Thanks to Michelle (@ATLRio on twitter) for the photo of Michael and Brian Wiltsey.
Michael treated his friends and the packed Tin Roof Cantina on August 20, to an amazing evening of music! He sang so many fabulous classics and took many requests during the evening. Brian Wiltsey, MJ’s very accomplished guitarist from his Tin Roof Days accompanied him and they did some singing together as well..it was fabulous! He also had a few other friends come up to sing a song or two! What a night to remember and listening to MJ’s killer voice for at least 4 hours was just outstanding and a dream come true!! WTG MJ and thanks for such a wonderful time!
Michael singing Bohemian Rhapsody..thanks Michelle!
Rodney Ho from Access Atlanta wrote a great article about MJ’s Tin Roof gig.. he includes a video too Read it HERE.
MJ met up with tennis greats, the Bryan Brothers to do a gig at the Ansley Golf and Tennis Club on the 23rd.
Here is a tweet from Bob Bryan @Bryanbros
BTW- @michael_johns killed it on Monday night…..but I’m sure that’s no surprise to you guys!
Here is a short clip of them definitely rockin’ out!
Michael killed it at Molly Malones this past Saturday night!! His setlist was just to die for..According to the LiterateGal’s tweets Michael sang “Statues”, Roy Orbison’s “Crying”, “Redemption”, Adele’s “Someone Like You” and “Taillights” (the one that is named as “Redemption” on The Rising Myspace).
We were so lucky with tweets, twitvids, pictures and videos from fans that attended and I know I can speak for all of us who weren’t there….a HUGE thank-you to everyone who shared!
MJ’s song choice was spot on and I think that “Crying” and “Someone Like You” showed off his voice to perfection!!
Thanks so much to Nicole (@iluv2seeu) for her fab little twitvid of “Taillights” (partial)!
Many thanks to @livehead16 we have Michael’s absolutely amazing and goosebump making rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Crying”
Many, many thanks to Youtube Ninasfeet for the breathtaking Adele cover “Someone Like You”
Then there were the gorgeous photos from @livehead16 …
Michael has been working very hard on his single “Cry Cry Cry” and tweeted that it’s 99% done! Just the finishing touches left. I know that everyone is so excited for it so let’s get ready to make it climb to the top of the charts!!
MJ has been tweeting up a storm which included an impromptu and full of fun twitter party on Monday…..
Coming up!!
Thursday, July 28 – Roseville (Sacramento area) at the outdoor Summer Of Fun Entertainment Series at Westfield Galleria.
MJ will perform along with LaToya London and Nikki McKibbon! If you are in the area, definitely plan to attend..it’s a free outdoor show and Michael is amazing live! UPDATE: haven’t seen any videos or photos from this event..if you have some, fans would love to see them! http://rosevillept.com/detail/180292.html
Sunday, July 31 – the Farmer’s Classic Tennis at UCLA, the National Anthem
Hoping we get a video of this..MJ always kills the anthem and hopefully he will get to watch and/or play some tennis UPDATE: MJ didn’t get to sing due to ESPN time constraints. He kills the anthem so he’ll be doing it again soon I am sure!
Saturday August 13 10pm – Molly Malones LA, 21 and up, acoustic show. 21 and over $8
Molly Malone’s is known for some of the best local music and I was lucky enough to see MJ play a fabulous show here in 2010! I highly recommend going if you can..his acoustic shows are absolutely fantastic! http://www.mollymalonesla.com/
Friday, September 16 at 9pm – Viper Room LA, full band and new songs
This one, at the famous Viper Room sounds spectacular and definitely not to be missed!! http://www.viperroom.com/
Sounds like Michael has a very busy month or two ahead and fans are going to have some fun!! I will be updating the blog with more information and future shows as they become available.
Just a reminder to please tell all your friends and followers on social media sites about the new music and shows..let’s spread the word everywhere!!!
Stay tuned for a whirlwind of MJ news!
MJ tweeted that he was going to spend a few days being a cowboy at a friend’s ranch in Montana..and today he tweeted this gorgeous picture!!
Looking so relaxed, happy and ever so handsome, I wanted to share the pic with those of you not on twitter!
Remember you can follow him there at @Michael_Johns
On other exciting news, check out the snippet of “Cry Cry Cry” which is MJ’s summer single and it’s coming soon!!
(we think this looks like MJ is singing We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You)
WOW!! Looks like an awesome and action packed time at the Moon Palace Resort’s 2011 “Summer With The Stars” event!! MJ appears in the video a couple of times..once swinging his golf club and the other upon stage…check out those fangirls up at the stage when MJ is singing!! What a star he is!!!!
You will see lots of familiar faces and based on tweets during and since the event..everyone seems to have had a blast!! Palace Resorts Facebook Page where you can leave a comment on their wall.
I know all the fans would love to see Michael in the 2012 video! If you want to see him participate in future events there..please don’t forget to comment on the video or Facebook page.
Enjoy!
Another gorgeous picture of MJ singing!
photo credit HERE
Watch tonight’s red carpet video from the Moon Palace “Summer With The Stars” event..June 15-19 in Cancun, Mexico. Read more about it HERE
Michael was up to his typical antics, walking past the host Joey Fatone as a joke and then his interaction with Ruben.
You will see lots of familiar Idol and TV faces in the video..MJ is hilarious and handsome as ever!
Yesterday Michael tweeted that he was going to the Aussie Breakthrough Awards and to watch out for Red Carpet pictures!
Thanks so much to our girls..Maja and Sharon for finding these gorgeous pictures of both MJ and Stacey!
Enjoy!
Enjoy more fabulous pictures, funny and touching Michael interviews and another awesome video of him singing Heart On My Sleeve!
HEART ON MY SLEEVE from SpotlightonENT
Michael interview on the Red Carpet with Didi Benami and Brandon Rogers
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Short clip of Michael interviewed on the Red Carpet at 1:58
Michael was very busy yesterday performing and giving interviews at the AT&T Idol event!
We have been so fortunate to see wonderful videos and great articles!
They don’t need much introduction…MJ’s vids are great and it goes to show what a wonderful singer he is…those notes at the end of Champions!!!!
The interview he gave to Rodney Ho of Atlanta was fabulous!
It’s always a bit like Christmas when Michael participates in events like these…so thanks MJ from all of us!
Michael was a guest blogger for The Hollywood Reporter and his Top 6 Idol performance review was featured on Idol Worship. His review is insightful and thoroughly entertaining….all infused with his fabulous sense of humour!
Enjoy!!
Many thanks to the Hollywood Reporter and Idol Worship!…link to the article HERE.
Season 7 featured a slew of unforgettable performers, but Michael Johns stood out — not just because of his sexy Australian accent (by way of Atlanta) and the Jim Morrison-like swagger he displayed on the American Idol stage, there was formidable talent behind those dashing good looks.
And like a fine wine, each of those qualities has only gotten better with age, along with a deeper appreciation of the Idol road which few have traveled — even if it did end at eighth place. Johns is working on new music, some of which was recorded with guidance by Idol judge Randy Jackson. Keep up with him via Twitter and check out his thoughts on Season 10 and the Top 6 below …
First, it needs to be said: It’s really hard to blog about these Season 10 contestants when each of them is so incredibly good! As they should be. We’ve come to the Top 6, and at this point in the season, any one of them could be the American Idol.
I love that that the competition is so much more real this year. It’s not like in previous seasons, where the producers try to inject that constant state of fear. This year, it’s like they’re trying to nurture the artist within every contestant, and it’s showing.
I’m also loving the judges. I think Steven Tyler is a genius and so funny. And Jennifer Lopez, she’s not putting on a pop star act or being a movie star, she’s just being Jennifer Lopez: funny, sweet, encouraging. You can see how she’s made it so far. As for Randy, I think he’s a musical genius, and I love that America is finally getting to see the real Randy Jackson, who I’ve worked with in the studio. It’s like he’s coming out of his shell: He’s funny, constructive and just a genuine talent. It was a tall order to step out of the shadow of Simon Cowell, and he’s accomplished that.
Another great thing about this season, that I so wish we had in my year, is that every performance is given the same stage treatment, complete with bells and whistles. Whereas if you think back to Adam Lambert’s season, for instance, he would come out to smoke and lasers and everything, and then the next person would play with a fluorescent lightbulb as their spotlight. I’m exaggerating, of course, but you get my drift. But this year, everyone is on a level playing field, and we get to see the cream rise to the top.
Also, they’re not messing with the sound quality like they did in the past. They use reverb and effects on each of the contestants, but any ex-Idol would tell you, the sound was manipulated in real time. Then you’d listen back on YouTube, and it would f— with you a little. You think, “Did I sound like that?” And as anyone with experience making or recording music knows, you can differentiate when something’s not quite right or the mix is subpar. This year, they’re keeping to the true sound. I like that very much.
With that in mind, here’s my take on how the Top 6 sounded on Carole King night:
Jacob Lusk (“Oh No Not My Baby”): At this point in the competition, Jacob is up against it. He’s a powerhouse, and I think he’s definitely got a career beyond Idol, but he maybe should have picked a different key to this song. Like a half-step lower, and then he could flip up to that amazing upper register of his. But the scatting was really good. All in all, he didn’t seem very comfortable with the performance. Obviously, he can sing anything, but it might have been a tad too high for the whole performance. We all know he has incredible range, but I prefer it when he uses all of his register.
Lauren Alaina (“Where You Lead”): I think Lauren is absolutely Top 2 material. I like her a lot, especially when she sings like she did last night, without her little twang. I like her vibrato, too, and the little flip she does into her falsetto. She’s got spunk, she’s fun, she’s fresh, and she killed it. This solo number was definitely one of my favorite performances by her this season. Plus, she looked like a star. Even beyond Idol, I think she’s incredibly marketable to young country and pop fans — like a Taylor Swift or a Kelly Clarkson; she’s just real. I’ve met her and can say that. Lauren is the all-American girl.
Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart (“I Feel the Earth Move”): I thought Casey and Haley were great together; they sing perfectly and had very good chemistry. I don’t know if I like the duets during the competition, to be honest. I prefer to see it during the finale because you’re still judging them as an audience, but the fact that Casey and Haley were so good makes them look stronger as contestants.
Scotty McCreery (“You’ve Got a Friend”): For someone his age, Scotty is great, and this performance in particular was his personal best, in my opinion. It felt really natural, probably because he’s not walking around. I prefer him sitting but then when he looked into the camera, I was, like, “Don’t ruin it, man. Nobody can pull that off, honestly.” Still, he did make me feel like a 13-year-old girl. What that means, we’ll leave to the Idol Worship readers to interpret for themselves…
James Durbin (“Will You Love Me Tomorrow”): James is a class act, and he commands the stage. In the a cappella portion of the song, he was pitch-perfect. His reworking of this classic was great and shows he’s got so much confidence to do both the big songs and the stripped-back stuff. I only wish he didn’t finish on that note. Maybe I’m picky. Besides, what the judges said is true: He’s consistent every week. But I like his high stuff way better than Adam Lambert; it’s more pleasing to the ear. Calm down, Gamberts. Not hating…
Lauren and Scotty (“Up on the Roof”): Again, Scotty’s sitting down, and I like it! In this duet, you can really tell how much Lauren’s voice has progressed in the competition. It’s not as twangy, and she’s really finding herself. That said, Scotty missed a lot of notes in the harmonies, and it didn’t help that he prefaced the song by saying they’re like brother and sister. He tainted the performance before it started!
Casey Abrams (“Hi-De-Ho”): Casey’s talent is unbelievable. He’s by far the most musical person on the show and maybe ever! He was really in his element last night. Perfect song choice and so Muppet Show, in the best way, but he didn’t oversing it with too many growls. It was a great performance, and there’s no doubt what kind of artist he wants to be. You have to wonder how he’s going to fit into the radio world, but at the same time, I say, “Who cares?” I’d rather hear a great artist. I’d be happy to see Casey perform at the 40 Deuce in Vegas with the Pussycat Dolls or something. Sexy…
Haley Reinhart (“Beautiful”): First of all, Haley looked gorgeous. Her song choice I’m not sold on. It started off slow, but by the time it hit the mid, it was spectacular. She did it justice. She’s such a strong singer with great energy. I love her runs — up and down. Haley’s amazing, and she’s the one that came out of nowhere for me. You go, girl!
James and Jacob (“I’m Into Something Good”): You gotta love Steven Tyler for telling the truth, and he summed up this performance perfectly. It was like they were trying to out-sing each other. It wasn’t a duet; it was like a let’s-kick-each-other-in-the-nuts-and-see-who-can-sing-higher contest. It didn’t do Jacob any favors as the last impression of the night, but like Steven said, they were having fun. I love both of them.
So who’ll come out on top? Lauren, James and Haley won the night for me, but Casey was great as well. Unfortunately, I think the bottom three will include Jacob and Haley, but it has nothing to do with performance. In the end, I think it’s going to be James and Lauren in the finale. Do you agree?
I think we all agree that you need to do more Idol blogging MJ..you are a natural!!!
August 30, 2011 
Posted in Appearances, Articles, Music, News, Performances, Twitter, Videos 
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