal, Hold on to Your Love, Wherever I Lay My Hat, Soul Thing, Heaven Knows, The Maze, Right Place, The Runaround, The Fall, Badge, Naked in the Jungle.

Taylor Hicks Mention on the American Idol Website

I wonder how much A2M Records or Taylor's publicist had to pay them to have Taylor included in their news section? You know darn well they wouldn't promote him out of the goodness of their heart. Anyway, nice mention, nice picture. I'll take it.

From Christmas to Country, the season five Idols are still making headlines in music news. Billboard reports that Elliott Yamin’s holiday album, My Kind of Holiday, dropped just last week on 10/7. The album reportedly gives some holiday classics the funky, soulful spin for which Elliott is known. Taylor Hicks has aligned with Artist to Market, the artist services company, for the release of his next album, which is due out February 10, 2009. Those who fell in love with Taylor by seeing him perform live on AI will also be glad to know that he is releasing "Whomp at the Warfield," a live DVD taped at a San Francisco venue. Kellie Pickler proves that her successful debut album wasn't just beginner's luck, as her sophomore self-titled CD debuted at #1 on Top Country Albums and #9 on The Billboard 200. Kellie is the sixth artist in the Nielsen SoundScan era to debut at #1 with her first two studio albums. All of her predecessors were female, one of whom was Carrie Underwood. By entering the country chart at #1, Kellie's second album is the 205th chart-topper to come from American Idol.

Taylor Hicks on Good Morning New York! Big Announcement Coming Soon!!!

Entire interview portion here.

Taylor Hicks Is Back - Ready To Turn Heads - Again!

Taylor gave an exclusive interview to Fox News in Mobile, Al. He talked about his life, the songs he's been writing, his upcoming album and his other upcoming projects. Here is the interview and video. Part 2 of the interview will be up tomorrow.



GULF SHORES, Ala. -- It's been two years since Birmingham-native Taylor Hicks patrolled the winner's stage at American Idol. Now the Alabama soul man is getting ready to turn heads again.

Hicks on Broadway

After taking a break from the spotlight for a little bit, Taylor Hicks is starting to make headlines again. He recently announced he's joining the Broadway cast of "Grease." And after touring the world and working on an upcoming album, Hicks is hoping for more than just some "summer lovin’.'"

2006 American Idol win

Taylor Hicks sang "Do I Make You Proud?" right after winning the 2006 American Idol. That was two years ago. The Birmingham-native is back in the studio working on an upcoming album to see if audiences still feel that way. "I've been writing in Nashville with a lot of A-list songwriters for my album which I'm gonna try to release this fall," Hicks said. "I've been able to have the creative control and the time to be able to make a great representation of who I am right now as an artist, a songwriter, and musician."

Where is Hicks right now?

Many fans have been wondering not just who Hicks is right now.... but where he is. It's been about 18 months since his self-titled album was released and earlier this year - he parted ways with his record label - Arista. "It was very mutual. It's just one of those things that happen in the business and the main thing is the music and where the music's going and the fans, and how they respond to the next album. The next album is key."

Hicks said that next album should be ready in the fall. He calls it a snapshot of his current life. "Some of the music that I've really taken to right now and written is about things that have happened right now in my life, friendships, relationships in the past, but a lot of those... and just stories."

Hicks rapping?

Hicks is excited to have plenty of freedom on his sophomore album, which is saying something for a man who once shared the stage with rapper Snoop Dogg, "Rap might not be in my repertoire just yet. Although I have been known to do a little bit of rapping on stage - no rap albums just yet."

Aftermath of an American Idol victory

Hicks said he wishes he could relive his Idol experience, but the show's aftermath was a bit stressful. "Right after you win, they put you on tour and then you have to record a record. What they really want you to do is put the album out, during the time when people are buying records at Christmastime - it completely makes sense, but for a songwriter, and somebody who's creative - it's tough, and there's some pressure."

But now that he's back on an independent label... there's more pressure than ever. "I was very fortunate to get my first record deal with them, but I'm excited about what lies ahead in terms of particular deals and stuff like that. I'm pretty excited about a few things, which I can't tell you about!"

Hicks will play "Teen Angel" in "Grease," starting June 6. In addition to his new album slated for the fall, Hicks has a concert DVD coming out called "Whomp at the Warfield."

Taylor Hicks Picks David Archuleta to Win; Readies for Release of 2 CD Set Of Early Works

According to the Courier-Journal, who is "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks rooting for on this season's show?

"David Archuleta. He kind of reminds me of Wayne Newton. You know, the "Danke Schoen" at (17). He's a young entertainer. (He'll do great) if he could just sustain himself when he tours. From that show, it doesn't necessarily have to be music, it could be film. The show form is television. There could be ample opportunities (for him) in the entertainment industry."

Hicks, meanwhile, will drop a new album this fall; a DVD called "Whomp at the Warfield," a two-disc set of his pre-"American Idol" songs and is planning tours in Asia and Italy.

"I never thought country boy from Alabama could go over to Asia and have a fan base," he said, sipping on a Jack Daniels and 7. "The soul patrol reaches around the globe. It's an international concept."

So I have to assume from this nugget of information that the Early Works CD will include more than "In Your Time" and "Under the Radar" because those two can easily fit on ONE CD (14 songs). What do you suppose the other CD will be? Re-dos? Ain't No Sunshine? Abraham, Martin & John? People Get Ready from the 'Nashville" gig? This may turn out to be one 'hell of a set', eh?

Taylor Hicks - "A Taylor-Made Career"

Here is a small blurb from the Inside Racing News Website:

Taylor Hicks, winner of the fifth season American Idol competition and Jeff Green look alike, was on hand at Talladega Superspeedway to perform the National Anthem prior to the Sunday, April 27th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Aaron's 499 race. Early fall "Soul Patrol" fans can expect 'Whomp At The Warfield' a DVD of Taylor's concert at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA. Currently he is working in Nashville, TN on a new album due out later this year. Hicks recently participated in the Asian American Idle and has an huge "Soul Patrol" following in the Philippines. Taylor made - is exactly what his career will be, he currently does not have a record label contract, but stated he could see himself with 20 different labels during his career. Fans could tell Hicks was not a follower, but he is warm and a pleasure to speak with.

April 28, 2008
By Connie Felix

Taylor Hicks - 'Whomp At The Warfield' DVD To Be Shown on HDNET-TV Again

For those who missed it the first time, here's your chance to catch "Whomp At The Warfield" on HDNET-TV again. It will be shown three times in the next couple of weeks, so if you are lucky enough to get this channel, definitely tune in because it's one of the best live shows I've ever seen.














It's described on HDNet's webpage as a "blend of high energy rock, funk, and soul, live from The Warfield in San Francisco, CA."

Hopefully, these new airings is a hint that the DVD will be going on sale soon! After all, it's been almost a year since the actual May 7th show in San Francisco. Come on Taylor, release the beast and let it grace TV screens across America!

Here are the scheduled showings:

Sun., Apr. 27th 1:30 PM ET
Sun., May. 4th 8:00 PM ET
Mon., May. 5th 2:00 AM ET

Taylor Hicks To Write New Album in Nashville, NY & Los Angeles

Happy Superbowl Sunday! We got a treat today from Taylor who gave an update on the progress of his new DVD "Whomp At The Warfield", his public appearances, his upcoming gigs and his new Clive-Free CD which should be out later in the year! Listen to it here:

Taylor Hicks - Live Cuts from the "Whomp At The Warfield" DVD!

Just a heads-up to those of you who haven't visited Taylor's myspace page lately. He just added 2 live cuts from the "Whomp At The Warfield" DVD to his music player. "The Maze"/"Warm Love" and a very funktified version of "Heaven Knows" are up for your listening pleasure. SO HOT HOT HOT!!!

Taylor, in the event you read this, please please please release the live music as a CD as well as a DVD. You'd be crazy not too - it's SO good!! The world needs to be able to pop it into it's CD player and boogie-woogie all the time!

Taylor Hicks on Sirius Satellite Radio - A Recap

Taylor Hicks fans got a real treat this afternoon with a lengthy interview with George Klein on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 13 - the Elvis Channel. Taylor said that his DVD - "Whomp At The Warfield" will be out in the Spring of 2008, followed by a new album this coming summer and an Asian and Europeon tour to follow! He also said he'd be writing with Steve Cropper from Stax Records, who incidently co-wrote many classic soul songs such as Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay, Knock on Wood and In the Midnight Hour. He was a guitarist, A & R man, engineer, producer, and songwriting partner of Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and a dozen others, as well as the founding member of both Booker T. and the MG's and The Mar-Keys. Sounds like a perfect writing team!

Click below to hear the entire interview:
Thanks Gypsee for the audio capture!

Part 1


Part 2

Taylor Hicks on Pinoys, Gray Hair, & Simon Cowell

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year Everyone!

Next year promises to be a great year for Taylor with lots of goodies in store for his fans (a HOT new DVD: "Whomp At The Warfield", A New Album and a New Tour - for starters). Thanks Taylor for a fun and successful year and here's to more good times & good music ahead!

Be sure to catch HDNet's rebroadcast of the Taylor's DVD concert from the Warfield Theater, tonight, Sunday, December 23!

I'd like to rap up 2007 with a video from another one of my heros, John Lennon - a message that is as relevant today as the day it was made. See y'all next year!


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Taylor Hicks on Pinoys, Gray Hair & Simon Cowell
CULTURE VULTURE By Therese Jamora-Garceau
Sunday, December 23, 2007

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Taylor Hicks has got the feeling he’s not in Kansas anymore. Having flown overseas for the first time to perform a series of concerts at Ayala’s Glorietta, Greenbelt and TriNoma malls, the American Idol is a long way from home (in his case, Birmingham, Alabama), and don’t he know it.

I can tell he’s well out of his comfort zone when I meet him at the Ascott Makati Hotel, where he laid his head for five days. I was expecting the Taylor Hicks I saw on American Idol — the exceptionally warm, friendly, down-to-earth Southerner who recruited millions into his Soul Patrol — not just because he could sing so well but also because he was so dang endearing.

The Taylor Hicks I shake hands with doesn’t smile immediately. He seems wary, guarded, and not quite warmed up yet for the first interview of the day.

But a similar scenario played out at his Glorietta 4 concert the night before. About a thousand fans turned out to watch him sing songs like Just to Feel that Way and The Maze from his Idol-produced album, “Taylor Hicks.”

When Hicks emerged, looking much leaner than his Idol days but still sporting the same George Clooney-esque salt-and-pepper hair, he was moving around and singing well, but where was the frenzied, quirky dancing? Where was the harmonica playing?

Backed by all-Filipino musicians culled from Louie Ocampo’s band (Ayala reps say Hicks was extremely impressed and happy with his Pinoy backup, with whom he bonded tightly), by the time the 30- to 50-something Makati crowd had started to clap and sing along, Hicks had warmed to them as well. After a show-stopping rendition of Taking it to the Streets, Hicks ended the set by finally whipping out his harmonica and letting ’er rip. Do I Make You Proud hit the right “senti” note with Pinoys, and during the danceable Heaven Knows, Hicks started twirling his arms frenetically, shouted, “Soul Patrol!” and did his trademark Ray Charles side bend with matching “Whoo!”

Now, that’s the Taylor Hicks we know and love.

What did you know about the Philippines before you came here?

A little bit from my friend Sway Penala. Sway was on the American Idol finale with me. And he told me how cool it is and how musical of a country it is. And I told him one day I’d get a chance to go and so here I am, and I’m excited about it.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found out since you arrived?

The traffic isn’t nearly as bad as Jakarta, Indonesia (where he went to judge Asian Idol), so I was pretty excited about getting from the airport to the hotel so quickly.

Are Filipinos similar to Southerners in any way?

Yeah, we both kind of live in very humid climates. So the weather here is similar to the weather back home.

Are you still carrying your statue of Ray Charles with you?

I’ve got Ray. He’s upstairs in my room, actually.

Why is gospel music so important to you?

I think it connects with spirituality. And I think there should be a certain element of spirituality in music, period. So I think that’s a key.

Did you have a religious upbringing?

No, not really. But I did listen to some gospel music and music has definitely helped me through some tough times. So the gospel sound is an influential part of my music.

You said before you had a troubled childhood. What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?

I think all kinds. Well, you know, with (my parents’) divorce and moving around a lot as a kid and stuff, I think the constant variable for me was music. It was more uplifting. Starting to play music and perform music — it started to take me away.

How small is your hometown, Birmingham, Alabama? Are you friends with Bo Bice?

Actually, I’ve met Bo a couple times. Yeah, Birmingham’s a small town, so everybody knows everybody.

How important is it to have a gimmick on American Idol?

What do you mean by “gimmick”?

I mean to have your own style. Like Sanjaya with the hair? Something to set yourself apart from the other contestants.

Well, I think you want to do that musically, to begin with. For me, the music and the performance come first. I think it’s second when you have to differentiate yourself between the other contestants. But I think the choices of songs can help you differ yourself from the other contestants.

So when did you know you had won over Simon Cowell?

I don’t think I’ve won him over yet. I’m still trying. (Laughs)

He never threw you a bone?

Not at all.

How different is it being a local celebrity in your home state to being a national idol?

Well, you know, the pressures are greater. The pressures on being a celebrity, it’s pretty big, ’cause everybody’s looking at you.

Since you won, has there been any pressure to change your image, from dyeing your hair to losing weight?

You know, not really. I think the gray will stay.

I thought the best songs on the album were the ones you wrote, Soul Thing and The Deal. What’s your songwriting process?

I think it’s just whenever it hits you. You know, whenever you get inspired, you should try to act on it. Basically, when the muses hit, then that’s when you take off.

Do you start with music or lyrics first?

It depends on where the inspiration comes from.

Do you keep a notebook with you?

Sometimes I do. If you look at my house back home, you’ll see little notes scribbled everywhere. It’s not just one main notebook, I think it’s a lot of different papers spread all over the room.

With “Taylor Hicks,” your solo album, are you still in touch with the authentic sound you started out with?

Yeah, yeah, I think I am. I think it’s been a fine line that you have to walk between pop sensibilities and authenticity of the older styles — so that’s the kind of sound that you want to create, you know.

How do you feel performing genres other than soul, R&B, and gospel?

I love all styles of music, so, you know, I’ll perform anything at any time.

How do you inject soul into other people’s music?

I think it has to have feeling, you know. You have to connect with your lyrics.

How much creative control did Clive Davis give you in recording your album?

I think, for every artist in that situation, not as much as you want, to begin with. But, you know, some of the songs that I was given for the album were great songs. So I had a lot of great music to pick from.

Did he give you the producer you wanted?

Yeah, we came to an agreement about the producer. I think Matt Serletic was a good choice for that first album.

They also just give you the songs?

I get to pick what songs. They give me 500, and I get to choose. I chose the best songs that fit my voice and my style.

Did you accomplish everything you dreamed of musically with this album?

I definitely think that there’s more music to be made. I’ve released two albums previous to American Idol: one is “Under the Radar,” and “In Your Time,” with my own band before AI, and you know, this is my third album I’ve created, basically. But this fourth one will probably sum up all the work I’ve done on the previous three albums.

Do you still play with your band?

Some of the members I do have in the band, some of the members I auditioned for. You know, you try to make the best music possible. That’s your goal as a musician.

When you won, did it spike the sales of your previous albums?

Yes. A lot.

Do you hope to win over with your performances anything you didn’t get across in the album?

You know, I want to try to take what I learned in the studio and what I learned from a live setting and combine them together to create the sound, whether it’s an album or whether it’s live. I think the more I can learn how to record and play, the better off I’ll be as a recording artist.

Do you plan to record a follow-up soon?

This year sometime. This coming year.

What’s next for you?

Well, the DVD’s coming out — it’s called Whomp at the Warfield, and that’s a theater in San Francisco — and a brand-new album and a brand-new tour. And hopefully, I’ll be back in the Philippines playing for you guys soon.

You had a lot of really enthusiastic fans at your Glorietta 4 Park concert last night.

Yeah, it’s really cool. Ayala Malls have been really nice to bring me over here and let me perform, and hopefully I can come back, not only to perform but to vacation, too.

Were you at all nervous about what sort of reception you’d get?

Um … a little bit, yeah. (Laughs) You know, I’m a long way from Alabama. So, you know, you definitely get a little nervous, but I think music is a universal language and I’m learning: it does cross barriers.

How was your experience judging Asian Idol?

I thought it was really cool. You know, there’s so many great singers that were on the show from each country. It’s amazing that all the countries in Asia can come together and perform on a show like that. It was a really neat thing to see.

What song on your album do you consider essential Taylor Hicks?

Soul Thing. That song has really come alive as far as the live concert goes.

HD Net Rebroadcasts Taylor Hick's "Whomp At The Warfield" in December

So we just got back from cruising down the Mexican Riviera for the past week on the beautiful M/S Oosterdam. We hit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Villarta. Had a great time but missed all the Taylor updates!

We have some good news if anyone missed Taylor's awesome concert from the beautiful Warfield Theater in San Francisco, CA last May! HDNet TV is rebroadcasting the show in December. From their webpage:

Sun., Dec. 23rd 3:00 PM ET Taylor Hicks - Whomp at the Warfield

The American Idol winner thrills and entertains with his blend of high energy rock, funk, and soul, live from The Warfield in San Francisco, CA.

We are still awaiting word on it's official release to retail! Rumor has it that we're looking at a time frame shortly after the new year, so hang tight everyone! I can guarantee the wait will be worth it!