Weekly Update – 05/23/2008

Janet Jackson at Izod Center on Friday Rocktober 17. Ticket info to follow.

Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte and Metro Station at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Tues. Aug. 12. General public on sale next Sat. May 31 at 10:00 am. $29.50 (pre-sale is through fan club –started already and Z-100 – next Thurs. May 29).

The Legends of Country rock tour featuring Poco, Little River Band and Pure Prairie League at the Brookhaven Amphitheater in Farmingdale NY on Sun. Sept. 6. Tickets on sale next Friday May 30 at 10:00 am. $27.50 – $48.50

The following shows are in Atlantic City at the Borgota Event Center (BEC) or the Music Box at the Borgota (MBB):

John Legend Sun. July 6   BEC   Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon.

Aretha Franklin Fri. July 25  MBB   Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon.

The Killers  Fri. Aug. 1  BEC   Tickets on sale today at 10:00 am.

Jill Scott   Sun. Aug. 3  BEC    Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon.

Maroon 5  Fri. Aug. 8  BEC   Tickets on sale tomorrow at 11:00 am.

KT Tunstall  Fri. Aug. 8  MBB    Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon.

Stone Temple Pilots  Sat. Aug. 9  BEC   Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10:00 am.

The Residents at the Blender Theater on Thurs. Rocktober 9. Tickets on sale today at noon. $40

Other items:

OK you have to check out my favorite new song of the week, you’ll will absolutely like this song “Strawberry Street” from a young woman named Lili Haydn. It’s off of her album “Place between Places” which was released this past March. I’m telling you….check it out.. Awesome violinist and singer. The rest of the album sounds pretty good (from the 30 seconds you get from I-Tunes).

Shock of the week (for real)- Steven Tyler supposedly checked into rehab this past week. I’m stunned, he’s been clean for years. Hope he is back on his feet soon!!

The Buzz: A news blog on Canadian music TV channel’s Much Music website reports that Led Zeppelin will play 4 dates in August at the Skydome/Rogers Center stadium and this will officially be announced shortly. No other shows will be announced, according to the report, and the band will not tour the U.S. Bummer. Field trip to Canada in August. Who is in?

3 Doors Down have released their 4^th studio album this past Tuesday, self titled and I have to admit these guys were at the top of my list back in 2000 and 2001 when they released “The Better Life” but they kind of slipped off the chart for me. This just may be the album that pulls me back. I love the opening track-“Train”- a hard rocking tune. These guys have mastered today’s rock ballads and “Let Me Be Myself” will be a radio hit, no doubt.

Green Day has put out a new CD but you wouldn’t know it by Green Day. The boys have disguised themselves as the “Foxboro Hottubs” and released “Stop Drop & Roll.” Really not that much different from what you are use to from them. This is not “American Idiot”- which is a classic- this is an album of short songs and just think of ‘Bill Haley & The Comets’ on steroids.

Judas Priest is back again, they have released two singles this week- “Nostradamus” (name of new album) and “Visions.” Sounds friggin’ awesome!! This is heavy metal at its best!! New album hits June 17. Big buzz on this album- with many already calling it an “Epic” and instant classic. \m/ \m/

Don’t want to brag or anything but I did tell you all back on the weekly update on April 25 that David Cook would be the next American Idol. He became better and better as each week went on. I will say that Syesha seems destined for stardom. Archuleta also has a career in front of him.

The final “Idol” shows have always been flawless and Wednesday night’s was no different. You have to admit, the show is done very well and now the exposure you can get is un-real. That is why I don’t blame Bryan Adams and Donna Summer for going on the show to promote their latest albums. I though both did a great job and you can’t tell me you don’t like Donna Summer- she has a song for everyone- pure fun.

This weeks I-POD shuffle landed on John Mellencamp and I had to go back and listen to my favorite album of his- “The Lonesome Jubilee.” Again it is hard to pick with him because I do like “American Fool” and “Uh-Huh.” (also love last year’s release- “Freedom’s Road”). By the time this album was released in 1987 I felt that Mellencamp was hitting his stride. He had come out of the “Cougar” shadow and was his own person and the Lonesome Jubilee really spotlights his lesser known-but quality songs- as well as some of his all-time greatest hits.

The album starts off with the explosive “Paper In Fire”- what a way to start off an album- makes me want to dance around with a fiddle. “She had a dream and boy it was a good one…” Then its on to the funky “Down and Out In Paradise” and the lyrics really hit home for many of us now. Track # 3 “Check It Out” is one of his most memorable songs and just a flat out superb groove. This is a “round the camp fire” sing –along- song that never gets old. “Forgot to say hello to my neighbor…” The “Real Life” is an upbeat song that will have you tapping your feet throughout. Again the lyrics throughout this album are so real and they relate to what is going on today. Side one ends with my favorite of the album- “Cherry Bomb.” This is another sing out loud- sing along song- and no matter how many times you hear it you just have to say- man what a great song!!

Side two has some of his most solid songs but lesser known to many. “We are the People”- “You know our thoughts are with you..” Please folks listen to what the man is saying. “Empty Hands” and “Hard Times for an Honest Man” are right up there as the best songs that he has ever recorded and no one seems to know them. “Hot Dogs and Hamburgers” is a goofy title a la Jimmy Buffet but again a real solid tune that doesn’t get much air time. The album ends with another silly named song- “Rooty Toot Toot”- but it will get you out of your seat and start dancing, play it loud at your summer BBQ and everyone will be dancing, I guarantee it.

The Lonesome Jubilee is narratives of what was going on back in 1987 when Reagan was President and with John you get the hard-hitting lyrics that describe the Middle American man’s pain. This album applies today but not just to Middle America. It has a little bit of everything- you will find yourself dancing, playing “fiddle”, singing out loud and listening to poignant lyrics. If you don’t have a Mellencamp CD (I find that hard to believe but…)- this is the one for you. Perfect summer album and PLAY IT LOUD!!!

On this day back in 1979, the Who’s “Kids are Alright” premiered in NYC. Tomorrow will be Bob Dylan’s 67^th birthday.