Author: Mike Farley (Page 36 of 63)

Road Warriors 48

Road Warriors 48

They must not have been able to come up with a name for this festival, because they called it Give It A Name. The festival takes place in London in May, and headlining it will be rock bands Paramore and 30 Seconds to Mars. More acts will be announced soon.

Speaking of festivals, My Chemical Romance and the All-American Rejects will play the Bamboozle Left festival on April 5 in Irvine, California. Other acts include Paramore, New Found Glory and the Starting Line.

You metal fans will be thrilled that the third installment of the Gigantour Festival is back and will kick off April 12 in Denver. The festival was started by Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine, and this year it will include a 29-date tour across North America headlined by, well, Megadeth. Other confirmed bands are In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For a Cowboy, and High On Fire. Here are all of the confirmed Continue reading »

American Idol: Back To The Future

Last night’s “American Idol” featured primary auditions from Dallas, Texas. And the show had to harp on the fact that this is where they found Kelly Clarkson six years ago..and I mean, they HARPED on it. Back away from yourselves Idol, we all know your impact on pop music and that you suck us all in to watch these first episodes of frogs and princesses.

With that, here are the frogs and princesses from last night:

Paul Stafford, a park attendant who they showed picking up trash at work, looked like a real-life Dilbert, and he sang just like you would expect him to. Next.

Beth, a singing waitress who was borderline obsessed with Kelly Clarkson, was not as good as you would expect. Simon commented that he couldn’t understand a word Beth was singing, and I completely agree.

Then there was Bruce, who admitted that he, at 19, has never kissed a girl. What’s more, he had some stupid key on a necklace because he’s waiting for the perfect woman to unlock her heart. That sound you just heard is every eligible woman in America running the other way. Still, Bruce sang “Ain’t No Sunshine” and wasn’t all that bad, but not good enough.

There was a student from Austin Continue reading »

American Idol: The Freak Show Resumes

Season 7 of the hit Fox reality show “American Idol” began last night, and it was with the usual stars and freaks that make it to the TV portion of the opening round. The first auditions were held in Philadelphia, so after they went through the usual crap about the Liberty Bell and Brotherly Love, it was on to the performances. And as always with these opening shows, there were highlights and lowlights.

First, the freaks….

“Yuka” sang a Bee Gees song, but before he did said something about how women find him sexy, and that he loves women from their “heads to their nipples.” Are you kidding me? Do I even have to tell you how his performance was?

James Lewis, a Philly tour guide who said his customers encouraged him to audition (note that these were tourists who would likely never see him again), said he was inspired by the likes of Eddie Vedder. So what does he sing? A standard, “Go Down Moses,” which he pretty much sang on one really low note, both literally and figuratively. Paula and Randy could not stop laughing, and neither could I.

Temptress Brown, a 16-year-old with an ailing mom (there are two hours to fill, people!), said she was a football player—a linebacker to be precise, so you know she is not small.
Temptress had an awful voice, and when the judges let her know this, she started crying uncontrollably. Even Simon was sympathetic though, and all three judges hugged Temptress and walked her out to her family.

Mark Hayes, an 18-year-old dude who can simulate cricket noise, attempted “White Christmas,” and then real crickets started chirping.

Then there was Udgeet. Seriously, did anyone named John or Joe or Lisa audition? Anyway, this dude admitted that in his day job at an auto finance company, he incorporated music and fun, doing things like MC Hammer impersonations. So ol’ Udgeet proceeded to sing Sinatra’s “My Way” on one note…seriously. Simon properly told him to go back to his day job.

Alexis Cohen, who they showed to be living in a crappy apartment with her mom and about 12 cats, seemed harmless at first, and then sang Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love.” Her voice wasn’t horrible, but she was shouting and appeared to be nervous and uncomfortable. Then when she got the bad news, it was like someone flipped a switch, or the producers egged her on, because Alexis went nuts, throwing F-bombs and attempting to moon Simon to the camera…thankfully without actually pulling her pants down.

Milo Turk, a creepy Continue reading »

Road Warriors 47

Road Warriors 47

If you’re heading down to Austin for this year’s SXSW festival in March, some big name artists have announced performances already. Those include My Morning Jacket, The Raveonettes, The Black Keys, BUN B, Daniel Lanois and R.E.M. In addition, Lou Reed will deliver the keynote address.

Radiohead has confirmed the markets for its upcoming North American tour, but not the dates or venues. Their album, In Rainbows, debuted at #1 on the US charts this week, and these are the confirmed markets for the tour:

Atlanta
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Houston
Indianapolis
Los Angeles
Miami
Montreal
New York
Philadelphia
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Seattle
St Louis
Tampa
Toronto
Vancouver
Washington DC

Mute Records artist Jose Gonzalez’ Green Tour of America kicks off this spring. Gonzalez is touring in support of his album, In Our Nature, and has teamed up with Reverb, a non-profit organization that educates and engages music fans to promote environmental sustainability. Here are the confirmed Continue reading »

Road Warriors 46

Road Warriors 46

Lifehouse will be playing a free show on Sunday in New Orleans’ Jackson Square, as they are headlining Allstate Fanfest in advance of Monday’s BCS Championship game between Ohio State and LSU. The band will then hit the road again in February.

In celebration of the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music, Billy Joel will be performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra on January 26. Some other artists, including Blue Man Group, will also perform. Tickets can be purchased at www.philorch.org/academyofmusic.

In support of their second full-length album, In the Future, psych/folk rock pioneers Black Mountain will hit the road again at the end of this month. In the Future is set for release on January 22, and here are the confirmed shows:

01/31/08 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s w/ Yeasayer, MGMT, Howlin’ Rain
02/02/08 Portland, OR – The Doug Fir w/ Howlin’ Rain
02/04/08 San Francisco, CA – The Independent w/ Howlin’ Rain
02/05/08 Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour w/ Howlin’ Rain
02/07/08 San Diego, CA – Casbah w/ Howlin’ Rain
02/08/08 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress w/ Blood on the Wall
02/13/08 Birmingham, AL – Bottle Tree w/ Blood on the Wall
02/15/08 Atlanta, GA – The EARL w/ Blood on the Wall
02/16/08 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle w/ Blood on the Wall
02/17/08 Chapel Hill, NC – The Local 506 w/ Blood on the Wall
02/19/08 Washington, DC – The Rock and Roll Hotel w/ Bon Iver
02/20/08 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s w/ Bon Iver
02/22/08 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom w/ Bon Iver
02/24/08 Boston, MA – Middle East Upstairs w/ Bon Iver
02/25/08 Portland, ME – The Space Gallery w/ Bon Iver
02/26/08 Muncton, NB – The Manhattan w/ Bon Iver
02/27/08 Halifax, NS – The Marquee Club w/ Bon Iver
02/29/08 Montreal, QC – La Sala Rosa w/ Bon Iver
03/05/08 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace w/ Bon Iver
03/07/08 Louisville, KY – Headliners w/ Bon Iver
03/09/08 Knoxville, TN – The Pilot Light w/ Bon Iver
03/10/08 Nashville, TN – Exit/In w/ Bon Iver
03/27/08 Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret w/ Ladyhawk
03/28/08 Regina, SK – The Distrikt w/ Ladyhawk
03/29/08 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo’s w/ Ladyhawk
03/31/08 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room w/ Ladyhawk
04/01/08 Calgary, AB – The Warehouse w/ Ladyhawk
04/05/08 Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom w/ Ladyhawk

Toronto’s Hello Operator has been compared to “The Cars covering ‘Cars’ by Gary Numan,” so you know there is some ‘80s flavor to their music. You have to be intrigued, no? If so, you can catch Hello Operator on their current tour at these stops:

05 Jan – Beauty Bar Las Vegas, Nevada
07 Jan – Press Club Sacramento, California
08 Jan – Satellite w/ Pilot Way Reno
09 Jan – Club Moscow @ Boardners 18+ Hollywood, California
10 Jan – Beauty Bar San Diego

In a benefit for their city of New Orleans, which is still very much ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, pop/rockers OK Go and New Orleans funksters Bonerama have teamed up for a show as well as an EP release called You’re Not Alone, which will benefit the local musicians scattered by the storm. The event will take place January 10 and 11, with the concert on January 10 being billed as “Musicians Bringing Musicians Home III” featuring Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Kimya Dawson, Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line, Janet Bean of Freakwater and Craig Klein, Mat Perrine, Eric Bolivar & Bert Cotton of Bonerama. The January 11 concert features Ok Go and Bonerama, and the EP will be released February 5. Tickets for the show are $10 and available at www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/neworleans or by calling 504-310-4999.

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