JUL 17TH

JUL 17TH

News:
-Road Dogs lost 12-5 =(

All it took was the Twitter message ‘‘come root for the Road Dogs!’’ and the address of Campanelli Stadium for about 200 Jonas Brothers fans to come flocking to see their favorite band play — and lose — a casual game of baseball Saturday.

The three Jonas brothers, their father, and members of their road team — hence the name Road Dogs — were out hit by employees of Marquis Jet, which flies the band to many of its shows. But the 12-5 loss didn’t detract from their fans’ enthusiasm.

‘‘They’re still winners,’’ said Dedham resident Lizzy Sampson, 15. ‘‘I always root for them,’’ agreed Cailyn Kelly, 14, also from Dedham.

It was just one in a series of many games between the Road Dogs and Marquis, said an airline representative, who added that both teams are about even thus far. The games have been played at each of the band’s tour stops, in appreciation of Marquis employees and their families — and the fans lucky enough to get the heads up on Twitter.

The game added to the hysteria that has taken over the Boston area as the teen idols — who starred in the Disney Channel’s ‘‘Camp Rock’’ TV movie — performed shows at the TD Garden this weekend. The baseball game was publicized via the Jonas Brothers’ official Twitter account about an hour before the game, meaning only the most diehard fans who checked the social networking site frequently would be aware of the chance to see the band.

Sampson and Kelly heard of the event through the band’s Twitter notification. When asked if they felt like they were stalking the band, Kelly immediately responded, ‘‘No,’’ but Sampson paused for a moment and admitted, ‘‘Slightly.’’

Janine Cook, 55, of Wakefield went to the Jonas Brothers show Friday night with her daughter Erin. She said her daughter woke her up Saturday morning begging to be taken to the game — even though they would be seeing Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas perform again Saturday night.

When asked whether she was a fan of the Jonas Brother, Cook gave a wry look and answered, ‘‘I’m going to let you answer that. I would rather have a tooth pulled with no Novocain, give birth without any anesthesia. I am here for my kids and their friends.’’

Though she is not personally a fan of the band’s music, she said she is thankful her daughter is. The Jonas Brothers, who are known for their clean public image, are the role models Cook said she wants her daughter to idolize.

‘‘It could be worse. It’s so scary out there and she comes home and she tells me how all these kids have sex and they do drugs and steal from their parents,’’ Cook said. In the Jonas Brothers’ music ‘‘there’s no heavy rock and roll, there’s no drugs, there’s no sex. She’s 16 and I’m just very thankful this is the music she likes.’’

JUL 17TH

Lucky number three: "They say good things come in threes, like comets, omens and Jonas Brothers." - Rainn Wilson, on receiving his third Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy for "The Office"

[Press of Atlantic City]

JUL 17TH

Granted, most JoBro fans aren’t old enough to drive to a party, let alone attend one, but those are minor details in the JoBro universe, where partying is more akin to good, clean fun than reckless abandon.

And when it comes to good times, the Jonas core concept hasn’t changed - it’s just expanded considerably on their world tour.

Everything about their 90-minute show last night - the first of two sold-out nights in Boston - was massive: their smoke-filled entrance to the sound of Queens We Will Rock You. Their mammoth three-stage, in-the-round setup that featured the bros playing with a 10-piece backing band. The crane that carted Joe and Kevin around the arena to spray foam while young Nick bashed away on the drums. The water screen that delivered dazzling, futuristic special effects and suggested that the bros might soon become holograms.

For the average human, it was almost too much to take in. Not for JoBro fans. The bands legion of sign-toting devotees can never seem to get enough Jonas; even after the show was over and the bros were long gone, manic screams still emanated from the venue like aftershocks following an earthquake.

Now four albums into their career, the band has a deep enough catalog to keep fans swooning.

Along with staples “Year 3000” and “Lovebug,” the bros included several tracks off their new album “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” from “Paranoid” to “Much Better” and the poignant “Black Keys,” which gave diabetes-afflicted Nick time for an inspirational, piano-assisted chat with the audience.

Other high points included “Tonight,” the hugely emotional “When You Look Me in the Eyes” and sizzling show-closer “Burnin’ Up.” That’s not to say there were low points, because there weren’t. There were just times when the screams went from deafening to mildly tolerable.

The boys also managed to throw a couple of surprises into the mix, most notably an appearance by opener Jordin Sparks to perform her hit “Battlefield,” the title track off her sophomore album. If the “American Idol” champ’s opening set warmed up the crowd, then her stint with the bros sealed the deal; not only did she hold her own alongside the professional heartthrobs, she got an arena full of teens, tweens and dutiful chaperones pumping their fists in the name of love

JUL 16TH

JUL 16TH

In the upcoming episode “Love Sick,” when Stella (Staub) asks Joe to a fashion show, Kevin and Nick insist it’s a date, which makes Joe so nervous he backs out at the last minute. After canceling several more “dates,” he realizes he must make it up to Stella by taking her to the school basketball game, and then almost has to cancel for real.

Meanwhile, Macy (Nicole Anderson) tries to make her date more like Nick.

“Love Sick” premieres Sunday, August 2 @ 8:30PM ET/PT on Disney Channel.

JUL 16TH

JUL 16TH

JUL 16TH

“It’s going great,” Kevin told MTV News about the engagement, as his brothers excitedly gave him a hug. “No date yet — me and Dani are just working everything out and figuring everything out. We’re having a good time.”

“We’re happy for him,” Joe added. In a tweet posted by the brothers just hours after the pair’s engagement news broke, Joe and Nick wrote, “Congrats big brother … Dani welcome to the family. We can’t wait to have you join us on the road! Love Joe and Nick.”

Kevin, being the romantic that he is, showed up to Deleasa’s New Jersey doorstep after flying overnight from a show in Toronto. He got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend of two years to marry him with a three-carat solitaire cushion-cut diamond surrounded by 210 round, brilliant-cut pavé diamonds. Kevin designed the ring himself, with help from Jacob the Jeweler.

“She said yes, yes, yes, like 500 times super fast in a row,” he recalled. “It was tough performing [the night before], knowing that I was going to ask the biggest question in my life to the most amazing girl in the world,” Kevin said.

“It is such a blessing that she will be joining our family. … Family is very dear to us, and we hope we have raised Kevin to be a wonderful man and husband. Please join us in our family’s celebration and in congratulating Kevin and Danielle. Thank you for all of your support,” Kevin’s parents, Kevin Sr. and Denise, said in a statement.

[MTV]

JUL 16TH

Asked what they think of this year's MMVA co-hosts, Jess Origliasso said "They’re really cool guys, super funny, super rock n’ roll and cool."

The girls toured with the Jonai last year and let us in on a little insider information about Joe.

[Much Music]

JUL 16TH

At Tuesday's Izod Center Jonas Brothers show the released ecstasy of 18,000 fans seemed to leave the all-girl audience wrung of emotions and exhausted at the end of the two-hour show.

Someone needed a cigarette.

Cynics chalk up JoBro success to marketing, but the siblings showed they're skilled musicians who've mastered the art of the arena concert.

Nick is the youngest and as the sensitive one he plunked down at a white, baby grand piano to tinkle out the ballad "A Little Bit Longer" and noted that he's not letting his diabetes get him down.

Middle bro Joe has a wisp of a mustache, a muscle shirt and the vocal talent. He's the rocker the girls drooled after.

Oldest sib Kevin is the goofy one. He bumps into his brothers onstage and seems to be having fun just strumming his guitar and singing backup on the sidelines.

This performance was a smart mix of catchy pop songs and spectacular production played in-the-round on three connected stages. After a few sappy ballads (and an insipid "Sweet Caroline" cover), the musical treats of syncopated funk drew power from the four-man horn section, propulsive guitar pop and a number of hard-edge rock tunes that had an underscore of blues.

Among the night's best work was new, hot summer song "Poison Ivy" and "BB Good," which had good grit that their more polished studio work lacks.

The Jonas Brothers play Nassau Coliseum Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

[New York Post]

JUL 15TH

The boys — Nick plays shortstop, Kevin is right-fielder and Joe is short center — all gathered before the big game to talk to MTV News. Kevin, who was donning a pair of white loafers, swore that he'd change into cleats before the game.

The guys, who played another softball game for charity earlier this week, explained why they chose to name their team the Road Dogs. "We're on the road a lot, and that's what we said about ourselves in the past before we had a softball team," Nick said.

Before they formed a team, their experience on the diamond was limited to, as Joe explained, some games on the Fourth of July. "Pickup games here and there," Kevin added. "Definitely been a part of softball growing up."

So if the guys were professional players, who would they be? Nick chose Derek Jeter, Joe would be Babe Ruth, and the brothers helped Kevin out with his pick. Nick suggested Jorge Posada. "Cool, I'm into that," Kevin said. But it was Joe's suggestion of Manny Ramirez that got a mixed reaction. "Manny, I don't know about Manny," Kevin said. "I think that'd be awesome."

[MTV]

JUL 15TH

Angela Deleasa, the mother of Kevin’s fiancée, Danielle, exclusively tells Life & Style how the now-engaged couple first got together. “We met the Jonas family in 2007 when we were vacationing in the Bahamas. Everyone keeps saying they’re childhood friends from Wyckoff, N.J., but it’s not true. We were on the beach in the Bahamas, and the boys just came over and started talking to us.”

After the vacation, Kevin kept in touch with Danielle and the two stayed friends, adds Angela. As for their recent engagement, she says, “All I can say is that we are very happy for them. He proposed right here on our doorstep. We’re just not used to this [fame]. People are coming to our door and our neighbors’ doors and it’s just strange.”

Angela describes Danielle as a normal, shy girl and admits that her daughter’s life has changed dramatically. “She already travels a lot because Kevin likes her to be around, and I’m sure she’ll be gone even more now.”

[Life & Style Magazine]

JUL 15TH

Wherever the Jonas Brothers go, thousands of screaming preteens are not far behind.

It seems to be every 4- to 16-year-old’s dream to meet the brothers from New Jersey, and it happens to be mine as well. The catch — I’m 20 years old.

And despite receiving playful ridicule from peers saying I’m too old to like them and that the notion in my head that I’ll meet them someday is irrational, my dream came true Saturday evening. I met the Jonas Brothers.

My two sisters and I have shared our love of the Jonas Brothers for just over a year. After seeing them in concert last summer when their super-stardom was just igniting, my mother feared landing tickets this summer would be almost impossible.

After spending hours on the computer, she got four tickets to their Chicago area concert that included access to a pre-concert sound check party where the Jonas Brothers answer questions and play a few songs.

We did our homework and found that the Jonas Brothers tend to pull fans on stage who wear inventive outfits.

On the Jonas Brothers’ most recent album is a song called “World War III.”

And what a coincidence; in our closets were vintage World War II army uniforms that we used for a high school performance three years ago.

On the Saturday afternoon drive from Deerfield to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, we quickly scribbled, “We won’t start a WW3 with you!!” on a shocking pink poster and plotted further. If perchance we were chosen, we intended to ask if youngest brother, Nick, enjoyed his visit to Northwestern University last week. That was our goal — nothing more, nothing less.

With tickets in hand and nearly everyone staring at our ridiculous get-ups, we anxiously took our seats and waited.

When Kevin, Nick and Joe ascended to the stage, the immediate shrill of teenage girls was deafening; however, I took part in it too. The boys waved to the crowd and stood for a moment looking around at everyone. Middle brother, Joe, pointed to my sisters and me and said into his microphone, “Hey, that’s such a good idea!”

That in itself was enough. A Jonas Brother spoke directly to us. As the sound check went on, the brothers played a few songs and answered a few questions, none concerning Northwestern.

The brothers decided it would be fun to play musical chairs. Oldest brother, Kevin, said they needed four friends. As every hand flew in the air, and the screaming amplified, Joe Jonas pointed to me.

In disbelief, we took the stage and, in front of an audience of 500 people, played musical chairs with the brothers we never thought we’d meet.

Joe soon made the connection we were sisters and before we knew it, we were performing the Andrews Sisters’ “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” (a song we sang together in high school) for the Jonas Brothers.

After applauding and showering us with compliments, the boys decided it was time to return the favor.

My sisters and I lined up as Nick, Joe and Kevin serenaded us to one of my favorite songs, “Gotta Find You.” My knees almost buckled, and I was shocked that I didn’t pass out.

After the song was over, the three brothers and three sisters shared hugs and left the stage.

When I got back to my seat, it hit me. I just sang for the Jonas Brothers. Who does that?

[Suntimes]

JUL 15TH

[Washington Post]

JUL 14TH

JUL 13TH

The Jonases were in town for an evening performance at the Verizon Center. The game was a promotional appearance for a private jet company and one in a series of fundraisers for the Change for the Children Foundation, a charity the brothers started a year ago to support diabetes research, Special Olympics and other causes.

But the event doubled as a morale booster for a company that has struggled to define itself in a changing market. Once famous for its dial-up Internet connection service, AOL is now largely dependent on advertising revenue, which has tanked during the recession. A 2000 merger with Time Warner that was supposed to create a communications behemoth has been so spectacularly disappointing that Time Warner recently announced plans to spin off AOL later this year.

The arrival in March of new chief executive and chairman Tim Armstrong, a former Google executive, has reinvigorated the company, several employees said yesterday. “He’s asking people to be enthusiastic,” said Jason Brewer, a network engineer, “and he’s exhibiting that himself.”

The day’s events, including face painting, free food and drink and a few hours away from work, were reminiscent of the old days, when AOL was a cutting-edge Internet service provider and could afford to rent Six Flags for the day, or hold Christmas parties at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Hundreds of children watched the game, snapping photographs of their idols’ at-bats and post-home run chest bumps.

Willowy 11-year-old Stevey Gerling gripped a chain-link fence near home plate and wore a T-shirt she’d decorated herself: the boys’ names printed in puffy paint under a multicolored “I {heart} you guys.”

She’d made the T-shirt in preparation for the concert, she said, and had no idea until early yesterday that she’d get to see the Jonas Brothers up close.

How’d she react when her mother, an AOL executive assistant, broke the news? “I started crying,” said Stevey, whose bedroom wall is plastered with a life-size poster of the trio.

But no matter how thrilling the presence of the nation’s hottest boy band, no one could ignore the specter of downsizing, said accounting manager Randy Fisher. “There’s gonna be layoffs,” he said. “People are speculating by the end of this month.”

The company’s revenue fell 20 percent, to $4.2 billion, last year. It laid off 20 percent of its worldwide workforce in 2007, and in another series of layoffs ending in March, let go another 10 percent of its personnel.

Armstrong is wrapping up a 100-day review of AOL, during which he visited 16 cities and introduced himself to more than 6,000 employees. He will reveal his strategy for the future at a meeting July 24, according to company spokeswoman Tricia Primrose.

The new chief executive played catcher yesterday for the AOL All Stars. But the Road Dogs won, 15 to 13. After the game, Armstrong presented the Jonas Brothers with a $2,900 check from AOL for their charity.

“I guess time will tell,” said Fisher, the accounting manager, “whether things will turn around.

[Washington Post]

JUL 13TH

The Jonas Brothers, in town for their concert tonight at the Verizon Center, stopped by the gathering to play a little ball and get warmed up for their performance.

Dubbing themselves the Road Dogs, the Jonas Brothers, their road crew and the youngest Jonas brother Frankie, who is not in the band but is known as the Bonus Jonas," went to bat against the AOL team led by AOL CEO Tim Armstrong.

Our source tells us that Mr. Armstrong played catcher and got the wind knocked out of him by lead singer Nick Jonas as he slid into home base.

The Road Dogs were triumphant, but in the end everybody was a winner.

Our source tells us that the Jonas clan posed for pictures and signed autographs.

[The Washington Times]

JUL 13TH

JONAS, the tween-idol band’s fledgling Disney Channel sitcom, is on the move from its original night and time to Sunday, where, presumably, iCarly can’t hurt it anymore.

Responding to an inquiry regarding the status of JONAS, which hadn’t aired a new episode in two weeks (after premiering only a month ago), the network said the show was getting a new home as part of a routine summer overhaul.

The Monkees-aspiring JONAS debuted May 2 before a solid 4 million viewers, only to get hammered by an iCarly special the following week.

Starting this weekend, the Jonases’ show, which formerly led off Saturdays, will be placed behind Sonny With a Chance, which itself will air after Hannah Montana, on Sundays.

According to Disney, JONAS was May’s top-rated TV show among children 6-11, who, unfortunately for the sibling stars, aren’t old enough to work for the New York Times—and lobby against articles that ask if their act is “fizzling.”

We were speculating about Jonas being cancelled, especially after how badly iCarly beat them up on the ratings in week two.

And alongside Jonas, there goes Rules of Engagement, How I Met Your Mother renewed and Gary Unmarried all heading towards renewal.

JONAS (previously J.O.N.A.S.) is an American Disney Channel Original Series created by Mantis Productions and It’s a Laugh Productions starring the Jonas Brothers. Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, and Joe Jonas appear as the Lucas Brothers, the three members of the fictional band “JONAS” who try to live a normal life in the face of stardom.

[DD365-Media.com]

JUL 12TH

Last year, the Jonas Brothers’ Look Me In the Eyes and Burning Up tours blasted eardrums and sent tweens and teens swooning. But when the New Jersey sibs stop at the newly renamed TD Garden Friday and Saturday for the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009, they’ll be slinging pop-rock in a whole new dimension - one that involves a circular water screen and an in-the-round stage.

Yes, it’s the JoBros in 360 degrees, with more angles, more up-close-and-personal time and way more screaming.

“It’s very exciting for us,” said 16-year-old Nick Jonas during a conference call. “We’ve always talked about wanting to do a tour in-the-round. It’s a way for us to really connect with our fans, something that’s very important to all of us. There’s more of a real genuine connection with each and every person in the arena.”

The mammoth tour, which stops in 44 North American cities and spans three continents, supports the brothers’ recent “Lines, Vines and Trying Times” album, their fourth studio release and third on Disney’s Hollywood Records. Like their previous “A Little Bit Longer,” it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 247,000 copies in its first week.

The album attempts to move the trio away from bubblegum pop with a darker edge noticeably absent from their formerly sunny style. The boys also cite expanding influences, namechecking Elvis Costello, Prince, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Kings of Leon.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a big jump, but it definitely is a progression in our music and a growth for us,” 19-year-old Joe Jonas said. “It feels like a good growth in our music. It has a lot more horns and a lot more strings. Also, there’s more than just a typical kind of relationship song.”

“I think the overall message,” added 21-year-old - and recently engaged - Kevin Jonas, “is that we’re the same old Jonas Brothers, but we’re adding more and more music that has influenced us.”

In addition to their two sold-out tours, the Grammy-nominated brothers nabbed an American Music Award and two MTV Video Music Awards in 2008 and diversified their portfolios with multiple film and TV projects, including the Disney series “JONAS,” movie “Camp Rock” and a forthcoming sequel, “Camp Rock 2.” They even stopped by for a visit at the White House to surprise First Fans Sasha and Malia Obama.

Too busy to bicker, the brothers say they are BFFs as well as band mates. They claim unity on the family front helps them keep it real.

“We are, you know, not perfect,” Kevin said. “We live every day day-by-day and we do the best to make our mom proud. It’s a big family thing for us.”

“We’ve made that rule number one from day one, making sure that the family comes first and that we focus on that,” added Nick. “That’s the priority. And also we live by the rule, ‘We live life if it’s at the top like we’re at the bottom,’ which basically means stay humble and keep the right attitude.”

[Boston Herald]

JUL 12TH

[Chicago Tribune]

JUL 12TH

JUL 12TH

Duh.

That said, it wasn't a surprise to some of you that blogs, fan sites and Twitter were abuzz with giggly chatter about the Jonas Brothers taking over Elfstrom Stadium Saturday afternoon -- between a pair of sold-out shows at the Allstate Arena in Chicago -- for a softball game.

The rest of us found out about it waaaaayyy later, you know, like after it was over.

"Just had the best day ever watching the (Jonas Brothers) play softball and sat right above their dugout," Tweeted one female fan.

Not everyone was so lucky.

"If I had a car I'd (expletive) be on my way to see the Jonas Brothers playing softball in Kane County," another wrote on her Twitter page.

By the way, old folks, Twitter is the social networking-mini blogging site that limits users to 140 characters to share what they've got to say.

Again, duh.

Kane County Cougars General Manager Jeff Sedivy said the softball game was part of a private party planned by the jet company, Marquee Jets, that flies the JoBros around.

"The Jonas Brothers love to play softball. It's a little in-tour diversion," Sedivy said as his team took on the Great Lakes Loons Saturday night. "They were great guys."

Sedivy said about 150 people affiliated with Marquee were invited to the game, but another 300 eager fans were allowed to sit on the first-base lawn area to check out the softball game.

Some Cougars employees joined the Marquee team to defeat the Jonas team, Road Dogs -- their first loss in a series of 11 contests slated by the trio.

[The Beacon News]

JUL 12TH

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, IZOD Center, 50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, N.J.; 7 p.m. July 23 and July 24, Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia

How much: Sold out

Set list: Reports from the road have them playing about 20 songs, including ''Paranoid,'' ''That's the Way We Roll,'' a ''Black Keys''/ ''A Little Bit Longer'' medley, ''Year 3000,'' ''When You Look Me in the Eyes,'' a cover of Neil Diamond's ''Sweet Caroline,'' ''Lovebug,'' ''S.O.S.'' and ''Burnin' Up.'' In some shows they've played ''Battlefield'' with Jordin Sparks and ''Don't Close the Book'' with Honor Society.

Opening acts: Come early to see ''American Idol'' winner Jordan Sparks sing ''One Step at a Time'' and ''No Air,'' and Honor Society, whose Jonas Records debut is out Sept. 15.

[The Morning Call]