The Moody Blues at Radio City Music Hall on Thurs. Aug. 20. American Express pre-sale is on now until 10:00 p.m. tonight. Live Nation Pre-sale begins today at 10:00 a.m. and continues until 10:00 p.m. tonight. Password is: singer. Another pre-sale password is HEBLUES. General public on-sale is tomorrow at noon. $39.50 – $89.50.
Incubus at Radio City Music Hall on Tues. & Wed. Aug. 4 & 5. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $43 – $70. Also appearing at the PNC Arts Center on Fri. Aug. 7. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $30.25 – $45.25 (PNC is a Live Nation Event)
Kings of Leon at the Izod Center (formerly “Meadowlands”) on Sat. Sept. 12. Tickets on sale today at noon. $37.50 – $46.50.
Beyonce at Madison Square Garden on Sun. June 21 and at Mohegan Sun on Thurs. July 23. Pre-sale starts this morning at 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight and password is HEIAM for the Garden show. General public tickets on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.$20.75 – $175.75 (MSG) $95.75 – $145.75 (Mohegan)
Fleetwood Mac at Madison Square Garden on Thurs. June 11. Pre-sale for American Express cardholders only go on sale this Mon. Apr. 27 at 10:00 a.m. until next Thurs. Apr. 30 at 10:00 p.m. General public on sale next Fri. May 1 at 10:00 a.m. $49.50 – $149.50.
Aerosmith and ZZ Top at Jones Beach on Fri. June 26. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $41, $95.50, $155.50 and $207.50.(Oooh Faaa I’ll sit up stairs thank you very much).
Third Eye Blind at the Roseland Ballroom on Tues. June 16. Tickets on sale Sat. May 9 at 10:00 a.m. More info to follow (Live Nation Event).
PJ Harveyand John Parish at the Beacon Theater on Tues. June 9. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $37.50 – $75.
Foreigner at the Nokia Theater on Fri. Rocktober 2. Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon. $40 – $150. (Are you kidding me? $150 to see Mick Jones?)
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at the Comcast Theater in Hartford CT on Sat. Aug. 8 @ 1:30 p.m. Tickets on sale this morning at 11:00 a.m. $25 – $54.50. Acts include: Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine and more.
Brad Paisley with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne at the Comcast Theater in Hartford CT on Sat. June 13. Pre-sale on now for Citi card holders only. General public on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.$29.75 – $58.25.
Journey at Nassau Coliseum on Mon. Aug. 31 and Chevrolet Theater in Wallingford CT on Sun. Sept. 13. Ticket info to follow.
Wilco at Keyspan Park in Coney Island on Mon. July 13. Tickets on sale today at noon. $45
Jackson Browne at Ives Center in Danbury CT on Mon. July 13. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $35 – $75.
Other items:
Green Day has announced their tour to support their new album “21st Century Breakdown”- a three part concept album- and they will be in New York on Mon. July 27. Ticket info to follow. They will also be the musical guest on the final Saturday Night Live on May 16, the day after the album is released.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Josey Scott, lead singer of Saliva, who underwent ulcer surgery. Hopefully he’ll be able to do the New Jersey show this summer.
Timothy B. Schmit, bassist for the Eagles, will put out his first solo effort in eight years this fall and will get help from Kid Rock, Graham Nash, Garth Hudson (The Band) and Dwight Yoakam. Look for “Expando” later in the year.
Congratulations to Dave Grohl and his wife, Jordyn, on the birth of their second daughter. Harper Willow Grohl was born last Fri. Apr. 17 and weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. Harper’s big sister, Violet Maye is three.
My favorite new song of the week is “Candy” by Paolo Nutini. This is a nice song, it has an “old school” sound to it, sort of “Eagle-ish” or early Rod Stewart. Take a listen and see if you like.
My other favorite new song of the week is “Wavin’ Flag” by K’naan, a Somali-Canadian rapper whose third album “Troubador” was released in February. I saw the video for “ABC’s” and was immediately hooked to his sound. The chorus for “Waving Flag” is addicting and my guess is this song is only going to get bigger in the next few weeks or months. I’ll tell you what this album is worth the purchase of $7.99 from I-Tunes as it features Kirk Hammett (yes from Metallica), Adam Levine, Damian Marley and Mos Def. The song “ABC’s” is fantastic and he gets help from Chubb Rock. Check it out, this is hot!!
I didn’t think Anoop Desai was going to be the next American Idol but he didn’t deserve to be booted off this past week. I agree that Lil had hit her peak (a few weeks back) but I strongly disagree with the fact that Allison Iraheta was in the “bottom two” on Wednesday. America wake up!! Matt Giraud should not have been saved last week and definitely should have been voted off this week. Next to go are Matt, Danny and then Kris. Again it’s a no doubter that Adam wins hands down. (he won about 6 weeks ago). Allison deserves to finish second. It’s enough with Danny already he sounds like Taylor Hicks and to me has hit his peak.
Rob Thomas will release his second solo album, “Cradlesong”, on June 30. The first single- “Her Diamonds” is already out and sounds good. His solo tour will be announced this summer for later on this year. He will appear on the “Today” show on Fri. morning July 3 to promote the new album. Thomas also gave the NBA his song “Give Me The Meltdown”(from Cradlesong) which ABC and ESPN have been using in their commercials to promote the playoffs.
EP Review: “The Open Door”- Death Cab for Cutie released on Mar. 31, 2009
OK I have to admit this is the first piece of work that I have purchased from the boys from Bellingham, Washington. I know that they have been around since 1997 and I almost took the plunge for “Narrow Stairs” which was released about a year ago. But the great thing about discovering music is that one can go back and dig deeper into the bands’ library of work and this is something that I might just have to explore. Again this is only five songs (plus the video of “Grapevine Fires” off of “Narrow Stairs.”) but is worth the $4.99 on I-Tunes.
“Little Bribes” kicks off the EP and this is the song which made me “stand up & notice.” There is something about this song which makes me say “man this is good.” I don’t know if this makes sense, but it is clear and crisp. The man behind the voice, Benjamin Gibbard, has something different that makes you think that you have heard his style before but after searching you come back to the fact that it really is only him that sounds like that. This song is finger snapping with an infectious groove that keeps you coming back for more. “A Diamond and a Tether” is sort of melancholy but the whole sound and arrangement works, it sort of has a Beatles influence if you listen carefully. You know how you come across people and you feel like you’ve known them all your life, well I feel this way about this song. The first time I heard it, I felt like it was one of my all time favorites. “My Mirror Speaks” kicks it up a bit and spotlight’s Mr. Gibbard’s vocals. Nicholas Harmer’s work on bass really stands out and the “hand-clapping” adds the spice to this fun song. “I Was Once a Loyal Lover” is an upbeat song that I have to admit that I probably would not have listened to when I was much younger and not as open as I am now to new sounds. The keyboards and drums take this song over and again the vocals (including background) are top notch. “Talking Bird” really reminds me of something the Beatles would do. This is a soft song with what sounds like a ukulele and Ben’s voice is picture perfect as you will drift far away with this one.
The added “video” – “Grapevine Fires” is eerie but I can’t stop watching it and again I don’t know why. It’s an animated video, very “primitive” drawings but with a very sad tale that grips you; to watch the main character’s girlfriend burn is so disturbing to me and I can’t understand why they made her pass away. Why he couldn’t help her is beyond me- you see what it does to you? I’m talking about a cartoon video…. and why the story was told in a certain way- just like when you don’t like a character that an actor or actress portrays in a movie or series, you forget that it’s fake. Whew I’m back.. By the way, the song “Grapevine Fires” is very good.I have to say that this EP has lured me into their world and I believe I will be “looking back” to see what else I like of theirs. “The Open Door” has let me in and so far I like what I hear (and see).
“And 5, now this is most important, Rat…comes down to making out… whenever possible.. put on side 1 of Led Zeppelin IV”
Side 2 of “Live at Budokan” by Cheap Trick which was recorded in Japan in April of 1978 and released in the U.S. in February 1979.
OK first off, I love this whole entire album…. But to be a “perfect” album side, there needs to be no “fillers” or “duds” and in this case-(even though it’s a live album- which some could consider a “greatest” hits..well so be it, I’m still recommending side 2 as a perfect album side)- side 2 contains some of their most popular songs ever. It starts off with their take on the song made popular by Fats Domino-“Ain’t That a Shame.” Before you put it on, make sure your volume is set on LOUD!!!! OK is it set on Loud? Well here comes one of the most under-rated drummers (in my opinion) in rock and roll, Mr. Bun E. Carlos, jamming through your speakers. (By the way Bun E. is now the drummer in the new band “Tinted Windows” and their debut was just released this past Tuesday). Mr. Carlos sets the tone for the entire album as he keeps the train rolling and on this song he is working the scales up and down. And as Sly Stone says “add a little guitar” to which Rick Nielsen obliges with his distinctive “wailing” to get the crowd out of their seat. (are you up yet?) If not, Bun E. will blast you out of your seat with some more of his drumming skills before Robin Zander takes over on vocals. “You made me cry when you said goodbye” totally different from the original as it clicks in your head that you have heard this song before. The boys from Rockford Illinois put their guitar driven spin on this classic. This song has it all- loud guitar, massive drums and great vocals. Of course the bass plays a huge role-especially during the last minute of the song as each non-singing member takes turns putting in their own little solo-switching from guitar-to bass- to drums ending with crowd going delirious. “I Want You to Want Me”- OK I know you have heard this song a “zillion” times but.. it’s SO GOOD.. that’s why you continue to listen to it again.. “Didn’t I, didn’t I, didn’t I see you cryin’..”(I know they sold out and put this on a “Coke” commercial a few years back.. it took me a while to get over.. seems to be the way of the world). C’mon you know you have “air-guitared” to this song a million times and the chorus is so addicting that I know it will stay in my head the rest of the day and weekend. “This next one is the first song off our new album.. it just came out this week and the song is called Surrender.” “Mother told me yes she told me I’d meet girls like you”- do you need anymore? I love Bun E’s drumming in this song, can’t get enough. This is another song that I could do karaoke with my eyes closed. “We’re all right, we’re all alright!!” Then the blazing guitar strikes again as Robin’s cool rock and roll voice lets the crowd know that the show is coming to an end with “Goodnight” (same way they opened with “Hello There”). They sort of pull off the Who as they seem to be crashing the drums, smashing the guitar as the crowd awaits the encore. This classic album ends with my favorite track “Clock Strikes Ten.” This song friggin’ rocks!!! “Imagine what we’re doing tonight… clock strikes two.. not going home gonna stay out late..” You can not help but jam out and rock around your house (or in your car) because this song has to move you out of your seat. “On the drums.. Mr. Bun E. Carlos.” I’m head banging my way right until the end as the feedback from the guitar laying on the stage slowly fades away with the screams of the crowd.
Similar to Kiss, this live album catapulted them to stardom and they never looked back. I jumped on the band wagon with this album when I was 14 and have been a Trick faithful ever since. (Went to see them at Radio City Music and UFO was the opener-how cool is that?) These boys don’t get the respect that they deserve (again similar to Kiss). I don’t take any impoliteness directed towards Cheap Trick around me at any time, even when my own kids give me grief about them. (I hold them down and force them to listen to the nine minute live version of “Need Your Love” which is on side 1). Cheap Trick has cemented their place in rock and roll history- they have always done it their way with no regrets and they have always had FUN!! What else can one ask for? Sadly (but good for you) you can purchase this classic CD for $5.99 at Amazon. “Live at Budokan” is one of the greatest live albums ever and side 2 is a perfect album side. Run out and get this!!!
Tinted Windows (mentioned above) has released their debut album this past Tuesday. The band consists of the aforementioned Bun E. Carlos (drums), James Iha (guitarist) (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Scheslinger (bass) (Fountains of Wayne) and Taylor Hanson (singer) (Yes the Hanson brothers of “MM Bop” fame). “Messing with my Head” seems to be the hit single along with “Kind of a Girl”, this seems to be right up all their alleys (except for Mr. Iha) as the theme is pop music.
Back on this day in 1961, Bob Dylan made his recording debut by playing harmonica for a Harry Belafonte album.
Back on this day in 1968, Apple records rejected David Bowie for their label.
Back on this day in 1977, The Talking Heads began their first tour ever by serving as openers for The Ramones. How cool is that?
If it is your birthday today, you share the same birth date with Barbara Streisand. She was born in Brooklyn!! (Like my uncle Gary!! Happy Birthday G!)
Errols Weekly Music Update. 