Bankhead

Coney Island, NY: Air Supply Headlines Seaside Summer Concert Series. Billy Ocean Performs First U.S. Concert in 18 Years

I was having a bit of dj vu on Thursday as we stood in line waiting to be seated for the Air Supply/Billy Ocean concert at Asser Levy Park in Coney Island. Dark grey clouds loomed overhead, the forecast was bleak, and scattered thunderstorms were expected to arrive late in the afternoon and last into the night. Every half hour that passed brought more threatening storm clouds and news of downpours just a few miles away. Armed with our umbrellas (a lesson learned from the recent Endicott, NY concert in the rain), we hoped for the best but expected the worse.

Arriving at the park earlier in the afternoon, the weather was gorgeous. It was hot and sunny and the local and Billy Ocean and Air Supply crews were working hard setting up and preparing for the nights concerts. We arrived as Brett, Nate and Mark were doing sound checks and we were able to watch and listen as we walked around the park. Soon after, Air Supply came out and began their sound check. I havent ever had the opportunity to see one before, so this was a real treat. Standing about 150 feet back from the stage, we watched as Air Supply sang Even The Nights Are Better. The acoustics were phenomenal in this wide, open area and it was pretty cool to see Air Supply perform this song, but not to a crowd. They performed it as well as they do during a show, but it was a bit more casual. The other spectators standing around were having a great time too, and some even asked who those guys were, and then remarked, OhAir Supply! I remember them!

Billy Oceans group came onstage after Air Supply exited. And while Air Supplys sound check lasted about 30 minutes, Billy Oceans lasted a good two and a half hours, maybe three. After his band and back-up singers worked things out for about two hours, Billy Ocean came out and performed three songs for his sound check. It was a lot of fun and it was a great preview for the show to come.

Taking our seats around 7:30, we sat and talked with locals who come to the summer shows each Thursday night. We talked about where we were from, and were invited back multiple times to come to the next weeks show! If I lived in New York, I think Id love to go to these shows every week. The concerts are free to the public and for a $5.00 donation you can get preferred seating that includes a chair. You have to line up early if you want a great seat, but being a concert in the park, everyone has a good enough seat to enjoy the show! What a great gift to the Brooklyn residents to see such incredible performers.

About 15 minutes before show time, the rain came in. People donned ponchos and we opened our umbrellas and sat in the rain for about 10 minutes. Luckily, it was just a small shower and once over, we never had to pull them out again! So much for the dreary forecast!

Billy Ocean came out a few minutes later and the evening began. Like Air Supply, if you havent seen what he looks like in a number of years, it is surprising to see how age creeps up and makes some performers visually unrecognizable to you. Billy Ocean had long, grey dreads, but like Russell Hitchcock, there was no mistaking his crystal clear voice and infectious smile.

Surprisingly, this concert was Billy Oceans first U.S. concert in 18 years. We were told he took time off during the pinnacle of his career to be with and raise his family, but I am unsure if he performed outside of the U.S. during this time as it was not announced. However, what was announced, twice, by host Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was that Billy Ocean and Air Supply would be touring together this year. News to me, I later asked two of the band members about this and they both laughed and said it was news to them as well!

Billy Ocean sang more hits than I could recall him having, and I was having a fantastic time as he sang Mystery Lady, Color of Love, (Therell Be) Sad Songs, Suddenly, Lover Boy, Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car), When The Goin Gets Tough, and his closer Caribbean Queen.

Billy Oceans performance was nothing short of spectacular. To say he had charisma wouldnt quite be complimentary enough. He had incredible interaction with the audience, twice going into the crowd and having people sing parts of the songs. He had us singing a lot with him and the crowd was really digging it! He has a great band, including 3 back-up singers, one of whom was his daughter, a drummer, a percussionist, a keyboardist, a bass player, and a guitar player. They put on a great show, and that might be an understatement.

This being Billys first performance in the U.S. in 18 years, there was understandably a large crowd of photographers (see link below for more photos) and fans and Billy did not disappoint anyone. He never stopped smiling and moving and dancing, and I just wanted to get up on stage and dance with him! Billy Ocean and his band far exceeded my expectations and I hope I get to see his show again!

After Billy Ocean, Air Supply came out. Although a Special Performance by Graham Russell was advertised, Graham did not sing songs from The Future and Air Supply opened with Even The Nights Are Better. Everyone was on their feet and it was a great way to start the show!

Just As I Am was followed by A Little Bit Of Everything and its always interesting to see how the crowd reacts to a relatively unknown Air Supply song. Air Supply always makes this song fun for the audience, and the band, and it always has great personality.

Here I Am and Chances were next and Jed Moss performed a new piece before Faith In Love. When I later asked him what it was, he told me something that was about 10 words long, so I didnt quite get it. It was a great piece and, again, a treat to hear. The Power of Love was next and Air Supply received yet another standing ovation. The man next to me stood up and applauded after each song, so we did the same. It started a bit of a trend and more and more people started standing after each song.

During The One That You Love, Russell did go out into the audience as much as he could, but there were gates and fences that prevented him from getting out into the audience. That said, he made his way around the barricades as best he could and the fans were screaming for more! Graham quietly made his way down the pathways and by the time he and Russell returned to the stage, the audience was on its feet already singing along. Air Supply continued with The One That You Love, Lost In Love, and Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, closing with All Out Of Love.

Air Supply was simply superb. The energy from the band and audience was high and everyone had a fantastic time.

Thanks go out to Sparky, Brett, Moe, Nate and Mark, and Ill extend a special thank you to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for bringing Air Supply and Billy Ocean together for one fabulous evening. A wonderful time was had by all!

Betsy Hijazi attends Air Supply concerts and writes reviews and posts video clips on her blog at http://www.AirSupplyBlog.com http://www.MySpace.com/ASFanBetsy and http://www.YouTube.com/ASFanForLife

Many people have become fascinated with motor cars and engines in the last 100 years as they have become cheaper and more available. Currently a huge trend exists in JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) engines and cars. These cars are not available in other car markets and are primarily made for the Japanese. The benefit of buying these cars second hand from Japan is that they have not usually done many kilometres and are available for relatively cheap.

Nissan used engines imported from Japan often have turbos and extractors as standard. Honda also has some very snazzy engines available and there is quite a trend developing in this line of cars also.

In Australia, currently, the laws allow people to import Nissan engines and other JDM engines and then register the cars as collectors. But the government is changing the rules to say that the cars must be of a certain age to allow this to happen, as too many people have been taking advantage of the law and bringing Nissan and Honda engines into the country and selling them for double what they bought them for in Japan.

The most popular model of Nissan that people like to import is probably the Skyline turbo. It's a lovely looking sports car and comes with all the addon features such as double overhead cam, turbo, extractors, sports exhaust and all the interior trimmings.

For more info on Nissan used engines see the link provided.

Matthew Sirpis
JDM Engines Resource

Tennis clothes have changed drastically in style, fabric, and color over the last 100 years. The first lawn tennis players in England wore formal attire when playing. Standard tennis clothes for women were full-length dresses. Men wore long pants and formal, long sleeve shirts. The tennis clothes of both men and women were entirely white in color. Contrast this formal style with the tennis clothes worn by the tennis players of today. Modern tennis players favor synthetic fabrics, more athletic clothing styles, and a greater variety of colors.

The evolution of tennis clothes has mirrored the changes in everyday fashion. For example, male tennis players in the 1970s and 1980s favored short, tight-fitting shorts and traditional polo shirts. In the late 1990s and 2000s, male tennis players began to wear larger, looser shorts and more casual shirts. In addition, female tennis players of the 1970s and 1980s favored traditional tennis clothes with an updated style. Popular clothing included shortened tennis skirts and dresses. Todays women tennis players wear a variety of tennis clothes, ranging from tennis skirts and dresses to shorts and t-shirts. While tennis players still wear white at more traditional clubs (e.g. Wimbledon), there is a much larger variety of colors in modern tennis clothes.

Another factor contributing to the evolution of tennis clothes is the increased athleticism in the modern game. Tennis is now a high intensity sport, requiring tremendous physical effort and exertion. Tennis players must be able to run, cut, jump, and twist all while executing precise tennis strokes to hit a ball often moving at high speeds. Consequently, comfort is a major concern of players. Modern tennis players prefer tennis clothes that are lightweight, fit well, repel moisture, and are generally comfortable. Tennis clothes that keep the body cool and dry can help players counteract the physical toll that playing tennis, especially in hot weather, can exact.

Advances in clothing technology have also contributed to the evolution of tennis clothes. For years, cotton was the fabric of choice for tennis clothes. In the last few years, however, many tennis apparel makers have introduced garments made of new, synthetic fibers. Tennis clothes made of these synthetic fibers help remove sweat from the skin and clothing by wicking moisture away from the body. Examples of these clothing technologies are Adidass ClimaCool brand and Nikes Dri-FIT. Most professional tennis players and many recreational tennis players now wear tennis clothes made with these new technologies because they keep them cooler and drier than traditional tennis wear.

In conclusion, tennis clothes have seen many changes over the years. While tennis clothes maintain some of their formality and traditional style, modern tennis players value comfort and individual style over tradition. Increased athleticism, advances in technology, and changes in general fashion have greatly affected the tennis clothing industry. In addition, breaking from their traditional roots, tennis clothes have become a medium for personal expression of individual style and important pieces of equipment in an increasingly physical sport.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis clothes.

America has a reluctance to accept relationships between people of the same gender. This reluctance follows a similar pattern to the hostility towards interracial relationships. Although increasing, acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons relationships are not widespread in America today. The stereotype remains that these groups practice promiscuous lifestyles.

Many homosexuals currently seek marriage rights in order to recognize their committed relationships. This campaign for gay marriage rights has been met with acceptance and hostility. Several states recently voted to revise the wording for legal marriages so that a marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. In addition, several states have witnessed court decisions legalizing same sex marriage. The issue is very polarizing in America, and the opposition to gay marriage is largely based on religious, moral, and cultural beliefs. In order to defuse some of this polarization, some states have found middle ground in recognizing civil unions for same sex couples.

Despite the political climate for the hot-button issue of gay marriage, the media has taken forward steps to increase acceptance by portraying human relationships in alternative lifestyles. Additionally, there is a very strong community for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons that can offer lots of support, if not in every town, than at least on the internet. Books, websites, television programs, and other media are offering more options geared to couples that break the heterosexual norm.

Perhaps because the country is so divided by the issue, gay and lesbian relationships have received increased attention and debate in the past decade.

Relationships Info provides detailed information about online relationships, long distance relationships, relationship advice, relationship problems, relationship quizzes, interracial relationships, and more. Relationships Info is the sister site of Troubled Teens Web.