MCA Day 2013 was awesome.  MCA Day 2014 was even better.

This year’s MCA Day began on Friday with a really cool promotion in Union Square.  It featured breakdancing monks.  It was a lot of fun and I was able to zip down there during lunch to see it.  After Union Square, they headed to Washington Square Park (I couldn’t attend).

MCA Day was Saturday at Littlefield, Brooklyn, New York (same venue as last year).  It’s the perfect venue for this type of event. It’s only a 5 minute walk from the R train.  There are two exhibition areas, one in the front next to a bar (good beer and liquor) and one in the rear of the venue, along with the stage.

You know you’re in the right area because Dave Sussman’s car is parked right out front.  This same car was used to pick up Danny Boy of House of Pain from the airport.  As you approach the front door, the first thing you see if Danny Boy sitting with some folk at a table (how cool is that ?!?!).

When you walk through the front door, the bar is on the right.  To your left is a table with a guest book and lots of free schwag (stickers, buttons, flyers). The room is full of amazing art, including a piece that Cey Adams had been working on for seven days straight trying to get it done in time…and had just finished the night before.  Cey had told Mike Kearny (the founder of MCA Day) to leave space on the wall for his piece.

I saw Cey walking around talking to and taking pictures with fans.  Cey is a super-friendly nice guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By noon, the place was packed. Twice as many people as last year. They ran out of beer and had to order more. Long bathroom line. After last year’s MCA Day, word must have gotten around that Beastie fans can’t miss this event. People flew in from around the world. MCA Day founder, Mike Kearny, took to the stage to say how appreciative he was.

 

 

 

 

 

DJ Hurricane was in attendance last year, but I wasn’t sure if he’d be here this year. Then, I found out that he had just RSVP’d the day before. He didn’t want to miss it. He talked to and took photos with fans, interviewed by reporters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were a few breakdancing groups in attendance, including the most adorable couple of kids. I couldn’t believe how good they were.

 

 

 

 

 

People were standing in the back room watching a compilation of Beastie Boy vids, listening to jams being mixed by a number of DJs, including Dante, who generously donated their time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cey Adams took the stage briefly to talk about Adam Yauch, as well as the art piece he had been rushing to get finished for MCA Day.

Then, Bill McMullen ‘Billions McMillions’ took the stage. He spent a good 15 minutes talking about working with Adam Yauch and how brilliant he was. Adam would call him in the middle of the night with different ideas he had running through his head. Yauch was a big fan of Peter Sellers. He called Bill one night doing one of Sellers’ characters, calling Bill ‘Billions McMillions.’ This is how the name was coined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Kearny stalked Darryl McDaniels aka DMC of RUN DMC at a charity event at Lucky Strike bowling in Boston.  He was able to push his way past reporters and get some great MCA stories.  This video also includes tributes from Rakim from Eric B and Rakim, Monie Love, Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh.

NYC Fresh Crew.

Shortly after I left, Mixmaster Mike, came and spoke.  Kicking myself for missing him.

Rest in peace, Adam Yauch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, Michael Kearny and company kicked off MCA Day 2014 with a special promotion in New York City’s Union Square.  MCA Day regulars from around the world, including Danny Boy from House of Pain and Coka Nostra waited in anticipation.

Then, at a little after 12pm, break dancing monks appeared. Their crew performed some kick ass moves.  Watch below.

MCA Day 2014 takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at Littlefield in Brooklyn.  Celebrate the Life of Adam Yauch. This will be the third annual MCA Day.  The first one was impromptu and took place in Union Square shortly after Adam Yauch’s death.  Last year’s was also in Littlefield.

Bret Michaels of Poison performed Every Rose Has Its Thorn today at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City NYC.  He was promoting the Hard Rock’s new menu and Sing for Your Supper.  If you sang karaoke with the Zoo Band, you won a free meal.  The Zoo Band features Trixter’s PJ Farley on bass.  They were chosen best cover band on MTV.

No ticket was necessary.  You just needed to go inside.

It was a great surprise…going there to see Brett Michaels and getting to see PJ perform, as well.

 

Saw Ron Gallagher last night at Bergen PAC.  Spotted Brian Quinn and Sal Vulcano from Impractical Jokers in the lobby.  They were there to interview Gallagher for their @WhatSayYouPod podcast.  Gallagher didn’t seem to know who they were and was wondering why they were getting mobbed by fans.

I sat second row, center.  The jokers were right orchestra, fifth row.  There were also two girls with shirts that had Gallagher on the front and What Say You on the back.  The girls were so annoying.  They kept getting up to go for beers and kept bringing the show to a halt.  There were fifty podcast fans there.  They follow Sal and Brian when they have this outings.

Gallagher plugged the podcast throughout the show.

Brian and Sal wouldn’t keep quiet.  They kept shouting things out and tried to get a chant going with an obscure reference from their television show, “Let’s Go Sexy.”  It was like a Harlem movie theater.

Gallagher was great, as always.  Quick, analytical wit and a messy grand finale…watermelons and all.  Gallagher referenced the fact that this is his last tour and thinks he’ll be dead soon.  He also referred to the videos online of his past on-stage heart attacks.  However, he was still using the Sledge-o-Matic even though his doctors told him no to.

Ron Gallagher says he’s been writing songs and wants to pitch them to Gloria Estefan when he plays their Miami theater this month.  This song is about the Ten Commandments.

 

Snooki Polizzi was in NYC today promoting her book Baby Bumps.  Lots of mommies brought their babies.

First thing I saw leaving penn this morning.

As promised, here is video from Eddie Trunk’s 30th Anniversary Party which took place October 23rd at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.  Where else can you see Anthrax, Bumblefoot and Mike Portnoy performing with Ace Freely and Peter Criss?

 

I had the great luck of winning tickets to Eddie Trunk’s 30th Anniversary party which took place this past Wednesday at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC.  It was the greatest concert? party? concert party? I’ve ever attended.

Great performances, killer jams.  So many musicians there I couldn’t even count.  Sammy Hagar even came by with his band to say congrats to Eddie.  He didn’t perform.  He just went backstage.

Ace and Peter Criss performed for the first time in 13 years.  Members of Twister Sister, Stryper, Trixter, Queensryche, Lita Ford.  It was insane.

Setlist:

APTAIN NEMO (MSG) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot)

DIAMONDS AND RUST (JUDAS PRIEST) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Tony Harnell on Vox)

BURN (DEEP PURPLE) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Tony Harnell on Vox)

RESTLESS AND WILD (ACCEPT) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Mark Tornillo on Vox)

ON FIRE (VAN HALEN) (Portnoy & Sheehan – Mark Tornillo on Vox, Steve Brown on Guitar)

LIGHT UP THE SKY (VAN HALEN) (Portnoy & Sheehan – Mark Tornillo on Vox, Steve Brown on Guitar)

UNDER THE BLADE (TWISTED SISTER) (Portnoy & Sheehan – Jay Jay French on Guitar, Bobby Blitz Ellsworth on Vox)

YOU CAN’T STOP ROCK & ROLL (TWISTED SISTER) (Portnoy & Sheehan – Jay Jay French on Guitar, Bobby Blitz Ellsworth on Vox)

TOO HOT TO HANDLE (UFO) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Lita Ford on Vox)

ROCK BOTTOM (UFO) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Michael Sweet on Vox)

GOT TO CHOOSE (KISS) (Portnoy & Bumblefoot – Scott Ian on Guitar & Frank Bello on Bass/Vox)

PARASITE (KISS) (Portnoy & Bumblefoot – Scott Ian on Guitar, Frank Bello on Bass and Ace Frehley on Guitar & Vox)

HOOLIGAN (KISS) (Bumblefoot, Frank Bello on Bass, Peter Criss on Vox & Drums)

LOVE HER ALL I CAN (KISS) (Bumblefoot, Scott Ian on Guitar, Frank Bello on Bass/Vox, Ace Frehley on Guitar, Peter Criss on Drums)

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT (KISS) (Portnoy & Bumblefoot – Scott Ian on Guitar, Frank Bello on Bass, Ace Frehley on Guitar, Peter Criss on Drums)

——— (encore:)

DOCTOR DOCTOR (UFO) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Lita Ford on Guitar, Geoff Tate, Michael Sweet & Tony Harnell on Vox, Charlie Benante on 2nd Drums)

LIGHTS OUT (UFO) (Portnoy, Sheehan & Bumblefoot – Lita Ford on Guitar, Michael Sweet & Tony Harnell on Vox, Charlie Benante on 2nd Drums)

Howard Stern’s security person, Ronnie the Limo Driver, escorts the awesome Michael J Fox from the SiriusXM (McGraw Hill) building.  A dozen or so autograph seekers were already lined up before he came out.  As always, Howard conducted a great interview.