With so many of today’s bands producing music for the masses, it’s refreshing when a act comes along with a sound truly their own.

The Swill Merchants perform with a passion that only comes from a love of the music, taking them to a plane far above any band playing for a love of money.

The true magnitude of this can only be fully appreciated by seeing them live, beer in hand, grooving with the crowd. Before they go on, the five guys bullshit with their friends and fans, throw back some shots of Jack, and don’t appear any different from the rest of the hipsters and drinkers in the audience.

You might be able to compare their music to Modest Mouse or Rise Against. With focused expressions you don’t recognize, compared to the guys you just took a shot with five minutes ago.

The show has begun.

“We live life to realize potential and be fulfilled, live hard, and unlimited — that is what we sing about,” said bassist John St. Onge.

Never is that lifestyle more apparent than when they are on stage.

The road to forming Swill Merchants was not smoothly paved, but it has all come together to form a cohesive unit.

The light at the end of the tunnel has always been the same. “We write what we want to hear and what makes us feel how we want to feel” St. Onge said.

St. Onge met up with lead singer Rich Tardy in a band called Dorzia. Coming from there, the pair was in a quest to make music they loved, the pair left that band and set off creating one that they could pour their souls into.

Steve Fey, the band’s guitarist, brings an undeniable skill that leaves you breathless watching and listening.

Their drummer was not so easy to find, but a few years and a few people later, Bill Nacewicz adds skill and technicality that unifies the whole group.

The most recent addition to the band came in the form of a synthesizer. The role has since been expanded into a synthesizer and keyboard with Matt Silberstein manning both.

Although not one of the most noticeable aspects of their show the depth of sound that Silberstein creates cannot be denied.

With an inspired rocking sound and a live show that is sure to keep you entertained the Swill Merchants offer the music world the total package. Beyond good looks and rocking tunes, these five guys encompass a love and passion for their work.

“Of course we get nervous,” St. Onge said. “These are our emotions on display. But we only get one trip.”

Look at me I’m an elf!

Seems like an untrue statement for a woman who’s 5’10″ until you visit elfyourself.com and start the elfmorphosis.

By uploading up to four photos, you can create a whole group of elves for your dancing pleasure. It is easy to upload photos with tools there to resize and rotate and allow you to get your face right in there. The fun part comes when it’s time to upload a message. Call a toll free number and following the instructions!

All that’s left to do is give the dance instruction. After you press play your elf self begins a rock concert dance to Jingle Bells with your message playing throughout in your elf’ed voice. This is a hilarious holiday treat!

The best thing about Wii is playing games where you actually act out the real-life motions. That means dropping a redneck into a dunk tank and throwing darts at balloons you really have to be able to get into it when playing Global Star’s Carnival Games.

Playing alone or with friends, you really think you could be at the summer carnival you went to every year growing up (or still go to every year). You will find all the classic games from ring toss to shoot the star.

Starting out, you get to design your character choosing between body types, facial features, clothing, and hairstyles. As you play more games and win tickets you can unlock or buy additional items and accessories. They are all a little on the cheesy side, that’s really the point — exaggerated carnival antics, complete with heckling carnies.

You don’t get to use your Mii, however.

The game is probably better in multiplayer mode, but you need to play solo to unlock hidden games and fake prizes. Winning tickets in single-player mode can be used to buy upgrades for your characters or to play the extra game per walkway. Winning the “jumbo prize” unlocks the bonus game which prove much more entertaining than there entry level counterparts.

Playing multiplayer allows for good competition. You can choose to share one remote among your friends or use individual controllers. This means your friends can all play regardless of how much money you have spent on extras for your Wii.

The games are grouped on several themed walkways with no real sense of order. The only thing related to the name of the walk way are the extra games — ask the psychic — that are only available in single player modes. They take tickets to play and you don’t really get anything out of them. They’re a lot like their arcade counterparts — you pump tokens into them and get nothing in return.

The bonus games proved to be the most entertaining. They take some of the standard games a step up by giving you unlimited darts to throw for a certain amount of time or a little shooting range with a time limit. They are more about getting a high score than winning prizes, but prove to be the most fun. They can also be played in single player and multiplayer modes.

The thing that makes this game stand out is that it really takes advantage of the Wii-mote and makes the games all quite lifelike. When throwing a ball — whether it be at a clown, stack of bottles or the dunk tank — you must make an overhand throwing motion. The darts works best when holding the Wii-mote exactly like a dart and making a quick motion with the wrist.

Make sure you secure your wrist strap in this game to prevent any damage to your living room. Although it gets annoying it is an understandable warning. The harder you roll the ball in Skee Ball the further it goes, and the harder you hit the frog launcher the further they fly, so a little extra oomph is sometimes necessary.

The games are easy to pick up, and instructions grace the screen before each game. Practice definitely makes perfect in getting just the right touch in the different games.

And there is no lack of snarky comments coming from the carnies running the games, adding to the reality of the experience. When you don’t toss a ring perfectly on to a bottle or miss the mark when shooting out the star expect some heckling for your poor form.

Overall the game takes advantage of the Wii’s capabilities at making the games pretty true to their summertime counterparts. It has its moments of being a less-than-thrilling game, but provides good lighthearted fun for one or a group. It’s also a good break from (home)work or cleaning and can prove very entertaining at parties.

Publisher: Global Star Software
Developer: Cat Daddy Games
Platform: Wii
Genre: Mini-game collection
Players: 1-4
Rating: Everyone
Launch Date: August 27, 2007

Playability: 4 out of 5 stars
Learning Curve: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Sound: 4 out of 5 stars
Graphics: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Tabatha Coffey, 39, tried out for Bravo TV’s reality series “Shear Genius” to see for herself what a show focused on hair professionals could be like.

Now, after the intense and emotional experience of competing and watching the show, she has settled back into her daily life — which now includes spontaneous autograph sessions and new clients at her salon, Industrie Hair Gurus in Ridgewood, N.J.

“It’s great,” she said. “The fans have been so kind, and I think it’s just so cool when people recognize me at the mall.”

Beginning as a salon assistant at the age of 14 in her homeland of Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, Coffey instantly fell in love with the field.

“I would do anything they let me, sweep, clean, wash hair anything just to be there,” she said.

But Coffey soon realized she wanted more.

At 15, she took the next step by starting the four-year apprenticeship program in Australia. During that time, she said her love for hairdressing grew. Following this she moved to London, England for eight years to continue her training.

She’s been in America for 19 years now.

For Coffey, the biggest lesson learned during her years in the industry was a hard thing to pin down.

“You always have to make sure to be educated because of the ever-changing industry,” she said. You can’t be complacent with clients, even if it’s their first time in the salon.The client is always changing.”

Coffey said she takes her education as well as the education of other hairdressers seriously.

“My favorite thing to do is work with other hairdressers and teaching,” she said. “I love giving and getting back from other professionals.”

Tabatha continues this work as a platform artist for Joico International, a hair care product company involved in the development and education of hair products and professionals. She travels the world doing hair shows that act a showcase of talent as well as an educational platform for others in the industry. She does 6 to 12 shows a year in Asia, Australia, Latin America and Europe.

Coffey said her favorite show recently occurred in Bangkok in front of about 6,000 people. There, she said she was able to showcase her creativity not only through hair, but by also designing the wardrobe for the event, with the theme of “fantasy hair.”

Responses to the shows in Asia have been the most positive, with each show drawing about 1,000 people.

Her good actions seemed to have been lost to the production room floors during the editing process of Shear Genius. Some people have called her “a heartless bitch” who “doesn’t belong to be on the show,” in blogs found on the Shear Genius website.

“I feel I was shown as one-dimensional, with a definite bitch factor,” she said. “I wish to have seen more of my other sides. Although, it was a competition and I took it seriously. I came in with a very intense I want to win attitude. My softer fun side was just not shown.”

Coffey never shied away from sharing her opinion about fellow castmates. She once called Tyson an “evil leprechaun” who she mixed with like “oil and water.”

Yet she also gained a dear friend in Anthony who she has referred to as a brother-type figure.

Coffey said she is thankful for the experience and meeting the people she was on the show with. She said she learned a little more about herself in the processing realizing an ability to “be pretty good in a pinch.”

But would she do it again?

“Well never say never,” she said. “I don’t know if I could go through it all again. It was very intense and emotional both doing and watching it. But I wouldn’t rule anything out. It was so amazing.”

Especially in today’s world, the words used to describe women of color are under increased scrutiny. With cases like Imus taking over front pages one must really think about the words they use to describe someone, especially if those words are public.

However one growing aspect of entertainment seems to not have such limits or restrictions: the rap and hip-hop industry.

With lyrics degrading women every other line and blanket statements about a woman’s “role” towards her man, it’s a wonder that anything could be considered appropriate.

T Denean Sharpley-Whiting looks at this very issue in her book “Pimps Up, Ho’s Down: Hip Hop’s Hold on Young Black Women.” She bravely opens her book with the statement that even she, a professor of African American studies and feminist, fell into the grasp of hip hop’s appeal. She points out that she went into a women’s rights class at Brown University singing the lyrics from Dr. Dre’s 1992 album “The Chronic” as she walked through the door. A CD that refers to women openly as whores and sluts.

Yet through her well researched book full of interviews from colleagues, women in the industry, and everyday women, she reveals just how this has come to be accepted. And also fires back against its popularity. Showing examples of women trying to create themselves in the image of hip hop, including the girls in the videos trying to fulfill the roles set in the songs, Sharpley-Whiting displays just how accepted these ideas have become.

Sharpley-Whiting goes further with this argument by also using examples of African-American girls trying to deny their heritage to become less hip hop and more socially acceptable. These examples include girls from America’s Next Top Model vying to either have their hair straightened or fighting to keep it wavy and natural.

Solid research and an articulate argument make this a convincing read for people of any race and gender.

iHome has just come out with another upgrade to the everyday alarm clock.

Compatible with all versions of the iPod, except for the new versions of the iPod Shuffle, the iH7R makes waking up and falling asleep smoother than ever.

The volume of the alarm and sleep settings increase and decrease smoothly with gradual wake and sleep features to avoid startling the user. These features allow the user to be slowly awakened or lulled to sleep with either tunes from their iPod or the AM/FM radio.

A buzzer alarm option is also available for those who need a quick wake up call in the morning. There is also a dual alarm feature for those who like to sleep through their alarms or in cases where two people need to wake up at different times.

The iH7R sounds impressive with its Reson8 speaker chambers, known for the their clarity, depth and power. A bedside satellite speaker allows for a surround sound effect, but it doesn’t reach much past the width of your bed, though-this is due mostly to its short length. The speakers live up to their reputation by producing high-quality sound from such a compact unit.

The radio and iPod can be controlled from any part of your room using an included remote, as long as it’s a straight shot to the iHome base, despite claims otherwise by the manufacturer.

The only major downside here is that the menus of the iPod can not be accessed through the remote. This makes it tough to get picky from the other side of your bedroom.

A patch cord is included to play your CD’s and other audio devices as well.

Overall, the iH7R packs an impressive sound and user friendly features.

For $149.99, it’s a great investment for those who always want to have their iPod around.

After disappearing from shelves in 2000, the original soundtrack to the movie “Hope Floats” has been remastered, expanded and re-released April 24.

The original 13-track compilation now includes 18. The soundtrack’s U.S. sales exceeded $2.7 million after it came out in 1998.

The six new tracks include Barry Manilow and the Temptations and original score composer Dave Grusin. Original artists include a top list including Sheryl Crow, the Rolling Stones and Trisha Yearwood.

Its mellow yet honest sound goes along with the movie’s tale of a mother starting over and finding love in her life again after a painful divorce. Forced to go back to her hometown and start over, the soundtrack takes you through similar journey of rediscovery of self and love. All the songs reflect these aspects of life any listener can relate to.

Well organized tracks take you through the highs and lows of love and life. "All I get" by The Mavericks pleads with a lover to remember the good they once had together while going through a rough patch. A situation anyone of dating age has been through and can understand.

“When You Love Someone” by Bryan Adams continues with a more optimistic approach discussing all of the good times found in relationships the Mavericks only bring up as memories.

With the opening and closing tracks being instrumentals by composer Dave Grusin, the story is nicely opened and closed easing the transitions into and out of the mellow mood enticed by the CD.

Overall its honest message and smooth listening make it a soundtrack appealing to young and old. The new tracks only add to the already all encompassing message although the remastering does not make quite as much of an impact.

And with a movie story that can be related to by just as large of an audience it is no wonder the soundtrack was so successful the first time and proves to only do better the second time around.

Sitting in a 1988 RV may not seem like the rock star life too many people dream of, but for the five guys in Mile Marker Zero, a Connecticut-based progressive rock band, there is no place they’d rather be.

On April 26, their rickety old RV with black trailer sat on the street outside the Webster Theater in Hartford. Inside, it seemed more like a frat boy’s dream than a rock star’s as the smell of chicken lo-mein filled the nose. The Yankees and Red Sox battled it out on the radio while girlfriends shuffled through a Playboy magazine they “had” to purchase to get over a $5 credit card minimum at a nearby store.

Bassist, Tim Rykoski, poured individual sized bags of Cheez-It’s in his mouth, washing them down with Natural Ice in a forty ounce bottle.

Guitarist John Tuohy strummed away on an unplugged electric guitar, giving a reminder as to the group’s identity.

But even that sound got drowned out as Mark Focarile, the band’s piano player, joked with Rykoski, and Tuohy about whether or not the RV could run on a nine-volt battery.

Finally Dave Alley, the lead singer, handed out individually labeled envelopes of tickets to old friends.

That night, Mile Marker Zero prepared in their own way to be the last of five opening acts for headliner Spock’s Beard. It was a progressive rock show combining local acts and a headliner with more of an underground following and appeal.

Alley described Progressive or "prog” rock, usually characterized by changes in tone and tempo reflecting the projected changes in feeling through out the often very long songs in the genre.

“It’s an underground artistic movement that gets people to feel more emotion than the more mainstream music,” Alley said. “Let the music speak for itself. People aren’t one-dimensional and their music shouldn’t be either.”

Inside the Webster, drummer and younger brother of the lead singer, Doug Alley, stood in the doorway leading into the main auditorium. He oozed of rock star image with his spiked hair, t-shirt and formal sports coat covering it up.

College friends and childhood friends stood with middle aged fans sporting their Spock’s Beard t-shirts in the rear bar area. A younger crowd gathered near the stage showing off their local high school pride on their shirts and jackets.

Between the $4.50 draft beers and snack stand complete with popcorn and nachos, this mixed crowd found ways to keep themselves entertained between sets.

At 9 p.m., Mile Marker Zero took to the stage for setup and sound check. At smaller shows like this, where six bands shared sets on one stage, some of their stuff was already up there and ready to go.

The short time between sets allowed a quick sound check of drum microphones and an monitor volume adjustment. Soon enough they’re ready to go. 9:30 hit, and the rock star came out of all five guys. Lingering thoughts of the RV and Chinese takeout were in the past, and the performer in each of these guys came out.

During the third song a solo from Tuohy sealed the deal for this opening act. Even the Spock’s Beard t-shirts started to gather around the stage. The band performed with a sound that goes from thrashing loud metal filling the room to soft acoustics that come out of nowhere.

This is how progressive rock is supposed to sound. The feeling is ever changing. At times Dave Alley’s voice came ranges from operatic to signature rock star edge that comes out of nowhere with a throaty scream.

Once off of the stage, the life of the trying to make it rock star reemerged back out. The five guys took down their own equipment and begin the rounds of thanking their fans individually.

After the set, the elder Alley ran back to the RV and returned with a stack of CDs to strike while the iron was hot and sell to their newly found fans.

Dave Alley stood by the exit for a while and made small talk with passers by and fans that stopped to chat.

He said there’s always a chance that someone in the crowd can offer that big break. This is especially true when opening for a band like Spock’s Beard, which is already signed to a label.

Whether they make it big or not, Dave Alley said he’d rather continue making music he’s proud of, that expresses as many emotions as possible in the time he is allotted.

“I will never cater to one sound as long as I am proud of the music I am writing,” he said.

From the pre-show RV festivities to the after-show conversations it’s easy to see the draw of the rock star life. Even when it means traveling around in an RV with a refrigerator that smells of a sour combination of old Chinese take out and rotten clementines and sleeping in cramped conditions with five fully grown men. These guys love what they do and love the music they are able to make. They go on stage to evoke emotion and create a lasting impression on everyone in the room. This can seem like a lofty goal, but for Mile Marker Zero it’s turning into their everyday life.

The next night Mile Marker Zero went on win the Kappa Chi Alpha battle of the bands at Western Connecticut State University. They will open for Ok Go at Western Connecticut May 3.

Their LP “The Haunted” can be purchased online at CD Baby or on iTunes.

Check them out online at MMZBand.com or on MySpace.