May 29, 2007
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two of life's passions – food and music – are sharing a virtual stage thanks to one of Manhattan's hottest young chefs and a rotating roster of some of the music industry's hippest up-and-coming bands. Launched on the Internet as a program for foodies and music gourmands alike, Dinner with the Band (www.dinnerwiththeband.tv) is the perfect mash-up of indie music and designer fare.
Hosted by chef Sam Mason, Dinner with the Band gives viewers intimate, “behind-the-scenes” access to some of Mason’s favorite touring bands in an evening of cutting-edge cooking, tales from life on the road and live musical performances. Kicking off the show’s inaugural performances are hip hop mastermind El-P and indie rock band Pela.
Mason leads personal interviews with his fellow rockers, prepares inventive recipes for out-of-the-ordinary dishes – from paella and ceviche to candied olive cobbler and homemade bagels with lox – and hosts special backstage, close-up performances of each band’s favorite songs and new releases.
Mason, the former pastry chef of New York’s famous WD-50 and proprietor of the soon-to-open contemporary dining and cocktail parlor Tailor, is a modern-day pioneer in the genre of avant-garde cooking, and a 2006 James Beard nominee. Demonstrating all of his celebrity skills and none of the attitude, Mason hosts Dinner with the Band in his apartment, usually in a t-shirt and jeans, bringing a casual, non-intimidating approach to his dishes that stimulate the palate as well as the dialogue.
Dinner with the Band is also one of just a few original, professionally produced Internet TV shows selected by iTunes as a featured podcast and a featured video for Apple TV. Like all ON Networks shows, Dinner with the Band is broadcast-quality video content originated in high definition.
“We created Dinner with the Band because so many people share a passion for food and an obsession with music,” says producer Darin Bresnitz. “The indie-foodie craze is fueling interest in Dinner with the Band, which is entertaining for people who crave good food, conversation and new music.”
Exclusive Performances
Dinner with the Band features five episodes with each band, with two shows dedicated to recipes and cooking demonstrations by Mason, and three featuring exclusive musical performances. The show features edgy, experimental music that ranges from punk rock and electro-dance rock to rap and American rock & roll. Other bands that will enjoy Mason’s culinary skills and perform on the show are F*@ked up, Cities on Fire, Matt & Kim, Holy Hail, Pigeon John and Tokyo Police Club.
Debuting this week on the Dinner with the Band stage is Definitive Jux label head, producer and rapper El-P, aka El Producto, who has been blazing trails and introducing some of the most cutting-edge and vibrant hip hop music of this era. On the show, he performs “Smithereens,” “The Overly Dramatic Truth” and “Poisenville Kids No Wins-Reprise” from his current album I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, which features Trent Reznor, Cat Power and Mars Volta, among others.
“The show was a blast. The food was great. Good vibe. Good bagel,” says El-P on his Dinner with the Band experience.
Also joining the virtual tour is indie rock band Pela, performing “Waiting on the Stairs,” “Lost to the Lonesome” and “Philadelphia,” an exclusive song available only on Dinner with the Band. Pela's brand of pastoral punk has been beautifully described as “equal parts desperation and inspiration, which they have masterfully crafted into a signature sound.”
"We're glad to have been a part of Dinner With The Band – it was quite a unique experience,” says Nate Martinez, guitars/keyboards for Pela. “Being a traveling band doesn't really give you the opportunity of being around good food. In addition, this opportunity has opened up more people to our music. It made sense for us to do this."
The engaging cooking and interview show, produced by Diabolik Productions and SUPER!ALRRIGHT!, is one of several new programs being introduced by ON Networks, Inc. (ON). The show can be watched anytime, anywhere at www.dinnerwiththeband.tv. There, viewers can subscribe to receive notices about new Dinner with the Band episodes as well as get other program information and updates from ON. Other shows available at www.onnetworks.com are: Austin Connoisseur, Budget Health Nut, Cocktails on the Fly, Golf Tips, ON Dating, Stump the Chef and Zen Living.
About Sam Mason
Sam Mason, formerly the pastry chef at WD-50, is one of the most creative pastry chefs in America today. Having honed his craft at some of the most prestigious kitchens of the times including Palladin, Union Pacific, and Atlas, Mason has truly been able to shape his aesthetic culinary vision, combining molecular gastronomy with innovative ingredients to produce desserts that continually surprise the palate. He is opening a new restaurant, Tailor, in Manhattan in Summer 2007. Capturing the spirit of old-world New York with urban sensibilities, Tailor is fashioned to become a destination for modern merrymaking and culinary exploration. For more information, visit www.tailornyc.com.
About ON Networks, Inc.
ON Networks is changing the way in which television shows are created, distributed, consumed and monetized. It's a new media company for the digital generation, delivering high-definition content on-demand across the Internet and new networks like IPTV, digital cable and iTunes. With original series for every pastime and pursuit, ON's short-form, weekly videos satisfy the growing demand for relevant, smart and entertaining programming that is available when, where and how viewers want to watch it. Join the growing ON community at www.onnetworks.com.
Contacts
for ON Networks, Inc., Austin
Denise Fraser, 512-899-0004
dfraser@dccomm.biz
or
Cybele Diamandopoulos, 512-431-5759
cybele@foliocommunications.com
