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Music, family, romance and intrigue, just a few of the elements incorporated into A Song Apart, a contemporary love story. Penned by first time novelist Jeffrey H. Baer, it offers the reader insight into the hearts, thoughts and lives of two New York City kids, Shannon Kistler and Kevin Derow.

Shannon, an up and coming pop star adored by millions of young teenage girls, discovers that her “biggest fan” is a 19 year old college student named Kevin. Their accidental meeting leads to a star-crossed romance, almost derailed from the beginning because they are from such different backgrounds.

Their love of music is a constant throughout, as they battle societal and family disparagement, jealousy and the cruel music industry.  One can just picture the guitar pick that Kevin carries and the organically grown studio in Shannon’s home.  The story that is painted by the author can not only be seen, but also heard, as the reader is engrossed in this fast paced story. 

Given the tendency for rock stars to express their wild personalities with over-the-top stage theatrics, I would be remiss if I didn't make a list of the most spectacular examples. Spanning the range from silly to ridiculous to downright awesome, the following is the fourth entry in a series of unforgettable props and features that have graced the stage of live rock ‘n’ roll.

ZZ Top – Let’s be honest, the full white beards gracing the chins of Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill are stage spectacles in and of themselves.  The trio doesn’t really need anything else.  But ZZ Top decided to go above and beyond for their Worldwide Texas Tour in 1976.  Wanting to showcase their pride in their home state of Texas, ZZ Top took to a 35 ton, Texas-shaped stage every night.  Additionally, the stage was adorned with plants like agave and cacti that brought an increased Texas feel to the show.  But what qualifies this particular tour for a list of memorable stage features is the wildlife: bison, vultures, steer, and rattlesnakes all found their way onto ZZ Top’s concert stage.  If having wild animals as part of your show sounds like a hassle, consider this: the band traveled with an animal expert for the entirety of the tour and spent $140,000 to ensure the animals’ health and safety.  ZZ Top’s elaborate and over-the-top stage show, particularly the inclusion of wild animals, earns their Worldwide Texas Tour a spot on this list.

So what crazy concert moment sticks in your mind? If you have any memorable stories of silly stage props, malfunctions, or over-the-top theatrics, share it with us in the HeyLiveMusic forum! And check back soon for the fifth and final installment in the series... a Spinal Tap-esque mishap for U2 rounds out the list.

(Kyle Katterheinrich is a member of the HeyLiveMusic marketing team and a frequent contributor to the site)

Given the tendency for rock stars to express their wild personalities with over-the-top stage theatrics, I would be remiss if I didn't make a list of the most spectacular examples. Spanning the range from silly to ridiculous to downright awesome, the following is the second entry in a series of unforgettable props and features that have graced the stage of live rock ‘n’ roll.

Rush – Possibly Canada’s most significant musical contribution, Rush has established a reputation for being the antithesis of the typical rock band, boasting incredible musicianship rather than sexual escapades, drug use, or big egos.  The result is concerts free of over-the-top theatrics: no costumes, no make up, and no pyrotechnics. 

While Rush has long employed the services of

 a large video screen, the only other notable features of their stage show (besides Neil Peart’s gigantic drum set) are Geddy Lee’s strange appliances in lieu of bass amps.

Well, it seems that way.

When passengers whose flights were delayed at an airport in Buenos Aires became agitated, the staff got some help from pop star Cyndi Lauper. Much to the traveler’s delight the iconic star sporting a black head covering and sunglasses broke into an impromptu rendition of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

As much as I hate to admit it, I loved Sunday night's Grammy Awards.  I loved the incubating and shoulder-enhanced Lady Gaga.  I loved the folk rock combination of Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and Bob Dylan.  And, although it may seem slightly mean-spirited, I loved to see Justin Bieber go home empty-handed (The Biebs has everything, he doesn't need a Grammy). 

If nothing else, the Grammy's were memorable.  The outfits were outrageous (Nicki Minaj and Rihanna stick out), the performers were eclectic and well-paired, and my reaction to the winners ranged from pleasantly surprised (Esperanza Spalding winning Best New Artist) to simply puzzled (Arcade Fire's The Suburbs snagging Album of the Year? really!?)

But here at HeyLiveMusic, it's all about the performances, and I think the Grammy's nailed it this year.  I found the tribute to Aretha Franklin fitting, especially the redeeming performance from Christina Aguilera, and Barbara Streisand's performance was vocally impressive.  Lady Gaga was surprisingly tame, debuting her new single "Born This Way," and Muse provided a nice change of pace with "Uprising."  

I thought Jaden Smith was the highlight of the Justin Bieber/Usher collaboration, and I found Gwyneth Paltrow to be an interesting foil to Cee Lo Green.  Drake claimed the better performance from Rihanna, as her turn with Eminem and Dr. Dre proved unremarkable.  The highlight of the evening for me was the zealous rendition of "The Cave" by Best New Artist nominees, Mumford & Sons, which opened a memorable set with The Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan.

So what was your favorite performance from the Grammy Awards?  Do you think Arcade Fire deserved the nod for Album of the Year?  Think Justin Bieber got snubbed in the Best New Artist category?  Let us know in the forum.

(Kyle Katterheinrich is member of the HeyLiveMusic marketing team and a frequent contributor to the site)